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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
THE
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO
Volume 2 of 2
containing
A History of the County; Its Townships, Cities, Towns, Schools,
Churches, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of
Early Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the
Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Map of
Clinton County; Constitution of the
United States, Miscellaneous
Matters, Etc., Etc.
- Illustrated -
Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co.
1882
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Vernon Twp.
MRS. ABIGAIL J. (CLARK) HADLEY.
The Mendenhalls, of whom Mrs. D. L. Hadley is a
descendant on her mother's side, are traced back to the year
1267, to the "Manor of Mildenhall," in Wiltshire, Eng.
The family, at that time, were landholders, and reckoned among
its members soldiers who served in the wars of the Crusade, and,
at different times, occupied positions of trust and honor, in
connection with Royalty, one being Chaplain to King Edward III,
and another, as Keeper of the Jewels, etc. The first
that came to America of which there is any account, was John
Mendenhall, who emigrated with William Penn; he
settled in concord, Delaware Co., Penn., previous to 1685; he
was an active and influential member of the Friends Meetings.
In 1697, he donated ground for the Friends Meeting House in
Concord. He was married, in 1685, to Elizabeth Maris;
they had three children - George, John and Aaron.
The last named married Rose Pierson June 16, 1715; they
had eight children - George, James, John, Aaron, Elijah,
Rose, Lydia and Elizabeth. James, last named,
married Hannah Thomas, a natives of Wales. They had
six children - Phineas, Elijah, Marmaduke, George, Hannah
and Judith. George, last named was married to
Judith Gardner. He was the founder of Jamestown, N.
C.; they had a family of ten children - Nathan, Richard,
Jemima, William A., James, George C., Hannah Abigail born
Jan. 18, 1795, and married October, 1819, in North Carolina, at
Deep River, Hezekiah S. Clark, who was born Dec. 20,
1797, and are the parents of Abigail J. Hadley),
Judith and Mary. Hezekiah S. Clark and
his wife, Abigail (Mendenhall) Clark, moved, with
their family, from North Carolina to Rush County, Ind., in 1835.
They came the whole distance by wagon; they located at
Burlington (now Arlington), on the Little Blue River, where he
opened out a farm of 240 acres; he also carried on a mill,
and was interested in other enterprises. Himself and wife
were members of the "Friends Society." His wife died in
1867, and he departed this life in 1876. They had twelve
children - Richard M., George C., Eliza W., Daniel A., John
W., Cynthia A., H. Franklin, Abigail J., David W., Nathan M.,
Rhoda G., and M. Delphina.
Abigail J. (Clark) Hadley was born in Randolph
County, N. C., Oct. 14, 1830. Her parents, Hezekiah S.
Clark and Abigail (Mendenhall) Clark, were worthy,
industrious and Christian people. Her father was a tanner
by trade, and while in North Carolina, carried on a tanyard,
blacksmith and potter shop, besides farming. He himself
wagoned down through South Carolina and Georgia, hauling off
leather and other goods, and attended different fairs that were
held where he disposed of some of his stock. The tanshop
was accidentally burned, when he sold out and moved to the then
far West, with his family of nine children. Her mother was
a worthy and pious woman, and by trade a bonnet and glove-maker,
and before marriage, taught school. A specimen of her fine
needle-work her daughter, Abigail, has in her possession,
in the shape of a globe worked on silk, showing the latitude and
longitude, and geographical divisions of the world. She
was kind and sympathetic in her nature. Her family
government was excellent and firm; the future good of the
children was strictly considered; soon after settling on the
banks of the Little Blue River, in Indiana, their eldest son
(who had acquired a god Latin and Greek education in North
Carolina), commenced keeping school (this was in the winter of
1836); was the first school our subject attended, although then
being able to spell and read in the elementary spelling book.
She well remembers incidents of the trip from North Carolina to
Indiana, of their passing through Wilmington and taking
breakfast with the late Samuel H. Hale, who, with his
brothers and sisters, were playmates of her father when a child.
