OH-FOOTSTEPS-L Archives

From: christina m hursh <>
Subject: Bios: Montgomery Co. - Lamme, McEwen, Munger, Nutt, Prugh, Russell, Stansell
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 15:00:12 -0500

Transcribed by Mrs. Becki Klansnic for the Ohio Biographies Project.

The History of Montgomery County, OH", by W. H. Beers & Co., Pub. 1882

WILLIAM J. LAMME, miller and farmer, P. O. Carrolton. William Lamme and
family emigrated from Kentucky to Miami Valley, Montgomery Co., and
within the original limits of Washington Township, Ohio, in the fall of
1802, with a family of wife and five children, settling on the land he
had previously purchased, and erected his cabin. David, the eldest son,
then aged about eighteen years, was put to clearing up the land, while
his father, quite early, proceeded to erect a grist-mill on Hole's Creek;
the building was made of round logs and covered with clapboards put on
with wood pins , a square of this roof was in a pretty good state of
preservation but a few years ago, also portions of the old water wheel.
This was the first mill built in Washington Township; here the pioneers
had their grinding done for many years, and David, the boy, afterward the
prominent man, was educated to the milling business. He was married
August 7, 1804, to Miss Margaret Dodds, daughter of Gen. William Dodds.
>From this union there were ten children, two sons and eight daughters;
two only are now (August 1881) living, viz., William J. and Katie Eliza
Lamme. Mrs. Lamme was a native of Pennsylvania, and emigrated with her
parents to Ohio about the time the Lammes did. Her bridal dress was an
embroidered muslin, and the groom's coat, calico. They commenced
housekeeping in a cabin situated in the woods, where they remained for
some years, when an exchange of property was made and they moved a little
south where their days were ended. In 1842, he took down the old mill on
the farm, to make room for a more commodious building to meet the
requirements of the trade. The grinding was principally done for toll,
and when a sufficient quantity had accumulated, it was ground and wagoned
to Cincinnati, until the Miami Canal was finished from Cincinnati to
Middletown; from there it would go on the canal to Cincinnati. David
Lamme was a Justice of the Peace many years, and in 1840 was elected a
Representative to the Legislature from Montgomery County. He was also
one of the County Commissioners, under whose direction the present court
house in Dayton was erected. He was prosperous in his business and
always kept things around him up to the times. David Lamme, better known
through out the country as Squire Lamme, was emphatically "a gentleman of
the old school," as the phrase goes. Born in Kentucky, and a mere boy
when his family came to Ohio, he seems to have had the characteristic
Kentucky hospitality inborn, for there was not a private residence in
southern Montgomery more celebrated for social and friendly gatherings of
the very elite, so to speak, of the country than Squire Lamme's. He was
a large man, dignified, buy very agreeable and genial in his manners. No
one felt the least trepidation in his presence, he was equally
benevolent, and the poor of the section of the country about the "old
mill" will never forget the many acts of charity done to their families
by Squire Lamme and his estimable wife; she was just suited to him, a fit
companion. Long may the memory of these grand old pioneers of Ohio be
kept green in the minds of the generations to come. What has been said
of the parents applies also to the family; of whom most were daughters,
only two sons, one of whom died in youth; the other, the Major and one
sister, Miss Katy, are the only surviving members of the once populous
family; all the girls were possessed of more then ordinary personal
attractions and were, besides very lively and intelligent, which, as a
matter of course, attracted a large retinue of young gentlemen, but the
tax on Squire Lamme's resources, by the amount of company entertained by
him at his residence never made him grumble nor find fault with his
children; he was above littleness in any form. David Lamme died August
22, 1855; his wife Margaret died December 28, 1868.


HORACE McEWEN, farmer, P. O. Centerville. Horace McEwen, son of Robert
G. and Elizabeth McEwen, was born March 7, 1840, on a farm three quarters
of a mile south of Centerville; has always lived on a farm and in his
native township. His boyhood was all spent with his parents on the farm
which was carried out extensively by his father. Horace was married
March, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth E. Norris; from this union have been born
two sons and one daughter. Mrs. McEwen was born in Centerville, Ohio,
February 14, 1848. After marriage, the moved onto the McEwen homestead,
and have continued to reside there ever since. Horace is now the owner
of ninety-three acres of the farm as a legacy, with the exception of
about $2,000.

