A History and Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio
Pages 417 - 421
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ALEXANDER, MONTGOMERY, SAMPLE, TREMLEY, BURK, LEFFLER, ROLL (Reily Twp., pp. 417-418)
Lewis ALEXANDER was born in Washington County, PA, May 29, 1811. His father, Andrew ALEXANDER, was a native of PA, and was there married to Sarah MONTGOMERY in May, 1804. He came to OH, and settled on what is now the SAMPLE farm, dying soon after. His wife was left with four boys and three girls. She died in 1845. Of these children but two are living, Lewis ALEXANDER and Mrs. Martha TREMLEY, wife of Amos TREMLEY. Mr. ALEXANDER has always lived on a farm, with the exception of sixteen months, when he was engaged in the hardware business in Hamilton, in 1857 & 1858. He was married Jan 25, 1838, to Rachel BURK, dau/o Alexis & Mary BURK, who were among the pioneers of this township. They have had four children. William J. was a druggist in Connersville, where he died in 1867; Henry T. was married in 1872 to Amanda LEFFLER, and lives at home, carrying on the farm for his father; Sarah S. was married in 1873 to Scott ROLL, and lives in Hanover Twp.; and Amos T. died Apr 15, 1875, when sixteen years old. Mrs. ALEXANDER died Jan 25, 1870. Mr. ALEXANDER received his start working by the month at from $4 to $11. His first purchase was 35 acres at $30 per acre, and he has added to it by installments till he now owns 254 acres. He was brought up a Democrat, but in 1842 joined the Whigs and afterwards the Republican party. His present home is half a mile west of Reily, where he moved in 1865. He has a handsome gold-headed cane, which was presented to him by his friends when he celebrated his 69th birthday.

BEVIS, RAMSEY, JONES, LEFTON (Reily Twp., p. 418)
John R. BEVIS, s/o James A. & Margaret (RAMSEY) BEVIS, was born near Cincinnati, (OH), Dec 23, 1837. At eighteen he entered Farmer's College, where he remained three years, when he engaged with his father in farming, carrying on a hotel, and running an omnibus. He was married Jun 16, 1864, to Martha A., dau/o Henry & Margaret (JONES) LEFTON. They have three children--Edwin, Everett S., & Alma. Mrs. BEVIS was born near New London, Feb 20, 1842. Mr. BEVIS moved to Butler Co. in 1865, on his farm, which he had bought the year previous, and has followed farming ever since. He is a Master Mason of McMakin Lodge, No. 120, of Mount Pleasant, & is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

CLARK, RAGSDILL, BEARD (Reily Twp., p. 418)
Salem CLARK, s/o Isaac & Catherine CLARK, was born in Butler Co., Feb 26, 1818. His parents came to this county in 1810. He was married in 1841 to Susan RAGSDILL, dau/o Wilson P. RAGSDILL. She was born in this county, Nov 28, 1823. They have four children. Mary Louisa BEARD was born Dec 22, 1841; Alfred, Sep 4, 1844; William Edgar, Mar 6, 1849; Henry Wills, Apr 15, 1854. Mr. CLARK is a farmer, and was born within one mile of where he now lives. His children, who are all married, live near to him.

GARNER, KEEVER, DUNWOODY, ROTHERMEL, DESCOMBES, RAGSDILL, EVERSON, HAUCK (Reily Twp., p. 418)
Samuel GARNER was born in Rockbridge Co., VA, in 1802, & came to this county with his parents, Henry & Catherine GARNER, in 1806. He was united in marriage on the 19th of Nov, 1820, to Elizabeth KEEVER, dau/o John & Lydia KEEVER. She was born in Warren Co., Mar 7, 1804, & came to this county with her parents in 1804. Mr. & Mrs. GARNER have had twelve children. Rebecca DUNWOODY was born in Apr, 1821; William, May 30, 1822; Henry, Dec 17, 1823; John, Jun 12, 1826; Samuel, May 5, 1829; Elizabeth ROTHERMEL, Feb 8, 1832; Lydia DESCOMBES, Nov 10, 1834; Susan RAGSDILL, Mar 24, 1836; Mary EVERSON, Feb 16, 1838; George, Nov 15, 1839; Andrew, Sep 26, 1842; Margaret HAUCK, Sep 26, 1845. Mr. GARNER settled in the woods, and saw many of the experiences of a backwoods life. His father was soldier in the Revolution, as was also his wife's father. In the last war there were of his family Henry, John, Samuel, George, & Andrew in the service.

