James Linton

As printed in 1882

JAMBS LINTON (deceased). The first of the ancestors of James Linton who came to America was John Linton, a son of Sir Roger Linton, of Yorkshire, England. Sir Roger had six sons, named as follows: John, Jacob, Samuel, Benjamin, Rodger and James. John Linton, the direct ancestor of our subject, was born in Yorkshire, England. He was sent by his father to Oxford College, where he was educated for the ministry. At this time, Quakers were being persecuted on account of their religious views, and young Linton was sent with a company of soldiers to attend one of the Quaker meetings, to ascertain if anything was said against the Church of England, and, if he thought necessary, to break up the meeting. He was so impressed with the simplicity, earnestness and faith exhibited, that he became a convert to their religion, and, on this becoming known to his family, he was expelled from his father’s house. Reared as he had been in luxury, it was no small matter to be thrown on his own resources to obtain a living. But with the same indomitable will which induced him to give up home and friends for what his conscience told him was right, he set out for London, where he resolutely began to learn the carpenter’s trade by which to earn a subsistence. He was there married, in 1691, to Rebecca Relf. After accepting the teachings of the Friends Meetings, he engaged in the ministry for a number of years. Desiring more freedom and the privilege of worshiping God as their consciences dictated, he, with his wife, came to America and landed at Philadelphia November 8, 1692. He was an associate of William Penn both before and after leaving England. John Linton and his wife Mary (Relf) Linton had four children — Mary, Joseph, Benjamin and John. Benjamin, the third child, was born in Philadelphia October 6, 1703. He early learned the weaver’s trade, which business he subsequently carried on quite extensively for many years. He was an able and learned man and noted astronomer, to which science he had devoted much time and study. He was twice married; the first time to Elizabeth White on the 25th of March, 1727. She was born September 9, 1705, and they had two children — John and Mary; the mother died January 25, 1732. His second wife was Jane Cowgal, who was born July 3, 1708. By the last marriage, there were eight children — Lucia, Benjamin, Joshua, Sarah, Samuel, Jane, Daniel and Hezekiah. The fifth child, Samuel, was born in Bucks County, Penn., December 17, 1741. He was reared on a farm and also learned the weaver’s trade, and was married on May 10, 1775, to Elizabeth Harvey, who was born March 8, 1748. Their children were Samuel, Nathan, David, Jane and Elizabeth (twins) and James. Early in the year 1802, Samuel Linton and his family started from their home in Pennsylvania with a wagon, ou which 'was carried the family and their effects, for Ohio — then the “ far West.” They came over tho mountains to Pittsburgh, where Mr. Linton bought a raft, on which they floated with their goods down the Ohio River to Cincinnati; thence they came by wagon to Waynesville, Warren County, where he purchased a house and lot and followed his trade of weaver. In 1804, he bought 500 acres of land on Todd’s Fork, three miles northwest of Wilmington, where he located with his family. He was a man of sterling worth and a member of the Friends’ Society.

Nathan Linton, the second son of Samuel, was born on the banks of the Delaware River, in Bucks County, Penn., January 17, 1778. When the territory now comprising Clinton County was organized as a county, he was appointed County Surveyor, which office he held for about twenty years. He surveyed the townships of Clinton and Fayette Counties, and surveyed and laid out the village of Wilmington, and was a standard authority during his lifetime pertaining to the boundaries and divisions of lands. The legal titles to their lands which the citizens of this county enjoy today are owing in a great degree to the care used in making and keeping a correct record of the surveys made by him. He was enterprising and progressive in all things pertaining to the public welfare, as is noted in other places in this volume. He was among the first to introduce and encourage the growing of fine wool, and the propagating of fine fruit. This was the nucleus from which Clinton County gained its prominence to-day for wool and fruit. He was a strict member of the Quaker Church, upright in his dealings and temperate in his habits. It was customary in early times to supply harvest hands with liquor; this he firmly set his face against, although the hands threatened to leave or furnish it at their own expense, but he would not permit them to bring it into the field on any terms. He carried the day, and they found they could work without the aid of whisky. In erecting schoolhouses and assisting the cause of education, he was always foremost. In the opening of the highways of his neighborhood and the construction of turnpikes, he took an active part, and he assisted liberally in the construction of one railroad. Had all the citizens been equally liberal, there would have been no occasion for the expensive mode of taxation for such purposes. He died February 11, 1858, honored and respected by all worthy people. Among his descendants is the Hon. Benjamin Butterworth, Member of Congress, a son of his daughter Elizabeth; another grandson, Nathan Linton, is a member of the Ohio Legislature. Nathan Linton and his wife Rachel (Smith) Linton had a family of twelve children — Elizabeth, Abi,

Samuel, Seth, David, James, Mary, Nathan, Benjamin, Cyrus, Ruth and Jane.

James Linton, whose name heads this sketch, was the sixth child of Nathan and Rachel Linton. He was born January 17, 1817, on the old homestead, three miles north of Wilmington; here he passed his youth. He was sent by his parents to Oxford College, Ohio, where he was educated. He was married, September 21, 1843, to Miss Ann M., daughter of John and Ruth (Hale) Hadley, at Clarksville, where his wife was born November 4, 1822. Their children are Mary Emily, Alfred A., John H., William C., R. Ida, James E. and Charles C. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Linton moved to Clarksville, and assisted his father-in-law, John Hadley, in the pork-packing business, in which they were engaged a number of years. Probably no man in Clinton County was more largely identified with its business interests than was James Linton during his lifetime. For business energy, tact and financial ability and integrity, he had few equals He at one time operated one store at Sligo and one at Clarksville, dealing quite extensively in wool for shipment to Boston, and attending to large farming interests. Although having so many and varied enterprises on hand at the same time, they were all managed with success. He owned what was known as the “ Yeasel farm,” two miles east of Clarksville, on the Goshen pike; on this he erected a fine brick house and a saw-mill. He exchanged this for the farm where his widow and family now live, in Clarksville. He took a great interest in all enterprises for the promotion of education. He took the contract for and built the Clarksville Graded School Building. This was in 1868. He was a Director and member of the Board of Education for twenty years in Clarksville. He was identified with nearly every public interest and improvement in this part of the county. Among the marks of his handiwork is the bridge across Cowan’s Creek, near the village, the abutments built in 1867 to the bridge across Todd’s Fork, in the edge of the village; he also acted as Superintendent in the construction of several other bridges. He also engineered several of the pikes in this and Warren Counties. In company with his father-in-law, John Hadley, they took the contract for and graded eight miles of what was then known as the Cincinnati, Circleville & Zanesville Railroad, commonly known as the Muskingum Valley Railroad, which they pursued until the death of Mr. Linton, which occurred July 28, 1881. Thus passed away one honored by all. The poor knew of his unostentatious charity; the youth around him enjoyed better education because of his care; the farmers availed themselves of his intelligent improvements, and society around him was called and strengthened by his teaching and example. He was of those who exalt the character of the American people, and who make free institutions possible. He was a worthy descendant of old John Linton, whose first important act was one of self-abnegation, which common men would denounce as a wrong and despise as a folly, but in the simple and most expressive phrase of the Friends, his descendants have continued to “mind the light” and “walk in the truth;” have increased in numbers, and abounded in all those things that make life really worth living.

As printed in The history of Clinton County, Ohio (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.