Clinton County, Ohio - Biographical sketches (2 of 2 so headed), 1915 (part 20 of 26)

Harry Nickerson

Fortunate is the young man who has had a worthy father, one who has well under. stood life in all of its phases and who has been able intelligently to guide and direct the footsteps of his children. Harry Nickerson, a well-known young farmer of Chester township, this county, who owns a magnificent farm of two hundred and ten acres, owes his successful start in life to the wise and sympathetic counsel of his beloved father, who 'was well known in this and other states for his interest in and understanding of practical educational problems. 'There is an old saying, "Like father, like son," which, unfortunately, is not always true, but it is true of the Nickersons and is very likely to be true for generations yet unborn, since the cumulative effects of personal integrity, thrift and wide intelligence are quite likely to be handed down through many succeeding generations.

Harry Nickerson, a representative of the third generation of this family in Clinton county, was born on February 14, 1870, on the farm in Chester township, where he now lives. His distinguished father, the late Joshua Nickerson, who was born on July 7, 1837, in Chester township, and who passed away on November 24, 1894, received a liberal] education in the schools of Chester township and at Granville and began teaching school at the age of sixteen at Spring Hill, in Warren county. He continued in the school room ' for ten years and won a lasting reputation for himself by his skillful methods of instruction and his efficient discipline, his influence still being felt in the schools of the neighborhood where he taught for so many years. In 1875 he began the sale of school supplies and in that connection instructed school teachers and school boards how to use improved appliances and improved methods. In this work he was remarkably successful and coyered a great deal of territory, selling books and lecturing to teachers. He did much work in the state of Virginia and was working there at the time of his death.

In connection with his other work, the late Joshua Nickerson owned a farm in Chester township and he was not only one of the first farmers in the neighborhood to use fertilizer, but he was one of the most progressive in all respects. He was married on July 30, 1860, to Abigail Collett, a daughter of Daniel H. Collett, of Chester township; and to this union three children were born, Hattie, who married Edward Inwood; Clark, who died early in life, and Harry, the subject of this sketch. The parents were members of the Baptist church of Jonas Run and the father was active in church work, carrying

Mr. Nickerson's paternal grandparents were Clark and Martha (Ashby) Nickerson, the former of whom was a native of the Empire state and the latter a native of Kentucky, born on March 19, 1805, the daughter of Silas and Sarah (Cullott) Ashby. The grandfather was a farmer in Chester township, but, during the early part of his life, he had run a flat-boat on the-Ohio river, between Cincinnati and New Orleans, having been employed on the river for about twelve years. He spent the latter part of his life on his farm of one hundred acres. Clark and Martha Nickerson had four other children besides Joshua, who was the second, the others being James, who was born on December 14, 1832; David A., May 6, 1840; Mary Frances, July 21, 1843, and Susannah, July 21, 1846. The grandparents were members of the Baptist church at Jonas Run.

Harry Nickerson was educated in the common schools of Chester township and in the schools at New Burlington. At the beginning of his active career. he took up farming on the farm where he now lives and in 1907 built a commodious country home. Mr. Nickerson owns two hundred and ten acres of land and is considered a wealthy farmer in this county. In 1891 he was married to Clara Colvin, daughter of Marion and Sallie Colvin, and to this union there have been born two children, Edith, born in February, 1896, and Everett Joshua, April 11, 1911.

Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at New Burlington, and he is a member of the official board of that congregation. Mr. Nickerson votes the Republican ticket, but he is not a hide-bound partisan and. in performing his duties as a citizen, exhibits the same discriminating intelligence which characterizes his success as a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson are popular residents of Chester township and are held in high esteem by all who know them.

John B. Hawkins

John E. Hawkins, who for many years has been a well-known farmer and preacher, of Chester township, this county, was born in that township on December 9, 1848, a son to Amos and Muassie (Spray) Hawkins. He was reared in Chester township, and received his early education in the public schools, As a young man, he started farming in the township where he was born, and he has liyed there all his life. He purchased sixty-two acres of land in 1875, since which time he has added twenty-six acres more. For the past thirty-five years, Mr. Hawkins has been a local preacher of the Chester church (Friends).

Amos Hawkins, father of John E. Hawkins, was born in Clinton county, on May 23, 18138. He was educated in the publie schools of Chester township, and as a young man, started farming on his father's farm, the entire period of his active life being spent in Chester township, where he owned one hundred and eighty acres. He married Massie Spray, who was born on August 29, 1824, daughter of John and Massie Spray, and to this union the following children were born: James, born on January 7, 1841; Jehu, February 22, 1842; John, December 9, 1843; Jesse, March 21, 1846, and Benjamin, December 28, 1848. Amos Hawkins was a member of the Friend's church and in politics, a Republican. Te was the son of James and Sarah (Wilson) Hawkins, who came to Clinton county from South Carolina about the year 1806, locating on a farm near the edge of Chester township, where they spent the remaining years of their lives. They were the parents of six children, as follow: Ruth, born on March 14, 1793; Dinah, November 22, 1795; Jehu, October 80, 1796; Benjamin, 1808; Amos, 1813, and James, July 1, 1810. 'The elder James Hawkins was born in Virginia on January 23, 1756,

In 1869 John BH. Hawkins was united in marriage to Deborah T,. MeMillan, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth McMillan, to which union two children were born, Milton. and Bessie (deceased). Milton Hawkins married Anna Lyle, who died in May, 1901, leaving one child, :.a daughter, Violet, Rose.. Milton Hawkins. married, Secondly, Mary Walker, to which' union there 'has been no issue. Upon the death of his wife Deborah, John E. Hawkins married, secondly, on May 10, 1881, Lydia E. Bevan, who was born in 1845, daughter of Abel and Charlotte T. (Fawcett) Bevan, to which second union one child has been born, a daughter, Ethel. May, who is a teacher of English in the schools of Kendallville, Indiana. The Bevan family is well known throughout this section of the state, the Bevans having come from Virginig to Ohio at an early day in the settlement of this section, descendants of the founders of the family being now well-known farming people in Greene and Clinton counties. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are active in the affairs of the Friends church in their neighborhood and for many years Mr. Hawkins 'has performed admirable service as a minister of the Chester church. He takes an active interest in local civic affairs, but has never been an office seeker, being quite content to have his influence in governmental matters be manifested in quiet words of admonition among. his neighbors. He is an exemplary citizen and he and his family are held in high regard throughout that part of the county.

Oscar Leslie Matthews

Oscar Leslie Matthews, now the proprietor of one hundred acres of land in Green township, this county, was born in this county on December 28, 1874, the son of Elijah H. and Ellen (Hlliott) Matthews, the former of whom was born in Highland county, Ohio, October 20, 1826, and the latter in Clinton county, November 28, 1832. Elijah H. Mat- . thews died in Clinton county on December 13, 1904. His wife had preceded him to the grave many years previously, her death occurring 6n December 9, 1890.

Elijah H. Matthews was the son of John and Mary Matthews, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. John Matthews was the son of John and Rebecca Matthews, natives of North Carolina, of Scottish descent. They immigrated from North Carolina to Ohio and settled near New Market, in Highland county, in 1807. One year later they located four miles north of Hillsboro on Clear creek, and there spent the remainder of their lives. John Matthews, the father of Elijah H., was born in March, 1774; and, after his marriage in Highland county, located on his father's farm, where he remained through life. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters. eight of whom lived to maturity, John, Albert G., Christopher, Elijah, Joel, Mrs. Susan Brown, Mrs. Mary Chapman and Mrs. Eliza Jane Hicks, of Kansas. John Matthews was a prominent man in Highland county and served as county commissioner two terms and as associate judge of the county for twenty-one years, having been elected three consecutive terms of seven years each. He died in August, 1848, at the age of seventy-four years And his widow died in April, 1864, at the age of seventy-four.

Elijah H. Matthews was married on January 25, 1849, to Ellen Elliott, the daughter of William and Susan Hlliott, early settlers of Clinton county, who were married, lived and died in this county. They were the parents of four children, Thomas G., who resides in Mercer county, Ohio; William, Ellen and Eliza Jane, the latter of whom married Valentine Cox, of Van Wert county. Mr. and Mrs. Elijah H. Matthews had ten children, nine of whom reached the age of maturity, namely: John W., born on December 27, 1850; Susan, May 29, 1853, who married Levi West; Mary Elizabeth, June 20, 1857. who became the wife of David Matthews; Sarah B.. October 7. 1859. who married Lafayette West; Kate G.. February 10, 1862, who married Abraham Frazier: R»chel Ann, April 13, 1864; Ollie M.. June 10, 1869; Clara E., December 25, 1870; and Oscar L., the subject of this sketch. Until 1850 Elijah H. Matthews resided in Highland county. He then moved to Clinton county, locating four miles east of Wilmington. in Union tewnship, where he lived four years, after which he moved to Green township. where he spent the rest of his life. When a young man, Elijah:-H. Matthews and his brother. Christopher, hrd manage a general store at Buford, in Highland county. At the time of his death. he owned several hundred acres of land. He was mayor of New Vienna two years, justice of the peace ten years, township 'trustee and assessor of the third division of Clinton county. Mr. and Mrs. Elijah H. Matthews were members of the Methodist church, and he was a Zoainher, _of the Masonic fraternity.

Oscar L. Matthews was reared'on a farm and was educated in the public schools. He lives in Green township, two miles and a half from New Vienna, Ohio, and is a cerca farmer and stockman. : .

