James Loudon was the son of John Loudon and Dorcas Masterson Loudon of Brown County, Ohio.
He married his first wife, Anna Clark, on November 12, 1820 in Henry County, Kentucky.
His second wife was of Elizabeth Chapman Loudon, daughter of Henry W. Chapman and Frances Gill Crabb Chapman of Brown County, Ohio. Elizabeth and James Loudon were married on July 11, 1826 in Brown County, Ohio.
Farmer, Major-General of the Ohio State Militia and ex-State Senator, was born in Henry County, Kentucky, October 21, 1796, and was the oldest of three children whose parents were John Loudon and Dorcas (Masterson) Loudon. His father, a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, followed through life agricultural pursuits, and was a participant, under General Wayne, in the battle of Fallen Timbers. He died in Henry county, Kentucky, where he had settled in 1794. His paternal grandfather was actively engaged in association with the patriots during the Revolutionary struggle. His maternal grandfather, John Masterson, was one of the body-guards of General Washington, and was intimately identified with colonial measures and efforts. His mother was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania and one of a family whose male members were prominent throughout the troublous period of uprising. In 1806 he moved with his mother to Brown county, Ohio, settling at a point distant about six miles east from Georgetown, on the farm of Neil Washburn, whence, at the expiration of four years, he and the family removed to Arnheim, Brown county, Ohio where a farm was rented and a residence maintained for a period of about two years. His mother was then again married to Joshua Jordan, one of the earlier pioneer settlers of the country, whereupon the family moved to River Hill, on the Ohio river, a short distance below Ripley. Here he made his home during the ensuing fourteen years, employed in laboring on the farm, and during the summer months of five or six of those years in clerking in dry-goods stores, while river occupations consumed his time through the winters. His first boating was on the Ohio, in the old keel-boat line. In the fall of 1813 he made a trip to the salt works on the Kanawha river; the next fall he made a trip from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, and attempted to go to the head of navigation on the Allegheny River, but after getting up about sixty miles found there was not water enough to allow the boat to pass over the shoals; so the boat had to wait for a rise in the river, and the men went back to Pittsburgh. Here he found his old boat loaded with iron and ready to descend the river. He took a situation on the boat as a hand; arriving at Cincinnati, Ohio. The freight for that port was discharged and preparations made to descend to Louisville. The captain desired very much to have him continue on the boat, and offered him a clerkship; so he continued on to the port aforesaid, and, after "keeping boat" a few weeks, was discharged. Thus ended his keel-boating; and now, in the year 1876, he confidently believes himself to be the last survivor of that strong, hardy, daring race of men who carried on the commerce of the Ohio valley in keel-boats, propelled against the current by long poles, with heavy iron sockets on the lower end, and a round smoothed knob, turned from the root of the laurel, to fit the shoulder, on the top end. In the fall of 1818, and also in 1819, he made trips to New Orleans in what were then designated broad horse-boats, afterwards called flatboats. On both these occasions he had to work his way home on foot through the wilderness and two savage nations of Indians. He made many other trips to that southern centre in the same class of boats, and was always lucky enough to find a steamboat to return in. In 1820 he associated himself with William Butt and David Ammen in the printing of a newspaper at the little village of Levana, Ohio, two miles below Ripley, on the Ohio river, and in July of that year the Benefactor made its appearance. This was the pioneer newspaper of Brown county. His connection with the paper continued one year; he then sold his interest to one of his partners, and the paper was removed to Georgetown, where its publication was continued for many years. Although his early education had been excessively limited in both degree and kind, his reading and study and one year's drilling with the composing-stick at the type-case, together with keen powers of observation, counterbalanced to a considerable degree the lack of primary training. In 1822 he taught at a country school, with more satisfaction to his employers than to himself. In the fall of this year his friends elected him to the office of Coroner of the county. In 1824 he was re-elected to the same office. In 