The Oglesbee Family of Clinton County, Ohio

MANLEY OGLESBEE, farmer, P. 0. Lumberton. Among the pioneer list of Clinton County we find the name of Manley Oglesbee, who is a son of John Oglesbee, mentioned in Joshua’s sketch. Manley was born in Frederick County, Va., June 5, 1815, but in the fall of 1817 his parents settled in Greene County, Ohio, and in 1820 in Clinton County as above given. Since the last date mentioned, he has been a resident of Clinton County, watching its rise and progress for over threescore years, and now owns in Clinton, one among the leading counties in the State, over three hundred acres of land, which is the result of his own and his forefathers’ unswerving energy amid environing difficulties. He has passed quietly through life and desires no notoriety; hence is contented with the tasks of a common farm life. He remained at home until April 10, 1845, when he married Phenia, youngest daughter of Hezekiah Hiatt, mentioned in Isaac Hiatt’s biography in this volume — Liberty Township. She was born April 13, 1825, in Union Township, Clinton County. Before this marriage, Manley had erected a house on his present farm, a part of which is to-day standing and forms a part of his present dwelling. His residence was surrounded with the wilds of nature, but with strong hands and willing heart he has from time to time taken it to a fair degree of improvement and cultivation. He and wife are the parents of thirteen children, of whom two died in early life, and eleven are now living to read the record and pioneer hardships of their ancestors.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOSHUA OGLESBEE, farmer, P. 0. Lumbcrton. There was many a heroic pioneer in the settlement of Clinton County of whom little has yet been said, but to whom this local history is meant to do justice, in relating the progress, growth, development and present prosperity of the county, largely due to their energy, foresight and calm endurance. Among this class of people we are pleased to consecrate a space in this volume to the name Oglesbee, which seems to be of Scotch extraction, but as to the time of becoming known in America is not definite. The paternal grandfather, with one or more married children and a family by the name of Stump, emigrated from Virginia to Ohio in the year 1817. The grandfather, Isaiah Oglesbee, settled in Clinton County one and a half miles east of Lumberton, where he and wife both entered their final rest, the former about 1840, and the latter three years later. Both were members of the Friends’ Church. They endured many privations during the short period they resided in this county. The parents of our subject were John and Sarah (Stump) Oglesbee, both natives of Virginia, where they matured and married. They were joined together September 4, 1809, and to the date of coming to Ohio had bora to them three children. They settled in Greene County, Ohio, but subsequently in Clinton County, purchasing 200 acres of land, where W. F. Oglesbee now resides, which was clothed with nature’s own production. By energy, perseverance and wonderful endurance, they grew from small beginning to be among the leading land-owners as well as worthy citizens of the county, which was accomplished in the short space of about twenty years, as the death messenger called him hence on July 12, 1840. But the widow survived, bearing the name of her departed husband until February 5, 1873, when she, too, was called hence. Both were members of the Baptist Church. Their children were eight in number, and Joshua, whose name heads this memoir, was born July 29, 1825, in Liberty Township, where he has always resided. He received the rudiments of an education in the common school. Remained at home and gave his widowed mother his time until his majority when he entered the arena of life for.himself, and on March 11, 1855, was married to Mary M. McKay, sister.of W. F., whose biography appears in this township. She was born September 27, 1837, in Chester Township, Clinton County. To this union have been given three children — Sally M., Alonzo and Horace. Soon after the above marriage they settled on their present farm, which consists of 35(1 acres, which is under cultivation and improvement. This farm receives his entire time, believing that a successful farmer can consume all the time profitably at home, hence we see he has no political aspirations and is contented with the common routine of a farmer’s life. The maternal grandparents of Joshua were Daniel and Mary Stump, also natives of Virginia, where they married, but came to Ohio the same time as tin* Oglesbees. They settled near Harveysburg, where they both died at advanced ages.