My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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BENJAMIN SEEVER. This aged Christian and veteran in the work of spreading the Gospel, has been a resident of Clark County since 1855. For a time he resided in Enon but at the close of the Civil War he purchased a home in Springfield, where he is still living. He still preaches occasionally, although he has practically abandoned ministerial labors in which he has been engaged for upwards of forty years. During that extended period he has organized societies in different parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina, and by the blessing of God has been the means of bringing many souls from darkness into the glorious light and liberty the gospel truth proclaims.

The Rev. Mr. Seever is of German ancestry, his grandfather having been either born in the Fatherland or of German parentage. Peter Seever, the father of our subject, was born in Shepherdstown, Va., and being left an orphan at a very early age, accompanied his oldest brother, Henry, to Kentucky when he was eight years old. There he remained until of age when he came to Ohio and identified himself with the pioneers of Liberty Township, Fairfield County. This was long before the era of railroads or canals in this country and the frontiersman was surrounded by wild animals, among whom were many foes to man. A tract of timber land was purchased by Mr. Seever, and a hewed log house erected in which the subject of this sketch was born, September 10, 1814. His mother bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Keller, and was also of German descent, her birthplace being near York, Pa. She rested from her labors December 17, 1857, the husband and father surviving until February 20, 1859, when he too laid down the burdens of life. Both parents were interred in Refugee Baptist burying ground, in the township where they resided. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom thirteen reached years of maturity. The maternal grandparents of the Rev. Mr. Seever, were Henry and Catherine (Sitz) Keller, who were also pioneers of Fairfield County, their home being in Pleasant Township.

There were no free schools during the boyhood of our subject, and he attended those which were conducted on the subscription plan in the traditional log schoolhouse. At an early age he began to assist his father in clearing the land and tilling the soil, and until he had reached man’s estate resided under the parental roof. When about twenty years old, he had attended a camp meeting on Pleasant Run, and there became persuaded of the truth of the Gospel and obedient to it. He united with the Christian Church and ere long had determined to devote his talents to the promulgation of the glad tidings of salvation. From that time until he had passed some distance down the hill of life he continued his beloved work in the sections before noted.

Upon becoming a resident of Springfield, Mr. Seever purchased twelve acres of land extending from Main Street south to Washington Street, a greater part of which has since been sold by him in town lots. The first Presidential vote which he cast was for Martin Van Buren, and at the formation of the Republican party he became identified with the new political body with which he has since acted. His life has been that of a devout follower of the Master in whose service he was engaged, and all who know him, or are acquainted with his labors, acknowledge that he has ever endeavored to make his practice correspond with the precepts in which he believed and which he inculcated in the minds of others.

The marriage of Mr. Seever and Miss Mary J. Johnson took place July 1, 1851, and has been blessed by the birth of two children — Isaac Newton and Mattie Pearl. Mrs. Seever was born in Hampshire County, Va., December 18, 1820, her father, David Johnson, having been a native of the same county. He was the son of a Scotchman who came to America in Colonial days and spent the later years of his life in the Old Dominion. The father of Mrs. Seever was a farmer whose entire life was spent in his native county, where his mortal remains repose in Timber Ridge Cemetery. His wife, Catherine Bruner, was born in the same county and was a daughter of George Bruner of German ancestry. Her body was deposited by the side of her husband, to await the resurrection morn. Both she and her husband were members of the Christian Church, and their daughter was early taught the great principles and Christian virtues which make life honored, useful and happy.

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This family biography is one of the many biographies included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890. 

View additional Greene County, Ohio family biographies here: Greene County, Ohio Biographies

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