1826 he was elected Sheriff of Brown County, and re-elected to the same position in 1828, thus serving his county as Coroner and Sheriff eight years. He was married, July 11th, 1826, to Elizabeth Chapman, a native of Brown county, Ohio, a daughter of Henry Chapman, one of the early pioneers of the country, who came from Mason County, Kentucky in 1800 and Frances Gill Crabb Chapman. He was a native of Pennsylvania and an active participant in the war of 1812. In 1831 he was employed in a dry-goods store in Georgetown. In the spring of 1832 he left Georgetown and settled on his farm, about four miles south of this place, and engaged in general agriculture, taking a hand himself in any branch incident to the business. In 1834 many of his friends urged him to be a candidate for the lower House of the Ohio Legislature; he finally consented to stand a poll, and was elected. In 1835 he was re-elected to the same place. This year trouble arose between the authorities of the State of Ohio and those of the Territory of Michigan, in regard to the northern boundary of Ohio. A long and threatening correspondence was kept up between Governor Lucas and the Department of State at Washington, D.C. Governor Lucas called an extra session of the Legislature of Ohio, which met in June of that year; at this session General Loudon took a very active part in support of the claim of Ohio, and endorsed the course of her Governor. He was greatly pleased to see in the course of a year Michigan Territory changed and admitted into the Union as one of the States, agreeing of course to the boundary lines as claimed by Ohio. This forever settled that vexed question, leaving Ohio in possession of the mouth of the Maumee bay and the ground on which the beautiful city of Toledo stands. In 1836 he was again elected to the lower House of the General Assembly. At this session he took an active part, and probably did more than any one else, in electing his friend, William Allen, to the United States Senate. March 2d, 1837, having been previously elected by the Legislature, he was formally commissioned Major-General, by Governor Vance, and given command of the 8th Division Ohio Militia. In 1842 he was elected to fill a vacancy in the Ohio Senate, occasioned by the resignation of Senator Foose, of Clinton county. In 1843 he was re-elected to the same position and served two terms, during 1843-44-45 and '46. In 1849 he was elected a delegate from Brown County to the Constitutional Convention; was made Chairman of the Committee of Finance and Taxation, and successfully carried through the Twelfth Article, and it became a part of the Constitution. He addressed the people in every township in his district, and urged them to vote for the adoption of the Constitution. When his labors terminated with that deliberative body he returned to his farm, intending never again to mingle in the arena of politics; nor would he, if it had not been for the terrible rebellion that came upon the country. On the arrival of the news that Fort Sumter was fired upon, and that the wicked war had begun, he declared his ardent love for the "old starspangled banner," and, like his political godfather, "Old Hickory," swore "By the Eternal, the Constitution must be preserved." From that time he was outspoken in his denunciations of the rebel spirit, South or North, doing all in his power to encourage the patriotic sentiment of the country. In 1863 the Republicans and Union men of his Senatorial district held a convention to select a candidate for State Senator, and in his absence gave him a unanimous vote for that position. On being notified of the action of the convention, he accepted the nomination and took early steps for a vigorous canvass. Although he had to encounter a Democratic majority of some 1500 votes, he was elected. He took his seat in January after the election, and for two years gave his best efforts to the cause of the country. He was the sitting member of his district in the Ohio Senate when the news was received that General Lee, of the Confederate army, had surrendered himself and command to General Grant, which event terminated the war. Since his retirement from the last-mentioned office he has led a tranquil and secluded life in his home at Georgetown. He is a firm believer in the Christian religion, but never attached himself to any particular denomination. From 1824 to 1860 he was a "hard-money Jackson Democrat." Since the outbreak of the rebellion he favors the Republicans.
He married his first wife, Anna Clark, on November 12, 1820 in Henry County, Kentucky.
His second wife was of Elizabeth Chapman Loudon, daughter of Henry W. Chapman and Frances Gill Crabb Chapman of Brown County, Ohio. Elizabeth and James Loudon were married on July 11, 1826 in Brown County, Ohio.
