William Hadley

As printed in 1882

WILLIAM HADLEY, deceased. The man whose name is at the head of this sketch, was prominently identified with the early settlement of Clinton County. He was born in North Carolina, and raised on a farm. He was married in his native State, to Sarah Clark. He emigrated to Ohio in 1810, and bought a large tract of land, embracing where now is located the village of Clarksville, and extending two or three miles up the valley of “ Todd’s Fork.” On this land he erected a fine brick residence (which is now owned and occupied by John B. Smith), northeast of Clarksville, which village he laid out and named in honor of his wife. He died in this township. His family consisted of ten children, named as follows: Mary, David (the father of D. L. Hadley), John, Ruth, Jonathan, Ann, Joshua, Sarah, William and Jane. John Hadley, the third child of William and Sarah (Clark) Hadley, was born in North Carolina July 17, 1796. After his parents settled here, he learned the saddler and harness trade, and opened a shop in a little log house which stood near the site of the present post office. He was married in October, 1816, to Ruth, daughter of Jacob and Martha Hale, who was born in Randolph County, N. C., March 3, 1797, and bore him the following children: Alfred, Sarah E., Ann M., Mahala, Julia and Eli. He was a member of the Clinton County Importation Company. This county is deeply indebted to him for the importation of fine stock, including “Short Horns,” “Suffolk hogs,” and fine horses and sheep from England. He expended several thousand dollars in importing stock for himself, and was also the means of importing a large number for others. He had, at one time, fifteen silver cups which he had received as prizes from different agricultural societies at whose fairs his stock was exhibited. He was the first “ pork packer ” in this county, and was largely interested in that business at Clarksville. He owned and operated a general store, and was quite extensively engaged in farming. He was a devoted member of the Friends Society, to whom he donated several acres of land in the eastern part of the village of Clarksville, on which to erect a meeting-house.

A fine brick residence that he built in the village is now occupied by his daughter, the widow of the late James Linton. In company with his son-in-law, James Linton, they took the contract for and graded eight miles of the Muskingum Valley Railroad. He died at Clarksville in 1866. '

Alfred C. Hadley, first son of John and Ruth Hadley, was born in Clarksville January 14, 1819. On arriving at his majority, engaged with his father in farming, pork-packing and dealing in stock. He was married at Richmond, Ind., May 1, 1845, to Anna, daughter of William and Martha Nixon, who was born in Chester County,. 1 Penn., March 27, 1825. Her parents emigrated to Highland County, Ohio, in 1825. After his marriage, his father bought and presented to him what is known as the Smalley farm, in Washington Township, Warren Co., Ohio; it consisted of 420 acres. His

I father bought it of an Indian chief named William Smalley. It is one of the oldest and best farms in this part of the county. There still stands on it a fine brick house built hy the “ chief,” who burned the brick for and erected the same without the aid of a white man. The building contains brick eighteen inches in length. It was very roughly finished inside. Alfred C. Hadley died September 28, 1849. He and his wife had the following children: John W., born February 18, 1846; Charles E., December 14, 1847, and Allie C., December 13, 1849. They were all born on “ the old Smalley farm.” John W. was accidentally thrown onto a red hot stove, and although he lived about a year afterward, it resulted in his death on April 14, 1850. Allie E. was married December 22. 1878, by the Rev. Samuel Austin, an old resident, to Morris Lancaster. Their children arc Jetta and Mabel. Charles E. was reared on the farm. When he was twelve years of age, his mother moved to Vernon Township, a quarter of a mile west of Clarksville. Charles worked for his grandfather, John Hadley, in handling stock until 1865, attending school part of the time. lie then entered the State Agricultural College of Pennsylvania. After attending this institution some six months, he was unfortunate enough to sprain an ankle, which disabled him to such a degree that he was absent from the college for eighteen months, when he returned and remained until 1878. He then returned home and was occupied about one year in repairing and making improvements on the old “ Smalley farm,” and in 1870, himself and mother took up their residence there, where they have lived since, and where he has been engaged in farming and dealing extensively in livestock. He still owns a few “ Short Horns,” descendants of the importations made by his grandfather “ Hadley and also retains his membership in the “ Cresson Literary Society,” which he joined while in college.

As printed in The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.