From childhood, Mrs. Hadley's memory has been her
steadfast friend; in her studies it was but necessary to read
the lesson once to commit it. She was always in advance of
scholars of her own age, and recited in classes among those who
were twice her age. when only eight years old (her elder
sister leaving home to learn the tailor's trade) much of the
work of the family devolved on her young shoulders. Her
mother being in poor health, "Abbie," as she was called,
was obliged to do up the morning work, and prepare the food for
her mother to cook for dinner before going to school; return at
noon; fix it on the table; wash the dishes, and then back to
school. Thus she attended school a day, or half a day at a
time, and often carrying her next younger sister on her back to
and from school through the mud. She early learned to spin
and weave, a very necessary acquirement in those days, as nearly
all the family's wearing apparel was made at home. When
fourteen years of age, her father had a large crop of wheat to
harvest; hands were scarce and wages high and her mother
suggested that "Abbie" could be spared from the house to
assist in the harvest; she soon learned to bind wheat and make a
hand, and assisted her father through that and every succeeding
harvest, until nineteen years of age. When sixteen years
of age, she taught school, walking a mile and back, in the
meantime doing the washing for a family of nine. She was
often required to assist in her father's saw-mill, in rolling
and handling logs; at times, handling the "cant-hook" herself;
although her hands were so busy in doing for others, her desire
for knowledge never ceased, and wherever or at whatever work,
she still found time and opportunity to study. Her grammar
lessons were often learned while working at the loom, her
wonderful memory standing her in good stead, although so
constantly and laboriously employed. To use her own words,
"She never thought of its being a hardship," but a sense of
duty, assisted by a splendid physique, good health and a happy
heart made it a pleasure. Her great desire was to attend
college, and become a good Latin and Greek scholar, but was
never able to overcome family objections to it, as they thought
it not necessary, she at that time being far enough advance in
her studies to teach any common school. When sixteen years
of age, and on a visit to Morgan County, Ind., at an
acquaintance's houses, during the singing of the hymn, "Am I a
soldier of the cross, a follower of the lamb, etc.," she was
greatly affected, and from that hour the cause of Christ has
been her own. She had firmly decided previous to this,
that when she was eighteen years of age, she would leave the
Society of Friends and repudiate their ways, but God, who sees
the end from the beginning, very forcibly and clearly convinced
her at that time that if she ever left the society she would
only, at some future day, have to come back to them, if she ever
went out of this world with His peace resting upon her.
The education she received at home from her parents was liberal,
being taught to return good for evil, and allowed to adopt any
becoming economical fashion, and attend meetings of other
denominations; singing of "hymns" was always allowed and
practiced in the family. One fundamental principle was,
that the true woman consisted in knowing how to do that work
which was necessary to be done, and, at the same time, "no one
was our superior if we conducted ourselves properly."
Mrs. Hadley has, perhaps, cooked and helped at more
"raisings" of buildings that any other lady in Clinton County.
Since her marriage, she, and her husband, having been regular
attendants of meetings twice a week at Clarksville.
Mrs. Hadley has borne her share of the labors of the church,
acting at one time as Clerk of the Preparative, Monthly and
Quarterly Meetings; attending to the duties of Clerk about ten
years each of the Preparative and Quarterly-Meetings, and four
or five years of the Monthly-Meetings; she also acted as
"Overseer" for about ten years. Mrs. Hadley is a
consistent Children lady; firm in her convictions of right, and
charitable to the faults of others. She was instrumental
in keeping up the Friends' Sunday school for many years at
Clarksville, acting as its Superintendent and teacher. In
the Temperance cause, she has always been an earnest worker; is
a lady of fine appearance, and of a generous purpose.
Herself and worthy husband are now passing down the pathway of
life, enjoying that competence and comfort which is insured and
deserved by their worthy and useful lives. Mrs. Hadley
is a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, of
Clarksville, and of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Source: History of Clinton Co., OH, Vol. 2,
Published 1882 - Page 1121 |
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Clark Twp. -
CHARLES E. HUNT,
farmer, P. O. Farmers Station, son of William S. and Phebe
Hunt, was born in Clark Township, July 31, 1848; he was
reared to manhood on his father's farm, and was educated in the
high schools of Martinsville, and in Earlham College, of
Richmond, Ind.; he taught school here one year, and, in the fall
of 1871, he volunteered with eleven other teachers to go to
Phillips County, Ark., and teach. After spending two years
in that profession there, in the fall of 1873, he returned to
Clinton County and taught two years; he then engaged in the
pursuit of farming, which he has since followed. in 1877,
he took up his residence on his present farm. It contains
170 acres, with a brick residence which is one of the oldest in
Clark Township. Mr. Hunt was a member of Company B,
Sixty-sixth Regimental Battalion of the Ohio National Guards,
during the late war. Oct. 14, 1873, Mr. Hunt was
married to Miss Ella M. Doan, a daughter of Timothy
and Mary Doan, and a native of Richland Township, where she
was born Jan. 6, 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are
members of the Friends' Church. Mr. H. is a member
of the Masonic fraternity and of the Grange. Is a
stockholder in the Farmers' & Mechanics' Joint-Stock Company of
Farmers Station, and, in politics, is an advocate of
Republicanism.