Farmer, Major-General of the Ohio State Militia and ex-State Senator, was born in Henry County, Kentucky, October 21, 1796, and was the oldest of three children whose parents were John Loudon and Dorcas (Masterson) Loudon. His father, a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, followed through life agricultural pursuits, and was a participant, under General Wayne, in the battle of Fallen Timbers. He died in Henry county, Kentucky, where he had settled in 1794. His paternal grandfather was actively engaged in association with the patriots during the Revolutionary struggle. His maternal grandfather, John Masterson, was one of the body-guards of General Washington, and was intimately identified with colonial measures and efforts. His mother was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania and one of a family whose male members were prominent throughout the troublous period of uprising. In 1806 he moved with his mother to Brown county, Ohio, settling at a point distant about six miles east from Georgetown, on the farm of Neil Washburn, whence, at the expiration of four years, he and the family removed to Arnheim, Brown county, Ohio where a farm was rented and a residence maintained for a period of about two years. His mother was then again married to Joshua Jordan, one of the earlier pioneer settlers of the country, whereupon the family moved to River Hill, on the Ohio river, a short distance below Ripley. Here he made his home during the ensuing fourteen years, employed in laboring on the farm, and during the summer months of five or six of those years in clerking in dry-goods stores, while river occupations consumed his time through the winters. His first boating was on the Ohio, in the old keel-boat line. In the fall of 1813 he made a trip to the salt works on the Kanawha river; the next fall he made a trip from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, and attempted to go to the head of navigation on the Allegheny River, but after getting up about sixty miles found there was not water enough to allow the boat to pass over the shoals; so the boat had to wait for a rise in the river, and the men went back to Pittsburgh. Here he found his old boat loaded with iron and ready to descend the river. He took a situation on the boat as a hand; arriving at Cincinnati, Ohio. The freight for that port was discharged and preparations made to descend to Louisville. The captain desired very much to have him continue on the boat, and offered him a clerkship; so he continued on to the port aforesaid, and, after "keeping boat" a few weeks, was discharged. Thus ended his keel-boating; and now, in the year 1876, he confidently believes himself to be the last survivor of that strong, hardy, daring race of men who carried on the commerce of the Ohio valley in keel-boats, propelled against the current by long poles, with heavy iron sockets on the lower end, and a round smoothed knob, turned from the root of the laurel, to fit the shoulder, on the top end. In the fall of 1818, and also in 1819, he made trips to New Orleans in what were then designated broad horse-boats, afterwards called flatboats. On both these occasions he had to work his way home on foot through the wilderness and two savage nations of Indians. He made many other trips to that southern centre in the same class of boats, and was always lucky enough to find a steamboat to return in. In 1820 he associated himself with William Butt and David Ammen in the printing of a newspaper at the little village of Levana, Ohio, two miles below Ripley, on the Ohio river, and in July of that year the Benefactor made its appearance. This was the pioneer newspaper of Brown county. His connection with the paper continued one year; he then sold his interest to one of his partners, and the paper was removed to Georgetown, where its publication was continued for many years. Although his early education had been excessively limited in both degree and kind, his reading and study and one year's drilling with the composing-stick at the type-case, together with keen powers of observation, counterbalanced to a considerable degree the lack of primary training. In 1822 he taught at a country school, with more satisfaction to his employers than to himself. In the fall of this year his friends elected him to the office of Coroner of the county. In 1824 he was re-elected to the same office. In 1826 he was elected Sheriff of Brown County, and re-elected to the same position in 1828, thus serving his county as Coroner and Sheriff eight years. He was married, July 11th, 1826, to Elizabeth Chapman, a native of Brown county, Ohio, a daughter of Henry Chapman, one of the early pioneers of the country, who came from Mason County, Kentucky in 1800 and Frances Gill Crabb Chapman. He was a native of Pennsylvania and an active participant in the war of 1812. In 1831 he was employed in a dry-goods store in Georgetown. In the spring of 1832 he left Georgetown and settled on his farm, about four miles south of this place, and engaged in general agriculture, taking a hand himself in any branch incident to the business. In 1834 many of his friends urged him to be a candidate for the lower House of the Ohio Legislature; he finally consented to stand a poll, and was elected. In 1835 he was re-elected to the same place. This year trouble arose between the authorities of the State of Ohio and those of the Territory of Michigan, in regard to the northern boundary of Ohio. A long and threatening correspondence was kept up between Governor Lucas and the Department of State at Washington, D.C. Governor Lucas called an extra session of the Legislature of Ohio, which met in June of that year; at this session General Loudon took a very active part in support of the claim of Ohio, and endorsed the course of her Governor. He was greatly pleased to see in the course of a year Michigan Territory changed and admitted into the Union as one of the States, agreeing of course to the boundary lines as claimed by Ohio. This forever settled that vexed question, leaving