Henry Stickney

As printed in 1881

HENRY STICKNEY, farmer; P. O. Springfield. Lives five miles east of Springfield, on his beautiful farm called “ Walnut Hill.” He was born Nov. 26, 1821, in a log cabin that stood near his present home. He was married, Nov. 11, 1851, to Isabell J. Baird, daughter of William D. and Sarah Baird. Their only children, William, James and Sarah Jane, are still living at home with their parents. William takes great delight in the breeding of fine hogs, of which he has some very fine ones. To Mrs. S. belongs the credit of planning and arranging their beautiful and convenient home. Mr. and Mrs. S. have been consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1850. John Stickney, the father of Henry, was born in Yorkshire, England, in the year 1780, of poor parents, therefore had but few advantages and but few opportunities, excepting the privilege of obtaining a good trade. His father being a blacksmith, John was initiated as apprentice in his father’s shop, when so small

-as to require a block to enable him to reach the bellows handle or strike at the anvil. He continued this apprenticeship, assisting his father in maintaining the family until 26 years of age, when he (John) was united in wedlock with Sarah Cook, of the neighboring village. John, with his trade, a good constitution, an indomitable will, and a fixed purpose, and his wife’s willing hands and $300, set out to battle for a fortune. He began business, first in one shop; and after a little while in two shops, which stood some distance apart, working in each alternate days; walking from one to the other. Providence smiled upon their endeavors, and when having acquired sufficient money to carry them to the new world, they resolved to live no longer under kingly rule, but would embark for the land of the free, which they did in the spring of 1819, with their offspring —John, Harriet and George, also grandmother Cook, who was 80 years old. After a voyage of eleven weeks, they landed at New York, where they took the boat for Philadelphia, and then by wagon over the mountains to Wheeling, where they and another family purchased a flat-boat and proceeded down the Ohio River. On arriving at Cincinnati, they found teams (that had brought cheese to the city from Clark Co., Ohio), which conveyed them to Clark County, the long-desired haven. After a short rest, Mr. S. began to ply his trade in a low shanty, which stood over a mile from his home. As was the custom in England, he asked permission of his neighbors to walk to and from his shop across their fields, which excited a smile among them. In the spring of 1820, he bought 160 acres of land at $4 per acre, on which he built and occupied a house and shop the same year. Mr. S. now began to supply a need much felt in the neighborhood, that of axes, mattocks and irons for large breaking-plows. Also the iron work for flour and saw mills, which he wrought by hand. He furnished the iron work for three different mills on Beaver Creek, between the years 1823 and 1832. Said mills were destroyed by fire, and new ones have been erected in their stead. In the year 1835, Mr. S. bought 70 acres more land at $7 per acre; and, in 1836, 160 acres more of Humphrey Nichols, the noted counterfeiter. John and his wife Sarah by this time began to realize that they had failed the Scripture injunction. “Seek first the kingdom, ete. but sought an earthly inheritance. So in 1837, they sought diligently to secure a title to a better and more enduring inheritance, and identified themselves with the M. P. Society. Afterward for convenience to church, changed their membership to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and devoted the evening of life in preparing for that change which is certain to come to all mankind, which came to John Stickney March 6, 1850, and to Sarah, his wife, April 17, 1867, in the bath year of her age. Of their children, but two are now living—Henry Stickney and Mrs. M. A. Whiteley. i

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.