J. Frank West

As printed in 1915

J. FRANK WEST.

Clinton county has been fortunate in the character of her farmers and much of the material prosperity of the county can be attributed to the fact that the farmers have kept abreast of the times. The farmers ore an index to the civilization of any community and if they are progressive and up-to-date, it follows that the standard of living in the community will be high. The business men of the towns are drawing the men from the country and everywhere it is noticed that men rising to prominence in the various activities of life were born and reared on the farm. Clinton county has lung been known as one of the best farming counties of the state and lis excellent farmers have l>ecn one of the big factors in the material advancement of the county. Among the exceptional farmers of Clinton county is J. Frank West, the son of an old and distinguished family of this county.

J. Frank West was born on August 1. 1ST2. In Clark township. Clinton county. Ohio, the son of James M. and Amy tChnney) West, the former a native of Clark township and the latter a native of Highland county, having been born near Onnns chapel.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. West were James and Elizabeth (Loggett) West, the former of whom was a native of eastern Virginia, who came to Ohio very early in life. His maternal grandparents were Joseph and Sarah (Rlchner) Chaney: the former of whom was a native of Maryland, horn near Hagersfown In 1777, who came to Highland county. Ohio, early In life, and died there on April IS. \H\2. and the latter was a native of Pennsylvania, horn near Philadelphia in March. 17V. nnd died on October M. 1STl. In Highland county. Ohio.

Aiming (he celebrated men whom the West family of America has given to this country and to the world is the celebrated artist, Benjamin West. Itevertlng to the earlier ancestry, it may be said that about 1710 John W. West, who had married Sarah Pearson, came from England and settled in Pitts county. Pennsylvania. They had seven children. Joseph, Mary. William. Sarah. Samuel. Rachel and Benjamin. Benjamin, the youngest child In this family, was the first great American artist and his work came to be known not only In America, but in the fashionable salons of Europe Joseph, the eldest child in this family, married Jane Owen, the daughter of John Owen, and they had nine children. Isaac, Facy, Owen, John, Sarah, Joseph, Hannah, George and Benja- - min. Owen West, the third child of the above family, was born about 1750. He married Elizabeth Martin and they moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia, and later from Virginia to Clinton county, Ohio. He and his wife had thirteen children, Nancy, Jane, William, Mary, Susan. Owen. Thomas, James, Payton, Elizabeth. Emily, Rebecca and John. James, the eighth child in this family, married Elizabeth Leggett and they were the paternal grandparents of J. Frank West.

James M. West, the father of J. Frank, was educated in an old log cabin school house, the frame of which Is now a part of the garage on the farm of J. Frank West He became a farmer on land adjoining that now owned by his son and owned altogether about eight hundred acres. His family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. To James M. and Amy West were born nine children, among whom were five sons.

Educated In the public schools of Clinton county. J. Frank West engaged in farming in Clark township upon attaining his majority. He owns two hundred acres of land and, for the past twenty-six years, has lived where he now resides. With the exception of the house. Mr. West has erected all of the buildings now standing on his farm.

On October 4, 18S3. J. Frank West was married to Elva Leaf, who was born on March 6, 1850. a native of Clinton county, and the daughter of John T. and Belinda (Dumford) Leaf. They have been the parents of three children: Carl J., who is an instructor In mathematics in Ohio State University; Grace B.. who Is now a post-graduate student in Ohio State University; and Howard R.. who Is a student in the Cincinnati Academy of Fine Arts.

Mr. and Mrs. West and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Not only are they prominent in the church, but they are prominent in the social life of this township and are highly-respected citizens.

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.