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BIOGRAPHICAL 


Historical  Sketches 


IRRATIVli    OF 


HAMILTON  AND  ITS  RESIDENTS 


FROM   1792  TO  1S96 


STEPHEN  D.  CONE 


ILLUSTRATED 


HAMILTON,  OHIO 

REPUBLICAN  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


DEDICATED  TO 

HERBERT  E.  TWITCHED 

AN  ABLE  PHYSICIAN,  A  GENTLEMAN  AND 
POLISHED  SCHOLAR 


1138988 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 

It  is  not  an  easy  task  to  make  a  history.  It  is  said  that 
history  records  itself.  It  does,  but  men  and  periods  and 
individualities  pass  into  time  and  the  identities,  the  individuals, 
the  associations,  the  manner  of  life,  the  manner  of  business, 
the  recollections  and  history  too  often  pass  to  oblivion  Ham- 
ilton is  historic.  The  pioneers  who  made  and  the  men  who 
make  it  now  are  all  worthy  of  immortal  record.  This  history 
ought  to  have  been  written,  in  complete  form,  years  ago.  It 
has  taken  years  of  investigation  to  accumulate  the  matter  of 
which  this  volume  is  made  up.  The  sole  aim  of  the  author 
has  been  accuracy  and  brevity.  Especial  care  has  been  exer- 
cised as  to  fidelity  to  facts.  It  is  esteemed  a  priceless  privi- 
lege to  pay  this  feeble  but  just  tribute  to  the  pioneers  of  Ham- 
ilton, and  the  author's  first  and  only  thought  and  effort  in  the 
issue  of  this  modest  volume  is  to  put  into  enduring  type,  facts 
heretofore  unknown  to  publication,  to  present  a  collection  of 
facts  of  history  heretofore  unpublished  and  uncollected,  and  to 
place  in  collected  form  a  pen  picture  of  the  men  who  have 
made  Hamilton  and  are  making  its  history  now. 

Much  assistance  has  been  derived  from  Thomas  Millikin, 
Samuel  Shaffer,  J.  M.  Johnson  and  Jacob  Stillwaugh.  To 
Dr.  William  C.  Miller  for  valuable  aid,  our  gratitude  is  deep. 
Our  thanks  are  due  to  Captain  Philip  Rothenbush,  Walter  h. 
Tobey,  Frank  E.  Brandt  and  W.  O.  Millikin  for  valuable  ser- 
vice rendered. 

Hamilton,  September,  i8g6. 


HISTORY  OF  HAMILTON. 

Hamilton,  lying  in  the  midst  of  the  far  famed  and  his- 
toric garden  spot  of  America  —  the  Miami  Valley,  surrounded 
by  the  best  country  that  the  world  affords  stands  second  to 
none.  A  city  which  claims  for  its  children,  many  of  the 
greatest  men  the  American  nation  has  produced.  Men  who 
sat  in  the  highest  tribunals,  men,  whose  patriotism  led  them 
to  shed  their  blood  on  many  a  field  in  the  holy  cause  of  liberty. 
Men  whose  war  cry  was  "for  God  and  native  land,"  and  whose 
deeds  of  valor  made  tyrants  tremble  on  their  throne. 

From  such  ancestral  stock  came  the  first  residents  of  this 
city.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  with  such  example  to  emulate, 
that  the  town  of  Hamilton  has  produced  such  good  citizens? 

Looking  backward,  let  us  examine  some  of  the  "footprints 
on  the  sands  of  time"  delve  into  our  history  and  traditions 
that  have  gone  to  mingle  with  the  years  beyond  the  flood. 

The  route  of  General  St.  Clair  in  his  disastrous  campaign 
in  1 79 1  passed  through  Butler  County.  In  September  of 
that  year  Fort  Hamilton  was  built.  It  was  a  stockade,  with 
bastions  and  platforms  for  two  cannon.  Barracks  were  con- 
structed with  a  guard  room  also,  and  two  store  houses  for 
provisions.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  fort  was  completed 
in  about  fourteen  days.  The  cross  cut  saw,  the  augur  and  the 
axe  were  pressed  into  service  and  Fort  Hamilton  was  a  reality, 
and  St.  Clair's  orders  had  been  obeyed. 


6  Historical  Sketches. 

Major  Rudolph  was  placed  in  command.  He  was  a 
tyrannical  officer.  His  cruel  treatment  of  six  deserters  has 
been  published  so  often  that  we  shall  not  touch  upon  it.  There 
are  no  facts  substantiating  the  hanging  of  John  Brown  and 
Seth  Blinn. 

Fort  Hamilton  remained  occupied  as  a  garrison  until  the 
year  1796  when  the  public  stores  were  sold  at  auction,  and  the 
fort  abandoned.  After  the  treaty  of  Greenville  in  1795  many 
of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  Wayne's  army  weie  disbanded 
and  returned  to  Hamilton  about  the  first  of  June,  1795.  James 
McBride  in  his  valuable  manuscript  history  of  Hamilton, 
written  in  1831  makes  the  following  reference  to  the  old  fort: 
"Part  of  the  line  where  the  pickets  stood  can  yet  be  traced, 
and  some  of  the  buildings  of  the  garrison  remained  standing 
after  181 1." 

The  ground  on  which  the  town  of  Hamilton  is  laid  out 
within  the  tract  of  land  sold  by  the  congress  of  the  United 
States  to  John  Cleves  Symmes  in  1787  and  afterwards  con- 
veyed to  him  by  patent  bearing  date  the  30th  day  of  Septem- 
ber 1794.  The  third  entire  rarge  of  six  miles  wide  within  this 
purchase  extending  from  the  Great  Miami  to  the  Little  Miami 
was  conveyed  to  General  Jonathan  Daj^ton  by  John  Cleves 
Symmes  as  appears  by  a  deed  bearing  the  date  of  October  30, 
1794.  On  July  27,  1795,  Johnathan  Da}'ton  conveyed  the 
fractional  section  No.  two  in  township  one,  range  three  in  said 
purchase  to  Israel  Ludlow,  by  whom  the  town  of  Hamilton 
was  laid  out  on  said  fractional  section. 

In  the  year  1794  a  few  lots  were  laid  out  by  Mr.  Israel 
Ludlow  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
borhood of  the  garrison,  and  some  of  them  were  sold  to  differ- 
ent parties.  The  lots  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town  were  laid 
out  in  the  years  1796  and  1797. 

The  town  of  Hamilton  being  laid  out  under  the  govern- 
ment of  Northwest  Territory  there  was  at  that  time  no  law 
requiring  town  plats  to  be  placed  on  record,  consequently  the 
plat  of  Hamilton  was  not  recorded  at  that  time.  However,  on 
the  28th  of  April,  1802,  Israel  Ludlow   placed   the   town    plat 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  7 

on  record  in  the  county  of  Hamilton,  at  Cincinnati  where  it 
may  be  found  in  Book  E,  No.  2,  page  57.  The  most  north- 
erly block  of  lots  on  the  town  plat  are  not  laid  down  from  222 
to  242  inclusive,  hence  the  presumption  that  they  were  laid 
out  after  the  plat  was  placed  on  record. 

As  early  as  1795,  but  few  settlers  were  to  be  found  at 
Hamilton.  Among  the  very  earliest  pioneers  were  John  Greer, 
Andrew  Christy,  Benjamin  Davis,  David  C.  Orcutt,  Isaac 
Wiles  and  Benjamin  Randolph. 

In  the  April  following  in  1793,  General  Wayne  arrived  at 
Hamilton  with  his  main  army.  He  has  been  represented  as 
an  arbitrary  despotic  man.  However,  he  was  much  displeased 
with  the  conduct  of  Major  Rudolph,  and  gave  him  his  choice, 
either  to  be  cashiered,  or  to  resign  his  command. 

The  first  court  for  the  county  of  Butler  was  held  in 
Hamilton  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  July,  1803,  the  calendar 
date  being  July  12.  Subsequently  its  sittings  were  held  in 
one  of  the  old  buildings  of  the  garrison,  which  had  been 
erected  for  a  public  store  house,  the  Torrence  Tavern,  corner 
of  Water  and  Dayton  streets.  The  building  remains  in  tact 
to-day  the  same  as  it  did  in  1803,  the  property  of  G.  A.  Rent- 
schler.  The  magazine  was  converted  into  a  jail,  and  another 
of  the  old  buildings  fitted  up  for  a  clerk's  office.  The  house 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  commandant  and  officers 
was  occupied  as  a  tavern  for  the  entertainment  of  the  court 
and  bar,  and  other  persons  attending.  The  artificers  and 
barracks  were  used  for  stables,  etc. 

The  first  presiding  Judge  was  Francis  Dunlavey,  with 
James  Dunn,  John  Greer,  and  John  Kitchel  as  associate 
Judges.  Daniel  Symmes  was  prosecuting  attorney,  James 
Blackburn,  sheriff  and  John  Reily,  clerk. 

In  a  few  years  a  stone  building  was  erected  on  the  ground 
set  apart  for  a  public  square,  designed  for  a  jail  and  jailers 
house.  The  upper  part  of  this  building  was  finished  for  a 
court-room  and  the  sittings  of  the  court  were  transferred  from 
the  barracks  to  this  building. 


8  Historical  Sketches. 

A  postoffice  was  established  in  Hamilton,  August,  1804 
and  John  Reily  was  appointed  postmaster. 

In  March,  1805,  occurred  an  extraordinary  flood  in  the 
Miami  river,  which  was  ever  afterward  known  as  the  big 
flood.  The  town  of  Hamilton  was  almost  submerged  and 
great  alarm  was  felt  at  the  rising  water. 

On  October  11,  1809,  the  first  supreme  court  held  in  Butler 
county,  convened  at  Hamilton.  Samuel  Huntington  and 
William  Sprigg  were  the  judges  of  the  court,  Arthur  St.  Clair; 
prosecuting  attorney,  John  Reily,  clerk  and  William  McClellan 
sheriff. 

The  town  of  Hamilton  was  incorporated  in  the  3'ear  1810, 
and  police  and  officers  were  elected  who  organized  themselves 
and  for  four  years  continued  to  exercise  jurisdiction  and  adopt 
measures  for  the  government  of  the  town.  Owing  to  some 
irregularities  however,  in  the  proceedings  or  carelessness  on 
the  part  of  the  officers,  the  charter  became  forfeited  in  T814, 
and  so  remained  until  1827,  when  the  town  was  again  incor- 
porated together  with  Rossville  under  the  style  of  The  Trus- 
tees and  citizens  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville."  The  two  towns 
remained  under  this  one  charter  until  1831,  when  the  act  was 
so  amended  as  to  separate  the  two  towns,  and  erect  each  into 
a  corporation  by  itself. 

It  may  be  well  here  to  give  a  retrospect  of  the  appearance 
of  the  town  of  Hamilton  in  1807,  which  is  graphically  por- 
trayed by  that  eminent  historian,  James  McBride.  He  says: 
"When  I  first  visited  Hamilton  in  December,  1807,  the  im- 
provements were  principally  confined  to  near  the  margin  of  the 
river.  William  McClellan,  who  served  eight  years  as  sheriff 
of  the  county  of  Butler,  then  kept  a  tavern  in  the  old  garrison 
house,  which  had  been  erected  for  the  accomodation  of  the 
officers,  and  which  stood  on  the  bank  of  the  river  near  to  where 
the  east  end  of  the  bridge  is  at  present  (in  1831).  John  Tor- 
rence  and  William  Murray  each  kept  houses  of  entertainment 
at  the  river  on  Dayton  street.  A  store  was  kept  by  John 
Sutherland  in  the  low  ground  and  Joseph  Hough  and  Thomas 
Blair  had  a  store  near  the    south-west   corner   of  the   public 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  9 

square.  John  Reily,  clerk  of  the  court,  kept  his  office  in  a 
small  log  house  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town.  Dr.  Dan  Milli- 
kin  was  the  only  physician  then  in  Hamilton.  He  lived  in  a 
house  on  the  bank  of  the  river." 

"William  Corry,  the  only  lawyer  in  the  place,  kept  his 
office  in  the  same  building-  with  the  clerk  of  the  court.  Sev- 
eral other  lawyers,  however,  from  Cincinnati  and  Lebanon 
attended  the  sittings  of  the  courts,  among  whom  were  Jacob 
Burnett,  Arthur  W.  St.  Clair,  Ethan  Stone,  Nicholas  Long- 
worth  and  later  John  McClean,  Joshua  Coltet  and  Elias  Glover." 

"In  Hamilton  at  that  time,  nearly  all  east  of  Front  street 
was  an  impenetrable  thicket  covered  with  young  scrubby  oaks, 
black-jacks,  vines  and  hazel  bushes,  a  thicket  that  it  was  only 
in  some  parts  that  man  could  make  his  way  through  them. 
True  it  is,  paths  and  roads  were  in  some  places  cut  through 
them  to  admit  of  a  free  passage,  #  but  even  from  the  corner 
where  Mr.  Sutherland's  house  now  stands  to  the  Hamilton 
hotel,  and  where  the  court  house  now  is,  the  brush  wood  was 
very  thick,  although  this  space  had  been  occupied  by  the 
garrison  as  a  burying  ground.  The  grave  stones  and  graves 
were  discoverable  all  over  the  tract  of  ground,  and  even  since 
the  building  of  the  Hamilton  Hotel  was  erected,  a  paling  in- 
closing a  grave  was  taken  down,  which  stood  in  the  street  be- 
fore the  house." 

"It  was  then  common,  every  few  days,  to  meet  with  Ind- 
ians in  the  streets  of  Hamilton,  who  came  to  sell  their  peltries 
to  the  storekeepers.  I  recollect  once  of  a  company  of  seventy 
or  eighty  Indians  who  remained  encamped  in  the  lower  part  of 
Rossville  for  about  a  week." 

"The  improvements  in  Rossville  were  still  fewer  than  in 
Hamilton.  A  log  house,  near  where  the  west  end  of  the  bridge 
now  is,  was  occupied  as  a  tavern  and  a  ferryhouse.  Michael 
Delorac's  house  in  the  upper  part  of  town,  and  one  or  two 
log  buildings  in  the  lower  part,  comprehended  the  extent  of 
improvement.  Brush-wood,  elder  bushes  and  high  weeds 
occupied  the  remaining  parts  of  the  town." 


10  Historical  Sketches. 

What  a  beatiful  pen  picture  this  is  of  Hamilton  in  1807, 
such  a  one  as  only  James  McBride  could  write. 

The  total  population  of  Hamilton  in  18 10  was  242.  The 
census  at  that  time  gives  the  following  in  detail: 

The  first  printing  press  was  brought  to  Hamilton  in  June, 
1814,  and  the  publication  of  a  weekly  newspaper,  entitled  the 
Miami  Intelligencer  was  commenced  by  Colby,  Bonnel  and  Co. 
The  first  number  of  this  paper  was  issued  from  the  press  on 
the  22nd  of  June,  1814,  and  it  was  the  first  newspaper  ever 
printed  in  Butler  County. 

In  the  year  18 12,  a  lot  was  purchased  and  a  building 
erected  for  academy  purposes  by  a  company  of  gentlemen  who 
styled  themselves  the  Hamilton  Literary  society.  Both  a  class- 
ical and  a  common  school  was  here  conducted,  and  this  was 
the  first  educational  institution  established  in  Hamilton. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  1817,  the  bank  of  Hamilton 
was  incorporated  with  a  capital  of  $300,000,  and  went  into 
operation  on  the  30th  day  of  July,  181 8.  The  capital  stock 
paid  in  was  $33,062.68.  This  institution  continued  to  do 
business  for  only  two  or  three  years,  the  pressure  of  the  times 
and  depreciating  of  bank  paper  in  the  west  forced  them  to 
direct  their  measures  towards  a  close  of  their  business. 

In  1816,  John  K.  Scott  was  awarded  a  contract  to  erect 
a  brick  court  house,  two  stories  high,  near  the  centre  of  the 
public  square.  The  contract  price  for  erection  of  this  building 
was  $10,000.00.  However,  on  the  application  of  the  con- 
tractor, who  pledged  that  he  had  lost  money  on  the  contract 
the  legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing  the  commissioners  of 
the  county  to  make  him  a  further  allowance,  of  $100,  which 
was  paid  him  making  the  whole  cost  $11,000. 

In  the  year  1816,  a  company  was  incorporated  by  the 
legislature  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  with  a  capital  of  $30,000.00, 
to  construct  a  bridge  across  the  Great  Miami  river,  at  Ham- 
ilton. The  stock  in  said  company  was  soon  subcribed  and  the 
work  commenced  in  the  summer  of  1818  and  was  completed 
so  as  to  admit  travelers  to  pass  over  the  bridge  in  December, 
1819.     The  first  tolls  were  received  December  29.    The  bridge 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  1 1 

was  a  strong  and  handsome  superstructure,  composed  of  two 
abutments,  one  on  each  side,  and  one  pier  in  the  middle  of  the 
river.  The  chord  line  of  each  was  165  feet  and  6  inches.  The 
original  contract  price  for  erecting  the  bridge  was  $17,500. 
The  directors  afterwards  deemed  it  advisable  to  put  in  an 
additional  set  of  arches  and  to  rebuild  the  wing  walls,  which 
made  the  whole  structure  $20,000. 

In  1827,  the  Miami  canal  was  constructed,  passing  on  the 
east  side  of  Hamilton,  at  the  distance  of  near  a  mile  from  the 
Miami  river  and  about  half  a  mile  from  the  inlots  of  the  town 
at  that  time.  It  was  so  far  completed  in  November,  1827,  as 
to  admit  the  passage  of  boats  from  Cincinnati  to  Middletown, 
and  on  the  7th  day  of  March,  1829,  the  first  boat  passed  from 
Dayton  to  Cincinnati  on  the  canal. 

In  February,  1828,  in  compliance  with  a  petition  from  the 
citizens  of  Hamilton,  the  legislature  of  Ohio,  authorized  the 
canal  commissioners  to  construct  a  lateral  canal  or  side  cut 
from  the  main  Miami  canal  to  the  interior  of  the  town  of 
Hamilton  and  authorized  the  commissioners,  if,  in  their  opin- 
ion, it  should  be  proper  to  contribute  out  of  the  canal  fund  the 
sum  of  $200  towards  the  completion  of  the  work.  The  residue 
of  the  expense  was  subscribed  and  raised  by  the  citizens. 

The  work  was  commenced  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1828 
and  completed  in  December.  The  whole  expenses  of  con- 
structing the  side  cut  and  basin  amounted  to  the  sum  of 
$7,489.36.  The  length  of  the  Hamilton  basin  from  the  Main 
canal  was  53  chains  and  52  links.  The  ground  on  which  it 
was  constructed  was  3  or  4  feet  lower  than  the  level  of  the 
bottom  of  the  main  canal.  It  was  120  feet  wide  at  the  bottom 
and  148  feet  wide  at  the  surface  of  the  water,  having  an  aver- 
age depth  of  1 8  or  20  feet.  On  each  side  was  a  tow-path  8  feet 
wide.  James  McBride  says  that  it  was  the  finest  artificial  body 
of  water  in  the  United  States  at  the  time  of  its  construction. 
Peter  Sayre  was  the  first  collector  of  tolls. 

Early  in  the  forties,  Hamilton  had  two  newspaper  offices, 
three  flouring  mills,  three   cotton    factories,   three   saw    mills, 


12  Historical  Sketches. 

two  foundries,  two  machine  shops  and  sixteen  merchantile  es- 
tablishments. 

Rossville  was  laid  out  in  1804  by  an  eastern  syndicate. 
At  this  date  it  contained  a  single  squatter.  The  town  site  was 
government  land.  John  Reily  acted  as  agent  for  the  owners. 
From  this  time  on  Rossville  built  up  rapidly.  Howe  in  his 
history  of  1846  says.-  "Rossville  is  a  nourishing  place,  superior 
to  Hamilton  as  a  merchantile  town". 

In  1 83 1,  there  were  in  Hamilton  and  Rossville  the  following 
business  and  professional  men: 

Lawyers 4 

Physicians 8 

Mercantile     Establishments 23 

Inns  and  Taverns 7 

Saloons  and  Restaurants 8 

Carpenters 17 

Cabinet- Makers 6 

Turners-in-wood 3 

Wheel  Wrights  3 

Bricklayers,  stone  masons,  etc 9 

Tanners  and  Curryers 5 

Saddlers  and  Turn-Makers 5 

Boot  and  shoe  Makers 9 

Hatters 3 

Tailors 2 

Watchmakers  and  Silversmiths 2 

Blacksmiths 6 

Below  we  give  as  complete  a  list  as  possible  of  Hamilton 
and  Rossville  business  houses  from  the  earliest  date.  We 
begin  with  Rossville,  as  its  mercantile  trade  up  to  1852  was 
larger  than  that  of  Hamilton. 

The  Miami  House,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  "A"  streets, 
better  known  as  the  Straub  House,  was  erected  by  John 
Winton  who  carried  on  the  business  for  a  number  of  years, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  John  J.  Walker.  He  was  followed 
by  Peter  Schertz,  Mike  Huffman  and  Fred.  Wehrnhorn. 
Early  in  the  sixties,  the  building  was  purchased  by  Felix 
Straub,  who  remodeled  it  and  changed  its  name  to  the  Straub 
House.  The  house  soon  gained  a  reputation  second  to  none. 
The  west  room  of  this  building  was  occupied  at  various  times 
as  a  store  by  William    Anderson,    George    L,outhan,  Christian 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  13 

Rothenbush   and  Daniel  Sortman  who  subsequently   removed 
it  to  the  Odd  Fellow  building. 

On  what  is  now  known  as  the  Boettinger  lot,  Matthew 
Winton  kept  an  iron  store— the  only  one  in  Butler  County. 
Daring  the  summer  of  1847,  his  cellar  was  filled  with  empty  lard 
barrels.  The  flood  of  that  year  filled  the  cellar,  broke  the 
joist  and  forced  the  floor  from  its  position,  damaging  his  stock 
considerably. 

David  Jacoby  engaged  in  the  hardware  and  iron  business 
in  a  building  on  the  site  of  the  Cass  Hardware  Co.  Subse- 
quently D.  J.  T.  Smyers  purchased  an  interest  in  this  store. 
Late  in  the  fifties  Jacoby  sold  out  and  removed  to  Illinois,  when 
Mr.  Smyers  tore  down  the  old  frame  building  and  built  a 
handsome  two-story  brick,  where  he  continued  in  business  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death.  His  sons,  James  P.  and  Willard 
succeeded  to  the  business. 

The  next  building  west  was  used  as  a  bakery  by  Henry 
Shuler.  He  sold  out  to  his  brother  George,  in  1848  and  went 
to  California.  Henry  Shuler  on  his  return  trip  from  the 
Golden  State,  took  passage  on  the  ill-fated  vessel,  Central 
America,  which  went  down  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean  about 
seventy  miles  east  of  Savannah.  He  was  saved  by  jumping 
into  the  ladies'  life  boat.  He  now  resides  at  Oakland,  Califor- 
nia, where  he  owns  and  operates  a  large  brewery.  Gus  Oetterer 
succeeded  George  Shuler. 

Jacob  Traber  opened  a  store  in  the  Millikin  building.  He 
had  large  interests  in  Cincinnati  and  sold  out  toO.  &  J.  Traber. 
Samuel  Millikin  and  his  father,  at  different  periods,  occupied 
this  building  for  store  and  post-office. 

The  Curtis  building,  in  times  past,  has  been  occupied  by 
Elliott  and  Glenny,  pork  packers,  for  a  general  merchandise 
store;  Joseph  Curtis,  dry  goods;  N.  G.  Curtis,  dry  goods  and 
clothing;  R.  L,.  Howard,  gun  store;  Fred  Mueller,  tailor  shop, 
and  O.  &  J.  Traber. 

The  P.  G.  Smith  drug  store  was  located  in  the  only  four 
story  building  in  Hamiltou.  Kennedy  &  McElwee,  succeeded 
Mr.  Smith.     The  following  named   gentlemen    have    at    inter- 


14  Historical  Sketches. 

vals  owned  and  operated  this  drug  store:  A.  G.  Clark,  Chris. 
Rothenbush,  Weller  &  Alexander,  Weller  &  Ridenour,  Frank 
Puthoff,  Knox  Bros.,  J.  R.  Brown.  J.  R.  Chadwick  and  B.  S. 
James.  In  1874  it  was  removed  to  the  corner  of  Main  and  B 
streets,  where  it  remains  to-day,  the  property  of  Dr.  William 
C.  Miller. 

James  Kossman  and  William  Taylor,  one  door  west  of  P. 
G.  Smith's  drug  store,  manufactured  saddlery  on  a  large  scale. 
The  Indians  came  in  from  the  reservations  for  trading  purpos- 
es and  purchased  big  quantities  of  goods  from  the  firm  of 
Rossman  and  Taylor.  The  room  was  subsequently  used  by 
Peter  L,.  Walker  for  the  same  purpose.  Date  in  the  fifties  he 
closed  out  and  removed  to  Franklin. 

In  the  adjoining  room  Adam  Abel  opened  a  tin  store,  but 
failed  in  a  short  time.  The  second  story  rooms  were  occupied 
by  Col.  Thomas  Moore  as  his  law  office  and  William  Harper 
as  a  tailor  shop.  J.  R.  and  W.  H.  Traber  opened  a  dry  goods 
and  clothing  store  in  the  room  vacated  by  Adam  Abel.  Sub- 
sequently they  removed  to  the  Odd  Fellow  building.  Peter 
Becker  occupied  this  room  for  the  sale  of  ready  made  clothing. 

Andrew  McCleary  erected  a  large  brick  building  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  B  streets,  for  a  grocery  and  rectifying  es- 
tablishment. An  immense  amount  of  whisky  was  rectified 
here  and  shipped  on  fiat  boats  to  Cincinnati.  The  store  did  a 
thriving  business.  L,ouis  Sohngen  and  Henry  Waltner  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  McCleary,  then  followed  General  Richmond, 
Jonathan  Richmond,  Peter  Smith,  John  Burckey  and  John 
Holly,  and  A.  C.  Kumler  &  Co. 

In  1835,  Joseph  Wilson  conducted  a  general  store  in  an 
old  Indian  red  frame  building  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  B 
streets,  where  Rumple's  building  as  located.  He  was  post- 
master for  three  years.  In  later  years  the  building  was  occu- 
pied by  Henry  Beardsley  as  a  hat  manufactory.  Stephen 
West  and  Jack  McCain  were  his  workmen.  Afterward  Samuel 
Mars  and  John  H.  Garver  carried  on  a  stove  and  tin  store. 
One  door  north  of  this  building  was  Samuel  Shaffer's  chair 
factory.     Counterfeiting   was  carried   on  in  this  building  by  a 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  1 5 

man  named  Charles.  Detectives  were  working  the  case, 
Charles  became  alarmed  dumped  the  moulds  and  spurious 
coin  in  the  vault.  When  Rumple's  hall  was  built,  the  work- 
men found  a  bushel  of  counterfeit  dollars. 

On  the  Beatty  lot,  corner  Main  and  D  streets,  William 
Murray  operated  a  tannery.  After  its  abandonment,  William 
Mills  built  a  smith  shop  thereon. 

George  Krucker's  smith  and  wagon  shops  were  built  by 
William  Rich.  Subsequently  John  and  William  Mills  pur- 
chased it  and  carried  on  business  for  years.  They  sold  out 
to  George  Holdefer  and  removed  to  L,aFayette,  Indiana. 
After  Mr.  Holdefer's  death  George  Krucker  became  owner  of  it. 
In  the  Kennedy  building  Christy  carried  on  the  printing 
business.  He  was  drowned  in  the  Deflar  pond  while  seining. 
A.  J.  Curtis  manufactured  carriages  in  the  building  lately 
owned  by  W.  C.  Millspaugh. 

William  Clements  carried  on  shoe  making  in  a  frame 
building  on  the  north-west  corner  of  Main  and  D  streets.  He 
was  a  kind  hearted  old  gentleman.  On  the  opposite  corner 
was  James  Chapman's  store.  All  the  land  from  this  point  to 
the  Western  House  was  a  swamp. 

Near  the  corner  of  Main  and  E  streets  [John  Osborn's 
pottery  was  located.  On  D  street,  between  Main  and  Ross,  we 
find  Deleplane's  chair  factory  and  Connor's  candlejactory. 

Joshua  Deleplane,  carried  on  the  furniture  and  [undertak- 
ing business  on  Main  street  for  fourty-five  years. 

On  the  south  corner  of  Main  and  B  streets  we  find 
Michael  Morner's  boarding  and  coffee  house/~  B.  H.  Rohmann 
occupied  the  adjoining  room  with  a  jewelry  store. 

J.  and  J.  Rossman  opened  the  large  dry  goods  store.  The 
firm  dealt  extensively  in  carpets  and  queensware.  Date  in  the 
fifties  merchant  tailoring  was  added.  Fred.  Mueller  had  charge 
of  this  department. 

W.  H.  H.  Kimble  and  W.  H.  H.  Reilv,  in  the  room  ad- 
j  oining  C.  Durst,  were  rectifiers  with  a  general  line  of 
groceries.  They  had  previously  been  used  by_R.  D-  Howard, 
William  Dick  and  A.  J.  Lewis  as  a  hardware  store. 


16  Historical  Sketches. 

In  the  Beck  building  adjoining,  James  Walker,  Fisher  & 
Curtis,  Bird  &  Holly,  Russell  Potter,  A.  &  A.  Brietenbach, 
each  carried  on  the  dry  goods  business.  Beck  &  Tabler  also 
engaged  in  business  here. 

A.  G.  Clark  opened  a  drug  store  in  the  Matthias  building. 
After  he  vacated,  I.  &  J.  Matthias  removed  their  tin,  stove 
and  coppersmith  store  from  the  corner  of  Main  and  C  streets 
and  occupied  the  building. 

In  an  old  story-and-a-half  building  on  the  corner  of  Main 
and  B  streets,  was  kept  a  grocery  and  hardware   store. 

Isaac  Falconer  erected  a  frame  building  in  early  days,  at 
the  south  west  corner  of  Main  and  B  streets  and  opened  the 
Falconer  House.  Subsequently  he  sold  out  .  to  Anthony 
Hummel.  In  after  years  he  became  proprietor  of  the  Brigh- 
ton House,  Cincinnati.  J.  H.  Falconer  succeeded  Hummel. 
The  last  one  who  used  the  building  for  hotel  purposes  was 
Captain  F.  E.  Humbach.  In  the  fifties,  Wilson  H.  Doty 
opened  a  fine  restaurant  in  the  lower  rooms,  now  occupied  by 
Dr.  W.  H.  Miller  as  a  drug  store,  and  Chris.  Kaefer  as  a  bar- 
ber shop. 

The  Butler  House  was  erected  in  1833  by  C.  Rothenbush. 
An  addition  was  added  in  1836.  He  carried  on  the  business  un- 
til 1857,  when  he  sold  out  to  Cory  &  Wilson.  The  following 
well  known  men  have  operated  the  house  for  hotel  purposes: 
Abram  Rinearson,  Felix  Straub,  A.  J.  Rees,  W.  B.  Wilcox, 
F.  J.  Thornhill,  David  T.  Reily,  Daniel  Grammar,  Andrew 
Huber  and  George  Huber. 

C.  R.  Kennedy  manufactured  brushes  in  the  Broadt 
building  from  ten  to  fifteen  years. 

Spivey  &  Garver,  adjoining  Deleplane's,  carried  on  the 
gunsmith  business. 

Joseph  N.  Hannaford  opened  a  drug  store  in  the  Rumple 
building  shortly  after  its  erection.  In  1867,  he  sold  out  to  the 
Beeler  Bros. 

The  occupants  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  building  have  been  D. 
W.  Sortman,  John  and  William  Sortman,  Sortman  &  Yeakle, 
Humphry  &  McMeen  and  B.  A.  Fitzpatrick. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  1 7 

John  Sutherland  was  the  earliest  merchant  in  Hamilton. 
At  his  store  on  Front  street,  he  did  a  large  and  profitable 
business  with  the  Indians  who  came  in  from  the  surrounding 
country  to  exchange  furs. 

John  Wingate  commenced  a  store  in  a  log  house  where 
the  St.  Mary's  Church  now  stands.  He  failed  in  1806.  This 
store  was  subsequently  carried  on  by  Hough  &  Blair  and 
Kelsey  &  Blair. 

Andrew  McCltary,  Isaac  T.  Saunders,  A.  &  A.  Brieten- 
bach,  Andrew  Dingfelder  and  Michael  Freeman  have  each 
transacted  business  in  the  Heiser  building.  John  Heiser  has 
occupied  the  same  quarters   for  about  forty  years. 

H.  L,.  DufEeld's  cabinet  shop  was  in  a  frame  building  on 
the  site  of  the  Schorr  building.  Louis  Sohngen  succeeded  to 
the  business. 

Captain  John  P.  Bruck  had  a  large  merchant  tailoring  es- 
tablishment about  where  the  John  Schubert   building   stands. 

John  W.  Sohn  erected  the  brick  building  on  the  corner  of 
Water  and  High  streets.  It  was  used  as  a  leather  and  finding  store. 

Michael  Zoller's  place  has  been  occupied  by  Mr.  Beal, 
John  Donges,  L.  A.  Henes  and  John  F.  Schwenn  as  a  hotel. 

Henry  Lipphard  was  a  saloon  keeper  in  an  old  frame 
building  where  the  Universalists  Church  building  stands. 
Wolf's  hotel  was  located  one  door  west.  Afterward  Michael 
Dolan  kept  saloon  in  the  building.  It  was  here  that  the  plans 
were  laid  for  robbing  and  murdering  Jonathan  Conover.  He 
was  last  seen  alive  in  this  saloon  with  about  one  hundred 
dollars  on  his  person.  Next  morning  his  body  was  found  on 
the  riffle  just  above  the  railroad  bridge. 

The  Ohio  and  Indiana  House,  better  known  as  the  L,oh- 
mann  building,  was  erected  by  William  Lohmann  and  Peter 
Schertz.  This  hotel  commanded  a  large  and  extensive  busi- 
ness before  the  railroad  was  constructed.  It  was  a  popular  and 
famous  stopping  place  for  wagoners  from  the  west.  After- 
ward, Peter  Schertz  retired  and  carried  on  the  hotel  business 
in  the  Straub  House  in  Rossville.  William  I^ohmann  was  a 
popular  and  genial  landlord. 


18  Historical  Sketches. 

P.  T.  Norden's  cabinet  factory  was  situated  at  the  corner 
of  Front  and  Court  streets.  Alexander  Smidtman  kept  a 
coffee  house  and  inn  at  the  corner  of  High  and  Front  streets 
in  1816.  Joseph  Straub  carried  on  the  grocery  business  here 
Subsequently  Felix  Straub  and  Alex.  Richardson  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  at  this  place.  Since  the  building 
has  been  re-modeled,  A.  A.  Phillips,  J.  C  Barcalow,  and  Sohn- 
gen  &  Conner  have  occupied  it  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  Mason  House  has  been  operated  by  Benjamin  Basey, 
William  Butler,  Martin  Mason,  William  Andre  and  Captain 
George  Schramm. 

S.  D.  Garrison  was  Hamilton's  first  merchant  tailor.  He 
carried  a  large  stock  and  transacted  an  extensive  business. 
He  resided  in  the  Wurmser  cottage  opposite  the  Central  High 
School  building.  His  place  of  business  was  situated  on  High 
street  near  George  Rupp's  meat  store. 

In  1854,  Temple  &  Crawford  opened  a  carpet  store  in  the 
frame  building  where   the  Reily  block  now  stands. 

Proctor  &  Gamble  established  a  soap  factory,  near  the 
Jones  coal  yard  on  Canal  street. 

Andrew  Oyler  carried  on  the  furniture  and  undertaking 
business  in  a  frame  building  on  Court  street.  Subsequently 
Ernest  Morman  became  associated  with  him  in  business. 
Afterward  Seybold  &  Bonner  purchased  the  business. 

The  Globe  Inn,  (City  Hotel,)  was  kept  by  Captain  Israel 
Gregg,  Cleve  Straub,  Charles  Snyder,  Elias  Simpson  and  W. 
C.  Gundrum. 

H.  S.  Earhart  and  George  Tapscott  carried  on  business  in 
a  frame  building  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  High  streets. 
Afterward  James  M.  Johnson  and  James  Martin  occupied  the 
building  for  the  same  purpose.  When  the  old  building  was 
torn  down  and  the  present  one  erected  it  was  occupied  by 
Duvall  Davis  as  a  fancy  grocery;  he  was  followed  by  James 
Daugherty;  then  came  J.  W.  Davis  &  Co.  with  a  dry  goods 
store.     D.  W.  Fitton  &  Co.  occupy  the  building  to-day. 

After  the  erection  of  Beckett's  hall  the  store  rooms  were 
occupied  by  H.  &  W.  C.  Frechtling  as  a  dry  goods  and  grocery 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  19 

store,  Simon  Fischer,  dry  goods,  P.  P.  L,aTourette,  drug  store, 
John  Crawford  carpet  store  and  the  Hamilton  bank. 

The  Boston  bakery  was  started  by  C.  E.  Reed  of  Boston. 
Bader  &  Schwartz  purchased  the  store  early  in  the  sixties. 

Jacob  Miller  opened  the  first  stock  of  ready  made  clothing 
in  Hamilton,  on  High  street,  opposite  the  court  house. 

At  the  corner  of  High  and  Reily  streets  Owens,  Ebert  & 
Dyer  conducted  a  stove  and  tin  store.  Philip  Hartman  was 
their  successor. 

James  Basey  carried  on  a  restaurant,  saloon  and  billiard 
room  in  the  Miami  building.  The  third  story  was  used  for 
theaters  and  entertainments. 

James  B.  Thomas  had  a  general  store  at  the  southeast 
corner  or  High  and  Second  streets.  The  post  office  was  kept 
in  this  building  by  Mr.  Thomas  for  nearly  thirty  years. 

Henry  Beardsley  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  and 
selling  hats  in  a  frame  building  on  the  site  of  William 
Winkler's  store,  which  he  subsequently  built. 

The  Jackson  building  was  first  occupied  by  James  Jack- 
son &  Co.,  as  a  dry  goods  and  tailor  emporium.  William  O. 
Shank  succeeded  him.  The  room  is  now  occupied  by  the  E. 
B.  Rogers'  Furniture  Co. 

John  Stillwaugh's  bakery  was  located  one  door  west  of 
Jackson  &  Co.  He  carried  on   business  in  this  room  for  years. 

Thomas  Enyart  carried  on  a  tin  store  in  this  locality. 

Thomas  V.  Howell  and  D.  G.  L,eigh  opened  a  dry  goods 
store  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Third  and  High  streets.  Mr. 
L,eigh  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Howell  in  a  short  time.  He 
was  mayor  of  Hamilton  after  retiring  from  business. 

Wilson  &  Bigham  were  extensive  pork  packers  and  occu- 
pied the  building  adjoining  Henes'  hat  store  for  general  mer- 
chandise; next  came  George  P.  Bell,  then  Joseph  Watkins. 

George  W.  MoAdams,  J.  W.  Davis  and  McAdams  &  Har- 
gittat  different  periods,  kept  store  in  the  Thomas  Fitton  room. 

Dr.  C.  Markt's  drug  store  was  opened  by  John  O.  Brown. 
J.  W.  Baldridge  carried  on  the  business  for  a  short  time  when 
he  sold  out  to  Dr.  Markt. 


20  Historical  Sketches. 

Pork  packing  was  an  immense  industry  in  Hamilton  up 
to  1852.  The  following  pork  houses  were  located  on  the  north 
and  south  sides  of  the  basin,  when  its  terminus  was  at  Third 
street:  J.  &  J.  Fisher,  Beatty  &  Tapscott,  J.  M.  &  S.  Johnson, 
John  S.  Gordon  and  George  P.  Bell. 

Peter  Jacobs  &  John  O.  Brown  were  in  partnership  in  the 
drug  and  stationary  business  late  in  the  fifties.  They  occupied 
the  George  Rupp  room  and  the  one  lately  vacated  by 
Captain  Philip  Rothenbush. 

Henry  Achey,  Martin  Mason,  Charles  Snyder  and  F.  W. 
Wehrhan  kept  tavern  in  the  Jacobs'  building,  on  the  site  of 
Howald's  Hotel. 

The  Hamilton  House  was  erected  in  181 2.  It  has  been 
kept  by  Mr.  Kennedy,  Thomas  Blair,  Hubbel  &  Sweeney, 
Samuel  Cory,  James  Basey,  Charles  Fuller,  Herman  Reutti, 
D.  T.  Reily  and  William  Bruck. 

Colonel  George  A.  Van  Degriff  opened  a  hotel  in  the 
twenties  one  door  west  of  the  Hamilton  House,  where  he  did  a 
flourishing  business.  He  brought  the  first  stove  to  Hamilton, 
at  a  cost  of  eighty  dollars.  An  expert  was  sent  from  Cincin- 
nati to  run  it.  Mr.  Van  Degriff  served  his  friends  with  a  free 
dinner  cooked  on  this  stove. 

The  residents  in  Hamilton  in  18 10,  according  to  the  cen- 
sus, were  210.  and  those  in  Rossville,  84. 

John  Reily  was  clerk  of  the  courts,  and  agent  for  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  town  of  Rossville;  John  Sutherland  was  a  store- 
keeper, as  were  Joseph  Hough  and  Thomas  Blair;  William 
Murray  kept  a  hotel,  and  so  did  John  Torrence  and  John  Win- 
gate;  William  McClellan  kept  a  public  house;  Isaac  Stanley 
hept  a  hotel;  John  Greer  was  an  associate  judge,  and  James 
Heaton  was  the  county  surveyor.  The  other  names  from  this 
side  of  the  river  were  George  Snider,  Anderson  Spencer,  Oliver 
Stephens,  Captain  Azarias  Thorn,  Daniel  Hill,  Paul  Bonnell, 
William  Riddle,  Isaac  Wiles,  Gardner  Vaughn,  George  Harlan, 
Mrs.  Davis,  Barnabas  McCarron,  Mr.Hagan,  and  Hugh  Wilson. 

In  Rossville,  there  were  Michael  Delorac,  father  of  Alex- 
ander Delorac;  John  Aston,  Robert  Taylor,  John  Taylor,  John 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  21 

Hall,  Isaac  Moss,  James  Ross,  Archibald  Talbert,  the  ferry- 
man, Moses  Conner,  Leonard  Garver,  Samuel  Spivey  and  Sam- 
uel Ayres. 

The  population  of  Hamilton,  as  shown  by  census  in  1810, 
was  242,  and  of  Rossville  84.  At  the  next  decennial  census, 
in  1820,  it  was  all  included  under  the  name  of  Hamilton,  and 
the  population  numbered  660  souls.  In  1830,  at  the  next  cen- 
sus, the  population  of  Hamilton  had  increased  to  1,072,  and 
Rossville  again  appeared  with  629  inhabitants. 

THE;  MIAMI  CANAL. 

In  February,  1820,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  of 
Ohio,  appointing  three  commissioners  to  locate  a  navigable 
canal  between  L,ake  Erie  and  the  Ohio  river.  The  law  was  a 
dead  letter  as  the  commissioners  were  never  appointed. 
January  31,  1822  a  supplementary  act  was  passed,  and  the 
following  gentlemen  were  appointed:  Benjamin  Tappan,  Alfred 
Kelley,  Thomas  Worthington,  Ethan  Allen  Brown,  Jeremiah 
Morrow,  Isaac  Miner,  and  Ebenezer  Buckingham,  Jr.,  commis- 
sioners, "whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  cause  such  examinations, 
surveys,  and  estimates  to  be  made  by  the  engineer  as  aforesaid 
as  may  be  necessary  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  connect- 
ing L,ake  Erie  with  the  Ohio  River,  by  a  canal  through  the 
following  routes,  viz.:  from  Sandusky  Bay  to  the  Ohio  River; 
from  the  Ohio  River  to  the  Maumee  River;  from  the  lake  to  the 
river  aforesaid  by  the  sources  of  the  Cuyahoga  and  Black 
Rivers  and  the  Muskingum  River;  and  from  the  lake  by  the 
sources  of  the  Grand  and  Mahoning  Rivers  to  the  Ohio  River." 

The  commissioners  on  June  27,  1825  ordered  the  following 
advertisement  issued: 

"Proposals  in  writing  will  be  received  by  the  undersigned 
at  Hamilton,  on  the  15th  of  July  next,  for  the  construction  of 
about  fifteen  miles  of  the  Miami  Canal,  extending  from  a  point 
on  the  Great  Miami  River  two  miles  above  Middletown,  to  a 
point  near  Hamilton. 

"Persons  who  are  disposed  to  contract  for  the  construc- 
tion of  any  part  of  this   work    are    invited    to    examine    the 


22  Historical  Sketches. 

ground  before  the  day  of  sale.  Any  information  as  +o  the 
character  of  the  line,  manner  of  constructing  the  work,  or  terms 
of  contracting,  may  be  had  on  application  to  Samuel  Forrer, 
Esq.,  engineer  on  the  line. 

"A  profile  of  the  line,  with  the  estimates  of  the  value  of 
the  work,  will  be  exhibited  on  the  day  of  letting,  for  the  infor- 
mation of  all  who  may  be  disposed  to  take  contracts. 

In  1825,  De  Witt  Clinton,  governor  of  New  York,  visited 
Ohio,  on  the  invitation  of  the  citizens  of  this  State,  to  be  pres- 
ent at  the  commencement  of  the  internal  improvements  of  our 
canals.  As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  he  would  be  present  in 
Hamilton  on  July  1 1 ,  the  following   invitation   was  sent   out: 

"Sir, — You  are  respectfully  invited  to  attend,  at  Hamilton, 
on  Tuesday,  the  12th  July  instant,  at  an  early  hour,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  partaking  of  a  dinner  to  be  prepared  for  their  excellen- 
cies DeWitt  Clinton  and  Jeremiah  Morrow,  governers  of  the 
States  of  New  York  and  Ohio.  Invite  any  of  your  friends  who 
can  make  it  convenient  to  attend  with  you. 

"By  order  of  the  committee  of  arrangement. 

"Lewis  P.  Sayre,  Chairman. 
" Hamilton,  July  11,  1825." 

The  dinner  was  elegant  and  abundant.  It  was  prepared 
by  Thomas  Blair,  and  served  under  the  shade  of  the  locust- 
trees  in  the  court-house  yard.  Jeremiah  Morrow,  governor  of 
the  state  of  Ohio;  Ex-Governor  Ethen  Allen  Brown,  the 
Honorable  Benjamin  Tappan,  and  Micajah  T.  Williams,  Esq., 
canal  commissioners;  General  Harrison,  General  Beaslyard,  Dr. 
Drake,  of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  Judge  Davis  S.  Bates;  the 
chief  engineer,  Samuel  Forrer,  Esq.  John  Reily  was  president, 
assisted  by  John  Woods,  as  vice-president.  Governor  Clinton 
was  met  at  Middletown  on  the  previous  day  by  a  deputation 
from  Hamilton. 

November  28,  1828,  three  fine  boats  crowded  with  citizens 
delighted  with  the  novelty  and  interest  of  the  occasion,  left  the 
basin  six  miles  north  of  Cincinnati,  and  proceeded  to  Middle- 
town  with  the  most  perfect  success.     The  progress  of  the  boats 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  23 

was  equal  to  about  three  miles  an  hour  through  the  course  of 
the  whole  line,  including  the  detention  at  the  locks  and  all 
other  causes  of  delay,  which  are  numerous  in  the  first  attempt 
to  navigate  a  new  canal,  when  its  masters,  hands,  and  horses 
are  inexperienced,  and  often  the  canal  itself  in  imperfect  order. 

In  November,  1828,  the  commissioners  announced  the 
completion  of  the  lower  level  from  Cincinnati  to  Middletown, 
although  some  unexpected  difficulties  had  been  met  with. 

In  1826  and  1827  the  Miami  Canal  between  Cincinnati 
and  the  Miami  fields  above  Middletown  was  constructed,  pass- 
ing on  the  east  side  of  Hamilton  at  the  distance  of  about  a  mile. 
On  the  first  day  of  July,  1827,  the  water  was  let  into  the 
Miami  Canal  by  the  feeder,  two  miles  above  Middletown. 
The  first  boat  was  built  at  Middletown  by  Robert  L,.  Campbell, 
and  called  the  Samuel  Forrer.  The  canal  filled  slowly,  so 
that  it  took  more  than  a  month  before  the  water  reached 
Hamilton.  In  August  the  canal-boat  Samuel  Forrer  came 
down  to  Hamilton,  and  remained  some  time,  making  trips 
with  ladies  and  gentlemen  for  pleasure. 

The  canal  has  continued  in  use  ever  since;  and  has  been 
of  immense  value  to  the  people  of  this  section.  Its  usefulness, 
however,  has  been  much  lessened  by  the  railroads.  The 
dimension  of  the  channel  are  twenty-six  feet  at  the  bottom  and 
forty  at  the  top.  The  locks  are  eighty  feet  long  and  fourteen 
feet  inside  chamber.  The  maximum  size  of  canal-boats  is 
eighty  tons. 

THE  HAMILTON  BASIN. 

The  length  of  the  Hamilton  basin,  from  the  main  canal 
was  fifty-three  chains  and  sixty-two  links.  The  natural 
surface  of  the  ground  on  which  the  basin  was  constructed 
being  some  four  or  five  feet  lower  than  the  bottom  of  the  main 
canal,  it  was  laid  out  of  such  a  width  as  to  admit  of  the  earth 
and  gravel  being  taken  from  the  center  to  construct  the  banks. 
The  basin  was  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  wide  at  the 
bottom,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  feet  wide  at  surface 
of  the  water,  having  an  average  depth  of  about  eighteen  feet. 


24  Historical  Sketches. 

On  each  side  was  a  towing  path  eight  feet  wide,  which,  with 
the  slope  of  the  banks,  made  the  whole  width  occupied  by  the 
basin  from  the  outside  base  of  one  bank  to  the  outside  base  of 
the  other  about  two  hundred  and  six  feet.  The  surface  of  the 
water  in  the  basin  being  about  five  feet  above  the  general 
level  of  the  town;  it  presented  a  beautiful  appearance. 

Andrew  McCleary,  the  contractor,  commenced  the  work 
immediately  on  his  closing  the  contract,  and  prosecuted  it  with 
vigor,  so  that  the  whole  was  completed  by  the  13th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1828,  and  the  water  let  into  the  basin  a  few  days  after- 
wards. The  water  leaked  through  the  banks  and  at  the 
bottom,  rising  up  in  High  street  and  the  low  ground  on  the 
north,  so  as  to  overflow  to  the  depth  of  three  or  four  feet  in 
the  street  in  the  front  of  Mrs.  Caldwell's  residence,  doing  con- 
siderable damage  to  propety  in  that  part  of  the  town,  until  a 
drain  was  dug  down  Basin  street  to  convey  the  water  to  the 
river.  The  leakage  continued  for  several  months.  Mr. 
McCleary  paid  all  that  time  for  a  man  and  two  horses  and  a 
scraper  only  seventy-five  cents  per  day;  for  a  stout  able-bodied 
man  thirty  cents  per  day,  and  notwithstanding  the  cheap 
labor,  he  lost  over  one  thousand  and  five  hundred  dollars. 

The  whole  cost  of  constructing  the  Hamilton  basin 
amounted  to  $7,503,02. 

An  act  was  passed  by  the  General  Assembly,  April  27, 
1872,  for  cutting  it  off,  which  provided  that  the  measure 
should  be  approved  by  two-thirds  of  the  votes  of  the  city. 

On  Tuesday  night,  June  19,1877  a  force  of  a  hundred  men 
appeared  at  the  neck  of  the  basin  with  wheelbarrows,  picks, 
shovels,  etc.,  under  the  charge  of  Street  Commissioner  Frank 
Krebs,  and  proceeded  to  fill  up  the  basin  at  that  point.  The 
men  were  divided  into  squads  and  thoroughly  organized,  as 
if  they  had  prepared  themselves  for  the  work  some  time 
before.  At  the  meeting  of  the  council,  the  night  before,  the 
matter  of  cutting  of  the  basin  was  laid  over  indefinitely.  This 
was  done  in  ordr  to  mislead  those  who  were  opposed  to  it.  If 
any  time  for  the  filling  had  been  fixed,  the  opposition  would 
have   been  ready  with  injunctions  to  stop  the  work,  and  might 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  25 

probably  have  delayed  it  for  months.  As  soon  as  filling  up 
the  neck  was  eommeuced,  a  report  that  the  work  was  in  pro- 
gress spread  like  wild-fire  throughout  the  city,  and  it  was  not 
many  minutes  before  a  crowd  of  two  thousand  people  was 
collected  on  the  basin  banks.  The  men  worked  well,  and  a 
little  after  1 2  o'clock  the  job  was  completed. 

THE  HAMILTON  HYDRAULIC  CO. 

The  citizens  of  Hamilton  long  entertained  an  idea  of  tak- 
ing the  water  out  of  the  Miami  River,  at  a  bend  about  four 
miles  above,  conveying  it  by  a  race  to  the  town.  In  1840  John 
W.  Krwin,  an  experienced  engineer,  surveyed  the  route,  and 
made  a  map  and  estimate  of  the  expense  of  the  work.  This 
estimate  and  map  were  forwarded  to  the  Legislature,  with  a 
petition  praying  the  incorporation  of  a  company.  On  the 
twenty-fifth  day  of  March,  1841,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act 
incorporating  a  company  by  the  name  of  "The  Hamilton  and 
Rossville  Hydraulic  Company,"  and  gave  them  power  to  erect  a 
dam  across  the  Miami  River  and  to  construct  a  canal  or  race 
thence  to  Hamilton,  for  the  purpose  of  creating  a  water-power  for 
propelling  mills  and  machinery.  On  January  1,  1842,  an  elec- 
tion was  held  at  the  law  office  of  L,.  D.  Campbell.  John  Woods, 
William  Bebb,  Dr.  Iyaomi  Rigdon,  Dr.  Jacob  Hittle,  Jacob 
Matthias,  Andrew  McCleary  and  L,.  D.  Campbell  were  chosen 
as  directors.  William  Bebb  was  elected  president,  D.D.  Camp- 
bell, secretary  and  Henry  S.  Karhart  treasurer. 

Sealed  proposals  were  received  for  the  whole  work  at 
prices  from  five  to  thirteen  cents  per  yard  for  excavation  and 
embankment.  The  work  was  prosecuted  with  vigor  and  in  a 
short  time  completed. 

The  Hamilton  water  power  is  superior  to  any  west  of  the 
Alleghany  mountains. 

The  first  water-power  leased  was  to  Krwin,  Hunter  & 
Erwin,  who  erected  a  flour  mill  at  the  east  end  of  the  Miami 
bridge.  Another  race  was  constructed  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  which  was  not  as  largely  used  as  on  the  east  side,  but 
which  has  been  of  great  value. 


26  Historical  Sketches. 

The  Hydraulic  Company  passed  the  first  water  through 
their  lower  level  from  Fourth  street  down  Stable  street 
to  the  Miami  river,  on  Monday  the  twenty-seventh  day  of 
January,  1845.  This  lower  level  of  the  canal  was  three  feet  in 
depth,  turning  the  water-wheels  of  Messrs.  Erwin  &  Hunter's 
flour  mill,  and  the  Tobias  Brothers'  machine  shop,  near  the 
east  end  of  the  Miami  bridge.  The  first  work  done  by  water 
power  was  done  by  the  Tobias  Brothers,  January  31,  1845. 

THE  ROSSVIELE  HYDRAULIC  CO. 

Was  incorporated  February  27,  1846,  by  Robert  B.  Millikin, 
James  Rossman,  John  K.  Wilson,  Robert  Beckett,  Samuel 
Snively,  Henry  Traber,  Charles  K.  Smith,  William  Daniels, 
Alfred  Thomas,  Wilkison  Beatty,  and  Joshua  Delaplane.  It 
was  organized  in  March,  1848.  The  water  was  taken  out  one 
and  a  half  miles  above  town,  just  below  the  mouth  of  Four- 
Mile  Creek,  passing  through  the  low  grounds  below,  and 
under  Two-Mile  Creek  by  a  tunnel.  The  work  was  begun  in 
May,  1849;  the  excavation  being  let  to  Connor  McGreevy  and 
John  Connaughton. 

Early  in  the  fifties  Joseph  P.  Wilson's  saw  mill  and  Aaron 
Potter's  flour  mill  were  propelled  by  water  taken  from  the 
hydraulic. 

THE  RESERVOIR. 

The  reservoir  is  formed  in  the  bed  of  what  is  commonly 
called  Old  River,  by  an  embankment  across  the  old  channel, 
some  distance  above  where  the  canal  enters  it,  and  another 
embankment  below,  where  it  is  taken  out.  The  reservoir  is 
one  mile  long,  fifteen  feet  deep  at  the  upper  end,  and  twenty- 
four  feet  deep  at  the  lower.  The  area  of  the  surface  of  the 
water  is  about  seventy  acres.  From  the  lower  part  of  the  res- 
ervoir to  the  north  line  of  the  lots  of  Hamilton,  a  distance  of 
one  mile  and  nearly  a  quarter,  the  canal  was  constructed  over 
the  lands  then  owned  by  the  Bighams,  by  a  heavy  artificial 
bank  on  one  side,  and  a  natural  bank  on  the  other.  It  is  about 
seventy  feet  wide,  and  from  ten  to  twenty  feet  deep.  At  the 
line   of  the    corporation   is  a  reservoir  covering  six  or  seven 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  27 

acres,  having  a  depth  of  eighteen  or  twenty  feet.  This  reser- 
voir is  of  great  importance  in  retaining  a  supply  of  water  to 
feed  the  canals  below.  In  September,  1841,  the  Miami  River 
was  gauged  by  John  W.  Erwin  and  Henry  S.  Earhart,  above 
the  head  of  New  River,  and  the  quantity  of  water  passing  in 
the  river  was  found  to  be  26,132  feet  per  minute. 

THE  LANE  FREE  LIBRARY. 

This  institution  was  founded  by  Clark  Lane.  He  erected, 
furnished  the  building  and  equipped  it  with  a  collection  of 
nearly  2,000  volumes  of  choice  literature. 

The  building  was  begun  in  April,  1S66,  and  formally 
opened  to  the  public  October  20th  of  the  same  year.  For  six 
months  Mr.  Lane  furnished  means  to  support  the  library. 
Miss  Emma  Lane,  his  neice  managed  it. 

On  November  the  15,  1867,  a  committe  consisting  of 
Dr.  C.  Falconer,  Stephen  E.  Giffen,  Ransford  Smith  and  Job  E. 
Owens,  presented  council  a  proposition  from  Mr.  Lane,  offer- 
ing to  donate  the  library  to  the  city  of  Hamilton,  on  condition 
that  it  should  be  operated  and  supported  by  the  city.  The 
proposition  was  referred  to  a  select  committee.  Finally  a 
special  election  was  ordered  to  ascertain  the  wish  of  the 
citizens.  At  this  election  712  votes  were  cast — 446  in  favor 
of  accepting  the  library  and  66  against.  On  February  24, 
1868,  Mr.  Lane  conveyed  all  the  property,  including  books  and 
fixtures  to  the  city  under  certain  conditions: 

First — That  the  property  conveyed  shall  be  maintained 
as  a  free  public  library  and  reading  room  in  as  good  order  and 
repair  as  it  was  at  the  time  of  conveyance — "natural  decay, 
ordinary  wear  or  destruction  by  fire  or  other  unforseen  casu- 
alilty  only  excepted" — and  that  it  shall  be  kept  "neat,  clean 
and  comfortable  and  in  such  condition  as  shall  be  acceptable 
to  the  good  and  moral  people  of  the  city." 

Secone — That  the  rooms  shall  be  "free  to  all  classes  of 
persons  of  proper  age  and  demeanor,"  and  shall  be  kept  open 
not   less   than   two  hours  every  evening,  except  Sunday  even- 


28  Historical  Sketches. 

ings  and  from  2  until  4  o'clock  of  the  afternoon,  at  least  every 
Sunday." 

Third — That  there  shall  be  kept  a  liberal  file  of  news, 
scientific  and  literary  periodicals,  including  at  least  two  news- 
papers representing  the  active  and  influential  political  parties 
of  the  times;  that  so  far  as  possible,  the  political  papers  to  be 
so  selected  as  to  represent  the  existing  political  parties  equal 
in  number;  and  that  a  party  desiring  to  select  a  proper  organ 
to  represent  it,  be  premitted  to  do  so  through  a  committee  or 
by  a  public  meeting. 

The  first  trustees  were  appointed  February  4,  186S.  On 
March  2,  of  the  same  year  council  instructed  the  trustees  to 
make  a  complete  inventory  of  the  library  property.  It  was  at 
first  only  a  reference  library.  On  February  13,  1872,  city 
council  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  trustees  look- 
ing toward  making  it  a  circulating  library.  On  April  1,  1873 j 
council  passed  a  resolution  authorizing  the  change,  but  for 
some  reason  the  matter  was  dropped,  until  January,  1875, 
when  a  new  committee  was  appointed.  On  July  14,  1879,  the 
library  was  dedicated  a  circulating  library. 

The  following  persons  have  served  as  trustees  of  the  insti- 
tution: Joseph  Traber,  G.  M.  Flenner,  Stephen  E.  Giffen, 
James  E.  Neal,  Dr.  C.  Markt,  Job  E.  Owens,  August  Benning- 
hofen,  Daniel  Shafer,  William  Ritchie,  John  L,.  Martin,  Iy.  D. 
Brown,  B.  F.  Thomas,  James  E.  Campbell,  Philip  G.  Berry, 
Patrick  Burns,  Charles  E.  Durst,  Christian  Pabst,  E-  P.  Claw- 
son,  W.  P.  Cope,  Dr.  William  C.  Miller,  and  Frank  E.  Brandt. 

At  present  the  board  of  trusties  consists  of  the  following 
members:  Patrick  Burns,  president;  Dr.  William  C.  Miller 
secretary;    Christian  Pabst,  W.  P.  Cope,  and  Frank  E.  Brandt. 

On  April  15,  1878,  Mrs.  Florence  E.  Schenck  was 
appointed  librarian,  which  position  she  still  holds.  She  is 
well  qualified  for  the  place. 

The   library    at   the  present  time  contains  6,742  volumes. 

FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 
Hamilton   and    Rossville  had  fire  companies  as  early  as 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  29 

1837.  The  Neptune  Fire  Co.  No.  1  ofRossville,  was  first  located 
in  an  engine  house,  occupying  the  site  of  Dr.  Mallory's  resi- 
dence. Jacob  Staley  was  president,  Jacob  Meyers  vice-presi- 
dent, and  James  Mills,  secretary;  Moses  Conner  director  of 
engine  and  John  H.  Garver,  first  director  of  the  hose  reel.  In 
1852  Daniel  Smith,  succeeded  him,  and  held  the  position  until 
1864.  He  is  a  member  of  the  department  at  the  present  time, 
being  in  continual  fire  service  since  1852.  His  record  as  a  fire- 
man is  a  good  one. 

The  presidents  were  as  follows:  John  Mills,  Jacob  Trout- 
man,  Emanuel  Morris,  William  Clements,  Jonathan  Henninger 
and  Harry  Bobenmeyer.  Jonathan  Henninger  was  secretary 
for  a  number  of  years. 

L,ist  of  memu^t-c;  Jacob  Staley,  John  Mills,  Jacob  Still- 
waugh,  Samuel  Shaffer,  William  H.  Traber,  Philip  Young, 
Isaac  Shellhouse,  John  Boose,  V.  D.  Cohee,  John  R.  Vaughn, 
William  Clements,  Robert  Clements,  Joseph  Bliss,  John  Cor- 
win,  Joseph  A.  Fromm,  Oliver  Traber,  John  Price,  Frank 
Kite,  Asa  Corwin,  Henry  Traber,  William  Wehr,  John  H. 
Garver,  Thomas  Starrett,  William  Mills,  Joseph  Garver,  S. 
Heitzman,  J.  W.  Anderson,  George  Matthias,  James  Curtis, 
John  Meyers,  Isaac  D.  Cone,  James  Jackson,  Joseph  Nevel, 
Michael  Farhlander,  John  Stengel,  John  A.  Whitaker,  George 
Kimble,  Charles  Bittner,  Harvey  Kimble,  Jacob  Jackson,  Mike 
Frimpkin,  John  Vines,  Samuel  Van  Camp,  Jackson  Garver, 
Henry  Rhea. 

Hamilton  Fire  Company,  No.  1,  was  first  located  on  Third 
street  adjoining  Dr.  Markt's  drug  store.  The  officers  of  the 
company  were  Thomas  H.  Wilkins,  foreman;  James  Reynolds, 
assistant  foreman;  George  Seward,  treasurer;  and  Elisha 
Dalton,  secretary. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  its  members:  John  S.  Wiles, 
M.  W.  Clyne,  George  Krug,  Isaac  M.  Walters,  William  Conley, 
Robert  Whitehead,  Aaron  Woodruff,  W.  B.  Saunders,  John 
Eichleberger,  Joseph  Durbin,  D.  G.  Rose,  John  Jewell,  F.  T. 
Walton,  J.  Bayles,  Jacob  Wayne,  Joseph  Wallace,  A.  Rollins, 
Thomas  Fawcett,    Otis    Brown,    Jonathan    Couover,    Samuel 


30  Historical  Sketches. 

Johnson,  Andrew  Stewart,  James  O'Conner,  Peter  Myers, 
M.  D-  Serrel,  Ralph  Nelson,  C.  K.  Smith,  A.  D.  Kyle,  James 
B.  Cameron,  Ira  M.  Collyer,  Sineas,  Pierson,  Richard  Cornell, 
H.  S.  Earhart,  G.  W.  McAdams,  J.  H.  Smith,  John  Davis, 
James  C.  DeCamp,  Aaron  Potter,  John  Herron,  Philip  Berry, 
John  Rinehart,  James  Albert,  J.  B.  McFarland,  James  Watson, 
William  Cornell,  Benjamin  Davis,  and  Stephen  West. 

Dater  the  Washington  Fire  Company  was  organized  and 
located  in  James  Everson's  livery  stable  building.  Henry 
Dong  was  president;  Abram  Miller,  secretary  and  Adam 
Daurie  foreman.  Subsequently  Captain  John  P.  Bruck 
became  president.  The  following  is  a  list  of  members:  Henry 
Beardsley,  John  Campbell,  Adam  Daurie,  Fred  DJzer,  Henry 
Dong,  Adam  Miller,  Charles  B.  Cricktrete,  S.  W.  Brock,  John 
Moebus,  Henry  Overmeyer,  Joseph  Dong,  Felix  Huber,  Henry 
Traphagan,  Oscar  Traphagan,  David  Dingier,  Sr.,  John  Bruck, 
John  Fisher,  Charles  Huling,  George  Donges,  Toney  Huber, 
William  Bruck,  Henry  Fry,  Alex  Dilg. 

In  1865,  the  fire  department  was  put  on  a  paid  basis. 

The  following  are  the  chiefs  since  that  time:  Job  E. 
Owens,  Jacob  Troutman,  assistant,  Mandes  Shuler,  Henry 
Fry,  John  Boose,  William  Ritchie  and  David  Dingier. 

The  Neptune  was  a  superior  engine;  it  threw  a  stream 
sixteen  feet,  farther  than  any  other  engine  in  town.  Natur- 
ally a  rivalry  existed  between  the  companies.  In  the  fifties 
we  had  a  fire  two  or  three  times  a  week.  The  "boys"  of  one 
company  would  set  fire  to  an  old  building  and  have  its  engine 
in  position,  before  an  alarm  was  turned  in,  so  as  to  throw  the 
first  water.  Our  citizens  became  indignant  and  determined  to 
put  a  stop  to  this  incendiarism  and  so  informed  the  fire  depart- 
ment. The  burning  of  the  old  red  house  on  Prospect  Hill, 
and  the  row  of  one-story  frame  buildings  adjoining  C. 
Rothenbush's  stable  yards  ended   these   fires. 


THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

This  historical  sketch  should  have  been  written  at  an 
earlier  period,  as  part  of  our  school  history  has  been  lost — 
beyond  recovery,  and  no  future  writer  on  the  subject  will  be 
able  to  supply  this  missing  link. 

The  first  school  house  was  erected  in  Rossville. 

At  a  special  election,  held  April  13,  1851,  the  schools  of 
Hamilton  passed  under  the  control  of  the  "Akron  School 
L,aw."  In  1852,  the  work  of  grading  and  classifying  our 
school  was  begun. 

The  Ohio  school  law  of  1853  bore  fruits,  and  put  an  end 
to  private  schools  thereby  furnishing  the  youth  of  the  com- 
monwealth an  avenue  to  secure  an  excellent  common  school 
education. 

In  1854,  Hamilton  and  Rossville  were  annexed.  By  the 
articles  of  confederation,  it  was  stipulated  that  a  high  school 
building  should  be  erected  at  an  early  date,  in  the  First  ward, 
and  the  High  school  should  forever  remain  on  the  West  Side. 
Thomas  L,.  Rhea  offered  to  donate  a  two  acre  site  for  the  build- 
ing on  Prospect  Hill.  The  proposition  was  not  accepted  nor 
the  building  ever  erected  as  specified  in  the  compact  between 
the  two  villages. 

In  Hamilton  early  attention  was  given  to  the  important 
subject  of  education,  and  in  our  infancy  the  first  school  was 
established  by  Mr.  Richie  in  1809,  on    Front   street,    near   the 


32  Historical  Sketches. 

Scott  residence.  He  afterward  removed  to  a  log  house,  near 
the  corner  of  Front  and  Court  streets. 

Rev.  M.  G.  Wallace,  in  1810,  opened  a  school  on  Court 
street,  opposite  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  which  was 
continued  until  1814. 

In  18 1 5,  Benjamin  Pardee  came  to  Hamilton  as  an  edu- 
cator and  taught  on  Second  near  Heaton  street. 

Alexander  Proudfit,  in  18 15,  organized  a  school  on  the 
north  side  of  Heaton,  between  Second  and  Third  streets. 

In  18 18,  the  Hamilton  Literary  society  erected  the  old 
Masonic  building  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Dayton  streets. 
Privilege  was  granted  Rev.  Thomas  McMechan  and  Henry 
Baker  the  lower  story  for  school  purposes. 

Miss  Ellen  A.  McMechan  was  our  first  female  teacher. 
In  1 8 19  she  taught  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Buckeye  streets. 
She  was  an  accomplished  instructor. 

In  182 1,  Rev.  Francis  Monfort  taught  school  in  a  frame 
building  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  High  streets. 

Benjamin  F.  Raleigh  was  an  educator  from  1825  to  1830. 
He  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  New  York.  In  1853  he  re- 
moved to  Highland  county.  Mr.  Raleigh  died  in  Wilmington, 
Ohio,  in  1866. 

The  Hamilton  and  Rossville  academy  was  opened  in  1835. 
Miss  Maria  Drummond  was  the  first  teacher.  The  last 
teacher  in  this  academy  was   Nathan  Furman. 

On  February  21,  1849,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  "pro- 
viding that  cities  and  towns  may  be  formed  into  one  district, 
to  be  governed  by  a  board  of  six  directors  and  three  exam- 
iners." On  April  19,  1851,  an  election  was  held  under  this 
law.  The  act  was  adopted  and  the  members  of  the  board  and 
examiners  were  elected  May  1st.  On  June  21,  185 1,  the  first 
school  levy  was  made,  it  being  one  and  one  half  mills  on 
a  dollar. 

In  1852,  F.  N.  Slack  was  appointed  principal  of  the  Third 
ward  school,  and  F.  Jenkins  assumed  charge  of  the  Second 
ward  building.  In  1859,  on  an  overland  trip  to  California, 
Mr.  Slack  died  on  the  plains. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  33 

In  1853,  Isaac  W.  I^egg  was  appointed  principal  and 
taught  in  the  Second  ward.  His  widow  resides  with  William 
Fitton  on  North  Third  street. 

Among  the  early  educators  in  Rossville,  now  First  ward 
of  Hamilton,  we  find  Lemuel  Ball  teaching  in  a  frame  building 
on  Main,  between  D  and  E  streets. 

Stephen  White  and  Miss  Eliza  Green  taught  school  in  the 
brick  building  in  the  rear  of  the  old  engine  house.  Mr.  White 
married  Miss  Green  and  immigrated  to  Iowa,  where  he  was  ele- 
vated to  1  judgeship. 

Evan  Davies  was  the  first  instructor  in  the  old  church 
building  in  Rossville.  He  was  an  experienced  and  successful 
teacher  and  conducted  his  school  in  an  able  manner,  and  justly 
held  a  high  rank  among  the  educators  of  his  day. 

J.  P.  Ellinwood  was  afterward  selected  as  his  assistant, 
who  edited  and  issued  an  educational  journal  from  the  print- 
ing office  of  Mr.  Christy,  in  the  building  now  owned  by  C.  R. 
Kennedy,  on  Main  street.  He  resigned  after  serving  two 
years,  and  accepted  a  place  in  the  faculty  of  the  Farmers'  Col- 
lege at  College  Hill,  Ohio. 

Ransford  Smith,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Ogden,  Utah, 
taught  in  Rossville  for  several  years.  He  died  in  1895. 

Mrs.  A.  A.  Phillips,  nee  Rust  was  his  able  assistant.  She 
was  a  thorough  teacher  and  much  credit  was  attached  to  her 
admirable  administration. 

Mrs.  J.  Curtis  Strode,  nee  Riley  in  the  fifties  proved  her- 
self a  teacher  of  ability  and  ranked  well  as  an  instructor  on 
the  West  Side. 

The  Ball  sisters  taught  for  a  long  time  in  Rossville. 

William  S.  Phares  was  an  able  and  popular  teacher  in  his 
day.  After  he  abandoned  teaching,  he  was  elected  auditor  of 
Butler  county.  Mr.  Phares  was  assistant  state  treasurer 
under  the  late  John  M.  Millikin. 

James  A.  Neal  and  Enoch  Powers  were  highly  esteemed 
as  early  educators.     They  had  a  long  and  varied  experience. 

In  1854,  Hamilton  ai.d  Rossville  were  united.  It  was  stip- 
ulated in  the  article  of  annexation  that  a  High  school  building 


34  Historical  Sketches. 

was  to  be  erected  in  the  First  ward,  but  this  agreement  was 
never  carried  into  effect.  In  August  of  the  same  year  Alex- 
ander Bartlett,  of  Mansfield,  Ohio,  was  elected  principal  of  the 
schools. 

In  1855,  J.  R.  Burgett,  D.  D.,  was  elected  principal.  After 
serving  two  years  he  declined  a  re-election  and  removed  to 
Macon,  Georgia.  He  was  elected  president  of  a  female  insti- 
tute. During  the  Civil  war,  Dr.  Burgett  was  captured  as  a  con- 
federate. The  late  Charles  K.  Giffen  recognized  him  on  sev- 
eral occasions.  After  the  war  he  visited  Hamilton  and  preached 
occasionally  in  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Miss  H.  H.  Ringwood  was  principal  of  the  Hamilton  High 
schools  for  eighteen  years.  She  was  graduated  from  the  Oxford 
Female  college,  under  the  presidency  of  Rev.  Robert  Morris. 
Miss  Ringwood  was  an  excellent  instructor  and  her  school  work 
was  of  superior  merit. 

Josiah  Morrow,  a  native  of  Warren  county,  and  a  grand- 
son of  Gov.  Morrow  was  graduated  from  Miami  University  in 
1859.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  became  principal  of 
the  First  ward  schools.  At  that  time  the  Grammar  and  High 
schools  for  the  entire  city  were  on  the  West  Side.  He  taught 
L,atin,  the  higher  mathematics,  chemistry  and  physics.  After 
leaving  Hamilton  he  studied  law  at  Lebanon  in  the  office  of 
Corwin  &  Sage,  and  was  the  last  law  student  in  the  office  of 
Gov.  Corwin  during  his  life  time.  He  has  devoted  much  time 
to  literary  work,  and  is  author  of  the  history  of  Warren  county. 

The  first  Board  of  Education  of  Hamilton,  elected  under 
the  act  of  legislature,  passed  February  21, 1849,  was  as  follows: 
Isaac  T.  Saunders,  William  Hunter,  John  W.  Sohn,  John  W. 
Erwin,  and  Stephen  E.  Giffen. 

The  following  notice  was  given  to  the  qualified  electors  residing  within 
the  corporation  of  the  town  of  Hamilton  and  all  of  the  electors  that  resided 
within  said  corporation  that  is  now  in  school  district  No.  1  and  10,  in  Fairfield 
township  are  hereby  notified  and  requested  to  meet  at  the  court  house  on 
Saturday,  April  19,  at  2  o'clock  p.  m.  on  said  day,  then  and  there  to  vote  by 
ballot  for  or  against  the  adoption  of  the  act  for  the  better  regulation  of  the 
public  schools  in  cities  and  towns,  passed  February  21,  1849,  which  act  is  in 
volume  47,  page  22,  and  provides,  amongst  other  things  that  cities  and  towns 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  35 


may  be  formed  into  one  district  to  be  governed  by  a  board  of  six  directors  and 
three  school  examiners. 

(Signed:)  John  W.  Sohn.  Stephen  E.  Giefen. 

John  S.  Wiles.  William  Hunter. 

April  19,  1851.  James  B.  Thomas.      I.  Robertson. 

The  electors  of  the  town  of  Hamilton,  agreeable  to  the 
notice  heretofore  given,  met  at  the  court  house  in  said  town 
and  appointed  S.  E.  Giffen,  chairman,  James  Daugherty, 
assistant  chairman,  and  John  S.  Wiles,  clerk,  and  proceeded  to 
receive  the  votes  of  the  electors  agreeable  to  law  and  upon 
counting  the  votes  it  was  found  that  there  was  one  hundred 
and  one  votes  in  favor  of  the  adoption  of  the  law,  and  four 
votes  against  its  adoption.  Jk  ^*  9QQQQ 

The  following  additional  notice  was  proclaimed. 

To  the  Qualified  Electors  of  the  Corporation  of  Hamilton: 

In  pursuance  of  a  notice  signed  by  Stephen  E.  Giffen  and  others,  an  election 
was  held  on  the  19th  inst.  at  the  court  house  to  vote  for  the  adoption  of  a  regu- 
lation law  passed  February  21,  1849,  for  the  better  regulation  of  public 
schools  for  towns  and  cities,  which  meeting  on  election  adopted  said  law. 
Therefore,  the  qualified  electors  of  said  town  of  Hamilton  will  meet  at  the 
court  house  on  the  first  day  of  May  at  1  o'clock  p.  m.  on  said  day  to  elect  six 
directors,  two  to  serve  one  year,  two  to  serve  two  years,  and  two  to  serve  three 
years.  By  order  of    S.  E.  Giffen,  Chairman, 

James  Daugherty,  Assistant  Chairman. 

An  election  was  held  at  the  court  house  agreeable  to  the  above  notice. 
James  Daugherty  and  John  Smith  judges,  and  William  Hunter,  clerk  and 
upon  counting  the  ballots,  it  was  found  that  James  B.Thomas  and  Issac  T. 
Saunders  were  elected  as  directors  to  serve  for  the  term  of  one  year,  William 
Hunter  and  John  W.  Erwin,  for  two  years,  and  John  W.  Sohn  and  Stephen  E. 
Giffen   for  the  term  of  three  years.  James  Daugherty 

John  Smith,  Judges. 

Hamilton,  May  8,  1851.  William  Hunter,  Clerk. 

The  directors  met  at  the  office  of  Isaac  Robertson  and  qualified.  The 
board  was  then  organized  by  electing  Isaac  T.  Saunders,  president  and 
William  Hunter,  secretary.  The  board  of  education  then  proceeded  to  elect 
three  school  examiners,  as  foilows:  Isaac  Robertson,  Cyrus  Falconer  and 
William  Huber. 

May  10,  1851,  the  board  employed  Andrew  S.  McCandless 
to  teach  in  the  lower  school  house  (Second  ward),  for  thirty- 
five  days  at  one  dollar  and  sixty  cents  per  day;  Miss  Maria 
Conant  for  the  same  length  of  time,   at   eighty-five   cents   per 


36  Historical  Sketches. 

day;  Matthew  Pfafflin,  in  the  German  department  was  employed 
at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  day. 

June  13,  1851,  S.  E.  Giffen,  William  Hunter,  John  W. 
Sohn,  Dr.  C.  Falconer  and  John  W.  Erwin  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  visit  the  schools  of  Cincinnati,  Dayton  and 
Eaton  for  the  purpose  of  examining  their  schools  and  school 
houses.  June  21  the  board  levied  a  special  tax  amounting  to 
one  and  one-fourth  of  a  mill. 

In  August,  1 85 1,  Messrs.  Marchant  and  Jenkins  were 
employed  to  teach  in  the  academy  at  five  hundred  dollars  per 
year,  and  Miss  Dydia  Robertson  was  secured  to  teach  in  the 
intermediate  department. 

September  12,  185 1,  the  board  rented  the  basement  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  for  school  purposes,  at  $3.00  per  month. 
The  commencement  exercises  were  postponed  until  September 
22,  in  consequence  of  not  being  able  to  have  the  schdfol  rooms 
in  order  by  the  time  set  for  the  commencement. 

McGuffey's  Fourth  and  Cole's  Fifth  readers,  Coleburn's 
Mental  and  Ray's  Arithmetic  and  Brewer's  Grammar  were 
adopted  and  Mitchell's  Higher  Geography  as  text  books. 

August  27,  1852,  the  board  rented  the  basement  of  the 
Methodist  church  for  the  German  department. 

In  May  1853,  Josiah  Scott  and  William  Hunter  were 
elected  members  of  the  board  for  a  term  of  three  years  and 
Clark  Dane  for  two  years.  The  board  was  organized  by  elect- 
ing Stephen  Giffen,  president,  Josiah  Scott,  clerk  and  John  W. 
Sohn,  treasurer. 

June  21,  1853,  the  board  levied  a  special  tax  for  school 
purposes  for  the  year  1853-54,  of  one  and  three-fourth  mills. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  board  August  19,  1853,  Mr.  Elliott 
was  elected  principal  of  the  High  school,  and  Mr.  Dangdon 
teacher  in  the  Grammar  department.  Miss  Stansbury,  of  Ham. 
ilton,  and  Miss  McElroy,  were  elected  teachers  in  the  Primary 
department  and  Matthew  Pfafflin  teacher  of  the  German  school. 
September  1,  1853,  J.  W.  Degg,  of  Piqua,  was  elected  principal 
of  the  High  school,  vice  Elliott  resigned. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  37 

October  17,  1853,  teachers  L,egg  and  Langdon  were 
authorized  to  employ  boys  to  make  fires  in  the  several  school 
rooms  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  cents  per  week  for  the  each 
school  room.  Miss  Francis  Trotter  was  employed  as 
teacher   in   the    colored  school  at  a  salary  of  $20.00  a    month. 

On  November  10,  1853.  the  board  ordered  a  "suitable 
fence  erected  on  the  southern  school  lot,  separating  the  play 
grounds  of  the  boys  from  that  of  the  girls."  At  the  same 
meeting  Miss  Dole  was  assigned  to  the  recitation  room  as  an 
assistant  to  the  High  and  Grammar  School. 

March  13,  1853,  John  W.  Sohn  presented  his  bond  in  the 
sum  of  six  thousand  dollars,  conditioned  for  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  his  duties  as  treasurer  of  the  board,  with  John 
Stillwaugh,  Peter  Murphy  and  Thomas  Millikin,  as  sureties. 
At  the  same  meeting  Messers.  Thomas  and  Giffen  were 
appointed  to  call  on  Mr.  Smith  and  obtain  suitable  redress  for 
a  window  in  the  northeast  school  building  (Third  ward), 
alleged  to  have  been  wantonly  broken  by  his  son. 

It  appearing  to  the  board,  May  29,  1854,  that  the  schools 
are  closed  on  Fridays  at  an  earlier  hour  than  other  days  of  the 
week.  This  practice  was  condemned  and  the  schools  there- 
after were  kept  open  on  Friday  the  same  hours  as  on  other 
days. 

August  5,  1854,  the  board  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a 
superintendent  for  the  ensuing  year.  Josiah  Hurty,  of  Lebanon* 
received  five  votes  and  J.  W.  L,egg,  one  vote.  The  clerk  of  the 
board  was  instructed  to  inform  Mr.  Hurty  of  the  action  of  the 
board,  and  to  tender  him  $800.00  salary  per  annum,  with  an 
offer  of  an  increase  in  salar}'  at  the  end  of  six  months,  that  is,  if 
his  efficiency  and  success  during  that  time  should  equal  the 
board's  expectations.  August  10,  1854,  a  letter  was  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  Hurty  declining  the  superintendency  on  the 
terms  proposed.  D.  W.  McClung  was  elected  as  a  teacher  for 
the  Grammar  department  at  a  salary  of  $50.00  per  mouth.  The 
secretary  was  instructed  to  correspond  with  Alexander  Bartlett, 
of  Mansfield,  Ohio,  asking  him  to  visit  Hamilton  for  a  personal 


38  Historical  Sketches. 

conference,  examination,  etc.,  in  reference  to  his  candidacy  for 
superintendent.  August  iS,  Mr.  Bartlett  was  unanimously 
elected  superintendent  of  the  Hamilton  public  schools  at  a 
salary  of  $  80.00  per  month. 

August    26,    1854,    the    Misses   Ellinwood   and  Stansbury 
agreed  to  teach  for  $25.00  per  month.  Isaac  Robertson  stated  to 
the   board   that   Miss   Robertson   would   teach   for   the   same  . 
amount. 

September  14,  1854,  J.  R.  Burgett,  D.  D.,  superintendent, 
submitted  a  system  of  gradation  and  studies  to  be  used  and 
pursued  in  our  schools.  This  report  was  adopted  by  the  board 
September  16,  1854.  At  this  meeting  it  was  ordered  that  Miss 
Ellinwood  be  placed  as  an  assistant  in  the  High  school  and 
Miss  Burgett  as  teacher  in  the  Primary  department.  October 
5,  1854,  Mrs.  Lawrence  was  elected  a  teacher  for  the  colored 
schools  at  $20.00  per  month.  At  this  date  W.  H!  Ingersoll  was 
employed  as  a  teacher  of  music  for  three  months,  for  which  the 
board  agreed  to  pay  him  $100.00.  Miss  Alice  Stansbury's  salary 
was  increased  to  $18.00  per  month  until  further  orders  from 
the  board. 

December  14,  1854,  it  appearing  to  the  board  that  the 
number  of  pupils  attending  the  colored  school  for  the  last 
month  averaged  less  than  fifteen  the  school  room  was  ordered 
closed  at  the  end  of  the  session. 

Thursday  evening,  January  18,  1854,  a  petition  from 
the  female  teachers  was  presented  to  the  board,  asking  for  an 
increase  of  compensation.  The  petition  was  referred  to  John 
W.  Sohn  and  Josiah  Scott  to  be  reported  on  at  the  next  meet- 
ing. It  was  resolved  at  this  meeting  that  the  president  and  sec- 
retary give  notice  for  an  election  of  one  director  from  the  First 
ward  to  serve  for  three  years  and  one  from  the  Second  ward  to 
serve  for  two  years,  and  one  from  the  Third  ward  for  three 
years.  The  election  was  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  May  1855, 
in  each  ward.  The  election  resulted  as  follows:  John  Mills, 
First  ward,  two  years;  Henry  Beardsley,  Second  ward,  two 
years;  N.  G.  Curtis,  First  ward,  three  years;  T.  A.  Heim,  Third 
ward,  three  years. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  39 

The  board  was  organized  by  electing  Josiah  Scott  presi- 
dent, and  William  Hunter,  secretary. 

July  1855,  H.  L,.  Brown  was  employed  as  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal teachers  of  the  Grammar  schools  at  a  salary  of  $500.00 
per  annum.  He  is  a  minister  and  now  resides  in  Illinois;  is  a 
brother  of  Waldo  F.  Brown,  of  Oxford.  Mr.  N.  G.  Curtis 
offered  the  following  resolutions,  which  was  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Education,  of  Hamilton,  employ  female 
teachers  at  $20.25  aild  $30  per  month,  according  to  their  experience,  ability  in 
teaching  and  the  grade  of  certificate  they  may  obtain  from  the  Board  of 
Examiners. 

The  board  then  proceeded  to  an  election  of  teachers  which 
resulted  as  follows:  Mrs.  H.  L,.  Stansbury,  Miss  Hannah 
Fitton,  Miss  Lydia  A.  Robertson,  Miss  E.  J.  Burgett,  Miss 
Emma  C.  Rust,  Miss  Alice  Stansbury,  Miss  Rebecca  Ball, 
Miss  Margaret  McElroy  and  Miss  Julia  Curtis  Reily.  The 
superintendent,  assistant  and  principals  holding  over  were,  in 
regular  order:  D.  W.  McClung,  J.  R.  Burgett,  D.  D.,  H.  I,. 
Brown,  Ransford  Smith,  Charles  Gimble,  and  Miss  E.    Brown. 

March  21,  1856,  George  W.  L,outhan  was  allowed  $17.00 
for  taking  the  enumeration  of  school  children  in  the  district. 

May  12,  1856,  N.  G.  Curtis,  John  Mills  and  Henry  Beard- 
sley  were  appointed  on  the  building  committee  for  the  new 
school  house  to  be  erected  on  the  corner  of  Ross  and  C  streets. 

The  annual  election,  for  members  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation, held  May  20,  1856,  resulted  as  follows:  Valentine  Chase 
received  103  votes;  Josiah  Scott,  84;  L,aomi  Rigdon,  42;  John 
W.  Sohn,  60;  Ferdinand  Van  Derveer,  16;  and  James  B.  Milli- 
kin  2;  whereupon  Valentine  Chase  and  Josiah  Scott  was  declared 
duly  elected. 

May  29,  1856,  the  board  was  organized  for  the  next  three 
years,  by  electing  Josiah  Scott,  president  and  Valentine  Chase, 
secretary,  and  N.  G.  Curtis,  treasurer.     At  this  meeting  it  was 

Resolved,  That  it  is  necessary  to  erect  a  school  house  for  the  use  of  the 
public  sohools  in  the  First  ward  of  the  city  of  Hamilton,  and  we  respectfully 
request  the  city  council  to  make  a  suitable  appropriation  of  money  sufficient 
to  erect  said  building,  according  to  such  plans  and  specifications  as  may  be 
hereafter  agreed  upon. 


40  Historical  Sketches. 

Resolved,  That  N.  G.  Curtis,  Henry  Beardsley,  and  John  Mills  be  a 
committee  to  confer  with  council  and  make  this,  our  request   known. 

June  12,  1856,  Valentine  Chase  was  directed  to  consult  an 
architect  and  procure  plans  for  the  new  school  house  to  be 
erected  in  the  First  ward. 

June  18,  1856,  N.  G.  Curtis,  Thomas  A.  Heim  and 
Valentine  Chase  were  appointed  on  a  committee  to  procure 
the  digging  of  three  wells,  one  on  each  school  lot,  and  purchase 
force  pumps  for  the  same.     It  was 

Resolved,  The  following  orders  be  drawn  for  teachers,  for  three  months' 
salary  to-wit: 

J.  R.  Burgett,  #255.00;  D.  W.  McClung,  $165.00;  H.  E.  Brown,  $100.00; 
Ransford  Smith,  $150  00;  Charles  Gimble,  $150.00;  Mrs.  H.  L.  Stansbury, 
$90.00;  Miss  Alice  Stansbury,  $90.00;  Miss  Hannah  Fitton,  $90.00;  Miss 
Emma  Brown,  $90.00;  Miss  Margaret  McFJroy,  $90.00;  Miss  Jennie  Burgett, 
$90.00;  Miss  Francis  Trotter,  $46.00;  Miss  Rebecca  Ball,  $80.00;  Miss  Julia 
C.  Reily,  $90.00;     Miss  Mary  McKee,  $90.00;     Miss  F.  B.  Stephens,  $70.00. 

June  26,  1856,  Superintendent  Burgett  submitted  his 
annual  report  of  the  condition  of  the  schools,  when  the  follow- 
ing resolution  was  unanimously  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  the  Board  of  Education  that  a  vote  of 
thanks  be  tendered  Prof.  Burgett  for  his  exertions  in  behalf  of  our  schools. 
An  intermediate  grade  was  established,  between  the  High  and  Grammar 
schools,  to  be  composed  of  the  less  advanced  pupils  in  the  High  school  and 
those  most  advanced  in  the  Grammar  school. 

Tuesday,  June  26,  1856,  Valentine  Chase  laid  before  the 
board  the  plans  and  specifications  which  he  had  procured  in 
obedience  to  instructions,  and  N.  G.  Curtis,  from  the  school 
house  building  committee  had  agreed  to  recommend  that  plan. 
The  plans  and  specifications  were  adopted  by  the  board  and 
the  secretary  was  instructed  to  advertise  for  a  letting  by  receiv- 
ing sealed  proposals  until  Tuesday,  July  10th. 

Saturday,  July  12,  1856,  the  bids  for  the  erection  of  a  new 
school  house  in  the  First  ward  were  opened  and  referred  to  the 
building  committee,  and  to  report  to  the.board  Wednesday 
evening  next. 

Wednesday  evening,  July  16,  1856,  the  building  committee 
reported,  "That  it  did  not  find  any  alterations  in  the  plans 
and  specifications  necessary."     Messrs.     Weston    &   Peterson 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  41 

proposed  to  erect  the  school  house,  per  plans  and  specifications 
of  Walter  &  Wilson,  ior  the  sum  of  $12,000.00,  and  they 
would  allow  for  the  old  school  building  the  sum  of  $800.00. 
William  B.  VanHook  proposed  to  erect  said  building  for  the 
sum  of  $10,800.00,  deducting  therefrom  the  sum  of  $200.00 
for  the  old  building.  It  appeared  that  the  bid  of  William  B. 
VanHook  was  the  lowest  and  best  bid,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  contract  be  awared  to  him  upon  condition,  that  if 
the  boaH  shall  hereafter  make  any  alterations  in  the  plans  and  specifications 
it  shall  be  less  on  the  contract  price,  by  so  much  as  the  said  alterations  will 
cost  more  or  less  as  the  case  may  be  than  the  original  price.  If  the  said 
contractor  and  board  of  education  cannot  agree  as  to  the  amount  of  variation 
from  said  contract  price,  then  it  shall  be  decided  by  an  umpire  to  be  named  in 
the  written  contract.     Be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  as  soon  as  the  city  council  shall  make  the  necessary 
appropriation  the  board  will  enter  into  a  written  agreement  with  W.  B.  Van 
Hook  to  the  effect  as  above  resolved. 

On  Saturday,  July  26,  1865,  it  was  resolved  that  Henry 
Smith  be  employed  as  principal  of  the  Grammar  school  in  the 
First  ward  and  assistant  superintendent,  at  $500.00  per  annum. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Education  held  August  26, 
1856,  N.  G.  Curtis  offered  the  following  preamble  and  resolu- 
tion, which  was  adopted: 

Whereas:  W.  B. 'Van  Hook  has  refused  to  accept  the  contract  awarded 
him  by  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  city  of  Hamilton,  for  the  building  of  a 
school  house  in  the  First  ward,  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed,  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  superintend  the  construction  of  said  house,  as  per  plans  and  specifica- 
tions made  by  Messrs.  Walter  &  Wilson,  of  Cincinnati. 

N.    G.    Curtis,    John    Mills   and   Valentine    Chase   were 
appointed  as  said  committee. 

Resolved,  That  Henry  Beardsley  be  appointed  a  committee  of  one  to 
procure  a  room;  that  the  committee  on  school  houses  and  repairs  be  instructed 
to  furnish  the  same. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  board,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  treasurer  be  instructed  to  call,  upon  the  city  council 
for  the  bonds  authorized  to  be  issued  for  the  building  of  said  school  house  in 
the  First  ward,  and  request  that  the  whole  amount  of  said  bonds  be  now 
issued. 

Resolved,  That  the  treasurer  be  authorized  to  sell  any  of  said  bonds  at  a 
rate  of  discount  not  exceeding  two  per  cent,  per  annum;  that  the  president 
and  secretary  be  instructed  to  endorse  the  same  for  that  purpose. 


42  Historical  Sketches. 

January  8,  1857,  William  H.  Miller  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the 
resignation  of  Josiah  Scott.  Henry  Beardsley  was  elected 
president  of  the  board  to  serve  the  remainder  of  the  year. 
D.  W.  McClung  was  authorized  to  employ  Miss  Mary  Ann 
Gage  as  an  assistant  in  the  High  School  at  $35.00  per   month. 

February  12,  1857,  it  was  resolved,  that  the  treasurer  be 
authorized  to  negotiate  loans  for  building  the  school  house  in 
the  First  ward,  at  rates  heretofore  indicated  in  the  sale  of  the 
city  bonds,  and  hypothecate  the  said  bonds  therefore,  and 
for  that  purpose  the  president  is  authorized  to  execute  the 
necessary  obligations,  which  shall  be  countersigned  by  the 
secretary. 

H.  C.  Brown  tendered  his  resignation  as  teacher,  which 
was  accepted  to  take  effect  at  the  end  of  the  present  term. 

Thursday  evening,  April  23,  1857,  ex-Governor  William 
Bebb  submitted  a  statement  of  his  claim  for  money  advanced 
to  school  district  No.  10,  now  the  Third  ward  of  Hamilton.  At 
his  request  a  committee  of  four  was  appointed  to  examine  his 
vouchers  and  investigate  matters  thoroughly  and  report  to  the 
board  the  amount  due  him.  On  motion  it  was  ordered  that 
said  committee  should  consist  of  two  persons  named  by  Mr. 
Bebb,  and  two  by  the  board.  Mr.  Bebb  presented  the  names 
of  John  M.  Millikin  and  William  Beckett.  On  behalf  of  the 
board  Dr.  Gyrus  Falconer  and  William  Miller  were  appointed 
on  the  committee. 

John  W.  Wilson  asked  the  board  for  an  extra  allowance 
upon  his  contract  for  furnishing  stone  for  the  First  ward  school 
house,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  masons  had  used  the  best 
stone  in  the  inferior  positions,  which  necessitated  a  much 
larger  quantity  of  the  better  grade  of  stone  than  would  have 
been   required.     He  was   paid  $150.00  extra. 

May  1,  1857,  William  H.  Miller,  from  the  committee  on 
the  claim  of  Governor  Bebb,  presented  the  report  of  said  com- 
mittee finding  an  indebtedness  from  the  board  to  Mr.  William 
Bebb  of  $1,717.18,  including  interest.     Also,  the  sum  $667.18 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  43 


which  was  paid  for  William  Bebb   by    Dr.  Jacob  Hittel,   and 
should   be   refunded  to  said  Hittel. 

John  M.  Millikin. 

William  Beckett. 

Cyrus  Falconer. 

William  H.  Miller. 

The  report  was  adopted  by  the  following  vote:  Yea  — 
Henry  Beardsley,  N.  G.  Curtis,  William  H.  Miller,  nay  — 
John  Mills. 

William  H.  Miller  was  appointed  a  committee  to  visit 
Darke  county  and  sell  school  lands  belonging  to  Hamilton,  to 
the  best  advantage. 

May  7,  1857,  the  building  committee  was  instructed  to 
add  another  story  to  the  First  ward  school  house,  but  not  to 
finish  it  further  than  to  lay  the  floors. 

At  the  annual  election  for  members  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation, held  May  20,  1857,  Henry  Beardsley,  John  Mills  and 
William  H.  Miller  were  elected. 

John  W.  Sohn,  Evan  Davies  and  William  S.  Phares  were 
appointed  to  investigate  the  standing  and  condition  of  Mrs. 
Rick's  school. 

The  superintendent  presented  a  memorial  asking  that  the 
office  of  superintendent  be  made  a  separate  and  distinct  one, 
whereupon  it  was 

Resolved,  That  hereafter  the  office  of  superintendent  be  separated  from 
theprincipalship,  the  duties  to  be  performed  by  a  person  elected  for  that  pur- 
pose exclusively. 

On  Mondav,  July  6,  1857,  Charles  H.  Murray  was  elected 
a  teacher  at  an  annual  salary  of  $300.00.  Henry  Smith's  salary 
was  advanced  to  $675.00.  A  motion  made  to  increase  D.  W. 
McClung's  salary  as  principal  of  High  school  to  $750.00,  was 
lost  by  the  following  vote:  William  H.  Miller  and  T.  A.  Heim 
—yea;  Henry  Beardsley  and  N.  G.  Curtis — nay.  John  Woods 
and  Miss  Young  were  elected  teachers,  the  former  at  $300.00 
and  the  latter  at  $250.00  per  annum. 


44  Historical  Sketches. 

A  committee  was  appointed,  T.  A.  Heim  and  William  H. 
Miller,  to  select  a  lot  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  school  house 
for  the  colored  pupils. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolution  was  adopted; 
Whereas,     The  board  of  education   has   been   unable  to   negotiate  the 
bonds  furnished  by  the  city  council  for  the  erection  of  the  school  house  in 
the  First  ward  at  a  fair  rate  of  interest,  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  if  the  city  council  will  issue  the  bonds  for  one  and  two 
years— instead  of  four  and  five  years— as  contemplated  by  the  ordinance  pro- 
viding for  said  bonds  that  the  board  of  education  will,  if  desired,  redeem  the 
bonds  thus  issued  at  their  maturity  with  the  proceeds  of  other  bonds  to  be 
furnished  by  council  as  originally  provided  for  in  the  ordinance  above 
referred  to. 

July  21,  1857,  George  E.  Howe,  of  Painesville,  Ohio,  was 
unanimously  elected  superintendent  of  the  Hamilton  schools, 
for  one  year  at  a  salary  of  $  1 ,000. 

Miss  Ruth  Perkins  and  Miss  Henrietta  Mathers  of  the 
same  pldce  were  elected  teachers;  the  former  at  $350.00  and  the 
latter  $300.00  per  annum. 

Charles  H.  Murray  was  assigned  to  the  Grammar  school 
in  the  Third  ward.  John  Woods  was  appointed  assistant 
teacher  for  the  High  school. 

August  13,  1857,  Henry  Beardsley  and  William  H.  Miller 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  negotiate  with  the  trustees  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  for  the  use  of  a  bequest  of  $1,000 
made  by  Jeremiah  Beatty,  deceased,  for  the  education  of  the 
colored  children  of  Butler  county,  and  also  of  a  bequest  of  $1,000 
said  to  have  been  made  by  Henry  Simpson  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. 

Miss  Louisa  Halford  of  Hamilton,  and  Miss  Brooks  of 
Oxford,  were  elected  Primary  teachers  at  an  annual  salary  of 
$300.00. 

Superintendent  G.  E.  Howe  and  Rev.  N.  C.  McChosen 
were  elected  examiners  of  teachers  for  the  term  of  two  and 
three  years  respectively. 

The  building  committee  was  instructed  to  procure  three 
hot  air  furnaces  for  the  First  ward  building. 

November  12,  1857,  William  H.  Miller  and  Henry  Beard- 
sley were  appointed  a  committee  to  wait    upon  the  city  council 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  45 

and  request  the  issue  of  additional  bonds,  to  the  amount  of 
$6,500.00,  for   the     erection   of  the  First  ward  school  house. 

It  was  ordered  by  resolution  that  Valentine  Chase  be 
allowed  $175.00  for  superintending  the  building  of  the  First 
ward  school  house  and  a  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered  him. 
Thereupon  Mr.  Chase  resigned  as  a  member  of  the  board  and 
the  office  of  secretary.  His  services  were  really  worth  $500.00 
to  the  tax-payers. 

Stephen  E.  Giffen  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the 
board  caused  by  Mr.  Chase's  resignation.  He  was  added  to 
the  building  committee. 

John  Mills  was  allowed  $75.00  for  service  rendered  on  the 
building  committee. 

Saturday  evening,  November  28,  1857,  William  H.  Miller 
and  S.  E.  Griffen  were  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  the 
books  of  N.  G.  Curtis,  treasurer  of  the  board  and  report 
the  amount  of  money  he  had  advanced,  as  he  had  assigned  his 
account  to  Joseph  Curtis. 

December  31,  1857,  the  following  accounts  for  rent  of 
rooms  for  school  purposes  were  presented  and  allowed:  C.  R. 
Kennedy  room  for  Miss  Conant,  $18.00;  Four  Mile  Valley  R. 
R.  room  for  Miss  Halford,  $10.00;  Daniel  Sortman,  room  in 
I.  O.  O.  F.  building  for  Henry  Smith,  $20.90;  James  S.  Eewis, 
room  for  Miss  Yancey,  $10.25. 

Miss  Georgiana  Helvey  was  elected  assistant  teacher  for 
the  High  school,  in  the  place  of  John  Woods,  resigned,  at  a 
salary  of  $35.00  per  month. 

January  16,  1858,  'Sidney  A.  Norton,  of  Cleveland,  was 
elected  principal  of  the  High  school  at  a  salary  of  $800.00  per 
annum.  Mr.  Norton  was  an  excellent  educator.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  the  faculty  of  the  Ohio  State  University,  at 
Columbus. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  obtain,  if  possible,  the 
balance  of  the  Beatty  and  Simpson  bequests,  for  the  education 
of  colord  children.  Miss  Almeda  Northrup,  a  white  lady,  was 
elected  to  teach  the  colored  children  at  a  salary  of  $25.00  per 
month,  vice  Miss  Yancey  resigned. 


46  Historical  Sketches. 

Thursday  evening,  Febuary  n,  1858,  William  H.  Miller 
was  employed  attorney  in  the  case  of  Valentine  Chase  vs.  The 
Board  of  Education.  Mr.  Chase  claimed  additional  compensa- 
tion as  a  member  of  the  building  committee. 

The  committee  made  the  following  report  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  account  of  N.  G.  Curtis  with  the  board:  "Mr. 
Curtis  as  treasurer,  realized  from  the  sale  of  $16,000  worth  of 
bonds,  furnished  by  the  city  council,  the  sum  of  $9,305.67;  he 
received  from  the  county  treasurer  the  taxes  for  1856,  includ- 
ing balance  in  his  hands  on  settlemens  with  the  county  auditor 
in  1857,  the  sum  of  $6,487.31 — making  a  total  of  $15,792.98; 
that  he  expended  in  payments  toward  the  building  of  the  new 
school  house  in  the  First  ward,  the  sum  of  $12,384.41;  in 
redeeming  general  orders  of  the  board  $4,934.31 — making  a 
total  of  $17,318.72,"  showing  an  expenditure  beyond  the 
amount  received  by  him  of  $1,525.74."  Mr.  Curtis  was  allowed 
$150.00  for  services,  commission  and  distributing  preceeds. 
An  order  was  drawn  in  favor  of  Joseph  Curtis,  assignee  of 
N.  G.  Curtis,  for  $1,525.74  and  $150.00  making  a  total  of 
$1,675.64,  payable  one  year  after  date,  with  ten  per  cent, 
interest  from  date. 

N.  G.  Curtis,  after  expressing  his  satisfaction  with  the 
settlement,  resigned  his  membership  of  the  board.  On  motion 
Alexander  F.  Hume  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy,  until 
the  next  annual  election. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  education,  held  February 
18,  1858,  William  H.  Miller  was  elected  treasurer  and  Alex- 
ander F.  Hume,  secretary. 

.  Friday  evening,  March  5,  1858,  William  H.  Miller  and 
Alexander  F.  Hume  were  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare 
a  bill  and  procure  its  passage  by  the  legislature  authorizing 
the  Board  of  education  of  the  city  of  Hamilton  to  collect  the 
money  unexpended  belonging  to  the  Old  Pond  Ditch  Fund 
and  appropriate  the  same  toward  the  payment  of  the  school 
house  debts  in  the  Third  ward. 

The  following  standing  committees  were  appointed: 
Claims,  S.  E.    Giffen   and   T.    A.    Heim;    Daw,     W.    H. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  47 

Miller  and  A.  F.  Hume;  Supplies,  Furniture  and  Repairs, 
John  Mills  and  Henry  Beardsley;  Building,  John  Mills  and 
S.  E.  Giffen;  Text  Books,  W.  H.  Miller  and  Henry  Beardsley, 
in  connection  with  the  superintendent. 

March  28,  1858,  a  committee  consisting  of  W.  H.  Miller 
and  S.  E.  Giffen  was  appointed  to  prepare  a  statement  showing 
what  amount  was  realized  out  of  the  sale  of  the  bonds 
expended;  the  cost  of  the  school  house;  the  amount  already 
paid  thereon  and  the  outstanding  debts,  and  cause  said  state- 
ment to  be  published  in  the  Intelligencer  and  Telegraph  next 
week. 

On  motion  an  order  was  granted  to  William  H.  Miller  for 
expenses  and  trip  to  Columbus  to  procure  passage  of  a  law 
for  a  loan  of  $300.00. 

The  superintendent  was  directed  to  move  the  High  school 
to  the  new  building  in  the  First  ward,  at  the  first  of  next 
session. 

Monday  evening  April  26,  1858,  it  was  ordered  that  five 
thousand  dollars  worth  of  bonds  be  issued  as  follows,  with  ten 
per  cent,  interest. 

Two  at  1  year,  for  $500  each;  two  at  2  years,  for  $500 
each;  ten  at  1  year,  for  $100  each;  ten  at  2  years,  for  $100 
each;  twenty  at  1  year  for  $50    each. 

On  motion  the  secretary  and  treasurer  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  negotiate  the  bonds  at  par  if  possible.  An 
order  was  granted  to  John  Still waugh  for  $2,000.  The  treas- 
urer was  authorized  to  use  any  of  the  bonds  issued  to  pay  this 
or  any  other  orders  when  it  can  be  done  at  their  par  value. 

A  petition  of  forty-seven  pupils  of  the  High  school  was 
presented,  asking  forsuch  a  change  of  school  hours  so  as  to  have 
but  one  session  each  day,  continuing  from  8  o'clock  a.  m. 
until  2  o'clock  p.  m. 

Thereupon,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted  unan- 
imously. 

Resolved,     That  it  is  inexpedient  to  grant  the  request   of   the    pupils    of 
the  High  School  in  relatiou  to  change  of  school  hours. 


48  Historical  Sketches. 

Miss  Howe  was  elected  as  teacher  in  the  place  of  Miss 
Fitton,  resigned,  at  a  salary  of  $90.00  for  the  present  term. 

Thursday  evening,  May  12,  1858,  the  board  proceeded  to 
open  the  returns  of  the  election  held  on  the  6th  day  of  May 
for  members  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  the  city  of  Ham- 
ilton, and  after  examining  the  same  it  was  declared  that  Alex- 
ander F.  Hume  was  elected  for  a  term  of  three  years  from  the 
First  ward,  James  Daugherty  from  the  Second  ward  for  three 
years,  and  Stephen  K.  Giffen  for  one  year,  from  the  Third 
ward. 

Henry  Beardsley  was  added  to  the  committee  to  borrow 
money. 

Saturday,  May  15th,  1858,  the  board  proceeded  to  organize 
by  electing  officers  for  the  ensuing  year,  which  resulted  as  fol- 
lows: Henry  Beardsley,  president;  Alexander  F.  Hume,  secre- 
tary; and  William  H.  Miller,  treasurer. 

Wednesday  evening,  June  23,  1858,  the  board  took  up  the 
resolutions  of  Stephen  K.  Giffen  offered  at  a  previous  meeting, 
which  was  amended  as  follows; 

Resolved,  That  for  the  coming  year  the  principal  of  the  High  schooi 
shall  be  the  superintendent  of  the  schools  within  the  city;  that  no  other 
superintendent  than  said  principal  shall  be  employed. 

The  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  following  vote:  Giffen, 
Beardsley,  Daugherty,  Hume  and  Mills — yea;  Miller — nay. 

There  was  a  general  reduction  of  the  salaries  of  teachers 
at  this  meetiug. 

Friday  morning,  June  26,  1856,  the  following  communica- 
tion was  read: 

Jo  The  Board  of  Education: 

The  undersigned,  having  learned  that  you  propose  to  reduce  the  salaries 
of  the  teachers  employed  in  our  schools,  beg  leave  to  say  that  we  are  in  favor 
of  liberal  salaries  to  first  rate  teachers  and  the  most  efficient  system  eco- 
nomically administered  without  regard  to  cost. 

John  M.  Millikin.  H.  C.  Howells. 

Isaac  Robertson.  Thos.  Moore. 

Russell  Potter.  C.  Falconer. 

William  Beckett.  L.  I.  Smith. 

Willliam  H.  Miller  moved  to  reconsider  the  vote  taken  in 
reference  to  the   office   of  superintendent.     Lost.     Mr.  Miller 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  49 

asked  and  obtained  leave  to  enter  his  protest  on  the  minutes 
against  the  action  of  the  board  as  follows: 

"I  protest  against  the  abolition  of  the  office  of  superintendent  of  schools. 
It  is  an  abandonment  of  the  very  principles  upon  which  the  Union  School 
System  is  founded;  these  are  unity  and  gradation.  How  can  seventeen 
schools  without  a  head  be  called  union  schools;  or,  how  can  they  be  kept 
graded  without  a  superintendent?  Our  schools  were  never  in  better  condition 
than  today.  Why  not  let  well  enough  alone?  If  the  system  is  too  expensive, 
abolish  the  schools  and  let  our  children  grow  up  in  ignorance.  Let  us  have 
good  schools  or  none.  I  care  not  for  names,  give  the  principal  of  High  school 
assistants  enough  to  enable  him  to  perform  the  duties  of  a  superintendent, 
and  I  am  content.  After  assisting  to  involve  our  city  in  considerable  debt  for 
school  houses  I  am  unwilling  to  make  tha  texpenditure  useless  by  this  aban- 
donment of  the  only  system  by  which  our  schools  can  be  made  efficient  and 
which  we  have  been  laboring  for  years  to  build  up.  Being  unwilling  to  be 
held  responsible  in  any  degree  for  the  folly  of  employing  seventeen  persons 
to  labor  in  any  occupation  without  superintendence  on  the  false  economy  of 
having  cheap  teachers,  I  respectfully  ask  you  to  accept  my  resignation  as  a 
member  of  this  board." 

Action  on  Mr.  Miller's  resignation  was  postponed  to  the 
next  meeting  of  the  Board. 

Miss  Howe  and  Miss  Haley  were  re-elected  teachers;  the 
former  at  $27.50  and  the  latter  at  $30.00  per  month. 

July  26,  1858..  Miss  Martha  Traber,  Miss  Maria  Conant  and 
Miss  Brown  were  elected  teachers. 

August  19,  1858,  Mr.  Giffen  offered  the  following  resolution: 

Resolved,  That  for  the  ensuing  year  we  will  employ  a  superintendent 
to  serve  one-half  the  time,  at  a  salary  of  $600.00  per  annum.  The  resolution 
prevailed. 

S.  A.  Norton  resigned  as  principal  of  the  High  school. 

Mr.  H.  H.  Barney,  of  Cincinnati,  was  elected  superinten- 
dent of  the  schools  at  a  salary  of  $1,200.  He  declined 
to  accept  the  position. 

August  24,  1858,  F.  W.  Hurtt  was  elected  superintendent 
and  teacher  of  the  High  school,  and  Mrs.  Hurtt,  assistant. 
Miss  Dode  Buckingham  was  elected  teacher  in  the  Secondary 
department  at  $30.00  per  month. 

September  10,  1858,  Messrs.  Beardsley,  Miller  and  Hume 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  raise  funds  to  pay  the  note  of 
the  Board  held  in  Cincinnati. 


50  Historical  Sketches. 

It  was  ordered  that  the  treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Education 
be  authorized  to  receive  from  the  treasurer  of  Butler  county 
such  bonds  as  he  may  have  received  for  tax  issued  by  the 
Board,  and  endorsed,  "receivable  for  taxes,"  at  such  times  as 
the  treasurer  of  said  county  may  see  proper  to  deliver  them  to 
him  and  to  receipt  for  them  to  said  county  treasurer  as  part  of 
the  taxes  coming  to  said  School  Board. 

It  was  resolved,  Friday  morning,  September  17,  1858, 
that  the  colored  schools  be  kept  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the 
Second  ward  building.  Messrs  Giffen,  Beardsley  and  Mills, 
voting  in  the  affirmative,  Daugherty  and  Hume  in  the  nega- 
tive. 

Saturday  morning,  September  18,  1858,  the  following 
uncompleted  resolution  appears  on  the  records: 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  borrow  $2,800  from  Messrs.  Shaffer,  Curtis  and 
Potter  for  ninety  days  at  the  rate  of  one-half  per  cent,  per  month,  and  that  a 
note 

From  this  date  in  1858,  until  February  24,  i860,  no  record 
of  the  Board  of  Education's  transactions  can  be  found. 

February  24,  i860,  the  full  Board  of  Education  was  com- 
posed of  the  following  members:  Henry  Beardsley,  president, 
Matthew  Pfafflin,  W.  W.  Caldwell,  treasurer,  Alfred  Thomas, 
James  Daugherty  and  A.  F.  Hume,  clerk. 

Mrs.  Julia  Curtis  Strode  resigned  her  position  as  teacher 
of  the  First  district  school,  to  take  effect  at  the  end  of  the  term. 

Mr.  Thomas  acted  as  treasurer  pro  tern  until  May  23, 
i860.     On  March  1st,  he  was  added  to  the  committee  on   law. 

March  20,  i860,  Archibald  Mayo,  of  Oxford,  was  elected 
a  teacher  and  assigned  to  the  Third  ward  building,  at  a  salary 
of  $40.00  per  month.  Miss  Jennie  Duke  was  appointed  to 
teach  in  the  place  of  Mrs.  Crowes,  resigned. 

Alfred  Thomas  offered  the  following  resolution: 
Resolved,  That  Miss  Dode  Buckingham  be  promoted  to  Mrs.  Strode's 
place;  that  Miss  Augusta  Curtis  be  appointed  to  Miss  Buckingham's  present 
place;  that  Miss  Jennie  Duke  take  Mrs.  Crowe's  room;  that  Eliza  Potter  be 
appointed  teacher  of  the  school  to  be  organized  in  the  vacant  room  in  the  Third 
ward.  All  to  take  effect  at  the  beginning  of  the  next  term,  except  as  to  Miss 
Duke,  who  is  to  enter  upon  her  duties  Monday  next. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  51 

On  motion  of  Dr.  W.  W.  Caldwell  the  board  subscribed 
for  one  copy  of  the  Education  Journal  published  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  edited  by  F.  W.  Hurtt,  a  former  Superintendent  of  the 
Hamilton  public  schools. 

Miss  Belle  Porter  asked  for  increase  of  salary.  The  appli- 
cation was  refused. 

Superintendent  J.  R.  Chamberlain,  reported  that  the  new 
teachers  were  doing  good  work — especially  Miss  Eliza  Potter 
and  Miss  Augusta  Curtis. 

Mr.  Woodruff  appeared  before  the  Board  and  complained 
that  his  son  had  been  dismissed  from  High  school  and  refused 
admission  therein  at  the  present  session  without  any  cause. 
On  examination  of  the  superintendent  it  appeared  that  the  son 
at  last  session  refused  to  do  as  reasonably  required  by  his 
teacher  and  to  escape  punishment  or  apology  left  school.  The 
Board  thereupon  decided  that  he  (said  pupils  must  make  an 
apology  before  he  can  re-enter  High  school. 

S.  K.  Eeiter  'stated  that  judgment  had  been  rendered 
against  him  in  court  as  principal  and  A.  A.  Phillips  as  his 
endorser,  on  a  school  bond  for  $—  judgment;  that  Mr.  Philips 
had  paid.  This  bond  was  taken  by  Mr.  Deiter  as  part  pay- 
ment of  his  claim  for  carpenter  work  on  the  First  ward  school 
house.  The  treasurer  was  instructed  to  endorse  the  said  bond 
and  judgment,  good  for  taxes  payable  in  December  next  and 
arrange  the  matter  with  A.  A.  Phillips. 

Stephen    Crane,    Esq.,    presented  three  orders  in  favor  of 

Fred  Heiser  endorsed  to ,  long  past  due.     He  wished  them 

endorsed,  "good  for  June  taxes."  The  Board  ordered  the 
treasurer  to  endorse  them  "good  for  the  taxes  of  December 
i860." 

Mr.  Thomas  offered  the  following  resolution: 
Resolved,    That  the  treasurer  furnish  the  Board  at  the  next  regular  meet- 
ing with  a  statement,  in  writing,  of  all  the  indebtedness  and  liabilities  of  the 
Board  of  every  kind  whatsoever,  whether  due  or  to  become  clue,   distinguish- 
ing between  interest  and  principal. 

The  resolution  was  amended  by  striking  out  "treasurer" 
and  inserting  a  special  committee,  and  then  passed.     The  pres- 


52  Historical  Sketches. 

ident  appointed  on  that  committee  are  Messrs.  Beardsley, 
Thomas  and  Caldwell. 

It  was  resolved  to  hold  the  next  annual  election  for  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Education  on  Thursday,  May  17,  i860,  and 
the  president  and  secretary  was  instructed  to  advertise  said 
election  by  hand  bills — the  usual  manner. 

The  treasurer  was  instructed  to  negotiate  a  loan,  on  the 
best  terms  possible,  for  money  sufficient  to  pay  teachers  and 
ordinary  expenses  of  carrying  on  the  schools  for  the  months  of 
May  and  June. 

May  18,  i860,  the  Board  proceeded  to  open  the  poll  books 
of  the  election  held  May  17,  i860,  from  which  it  appeared  that 
Isaac  Robertson,  of  the  Second  ward,  received  262  votes,  Jacob 
Troutman,  of  the  First  ward,  147  votes,  Alfred  Thomas  93 
votes,  Henry  Beardsley  35  votes,  Dr.  W.  H.  Scobey  27  votes 
and  John  McKlwee  6  votes.  Messrs.  Troutman  and  Robertson 
were  declared  elected  members  of  the  Board  of  Education  for 
a  term  of  three  years. 

May  26,  i860,  the  Board  of  Education  organized  by  elect- 
ing W.  W.  Caldwell,  president;  Matthew  PfafHin,  secretary;  and 
Isaac  Robertson,  treasurer. 

On  June  17,  i860,  the  president  appointed  the  following 
committees  for  i86o-'6i. 

Buildings,  Furniture  and  Repairs — Jacob  Troutman,  James 
Daugherty  and  W.  W.  Caldwell. 

Fuel  and  Cleaning — James  Daugherty,  Matthew  Pfafflin 
and  Jacob  Troutman. 

Course  of  Study,  Text  Books  and  Library — Alex.  F.  Hume, 
Isaac  Robertson  and  superintendent  ex-officio. 

Teachers,  Salaries  and  Discipline  —  Alex.  F.  Hume,  W. 
W.  Caldwell  and  Matthew  Pfafflin. 

Finance,  Claims  and  Printing — Isaac  Robertson  and 
Jacob  Troutman. 

L,aw — Isaac  Robertson. 

June  29th,  Isaac  Robertson  and  W.  W.  Caldwell  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  trustees  of  the  Pres- 
byterian   church    in    relation    to    the    Beatty   funds  in  their 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  53 

possession  and  to  procure  the  residue  to   assist   in   building   a 
school  house  for  the  colored  people. 

On  June  16,  i860,  the  following  teachers  were  elected  for 
one  year. 

First  ward,  Miss  E.Sprague;  First  ward,  Iy.  F.  Lewis;  First 
ward,  Miss  Dode  Buckingham;  First  ward,  Miss  Louise  Stanage; 
First  ward,  Miss  Martha  Traber;  First  ward,  Miss  Augusta 
Curtis;  Second  ward,  Charles  Diefenbach;  Second  ward,  Miss 
H.  Matthews;  Second  ward,  Miss  C.  Gallagher;  Second  ward, 
Miss  Jennie  Duke;  Second  ward,  Mr.  Triester;  Third  ward, 
Miss  Margaret  McEvoy;  Third  ward,  Miss  Sophia  Neal;  Third 
ward,  Miss  Eliza  Potter. 

June  23,  i860,  J.  R.  Chamberlain  was  unanimously 
re-elected  superintendent  for  one  year  at  a  salary  of  $90.00 
per  month. 

Dr.  Cyrus  Falconer,  D.  W.  McClung  and  J.  R.  Chamberlain 
were  appointed  city   school   examiners  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Miss  Kate  Eacott  was  elected  teacher,  vice  Mrs.  S.  W. 
Stanage.  resigned. 

