JAMESTOWN HISTORY
(BIOGRAPHICAL)

John Adams, retired blacksmith, Jamestown, is a native of Rockbridge County, Virginia; was born September 2, 1811; reared and remained in that place till twenty-six years of age, when he came to Jamestown, and has since resided in this place. He married Miss Harriet Dawson, a native of Berkeley County, Virginia, September 8, 1840; she is a sister of Dr. W. W. Dawson, of Cincinnati, Dr. Dawson, of Columbus, and Dr. Dawson, of Bellbrook. Mr. Adams is a descendant of President Adams. Has spent a portion of his life while here, blacksmithing, and was successful in accumulating a sufficient amount of means to live his declining years retired from active labor - has at least fifteen thousand dollars, came. Came to Jamestown in 1838, and has witnessed many of the changes made in this county since that time. There were no railroads, no pikes, and but little business compared to the present. Two children, Sarah A. and Mary A., were born to our subject, both living. Mary A. was married to John C. Stewart, June 5, 1869; they have one child, John D. Mr. and Mrs. Adams and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Jamestown. He is a member of Lodge No. 181, I. O. O. F. He joined the fraternity in October, 1854.

John Q. Adams, merchant and carpenter, Jamestown, is a son of Zina B. and Eliza (Sharp) Adams; was born in Jamestown - where he now lives, and has a good store-room and a handsome residence - March 8, 1837. Was reared and educated here, and married, October 25, 1866, to Miss Laura R. Spark, a daughter of Gideon and Phoebe Spark, by Revs. Black and Baker. Mr. Adams was in the mercantile business from 1860 to 1876, when he sold to his brother, M. O. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His father died in Jamestown, May 22, 1844. Mrs. Adams then married Mr. James McDowney, March 20, 1849, who died September 2, 1878. Mrs. McDowney’s first husband kept hotel in this place about twelve years before his death. She continued in the business for some time after her marriage with McDowney, making in all about forty years. Our subject’s brother, Thomas H., served three years in the rebellion in Company A, Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Moody commander. Enlisted October 9, 1861. Came home without a wound.

Morgan O. Adams, Merchant, Jamestown, is a son of Zina B. and Eliza B. (Sharp) Adams, who were married December 26, 1830, four children being the result of the union: Morgan O., Samuel, John Q., Thomas H.., three living: Samuel died February 8, 1854. Mr. Adams, sr.’, father, Reuben, was born August 7, 1775, in Massachusetts. He married Miss Mary Bosworth, of Delaware County, New York. They died in Clinton County, Ohio. Came here about 1814. There were nine children of this family; Allen, Catherine, John R., Garra V., Zina B., Royal B., Caroline, Jane, and Arabel. Caroline married Charles Hathaway, Arabel, Solomon Sharp, Jane, Thomas Demoss, Catherine, Mr. Black. There is but one of this family living - Royal, residing in Missouri. Mr. Adams’ mother is a daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Cook) Sharp. He was born September 22, 1780, and married in 1805, in Pennsylvania. There were eight children by this marriage: Morgan, Eliza, Thomas, Liddie, Henry, Susanna, Samuel, and Melissa. Liddie married Thomas Demoss after the death of his first wife, Jane Adams, Susan to Reuben Moorman, and Melissa to Nelson Powers. Our subject was born in Brown County, April 15, 1863, and cam with his parents to Jamestown the following fall, where he was reared and twice married, first to Miss Amanda M. Johnson, daughter of J. C. and Jane (Greenwood) Johnson, November 1, 1852. One child James Harvey, who is in the dry goods business in this place, is the result of this union. He was born August 28, 1855. Mrs. Adams died March 6, 1863; Mr. Adams then married Mrs. Flora (Boyer) Armstrong, August 27, 1869. She had one child, Thomas James, by her first marriage; he is in business with Mr. Adams. Harvey was born November 21, 1860. There is one child by the last marriage, Mary E., who was born November 29, 1871. Mr. Adams and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Jamestown. Is a good business man, and a prominent citizen.