Received his education in the common district school. Robert G. McEwen,
born in Williamsport, Penn., January 25, 1806; came with his parents to
Centerville, Montgomery Co., Ohio, about the fall of 1817; he then had
more of an education than the majority of boys at that time, yet he was
kept in the neighborhood schools as long as it was thought he could be
advance any. About this time Noah and Aun Leeds, of Philadelphia, moved
to Springboro, Warren Co., Ohio, and opened a select school. The
principals being fine scholars, they prepared their pupils for college.
Robert was one of their scholars, and, after attending the school awhile,
was sent to Oxford College, where he finished up his education. Losing
his father about this time, he went into the harness and saddle shop with
his brother, William, who also died pretty soon. The family was then
reduced to three in number, viz., the mother, one sister and Robert.
Notwithstanding he had received a liberal education, more than was then
given boys, unless they were intended for some of the learned
professions, he made choice of manual labor for his profession, or, as he
used to call himself, a plow boy. He pretty soon started a team on the
road, doing considerable amount of hauling; it proving more profitable
than the shop, he closed it up, purchased another team and went driving
it himself; he was prosperous. His first trade for real estate he turned
two calves in as part payment. In his real estate transactions, was very
successful; he sued to say it was his intention to leave a farm to each
of his children; at his death, he owned 440 acres of land. In his
farming operations he kept things moving; his boys were not allowed to go
fishing every Saturday. He delighted in dealing in stock, always had
some on hand for sale or trade, and, if a bargain was offered, he was
prepared to buy. He serve some time as Township Clerk. In 1838, was
elected County Assessor; filled that office one term. In 1859, was
elected to the Legislature, served one term, and declined a
re-nomination. In the Military Peace Establishment, he rose from the
ranks to a Lieutenancy, then Captain, then Adjutant of the regiment,
which office he held at the final break-up of militia training. In early
life he took quite an interest in debating societies, which were formed
in almost every school district; this early habit lasted him through
life. In manhood after doing a hard day's work teaming, he would ride
any reasonable distance to participate in a debate. Blessed with a good
memory, he retained his reading. Was Jacksonian Democrat an quite a
politician. Married February 28, 1833, to Miss Elizabeth Morris. Died
September 2, 1877.


JAMES H. MUNGER, farmer, P. O. Centerville. Jonathan Munger, with his
brother Edmund, and Benjamin Maltbie, with their families, left
Middlebury, Vt., for the territory northwest of the Ohio River in 1797;
came to Marietta, Ohio, and from there to Belpre; at Marietta they raised
a crop of corn, 1799. In 1800, they reached what is now known as "Yankee
street" in this township. There nearest neighbors were then from two to
seven miles distant. Jonathan Munger was a pensioned Revolutionary
Soldier; like all of that profession, he had personal incidents to
relate. He has often been heard to say that the sweetest night's sleep
he ever had was on a pile of cannon balls with his feet in water up to
his ankles; at another time, he and half a dozen comrades called at a
house for a night's lodging; it proved to be the dwelling of a Tory; the
woman had just scrubbed the floor, but said it was good enough for them,
and they might thank God and her for it; the soldiers said they thanked
no one, but they were going to stay all night. Harvey Munger, son of
above-named, Jonathan and Elizabeth Munger, was born in Adison County,
Vt., October 2, 1790; came West, with his parents and assisted in raising
the crop of corn at Marietta as above referred to. Married, February 8,
1812, to Miss Catherine Gray; from this union were thirteen children, of
which five are now living (July 1881). In the war of 1812, he was a
teamster, hauling flour to the army lying at St. Mary's. In stature, he
was five feet ten inches; small bone inclined to corpulence. Died July
22, 1859. His wife, Catharine Gray, was born May 10, 1791, and died in
1836. She was the daughter of Daniel and Phebe Gray. In stature, she
was below the medium size. Socially, it was said that wherever Katy
Munger was there was good company. Her father was a pensioned
Revolutionary soldier. James H. Munger, subject of this sketch, and son
of Harvey and Catharine Munger, was born in Clear Creek Township, Warren
County, Ohio, February 12, 1816; his school privileges were not
extensive, as he says his last summer's schooling was in the second story
of a weaver's shop in 1825; after that would get from two to three weeks'
during the winter season, depending upon the weather and work to be done.
The first religious meetings he recollects of attending were held in
Gen. Munger's barn; everything about the building was in perfect order
corresponding with the occasion; rakes and forks were all hung up out of
the way. Raise a farmer, he has always adhered to it. With no political
ambition, has lived at his present residence, on Section 28, since 1849.
Married, March 15, 1840 to Miss Lydia A. Wright, who died July 9, 1865.
Second marriage, January 1, 1870, to Mrs. Anna R. Chambers, whose maiden
name was Linton. She was born in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1824, her
parents William and Hannah Linton, natives of Pennsylvania, settling in
that county in 1814. Mr. Munger is one of the leading farmers of his
township.


