My Genealogy Hound

ZECHARIAH WEST, farmer, P. O. Hamersville, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, May 10, 1813. He was a son of Thomas and Barbara (Grey) West, both natives of Pennsylvania. The former was born December 19, 1785, and died April 5, 1878; the latter was born May 12, 1790, and died March 15, 1866. They had ten children, of whom our subject was the oldest son and third child. The father was a farmer by occupation, and paid for the first fifty acres of land he ever owned by splitting rails and clearing ground. It is said of him that he could read without glasses at the age of ninety-two, and that he was never involved in litigation of any kind in all his long and eventful life. His father died when he was but a youth, and he was taken by his grandfather from Pennsylvania to Kentucky. He emigrated to Clermont County at an early day, and in 1814 settled in Lewis Township, Brown County. Our subject received a very limited education in the subscription schools of pioneer days. He was early trained to farm labor, and chose farming for an occupation. He commenced life by working for his father, receiving an interest in the crops for his compensation. After working four years in this manner and when twenty-four years old he purchased a small tract of land and began farming for himself. In 1838, he married Rebecca Jennings, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Parker) Jennings. She was born February 7, 1818, and died December 15, 1865. By her Mr. West had nine children, viz., Mary Ellen, Thomas Hamer (deceased), James Irwin (a minister now in charge of a congregation at Germantown, Ky.), William Worth, Alvin Miller, Laurin, Minnie, John Franklin (deceased), and Carr. The family are all members of the Christian Church. Mr. West is a Democrat; has been Township Trustee ten or twelve years, and a School Director most of the time since he was twenty-one years of age. He is a strong temperance man, but never took but one pledge, and that was his pledge to the church. He promised his mother in his youth never to drink, and has lived his long life true to that promise. His family are all grown up and doing well, and now as he looks back on his long and well-spent life, he can see but few changes that he could make for the better. He is a prominent farmer, and one of the most respected and highly honored citizens of this township.