Ohio in possession of the mouth of the Maumee bay and the ground on which the beautiful city of Toledo stands. In 1836 he was again elected to the lower House of the General Assembly. At this session he took an active part, and probably did more than any one else, in electing his friend, William Allen, to the United States Senate. March 2d, 1837, having been previously elected by the Legislature, he was formally commissioned Major-General, by Governor Vance, and given command of the 8th Division Ohio Militia. In 1842 he was elected to fill a vacancy in the Ohio Senate, occasioned by the resignation of Senator Foose, of Clinton county. In 1843 he was re-elected to the same position and served two terms, during 1843-44-45 and '46. In 1849 he was elected a delegate from Brown County to the Constitutional Convention; was made Chairman of the Committee of Finance and Taxation, and successfully carried through the Twelfth Article, and it became a part of the Constitution. He addressed the people in every township in his district, and urged them to vote for the adoption of the Constitution. When his labors terminated with that deliberative body he returned to his farm, intending never again to mingle in the arena of politics; nor would he, if it had not been for the terrible rebellion that came upon the country. On the arrival of the news that Fort Sumter was fired upon, and that the wicked war had begun, he declared his ardent love for the "old starspangled banner," and, like his political godfather, "Old Hickory," swore "By the Eternal, the Constitution must be preserved." From that time he was outspoken in his denunciations of the rebel spirit, South or North, doing all in his power to encourage the patriotic sentiment of the country. In 1863 the Republicans and Union men of his Senatorial district held a convention to select a candidate for State Senator, and in his absence gave him a unanimous vote for that position. On being notified of the action of the convention, he accepted the nomination and took early steps for a vigorous canvass. Although he had to encounter a Democratic majority of some 1500 votes, he was elected. He took his seat in January after the election, and for two years gave his best efforts to the cause of the country. He was the sitting member of his district in the Ohio Senate when the news was received that General Lee, of the Confederate army, had surrendered himself and command to General Grant, which event terminated the war. Since his retirement from the last-mentioned office he has led a tranquil and secluded life in his home at Georgetown. He is a firm believer in the Christian religion, but never attached himself to any particular denomination. From 1824 to 1860 he was a "hard-money Jackson Democrat." Since the outbreak of the rebellion he favors the Republicans.
James Loudon was the son of John Loudon and Dorcas Masterson Loudon of Brown County, Ohio.
He married his first wife, Anna Clark, on November 12, 1820 in Henry County, Kentucky.
His second wife was of Elizabeth Chapman Loudon, daughter of Henry W. Chapman and Frances Gill Crabb Chapman of Brown County, Ohio. Elizabeth and James Loudon were married on July 11, 1826 in Brown County, Ohio.
Farmer, Major-General of the Ohio State Militia and ex-State Senator, was born in Henry County, Kentucky, October 21, 1796, and was the oldest of three children whose parents were John Loudon and Dorcas (Masterson) Loudon. His father, a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, followed through life agricultural pursuits, and was a participant, under General Wayne, in the battle of Fallen Timbers. He died in Henry county, Kentucky, where he had settled in 1794. His paternal grandfather was actively engaged in association with the patriots during the Revolutionary struggle. His maternal grandfather, John Masterson, was one of the body-guards of General Washington, and was intimately identified with colonial measures and efforts. His mother was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania and one of a family whose male members were prominent throughout the troublous period of uprising. In 1806 he moved with his mother to Brown county, Ohio, settling at a point distant about six miles east from Georgetown, on the farm of Neil Washburn, whence, at the expiration of four years, he and the family removed to Arnheim, Brown county, Ohio where a farm was rented and a residence maintained for a period of about two years. His mother was then again married to Joshua Jordan, one of the earlier pioneer settlers of the country, whereupon the family moved to River Hill, on the Ohio river, a short distance below Ripley. Here he made his home during the ensuing fourteen years, employed in laboring on the farm, and during the summer months of five or six of those years in clerking in dry-goods stores, while river occupations consumed his time through the winters. His first boating was on the Ohio, in the old keel-boat line. In the fall of 1813 he made a trip to the salt works on the Kanawha river; the next fall he made a trip from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, and attempted to go to the head of navigation on the Allegheny River, but after getting up about sixty miles found there was not water enough to allow the boat to pass over the shoals; so the boat had to wait for a rise in the river, and the men went back to Pittsburgh. Here he found his old boat loaded with iron and ready to descend the river. He took a situation on the boat as a hand; arriving at Cincinnati, Ohio. The freight for that port was discharged and preparations made to descend to Louisville. The captain desired very much to have him continue on the boat, and offered him a clerkship; so he continued on to the port aforesaid, and, after "keeping boat" a few weeks, was discharged. Thus ended his keel-boating; and now, in the year 1876, he confidently believes himself to be the last survivor of that strong, hardy, daring race of men who carried on the commerce of the Ohio valley in keel-boats, propelled