BROWN COUNTY, OHIO

OHGenWeb Project

Biographies

P

PAEBST, P.

submitted by Lorraine Hatfield

P. Paebst, merchant, Ripley. One of the leading and most successful merchants of Ripley is the subject of this sketch, who is a native of Germany. He was born September 22, 1826, and emigrated to the United States in 1852. When seventeen years of age, he commenced and served an apprenticeship at shoemaking. On coming to this country, he located in New York City, where he followed his trade six years, thence to Cincinnati, and the following year to Ripley, where he established himself in his present business. He now owns two stores--one stocked with boots and shoes and the other with dry goods, and is doing a prosperous business. In 1852, he married Sarah Ronsheim, a native of Germany, by whom he has had six children--Julius, Katie, Anna, Tilda, Boeva and Lucky.

The History of Brown County, Ohio Containing A History of the County; Its Townships, Towns, Churches, Schools, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Map of Brown County; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc. (Chicago: W.H. Beers & Co., 1883), 80.

PICKERILL, William F. of Byrd Township

submitted by Yolanda Campbell Lifter

William F. Pickerill (deceased). The subject of this memoir was a native of Kentucky. He was born November 18, 1804. In 1810, he, with his parents, Samuel and Mary Pickerill, emigrated to Brown County, and located on the homestead of William F. Pickerill in Byrd Township. Samuel Pickerill was a drummer in the American Revolution. He entered 160 acres of land on Eagle Creek, and died May 3, 1850, aged ninety-six years. William F. was reared to maturity on his father's farm. March 27, 1825, he was married to Abigail Fisher, who was born January 1, 1804, and by her had eleven children, of whom eight are living. He was prominently identified with the growth and development of Byrd Township, and for many years served in the capacity of Trustee. He was a member of the Board of County Commissioners one term. He sided largely in organizing and founding the Liberty Church, of which he remained a prominent and useful member till his death, April 25, 1864. He was closely attached to his church and its various missions. His political affiliations were originally with the Democratic party, but at the organization of the Republican element, he became a hearty and able indorser of its doctrines and principles. He was a man of good and noble traits of character, and ever pursued an honest course. Samuel W. Pickerill, son of the subject of this sketch, was born on the homestead March 10, 1841; June 30, 1861, he married Mary J. Howland, a daughter of John and Sarah Howland, and a native of Byrd Township, where she was born August 31, 1844. Six children were the fruits of this union—John R., Caroline, Sarah J., Jesse and Florence G; Julia, the eldest, is deceased. In May, 1864, Mr. Pickerill enlisted as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Sixty-second Regiment Ohio National Guards, and served as Corporal till September 1, 1864, when discharged. He has served as Township Trustee five years, and was instrumental in organizing No 561 Eagle Grange. He owns a farm of 230 acres, and is a successful agriculturist. Green N. Pickerill, youngest son of William F. Pickerill, was born September 21, 1845. In May, 1864, he volunteered in Company A, Seventieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He joined the regiment at Raleigh, N.C., and marched to the sea. He then went to Washington, D.C., and attended the grand review, then was sent to Little Rock, Ark., thence to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where he was honorably discharged August, 1865. He was on the unfortunate boat Argosa that exploded forty miles above Cairo, resulting in the death of twenty soldiers. He married, January 24, 1868, Fanny D. Reynolds, a daughter of James and Eva Reynolds, of Marion County, Iowa, formerly old residents of Brown County. They have five children—Eva, Clarence, Leroy, Jimmie and George. He was Township Trustee two terms, and inherits the political views of his father. He occupies the old homestead with his mother, and is engaged in farming.

The History of Brown County, Ohio Containing A History of the County; Its Townships, Towns, Churches, Schools, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Map of Brown County; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc. (Chicago: W.H. Beers & Co., 1883), 303-304.

POAGE, James

submitted by Lorraine Hatfield

Col. James Poage owned a one-thousand-acre tract, including the site of Ripley, in Union Township and settled on it with his family. In former times he had been wealthy, but he came west with broken fortunes. He is remembered as a quiet, unassuming gentlemen, strictly honorable in all his transactions. He was well advanced in life when he arrived, and had a family of children, most of whom were men and women. He died April 9, 1820, in his sixty-fifth year. He wife, Mary, survived him ten years. Of their children, John, James, Robert, Thomas, George, Patsy, Elizabeth and Polly are remembered. Most of them died of consumption in early manhood and womanhood, and the few who escaped the dread disease have long since gone to other climes.

The History of Brown County, Ohio Containing A History of the County; Its Townships, Towns, Churches, Schools, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Map of Brown County; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc. (Chicago: W.H. Beers & Co., 1883), 415.

Brown County, Ohio

Yolanda Campbell Lifter, Brown County Coordinator

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