LANDON, WAYNE, HERKLESS, GANDIL, BLACKFORD, ELLIOTT, HEAZELTINE, CONOVER, BATES, BROSIUS, TIMBERMAN (Reily Twp., p. 418)
Samuel LANDON was born on the farm where he now resides, Jun 16, 1818. His father, Elisha LANDON, was born in Sussex Co., NJ, May 25, 1772, & removed to PA with his parents when four years old. He came from PA with Gen. Anthony WAYNE, with whom he had enlisted for three years. Serving his time out, & being dicharged at Greenville, Darke Co., (OH), he went back to Cincinnati, (OH), where he married Sarah HERKLESS, & in 1808 moved to Reily Twp., taking up a quarter of section eight, where he built a cabin in the woods. They had 12 children, Elizabeth, William, Daniel, Anna, Amy, Laban, Mary, Samuel, Jane, Sarah, James, & Elisha C., who all grew up. Four only are now living, Daniel, Samuel, Amy, now Mrs. John GANDIL, & Jane, now Mrs. John BLACKFORD. Elisha was one of the first trustees of the township; he was of Welsh descent. His grandfather and five sons were in the Revolutionary War, being engaged in the battle of Brandywine. Mr. LANDON died Jun 3, 1853. Samuel LANDON has always resided on the farm where he now lives. His first teachers were John ELLIOTT & Elvira HEAZELTINE. He has been twice married. On Nov 21, 1846, he was united to Ann BATES, dau/o Joel & Sarah (CONOVER) BATES. They had eleven children---Alexander, James H., Joel B., Francis C., Newton, Sarah (deceased), Willard, Edgar, Rebecca Ann (deceased), Daniel, & Elvie. Mrs. LANDON died Sep 20, 1879, & he was again married Mar 30, 1880. His second wife was Mrs. Amanda BROSIUS, widow of John BROSIUS, & dau/o David & Sarah TIMBERMAN. Mr. LANDON was trustee for three years, about 1850, & has been president of the Millville, Reily, & Milton Turnpike for twenty years. He was one of the first members of the township school board, under the free school system, and has held the office of school director for some fifteen years. He is treasurer of the King & Thompson free pike. He was overseer of Reily Grange No. 544, & succeeded to the office of Master by the death of the presiding officer. He is a member of Pomona Grange, of Butler Co., & was its steward three years.

LINDLEY, HAND (Reily Twp., pp. 418-419)
John LINDLEY was born in Butler Co., on the 3rd of May, 1814. He is the s/o Isaac & Abigail LINDLEY, who came to this county in 1810. He was married Jun 16, 1844, to Samantha HAND, dau/o Darby & Hannah HAND, who was born in this county Jul 29, 1825. Mr. & Mrs. LINDLEY have had four children. Isaac N. LINDLEY was born Jun 4, 1845; Mary A. LINDLEY was born Dec 4, 1846; Leroy W. LINDLEY was born Oct 19, 1848; & Ellis H. LINDLEY was born Jan 21, 1851. Mr. LINDLEY is a farmer & has never held any office. His grandfather, Isaac LINDLEY, was in the Revolutionary War.

PIERSON, ROSS, WILSON, SMITH (Reily Twp., p. 419)
Moses R. PIERSON, bricklayer & plasterer, was born in Reily Twp., Sep 21, 1830. He is the s/o Moses PIERSON & Hannah ROSS, both from NJ. He was married in Oxford, (OH) Sep 11, 1851, to Cynthia A. WILSON, born May 2, 1835, dau/o Abner WILSON & Esther SMITH, who were from Chambersburg, PA. To this union have been born the following children: Mary O., Almira F., Hester Ida, Estella B., Phebe Jane, Lou Nellie G., David Lorain, & Elbert Nelson.

