THE XENIA GAZETTE FRIDAY - AUGUST 20, 1880 XENIA, OHIO GREENE COUNTY SURNAMES: DEAN, STEELE, MOORE, CAMPBELL, BICKETT, PERRY, HOPPING THE DEAN PICNIC The DEAN picnic held on Friday last in the beautiful grove of Mr. D.S. DEAN, adjoining the DEAN Cemetery, was a splendid affair. The weather was highly favorable and a goodly number of the DEAN connection with their friends were present to enjoy the occasion. This connection has now become quite numerous, though the older members of the family have all passed away with a solitary exception: Mr. Joseph DEAN alone remains. Though now well in his seventy-sixth year, possesses much of the uprishliness of youth. He and his wife have already pursued lifes journey together for nearly 54 years, and are seemenly good for many years to come. Daniel DEAN, the great proginta of the DEAN family was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to this country about the year 1748 when about 19 years of age. He found his way to Bath County, Ky., and soon established himself in business, being engaged in farming and milling. Having become well established in business he wooed and won Miss Jennet STEELE, with whom he was united in marriage about the year 1790. In 1812 having purchased a tract of 1800 acres of land on the waters of Caesars Creek, he emigrated to Greene County. He subsequently added to his former purchase so that he was able to settle his family around him. At this time, or shortly afterwards, his family consisted of himself, wife, mother, and 11 children from whence has sprung the numerous DEAN connection. In memory the writer of this is carried back some 40 years when his numerous family were comfortably settled around the old homestead occupying farms of their own. Of the DEANS there were Robert, William, James, Daniel, and Joseph. Of the daughters; Mrs. James MOORE, Mrs. Hugh CAMPBELL, Mrs. James CAMPBELL, Mrs. John BICKETT, Mrs. Walter PERRY, and Mrs. James HOPPING. Mr. DEAN at the time alluded to is remembered as a sprightly old man; and rather communicative, many personal reminiscences might be related. I will only mention one for the benefit of that much abused class of persons, mothers-in-law. Mr. DEANS mother and sister soon followed him to this country, and became his house keepers. As a good condition to the agreement of his marriage, his father-in-law required him to build a separate house for his mother and sister, which condition was completed with, but the house was never occupied. His mother, whose maided name was Mary CAMPBELL, was born about the year 1740, and continued to dwell under his roof till the day of her death in August 1826. Much has been said in praise of this mother and it cannot be doubted that much of Mr. DEANS success in life was due to his mother. She now sleeps in DEAN Cemetery and it was proposed to erect over her remains on the occassion of the late picnic, a fine granite monument to her memory. Unfortunately the necessary arrangements could not be made in time, but will be sometime in the near future. The DEAN Cemetery occupies an elevated piece of ground and contains three-fourths of an acre of land. It is surrounded by a heavy stone wall laid in mortar and apparentaly of a durability to last hundreds of years. There is but a single entrance through an iron gate. May the DEAN picnic be continued. Debbie(I have no connection with the family) I found this article and thought it might help someone on the list ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.