July  30,  i860,  a  communication  was  received  from  Alfred 
Anderson  in  reference  to  a  new  school  for  the  colored  children 
of  Hamilton. 

On  motion  of  James  Daugherty  it  was 
Resolved,     To  submit  the  question  of  building  a  new  school  house  for  the 
colored  people  to  the  qualified  voters  of  Hamilton  asking  for  a   tax   of  $  1,500. 

The  secretary  was  instructed  to  give  notice  for  an  election 
in  the  newspapers  of  this  city. 

August  31,  i860,  owing  to  an  ill  feeling  toward  the  negro 
it  was  resolved  to  defer  the  above  action  for  one  week.  Sub- 
sequently, on  vSaturday,  September  15,  i860,  a  meeting  of  the 
qualified  voters  of  Hamilton  was  held  at  the  court  house  from 
one  to  five  o'clock  p.  m.  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  the 
required  amount. 

Josiah  Morrow  was  elected  teacher  for  the  Grammar 
school  in  the  First  ward,  at  a  salary  of  $50.00  per  month. 

November  1,  i860,  W.  W.  Caldwell  and  Matthew    Pfaffiiu 


54  Historical  Sketches. 

were   obliged  to  engage  a  separate  room  for  the  colored  youth 
of   Hamilton. 

November  8,  i860,  Thomas  Millikin,  Esq.,  complained 
that  his  daughter  had  been  improperly  dismissed  from  the 
Grammar  school  by  Josiah  Morrow.  The  following  resolution 
was  offered  by  Alex.  F.  Hume  and  passed: 

Whereas,  Mr.  Thomas  Millikin  made  an  arrangement  with  the  super- 
intendent to  have  his  daughter  leave  school  in  time  to  pass  over  the  bridge 
before  dark,  and 

Whereas,  The  teacher,  Mr.  Josiah  Morrow,  having  no  knowledge  of 
said  arrangement,  requested  Miss  Sallie  Millikin  to  remain  after  school, 
which  she  refused  to  do,  understanding  that  she  had  liberty  from  the  super- 
intendent to  leave,  and  not  intending  by  her  refusal,  to  violate  the  rules  and 
orders  of  the  teacher,  or  any  disrespect  toward  the  same,  and  was  dismissed 
by  Mr.  Morrow,  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  Miss  Sallie  Millikin  be  admitted  to  the  school,  and  that 
no  censure  be  cast  upon  M  r.  Morrow  for  his  action  in  the  premises — he 
having  acted  in  ignorance  of  the  arrangements  made  by  the   superintendent. 

The  preamble  and   resolution   was   unanimously  passed. 

Miss  Anna  David  was  elected  assistant  teacher  for  the  B 
class  Grammar  school. 

January  30,  1862,  a  petition  signed  by  ten  residents  of  the 
Third  ward  was  received  in  which  the  dismissal  of  Archibald 
Mayo,  as  teacher  was  requested.  The  petition  was  referred  to 
James  Daugherty,  Matthew  PfafHin  and  Jacob  Troutman. 

The  committee  reported  on  January  31,  1861,  that  after 
having  examined  the  charges  preferred  by  S.  E.  Giffen  and 
others  against  Mr.  Mayo,  we  find  that  the  first  charge  is  unsus- 
tained  for  lack  of  sufficient  proof.  The  second  charge  is 
proven  so  far  as  tardiness  is  concerned,  and  Mr.  Mayo  was 
direlect  in  duty  in  failing  to  notify  the  superintendent  of  such 
fact;  the  third  charge  was  unsustained.  Hereafter  the  Board 
will  expect  promptness  in  the  discharge  of  all  his  duties. 

On  February  18,  1861,  the  schools  were  ordered  to  be 
closed  on  the  twenty-second  for  the  purpose  of  participating 
in  celebrating  Washington's  birthday. 

The  committee  on  law  was  instructed  to  investigate  the 
the  claim  of  Valentine  Chase  against  the  Board  of  Education, 
for  superintending  the  erection  of  the  First  ward  building. 


Hamilton  ami  its  Residents.  5  5 

May  2,  1 86 1,  the  law  committee  reported  that  it  had 
referred  Mr.  Chase's  case  to  the  decision  of  Ferdinand  Van 
Derveer,  N.  C.  McFarlaud  and  James  Rossman. 

Prof.  August  Goehring  was  engaged  to  teach  in  the  Ger- 
man department  at  a  monthly  salary  of  $25.00.  Mr.  Archi- 
bald Mayo  resigned  his  position  as  teacher  in  the  Third  ward 
Grammar  school. 

May  23,  1 86 1,  it  was 
Resolved,    That   each   member  of  the  Board  of  Education  be  allowed  one 
dollar  for  each  regular  meeting  he  may  have  attended  during  the  year. 

The  secretary  was  instructed  to  draw  orders  in  favor  of 
W.  W.  Caldwell,  Isaac  Robertson,  Jacob  Troutman,  James 
Daugherty  and  Matthew  Pfafflin  for  $25.00  each  for  services 
rendered. 

Then  the  Board  proceeded  to  open  the  returns  of  the  elec- 
tion held  on  the  18th  day  of  May,' 1 861,  for  the  election  of  two 
members  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  city  of  Hamilton. 
After  having  examined  the  same  it  was  found  that  Ferdinand 
Van  Derveer  and  John  McElwee  were  duly  elected  for  a  term 
of  three  years.  The  Board  was  organized  by  the  election  of 
Isaac  Robertson,  president;  Jacob  Troutman,  secretary;  and 
Dr.  W.  W.  Caldwell,  treasurer. 

June  6,  1 86 1,  the  secretary  and  president  were  appointed 
a  special  committee  to  obtain  from  Judge  Hume  the  minutes 
and  proceedings  of  the  Board  of  Education  during  his  official 
terms  of  said  Board. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  on  June  13,  1861,  W.  W. 
Caldwell  presented  his  bond  as  treasurer-elect,  with  John  P.  P. 
Peck  and  Joseph  Simpson,  in  the  sum  of  $20,000.  The  bond 
was  approved  and  ordered  to  be  placed  on  file. 

On  June  21,  1861,  the  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the 
claim  of  Valentine  Chase,  submitted  the  following  report: 
"That  in  our  opinion  Mr.  Chase  has  not  been  sufficiently  com- 
pensated for  his  services,  and  we  recommend  that  he  be  paid 
$100.00  in  addition  to  the  amount  heretofore  received,  with 
the  understanding  that  he  execute  a  release  on  all  other  claims 


56  Historical  Sketches. 

against   the    Board  of  Education."     On  motion  the  report  was 
adopted  and  an  order  drawn  for  the  amount. 

John  R.  Chamberlain  was  re-elected  superintendent, 
August  8,  1 86 1,  for  one  year.  At  the  same  meeting  Rev. 
William  Davidson  was  appointed  one  of  the  city  school 
examiners. 

August  27,  1 86 1,  the  committee  on  teachers  and  salaries 
recommended  a  reduction  of  five  per  cent,  on  teachers' 
salaries,  which  recommendation  was  adopted. 

The  following  teachers  were  elected:  Miss  Malissa  Daugh- 
erty,  Miss  S.  Coats,  Miss  Anna  David  and  Miss  Eliza  Potter. 
Ferdinand  Soehner  was  appointed  to  the  German  department. 
Mr.  Mayo  resigned  as  teacher  in  the  Third  ward. 

Isaac  Robertson  was  appointed  to  confer  with  Prof.  B. 
Starr,  in  relation  to  having  him  accept  the  supeiintendency  of 
our  schools.     Mr.  Starr  declined  the  offer. 

Rev.  M.  T.  Bowman  was  transferred  to  the  Grammar 
school  in  the  Third  ward,  September  7,  1861,  and  H.  T. 
Wheeler,  was  elected  superintendent  of  the  Hamilton  schools 
at  a  salary  of  $80.00  per  month. 

October  19,  1861,  Ferdinand  Soehner's  salary  was  increased 
to  $30.50  per  month. 

The  commitee  on  discipline,  October  26,  1861,  reported 
an  additional  resolution  which  was  as  follows:  Any  pupil  absent 
from  school  four  days  or  tardy  five  times  in  any  school  month, 
unless  that  absence  or  tardiness  is  occasioned  by  his  sickness 
or  sickness  in  the  family,  or  by  his  absence  from  the  city,  shall 
be  suspended  by  the  superintendent  and  not  allowed  to  re-enter 
the  current  term,  unless  the  parent  or  guardian  of  the  pupil 
guarantee  the  non-occurrence  of  such  absence  or  tardiness. 

The  committee  appointed  on  the  case  of  Miss  Belle  Cald- 
well, reported  as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  we  disapprove  of  all  kinds  of  reading  matter  in  the 
schools  of  the  city  of  Hamilton  of  a  political  or  sectarian  character.  Be  it 
further 

Resolved,  That  Miss  Belle  Caldwell  be  permitted  to  return  to  the  High 
school  and  be  required  to  conform  to  all  the  regulations  governing  the   same. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  57 

December  5,  1S61,  William  H.  Roberts  was  appointed 
to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  Board,  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
Fredinand  Van  Derveer. 

February  20,  1862,  William  H.  Roberts  and  Jacob  Trout- 
man  were  appointed  to  investigate  the  claim  of  Isaac  Robert- 
son, as  treasurer  of  the  Board  for  the  year  1861.  At  a  subse- 
quent meeting  he  was  allowed  $100.00  upon  recommendation 
of  the  committee. 

At  the  election,  held  May  17,  1862,  W.  W.  Caldwell  and 
Christian  Morganthaler  were  elected  members  of  the  board  for 
three  years  and  W.  H.  Roberts  for  two  years  to  fill  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Ferdinand  Van  Derveer.  On  the  26th  of 
the  same  month  the  Board  met  and  organized  as  follows:  Isaac 
Robertson,  president;  Jacob  Troutman,  clerk;  and  W.  W. 
Caldwell,  treasurer.  On  motion  the  secretary  was  allowed 
$30.00  for  his  services  last  year. 

June  17,  1862,  the  president  appointed  the  following 
standing  committees: 

Building — Caldwell  and  Troutman. 

Fuel  and  Cleaning — McElwee,  Troutman,  and  Morgan- 
thaler. 

Course  of  Study — Robertson  and  Roberts. 

Salaries  and  Discipline,  Troutman,  Morganthaler  and 
McElwee. 

Finance  and  Claims— Caldwell,   Troutman  and  McElwee. 

Law —  Robertson . 

H.  T.  Wheeler  was  re-elected  superintendent,  June,  12, 
1862. 

Two  and  one-half  mills  were  levied  for  school  purposes 
and  one  mill  to  pay  indebtedness  and  current  expenses. 

The  salaries  for  the  ensuing  year  were  as  follows:  H.  T. 
Wheeler  $80.00;  Mrs.  Wheeler  $40.00;  Mrs.Ryan  $40.00;  Miss 
Seechrist  $25.00;  Miss  Buckingham  $30.00;  Miss  Daugherty 
$23.00;  Mrs.  Heim  $23.00;  Miss  Duke  $23.00;  C.  Deifenbach 
$47.00;  Ferdinand  Soehner  $30.00;  Archie  Mayo  $35.00;  Miss 
David  $28.00;  Miss   Coats   $23.00;    Mr.    Wynn    $35.00;    Miss 


58  Historical  Sketches. 

Curtis  $28.00;  Miss  Neal  $28.00;  Miss  Laura  Creighton  $23.50; 
James  Williams  $25.00. 

C.  Diefenbach  resigned  September  6,  1862,  and  Fredinand 
Soehner  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  at  $40.00  per  month. 
Mr.  King  was  elected  to  Mr.  Soehner's  place.  Dr.  John  McElwee 
offered  a  resolution  to  dispense  with  reading  of  the  Bible  in 
the  schools,  which  was  laid  on  the  table. 

On  October  18,  1862,  Mr.  Troutman  offered  the  following 
resolution: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion that  the  children  of  Lemuel  Epps  (Creole)  are  not  entitled,  under  the 
laws  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  to  admission  into  the  schools  of  this  city,  set  apart 
for  white  scholars.     The  resolution  prevailed. 

October  21,  1862,  charges  were  preferred  against  Timothy 
Scobey,  William  Parks,  John  Creighton,  Edward  Hughes  and 
Charles  Potter.  At  a  meeting  held  November  6,  1862,  the 
boys  were  reinstated. 

February  5,  1863,  Isaac  Matthias  entered  a  complaint 
against  Miss  Buckingham  for  excessively  whipping  his  grand- 
daughter, Emma  Vandyke,  on  February  5,  1863.  The  com- 
plaint was  referred  to  the  superintendent. 

Teacher  Wynn  was  severely  censured  by  the  adoption  of 
the  following  resolution: 

Resolved,  That  Rev.  W.  H.  Wynn  has  been  guilty  of  insubordination 
and  transcended  his  authority  as  a  teacher  in  transferring  scholars  to  and 
from  his  school,  resisting  the  superintendent  while  doing  that  which  the 
Board  authorized  him  to  do. 

A  copy  of  this  resolution  was  sent  to  Mr.  Wynn  by  order 
of  the  Board. 

On  May  7,  1863,  Alfred  Thomas  was  elected  teacher  for 
the  Grammar  school  at  a  salary  of  $45.00  per  month.  On  the 
21st  of  the  same  month,  the  poll  books  of  the  late  election  for 
members  of  the  Board  were  opened  and  examined,  which 
showed  that  Jacob  Troutman  and  Rev.  M.  T.  Bowman  were 
elected  for  three  years. 

The  Board  was  organized,  May  21,  1863.  Rev.  M.  T. 
Bowman  was  elected  president;   Jacob   Troutman,    clerk   and 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  59 

W.  W.  Caldwell,  treasurer.     On  June  4,  1863,  the  Board  levied 
a  tax  of  four  mills  ou  the  dollar. 

On  August  6,  1863,  John  A.  Shank  was  re-elected  super- 
intendent; the  old  teachers  were  retained  and  the  following 
new  teachers  were  employed:  Miss  H.  H.  Ringwood,  assistant 
High  school  teacher,  Oliver  Temple,  Grammar  department  and 
Mrs.  E.  Iy.  Bryant. 

Ray's  arithmetic  supplanted  Stoddard's  December  17, 
1863. 

John  A.  Shank  resigned  as  superintendent  of  the  schools, 
March  17,  1S64,  and  John  Edwards  was  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancy. 

In  May,  1864,  Elijah  Vance  and  August  Breitenbach  were 
elected  members  of  the  Board  of  Education.  At  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Board  Elijah  Vance  was  chosen  president;  Jacob 
Troutman,  secretary;  and  W.  W.  Caldwell,  treasurer. 

E.  E.  Palmer  was  appointed  city  examiner,  in  the  place  of 
C.  Falconer,  whose  term  had  expired. 

July  21,  1864,  the  salaries  of  the  superintendent  and 
teachers  were  increased  from  fifteen  to  twenty  per  cent.  The 
following  teachers  were  employed:  Miss  E.  L,.  Ryan,  George 
McFeely,  Miss  Martha  Young,  Mrs.  W.  P.  Young  and  Miss 
Lillie  Thomas. 

In  December,  1864,  Jacob  Troutman  tendered  the  Board 
his  resignation,  but  it  was  not  accepted.  Rev.  M.  T.  Bowman 
was  elected  secretary. 

March  16,  1865,  Miss  S.  Coats  resigned  as  teacher.  The 
following  were  the  applicants  for  the  position  made  vacant: 
Misses  Belle  Caldwell,  Julia  Mott,  Kate  A.  Eacott,  Mary  Duke 
and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Steckel.     Miss  Caldwell  was  elected. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  April  26,  1865, 
Miss  H.  H.  Ringwood,  teacher  of  High  school,  preferred 
charges  against  superintendent  John  Edwards  for  having  in- 
terfered in  the  discipline  of  her  department.  The  case  was 
settled  on  the  following  evening  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned. 


60  Historical  Sketches. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Education  was  held 
May  30,  1865,  for  the  purpose  of  appointing  judges  and  clerks 
for  the  coming  election.  M.  T.  Bowman,  W.  W.  Caldwell  and 
Jacob  Troutman  were  appointed  judges;  John  S.  Wiles  and 
James  R.  Webster,  clerks. 

The  commencement  exercises  were  held  in  June,  1865,  at 
Beckett's  hall. 

The  result  of  the  recent  election  was  announced  as  follows: 
C.  Morganthaler  received  414  votes,  W.  W.  Caldwell,  360,  and 
Joseph  W.  Davis,  197.  The  president  declared  Messrs.  Mor- 
ganthaler and  W.  W.  Caldwell  elected  for  a  term  of  three  years. 

June  15,  1865,  the  Board  was  organized  by  electing  Elijah 
Vance,  president;  M.  T.  Bowman,  secretary;  and  W.  W.  Cald- 
well, treasurer. 

The  following  standing  committees  were  appointed  for 
i865-'66: 

Building  and  Repairs  —Caldwell,  Bowman  and  Troutman. 

Fuel  and  Cleaning — Bowman,  Morganthaler  and  Trout- 
man. 

Studies  and  Text  Books  —  Breitenbach,  Caldwell  and 
Vance. 

Teachers  and  Discipline  —  Morganthaler,  Caldwell  and 
Vance. 

Finance  and  Claims  —  Troutman,  Breitenbach  and  Mor- 
ganthaler. 

L,aw — Caldwell,  Breitenbach  and  Vance. 

John  Edwards  was  elected  superintendent  by  acclamation 
at  $850.00  per  annum.  The  old  corps  of  teachers  was  re- 
elected, with  the  following  additional  ones:  Miss  M.  J.  War- 
ren, of  Hillsboro  High  school;  Mrs.  P.  E-  H.  Pool,  Primary; 
Miss  J.  Mott,  Primary;  Miss  Kate  Grove,  Primary;  Mrs.  E.  J. 
Steckel,  First  Primary;  Mrs.  W.  P.  Young,  Second  Primary; 
Miss  Wiles,  German  Primary;  and  Francis  Kueng,  German 
Primary. 

The  Board  agreed  to  furnish  diplomas  to  the  recent  grad- 
uates at  a  reasonable  cost. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  61 

Miss  Rachel  Kyle  was  elected  to  teach  in  the  Second 
ward. 

August  3,  1865,  the  Board  resolved  to  rent  the  engine 
house,    (second  story)  in  the  First  ward  for  the  German  school . 

B.  F.  Thomas  was  elected  to  teach  in  the  High  school  at 
$70.00  per  month. 

August  17,  1S65,  Messrs.  Troutman  and  Breitenbach  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  draft  resolutions  on  the  death  of  Rev. 
M.  T.  Bowman. 

Miss  Mary  Caldwell  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused 
by  the  resignation  of  Miss  Kate  Grove,  and  Miss  Anna  Huber 
to  the  First  ward  Primary  department. 

J.  W.  Sohn's  bill  for  sheep  skins,  amounting  to  $10.00 
was  ordered  paid. 

March  1,  1866,  the  Board  adopted  the  following  pre- 
amble and  resolution: 

Whereas,  Miss  Buckingham  has  either  purposely  or  inadvertantly  disre- 
garded the  action  of  the  Board  of  Education,  in  relation  to  the  restoring  to 
her  school,  the  children  of  Mr.  Lawson,  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  By  the  Board  that  the  policy  of  Miss  Buckingham  in  the  prem- 
ises is  disapproved,  and  unless  she  reviews  her  policy  in  this  particular  and 
shows  by  her  future  course  of  action  in  the  matter  a  willingness  to  conform 
in  good  faith,  to  the  action  of  the  Board,  her  services  as  a  teacher  will  not  be 
required  after  the  end  of  the  present  term  of  school. 

Charles  F.  Steck  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  occas- 
ioned by  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Bittinger.  Subsequently  Mr. 
Steck  abandoned  his  school  without  notifying  the  superintend- 
ent or  Board.     David  Clark  was  elected  to  the  vacancy. 

May  3,  1866,  a  committee  from  the  trustees  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  informed  the  Board  that  they  had  been  sued 
by  t  he  colored  people  of  Butler  county  for  certain  funds  held 
by  said  trustees  in  trust  for  educational  purposes  for  the  col- 
ored youth  of  this  county;  that  they  held  a  mortgage  note 
against  the  Board  of  Education  of  Hamilton;  said  note  amount- 
ing to  $600.00  with  interest  thereon  to  date.  On  motion  the 
matter  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  law. 

May  29,  1866,  it  was  resolved  to  open  the  poll  books  of 
the  late  election.     Upon  examination  it  was  found  that  Joseph 


62  Historical  Sketches. 

Traber  and  D.  B.  De  La  Court  were  elected  members  of  the 
Board  of  Education.  Elijah  Vance  was  elected  president; 
D-  B.  De  La  Court,  clerk;  and  W.  W.  Caldwell,  treasurer. 

On  motion  of  W.  W.  Caldwell,  Rev.  William  Davidson 
and  D.  B.  De  Da  Court  were  appointed  school  examiners  for 
three  years. 

The  president  named  the  following  standing  committees 
for  1 8 86-8 7. 

Building  and  Repairs  —  W.  W.  Caldwell,  Augustus  Breit- 
enbach  and  Joseph  Traber. 

Fuel  and  Cleaning  —  L.  B.  De  Da  Court,  C.  Morgan- 
thaler  and  Augustus  Breitenbach. 

Studies  and  Text  Books  —  Augustus  Breitenbach,  E. 
Vance  and  W.  W.  Caldwell. 

Teachers  and  Salaries  —  C.  Morganthaler,  W.  W.  Cald- 
well and  E.  Vance. 

Finance  and  Claims  —  D-  B.  De  Da  Court,  C.  Morgan- 
thaler and  E.  Vance. 

Daw  —  E.  Vance,  W.  W.  Caldwell  and  Augustus  Breit- 
enbach. 

.  July  12,  1866,  F.  W.  Bryant  was  elected  teacher  for  the 
High  school  and  Miss  Minerva  McElwee  for  the  Grammar 
school  in  the  First  ward. 

Judge  Vance  was  added  to  the  building  committee. 

The  following  resolution  was  passed: 
Resolved,    That   Judge    Vance    by    and    with    the    aid  of  a  competent 
mechanic   shall  draw  plans  and  specifications  for  a   new  addition  to   the 
Second  ward  school  house, 

July  28,  1866,  the  bids  were  opened  for  building  the  new 
addition,  as  follows: 

George  W.  Douthan,  $2,795.00;  Matthias  Arent,  $3,000.00; 
G.    Woolenweaver,  $3,100.00;  Giffen  Bros.,  $3,125.00. 

On  motion  it  was  resolved  to  award  the  contract  to  G.  W. 
Douthan,  the  lowest  bidder,  provided  that  he  shall  give  a  satis- 
factory surety  for  the  faithful  performance  of  the  work,  accord- 
ing to  the  plans  and  specifications.  Mr.  Douthan,  at  the  next 
meeting   of  the  board,  July  31,  presented  his  bond,  with  Z.  W. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  63 

Selby,  W.  C.  Hunter  and  Dr.  William  Huber,  as  sureties. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  held  August  2,  1866,  the  secre- 
tary was  ordered  to  notify  those  persons  who  bid  on  the  new 
addition  for  the  Second  ward  school  house,  that  on  account 
of  a  mistake  made  by  one  of  the  bidders  in  figuring  up  his 
calculation,  that  they  are  required  to  send  new  bids  to  the 
secretary  of  the  board  up  to  12  o'clock  m.,  on  Saturday   next. 

August  4,  1866,  the  new  bids  were  opened  as  follows: 
Giffen  Bros.,  $2,990;  G.  W.  Louthan,  $2,900;  G.  Woolenweaver, 
$3,000;  M.  Arent,  $2,975.  On  motion  the  contract  was  unan- 
imously awarded  to  Giffen  Bros.,  at  their  bid  of  $2,990. 

It  was  resolved  that  the  rooms  in  the  Masonic  building, 
formerly  occupied  by  Prof.  Benedict  Starr,  be  rented  for  school 
purposes  at  $10.41^  per  month. 

Mrs.  Julia  C.  Strode  was  elected  teacher  for  the  Primary 
department  in  the  First  ward. 

Miss  Emme  Ryan  was  elected  teacher  to  succeed  Mrs. 
Pool,  resigned.  L.  Uttrick  was  elected  teacher  for  the  Ger- 
man High  school  to  fill  the  place  made  vacant  by  the  resigna- 
tion of  Charles  Diefenbach. 

May  7,  1867,  a  levy  of  four  mills  on  the  dollar  for  school 
purposes  was  made. 

The  superintendent  was  instructed  to  have  a  lithograph 
diploma  engraved,  the  same  as  the  one  destroyed  by  the  burn- 
ing of  Pike's  Opera  house,  Cincinnati.  It  was  ordered  that 
"no  circular  or  catalogue  would  be  printed  nor  commencement 
held  at  the  close  of  the  current  school  year." 

C.  Morganthaler  sent  in  his  resignation  as  a  member  of 
the  Board.    On  motion  it  was  laid  on  the  table. 

May  23,  1867,  the  following  members  were  appointed 
judges  and  clerks  of  the  election  to  take  place  Saturday, 
May  25,  1867:  Judges,  Joseph  Traber,  W.  W.  Caldwell  and 
Augustus  Breitenbach,  clerks;  L.  B.  De  L,a  Court  and  John 
Edwards. 

At  the  election  held  on  the  date  as  above,  Dr.  J.  M.  Parks 
and  M.  Jacoby  were  elected  members  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation. 


64  Historical  Sketches. 

The  old  officers  were  re-elected  for  the  ensuing  year. 

June  29,  1867,  John  Edwards  was  re-elected  superintend- 
ent at  a  salary  of  $1,200.  Eater  in  the  evening,  Mr.  Edwards 
resigned. 

John  M.  Davidson,  at  a  meeting  held  July  18,  1867,  was 
elected  teacher  of  the  A  Grammar  school. 

Miss  H.  H.  Ringvvood  asked  for  an  increase  of  salary,  which 
request  was  refused.  October  24,  1867,  the  building  com- 
mittee was  instructed  to  contract  with  M.  Arent  for  building 
the  colored  school  house  at  $1,500.  Dr.  J.  M.  Park's  removal 
from  the  First  to  the  Second  ward  terminated  his  membership 
in  the  Board.     Jacob  Steck  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

At  the  December  meeting,  Dr.  J.  M.  Parks  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Board,  vice  M.  Jacoby,  resigned.  May  2,  1868, 
Miss  Erin  Corwin  was  elected  teacher  for  the  A  Primary 
department. 

At  the  May  election  Dr.  J.  M.  Parks,  Jacob  Matthias, 
Henry  Dilg  and  W.  W.  Caldwell  were  chosen  members  of 
the  Board. 

July  11,  1869,  the  old  corps  of  teachers  was  re-elected. 
The  following  new  ones  appear  on  the  list:  Emanuel  Richter, 
Miss  Eida  Miller,  Miss  E.  C.  Mayness,  Miss  E.  Hailman,  Miss 
Eeah  Whister  and  Miss  W.  P.  Steffe. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  held  December  17,  1869, 
Miss  A.  Seagrist  and  Miss  M.  A.  Traber  were  instructed  to  act 
in  harmony  with  the  superintendent.  In  case  of  refusal  they 
were  requested  to  resign. 

January  2,  1869,  Miss  Jennie  Scott  was  elected  teacher  in 
the  place  of  Miss  Leah  Whister,  resigned.  The  study  of 
French  in  the  High  school  was  optional  with  the  pupil.  In 
June,  1869,  a  levy  of  six  mills  on  the  dollar  was  certified  to 
the  auditor  for  school  purposes. 

June  17,  1869,  the  Board  ordered  diplomas  issued  to  the 
graduates.  June  19,  the  teachers  were  re-elected.  A  new 
wing  was  ordered  built  to  the  Third  ward  school  house. 

Bartholomew's  system  of  drawing  was  adopted  for  the 
schools,    September  2,  1869. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  65 

In  February,  1870,  it  was  resolved  to  establish  a  German 
Grammar  department.  Ferdinand  Soehner  was  unanimously 
elected  teacher  for  the  same.  Adam  Utterick  was  elected 
teacher  to  serve  in  the  Primary  department.  The  Board  visited 
the  Dayton  schools,  Friday,  February  23.  April  7,  the  board 
required  an  additional  bond  of  $20,000  from  Treasurer  Cald- 
well. The  schools  held  a  picnic  on  Friday,  May  13,  1870; 
the  Apollo  band  was  allowed  $45.00  for  its  service  on  this 
occasion. 

Jacob  Matthias  and  Dr.  J.  M.  Parks  were  re-elected  mem- 
bers of  the  Board,  June  8,  1870. 

June  17,  1870,  Joseph  Traber  was  elected  president  and 
L.  B.  De  L,a  Court  secretary.  The  election  of  treasurer  was 
postponed  until  Thursday,  June  22,  1870,  to  give  W.  W. 
Caldwell  ample  time  to  comply  with  his  arrangment,  to  funish 
a  certificate  of  deposit  from  the  Second  National  Bank  for  the 
sum  of  $15,693.60  as  treasurer  of  the  board. 

July  15,  1870,  W.  W.  Caldwell  presented  a  promissory 
note  for  $12,796.54  as  additional  security  for  money  belonging 
to  the  Board.  The  note  was  endorsed  by  W.  W.  Caldwell,  A. 
A.  Phillip,  Caleb  B.  Thompson,  Samuel  Davidson  and  Ferd- 
inand Van  Derveer,  and  was  payable  January  13,  1872.  The 
note  was  accepted  by  the  board  and  W.  W.  Caldwell  was 
re-elected  treasurer. 

August  4,  1870,  John  Easton  was  awarded  the  contract 
for  painting  the  Second  ward  school,  for  $889.00.  August  6, 
F.  Z.  Leiter  was  elected  teacher  for  the  Grammar  department 
at  a  salary  of  $65.00  per  month. 

September  29,  1870,  the  committee  appointed  to  obtain  a 
site  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  new  school  house  in  the 
Fourth  ward,  recommended  a  tract  of  ground  fronting  on 
Eight  and  Ninth  streets,  436^  feet,  on  Wood  and  Chestnut 
streets,  289 }4  feet,  offered  for  sale  by  William  Beckett,  execu- 
tor, at  $5,200.  A  resolution  was  passed  by  the  following  vote, 
to  purchase  said  tract  of  laud:  Traber,  Parks,  Dilgand  De  La- 
Court — yea;  Caldwell  and  Matthias— nay.     On  October  26,  an 


66  Historical  Sketches. 

order   for   $4,878  was  issued  to  William  Beckett,  executor  for 
the  purchase  of  the  school  lot. 

January  12,  1871,  Judge  Traber  offered  the  following 
resolution: 

Resolved,  That  the  president  and  secretary  be  authorized  to  consult 
Thomas  Millikin  and  take  his  advice  in  settlement  of  the  note  of  W.  W. 
Caldwell  and  others,  amounting  $13,796.54.  The  vote  on  the  resolution  was 
as  follows:  Traber,  Parks  and  De  La  Court — yea;  Matthias,  Dilg  and 
Caldwell  —  nay. 

January  14,  1871,  J.  W.  Berkstresser  was  elected  teacher 
for  the  Third  ward  Grammar  school,  and  Miss  Anna  Snively 
for  the  Intermediate  department  of  the  Second  ward. 

February  14,  the  committee  on  law  was  instructed  to 
commence  suit  for  the  collection  of  the  note  of  W.  W.  Cald- 
well et  al. 

The  following  communication  was  received. 

"Whereas,  We  the  undersigned,  have  become  bound,  as  sureties 
merely  on  a  promissory  note  made  by  W.  W  Caldwell  as  principal,  and  made 
payable  to  the  Board  of  Education  for  the  payment  of  $13,976.54;  said  note 
is  now  due  and  payable  and  as  a  right  of  action  has  accrued  thereon;  there- 
fore, you  are  hereby  notified  and  required  to  forthwith  commence  an  action 
against  said  W.  W.  Caldwell  as  the  principal  debtor  and  maker  of  said  note 
as  aforesaid.  Samuel  Davidson. 

[anuary  25,  1871.  C.  B.  Thompson. 

The  candidates,  with  number  of  votes  received,  for  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  at  the  election  held  June  8,  187 1,  were  as 
follows:  W.  W.  Caldwell,  502;  Henry  Dilg,  529;  William  Pfau, 
441;  J.  W.  Carr,  282.  At  the  organization  the  old  officers 
were  re-elected. 

Alston  Ellis  was  elected  superintendent  and  Isaac  Robert- 
son  school  examiner. 

On  August  31,  1 87 1,  Treasurer  Caldwell's  bond  was 
rejected  by  the  following  vote:  Traber,  Parks,  Dilg  and  De  L,a 
Court  —  nay;  Jacob  Matthias  —  yea.  He  gave  a  new  bond 
on  September  7,  1871,  which  was  accepted  by  the  Board. 
The    school  youth   of  Hamilton    numbered   this  year  5,261. 

On  December  7,  A.  W.  Schmidt  was  elected  teacher. 
McGufiey's  readers  and  Kidd's  elocution  were  adopted  as  text 
books. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  67 

May  2,  1872,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  remove  the 
old  engine  house  from  the  school  lot.  On  June  1,  J.  G. 
Weller,  Dr.  C.  Markt,  L-  B.  De  La  Court,  C.  B.  Goodman  and 
Herman  Reutti  were  elected  as  members  of  the  Board. 

June  20,  1872,  Alston  Ellis  was  unanimously  re-elected 
superintendent  at  a  salary  of  $2,000  per  year.  The  suit  on 
the  W.  W.  Caldwell  et  al.,  note  was  decided  by  Judge  Gil- 
more  of  the  common  pleas  court  against  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion. Au  appeal  was  taken  to  the  circuit  court.  The  Board  of 
Improvement  was  instructed  by  the  secretary  that  the  Board 
had  no  use  for  the  First  ward  engine  house  fire  bell. 

August  15,  1872  Peter  Schwab  et  al.  offered  to  sell  a 
part  of  the  Fourth  ward  grave  yard  for  the  purpose  of  build- 
ing a  new  school  house,  for  the  sum  of  $16,000. 

March  20,  1873,  it  was  resolved  "to  build  a  new  school 
house  in  the  Fourth  ward,  that  should  cost  about  $50,000.  A 
special  election  was  ordered  for  that  purpose,  but  subsequently 
a  bill  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  empowering  the  Board  to 
issue  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $50,000.  In  May  the  Board 
visited  Chicago  and  Indianapolis  for  the  "purpose  of  viewing 
and  inspecting  the  school  houses  of  these  cities."  Superinten- 
dent Ellis  was  authorized  to  "hold  a  school  exhibition  in  the 
Opera  house,  and  to  have  programmes  printed  at  the  end  of 
the  school  year."  A  tax  of  seven  mills  on  the  dollar  was 
levied.     C.  May,  of  Indianapolis,  was  employed  as  architect. 

Sealed  proposals  lor  building  the  new  school  house  were 
received  up  to  12  m.,  Thursday,  August  7,  1873.  On  July  17, 
the  teachers  were  re-elected.  Miss  Rachel  Kyle,  before  she 
abandoned  school  work — and  Miss  Lissa  Daugherty  received  a 
vote  of  thanks  for  efficient  school  work.  The  teachers  were 
re-elected  July  17,  1873. 

August  6,  1873  the  bids  for  the  erection  of  the  Fourth 
ward  school  house  were  read:  J.  F.  Bender  and  Bro.,  bid  $38,000, 
Schwartz,  Schwenn  &  Co.'s  bid  on  its  face  was  the  lowest, 
but  Architect  May  claimed  that  certain  amounts  were  not 
carried    out    in    the    original   bid,  when  added  made  their  bid 


68  Historical  Sketches. 

$38,400.     The  contract  was   unanimously  awarded   to   J.    F. 
Bender  &  Bro.  at  their  bid  of  $38,000. 

September  4,  the  work  advanced  to  a  satisfactory  point, 
when  the  building  committee  recommended  that  $16,000  be  ad- 
vanced for  labor  and  material  furnished  to  J.  F.  Bender  &  Bro. 
and  Edwin  May — to  the  former  $14,000  and  the  latter  $1,000. 
At  this  meeting  it  was 

Resolved,  That  we  deem  it  inexpedient  to  purchase  more  school  property; 
that  all  the  available  funds  of  the  Board  are  now  needed  for  the  building  of 
the  Fourth  ward  school  house  and  for  other  school  purposes. 

The  Board  proceeded  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
death  of  Charles  B.  Goodman.  John  W.  Meckley  received  six 
votes  and  Benjamin  Dill  one. 

November  5,  1873,  Architect  May  reported  that  changes 
in  the  foundation  had  been  necessary,  owing  to  the  soil.  He 
estimated  the  change  would  cost  from  fifteen  to  twenty  thous- 
and dollais.  Bonds  to  the  amount  of  $15,000  were  ordered 
issued  immediately.  On  December  4th,  Bender  &  Bro.  were 
allowed  $6,661  for  extra  work  on  the  building.  Again,  on 
March  12th,  Bender  &  Bro.  were  allowed  $6,200.00  and 
another  bill,  amounting  to  $954.00  shall  likewise  be  paid  to  the 
contractors  for  negotiating  the  above  amount. 

At   this   time   the  following  teachers  were  employed  in  the 
public  schools: 

Miss  H.  H.  Ringwood,  High  school;  Miss  Eliza  Cornell, 
High  school;  J.  O.  Jones,  Miss  Ljssa  Daugherty,  J.  W.  Berk- 
stresser,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Strode,  Miss  Eliza  Potter,  Miss  E.  Mott, 
Miss  Heltie  Rose,  Miss  Ernestine  Hailman,  Mrs.W.  P.Young, 
Miss  Erin  Corwin,  E-  B.  Baumann,  Mrs.  Ellen  Bryant,  Miss.  C. 
F.  Tyler,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Traber,  Miss  Amanda  Garver,  E.  Utterich, 
Ferdinand  Soehner,  A.  W.  Schmidt,  J.  Amann,  Adam  Utterich, 
Freda  Sprissky,  Miss  Fannie  PfafHin>ndl  Miss' Pauline' Steffe. 

At  a  special  election  held  Monday  'April  6,  1874,  to  fill 
the  vacancy  in  the  Fourth  ward,  John'W.  Meckley  was  elected 
receiving  237  votes  against  152  for  Joseph  J.  McMaken.  The 
clerk  drew  $100.00  for  a  third  of  his  annual  salary. 


I  Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  69 

April  30,  1S74,  bonds  were  issued  in  favor  of  J.  F.  Bender 
&  Bro.,  to  the  amount  of  $10,000  of  which  amount  $3,800  was 
part  payment  on  the  original  contract  for  building  the  Fourth 
ward  school  house;  $4,400  for  extra  work,  and  $2,106  to  nego- 
tiate the  bonds. 

The  annual  school  exhibition  was  ordered  to  be  held 
Thursday  evening,  June  23,  ICS74. 

Again,  on  June  4,  1S74,  bonds  were  issued  to  J.  F.  Bender 
&  Bro.,  to  the  amount  of  $3,430;  $940  was  allowed  for  negoti- 
ating their  sale. 

The  old  officers  of  the  board  were  re-elected  to  serve  until 
the  third  Monday  in  April,  1895. 

Henry  Frechtling  was  allowed  $1,831,  for  stone  work  on 
the  janitor's  building. 

August  20,  1S74,  the  building  committee  was  instructed 
to  fill  the  Fourth  ward  school  lot  and  finish  the  work  as  soon 
as  possible. 

At  the  opening  of  the  school  in  September,  we  find  the 
following  additional  teachers  employed:  James  B.  Berry,  Miss 
Belle  Bowman,  Miss  A.  E.  Goldrick,  Miss  Hannah  Barkalow, 
M.  A.  Hunter,  Miss  Jennie  Long,  Miss  E.  V.  Sweet,  Miss 
Amy  Rich  and  Theodore  Meyder. 

J.  F.  Bender  was  allowed  $1,448  for  work  on  the  janitor's 
house. 

August  22,  1874,  Edwin  May,  architect,  reports  the  Fourth 
ward  school  house  complete,  and  pronounced  it  the  best  school 
building  of  its  class  in  the  state  for  the  money  expended. 

November  5,  1874,  Herman  Reutti  resigned  as  a  member 
of  the  Board.  Joseph  Straub  was  appointed  to  fill  the 
vacancy. 

March  18,  1875,  Adam  Utterich  was  dismissed  as  a 
teacher,  from  the  schools  for  having  published  a  slanderous 
article  against  the  Board  in  the  Hamilton  Aleegemeiner  Besachte, 
a  German  paper,  edited  by  A.  F.  E.  Utterich. 

On  petition  of  a  number  of  free  holders  of  Hamilton,  the 
State  School  Commissioner  and  Secretary  of  State  appointed 
Examiners  to  investigate  the  Board  of  Education. 


70  Historical  Sketches. 

On  April  15,  1885,  the  Board  settled  with  W.  W.  Caldwell, 
who  delivered  the  $10,000  check  that  was  never  paid  and 
deposited  $3,563.93  in  the  First  National  Bank,  subject  to  the 
order  of  the  Board. 

At  the  electien  in  1875,  John  W.  Benninghofen,  James  T. 
Imlay  and  Joseph  Straub  were  chosen  members  of  the  Board 
of  Education. 

At  the  organization  of  the  Board  April  19,  1875,  Jacob 
Matthias  was  elected  president,  L-  B.  De  La  Court,  clerk;  and 
Dr.  C.  Markt,  treasurer  who  agreed,  if  elected,  to  deposit  the 
funds  in  the  First  National  Bank  and  that  all  interest  arising 
from  said  deposit  be  credited  to  the  Board  for  school  pur- 
poses. The  treasurer's  bond  was  fixed  at  $40,000,  but  it  was 
subsequently  fixed  at  $60  000.  In  May  1875,  the  Board  levied 
six  and  one  half  mills  for  school  purposes. 

D.  O.  Corcoran  was  elected  teacher  in  May,  1875;  Alston 
Ellis  was  re-elected  superintendent,  June  3,  at  a  salary  of  $2,200; 
Miss  Ella  Goldrick  was  elected  teacher  for  the  Primary  depart- 
ment, and  Miss  Emma  Paddock  for  the  High  school. 

July  2,  1875,  R.  B.  Davidson  was  appointed  school  exam- 
iner, vice  Ransford  Smith,  resigned.  In  September  Ander- 
son's History  was  introduced  as  a  text  book  in  the  High  school. 

December  2,  1875,  John  W.  Erwin,  Charles  F.  Eisel  and 
James  R.  Elrick  appraised  the  Peter  Schwab  property  on 
Second  street,  for  the  Central  High  school,  at  $50,000;  to  make 
the  necessary  alternations  for  school  purposes,  $3,600;  and 
valued  the  Second  ward  school  property  at  $17,000. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  adopted  by 
the  Board,  January  11,  1876: 

Whereas,  The  Board  of  Education  has  been  sued  by  a  number  of  tax- 
paying  citizens,  belonging  to  a  so-called  vigilance  committee — an  organiza- 
tion unknown  to  the  laws  of  the  commonwealth,  and 

Whereas,  It  is  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Education  to  protect  its  honor 
and  integrity  as  a  body  corporate  and  politic  under  the  laws  of  the  state,  both 
of  which  are  attacked  by  said  suit,  and 

Whereas,  It  is  the  duty  of  the  Board  to  protect  the  interest  of  our 
citizens,  tax  payers  and  innocent  parties  who  receive  bonds  for  their  lawful 
claims  against  the  Board — six  attorneys  are  employed  in  said  suit  to  restrain 
the  payment  of  lawful  bonds  heretofore  issued  by  the  Board,  therefore,  be  it 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  71 

Resolved,  By  the  Board  of  Education  that  Thomas  Millikin,  S.  Z.  Gard 
and  as  many  more  attorneys  as  are  required  be  employed  to  defend  the  Board 
in  the  ease  above  mentioned. 

The  preamble  and  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  follow- 
ing vote:  J.  W.  Benninghofen,  L.  B.  De  La  Court,  Dr.C.  Markt, 
Jacob  Matthias,  J.  W.  Meckley,  Joseph  Straub,  and  J.  G. 
Weller — aye;  and  James  T.  Imlay — nay. 

April  8,  1876,  LB.  De  La  Court  served  notice  on  the  Board 
that  he  intended  to  contest  the  election  of  Richard  C.  Skinner, 
his  oppontent,  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  from  the 
Fourth  ward. 

At  the  April  election,  1876,  John  R.  Brown,  Julius 
Hamann,  John  L-  Martin,  Richard  C.  Skinner,  and  Jervis  Har- 
gitt  were  elected  members  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

April  19,  1876,  the  Board  was  organized  by  electing  the 
following  officers:  Jervis  Hargitt,  president;  John  R.  Brown, 
clerk;  and  J.  W.  Benninghofen,  treasurer.  Mr.  Benninghofen 
agreed  to  pay  over  all  interest  accruing  from  school  monies 
into  the  treasury. 

June  1,  1876,  Alston  Ellis  was  re-elected  superintendent 
at  a  salary  of  $2,200  per  annum.  Walter  Aiken  was  chosen 
musical  instructor  at  a  monthly  salary  of  $75.00  and  Miss 
Hester  Tyler,  elected  a  teacher  at  $42.50  per  month.  On 
November  23,  Miss  Eliza  Potter  resigned  her  position  as 
teacher  in  the  schools.  Miss  Nellie  C.  Hill  was  assigned  to 
fill  the  vacancy. 

June  9,  1876,  the  case  of  Jacob  Troutman  et  al.  vs.  the 
Board  of  Education,  of  Hamilton,  was  dismissed  at  plaintiffs 
cost.  The  Board  was  now  permitted  to  pay  off  its  bonds,  with 
accumulated  interest. 

James  W.  Overpeck  was  employed  as  a  teacher  at  $75.00 
per  month. 

March  27,  the  following  insurance  was  placed  upon  the 
various  buildings: 

First  ward,  $18,000;  Second  ward,  $2,000;  Third  ward,  $3,000;  Fourth  ward, 
$30,000;  Colored  school,  $500  Janitor's  house,  $2,000.     Total,  $56,550. 


72  Historical  Sketches. 

At  the  election  held  April  2,  1877,  Barton  S.  James,  Joseph 
Stranb,  Asa  Shuler  and  Jervis  Hargitt  were  duly  elected  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Education.  Jervis  Hargitt  was  elected 
president;  John  R.  Brown,  clerk;  and   Asa   Shuler,    treasurer. 

The  annual  levy  of  three  and  one-fourth  mills  on  the 
dollar  was  made  on  the  taxable  property  within  the  limits  of 
the   school   district.     Dr.    Ellis  was  re-elected  superintendent. 

June  14,  1877,  Jervis  Hargitt  tendered  his  resignation,  he 
having  moved  to  the  Fourth  ward.  Frederick  A.  Schliep 
was  appointed  to  succeed  him.  John  L.  Martin  was  elected 
president  of  the  Board.  The  committee  on  studies  and  text 
books  recommended  Ridpath's  History  of  the  United  States  in 
place  of  Venable's. 

September  20,  1877,  Richard  C.  Skinner  was  elected  vice- 
president  of  the  Board.  In  the  absence  of  the  president  he 
was  empowered  to  sign  all  orders  calling  for  money  and 
ordered  paid  by  the  Board  of  Education. 

Miss  Louisa  Miller  was  elected  teacher,  October  18,  at  a 
salary  of  $40.00  per  month. 

The  superintendent  announced  that  a  majority  of  the 
teachers  wished  to  attend  the  Institute  and  asked  leave  of  the 
Board  to  dismiss  school  on  Friday,  October  26.  He  was 
granted  the  discretionary  power  as  regarded  the  closing  of 
school. 

December  13,  it  was  ordered  that  the  holiday  vacation 
commence  on  Friday  evening,  January  2,  1878. 

Emanuel  Richter,  on  March  7,  resigned  as  teacher  in  the 
public  schools,  and  Miss  Florence  Shaffer  was  elected  to 
succeed  him. 

Dr.  Jacob  Hittel  presented  an  account  against  the  Board 
for  $400.00,  with  interest  which  had  been  running  for  twenty 
years. 

At  the  election  held  April  1,  1878,  as  shown  by  the  poll 
books  and  tally  sheets,  the  following  is  a  list  of  members 
elected:  John  R.  Brown,  from  the  First  ward;  John  A. 
Schwenn,  from  the  Second  ward;  James  Giffen,  from  the  Third 
ward:  John  Schwartz,  from  the  Fourth  ward. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  73 

James  Giffen  was  elected  president;  John  R.  Brown,  clerk; 
and  Asa  Shuler,  treasurer. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  held  June  6,  1878,  Dr.  Alston 
Ellis  was  re-elected  superintendent  at  the  old  salary. 

L.  B.  De  La  Court,  Isaac  M.  Warwick  and  Alston  Ellis 
were  the  school  examiners  in  1878. 

June  15,  the  old  teachers  were  re-elected.  The  following 
new  names  appeared  in  the  list:  Miss  Dora  E.  Walke,  F.  W. 
Mueller,  Miss  Katie  Hoar,  Miss  Maggie  Caldwell  and  B.  F. 
Davis.     Walter  H.  Aiken  was  elected  music  teacher. 

July  17,  Miss  Florence  Shaffer  tendered  her  resignation  as 
a   teacher.     Emanuel    Richter  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

November  17,  Henry  Beardsley  et  al.  instituted  an  injunc- 
tion suit  against  the  Board.  John  F.  Neilan  and  Stephen 
Crane  were  employed  as  attorneys  on  behalf  of  the  Board. 

January  19,  1879  Dr.  Alston  Ellis  resigned  his  position  as 
superintendent.  On  accepting  his  resignation  the  Board 
adopted  the  following  resolution: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  with  regret  that  we  thus  part  with  an  old  and  val- 
ued friend,  and  in  accepting-  of  his  resignation  it  is  done  in  sorrow  and  with 
true  feeling  of  friendship  toward  him. 

LeRoy  D.  Brown,  of  Eaton,  was  unanimously  elected 
superintendent,  March  1,  1878. 

August  Benninghofen,  Daniel  Shaffer  and  William  Ritchie, 
trustees  of  the  Lane  Free  Library,  respectfully  suggested  the 
propriety  of  the  Board  depositing  the  school  libray  in  the  Lane 
Free  Libraiy. 

Stephen  Crane  was  allowed  $300.00  for  legal  services  in 
the  injunction  case. 

April  7,  1879,  Frank  Hammerle,  Lot  D.  Northrup,  Asa 
Shuler  and  O.  C  Brewer  were  elected  members  of  the  Board 
of  Education.  On  April  21,  James  Giffen  was  elected  presi- 
dent; John  F.  Schwenn,  vice-president;  J.  R.  Brown  clerk;  and 
Asa  Shuler  treasurer. 

In  May  1879,  Miss  Dora  Walke,  on  account  of  ill  health 
tendered  her  resignation  as  a  teacher;  Miss  Emma  Barden  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 


74  Historical  Sketches. 

The  Secretary  of  State  on  May  22,  1879,  authorized  the 
transfer  of  the  school  library  to  the  L,ane  Free  Library. 

Superintendent  Brown  was  instructed  "to  have  his  annual 
report  published  in  news  form  instead  of  pamphlet." 

The  following  claims  were  allowed  for  enumerating  the 
school  youth:  Chrstian  Rothenbush — First  ward,  $16.40;  Alex. 
Davidson — Third  ward,  $30.50;  Bernhard  Duellman — Second 
ward,  $22.53;  John  Coakley — Fourth  ward,  $50.55. 

Miss  Maggie  Wuechner  was  elected  a  teacher  for  the 
German  department. 

September  25,  1879,  the  superintendent  reported  that  a  large 
number  of  children  were  running  the  steets  during  the  school 
hours.  On  motion,  R.  B.  Millikin,  city  clerk,  was  instructed 
to  take  such  steps  in  the  matter  as  will  tend  to  correct  this 
evil.  Walter  H.  Aiken,  music  teacher,  resigned  November 
5-  1879. 

Dr.  John  R.  Brown,  clerk  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
resigned  December  4,  1876  and  O.  C.  Brewer  was  elected  for 
the  unexpired  term. 

Bryant's  System  of  Book-keeping  was  adopted  as  a  text 
book  in  the  public  schools  December  18,  1879. 

James  Jackson  appeared  before  the  Board  and  presented  a 
bill,  dated  May  1,  1875,  for  seventy-five  cents  for  fans  used  at 
the  commencement. 

At  the  spring  election,  held  Monday,  April  5,  1880,  the 
city  clerk  certified  to  the  election  of  Christian  Rothenbush, 
John  F.  Schwenn,  James  Giffen  and  John  Schwartz  as  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Education. 

A  permanent  organization  was  effected  April  19,  by  elect- 
ing the  following  officers  for  1880-81:  James  Giffen;  president; 
John  F.  Schwenn,  vice-president;  O  C.  Brewer,  clerk;  and 
Asa  Shuler,  treasurer. 

April  22,  1880,  Miss  Katie  Hoar  resigned  her  position  as 
teacher  in  the  public  schools.  Miss  Mary  M.  Crawford  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  On  June  3,  E-  D.  Brown  was 
re-elected  superintendent.  At  the  same  meeting  Christian 
Rothenbush  offered  the  following  resolution: 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  75 

Resolved,  That  the  portion  of  High  school  now  quartered  in  the  First 
ward  building:  be  removed,  temporarily,  to  the  Fourth  ward  shoo!  house  until 
such  time  as  the  shool  board  shall  be  financially  in  condition  to  carry  out 
the  arrangement  between  the  towns  of  Rossville  and  Hamilton,  that  of  build- 
ing the  High  school  in  the  First  ward.  Mr.  Hammerle  voted  blank  on 
the  resolution. 

June  17,  1880,  Miss  Erin  A.  Corwin  asked  the  Board  "not 
to  consider  her  an  applicant  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools." 
The  old  corps  of  teachers  were  re-elected.  Miss  Nellie  Still- 
waugh,  Miss  Bertha  Iy.  Schliep  and  Miss  Martha  A.  Sorber 
were  the  new  ones  employed. 

At  this  point  there  appeared  Isaac  Robertson,  F.  B.  Put- 
hoff  and  Jacob  Troutman,  of  the  citizens'  committee  of  the 
First  ward,  and  William  Murphy,  of  the  city  council,  who  had 
been  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  Board  as  to  the 
matter  of  transferring  the  High  school  to  the  Fourth  ward. 
Each  member  of  the  committee  claiming  this  transfer  to  be  in 
direct  violation  of  the  articles  of  confederation  uniting  the 
towns  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville.  When  the  towns  were 
joined  it  was  agreed  that  a  High  school  building  should  be 
erected  on  a  two  acre  tract  of  land  on  Prospect  Hill,  which 
Thomas  L.  Rhea  donated  to  Hamilton  for  that  purpose. 

August  26,  1 880,  Klemm's  grammar  was  adopted  as  a  text 
book  in  the  German  schools  for  the  term  of  three  years.  Miss 
Bertha  Gerber  was  elected  as  a  teacher  in  the  English-German 
department.  September  9,  she  resigned.  Miss  Marie  Reutti 
was  chosen  for  the  position.  On  December  11,  1880,  Miss 
Emma  Paddack  resigned  as  assistant  High  school  teacher. 
Miss  Lissa  Daugherty  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy;  Miss  E. 
M.  McElwee  to  fill  Miss  Daugherty's  place  in  the  Grammar 
department;  Miss  Aline  Barnett  to  take  Miss  McElwee's  school. 

At  the  organization  of  the  Board  on  April  18,  1881,  W.  A. 
Eudaly  was  elected  president;  John  F.  Schwenn,  vice-president; 
O.  C.  Brewer,  clerk;  and  Frank  Hammerle,  treasurer.  On 
April  21  James  Giffen  resigned  as  a  member  of  the  Board. 
Allen  Andrews  was  appointed  to  succeed  him. 

Miss  H.  S.  Rose  tendered  her  resignation  as  teacher  in 
the  public  schools,  May  5.     On  motion  of  Allen  Andrews   the 


76  Historical  Sketches. 

past  record  of  Miss  Rose  was  commended  by  the  Board.  Miss 
Clara  A.  Laurie  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 
June  8,  1 88 1,  the  old  teachers  were  re-elected. 
Miss  Marie  Reutti  resigned  as  teacher  in  the  schools,  June 
30,  owing  to  failing  health,  being  compelled  to  take  a  trip  to 
Europe.  Miss  Belle  Bowman  also  resigned  on  July  28th.  Aug- 
ust 1,  J.  K.  Aydelotte  and  Miss  Amanda  Groenland  were 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancies.  Miss  Jennie  Long  resigned  as 
teacher  in  the  Primary  department,  August  22.  Three 
additional  school  examiners  were  elected  on  the  above  date,  as 
follows:  Captain  W.  C.  Margedant,  Rev.  Philip  Sternple,  and 
James  W.  See. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  August  29,  1881,  Miss 
Sue  Ritter  and  Miss  Dora  Hargitt  were  elected  teachers. 

September  8,  Marcellus  Thomas  was  appointed  a  member 
of  the  Board,   vice,  Allen  Andrews,  removed  from  the  ward. 

Member  John  F.  Schwenn  died  October  2,  1881.  The 
Board  passed  resolutions  expressing  feelings  of  regret.  On 
October  31,  Joseph  B.  Hughes  was  declared  a  member  elect  of 
the  Board.  Miss  Nellie  C.  Hill  resigned  as  teacher  of  the 
Primary  department  December  12,  1881. 

Christian  Rothenbush,  Marcellus  Thomas  and  O.  C. 
Brewer  were  appointed  on  a  special  committee  to  prospect  for  a 
location  and  price  of  lot  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  new  school 
building  thereon.  At  this  time,  February  20,  an  additional 
ward  was  about  to  be  created. 

April  3,  1882,  Christian  Rothenbush,  Peter  Schwab,  Mar- 
tin Mason,  L,.  A.  Boli,  M.  D.  Schnell  and  John  K.  Heiser  were 
elected  members  of  the  Board  of  Education.  On  the  17th  of 
the  same  month  the  Board  organized  by  electing  O  C.  Brewer, 
president;  Christian  Rothenbush,  clerk;  and  Frank  Hammerle, 
treasurer.  The  president  announced  the  death  of  Miss  Marie 
Reutti,  a  former  teacher  in  the  public  schools,  at  Karlsuth, 
Germany,  March  29,  1882.  The  Board  passed  resolutions  of 
sympathy. 

June    12,    1882   the   committee  on  law  recommended  "That 
there  be  no  attempt  to  sell  our   land   in    Mercer   county,   but 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  77 

that  there  be  a  special  committee  appointed  with  power  to 
lease  said  land  for  a  term  of  years  and  to  dispose  of  so  much 
of  the  timber  thereon  as  may  be  necessary  to  make  the  land 
productive  and  of  value  to  this  Board." 

(Signed):  Peter  Schwab, 

Frank  Hammeree, 
M.  D.  Schnell. 
The  following  teachers  were  elected  for  1882-83: 

H.  H.  Ringwood $95°  Alice  D-  Huber #500 

Eissa  Daugherty  Soo  Bertha  L.  Schliep 500 

J.  W.  Berkstresser S50  Nellie  Stillwaugh 500 

J.  K.  Aydelotte Soo  Martha  Sorber  500 

F.  W.  Mueller v Soo  Pauline  Steffe 775 

James  A.  Kelly 800  Emanuel  Richter 750 

H.  M.  Caldwell  750  Ferdinand  Soehner 750 

Edith  M.  McEhvee 625  Susie  Ritter 500 

EmmaV.  Sweet 525  Louisa  F.  Miller 525 

Ernestine  Hailman 525  Clara  Laurie 525 

Mary  M.  Crawford 500  A.  W.  Schmidt 725 

MaryC.  Traber 525  Ester  E.  Tyler 525 

Nettie  Chadwick 525  Amanda  Greenland 500 

Aline  Barnett 525  Maggie   Caldwell 525 

Eliza  A.  Goldriek 525  Augusta  Steffe 500 

Emma  Barden 525  Maggie  Wuechner 500 

Amanda  Garver 525  Fannie  Thompson 550 

Dora  Hargitt 500  Ira  Collins 750 

L.  R.  Marshall,  Prof.  Karl  Merz  and  Delos  Spaulding  were 
candidates  for  music  teacher  in  the  public  schools.  The  roll 
was  called  twice,  which  resulted  in  a  tie  between  the  two  first 
named  gentlemen.  On  the  third  ballot,  L,.  R.  Marshall  was 
elected  at  a  salary  of  $850. 

On  September  22,  1882,  it  was  resolved  that  a  committee 
of  three  be  appointed  to  procure  a  suitable  location  for  a  new 
school  house.  Marcellus  Thomas,  Peter  Schwab  and  Frank 
Hammerle  were  appointed  on  said  committee. 

On  October  2,  18S2,  the  Board  purchased  fourteen  lots,  in 
the  East  addition,  from  William  Beckett  and  Israel  Williams, 
assignee,  for  the  sum  of  $3,771.66. 

I.  N.  Slayback  was  appointed  city  school  examiner,  011 
October  30,  vice  J.  W.  See,  resigned.  Miss  Carrie  Jacobs  was 
elected  teacher  for  the  English-German  department    and    Miss 


78  Historical  Sketches. 

Anna  Goldrick  for  the  Primary  department.  T.  W.  Mullen 
resigned  as  principal  of  the  Second  ward  schools,  January  22, 
1883.     Miss  Emma  Miller  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Frank  Hammerle,  Charles  Grebner,  William  Pfau,  Frank 
Jones  and  John  E.  Heiser,  were  elected  members  of  the  Board 
of  Education,  at  the  municipal  election  held  Monday,  April  2, 
1883. 

The  Board  was  organized  April  18,  by  electing  the  follow- 
ing officers:  Marcellus  Thomas,  president;  Christian  Rothen- 
bush,  clerk;  and  Martin  Mason,  treasurer. 

May  14,  1883,  L.  D.  Brown  was  re-elected  superintendent, 
at  an  annual  salary  of  $1,850.  On  the  28th  of  the  same  month 
H.  M.  Caldwell  and  J.  K.  Aydelotte  tendered  their  resigna- 
tions as  teachers  in  the  public  schools.  J.  L,.  Lester  was 
elected  principal  of  the  Third  ward  school. 

July  9,  1883,  Marcellus  Thomas  resigned  as  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education.  Joseph  C.  Symtnes  was  elected  to 
fill  the  vacancy. 

On  August  20,  1883,  Hon.  James  E.  Campbell  was  elected 
city  school  examiner,  vice  L,.  D.  Brown  resigned.  He  declined 
and  J.  K.  Aydelotte  was  elected. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted,  September  3,  1883: 
Resolved,  That  any  colored  child  that  can  pass  the  required  examina- 
tion for  admission  to  the  High  School  shall  be  admitted  thereto  and  have  the 
same  privileges  as  white  children. 

Joseph  W.  Sloneker  was  elected  principal  of  the  Third 
ward   school,  vice  J.  L,.  Lester  resigned. 

From  September  17,  18S3,  the  daily  sessions  of  High 
school  were  held  from  8:40  a.  m.  until  1:40  p.  m. 

The  building  committee  recommended  Max  Reutti's  plans 
for  the  new  school  house  to  be  erected  in  the  Fifth  ward. 

The  special  committee  on  the  Fifth  ward  school  building 
presented  the  following  report: 

Hamilton,  Ohio,  January  7,  1884. 
To  the  Board  of  Education: 

Gentlemen: —  We,  your  committee,  respectfully  submit 
plans  to  be  examined  by  you  to-wit: 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  79 

Two  plans  furnished  by  Max    Reutti,  Hamilton;   two   by 
A.  C.  Nash,  Cincinnati;,   one  by   J.  Stover,    Hamilton;    one  by 
D.  W.  Gibbs  &  Co.,  Toledo;  one  by  W.  W.  Brown,  Cincinnati. 
(Signed):  John  E.  Heiser. 

Martin  Mason. 
Joseph  C.  Symmes. 

Committee . 
Christian  Rothenbush  offered  the  following  preamble  and 
resolution: 

Whereas,  The  school  accomodations  of  the  Hamilton  City  District   are 

insufficient  for  the  number  of  school  children  in  said  district,  be  it   therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Education  proceed  at  once  to  take  such  steps 

as  will  be  necessary  to  provide  a  school  building  in   the   Fifth   waul   which 

shall  be  ready  for  occupation  by  September,  1SS4. 

On  motion  to  adopt  the  foregoing  resolution,  Grebner, 
Hammerle,  Heiser,  Jones,  Mason,  Rothenbush,  Schnell, 
Symmes  and  Pfau  voted  yea.     Schwab  absent. 

Christian  Rothenbush  offered  the  following  resolution: 
Resolved,  That  the  school  building  to  be    erected  in   the   Fifth   ward   of 
the  Hamilton  School  District  shall  be  built  of  brick;   said  house   to  contain 
eight  rooms  and  the  cost  of  the  building  not  to  exceed  $20,000,   exclusive  of 
the  heating  apparatus. 

The  resolution  prevailed  —  nine  members  voted  in  favor 
of  it.     Schwab  was  absent. 

A  recess  was  taken  to  give  the  members  an  opportunity  to 
examine  the  plans  presented  for  the  consideration  of  the  Board. 

When  the  Board  was  called  to  order  the  following  resolu- 
tion was  offered: 

Resolved,  That  D.  W.  Gibbs  &  Co.  be  employed  to  make  plans,  specifica- 
tions and  detailed  drawings  for  the  school  building  to  be  erected  in  the  Fifth 
ward  of  the  city  of  Hamilton,  Ohio;  said  architects  to  receive  two  and  one- 
half  per  cent,  on  the  cost  of  said  building  for  their  services  as  architects. 

The  following  is  the  vote  on  the  resolution:  Grebner, 
Hammerle,  Jones,  Rothenbush.  Schnell  and  Pfau  voted  aye; 
Heiser,  Symmes  and  Mason  — nay. 

January  21,  1884,  the  contract  for  heating  and  ventilating 
the  Fifth  ward  school  house  was  awarded  to  Isaac  D.  Smead  & 
Co.,  of  Toledo,  at  $1,850. 


80  Historical  Sketches. 

February  4,  1884,  the  plans  and  specifications  were  referred 
to  the  building  committee  in  connection  with  three  contractors 
and  builders,  namely,  Charles  F.  Eisel,  Ernst  Bender  and  John 
M.  Symmes.  On  February  18th,  the  joint  committee  reported 
as  follows: 

Hamilton,  Ohio,  February  18,  1884. 
To  the  Board  of  Education: 

We,  your  committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Fifth  ward 
school  house  plans,  respectfully  report  that  we  have  examined 
the  same  and  find  them  to  answer  every  purpose  necessary  to 
make  said  building  a  good  and  substantial  one. 

(Signed):     Ernst  Bender.  Joseph  C.  Symmes. 

John  M.  Symmes.      J.  E.  Heiser. 

Special  Committee.  Btulding  Committee. 

March  3,  1884,  the  Board  rescinded  the  contract  awarded 
to  D.  W.  Gibbs  &  Co. 

On  motion  of  Peter  Schwab  the  building  committee  was 
instructed  to  employ  an  architect  to  prepare  plans  and  speci- 
fications; said  architect  to  superintend  the  building;  his  com- 
pensation not  to  exceed  two  and  one-half  per  cent,  on  $20,000 
—  the  cost  of  building  complete. 

March  17,  1884,  Max  Reutti  was  employed  to  prepare 
plans  and  specifications  and  superintend  the  erection  of  the 
building.     On  April  14  his  bond  was  accepted. 

At  the  general  municipal  election  held  April  7,  1884,  the 
following  members  of  the  Board  of  Education  were  elected: 
W.  J.  Matthias,  Peter  Schwab,  George  C.  Skinner,  M.  D. 
Ivindley  and  Newton  W.  Smith. 

April  2i,  Peter  Schwab,  was  elected  president;  Frank 
Jones,  clerk;  Frank  Hammerle,  treasurer.  The  clerk  was 
instructed  to  advertise  the  letting  of  the  contract  for  building 
the  Fifth  ward  school  house. 

Iv.  R.  Klemm  was  elected  superintendent  May  19,  at  a 
salary  of  $1,850,  per  annum. 

On  June  2,  1884,  the  contract  for  building  the  Fifth  ward 
school  house  was  awarded  to  Eisel  &  Mefford,  at  their  bid  of 
$13,946.22. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  81 

Bonds  were  issued  to  the  amount  of  $10,000,  bearing  five 
per  cent,  interest  from  July  14. 

September  8,  Misses  Emma  Barden,  Amy  Rich,  Rose 
Morgenthaler,  Fannie  Thompson,  Ida  Hunter  and  Lottie 
Phillips  were  elected  teachers. 

Rev.  Philip  Stemple,  L-  B.  De  La  Court,  P.  G.  Berry,  and 
F.  W.  Mueller,  were  elected  city  school  examiners,  October  20. 

November  10,  Miss  Nellie  Stillwaugh  resigned  as  teacher. 

Frank  Hammerle,  A.  J.  Love,  Joseph  Webster,  Frank 
Jones  and  William  P.  Dowrey  were  elected  new  members  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1885. 
Misses  Bessie  Wilson,  Nan  James,  and  Mame  Andrews  pre- 
sented a  petition  to  the  Board  of  Education  praying  that  May 
22,  be  given  as  a  holiday.     The  request  was  granted. 

P.  E.  Welsh  was  awarded  the  contract  for  printing  the 
superintendent's  annual  report,  at  $149.00.  L.  R.  Klemm 
was  re-elected  superintendent  at  $1,850. 

Miss  Martha  Sorber  and  Miss  Eliza  Cornell  and  J.  W. 
Sloneker  resigned  their  positions  as  teachers  June  29. 

July  28,  William  Dowrey  resigned  as  a  member  of  the 
Board,  and  Peter  Metzler  was  elected  to  succeed  him. 

September  21,  Emanuel  Richter,  T.  C.  Mayer,  Jr.,  and  F. 
W.  Bell,  teachers,  resigned.  Also,  A.  J.  Love,  of  the  Board  of 
Education.  J.  J.  McMaken,  was  elected  to  fdl  the  vacancy. 
At  the  above  date  our  schools  were  in  a  deplorable  condition: 
the  superintendent  was  a  failure;  chaos  prevaded  every 
department. 

November  17,  1885,  N.  W.   Smith   offered   the    following: 

Kt  solved,     That  a   special  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  ascertain 
the  necessity  of  erecting  a  Central  High  school  building. 

The  president  appointed  Messrs  N.  W.  Smith  and  J.  J. 
McMaken  said  committee.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the 
Board  the  committee  reported  favorably,  but  the  report  was 
lost  by  the  following  vote:  Hammerle,  McMaken,  and  Smith — 
yea;  Boli,  Jones,  Lindlev,  Met/.ler,  Skinner  and  Schwab — nay. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Newton  W.  Smith  was  tin-  first  mem- 


82  Historical  Sketches. 

ber  who  agitated  the  question  of  building  a  Central  High 
School. 

November  26,  memorial  services  were  held  in  memory  of 
Hon.  Thomas  A.  Hendrick. 

December  14,  1885,  D.  M.  McClung,  J.  C.  McKemy  and 
Morey,  Andrews  &  Morey  were  allowed  $500,00  each  for 
attorney  fees. 

March  8,  1SS6,  D.  W.  Keck,  principal  of  the  Fifth  ward 
tendered  his  resignation.  J.  H.  Vorhis  was  elected  to  succeed 
him. 

April  19,  the  Board  of  Education  was  composed  of  the 
following  members:  L,.  A.  Boli,  S.  A.  Campbell,  Frank  Ham- 
merle,  J.  E.  Heiser,  Frank  Jones,  M.  D.  Lmdley,  J.  E.  Eoh- 
mann,  Peter  Schwab,  N.  W.  Smith  and  Meyer  Strauss.  Peter 
Schwab  was  elected  president;  Frank  Jones,  clerk;  and  Frank 
Hammerle,  treasurer.  May  17,  1886,  L,.  R.  Klemm  was 
re-elected  superintendent  at  an  annual  salary  of  $2,000. 

July  26,  W.  Z.  Kumler  was  elected  city  school  examiner 
in  the  place  of  G.  W.  Isaminger,  whose  term  of  office  had 
expired. 

The  superintendent  stated  to  the  Board  of  Education  that 
the  necessities  required  an  assistant  teacher  in  the  High 
school.  Charles  E.  Walter  was  elected  to  fill  the  place,  at  a 
salary  of  $900  per  annum.  S.  C.  L,andis,  Peter  Sommers  and 
David  Pierce  were  elected  teachers. 

November  1,  1886,  Rev.  E.  W.  Abbey  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  board  of  city  examiners,  in  the  place  of  J.  K.  Aydelotte, 
whose  term  of  office  had  expired. 

At  the  municipal  elction  held  Monday,  April  4,  1887, 
Frank  Hammerle,  John  Howald,  F.  W.  Whitaker,  S.  W. 
Brock  and  J.  E.  Heiser  were  elected  members  of  the  Board  of 
Education.  On  May  26,  Peter  Schwab  was  elected  president 
on  the  ninety-sixth  ballot;  the  Board  recessed  several  times 
from  April  iS;  being  in  session  on  one  occassion  at  2:20  in  the 
morning.  John  Howald  was  chosen  clerk  and  Frank  Ham- 
merle, treasurer. 


Hamilton  an  J  its  Residents.  Si 

May  23,  J.  C.  McKemy  and  the  city  solicitor  were 
employed  to  carry  the  case,  "D.  W.  Gibbs  &  Co.  vs.  the  Board 
of  Education"  through  the  supreme  court  at  a  cost  not  to 
exceed  one  hundred  dollars. 

May  30,  a  communication  was  received  from  the  superin- 
tendent, recommending  the  pupils  of  A  Class  High  School 
for  graduation  and  suggesting  that  diplomas  be  presented  to 
them.     The  recommendation  was  adopted. 

June  13,  18S7,  the  Board  proceeded  to  investigate  the 
charges  preferred  against  Superintendent  Klemm.  for  using 
insulting  language  toward  Miss  Minnie  Martin,  a  member  of 
the  High  School. 

Mr.  Klemm  appeared  in  his  own  behalf  and  denied  the 
utterance  of  the  words  imputed  to  him  and  told  the  manner  in 
which  the  Miss  Martin  episode  occurred  and  the  circumstances 
under  which  he  had  acted. 

Miss  Stella  Symnies  appeared  and  testified  as  follows:  "I 
was  in  the  room  during  part  of  the  conversation;  I  did  not  hear 
Mr.  Klemm  call  Miss  Martin  a  liar;  one  boy  was  present;  I 
think  it  was  Paul  Brown;  the  affair  occurred  in  Miss  Daugherty's 
room;  no  teachers  were  present. 

Paul  Brown  was  called  and  said:  "I  was  in  the  room  at  the 
time;  my  attention  was  attracted  by  the  word  liar  used  by 
Superintendent  Klemm;  heard  him  call  Miss  Martin  a  liar:  1 
told  John  K.  Aydelotte  the  story  first  and  afterward  to  C.  M. 
Campbell. 

The  Board  being  desirous  of  hearing  Miss  Martin,  took  a 
recess  until  Thursday  morning,  June  16,  1S87,  at  nine  o'clock, 
to  meet  at  Music  Hall. 

The  Board  returned  from  Music  Hall,  fully  prepared  to 
"whitewash"  Superintendent  Klemm,  when  the  following  res- 
olutions were  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  superintendent  be  held  entirely  blameless  in  the 
matter  referred  to. 

Ri  solved,  That  Paul  Brown,  while  he  is  undoubtedly  honest  in  his  belief, 
was,  owing  t>>  his  situation  in  the  room  mistaken  as  to  som<  of  the  facts  in 
■ 

Resolved,    That  the   Board  expel  any   pupil,  hereafter,  causing  trouble 


84  Historical  Sketches. 


among  pupils,  teachers,  principals  or  superintendent;  that  the   discipline  of 
our  schools  must  be  maintained  at  all  hazards  and  our  teachers  endorsed. 

Oh,  golconda  carbonate,  thou  art  a  jewel ! 
On  motion  of  M.  D.  L,indley,  June  27,  1887,  the  Board 
proceeded  to  elect  a  superintendent.  On  roll  call,  the  following 
was  the  vote:  S.  W.  Brock,  J.  E.  Heiser,  John  Howald,  M.  D. 
Lindley,  N.  W.  Smith  and  F.  W.  Whitaker  voted  for  Alston 
Ellis  for  two  years  at  a  salary  of  $2,700.00.  Frank  Hammerle, 
J.  E.  Iyohmann,  Peter  Schwab  and  L,.  A.  Boli,  voted  for  L,.  R. 
Klem,  at  a  salary  of  $2,000.00. 

July  11,  1887,  the  communications  of  Alston  Ellis,  accept- 
ing the  superintendency  of  the  public  schools  and  of  Mrs.  Kate 
Fitch  (nee)  Hermann,  resigning  her  position  as  a  teacher  in  the 
schools  were  read. 

July  11,  1887,  the  following  applications  for  positions  as 
teachers  were  received:  Belle  Hirsch,  Kate  Weber,  Mary  L,. 
Gordon,  Carrie  M.  Eine,  Lizzie  S.  Kinsinger,  PhilopenaHeyler, 
Mary  L.  Millikin,  Matilda  Blum,  Stella  Symmes,  Mary  C.  Chad- 
wick,  Jessie  Millikin,  Eillie  C.  Rooke,  A.  Stoughton  and  S.  P. 
Withrow. 

The  committee  appointed  to  ascertain  the  feeling  of  the 
colored  people  in  reference  to  maintaining  their  separate  school, 
presented  a  petition  signed  by  a  majority  of  the  colored  people 
of  the  city  of  Hamilton  declaring  their  wishes  for  continuing 
separate  schools.  The  report  of  the  committee  was  adopted. 
Ira  A.  Collins,  was  elected  teacher  of  the  colored  school  for 
one  year  at  a  salary  of  $825.00. 

The  following  teacher's  pay  roll  was  passed  Decem- 
ber, 1887: 

W.  P.  Cope $130.00  Nettie  Chadwick foo.oo 

Lissa  Daugherty 85.00  Emma  Barden 60.00 

Pauline  Steffe 85. 00  Dora  Hargitt  55-00 

Emma  Struve 85.00  Maggie  Weuchner 55-oo 

C.E.Walters  90.00  Loenetta  Kline  5500 

J.A.Kelly  90.00  Peter  U.  Sommers 90.00 

Rose  Morganthaler 60.00  Edith  McElwee. 75-oo 

Eucy  Crawford 5500  Louisa  Miller  60.00 

Amanda  Garver 5S-oo  W.  A.  Schmidt S0.00 

Ella  Dean 50.00  Fannie  Thompson 5500 

Anna  Goldrick 5500  Josephine  S.  Weiler 52.50 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  8S 

Emma  Miller $55-00  Bertha Schliep $55.00 

Delia  Law [S-O0  Celeste  Morrison 45°o 

Katie  Joyce 4500  Lizzie  Willcrt 42.50 

Ferdinand  Soehncr 90.00  David  Tierce 90.00 

Ernestine  Hailman  60.00  Emma  Sweet 60.00 

Maggie  Caldwell 55-00  Mary  Coulson  55-Oo 

Augusta  Steffe 5500  Alice  Huber 50.00 

Carrie  Jacobs  50.00  Sue  Ritter 50.00 

Ida  Hunter 50.00  Lotta  Phillips 50.00 

Bmma  Boaz 50.00  Ella  Jones  45°o 

Henrietta  Puthoff 4500  Kate  Weber 40.00 

Ira  A.  Collins 82.50  Alston  Ellis 225.00 

S.  C.  Landis  90.00  John  Gottschalk 85.00 

At  the  April  election  in  1888,  C.  S.  Bosch,  L-  A.  Boli, 
Frank  Hammerle,  Fred.  J.  Hilker  and  Peter  Schwab  were 
elected  members  of  the  Board  of  Education.  April  16,  188S, 
the  Board  organized  by  electing  L.  A.  Boli,  president;  Fred.  J. 
Hilker,  clerk;  and  Frank  Hammerle  treasurer. 

June  28,  1888,  a  committee  of  three  was  appointed  to 
examine  and  report  a  location  for  a  new  school  house  in  the 
Third  ward.  Peter  Schwab,  J.  E.  Lohmann  and  Fred.  J. 
Hilker  were  appointed  said  committee. 

July  18,  1888,  J.  E.  Lohmann  offered  the  following  resolu- 
tion: 

Resolved,  By  the  Board  of  Education  of  Hamilton,  Ohio,  that  the  plans 
and  specifications  for  remodeling  of  the  Second  ward  school  hovise  as  sub- 
mitted by  Max  Reutti,  architect,  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  adopted. 

Nine  votes  were  recorded  in  favor  of  the  above  resolution. 

Miss  Louisa  Miller  resigned  her  position  as  teacher  in  the 
schools.     Miss   Belle   Hirsch  was   elected   to  fill  the  vacancy. 

July  18,  1888,  the  contract  for  remodeling  the  Second 
ward  school  building  were  let  for  the  sum  of  $2,950. 

Miss  Lizzie  Kingsinger  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  in 
the  public  schools,  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Miss  Emma 
Struve.  Miss  Nellie  Cory  was  also  elected  in  the  place  of 
Emma  Barden,  resigned. 

The  resignation  of  P.  G.  Berry  and  L-  B.  De  La  Court,  as 
members  of  the  city  school  examiners  were  received  and 
accepted. 

December     10,     1888,    the     Board    adopted    B    resolution 


86  Historical  Sketches. 

declaring  it  necessary  to  appropriate  and  condemn  real  estate 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  new  school  house  in  the  Third 
ward.  The  city  solicitor  and  E.  E.  Hull  were  employed  as 
attorneys  to  institute  the  necessary  proceedings. 

January  7,  1889,  Miss  Sabina  Goldrick  was  elected 
teacher.  February  4,  1889,  Alston  Ellis  was  re-elected  super- 
intendent for  two  years  at  a  salary  of  $2,700. 
Fred.  J.  Hilker  offered  the  following: 
Resolved  That  it  is  hereby  declared  necessary  for  the  better  accommo- 
dation of  the  pupils  of  the  Third  ward  ot  the  city  of  Hamilton,  Ohio,  that  a 
new  school  building  be  erected  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Third  ward 
building,  according  to  such  plans  and  specifications  as  may  be  hereafter 
adopted  by  the  Board. 

March  25,  1889,  the  clerk  was  instructed  to  advertise  and 
sell  the  Third  ward  school  building  at  public  auction,  on 
April  29. 

Monday  evening,  April  15,  the  clerk  called  the  names  of 
members-elect:  Charles  F.  Cisle,  Frank  Hammerle,  M.  D. 
Lindley,  Otto  A.  Ruder  and  George  Z.  Ziliox.  The  oath  of 
office  was  administered  by  President  Boli.  The 'Board  pro- 
ceeded to  the  annual  election  of  officers,  which  resulted  as 
follows:  Peter  Schwab,  president;  F.  J.  Hilker,  clerk;  Frank 
Hammerle,  treasurer. 

At  a  recessed  meeting  held  on  April  18,  1889,  the  follow- 
ing bids  were  received  for  the  building  of  the  Third  ward 
school  house.  Charles  F.  Eisel,  complete,  $17,450.00;  Matthias 
Arent,  complete,  $18,140.00;  Eloyd  &  Hewitt,  Oxford,  $18,197; 
The  J.  F.  Bender  Bros.  Co.,  $16,700.00. 

The  contract  was  awarded  to  The  J.  F.  Bender  Bros.  Co. 
by  the  following  vote:  Boli,  Bosch,  Cisle,  Hammerle,  Hilker 
and  Eindley — yea;  Cisle,  Schwab  and  Zilliox — nay. 

The  clerk  reported  the  sale  of  the  old  Third  ward  build- 
ing to  C.  A.  Stroble  for  $250.00. 

The  Buffalo  Hot  Blast  Apparatus  was  adopted  for  heating 
and  ventilating  the  Third  ward  school  building  at  $1,000. 

The  Commencement  exercises  were  held  in  the  afternoon 
of  June  18. 

D.  W.  Gibbs   &  Co.,  of  Toledo,  brought   suit   against  the 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents. 

Board  for  furnishing  plans  and  specifications  for  the  Fifth 
ward  school  house.  Amount  claimed  $500.00.  After  the 
Gibbs  plans  had  been  adopted,  at  a  subsequent  meeting  the 
Board  employed  Max  Reutti,  as  architect,  hence  the  suit. 
The  case  was  tried  in  the  common  pleas  and  circuit  courts 
and  judgment  rendered  in  favor  of  I).  W.  Gibbs  &  Co.  The 
case  was  taken  to  the  supreme  court.  Only  nine  days'  time 
was  allowed  for  printing  and  filing  the  original  papers,  in 
record  form,  containing  262  pages,  which  was  accomplished 
four  hours  before  the  time  expired. 

The  case  was  finally  settled,  the  Board  paying  the  Gibbs 
claim. 

September  2,  188S,  Superintendent  Alston  Ellis,  I.  N. 
Slayback  and  Rev.  C.  A.  Hermann  were  elected  city  school 
examiners,  for  one,  two  and  three  years  respectively. 

December  14,  the  Third  ward  building  was  accepted  by 
the  Board  of  Education. 

On  April  21,  1S90,  the  clerk  called  the  roll  of  members- 
elect,  as  follows:  W.  S.  Warwick,  Peter  Schwab,  John  C. 
Mathes,  C.  S.  Bosch,  and  Jacob  Seybold.  Peter  Schwab  was 
elected  president;  C.  S.  Bosch,  clerk;  and  Frank  Hammerle, 
treasurer. 

September  22,  1890,  Isaac  L.  Reily  was  appointed  truant 
officer — to  serve  during  the  sickness  of  Mr.  Wick.  Mr.  Reily 
has  served  ever  since  and  makes  a  good  and  acceptable 
official. 

January  12,  1 89 1,    the  following   resolution    was  adopted: 
Resolved,     By  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  city  <>f   Hamilton,  Ohio,  that 
the  proposition  of  Ruth   Campbell,   for  the  sale  of  part  of  lot  1 1,  he  and  tin- 
same  is  hereby  accepted  at  $  10  ooo.     An  additional    lot    30X112    feet    was    pui 
chased  from  Thomas  Millikin  at  a  cost  of,  $3,000. 

Alston  Ellis  was  re-elected  superintendent  of  the  schools 
for  a  term  of  two  years,  dating  from  February  1,  at  an  animal 
salary  of  $2,700. 

A  lot  140x150  feet,  situated  on  Long,  between  Central 
avenue  and  Lane  street,  was  purchased  from  Philip  Hurm 
and  Constautine  Weiss,  at  $2,240. 


88  Historical  Sketches. 

The  special  committee  appointed  on  the  Central  High 
school  building,  reported  as  follows: 

Hamilton,  Ohio,  February  24,  1891. 
To  The  Board  of  Education: 

Gentlemen — The  undersigned,  members  of  a  special 
committee  appointed  January  26,  1891,  to  have  the  necessary 
plans  and  specifications  prepared  for  the  Central  High  School 
building  make  a  partial  report;  that  Max  Reutti  be  employed 
as  architect,  and  to  superintend  the  construction  of  the  build- 
ing at  a  compensation  of  four  per  cent,  on  the  actual  cost  of 
the  building. 

(Signed):  J.  J.  Seyboed, 

Frank  Hammeree, 
J.  C.  Mather, 
C.  S.  Bosch, 

Committee. 

The  report  was  adopted. 

Frank  Hammerle,  L,ouis  Zecher,  George  Z.  Zilliox, 
Joseph  H.  Smith  and  Charles  F.  Cisle  were  the  members 
elected  in  1891. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  unanimously  on  April 
20:  Charles  F.  Cisle,  president;  C.  S.  Bosch,  clerk;  and  Frank 
Hammerle  treasurer. 

May  18,  the  clerk  was  instructed  to  advertise  the  letting 
of  the  Central  High  School  building.  June  22,  the  contract 
for  erecting  the  same  was  awarded  to  The  J.  F.  Bender  Bros. 
Co.,  at  $47,480. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  December  28,  1891: 
Resolved,   That  a  purchase  be  made  of  a  tract  of  land  on  Park  avenue, 
First  ward,  for  school  purposes;    said  tract  being  lots  numbered  9,  10,  11,    12, 
13,  14,  and  10  feet  from  the  west  part  of  lot  15;  said  tract  to  be   122x200  feet. 

February  8,  1892,  the  following  resolution  was  unani- 
mously adopted: 

Resolved,  By  the  Board  of  Education  of  Hamilton,  Ohio,  that  we  tender 
Dr.  Alston  Ellis  a  vote  of  thanks  for  the  able  and  progressive  manner  in 
which  he  conducted  the  Hamilton  public  schools  during  his  administration 
as  well  as  for  the  unvarying  courtesy  he  has  ever  extended  to  each  and  every 
member  of  this  Board,  and  in  entering  on  his  new  field  of  labor  we  wish  him 
unbounded  success. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  89 

The  following  newly  elected  members  of  the  Board  of 
Education  were  qualified  April  8:  S.  V.  Hull,  John  J.  Ryan, 
J.  J.  Seybold,  J.  C.  Mather,  Peter  Schwab.  The  Board  was 
organized  iby  electing  Peter  Schwab  president;  Charles  P. 
Cisle,  clerk;  and  John  C.  Mather,  treasurer. 

May  16,  1S92,  by  resolution  of  S.  V.  Hull  it  was  declared 
necessary  to  build  a  new  school  house  in  the  First  ward,  at  a 
cost  not  to  exceed  $15,000.  Max  Reutti  was  employed  as  arch- 
itect and  superintendent  of  said  building  at  a  compensation  of 
five  per  cent,  on  cost  of  building. 

The  First  ward  school  building  was  remodeled  in  1892,  by 
A.  G.  Betscher  at  a  cost  of  $3,349. 

Isaac  T.  Reiley  was  re-elected  truant  officer,  July  11,  at  a 
salary  of  $600.00  per  annum. 

The  bids  for  building  the  new  First  ward  school  house 
were  opened  November  9,  1 891,  as  follows:  E.  Young,  &  Son, 
complete,  $21,045.00;  J.  F.  Bender  Bros.,  complete,  $18,112.79; 
Lingler  &  Shaffer  complete,  $21,870.00. 

December  12,  1892,  the  salary  of  the  clerk  was  fixed  at 
$425.00  per  year. 

January  23,  1893,  tne  Board  declared  it  necessary  to  erect 
a  new  school  house  building  in  the  Second  ward  not  to  exceed 
$18,115-79 

February  21,  1893,  on  motion  of  Frank  Hammerle  the 
Board  elected  a  superintendent  and  teachers  as  follows: 

High  School  Agnes  Williamson $  450 

W.  P.  (ope,  Principal $1,500  Kate  E.  Joyce 550 

E.M.Traber 850  Emma  W.  Miller 550 

Lissa  Daugherty 850       Second  Ward  School 

Emma  V.  Sweet 850  A.  I.  Mayer,  Principal $1,000 

Pauline  Steffe 850  Ernestine  V.  Hailman 600 

Fannie  Thompson  650  Katie  C.  Bender 500 

Lucy  Crawford 650  Mary  M.  Temple 500 

First  Ward  School  Bessie  Richter ..      450 

J.  A.  Kelly,  Principal.  $1,000  Minnie  Schwab 500 

Rose  Morganthaler  600  Anna  Boa/ 500 

Delia  A.  Law  550  Margaret  Caldwell  550 

Amanda  Carver 550  Elizabeth  Sehweinefest I.S" 

Ida  B.  Hunter 550       Third  War D  School 

Anna  S.  Goldrick 530  S.  C.  I.andis,  Principal  $1,000 


90  Historical  Sketches. 


Nettie  Chadwick  600  Anna  Boger $  450 

Belle  Hirsch 550  Russie  DeNeen 450 

Dora  Hargitt 550  Mabel  Louthan  450 

Minnie  Millikin 500  Clara  Sehaeuble 450 

Amelia  Ruder 500  Augusta  Oetterer 450 

Carrie  M.  Jacobs 550  Josephine  S.  Weiler 600 

Alice  Allen  450      Fifth  Ward  School 

Fourth  Ward  School  F.  W.  Bell  principal $1,000 

S.  L.  Rose,  Principal $1,000  Sue  F.  Ritter 550 

Mathilde  Blum  550  Mary  Coulson 550 

Bertha  L.  Schliep 550  Alice  D.  Huber 550 

Elizabeth  Kinsinger 550  Nellie  S.  Cory 500 

Carrie  Crawford    500  Ella  W.  Jones 550 

A.W.Schmidt 800  Katie  Weber 550 

Anna  B.  VanDerveer 500  Sabina  C.  Goldrick  550 

Xzrepha  B.  Cone 450  Alice  A.  Hamilton 550 

William  Beckett,  Frank  Hammerle,  M.  D.  Iyindley,  George 
Iyingler  and  Nelson  Potterf  were  elected  members  of  the  Board 
April  1893.  On  the  27th  of  the  same  month  the  Board  organ- 
ized by  electing  Peter  Schwab,  president;  J.  J.  Seybold  clerk; 
Frank  Hammerle,  treasurer. 

December  13,  1892,  George  Benzing  was  elected  principal 
of  the  Third  ward  school  at  an  annual  salary  of  $  1 ,000.  Misses 
Bmidy  Van  Deveer,  Emma  Boaz  and  E.  Schantz  were  elected 
teachers.  Elmer  Goldsmith  and  Samuel  Coleman  were  elected 
principals  of  the  Columbia  and  Second  ward  schools  respec- 
tively. 

April  16,  1894  the  following  members  elect  were  sworn  in: 
Elbert  Alston,  R.  M.  Elliott,  S.  V.  Hull,  John  Keller  and  Harry 
Wallace.  M.  D.  L,indley  was  elected  president;  S.  V.  Hull, 
clerk;  and  R.  M.  Elliott,  treasurer. 

May  30,  a  levy  of  seven  mills  was  made  for  school  purposes. 

William  R.  Beckett  offered  the  folio wieg  resolution,  which 
was  passed  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

ftesoZved,  That  Helen  Pfau,  Lou  Babeck,  Maggie  Caldwell,  Susie  Miller, 
Margaret  Allen,  and  Ada  Antrim  be  and  are  hereby  employed  as  teachers  in 
the  Hamilton  public  schools  at  a  salary  of  $400.00  per  annum. 

June  25,  1894,  Gertie  DeNeen,  James  I.  Gough,  Mary  C. 
Chadwick,  Effie  Wallace,  and  Althea  Spellman  were  employed 
as  teachers  at  a  salary  of  $400.00  per  annum. 


Hamilton  an  J  its  Residents.  91 

December  20,  1894,  S.  L.  Rose,  principal  of  the  Fourth 
ward  school  tendered  his  resignation  to  accept  the  position  as 
editor  and  business  manager  of  the  Daily  Democrat.     Arthur 

B.  Andrews  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

January  7,  1S95,  the  Board  of  examiners  was  increased  to 
six  members.  S.  L.  Rose,  John  \V.  Clements,  and  Rev.  Mason 
Pressley  were  elected  as  additional  members  of  said  Board. 

April,  3,  1S95,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted  by  a 
unanimous  vote: 

Resolved,  That  Alston  Ellis,  of  Colorado,  be  and  he  is  hereby  elected 
and  employed  as  superintendent  of  the  Hamilton,  Ohio,  public  schools  for  a 
period  of  two  years  at  a  salary  of  83,000  per  annum,  payable  in  monthly 
installments.  Said  employment  and  contract  to  enter  into  effect  and  com- 
mence from  April  10,  [895. 

April  8,  Dr.  Ellis  was  "ranted  a  leave  of  absence  from  his  duties  without 
pay,  until  August  31,  1895. 

The  following  newly  elected  members  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  qualified  April  15:  William  R.  Beckett,  Martin 
Mason,  M.  D.  Eindley,  J.  C.  Strategier  and  John  Kaefer. 

M.  D.  L,indley.  was  chosen  president;  S.  V.  Hull,  clerk; 
R.  M.  Elliott,  treasurer. 

April  29,  George  Winkler,  was  elected  principal  of  the 
Second  ward  schools,  at  a  salary  of  $1,000  per  annum. 

June  26,  Dr.  Alston  Ellis,  tendered  his  declination  of  the 
office  of  superintendent,  to  which  the  Board  of  Education  called 
him. 

The  Board  went  into  an  election  of  a  superintendent  to 
take  effect  September  1 ,  1895,  and  continue  until  March  1, 
1897. 

S.  L.  Rose  was  elected  at  a  salary  of  $2,000  per  year. 
July  8,  1895,  Hon.  H.  L.  Morey  and  Rev.  C.  A.  Hermann 
were  elected  members  of  the  city  board  of  school  examiners, 
from  August  31,  1895,  until  August  31,  1898.  October,  17, 
Miss  Rose  Morganthaler  was  elected  a  teacher  in  the  High 
school  at  $850.00  per  annum.  Miss  Anna  Van  Derveer 
resigned  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools,  November  1  1,  1895. 

William  R.  Beckett  introduced  the  following  resolution, 
November  11,  which  was  unanimously  passed: 


92  Historical  Sketches. 


Resolved,  That  Miss  Lillian  B.  Berry  be  and  is  hereby  elected  as  teacher  of 
elocution  and  physical  culture  in  the  Hamilton  public  schools  at  a  salary  of 
|6oo.oo  per  annum. 

George  Winkler  was  elected  January  26,  1896,  a  teacher 
of  Latin  in  the  High  school  at  a  salary  of  $850.00.  Lilly  Becker, 
Anna  Buchner,  Mattie  Waterhouse,  Anna  Hamilton,  and  Nellie 
Huston  were  employed  as  teachers,  at  $400.00  yearly  on  the 
above  date. 

March  30,  1896,  Mrs.  Lowry  Jackson,  was  elected  as 
teacher  in  the  public  schools  at  $450.00  per  annum. 

April  80,  1865,  the  following  members  elect  of  the  Board 
of  Education,  were  duly  sworn  by  B.  H.  Jones,  city  solicitor: 
John  W.  Conboy,  John  Keller,  George  J.  Krucker,  Joseph  C. 
Symtnes.  M.  D.  L,indley  was  elected  president;  John  Kaefer, 
clerk;  and  Thomas  M.  Boyd  treasurer. 

At  a  special  meeting  held  April  22,  Mr.  Rose  was  elected 
for  two  additional  years,  until  March  1899,  at  $2,300  per  annum. 
He  is  better  qualified  for  the  position  than  his  predecessor  and 
should  be  as  fully  compensated. 

HIGH  SCHOOL  TEACHERS. 

Mr.  W.   P.   Cope,  Principal — Higher  Mathematics. 

Miss  L,issa  DaugherTy — English  Literature,  Physilogy, 
Botany,  and  Rhetoric. 

Miss  Pauline  Steffe — German. 

Miss  Emma  V.  SwEET — English  Literature,  Algebra  a?id 
History. 

George  Winkler — Latin. 

Miss  Rose  MorganthaeER — Civics,  Algebra  and  Phys- 
ical Geography. 

Ralph  BEELER — Chemistry  and  Physics. 

The  corps  of  High  school  teachers  rank  high  and  are 
second  to  none  for  efficient  work. 

Hamilton  is  well  supplied  with  first-class  modern  school 
buildings,  erected  at  a  reasonable  cost.  This  fact  is  to  the 
credit  of  Peter  Schwab,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education   during   the  building  of  six  of  these  houses.     He 


W.  P.  COPF, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  93 

would  not  permit — in  a  single  instance — any  changes  in  the 
plans  and  specifications  and  as  a  result  no  "extras"  were 
allowed. 

GRADUATES  OF  THE  HIGH  SCHOOL. 

1862. 
Daniel  Millikin,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Physician.    Miami  Medical  College  1875. 
Laura  Creighton  (Mrs.  K.  K.  Palmer),  St.  Louis  Mo. 
James  E.  Neal,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Attorney.     Consul  to  Liverpool,  England. 

1863. 
Isabella  Parks  Caldwell.     Walnut  Hills,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Florence  Shaffer,  (Mrs.  Watson),  Chicago,  111. 

Carrie  Vance  (  Mrs.  J.  E.  Bosley),  Cincinnati,  Ohio.     Stenographer. 
Sallie  Kyle,  (Mrs.  Oliver  Temple).     Deceased  1879. 
Lillie  Thomas,  Washington,  D.  C.     Teacher. 
Martha  Young.     Teacher.     Deceased. 

1864. 
Nellie  Creighton  (Mrs.  W.  G.  Montgomery),  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
George  K.  Davis,  Pekin,  China.  Missionary. 

1865. 
Mary  Caldwell  (Mrs.  Joseph  B.  Beatty),  Boise  City,  Idaho. 
Mary  Cumback  (Mrs.  Beckj,  Richmond,  Ind. 
Anna  M.  Huber(Mrs.  J.  A.Martin),  Dayton,  Ohio. 
Susie  Vance  (Mrs.  Sidell).      Deceased. 
Rush  Caldwell.     Deceased  1882. 
Kate  M.  Grove,  Chicago  111.     Editor. 
Annie  Thomas,  Washington,  D.  C.     Teacher. 

1866. 

NO  CLASS  GRADUATED. 
1867. 

Brill  A.  Corwifl  'Mrs.  W.  C.  Miller).     Deceased  1891. 

William  S.  Giffen,  Hamilton,  O.     A.  B.  Miami  University,  1871;   A.    M..    1S74; 

LL.  B.     Cincinnati  Law  School,  1880;  Judge  of  Common  Pleas  Court. 
Ernestine  V.  Hailman,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Alice  Harper.     Deceased. 

[868. 
Emma  Bowman  (Mrs.  Robert  Beckett),  Fair  Haven,  Ohio. 
Belle  Bowman  (  Mrs.  J.  W.  Overpeck),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
John  Breitenbach,  Clinton,  Iowa.     Clergyman. 
Virginia  J.  Biott  (Mrs.  Klinger),  Eaton,  Ohio. 

1869. 
Fannie  E.  Cobaugh,  |  Mis    Adam  Slater),  Hamilton,  ( )hio. 
luiim.i  K.  Davis  (Mrs.  Wilmer  South),  Felicity,  Ohio. 
Amanda  J.  Garver,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Teacher. 
Amy  A.  Rich  I  Mrs,  Andrew  Jackson),  Hermitage,  Tenn 


94  Historical  Sketches. 

1870. 

Lida  Davis  (Mrs.  William  Synimes).     Deceased. 

Helen  Falconer  (Mrs.  Lyster  O'Brien).     Deceased. 

Minnie  Grove.     Deceased. 

Clara  Huber  (Mrs.  W.  N.  Gray).    Hamilton.  Ohio. 

Mattie  Hunter,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Harry  Landis.     Deceased. 

Jennie  Long  (Mrs.  Webb),  Waynesville,  Ind. 

Pauline  McCoy,  Evansville,  Ind. 

Belle  J.  Radcliff. 

Constance  Snyder,  (Mrs.  William  Moore),  Hamilton,  Ohio, 
Alfred  Skinner. 

Lydia  Traber  (Mrs.  T.  W.  Scott),  Urbana,  Ohio. 

Sallie  Van  Dolan  (Mrs.  John  Sites),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Fannie  Young,  (Mrs.  Ellis  Potter),  New  York. 

1871. 

Susie  Berry  (Mrs.  A.  W.  Kuntz).     Deceased. 

Hannah  Barkalow  (  Mrs.  John  W.  Egbert),     Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Fannie  Laurie.     Deceased. 

Esther  E.  Tyler  (Mrs.  George  T.  Earheart),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

1872. 

Emma  Brant,  (Mrs.  William  Giffen),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Edgar  A.  Belden,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Lawyer. 

Nona  Chadwick  (Mrs.  J.  E.  Morey),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Alphonso  D.  Curtis,  Sandusky,  Ohio. 

Mamie  Huber.     Deceased. 

Samuel  E.  Leiter,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Hattie  Miller  (Mrs.  L-  A.  Thorns),  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Edwin  Shaffer,  Council  Grove,  Kansas. 

Robert  P.  Snider,  Hamilton.  Ohio. 

Robert  N.  Shotts,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Lawyer. 

1873. 
Lida  Caldwell,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Cyrus  Falconer,  Chicago.  111.    Clerk. 
Laura  Pettifish.  Riverside,  Cal.    Journalist. 
Emma  V.  Sweet,  Hamilton.  Ohio.     Teacher. 

1874. 
Nellie  C.  Hill  (Mrs.  William  Hair),  Hartwell,  Ohio. 
Lizzie  E.  Galloway  (Mrs.  David  P.  McClosky),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Harry  Kinder,  Findlay,  Ohio.    Attorney. 
William  K.  Lowrey,  Chicago,  111.     Attorney. 
Lucy  Brant.     Deceased. 

Ida  Lawder,  (Mrs.  William  Bohen),  New  Paris,  Ohio. 
Thomas  Moore,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Journalist. 
George  C.  Skinner,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Physician. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  95 


1875- 

William  Beckett.  Omaha,  Nebraska.     Lawyer. 
Beppy  Caldwell,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Postal  Clerk. 
Kate  I,.  Ferguson,  Raleigh,  N.  C.    Teacher. 
Kiulora  Hamilton  (Mrs.  Davis),  Xakomis,  Ills. 
Dora  Hargitt,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Teacher. 
William  L.  Huber,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Manufacturer. 

1876. 
Abbie  I,.  Brewer. 

Thomas  Beckett,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Bfaggie  Caldwell.  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Edgar  C.  Plenner,  Middletown,  Ohio. 
John  E.  Hume,  Wichita,  Kan.     Lawyer.    Deceased. 
Clara  A.  Laurie  (Mrs.  B.  K.  Brant),  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 
Katie  J.  Rooke,  Dayton,  Ohio. 
Charles  P.  Traber.     Deceased. 
Frank  I.  Whitehead,  Washington,  D.  C.    Journalist. 

1S77. 
Peter  Benninghofen,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Manufacturer. 
Carrie  II.  Cornell  (Mrs.  George  W.  Hughes),  St.  Paul,  Minn. 
Leonard  Garver,  Idlewild,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Williametta  Sample.     Deceased. 
Alice  H.  Waterman. 

1878. 

Lizzie  Booth,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Charles  L.  Cornell,  Hamilton.  Ohio.     Electrician. 

Ida  Gilmore  (Mrs.  Charles  Teachout),  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Lowery  Jackson,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.     Lawj'er.     Deceased  1896. 

Katie  Jones,  Washington  C.  H.,Ohio.     Stenographer. 

Susie  E.  Ritter,  (Mrs.  Frank  Skinner),  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Nellie  Stillwaugh  (Mrs.  William  Seward),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Martha  Sorber   Mr>    Prank  Stewart),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Maggie  Wuechner,  (Mrs.  ('.us.  Latterner),  Middletown,  Ohio. 

1879. 
Cyrus  Beckett,  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa. 

Mary  M.  Crawford  (Mrs.  John  L.  Beeler),  Hamilton  Ohio. 
Jessie  C.  Pox  1  Mrs    Bndicott),  Clarksville,  Tenn. 
Amanda  Galloway  (Mrs.  Joseph  H.  Long),  Hamilton,  Ohio, 
Alice  D.  Huber,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Samuel  Y.  Hull,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Accountant. 
Ida  M   Kirk  |  \!r>.  Blanker),  Sherman 'Heights,  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 
Mary  Beth  Moore  (Mrs.  Lowry  Jackson).     Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Pan!  II   Robertson. 

1880. 

Lucy  B.Crawford,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

George  Beardsley.    Deceased. 

Anna  Goldrick,  Hamilton,  <  >hio     Teacher. 

Anna  Harbron    Mi-   A    Speiuei :),   Hamilton.  Ohio. 


96  Historical  Sketches. 


Bertha  Gerber.     Deceased. 

Carrie  Jacobs,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Bertha  L.  Schliep,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Anna  Shaffer,  (Mrs.  George  Rump),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Victoria  Smith  (Mrs.  William  Dance),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

1881 
Mary  B.  Aten,  Madison,  Ind.     Teacher. 
Florence  L-  Bain,  Altoona,  Pa.     Stenographer. 
Hattie  Brown,  St.  Clair  Township.     Teacher. 
Mary  Brown  (Mrs.  Richard  Sloane),  El  Paso,  Texas. 

Jennie  Cobaugh(  Mrs.  James  Cochran),  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Proof  Reader. 
Ada  Fye  (  VTrs.  Tom  Wittemore),  Avondale. 
Edward  E.  Hull.     Deceased. 

Mary  A.  Ritter  (Mrs.  H.  C.  Mixer),  W.  St.  Paul  Minn. 
Mary  L-  Rue,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Stenographer. 
Frank  E.  Thompson,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

1882. 

Anna  Boaz  (Mrs.  William  Smith),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Robert  L.  Hargitt,  Glendale,  Ohio.     Attorney. 
IdaB.  Hunter,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Loenette  Kline  (Mrs.  Fred  Doeller),  Columbus,  Ind 
Lizzie  Ritter.     Deceased. 

1883. 
Pauline  Benninghofen,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Carrie  Benninghofen,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Celeste  Cobaugh  (Mrs.  Charles  Millikin),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Henry  H.  Haines,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Attorney. 
Delia  Law,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Lulu  Jacobs,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Stenographer. 
Mary  vicKee.     Deceased  1891. 
Elwood  Morey,  San  Francisco,  Cal.     Attorney. 
Leslie  Morrison  (Mrs.  Charles.  L-  Whitakeri,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Kate  Rodefer  (Mrs.  J.  K.  Aydelotte).     Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Hattie  Schell  (Mrs.  William  B.  Chaffey,  Mildura,  Victoria,  Australia. 
Clara  Wilson.     Deceased  1891. 
Anna  Joyce.      Deceased  1886. 

1884. 
Homer  Gard,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Journalist. 
Lutie  E.  Matthias  (Mrs.  Homer  Gard),  Hamilion,  Ohio. 
Lizzie  Millikin,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
William  H.  Pfau,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Book  keeper. 
May  B.  Seward,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Deceased  1889. 
Alice  Walter  ,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

1885. 
John  B.  Barkalow,  Hamilton,  Ohio.  Hotel  Clerk. 
Carrie  Crawford,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Emma  Dietz,  Trenton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  97 


EloiseHuber,  Dayton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Julius  Maas,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.    Lawyer. 

Ella  McKee,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Kindergarten  Teacher. 

Ben  Strauss,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Merchant. 

William  O.  Campbell,  Hamilton.  Ohio.     Lawyei 

William  Crawford,  Hamilton.  Ohio.     Farmer. 

Lillie  Dilg,  (Mrs.  J.  \V.  Morris).  Flockton,  Ohio. 

Lewis  A.  Dillon,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Civil  Engineer. 

Belle  Etirsch,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Teacher. 

Minor  M.  Jacobs,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Physician. 

Ella  W.Jones   Hamilton,  Ohio.    Teacher. 

Katie  Joyce,  Hamilton.  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Minnie  Egry  (  Mrs.  George  Heiser).     Deceased. 

Anna  Held  (  Mrs   C.  W.  Nagel),  Terre  Haute,  hid. 

Philippine  Heyler  (Mrs.  David  Reiser),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Frank  P.  Richter,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Lawyer.  L.  L   B.  Cincinnati  Law  School, 

1888. 
Bertha  S'effe  (Mrs.  George  Easton),  Leipsic,  Ohio. 
Lizzie  WillerUMrs.  Mosel),  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

[886. 
Frank  B.  Eddy,  Indian  Territory.     Merchant. 
Edward  M.  Traber,  Fort  Collins,  Col.     Teacher  of  Latin. 
Kate  Neinmeyer,  Trenton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Helena  Pfau    Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Ransford  M.  French,  Chicago,  111.     Architect. 
Fred  Schell,  Riverside,  Cal.     Planter 
Jennie  Beal  (  Mrs.  John  Grafft),   Hamilton,  Ohio. 
May  Beckett  (Mrs.  Mark  Millikin),  Hamilton.  Ohio. 
Mathilde  Blum,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
EmmaBoaz,  Hamilton.  Ohio. 
Clara  Burridge,  Hamilton.  Ohio. 

Grace  Davidson  Olrs.  Harry  Hensel I,  Jefferson ville.  Ind. 
Edith  Flenner(Mrs.  Xcilon,  Peoria,  111. 
Bertha  Gray  (Mrs.  D.  H.  Allen),  Miamisburg,  Ohio. 
Olive  Henninger  (Mrs.  McClelland),  Hamilton.  Ohio. 
Lillian  Huber,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Carrie  Lyon  (Mrs  C.  A.  Brown),  San  Francisco,  Cal 
Celia  L.  Smith  I  Mrs.  John  Cornel] ),  Hamilton,  Ohio 
Sophia  Stephan.  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Marian  Walker  (Mrs.  Minor  M   Jacobs),  Hamilton.  Ohio. 
Kate  Weber,  Hamilton.  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Sophia  Wnechnerl  Mrs  Edward  F.Stepp),  Carthage,  111 

1887 

Miranda  Andrew    Mrs.  E.  C.   Muff),  Somerville,  Ohio 
Fred    E.  Beal.  Lincoln.  Nebraska,     Physician. 

David  W.  Brant,  Hamilton,  <  >lii<>     Traveling  man. 

Mabel  W.  Fitton,  Hamilton,  Ohio.  Music  Teacher. 
Sabina  Goldrick.     Deceased.  April 


98  Historical  Sketches. 


Mina  F.  Jacobs,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Book  keeper. 

Emma  House  (Mrs.  Clinton  Lane),  Glendale,  Ohio. 

Lutie  E.  Huston,  Hamilton   Ohio.    Book  keeper. 

Mary  B.  \  artin,  Stockton,  Ohio. 

Jessie  F.  Millikin  (Mrs.  Samuel  Taylor),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Anna  Owens,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    A.  B.  Vassar,  1892. 

Elisa  M.  Potter  (Mrs.  E.  A.  Belden),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Zenaide  C.  Schenck  (Mrs.  I.  S.  Millikin),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Clara  R.  Shaffer  ( Mrs.  W.  O.  Ashby),  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Stella  Symmes,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Music  Teacher. 

Thomas  D.  Temple,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Journalist. 

Marrietta  Treudley  (Mrs.  Curtis  Smith),  Stockton,  Ohio. 

Lillian  Estella  Weiler  (Mrs.  Stella  Taylor), Hamilton,  Ohio.  Newspaper  work. 

Minnie  Bentel,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Bertha  E.  Bubenheim,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Book  keeper. 

Nellie  S.  Cory,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Mary  L.  Gordon,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Stenographer. 

Lillian  Lorenz  (Mrs.  E.  C.  Sill),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Anna  Macbeth,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Samuel  C.  Payne,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.     Train  Dispatcher. 

Edward  C.  Sohngen,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Maltster. 

Joseph  F.  West.     Deceased. 

William  N.  Andrews,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Bookkeeper.     Law  Student. 


Mary  Agnes  Burns,  (Mrs.  Joseph  Hellebush),Walnut  Hills,  Cincinnati. 

Ella  VT.  Conboy,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Josephine  Crawford,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Proof  Reader. 

Mary  D.  McMillan,  Price's  Hill,  Cincinnati,  Ohio 

Charles  J.  Parrish,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Dealer  in  Real  Estate. 

Nannie  A.  Settle,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Bertha  Sheehan  (  Vrs.  Lyndol  Meyers),  Avondale,  Ohio. 

Mary  M.  Temple,  Hamilt  n,  Ohio.    Teacher. 

Katherine  C.  Bender,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Charles  C.  Carl,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Dentist. 

Libbie  Davidson,  (Mrs.  W.J.  Thompson),  Elmwood,  Ohio. 

Robert  H.  Dilg,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Book  keeper. 

Emma  I.  Dirk  (Mrs.  Thomas  Smith,  Jr.),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

LeRoy  R.  Hensley,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Book  keeper. 

Marion  E.  Heyler,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Etta  BlancheHooven  (  Mrs.  E.  S.  Griffis),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Burton  F.  Huling,  Hamilton,  Ohio.  Clerk. 

Rosa  Kahn  (Mrs  Abe  Kopple),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Fred  Klein,  Cleveland,  Ohio.     Physician. 

Belle  McClellau  (Mrs.  William  Emeriek),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Adda  C.  Markt  (Mrs.  Edward  C.  Sohngen),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Mary  Millikin  (Mrs.  Thomas  Beckett),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Anna  M.  Puthoff  (Mrs.  B.  H.  Connell),  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Amelia  A.  Ruder  (Mrs.  Jacob  Rost),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  99 

Hattie  Strauss,  (Mrs.  A.  Ballinger),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

CoraTubbs.     Deceased,  1890. 

Anna  A.  Van  Deveer,  (virs.  Carson  II. .mill.  Terre  Haute    Ind. 

Alice  A.  Allen.  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Ik  ary  E.  Andrews,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Bu   htel  College,  1^96. 

Mary  Belle  Beckett,  I  Mrs.  Rob<  it  Gilmore  ,  e  hicago,  111. 

Nettie  W.  Pox,  Hamilton,  Ohio     Jon  nalist 

Edward  H.  Leib.  Indianapolis   Ind.     Commission  Merchant. 

William  T.  Mitchell,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     A.   1:.   University  of  Wooster, 

Missionary  to  India. 
Sue  Walter,    .Mr*.  H.  W.  Vinnedge),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Emma  H.  Blum,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Carrie  A  Dietz,  Trenton,  Ohio.    Stenographer, 
Cornnne  M.  Fiechtling,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Elizabeth  C.  Frybarger,  (  *  rs.  Gus.  Lambert),  Haniilton,  Ohio. 
Anna  Hossfeld,  (Mrs.  Otto  Metzner),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Robert  Kennedy,  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan.     Book  keeper. 
Carrie  E.  Line,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Lillian  A.  Richter,  (  \  rs.  F.  Kinsinger\  Overpeck,  Ohio. 
Gra»e  L.  Sheley,  (  >  rs.  Henry  Hammerle).  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Hattie  Synimes,  (  \'rs.  t  lenient  James),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Tillie  J.  Tisinger,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Bertram  M.  Thomas,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Emidy  M.  Van  Derveer,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Boynton  H.  Van  Derveer,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Reporter. 
Margaret  Ziliox,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Copying  Clerk. 
1890. 

Samuel  D.  Fitton,  Jr.,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Attorney. 

Wanen  Gard,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Attorney. 

Anna  M.  Gilbert,  (Mrs.  E.  Mattison),  Ann  Arbor.  Mich. 

Nellie  M.  Kennedy.  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Lillian  F   Matthias,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Edith  L.  McLean,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Mabel  Myers,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Olive  V.  Rose.    Mrs.  J.  L.  Young),  Middletown,  Ohio. 

Da\id  E.  She  than.  Jr.,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Dentist. 

Stanley  M.  Withrow,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.    Attorney. 

William  E    Hender.  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Contractor  and  Builder. 

Anna  Boger,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Louis  A.  Boli,  Jr  ,  Kuttawa,  Kentucky.     Druggist. 

Anna  Dietz,  Trenton,  Ohio. 

Maude  Gwinner.  (Mrs.  I.ouis  A    Boli,  Jr.),  Kuttawa,  Kentucky. 

Anna  Mary  Kennedy.  (Mrs.  Christian  Reutti),  Hamilton,  Ohio 

Jennie  Koppel,  Haniilton,  Ohio. 

Virginia  Leib,  Hamilton.  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Mabel  Louthan,  ( Mrs.  Martin  Longfellow),  Hamilton.  Ohio 

Elizabeth  Ljon,  Ham  lton,  Ohio,     Cashier  and  Stenographer. 


100  Historical  Sketches. 


Kauffman  McClellan,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Book  keeper. 

Effie  M.  Richardson,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Book  keeper. 

Bessie  M.  Richter,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Susanna  M.  Robinson,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Iona  Ross,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Wilhelmine  Schwab,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Teacher. 

Elizabeth  Schweinefest,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Lillian  I.  Shields,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Martin  P.  Schwartz,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Book  keeper. 

Raymond  Wortendyke,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Civil  Engineer. 

1891. 
Louigard  Babeck,  Collinsville,  Ohio.    Teacher. 
Nellie  Brock,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Journalist. 
Charles  Golden,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Mary  Ruth  Harvey,  Aurora,  Ind. 
Emma  B.  Jacobs,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Book  keeper. 
Nellie  M.  Laurie,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Clayton  A.  Leiter,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Journalist. 
Margaret  M.  Nichols  (Mrs.  Neher),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Edith  M.  Riley,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Mary  E.  Barnett,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Ella  M.  Boaz,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Marguerite  E.  Dilg,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Stenographer. 
Alice  A.  Hamilton,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Florence  E.  Harris,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Book  keeper. 
Johanna  E.  Heiser,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Clara  Hossfeld,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Anna  Lottes  (Mrs.  John  Smith),  Richmond,  Ind. 
John  D.  Lotz,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Music  Teacher. 
Eva  Pearl  Murphy,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Teacher  of  Elocution. 
Augusta  A.  Oetterer,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Deceased,  1896. 
Walter  G.  Rose,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Draughtsman. 
Clara  R.  Schaeuble,  Hamilton  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Sarah  A.  Schrock,  Trenton,  Ohio.    Stenographer. 
Charles  B.  Wintersteen,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Civil  Engineer. 

1892, 
Margaret  I.  Allen,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Ada  V.  Antrim,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Mary  A.  Baldwin,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Teacher. 
Ralph  K.  Beeler,  Hamilton,  Ohio      Teacher. 
James  C.  Clawson,  Clawson,  Ohio.     Bank  Clerk. 
Nellie  C.  Dart,  Hillsboro,  Ohio. 
Stanley  Giffen,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Teacher. 
George  Enyeart  Hooven,  New  York  city.     Music  Student. 
Anna  Roberts  Hueston,  Overpeck,  Ohio. 
Mary  A.  Hynes,  Hamilton,  Ohio     Ttacher. 
Leonora  Kinnikin.     Deceased,  1893. 
Letha  S.  Long. (Mrs.  Wilson),  Seven  Mile,  Ohio. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  101 


Eva  Maude  Miller,  (Mrs.  Aloys  Egry),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Martin  A.  Seward,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Student  at  Cornell  University. 
Josephine  Slater,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Benjamin  K.  I  Huston,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
John  Fred  Bender,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Olivia  brock,  Hamilton.  Ohio. 

Johanna  Helen  Hynes,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Book  keeper. 
Jessie  T.James,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Draughtsman. 
Euuna  E.  Kromer,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Mary  Susan  Miller,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Blargaret  E   Schwartz,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Gertrude  Silver,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Olive  Wysong,  Connersville,  Ind. 
Margaret  M.  Yeakle,  (Mrs.  Harry  Richardson),  Sulphur  Springs,  Colo. 


Nellie  Babeck,  (Mrs.  Line),  Sheley,  Ohio. 

Rosa  Babeck,  Sheley,  Ohio. 

Lillian  B.  Berry,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher  of  Elocution. 

Leigh  G.  Curtis,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Emmett  C.  Dix,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Student  at  Hiram  College. 

Lizzie  M.  Hancock.  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Susie  E.  Jacobs,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Elizabeth  F.  Leib,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

David  Elmer  Lewis,  Millville,  Ohio. 

Kate  L.  Rahfuse,  Hamilton, Ohio. 

Rosetta  Rahfuse,  (Mrs.  John  Clayton),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Bessie  Roll,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Clara  R.  Saunders,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Robert  J.  Shank,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Law  Student. 

Perley  P.  Sheehan,  Hamilton,  Ohio.      Student  at  Union  College. 

John  Roy  Simpson,  Dayton,  Ohio.     Student  at  Miami  University. 

Herbert  M.  Stace,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Book  keeper. 

Sarah  E.  Steen,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Stella  M.  Traber,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Arthur  C.  Baird,  Seven  \  ile,  Ohio.     Student  at  University  of  Wooster. 

Clarence  Bennett,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Collector. 

Cornelia  A.  Bowers,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Lucius  S.Cory,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Machinist. 

James  C.  Cummins,  Busenbark,  Ohio.     Farmer. 

hllen  M.  Dwyer,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Pan!  Baston,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Machinist. 

Harriet  Fiber,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Winifred  B.  Fox,  I  Mrs.  John  L.  Beeler),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Mary  Galh,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Graduate  of  Oxford  College. 

