BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
The History of Clark County, Ohio:
containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers
and prominent men, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, map of Clark County, Constitution
of the United States, miscellaneous matters, etc., etc.
Publ. Chicago:  W. H. Beers & Co., 
1881

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	Pleasant Twp. - J. H. PAGE, farmer; P. O. Catawba.  Was born Apr. 10, 1827, in Moorefield Township, Clark Co., Ohio.  Was raised and educated a tiller of the soil, and has always been engaged in that pursuit, with the exception of three yeas that he taught school when a young man.  He was married, Mar. 25, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of George Runyan, of Catawba.  They were blessed with four children - Joseph W., Charles B., Isaac C, and John W.  Mr. Page owns a splendid farm of 120 acres, with good farm buildings upon it.  He held the office of Trustee for three terms.  He is a son of James C. Page, native of Kentucky, who came to Ohio in an early day and located in Moorefield Township, this county. SOURCE: The History of Clark County, Ohio : Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 978
	Springfield Twp - JOHN W. PARSONS, Treasurer, Springfield.  Mr. Parsons is a native of Springfield.  His father, Israel Parsons, removed from Harper's Ferry, Va., in 1831, and settled in Springfield.  He still resides here, being now in the 81st year of his age.  The subject of this sketch was born July 25, 1838, and has been a resident of this city all his life.  When 14 years of age, he engaged as "message boy," and subsequently learned telegraphy, and continued as operator until 1864, when he became manager of the Western Union office in Springfield, which position he still holds.  He served in the United States Telegraph Corps from May, 1861, to the spring of 1863; was a member of the City Council in 1868.  In October, 1876, he was elected Treasurer of Clark County, and was re-elected in 1878.  He is a member of Clark Lodge, No. 101, Springfield Chapter, No. 48, and Springfield Council, No. 17; also of the Palestine Commandery, No. 33; in each of which he has been the presiding officer and is now presiding in the Commandery.  He was married, in 1869, to Miss Lida, daughter of William Enoch.  his residence is No. 106 Yellow Spring street.  They have two children. SOURCE:  The History of Clark County, Ohio; Publ. Chicago:  W. H. Beers & Co.,  1881 - Page 895
	Harmony Twp. - MALCOMB H. PATTERSON, farmer; P. O. Vienna Cross Roads; he was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Nov. 2, 1839.  His father, Charles C., was one of the leading carpenters of Dayton, Ohio.  Malcomb went to Illinois in 1859, and Aug. 10, 1861, he enlisted in Co. D., 123d I. (mounted) V. I., having served in the famous Wilder's Brigade, which, according to history, was never whipped.  He was discharged at the close of the war at Springfield, Ill.  He was one of the few who came out without a "scar," but he had a bullet to go through his boot-leg, one through the top of his hat, and one to glance and strike him over the left eye.  In 1865, he went to Missouri.  There he was married to Miss Anna Beales, of Virginia.  While in Missouri Mr. P. was engaged in faring.  Nov. 18, 1869, he returned to Clark Co., Ohio, and located in Springfield, Ohio.  In 1870, he settled in Harmony Township.  As the result of his marriage to Miss Beales, four children have been born to them - Carrie, born in Missouri May 23, 1868; Nettie was born in Harmony Township July 23, 1870; Charles was born in Harmony Township Oct. 1, 1873, and Howard Lee was born in Springfield Apr. 28, 1875.  He is situated on a beautiful farm one mile west of Vienna - a man of fine social qualities; in politics, a "stalwart" Republican. SOURCE:  The History of Clark County, Ohio; Publ. Chicago:  W. H. Beers & Co.,  1881 - Page 966
	Madison Twp. - N. T. PAULLIN, deceased.  Uriah and Rebecca Paullin his parents, were natives of Pennsylvania.  They emigrated from Pennsylvania to Kentucky at a very early day, and in 1809 or 1810, to Greene Co., Ohio.  It is said that Uriah Paullin made the first barrel of salt that was made at the Scioto Salt Works.  He died in a few years after locating in Greene Co., having been the father of nine children.  Newcomb T., the youngest child, was born in Greene Co., Jan. 18, 1811.  He was raised to agricultural pursuits, and, after starting in life for himself, resided on the old homestead for about five years, when he moved to Clark Co. and located on a grazing farm, the greater part of which was in Greene Co.  He was an enterprising man, and dealt extensively in stock.  In 1854, he left the farm and moved to South Charleston, but continued the stock trade to the last.  He had served his township as Trustee for a number of years, and was identified with the orders of Odd Fellows and Freemasons; was one of the charter members of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, of South Charleston.  