Misses Rhoda and Keziah Beason, Jamestown, daughters of William and Catharine Beason. Mr. Beason was a native of South Carolina, and went to Tennessee with his parents at quite an early age. Came to this county when a lad, and lived the remainder of his life here. Married the mother of our subjects, Miss Catharine Hite, about 1826. They were parents of six children: Pollie, Margaret, Rhoda, and infant son, Keziah and Catharine; three are living, Rhoda, Keziah, and Catharine. Mr. Beason was previously married to Miss Mary Standberry, by whom he had eight children; six lived to maturity. He served six months in the war of 1812. His first wife and himself were members of the Predestinarian Baptist Church, in which faith they died. The subjects of this sketch have a farm of fifty acres, which is the old home farm, situated three miles southwest of Jamestown, on which they live.

Rebecca Binegar, Jamestown, is a daughter of James and Rebecca (Resse) Simmons. He was born November 28, 1802, and she January 9, 1804. They were parents of twelve children; Thomas W., born October 10, 1823; Jane E., born April 28, 1825, died October 19, 1841; Josiah W., born in 1832; Rebecca, born December 12, 1828; Jane P., born November 16, 1830, died November 11, 1844; Alfred R., born November 27, 1832; Matilda, born March 18, 1838, died in 1877; Julia E. born December 12, 1840; John, born July 27, 1843; Jacob, born in August, 1845, died July 9, 1871. Our subject was married to James Binegar in 1848. Seven children were the result of this union. The first died in infancy. John D., born August 29, 1844; Simmons, born September 19, 1857; Mary W., born July 13, 1855; Ella A., born September 24, 1857; Mary Ellen, born October 18, 1859; Amanda, born April 20, 1845. Mrs. Binegar is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Binegar was also a member of that church. The widow has a farm of sixty-seven acres, which her sons cultivate, and on which they live. Her parents were members of the Friends’ Church, and her husband’s parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal. This is a family of reputable children, of whom the mother is proud. She, though windowed, is cared for and guarded by her dutiful sons.

Martha (Lockhart) Botler, merchant, was born in Adams County, Ohio, June, 1823, and came with her parents to this township, in 1824, where she was reared, and where she married Mr. Edward Botler, a native of Maryland, May 1845. There were five children born unto them: Arthur, Flora, Amelia, Kate, and Mattie; all of whom are living, save Amelia, who died at he very early age of two years and six months. Arthur and Flora are married. He is engaged with his mother in the mercantile business in Jamestown, where they live, and where his father died, October 29, 1877, aged sixty-five years and twenty-two days. He has been engaged in merchandise, in the room where the mother and son now do business, for many years before his death. Mrs. Botler has a good home on Limestone Street, on which the store room is situated. She and three daughters, are members of the Disciple Church. Mr. Botler was a member of the Odd-Fellows, and a highly respected citizen.