Anna  \i.  Hamilton,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Louise  Hammerle,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Eugenie  C.  Hartkoff,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Mary  E.  Henninger,  Hamilton,  Ohio 


102  Historical  Sketches. 


Hermann  E.  Hermann,  Hamilton,  Ohio.    Electrical  Engineer. 

Jessie  A.  Louthan,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Sophia  L.   v  argedant,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Jessie  E.  Richter,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 

Corinne  I.  Rife,  (  >  rs.  Edward  Lockmati),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Ella  K.  bponnenberger,  (Mrs.  P.  F.  Geyerj,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Mary  R.  Symmes,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Mary  S.  Wick,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Proof  Reader. 

1894. 
Walter  Henry  Bruning,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Paul  Maurice  Hooven,  Hamilton,   Ohio.     Student  at  Miami  University. 
Joseph  Symmes  Hunter,  Hamilton,    Ohio. 
Edward  Lamport  Schelh   Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Harry  Silver,  Chicago,  111. 
Clement  Dare  Smedley,  Jr.,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Annis  Rachel  Fitton,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Mabel  Roll,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Elizabeth  Lamport  Schell,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Bessie  Alma  Urmston,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Metta  Waterhouse,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Harry  Plmy  Crume,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Henry  Andrew  Grimmer,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Edward  Lewis  Jacobs,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Paul  James  Mitchell.  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
August  Schumacher,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.     Doctor. 
Jessie  Alice  Anshutz,  Hamilton,  Ohio.  Teacher. 
Katherine  Elizabeth  Brown,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Keren  Happuch  Dickey,  Hamilton,  Ohio,     Teacher. 
Katie  May  Haungs,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Lillie  Blanche  Centennial  Harris,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Eduh  Ptarl  Louthan,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
El.zabeih  Miller,  Hamilion,  Ohio.     Teacher. 
Rosa  Caroline  Miller,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Bertha  Gertrude  Pearson,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Emma  Aletha  Wright,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 


Russell  Robert  Andrews,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Clyde   nonroe  Sheehan,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Cornelia  Armstrong  Cross,  Lima,  Ohio. 

Adelaide  Gay  Dorris,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

JVJabel  Angela  Fennemau,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Phoebe  Curtis  Treudley,  Jones,  Ohio. 

Margery  Belle  Pottinger,  Liberty,  Ind. 

Amy  Elizabeth  Ross,  Jones,  Ohio. 

Charles  Henry  Beck,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Clarence  Reinhart  Josepn  Hartkoif,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Anna  ,\>arie  Buechner,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Caroline  Anna  Milheltnine  Ludeke.     Deceased,  1S96. 


Hamilton  ami  its  Residents.  103 


Louise  May  Vincent  Decker,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Hennine  Adolphina  Prederica  Oetterer,   Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Sybilla  Ida  Florence  Niederauer,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Augusta  Hossfeld,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Lillian  Becker,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Hedwig  Louise  Schweinefest,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Bessie  Doty,  Hamilton,  Ohio, 

Josie  Hogarth  Osborne,  Chicago,  111. 

Maynard  Brown  Carr,  Hamilton,  Ohio.     Student  Miami  University. 

Ralph  Shelby  Thompson,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Ona  Lea  Deam,  Colliusville,  Ohio. 

Mary  Alice  Dowrey,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Elizabeth  Hart  We.ver,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Alice  St.  Clair  Murphy,  H  tmilton,  Ohio. 

Letty  Jane  Rich.     Deceased. 

Mary  Eliza  Gaff,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Edgar  Betram  Schntider,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Mathilda  Petranella  Bender,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Emma  Kathryn  Lingler,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Ida  Vashii  Theodore   Eberle,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Caroline  Kathryn  Lingler,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Grace  viuriel  Crume  (Mrs.  William  Boyd),  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Jessie  Keith  Osborne,  Chicago,  111. 


Arthur  George  Frechtling,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Karl  William  Heiser,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Hugh  >  ulbertson  Mitchell,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Frank  Louis  Taylor  Smedley,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Helen  Grace  Beeler,  Hamilton   Ohio. 
Fanny  Newton  Berry,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Nan  Bradley  i  ochran,  Millville,  Ohio. 
Russie  Cyrene  Dick,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Daisy  Hancock,  Ham  lton,  Ohio. 
Alta  Dell  Harvey,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Eleanor  Katherine  Hynes,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Ida  Lynn  James,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Mabel  Mallert,  <.  ollinsville,  Ohio. 
Myrtle  Mae  McLain,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Mary  Shank,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Elizabeth  Lindley  Whipps,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Blanche  Eihcl  Wintcrsteeii,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Walter  Leo  Bentel,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
George  Conrad  Besold,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
George  Marion  Cummins,  Busenbark,  Ohio. 
George  Stanley  Helvey,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Charles  Frederick  Holdefer,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Carl  Ernest  Margedant,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Joseph  LeKoy  Aiillspaugh,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 


104  Historical  Sketches. 


Eugene  Sheldon  Rich,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Kenneth  Lester  Rolfe,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Thomas  Millikin  Van  Derveer,  West  Point,  N.  Y. 

Fred.  Joseph  Weiman,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Claude  DeWitt  Wilson,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Clara  Catherine  Beck,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Cora  Kate  Bruning,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Sophia  Decker,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Lulu  May  Dilg,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Ella  vi  ay  Henning,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Grace  Alice  Inloes,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Helen  Keiser,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Johannah  Augusta  Rembler,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Lillian   v  ildred  Reutti,  Hamil  on,  Ohio. 

Edna  Ellen  Rogers,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Katherine  Adele  Ross,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Susie  Schwab,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Nellie  Ferlina  Tarry,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Lulu  Belle  Winchester,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

THE   GRADUATING   CLASS   OF  1897. 

Milton  G.  Augspurger,  Overpeck,  Ohio. 
Earl  Gardner  Beauchamp,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Theodore  Bock,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
John  Alphonso  Burnett,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
John  Charles  Cone,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
James  Timothy  Conlin,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Oscar  Goldsmith,  Collinsville,  Ohio. 
Orville  A.  Hampton,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Alexander  Clyde  Hunter,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Charles  C.  Rife,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Walter  Symmes.  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Thomas  E.  Tuley,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Martin  Luther  Warwick,  Seven  \  ile,  Ohio. 
Murray  D.  Urmston,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Earl  Winchester,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Maggie  Louisa  Bachelor,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Zoah  R.  Becker,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Clare  Black,  McGonigles,  Ohio. 
Grace  Clark,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Mary  E.  A.  Dick,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Lutie  viatthias  Eberling,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Lulu  Belle  Goshorn,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Minnie  B.  Hites,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Clare  May  Hoffman,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Ethel  Mary  Kimbrough,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Louisa  H.  Leibrock,  Hamilton.  Ohio. 
Elizabeth  P.  Leveline,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Clara  A.  Margedant,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 


Hamilton  ami  its  Residents.  105 

Georgia  Van  Sands  Northrnp,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Helen  Peters,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Grace  E.  Rieser,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Edna  Beryl  Riffel,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Mary  Schell,  Hamilton,  Ohio 

Alma  Schweinfest,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Ellen  J.  Shafer,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Nannie  G.  Shields,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Edith  Mary  Watkins,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Clara  Luisa  Webster,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

Anna  .vjay  Welsh,  Hamilton,  Ohio. 

SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  SCHOOLS. 

).  W.  McClung 1857-58  E.  B.  Bishop 1867-71 

ieorge  E.  Howe 1858-59  .    Alston  Ellis 1871-79 

E.  W.  Hurtt 1S59-60  L.  D.  Brown 1879  84 

J.  R.  Chamberlain 1860-62  E.  R.  Klemm 1884-87 

H.  T.  Wheeler 1862-63  Alston  Ellis 1887-92 

John  A.  Shank  1863-64  C.  C.   Millet 1892-95 

John  Edwards 1864-67  S.  I,.  Rose 1895 

David  W.  McClung  was  born  December  18,  1831,  in 
Seneca  County,  Ohio.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm;  attended 
country  schools,  which  were  very  good  in  their  day.  The 
residence  of  the  family  bordered  on  the  Western  Reserve.  He 
attended  school  at  the  Seneca  county  academy,  at  Republic, 
then  taught  by  Thomas  \V.  Harvey,  afterward  State  School 
Commissioner.  In  this  institution  he  prepared  for  college  and 
entered  Muskingum  college,  New  Concord,  as  a  freshman  in 
1850,  where  he  remained  one  term;  then  he  entered  Miami 
university,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1854.  During  his  pre- 
paratory course  he  maintained  himself  by  teaching.  After 
graduation  he  resumed  his  chosen  profession,  as  teacher,  but 
in  a  higher  field.  He  was  first  elected  principal  of  our  High 
school,  then  Superintendent  and  Principal  of  the  schools,  serv- 
ing from  September  1854  until  June  1857.  In  December  1857 
he  was  associated  with  Colonel  Minor  Millikin  in  conducting 
and  editing  the  Hamilton  Intelligencer,  the  Republican  organ 
of  Butler  county.  He  retired  from  the  paper  July  29,  [858,  to 
continue  the  study  of  law,  and  in  the  winter  of  1860,  he  was 
appointed   by   Governor   Dennison,    Probate  Judge  of  Butler 

COUnty,  vice  William  R.    Kinder,  deceased.     At  the  outbreak  of 
the  Civil  War,  Mr.  McClung  enlisted  as  a  private  in   Company 


106  Historical  Sketches. 

F,  Third  Ohio  Infantry,  and  was  sworn  into  service  on  April 
24.  On  the  27th  of  the  same  month  he  was  detailed  from  the 
ranks  and  made  quartermaster  of  Camp  Dennison  with  the 
rank  of  captain.  He  remained  in  camp  until  June  16,  1862, 
when  he  was  ordered  to  Camp  Chase,  Columbus,  to  erect  the 
rebel  prison  pens.  Captain  McClung's  money  accounts  with 
the  government  during  the  war  aggregated  $25,000,000;  his 
property  accounts,  about  $60,000,000.  He  was  honorably 
mustered  out  of  the  service  at  his  own  request,  November  8, 
1865.  Prior  to  this  he  was  brevetted  major  of  volunteers  upon 
the  recommendation  of  General  Ekin,  for  valuable  services 
rendered  to  his  country.  In  1866  Major  McClung  returned  to 
Hamilton  and  was  elected  president  of  the  Second  National 
bank.  He  resigned  this  position  after  serving  eighteen  months 
and  embarked  in  the  manufactory  of  wood-working  machinery. 
Afterward  he  was  superintendent  and  business  manager  of  the 
Woodsdale  Paper  Co.  In  1S79,  he  removed  to  Cincinnati  and 
was  appointed  Assistant  Postmaster,  and  in  1881  became  Sur- 
veyor of  the  Port  of  Cincinnati,  serving  continuously  until  1885. 
Major  McClung  was  appointed,  by  President  Harrison  in  1889, 
Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  for  the  Third  District  of  Ohio, 
serving  until  December  1,  1893.  He  has  been  twice  appointed 
trustee  of  his  Alma  Mater,  Miami  university.  On  the  question 
of  national  finances  he  is  well  informed,  being  a  ready  and 
fluent  debater  on  the  subject.  He  is  an  able  and  enthusiastic 
worker  in  the  cause  of  Republicanism.  On  March  19,  1861, 
Major  McClung  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Carter 
Harrison,  granddaughter  of  General  William  Henry  Harrison. 
George  E.  Howe  was  born  in  Eivonia,  New  York,  May 
21,  1825,  and  received  an  excellent  education  in  Eastern  col- 
leges. He  was  Superintendent  of  the  schools  in  1858-59.  As 
a  man  he  was  liberal  and  kind-hearted  almost  to  a  fault.  How 
well  we  remember  him,  giving  us  financial  aid  and  private 
instruction  while  struggling  for  an  education.  Subsequently 
he  became  the  beloved  Superintendent  of  the  Boys'  Industrial 
school,  at  Lancaster,  Ohio.  He  was  one  of  the  best  officers 
the  state  ever   had   in   any   capacity.     He   was   a   successful 


FRANCIS  W.  HURTT 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  107 

reformer.  His  genius  in  this  line  of  work  and  faithfulness  to 
all  duties  raised  the  Ohio  Industrial  school  to  the  highest 
plane  among  institutions  of  its  kind. 

In  1878,  he  assumed  control  of  the  Connecticut  State 
Reform  school  where  he  died  November  23,  1893,  of  apoplexy. 
It  was  difficult  to  fill  his  place  officially.  In  the  hearts  of 
all  who  knew  him  he  will  be  long  remembered  and  endeared. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howe,  who  were  married  in  1S47,  were 
born  four  children,  G.  Worth,  book  keeper  at  the  Meriden 
Reform  school;  Frank  M.,  Principal  of  the  Elmwood  school 
for  boys,  Milford,  Conn.;  Charles  C,  Superintendent  of  the 
mica  mines,  at  Bristol,  N.  H. ;  and  Mrs.  Clara  B.  Warner,  of 
Meriden,  Conn. 

Francis  W.  Hurtt,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Dry  Run, 
near  Tarltou,  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  September  26,  1832.  He 
was  educated  partly  at  the  schools  of  Frankfort  Ohio;  taught  in 
country  schools,  in  the  same  county,  before  he  was  seventeen; 
and  studied  at  Athens  college,  under  the  presidency  of  J.  G. 
Blair,  where  he  made  a  reputation  as  a  mathematician.  He  left 
college  at  the  age  of  20,  before  graduating,  being  called  to 
superintend  the  schools  at  Ripley,  Ohio,  which  he  organized, 
graded  and  raised  to  a  high  standard. 

In  1854,  he  was  appointed  first  assistant  to  Dr.  Joseph 
Ray,  and  also  appointed  professor  of  chemistry  at  Woodward 
High  school,  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  During  this  period  he  con- 
tributed a  series  of  articles  to  a  mathematical  journal,  pub- 
lished at  Cambridge,  Harvard,  Mass.,  and  achieved  a  remarka- 
ble reputation  for  his  talent  in  this  direction,  for  which  he 
was  awarded  the  degree  of  M.  A.  by  his  Alma  Mater,  Athens 
college.  In  January,  1855,  he  married  Sarah  Ives,  one  of  the 
prominent  teachers  in  the  Texas  school,  Clinton  street,  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio. 

In  the  fall  of  1855,  he  was  appointed  Superintendent  of 
the  public  schools  at  Springfield,  Ohio.  Alter  successfully 
grading  the  same  he  returned  to  Cincinnati  where  he  S]  ent 
the  greater  part  of  1856  in  a  publishing  enterprise,  King  the 
first  one  to  publish  a  business  directory  in  that  city.      In   1859, 


108  Historical  Sketches. 

he  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  schools  in  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
At  the  end  of  that  year,  although  re-elected,  he  retired  perma- 
nently from  the  profession  of  teaching  and  returned  to  Cincin- 
nati, resuming  his  publishing  business.  In  January  i860,  he  was 
invited  by  the  Ohio  State  Journal,  of  Columbus,  to  assume  its 
business  management.  After  consideration,  he  accepted,  and 
subsequently  became  the  proprietor.  The  Journal  at  that 
time  was  the  leading  organ  of  the  Republican  part)^  in  Ohio; 
had  a  staff,  including  not  only  Mr.  Hurtt,  but  also  Henry  D. 
Cooke,  as  editor-in-chief,  (afterward  governor  of  the  District  of 
Columbia)  W.  D.  Howells  as  literary  editor  and  Samuel  Reade, 
assistant  editor.  Howells  was  appointed  consul  to  Venice, 
Italy,  early  in  the  war.  Later,  Mr.  H.  D.  Cooke  removed  to 
Washington  to  assume  charge  of  the  Washington  branch  of 
the  great  banking  firm  of  Jay,  Cooke  &  Company,  who  nego- 
tiated most  of  the  government  loans  made  during  the  war. 
During  this  period  he  was  also  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Ohio  Jour ?ial  oj  Education,  or  Educational  Journal.  Mr.  Hurtt 
then  formed  the  firm  of  Hurtt,  Allen  &  Company,  but  being 
unable  to  devote  all  of  his  time  to  the  management  of  the 
paper,  having  been  appointed  an  officer  in  the  army,  he  sold 
his  interest  to  Mr.  Allen  and  others.  In  August,  1865,  he 
removed  to  New  York  and  became  later  interested  in  the 
manufacture  of  the  well  known  medicine,  Pond's  Extract.  It 
was  largely  due  to  Mr.  Hurtt' s  foresight,  great  business  sagac- 
ity and  indomitable  energy  that  this  large  business  was  devel- 
oped from  its  insignificant  condition,  when  he  took  charge  of 
it,  to  its  present  proportions.  Mr.  Hurtt  recognized  at  once 
the  great  value  of  the  medicine,  and  felt  sure  that  his  efforts 
toward  its  world-wide  publicity  would  be  profitably  recognized 
by  the  public.  During  the  later  years  of  his  life  he  traveled 
extensively,  not  only  visiting  Europe  many  times,  but  cross- 
ing the  Pacific  to  China  and  Japan.  In  March,  1884,  he  died 
suddenly  in  New  York,  leaving  a  widow  and  two  sons. 

John  Reily  Chamberlain,  Journalist  of  Cincinnati,  was 
graduated  from  Miami  university  in  1858.  Two  years  after- 
ward he   was   elected  to  the   Superintendency   of  our   schools, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  109 


which  position  he  held  until  1862.  His  administration  was  an 
able  one  and  gave  universal  satisfaction. 

In  [862  he  enlisted  under  Captain  Ozro  J.  Dodds,  in  Com- 
pany 1\  Eighty-first  O.  V.  I.  lie  was  successfully  promoted  to 
sergeant,  sergeant-major,  and  on  February  20,  1863,  was  com- 
missioned second  lieutenant  and  assigned  to  Company  C.  In 
1864  he  was  on  detached  duty  in  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
On  April  6,  of  the  same  year,  he  was  discharged  from  the  ser- 
vice on  account  of  granulation  of  the  eyes.  Mr.  Chamberlain 
had  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  B.  and 
A.  M.  by  his  Alma  Mater.  He  was  employed  for  a  number  of 
years  on  the  editorial  staff  of  the  Cincinnati  Gazette,  where  he 
rose  to  prominence  as  a  writer  of  rare  ability.  He  is  the  author 
of  an  excellent  article  in  Appleton's  Cyclopedia,  entitled  "Cin- 
cinnati" and  "A  Century  of  Cincinnati."  Mr.  Chamberlain 
resides  at  Mt.  Auburn,  Cincinnati. 

H.  T.  Wheeler  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1S19,  and 
was  educated  at  the  Transylvania  University.  He  taught  in 
the  South  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  when  he 
was  forced  to  find  a  home  in  the  north  to  escape  death  at  the 
hands  of  traitors  to  their  country,  for  being  a  Union  man.  He 
was  elected  vSnperintendent  of  the  schools  in  1862,  serving 
until  June  1863.  He  was  an  advocate  of  the  best  sytems  of 
instruction  and  employed  them.  He  was  a  man  of  great  mental 
ability  and  conducted  the  schools  in  a  manner  that  merited  the 
highest  commendations. 

IK-  was  also  Superintendent  at  Circleville  and  Spring- 
field, Ohio.  Broken  in  health  by  asthma  and  its  complications  he 
was  forced  to  abandon  teaching,  then  immigrated  to  Kansas 
and  engaged  in  cattle  raising  on  a  ranch.      He  died  in  1879. 

John  A.  Shank,  was  born  in  Cincinnati  in  1834.  He 
attended  the  schools  of  his  native  city  and  was  graduated  from 
Woodward  High  school  in  1N53.  He  taught  School  in  Cincin- 
nati previous  to  his  call  to  the  Superintendency  of  the  Hamil- 
ton schools  in  [863.  IK-  was  well  equipped  for  this  responsible 
position  being  a  good  disciplinarian  and  a  fine  scholar.  His 
ideas    were  advanced  in  school  work,  and  he  repeatedly  urged 


110  Historical  Sketches. 

radical  changes  in  the  line  he  suggested,  but  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation was  not  inclined  to  take  immediate  action.  At  the  close 
of  the  school  year  he  resigned  the  Superintendency  of  our 
schools  and  accepted  a  similar  position  in  Northwestern  Ohio. 
Subsequently  he  studied  law  and  practiced  his  profession  in 
Cincinnati.  In  1873  he  was  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
representative  to  the  General  Assembly,  from  Hamilton 
county.     He  is  now  located  in  the  state  of  Washington. 

John  Edwards  was  a  graduate  from  Miami  University  in 
1862.  His  career  as  a  teacher  began  immediately  afterward. 
He  was  Superintendent  of  the  Hillsboro,  Ohio,  schools  from 
1862  to  1864.  In  1864  he  was  elected  Superintendent  of  the 
Hamilton  schools,  serving  until  1857.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
force  of  character  and  commanding  a  wide  influence,  was  a 
logical  reasoner  and  possessed  a  firey  eloquence.  He  was  a 
man  of  rare  literary  attainments. 

He  was  president  of  the  Thespian  Literary  society  that 
met  in  the  Smyers'  building  on  the  West  Side.  Rev.  Jacob 
Steck,  Dr.  W.  H.  Scobey,  Dr.  Joseph  W.  Harris,  Eugene  A. 
Weiler  and  Dr.  J.  L.  Kirkpatrick  were  members  of  the  society. 

After  severing  his  connection  with  the  schools  he  studied 
law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  immediately  thereafter 
immigrated  to  Maryville,  Mo. ,  where  he  began  practicing  his 
chosen  profession.  He  was  careful  in  preparing  his  cases  and 
possessed  the  ability  to  present  them  in  a  concise  and  forcible 
manner.  His  success  as  an  attorney  was  acheived  by  untiring 
diligence.  He  was  a  good  judge  of  men  and  motives.  Mr. 
Edwards  was  elected  district  attorney  for  Nordaway  county 
and  convicted  the  Talbott  brothers  for  the  murder  of  their 
father.  This  criminal  trial  was  the  most  noted  in  the  annals 
of  Missouri  and  attracted  wide-spread  interest. 

The  Talbott  brothers  employed  the  best  legal  talent  in 
the  State  to  defend  them,  but  went  to  the  gallows  through  the 
masterly  prosecution  of  John  Edwards.  During  this  trial  he 
earned  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  ablest  criminal 
lawyers  in  Missouri. 

In  politics  Mr.  Edwards  was  a   Democrat   of  the  Radical 


ALSTON  ELLIS 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  1 1 1 

school.  He  was  a  candidate  for  Attorney-General  before  his 
party  convention  that  convened  at  Jefferson  City,  but  unfor- 
tunately was  defeated. 

With  hope  deferred  and  ambition  blasted,  he  brooded 
over  his  defeat  until  his  mind  became  temporarily  unbalanced, 
and  while  in  this  condition  he  suicided,  September  13,  18S8. 

Ebenezer  B.  Bishop  was  the  son  of  Robert  Hamilton 
Bishop,  D.  D.,  first  president  of  Miami  university,  who  was 
born  in  North  Britain.  Mr.  Bishop  was  graduated  from 
Miami  in  1833.  He  early  entertained  tlie  idea  of  becoming  a 
minister  and  accordingly  entered  a  theological  seminary  to 
prepare  himself  for  the  pulpit. 

He  was  an  indefatigable  w/orker  in  the  cause  of  religion, 
acquiring  a  wonderful  knowledge  of  it,  which  made  him  a  gen- 
eral and  accurate  scholar.  He  was  an  able  and  good  minister. 
As  a  writer  on  religious  subjects  he  had  few  superiors.  He  was 
a  professor  at  the  Trenton,  Tennessee,  college.  In  1867,  he 
was  elected  Superintendent  of  the  Hamilton  schools  and  con- 
tinued in  this  capacity  until  1871.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  rare 
culture  and  attainments  and  discharged  his  duties  as  Superin- 
tendent with  zeal  and  ability,  and  gave  the  schools  excellent 
sen-ice.  He  possessed  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  his  father, 
who  willed,  '  'That  his  body  after  death  be  given  to  the  directors 
of  Farmers'  college,  to  be  placed  in  a  plain  coffin,  and  then 
enclosed  in  a  square,  strong  box  and  deposited  in  an  artificial 
mound,  in  a  designated  spot  in  the  college  yard,  to  consist  of 
successive  layers  of  earth  and  sand,  net  to  be  less  than  eight 
feet,  solid  measure  No  artificial  monument  to  be  erected  on 
it  unless  it  should  be  a  few  evergreens  or  shrubbery." 

Mr.  Bishop  removed  from  Hamilton  to  Paris,  Illinois,  and 
was  elected  principal  of  the  Edgar  academy.     He  died  January 

4,  1 s  7  7  - 

Alston  ELLIS. — The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
January  26,  1847,  near  Covington,  Kentucky.  In  the  common 
schools  of  that  day  he  acquired  the  rudiments  of  an   education. 

When  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  16   his  parents   moved   to 

Covington,  where  lie  entered  a  private  school.    It  was  here  that 


112  Historical  Sketches. 

he  made  preparation  for  entering  upon  a  collegiate  course. 
During  the  winter  and  spring  months  of  1864,  he  taught  school 
near  Carrollton,  Kentucky.  In  September  of  the  same  year 
he  matriculated  as  a  Sophomore  at  Miami  university,  Oxford, 
Ohio.  He  was  graduated  from  this  famous  institution  of  learn- 
ing in  1867.  His  studious  habits,  while  at  Miami  university, 
won  him  a  recognized  place  in  the  field  of  scholarship.  His 
frank  manners  and  gentlemany  qualities  placed  him  high  in 
the  esteem  of  the  students  and  faculty.  He  was  remarkably 
proficient  in  mathematics  and  ancient  languages;  and  in  all 
branches  of  the  college  course  he  was  at  the  head  of  his  class. 
He  was  not  eligible  for  any  class  honors  by  reason  of  his  not 
having  taken  all  the  branches  of  the  prescribed  course  in  their 
regular  order.  In  the  literary  society  and  recitation  room,  his 
leadership  was  unquestioned.  He  possessed  a  lively  interest 
in  every  day  affairs;  was  fired  with  an  ambition  to  express 
well  that  which  he  knew,  and  balanced  by  his  scholarly  achieve- 
ments, he  was  a  fluent  speaker,  a  ready  debater  and  possessed 
of  the  powers  that  make  natural  oratory.  He  had  a  large  share 
of  college  honors,  held  high  offices  in  the  Krodelphian  Literary 
society,  and  was  college  orator  in  the  annual  celebration  of 
Washington's  birthday.  A  month  after  graduation  Alston 
Ellis  found  the  woman  of  his  choice  in  Oxford  college,  then 
under  the  charge  of  Rev.  Robert  D.  Morris.  On  July  23,  1867, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Katie  Cox.  Not  a  little  of 
President  Ellis's  success  in  life  has  been  due  to  the  influence  of 
his  cultured  wife  who  has  infused  into  their  home  life  and  to 
their  large  circle  of  acquaintances  only  those  qualities  which 
stimulate  the  best  that  is  in  name.  He  returned  to  his  home 
in  Covington,  where  he  did  effective  work  as  principal  of  the 
Third  district  and  Intermediate  schools  of  that  city.  The 
thoroughness  of  his  work  brought  to  him,  then  the  more 
responsible  position  of  assisstant  superintendent  of  the  Newport, 
Kentuck5%  schools,  which  position  he  held  for  nearly  three 
years.  In  1 871,  he  was  called  to  the  Superintendency  of  our 
schools,  which  position  he  held  for  eight  years.  At  the  time  of 
his   call  the  schools  were  not    doing   as   satisfactory   work   as 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  11 3 

parents  and  tax-payers  had  a  right  to  expect.  They  had  dropped 
to  a  low  grade.  To  place  them  on  an  excellent  footing  was  a 
work  not  to  be  done  in  a  day,  but  within  a  short  time  our 
schools  had  no  superiors  in  the  state,  and  few  equals.  It  was 
here  that  he  displayed  rare  ability  as  a  scholar  and  executive 
officer. 

Today,  the  high  reputation  of  the  schools  our  city, 
through  the  state,  is  largely  the  result  of  the  work  of  Presi- 
dent Ellis,  and  his  name  is  indelibly  associated  with  the 
knowledge  of  this  excellence.  In  1879,  he  abandoned  teach- 
ing and  engaged  with  the  well  known  firm  of  Harper  & 
Brothers,  of  New  York,  with  headquarters  at  Columbus,  Ohio. 
During  this  year  much  of  his  time  was  given  to  addressing 
college  societies,  teachers'  associations,  and  contributing  to 
educational  journals. 

In  May,  1887,  he  was  elected  Superintendent  of  the  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  schools,  in  which  position  he  achieved  the  same 
enviable  record  that  had  been  made  in  our  schools. 

Again  our  schools  had  deteriorated,  and  in  1887,  in  response 
to  urgent  calls  to  resume  his  old  field  work,  he  returned  to 
Hamilton  and  continued  at  the  head  of  the  schools  until  called 
to  the  Presidency  of  the  Colorado  State  college,  at  Fort  Collins. 
In  1 89 1,  the  trustees  of  that  institution  extended  him  a 
unanimous  call  to  become  its  President.  He  at  first  declined, 
but  later  on  in  response  to  an  urgent  personal  appeal,  Dr.  Ellis 
went  to  Fort  Collins  to  confer  with  the  Board  of  Directors  and 
take  a  survey  of  the  field.  Here  he  found  large,  handsome 
buildings,  excellently  equipped,  an  able  faculty,  specialists  in 
their  chosen  lines.  As  a  result  Dr.  Ellis  accepted  the  position 
at  a  salary  of  $6,000  per  annum. 

Fort  Collins  is  a  progressive  and  prosperous  town  of  3,000 
inhabitants,  in  Larimer  county,  situated  seventy-five  miles 
north  of  Denver  and  four  miles  from  the  foot  hills.  It  is  in 
full  view  of  Long's  Peak  and  many  miles  of  the  Snowy  Range. 
From  the  melting  snow  of  the  mountains  is  derived  its  water 
supply.  Here  is  located  the  Colorado  Agricultural  college, 
which  had  its  origin  in  the  act  of  congress,  July  2,  1862,  which 


114  Historical  Sketches. 

granted  the  institution  90,000  acres  of  land.  In  1883,  the 
state  levied  for  its  support  an  annual  tax  of  one-fifth  of  a  mill 
on  all  taxable  property,  which  in  1891  was  reduced  to  one- 
sixth  of  a  mill,  owing  to  an  increased  duplicate.  The  college 
was  incorporated  in  1870,  but  no  buildings  were  erected  until 

1878,  when  Fort  Collins  was  selected  as  a  site.     In  September, 

1879,  it  was  first  opened  for  the  reception  of  students;  a  dormi- 
tory was  erected  in  1881,  and  the  chemical  laboratory  a  year 
later.  Horicultural  hall,  Mechanical  Art  hall  and  Agricultural 
hall,  all  with  well  equipped  laboratories  have  since  been  added. 
At  first  the  number  of  students  was  limited,  but  has  increased 
until  the  session  of  1895-96  shows  a  register  of  over  300 
students.  The  highest  enrollment  of  students  prior  to  Dr. 
Ellis'  presidency  was  109. 

The  college  buildings,  grounds,  etc.,  are  worth  not  less 
than  $250,000.00.  In  addition  to  this  the  college  has  four 
experimental  farms  in  other  portions  of  the  state,  whose 
estimated  value  is  $50,000.00.  The  institution  is  not  a  univer- 
sity, but  is  a  through-going,  well-equipped  scientific  and 
technical  institution.  It  has  five  courses  of  study,  each  com- 
plete in  itself.  In  addition  to  these  regular  cqurses,  post- 
graduate work  in  engineering,  chemistry,  mechanics,  agricul- 
ture zoology,  and  irrigation  engineering  are  provided  for. 

Hamilton  was  loath  to  lose  Dr.  Ellis  as  an  educator  and 
citizen,  "Yet  is  proud  to  have  given  Colorado  a  man  who  is 
such  a  power  for  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  education 
within  her  borders."  In  the  short  time  he  has  been  president 
of  the  Colorado  college,  he  has  taken  his  place  on  the  top  rung 
of  the  ladder  as  the  most  successful  educator  and  lecturer  in 
the  state.  In  fact,  his  reputation  is  not  confined  in  any  single 
state — it  is  national. 

As  early  as  1872,  we  find  his  Alma  Mater,  Miami  Univer- 
sity, confering  upon  him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  In  1879, 
the  University  of  Wooster  gave  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Phi- 
losophy, the  Ohio  State  University  gave  him  the  same  degree 
in  1888.     A  still  greater  recognition  of  his   attainments   was 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  1 1 5 

made  when  he  was  given  the  degree  of  EE.  D.  from  the  Ohio 
State  University  in  1890. 

He  was  elected  a  life  member  of  the  Victoria  Institute — 
the  Philosophical  Society  of  Great  Britain— of  which  the 
Queen  of  England  is  a  patron.  The  membership  is  classified 
under  three  ranks  in  the  society — ordinary,  associate,  and  life 
members.  He  was  enrolled  in  the  latter  class  in  1890.  Some 
of  the  most  famous  men  in  the  world  are  members  of  this 
Institute.  Only  four  from  America  have  been  recognized,  Dr. 
Ellis  being  one. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  state  board  of  school  examiners 
for  a  term  of  ten  years,  during  which  period  he  was  clerk.  In 
1 89 1,  he  was  re-appointed  for  a  term  of  five  years. 

In  religion  Dr.  Ellis  is  a  Congregationalist  or  Presby- 
terian, according  to  where  he  is  located.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Demociat.  He  possesses  all  the  qualifications  for  a  success- 
ful politican,  is  social,  easily  approached,  an  able  writer,  a 
polished  orator  and  well  informed  on  the  questions  of  the  day. 

la  1895,  Dr.  Ellis  was  unanimously  elected  Superinten- 
dent of  the  Hamilton  schools  at  a  salary  of  $3,000  per  annum. 
After  considering  the  subject  he  declined.  He  is  an  honor- 
able and  talented  gentleman,  capable  of  filling  any  position  in 
school  work. 

EeRoy  D.  Brown  was  born  in  Noble  county,  November 
3,  1848.  He  attended  country  school  about  six  months  each 
year  until  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  fifteen;  and  he  was  obliged 
to  labor  the  rest  of  the  year.  In  his  younger  days  so  eager 
was  his  thirst  for  information  that  he  read  every  volume  in  the 
school  library.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  having  been  able  to 
obtain  the  consent  of  his  father,  he  left  home  and  enlisted  in 
Company  H,  11 6th  Ohio  Volunteer  infantry,  serving  until 
the  close  of  the  Civil  War.  He  served  under  Generals  Cook, 
Hunter,  Siegel,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Winchester, 
under  General  Phil.  Sheridan.  Afterward  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Army  of  the  James,  near  Richmond.  When  mustered 
out  he  was  Sheridan's  orderly. 


116  Historical  Sketches. 

Upon  his  return  home  he  attended  district  school,  and 
afterward  entered  High  school  at  Seneca,  Ohio.  In  December 
1866,  he  began  his  career  as  a  teacher  in  Noble  county,  and  in 
April  1867,  he  entered  Mt.  Auburn  acadamy,  where  he  fitted 
for  college,  and  in  1869,  joined  the  preparatory  department  of 
the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university,  at  Delaware  Ohio,  from  which 
institution  he  was  afterward  graduated.  In  1875,  he  was 
made  Superintendent  of  the  schools  of  Eaton.  This  position 
he  filled  with  credit  until  he  was  elected  Superintendent  of  the 
Hamilton  schools  in  1879.  He  served  a  term  as  trustee  of  the 
Dane  Free  Library;  is  a  post-graduate  student  of  Cincinnati 
university;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1878.  He  served  one 
term  as  State  School  Commissioner.  After  his  term  of  office 
expired  he  removed  to  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado.  He  is 
now  located  at  Dos  Angeles,  California. 

D.  R-  KlEmm  was  born  in  Rheinish  Prussia.  He  was 
sent  to  the  common  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  later  in 
Realschule,  a  High  school  where  Datin,  French  and  English 
were  taught.  He  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1870,  and 
secured  a  position  in  the  German  department  of  the  Cincin- 
nati public  schools.  Here  he  devoted  his  leisure  time  in  writ- 
ing for  the  Volksblatt  and  a  number  of  educational  journals. 
He  published  a  series  of  German-English  text  books,  which 
became  very  popular  and  running  through  five  editions.  In 
1884,  Mr.  Klemm  was  elected  Superintendent  of  the  Hamilton 
public  schools,  serving  until  1887.  After  severing  his  connec- 
tion with  our  schools  he  became  Superintendent  of  the  Cincin- 
nati Technical  schools  which  position  he  held  for  one  year. 
Subsequently  he  was  appointed  a  specialist  in  the  Bureau  of 
Education  of  the  Interior  Department,  in  Washington,  D.  C. 
He  is  author  of  the  new  system  of  making  geographical 
maps,  but  it  has  never  yet  been  put  into  operation. 

Charles  C.  Miller  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Fairfield 
county,  Ohio,  November  26,  1856.  He  attended  the  schools 
of  his  native  village,  and  in  1872  received  his  first  common 
school   certificate  and  began  teaching.     In  1876  he  was  gradu- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  117 

ated  from  the  Fairfield  Union  Academy.  Subsequently  he 
was  elected  superintendent  of  these  schools.  In  the  spring  of 
1877,  he  entered  the  Ohio  State  University,  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  graduated  in  1883,  with  the  degree  of  B.  A.  While  a 
student  in  this  university  he  taught  Latin  and  Greek.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  the  public  schools  at  Eaton,  in  1884- 
85;  was  Superintendent  of  the  Ottawa  schools  in  1886,  and  of 
Sandusky  city  in  1890.  In  1889  he  was  a  candidate  for  State 
School  Commissioner,  and  in  June,  1891,  on  the  death  of  Hon. 
John  Hancock,  the  incumbent,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov. 
Campbell  to  serve  out  the  unexpired  term,  ending  July  1892. 
In  March,  1892,  he  was  unanimously  elected  Superintendent 
of  the  Hamilton  public  schools,  at  a  salary  of  $2,700. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  man  of  pleasing  address  and  very  popular 
among  teachers.  He  makes  friends  readily  and  retains 
them.  In  point  of  scholarship  and  as  an  instructor,  educator  and 
enthusiastic  worker  in  the  cause  of  higher  education,  he  per- 
haps has  no  peer  in  the  state.  Because  of  his  eminent  success 
he  is  popular  with  the  teachers  in  every  county  in  the  state 
and  the  demand  on  his  time  is  so  great  from  different  counties 
to  attend  Teachers'  Institutes  that  he  finds  it  impossible  to 
spend  more  than  a  half  day  or  so  at  each. 

S.  Iy.  Rose.  —  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Union  township,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  November  20,  1865. 
When  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  five  years  his  father  removed 
to  the  old  homestead  where  Hon.  Daniel  W.  Voorhees  was 
born.  Mr.  Rose  attended  school  taught  by  John  C.  Slayback 
until  he  was  seventeen  years  old;  entered  Lebanon  Normal 
University  September  5,  1882,  and  graduated  from  the  business 
and  scientific  departments;  taught  the  Oak  Hill  school,  one 
mile  from  his  home;  resigned  this  position  November  20,  1886, 
when  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Treasurer  by  F.  W.  Whitaker. 
Subsequently  he  was  employed  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of 
Courts;  was  elected  in  1888  principal  of  the  Venice  schools;  and 
was  forced  to  resign  the  following  year  on  account  of  failing 
health.  He  was  a  candidate  for  Recorder  in  1886  in  opposition 
to  Henry  C.  Gray.     In  a  vote  of  5,100  Mr.  Rose  received  2,300; 


118  Historical  Sketches. 

was  private  secretary  to  James  R.  Smedburg,  during  the  con- 
struction of  the  Hamilton  gas  works.  Afterward  he  was 
employed  by  the  B.  F.  Wade  Company,  of  Toledo,  manufacturers 
of  blank  books  and  county  stationary.  His  territory  comprised 
thirty-five  counties  in  the  state.  In  1889,  he  was  elected  prin- 
cipal of  the  Fourth  ward  schools  at  a  salary  of  $900.60  per 
annum,  serving  in  this  capacity  until  January,  1895,  when  he 
became  editor  and  business  manager  of  the  Hamilton  Daily 
Democrat,  at  an  annual  salary  of  $1,500.  He  made  the  Dem- 
ocrat a  newsy,  bright  and  spicy  paper  up-to-date  in  every  par- 
ticular; was  president  of  the  city  Board  of  Elections.  In  the 
summer  of  1895,  ^e  was  elected  Superintendent  of  the  Ham- 
ilton Public  Schools  at  a  salary  of  $2,300  per  year.  Mr.  Rose 
is  an  able  educator,  ranks  high  in  his  profession  and  has  suc- 
ceeded in  keeping  our  schools  abreast  of  the  times. 

On  December  28,  1894,  Mr.  Rose  was  married  to  Mrs.  Ida 
Wurterman.     Two  children  grace  and  enliven  a  happy   home. 

POSTMASTERS   OF   HAMILTON. 
The  following  is  an  official  list   of  Hamilton   Postmasters 
from  the  postoffice  department  at  Washington,  with  their  date 
of  appointment  and  time  of  service: 

John  Reily,  August  2,  1804.  William  H.  Blair,  April  3,  1867. 

James  B.  Thomas,  July  9,  1832.  John  McKee,  September  8,  1873. 

James  L,owes,  March  27,  1851.  Charles  E.  Giffen,  Jan.  30,  1882. 

James  K.  Thomas,  Jan.  19,  1853.  Ferd.  Van  Derveer,  Mar.  18,  1886. 

Lawrence M.  Farrow,  July  20, 1853.  John  E.  Eohman,  Dec.  4,  18S6. 

Jacob  Troutman,  March  13,  1857.  Daniel  H.  Hensley,  Mar.  20,  1890. 

William  H.  Blair,  April  23,  1861.  John  E.  Lohman,  June  13,  1893. 

William  C.  Rossman,  July  23, 1S66. 

The  first  postoffice  was  established  in  Hamilton  in  1804, 
under  Thomas  Jefferson's  administration.  John  Reily  was 
appointed  Postmaster.  His  commission  dated  August  2,  1804. 
which  was  signed  by  Postmaster-General  Gideon  Granger.  For 
many  succeeding  years  there  was  only  one  mail  route  through 
the  Miami  Valley;  this  was  weekly,  being  carried  on  horse 
back.  It  left  Cincinnati  and  passed  through  Hamilton,  Frank- 
lin, Dayton,  Urbana,  Yellow  Springs,  Lebanon,  and  thence  back 
to  the  starting  point.     This  route  was  afterward  reversed,  start- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  119 

ing  by  way  of  Lebanon,  and   returning  by  way  of  Hamilton. 

It  is  a  fact  not  generally  known  to  our  people  that  Ham- 
ilton's first  Postoffice  was  located  on  Water  street,  immediately 
south  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  The  building  has 
been  remodeled  and  used  as  a  dwelling  house. 

It  was  two  stories  high  with  a  porch  fronting  on  the  alley. 
John  Reily  occupied  this  building  as  Clerk  of  the  Courts, 
Recorder  and  Postmaster  from  1804  until  1809.  Later  the 
postoffice  was  removed  to  the  corner  of  High  and  Second 
streets  to  a  two  story  frame  building  erected  specially  for  that 
purpose,  the  first  permanent  headquarters  of  the  Postoffice. 
This  building  was  removed  to  Basin  street,  in  April,  1853, 
where  it  still  remains  and  is  used  as  a  justice's  court.  The 
building  was  framed  by  Captain  Samuel  Johnson,  of  Black 
Bottom. 

The  next  site  used  for  Postoffice  purposes  was  the  room 
now  occupied  by  August  Soehner,  in  the  Miami  building; 
thence  it  was  removed  to  the  Universalist  church  building;  and 
from  there  to  the  room  now  occupied  by  The  Hamilton  Daily 
Republican;  and  from  there  to  its  present  location,  in  the  new 
Reily  block,  on  the  identical  spot  where  the  first  permanent 
Postoffice  stood.  Below  we  give  a  brief  biographical  sketch  of 
the  Hamilton  Postmasters  from  1804  to  the  present  time. 

John  Reily.  — First  Postmaster  of  Hamilton,  was  born  in 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  April  10,  1763.  In  1780,  at 
the  age  of  17,  he  enlisted  in  the  Revolutionary  army  and 
served  in  the  southern  department  under  General  Greene.  Mr. 
Reily  participated  in  the  battle  of  Guilford  Court .  House, 
which  took  place  on  March  15,  1781.  His  second  engagement 
was  that  of  Camden.  He  also  participated  in  the  siege  of  the 
town  of  Ninty-Six  which  begun  on  May  22,  and  was  raised, 
June  18.  The  last  engagement  in  which  Mr.  Reily  took  part 
was  the  memorable  and  hotly  contested  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs,  South  Carolina,  on  September  8,    1781. 

Mr.  Reily  received  a  certificate  of  honorable  discharge  at 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment,  under  the  hand  and 
seal  of   General  Washington.     In  1783-84  he  left  his  home  in 


120  Historical  Sketches. 

Virginia  for  the  wilds  of  Kentucky,  where  he  made  agricultu- 
ral implements  for  the  settlers,  and  taught  school  during  the 
last  year  of  his  residence  in  the  state.  In  1 789  he  emigrated 
to  the  Northwest  Territory,  locating  at  Columbia.  Mr.  Reily 
was  a  member  of  a  company  of  volunteers  that  went  to  the 
rescue  of  Dunlap's  station,  on  the  Miami  river,  near  the  vil- 
lage of  Venice. 

In  1790-91,  John  Reily  and  Francis  Dunlevy  opened  a 
school  in  Columbia,  the  former  taking  the  classical  department, 
the  latter  the  English.  This  was  the  first  school  taught  in  the 
Miami  country. 

John  Reily  moved  to  Hamilton  in  1803.  On  March  24, 
of  the  same  year,  the  legislature  of  Ohio,  in  session  at  Chilli- 
cothe,  passed  "An  act  for  the  division  of  the  counties  of  Ham- 
ilton and  Ross. ' '  Immediately  following  the  passage  of  this 
act  Butler  county  was  organized,  and  John  Reily  was 
appointed  clerk  of  the  supreme  court  of  Butler  county  and 
retained  the  office  until  May  3,  1842.  He  was  the  first 
Recorder  of  Butler,  resigning  in  181 1,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  James  Heaton.  He  held  the  office  of  commissioner's  clerk 
from  1803  to  181 1.  He  watched  the  financial  affairs  of  the 
county  with  such  wisdom  and  caution,  that  he  was  styled  the 
guardian  of  the  people. 

John  Reily  died  at  Hamilton,  June  7,  1850,  aged  87  years. 
His  funeral  took  place  on  the  9th  from  the  Presbyterian 
church,  conducted  by  Dr.  William  Davidson,  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church. 

Judge  Elijah  Vance,  a  member  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention of  Ohio,  at  that  time  in  session  at  the  capital,  on  May 
nth,  announced  the  death  of  John  Reily  and  offered  a  series  of 
resolutions  extolling  the  character  and  virtues  of  the  deceased, 
which  were  unanimously  passed.  A  copy  of  the  resolutions 
was  forwarded  to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  accompanied  by  a 
letter  from  W.  Medill,  president  of  the  body,  to  Mrs.  Jane  H. 
Campbell. 

James  B.  Thomas  was  born  in  Northumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,   September    8,    1792.     He  was  appointed   Post- 


JOHN   REILY 


JAMES  B.  THOMAS 


DANIEL  H.   HHNSLEY 


JOHN  K.  LOHMAN 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  121 

master  by  President  Jackson  July  9,  1832,  and  so  universal 
was  the  satisfaction  he  gave  as  a  public  official  to  the  commun- 
ity and  the  government  that  no  subsequent  administration  re- 
moved him.  He  held  the  office  until  March  27,  1851,  when  he 
voluntarily  resigned. 

In  the  early  days  Hamilton  was  the  distributing  point  for 
Cincinnati  mail  matter  going  east  and  west,  and  the  work  now 
performed  in  the  railway  mail  car  was  then  done  in  the  Hamil- 
ton postoffice.  At  this  time  there  were  no  express  companies 
and  all  money  had  to  be  sent  through  the  mail.  Jabez  Fisher 
&  Bros. ,  of  Boston,  heavy  pork  packers,  located  in  Hamilton 
at  the  head  of  the  basin.  They  received  their  money  in  cur- 
rency from  the  East  every  few  days  in  packages  of  $5,000,  and 
so  regular  were  the  mails  on  arrival  they  knew  exactly  when 
to  call  for  it. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  During  the  war 
of  1 8 1 2  between  America  and  England  he  helped  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  gallant  Commodore  Oliver  Perry's  fleet,  which 
was  erected  from  the  forests  on  I^ake  Erie.  Perry's  noble  vic- 
tory of  September  10,  181 3,  virtually  ended  the  war,  when  he 
wrote  to  General  Harrison:  "We  have  met  the  enemy  and  they 
are  ours." 

In  the  winter  of  18 14,  Mr.  Thomas  built  a  flat  boat  in 
which  he  brought  his  mother's  family  from  Waterford,  Penn- 
sylvania, via  the  Ohio  river  to  Cincinnati,  thence  to  Hamilton. 
During  the  next  few  years  he  made  a  number  of  trips  down  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  from  Cincinnati,  when  the  valley  of 
the  Mississippi  was  comparatively  a  wilderness,  encountering 
many  dangers  and  hardships.  The  return  trips  were  made  on 
foot  and  on  horseback,  there  being  no  steamboats  in  these 
early  days. 

Many  political  discussions  were  held  in  the  "Old  Post- 
office,"  participated  in  by  Hon.  Eewis  D.  Campbell,  Hon  John 
B.  Weller,  Frank  Stokes,  editor  of  the  Telegraph  and  W.  C. 
Howells,  editor  of  the  Intelligencer.  Mr.  Howells  was  the 
father  of  W.  D.  Howells,  the  author,  now  editor  of  the  Atlan- 
tic Monthly. 


122  Historical  Sketches. 

The  charges  for  a  limited  number  of  postoffice  boxes  for 
newspapers,  city  and  county  officials  paid  the  rent  of  the 
building.  In  early  days  the  mail  matter  was  distributed  from 
Mr.  Thomas'  hat.  He  would  frequently  call  upon  Henry  S. 
Earhart  and  others  to  deliver  a  letter  to  immediate  neighbors. 

Stephen  Easton  was  clerk  in  the  "Old  Postoffice"  and 
many  amusing  incidents  occurred  during  his  term  of  service. 

James  Lowes  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana, 
January  19,  1819.  He  married  Miss  Martha  J.  Elliott, 
daughter  of  James  E.  Elliott,  in  Hamilton,  October  12,  1843, 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Thomas,  performing  the  ceremony.  Mr. 
Lowes  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  with  David  Taylor 
in  Rossville  in  1844.  He  was  subsequently  in  the  pork  pack- 
ing business  with  David  Taylor  and  William  J.  Elliott,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Taylor,  Lowes  &  Elliott.  Mr.  Lowes' 
brother-in-law  was  Sheriff  of  Butler  county  for  two  terms. 
James  Lowes  was  appointed  postmaster  March  27,  1851,  by 
Nathan  K.  Hall,  Postmaster-General  of  the  United  States.  He 
executed  his  bond  and  took  the  oath  of  office  April  2,  1851. 
His  commission  and  appointment  are  among  the  many  valua- 
ble and  interesting  papers  still  in  possession  of  his  family  at 
Indianapolis. 

James  K.  Thomas.  —  Our  fourth  Postmaster  was  born 
iu  Hamilton  in  1831.  He  received  his  education  in  the  Ham- 
ilton public  schools.  In  1852  he  married  Miss  Harriet 
McMaken,  the  second  daughter  of  M.  C.  McMaken,  Esq.,  of 
our  city. 

Mr.  Thomas  for  a  number  of  years  was  engaged  in  the 
milling  business  in  the  old  Erwin  mill  at  the  east  end  of  the 
suspension  bridge.  After  severing  connection  with  his 
brother  Alfred,  he  and  Charles  Wardlow  organized  the  Ward- 
low-Thomas  Paper  Co.,  of  Middletown,  for  the  manufacture  of 
flour  sacks  and  manilla  papers.  The  company  begun  opera- 
tio<i  on  a  small  scale,  but  by  untiring  industry,  coupled  with 
g))l  b  isiness  methods,  succeeded  in  making  it  a  financial  suc- 
cess. The  first  mill  was  built  in  1868,  and  burned  down  in 
September,  1872.     A  new  building  was  erected  in  1880.     The 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  423 

main  building  is  460  feet  long  and  86  feet  wide.  Its  capacity 
is  20,000  pounds  per  day. 

In  religion  Mr.  Thomas  is  a  Presbyterian,  and  an  elder 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Middletown.  He  is 
always  ready  to  do  a  good  act  for  his  fellow  man;  is  an  enter- 
prising citizen  in  every  thing  that  appertains  to  the  advance- 
ment of  Middletowm. 

Lawrence  M.  Farrow.  —  Hamilton's  fifth  Postmaster, 
was  born  in  St.  Paris,  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  November  25, 
1829.  He  received  an  excellent  education  and  at  an  early  age 
entered  the  law  office  of  Samuel  Shellabarger  and  James  M. 
Hunt,  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  as  a  student.  After  completing 
his  law  course,  he  and  Judge  Hume  removed  to  Hamilton  in 
the  fall  of  1852  and  opened  a  law  office,  known  as  Hume  & 
Farrow,  and  continued  his  chosen  profession  until  July  29, 
1853,  when  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  by  President  Frank- 
lin Pierce,  and  served  until  March  13,  1857,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Jacob  Troutman.  Mr.  Farrow  was  a  man  of  deli- 
cate constitution.  The  close  confinement  in  the  postoffice 
impaired  his  health,  and  he  returned  to  St.  Paris,  where  he 
resided  with  his  father  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1859, 
from  consumption. 

Jacob  Troutman. — Was  born  July  22,  1824,  on  the 
homestead  farm  in  St.  Clair  township,  two  miles  south  of  Ham- 
ilton. He  attended  school  in  the  old  Reiley  district  until  he  ar- 
rived at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  when  he  moved  to  Ross- 
ville,  now  the  First  ward  of  the  city  of  Hamilton,  and  entered 
the  public  schools  of  that  village,  where  he  continued  his 
studies  for  four  years  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  was 
elected  city  marshal  of  the  town  of  Rossville.  Mr.  Troutman 
was  a  brainy,  intelligent,  self-made  man.  In  his  friendships 
he  was  ardent  and  unchangeable;  in  his  dislikes  he  was  very 
pronounced.  As  a  public  official  he  performed  his  duty  with- 
out fear  and  favor.  He  stood  for  sheriff  of  Butler  county  on 
several  occasions,  but  each  time  was  defeated  by  the  small  fry 
professional  politicians  of  his  party,  who  feared  him  for  his 
honesty    as  he  could  not  be  used  by  them.     Mr.  Troutman 


124  Historical  Sketches. 

was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Hamilton,  March  13,  1857,  under 
President  Buchanan's  administration,  and  served  until  April 
23,  1 86 1.  He  gave  good  satisfaction  to  the  patrons  of  the  office. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  from  the  First  ward  for 
a  number  of  years  and  filled  the  position  with  honor  to  him- 
self and  credit  to  his  constituents.  He  died  November  14, 
1889,  and  was  buried  by  the  Masonic  order  of  which  he  was  a 
bright,  advanced  and  honored  member. 

William  H.  Blair. — Was  born  in  Hamilton,  February 
14,  1818.  His  birth  place  was  the  Blair  homestead,  situated 
on  Water,  near  Market  street,  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the 
old  Black  &  Clawson  Co.  building.  He  was  educated  in  our 
public  schools.  He  was  commissioned  Postmaster  of  Hamilton 
by  President  Lincoln  April  23,  1861,  and  served  continuously 
except  a  short  interval,  until  1873.  Mr.  Blair  was  a  genial, 
accommodating  and  popular  official,  and  gave  our  citizens  an 
excellent  mail  service.  His  death  occurred  February  27,  1887. 
Charles  Potter  was  Mr.  Blair's  efficient  Assistant  Postmaster. 

W.  C.  Rossman,  was  born  in  Eaton,  Ohio,  July  30, 
1835.  At  an  early  age  he  entered  the  dry  goods  store  of 
J.  &  T.  E.  Rossman — uncle  and  brother — in  Rossville  as 
salesman,  and  remained  in  the  store  until  the  Civil  War  be- 
gun when  he  organized  the  "Hamilton  Guards."  This  was 
one  of  the  earliest  companies  raised.  It  was  attached  to  the 
Third  Ohio  infantry,  and  known  as  Company  "F."  Isaac  Mor- 
row was  its  colonel;  John  Beatty,  lieutenant-colonel;  J.  Warren 
Keifer,  major.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Eastern  de- 
partment, and  participated  in  the  fight  at  Elkwater  Junction, 
Va.,  September  11,  1861,  in  which  engagement  the  rebel,  Col. 
John  A.  Washington,  was  killed.  Gen.  Lee  was  the  com- 
mander of  the  Confederate  forces  in  this  battle.  On  Novem- 
ber 28th,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Kentucky,  when  Col. 
Morrow  resigned  and  John  Beatty,  of  Columbus,  was  pro- 
moted to  the  colonelcy. 

On  April  7,  1863,  the  Third  was  detached  from  the  army 
proper,  and  in  company  with  the  Fifty-first  and  Seventy-third 
Indiana,    Eightieth  Illinois  and  two   companies  of  the   First 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  125 

Alabama.  This  command  was  under  Col.  A.  D.  Streight,  and 
immediately  started  out  on  what  is  familiarly  known  as 
"Streight's  raid."  The  command  was  first  dispatched  to  de- 
stroy the  Rome  Iron  works,  the  foundries  and  arsenals. 
L,ater  on  the  entire  brigade  was  captured  by  Gen.  Forrest  and 
sent  to  Belle  I->le,  and  from  there  to  Ljbby  prison.  The  of- 
ficers were  held,  but  the  men  were  paroled. 

After  eighteen  months'  confinement  Capt.  Rossman,  with 
a  number  of  other  officers,  made  their  escape  from  the  prison 
through  a  tunnel.  They  were  persued  by  rebel  blood  hounds, 
captured  and  returned  to  Iyibby,  where  they  were  kept  until 
near  the  close  of  the  rebellion.  "Sparta  knew  the  names  of 
the  men  lost  in  the  cause  of  Thermoplyae,"  but  we  will  never 
know  how  many  of  our  noble  defenders  perished  in  rebel 
prison  pens.  After  Capt.  Rossman's  release  from  Ivibby  he 
returned  to  Hamilton,  broken  in  health,  and  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  Hamilton,  July  23,  1866.  He  was  not  an  appli- 
cant for  the  position,  but  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  late 
Col.  L,.  D.  Campbell,  who  recommended  him  to  President 
Johnson,  and  his  name  was  sent  to  the  senate  for  confirmation, 
but  was  not  acted  upon  for  several  months,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  Andrew  Johnson  and  the  senate  were  antagonistic  to  each 
other.  Capt.  Rossman  was  finally  confirmed,  but  alas,  too 
late,  for  he  was  dead. 

L,ong  confinement  and  cruel  treatment  had  done  the  work, 
and  on  July  11,  1867,  at  the  residence  of  Judge  Gilmore,  in 
Eaton,  the  spirit  of  Capt.  Rossman  returned  to  its  maker.  He 
was  a  noble  patriot  and  will  long  be  remembered  as  one  of 
"Our  Honored  Dead." 

John  McKee. — Was  born  in  Kentucky,  February  20, 
1829.  His  parents  emigrated  to  Butler  county  in  1844.  He 
was  married  to  Sarah  J.  Beckett,  daughter  of  Mr.  Robert 
Beckett,  September  24,  1861.  Three  children  were  born 
from   this  union. 

Mr.  McKee  was  reared  on  a  farm,  but  taught  school  for  a 
period  of  six  years,  before  entering  the  army.  He  graduated 
from  Williams  college  in  1855. 


126  Historical  Sketches. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  Mr.  McKee  was 
commissioned  captain  of  Company  K,  Thirty-seventh  Indiana 
volunteers.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  December  31,  1862,  and  was  sent  home  on  a  furlough. 
Afterward,  being  unfit  for  active  duty,  he  resigned,  having 
served  his  country  well  for  two  years.  Capt.  McKee  refused 
to  accept  pay  from  the  time  he  was  wounded  until  his  resig- 
nation was  accepted,  claiming  that  he  was  not  entitled  to  it, 
having  rendered  no  actual  service  during  the  time. 

Capt.  McKee  was  appointed  Postmaster  September  8, 
1873,  and  served  for  eight  years.  At  the  time  he  was  com- 
missioned, he  was  drawing  a  pension,  and  immediately  asked 
for  the  cancellation  of  his  certificate  and  turned  the  money 
that  had  accrued  on  same  into  the  United  States  treasury. 
Here  we  have  a  true  illustration  of  John  McKee's  character, 
moral  excellence  and   conscientiousness. 

John  E.  Heiser  was  Capt.  McKee's  able  assistant,  and 
rendered  the  community  valuable  service. 

Charlks  E.  Giffen  was  born  in  Hamilton,  January 
15,  1843.  He  received  a  liberal  education  in  our  public  schools 
and  elsewhere.  After  leaving  school  he  was  employed  as 
book  keeper  in  the  office  of  J.  S.  &  S.  Giffen,  lumber  mer- 
chants on  Basin  street. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Miss  Celia  Robertson, 
eldest  daughter  of  Isaac  Robertson,  Esq.,  October  10,  1867. 
Two  sons,  Robert  and  Stanley,  were  born  from  this  union. 

Early  in  the  war  Charles  E.  Giffen  enlisted  in  Company 
I,  Fifth  Ohio  cavalry.  He  participated  in  the.  battles  of  Shiloh, 
the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  was  with  the  army  of  the  Tennessee, 
in  all  of  its  engagements  and  marched  with  "Sherman  to  the 
Sea."  After  the  dismissal  of  Capt.  Clem.  Murphy  from  the 
service,  Lieutenant  Charles  H.  Murray  was  promoted  to  the 
office  of  Captain,  and  Charles  E.  Giffen  became  first  lieuten- 
ant. He  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  but  was  well  liked  by  the 
boys  under  him. 

After  his  return  from  the  scenes  of  war  he  embarked  in 
the  lumber  business  on  North  Front  street,  where  he  was  quite 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  127 

successful,  and  continued  in  the  business  until  the  time  of  his 
appointment  as  Postmaster,  January  30,  1882.  In  this  posi- 
tion he  gave  universal  satisfaction.  Mr.  Giffen  died  October 
29,  1889. 

James  W.  Moore  was  Mr.  Giffen's  valuable  Assistant  Post- 
master. 

Ferdinand  Van  Derveer. — [See  Hamilton  in  Civil  War.] 

John  E.  L,ohman,  was  born  in  Hamilton,  May  6,  1854. 
He  is  the  son  of  J.  W.  L,ohman,  who  emigrated  from  Germany 
in  1830,  and  located  in  Hamilton,  where  he  resided  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  John  E.  L,ohman  was  educated  in  our  pub- 
lic schools.  After  leaving  school  he  learned  the  carriage 
trade,  which  he  followed  until  he  took  the  road  for  a  large  well 
known  and  popular  carriage  manufactory  of  the  Queen  City. 
Mr.  Iyohman  was,  for  two  terms,  a  member  of  the  board  of  ed- 
ucation, from  the  First  ward.  He  was  appointed  Postmaster 
of  Hamilton,  December  4,  1886,  and  held  the  office  until 
March  20,  1890,  when  President  Harrison  appointed  D.  H. 
Hensley.  It  was  under  Mr.  Iyohman's  administration  that  the 
delivery  system  was  instituted  in  Hamilton.  Good  organi- 
zation and  thorough  discipline,  made  a  success  of  the  free  deliv- 
ery system,  hence  Mr.  tollman's  popularity  as  a  Postmaster. 
Democrats,  and  Republicans  alike  pronounce  his  first  admin- 
istration a  complete  success.  Assistant  Postmaster  Fred. 
Schorr  rendered  valuable  aid  to  his  superior  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties.  Mr.  L,ohman  was  re-appointed  Postmaster,  June 
l3>  l893-     This  fact  demonstrates  his  popularity. 

He  is  Postmaster  for  the  people;  is  always  endeavoring  to 
afford  better  mail  facilities  for  the  public. 

Henry  Hammerle,  Assistant  Postmaster,  and  Miss  Beppa 
Caldwell  are  his  able  assistants. 

Daniee  H.  Henseey  was  born  in  L,ogansport,  Ind., 
January  10,  1 844,  where  he  received  a  liberal  education.  On 
July  21,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  entered  the  army, 
enlisting  in  Company  H,  Seventy-third  Indiana  volunteers, 
Col.  Gilbert  Hathaway's  regiment,  which  was  in  active  service 
for  three   years,   being  mustered  out  July    1,    1865.     In   the 


128  Historical  Sketches. 

spring  of  1863,  during  the  darkest  hours  of  the  rebellion,  this 
regiment  was  one  .of  four  picked  regiments,  composing  the 
"Independent  Provisional  Brigade,"  under  the  command  of 
the  famous  Col.  A.  D.  Streight.  On  April  7,  1863,  this  brigade 
left  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  under  sealed  orders  for  the 
interior  of  the  Confederacy.  After  a  month's  hard  riding, 
much  of  the  time  day  and  night,  with  frequent  severe  fighting 
the  brigade  was  compelled  to  surrender  to  Major-General 
Forrest  May  3,  1S63,  near  Rome,  Ga.  After  a  short  confinement 
on  Belle  Isle  the  rank  and  file  were  exchanged  and  sent  North. 
The  officers  were  confined  in  L,ibby  Prison,  and  the  brigade 
was  without  a  commander.  The  privates  were  assigned 
to  other  organizations.  Sergeant  Hensley  was  placed  in  the 
Twelfth  Indiana  battery,  serving  until  the  spring  of  1864.  when 
he  was  detached  for  special  service  at  Gen.  Hooker's  headquar- 
ters, then  in  the  Lookout  valley.  A  few  of  the  regimental  officers 
having  escaped  from  L,ibby  through  the  famous  tunnel,  the 
regiment  was  reorganized  in  the  summer  of  1864,  and  Sergeant 
Hensley  rejoined  his  old  command. 

He  located  in  Hamilton  in  1866,  where  he  taught  school 
for  about  one  year.  Alterward  he  removed  to  New  Albany, 
Ind.,  and  followed  the  profession  of  teaching  for  a  short  time. 
He  returned  to  Hamilton  in  1867,  where  he  was  married.  He 
was  Secretary  and  Collector  for  the  Hamilton  Gas  Light  and 
Coke  Co.,  for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  Mr.  Hensley  was 
appointed  Postmaster  March  20,  1890,  and  served  until  June 
!3»  !893,  when  he  was  removed  by  President  Cleveland  and 
John  E.  Lohman  appointed.  As  an  official  Mr.  Hensley  was 
always  painstaking,  courteous  and  accommodating,  thereby 
giving  the  public  excellent  service. 

POSTMASTERS  OF  ROSSVILLE. 
Joseph  Wilson,  Nov.  24,  1S19.  Levi  P.  Richmond,  May  r,  1844. 

Dr.  R.  B.  Millikin,  Sept.  2,  1824.  Joseph  Curtis,  May  29,  1849. 

Jacob  Matthias,  Sept.  21,  1836.  George  Longfellow,  Apr.  14,  1853- 

Sam'l  G.  Sweeney,  March  8,  1837.  Robert  Hargitt,  Dec.  10,  1853* 

Samuel  Millikin,  March  29,    1839. 


*Postoffice  discontinued  April  19,  1855. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  1 29 

Joseph  Wilson,  came  West  from  Newark,  New  Jersey, 
in  1811,  and  located  in  Rossville.  He  carried  on  a  general 
merchandise  store.  The  record  of  this  house,  covering  a 
period  embracing  twenty- five  years,  comprising  a  part  of  the 
history  of  Rossville,  was  one  of  uniform  reliability  and  fairness 
of  dealing,  and  it  enjoyed  a  steady  and  prosperous  trade  and 
a  deservedly  high  place  in  public  confidence. 

Mr.  Wilson's  store  was  an  old  frame  building  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  Main  and  B  streets,  where  the  Rumple 
building  now  stands.  In  18 17  he  married  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Dick,  of  Ross  township,  who  died  in  1846. 

In  1819  he  was  appointed  Postmaster,  serving  until  1824. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife,  in  1829,  he  returned  to  the  East 
where  he  died  in  1859. 

Dr.  Robert  B.  Mileikin,  was  born,  on  December  9, 
1793.  At  the  time  of  the  exodus  of  his  three  brothers  from 
their  home  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1807,  he 
was  only  in  his  fourteenth  year.  He  remained  with  his 
parents  till  the  spring  of  1813,  when  the  spirit  of  emigration 
got  the  mastery,  and  constrained  him  to  follow  the  examples 
of  his  brothers.  Upon  his  arrival  in  Hamilton  he  became  a 
member  of  his  brother's  family,  where  he  resided  until  his 
marriage. 

A  short  time  after  his  arrival  in  Rossville,  he  began  to 
study  such  branches  of  education  as  would  fit  him  for  the 
practice  of  medicine.  The  facilities  for  acquiring  a  good  edu- 
cation were  very  few.  He  availed  himself  of  such  as  existed 
and,  after  a  year's  time,  began  the  study  of  medicine.  The 
year  of  1817  was  full  of  interesting  events  for  Robert  B. 
Millikin.  He  was  licensed  to  practice  his  profession,  like- 
wise he  had  taken  unto  himself  a  wife,  commenced  house- 
keeping  and  opened  an  office. 

Dr.  Millikin  was  married  December  16,  1816,  to  Sarah 
Gray,  who  was  related  to  many  pioneer  families.  They  had 
three  children.  Samuel  Millikin,  the  first  son,  was  born  in 
1 817.  Thomas  Millikin,  a  noted  lawyer  of  this  city,  was  born 
September  28,  1819.     He  married  Mary  VanHook.     Elizabeth 


130  Historical  Sketches. 

Millikin  married  William  A.  Elliott,  son  of  Arthur  W.  Elliott, 
who  died  in  1881. 

After  Dr.  Robert  B.  Millikin  began  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine he  devoted  himself  earnestly  to  his  work.  After  many 
years  practice,  strict  attention  to  all  his  interests  and  the 
acquisition  of  property  gave  him  a  comparatively  independent 
position.  He  conducted  a  drug  store  in  Rossville,  now  the 
First  ward  of  Hamilton.  He  was  general  of  miltia,  a  trustee 
of  Miami  university  and  a  member  of  the  legislature  of  Ohio. 

He  was  appointed  Treasurer  of  the  county  to  fill  the 
vacancy  in  that  office  caused  by  the  defalcation  of  an  ex-treas- 
urer.    Dr.  Millikin  died  June  28,  i860. 

Jacob  Matthias  was  born  October  21,  1802,  at  Win- 
chester, Virginia.  While  young  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  cop- 
persmith and  in  the  fall  of  1827  emigrated  to  Cincinnati, 
remaining  there  a  year.  He  was  married  March  27,  1820,  to 
Emily  W.  Grooms.  Eight  children  resulted  from  this  union. 
When  he  first  came  to  Ohio  he  made  a  journey  to  Rossville  on 
foot,  returning  in  the  same  manner. 

He  and  his  brother  Isaac  came  to  Rossville  in  1828  and 
organized  the  firm  of  I.  and  J.  Matthias,  engaging  in  the  cop- 
persmith business,  later  adding  the  stove  and  tinware   trade. 

Jacob  Matthias  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Matthias, 
Kline  &  Resor,  conducting  a  general  store  in  Rossville. 

Mrs.  Matthias  died  in  1845,  and  on  April  23,  he  married 
Ann  M.  James,  daughter  of  Barton  James,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Hanover  township,  where  he  settled  in  1817.  Jacob  Mat- 
thias was  in  the  state  legislature  in  1837- 1838;  was  a  member 
of  City  Council,  School  Board  and  also  an  Infirmary  Director. 
He  was  an  influential  citizen  and  a  consistant  member  of  the 
Universalist  church.  He  died  August  21,  1877,  at  New 
Paris,  Preble  county. 

Samuel  G.  Sweeney  clerked  in  the  iron  store  of  John 
Winton,  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Main  street,  between  A 
and  B  streets.  Subsequently  he  purchased  the  store  and  was 
appointed  Postmaster,  serving  from  March  2,  1837,  until 
March  29,  1839.     He  was  a  member  of  the  "Butler  Guards,"  a 


H  amilton  and  its  Residents.  1 3 1 

crack  military  company  commanded  by  the  late  Col.  1,.  D. 
Campbell.  Mr.  Sweeney  remained  a  bachelor  during  his  life 
time.  His  business  was  conducted  upon  thorough  and  accu- 
rate methods,  and  the  knowledge  of  the  business  possessed  by 
him  in  dealing,  and  his  fairness  in  all  transactions  commended 
him  in  an  eminent  degree  to  the  favor  and  confidence  of  the 
trade.  No  one  knows  where  he  removed  to,  or  the  date  of 
his  death. 

Samuel  Milxikin  was  born  in  1817.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  private  schools  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville. 
At  the  age  of  25  years  he  married  Miss  Mary  Halsted.  Three 
children  resulted  from  this  union;  Miss  Helen  married  Charles 
M.  Miller  and  Miss  Lizzie  married  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Raynor.  Both  of  his  daughters,  with  their  husbands,  reside 
in  Chicago.  William  H.  Millikin,  his  only  son,  resides  on 
South  Eighth  street  in  this  city.  For  years  Samuel  Millikin, 
from  his  quarry  at  the  south  end  of  C  street,  furnished  all  the 
building  stone  used  in  Hamilton  and  Rossville.  He  was 
appointed  Postmaster  in  1839.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
late  Civil  War,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  26th  O.  V.  I. 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  had  a  good  record 
as  a  soldier.  After  his  return  from  the  scenes  of  carnage,  he 
immigrated  to  Missouri,  and  settled  on  a  farm  about  seventy 
miles  west  of  St.  Joseph.  He  was  Postmaster  from  May  1 , 
1844,  until  May  29,  1849.     He  died  in  1895. 

Levi  P.  Richmond  was  born  January  29,  1805,  in 
Ross  township,  this  county,  and  was  in  his  forty-fifth  year 
when  he  died.  On  December  4,  1823,  he  married  Martha 
Powers  Akers.  Six  children  resulted  from  this  union.  Nearly 
all  his  life  was  spent  where  he  was  born.  From  April  1835, 
until  October,  1841,  he  resided  in  Millville,  when  he 
removed  to  Rossville  where  he  continued  to  reside  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death. 

Joseph  Curtis  was  born  in  Liberty  township  in  18 19, 
on  the  farm  afterward  owned  by  the  late  Hon.  Christopher 
Hughes.  He  attended  the  country  schools  of  his  day  and 
received  as  liberal  an  education  as  was  obtainable  at  that  time. 


132  Historical  Sketches. 

For  several  years  he  and  his  brother,  the  late  Stephen  V. 
Curtis,  were  employed  at  their  father's  distillery.  Subse- 
quently he  opened  a  general  merchandise  store  in  the  town- 
ship of  his  nativity.  He  carried  an  immense  and  diversified 
stock  and  sold  largely  to  the  surrounding  country.  His  ample 
means  and  well  known  business  capacity  made  success  sure  in 
his  new  venture.  In  1846,  he  came  to  Rossville  and  opened  a 
large  dry  goods  store  on  Main  street.  Later  he  sold  out  to  N. 
G.  Curtis.  In  1850,  he  and  Jacob  Shaffer  organized  a  private 
bank  in  the  room  now  occupied  by  Charles  Diefenbach,  as  a 
jewelry  store,  on  High  street,  opposite  the  court  house.  Rus- 
sel  Potter,  of  Memphis,  Tenn. ,  was  admitted  to  the  firm  in 
1857.  Fine,  commodious  quarters  were  fitted  up  for  the 
new  banking  firm  of  Shaffer,  Curtis  &  Potter  in  the  Beckett 
building.  Success  crowned  their  efforts  until  the  national 
banking  system  superceded  the  private  banks.  Joseph  Curtis 
was  Postmaster  from  May  29,  1849,  to  April  14,  1853.  He 
died  September  27,  1885. 

George  Longfellow.  —  The  oldest  son  of  Badgar  Long- 
fellow, was  born  in  St.  Clair  township  on  the  Four  Mile  creek, 
September  12,  1833.  The  farm  is  now  owned  by  John  Betz. 
He  was  educated  in  the  country  schools  and  served,  as  con- 
stable of  St.  Clair  township  several  terms. 

When  war  was  declared  between  the  United  States  and 
Mexico  he  enlisted  in  John  B.  Weller's  company  and  served 
until  its  close.  After  his  return  he  conducted  a  grocery  in  the 
Odd  Fellow  building,  corner  of  Main  and  B  streets.  On  April 
14,  1853,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Rossville.  In  1858 
he  removed  to  Kokomo,  Indiana,  and  engaged  in  a  general 
merchandise  store.  He  died  about  two  years  ago.  Gary 
Longfellow  was  the  Assistant  Postmaster. 

Robert  Hargitt  was  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
and  came  to  this  country,  when  a  boy,  with  his  parents.  They 
settled  in  Lawrenceburg,  Dearborn  county,  Indiana. 

In  1 85 1  he  came  to  Ohio  and  established  the  first  news 
depot  in   Hamilton.     He  was  the  first   mayor  of  the   consoli- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  133 

dated  villages  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville.     He  was  justice  of 
the  peace  for  several  years. 

Of  his  family  of  eight  children  only  two  survive.  A  few 
years  ago  he  was  killed  by  being  run  down  by  a  passenger 
train  at  Cumminsville.  He  was  Mayor  of  the  village  of  Ross- 
ville from  December  10,  1853  to  April  19,  1854,  when  the 
villages  of  Rossville  and  Hamilton  were  united. 

MAYORS  OF  HAMILTON. 

1.  Robert  Hargitt 1855-57  9.  Edward   Hughes 1877-79 

2.  JohnS.  Wiles 1857-59  10.  Frederick  Egry 1879-81 

3.  Ransford  Smith 1859-61  11.  F.  B.  Puthoff 1881-83 

4.  Daniel  Longfellow 1861-66  12.  D.  B.  Sanders 1883-87 

5.  A.  C.  Stephenson 1866-71  13.  Alex.   Getz 1887-89 

6.  M.  N.  Maginnis 1871-73  14.  John  Dirk 1889-91 

7.  J.  B.  Lawder 1873-75  15-  L-  M.  Larsh 1891-93 

8.  M.  N.  Maginnis  1875-77  16.  Charles  S.  Bosch 1893-97 

After  the  union  of  the  two  villages  of  Hamilton  and  Ross- 
ville, under  the  name  of  Hamilton,  the  Mayor's  court  was  first 
held  in  the  Second  ward  engine  house — the  building  is  now 
occupied  by  James  Everson  for  livery  stable  purposes.  Subse- 
quently it  was  removed  to  the  I^oher  building,  two  doors  west 
of  the  jail;  thence  to  the  L,ohman  block,  and  lastly  to  the  old 
"Hamilton  and  Rossville  Academy"  building,  its  present  loca- 
tion. 

Wonderful  changes  have  been  wrought  in  these  forty-two 
years.  It  is  sad  to  contemplate  the  fact  that  a  once  famous 
institution  of  learning  has  been  turned  into  a  prison  vile. 

Robert  Hargitt.     [See  Postmasters  of  Rossville.] 

John  S.  Wiles  was  born  in  Lebanon,  January  29,  1802. 
He  learned  the  smith  trade  in  the  town  of  his  birth,  and  fol- 
lowed it  for  a  number  of  years.  Subsequently  he  removed  to 
Black  Bottom,  where  he  taught  district  schools.  He  came  to 
Hamilton  in  1836,  taught  school  and  served  several  terms  as 
constable,  marshal,  justice  of  the  peace  and  trustee  of  the 
poor. 

In  1857,  he  was  elected  Mayor,  serving  until  April,  1859, 


l34  Historical  Sketches. 

when  Ransford  Smith  succeeded  him.  In  the  sixties  he  was 
again  elected  constable. 

In  the  twilight  of  life  he  was  an  active  and  enthusiastic 
worker  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  being  a  member  of  Hamil- 
ton Temple  of  Honor  No.  17.  On  this  subject  he  was  a 
fluent  talker  and  ready  debater. 

Mayor  Wiles  was  a  man  far  above  the  average  in  ability. 
He  discharged  his  official  duties  without  fear  or  favor.  He 
died  January  22,  1874. 

Ransford  Smith  was  born  in  Oxford  township  in  1834. 
He  was  graduated  from  old  Miami  in  the  class  of  1855.  While 
attending  college  he  studied  law  with  his  father,  W.  H.  Smith. 
In  1855-56  he  taught  school  in  the  "old  church  building"  in 
the  First  ward.  In  1857  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and 
opened  an  office  on  the  East  side.  On  April  4,  1859,  he  was 
elected  Mayor,  defeating  Edward  Dalton,  the  Democratic 
nominee.  Sectarianism  entered  into  this  contest  to  a  consider- 
able degree,  as  the  Catholic  clergy  were  opposed  to  the  text 
books  used  and  the  reading  of  King  James'  version  of  the  Bible 
in  the  schools. 

In  August,  1 86 1,  he  enlisted  in  Company  "B,"  Thirty- 
fifth  regiment,  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  commissioned  first  lieuten- 
ant. He  was  afterward  promoted  to  the  captaincy,  and 
resigned  in  1864.  Upon  his  return  from  the  army  he  resumed 
the  practice  of  law  in  Hamilton  and  Cincinnati.  In  the  latter 
city  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Governor  Thomas  Young 
and  Samuel  Crawford  and  took  up  his  residence  at  Riverside, 
where  he  remained  until  1878.  In  1879  he  removed  to  Ogden, 
Utah,  where  he  was  successful  as  a  lawyer. 

He  was  a  territorial  delegate  to  the  Chicago  National  con- 
vention of  1884  that  nominated  Cleveland  for  president.  He 
died  in  1895. 

Daniel  Longfellow  was  born  in  1834,  on  the  home- 
stead farm  in  St.  Clair  township  on  the  old  Eaton  road.  In 
1853  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Deleplane  and  immediately 
thereafter  moved  to  Rossville  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  135 

ness  in  the   Chatman   property,  on  the   corner  of   Main   and 
D  streets. 

He  was  an  enthusiastic  working  member  of  the  old  Nep- 
tune Volunteer  Fire  company  on  the  West  side. 

He  was  constable  of  St.  Clair  township  four  years.  In 
1 86 1,  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Hamilton,  serving  two  full  and 
a  part  of  the  third  term.       He  died  May  25,  1866. 

A.  C.  Stephenson  —  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Reading,  Hamilton  county,  December  10,  1826;  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools;  followed  farming  and  school 
teaching  from  1849  until  the  fall  of  1854,  when  he  came  to 
Hamilton.  His  first  employment  here  was  in  the  capacity  of 
book  keeper  for  the  Hamilton  Distilling  Company,  operated  by 
Robert  McAdams  and  James  Beatty.  In  1858,  he  engaged  in 
the  brewing  business  on  Canal  street.  In  1864,  he  was  a 
partner  in  the  Hamilton  Distilling  Company  composed  of  D. 
W.  Brant,  Major  A.  A.  Phillips  and  Peter  Schwab.  He  was 
book  keeper  for  Murphy,  Stillwaugh  &  Ruoff.  He  was  deputy 
sheriff  under  Colonel  A.  A.  Phillips  until  Alf  Reese's  election. 
He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  Fairfield  township  and 
the  East  Side  in  1863  and  served  until  June,  1866,  when  he 
was  appointed  by  council,  Mayor  pro  tern,  to  fill  out  the  unex- 
pired term  of  Daniel  Longfellow,  who  died  May  twenty- 
fifth  of  the  same  year.  In  April,  1867,  he  was  elected  Mayor, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1869. 

On  December  13,  1877,  he  was  chosen  justice  of  the  peace 
and  served  continuously  until  December  27,  1893. 

During  his  entire  official  term  he  had  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  the  bar.  His  decisions  were  fair  and  impartial,  as 
he  had,  in  all  these  years,  but  few  cases  reversed  in  the  higher 
court.     He  is  justice  of  the  peace  at  present. 

M.  N.  Maginnis  was  born  near  Frederick  City  Mary- 
land. He  received  a  liberal  education  in  Eastern  colleges,  and 
came  West.  He  studied  law  with  Governor  John  W.  Steven- 
son, of  Kentucky,  and  Judge  James  Clark,  of  Hamilton.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  Butler  county  bar  in  1861,  and  was 
actively  engaged  in  the  profession  for  ten  years. 


1 36  Historical  Sketches. 

He  was  a  disciple  of  John  C.  Calhoun,  and  ably  defended 
nullification.  He  was  noted  for  the  courage  and  ability  with 
which  he  expressed  his  convictions. 

On  August  3,  1861,  the  Democratic  party  held  a  conven- 
tion in  the  court  house.  The  Civil  War  had  many  oppon- 
ents in  Butler  county.  Mr.  Maginnis  was  the  leader  of  this 
convention.  He  introduced  the  following  resolutions,  which 
we  take  from  the  Telegraph,  of  August  8,  1861: 

Whereas,  the  "Bill  of  Rights'1  of  Ohio  affirms  that  "all  political 
power"  (or  sovereignty)  "is  inherent  in  the  people"  of  each  state  respect, 
ively;  and  that  they  have  the  right  to  alter,  reform  or  abolish  their  govern- 
ment whenever  they  may  deem  it  necessary";  and 

Whereas,  "Governments  are  instituted  among  men  deriving  their  just 
powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed;"  and 

Whereas,  the  coercion  of  a  state  to  endure  a  form  of  government  obnox- 
ious to  its  people  unsettles  the  whole  theory  of  the  independence  of  the 
"United  States  of  America;"  and 

Whereas,  the  people  of  eleven  States  have  refused  to  acknowledge  the 
authority  of  the  Constitution,  or  permit  the  execution  of  laws  made  in  pursu- 
ance thereof  within  their  boundaries,  having  deliberately  revoked  the  dele- 
gated powers  heretofore  exercised  by  their  trustee,  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment; and 

Whereas,  an  immense  army  has  been  raised  for  the  avowed  purpose  of 
compelling  the  people  of  several  States  to  recognize  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  as  their  supreme  law  and  irrevocable  act;  and 

Whereas,  by  the  act  of  the  president  of  the  United  States,  instigated 
thereto  by  the  irrepressible  fanatics,  a  furious  internecine  war  exists,  which 
has  aroused  every  latent  animosity,  and  which  promises  to  increase  and 
intensify  every  prejudice  in  the  minds  of  the  people  of  the  contending  states; 
and 

Whereas,  the  Democracy  of  the  state  of  Ohio  are  called  upon  to  make 
preparation  to  resume  the  reins  of  government  which  the  bastard  "Phae- 
tons" of  Abolitionism  have  so  unskillfully  handled,  and  to  endeavor  to  restore 
peace  to  their  distracted   country,  therefore: 

Resolved,  i.  That  the  Democracy  of  Butler  County  in  Convention 
assembled,  declared  as  the  result  of  their  deliberate  judgment,  that  a  war  for 
forcing  upon  the  sovereign  people  of  a  State,  even  the  best  form  of  govern- 
ment, is  neither  wise,  just,  Constitutional,  nor  practicable;  that  we  solemnly 
protest  against  its  further  continuance  for  so  fatuous  a  purpose,  demand  a 
Peaceable  adjustment  of  all  controversy  existing  between  the  United  and 
Confederate  States,  and  insist  upon  the  immediate  appointment  of  Commis- 
sioners by  our  own  Government  to  hear  and  report  such  proposals  on  amity 
as  the  Commissioners  of  the  Confederated  States  may  be  instructed  to  offer. 

Resolved,  2.  That  the  president  of  the  United  States  in  exercising  the 
executive,   legislative,   and  judicial  powers  of  the  government,  by  declaring 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  137 

war,  raising  armies,  providing  navies,  establishing  blockades,  expending 
money  without  appropriation  by  law,  suspending  the  privilege  of  the  writ  of 
habeas  corpus;  proclaiming  martial  law,  increasing  the  regular  army  and 
navy,  and  by  authorizing  subaltern  military  officers  to  prescribe  special 
regulations  for  the  military  service,  imprison  citizens  at  their  discretion,  and 
disregard  the  mandate  of  a  co-ordinate  branch  of  the  government,  has  seri- 
ously jeopardized  the  rights  of  these  states;  has  flagitiously  violated  the  con- 
stitution; has  made  his  will  and  not  that  instrument,  the  measure  of  power, 
has  invoked  the  condemnation  of  every  patriot,  and  deserves  impeachment, 
for  his  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors. 

Resolved,  3.  That  the  incapacity  of  the  party  which  has  clambered  to 
power  over  the  fragments  of  a  nation  is  made  glaringly  apparent,  when  the 
Republican  Congress  has  no  rebuke  to  offer  for  its  violated  privilages,  when 
it  fails  to  perform  its  Constitutional  duty,  in  calling  the  culpable  Executive 
to  a  rigid  account,  when  with  eager  sycophancy  it  votes  one-fourth  more  men 
and  money  than  the  President  demanded,  or  the  emergency  required,  and 
when  with  unequalled  folly  it  attempts  to  patch  a  broken  Constitution  with 
such  worthless  rags  as  retroactive  laws. 

*  *  *  *  * 

Resolved,  4.  That  treason  against  the  United  States  consists  only  of 
overt  acts  of  levying  war  against  the  same,  or  in  adhering  to  the  enemies, 
giving  them  aid  and  comfort,  that  "every  citizen  may  freely  speak,  write  and 
publish  his  sentiments  on  all  subjects;"  and  that  no  one  can  be  justly  stig- 
matized as  a  traitor  for  the  honest  exercise  of  that  privilege. 

A  minority  report  was  submitted  by  Judge  James  Clark. 
It  was  moved  to  adopt  the  majority  report.  The  motion  was 
vigorously  assailed  by  the  leaders  of  the  minority,  Thomas 
Millikin  and  Robert  Christy,  and  ably  defended  by  M.  N. 
Maginnis,  author  of  the  preamble  and  resolutions,  and  Hon. 
Christopher  Hughes.  The  motion  to  adopt  the  majority 
report  prevailed. 

The  convention  adjourned  with  three  cheers  for  "Val- 
landingham    and    Maginnis. ' ' 

Dr.  John  P.  P.  Peck,  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Telegraph, 
refused  to  publish  the  Maginnis  "Bastard  Phaeton"  resolutions 
and  the  True  Telegraph  was  established,  which  name  was 
afterward  changed  to  the  Butler  County  Democrat. 

At  the  October  election  in  1861,  the  larger  portion  of  the 
Democratic  county  ticket  was  defeated,  owing  to  the  adoption 
of  the  Maginnis  resolutions. 

In  1876  he   examined   the   commissioners  detailed  state- 


138  Historical  Sketches. 

ment,  and  severely  criticised  the  board   for  careless,    extrava- 
gant and  unlawful  expenditures. 

In  1 87 1  he  was  elected  Mayor.  Hamilton  had  been  for  a 
long  time  terrorized  by  the  criminal  classes  and  the  people  of 
the  city  without  distinction  of  party,  elevated  him  to  the 
Mayorality.  He  was  re-elected  in  1875,  and  during  his  second 
term,  procured  the  passage  of  an  act  by  the  legislature,  estab- 
lishing a  police  force  in  Hamilton.  He  thorough^  suppressed 
crime  and  lawlessness  during  his  administrations.  He  is  now 
located  in  San  Francisco,  California. 

J.  B.  Lawdkr  was  born  near  Piqua,  Miami  county,  Ohio, 
in  1820.  He  received  his  education  in  the  country  schools  of 
his  native  county.  He  became  a  resident  of  Hamilton  in  1864, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  insurance  business.  In  1873  he  was 
elected  Mayor.  His  first  official  act  was  to  issue  a  proclama- 
tion closing  the  saloons  on  Sunday.  The  order  was  acquiesced 
in  for  a  time,  but  later  the  saloons  were  opened  and  the 
Mayor  defied.  Numerous  arrests  were  made  but  no  one  was 
convicted,  so  the  proclamation  ordering  the  saloons  closed  was 
a  dead  letter.  Rev.  William  H.  Lewder  was  chief  clerk  to  the 
Mayor.  During  his  term  of  office  the  ever  memorable  cru- 
sade was  organized  and  begun  its  work.  Mayor  I^awder 
endeavored  to  treat  both  sides  fairly,  but  was  powerless  to  pro- 
tect the  women  from  insults,  as  the  city  was  under  the  control 
of  a  marshal  and  three  deputies.  Afterward  a  number  of 
special  policemen  were  employed,  and  thereafter  the  crusaders 
were  protected.  He  sold  out  his  property  interests  in  our  city 
at  the  end  of  his  official  term  and  moved  to  New  Paris,  Preble 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  about  ten  years  ago  from  the 
effects  of  a  cancer. 

Edward  Hughes  was  born  in  Symmes  Corner,  June  25, 
1848.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Hamilton, 
and  in  1873  entered  Bartlett's  Commercial  college,  of  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  received  a  thorough  business  training.  After 
graduation  he  immediately  entered  upon  his  chosen  pro- 
fession as  book  keeper  for  Hunter  &  Brant  in  the  old  mill  at 
the  east    end  of  the    suspension     bridge.     In    turn    he  was 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  l39 

employed  by  William  Murphy  on  the  West  side;  Kinsinger  & 
L'Hommedieu,  at  Canal  mills,  and  by  John  W.  Sohn.  In 
1874,  he  married  Miss  Clara  B.  Mars.  Six  children  have 
resulted  from  this  union — three  girls  and  three  boys.  In  1877 
he  was  elected  Mayor,  defeating  M.  N.  Maginnis  who  stood 
for  re-election.  He  was  Governor  Campbell's  executive  clerk 
and  has  been  in  his  employ  for  the  last  ten  years. 

Frederick  Egry  was  born  in  Germany,  November  14, 
1840.  In  1852,  he  emigrated  to  America,  locating  at  Dayton, 
Ohio.  He  learned  the  art  of  printing  in  the  Journal  office, 
then  edited  and  owned  by  Richard  and  WTilliam  Comley.  In 
1857,  ne  edited,  and,  as  a  printer,  did  the  composition  on  the 
first  German  daily  newspaper  published  in  the  Gem  City.  In 
1859,  he  came  to  Hamilton  and  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
Shildwache.  On  October  24,  1861,  Egry  &  Williams  purchased 
the  Hamilton  Telegraph  from  Dr.  John  P.  P.  Peck.  This  paper 
espoused  the  Union  cause  and  refused  to  publish  Maginnis' 
secession  resolutions.  The  Telegraph  subsequently  absorbed 
the  Hamilton  Intelligencer.  The  larger  portion  of  the  Butler 
county  Democracy  were  of  the  Calhoun  stripe ;  opposed  the 
war  and  set  up  a  new  journal,  the  Hamilton  True  Telegraph, 
September  26,  1861.  Mr.  Egry  was  owner  of  the  Telegraph 
until  December  17,  1879,  when  he  sold  out  to  C.  M.  Campbell. 
He  was  elected  Mayor  in  1879,  and  his  administration  was  one 
of  good  order.  He  has  been  elected  councilman  from  the 
Second  ward  for  a  number  of  terms.  He  is  engaged  in  the 
insurance  business  which  is  large  and  profitable.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics. 

Frederick  B.  Puthoff  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  April 
20,  1843.  He  received  his  education  in  a  boarding  school  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  and  St.  Xavier  college,  Cincinnati.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  he  tried  to  enlist,  but  on 
account  of  his  age  was  rejected.  He  did  not  receive  the 
refusal  with  resignation.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  the  Second 
Ohio  cavalry  and  served  until  the  end  of  the  war.  After  his 
return  from  the  army  he  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  in 
Cincinnati  Ohio,  and  St.  I^ouis,    Mo.      In  1870,  he  purchased 


140  Historical  Sketches. 

a  stock  of  goods  and  opened  a  hat  store  on  Main  street,  in  West 
Hamilton.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  council  from  the  First 
ward  in  1878.  During  the  term  of  office  he  made  a  vigorous 
and  successful  effort  for  sewerage  and  public  improvements 
generally.  He  took  an  active  part  in  cutting  off  the  canal 
basin.  In  18S1,  he  was  nominated  for  Mayor  and  was  trium- 
phantly elected,  receiving  the  largest  majority  ever  given  in 
the  city.  His  opponent  was  the  popular  M.  N.  Maginnis. 
After  serving  two  years  he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business 
and  has  directed  his  efforts  toward  the  raising  of  the  build- 
ings on  Main  street  in  West  Hamilton.  This  was  brought 
about  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Puthoff,  and  is  a 
standing  monument  to  his  energy.  He  with  his  wife  and  four 
children  reside  at  2 1 1  South  Third  street.  One  married  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  B.  H.  Connell,  lives  in  Cincinnati. 

D.  B.  Sanders  was  born  in  Guilford  county,  North  Car- 
roliua,  in  18 19.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  walked  from  his 
birth  place  to  Richmond,  Indiana,  where  his  mother  resided. 
Here  he  was  "bound  out"  to  a  Mr.  Holman,  who  treated  him 
badly,  and  he  ran  away.  In  March,  1830,  barefooted,  he 
walked  from  Richmond  to  Oxford,  where  Joseph  Stafford,  his 
cousin  resided.  Here  he  learned  the  smith  trade  with  Frank 
Davis.  In  1844,  he  came  to  Hamilton  and  entered  the  employ 
of  Philip  Berry,  at  the  corner  of  Basin  and  Reily  streets.  In 
1848,  at  the  head  of  the  basin,  he  opened  a  restaurant  on  a 
small  scale  and  begun  the  manufacture  of  cigars.  At  that 
time  the  basin  extended  to  Smith  street,  in  the  rear  of  Dr. 
Markt's  drug  store.  In  this  locality  fighting  was  a  favorite 
pastime  and  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  three  or  four 
encounters  to  take  place  during  a  single  day. 

Subsequently  he  removed  to  No.  17  Third  street,  in  the 
property  now  occupied  by  C.  A.  Stroble  and  continued  in  busi- 
ness at  this  location  for  upwards  of  thirty  years.  There  was  a 
time  when  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  Hamilton  knew  the 
genial  "Brook  Sanders."  He  had  a  kind  word  and  pleasant 
smile  for  every  one.     He  began  on  a  capital  of  $25.00,  but  by 


JOHN  DIRK 


%*1 


L.  M.  LARSH  CHARLES  S.  BOSCH 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  141 

close  application  to  business  and  gentlemanly  treatment 
amassed  a  competence  in  a  few  years.  He  was  Mayor  of 
Hamilton  from  1883  to  1887,  and  his  administration  was  a 
creditable  one.  He  resides  in  a  fine  residence  on  Dayton 
street.  In  the  twilight  of  life  he  is  the  same  " Brook  Sanders" 
as  of  old.  He  is  prominent  in  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Canton  of  Patriarchs  Militant  of  this  city  was  named  after 
him. 

Alexander  Getz  was  born  on  the  ship  Havre,  at  sea, 
December  21,  1846.  He  received  his  education  at  St. 
Stephen's  Catholic  school  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  began 
clerking  in  a  general  store.  In  1865,  he  went  into  business 
for  himself,  selling  out  in  1873.  He  was  elected  recorder  in 
1878,  and  was  again  re-elected  in  1881.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Catherine  Beck,  April  13,  1869.  Five 
children  resulted  from  the  union.  Mr.  Getz  was  elected 
Mayor  in  1887. 

John  Dirk  was  born  in  Rossville,  February  5,  1848.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  for  a  number  of  years,  afterward 
serving  an  apprenticeship  at  the  Boston  bakery.  On  August 
12,  1863,  ne  enlisted  in  the  Second  Ohio  Heavy  Artillery, 
serving  until  the  close  of  the  Civil  War.  He  was  elected  con- 
stable in  1867  and  served  continuously  until  1879,  when  he 
was  elected  marshal,  and  served  as  chief  of  police.  He 
declined  a  re-election  and  embarked  in  the  pump  business  on 
the  West  Side  in  which  he  was  very  successful.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  city  council  from  1876  to  1879  and  was  presi- 
dent of  the  body  in  1 888- 1 889.  To  him  belongs  the  credit  of 
first  agitating  the  idea  of  the  city  owing  its  gas  works.  He 
was  elected  Mayor  in  1889.  His  administration  was  noted  for 
good  order.  In  August  1892,  he  was  appointed  by  Gover- 
nor McKinley  a  member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the 
Ohio  penitentiary,  which  position  he  retained  up  to  his  death. 

L,.  M.  I^arsh  was  born  in  Preble  county,  near  Eaton, 
February  9,  1851.  He  received  a  liberal  education  at  Antioch 
college,  Yellow  Springs,  and   Miami   university,    of   Oxford, 


142  Historical  Sketches. 

Ohio.  He  followed  farming  for  a  number  of  years,  previous  to 
1S74,  when  he  became  a  resident  of  our  city.  In  1874-75  he 
was  employed  on  the  Big  Four  railroad.  In  the  latter  part  of 
1875  he  entered  the  employ  of  D.  M.  Kennedy  &  Company  of 
the  Hamilton  Boat  line,  and  remained  with  them  until  1891, 
when  he  was  elected  Chief  Magistrate  of  this  city.  Mayor 
Larsh's  administration  will  be  remembered  in  our  local  history 
as  an  able,  fair  and  liberal  one.  He  is  not  a  recluse;  is  easily 
approached  and  is  popular  with  the  masses.  As  a  rule  official 
perferment  unfits  a  man  for  future  business.  Not  so  with 
Mayor  L,arsh.  In  May  1893,  he  and  Walter  Sherer  organized 
The  Sherer  Milling  Company,  and  began  soliciting  orders  and 
delivering  flour.  Subsequently  Mr.  Sherer  retired,  the  style 
of  the  business  was  changed  to  the  Ft.  Hamilton  Milling  Co., 
and  as  such  it  is  now  conducted  by  Mr.  L,arsh.  He  believes 
in  honest  labor  and  is  not  ashamed  to  perform  it.  He  is  a  3 2d 
degree  Mason,  a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  a  member  of  the  Elks 
and  is  held  in  high  regard  in  secret  society  circles. 

Charles  S.  Bosch,  the  Chief  Executive  of  Hamilton, 
was  born  in  Butler  county,  July  11,  1858.  At  the  age  of 
eleven  years  his  parents  moved  to  Hamilton,  when  he  entered 
the  public  schools,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age.  In  1872,  he  decided  to  learn  the  profession  of 
printing,  and  entered  the  offices  of  the  Butler  County  Demo- 
crat and  National  Zeitung  under  the  management  of  T.  H. 
Hodder  and  h.  B.  De  La  Court.  A  short  time  afterward  he 
went  into  the  cigar  business  and  subsequently  accepted  a  posi- 
tion as  depot  master  with  the  C. ,  H.  &  D.  railroad. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  from  the 
Fourth  ward  for  four  years,  and  was  clerk  of  the  board  during 
his  last  term.  In  April,  1893,  he  was  nominated  for  Mayor  on 
the  independent  ticket.  With  three  candidates  in  the  field  he 
was  elected  by  a  plurality  of  186.  Mayor  Bosch  is  thoroughly 
identified  with  the  prosperity  and  growth  of  our  city,  and  is 
personally  popular.  He  always  takes  a  prominent  part  in 
politics. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  143 

THE  MIAMI  BRIDGE. 

In  the  early  days  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville,  the  only 
means  of  crossing  the  Miami  river  was  by  ferries,  brush  dams 
and  fording. 

In  1804,  Michael  Delorac,  the  proprietor  of  an  Inn  in 
Rossville  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Front  and  North  streets, 
operated  a  ferry,  landing  at  the  foot  of  Dayton  street  near  the 
Torrenee  and  Murray  taverns.  About  the  same  time  Tolbert's 
ferry  plied  the  river  from  the  east  end  of  Main  in  Rossville,  to 
High  street  in  Hamilton. 

One  bright  fall  day  when  the  Delorac  ferry  was  crossing 
the  river  from  the  East  side,  two  little  tots  were  aboard  bound 
for  the  "Hickory  Flats"  which  extended  from  the  old  Eaton 
road  one  mile  west  along  the  Oxford  pike.  When  midway  of 
the  stream,  the  collector  begun  taking  fare  and  found  these 
children  with  no  money  to  pay  their  transportation.  The  ferry 
was  ordered  to  return  to  the  East  side  for  the  purpose  of  eject- 
ing them.  Mr.  Delorac  commanded  the  ferryman  to  come  on 
and  "never  to  charge  a  widow  or  her  children."  The  tots 
were  Jane  and  William  McMechan.  ^Jane,  after  she  grew  to 
womanhood  married  Hon.  Jesse  Corwin. 

The  ferries  were  discontinued  in  18 19,  when  the  bridge 
was  completed.  Subsequently  a  brush  dam  was  constructed 
across  the  river  a  short  distance  north  of  town  to  avoid  paying 
toll  over  the  bridge. 

The  Miami  bridge  was  built  by  an  act  of  the  legislature 
authorizing  Joseph  Hough,  James  McBride,  John  Sutherland, 
Joseph  Wilson,  John  Hall,  Samuel  Dick,  Isaac  Falconer, 
Samuel  Millikin,  Thomas  C.  Kelsey,  William  Murray,  Pierson 
Say  re,  Robert  Taylor,  William  Riddle,  Thomas  Blair  and 
Michael  Delorac,  to  erect  a  toll  bridge  over  the  Miami  river, 
between  the  towns  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville,  in  the  county  of 
Butler.     This  act  was  passed  February  20,   1816. 

In  November,  18 17,  books  for  the  subscription  of  stock 
were  opened,  under  the  superintendence  of  Joseph  Hough, 
Thomas  Blair,  John  Hall  and  James  McBride.  No  person  was 
permitted    to  subscribe   without  paying  an  installment   of   five 


144  Historical  Sketches. 

dollars  on  the  share  at  the  time  of  subscribing.  Daily  reports 
were  made  to  the  president.  In  a  few  days  three  hundred  and 
forty-five  shares,  more  than  half  the  stock  authorized,  was 
subscribed.  On  Saturday  November  24,  1817,  the  subscrip- 
tion books  were  closed.  The  managers  then  advertised  for  an 
election  to  be  held  at  Murray's  tavern,  Saturday,  December 
27.  At  this  election  John  Reily,  Samuel  Dick,  John  Suther- 
land, Joseph  Hough,  John  Hall,  Joseph  Wilson  and  James 
McBride,  were  elected  directors. 

The  directors  met  at  the  house  of  William  Murray,  Tues- 
day, November  30,  and  appointed  John  Reily,  president  and 
James  McBride,  secretary.  The  following  advertisement  was 
published  in  The  Hamilton  Miami  Herald  and  The  Cincinnati 
Western  Spy. 

Notice.— The  president  and  directors  of  the  Miami  Bridge  Company, 
will  receive  proposals  (with  models  or  plans  accompanying  the  same)  for 
building  a  bridge  over  the  Miami  river,  between  the  towns  of  Hamilton  and 
Rossville,  until  the  second  Saturday  in  March. 

The  contract  was  awarded  to  Nathan  S.  Hunt  at  $17,000, 
March  23,  18 18.  The  bridge  was  to  be  completed  September 
7,  1819. 

The  science  of  bridge  building  was  but  little  known  at 
this  time  in  the  Western  country.  There  was  but  one  bridge 
in  the 'state,  and  that  was  over  the  Scioto  river  at    Chillicothe. 

During  the  summer  of  18 18,  stone  was  procured  and  the 
abutments  and  middle  pier  were  erected.  In  the  summer  of 
18 19  the  frame  work  was  raised  and  the  wood  work  progressed 
finely.  The  summer  and  fall  of  1819  were  the  most  unhealthy 
ever  known  in  Hamilton  and  Rossville.  Mr.  Hunt,  the  con- 
tractor, died  early  in  September.  However,  Ira  Hunt  and 
Duran  Whittlesy,  the  executors  of  Hunt,  who  were  his  sureties 
for  the  performance  of  the  work — in  conjunction  with  the 
directors — carried  on  the  work.  The  floor  was  laid  in  the  fall 
of  1 819.  In  December  the  bridge  was  opened  for  the  passage 
of  travelers.  During  the  winter  the  bridge  was  enclosed,  and 
in  the  spring  following,  the  roof  was  put  on.  Travel  was  con- 
tinued during  the  time. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  145 

The  original  contract  price  for  building  the  bridge  was 
$17,000;  but  in  a  settlement  made  by  the  directors  with  the 
executors  of  the  contractor,  November  26,  1821,  it  was  agreed 
that  the  sum  $1,756.25  should  be  deducted  for  deficiencies  and 
work  not  performed,  which  was  required  by  the  contract. 

Extras  were  allowed  outside  the  contract  which  made  the 
total  cost  of  the  bridge  $25,194.84. 

The  records  show  the  bridge  paid  for  itself  every  five 
years 

The  whole  length  of  the  bridge  under  roof  was  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty  feet.  It  had  two  carriage  ways  each  twelve 
feet  wide  in  the  clear  and  two  foot  passages  on  the  outside  of  the 
ribs  or  segments  of  the  arches,  each  five  feet  in  the  clear, 
making  the  whole  width  of  the  bridge  thirty-eight  feet  wide. 
It  was  enclosed  with  weather  boards  and  had  seventeen 
windows  on  each  side,  with  Venetian  blinds  to  each.  All  of 
the  windows,  except  the  one  at  the  north  middle  pier  were 
closed,  after  the  wife  of  Sheriff  Samuel  H.  Millikin,  committed 
suicide  by  jumping  from  one  of  them. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  toll-gatherers:  Jonathan  Beal, 
Dec.  29,  1819;  William  Phares,  July  7,  1825;  Thomas  Phares, 
Sept.  1,  1825;  Robert  Hewes,  April  1,  1826;  Dayton  Low,  Oct. 
5.  1831 ;  Richard  Easton,  April  6,  1833;  Pierson  Sayre,  April, 
1,  1835;  Lawrence  Smith,  April  1,  1847;  Isaac  Whistler, 
George  Totten,  William  Elliott,  Asa  Burch  and  Thomas 
Sterrett. 

Below  will  be  found  a  list  of  treasurers  of  the  Miami 
Bridge  Company:  Thomas  Blair,  Joseph  Hough,  Joseph 
Landis,  John  Winton,  John  S.  Gordon,  Mordicai  M.  Saunders, 
George  R.  Bigham,  John  M.  Millikin  and  James  Rossman. 

In  1829  the  wring  walls  were  taken  down  to  the  foundation 
and  rebuilt  with  a  better  quality  of  stone. 

In  February  1832,  an  extraordinary  high  flood  occurred  in 
the  Miami  river,  which  loosened  and  washed  out  some  of  the 
stone  in  the  eastern  abutment,  and  much  endangering  that  end 
of  the  bridge,  requiring  it  to  be  supported  on  trussels.  During 
the  summer  and  fall  the  abutments  were  torn  down  and  rebuilt 


146  Historical  Sketches. 

in  a  substantial  manner.  The  bridge  was  re-shingled  in  1837. 
A  high  flood  during  the  same  year  greatly  damaged  the  bridge 
and  it  was  thoroughly  repaired.  Moses  Connor  and  Peter 
Myers  performed  the  work. 

In  the  flood  of  September,  1866,  that  devastated  Southern 
Ohio  and  Indiana,  Hamilton  did  not  escape  the  general  dam- 
age to  public  and  private  property. 

The  rain  which  had  been  steadily  and  powerfully  falling  for 
ten  days  previous,  culuminated  on  Monday,  Tuesday  and 
Wednesday  in  a  general  down  pouring  of  the  elements  that 
presaged  disaster.  Some,  at  the  time,  were  pleased  to  style  it 
our  equinoctial  storm,  but  to  us  who  remember  it  distinctly, 
it  seemed  to  be  the  same  old  rain  that  had  been  with  us  for  lo! 
these  many  days. 

It  certainly  poured  on  Monday  and  Tuesday  nights.  The 
Miami  begun  to  rise  majestically  at  first,  but  as  the  tributaries 
fed  it  its  rage  became  lairly  terrific.  During  all  day  and 
night  of  Wednesday  and  Thursday  its  banks  were  lined  with 
a  curious  and  awe-struck  crowd  watching  the  floating  drift- 
wood, fences,  barns  and  even  houses.  At  its  highest  point 
Thursday  it  was  eighteen  inches  above  the  higher  water 
mark  of  1847,  the  year  known  as  the  great  flood. 

By  daylight  on  Thursday  it  became  evident  that  the  old 
bridge  wis  to  hive  a  ssvarer  test  than  it  had  ever  before  met 
with,  but  others  believed  it  would  outweather  the  flood.  Per- 
haps it  might  have  done  so,  but  at  10  o'clock  a  mammoth  Syca- 
more tree  on  the  Delorac  island,  fell  and  came  tumbling  down 
the  river,  and  diving  about  half-way  underneath,  struck  the 
piling  that  encircled  the  pier  and  came  up  with  a  terrible 
force  through  the  south  side  of  the  west  span,  tearing  a  large 
hole  in  the  structure.  Still,  however,  it  hung  together,  but  at 
11  o'clock  p.  m.  another  giant  tree  struck  the  pier,  and  the 
old  bridge  fell  from  its  ancient  mooring  and  launched  forth  for 
a  voyage  by  water.  It  has  been  asserted  by  James  McBride 
that  the  middle  pier  was  of  solid  masonry,  bid  suc/i  was  not  the 
case.  It  was  hollow  to  a  depth  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet. 
Captain  Phillip  Rothenbush,  Andrew  Gressle,  Jacob  Huffman, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  147 

Charles  Falconer,  Charles  Huffman  and  the  writer  have 
explored  on  many  an  occasion  "The  hole  in  the  middle  pier!" 

There  are  but  two  remaining  relics  of  the  old  bridge — the 
memorial  tablet,  which  is  imbedded  in  the  wing  wall  of  the 
new  bridge  and  the  original  seal  of  the  Miami  Bridge  Com- 
pany, now  owned  by  Miss  Anderson,  of  Venice. 

Jacob  Stillwaugh  witnessed  the  passage  of  a  drove  of 
sheep  over  the  bridge,  but  instead  of  keeping  in  the  road 
they  jumped  over  the  southeast  approach  and  fell  on  a  shed, 
then  rolled  off  on  the  sand  bank. 

It  was  no  un frequent  occurrence  to  see  a  drove  of  turkeys 
cross  the  bridge — some  of  them  at  night  fall.  It  was  amusing 
to  see  a  number  of  them  make  a  roost  on  the  bridge  arches. 
The  drivers  would  continue  on  their  trip,  paying  no  attention 
to  the  missing  ones.  Next  morning  the  "boys"  would  be  out 
at  day  break  catching  turkeys. 

We  make  the  following  beautiful  and  touching  extract 
from  Mrs.  Laura  B.  Palmer's  (nee  Creighton)  contribution  to 
the  Centennial  Souvenir.  It  was  assigned  a  place  following 
the  advertisements;  it  should  have  received  a  more  prominent 
position. 

"The  old  wooden  bridge  is  gone,  and  with  it  many  a  pleasant  reminis- 
cence. Far  be  it  from  me  to  stay  the  hand  of  Progress;  for  you  who  have, 
for  so  many  years,  viewed  its  weather  stained  sides,  and  traversed  its  dust 
covered  floors,  I  can  conceive  how,  with  feelings  of  pride,  you  saw  the  old 
structure  replaced  by  the  new.     But  ah!   quite  sadly  do  I  lament  its  going." 

"Oft  has  memory  recalled  the  dear  old  town,  and  dwelt  long  and  lovingly 
o'er  the  picture,  and  ever  in  the  panoramic  view  was  the  wooden  bridge.  On 
one  side  of  its  entrance,  the  toll-gatekeeper  sitting  astride  a  chair,  resting 
his  head  upon  its  back;  on  the  other,  the  old  mill,  with  its  busy  wheel  ever 
dashing  the  pacific  waters  of  the  Great  Miami  into  angry,  turbulent  waves, 
that  in  my  mind  rivaled  in  grandure  the  great  Niagara  Falls." 

"Surely  lovers  sigh,  as  they  recall  the  quiet  walks  within  its  walls,  secure 
from  the  eyes  and  ears  of  the  multitude;  and  the  laborer,  as  he  thinks  of  its 
kindly  shelter  from  the  ruder  elements  without.  I  had  thought  sometime  in 
the  future  I  would  stroll  through  its  familiar  aisles,  and  listen  to  the 
measured  tread  of  horses'  feet,  as  their  owners,  obeying  the  injunction  of  the 
ordinance,  guided  them  slowly  through,  and,  for  the  once,  be  a  child  again, 
hurrying  with  a  band  of  lighthearted  girls  over  to  school;  for  hark!  the  mel- 
low tones  of  the  dear  old  town  clock,  even  now,  strike  the  hour." 

"But,  on  the  wings  of  Time,  come  to  me  tales  that  the  old  Court  House, 
too,  is  gone;  and  that  hushed  is  the  tongue  of  the  dear  old  bell,  whose  musical 


148  Historical  Sketches. 


cadences  for  years  so  faithfully  proclaimed  the  hour.  The  old  Court  House, 
so  big  with  events  of  historic  interest;  so  big  with  memories  of  forensic 
triumphs;  the  witness  of  human  victories  and  defeats.  Who  does  not  recall 
the  old  chamber,  where  gifted  minds  met  in  peaceful  encounters  and  won 
victories  more  renowned  than  those  of  war?  Gone — and  a  new  edifice  has 
arisen  from  the  ashes  of  the  old;  but  is  it  in  the  emerald  setting  that 
surrounded  the  old  structure,  and  do  the  honeysuckles  and  sweet  syringas 
still  send  forth  rich  aromas  from  their  shady  corners  into  the  dusty  streets?" 
"Yes;  one  by  one  the  old  landmarks  that  identified  the  past  with  the 
present,  are  drifting  away." 

THE    PONTOON    AND    FOOT    BRIDGE. 

After  the  old  bridge  was  gone  Henry  Woods  — an  old 
time  lake  sailor — built  a  pontoon  bridge.  In  a  short  time  he 
had  it  in  operation  at  the  foot  of  Ross  street.  It  met  the 
exigencies  of  the  times  and  proved  a  financial  success. 

James  Rossman  and  others  constructed  a  wire  foot  bridge 
over  the  river  on  the  former  site  of  the  Miami  Bridge.  It  was 
operated  about  a  year  and  yielded  a  handsome  revenue  to  its 
projectors.  Samuel  Shaffer  and  George  Knox  were  toll  col- 
lectors. It  was  taken  down  after  the  completion  of  the  sus- 
pension bridge  and  sent  to  Richmond,  Indiana. 

THE  JUNCTION  RAILROAD  BRIDGE. 
[From  the  Hamilton  Intelligencer,  December  24,  1853.] 
"It  will  be  seen  by  the  following  communication  that  we  are  to  have  a 
free  bridge  over  the  river  connecting  the  southern  portion  of  Hamilton  and 
Rossville,  if  the  proposition  of  the  Junction  Railroad  company  meets  with 
encouragement.  We  believe  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  making  satisfac- 
tory arrangements  which  will  secure  this  important  improvement.  We  are 
for  removing  all  restrictions  upon  the  business  and  intercourse  between  the 
East  and  West  sides  of  the  river.  The  West  ward  will  have  its  railroad 
depots  and  the  Central  High  school  of  the  city,  while  the  East  side  will  pro- 
bably have  the  citjr  buildings,  in  a  location  where  they  will  be  equally  acces- 
sable  from  all  parts  of  the  city.  The  East  and  West  sides  on  the  north  and 
south  will  be  connected  by  the  new  bridges,  while  Main  street  on  the  west 
and  High  on  the  east  will  be  united  by  the  present  bridge,  which  will  no 
doubt  be  purchased  by  the  county,  with  the  aid  of  the  city.  We  congratulate 
our  citizens  upon  the  prospect  that  is  opening  before  them.  By  united 
action  the  permanent  improvements  of  the  next  year  on  each  side  of  the 
river  will  far  exceed  even  our  most  sanguine  expectations." 

[The  new  bridge  at  the  north  end  of  town  referred  to  in 
the  above  article  was  the  Four  Mile  Valley  Railroad  bridge, 
which  was  to  have  been  built  from  the  foot  of  North  street  on 
the  west  side  to  Dayton  street  on  the  east  side.     The  road  was 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  149 

to  follow  the  hydraulic  on  Water  street  to  Market;  thence  east 
on  Market  to  Fourth  to  the  C,  H.  &  D.  railroad.  John  Woods 
addressed  the  following  communication  to  the  town  council  of 
Hamilton,  through  the  Intelligencer.} 

Hamilton,  Ohio,  November  19,  1853. 
Gentlemen:  —  I  understand  the  subject  of  annexation,  or  consolida- 
tion of  Hamilton  and  Rossville,  is  under  consideration  by  you  and  as  it  may 
have  some  bearing,  on  the  question,  I  deem  it  proper  to  say,  that  it  is  possi- 
ble on  the  part  of  the  Junction  Railroad  Company  to  make  their  bridge  over 
the  river  free  for  the  passage  of  wagons,  carriages  and  travel  generally,  if 
the  right  of  way  shall  be  granted  by  the  town  of  Hamilton,  and  it  shall  meet 
with  the  proper  encouragement  and  aid  of  the  citizens  of  Hamilton  and 
Rossville.  Very  respectfully,  John  Woods. 

The  bridge  and  acqueduct  were  built  in   1857-58.     During 
the  progress  of  the  work  a  section  fell  carrying   two  men  with 
it.     One  was  killed  and  Peter  Connaughton    seriously  injured. 
THE  COLUMBIA  BRIDGE. 

Is  a  frame  structure,  south  of  the  Junction  railroad  bridge. 
It  was  used  to  a  considerable  extent  during  the  building  of 
the  suspension  bridge.     It  has  fallen  into  disuse. 

THE  SUSPENSION    BRIDGE. 

February  12,  1867,  the  County  Commissioners,  consist- 
ing of  W.  W.  Caldwell,  William  H.  Miller  and  David  Marts, 
took  up  the  subject  of  awarding  the  contract  for  building  a 
bridge  over  the  Miami  river  in  the  city  of  Hamilton,  and  after 
mature  deliberation,  decided  to  build  an  Iron  Wire  Suspension 
Bridge,  and  awarded  the  contract  to  Gray,  Morse  &  Young,  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  at  their  bid  of  $85,000,  in  case  the  Council 
of  the  city  of  Hamilton  complied  with  the  requirements  of  the 
County  Commissioners.  The  Auditor  was  directed  to  notify 
Gray,  Morse  &  Young  to  meet  them  on  February  20,  1867, 
to  enter  into  the  bond  and  contract. 

THE  BDACK  STREET  BRIDGE. 

July  15,  1893,  was  the  day  appointed,  by  advertising,  to 
receive  bids  for  the  Black  Street  bridge.  The  bidders  were 
given  ten  minutes  to  explain  their  plans  and  specifications, 
after  which  the  plans  were  laid  over  until  July  16,  1892,  for 
further  consideration.     On  July  18,  t  he  Board  of  Commission- 


1  So  Historical  Sketches. 

ers  considered  the  plans  for  the  Black  Street  bridge  as  sub- 
mitted by  the  various  bidders.  After  a  satisfactory  examina- 
tion the  following  resolution    was  offered  by  Mr.  Berk: 

Resolved,  That  we  award  the  contract  for  the  superstructure  of  the  Black 
Street  bridge  in  Hamilton,  to  the  Toledo  Bridge  company  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  at 
their  bid  of  $25,990,  and  that  the  Prosecuting  Attorney  is  authorized  and 
directed  to  prepare  a  contract  for  same,  between  the  board  and  the  said 
Toledo  Bridge  company. 

THE    NEW    HIGH    AND    MAIN    STREET    BRIDGE. 

The  new  high  truss  bridge  that  spans  the  Miami  river  at 
High  and  Main  streets  is  a  triumph  of  modern  engineering  and 
is  the  most  substantial  bridge  in  the  United  States.  It  was 
built  in  1894-95,  at  a  cost  of  about  $109,000. 

THE  PRESS. 