His marriage with Mary Ann Harpole was solemnized Dec. 20, 1832.  To this union nine children were given - Jessie H., Joanna, Matilda, Cerelda, Elizabeth, infant daughter (deceased), Ann Amelia, Melissa and Emma.  Mr. Paullin departed this life July 25, 1880.  His widow survives him.  She was born in Greene Co. June 21, 1816, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Harpole.  They were natives of Virginia, he born May 8, 1786, and she Nov. 1, 1792.  They settled in Greene Co. in 1812, having lived a short time in Ross Co.  Nine children were born to them - Jesse, Mary Ann, John, Matilda, Phebe, William, Mellissa, Elizabeth and Peter.  Mr. William Harpole departed this life in February of 1853, and his wife in June of 1866. SOURCE:  The History of Clark County, Ohio; Publ. Chicago:  W. H. Beers & Co.,  1881 - Page 1072
	Springfield Twp - WILLIAM C. PEEL, of the firm of Peel & Elster, manufacturers of dash moldings, neck yokes, clothes wringers, etc., Springfield.  Mr. Peel is a native of Germany, born Feb. 21, 1843.  His parents came to the United States in 1846, and located in Dayton, where they still reside.  The subject of this sketch learned the trade of carriage trimmer, and followed that as a business some sixteen years.  He came to Springfield in the fall of 1864, and has resided here, with the exception of the years 1870 and 1871, when he was engaged with Mr. Elster, his present partner, at Hillsboro, Highland Co.  The present firm was formed in 1873, and has since continued, now being located at 78 South Limestone street.  Mr. Peel is the inventor of the form of moldings which they manufacture, and which has a very large and general sale, not being confined even to this continent.  This firm also has a half interest in the Springfield Novelty Works, whose work is done in the same building with Peel & Elster.  They manufacture "Way's eccentric mil pick," and the "Universal tap wrench."  It will thus be seen that Mr. Peel is the head of a kind of novelty machine-shop where a variety of small but important articles of universal use are manufactured.  The success of this firm but confirms what any observing visitor will see at once, that Mr. Peel possesses the peculiar q1ualifications so necessary to secure success in such an establishment.  With quick perception rapidity of though and action, and a natural mechanical mind, he gives the same attention to the perfection of details in the construction of a "wringer" or "wrench" that a master mechanic would in constructing a locomotive.  Mr. Peel's residence is at the southwest corner of Factory and Pleasant streets.  He married, in 1866, Miss Viola L., daughter of John A. Shannon, deceased, who was formerly a carriage manufacturer of this city.  They have one child living - a daughter - Ida May. SOURCE:  The History of Clark County, Ohio; Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 895
	German Twp. - REV. JOHN PENCE, retired minister; P. O. Tremont City; was born in Rockingham Co., Va., Dec. 13, 1799; is a son of Henry and Catharine (Monger) Pence, natives of Virginia, the grandparents natives of Germany.  Adam Pence, the grandfather, emigrated to America at a very early day.  He served in the war of the Revolution at intervals during the entire seven years' duration.  An incident in the life of this early pioneer and patriot may be of interest in present and future generations.  Near the close of the war, while he and several others of his companions and messmates were returning home from a campaign under Gen. Wayne, against the Indians, in the then "Northwest," they came to the Ohio River, which was swollen to great dimensions by the freshet, and, having no means of crossing, they constructed a raft capable of carrying two persons across at one time.  Mr. Pence and one other companion were the only swimmers, and they had to swim and pilot the raft across by means of a rope, and thus they proceeded, crossing and re-crossing five times, taking two persons each time, until the party of ten persons were safely landed on the opposite shore.  This was a very hazardous undertaking, but, by these brave men and patriots, the crossing was safely effected.  But, from this exposure and hardship, Mr. Pence contracted a rheumatic disease, which, seven years after, resulted in his death.  Thus ended the life of one of America's patriots, sacrificed for the benefit of future generations.  Henry and family emigrated to Ohio and located in Warren Co. in 1810, residing there until 1823, when he became a resident of Montgomery Co., where he remained until his death; he died in 1861.  His wife lived two months after his death, when she, too, fell asleep in the embrace of death.  They were parents of six children; three now survive - John, Elizabeth and Julian.  Politically, Mr. Pence was a stanch Democrat; religiously, a Lutheran, and an active member for many years, while his wife was an earnest member of the Reformed Church, but without any selfishness, and with a remarkable liberality and love, they always went together to each other's church on Sacrament days, and communed together; this course they pursued during their entire lives.  