JOSEPH NUTT, farmer, P.O. Centerville. The eldest of the two children
(Joseph and John) of Aaron and Martha Nutt, was born in Centerville,
Ohio, December 11, 1818. parents both natives of New Jersey; his father
was the son of Levi Nutt, and he the son of Adam Nutt, a native of Wales,
who landed in New Jersey early in the last century. Aaron, on his
mother's side, was the grandson of Barzilla Ivens, a noted merchant of
his day; he was also a noted man for the size of his family; he was
married three times and was the father of twenty-one children, who were
all able at one and the same time to set at the table and help themselves
to a square meal. Joseph's mother was the daughter of Isaac and Hannah
Pedrick, of Pedricktown, N.J.; she emigrated with them to Waynesville,
Warren Co., Ohio, in 1806, remaining there a brief period; her father
purchase a farm near the present village of Clio, Greene Co., Ohio, and
removed to it. The family were all worthy members of the Society of
Orthodox Friends. The subject of this sketch can't quite claim to be
anything more than the son of pioneers (for the date of father's arrival
see brother's biography); never had any land to clear or brush to pick;
never assisted in building the pioneer cabin with its cat and clay
chimney, clapboard-roof held on with weight poles, or in laying down the
solid puncheon floor; or in erecting the sweep at the well for the "old
oaken bucket;" but have worn buckskin pantaloons, leather-crown hat and
thread shirt-buttons. His father was a tailor by trade, and was an
experienced hand in manufacturing buckskin into wearing apparel. The
last pair of buckskin pants he made was in the summer he was eighty-one
years of age. Mr. N. V. Maxwell, one of our present worthy citizens, was
then carrying on tailoring, and took in the job conditionally, viz., if
he could get "Uncle Aaron" Nutt (by which familiar title he was well
known) to make them he would do so, as for himself he frankly admitted he
could not make them; they were made and all parties satisfied with the
job. Mr. Maxwell, to this day, takes delight in referring to that job,
and saying "Uncle Aaron" was the oldest journeyman he ever employed. He
was also a good hand with a sickle in a harvest field; the summer he was
eighty years old, he lead the reapers once through in his son Aaron's
wheat field. He was also an excellent auctioneer, if not the first, he
certainly was among the first; had quite a patronage in Montgomery,
Warren and Greene Counties. Before the subject of this sketch was large
enough to put a collar on the horse, he commenced in driving the cart and
doing small jobs about town and working on the small farm. When in his
twelfth year, he hauled in the cart all the stone making a complete
pavement from the schoolhouse, one-fourth mile north of town, to the
Baptist Church on the west side of town. His father and Joseph Beck laid
the walk, which did good service many years. For its protection, the
Town Council made it a finable offense to ride or drive on it. So
carefully was it guarded that the school teacher has been known to leave
his school on seeing a traveler on the walk, and hurry up to town and
have a warrant in the hands of the Marsha by the time the offending party
would reach the village. The 28th of April, 1834, he went as an
apprentice to the chair-making; served three years faithfully; made the
trade his principal business up the spring of 1844; then went to New
Burlington, Clinton Co., Ohio, and sold goods for Israel Harris, Jr., and
Samuel Lemar, nearly six years. In January, 1850, went into the employ
of John Grant, Esq., the principal merchant then in New Burlington;
remained with him until April, 1857. Mr. Nutt was married, January 29,
1856, to Miss E. A. Weaver, of New Burlington. May, 1857, moved to
Chicago; remained there until August, 1858, returning to New Burlington,
and remained there until the spring of 1861; then removed to Centerville
on the old homestead, where he now lives, becoming the owner thereof by
half purchase and half legacy, and one of the few men in the township
owning the land originally purchased by the father from John C. Symmes,
but the deed was made by James Madison, President of the United States.
There are other tracts in the township deeded by the President to the
heads of some of the families now living thereon, but they are mostly
second-hand purchases.

