Clermont County Genealogical Society
CLERMONT COUNTY 108 YEARS AGO
PIONEERS
Fifth Annual Meeting of Clermont's
Patriarchs at Bantam Fair Grounds
Large Assemblage of Early Settlers - Old Time
Reminiscences - Hallowed Associations.
Interesting and Antique Relics Exhibited
Eloquent Address of Captain Townsley
Talks by Octogenarians
Newsy Notes
"Life's heroism does not need
A spacious or a lofty stage;
Life's greatest deeds are not all writ
Upon the flaming golden page."
Before 1795, no white man had penetrated what is now Clermont County, except on surveying expeditions or following the trail of Indians, but in that year, sturdy pioneers settled in Miami, Washington and Williamsburg townships. The first settlers were from Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky, and came after the peace made by General Wayne with the Indians at Greenville, and took the fertile lands along the streams in this then Virginia Military District. Afterwards, settlers poured in from New Jersey, Maryland and North Carolina, and still later a few from Maine and Martha's Vineyard.
Last Thursday was a pleasant day, and hundreds assembled at Bantam Fair Grounds to attend the fifth yearly reunion of the surviving pioneers. After dinner-a sumptuous one, eaten by the gray-haired sires, their venerable companions and descendants on the delightful grounds- the meeting was called to order by its President, Hiram D. Tone, and Major E.G. Penn was chosen Secretary pro tern. Prayer was then offered by William B. Pease, of Amelia. The following officers were then elected for the ensuing year:
President Isaac Brown, of Tate
Vice President James Clark, of Stonelick
Secretary Dr. W. C. Richardson
Treasurer Samuel L. Apple
Chaplain Nathaniel Daily
The following Committee was appointed to prepare a list of all the aged and surviving pioneers in the county, viz:
Batavia Capt. WA. Townsley
Williamsburg Dr. D.C. Sharp
Tate C.W. Page
Franklin LA. Molen
Washington ... W.S. Gregg
Monroe Prof. J.K. Parker
Ohio ...Hon. John Shaw
Pierce Hiram D. Tone
Union Miami Simeon Teal
Miami A.B. Shaw
Goshen Dr. John E. Myers
Wayne Col. Win. Roudebush
Stonelick James Clark
Jackson Nathan S. Nichols
Captain William A. Townsley, the distinguished criminal lawyer of the Clermont bar, was then introduced and delivered the annual address, a most able, eloquent and scholarly effort, which occupied over an hour's time, and abounded in rich gems of splendor and many fine historical incidents. He aptly said the first pioneers were Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, out of which they were turned and forced, by their disobedience, to emigrate. In a subsequent period, Abraham became a famous pioneer, who with others mentioned in Holy Writ, were briefly portrayed in the address. The Captain described the discovery of Christopher Columbus, the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers on bleak Plymouth Rock, in 1620, and traced the settlement of our country down through the Indian and Revolutionary wars, to the present time. He made happy allusions to local history, and closed his well received address with a well timed peroration on our land's greatness in its material, educational, governmental, legal and moral aspects. His tributes to the spirit and energy of the pioneers who cleared up the lands and laid the foundations of our country's present high estates, were well conceived and brilliant in metaphor and beautiful in simile.
Capt. Townsley was born in 1823, in East Tennessee, and removed with his parents in 1831 to Hamilton county.
Samuel Simpson, aged. eighty-six years, exhibited an old smooth bore musket which his grandfather carried at the battles of Germantown, Brandy-wine, etc., in the Revolutionary war. His father, John Simpson, came from Montgomery county, in 1818, and his sister, Hannah, married Jesse R., father of General Grant. A printed letter, written over sixty years ago, by Thomas Ashburn, the founder of Susanna, was shown by Hon. John Shaw. It was written in England and contained many rich historical incidents of interest.
R.J. Bancroft had the following original certificate:
"Camp Meigs, 29th May, 1812.
I do certify that Samuel English has been appointed fife Major to the Regiment under my command, and is to be obeyed and respected accordingly.
Lewis Cass, Colonel."