Hamilton  was  not  as  fortunate  as  Dayton,  Lebanon  and 
Xenia,  —  towns  of  less  population  —  which  had  newspapers, 
as  early  as  1803.  The  first  printing  office  opened  in  Hamil- 
ton and  the  first  paper  issued  was  the  Miami  Intelligencer,  on 
June  22,  18 14.  It  was  located  in  an  old  log  house  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Dayton  and  Water  streets.  Colby,  Bonnell  &  Co.,  were 
the  publishers.  James  McBride  owned  the  press  and  type. 
The  publication  of  the  Intelligencer  was  continued  under  dif- 
ferent managements  until  October  5,  1819,  when  it  was  pur- 
chased by  James  B.  Cameron  and  John  L,.  Murray.  On 
November  11,  1821,  James  B.  Cameron  became  sole  editor  and 
proprietor.  The  publication  office  was  removed  from  the 
corner  of  Reily  and  High  streets  to  the  building  in  which 
Thomas  S.  Myers  was  assasinated  in  1870. 

In  June,  1827,  James  B.  Cameron  began  the  publication 
of  a  radical  Jackson  paper,  the  Western  Telegraph,  with 
Taylor  Webster  as  editor.  In  August,  1828,  the  publication 
of  the  Intelligencer  was  resumed.  Dr.  John  C.  Dunlevy  was 
installed  as  editor. 

John  Woods  became  the  sole  owner  of  the  bitelligencer  in 
March,  1829.  He  sold  a  half  interest  to  M.  B.  Sargeant  his 
law  partner.  On  June  21,  1831,  Mr.  Woods  became  sole  pub- 
lisher, when  D.  D.  Campbell,  who  had  learned  the  art  of  print- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  1 5 1 

ing  on  the  Cincinnati  Gazette  came  to  the  bitelligencer  office 
as  a  printer.  John  Woods  retired  from  the  paper  November 
io,  1832,  and  on  the  17th  of  the  same  month  L,.  D.  Campbell 
was  announced  as  editor.  He  was  editor,  compositor  and 
proof  reader  combined.  In  1834,  Iy.  B.  Gibbons  and  D.  B. 
Gardner  assisted  him  as  publishers.  Mr.  Gardner  retired 
November  12,  1835,  and  Mr.  Gibbons,  May  12,  1836,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Isaac  M.  Walters.  In  November,  1838,  Mr. 
Campbell  retired,  as  he  had  studied  law  in  the  mean  time  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  On  February  27,  1840,  William  C. 
Howells  purchased  the  paper  and  became  editor  and  publisher. 
He  was  a  man  of  marked  ability,  and  gave  his  readers  an 
excellent  journal.  He  sold  out  November  16,  1848,  to  Charles 
&  Boardman.  On  May  17,  1849,  J.  W.  McBeth  purchased  Mr 
Charles'  interest  and  the  firm  was  styled  McBeth  &  Boardman. 
D.  W.  Halsey  succeeded  to  Boardman's  interest,  April  24,  1851. 
The  paper  was  published  by  Halsey  &  McBeth  until  February 
15,  1855,  when  McBeth  disposed  of  his  interest  to  Mr.  Halsey, 
who  owned  the  paper  until  1857,  when  he  died.  Minor  Milli- 
kin  and  D.  W.  McClung  purchased  it  from  his  executors. 
Jacob  Morris,  of  Lebanon,  purchased  the  Intelligencer  from 
Mr.  Millikin,  June  30,  1859.  He  associated  William  Bunston 
with  him  as  joint  owner.  In  May,  1862,  Williams  &  Egry 
purchased  the  paper  and  merged  it  in  the   Telegraph. 

The  Western  Telegraph  was  published  by  James  B. 
Cameron  and  Taylor  Webster  in  1827.  On  March  11,  1831, 
the  name  was  changed  to  the  Hamilton  Telegraph.  This 
paper  was  issued  in  Rossville.  *  October  28,  1836,  the  paper 
suspended  On  November  18,  of  this  year  its  publication  was 
resumed  by  Franklin  Stokes.     John  B.  Weller  was  its  editor. 

In  November,  1839,  the  publication  office  was  changed  to 
Hamilton.  November  18,  1847,  Ryan  &  Witherby  were  its 
publishers;  O.  S.  Witherby  and  Rev.  N.  M.  Gaylord  editors. 
In  1847,  Michael  C.  Ryan  assumed  editorial  charge  of  the 
paper.  Ferdinand  Van  Derveer  was  editor  in  1849,  and 
Charles  I,.  Weller,  in  1851. 


1 52  Historical  Sketches. 

William  R,  Kinder,  November  n,  1852,  purchased  the 
paper  aud  made  radical  changes  in  its  publication.  He  con- 
tinued as  editor  and  proprietor  until  June  13,  1854,  when  the 
Telegraph  was  purchased  by  Charles  I.  Barker  and  James 
McCormick.  On  November  8,  1855,  A.  A.  Phillips  bought 
Barker's  interest.  He  sold  out  to  Daniel  R.  Empson  in  April, 
1856.  On  September  3,  1857,  James  K.  Webster  purchased 
the  paper,  and  owned  and  controlled  it  until  1861,  when  John 
McElwee  and  John  P.  P.  Peck  purchased  it.  Dr.  McElwee 
retired  from  the  paper  in  August,  1861,  and  established  anew 
journal  entitled,  the  True  Telegraph.  It  was  printed  from  the 
Oxford  Union  type.  Its  first  issue  was  dated  September  26, 
1 86 1.  At  this  date  Hamilton  had  three  papers,  the  Telegraph, 
True  Telegraph  and  Intelligencer.  On  October  31,  1867, 
Frank  H.  Scobey  became  part  proprietor  of  the  Telegraph,  sell- 
ing out  after  a  year's  time.  In  October,  1868,  Fred.  Egry 
again  became  the  owner  of  the  paper.  On  December  17,  187Q, 
he  sold  out  to  C.  M.  Campbell. 

Stephen  Crane  and  E.  E.  Palmer  were  editors  and  proprie- 
tors of  the  True  Telegraph  from  April  23,  1863,  to  July  21, 
1864,  when  the  paper  was  sold  to  the  True  Telegraph  Com- 
pany, and  John  McElwee  was  installed  as  editor.  He  served 
until  February  23,  1865,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  John  A. 
Cockerill.  On  October  26,  1865,  the  Cockerill  Brothers 
became  sole  owners  of  the  paper  and  so  remained  until  July  2, 
1868,  when  it  was  purchased  by  J.  H.  Long.  Colonel  H.  H. 
Robinson  edited  the  paper.  On  January  13,  1870,  John  R. 
Nickel  and  L-  B.  De  La  Court  purchased  the  True  Telegraph 
and  changed  its  name  to  the  Butler  County  Democrat.  Dr. 
Nickel  retired  from  the  paper  May  11,  1871.  L.  B.  De  La 
Court,  December  21,  1873,  s°ld  the  Democrat  to  Thomas  H. 
Hodder,  of  Marion,  Ohio.  The  firm  of  R.  N.  Andrews  &  Co. 
purchased  the  paper  April  15,  1875.  J.  W.  Short  was  editor. 
Later  in  the  year  James  P.  Caldwell  edited  the  paper  for  three 
months.  On  December  2,  1875,  Harry  C.  Hume  was  installed 
as  editor.  Subsequently  Daniel  J.  Callen,  of  Celina,  Ohio, 
came  into  the  possession  of  the  Democrat.     He  became   finan 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  1 53 

daily  embarrassed  and  the  paper  was  placed  in  the  hands  of 
N.  K.  Warwick,  receiver.  By  order  of  the  Court  Mr.  Warwick 
edited  and  continued  its  publication  until  February,  1877. 
Soon  afterward  the  establishment  was  sold  to  Byron  K.  Brant. 
He  sold  out  to  the  Democrat  Printing  company,  composed  of 
Christian  Benninghofen,  W.  M.  Dingfelder,  F.  W.  Whitaker, 
George  W.  St.  Clair  and  Christian  Pabst.  John  K.  Aydelotte 
edited  the  paper  up  to  the  time  of  his  sad  and  melancholy 
death  in  the  press  room.  The  vacancy  was  filled  by  Homer 
Gard,  who  placed  the  paper  on  the  top  wave  of  success 

Murray's  Weekly  Volunteer  was  commenced  in  April, 
1821.     It  suspended  in  December,  1825. 

Rev.  David  McDill  began  the  publication  of  the  Chris- 
tian Intelligencer  in  1829.  It  was  published  in  pamphlet  form 
of  forty-eight  pages,  and  was  devoted  to  the  defense  of  the 
Associated  Reformed  Church  doctrines.  In  1874,  it  was 
called  the  United  Presbyterian.  In  1837,  Dr.  McDill  removed 
West,  and  Rev.  James  Claybaugh  succeeded  him.  The 
journal  is  still  published  in  Pittsburgh. 

The  Ohio  Independent  Press  was  commenced  in  Rossville 
in  1839,  by  James  B.  Cameron.  It  was  afterward  published 
by  Cameron,  Hutchins  &  Co.,  until  1832,  when  its  publication 
was  discontinued. 

The  Hamilton  Free  Soil  Banner  was  issued  August  2 1 , 
1848.  It  was  published  and  edited  by  the  following  commit- 
tee: John  W.  Wilson,  Alfred  Thomas,  John  W.  Erwin,  M.  C. 
McMaken,  John  R.  Dewis  and  Henry  S.  Earheart.  Harrison 
C.  Bird,  of  Rossville,  and  John  Elliott,  Hamilton,  were  pub- 
lishing committee;  John  C.  Skinner,  treasurer. 

James  H.  Green  and  A.  L.  Sewell,  two  practical  printers 
published  the  Daily  Press  in  Rossville,  May,   1851. 

Wilson  H.  Daymon,  in  January,  1850,  begun  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Miami  Democrat  in  Rossville.  He  retired  from 
the  paper  September  9,  1851.  He  was  auditor  of  Butler 
county  for  two  terms. 

The  Butler  County  Investigator  was  published  in  Ross- 
ville, September  20,  1849,  by  J.  M.  Christy. 


1 54  Historical  Sketches. 

The  Herald  of  Education  was  issued  in  Rossville  from  the 
Christy  office  in  the  Kennedy  building  on  Main  street,  in 
1853-54,  by  J-  P-  Ellenwood,  who  was  superintendent  of  the 
Rossville  schools  at  the  time. 

The  Tri- weekly  Advertiser  was  published  March  14, 
1867,  by  Jacob  H.  L,ong.  The  paper  was  afterward  merged 
into  the  Independent.  Mr.  Long  subsequently  disposed  of  his 
interests  to  Dr.  J.  R.  Brown,  Samuel  L/Hommedieu,  and  W. 
H.  Beardsley.  The  paper  was  edited  by  Colonel  H.  H. 
Robinson,  and  was  printed  until  1874. 

The  Examiner  was  begun  in  1874,  by  the  Hamilton  Print- 
ing Company,  and  was  conducted  thus  until  October  of  that 
year,  when  it  was  sold  out  to  the  Guidon,  and  became  merged 
into  that  paper.  It  was  edited  at  first  by  Thomas  A.  Cor- 
coran, of  Cincinnati. 

The  Guidon  was  started  August  26,  1874,  by  Dr.  John 
McElwee.  It  established  a  reputation  at  once  for  ability.  Its 
proprietor  associated  with  him  J.  J.  McMaken.  In  May,  1875, 
McElwee  &  McMaken  sold  out  to  the  Butler  County  Demo- 
crat. 

July  17,  1876,  S.  D.  Cone  and  Colonel  P.  H.  Gallagher, 
formerly  of  Charleston,  West  Virginia,  and  who  was  Mr.  Cal- 
len's  business  manager  of  the  Democrat,  began  publishing  the 
Sunday  Morning  News.  S.  D.  Cone,  was  the  originator  of  the 
venture,  in  the  belief  that  a  Sunday  paper  issued  at  an  early 
hour,  before  the  arrival  of  the  Cincinnati  trains,  could  acquire 
a  large  and  profitable  circulation,  and  in  a  great  measure  sup- 
plant the  Cincinnati  dailies.  With  that  view,  special  tele- 
graphic dispatches  were  engaged,  by  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
line,  from  all  important  points — the  first  attempt  at  newspaper 
special  telegraphing  ever  made  in  Hamilton.  The  News  ran 
its  career  in  a  little  less  than  five  months,  and  was  highly 
appreciated.  It  came  to  an  end  through  the  business  troubles 
of  the  Democrat,  and  not  through  lack  of  support. 

The  Orcus  was  originated  in  1878,  by  S.  D.  Cone,  who 
published  and  edited  it  for  about  six  months;  it  then  being  pur- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  1 5  5 

chased  by  Eou  J.  Beauchamp  and    Robert  S.  Carr,    and    after- 
ward bought  by  B.  R.  Finch  and  N.  E.  Warwick. 

The  Schildwache  was  established  in  May,  1859,  by  F.  E. 
Humbach  and  J.  P.  Bruck.  It  was  edited  by  John  P.  Dietz, 
of  Dayton.  In  November,  1862,  Captain  Bruck  sold  out  to 
Peter  Milders;  Professor  August  Goering  became  editor.  In 
1863  Milders  disposed  of  the  paper  to  Robert  Christy.  Esq., 
now  a  prominent  practicing  attorney  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
who  immediately  sold  it  to  J.  H.  Eong,  the  latter  publishing  it 
as  the  Butler  County  Democrat,  for  a  short  time,  in  connection 
with  E-  B.  DelaCourt.  In  1863,  the  German  Democrats  of 
Butler  County  manifested  a  desire  to  start  a  new  German 
Democratic  newspaper.  The  project  was  carried  out  by  a 
called  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  stock  company. 
Christian  Morgenthaler  was  elected  president;  Adolph 
Schmidt,  secretary;  and  January  Getz,  treasurer  of  the  com- 
pany. The  meeting  resolved  to  publish  a  German  newspaper 
and  elected  E.  B.  De  Ea  Court  editor  and  business  manager. 
On  the  fourth  day  of  July,  1864,  the  first  number  of  the 
National  Zeitung  was  published.  A  few  years  later  the  paper 
passed  into  the  sole  possession  of  E-  B.  De  Ea  Court.  The  paper 
has  been  published  ever  since  without  interruption,  and  is  at 
present  the  only  German  newspaper  published  in  Butler  county. 

The  Daily  News  was  founded  December  22,  1879.  Prior 
to  this  journalism  in  Hamilton  had  undergone  many  muta- 
tions, and  in  many  instances  fantastic. 

The.  Daily  Press,  in  Rossville,  in  May,  1851,  the  Guidon, 
the  Sunday  Morning  News,  the  Gooroo,  the  Orcus  had  come 
and  lived  their  brief  day  over.  There  was  a  rich  field  here  for 
a  daily  newspaper,  with  courage,  capital  and  capacity  back  of 
it.  No  confidence  existed  in  the  success  of  a  daily;  failure  was 
predicted  on  every  hand.  Charles  M.  Campbell  purchased  the 
Telegraph  of  Frederick  Egry.  He  was  a  young  collegiate  and 
brilliant  newspaper  man,  who  came  here  from  Washington, 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  born  in  Middletown,  Gurnsey  county, 
Ohio,  January  1,  1852;  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
his  native  town;  afterward  was  a  student  at  Cornell  university, 


156  Historical  Sketches. 

at  Ithaca,  New  York  and  the  University  of  Wooster,  Ohio. 
Subsequently  he  learned  the  art  of  printing,  and  became  a  half 
owner  of  the  Cambridge,  Ohio,  News,  and  later,  the  Washing- 
ton, Pennsylvania,  Observer.  He  knew,  thoroughly,  every 
detail  of  the  business;  was  a  good  newspaper  man  in  every 
respect;  was  brilliant  in  the  sanctum;  was  a  close  student  and 
mastered  every  subject  he  ever  undertook.  For  a  short  time 
the  Daily  News  encountered  considerable  obstacles,  but  all 
were  bravely  overcome.  Albert  Dix  assumed  the  business 
management  of  the  paper  at  the  beginning,  and  remained  with 
it  until  October,  1896.  Much  credit  is  attached  to  his  manage- 
ment. 

The  paper's  first  city  editor  was  the  late  Frank  H.  Scobey, 
who  was  succeeded  by  Fred  L,.  Rosemond,  now  an  attorney  at 
Cambridge,  Ohio.  The  original  reportorial  staff  was  Thomas 
Moore,  Jr.,  Frank  I.  Whitehead  and  L,.  J.  Beauchamp.  On 
July  1,  1888,  Mr.  Campbell  sold  the  plant  to  a  joint  stock 
company.  The  consideration  was  valuable.  He  continued  as 
editor  for  a  short  time  alter  he  sold  out,  when  Thomas  J. 
McMurray,  of  Lynn,  Mass. ,  was  called  to  the  editorial  chair. 
His  connection  with  the  paper  was  but  transient..  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  J.  M.  Downey,  who  retired  from  the  paper  in 
January,  1896.  Immediately  thereafter  Thomas  Moore,  Jr., 
an  able  newspaper  man,  was  made  managing  editor,  remaining 
in  the  position  until  June  15,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Homer  Gard,  a  former  editor  of  the  Daily  Democrat.  In 
everything  that  appertains  to  journalism  he  is  thorough,  and 
he  is  issuing  a  live,  up-to-date  paper.  Charles  H.  Zwick  is 
business  manager.  He  has  excellent  qualifications  for  the 
position,  having  been  one  of  Hamilton's  active  and  energetic 
business  men  for  years.  L,eRoy  Hensley  ably  assists  Mr. 
Zwick  in  the  management  of  the  paper.  Thomas  Moore,  Jr., 
is  city  editor  and  J.  S.  McNeely,  reporter.  Its  stockholders 
are  C.  H.  Zwick,  D.  H.  Hensley,  E.  G.  Ruder  and  L,eRoy 
Hensley. 

The  Daily  Democrat  was  established  December  20,  1886, 
by  J.  K.  Aydelotte  and  T.  Fy.  Crider,  under  the  firm  name   of 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  157 

Aydelotte  &  Co.,  with  J.  K.  Adyelotte  as  editor  and  F.  W. 
Whitaker,  business  manager.  S.  V.  Hull  was  the  first  reporter 
on  the  paper.  Later  Frank  I.  Whitehead  and  Frank  E.  Hume 
were  on  the  reportorial  staff.  J.  K.  Aydelotte  was  killed  in 
the  press  room,  by  becoming  entangled  in  the  shafting,  Thurs- 
day, January  22,  1891.  From  this  date  Homer  Gard  and 
Frank  I.  Whitehead  were  engaged  on  the  Democrat  up  to 
May  1,  1 89 1,  when  Mr.  Gard  became  managing  editor  and 
Frank  E.  Brandt  city  editor.  On  April  13,  1893,  Clayton  A. 
Leiter  was  made  city  editor,  vice  Frank  E.  Brandt,  resigned, 
which  position  he  still  retains  He  is  a  hustling  and  energetic 
newspaper  man.  In  September,  1894.  the  Democrat  was  sold 
to  a  syndicate,  Homer  Gard  continuing  as  editor  until  Janu- 
ary 1,  1895,  when  S.  E.  Rose  was  installed  editor  and  business 
manager.  He  retired  from  the  paper  September  1,  1895,  to 
accept  the  office  of  Superintendent  of  the  Hamilton  Public 
Schools.  He  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  M.  Boyd,  with  Sloane 
Gordon  as  assistant.  On  June  1,  1896,  Charles  Alf.  Williams 
and  Tom  T.  Williams  purchased  a  controlling  interest  in  the 
Democrat  and  immediately  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  their 
duties.  Charles  Alf.  Williams  is  editor,  president  and  general 
manager  and  Tom  T.  Williams  business  manager.  Previous 
to  coming  here  Mr.  Charles  Alf.  Williams  was  editor-in-chief 
of  the  Cincinnati  Commercial  Gazette.  As  a  writer  he  is  a 
man  of  great  force  and  issues  a  paper  that  is  popular  with  the 
people.  Covering  a  period  of  seven  years  the  familiar  counte- 
nance of  George  Holdefer  has  been  observed  in  the  Democrat 
counting  room.     He  is  the  right  man  in  the  right  place. 

The  Daily  and  Weekly  Republican  owe  their  inception  to 
the  unanimous  passage  of  the  following  resolution  by  the 
Republicans  of  Butler  County,  in  mass  convention,  held  in 
Hamilton,  April  13,   1892: 

"We  recognize  the  right  of  the  4,500  Republican  voters  of  Butler  county 
to  be  represented  by  a  Republican  organ  to  be  published  in  the  county  seat 
and  we  deny  the  right  of  any  private  interest  to  stand  in  the  way  of  their 
just  demand.  We  pledge  ourselves  and  the  Republican  voters  of  Butler 
county  to  the  support  of  such  an  organ  to  be  established  in  this  city,  which 
shall  be  devoted  not  to  the  political  fortunes  of  any  individual,   but   to  the 


1 58  Historical  Sketches. 

advocacy  of  Republican  principles  and  the  promotion  of  Republican 
success." 

The  Republican  Publishing  Co.,  was  incorporated  under  the 
laws  of  Ohio,  May  4,  1892,  for  the  purpose  of  publishing  a 
daily  and  weekly  newspaper.  The  following  are  the  names 
of  its  incorporators:  John  M.  Long,  W.  S.  Osborn,  E.  B. 
Rogers,  Alex.  Gordon,  George  T.  Reiss,  John  C.  Slayback  and 
Israel  Williams.  The  capital  stock  of  the  corporation  is 
$30,000,  divided  into  three  hundred  shares,  of  one  hundred 
dollars  each. 

Colonel  Alexander  Gordon  secured  the  required  amount 
of  stock  to  enable  the  company  to  begin  operation. 

The  following  are  the  original  shareholders:  Hamilton  — 
E.  B.  Rogers,  R.  C.  McKinney,    E.  M.  Larsh,   John  M.    Eong, 

C.  E.  Heiser,  Charles  I.  Keely,  George  T.  Reiss,  J.  M.  Eong, 
J  C.  Hooven,  Israel  Williams,  Nelson  Williams,  R.  M.  Elliott, 
M.  Mosler,  C.  Markt,  W.  E.  Tobey,  Harry  C.  Blum,  W.  S. 
Osborn,  Alex.  Gordon,  J.  C.  Slayback,  Isaac  J.  Graham,  O.  V. 
Parrish,  Joseph  Eong,  William  S.  Giffen,  H.  E.  Morey,  C.  E. 
Macbeth,  Peter  G.  Thomson,  Daniel  Kennedy,  J.  W.  Clements, 

D.  H.  Hensley,  George  C.  Skinner,  Bern  Wolf,  D.  E.  Sheehan, 
George  Sohngen,  Joseph  E-  Blair,  E.  G.  Rathbone.  Mid- 
dletown — Charles  E.  Barnett,  R.  W.  Wilson,  Isaac  Hale. 
Oxford— S.  C.  Richey,  J.  E.  Chatten,  W.  J.  Rusk,  C.  A.  Shera. 

The  first  issue  of  the  Daily  Republican  appeared  July  19, 
1892.  The  staff  at  that  time  was  W.  S.  Osborn,  general  man- 
ager; W.  E-  Tobey,  editor;  E.  K.  Beeks,  city  editor;  Elmer  S. 
Haines,  reporter;  O.  H.  Williams,  manager  of  circulation;  Rex 
Gossin,  advertising  manager. 

W.  S.  Osborn  resigned  March  25,  1893.  He  was  succeeded 
by  A.  F.  Sloane,  who  retired  December  18,  1893.  At  this 
date  the  position  of  general  manager  was  abolished  and  a  new 
office  created  of  managing  editor,  to  which  position  W.  E. 
Tobey  was  elected.  An  executive  committee  oi  two  directors 
were  chosen,  who  with  Mr.  Tobey  have  conducted  the  plant 
ever  since.  Nelson  Williams  and  John  C.  Slayback  served  on 
this   committee    for  one  year.     The  present   members   of  the 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  159 

committee  are  Nelson  Williams  and  O.  V.  Parrish.  City 
editor  E.  K.  Beeks,  resigned  in  April,  1893,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Frank  E.  Brandt,  who  resigned  September  1,  1896.  Perle  P. 
Sheehan  succeeded  E.  C.  Haines.  Mr.  Sheehan  retired  in 
September,  1894,  to  enter  Union  college.  Martin  Seward  suc- 
ceeded him,  but  retired  from  the  paper  in  September,  1895,  to 
attend  Cornell  university.  Thomas  D.  Temple  served  for 
several  months  and  Carl  Greer  succeeded  him,  and  upon  his 
promotion  to  city  editor,  T.  D.  Temple  succeeded  Carl  Greer. 
As  a  journalist,  Mr.  Tobey  has  been  very  successful  in 
the  management  of  the  Republican.  He  is  a  clear  and  forcible 
writer.  His  kind  and  benevolent  disposition,  his  presence  and 
social  ways  are  a  pleasure  to  his  friends. 

COLONEL  MINOR  MILLKIN. 

The  war  of  the  Rebellion  is  over  and  its  results  are 
acquiesced  in.  The  unity  of  the  states,  the  sovereignty  of  the 
national  government,  universal  freedom  and  universal  political 
equality,  are  facts  which  the  stern  arbitrament  of  arms  has  so 
firmly  established  as  to  place  them  forever  beyond  dispute. 
The  resort  to  arms  quelled  the  rebellion  and  forever  quieted 
the  issue  and  differences  to  which  that  rebellion  gave  rise.  The 
remembrances,  however,  engendered  by  the  war,  will  live 
throughout  all  time,  for  when  the  actual  participants  have  been 
mustered  out  of  life  and  stepped  over  the  dark  border  line  that 
separates  them  from  the  great  and  silent  majority,  the  fame  of 
their  heroic  deeds  will  be  perpetuated  in  the  memory  of  their 
children,  in  the  living  pages  of  a  deathless  history  and  in  the 
monuments  and  stately  tombs  which  affection  and  a  grateful 
country  have  reared  commemorative  of  their  lives  It  is 
mournful  to  contemplate  the  fact  that  in  a  few  brief,  fleeting 
years  all  of  that  vast  army  of  brave  men  who  so  nobly  respond- 
ed to  the  cries  for  assistance  of  an  imperilled  country,  only  a 
memory  will  survive.  The  mantle  will  fall  upon  other 
shoulders  and  the  republic  will  march  on  with  its  actual 
defenders  represented  by  a  little,  green,  grassy  mound.  The 
war,  however  erected  a  most  lasting  monument  in  the  hearts  of 


160  Historical  Sketches. 

the  American  people,  and  as  the  generations  succeed  each 
other,  time  can  never  defame  nor  deface  that  monument.  War 
is  a  stern  preceptor;  it  writes  its  charts  in  letters  of  blood  with 
the  point  of  the  bayonet  and  punctuates  with  cannon  balls. 
Its  object  lessons  are  dead  bodies  on  ensanguined  fields,  and  its 
music  in  the  roar  of  death-dealing  artillery.  In  war's  dread 
school  one  learns  but  never  forgets. 

In  the  quiet,  and  amid  the  jest  and  jokes  of  the  camp,  on 
the  march,  with  its  toils  and  turmoils,  over  the  mountains  and 
down  the  valley  where  the  lazy  smoke  curling  above  peaceful 
homes  was  soon  to  be  merged  and  lost  in  the  sulphurous 
canopy  of  war,  in  the  wild  charge,  storming  old  forts  and 
palisades,  or  plunging  down  fiery  lanes  to  death  or  victory,  the 
young  soldier  ever  bore  proudly  aloft,  the  flag  that  could  at 
any  time  demand  his  life,  with  the  victim  ever  ready  for  the 
sacrifice. 

Col.  Minor  Millikin  was  born  near  Hamilton  July  9,  1834. 
He  was  graduated  from  Miami  university  in  1856,  with  hon- 
ors, and  afterward  studied  law  and  attended  Harvard  law 
school,  but  never  engaged  in  practice. 

While  a  student  at  Miami  university  the  faculty  imposed 
a  restriction  upon  Col.  Millikin's  personal  liberty,  which  he 
resented  and  openly  defied;  he  was  accordingly  cited  to  appear 
before  the  faculty  for  contempt.  The  trial  was  set  for  9 
o'clock,  and  Col.  Millikin  was  on  hand  at  the  appointed  hour, 
having  walked  from  Hamilton  to  Oxford.  He  ably  and  elo- 
quently defended  his  course  in  opposition  to  what  he  styled  an 
arbitrary  rnle.  The  charge  was  dismissed  and  he  was  honor- 
ably acquitted.  Here  we  have  a  firmness  characteristic  of  a 
strong  and  noble  mind. 

Col.  Millikin  traveled  over  the  continent  and  the  British 
Isle.  On  this  journey  he  made  a  fine  collection  of  foreign 
coins.  He  was  arrested  in  the  streets  of  Paris  for  whistling 
the  "Marseillaise  Hymn." 

In  1 85 7  he  purchased  the  Hamilton  Intellingencer ',  from 
the  executor  of  D.  W.  Halsey,  deceased.  He  had  a  taste  for 
literary  and  newspaper  work  and  his  writings  were  terse,  orig- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  161 

inal  and  on  the  independent  order.  He  retired  from  the  edi- 
torial management  of  the  Intellingencer  in  July,  1859. 

Colonel  Millikin  "discovered"  E.  W.  Halford,  a  young 
man  possessing  rare  ability  for  the  journalistic  field,  who  today 
holds  in  reverence  the  name  and  deeds  of  his  early  preceptor. 
"Iyige"  aimed  high,  and  as  an  editor  had  few  superiors;  as  a 
private  secretary  to  President  Harrison,  he  was  at  the  top 
round  of  the  ladder. 

Through  Colonel  Millikin' s  untiring  efforts  the  Hamilton 
gymnasium  was  erected  and  thoroughly  equipped.  The  build- 
ing is  still  standing  and  is  used  as  the  frame  portion  of  Carr  & 
Brown's  mill. 

Millikin  Post  No.  228  G.  A.  R.,  of  Oxford,  is  named  in 
honor  of  the  gallant  colonel. 

He  was  also  a  classmate  of  Major  Kennedy,  of  this  city,  at 
Hanover,  Iud. ,  who  distinguished  himself  in  the  famous  and 
historic  charge  of  Zagonyi,  at  Springfield,  Mo.,  where  he 
was  shot  through  the  head  until  he  had  emptied  his  own  and 
the  revolver  of  a  dead  comrade  as  well,  with  fatal  effect,  into 
the  ranks  of  the  enemy. 

As  an  athlete  Col.  Millikin  had  no  equal.  When  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Mollyneaux,  of  Oxford,  he  went  on  a  wedding 
tour  to  England,  the  voyage  being  made  on  a  sailing  vessel 
and  lasting  seven  weeks.  While  in  London  he  called  on  the 
editor  of  the  then  leading  sporting  paper  of  the  world,  Wilkes' 
Spirit  of  the  Times,  and  in  conversation  upon  athletics  gen- 
erally, Col.  Millikin  desired  to  know  the  world's  record  for  a 
standing  jump.  He  was  informed  and  remarked  that  he 
believed  he  could  do  that  well  himself.  He  was  at  once 
invited  to  the  gymnasium  and  there  beat  the  world's  standing 
jump  record  by  seven  inches.  He  was  informed  that  there 
was  a  fortune  for  him  in  the  athletic  world  but  that  distinc- 
tion was  not  in  the  line  of  his  ambition. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  he  enlisted  for 
three  months  in  a  cavalry  company,  and  was  elected  First 
lieutenant. 


162  Historical  Sketches. 

This  company  was  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Rich  Moun- 
tain, Virginia,  under  General  Rosecrans.  After  the  term  of 
this  enlistment  expired  he  was  appointed,  unsolicited,  Major  of 
the  First  Ohio  cavalry.  L,ater  on  he  was  promoted  to  the  col- 
onelcy. Inscribed  upon  the  banner  of  this  gallant  regiment 
is  the  following  well  earned  battle  record:  Perryville,  Stone 
River,  Chickamauga,  the  siege  of  Atlanta  and  numerous  bat- 
tles of  less  note. 

Immediately  preceding  the  famous  charge  at  Stone 
River,  Col.  Millikin  conceived  the  idea  that  Wharton  and 
Wheeler's  cavalry  were  endeavoring  to  out  flank  the  union 
forces  and  capture  General  McCook's  ammunition  train.  The 
success  of  these  movements  meant  the  annihilation  of  our 
army. 

Col.  Millikin  being  a  musician  of  note,  personally  sounded 
the  bugle  call  for  the  onslaught. 

At  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  the  brigade  covered  the 
retreat  of  our  infantry,  and  Col.  Millikin  receiving  no  orders 
from  the  commander,  sent  orderlies  to  the  various  regimental 
officers  requesting  a  support  in  a  saber  charge  upon  the  advanc- 
ing enemy.  The  situation  was  critical,  and  Col.  Millikin 
wheeled  his  regiment  into  line  and  attacked  the  enemy  driving 
them  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The  rebels  gathered  and  closed  in 
on  his  rear.  Perceiving  his  danger  he  gave  the  order,  "about," 
and  with  sabers  the  regiment  fought  its  way  through,  but  its 
gallant  Colonel  lay  dead  on  the  battlefield.  Col.  Millikin's 
charge,  unaided  by  support,  is  only  equalled  by  that  of  the  Light 
Brigade  at  Balaklava,  in  the  Crimean  war,  or  Pickett's  at  Get- 
tysburg. Thus  Col.  Millikin  gave  up  his  life  amid  the  dark, 
thunderous  clouds  of  Stone  River  in  behalf  of  the  country  that 
armed  treason  was  trying  to  disunite  and  dissever.  Brilliant, 
polished,  educated  to  a  high  degree,  both  in  letters  and  arms; 
there  was  one  sinister  word  that  as  a  man,  a  soldier  and  officer 
he  had  vowed  should  never  find  a  place  in  his  lexicon.  That 
word  was  "surrender!" 

Only   a  few  days  before  his  death  he  had  written:   "As   to 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  163 

my  human  gaze,  life  seems  less  than  ever  likely  to  stay  long 
with  me. " 

Is  it  not  possible  for  the  true  Christian  heart,  in  the  fore- 
bodings of  a  great  calamity,  to  hear  the  rustle  of  unseen  wings 
and  the  echo  of  angelic  symphonies  behind  the  impenetrable 
veil? 

On  the  31st  day  of  December,  1862,  while  leading  a  charge 
at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  with  everything  to  live  for,  when 
honor  might  have  been  preserved  (as  it  was)  untarnished; 
when  the  only  condition  of  life  was  "surrender,"  hemmed  in 
on  every  side  by  deadly  enemies,  the  condition  was  refused, 
and  one  of  the  noblest  lives  ever  sacrificed  to  the  highest  and 
purest  love  of  country  and  inflexible  devotion  to  the  princi- 
ples, to  the  incarnate  chivalry  of  honor,  passed  out  into  God's 
eternity  as  Col.  Millikin  of  the  First  Ohio  cavalry  expired. 

In  the  details  of  war's  great  picture,  none  are  scanned 
with  greater  admiration  than  the  heroic  deeds  of  individnal 
valor.  The  act  of  Napoleon  the  I.  is  grandly  contemplative 
when  he  seized  the  battle-rented  colors  from  a  dying  color- 
bearer  on  the  bridge  at  L,odi,  and  amid  the  hell-forged  belches 
of  shot  and  canister  led  the  Grand  Army  triumphantly  across. 
This  daring  deed  of  Napoleon's  was  no  greater  than  that  of 
Cambronne  at  Waterloo,  where  the  genius  of  France  was  per- 
sonified in  Napoleon,  who  indignantly  spurned  surrender,  and 
the  Old  Guard  perished  forever.  And  so  this  soldier  of  ours 
stands  out  in  bold  relief  against  the  picture  of  our  Civil  War. 
Only  a  few  short  years  before  he  ranked  first  and  foremost 
among  all  the  students  of  old  and  honored  Miami.  First  in 
debate,  first  in  individual  independence;  he  carried  all  these, 
coupled  with  an  immaculate  sense  of  honor  into  the  stern  con- 
flict of  arms.  He  formulated  a  soldier's  creed,  found  after  his 
death,  as  follows:  "I  have  enlisted  in  the  service  of  my  country 
for  a  term  of  three  years,  and  have  sworn  faithfully  to  dis- 
charge my  duty,  uphold  the  constitution  and  obey  the  officers 
over  me."  And  in  that  last  sombre  death-struggle,  leading  a 
charge  as  leader  should,  with  superb  horsemanship,  governing 
his  frantic  steed,  with  the  glorious  light  of  battle   illuminating 


1 64  Historical  Sketches. 

his  face,  holding  his  foes  at  bay  with  a  splendid  mastery  of 
the  sword  like  the  athlete  he  was,  rebellion  conld  not  endure 
so  brave  a  foe,  and  treason  added  one  more  assassination  to 
the  calendar  of  crime. 

Prof.  David  Swing,  the  eminent  Chicago  divine,  says  of 
him:  '  'Talented,  original,  brave  and  independent,  *  *  *  a  strict 
disciplinarian,  a  rigid  commander,  a  fearless  warrior,  and  if 
the  path  of  duty  led  to  a  dozen  batteries,  to  them  he  would  go 
without  a  quiver." 

One  who  has  been  pronounced  the  "best  type  of  an 
American  soldier,"  General  George  H.  Thomas,  said  of  this 
man  among  other  strong  tributes,  for  they  were  personal 
friends:     "He  was  a  brave,  accomplished  and  loyal  officer." 

The  graves  of  Colonel  Minor  Millikin,  and  General 
"Stonewall"  Jackson — who  fought  for  the  cause  he  thought 
was  right  are  symbolic  of  Right  and  Wrong!  But  as  the  same 
dews,  and  sunshine  and  starlight  fall  alike  on  both,  so  doubt- 
less on  God's  great  camping  ground  these  two  soldiers  have 
clasped  hands.  And  while  we  drop  a  tear  on  the  grave  of  our 
hero  of  the  North,  let  us  reverently  alike  remember  the  grave 
of  "Stonewall"  Jackson  in  the  South.  Man  proposes  but  dis- 
position is  the  attribute  of  divinity  alone. 

In  the  language  of  another:  "The  long  struggle  is  ended. 
The  wail  of  humiliation  is  hushed,  and  the  huzza  of  proud 
triumph  is  over;  the  cypress  has  draped  the  coffin  of  the  van- 
quished and  the  laurel  has  crowned  the  victor's  brow.  The 
Lost  Cause  is  but  a  memory.  Its  last  trumpet  note  has  died 
away  upon  the  air,  its  last  tattoo  has  beat;  its  dismantled 
cannon  no  longer  boom  forth,  even  the  funeral  minute  guns 
are  still.  The  tempest  of  blood  which  has  drenched  our  land 
has  ceased,  and  the  beams  of  the  sun  of  reconciliation  and 
restored  union  are  lighting  the  sky  over  mountain  and  dale." 

SWEET  AND  TOUCHING. 

We  received  the  following  interesting  and  touching  letter 
from  E.  W.  Halford,  late  Private  Secretary  to  President  Harri- 
son, in  which  he  pays  a  tribute  to  Colonel  Minor  Millikin  and 
holds  in  loving  memory  the  old  scenes  and  faces  of  Hamilton : 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  165 


Headquarters  Department  of  the  Platte, 
Omaha,  Neb.,  Febrtxary  20,  1894. 

My  Dear  Steve: — I  received  the  copy  of  the  Hamilton  News  you  were 
good  enough  to  send  me,  and  read  with  great  interest  your  sketch  of  Minor 
Millikin.  How  well  I  remember  him.  How  splendidly  tall,  and  straight, 
and  arrowy,  and  athletic!  He  was  to  my  boyish  eyes  a  very  Apollo  in  form 
and  feature,  and  a  knight-errant  in  courtsey  and  grace  of  manner  and  bear- 
ing. He  was  the  beau  ideal  of  a  soldier.  Often  and  often  have  I  thought  of 
him  at  the  head  of  his  cavalry  regiment  at  Stone  River,  courting  death 
rather  than  to  accept  what  to  his  white  soul  was  dishonor.  God  rest  him  in 
peace,  as  I  know  his  comrades,  and  all  who  knew  him,  rest  him  in  the  glory 
of  their  honorable  remembrance.  If  he  "discovered"  me  it  is  not  the  first 
time  when  the  discoverer  was  so  much  more  than  the  discovered.  I  should 
joy  to  lay  sometime,  in  a  rather  more  public  way  than  this,  the  humble 
wreath  of  affectionate  and  admiring  honor  upon  his  memory. 

A  good  while  ago  I  had  a  letter  from  Dr.  Dan  Millikin  about  some  vol- 
ume or  other,  that  was  being  gotten  up  in  commemoration  of  Hamilton's 
centennial,  but  nothing  further  ever  came  of  it.  Do  you  know  anything  at  all 
about    it? 

I  hope  sometime  to  visit  Hamilton,  and  to  spend  a  day  or  two  among  the 
old  scenes  and  with  the  old  faces.  I  should  love  to  break  bread  and  eat  salt 
with  some  of  the  old  associates  of  those  long  gone  dead  days,  and  to  see  how 
the  ways  of  each  have  gone  and  what  is  the  story  of  their  lives.  With  me 
it  has  been  a  checkered  thing.  Now  I  am  alone,  in  a  strange  land,  some- 
what broken  in  health  and  I  fear  in  spirit,  as  well.  The  shadows  are  slant- 
ing backward  with  me,  growing  a  little  longer  every  day.  I  am  sure  the 
autumn  of  life  is  mellowing  me,  and  hope  maturing  me  into  something  bet- 
ter than  I  have  ever  been. 

I  trust  you  are  well,  and  happy  and  prosperous.  You  have  stayed  near 
the  old  home.  You  have  come  to  usefulness  and  regard  among  those  who 
have  known  you  from  a  boy;  the  hardest  sort  of  a  life  victory  to  achieve. 
You  have  been  kind  and  generous  in  your  remembrances  of  me,  and  I  thank 
you.  God  give  to  you  and  to  all  friends  the  choicest  blessing,  and  believe 
that  at  least  one  of  the  boys  never  forgets  his  old  home  and  early  mates. 
With  kind  regards, 

Yours  very  truly, 

Mr.  Stephen  D.  Cone.  E.  W.  Halford. 

OUR  FINANCIAL  INSTITUTIONS. 

In  our  primitive  days  money  was  loaned  on  short  call, 
often  without  security  or  interest.  Later,  money  loaners  were 
quite  numerous  in  Butler  county,  and  a  "wild  cat  currency" 
was  issued  thoroughout  the  Union.  In  traveling  from  one 
state  to  another  people  were  compelled  to  have  their  money 
exchanged.  What  was  good  in  Ohio  would  not  pass  in  other 
States. 


166  Historical  Sketches. 

The  national  banking  system  had  its  origin  by  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury — in  war  exigencies,  and  it 
has  been  found  equally  adapted  to  time  of  peace.  It  provides 
a  currency  of  uniform  value  throughout  our  wide  domain  and 
which  is  readily  convertible  into  coin  in  any  part  of  the  world 
where  facilities  for  money  exchange  exists.  Under  old  banking 
ways  a  paper  currency  that  had  a  par  value  at  the  place  of  issue 
grew  less  valuable  the  farther  it  wandered  from  home. 

The  history  of  the  national  banking  system  and  the  pro- 
portion of  losses  to  individual  depositors  through  mismanage- 
ment or  dishonesty  proves  conclusively  that  national  banks  are 
for  depositors,  safe  institutions. 

The  panic  of  1873,  precipitated  the  failure  of  Jay  Cooke 
&  Co. ,  of  Philidelphia,  and  brought  disaster  to  many  of  the 
banking  institutions  of  the  country,  but  the  wise  measures  then 
inaugurated  by  the  banks  of  Hamilton  were  so  efficient  that 
they  tided  over  that  time  of  depression  without  serious  loss  or 
suspension,  and  no  city  of  similar  size  in  the  union  was  more 
successful  in  helping  to  avert  commercial  disaster  than 
Hamilton. 

Below  we  give  a  brief  historv  of  the  banks  that  have  been 
organized  in  Hamilton: 

THK  BANK    OF  HAMILTON. 

In  18 1 7,  the  Ohio  legislature  passed  an  act  incorporating 
the  Bank  of  Hamilton.  On  July  11,  181 8,  the  directory  met, 
— composed  of  the  following  gentlemen — John  Reily,  James 
McBride,  Jesse  Corwin,  William  Blair,  John  Woods,  Andrew 
McCleary  and  James  Rossmau.  John  Reily  was  elected  Presi- 
dent and  William  Blair,  Cashier.  The  bank  went  into  opera- 
tion July  30,  181 8,  in  the  Dr.  Hittel  property  on  High  street, 
opposite  the  Court  house.     Its  paid  up  capital  was  $33,000.00. 

In  the  fall  of  1818,  William  H.  Crawford,  of  Georgia, 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  recpiired  all  payments  due  the 
United  States  to  be  made  in  gold,  silver  or  United  States  bank 
notes.  The  Bank  of  Hamilton  suspended  specie  payments 
November  9,  18 18.     Several  bad  loans  crippled  the  institution 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  167 

severely  and  its  affairs  were  wound  up.  From  1824  to  1835 
directors  were  annually  elected  to  keep  the  bank  alive.  In  the 
latter  year  additional  shares  were  subscribed  and  it  again  went 
into  operation  in  the  room  now  occupied  by  Charles  Diefen- 
bach,  the  jeweler. 

The  hard  times  pressure  finally  compelled  the  bank  to 
close  its  doors,  February  9,  1842.  The  directors  were  arrested. 
It  was  claimed  they  issued  more  notes  than  the  charter  called 
for.  One  director  was  placed  on  trial  and  acquitted.  All  the 
other  cases  were  nollied. 

THE  SHAFFER  AND  CURTIS  BANK. 

Was  organized  several  years  after  the  failure  of  the  Bank 
of  Hamilton  under  favorable  conditions  and  circumstances. 
Late  in  the  fifties  Jacob  Shaffer  retired.  His  interest  was  pur- 
chased by  Russell  Potter,  of  Memphis,  Tennessee.  This  bank 
did  a  thriving  business  during  all  these  years.  Numerous 
changes  took  place  in  its  management.  The  bank  suspended 
in  1885. 

THE  PECK  BANK. 

In  1857,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Third  and  Court 
streets,  Dr.  John  P.  Peck  opened  a  private  bank;  John  B.  Cor- 
nell was  cashier.  Subsequently  S.  D.  Fitton  entered  the  bank 
as  assistant  cashier.  L,ater,  the  bank  was  removed  to  High 
street,  to  the  room  now  occupied  by  the  Seidensticker  jewelry 
store.  In  the  spring  of  1861,  Dr.  Peck  being  a  war  Democrat, 
refused  to  publish  the  Maginnis  resolutions  in  his  paper  —  the 
Telegraph.  This  act  caused  a  run  on  the  bank  and  it  was 
forced  to  suspend.  Dr.  Peck  died  at  Riverside,  California,  in 
March,  1895. 

THE  FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK. 

This  bank  was  organized  August  15,  1863,  with  a  paid  up 
capital  of  $50,000,  which  was  afterward  increased  to  $100,000. 
Mica j ah  Hughes  was  elected  president;  James  Beatty  vice- 
president;  John  P.  P.  Peck,  cashier;  and  John  B.  Cornell, 
assistant  cashier.  Six  months  afterward  Dr.  Peck  resigned 
and   John  B.  Cornell  succeeded  him  as  cashier,  which  position 


168  Historical  Sketches. 

he  held  up  to  the  time  of  his  sad  and  melancholy  death,  which 
occurred  August  2,  1894,  after  a  service  in  the  First  National  - 
for  thirty-one  years.  The  genial  and  able  S.  D.  Fitton  was 
elected  assistant  cashier  in  1867.  Philip  Hughes  was  president 
and  Asa  Shuler  was  vice  president  in  1883.  After  the  death  of 
Philip  Hughes,  in  1892,  Asa  Shuler  was  elected  president,  and 
J.  E.  Hughes  vice-president,  which  position  he  still  holds.  S. 
D.  Fitton  was  chosen  cashier  in  1894,  and  E.  G.  Ruder, 
assistant  cashier.  President  Shuler  died  in  May,  1895,  when 
S.  D.  Fitton  was  elected  president;  E.  G.  Ruder,  cashier;  and 
J.  M.  Beeler,  assistant  cashier.  President  Fitton  is  a  brilliant 
financier.  He  has  followed  banking  from  youth  and  is  famil- 
iar with  every  detail  of  the  business. 

The  First  National  was  among  the  first  in  the  United  States 
to  avail  itself  of  the  privilege  of  securing  a  charter  under  the 
National  Banking  Act.  It  began  business  at  a  period  when 
the  war  still  hampered  the  trade  and  business  of  Hamilton  and 
proved  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  appreciated  factors  in 
securing  to  the  community  adequate  financial  facilities.  The 
First  National  Bank  commands  a  wide  influence  in  monetary 
circles.  Its  patrons  and  depositors  include  many  of  the  most 
prominent  and  successful  men  and  citizens  of  Hamilton.  The 
bank's  directorate  has  ever  been  composed  of  solid  and  respon- 
sible citizens,  while  its  officers  have  been  carefully  chosen  for 
the  special  qualifications  manifested  for  judicious  executive 
guidance.  The  bank  has  a  surplus  of  $85,000  with  an  undi- 
vided profit  of  $20,000. 

THE  SECOND  NATIONAL  BANK. 

This  bank  was  organized  January  19,  1865.  Its  first  loca- 
tion was  in  the  Hamilton  House  building.  Subsequently  it 
was  removed  to  Beckett's  block,  and  its  increasing  business 
having  made  greater  business  facilities  an  imperative  neces- 
sity— ground  was  bought  and  the  present  building  erected  in 
1875.  It  was  opened  on  December  of  that  year.  From  1870, 
William  E.  Brown  has  been  its  honored  president.  Since 
1 88 1,  Charles  E.  Heiser,  a  competent  and  popular  young  busi- 


WILLIAM  E.  BROWN 


k  J 


CHARLES  E.  HEISER 


JOHN  E.  HEISER 


CHARLES  MASON 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  169 

ness  man  has  held  the  position  of  cashier.  John  E.  Heiser  is 
assistant. 

The  board  of  directors  consists  of  William  Anderson, 
Henry  Frechtling,  Sr.,  William  E.  Brown,  Dr.  H.  C.  Howells, 
0.  V.  Parrish,  Charles  E.  Heiser  and  George  K.  Shaffer.  A 
more  thoroughly  competent  body  of  business  men  cannot  be 
found  and  under  their  prudent  guidance,  wise  and  conserva- 
tive management  this  bank  is  doing  a  large  and  safe   business. 

Relief  is  always  at  hand  for  its  customers.  The  Second 
National  bank  has  had  a  remarkably  prosperous  career  and  has 
passed  through  every  commercial  crisis,  with  added  strength. 
It  is  a  valued  factor  in  the  promotion  of  Hamilton's  industries; 
it  has  always  been  a  popular  favorite  with  active  business  men. 
It  has  every  banking  facility  at  command;  it  accords  i#s  own 
customers  every  convenience  consistant  with  sound  banking. 

THE  MIAMI   VALLEY  NATIONAL  BANK.    • 

This  institution  was  organized  March  10,  1888.  Hon. 
Peter  Murphy  was  elected  president;  F.  W.  Whitaker,  vice- 
president;  F.  S.  Heath,  cashier;  Charles  Mason,  assistant 
cashier.  No  bank  in  Ohio  is  better  known  or  has  higher  credit 
in  financial  centers. 

This  is  due  in  large  measures  to  the  men  who  have  con- 
trolled its  affairs.  They  have  devoted  their  best  judgment  to 
its  direction.  Its  executive  officers  have  had  no  outside  ven- 
tures to  divide  their  time  or  distract  their  attention  from  its 
welfare.  Its  management  has  been  in  the  hands  of  men  whose 
interests  were  identical  with  the  interests  of  Hamilton  and 
vicinity,  and  to  whom  its  success  was  not  only  a  matter  of 
individual  profit,  but  also  of  local  pride.  Its  policy  has  ever  been 
liberal.  The  bank  is  a  United  States  depository.  Its  cap- 
ital stock  is  $100,000  —  with  a  surplus  of  $20,000.  After 
the  death  of  President  Murphy  Vice-president  F.  W.  Whitaker 
was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  He  is  a  man  of  genial  temper- 
ament, and  is  extremely  popular;  has  rapidly  won  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people  and  made  a  large  circle  of  friends;  Cashier 
F.    S.    Heath,  who  has  been  at  the  helm  ever  since   the   bank 


170  Historical  Sketches. 

was  organized,  is  a  man  whose  ability  as  a  thorough  financier 
stands  unquestioned.  In  the  position  of  assistant  cashier, 
Charles  Mason  is  polite  and  courteous  and  always  willing  to 
oblige  the  many  patrons  of  the  bank. 

GREENWOOD   CEMETERY. 

In  the  fall  of  1847,  the  following  paper  was  circulated 
among  the  citizens  of  Hamilton: 

"The  undersigned,  citizens  of  Hamilton  and  vicinity,  believing:  it  to  be  of 
the  utmost  importance  that  a  rural  cemetery  should  be  established  in  the 
neighborhood  of  said  town,  do  hereby  associate  ourselves  as  a  joint  stock 
company  for  that  puipose;  each  share  of  stock  to  be  twenty-five  dollars,  and 
when  a  sufficient  amount  shall  have  been  subscribed,  the  same  to  be  applied 
for  the  purchase  and  improvement  of  grounds  suitable  for  that  purpose,  to  be 
laid  off  in  carriage  ways,  alleys  and  sub-divisions,  and  sold  in  lots  under  the 
directing  of  the  association.  Stock  subscribed  to  go  in  payment  of  lots  pur- 
chased, and  the  balance  of  the  proceeds,  if  any,  to  be  expended  from  time  to 
time  in   defraying  expenses  and  improvements  of  the  grounds." 

Finally,  a  sufficient  amount  was  subscribed  for  the  pur- 
chase of  grounds.  The  Legislature  of  Ohio,  on  the  twenty- 
fourth  day  of  February,  1848,  passed  a  general  law  for  the 
organization  of  cemetery  associations. 

At  a  meeting  held  at  the  Court  house  in  Hamilton  on  the 
25th  of  February,  1848,  John  M.  Millikin,  John  W.  Erwin, 
and  William  Bebb  were  appointed  a  committee  to  examine 
several  sites  suggested,  and  on  the  subsequent  third  day  of 
March,  1848,  the  committee  reported  by  recommending  the 
purchase  of  the  Bigham  grounds.  After  mature  deliberation, 
a  large  majority  of  the  stockholders  voted  for  the  purchase. 
L.  D.  Campbell,  John  M.  Millikin  and  William  Bebb  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  conclude  the  contract.  On  the  six- 
teenth day  of  March,  the  following  resolutions   were   adopted: 

"Resolved,  That  we  accept  the  act  passed  February  24,  1848,  entitled,  'An 
Act  Making  Provisions  for  the  Incorporation  of  Cemeterv  Associations,'  and 
hereby  organize  ourselves  into  a  cemetery  association." 

"Resolved,  That  we  will  meet  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  April  next,  at  two 
o'clock  P.  M.,  at  the  courthouse  in  Hamilton,  for  the  purpose  of  electing 
seven  trustees  and  one  clerk  for  the  association." 

An  election  of  trustees  was  ordered  with  the  following 
result:     William  Hunter,  Henry  S.  Earheart,  William  Wilson, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  171 

William  Bebb,  Lewis  D.  Campbell,  John  W.  Erwin,  and  John 
M.  Millikin. 

The  committee  reported  that  they  had  concluded  a  con- 
tract with  the  executors  of  David  Bigham  for  the  purchase  of 
the  tract  of  land  which  contain  twenty-one  and  twenty-nine 
one  hundreth  acres.  On  the  20th  of  May,  1848,  the  trustees 
held  their  first  meeting,  John  H.  Shuey,  clerk,  being  present. 
John  M.  Millikin  was  chosen  president,  and  William  Wilson, 
treasurer.  Upon  consideration  it  was  determined  that  the  pur- 
chase heretofore  made  of  twenty-one  and  twenty-nine  one  hun- 
dredth acres  was  altogether  insufficient,  and  an  additional  strip 
of  ground  adjoining  the  former  purchase,  containing  five  and 
fifty-seven  one  hundredth  acres,  was  purchased.  The  addition 
enlarged  the  cemetery  to  twenty-six  and  seventy-six  one 
hundredth  acres. 

At  a  meeting  held  by  the  stockholders  on  the  18th  of 
May,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  a  name,  several  were  sug- 
gested. Twenty-four  votes  were  cast  for  the  adoption  of 
"Greenwood"  as  the  name  of  the  cemetery  association,  and 
seventeen  votes  for  "Hamilton." 

The  trustees  had  onerous  duties  to  perform  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  task.  There  were  no  landscape  engineers  or 
gardeners  to  employ  or  consult.  Henry  S.  Earheart  and  John 
M.  Millikin  had  the  grounds  cleared  off  and  enclosed.  Pre- 
liminary to  the  sub-division  of  the  ground  into  lots,  was  the 
duty  of  locating  and  marking  out  the  drives  and  avenues. 
How  many  should  be  made  and  where  located,  were  the  per- 
plexing questions.  They  fixed  upon  the  present  entrance 
gate  as  the  commencing  point  of  the  main  avenue.  That  point 
being  determined  upon,  they  indicated  by  throwing  aside  the 
leaves  from  the  center,  the  several  other  drives  and  avenues, 
and  Mr.  Earhart  carefully  measured  and  staked  off  the  drives 
and  avenues,  and  proceeded  to  sub-divide  the  grounds  into  lots 
eighteen  by  thirty-six  feet.  The  survey  having  been  com- 
pleted, the  stockholders  met  in  the  cemetery  on  March  19, 
1849,  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  their  lots.     The   names  of 


1 72  Historical  Sketches. 

stockholders  were  placed  in  a  box,  and  were  drawn  out  by  tel- 
lers, and  each  stockholder  selected  his  lot  in  the  order  the 
names  were  drawn. 

The  citizens  of  Hamilton  who  favored  the  enterprise  soon 
became  satisfied  that  it  deserved  their  support.  The  success  of 
the  undertaking  will  be  seen  in  the  following  statement: 
Between  March,  1849,  and  January  1,  1851,  there  had  been 
sold  two  hundred  and  fifty  lots,  for  the  sum  of  $6,068.36. 
During  the  same  time  one  hundred  and  eighteen  original  inter- 
ments had  been  made,  and  the  remains  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety-nine  persons  had  been  removed  from  other  places  of 
sepulture.  Thoroughly  assured  of  the  complete  success  of  the 
undertaking,  and  of  the  necessity  of  enlarging  the  cemetery 
grounds,  the  board  of  trustees,  on  March  24,  1856,  purchased 
of  William  Beckett  sixteen  acres  of  ground  adjoining,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  cemetery,  for  the  sum  of  three  thousand 
dollars. 

This  purchase  of  land  made  a  most  desirable  addition 
to  the  cemetery,  and  enabled  the  board  of  trustees  to 
secure  another  piece  of  ground  adjoining  on  the  east.  This 
last  purchase  was  made,  not  in  view  of  the  present  wants  of  the 
association,  but  because  of  what  the  board  anticipated  would  be 
the  requirements  of  the  city  and  neighborhood  in  generations 
to  come.  Therefore,  on  April  4,  1872,  the  board  of  trustees 
contracted  with  William  H.  H.  Campbell  to  pay  him  $9,100 
for  twenty-two  and  seventy-five  one  hundreth  acres  of  land. 
This  last  purchase  of  land  makes  a  total  of  sixty-five  and  fifty 
one  hundreth  acres  of  ground  now  belonging  to  Greenwood 
Association,  for  which  the  association  has  paid,  exclusive  of 
interest,  the  gross  sum  of  $15,443.75.  The  cemetery  associa- 
tion now  owns  a  body  of  ground  in  every  way  well  suited  for 
cemetery  purposes,  and  amply  sufficient  for  the  wants  of  Ham- 
ilton and  vicinity  for  the  next  century. 

A.  J.  Goshorn  was  superintendent  of  Greenwood  cemetery 
for  forty-five  years. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  1 73 


LITKRARY  AND  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATIONS. 

The  Hamilton  Thespian.  —  From  the  original  records 
belonging  to  the  late  Jesse  Corwin,  we  find  that  this  society 
was  organized  December  13,  1820.  It  was  "founded  for  the 
purpose,  of  mutual  improvement;  to  elevate  and  prepare  its 
members  for  the  duties  of  life  by  teaching  them  the  power  of 
speaking  and  writing. ' '  The  society  met  every  two  weeks 
and  debated  current  questions  of  its  day;  gave  entertainments 
semi-annually.  During  its  existence  Rev.  Henry  Ward 
Beecher,  Horace  Greeley  and  Frederick  Douglass  lectured  for 
the  society  in  public.  James  McBride,  James  B.  Cameron  and 
John  Woods  were  its  presidents  at  different  periords,  and  Jesse 
Corwin,  C.  K.  Smith  and  Taylor  Webster,  secretaries.  The 
following  gentlemen  were  members:  Jesse  Corwin,  John 
Woods,  Stephen  Millikin,  Taylor  Webster,  John  M.  Hewett, 
C.  K.  Smith,  George  Sergeant,  James  B.  Cameron,  Robert 
Martin,  James  McBride,  William  Murray,  Isaac  Anderson, 
John  McClure,  jr.,  Lorenzo  Latham,  Thomas  Lloyd,  Joseph 
Landis,  William  B.  VanHook,  W.  W.  Greene,  H.  V.  Disbrow, 
John  Winton,  Ira  R.  Lewis,  Alex.  H.  Keef,  J.  McKinney. 

The  following  subject  was  publicly  debated  at  the  soci- 
ety's regular  meeting  on  March  7,  1823: 

Resolved.  That  Congress  should  prohibit  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  except 
when  perscribed  by  a  physician  for  medicinal  purposes. 

Affirmative — Alex.  H.  Keef,  L.  Latham,  John  Millikin; 
negative — Joseph  Landis,  William  B.  VanHook,  J.  McKinney. 
The  resolution  was  decided  in  the  affirmative. 

At  the  next  regular  meeting  of  the  Society  the  bill  given 
below  was  ordered  paid: 

Hamilton,  Ohio,  April  7,  1823. 
Hamilton  Thespian  Society. 

Bought  of  Joseph  Hough. 

One  pound  Candles 12^ 

One-half  gallon  Peach  Liquor 25 

One  quart  Whisky V2% 

Sugar  and  Cash i2j/2 

Received  Payment,  Joseph  Hough. 

By  L.  Latham. 


174 


Historical  Sketches. 


On  June  i,  1823,  "Damon  and  Pythias"  was  played  in 
public  by  the  Thespian.  The  Society  had  a  long  and  brilli- 
ant career. 

Hamilton  and  Rossville  Library  Association. — Numerous 
meetings  of  citizens  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville  were  held  at 
the  Court  house  in  Hamilton,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a 
Library  Association,  at  one  of  which  meetings  the  committee 
previously  appointed  to  draft  a  constitution,  through  their 
chairman,  Rev.  William  Davidson,  reported  on  December  7, 
1850.     We  give  the  preamble  as  follows: 

"We,  the  subscribers,  wishing  to  facilitate  the  diffusion  of 
useful  knowledge  amongst  us,  have  associated  ourselves 
together  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  Library  and  Reading 
room:" 


Thos.  W.  Waterson. 
William    Davidson. 
S.  E.  Giffen. 
L.J.  Smith. 
W   H.  Miller. 
John  R.  Lewis. 
John  H.  Shuey. 
Wm.  E.  Brown. 
J.  T.  Miller. 
A.  C.  Campbell. 
Charles    L.    Weller. 
W.  J.  VanDegriff. 

0.  'VI.  Houseworth. 
Isaac  Robertson. 
Wm.  S.  Phares. 

J.  M.  Amsden. 
E.  H.  Annewalt. 
J.  R.  Howells. 
James  Lowes. 
Thomas  Moore. 
N.  G.  Curtis. 
John  J.  Longfellow. 
W.  P.  Young. 
Samuel  MeKee. 
J.  Richmond. 
H.  C.  Bird. 

1.  L.  Boatman. 
John  W.  Wilson. 
Henry  Beardsley. 
J.  W.  McBeth. 
William  Beckett. 
A.  Gladman. 
John  C.  Skinner. 
George  Darling. 
C.  Falconer. 
John  B.  Drayer. 
David  A.  Day. 
Isaac  Peterson. 


Adam  Shuey. 
W.    C.    Millspaugh. 
Laomi  Rigdon. 
N.  C.  McFarland. 
J.    M.    Williamson. 
William  Murray. 
A.  B.  Nixon. 

C.  R.  Schalderman. 
S.  Wurmser. 
James     Daughertv. 
W.  H.  Roberts. 
John  L.  Wilkins. 
Eir  Locke. 

J.  I.  F.  Gump. 

D.  W.  Woodmansee. 

F.  D.  Rigdon' 
Josiah  Scott. 
J.  C.  Barnett. 
Aaron  L.  Schenck. 
T.  C.  Phillips. 

L.  M.  Farrow. 
C.  Hough. 
Peter  Jacobs. 
J.  G.  Marchant. 
John  W.  Erwin. 

G.  W.  McAdams. 
R.  L-  Skinner. 
George  Seward. 
A.  P.  Cox. 
Anthony    Dickman. 
Jacob  Shaffer. 
Thomas  H.  Wilkins. 
Charles  R.  Kennedy. 
J.  S.  Gronebel. 
Albert  Shaw. 
Daniel  Skinner. 
Otis  Brown. 

John  S.  Jones. 


Uriah  Hunsaker. 
D.  B.  Lashorn. 
John  Keen. 
A.  Vandyke. 

D.  D.  Conover. 
James  O'Connor. 
Valentine  Chase. 
William  Wilson. 
William  Hunter. 
William  Anderson. 
R.  L-  Howard. 

E.  G.  Dver. 
J.  Ebert. 

E.  D.  Smith 
James  Giffen. 
James  A.  McCoy. 
John  M.  Boatman. 
James  Blair. 
Perry  G.  Smith. 
Peter  Bridge. 
S.  K.  Enyeart. 
Samuel  Millikin. 
Balser  Mensch. 
Henry  Scalderman. 
William  Collins. 
S    M.  Smiley. 
R.  L.  Weston. 
William  L  Jones. 
Isaac  T.  Saunders. 
Alex.  P.  Miller. 
George  K.  Low. 
William  Huber. 
Henry  S.  Earheart. 
Samuel  Snively. 
O.  W.  Millikin. 
James  Clark. 
John  Keck. 
Robert  Kennedy. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents. 


175 


James  McBride. 
J.  R.  Snivley. 
Adam  Laurie. 
James  A.  Neal. 
Samuel  Devou. 
Alfred  Thomas. 
H.  J.  Curtis. 
A.  G.  Clark. 
Jacob  Miller. 
J.  'VI.  Millikin. 
John  W.  Sohn. 
James  Rossman. 
William  Bigham. 
M.  P.  Alston. 
O.  H.  Brewer. 
D.  G.  Leigh. 
Wils.  H.  Laymon. 
Jacob  Hittel. 
W.    M.  Richardson. 
A.    S.    McCandliss. 
Geo.  R.  Bigham. 
James  F.    Kearney. 

A.  Hough. 
David  Urmston. 
Moore  P.  Vinnedge. 
Henry  Traber. 

B.  F.  Randolph. 
John  Barnett. 
Joshua     Deleplane. 


Calvin  Hunter. 
Aaron  Potter. 
Clement  Clifton. 
Milton  Keck. 
W.  S.  Gonig. 
William  Booth. 
John  Thomas. 
Alex.  Scott. 
A.  Breitenbach. 
John  Lowes. 
L.  D.  Campbell. 
George  Wyman. 
Thomas  M.  Ball. 
Almina      Huffman. 
Evan  Davies. 
Matthew  Pfafflin. 
I).  W.  Halsev. 
C.  Rothenbush. 
William  Gray. 
Samuel   Troutman. 
R  E    Duffield. 
H.  A.  Conant. 
Samue*l  Adams. 
Charles  Hipp. 
Symmes    F.    Knox. 
Robert  Beckett. 
David  H.  Gray. 
P.  C.  W.  Hipp. 
Elijah  Vance. 
Charles  K.  Smith. 


J.  K.  Thomas. 
N.  Reeder. 
William  F.    Lynch. 
J.  F.  McKenzie. 
Alvin  Reed. 
G.  O.  W.  Goodall. 
B.  Rohmann. 
Thos.  D.  Whelan. 
Job  E.  Owens. 
John  B.  Anderson. 
John  Sanderson. 
M.  C.  McMaken. 
John  Woods. 
Thomas  Millikin. 
Chas.  Richardson. 
W.  H.  Scobey. 
R.  H.  Day. 
James  McGuire. 
J.  W.  Davis. 
J.  B.  Millikin. 
M.  W.  Kline. 
John  Cain. 
W.  H.  Fitton. 

D.  Bacon. 
Alex.  F.  Hume. 

E.  Millers. 
Daniel  Thorp. 
Adam  Laurie. 
M.  C.  Ryan. 


Rev.  William  Davidson  was  elected  president;  J.  W. 
McBeth,  corresponding  secretary;  John  H.  Shuey,  financial 
secretary;  and  Harrison  C.  Bird  treasurer. 

A  committee,  consisting  of  Rev.  William  Davidson,  John 
W.  Krwin  and  Dr.  W.  H.  Scobey,  purchased  eight  hundred 
dollars  worth  of  useful  books.  Numerous  volumes  of  choice 
literature  were  donated  to  the  Association. 

James  McBride,  John  W.  Erwin,  William  Beckett,  Thomas 
Moore  and  Jelsse  Corwin,  composed  the  directory.  The  board 
of  directors  were  required  to  keep  open  a  reading  room;  to 
appoint  a  librarian,  whose  duty  it  was  to  attend  to  the  library — 
to  keep  a  register  of  all  books,  magazines,  maps,  charts,  papers 
and  all  other  property  in  his  care,  belonging  to  the  Association, 
arrange  them  in  proper  order  —  make  a  record  thereof,  with 
the  names  of  the  donors,  and  keep  an  account  of  all  books 
delivered  to  the  members. 

The  initiation  fee  was  one  dollar,  and  the  annual  dues,  in 
advance,  two  dollars. 

The    Association    was   in  active  operation    for   six    years. 


1 76  Historical  Sketches. 

Its  meetings  were  held  in  the  Webster  Eyceum  on  High  street. 

The  Franklin  Literary  Club. — This  Association  organ- 
ized in  1856  and  its  first  entertainment  was  given  in  the  latter 
part  of  December  of  the  same  year  for  the. benefit  of  the  poor. 
The  affair  netted  a  fund  of  $250  for  this  charitable  purpose. 
The  following  May  another  entertainment  was  given  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  money  to  furnish  a  hall.  It  was  very  lib- 
erally patronized  and  a  sufficient  fund  was  realized  to  hand- 
somely furnish  the  quarters  of  the  society  which  started  on 
what  promised  to   be  a  long  and  prosperous  career. 

The  city  council  donated  the  Franklin  the  free  use  of  the 
front  room  on  the  second  floor  of  the  Second  Ward  engine 
house  for  a  number  of  years.  Its  membership  embraced  the 
best  young  talent  of  Hamilton  in  that  day,  and  the  society 
held  weekly  meetings  which  were  largely  attended.  The 
programme  consisted  of  a  debate,  two  recitations  and  two 
essays.  The  meetings  were  spirited  and  the  members  alwaj^s 
prepared.  In  the  latter  part  of  1861  the  organization  suc- 
cumbed to  the  war,  a  large  number  of  the  boys  enlisting  in  the 
army.  The  roll  of  membership  was  as  follows:  Charles  H. 
Murray,  A.  J.  Daugherty,  S.  W.  StewaTt,  Eucius  B.  Potter, 
Zelotes  Wood,  John  W.  Falconer,  Ambrose  Temple,  Robert  B. 
Millikin,  D.  W.  Fitton,  Isaac  J.  Graham,  EaFayette  Traber, 
John  C.  Sinnard,  George  W.  Garver,  Marion  P.  Hargitt, 
George  K.  Shaffer,  Elijah  W.  Halford,  John  N.  Wyman, 
Oliver  Temple,  Alex.  W.  Scott,  Riley  Anderson,  William  B. 
Millikin,  James  E.  Harris,  George  Hardy,  Daniel  W.  Rumple, 
William  Anderson,  Charles  E.  Giffen,  Theodore  Hardy,  Barney 
Gordon,  John  R.  Caldwell  and  Stephen  D.  Cone. 

The  Society  held  its  last  banquet  in  the  Hamilton  House, 
on  the  evening  of  January  17,  i860,  the  anniversary  of  Ben 
Franklin's  birthday.  By  scanning  the  list  of  members  it  will 
be  seen  that  a  great  many  have  died,  some  have  removed  else- 
where, and  but  a  few  of  the  old  boys  still  live  here. 

Who  of  the  Franklin  boys  will  forget  Charles  H.  Murray, 
as  "Hamlet;"  Alexander  W.  Scott,  as  one  of  the  grave  diggers; 
A.J.  Daugherty's  "Biugen  on  the  Rhine;"  E.  B.  Potter's  "Ber- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  \77 

nardo  del  Carpio;"  E.  W.  Halford's  poem  on  the  "Diamond 
Ring;"  John  H.  Falconer's  response  to  "Woman  and  Petti- 
coats;" Charles  H.  Murray's  "Gipsy  Hat  and  Duster." 

Aquilla  J.  Daugherty,  John  W.  Falconer,  William  B. 
Millikin,  John  N.  Wyman  and  Robert  B.  Millikin  were  stu- 
dents at  Old  Miami  university,  during  the  palmiest  days  of  the 
Franklin  Literary  Club,  and  it  was  not  an  unusual  occurence 
for  them  to  walk  to  Hamilton  Friday  afternoon  to  attend  its 
meetings. 

The  Thespian  Club  was  organized  January  7,  i860,  on  the 
West  Side.  Weekly  meetings  were  held  in  Rum  pie's  build- 
ing. Its  motto  was  Sur gemus.  List  of  members:  Joseph 
W.  Harris,  president;  William  E.  Scobey,  vice-president;  John 
N.  Wyman,  secretary;  Alexander  C.  Rossman,  treasurer; 
Smith  W.  Stanege,  critic;  Stephen  D.  Core,  Wilkie  B.  Beaty, 
Jesse  C.  Smith,  Frederick  Z.  Leiter,  William  H.  Millikin, 
John  Caldwell,  Robert  Caldwell,  James  E.  Harris,  Edward 
Smith,  Warren  Corwin,  James  Trownsell,  Elijah  W.  Halford, 
and  John  Rumple.     Lucius  B   Potter,  honorary  member. 

The  club  gave  its  first  entertainment  in  Beckett's  hall, 
Friday  evening,  May  25,  i860. 

programme: 

Music 

Salutatory E.  W.   Halford 

Essay J.  W.    Harris 

Recitation  —  "Icilius," J.  N.    Wyman 

Essay F.  Z.    Eeiter 

Quartett 

Music 

Recitation  —  "Ocean  Burial''  S.  D.    Cone 

Recitation  —  "The  Miser  Punished"  Wilkie  B.   Beaty 

"the  secret." 

M.  Dupuis   F.  Z.  Leiter 

Valare    S.  D.  Cone 

Thomas  J.  E.  Harris 

Mrs.  Dupuis Incog 

Angelica Incog 

Porter Incog 

Quartett 

Music 

Essay J.  E.  Harris 

Music 


1 78  Historical  Sketches. 

"lend  me  five  shillings." 

Golightly S.  W.  Stanage 

Capt.  Phobbs J.  N.  Wyman 

Capt.  Spruce J.  C.  Smith 

Mrs.  Capt.  Phobbs Incog 

Morland E.  W.  Halford 

Sam,  the  Waiter A.  C.  Rossman 

Mrs.  Major  Phobbs  Incog 

Music  

Quartett 

Valedictory  S.  W.  Stanage 

The  Jefferson  Club  was  organized  October  15,  1859,  in 
West  Hamilton,  and  met  at  Dr.  W.  H.  Scobey's  office.  Its 
active  membership  consisted  of  the  following  well  known 
young  men:  William  E.  Scobey,  James  P.  Mendenhall,  Will- 
iam Coppage,  Charles  Morris,  Thomas  Shaffer,  Philip  Rothen- 
bush,  John  M.  Davidson,  George  Matthias,  Joseph  Wyman, 
Charles  Falconer,  Alonzo  Mendenhall,  Timothy  Scobey, 
Everett  Rossman,  James  Coppage,  John  Rumple,  Robert  B. 
Davidson,  Eugene  A.  Weiler. 

HAMILTON'S  p;x-GOVERNORS. 

William  Bebb. — The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Morgan  township,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  December  8,  1802. 
His  father,  Edward  Bebb,  emigrated  from  Wales  in  1795; 
traveled  across  the  mountains  to  the  Miami  country  on  foot; 
purchased  an  extensive  tract  of  land  near  North  Bend.  He 
returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  married  Miss  Roberts,  to  whom 
he  had  been  engaged  in  Wales.  His  wife  was  a  lady  of  culture 
and  refinement,  and  her  home  in  this  vast  wilderness  was  a 
great  change  from  her  former  life.  William  Bebb  was  taught 
to  read  at  home.  A  strong  desire  to  acquire  a  better  educa- 
tion induced  him  to  make  extraordinary  efforts,  and  in  this 
matter  he  was  much  assisted  by  Mr.  David  Eloyd,  a  graduate 
of  a  college  in  Philadelphia,  who  resided  in  the  neighborhood. 
Bebb  began  teaching  school  in  the  village  of  New  Haven, 
Hamilton  county,  and  afterward  at  North  Bend.  Proving  a 
success  as  a  teacher,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  extending 
his  usefulness,  and  resolved  to  open  an  extensive  boarding- 
school  onpart  of  his  father's  large  place  and  farm. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  1 79 

He  had  a  large  and  commodious  two-story-and-a-half  frame 
house  and  additions  erected  on  the  banks  of  the  Dry  Fork  of 
Whitewater.  Mr.  Bebb  began  his  boarding-school  about  the 
year  1827  or  1828,  and  his  school  was  soon  filled  with  pupils 
from  Cincinnati  and  elsewhere.  This  was  the  pioneer  board- 
ing-school in  the  vicinity  of  Cincinnati.  It  was  distant 
twenty-five  miles  from  that  city,  and  it  was  reached  by  toler- 
ably good  roids  for  those  days. 

In  and  about  the  locality,  particularly  on  the  Dry  Fork 
creek,  there  were  a  great  many  large,  full-foliaged,  and  grand 
sycamore-trees,  and  Mr.  Bebb  named  the  place  Sycamore 
Grove.  This  name  became  celebrated  in  Cincinnati  and 
throughout  the  country,  and  Bebb's  school  and  Sycamore 
Grove  became  a  distinguished  place.  He  carried  on  his  school 
until  the  end  of  the  year  1832,  when,  being  filled  with  ambi- 
tion to  make  a  still  greater  mark  belore  the  public  eye,  he 
gave  up  his  well-established  school. 

He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1831,  when  he  removed  to 
Hamilton,  and  opened  a  law  office,  being  for  along  time  in 
partnership  with  John  M.  Millikin,  where  he  continued  quietly 
and  in  successful  practice  fourteen  years.  During  this  period 
he  took  an  active  interest  in  political  affairs.  Four  years 
afterward  he  was  elected  governor  of  Ohio.  As  a  V\  hig  he 
did  not  personally  favor  the  Mexican  war,  and  this  feeling  was 
generally  entertained  by  the  party  who  made  him  their  leader 
in  the  State. 

His  term  of  office  (1846-48)  was  distinguished  by  good 
money,  free-schools,  great  activity  in  the  construction  of  rail- 
roads and  turnpikes;  the  arts  and  industry  generally  were  well 
rewarded,  and  high  prosperity  characterised  the  whole  State. 
In  1847  Governor  Bebb  purchased  five  thousand  acres  of  land 
in  Rock  River  country,  Illinois.  Three  years  after  making 
this  purchase  he  removed  to  it,  taking  with  him  fine  horses 
and  a  number  of  the  choicest  breeds  of  cattle,  and  entered 
upon  the  cultivation  of  this  fine  property.  Five  years  after- 
ward he  visited  Great  Britain  and  the  continent  of  Europe. 
In   the   birthplace    of  his  father  he  found    many    desirous   to 


l8o  Historical  Sketches. 

immigrate  to  America,  and  encouraging  the  enterprise,  a  com- 
pany was  formed,  and  a  tract  of  one  hundred  thousand  acres 
was  purchased  for  them  in  East  Tennessee,  where  he  agreed 
to  preside  over  their  arrangements  and  the  settlement  of  this 
land.  In  1856  a  party  of  the  colonists  arrived  on  the  land, 
and  Governor  Bebb  resided  with  them  until  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion  began,  when  he  left  the  State  with  his  family.  The 
emigrants,  discouraged  by  the  strong  pro-slavery  sentiment, 
scattered  and  settled  in  various  parts  of  the  Northern  States. 
On  the  inauguration  of  President  Lincoln,  Governor  Bebb  was 
appointed  examiner  in  the  Pension  Department  at  Washing- 
ton, and  held  this  position  until  1869,  when  he  returned  to  his 
farm  in  Illinois.     He  died  at  Rockford,  October  23,  1873. 

James  B.  Campbell  was  born  in  Middletown,  July  7, 
1843;  was  educated  in  the  free  schools  of  his  native  town;  sub- 
sequently he  received  instruction  from  Rev.  John  B.  Mor'.on,  a 
Presbyterian  minister,  an  early,  accomplished  and  successful 
teacher  of  that  place;  read  law  and  taught  school  for  a  short 
time;  in  1863  he  enlisted  in  the  navy.  He  became  a  master's 
mate  on  the  gun  boats  "Elk"  and  "Naiad,"  serving  on  the 
Mississippi  and  Red  river  flotillas,  and  taking  part  in  several 
important  engagements  His  health  failed  him  afte  r  a  year's 
service  when  he  was  examined  by  a  board  of  surgeons  and  dis- 
charged. After  regaining  his  health  he  resumed  the  study  of 
law  during  the  winter  of  1864  and  1865,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1865.  In  the  spring  of  1867  he  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  this  city,  and  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attor- 
ney of  Butler  county  in  1875  and  1877.  He  filled  the  office 
with  honor  to  himself  and  acceptably  to  his  constituents.  On 
January  4,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Libbie  Owens.  Mrs. 
Campbell  is  a  woman  of  rare  intellect  and  tact,  not  to  speak  of 
beauty,  and  four  fine  children  grace  the  home  circle.  Mrs. 
Campbell's  strength  rests  on  something  nore  solid  than  the 
fact  that  she  has  fine  dark  eyes,  thick  bk  hair,  with  a  full 
sy metrical    face,    built   on     decidedly  a  ic    model.     Her 

great  strength  lies  in  the  fact  that  she  '  ju  ds  as  well  as 
beauty.     Mr.  Campbell  was  a  representative  in  congress    from 


/^         •£. 

■■pV 

'    ■Ehh 

<0&-^ 

^^^SH^^^H^^ff 

JAMKS  K.  CAMPBELL 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  181 

1884  to  1889.  During  his  term  he  participated  in  the  debates 
of  the  house  and  was  recognized  as  an  able  speaker.  His  cam- 
paign and  election  to  the  governorship  of  Ohio  in  1889,  made 
him  a  conspicuous  national  figure.  It  does  not  take  a  long 
acquaintance  with  Gov.  Campbell  to  understand  the  secret  of 
his  remarkable  personal  popularity.  His  cordiality  is  of  an 
unaffected,  natural  sort,  which,  no  matter  how  warm  its  mani- 
festations, never  throws  him  off  a  certain  poise  of  dignity, 
which  his  clean  cut,  positive  face  carries  well.'  One  often  asso- 
ciates the  popular  man,  especially  if  he  be  prominent  in  poli- 
tics, with  a  sort  of  stage-propriety,  galvanic  smile,  or  with  the 
nauseating,  shoulder  lapping,  bluff  and  hearty  swagger  of  the 
professional  politician.  There  is  not  a  trace  of  this  wretched 
affectation  in  Gov.  Campbell.  He  acts  and  acts  quickly.  In 
speech,  manner  and  expression  of  countenance  he  is  quick  and 
decisive — quick  to  grasp  a  point  and  put  it  into  practical  use. 
When  you  meet  a  man  who  from  the  first  impresses  you  as 
being  sincere,  friendly  in  temperament  and  the  possessor  of  a 
bright,  sound  intelligence,  you  like  him,  and  that  is  the  reason 
why  Gov.  Campbell  is  liked,  because  he  looks  and  is  all  of  this. 

He  is  systematic  in  all  his  efforts.  Socially  no  man 
stands  higher.  He  is  courteous  in  manner,  thorough  in  his 
acquisition  of  detail,  and  of  the  highest  integrity  of  character. 
He  is  a  good,  clear,  logical  speaker,  and  well  informed  on  all 
questions  of  law  and  politics.  No  man  in  Hamilton  has  a 
better  or  more  honorable  record,  and  no  one  is  deserving 
of  greater  credit  than  he. 

At  the  Democratic  Convention  of  1895,  he  was  nominated 
for  Governor  and  made  a  most  gallant  campaign  in  behalf  of 
his  party. 

JOHN  C.  ELLIOTT. 

We  make  a  short  review,  from'  standard  authority,  of  the 
Mormon  difficulties  that  led  to  the  killing  ot  Joe  Smith,  with 
reminiscences   of  John  C.  Elliott,  a  well  known    Hamiltonian. 

Joseph  Smith  jr.,  was  born  in  Sharon,  Vt,  December  13, 
1805.  His  parents  were  of  the  lowest  grade  of  society,  being 
ignorant,    illiterate,  shiftless  and  superstitious,  which   qualities 


182  Historical  Sketches. 

were  transmitted  to  the  son.  In  1815  the  Smiths  moved  to 
Palmyra,  New  York,  where  Joseph  began  to  assert  vague 
claims  as  a  founder  of  a  new  religion. 

In  1823,  Joseph  Smith  and  Sidney  Rigdon,  brother  of  the 
late  Dr.  L,aomi  Rigdon,  of  Hamilton,  entered  into  a  scheme 
for  the  prodnction  of  a  new  Bible,  or  "Book  of  Mormon." 
Smith  declared  that  Maroni  had  appeared  to  him,  announc- 
ing that  certain  gold  plates  were  buried  in  "the  hill,  Carao- 
rah,"  giving  an  account  of  settlement  of  the  new  continent 
before  the  time  of  Christ. 

These  plates  were  the  work  of  Rev.  Solomon  Spaulding, 
who  retired  from  the  ministry  owing  to  failing  health,  and 
visited  the  mounds  in  this  western  country  to  engage  in  the 
study  of  their  archaeology.  While  in  the  Miami  Valley  he 
conceived  the  idea  of  writing  a  romance,  which  pretended  to 
give  an  account  of  the  prehistoric  race,  known  as  the  "Mound 
Builders,"  and  also  of  the  mounds  that  had  long  confused 
archaeology  scholars.  In  this  history  he  purported  to  demon- 
strate that  the  Mound  Builders  were  descendants  of  the  last 
ten  tribes  of  the  Israelites.  The  manuscript  of  the  romance 
was  offered  a  printer  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  was  rejected,  but 
not  returned  immediately  to  Rev.  Spaulding.  Sidney  Rigdon, 
an  employe  in  the  printing  office,  made  a  copy  of  it  for  him- 
self, which  was  used  in  formulating  the  so  called  "Book  of 
Mormon,"  afterward  claimed  to  be  the  "Bible  of  the  Mor- 
mons." 

In  the  early  spring  of  1830,  the  "Book  of  Mormon"  made 
its  appearance,  and  on  April  6th,  of  the  same  year,  the  Mormon 
church  was  organized  at  Manchester,  New  York.  In  1831, 
Joseph  Smith,  as  prophet  and  president,  organized  a  congre- 
gation and  established  the  first  church  in  form  at  Kirtland, 
Ohio.  The  second  settlement  of  the  Mormons  was  made  in 
July  of  the  same  year  at  Jackson  county,  Missouri.  I^ater  on 
the  Mormons  were  charged  with  almost  every  crime  in  the 
criminal  code  and  in  1838-9  were  driven  and  expelled  from 
Ohio  and  Missouri. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  183 

In  1839  the  Mormons  founded  the  city  of  Nauvoo  (the 
beautiful)  in  Hancock  county,  Illinois.  The  city  was  phe- 
nomenal in  growth;  rose  as  if  by  magic,  so  that  in  five  years 
it  contained  a  population  of  15,000.  During  the  "Hard  Cider" 
campaign  of  1840  the  Mormons  commanded  a  vote  and  held 
the  balance  of  power  in  Illinois.  Joe  Smith  was  wined,  dined 
and  feasted  by  the  heelers  and  strikers  of  both  parties.  His 
people,  driven  from  a  Democratic  state  by  a  Democratic  gov- 
ernor and  refused  redress  by  a  Democratic  president.  Smith's 
celebrated  memorial  against  Missouri  was  introduced  into  the 
senate  by  Henry  Clay. 

The  prophet  felt  no  particular  interest  in  politics  as  his 
people  had  been  maltreated  by  New  York  Yankees  and  by  the 
"Free  Soilers"  of  the  Western  Reserve.  He  had  a  secret 
interview  with  his  people  and  claimed  that  he  had  been  directed 
by  a  revelation  to  support  the  Whig  ticket  in  the  campaign  of 
1840-41,  which  the  Mormons  did  unanimously  by  his  direction. 
At  this  juncture  the  Democrats  were  anxious  to  reconcile  the 
Mormons,  and  when  the  Illinois  legislature  convened  Dr. 
Bennett  presented  a  charter  for  the  incorporation  of  the  city  of 
Nauvoo.  The  yeas  and  nays  were  called  in  both  houses,  and 
that  charter  passed  without  a  dissenting  vote. 

In  1844  the  Mormons  in  the  Hancock  and  Quincy  dis- 
tricts had  been  directed  to  vote  the  Whig  ticket  for  State  Sen- 
ator. In  the  Quincy  district,  the  "Little  Giant,"  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  was  the  Democratic  candidate  and  O.  H.  Browning, 
the  Whig  candidate.  Judge  Douglas  was  afraid  that  Governor 
Ford  would  oppose  him  for  the  United  States  senate  in  1846, 
and  circulated  a  story  affecting  his  party  standing;  that  he  was 
a  "double-dealer;"  that  he  influenced  the  Mormons  to  vote  for 
Hoge,  and  for  Browning,  also — rival  candidates.  This  story 
influenced  many  of  the  Democrats  in  favor  of  driving  the 
Mormons  from  the  state.  By  1844  their  conduct  was  such 
that  an  organized  effort  was  made  to  drive  them  out,  and  on 
innumerable  occasions  they  were  mobbed,  as  they  had  been  at 
Kirtland,  Ohio,  and  Independence,  Missouri.  These  attacks 
served  only  to  give  them  new  life. 


184  Historical  Sketches. 

The  culminating  folly  of  the  Mormons' occurred  in  the 
early  spring  of  1844,  when  the  Prophet,  Joe  Smith,  announced 
himself  as  a  candidate  for  president.  The  government  was 
denounced  as  corrupt;  and  the  Mormons  asserted  that  the  gov- 
ernment was  to  be  conducted  by  Joe  Smith,  as  the  servant  of 
God.  In  May  a  secret  national  call  was  made  for  men  in  the 
adjoining  states  to  come  forward  and  expel  the  Mormons. 

At  this  time  John  C.  Elliott,  of  Hamilton,  was  a  deputy 
United  Slates  Marshal.  Bold,  courageous  and  brave,  a  man 
perfectly  devoid  of  fear,  he  was  summoned  to  Nauvoo.  Before 
taking  his  departure  for  the  seat  of  war  he  repaired  to  the  resi- 
dence of  William  C.  Stephenson,  a  noted  axe  maker,  residing 
on  Boudinot  street,  in  Rossville,  now  West  Hamilton,  and  bor- 
rowed a  rifle  that  had  been  specially  made  for  him  by  the 
famous  gunsmith,  Jacob  Neinmeyer,  ol  Trenton.  He  immedi- 
ately left  for  Nauvoo. 

On  his  arrival  he  found  that  Joe  and  Hyram  Smith  and 
members  of  the  Nauvoo  council  had  been  committed  to  jail  on 
the  charge  of  treason.  The  jail  was  a  large  two-story  stone 
building,  a  portion  of  which  was  occupied  by  the  jailer,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  interior,  consisting  of  cells,  for  the  con- 
finement of  prisoners  and  one  large  room.  The  Smiths  were 
confined  in  the  cells,  but  were  finally  transferred  to  the  large 
room.  Governor  Ford  ordered  a  guard  placed  around  the  jail 
for  protection  to  the  prisoners. 

The  Carthage  Grays,  a  military  company  one  hundred 
strong,  was  stationed  in  the  court  house  square  for  the  purpose 
of  repelling  an  attack  on  the  jail  and  the  prisoners  confined 
therein.  The  conspirators,  who  numbered  two  hundred  brave 
and  determined  men,  communicated  with  the  Carthage  Grays, 
and  it  was  arranged  that  the  jail  guard  should  have  their  guns 
charged  with  blank  cartridges  and  fire  at  the  attacking  party 
as  it  neared  the  jail. 

For  his  cool  and  daring  bravery,  John  C.  Elliott  was 
selected  as  one  of  the  advance  assailants.  The  attacking  party 
came  up  and  scaled  the  picket  fence  around  the  jail;  were  fired 
upon    by  the  guard,  which  was  immediately  overpowered,  and 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  185 

the  assailants  entered  the  jail.  The  jail  door  was  battered 
down,  and  as  it  burst  open,  Joe  Smith  shot  three  of  his  assail- 
ants. At  this  time  a  number  of  shots  were  fired  into  the  room, 
and  John  Taylor  and  Hyram  Smith  weie  instantly  killed.  Joe 
Smith  attempted  to  escape  by  jumping  from  the  second  story 
window  and  fell  against  the  curb  of  an  old  fashioned  well. 
The  fall  stunned  him;  he  was  unable  to  rise,  and  while  in  a 
sitting  position,  the  conspirators  dispatched  him  with  four  rifle 
balls  through  the  body.  The  rifle  that  John  C.  Elliott  carried 
run  forty-four  to  the  pound,  which  was  the  largest  bore  in 
the  attacking  party.  Upon  examination  of  Smith's  body  it 
was  found  that  John  C.  Elliott  had  fired  the  fatal  shot. 

After  the  assassination  of  Joe  Smith  the  excitement  at 
Nauvoo  was  at  fever  heat.  John  C.  Elliott  and  his  confeder- 
ates in  the  shooting  were  arrested.  Nauvoo  was  not  deemed  a 
safe  place  for  their  incarceration,  owing  to  the  bitter  Mormon 
feeling  against  the  Gentiles.  Accordingly,  they  were  spirited 
to  Jacksonville,  where  they  were  liberated  by  a  mob.  No 
effort  was  ever  made  to  apprehend  them,  and  John  C.  Elliott 
returned  to  Hamilton,  where  he  played  an  important  part  in 
the  drama  of  passing  events.  He  was  a  terror  to  evil  doers, 
and  in  the  performance  of  his  duties  as  United  States  Marshal 
and  City  marshal  of  Hamilton  made  enemies  by  the  score,  and 
enemies  of  a  most  dangerous  class. 

One  night,  while  passing  an  alley  on  Basin  street,  between 
Julius  Hamann's  cigar  factory,  and  Barney  Hafertepen's  shoe 
store,  one  of  these  enemies  began  to  sing  the  following  refrain, 
familiar  to  our  older  inhabitants: 

"He  scaled  the  walls  at  Jackson, 
And  here  we  have  the  rascal  still,  etc." 

As  the  last  echo  died  out,  bang!  bang!  resounded  from  a 
revolver  in  the  hands  of  a  man  who  had  attempted  to  assassin- 
ate Elliott.  The  attempt  was  unsuccessful  and  Elliott  was 
unharmed.  As  a  United  States  officer  he  was  frequently  called 
upon  to  arrest  fugitive  slaves.  The  Dred  Scott  decision  made 
it  mandatory  for  the  government  to  pursue,  capture  and  return 
these  poor  unfortunate  human  chattels  to  their  masters. 


186  Historical  Sketches. 

On  several  occasions  an  attempted  arrest  of  fugitive  slaves 
came  within  an  ace  of  costing  Elliott  his  life.  In  1857  he 
located  a  runaway  mulatto  in  the  Spencer  house  in  Cincinnati, 
who  barricaded  the  door  to  prevent  his  capture.  Elliott  sought 
to  obtain  admission  through  a  transom  over  the  door,  and  as 
this  avenue  was  about  to  prove  successful,  the  mulatto  inflicted 
two  stabs  upon  the  body  of  Elliott  with  a  Spanish  dirk.  For 
weeks  Elliott's  life  was  despaired  of  but  he  finally  recovered 
and  continued  in  the  "nigger  catching"  business. 

Later  in  1857,  Elliott  was  called  to  Urbana,  on  one  of 
these  missions,  and  as  he  was  noted  for  his  daring  courage  — 
not  of  the  kind  fool-like,  that  rushes  in  where  angels  lear  to 
tread  —  he  led  the  advance  guard  with  his  trusty  rifle  up  a 
a  narrow  stairway.  As  he  reached  the  landing  at  the  top 
the  uagro  fired  at  him,  the  ball  cutting  in  twain  the  ramrod  of 
his   gun. 

In  the  winter  of  1857,  United  States  Marshal  Ben 
Churchill,  and  Deputies  William  Keepers  and  John  C.  Elliott, 
through  mere  curiosity,  were  attracted  to  a  revival  being  car- 
ried on  in  the  old  frame  church  on  Water  street.  Religious 
excitement  among  the  colored  brethern  was  at  white  heat;  the 
preacher  exhorting  the  sinners  to  come  forward  and  be 
cleansed,  purified  and  made  as  white  as  the  driven  snow;  as 
'  'beyond  these  chilly  winds  and  gloomy  skies,  beyond  death's 
cloudy  portal,  there  is  a  land  that  blooms  lor  aye  eternal." 
The  trio  entered  at  this  point,  and  as  the  minister  espied 
them;  he  concluded  by  saying,  "and  'dar  will  be  no  nigger 
catchers'  'dar."  In  a  moment  confusion  reigned,  and  it  was 
only  through  the  efforts  of  Alfred  Anderson,  an  educated,  cool 
headed  and  able  colored  man,  that  a  riot  was  averted. 

In  1857,  N.  G.  Curtis  carried  on  the  dry  goods  business 
on  a  large  scale  in  West  Hamilton;  and,  from  an  over  amount 
of  credit  to  his  patrons  became  financially  embarrassed.  His 
creditors  in  the  East  began  attachment  suits  in  the  United 
States  court.  Elliott  was  instructed  to  levy  upon  the  goods. 
It  appeared  that  Wilkinson  Beatty  was  in  possession  of  the 
stores  as  he  had  loaned  a  large  amount  of  money  to  Curtis  and 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  187 

taken  a  bill  of  sale  upon  his  goods.  One  day  J.  C.  Elliott 
would  have  possession;  the  next  day  Beatty  held  the  vantage 
ground,  and  so  it  went  on  for  a  week  or  ten  days.  Finally,  by 
a  strategic  movement,  Elliott  obtained  possession  and  closed 
the  stores.  We  remember  him  yet  today  as  he  stood  guard, 
backed  against  the  closed  and  shuttered  door,  with  an  ugly- 
looking  revolver  in  each  hand,  as  he  exclaimed:  •  I  will  shoot 
the  first  man  that  puts  his  foot  on  the  pavement."  No  less 
than  five  hundred  people  had  congregated  to  witness  the  re-tak- 
ing of  the  store  by  Wilkinson  Beatty — as  brave  a  man  as  ever 
drew  the  breath  of  life — and  his  friends.  Beatty  finally  trans- 
ferred his  base  of  operations  to  the  rear  of  the  store;  and  unob- 
served by  Elliott,  gained  admission  and  held  the  same  until  it 
was  decided  in  court  that  he  held  the  first  claim  against  the 
stock  of  goods. 

John  C.  Elliott  had  a  noble  wife  and  an  interesting  fam- 
ily. He  resided  at  the  head  of  Main  street  in  a  white  brick 
house,  near  Kopp's  garden.  Future  events  showed  that  a 
strange  fatality  was  to  overtake  the  premises.  Mrs.  Brooks  a 
neighbor,  committed  suicide  by  jumping  into  the  well.  Later 
Mrs.  Elliott  sickened  and  died  with  typhus  fever,  and  within 
three  weeks'  time  two  children  followed  her  to  the  grave. 

When  the  rebellion  broke  out  John  C.  Elliott  was  one 
among  the  first  to  respond  to  his  country's  call,  enlisting  in 
Company  F,  Third  Ohio,  under  Captain  W.  C.  Rossman.  He 
participated  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  was 
engaged;  was  with  the  regiment  when  it  captured  the  entire 
Forty-fourth  Virginia,  and  later  on  at  Kelly's  Ferry,  when  the 
Third  Ohio  was  made  prisoners  of  war  by  the  same  regiment 
it  had  previously  captured. 

John  C.  Elliott  was  a  good  soldier  and  served  his  country 
well.  While  his  company  was  encamped  near  Tuscumbia, 
Ala.,  in  the  fall  of  1864,  he  was  engaged  in  a  friendly  wres- 
tling match  with  one  of  his  comrades.  He  was  thrown  violently 
to  the  ground,  rupturing  a  blood  vessel  and  dying  almost 
instantly. 


188  Historical  Sketches. 

The  rifle  that  killed  Joe  Smith  is  still  retained  as  a  relic 
in  the  family  of  the  late  William  C.  Stephenson. 

REMINISCENCES    OF  ELIJAH  \V.  HAEFORD. 

He  was  born  in  Nottingham,  England,  in  1841.  While 
yet  a  lad  his  parents  emigrated  to  America,  coming  to  Cincin- 
nati but  shortly  thereafter  locating  at  Hamilton.  They  resided 
in  what  is  now  known  as  the  Dr.  Mallory  property  in  West 
Hamilton.  The  elder  Halford  was  a  tailor  by  trade;  in 
religion  an  ardent  follower  of  John  Wesley.  He  died  in  1856. 
Young  Halford  was  then  thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  and 
it  became  necessary  for  him  to  assist  in  the  support  of  a 
widowed  mother  with  five  children,  of  whom  he  was  the  oldest. 
Selecting  a  trade  of  his  own  liking,  Elijah  accepted  a  position 
in  the  Hamilton  Intelligencer  office,  then  owned  by  D.  W. 
Halsey.  E.  W.  Halford  was  a  favorite  of  Colonel  Millikin's 
and  was  highly  esteemed  by  the  late  Hon.  Lewis  D.  Campbell 
and  the  members  of  his  family.  After  serving  one  year  as 
printer's  "devil,"  young  Halford  was  promoted  and  persuaded 
the  writer  to  take  the  place  made  vacant,  and  which,  humble 
as  it  was,  he  had  so  creditably  filled.  Thus  began  an  associa- 
tion which  has  continued  for  years,  and  which  today  brings  up 
a  memory  that  is  exceedingly  pleasant,  and  recollections  of  the 
routine  duties  of  the  quasi-printer  and  "devil"  enlivened  by 
many  boyish  pranks  born  of  desire  to  have  fun  and  sport  at  the 
expense  of  his  fellow-workmen.  Mr.  Halford  soon  forged  his 
way  to  the  front  as  a  painstaking,  accurate  and  rapid  com- 
positor. 

In  December,  i860,  Judge  Dunlevy,  of  Lebanon,  formu- 
lated a  compromise  almost  identical  with  the  Crittenden  Com- 
promise, and  forwarded  the  same  to  the  Ohio  State  Journal  for 
publication.  There  was  not  a  compositor  in  the  office  that 
could  read  the  manuscript  and  it  was  returned  to  the  author, 
who  sent  it  to  the  Hamilton  Intelligencer.  Young  Halford  set 
the  article  as  readily  as  the  rest  of  the  printers  could  set  reprint. 
During  the  transmission  of  the  manuscript  from  Lebanon  to 
Columbus   and   back  to  Judge  Dunlevy,  thence   to   Hamilton, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  189 

Hon.  John  J.  Crittenden,  of  Kentucky,  had  introduced  his 
famous  compromise  in  the  National  House  of  Representatives. 
The  paper  of  Judge  Dunlevy  ante-dated  the  Crittenden  Resolu- 
tions. 

"L,ige,"  as  the  boys  familiarly  called  him,  was  the  owner 
of  the  composing  stick  used  by  William  Dean  Howells  who 
learned  his  trade  on  the  Intelligencer.  Mr.  Howells  is  now  a 
contributor  to  Harper's  Monthly.  Halford  prized  the  stick 
very  highly. 

His  first  effort  in  newspaper  work  was  an  article  written 
for  the  Intelligencer  favoring  the  abandonment  of  the  old 
Fourth  ward  burying  ground,  and  its  transformation  into  a 
public  park. . 

For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Halford  was  a  member  of  the 
old  Franklin  Literary  club.  He  was  an  able  and  enthusiastic 
member  of  this  organization,  which,  in  its  days  was  famous. 

This  Society  secured  some  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  coun- 
try as  lecturers.  On  January  17,  i860,  the  anniversary  of 
Franklin's  birthday,  Horace  Greeley  was  invited  to  lecture 
before  the  society.  This  was  followed  by  a  reunion  and  banquet 
in  the  old  Hamilton  House,  a  famous  hostelry.  Owing  to 
other  engagements  however,  Mr.  Greeley  was  not  able  to 
attend  and  so  informed  Mr.  E.  W.  Halford,  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  invitations.  The  famous  journalist  instead, 
sent  the  following  toast  for  the  banquet:  "Faust  and  Frank- 
lin —  one  who  taught  metal  to  speak,  the  other  millions  more 
to  think  —  ever  green  be  their  memory."  Jacob  Troutman 
was  Postmaster  at  the  time,  and  the  letter  remained  in  the 
office  for  a  considerable  time,  neither  the  Postmaster  or  his 
assistant  being  able  to  read  Mr.  Greeley's  writing.  Halford 
was  called  into  the  office  by  the  assistant  Postmaster  to  help 
find  the  owner  of  the  letter.  He  soon  discovered  the  letter 
was  intended  for  him.  This  was  just  two  days  before  the  ban- 
quet. Mr.  Halford  responded  to  the  sentiment  in  an  able  and 
happy  manner  and  won  plaudits  from  his  admiring  hearers. 
Halford  treasured  Greeley's  letter  and  toast  highly — in  fact  the 


190  Historical  Sketches. 

Franklin  boys  used  to  say  that  he  slept  with  it  in  his  bosom. 
He  was  the  only  member  of  the  society  who  could  read  it. 

One  day  as  we  were  crossing  the  old  wooden  bridge  that 
spanned  the  Miami  river,  John  Bruck,  a  druggist  in  the  employ 
of  John  O.  Brown,  accidently  dropped  a  two  gallon  jug  of  tur- 
pentine. The  jug  broke  and  the  inflammable  liquid  spread 
over  the  old  oaken  floor.  Young  Halford  applied  a  match  to 
it,  and  in  a  moment  the  bridge  was  in  flames.  The  turpen- 
tine was  consumed  without  any  damage  to  the  structure.  The 
fire  department  was  called  out.  We  were  not  long  in  getting 
off  the  bridge. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1861,  or  early  in  1862,  E.  W.  Hal- 
ford  left  Hamilton  for  Indianapolis.  From  this  time  onward 
his  star  of  destiny  was  in  the  ascendancy.  Mr.  Halford' s 
reputation  as  a  sagacious  newspaper  writer  is  national. 

His  appointment  as  President  Harrison's  Private  Secretary 
was  a  just  and  fitting  reward  that  came  to  him  after  years  of 
patient  hard  work.  He  was  entitled  to  the  exalted  position  he 
occupied,  and  filled  it  with  a  conscientious  regard  for  the 
responsibilities  which  he  thus  assumed. 

In  1892,  he  was  appointed  paymaster  of  the  United  States 
army,  with  the  rank  of  Major.     The  position  is  a  life-time  one. 

"oed  third"  district  congressmen. 

These  sketches  are  designed  to  be  brief,  biographical,  his- 
toric and  statistical,  with  an  occasional  change  incident  to 
redistricting.  In  the  list  will  be  found  many  eminent  states- 
men who  were  honored  by  our  people.  It  has  been  endeavored 
to  give  the  place  and  time  of  their  birth,  education,  occupation, 
the  public  offices  held  and  their  politics  when  elected  to  con- 
gress of  the  subjects  treated.  No  district  in  the  United  States 
has  been  represented  by  such  an  array  of  political  giants  as  the 
Third  Ohio  district.  We  point  with  pride  to  our  Morrow, 
Harrison,  Woods,  Corwin,  Weller,  the  Campbells,  Vallandig- 
ham,  Schenck,  McMahon,  Sorg  and  others,  who  have  sat  in 
our  federal  councils  and  achieved  distinction  and  success  in 
other  ways. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  191 

What  is  familiarly  known  as  the  Third  congressional  dis- 
trict of  Ohio,  has  had  the  following  representatives  in  the 
lower  house  of  the  national  congress: 

W.  H.  Harrison  (Fed.)  L,.  D.  Campbell,       (W.) 

Ter.  del 1798-1800  Butler 1849-1858 

William  Mc  vi  illan  (F.)..  1800-1802  C.      L,.     Vallandigham, 

Jeremiah    Morrow,   (F.)  (D.)  Montgomery 1858-1863 

Warren  county 1803-1811  Robert  C.  Sehenck,  (R.) 

John  McLean,  (F.)War-  Montgomery 1863-1871 

ren 1811-1814  E.   D.   Campbell,     (D.) 

W.   H.    Harrison,    (F.)  Butler 1871-1873 

Hamilton 1814-1819  John   Q.   Smith,       (R.) 

Thomas  R.  Ross,      (W.)  Clinton 1873-1875 

Warren 1819-1S25  John    S.   Savage,      (D.) 

John  Woods,   (W.)   But-  Clinton 1875-1877 

ler 1S25-1829  Mills     Gardner,        (R.) 

James  Shields,  (D.)  But-  Fayette 1877-1879 

ler 1829-1831  John     McVfahon,      (D.) 

Thomas   Corwin,     (W.)  Montgomery ', 1879-1881 

Butler 1831-1833  H.  L.  Morey,    (R.)   But- 

Taylor  Webster,       (D.)  ler 1881-1884 

Butler 1833-1839  James  E.  Campbell,  (D.) 

John  B.   Weller,      (D.)  Butler 1884-1889 

Butler  1839-1845  H.  L.  Morey,   (R.)    But- 
Frank        Cunningham,                                      ler 1889-1891 

(W.)  Preble 1845-1847  George  W.  Houk,    (D.) 

David  Fisher,  (W.)  Clin-  Montgomery 1891-1894 

ton 1847-1849  Paul  J. Sorg,  (D.)  Butler  1894-1897 

William  Henry  Harrison  was  born  in  Charles  county, 
Virginia,  February  9,  1773;  received  a  classical  education  in 
Hampton  Sydney  college;  studied  medicine;  was  commissioned 
ensign  by  President  Washington  in  April  179 1,  and  for  gal- 
lant conduct  in  the  Indian  wars  reached  the  rank  of  captain. 
He  resigned  in  1797  on  being  appointed  secretary  of  the 
Northwest  territory.  He  was  elected  delegate  of  the  territory 
of  Ohio,  serving  from  December  2,  1799,  to  March,  1800,  when 
he  was  appointed  governor  of  the  Indian  Territory,  serving 
until  1813.  He  was  appointed  major-general  of  volunteers 
and  defeated  the  British  and  Indians  at  Tippecanoe,  November 
7,  181 1,  serving  with  distinction  throughout  the  war  of  18 12 
and  resigning  in  18 14.  He  was  elected  a  representative  to  the 
fourteenth  congress  as  a  Whig  to  succeed  John  McLean; 
resigned  in  18 16  and  was  re-elected  to  the  fifteenth  congress, 
serving  until  March  4,  18 19.  He  was  elected  to  the  state  sen- 
ate in  1819-20,  and  elected  to  United  States  senator,  serving 
from  1825  to  1828,  when  he  resigned.  He  was  appointed 
minister  to  Columbia  by  President  Adams  and  served  one  year. 


192  Historical  Sketches. 

He  was  the  Whig  candidate  for  President  in  1836  and  again  in 
1840,  when  he  was  elected  over  Martin  VanBuren,  carrying 
nineteen  out  of  the  twenty-six  states.  He  died  one  month 
after  his  inauguration,  April  4,  1841,  and  is  buried  at  North 
Bend,  Ohio, 

William  McMilan,  successor  to  W.  H.  Harrison  as 
delegate  to  congress,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1760.  He  received 
a  classical  education;  studied  law  and  in  1787  removed  to  Ft. 
Washington,  near  Cincinnati.  He  was  elected  magistrate  in 
1780  and  soon  afterward  judge;  was  elected  to  the  territorial 
legislature  in  1799,  and  in  1800  as  delegate  to  the  sixth  con- 
gress ( vice  Harrison,  resigned),  serving  until  180 1.  He  was 
appointed  United  States  District  Attorney  for  Ohio  by  Presi- 
dent Jefferson.  He  died  from  an  injury  received  while  plowing 
on  his  farm  near  Cincinnati,  in  June,  1804. 

Jeremiah  Morrow,  of  Warren  county,  the  first  repre- 
sentative from  the  state  of  Ohio,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1770;  removed  to  Ohio  in  1795,  and  was  elected  to  congress  in 
1802  as  a  Republican  and  served  until  181 3;  was  elected 
United  States  Senator,  serving  from  18 13  until  1 819;  was  a 
presidential  elector  on  the  Monroe  ticket  in  1820,  and  elected 
Governor  in  1822,  serving  two  terms;  was  again  elected  to  con- 
gress in  1840  as  a  Whig  in  the  Fourth  district  (vice  Thomas 
Corwin,  resigned),  and  re-elected  in  1842.  He  died  at  Twenty 
Mile  Stand,  Warren  county,  March  22,  1852.  He  and  Gover- 
nor DeWitt  Clinton,  of  New  York,  attended  a  monster  celebra- 
tion at  Middletown  in  1824,  and  threw  out  the  first  shovelful 
of  dirt  on  the  Miami  canal. 

John  McLean  was  born  in  Morris  county,  New  Jersey, 
March  11,  1785;  removed  with  his  father  to  Lebanon,  Ohio,  in 
1798;  studied  law  under  Arthur  St.  Clair  at  Cincinnati,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1807.  He  was  elected  to  congress 
as  a  war  Democrat  in  181 2  and  1 814,  and  resigned  in  1816, 
having  been  elected  Judge  of  the  Supreme  court.  He  was 
appointed  by  President  Monroe  as  commissioner  of  the  general 
land  office  in  1822  and  Postmaster  General  in    1823.     He   was 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  193 

continued  in  this  office  by  President  Jackson,  but  declined. 
He  was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  United  States  Supreme  court 
in  1829,  continuing  in  this  office  until  his  death,  April  4,  1861. 

Thomas  R.  Ross  was  born  in  1798;  studied  law,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  commenced  practice  at  Lebanon,  Ohio. 
He  was  elected  to  Congress  in  18 18,  1820  and  1822,  as  a  Whig; 
retired  from  politics  in  1825  and  engaged  in' agricultural  pur- 
suits until  1849.  He  lost  his  eye-sight  in  1866  and  died  June 
28,  1869. 

John  Woods  was  born  in  Jonestown,  Dauphin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  October  18,  1794.  He  removed  with  his  father 
to  Warren  county,  Ohio,  in  1797.  He  was  reared  in  a  log 
cabin  and  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  he  had  to  participate 
in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  county;  studied  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1 8 1  o.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1 8 1 2 
and  on  his  return  from  the  army  he  opened  an  English  school 
near  Springboro,  Warren  county,  which  he  continued  about 
two  years. 

On  August  19,  1 819,  he  opened  an  office  in  Hamilton  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession.  At  the  general 
election  in  October,  1824,  he  was  elected  a  Representative  in 
Congress  as  a  Whig,  from  the  Second  congressional  district, 
composed  of  the  counties  of  Butler  and  Warren,  over  Thomas 
R  Ross,  of  Lebanon,  who  had  been  the  former  representative. 
In  1824,  Mr.  Woods  formed  a  partnership  with  Michael  B. 
Sargeant,  a  fine  scholar  and  a  thorough  lawyer,  who  attended 
to  the  business  affairs  of  the  office  while  Mr.  Woods  was 
absent  attending  Congress.  In  1828,  John  Woods,  then  the 
leading  lawyer  of  the  Butler  couuty  bar,  became  part  owner  of 
the  Hamilton  Intelligoicer.  Subsequently  he  purchased  the 
other  half  of  the  establishment  from  Edward  Shaffer  and  sold 
it  to  Michael  B.  Sargeant,  his  law  partner.  On  June  21,  1831, 
Mr.  Woods  became  sole  proprietor,  when  he  employed  L.  D. 
Campbell  to  assist  him  in  publishing  the  paper.  On  January 
30,  1845,  the  Legislature  of  Ohio  elected  him  Auditor  of  State 


194  Historical  Sketches. 

for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  introduced  important  reforms 
in  the  office  and  left  indelible  marks  on  the  policy  and  history 
of  the  state.  After  his  term  expired  he  was  again  re-elected 
and  served  until  March,  1851,  when  he  returned  to  Hamilton, 
to  assume  the  presidency  of  the  Junction  railroad.  He 
faithfully  and  energetically  discharged  the  duties  of  this 
office,  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  advantage  of  the  com- 
pany.    He  died  at  Hamilton,  July  30,  1855. 

Jambs  Shiei/ds  resided  at  Dick's  Mills,  Ross  township, 
Butler  county,  Ohio;  was  born  in  Ireland  and  was  educated  in 
the  universities  of  Glasgow  and  Edinburg,  Scotland.  He  was 
elected  to  the  State  Legislature  in  1 8 1 1 ,  and  served  twenty- 
three  years.  He  was  known  as  the  "father  of  the  house." 
He  was  nominated  for  Congress  at  the  first  democratic  conven- 
tion ever  held  in  southern  Ohio,  which  convened  at  Monroe,  in 
this  county,  in  1828.  At  the  October  election,  he  was  trium- 
phantly elected  to  Congress,  defeating  Hon.  John  Woods  for 
his  third  term.     Mr.  Shields  died  at  Dick's  Mills  July  17,  1831. 

Thomas  Corwin  was  born  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky, 
July  29,  1794  He  removed  to  Lebanon,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm;  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1 8 18.  He  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature, 
serving  from  1820  to  1829.  He  was  elected  to  Congress  as  a 
Whig  in  1830  and  re-elected  in  the  Fourth  district  in  1832, 
1834,  1836  and  1838.  He  resigned  in  1840  to  enter  the  guber- 
natorial chair  to  which  he  had  been  chosen  in  the  Harrison 
campaign,  defeating  Wilson  Shannon.  Tom  Corwin  was  the 
most  eloquent  Whig  orator  of  the  land,  and  one  whose  famous 
stump  speeches  in  1840  swayed  the  state  from  the  Van  Buren 
column.  He  was  elected  United  States  Senator  in  1845  and 
resigned  in  1850,  on  being  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
by  President  Fillmore.  He  was  again  elected  to  Congress  in 
1853  and  i860,  and  was  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by  Pres- 
ident Lincoln  in  186 1.  He  died  at  Washington,  December  18, 
1865. 

In  1846,  when  war  was  declared  between  the  United 
States  and  Mexico,  Mr.  Corwin  took  a   stand  in   opposition    to 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  195 

the  Mexican  war.  In  the  Senate  he  delivered  the  master  speech 
of  his  life,  in  which  he  used  the  following  sentence:  "Were  I 
a  Mexican,  as  I  am  an  American,  I  would  welcome  you  with 
bloody  hands  to  your  hospitable  graves!"  Daniel  Webster  and 
Henry  Clay  were  opposed  to  the  war  and  each  agreed  to  follow 
Corwin  with  a  speech  in  the  same  vein,  but  abandoned  the 
idea  after  the  cold  reception  that  this  speech  received  at  the 
hands  of  the  American  people.  Mr.  Corwin  was  misrepre- 
sented as  to  his  attitude  in  the  matter.  He  favored  the  acqui- 
sition of  the  territory  in  dispute,  but  wanted  to  obtain  it  by 
purchase  or  arbitration*. 

Taylor  Webster  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1806 
his  parents  came  to  Butler  county.  He  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  that  early  day,  and  subsequently  pursued  his 
studies  at  Miami  university.  He  was  identified  with  the  press 
of  Butler  county  from  1828  until  the  year  1836;  was  in  1829 
elected  clerk  of  the  house  of  representatives  of  Ohio.  Mr. 
Webster  represented  Butler  county  in  the  legislature  from  1830 
to  1832;  was  in  1832,  '34  and  '36  elected  to  Congress  from  the 
district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Butler,  Preble  and  Darke. 
He  was  succeeded  by  John  B.  Weller  in  1838.  Mr.  Webster 
was  an  untiring  worker  for  the  cause  of  his  party  and  his 
strength  was  in  what  was  called  the  "button  hole  and  fence- 
corner  system"  of  electioneering.  He  had  few  equals  and  no 
superiors  in  organizing  and  handling  his  political  forces.  He 
died  at  New  Orleans,  April  27,  1876. 

John  B.  WEEEER  was  born  in  Montgomery,  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  February  22,  18 12;  was  educated  at  Miami  Uni- 
versity; at  eighteen  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  Jesse  Corwin,  in  this  city.  When  twenty-one  years 
of  age  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  soon  afterward  in  1835, 
was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Butler  county.  He  was 
elected  to  Congress  as  a  Democrat  in  1838,  '40  and  '42.  He 
took  a  leading  part  in  the  debates  before  the  house  and  proved 
himself  a  powerful  speaker.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Mexican  war  he  volunteered  as  a  private;  was  subsequently 
promo^i  to   lieutenant-colonel,    and   led  his   regiment,     the 


196  Historical  Sketches. 

second  Ohio,  through  the  streets  of  Monterey,  after  Colonel 
Mitchell  was  wounded.  He  was  the  Democratic  standard- 
bearer  for  Governor  in  1842  against  Seabury  Ford,  the  Whig 
candidate.  He  was  defeated  b)^  three  hundred  and  forty-five 
votes.  He  was  appointed  by  President  Polk  in  1849,  a  com- 
missioner under  the  treaty  of  Guadaloupe  Hidalgo,  to  settle 
the  boundary  line  between  California  and  Mexico,  when  he 
removed  to  the  Golden  state.  In  1852,  he  was  elected  United 
States  Senator  in  the  place  of  John  C.  Fremont  and  was  in 
1857  elected  Governor  by  a  large  majority.  In  the  fall  of  i860, 
President  Buchanan  appointed  him  resident  minister  to  Mexico. 
In  1856,  Governor  Weller  removed  to  New  Orleans,  where  he 
lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  August  7,    1875. 

Francis  A.  Cunningham  was  born  in  South  Carolina; 
removed  to  Eaton,  Preble  county,  Ohio,  and  was  elected  a  rep- 
resentative from  Ohio,  in  the  Twenty-ninth  congress  as  a 
Democrat,  serving  from  December  1,  1845,  to  March  3,    1847. 

David  Fisher  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, December  1,  1794;  removed  to  Clinton  county,  Ohio; 
was  reared  as  a  farmer,  a  lay  preacher  and  newspaper  con- 
tributor. He  was  elected  to  Congress  as  a  Whig  in  1846, 
defeating  Elijah  Vance,  of  this  county. 

