Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik on 5 Oct 2003

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JOSEPH SEARS, merchant, Harveysburg; born in Highland Co., Ohio, Feb. 12, 1817; is a son of John and Penelope (Johnson) Sears, natives of Virginia. He was raised and grew to manhood in his native State, and learned the hatter trade, which business he followed through life. It is believed that he was married in Virginia and soon after emigrated to Ohio, and located in Highland County, and there resided till his death in 1816, aged 41 years. He was the father of three sons and one daughter - Mary, now widow of Moses Bond, living in Grant Co., Ind.; Pleasant, living in Fayette Co., Ohio; Christopher, in Indiana; and John. Mrs. Sears married for her second husband John Bocock, by whom she had one child (deceased). Subsequently Mr. Bocock and wife moved to Grant Co., Ind., where she died in 1868, in her 79th year. The subject of this sketch, the youngest child of his father, was unborn at the time of the death of his father; he was then cared for by his mother till 7 years of age; then was placed with Samuel Welch, with whom he remained till after his majority, brought up a farm labor; was married Aug. 17, 1837, to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Amelia Hisey (see sketch of Christian Hisey); by this union they had five children – Mary Jane, born July 8, 1838; Joseph Marshall, May 2, 1840 (deceased); Jacob, June 16, 1841; John W., June 16, 1843; and Amelia E., July 25, 1847 (deceased). Mrs. Sears died Oct. 3, 1864, aged 53 years. On May 20, 1866, he married Mrs. Mary Ridge, daughter of Jedadiah and Grace Adams, natives of Pennsylvania, but emigrated to Ohio and settled at Waynesville in 1817; subsequently they moved to Preble Co., Ohio, where she died in April, 1826, after which he returned to Warren County, where he died Aug. 24, 1867, aged 78 years. Mrs. Sears was born in Pennsylvania Aug. 1, 1815, and was brought to Ohio by her parents when 2 years of age, and here grew to womanhood, and married Jacob Ridge, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom she had five children, only one now surviving – John C., residing in Waynesville, in the employ of Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., of Cincinnati, as traveling salesman for school books. Mr. Sears started out in life as a farmer, which occupation he followed till 1864, when he entered as a clerk in the mercantile trade for John Terry, in the village of Hen Peck. In 1866, he bought a stock of goods, and entered upon business for himself, in which he has continued to the present time. Mr. Sears began life a poor man, but by his labor and industry has accumulated a good competency, and is one of the substantial citizens of his community.