On August 10, 1898, Oscar L. Matthews was married to Lucy Curtis, who was born in Green township, this county, on April 17, 1876, the daughter of David and Martha J. (Truitt) Curtis, both of whom were born in Virginia, the former in 1827 and the latter in 1836. David Curtis was the son of Christopher and Sarah Curtis, pioneers of this county, and Martha J. Truitt was the daughter of George and Abigail (Applegate) Truitt, also pioneers of Clinton county. David Curtis and wife were the parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. Oscar L. Matthews is the youngest, the others being Allen Albert, William, Sarah (deceased), James E., Jennie (deceased), Frank, Lula, who married Frank 'Steele. and George. David Curtis died on February 12, 1898, and his widow is still living.

To Oscar Leslie and Lucy (Curtis) Matthews three children have been born, Fred Curtis, born on July 13, 1900; Martha Ellen, December 20, 1902, and William Delbert, December 5, 1908.

Mr. and Mrs. Matthews are members of the Friends church. Mr. Matthews is a member of the Grange, has. served as school director and votes the Democratic ticket.

Edward George

The history of a community is most useful which deals most especially with the lives and activities of its people, especially those who, by industry and good management, forge to, the front and outstrip the plodders on the highway of life. Edward George, a native of Perry county, Indiana, but whose father came from the little kingdom of Belgium, has attained a position of marked respect in this county and has acquired a competence, largely by hard work.

Edward George was born on April 24, 1843, in Perry county, Indiana, the son of Nicholas and Catherine (Lawrence) George, .the former of whom was born in 1836 at Hachy, Belgium, and who died on July 12, 1890, and the latter born in 1840, near Hachy, Belgium, the daughter of Louis Joseph and Antonetta (Stweizer) Lawrence. The father of Mrs. Nicholas George came with his family to America about 1855 and located in Perry county, Indiana.

Nicholas George was educated in the common schools of Belgium and left his native land for America when still a young man. Settling in the state of Iowa, he enlisted as a soldier in the Civil War and served a little more than three years. After the war, he settled in Perry county, Indiana, where he married and located on a farm, living there the rest of his life. Hight children were born to Nicholas and Catherine George, namely : Peter, Louis, Sarah, who married Paul Clement; Edward, the subject of this sketch ; Jane, who married Frank Kibbler; John, Mary, who died at the age of eight years, and August, who married Ethel Tottle.

The late Nicholas George was the son of Peter and Margaret (Devillez) George, the former of whom was born in 1804 at Hachy, Belgium, and died in 1882, and the latter, born at Nobresart, Belgium, June 2, 1804, died in 1886. Margaret Devillez was the daughter of Henry Devillez, who married a Miss Shannen. Peter George was the son of Henry and Mary (Adam) George.

Edward George was educated in the common schools of Perry county, Indiana, and upon attaining young manhood moved to this county, locating in Liberty township. In 1909 he purchased a farm of one hundred and 'fifty-one acres in Adams township, this

CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. 811 county, where he now lives. He makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Cheers White hogs and is well known throughout the county as a breeder and feeder.

_ Mr. and Mrs. George are members of the Catholic church and Mr. George votes the Democratic ticket. In 1908 he built a comfortable country house and a commodious barn. His farm is well improved and most of the improvements have been placed upon it by Mr. George's own hand. He is an interesting and highly-respected citizen and enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens.

George M. Cole

The history of this county would be incomplete without a record of the family which the above-named gentleman represents, for the reason that his ancestors, by early residence in the county, have helped materially in the making of its history. Coming from Pioneer stock, the subject of this sketch is possessed of those enviable characteristics which make for success in whatever path of life their possessor chooses to travel. George M. Cole is the worthy scion of worthy ancestry. He was born in this county on July 8, 1860, the son of Benjamin and Martha (Shields) Cole, the former of whom was born in Indiana in 1833, and the latter, on a farm near Blanchester, this county, in 1837.

On the other side of the family, there also is pioneer stock, for Mr. Cole's paternal grandmother, Delilah (Brandenburg) Cole, was the daughter of William Brandenburg, one of the first to cross the country and pitch his tent in the forests of this county near Wilmington. Thomas Cole, the paternal grandfather, came to this county when a young man, married here, and then went to Indiana, and from there, to Missouri, where he spent the rest of his life. His widow, longing for the friends of her girlhood, returned to Clinton county, but when one of her sons went West, she accompanied him, and lived with his family until called away by death. Benjamin Cole, father' of George M. Cole, died on June 4, 1915, and his widow is now living with a daughter near Eaton, Preble county, Ohio. To Benjamin and Martha (Shields) Cole, eight children were born, as follow: Alice, George, Lucinda, Phoebe, Ida, Mart, Samuel and Catherine.

George Cole, after his schooling in Vernon township was completed, gave his entire attention to the problems of farming and stock raising, and after years of experience, is known as a successful breeder. He has now a herd of thoroughbred Jersey cows which he has raised on his farm of two hundred and thirty acres in Marion township. To this farm he came when the land consisted of woods, but he went resolutely to work to clear and improve it, and now after twenty-eight years of residence, is abundantly rewarded for his strenuous labors.

The domestic phase of a man's career is quite as important as his life in the world of occupational activity, for it furnishes the background for that life and for all his social relationships. On February 26, 1883, George M. Cole married Lizzie Wisbey, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 4, 1852, the daughter of Lewis and Margaret (Cartwright) Wisbey. Lewis Wisbey was born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1824 and in early manhood, married Margaret Cartwright, who was born in Yorkshire, England, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Leard) Cartwright, who came to America, first locating in Baltimore, Maryland. The Cartwrights later lived in Cincinnati for some years and from there went to Tunelton, Indiana, to take charge of a store. The mother died on August 3, 1833, and the father married, secondly, Anna S. Taylor, who had a remarkably long life, being over ninety years of age when she died. Joseph Cartwright died at Olney, Illinois on March 29, 1865. Lewis Wisbey was a son of Joseph and Jane (Ray) Wisbey, who many years ago, came to Ohio, settling near Whiteoak, in Brown.county, where Joseph died, leaving a widow and twelve children who moved to Cincinnati, these children being Hannah, Sarah, Frances, Margaret, Rebecca, America, Jane, Edith, Phoebe, Alice, Lewis and Return. Lewis Wisbey was for thirty-eight years attached to the Cincinnati fire department, during six years of which time, he was the chief engineer. His wife passed away in 1854, leaving two children, Charles and Elizabeth. Lewis Wisbey married, some time later, Agnes Clark, who was. born in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1832, the daughter of James and Townsey Anna (Maxey) Clark. They went from Stubenville to Missouri, and then returned to Cincinnati, where they spent the rest of their lives. By his second wife, Mr. Wisbey became the father of the following children: George, Clay, Anna, Stella, Thomas, Laura, Agnes, Vinnia, Emma, Lewis and Jane. ~

To George M. and Lizzie (Wisbey) Cole two children have been born, Stella and Martin, both of whom are married and established in their own homes. - Stella' is Mrs. Everett Humphreys, her husband being a son of John Humphreys of Vernon township, this county. Their only child, a son, is named George Cole. Martin Cole married Edith Myers, a daughter of John Thomas Myers, of Vernon township, and to this union five children have been born, Clarence, Florence Elizabeth, George Howard, Gladys May and Mary Christine.

Like his father, George M. Cole has been a life-long Republican, but he never has aspired to fill a public office, being content to do his daily task, and to do it well; to be true to his family obligations and to be a good, accommodating neighbor and a friend worthy of friendship.

Granville M. Oglesbee

Among the prominent families of Liberty township, this county, are the Oglesbees, among whom is Granville M. Oglesbee, a representative of the third generation of the family in this county. Mr. Oglesbee is living on the farm once occupied and owned by his grandfather, who married Sarah Stump in Virginia.

Granville M. Oglesbee was born in Clinton county and has spent all of his life in Liberty township. He is the son of William F. and Mary Jane (Miars) Oglesbee, the latter of whom was the daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Haines) Miars. Samuel Miars was a native of Virginia who came to Clinton county with his family early in the settlement of 'the county and settled in Union township. The paternal grandparents of Granville Oglesbee, John and Sarah (Stump) Oglesbee, were married on September 4, 1809, in Virginia, and, before coming to Clinton county, had three children. They first settled in Greene county, Ohio, but subsequently came to Clinton county, where they purchased two hundred acres of land, a part of that now owned by Granville Oglesbee. John Oglesbee died on July 12, 1840, and his wife on February 5, 1872. They were members of the Baptist church and had eight children, Amos, Daniel, Manley, Phoebe, John, Reese, Joshua and William F. John Oglesbee was the son of Isaiah Oglesbee, who settled in Clinton county, one and one-half miles east of Lumberton, where he and his wife died, the former about 1840 and the latter about three years later. They were members of the Frfends church, 'The Oglesbee family is believed to be of Scottish extraction.

William EF. Oglesbee was born on the farm now occupied by his son, on July 22, 1832. He was educated in the common schools of the county and reared on the farm and on November 5, 1857, was united in marriage to Mary Jane Miars. After his marriage, he took charge of the home farm, which in time he eame to own and which comprised, at the time of his death, three hundred and thirty-one acres. He and his wife were members of the German Reformed church and were particularly active in church work. He was also more or less active in county affairs and was an influential and useful citizen. He died on October 8, 1908, and his widow survived him for ten years, her death occurring on November 15, 1913. They were the parents of three children, Luella and Emma H., both now deceased, and Granville M., the second born, who is the subject of this sketch. Luella married Orvil Peterson and was the mother of two children, Mary Grace and Herman, the latter of whom is deceased. Emma H., who died on November 28, 1897, was unmarried.