Our subject was brought up to farm labor till they pursued during their entire lives.  Our subject was brought up to farm labor till his majority, then he proceeded to study and prepare for the ministry.  He studied three years with Rev. Thomas Winters; at the expiration of this time, on the 1tgh of June, 1824, he passed an examination at New Philadelphia, Ohio, and was ordained for the ministry and entered upon the work, first locating in Clark Co., and has continued in this and adjoining counties still five years ago, when he retired from active work and became a superannuate, having been actively engaged in ministerial work for half a century.  He was married, June 27, 1827, to Miss Margaret, daughter of David and Margaret (Bruner) Jones, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Maryland; their issue has been nine children; five now survive - Mary, Jane, Martha, Margaret Ann, James H. and William A.  Mr. Pence has had a long and active life, and has had the pleasure to extend the hand of fellowship to many a traveling mortal, some of whom have already passed on to the "golden shore;" and we trust that when Mr. Pence's life's journey shall be o'er, he will pass triumphantly and received on the other shore "a crown of rejoicing." SOURCE:  The History of Clark County, Ohio: Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 1007
	Pike Twp. - VALENTINE PENCE, farmer and millwright; P. O. New Carlisle.  This gentleman was born in Rockingham Co., Va , June 28, 1819.  He is the son of George and Christina (Crowbarger) Pence.  The father was a native of Virginia, where he died in 1825.  The mother was a native of Pennsylvania.  She moved to Clinton Co., Ind., in 1836, where she died two years later.  Valentine went to Indiana with his mother, and stayed with her until the spring of 1838, when he came to Clark County and commenced laboring as a millwright with his brother and Samuel Sprinkle, and continuing in this business for twelve years.  He was married Oct. 4, 1842, to Catharine F., daughter of George and Catharine (Fair) Stafford, who were both natives of Ireland.  Mr. Pence bought his present farm in Section 26, of Samuel Arnold.  Aug. 16, 1845, since which time he has devoted his attention principally to farming. By his marriage with Miss Stafford he became father of two children -Caroline Elizabeth, born May 28, 1844, and Margaret Almira, born May 4, 1847.  Caroline was married Nov. 6, 1872, by Rev. J. G. Black, to Thomas Swanger.  Margaret was married Dec. 13, 1867, by Rev. L. G. Edgar, to Antony Stafford.  Mr. Pence and wife are both energetic members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they have zealously labored for some time.  Mr. P. was raised a Democrat, but has always voted the Whig and Republican ticket.  He has served as Township Trustee for two terms with great credit to himself and constituents. SOURCE:  The History of Clark County, Ohio: Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 1020
	German Twp. - SAMUEL POWELL, farmer, P. O. Tremont City; born in Chester Co., Penn., Feb. 20, 1823; is a son of Thomas and Catharine (Wright) Powell, natives of Pennsylvania; the grandparents also supposed to be natives of Pennsylvania, and died there; Thomas died about 1873 or 1874; his wife died some thirty years previous; they were parents of eight children; five now survive - Samuel, Thomas, Lewis, Jane and Allen.  Mr. Powell was a farmer by occupation.  Was drafted in the war of 1812, in which he served for a short time.  He was an active church member most of his life, first in the Episcopal Church and afterward in the Presbyterian.  Mr. Powell, our subject, was raised to farm labor.  In 1845, he became a resident of Ohio, locating in Springfield, remaining there some six months; thence located nine miles above Columbus, where he farmed one year; thence back near Springfield, and farmed two years; thence into Springfield and became a fireman on the Little Miami R. R.; thence became engineer, which position he held for more than eight years; thence he run a stationary engine for an alcohol manufactory for five years, and continued as an engineer in the city of Springfield a greater part of the time till spring of 1879, when he bought and located upon the farm where he now resides; his farm consists of 99 acre of land, of about75 of which are in cultivation, with good improvements.  Mr. Powell was married in the fall of 1844, just before coming to Ohio, to Miss Hannah, daughter of John and Eleanor (Lewis) Dushane, natives of Wilmington, Del.; issue, five children - Susie, Ellie, John, Kittie and Hattie.  His wife and most of his children are members of the Lutheran Church.  Mr. Powell started life with no capital; followed engineering twenty-seven years, and farming the balance of his life; has now a good farm, and although not entirely out of debt, yet is in a position to live comfortably the balance of his life. SOURCE:  The History of Clark County, Ohio: Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1881 - Page 1008