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HIRAM OGLESBEE, farmer, P. 0., Port William, is a son of Eli Oglesbee, who was born in Virginia October 5, 1806, and died in Clinton County, February 28, 1870. He came to Ohio when about eleven years old, with his father, Isaiah Oglesbee, mentioned in Joshua Oglesbee’s sketch. Eli grew to manhood in Liberty Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, and acquired a limited education in the pioneer days. He endured many privations that can only be told by those who passed through them, in clearing away the dense forest. He married Rebecca Mann, a native of Ohio, born in 1807, and died in 1831, with whom he had one child, Lydia, now Mrs. William Cornell, of Dayton, Ohio. Eli married for his second companion, Lucinda Fawcett, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, born July 4, 1810, and died in Clinton County, Ohio, September 14, 1877. She was the mother of three children, viz: Our subject, Rebecca (wife of A. J. Van Pelt), and Woodson. Eli, through his energy and wonderful endurance, acquired a fair amount of property, which is now in the hands of his children, the eldest of whose name, heads this article; he was born where he now resides, August 4, 1834. Here he matured on the farm, and being his father’s eldest son, there were many duties pressing themselves upon him that the younger did not undergo. He acquired a common school education and gave his father the benefit of his time until August 2, 1858, when he married Susan Buser, who is a native of Greene County, Ohio, and reared in Xenia; her birth occurred in 1835. To this union have been given six children — Louie B., Charles H., John W., Horace C., Edward F. and Amos L. In 1859, he located on his farm in Greene County, where he followed his childhood occupation (farming) a period of ten years, when he moved to Xenia, and in partnership with D. B. Dubois, engaged in the stove, tin-ware and agricultural implement trade. This received his attention until the death of his father, when he located on the “home” farm with his mother, and the following fall removed to the farm now owned by Joshua Brown, where he remained until 1874, when he returned to Xenia, and engaged in the furniture trade in which he was successful; but in the Centennial year, he purchased the home farm where he is now engaged in farming and is comfortably situated* He is of Scotch extraction and is of a worthy pioneer family.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WOODSON OGLESBEE, farmer, P. 0. Port William. Woodson, whose name appears above, was born June 21, 1839, in Liberty Township, near where his present house stands. He is a brother of Hiram, whose sketch appears above. Our subject grew to maturity in his native township, where he has since lived. He remained at home, giving his father the advantage of his time until twenty-two years of age, when ho married Mary E. Haines, who was born in Cfinton County, Ohio, in 1841, and died in May, 1879, leaving husband and four children. The latter are, respectively, Charles A., Alden M., Mary E., and Hiram J. Afterward Mr. Oglesbee married for his second companion Lucy M. Fawcett, of Clinton County, Ohio. He is one of the well-to-do farmers of Liberty Township, and owns 174 acres of land in Clinton and Greene Counties, under good cultivation and improvement. He gives his entire time to farming and erin ' for his stock.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANKLIN OGLESBEE, farmer, P. 0. McKay’s Station. He comes from the Isaiah Oglesbee who is mentioned in Joshua Oglesbee’s sketch. He is a great grandson of Isaiah, grandson of John, and a son of Amos, who was born in Virginia in 1810 and came to Ohio in 1817, and from 1820 matured in Clinton County. He was the eldest.son of his father, and naturally endured many privations not subjected to by the younger ones. He remained at home until 1835, when he married Anna, sister of Solomon Huffman, mentioned in Christopher Huffmann’s biography. She was born 1814 in Virginia, and came to Ohio with her parents soon after the war of 1812. Soon after this marriage they settled on the farm now owned by Frank, where he cleared considerable of it, and finally, on December 31, 1851, after having been a long and useful pioneer and for many years a member of the Reformed Church, he entered his final rest. His widow survived until June 25, 1875, when she, too, passed away. Their children were nine in number, of whom eight are now living, and our subject is the eldest, and was born September 4, 1836, on the farm he now owns, and as his father’s eldest child became his most valuable assistant. He remained with his widowed mother until 1863, when he enlisted in Company H, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, serving until the oloao of the war; received no wounds, but through exposure has impaired his health. Upon his return he resumed farming, which has since received his attention, and now owns a farm of 110 acres, well improved and under good cultivation. His nuptials were celebrated January 2, 1873, with Miss Ruth Hadley, who was born in Clinton Connty,ohio. in 1854, she being the daughter of Eli L. and Theodosia, who were pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Oglesbee are the parents of one child — Anna T., born December 1, 1873.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