Granville M. Oglesbee has Spent his entire life on the home farm and has been prominent in the agricultural activities of Liberty township. He is an active member in the Methodist Episcopal church at Lumberton and particularly active in the work of the Sunday school. Not only is he a member of the board of trustees of the church but he is also steward. Mr. Oglesbee owns three hundred acres of land in Liberty township and is accounted one of Clinton county's most substantial and representative citizens.

William McQuillan, now a well-known farmer of Marion township, this county, was born on September 10, 1841, in Cincinnati, Ohio, a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Millard) McQuillan, natives of Pennsylvania and of France, respectively, the former born in 1809, and the latter in 1818. Andrew McQuillan was the son of Patrick McQuillan, a native of Scotland, who early in life emigrated to the United States and settled in Pennsylvaina. Elizabeth Millard was the daughter of James Millard and wife, who settled in Brown county, Ohio, in 1832, and there spent the rest of their lives.

Andrew McQuillan emigrated from Pennsylvania to Brown county, Ohio, and after his marriage moved to Cincinnati, where he lived for a short time. It was during this time that William McQuillan, the subject of this sketch, was born, his parents at that time living on Abigail street, in Cincinnati. After a few years the family removed to Fayetteville, Brown county, Ohio, and there purchased ninety-six acres of land. To this original tract the father added from time to time until at the time of his death he owned about four hundred acres of fine farming land. He made a number of improvements on this farm before his death in 1883. His widow survived him a few years passing away in 1891. They were the parents of ten children, Celestine, William, Caroline, Edward, Andrew and Elizabeth (twins), James, John, Augustus and Charles.

Of these children, William, the second born, was reared on his father's farm, where he lived until twenty-four years of age, when he engaged in operating a threshing-machine and saw-mill,;, and is still engaged in threshing. In 1890 he purchased the farm which he now owns, and in 1900 erected the present buildings on the place and moved to the farm, where he has since lived.

On January 8, 1867, William McQuillan was married to Laura Ressler, who was born at Tipton, Indiana, September 13, 1846, the daughter of John and Rebecca (Feasel ) Ressler, natives of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, respectively, the former born in 1803 and the latter in 1815. John Ressler emigrated to Henry county, Indiana, in pioneer times. There his first wife died and he afterward married Rebecca Feasel. John Ressler's family was the fifth to locate in Tipton county, Indiana, and Mrs. McQuillan was the first white child born in Tipton, the county seat of Tipton county, Indiana, then a small village. Jobn Ressler was a merchant in Tipton for twenty-five years, and also served as postmaster of the town. Both of Mrs. McQuillan's parents died in Indiana, her father in 1863, and her mother in 1859. They were the parents of eight children, James, Viola, Laura, Henley, Cora, William, Buchanan and Charles. John Ressler was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Lutheran church.

To Mr. and Mrs. William McQuillan have been born four sons, Edward, Charles, William and Harry, two of whom, Charles and William, died in infancy.

James P. Fisher

The late James P, Fisher was a highly respected farmer of Wilson township, this county, born in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1844, who died in this county on October 138, 1907. z

James P. Fisher received his education in the common schools of Frederick county, Virginia, and was reared on the farm and early learned the rudiments of that timehonored vocation. He came to Clinton county at the age of twenty-one and lived in the Port William neighborhood the rest of his life. Thirty-five years ago he bought the tract of seventy acres where his widow and son now live, and there he erected a barn and a house which are still standing. He engaged in general farming and stock raising, and was a very active man, not only in his vocation, but in public work, especially in church circles. James P. Fisher was a son of Asa and Frances (Williams) Fisher, natives of Frederick county, Virginia, who were the parents of six children, of whom four, Mary, Delphia, Lucy and James are deceased, the living children being William and Sarah.

Mr. Fisher was married to Ruth Ann Caraway, who was born on August 13, 1855, the daughter of Henry and Nancy (Penn) Caraway, both natives of Ohio, and farmers by occupation. Henry Caraway owned one hundred acres of land, and he and his wife were prominent and influential in the affairs of the early life of their community. Both were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. To James P. and Ruth Ann (Caraway) Fisher were born four children, Charles S., Effie Ellen, John E. and Hattie F. Of these children Effie and Hattie are married. Effie is the wife of Oscar Kibby, of this county, and has one son, Charles. Hattie became the wife of Stephen Reynolds, a farmer of this county, and has one daughter, Goldie Ellen. Charles lives in Clinton county with his aunt, Sarah Halls.

John E. Fisher, who was born on August 18, 1882, in this county, lives on the old home place with his mother. He is a well-to-do farmer and is popular in the neighborhood where he lives.

H. Doyle Wright

H. Doyle Wright, now a well-known and prosperous young farmer of Green township, this county, was born at New Vienna, this county, on June 8, 1880, the son of James M. and Rachel (Good) Wright, the former a native of Highland county, Ohio, born on January 7, 1854, and the latter, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, born on August 1, 1853.

James M. Wright was the son of McClain and Sarah Ann (Woodmansee) Wright, pioneers of Highland county, both of whom are now deceased. McClain Wright was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War and died during the service. His widow died in Green township, this county, in 1911. Rachel Good was the daughter of Charles and Betsy (Moore) Good, both natives of Pennsylvania, who came from that state to Ohio in pioneer times, locating in' Highland county. Later they moved to New Vienna, this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Both were deyout members of the Hicksite Friends church, and Charles Good was one of the organizers of the New Vienna Bank and otherwise prominent in the early life of this community.

James M. Wright was reared in Highland county and moved to New Vienna with his mother after the death of his father. He worked by the month for some time after coming to Clinton county, but later engaged in farming for himself, and succeeded in accumulating a large farm, owning at the time of his death three hundred acres of excellent land in Green township, near New Vienna. He was also a stockholder in the New Vienna Bank. Politically, he was a Republican, although never an aspirant for office.' Fraternally, he was'a: member of the Grange, and of the Sons of Veterans. He was also an active worker in the church, being identified with the Methodist Episcopal faith.

His death occurred on June 15, 1913: James M:.Wright and wife were the parents of four children, H. Doyle, Edith B., Lawrence G. and Alice, all of whom are living.

H. Doyle Wright was reared on his father's farm and received his early education in the public schools of Highland county, later being a student at the New Vienna high School. After leaving school he took up farming on his own account, and now owns eighty-three acres of land where he lives, and one hundred and eight acres elsewhere in Green township. In 1910 he erected a splendid barn, fifty-two by eighty-six feet in size -and thoroughly modern. He makes a specialty of raising Jersey cattle and at the present time has fifty head of these fine animals. In 1913 he built a magnificent residence, located one mile from New Vienna.

In 1900 H. Doyle Wright was married to Stella Morris, of Clinton county, the daughter of James and Jennie (Hussey) Morris, both of whom are deceased. To this union three children have been born, Dorothy, James McClain (deceased) and Rachel.

Mr. Wright is a Republican, but is not active in politics, never having aspired to public office. He is a member of the Grange and of the Modern Woodmen of America. Both he and his wife are earnest and devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are held in high regard by their many friends throughout the part of the county in which they live.

Peter Rude

Listed among the most successful landowners in this county, and among the most prosperous farmers of this section of Ohio is Peter Rude, who was born in Marion township, this county, April 5, 1859, the son of William and Hester Ann (Shull) Rude, the former of whom was born on the farm now owned by his son, in 1836, and died on March 17, 1910, and the latter, born in Marion township, in 1838, died on February 22, 1895.

William Rude was the son of Peter and Nancy (Abbott) Rude, the former a_ native of Hamilton county, Ohio, and the latter, of Maryland. Peter Rude, Sr., came to Clinton county early in life, and settled in Marion township, where he became the owner of about six hundred acres of land. William Rude was a farmer in Clinton county, and, at the time of his death, owned one hundred and fifty acres of land. He was a Republican in politics and attended the United Brethren church.. Of the ten children born to William and Hester Ann (Shull) Rude, eight are now deceased, namely: Eliza James, John, Paul, Emily, Nancy, William and Lillie (twins) and Martha, the living children being Peter and Felix. In 1864, William Rude enlisted at Hillsboro in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Wolf, of Wilmington, and served eleven months. He served at. Nashville and was wounded at the battle of Franklin, while conducting prisoners from the field. He was discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, after which he returned to.Marion township. The paternal great-grandfather of Peter Rude, the subject of this sketch, with one of his sons, was killed by the Indians.

Peter Rude was reared on the farm and was educated in the public schools. He has been engaged in farming all his life and owns one hundred and eighty-four acres of land in Marion township, being considered a successful farmer and: stockman.

In 1898 Peter Rude was married to Nettie Weaver of Clermont county, Ohio; to which 'union two children were born, Anna and John F. 'Nettie (Weaver) Rude died in 1901, and, six years later, Mr. Rude married, secondly; Mary Broderick, who was born at Blanchester, this county, on June 30,:1861, the daughter of William and Bridget Broderick, natives of Ireland, who were married in Cincinnati, Ohio, after coming to America, subsequently, coming to CHnton county, where William Broderick died in 1908. His wife had died twelve years previously, in 1896. To Mr. and Mrs. Rude no children have been born. Mr.:Rude votes: the' Republican -ticket end is more or less active in local politics. Mrs. Rude is a member of'the Catholic church.

