John R. Field
The progenitors of Mr. Field in this country were of Scotch-Irish extraction. John, his great-great-grandfather, was the first of the name and family in America. He came from Bradford, Hertfordshire, England, and was in the fifth generation, in direct line, from John Field, the celebrated astronomer of the sixteenth century, who was born in 1525. The later John was born in England, May 15, 1659, and settled in Piscataway township, Middlesex county, New Jersey, in 1685, where his descendants reside so numerously that their residence district (now in Somerset county) along the Raritan river, has received the popular name of Fieldville. A paper read some years ago, before the Historical Society of New Brunswick, concerning this family, says: "The ruling characteristics of this branch of the family, and perhaps their greatest usefulness to the world, has been their example of earnestness in the common pursuits of life."
Jeremiah, son of John Field, born May 17, 1689, was father of Benjamin, whose natal day was February 19, 1725. He in turn was father of Jacob, born February 7, 1768, married Hester Ross, also of Middlesex county, December 25, 1790, and died on the farm now occupied by his son, the subject of this notice. One of his brothers, Michael, uncle of John R. Field, was killed in action at the battle of Monmouth, June 27, 1778. The latter was the sixth son of Jacob and Hester (Ross) Field, and was born at New Brunswick, Middlesex county, New Jersey, March 13, 1810. At the age of two years he was brought with his father's family to Ohio, coming in wagons all the way with the Ross, Schooley, and Coddington families, all of whom were related. The Fields tarried for a while where St. Bernard now is, in Mill Creek township, and then, in 1813, came to the vicinity of the present residence of John R. Field, settling upon a farm just beyond the creek, between his home and Glendale. His father taught school for a short time, but devoted his attention mainly to the improvement of his place. About 1816 the family removed to the farm now in possession of his son, one mile west of Glendale. Here died Jacob Field, April 1, 1842, aged seventy-four years, and Hester his wife, October 7, 1854, aged eighty-four years.
John's advantages of early education were but limited, being confined to the poor and widely scattered schools of that time. He remained with his father, engaged in the pursuits of the farm, until his twenty-fourth year, when he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet P. Perine, also of Springfield township, January 7, 1834, by the Rev. Adrian Aten, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Springdale. After the age of twenty-one, by reason of the increasing age and infirmities of his father, the cares of the farm devolved upon Mr. Field, who at majority came into possession of the place. He took his young wife to the paternal home, where they have since resided. Their children have been: Jacob, born January 27, 1835, died in infancy at the age of but ten days; Martha Anderson, born April 2, 1836, died August 7, 1858; Jane, born January 2, 1838, died June 27, 1841; Hester Ann, born July 27, 1839, died May 23, 1864; Elizabeth, born April 20, 1841, married October 29, 1862, to James W. Moore, a farmer residing near Mt. Pleasant; Charles Milton, born February 4, 1843, married Lydia A. Hough November 18, 1863, and resides as a farmer upon a place immediately adjoining his father's; Sarah Isabella, born April 9, 1846, and still resides with her parents; Catharine Rowen, born February 6, 1848, died February 17, 1861; Lydia Ross, born November 7, 1851, died November 21. 1877. Mr. Field has been a quiet farmer, but little in official life, and not connected with any religious or secret society organization. He was formerly a Whig in politics, but for many years has cast his vote with the Democratic party. At the age of seventy-one years, he is naturally beginning to feel the weight of age, and for six or seven years has suffered the partial loss of his speech.
Harriet Porter Perine, now Mrs. John R. Field, was the second daughter of John I. and Jane (Van Tuyl) Perine. Her father was a native of White Creek, New York, and her mother of the adjoining town, Cambridge, Washington county. She was born at White Creek, November 13, 1813, and at the age of eight years came with her family to Ohio, her father dying soon after in Ashtabula county, where he meant to settle. The widow and her young family then came on to SpringField township, where her brother, Thomas B. Van Tuyl, was settled, his lands adjoining Mr. Field's on the west. In the family of this uncle Harriet was brought up. When ten years old she experienced her first great grief in the loss of an older sister, Mary Ann, residing in Hamilton as an attendant at school, who was killed with three others by one fell stroke of lightning, April 5, 1825. Her mother died in Cincinnati April 1, 1858, at the age of seventy-one, after a long struggle with feebleness and delicate health. When her daughter was twenty-one years old she was married to Mr. Field, as related in the previous sketch, and their histories have been since united through the long period of nearly half a century. She has been a faithful member of the Presbyterian church at Springdale since the age of sixteen, for now more than fifty-one years.
From History of Hamilton county, Ohio, Henry & Kate Ford, L. A. Williams & Co., Publishers, 1881