The Mission of the Historical Society
The Mission of the Clinton County Historical Society is to encourage community involvement in the preservation, education, and promotion of Clinton County history and genealogy for the benefit of all people for present and future generations. A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the Society was chartered in 1948 and is governed by a Board of Trustees.
Historical Society Board of Trustees
Mary Kay Vance, President
Mary Kay (McMillan) Vance was born and raised in Clinton County on the family’s Gurneyville Road farm. The McMillan ancestors settled in Chester Township in 1805 and the family still owns some of the original land along with the land grant signed by George Washington. Mary Kay is a graduate of Clinton Massie High School and Ohio Northern University’s Dicke School of Business with a Bachelor of Administration and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After 32 years as the City of Wilmington’s deputy auditor, she was elected and currently holds the position as Wilmington’s City Auditor. She has served locally on the boards of the American Cancer Society, The Murphy Theatre, Main Street Wilmington, Downtown Wilmington Community Improvement Corporation, Clinton County Adult Day Center, Local Emergency Planning Committee, and as the Public Information Officer for the Emergency Management Agency.
Judge John William "Tim" Rudduck, Vice President
Tim was raised in Clinton County, attended Miami University, served two years in the United States Army upon graduation, and then received a juris doctorate from the Ohio State University’s Law School in 1976. Upon returning to Wilmington with his wife Les Lee in 1978, they raised three children in their hometown. Tim has been a judge since 1985, originally serving for fifteen years as the Clinton County Municipal Court Judge. Since 2001 he has served on the bench of the Clinton County Common Pleas Court.
Nicki Bennett, Secretary
Wilmington native, Nicki Bennett, has a passion for genealogy and local History. She has been a teacher at Lynchburg-Clay for over twenty years.
Patricia Herron, Treasurer
Patti Herron is a shareholder in the firm of Wagenseller, Foley, Hollingsworth & Co., Certified Public Accounts. Since 1984, she has been actively engaged in providing accounting, tax, management advisory services and financial and estate planning to a wide variety of closely held companies and individuals. Patti has a practice emphasis in agri-business accounting and farm tax planning and advisory services.
Harry Brumbaugh, Trustee
A graduate of Blanchester High School, Harry received his Bachelor Degree from Morehead State University and his Masters in Education from Xavier University. He taught social studies at Blanchester for 30 years, served as a member of Village Council for 6 years, and served as Mayor of Blanchester for 8 years. Harry and his wife Judy have two daughters.
Reilly Hopkins, Trustee
Reilly Hopkins is a life long resident of Clinton County and resides in Blanchester. Reilly has served on the Blanchester Village Council since January of 2018, he has spent most of that time as the President of Council. Since graduating from College in 2020 where he obtained his undergrad, splitting time at the University of Cincinnati and Wilmington College, Reilly has worked in Vendor Management and currently works as a Sales Executive. Mr. Hopkins enjoys playing golf, attending UC athletic & booster events, taking walks, reading, spending time with family, studying history, and thrifting.
Darlene Kassner, Trustee
Darlene (Rogers) Kassner grew up in Midland and Blanchester Ohio. She is a graduate of Blanchester High School and a graduate of Wilmington College with a degree in Elementary and Secondary Education. She received her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Xavier University. She was a sixth grade teacher in the Fayetteville School District in Brown County before accepting the position of Principal at Jefferson Elementary in the Blanchester School District. She then was the Treasurer of the Blanchester District from 2003 until her retirement in 2019. Darlene is active in the Blanchester Area Historical Society, Grace United Methodist Church, Jefferson High School Alumni, and the Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoys doing genealogy, cooking and being outdoors. Darlene and her husband Mike love to travel to historic places, attend Prehistoric Indian Artifact Shows and be with family.