Eewis  D.  Campbell  was  born  in  Franklin,  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  August  9,  181 1.  He  received  a  public  school 
education;  was  apprenticed  to  the  art  of  printing  in  the  Cin- 
cinnati Gazette  office,  in  1829-1830,  published  and  edited  the 
Hamilton  Intellingencer — a  Clay  Whig  newspaper  from  1831 
to  1836;  studied  law;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  commenced 
practice  in  this  city.  He  was  elected  a  Representative  from 
the  Third  district  in  the  Thirty-first  congress  as  a  Whig, 
receiving  6,914  votes  against  6,497  votes  for  Baldwin,  Dem- 
ocrat. He  was  re-elected  to  the  Thirty-second  congress  as  a 
free-soil  Whig,  receiving  6,092  votes  against  5,279  votes  for 
Elijah  Vance,  Democrat.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  Thirty- 
third  congress,  receiving  8,680  votes  against  8,353  votes  for  C. 
L.    Vallandigham,    Democrat;    was    re-elected  to   the    Thirty- 


LEWIS  D.  CAMPBK1 


HENRY  I,.   MORKY 


PAUL  J.  SORG 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  197 

fourth  congress,  receiving  9,058  votes  against  8,493  votes  for 
C.  L,.  Vallandigham,  (claimed  to  have  been  re-elected  to  the 
Thirty-fifth  congress,  but  the  house  gave  the  seat  to  C.  L,. 
Vallandigham)  serving  from  December  3,  1849,  to  May  25, 
1858.  He  served  in  the  Union  army  as  Colonel  of  the  gallant 
69th  regiment  O.  V.  I.,  from  1861  to  1862;  resigning  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health.  He  was  commissioned  Minister  to  Mexico, 
May  4,  1866,  to  succeed  Tom  Corwin.  In  November  of  that 
year,  accompanied  by  General  W.  T.  Sherman,  he  proceeded 
on  his  mission.  He  was  unable  to  reach  the  Mexican  capital. 
The  French  under  Maximilian  occupied  the  city  of  Mexico 
and  other  important  cities.  He  resigned  in  June,  1866.  The 
great  question  in  congress  during  the  first  ten  years  he  spent 
there,  was  slavery.  He  participated  prominently  in  the 
debates  on  this  question,  maintaining  the  position,  that  while 
the  southern  states  should  enjoy  all  their  rights  guaranteed  by 
the  constitution,  slavery  should  be  excluded  from  the  terri- 
tories by  an  act  of  Congress.  His  discussion  with  Alexander 
H.  Stephens,  on  the  relative  advantages  of  free  and  slave  labor 
gave  him  rank  with  the  ablest  debaters  of  congress.  He  was 
nominated  for  Speaker  of  the  Thirty-fourth  congress  and 
received  the  votes  of  a  large  majority  of  his  party.  He  with- 
drew from  the  contest  in  favor  of  N.  P.  Banks,  of  Massachus- 
sets,  to  whom  he  had  promised  his  support.  During  this 
congress  Mr.  Campbell  was  chairman  of  the  ways  and  means 
committee.     He  discharged  his  duties  with  great  ability. 

During  the  session  of  this  Congress  Preston  S.  Brooks 
murderously  assaulted  Charles  Sumner  in  the  Senate  chamber. 
Mr.  Campbell  was  one  of  the  first  to  reach  the  Senator  after  he 
was  stricken  down  by  a  heavy  cane  in  the  hands  of  a  Southern 
bully.  The  next  day  he  introduced  a  resolution  calling  for  an 
investigation;  was  made  chairman  of  the  committee  appointed 
for  that  purpose,  and  made  a  report  favoring  the  expulsion  of 
Brooks.  One  of  the  fruits  of  the  assault  on  Senator  Sumner 
was  Brooks'  challenge  to  Anson  Burlingame  for  a  duel.  Mr. 
Campbell  took  charge  of  the  affair  at  the  solicitation  of  Mr. 
Burlingame,    who   was  carried  safely  through  without   a   stain 


198  Historical  Sketches. 

upon  his  honor.  During  the  war  and  subsequently  Mr.  Camp- 
bell was  frequently  called  to  Washington,  by  Lincoln,  Seward 
and  Johnson,  who  had  great  confidence  in  him  as  a  man  of 
great  experience.  On  the  accession  of  Andrew  Johnson  to 
the  presidency  he  tendered  Mr.  Campbell  a  seat  in  the  cabinet, 
which  he  declined,  as  his  business  affairs  would  not  permit  the 
sacrifice. 

Clement  L.  Vallandigham  was  born  in  New  Lisbon, 
Ohio,  July  29,  1820.  He  received  a  classical  education,  study- 
ing one  year  at  Jefferson  college,  Ohio.  He  removed  to  Mary- 
land, where  he  was  for  two  years  the  preceptor  of  an  academy 
at  Snow  Hill.  He  returned  to  Ohio,  in  1840.  He  represented 
his  native  county  in  the  Legislature  two  terms;  studied  law; 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1842  and  commenced  practice  at 
Dayton.  He  edited  The  Day  tori  Empire  in  1847- l849!  was  a 
delegate  to  the  national  Democratic  convention  at  Cincinnati, 
in  1856,  at  which  place  James  Buchanan  was  nominated  for 
the  Presidency.  He  was  elected  a  Representative  from  the 
Third  district  in  the  Thirty-fifth  congress  (having  successfully 
contested  the  election  of  Lewis  D.  Campbell)  as  a  Democrat; 
was  re-elected  to  the  Thirty-sixth  congress. 

Mr.  Vallandigham  was  arrested  in  Dayton,  for  opposing 
the  war,  by  order  of  Major-General  Ambrose  K.  Burnside  in 
1863,  and  banished  to  the  Confederate  states.  He  went  from 
Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  to  Bermuda,  and  thence  to 
Windsor,  Canada.  During  his  exile  he  was  defeated,  in  1863, 
as  democratic  candidate  for  governor  by  John  Brough,  by 
101,000  majority.  In  the  fall  of  1864  the  democrats  of  Butler 
county  arranged  for  a  big  afternoon  meeting  in  the  court  house 
park.  Secretly  Dr.  John  McElwee  and  David  W.  Brant  were 
sent  to  Windsor,  Canada,  to  escort  Mr.  Vallandigham  to 
Hamilton.  He  came  unheralded  from  his  exile  and  his  sudden 
appearance  was  like  an  apparition  from  the  clouds.  No  one 
knew  of  his  coming  or  how  he  came.  He  delivered  a  carefully 
prepared  speech  on  this  occasion.  President  Lincoln  declined 
to  further  disturb  the  exile,  who  returned  to  his  home  in 
Dayton.     He    was   a  delegate  to  the  national  democratic    con- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  199 

vention  at  Chicago,  in  1864.  Mr.  Vallandigham  and  Dr.  John 
McElwee  wrote  the  platform  that  was  adopted  by  this  conven- 
tion. Edward  Dalton  acted  as  their  secretary.  Mr.  Vallandig- 
ham was  a  delegate  to  the  New  York  convention  in  1868  that 
nominated  Horatio  Seymour.  It  had  been  prearranged  that 
Seymour  was  to  be  made  permanent  chairman  and  receive  the 
nomination  for  President,  but  was  to  decline  and  Salmon  P. 
Chase  was  to  be  nomiuated  by  acclamation.  As  Seymour  arose 
from  his  seat  and  accepted  the  nomination,  Vallandigham  was 
heard  to*  exclaim:  "Great  God!  the  d-m  fool  accepts!"  Mr. 
Vallandigham  died  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  June  17,  1871,  from  a 
wound  received  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  pistol  while 
demonstrating  to  ex-Governor  A.  G.  McBurnev  how  Thomas 
Myers  shot  himself. 

Robert  C.  Schenck  was  born  at  Franklin,  Ohio,  October 
4,  1809;  graduated  from  Miami  university;  studied  law  with 
Hon.  Thomas  Corwin  at  Lebanon  and  practiced  many  years  at 
Dayton.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1841  and 
1842;  was  elected  a  Representative  from  Ohio  in  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Congress  as  a  Whig,  receiving  7,870  votes  against  5,571 
votes  for  Lowe,  Democrat,  and  403  votes  for  Hibben,  Abolit- 
ionist. He  was  re-elected  to  the  Twenty-ninth,  Thirtieth  and 
Thirty-first  congresses,  serving  from  December  4,  1843,  to 
March  8,  1851.  He  was  appointed  in  185 1,  Envoy  Extraordinary 
and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  Brazil,  and  was  also  accredited 
Envoy  Extraordinary  to  Uruguay,  the  Argentine  Confederation 
and  Paraguay,  negotiating  important  treaties  with  those  nations. 
He  entered  the  Union  army  in  1861,  under  an  appointment  by 
President  Lincoln  as  Brigadier-General;  was  promoted  to  a 
Major-General,  to  take  rank  from  August  30,  1862  (the  date  of 
the  battle  of  Groveton,  or  second  Bull  Run),  for  his  conduct 
in  that  action,  in  which  he  was  severely  wounded,  and  con- 
tinued in  military  service  until  he  took  his  seat  in  congress  in 
December,  1863.  He  was  elected  a  Representative  from  the 
Third  district  in  the  Thirty-eighth  congress,  receiving  14,371 
votes,  against  11,795  votes  for  George  W.  Houk,  Democrat; 
was  re-elected  to  the  Fortieth  congress,  receiving  15,027  votes, 


200  Historical  Sketches. 

against  13,960  votes  for  Durbin  Ward,  Democrat,  and  was 
re-elected  to  the  Forty-first  congress,  receiving  16,293  votes, 
against  15,818  votes  for  C.  L,.  Vallandigham,  serving  from 
December  7,  1863,  to  March  3,  1871.  He  was  appointed  by- 
President  Grant,  Minister  to  Great  Britain,  serving  from  1870 
to  1876.  No  other  distinguished  citizen  of  his  time  performed 
so  much  and  such  varied  service.  But  few  men  of  any  time 
have  taken  part  in  so  many  changes,  with  exciting  and  varie  d 
success.  Very  early  in  life  Robert  C.  Schenck  gave  abundant 
evidence  of  that  ability  to  fight  hard  in  a  just  cause  which 
afterward  made  him  famous  among  American  statesmen.  He 
received  his  legal  training  from  that  distinguished  practitioner, 
Thomas  Corwin,  of  Lebanon,  and  an  intimacy  commenced  with 
that  gentleman  which  lasted  through  life.  After  Robert  C. 
Schenck  was  admitted  to  the  bar  Mr.  Corwin  wrote  a  sealed 
letter  of  introduction  to  Hon.  Joseph  H.  Crane,  of  Dayton, 
then  a  member  of  Congress  from  that  district.  The  letter  con- 
tained so  flattering  an  account  of  Mr.  Schenck  and  his  ability 
that  Judge  Crane,  needing  a  young  partner,  at  once  gave  him 
a  share  in  his  business. 

John  Q.  Smith  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 5,  1824.  He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  followed 
farming;  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  in  1860-61  and  1863; 
was  elected  a  Representative  in  the  Forty-third  congress  as 
a  Republican,  receiving  14,929  votes,  against  13,700  votes  for 
John  W.  Sohn,  Liberal.  He  served  from  December  1,  1873,  to 
March  3,  1875. 

John  S.  Savage  was  born  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio, 
October  30,  1841;  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  iu  1865 
and  practiced  at  Wilmington,  Clinton  county.  He  never  held 
any  public  office  up  to  the  time  he  was  elected  a  Represenative 
from  Ohio  in  the  Forty-fourth  congress  as  a  Democrat,  receiv- 
ing 12,972  votes,  agaiust  11,810  votes  for  John  Q.  Smith, 
Republican,  and  serving  from  December  6,  1875,  to  March  3, 
1877.  He  was  defeated  as  the  Democratic  candidate  for  the 
Forty-fifth   congress,    receiving  16,098    votes,    against    16,549 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  201 

votes  for  Mills  Gardner.  Mr.  Savage  became  identified  with 
the  Republican  party  a  short  time  previous  to  his  death. 

Mills  Gardner  was  born  in  Russellville,  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  January  30,  1830.  He  moved  to  Fayette  county  in  1854; 
received  a  common  school  education;  studied  law;  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1855,  and  commenced  practice  at  Washington 
Court  house.  He  was  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Fayette  county 
four  years;  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  in  1862-1864; 
was  a  presidential  elector  on  the  Lincoln  ticket  in  1864;  was  a 
member  of  the  Ohio  house  of  Representatives  in  1866- 1868; 
was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  in  1873,  and 
was  elected  to  the  Forty-fifth  congresss  as  a  Republican,  receiv- 
ing 16,549  votes  against  16,098  votes  for  John  S.  Savage, 
Democrat. 

John  A.  McMahon  was  born  in  Frederick  county,  Mary- 
land, February  19,  1833;  was  educated  at  St.  Xavier's  college, 
Cincinnati,  graduating  in  1849;  began  the  study  of  law  in 
January,  1821,  at  Dayton,  with  Hon.  Clement  L.  Vallandig- 
ham;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1854,  and  has  practiced 
at  Dayton,  ever  since.  He  was  a  delegate-at-large  to  the 
national  Democratic  convention  at  Baltimore  in  1872,  and  was 
elected  a  Representative  from  Ohio  in  the  Forty-fourth  congress 
as  a  Democrat,  receiving  15,411  against  14,312  votes  for  ~L,.  B. 
Gunckel,  Republican;  was  re-elected  to  the  Forty-fifth  con- 
gress, receiving  18,257  votes  against  48,461  votes  for  Howard, 
Republican. 

Henry  D.  Morey  was  born  in  Milford  township,  Butler 
county,  April  8,  1841;  attended  common  schools  of  Butler 
and  Preble  counties,  until  1856,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  Morn- 
ing Sun  academy  to  prepare  for  a  collegiate  education.  In 
1859,  he  entered  Miami  university;  enlisted  in  the  University 
Rifles,  organized  at  Oxford,  on  the  day  following  the  fall  of 
Fort  Sumter.  This  company  was  attached  to  the  Twentieth 
regiment  O.  V.  I.  and  was  actively  engaged  in  the  campaign 
of  West  Virginia.  Mr.  Morey  subsequently  enlisted  in  the 
Seventy-fifth  regiment  which  he  helped  to  recruit  and  organize 
at   Camp  McDean,    near  Iyocklaud.     He   was   elected    second 


202  Historical  Sketches. 

lieutenant  and  served  with  his  regiment  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  being  successively  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  and  cap- 
tain. The  Seventy-fifth  regiment,  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Monterey,  Franklin,  Cross  Keys,  Cedar  Mountain,  Chan- 
cellorsville  and  numerous  other  ones  of  less  note.  Captain 
Morey  commanded  his  company  in  every  engagement  after 
the  battle  of  Monterey.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Chancellors- 
ville  and  confined  in  Libby  prison  for  a  short  time,  when  he 
was  exchanged.  After  the  war  he  studied  law;  graduated 
from  the  Indianapolis  law  college,  and  located  in  this  city  in 
1867,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  was,  in  1871, 
elected  City  Solicitor  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of 
Elijah  Vance;  was  shortly  after  re-elected  for  a  full  term;  was 
the  same  year  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Butler  county, 
overcoming  and  wiping  out  a  Democratic  majority  of  two 
thousand.  He  was  elected  a  Representative  in  Congress  in 
1880,  and  was  re-elected  in  1889,  serving  until  March  3,  1891. 
In  politics  Mr.  Morey  is  a  Republican;  devoted  to  his  party 
and  proud  of  its  achievements.  He  is  the  senior  member  of 
the  law  firm  of  Morey,  Andrews  &  Morey,  which  has  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice.  H.  L,.  Morey  is  an  able  gentleman  and 
stands  well  with  his  party  and  the  community  in  general. 

James  E.  Campbeei*.     [See  Hamilton's  Ex-Governors.] 

GEORGE  W.  Houk  was  born  in  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  September  25,  1825.  In  1828  his  parents  came 
to  Ohio,  and  located  in  Dayton.  He  was  educated  at  the 
Dayton  academy  and  public  schools;  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
was  appointed  assistant  teacher  in  the  Dayton  schools,  and 
taught  for  two  years;  subsequently  studied  law  in  the  office 
of  Peter  P.  and  John  G.  L-owe  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1847;  was  elected  in  1 851,  to  represent  Montgomery  county 
in  the  Legislature.  He  was  defeated  for  the  Thirty-ninth  con- 
gress in  1864,  by  Robert  C.  Schenck,  the  district  at  that  time 
being  strongly  Republican.  In  1890  he  was  nominated  and 
elected  to  Congress  by  a  large  majority  and  was  re-elected  in 
1892.     He  died  suddenly  at  Washington  on  Friday  evening, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  203 

February  9,  1894.  When  a  youth  he  was  admired  for  his 
manly  qualifications  and  when  a  man  was  esteemed  and 
respected  for  his  genuine  worth.  He  possessed  a  generous, 
kind  heart  and  genial  character  and  was  an  able  lawyer  and  a 
ripe  scholar.  He  studied  all  our  national  affairs  with  great 
care.  As  a  politician  he  was  of  the  old  school  order  —  an  able 
and  polished  gentleman.  At  the  National  military  home,  of 
Dayton,  the  news  of  Congressman  Houk's  death  was  received 
with  a  wide-spread  feeling  of  sadness.  He  devoted  much  of  his 
time  in  Washington  in  behalf  of  the  heroes  of  the  late  war. 

Paul  J.  Sorg  was  born  in  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  Subsequently  he  came  to 
Cincinnati  and  learned  the  molding  trade.  He  embarked  in 
the  manufacture  of  tobacco  on  a  small  scale.  Afterward  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  John  Auer  in  the  same  business 
and  removed  to  Middletown.  An  immense  building  was 
erected  in  1879  for  the  manufacture  of  the  best  brands  of  plug 
tobacco.  L,arge  additions  have  been  added  since  this  time,  and 
now  the  establishment  is  the  second  largest  in  the  United 
States  and  is  known  as  "The  P.  J.  Sorg  Company."  The 
annual  output  is  about  2,000,000  pounds.  Three  hundred 
hands  are  employed.  The  internal  revenue  tax  is  $300,000 
annually.  Mr.  Sorg  was  nominated  for  Congress  by  acclama- 
tion at  Miamisburg,  April  4,  1894,  to  fill  the  unexpired  term 
of  Judge  Houk,  deceased,  and  was  elected  May  2,  defeating  E. 
G.  Rathbone,  Republican,  by  i,8oo  majority.  He  was  re-elected 
November  6,  1894,  for  a  full  term,  which  expires  March  3, 
1897.  As  a  politician  he  is  prompt,  reliable  and  straight- 
forward. He  is  a  gentleman  of  experience,  capacity  and 
ability,  with  whom  it  is  always  a  pleasure  to  come  in  contact. 
He  is  a  persevering  and  unflinching  advocate  of  the  soldiers  of 
the  late  Civil  War.  He  is  a  devout  champion  of  their  pension 
claims  and  as  such  has  won  their  esteem  and  regard. 

PROSECUTING  ATTORNEYS  OF  BUTLER  COUNTY. 

Prosecuting  Attorneys  were  appointed  by  Court,  until 
1833,  when  the  law  was  changed,  making  the  office  elective  by 


204  Historical  Sketches. 

the  people,  the  term  being  two  years.  Subsequently  —  during 
the  first  term  of  John  F.  Neilan  —  it  was  made  three  years. 
Jesse  Corwin  was  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  ten  years,  by 
appointment,  from  1825  to  1833.  Beginning  at  this  date,  the 
Prosecuting  Attorneys  of  Butler  county  and  their  term  of 
office  are  as  follows: 

Jesse  Corwin .    , 1833-1835  Elijah  Vance 1866-1870 

John  B.  Weller 1835- 1839  John  W.  Wilson 1870-1S71 

Elijah  Vance 1839-1843  S.  Z.  Gard 1871-1S72 

John  Woods  H.  1,.  Morey 1872-1874 

appointed  for  1  year...   1843-  James  L.  Vallandigham.  1874-1876 

Thomas  Millikin 1843-1844  James  E.  Campbell 1876-1880 

Oliver  S.  Witherby 1844-1848  John  F.  Neilan 1880-1885 

Michael  C.  Ryan 184S-1852  W.  C.  Shepherd 1885-1888 

Isaac  Robertson 1852-1856  C.J.Smith 1888-1894 

Z.  W.  Selby 1856-1860  E.E.Hull* 

Ferd  VanDerveer 1860-1862  W.  K   Rhonemus 1S94-1895 

S.  Z.  Gard. 1862-1866  C.J.Smith 1895- 

Jesse  Corwin  was  born  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky, 
June  30,  1797.  He  was  a  brother  of  Thomas  Corwin  —  whose 
memory  is  linked  so  indelibly  with  the  political  history  of  our 
country  —  and  like  him,  he  too  possessed  many  marked  traits 
of  character,  though  he  chose  through  life  to  tread  different 
paths.  He  came  to  Butler  county  in  1822,  and  was  identified 
with  our  history  for  forty-five  years.  During  his  early  life  he 
gave  his  attention  to  the  study  of  law,  and  his  legal  ability  was 
recognized  at  home  and  abroad.  He  represented  Butler  county 
in  the  Legislature  for  two  terms,  1831-32,  and  discharged  the 
duties  of  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  a  period  of  nine  years  In 
these  positions  of  trust  and  honor  he  proved  himself  worthy  of 
the  distinction  conferred  upon  him.  His  character  was  that  of 
a  man  governed  by  correct  views  and  sound  judgment,  deter- 
mined, yet  kind,  possessed  of  generous  impulses  and  frank  dis- 
position. He  was  an  upright,  honest  man  in  the  truest  sense. 
In  1866,    he  was  the  Whig  candidate  for  Congress  in  this,   the 


.:::.  [In  1893,  Edward  E.  Hull,  a  brilliant  and  talented  young  attorney  of 
the  Butler  county  bar,  was  elected  to  succeed  C.  J.  Smith,  as  prosecutor  of  the 
county,  his  term  beginning  on  the  first  Monday  in  January,  rS94.  ^r-  Hull's 
health  began  to  fail  and  in  November,  1893;  he  left  for  southern  California, 
hoping  to  be  restored  to  health,  when  he  expected  to  return  in  time  to  qualify 
and  assume  the  duties  of  the  office,  but  fate  was  against  him.  He  gradually 
grew  worse  and  was  not  able  to  return.  Thus  a  vacancy  occurred,  and  Judge 
Giffen  appointed  W.  K.  Rhonemus,  for  one  year.] 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  205 

then  Second  District,  but  was  defeated,  as  his  party  was  greatly 
in  the  minority.  His  popularity  was  so  well  known  by  the 
gains  he  made  that  he  was  strongly  urged  to  make  the  race 
again,  but  declined.  In  1855,  he  was  the  Whig  nominee  for 
Common  Pleas  Judge.  He  died  at  Hamilton,  October  23, 
1867. 

Elijah  Vance  was  born  in  Bel  Air,  Hartford  county, 
Maryland,  February  1,  1801;  came  to  Ohio  in  1816,  locat- 
ing in  Cincinnati,  where  he  remained  four  years.  In  1821,  he 
removed  to  Lebanon  and  began  the  study  of  law  with  Judge 
Dunlevy,  graduating  at  the  bar  in  1826.  He  came  to  Hamil- 
ton in  the  same  year  and  opened  an  office  and  followed  his 
profession.  He  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Butler 
county,  serving  from  1839  to  1843.  He  was  next  elected 
State  Senator  and  was  made  Speaker  of  that  body.  In  1843 
he  was  elected  Common  Pleas  Judge  of  the  Judicial  district 
composed  of  the  counties  of  Butler,  Clinton,  Greene  and  War- 
ren. In  1850  he  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion. He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  debates  of  that  body. 
He  was  again  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney,  two  terms,  from 
1865  to  1870.  In  1879,  he  was  elected  City  Solicitor.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  was  a  Trustee  of  Miami  university  and 
was  frequently  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Board  of  Education. 
During  his  long  career  in  life  not  a  single  stain  of  dishonor 
was  to  be  found  against  him.  He  died  January  11,  1871. 
John  Woods.  [See  Hamilton's  Ex-Congressmen.] 
Thomas  Mieukin.     [See  Hamilton  Attorneys.] 

Oliver  S.  Witherby  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  February 
19,  1 81 5.  His  parents  removed  to  Oxford  in  1830,  when  he 
entered  Miami  university,  graduating  in  1836.  He  imme- 
diately began  the  study  of  law  with  John  Woods,  of  Hamilton; 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1840.  In  1843  he  was  elected 
Prosecuting  Attorney,  and  was  re-elected  in  1845  serving  two 
terms.  He  was  Lieutenant  in  the  volunteer  service  in  the 
Mexican  war.  On  his  return  home  he  was  editor  of  the  Ham- 
ilton Telegraph,  being  in  partnership  with  Col.    M.    C.    Ryan. 


206  Historical  Sketches. 

He  was  Quartermaster  and  Commissary  of  the  boundary 
commission,  that  fixed  the  line  between  the  United  States  and 
Mexico.  He  remained  in  California,  and  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  first  Legislature  of  that  state.  In  1850  he  was 
elected  Judge  of  the  first  Judicial  District  of  the  state.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  Collector  of  Customs  for  the  port  of  San 
Diego,  for  four  years.  He  was  President  of  the  Consolidated 
Bank  of  San  Diego,  California. 

ColoneIv  M.  C.  Ryan  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylva- 
nia, in  1820;  came  to  Hamilton  in  1832;  received  a  classical 
education  at  Miami  university  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  1839  with  the  highest  honor  of  his  class.  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Beta  Theta  Pi,  a  Greek  letter 
society  of  Oxford.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1841;  entering  into  a  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law, 
John  B.  Weller.  He  was  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Butler 
county  from  1848  to  1852;  served  two  terms  as  clerk  of  the 
courts,  from  1852  to  1858;  was  chosen  editor  of  the  Hamilton 
Telegraph  in  1858.  In  politics  Colonel  Ryan  was  a  Democrat, 
but  when  armed  treason  threatened  the  life  of  this  great 
republic,  he  espoused  the  Union  cause.  In  1S61,  Governor 
William  Dennison  commissioned  him  Colonel  of  the  Fiftieth 
O.  V.  I.  regiment.  He  died  October  20,  1S61,  shortly  after 
receiving  his  commission. 

Isaac  Robertson.     [See  Hamilton  Attorneys.] 

Z.  W.  Seeby  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Jan- 
uary 11,  1823.  In  1833,  his  parents  removed  to  Butler  county, 
locating  on  Brown's  run  in  Madison  township.  In  1841  Mr. 
Selby  began  learning  the  trade  of  plasterer,  which  calling  he 
followed  during  the  summer  time  and  attended  school  in  the 
winter  months.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in  teaching.  In 
1854  he  came  to  came  to  Hamilton  and  entered  the  law  office 
of  Isaac  Robertson;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1855,  after 
being  examined  by  Thomas  Corwin,  Judge  Woodruff,  Elijah 
Vance  and  Robert  Christy.  In  1855  he  was  elected  Prose- 
cuting  Attorney,  serving  from  1856  to  i860.     He  served   two 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  207 

full  terms  as  Probate  Judge,  from  February,  i860.  After 
retiring  from  office  he  removed  to  Glendale,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade.  In  1874  he  removed  to  West  Chester.  Up  to 
the  time  of  his  death  which  occurred  in  February,  1896,  he 
was  superintendent  of  the  West  Chester  cemetery.  He  died 
in  March,  1896. 

Ferd.  VanDerveER.     [See  Hamilton  in  Civil  war.] 

S.  Z.  Gard  was  born  near  Oxford;  was  educated  at  Anti- 
och  college,  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio,  under  the  renowned  Horace 
Mann,  one  of  America's  best  educators;  studied  law  under  Judge 
Alex.  F.  Hume;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  practicing 
in  1859.  He  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Butler  county 
in  1861,  serving  from  January,  1862,  until  1866.  After 
retiring  from  office  he  followed  his  profession.  On  the  death 
of  Captain  John  W.  Wilson,  in  1871,  he  was  appointed  Prose- 
cuting Attorney  for  one  year.  In  politics  Mr.  Gard  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  uses  his  influence  in  the  support  of  that  party's 
candidates  and  measures.  He  is  an  able  lawyer  and  possesses 
many  marked  traits  of  character. 

John  W.  Wilson  was  born  in  Wayne  township,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  July  4,  1829,  received  a  liberal  education;  studied 
law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  taught  school  when  he 
was  only  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  was  granted  a  diploma 
in  law  from  the  Corporation  of  Cincinnati  college  in  1846, 
which  was  signed  by  William  S.  Groesbeck  and  Charles  L. 
Telford,  as  professors  of  law;  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
American  Legal  Association  of  New  York  in  1851.  In  1853 
he  purchased  a  farm  on  the  Heights;  opened  a  stone  quarry  and 
furnished  all  the  lime  for  the  Junction  railroad  viaduct  and  the 
Rossville  school  house.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he 
served  three  months  in  Captian  W.  C.  Rossman's  company, 
the  Third  O.  V.  I.  Upon  his  return  home  he  raised  a  company 
and  joined  the  Twenty-eight  Kentucky  State  troops,  of  which 
he  was  elected  captain.  Subsequently  he  was  promoted  to 
colonel.  His  company  was  organized  in  hard  luck  and  encoun- 
tered opposition  as  the  following  letter  shows: 


208  Historical  Sketches. 

Hamilton,  Ohio,  Oct.,  21,  I861. 
To  the  Democracy  of  Butler  County,  Ohio: 

There  is  now  no  doubt  of  the  fact  that  the  abolition  Republican  party  are 
doing-  all  they  can  to  defeat  Capt.  J.  W.  Wilson's  efforts  to  raise  his  company 
and  for  no  other  reason  than  that  he  is  a  Democrat.  This  war  is  now  upon 
us,  and  it  behooves  every  Democrat  to  do  what  he  can  to  aid  Kentucky  in  her 
great  trouble,  thereby  carrying-  the  seat  of  war  from  our  own  homes.  Until 
the  government  responds  to  the  Democratic  party  this  war  will  continue,  and 
it  matters  little  how  we  are  taxed  for  its  conduct  —  whether  by  governmental 
levies  or  by  voluntary  contributions,  therefore,  let  us  do  what  we  can  to  help 
Capt.  Wilson  raise  the  company,  especially  as  he  is  opposed  by  the  aboli- 
tionists. J.  McElwee. 

He  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  St.  Clair  township, 
when  it  included  the  First  ward,  in  1866.  In  1870  he  was 
elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Butler  county.  He  indicted 
Thomas  McGehan,  Jack.  Garver,  James  McGehan,  Daniel 
McGlynn  and  Ich  Sheley  for  the  murder  of  Thomas  S.  Myers 
on  Christmas  eve.,  December  24,  1870.  He  was  a  positive  and 
determined  man,  and  the  defendants  feared  him.  In  prepar- 
ing this  case  for  trial  his  health  failed.  We  have  been  per- 
mitted to  examine  his  papers,  and  he  had  unmistakable  evi- 
dence that  the  American  Saloon  building  was  to  be  fired  by 
the  upsetting  of  the  stove  in  the  room  where  Myers  was  killed 
and  thus  destroy  all  evidence.  By  industry  he  had  won  a 
name  and  place  in  the  legal  fraternity  and  his  prospects  were 
of  the  most  encouraging  character.     He  died  in  1871. 

H.  D.  Morey.  [See  "Old  Third"  District  Congressmen.] 
James  L.  Vaelandigham  was  born  in  Cumberland, 
Maryland,  in  1839;  received  a  classical  education  in  his  native 
state  and  enlisted  in  a  confederate  battery  raised  in  his  native 
town.  After  the  war  closed  he  came  west  and  studied  law 
under  his  uncle — the  lamented  C.  D.  Vallandigham;  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  1870  opened  an  office  in  this  city. 
He  codified  the  municipal  laws  and  ordinances  of  Hamilton  in 
1872.  He  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  in  1874,  serving 
until  1876.  In  1872  he  superintended  the  publication  of  the 
life  of  his  truly  great  uncle — Hon.  C.  L.  Vallandigham.  It 
was  printed  in  superb  style  by  the  Trumball  Bros,  of  Balti- 
more.    In    1878,    he   returned   to  his  parents  at  Willmington, 


JUDGE  JOHN  F.  NHUvAN 


Hamilton  ami  its  Residents.  209 

Delaware,  studied  theology  and  began  preaching.  He  died  in 
1887.  He  was  a  man  of  excellent  legal  ability  and  was 
thoroughly  conversant  with  every  feature  of  the  profession. 

James  E.  Campbell.     [See  Hamilton's  Ex-Governors.] 

John  F.  Neilan  was  born  in  the  county  of  Roscommon, 
Ireland,  November,  18,  1845.  His  parents  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1848,  settling  in  New  Haven,  Conn.  In  1857, 
they  removed  to  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  where  they  remained 
until  locating  in  this  county  in  1866.  Mr.  Neilan  was  born  of 
poor  parents  and  received  his  education  after  he  was  twelve 
years  of  age,  but  was  and  is  yet  an  ardent  student,  reading  on 
all  subjects,  until  today  he  is  one  of  the  best  informed  men  in 
the  community,  possessing  a  fine  library  of  two  thousand 
volumes  of  the  best  selection.  Mr.  Neilan's  early  life,  until  he 
reached  his  majority,  was  that  of  a  hard  working  farmer,  and 
— like  Tom  Corwin,  the  wagon  boy — he  determined  to  secure 
an  education  and  he  abandoned  farm  work.  He  has  always 
been  a  man  of  great  will  power  and  determination.  He  at 
once  set  about  to  qualify  himself  for  the  profession  of  teaching. 
In  1868  he  began  teaching  and  followed  the  calling  for  seven 
years.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Stephen  Crane;  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1874.  In  the  same  year  he  was  editor 
of  the  Hamilton  Examiner,  established  for  the  purpose  of 
purifying  Butler  county  politics.  As  a  writer  he  wielded  a 
pen  that  cut  as  keen  as  a  Damascus  blade.  Mr.  Neilan  was 
elected  City  Solicitor  in  1877,  and  was  re-elected  in  1879  for 
his  second  term.  In  1879  he  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attor- 
ney of  Butler  county  and  in  1881  was  re-elected.  He  made  an 
excellent  Prosecutor;  indicted  and  tried  more  men  for  capital 
punishment  and  convicted  more  men  charged  with  peniten- 
tiary offenses  than  any  of  his  predecessors.  He  was  a  hustler 
and  was  fearless  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  No  grand  jury 
during  his  term  of  office  ever  remained  in  session  longer  than 
one  week.  He  examined  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  witnesses 
per  day.  He  was  always  a  friend  of  higher  education.  His 
friend,  Governor   Hoadley,    appointed    him  on    the  board    of 


210  Historical  Sketches. 

trustees  of  Miami  university  for  nine  years,  on  which  body  he 
served  as  a  member  of  the  executive  committee.  Mr.  Neilan 
is  the  founder  of  the  Catholic  Knights  of  Ohio  which  is  a 
beneficiary  organization,  with  social  and  fraternal  features 
attached.  He  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  securing  to 
Hamilton  the  Mercy  hospital.  He  is  a  Democrat,  but  a  man 
of  liberal  political  and  Christian  views — allowing  others  to 
exercise  their  rights  to  the  fullest  extent.  He  is  unyielding  in 
determination  when  once  a  conclusion  is  formed;  is  true  to  the 
interests  of  his  clients;  cannot  be  intimidated  or  bribed;  and 
will  fight  his  cases  with  a  bull-dog  tenacity.  As  an  attorney 
he  is  abreast  of  any  lawyer  at  the  bar;  and  is  a  wise  and  safe 
councellor.  He  is  a  social  and  genial  gentleman  and  justifies 
the  success  he  has  attained  by  dilligent  hard  study,  energy  and 
honorable  methods. 

At  the  general  election,  held  November  3,  1896,  Mr. 
Neilan  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  a 
term  of  five  years.  He  is  well  equipped  for  this  exalted 
position,  being  an  able  lawyer  and  polished  scholar.  He  has 
the  courage  of  his  convictions.  We  predict  for  him  a  brilliant 
future. 

W.  C.  Shepherd  was  born  in  Monroe,  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  July  3,  1855;  his  primary  education  was  received  in  the 
common  schools  at  Kyle's.  He  subsequently  attended  school 
at  Middletown,  Hamilton  and  Holbrock's  Normal  school  at 
Lebanon.  He  taught  school  for  two  years,  after  which  he 
began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  McKemy  and 
Allen  Andrews,  of  Hamilton,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
March  31,  1876.  He  is  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction  and  the 
geneology  of  the  family  dates  to  1664.  On  October  21,  1884, 
he  married  Miss  Eleanor  P.  Nichol,  of  Indianapolis,  a  neice  of 
the  late  Senator  McDonald,  of  Indiana.  Mrs.  Shepherd  is  a 
lady  of  excellent  literary  attainments;  possessing  many  social 
qualities.  Mr.  Shepherd  is  an  advanced  and  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  ;  and  was 
elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Butler  county  in  1884, 
serving  three  years  from  January   1,   1885.     While   prosecutor 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  211 

he  gained  distinction  as  an  excellent  criminal  lawyer,  tried  and 
convicted  George  Snyder  of  murder  in  the  first  degree.  Sny- 
der was  hung  for  murdering  his  mother  and  burying  her  on 
the  home  farm  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  property.  He 
is  now  employed  as  the  attorney  for  the  defense  in  the  case  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Kentucky  against  Alonzo  Walling,  for 
the  murder  of  Pearl  Bryan,  of  Greencastle,  Indiana,  by  cutting 
off  her  head  near  Fort  Thomas,  Kentucky.  Mr.  Shepherd 
served  one  term  on  the  Board  of  Public  Affairs  of  Hamilton, 
from  1886  to  1890,  by  appointment  of  Governor  Foraker.  He 
was  secretary  of  the  Butler  County  Agricultural  Society,  hav- 
ing served  from  1892  to  1896. 

W.  K.  Rhonemue  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Martinsville, 
Clinton  county,  Ohio,  March  22,  1858.  Here  be  spent  his  boy- 
hood attending  the  public  school  and  afterward  the  high  school, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  with  high  honors  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years.  Being  possessed  of  an  intense  desire  to  follow 
the  practice  of  law,  but  being  without  the  means  to  at  once 
gratify  his  wishes  he  started  bravely  upon  his  career  as  a 
country  school  teacher. 

His  life  on  the  farm  had  made  his  mind  a  fresh  and  vigor- 
ous one  and  as  a  teacher  he  reached  the  very  topmost  rung  of 
success. 

However,  during  the  entire  period  of  almost  eight  years 
that  he  taught  in  the  schools  at  and  near  Antioch,  with  the 
exception  of  a  single  year  at  college  in  Wilmington,  his  desire 
to  study  law  increased  instead  of  diminished,  and  by  economy 
and  self-denial  he  saved  and  waited.  Finally  in  1884  he  took 
the  carefully  saved  earnings  so  patiently  accumulated,  and 
entered  the  Normal  School  of  Lebanon. 

Here  the  greatest  success  attended  his  studies  and  he  was 
looked  upon  by  both  teachers  and  classmates  with  the  greatest 
favor.  Big  and  tender-hearted,  holding  malice  toward  none 
and  friendly  to  the  whole  world,  he  made  no  enemies  and  has 
none.  He  was  a  faithful  student,  and  his  course  at  the  school 
being  the  fruits  of  his  own  toil,  he  recognized  and  made  the 


212  Historical  Sketches. 

most  of  his  opportunities.  He  took  both  the  law  and  the 
scientific  courses  while  at  the  Normal  School,  and  in  1886 
graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class. 

Immediately  after  his  admittance  to  the  bar  he  went  to 
Washington,  C.  H.,  and  by  close  attention  to  business  soon 
had  established  a  lucrative  and  influential  practice.  Here  the 
leading  traits  of  his  professional  career  made  themselves  evi- 
dent and  established  the  reputation  of  the  young  lawyer.  He 
remained  in  Washington,  C.  H.,  until  April,  1888,  when  he 
came  to  this  county  and  established  his  office  in  Middletown. 
He  gained  recognition  almost  immediately  as  one  of  the 
brightest  young  attorneys  of  that  city,  and  a  short  time  after- 
ward became  prominent  through  his  connection  with  the 
famous  "Chamberlain  will  case"  in  which  some  $40,000  was 
involved.  Mr.  Rhonemus  almost  unassisted  fought  this  case 
and  won  it  in  the  face  of  what  at  first  looked  like  certain 
defeat. 

Mr.  Rhonemus  was  a  candidate  upon  the  Republican 
ticket  against  E.  E.  Hull  in  1893,  but  was  defeated  by  that 
gentleman.  When  Mr.  Hull  was  unable  to  qualify  as  prosecu- 
tor, a  vacancy  occurred  and  Judge  Giffen  appointed  him  Prose- 
cuting Attorney,  as  he  had  been  a  candidate  against  odds  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  and  made  an  excellent  canvass.  He 
served  from  January  1,  1894  to  l§95-  His  friends  in  this  city 
are  numbered  by  the  score.  He  was  noted  for  his  honorable 
methods.  He  bore  a  reputation  of  the  highest  character  for 
equitable  dealing  and  all  transactions  had  with  him  resulted 
profitable  and  pleasantly. 

Culbertson  J.  Smith  was  born  on  Cherry  Hill,  Wayne 
township,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  February  25,  1850.  He  is  the 
son  of  John  C.  Smith  and  Elizabeth  Jones,  being  one  of  five 
children.  His  mother  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
and  his  father  was  a  liberal  contributor  to  religious  enterprises 
although  not  a  church  member,  and  was  a  man  of  good  educa- 
tion having  been  a  student  at  Miami  University.  He  was 
prominent  in  his  community  having  been  an  intimate  friend  of 


C.  J.  SMITH 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  21 3 

the  famous  Clement  L-  Vallandigham,  of  George  E.  Pugh  and 
Alexander  Long.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  Prosecutor 
Smith  was  sheriff  of  Butler  county  for  twenty-five  years.  He 
came  to  Cincinnati,  in  1787  with  Captain  Ruffin,  General 
Findley  and  Jacob  Burnet,  and  for  many  years  was  a  territo- 
rial agent  at  Cincinnati  for  the  Northwest  Territory,  after 
which  he  settled  in  Hamilton,  dying  at  a  very  advanced  age. 
He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and  the  place  of  his  birth  was 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  Our  subject's  maternal  grandfather  William 
Jones  was  born  in  Johnson  county,  North  Carolina,  and  com- 
ing to  this  county  purchased  and  operated  a  large  distillery. 
He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  he  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Friends  meeting  house  at  West  Elkton.  When  he  died 
he  was  possessed  of  about  4,000  acres  of  land.  Upon  the  home 
farm  the  subject  passed  his  boyhood  days  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  to  teach  and  was  so  engaged  until 
he  was  twenty.  The  two  ensuing  years  were  passed  at  Miami 
University,  after  which  he  assisted  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
home  farm  for  two  years.  Entering  the  office  of  Judge  Alex. 
F.  Hume  in  Hamilton  he  began  the  study  of  law  and  on  April 
25>  1877,  before  a  committee  of  examiners  appointed  by  the 
district  court  of  this  circuit  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He 
at  once  began  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  this  city 
where  he  has  since  remained.  He  entered  public  life  in  1882, 
as  a  candidate  for  Prosecuting  Attorney.  He  was  twice 
defeated  in  the  primary  nominating  convention.  In  1887  he 
defeated  his  former  opponent  for  the  nomination  by  1,100 
votes,  being  elected  prosecutor  by  a  plurality  of  2,266,  and 
served  until  January  1,  1894.  In  May  of  the  same  year,  he 
was  renominated  by  a  majority  of  six  hundred  and  eighty-three 
and  was  again  elected  prosecutor,  in  which  office  he  made  a 
splendid  record,  conducting  its  affairs  with  ability  and  honor. 
In  connection  with  State  Senator  Joseph  McMaken,  Mr. 
Smith  was  instrumental  in  securing  the  Australian  primary 
election  law  for  Butler  county,  and  the  first  test  of  this  system 
in  Ohio,  was  made  in  Butler  county,  in  August,  1894,  when 
Mr.   Smith  again  received  the  prosecutor's  nomination  by  a 


214  Historical  Sketches. 

majority   of  three   hundred  and    eighteen,    and   was   elected 
November  6,  1894,  for  a  third  term. 

On  June  29,  1874,  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Christianna  Kindred.  In  religious  belief  Mrs.  Smith  is  a 
Universalist.  Mr.  Smith  supports  religious  enterprises  liberally, 
but  is  not  himself  a  member  of  any  denomination. 

Mr.  Smith  is  popular,  an  excellent  mixer  and  possesses 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  public.  He  is  highly  regarded 
in  legal  circles  for  his  ability,  and  merits  the  success  attained. 
No  lawyer  of  the  Butler  county  bar  is  better  known  to  the 
people  of  this  county  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His 
natural  ability  and  the  fact  that  he  holds  the  important  and 
responsible  position  of  Prosecuting  Attorney  have  brought  him 
unavoidable  prominence. 

PROBATE    JUDGES. 

By  the  constitution  of  1851  the  office  of  Probate  Judge  was 
created  and  made  elective  by  the  voters,  the  term  being  three 
years.  The  followiug  named  persons  have  been  elected  to  that 
office: 

Thomas  H.  Wilkins 1852-1855  William  R.  Cochran 1873-1876 

William  R.  Kinder 1855-1860  Benjamin  F.  Thomas  ...  1876-1882 

D.  W.McClung 1860-1861  W.  H.  Harr 1882-1888 

Z.  W.  Selby 1861-1867  P.  G.  Berry 1888-1894 

Joseph  Traber 1867-1873  Clarence  Murphy 1894-1897 

Thomas  H.  Wilkins  was  a  brother-in-law  of  John  Woods. 
He  was  originally  a  staunch  Whig  in  politics.  Subsequently 
he  abandoned  that  party  and  became  identified  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Shortly  afterward,  in  1852,  he  was  elected 
Probate  Judge,  serving  until  late  in  1855,  when  he  resigned 
and  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  died  a  number  of  years  ago. 

William  R.  Kinder  was  born  near  Franklin ,  Ohio,  on 
December  17,  1826.  He  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Farmers' 
college  at  College  Hill  with  high  honors  in  1848.  He  studied 
law  under  John  B.  Weller.  He  joined  the  Boundary  Survey 
Expedition  in  1849,  and  went  to  southern  California,  with  a 
view  of  restoring  his  physical  condition.     He  was  ailing  with 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  21 5 

pulmonary  bronchial  disease.  In  1849  his  health  was  much 
improved  and  he  began  the  practice  of  law  in  San  Francisco,  as 
a  partner  of  his  old  preceptor,  Governor  John  B.  Weller.  In 
1850  he  visited  China  in  quest  of  his  failing  health  where  he 
remained  four  months,  when  he  returned  to  Hamilton.  In 
1854  he  purchased  the  Telegraph  and  continued  as  editor  and 
proprietor  until  June  13,  1854,  selling  out  to  Barker  &  McCor- 
mick.  In  October,  1854,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Probate 
Judge,  having  served  a  portion  of  Thomas  H.  Wilkins'  unex- 
pired term,  being  re-elected  as  fast  as  his  term  expired.  On 
December  21,  1859,  his  disease  took  a  more  serious  form.  He 
died  February  9,  i860.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  highest 
personal  integrity,  and  was  universally  esteemed  by  the 
citizens  of  Butler  county.  Judge  Kinder's  intellectual  powers 
were  of  a  high  order.  As  a  writer  he  hewed  to  the  line  and 
wielded  a  trenchent  pen.  He  will  long  be  remembered  for  his 
many  excellent  qualities  of  mind  and  heart,  and  his  integrity 
and  probity. 

David  W.  McCeung.     [See  Superintendents.] 

Z.  W.  Seeby  was  born  on  Brown's  run,  in  Madison  town- 
ship, this  county.  He  learned  the  plastering  trade  and  followed 
it  for  several  years.  In  1850  he  came  to  Hamilton  and  began 
studying  law  with  Isaac  Robertson  as  his  preceptor.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  practiced  his  chosen  profession  for  a 
short  time.  In  October,  1855,  he  was  elected  Prosecuting 
Attorney,  and  re-elected  in  1858.  Two  years  after  his  official 
term  expired,  he  was  elected  Probate  Judge  serving  two  terms, 
from  1861  to  1867.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Elias  Simpson, 
who  was  proprietor  of  the  old  City  hotel,  situated  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  Third  and  Court  streets.  Judge  Selby  was  an 
excellent  mixer,  fat,  jovial  and  a  good  conversationalist,  as  the 
result  of  his  campaigns  proved.  He  was  noted  for  his  execu- 
tive ability  and  sterling  honor,  and  possessed  the  esteem  and  con- 
fidence of  the  citizens  of  Butler  county.     He    died   in  1896. 

Joseph  Traber  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  in 
March,  1822.     He  first  attended  a  subscription  school,  held  in 


216  Historical  Sketches. 

an  old  unfinished  log  meeting  house,  about  two  miles  from  his 
home.  This  building  was  only  used  for  school  purposes  during 
the  summer  and  fall  months.  It  contained  no  windows,  doors 
or  fire-place.  The  preceptor  of  this  school  was  Moses  Thomp- 
son, a  man  of  very  ordinary  education.  Subsequently  Mr. 
Traber  attended  public  school  held  in  a  log  cabin.  The  window 
openings  were  strips  of  wood  covered  with  oiled  paper.  This 
school  was  taught  by  Jackman  Cooper,  of  Pennsylvania.  It 
was  at  this  school  that  Mr.  Traber  received  his  principal  school- 
ing. He  afterward  attended  school  taught  by  Master  Moore, 
Samuel  Thorman  and  Rev.  David  Dire  Burgess,  the  latter 
instructor  taking  great  interest  in  Mr.  Traber,  who  afterward 
taught  in  the  same  building.  In  1840  or  41,  he  came  to 
Hamilton  and  entered  the  employment  of  the  firm  of  Traber  & 
Beckett  who  kept  a  general  store.  A  few  years  afterward  he 
engaged  in  business  for  himself  in  the  room  formerly  occupied 
by  John  O.  Brown,  the  druggist.  This  room  was  in  the  old 
Straub  house  building  at  the  west  end  of  the  Miami  bridge, 
and  now  known  as  the  Gordon  building.  About  this  time  he 
married  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Ogle,  of  Reiley  township.  He 
afterward  moved  his  store  to  the  Dr.  Robert  B.  Millikin  build- 
ing. In  1850  he  was  elected  by  the  legislature  as  one  of  the 
associate  judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of -this  county, 
and  held  the  same  until  the  adoption  of  the  constitution.  His 
wife  having  died,  he  disposed  of  his  business  in  Rossville  and 
moved  to  Cincinnati,  and  entered  the  employ  of  Traber  & 
Aubury.  In  1857  he  married  the  daughter  of  Henry  David,  a 
prominent  Cincinnatian.  After  his  marriage  he  returned  to 
Hamilton  and  re-purchased  his  old  business,  the  firm  name 
being  O.  &  J.  Traber,  which  afterward  conducted  a  prosperous 
dry  goods  store.  From  i860  to  1868  he  was  a  member  of  the 
city  council,  and  it  was  during  this  time  that  the  suspension 
bridge  was  erected  and  new  fire  engines  and  buildings  pur- 
chased. He  was  elected  Probate  Judge  in  1868,  and  held  the 
office  for  two  terms.  During  the '  famous  Morgan  raid  he 
organized  a  company  and  was  elected  captain.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  from  1864  to  1872,  and  was 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  2 1 7 

president  of  the  board  for  five  years.  It  was  through  his 
work  and  untiring  zeal  that  our  schools  began  to  attain  a  high 
grade.  Judge  Traber  was  a  man  of  excellent  qualities,  popular 
in  his  business  and  no  man  ever  doubted  his  integrity.  In 
politics  he  was  a  conservative  Democrat,  but  never  carried 
his  political  views  into  personal  matters.  Judge  Traber  was' a 
special  favorite  with  everybody,  but  it  was  in  his  home  where 
his  great  social  qualities  made  the  domestic  circle  just  what  the 
Creator  designed  it  should  be.  In  religion  he  was  a  great 
worker  in  the  Episcopal  church,  being  a  vestryman  for  years. 
He  was  a  Past  Grand  of  Harmony  lodge,  No.  14,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  a 
member  of  Butler  Encampment,  No.  7,  and  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Encampmeut  of  Ohio.  Toward  the  latter  part  of  his 
life  he  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was  just 
beginning  to  build  up  a  lucrative  practice  when  he  was  suddenly 
taken  sick  on  a  Tuesday  and  died  on  Friday,  August  16,  1878. 
Thus  a  life  was  ended  that  had  always  endeavored  to  do  what 
it  could  to  elevate  its  feilowman.  He  was  greatly  esteemed  in 
both  bnsiness  and  social  circles,  and  no  more  capable  and 
accomplished  man  was  to  be  found  in  this  community. 

William  R.  Cochran  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, March  17,  181 1.  In  18 14  his  father  came  west  and 
settled  near  Glendale.  In  1825  Mr.  Cochran  removed  to  Mill- 
ville,  and  in  1826  entered  Miami  university,  and  graduated 
therefrom  in  183 1.  He  studied  law  with  John  Woods  and  was 
subsequently  admitted  to  the  bar,  but  failing  health  made  him 
abandon  his  profession.  He  returned  to  Hanover  township 
and  superintended  the  farm.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  and 
clerk  of  the  township  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  elected 
Probate  Judge  in  1873,  serving  until  1876.  Mr.  Cochran  was 
secretary  of  the  Butler  County  Agricultural  society  for  sixteen 
years.  These  were  the  palmy  days  of  the  fair.  His  administra- 
tion was  one  of  marked  ability.  He  was  prompt,  energetic  and 
reliable  and  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  classes. 
He  conducted  all  his  business,  both  public  and  private,  upon 
the  lines  of  promptitude,  liberality  and  integrity. 


2 1 8  Historical ,  Sketches. 

Benjamin  F.  Thomas,  ex-Probate  Judge  of  Butler  county, 
was  born  on  a  farm  seven  miles  east  of  Chillicothe,  Ross  county, 
February  19,  1830.  His  education  was  limited  to  the  merest 
rudiments  of  a  common  school  education  till  he  reached  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years.  On  arrival  at  this  age  he  resolved  to 
acquire,  at  least,  a  liberal  education.  Starting  out  with  no  one 
to  help  him,  and  with  but  five  dollars  in  his  pocket,  he  walked 
forty  miles  to  the  town  of  Albany,  Athens  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  found  work  at  a  trade  he  had  previously  learned,  and  at  the 
same  time  began  study  in  the  Albany  academy.  Here  he  con- 
tinued for  about  one  year,  to  work  and  prosecute  his  studies  in 
English  grammar,  arithmetic  and  algebra.  From  here,  he  went 
to  Oxford  in  April,  1852,  where,  after  a  term  of  three  months 
spent  in  a  private  school,  taught  by  Professor  Hatch,  and  three 
months  spent  in  teaching  his  first  school,  in  a  district  west  of 
Oxford,  he  entered  the  sub-freshman  class  in  Miami  univer- 
sity, in  January,  1853.  By  extra  study  in  J^atin  during  the 
summer  vacation  of  1853,  he  was  passed  into  the  freshman 
class  at  the  opening  of  college  in  September  following,  in  a 
class  of  forty-two.  Of  this  number,  more  than  one-half  fell  by 
the  wayside  before  the  close  of  the  senior  year.  But  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  by  dint  of  hard  work  at  his  trade,  and  close 
application  to  his  studies,  was  enabled  to  maintain  his  place  in 
the  class,  and  graduate  with  it  in  June,  1857,  maintaining  a 
grade  above  the  average.  During  his  whole  course  of  study, 
from  the  time  he  left  home,  in  April,  1851,  till  he  received  his 
diploma  of  A.  B.  in  1857,  ne  never  received  a  dollar  of  help 
outside  of  his  own  earnings.  On  leaving  college,  he  engaged 
in  the  occupation  of  teaching  until  1866.  He  read  law  in  the 
meantime  with  Judge  Crane,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Butler 
county  bar  in  April,  1866,  after  which  he  followed  his  profess- 
ion until  the  fall  of  1875,  when  he  was  elected  Probate  Judge, 
by  a  majority  of  3,200.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  same  office 
in  1878,  closing  his  second  term  February  9,  1882.  Judge 
Thomas  served  as  school  examiner  of  Butler  county  from  1863 
to  1868.  At  this  writing  he  is  still  engaged  in  the  law  practice( 
with  his  office  in  the  old  Hamilton  house.    He  is  a  man  of  push 


P.  G.  BERRY 


W.  H.  HARR 


CLARENCE  MURPHY 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  219 

and  excellent  business  ability  and  enjoys  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion in  the  community  alike  as  an  attorney  and  citizen. 

W.  H.  Harr  was  born  January  31,  185 1,  in  Fairfield 
township,  this  county.  He  followed  farming  until  nineteen 
years  of  age.  Afterward  he  taught  school  for  several  years,  and 
subsequently  attended  the  Lebanon  Normal  school  for  three 
years.  On  leaving  this  institution  he  taught  school  lor  one 
year.  He  commenced  studying  law  under  Judge  S.  Z.  Gard; 
attended  the  Cincinnati  law  school;  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Butler  county  bar  April  26,  1876.  He  was  in  the  same  class 
with  Nelson  Williams  and  C.  J.  Smith.  In  1881  Mr.  Harr  was 
elected  Probate  Judge,  and  re-elected  in  1884,  making  two 
terms.  After  being  installed  in  office  he  visited  Cincinnati, 
Dayton  and  Columbus  and  made  a  thorough  examination  as  to 
the  manner  in  which  these  offices  were  conducted.  Taking 
them  as  an  index,  Judge  Harr  inaugurated  several  much 
needed  departures  from  the  "old  way"  of  transacting  the  busi- 
ness of  the  office.  He  established  the  real  estate  docket  and 
assignment  docket,  which  had  never  been  in  use  prior  to  his 
term  of  office.  He  has  ever  been  an  active  supporter  of  all 
measures  conducive  to  the  benefit  and  welfare  of  the  city  and 
county.  After  retiring  from  office  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  John  C.  Slayback  under  the  firm  name  of  Slayback  & 
Harr.  This  firm  is  a  talented  and  able  one,  having  a  vast 
practical  experience  at  its  command  in  the  legal  line. 

Phillip  G.  Berry  who  was  Probate  Judge  from  January, 
1888  to  January  1894,  was  born  November  5,  1850.  After 
attending  the  public  schools  of  this  city,  he  graduated  from 
Miami  university  in  1871.  Subsequently  he  studied  law  and 
for  four  years  practiced  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.  In  1877  he 
returned  to  this  city  and  had  remaimed  here  ever  since.  In 
1893  he  was  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  of  this  judicial 
district  for  Common  Pleas  Judge,  but  owing  to  the  hard  times, 
he  was  defeated  by  Montgomery  county,  which  gave  that  year 
a  Republican  majority  of  1900,  instead  of  its  usual  eight  or  nine 
hundred  Democratic  majority.     Judge  Berry  submitted  grace- 


220  Historical  Sketches. 

fully  to  the  will  of  the  people  and  served  out  his  term  in  the 
Probate  Court  with  his  usual  affability  and  attention  to  busi- 
ness. Upon  retiring  from  the  bench,  where  he  had  served  two 
terms  with  honor  and  credit  to  himself  and  his  party,  Judge 
Berry  opened  a  law  office  in  the  room  formerly  occupied  by 
Hon.  James  E.  Neal.  He  died  April  20,  1896.  As  a  lawyer 
he  had  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  had  always  been  a 
consistent  and  ardent  Democrat,  and  while  not  taking  an  active 
part  in  politics,  still  firmly  adhered  to  the  principles  of  his 
party.  He  was  an  energetic  and  enterprising  attorney,  possessed 
of  marked  talent  and  executive  ability,  and  he  combined 
qualities  which  at  once  represented  intelligence,  integrity  and 
worth. 

Clarence  Murphy,  son  of  Peter  Murphy  and  Cyrene 
(Vangordon)  Murphy,  the  youngest  of  six  children  living,  was 
born  September  13,  1S62,  on  a  farm  near  Princeton.  He 
attended  district  schools  until  1879;  taught  school  in  the  winter 
of  1880-1881.  He  entered  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university,  at 
Delaware,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  November  1,  1885. 
He  was  suspended  from  this  institution  for  attending  a  theater 
in  which  Frederick  Ward  played  Richard  III.  Subsequently 
the  faculty  requested  Mr.  Murphy  to  return;  this  he  declined 
to  do.  He  entered  the  senior  class  of  DePauw  university,  at 
Greencastle,  Ind.,  in  January,  1886,  after  submitting  to  exam- 
inations, and  graduated  therefrom  in  June,  1886.  He  was 
editor  of  the  Transcript,  the  college  paper,  at  Delaware,  when 
suspended,  and  represented  literary  societies  in  oratorical  con- 
tests. He  was  one  of  ten  speakers  out  of  a  class  of  seventy- 
five  selected  to  represent  the  class  on  graduation  day  at 
DePauw  university.  In  October,  1887,  he  commenced  study- 
ing law  with  Judge  Hume.  He  graduated  from  the  Cincinnati 
L,aw  school  in  May,  1889,  which  carried  with  it  admission  to 
the  bar.  He  opened  a  law  office  in  Hamilton,  in  January,  1890. 
Mr.  Murphy  was  nominated  for  Probate  Judge  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party  in  the  spring  of  1890.  He  received  a  majority  of 
1,197  over  the  highest  competitor,  and  a  majority  of  716  over 
all.     Judge  Murphy  was  married  October   19,  1892,  to  Miss 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents. 


221 


Lutie  Sohngen,  second  daughter  of  Louis  Sohngen,  deceased, 
and  Elizabeth  (Schmitt)  Sohngen.  He  is  a  young  man  of  legal 
and  business  experience,  capacity  and  ability,  with  whom  it  is 
always  a  pleasure  to  transact  business. 

Judge  Clarence  Murphy  has  been  appointed  as  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Union  Central  L,ife  Insurance 
Co.,  of  Cincinnati.  Judge  Murphy  succeeded  his  father,  Hon. 
Peter  Murphy,  who  was  one  of  the  men  who  helped  organize 
the  Union  Central  Life  Insurance  Co.  in  1867,  and  held  the 
position  of  director  from  that  time  until  his  death,  a  few 
months  ago. 

The  many  friends  of  Judge  Murphy  were  glad  to  learn 
of  his  election  to  the  directorship  and  are  fervent  in  their 
expressions   of  good  will    and   good   wishes   for   his  success. 

MEDICAL    PROFESSION. 

Below  we  give  a  full  list  of  Hamilton  physicians  and  sur- 
geons of  today: 


Henry  Mallory,  228  Main   Street. 
Dan  Millikin,  2nd  and  LvuUow. 
James  M.  Ayers,  463  South  4th. 

F.  M.  Barden,  230  High. 

G.  C.  Skinner,  3rd  and  Buckeye. 
Herbert  E.  Twitchell,  24  South  B. 
George  Trebel,  218  South  3rd. 
Mark  Millikin,  2nd  and  Ludlow. 
C.  Markt,  18  South  3rd. 
Charles  N.  Huston,  14  North  3rd. 
S.  M.  Schell,  no  North  3rd. 

J.  H.  Roll,  10  North  B. 

J.  L-  Kirkpatrick,  124  North   3rd. 

T.  D.  Sharkey,  212  South  3rd. 

William  C.  Huston,  302  South  4th. 

J.  B.  Scott,  307  High. 

E.  C.  Sill,  2nd  and  Sycamore. 

M.  M.  Jacobs,  429  South  2nd. 


W.  Z.  Kumler,  337  Ludlow. 
O.  P.  McHenry,  129  North  2nd. 
J.  D.  Marshall,  19  North  B. 
Henrietta  C-  Puthoff,  9  Ross. 
J.  S.  H.  Potter.  114  North  3rd. 
J.  W.  Overpeck,  3rd  and  Dayton. 
Julia  Goodman,  401  Ross. 
Walter  Brown,  127  Main. 
F.  M.  Fitton,  144  North  3rd. 
J.  O.  Scheel,  715  Sycamore. 
John  Francis,  309  Sou'.h  3rd. 
Clarence  Wasscn,  244  North   7th. 
H.  H.  Carter,   64S  Heaton. 
W.  K.  Cherryholmes,    109  S.  3rd. 
O.  W.  Mayer,  7th  and  Buckeye. 
F.  G.  Hornung,  326  South  3rd. 
A.  B.  Kauffman,  514   E.   Ludlow. 


Dr.  Daniel  Millikin  was  Hamilton's  first  Physician.  He 
was  an  able  and  reputable  practitioner.  Dr.  Jacob  Dewis  came 
to  Hamilton  in  1802;  practiced  but  little;  was  appointed  sur- 
geon of  the  First  Regiment  Ohio  Militia,  Colonel  James  Mills, 
of    Rossville,    commanding.     He   died   July   19,   1851.     Dr.  J. 


222  Historical  Sketches. 

Lanier  was  here  in  1805.  Dr.  Charles  Este  came  to  Hamilton 
in  1 8 10.  Dr.  Slayback  was  here  in  18 18,  and  John  Weily  in 
1819.  The  latter  died  in  1823.  Dr.  Alexander  Ramsey  and 
Dr.  Green  were  practitioners  in  Hamilton  in  18 19.  Dr.  Jere- 
miah Woolsey  came  to  Rossville  from  New  Jersey  in  1823. 
Dr.  John  C.  Dunlevy,  of  Lebanon,  located  at  Hamilton  in  1823. 
He  returned  to  Lebanon  in  1834.  Dr.  L.  W.  Smith  was  here 
in  1824.  Drs.  Henry  Baker  and  Samuel  Wood  were  partners 
in  practice  during  1823-24.  Dr.  Laomi  Rigdon  came  here 
from  Pennsylvania  in  1826;  was  a  partner  of  Dr.  John  C.  Dun- 
levy  for  ten  years.  Subsequently  he  was  associated  with  Dr. 
C.  Falconer.  Dr.  Rigdon  died  May  10,  1865.  Dr.  H.  Symmes 
was  here  in  1837;  his  office  was  located  over  Latta's  drug  store. 
Dr.  William  Kelley  was  here  from  1834-38.  Pr.  Joel  B.  McFar- 
laad  came  to  Hamilton  in  1835;  was  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture in  1841-42;  subsequently  removed  to  LaFayette,  Indiana. 
Dr.  Samuel  Miller  was  here  in  1835.  He  removed  to  Minnesota, 
where  he  died  in  1867.  Dr.  Smiley  located  in  Hamilton  in 
1845;  removed  to  Piqua  in  1849.  Dr.  Otho  Evans,  of  Frank- 
lin, came  here  in  1839,  and  entered  upon  a  large  practice.  He 
died  in  1848.  Dr.  Riddell  located  in  Rossville  in  1838.  Dr. 
EH  Vance  practiced  at  his  drug  store,  at  the  head  of  the  basin 
in  1846-47.  Dr.  Andrew  Campbell  located  in  Hamilton  in 
1848.  His  office  was  located  in  the  Hamilton  House.  Drs. 
Baldridge  and  Goodall  were  on  the  West  Side  (Rossville),  in 
1848.  Dr.  Samuel  Millikin  was  a  reputable  practitioner  in 
Hamilton  for  years.  Dr.  Jacob  Hittel  came  to  Hamilton  from 
Pennsylvania  in  1842;  continued  in  active  practice  until  1865, 
when  he  removed  to  his  birth  place  where  he  died  in  1878. 
Dr.  W.  H.  Scobey  located  in  Rossville  in  1842  and  followed 
his  profession  until  1884,  when  he  retired.  Drs.  William 
Huber,  C.  Falconer,  R.  B.  Millikin  and  Hanbury  Smith  were 
old  time  practitioners  in  Hamilton.  Dr.  F.  D.  Morris  was  here 
from  1858  until  his  death  in  1866. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  resident  physicians  and  sur- 
geons of  Hamilton  in  1866:  W.  W.  Caldwell,  Henry  Mallory, 
George  Dick,  Cyrus  Falconer,  J.    W.   Gale,   William   Huber, 


GKORGE  TRRBElv 


C.  MARKT  GEORGE  C.  SKINNER 


t 


frk  Iks. 


CHARLES  N.  HUSTON 


J.  L.  KIRKPATRICK 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  223 

Henry  Krone,  Jacob  Hitter,  Christian  Forster,  J.  B.  McDill, 
F.  W.  Major,  J.  S.  McNeeley,  J.  M.  Dudley,  C.  Markt,  S.  H. 
Potter,  J.  M.  Parks,  Max  Schaller,  W.  H.  Scobey,  Alanson 
Smith,  George  Wyman,  S.  B.  Wolf.  During  the  interim  from 
1866  to  1880,  the  following  physicians  have  practiced  in  Ham- 
ilton: Lee  Corbin,  H.  Beauchamp,  John  R.  Brown,  John  Cass, 
A.  N.  Ellis,  C.  H.  VonKlein,  J.  Trepold,  J.  F.  Strieker. 

Drs.  Samuel  L.  Beeler,  William  C.  Miller  and  A.  Myers 
are  graduated  physicians,  but  do  not  follow  their  profession. 

Henry  MalIvOry.  —  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Botetourt  county,  Virginia,  February  27,  1822. 

When  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seven  years,  he  had 
already  enjoyed  some  schooling  in  the  primitive  methods  of 
the  time,  the  family  came  West.  Their  first  stopping  place 
was  at  Richmond,  Ind.,  but  a  few  }'ears  later  they  plunged 
still  further  into  the  wilderness,  settling  in  Henry  county,  near 
the  village  of  New  Castle,  in  the  same  state.  Circumstances 
soon  reduced  the  family  to  such  a  degree  that  the  older  sons 
were  forced  to  look  to  their  own  exertions  for  support.  At 
sixteen  Dr.  Mallory  left  forever  his  paternal  roof  to  work  out 
his  own  salvation  among  the  rough  men  of  the  rough  places  of 
the  time.  His  first  employment  was  on  a  public  canal  contract 
in  Indianapolis.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  1844.  He 
graduated  in  1847.  On  July  10,  1849,  he  came  to  Hamilton, 
where,  with  the  sole  intermission  of  his  years  as  a  union  sol- 
dier, he  has  practiced  continuously  ever  since.  The  time  of 
his  advent  here  was  one  to  try  men's  souls.  It  was  the  year  of 
the  great  cholera  epidemic  and  the  young  physician  met  the 
emergency  nobly.  In  1861,  he  recruited  a  company  for  the 
gallant  35th  O.  V.  I.  and  was  elected  captain.  After  the  battle 
of  Mill  Springs,  he  was  commissioned  surgeon  of  the  4th  Ken- 
tucky cavalry.  He  was  subsequently  made  surgeon  of  a  divis- 
ion. Dr.  Mallory  has  proven  his  bravery  as  a  soldier  to  equal 
his  skill  in  the  art  of  healing. 

Dan  Miixikin,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Fairfield  township, 
Butler  County,   Ohio,  April  17,  1845.     He  graduated  from  the 


224  Historical  Sketches. 

Hamilton  High  school  in  1862.  Entering  Yale  College,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  took  a  scientific  course,  paying  especial 
attention  to  chemistry.  After  a  two  years  course  in  this 
school  he  returned  to  Hamilton  and  studied  independently  for 
a  time,  and  later  under  the  famous  Dr.  Cyrus  Falconer.  In 
1872  he  entered  the  Miami  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati,  and 
graduated  therefrom  in  1875.  Dr.  Millikin,  at  the  age  of 
thirty,  began  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  Hamilton. 
His  professional  record  is  full  of  hard  won  victories  and  rich 
in  their  attendant  rewards.  He  is  president  of  the  Ohio  Med- 
ical society;  also  a  member  of  the  National  Medical  society, 
and  his  addresses  and  contributions  to  the  journals  of  the  pro- 
fession have  been  numerous  and  uniformly  valuable.  His 
ability  as  a  public  speaker  claims  a  permanent  remembrance. 
His  addresses  are  always  characterized  by  a  freshness  and 
wholesomeness  of  thought,  and  a  grace  and  purity  of  diction. 
The  Millikin  family  is  a  noble  one  and  has  long  been  identified 
with  the  history  of  the  Miami  country. 

George  C.  Skinner.  —  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  Hamilton,  August  18,  1856.  He  graduated  from  the 
Hamilton  High  school  in  1874.  He  then  commenced  to  read 
medicine  under  the  tutelage  of  Dr.  H.  Beauchamp;  later  was  in 
the  office  of  Dr.  Dan  Millikin  for  three  years.  A  year  in  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan  and  a  full 
course  leading  to  the  Doctors's  degree  in  the  Miami  Medical 
College,  Cincinnati,  completed  his  thorough  course  of  profess- 
ional training.  Before  assuming  the  responsibilities  of  prac- 
tice, Dr.  Skinner  had  a  year  of  valuable  practical  experience  as 
interne  in  the  Cincinnati  Hospital.  After  the  expiration  of  his 
hospital  course  Dr.  Skinner  opened  his  office  at  his  present  site 
at  Third  and  Buckeye  streets.  Dr.  Skinner's  personality  has 
contributed  almost  as  much  to  his  success  as  has  his  acknowl- 
edged professional  skill.  He  is  a  courteous,  happy  gentleman, 
whose  presence  dissipates  the  gloom  of  the  sick  room. 

On  November  16,  1880,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of 
Dr.  Skinner  and  Miss  Alice  Phillips.  An  interesting  family  of 
four  children  has  grown  up  about  them.     The  record  of  his 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  225 

professional  and  domestic  life  are  contemporary,  and  it  may  be 
said  with  truth  that  their  uniformity  was  not  alone  that  of 
time,     Both  have  flowed  on  with  equal  smoothness  and  felicity 

George  Trebee  was  born  January  23,  1865,  at  Middle- 
town,  Ohio.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  entered  the  Capi- 
tol University,  Columbus,  Ohio;  took  a  six  year  scientific 
course  and  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  Three 
years  after  this  college  conferred  the  degree  of  A.  M.  on  him, 
it  being  unsolicited,  and  being  directly  due  to  a  book  he  had 
written  on  a  scientific  subject,  "Electricity."  In  1885,  he 
began  attending  lectures  at  Miami  Medical  College  of  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  and  was  graduated  from  there  three  years  later,  in 
1887.  He  has  practiced  medicine  and  particularly  surgery, 
ever  since  at  Hamilton,  Ohio.  In  1891,  he  took  a  trip  to 
Europe  and  attended  the  best  schools  of  Germany,  Austria, 
France,  England  and  Scotland;  was  health  officer  under  the 
Board  of  Public  Affairs.  His  administration  of  this  office  was 
characterized  by  the  vigor  of  his  policy,  respecting  no  one.  and 
prosecuting  all  who  violated  the  health  laws;  was  appointed 
surgeon  to  the  C,  H.  &  D.  R.  R.,  in  1892,  and  is  still  acting  in 
said  capacity  for  the  company.  Dr.  Trebel  has  had  a  prefer- 
ence for  scientific  subjects  in  and  out  of  his  profession.  He 
can  converse  on  any  subject  appertaining  to  science;  he  has 
paid  particular  attention  to  electricty,  photography,  chemistry, 
natural  philosophy  in  general  and  music.  These  he  considers 
recreation,  and  finds  more  delight  in  composing  a  song,  writing 
an  article,  taking  a  photograph,  analyzing  a  specimen  than 
others  do  in  passing  pleasures.  He  has  written  numerous 
articles  for  the  local  press.  He  always  signs  a  nom  de  plume 
and  never  talks  about  thern.  At  college  he  was  considered 
the  best  orator  in  his  class  and  took  a  prominent  part  in 
amateur  theatricals. 

There  is  not  a  doctor  in  the  city  capable  of  quicker  or 
more  delicate  work,  in  an  emergency,  and  this  ability  has 
stood  him  in  good  stead  in  his  official  position  of  railway  sur- 
geon. 


226  Historical  Sketches. 

He  was  married  September  i,  1892  to  Miss  Carrie  Schlos- 
ser,  a  daughter-  of  the  late  Henry  Schlosser.  A  single  child, 
Edwin  Henry,  has  been  born  into  their  home. 

Herbert  Eugene  Twitchell.  —  The  subject  of  this 
biographical  sketch  was  born  in  Chatfield,  Minnesota,  March 
27,  1855.  He  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  white  child 
born  in  that  village.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  under  the  tutelage  of  his  father,  who 
was  one  of  the  first  physicians  in  the  territory  of  Minnesota. 
After  teaching  school  for  two  years  he  resumed  the  study  of 
medicine.  Subsequently  he  took  a  course  in  the  Louisville 
Medical  College,  graduating  in  1878.  Immediately  after  grad- 
uation he  located  in  Darrtown,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  begun  to  practice  his  profession.  Being  ambitious  to 
attain  a  more  thorough  knowledge  of  the  profession,  he  took  a 
hospital  course,  and  a  special  course  of  lectures  in  the  Miami 
Medical  College,  graduating  in  March,  1885.  Thus  equipped, 
Dr.  Twitchell  came  to  Hamilton  and  opened  an  office  on  the 
West  Side,  where  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  physi- 
cians. In  1885,  he  took  a  post  graduate  or  supplementary 
medical  education  in  the  female  ward  of  the  Cincinnati  Hos- 
pital, under  Professors  Taylor  and  Stanton. 

In  1887,  he  begun  the  study  of  Psycho-Therapeutics. 
His  first  paper  on  this  subject  was  read  before  the  Butler 
County  Medical  society  in  1889.  At  this  time  the  theme  was 
not  looked  upon  with  favor  by  medical  men.  Subsequently 
papers  were  read  in  Hamilton,  Rushville  and  Connersville, 
Indiana,  which  were  severely  criticised.  But  Psycho-Thera- 
peutics (hypnotism),  had  come  to  stay.  In  1894-95,  papers 
read  in  Cincinnati  and  Indianapolis  were  received  with  much 
favor.  Dr.  Twitchell  has  made  psychology  a  thorough  study. 
He  employs  it  in  his  practice,  and  utilizes  that  marvelous 
force,  "the  power  of  mind  over  matter,"  not  only  in  func- 
tional but  in  organic  disease.  His  practice  is  as  large  as  any 
in  this  city,  though  it  may  not  be  the  most  lucrative.  He 
never   turns  a  sufferer  away  because  he  is  indigent  and  unable 


HERBERT  K.  TWJTCHKLL 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  227 

to  pay.  He  is  assistant  surgeon  of  the  First  O.  N.  G.,  by  com- 
mission of  ex-Governor  McKinley.  He  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried. In  March,  1878,  he  was  united  to  Miss  Carrie  Spencer, 
of  Owensboro,  Ky.,  who  died  just  before  his  removal  to  this 
city.  One  daughter,  Anna  survives  her.  On  Thuisday,  May 
14,  1896,  Dr.  Twitchell  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Libbie 
Deuscher,  daughter  of  Captain  Henry  P.  Deuscher.  Their 
bridal  tour  was  an  extensive  one  covering  the  Pacific  States 
and  National  Park. 

Charles  N.  Huston,  was  born  in  Lawrenceburg,  Dear- 
bon  county,  Indiana,  forty  years  ago.  Subsequently  his  parents 
removed  to  the  village  of  Renssalaer,  in  the  same  state.  It  was 
here  that  he  acquired  the  rudiments  of  an  education.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen,  he  matriculated  at  the  Normal  College  of  Val- 
paraiso, Indiana.  While  a  student  Dr.  Huston  and  his  father 
had  correspondence  with  an  uncle,  Robert  C.  Huston,  of  Oxford, 
who  was  until  his  death  seven  5  ears  ago  a  physician  of  repute. 
The  uncle  strongly  recommended  medicine  as  a  life  work.  In 
1877  Dr.  Huston  removed  to  Oxford  where  he  spent  a  year 
under  the  careful  tutelage  of  his  venerable  patron.  In  the 
autumn  of  1878  he  entered  the  Medical  College  of  Ohio,  in 
which  he  remained  until  the  completion  of  all  save  his  senior 
year.  For  seven  years  he  was  a  druggist  and  practicing  phy- 
sician at  Pulaski,  Ohio.*  In  1886,  Dr.  Huston  re-entered  the 
Ohio  Medical  College,  graduating  in  the  next  spring.  He  came 
at  once  to  Hamilton  and  opened  an  office.  From  that  day  his 
success  was  assured. 

Before  Dr.  Huston  had  been  a  resident  of  Hamilton  two 
years  he  was  appointed  city  and  infirmary  physician.  Subse- 
quently he  was  health  officer  of  Hamilton.  In  April,  1896,  he 
was  elected  councilman  from  the  Third  ward.  His  efforts  in 
behalf  of  our  tax-payers  have  won  him  much  regard.  The 
part  which  he  had  in  the  establishment  of  Mercy  Hospital  is 
only  one  of  the  many  evidences  of  his  liberal  spirit.  He  is 
president  of  the  United  States  board  of  pension  examiners.  In 
1897,  he  will  take  a  special  course  in  diseases  of  women  and 


228  Historical  Sketches. 

children,  and  will  thereafter  devote  his  practice  to  the  treat- 
ment of  such  diseases. 

Dr.  Huston  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  Davis  in 
1888. 

S.  M.  Scheix  was  born  in  Toronto,  Canada,  in  1839;  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  city;  studied  medicine.  In 
1865,  he  attended  the  Western  Homeopathic  College,  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio;  he  passed  the  examination  of  the  Homeopathic 
board  at  Toronto,  and  begun  to  practice  in  that  city.  In  1869, 
he  came  to  Hamilton  and  he  has  continuously  been  engaged  in 
the  work  of  his  profession.  He  has  never  deviated  from  the 
teachings  of  homeopathic  doctrine.  He  is  strictly  a  family 
doctor  and  a  very  successful  one. 

Dr.  Schell  was  married  in  1866  to  Miss  Emile  Lamport,  of 
Woodstock,  Canada.  Ten  children  have  blessed  this  union 
five  girls  and  five  boys,  one  boy  having  died  in  infancy. 

J.  L,.  Kirkpatrick  —  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  North  Liberty,  Adams  county,  Ohio,  April  17,  1841, 
and  was  educated  at  the  academy  in  that  place.  After  read- 
ing medicine  one  year  at  Xenia,  Ohio,  he  entered  the  Eclec- 
tic Medical  Institute  of  Cincinnati  in  1865,  and  remained 
through  1866-67,  excepting  six  months  of  the  latter  year.  He 
practiced  in  Celina,  Mercer  county,  Ohio.  After  graduating 
at  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute,  he  came  to  Hamilton  in  the 
Spring  of  1867,  where  he  has  an  excellent  practice.  He 
was  the  secretary  of  the  State  Medical  Society  in  1874-75-76, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Miami  Valley  Medical  Society  and  of 
the  National  Medical  Association. 

He  served  in  the  army  during  the  Civil  War,  in  Company 
C,  First  United  States  Artillery;  was  Provost  Marshal  at  the 
headquarters  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland;  was  elected  sur- 
geon-general of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  department 
of  Ohio,  in  1869.  As  a  surgeon  he  has  been  very  successful, 
and  has  had  experience  in  some  very  complicated  cases.  He 
is  an  enlightened  and  public  spirited  citizen.  He  follows  the 
trend   of  public  '  events   and   great  issues  with  a  keen  and  dis- 


/ 


"HOMAS  D.  SHARKEY 


£. 


O.  P.   MCHENRY 


F.  M.  BAR  DEN 


S.  M.  SCHEI/I. 


F.  M.  FITToN 


IP 


MARK   MIEEIKIN 


H.CARTER 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  229 

criminating  interest.  He  is  a  loyal  member  and  officer  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church,  and  has  been  prominent  in  many 
of  her  good  works.  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  was  married  in  1877  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Marston,  of  Middletown,  and  three  sons  Ralph, 
James  and  Theodore  complete  the  family  group. 

Mark  Miujkin  was  born  in  1868.  In  addition  to  the 
medical  traditions  gathered  in  his  youth  from  his  early  asso- 
ciation with  his  father,  Dr.  Millikin  has  had  special  training 
such  as  are  granted  to  but  few.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years, 
in  1886,  he  entered  Johns  Hopkins  University  for  a  three 
years'  course  in  chemistry  and  biology.  Thus  in  1889,  when 
he  entered  the  Miami  Medical  College,  of  Cincinnati,  he 
brought  with  him  a  preparation  for  the  actual  work  of  the 
clinic  and  the  dissecting  room,  which  enabled  him  to  blend 
into  his  education  the  right  ingredients  of  general  and  practi- 
cal experience. 

Such  preparation  could  not  have  failed  to  produce  a  use- 
ful physician.  Returning  from  college  after  his  graduation 
he  was  at  once  associated  with  his  father,  and  soon  acquired 
that   sort  of  standing  which  generally  comes  with  years  alone. 

Dr.  Mark  Millikin  was  married  on  June  29,  1893  to  Miss 
Mary  Beckett,  the  daughter  of  one  of  Butler  county's  most 
distinguished  families.  One  child,  Frances,  has  been  born 
to  them. 

Constantine  Markt.  —  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Wurtemburg.  His  father  was  a  cloth- 
ier; his  official  position  was  district  judge.  In  1854  he  came  to 
America,  accompanied  by  his  family,  locating  in  Northern 
Ohio.  The  support  of  the  family  fell  upon  the  shoulders  of 
Constantine.  He  faced  the  situation  manfully  and  by  giving 
instruction  in  music  throughout  the  day  he  was  able  not  only 
to  sustain  his  parents  in  comfort  but  to  take  up  his  favorite 
study  of  medicine  as  well.  In  1858  .he  was  graduated  from 
the  Eclectic  Medical  college  in  Cincinnati.  Since  that  time  he 
has  practiced  uninterruptedly  in  this  city.  He  has  been  presi- 
dent of  the  State  Medical   association   and  of   the    Hamilton 


23o  Historical  Sketches. 

Physicians  association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  National  and 
Miami  Medical  societies  and  is  the  examining  physician  for  the 
Royal  Arcanum  and  Knights  of  Honor.  Some  years  ago  the 
constant  stress  of  hard  work  induced  him  to  seek  a  semi-retire- 
ment by  purchasing  a  drug  store.  But  if  he  was  willing  to  let 
his  patients  go,  they  were  not  willing  that  he  should.  He  was 
sought  out  from  behind  his  own  counters  by  those  in  whose 
hearts  he  had  won  a  permanent  place.  He  is  a  familiar  figure 
on  our  streets  and  in  our  public  gatherings.  His  quick  intelli- 
gence and  accurate  judgment  have  won  him  the  popular  con- 
fidence, and  made  him  in  the  truest  sense  a  leader  among  men. 
Dr.  Markt's  marriage  to  Miss  Josephine  Carpender  occurred 
in  the  year  of  his  graduation. 

E.  C.  Sill. —  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  a 
farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Middletown,  on  the  12th  day  of  March, 
1866  Here  he  resided,  leading  the  life  of  a  farmer's  boy 
doing  his  father's  chores  and  attending  the  district  school  in 
the  vicinity  of  Middletown,  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  entered  the  Middletown  High  school,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  after  which  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  under 
Dr.  Dickey,  of  the  above  mentioned  city.  After  the  necessary 
preliminary  studies  had  been  completed,  he  attended  the 
Medical  College  of  Ohio.  His  studies  at  the  medical  college 
were  completed  in  1888,  in  the  spring  of  which  year  he  was 
graduated.  Two  more  years  of  a  post  graduate  course  in  the 
famous  Bellevue  hospital,  of  New  York  city,  completed  his 
studies   and  he  came  to  this  city  and  opened  his  office  in  1890. 

During  his  stay  in  this  city  he  has  made  innumerable 
friends,  being  of  a  pleasant  affable  disposition  and  possessed  of 
excellent  humor.  In  1892  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Lillian  L,orenz,  one  of  the  city's  most  charming  young  ladies. 
One  child,  a  daughter,  now  eighteen  months  old,  has  blessed 
the  union. 

Dr.  Sill  has  built  up  a  wide  and  lucrative  practice  and  has 
made  for  himself  a  high  reputation  in  professional  circles. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  23 1 

Thomas  D.  Sharkey  was  born  at  Excello,  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  February  16,  1866;  attended  school  in  his  native  village; 
entered  the  Harding  Paper  Mills,  where  he  worked  one  and  a 
half  years  as  a  laborer;  subsequently  he  began  the  study  of 
telegraphy  on  the  Bee  Line  railroad.  After  becoming  a  full 
fledged  operator,  he  followed  the  vocation  for  eight  years. 
Later  he  assumed  the  position  of  freight  and  ticket  agent  for 
the  C,  H.  and  D.  railroad  company  at  Middletown,  Ohio; 
resigned  September  1,  1890,  to  enter  upon  the  study  of  medi- 
icine.  On  the  twenty-third  of  the  same  month  he  entered  the 
Ohio  Medical  college  in  Cincinnati;  graduated  from  this  institu- 
tion April  6,  1893.  His  course  in  this  institution  was  full  and 
complete.  It  embraced  not  only  the  regular  requirements  for 
a  degree  but  every  special  advantage  that  the  college  afforded. 
After  graduation  he  secured  by  competitive  examination  the 
appointment  as  an  interne  in  the  German  Protestant  hos- 
pital and  at  the  expiration  of  this  very  important  and  valuable 
year,  he  at  once  removed  to  Hamilton  and  established  his 
present  office.  Although  yet  young  in  his  profession  and  in 
years  as  well,  he  has  already  exhibited  an  abundance  of  that 
invaluable  and  indescribable  faculty  of  "getting  to  the  top." 
It  is  a  peculiar  faculty  this,  and  it  appears  in  more  ways  than 
one.  Hard  fighting  and  perseverance  alone  have  gained  him 
his  place.  While  yet  an  interne  he  was  appointed  a  United 
States  pension  examiner  of  which  board  he  is  now  secretary. 
He  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  city  physician  and  bears 
the  distinguished  honor  of  representing  his  ward  in  the  city 
council.  His  recent  creditable  race  for  the  nomination  for  cor- 
oner, bodes  future  political  success.  Of  his  work  little  need  be 
said.  We  all  know  the  place  he  has  gained  in  the  public  con- 
fidence, by  his  skillfull  and  conscientious  exertions.  Few 
young  physicians  found  such  immediate  success. 

William  C.  Huston  was  born  in  Columbus,  Indiana, 
November  20,  1868.  His  parents  came  to  Hamilton,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1869,  and  remained  here  until  1 87 1,  when  they  removed 
to  Pleasant  Run.  In  1872,  his  parents  returned  to  this  city, 
when    young  Huston  entered  the  public  schools;  was  a  carrier 


232  Historical  Sketches. 

for  the  Daily  News;  was  agent  for  the  Cincinnati  Times- Star 
and  Post.  During  vacation  he  worked  on  a  farm;  was 
employed  in  the  moulding  department  of  Kahn  Bros'  stove 
works  in  1887.  Subsequently  he  began  to  learn  the  machin- 
ist trade  at  the  Niles  Tool  Works.  At  night  time  he  studied 
medicine  under  the  tutelage  of  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Talbott.  In 
October,  1891,  he  entered  the  Medical  college  of  Ohio,  in  Cin- 
cinnati, for  a  three  years'  course.  During  his  first  vacation  he 
was  a  private  nurse  in  the  Good  Samaritan  Hospital  for  the 
celebrated  surgeon,  W.  W.  Dawson,  during  his  last  sickness. 
In  the  fall  of  1892,  he  returned  to  college  and  was  importuned 
by  Dr.  Charles  Pythian,  of  Newport,  Kentucky,  to  make  his 
office  his  home  during  the  term.  He  graduated  April  7,  1894, 
and  immediately  opened  an  office  in  this  city.  He  has  suc- 
ceeded in  building  up  an  excellent  practice.  Dr.  Huston  is  a 
young  man  of  genial  and  happy  disposition;  he  is  a  pleasant 
companion  and  readily  makes  friends.  He  is  a  self-made  young 
man. 

James  H  Roll  was  born  near  the  village  of  Stillwell 
Corner,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  December  16,  1845.  His  early 
life  was  uneventful  and  did  not  differ  from  that  of  other  boys 
on  the  farm,  except  that  he  attended  school  more  closely  than 
boys  were  usually  permitted  to  do  in  country  homes.  His 
labor  was  not  in  great  demand  on  the  home  farm,  as  he  was 
the  third  boy  in  age  in  the  family.  On  October  7,  1861,  when 
not  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Fourth 
Ohio  Cavalry,  and  served  in  the  ranks,  answering  to  roll  call 
every  day  in  a  regiment  that  took  the  field  early  in  the  Civil 
War  and  was  constantly  at  the  front.  Nineteen  engagements 
are  placed  to  the  credit  of  this  regiment  in  the  Ohio  Roster. 
A  number  of  its  most  important  and  severe  engagements  are 
not  mentioned,  namely,  Elk  River,  Little  Harpeth,  Farming- 
ton  and  Muddy  Creek.  Our  subject  participated  in  the  follow- 
ing great  battles:  Stone  River,  Chickamauga  and  the  siege  of 
Atlanta.  After  the  term  of  his  enlistment  expired,  about 
November  1,  1864,  he  returned  home  and  immediately  entered 
a  private   school    taught   by    Professor  D.  P.  Nelson.     Subse- 


JOHN  B.  SCOTT 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  233 

quently,  our  subject  began  the  study  of  medicine,  and, 
entering  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  continued  his  studies  until 
his  graduation  in  1872.  In  1887,  he  came  to  Hamilton,  opened 
an  office,  and  has  since  conducted  a  profitable  and  increasing 
practice.  He  served  four  years  as  Secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Pension  Surgeons  in  Hamilton.  He  is  a  Master  Mason,  and  is 
also  a  member  of  Welzel-Compton  Post  No.  96,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic. 

On  October  14,  1873,  Dr.  #Roll  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Iyina  Baldwin,  of  Wood  Station. 

Minor  M.  Jacobs.  —  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Hamilton  in  1866.  He  is  of  German-American  extraction. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Hamilton  public  schools  and  as  he  had 
already  graduated  from  his  father's  pharmacy,  he  was  con- 
sidered well  equipped  for  a  course  in  medicine.  He  was 
accordingly  placed  in  the  Miami  Medical  college  whence  he 
was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1888. 

He  returned  to  Hamilton  and  at  once  established  his  pres- 
ent office.  On  January  8,  1889,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Marion  Walker,  and  two  children  Margaret  and  John  W. 
have  come  into  their  household.  From  that  day  the  course  of 
Dr.  Jacobs  career  has  flowed  steadily  onwards.  His  practice 
and  the  confidence  which  his  success  generated  in  the  public 
mind  have  steadily  increased.  In  his  capacity  of  member  of  the 
Board  of  Health  his  enlightened  efforts  for  the  improvement 
of  the  sanitary  conditions  of  our  city  won  him  general  appro- 
bation. Dr.  Jacobs  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  a 
prominent  K.  of  P. 

John  B.  Scott  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania, 
January  10,  1849.  Upon  the  farm  in  his  native  county  our 
subject  passed  the  years  of  youth;  graduated  from  a  Normal 
school  and  engaged  in  teaching  for  several  years.  He  began 
the  study  of  medicine  in  Connellsville,  Pennsylvania;  in  1867, 
he  graduated  from  the  Cincinnati  Literary  and  Scientific 
Institute  and  the  Physio  Medical  college,  in  1869;  from  the 
Physio  Medical  Institute  in   1874.     He  engaged  in  practice  in 


234  Historical  Sketches. 

his  native  county.  In  1874,  he  came  to  Hamilton,  and 
immediately  entered  upon  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He 
owns  valuable  property  in  Hamilton  and  fine  farming  lands  in 
Ohio  and  Indiana.  His  family  residence  on  East  High  street 
is  an  elegant  one.  He  was  at  one  time  president  of  the  State 
Physio-Medical  society;  is  a  frequent  contributor  to  Physio- 
Medical  journals;  is  a  member  of  the  staff  of  consulting  physi- 
cians of  the  Chicago  Physio-Medical  college;  is  also  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Ohio  Physio-MeBieal  society.  In  1878,  Dr.  Scott 
married  Addie  M.  Brady,  daughter  of  the  late  Christian  Brady, 
of  Hamilton,  who  died  July  14,  1894.  Two  children  complete 
the  family  circle,  Anna  G.  and  Violet  M. 

O.  P.  McHenry.  —  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
near  Harrison,  Hamilton  county,  January  20,  1861.  His 
youthful  days  were  spent  on  his  father's  farm;  in  early  life  he 
attended  the  public  and  high  school  of  New  London,  in  this 
county;  also  received  private  instructions  for  two  years;  began 
teaching  in  1878,  and  continued  in  this  field  until  1883. 
Having  a  taste  for  medicine,  he  entered  the  Eclectic  Medical 
college^of  Cincinnati,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in 
1886.  After  completing  his  medical  studies  he  began  his  pro- 
fessional work  in  Somerville,  this  county.  He  came  to  Hamil- 
ton in  1893,  and  is  one  of  the  representative  physicians  of  the 
city.  His  success  has  only  been  attained  through  careful  and 
saving  habits  and  he  has  persevered  and  struggled  on  encoun- 
tering obstacles  and  overcoming  them. 

Dr.  McHenry  is  a  member  of  the  Cincinnati  Medical 
society,  and  the  Ohio  State  Medical  society. 

At  the  Democratic  primaries  on  August  1,  1896,  he  was 
nominated  for  coroner  of  Butler  county,  and  triumphantly 
elected  at  the  general  election,  November  3,   1896. 

On  July  21,  1886,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Carrie  McCaf- 
ferty,  daughter  of  T.  B.  McCafferty,  of  Harrison,  Ohio.  Dr. 
McHenry  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  is  a  man  of  social  instincts  and  warm  impulses. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  235 

Francis  M.  Fitton  was  born  in  the  village  of  Carthage, 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  in  1859,  but  in  infancy  was  removed 
with  his  family  to  Piqua.  His  childhood  was  passed  as  that  of 
all  well  regulated  children  should  be — in  the  public  schools. 
He  continued  his  studies  without  intermission  until  in  his 
eighteenth  year  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1876.  He 
left  his  home  and  settled  himself  in  Butler  county,  where 
several  branches  of  his  father's  family  had  established  them- 
selves long  before.  Even  at  this  early  period  of  his  life,  Dr. 
Fitton's  mind  was  unalterably  fixed  upon  medicine.  Circum- 
stances forbade  his  immediate  entrance  into  a  professional 
school. 

He  became  a  teacher  in  county  schools  for  five  years,  and 
at  the  same  time  supplying  his  own  higher  cravings  by 
systematic  reading  in  rudimentary  medicine.  In  1882  he 
embraced  an  excellent  position  which  was  opened  up  to  him  in 
the  office  of  The  Niles  Tool  Works  company.  The  opening  of 
the  sessions  of  1885-6  in  the  Miami  Medical  College  found  him 
enrolled  in  its  list  of  matriculates.  In  two  years  he  was  grad- 
uated, and  equipped  with  his  well  earned  degree,  he  carrfe  to 
Hamilton  and  established  an  excellent  practice.  Of  his  record 
as  a  physician,  little  need  be  said.  His  work  speaks  for  itself 
in  no  uncertain  tone.  He  has  lately  devoted  himself  to  special 
degrees  in  surgery,  in  which  he  has  always  had  conspicuous 
success. 

William  Z.  KtjmlER  was  born  in  Seven  Mile,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  in  1861.  His  education  has  been  thorough  and 
complete;  at  the  age  of  seven  he  entered  the  village  school, 
from  which  he  graduated,  and  immediately  entered  Professor 
Benedict  Starr's  Academy  to  fit  himself  for  college.  A  year 
later  he  matriculated  in  the  Otterbein  University  near  Colum- 
bus, where  he  spent  five  full  years  in  conscientious  work. 
Unlike  so  many  youths  contemplating  a  professional  career,  Dr. 
Kumler  did  not  neglect  the  opportunities  for  a  broader  culture 
offered  by  the  classical  courses  of  his  college.  He  bent  him- 
self with  energy  to  his  chemistry  and  biology.     In  the  fall  of 


236  Historical  Sketches. 

1883,  Dr.  Kumler  entered  the  Cleveland  Medical  college  to 
complete  a  course  that  his  private  exertions  had  already  more 
than  half  accomplished.  Upon  his  entrance  he  was  at  once 
promoted,  and  an  advanced  standing  which,  being  supple- 
mented by  special  work  in  the  Huron  County  hospital  during 
the  summer,  enabled  him  to  complete  his  course  in  one-half 
the  prescribed  time.  The  theoretical  instruction  of  the  lecture 
room,  combined  with  the  intensely  practical  work  of  the 
surgical  ward  of  a  city  hospital,  complete  a  symmetrical  and 
thorough  course  of  training.  In  the  summer  of  1885,  Dr. 
Kumler  established  his  present  office,  where  he  has  practiced 
without  intermission  ever  since. 

Frank  M.  Barden  was  born  near  Waynesville,  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  in  1864;  he  came  here  at  the  age  of  seven  with 
his  family  from  Columbus,  Indiana;  has  resided  here  ever  since. 
While  he  was  yet  a  school  boy  the  death  of  both  his  parents 
threw  him  on  his  own  resources.  As  soon  as  it  became  neces- 
sary for  him  to  abandon  his  education  in  favor  of  an  employ- 
ment which  would  bring  a  more  immediate  return,  he  appren- 
ticed himself  to  the  Cope  and  Maxwell  shops.  He  served  his 
time  with  fidelity,  but  machanics  were  not  to  his  mind  and  his 
apprenticeship  was  followed  by  but  a  single  year  of  active 
service.  During  this  time  the  life  of  a  roving  journeyman 
carried  him  to  St.  Paul,  Omaha,  and  many  western  cities. 
Returning  to  Hamilton  in  1885,  Dr.  Barden  entered  into  a 
stencil  and  stamp  manufacturing  business  in  association  with 
Frank  M.  Heck.  The  enterprise  was  a  success,  but  the  bur- 
den of  traveling  which  fell  upon  Dr.  Barden's  shoulders,  was 
too  heavy,  and  his  failing  health  compelled  him  to  seek  less 
trying  employment.  He  entered  the  offices  of  Dr.  Charles  N. 
Huston,  of  Hamilton,  and  Dr.  A.  N.  Ellis,  of  Cincinnati,  a 
patient  and  he  left  them  a  disciple.  The  fascination  of  medicine 
had  laid  hold  of  him  and  he  was  a  willing  bondsman. 

In  the  autumn  of  1888,  Dr.  Barden  entered  upon  his 
course  in  the  Ohio  Medical  College  whence  he  was  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1890.     Immediately   he   was  equipped  with 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  237 

his  well  earned  degree  he  returned  to  Hamilton  and  opened  his 
present  office  in  the  Second  National  Bank  building  where  he 
has  since  practiced  with  ever  increased  success. 

Dr.  Barden  was  married  several  years  ago  to  Miss  Hattie 
Bachelor  of  this  city.  One  child,  Louise,  has  been  born  of 
their  union. 

H.  H.  Carter  was  born  in  the  village  of  Sabina,  Ohio, 
December  7,  1865.  He  is  of  Irish  extraction.  At  an  early 
age  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  S.  B.  Lightner.  After  a  train- 
ing in  the  practical  side  of  a  doctor's  life,  young  Harvey  was 
dispatched  to  the  Medical  college  of  Ohio.  He  was  graduated 
in  1889,  and  after  a  brief  career  at  Cuba,  Ohio,  he  removed  to 
Hamilton.  With  unusual  rapidity  he  has  built  up  a  broad  and 
substantial  practice.  Dr.  Carter  was  married  several  years 
ago  to  Miss  Lillian  Harrison,  of  Vienna,  Ohio,  and  one  child 
Mildred,  has  come  into  their  home.  Dr.  Carter  is  a  Mason 
and  a  leading  factor  in  our  local  medical  organizations. 

W.  H.  Cherryholmes  was  born  at  Millersburg,  Ohio,  in 
i860.  In  early  youth  he  had  all  the  advantages  of  an  education 
and  special  training.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  the 
State  University  at  Columbus,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1 88 1.  His  mind  was  made  up  for  medicine  and  he  entered 
the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan.  Here 
he  remained  for  two  years,  graduating  into  the  profession 
finally  from  the  famous  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  of 
New  York.  By  a  competitive  examination  he  became  an 
interne  in  that  great  hospital,  where  his  years  of  theory  were 
tempered  by  a  broad  and  varied  experience.  Five  years  of 
practice  at  his  native  place,  determined  him  in  favor  of  a 
restricted,  yet  more  fertile  field,  of  special  practice.  In  1889, 
he  became  again  a  student.  For  two  years  he  studied  and 
assisted  at  the  Ophthalmic  Clinics  of  Dr.  F.  B.  Loring  and  Dr. 
Swan  M.  Burnett,  two  of  the  most  eminent  oculists  in  the 
United  States.  Late  in  theyear  1890,  he  left  for  Europe  to  put 
the  finishing  touches  upon  his  already  liberal  training.  At 
Berlin  he  was  a  pupil  of  the  great  Hirschberg;  subsequently  he 


238 


Historical  Sketches. 


was  in  the  Royal  I/mdon  Ophthalmic  Hospital  and  the  Royal 
Westminster  Ophthalmic  Hospital,  two  of  the  greatest  insti- 
tutions of  Europe.  In  1892,  Dr.  Cherryholmes  returned  to 
America.  Upon  the  advice  of  a  friend  he  came  to  Hamilton 
where  he  is  every  day  fulfilling  the  promise  of  his  youth  and 
the  guarantee  of  his  magnificent  training. 

THE  HAMILTON    BAR. 

Thomas  Millikin  B.  F.  Thomas.  ■  Charles  S.  Haines. 

Isaac  Roberston.  James  E.  Campbell  C.  J.  Smith. 

Alex.  F.  Hume.  M.O.Burns.  Frank  P.  Richter. 

S.  Z.  Gard.  Robert  N.  Shotts.  H.  H.  Haines. 

Israel  Williams.  Brandon  R.  Millikin.  G.  C.  Morey. 

P.  C.  Conklin.  D.  M.  McClung.  H.  E.  Krauth. 

William  E.  Brown.  clarence  Murphy.  Nelson  Williams. 

Stephen  Crane.  David  Pierce.  James  P.  Whitmore. 

H.  E-  Morey.  Aaron  Wesco.  W.  C.  Shepherd. 

Allen  Andrews.  P.  B.  Holly.  Isaac  M.  Warwick. 

John  C.  Slayback.  J.  E.  Morey.  Robert  S.  Woodruff. 

William  H.  Harr.  William  O.  Campbell.  B.  W.  Baker. 

John  F.  Neilan.  Edgar  A.  Belden.  Hinckley  Smith. 

Warren  Gard.  Edward  H.  Jones.  John  F.  Heath. 

William  S.  Giffen.  U.  F.  Bickley.  Eugene  C.  Poicey. 

J.  J.McMaken.  Samuel  D.  Fitton,  Jr.  J.  W.  Meckley. 
R.  P.  Hargitt. 

The  first  session  of  Court  was  held  in  Hamilton,  May  10, 
1803,  at  the  home  of  John  Torrence.  This  building  is  still 
standing  at  the  corner  of  Dayton  and  Water  streets,  owned  by 
G.  A.  Rentschler. 

The  first  regular  term  began  with  Francis  Dunlevy  as 
presiding  judge,  and  Daniel  Symmes  prosecuting  attorney. 
The  first  term  of  the  Supreme  court  was  on  October  11.  1803, 
and  was  composed  of  Judges  Samuel  Huntington  and  Samuel 
Sprigg;  Arthur  St.  Clair,  Jr.,  as  Prosecuting  Attorney.  Judge 
Dunlevy  was  a  man  of  great  strength  of  character,  and  pos- 
sessed wide  influence.  He  had  not  originally  been  intended 
for  the  bar.  There  were,  indeed,  few  regularly  bred  lawyers 
in  the  country.  Judge  Dunlevy's  family  were  originally  from 
Spain,  having  become  Protestants  and  fled  from  that  country  to 
France,  where  they  remained  until  the  revocation  of  the  edict 
of  Nantes. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  239 

The  name  of  Daniel  Symmes  appears  as  that  of  the  first 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  He  was  at  that  time,  and  ever  after,  a 
resident  of  Cincinnati,-  and  was  appointed  to  the  position 
because  there  was  no  resident  lawyer  here.  He  was  a  son  of 
Timothy  Symmes,  and  a  nephew  of  Judge  John  Cleves  Symmes, 
and  was  born  in  Sussex  county,  New  Jersey,  in  1772.  He  was 
a  graduate  of  Princeton  college,  and  came  West  with  his 
father.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Oliver  in  1795.  Arthur 
St.  Clair,  Jr  ,  succeeded  him.  He  was  a  son  of  General  St. 
Clair,  and  a  man  of  considerable  attainments  and  means, 
l.efore  coming  out  here  he  had  run  away  with  a  Quaker  lady, 
who  made  him  a  good  wife,  and  who  bore  him  several  children. 
He  was  a  candidate  for  territorial  delegate,  at  the  very  begin- 
ning of  the  history  of  Ohio,  but  was  defeated  by  William 
Henry  Harrison. 

William  Corky  was  Hamilton's  first  lawyer.  He  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  14, 
1778;  received  a  liberal  education  at  Parson  Duke's  academy, 
in  Tennessee.  In  1798,  he  came  to  the  Northwestern  Terri- 
tory and  studied  law  with  William  McMillan,  of  Cincinnati. 
In  1S03  he  removed  to  Hamilton  and  began  practice.  In  1807 
he  was  appointed  prosecutor  for  the  State,  which  office  he  held 
until  his  removal  from  Hamilton  in  the  year  1810.  In  March, 
1S10,  Mr.  Corry  was  married  to  Eleanor  Fleming.  He  then 
determined  to  abandon  the  practice  of  law,  and  removed  from 
Hamilton  and  settled  on  his  farm  near  Cincinnati.  He 
removed  to  Cincinnati  in  1 81 1,  where  he  again  resumed  the 
practice  of  law.  He  was  elected  and  represented  the  county  of 
Hamilton  in  the  General  Assembly;  was  appointed  by  the 
town  council  to  the  office  of  Mayor,  and  held  it  until  18 19  by 
appointment.  He  died  in  that  city  on  the  16th  of  December, 
'S35- 

David  K.  Este  was  the  second  lawyer  who  settled  in 
Hamilton.  He  was  born  at  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  October 
2I«  17§5>  where  he  received  the  rudiments  of  his  education. 
He  afterwards  entered  Princeton  College,  where  he  graduated 


240  Historical  Sketches. 

in  September,  1803.  In  the  spring  of  1804  he  began  the  study 
of  law,  and  was  in  due  time  admitted  to  the  bar  in  his  native 
state.  In  May,  1809,  he  left  that  state  and  came  to  Ohio,  and 
in  June  following  settled  in  Hamilton,  and  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  In  i3io  he  was  appointed  Prosecuting 
Attorney  in  the  place  of  William  Corry,  who  had  removed  to 
Cincinnati,  holding  this  office  until  April,  18 16. 

Joseph  S.  Ben'ham  was  born  near  Lebanon,  Ohio;  in  1808 
and  1809,  attended  school  in  Hamilton;  studied  law  with 
David  K.  Este,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  commenced 
practice  in  this  city.     He  died  in  Cincinnati,  July  15,  1840. 

Benjamin  Coeeett  came  to  Hamilton  from  Lebanon, 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  in  18 15.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Dickin- 
son College,  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania;  studied  law  at  Lebanon 
with  his  brother,  Joshua  Collett,  and  with  Judge  John  McLean. 
He  was  a  classical  scholar.  As  a  well  read  lawyer  he  was 
excelled  by  none  in  the  state.  He  soon  acquired  a  very 
respectable  practice.  In  April,  18 16,  he  was  appointed  Prose- 
cuting Attorney  for  the  county  of  Butler,  and  held  the  office 
until  1820.     A  year  or  two  afterwards  he  returned  to  Lebanon. 

George  Sargeant  located  in  Hamilton  in  1816,  studied 
law  with  Joseph  S.  Benham.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
upon  the  completion  of  his  course  of  study,  and  began  practice 
immediately  afterward.  He  continued  to  practice  until  about 
the  year  1826.  In  September  1827,  he  became  so  much 
deranged  that  he  was  strictly  confined.  The  Masonic  Frater- 
nity, of  which  he  was  a  member,  appointed  a  committee  of 
their  members  to  see  to  his  condition.  He  was  supported  and 
cared  for  by  the  society  for  about  a  3  ear.  He  was  afterward 
taken  to  an  asylum  in  Cincinnati,  where  he  remained  several 
years  chained  to  the  floor,  and  was  then  removed  to  the  asylum 
at  Columbus.  He  never  recovered  from  his  derangement, 
dying  in  1852. 

The  following  accomplished  lawyers  attended  court  in 
Hamilton  in  the  early  days:  Jacob  Burnett,  afterward  Judge, 
Nicholas   Longworth,    George    P.  Torrence,   Elias  Glover  and 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  241 

Ethan  Allen,  of  Cincinnati;  Thomas  Freeman  and  Thomas  L. 
Ross,  of  Lebanon;  John  McLean,  afterward  a  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  and  Joshua  Collett. 

In  1842,  the  resident  lawyers  of  Hamilton  were:  John 
Woods,  F.  D.  Rigdon,  William  Bebb,  J.  P.  Reynolds,  Jesse 
Corwin,  Alfred  C.  Thomas,  Elijah  Vance,  Thomas  Millikin, 
John  B.  Weller,  Michael  C.  Ryan,  Oliver  S.  Witherby,  Ezekiel 
Walker  and  Thomas  H.  Wilkins.  At  this  date  Lewis  D. 
Campbell  and  John  M.  Millikin  had  retired  from  active 
practice. 

Michael  B.  Sargeant  was  an  early,  brilliant  member  of 
the  bar.  He  was  a  fine  classical  scholar,  and  conversant  with 
elegant  literature  as  well  as  a  thorough  lawyer.  Mr.  Sargeant 
died  suddenly  on  the  night  of  April  19,  1830,  aged  thirty-three 
years.  He  was  found  in  the  morning  dead  in  his  bed.  He  lies 
buried  in  the  Fourth  ward  burying-ground,  now  the  park.  He 
was  a  man  of  large  capacity,  and  bad  he  lived  would  have  won 
fame. 

From  1844,  to  1858,  we  give  the  list  of  Hamilton  Attor- 
neys: Charles  Richardson,  Valentine  Chase,  William  Shott- 
well,  Robert  Hazelton,  Moore  C.  Gilmore,  Rossville,  Thomas 
Millikin,  Isaac  Robertson,  George  Webster,  William  H.  Miller, 
William  P.  Young,  John  B.  Weller,  J.  M.  Nutt,  I.  W.  Crosby, 
Thomas  Moore,  John  W.  Wilson,  James  Clark,  James  B. 
Millikin,  William  E.  Brown,  E.  V.  Wilson,  J.  H.  Gist,  Alex. 
F.  Hume,  Josiah  Scott,  N.  C.  McFarland,  Jessse  Corwin  and 
Elijah  Vance. 

James  Clark  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  in  1830; 
graduated  from  Miami  university  in  1854;  studied  law;  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  elected  Common  Pleas  Judge.  He 
was  a  man  of  marked  ability  as  a  lawyer,  judge  and  scholar. 
His  range  of  reading  was  very  wide,  and  he  collected  a  fine 
library.  Judge  Clark  died  at  the  Magnetic  Springs  House,  in 
Statesville,  New  York,  December  28,  1881. 

Attorneys  at  law  in  1866:  Isaac  Robertson,  Thomas 
Millikin,  N.  C.  McFarland,   M.  N.  Maginnis,  Bobert  Christy, 


242  Historical  Sketches. 

Alex.  F.  Hume,  William  E.  Brown,  J.  B.  Millikin,  Thomas 
Moore,  A.  W.  Scott,  Elijah  Vance,  Ransford  Smith,  Ferd. 
VanDerveer,  Israel  Williams,  S.  Z.  Gard,  W.  A.  Kinneer,  P. 
C.  Conkliu,  Stephen  Crane,  A.  W.  Eckert  and  Alex.  C. 
Hughes. 

S.  C.  Symmes,  Frank  H.  Shaffer  and  N.  E.  Warwick, 
were  here  in  1870  and  Houston  James  came  ten  years  later. 

Thomas  Millikin,  the  oldest  practicing  member  of  the 
Hamilton  Bar,  was  born  in  Rossville,  September  28,  1819.  He 
was  the  son  of  Robert  B.  Millikin,  a  well-known  physician,  and 
Sarah  (Gray)  Millikin.  The  latter  was  from  Virginia  and  the 
former  from  Pennsylvania.  Thomas  Millikin  began  his  classi- 
cal studies  with  the  Rev.  Joseph  G.  Monfort,  in  Rossville,  in 
1832,  and  entered  Miami  university  in  September,  1834,  grad- 
uating from  that  institution  in  July,  1838.  He  began  the 
study  of  law  with  Elijah  Vance,  in  the  fall  of  1838,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  December  20,  1840.  Three  years  later  he 
was  appointed  Prosecuting  Attorney,  and  served  as  such  for 
one  year.  From  that  time  to  this  he  has  uninterruptedly  fol- 
lowed the  practice  of  his  profession.  Mr.  Millikin  was  origi- 
nator of  the  Hamilton  Gas  company,  and  also  of  the  Hamil- 
ton and  L,indenwald  Electric  Transit  company,  of  which  he 
has  been  president  since  its  incorporation.  Since  1852  he  has 
been  the  attorney  for  the  C,  H.  &  D.  Ry.  Co.,  and  is  also  the 
attorney  for  the  Big  Four.  In  the  year  1874  he  was  tendered 
a  commission  as  judge  of  the  Supreme  court  of  Ohio  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Judge  John  A.  Corwin, 
but  declined  the  honor.  Mr.  Millikin  has  often  delivered 
public  addresses  on  various  topics.  On  July  4,  1876,  at  the 
Hamilton  Centennial  anniversary  celebration  of  the  signing  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  he  delivered  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal orations,  and  was  president  of  the  citizens  committee 
during  the  Centennial  celebration  of  the  building  of  Ft.  Ham- 
ilton. When  the  corner  stone  of  the  present  court  house  was 
laid  he  also  delivered  an  address.  A  few  years  ago  he  took 
two  partners,   his  grandson    Brandon  R.    Millikin,    and  Mr. 


THOMAS  MILLIKIN 


ISAAC  ROBERTSON  ALLEN  ANDREWS  ISRAEL  WILLIAMS 


JOHN  C.  SLAYBACK 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  243 

Robert  N.  Shotts,  who  are  associated  with  him  under  the  firm 
name  of  Millikin,  Shotts  &  Millikin. 

He  was  married  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  November  4,  1841,  to 
Mary,  daughter  of  the  late  William  B.  VanHook.  She  was 
born  in  1824,  and  after  a  happy  married  life  of  fifty-two  years 
she  was  called  to  her  eternal  rest  January  13,  1894  while  on  a 
visit  to  her  children  at  Peoria,  111.  Mr.  Millikin  and  his  wife 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children  William  B.,  Robert  B.,Sallie 
G.,  Murray  G.,  May  M.,  Ira  S.,  and  Julia  M.  Millikin.  Of  these 
William  B.,  Murray  G.,  and  May  M.,  are  deceased.  William 
served  in  the  Thirty-fifth  0.  V.  I.  and  Robert  in  the  Ninety- 
third  during  the  war. 

It  is  as  a  lawyer  that  he  will  always  be  known  and  remem- 
bered. He  has  won  many  important  suits  at  court,  among 
which  was  the  Deshler  will  case  at  Columbus,  a  case  which  he 
prosecuted  with  vigor  and  ability  and  which  he  brought  to  a 
successful  termination. 

No  man  stands  higher  in  the  city  and  county  of  his  birth 
than  Mr.  Millikin.  His  name  is  a  synonym  for  all  that  is  hon- 
orable. In  spite  of  his  years  he  is  as  active  as  ever  in  his  pro- 
fessional duties.  He  loves  the  history  of  the  records  of  the  past 
and  is  thoroughly  informed  on  the  events  of  the  past  seventy 
years  with  which  he  has  had  any  connection.  His  life  has 
been  an  open  book  and  he  will  leave  behind  him  what  is  more 
valuable  than  earthly  riches — a  good  name.  Few  men  have 
left  a  deeper  impress  on  the  city  and  state  in  the  last  forty- five 
3'ears  than  he,  and  none  have  won  success  and  made  as  much 
law  for  our  great  commonwealth  as  Mr.  Millikin. 

Isaac  Robertson.  —  The  subject  of  this  biographical 
sketch,  was  born  in  Germantown,  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
September  6,  1818,  being  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Eleanor  (Doke) 
Robertson.  His  grandfather,  John  Robertson,  was  born  in 
New  Jersey  and  took  part  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  In  1804, 
he  came  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Warren  county,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming,  and  there  died.  The  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  the  eldest  of  seven  children   and   came   to   Butler 


244  Historical  Sketches. 

county  when  he  was  a  boy.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  died  at  Germantown,  Ohio,  in  1871,  aged  eighty-six 
years.  By  trade  he  was  a  contractor  and  builder.  Isaac 
Robertson  attended  college  at  Miami  university,  but  did  not 
graduate,  owing  to  ill  health.  When  he  was  a  young  man  he 
read  law  and  taught  school,  finishing  his  studies  in  the  office 
of  Iyowe  &  Lowe,  in  Dayton,  Ohio.  After  being  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1844,  he  continued  to  teach  school  for  four  years, 
and  later  began  practice  in  Hamilton.  He  was  Prosecuting 
Attorney  of  Butler  county  from  1852  to  1856.  After  the 
annexation  of  Rossville  to  Hamilton,  in  1854,  ne  took  a  promi- 
nent part  in  the  educational  affairs  of  this  city.  For  many 
years  Mr.  Robertson  has  been  justly  considered  one  of  Hamil- 
ton's best  citizens.  As  a  lawyer  he  enjoys  a  reputation  for 
integrity,  true  worth  and  merit.  He  possesses  the  sincere 
respect  and  esteem  of  his  brother  attorneys  and  of  the  citizens 
of  this  city  and  county.  He  has  made  a  good  record  for  him- 
self and  he  will  leave  an  honorable  name  behind  him. 

Alexander  F.  Hume  was  born  in  Delaware  county, 
New  York,  April  20,  1831.  He  was  reared  in  Clarke  county, 
this  state ;  received  his  higher  education  in  the  high  school  at 
Springfield,  Miami  university  and  at  the  college  at  Danville, 
Kentucky,  from  which  latter  he  was  graduated  in  1850.  On 
taking  up  law,  he  studied  in  the  offices  of  Judge  William  A. 
Rogers  and  Judge  William  White,  of  Springfield.  In  1852,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  soon  afterward  came  to  Hamilton, 
where  he  formed  a  partnership  with  L,.  M.  Farrow  one  of  his 
fellow  students,  who  afterward  became  Postmaster  of  Hamilton. 
In  1859,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  for  five  years,  then  refusing  renomi- 
nation.  Afterward  he  resumed  law  and  devoted  himself 
to  his  extensive  and  increasing  practice.  In  1875,  he  was 
re-elected  to  the  same  position,  in  which  he  had  proved  him- 
self so  efficient  in  former  years.  After  serving  as  judge  for 
twelve  and  one-half  years,  he  again  declined  further  candidacy. 
In  1878,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Judge  of  the   Supreme   Court 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  245 

of  the  state  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  came  within  three 
thousand  votes  of  an  election.  He  carried  his  own  county  by 
a  majority  of  three  thousand.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers 
and  the  first  president  of  the  Second  National  Bank,  of  Hamil- 
ton, resigning  the  position  afterward. 

The  marriage  of  Judge  Hume  was  celebrated  September 
5,  1854.  He  was  the  father  of  six  children.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  Hamilton.  He  is  a 
lawyer  of  rare  ability,  and  no  one  in  the  profession  has  a  larger 
or  more  lucrative  practice  in  this  locality  than  he  enjoys.  In 
the  legitimate  lines  of  his  calling,  he  has  been  active  and  has 
acquired  a  goodly  fortune. 

