Owen A. West

As printed in 1915

OWEN A- WEST, M. D.

Clinton county has every reason to be proud of ber medical men and on the roll of honored names which Indicate* the service of distinguished citizens in this profession there should be mentioned Dr. Owen A. West, who is descended from distinguished ancestry and who has long been regarded as one of the leading physicians in this section of Clinton county. Early in life he realized that there is no honor that is not founded on worth and no respect which la not founded on accomplishment His life and labors have been eminently worthy because they have contributed to a proper understanding of life and its problems.

Owen A. West was born on May 10, 1864, in Martinsville, Clinton county, Ohio, and is the son of Col. Owen and Elizabeth (Roberts) West, the former of whom, a farmer, miller, business man and inventor, was born in Clark township, March 4, 1835. the son of James and Elizabeth West. Col. Owen West was reared on his father's farm, educated In the Martinsville schools and Ohio Wesleyan University. He was a teacher for twelve years and during the rebellion, aided in organizing the home guards at Cincinnati. In 1803 he was chosen their major-general and In the early part of 1864 was given the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regimental Battalion of the Ohio National Guards. He bad commanded them while at Fort Federal Hill and Baltimore, Maryland, and in the battle of Monocacy, September, 1864, he, with his regiment were honorably discharged for the valuable services they had so efficiently rendered in defense of the flag. Colonel West was married to Elizabeth Roberts, September 20, 1855. She was the daughter of James and Hannah E. Roberts and a native of Washington township, born on December 23, 1835. She died at the age of forty-six years. They bad ten children: Margaret, James W., Anna M., Owen A.. Hannah E., Amos F., Charles H., Laura E., Mary E. and Benjamin. Mrs. West died on February 1, 1879. Colonel West Is a member of the Methodist church, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masonic fraternity and the Republican party.

The West family In America dates from some time before the year 1716. Before that time Johu W. West, who had married Sarah Pearson, came from England and settled in Pitts county, Pennsylvania. They bad seven children: Joseph, Mary. William. Sarah, Samuel, Rachel and Benjamin. Benjamin West, the youngest of this family, became an artist with International fame and today is considered one of the foremost artists ever produced by this country. Of this family, Joseph, the eldest, married Jane Owen, the daughter of John Owen, and they bad nine children: Isaac, Facy, Owen, John, Sarah, Joseph, Hannah, George and Benjamin. Owen West, the third child of this family, was born about 1750 and married Elisabeth Martin. They moved to Virginia and from Virginia to Clinton county, Ohio. He and bia wife had thirteen children: Nancy, Jane, William, Mary. Susan. Owen, Thomas. James, Flyton, Elizabeth, Emilia, Rebecca and John. Owen West, the father of these children, brought his family to Ohio and located in the valley of the East fork of the Little Miami, where be purchased nineteen hundred acres of government land, all in Clinton county, and nearly all In Clark township. There he and his wife died. James West, who was the eighth child in his family, was a farmer during his life and remained on the old estate, adding to his inheritance until he owned one thousand acres of the original nineteen hundred. He and his wife died on the old home place. For nine years he was Justice of the peace. His wife was Elizabeth West and they were the parents of Col. Owen West, the father of Dr. Owen A., of Sablna.

Owen A. West was educated In the public schools of Blanchester. Ohio, and wab graduated from the Blanchester high school. After finishing his practical education, he engaged In managing a general store at Lynchburg for two years. In 1888 he sold out the business and entered the Bellevue Medical College at New York City. After being there two terms, be entered the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati and was graduated there in 1891. After his graduation he located at Leeaburg, in Highland county. After being at Leeeburg for two years, he came to 8ablna and took up the practice of Dr. A. J. Ga akin a.

Doctor West owns the Clinton Manufacturing Company and was one of the organizer* of the National Bank at Sabina and was a director for three years. The Clinton Manufacturing Company Is a thriving business which manufactures barrel pumps.

Doctor West was married In September, 1901, to Mabel Sanderson, the daughter of Frank and Frances (West) Sanderson. Doctor and Mrs. West have had no children.

The Wests are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Doctor West Is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America, and be Is also identified with the Republican party. He Is a member of the Ohio State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. In 1910 be built an office and house combined and has one of the most thoroughly equipped physician's offices and laboratories to be found in Sabina. His practice has grown from year to year and today he is regarded as one of the most popular men in the community.

Among the prominent citizens of Sabina, Ohio, are Howard and George C. Barns, the former of whom, since 1908, has been editor and publisher of the Sabina Tribune, and the latter of whom was formerly the proprietor of the Xenta Herald, but who, since 1907, has been engaged in the practice of law at Sabina. The Sabina Tribune was started by James H.. Howard. George C. and M. D. Barns twenty-live years ago.

Howard Barns was born on December 14, 1871, in Sabina, and his brother, George C, on February 2, 1875. In Sabina. They are the sons of John H. and Maria (Sbewalter) Barns, the former of whom was born In 1839, In Winchester. Virginia, and died on November 10. 1884, and the latter of whom was born on September 11. 1837, in Wilmington. Ohio, the daughter of Ellas and Eliza (Hale) Shewulter.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Barns were members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Sabina. Mr. Barns was prominent In local politics, having served as a member of the village council. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of both the subordinate and encampment branches.

The paternal grandparents. John J. H. and Eliza (Sbewalter) Barns, were residents of Virginia until late In life, when they came to this county. The paternal grandfather died In 1851. The paternal grandmother, Eliza 8hewalter. was a sister of Ellas Shewaiter, father of Maria Sbewalter. John J. H. Barns was a miller In Virginia, who located In Franklin county. Ohio. In 1851. living there until his death. He and his wife bad ten children.

George C. Barns was educated in the public schools of Sabina, and graduated from the Washington high school in 1892. Two years later, in partnership with his brothers, be started the Sabina Tribune. During the years 1896 and 1H97 he attended

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.