Athens County Ohio Genealogy Collections – Page 2 of 3

Biography of John Brown

John Brown (nephew of Capt. Brown), born February 10, 1774, at Leicester, Massachusetts, married Miss Polly Green, of ,Spencer, Massachusetts, in 1797, and set out for the Ohio Company’s purchase in the autumn of 1801. He brought his young family and few effects over the mountains, with one horse, in a little wagon, and, when descending difficult places in the road, attached a small tree to the rear end of his wagon, to act as a break, or lock. When he reached Wheeling, on the Ohio river, after a most toilsome journey, he “swapped” his wagon for a canoe and … Read more

Biography of John Brown

John Brown, well known in southern Ohio as General Brown,” son of Captain Benjamin Brown, one of the pioneers of Ames, was born in Rowe, Massachusetts, December 1, 1785. In 1787, his father’s family moved to Hartford, Washington county, New York, and in 1796, with several other families seeking homes in the west, came to the Forks of Yoh, on the Monongahela, three miles above Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Here they remained till February, 1797, building a boat during the winter, in which they completed their journey and arrived at Marietta, February 11, 1797. Of the twenty-three persons of various ages who … Read more

Biography of J.G. Brown

J. G. Brown, son of Captain Benjamin Brown, was born April 16th, 1798, near Waterford, in Washington county, Ohio, and has lived in Athens county since he was one year old. His youth was passed in working on his father’s farm (in Ames township), and in assiduous study and preparation for college. In due time he became a student at the Ohio university, and graduated there in 1822. From 1824 to 1825, he was preceptor in the academical department of the university. In 1825 he began the publication of the Athens Mirror, the first paper printed in the county, and … Read more

Biography of Hull Foster

Hull Foster, only surviving son of Zadoc Foster, was born in Sudbury, Rutland county, Vermont, January 23, 1796, and came to the northwestern territory, with his father’s family, when a few months old. His first visit to Athens was in 1804 or 1805. He came to visit Dr. Leonard Jewett’s family, and traveled on horseback from Belpre, there being no visible road, but only a horse path which crossed the river at the present site of Coolville. There was a sort of ferry at this point. At that time one Strickland kept public house in a log building, on the … Read more

Biography of George Walker

George Walker (known during his residence in the county as Judge Walker) was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1774. His father, John Walker, came of an old family in Leicestershire, England, was a graduate of the university of Edinburgh, and a barrister at law, removed to America in 1753, married in Boston, and settled in Hartford, Connecticut. George received a good business education, and engaged in mercantile business in Cooperstown, New York. For several years he was highly successful, but, through the dishonesty of a partner, he became deeply involved, and was compelled to close business at a great sacrifice. … Read more

Biography of George Ewing

George Ewing, commonly called during his residence in the county Lieut. Ewing, was, it is believed, the first white settler within the bounds of what is now Ames township. A native of Salem, New Jersey, he entered the continental army at the beginning of the revolutionary war, and served with credit during its whole course. For his bravery and good conduct he received, soon after entering the service, a commission as first lieutenant of the Jersey Line, which position he held till the return of peace. Shortly after the conclusion of the war he emigrated to what is now Ohio … Read more

Biography of Ephraim Cutler

Ephraim Cutler, known in the early history of Athens county as Judge Cutler, was the oldest son of Dr. Manasseh Cutler, and was born at Edgartown, Duke’s county; Massachusetts, April 12th, 1767. He did not receive A collegiate education, but, being an industrious reader; he acquired during youth considerable mental culture, and a large store of useful knowledge. From the age of three years he lived with his grandparents, at Killingly, Connecticut, both of whom he was wont to mention in after life with great respect and affection. His grandfather was a pure and pious man, and an ardent patriot. … Read more

Biography of Eliphaz Perkins

Eliphaz Perkins, son of John Perkins, a leading citizen of Norwich, Connecticut, was born at that place, August 25, 1753. Deprived of his father at an early age, he was nevertheless enabled, through the exertions of his mother, to obtain a liberal education. Soon after leaving college, Mr. Perkins married Lydia Fitch, daughter of Dr. Jabez Fitch, of Canterbury, Connecticut, and engaged for a time in the mercantile business in that town. Subsequently he engaged in the same business in New Haven; having, however, an inclination to professional pursuits, he finally entered on the study of medicine with his father-in-law, … Read more

