My Genealogy Hound

JOHN JAMESON. A pleasantly located and valuable farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres in Cedarville Township, Greene County, is the home of the above-named gentleman, who is one of the oldest native citizens of the county. He has placed his land under a high state of cultivation and has himself built upon it an adequate number of barns and other farm buildings, all of which are well constructed and sufficiently commodious for their purposes. The dwelling is an attractive frame house of pleasing architectural design and excellent workmanship, so situated as to overlook a wide expanse of surrounding country, with Cedarville lying two miles away. It was erected in 1873, and it is a monument to the mechanical skill of the owner and builder.

George Jameson and his wife, Rebecca (Rankin) Jameson came with their family to this county early in the nineteenth century, their former home having been in Washington County, Pa. Among the members of this family was a son, John, who was a young man at the time of their removal, and who afterward married Miss Elizabeth McCoy and located on a farm known as the old Turnbull farm on the Xenia Pike. Miss McCoy was a daughter of Alexander McCoy, who when a young man had crossed the ocean from Ireland, locating in Pennsylvania, whence he had removed to Kentucky and in 1800 came to this county. The parents of our subject belonged to that branch of the Presbyterian Church popularly known as Seceders, and are buried in the cemetery of that church on Massie’s Creek, both having died near Cedarville, where they lived for years. The father died when our subject was about six years old, he being the third child of the six who were left to the widow’s care.

The natal day of the subject of this sketch was August 8, 1815, and while still a small boy he was put to work at such labors as his strength would admit of, the little schooling that he had, being obtained in an old log cabin. The family were clothed by the product of his mother’s hands, their winter garments being made from wool taken from the backs of their own sheep and spun and woven by her. They raised flax from which their summer garments were made, the entire work being accomplished by the family from the sowing of the seed until the garment was completed. The plants were pulled from the ground and thrown out loosely to dry, after which they were broken over a machine which was merely a board driven into the ground, leaving the edge about eight inches wide; on this edge a handful of the dried plants would be held and beaten on the other side of the board with a scutching knife — a dull wooden blade — which would break the outer coating of the plant and free the lint, making it ready for the further processes of spinning, weaving, etc. Indians were quite numerous in the neighborhood and our subject has heard his mother tell many stories of their habits, of the willow baskets which they made, and the manner in which the pappooses were carried in them.

When the gentleman of whom we write grew to manhood he was employed as a carpenter, having learned that trade and carried it on for some years, before devoting himself to a farm life. On April 5, 1854, he was united in marriage with Miss Hadassah Townsley. Her parents were Inis and Sarah (McCoy) Townsley, her mother being a daughter of Capt. James McCoy, of Cedarville, who belonged to the same family as did our subject’s mother. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Jameson was John Townsley, one of the first pioneers in this county. Indians used to camp on Inis Townsleys land and when they came to the house the squaw would set the baby, which was fastened to a board, up against a tree.

Mr. and Mrs. Jameson belong to the United Presbyterian Church of Cedarville. In politics Mr. Jameson is a Republican, the principles of that party having been the belief of his family informer generations. His first Presidential ballot was given to Gen. W. H. Harrison, and the first vote of his oldest son went to Gen. Benjamin Harrison, our present President.

To Mr. and Mrs. Jameson eight children have been born, one dying in infancy. Elizabeth is the wife of Addison Nash, of Monmouth, Ill., and is a lady of culture and more than ordinary worth of character. Addie is the wife of David McCullough, a carpenter, and who formerly resided at Cedarville but now lives in Denison, Tex.; they have two children, Katie and Andrew. Etta is the wife of William McMillen, who is engaged in the grocery business in Cedarville. Ella, a young lady, is yet at home. Anna Belle married G. U. Lloyd, who is now the operator on the Mackinaw Railroad at Farmersville, Ohio. John Rankin, a young man, is now farming near Monmouth, Ill. Inis Earl, a lad at home, is yet attending school and is being qualified for future usefulness in whatever position awaits him.

The many friends of Mr. Jameson, by whom he is held in high esteem, will be pleased to notice in connection with his biographical sketch, his lithographic portrait*. The family moves in the best circles of society, and are universally respected for worthy traits of character and refinement.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.