Horace W. Collett

As printed in 1915

HORACE W. COLLETT.

Horace W. Collett, a well-known citizen of Chester township, this county, who has always been an industrious worker, was born on April 12, 1832, on the farm where he now given. He is a progressive farmer and stockman, who owns one hundred and fifty acres of land in Chester township, but who farms about two hundred and fifty acres.

Mr. Collelt is the sou of Daniel H. und Maria (McKay) Col let t. the foruier of whom was born in Warren county. Ohio, In 1SO0 and died on January 11, 1871. He was married on.November 4, IKio, to Maria McKay, daughter of Moses McKay. Daniel H. Collett was the son of Moses and Kebecea (Haines) Collett, the former of Virginia, one of ihe eight sons born to Daniel and Mary (Haines) Collett. among the others being Jonathan, Isaac. Aaron, Benjamin. Daniel, Jr., and Joshua. Moses Collett married Itebecca Haines in Maryland and in 1812 she wanted to visit ber people In the East, fso she and Jonathan made the journey through ou horseback. Daniel Collett. at the age of sixty years, sold out his jiossessious in Maryland and, with the mother and daughters, came back with them In a carriage. A colored boy, "Black Dan,"' came with I hem and lived with the family until his death. Dauie) Collett, the third child born to Moses. Sr.. and Klizn belli (Armstroug) Collett, born ou February 2, 1752. was a soldier in the Continental army and a justice of the peace for many years in Jefferson county, Virginin. About 17X0 be was married to Mary Haines, who was born on October 10. 1".>1. They had eight sons and a daughter, who, with his brother. John, and his sister, Sarah, are the ancestors of all the Colletts in Clinton and Warren <-counties. Moses Collett. Sr.. was born on November 17, 171X, and died In 17S3. His wife. Elizabeth Armstrong, was Inmi on August \H. 1725. Moses was the sou of Stephen Collett. whose father and mother were French Huguenots, who fled from Franco to escape religious liersecutioii. Stephen's mother died after his birth at sen and she was buried on the voyage to America.

In 1*14 Daniel Collett purchased two thousand three hundred and fifty-eight acres from James Smith. Sr., paying two and one-half dollars an acre in three annual installments. In 1M5 Daniel Collett purchased from William Elzey and wife nine hundred and ten acres for three dollars an acre, making a tract of three thousand two hundred and sixty-eight acres. Much of this land has been handed down from generation to generation in the Collett family.

Daniel H. Collett, who was one of the eight sons born to Moses and ItelK?cca (Haines) Collett. was the father of Horace W. He was educated In the common schools of CI ester township and was engaged in farming and clearing alt of his life. He owned three hundred and sixty acres of land. By his marriage to Maria McKay, he had seven children, of whom Horace W. Is the youngest, the others being as follows: Turn son, who married Jesse Woods; Moses; Ahigal. who is the wife of Joshua Nickerson; Eliaivetli. who married Joseph Browning; Sarah, who became the wife of Joseph Shnmbaugh, and Francis, who married Sallie Ferguson. The family were members of the Baptist church at Jonas llun and Dnnlel H. Collett served many years as a deacon of that church. He was a Ttepubllcan.

Horace W. Collett also was educated In the common schools of Clinton county and by Google of Wnrren county. He attended the high school at Harveysburg and, when about twenty-one years old, began forming on the farm where be now Uvea

In 1881 Horace W. Collett was married to Rachel Anne Rnyburn, who was born In 1851). the daughter of James and Margaret (Hninea) Rnyburn, to wblcb union two children have been born, James W., who was born ou July 6, 1883, and Margaret, In 1880, the latter of whom Is still at home. James W. Collett attended the high school at New Burlington nnd is a farmer in Chester township, where be owns eighty-three acres of land, though he farms altogether two hundred und ninety acres. James \V. Collett urn rr led Luura McCoy, daughter of J. K. and Martha McCoy, and one child has been born to this union. [name withheld], who was born on October 10, 1914. James W. Collett is a member of the Methodist Kplscopal church, a Republican in politics and, fraternally, a member of Masonic Lodge No. 574.

Mr. and Mrs. Horace W. Collett and daughter, Margaret, are members of the Methodist church at New Burlington and he Is an ardent Republican, politically.

Perseverance and sterling worth are almost always sure to win conspicuous recognition in all localities. Harley H. Smith, who. for a number of years, has been recognised as one of the leading educators of this county, is a young man of genial presence, intelligent and broad-minded. He Is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, superintendent of the Kingman high school, nnd owner of one hundred and seventy acres of land in Chester township. His career is a splendid example of the successful, self-made young man. and he eminently deserves the trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens.

Harley H. Smith was born on May 2. 1>vs0, at New Burlington, at the edge of Greene county. Ohio, a son of Lewis and Rachel E. (Craft) Smith, the former of whom was lK>rn on May fi, 1837. In Warren county. Ohio, and died on May 7. 1902. The latter was born on September 10. 1839. at New Burlington, in this county, daughter of Allen and Rachel (Maun) Craft.

The paternal grandparents of Harley II. Smith were James and Elizabeth (Cain) Smith, both of whom were natives of Warren county, Ohio. J nine Smith was a blacksmith at New Burlington, and owned the first blacksmith shop in that town. He worked at that trade all his life and. in addition to his work as a blacksmith, was the owner of a farm, which he operated in connection with his work in the blacksmith shop. He was a member of the old Whig party and a stanch citizen, he and his wife having been prominent members of the Methodist church. James and Elizabeth (Cain I Smith were the parents of twelve children. Lewis, Wesley. Joseph R.. Hannah. Josephine. Arabella, Ijnirn, Alice. Nancy, and three who died in Infancy.

The late Lewis Smith, father of Harley II.. learned the blacksmith trade after finishing his education in the schools of New Burlington, and worked at that trade practically all of his life in that town. During the last eight years of his life, he served as commissioner of Greene county, Ohio. Several years before he was elected commissioner he served as trustee of Spring Valley township In that county. He was a Republican in politics, a member of the Methodist church, and held about every office In that church. He was a prominent member of the Masonic lodge, and his six sons were nil members of the same fraternal organization. Lewis Smith nnd wife were the parents of ten children. Reiia Bell. Wesley A.. William R. Wayne C. Harry. Minnie. I.e Roy, Harriet and Hurley H. (twins) nnd Leslie.

Harley H. Smith begun a pursuit of education in the common schools at New Burlington, but later attended the Nenla high school for two years. After leaving high school he taught school for eight years in Greene county, and subsequently entered Ohio Wesleyan University, and was graduated from that excellent institution with the class of 1011. receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Since his graduation he has been

As printed in History of Clinton County, Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.