ROBERSON, BRYANT, GILCHRIST, FRAZEE, PHILLIPS (Reily Twp., p. 419)
James N. ROBERSON, M.D., of Reily, was born in Carthage, Hamilton Co., (OH), Sep 17, 1842. His father, Jonas ROBERSON, was born in NJ, emigrating to OH in 1804 with his parents, and settling on Duck Creek, near Cincinnati, (OH). He learned the plasterer's trade, which he followed till 1850, then being in mercantile & farming business until 1872, when he retired. He died May 11, 1874. He was postmaster of Reily for eight years, and preached as a local minister from 1870. He was the regular minister of the Baptist Church in Reily two years prior to his death. He was an earnest, zealous worker in the Church, & a truly Christian gentleman. He was married Oct 6, 1826, to Nancy BRYANT, by whom he had six children, James being the only surviving one. The mother died Mar 16, 1870. Dr. ROBERSON attended Beach Grove Seminary of IN, four years, & read medicine with Dr. GILCHRIST, of Reily, three years. He was graduated at the OH Medical College, of Cincinnati, in 1862, at the age of twenty. In the Fall of 1862 he entered the service as assistant surgeon, being at first with the sanitary supply, & then in the army of the Cumberland. He resigned on account of ill health in 1863; in May of that year beginning practice at Fair Haven, Preble Co., (OH). In 1864 he was assistant surgeon in th 156th OH National Guard, during its hundred-day service. In the Spring of 1865 he removed to his present location, where he has conducted a successful practice ever since. On Nov 29, 1862, he married Mary FRAZEE, dau/o J. W. FRAZEE, & by her was the father of one child, Carrie Edna. His wife died Nov 28, 1866, & he married Apr 4, 1870, Lizzie PHILLIPS, dau/o Joseph PHILLIPS. They are the parents of two children, Edward P. & Georgie E. He is a Master Mason of Oxford Lodge, No. 67, & is also a member of St. Charles Lodge of Odd Fellows.

ROTHERMEL, MARTINDELL, MARTIN, BROSIUS (Reily Twp., p. 419)
David ROTHERMEL was born in Ross Twp., Mar 30, 1826. His father, Solomon ROTHERMEL, came of an old Revolutionary stock. Solomon ROTHERMEL's uncle, Joseph, fought in that memorable struggle, & died a prisoner of war. He was with WASHINGTON at Trenton. Mr. ROTHERMEL was married Feb 26, 1857, in Morgan Twp., to Mary Ann MARTINDELL, born in that township Jan 26, 1834. She is the dau/o Wilson MARTINDELL & Nancy MARTIN. Both are living in IL. Mr. & Mrs. ROTHERMEL have nine children. Mary C. was born Nov 29, 1857; Nancy M., Sep 11, 1859; Ann E., Aug 13, 1861; Flora B., Sep 16, 1863; Cervanida, Jul 31, 1865; Charles W., Sep 8, 1868; James J. Apr 14, 1870; Parmelia, Jun 16, 1872; & Nona, Oct 3, 1875. Charles W. ROTHERMEL died Oct 10, 1868. Mr. ROTHERMEL has been supervisor of his township for three terms, and is so this year, 1882. He is a butcher by trade, & followed that business for about 10 years, in connection with farming, but now pays all of his attention to the farm. He has been a resident of Butler (Co.) for 55 years. His mother was Christina BROSIUS. She is now dead, as is his father.

SALMON, MEEKER, BLACK, DORR (Reily Twp., p. 419)
W. D. SALMON, the s/o William & Martha J. SALMON, who were emigrants from PA, was born in Hanover Twp., (Butler Co., OH), Aug 15, 1831. On the 16th of Feb 1853, he married Margaret J. MEEKER, dau/o Mitchell & Margaret MEEKER, who came to this portion of the world in 1803, from NJ. Mr. & Mrs. SALMON have four children, all girls. Charlotte A. BLACK was born Oct 26, 1855; Maggie J. DORR, Aug 25, 1858; & Hattie Maud, Apr 12, 1865. Mr. SALMON is a farmer. (Only three are named here.) His wife's father served in the Revolutionary War.

