History of Batavia, (Clermont County) Ohio United States of America

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Biographies:

Reader Wright Clarke, representative, was born at Bethel, Ohio, May 18, 1812. He was educated at the public schools and began business as a printer. He was admitted to the bar in 1836, and practised law in Batavia, Ohio, until his election to the state legislature in 1840. He served also in 1841 and 1842, and in 1844 was made a presidential elector. From 1846 to 1852 he was clerk of the court of Clermont county, and in 1864 he was elected as a Republican a representative from Ohio in the 39th congress. He was re-elected to the 40th congress, serving until March, 1869, when he was appointed by President Grant 3rd auditor of the treasury, serving in this office one year. He was also collector of internal revenue. He died at Batavia, Ohio, May 23, 1872.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Washington Hulick, representative, was born in Batavia, Ohio, June 29, 1833; son of Lott and Rhoda (Dimmitt)Hulick, and grandson of Ezekiel Dimmitt, and of John Hulick, a captain in the Revolutionary war. He worked on his father's farm, attending public schools in the winter, and was graduated from Farmers college, Ohio, July 9, 1855. He was in charge of Pleasant Hill academy, 1855-58, studied law, was admitted to the bar in March, 1857, and practised in Batavia. He was school examiner for Clermont county, 1856-59, and was the Republican candidate for prosecuting attorney in 1858. He was married, Oct. 16, 1861, to Josephine W., daughter of Joseph H. and Elizabeth Harrison, of Cincinnati, Ohio. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted as a private in the 22d regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, April 14, 1861; was appointed orderly-sergeant and promoted captain of a company, and was discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment, Aug. 16, 1861. He was probate judge of Clermont county, 1864-67; was a member of the board of education of Batavia for nine years; a delegate from Ohio to the Republican national convention of 1868; a Hayes and Wheeler presidential elector in 1876 and a Republican representative from the sixth district of Ohio in the 53d and 54th congresses, 1893-97.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Anderson Smedley was born, July 31st, 1810, at Batavia, Clermont county, Ohio, a spot which in that early time bore the name of Durhamtown. He began life at sixteen as a cabinet-maker, and worked at this trade until his twenty-third year. His father, Aaron Smedley, was a prominent tanner, and died in 1819 at Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio. He was an early settler in that section, and stood in high estimation for his purity of character and for his public spirit. His wife was Joanna Southard, a daughter of Hezekiah Southard, and was born at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, when her father with his family was moving from New Jersey to Flemingsburg, Kentucky. She became the mother of eight children, and is still living at the advanced age of eighty-five years. The early education of Anderson was of that limited quantity and narrowness of range obtainable in a log school house; but during his apprenticeship he made valuable use of all his leisure moments, and acquired at these odd moments a profound knowledge of the science of medicine. In 1833 he entered upon its practice in Fairfield, Indiana, where he remained two years, and then made his residence in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, and thence, after three years, he went to Carthage, Hamilton county, Ohio. He is now a resident of Cumminsville, Cincinnati, and has continued with general success in that profession which he acquired by persevering energy. In 1844 he began a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, and from this institution he took a high degree in 1846. For three years he was Physician-in-Chief for the Hamilton County Infirmary. In 1831 he was married to Caroline Penton, a native of Pennsylvania, and the fruit of this happy wedlock was eight children. His career, crowned now with distinction, is that of a self-made man. He was always a close student, and avoided all political affiliations and associations that tended to hinder him in his progress towards perfection in medical science. He has at all times manifested a philanthropic spirit, and has especially interested himself in the cause of popular education. He has served repeatedly as a Controller of the public schools. He was an earnest advocate and supporter of the war against rebellion, and gave one son to his country. This son was Daniel P. Smedley, a Surgeon of the Ohio volunteer infantry, who died from disease contracted while in service.

From: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century. Columbus, OH, USA: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1876.