Genesse (Short) Warwick

Genesee Short Warwick

In the Fall of 1790, when Genesee was but seven years of age, Mr. Brooks with his family removed from Delaware to the State of Kentucky. At that time there was great excitement in Delaware over the new-found homes in the West. Mr. Allen Short's brothers, Eli, Jacob, Topham, and Obadiah had all previously emigrated to Kentucky, while Thomas and Adam and several sisters remained in Delaware. The journey of Mr. Brooks and family, among them Genesee, from Delaware to Kentucky is strange to those used to modern methods of travel. They started with all their household goods and themselves in one wagon drawn by two horses. After traveling a day or two, one of the horses gave out, and it and the wagon were sold, and the remaining horse was loaded with such articles as they could get on it, while Mr. Brooks and his family walked, each carrying some article. Mr. Brooks carried his ax and gun, the two great instruments that were so essential to pioneer existence, while Mrs. Brooks bore the rim of her spinning-wheel.

Thus the family traveled many hundred miles across the State of Pennsylvania, and arrived at Pittsburg, where they embarked upon a flat-boat and floated down the Ohio River to Limestone, Kentucky, now the city of Maysville. Leaving his family at Limestone, Mr. Brooks walked sixty miles through the woods alone into the interior of Kentucky, to Eli Short's, got a wagon and came after his family and effects. After staying 3 or 4 weeks at Mr. Short's, he went to Scott County and settled within four miles of Georgetown, clearing land and farming it. After six years he removed to Fayette County, near Lexington. He lived here a few years and then resolved to go to Ohio, having heard of the fine lands in the Miami Valley. Accordingly, in the year 1804, Mr. Brooks came to Ohio, settling on the south bank of Four-Mile Creek, purchasing and clearing a part of the farm now owned by Jeremiah Warwick. On this track Mr. Brooks built a hewed log-cabin, the first house built in that locality, and for many years thought to be wonderfully fine. Here Mr. Brooks lived for many years, being familiarly known as "Grand-daddy Brooks," and died honored and respected by all who knew him.

Genesee did not come with her father to Ohio, but remained with her sister Sallie in Kentucky, and met and married, in Woodford County, Jeremiah Warwick, who had previously emigrated from Maryland. The father of Jeremiah Warwick was William Warwick, who came from England in colonial times, and was a descendant of that family in Europe. William had a brother named Arthur, whose two sons were killed in the war of the Revolution, on the side of the Americans.

William Warwick, the progenitor of the Warwick family in America, was the father of five sons---William Jr., Wilson, Wilkins, Wagemon, and Jeremiah--- and five daughters---Elizabeth, Mary, Sallie, Ann, and Drusie. William resided in Maryland until his death, the date of which is not known. His son William married in Maryland and removed to Genesee County, New York, after which all knowledge of his family is wanting. Wagemon was highly educated, became a teacher, was noted for his excellent qualities, but died while a young man. Wilson was also married in Maryland, removed to Scott County, Kentucky, and afterward to Cincinnati, where he was engaged in boat building. He also sailed upon the Ohio River. His death was in Cincinnati. His two sons, Louis and William, afterward removed to Patriot, Indiana, where some of that branch of the family yet reside.

Wilkins and Jeremiah were married in Kentucky - Wilkins marrying Sallie Short, and Jeremiah her sister, Genesee, the subject of this sketch. These young men and their wives immigrated to Ohio in the year 1806, arriving at Hamilton on the day before Christmas of that year. They were obliged to stay over night in Hamilton, and to put up with an open shed as their only shelter, every other room in the village being occupied. At that time there were only a few log cabins in Rossville, and no stores of any kind, while on the east side of the river there were but two stores, Blair's and Sutherland's. They crossed the Miami River on a flat-boat moved by oars, swimming their horses after them. The Warwick brothers purchased adjoining farms, and at once set about clearing the land, which was covered with heavy timber. In all the trials and hardships incident to life in the then unsettled West, Genesee was and active partaker with her husband, and among the women of her times was one of the most remarkable in the county.

Genesee was the mother of twelve children, nine sons and three daughters. The sons were named Josiah, Greenup, Jeremiah, Tinley, William, Allen, Isaac, John, and James. The daughters were Cynthia, who married Mark M. Boatman; Rachel, who married David Overpeck; and Martha Ann, who died while a young lady. The Boatman and Overpeck families, thus originated, are well known in Butler County. The oldest son, Josiah, married Clarissa Woods, and after a number of years' residence in Butler County removed to Warren County, Ohio, where they and their children and grandchildren now reside. Greenup married Delilah Stevens, and raised a family of six children. He and his wife are both dead.

Tinley is married and living in Butler County. William was married to Nancy Longfellow, and with their family they are living in Wisconsin. Allen married Miss Sallie Smith, of this county, and he and his family are now living in Iowa. Isaac married Harriet Buckingham, of Hamilton County, Ohio, and with his family is living in Southern Illinois. John was married to Margaret Cornthwait, a daughter of Edward Corthwait, who lived near Trenton at that time. John, in company with his brother James, who was unmarried, in the excitement of 1848 over gold discoveries in California, went to that State by the overland route. After moderate success in mining, they returned by way of the Isthmus, contracting on their way the Asiatic cholera, and both died shortly after their return, together with their father and Martha Ann, who also died with that malady, Martha Ann had just previous to her death graduated from seminary at College Hill, and was noted for her beauty and musical accomplishments.

Genesee always felt a great interest in all her children, even when in advanced age. After the death of her husband, which occurred in 1851, Genesee made her home with her children in Butler County, chiefly with her daughter Rachel and her son Jeremiah, at whose home Genesee died of old age, on the 16th of August, A.D. 1881, aged ninety-seven years, nine months and sixteen days. Genesee was for many years previous to her death the oldest woman in Butler County, and up until her death retained entire possession of all her senses and faculties. Her remains rest in Greenwood Cemetery, at Hamilton. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for upward of seventy years, and was a firm believer in that faith and the promises of the Bible.

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This page created 23 October 2003 and last updated 17 November, 2003
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