SMITH, GRIFFIN, LAFAYETTE, MANN, LEMON, JONES, FARNSWORTH, DAYTON, HARVY, VAN SICKLE, KIGER (Reily Twp., pp. 419-420)
John H. SMITH, deceased, was the s/o Capt. John & Rebecca (GRIFFIN) SMITH, & was born in Fayette Co., PA, Jul 28, 1808. Capt. John SMITH served in the Revolutionary War under LAFAYETTE till its close. In 1816 he & his wife, with their seven children, emigrated to OH, & settled in Butler Co., where he entered half a section of land in Section 20, & a quarter in Section 29. Capt. John died in 1851, having held the office of township trustee for several years. His wife died in 1819. Of their children but one is now living, Mrs. Annie MANN. The others were Mary, Charles, Sarah, Rebecca, John H., & Amos G. The life of John H. SMITH was spent on the farm. He was twice married; first, to Sarah LEMON. To this union one child, Rebecca Ann, was born. She is now dead. His second wife was Sarah JONES, whom he married in 1843. She is the dau/o Nicholas & Mary (FARNSWORTH) JONES. Her father, who served in the War of 1812, died in 1853, & her mother in 1855. By this marriage they had seven children, John O., Nicholas J., Daniel W., Newton J., Charles E., Annie, & Fanny (now Mrs. DAYTON). The children are all married, except Newton J. Mr. SMITH died June 18, 1881. He held the office of school director for many years. Mrs. SMITH was born in the township in August, 1816. Her grandfather, Jonathan JONES, was a native of PA, and married Keziah HARVY. In 1806, with their eight children, the emigrated to Ohio, and settled in the north-east corner of Reily Township. None of the children are now living. Charles E. SMITH was married, March 19, 1878, to Mary E. VAN SICKLE, daughter of John and Diana (KIGER) VAN SICKLE. They have two children.

SMITH, BARTLOW, THOMAS, WARFIELD, LANE, BEAR, MOOREHEAD (Reily Twp., p. 420)
John W. SMITH was born in Reily Twp., Apr 9, 1817. He is the s/o Charles G. & Phebe (BARTLOW) SMITH. The land where he was born was originally entered by the grandfather, who gave it to Charles, who was married in 1816 in IN. He followed farming all his life, except five years that he was in the service of the government. Among other things, he burned the brick for the fort at Green Bay. He died Oct 1834, but his wife is still living, aged 87. John W. SMITH has always followed farming, receiving his education in the district school. He was married Jun 15, 1837, to Catherine, dau/o Adam & Catherine (THOMAS) WARFIELD, by whom twelve children have been borne him. They are Joseph B.; Rebecca Ann, now Mrs. George LANE of Hamilton (OH); Margaret, now Mrs. Oliver BEAR, living in IN; James J.; David L.; Isabella; Harrison H.; Phebe J., now Mrs. John MOOREHEAD. Eveline, John, Mary, & Vallandigham are deceased. Mr. SMITH has served 41 years as a school director of his district. He is a member of Oxford Lodge of Masons. Mrs. SMITH was born in this county, & when four or five years old moved with her parents to IN. Whe she was fifteen she returned to this county & lived with her sister until her marriage. Mr. SMITH has now 335 acres, which he still holds, besides giving some three hundred acres to his children.

SMITH, VAN NESS (Reily Twp., p. 420)
Thomas H. SMITH is the s/o Thomas & Lucy SMITH, who came to this county in 1816, & he was born in Fairfield Twp., Aug 2, 1826. He is a farmer, & now has one of the finest residences in Reily Twp. He was married on the 1st of Feb 1851 to Sarah Ann VAN NESS, dau/o Eliza (sic) (probably Elisha) & Rebecca VAN NESS, who was born Jan 12, 1828, in Reily Twp. He has been a notary public.

