History of Greene County Ohio United States of America

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John Little, representative, was born in Ross township, Greene county, Ohio, April 25, 1837; son of Robert and Elizabeth (Hiatt) Little, and grandson of John and Elizabeth (Ritenour) Little and of Jeremiah and Lucinda (Kidwell) Hiatt, all natives of Virginia. He was graduated at Antioch college in 1862; taught school, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. He was married Oct. 19, 1865, to Barbara J. Sheets of Troy, Ohio. He was prosecuting attorney of Greene county, 1867-69; representative in the state legislature, 1870-74; attorney-general of Ohio, 1874-78, and in 1877 visited Florida, where he wrote the argument that gave to Hayes the vote of the state as decided by the returning board. He was Republican representative in the 49th congress, 1885-87, and president of the U.S. commission on Venezuela claims, appointed by President Harrison, and of the Ohio state board of arbitration, appointed by Governor McKinley. He was a trustee of Antioch college, 1880-1900. He died in Xenia, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1900.

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

Isaac M. Barrett, Merchant and Manufacturer, Representative in the Sixty-first General Assembly of Ohio from Greene county, was born in Saratoga county, New York, May 2d, 1827. His parents were George Barrett and Mahala (Merritt) Barrett. His education was acquired partly in the Ohio Wesleyan University, but he did not graduate from this institution. He engaged subsequently in mercantile business at Spring Valley, Greene county, Ohio, at which he continued for a period of about fifteen years. Also during those years he became importantly identified with the grain trade and the pork-packing business, and his relations with these businesses are still of an extended and highly remunerative nature. In 1862 he was appointed by Abraham Lincoln Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Columbus District, and served in that capacity until 1866. In 1873 he was elected to the House on the Republican ticket, and within a brief period after taking his seat with this body assumed a prominent position among its members. He served on the Committee on Public Printing and on Reform Schools, and in various ways has signalized himself by his energy, fidelity and abilities. In addition to his other occupations, he has for many years past held large interests in a woolen factory, in a flouring mill, and also in various agricultural ventures. He is a valued member also of the State Republican Central Committee; and in all matters touching the welfare of his State and party is a skillful tactician and an efficient coworker. He was married, in September, 1851, to Rebecca Swayne, daughter of Thomas Swayne, who died in January, 1854, leaving one son. He was again married, in March, 1856, to Mary Evans, of Spring Valley, by whom he has had seven children.

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

Joseph A. Sexton, Lawyer and ex-Judge of the Superior Court for Greene County, Ohio, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, April 10th, 1826. His parents, also natives of Frederick county, Virginia, emigrated to Ohio in 1829, and settled in Greene county. His father, Joseph Sexton, was a lawyer, and prior to his removal to the West had represented his county many times in the Legislature of Virginia. After locating himself in Ohio he resumed the practice of his profession, and engaged also in agricultural pursuits. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools of Greene county, but his education was acquired principally at a later date, and to him may be properly applied the expression, a self-taught man. In 1848 he commenced the study of law under the preceptor-ship of William Ellsberry, one of the pioneer legal practitioners of southern Ohio. In 1850 he was admitted to the bar, and at once entered on the practice of his profession at Xenia, where he has since permanently resided, engaged constantly in practice, except while on the bench. In 1853-54-55 he officiated as Mayor of Xenia, and in the fall of the latter year was elected Prosecuting Attorney, having resigned the mayoralty; and in January, 1860, after two successive re-elections, resigned also this office. In April, 1871, he was elected Judge of the Superior Court for Greene County, and in October, 1873, was re-elected to that position, which was held by him until May 1st, 1875, when a bill passed by the Legislature took effect authorizing the election of two additional Common Pleas judges for the subdivision including Greene county, and repealing the act which had created the Superior Court. At the expiration of his term he resumed the conduct of the practice in which he is now engaged. In politics, he was a Whig until the dissolution of his party, when he espoused the principles of the Republican party, to which he has since given his support. He was married, January 11th, 1860, to Minerva Scarff, of Greene county.

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

History of Greene County Ohio

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