Mr. English was a blacksmith's apprentice in Williamsburg, in 1806, and when that year Aaron Burr lodged there over night, at the Kain hotel, he was one of the fifers that played "Rogue's March" for the crowd that assembled at the hotel and groaned for the arch-traitor their disapproval of his revolutionary proceedings in the South-West. Mr. English was the first hand-maker of nails in Cincinnati, where he lived until about 1840, when he removed to Chilo where he died in 1865, and where his venerable widow still survives. He had five sons in the Union army, one of whom was killed and the others all wounded. Mr. B. also had the poll sheet of the election held Oct. 12, 1802, in Ohio township, for members of the Constitutional Convention. That township then comprised all of the present territory of Ohio, Pierce, Union and part of Monroe and Batavia. At this election held at John Donham's house, the following electors voted: James Ward, William Whitaker, William Dewitt, Isaac Vanetter, William Campbell, Jacob Teal, William Malott, William Christy, John Vanetter, Jacob Whetstone, James Bennett, Isaac Ferguson, John Bennett, Gibbons Bradbury, Abraham Ridlin, Josiah Thomas, Thomas John, Robert Donham,
Thomas McDonah, Abel Donham, Patrick Fagins, Abner Fagins,
Samuel Brown, William Lindsey, Isaiah Ferguson, John Watson,
Zachariah Ferguson, John White, John Fagins, Daniel Tegarden,
William Robb, Reuben Laycock, William Not, George Harwood,
Win. Laycock, Samuel Loveless, Maurice Witham, Samuel
Shipherd, John Hunter, ezekiel Diminitt, William Abercrombie,
Hugh Ferguson, John Whitaker, George Fagins, Shadrach Lane,
simon Rice, Win. Harrison, Robert Townsley, William Simmons,
Jacob Light, Jacob Ullery, John Snider, Elias Gerard, Thomas
Ayres, Jeremiah Chandler, John Morin, Henry Fitzpatrick,
Rodham Mona, Edward Morin, Hezekiah Lindsey, Michael
Quigley, Samuel Baker, John Donham, John John, Joseph
Fagins, Archibald Gray, Benjamin Snider. This list was never
before published.
The name of Fagin was then spelled Fagan, and Morn written Morning.
Arrangements were made to have next year a large exhibition of pioneer relics, such as documents, plate, furniture, wearing apparel, etc.
The venerable David Fisher, member of the Thirtieth Congress, and forty years ago a power in Ohio politics as the "Clinton Farmer," was called upon but made no remarks further than returning his thanks for the compliment. The old statesman is blind, but his intellect bright as ever, with a warm heart for his country and for all humanitarian objects.
William B. Pease, born just seventy-eight years ago this day at Martha's Vineyard, Mass., made a pleasant talk and told how in 1816 he walked for miles to the nearest store to get tea for company. His father, Capt. Martin Pease, an old sea captain, came to this country in 1814 and located near Amelia.
James Clark, son of Orson and Nancy (Corbly) Clark, said he had lived in the county fifty years, but was born in Hamilton county, where his grand-father, Judge James Clark, came in 1797 from Southampton county, Virginia. The latter married a daughter of Rev. John Corbly, the pioneer Baptist preacher.
Ccl. Win. Thomas made a neat talk abounding in old incidents and scenes of over seventy years ago. He was born August 16, 1801, at Redstone Fort, Pa. His father came to near Columbia in 1805 and located at Madisonville, but in 1815 removed to Clermont. The Colonel served four years each as Sheriff and Treasurer, and is yet a finely preserved old gentleman. He said he had no hat until he was eight years old, which was made by a Mr. Prince, in Cincinnati, who had come from Rhode Island. He walked over Cincinnati as a four-year-old boy when it was no larger than Bethel is now and had no paved streets.
Isaac Brown, of Tate, made an excellent presiding officer and maintained the honor of his family, one of the earliest and most prominent in his township.
Hon. John Shaw took a deep interest in the meeting and his great knowledge of the early history of the county in which his ancestors bore so conspicuous a part made his remarks decidedly interesting. His father, Hon. John Shaw, was born July 15, 1779, the night Gen. Mad Anthony Wayne captured Stony Point; was a son of a Revolutionary soldier, and came to Clermont at the beginning of the century.
Major E.G. Penn and family were among the active promoters of the meeting. His father, the late Elijah T. Penn, came in 1809 from Maryland and settled in Washington township. The latter's father was Benjamin Penn, who was born in 1740 and in 1774 married Miss Mary Sargent.
Among other families present we noticed the Bredwells, whose ancestor, Yelventon Bredwdll, was born in Virginia and came to this county in 1806. Simeon Teal, whose ancestors early came from Maryland, and Capt. M. A. Leeds, whose ancestors were early found in and about Bantam. The Frazees, whose father Benjamin in 1800 settled on Indian Creek, and Elijah Brazier, whose father, John, came from North Carolina. Samuel L.
Apple, whose father, Daniel, was born in 1794 and was the son of Andrew Apple who came to Batavia township in 1798 from Pennsylvania and located twenty-one acres near Olive Branch. Major Ira Ferguson, son of Isaiah Ferguson, born in 1776, who was the son of Isaac Ferguson, who died below New Richmond in 1818-a stock of heros in four wars. Thomas Benton and George Nichols, descendants of Nathan Nichols from Virginia, who in 1807 bought eight hundred acres in the western part of Monroe township, and who died in 1824, having been born in 1749. Isaac Vanosdol, whose father was in the war of 1812, and whose grandfather, Oakey Vanosdol, a Revolutionary soldier, came from New Jersey in 1804 to Tate township. Stephen Judd, whose mother was a daughter of Stephen Bolander, who came from Pennsylvania to Bullskin in 1800. The Sapps, whose ancestor, Frederick Sapp, settled on Big Indian about 1800, several of whose daughters married Treeses. John Page, who married Rachel Hartman, daughter of Christopher Hartman, January 9, 1817, and whose father, Thomas Page came from New Jersey in 1805 and settled on what is now the Simpson place. Weavers, descendants of John Weaver, who came from Virginia in 1807 and the next year purchased the Weaver bottoms. Also, J.N. Hopkins, G.W. Smith, Aaron Bennett, and other old citizens and aged people.
