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OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
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Preble
County,
Ohio
Genealogy & History |
Biographies
(Source: History of Preble County,
Ohio - H. Z. Williams & Bro, Publishers - 1881)
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JOHN P. ACTON.
The first representatives of the Acton Family in Eaton
were John Acton and his wife, Nancy Buchanan Acton.
The former was born in Maryland, Oct. 23, 1781. He married
his wife in Rockbridge county, Virginia, where she was born Oct.
31, 1773. This couple, with their three children, located
in Eaton in the year 1816, and the husband and father of the
family immediately opened a little shop and began making hats -
a trade which was much in vogue in early years, and considered
one of the best a man could engage in. John Acton
was, undoubtedly, a very good hatter, for he was successful in a
pecuniary point of view and continued the business many years,
in fact until a short time before his business many years, in
fact until a short time before his death. His shop, a
small frame structure, stood precisely upon the spot now covered
by the parlor of John P. Acton's home, and the house in
which he lived is still in existence, incorporated with his
son-in-law's substantial residence which, by the way, improved
this site and the general appearance of West Main street as long
ago as 1840. Mr. Acton was a very hard working,
active man, and saved by the frugality much of that which his
industry earned. The whole object and purpose of his life,
however, was by no means saving a fortune, or even accumulating
an independence. He was one of the most liberal men in the
community, and liberal alike with his time and money.
There was no measure of public good undertaken which did not
receive the support of his labors and influence and means.
He aided every church society which erected a house of worship
in Eaton, during his citizenship, and it was very largely
through his generosity that the "old public church" on the banks
of Seven Mile, was brought into existence. He was not a
member of any church, but a very moral man, one who by good
works made manifest the possession of a noble theory of life's
responsibilities and duties. His wife was a communicant of
the Presbyterian church, and that society received from the
family a very liberal support. It was one of Mr. Acton's
deepest grounded beliefs that the highest good, morally,and
therefore materially, was to be secured through education, and
he therefore took an interest in school matters which was so
constant and so intense as almost to become a noticable
eccentricity in his nature.
No pains that he could take to improve the condition of
the schools, or indirectly aid education, seemed too much for
him, and no outlay of time or money too great. HE was
always active in looking out for the advancement of educational
interests. For many years he was a school director, and
during several terms was president of the board. In early
years he was a lieutenant colonel in the militia, and not long
before the close of his useful life was honored with the
appointment by the governor of the office of associate judge of
the Preble county court of common pleas. He was never an
aspirant for public place; had he been he could, doubtless have
held almost any position within the gift of the county, for he
was personally very popular and held in high esteem for his
strict integrity of character, as well as his devotion to the
public good. Politically he was a Democrat.
He died July 26, 1849, of cholera - one among the many
of Eaton's worthy men who were cut down that year by the
terrible epidemic. His wife died Jan. 31, 1855.
This estimable pair of pioneers were the parents of
three children, all of whom were born prior to the Acton's
immigration to Ohio. Mary R., widow of Samuel
Robinson, is the oldest. She was born Oct. 14, 1809,
and is still living, and located near Eaton. Her sister,
Isabella Hall, wife of S. H. Hubbell, was born
Sept. 4, 1815, and is now a resident of Eaton. John P.
Acton was born Sept. 4, 1812, and is, consequently, in his
sixty-ninth year. As boy and youth he had but very little
schooling, a result caused in part by his eyes failing him, and
in part by his rapid development to a condition of usefulness in
his father's shop. Learning the hatter's trade at the age
of fifteen he was soon placed in charge fo the shop, his father
stepping aside from the management to attend to other affairs,
but retaining his interest. Young Acton only
followed hat making for four or five years and then went into
the grocery business, which he followed for seven years - from
1836 to 1843 - a portion of the time alone, but the greater part
in association with hsi brother-in-law, S. H. Hubbell.
His store was where Andrew Coffman now conducts business.
Soon after discontinuing the grocery business Mr. Acton
engaged in teh line which now occupies his attention. He
began the business of buying and selling and manufacturing
lumber. In 1849 he built a steam saw mill just west of
Seven Mile lumber. In 1849 he built a steam saw mill just
west of seven Mile Creek. HE ahs been generally prosperous
in conducting business at this mill, and quite unifor's |
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