My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM G. SUTTON. The Sutton family flourished in New Jersey during the Colonial days and were a worthy race of people of whom their descendants have reason to be proud. The subject of this notice, who is widely and favorably known throughout Silver Township, Greene County, is the grandson of William G. Sutton, Sr., and was born in New Jersey, of American parents, who traced their ancestry to Ireland.

William G., Sr., was reared to farming pursuits and chose these for his life vocation. When reaching manhood he was married to a lady of his own State, by name, Miss Lois Sutton, who was of ancestry similar to his own. They lived in New Jersey until after the birth of several children, then, in the early part of the present century, emigrated to Ohio and made settlement in what is now Caesar’s Creek Township, Greene County. He took up land on the military tract south of the present site of the city of Xenia, when the now flourishing town was scarcely marked by a building. Grandfather Sutton began at first principles in the opening up of a farm and bore the distinction of being not only one of the first settlers of the township, but in fact of the whole county. He broke his land with a wooden mould-board plow and used hickory bark for reins to guide his team. He, like the other pioneers, was very poor and it required the closest economy and good management to keep the family fed and clothed and carry on the improvements of the farm. The nearest market and mill were at Cincinnati and they encountered untold hardships and privations in their struggle to build up a home and secure a competence.

In due time, however, Grandfather Sutton and his estimable wife began to reap the reward of their labors and found themselves surrounded by all of the comforts of life. The latter passed away several years prior to the decease of her husband and when quite well advanced in years. She was a devoted wife and mother and bore the vicissitudes of pioneer life bravely and hopefully, and like the woman of scripture, “looked well after the ways of her household.” Grandfather Sutton after her death repaired to Jay County, Ind., and spent his last days among his children, dying at the home of his son Isaiah when an old man. He was a Whig, politically, but held to no religious creed, making it the rule of his life to do unto others as he would be done by. There were born unto him and his excellent wife four sons and three daughters, of whom Daniel, the father of our subject, was the eldest. The latter was born in 1802, it is believed in New Jersey, or if not there, at the place where they first settled near Chillicothe, this State.

The father of our subject was a young child when he removed with his parents to Greene County, this State, and he assisted in the development of the home farm, remaining under the home roof until reaching his majority. He was then married in New Jasper Township to Miss Elizabeth Spahr. This lady was born in Virginia in 1804, and was quite young when she accompanied her parents, Philip and Mary (Schick) Spahr, to Greene County, they settling south of the present site of Xenia. In Greene County they spent the remainder of their lives and both lived to be quite aged. Mr. Spahr died at the old homestead and his wife afterward died at the home of her son in Ross Township. Both were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They reared a family of ten children and were among those whose names have always been held in kindly remembrance.

After their marriage Daniel Sutton and his wife commenced the journey of life together on a farm two miles north of the old Sutton homestead, on Caesar’s Creek, where Mr. Sutton improved two hundred and twenty acres and gathered around himself and family many comforts. There his death occurred in 1860. He was a prominent man in his community and looked upon as one of the best citizens in the county. Politically, he was a sound Republican, and in religion, a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Physically he was a powerful man, being considered the stoutest man in the county at that time. His wife survived him a number of years and also died at the old homestead in 1884, being then eighty years old. She was a large-hearted Christian woman, kind and charitable in all her impulses and was one of the most active workers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The subject of this notice was the second born of fifteen children comprising the parental family and including seven sons and eight daughters. It is a remarkable fact that they all lived to mature years. One son, Jacob, entered the Union Army during the Civil War, and met his death while in the service of his country. One daughter, Nancy is deceased; Nehemiah G. is also deceased; the remainder were married and had families of their own, excepting one daughter. Twelve are still living, all thrifty, honest and industrious and occupying a good position in their community. The youngest living member of this large family is forty-five years old.

William G. Sutton shared with his parents the hardships and privations of pioneer life and assisted them as he was able in building up the homestead and accumulating a competence. After reaching man’s estate he was married January 11, 1849, at the bride’s home in Caesar’s Creek Township, to Miss Martha Hagler. This lady was born in that township April 25, 1830, and under careful home training developed into an intelligent and attractive womanhood. Her parents were Samuel and Anna (Fudge) Hagler, natives of Virginia, where they were reared and married. Later they came to Ohio and were among the earliest settlers of Greene County, locating in Caesar’s Creek Township. The father secured a tract of land from which he opened up a good farm and there with his good wife spent the remainder of his days. They were people greatly respected in their community and consistent members of the German Reformed Church. They were also parents of fifteen children, of whom their daughter Martha was the sixth in order of birth. Two of these died young, but the most of them are still living, married and have families of their own.

To our subject and his good wife there have been born eight children, one of whom, a daughter, Jennie, died unmarried at the age of thirty-two. The survivors are recorded as follows: Allen married Miss Emma Hatch and they live on a farm in Silver Creek Township; Elizabeth is the wife of David S. Smith, a biography of whom appears on another page of this volume; A. Samantha, married Jacob Smith, and they live on a farm in New Jasper Township; Mary R. is the wife of John P. Wilson and they live in Hamilton, this State, where Dr. Wilson successfully follows the profession of a veterinary surgeon; Moses A. married Miss Alice Harness and they are residents of New Jasper Township; J. Elliott married Miss Kittie V. Glass, and operates one of the farms belonging to his father in Silver Creek Township; Luella remains at home with her parents.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sutton lived one year at the old Sutton homestead, then our subject purchased a farm in New Jasper Township where they lived three years. Thence, in 1853, they removed to Silver Creek Township where Mr. Sutton has improved one of the finest farms in the county and upon which they lived until 1882. Then wisely retiring from the active labors of life he removed to Jamestown, where he and his estimable partner occupy a pleasant home on East Xenia Street. Mr. Sutton is the owner of two hundred and seventeen acres of choice land which is the source of a handsome income. Politically, he is a sound Republican and in religious matters, he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. A portrait* of Mr. Sutton accompanies this sketch.

*Portrait was included in the original printed volume.