OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 25 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 05 : Issue 25 Today's Topics: #1 Fw: Tid Bits - part 10B ["Ohio Archives EV1" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <07c001c53648$535a28d0$0300a8c0@margaret> Subject: Fw: Tid Bits - part 10B Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darlene & Kathi kelley" To: Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2005 8:29 AM Subject: Tid Bits - part 10B Contributed for use in USGenWeb Arichives By Darlene E. Kelley Feb 24, 2005 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West by Darlene E. Kelley Geneology by Byron Williams Tid Bits - part 10B. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part 10B. Geneology of Byron Williams of Clermont John and Rachel Williams were builders of homes each with larger provision for conveience. After the rollicking, adventurous, and often perilous life of those pioneer times in the river trade, he gladly enjoyed the quiet of buying, improving, and selling real estate during the expansive period of the region. The business was followed through forty years without a losing deal. He was a popular teacher until occupied with larger affairs. I 1846 they left the lower Stonelick to improve the Wooster Pike just east of Goshen that resulted in four sets of farm homes of more than usual comfort. From there they came in October, 1859, to near Williamsburg, where in 1862-3 they completed the " Williams Homestead " which was most happily enjoyed till his death, March 21, 1876. Memory delights to recall the generous charity of his happy, successful life that, despite the trial of river associations, was never marred by a profane word, a personal brawl, or a drunken hour. He was a notable Free Mason, and she made a sister of the Eastern Star when the order was first started, and then for a generation forbidden. Although noted as one not long to stay, Rachel Williams lived on with her son in the homestead with a slightly step and fine memory until July 19, 1904, when, because of a fall, though not serious at first, she was taken to her room, where the bright, alert, efficient and beauty loving spirit slowly declined until her life of ninty-six years, six months and sixteen days closed, July 22, 1909. Three of her children died early. Their daughter, sketched and pictured in Rocky and Brancroft's History of Clermont as Mrs. Louisa W. Bishop, of Batavia, was born September 25,1832, and died in her Batavia home, February 21, 1908, with a spirit that was calmly ready. Byron Williams, the third and only grown son of John and Rachel Williams, was born April 22, 1843, at their home then on the north bank, about three-fourths of a mile from the mouth of Stonelick creek. In March, 1846, the family moved to the early home in Goshen, and in the fall of 1847 the brick house was finished and occupied, about a mile from Goshen, in the fork of the Blanchester road from the Wooster Pike. That house was the home of the family for twelve years, during which a common school was attended one mile further east on the Wooster Pike, where there was no lack of ambition in the instruction offered if not taken. In the fall of 1853 algebra was commenced. Olmstead's Natural Philosophy was added, and then Burritt's Geography of the Heavens was undertaken in 1854. Meanwhile, Green's Analysis and Structure of the English Language was a continuous exercise. Owing to the promotion of one of the class to position of teacher, the same text books were continued another year. During the next year the course was reviewed for the benefit of another teacher. During the intervals in the scholastic recreations of those four years, the spelling and definations of the first fourth of Worcester's Academic Dictionary were literally learned and conned by rote to be cast into the teacher's teeth. In 1857, Cutter's Anatomy, Mitchell's Ancient Geography, Classical Dictionary and Lincoln's Botany, all unabridged, were taken. In 1858 the four weeks' session of the teachers' institute in Batavia was a large experience. During the school session of 1858/59 a study of chess was substitued for mathamatics. After that a summer term in George H.Hill's Select School, at Owensville, for geometry and suveying, was easy. Such were the course in one of the country district schools in Clermont " before the war." Though raised on a large farm the amount of a day's plowing was not done. Because of the sequel of a severe attack of scarlet fever in the fourth year, the boy was permitted to ride and hunt at will, and that will was not bad. Without a playmate near, a habit of reading and studing at home was formed that resulted in a love for books, which chiefly included Shakespeare, Milton, Pope, Goldsmith, Addison, Burns, Byron, Scott, Moore, Irving, Hawthorne, and