Andrew McCoy, Trustee
Andrew was born and raised in Clinton County. He graduated Wilmington High School in 1995, and later attended Ohio University and University of Dayton School of Law. Andrew has been with the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office since 2008 and the elected County Prosecutor since January 1, 2021. He is also a partner at Peelle McCoy Law Offices Company. When he is not working, he and his wife spend most of their free time attending their sons’ sporting events.
Keith Orejel, Trustee
Keith Orejel is an Assistant Professor of History at Wilmington College where he teaches a variety of courses on American History, the Civil War and Reconstruction, as well as African American Studies and the Cold War. Keith splits his time between Ohio and Michigan, where his wife currently resides. He is a 2015 alumna of Columbia University where he earned his Ph.D. in History with a focus on Colonial America and the Early Republic. Keith was nominated for the 2016 Society of American Historians’ Allan Nevins Prize for best-written American history dissertation. He is currently under contract with the University of Pennsylvania Press for an upcoming book: Factories in the Fallows: Rural and Small-Town Politics in the American Heartland. He has written numerous articles and papers, as well as public presentations. His most recent fellowship was as a Postdoctoral Teacher at the University of Missouri from 2015-2017. Keith is currently both a member of the American Historical Association and Business History Conference.
Lauren Raizk, Trustee
Lauren is a lifelong resident of Wilmington. She graduated from Wilmington High School, Wilmington College, and Capital University Law School. She became a Magistrate in the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas in 2022, and was formerly in the private practice of law for 17 years. She is a member of Wilmington Friends Meeting.
Christine Snyder, Trustee
Christine Hadley Snyder was born in the c1830 farmhouse built by her great-great-great grandfather Eli Harvey (1803-1872), which she now maintains as a family museum and event venue, and manages the family farms. She was a birthright member of Springfield Friends Meeting, where in the burial ground lie seven generations of her ancestors. She attended all twelve years at Adams Township School, and earned a B.Sc. Degree in science education from OSU and a B.A. in Spanish and a Master of Humanities from Wright State, plus additional work in veterinary practice management. She and her husband served in the Peace Corps 1964-66. She has taught high school and university, and served as CFO of her husband’s veterinary clinic for 31 years. She served on the Wilmington College Board of Trustees for twelve years, the final four years as Chair. She has served as President of the Clinton County Genealogical Society and volunteers in the research library. She is currently working on the Quaker Scenic Byway project and serves on the Board of Energize Clinton. She and her husband love to travel the world, including visiting their three grown sons and six grandchildren.
Renee Walker, Trustee
Renee is a graduate of the University of Toledo, where she studied Business Administration. She is the Branch Manager for Peoples Bank in Downtown Wilmington. She is very involved in her community. In addition to her involvement with the History Center, she is the Vice President of Main Street Wilmington, a board member for Outstanding Woman of Clinton County, and a graduate of Leadership Clinton. She resides in Warren County with his Husband and 2 young children. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors with kayaking, swimming and hiking.
Shelby Boatman
Executive Director
Graduating from Wilmington High School, Shelby is a Clinton County native. Shelby earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science from Ashland University. She is an Ashbrook Scholar Alumna and Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Scholar. Earning her Master of Arts Degree in Public History, Shelby graduated from Northern Kentucky University. She is a former Leadership Clinton 2020 graduate, Clinton County Outstanding Women Keynote Speaker, Wilmington Noon Rotarian, and past Public History Adjunct Professor at Wilmington College. Currently, she is a member of the George Clinton Chapter – Daughters of the American Revolution, contributing columnist for the Wilmington News Journal, member of the Cape May Advisory Board, and Outstanding Women of Clinton County committee member. In her second term as Region 8 co-representative for Ohio Local History Alliance, Shelby aids history organizations in Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, and Warren counties. Shelby’s dream of developing a living history cemetery walk to life was made possible in 2021 as a result of the ever popular “Talking Tombstones” reenactment event at Sugar Grove Cemetery. She currently lives in Wilmington with her family and enjoys traveling to historical sites in her spare time as well as pheasant hunting, reading, and watching true crime documentaries. Shelby’s passion lies in sharing her knowledge with others in the public history field to help improve the profession and support the important work that historians, historical societies, and other champions of history do on a daily basis.
