John Rathbone Stanbery
John Rathbone Stanbery, a progressive farmer of Liberty Township, who owns land amounting to 453 acres, was born in the city of Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio, June 19, 1836, and is a son of Charles and Mary (Smith) Stanbery.
Jonas Stanbery. the grandfather of John R., was born in New York and he accompanied Stephen B. Munn, to Ohio, both coming as land speculators. They located land in Muskingum, Fairfield, Licking, Delaware, Franklin, Pickaway, Madison and other counties of Ohio east of the Scioto River. Jonas Stanbery held more than a hundred thousand acres in his own right. In the disposal of this property he was both just and generous, accepting almost any kind of commodity from the settlers in payment lor land. It was a source of satisfaction to him that no pressure had ever caused him to sue for a debt.
Jonas Stanbery married Ann Lucy Seaman and they both lived into advanced age. his death occurring at Zanesville, in 1838, at the age of seventy-two years. The following children were born to Jonas and Ann Lucy Stanbery: Augustus. George, Henry. Edward, Charles and Howard. Henry Stanbery was the eldest of the family and he became a lawyer and subsequently filled some of the highest positions of State and Nation. From being attorney-general of Ohio, he was chosen by President Andrew Johnson as a member of his cabinet and filled the high office of attorney-general of the United States until such time as he resigned in order to take up the defense of the President in the impeachment proceedings. After General Stanbery's efforts had been crowned with success, he was re-appointed to the office be had so ably filled previously, but the Senate never confirmed this second appointment. He later engaged in the practice of law in Campbell County, Kentucky, but the greater part of his time was taken up in practice in the Federal Courts. He died in New York city. He was married (first) to a daughter of General Beecher, of Lancaster, Ohio. His second marriage was to Cecelia Bond, who was a daughter of William Key Bond, who was a member of Congress from Ohio and was a resident of Chillicothe. Of the other children of Jonas Stanbery, Edward was a physician and he practiced at Newark, Ohio, where he died. Charles Stanbery was the father of John R. Stanbery. Howard Stanbery spent the whole period of his life at Zanesville. George Stanbery died while he was at school, at Athens, Ohio. Augustus was the only member of the family to die in childhood.
Charles Stanbery, father of John Rathbone Stanbery, was born in 1809, in the city of New York, and in 1814 he accompanied his parents to Ohio. They established the family home at Zanesville, and young Charles was afforded excellent educational advantages both in that city and at Athens, Ohio. He became a member of the Bar and had the prospect of much professional success, when the death of his father called him to take charge of the large estate and the management of this required the greater part of his subsequent attention. Soon after his marriage he moved to Delaware County, from there to Lancaster and later to Columbus, where he lived for a number of years. His large interests, however, in Delaware County, finally required him to give them his personal attention and in 1856 he returned and settled in Liberty Township, on the Scioto River. In the same year he erected here a fine mansion and in this beautiful home both he and wife lived until death.
Charles Stanbery was married at Zanesville to Mary Smith, who was a daughter of Hon. Theophilus Smith, judge of the Supreme Court of Illinois. She died in March, 1883, at the age of seventy-two years. She was survived by her husband until 1892, when he was in his eighty-third year. They had four children: Clara S.. John R.. Charles and Edward. The only daughter of the family, Clara S., is the widow of Col. George W. Neff, and resides in Liberty Township, Delaware County, Ohio. Colonel Neff died in 1882. He was a native of Ohio and be served as second lieutenant in the Second Regiment, Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. He was captured in West Virginia and was confined for thirteen months in prison, during three of which he was under sentence of death. After his release from the Charleston jail, he was commissioned colonel of the Eighty-eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Two daughters, Laura and May, and three sons, Ambrose, George and Bond, survive him. Ambrose Neff married Jennie Abert, whose father was an officer in the Regular Army. They live at Elmwood. George Neff married Margaret Wallace and thev reside in New York city, where he is a large contractor and mechanical engineer. Bond resides also in New York, where he is in business as a hydraulic engineer. Charles Stanbery resides on the old Stanbery farm on which his father settled in 1856. He was educated in the district schools, at Cincinnati and at Zanesville. He carries on general farming on 150 acres. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Powell. Mr. Stanbery is unmarried. Edward Stanbery married Emma Newell and they are residents of Chicago. Illinois. and have four children. Frank, Edward, Emma and Helen. Mr. Stanbery represents the Royal Insurance Company of London, England.
John R. Stanbery attended the Columbus High School and the Capital University, in Columbus, Ohio. He accompanied his parents to Liberty Township, when they came here in 1856, and he has lived here ever since, with the exception of five years, during which he was an employe of the Cincinnati & Zanesville Railroad and lived at Zanesville. Agricultural pursuits have afforded him more content than either a mechanical, commercial or professional career, although he is well equipped for either. His large estate is under a fine state of cultivation and he has it stocked with superior breeds of cattle and other livestock. He is undoubtedly one of the county's best and most successful farmers.
John R. Stanbery was married at Zanesville, Ohio, to Annie Martin, who was a daughter of Alfred Martin. Mrs. Stanbery died in 1901. Her death removed from both family and social circles a lady of beautiful presence and lovable personality. She is survived by two daughters. Adaline and Mary. The former is the wife of Edward S. Mendenhall, of Delaware. Ohio, and the latter is the wife of Miles T. Watts, of Cincinnati. Mr. and Mrs. Mendenhall have one daughter. Annie. Mrs. Watts is a lady of literary talent and is an acceptable contributor to various publications of the day, including McClure's magazine. She belongs to a pleasant literary circle at Cincinnati, where her work is much appreciated.
Mr. Stanbery is identified with the Democratic party, the family for several generations having been connected with that organization. He is interested in public and local affairs to the extent of faithful citizenship, but he has never been willing to accept office.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens by James R. Lytle