John B. Telfair

Prominent among the farmers of Clinton county, is John B. Telfair, of Wilson ' township, son of the late William B. Telfair, of the Clinton county bar, and, in his time, one of the most prominent athletes who ever attended Wilmington College. The Telfair family hus been prominent in the history of this section and John B. Telfair is a distinguished scion of a worthy family. ;

John B. Telfair was born on May 1, 1865, at Oak Ridge in Clinton county, the son of William B. and Elizabeth T. (Peyton) Telfair, the former of whom was born at Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, June 16, 1828, and the latter, at Stanton, Virginia, the daughter of John Howe and Ann (Lewis) Peyton. John Howe Peyton was a prominent lawyer of Stanton and a member of the Virginia Legislature for two terms. He was an aide to General Porter during the War of 1812. : the former a native of Georgia, who, early in life, became a midshipman in the United States navy and was with Commodore Decatur during the famous Algerian expedition. He subsequently became an honored member of the medical fraternity and located in Highland county, Obio, about 1827. Some years later, in 1838, he came to Clinton . county, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until 1872, the year of his death. In the early part of his medical career he served as assistant physician at the Virginia hospital for the insane at Stanton, and while a resident there became acquainted with and married Jane A. Boys, of that city. He was one of the heirs to six thousand acres of land in Clinton county, which had been given to his grandfather, General George Mathews, for service in the Revolutionary War. His wife was the daughter of Dr. Alexander Boys, of Stanton. They were the parents of the following children: William, Charles, Jane, Martha, Maria, Virginia and Rose. Isaac Telfair was the son of David Telfair, a Presbyterian minister, who immigrated from Scotland to the United States and located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he founded a church.

Reared in Clinton county, William B. Telfair was fourteen years of age when he was sent to Washington College, at Washington, Pennsylvania, where he was a student with the late James G. Blaine. Graduating from the regular course at Washington College in 1848, William B. Telfair returned home and entered upon the study of law. A year later he went to Charlottesville, Virginia, where he entered the law department of the University of Virginia, from which he was graduated in 1851. He returned to Ohio and was admitted to the bar at Chillicothe in the spring of 1852. He commenced the practice of his profession at Cincinnati and soon after became a member of the Cincinnati Literary Club, then numbering among its members such men as Stanley Matthews, Manning F. Force, Rutherford B. Hayes and the.late Ainsworth R. Spofford, for many years librarian of Congress. A few months after locating at Cincinnati, Mr. Telfair returned to Clinton county, locating at Wilmington, where he formed a partnership with Judge Hinkson, with whom he remained for two years. He then retired from active practice for a time and later resumed practice in connection with Benjamin Fuller, the law firm being Fuller & Telfair. After his marriage to Hlizabeth Peyton, in 1853, he resided in Virginia for some years, but subsequently returned to Clinton county and, after farming for one year, resumed his practice in 1858. From 1869 until 1871 he was in partnership with Judge Barclay Harlan and, subsequently, with Judge James Sloan, of Hillsboro, which relationship continued until the latter's death on September 18, 1873. The firm of Telfair & Hayes (Melville Hayes) was formed on May 18, 1874, and was dissolved:on October 11, 1875, for Iaany years thereafter, Mr. Telfair continuing to practice alone. While a resident of Madison county, Ohio, he was a candidate of the. Democratie party for: Congress. ggainst the late Tom: Corwin; He: also: served as a member of the school board and as a member of the Wilmington council. He was

' an active member of the Presbyterian*church and was a trustee of the same during the later years of his life. At one time he served as prosecuting attorney of Clinton county.

To William B. and Elizabeth (Peyton) Telfair four children were born, namely: Ann, who died early in life; William, who married Alice Green and has three children, Anna, William, Jr., and David; Susan, who married Charles M. Dougherty, of Washington, D. C., and has two children, James and Telfair, and John B., the immediate subject of this sketch. Mrs. Elizabeth Telfair died in 1886 and William B. Telfair died in June, 1907.

- John B. Telfair, who was reared principally in Wilmington, received his education in Wilmington College, where he was a student for two years. The present gymnasium of Wilmington College, for the most part, is,the outcome of his efforts while a student at that institution. While in college, he was captain of the baseball team and, after leaving college, played professional baseball for a time, aS a catcher. At one-time he had a contract with one of the national league teams, but played most of the time in Stanton and Lynchburg, Virginia. After leaving Wilmington College, Mr. Telfair matriculated, in 1892, at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, where he studied medicine for one year, and received a certificate to attend Bellevue Hospital in New York.

In 1907 John B. Telfair was married to Isadora Haines, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, the daughter of Zimri Haines, a farmer of Greene county, and a prominent member of the Quaker church, to which union has been born one son, John Peyton.

In 1908 Mr. Telfair moved to the farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which was left him by his father, and in recent yéars has erected a house and barn and improved the farm generally. He and his wife are members of the Grassy Run Friends church. He was twice nominated as the Democratic candidate for sheriff of Clinton county. Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

John Tilton

The late John Tilton, a well-known farmer of Green township, this county, where he owned, until his death, on November 2, 1914, one hundred and three acres of land, was born in Warren county, Ohio, September 16, 1845, the son of James H. and Rachael (Hutchinson) Tilton, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey, and the latter of whom was born in Warren county, Ohio, the daughter of Silas Hutchinson. a pioneer of Warren county, where he and his wife both died. .

When a young man, James H. Tilton settled in Warren county, Ohio, where he married Rachel Hutchinson and engaged in his occupation as a farmer. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He and his first wife were the parents of four children, Silas, James, John and William. Upon the death of the mother of these children, James H. Tilton married, secondly, Hester Keever, by whom he had five children, Sylvester, George, Rachel, Caroline and Ida. At the time of his death, James H. Tilton was ninety-two years old.

The late John Tilton, who was educated in the public schools and reared on the farm, came to Clinton county in 1882, shortly afterward purchasing one hundred and three acres of land in Green township, the farm which his family now owns. In 1862 he had enlisted in Company B, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war.

On October 3, 1866, John Tilton was married to Margaret H. Swink, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, April 6, 1849, the daughter of Enos J. and Eliza (Stickleman) Swink, both natives of Virginia, the latter of whom was born on June 13, 1815, who came to Ohio about the year 1847, locating on a farm near Lebanon, in Warren county. Mrs. Tilton's father died in 1851, and her mother in 1887, at the age of seventy-two.

They had four children, Martha and John, deceased, James and Margaret, the last of whom is the widow of the late John Tilton. To Mr. and Mrs. John Tilton were born eight children, of whom two, Carrie, the second born, and William, the sixth born, are deceased, the living children being Frank, the first born, Robert, May, Nellie, Margaret und Tugene.

John Tilton voted the Republican ticket, and for a number of years served on the school board in Green township. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church, and Mrs. Tilton is still a member of that denomination.

William Turner Tedrick

Born in Highland county, Ohio, on November 3, 1881, William Turner Tedrick is the son of Isaiah and Catherine (Hopkins) Tedrick, now residents of Marion township, this county. Mr. Tedrick's father, a native of Highland county and the son of Andrew and Matilda (Smith) Tedrick, was born on May 9, 1849. His mother was the daughter of Alexander and Nancy (Spickard) Smith. His paternal great grandparents were Samuel and Polly Tedrick, who emigrated from Maryland to Highland: county in pioneer times. Mr. Tedrick's mother, who before her marriage was Catherine Hopkins, was born on August 1, 1854, in Highland county, and was the daughter of Phillip and Mary Elizabeth (Page) Hopkins. Phillip Hopkins was the son of Reason and Catherine (Ball) Hopkins.

Mr. Tedrick is one of six children born to his parents. The others were Osee M., Alta May (deceased), Harley Emmet, Otis Hopkins and Raymond Oscar (deceased). His father had been previously married to a Miss Jane Baker of Clermont county, Ohio, by whom he had one son, John Andrew.

Reared on the farm and educated in the public schools of Highland county, Mr. Tedrick came to Clinton county with his father's family on March 24, 1897. The parents settled in Marion township, where they are now living. Mr. Tedrick's father was prominent in iocal politics of Highland county, and has been prominent in the politics of Marion township, since removing to this county.

After living in Clinton county for a number of years, William Turner Tedrick, in October, 1913, purchased a farm of one hundred and eighteen ecres, where he now lives. The farm is located three and one-half miles from Blanchester, on the Cuba and Blanchester pike. On November 24, 1906, William Turner Tedrick was married to Esla Hallsted, the daughter of James W. and Sarah (Berger) Hallsted. To this happy union. there have been born three children, Helen Catherine, born on October 18, 1907; Omer Hallsted, September 5, 1909, and Sarah Elizabeth, February 17, 1913.

William Turner Tedrick is an up-to-date, progressive farmer and one of the hustling young men in Marion township. He and his wife are members of the United Brethern church. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Masonic lodge at Blanchester.

Isatah Tedrick

Isaiah Tedriek, now a successful and well-known farmer of Marion township, this county, who owns a splendid farm of one hundred and three and one-half acres on the State road, three miles from Blanchester, was born in Highland county, Ohio, May 9, 1849, the son of Andrew and Matilda (Smith) Tedrick. natives of Maryland and Highland county, Ohio, respectively. Matilda Smith was the daughter of Alexander and Naney (Spickard) Smith. The paternal grandparents were Samuel and Polly Tedrick. who emigrated from Maryland to Highland county, Ohio, in pioneer times. Samuel Tedrick died in Highland county, but his wife died in the state of Maryland.

Andrew Tedrick was a farmer and teamster in early life. He was identified with the Democratic party, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He and his wife had eight children, of whom two, William and John, are deceased, the living children being Nancy, Sarah, Ester Jane, Isaiah, Mary and Allie. Andrew Tedrick, who was a 'Republican in politics and a member of the Protestant Methodist church, died in 1866 at the age of fifty-one. His wife died, in 1861, at the age of twenty-eight years.

Isaiah Tedrick was reared on a farm and was educated in the public schools. On March 24, 1897, Mr. Tedrick came to Clinton county and in 1911 purchased a farm of one - hundred and three acres, three miles from Blanchester.

