Asahel H. Hussey

From "The History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio"

By J. A. Caldwell

Published 1880

Among the citizens of Mt. Pleasant is Asahel H. Hussey, who resides on his farm west of the village. This farm of 109 acres is under good cultivation, mostly enclosed by hedge fence, with a nice row of shade trees of different kinds growing along the road, which passed nearly through the center of the farm, cast and west On the north side of the road near the center of the land, in somewhat of a valley, is his nice brick residence with a beautiful lawn in front, in which a variety of evergreens and other shade trees are growing, making it one of the most desirable and handsome places in the neighborhood. On the south side of the road is a nice frame tenant house, and further back stands another cottage tenant house, both occupied by Mr. Hussey's tenant hands. Asahel H. Hussey was born in Mt. Pleasant in 1833, being the second son of Penrose Hussey and grandson of Christopher Hussey, a descendant of Captain Christopher Hussey, of England, who came to this country in 1630, to marry Theodate, daughter of Rev. Stephen Batchelder, of Holland, who was removing with family, in connection with 1,700 others, among whom was John Winthrop, first governor of Massachusetts. His grandson, Batchelder Hussey, married Abigail Hill, of Boston, in 1705, and was a minister in the Society of Friends. Having a numerous family, his descendants are scattered throughout the United Status. Among them are Asahel Hussey, proprietor of the Utah House, Baltimore, and Obed Hussey, one of the first inventors of a successful reaper and mowing machine; also, Dr. C. G. Hussey, a noted and successful manufacturer of copper and stool, of Pittsburgh, its well as being interested in other extensive mining business..

But, to return to our subject: A. H. Hussey is a nephew of Dr. C.G. Hussey, of Pittsburgh. His mother was Susanna Wood, daughter of Nathan Wood of Smithfield, who was a descendant of Thomas Wood, Of Cornwall, England and, owner of extensive coal mining there, but who came to this country early in the 18th century. In 1835, Penrose Hussey removed to Smithfield and Settled an a farm, remaining there until 1848, when ho removed with his wife, three sons and two daughters to the farm on which our subject now resides. Two of the sons, Nathan and Milton, soon left the paternal roof to seek homes of their own. They both reside in Iowa. One of the daughters married I. K. Ratcliff, cashier of the First National Bank of Mt. Pleasant; the other married W. G. Hubbard, of Columbus, Ohio, now engaged in the publishing business, and a minister in the Society of Friends. The other son, A. H. Hussey, remained at home with his parents, managed the farm and cared for them while they lived. In 1860, he started a nursery find green house, which was successfully managed for a few years. In 1862, he married Martha P. Newby, of Dublin, Indiana, formerly of North Carolina. In 1864 he engaged in extensive pork packing, at Gosport, Indiana, with his uncle, Dr. C. G. Hussey, In 1866 joined his brother Nathan in a woolen mill at Mt. Pleasant. In 1872 his father died and he purchased the old homestead, which he has beautifully adorned, where be now resides. Mr. Hussey received a common school education, but being quick to learn he made advances in his studies beyond his classmates. Being always of a religious turn of mind, he felt a call to the ministry, and was recorded as such by the Society of Friends in 1813. He was often engaged in religious services at home and abroad, wrote for various papers and published a little book entitled "Holiness, or Christian Perfection," of which he gratuitously circulated about 7,000 copies among his friends.