When Aaron Nutt with other men were in consultation with Judge Symmes,
organizing a pioneer company, one of them said to the Judge, "You will
not take that man, will you?" pointing to Aaron Nutt. "Why not?" said
the Judge. "Why," said the man, "he is a Quaker, and will not fight the
Indians." "Just the man I want," said the Judge; "I want a peaceable
colony." Aaron Nutt was never a member of any religious society, but his
religious sentiments were in full accord with the Orthodox Friends, wore
the garb and used the plain language of that society. The following
incident shows the respect the Indians have for the name of William Penn.
Sometime after Aaron Nutt had settled here and Dayton something of a
place, he was going up there one morning, when he met a company of
Indians. After passing them, he found a sack of roots and herbs in the
road and readily concluded it belonged to the Indians just passed. So he
would carry the sack into town and leave it at the store of H. ?G.
Philips, who told him he knew the Indians, they had been in the store
that morning, and on their next visit he would hand over the sack, and
did so, saying to the Indian that-- "It was a William Penn man that had
found it." "Ugh," said the Indian, "he good man; he good man." The
subject of this sketch is now the oldest native born citizen on the town
plot; never loaded a gun, pistol or firearm of any description, have
pulled the trigger a few times making one shot that would be creditable
to any sportsman. Mr. Nutt is the father of five children, as follows:
Anna, Laura, Samuel Weaver, William Pedrick, Clarence Emory Nutt, of whom
only two are living, viz., Samuel W. and Clarence E.




JOHN NUTT, M. D., Chicago, Ill. John Nutt was the younger of two sons,
Joseph and John, and only children of Aaron and Martha (Craig, formerly
Pedrick) Nutt, and was born on the old homestead in Centerville,
Montgomery Co., Ohio, March 3, 1823. His parents were natives of New
Jersey, and were respectively widower and widow; at the time of their
marriage, January 11, 1818, by James Russell. Esq., of Centerville.
Aaron Nutt was left fatherless at an early age. His mother marrying
again, the boy, Aaron, was apprenticed to John Lippencott, a tailor of
1776, for a term of seven years, serving his employer nearly that time on
the tailor-guard. At about this period, the armies of the Revolution,
under the command old Gen. Washington, were very active in the State of
New Jersey, and as these were indeed trying times for our country, and
soldiers were much needed, both old and young were earnestly solicited to
join the American forces. It was at this juncture that Lippencott was
drafted into the military service, and Aaron Nutt's apprenticeship about
to expire, that Lippencott made this proposition to him, that if he would
enter the army and serve his, Lippencott's time out, he would in turn set
him free. The proposition was accepted, and Nutt joined a military
company commanded by his cousin, Capt. Israel Shreve. The evening before
the battle of Monmouth, the company had a little skirmish with a company
of English light horse, and came off victorious. Nutt was quite near the
English Captain, and saw the American soldier shoot him in the breast.
he fell from his horse and jumped a fence and fell dead by the side of
it. Nutt, in looking at him after death, pronounced him the handsomest
man he ever saw. next day, the main battle was fought, the day, and
excessively hot one, the Americans three off their coats and knapsacks,
as they marched into the field, forty-eight abreast. After the battle,
twelve wagons loaded with bread and drawn by oxen were brought on the
ground for the Americans. After this, Nutt's military service was in
riding as a scout and driving team; of the latter, he did a large amount.
He never asked for or received any pension, but assisted many others in
procuring theirs. On Tuesday, the 4th day of May, 1779, he was married
to Mary Archer, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Archer, of New Jersey. From
this union there were nine children, of whom none are now living. Three
died in early life, the remaining six lived to be heads of families. The
father used to take great pleasure in standing on his own premises and
look at the smoke curling out of the chimneys of five of his children --
the sixth one lived some four miles distant. In 1786, he removed with
his family from New Jersey to Pennsylvania where he remained only a few
years, and then moved to Kentucky, living at different points, among
which the following places are remembered: On the Dry Ridge he lived a
long time, keeping a tavern there; did the same in the town of
Versailles; from Kentucky he removed to what is now Centerville,
Montgomery Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1798, having previously been there
with surveyors in February, 1796, and selected his land. here he settled
in wilderness of woods, and where in his new abode he remained with only
a slight change of habitation during the balance of his life. Surrounded
with a large circle of truly worthy friends and relatives who were always
interested in his presence, as he so often gladdened the hours with
earnest recitals of events of which he had not infrequently been an
active participant.