On January 11, 1879, Isaiah Tedrick was married to Catherine Hopkins, who was born in Highland county, August 1, 1864, the daughter of Philip and Mary Hlizabeth (Page) Hopkins, both natives of that county. Mrs. Tedrick's paternal grandparents, Reason and Catherine (Ball) Hopkins, were pioneers in Highland county. Mrs. Tedrick's father died, in April, 1889, at the age of seventy-three years, and her mother, in 1894, at the age of seventy-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Tedrick six children have been born, Osee M., William Turner, Alta May (deceased), Harley Emmet, Otis Hopkins and Raymond Oscar (deceased).

Before his marriage to Catherine Hopkins, Mr. Tedrick was married to Jane Baker, of Clermont county, Ohio, and by this first marriage had one son, John Andrew.

Mr. 'Tedrick is a Republican and served as trustee in Highland county for six years. He is now serying his sixth year as trustee of Marion township. He was also a school director in Highland county for several years, and has served as a school director in Marion township. Fraternally, Mr. Tedrick is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. and Mrs. Tedrick and family are members of the United Brethern church.

Thomas H. Blackburn

The man who tries to raise the standard of the live stock of his community helps to raise the standard of that community, and many men should be given especial credit for their service along this line. Thomas H. Blackburn of Blanchester is one of these men.

Thomas H. Blackburn was born in Lebanon, Ohio. on September 5, 1852, the son of William B. and Majorie (Hutchinson) Blackburn. William B. Blackburn was born in Warren county in 1821 and died in Lebanon, Ohio, in 1907. He was the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Blackburn, who were pioneers of Cincinnati, Ohio, who later located in Warren county, this state. where they both died. Benjamin Blackburn was an attorney by profession, but owned a valuable farm near Lebanon. William B. Blackburn was a manufacturer of harness at Lebanon. He was a Republican in politics, and was a liberal in religious views, although his wife was a member of the Baptist church. His wife. who was born in Warren county in 1832, and died in 1898. was the daughter of Thomas P. and Cynthia Hutchinson, the latter of whom was born in Warren county, near Lebanon.

To William B. and Marjorie (Hutchinson) Blackburn were born the following children: Clara (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Cassius (deceased), Thomas H.. Clinton L., Frank, Benjamin, Dora (deceased). Clifford (deceased) and Indiola.

Thomas H. Blackburn was born in Lebanon, Ohio. where he attended the public schools and was graduated from the high school. He also attended a commercial college at Dayton, Ohio, from which he was graduated. He was then employed as a bookkeeper for a few years and was a merchant in the drug business in Lebanon for two years. About the year 1888 he began to buy and sell horses, and later began to deal extensively in fine harness horses. He later became a trainer of running horses and was in the employ of Doctor McClane, of Cincinnati, for eight years. or until the death of Doctor McClane. He then had a stable of his own. with headquarters at Cincinnati, traveling with his horses in the western circuit and in Canada. While in the employ of Doctor McClane. of Cincinnati, he was in races as far south as New Orleans and as far east as New York City. He was an expert trainer and often won the Derby. In June, 1899, Mr. Blackburn located on a farm in Clinton county near Cuba, the farm which his son, Doctor Blackburn, now owns. He also owned another farm, but in 1912 retired from this and moved into Blanchester, where he has a fine residence and five acres of land on Lazenby street. Mr. Blackburn is thoroughly posted on all kinds of live stock, and now, in Blanchester, on his five-acre lot, he has several thoroughbred Holstein cows, some of them highly valuable, he having paid four hundred dollars for one cow. He also has some fine Duroc-Jersey swine and thoroughbred Silver-laced chickens, the best to be found anywhere. His wife is also much interested in stock, especially the cows and chickens.

In 1877 Thomas H. Blackburn was married to Eva Bowers of Warren county, Ohio, a daughter of George W. Bowers, who died in Dayton, Ohio. To Thomas H. and Eva (Bowers) Blackburn was born one child, Dr. Arthur Blackburn. Mrs. Blackburn died on October 26, 1902, and on September 10, 1908, Thomas H. Blackburn married, secondly, Della Schumtz, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, on April 3, 1873, a daughter of Calvin J. and Anna Mary (Breniger) Schumtz, of Middletown, Butler county, Ohio.

Dr. Arthur Blackburn is a graduate of Miami Medical College of Cincinnati. He engaged in the practice of medicine after his graduation until about six years ago, when he retired from practice to take up farming. He moved on to his farm in Clinton county and took up the breeding of fine Holstein cattle. He married Bessie Clevinger of Clinton county and they have two children; Dorothy Hllen, and Eva Bell.

Thomas H. Blackburn is inclined to his father's liberal views on religion, but his family attend the Universalist church. Mr. Blackburn is a citizen of sterling qualities, a man of excellent judgment, whose opinion is widely sought in substantial matters of all kinds.

A. E. Oren, a successful young farmer of Liberty township, was born in that township on November 22, 1868, the son of Jesse and Mary (Bennett) Oren, the former of whom is the son of Hlihu and Jane (Newcomb) Oren.

Elihu Oren was born in Greene county, Tennessee, on March 38, 1809, and in 1810 came with his parents, John Oren and wife, to Clinton county, where he grew to manhood on his father's farm, and, at the age of twenty years, engaged in teaching. On August 1, 1830, he was married to Jane Newcomb, who bore him six children who grew to maturity, Charles, Elizabeth, Jesse, Mary Jane, Asenath and Clarissa, the last of whom died in 1862, in her eighteenth year. Elihu Oren continued teaching for a number of years after his marriage, but later engaged in farming. He moved to Liberty township in 1835 and there resided until his death, March 7, 1872. He was known as the friend of railroads, free pikes and free schools, the last years of his life having been spent in the work of extending the Chesapeake & Ohio railway. In politics he was a Whig, until 1840, when he voted the Whig ticket for the last time. From that time until Lincoln issued his emancipation proclamation, he was a Garrisonian Abolitionist, after which he allied himself with the Republican party. Reared under the influences of the Society of Friends, he was opposed to war. His sympathies, however, during the Civil War were with the Union, and he desired and prayed for the success of the Union army. His two sons, Charles and Jesse, enlisted in the Union army. Charles was captain of the Fifth United States Colored Troops, and was killed by a sharpshooter in front of Petersburg in August, 1864. Jesse, the father of A. B., served three years in Company B, Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Elihu Oren's devoted wife survived him, and spent the last years of her life with her son-in-law, B. F. James. Elihu Oren owned the farm which his grandson, the subject of this sketch, now occupies.

A. E. Oren, who was born and reared on the farm, spent three years in Wilmington College, during which time he won distinction as a college baseball player and as a pole vaulter with the track team.

On November 25, 1891, A. E. Oren was united in marriage to Inez Farquhar, who was born in this county, a daughter of Philip Farquhar, a farmer and member of the Friends church. 'Though Mr. and Mrs. Oren have lived most of their lives in Clinton county, they were for thirteen years residents of Oklahoma, where they own one hundred and seventy acres of land. In 1914 they returned to Ohio, to the home farm, to care for Mr. Oren's parents, who are still living on the farm.

To A. E, and Inez (Farquhar) Oren two children have been born, Leslie and Philip. Fraternally, Mr. Oren is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Felix Rude

Among the most enterprising and successful farmers of Marion township, this county, is Felix Rude, a native of the township, born on July 15, 1863, the son of William Rude, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Felix Rude was reared on a farm and received a good liberal education in the public schools. He has always been engaged in farming as a vocation, and owns two hundred and sixty-seven acres of land in Marion township, this county, and in Warren cunty, Ohio. He is a general farmer and stockman, but is especially interested in the dairy business. From year to year, Mr. Rude has improved his farm until he now has one of the most productive tracts in this part of the township. Mr. Rude lives two miles from Blanchester. ;

On June 2, 1895, Felix Rude was married to Catherine Fritz, a native of Brown county, Ohio, born on May 21, 1868, the daughter of Cepher and Catherine (Sefferman) Fritz, both natives of Baden-Baden, Germany, the former born in 1828 and the latter in 1835. Mrs. Rude's paternal grandparents were Joseph and Rosanna Fritz. Joseph Fritz died in Germany and after his death his widow and six sons came to America and settled In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where they lived for twenty-one years. They then came to Ohio and purchased six hundred acres of land in Brown county, which the mother later divided among her sons. Cepher Fritz was the youngest member of this family and his mother died at his home. Mrs. Rude's maternal grandparents were E. and Justina Sefferman, who went from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1839, to Cincinnati, later removing to Brown county, where they bought a farm and where both died. Mrs, Rude's father died in 1885 and her mother in 1883.

To Mr. and Mrs. Felix Rude have been born eight children, of whom two, Mary Ethel, the first born, and Margaret, the youngest, are deceased, the latter dying in infancy. The living children are Catherine Elizabeth, Martha Luella, Felix Edward, Ester Ann, and Edna Rosanna and Emmet Mathias (twins).

Mrs. Rude is a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Rude votes the Republican ticket, and is more or less prominent in the local councils of the party.

Milton Bernard

Among the 'enterprising agriculturists of this region must be counted Milton Bernard, a young and thrifty farmer of Richland township and an enterprising stockman, who is well known throughout Clinton county.

Milton Bernard was born on July 31, 1875, at New Vienna, this county, the son of Thomas Jefferson and Almeda (Young) Bernard, the former of whom was born near New Antioch, this county, on October 12, 1832, and the latter of whom was born near Lees creek, in Wayne township, this county.