William  S.  Gifffn.  —  Our  subject  was  born  in  Hamil- 
ton, April  8,  185 1,  and  is  the  son  of  Stephen  E.  and  Rachel 
(Crane)  Giffen.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  this  city 
and  graduated  from  the  High  school  in  1876.  He  entered 
Miami  university  in  September  of  this  year,  where  he  remained 
four  years,  being  graduated  therefrom  in  1871.  He  read  law 
in  the  office  of  ex- Governor  James  B.  Campbell  for  two  years, 
attending  the  Cincinnati  Law  school  at  the  same  time.  He 
was  graduated  from  there  in  1880,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  the  same  year,  when  he  began  the  practice  of  law  in 
this  city,  with  John  M.  Davidson  as  his  partner.  In  1881, 
Judge  Giffen  was  elected  attorney  for  the  Home  Loan  and 
Building  association  and  continued  in  this  capacity  until  he 
was  appointed  Common  Pleas  Judge.  In  1887,  he  was  the 
Republican  candidate  for  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Hamilton, 
against  Alexander  Getz,  Democrat,  and  was  defeated  by  one 
hundred  and  fifty-seven,  the  city  at  that  time  being  normally 
1,200  Democratic.  In  October,  1891,  he  was  nominated  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  for  Common  Pleas  Judge  in  the  first  sub-division 
of  the  second  judicial  district,  comprising  Butler,  Darke, 
Montgomery  and  Preble  counties.  His  Democratic  opponent 
was  General  Ferd.  VanDerveer,  who  was  a  candidate  for 
re-election.  Judge  Giffen  met  with  defeat  at  this  election,  the 
district  being  about  4,000  Democratic.     In  November,   1892, 


246  Historical  Sketches. 

Judge  VanDerveer  having  died,  President  McKinley,  then 
Governor  of  Ohio,  appointed  Judge  Giffen  to  fill  the  vacancy 
thus  occasioned,  and  to  serve  until  the  next  regular  election. 
Again,  in  1893,  ^e  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party  to 
fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Judge  VanDerveer  to  be  completed 
February  9,  1897.  His  Democrat  opponent  was  Judge  P.  G. 
Berry,  since  deceased.  Although  the  district  was  normally 
4,000  Democratic,  Judge  Giffen  was  elected  by  five  hundred 
majority,  thus  achieving  the  proud  distinction  of  being  the 
first  Republican  to  be  elected  in  this  judicial  sub-division  since 
it  was  organized,  in  1852.  In  the  spring  of  1894,  the  Legisla- 
ture re-arranged  the  sub-divisions  of  this  judicial  district  and 
made  Butler  county  a  sub-division  by  itself.  In  August,  1896, 
Judge  Giffen  was  again  nominated  for  Common  Pleas  Judge, 
his  Democrat  opponent  was  John  F.  Neilan,  and  the  campaign 
waged  by  Judge  Giffen  at  this  election  was  the  most  aggressive 
that  had  ever  been  made  by  any  Republican  in  this  county, 
although  he  was  defeated  by  the  meager  majority  of  four 
hundred  and  ninety-nine,  Bryan  carried  the  county  by  2,749 
over  McKinley. 

Judge  Giffen  in  all  his  political  contests  has  shown  himself 
to  be  a  phenominal  candidate,  and  it  is  predicted  that  the 
future  has  in  store  for  him  greater  political  honors  than  he  has 
achieved  in  the  past. 

On  August  28,  1894,  Judge  Giffen  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Emma  Brant  at  Trinity  Episcopal  church. 

Allen  Andrews. — The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Muncie,  Indiana,  August  11,  1849.  He  enjoyed  the  advan- 
tage of  a  good  common  school  education  and  was  graduated 
from  Eiber  college,  in  his  native  state;  was  subsequently  a 
student  at  the  National  Normal  school  at  Lebanon.  He 
entered  the  teacher's  profession.  In  1871-72,  was  superin- 
tendant  of  the  schools  of  New  Madison,  Ohio.  He  studied 
law  in  the  office  of  Judge  William  Allen,  at  Greenville,  Ohio, 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio, 
March  16,  1874.     On  February  29,  1876,  he  came  to  Hamilton 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  247 

and  began  practising  his  profession.  On  October  18,  1880,  he 
became  associated  with  H.  L,.  and  J.  E.  Morey,  since  which 
time  the  firm  of  Morey,  Andrews  &  Morey  has  gained  a  wide 
reputation  as  one  of  the  best  legal  firms  in  this  section  of  Ohio. 
Mr.  Andrews  enjoys  the  well  earned  distinction  of  being  the 
only  thirty-third  degree  Mason  in  Butler  county.  This  honor 
came  to  him  unsolicited  and  it  is  a  matter  of  record  that  no  pre- 
vious resident  of  Butler  county  ever  attained  this  elevation. 
He  is  one  of  the  best  known  Masons,  having  served  two  years 
as  Grand  Master  of  Ohio  Masons.  On  January  29,  1879,  Mr. 
Andrews  was  married  to  Miss  Belle  Davis,  daughter  of  J.  P. 
Davis  of  this  city.  The  union  was  a  most  happy  one  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Andrews  are  the  parents  of  five  interesting  children. 

With  his  family  he  is  a  regular  attendant  at  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  although  not  a  communicant.  He 
is  closely  identified  with  the  Sunday  school  of  this  church.  In 
politics  he  was  reared  a  Republican,  but  since  1876  has 
affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Andrews  is  a  lawyer  of  the  highest  standing  and  for 
years  has  been  a  leader  in  his  profession.  He  is  devoted  to  his 
life  study  of  the  law,  and  gives  all  his  energy  to  his  practice. 
He  has  a  judicial  mind,  is  keen,  careful  and  discriminating, 
and  is  a  natural  and  pleasing  orator.  As  a  man  he  is  genial 
and  generous  and  is  well  liked  by  those  with  whom  he  conies 
in  contact.  His  ability  is  unquestioned  and  as  he  is  a  young 
man  there  is  undoutedly  opening  out  for  him  a  career  that  is 
bright  with  promise. 

William  E.  Brown,  President  of  the  Second  National 
Bank,  of  Hamilton,  was  born  in  Xenia,  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
November  13,  1825.  His  father  was  a  mechanic  of  moderate 
means,  and  his  son  was  obliged  to  obtain  an  education  by  his 
own  exertions.  He  made  his  own  start  in  life,  and  by  industry 
has  accumulated  a  large  and  valuable  estate.  He  was  early 
taught  to  labor,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  was  in  Northern 
Mississippi,  a  journeyman  shoemaker.  He  subsequently  passed 
eighteen  months  in  New  York  City.     At  the  age  of  twenty-one 


248  Historical  Sketches. 

he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  Xenia.  He  completed  his 
preparatory  legal  studies  in  Dayton,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  on  the  29th  of  March,  1849.  The  following  spring  he 
settled  in  Hamilton,  with  very  little  money.  Up  to  this  time 
he  had  worked  at  his  trade  to  pay  expenses.  Before  the 
expiration  of  his  first  year's  practice  in  Hamilton,  he  had  busi- 
ness enough  to  support  himself.  He  married  the  daughter  of 
Robert  Beckett  in  1852.  In  1855  he  was  elected  an  elder  in 
the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Hamilton.  He  gave  up 
the  practice  of  law  for  a  while  on  account  of  impaired  health, 
but  afterward  resumed  it.  He  was  elected  president  of  the 
Second  National  Bank  of  Hamilton,  in  1870.  Under  his  able 
management  this  institution  has  nearly  trebled  its  business. 
It  was,  in  a  great  measure,  through  his  advice  and  direction 
that  the  handsome  building  of  this  bank  was  built.  Mr. 
Brown  is  not  only  a  thorough  lawyer,  but  he  is  also  an  ener- 
getic man  of  business  and  a  safe  counsellor.  He  is  a  man  of 
strong  character. 

Israel  Williams  was  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  August  24,  1827.  He  spent  most  of  his  boyhood  days  in 
Champaign  county.  He  came  to  Hamilton  in  1856.  He 
attended  Granville  college;  in  1853  graduated  from  Farmers' 
college,  studying  law  in  the  office  of  Gunckel  &  Strong,  of 
Dayton,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  March  1855  in  Cin- 
cinnati. Since  1856  he  has  practiced  in  this  city  steadily,  and 
as  a  practitioner  and  counsellor  at  law  he  has  long  enjoyed  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  a  large  clientage.  He  is  a  man  of 
earnest  and  decided  convictions,  and  he  is  in  full  touch  with 
the  progressiveness  of  his  day  and  generation.  In  every  way 
he  is  admirably  adapted  for  the  successful  discharge  of  his  pro- 
fessional and  other  duties.  He  is  one  of  those  who  materially 
helped  make  our  city  what  it  is  today,  and  his  influence  in 
this  community  can  hardly  be  over  estimated.  Mr.  Williams 
was  a  Democrat  before  the  Civil  War,  but  when  Fort  Sumter 
was  fired  upon  became  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Union  cause. 
In  connection  with  Frederick  Egry  he  purchased  the  Telegraph 
then  the  Democratic  organ  of  Butler  county,   and  merged  it 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  249 

with  the  Intelligencer.     Under  their  management  the  paper 

was  a  great  aid  to  the  union  cause,  upholding  the  vigorous 

prosecution  of  the  war. 

On  January  9,  i860,  he  was  married  to  Maggie  Wakefield. 

His  domestic  life  has  always  been  happy,   and  his  family  is 

well  known  in  the  social  circles  of  Hamilton. 

C  J.  Smith.     [See  Prosecuting  Attorneys.] 
Clarence  Murphy.     [See  Probate  Judges.] 

John  C.  Slayback  was  born  in  liberty  township,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  February  16,  1848.  His  boyhood  life  was  that 
of  the  ordinary  country  boy.  He  lived  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  twenty  years  of  age,  attending  the  district  school,  secur- 
ing a  good  common  school  education.  When  he  left  the  farm, 
he  taught  one  school  and  immediately  afterward  began  a  course 
of  study  at  the  National  Normal  university  at  Lebanon,  where 
he  completed  a  classical  course,  graduating  from  four  depart- 
ments— commerce,  teaching,  science  and  classics.  Mr.  Slay- 
back  spent  one  year  in  the  law  department  of  the  University 
of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor.  In  the  summer  of  1878,  he  read 
law  in  the  office  of  ex-Governor  James  B.  Campbell,  and  in  the 
fall  of  this  year  he  entered  the  Cincinnati  Law  school  and  on 
May  14,  1879,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  On  July  1,  1879, 
he  came  to  Hamilton  and  took  a  desk  in  Mr.  Campbell's 
office.  Here  he  remained  for  eight  months,  when  he  moved 
into  the  quarters  he  still  occupies  in  the  Hamilton  House 
building. 

Subsequently  Mr.  Slayback  became  a  partner  of  Frank  H. 
Shaffer,  under  the  firm  name  of  Slayback  &  Shaffer.  This 
partnership  lasted  for  three  or  four  years  when  it  was  dis- 
solved, Mr.  Shaffer  removing  to  Cincinnati.  A  couple  of 
years  later  Mr.  Slayback  formed  a  partnership  with  William 
Beckett,  son  of  the  late  William  Beckett,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Slayback  &  Beckett.  A  few  years  ago  the  partnership  was 
dissolved,  Mr.  Beckett  locating  in  the  West.  From  this  time 
on  to  1888  Mr.  Slayback  practiced  alone,  but  in  this  year  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  ex-Probate  Judge  William  H.  Harr 


250  Historical  Sketches. 

and  Peter  B.  Holly.  This  partnership  existed  for  two  years 
when  Mr.  Holly  retired.  Since  that  time  the  firm  has  been 
Slayback  &  Harr.  During  his  legal  career,  Mr.  Slayback  has 
been  retained  in  many  cases  of  importance.  His  close  atten- 
tion to  business  is  proverbial  and  the  success  he  has  achieved 
has  been  well  deserved.  There  are  few,  if  any,  attorneys  in 
Southwestern  Ohio,  who  have  a  better  practice. 

In  politics  Mr.  Slayback  is  an  ardent  Republican.  He 
has  never  held  public  office.  Mr.  Slayback  has  been  a  dele- 
gate to  the  State  convention  of  the  Ohio  Republican  league 
and  has  been  honored  by  being  chosen  as  a  delegate  to  the 
convention  of  the  National  organization.  He  is  a  member  of 
all  the  Hamilton  Masonic  bodies,  including  the  commandery 
of  Knights  Templars  of  which  latter  body  he  has  been  recorder 
for  several  years.  He  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite 
Mason,  being  a  member  of  Ohio  Consistory,  and  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Syrian  Temple,  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  a 
Past  Regent  of  Hamilton  Council  No.  338  Royal  Arcanum. 

In  Hamilton  and  throughout  the  county,  Mr.  Slayback  is 
held  in  high  esteem  and  regard.  He  is  the  head  of  a  happy 
family  prominent  in  the  social  circles  of  this  city. 

U.  F.  Bickxey.  —  The  subject  of  this  brief  biographical 
sketch  was  born  at  St.  Charles,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  March  27, 
1867.  He  attended  district  school  until  he  was  sixteen  years 
old,  when  he  entered  the  High  school  at  New  London,  Ohio. 
Subsequently  he  taught  school  in  the  village  of  his  birth  for 
four  years.  He  followed  up  this  experience  with  a  year  on  the 
road  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  large  book  establishment. 
Coming  to  Hamilton,  he  read  law  with  the  late  lamented 
Edward  E.  Hull.  In  the  fall  of  1892,  he  entered  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  taking  the  law  course  and 
also  pursuing  studies  in  the  literary  department  of  this  well- 
known  institution.  He  graduated  in  1893,  ranking  among  the 
first  ten  in  a  class  of  three  hundred  and  thirty  students.  Before 
leaving  the  university  he  was  paid  the  high  compliment  of 
being  offered  Assistant  Professorship  by  the  Dean  of  the  law 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  251 

department.  He  declined  the  position,  as  he  desired  to 
immediately  enter  active  practice.  Mr.  Bickley  spent  four  years 
with  the  law  firm  of  Babcock  &  Garrigus,  of  Minneapolis,  Min- 
nesota. He  then  returned  to  Michigan  and  finished  his  law 
course,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  spring  of  1893. 
During  this  year  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  United 
States  Circuit  Court  and  the  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  of  Michi- 
gan. During  his  senior  year  at  the  University,  of  Michigan, 
he  was  appointed  by  the  faculty  as  editor  of  The  Michigan 
,LawJour?ial  under  whose  editorship  the  journal  was  made  a 
state  and  the  standard  legal  publication  of  the  state. 

Returning  to  Ohio,  Mr.  Bickley  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Columbus,  in  December,  1893,  receiving  the  highest  grade  in  a 
class  of  one  hundred  and  twenty.  In  January,  1894,  he  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Hamilton,  being  associated 
with  Judge  P.  G.  Berry.  At  the  death  of  his  friend  Mr.  Berry, 
Mr.  Bickley  assumed  charge  of  the  large  and  lucrative  practice 
of  the  deceased,  which  clientage  he  has  held  by  virtue  of  his 
ability  as  an  attorney  and  counsellor  at  law.  Mr.  Bickley  has  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  law,  is  a  young  man  of  good  address 
and  pleasing  manners,  and  a  bright  future  is  predicted  for  him. 
The  vast  field  of  the  legal  profession  affords  him  ample  scope 
for  the  exercise  of  those  qualities  which  are  possessed  by  all 
successful  lawyers,  and  which  are  naturally  his.  He  is  a  safe 
counsellor. 

Mr.  Bickley  is  a  member  of  Lone  Star  Lodge,  No.  39, 
Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  naturally  kind  and  benevolent  in 
disposition,  and  his  presence  and  kindly  ways  are  in  themselves 
an  encouragement  and  pleasure  to  those  who  know  him. 

PETER  B.  Hoely  was  born  in  Lemon  township,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  September  28,  1853.  His  youthful  days  were 
passed  on  the  homestead  farm,  where  he  gained  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  agriculture.  After  an  early  schooling  in  his 
immediate  neighborhood  he  attended  the  Mennonite  college  at 
Wadsworth,  Ohio,  for  one  year;  and  later  he  taught  school  for 
five  years.     Afterward,  he  graduated  from  the  National  Nor- 


252  Historical  Sketches. 

mal  university,  of  Lebanon,  completing  a  successful  course  in 
the  teacher's,  business,  and  scientific  departments.  While  a 
student  in  Lebanon  he  was  Professor  of  German  in  the  Normal 
university  and  the  public  schools.  On  his  return  to  the  home 
farm  he  resumed  its  cultivation  for  five  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1885  he  began  the  study  of  law.  During  this  period  he  still 
superintended  the  farm,  and  it  was  his  custom  to  ride  ten  miles 
to  Lebanon  when  his  day's  work  was  ended,  and  recite  in  the 
evening  with  his  classes.  In  1886  he  was  graduated  from  the 
law  department  of  the  Normal  university  and  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  Ohio,  having  passed  two  examinations,  one  by 
the  local  committee,  and  the  other  by  the  Supreme  Court  com- 
mittee. All  this  was  after  less  than  one  year's  study,  as  he 
crowded  the  junior  and  senior  years  into  one.  Afterward  he 
took  a  post  graduate  course  in  the  Cincinnati  College  of  Law, 
and  on  June  10,  1887,  he  opened  an  office  in  Hamilton.  Since 
that  date  he  has  conducted  and  managed  a  general  practice. 
He  has  made  a  high  place  for  himself  as  a  lawyer  and  is  held 
in  well  deserved  esteem.  Mr.  Holly  has  a  desirable  class  of 
clients  and  is  intrusted  with  much  responsible  legal  work  in  the 
way  of  settling  estates.  For  a  young  lawyer  he  has  been  very 
successful.  He  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  Hamilton's  tried 
attorneys.  He  superintends  the  management  of  the  home 
farm  and  has  manufacturing  interests  in  this  city.  In  politics 
Mr.  Holly  is  a  Democrat;  socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Lone 
Star  Lodge,  No.  39,  Knights  of  Pythias,  in  which  order  he  has 
been  honored  with  important  offices.  Mr.  Holly's  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  German  language  makes  his  services  invalu- 
able to  people  of  that  nationality. 

Wiluam  H.  Harr.     [See  Probate  Judges.  [ 

J.  J.  McMaken.     [See  State  Senators.] 

Edward  H.  Jones  was  born  of  Welsh  parentage,  in  the 
village  of  Gomer,  Allen  county,  Ohio,  February  2,  1865.  In 
childhood  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Paddy's  Run,  Butler 
county.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Morgan 
township  and  at  Miami  university.     In  the  summer  of  1890,  he 


M.  O.  BURNS 


*^ 


P.  B.   HOLLV 


F.  P.  RICHTKR  EDGAR  A.  BELDEN 


U.  F.  BICKXEY 


EDWARD  H.  JONES 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  253 

entered  the  law  office  of  Morey,  Andrews  &  Morey.  After 
some  months  of  invaluable  experience,  he  entered  the  Cincin- 
nati Law  school  whence  he  was  graduated,  a  finished  barrister 
in  the  spring  of  the  succeeding  year.  In  1891  he  was  elected 
clerk  of  the  board  of  State  Deputy  Supervisors  of  Elections, 
and  re-elected  on  the  two  following  years.  From  this  posi- 
tion he  passed  logically  into  the  office  of  city  solicitor  which 
he  still  holds  to  his  own  profit  and  the  advantage  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Jones's  legal  career  has  been  made  entirely  in  the 
courts  of  his  own  county.  His  office  was  opened  here  soon 
after  his  graduation  and  was  immediately  successful.  His 
quick  and  certain  judgment,  accurate  knowledge  of  the  law, 
and  frank  and  impressive  personality  combined  with  the  mere 
circumstance  of  his  political  faith  was  sure  to  make  his  recog- 
nition certain.  At  the  age  of  thirty-one,  he  has  the  distinction 
of  having  worked  out  his  own  career  and  established  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice.  Mr.  Jones  was  married  in  1891,  to 
Miss  Elba  Butterfield.  He  is  popular  in  the  fraternal  bodies 
of  the  city,  and  is  an  active  and  influential  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

Frank  P.  Richter  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  June  24, 
1867.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  this  city,  graduating 
from  the  High  school  in  1885.  Subsequently  he  studied  law 
and  attended  the  Cincinnati  L,aw  school,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  the  summer  of  1888.  Mr.  Richter  stood  third  in 
his  class  at  the  law  school  out  of  sixty  students.  Imme- 
diately after  his  graduation  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  this  city,  which 
he  has  continued  ever  since.  Mr.  Richter  has  been  an  indus- 
trious and  successful  member  of  the  Hamilton  bar.  There  are 
few  men  of  his  age  in  Southwestern  Ohio,  who  command 
greater  respect  among  lawyers  or  in  the  general  estimation  of 
the  business  community.  In  1889,  he  was  elected  Secretary 
of  the  Board  of  Public  Affairs  and  was  afterward  elected  Sec- 
retary of  the  Board  of  Elections.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  Butler  County  Bar  Association  and  acted  as  Secre- 


254  Historical  Sketches. 

tary  of  that  organization  for  four  years.  At  present  he  is  the 
attorney  for  the  Home  Loan  and  Building  Association,  having 
succeeded  Judge  Giffen  to  that  position  when  he  was  elevated 
to  the  common  pleas  judgeship.  He  was  the  unanimous  choice 
of  the  Republicans  of  this  county  in  convention  assembled  m 
September,  1893  f°r  the  highly  important  and  dignified  posi- 
tion of  Probate  Judge  and  against  great  odds,  he  made  a  very 
brilliant  and  energetic  campaign.  In  the  Second  and  Fourth 
wards  of  this  city  Mr.  Richter  received  the  highest  number  of 
votes  ever  cast  for  a  Republican  candidate  which  is  a 
strong  testimonial  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  in  this 
city.  In  February,  1894,  he  was  elected  vice-president  of  the 
Ohio  Republican  league  which  convened  at  Columbus;  and 
was  re-elected  in  1895,  at  Cincinnati.  He  is  of  German-Irish 
extraction,  his  father's  ancestors  being  German,  and  those  of 
his  mother  Irish.  His  great-grandfather,  Samuel  Dillon,  was 
the  first  coroner  of  Butler  county,  and  his  remains  are  now 
buried  at  the  east  gate  of  the  court  house  park,  the  grounds 
where  the  court  house  now  stands  at  one  time  being  a  burial 
ground. 

Mr.  Richter  has  laid  a  good  foundation  for  a  large  and 
steady  practice.  He  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  able 
young  attorneys  at  the  Hamilton  bar. 

M.  O.  Burns  was  born  in  this  city  April  26,  1867.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Hamilton,  and  Notre 
Dame  university,  at  South  Bend,  Indiana,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  was  graduated  in  1886.  He  then  proceeded  to 
gratify  his  ambition  by  attending  the  Cincinnati  L,aw  school. 
Having  good  application  beside  being  naturally  quick,  he  left 
a  good  record  behind  him  when  he  graduated  in  1888,  entering 
the  Butler  county  bar  shortly  after.  Since  then  Mr.  Burns  has 
been  practicing  in  this  city,  meeting  with  success.  He  num- 
bers among  his  clients  many  of  the  wealthiest  and  best  citizens 
of  Hamilton,  and  is  successful  in  caring  for  their  interests.  In 
April,  1 89 1,  he  was  the  successful  candidate  in  the  race  for  the 
city  solicitorship.     Taking  his  office  in  the  following   Septem- 


H.  H.  HAINES 


NELSON  WILLIAMS 


JOHN  F.  HEATH  ROBERT  S.  WOODRUFF 


m   '&  ^S 


W.  C." SHEPHERD 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  255 

ber,  Mr.  Burns  entered  upon  a  term  of  office  which  was  very 
eventful  and  a  severe  test,  before  which  a  less  able  man  would 
have  failed.  His  official  career  was  marked  by  nothing 
save  success,  though  he  handled  the  formidable  gas  legislation, 
which  case  was  taken  before  the  Supreme  Court.  The  great 
move  toward  public  improvement  such  as  electric  lighting  and 
sewerage  was  began  while  he  was  in  office  and  he  success- 
fully met  all  problems  which  they  have  involved.  Mr.  Burns 
is  the  present  efficient  City  Clerk.  His  past  career  commends 
him  to  the  public.  There  are  few  young  lawyers  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state  who  have  a  larger  practice  or  one  involving 
heavier  responsibilities. 

Nelson  Williams. — The  subject  of  this  brief  biograph- 
ical sketch  was  born  in  St.  Paris,  Champaign  county,  Ohio, 
March  23,  1853,  and  is  the  son  of  George  and  Margaret 
(McKinley)  Williams.  He  resided  in  the  county  of  his  nativ- 
ity until  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  his  parents  moved  to 
Conover,  Miami  county.  There  he  attended  a  graded  school, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  period  of  three  years. 
It  had  been  his  ambition  to  become  an  attorney,  and  in  the 
pursuit  of  this  desire  he  came  to  Hamilton  in  March,  I874, 
and  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Israel  Williams. 
Admitted  to  the  bar  in  April,  1876,  he  remained  with  his 
former  preceptor  until  1881,  when,  in  July,  he  began  practic- 
ing alone.  Mr.  Williams  is  at  present  in  the  employment  of  a 
good  general  practice.  He  is  a  careful,  conservative  lawyer, 
and  at  the  same  time  a  young  man  of  broad  culture  and  gen- 
uine ability.  In  1882,  he  became  attorney  for  the  Provident 
Life  and  Trust  Company,  of  Philadelphia,  and  since  1887  he 
has  had  full  charge  of  their  extensive  legal  business  in  Ohio. 

On  October  21,  1880,  Mr.  Williams  was  married  to  Miss 
Sue  Mallory,  daughter  of  Dr.  Henry  Mallory.  In  the  Masonic 
order,  the  only  secret  society  to  which  he  belongs,  Mr. 
Williams  is  quite  prominent,  and  deservedly  so  as  he  has 
earned  the  dignities  he  has  attained  by  true  and  faithful  work 
in  the  quarries  of  the  ancient  fraternity.     He  joined  the  order 


256  Historical  Sketches. 

in  1886  and  since  that  date  he  has  served  two  years  as  the 
Worshipful  Master  of  Washington  L,odge  No.  17  F.  and  A.  M.; 
one  year  as  the  High  Priest  of  Hamilton  Chapter  No.  21,  R. 
A.  M. ;  one  year  as  the  Thrice  Illustrious  Master  of  Hamilton 
Council  No.  19,  R.  and  S.  M. ,  and  one  year  as  Eminent  Com- 
mander of  Hamilton  Commandery  No.  41,  Knights  Templars. 
He  is  a  thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  a 
member  of  the  order  of  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  In  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Ohio,  F.  and  A.  M. ,  he  served  one  year  as 
Grand  Orator,  and  at  present  is  the  Grand  Senior  Warden. 
He  is  also  the  conductor  in  the  state  council  of  high  priests  or 
the  "order  of  high  priesthood."  In  other  ways  he  is  promi- 
nent in  Masonry  and  his  poems'  of  a  Masonic  nature  have 
received  the  compliment  of  being  printed  and  preserved  by 
those  who  have  heard  him  recite  his  lines. 

In  politics  Mr.  Williams  is  a  Republican,  and  has  served 
as  executive  committeeman  of  the  Ohio  Republican  league. 
He  has  presided  over  several  local  conventions  of  his  party 
with  ability  and  impartiality  and  his  services  as  an  orator  are 
often  called  into  requisition  on  public  occasions.  He  is  a  for- 
cible speaker,  both  on  the  stump  and  at  the  bar. 

Brandon  R.  Millikin  was  born  in  Hamilton,  August  19, 
1867.  The  foundation  for  his  early  education  was  laid  in  the 
public  schools  of  this  city.  In  1885,  he  entered  the  classical 
course  of  Amherst  college  in  Massachussetts.  Returning  from 
this  institution  he  read  law  a  year  in  the  office  of  his  grand- 
father, Thomas  Millikin,  after  which  he  entered  the  Cincin- 
nati school  of  law,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1891. 
Upon  the  completion  of  his  collegiate  course  he  returned  to 
this  city  and  was  taken  in  as  the  junior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Millikin,  Shotts  &  Millikin.  While  at  Amherst  college  Mr. 
Millikin  became  a  member  of  the  Beta  Theta  Pi  fraternity.  He 
is  a  charter  member  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans  of  Hamilton.  Mr. 
Millikin  is  a  popular  and  talented  young  attorney.  He  is  well 
read,  both  in  current  and  standard  literature. 

On  January  9,  1895,  Mr.  Millikin  was  married  to  Miss 
Grace  E.  Jewett,  of  Wyoming,  Ohio. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  257 

Henry  H.  Haines  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
October  3,  1862.  He  is  the  son  of  Charles  S.  and  Francena 
Haines.  In  1872,  his  parents  moved  to  Hamilton;  and  in  1882, 
Mr.  Haines  graduated  from  the  Hamilton  High  school.  At  an 
early  age  he  was  inclined  toward  the  legal  profession  and 
carrying  out  his  intentions  he  attended  the  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  graduated  in  1885.  In  1886,  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  Ohio.  During  1887-88  he  resided  in  Findlay,  Ohio, 
and  from  1889  to  1893  ne  lived  at  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he 
held  an  important  and  responsible  position  in  one  of  the  depart- 
ments. Mr.  Haines  returned  to  Hamilton  in  1893,  and  began 
the  practice  of  law.  He  stands  well  in  the  profession;  is  a 
bright  and  energetic  young  man.  He  is  well  informed  on  all 
questions  of  law  and  is  destined  to  take  a  front  rank  in  his 
chosen  calling. 

In  1890,  Mr.  Haines  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rose 
Giddings,  of  Green  Springs,  Ohio.  In  politics,  Mr.  Haines  is 
a  pronounced  Republican. 

Stephen  Crane  was  born  near  Trenton,  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  September  18,  1835,  being  the  son  of  Noah  and  Mary 
(Hamilton)  Crane,  natives  of  New  Jersey,  and  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  respectively.  The  Crane  family  is  of  Welsh  extraction, 
and  has  been  represented  in  the  United  States  for  two  hundred 
and  fifty  years.  Moses  Crane,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject 
came  to  Ohio  in  1805,  and  settled  near  Trenton,  where  he  pur- 
chased land.  He  died  in  18 14.  The  father  of  Stephen  Crane 
was  born  near  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey,  in  1803,  and  came 
to  this  county  in  1804.  He  married  a  Miss  Hamilton,  whose 
father  was  a  native  of  the  North  of  Ireland,  and  located  in 
Butler  county  in  1802.  After  marriage  he  resided  near  the 
place  of  his  birth,  until  1839,  when  he  moved  to  Miami  county, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Troy.  Four  years  later  he  came  to 
this  county,  where  he  died  in  1885.  Stephen  Crane  lived  on  a 
farm  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age;  attended  the  common 
schools,  and  finally  entered  Hanover  college,  which  he  attended 
for  five  years.     He  then  entered  Miami  University,  and  was 


258  Historical  Sketches. 

graduated  in  the  class  of  1854.  He  afterward  read  law  in  the 
office  of  William  H.  Miller  and  William  E.  Brown,  of  Hamil- 
ton, and  subsequently  spent  eighteen  months  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  attending  to  the  business  of  the  firm.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1857.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  pleasing  manners 
and  sterling  integrity,  as  well  as  a  man  of  push  and  excellent 
business  ability,  and  enjoys  an  enviable  reputation  alike  as  an 
attorney  and  a  citizen. 

John  F.  Heath.  —  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  June  21,  1856.  He  attended 
school  in  his  native  city,  including  the  Yale  preparatory  school, 
until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  was  employed  by 
Professor  Basche,  of  the  United  States  coast  survey,  and 
worked  for  two  or  three  seasons.  Subsequently  he  was 
employed  by  the  New  York,  New  Haven  and  Hartford  Rail- 
way company.  He  served  in  the  baggage  department  of  the 
road  at  New  Haven.  In  November,  1879,  Mr.  Heath  came  to 
Hamilton  and  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  John  F. 
Neilan.  After  pursuing  his  legal  studies  for  two  years,  he  was 
appointed  Deputy  Sheriff  under  F.  D.  Black,  serving  in  this 
capacity,  until  Mr.  Black's  term  expired.  Mr.  Heath  filled  the 
same  position  under  George  W.  St.  Clair,  and  when  that  official's 
term  expired,  he  was  appointed  deputy  under  A.  J.  Welliver, 
clerk  of  the  court  of  common  pleas.  At  the  expiration  of  Mr. 
Welliver's  term,  Mr.  Heath  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  City 
Board  of  Gas  Trustees,  a  position  he  fills  most  capably  at  the 
present  time.  Mr.  Heath  is  a  careful  accountant  and  his  cleri- 
cal duties  are  performed  with  the  greatest  accuracy.  He  began 
as  secretary  in  January,  1894,  and  has  given  entire  satisfac- 
tion. In  October,  1889,  Mr.  Heath  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
by  the  Supreme  Court,  at  Columbus,  and  he  has  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  his  profession  and  its  requirements.  For  two 
years  Mr.  Heath  was  a  member  of  the  City  Board  of  Equaliza- 
tion. He  is  a  worthy  young  man,  a  desirable  citizen,  and  is 
highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him. 

On  April  15,  1885,  Mr.  Heath  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Eliza  Goldrick.     Three  bright  and  happy  children  grace 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  259 

the  family  circle.  Mr.  Heath  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Knights  of  Ohio,  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion,  and  the 
American  Sons  of  Columbus.  Politically,  Mr  Heath  has 
always  been  a  Democrat,  all  his  affiliations  having  been  with 
that  party. 

Edgar  A.  BKivDEN  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 28,  1855.  He  was  a  graduate  from  the  Hamilton  High 
school  in  1872,  and  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
Thomas  Millikin.  After  a  thorough  course  of  legal  inquiry 
rendered  doubly  valuable  by  the  constant  presence  and  exam- 
ple of  his  distinguished  friend  and  preceptor,  Mr.  Belden  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1881  and  entered  upon  a  career  of 
active  practice,  which  he  has  since  pursued  uninterruptedly 
with  uniform  success  and  satisfaction.  Mr.  Belden  has  fol- 
lowed the  law  through  all  its  intricacies  and  is  fully  competent 
to  care  for  interests  of  what  ever  nature.  He  has  seen  fit  to 
devote  himself  in  great  part  to  the  more  dignified  and  lucrative 
field  of  commercial  law.  He  practiced  independently  until  July 
7,  1894,  when  with  the  association  of  S.  D.  Fittonjr.,  the 
present  firm  of  Belden  &  Fitton  was  organized.  His  active 
connection  with  the  Methodist  church  and  his  still  more  inti- 
mate association  with  the  history  of  the  local  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
which  he  was  instrumental  in  founding  and  on  whose  board  of 
trustees  he  has  continually  served,  are  pleasant  features  of  his 
life  and  bespeak  much  for  the  character  of  the  man. 

In  politics  he  has  also  figured  to  no  inconsiderable 
degree.  In  1884  he  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  the 
office  of  Prosecuting  Attorney  and  the  glory  of  his  defeat  and 
the  narrowness  of  its  margin  speak  volumes  for  the  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  among  his  own  people.  Mr.  Belden  is  often 
a  conspicuous  figure  at  Republican  gatherings.  His  services 
as  chairman  of  the  recent  county  and  judicial  convention  will 
not  be  soon  forgotten.  His  opening  speech  was  a  model  of 
chaste  rhetoric  and  sound  and  convincing  argument. 

He  was  married  in  1888  to  Miss  Elisa  Potter  of  this  city. 
Two  children,  Horace  and  Lucia  have   been   born    into   their 


260  Historical  Sketches. 

home.     Mr.    Belden  has  practiced  his  profession  among  us  for 
fifteen  years  with  distinguished  ability  and  success. 

S.  D.  Fitton,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  Sunday, 
February  26,  1871.  He  entered  the  public  schools  at  the 
usual  age  and  was  graduated  from  the  High  school  in  1890. 
After  reading  law  with  E.  A.  Belden  for  two  years,  he  entered 
the  Cincinnati  L,aw  school,  graduating  ninth  in  a  class  of  over 
one  hundred,  in  1893.  Returning  to  Hamilton,  he  was  imme- 
diately associated  with  Mr.  Belden,  and  after  a  year's  practice 
was  received  into  full  partnership,  and  the  firm  of  Belden  & 
Fitton  became  at  once  a  factor  in  our  courts  and  business 
circles.  Messers.  Belden  &  Fitton  devote  themselves  to  com- 
mercial and  corporation  law.  The  number  of  trusts  in  their 
care  is  large  and  important  and  the  skill  with  which  they 
handle  the  great  interests  intrusted  to  them  has  gained  them  a 
standing  and  a  clientage  which  any  firm  might  be  proud  to 
possess.  And  then,  too,  there  is  another  consideration  which 
can  not  in  justice  be  over-looked.  They  have  left  a  record  of 
clean  and  honorable  methods,  which  has  won  for  them  the  full 
measure  of  the  public  confidence.  They  are  clean  and  upright 
men,  pains-taking  to  a  degree,  and  their  unfailing  courtesy 
cannot  but  attach  their  clients  to  them  by  a  stronger  bond  than 
that  of  mere  interest,  and  indeed  its  influence  extends  still 
further.  There  are  many  who  know  th'em  only  in  private  life, 
that  are  beholden  to  them  for  favors  not  implied  in  their 
position,  but  prompted  only  by  the  kindness  of  heart  and  the 
spirit  of  helpfulness  that  is  in  them.  These  may  not  be  pro- 
fessional traits  but  they  are  something  more,  and  higher  and 
better. 

Robert  S.  Woodruff  was  born  in  Hanover  township, 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  January  20,  1869.  He  is  the  son  of 
Ephriam  Iy.  Woodruff,  a  well  and  favorably  known  farmer  of 
Hanover  township,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Wood- 
ruff's mother  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  attended 
school  and  followed  farming  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old. 
He  began    the   study    of  law   in  1891,  under  the  tutelage  of 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  261 

Judge  John  F.  Neilan.  In  1892  he  entered  the  Cincinnati 
Law  school,  graduating  in  1894.  Immediately  thereafter  he 
opened  an  office  in  Hamilton  and  began  practicing  his  chosen 
profession.  Mr.  Woodruff  is  a  young  gentleman  of  fine  attain- 
ments as  well  as  an  accomplished  lawyer.  He  has  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  all  the  details  of  his  profession,  and  his  success 
in  building  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice  is  phenomenal. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Woodruff  is  an  ardent  Democrat. 

J.  E.  Morey  was  born  in  Milford  township,  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  April  3,  1845.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm;  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  township,  the  Morning  Sun 
academy,  and  Miami  University,  from  which  latter  institution 
he  graduated  in  1867.  He  entered  the  Indianapolis  Law 
college  in  the  same  year,  graduating  in  1868.  In  August  of 
1868  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  practicing  in  Ham- 
ilton. He  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Morej^,  Andrews 
&  Morey  since  1880.  On  August  7,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the 
Ninety-third  regiment  O.  V.  I.  He  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Chickamauga,  Lookout  Mountain,  Mission  Ridge,  Resaca, 
Dallas,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  numerous  other  less  noted 
engagements.  He  was  honorably  discharged  June  4,  1865.  In 
religion  Mr.  Morey  is  a  Universalist;  socially,  he  is  a  thirty - 
second  degree  Mason  and  K.  of  P. 

Mr.  Morey  was  married  April  16,  1873,  to  Miss  Winona 
Chadwick.  In  his  profession  he  is  careful,  painstaking  and 
enterprising. 

Hinckley  Smith  is  one  of  the  most  scholarly  young 
men  of  Butler  county,  was  born  in  Reily  township,  this 
county,  October  29,  1866.  He  attended  the  public  schools,  and 
when  seventeen  years  of  age  began  teaching,  which  profession 
he  pursued  with  signal  success  for  four  years.  He  then  entered 
Miami  University  where  he  spent  four  years.  During  his 
attendance  at  this  institution  he  was  prominently  identified 
with  the  college  organizations  and  was  one  of  the  re  founders 
of  Kappa  Chapter  of  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  fraternity.  He 
graduated  in  June,  1891,  and  for  his  excellent  qualities  as  a 


262  Historical  Sketches. 

student  was  given  first  rank  in  his  class  on  commencement 
day.  He  delivered  the  salutatory  address.  In  the  fall  of  1891, 
he  entered  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan, 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1893.  Soon  afterward 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  practicing  in  Butler 
county.     His  home  is  at  Oxford. 

David  Pierce  was  born  near  Camden,  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  October  18,  1857.  Honorable  David  Barnet,  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  David  Pierce,  was  twice  a  member 
of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  Ohio,  and  was  president  of 
the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Richmond  Railroad  company  for 
years.  Mr.  Pierce  was  reared  on  a  farm;  was  educated  in 
district  schools,  and  at  Danville,  Indiana.  Afterward  he  was 
principal  of  the  Fifth  ward  school  of  this  city,  in  which  capacity 
he  gave  universal  satisfaction.  He  read  law  with  Banning  & 
Davidson,  in  Cincinnati;  graduated  from  the  Cincinnati  L,aw 
school  in  1882.  He  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Repre- 
sentative of  Preble  county  in  1883,  and  was  defeated  by  a  small 
plurality.  He  was  unanimously  tendered  a  re-nomination  in 
1885,  but  declined.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  County 
Board  of  Elections  of  Butler  county.  Mr.  Pierce  has  been  three 
times  a  member  of  the  Democratic  County  Central  committee, 
and  was  treasurer  of  it  for  two  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Dane  Free  Library.  Socially,  he  is  a 
thirty-second  degree  Mason,  a  K.  of  P.  and  a  member  of 
Hamilton  Council  No.  328,  Royal  Arcanum,  and  is  highly 
regarded  in  social  circles. 

Mr.  Pierce  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nettie  C. 
Chadwick  July  31,  1895.  Mr.  Pierce  is  a  clean  gentleman,  an 
able  lawyer  and  highly  esteemed  for  his  professional  ability, 
intelligence  and  honorable  methods. 

Robert  N.  Shotts  was  born  in  Hamilton,  August  28, 
1855.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city, 
graduating  from  the  High  school  in  1872.  He  read  law 
with  Thomas  Millikin.  Afterward  he  entered  the  Cincinnati 
L,aw  school;  began  practicing  his  profession  in  Hamilton,   in 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  263 

1877.  He  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Millikin,  Shotts  & 
Millikin  in  1891.  This  firm  ranks  among  the  solid,  substantial 
and  representative  legal  firms  of  this  city.  Mr.  Shotts  is  a 
young  gentleman  of  genuine  ability,  prompt,  courteous  and 
honorable  in  all  his  transactions.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Royal  Arcanum. 

Mr.  Shotts  was  married  to  Miss  Bertha  Phillips,  June  20, 
1885.     They  are  prominent  in  society  circles. 

Charles  S.  Haines  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  Novem- 
ber 17,  1836.  While  yet  a  boy  his  parents  came  west,  locating 
in  Eaton,  Preble  county,  Ohio.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  adopted  town;  read  law  in  the  office  of  his  father, 
Judge  Abner  Haines.  Charles  Haines  came  to  Hamilton  in 
1872.  A  short  time  afterward  he  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace  of  Hamilton  township.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1877,  and  immediately  began  practicing  in  this  city.  In 
1892-93,  he  followed  his  profession  in  Seattle,  Washington.  He 
returned  to  Hamilton  in  1894.  As  an  attorney  he  is  a  gentle- 
man of  no  mean  ability;  he  merits  encouragement,  and  to  all 
he  offers  full  and  faithful  legal  service.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Haines  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 

SHERIFFS  OF  BUTEER  COUNTY. 

William   McClellan 1803-1807  Aaron  E    Schenck 1849-1851 

John  Wingate 1807-1809  Peter  Murphy  1851-1856 

William  McClellan 1809-1813  Joseph  Garrison 1856-1860 

James   McBride 1813-1817  A.  A.  Phillips 1860-1864 

Pierson  Sayre 1817-1821  A.J.  Rees 1864-1868 

Samuel  Millikin 1821-1825  R.  N.  Andrews ~. .1868-1872 

John  Hall 1825-1829  W.  H.   Allen 1872-1876 

Pierson  Sayre 1829-1831  M    Thomas 1876-1880 

William  Sheely 1831-1835  F.  D.  Black 1880-1884 

Israel  Gregg 18351839  George  W.  St.  Clair 1884-1888 

John  K.  Wilson 1839-1843  Isaac  Rogers 1888-1892 

William  J.  Elliott 1843-1847  Frank  Krebs 1892-1896 

Ferd.  Van  Derveer 1847-1849  William  Bruck 1896 

Over  an  hundred  years  have  passed  since  the  organization 
of  the  county.  In  every  avenue  of  material  activity,  a  marked 
and  gratifying  progress  has  been  shown  from  decade  to  decade, 
and   the  experience  of  recent  years  justifies  the  belief  that  the 


264  Historical  Sketches. 

second  century  of  the  county's  history  will  exhibit  a  relatively 
increasing  prosperity. 

William  McClKllan,  the  first  Sheriff  of  Butler  county, 
was  born  in  1767,  near  Mercerburg,  Pennsylvania.  He  came 
to  Hamilton  in  1 792  and  followed  wagoning  as  an  occupation 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  1803  he  was  elected  Sheriff  and 
re-elected  in  1806.  After  an  interim  of  two  years  he  was  again 
elected,  serving  two  terms.  He  settled  in  St.  Clair  township, 
on  Two  Mile  creek,  near  the  old  Eaton  road.  A  part  of  the 
homestead  farm  is  today  in  the  possession  of  one  of  his  descend- 
ants.    He  died  October  2,  1827,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 

John  Wingate  was  born  in  New  York  in  1774.  After 
St.  Clair's  defeat  he  enlisted  in  Mad  Anthony  Wayne's  army, 
which  came  west.  Mr.  Wingate  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Fallen  Timbers.  After  the  close  of  the  Indian  wars  in  Ohio, 
he  came  to  Fort  Hamilton.  On  May  24,  1809,  he  married 
Mrs.  Emma  Torrence,  and  "kept  tavern,"  on  the  corner  of 
Dayton  and  Water  streets,  the  stand  that  had  been  occupied  by 
John  Torrence.  The  building  remains  intact  today,  the  same 
as  it  did  over  an  hundred  years  ago.  In  1816  he  removed  to 
Cincinnati,  and  engaged  in  the  same  business.  Subsequently 
he  removed  to  the  far  West.  In  the  early  part  of  1851  he 
returned  to  Hamilton.  He  died  April  4,  1851.  He  was  buried 
in  Greenwood  Cemetery  with  military  honors,  by  a  company 
of  artillery,  under  command  of  Captain  Nathaniel  Reeder. 
The  funeral  cortege  was  under  the  direction  of  Col.  Lewis 
D.  Campbell. 

James  McBride  was  born  November  2,  1788,  a  short  dis- 
tance from  Greencastle,  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania.  He 
received  no  set  education,  but  improved  what  opportunities, 
he  had  for  reading,  and,  on  coming  to  Hamilton,  in  the 
eighteenth  year  of  his  age,  was  discovered  to  possess  a  large 
amount  of  useful  knowledge.  His  first  employment  was  as 
clerk  for  John  Reily,  but  he  soon  found  other  openings.  Every 
one  had  the  utmost  confidence  in  him,  and  he  was  constantly 
in  request.     His  patrimony  was  not  large,  but  it  enabled  him 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  265 

sometimes  to  try  new  plans  for  bettering  his  fortune.  Just 
before  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  he  engaged  with  Joseph 
Hough  in  a  venture  to  New  Orleans.  Flour  was  bought  and 
shipped  to  that  port  with  a  large  profit,  and  thenceforth  Mr. 
McBride  was  easy  in  his  circumstances. 

In  1813,  he  was  elected  Sheriff,  and  was  again  chosen  in 
1 81 5.  This  office  was  then  considered  as  being  the  chief  one 
in  the  county,  and  it  shows  the  confidence  his  fellow-citizens 
must  have  had  in  him,  as  he  was  but  twenty-five  when  elected. 
Mr.  McBride  had  scarcely  removed  to  this  county  when  he 
began  his  researches  in  the  early  history  of  this  region.  He 
foresaw  its  progress,  and  knew  that  where  there  was  then  only 
a  wooded  plain,  would  soon  be  villages  and  cities.  The  pioneers 
were  still  alive  who  could  recount  the  tale  of  the  defeat  of  St. 
Clair,  the  triumphal  march  of  Wayne,  the  building  of  the  first 
houses,  and  the  birth  of  the  first  children.  It  is  impossible  to 
say  how  much  he  wrote,  but  there  are  probably  now  in  exis- 
tence, in  his  handwriting,  not  less  than  three  thousand  pages 
of  manuscript  bearing  upon  Butler  county  and  the  country 
adjacent.  Among  the  most  valuable  of  these  is  the  work  issued 
in  1869  by  Robert  Clarke  &  Co.,  of  Cincinnati,  under  the  title 
of  "Pioneer  Biography  of  Butler  County."  He  wrote  a  History 
of  Hamilton,  in  1831,  which  has  never  been  published.  It  is 
now  the  property  of  Frank  E.  Brandt.  Mr.  McBride's  map  of 
Butler  county  is  a  large  copper-plate,  five  feet  by  four,  and  of 
the  utmost  accuracy.  Every  little  stream  is  laid  down  upon  it 
and  every  farm,  road,  church,  and  school-house,  and  the  mean- 
derings  of  the  Miami  can  by  this  be  compared  with  its  bed  in 
the  present  day.  No  more  truthful  county  map  was  ever  pub- 
lished in  Ohio. 

He  was  elected  mayor  of  Hamilton.  While  in  this  position 
he  aided  in  a  codification  of  the  municipal  ordinances.  After 
the  election  of  John  Woods  as  Auditor  of  State  he  went  to  Col- 
umbus to  assist  him,  rendering  most  valuable  co-operation, 
and  in  1846  was  chosen  clerk  of  the  courts  of  Butler  county, 
a  position  he  held  until  1852. 


266  -     Historical  Sketches. 

Mr.  McBride's  wife  died  September  23,  1859.  Ten  days 
later,  October  4,  he  died. 

Pierson  Sayrk  was  born  at  Providence,  New  Jersey, 
September  12,  1701.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  joined 
Iyord  Sterling's  division  as  a  private  soldier  and  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Springfield,  of  Revolutionary  renown.  Subse- 
quently he  was  Sheriff  of  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  for 
three  years.  In  1809  Mr.  Sayre  removed  from  Pennsylvania, 
to  this  county,  purchasing  a  farm  seven  miles  from  Hamilton, 
on  the  road  leading  to  Middletown.  In  October,  i8i7hewas 
elected  Sheriff,  and  again  in  18 19  he  was  chosen.  He  was  the 
first  collector  of  tolls  on  the  Miami  canal,  having  his  office  at 
the  east  end  of  the  Hamilton  basin.  From  1831  to  1839,  he 
was  toll  gatherer  for  the  Miami  bridge.  In  1820,  he  erected 
two  buildings  for  county  offices.     He  died  April  4,  1852. 

Samuel  Millikin  was  born  in  Butler  county  in  1787. 
He  received  his  education  in  our  early  private  schools.  Subse- 
quently he  was  a  partner  of  John  Hough  in  general  merchan- 
dising in  this  city;  afterward  he  was  engaged  in  business  in 
Middletown.  He  closed  out  his  business  in  Middletown  and 
returned  to  Hamilton,  where  he  again  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing. In  1836  he  removed  to  Indiana  and  followed  farming. 
In  1864  he  closed  up  his  business  affairs  and  came  to  Hamil- 
ton and  resided  with  his  youngest  son,  John  Millikin,  on  Ross 
street.  He  died  October  7,  1870.  He  was  highly  esteemed  by 
those  who  had  business  relations  with  him.  He  was  noted  for 
his  kindness  of  heart  and  good  deeds. 

John  Hall  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1785.  He  came 
West  in  1800  and  opened  an  inn  at  Blue  Ball,  which  was  a 
favorite  resort  for  the  people  of  the  surrounding  country. 
Subsequently  he  removed  to  Rossville  and  opened  a  tavern  on 
the  Morner  corner,  He  was  a  private  in  Captain  Joel  Collins' 
company  and  participated  in  the  war  of  1812,  between  England 
and  the  United  States.  John  Hall  was  elected  Sheriff  of  this 
county  in  1825,  and  re-elected  in  1827.  He  removed  to  Craw- 
fordsville,    Indiana,   in    1837,   accompanied  by  Samuel  Gray, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  267 

Robert  Taylor,  Joseph  Gray,  John  Nelson  and  William  Gray. 
Afterward  Mr.  Hall  removed  to  Illinois  where  he  died.  He 
was  Coroner  of  Butler  county  from  1817  to  1819. 

William  Sheely  was  born  in  Clarke  county,  Virginia,  in 
1798.  At  an  early  age  he  came  West  and  located  on  a  farm  in 
Fairfield  township,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  was 
elected  Sheriff  of  this  county  in  1 83 1,  and  again  in  1833.  He 
was  known  as  the  "big  Sheriff,"  from  the  fact  that  he  weighed 
three  hundred  and  forty  pounds.  During  his  term  of  office 
convicts  were  taken  to  Columbus  in  a  two  horse  wagon.  The 
round  trip  was  made  in  about  five  days.  On  one  occasion 
Sheriff  Sheely  had  a  large,  muscular  convict  for  the  peniten- 
tiary who  was  unruly  and  a  terror  to  everyone  in  the  jail. 
The  Sheriff  called  upon  Henry  Harr — father  of  Joseph  Harr, 
of  Haciover  township — who  was,  physically,  a  powerful  man. 
Harr  entered  the  old  stone  jail  in  the  Court  house  yard,  and 
stepping  up  to  the  prisoner,  commanded  him  to  "keep  still!" 
The  convict  said,  "I  guess  not,"  and  squared  himself  for  an 
encounter,  when  Harr  dealt  him  a  blow  that  knocked  him 
senseless.  Harr  then  exclamed,  "Now,  Billy,  you  can  put  the 
irons  on  him!"  Mr.  Sheely  was  a  man  of  prodigious  size. 
While  he  was  Sheriff  he  was  called  upon  to  make  preparation 
for  an  execution,  but  after  all  his  labor  was  done  the  criminal 
had  his  sentence  commuted  to  imprisonment  for  life.  This 
was  in  the  summer  of  1835.  The  prisoner's  name  was  Spon- 
sler.  He  lived  in  Madison  township,  and  had  a  quarrel  with 
his  son-in-law,  finally  killing  him  by  shooting.  For  this  he 
was  arrested  and  lodged  in  the  county  jail.  When  he  was 
brought  to  trial  John  Woods,  one  of  the  most  skillful  members 
of  the  bar,  was  assigned  to  defend  him,  and  he  did  so  with  all 
of  his  powers.  But  the  accused  was  found  guilty  of  murder  in 
the  first  degree,  and  was  sentenced  to  be  hung  on  Friday,  June 
10,  1836.  No  efforts  to  have  a  new  trial  or  for  an  arrest  of 
judgment  were  successful,  and  Mr.  Sheely  proceeded  to  get 
ready  his  scaffold.  Mr.  Woods,  however,  did  not  cease  his 
exertions  in  behalf  of  his  client,  and  finally  procured  a  com- 
mutation of  sentence  to  imprisonment    for   life.     The   public, 


268  Historical  Sketches. 

however,  were  not  made  acquainted  with  the  matter,  and  on 
the  day  assigned,  the  town  was  full  of  men  from  this  and  other 
towns.  When  they  found  that  the  affair  would  not  come  off 
they  rebelled,  and  proposed  to  tear  down  the  jail.  They  were 
full  of  whisky  and  full  of  fight.  But  Mr.  Sheely  did  not  pro- 
pose to  be  treated  thus.  He  organized  a  large  body  of  men, 
and  placed  himself  at  their  head,  dispersing  the  mob. 

Before  Sponsler  could  be  taken  to  Columbus  to  undergo 
the  penalty  of  life  imprisonment,  he  managed  to  commit 
suicide  by  cutting  his  throat  in  a  cell.  Mr.  Sheely  died  on  the 
homestead  farm  in  1857. 

Israel  Gregg  was  born  in  Virginia,  February  20,  1775. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  had  learned  the  silversmith 
trade,  and  began  business  for  himself.  Subsequently,  on  July 
12,  1798,  he  married  Elizabeth  Hough.  Eleven  children 
resulted  from  this  union.  Mr.  Gregg  afterward  became  inter- 
ested in  steamboating.  In  1814  he  commanded  the  "Dis- 
patch," that  plied  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  between 
Pittsburgh  and  New  Orleans.  In  18 19  he  became  a  resident  of 
Hamilton,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  was  elected 
Sheriff  of  this  county  in  1835,  serving  four  years.  After  the 
decease  of  his  first  wife  he  married  Mrs.  Phoebe  Kelly,  of 
Rossville.  One  of  Mr.  Gregg's  daughters  from  his  second 
marriage — Mrs.  Jane  Skinner  —  resides  in  the  Third  ward. 
She  is  a  noble,  Christian  woman  of  intelligence  and  many 
virtues,  chief  among  which  is  charity.  Mr.  Gregg  died  June 
20,  1847,  aged  73  years. 

John  K.  Wilson,  Sr.,  was  born  near  Eewistown,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1785.  He  was  of  English-Irish  extraction.  He 
came  to  Butler  county  in  1803,  and  settled  one  and  a  half  miles 
west  of  Hamilton,  where  he  entered  a  large  tract  of  govern- 
ment land.  He  married  before  coming  west.  Six  children 
were  born  him,  viz:  The  late  Judge  Vic.  Wilson,  of  Missouri, 
who  married  the  daughter  of  Joshua  Deleplane,  John  K.,  Jr., 
William  H.,  Shannon  and  Thomas.  He  was  elected  Sheriff  of 
this  county  in  1839  and  again  in  1841.     He  resumed  farming 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  269 

after  his  term  of  office  expired.  In  1857  he  was  elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  His  office  was  located  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  Main  and  D  streets,  in  the  Dr.  William  C.  Miller 
property.     He  was  Commissioner  from  1828  to  1831. 

William  J.  Elliott  was  born  in  Ross  township,  in  18 13, 
on  what  is  known  as  the  Timberman  farm.  He  was  educated 
in  the  country  schools.  In  1845  he  was  engaged  in  the  pork 
packing  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Taylor,  Lowes  & 
Elliott.  He  was  general  of  the  county  militia  for  several 
years,  and  held  the  annual  musters  at  Millville.  He  was  elected 
Sheriff  in  1843,  serving  two  terms.  Subsequently  he  removed 
to  Indianapolis  and  was,  after  gaining  a  residence,  elected 
Sheriff  of  Marion  county.  His  son,  Byron  K.  Elliott,  of 
Indianapolis,  has  been  chief  justice  of  the  supreme  court  of 
Indiana.     W.  J.  Elliott  was  coroner  from  1835  to  1839. 

Gen.  Ferd  VanDerveer.     [See  Hamilton  in  Civil  war.] 

Aaron  L,.  Schenck  was  born  in  Fairfield  township, 
Butler  county,  in  1804,  in  the  house  now  owned  by  Dr.  W.  O. 
Millikin.  He  followed  farming  and  accumulated  a  large 
estate.  He  took  a  great  delight  in  raising  and  driving  fine 
horses.  In  1849  he  was  elected  Sheriff  on  an  independent  ticket 
— a  fusion  between  the  Democrats  and  the  Whigs  — serving 
one  term.  Calvin  C.  Skinner  and  William  H.  Campbell  were 
his  deputies.  In  the  fall  of  1848  the  Democrats  nominated  a 
ticket  which  was  bolted  by  a  large  number  of  Democrats 
throughout  the  county.  The  bolting  wing  of  the  Democratic 
party  addressed  a  communication  to  the  Whig  central  commit- 
tee, urging  a  co-operation  with  a  view  of  placing  an  independ- 
ent ticket  in  the  field.  An  agreement  was  finally  made  and  a 
committee  of  Democrats  met  at  A.  G.  Clark's  drug  store,  in  the 
Matthias  building  in  Rossville,  and  nominated  Aaron  L. 
Schenck  for  Sheriff,  Wilson  Dayman,  who  was  at  that  time 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Western  Telegraph,  for  auditor 
and  Henry  Traber,  treasurer.  Aaron  Schenck  was  a  man  of 
great  force  of  character.  All  his  business  transactions,  both 
public  and  private,  were  blended  with  caution  and  moderation . 


270  Historical  Sketches. 

Thomas  Millikin,  Esq.,  the  Nestor  of  the  Butler  county  bar,  was 
called  to  write  Mr.  Schenck's  will,  and  found  that  he  had 
prepared  an  accurate  map  of  his  land,  showing  how  he  wanted 
it  divided  among  his  heirs.  He  was  tall,  straight  and  arrowy, 
and  was  considered  a  model  man  —  one  who  would  scorn  to  do 
a  wrong,  to  his  fellow-man.     He  died  in  March,  1856. 

The  following  hand  bill,  now  in  the  possession  of  Dr. 
William  C  Miller,  was  issued  by  the  Democratic  central  com- 
mittee near  the  close  of  the  Schenck  campaign: 

To  the  Independent  Democracy  of  Butler  County: 

Rumors  having  been  put  in  circulation  that  the  Whigs  of  Butler  county, 
on  the  eve  of  election,  would  get  out  a  Whig  ticket,  in  whole  or  in  part,  we 
deemed  it  proper  to  make  the  necessary  inquiries  to  ascertain  whether  there 
was  any  truth  in  the  rumor.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  addressed 
to  them: 
Gentlemen  of  the  Whig  Central  Committee  of  Butler  County: 

A  report  having  been  freely  circulated  that  a  Whig  ticket,  in  whole  or 
in  part,  would  be  gotten  up  on  tl^e  eve  of  election,  we  desire  to  know  if  such 
will  be  the  fact.  The  long  abuses  which  have  been  covered  up  by  our  county 
officers  render  it  necessary  that  an  entire  new  set  of  men  should  take  the 
control  of  our  county  offices.  In  order  to  make  such  a  change  we  had  hoped 
that  the  people,  without  regard  to  party  trammels,  would  meet  on  the  broad 
platform  of  equality  and  discharge  their  duty  fearlessly,  as  becomes  Ameri- 
can citizens  and  freemen.  Yours,  etc., 

Martin  Richmond, 
Samuel  Shaffer, 
Isaac  Matthias, 
Committee  on  behalf  of  the  Independent  Democracy. 
Rossville,  September  29,  1849. 

To  which  letter  we  received  the  following  reply: 
To  Martin  Richmond,  Samuel  Shaffer,  Isaac  Malthia  -,  Committee  on  Behalf 

of  the  Independent  Democracy  of  Butler  County. 

Gentlemen:  —  In  reply  to  the  question  which  you  have  pleased  to 
address  to  us,  we  return  the  following  statement  as  our  answer: 

"The  Democrats  of  Butler  county  having  presented  two  tickets,  one  a 
convention  ticket,  the  other  "independent,"  we  have  felt  it  to  be  the  duty  of 
the  Whig  central  committee  to  give  public  assurance  that  the  Whigs  will  not 
present  any  candidates  for  office  at  the  ensuing  election.  We  have  been 
advised  that  the  friends  of  the  convention  ticket  contemplate  printing  and 
circulating  a  ticket  with  Whigs'  names  on  it  for  the  purpose  of  driving  the 
Independent  Democrats  into  the  support  of  the  convention  nominations. 
We  deem  it  proper  to  forewarn  all  persons  of  the  plot,  and  to  assure  the 
public  that  if  such  a  ticket  is  produced  it  will  be  the  work  of  Locos,  and  that 
we  will  vote  and  use  our  influence  against  it." 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  271 


"The  Whigs  are  deeply  interested  in  an  honest  administration  of  the 
county  affairs,  and  in  breaking  up  a  corrupt  clique,  who  have  exercised 
power  over  the  offices  at  the  county  seat.  We  hope,  therefore,  that  every 
Whig  will  turn  out  at  the  election  and  aid  in  electing  a  new  set  of  men.  " 

L.  D.  Campbell,  William  Stevens, 

B.  F.  Randolph,  C.    Falconer, 

John  B.  Drayer,  F.  D.  Rigdon, 

William  Beckett,  Chas.  Richardson, 

James  Sample,  George  Wyman, 

Robert  Beckett,  Joel  Harris, 

John  Myers,  Jacques  Spear, 

Robert  Moore,  A.  D.  Knox, 

Elias  Kumler,  L.  D.  Woodmansee, 

John  J.  Vandyke,  Daniel  Skinner, 

William  Moore,  William  W.  Phares, 

John  M.  Millikin,  Whig  Central  Committee. 

September  29,  1849. 
"The  above  communication  from  the  Whig  central  committee  forever 
puts  to  rest  any  fears  which  may  have  been  entertained  by  our  friends  that 
there  would  be  a  Whig  ticket  got  up.  It  was  the  only  hope  left  for  the  old 
hunkers  to  succeed.  Independent  Democrats,  be  encouraged!  Our  prospects 
are  indeed  cheering.  Turn  out  in  your  strength,  and  deposit  your  votes  for 
the  independent  ticket  and  the  corrupt  set  of  old  hunkers  who  have  been 
destroying  our  party  strength,  squandering  our  money,  robbing  our  treasury, 
and  have  brought  obloquy  and  disgrace  upon  our  party  and  our  county, will  be 
cast  overboard.  Democrats,  "a  better  day  is  coming,"  a  day  when  men  will 
not  be  offered  as  Democratic  candidates  when  they  are  not  the  choice  of  the 
Democracy." 

"On  next  Tuesday  the  great  question  is  to  be  decided.  Which  set  of 
Democrats  will  you  elect?  Will  you  elect  the  time-serving  and  fraudulent 
set,  or  those  who  come  before  you  as  good  Democrats,  capable  of  discharging 
honorably  and  satisfactorily  the  duties  of  the  various  offices  for  which  they 
are  offered,  and  whose  hands  are  clean  ?  Act  well  your  part !  Use  that 
glorious  privilege  of  freemen,  in  that  way  which  will  be  a  guarantee  that  you 
have  freely  and  honestly  used  the  dearest  boon  of  freeman  on  the  side  of 
justice  and  right.  The  result  will  be  a  triumphant  majority  for  the  Inde- 
pendent Democracy.  The  defeat  of  the  old  hunkers  at  the  ballot  box  is  the 
only  way  to  get  rid  of  them !  The  success  of  the  Independent  Democrat 
ticket  is  the  only  way  to  purify  our  county  offices." 
October  5,  1849. 

John  Durrough,  a  noted  gambler,  died  in  1849.  He  plied 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  following  his  vocation.  He 
willed  his  farm  near  Snaptown  to  an  adopted  daughter.  Mr. 
Schenck  was  appointed  administrator.  Tom  Simmonds,  a 
desperate  character  and  a  well  known  sporting  man  of  Natchez, 


272  Historical  Sketches. 

Mississippi,  brought  suit  against  Mr.  Schenck  for  $4,000  for 
money  he  claimed  to  have  loaned  Durrough.  The  day  was  set 
for  trial  and  Simmonds  appeared  in  court  with  a  desperate  set 
of  witnesses.  The  late  L.  D.  Campbell  was  employed  to  resist 
the  claim.  During  the  trial  he  was  heavily  armed.  After 
court  adjourned  Mr.  Schenck,  with  his  two  deputies  —  W.  H. 
Campbell  and  Cavin  C.  Skinner  —and  Ben  Basey  repaired  to 
the  tavern  kept  in  the  building  afterward  occupied  by  Peter 
Jacobs  as  a  drug  store.  Later,  Simmonds  and  his  crowd  of 
cut-throats  entered,  bent  on  thrashing  Mr.  Schenck.  Ben 
Basey  seized  Simmonds  by  the  neck  and  choked  him  to  the 
floor.  Simmonds  pulled  a  bowie  knife  but  was  afraid  to  use  it 
as  it  meant  death  to  him.  After  this  escapade  Simmonds  and 
his  crowd  immediately  left  Hamilton. 

Peter  Murphy  was  born  in  Liberty  township,  Butler 
county,  on  October  1,  1820.  Mr.  Murphy's  parents  were 
early  settlers  in  this  township,  moving  there  when  Cincinnati 
was  a  mere  village.  Hon.  Peter  Murphy  was  married  to 
Miss  Cyrena  Van  Gordon  in  1844.  Six  children  resulted  from 
this  union.  He  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Butler  county,  in  1851, 
and  again  in  1853.  He  was  elected  State  Senator  from  the 
Butler- Warren  district  in  1871.  Mr.  Murphy  was  a  member  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  the  Dayton  Insane  Asylum.  When 
the  Miami  Valley  National  Bank  was  organized  he  was  elected 
President.  He  proved  himself  to  be  a  prudent,  safe  and 
conservative  business  man.  Mr.  Murphy,  with  the  aid  of  F. 
S.  Heath,  who  is  a  born  financier,  and  F.  W.  Whitaker, 
placed  the  Miami  Valley  National  Bank  in  a  proud  and  leading 
position  among  the  banks  of  the  state.  Mr.  Murphy  died 
April   1,    1896. 

Joseph  Garrison  was  born  in  Fairfield  township,  in  this 
county,  on  November  19,  1820.  In  his  younger  days  he  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  had,  at  his  own  expense,  in  1851,  two 
cannons  made  and  mounted.  These  he  placed  on  a  two-horse 
platform  wagon  and  attended  every  political  meeting  held  in 
the  county  until  1856.     Through  this  avenue  he  became  well 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  273 

and  favorably  known  to  citizens  of  the  county.  He  was 
Sheriff  from  1856  to  i860.  Major  A.  A.  Phillips  was  his  com- 
petent and  trusted  deputy.  Mr.  Garrison  was  general  of  the 
county  militia  late  in  the  fifties.  In  1863,  he  became  totally 
blind,  and  as  a  means  of  earning  a  livelihood,  opened  a  sample 
room  and  restaurant  on  Third  street  in  the  room  now  occupied 
by  Waterhouse,  the  jeweler.  Mr.  Garrison  was  a  kind  and  liberal 
hearted  man — no  one  in  need  was  ever  turned  away  by  him. 
He  was  killed  December  9,  1865,  by  falling  down  stairs,  in  the 
building  situated  on  the  corner  of  Sycamore  and  Sixth  streets. 
Capt.  Philip  Rothenbush  carried  Gen.  Garrison's  sword 
through  the  late  Civil  War. 

A.  A.  Phillips  was  born  at  Azalia,  Indiana,  May  5,  1825. 
He  married  Miss  Emma  Rust  in  Hamilton,  December  20,  1855. 
Miss  Rust  was  for  a  long  time  a  valued  teacher  in  our  public 
schools.  In  1 85 1,  Major  Phillips  owned  the  Hamilton  Tele- 
graph, the  official  organ  of  the  Democratic  party  of  Butler 
county.  He  was  deputy  under  Joseph  Garrison  from  1856  to 
i860.  In  the  fall  of  1859,  Major  Phillips  was  elected  Sheriff 
of  this  county,  serving  until  1876.  During  the  summer  of 
1862,  the  Ninty-third  regiment,  O.  V.  I.,  was  organized  in 
Hamilton,  and  Mr.  Phillips  was  commissioned  major.  After 
a  brief,  but  active  period  at  the  front,  Major  Phillips  resigned, 
came  home  and  resumed  his  duties  as  Sheriff.  He  was  an 
indefatigable  worker  in  the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
was,  on  several  occasions,  chairman  of  the  county  committee. 
Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  A.  Phillips,  namely, 
Nellie  F.,  Alice  M.,  Bertha  A.,  Lottie  B.,  Alfred  R.,  and 
Josephine  C.     Major  Phillips  died  July  12,  1881. 

A.  J.  Rees  was  born  in  Ross  township,  in  1822.  He 
learned  the  tailor  trade  and  followed  it  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Venice,  under  President  Polk. 
Subsequently  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at  the  same 
place.  For  a  number  of  years  he  took  a  prominent  and  active 
part  in  politics.  In  i860  he  removed  to  Hamilton  and  pur- 
chased the  Butler  house,  carrying  on  the  business  until    1864. 


274  Historical  Sketches. 

In  October,  1863,  he  was  elected  Sheriff,  serving  until  January, 
1868.  Mr.  Rees  was  radical  in  politics  and  was  pronounced  in 
his  likes  and  dislikes. 

Robert  N.  Andrews  was  born  September  16,  1839,  in 
Ross  township.  He  received  his  education  in  the  country 
schools.  In  1 86 1  he  came  to  Hamilton  and  learned  the  miller's 
trade  with  Tanquary  &  Anderson.  He  was  Deputy  Sheriff 
under  A.  J.  Rees  from  May,  1864,  and  remained  with  him 
until  January,  1868.  Mr.  Andrews  was  elected  Sheriff  of  this 
county  in  October,  1867,  and  re-elected  in  1869.  During  his 
administration  he  executed  John  Griffin,  July  29,  1869,  for  the 
murder  of  Usile  Prickett.  After  retiring  from  the  sheriff's 
office  he  engaged  in  the  insurance  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  L,andis  &  Andrews.  In  1875  he  purchased  a  one-third 
interest  in  the  Butler  County  Democrat.  Subsequently  he  was 
Superintendent  of  the  Miami  and  Erie  canal  for  three  years. 
During  his  administration  he  re-built  the  state  dam  at  Middle- 
town,  which  stands  today  a  credit  to  his  good  judgment  and 
ability.  In  July,  1886,  he  was  appointed  Superintendent  of 
the  Hamilton  Water  Works.  He  retired  in  1892.  During  his 
term  of  office  the  Water  Works  were  put  on  a  paying  basis. 
Mr.  Andrews  has  faithfully,  honestly  and  conscientiously  per- 
formed each  and  every  duty  imposed  upon  him  as  a  public 
official. 

Wieliam  H.  AeeEN  was  born  in  Monmouth  county, 
New  Jersey,  June  29,  1838.  He  came  to  Ohio  in  1840,  locating 
in  Butler  county  in  1842.  After  arriving  at  the  age  of  man- 
hood he  followed  saw-milling  for  a  number  of  years  among  the 
pineries  of  New  York,  Michigan  and  in  the  South.  He  was 
agent  for  The  Merchants'  Union  Express  company,  in  this 
place,  in  1866-7.  In  January,  1868,  he  was  appointed  Deputy 
Sheriff  under  R.  N  .Andrews.  In  October,  1 871,  he  was  elected 
Sheriff  of  this  county,  and  re-elected  in  1874.  From  1877  until 
1 88 1  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Hooven  &  Gamble,  of  Miamis- 
burg,  selling  reapers  and  binders.  During  most  of  this  time  he 
and  Luke  Bradley  were  engaged  in  the  auctioneer  business.  He 


PETER  MURPHY 


R.   N.   ANDREWS 


MARCELLl'S  THOMAS 


WILLIAM  BRUCK 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  275 

is  now  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Hughes  &  Allen,  selling 
agricultural  implements.  Mr.  Allen  married  Miss  Mary  M. 
Cobaugh,  the  estimable  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abram 
Cobaugh,  well  and  favorably  known  residents  of  this  city.  Mr. 
Allen  is  a  courteous,  honest  and  genial  gentleman. 

Marcellus  Thomas  was  born  August  i,  1 841,  in  Fair- 
field township.  From  boyhood  he  was  engaged  on  the  farm. 
He  remained  home  until  1863  —  the  year  of  his  father's  death. 
He  was  Deputy  Sheriff  under  W.  H.  Allen.  Mr.  Thomas  was 
Sheriff  of  Butler  county  from  1866  until  1880.  On  retiring 
from  this  office  he  left  an  enviable  record,  such  as  any  man 
might  feel  proud  of.  When  the  Fifth  ward  was  organized  Mr. 
Thomas  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  from 
a  Republican  ward,  which  fact  demonstrates  his  popularity. 
In  June,  1883,  he  removed  to  the  country  and  in  the  following 
year  was  elected  a  member  of  the  School  Board  of  Fairfield 
township.  In  1886  he  returned  to  Hamilton  and  the  following 
year  was  appointed  deputy  internal  revenue  collector  of  Butler 
county.  In  1889  he  was  elected  land  appraiser  for  the  Fifth 
ward.  He  resigned  this  office  before  assuming  its  duties.  In 
1889  he  was  appointed  chief  of  police,  which  position  he  still 
holds  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  community. 
Chief  Thomas  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  and 
is  popular  as  a  political  worker.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  Central  committee  for  a  number  of  years  and 
rendered  valuable  service  in  the  cause  of  his  party.  In  whatever 
position  of  life  we  find  him,  he  is  the  same  honest,  social  and 
faithful  man  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

F.  D.  Black  was  born  in  Hamilton,  September  12,  1846. 
He  attended  the  Hamilton  public  schools  until  he  arrived  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  years,  he  then  entered  St.  Mary's  college,  at 
Dayton,  where  he  remained  five  years.  Here  he  acquired  a 
liberal  education.  In  1868  he  had  charge  of  Long,  Black  & 
Allstatter's  branch  house  in  St.  L,ouis  for  the  sale  of  agricultu- 
ral implements.  In  1869  he  was  appointed  by  Sheriff  R.  N. 
Andrews  as  his  deputy.     He  continued   in  this  position  for 


276  Historical  Sketches. 

twelve  years  under  the  succeeding  sheriffs.  In  1879  he  was 
elected  Sheriff,  serving  two  terms,  retiring  in  1884.  Subse- 
quently he  went  to  California  and  found  employment  with 
Lucky  Baldwin,  the  millionaire,  and  a  former  resident  of  this 
county.  For  several  seasons  he  came  east  with  Baldwin's  fine 
race  horses,  which  went  under  the  poles  at  all  the  principal  race 
tracks  of  the  country.  After  returning  to  California  with 
Baldwin's  horses  he  came  east  again  and  opened  a  magnificent 
billard  and  pool  room  on  High  street  in  Columbus.  This 
business  was  not  suited  to  his  taste,  so  he  sold  out  and  returned 
to  California.  He  married  a  niece  of  L,ucky  Baldwin's,  and  is 
managing  a  large  hotel  in  close  proximity  to  San  Francisco, 
"Doney"  Black  was  one  of  the  most  competent  officers  Butler, 
county  ever  had  in  any  capacity. 

George  W.  St.  Ceair  was. born  in  Milford  township  in 
1840.  He  received  a  liberal  education.  On  arriving  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one  he  sold  his  farm  and  chattel  property,  and 
came  to  Hamilton  with  $38,000.  In  1865  he  married  Miss 
Anna  Elliott,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
William  A.  Elliott.  Subsequently  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Dr.  William  Harper,  and  conducted  a  livery  and  sale 
stable  in  the  old  Pierson  Stout  building  on  South  B  street. 
After  Dr.  Harper's  retirement  from  the  firm  in  1869,  Mr.  St. 
Clair  sold  out  his  livery  business  and  removed  to  the  Wilkinson 
Beatty  stable,  where  he  continued  to  purchase  and  sell  fine 
horses.  He  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Butler  county  in  1883,  and 
re-elected  in  1886.  During  his  second  term  he  hung  George 
Snyder  for  the  cold  blooded  murder  of  his  aged  mother.  In 
1886-87  he  owned  considerable  stock  in  the  Butler  County 
Democrat  company.  After  his  official  term  expired  he  removed 
to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  raising 
and  selling  fine  blooded  horses. 

Isaac  Rogers  was  born  in  Fairfied  township,  June  19, 
1839.  He  attended  country  school  in  the  winter  and  farmed 
the  balance  of  the  year.  He  was  Deputy  Sheriff  for  eight 
years   under    M.    Thomas   and   F.  D.  Black.     He  was  elected 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  277 

Sheriff  in  1888,  serving  until  1892.  Mr.  Rogers  was  the  first 
and  only  candidate  for  office  in  Butler  county  that  had  no 
opposition,  for  his  two  terms,  at  the  primaries  or  general 
election.  He  is  a  man  of  pleasing  address  and  popular  among 
all  who  know  him.  His  administration  was  an  able  one  and 
reflects  great  credit  upon  Mr.  Rogers  and  his  deputy. 

Frank  Krebs  was  born  in  Germany,  October  10,  1844. 
His  parents  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1854.  He 
attended  parochial  school  for  a  short  time.  At  the  age  of 
twelve  years  he  entered  the  Long,  Black  &  Allstatter  machine 
shops.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  late  Civil  War  he  enlisted  in 
Company  K,  thirty-seventh  regiment  O.  V.  I.  After  one  year's 
service  he  was  captured  at  Princeton,  W.  Virginia,  and  con- 
fined on  Belle  Isle.  On  being  exchanged,  he  enlisted  in  the 
Independant  Marine  cavalry,  under  General  Elliott — who  cap- 
tured Memphis.  Mr.  Krebs  served  in  this  command  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Upon  his  return  home  he  re-entered  the 
employment  of  Long,  Black  &  Allstatter.  In  1876,  he  was 
elected  street  commissioner,  serving  two  terms.  He  had  charge 
in  cutting  off  the  basin.  He  was  Deputy  Sheriff  under  Isaac 
Rogers  for  four  years.  Mr.  Krebs  was  elected  Sheriff  in  1892, 
and  retired  the  first  Monday  in  January,  1896,  after  serving 
two  terms.  He  proved  himself  to  be  a  good,  honest  and  faith- 
ful public  official. 

William  Bruck. — The  present  Sheriff  was  born  in  Ham- 
ilton, Ohio,  November  14,  1848.  He  received  a  liberal  educa- 
tion under  private  instruction  in  this  city.  When  thirteen 
years  old  he  began  learning  the  art  of  printing  in  the  Schild- 
wache  office,  conducted  by  his  father — Captain  John  P.  Bruck. 
Subsequently  he  worked  in  Cincinnati  and  Indianapolis.  He 
mastered  his  chosen  calling  and  was  a  very  rapid  compositor. 
His  proof  was  excellent,  frequently  being  returned  to  him 
after  being  read  by  an  expert  proof  reader,  O.  K.'d,  without 
an  error  marked.  In  1876  he  was  appointed  on  the  Hamilton 
police  force,  and  served  for  four  years.  In  April,  1881,  he  was 
elected  city  marshal,  and  was  re-elected  in  1883.     In   Novem- 


278  Historical  Sketches. 

ber  1895,  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  this  county  and  was  installed 
in  office  the  first  Monday  in  January,  1896.  He  was  married 
in  July,  1869,  to  Miss  Barbara  Musch.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  namely,  William  C.  and  Edward  G.  Mr. 
Bruck  is  well  qualified  and  equipped  to  fill  the  office  of  Sheriff. 

CLERKS  OF  COURT. 

John  Reily 1803-1842  Jervis  Hargitt 1873-1879 

Taylor  Webster  1842-1846  Barton  S.James 1879-1880 

James  McBride 1846-1852  W.  S.  Caldwell 1 880-1881 

M.  C.  Ryan 1852-1858  R.  B.  Millikin 1881-1887 

John  McElwee 1858-1864  A.J.  Welliver 1887-1893 

Edward  Dalton 1864-1866  Christian  Pabst 1S93-1899 

Patrick  Gordon 1866-1873 

From  1802  until  1852,  each  Court  appointed  its  own  Clerk. 
By  the   constitution  of  1850,  the  office  was  made  elective  by 
the  voters  of  the  county,  the  term  being  made  three  years. 
John  Reily.     [See  Postmasters  of  Hamilton.] 
Taylor  Webster.     [See  "Old  Third"  District  Congress- 
men.] 

James  McBride.     [See  Sheriffs  of  Butler  County.] 

Michael  C.  Ryan  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylva- 
nia, in  1820;  his  parents  removed  to  Ohio,  in  1832;  locating  in 
Hamilton  he  was  educated  in  the  rudiments  of  an  education  in 
private  schools;  entered  Miami  University  in  1835,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  in  1839,  with  the  highest  honors  of 
his  class.  While  attending  college  he  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Beta  Theta  Pi,  a  Greek  letter  society.  He  studied  law 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1841,  and  became  a  partner  of 
his  brother-in-law,  John  B.  Weller;  he  was  Prosecuting  Attor- 
ney from  1848  to  1852,  was  clerk  of  the  courts  from  1852  to 
1858;  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  National  Convention, 
which  convened  in  Cincinnati  in  1856,  that  nominated  James 
Buchanan  for  president.  In  1847,  he,  in  conjunction  with  Oliver 
S.  Witherby,  purchased  the  Hamilto?i  Telegraph.  He  became 
its  editor  in  1849;  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  espoused 
the  Union  cause;  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Dennison 
colonel  of  the  Fiftieth  O.  V.  I.  regiment,  but  his  death,  which 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  279 

followed  shortly  after  his  appointment,  prevented  him  from 
taking  command  of  this  regiment.  He  died  October  23,  1861. 
Col.  Ryan  accumulated  a  large  and  valuable  library.  He  was 
a  great  lover  of  books.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  highest 
personal  integrity,  and  was  universally  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

John  McElweK  was  born  at  Miamisburg,  Ohio,  in  1824; 
received  a  classical  education  at  Dayton;  studied  medicine  and 
graduated  from  the  Ohio  Medical  college  of  Cincinnati;  located 
in  Hamilton  and  practiced  his  profession  for  a  short  time; 
served  two  terms  in  the  Ohio  Legislature;  was  clerk  of  the 
courts  from  1858  to  1864;  was  engaged  in  the  distilling  business 
in  Hamilton  and  Cincinnati.  When  the  tax  of  a  dollar  per 
gallon  was  placed  upon  whisky  he  had  a  large  amount  on 
hand,  which  was  exempt  from  taxation  it  having  been  made 
before  the  law  went  into  effect.  He  stored  this  whisky  in  the 
Sortman  cellar,  on  the  West  Side,  and  in  a  very  short  time 
netted  $20,000  from  its  sale.  In  the  spring  of  1861,  he,  in 
conjunction  with  Dr.  John  P.  P.  Peck  purchased  the  Telegraph 
then  the  organ  of  the  Democratic  party  of  Butler  county.  Dr. 
McElwee  was  installed  as  editor.  The  Civil  War  was  upon  us 
and  had  many  opponents  in  the  county,  including  Dr.  McElwee. 
Dr.  Peck  was  a  War  Democrat.  On  August  3,  1861,  the 
Democracy  of  Butler  county  held  a  rousing  mass  convention  in 
the  court  house  and  adopted  M.  N.  Maginnis'  famous  secession 
resolutions.  Dr.  Peck  objected  to  the  publication  of  these 
resolutions  in  the  Telegraph,  which  caused  strained  relations 
between  the  proprietors;  subsequently  Dr.  Peck  became  sole 
owner  of  the  Telegraph.  Early  in  September,  1862,  Dr.  McElwee 
purchased  the  Oxford  Union,  which  had  been  suppressed  for 
treasonable  utterance,  and  removed  the  plant  to  Hamilton.  On 
September  22,  of  the  same  year,  appeared  the  first  issue  of  the 
True-Telegraph,  published  by  McElwee  and  Marts.  This 
paper  denounced  the  war,  its  leader  and  the  abolitionists 
and  demanded  the  impeachment  of  President  Lincoln  for  high 
crimes  and  misdemeanors.  In  1866,  Dr.  McElwee  superin- 
tended the  construction  of  the  Opera  house.     He  afterward 


280  Historical  Sketches. 

opened  a  drug  store  in  the  same  building;  the  store  is  now 
owned  by  Dr.  A.  Myers  &  Co.  In  1875,  he  took  a  course  of 
lectures  at  the  Miami  Medical  college  and  immediately  there- 
after  began  practicing  at   Bath,   Indiana.      He  died  in  1887. 

Edward  Dalton  was  born  in  the  town  of  Tipperary, 
Ireland,  in  1830;  his  parents  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1839,  locating  in  New  York  City;  subesquently  Edward  Dalton 
came  West  and  located  in  Hamilton;  he  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools;  studied  law,  but  never  made  application  for 
admission  to  the  bar;  he  married  Miss  Sadie  Ryan,  a  sister  of 
Michael  C.  Ryan;  in  1858  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Clerk  by 
his  brother-in-law;  in  1859  he  was  nominated,  as  a  Democrat, 
for  Mayor  of  this  city,  but  was  defeated  by  Ransford  Smith. 
Republican.  Sectarianism  brought  about  this  result;  the 
Protestants  claiming  the  Catholics  were  opposed  to  reading 
King  James  version  of  the  Bible  in  the  public  schools.  Mr. 
Dalton  was  elected  Clerk  of  Court  in  1863,  serving  from  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  to  July  6,  1866,  the  date  of  his  death.  He  was  rec- 
ognized as  a  local  political  leader  in  his  day,  and  stumped  the 
county  on  several  occasions  in  the  interest  of  his  party.  He 
was  conspicuous  in  county  and  municipal  affairs  and  enjoyed 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens  in  the  highest 
degree. 

Patrick  Gordon  was  born  in  the  county  of  Roscommon, 
Ireland,  October  6,  1833;  while  young  his  parents  emigrated 
to  America,  locating  in  Hamilton.  He  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  this  city,  entered  the  Clerk's  office  in  1855,  as  Dep- 
uty, under  M.  C.  Ryan;  subsequently  served  four  years  in  the 
same  capacity  with  Dr.  John  McElwee,  from  1858  to  1864,  and 
eighteen  months  under  Edward  Dalton,  who  died  July  6,  1866. 
Mr.  Gordon  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  was  after- 
ward elected  to  two  full  terms,  serving  from  July,  1866,  to 
February,  1873.  On  July  1,  1861,  he  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  L,avin ;  seven  bright  and  intelligent  children  graced 
their  home  circle — four  of  whom  are  living.  He  was  charit- 
able   and  liberal  to  a  fault ;  was  a  fine  penman  and  his  records 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  281 

today  are  a  model  of  neatness — not  being  excelled  by  any  in 
our  public  offices.  Mr.  Gordon  was  a  prompt  and  reliable 
Clerk,  and  in  every  respect  a  courteous  and  pleasant  gentle- 
man. His  fine  sense  of  honor  is  known  to  all  who  were  familiar 
with  his  official  or  social  life. 

Jervis  Hargitt  was  born  near  Dawrenceburg,  Dearborn 
county,  Indiana,  April  24,  1833;  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he 
came  to  Hamilton  and  entered  mercantile  life  as  a  salesman 
and  book-keeper  in  a  dry  goods  store.  In  1856,  he  became  a 
partner  of  George  W.  McAdams  in  the  same  business.  This 
occupation  engrossed  his  time  until  1861,  when  he  engaged  in 
farming  near  Middietown  ;  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  in  1872;  was  re-elected  in  1875,  filling  that 
position  for  six  years ;  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion from  the  Second  ward,  and  was  President  of  that  body. 
In  politics  Mr.  Hargitt  was  a  Democrat ;  was  chairman  of  the 
Butler  County  Democratic  Central  committee  from  1874  to 
1879 ;  was  an  excellent  organizer  and  a  far  seeing  politician. 
His  wide  experience  gave  him  peculiar  advantages  for  his  call- 
ings in  life.     He  enjoyed  a  reputation  of  the  highest  character 

Barton  S.  Jamks  was  born  in  Hanover  township,  Sep- 
tember 3,  1 83 1 ;  was  educated  in  the  country  schools;  was 
married  November  30,  1854,  in  Hamilton,  to  Miss  Mary  J. 
Longfellow,  daughter  of  John  Longfellow,  a  pioneer  resident 
of  this  county.  Mr.  James  followed  farming  for  a  number  of 
years.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  the 
old  P.  G.  Smith  building  on  Main  street ;  later  the  drug  store 
was  removed  to  the  south-west  corner  of  Main  and  B  streets. 
He  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Common  Pleas  Court  in  1878, 
serving  from  February,  1879,  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
died  December  2,  1880.  Born  and  brought  up  in  this  county, 
Mr.  James  enjoyed  a  wide  popularity  ;  held  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

S.  W.  Caldwell.  —The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  Monroe,  Butler  county,  September  10,  1841  ;  was  educated 
in  the  Hamilton  public  schools ;  was  appointed  Deputy  Clerk 


282  Historical  Sketches. 

of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  by  Patrick  Gordon,  in  July, 
1855 ;  he  was  appointed  to  the  same  position  by  Jervis  Hargitt, 
and  Barton  S.  James ;  on  the  death  of  Mr.  James,  which  occur- 
red December  2,  1880,  he  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy, 
serving  eighteen  months.  He  won  a  host  of  friends  in  this 
county,  by  whom  he  was  known  as  an  honorable  official  and  a 
useful  and  worthy  citizen. 

R.  B.  Millikin  was  born  in  Hamilton,  March  21,  1844; 
he  attended  the  public  schools  of  this  city,  and  the  Park  Latin 
School,  of  Boston,  for  two  years;  subsequently  he  entered 
Miami  University,  where  he  remained  two  years.  He  enlisted 
in  the  Ninety-third  regiment,  O.  V.  I.,  July  16,  1861 ;  was  pro- 
moted to  second  lieutenant  May  6,  1864,  and  first  lieuten- 
ant May  31,  of  the  same  year.  He  resigned  on  account  of 
disability  November  22,  1864.  He  began  business  as  a  manu- 
facturer of  plows,  machinery,  etc.,  in  this  city  in  1865,  in  the 
firm  of  Millikin  &  Co.,  afterward  Millikin  &  Cisle;  was  Clerk 
of  the  city  of  Hamilton  from  April,  1875  to  1881  ;  was  Clerk  of 
the  Common  Pleas  Court  from  1881  to  1887.  A  few  years  ago, 
the  plant  of  Millikin  &  Cisle  was  removed  to  Peoria,  Illinois. 
Mr.  Millikin  is  an  upright,  honorable  gentleman,  active,  enter- 
prising and  progressive. 

A.  J.  Welliver. — The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Reily  township,  this  county,  January  22,  1849;  was  partly 
educated  in  the  country  schools ;  received  private  instruction 
from  D.  P.  Nelson  in  Millville ;  subsequently  he  took  a  course 
at  Holbrock's Normal  school  at  Lebanon;  farmed  until  1879; 
wholesaled  spices  on  the  road  with  a  wagon  for  two  years ; 
was  engaged  in  the  sale  of  agricultural  implements  on  the 
West  Side  for  four  years;  was  traveling  salesman  for  the  D.  M. 
Osborn  Co.,  selling  binders  and  mowers,  and  for  Rude  Bros.,  of 
Liberty,  Indiana,  for  a  long  time;  was  Clerk  of  the  Courts 
from  1887  to  1893.  On  September  15,  1893,  before  his  term  of 
office  expired — he  accepted  a  position  with  the  H.  P.  Deuscher 
Co.,  as  manager  of  the  sales  department.  Mr.  Welliver  is  well 
known  as   an   active  and  enterprising  gentleman. 


iARTON  S.JAMES 


CHRISTIAN   PAHST 


A.J.  WELLIVER 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  283 

Christ.  Pabst,  Clerk  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  was 
born  in  the  province  of  Rheinish-Bavaria,  Germany,  Decem- 
ber 6,  1853.  His  parents  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1865,  and  located  in  Hamilton  in  i865;  he  began  learning  the 
art  of  printing  in  L.  B.  De  La  Court's  office  ;  subsequently  he 
was  employed  at  job  printing  with  Jacob  H.  Long.  He 
became  an  expert  in  this  branch  of  the  business.  After  aban- 
doning printing,  he  engaged  in  business  with  his  father,  under 
the  firm  name  of  J.  Pabst  &  Sons,  as  bottlers  and  manufactur- 
ers of  mineral  water.  The  trade  of  this  establishment  extended 
throughout  all  sections  of  Butler  county  and  its  vicinity. 
Christ.  Pabst  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  Lane  Free  Library,  have- 
ing  been  appointed  in  1882.  He  is  widely  known  not  only  in 
this  city,  but  in  all  parts  of  the  country;  is  highly  regarded, 
alike  in  political  circles  and  in  private  life. 

Mr.  Pabst  is  not  a  politician  in  the  common  acceptation  of 
the  word.  He  is  a  faithful  public  officer;  obliging  and  accomo- 
dating. In  discharging  the  duties  of  clerk  of  the  courts  his 
conduct  is  above  criticism.  He  gives  universal  satisfaction. 
He  has  held  the  office  since  February  9,  1893,  being  the 
nominee  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  was  nominated  at  the 
August  primaries  of  1895  receiving  a  total  vote  in  the  county 
of  8059,  and  a  majority  of  3,611.  This  is  the  biggest  vote 
ever  received  by  any  candidate  in  Butler  county. 

On  April  15,  1896  Mr.  Pabst  was  united  in  marriage  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Catherine  Gerlach,  daughter  of  Peter 
Gerlach,  a  prominent  German  citizen  of  the  Forest  City,  and 
this  union  is  a  happy  one. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Pabst  has  always  been  a  Democrat  and  is 
loyal  to  the  principles  of  that  party.  He  has  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Miami  club  of  this  city,  and  is  an  ardent  and 
enthusiastic  member  of  his  party. 

COUNTY  TREASURERS. 

The  county  treasurer's  office  was  at  first  filled  by  appoint- 
ment. In  January,  1827,  the  Legislature  enacted  a  law  making 
the  office  elective  by  the  people,  the  term  being  two  years. 
The  following  named  persons  have  filled  the  office  since  1827: 


284 


Historical  Sketches. 


Charles  K.  Smith 

William  Hunter 

Richard  Easton 

Dr.  Robert  B.  Millikin... 

Henry  Traber 

Franklin  Stokes 

John  W.  Snyder 

Elias  H.  Gaston 

N.  G.  Oglesby 

David  W.  Brant 

John  C.  Dindley 

Seldon  A.  Campbell 


1827-1835 
1836- 1844 
1844-1848 
1848-1850 
1850-1853 
1853-1854 
1 854- 1 858 
1858- 1862 
1862-1864 
1864-1868 
1868-1870 
1S70 


John  C.  Ivindley  part  of 

William    Russell 

David  Yeakle 

H.  H.Jones 

William  B.  Oglesbv 

James  T.  Gray,* 

Harry  Engle 

F.  W.  Whitaker 

W.  M.  Boyd 

Thomas  Boyd 

Joseph  W.  Sloneker 


1870 
1871-: 
1872- 
1876- 


1883 
1887 
1891 
1895 


Charles  K.  Smith  was  born  February  15,  1799,  in 
Cincinnati.  In  18 12  he  was  sent  to  a  Grammar  school  in 
Oxford,  conducted  by  Rev.  James  Hughes.  Here  for  three 
years  he  was  taught  in  all  the  common  branches  and  L,atin.  At 
the  conclusion  of  his  school  days  Charles  K.  Smith  came  to 
Hamilton  to  live,  and  entered  the  employment  of  John  Reily, 
then  Postmaster  and  Clerk  of  the  courts.  For  two  years  he 
was  Deputy  Postmaster  and  Clerk.  In  182 1  he  was  elected 
recorder  of  this  county,  serving  in  this  official  capacity  until 
1835.  In  1827  he  was  chosen  Treasurer  of  the  county.  Subse- 
quently he  became  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Hamilton,  which 
suspended  February  9,  1842.  After  his  retirement  from  the 
bank,  he  entered  upon  legal  practice.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1840,  having  previously  studied  law  under  John 
Woods.  In  1848,  he  was  elected  associate  judge  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  Ohio.  At  this  time  he  was  heart  and 
soul  a  Whig.  When  the  act  creating  the  territory  of  Minnesota 
was  passed  by  congress,  Charles  K.  Smith  was  made  sec- 
retary of  the  territory.  He  assumed  the  duties  of  this  office 
in  May,  1849. 

The  early  territorial  history  of  Minnesota,  is  closely  con- 
nected with  the  name  of  C.  K.  Smith,  and  we  may  well  say 
that  he  had  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  most  prominent 
founders  of  a  new  empire  of  the  north-west,  from  which  has 
sprung  the  vigorous  State  of  Minnesota. 


*Died  before  taking  his  seat. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  285 

Mr.  Smith  was  a  regular  attendant  at  the  United  Presby- 
terian church.  He  donated  the  lot  on  which  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  now  stands.  Upon  his  return  from 
Minnesota  he  returned  to  Hamilton,  and  bought  his  father's 
farm  in  St.  Glair  township,  at  the  confluence  of  the  Talawanda 
and  the  Miami  river  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  Septem- 
ber 28,  1S66. 

C.  K.  Smith  was  married  November  21,  1827,  to  Eleanor 
A.  McMechan,  the  daughter  of  a  pioneer  Presbyterian  minister 
of  this  region. 

William  Hunter  was  born  in  Butler  county  in  1796. 
His  education  was  the  best  obtainable  in  his  youthful  days.  In 
1844  he  formed  a  partnership  with  John  W.  Erwin  and  built  the 
Hydraulic  Flour  mills  at  the  foot  of  High  street  and  carried  on  a 
general  milling  business  for  a  number  of  years.  Subsequently 
Mr.  Erwin  retired  from  the  business,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Jacob  Shaffer.  Mr.  Hunter  served  two  terms  as  Treasurer  of 
Butler  county,  from  1836  to  1844.  Personally  he  was  a  most 
desirable  gentleman  with  whom  to  form  business  relations. 
The  firm  of  Hunter  &  Erwin  had  a  reputation  in  mercantile 
circles,  and  a  large  sale  of  their  products,  of  which  they  felt 
proud.  The  management  of  the  firm's  extensive  business  being 
in  honorable  and  trustworthy  hands  rapidly  increased,  and 
all  transactions  were  fully  guaranteed  to  give  entire  satisfaction. 
Mr.  Hunter  was  a  man  of  sagacity  and  excellent  business 
ability. 

Richard  Easton  was  born  in  Hamilton  in  1808.  He 
was  educated  in  private  schools  in  this  city,  where  he  occupied 
numerous  positions  of  trust.  In  1833  he  was  married  to  an 
estimable  lady  of  West  Chester  and  was  the  father  of  three 
interesting  and  intelligent  children.  In  the  summer  of  1843, 
he  was  nominated  for  Treasurer  of  Butler  county,  and  in 
October  of  the  same  year  was  triumphantly  elected,  serving 
from  1844  to  1848.  On  June  3,  1848,  he  took  the  old  stage 
coach  for  a  trip  to  Cincinnati,  and  on  the  following  morning, 
June  4,  committed  suicide  by  shooting  himself  in  bed  at  the 


286  Historical  Sketches. 

United  States  hotel.  The  court  appointed  a  committee  to 
examine  the  condition  of  the  treasury  which  reported  a  defal- 
cation of  several  thousand  dollars.  However,  upon  a  thorough 
investigation  Mr.  Easton  had  offsets  which  wiped  out  the 
amount  of  defalcation,  leaving  the  county  indebted  to  his  estate 
in  the  sum  of  $500.  He  was  a  popular,  upright  private  citizen 
and  was  held  in  the  highest  regard. 

Robert  B.  Millikin.     [See  Rossville  Postmasters.] 

Henry  Traber  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  educated  in  the  country  schools  of  his  native  county. 
He  came  to  Hamilton,  and  on  April  29,  1847,  opened  an  entire 
new  stock  of  dry  goods,  hardware,  queensware,  etc.,  just  fresh 
from  the  eastern  cities.  All  kinds  of  produce  were  taken  in 
exchange  for  goods.  His  store  was  situated  one  door  below 
Perry  G.  Smith's  drug  store,  on  the  north  side  of  Main  street, 
Rossville,  in  the  room  now  occupied  by  John  Heinlein.  In 
1859,  he  was  nominated  on  the  Independent  Democratic  ticket, 
and  re-elected  in  1852,  serving  one  year  on  his  second  term, 
when  he  resigned.  In  after  years  he  became  janitor  of  the  old 
court  house  and  county  offices.  Subsequently  he  removed  with 
his  father-in-law,  David  Dill,  to  New  York.  Mr.  Traber  was  a 
whole-souled,  genial  man  and  could  entertain  a  crowd  to  per- 
fection with  his  repertoire  of  funny  stories. 

Franklin  Stokes  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  in 
1818.  He  learned  the  printing  trade  in  the  Lebanon  Star  office 
whice  was  established  in  1803.  He  came  to  Hamilton  in  the 
early  forties,  and  for  several  years  was  employed  on  the  Tele- 
graph, then  the  official  organ  of  the  Democratic  party.  On 
November  18,  1836,  Mr.  Stokes  resumed  the  publication  of  the 
Telegraph — which  had  been  suspended.  A  marked  improve- 
ment was  made  in  the  typographical  appearance  of  the  paper. 
John  B.  Miller's  name  appeared  as  editor.  Again,  November  7. 
1839,  the  paper  suspended  for  a  brief  period,  for  the  purpose  of 
settling  up,  the  printing  office  being  sold.  Publication  of  the 
Telegraph    was    resumed    November    30,    1839,   and   it   was 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  287 

removed  from  Rossville  to  Hamilton.     He   was   Treasurer   of 
Butler  county  from  1853  to  1854. 

John  W.  Snyder  —  A  thorough  practical  farmer,  was 
born  in  Madison  township  in  1816.  He  received  a  good 
education  in  the  country  schools  of  his  day.  In  1853  he 
announced  himself  as  a  candidate  for  Treasurer  of  this  county; 
received  the  nomination  and  was  elected,  being  installed  in 
office  in  1854,  serving  until  1858  two  terms.  In  1854  he  came 
to  Hamilton  to  live,  taikug  up  his  residence  in  the  Mark  Boat- 
man property  on  Main  street,  in  the  West  End.  After  his 
official  term  ended  he  removed  to  Indiana  and  subsequently  to 
Illinois,  where  he  died.  His  eldest  son  Jacob,  resides  in 
Chicago,  and  Rev.  Martin  Snyder,  a  United  Brethern  minister 
is  located  in  Kansas. 

Elias  H.  Gaston  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  18 17.  He 
received  his  education  in  Newark,  in  the  state  of  his  nativity. 
Subsequently  he  came  west  and  located  in  Reily  township, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  up  to  the  date  of  his  death.  He 
was  an  important  factor  in  Democratic  politics  of  Reily  town- 
ship for  years;  held  local  offices  and  carried  on  a  general  store. 
He  was  Treasurer  of  Butler  county  from  1858  to  1862.  After 
retiring  from  this  office  he  represented  the  county  two  terms 
in  the  Legislature.  Hon.  Christopher  Hughes  was  his  colleague 
during  his  second  term.  Mr.  Gaston  was  long  interested  in  the 
county's  best  welfare  and  justly  merited  the  political  success 
he  achieved.  In  the  wide  range  of  business— -political  and 
otherwise  — transacted  by  Mr.  Gaston,  he  was  always  found 
prompt  and  reliable  and  his  square  dealing  and  honorable 
methods  always  commanded  the  unqualified  confidence  of  the 
public. 

N.  G.  OglRSby,  of  Middletown,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania. 
His  parents  came  west  in  1848,  and  located  in  Cincinnati; 
subsequently  locating  on  a  farm  on  Elk  Creek,  in  this  county. 
Mr.  Oglesby  received  a  liberal  education,  and  found  employ- 
ment readily  in  Middletown.  For  years  he  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  bankers  of  the  city  of  his  adoption.     In  1861, 


288  Historical  Sketches. 

he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party  for  Treasurer  of 
Butler  county  —  his  opponent  being  ex- Mayor  A.  C.  Stephenson 
On  the  face  of  the  election  returns,  Mr.  Stephenson  had  a 
majority  of  fourteen.  Mr.  Oglesby  claimed  fraud  and  illegal 
voting  in  various  precincts  throughout  the  country,  and  con- 
tested the  election,  and  upon  hearing  the  case  he  was  declared 
to  be  elected.  Hewas  Deputy  Treasurer  under  William  B. 
Oglesby  in  i88o-'82.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  banking 
business  in  Middletown.  He  is  highly  regarded  in  commercial 
and  business  circles  for  his  sound  business  principles,  enterprise 
and  integrity.  f 

David  W.  Brant  was  born  in  Fairfield  township,  Butler 
county,  August  24,  1824.  He  received  a  good  education  in 
the  public  schools,  and  subsequently  acquired  a  fine  business 
training.  He  followed  farming  for  a  number  of  years  in 
"Black  Bottom,"  after  which  he  came  to  Hamilton  and  was 
engaged  in  the  distilling  business  for  a  considerable  time.  He 
formed  a  partnership  with  Stephen  Crane  for  the  manufacture  of 
flour  at  the  Hydraulic  Mills.  The  product  turned  out  by  Messrs. 
Brant  &  Crane  was  equal  to  the  best  and  found  a  ready  sale 
in  the  Eastern  markets.  This  firm  sustained  an  excellent 
reputation  for  honorable  and  liberal  dealing.  The  output  of 
the  mill  was  exceedingly  heavy,  being  in  fact  fully  commensur- 
ate with  its  capacity  and  the  excellence  of  the  flour  produced. 
Mr.  Brant  employed  honorable  methods  in  conducting  the  firm 
bussness.  He  was  Treasurer  in  this  county  from  1864  to  1868 
and  was  proficient  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  On  the  issues  of  the  day  he  had 
decided  opinions  and  was  not  slow  in  defining  his  position.  Mr. 
Brant  died  May  23,  1869.     He  was  well  known  and  popular. 

John  C.  Lindley  was  born  in  Reily  township.  He  was 
educated  in  the  country  schools.  After  arriving  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five  years  he  opened  a  general  merchandise  store.  Sub- 
sequently he  engaged  in  the  distilling  business  near  Reily.  In 
1868  he  came  to  Hamilton  to  reside  having  been  the  previous 
year  elected  Treasurer  of  Butler  county.  He  assumed  the  duties 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  289 

of  his  office  in  September  1868.  For  years  Mr.  L,indley  was  a 
power  in  the  Democratic  ranks  of  his  native  township.  His 
political  opinions,  on  all  occasions,  were  expressed  with  free- 
dom and  candor.  He  never  attempted  to  cram  his  views  down 
the  throats  of  other  people.  He  died  in  December  1878,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  was  an  honored  member  of  the  A.  O. 
U.  W.,  and  K.  of  H.  Mr.  Lindley  possessed  excellent  traits  of 
character.  No  needy  and  deserving  one  was  ever  turned  away 
from  him  empty  handed.  He  was  a  respected  and  efficient 
Treasurer  of  this  county,  and  his  honorable  and  liberal  policy 
made  him  popular  with  the  masses.  Mr.  Lindley  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  King,  daughter  of  Hon.  James  King,  of  Reily,  who 
represented  Butler  county  in  the  Legislature  two  terms.  Four 
children  resulted  from  this  union,  namely:  Harriet,  who 
married  W.  H.  Whipps,  James,  located  in  Chicago  in  the  rail- 
road business,  Minnie,  now  the  wife  of  Robert  Brown,  and 
Col.  Miles  D.,  who  is  well  known  to  our  citizens  as  an  able 
and  energetic  political  worker  in  the  cause  of  Democracy. 

Seldon  A.  Campbell.     [See  Auditors  of  Butler  County.] 

William  Russell  was  born  in  Madison  township,  this 
county.  He  received  a  thorough  common  school  education. 
After  arriving  at  the  age  of  manhood  he  filled  numerous  town- 
ship offices  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  con- 
stituents. He  was  Recorder  of  Butler  county  from  1863  to 
1869.  In  1870  he  became  Treasurer,  retiring  in  1872.  Mr. 
Russell  was  a  man  of  energy,  sound  judgment  and  enterprise, 
as  well  of  strict  integrity,  and  he  enjoyed  a  deservedly  high 
reputation  in  the  community.  He  was  greatly  esteemed  for 
his  pronounced  talents,  and  a  more  capable  and  accomplished 
official  could  not  be  found  in  this  section  of  the  country. 

David  Yeakle  was  born  in  Hanover  township,  April  28, 
1842.  In  his  boyhood  days  he  followed  farming.  He  came  to 
Hamilton  in  1861  and  entered  into  partnership  with  William 
Sortman  in  the  grocery  business  on  the  West  Side,  in  the  Odd 
Fellow  building.  He  was  nominated  and  elected  Treasurer  of 
this  county  in  1871,  serving  from  1872  to  1876,  and  discharged 


290  Historical  Sketches. 

the  duties  of  the  office  with  fidelity  and  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  our  citizens.  After  retiring  from  office  he  accepted  a 
position  in  W.  C.  Frechtling  &  Co.'s  double  store.  Mr.  Yeakle 
is  well  informed  on  county  politics.  He  served  for  a  number 
of  years  on  the  County  Democratic  Central  committee.  Dur- 
ing his  term  in  this  capacity  "Old  Butler"  rolled  up  huge 
Democratic  majorities.  In  1884  he  again  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business,  in  the  Benninghofen  block  on  High  street. 
He  is  at  the  present  time  City  Infirmary  director.  Mr.  Yeakle 
was  prompt,  enerjetic  and  reliable,  and  enjoyed  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all  classes. 

H.  H.  Jones  was  born  near  Oxford,  January  1,  1824. 
He  received  a  liberal  education  and  began  teaching  school 
when  he  was  only  fifteen  years  old.  Subsequently  he  went  to 
Cincinnati  and  studied  medicine.  On  April  26,  1849,  he  mar- 
ried Mary  L.  Hughey.  Seven  children  resulted  from  this 
union,  namely:  Imogene,  Oliver  Edwin,  Anna  E-,  Harry 
Edwin,  Charles,  Jessie  E-,  and  Samuel  Clarence.  Mr.  Jones 
removed  from  Cincinnati  to  Venice,  this  county,  where  he 
remained  until  he  came  to  Hamilton  in  i860.  When  the 
gallant  Sixty-ninth  regiment  O.  V.  I.  was  organized,  under 
command  of  Colonel  Lewis  D.  Campbell,  Mr.  Jones  was  one 
among  the  first  to  enlist  as  a  private,  to  go  forth  and  battle  for 
his  country.  Afterward  he  was  promoted  to  assistant  surgeon, 
which  position  he  held  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  a 
gentleman  of  sterling  integrity  and  business  abilities,  and  was 
very  popular  with  all  who  had  business  dealings  with  him.  He 
was  treasurer  from  1876  to  1880,  and  was  subsequently  deputy 
treasurer  under  Harry  Engle. 

William  B.  Oglejsby,  was  born  in  Chester  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, January  30,  181 5.  In  18 18  the  family  removed  to 
Cincinnati,  and  in  1823,  the  family  took  up  their  residence  on 
Elk  Creek,  near  Jacksonborough,  this  county.  Mr.  Oglesby, 
at  the  age  of  thirteen,  left  home  to  clerk  in  the  store  of  Hiram 
Powers,  of  Jacksonborough.  In  1830  he  went  to  Middletown 
and  was  employed  by  Jonathan  Martin  as  clerk.     In  the  fall  of 


F.  W.  WHITAKER 


JOSEPH  W.  SLONKKFJ 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  291 

1840,  he,  with  his  brother  Jacob,  went  to  Philadelphia  and 
purchased  a  stock  of  goods,  which  were  shipped  on  a  steamer 
for  Cincinnati.  When  near  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  the  boat  sprung 
a  leak  and  sunk.  Mr.  Oglesby  finally  succeeded  in  recovering 
his  goods  from  the  bottom  of  the  river.  They  were  dried  in 
the  cornfields  near  by  and  reshipped  to  Cincinnati,  and  thence 
to  Sidney,  where  the  firm  succeeded  in  selling  them  to  good 
advantage.  In  1844  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  trade  again  with 
George  C.  Barnitz  A  greater  portion  of  the  time  from  1844  to 
1857  the  firm  was  engaged  in  buying  produce,  pork  packing 
and  various  other  branches,  including  a  banking  business.  Mr. 
Oglesby  was  treasurer  of  Butler  county  from  1880  to  1882.  He 
was  a  man  of  marked  ability,  and  had  a  wide  range  of  business 
knowledge  and  experience. 

Harry  Engle  was  born  in  Lemon  township  in  1836.  He 
resided  in  Middletown  for  a  number  of  years  and  is  now  located 
at  Excello.  He  has  filled  several  official  positions  in  his  native 
township  with  honor  to  himself  and  party.  In  1882  Harry 
Engle  was  appointed  Treasurer  of  Butler  county  for  one  year, 
vice  James  T.  Gray,  who  was  elected,  but  died  before  qualifying 
for  the  office.  Mr.  Engle  filled  this  position  with  entire  satis- 
faction to  the  citizens  of  the  county,  and  retired  with  the  best 
wishes  of  everyone. 

F.W.Whitaker  was  born  in  Mason,  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
December  8,  1850.  He  attended  school  until  he  was  fifteen 
years  old  when  he  learned  the  carriage  painter's  trade,  which 
he  followed  until  1872.  Afterwards  he  removed  to  Monroe 
and  was  engaged  in  a  merchandize  store.  Mr.  Whitaker  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  Lemon  township,  with  his  office 
at  Monroe.  In  1872  he  was  appointed  Chief  Deputy  Treasurer 
by  James  T.  Gray,  who  died  before  assuming  the  office.  He 
immediately  announced  himself  as  a  candidate  to  fill  the 
vacancy.  In  1881  he  received  the  nomination  and  was  trium- 
phantly elected,  entering  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  in  1882, 
serving  two  terms.  After  retiring  from  office  he  immediately 
used  his  influence  toward  organizing  the  Miami  Valley  National 


292  Historical  Sketches. 

bank  and  as  a  result  the  bank  opened  its  doors  for  the  trans- 
action of  business  March  10,  1888,  and  Mr.  Whitaker  was 
elected  assistant  cashier.  In  1890  he  was  promoted  to  the 
vice-presidency.  After  the  death  of  Hon.  Peter  Murphy  he  was 
elected  president,  which  position  he  now  holds.  The  Miami  Val- 
ley National  bank  is  commended  to  the  public  as  in  every  way 
worthy  of  confidence,  and  business  relations  entered  into  with 
it  are  certain  to  prove  as  pleasant  as  they  will  be  advantageous 
to  all  concerned.  Mr.  Whitaker  is  widely  known  in  commercial 
circles  and  enjoys  the  thorough  confidence  and  fullest  esteem 
of  all  who  know  him,  and  in  all  his  operations  he  employs  the 
highest  principles  of  commercial  honor  and  integrity. 

W.  M.  Boyd  was  born  near  Monroe,  this  county, 
December  5,  1832.  He  received  a  good,  practical  education 
and  followed  farming.  He  was  engaged  for  years  in  buying 
grain  at  Monroe.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Amanda,  and 
continued  in  the  same  business  until  1885,  when  F.  W- 
Whitaker,  Treasurer-elect,  tendered  him  the  chief  deputyship. 
Mr.  Boyd  was,  at  first,  disposed  to  decline  the  call,  but  was 
finally  persuaded  to  accept  the  position.  He  entered  upon  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  in  1882,  and  was  Mr.  Whitaker's  able 
and  valued  assistant  throughout  his  entire  term  of  office.  In 
1886,  Mr.  Boyd's  friends  announced  him  as  a  candidate  to 
succeed  Mr.  Whitaker.  He  was  easily  nominated  and  elected, 
serving  from  1887  to  1891  He  is  not  what  we  might  call  a 
politician  in  the  strict  meaning  of  the  word,  but  is  a  natural 
born  business  man.  He  is  an  excellent  book  keeper  and 
accountant.  During  his  first  campaign  he  remained  at  his  post  in 
the  Treasurer's  office  attending  to  his  duties.  This  was  a  clear 
case  of  the  office  seeking  the  man.  Mr.  Boyd  is  well  known  for 
his   many   excellent    qualities   of    mind   and   heart. 

Thomas  Boyd  —  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at 
Monroe,  Butler  county,  July  22,  i860.  He  received  a  liberal 
education  and  a  good  business  training.  In  1887,  W.  M.  Boyd 
appointed  him  Deputy  Treasurer,  which  position  he  satisfactorily 
filled  for  four  years.  Mr.  Boyd  was  elected  Treasurer  of  Butler 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  293 

county  in  1886,  and  took  his  seat  in  September,  1887,  and  was 
re-elected  in  1893,  retiring  in  1895.  He  proved  himself  to  be 
a  good  and  efficient  public  official.  In  1884,  he  was  selected 
by  Hon.  Paul  J.  Sorg  to  conduct  his  second  congressional 
campaign  in  the  Old  Historic  Third  district.  He  performed 
his  work  nobly  and  succeeded  in  electing  his  gallant  standard 
bearer.  Hon.  Paul  J.  Sorg  was  one  out  of  the  three  congress- 
men saved  in  Ohio  from  the  tidal  wave  that  struck  the  country 
in  1884.  Mr.  Boyd  has  achieved  success  and  a  reputation  as  a 
leader  and  organizer  of  his  party  which  is  entirely  due  to  his 
talented,  enterprising  and  honorable  political  methods,  and  is 
to  be  congratulated  upon  the  success  that  he   has   attained. 

Joseph  W.  Slonfkfr  was  born  in  Milford  township, 
February  15,  1852.  He  followed  farming  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  He  received  a  liberal  education  at  Prof. 
Holbrock's  Normal  school,  of  Lebanon,  and  began  teaching 
district  school,  which  vocation  he  followed  until  1883.  In  the 
fall  of  this  year  he  was  elected  principal  of  the  Third  ward 
schools,  which  position  he  held  for  two  years.  In  1885,  he 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  Seward  &  Sloneker  Insurance 
Agency.  He  is  still  a  member  of  the  firm,  but  not  actively 
engaged  in  the  business.  In  1894  Mr.  Sloneker  was  nominated 
and  elected  Treasurer  of  Butler  county,  assuming  his  official 
duties  in  1885.  Personal  comment  is  unnecessary.  The  well 
known  character  of  Mr.  Sloneker  placing  it  above  criticism 
affording  as  it  does  an  example  of  an  honorable  and  prosper- 
ous business  career. 

AUDITORS    OF    BUT%KR    COUNTY. 

JohnMcClure 1821-1831  Henry  H.  Wallace 1860-1862 

James  O'Couner 1S31-1832  William  C.  Hunter 1862-1866 

James  B.  Cameron 1832-1843  S.  A.  Campbell 1866-1870 

James  B.  Cameron,  Jr...    1843-1844  Adolph  Schmidt  1870-1874 

LudwigBetz 1844-1847  H.  P.  K.  Peck part  of  1874- 

Alfred  Thomas 1847-1848  Henry  H.  Wallace 1874-1876 

Franklin  Stokes 1848-1S50  S.  B.  Berry 1876-1881 

Wilson  H.  Layman     ...  1850-1853  Joseph  B.  Hughes 1881-1885 


William  S.  Phares 1852-1858  Richard  Brown 

James  Daugherty 1858-1860              S.  A.  Campbell- 
Frank  X.  Duerr 1892-1898 


294  Historical  Sketches. 

John  McClurE,  was  appointed  Auditor  in  1821,  serving 
until  February  22,  1831,  when  lie  died.  James  O'Conner  was 
appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy.  James  B.  Cameron  was  elected 
Auditor  in  1832,  serving  until  his  decease,  September  3,  1843, 
when  James  B.  Cameron,  Jr.  became  Auditor  for  one  year. 
Ivudwig  Betz  was  elected  in  1844,  and  died  in  1847.  Alfred 
Thomas  was  appointed  Auditor  to  fill  the  vacancy,  serving 
1847-48.  On  February  23,  1824,  the  Legislature  passed  a 
law  making  the  office  of  Auditor  elective  by  the  people. 

Ludwig  Betz  was  born  in  Hamilton.  He  received  a 
liberal  education  and  was  a  successful  business  man  in  this  city 
for  years.  He  was  Deputy  Auditor  under  James  B.  Cameron, 
from  1832  to  1843,  was  afterward  elected  Auditor  in  1844,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1846.  He  married  Miss  Jane  Bell,  of  Mor- 
gan township.     Mr.  Betz  died  September  2,  1847. 

Alfred  Thomas  was  born  in  Hamilton.  He  was  a  son 
of  James  B.  Thomas,  who  was  born  in  Northumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  September  8,  1782,  coming  to  Hamilton  in  1814. 
He  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  this  city  by  President  Jack- 
son, July  9,  1832,  holding  this  official  position  until  March  27, 
1 85 1 .  Alfred  Thomas  was  educated  in  private  schools ;  was 
an  old  time  merchant,  and  afterward  a  grain  dealer  and  com- 
mission merchant  in  Cincinnati ;  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education  after  the  union  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  energy,  of  high  standing  in  business  and 
social  circles. 

Franklin  Storks.     [See  County  Treasurers.] 

Wilson  H.  Layman  was  born  in  Rossville  in  1822;  was 
liberally  educated  in  select  schools ;  was  editor  'and  proprietor 
of  the  Miami  Democrat,  published  on  the  West  Side  from  1850 
to  1852.  He  was  Auditor  of  Butler  county  from  1850  to  1852. 
In  1857,  he  moved  to  Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  where  he  died 
five  years  ago. 

William  S.  Phares  was  born  near  Jacksonborough, 
Butler  county,  in  1823.  He  received  a  thorough  education  in 
the   schools  of  his  day;    moved  to   Hamilton   and  became   a 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  295 

popular  school  teacher.  He  was  auditor  of  this  county  for 
two  terms,  serving  from  1852  to  1858;  was  a  pronounced 
Democrat  until  the  Civil  War  when  he  espoused  the 
Union  cause.  He  was  Deputy  State  Treasurer  under  John  M. 
Millikin.  He  was  a  prominent  and  active  member  of  high 
standing  in  the  order  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  He 
followed  Masonic  insurance  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1894.  He  was  a  talented  and 
expert  accountant  — an  accomplished  and  trustworthy  busi- 
ness man. 