against the current by long poles, with heavy iron sockets on the lower end, and a round smoothed knob, turned from the root of the laurel, to fit the shoulder, on the top end. In the fall of 1818, and also in 1819, he made trips to New Orleans in what were then designated broad horse-boats, afterwards called flatboats. On both these occasions he had to work his way home on foot through the wilderness and two savage nations of Indians. He made many other trips to that southern centre in the same class of boats, and was always lucky enough to find a steamboat to return in. In 1820 he associated himself with William Butt and David Ammen in the printing of a newspaper at the little village of Levana, Ohio, two miles below Ripley, on the Ohio river, and in July of that year the Benefactor made its appearance. This was the pioneer newspaper of Brown county. His connection with the paper continued one year; he then sold his interest to one of his partners, and the paper was removed to Georgetown, where its publication was continued for many years. Although his early education had been excessively limited in both degree and kind, his reading and study and one year's drilling with the composing-stick at the type-case, together with keen powers of observation, counterbalanced to a considerable degree the lack of primary training. In 1822 he taught at a country school, with more satisfaction to his employers than to himself. In the fall of this year his friends elected him to the office of Coroner of the county. In 1824 he was re-elected to the same office. In 1826 he was elected Sheriff of Brown County, and re-elected to the same position in 1828, thus serving his county as Coroner and Sheriff eight years. He was married, July 11th, 1826, to Elizabeth Chapman, a native of Brown county, Ohio, a daughter of Henry Chapman, one of the early pioneers of the country, who came from Mason County, Kentucky in 1800 and Frances Gill Crabb Chapman. He was a native of Pennsylvania and an active participant in the war of 1812. In 1831 he was employed in a dry-goods store in Georgetown. In the spring of 1832 he left Georgetown and settled on his farm, about four miles south of this place, and engaged in general agriculture, taking a hand himself in any branch incident to the business. In 1834 many of his friends urged him to be a candidate for the lower House of the Ohio Legislature; he finally consented to stand a poll, and was elected. In 1835 he was re-elected to the same place. This year trouble arose between the authorities of the State of Ohio and those of the Territory of Michigan, in regard to the northern boundary of Ohio. A long and threatening correspondence was kept up between Governor Lucas and the Department of State at Washington, D.C. Governor Lucas called an extra session of the Legislature of Ohio, which met in June of that year; at this session General Loudon took a very active part in support of the claim of Ohio, and endorsed the course of her Governor. He was greatly pleased to see in the course of a year Michigan Territory changed and admitted into the Union as one of the States, agreeing of course to the boundary lines as claimed by Ohio. This forever settled that vexed question, leaving Ohio in possession of the mouth of the Maumee bay and the ground on which the beautiful city of Toledo stands. In 1836 he was again elected to the lower House of the General Assembly. At this session he took an active part, and probably did more than any one else, in electing his friend, William Allen, to the United States Senate. March 2d, 1837, having been previously elected by the Legislature, he was formally commissioned Major-General, by Governor Vance, and given command of the 8th Division Ohio Militia. In 1842 he was elected to fill a vacancy in the Ohio Senate, occasioned by the resignation of Senator Foose, of Clinton county. In 1843 he was re-elected to the same position and served two terms, during 1843-44-45 and '46. In 1849 he was elected a delegate from Brown County to the Constitutional Convention; was made Chairman of the Committee of Finance and Taxation, and successfully carried through the Twelfth Article, and it became a part of the Constitution. He addressed the people in every township in his district, and urged them to vote for the adoption of the Constitution. When his labors terminated with that deliberative body he returned to his farm, intending never again to mingle in the arena of politics; nor would he, if it had not been for the terrible rebellion that came upon the country. On the arrival of the news that Fort Sumter was fired upon, and that the wicked war had begun, he declared his ardent love for the "old starspangled banner," and, like his political godfather, "Old Hickory," swore "By the Eternal, the Constitution must be preserved." From that time he was outspoken in his denunciations of the rebel spirit, South or North, doing all in his power to encourage the patriotic sentiment of the country. In 1863 the Republicans and Union men of his Senatorial district held a convention to select a candidate for State Senator, and in his absence gave him a unanimous vote for that position. On being notified of the action of the convention, he accepted the nomination and took early steps for a vigorous canvass. Although he had to encounter a Democratic majority of some 1500 votes, he was elected. He took his seat in January after the election, and for two years gave his best efforts to the cause of the country. He was the sitting member of his district in the Ohio Senate when the news was received that General Lee, of the Confederate army, had surrendered himself and command to General Grant, which event terminated the war. Since his retirement from the last-mentioned office he has led a tranquil and secluded life in his home at Georgetown. He is a firm believer in the Christian religion, but never attached himself to any particular denomination. From 1824 to 1860 he was a "hard-money Jackson Democrat." Since the outbreak of the rebellion he favors the Republicans.