He was a man of eminently correct habits of life, possessing a very
superior constitution, temperate, industrious and of a cheerful
disposition, even marked to the end, and when warned of approaching
dissolution seemed ready and willing to meet the change. The disease of
which he died was, though not of frequent occurrence, incident to old
age, and in this case, as was pronounced by his skillful and ever
attentive physician, Dr. A. B. Price, one of the most extraordinary cases
of the kind ever known to the profession. The pain, which was very
severe, was first manifested in the left eye, which after awhile
completely destroyed the organ. The pain then passed to the heel and
great toe of the right foot, then successively until all the toes were in
a like manner involved, then the foot mortified, was drawn up and dried
until all seemed as hard and lifeless as stone, and blackened with the
deadly progress of the disease, which continued for a period of many
months, at the closing of which time a distinct point or line of
demarkation appeared with in four inches of the knee. Death of the foot
and leg below having already occurred and here separation of not only the
living from the dead flesh, but also the larger bone was already
manifest, so that earnest hopes were strongly entertained that an arrest
was probable, and that an improved condition might be looked for; but at
the close of about the ninth month the power of the constitution could
stand the pressure no longer, and gradually yielding, death kindly
terminated this protracted struggle June 2, 1842, an thus passed the life
of a man aged eighty-three years ten months and sixteen days, who had
never known what real sickness was, and even used his tobacco up to
within a few days of the last. His remains are buried in the old
cemetery one-half mile north of Centerville, between of the graves of his
two wives. "Peace to their remains."

John, after the death of his father, remained at home with his bereaved
mother, working the little farm and attending and teaching school, and so
continued until the last of August, 1845, when, on solicitation of Dr.
John Evans, then of Indianapolis, Ind., he accepted a kind invitation to
study medicine with him. So, bidding adieu to his old home and all of
its surroundings, he embarked on board the Voress line of the stage
coaches for what then seemed to be the far-distant West. here he
commenced his medical studies, spending the winters, however, at Chicago,
attending Rush Medical College, from which institution he graduated in
the spring of 1848. Returning to Indianapolis, he made application to
the commissioners of the hospital fro the insane for the place of
assistant physician, and being successful in due time received the
desired appointment, and early thereafter entered upon the duties of the
office in this then new State institution, and soon had the satisfaction
of assisting in the reception of the first patients ever admitted to
treatment in that place. In October, 1851, he severed his connection
with the hospital and, marrying Annie, the youngest daughter of David and
Rachael Evans, of Waynesville, Ohio, moved within a few days thereafter
to the city of Chicago, Ill., where, with a devoted wife and four comely
boys, he now remains comfortably living in Glencoe, one of the city's
most beautiful suburbs, overlooking both far and wide the cooling waters
of Lake Michigan.