Biography of Edward R. Ames

Edward R. Ames, third son of Silvanus Ames, was born in Ames township, May 2o, 1806, on the farm now owned by James and George Henry. His early education, though limited, was healthful and solid, and, while still a youth, having access to the local library in Amesville, he formed a taste for reading that has largely influenced the conduct of his life. At the age of twenty he left his father’s farm to attend the Ohio university at Athens, where he remained some two or three years, mainly supporting himself, meanwhile, by teaching and other chance employments. While at … Read more

Biography of Eames Dickey

Eames Dickey was born of Irish parents in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1788, came to the northwestern territory with his father’s family in 1798 and settled first in Washington county. When a young man Mr. Dickey was employed as a post rider to carry the mail on horseback, between Marietta and Chillicothe, a distance of about one hundred miles. Between 18o6 and 1814 he was variously engaged in the mail service, sometimes as a sub contractor, but always doing the riding of one hand himself. At that time the mail service in this section was one of great hardship and … Read more

Biography of Dr. Ezra Walker

Doctor Ezra Walker, the first resident physician of Ames township, was born December 9, 1776, at Killingly, Connecticut, in which state he studied his profession, and practiced for some years. Removing from Connecticut he settled in Poultney, Vermont, about the year 1800, and from thence migrated with his family to Marietta, in the autumn of 18 to. He remained on the Muskingum till the spring of 1811, when he came with his family, consisting of wife and seven children, into Ames township, and immediately resumed the practice of medicine. He pursued a general practice for more than twenty years, and, … Read more

Biography of Capt. Thomas S. Lovell

Capt. Thomas S. Lovell was born in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, January i8, 1785. At the age of fifteen he went to sea as cabin boy, and, during his first cruise of three years, was advanced before the mast. Returning home he went to school for one or two terms, learned something of navigation and a little mathematics, then took to the sea again. He was successful in his calling, became master of a ship before he was twenty-one years old, and before he had reached his twenty-ninth year had crossed the Atlantic forty-two times. Capt. Lovell says: “In 1812, when … Read more

Biography of Capt. Isaac Barker

Capt. Isaac Barker, came from New Bedford, Massachusetts, to the northwestern territory in the autumn of 1788. For several years he lived in the Belpre settlement on the Ohio river, about fifteen miles from Marietta, and his name is preserved as one of the heads of families who, in the year 1792, took refuge in the block house called “Farmers’ Castle,” where he and his family remained till the violence of the Indian war was spent. In 1798 he removed with his family of five sons and three daughters to Athens township, and settled near the village of Athens, where … Read more

Biography of Capt. Benjamin Brown

Capt. Benjamin Brown, father of General John, and of Judge A. G. Brown, and one of the most prominent among the early settlers of Ames, was born October 17, 1745, at Leicester, Massachusetts. His grandfather, William Brown, came from England to America while a youth, was the first settler in the town of Hatfield, on the Connecticut river, and was often engaged in the Indian wars of that period. Capt. John Brown, father of Benjamin, served with credit in the colonial army during the French war, and represented the town of Leicester in the Massachusetts legislature during, and for many … Read more

Biography of Calvary Morris

Calvary Morris, was born near Charleston, West Virginia, in 1798, and spent his youth in the Kanawha valley, laboring on a farm, and battling with the hardships of pioneer life. In 1818 he married the eldest daughter of Dr. Leonard Jewett, of Athens, and in the spring of 1819, located permanently in that town. “Finding myself,” says Mr. Morris, “a stranger in a strange land, and obliged to make provision for the support of my family, my first step was to rent five acres of ground, upon which to raise a crop of corn. While cultivating that ground, during the … Read more

Bern Township Town Officers 1828-1868

Township Trustees 1828-1868. 1828-30 John Henry, James Dickey, John Wickham. 1831-33 ” David James, Jeffrey Buchanan. 1834 Dyar Selby, Sen., John Wickham, James Dickey. 1835 William J. Brown, ” ” 1836 ” David James, ” 1837 Matthew Henry, ” ” 1838 ” ” Wm. J. Brown. 1839 ” James Dickey, ” 1840 J. E. Vore, ” John Work 1841 David James, Thornton Swart, ” 1842 ” James Dickey, Dyar Selby, Jun. 1843 Joseph McCune, ” ” 1844 ” ” Reuben Hague. 1845 David James, ” ” 1846 Jesse Carr, Dyar Selby, John Work. 1847 David Colvin, Robert Henry, Wm. Rardin … Read more