The late Thomas J. Bernard, Jr., was the son of Thomas J. and Mafy Bernard, the former of whom was a native of Virginia, but who emigrated to Ohio with his parents when a child of four years. After growing to manhood in this state, Thomas J. Bernard, Sr., married Mary McConnel, who was probably born in Kentucky. After his marriage, he located on Cowen's creek, and spent the greater part of the remainder of his life in Clinton county, being actively engaged in farming. He lived a few years in Brown county, and from there moved to near Lynchburg, where he died in February,

1868, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife died in 1838, at the age of thirty-two years. They were the parents of five children: William P.; Sarah, who married William Elliott; Nancy and Thomas J. Following the death of his first wife, Thomas J. Bernard, Sr., married, secondly, Mrs. Eliza Atkinson, by whom he had six children, four of whom grew to maturity, Mary, who married Henry Brown, Caroline, Serelda and Grafton W.

Of Thomas J. Bernard, the father of Milton Bernard, it may be said that he belonged to the Methodist Protestant church, and was active not only in religious work, but in public affairs. He lived to be eighty years old, and kept abreast of the times until his death, on June 25, 1914. His widow is still living at Sabina, and was seventyeight years old in January, 1915. The late Thomas J. Bernard, who was a farmer by occupation, occupied the farm of C. A. Bosworth, of Cincinnati, as a tenant for twentyeight years. Thomas J. and Almeda (Young) Bernard were the parents of eleven children, of whom four, Mary, the eldest, William, Ida and Elmer, the sixth, seventh and eighth born, are deceased. The living children are Clara, Laura, Sarah, Jennette, Milton and Eva and Evert (twins).

Born and reared on the farm and educated in the common schools, Milton Bernard remained at home until his marriage, on August 26, 1893, to Alma Shepp, who was born on December 15, 1877, the daughter of John and Mary (Johnson) Shepp. John Shepp, a gardener by occupation, lived in Reesville. He and his wife were active in the local work of the Methodist Protestant church. Mr. Shepp held numerous local public offices and served as a Union soldier during the entire period of the Civil War. During one of the severe battles of that war, he was shot in the neck and carried the bullet to his grave. To Milton and Alma (Shepp) Bernard four children have been born, Esther, Paul, Thomas and Barbara. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Bernard located on the farm where they now live and which Mr. Bernard operates in partnership with his brother, Everett. They manage altogether one thousand and thirty-five acres of land, operating it on a sharing basis.

Mr. and Mrs. Bernard are members of the Methodist Protestant church at Reesville, and Mr. Bernard is superintendent of the Sunday school. Fraternally, Mr. Bernard is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.

Alfred James

The late Alfred James, who, at the time of his death on October 10, 1899, owned a fertile farm of one hundred and forty-eight acres in Marion township this county, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, November 11, 1827, the son of Joseph and Catherine (Kelly) James, natives of Virginia and Clinton county, Ohio, respectively.

Joseph James moved from Virginia to Clermont county, Ohio, in pioneer times, and in 1831 came to Clinton county, settling on a farm of five hundred acres of land in Marion township. He cleared most of this before his death, which occurred in 1862, at the age of seventy-five years. Catherine (Kelly) James, his second wife, died in 1872, at the age of seventy-six years. Joseph and Catherine (Kelly) James had nine children, of whom the late Alfred James was the third born. The others were Elijah, Malinda, Nancy, Sarah, Peter, Rachael, Amanda and Mary. Joseph James had been previously married to Rebecca Garnet, by whom he had two children, Thomas and Mahalla. Early in life he was identified with the Whig party, but at the formation of the Republican party, he became a Republican and voted that ticket until his death.

- - ~_ Born on the farm, the late Alfred James was reared in the country and received his education in the country schools. He lived at home with his parents until his marriage in Clinton county, to Josephine Kelly, who was born October 10, 1859, the daughter of George and Sarah (Stevens) Kelly, pioneers in this part of Ohio. Mrs. Josephine (Kelly) James died on October 18, 1918, a short time after the death of her husband.

They had five children, Pearl, Lester, Goldie, Ray and Charles, all of whom are living. Lester married Bessie Newkirk, who was born near Greenbush, Ohio, and has two children, Ethel and Edna, the former born on November 21, 1909, and the latter, October 1, 1911. Goldie, the third in the family, is the wife of Harry Spencer and has three children, Carl, Erma and Robert. Charles married Flora Folks. Lester James and his brother, Ray, rent the old homestead farm of one hundred and forty-eight acres.

John Mathew

In past ages the history of a country was comprised chiefly in the record of its wars and conquest. Today history is largely a record of commercial activity and those whose names are foremost in the annals of the nation are those who have become leaders in business circles. The conquests now made are those of mind over matter and the victor is he who can most successfully establish, control and direct commerial interests. John Mathew, an intelligent, keen and shrewd business man of Sabina, this county, is one of the strong and influential citizens in that section of Clinton county. Tireless energy, keen perception, honesty of purpose and genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time and place are his chief characteristics.

John Mathew was born on October 16, 1866, at Centerville, in Clinton county, Ohio, the son of James and Abbie (Drake) Mathew, the former of whom, born on December 3, 1832, in Clinton county, Ohio, died in 1890, and the latter of whom, born on Staten Island, New York, was the daughter of Daniel and Ann (Meusreau) Drake. James Mathew was the son of Jonah and Sarah (Stokesberry) Mathew, the former born in Clinton county and the latter in Virginia. The Mathew family originally came from Virginia. Jonah Mathew subsequently became a farmer in Illinois, where he owned a hundred and sixty acres of land. He had eight children, James, Eli, John, Minerva, Elizabeth, Eliza J., Rachel and Hmily.

The late James Mathew received a good education and was graduated from the Hillsboro high school. When a young man he taught school in Clinton county for a few years, but later engaged in the mercantile business, first at Texas, Ohio, from which place, after being there for four or five years, he removed to Centerville, Ohio, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for twenty-two years. About 1885 he retired from business, being at that time a resident of Octa, in Fayette county. He owned a small farm near Centerville.

To James and Abbie (Drake) Mathew seven children were born, namely: Alphius A., who married Margaret Massie; Emma, who married Robert Maddux; Mary E., who married David Eliott; Anna, who married Charles Barnes; John, the subject of this sketch; Kittie, who married Claton Thompson, and Rachel, 'who married Charles Stewart. Mrs. James Mathew was prominent in the affairs of the Methodist Protestant church. Politically, James Mathew was a Republican.

John Mathew was educated in the public schools of Wayne township, this county, and as a young man clerked in his father's store. In 1886 he removed to Octa, in Fayette county, and engaged in the mercantile business there on his own responsibility. Three years later he moved to Sabina, where he conducted a shoe store for a short time. In 1890 he removed to Ohio City, in Vanwert county, and while living there was occupied as a traveling salesman, spending most of the time out of town. Afterwards he engaged in the shoe and clothing business, in which he remained for about four years. About 1895 he engaged in the real-estate business and five years later returned to Sabina, where he engaged with Charles W. Custis in buying and selling stocks of merchandise, being thus engaged for four or five years. About 1905 he resumed the real-estate business and is now thus engaged at Sabina. Mr. Mathew owns a farm of one hundred and eighteen acres in Wayne township and another of one hundred and eleven acres in Washington township, both of which are rented.

John Mathew has been twice married, the first time to Ada J. Sparks, the daughter of Silas and Christine Sparks, of Pierson Station, Fayette county. By this first marriage there were three children, two of whom, Verna C., the eldest, and Myrel, the youngest, died early in life, Mildred B. still living. By the second wife, who, before her marriage, was Edith Plymire, daughter of George and Elizabeth Plymire, there has been born one child, Helen E.

Mr. and Mrs. Mathew are members of the Methodist Protestant church and he is actively identified with the Republican party. He takes a prominent part in the affairs of Sabina and yicinity and enjoys the confidence of all the people. Needless to say he has a host of friends, among whom he is held in the highest esteem.

Charles H. Cammack

Charles H. Cammack, now a well-known and popular farmer of Liberty township, this county, was born in Orange county, Virginia, on November 8, 1872, the son of George Walter and Mary (Pidgeon) Cammack, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively, the former having been born about 1835. Mary Pidgeon was a daughter of Charles and Catherine (Horney) Pidgeon, natives of North Carolina, and farmers by occupation, who came to Clinton county about the time of the Civil War, in order that Mr. Pidgeon might avoid service as a soldier in the Confederate army. He was a member of the Friends church and was very active in church work. He was the owner of a hundred-acre farm in this county, which he purchased and paid for after he was sixty years old. George W. Cammack was the son of William and Catherine (Mason) Cainmack, Carolinans, who moved 'to Virginia, where they were the owners of one hundred acres of land and prominent members of the Baptist church in their locality.

The late George Walter Cammack received his education in the common schools of Virginia, and lived in the Old Dominion state all his life, passing away in 1878. After his death his widow brought the family to Clinton county, locating near Wilmington, on a farm. After her family was reared to maturity, Mrs. Cammack returned to Orange county, Virginia, where she is now living.

George Walter and Mary (Pidgeon) Cammack were the parents of six children, of whom Charles H. was the fifth in order of birth, the others being William, Flora, Nellie, Cornelia and J. W. Of these children, Flora and Nellie are deceased; William is a resident of Orange county, Virginia, and J. W. Cammack, who is a Baptist minister, of Richmond, Virginia, is also associate editor of the Religious Herald.