Bev Beireis
Collections Manager
Bev, a Clinton County native, grew up in New Vienna where her family owned and operated the “Daye Hardware Store” for 40 plus years. Bev graduated from East Clinton History School and attended the Cincinnati Christian University where she studied Business Administration and Deaf Education. Bev came to the History Center with a background in the banking industry after working for National Bank & Trust Company for over 30 years. Bev is a member of the Wilmington Lions Club and the Wilmington Church of Christ. Bev and her husband, John, live in the Wilmington area and enjoy traveling, camping, and spending time with family. In looking at her career at the History Center, Bev noted that what she enjoys most has been hearing the stories from various people who have graced the doors of the History Center, as “everyone you meet has their own life story to tell”.
Molly Boatman
Volunteer Multimedia Specialist
Earning her Associates Degree from the School of Advertising Art, now known as the Modern College of Design, Molly resides in Wilmington with her pet Chinchillas and currently operates her own freelance graphic design business. Passionate about art, graphics, and assisting non-profits, she generously donates her time and talents to the History Center regarding social media maintenance, in-house design work, and more.
Mark Huber
Archives Assistant
Mark Huber became the sports editor of the Wilmington News Journal in 1987 after working at the newspaper since the late 1970s as a part-time sportswriter. While at the News Journal, he has served in various capacities, including editor, assistant editor, general assignment reporter and in the graphics department. In his 32 years as the sport editor, Huber has earned numerous writing and photography awards from the Associated Press, the OPSWA and across the newspaper company. He lives in Wilmington with his wife, Elizabeth, and children Gehrig, Adalee and Aaron. His current role at the History Center is that of Archives Assistant which includes digitizing nearly 10,000 collection items for our PastPerfect Online museum system. Through his work we are hopeful a variety of important local history documents, photographs, and over visual media can be saved for the distant future.
About the Museum at Rombach Place
Housed in a mid-1800s residence, Clinton County History Center has a two story touring museum. The home was purchased by Matthew Rombach (General Denver’s father-in-law) in 1855, and is also referred to as Rombach Place Museum. The museum features rotating exhibits that highlight different artifacts and textiles in the collection as well as Clinton County’s rich local history. Exhibits also include the largest collection of Eli Harvey, internationally known Quaker artist, paintings and sculpture; Carl Moon photographs; artifacts of General Denver’s military and political career; children’s toys; prehistoric Native American objects and more. For the researcher: there is an extensive collection of textiles and Quaker artifacts available for scholarly research; please provide advanced notice so these items can be pulled from storage. The Clinton County History Center is handicapped accessible, with an elevator and wheelchair if necessary.
Membership and Giving Opportunities
The Clinton County Historical Society is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization governed by a Board of Trustees. Membership in the society is open to all with an interest in the history of our community. Membership is available at several levels and provides a range of membership benefits. The Clinton County Historical Society relies on donations, memberships, bequeaths, memorials, admission, special events, tours and return on investments for its operating funds. The organization does not receive operational funds or continuous support from the local county, city, or state levels.
You can support Clinton County history with a tax-deductible financial gift. Many giving opportunities are available. If you would like to contribute, please make your check payable to the Clinton County Historical Society, with your choice of giving on the memo line. Send to PO Box 529, Wilmington, OH 45177. If you have any questions, please contact Executive Director Shelby Boatman at (937) 382-4684 or via email.
Annual Giving: Contributions to the Clinton County Historical Society’s Annual Giving Fund are an investment in our role as a historical and cultural institution. Revenue generated from this fund goes to support the operations of the Society, including preservation supplies for our collections, educational materials and exhibit preparation and installation.
Bequeath or Memorials: Bequeaths and memorials to the Clinton County Historical Society can honor your passion for Clinton County history or honor a friend or loved one’s life and passion for the past. No gift is too small. Please contact our Director at 937-382-4684 to discuss this opportunity in more depth.
