Warren County Ohio GenWeb

Obituaries With Warren County Connections

Transcription: Submitted by Arne H Trelvik 16 June 2003
Source: Warren County Record 18 Apr 1903
Surnames: Simonton, Stokes
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OBITUARY - HIRAM SIMONTON

The following sketch was read at the funeral of Hiram Simonton:
"Hiram Simonton, eldest son and child of John and Hannah Stokes Simonton, was born at No. 111 North Mechanic street, Lebanon, Ohio, on January 29, 1843, and died of acute pneumonia at 12:45 Friday morning, April 17, 1903, at No. 214 North Mechanic street, aged sixty years, two months and nineteen days.
"His early education was received at the Lebanon Academy, and afterward at the Southwestern Normal School, which, under the auspices of President Alfred Holbrook, succeeded the Lebanon Academy. From here he went to Dennison University, Granville, Ohio, taking the Classical Course, but, the Civil War breaking out, he enlisted, before attaining his majority, as a private in the Eighty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, where he remained until the end of his term of enlistment. In 1863, he received a commission in the navy as Master's Mate, and was assigned for duty to the United Sates steamer Benton, then lying off Natchez, Miss., at that time the largest ironclad in the world, carrying eighteen guns, and for many months the flagship of Rear Admiral Porter. He participated in both the Red River expeditions, when the gunboat squadron co-operated with the land forces under General Banks, and was at the siege and capture of Fort De Russey. Shortly after this he was promoted to the rank of Ensign, and was transferred to the United States gunboat Grosbeak, where he remained until the close of the war, resigning his commission after all hostilities had ceased. Coming home, he for a time engaged in business at Lebanon, and afterward at Downey, Iowa, but later took up the study of law, and was admitted to practice here at Lebanon, following this profession for a long time. His later life is too well known to need comment.
"He was a man with intellect and talents far above the average, a close reader of historical and scientific works, giving but little attention to the light literature of the day, an ardent paleontologist, and a man who kept thoroughly abreast of the times in the discoveries and events of the day.
"Of singularly sweet and gentle disposition, he was a kind and loving son, an affectionate brother, and a faithful and appreciative friend.
"No further seek his merits to disclose,
Or draw his frailties from their dread abode;
There they alike in trembling hope repose -
The bosom of his Father and his God."