The meeting of next year will be on a larger scale and promises to be the event of the season. A new interest is being awakened among the pioneers and this will lead to renewed historical discoveries in the county.
Our next Congressman, Hon. James E. Campbell, looked in upon the meeting a few minutes and went on his way rejoicing.
No local candidates were visible, but the ubiquitous Joe Titus was about, likewise your humble reporter.
As we gazed around upon the pleasant faces of the many present who had passed four score years, upon the middle aged and the young scattered here and there, we thought of the poet's song:
"We all within our graves shall sleep
A hundred years to come;
No being then for us will weep
A hundred years to come.
But other men our lands will till,
And others then our streets will fill,
While other birds will sing as gay,
As bright the sun shine as to-day,
A hundred years to come."
From the Clermont Sun
Tuesday September 19, 1882
BIRTHS
Birth
Records
*
Early
Clermont
Co. Births 1856-1857
*
First Presbyterian Churches of Monroe
At Nicholsville & Bantam
*
Baptisms of Children
*
Anderson
Township Births 1906-1907
*
Old
Bethel
Church Baptisms
*
Old Bethel Church Baptisms 1894-1908
*
Early Births 1856
*
MARRIAGES
Early
Marriages 1800 - 1808
*
Marriage
Book 13
1874-1876
*
Goshen M. E. Church
Marriage
*
DEATHS
Funerals
Conducted
by Rev. Hezekiah Hill 1862-1908
*
The
Old
Village Graveyard
*
Deaths
of Residents
Over 75 in 1875
*
Infirmary
Discharges That Mention a Burial Place
*
Death
Dates from
I.O.O.F. Lodge #313
*
Early
Clermont
Deaths from The Ohio Sun
*
Obituaries
From
the Clermont Sun 1890-1891
*
Early
Deaths
from Clermont Sun 1855
*
More
Deaths
1857-1859
*
Stirling
& Moore Funeral Records 1888
*
1880 Mortality Census
*
Census
Goshen
1875
Quadrennial Census
*
Quadrennial
Census,
Batavia, 1847
*
Quadrennial
Census,
Batavia, 1855
*
History
Incidents
in The
Early History of Clermont County
*
Stonelick
Historical Notes
*
Vacation
of a
Road in
Union Township
*
Brown and Clermont County Families Mentioned
in the 1880 Clinton County History
*
Day
Book For Clarke
& Frambes Mills 1838
*
Immigration
Early
Naturalizations from Common Pleas Minutes
*
Citizenship
Papers
1844-1900
*
Names
of
New Found Naturalization Applicants
*
Military
Veterans
in
Various Cemeterys
*
Revolutionary
War Soldiers
*
Clermont
Courier
Ads November 18, 1863
*
Mexican War Veterans
*
Revolutionary War Veterans
*
Post Office
Post
Marks of
Clermont County
*
Clermont
Postmasters 1800 - 1930
*
Early
Unclaimed
Letters
*
More
Unclaimed
Letters
Unclaimed
Letters 1855
*
Bible Records
Manning
Bible
*
Banister
Bible
*
Bible
Records of
James McKinnie 1830
*
Bible
Records
Index Volume Two
*
Bible
Records Index
Volume Three
*
Churches
Old
Bethel Church
and Cemetery
*
History
of Old
Bethel Church 1868
*
Calvary
Church
and Cemetery Washington Twp
*.
Edenton
Church
1861
*
Places
Perin
Mills in 1863
*
Goshen-
Land Of Milk
and Honey
*
First
Settlers of
Jackson Township
*
Legal
Voters of
Goshen Township 1855
*
Batavia
in1847
*
Poll
Book Goshen
Township 1853
*
1840
Account
Book, Laurel Ohio
*
Edenton
School # 4
Pupils
*
Pensions
Pensions
1890
*
More Pensions
1890
*
Other
Indentures
1825
- 1831
*
Index
To General
Store Account Book 1816-1819
*
Vital
Statistics
From An Old Record Book
*
Items
from Clermont
Courier 1836
*
Clermont
Pensioners 1883
*
Ohio
Pioneers That
Moved to Texas
*
Persons
on the Petit
Jury 1880
*
Jails
and Sheriffs
*
Items
From
Early Clermont Courier 1852
*
Meeting
of
Patriarchs 1882
*
Surrender
Records From Childrens Home
*
Gazetteer
1882
*
Potpourri
*
Articles
From The
Clermont Sun 1889
*
River Boatmen
*
Sale of Delinquent Lands
*