DARKE COUNTY OHIO - BIOS: MCKIBBEN, HUGH T. (published 1900) ******************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this elec- tronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ******************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jane Torres Jetorres@indiana.edu June 6, 1999 ******************************************************** A Biographical History of Darke County Ohio, published in Chicago by the Lewis Publishing Company, 1900. p. 624-626 HUGH T. McKIBBEN Hugh T. McKibben is a retired farmer living on his seventy- five-acre farm on section 26, Mississinawa township. The competence which enables him to rest from his labors was acquired by active toil in former years. He was born in Clermont county, Ohio, December 27, 1826, and his grandfather, Hugh McKibben, was one of the pioneers of that locality, to which he removed from his former home in Pennsylvania. His wife was Susanna Hughes, and they became the parents of thirteen children, six of whom reached adult age and were married. Of the family, however, William and Wesley died in early life. Three sons reached mature years, and Hugh and Joseph died in Illinois, while Samuel Parker McKibben died in Kentucky. John A. McKibben, the father of our subject, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, June 13, 1802, and was reared amidst the wild scenes of the frontier. After he had attained to man's estate he married Jemima Pigman, who was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia. They were married about 1821, and became the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter, all of whom were born in Clermont county. One son, Harrison, died in that county, at the age of eight years. On the 15th of September, 1839, the family arrived in Darke county, and the father purchased a quarter-section of land about two miles from the present home of our subject. In the midst of the forest he cleared and developed a farm, the timber being so dense that he had to cut away the trees in order to erect his log cabin, which was built of round logs, while the roof was made of boards cut from a large red oak tree which stood on the site of the cabin. The floor above also was make of red oak, while the lower floor was made of puncheons. The father, with the aid of his sons, cleared the greater part of the land, and there he made his home for eighteen years. But about 1857 he went to live with his son Hugh, and his death occurred in 1881, when he had reached the age of seventy-nine years, his remains being interred at Rose Hill. His widow was called away about four years later, when eight-four years of age. Of their children we observe: Joshua R., who was born in 1821, followed carpentering and died in Indianapolis, Indiana, about 1877, being survived by his widow; Levi P. was born in 1824, and died in Rossville in 1895, when about seventy-one years of age; his only child, a daughter, is also deceased; Hugh T. is the third of the family; Joseph H. was the next youngest and died in childhood; Susanna Jane died when about twenty-one years of age: and William W. was born in 1834, was a farmer and is now living in Knobnoster, Missouri, his family consisting of four children, of whom two sons and a daughter are now living. The educational advantages which Hugh H. McKibben enjoyed were limited. He pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse, sixteen by sixteen feet, with puncheon seats and floors. His training at farm labor, however was not meager, and he remained at home until twenty-four years of age, when he was married to Mary Nesmonger, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1827. They took up their abode in the midst of the forest and the farm upon which Mr. McKibben resides have been cleared almost entirely by his own efforts. For forty-six consecutive years he aided in building houses and barns, attending all the log-rollings, and was thus an active factor in the development of this portion of the county. He always enjoyed good health, being never ill except on one occasion, when he suffered an attack of sickness lasting thirteen days. His life has been one of marked industry, bringing to him creditable and desirable prosperity. Eight children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. McKibben. Amanda, the eldest, became the wife of William Funke, and after his death married Jacob Seacrist, of Darke county; he has one living child by the first marriage; Mary A. is the wife of George Brooks, a farmer of Jackson township, and they have five sons and four daughters, and have lost two other children; Hiram A., a farmer residing five miles from Arcanum, is married and has three sons and one daughter yet living; Sarah J. is the wife of Gottlieb Coupp, and they have two children living. Albert J. is married and has five sons and three daughters; Irving Grant manages the home farm and has four daughters; Elmer Elsworth, twin brother of Irving, resides in Jackson township and has one son and one daughter; and Dora Ellen is the wife of William Stauffer, of Union City, Indiana, and they have a son and daughter. Mr. McKibben has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for fifty-seven years, and the house of worship is located on his farm. His wife and most of the children are also members of the same church and the family is one of the highest respectability, enjoying the warm regard of many friends in the community.