Charles H. Cammack was only seven years old when his mother moved from Virginia to Clinton county, Ohio. He was educated in the country schools and reared on the farm, and in 1905 was married to Anna Oglesbee, who was born in this county, the daughter of Franklin and Ruth (Hadley) Oglesbee, prominent farmers of their community and members of the Friends church. Franklin Oglesbee died on April 16, 1914. One year after his marriage, Mr. Cammack moved to the farm where he now lives in Liberty township. Mr. and Mrs. Cammack have no children. They are active members of the Friends church at Wilmington and fraternally, Mr. Cammack belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife own the farm of one hundred and twenty acres of fertile land, where they live and where Mr. Cammack carries on a general system of farming and stock raising, with very gratifying success.

The Oglesbee family, of which Mrs. Cammack is a member, is one of the oldest and for many years, one of the most influential in Clinton county. The Oglesbees had their beginning in this county in 1817, in which year Isaiah Oglesbee, a native of Virginia, of Scottish extraction, emigrated with his family to this section of the state, locating one and one-half miles east of Lumberton, where both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, proving very influential factors in the early development of that section of the county. Isaiah Oglesbee died about the year 1840, his widow surviving him about three years. Both were devoted members of the Friends church. Their son, John Oglesbee, married Sarah Stump in Virginia on September 4, 1809, to which union three children had been born before the family emigrated to this county, the eldest of whom was Amos, born in 1810, father of the late Franklin Oglesbee, father of Mrs. Cammack. John Oglesbee, upon locating in Clinton county, bought two hundred acres of land in the then wilderness and this he converted into a well-cultivated place, becoming one of the leading landowners as well as one of the most worthy citizens of the county. He died on July 12, 1840, and his widow survived him many years, her death not occurring until on February 5, 1873. They were the parents of eight children and, as members of the Baptist church, reared their children in the same faith.

Amos Oglesbee, as the eldest son in this pioneer family, shared with his father the herculean task of clearing the wilderness in which their home was made and remained at home until 1835, when he married Anna Huffman, sister of Solomon Huffman, an early settler of Chester township, this county. She was born in 1814 and came to this county with her parents when a small girl. Soon after their marriage Amos Oglesbee and his wife settled on the farm later owned by their son, Franklin, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were members of the Reformed church and were useful in all good works in the neighborhood of their home. Amos Oglesbee died on December 31, 1851, his widow surviving until June 25, 1875. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the late Franklin Oglesbee was the eldest, five of whom are still living.

Franklin Oglesbee was born on the farm mentioned above on September 4, 1836, and as his father's eldest child became his most valued 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 Civil War. Though he: received no wounds in battle, exposure so badly impaired his health that he never afterward was in perfect physicial condition. Upon returning from the war, Franklin Oglesbee resumed farming, which received his attention until December, 1903, at which time, on account of growing physical disability, he disposed of the old homestead, invested otherwise, and with his family moved to Wilmington, where he spent the rest of his days, his death occurring on April 16, 1914.

On January 2, 1873, Franklin Oglesbee was united in marriage to Ruth Hadley, who was born in this county in 1854, the daughter of Eli L. and Theodosia Hadley, prominent pioneers of this county, and to this union but one child was born, a daughter, Anna T., born on December 1, 1873, who married Mr. Cammack. Franklin Oglesbee was an excellent citizen and was held in the highest regard by many friends, who sincerely mourned his death. He was converted and joined the church when a young man, his life ever being an exemplary one. He was a great reader and was well informed on many topics, but his favorite book was the Holy Bible, which he Had read, from cover to cover, fifty-five times.

Michael Clement

The Union soldier, during the great war between the states, builded more wisely than he knew. He offered his life freely as a sacrifice, not only for the union of the states, but for the freedom of the individual, and thousands were killed in this gigantic struggle. Many of the young men who enlisted for service in this great war suffered the horrors of prison pens, wounds from which they never recovered and the ravages of disease, whose traces remained in broken constitutions and impaired health. Michael Clement, whose father was a native of Belgium, was a soldier in that great war.

Ohio, and after completing his education in the schools of Wayne township, enlisted, just after reaching his majority, March 22, 1864, in the Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry. Assigned to Company H, he participated in the battles around Petersburg and the blowing up of the fort, the Weldon railroad fight, the battle of Ream Station, Poplar Grove church, Pegram Farm, Hatcher's Run, Stony Creek, Dinwiddie Court House and Appomattox. His regiment was the last engaged with the army of General Lee before the latter's surrender at Appomattox, and he was at Petersburg when Sherman's army reached that point. He received his honorable discharge on August 9, 1865.

Mr. Clement's parents were Hubert and Victoria (Bigonville) Clement, both natives of Belgium. Hubert Clement came to America before his marriage and lived for a time in Kentucky, where he worked as a road builder. After six years, he returned to his native land, married and brought his bride back with him to Kentucky. After living in Kentucky a few years, he came to Clinton county, locating in Wayne township on a farm about one-half mile east of the farm now owned by his son, Louis, and at the time of his death owned one hundred and seventy-eight acres of land. He and his wife reared a family of eight children, Paul, Michael, Mary Catherine, Mary Jane, Victoria, Hubert, Jr., Louis and Rosa. The father was a Democrat and both he and his wife were members of the Catholic church.

After the close of the Civil War, Michael Clement returned to Wayne township and began farming and there he has lived most all his life. In 1885 he purchased the farm of one hundred acres, where he now lives, at seventy-five dollars an acre. Some years ago he remodeled his house and barn. Most of the improyements have been placed upon the farm by his hand. In 1890, however, Mr. Clement retired from active farming and moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he lived until 1896. He then moved back to the farm and resumed its management until 1905, when his son, Frank, took charge of the land.

Mr. Clement's wife, who, before her marriage, was Mary V. Dabe, died in March, 1903. She was the daughter of Francis and Julia (Luiso) Dabe. She bore Mr. Clement four children: James H., who died at the age of one year; Alvin, whose biographical sketch is presented elsewhere in this volume; Frank, who married May Luiso and has four children, Dona and Donald (twins), Dell and Elnora, and Josephine, who died small. Donald, the son of Frank, is deceased.

The Clements family are members of the Catholic church at Wilmington and Mr. Clement votes the Democrutic ticket. He is a citizen of whom Wayne township has every reason to be justly proud, because he has done his full duty to his country, his neighbors, his family and himself.

Daniel W. Hall

Among the good farmers of Wilson township is Daniel W. Hall, who was born in Clinton county on January 20, 1855. Mr. Hall's parents were Harrison: and Harriett (Custis) Hall, the latter of whom was the second wife of Harrison Hall, and who was born in Clinton county, the daughter of William Custis, a brother of Levi Custis, whose biographical sketch, presented elsewhere in this volume, gives the Custis family history.

Harrison Hall was the son of Richard and Rebecca (Whitsite) Hall, the former of whom was a native of Kentucky and the latter of whom lived to be ninety years old. After the death of Richard Hall, who was a farmer in Kentucky, Mrs. Rebecca Hall came with her children to this county. Richard Hall had been a private in the War of 1812 and his widow drew a pension for his services in that war. They were the parents of nine children, Henry, Richard, Harvey, Harrison, Hiram, Daniel, Huldah, Rebecca and Blizabeth, all of whom are deceased.

removing to Clinton. county and attaining maturity, became the owner of one hundred and forty-two acres of land in Richland township. He was an elder in the Christian church and prominent in the activities of that church throughout his life. He also took a prominent part in local affairs. He first married a Miss Leach, but she bore him no children. Afterward he married Harriett Custis, by whom he had seven children, Daniel W., the subject of this sketch, Harriett E. (deceased), Wilbur E., Mariah May, Carrie (deceased), Leota and Harrison. Both the father and mother of these children are

Daniel W. Hall, who was educated im the common schools of Clinton county, has been a lifelong farmer. He owns ninety-two acres of land in Wilson township, which he purchased in 1896. In 1898 he remodeled his house, and the next year remodeled his barn. The farm is well kept and highly productive.

On January 20, 1877, Daniel W. Hall was married to Sophia Evans, who was born in this county, daughter. of Stephen and Mary (Wilson) Evans, to which union five children have been born, Harrison E., Stephen M., Perril W., Stella and Fay Mettil. Harrison E. Hall, who married Cora. E. Wade, died, leaving no children. Stephen M. Hall has been married twice, the first time to Audra Lawrence, by whom he had one child, Dorothy May. He married, secondly, Nancy Hoppes. Perril W..Hall was drowned in the river at Columbus, Ohio, at the age of twenty years. The last two children, Stella and Fay Mettie, are unmarried and live at home with their parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Christian church at Sabina, regular attendants at Sunday school and are prominent in the social and religious life of Wilson township.

Theodore Giffin

Theodore Giffin, of Wayne township, this county, is not only a keenly intelligent farmer who has been very successful in. his chosen vocation, but who occupies a distinctive position as one of the leaders in promoting the advancement of education in Clinton county, especially in Wayne township. The schools of Wayne township are now completely centralized and altogether rank as high as those of any township in the state of Ohio. For the past nine years, Theodore Giffin has been a member of the Wayne township school board, but, more than this, he has been one of the leaders of the board of education and to him as much as to any other man, the people of Wayne township are indebted for the present high standard of education prevailing in that township.

Theodore Giffin was born in Illinois on January 7, 1858, the son of Stewart and Sarah (Reeves) Giffin, the former of whom was born on January 1, 1826, in Virginia, and the latter, at Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1836, the daughter of Jonathan Reeves.

Stewart Giffin, who was educated in the Virginia schools. was about ten years old when his parents started from Virginia to Ross county, Ohio. They rode horseback and the children walked. Having swum the Ohio river on horses and reached Ross county, the famiy settled on a farm. A little Jater Stewart Giffin's father suffered an injury to his shoulder and for six months that member was out of place. He traveled to Cincinnati by stage, had the shoulder set and was there put inte a hot bath to relax the muscles. The shock of the operation killed him. His remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Cincinnati. The large family was left in humble circumstances.