Planned Giving: Numerous options are available through Planned Giving. While we cannot provide financial or legal advice, we would be happy to meet with you and your advisor to discuss your gift plan.
Policies
Archives
Archives
The research library has a comprehensive collection of genealogy material. The History Center also maintains archives of photographs; scrapbooks; manuscripts; Township ledgers; club and organization records; topical files; historic buildings; school, business and church/meeting information. We believe the collection and archives should be used to advance knowledge and can be made accessible to serious students and scholars for research. Access to our collection is secondary to its preservation, and will be given or denied by the Director. If you would like to inquire about access, please contact us by phone or email prior to arrival.
Research Requests
Research Requests
For research requests regarding Clinton County history, not related to genealogy, please contact the History Center at (937) 382-4684 or e-mail us at [email protected].
Genealogical Research
Requests for genealogical research should be sent via email to [email protected] or in writing to:
The Clinton County Genealogical Society PO Box 529 Wilmington, OH 45177
Research inquiries are directed to one of our volunteers, who are onsite 2-3 days weekly. We attempt to answer short, clear and direct questions. A $25 donation toward your research request is requested. Your donation is used to help afford additional preservation supplies and needed equipment. Volunteers do not receive monetary compensation for their work.
Requests for information should include:
- Your Name
- Mailing Address
- Phone #
- Reason for Request (describe who or what you are looking for)
- Copy of your Pedigree Chart or Family Group Sheet (if possible) so we know what information you have already compiled.
- $.25 per page copy, if more than 10 pages are requested/sent.
If you wish for more extensive research, you may want to contact a paid researcher.
Room Rental and Photography Policies
Photography:
The Clinton County History Center makes images available for a single use, specific project or production. Images furnished by CCHC may not be resold, licensed, rented or reused in any other production or for any purpose other than originally specified. All requests for photographic reproduction must be submitted to the Executive Director. There is a $10.00 use fee per photograph, plus reproduction costs. The Clinton County History Center reserves the right to refuse any requests.
Room Rental:
Davids Conference & Community Room
Business Hours – (W – F, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 2:00p.m.)
Room may be only rented for organization meetings and educational purposes/programming at a rate of $25 an hour. The price of renting has increased due to COVID-19 incurred costs and increased sanitization demands. Room can accommodate around 90 people. Includes Kitchenette (fridge, microwave, sink, dishes, etc), chairs, tables, and tablecloths (if needed). Climate controlled heating and A/C. Private restrooms and secluded space with rental.
Non-Business Hours – Please contact us to discuss availability of non-business hour rentals.
The History Center retains right of refusal.
Clinton County Historical Society Collections
General James W. Denver
Civil War general, territorial governor and potential presidential candidate, James W. Denver personified “manifest destiny.” A room of the museum contains General Denver’s personal library and artifacts from his military and governmental careers. Born in 1817 near Winchester, Virginia, he and his family moved west to a farm near Wilmington in 1831. After receiving a degree from the Cincinnati Law School, he moved to Platte City, Mo., and opened a law office with a partner. Always in motion, Denver recruited a volunteer infantry in the war against Mexico and served under Gen. Winfield Scott. He led a party overland to California during the Forty-niner gold rush. He served in the California State Senate, was appointed secretary of state from California and elected to Congress from California in 1855. That same year he married Catherine Rombach, daughter of Matthew Rombach of Wilmington where the couple made their home. Involved in national politics, Denver served as commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1857, governor of the Kansas Territory during the era of “Bleeding Kansas,” and in the Civil War became brigadier general of all federal troops in Kansas. In the later years of Denver’s career, he organized a Washington, D.C., law firm representing Indians against the U.S. government for treaty violations. Upon his death, he was buried in the Denver Family plot located in Sugar Grove Cemetery (Wilmington). The home where he and Catherine resided, Rombach Place, while raising their family still stands and has been the location of the Clinton County Historical Society’s museum since 1955.