the American poets. Everything in the old Ohio School Library was read from the Swiss Family Robinson to the Stones of Venice. In this way the winter of 1859/60 was passed into a summer of squirrel hunting over the father's land in Sterling township. In September, 1860, the classical course was commenced in the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, and followed there or at home to the last page, except the much disliked metaphysical part. A much coveted share in the Union army was hindered by the persistant fever trouble. The unsought charge of the "Union Schools" of Williamsburg for 1865, -66-67 was tendered and accepted. Then for eleven years, needed assistance was given in the extensive business of an aging father. For some five years after 1872, considerable profit was gained in a parnership with John Park for the manufacture of the American Pruner. In 1875-76 much time was used in administering upon the estate of the maternal grandfather, John Glancy. In 1876-77, time and money were freely spent in securing the Cincinnati & Eastern Railroad. Much time was occupied in 1876-77-78 as the executor of his father's estate. His time was still farther employed in 1878-79-80-81- as superintendant of the Williamsburg schools. In 1879 a partnership was formed with Oscar Snell for the manufacture of novelty goods in wood, which an eighty horse power engine and saw mill were placed on lot #59, with an iron roofed and sided building 40x130 feet, well stocked with machinery. But, in the financial stringency of that period, manufacturing interests suffered most of all, and so the promising but ill-timed firm of Snell and Williams was closed in 1885, and all the debts were paid by Williams, who quit manufacturing with some loss and much experience. In November, 1884, the unsought appointment as school examiner for Clemont County was accepted by Judge James B. Swing, to be in a board with James Hulick and the justly celebrated educator Dr. Frank B. Dyer. That association was a turning point to a more definate concentration of effort for a better purpose than a chase for coin. In Septemeber, 1885, the duty of superintending the Williamsburg schools was taken for two years, during which the high school at that place was established and the first class of ten students was graduated April 21,1886. The duties of the President of the Clermont County Teachers' Institute during the sessions of 1886 and 1887 at New Richmond were done when and where the greatest expansion of that Institution was attained. In September, 1887 the duty of superintending the Milford schools was undertaken and performed for three years. A purpose to undertake work on a public platform was delayed by urgings to go to the front line in the original effort to introduce and establish graduation from the common schools as a prime factor of our educational system. The success of that effort has been mentioned on another page. [If Byron Williams had done nothing else for mankind, the work of that year gratuitously given, is worth to his memory all that it cost him, For in that year result, his work as a public school teacher, in the pleasant words of Dr. Dyer, " closed in a blaze of glory." ] With that and and nine years as a school examiner, the best at home, for a teacher, had been attained. The village had been served three terms in the council, and, when not teaching, ten years in the board of education. Clermont Social Lodge of the Masonic fraternity had had nineteen years of official service, of which ten were in the master's chair. Chances to teach larger schools abroad were not considered but, instead, several trips were made to our Navy yards, Goverment shops and military posts, which were much study was given from the civil point of view to our navel strength. After other lecture work, the lecture on " Our New Navy " was placed on the professional platform for the season of 1892-3, and won immediate favor. A lecture on " Our Young Defenders," or Cadet Life at West Point and Annapolis; and another named " From the Ohio to the Hudson via Vicksburg and Appomattox," or From the Cradle to the Tomb of Grant, were added with fine public approval. This work was continued through twenty five States and until 1900 with a gratifying mass of press clippings. Then a history was prepared for Thirey and Mitchell's Encyclopedic Work on Clermont County. The time between February, 1907, and May, 1908, was intensely occupied with the composition and imposition of the Centennial History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, which is rated by librarians as the most profusely and elogantly illustrated county work yet published. The preparation of a fitting text for the beautiful pages, while a grateful was also a most exacting task. Besides