James  Daugherty  was  born  at  Martinsburg,  Berkley 
county,  Virgina,  September  14,  18 14.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  Ohio  in  1871.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  was  brought  up  at  farming  until  he 
learned  the  cooper's  trade.  In  1839  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Ziua  Doty,  a  former  well  known  resident  of  Butler 
county.  She  was  born  in  this  county  in  18 17.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Daugherty  were  the  parents  of  eight  children.  Aquilla  J.  was 
formerly  a  well  known  newspaper  man.  He  was  connected 
with  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer  and  Gazette,  and  was  with  the 
Louisville  Courier  Journal  four  years.  He  was  educated  in 
the  Hamilton  public  schools  and  at  Miami  university.  Miss 
L,issa  Daugherty  is  now  assistant  teacher  in  the  High  school, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  that  calling  since  1861.  Mr.  James 
Daugherty  came  to  Hamilton  in  1847,  conducting  the  cooper- 
ing business  for  some  years.  He  was  elected  a  justice  of  the 
peace  in  1851,  holding  that  position  for  seven  years.  He  was 
mayor  in  1852,  being  re-elected  for  three  terms.  In  1857  he 
was  elected  Auditor  of  Butler  county.  He  represented  his 
ward  in  the  school  board  in  1858,  and  was  active  in  educa- 
tional matters. 

Henry  H.  Wallace  was  born  in  Milford  township, 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  December  30,  1824.  He  is  the  youngest 
son  of  John  and  Priscilla  Wallace,  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
They  were  of  Scotch  extraction.  The  subject  of  our  sketch 
was   reared  on  a  farm,  laboring  in  the  summer  and  attending 


296  Historical  Sketches. 

school  during  the  winter.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  he 
began  teaching  and  followed  the  profession  for  a  nnmber  of 
years.  He  continued  to  attend  school  at  intervals,  until  he 
received  a  good  business  education.  In  1S53,  he  was  elected 
County  Recorder,  serving  for  six  years.  In  1859  he  was 
elected  County  Auditor,  which  office  he   held   for   two   years. 

In  1857  he  was  married  to  Sarah  J.  Bacon,  a  native  of  this 
county,  and  a  most  estimable  lady,  the  daughter  of  Edmund 
and  Jane  Bacon,  early  settlers  of  Butler  county.  In  1862,  he 
raised  Company  C  of  the  Ninety-third  O.  V.  I.,  and  as  Captain 
of  said  company,  was  in  active  service  for  about  one  year, 
when,  on  account  of  impaired  health  and  disability,  he  was 
compelled  to  resign.  In  1865,  he  engaged  in  the  carpet  and 
wall  paper  business  and  continued  therein  until  the  fall  of  1874, 
when  he  was  again  elected  county  Auditor,  serving  in  said 
office  until  1876.  From  this  date  until  1883,  he  was  engaged 
in  sundry  positions.  In  1883,  he  was  appointed  to  a  clerkship 
in  the- pension  office  at  Washington,  serving  until  July,  1884, 
when  he  was  detailed  therefrom  and  appointed  a  Special 
Examiner  of  Pension  Claims,  serving  three  years  in  southern 
Missouri  and  northern  Arkansas.  From  1887  to  the  present 
date,  1896,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business 
exclusively.  He  was  recognized  as  an  accomplished  official 
and  a  reliable  business  man. 

William  C.  Hunter,  was  born  in  Hamilton,  December 
16,  1 83 1.  He  was  liberally  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  day. 
In  1857  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  Second  and  Court  streets,  retiring  in  1862.  Afterward 
W.  C.  Hunter  &  Co.,  operated  a  distillery  in  South  Hamilton. 
In  1864,  he  sold  out  the  business  to  Peter  Murphy,  John  Still- 
waugh,  and  Chris.  Ruoff.  He  was  elected  Auditor  of  Butler 
county  in  the  fall  of  1861,  serving  from  1862-1866;  was  a  part 
owner  of  the  Hydraulic  mills,  for  a  number  of  years.  He  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres,  two  miles  south 
of  Hamilton,  on  the  Cincinnati  and  Mt.  Healthy  pike,  and  built 
a  fine  residence  thereon.     He  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  business 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  297 

attainments   and   an  accomplished  official.     Mr.  Hunter  died 
June  29,  1870. 

S.  A.  Campbell  was  born  in  Putney,  Vermont,  May  3, 
1822.  In  early  manhood  he  taught  school  in  his  native  State 
and  in  Massachusetts.  He  came  west  in  1848,  and  followed 
teaching.  On  February,  1854,  he  married  Miss  Ruth  Riley, 
daughter  of  James  Riley  of  St.  Clair  township.  He  was  elected 
Auditor  of  Butler  county  in  October  1865,  and  served  from 
March  1866  to  March  1870,  two  terms.  He  was  appointed 
treasurer  in  March  1870,  and  served  until  September  1870.  He 
filled  an  interim  in  the  Auditor's  office  of  ten  months  in  1888 
and  1889.  Mr.  Campbell  is  an  expert  book  keeper  and  account- 
ant and  his  services  are  frequently  sought.  He  is  held  in  the 
highest  estimation  by  the  community  for  his  ability  and  integ- 
rity and  the  success  he  has  achieved  in  business  and  political 
circles  is  as  substantial  as  it  is  well  deserved. 

Adolph  Schmidt  was  born  in  Germany,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education.  He  was  associated  with  William  A. 
L,ohman,  in  the  leather  and  findings  business  at  No.  108  Front 
street  in  1865- 1866;  carried  on  the  West  side  tanning  on  South 
Boudinot  street  for  years.  He  was  elected  Auditor  of  Butler 
county  in  1869,  and  re-elected  in  1872,  serving  from  1870  to 
1874.  After  retiring  from  office  he  removed  to  Cincinnati, 
where  he  is  employed  as  collector  and  solicitor  for  the  Jung 
Brewing  Co.  He  has  excellent  business  qualifications,  and  is  a 
social  whole-souled,  genial  gentleman.  He  married  Mary  Mor- 
ganthaler,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Christian  Morganthaler,  one 
of  Hamilton's  successful  pioneer  business  men. 

H.  P.  K.  Peck  was  born  in  Richmond,  Ontario  county, 
New  York,  in  1824.  His  parents  were  David  H  and  Hannah 
S.  Peck,  natives  of  New  London,  Connecticut.  The  great 
grandfather  on  the  mother's  side  was  Gabriel  Sistare,  a  native 
of  Barcelona,  Spain,  and  the  maternal  great-grandmother  was 
an  American  lady  of  Scotch  and  Irish  parentage.  The  ances- 
tors on  the  father's  side  were  English  with  a  mixture  of  French 
blood,  the  first,  William  Peck,  emigrating  to  this  country  in 


298  Historical  Sketches. 

1635,  and  being  one  of  the  founders  of  Norwich,  in  that  colony. 
Mr.  Peck  received  a  classical  education;  studied  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  practiced  in  New  York  City,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.j  and  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  was  editor  of  the 
Hamilton  Telegraph  in  1865;  was  appointed  Auditor  of 
Butler  county,  in  1874,  to  fill  a  vacancy. 

S.  B.  Berry  was  born  in  Madison  township,  Butler  county 
Ohio,  November  18,  1838;  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
of  his  native  township.  He  learned  the  smith  trade  under 
Jacob  Simpson,  a  master  mechanic  of  L,eSourdsville.  Mr. 
Berry  represented  Butler  county  in  the  Legislature  in  1871-72; 
came  to  Hamilton  in  1873,  and  began  the  manufacture  of  his 
patent  plows,  and  followed  the  business  successfully  until  he 
was  elected  Auditor  of  Butler  county  in  1876,  serving  until 
1 88 1.  He  was  a  popular  and  efficient  public  official,  retiring 
with  an  excellent  record.  In  1878  he  wTas  Grand  Master 
Workman  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  of  Ohio.  His  administration 
was  a  beneficial  one  to  the  order.  Mr.  Berry  was  twice  married, 
his  first  wife  being  Miss  Mary  Castor  of  L,eSourdsville.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ada  Millikin,  daughter  of  John 
Millikin,  in  May,  1873.  He  moved  to  Beattie,  Kansas,  in 
1885,  and  for  nine  years  he  has  been  police  judge  of  the  town 
of  his  adoption. 

Joseph  B.  Hughes  was  born  in  Liberty  township,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  November  14,  1848.  He  attended  the  district 
school  when  a  boy;  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  university  at  Delaware,  Ohio;  afterward  he 
attended  a  Commercial  college  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  from  which 
he  graduated.  He  engaged  in  the  carpet  business  from  1875 
to  1 88 1.  He  helped  to  organize  the  Royal  Potter  company,  of 
which  he  was  elected  president.  In  1882  he  was  elected  Auditor 
of  Butler  county,  a  position  which  he  filled  with  signal  ability. 
From  his  earliest  youth,  Mr.  Hughes  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  politics,  has  always  been  true  to  the  principles  and 
traditions  of  his  party.  For  years  Mr.  Hughes  was  a  hard 
worker  in  the  ranks  of  the  Democracy.     At  the  Morrow  con- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  299 

vention  of  that  year  he  was  selected  by  the  Butler  county 
delegation  to  second  the  nomination  of  General  Durbin  Ward 
for  congress,  a  task  which  he  performed  most  creditably  it 
being  the  first  time  he  ever  spoke  in  public.  During  that 
memorable  campaign  he  spoke  at  various  points  in  Butler 
county  and  demonstrated  that  he  was  thoroughly  informed  on 
the  political  issues  of  the  day.  He  has  served  as  chairman  of 
the  Democratic  County  Central  committee  and  his  ability  as  a 
political  strategist  has  always  been  recognized  by  the  people. 

After  his  first  term  as  auditor  of  Butler  county,  Mr. 
Hughes  was  re-nominated  and  re-elected  but  did  not  serve,  as 
in  1885  he  was  appointed  consul  to  Birmingham,  England  by 
President  Cleveland.  While  filling  this  honorable  station,  Mr. 
Hughes  was  paid  the  high,  as  well  as  the  unusual  compliment  of 
being  elected  president  of  the  Consular  Association,  being  the 
first  American  to  hold  that  position.  After  his  service  as 
consul  Mr.  Hughes  went  to  London,  England  and  opened  an 
office  at  number  four  Moorgate  street,  where  for  four  years  he 
conducted  a  brokerage  business.  Returning  to  this  county, 
Mr.  Hughes  re-entered  politics  although  not  as  a  candidate  for 
office.  When  Hon.  Paul  J.  Sorg  of  Middletown,  congressman 
from  this  district,  made  his  first  campaign,  Mr.  Hughes  was 
the  chairman  of  the  general  congressional  committee  which 
was  composed  of  active  Democrats  from  Butler,  Montgomery 
and  Preble  counties.  Mr.  Hughes  brought  this  campaign  to  a 
successful  termination  working  unceasingly  in  Mr.  Sorg's 
interest.  The  people  of  Hamilton  who  are  enjoying  the 
benefits  of  the  city's  water  works  system  owe  more  to  Mr. 
Hughes  than  to  any  other  person.  He  drafted  the  bill  provid- 
ing for  the  water  works  election  and  succeeded  in  getting  it 
passed  by  the  Ohio  Legislature.  He  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  first  board  of  water  works  trustees,  the  board  which  was 
entrusted  with  the  erection  of  the  plant.  Mr.  Hughes  has  also 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  from  the 
Second  ward. 

At  present  Mr.  Hughes  has  an  office  at  No.  66  Broadway, 


300  Historical  Sketches. 

New  York,  where  he  is  successfully  engaged  in  the  promotion 
of  mining  and  industrial  euterprises. 

Mr.  Hughes  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks,  and  the  Royal  Arcanum,  Hamilton  Commandery  Number 
41,  Knight  Templars. 

Joseph  B.  Hughes  is  a  man  of  a  most  generous  disposition, 
who  has  during  his  lifetime  dispensed  a  vast  amount  of  charity 
without  ostentation.  He  is  especially  noted  for  his  unswerv- 
ing fidelity  to  his  friends  whom  he  has  never  been  known  to 
desert.  Through  sunlight  and  shadow  he  is  true  to  them,  and 
he  has  helped  many  men  to  good  positions,  political  and  other- 
wise. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Davis, 
November  12,  1868.  One  child  was  born  of  this  union,  Gordon 
Taylor  Hughes,  who  is  now  a  prominent  and  distinguished 
practicing  attorney  of  New  York  City. 

Richard  Brown  was  born  near  Venice,  Ross  township, 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  November  11,  1838.  He  received  a 
thorough  business  education,  and  is  by  occupation  a  Civil 
Engineer.  During  his  practice  of  this  profession  he  attained 
considerable  note,  but  his  public  spirit  and  popularity  soon 
made  him  a  prominent  figure  in  Democratic  politics.  He 
was  for  many  years  connected  with  the  auditor's  office,  having 
held  that  responsible  office  for  six  years,  and  for  twelve  years 
an  efficient  and  faithful  deputy.  He  has  the  rare  faculty  for 
making  friends  and  keeping  them.  In  1870,  there  was  an 
interim  of  ten  months  in  the  Auditor's  office,  made  so  by  an 
act  of  the  Legislature.  The  Commissioners  tendered  Mr. 
Brown  the  appointment,  for  the  interim,  provided  he  would 
depose  the  late  Christian  Rothenbush,  who  was  his  able,  honest 
and  efficient  deputy.  The  offer  was  spurned  with  contempt, 
although  it  entailed  a  loss,  in  salary,  to  Mr.  Brown  of  $2,500. 
He  gracefully  retired  from  the  office  for  ten  months,  after 
which  he  entered  upon  his  second  term  with  Christian  Rothen- 
bush  as  his   chief  deputy.     As  a  public  official,  Mr.  Brown 


JOSEPH  B.  HUGHES 


RICHARD  BROWN  FRANK  X.  DUERR 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  301 

combined  ability  and  a  thorough  business  training  with  indus- 
try and  close  application  to  his  duties.  Today  he  enjoys 
esteem  as  a  scholarly  gentleman,  a  valued,  useful  and  influen- 
tial citizen. 

Frank  X.  Duerr  was  born  at  White  Oak,  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  December  13,  1859.  When  he  was  seven  years 
old  his  parents  came  to  Hamilton.  He  was  then  placed  in  the 
public  school  and  his  education  continued  in  them  and  in  the 
parochial  schools  until  he  was  thirteen  years  old  when  through 
necessity  he  was  forced  to  leave  school  and  go  to  work. 
Learning  the  printer's  trade  he  worked  at  it  during  the  day 
for  four  years.  He  received  his  business  education  in  Beck's 
Commercial  college  at  night  time.  In  1877,  he  accepted  the 
position  of  shipping  clerk  with  the  H.  P.  Deuscher  Co.  In 
this  capacity  his  energy  and  business  ability  soon  asserted 
itself,  he  being  promoted  from  time  to  time,  until,  at  the  time 
of  severing  his  connection  with  them,  in  September,  1892,  he 
had  become  general  manager  and  the  business  head  of  the 
concern.  When  Mr.  Duerr  gave  up  this  position  it  was  at  the 
call  of  the  people  of  Butler  county,  who,  in  November,  1891, 
expressed  their  appreciation  of  his  abilities  by  electing  him  to 
the  office  of  county  Auditor,  which  position  he  has  since  filled 
with  credit  to  himself  and  to  those  who  placed  him  where  he 
is.  Mr.  Duerr  is  a  director  of  the  Miami  Valley  National 
bank,  and  stands  high  in  business  circles.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  Knights  of  America,  and  was  President  of  the 
local  branch  of  the  former  body  for  two  years.  In  1881,  Mr. 
Duerr  was  married  to  Lizzie  Hoffman  and  of  the  union,  seven 
children  were  born,  six  of  whom,  three  boys  and  three  girls 
still  survive.  From  a  small  beginning  Mr.  Duerr  has  worked 
his  way  to  positions  of  responsibility,  honor  and  trust.  Such 
success  as  he  has  won  comes  not  by  waiting,  but  by  pushing 
persistently  onward,  no  matter  how  black  or  uncertain  is  the 
future.  Mr.  Duerr  has  done  for  himself  what  no  one  could  do 
for  him,  and  he  stands  among  the  most  respected  and  honored 
of  our  citizens. 


302 


Historical  Sketches. 


COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS. 


We  begin  our  sketches  at  1851,  as  prior  to  this  date,  and 
in  some  subsequent  cases  the  data  from  which  to  write  the 
historical  sketches  of  the  commissioners  is  lost  beyond  recovery. 


Ezekiel  Ball 1804 

Matthew  Richardson 1805 

Solomon  Line 1806 

James  Blackburn 1807 

James   Smith 1808 

William  Robison 1809 

John  Wingate 1810 

Joseph  Henderson 181 1 

Joseph  Hough 1812 

William  Robison 1813 

Joseph  Henderson 1814 

Joseph  Hough 1S15 

William  Robison 1816 

Thomas  Blair 1817 

William  Robison 1818 

Joseph  Henderson 1819 

John  Knox 1820 

William  Kerr 1821 

Dennis  Ball 1822 

Joel  Kennedy 1823 

John  Crane 1824 

Matthew  Hueston 1825 

John  K.  Wilson 1826 

James  Comstock 1827 

Joel  Kennedy 1828 

Matthew  Hueston 1829 

William  B.  Van  Hook 1830 

Joel  Kenned}' 1831 

Matthew  Hueston 1832 

Edward  Rockhill 1833 

Matthew  Hueston 1S34 

Edward  Rockhill 1835 

Thomas  Blair 1837 

Isaac  McKinney 1838 

Jacob  Ogle 1839 

Thomas  Blair 1840 

Isaac  McKinney 1841 

John  McCloskey 1842 

Isaac  McKinney 1843 

John  McCloskey 1844 

Jonathan  Pierson  1845 

Isaac  McKinney 1846 


Jonathan  Pierson 1847 

John   Traber 1848-49 

Isaac  McKinney 1850 

John  W.  Erwin 1851 

William  Hunter 1852 

John  Weaver 1853 

John  W.  Sohn -1854 

Christopher  Hughes  1S55 

Jacob  Matthias 1856 

John  W.  Cox 1857 

John  Wakefield 1858 

James  Giffen 1859 

John  J.  Owens i860 

James  Giffen 1862 

William  Davidson 1863 

John  J.  Owens 1864 

W.  W.  Caldwell 1S65 

W.  M.  Miller 1866 

David  Marts 1867 

John  J.  Owens 1868 

W.  M.  Miller 1869 

David  Marts 1870 

James  Line 1871 

George  Tobias 1872 

W.  W.  Caldwell 1873 

Samuel  M.  Long 1874 

David  Sample 1875 

John  Weidenborner 1876 

Samuel  M.  Long 1877 

David  Sample 187S 

John  Weidenborner 1879 

Thomas  Slade 1880 

Eli  Long 1881 

A.  G.  McKeon 1882 

Thomas  Slade 1883 

Eli  Long 1884 

A.  G.  McKeon 1885 

William  Murphy 1886 

M.  B.  Hatch 1887 

Fred.  Berk 188S 

William  Murphy 1889 

Charles  Beck,  jr 1890 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  30  3 

Fred.  Berk 1891  D.  M.  Sheley 1895 

D.  M.  Sheley 1892  Michael  Zoller 1896 

Michael  Zoller 1893  Martin  McLaughlin 1897 

Martin  McLaughlin 1894 

The  first  Board  of  Commissioners  met  in  Hamilton  on  the 
second  Monday  in  June  1804.  John  Reily  was  clerk.  Audit- 
ing bills  was  their  first  transaction.  The  total  taxes  collected 
for  1804  amounted  to  $1,135.26.  On  June  10,  1S05,  John  Reily 
was  appointed  clerk  to  the  Board  of  Commissioners.  Agreeably 
to  law  the  Commissioners  licensed  ferries  and  taverns  in  Ham- 
ilton at  twelve  dollars  per  year  and  fixed  the  rates  of  farriage 
across  the  Miami  river  as  follows:  Single  person,  six  and  one- 
fourth  cents;  man  and  horse,  twelve  and  one-half  cents;  loaded 
wagon  and  team,  one  dollar;  an5'  other  four-wheeled  carriage, 
seventy-five  cents;  an  empty  wagon  and  team,  or  a  loaded  cart 
and  team,  fifty  cents;  empty  cart  and  team,  or  sled  or  sleigh 
and  team,  thirty  seven  and  a  half  cents;  every  horse,  mare, 
mule,  ass,  or  head  of  neat  cattle,  six  and  one-fourth  cents;  every 
sheep  hog,  or  goat,  three  cents. 

On  August  4,  1814,  John  Hall,  of  Rossville,  was  appointed 
Commissioner  vice  John  Withrow,  who  refused  to  serve.  March 
1,  1819,  it  being  found  that  the  moneys  then  in  the  treasury, 
together  with  the  moneys  due  to  the  county,  and  which  money 
it  was  expected  would  be  collected,  would  be  sufficient  to 
defray  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  county  for  that  year,  it  was 
therefore,  ordered  that  no  tax  under  the  act  entitled  "An  act 
regulating  county  levies"  be  levied  on  the  county  for  the  year, 
and  that  notice  thereof  be  given  to  the  listers  by  publication  in 
the  Miami  Herald. 

John  W.  Erwin,  for  many  years  a  prominent  and 
respected  citizen  of  Hamilton  was  born  in  New  Castle  county, 
in  the  State  of  Delaware,  on  September  8,  1808,  and  died  at 
Hamilton,  Ohio,  on  April  17,  1889. 

John  Wardell  Erwin,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  of 
Quaker  stock,  was  raised  as  such,  and  although  he  did  not 
remain  a  member  of  that  sect,  he  always  admired  and  loved  the 
members  of  that  religious  persuasion.     The  bare  facts  in  the 


304  Historical  Sketches. 

life  of  Mr.  Erwin  are  contained  in  the  "Biographical  Cyclopae- 
dia and  Portrait  Gallery  of  Distinguished  Men,  with  an 
Historical  Sketch  of  the  State  of  Ohio."  We  quote  from  it  as 
follows: 

"His  parents  and  grandparents  were  natives  of  New  Jersey  and  belonged 
to  the  Society  of  Friends.  In  the  summer  of  1828,  he  crossed  the  Allegheny 
mountains  on  foot,  and  stopped  at  Richmond,  Indiana,  where  having  pre- 
viously prepared  himself  for  the  profession,  he  received  and  filled  for  five 
years,  an  appointment  as  assistant  civil  engineer  on  the  eastern  division  of 
the  Cumberland,  or  national  road,  extending  from  Indianapolis  to  the  State 
line  east.  This  work  was,  for  most  of  this  time,  in  charge  of  Captain  Brew- 
erton  of  the  United  States  Engineer  corps.  In  the  wTinter  of  1835-36  he  was 
employed  to  locate  the  Hamilton,  Rossville,  Somerville,  Newcomb  and  Eaton 
turnpike,  which  was  the  first  public  work  of  the  kind  built  with  gravel,  west 
of  the  mountains.  Hon.  John  M.  Millikin  was  President,  and  Hon.  Lewis  D. 
Campbell.  Secretary  of  the  company.  In  1837-38,  Mr.  Erwin  located  the 
Dayton  and  Eaton;  the  Hamilton  and  Darrtown;  the  Venice  and  Scipio,  and 
the  Greenville  and  New  Paris  turnpikes,  all  in  Ohio.  The  hydraulic  work  at 
Hamilton,  Middletown,  Franklin  and  Troy,  were  also  located  by  him.  He 
likewise  located  the  hydraulic  works  at  Goshen,  at  Elkhart  and  at  Bristol  in 
Indiana,  and  superintended  their  construction,  all  of  which  are  in  successful 
operation.  He  both  located  and  built  by  contract,  the  hydraulic  works  at 
Constantine,  Michigan,  and  holds  a  considerable  interest  in  the  same. 

Since  1837,  Mr.  Erwin,  has,  a  greater  portion  of  the  time,  been  resident 
Engineer  on  the  Miami  and  Erie  canal,  extending  from  the  Ohio  river,  at 
Cincinnati  to  Toledo,  a  distance  of  nearly  three  hundred  miles;  and  he  is  now 
(1879)  in  charge  of  the  third  division  of  these  public  works. 

In  1839,  he  was  employed  by  the  state  to  superintend  the  reclaiming  of 
a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  southern  part  of  Butler  county,  known  as  the  "Big 
Pond,"  or  swamp,  which  land  is  now  the  finest  in  the  county.  He  has  been 
identified  with  nearly  all  the  public  works,  also  with  many  private  enter- 
prises of  the  city  of  Hamilton,  his  present  residence.  He  was  a  party  to  the 
erection  of  the  first  paper  mill  there,  in  1847-48,  that  property  being  now- 
owned  by  John  C.  Skinner  &  Co.  In  connection  with  his  father,  and  William 
Hunter,  he  built  the  first  flouring  mill  run  by  water  furnished  by  the 
hydraulic  company  at  Hamilton.  He  also  made  the  preliminary  surveys  for 
the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton;  the  Eaton  &  Richmond,  and  Richmond 
&  Chicago  railroads.  He  superintended  the  construction  of  the  hydraulic 
works  at  Middletown,  and  in  company  with  his  brothers,  erected  two  paper 
mills  at  that  place. 

In  connection  with  a  few  liberal  and  enterprising  citizens  of  Hamilton, 
he  aided  in  procuring  the  land  for  "Greenwood  Cemetery,"  now  one  of  the 
finest  north  of  Cincinnati. 

On  May  12,  1833,  he  married  Ann  Eliza  Chadwick,  a  native  of  New 
Jersey.  His  liberality  toward  all  charitable  institutions  has  been  marked, 
one  monument  of  which  is  found  in  the  edifice  of  the  Universalist  society  in 
Hamilton,  for  the  erection  of  which,  Mr.  Erwin  contributed  about  four-fifths 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  3  05 

of  the  funds.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  refined  sensibilities,  and  retiring  man- 
ners; a  Republican  in  politics,  and  adheres  to  the  religious  faith  of  his 
ancestors." 

Such  is  the  estimate  of  Mr.  Erwin  as  found  in  the  Bio- 
graphical Encyclopaedia.  In  the  early  "forties"  Mr.  Erwin 
was  admitted  into  the  ancient  and  honorable  fraternity  of  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  and  became  a  member  of  Washington 
lodge,  No.  17,  F.  and  A.  M.  Hamilton  Chapter,  No.  21,  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  Hamilton  Council,  No.  19,  Royal  and  Select 
Masters,  and  Cincinnati  Encampment,  No.  3,  (now  commandery) 
No.  3,  Knights  Templars.  He  was  well  versed  in  Masonic 
lore,  and  was  a  worthy  exponent  of  the  principles  of  the  ancient 
craft.  In  days  gone  by,  Mr.  Erwin  would  occasionally  give 
lectures  on  the  Masonic  Mysteries  to  his  brethern,  when  the 
Masonic  hall  was  located  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Dayton 
streets  not  far  from  his  home.  His  funeral  was  under  Knights 
Templars  auspices.  He  was  also  a  member  of  Harmony  lodge 
No.  14,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Butler  Encampment,  No.  7,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
of  this  city.  With  a  few  other  Odd  Fellows,  members  of  Old 
Harmony  lodge,  he  organized  Hamilton  lodge  No.  17,  and  was 
one  of  its  charter  members.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  order,  and  served  as  district  deputy  grandmaster 
and  as  one  of  the  officers  ot  the  Grand  lodge  of  Ohio. 

Mr.  Erwin  was  one  of  the  best  educated  men  in  this  section 
and  was  an  authority  on  the  history  of  the  western  country  and 
the  pioneer  traditions.  His  knowledge  in  regard  to  the  Indian 
races  of  North  America  was  most  extensive,  and  he  always  had 
a  great  sympathy  for  them,  feeling  that  they  had  been  griev- 
ously wronged  in  many  respects.  He  was  a  great  reader  and 
was  a  thorough  master  of  his  profession.  One  of  his  favorite 
studies  was  geology.  In  the  course  of  years  he  built  up  a 
splendid  library. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Erwin  and  his  good  wife  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  anniversary.  The  occasion  will  never  be  for- 
gotteu  by  those  who  attended.  Many  were  the  tokens  of  esteem 
presented  to  the  happy  old  couple  and  they  were  congratulated 

on  all  sides.     An  address  signed  by  the  members  of  the  oldest 

20 


306  Historical  Sketches. 

and  best  families  of  the  city,  was  read  by  Hon.  H.  L.  Morey, 
and  presented  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erwin.  Mr  Erwin's  father,  John 
Erwin,  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  Delaware, 
and  he  was  a  contemporary  of  the  Hon.  Henry  Clayton.  Mr. 
Erwin  was  always  attached  to  his  native  State  of  Delaware  and 
would  often  speak  of  the  old  city  of  Wilmington. 

John  W.  Erwin  was  an  ardent  Democrat  of  the  old  Jack- 
sonian  type,  up  to  the  time  of  the  Civil  War,  when  he  became 
what  was  then  known  as  a  War  Democrat.  He  was  one  of  the 
editors  of  "The  Free  Soil  Banner,"  a  paper  published  in 
Hamilton,  and  one  night  a  rope  with  a  hangman's  knot  in  it, 
was  hung  on  Mr.  Erwin's  front  door,  as  a  warning.  This  only 
served  to  increase  his  zeal,  and  he  was  known  throughout  this 
section  of  Ohio,  and  elsewhere  as  a  friend  of  the  colored  race. 
He  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  freeing  the  slaves,  and  con- 
demned the  traffic  in  human  flesh,  most  fearlessly.  When 
Fort  Sumter  was  first  fired  upon  no  one  denounced  that  act  of 
treason  more  than  he,  and  during  the  war  he  was  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  Union.  Uniting  with  the  Republican  party 
he  remained  in  that  party  until  his  death.  Mr.  Erwin  belonged 
to  the  "old  regime,"  and  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school. 
His  sympathies  were  with  the  common  people,  and  he  was  a 
true  friend  to  all  who  lived  uprightly.  No  man  in  Hamilton, 
was  more  respected  than  John  W.  Erwin.  He  died  as  he  had 
lived,  an  honest,  Christian  gentleman  with  a  high  sense  of  honor 
and  an  exalted  idea  of  his  duty  as  a  citizen.  His  purse  was 
ever  open  to  the  cry  of  the  need}',  and  he  often  relieved  the 
necessities  of  the  poor.  Plain,  simple,  even  severe  in  his  tastes, 
he  was  a  prince  among  his  equals.  His  "yea"  was  "yea"  and 
his  "nay"  "nay"  and  he  was  never,  in  the  course  of  a  long  and 
useful  life  known  to  break  his  word  when  once  given  to  another. 
Such  was  John  W.  Erwin,  and  his  life  was  indeed  an  example 
for  us  all  to  imitate. 

Of  his  union  with  Ann  Eliza  Chadwick,  five  children 
resulted,  Henry,  Charles,  Frank,  Lutie  and  Mary.  All  are 
dead,  including  Mr.  Erwin  and  his  wife,  but  they  are  remem- 
bered with  affection  by  all  who  knew  them.     Mrs.  Mary  Erwin 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  307 

Brandt  was  the  last  member  of  this  family  to  pass  to  the  great 
beyond,  and  her  son  Frank  Erwin  Brandt  who  is  still  living,  is 
the  sole  representative  and  heir. 

William  Dean  Howells  in  his  book,  "A  Boy's  Town," 
refers  to  a  visit  he  made  when  but  a  youth  to  the  Erwin  home. 
The  name  of  the  family  is  not  given,  but  Mr.  Howells  has 
since  stated  that  the  residence  mentioned  was  the  Erwin 
homestead.  It  seems  that  the  youthful  Howells  came  to 
spend  the  night  with  one  of  Mr.  Erwin's  sons,  but  grew  home- 
sick during  the  night  and  wanted  to  get  back  to  his  father's 
house.  Mr.  Erwin  arose,  lighted  a  lantern,  and  although  it 
was  late  at  night,  took  the  little  fellow  to  the  Howells  resi- 
dence. One  of  the  illustrations  in  "A  Boy's  Town,"  pictures 
a  man  leading  a  little  boy  through  the  darkened  streets  of  the 
town,  carrying  a  lantern  to  guide  them  on  their  way. 

Mr.  Erwin  was  a  most  hospitable  host,  and  entertained 
many  friends  at  his  home  on  North  Third  street.  He  was 
once  quite  wealthy,  but  met  with  some  reverses.  He  died 
however  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  moderate  income.  No  history 
of  Hamilton  or  of  Butler  county  would  be  complete  without  a 
reference  to  John  W.  Erwin.  The  world  was  the  better 
because  he  lived,  and  when  he  died  he  left  a  vacancy  which 
was  hard  to  fill.  With  the  members  of  his  immediate  family, 
he  sleeps  in  peaceful  Greenwood  cemetery.  He  needs  no 
epitaph  as  his  virtues  are  engraved  on  memory's  tablets,  and 
the  records  of  his  good  deeds  are  transcribed  in  the  Book  of 
L,ife,  which  is  read  and  approved  by  the  Almighty  God. 

John  W.  Sohn  was  born  in  Windsheim,  Germany,  May 
23,  1 815.  Mr.  Sohn's  parents  were  Wilhelm  Eudwig  Sohn 
and  Catherine  Daehner.  Without  being  possessed  of  wealth, 
they  were  able  to  give  their  children  good  educations.  There 
was  an  excellent  Eatin  school  and  gymnasium  in  Windsheim, 
and  until  the  lad  was  seventeen  years  of  age  he  steadily  attend- 
ed them,  making  good  progress.  His  father,  whose  trade  was 
that  of  a  brewer,  lived  in  the  city,  and  also  carried  on  a  vine- 
yard. At  seventeen  he  became  an  apprentice  to  his  father  as 
a   cooper  and  brewer,    and  served  two  years  diligently  at  his 


308  Historical  Sketches. 

trade,  but  when  nineteen  concluded  to  remove  to  America. 
Mr.  Sohn  embarked  for  our  shores,  at  Bremen,  in  1834,  land- 
ing at  Baltimore.  He  came  West  on  foot,  with  an  occasional 
ride  on  a  canal  boat.  In  Hamilton,  which  he  reached  in 
November,  1834,  he  finally  found  employment  at  chopping 
wood  at  twenty-five  cents  a  cord.  After  a  little  he  went  to 
work  in  a  brewery,  and  then  in  a  pork-house,  and  after  nearly 
a  year  went  to  Cincinnati,  working  as  a  brewer,  remaining 
there  three  years.  Returning  to  Hamilton  in  June,  1839,  he 
bought  a  small  brewery  with  the  savings  of  his  previous  labor. 
The  business  gradually  extended,  and  his  sales  became  larger, 
until  in  1846,  he  embarked  also  in  tanning.  This  enterprise 
assumed  extensive  proportions,  and  he  had  two  large  tanneries,' 
one  in  Hamilton,  and  one  in  Waverly,  Pike  county.  As  a 
convenience  to  those  who  dealt  with  him,  he  also  opened  a 
leather  findings  store.  His  brewery  did  a  large  business,  and 
he  was  also  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  malt 
for  other  brewers.  He  had  the  largest  vineyard  in  Butler 
county,  and  had  great  success  in  the  growing  of  native  wines. 
To  these  he  added  the  packing  of  pork,  and  was  interested 
with  his  son-in-law,  Captain  William  C.  Margedant,  in  the 
manufacture  of  the  Universal  Wood-working  Machine,  which 
is  of  decided  utility  in  the  manufacture  of  scroll  and  other 
kinds  of  wood-sawing  and  dressing.  He  was  also  a  farmer, 
having  a  great  deal  of  land  that  he  owned  and  had  cultivated 
under  his  own  instruction.  He  was  a  director  of  the  First 
National  bank. 

In  1840  he  was  married  to  Miss  Catherine  Rosenfeld,  a 
native  of  Saxony,  and  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Ernst 
Rosenfeld,  pastor  of  the  German  Luthern  and  Reformed 
Church  of  Hamilton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sohn  had  nine  children, 
three  sons  and  six  daughters.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for 
Martin  Van  Bureu,  and  he  adhered  to  the  Democratic  party  till 
the  war.  After  that  time  he  was  a  staunch  supporter  of  the 
unity  of  the  nation.  His  first  political  office  was  that  of  member 
of  the  city  council.  He  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  that 
introduced  the  union  school  system  in  Hamilton,  and  supported 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  309 

the  measure  with  all  his  ability.  In  1849  he  was  elected  county 
commissioner.  In  1872,  the  supporters  of  Horace  Greely 
nominated  Mr.  Sohn  for  the  position  of  member  of  congress, 
and  that  nomination  was  indorsed  by  the  Democracy,  although 
he  had  for  many  years  been  opposed  to  them.  Unfortunately, 
he  was  defeated. 

After  his  arrival  here  he  was  the  leading  German  citizen 
of  the  town.  Few  public  enterprises  were  begun  in  which  he 
did  not  taken  part,  and  of  nearly  all  those  in  which  the  Ger- 
mans were  concerned  was  the  originator.  He  was  instrumental 
in  organizing  the  first  Benevolent  society  of  his  countrymen  in 
Cincinnati,  in  1836,  which  is  still  in  existence.  For  many  years 
he  was  president  of  the  United  German  society,  which  did 
much  to  aid  and  improve  those  who  came  here  from  the  Rhine 
and  the  Danube. 

Dr.  W.  W.  Caldwell  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Cumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  November  1,  1812.  His  parents  were 
of  Scotch-Irish  extraction.  He  was  liberally  educated,  partly 
at  Dickinson  college  in  his  native  state.  In  1833  he  came  to 
Ohio  and  attended  Dane  seminary,  Cincinnati,  where  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  for  two  years.  In  1837  he  took  a  course  of 
lectures  at  the  Ohio  Medical  college,  having  previously  studied 
medicine  under  Dr.  Andrew  Campbell,  of  Middletown,  and  he 
graduated  with  honor  from  the  college  in  1840.  He  immedi- 
ately began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Monroe,  where  he 
remained  for  about  eighteen  years.  In  1858  he  left  a  lucrative 
practice  in  that  village  and  came  to  this  city  where  he  resided 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Sunday,  April  17, 
1892.  Dr.  Caldwell  was  married  in  1838,  to  Isabella  H.  Parks, 
of  Warren  county,  a  sister  of  the  late  Dr.  J.  M.  Parks.  Nine 
children  resulted  from  this  union,  seven  of  whom  survive.  In 
1865  he  was  elected  Councy  Commissioner  and  served  three 
years.  He  was  again  elected  in  1871,  serving  until  1874.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  of  which  body  he 
was  treasurer  for  several  years.  Politically,  he  was  a  Democrat 
and  was  most  ultra  in  his  views  and  sympathies  during  the 
Civil  War,  and  pronounced  in  his  opinions  for  the  South.     He 


3 10  Historical  Sketches. 

was  prominent  in  the  Masonic  circles  and  a  life  long  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  was  admitted,  January  4, 
1858,  to  membership  in  Washington  lodge  No.  17,  F.  and  A. 
M.  of  this  city;  was  Junior  Warden  of  the  lodge;  for  many 
years,  was  Thrice  Illustrious  Master  of  Hamilton  Council,  No. 
19,  Royal  and  Select  Masters;  was  one  of  the  first  members  of 
Cincinnati  Commandery  No.  3,  Knights  Templars.  He  was 
social,  affable  and  pleasant  in  all  his  relations,  and  stood  high 
as  an  official  and  practitioner  in  this  city. 

David  Marts  was  born  in  Madison  township,  Butler 
county,  June  15,  18 15.  His  parents  were  Abraham  Marts  and 
Mary  Reed,  who  moved  into  this  county  in  1808.  His  grand- 
father, David  Marts,  was  at  the  battle  of  Brandywine,  and 
Abraham,  his  father,  was  in  the  war  of  181 2.  The  latter 
moved  into  the  township  when  very  little  had  been  done 
toward  rescuing  it  from  the  primitive  condition  in  which  it 
was  first  known,  and  the  log  cabins  were  some  distance  apart. 

Mr.  Marts  has  been  three  times  married.  The  first  time 
was  to  Mary  Snyder.  The  second  was  to  Catherine  Snyder. 
The  third  wife  was  Elizabeth  Shott,  daughter  of  Daniel  Shott 
and  Sarah  Lingle.  By  these  unions  he  has  become  the  father 
of  eleven  children.  Mr.  Marts  has  been  township  treasurer 
twenty  years,  County  Commissioner  six  years.  In  1836  he  cast 
his  vote  for  Martin  VanBuren.  Since  he  became  of  age  Mr. 
Marts  has  been  a  candidate  for  office  himself  twenty-seven 
times,  and  has  been  elected  twenty-five  times  and  defeated 
twice.  For  twenty  years  he  served  as  treasurer  of  Madison 
township;  three  times  he  was  township  appraiser  and  twice  he 
has  filled  the  office  of  commissioner. 

In  a  recent  conversation  Mr.  Marts  stated  that  of  six 
hundred  who  voted  in  Madison  township,  in  1836  only  three  are 
left  there  today,  namely,  himself,  John  Weber  and  Robert 
Huffman. 

Samuel  M.  Long  was  born  April  14,  1820,  in  Lemon 
township,  and  was  the  son  of  Silas  and  Sarah  (Marshall)  Long. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  came  to  Ohio  in  the 
fifth  year  of  his  age,  living  in  Kentucky  before  coming  to  this 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  311 

state.  His  mother  was  born  in  this  county.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  dying  in  Lemon  township,  where  he  had  taken  up  a 
section  of  land,  on  October  27,  1S79,  aged  eighty-two.  Mr. 
Long  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  remained  at 
home  on  the  farm  until  he  was  twent)  -two  years  of  age.  He 
learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  in  Middle- 
town  for  two  years.  He  then  engaged  in  farming  in  1846, 
leasing  a  farm  in  Madison  township  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres.  He  dealt  in  stock,  grain,  horses,  etc.  In  1872  he  was 
elected  County  Commissioner,  and  reelected  in  1876,  serving 
altogether  six  years  with  credit. 

David  Sample  was  born  in  Reily  township,  Butler 
county,  January  17,  1828.  He  was  educated  in  district  schools. 
He  was  a  successful  farmer  and  business  man.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  from  1875  to 
1 88 1.  In  the  business  and  political  world  his  name  was  syn- 
onymous with  the  highest  principles  of  integrity.  Mr.  Sample 
was  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  He  died  December 
8,  1881.    . 

John  Weidenborner  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1828, 
where  he  received  a  good  business  education.  Afterward  he 
learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  and  came  to  America,  locating 
in  Hamilton,  where  he  opened  a  shop  for  himself  on  High 
street,  in  a  frame  building,  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  John 
C.  Schwartz's  drug  store.  Here  he  was  a  successful  merchant 
for  years.  Subsequently  he  concluded  to  establish  a  wholesale 
shoe  factory,  "and  tearing  down  the  old  structure,  erected  a 
handsome  three  story  building  and  thoroughly  equipped  it 
with  modern  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  shoes. 

A  force  of  sixty  operatives  were  employed  here;  solicitors 
were  sent  out  over  the  Western  and  Southern  states,  and  the 
volume  of  business  steadily  increased  each  year,  until  the 
panic  of  1872  financially  embarrassed  and  forced  him  to  sus- 
pend. In  1876,  Mr.  Weidenborner  was  elected  County  Com- 
missioner, and  re-elected  in  1879.  He  engaged  in  the  retail 
shoe  business  until  his  official  term  expired,  when  he  moved 
to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  where  he  died  April  21,  1892. 


3 12  Historical  Sketches. 

Thomas  Slade  was  born  in  Liberty  township,  Butlef 
county,  Ohio,  Januarys,  1824.  His  parents  came  to  Butler 
county  from  Maryland  in  181 8.  His  mother  was  a  sister  of 
Rev.  Arthur  Elliott,  the  noted  Methodist  divine,  and  a  sister  to 
Hon.  Daniel  W.  Voorhees,  United  States  Senator  from  Indiana. 
Mr.  Slade  moved  to  Fairfield  township,  in  1849.  He  was  mar- 
ried D3cember  18,  1845,  to  Rosana  Vinnedge;  and  five  children 
four  sons  and  one  daughter,  blessed  their  union.  Mr.  Slade 
was  a  self-made  man;  was  a  practical  and  successful  farmer, 
starting  in  life  with  comparatively  nothing,  he  died  the  pos- 
sesor  of  six  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Fairfield  township.  As  a 
man  and  citizen  he  was  always  first  in  every  work  for  the 
improvement  of  his  fellow-men.  He  was  strong  in  both 
church  and  state,  and  contributed  liberally  to  erect  and  main- 
tain churches  of  every  denomination  in  Butler  county;  donating 
eight  hundred  dollars  for  the  erection  of  the  church  and 
parsonage  at  Jones',  which  church  he  attended.  He  filled 
many  positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  his  township  and  county, 
with  credit  to  himself  and  honor  to  his  fellow-citizens.  For 
sixteen  years  he  was  trustee  of  Fairfield  township,  and  for 
many  years  a  school  director  and  supervisor  at  the  same 
time. 

He  was  a  man  of  strong  convictions  and  firm  will,  and 
having  once  made  up  his  mind  to  the  proper  course  to  pursue, 
nothing  could  swerve  him  from  it.  He  was  elected,County 
Commissioner  in  1879  and  re-elected  in  1882,  serving  the 
county  six  years,  during  which  time  many  improvements  of  a 
lasting  character,  involving  a  great  outlay  of  money,  were 
made;  among  them  our  present  court  house.  The  same  may 
be  said  for  the  county  infirmary,  which  was  planned  and  con- 
structed under  his  administration.  Mr.  Slade  was  regarded  as 
the  "Strong  man,"  the  leader  of  the  Board,  during  the  stormy 
period  attending  the  employment  of  the  architect,  adoption  of 
plans  and  settlement  of  other  questions  growing  out  of  the 
construction  of  these  buildings.  These  are  his  monuments;  his 
descendants  may  well  be  proud  of  them  and  his  achievements 
in  connection  with  them. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  3l3 

Like  all  men  of  strong  will  and  in  power,  he  had  his 
detractors  and  enemies,  persons  whose  schemes  he  had  frus- 
trated and  selfishness  exposed.  He  lived  to  see  his  vindication; 
to  see  all  differences  obliterated  and  an  honest,  right-thinking, 
sober  second-thought  public  opinion  prevail.  Mr.  Slade  died 
April  20,   1891. 

Eli  Long  was  born  in  Madison  township,  this  county,  in 
1838.  In  his  boyhood  days  he  attended  district  schools  and 
followed  farming.  He  was  elected  County  Commissioner  in 
1881,  and  was  re-elected  in  1884.  He  served  during  the  con- 
struction of  the  new  court  house.  After  retiring  from  office, 
he  moved  to  Middletown  and  engaged  in  brick  making.  Mr. 
I^ong  is  a  gentleman  of  thorough  business  training,  in  all  its 
details,  and  in  the  management  of  the  county's  affairs  employed 
sagacious  methods. 

A.  G.  McKkon  was  born  in  Elizabethtown,  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania,  September  6,  1832.  He  received  a 
common  school  education  in  his  native  town.  He  came  West 
and  located  in  Butler  county  in  1848,  and  has  followed  farming 
ever  since  in  Hanover  and  Ross  townships.  He  was  County 
Commissioner  from  1882  to  1887,  during  the  building  of  the 
new  court  house.  He  is  a  representative  citizen,  is  always 
prompt  and  reliable  in  every  respect,  is  a  courteous  and  pleas- 
ant gentleman. 

William  Murphy  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana, 
September  20,  1838.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  entered 
Miami  University,  at  Oxford,  during  President  John  W.  Hall's 
administration,  where  he  remained  for  four  years.  After  leav- 
ing the  university  he  entered  upon  a  business  career  with  his 
father.  Subsequently  he  moved  to  Oxford  and  engaged  in  the 
grain  trade  until  1865,  when  he  came  to  Hamilton  and  formed 
a  partnership  with  Jacob  Shaffer  in  the  milling  business.  In 
1869,  the  mills  burned  and  Messrs.  Murphy  &  Shaffer  pur- 
chased the  West  Hamilton  Mills,  where  they  continued  in 
business  until  1876,  when  Mr.  Murphy  sold  out  to  Jacob 
Shaffer.       Afterward    William  Murphy  formed  a  partnership 


3 1 4  Historical  Sketches. 

with  John  Sortman,  and  rebuilt  and  operated  the  Hamilton 
City  Mills,  until  18S0.  Mr.  Murphy  then  withdrew  and  leased 
the  Hydraulic  Mills,  at  the  west  end  of  High  street,  which  he 
conducted  until  1883.  In  addition  to  his  other  enterprises, 
Mr.  Murphy  owned  and  controlled  the  West  Hamilton 
hydraulic  water  power  for  ten  years.  In  1876  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  city  council  from  the  First  ward,  serving 
three  terms.  While  a  member  of  this  body  he  introduced  the 
resolution  ordering  the  fire  bells  to  be  rung  at  six  o'clock  a.m., 
twelve  m.,  and  at  six  p.  m.,  thereby  giving  our  citizens  the 
benefit  of  standard  time.  In  1882,  in  connection  with  F.  B. 
Thompson,  S.  D.  Cone  and  H.  A.  Dilg  he  organized  the  Dr. 
Temple  Medicine  Co.,  of  Hamilton  and  Cincinnati.  The 
medicines  compounded  are  Dr.  Temple's  famous  Asthma 
Specific,  and  Hops  and  Boneset.  In  the  fall  1886  he  was 
elected  County  Commissioner,  and  served  two  terms  of  three 
years  each.  In  1894,  on  the  county  democratic  central  com- 
mittee's recommendation,  he  was  appointed  by  the  governor 
of  Ohio  as  a  member  of  the  county  board  of  deputy  State  super- 
visors of  elections,  a  position  he  still  holds.  Politically,  Mr. 
Murphy  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  Democratic 
party.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor, 
Knights  and  Dadies  of  Honor,  and  the  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Murphy  was  married  twice,  his  first  wife  being  Miss 
Dorinda  Bake,  of  Contreras,  Ohio,  the  marriage  occurring  on 
December  22,  1864.  She  died  the  following  year  from  the 
effects  of  a  burn  by  coal  oil.  He  married  his  present  wife, 
Mrs.  Eliza  Smalley,  widow  of  Isaac  Smalley,  on  February  9, 
1863.  In  whatever  official  capacity  we  find  him,  he  works  for 
the  best  interest  of  the  public.  His  practical  experience  and 
progressive  and  reliable  business  methods  have  been  prominent 
factors  in  the  success  which  has  attended  his  efforts. 

M.  B.  Hatch,  one  of  Middletown's  representative  bnsiness 
men  was  elected  County  Commissioner  in  1887.  The  Butler 
County  Democrat  bolted  the  regular  party  nominee,  Fred.  Engle 
and  helped  elect  Mr.  Hatch,  who  was  the  first  Republican  to 
occupy  this  important  office.     Mr.  Hatch,  as  Commissioner, 


JOHN  W.  ERWIN 


..  $~j 


MARTIN  MCLAUGHLIN 


hamilton  and  its  Residents.  3 1 5 

was  a  thorough,  practical  business  man  and  commended  himself 
to  the  favor  of  the  citizens  of  the  county. 

Frederick  Berk  was  born  January  22,  1827,  in  Lauter- 
bach,  Hesse  Darmstadt,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1852  at  the 
age  of  twenty-five  years.  He  lived  in  Middletown  for  a  short 
time,  resided  for  thirty-one  years  in  Seven  Mile  and  the  last 
eight  years  of  his  life  in  Fairfield  township.  In  June,  1854,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Katherine  Maria  Schoenhals  who 
died  twenty-five  years  ago  leaving  six  children.  One  year  later 
he  married  Katherine  Elizabeth  Schul,  the  union  being  a 
happy  one.  The  family  united  with  the  Evangelical  Protes- 
tant St.  John's  church  a  number  of  years  ago  and  all  have  been 
faithful  members.  Twice  Mr.  Berk  was  honored  with  the 
responsible  office  of  County  Commissioner.  Mr.  Berk  was 
stricken  with  paralysis  Saturday,  October  3,  1896,  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning  and  died  Friday,  October  9,  at  noon, 
aged  sixty-nine  years  eight  months  and  eleven  days. 

Charles  Beck,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Venice,  in  this  county, 
June  8,  1845,  He  attended  the  common  schools  in  the  coun- 
try, and  afterward  in  Hamilton.  He  began  at  fourteen  to 
learn  the  shoemaker's  trade  with  his  father,  and  was  at  this 
for  eight  years.  He  then  began  clerking  in  his  father's  store, 
and  afterward  attended  the  business  college  in  this  place.  In 
1869,  he  began  business  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade,  which  he 
continued  till  1879.  He  has  been  trustee  of  his  ward,  and 
overseer  of  the  poor.  In  1876,  he  was  elected  infirmary  direc- 
tor for  the  county,  and  again  in  1879,  acting  as  clerk  of  the 
board.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  belief,  and  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church.  He  was  married  September  14,  1869,  to 
Catherine  Tabler.  Mr.  Beck  was  County  Commissioner  from 
1890  to  1893. 

Daniel  M.  Sheley  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in  Fairfield 
township,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  December  14,  1835.  His  boy- 
hood days  were  passed  on  a  farm,  and  here  he  was  raised, 
obtaining  an  education  in  the  country  schools,  which  was  after- 
ward completed  with  a  course  at  the  Hamilton  Business  col- 


3 16  Historical  Sketches. 

lege.  He  was  elected,  without  opposition,  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Fairfield  township,  serving  for  three  years* 
and  Treasurer  of  his  native  township,  for  the  same  period,  and 
a  member  of  the  School  Board  for  twenty  years.  He  was 
employed  in  the  United  States  revenue  service  under  Collec- 
tors Knecht  and  Bishop.  Mr.  Sheley  has  faithfully  and  well 
discharged  the  duties  of  County  Commissioner.  He  has 
always  been  found  ready  and  willing  for  any  improvement 
when  the  people  were  to  be  benefitted.  He  conducts  farming 
interests,  and  has  always  been  a  friend  to  the  tillers  of  the  soil. 
Politically,  Mr.  Sheley  is  an  ardent  Democrat,  of  the  Jefferson- 
ian  school.  He  is  appreciated  for  his  many  excellent  qualities; 
is  a  quiet,  unassuming  gentleman,  a  deep  thinker,  a  conserva- 
tive official,  and  a  pleasant  conversationalist.  He  has  been 
identified  with  the  best  interests  of  his  native  county;  has 
aided  its  onward  and  upward  course  to  the  best  of  his  ability 
and  means.  He  has  won  for  himself  by  his  assiduity  and 
integrity  the  reputation  of  an  honorable  and  painstaking 
County  Commissioner. 

Michael  ZoLEER  was  born  in  Berlin,  Canada,  September 
ii,  1847.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town. 
In  1863,  he  came  to  Hamilton  and  shortly  afterward  engaged 
in  a  daily  meat  market  with  Chris.  Stillwaugh,  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Main  and  B  streets.  In  1877,  he  was  appointed 
a  member  of  the  city  police  force.  He  served  as  patrolman  for 
ten  and  a  half  years  under  Mayors  Hughes,  Egry,  Puthoff,  and 
Sanders.  After  retiring  from  the  police  force  he  engaged  in 
the  hotel  business,  at  which  he  has  been  very  successful.  In 
March,  1892,  he  was  nominated  for  County  Commissioner  by 
the  Democracy  of  Butler  county,  and  was  elected  in  the  follow- 
ing November  for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  took  his  seat  in 
January  1893.  In  August,  1895,  ne  was  re-nominated  and  in 
November  1895  was  re-elected.  His  term  as  Commissioner 
will  expire  September,  1899.  By  strict  attention  to  business 
and  honorable  methods  Mr.  Zoller  has  accumulated  consider- 
able property  in  Hamilton.  He  also  ownes  the  Moore  Vinnedge 
farm  in  Fairfield  township.      In  187,  Mr.  Zoller  was  united  in 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  317 

marriage  to  Miss  Barbara  Neiderman,  of  St.  Clair  township. 
Six  children  have  resulted  from  this  union.  In  a  social  way, 
Mr.  Zoller  is  a  member  of  Hamilton  lodge  No.  93,  B.  P.  O.  E. 
of  Wilhelm  lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  of  Hamilton  lodge,  Knights 
of  Honor.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  the  highest  personal  integrity, 
as  well  as  a  man  of  energy,  sagacity  and  excellent  business 
ability,  and  fully  merits  the  success  he  has  attained.' 

Martin  McLaughlin  was  born  in  the  county  of  Sligo, 
Ireland,  May  26,  1841.  On  May  3,  1859,  he  sailed  from  Liver- 
pool, England,  for  the  United  States,  landing  in  New  York 
City  one  month  later.  He  immediately  came  West,  locating 
in  Lemon  township,  Butler  county.  At  the  out  break  of  the 
Civil  War,  Mr.  McLaughlin  was  one  of  the  first  to  enlist  and 
for  three  years  he  served  in  the  Eleventh  Ohio  battery.  He 
was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Confederates  and  confined  for  ten 
months  in  the  stockades  at  Tyler,  Texas.  Upon  being 
exchanged  he  returned  to  his  battery,  and,  in  April,  1865,  was 
honorably  discharged.  His  record  was  that  of  a  good  soldier. 
On  his  return  to  Butler  county  he  engaged  for  a  time  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  eventually  became  a  public  contractor. 
He  also  conducted  saw  mills  in  various  localities  in  this  county 
and  from  a  small  beginning  grew  prosperous.  He  was  elected 
trustee  of  Lemon  township  for  seven  consecutive  years,  per- 
forming his  duties  with  ability  and  fidelity  to  the  public  inter- 
est. In  1893,  he  was  nominated  and  elected  to  the  office  of 
County  Commissioner;  was  re-elected  in  1896.  In  September, 
1897,  he  enters  upon  his  second  term.  He  is  a  man  of  excel- 
lent natural  business  qualifications,  and  as  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners, carries  on  the  public  business  upon  accurate  and  hon- 
orable methods,  which  commends  him  to  the  favor  and  confi- 
dence of  the  public.  His  career  is  an  object  lesson  as  it  proves 
conclusively  that  one  can  rise  from  the  humblest  walks  of  life 
to  a  position  of  trust  and  honor. 

COUNTY  RECORDERS. 

From  1803  until  1829,  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
appointed  Recorders.     John  Reily  served  from  1803  to  181 1, 


3 1 8  Historical  Sketches. 

when  he  resigned.  The  first  deed  was  recorded  August  25, 
1803.  Under  appointment  James  Heaton  was  recorder  from 
181 1  to  1820;  Isaac  Hawley,  1820  to  1821;  Charles  K.Smith, 
1 82 1.  The  Legislature  of  Ohio,  by  an  act  passed  February  n, 
1829,  provided  for  the  election  of  County  Recorders.  The 
following  persons  have  been  elected  to  that  office: 

Charles  K.  Smith 1835-  William  Russell 1863-1869 

William  S.  Ignersoll 1835-  Samuel  Davis 1869-1875 

Isaac  T.  Saunders 1835-1841  Peter  Bender 1875-1878 

Israel  Gregg- 1841-1844  Alexander  Getz 1878-1884 

James  George 1S44-1S47  Henry  C.  Gray 1884-1887 

John  H.  Gordon 1847-1853  Robert  M.  Elliott 1887-1890 

Henry  H.  Wallace 1853-1859  Henry  C.  Gray 1890-1896 

John  H.  Gordon    1859-1863  William  J.  Becker  1896- 

Charles  K.  Smith.     [See  County  Treasurers.] 

Isaac  T.  Saunders  was  born  in  Hamilton  in  1808;  was  a 
prominent  business  man  in  this  city  for  years.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  in  1851-52,  and  was  elected 
president  of  the  Board.  He  took  great  interest  in  the  educa- 
tional affairs  of  the  city. 

James  George  was  born  in  Rossville  in  1827;  received 
a  liberal  education ;  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  resided  on  the  Heights  in  the  old  brick  house  that 
occupied  the  site  of  the  now  J.  P.  Davis  property.  He  was  a 
captain  in  the  Mexican  War.  At  the  battle  of  Monterey  he 
was  wounded,  after  which  he  resigned  and  returned  home.  In 
the  early  fifties  he  moved  to  the  territory  of  Minnesota.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  he  recruited  and  organized 
the  Second  Minnesota  at  Fort  Snelling  for  the  Western  army, 
and  was  commissioned  colonel.  The  Second  Minnesota  was 
one  of  the  best  regiments  in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland.  It 
never  failed  in  its  duty.  It  bore  an  important  part  in  the  battle 
of  Chickamauga.  On  the  first  day  it  held  the  extreme  left  of 
the  Union  forces,  performed  lively  work  to  prevent  being  out 
flanked,  and  was  compelled  to  change  front  quite  frequently. 
On  the  second  day  it  held  an  important  place  on  the  front  line 
in  the  fight  near  the  Kelly  house,  and  when  the  Thirty-fifth 
and  Ninth  Ohio  were  ordered  to  charge  the  Confederates  over 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  3 19 

the  first  line,  that  line  followed  to  a  man  and  assisted  in  with- 
drawing the  lines  from  a  critical  position. 

John  H.  Gordon  was  born  in  Fairfield  township  and  receiv- 
ed a  good  business  education.  Early  in  life  he  lost  his  left  arm 
He  was  elected  Recorder  in  1847,  and  re-elected  in  1850. 
After  an  interim  of  six  years  he  was  again  elected  Recorder, 
serving  from  1859  to  1863. 

Henry  H.  Wallace.      [See  Auditors  of  Butler  County.] 
William  Russell.       [See  Treasurers  of  Butler  County.] 

Samuel  Davis  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania, 
May  24,  18 15.  He  came  West  in  1836,  locating  in  Butler 
county.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  and  followed  it  up 
to  the  time  of  his  election  as  Recorder  in  1869.  After 
retiring  from  office  he  moved  to  Mixerville,  Indiana,  where  he 
still  resides,  following  his  trade. 

Peter  Bender  was  born  in  Prussia,  in  1845.  He  is  the 
son  of  F.  W.  and  Catherine  (Diehl)  Bender,  who  came  to 
America  in  1853.  Peter  Bender  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Hamilton  He  entered  Peter  Jacob's  drug  store  in 
1 86 1,  where  he  remained  until  1867,  at  which  time  he  pur- 
chased Dr.  John  McFlwee's  interest  in  the  Opera  house  drug 
store.  The  business  was  carried  on  under  the  firm  name  of 
Bruck  &  Bender.  In  1884,  Mr.  Bender  was  nominated  by  the 
Republican  party  for  Recorder  and  was  triumphantly  elected. 
His  record  as  an  official  was  a  creditable  one.  In  1878,  he 
resumed  his  professional  duties  in  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  A. 
Myers  &  Co. ,  where  he  remained  for  a  year.  Afterward  he 
entered  the  well  and  favorably  known,  The  J.  F.  Bender  & 
Bros.  Co.,  general  contractors  and  builders.  Mr.  Bender  is 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  this  flourishing  establishment.  As 
a  pharmacist  and  public  servant  he  ranked  high;  as  a  business 
man  he  is  safe  and  conservative. 

Alexander  Getz.     [See  Mayors  of  Hamilton.] 

Henry  C.  Gray  was  born  in  Reily,  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
in  1843.  He  attended  school  in  his  native  village  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  old.     Afterward  he  entered  White  Water  College. 


320  Historical  Sketches. 

in  Indiana,  which  institution  he  attended  for  one  year.  Later 
he  entered  his  father's  general  merchandise  store  in  Reily, 
where  he  remained  until  May  io,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Captain  Rind.  Eawder's  company  for  three  months,  and  was 
assigned  to  the  Eighty-third  regiment  O.  V.  I.  He  was  honor- 
ably discharged  at  the  expiration  of  his  service.  In  1864,  he 
recruited  a  company  for  Colonel  Thomas  Moore's  regiment, 
the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  O.  V.  I.,  and  was  elected 
lieutenant  of  the  same.  This  regiment  was  stationed  at 
Charleston,  Loup  Creek,  Gauley  Bridge,  and  Fayetteville,  West 
Virginia.  After  his  service  in  war,  Mr.  Gray  re-engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  in  Reily  where  he  remained  until  the 
fall  of  1869  when  he  removed  to  Hamilton.  In  May,  1868, 
Mr.  Gray  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jennie  E.  Dick. 
Mr.  Gray  is  one  of  the  most  widely  acquainted  men  in  Butler 
county,  knowing  personally  almost  every  man  in  the  county. 
In  October  1890,  he  was  etected  County  Recorder  for  a  term 
of  three  years.  He  was  re-elected  in  1893  and  served  until 
September  7,  1896,  when  William  J.  Becker  succeeded  him. 
Mr.  Gray  was  an  energetic,  efficient  and  talented  official.  He 
is  ambitious  to  excel  in  all  his  undertakings.  In  sickness  and 
distress  he  is.  liberal  to  a  fault.  This  trait  of  character  has 
made  him  deservedly  popular  with  the  people.  Socially  Mr. 
Gray  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen. 

Robert  M.  Elliott  was  born  in  Hamilton,  May  14,  1856. 
He  is  the  son  of  William  A.  and  Elizabeth  (Millikin)  Elliott.  He 
attended  school  here  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  went  to  the 
home  farm  north  of  Hamilton  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
twenty-six  years  of  age.  Returning  to  this  city  he  took  a  posi- 
tion in  the  office  of  James  E.  Campbell  which  he  filled  for  a 
year  and  a  half.  Following  this  he  received  the  Republican 
nomination  for  County  Recorder  and  was  triumphantly  elected 
in  spite  of  the  immense  Democratic  majority  he  had  to  over- 
come. His  election  attests  his  popularity  and  the  general 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held.  He  served  three  years  as  Recorder 
and  left  the  office  with  a  splendid  record.       His  conduct  of  the 


ROBERT  M.  ELLIOTT 


-*f 


4,4 


HENRY  C.  GRAY 


WILLIAM  J.  BECKER 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  321 

important  affairs  of  this  office  was  entirely  above  criticism. 
After  retiring  from  the  Recorder's  office  he  was  appointed 
Assistant  Postmaster  to  Daniel  H.  Hensley,  filling  this  place 
for  a  year  and  a  half,  when  he  resigned,  in  order  to  enter  the 
hardware  business.  With  Robert  Kennedy,  he  purchased  the 
hardware  establishment  ot  George  E.  Seidel,  the  new  firm 
being  known  as  Elliott  &  Kennedy.  Two  years  ago  Mr.  Elliott 
purchased  Mr.  Kennedy's  interest  and  ever  since  that  time  has 
been  in  business  for  himself.  He  was  an  efficient  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education  for  two  years,  serving  during  1894-95, 
and  was  treasurer  of  this  body.  In  politics,  Mr.  Elliott  is  an 
enthusiastic  Republican  and  a  faithful  party  worker.  Socially, 
Mr.  Elliott  is  a  member  of  all  the  Hamilton  Masonic  bodies 
including  Hamilton  Commandery  No.  41,  Knights  Tem- 
plars, in  which  body  he  has  held  important  offices.  He 
is  a  member  of  Trinity  Episcopal  church,  and  has  been  honored 
with  a  place  on  the  church  vestry.  In  December,  1884,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Ella  Brant.  Of  this  union  one  child,  a  son, 
Brant  Elliott  resulted.  Mr.  Elliott  may  justly  be  considered  as 
thoroughly  identified  with  the  best  interests  of  Hamilton.  As  a 
business  man  and  citizen  he  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  him. 

William  J.  Becker  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  January  26, 
1867.  He  is  the  son  of  Peter  C.  and  Anna  Becker.  He  was 
educated  in  the  parochical  schools  of  this  city,  and  was  con- 
firmed at  St.  Stephen's  Catholic  church.  He  was  a  cash  boy 
in  T.  V.  Howell  &  Son's  store;  clerked  for  Henry  Frechtliug 
&  Son,  Charles  Grebner  and  A.  Winter.  In  all  these  positions 
he  held  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  employers.  In  1890, 
he  was  appointed  Deputy  Recorder  to  Henry  C.  Gray,  serving 
six  years  and  two  months.  In  August,  1895,  he  was  nomi- 
nated for  Recorder,  and  elected  in  November  of  that  year. 
He  assumed  the  duties  of  office  September  7,  1896.  His  long 
experience  as  deputy  fully  qualifies  him  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  this  important  office.  From  the  start  he  became  a 
prime  favorite  with  those  having  business  to  transact  at  the 
recorders  office.     His  accommodating  spirit  and  pleasant  and 


322 


Historical  Sketches. 


genial  manners  have  always  distinguished  him.  Politically 
Mr.  Becker  is  an  ardent  Democrat.  During  the  campaign  of 
1876,  he  organized  the  Hancock  Club,  composed  of  young 
Democrats  of  the  First  ward,  and  in  1887,  organized  the 
Campbell  Club.  Mr.  Becker  is  a  young  man  of  business 
experience,  capacity  and  ability,  with  whom  it  is  always  a 
pleasure  to  deal.  He  is  greatly  respected  for  his  industry  and 
integrity. 


BUSINESS  AND  PROFESSIONAL  MEN  OF  182O. 


Rev.  James  Mcviechan,  Presbyterian 
Rev.  Matthew  J.  Wallace,     "       " 
Rev.  Francis  vi  onfort,  "      " 

Rev.  Alexander  Proudfit,      " 
David  K.  Este,  Lawyer. 
Joseph  Benham,  Lawyer. 
Dan  Millikin,  Doctor. 
Jacob  Lewis,  Doctor. 
John  C.  Dunlevy,  Doctor. 
R.  B.  viiliikm,  Doctor. 
Joseph  Greenleaf,  Doctor. 
Laomi  Rigdon,  Doctor. 
John  Reily,  Postmaster. 
Joseph  Hough,      erchant. 
John  Sutherland,  Merchant. 
William  Smith,  Merchant. 
Orin  F.  Smith,  Grocer. 
Silas  Smith,  Grocer. 
William  Blair,  Merchant. 
Thomas  Blair,  Hotel  keeper. 
John  Gordon,  Merchant. 
Henry  S.  Earhart,  Merchant. 
George  W.  Tapscott,  Merchant. 
Daniel  Seward,  Inn  keeper. 
John  P.  Torrence,  Inn  keeper. 
William  Murray,  Inn  keeper. 
Pierson  Sayre,  Inn  keeper  and  Cap- 
tain Miami  Guards. 
William  Hubbard  Inn  keeper. 
David  Latham,  Inn  keeper. 
Moses  Turner,  Distiller. 
John  F.  Jackson,  Distiller. 
Benjamin  Persales,  Hatter. 
Thomas  Virgin,  Baker. 
John  Blackall,  Baker. 
Paxton  &  Wallace,  Jewelers. 


John  B.  Crain,  Mason. 
Norris  Crain,   Mason. 
John  and  Alex.  Hunter,  Jewelers. 
William  Moore,  Carpenter. 
William  Houghman,  Cabinet  maker. 
John  Richart,  Carpenter. 
John  L-  Garrison,  Tailor. 
James  Boal,  Hatter. 
Simon  Ramsey,  Revolutionary  Sol- 
dier. 
Daniel   Hill,   Revolutionary  Soldier- 
James  F.   Morton,  Boots  and   Shoes. 
Edward  Harlan,  Wheelwright. 
David  Emerick,  Wheelwright. 
Jesse  Gaudy,  Blacksmith. 
Jacob  Crain,  Mason. 
Thomas  Kenworth,  Tailor. 
William  B.  Van  Hook,  Carpenter. 
John  Keyte,  Carpenter. 
Daniel  Keyte,  Carpenter. 
Barney  McCarrin,  Weaver. 
Joel  Kennedy,  Mason. 
Charles  Howard,  Carpenter. 
Jame*  Jones,  Tanner. 
John  Caldwell,  Tanner. 
Andrew  Jewel,  Wheelwright. 
Hugh  Wilson,  Wheelwright. 
Hugh  Hawthorne,  Cabinet  maker. 
William  Riddle,  Sadler. 
Zebidee  Colby,  Printer. 
William  Keene,  Printer. 
John  L.  Murray,  Printer. 
James  B.  Cameron,  Printer. 
Ephriam  Catterlin,  Cooper. 
Samuel  Gray,  Carpenter. 
Isaac  White,  Gunsmith. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents. 


323 


John  Ritchey,  Teacher. 
Joseph  Rogers,  Teacher. 
John  Rogers,  Teacher. 
Benjamin  Pardee,  Teacher. 
James  Heaton,  Squire. 
Ezekiel  McConnel,  Constable. 
Isaac  Stanly,  Magistrate. 
Jacob  Reidman,  Brewer. 
George  Grim,  Boots  and  Shoes. 
George  P.  Bell,  Boots  and  Shoes. 
Robert  Martin,  Sadler. 
Samuel  McClure,  Cabinet  maker. 


John  Jenkins,  Blacksmith. 

James  Young,  Tanner. 

J.  Watkins,  Wheelwright. 

Moses  Turner,  Distiller. 

Joseph  Snyder,  Painter. 

William  Hutchinson,  Carpenter. 

Absalom    Goodenough,    Boots    and 

Shoes. 
Samuel  Bayless,  Boots  and  Shoes. 
Joseph  Lashhorn,  Carpenter. 
Casper  Jones,  Wheelwright. 
James  Bradley,  Blacksmith. 


HAMILTON  S  SEMI-CENTENNIAL. 

On  August  23,  1835,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Hamilton  to 
take  steps  toward  celebrating  September  30,  following,  to 
commemorate  the  completion  and  name  of  Fort  Hamilton,  on 
September  30,  1791.  Jesse  Corwin  was  chosen  chairman,  and 
William  B.  VanHook,  secretary.  John  73.  Weller  stated  the 
object  of  the  meeting.  L,.  D.  Campbell  offered  a  set  of  resolu- 
tions which  were  unanimously  adopted;  setting  forth  the 
gratitude  justly  due  the  brave  warriors  and  hardy  pioneers  of 
this  country;  the  importance  of  keeping  alive  the  interesting 
incidents  connected  with  the  country's  settlement,  and  recog- 
nizing the  happy  condition  secured  thereby.  The  following 
committee  was  appointed  by  Chairman  Corwin  to  make 
arrangements  for  the  celebration:  Henry  S.  Earheart,  Ezekiel 
Walker,  James  Rossman,  Joseph  Lee,  L,.  D.  Campbell,  William 
B.  Van  Hook,  John  B.  Weller,  William  Bebb  and  Samuel 
Johnson.  The  committee  made  the  following  appointments: 
William  Taylor,  president  of  the  day;  C.  K.  Smith,  first  vice- 
president;  Jessie  Corwin,  second  vice-president;  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Morrow,  chaplain;  William  Bebb,  orator;  Dr.  S.  Walker,  mar- 
shal; and  William  C.  Woods,  assistant  marshal.  L,.  D.  Camp- 
bell was  appointed  to  write  a  poem.  The  Hamilton  and 
Rossville  Harmonic  Society  furnished  music  for  the  occasion. 
At  dawn  of  day,  September  30,  1835,  a  federal  salute  was  fired 
on  the  ground  where  Fort  Hamilton  once  stood.  At  11  a.  m., 
the  procession  was  formed  on  High  street,  in  front  of  the 
Hamilton   House,  composed  of  the  venerable  pioneers,  distin- 


324  Historical  Sketches. 

guished  guests  and  citizens,  and  marched  to  the  Methodist 
church,  where  the  ceremonies  were  commenced.  Rev.  Dr. 
Latta  offered  prayer;  William  Bebb  delivered  an  oration;  L.  D. 
Campbell  read  an  original  poem.  The  procession  was  then 
re-formed  and  marched  to  the  site  of  the  old  fort,  where 
General  William  H.  Harrison  delivered  an  address.  Follow- 
ing, the  assembly  was  conducted  to  the  Court  house  park, 
where  an  excellent  repast  was  served  by  Captain  Jonn  C. 
Skinner.  William  Taylor  presided,  assisted  by  Jesse  Corwin 
and  C.  K.  Smith.  The  cloth  being  removed,  toasts  were  drank 
to  General  Arthur  St.  Clair,  the  builder  of  Fort  Hamilton; 
General  Harman  and  General  Wayne;  the  survivers  of  Wayne's 
Army;  the  early  settlers  of  Ohio;  Alexander  Hamilton;  the 
Buckeye  state;  the  Ohio  and  Miami  Canal;  the  Literary  Insti- 
tutions of  Ohio;  the  Federal  Union;  the  Army  and  Navy;  the 
President,  Vice-President  and  Heads  of  National  Departments; 
and  the  Ladies.  Letters  of  regret  were  received  from  John 
McLean,  Richard  M.  Johnson,  Thomas  Ewing,  John  Johnson, 
Thomas  Corwin,  George  J.  Smith,  Jacob  Burnett,  Joseph  S. 
Benham,  Doctor  Drake,  and  Judge  Hall.  Sentiments  were 
offered  in  their  behalf  and  to  the  guests  present,  General 
William  H.  Harrison,  Judge  Dunlevy,  Robert  T.  Lytle,  John 
M.  Creed,  Morgan  Neville,  Peyton  S.  Symmes,  and  Nicholas 
Longworth,  who  each  responded,  and  to  John  Reily  and  the 
memory  of  General  Richard  Butler,  in  whose  honor  the  county 
was  named.  Thus  was  celebrated  the  semi-centennial  of 
Hamilton.     Governor  William  Bebb  in  his  oration  said: 

"What  imagination  shall  now  dare  set  bounds  to  the  resources  of  this 
great  valley,  as  it  shall  appear  to  our  children,  when  fifty-six  years  hence 
they  assemble  on  this  spot  to  celebrate  the  first  centennial  anniversary  of  the 
completion  of  Fort  Hamilton?" 

TERMS  OF  ANNEXATION  OF  ROSSVILLE  TO   HAMILTON. 

The  consolidated  corporation  shall  be  known  by  the  name  of  Hamilton, 
and  shall  include  all  the  territory  now  forming  the  two  corporations. 

The  existing  debts  of  each  corporation  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  assets, 
funds  and  property  of  the  respective  corporations,  and  all  the  balance  of  the 
funds  of  each  corporation  shall  be  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the  corporation 
to  which  such  funds  belong,  by  the  members  of  the  council  representing  such 
original  corporation. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  325 


The  common  schools  of  the  corporation  shall  be  organized  and  governed 
by  one  board  of  education,  two  members  of  said  board  to  be  appointed  or 
elected  for  each  ward;  and  a  lot  of  such  quantity  of  land,  as  can  be  obtained 
upon  reasonable  terms,  and  in  a  convenient  situation,  not  less  than  one  acre, 
shall  be  procured  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  within  the  corporation  for  the 
purpose  of  the  Central  High  School  for  the  city,  which  shall  be  erected 
thereon  within  five  years. 

The  lots  and  property  owned  by  each  corporation  for  the  use  of  the  fire 
department,  shall  be  held  and  owned  by  the  consolidated  corporation,  as 
fully  as  they  are  now  held  by  each  separately. 

An  equitable  appropriation  of  all  money  raised  by  taxation  shall  be  made 
to  objects  within  the  several  wards,  having  regard  to  the  amount  collected  in 
each  ward,  after  deducting  and  paying  out  of  the  joint  funds  so  raised,  all  the 
general  expenses  of  the  corporation  and  for  the  public  improvements  therein. 

The  corporation  shall  be  divided  into  three  wards— the  First  ward  to 
include  all  that  part  of  the  corporation  which  lies  on  the  west  side  of  the 
middle  of  the  river;  the  Second  ward  to  include  all  the  territory  east  of  the 
middle  of  the  river  and  south  of  the  middle  of  High  street;  and  the  Third 
ward  to  include  all  the  territory  east  of  the  middle  of  the  river  and  north  of 
the  middle  of  High  street. 

A  suitable  building  or  buildings  shall  be  erected  or  purchased  for  a 
mayor's  office,  council  chamber,  post  office,  city  court  and  other  city  offices, 
on  a  lot  or  lots  to  be  procured  for  that  purpose,  west  of,  or  on  Front  street, 
and  not  further  north  than  Stable  street,  nor  south  of  Basin  street,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river. 

So  long  as  the  consolidated  corporation  shall  require  but  one  market 
house,  the  same  shall  remain  where  it  now  is,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
on  High  street,  west  of  Front;  and  whenever  an  additional  market  house  or 
houses,  shall  be  required,  one  of  them  shall  be  erected  on  the  west  side  of 
the  river. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  consolidated  corporation,  on  application  of  a 
majority  of  the  voters  of  any  ward,  to  grant  the  right  of  way  to  any  railroad 
company  through  the  said  ward  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  law, 
the  terms  and  conditions  of  said  right  of  way  to  be  fixed  by  the  trustees  from 
said  ward  alone  — provided,  that  said  ward  shall  save  harmless  the  corpora- 
tion from  any  damages  or  expenses  resulting  from  such  grant  of  right  of 
way. 

John  Woods, 
Thomas  Millikin, 
William  Hunter, 
Commissioners  for  Hamilton. 
M.  C.  Ryan, 
Alfred  Thomas, 
Samuel  Snively, 
Commissioners  for  Rossville. 

We,  the  undersigned,  judges  and  clerks  of  the  election,  held  in  said 
village  of  Hamilton,  on  the  third  day  of  April  1854,  do  hereby  certify,  that  at 
said  election,  there  were  three  hundred  and  thirty-one  votes  cast  "For  annex- 


J2<5  Historical  Sketches. 

ation"  of  the  incorporated  village  of  Rossville  to  the  incorporated  village  of 
Hamilton,  and  that  there  were  one  hundred  and  forty-nine  votes  cast' 
"Against  annexation"  of  said  village  of  Rossville  as  aforesaid. 

James  Daugherty,  Mayor. 
Alex.  F.  Hume,  Recorder. 

.  A.  Dingfelder, 
John  Barnett, 
William  Beckett, 

Trustees. 
Hamilton,  April  4,  1854. 

The  historical  events  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville  prior  to 
the  annexation,  in  1854,  were  few  and  of  minor  importance. 
New  settlements  make  history  and  increase  in  population 
slowly.  Hamilton  became  a  city  in  1857,  after  having  attain- 
ed a  population  of  5,000.  It  was  really  at  this  date,  in  a 
measure  that  Hamilton  began  that  era  of  industrial  prosperity 
which  has  since  made  the  city  famous. 

Rossville  entered  the  compact  with  its  municipality  free 
from  debt  with  a  surplus  in  its  treasury  of  $11,000.  The 
financial  affairs  of  Hamilton  were  in  a  deplorable  condition; 
its  treasury  was  bankrupt,  with  an  indebtedness  of  $15,000. 

A  RETROSPECTIVE  VIEW  OF  HAMILTON. 

It  is  interesting,  in  retrospective,  to  go  back  thirty  years 
in  the  history  of  Hamilton  and  take  a  look  at  the  population 
and  the  business  interests  in  the  city  at  that  time.  Thirty 
years  have  wrought  their  changes.  Times  and  conditions 
have  changed.  Hamilton  was  then  a  city  of  7,500  souls,  all 
included,  and  her  interests  were  various  and  diversified,  as 
they  are  now.  Shops  flourished,  different  industries  thrived 
and  artisans  found  occupation  in  their  various  trades.  Look- 
ing back  into  the  Business  Mirror  of  1866,  the  following 
reflections  are  found: 

Agricultural  Implements.  —  George  P.  Brown 
Leighter  &  Curtis,  Long,  Black  &  Allstatter,    Daniel   Shaffer. 

Bakeries.— Jacob  Kirn,  C.  E.  Reed,  John  P.  Schwartz, 
A.  Oetterer,  M.  Ernschwender. 

Barbers. — A.  J.  Anderson,  Samuel  Cooper,  A.  Dilg,  A. 
J.  Evans,  John  Koehler,  J.  H.  Schubert. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  327 

Billiard  Parlors. — Theodore  Reutti,  Joseph  Straub, 
William  Howard,  Thomas  McGehan,  Schertz  &  Dodds. 

Blacksmiths. — Philip  Berry,  Edw.  Goldrick,  George 
Herold,  Nicholas  Janser,  George  Holdefer,  Peter  Rife,  J.  W. 
Smoyer,  Rein.  Ruhl. 

Boarding  Houses. — Martin  Mason,  John  A.  Weigel,  J. 
A.  Henes,  Philip  Berry,  Mary  Bachman,  William  Martin, 
James  Cox. 

Drugs,  Books  and  Stationary. — Brack  &  Martindell, 
Peter  Jacobs,  J.  W.  Baldridge  &  Co.,  J.  N.  Hannaford,  F.  H. 
Puthoff,  Staut  &  Dodsworth. 

Boots  and  Shoes. — John  Weidenborner,  Jacob  Bov, 
Charles  Keller,  B.  Hafertepen,  Beck  &  Winter,  Alpheus 
Stewart,  Felix  Sill,  E.  Bottiuger,  J.  A.  Brodt,  John  Brinkman 
&  Bro.,  Adam  Koehler,  George  Schwenck,  George  Wallace, 
John  Wagner,  E.  Wigand,  George  Mensche,  Clements 
Schneider. 

Cabinet  Ware  — Crowley  &  Dye,  Sortman,  Blum  &  Co., 
Andrew  Stengel,  Theobald  &  Morman,  Jacob  Kranig. 

Candle  Makers. — David  Connor  &  Son,  John  C.  Goller. 

Carpenters  and  Builders. — James  R.  Elrick,  Bender 
&  Dum,  W.  B.  Blackall,  Herman  Husing,  F.  W.  Bender  & 
Bros.,  M.  Arent,  Kennedy  &  Rich,  Smith  &  Devoe,  George 
A.  Van  Degriff. 

Carpets  and  Oil  Cloths. — John  Crawford,  Davis  & 
Wallace,  J.  &  J.  Rossman. 

Carriage  Manufacturers. — P.  Heck  &  Co.,  John  H. 
Brown,  Rump  &  Dilg,  Christian    Morganthaler,   Jacob   Slarb. 

Cigars  and  Tobacco. — Julius  Hamann,  Eudwig  &  Co., 
Jacob  Theobold,  Joseph  Mick,  G.  B.  Metcalf. 

Clothing.  —  Fred  Mueller,  Kreis  &  Hermann,  C.  F.  • 
Diefenbach  &  Son,  Marcus  Shuler,  Herman  H.  Hilker,  Peter 
Becker,  Jonas  Hirsch,  Beck  &  Winter,  Peter  Klein,  Maas  & 
Stanfield,  S.  Levy. 

Cooper  Shops.  —  John  Anderson,  Daniel  Galloway, 
Zellner  &  Schwab,  John  Connor,  Conrad  Hingsberger,  John 
Siebald,  Joseph  Keller,  F.  W.  Schumann,  Anthony  Eauber. 


328  Historical  Sketches. 

Dentists.— H.  C.  Howells,  W.  B.  Ludlow,  L.  M.  Griffis, 
S.  Tolbert. 

Dry  Goods.— T.  V.  Howell,  J.  &  J.  Rossinan,  O.  &  J. 
Traber.  H.  &  W.  Freclitling,  J.  W.  Davis,  A.  Breitenbach, 
Simon  Fisher,  F.  G.  Gerwig,  Haungs  &  Getz,  J.  R.  Jackson  & 
Co.,  Marcus  Shuler,  Fred  Strieker,  Henry  Verwald,  George 
Wallace,  Joseph  Watkins. 

Flour  Mills. — Millikin  &  Lamb,  Anderson  &  Gray, 
Hunter  &  Brant,  Miller  &  Imlay,  Murphy  &  Co. 

Grain  Dealers.— D.  M.  Kennedy  &  Co.,  Eli  Cook  &  Co., 
Peter  Schwab,  Sohngen,  Thomas  &  Fox. 

Groceries. — Charles  Hossfeld  &  Co.,  C.  Rothenbush  & 
Son,  Peter  Smith,  John  Heiser,  H.  &  W.  Frechtling,  Simon 
Fisher,  Elzroth  &  Wilcox,  H.  Erb  &  Son,  John  Deinzer, 
Carr  &  Graham,  J.  C.  Holbrock,  Phillips  &  Urmston,  David 
Yeakle  &  Co.,  William  Zeller,  Henry  E.  Beck,  Nicholas  Bid- 
dinger,  J.  G.  Bilger.  Jacob  Boli,  George  Brede,  Daniel  Brindle, 
John  Bruck,  Henry  Dilg,  F.  H.  Foot,  January  Getz,  Haungs 
&  Getz,  Joseph  Holbrock,  Ignatz  Klar,  Clement  Holbrock, 
Jocob  Lehe,  George  W.  Leitch,  W.  C.  Millspaugh,  William 
Muncey,  W.  H.  H.  Reily,  L-  Southard,  Joseph  Watkins, 
Henry  WellinghofI,  Michael  Wiesmeyer,  Jacob  Zeigler. 

Gunsmiths.  —  Frank  Hammerle,  Israel  W.  Mullin, 
Adam  Rein. 

Hardware  and   Cutlery.— D.   J.  T.    Smyers,    Daniel 
Shaffer,  George  P.  Brown,  G.  M.  Flenner,   Stomps  &  Davidson. 
Hats  and  Caps.   -Henry  Beardsley,  Thomas  Fitton. 
Hoop  Skirt  Makers. — Louis  Davis,  Studer  &  Bro. 
Hotels.— Straub  House,  Butler  House,  Hamilton  House, 
Railroad    House,  Schmidtman    House,    Second  Ward  House, 
William  Tell  House. 

Leather  and  Findings. — Lohmann  &  Schmidt,  John 
William  Sohn. 

Lime,  Cement  and  Plaster. -J.  F.  Meely,  Thomas 
P.  Spencer. 

Livery  Stables.— C.  B.  Thompson,  St.  Clair  &  Harper, 
Rump  &  Dilg,  Schneider  &  Bro.,  Isaac  McLane. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  329 

Lumber  Dealers.— A.  C.  Campbell  &  Co.,  J.  &  S.  E. 
Giffen,  John  Stillwaugh,  Charles  K.  Giffen,  B.  H.  Kreiger. 

Machine  Shops. — A.  Campbell,  Owens,  Lane  &  Dyer, 
Leighter  &  Curtis,  Millikin,  Shipley  &  Co.,  Dong,  Black  & 
Allstatter,  Whitaker,  Zimmerman  &  Scott. 

Malt  Houses. — Louis  Emmons,  Jacobi  &  Co.,  John 
Schelley,  Louis  Sohngen,  Hartman  &  Heinlein. 

Marble  Works.  —  Aaron  Potter,  B.  H.  Wellinghoff, 
Horssnyder  &  Kessling. 

Meat  Stores. — Jacob  Rupp,  William  Stephens. 

Photograph  Galleries. — Ed.  B.  Rogers,  J.  W.  Leight, 
Philip  Hawk,  Stephenson  &  Wilson. 

Plow  Makers — P.  Burns  &  Co.,  George  Hpldefer,  A. 
Burley,  Millikin,  Shipley  &  Co.,  Engerer  &  Kreissel. 

Restaurants. — D.  B.  Sanders,  Aaron  Lawson,  A.  J. 
Ohmer,  Thomas  McGehean. 

Saddles  and  Harness.  —  John  Koeninger,  Herman 
Greiser,  Louis  Blatterman. 

Saloons. — Martin  Mason,  John  Deinzer,  George  Finzel, 
J.  A.  Henes,  William  Howard,  Jacob  Humbach,  Herman 
Huesing,  Moses  Klein,  Aaron  Lawson.  Thomas  McGehean 
Capt.  P.  W.  Ryan,  Philip  Schwoerer,  Robert  Clements,  Jacob 
Boli,  Daniel  Brennen,  John  Braun,  George  Braun,  Jacob 
Buckel,  James  Cox,  George  Diefenbach,  B.  F.  Dill,  Henry 
Dum,  John  Emtnert,  Conrad  Getz,  Christ.  Houser,  Marcellian 
Kreuzberger,  Anthony  Lemkuhle,  Bernard  Leisner,  David 
Lingler,  John  B.  Moore,  Sol.  Schertz,  John  Schubert,  John  P. 
Schwartz,  Michael  Wiesmeyer. 

Stoves  and  Hollow  Ware. — J.  &  I.  Matthias,  Philip 
Hartman,  J.  G.  Morner  &  Co.,  Stomps  &  Davidson. 

Funeral  Directors. — Sortman,  Blum  &  Co.,  Crowley 
&  Dye,  Theobold  &  Morman. 

Wagon  Makers.  —  George  Holdefer,  Fred.  Wick,  A. 
Burley,  Conrad  Ruter,  Henry  Niederauer. 

Watches  Clocks  and  Jewelry. — S.  W.  Brock,  William 
E.  Drayer,  M.  Schwartz,  Bernhardt  Rhomann,  Charles  E. 
Durst,  Henry  F.  Gott. 


330  Historical  Sketches. 

HAMILTON  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 
At  half-past  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  April  12, 
1861,  General  P.  T.  Beauregard,  in  command  of  the  Confeder- 
ate forces  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  opened  fire  on  Fort  Sumter. 
Its  sound  reverberated  around  the  world  and  its  echo  has  not 
yet  died  away.  The  bombardment  was  fierce  and  continued 
until  the  fourteenth  inst.,  when  Major  Robert  Anderson  and 
his  small  band  of  heroes,  after  a  gallant  resistance,  marched 
out  and  honorably  surrendered.  The  news  flashed  over  the 
country  like  wild  fire.  The  patriotic  heart  of  the  great  North 
was  stirred  and  thrilled  to  its  innermost  depth.  When  the  news 
was  received  in  Hamilton  the  bells  of  the  old  Neptune  Fire 
company,  of  the  First  ward,  were  rung  by  John  R.  Vaughan 
and  Samuel  Schofield,  calling  the  citizens  of  Hamilton  together. 
The  excitement  was  at  fever  heat  and  is  well  remembered  by 
one  whose  fortune  it  was  to  participate  in  the  ever  memorable 
events  of  that  day.  Armed  traitors  had  attacked  the  free 
institutions  of  the  North  and  were  seeking  to  overthrow  the 
Republic  itself  and  to  destroy  and  dissolve  the  Union.  There 
was  a  spontaneous  call  to  arms.  Recruiting  offices  were 
opened,  volunteers  began  to  be  rapidly  enrolled.  Regiments 
were  organized  and  officered  and  the  call  of  President  Lincoln 
on  April  15,  1861,  for  75,000  men  was  speedily  responded  to 
and  the  country  rang  with  the  enthusiastic  song,  "We  are 
coming  Father  Abraham,  three  hundred  thousand  more!" 
Men's  souls  were  stirred  and  the  noble  women  of  the  country 
were  at  their  backs  bidding  them  God  speed  in  their  country's 
cause. 

The  first  company  in  the  field,  from  Hamilton,  April  18, 
1 86 1,  was  Captain  John  P.  Brack's  "Jackson  Guards,"  which 
was  assigned  as  Company  K  to  the  First  Ohio  regiment. 

On  April  17,  W.  C.  Margedant  engaged  Edward  Scheurer 
as  a  drummer  boy  and  visited  the  shops  of  the  city,  where  he 
recruited  a  company  of  fifty  men.  On  the  evening  of  April 
18,  under  command  of  W.  C.  Margedant  the  company  marched 
from  the  Turner's  Hall  in  the  Sohn  building,  and  left  for 
Cincinnati,   and   joined   the    Ninth   Ohio,   which   was   being 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  33 1 

organized  in  that  city.  W.  C.  Margedant  was  elected  captain 
of  Company  B.  He  was  afterward  detailed  and  assigned  to 
General  W.  S.  Rosecrans'  staff,  as  topographical  engineer,  with 
rank  of  Captain.  His  maps,  made  before  and  after  the  battle 
of  Chickamauga  were  appropriated  by  a  superior  officer,  who 
published  them  as  his  own  in  the  official  report.  There  are 
only  five  men  living  in  Hamilton  today  that  were  members  of 
this  company,  namely,  Jacob  Schlosser,  W.  C.  Margedant, 
John  Decher,  Edward  Scheurer  and  John  Deiters.  The  Ninth 
Ohio,  was  a  German  regiment.  Physically,  its  members  were 
ideal  soldiers  and  the  regiment  was  the  best  drilled  organiza- 
tion in  the  Western  Army.  Its  grand  and  effective  charges  at 
the  battles  of  Chickamauga  and  Missionary  Ridge  have  passed 
into  history  as  being  unsurpassed,  during  the  Rebellion. 

On  Saturday  afternoon,  April  20,  1861,  the  young  ladies 
of  Hamilton  presented  a  handsome  silk  banner  to  the  Hamil- 
ton Guards,  Company  F,  Third  Ohio,  under  command  of 
Captain  W.  C.  Rossman.  The  presentation  ceremony  took 
place  in  the  east  portion  of  the  court  house  park.  The  exer- 
cises were  opened  with  prayer  by  Rev.  A.  Lowry,  when  Miss 
Kate  Campbell  presented  the  banner  to  the  Guards,  in  the 
following  patriotic  address: 

Hamilton  Guards:  Your  country  demands  your  services,  and  you  are 
promptly  honoring  her  call.  Traitors  have  made  war  upon  our  government 
and  seek  to  overthrow  our  noble  institutions,  secured  to  us  by  the  wisdom, 
the  toils  and  the  blood  of  our  venerated  forefathers.  Your  sisters  cannot 
share  your  dangers  in  the  field,  but  their  hearts  will  go  with  you!  They 
present  you  this  banner  as  a  token  of  their  earnest  sympathies  with  you, 
and  the  sacred  cause  of  Freedom  and  Justice,  in  which  you  go  to  fight.  It  is 
the  same  emblem  of  constitutional  liberty  under  which  Washington,  and  all 
our  national  heroes  fought  and  cotiquered/  Stand  by  it  with  your  lives,  if 
necessary.  I<et  no  rebel  hands  bring  reproach  upon  its  honored  folds.  L,et 
its  Stars  ever  remind  you  of  your  duty  to  the  UNION,  and  its  Stripes  keep 
you  thoughtful  of  the  punishment  due  to  patricidal  traitors. 

Take  it,  soldiers,  and  carry  it  on  to  victory,  and  may  the  God  of  battles 
watch  over  and  protect  you,  and  may  He  preserve  our  country  and  our  con- 
stitution; to  be  the  protectors  of  the  oppressed  of  all  lands,  to  generations  yet 
unborn. 

ADDRESS  OF  CAPTAIN  ROSSMAN  ON  RECEIVING  THE  BANNER. 

Young  Ladies  of  Hamilton:  Our  Country,  which  for  so  long  a  time  has 
been  the  home  of  peace  and  liberty,  is  now  rocking  in  the  storm  of  Civil  War. 


332  Historical  Sketches. 

Armed  desperadoes  have  insulted  our  flag,  and  defied  our  government.  Men 
have  been  found  in  this  country  base  enough  to  strike  the  mother  who  has 
reared  and  protected  them.  The  wounded  government  demands  reparation. 
In  obedience  to  that  call,  we  will  soon  march  to  the  scene  of  war.  Going  out 
from  you.  we  desire  to  take  with  us  this  work  of  love  and  patriotism,  at  your 
hands,  and  if  the  ardor  of  the  company  can  be  augmented,  I  can  only  wish 
that  their  patriotism  may  be  as  bright  as  the  stars,  and  their  loyalty  as 
unfading  as  the  colors  of  the  flag,  which  has  been  so  handsomely  presented. 
We  accept  this  flag,  and  in  the  coming  contest,  if  our  little  band  can  do  ought 
to  maintan  the  purity  of  our  government,  what  man  in  the  Hamilton  Guards 
but  will,  in  that  contest,  strike  with  renewed  ardor  by  the  remembrance  of 
this  day's  honor?  We  shall  plant  it  on  the  outer  wall,  and  its  post  shall  be 
to  us  the  post  of  honor.  Some,  perchance,  in  this  company,  in  defense  of 
that  flag,  may  fall.  Some  of  us  whose  hearts  today  beat  high  with  proud 
hopes,  and  who  are  emulated  to  do  deeds  of  glory  will  return  no  more.  But 
if  a  sacrifice  from  the  Guards  is  demanded  to  procure  constitutional  liberty 
and  our  Union,  the  sacrifice  shall  be  cheerfully  given.  They  won't  die;  but 
from  their  ashes,  like  as  from  the  ancient  Phoenix,  will  arise  their  names, 
and  in  letters  of  living  light  will  they  be  enrolled  on  a  page  of  an  immortal 
history.  We  accept  the  flag,  and  we  promise  to  bring  it  back  with  no  lost 
laurels,  with  no  tarnished  fame.  Its  symmetry  may  be  destroyed  by  the 
elements  and  by  strife,  but  these  shall  be,  in  your  estimation,  honorable 
scars. 

An  immense  congregation  assembled  in  Beckett's  Hall, 
Sunday  afternoon,  April  21,  to  hear  a  discourse  to  the  Hamil- 
ton Guards  by  Rev.  William  Davidson.  The  discourse  was 
able,  patriotic  and  eloquent,  and  was  listened  to  with  earnest 
attention,  and  often  with  deep  emotion.  The  Reverend 
gentleman  spoke  of  the  cause  in  which  the  loyal  states  were 
engaged  as  just  and  righteous — that  if  the  war  of  the  revolu- 
tion was  holy,  this  was  thrice  holy — if  it  was  sanctified,  this 
was  thrice  sanctified.  History  left  no  record  of  any  war 
where  the  people  were  called  upon  more  imperatively  to  take 
part  in  its  prosecution,  than  this  people  in  defense  of  their 
government  against  the  traitors  who  are  now  in  array  against 
it.  If  they  were  not  subdued  our  government  was  a  nullity, 
and  anarchy  would  reign  supreme. 

After  Dr.  Davidson  had  finished  his  address,  the  little 
daughter  of  Lewis  Emmons  proceeded  to  the  stand  and  pre- 
sented Sol.  Pretsinger  with  a  Testament  and  a  revolver.  The 
tears  came  to  the  eyes  of  nearly  every  person  in  the  house  at 
this  touching  scene. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  333 

Captain  Rossman's  company  left  Sunday  night,  April  21, 
for  Columbus,  where  it  was  assigned  to  the  position  of  Com- 
pany F,  Third  Ohio. 

The  Butler  Pioneers,  Company  A,  Twenty-sixth  Ohio, 
under  command  of  Captain  J.  W.  C.  Smith  and  Lieutenant  F. 
M.  Lefler,  left  for  the  front  early  in  the  war. 

Minor  Millikin  recruited  an  Independent  company  for 
Burdsill's  cavalry.  Each  man  was  compelled  to  furnish  his 
own  horse,  as  the  government  up  to  this  time  had  not  equipped 
any  cavalry  regiments.  Eater  Captain  Clement  Murphy, 
Charles  H.  Murray,  Charles  E.  Giffen  and  Alex.  C.  Rossman 
recruited  a  company  for  the  Fifth  Ohio  cavalry. 

The  Eighty-third  regiment  was  organized  in  Cincinnati, 
in  August,  1862,  under  command  of  Colonel  F.  W.  Moore. 
Seven  companies  were  from  Hamilton  county  and  the  other 
three  from  Butler  and  Warren  counties.  This  regiment 
entered  the  service  with  1,037  men.  Twice  its  ranks  were 
filled  by  adding  four  hundred  and  fifty  recruits.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  only  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven  answered  to 
roll  call.  Few  regiments  saw  more  active  service  than  the 
Eighty-third.  Our  fellow  townsman,  Captain  H.  P.  Deuscher 
commanded  a  company  in  this  organization. 

M.  C.  Ryan  was  commissioned  Colonel  of  the  Fiftieth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  in  September,  1861.  Colonel  Ryan 
died  October  20,  of  this  year  after  three  companies  had  gone 
into  camp  at  North  Hamilton,  under  command  of  Captains 
Patrick  Dwyer,  Cornelius  McGreevey,"  William  Drumond  and 
Lientenants  Robert  Cullen  and  Michael  McGreevey.  These 
companies  remained  in  camp  here  until  March  27,  1862,  when 
they  left  for  Camp  Chase,  Columbus,  when  they  were  assigned 
to  the  Seventy-fourth  Ohio.  This  organization  was  known  as 
Fighting  Parson  Granville  Moody's  regiment,  which  partici- 
pated and  bore  an  important  part  in  all  the  battles  in  Tennes- 
see, Georgia  and  North  Carolina,  from  Stone  river,  in  1862, 
to  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  in  1865. 

The  Ninety-third  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  was  recruited 
in  the   Third   Congressional   District.     It   was   organized   at 


334  Historical  Sketches. 

Dayton,  Ohio,  August  20,  1862,  to  serve  three  years.  Its  first 
field  officers  were,  Colonel,  Charles  Anderson;  Lieutenant 
Colonel,  Hiram  Strong;  Major,  Alfred  A.  Phillips.  It  had 
other  regimental  officers  as  follows:  Colonels,  William  H. 
Martin  and  Daniel  Bowman;  Majors,  William  Burch  and 
Robert  Joyce.  Pursuant  to  an  order  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment the  members  whose  term  of  service  would  have  expired 
previous  to  October  1,  1865,  were  mustered  out  June  8,  1865, 
and  the  remaining  numbers  transferred  to  the  Forty-first 
Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  The  list  of  battles  in 
which  this  regiment  bore  an  honorable  part  is  as  follows: 
Lebanon  (Autioch  church,)  Stone  river,  Chicamauga,  Brown's 
Ferry,  Orchard  Knob,  Mission  Ridge,  Buzzard  Roost,  Reseca, 
Dallas,  Kenesaw  mountain,  Siege  of  Atlanta,  Jonesboro, 
Lovejoy  Station,  Franklin  and  Nashville. 

A  Company  of  Hamilton  recruits  enlisted  in  the  Thirteenth 
Missouri  regiment,  under  command  of  Captain  Moses  Klein. 
This  organization  was  composed  largely  of  Ohio  men,  which 
was  afterward  accredited  to  this  state  and  designated  as  the 
Twenty-second  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  In  May, 
1862,  Captain  Rind.  Lawder,  Lieutenants  Zelotes  B.  Wood 
and  Patrick  W.  Ryan,  recruited  a  company  for  the  three 
months'  service  and  went  to  Columbus.  Rind.  Lawder  accep- 
ted a  position  under  Colonel  Granville  Moody,  in  the  Seventy- 
fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  Zelotes  Wood  found 
employment  in  a  shoe  store  in  the  Capital  City.  The  com- 
pany, after  remaining  in  Camp  Chase  for  a  week  or  ten  days, 
without  officers,  disbanded,  its  members  enlisting  in  the 
Eighty-fourth,  Eighty-fifth,  Eighty-sixth  and  Eighty-seventh 
regiments.  Captain  William  H.  Miller  recruited  the  Hamil- 
ton Rifles,  and  entered  the  service  in  the  Kanawaha  Valley, 
West  Virginia.  While  taking  observations  with  his  field 
glasses  in  a  tree,  he  was  killed  by  a  Confederate  sharp  shooter. 
The  raids  of  General  Kirby  Smith,  in  1862,  and  General  John 
Morgan,  in  1863,  called  into  existence  numerous  local  organi- 
zations. Hamilton  was  declared  under  martial  law  by  Major 
Keith,    of   Dayton,    during   the  Morgan  raid.     Captain  Rans- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  335 

ford  Smith  was  appointed  provost  marshal.  T.  V.  Howell  was 
elected  major  of  a  battalion.  To  Major  George  W.  Rue,  of 
the  Ninth  Kentucky  Cavalry,  our  fellow-townsman  rightfully 
belongs  the  honor  of  capturing  John  Morgan. 

The  Thirty-fifth,  Sixty-ninth  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
seventh  Regiments  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  were  organized  in 
Hamilton. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  THIRTY-FIFTH  O.  V.  I. 

Seven  companies  of  this  organization  were  entirely,  or 
largely  composed  of  Hamilton  men. 

FIELD,  STAFF  AND  COMPANY  OFFICERS. 

Ferd.  VanDerveer,  Colonel  — July  26,  1861.  Commanded  brigade  from 
February  28,  1863. 

Charles  L- 'H.  Long,  Lieutenant  Colonel  —  July  29,1861.  Resigned  July 
13,  1863 

H.  V.  Boynton,  Lieutenant  Colonel  —  July  27,  1861.  Promoted  from  major 
July  16,  1863. 

Joseph  L-  Budd,  Major — August  15,1861.  Promoted  from  captain,  July 
13,  1863. 

Perkins  A.  Gordon,  Surgeon  —  September  7,  1861.  Resigned,  November 
3,  1863. 

Francis  D.  Morris,  Assistant  Surgeon  —  August  21,  1861.  Promoted 
surgeon,  November  1,  1863. 

Charles  O.  Wright,  Assistant  Surgeon  — August  15,  1862. 

Abram  H.  Landis,  Assistant  Surgeon — November  13,  1862. 

George  B.  Wright,  Adjutant — August  2,  1861.  Resigned  September  iS, 
1863. 

James  H.  Bone,  Adjutant— August  15,  1861. 

James  E.  Harris,  Adjutant — August  20,  1861. 

John  Van  Derveer,  Quartermaster — August  2,  1861. 

John  Woods,  Chaplain— September  28,  1861.     Resigned  November  19,  1861. 

Joshua  C.Hoblet,  Chaplain — January  3,  1862.     Resigned  February  19,  1863. 

Benjamin  F.  >.lark,  Sergeant  Major — August  9,  1861.  Promoted  from 
ranks  company  B.  . 

John  Adams,  Sergeant  Vaj or —September  16,  1861.  Promoted  from  cor- 
poral company  B  to  Second  Lieutenant  company  G,  October  4,  1862. 

Lucius  B.  Potter,  Sergeant  Major— August  20,  1861.  Promoted  from 
privat  e  company  C. 

Joseph  F.  Saunders,  Quartermaster  Sergeant — August  9,  1861. 

Martin  Betz,  Quartermaster  Sergeant  —  September  7,  1861.  Promoted 
from  private  company  G. 

George  W.  Leitch,  Commissary  Sergeant  —  August  9,  1861.  Discharged 
June  30,  1862. 


336  Historical  Sketches. 


Joseph  S.  Claypool,  Commissary  Sergeant- August  20,  1861. 

Lorenzo  Brown,  Commissary  Sergeant — Octobers,  1S61. 

Samuel  Hart,  Hospital  Stewart  —  September  5,  1S61.  Discharged  June 
26,  1862. 

Mordicai  T  Cleaver,  Hospital  Stewart  —  September  5,  1S61.  Promoted 
from  company  F. 

William  H.  Buzzard,  Principal  Musician— October  10,  1861. 

Clark  Castator,  Principal  Musician— August  9,  1861. 


Thomas  Stone,  Captain,  August  9,  1861.     Resigned  June  6,  1862. 

Ransford  Smith,  Captain,  August  9,  1861.     Resigned  February  18    1S63. 

Jonathan  Henninger,  Captain,  August  9,  1861. 

William  H.  Eacott,  First  Lieutenant,  August  9,  1861. 

Samuel  Houser,  First  Lieutenant,  August  9,  1S61.  Promoted  First 
Lieutenant,  February  12,  1S63. 

Joseph  Claypool,  Second  Lieutenant,  August  20,  1861.  Resigned  January 
20,  1863. 

Robert  B.  Davidson,  Second  Lieutenant,  August  9,  1861.  First  Lieutenant, 
March  19,  1864. 

COMPANY  c. 

John  S.  Earhart,  Captain,  August  20,  1861.  Died  of  disease,  August  10, 
1862,  at  Dechert,  Tenn. 

Fred.  W.  Keil,  First  Lieutenant,  August  20,  1861.  Promoted  captain  June 
16,  1864. 

Benj.  F.  Miller,  Second  Lieutenant,  August  20,  1861.  Promoted  First 
Lieutenant,  February,  1864. 

Joseph  S.  Claypool,  Second  Lieutenant,  August  20,  1862. 

Jas.  E.  Harris,  Sergeant,  August  20,  1861.  Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant, 
March  19,  1864. 

company  1. 

Henry  Mallory,  Captain— September  15,  1861,  Resigned  February  17, 
1862. 

Andrew  J.  Lewis,  Captain  —  September  15,  1861.  Wounded  at  Chicka- 
niauga,  September  19,  1S62. 

Philip  Rothenbush,  Captain— September  15,  1861.  Promoted  to  lieuten- 
ant February  17,  1862.  Promoted  to  captain  March  19,  1S64.  Wounded  at 
Chickamauga  September  20,  1863. 

William  Andrews,  Second  Lieutenant— September  15,  1861.  Resigned 
May,  1863. 

Robert  B.  Davidson,  First  Lieutenant  —  August  9,  1861.  Assigned  to 
Company  I. 

COMPANY    K. 

Joel  K.  Deardorff,  Captain—  September  13,  1861.  Wounded  at  Chicka- 
mauga, Ga.,  September  19,  1863.     Died  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  October  8,  1863. 

Lewis  Lambright,  First  Lieutenant  —  September  12,  1861.  Wounded 
November  25.  1863,  at  Missionary  Ridge. 

David  Stites,  Second  Lieutenant— October  8,  1861. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  337 


Benj.  F.  Miller,  Second  Lieutenant,  August  20,  1861.  Promoted  First 
Lieutenant,  February  1864. 

Joseph  S.  Claypool,  Second  Lieutenant,  August  20,  1862. 

Jas.  E.  Harris,  Sergeant,  August  20,  1861,  Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant> 
March  19,  1864. 

COMPANY  D. 

Nathaniel  Reeder,  Captain,  August  26,  1861.  Died  at  Hamilton,  Ohio, 
July,  1888. 

James  H.  Bone,  Captain,  August  15,  1861.  Promoted  from  adjutant,  March 


19, 


William  C.  Dine,  First  Lieutenant,  August  26,  1861.      Resigned  February 


Julian  R.  Fitch,  Second  Lieutenant,  August  26,  1861. 

J.  F.  Saunders,  Second  Lieutenant,  August  9,  1861.  Promoted  from  quar- 
termaster sergeant,  November  19,  1862. 

Jos.  Meyers.  First  Sergeant,  August  26,1861.  Acting  Captain,  in  com- 
mand for  six  months. 

COMPANY  F. 

Oliver  H.  Parshall,  Captain,  August  15,  1861.  Killed  at  Chickamauga 
September  19,  1863. 

J.  C.  Thorns,  First  Lieutenant,  September  5,  1861.  Resigned  November 
30,  1862. 

Jos.  M.  Harlan,  Second  Lieutenant,  September  5,  1861.  Killed  at  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  September  20,  1863. 

Jos.  H.  Taylor,  Second  Lieutenant,  September  12,  1861.  First  Lieutenant, 
March  19,  1863. 

Richard  S.  Ford,  Second  Lieutenant,  September  12,  1861.  Assigned  to 
Company  F. 

COMPANY  G. 

Samuel  L'Hommedieu,  September  7,  1861. 

George  T.  Earheart,  Lieutenant,  September  7,  1861.  Resigned  October 
17,  1862. 

William  H.  C.  Steel,  First  Lieutenant,  September  7,  1861.  Promoted 
captain,  assigned  to  Company  E. 

John  Adams,  Second  Lieutenant  September  7,  1861.  Wounded  at 
Chickamauga  September  20,  1863. 

The  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  was  the  first 
entire  regiment  that  went  out  from  Butler  county.  It  was 
organized  and  mustered  in  at  Hamilton,  August  7,  1861.  On 
September  26,  the  regiment  broke  camp  and  moved  to  the 
"dark  and  bloody  ground  of  Kentucky/'  and  on  the  same 
night  took  a  train  on  the  Kentucky  Central  railroad  for 
Cynthiana,  where  the  regiment  went  into  camp  at  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  town  on  the  Frazier  plantation.  The  ladies  of 
Cynthiana  presented  the  Thirty-fifth  with  a  handsome  national 
flag  of  regulation   size,  which  was  made  at  the  house  of  Mrs. 


338  Historical  Sketches. 

George  Morrison,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  Breckenridge, 
professor  in  the  Danville  Theological  Seminary.  The  flag  was 
placed  in  the  care  of  Color  Sergeant  Mark  B.  Price,  and  car- 
ried by  the  Thirty-fifth  during  its  term  of  service.  Afterward 
the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Paris,  where  it  remained  until 
November,  when  it  marched  to  Somerset.  At  Mill  Springs 
the  regiment  was  brigaded  with  the  Eighteenth  Regulars, 
Ninth  Ohio  and  Second  Minnesota,  under  the  command  of 
Brigadier-General  Robert  L.  McCook,  remaining  with  the  last 
two  regiments  during  their  entire  term  of  service.  This  was 
one  of  the  brigades  long  composing  General  George  H. 
Thomas'  division.  After  the  battle  of  Mill  Springs  the  regi- 
ment marched  to  L,ouisville,  and  thence  took  steamer  to  Nash- 
ville, which  was  reached  on  March  4.  The  suspension  bridge 
had  been  destroyed;  the  cables  had  been  cut,  and  the  wood 
work  was  still  burning.  The  rebel  authorities  desired  to  burn 
Nashville,  to  prevent  its  becoming  a  union  stronghold. 

The  Thirty-fifth  participated  in  a  number  of  skirmishes 
during  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  was  among  the  first  to  enter 
the  Confederate  fortifications.  Afterward  they  marched  to 
Tuscumbia,  Alabama,  and  in  July,  1862,  to  Winchester, 
Tennessee.  It  was  on  this  march  that  General  Robert 
L.  McCook  was  assassinated  by  rebel  guerrillas.  In  the  two 
days'  fight  at  Chickamauga  the  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  lost  just 
fifty  per  cent,  of  those  engaged.  The  regiment  took  into  the 
fight  391  officers  and  men.  Of  this  number  194  were  lost. 
The  loss  of  the  brigade  was  843,  and  of  the  division  2,353. 

During  the  two  days'  fighting  they  were  never  driven  back; 
never  gave  an  inch  until  ordered,  and  repeatedly  repulsed  and 
drove  back  four  times  their  number.  The  Ninth  Ohio  retook 
a  battery  which  had  been  captured  from  the  regular  brigade. 
Following,  we  give  Colonel  Boyntou's  official  report  of  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga: 

Headquarters  Thirty-fifth  O.  V.  I., 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  September  24,  1863. 
Captain:    I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  following  as  the  part  taken  by 
the   Thirty-fifth  Ohio    in    the  action    of  September   19th   and  20th  in  this 
vicinity, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  339 


We  were  brought  into  action  at  8  a.  m.  of  the  19th,  after  which  a  most 
fatiguing  march  begun  at  5  p.  m.  of  the  previous  evening  and  only  ended  in 
time  to  allow  of  fifteen  minutes'  rest  before  the  fight.  The  Thirty-fifth 
occupied  the  right  of  the  first  line,  and  the  skirmishers  of  the  command  met 
the  enemy  after  a  very  short  advance  in  line.  The  engagement  soon  became 
very  fierce,  but  the  accurate  fire  of  the  line  soon  broke  the  rebel  line.  In  this 
short  fight  our  loss  in  thirty  minutes  was  60  killed  and  wounded.  In  a  short 
time  the  rebels  rallied  and  made  another  desperate  assault  on  the  line,  but 
were  again  repulsed. 

The  next  move  of  the  enemy  was  an  attempt  to  flank  our  position  on  the 
left.  The  regular  brigade  which  had  been  engaged  on  our  right  and  to  the 
front,  were  driven  across  our  line,  which  was  placed  as  a  support  to  the 
Fourth  Regular  Battery,  Lieutenant  Smith  commanding.  Seeing  this  rapid 
approach  of  the  enemy  in  four  lines  the  front  of  my  regiment  was  immedi- 
ately changed  to  the  left,  though  without  orders  from  the  colonel  command- 
ing the  brigade,  it  being  perfectly  apparent  that  this  alone  could  save  the 
battery. 

The  assault  of  the  rebel  lines  proved  terrific,  but  so  soon  as  the  confusion 
attending  the  passage  of  the  regular  brigade  had  in  part  subsided,  the 
Thirty-fifth  faced,  advanced,  and  by  a  few  moments  of  close  fighting,  in 
connection  with  the  well  directed  fire  of  Lieutenant  Smith's  double-shotted 
guns,  repulsed  that  portion  of  the  rebel  line  opposed  to  our  immediate  front. 
This  closed  the  fighting  of  the  day,  it  having  continued  for  four  hours  with 
great  fury.  The  rebel  forces  opposed  to  us  were  a  portion  of  Longstreet's 
forces,  as  prisoners  reported.  Together  with  the  other  regiments  of  the 
brigade,  we  bivouacked  upon  the  battle-field  without  blankets  or  tents,  and 
although  a  white  frost  covered  the  ground,  and  being  in  an  open  field,  we 
passed  the  night  without  fires  as  best  we  could  under  the  circumstances. 

The  rapid  and  fatiguing  march  of  the  night  before  had  caused  21  men  to 
fall  behind;  25  were  back  sick.  Seventeen  cooks  had  been  ordered  to  follow 
the  teams  to  Chattanooga,  and  10  men  were  left  to  guard  the  knapsacks 
when  the  fight  opened,  so  that  the  regiment  went  into  the  fight  with  a  total 
of  391  officers  and  men.  Of  this  number  9  were  killed  97  wounded,  and  4 
reported  missing.  Three  of  the  wounded  were  officers,  Captain  A.  J.  Lewis, 
Company  I,  severely  in  the  bowels;  Captain  Joel  K.  Deardorff,  Company  K, 
severely  in  the  leg;  and  Lieutenant  L.  P.  Thompson,  Company  E,  who 
received  a  flesh  wound  in  the  leg. 

Captain  Oliver  H  Parshall,  of  Company  F  was  shot  dead  immediately  on 
the  right  of  our  line  He  had  only  the  day  before  returned  from  home  and 
was  detailed  upon  the  staff  of  the  colonel  commanding  the  brigade.  Not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  he  was  detached  I  cannot  refrain  from  mentioning 
his  great  coolness  and  gallantry,  which  were  constantly  displayed  along  my 
own  part  of  the  line.  His  course  as  an  officer  has  always  been  such  as  to 
secure  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th,  at  9  a.m.,  the  brigade  having  taken  its 
position  in  two  lines,  as  the  reserve  of  the  division,  the  Thirty-fifth  was 
assigned  its  position  on  the  rear  line  in  column  of  divisions  closed  en  masse. 
At  11  a.  m.  the  enemy  attacked,  in  overwhelming  numbers,  the  divisions  in 
front  and  the  one  on  the  left.    The  brigade  being  ordered  to  support  General 


340  Historical  Sketches. 


Baird,  our  columns  were  deployed  under  a  sharp  fire  of  shot  and  canister.  On 
reaching  the  rear  of  General  Baird's  position  we  met  General  Breckinridge's 
division  advancing  to  attack  Geneial  Baird's  flank.  Having  no  notice  of  the 
approach  whatever,  the  flank  of  my  regiment  without  a  moment's  notice, 
was  subjected  to  a  galling  fire  from  the  main  rebel  lines  at  very  short  range. 

Notwithstanding  the  difficulties  of  the  position,  the  men  of  the  Thirty- 
fifth  immediately  changed  front,  faced  the  enemy  by  orders,  lay  down  until 
the  first  line  should  finish  its  fire;  the  second  line  then  rose  and  charged, 
following  the  broken  and  retreating  lines  of  the  rebels.  The  second  line 
followed  in  rear  of  the  first;  the  Thirty-fifth  in  advance  on  the  left  supported 
by  the  Ninth  Ohio  on  the  right  charged  across  an  open  field  for  a  third  of  a 
mile  and  advanced  a  hundred  yards  into  the  woods  beyond,  the  left  of  the 
regiment  covering  the  road  over  which  the  rebels  advanced,  and  in  which 
they  had  planted  a  battery.  The  Thirty-fifth  held  its  position  until  the 
brigade  was  ordered  to  retire  to  allow  the  advance  of  a  relief  brigade  from 
our  right.  The  withdrawal  was  accomplished  in  regular  order  by  the  succes- 
sive passage  of  the  lines  to  the  rear,  but  not  without  heavy  loss  to  the 
regiment.  We  then  returned  with  our  brigade  to  the  position  occupied  at 
the  commencement  of  the  charge.  In  this  position  we  remained  for  about 
an  hour,  subjected  for  about  half  of  the  time  to  the  fire  of  the  rebel  battery 
which  had  occupied  the  position  held  at  the  beginning  of  the  action  by  the 
left  of  our  division.  From  this  point  the  brigade  passed  toward  the  right 
of  our  general  line  of  battle. 