John G. Clemens, retired farmer, Jamestown, is a son of John and Susanna (Slagal) Clemens, who were natives of Augusta County, Virginia, where they were reared and married. There were ten children of this family - Catharine, George, John G., Nancy, Gasper, Christopher, Mary, Rachel, Susan, and Emily - Six of whom survive; Nancy, Gasper, Christopher, and Mary, deceased. The surviving ones, save Catharine, live in this county, where the parents died; the father, January 21, 1866, aged eighty-one years, and the mother, March 7, 1871, in the seventy fifth year of her age. The father served four years and eleven months in the war of 1812. Came to Ohio about 1815, and located in or near Springfield, Clarke County, where he remained two years, and then went to Xenia, remaining there a short time, removing from there to Shawanoes Creek, and remained four years. From there he went to what is now Jasper Township, and located about four miles west of Jamestown, near where he died. our subject was born near Xenia, January 21, 1820, and was married, February 1, 1844, to Miss Margaret Long, a daughter of William and Mary A. (Hagler) Long. Three children are the result of this marriage: Mary L., Margaret L., and Gertrude M., two of whom are deceased - Mary, October 10, 1865, aged twenty years and six months; Margaret, June 1, 1869, aged twenty-one years and nine months. Gertrude, who is living, was born September 12, 1865, and is a bright intelligent girl. Mr. Clemens has a farm of one hundred and ninety-one acres in Jasper Township, about four miles west of Jamestown; a farm of two hundred and twenty-four acres in Madison County, Indiana; about twenty five acres of the Jamestown fair-ground, and a fine, large brick residence, well furnished, in Jamestown, where he lives, retired from active business. The wealth he has is the result of good management and industry. He was elected justice of the peace in 1854, and served twenty-seven years, and was elected county commissioner in 1862, and served one term. Himself and family are exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He joined this church in 1842, and his deceased daughters did triumphantly in the same faith. Mr. Clemens has been steward of the church about forty years.

William P. Conry, farmer, Jamestown, is a son of Jonathan Conry, a native of Kentucky, and Elsie (Whalon) Conry, a native of New Jersey. They were married near Cincinnati, where they live. They had a family of eleven children, of whom William is the tenth. Six children are living. William was born near Cincinnati, November 12, 1836, where he was reared, and where he married Miss Margaret A. Beeler, daughter of David and Eliza Beeler, February 2, 1858. Ten children are the result of this union: Arlina, Emma L., Luella, Edna, Albert S., Gertrude M., Charlie, Frank H., Rosa C., and an infant, the first-born, who died unnamed. Luella also is deceased. Mr. Conry came to this county in 1866, and has since resided here. He has a home consisting of fourteen acres, situated one mile and a half west of Jamestown. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. He served five years as a military man, and was in the state service a great portion of the time; served several months during the rebellion, in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was in the battles at Richmond, Virginia, and came home without a wound. He has in his possession letters of thanks for duties performed while on “special duty”, from Abraham Lincoln, John Brough, and Edward M. Stanton.

Captain J. R. Crane, was born in Clarke County, this state, and born in Ohio, in the year 1807, and his mother is a native of the state of Kentucky. She moved to Clarke County with her parents at an early age. Her maiden name was Donovan. His father moved from Clarke to Wood County, in the year 1860; remained there until 1868, and then moved to Pulaski County, Illinois, and remained there until his death, which occurred in October, 1878. His mother died in 1853. Thus passes away our pioneers. To them were born nine children: Elizabeth R., William R., Eliza J., Lewis F., James H., Marian M., Semlida Jane, Amina M., and our subject, the eldest. Six of this family still live, all grown to manhood and womanhood. The boyhood of the captain was spent on the farm with his father, six miles west of Springfield; attended the schools of the period, where the rudiments of his education were obtained, and afterward attended school at the Springfield Academy. Embarked in the saddlery and harness business at Cedarville, this county, in 1854, and remained in the same, doing a successful business, until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted as a private in Company D. Forty-Fourth Ohio Volunteers. The regiment marched to West Virginia; was there some fourteen months; was honorably discharged in October, 1862, on account of ill-health; re-enlisted, December 28, 1862 in the Tenth Ohio Battery, as a private, with a conditional commission if he mustered in so many men, which he did, and received a second lieutenant’s commission; was promoted to Captain, November 14, 1863, and remained in service until the close of the war. He had command of the battery from the time of his arrival, in May, on account of the balance of the officers being under arrest. After the close of the war he again resumed business in Cedarville, and remained there eight years, doing a fair business. He then removed to Jamestown, and commenced the saddlery and harness business, in which he still continues, having a fine trade, and enjoying the confidence of his customers, which is a source of pleasure as well as profit. In April, 1880, he elected to the office of mayor, and is at present filling the office to the satisfaction of his constituency. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

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