He married his first wife, Anna Clark, on November 12, 1820 in Henry County, Kentucky.
His second wife was of Elizabeth Chapman Loudon, daughter of Henry W. Chapman and Frances Gill Crabb Chapman of Brown County, Ohio. Elizabeth and James Loudon were married on July 11, 1826 in Brown County, Ohio.
Farmer, Major-General of the Ohio State Militia and ex-State Senator, was born in Henry County, Kentucky, October 21, 1796, and was the oldest of three children whose parents were John Loudon and Dorcas (Masterson) Loudon. His father, a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, followed through life agricultural pursuits, and was a participant, under General Wayne, in the battle of Fallen Timbers. He died in Henry county, Kentucky, where he had settled in 1794. His paternal grandfather was actively engaged in association with the patriots during the Revolutionary struggle. His maternal grandfather, John Masterson, was one of the body-guards of General Washington, and was intimately identified with colonial measures and efforts. His mother was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania and one of a family whose male members were prominent throughout the troublous period of uprising. In 1806 he moved with his mother to Brown county, Ohio, settling at a point distant about six miles east from Georgetown, on the farm of Neil Washburn, whence, at the expiration of four years, he and the family removed to Arnheim, Brown county, Ohio where a farm was rented and a residence maintained for a period of about two years. His mother was then again married to Joshua Jordan, one of the earlier pioneer settlers of the country, whereupon the family moved to River Hill, on the Ohio river, a short distance below Ripley. Here he made his home during the ensuing fourteen years, employed in laboring on the farm, and during the summer months of five or six of those years in clerking in dry-goods stores, while river occupations consumed his time through the winters. His first boating was on the Ohio, in the old keel-boat line. In the fall of 1813 he made a trip to the salt works on the Kanawha river; the next fall he made a trip from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, and attempted to go to the head of navigation on the Allegheny River, but after getting up about sixty miles found there was not water enough to allow the boat to pass over the shoals; so the boat had to wait for a rise in the river, and the men went back to Pittsburgh. Here he found his old boat loaded with iron and ready to descend the river. He took a situation on the boat as a hand; arriving at Cincinnati, Ohio. The freight for that port was discharged and preparations made to descend to Louisville. The captain desired very much to have him continue on the boat, and offered him a clerkship; so he continued on to the port aforesaid, and, after "keeping boat" a few weeks, was discharged. Thus ended his keel-boating; and now, in the year 1876, he confidently believes himself to be the last survivor of that strong, hardy, daring race of men who carried on the commerce of the Ohio valley in keel-boats, propelled against the current by long poles, with heavy iron sockets on the lower end, and a round smoothed knob, turned from the root of the laurel, to fit the shoulder, on the top end. In the fall of 1818, and also in 1819, he made trips to New Orleans in what were then designated broad horse-boats, afterwards called flatboats. On both these occasions he had to work his way home on foot through the wilderness and two savage nations of Indians. He made many other trips to that southern centre in the same class of boats, and was always lucky enough to find a steamboat to return in. In 1820 he associated himself with William Butt and David Ammen in the printing of a newspaper at the little village of Levana, Ohio, two miles below Ripley, on the Ohio river, and in July of that year the Benefactor made its appearance. This was the pioneer newspaper of Brown county. His connection with the paper continued one year; he then sold his interest to one of his partners, and the paper was removed to Georgetown, where its publication was continued for many years. Although his early education had been excessively limited in both degree and kind, his reading and study and one year's drilling with the composing-stick at the type-case, together with keen powers of observation, counterbalanced to a considerable degree the lack of primary training. In 1822 he taught at a country school, with more satisfaction to his employers than to himself. In the fall of this year his friends elected him to the office of