ABRAHAM PRUGH, carpenter, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, August 30,
1830, of parents, Abner and Martha (Easey) Prugh, natives of Frederick
County, Md., the former born in the year 1790 and the latter in 1791.
Father Prugh is of German descent, his mother having been born in
Germany. He was one of the early settlers in Montgomery County, to which
he, as a single man, emigrated, settling in the vicinity of Beavertown,
in the year 1812, driving thither a team for Laurence Shell, a
brother-in-law. During the war of 1812, Mr. Prugh was at Urbana, and
there saw Gen. Hull and army; he remained but a short time and then
returned to Marysland, and again, in 1817, came back to Ohio and
purchased land in the vicinity of Winchester, which he disposed of in
about one year, when he removed to the vicinity of Beavertown, on a tract
of eighty-four acres, which he bought and upon which he lived until ten
years ago, at which time he lost his companion, her death occurring
January 27, 1872, and since which he has made his home with our subject,
who is the sixth of a family of eleven children. Until eighteen years of
age, our subject lived on the homestead, then learned the carpenter's
trade, which vocation he has in main followed ever since, his farm being
carried on by his sons. On the 6th of April, 1854, Mr. Prugh was united
in marriage with Mary, daughter of John G. and Jacobena (Fullmer) Sebold,
natives of Germany. The parents were married in the State of New York,
and in 1820 emigrated to Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio. The father died
in 1865, and the mother is now residing near Dayton. Mary, the wife of
our subject, was borne in Harrison Township, Montgomery County, Ohio,
September 17, 1836, and has borne Mr. Prugh the following named children:
John A., William H., James E., Martha, Abram, Anna M., Sarah G., Charles
(died March 9, 1876), Ira and Herbert. Our subject belongs to a family
who have done much toward clearing away the wilderness of the early day
and making possible the high state of cultivation now attained. His
father still lives to rehearse to his children and children's children
the happenings of nearly a century ago, and though close on the goal of
ninety-two years, is almost in the full possession of his mental
faculties.


BROOKY B. RUSSELL, Centerville. James Russel, born August 27, 1769 in
the Shenandoah Valley, Va. Nancy McKee, born November 22, 1771, and
married to James Russell, 1791. From this union were ten children, born
as follows: Elizabeth, February 9, 1792; Robert, May 28, 1794; William,
December 26, 1795; John, October 6, 1797; Abraham, June 24, 1799; James,
December 6, 1800; Mary M., December 28, 1902; Brooky B., February 22,
1804; Ann, July 15, 1807; Mariam, June 27, 1810. Of the above children
three only are now (July, 1881) living. Mr. Russell's early boyhood and
manhood were spent principally in boat-building on the Allegheny River,
Pennsylvania. When about seventeen years old he moved with his parents
to Mercer County, Penn., where he continued boat-building, one of which
he and his brother loaded with produce and made a trip to New Orleans.
Returning home, he concluded after awhile he would like to see the
Northwest. Accordingly he started on the perilous trip in 1798. The
Indians being troublesome, he procured the assistance of a guide, who
traveled about 200 miles with him from the Pee Dee River. Finally
reaching his destination in safety, he made his selection and purchase of
land. He found a boarding-place with Dr. Hole, a pioneer, living about
two miles distant. He immediately went to work and erected his round-log
cabin, with a cat and clay chimney and puncheon floor. The pioneers that
could be found within a reasonable distance by request assembled at a
given time and assisted him in the erection of his cabin. During the
day, one of the pioneers asked Mr. Russell where he was from. he replied
by saying he was from Cork, the North of Ireland, sir. The pioneer
turned around and said to another: I wish to God he had stayed there,
for they are the meanest people on earth. For some time after that Mr.
Russell went by the name of Cork. Cabin finished, he returned to his
family after an absence of ten weeks, built a boat in which he and his
family came down the river to Cincinnati, in the spring of 1799, and
moved immediately into the neighborhood of Redding and raised that season
as much of a crop as he could; then in the following February or March
started for his future home in Washington Township, Montgomery County,
Ohio, reaching it on the 12th day of March, 1800. Mrs. Russell has been
heard to say that the sweetest night's sleep she ever had was the first
one spent in that rude cabin. Family then consisted of parents and five
children. Now settled, the next thing in order was the clearing of a
farm, which to one not having will or nerve would be a serious
undertaking, but Mr. Russell possessed both, and in due course of time a
farm was to be seen instead of dense forest. To supply the table (made
of puncheons) with meats was an easy matter; it was wild but in abundance
and very easily secured. When Mr. Russell wished to take a day for a
hunt he would put on a scarlet cloak with a hood to it, of his wife's,
and thus equipped would start out and would return, if he wanted so many,
with one dozen deer in a day. bread was for a long time made exclusively
of corn; grinding done at Mr. Ripley's mill, one mile south of
Ridgeville, Warren County, Ohio. For the wearing apparel, of home
manufacture; dressed deer-skins were used extensively. Boots and shoes
were made of untanned hides. When Mr. Russell went to the land office to
make payment, it was ascertained he had a surplus of several acres. He
was then at a loss to know what to do. When Gen. Findley, the Receiver,
said to him, my dear fellow, you take all the land you can get up there
or I will. Mr. Russell took the advice, went out and borrowed from a
friend enough to complete the payment. Mr. Russell served one term in
the Legislature, the session of 1828 and 1829. Was County Commissioner
some years. It is said that at one settlement with the County Treasurer
there was such a quantity of silver that in order to expedite their work,
the Commissioners weighed the cash instead of counting it. He served as
Justice of the Peace from 1810 to 1834, being a period of twenty-four
years, which is conclusive evidence he was a man standing high in the
estimation of his fellow citizens. Beloved by his family and highly
respected by acquaintances, he died March 12, 1845, having lived just
forty-five years in township. His wife, Nancy Russell, died November 19,
1849.