Athens Township Trustees from 1807-1868

1807 Leonard Jewett, Jehiel Gregory, Silas Bingham. 1808 John Havner, William Harper, Aaron Young. 1809 Leonard Jewett, Ebenezer Currier, John Abbot. 1810 Jacob Lindley, Ebenezer Currier, John Abbot. 1811 Silas Bingham, Hopson Beebe, Joseph B. Miles. 1812 Jehiel Gregory, Martin Mansfield, William Harper. 1813 Ebenezer Currier, Joel Abbot, Stephen Pilcher. 1814 Robert Linzee, William Whitesides, Stephen Pilcher. 1815 Robert Linzee, William Harper, Arthur Coates. 1816 Robert Linzee, William Harper, Arthur Coates. 1817 Edmund Dorr, John White, David Pratt. 1818 Edmund Dorr, John White, Abel Mann. 1819 Edmund Dorr, John White, Abel Mann. 1820 Edmund Dorr, John White, Abel Mann. 1821 … Read more

Athens Township Treasurers and Clerks from 1807-1868

Treasurers. Clerks. 1807 Chauncey Perkins, John Corey. 1808 Alexander Stedman, John Corey 1809 Alexander Stedman, John Corey 1810 Alexander Stedman, John Corey 1811 Alexander Stedman, John Corey 1812 Alexander Stedman, John Corey 1813 Eliphaz Perkins, Nehemiah Gregory. 1814 William Weir, Alexander Proudfit. 1815 Charles Shipman, Alvan Bingham. 1816 Charles Shipman, James Gillmore. 1817 Ebenezer Blackstone, James Gillmore. 1818 John Gillmore, James Gillmore. 1819 John Gillmore, James Gillmore. 1820 John Gillmore, James Gillmore. 1821 John Gillmore, James Gillmore. 1822 John Gillmore, James Gillmore. 1823 John Gillmore, James Gillmore. 1824 James Gillmore, John Gillmore. 1825 James Gillmore, John Gillmore. 1826 James Gillmore, … Read more

Athens Township Justices of the Peace 1814-1868

1814-John L. Lewis, Abel Miller, Henry Bartlett. 1817-Henry Bartlett, Stephen Pilcher. 1829-Reuben J. Davis, A. G. Brown. 1835-A. G. Brown. 1836-Henry Bartlett. 1838-Abram Van Vorhes. 1842-Henry Bartlett. 1844-Norman Root. 1849-A. G. Brown. 1848-Sumner Bartlett. 1850-H. K. Blackstone, Enoch Cabeen. 1851-Daniel S. Dana. 1852-Norman Root. 1853-Daniel S. Dana, Jacob T. Stanley. 1855-Oscar W. Brown. 1856-Norman Root, Deloro Culley. 1858-William Golden, William Loring Brown. 1859-Norman Root. 1861-William Golden, William Loring Brown. 1862-Norman Root. 1864-C. R. Sheldon, William A. Thomas, William L. Brown. 1865-Norman Root. 1867-G. W. Baker, O. W. Brown, H. C. Martin. 1868-W. A. Thomas.

Athens Grand Juries from, 1805 to 1815

The first grand jury that ever sat in the county, was drawn in November, 1805, and was composed as follows: John Dixon, John Hewitt, Samuel Moore, John Corey, Peter Boyles, Jeremiah Riggs, Canaday Lowry, William Howlett, Robert Fulton, Alvan Bingham, Josiah Coe, Philip M. Starr. March Term, 1806.-Alvan Bingham, Hopson Beebe, John Thompson, Silas Dean, John Lowry, Josiah Coe, Daniel Stewart, Robert Fulton, Baruch Dorr, Edmund Dorr, Peter Boyles, John Corey, Benaziah Simmons. July Term, 1806.-Alvan Bingham, John Havner, David Pratt, Reuben Hurlbut, Jacob Boyles, Moses Bean, Canaday Lowry, Alexander Fulton, George Wolf, Joseph Brooks, Abraham Shidler, John Corey, Peter … Read more