other prose and metrical work, both published and unprinted, much of a history of Cincinnati and Hamilton county was written for an unfinsihed work. Much of the year 1912 and 1913 has been employed with the historical part of these volumes. [ Which this submitter has in her library.] Except for temporary absence, Byron Willams had lived since December 9, 1862, in the ancestral home, still more endeared by the presence of the wife he married, June 14, 1866, and as the birthplace of their children. Mrs. Williams, once known as Katherine Park, is the third daughter of John and Elizabeth Park, as told on other pages of this work, in which their son, Maj. Dion Williams, is sketched. Their daughters, Ella and Louise, are graduates of the Williamsburg High School. Louise married Charles R Kain, for six years a clerk in the Cincinnati postoffice, and the eldest child of Albion T. and Elizabeth Kain. The children of Charles R. and Elizabeth Kain are Eldon Williams and Katherine Eloise. Though trained, believing and efficient in home makng, as the best of woman's life, Katherine Park Williams has shared in the trend of time. While in Milford, in 1887 to 1890, she was one of the Beechhurst Circle that developed into the Progress Club. On returning to Williamsburg, in 1890, at her home was organized the Friendship Circle that has followed in 1897, by the Vesta Club. In these societies for woman's sake every call was favorably answered. In 1886 she was a charter member of the largely successful J.H. Jenkins Women Relief Corps, of which she was secretary and president four or five years each. She was secretary of the association that erected the beautiful Soldier's Monument in Williamsburg. She was all but unanimously elected a member of the Williamsburg Board of Education, of which she was chosen clerk, and then president, for one year each. As the daughter of a Mason and the wife of another, she is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, of which her daughter Ella, is also a member, and has served numerous years as secretary of Celestine chapter. Ella Williams has been closely associated with club affairs, in which she has been secretary and president, with much work on executive committees. But her chief concern has been to secure for the community a public library, of which she has freely and continously served as the librarian. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Continued in part 11. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 18:22:45 -0500 From: "Ohio Archives EV1" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <07c601c53648$8b7f5410$0300a8c0@margaret> Subject: Fw: Tid Bits - Part 11 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darlene & Kathi kelley" To: Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2005 1:59 PM Subject: Tid Bits - Part 11 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley Feb. 25, 2005 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West by Darlene E. Kelley Andrew Mc Grue [ Megrue ] by Byron Williams Tid Bits- part 11. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Andrew Mc Grue is a direct descendant of our family through Eva Adelaide Megrue who married Thomas Arthur Kelley, of Cleveland, Ohio. The geneology of the family is below as written by Byron Williams, a cousin of Eva Megrue Kelley. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Andrew Mc Grue [ Megrue ] A name that was familiar in northern Clermont and about Cincinnati was brought from the city of Baltimore in September, 1806, to the vicinity of Milford by Andrew Mc Grue. He had served in the Revolution according to one account, he had married Hannah Rust, and they had a family of seven sons and two daughters. He also had some means for that time, for he bought a large tract of land, stretching toward Newberry, from the house by Matson's Hill, looking upon what is East Milford, but then was McCormack's, the birthplace of Methodistic faith north of the Ohio. He had means to keep one of the early stores. The name soon appeared in the early records. On May 14, 1807, Philip Gatch, M.G., meaning minister of the gospel, married Jonathan McGrew to Ruth Crawford. At the term of the common pleas court, beginning February 21, 1809, the first held in the new stone courthouse in Williamsburg, Andrew McGrew appeared as one of the grand juriors. Other members of that grand jury were Capt. Daniel Feagans, the pioneer of the vicinity now called Georgetown; Lieut. Cornelius McCollum, from the John Collins " Jersey Settlement " by the mouth of Clover; Jasper Shotwell, promoted to be ensign when his captain, Jacob Boerstler, was killed at the battle of Brownstown, in the war of 1812; Henry Zumatt, soon to be a colonal in te war of 1812; Houton Clarke, the tavern keeper from Bethel, and father of Congressman