Source: History of Clinton Co., OH,
Vol. 2, Published 1882 - Page 960 |
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Clark Twp. -
M. L. HUNT,
banker and merchant of Martinsville, was born in Clark Township,
Feb. 2, 1836. He is a son of Jesse and Anna (Moon) Hunt,
the former a native of Grayson County, Va., and the latter of
Clark Township. Mr. Hunt passed his early life upon
his father's farm, and received the elements of his education in
the high school of Martinsville and Lebanon Normal. In
1858, he engaged in the profession of teaching, which he pursued
for eight years. The last three years of his engagements
in that profession he was Principal of the Martinsville Public
Schools, and it was during his superintendency that the schools
of that place rank with the best schools of Clinton County.
Mr. Hunt then became book-keeper in the First National
Bank of Wilmington, occupying that position till October of
1867, when he engaged in the mercantile business in
Martinsville, with Larkin Cleland, under the firm name of
Cleland & Hunt. In August, 1873, this firm
succeeded Moore & Hunter in the Farmer's Bank, and Mr.
Hunt has since been in the banking business. Mr.
Hunt entered the arena of life with very limited means, but
with his self-acquired qualifications and excellent business
ability, perseverance and energy, he has attained to success in
all the positions of his life, as teacher, merchant and banker,
and while he has acquired valuable possessions, eh highly
deserves the success of his honorable achievements. He has
filled various official relations in his township and village
with general acceptability. He served as Township
Treasurer for sixteen years and as treasurer of the Special
School District and Corporation for the same length of time.
He was a member of the Board of School Examiners for the term of
five years, and performed the duties of that office with credit
to himself and to the highest satisfaction of the public.
Mr. Hunt's political affiliations have been with the
Republican party. He celebrated his marriage Nov. 1, 1866,
with Miss Sarah E. Wright, a daughter of James Wright,
and a native of Clark Township, where she was born Sept. 29,
1845. Two sons were the fruits of this union - Wright,
born Jan. 15, 1868, and Reid who was born Apr. 20,
1870. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are consistent members of
the Society of Friends. Mr. Hunt is the owner of a
very commodious residence, and a half interest in two business
houses in Martinsville.
Source: History of Clinton Co., OH,
Vol. 2, Published 1882 - Page 959 |
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Clark Twp. -
WILLIAM S. HUNT,
farmer, P. O. Martinsville, son of Thomas and Susanna Hunt,
was born in Grayson County, Va., Aug. 27, 1816; his father was a
native of North Carolina, and his mother of New Jersey.
They were married, and came to Clinton County when our subject
was but three years old. They settled in Clark Township,
where our subject was reared to manhood. He was married,
Nov. 28, 1847, to Phebe, daughter of Ezekiel and
Elizabeth Hayworth. Mrs. Hunt was born
in Clark Township, Jan. 28, 1828; her parents came to Clinton
County at a very early day. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were
blessed with eight children; of these, six are living, viz.:
Charles E., born July 30, 1849; Aaron J., born
Feb. 14, 1852; Isaiah, born Jan. 20, 1854; Sylbia,
born Mar. 28, 1859, wife of Sanford W. Doan; Oliver,
born July 14, 1861; and William, born Mar. 12, 1870.
Sarah E. and Sarah are deceased. In
February, 1857, Mr. Hunt located on his present
farm, and has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising;
he owns 225 acres of well-improved land. Mr. and Mrs.
H. are members of the Friends' Church. Mr. H.
is a Republican in politics.
Source: History of Clinton Co., OH, Vol. 2, Published 1882 -
Page 959 |
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Clark Twp. -
JOSEPH F. HUNTER,
real estate dealer, Martinsville, is a son of James and
Harriet Hunter; he was born in Washington Township Jan. 11,
1845; he received his education in the common schools, and
followed teaching for four years, and for two years was engaged
in the harness business; he then purchased and ran a livery in
Martinsville till 1879; during has livery business, he also
dealt in carriage work. Since 1879, Mr. Hunter has
dealt in real estate; he owns a residence and lot in
Martinsville, and 170 acres in Pike County, besides 250 acres in
Desha County, Ark. Feb. 20, 1868, Mr. Hunter was
united in marriage with Lydia C. Miller, a daughter of
Isaac and Margaret Miller, and a native of Stephenson
County, Ill., where she was born Aug. 18, 1848. They have
five children, viz.: Lois M., Nathaniel, Charles M.,
Jessie and Mabel. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter
are members of the Christian Church. Mr. H. is a
member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Republican.
Source: History of Clinton Co., OH,
Vol. 2, Published 1882 - Page 960 |
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