Eli Harvey, Artist and Sculptor
Eli Harvey, internationally known artist and sculptor, was born Sept. 23, 1860, near Springfield Friends Meeting in Clinton County, and died Feb. 10, 1957, at his home and studio in Alhambra, Calif. His ashes are buried at the Harvey family lot in Springfield Friends Cemetery.
Before his death, Harvey gave many of his paintings and bronzes to the historical society.
The collection of paintings and sculpture shown in the gallery at Rombach Place are by Harvey including a bronze copy of a bull elk, symbol of the Order of Elks, commissioned in 1904.
Specializing in the sculpture of animals, Harvey’s credits include Brown University’s mascot, “Brown bear,” the J.C. Penney bull for mail order merchant James C. Penney, and decorations for the lion house at the New York Zoological Park.
Carl Moon, Photographer of the Southwest
Our large display case located inside the Native American Heritage Exhibit provides a gallery for the photographs of Southwest Indians taken by Carl Moon in the early 1900s. Originally from Wilmington, Moon was among the first to photograph American Indians in their homelands. Drawn to the Southwest by his abiding interest in Indian culture and an intense desire to preserve what he saw as a vanishing way of life, he spent many years traveling and taking pictures among the various tribes, primarily in Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma. His wife, Grace Purdie Moon, once remarked, “Mr. Moon and I like to write about Indians and picture them because I think way down in our hearts, we almost wish we were Indians ourselves.”
Native American Heritage
A new exhibit featuring numerous arrowheads, projectile points and prehistoric items found in Clinton County, Ohio. This room was brought to live with the help of intern Mikaela Prescott, a former history and public history major at Wilmington College who graduated in the Spring of 2021. A reproduction of the historic Wilmington Tablet is on display as well as a number of portraits taken by renowned photographer and Clinton County native, Carl Moon. Prehistoric fossils and archeology records by Dr. George Austin are featured along with a +10,000 year old wooly mammoth tusk donated by the family of Lucile Fisher Hadley.
The Toy Room
Reflecting play from the mid-1800s to the early 20th century, the toy room features toys that were used for play as well as beyond, such as for memorializing a lost loved one. This room contains dolls, carriages, play dishes, a carpentry box, scooters, marbles, and more. Made of porcelain, glass, wood, tin and cast iron, these toys were made to last a lifetime.
The Textile Room
The Textile Room includes a variety of Quaker (the Society of Friends) quilts and coverlets. Quakers played an early and prominent role in the settlement of Clinton County. Quaker influence remains today with over a half dozen active Quaker meetings in Clinton County. In 1870, a Society of Friends purchased the struggling Franklin College and established the Quaker college Wilmington College. Of particular interest in the Textile Room is the abolitionist quilt, circa 1842, made by abolitionist Quakers in Clinton County and Newport, Indiana. Measuring about six feet square, each of its 16 blocks is signed by its Quaker woman maker.
While the quilt’s exact cause for creation remains unknown, scholar Ricky Clark, in the craft magazine “Piecework” (July/August 1995), suggests it was made by the women to strengthen bonds between the two Friends meetings during the abolition separation of 1843, “when Quakers were so divided over the question of abolition that members left or were excluded from the particular Quaker meetings to which they belong.”
Artifacts, Clothing, Furnishings, and Photograph Repositories
The Society has a large textile collection (not on public display) and periodically features different eras of fashion. We also house a large photography collection which features historical images from across Clinton County, ranging from the early 1800s to more present. The photography repository is not open to public, but images are available for reproduction. Many of these images are featured weekly in our Throwback Thursday partnership with the Wilmington News Journal. Reproductions can be made in-house with 4×6 and 5×7. Should you need large images, a USB flash drive can be provided and copies made elsewhere. The Society does ask for a minimum $10/per image reproduction donation, which is used to purchase new archival materials and supplies for the images.