R.W. Clarke; Jacob Ulrey, the mighty hunter from Ulrey's Run; Isaac Higbee, who came with Rev. John Collins, when he preached the first Methodist sermon in Cincinnati; and Capt. Andrew Harry, from Maryland, who was making hats in Williamsburg. Several wolf scalps were presented at that term for the bounty money paid. Authority to solemnize marriage was conferred for the first time on the wonderfully eloquent Rev. George C. Light, for whom his nephew, Judge George L. Swing, was named. As a thousand times longer has been required to find than read the items, we hope that some will appreciate the associations of the pioneer McGrew, who also was a Methodist, and no doubt rode to court over the Round Bottom and Deerfield rode with his neighbors and brothers in the church, Judge Philip Gatch and Judge Ambrose Ransom, who sat on the judicial bench at that court. Two years later, Andrew " Megrue," who had made a good impression, was certified for a commission as a justice of the peace for old Clermont from Miami township, which, though on the side of the big county, was getting her share. At the June term of the court in 1812, Andrew " Megrue " made application to alter the road from Milford passing through Ransom's, and the road leading from Harner's Run to Stonelick, near Captain Slone's. He was preparing the ways and straightening the paths trough the large tract that was to be partitioned among his children. The children had most of their schooling in Maryland, but a school house on Harner's Run is mentioned in a road discription in 1809, on the same line that " Megrue " wated to change in 1812. The spelling of the name also changed then, and some have never got right since. Yet, the name does not easily take a French style, and no art can change the fine Scotch-Irish cast of the people who should be proud to keep the Gaelic form. Jonathan, married in 1807, was one of Andrew's seven sons, but William, the eldet, waited longer and then married Rachel, a daughter of Ebenezer Newton, who had come from Cape May to Milford about the same time. Newton had taught along the Ohio river and then in the South, where he gained strong views of slavery. He was the author of a work on simplified spelling, that met the usual fate of such effort. The third brother among the six sons and one daughter of William and Rachel McGrew, was born on a farm near Mt. Repose, March 3, 1817, and named Andrew after his pioneer grandfather. Soon after, his father kept a store at Newberry, but later moved to Mill Creek valley and farmed on what is now a part of Spring Grove cemetery. He learned his trade as an apprentice with Cassett, the edge tool maker on Main Street. With fine intelligence and characteristic determination, he mastered the machinery and learned the engineering of the establishment. At one time and another he installed machinery on Sugar plantations, and was an engineer on the river. In this way he had a large chance to ponder the force of a never forgotten remark heard in boyhood and made to his father, William, by his grandfather, teacher Ebnenezer Newton; " Slavery is a National evil and wil bring a National curse. It may not come in my day or your day, but I should not be surprised if these children lived to see it." Andrew McGrew lived to see it, and was only surprised that it did not come sooner -- so heinous was slavery in his sight. He left the river to take the management of John Kugler's extensive enterprise at " Tippecanoe, " which was the facetious name given during and after the " Log Cabin and Hard Cider Campaign " for General Harrison in 1840. The name was suggested by the local preponderance of such sentiment. Before experiment had the stability of an earthbed, the Little Miami railway track was a structure of long sleepers and cross ties, and more sills and ties, until a sill held a flat strap of iron that was nailed down, and sometimes curled up at the ends into and through the cars above with injury to freight and terror to passengers. And all the while, the wood work below rotted in wet. or caught fire in dry weather. In the lack of better ways, millions of feet of the finest oak were required in the square, which John Kugler contracted largely to furnish. Before the invention of little saw mills that could be taken to the logs, Kugler and McGrue built a huge steam saw mill, where Glancy's Run is crossed by the Deerfield or Lebanon road, a half mile north of William's Corners. Evan the ashes are effaced. But among the multitude of choppers, loggers, and mill men, with scores of yokes and teams to haul the logs and deliver the timber, when roads had to be made, the young, large, strong, capable and great-hearted Andrew McGrew went as Kugler's factotum of mechanical and executive detail. Kugler was the successor of Samuel Perin as the