ISAAC STANSELL, farmer, P. O. Centerville. Isaac Stansell, son of Henry
and Elizabeth, was born December 27, 1810, in Washington Township,
Montgomery County, Ohio, where has always resided; received his education
in his boyhood in the pioneer log schoolhouse; schools then taught by
subscription; teacher boarding with his patrons; branches most commonly
taught were reading, writing and arithmetic; wearing apparel manufactured
at home, very plain, as the material was not very fine; housemade flax
linen for shirts and pants; thread shirt-buttons almost exclusively. For
winter wear, linsey and fulled cloth; the linsey was of many colors.
Instead of coats, a garment called a wampus was worn, that was most
generally made out of red flannel; women wore same materials, but
sometimes striped or barred. A boy generally received one pair of shoes
yearly; living was just as plain as the wearing apparel. At the
breakfast table was generally coffee made from corn, wheat, rye and
flour; it was called flour chocolate; tea from spice, sassafras or sage;
wheat bread occasionally; corn bread was the standard, that made
different ways; there was the dodger, the johnny-cake, and for extra a
pone would be made, one that would last a family many days; wild meats
abundant, and obtained with little labor; going to mill is generally done
on horseback. The first mill Mr. Stansell patronized was one on Sugar
Creek, near the county line. Sugar was made every spring in large
quantities, and used freely; wood was no object. Mr. Stansell's parents
emigrated from Kentucky; his father came here in 1801, built his cabin,
returned to Kentucky, and moved his family out on horseback to their
future home in 1802, right in the woods; neighbors two to three miles
distant. Both parents were members of the Baptist Church, and regular
attendants at the log meeting-house, half-mile north of Centerville,
being the first one built in the township. John Mason was among the
first preachers at this house. A minister's pay then was just what the
members felt like giving freely. Henry Stansell and wife died in 1833.
The way of attending church at this time was on foot or horseback, the
rider taking two or three children with him. Mr. Stansell being raised
on a farm, he has work at everything to be done there, even to plowing
with the wood mold-board plow drawn by oxen. Mr. Stansell was married
February 4, 1834, to Miss Eleanor Shehan. From this union were eleven
children, nine of whom are living. Mrs. Stansell died February 22, 1866.
The father of the subject of the is sketch was born October 1, 1765;
married to Elizabeth Allen April, 1793. From this union were eleven
children, four of whom are now living (July, 1881). Henry Stansell, at
the age of thirteen, was captured by the Indians in the State of New
York, with whom he remained five years, undergoing all the hardships of a
captive's life. So far as a separation from home and friends are
concerned, a portion of the time the Indians tried to make his life
agreeable, but was an Indian's life after all. His release was brought
about in this way. The Indian who claimed him as his property, while
they were encamped in the neighborhood of a British Fort on Lake Ontario,
when drunk, sold him for a trifle to a British officer, received his pay
and departed, but soon as he became sober, returned to the fort, and
demanded the return of Henry, but the officers secreted him, and told the
Indian that Henry was gone. Young Stansell was soon exchanged and sent
home to his parents. He was so changed in appearance that (although
dressed in civilized clothing), none of the family (except his mother)
knew him, having given him up as dead; the mother, so long bereft of him,
instantly recognized him by a scar on his face. A few years after peace
was declared, Henry Stansell married and removed to Kentucky, and then to
Ohio as above state.


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This thread:

• Bios: Montgomery co. - Hatfield, Holmes, Kindle, Kelsey by christina m hursh <>

  • Bios: Montgomery Co. - Lamme, McEwen, Munger, Nutt, Prugh, Russell, Stansell by christina m hursh <>