STEVENS, FISK (Reily Twp., p. 420)
Colonel William STEVENS, one of the leading men of the township, was born in the state of NY on 11 Jun 1803. He is the s/o James & Abigail STEVENS, who removed to this county in 1807. They are now both dead. He was married in 1825 to Cynthia FISK, also a native of NY, & the dau/o Amos & Cynthia FISK. They came to this county in 1811. Mrs. STEVENS was born Jun 8, 1806. Three of their children are living. Lorenzo Dow was born Aug 15, 1825; Caroline Lawrence was b Jul 7, 1827; & George Washington was born Jan 11, 1837. Benjamin F. STEVENS, George STEVENS, & Andrew STEVENS were out in the War of the Rebellion. Mr. William STEVENS himself went out as volunteer, at the age of 59, and served two years. He was a colonel ofa militia regiment for about 8 years before the war. Notwithstanding his advanced age, his mind still active, & his strength is still surprising. He has voted in the township for 56 years. He is a farmer.

TREMBLEY, ALEXANDER, LEMON, LASHER (Reily Twp., p. 420)
Amos TREMLEY, s/o Daniel & Mary TREMLEY, was born in this county Jun 3, 1811. His parents moved here in 1803. He was married Mar 6, 1834, to Martha, dau/o Andrew & Sarah ALEXANDER, who was born in Butler Co., Feb 6, 1811. They have had five children. Daniel A. was born Apr 21, 1835; Sarah Elizabeth LEMON, 3 Aug 1837; Jacob, Nov 1, 1839; Cynthia A. LASHER, Jan 15, 1846; & Rebecca A., Dec 21, 1853. Jacob is dead. Mr. TREMLEY is the oldest man living in the township, born there. His father was in the War of 1812, & his sons, Daniel A. & Jacob, were in the late war.

URMSTON, HALL, HUNT, MEATS, FLINT, MORRIS (Reily Twp., p. 420)
Samuel URMSTON, who was born in PA, came to OH with his parents in 1806, & settled near Cincinnati. He soon after moved to this county, serving in the War of 1812. At the conclusion he received a land-warrant for his services, which he afterwards sold, moving back to Hamilton Co. (OH) about the year 1827; but again coming to Butler Co. in 1851, he located near the present Wood's Station, living there till 1869, when he removed to Millville (OH), where he died in Aug 1871. He married Keziah HALL, & had by her nine children; of whom eight are now living. Nelson URMSTON was the 5th child, & was born in this county Nov 12, 1822. In the fall of 1848 he began selling goods in Hamilton Co., (OH), which he continued till 1850, when he sold out. In the Spring of 1851 he returned to Butler Co., where he opened a store at Wood's Station, continuing there till 1852, when he moved to Millville. In 1870 he returned to Reily, where he keeps a general stock of merchandise. On the 4th of Apr 1850, he was married to Rachel HUNT, to whom one child was born, Mrs. G. W. MEATS. Mrs. URMSTON died Nov 6, 1851, & he was married on the 3rd of Feb 1853 to Sarah FLINT, dau/o Rev. Joseph H. FLINT. He has four children by the second wife. They are Alice (Mrs. Andrew MORRIS); Nelson Augustus; Joseph; & Jesse Andrew. Nelson Augustus is a partner with his father in the store, having been admitted in 1876. He was married Feb 13, 1879 to Margaret E. BLACKER, dua/o James H. & Sarah BLACKER. He was in the 169th Regiment during the Civil War.

URMSTON, HAND (Reily Twp., pp. 420-421)
Mandeville Tyler URMSTON was born in Seven-Mile, Butler Co., the 22nd of Sep 1828. His grandfather was a fife major in the Revolution, & died at the battle of Brandywine. His father was John G. URMSTON, & his mother's name was Mary. They came to this county at an early period, the mother in 1822. The father once filled the position of judge. Mandeville T. URMSTON was married on the 1st of Jul 1841 to Rebecca HAND, dau/o Darby & Hannah HAND, who came to this county in 1814. She was born on the 17 Sep 1823.

WARD, HIDELEY (Reily Twp., p. 421)
John F. WARD, s/o Hugh & Sarah WARD, is one of the oldest persons in the township of Reily. He was born in Morris Co., NJ on 17 Jun 1817. His parents were also natives of that state, & his father was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. WARD came to Reily in Jun 1849, & was married on the 9th of the same month to Amanda HIDELEY, dau/o Henry HIDELEY. Mr. WARD is a painter & artist, & has a fine reputation in his calling. He has established a fine cemetery a little west of Reily. He is a man of enterprise, & is well situated.