commercial master, each in his turn, of his region and time. Their endorsement stands as a prime cerificate of their ability and worth of their assistants. The business at Tippecanoe developed the quality of leadership that marked Andrew McGrew for attention and respect wherever he mingled. A youthful mind cannot at once grasp the progress spanned by his activities. While an apprentice, he helped to make the iron work that joined the wooden tubes for early water works of Cincinnati and the iron mountings for the cannon sent by that city to aid the independence of Texas. But he lived to the end in full sympathy and true improvement. He lived for a while at Westboro, and at Columbus, always busy, energetic, improving something, and useful in the communities in which he lived. In 1869, he returned to Milford, and in 1873, bought the fine residence of the late Gen. Thomas Gatch, that is still the family home. While withdrawn from the excessive activity of youth, he continued a care for common good. He was thoroughly interested in education and served twelve years in the board of educaion, and generally as the president. In that time he was earnest in starting and promoting the Milford High School. He was a member of the Odd Fellows. He served almost continously during his last residence as president of the official board of the Milford Methodist church, and shared in all activities of that, the oldest of all Methodist churches north and west of the Ohio river. He was twice married. He died January 24, 1899. The children of Andrew and Sarah Bailey McGrew, of his first marriage, are Clyde Bailey McGrew, lived at Milford, and his three sisters, Mary, Anna N., and Lilla, living with their mother at Milford. The writer of this sketch knowing him well, admired the excellance and dignity of his worth and esteemed him one of the truest of friends, [ and was proud to call him cousin.] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Letter To Eva Adelaide Megrue Kelley by Byron Willams. April 15, 1897. [ This submitter has in her possession a letter written to her husband's Grandmother Eva Adelaide Megrue Kelley, from Bryon Willams. She married Thomas Arthur Kelley of Cleveland, Ohio. Eva Adelaide Megrue is a direct descendant of the above writing -- re- Andrew McGrew as follows; Andrew McGrue, ( Megrue ) ; his son Paul Megrue had a son Conduce Gatch Megrue who married Anna Simpkins. Anna Simpkins was born in 1833 and died 1896. Conduce and Anna Megrue's daughter was Eva Adelaide Megrue, who married Thomas Arthur Kelley. The below letter written to Eva Megrue Kelley is in Byron William's beautiful penmanship and was written on stationary with a letterhead which states that it is from " Library of Byron Williams, author of Illustrated Lectures on the American Navy. " ] " Willamsburg, Ohio. April 15, 1897. Mrs Eva Kelley, Dear Cousin; I have just learned that I am to expect a letter from you asking for what I can tell of your rights for membership in the Daughters of the Revolution or any kindred society. Your first claim within my knowledge, is that you are fourth in descent from Ephraim Simpkins, a private in the New Jersey Militia, who was your great grandfather. His name is on the pension roll from Clermont @ Ohio, and easily obtained. You will notice that I follow the ancient spelling of the name. Of your claim through your father, I have nothing to state, but of that through the Williams family, which makes you fifth in descent from Col. John Cooley of New York, which much can be said. It is only quite recently that I have been able to locate our descent from him. My father was named for him and for that name received the silver knee buckle that his granfather, Col Cooley wore while serving in the Revolutionary Army. But you must remember that my father was born in 1800, and that the family did not keep in corespondence after removal to the west in 1810. I met a grandson of Col. Cooley in 1864, who told me much about the old patriot, which I carelessly neglected to write and so it is not available. By the merest chance I have found the clue. Like yourself, I have another line of ancestry, but it is very nice to establish as many lines as possible, especially when one is so honorable as that in question. I feel sure that you will be glad to take up the investigation, which includes an examination of records in the east. Is your brother in New York, and if so, will he take any interest in the affair? I will gladly give you and him my best advice which I am sure wll result in our mutual satisfaction. Please let me know your wish. Very sincerely, Byron Williams. " +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Continued in Tid bits part 12. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V05 Issue #25 ******************************************