Simeon Carey, M.D.
The late Dr. Simeon Carey, who for forty years was engaged in the practice of his profession at Spring Valley, and whose widow is still living in that village, was a native son of Ohio and all his life was spent in this state. He was born in the village of Utica, in Licking county, September 5, 1830, son of Joel and Rhoda (Graham) Carey, who later moved to Warren county, where their last days were spent. Joel Carey was twice married, his second wife having been Amanda Watson. By his first marriage he was the father of six children, of whom Doctor Carey was the third in order of birth, the others having been Samuel, Amos, Ocie, Rachel and Alice, all of whom made their homes in Warren county.
Reared in Warren county, Simeon Carey received preliminary schooling in the schools of that county and early turned his attention to the study of medicine, presently entering the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he was in due time graduated. Upon receiving his diploma Doctor Carey opened an office for the practice of his profession at Clio, but not long afterward came up into Greene county and located at Spring Valley, where he continued engaged in practice the rest of his life, his death occurring there on May 8, 1900, he then having been engaged in practice at that place for a period of forty years. During the last year of his life he had associated with him in practice his son-in-law, the late Dr. Samuel Edward Dyche. Doctor Carey also was well known as a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a Mason, affiliated with the lodge of that order at Xenia, and was a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Improved Order of Red Men at Spring Valley.
On December 31, 1857, in Warren county Dr. Simeon Carey was united in marriage to Ruth Ann Cornell, who was born in the vicinity of Waynesville, in that county, in 1833, daughter of Sylvanus and Sarah (Flora) Cornell, the latter of whom was born in that same county, October 17, 1798, a member of one of the pioneer families in the Waynesville neighborhood. Sylvanus Cornell was born in Canada, July 29, 1797, but had come to Ohio with his parents when he was but a child, the family settling near Mt. Holly, on the old state road between Cincinnati and Columbus. As a boy he took part in the War of 1812. He grew up a farmer and in time became the proprietor of several farms. He was for years a local power in Democratic politics and he and his wife were earnest workers in the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of eleven children of whom Mrs. Carey was the ninth in order of birth, the others having been John, Sarah J., William, Sylvanus, Jesse, Daniel, Samuel, Mary Ann, George and David. To Doctor and Mrs. Carey were born three children, Frank C, Flora Alice, and Delia.
The late Frank C. Carey, who died at his home in Waynesville on April 14, 1917, was educated in the high school at Xenia and at Wilmington and became a farmer in the Waynesville neighborhood, later becoming postmaster of that village. He married Viola Thomas and was the father of a son and two daughters. Pearl, Alice and Raymond, the latter of whom died in 1897 at the age of two years. Frank C. Carey was a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Flora Alice Carey received her schooling in the schools of Spring Valley and Xenia and on June 21, 1881, was married to Dr. Samuel Edward Dyche, who was born at Berkley Springs, Virginia, February 21, 1847, and whose parents moved to Louisville, Kentucky, when he was but a babe in arms. He grew up in that city, early turned his attention to the study of medicine and after his graduation from the Louisville Medical College was for a time engaged in the practice of his profession in Tennessee. Doctor Dyche later returned to Louisville and after a brief period of practice there came up into Ohio and located at Lytle, in the neighboring county of Warren, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until 1899, when he became associated in practice at Spring Valley with his father-in-law, Doctor Carey, who died a year later. Doctor Dyche died on July 27, 1909. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Xenia and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is his widow, who continues to make her home in Spring Valley. To Doctor and Mrs. Dyche one child was born, a son, Howard Edward, born on June 19, 1884, who was graduated from the Spring Valley high school, later attended the Ohio State University for five years and the university at Pittsburgh for four years, completing there his studies in electrical engineering, and then became connected with the works of the Westinghouse plant, which service he abandoned to accept the position of professor of electrical engineering in the University of Pittsburgh, which chair he has occupied for the past four years. Professor Dyche is a Scottish Rite Mason and member of the Lutheran church. He married Edith May Guy and has one child, a son, Howard Edward, Jr., born on May 14, 1916.
Delia Carey grew up in Spring Valley, born on January 11, 1887, married Leroy S. Davis, of near Xenia. They now reside in Dayton, Ohio, and have three children, Herbert, Ernest, and Lawrence.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A. Broadstone, editor. B. F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918