WELLIVER, JOHNSTON, JOBE, POWERS, MILLS, EVERSON, GARNER, CLARK, PIERSON, VAN NESS (Reily Twp., p. 421)
P. J. B. WELLIVER lives on the Millville, Reily, & Milton Turnpike, 3 miles southeast of Reily Village. He was born in the house in which he now resides, Oct 31, 1817, & is the s/o Obadiah & Hannah (JOHNSTON) WELLIVER. He was a native of PA, & she of NJ, being married in PA in 1796, & coming to OH in a wagon in 1810. He entered a quarter where his son now lives, dying in 1839. His wife lived till 1865. There were 9 children in the family, of whom but two are now living, P. J. B. WELLIVER & Mrs. Samuel JOBE. He has always resided on the farm with the exception of about a year he spent in a store at Brownsville, IN. His early education was derived from the district school, attending the private school of Aaron POWERS one year. He was married Nov 30, 1837 to Elizabeth M., dau/o James & Rachel (MILLS) EVERSON. She was born Sep 25, 1817. They have had nine children---Emma, Cynthia Ann, Susan K., Minerva, Sarah S. (dead), Alfred J., James E., Lockey J., & Nannie H. (dead). Mr. WELLIVER served as justice of the peace of Reily Twp. for 9 successive years, beginning about 1855, & one term of 3 years since beginning about 1855, & one term of 3 years since the war. He was a Master Mason of the Oxford Lodge, but has taken out his withdrawal card. He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 2400, of the Knights of Honor of Reily. Their children are all married. Emma is now Mrs. Henry GARNER; Cynthia, Mrs. George CLARK; Susan, Mrs. G. W. GARNER; Minerva, Mrs. W. H. H. PIERSON; Lockey, Mrs. James R. VAN NESS. Mr. WELLIVER is a Democrat.

WILKINSON, COVALT, VAN NESS, CROOKS, BAKER, DE CAMP (Reily Twp., p. 421)
Gideon WILKINSON was born Jan 5, 1815 on the farm where he now lives, in a log cabin, which stood near his present residence, which was among the first erected in this part of the township. His father, Gideon WILKINSON, was a native of Northumberland Co., PA, & emigrated to OH in 1806. He stopped on the Little Miami River, on what is called Round Bottom, & raised one crop of corn. The next year he purchased land in Reily of Jonathan COVALT, who had entered the farm, but was not able to pay for it. His first dwelling consisted of four forks set into the ground in the shape of a square, with bark roof, & three sides of bark & brush. At the front a sheet was hung up for a door. He lived in this one season, from Spring till Fall, until he could erect a more substantial cabin. He was married about the year 1808 or 1809 to Mrs. Abigail VAN NESS, & had by her six children. They were Abraham, Margaret, Mary, Gideon, Elisha, & Abigail. They are all living except Mary. In the War of 1812, Mr. WILKINSON enlisted under Capt. CROOKS, but when they had marched as far as Brookville, IN, word was brought that peace had been declared, & they were discharged. Mrs. WILKINSON & Mrs. VAN NESS, in 1817, made a visit to their old home in NJ, traveling the whole way on horseback. Mr. WILKINSON died in 1842 & his wife in 1843. The present Mr. WILKINSON remained with his parents until their death, they having deeded him the home farm. The other children were otherwise provided for, the boys receiving one hundred acres and the girls sixty acres each. By industry Mr. WILKINSON has added to his fields, until now he owns 780 acres of land. He was married in 1833 to Mary DE CAMP, dau/o Ezekiel & Mary (BAKER) DE CAMP. She was born in Reily Twp., Jun 18, 1818. They have had 13 children--Abraham, Miranda, Abigail, Rachel, Adaline, Mary J., Francis M., Rebecca E., John D., Sarah E., Harriet E., Gideon J., & Amadore. They are all living except Abraham, Rachel, Sarah E., & Mary J. Mr. WILKINSON was one of the township trustees for several terms, & was school director about 30 years.