Ohio Biographies

Lewis Middleton

The late Lewis Middleton, who died at his home in Caesarscreek township on November 12, 1917, was born in that township and had spent all his life there. He was bom on December 6, 1839, son of Thomas and Sarah (Hartsook) Middleton, early settlers in Caesarscreek township, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Maryland. Thomas Middleton was born in Berkeley county, now in West Virginia, a son of Betheul and Naomi (Ganoe) Middleton, both of whom also were born in that same county and who later came to this part of Ohio and became pioneers of Greene county. Betheul Middleton's father was Thomas Middleton, who was born in New Jersey, but who had established his home in western Virginia, where he spent his last days. To Betheul Middleton and wife were born the following children: John, Thomas, William, James, Nathaniel, Betheul, Betsy, Amy, Polly and Linda. Along in the '30s the two elder sons, Thomas and John Middleton, came over into Ohio on a prospecting trip and located a tract of land where Middleton Corners later came to be established, in Caesarscreek township, this county. Thomas Middleton then went back to Virginia and brought back with him his parents and other members of the family, the family driving through to Greene county with a six-horse team. The land they had bought was a part of the Andrew Tate tract and there in the heavy timber the Middletons put up a log house and established their home, the parents spending there the remainder of their lives.

At the age of eighteen Thomas Middleton became engaged in teaming, a vocation which in those days of long freight hauls by wagon train meant more than it does in these days, and later became a cattle buyer and porkpacker, buying and packing his stock here and disposing of the same in the market at Cincinnati, the first year in which he thus was engaged his transactions aggregating fourteen thousand dollars. He also took an active part in political affairs and was long recognized as one of the leaders in the Democratic party hereabout, a familiar and influential figure at party conventions and the like and for years treasurer of his home township. Thomas Middleton lived to the ripe old age of eighty-six years, his death occurring at Lewis Middleton's home in Caesarscreek township on May 22, 1888, and he was buried in the Eleazar churchyard. His wife had preceded him to the grave some years, her death having occurred at the age of seventy-five. They were members of the Methodist Protestant church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, all of whom are now deceased save Elijah, the fourth in order of birth, who married Charity Kurl and is now living at Nevada, Missouri, the others besides the subject of this memorial sketch having been Elizabeth, who married John Rumbo; William Harrison, who married Sarah Forkner; Nathan J., who married Margaret Sipe, and Sarah Jane, who married David Turner.

Lewis Middleton was reared on the farm on which he was born and received his schooling in the neighborhood schools. From the days of his boyhood he was a valued factor on the farm and after his marriage in 1867 continued to help work the place until 1875, in which year he bought the Sellers Fudge farm of one hundred and five acres in Caesarscreek township, established his home on that place and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring there in the fall of 1917, he then lacking less than a month of being seventy-eight years of age. In addition to his general farming Mr. Middleton had for thirty-five years been a breeder of fine horses, during that time having done much to improve the strain of horse flesh throughout
this and adjoining counties. He was a Bryan Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their children were reared in that
faith.

On January 1, 1867, in this county, Lewis Middleton was united in marriage to Samantha Long, who was born in New Jasper township, this county, November 14, 1847, daughter of Adam and Margaret (McGuffy) Long, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families in this part of the state. Margaret McGufify's mother was a Kauffman. Adam Long was a native of Virginia and was but a lad when he came to Greene county with his parents, Adam and Margaret (Ewing) Long, the family settling in New Jersey township among the early settlers of that part of the county. The elder Adam Long and his wife had five children, William, Henry, Peter, Eliza and Adam. The latter grew up on the pioneer farm which his parents had settled in New Jasper township and he married in that township and for years made his home there, later moving over into the adjoining county of Fayette, where he died. His widow married a Mr. Whaley and moved to Indiana, where her last days were spent. The younger Adam Long was a Republican and he and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he for years served as class leader. To him and his wife were born nine children, namely: Peter, who died in the days of his boyhood; James, a veteran of the Civil War, who is now living in St. Clair county, Missouri; Francis, who also enlisted his services in behalf of the Union during the Civil War and was killed at the battle of Shiloh; Samantha, widow of Mr. Middleton; William, who is now living in the vicinity of Dayton, this state; Adam, a retired farmer, now living in Xenia; Curtis, who married Elizabeth English and died at the age of twenty-one years; Jane, wife of George Rusby, of Independence, Iowa, and Elizabeth, wife of Caris Mercer, of Woodburn, Indiana.

To Lewis and Samantha ( Long ) Middleton were born six children, namely: Harry Edgar, who died at the age of five years; Lora, wife of Solomon Early, of Caesarscreek township, this county; Thomas, a Greene county farmer, who married Lulu Dunlap and has three sons. William, Roy and Harold; Thurman, who married Jessie Forkner and is farming in Caesarscreek township; Arthur Leroy, who died in youth, and Curtis, who died at the age of sixteen years. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Middleton has continued to make her home on the farm, retaining her interest in the community in which she has lived all her life and in which she has been a witness to the amazing changes that have been wrought since the days of her girlhood.