BIOGRAPHIES
* Source #1: History of
Fayette County, Ohio
Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914
†
Source #2 - History of Fayette County,
Ohio & State of Ohio
By R. S. Dills - Publ. Odell & Meyer Publishers, Dayton, Ohio -
1881
(Unless otherwise noted)
NOTE: If there is a
particular name in the list that you are interested in,
please email me and I
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Put 'Fayette County, OH' in the subject line.
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STEPHEN
MITCHELL IRVIN was among the pioneers of Jasper
Township. Captain William Palmer preceded him a
few months. He settled in the southwestern corner of
the county. His farm embraced portions of Clinton,
Greene and Fayette counties, which made it inconvenient in
tax paying, as he had to pay in three counties.
In the year 1812, or 1813, Mr. Irvin, Captain
Palmer, Burwel B. Mills, and Griffith Foos, left
Bourbon County, Kentucky, to seek a home in Ohio. They
found the spot where the three first named parties settled,
which they supposed was in Clinton County. They were
pleased with the fertility of the soil, which they found
covered with a dense forest. The timber was black
walnut, oak, hickory, ash, and sugar maple, and in the more
swampy land, elm and maple. Mr. Foos, not
liking so much timber, went to Clarke County, bought a tract
of land, started a hotel, which he called "Travelers' Home,"
and laid out a village, which he called Springfield.
Mr. Irvin had been married two or three years
when he came to Ohio, having married Jane Whitsett, a
native of Kentucky, Marc. 16, 1809. She was one of
nine sisters, who had an only brother, and they all lived to
be heads of families.
Mr. Irvin's grandfather came from Ireland.
He had two sons - Andrew and William. At
the ages of six and eight, the parents died, and the boys
were separated. William went to Pennsylvania,
Andrew remained in Virginia. The two brothers
never met again.
Andrew, when he was grown to manhood, married
Elizabeth Mitchell, They lived together for sixty-one
years, and had a family of six sons and four daughters.
Robert, their oldest son, died in infancy.
Stephen M., the subject of this sketch, was the next
oldest. The other boys were named John, William,
Caleb, and Joshua.
Andrew Irvin served in the war of 1812, and was in
the battle of Oldtown. He died in 1830. His wife
survived him thirteen years, and died at the age of
ninety-three.
When Stephen was eight years of age, his father
emigrated to Kentucky, the family traveling all the way in a
cart drawn by a single horse. This was in the fall of
1788. For many years they suffered the privations of
pioneer life. Having no schools, the education of the
family depended upon the parents. Fortunately, Mrs.
Irvin was a good scholar for those times, and she
undertook the education of the family, both in science and
religion. Every Sunday evening was spent in reading
the Bible and catechising the children. They were
rigid Calvinists, and adopted the Presbyterian confession of
faith and mode of worship. They were very strict in
their religious observances, and labored hard to instill
these principles into the minds of their children. In
the case of Stephen they failed. He early
became convinced of the sinfulness of human creeds, and
protested earnestly against them. His mother wept over
his apostacy. Soon, however, the creed was laid aside,
and the Bible took its place.
The year 1800 was one of the great religious interest
in the part of Kentucky in which they lived. Barton
W. Stone, the eminent revivalist of that country, and of
those times, held a great meeting at Cane Ridge, and the
Irvin family all became identified with that movement.
They afterward fell in with the reformatory movement, led by
Alexander Campbell, and were all prominently
connected with the Christian Church, known now as Disciples
of Christ. Four of the five boys became preachers.
Stephen M. Irvin left Kentucky to seek his
fortune in Ohio, where slavery was prohibited by law.
He shuddered at the thought of raising a family where
slavery existed. Determined to breathe the air of a
free country, he came to Ohio, and in 1813 erected a cabin
on his tract of woodland. He at first cleared a garden
spot, and then went to work to change his wood land into a
farm. He, in common with all the pioneers, suffered
many privations. Settlers were very few in that part
of the state. Log cabins were the only houses.
When one was to be raised, all the people for miles away
were invited to the "house raising." Here Mr. Irvin
became familiar a second time with the hardships common
to a new country. The trials he had known in Kentucky
were repeated here.
Mills were very scarce and distant. This made it
necessary to make hominy for food. This was done by
hollowing out the end of a solid block of wood. Into
this a portion of corn was placed and beat with a pestle.
This was usually made by inserting an iron wedge in the
pestle, which was made of wood. This hominy was a
great luxury, and was very healthful food.
The nearest trading point was Hillsboro, Highland
County, thirty miles away. Here they purchased salt,
groceries, and dry goods.
In the year 1833, on the 9th of May, Mr. Irvin
was called to mourn the loss of his wife, Mrs. Jane Irvin,
in the forty-third year of her age. She died as she
had lived, a Christian. The stroke was severe, but he
bore it with resignation and humble submission to the Devine
will. He was married Apr. 16, 1835, to Mrs.
Elizabeth Barrere. With her he lived the remainder
of his life. He died July 25, 1852, in his
seventy-second year.
He was a man of extraordinary patience and temper, and
was hard to excite to impatience. He never allowed
himself to become angry. He was identified with the
educational and religious interests of the neighborhood.
During the latter part of his life he devoted much time to
the subject of religion. He preached almost every
Sunday, and was much devoted to the church. He never
sought for public favor or notoriety. His aim was to
do good. When death came, it came suddenly, but it
found him ready. When told by Dr. I. C. Williams,
his attending physician, that he could live but a short
time, he replied: "I did not think death was so near;
but if it is God's will, it is mine." The doctor said
to one of his sons: "Your father is a remarkable man.
His hopes are bright to-day than mine.
(Source: History of Fayette Co.., Ohio - Dayton, Ohio:
Odell & Mayer, 1881 - Page 712) |
JACOB JAMISON
came to this county several years before its organization. Several years after his arrival he
purchased laud situated about two miles southwest of the village of Washington, at which place
he resided until his death. He was a good citizen, a kind neighbor, but unfortunately had an
ungovernable temper. Shortly after locating in the county, while living in its northeastern part, he
got into a serious difficulty with a neighbor, and was thrice stabbed in the breast with a dirk in
the hands of his antagonist. The wound inflicted was a severe one and it was at first supposed
that it was mortal, but after being confined to his couch two months he recovered.
He was
elected successively to the offices of justice of the peace, collector, commissioner and associate
judge, serving faithfully and satisfactorily.
(Source: History of Fayette Co.., Ohio - Dayton, Ohio:
Odell & Mayer, 1881) |
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