Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 5 May 2005

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861

CHARLES L. JANNEY, farmer and horticulturist; P. O. Waynesville; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., Feb. 22, 1831; is a son of James M. and Sarah A. (Lupton) Janney, natives of Virginia. The grandparents were Abel and Lydia (Mendenhall) Janney, also natives of Virginia. Abel was a son of Jonas Janney, who lived and died in Virginia, the ancestors of whom trace back to their originator in this country, Thomas Janney, and his wife Margery, who emigrated from England to Pennsylvania in 1683; he died Dec. 12, 1696. His descendants came among the early settlers of Virginia, and most of them, from Thomas down to the present generations, were and are members of the Society of Friends, and as such have possessed the principles of good-will and peace to all men; opposed to war, and strong advocates of the Anti-Slavery cause. Abel and family, in 1833, emigrated to Ohio, and located in Springboro, Warren Co.; here he resided about four years; then moved into Greene County, and purchased three farms about six miles east of Xenia; there he died in fall of 1848, aged about 75 years; his wife survived him about twenty years, and died near Waynesville, having moved with her son Jonas to Warren County in spring of 1853; she reached nearly 91 years of age. They had three children—Nancy, James M. and Jonas; the latter the only one now living. James M., the father of our subject, with his family, in company with his father and family, at above date, came to Warren County and located at Springboro, where James M. entered upon mercantile trade till 1838; he retired from that business, and purchased the place known as the Edward Thomas farm, in Wayne Township, where he resided till his death, April 10, 1864, aged 60 years; his wife survives him, and now resides in Waynesville, aged 76 years. They had seven children—Charles L., William P., Edward E., Samuel L., Lewis W., Mary, and Louisa, now Mrs. Walter Zell. Mr. Janney in many respects was a remarkable man; was an earnest and ardent supporter of the Society of Friends, with whom he was identified all his life; a man of undoubted integrity, very just and exact in all his dealings with his fellow-men; a careful and correct business man; a good financier, and successful in all his undertakings. He had a great taste for and devoted himself largely to writing, being an extensive contributor to many of the papers of the day; and his poetical productions are numerous and extensive, and of a high order, many of which have never been published, but are held as valuable mementoes in possession of hip family. Our subject was in his 3d year when brought to this county, and here grew to manhood; was married Nov. 15,1855, to Hannah B., daughter of Wesley and Susan Haines (whose history appears in sketch of Mr. Haines); issue, one child—Walter H, born Dec. 3, 1858. Mr. Janney first located where he now lives, and has now resided for twenty-five years. This place was known as the Thomas Thomas farm; it consists of 60 acres of good land, good buildings and improvements; the dwelling is built of stone, and was erected in 1806, having now withstood the elements of time for three-quarters of a century, and its walls are still as substantial as ever. Mr. Janney is an enthusiastic horticulturist, and has devoted his main energies in this field of labor. He has cultivated and prepared the grounds and surroundings of his home with care and taste, being ornamented with evergreens, ornamental trees, flowers and shrubbery, constituting a beautiful home and residence. His green-house is filled with flowers and plants of new and choice specimens, and is now giving special attention to the cultivation of palms. Thus Mr. Janney has attached to his farm and home an interest which is ennobling and beautifying in its nature, and from which he is enabled to derive the greatest pleasures of his life.