After the death of his father. Stewart Giffin went to Illinois. where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. He remained there one year and then returned to Ross county. After a year of sickness, he began working on a farm of five hundred acres as a laborer and later purchased this same farm for thirty thousand dollars and there he spent the remainder of his life. Stewart Giffin made many trips from Bainbridge, Ohio, to Baltimore. Maryland, swimming the Ohio river with cattle and hogs.

Five children were born to Stewart and Sarah Giffin, of whom Albert, the eldest, who never 'married, is deceased, the others being Theodore, the subject of this sketch; Jobu, who married Carrie Shepherd; Anna, who is the wife of William Ingersoll, and Rosa, who married Ruvello Hughey. The family were members of the Methodist ehurch and active workers therein. Stewart Giffin voted the Democratic ticket.

Theodore Giffin was educated in the common schools of Bainbridge, Ohio, and began his life on a farm in Ross county. After his marriage, he moved to Wellston, Ohio, where he became a contract plasterer and where he worked a force of fourteen men for ten years. Later he moved to a farm near Bainbridge, upon which he lived for one year. In 1896 he moved to the farm in Wayne township, this county, where he now lives. He now owns five hundred acres of land in Ross county and a farm in Louisiana. Ha rents about seven hundred acres of land in Wayne township and is considered one of the most progressive farmers of Clinton county. He is a large stockman and an extensive cattle feeder and knows how to make these operations pay. For some time he has been enthusiastic in the work of reclaiming land along the gulf coast in Louisiana.

Theodore Giffin married Laura Walley, the daughter of David and Melissa Walley, of Ross county, Ohio, and to this union eight children have been born, namely: Ethel, who married Bernard English, and has one child, Lenore; Clark, who was killed on March 14, 1907, on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, where he was working as an engineer; Myrl, who is the wife of Charles Hauck, and has two children, Helen and Dorothy J.; Floyd, who married Marie Vioska, and has two children, Clark and Floyd, Jr.; Sarah, who married Fred Smith; Theodore, Jr., who married Imo Leverton, and has one child, Vivian; Dayid and Helen, who live at home with their parents.

Henry A. Woods

Henry A. Woods is a good substantial citizen of Wayne township, this county, a good farmer and an interesting man to know. Although he is firm in his convictions, yet he is not narrow in his attitude towards the opinions of others and has had no small part in the agricultural development of Wayne township, where he has lived for nearly forty-five years.

Henry A. Woods was born on February 14, 1858, in Washington township, Highland county, Ohio, the son of Joseph and Rachel (Stout) Woods, the former a native of Jreland, and the latter of Highland county, Ohio, the daughter of John Stout. Joseph Woods, the grandfather, and his wife, Jane, were married in Ireland and came to America about 18338, locating in Highland county, near Sugar Tree Ridge, in Concord township. The senior Joseph Woods was a school teacher in his native land and after coming to America became a successful farmer, owning a considerable tract of land in Highland county. He and his wife were the parents of four children, Alexander, John, William and Joseph.

Joseph Woods, Jr., was educated in the common schools of Highland county, Ohio, and farmd practically all his life in that county. He owned one hundred and fiftyeight acres of land and he and his wife, who, before her marriage, was Rachel Stout, were the parents of eight children, William, Henry A., Benjamin, James, Frank, Charles, Luyenia and Joseph, Jr. The Woods family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Woods was a Republican in politics.

Henry A. Woods, the second child in his father's family, received his education in the common schools of Washington township. Highland county, and when a young man began farming in Wayne township. He removed to Clinton county in 1875, and after coming here worked ten years as a farm hand in Wayne and Green townships. He then purchased ninety-two acres of land, to which farm he moved in March, 1887, and has lived there ever since. Mr. Woods is engaged in general farming and stock raising and all of the improvements on the farm he owns he has made and paid for himself.

' In 1886, about the time he purchased the Clinton county farm, Harry A. Woods was married to Sarah Lieurance, the daughter of William and Mary (Hall) Lieurance, who were the parents of four children: Avery P., Hiram, David and Sarah. William Lieurance was a well-known farmer in Green township, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Woods three children have been born, Etta May, who married Oliver Dabe; Eva and Bertha - a splendid family, who were reared to henorable and useful lives and who are well performing their duties as citizens of a great county and state. Mr. Woods is identified with the Republican party, but he has never been an aspirant for office and has never been especially active in political affairs. He is well known in Wayne township and is popular with all his neighbors, all of whom hold him and his family in the highest regard.

John Symons

In the memorial annals of Clinton county there is one name that will long be held in remembrance in that section of the county in which the possessor of the name lived for years and in which he did well his part in life. The late John Symons, for many years one of the best-known residents of Jefferson township, this county, was a veteran of the Civil War and had an honorable record as a soldier in the Union army during that memorable struggle between the states. Though a native of another country, there was no more patriotic American than John Symons. Upon the close of the war, John Symons returned to the peaceful pursuit of farming and became one of the most progressive and prosperous farmers in Clinton county. As an agriculturist he gave more than ordinary attention to the details of his vocation and it is undoubted that his careful and studious methods did very much toward elevating the standards of agriculture in the community in which he lived. Both as a soldier and as a citizen, John Symons had performed faithfully and well all the duties which devolved upon him and at his passing, in 1896, there was wide mourning throughout the Jefferson township section, as well as throughout the county generally, for he was a man whom all his neighbors and all who knew him held in the profoundest respect.

John Symons was born in Devonshire, England, on December 25, 1844, son of William and Mary (Cleve) Symons, both natives of the same shire. He came to this country in his youth and on May 2, 1864, before he was twenty years of age, enlisted in Company 'H, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil War, and was mustered out on September 7, 1864. Politically, Mr. Symons was affiliated with the Republican party and for years was an active counsellor in the affairs of that party in this county. He was greatly interested in the cause of education and was active in advancing in every way possible the interests of the schools in his home neighborhood, he having served for some time very acceptably as a school director for his district. As a farmer, there were few men in Clinton county who were better trained in the science of agriculture than he, and he was generally regarded by his neighbors as being quite far in advance of his day in the practice of scientific farming. Enterprising and energetic, he had brought his fine farm in Jefferson township to an excellent state of cultivation. This farm, which was highly developed and improved, was located on the pike midway between the villages of Westboro and Midland and was widely known for the fine crops raised there. Mr. Symons was the first man in that neighborhood to raise potatoes on a large scale, and his hogs were regarded as the best in the community. : three children were born, two sons and one daughter, namely: William L., a well-known examiner connected with the United States patent office at Washington, D. C.; Lottie M., who married O. Benton Trovillo, and who since the death of her husband has lived with her mother at Blanchester, this county, and Charles A. The mother of the above children is living at Blanchester, still active in her household duties, the work of her church, the Methodist Episcopal, and the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

Louis Clement

Not a few residents of Clinton county, Ohio, at the present time, either were born in Belgium or are descended from Belgian ancestry. The Clement family, of Wayne township, includes several highly respected citizens who have taken a prominent part in the agricultural: life of the county. Louis and Michael Clement, brothers, are among these well-known citizens of Wayne township, whose father was born in Belgium.

Louis Clement was born on the farm he now occupies, in Wayne township, on January 28, 1853. His father, Hubert Clement, a native of Belgium, was educated in the Belgium schools and came to America when still a young man, before his marriage. He first located in Kentucky, where he worked as a road builder but, after six years, he returned to Belgium and married Victoria Bigonville, also a native of that country, and, with his wife, returned to Kentucky. After living there for a few years the Clements came to Clinton county, locating on a farm in Wayne township, about one-half mile east of the farm now owned by Louis Clement, the subject of this sketch. Hubert Clement first bought fifty acres of land, but after a few years purchased one hundred acres, where Louis Clement now lives, and moved to the latter farm. He prospered and at the time of his death, owned altogether one hundred and seventy-eight acres of land and was a wellknown stockman. To Hubert and Victoria (Bigonville) Clement eight children were born, Paul, Michael, Mary Catherine, Mary Jane, Victoria, Hubert, Jr., Louis and Rosa.

Louis Clement, after completing his education in the schools of Wayne township, began life on the farm and has never been away from the farm except for one week, which he spent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a general farmer and stockman and owns one hundred and thirty-one acres. Not long ago he built a commodious house and substantial barn.

On January 14, 1891, Louis Clement was married to Elizabeth Jackman, the daughter of John and Mary (Miller) Jackman. and seven children have been born to this marriage, of whom five are living, Louis, Jr., John, Henry, Agnes and Catherine. Mary and Jane are deceased.

Alvin Clement

One of the younger members of the well-known Clement family of Wayne township, this county, is Alvin Clement, who was born in that township on June 17, 1875, the second child born to Michael and Mary V. (Dabe) Clement, a biographical sketch of whom is found elsewhere in this work.

Alvin Clement received a good education in the public schools of Wayne township and in St. Mary's College, at Dayton, Ohio, In the meantime he had engaged in farming to some extent. After leaving St. Mary's College, he operated a grocery store for the next three years in partnership with his father. In 1898 Mr. Clement returned to Wayne township, where he has since lived. In 1905 he bought a farm of one hundred and ten acres, to which he moved in 1907 and there he has lived ever since. The house now standing on the farm was erected in 1914. Mr. Clement is engaged in general farming and stock raising.

Michael and Catherine McWilliams, farmers of Brown county, Ohio, and to this union two children have been born, Frances C., born in 1907, and Alvin, Jr., in 1909.

The Clement family are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Clement is a Democrat in politics. He is a man of genial disposition and is well liked by all who know him.