Coroner of the county. In 1824 he was re-elected to the same office. In 1826 he was elected Sheriff of Brown County, and re-elected to the same position in 1828, thus serving his county as Coroner and Sheriff eight years. He was married, July 11th, 1826, to Elizabeth Chapman, a native of Brown county, Ohio, a daughter of Henry Chapman, one of the early pioneers of the country, who came from Mason County, Kentucky in 1800 and Frances Gill Crabb Chapman. He was a native of Pennsylvania and an active participant in the war of 1812. In 1831 he was employed in a dry-goods store in Georgetown. In the spring of 1832 he left Georgetown and settled on his farm, about four miles south of this place, and engaged in general agriculture, taking a hand himself in any branch incident to the business. In 1834 many of his friends urged him to be a candidate for the lower House of the Ohio Legislature; he finally consented to stand a poll, and was elected. In 1835 he was re-elected to the same place. This year trouble arose between the authorities of the State of Ohio and those of the Territory of Michigan, in regard to the northern boundary of Ohio. A long and threatening correspondence was kept up between Governor Lucas and the Department of State at Washington, D.C. Governor Lucas called an extra session of the Legislature of Ohio, which met in June of that year; at this session General Loudon took a very active part in support of the claim of Ohio, and endorsed the course of her Governor. He was greatly pleased to see in the course of a year Michigan Territory changed and admitted into the Union as one of the States, agreeing of course to the boundary lines as claimed by Ohio. This forever settled that vexed question, leaving Ohio in possession of the mouth of the Maumee bay and the ground on which the beautiful city of Toledo stands. In 1836 he was again elected to the lower House of the General Assembly. At this session he took an active part, and probably did more than any one else, in electing his friend, William Allen, to the United States Senate. March 2d, 1837, having been previously elected by the Legislature, he was formally commissioned Major-General, by Governor Vance, and given command of the 8th Division Ohio Militia. In 1842 he was elected to fill a vacancy in the Ohio Senate, occasioned by the resignation of Senator Foose, of Clinton county. In 1843 he was re-elected to the same position and served two terms, during 1843-44-45 and '46. In 1849 he was elected a delegate from Brown County to the Constitutional Convention; was made Chairman of the Committee of Finance and Taxation, and successfully carried through the Twelfth Article, and it became a part of the Constitution. He addressed the people in every township in his district, and urged them to vote for the adoption of the Constitution. When his labors terminated with that deliberative body he returned to his farm, intending never again to mingle in the arena of politics; nor would he, if it had not been for the terrible rebellion that came upon the country. On the arrival of the news that Fort Sumter was fired upon, and that the wicked war had begun, he declared his ardent love for the "old starspangled banner," and, like his political godfather, "Old Hickory," swore "By the Eternal, the Constitution must be preserved." From that time he was outspoken in his denunciations of the rebel spirit, South or North, doing all in his power to encourage the patriotic sentiment of the country. In 1863 the Republicans and Union men of his Senatorial district held a convention to select a candidate for State Senator, and in his absence gave him a unanimous vote for that position. On being notified of the action of the convention, he accepted the nomination and took early steps for a vigorous canvass. Although he had to encounter a Democratic majority of some 1500 votes, he was elected. He took his seat in January after the election, and for two years gave his best efforts to the cause of the country. He was the sitting member of his district in the Ohio Senate when the news was received that General Lee, of the Confederate army, had surrendered himself and command to General Grant, which event terminated the war. Since his retirement from the last-mentioned office he has led a tranquil and secluded life in his home at Georgetown. He is a firm believer in the Christian religion, but never attached himself to any particular denomination. From 1824 to 1860 he was a "hard-money Jackson Democrat." Since the outbreak of the rebellion he favors the Republicans.
Family Members
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