C. R. OGLESBEE, farmer, P. O. Wilmington, was born in Liberty, Clinton Co., Ohio, June 18, 1843. Ilis father was Daniel Oglesbee, a native of Virginia, who located in Clinton County in 1817. Mr. Oglesbee’s grandparents were John and Sarah (Tump) Oglesbee, also natives of Virginia. Ilis mother was Delilah Huffman, a native of the “Old Dominion,” and of German parentage. Mr. Oglesbee grew to manhood in this county, where he has resided all his life. He is Democratic in politics, and the owner of 100 acres of good land. Tie was married, in 1875, to Rebecca A., daughter of J joshua and Jane M. ( Myars ) Haines, early settlers of this county. They have three children — Eric J., Oscar L. and Edward D. Mrs. Oglesbee is a member of the Society of Friends.

WILLIAM E. O’NEAL (deceased) was born near Newberry Court House, S. C., December 29, 1804. His parents were William and Mary (Elmore) O’Neal, natives of South Carolina, he of Irish and she of Welsh descent. Our subject at the age of eight years came to Ohio with his parents who settled at Waynesville, arriving on the second Saturday of November, 1812; the father died in 1819.. Mr. O’Neal received such training in the common branches as the schools of his day and neighborhood afforded, and learned the trade of a shoemaker, which occupation in connection with his farming he followed the greater part of his life. In 1828, he was united in marriage with Anna Swain, who died within two years from that time, and on the 7th of May, 1835, he was married to Mary Ann, daughter of Robert and Mary (Jackson) Miskeley, the latter a near relative of the late Gen. Stonewall Jackson. The wife of our subject was born in Gloucester County, N. J., not far from Philadelphia, August 13, 1810, and in 1819, with her parents emigrated to Ohio, stopping at Cincinnati, and in the spring of 1820 removed. to Waynesville. Her parents died, the father, October 3. 1833. in the forty-fourth year of his age, and the mother, February 24, 1877. in her ninety-first year. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. O’Neal resided in Montgomery County. Ohio, for one year, then removed to Indiana and remained six years, when they returned to Ohio, and four years lived near Dayton, then came to Clinton County, where the former died, November 9, 1877. They were the parents of the following-named children: James

B., George M., Isaac C., Sarah A., Nat, S. and Mary J. The four sons all served in the war of the late rebellion, and three of them laid down their young lives in the cause of the Union, and the remains of one to-day rest beneath a Southern sun in an unknown grave. James B. was a member of Company B, Fortieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died at Ashland, Ky., March 15, 1862. George M. was in the same company and regiment, and died at Camp Dennison, Ohio, Decembers, 1863; Isaac C. was in the Second Regiment, Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was drowned in the Holston River, near Knoxville, Tcnn., June 6, 1865; and Nat S. was a member of Captain J. Q. Smith’s company of Squirrel Hunters.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

NELSON OGLESBEE, farmer, P. 0. Wilmington, was born in Greene County, Ohio, December 10, 1832. He is a son of Isaiah and Kachel (Devoe) Oglesbee, natives of Virginia, the father born May 14, 1700, and the mother December 18, 1797. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom are now living, and all residing in Van Wert County, Ohio, with the exception of our subject. Mr. Oglesbee’s father was a farmer, and he has always followed that occupation. He is a Supervisor and School Director, and a member of the Democratic party. Mr. Oglesbee was married, December 2, 1858, to Maria Powers, born in Greene County, Ohio-, November 22, 1840, and a daughter of Edward Powers. They have three children — Albert, Ella R. and Edward Elmer.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.