Here  we  joined  General  Thomas,  who  had  rallied,  with  the  assistance  of 
General  Brannan,  a  portion  of  several  brigades.  Our  own  brigade  came  upon 
the  hill  unbroken  and  immediately  took  position  in  one  line  on  the  crest, 
the  Thirty-fifth  on  the  right.  In  a  short  time  the  Thirty-fifth  advanced  to  a 
line  of  logs,  hastily  thrown  together  and  just  sufficient  to  cover  the  heads  of 
the  men  when  lying  on  the  ground.  The  hill  was  twice  attacked  in  over- 
whelming force,  the  first  attack  hardly  ceasing,  before  the  second  began  with 
almost  inconceivable  fury  and  persistence.  The  fighting  continued  for 
nearly  two  hours,  when  our  ammunition  became  exhausted.  Nothing 
daunted,  the  regiment  fixed  bayonets  and  awaited  the  shock.  Fortunately 
a  load  of  ammunition  arrived,  and  the  firing  was  renewed  with  vigor;  still 
the  rebels  pressed  us  hard  and  maintained  their  position  at  close  quarters. 

At  this  point  our  cartridges  again  gave  out,  when  by  the  exertions  of 
several  of  the  officers  among  whom  were:  Major  Budd,  Captain  L'Hommedieu 
Captain  Daugherty  and  Lieutenant  Bone,  the  line  was  supplied  with  cart- 
ridges from  the  boxes  of  the  dead  and  wounded.  The  attack  progressing, 
this  supply  was  soon  exhausted,  when  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Second 
Minnesota  kindly  supplied  us  with  several  rounds,  for  which  I  take  this 
opportunity  to  thank  them.  These  were  ordered  to  be  so  distributed  as  to 
give  each  man  three  rounds,  and  the  order  given  to  cease  firing,  fix 
bayonets,  and  approach  of  the  enemy.  It  was  near  dark.  The  troops  having 
been  removed  on  the  right  of  our  line,  the  Thirty-fifth  was  ordered  to  protect 
the  right  flank  and  was  wheeled  accordingly.  The  hill  was  immediately 
occupied  by  a  rebel  regiment,  whose  right  flank  rested  only  fifty  yards 
from  the  front  of  the  Thirty-fifth. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  34 1 


A  rebel  general,  believed  to  be  General  Gregg,  here  rode  up  and  asked 
whose  troops  we  were;  at  the  reply,  "Thirty-fifth  Ohio,"  he  wheeled,  but 
received  a  volley  from  the  Thirty-fifth  which  riddled  he  and  his  horse  and 
raked  the  line  of  the  rebels,  striking  them  at  an  angle  of  30  degrees,  breaking 
their  line,  and  sending  all  but  three  companies  down  the  hill  in  confusion. 
The  three  remaining  companies  poured  a  volley  into  our  front  and  left. 
With  this  fire  the  engagement  ceased,  it  being  7  p.  m.  The  order  for  retir- 
ing arrived,  just  at  this  juncture,  and  together  with  the  troops  on  the  hill  we 
fell  back  to  Rossville. 

The  regiment  went  into  the  fight  on  the  second  day  with  a  total  of  280 
officers  and  men.  Of  these  one  officer  was  killed,  Lieutenant  Harlan,  Com- 
pany F;  two  were  severely  wounded,  Lieutenant  Adams,  Company  G  and 
Lieutenant  Sabin,  Company  A;  Lieutenant  Rothenbush,  Company  I,  slightly; 
Lieutenant  Cottingham,  Company  E,  was  captured.  Eight  enlisted  men 
were  killed,  fifty-one  wounded  and  twenty-one  missing,  part  of  whom  were 
captured  in  the  charge.  The  loss  of  the  regiment  thus  shows  fifty  per  cent, 
as  near  as  may  be  ascertained  of  the  number  engaged.  This  taken  in  con- 
nection with  the  fact  that  the  regiment  never  broke  and  constantly  main- 
tained its  ground,  shows  its  merits  in  a  strong  light  and  needs  no  comment. 
The  present  available  force  of  the  regiment  for  line  of  battle  is  two  hundred 
and  forty  guns,  ten  companys  and  two  field  officers.  Dr.  Charles  O. 
Wright  and  Dr.  A.  H.  Landis  were  left  to  take  care  of  our  wounded  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy. 

Where  all  fought  so  nobly  and  so  well  it  is  impossible  to  make  distinc- 
tions. Still  I  must  be  allowed  to  speak  particularly  of  the  skirmishes,  first 
by  Captain  Daugherty,  Company  A,  and  subsequently  by  Lieutenant  Miller, 
Company  C,  and  the  heroic  conduct  of  our  color  bearer,  Sergeant  Mark  B. 
Price— to  his  coolness  much  of  the  good  order  that  prevailed  from  first  to 
last  is  owing  ;  and  to  commend  especially  to  your  notice  Orderly  Sergeant 
William  B.  Mikesell,  Company  E,  and  Richard  H.  Ford,  Orderly  Sergeant, 
Company  K.  and  Sergeant  William  K.  Van  Horn,  Company  I,  who  com- 
manded their  respective  companies  with  marked  ability  on  the  second  day 
of  the  fight.  Lieutenant  Harlan's  last  words  as  he  fell  were  a  cheer  to  his 
company  to  press  forward.  Lieutenant  Adams,  though  the  youngest  officer 
of  the  line,  displayed  great  courage,  and  when  he  thought  himself  dying, 
said  with  a  smile,  "I  shall  die,  but  that  is  nothing  if  we  whip  the  rebels." 
Captains  Lewis  and  Deardorff  fell  in  the  thickest  of  the  first  day's  fight,  and 
Lieutenants  Rothenbush  and  Sabin  on  the  second.  For  them  all  it  is 
enough  to  say  that  they  fell  at  their  posts  facing  the  foe.  Lieutenant 
Mather,  commanding  Company  H,  was  ever  conspicuous  in  the  discharge  of 
every  duty.  For  Captain  Henninger,  Lieutenants  Steele,  Taylor,  Cottingham, 
Houser  and  Davidson,  I  desire  to  say  that  they  were  ever  at  their  post  and 
performed  their  duty  to  my  entire  satisfaction.  Half  of  the  Thirty-fifth  are 
dead  or  wounded,  and  to  those  who  remain  I  can  only  say  that  their  com- 
manding officers  look  Upon  them  with  feelings  to  which  no  language  can 
give  expression.  To  have  belonged  to  the  Third  Brigade  will  hereafter  be 
the  crowning  glory  of  your  old  age. 

Returning  our  heartfelt  thanks  to  our  Heavenly  Father,  the  God  of 
Battles,  that  we  were  all  able  thus  to  discharge  our  whole  duty,  and  sorrow- 


342  Historical  Sketches. 


ing  as  soldiers  only  can  over  the  deaths  and  wounds  of  our  noble  comrades 
fallen,  we  pray  that  the  future  may  find  us  ever  ready  to  combat  treason 
both  on  Southern  battle-fields  and,  when  the  war  is  over,  among  the  vile 
traitors  of  the  north.  Yours  respectfully, 

H.  V.  N.  BOYNTON, 

Lieut.  Col.  Com'd'g  Thirty-fifth  O.  V.  I. 
Capt.  J.  R.  Beatty, 

Asst.  Adjt.  Gen.  3d  Brig.,  3d  Div.,  14th  A.  C. 

In  February,  1863,  Colonel  Van  Derveer  was  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  brigade,  and  L,ieutenant-colonel  Long 
assumed  command  of  the  regiment.  All  through  the 
campaign,  which  began  at  Murfreesboro  and  ended  at  Chatta- 
nooga, the  Thirty-fifth  was  in  the  front  of  the  marching  and 
fighting.  During  the  fall  of  1S63  the  Thirty-fifth  lay  with 
the  rest  of  the  army  of  Chattanooga,  and  frequently  engaged 
in  skirmishes  before  that  place.  They  were  on  the  front  line 
at  Mission  Ridge,  and  were  among  the  first  to  reach  the 
enemy's  works  on  the  crest,  from  which  they  drove  the  rebel 
force  and  captured  three  pieces  of  artillery. 

General  Brannan  in  official  report  of  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  says: 

"My  command  being  increased  by  the  arrival  of  Palmer  and  Negley's 
divisions;  and  most  opportunely  reinforced  by  Colonel  Van  Derveer's  brigade 
which  having  successfully,  though,  with  great  loss,  held  its  precarious 
position  in  the  general  line,  untihall  in  its  immediate  vicinity  had  retreated, 
then  retir%d  in  good  order,  actually  cutting  its  way  through  the  rebels  to 
rejoin  my  division.  The  gallant  brigade  was  one  of  the  few  who  maintained 
their  organization  perfect  throughout  the  hard  fought  passes  of  that  portion 
of  the  field." 

General  Thomas'  army  charged  the  rebel  lines  in  front, 
and  scaled  the  steeps  of  Missionary  Ridge,  sweeping  the  enemy 
from  the  summit  down  the  southern  slope.  This  charge  was 
made  to  "ease  the  pressure  on  Sherman."  It  was  half  past 
three  o'clock  when  Thomas'  army  moved  off  in  fine  style;  the 
men  pushed  rapidly  forward,  and  when  open  ground  was 
reached  started  on  "double  quick"  for  the  rebel  works.  The 
enemy  fled  "like  bees  from  a  hive"  to  the  rifle  pits  halfway 
up  the  Ridge.  The  union  forces  halted  but  an  instant  at  the 
base,  when,  almost  simultaneously,  the  men  leaped  over  the 
fortifications,  and  started  up  the  mountain.     The  lines  moved 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  343 

in  good  order.  The  Thirty-fifth  was  among  the  first  to  reach 
the  summit.  The  closing  contest  of  that  day  was  fought  by 
Thomas  in  a  higher  altitude  than  Lookout  Mountain  in  which 
Hooker's  forces  fought  the  day  previous.  The  Thirty-fifth 
captured  three  rebel  guns.  They  were  passed  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy.  During  this  time  other  troops  to  the  right  passed 
along  the  summit  and  gathered  in  the  guns,  claiming  the  cap- 
ture. Generals  Baird  and  Van  Derveer  in  their  reports  of  the 
battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  give  the  credit  of  the  capture  to 
the  Thirty-fifth.  The  regiment  drove  the  gunners  from  the 
pieces  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  The  losses  in  this  contest 
to  the  regiment  were  six  men  killed,  three  belonging  to  the 
color  company;  three  officers  and  nineteen  men  wounded,  and 
two  missing. 

The  Thirty-fifth  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of 
Corinth,  Miss;  Siege  of  Perryville,  Ky.;  Tullahoma — Campaign, 
Tenn;  Chickamauga,  Ga.;  Mission  Ridge,  Tenn.;  Buzzard  Roost, 
Ga.;  Atlanta  Campaign,  Ga.;  Dalton,  Ga.;  Resaca,  Ga.;  Kene- 
saw Mountain,  Ga.;  Pine  Mountain,  Ga.;  Pine  Knob,  Ga.;  Ken- 
esaw  Mountain,  (General  Assault)  Ga.;   Peachtree   Creek,    Ga. 

The  siege  of  Atlanta  began  May  7,  1864.  On  July  17, 
orders  were  given  for  an  advance  on  that  city.  "Our  skirm- 
ishers advanced  and  took  possession  of  the  works  of  the  enemy, 
with  the  intention  of  occupying  the  same  with  our  first  line  of 
battle.  The  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  was  deployed,  and  moved  up, 
on  the  double  quick  time  to  hold  the  same.  The  execution 
of  this  movement  was  very  creditable,  and  the  regiment  sus- 
tained considerable  loss,  in  making  it."  It  was  during  this 
movement  that  Captain  Lewis  F.  Daugherty  was  killed.  In 
his  death,  the  regiment  lost  one  of  its  faithful  and  valuable 
officers.  The  Thirty-fifth  left  the  trenches  before  Atlanta,  on 
the  eleventh  day  of  the  siege.  It  was  mustered  out  September 
8,  1864.  Space  forbids  a  more  lengthy  history  of  the  gallant 
Thirty-fifth.  Captain  F.  W.  Keil,  of  Ft.  Wayne,  Indiana, 
formerly  commanding  Company  C,  has  written  an  interesting 
history  of  this  regiment  from  August,  1861,  to  1864. 


344  Historical  Sketches. 

Ferdinand  VanDerveer  was  born  in  Middletown, 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  February  27,  1825.  He  attended  school 
in  his  native  village,  and  completed  an  Academic  course  at 
Farmers'  college,  near  Cincinnati.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  in  1845.  Shortly 
after  being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  returned  to  Hamilton,  and 
continued  his  legal  readings  under  the  tutelage  of  John  B.  Weller. 
In  the  month  of  May,  1846,  President  Polk  called  upon  the 
state  of  Ohio  to  furnish  three  regiments  of  soldiers  as  its  quota 
for  the  Mexican  war.  John  B.  Weller  soon  organized  a 
company  known  as  Company  I,  First  Ohio  Rifles.  Later  on 
Weller  was  appointed  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  First  regiment 
and  James  George  —  who  rose  to  the  rank  of  colonel  of  the 
Second  Minnesota  during  the  late  war  —  was  elected  captain. 
After  the  battle  of  Montery,  September  19,  20,  21,  1846, 
Captain  George  resigned  and  returned  home,  when  Sergeant 
VanDerveer  was  elected  captain  over  the  three  lieutenants. 
In  this  engagement  Company  I,  had  three  of  its  number 
killed,  namely:  John  Pierson,  of  Darrtown,  Oscar  Boehme 
and  Samuel  Freeman,  of  Hamilton.  After  Company  I,  was 
mustered  out  of  service,  Captain  VanDerveer  exhumed  their 
bodies  and  brought  them  home  at  his  own  expense  for  burial. 
The  funeral  service  was  held  in  the  court  house  park,  and  the 
three  bodies  were  buried  in  one  grave  in  Greenwood  cemetery. 
Captain  VanDerveerparticipated  in  most  of  the  important  battles 
of  the  Mexican  war  and  was  noted  for  his  coolness  and  bravery. 
He  was  presented  with  a  fine  sword,  sash,  etc.,  by  the  citizens 
of  Middletown,  on  his  return  home.  He  was  elected  sheriff  of 
Butler  county  in  1847,  serving  until  1849,  the  Yeargus  murder 
at  Busenbarks',  defeating  him  for  a  second  term.  Yeargus  was 
arrested  for  threatening  to  murder  his  wife  and  burn  the 
houses  of  his  neighbor's.  In  default  of  a  five  hundred  dollar 
bond  he  was  committed  to  jail.  After  several  months'  confine- 
ment he  was  allowed  the  liberty  of  the  jail  yard,  and  walked 
about  the  premises.  He  was  not  locked  in  a  cell,  as  the  other 
prisoners  were.  One  night  he  stole  out  of  the  jail  and  walked 
to  Busenbark's,  murdered  his  wife  by  cutting  her  throat  from 


;  ■  ■■  sr 


4&MI 


FKKD.  VAX   DKKVEF.R  THOMAS  MOORE 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  345 

ear  to  ear,  returning  to  the  jail  before  day  light  next  morning. 
General  VanDerveer  deplored  the  rash  act,  as  in  the  kindness 
of  his  heart,  he  granted  Yeargus  the  privileges  above  referred  to, 
who  in  return  for  the  courtesy  extended,  betrayed  the  confi- 
dence reposed  in  him,  and  committed  a  foul  murder. 

In  1849,  and  again  in  i860  he  edited  the  Hamilton 
Telegraph,  then  the  organ  of  the  Democratic  party  of  this 
county.  He  was  an  able  and  forcible  writer,  and  woe  be  it  to 
the  individual  who  incurred  his  displeasure  as  his  trenchent 
pen  was  keen  as  a  Damascus  blade.  In  the  fall  of  i860  he  was 
elected  prosecuting  attorney,  and  succeeded  in  sending  more 
criminals  to  penitentiary  than  any  other  prosecutor  that  ever 
held  the  office. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  he  organized  the 
gallant  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  regiment  and  was  commissioned 
colonel.  Inscribed  upon  its  banners  are  Chickamauga,  Mis- 
sion Ridge,  Resaca,  the  Siege  and  general  assault  of 
Atlanta,  etc.  On  Chickamauga's  bloody  plane,  Colonel  Van- 
Derveer commanded  a  brigade.  For  bravery  and  heroic  con- 
duct on  this  famous  battle-field  he  won  his  star  and  was  made  a 
Brigadier  General.  In  action  he  was  cool,  collected  and  knew 
not  what  fear  was. 

In  1865,  General  VanDerveer  was  appointed  Internal 
Revenue  Collector,  for  the  Third  District  of  Ohio. 

He  was  appointed  Postmaster  March  18,  1885,  and  served 
until  December  fourth,  when  he  resigned.  In  1886,  he  was 
elected  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  and  was  again 
re-elected  in  1891.     He  died  November  5,  1892. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Charles  L'Hommedieu  Long 
was  born  in  Franklin,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  in  1827.  His 
parents  moved  to  Cincinnati,  when  he  was  ten  years  of  age, 
and  in  which  city  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  attended  the 
Woodward  High  school  in  Cincinnati,  though  not  a  graduate. 
He  left  his  class  to  learn  the  printer's  trade  in  the  Cincinnati 
Gazette  office.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Mexican  war,  Col.  Long 
enlisted   in   the  First  Ohio  regiment.     He  made  a  record  as  a 


346  Historical  Sketches. 

gallant  soldier.  He  responded  to  the  call  of  President  Lincoln 
for  75,000  men.  He  organized  a  company  and  was  elected 
captain.  His  company  was  assigned  to  the  Fifth  Ohio.  He 
was  elected  major  of  the  regiment,  afterward  he  received  a 
Lieutenant  Colonel's  commission  and  assigned  to  the  Thirty- 
fifth.  Col.  Long  was  identified  with  the  Thirty-fifth  for 
nearly  two  years,  a  good  part  of  the  time  in  command.  He 
was  full  of  energy,  and  never  sought  to  evade  duty  in  any 
respect. 

In  July,  1863,  Col.  Long  resigned  and  returned  to  Cin- 
cinnati.    He  died  in  1890. 

Major  H.  V.  Boynton  came  to  Hamilton  August.20,  1861. 
He  had  been  commissioned  major  by  the  governor  of  Ohio, 
and  ordered  to  report  to  Col.  Van  Derveer  at  Hamilton.  The 
command  of  the  regiment  devolved  upon  him  from  the  close 
of  the  Tullahoma  campaign  to  the  Missionary  Ridge  fight, 
where  he  was  wounded.  At  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  Gen- 
eral Boynton  became  the  Washington  correspondent  of  the 
Cincinnati  Gazette,  taking  the  place  of  Whitelaw  Reid.  He 
served  over  twenty-five  years  for  the  same  paper.  He  made  a 
reputation  in  this  capacity.  The  enterprise  with  which  Gen. 
Boynton's  name  will  be  more  particularly  associated,  is  the 
conception,  developement  and  completion  of  the  National 
Park,  embracing  the  battle  field  of  Chickamauga  and  Mission- 
ary Ridge.  Chickamauga  was  the  hardest  fought  field  during 
the  Civil  War  considering  the  numbers  engaged.  The  park, 
covering  a  large  part  of  both  fields,  will  perpetuate,  for  all  time 
to  come,  the  fierce  battle  here  enacted,  as  well  as  the  bravery 
of  the  American  soldiers. 

Major  Joseph  L.  Budd  was  born  in  Mount  Holly,  New 
Jersey,  in  1833.  His  family  moved  to  Hamilton,  Ohio,  in 
1836,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood  days 
in  attending  school  at  the  old  Hamilton  Academy,  which  was 
at  that  time  in  charge  of  C.C.Giles.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen Joseph  Budd  removed  to  Lebanon,  Ohio,  in  Warren 
county,  to  enter  upon  the  mercantile  profession.     He  continued 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  347 

in  that  business  up  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War. 
Major  Budd  had  a  taste  for  the  military  profession.  In  1857  ne 
was  a  member  of  the  "Warren  Guards." 

Major  Budd  was  identified  with  the  Thirty-fifth  as  captain 
of  company  A,  which  he  commanded  until  June,  1863,  when 
he  received  promotion  as  major  of  the  regiment.  He  served 
after  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  on  Gen.  Baird's  staff.  After 
the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  he  took  command  of  the  regi- 
ment. From  January,  1864,  until  the  regiment  was  sent  north 
to  be  mustered  out  of  the  service,  Major  Budd  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  regiment,  or  in  other  words,  he  commanded  the 
Thirty-fifth  on  the  Atlanta  campaign. 

John  S.  Earheart  was  born  in  Jacksonburg,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  March  10,  1824.  His  parents  moved  to  Hamil- 
ton when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  two  years  of  age. 
At  this  place  he  attended  the  Hamilton  Academy,  and  later  he 
entered  the  Ohio  Farmer's  college,  then  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Freeman  Carey.  Capt.  Earheart  studied  civil  engi- 
neering. He  assisted  his  father  in  building  a  number  of 
turnpikes  in  southern  Ohio,  in  the  Hamilton  hydraulic  and 
surveying  lands,  as  well  as  work  connected  with  railways. 
The  Ohio  division  of  the  Junction  Railway  was  under  Captain 
Earhart's  management.  The  fine  viaduct  through  the 
First  ward  of  this  city,  a  masterpiece  of  engineering  skill,  was 
constructed  by  Captain  Earheart.  He  became  chief  engineer 
on  the  middle  section  of  the  Miami  and  Erie  canal,  and  when 
the  Civil  War  began,  he  resigned  and  assisted  in  recruiting 
the  Thirty-fifth.  He  commanded  Company  C  of  the  regiment 
until  the  spring  of  1863,  when  he  was  appointed  topographical 
engineer  and  assigned  on  Gen.  Steedman's  staff.  Afterward 
he  was  advanced  to  the  same  position  on  Gen.  Brannan's  staff. 
He  served  in  that  place  until  his  death,  August  10,  1863. 
His  death  was  noticed  in  general  orders,  as  follows: 

"His  zeal  and  undoubted  ability  in  the  discharge  of  his  arduous  duties 
insured  him  the  confidence  of  his  superiors,  and  his  high  moral  character 
and  gentlemanly  deportment  won  the  respect  and  admiration  of  all.  In  the 
death  of  Captain  Earheart,  the  service  loses  a  faithful  and  efficient  staff  officer; 


348  Historical  Sketches. 

society  a  worthy  and  respected  member,  and  while  we,  his  associates  in  life, 
can  but  mourn  his  loss,  let  us  humbly  hope  that  in  his  exemplary  life  and 
character,  death  has  gained  for  him  peace  above.     By  command  of 

"Brig.  Gen.  John  M.  Brannan." 

Captain  Philip  Rothenbush.  —  The  subject  of  this 
brief  sketch  was  born  in  Rossville,  (now  First  ward  of  Hamil- 
ton), July  i,  1842.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
this  city  and  Nathan  Furman's  Academy.  Afterward  he  was 
a  drug  clerk  in  his  father's  store  in  the  P.  G.  Smith  building 
on  the  West  Side  for  six  years.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War  he  enlisted  under  Captain  W.  C.  Rossman,  in  Company 
F,  Third  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three  months'  service. 
Later  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Thirty-fifth  Ohio,  and  was 
appointed  orderly  sergeant.  In  February,  1862,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  first  lieutenant,  and  in  March,  1864,  received  the 
rank  of  captain.  These  advancements  were  the  reward  of 
merit.  On  September  19th  and  20th,  1863,  he  fought  and  was 
wounded  on  Chickamauga's  bloody  plain,  and  in  1864,  on 
Lookout  mountain;  was  one  of  the  leaders  who  helped  to 
crown  the  North  with  glory  on  the  these  famous  battle-fields. 
He  was  United  States  Assessor  in  1865  of  Fairfield  and  St. 
Clair  townships.  In  1866,  Captain  Rothenbush  was  appointed 
United  States  store  keeper,  in  the  Third  District  of  Ohio.  In 
1867,  he  engaged  in  the  fruit  business  in  connection  with 
Blair  Boger,  who  later  sold  out  to  James  D.  Ratliff.  This 
latter  partnership  covered  a  period  of  six  years,  when  Captain 
Rothenbush  sold  his  interest  to  George  A.  Miller.  After 
several  months  rest  he  opened  his  present  establishment  at  No. 
1 10  High  street. 

Captain  Rothenbush  is  the  oldest  fruit  dealer  in  Hamilton. 
He  was  the  first  to  introduce  the  sale  of  bananas  in  this  city 
when  they  sold  at  fifteen  cents  a  piece;  was  the  first  to  handle 
poultry  outside  of  market.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  handling 
apples,  cabbage  and  potatoes  by  the  car  load.  He  keeps  the 
best  and  finest  line  of  domestic  and  tropical  fruits.  He  carries 
a  large  and  varied  stock  of  seeds,  candies,  cigars  and  tobacco. 
He   is   a   thorough   business   man;  an  energetic  and  untiring 


l'HILIP  ROTHENBUSH 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  349 

worker;  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a  large  trade.  Close 
application  and  personal  supervision  of  business  are  the  secrets 
of  his  success.  His  place  is  abreast  of  the  times  and  his  is 
justly  considered  as  the  leading  fruit  house  in  Hamilton. 

Captain  Rothenbush  was  with  his  father,  in  1865,  in  the 
grocery  business  in  the  West  End.  He  was  married,  January 
16,  1866,  to  Ollie  M.  Ratliff.  They  are  the  parents  of  three 
children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  They  are  James  E., 
Jennie  M.,  and  Clifford  E.  Mr.  Rothenbush  is  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  Royal  Arcanum. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  SIXTY-NINTH  O.  V.  I. 

This  regiment  was  recruited  and  organized  in  the  Fair 
grounds  at  Hamilton,  in  the  latter  part  of  1861.  Its  first 
Colonel  was  Hon.  Lewis  D.  Campbell,  who  resigned  on  August 
9,  1862,  and  was  succeeded  successively  by  Colonels  W.  B. 
Cassilly,  M.  F.  Moore,  and  J.  H.  Brigham.  Its  other  regimental 
officers  were  as  follows:  Lieutenant  Colonels,  Charles  L. 
Gano,  George  F.  Elliott,  J.  H.  Brigham;  Majors,  Eli  J.  Hickox, 
James  L.  Hanna,  Lewis  E.  Hicks;  Adjutants,  Richard  H. 
Cunningham,  W.  S.  Mead,  Thomas  B.  Hoffman,  Joseph  W. 
Boynton;  Quartermasters,  Fred.  B.  Landis,  Levi  E.  Chenoweth. 
Following  is  the  original  company  officers:  J.  H.  Brigham, 
Company  A;  C.  N.  Gibbs,  Company  B;  G.  F.  Elliott,  Company 
C;  E.  Hickox,  Company  D;  David  Putman,  Company  E; 
Robert  Clements,  Company  F;  William  Patton,  Company  G. 
L-  C.  Counsellor,  Company  H;  J.  V.  Heslip,  Company  I;  J.  J. 
Hanna,  Company  K.  The  Sixty-ninth  regiment  was  not 
wholly  from  Butler  county.  It  counts  upon  its  lists  the  names 
of  Montgomery,  Preble,  Darke,  Harrison  and  Fairfield.  The 
regiment  left  Hamilton  February  19,  1862,  for  Camp  Chase, 
Columbus,  where  it  remained  guarding  rebel  prisoners  and 
preparing  for  the  field.  On  April  19,  1862,  the  Sixty-ninth 
left  for  Nashville,  Tennessee,  arriving  there  on  the  22. 

It  went  into  camp  on  the  grounds  of  Major  Lewis,  and  was 
reviewed  by  Andrew  Johnson,  the  warm  personal  friend  of  the 
colonel,  then  the  military  governor  of  Tennessee,  and  after- 
ward the  Vice-president  and  President  of  the  United  States. 


350  Historical  Sketches. 

This  regiment  took  part  in  the  following  battles:  Gallatin, 
Tenn.;  Stone  River,  Tenn.;  Mission  Ridge,  Tenn. ;  Resaca, 
Ga.  (including  Pnrapkin  Vine  Creek;)  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.; 
Marietta,  Ga.;  Chatahoochie,  River,  Ga.;  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
Ga.;  Atlanta,  Ga.;  Siege  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.;  Bentonville,  Ga.; 
Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea. 

On  May  i,  1862,  the  regiment  went  to  Franklin,  where  it 
acted  as  the  guard  for  forty  miles  of  the  Tennessee  and 
Alabama  Railroad.  The  rebel  women  of  Franklin  were 
especially  bitter,  and  on  one  occasion  evinced  their  venom 
against  the  national  dead  buried  in  the  cemetery  by  dancing 
on  their  graves.  Colonel  Campbell  issued  an  order  comment- 
ing in  severe  terms  upon  this  indignity.  On  June  12,  the 
regiment  was  ordered  to  Murfreesboro,  and  thence  it  made  its 
first  march  to  McMinnville,  in  pursuit  of  a  rebel  force,  making 
forty-eight  miles  in  twenty-three  hours.  From  McMinnville,  it 
advanced  through  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  to  a  point  near 
Pikeville,  when  it  was  found  that  the  enemy  were  out  of  reach, 
and  the  column  returned.  On  coming  back  to  McMinnville,  a 
United  States  flag  was  hoistered  on  a  tall  hickory  pole,  which 
was  standing  in  the  square.  On  this  occasion  General  Dumont 
and  Colonel  Campbell  addressed  telling  speeches  to  the  citizens, 
and  the  fervid  exclamations  and  the  tears  of  many  an  old 
citizen,  attested  their  devotion  for  the  "Old  Flag."  The 
regiment  returned  —  moved  from  McMinnville  to  Nashville, 
where  it  was  presently  ordered  on  guard  duty,  Colonel  Camp- 
bell becoming  Provost  Marshal  of  the  city.  This  duty  was 
performed  until  sometime  during  the  month  of  August,  and 
the  regiment  was  organized  with  the  Eleventh  Michigan,  the 
Eighteenth  Ohio  and  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  into  the  Twenty- 
ninth  brigade,  commanded  by  Colonel  T.  R.  Stanley  of  the 
Eighteenth  Ohio.  The  maiden  engagement  of  the  Sixty- 
ninth  took  place  at  Gallatin,  Tenn.,  early  in  August, 
Morgan  had  taken  possession  of  Gallatin  capturing  the  garri- 
son. The  regiments  including  the  Sixty-ninth,  moved  against 
Morgan  engaging  him  at  Gallatin,  driving  him  out  of  the  town 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  351 

pell-mell,  with  a  heavy  loss  to  the  rebels.     In  this  sharp  fight, 
Isaac  Repp,  of  Dayton,  was  killed. 

On  November  5,  the  Sixty-ninth  took  part  in  the  fight  on 
Franklin  Pike,  five  miles  from  Nashville.  This  was  during  the 
time  that  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was  operating  against 
Bragg,  in  Kentucky,  and  Nashville  was  surrounded  by  the 
enemy.  The  demonstration  on  the  Franklin  Pike  was  heavy 
but  General  Negley,  by  a  judicious  disposition  of  his  meager 
forces  and  an  abundant  use  of  artillery,  repelled  the  attack. 
The  Sixty-ninth  met  with  but  slight  loss  in  this  affair. 

From  November  7,  till  December  26,  the  troops  were 
resting,  while  the  campaign  which  ended  in  Stone  River 
was  planned  and  prepared.  On  this  day,  the  army  started  on 
the  march  to  Murfreesboro.  Several  days  were  spent  in 
marching  and  skirmishing,  and  on  the  memorable  December 
31,  the  Sixty-ninth  was,  with  Negley's  division  on  the  right 
center  of  the  army,  were  engaged  in  the  Cedar  Thicket  fight, 
which  for  fighting  and  carnage,  had  not  been  surpassed  dur- 
ing the  war.  On  that  day  the  regiment  had  five  officers 
wounded,  two  men  killed,  and  about  fifty  wounded  and  made 
prisoners.  Thursday,  January  1,  General  Rosecrans  sent 
Negley's  and  Rosecran's  divisions  out  on  the  right  to  draw 
the  enemy  out,  but  without  success.  Bragg  was  getting 
cautious.  On  Friday,  these  troops  were  sent  down  on  the  left 
of  the  army,  toward  which  quarter  the  enemy  were  concen- 
trating. On  this  day,  occurred  one  of  the  most  brilliant  acts  in 
the  history  of  the  regiment.  Breckenridge's  corps  had  passed 
down  till  Van  Cleve's  division  was  falling  back,  from  their 
advantageous  position  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  Heavy 
masses  of  the  enemy  were  advancing  down  on  Negley's 
position,  in  force,  apparently  sufficient  to  crush  their  left. 
At  this  critical  juncture,  General  Rosecrans,  who  was  watch- 
ing the  field  with  the  utmost  anxiety,  called  out,  "Who  will 
save  the  left."  Colonel  Scott,  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois, 
sprang  up  and  replied,  "General,  I  am  ready." 

This  gallantry  was  contagious,  and  in  a  few  seconds  the 
Twenty-ninth    brigade   were    on   their    feet,    charging   with 


352  Historical  Sketches. 

tremendous  cheers  across  Stone  river  and  up  the  hill,  in  the 
face  of  the  advancing  enemy.  Breckenridge's  men  intimidated 
by  the  charge,  and  the  terrible  fire  of  the  brigade,  wavered, 
and  then  fell  back  in  confusion.  Colonel  Stanley  was  conspic- 
uous in  this  charge  for  his  cool  and  daring  courage.  The  brave 
Colonel  Scott,  who  inspired  the  charge,  was  mortally  wounded. 
Sergeant  Frederick  Wilson,  of  the  Sixty-ninth  captured 
a  rebel  battle  flag,  but  in  the  eager  pursuit  it  was 
dropped,  and  afterward  picked  up  by  some  other  regiment. 
In  this  charge  the  Sixty-ninth  captured  a  part  of  famous 
Washington  Battery  from  New  Orleans.  The  regiment 
lost  Captain  Counsellor  and  six  men  killed  and  about  twenty 
wounded. 

After  the  capture  of  Murfreesboro,  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  was  reorganized;  the  regiments  of  the  Fifty-ninth 
brigade  remaining  together. 

About  the  last  of  June,  the  Sixty-ninth  marched  with  the 
army  on  the  Tallahoma  campaign,  arriving  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountains,  July  4.  Bragg  fell  back  without  giving  battle.  At 
Cowan,  Tennessee,  when  the  troops  were  sent  forward,  the 
Sixty-ninth  was  left,  until  the  entire  army  had  advanced,  when 
it  was  attached  to  the  reserve  corps  and  moved  to  Rossville, 
Ga.  On  the  night  of  September  18,  the  Sixty-ninth  was 
ordered  to  the  front,  being  attached  to  Colonel  Dan  McCook's 
brigade.  On  the  morning  of  Saturday,  the  first  day  at  Chicka- 
mauga,  the  Sixty-ninth  performed  one  of  the  most  gallant  acts 
of  the  war,  in  burning  Reid's  bridge,  over  the  Chickamauga. 
They  advanced  at  daybreak,  in  the  face  of  heavy  masses  of  the 
enemy,  piled  up  the  plank  on  the  brigade  and  set  fire  to  it, 
thus  preventing  the  enemy  from  coming  in  on  the  rear  of  the 
national  army.  The  regiment  then  fell  back  to  Rossville,  and 
immediately  thereafter  took  charge  of  the  division  trains.  For 
this  reason  it  did  not  participate  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 
They  received  a  tremendous  fire  from  the  enemy,  but  com- 
pleted the  work  and  then  retired,  before  a  heavy  pursuing 
force.  This  daring  feat  has  received  special  mention  in  the 
official  reports.     The  trains  were  all  ordered  to  Chattanooga, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  353 

the  Sixty-ninth  accompanied  them  to  that  point,  and  then 
returned  to  the  front,  Saturday  afternoon.  When  the  Four- 
teenth Army  Corps,  fell  back,  on  Monday  night,  the  Sixty- 
ninth  stood  advance  picket  guard  covering  the  retreat  of  the 
entire  army.  During  the  siege  of  Chattanooga,  by  Bragg,  this 
regiment  worked  almost  unremittingly  in  the  trenches,  much 
of  the  time  on  half  and  one-third  rations.  It  took  an  active 
part  in  the  magnificent  series  of  operations  by  which  Grant 
drove  Bragg  from  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge. 

During  the  storming  of  Lookout  Mountain,  the  Sixty- 
ninth  was  on  picket,  and  from  its  position  on  duty,  it  advanced 
in  the  grand  assault  on  Mission  Ridge.  .  In  the  assault,  the 
regiment  was  in  General  Johnson's  division,  on  the  right  cen- 
tre. The  Sixty-ninth  bore  as  brave  a  front  up  that  terrible 
steep,  as  any  other  regiment  engaged.  On  the  Ridge,  the 
Sixty-ninth  captured  several  guns  and  turned  them  on  the 
fleeing  enemy.  Its  loss  in  this  charge  was  forty-four  men, 
nine  of  whom  were  killed  and  mortally  wounded.  Here 
within  twenty  yards  of  the  crest,  full  in  the  front,  while 
crouching  to  avoid  the  terrible  fire,  but  proudly  holding  up 
the  tattered  flag  of  the  regiment,  Color  Sergeant  Jacob  Wetzel 
received  a  ball  through  his  head,  and  fell  a  glorious  martyr  to 
the  cause  of  liberty. 

The  performance  of  the  regiment  in  that  charge  was  such 
that  General  Johnson,  in  visiting  the  wounded,  when  he  came 
to  one  of  the  men  of  the  Sixty-ninth,  would  say,  "Ah!  another 
Sixty-ninth  boy — the  first  to  reach  the  top."  During  the 
advance  up  the  Ridge,  while  under  a  terrific  fire  of  musketry 
and  artillery,  a  fragment  of  a  bursted  shell  struck  Colonel 
Moore  on  his  left  side.  He  would  have  been  instantly  killed 
but  for  his  field  glass,  which  received  and  was  shattered  by 
the  blow.  On  the  next  day  after  the  capture  of  Mission 
Ridge,  our  troops  pursued  the  enemy  toward  Dalton.  The 
same  night,  November  26,  the  brigade  to  which  the  Sixty- 
ninth  belonged,  crossed  Chickamauga  creek,  and  advanced 
toward  a  rebel  encampment.  Late  in  the  night  they  came 
near   the   camp  and  advanced,  cautiously,  near  enough  to  see 


354  Historical  Sketches. 

the  men  about  the  fires.  Here  the  Sixty-ninth  fired  a  volley 
and  went  in  on  full  charge.  The  rebels  fled,  leaving  with  the 
victors  a  battle-flag,  three  pieces  of  artillery  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty  prisoners. 

On  September  7,  the  Sixty-ninth  took  part  in  the  fight  at 
Jonesboro,  and  lost  Lieutenant  Jacob  S.  Pierson,  Martin  V. 
Bailey,  Color  Sergeant  Allen  L.  Jobes,  of  Company  D,  and  five 
men  killed  and  thirty-six  wounded.  The  battle  caused  the 
evacuation  of  Atlanta,  and  the  national  forces  occupied  that 
city.  The  regiment  participated  in  the  subsequent  chase  after 
Hood  through  the  upper  part  of  Georgia  and  into  Alabama. 
It  then  returned  to  Atlanta,  and  joined  Sherman's  march  to 
the  sea.  Arriving  in  Savannah,  it  took  position  in  the  front 
line. 

In  the  campaign  through  the  Carolinas  the  regiment  was 
engaged  with  the  enemy  near  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina, 
March  19,  1865,  and  lost  two  killed  and  eight  wounded.  This 
was  the  last  affair  in  which  it  participated.  Then  came  the 
march  through  Richmond,  the  review  at  Washington,  the 
transfer  to  Louisville,  and,  lastly,  the  final  muster  out  of  the 
service  on  July  17,  1865. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTY-SEVENTH  0.  V.  I. 

This  regiment  was  organized  in  Hamilton,  on  May  2,  1864, 
and  sworn  into  the  United  States  service  on  the  fourteenth  of 
the  same  month.  On  May  18,  it  received  marching  orders  for 
West  Virginia,  and  reached  Charleston,  in  that  State,  on  May 
21.  It  went  into  quarters  at  Camp  Piatt,  named  in  honor  of 
Colonel  A.  Saunders  Piatt,  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Ohio  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  Later  the  regiment  removed  to  Loupe  Creek, 
twenty-five  miles  further  up  the  Kanawha  River,  where  four 
companies  were  detached  and  sent  lo  Gauley  Bridge.  At  these 
points  they  relieved  the  Second,  Third  and  Seventh  regiments 
of  West  Virginia  Cavalry.  The  duty  this  regiment  was  called 
upon  to  perform  was  transporting  supplies  to  Generals  Hunter, 
Crook  and  Averill  and  guarding  government  stores.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Hamilton,  in  the  latter 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents. 


355 


part  of  September,  1864,  after  having  served  about  a  month 
longer  than  its  term  of  enlistment.  Following  is  a  list  of  the 
officers  of  the  regiment: 


Colonel,  Thomas  Moore. 
Lieutenant-colonel,  J.  E.  Newton. 
y  ajor,  John  F  Bender. 
Surgeon,  Moses  H.  Haynes. 
Assistant  Surgeon,  J.S.Ferguson. 
Adjutant,  LaFayette  Traber. 
Quartermaster,  Henry  P  Dove 
Chaplain,  Jeremiah  Geiger. 

COMPANY  A. 

Captain,  James  E.  Stewart. 
First  Lieutenant,  J.  A.  Kennedy. 
Second  Lieutenant,  C.  M. Dexter. 

COMPANY  B. 

Captain,  Edward  T.  Jones. 
First  Lieutenant,  S.  W.  Woodruff 
Second  Lieutenant,  C.  Vaughn 

COMPANY  c. 
Captain,  John  Koeninger. 
First  Lieutenant,  Jacob  Kurz. 
Second  Lieutenant.P.Winkelhaus- 

COMPANY  D. 

Captain,  B.  F.  Bookwalter. 
First  Lieutenant,  A.  W.  Eckert. 
Second  Lieutenant,  A.  Richardson. 


Captain,  George  C.  Warvel. 
First  Lieutenant,  Benj.  F.  Banker. 
Second  Lieutenant,  J.  Busenbark. 

COMPANY  F. 
Captain,  John  C.  Lewis 
First  Lieutenant,  James  F.  Imlay. 
Second  Lieutenant,  S.  S.   Garver. 

COMPANY  G. 
Captain.  David  B.  Kerr 
FirstLieutenant.T.  H.  Robertson. 
Second  Lieutenant,W.  M  cKecknie 

COMPANY  H. 

Captain,  James  A.  Stevens. 
First  Lieutenant,  L-  D.  Keil. 
Second  Lieutenant, Levi  Jameson. 

company  1. 
Captain,  Samuel  K.  Wickard. 
First  Lieutenant,  Philip  H.Welty. 
Second  Lieutenant, Henry  C  Gray. 

company  k. 
Captain,  Daniel  D.  Zeller. 
First  Lieutenant,  W.  B.  Davis. 
Second  Lieutenant.W.T. Whipple. 


In  all  enlistments,  during  the  war,  Hamilton  and  Butler 
county  furnished  3,750  recruits.  Of  this  grand  army  of  men 
only  1,025  remain  in  the  county.  A  number  were  killed  in 
battle;  some  have  removed  elsewhere,  but  a  majority  of  them 
have  answered  the  last  roll  call  and  have  passed  the  lintels 
and  portals,  which  calls  to  our  mind  that  beautiful  dirge  that 
we  listened  to  thirty-five  years  ago: 

"A  heart  so  leal  and  the  hand  of  steel 

Are  palsied,  aye,  forever, 
But  the  noble  deed  and  the  patriot's  need 

Are  left  of  the  heroes'  life. 
The  bugle's  call  and  the  battle  ball 

Again  shall  rouse  him  never. 
He  fought  and  fell,  he  served  us  well, 

His  furlough  lasts  forever." 


356  Historical  Sketches. 

STATE  SENATORS. 

The  following  persons  have  represented  the  Butler- 
Warren  District  in  the  upper  branch  of  the  General  Assembly 
since  1804: 

John  Bigger 1804-1806  Thomas  Moore 1860-1862 

Jacob  Smith 1806-1807  A.  G.  McBurney 1862-1866 

Richard  S.  Thomas 1807-1808  N.  C.  McFarland 1866-1868 

Thomas  Irvvm 1808-1820  William  H.  Campbell 1868-1870 

James  Heaton 1820-1824  Lewis  D.  Campbell 1870-1872 

Joel  Collins 1824-1828  peter  Murphy 1872-1874 

Daniel  Woodmansee 1S28-1830  Benj.  Butterworth 1874-1876 

Fergus  Anderson 1830-1832  Dechant  ) 

Daniel  Woodmansee 1832-1834  r.  m.  uecnant  1  l876-i878 

Elijah  Vance 1834-1838  William  H.  Stokes  ) 

John  Saylor 1838-1S40  William  H.  Stokes 1878-1880 

Robert  Hazeltine 1840-1S44  J.  L-  Mounts  1880-1882 

James  B.  King 1844-1848  Lewis  D.  Anderson 1882-1884 

Valentine  I  hase 1848-1850  George  F.  Elliott 1884-1886 

Jonathan  Kilbourn 1850-1854  William  S.  Elzroth 1886-1888 

G.  W.  Stokes 1854-1856  Estes  G.  Rathbone 1888-1S90 

Daniel  Heaton 1856-1858  James  L.  Stephens 1890-1892 

Lauren  Smith 1858-1860  Joseph  J.  McMaken  1892-1896 

In  the  list  will  be  found  the  names  of  men  who  were  well 
versed  in  law;  who  have  made  and  are  making  our  history 
today.  Among  the  list  we  mention  Elijah  Vance,  Valentine 
Chase,  Thomas  Moore,  N.  C.  McFarland,  William  H.  Camp- 
bell, L.  D.  Campbell,  Peter  Murphy,  George  F.  Elliott,  Estes 
G.  Rathbone  and  J.  J.  McMaken. 

Colonel  Thomas  Moore  was  born  in  the  city  of  Que- 
bec, Canada,  July  22,  1822.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction. 
His  parents  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  in  1828,  where  his 
father  died  one  year  later.  In  1830,  with  his  mother  and  two 
brothers  he  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Oxford,  this  county, 
where  he  attended  school  until  1833,  when  he  moved  to  Preble 
county.  When  he  was  fifteen  he  began  working  at  the  tailor's 
trade,  and  after  completing  his  time,  labored  for  eight  weeks 
as  a  journeyman,  acquiring  enough  money  in  this  time  to  carry 
him  through  one  term  at  Miami  University,  in  the  fall  of 
1839.  He  was  a  student  in  that  institution  for  some  four 
years,  working  at  his  trade  during  vacations,   and  whenever 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  357 

the  opportunity  offered,  and  also  teaching  school,  using  the 
money  thus  acquired  to  gain  an  education.  Completing  his 
course,  he  entered  the  office  of  L.  D.  Campbell,  in  Hamilton, 
about  1845,  and  read  law  with  him.  From  this  he  went  to 
Jackson  &  Hawkins,  at  Eaton,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio,  at  Columbus,  in  the  winter  of 
1845  and  1846.  A  year  after  he  entered  into  partnership  with 
Judge  William  J.  Gilmore,  which  lasted  a  year,  and  was  dis- 
solved by  Judge  Gilmore  going  to  Eaton.  Colonel  Moore  was 
elected  State  Senator  from  the  Butler- Warren  district,  in  i860, 
being  the  first  Republican  to  fill  that  position. 

As  Senator  he  introduced  and  pushed  to  its  final  passage 
a  bill  repealing  the  Criminal  Cost  Act.  Under  the  provisions 
of  this  law  constables  were  authorized  to  pursue  criminals 
anywhere  in  the  United  States,  and  render  a  certified  copy  of 
the  cost  bill  to  the  county  auditor,  who  in  turn  was  authorized 
to  draw  a  warrant  on  the  treasury  for  the  same.  In  those  days 
the  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  constable  were  a  valuable 
sinecure,  worth  at  least  $10,000  per  annum. 

He  was  mayor  of  Rossville  in  1850-51,  a  position  he  soon 
after  resigned.  He  was  originally  a  member  of  the  Associate 
Reformed  church,  but  for  ten  years  before  his  death  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  1864,  he  was  elected 
Colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Ohio,  and 
commanded  it  during  its  service  of  four  months  in  West  Vir- 
ginia. Colonel  Moore  was  married  in  1845,  to  Miss  Mary  C. 
Caldwell,  who  was  born  in  Preble  connty,  in  1823.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Moore  are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  of  whom  five 
are  living.  Colonel  Moore  was  long  an  active  and  laborious 
worker  in  the  Republican  cause,  and  before  that  in  the  Whig. 
He  was  a  frequent  political  speaker,  also  at  temperance  and 
Sunday  school  meetings,  and  was  interested  in  every  thing 
that  concerned  this  city  or  locality.  Colonel  Moore  died 
June  19,  1893. 

Colonel  George  F.  Elliott  was  born  April  8,  1826, 
near  the  famous  old  Spring  Meeting  house  in  Liberty  town- 
ship, which  has  often  resounded  with  the  pious   eloquence   of 


358  Historical  Sketches. 

his  father.  He  was  the  youngest  of  the  seven  sons  of  Rev. 
Arthur  Elliott,  who  came  out  to  this  county  from  Maryland 
to  fill  the  manly  part  of  a  pioneer  exhorter.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen,  George  was  sent  to  St.  Clair  township  where  he 
spent  several  of  the  following  years  in  farm  work,  attending 
such  schools  as  circumstances  permitted.  The  greater  part  of 
his  educational  training  was  acquired  in  a  school  conducted  by 
a  Mr.  Wade  in  the  basement  of  the  old  Episcopal  church  in 
this  city.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  Colonel  Elliott  of 
his  own  accord  and  almost  entirely  by  his  own  exertions 
recruited  Company  C,  of  the  Sixty-ninth  O.  V.  I.  His  record 
as  a  soldier  shines  pre-eminent  in  the  annals  of  Butler  county's 
achievements  in  the  great  struggle.  He  was  appointed  Major 
on  August  9,  1862,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  in  October,  1862. 
The  crowning  event  of  his  military  record  was  his  brilliant 
performance  on  the  bloody  field  of  Stone  River.  Through 
those  six  hideous  days  he  led  his  regiment  with  courage  and 
ability.  The  serious  sickness  of  his  wife  called  him  to  his 
home  shortly  before  the  final  declaration  of  peace,  and  he  con- 
tinued in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  on  his  homestead  farm, 
until  1866,  when  he  embarked  into  wider  fields  of  industry. 

During  the  three  following  years  he  engaged  in  the  distill- 
ing business  in  this  city.  He  operated  two  distilleries  which 
in  the  short  course  of  their  existence,  paid  into  the  Govern- 
ment exchequer  upwards  of  $2,000,000.  In  1873,  Colonel 
Elliott  finally  retired  from  business  life,  and  then  began  his 
career  of  eminent  public  service.  His  first  public  office  was 
that  of  member  of  the  Decennial  State  Board  of  Equalization. 
His  excellent  services  in  this  capacity  secured  him  the  Demo- 
cratic nomination  for  State  Senator  in  1881.  Although  his 
nomination  was  unanimous  he  was  defeated  by  the  small 
margin  of  twenty-seven  votes.  In  1883,  he  was  again  nomi- 
nated and  elected  to  the  senate,  where  he  left  a  long  record  of 
distinguished  services  in  behalf  of  the  district  which  he  repre- 
sented. Not  the  least  of  Colonel  Elliott's  claims  to  public 
gratitude  is  the  fact  that  he  fathered  the  first  appropriation  bill 
which   was  ever  passed   in   behalf  of  Miami  University.     In 


OKORGK,  F.  HLUOTT 


J.J.  McMAKHX 


KSTKS  G.  RATHBONK 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  359 

November,  1889,  he  was  appointed  to  a  place  on  the  Soldier's 
Relief  Commission  to  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of 
Charles  E.  Giffen.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  United 
States  L,and  Commission,  whose  function  it  is  to  recover  aban- 
doned or  swamp  lands,  and  until  1888  he  had  entire  jurisdiction 
over  the  states  of  Oregon  and  Washington.  He  was  also  a 
director  of  the  Second  National  bank  in  the  years  of  1868-9 
and  has  always  been  an  active  and  useful  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  In  1854,  Colonel  Elliott  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eleanor  Hueston,  whose  father  had 
served  as  captain  of  pack  horses  in  the  famous  expedition  of 
Mad  Anthony  Wayne,  which  forever  broke  the  hold  of  the 
Indians  in  the  valley  of  the  Miami.  Upon  his  marriage  he 
received  from  his  father  a  grant  of  200  acres  of  farm  land. 
He  had  been  a  strong  and  useful  man,  and  the  abundant 
energies  of  his  life  were  directly  applied  to  the  interests 
and  improvements  of  his  native  city,  county  and  state.  Colonel 
Elliott  died  Wednesday  evening,  May  13,  1896  The  funeral 
was  held  from  the  home  on  North  B  street  at  2:30  o'clock 
Friday  afternoon,  May  15,  and  was  conducted  by  Rev.  J.  W. 
Peters  in  conjunction  with  the  Rev.  W.  I.  Fee,  a  life-long  friend 
of  the  deceased.  The  pall  bearers  were:  E.  G.  Rathbone,  F. 
W.  Whitaker,  Dr.  S.  L.  Beeler,  Dr.  W.  C.  Miller,  Dr.  James 
W.  Roll  and  G.  K.  Shaffer. 

Estes  G.  Rathbone  was  born  in  Hebron,  Pennsylvania, 
July  30,  1848.  His  childhood  was  spent  in  the  locality  of  his 
birth,  and  he  was  passed  from  the  public  schools  into  Alfred 
college  in  New  York.  After  his  father's  death  the  manage- 
ment of  the  family  estate  gave  him  his  first  taste  of  active 
business  in  which  he  has  since  been  so  long  immersed,  and  the 
ability  with  which  he  conducted  the  family's  affairs  pledged 
the  success  of  his  after  life.  In  1874  he  began  his  extensive 
public  career  as  a  Special  Agent  in  the  treasury  department 
where  he  remained  until  his  promotion  in  1883  to  a  place  of 
importance  in  the  Pension  Bureau.  Before  the  close  of  the 
administration  under  which  he  was  appointed  he  had  increased 


360  Historical  Sketches. 

the  bureau  staff  to  more  than  five  times  its  original  size  and 
efficiency. 

His  residence  in  Hamilton  dates  from  the  year  1885 
when  he  came  to  this  city  to  assume  control  of  the  large  inter- 
ests of  the  Lewis  D.  Campbell  estate.  Public  honor  speedily 
followed  him  to  his  new  home  and  he  was  returned  to  the 
State  Senate  in  1887  by  the  largest  majority  ever  given  a 
Republican  candidate.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  passed 
into  the  Federal  service,  serving  with  distinction  as  Chief  Post 
Office  Inspector  and  afterward  as  Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster 
General.  His  authority  and  usefulness  in  this  position  were 
almost  without  limit.  His  keen  intelligence  and  diligent 
interest  in  department  affairs  made  him  really  the  leading 
spirit  of  the  postal  service  and  his  work  in  purifying  the  mails 
of  a  great  and  hideous  taint  merits  for  him  the  gratitude  of 
the  nation.  We  have  men  who  have  attained  to  honorable 
eminence  in  the  service  of  their  state  and  nation;  we  have  men 
whose  names  are  known  to  the  tradesmen  of  the  world;  but  we 
have  only  one  who  unites  in  himself,  in  such  perfect  symmetry 
the  various  elements  of  birth,  culture  and  citizenship,  and  the 
will  and  ability  to  apply  them  to  the  public  good.  We  are  all 
aware  of  the  extent  of  Major  Rathbone's  public  life,  but  there 
are  phases  of  it  which  the  average  man  does  not  know.  Major 
Rathbone  is  descended  from  the  proudest  race  of  our  land.  His 
Puritan  ancestors  came  out  of  old  England  on  the  little  May- 
flower, in  1620,  and  none  of  his  posterity  has  ever  forgotten  the 
requirements  which  such  a  lineage  implied.  The  Rathbone 
family  tree  is  old,  and  broad,  and  high;  but  her  age  is  the 
strength  of  maturity,  not  the  feebleness  of  decay.  He  was 
married  in  1884,  to  Mrs.  Josephine  Campbell  Millikin,  the 
daughter  of  one  of  Butler  county's  most  distinguished  families. 

J.  J.  McMaken  was  born  in  the  old  family  homestead,  in 
this  city,  in  January  of  1848.  His  early  education  was 
obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  Hamilton.  He  afterward 
entered  Miami  University,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  in  1870.  His  mind  had  long  before  been  fixed 
upon   the    law,  and  he  immediately  set  about  preparing  him- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  361 

self  for  his  profession  by  entering  the  office  of  ex-Governor 
James  E.  Campbell.  Two  years  later  he  was  duly  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  has  ever  since  practiced  in  this  city,  save  for  the 
interruptions  caused  by  his  frequent  entrance  into  public  life. 
If  we  consider  his  career  with  fairness,  Senator  McMaken 
may  be  said  to  have  in  his  later  years  stepped  entirely  beyond 
the  limitations  of  professional  routine  into  the  broader  field  of 
public  service.  From  the  time  of  his  election,  in  1889,  to  the 
Ohio  Legislature  he  has  been  almost  incessantly  in  official  life. 
From  the  Lower  House  he  was  quickly  elevated  by  a  proud 
and  confiding  constituency  into  the  dignified  body  of  the 
Senate  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  His  record  in  this  capacity  is 
full  of  work  and  honor.  During  the  two  terms  of  his  incum- 
bency he  was  a  real  factor  in  all  the  more  important  legislation 
of  that  time.  He  has  always  been  found  on  the  side  of  justice 
and  humanity.  In  the  passage  of  the  noble  "Fellow  Servant 
Act"  and  the  equally  useful  Australian  ballot  law  he  did 
yeoman  service.  Since  his  retirement  from  the  Senate,  Mr. 
McMaken  has  been  honored  with  the  position  of  United  States 
Commissioner  whose  duties  now  claim  his  time  equally  with 
the  law.  In  the  ranks  of  the  Democracy  of  Ohio  he  has 
served  his  full  time.  No  man  has  stood  higher  or  been  more 
often  consulted  in  the  local  councils  of  the  party,  than  has  he. 
Mr.  McMaken  stands  as  the  representative  of  a  family  which 
has  stood  for  a  century  in  the  fore-front  of  the  great  world  of 
affairs.  He  has  carried  his.  part  well  and  the  family  of 
McMaken  and  the  city  of  Hamilton  is  the  better  and  the 
wiser  that  he  lives.  As  the  son  of  that  grand  old  man 
Mark  C.  McMaken,  he  was  born  into  the  world  with  a 
responsibility,  and  the  credit  and  honor  of  a  great  name  has 
seldom  fallen  on  more  worthy  shoulders.  He  was  married  in 
1871  to  Miss  Belle  McElwee.  Senator  McMaken's  soldier 
record  is  a  proud  one. 

SODLIERS'   RELIEF  COMMISSION. 

The  commission  was  duly  organized  under  an  act  of  the 
Legislature  passed  March  16,  1877.  It  is  now  working  under 
an  amended  act  passed  April  15,  1889,  as  follows: 


362  Historical  Sketches. 


"It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  Soldiers' Relief  Commission,  herein- 
after provided,  in  each  county  in  this  State,  as  soon  as  practicable  after  the 
passage  of  this  act,  and  annually  thereafter  on  the  first  Monday  in  January  in 
each  year,  to  appoint  for  each  township,  in  such  county,  and  for  each  ward  in 
any  city  in  any  such  county,  a  Soldiers'  Relief  committee,  consisting  of  three 
persons,  residents  of  each  such  township  and  ward,  who  shall  be  honorably 
discharged  Union  soldiers,  sailors  or  marines,  provided  that  if  there  are  no 
such  soldiers  or  sailors  or  marines  who  are  residents  of  any  such  township  or 
ward,  then  there  shall  be  appointed  three  reputable  citizens,  one  of  whom 
shall  be  designated  as  chairman  of  such  township  or  ward  soldiers'  relief 
committee;  and  to  fill  all  vacancies  that  may  occur  in  any  such  committee, 
and  to  remove  any  member  of  any  such  committee  for  cause;  and  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  each  such  township  and  ward  soldiers'  relief  committee,  in  its 
respective  township  or  ward,  to  receive  all  applications  for  relief,  under  the 
provisions  of  this  act,  from  applicants  residing  in  such  township  or  ward,  to 
examine  carefully  into  the  case  of  each  applicant,  and  on  the  first  Monday  in 
May  in  each  year,  to  make  a  list  of  the  names  of  all  indignent  Union  soldiers 
sailors  and  marines,  and  the  indigent  parents,  wives,  widows  and  minor 
children  of  the  same,  who  are  residents  in  such  township  or  ward,  who  have 
been  bona  fide  residents  of  the  State  one  year,  and  of  the  county  six  months, 
next  prior  to  said  first  Monday  in  May,  and  who,  in  the  opinion  of  any  such 
township  or  ward  relef  committee,  require  aid,  and  are  entitled  to  relief 
under  the  provisions  of  this  act;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  chairman  of 
each  township  and  ward  soldiers'  relief  committee,  or  other  member  of  such 
committee  authorized  by  such  committee,  to  deliver  such  list  to  the  soldiers' 
relief  commission,  hereinafter  provided,  or  its  secretary,  on  or  before  the  last 
Monday  in  such  month  of  May,  together  with  a  statement  of  each  applicant 
for  relief,  of  the  income,  if  any,  of  the  applicant,  the  amount  of  taxable  prop- 
erty, real  and  personal,  of  (stocks,  bonds,  moneys  on  hand,  loaned  or  deposi- 
ted in  any  bank  or  elsewhere,  shares  in  building  associations,  mortgages, 
notes  or  other  articles  of  value)  from  which  an  income  or  revenue  is  derived 
by  the  applicant;  said  statement  shall  be  made  up  in  blanks  which  shall  be 
furnished  by  the  soldiers'  relief  commission,  and  shall  be  subscribed  by  the 
applicant;  and  in  case  any  false  statement  is  made  therein  by  any  applicant 
for  relief,  or  guardian  for  such  applicant  ,  such  applicant  or  guardian  shall 
be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and,  upon  conviction  before  any  court  of 
competent  jurisdiction,  shall  be  fined  in  any  sum  not  exceeding  fifty  dollars, 
nor  less  than  twenty  dollars,  and  be  imprisoned  in  the  county  jail  for  a 
period  not  exceeding  sixty  days  nor  less  than  thirty  days.  And  on  said  last 
Monday  in  May  said  commission  shall  meet  and  determine  from  said  lists 
the  probable  amount  necessarary  for  the  aid  and  relief  of  such  indigent  per- 
sons for  the  ensuing  year,  together  with  an  amount  sufficient,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  said  commission,  to  furnish  relief  to  any  such  indigent  persons  not 
named  in  said  lists,  whose  right  to  such  relief  shall  be  established  to  the 
satisfaction  of  such  commission.  Such  commission,  after  determining  the 
probable  amount  necessary  for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  shall  certify  the  same 
to  the  county  commissioners  of  the  county,  who,  at  their  June  session,  shall 
make  such  levies  as  shall  be  necessary  to  raise  the  required  relief,  not 
exceeding  three-tenths,    except  in  counties  containing  a  national   soldier's 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  363 

home  not  exceeding  five-tenths,  of  a  mill   per  dollar  on  the  assessed  value  of 
the  property  of  the  county." 

On  May  7,  1887,  Capt.  Philip  Rothenbush  was  appointed 
for  three  years,  Aaron  Wesco  for  two  and  Henry  Knight  for 
one  year.  Philip  Rothenbush  was  elected  President  and 
Aaron  Wesco,  Secretary.  He  resigned  January  3,  1888. 
Judge  Van  Derveer  appointed  W.  W.  Lane  to  fill  the  unex- 
pired term.  Charles  E.  Giffen  was  appointed  in  the  place  of 
Philip  Rothenbush,  resigned. 

On  October  14,  1889,  Adam  Bridge  and  S.  L,.  Beeler  were 
appointed  on  the  commission  vice  W.  W.  Lane  and  Henry 
Knight,  removed.  On  the  death  of  Charles  E.  Giffen,  in  1881, 
Colonel  George  F.  Elliott  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
commission,  serving  until  his  death,  May  13,  1896. 
J.  H.  Beard,  of  Middletown,  was  appointed  to  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  resignation  of  Adam  Bridge,  who  removed  from 
the  county.  Qeorge  A.  Van  Degriff  succeeded  Dr.  S.  E. 
Beeler,  May  29,  1884.  On  June  12,  1894,  George  F.  Elliott 
and  J.  H.  Beard  met  and  elected  themselves  President  and 
Secretary,  respectively.  Noah  Stubbs  was  appointed  August 
1,  1894.  The  commission  met  on  the  seventh  of  the  same 
month,  and  reorganized  by  electing  Noah  Stubbs  President 
and  G.  A.  Van  Degriff,  Secretary,  both  of  whom  are  serving 
in  the  same  capacity  today.  On  May  25,  1896,  Judge  Giffen 
appointed  John  Decher  for  a  term  of  three  years,  vice  Colonel 
George  F.  Elliott,  deceased.  Under  the  present  management 
the  records  of  the  commission  are  kept  in  first-class  condition 
by  the  efficient  secretary.  No  previous  secretary  has  equaled 
him.  He  devotes  considerable  time  to  outside  work;  and  is  the 
first  and  only  secretary  that  ever  made  an  annual  report  of  the 
commissions'  transactions. 

Noah  Stubbs,  President  of  the  Soldiers'  Relief  Commis- 
sion, was  born  near  Morrow,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  November 
16,  1841.  He  attended  school  at  the  Washington  District,  in  a 
log  building,  where  oiled  paper  was  used  for  light.  He  was 
employed  in  a  woolen  mill  and  followed  farming  until  1861. 
When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  he — Putnam  like — enlisted  in 


364  Historical  Sketches. 

Company  A,  Twelfth  Ohio  Regiment  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  a 
term  of  three  months.  Afterward,  September  10,  1861,  he 
joined  Company  H,  of  the  Second  Ohio,  serving  three  years 
and  one  month.  The  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  at 
Camp  Chase,  October  10,  1864.  In  February,  1888,  he  came 
to  Butler  county,  locating  at  Heno,  where  he  has  remained 
ever  since.  Mr.  Stubbs  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Soldiers'  Relief  Commission,  September  17,  1894.  He  has  a 
reputation  as  a  citizen  and  official,  resting  upon  a  basis  of 
absolute  merit. 

George  A.  Van  DeGriff,  Secretary  of  the  Soldiers 
Relief  Commission,  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  March  2, 
1845,  where  he  attended  school  until  he  was  thirteen  years  old 
when  his  parents  came  to  Butler  county,  locating  at  L/inden- 
wald.  Here  he  attended  district  school  four  years.  On  May 
14,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
seventh  Regiment,  O.  V.  I.  After  his  return  from  the  army 
he  followed  farming  until  1867.  Later  Mr.  Van  Degriff 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  with  William  D.  Blackall,  which 
occupation  he  has  followed  ever  since  as  contractor  and 
builder.  In  May,  1894,  he  was  appointed  by  Judge  Giffen  a 
member  of  the  Soldiers'  Relief  Commission;  was  re-appointed 
May  1,  1895,  for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  having  served  in  official 
capacity  as  chaplain  and  officer  of  the  day;  was  an  organizer  of 
Esther  Court  No.  4,  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur,  of  Hamilton ;  is  county 
deputy  of  this  society,  by  appointment  of  the  Supreme  Court. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Agnes  J.  Cooper,  Novem- 
ber 30,  1875.  One  son,  Robert,  resulted  from  this  union. 
Any  cause  undertaken  by  Mr.  Van  Degriff,  finds  in  him  an 
enthusiastic  champion.  His  records  as  Secretary  of  the 
Soldier's  Relief  Commission,  are  models  of  neatness  and 
accuracy. 

John  Decher,  a  successful  pension  agent,  was  born  in 
Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  May  20,  1835.  He  received  his 
instruction   in   the  schools  of   his  native  country,   and   when 


JOHN   DKCHKR 


GEORGE  A.  VAN  DEGRIHF 


J,   H.  BEARD 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  365 

fifteen  began  learning  the  shoemaker's  trade.  On  July  4,  1852, 
he  came  to  America,  where  he  followed  his  occupation  in 
Buffalo,  New  York,  and  also  in  Canada.  In  1857  he  located  in 
Hamilton  and  was  employed  by  Isaac  Whistler,  till  September 
13,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Seventeenth  Missouri  Volun- 
teer Infantry.  He  bore  an  honorable  part  in  the  battle  of  Pea 
Ridge,  Vicksburg,  Arkansas  Post,  Yazoo  Pass,  and  at  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg.  After  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  he  was 
attacked  with  typhoid  fever,  and  was  an  inmate  of  the  hospital 
for  eight  months.  Upon  recoveriug  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  and  was  on  duty  in  Virginia  for  a 
short  time,  being  then  transferred  to  Elmira,  New  York,  acting 
as  a  guard  until  the  conclusion  of  his  term  of  service,  Decem- 
ber 18,  1864. 

He  resumed  his  former  situation  with  Mr.  Whistler,  and 
upon  the  death  of  the  latter,  in  1867  or  1868,  he  began  busi- 
ness for  himself,  at  which  he  has  since  continued.  He  is  now 
at  112  Third  street,  where  he  does  a  good  business  in  custom 
work.  He  was  married  in  1859,  to  Miss  Kate  Vinson,  and  is 
the  father  of  seven  children.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  and  also  of  the  Temple  of  Honor,  and 
in  politics  is  a  Republican.  Mr.  Decher  is  an  honest,  indus- 
trious and  well  informed  man,  and  is  worthy  of  the  high 
estimation  in  which  he  is  regarded  by  all. 

INCORPORATION  OP  HAMILTON. 

Hamilton  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature, 
passed  in  January,  18 10.  No  election  was  held  in  the  year 
1815,  in  consequence  of  which,  the  corporation  became  for- 
feited. In  1827,  the  town  was  again  incorporated,  under  the 
name  of,  "The  towns  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville."  The 
powers  and  duties  of  the  corporation  were  vested  in  six  trus- 
tees, to  be  elected  by  the  citizens.  The  towns  were  divided 
into  two  districts,  Hamilton  forming  one  and  Rossville  the 
other.  In  May,  1827,  the  citizens  met  at  their  respective 
places  of  holding  elections,  those  of  Hamilton  electing  Doctor 
Loami  Rigdon  and  others,  and  the  citizens  of  Rossville,  Israel 


366  Historical  Sketches. 

Gregg  and  others,  as  trustees,  who  afterward  met  and 
appointed  Israel  Gregg  President  and  Loami  Rigdon  Recorder. 
Under  this  corporation  and  manner  of  organization  the  towns 
continued  to  prosper.  In  January,  1830,  the  Legislature 
passed  a  law  authorizing  the  corporation  to  grant  licenses  to 
grocers  and  retailers  of  spirituous  liquors.  Jealousies  spring- 
ing up  between  the  two  towns,  on  the  petition  of  the  citizens 
of  Rossville,  the  connection  between  them  was  dissolved  by 
the  Legislature,  in  February,  1831,  and  each  erected  into  a 
separate  corporation.  The  citizens  of  Hamilton  elected  James 
O'Connor,  John  Woods,  John  C.  Dunlavy,  Jesse  Corwin,  John 
M.  Millikin  and  Henry  S  Earheart,  trustees,  who  organized 
themselves  by  appointing  James  O'Conuer  President  and  John 
M.  Millikin,  Recorder.  In  February,  1833,  the  charter  of 
Hamilton  was  modified  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  by  which 
the  government  of  the  town  was  vested  in  a  mayor  and  six 
trustees.  The  citizens  met  in  May,  1833,  and  elected  James 
McBride  Mayor  and  John  Woods  and  other  trustees,  who 
organized  themselves  and  appointed  John  Woods  Recorder. 
This  board  drew  up  and  passed  an  entire  new  code  of  laws  for 
the  regulation  and  government  of  the  town.  On  the  14th  of 
February,  1825,  the  Legislature  authorized  the  corporation  to 
draw  water  from  the  basin  for  the  purpose  of  extinguishing 
fire. 

In  1836,  pipes  were  laid  down  Court  street  to  the  Miami 
river,  with  pipes  leading  from  them  to  fill  the  cisterns  in  the 
court  house  yard.  On  March  7,  1835,  the  Legislature  passed 
a  law  amending  the  act  of  incorporation.  By  this  law  the 
name  of  the  corporation  was  charged  to  that  of  "The  town  of 
Hamilton."  The  corporate  powers  of  Hamilton  were  vested  in 
a  mayor  and  six  trustees,  who  were  empowered  to  appoint  a 
recorder,  treasurer,  marshal,  wharfmaster,  supervisor  of  streets 
and  highways,  inspector  and  measurer  of  wood,  tanner's  bark 
and  lumber.  The  corporation  was  vested  with  power  to  make 
ordinances  and  by-laws  for  establishing  and  regulating  the 
market,  organize  fire  companies,  and  to  regulate  the  streets, 
alleys,  and  highways. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  367 

JOURNALISTS  AND  MANAGERS  OF  THE  DAILY  PRESS. 

Hamilton  is  one  of  the  best  newspaper  towns  west  of  the 
Alleghany  mountains.  It  is  represented  by  three  dailies,  all 
of  excellent  merit  and  of  the  best  type  of  modern  journalism. 
They  are  edited  with  exceptional  ability  and  by  bright  and 
talented  young  men  who  are  rapidly  making  a  mark  in  their 
profession. 

Homer  Gard  was  born  in  this  city  January  9,  1866. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Hamilton  public  schools.  He 
graduated  from  the  High  school  in  1884.  Afterward  he 
entered  Amherst  College,  Massachusetts,  where  he  remained 
three  years,  taking  the  freshman,  junior  and  senior  years. 
Shortly  after  his  return  home  from  college  he  entered  the  field 
of  journalism  and  began  work  on  the  reportorial  staff  of  the 
Daily  News.  In  1890,  Mr.  Gard  accepted  a  call  from  the 
Daily  Democrat  as  reporter,  which  position  he  creditably  filled 
until  the  death  of  J.  K.  Aydelotte,  January  21,  1891,  where  he 
was  installed  as  editor  and  business  manager.  At  this  time  the 
paper  had  deterioated,  had  little  or  no  influence  and  but  a 
small  subscription  list  to  back  it  up.  To  put  the  Democrat  on 
the  top  wave  of  success  was  not  an  easy  task,  but  Mr.  Gard 
was  equal  to  the  emergency.  He  instituted  needed  reforms  in 
the  management  of  the  paper;  made  it  bold,  fearless  and 
aggressive  and  refused  to  come  under  the  party  lash  at  the 
dictates  of  incompetent  office-seekers.  From  this  time  onward 
the  Democrat  was  a  paper  for  the  people,  and  its  course  was 
rapidly  in  the  ascendant.  For  four  years  he  continued  to 
improve  the  Democrat  and  enhance  the  value  of  the  plant. 
During  the  management  the  paper  was  sold  to  a  syndicate  for 
$38,000,  this  being  $24,000,  in  excess  of  the  original  price 
paid  for  the  plant.  Here  we  have  a  practical  illustration  of  Mr. 
Gard's  abiltity  as  a  successful  newspaper  man.  He  may  well 
feel  proud  of  his  achievements.  In  January,  1895,  Mr.  Gard 
purchased  the  News  Democrat  at  Canton,  Ohio,  which  was 
soon  afterward  incorporated.  He  was  elected  managing  editor. 
In  a  year  and  three  months'  time  he  more  than  doubled  its 
circulation  and  put  the  plant  on  a  paying  basis,  when  he  sold 


368  Historical  Sketches. 

out  and  returned  to  Hamilton.  Mr.  Gard  became  managing 
editor  of  the  Daily  News  June  15,  1896.  He  has  made  a 
marked  improvement  in  the  tone  of  the  paper  and  his  adminis- 
tration has  been  a  brilliant  success. 

Mr.  Gard  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lutie  Matthias 
on  June  1,  1892.     They  are  prominent  in  society  circles. 

Walter  L.  Tobey.  —  The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch 
was  born  in  Upshur,  Preble  county,  Ohio,  November  27,  1870. 
He  received  the  rudiments  of  an  education  in  the  schools  of 
Winchester,  Ohio.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  entered 
Miami  University,  graduating  from  this  famous  institution  in 
1891,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  On  June  24,  1894,  the  degree 
of  A.  M.  was  conferred  upon  him.  While  a  student  at  Oxford, 
he  established  the  Miami  Journal,  a  monthly  publication.  After 
the  revival  of  the  Miami  Studejit  he  became  its  managing  editor 
continuing  in  that  capacity  lor  three  years.  After  graduation 
he  entered  into  the  field  of  journalism.  His  first  work  was  on 
the  Dayton  Daily  Evening  Herald.  Later,  he  became  editior 
of  the  Dayton  Sunday  World.  On  July  18,  1892,  he  was 
elected  editor  of  the  Daily  Repziblican.  Eighteen  months 
afterward,  Mr.  Tobey  was  made  managing  editor  of  the  paper, 
with  entire  control  of  the  plant.  In  this  position  he  soon 
gained  a  foothold  as  an  energetic  and  successful  business  man. 
As  a  journalist  he  is  active  and  influential,  maintaining  a  warm 
interest  in  everything  pertaining  to  his  profession.  He  is 
liberal  in  the  support  of  every  worthy  measure  for  the  best 
interest  of  Hamilton  and  Butler  county.  He  is  a  valued  citizen 
and  has  a  bright  field  before  him.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
Washington  Lodge,  No.  17,  F.  and  A.  M.,  Hamilton  Chapter, 
No.  21,  R.  A.  M.,  Hamilton  Council, No.  69  R.  and  S.  M.,  and 
Hamilton  Commandery,  No.  41,  Knights  Templars,  Hamilton 
Lodge,  No.  93,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and  Lone  Star  Lodge,  No.  39,  K. 
of  P.  He  wa,s  appointed  Trustee  of  Miami  University  by 
Governor  McKinley  in  December,  1895.  Served  three  years 
1893-96,  as  the  director  of  the  Beta  Theta  Phi  fraternity. 

On  December  19,  1894,  Mr.  Tobey  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Fannie  Douglass  Smith. 


*  w&  9. 


**£ 


WALTKR    I..   ToIU-.Y 


HOMER  CARD 


C.   H.   ZVVICK 


CLAYTON  LEITER 


ALBERT  DIX 


LE  ROY  R.  HENSLEV 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  369 

Charles  Ale.  Williams  became  editor  of  the  Hamilton 
Daily  Democrat,  June  i,  1896.  He  was  born  at  Rochester 
New  York,  March  16,  1857.  He  received  a  common  school 
education  and  entered  Transylvania  University,  at  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  but  remained  only  a  year,  when  called  home  by  the 
illness  of  his  father.  He  entered  a  newspaper  office  and  learned 
the  printer's  trade  at  Muncie,  Indiana.  Afterward  he  became 
a  reporter.  He  was  city  editor  of  the  Rome  (Ga.,)  Tribune, 
then  of  the  Kansas  City  Journal,  then  of  the  Minneapolis 
Tribune  and  in  1884  became  managing  editor  of  the  Minneapolis 
Tribune  and  remained  such  until  1892.  He  became  a  special 
writer  on  the  St.  Louis  Republic,  assistant  city  editor  and  city 
editor  respectively,  leaving  therein  1894,  to  become  managing 
editor  of  the  Cincinnati  Commercial  Gazette. 

Mr.  Williams  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Stella 
Teel,  at  Minneapolis,  October  20,  1891.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them.  Mr.  Williams  is  an  able  newspaper  man 
of  great  force  with  which  he  combines  two  excellent  qualities, 
energy  and  tact. 

Thomas  Moore,  city  editor  of  the  Hamilton  Daily  News, 
was  born  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  November  3,  1855.  He  was 
raised  and  educated  in  this  city  and  graduated  from  the 
Hamilton  High  school  in  the  class  of  1874.  He  attended 
college  at  the  Ohio  Wesley  an  University,  at  Delaware,  Ohio, 
for  one  year,  subsequently  read  law  for  a  short  time,  and  in 
1879  he  became  identified  in  a  reportorial  capacity  with  the 
News,  in  which  occupation  he  is  still  engaged. 

Clayton  A.  Leiter,  city  editor  of  the  Democrat,  was 
born  in  Middletown,  Ohio,  April  23,  1872,  and  is  the  youngest 
son  of  Frederick  Z.  and  Louisa  M.  Leiter.  During  his  younger 
years  he  lived  with  his  parents  in  Jacksonborough  and 
Symmes  Corner,  where  his  father  taught  school.  In  1876  he 
removed  to  this  city  with  his  parents  and  in  September,  1879, 
entered  the  public  schools,  from  which  he  graduated  June  19, 
1891.  On  August  1,  1 89 1,  he  accepted  a  position  as  a  reporter 
on   the   Democrat,   with  which  paper  he  has  been   connected 


370  Historical  Sketches. 

ever  since.  On  April  19,  1894,  he  succeeded  Frank  E.  Brandt 
as  city  editor  of  that  paper  and  although  the  paper  has  changed 
hands  several  times  since  his  connection  with  it  his  position 
has  never  been  interfered  with. 

Outside  of  the  field  of  newspaper  work,  Mr.  Leiter  has 
devoted  considerable  time  to  the  study  of  music,  being  a  pupil 
under  Prof.  Will  Huber,  Jr.,  for  several  years.  He  has  been 
organist  of  the  First  Baptist  church,  the  Church  of  Christ, 
and  is  at  present  musical  director  of  the  First  Reformed 
church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  church  and  for  a 
number  of  years  was  the  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Sunday 
school  of  that  church. 

At  the  organization  of  Hamilton  tent,  No.  317,  Knights 
of  the  Maccabees,  in  May,  1896,  Mr  Leiter  became  a  charter 
member  of  the  organization  and  was  unanimously  elected 
commander  of  the  tent.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Court  Fort 
Hamilton,  No.  1472,  Independent  Order  of  Forresters.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  High  School  Alumni  associa- 
tion and  during  1892  and  1893  was  treasurer  of  the  Association. 
In  politics  Mr.  L,eiter  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  coming 
from  a  family  whose  devotion  to  the  principals  of  that  party 
has  always  been  very  marked. 

Carl  Richard  Greer  was  born  in  Oxford,  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  February  29,  1876.  He  is  the  son  of  Thomas  F.  and 
Elizabeth  Greer.  He  attended  township  district  school  and 
afterward  the  Oxford  High  school.  In  the  fall  of  1889,  he  left 
high  school  in  the  senior  year  and  entered  the  preparatory 
department  of  Miami  University,  graduating  therefrom  June  18, 
1894.  He  was  one  of  the  three  commencement  speakers  elected 
by  the  faculty.  After  graduation  he  did  reportorial  work  on  the 
Cincinnati  Tribune,  and  on  January  8,  1896,  became  reporter 
on  the  Hamilton  Daily  Republican.  Upon  the  retirement  of  F. 
E.  Brandt,  in  September  of  that  year,  he  became  city  editor. 

Joseph  Sutherland  McNeely  was  born  in  Hamilton, 
January  6,  1866.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
this  city,  and  at  the  Wooster  University.  He  has  been  engaged 

$ 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  371 

on  the  reportorial  staff  of  the  Daily  News  for  five  years  and 
has  been  the  Hamilton  correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati 
Enquirer  for  two  years.  Mr.  McNeely  is  a  faithful  and 
painstaking  news  gatherer. 

Thomas  D.  Temple  was  born  in  Hamilton,  November  30, 
1869.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city  and 
at  Miami  University.  He  has  been  in  the  newspaper  business 
in  his  native  city  for  four  years,  being  employed  during  that 
time  on  the  Daily  News,  and  Daily  Republican.  He  was  city 
editor  of  the  News,  from  January  to  June,  1896.  He  is  now 
on  the  reportorial  staff  of  the  Republican. 

William  C.  A.  DeLaCourt  was  born  in  New  Orleans, 
Louisiana,  March  30,  1855.  He  attended  parochial  school, 
taught  by  his  uncle,  Rev.  L.  P.  Heintz,  at  Carrolton,  Louisiana, 
and  the  third  municipality  school  in  New  Orleans.  After 
coming  to  Hamilton  he  entered  the  Hamilton  Public  schools, 
beginning  in  Miss  Martha  Young's  room.  He  was  a  pupil  in 
the  High  school  for  one  year,  under  Miss  H.  H.  Ringwood  and 
Prof.  August  Goehring.  Afterward  he  began  the  art  of  print- 
ing in  his  father's  office.  On  June  9,  1880,  Mr.  DeLaCourt  was 
wedded  to  Miss  Ettie  M.  Mathes,  of  this  city.  In  January, 
1885,  Governor  Hoadly  appointed  Mr.  DeLaCourt  Supervisor 
of  Public  Printing  of  Ohio,  for  a  term  of  two  years.  In  June, 
1887,  he  returned  to  Hamilton,  and  engaged  in  the  printing 
business.  In  1890,  he  was  appointed  a  local  representative  of 
the  Cincinnati  Volksblatt;  and  in  March,  1895,  was  made  the 
Hamilton  reporter  for  the  Cincinnati  Post.  He  is  at  the 
present  time  on  the  reportorial  staff  of  the  Daily  De?nocrat. 

Society  Reporters,  Daily  News. — Mrs.  Ira  Millikinwas 
Hamilton's  first  lady  reporter.  She  was  successively  suc- 
ceeded by  Mrs.  W.  L-  Tobey,  Maude  Heilman,  Maggie  (Nichols) 
Neher.     Present  reporter,  Miss  Emelia  Utterich. 

Daily  Democrat. — Mrs.  W.  L.  Tobey  was  the  first  lady 
reporter  on  this  paper,  serving  for  three  years.  Miss  Lillian 
Matthias  occupied  the  position  for  a  short  time.  Miss  Nellie 
Brock  is  the  present  reporter. 


372  Historical  Sketches. 

Daily  Republican, — Miss  Ollie  Brock  began  reporting  on 
July  18,  1892,  the  date  of  the  establishment  of  the  Republican. 
She  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  W.  L.  Tobey.  Miss  Nettie  Fox  is 
employed  at  present  as  the  society  reporter. 

Albert  Dix  was  born  in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  October 
8,  1845.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  upon  a  farm.  In  the 
winter  he  attended  district  school.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
began  to  assist  his  father,  who  was  a  stone  cutter  and  mason 
by  trade.  After  two  years'  work,  he  was  enabled  to  enter 
Hiram  College,  where  he  remained  one  year.  He  afterward 
taught  school  for  two  terms;  was  employed  in  a  general  store 
at  Edinburg,  Ohio,  for  twelve  years.  Mr.  Dix  always  had  a 
desire  to  enter  the  newspaper  business.  In  December,  1879, 
he  and  C.  M.  Campbell  came  to  Hamilton  to  look  over  the 
field,  with  a  view  of  establishing  a  daily  paper  in  this  city. 
After  a  thorough  investigation,  Mr.  Campbell  purchased  the 
Weekly  Telegraph  then  owned  by  Fred.  Egry.  Albert  Dix 
was  made  business  manager.  On  December  22,  1879,  the  first 
edition  of  the  Daily  News  made  its  appearance.  At  this 
time  it  was  predicted  that  the  paper  would  run  its  course  in 
three  months'  time.  But  the  enterprise  was  a  success,  which 
was  largely  due  to  the  fine  executive  ability  of  Mr.  Dix.  In 
July,  1888,  the  News  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  company,  of 
which  Mr.  Dix  was  one  of  the  partners.  In  1889,  the  paper 
was  incorporated,  he  being  one  of  the  stockholders. 

On  September  1,  1869,  Mr.  Dix  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  L,uke,  of  Portage  connty,  Ohio.  Two  children 
have  been  born  unto  them,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
surviving  son,  Emmett,  is  now  a  student  at  Hiram  College. 
Mr.  Dix  is  a  pronounced  Republican,  having  frequently 
been  honored  by  his  party  as  a  delegate  to  local  conventions; 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council.  Religiously,  he 
is  a  devoted  and  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church;  is  a  trustee  of  the  First  M.  E.  church.  He  is  a 
broad  and  liberal  minded  citizen;  has  always  taken  an  earnest 
and  active  interest  in  all  measures  for  the  welfare  of  Hamilton. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  $7$ 

He  is  highly  regarded  and  has  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the 
community. 

Charles  H.  Zwick  was  born  in  Williamsburg,  New  York, 
in  1850.  During  this  year  his  parents  moved  to  Scranton, 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  resided  for  eight  years,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  that  time  came  to  Hamilton.  Here  Mr.  Zwick 
attended  school  for  three  years;  worked  on  a  farm  for  two 
years;  afterward  accepted  a  position  in  Snider' s  paper  mill  as 
a  machine  boy.  Later,  he  went  to  the  Owens,  Lane  & 
Dyer  shops  to  learn  boiler  making.  After  three  weeks'  work, 
holding  rivets  for  the  strikers,  he  found  the  work  was  not 
congenial  and  he  entered  the  painting  department,  where  he 
remained  two  months.  Finally,  he  concluded  to  learn  the 
machinists'  trade,  working  at  this  occupation  for  one  year, 
when,  meeting  with  an  accident  to  one  of  his  fingers,  he 
abandoned  learning  the  trade.  He  was  next  employed  at 
Gwynn  &  Campbell's  gun  factory,  where  he  worked  for  one 
and  a  half  years.  Here  he  was  from  time  to  time  advanced, 
until  he  operated  the  largest  machine  in  the  factory.  During 
the  John  Morgan  raid,  in  1862,  he  was  on  watch  one  night 
ready  to  sink  the  finished  guns  in  the  hydraulic  upon  the 
approach  of  the  rebel  raider.  After  the  closing  of  the  gun 
factory  Mr.  Zwick  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  large  store  in 
Portsmouth,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  several  years.  Subse- 
quently he  entered  the  employment  of  Fitton  Bros.,  now  D. 
W.  Fitton  &  Co.  In  1873,  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself, 
continuing  until  1892,  when  he  retired.  Mr.  Zwick  is  one  of 
the  largest  stockholders  in  the  News  company.  In  September, 
1895,  he  was  elected  general  manager  of  the  plant,  which 
position  he  now  fills.  Politically,  he  is  a  pronounced  Republi- 
can; in  religion,  a  Methodist.  In  September,  1871,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Rosena  D.  Ruoff.  Mr.  Zwick  is  one  of 
Hamilton's  active  and  foremost  business  men.  He  deserves 
the  success  he  has  achieved. 

L,E  Roy  R.  Hensley  was  born  in  this  city,  September  11, 
1868.  He  received  a  public  school  education,  graduating 
from  the  Hamilton  High  school,  June  22,   1888.     After   grad- 


374  Historical  Sketches. 

uatioa  he  accepted  a  position  with  the  Middletowti  Gas  Com- 
pany, as  book  keeper,  where  he  remained  one  year.  Upon  his 
return  to  Hamilton,  March  14,  1890,  he  was  employed  as 
book  keeper  for  the  Daily  News,  which  position  he  held  until 
May  25,  1896.  At  this  date  he  purchased  stock  in  the  com- 
pany and  was  elected  secretary  and  advertising  manager.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Lone  Star  Lodge  Knights  of  Pythias,  the 
Royal  Arcanum,  the  Foresters,  and  the  High  School  Alumni 
Association. 

Mr.  Hensley  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Katherine 
Smyers,  October  9,  1895.  He  is  a  wide  awake,  hustling  and 
energetic  young  business  man,  and  success  will  surely  crown 
his  efforts. 

George  E.  Holdefer  was  born  in  Hamilton,  July  *i8, 
1870.  He  is  the  second  son  of  George  and  Anna  M.  Holdefer. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  Alterward  he  clerked 
in  the  Art  Emporium;  attended  night  school,  where  he  learned 
the  profession  of  book  keeping,  after  which  he  accepted  a  posi- 
tion with  his  brother  Jacob  in  the  grocery  business,  where  he 
remained  one  year.  He  then  became  associated  with  the 
Hamilton  Daily  Democrat,  serving  as  office  man  for  five  years. 
In  1895,  he  became  business  manager  of  the  Canton,  Ohio, 
News  Democrat.  In  the  spring  of  1896,  he  returned  to  Ham- 
ilton and  became  book  keeper  for  the  Democrat  company.  In 
religion,  he  is  a  member  of  St.  Paul's  German  Evangelical 
church.  Mr.  Holdefer  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Agnes 
Brannon,  October  24,  1894.  He  is  a  young  man  of  strict 
probity  in  his  dealings,  as  well  as  push  and  untiring  industry. 

CHIEFS  OF  THE  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

The  history  of  the  Hamilton  fire  department  is  coincident 
with  the  history  of  the  city  itself.  The  chiefs  of  the  depart- 
ment have  been  brave  and  intrepid  men  and  men  of  executive 
ability.  The  following  sketches  comprise  an  outline  of  their 
careers  since  the  department  became  a  paid  one.  John  M. 
Long  was  the  last  chief  who  served  under  the  old  regime: 


v«^  I 


JOB  K.  OWENS 


DAVID  LINGLER 


JOHN  BOOSR 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  37$ 

Job  E.  Owens  was  born  in  Wales,  February  9,  18 19,  and 
while  yet  a  lad  he  was  adopted  by  an  aunt  and  with  her  left 
his  parents  and  his  home  in  the  Welsh  valley  to  come  to 
America,  she  having  promised  to  leave  him  a  part  of  her 
fortune.  This  promise  she  redeemed  by  willing  him,  in  1877, 
about  eighteen  or  twenty  thousand  dollars  in  property. 
When  he  got  to  be  a  boy  of  school  age  he  found  himself 
in  Columbus,  Ohio,  an  Adams  boy  in  politics,  fighting  the  rubs 
with  the  Jackson  boys.  He  learned  the  molder's  trade, 
migrated  to  Cincinnati,  came  to  Hamilton  in  1846,  worked  for 
John  L.  Martin  and  others  about  a  year,  bought  an  interest  in 
the  firm  of  Owens,  Ebert  &  Dyer,  and  carried  on  the  foundry, 
stove,  and  tinsmith  business.  He  rode  through  rain  and 
storm  to  Middletown,  about  the  first  of  one  November 
to  collect  money  with  which  to  pay  his  first  note  in  bank. 
Upon  his  approach  to  the  aqueduct  on  the  canal,  the  people 
were  gathered  to  see  that  structure  go  down  in  the  great  flood  of 
that  year.  In  his  great  anxiety  to  pay  that  note  he  hurried  over 
and  when  about  two  hundred  yards  beyond  saw  the  aqueduct 
go  down.  He  collected  the  money,  swam  Gregory's  creek,  on 
his  return,  and  the  note  was  paid  on  time.  Soon  after  Mr. 
Ebert  died  and  the  firm  of  Owens,  L,ane  &  Dyer  was  formed 
by  Mr.  Lane  buying  the  interest  of  Mr.  Ebert.  Shortly  they 
branched  out  into  broader  fields  and  richer  pastures  and 
succeeded  in  building  up  the  present  shops  of  the  Hooven, 
Owens  &  Rentschler  company.  Mr.  Owens  died  April  27, 
1 88 1.  The  funeral  took  place  from  his  late  residence  on  the 
afternoon  of  April  29,  Rev.  E.  W.  Abbey  officiating.  The 
services  were  very  impressive  as  were  also  the  Masonic  rites 
and  ceremonies  at  the  grave,  the  interment  taking  place  under 
the  auspices  of  that  order.  A  great  number  of  citizens  attended 
among  them  being  the  fraternities,  the  manufacturers  and  the 
Old  Citizens'  Anniversary  society.  Mr.  Owens  was  a  kind  and 
liberal  hearted  man;  contributed  largely  to  all  charitable 
purposes  and  to  each  and  every  measure  that  advanced  and 
improved  the  interests  of  Hamilton.  He  was  chief  of  the  Fire 
Department  from  1865  to  1873. 


376  Historical  Sketches. 

Mandes  ShulER  was  born  in  L,ehigh  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1823.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  on  coming  to 
Hamilton  in  1835.  At  the  time  gold  was  discovered  in 
California,  he  went  to  the  Pacific  coast,  where  he  remained 
until  1852,  when  he  returned  to  Hamilton.  He  was  Chief  of 
the  Fire  Department  for  four  years,  1873-76.  He  is  now  located 
in  Wichita,  Kansas. 

Henry  Frey  was  born  in  this  city.  He  learned  the 
machinist's  trade  with  Owens,  L,ane  &  Dyer;  was  Chief  of  the 
Fire  Department  from  1876  to  1879.  He  made  an  excellent 
official;  is  now  engaged  at  his  trade  with  the  Hooven, 
Owens    &    Rentschler  company. 

William  Ritchie  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  May  26, 
1839.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  When  four- 
teen years  old  he  came  to  Hamilton  and  began  learning  the 
machinist's  trade  in  the  employment  of  Owens,  L,ane  &  Dyer. 
After  finishing  his  trade  he  was  made  superintendent  of  their 
works.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Sixty-ninth  Regiment  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry.  After  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  he  was 
transferred  to  the  engineer  corps.  He  marched  with  Sherman 
to  the  sea;  was  mustered  out  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1865.  He  was  elected  Chief  of  the  Fire  Department  in 
1879,  seaving  two  years.  Mr.  Ritchie  was  married  to  Miss 
Pattie  Nifong,  in  1870.  He  is  a  self-made  man,  prosperous 
and  energetic;  is  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic  bodies,  and 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

John  Boose  was  born  in  Rossville,  now  First  ward  of 
Hamilton,  March  16,  1831.  His  youthful  days  were  spent  in 
his  native  village,  where  he  attended  district  school  until 
he  was  eighteen  years  old,  when  he  began  work  as  a  brick 
molder,  which  occupation  he  followed  for  years.  On  Sep- 
tember 26,  1 86 1,  he  boarded  the  train  as  the  gallant  Thirty- 
fifth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  was  leaving  for  the 
front  and  cast  his  lot  with  that  regiment.  At  Cynthiana, 
Kentucky,  he  became  a  member  of  Captain  Henry  Mallory's 
company.     He  remained  with  the   regiment   until  the   latter 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  $77 

part  of  1863,  when  he  was  detailed  for  special  service,  and 
assigned  to  the  Seventh  Invalid  Corps  at  Washington  D.  C. 
After  his  term  of  enlistment  expired,  he  returned  to  Hamilton 
and  followed  boss  painting  and  paper  hanging.  In  188 1,  he 
was  elected  Chief  of  the  Hamilton  Fire  Department,  serving 
until  1883,  when  he  was  appointed  to  the  same  position  by 
Mayor  Getz;  was  re-appointed  by  the  Board  of  Public  Affairs, 
and  retained  by  Mayor  Dirk.  In  the  spring  of  1893,  he  was 
appointed  stationary  hoseman  of  the  Neptune  Fire  company, 
of  the  city  Fire  Department,  which  position  he  still  retains. 
As  a  citizen,  a  soldier  and  public  official,  Mr.  Boose  has  always 
been  prompt  and  reliable  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

David  Eingusr,  Chief  of  Hamilton  Fire  Department, 
was  born  in  this  city,  November  13,  1854.  He  was  educated 
in  the  Hamilton  public  schools,  which  he  discontinued  at  the 
age  of  fourteen,  when  he  began  to  learn  the  molder's  trade. 
In  April,  1883,  he  was  first  elected  Chief  of  the  Fire  Depart- 
ment, and  by  subsequent  elections  and  appointments,  he 
served  five  years  in  that  capacity.  After  retiring  from  office, 
he  resumed  work  at  his  trade.  In  the  spring  of  1892,  he 
purchased  a  grocery  at  the  corner  of  Central  avenue  and 
Chestnut  street,  of  which  he  is  still  owner.  In  July,  1893,  he 
was  again  appointed  Chief  of  the  Fire  Department,  by  Mayor 
Bosch,  and  is  the  present  incumbent  of  that  office,  for  the 
duties  of  which  he  is  admirably  qualified.  He  is  a  strict 
disciplinarian  exacting  from  the  members  of  the  department  a 
rigid  observance  of  the  rules.  A  man  of  keen  sagacity  and 
shrewd  discrimination,  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  public 
spirited  citizens  of  Hamilton,  and  the  fact  that  he  has  filled 
the  position  so  often  is  sufficient  evidence  of  the  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens,  and  the  confidence  they 
repose  in  him  as  a  man  of  ability. 

Mr.  Iyingler  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Brooks,  October  10,  1877.  Six  children  have  resulted  from 
this  union.  Four  are  living,  namely,  Mary,  Alma,  David  and 
Edna. 


3  78  Historical  Sketches. 

Mr.  Iyingler  is  a  public-spirited  citizen  and  gives  every- 
thing tending  to  the  developement  of  his  native  city  a  hearty 
co-operation. 

PROFESSION  OF  DENTISTRY. 

The  profession  was  followed  in  Hamilton  as  early  as  1839 
by  D.  C.  White,  surgeon  dentist,  who  was  to  be  found  at  all 
times  at  the  Hamilton  Hotel.  On  March  22,  1842,  Dr.  J.  B. 
Allen,  of  Cincinnati,  originator  of  Allen's  continuous  gum 
work,  visited  Hamilton,  and  remained  a  short  time  for  the 
purpose  of  rendering  his  professional  services  to  such  as 
required  his  aid.  His  references  were:  Rev.  D.  Whitcomb, 
Rev.  H.  Payne,  Dr.  Laomi  Rigdon,  Dr.  S.  Walker,  Dr.  Cyrus 
Falconer,  Jesse  Corwin  and  Isaac  Fisher.  His  room  was  at 
the  Hamilton  Hotel.  On  June  9,  1842,  Dr.  Louis  respectfully 
tendered  his  professional  services  to  the  citizens  of  Hamilton, 
Rossville  and  vicinity.  He  was  at  all  times  to  be  found  at  the 
drug  store  of  Louis  &  Breaden,  except  when  not  professionally 
engaged.  On  January  9,  1844,  Dr.  H.  C.  Howells  was  located 
over  Joseph  Howell's  drug  store  in  the  room  formerly  occu- 
pied by  Corwin  &  Smith  as  a  law  office.  Dr.  Howells  has 
continued  to  practice  at  this  same  location  over  fifty  years. 
He  was  the  first  dentist  to  permanently  locate  in  this  city. 
His  long  experience  and  intimate  knowledge  of  the  require- 
ments of  his  profession  has  made  him  acurate  and  reliable. 
As  a  citizen  and  professional  man,  no  one  possesses  the  con- 
fidence or  stands  higher  in  the  community  than  Dr.  Howells. 
We  next  have  Drs.  W.  B.  &  S.  W.  Ludlow  in  the  room  over 
John  Marr's  store,  on  High  street,  now  occupied  by  Fred. 
Egry  as  an  insurance  office.  Early  in  the  sixties  S.  Tolbert 
and  L-  M.  Griffis  opened  offices  in  Hamilton.  Following  are 
the  practicing  dentists  of  this  city  today:  H.  C.  Howells,  132 
High  street;  L.  M.  &  E.  S.  Griffis,  239  High  street;  Charles  I. 
Keely,  Third  and  High  streets;  A.  T.  Good,  238,  High  street; 
James  E.  Rothenbush,  Third  and  Court  streets;  C.  C.  Carle, 
No.  10  Reily  block;  D.  E.  Sheehan,  jr.,  230  High  street;  C.  G. 
Lockwood,  Frechtling  block;  J.  B.  Stewart,  105  North  Third 
street;  Frank  A.  Ayers,  304  High  street. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  379 

Charles  I.  Keeey,  D.  D.  S  ,  was  born  in  Oxford,  Bulter 
county,  Ohio,  November  15,  1853.  He  is  the  son  of  Dr.  George 
W.  Keely  and  Susanna  (Wells)  Keely.  Dr.  George  W  Keely 
was  foremost  among  the  dentists  of  Ohio.  Charles  I  Keely 
was  reared  in  Oxford;  attended  school  at  Brookville,  Indiana, 
and  Miami  University.  He  studied  dentistry  under  his  father, 
and  entering  the  Ohio  Dental  college,  graduated  from  that 
institution  in  1875.  For  a  time  he  held  the  chair  of  Operative 
Dentistry  at  the  college,  and  later  filled  the  chair  of  Demon- 
strator of  Operative  dentistry  for  two  years.  He  located  in 
Hamilton  in  1879,  and  since  that  date  has  practiced  his  profes- 
sion here.  He  lectures  every  year  in  the  Ohio  Dental  college 
and  now  occupies  the  chair  of  Orthodontia.  The  doctor  is  also 
a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Dental  Examiners. 

In  January,  1885,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  Rhode- 
hamel,  of  Piqua,  Ohio,  and  from  this  union  two  children  have 
resulted.  He  is  one  of  the  popular  men  of  our  city  and 
has  many  friends.  Dr.  Keely  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  board  of  electors,  he  holds  a 
membership  in  the  American  Dental  association  and  the  Miss- 
issippi Valley  Dental  association,  which  is  the  oldest  in  the 
country. 

James  E.  Rothenbush  was  born  in  this  city,  December 
27,  1867.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Hamilton.  He 
began  the  study  of  dentistry  under  the  tutelage  of  Dr.  H.  C. 
Howells,  in  1887,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Dental 
college  in  1889.  After  graduation  he  opened  an  office  in 
Manchester,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  two  years.  In  1891,  he 
came  to  this  city,  where  he  has  continued  his  professional 
work  ever  since. 

Dr.  Rothenbush  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hattie 
Hites,  November  18,  1891.  One  child  resulted  from  this 
union.  Dr.  Rothenbush  is  a  close  student;  has  built  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  is  popular  and  is  esteemed 
in  all  circles  for  his  social  and  professional  qualities. 


38o  Historical  Sketches. 

C.  C.  Carl  was  born  in  Anderson,  Indiana,  in  1868.  In 
1872,  his  parents  came  to  Hamilton.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  this  city,  and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1888. 
Entering  the  Cincinnati  Dental  college  at  the  opening  of  the 
following  session  he  enjoyed  a  thorough  professional  training 
and  received  his  degree  from  that  institution  two  years  later. 
During  the  next  year  Dr.  Carle  visited  many  cities  and  prac- 
ticed in  the  offices  of  several  famous  dentists.  He  returned  to 
Hamilton  in  July,  1891,  and  in  association  with  Dr.  George 
Coughlin  opened  his  present  handsome  suite  of  offices.  Dr. 
Coughlin  retired  three  years  later  leaving  him  in  the  independ- 
ent enjoyment  of  their  splendid  patronage,  which  he  has  since 
continued  to  merit  and  retain. 

Dr.  Carle  was  married  in  October,  1894  to  Miss  Anna 
Bridge  of  Franklin.  He  is  a  member  of  Lone  Star  Lodge 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

HAMILTON  DRUGGISTS. 

G.  A.  Latta  had  a  drug  store  in  Hamilton  at  the  head  of 
the  basin  on  Third  street  as  early  as  1835.  P.  G.  Smith  was 
established  in  business  at  No.  13  Main  street,  Rossville,  in  1840. 
He  offered  his  "services  in  weighing  bright  colors,  from 
red  to  violet  of  every  hue;  emetics,  cathartics,  or  anything  in 
his  line,  of  which  he  intends  keeping  a  general  assortment, 
and  will  sell  on  the  most  reasonable  terms.  Flax,  clover  and 
timothy  seed  taken  in  exchange."  On  June  9,  1842,  Louis  & 
Braeden  opened  a  wholesale  and  retail  drug,  book  and  station- 
ary store  at  No.  65  High  street,  opposite  the  court  house.  In 
1844,  Joseph  Howells  embarked  in  business  for  himself  on 
High  street,  in  the  room  now  occupied  by  William  Hurm  as  a 
shoe  store.  On  November  29,  1849,  Clark  &  Millikin  offered 
bargains  at  the  checkered  drug  store,  No.  21,  Main  street,  Ross- 
ville. The  establishment  had  been  previously  owned  by  Dr. 
Samuel  Millikin.  In  the  latter  part  of  1849,  Chrisman  & 
Millikin  carried  on  the  drug  business  on  High  street,  directly 
opposite  the  Court  house  in  the  Dr.  Hittel  property.  Peter 
Jacobs  was  an  old-time  pharmacist.  He  was  born  in  Germany, 
April  i,  1826.     He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1827. 


CHARLKS  I.  KKKLY 


I  m  Mm 


JAMES  E.  ROTHKXBL'SH        W.  C.  MILLER 


C.  C.  CARLK 


CHARLKS  KRONE 


JOHN  C.  SCHWARTZ 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  38 1 

He  became  a  clerk  in  Perry  G.  Smith's  drug  store,  remaining 
in  the  establishment  till  the  death  of  Mr.  Smith.  He  then 
entered  the  employment  of  John  O  Brown,  a  prominent  drug- 
gist, with  whom  he  was  in  partnership  for  some  time  after 
removing  on  the  East  side,  when  Mr.  Jacobs  succeeded  him  in 
business.  This  was  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  Charles 
Diefenbach.  From  there  he  removed  to  the  store  now 
occupied  by  John  C.  Schwartz,  where  he  continued  until  his 
death.  He  was  a  successful  business  man,  doing  the  largest 
trade  as  a  druggist  of  any  one  in  Hamilton.  He  was  a  self- 
educated  man,  but  had  acquired  a  fine  knowledge  of  chem- 
istry. In  1850,  T.  C.  Phillips  purchased  the  Howell  drug 
store,  and  announced  that  "he  had  received  many  additions  to 
his  stock  of  books  and  stationary  which  he  sells  at  a  small 
profit.  His  store  is  not  chequered,  but  opposite  the  Court 
house,  Hamilton,  Ohio."  In  1855-56,  Charles  R.  Kennedy 
and  Dr.  John  McElwee  established  a  drug  store  at  the  corner 
of  Main  and  D  streets,  and  C.  Rothenbush  was  operating  the 
P.  G.  Smith  store.  Frank  Martindell  has  been  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  for  over  thirty-three  years.  Following  are  the 
pharmacists  of  1897:  Dr.  S  D.  Beeler,  William  W.  Griffith, 
James  Harper  &  Bro.,  Charles  Krone  &  Bro.,  J.  B.  L,ehmkuhl, 
C.  Markt,  Frank  Martindell,  William  C.  Miller,  Dr.  A.  Myers 
&  Co.,  John  C.  Schwartz. 

Dr.  William  C.  Miller  was  born  in  Wurtenburg, 
Germany,  in  1854.  When  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  seven  years, 
his  parents  came  to  America  and  located  in  Hamilton.  Dr. 
Miller  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city.  In  1863, 
he  began  clerking  in  a  drug  store.  He  was  a  close  student  and 
advanced  rapildy.  From  a  clerkship  he  became  a  proprietor, 
and  with  business  success  his  aspiration  to  the  higher  field  of 
medicine  grew  aspace.  In  1874,  ne  entered  Miami  Medical 
college,  at  Cincinnati,  where  he  continued  until  his  graduation 
three  years  later.  Dr.  Miller  followed  his  profession  for 
some  time  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  that  city  offered  him  many 
advantages,  but  the  fact  of  his  family's  home  being  in  this  city 


382  Historical  Sketches. 

determined  his  lot  in  favor  of  Hamilton,  as  a  permanent  loca- 
tion. He  returned  to  his  old  home  in  1879,  and  at  once  pur- 
chased the  Barton  S.  James  drug  store  at  the  corner  of  Main 
and  B  streets.  His  business  has  grown  as  well  as  his  profes- 
sional work,  until  it  is  at  present  one  of  the  best  established 
institutions  in  Hamilton.  He  is  a  man  of  rare  professional 
skill,  and  his  management  is  as  popular  as  it  is  careful  and 
reliable.  Dr.  Miller  is  an  accomplished,  intelligent,  and  trust- 
worthy pharmaceutist.  He  has  built  up  a  rare  and  choice 
library,  which  is  a  great  comfort  to  him.  Dr.  Miller  has  been 
twice  married.  First,  in  1880,  to  Erin  A.  Corwin,  daughter 
of  Jesse  Corwin,  a  prominent  member  of  the  Butler  county 
bar  in  early  days  and  a  brother  to  the  famous  Tom  Corwin. 
Three  children  resulted  from  this  union,  namely,  William, 
Jesse  Blaine  and  Warren  Martin.  The  second  time  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Hunter,  September  1,  1896. 
Socially,  Dr.  Miller  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity; 
in  religion,  a  United  Presbyterian  and  in  politics,  a  Republican. 
Dr.  Charles  Krone  was  born  in  L,ewistown,  Pennsylva- 
nia, May  16,  1863.  He  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  Krone, 
who  came  to  Hamilton  in  1864.  In  his  youth  he  attended  the 
public  schools  and  was  a  student  in  the  Ohio  Commercial 
college.  When  fifteen  years  old,  he  began  the  study  of 
pharmacy,  entering  the  Cincinnati  College  of  Pharmacy,  and 
employing  his  vacations  as  a  clerk  in  a  drug  store  in  Hamilton. 
After  acquiring  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  business  he  found 
a  partnership  with  his  brother  Henry  and  they  have  ever  since 
been  engaged  as  pharmacists  and  druggists.  On  July  6,  1888, 
Dr.  Krone  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Katie  Haas,  of  this 
city.  They  are  members  of  St.  John's  Evangelical  church.  In 
politics,  Dr.  Krone  is  a  Democrat.  In  1891,  he  was  appointed 
by  Governor  Campbell,  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of 
Pharmacy  for  a  term  of  five  years.  Dr.  Krone  is  president  of 
the  board.  In  1896,  Governor  Bushnell  re-appointed  him  to 
the  same  position. 

In    1892,    he   was   appointed   County    Coroner   to   fill   a 
vacancy,  caused  by  the  death   of  John   R.   Brown,    and  was 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  383 

afterward  elected  to  this  post,  a  position  which  he  has  filled 
with  great  credit  to  himself,  and  satisfaction  to  his  constit- 
uents. Dr.  Krone  has  a  long  practical  experience  in  the 
profession,  he  has  developed  an  influential  and  wide  spread 
connection,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders  in  his  line. 
He  is  a  gentleman  of  fine  professional  and  social  attainments 
and  is  deservedly  popular  with  the  masses. 

John  C.  Schwartz  was  born  in  Nurenberg,  Germany,  in 
1852.  His  parents  emigrated  to  America,  when  he  was  six 
months  old,  locating  in  Cincinnati.  Afterward,  in  1853,  they 
came  to  Hamilton,  where  the  subject  was  educated  in  our 
public  schools.  Later  he  entered  as  a  drug  clerk  with  Bruck 
&  Bender,  who  operated  the  drug  store  now  occupied  by  Dr.  A. 
Myers  and  company.  After  clerking  in  a  Cincinnati  wholesale 
and  retail  drug  store  Mr.  Schwartz  attended  the  Philadelphia 
School  of  Pharmacy.  After  graduation  he  entered  the  store  of 
Dr.  John  R.  Brown  of  the  First  ward  and  later  went  with  Dr. 
C.  Markt,  where  he  remained  for  six  years.  He  then  engaged 
in  business  for  himself  in  the  old  Jacobs'  drug  store.  Mr. 
Schwartz's  eighteen  years  of  successful  business  life  in  Hamil- 
ton has  shown  him  to  be  a  man  of  business  ability;  a  man 
honorable  and  reliable  in  all  his  dealings  with  the  people. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Royal  Arcanum.  Mr.  Schwartz  enjoys  a  reputation  of  the 
highest  character,  professionally  and  otherwise. 

FUNERAIv  DIRECTORS. 
Reverence  for  the  dead  and  the  hallowed  and  sacred 
memories  that  they  leave  after  them,  have  in  all  times  and  all 
ages  made  their  graves,  their  last  earthly  resting  places  a  spot, 
the  world  over  for  holy  recollections  and  new  inspirations. 
Inseperable  from  the  history  of  Hamilton  is  the  sketch  of  the 
men  who  have  officiated  at  the  last  melancholy  services  attend- 
ant upon  the  interment  of  those  who  have  gone  before.  The 
subjoined  review  is  a  passing  chronicle. 

Joshua  Delapla.ne  was  born  in  Frederick  county, 
Maryland,  June  24,  1807.     He  came  west  in  18 19,  and  located 


384  Historical  Sketches. 

near  Rossville;  followed  farming  until  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  Afterward  he  learned  the  cabinet-making  trade  and 
undertaking  business  until  1865,  when  he  sold  out  to  Sortman, 
Blum  &  Co.,  and  retired  from  active  business.  Mr.  Delaplane 
was  the  pioneer  undertaker  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville. 

Harrison  Watson  was  established  in  business  on  High 
street,  on  the  site  of  the  Universalist  church  building,  opposite 
C.  Schmidtman's  bakery,  in  February,  1841.  At  this  date  he 
manufactured  coffins  at  less  than  half  their  former  price. 
Plain  coffins  sold  at  his  shop,  from  $2.00  to  $5.00  apiece. 

R.  G.  DuffiELD,  in  1845,  removed  from  High  street  to 
Pearl  (now  Reily  street),  adjoining  the  Intelligencer  office, 
where  he  carried  on  the  cabinet  business.  He  was  prepared 
to  serve  on  funeral  occasions  with  hearse,  etc.,  at  his  former 
prices. 

L,ouis  Sohngen  &  D.  Crane,  on  January  3,  1850, 
annouced  to  the  public  that  they  had  taken  Harrison  Watson's 
old  shop  on  Market  Square,  and  were  manufacturing  cabinet- 
ware  and  coffins.  The  duties  of  an  undertaker  were  promptly 
complied  with. 

The  following  were  the  undertakers  in  1866:  Crowley  & 
Dye,  Sortman,  Blum  &  Co.,  Theobald  &  Morman.  P.  H. 
Gilbert  entered  the  calling  in  1869. 

Charles  W.  Gath  was  born  October  21,  1853,  in  the 
village  of  Oxford,  Butler  county,  Ohio.  He  was  born  of 
English  parentage.  When  but  a  mere  boy  he  used  to  accom- 
pany and  assist  his  father  upon  his  professional  calls.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Oxford,  and  at  Miami  univer- 
sity. At  the  age  of  nineteen  years  he  engaged  in  the  undertak- 
ing business  for  himself.  Having  associated  with  the  profession 
from  early  boyhood,  he  brought  to  it  a  knowledge  of  its  delicate 
requirements.  In  1880,  he  came  to  this  city,  where  his  strict 
integrity  of  character,  his  merits  as  a  gentleman,  and  his  intel- 
ligent appreciation  of  his  chosen  vocation,  soon  placed  him  in 
the  front  rank  and  earned  for  him  the  success  that  he  has 
achieved.      Socially,  Mr.  Gath  is  a  prominent  Mason;    is  a 


Sua  ^**    « 


•  if7  /  / 

JOSHUA  DELAPLANE 


C.  W.  GATH 


ALEX.  HUNTER 


SAMUEL  GATH  SAMUEL  GATH,  JR. 


M  #, 


CHARLES  E.  GRIESMER  WILLIAM  O.  GRIESMER 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  385 

Knights  Templar,  a  member  of  Syrian  Temple,  Order  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine,  of  Cincinnati,  I.  0.  O.  F,  K.  of  P.,  Royal 
Arcanum,  K.  of  H.,  K.  and  L.  of  H.,  J.  0.  U.  A.  M.  Mr. 
Gath  is  a  close  student  in  his  professional  work.  He  has  the 
confidence  of  the  community;  is  an  accomplished  and  modtl 
funeral  director. 

Alex.  Hunter  was  born  in  this  city,  January  5,  1849. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Hamilton  public  schools,  and  the  Fur- 
mandale  Academy.  Afterward  he  followed  farming.  In  18S6, 
he  came  to  Hamilton  and  engaged  in  manutacturing  brick  for 
four  years.  He  entered  the  undertakers'  profession  in  1892. 
He  has  become  prominent  in  his  calling,  which  has  done  him 
credit.  He  is  an  active  and  influential  member  and  trustee  of 
the  Westminster  Presbyterian  church. 

Mr.  Hunter  was  married  November  26,  1873,  to  Miss 
Florence  I.  Vinnedge,  daughter  of  Moore  P.  Vinnedge. 

Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Royal  Arcanum,  and  the  Knights  and 
L,adies  of  Honor.  The  duties  of  an  undertaker,  in  recent 
years,  have  reached  the  plane  of  a  profession.  Embalming  is 
now  conducted  upon  scientific  principles.  Mr.  Hunter  enjoys 
a  high  reputation  for  ability  and  skill,  and  possesses  every 
facility  for  carrying  out  all  funeral  arrangements, 

Charles  E.  Griesmer  was  born  in  Sharon,  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  June  1,  1861.  His  father  moved  to  Monroe, 
Butler  county,  in  1863,  and  followed  cabinet  making  and  the 
undertaking  business.  Charles  Griesmer  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Monroe. 

John  O.  Griesmer  was  born  in  Monroe,  this  county,  in 
February,  1864.  He  was  also  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  town. 

The  Griesmer  Brothers  were  early  educated  in  the  busi- 
ness and  long  before  their  father's  death,  in  1890,  they  were 
schooled  in  the  practical  workings  of  the  profession.  Their 
early  experience  stood  them  in  good  stead,  when  this  great 
misfortune  threw  the  burden  of  the  family  support   upon   the 


386  Historical  Sketches. 

young  men.  They  were  equal  to  the  occasion  and  in  a  few 
years  had  not  only  maintained  the  business  but  increased  it  to 
more  than  double  its  former  proportions.  The  first  and  only 
great  alteration  in  the  policy  of  the  concern,  was  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Hamilton  branch  in  1892,  in  its  present  convenient 
quarters  at  the  Gray  Eagle  stable.  The  elder  partner,  Charles 
E.  Griesmer,  came  on  to  give  the  new  venture  his  personal 
care  and  supervision.  Its  success  was  immediate  and  perma- 
nent. He  brought  with  him  the  technical  skill,  the  gentle 
courtesy  of  manner,  and  above  all,  the  reputation  of  fair  and 
honorable  character,  which  are  necessary  to  success  in  this 
most  delicate  of  all  human  vocations.  In  a  few  brief  months 
the  child  had  cut-grown  the  parent.  In  the  spring  of  1896, 
the  necessity  for  more  room  led  them  to  purchase  a  half 
interest  in  the  Gray  Eagle  stables,  and  the  entire  remodeling 
of  the  offices  and  warerooms  of  the  concern.  It  stands  today 
in  every  sense  a  model  establishment.  Mr.  Griesmer  employes 
the  best  approved  modern  process  in  embalming.  By  his  method 
the  remains  are  permanently  preserved  from  decay.  Both  of 
these  young  men  have  been  reared  in  the  business  and  are 
thoroughly  qualified  for  their  profession.  The  original  busi- 
ness is  still  conducted  at  Monroe  by  the  junior  partner,  John 
O.  Griesmer,  who  is  a  young  man  of  the  highest  qualities  and 
consideration. 

HAMILTON  CHURCHES. 

Baptist.  —  A  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  Rossville, 
in  1829,  on  South  B  street.  The  First  Baptist  church  was 
organized  in  1841,,  as  a  branch  of  the  Eockland  church,  but  did 
not  become  an  independent  church  until  1844,  when  a  church 
was  built,  situated  on  Third  street,  south  of  Dayton  street. 

This  edifice,  cost  three  thousand  dollars,  and  was  occupied 
until  1858.  The  property  was  sold  at  this  time,  and  the 
congregation  began  worshipping  in  the  present  building  on 
Court  street.  The  original  membership  was  twelve.  Dr. 
Laomi  Rigdon,  Aaron  Potter  and  James  Shot  well,  were  the 
organizers.     The  following  ministers  have  served  the  congre- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  387 

gation.  J.  F.  Blodgett,  W.  H.  Rooney,  William  Ashmore,  H. 
M.  Richardson,  J.  M.  Pendleton,  R.  V.  W.  Snow,  R.  Telford, 
N.  A.  Reed,  Thomas  Hanford,  W.  A.  Smith,  Thomas  Eddy, 
W.  R.  Dennis,  Charles  Huckleberry,  Frank  McFarlan  and  H. 
N.  Quisenberry. 

Congregational.  —  The  First  Congregational  church 
was  organized  in  1894.  Services  were  conducted  in  the  Fourth 
ward  school  house  for  a  year.  Afterward  a  small,  but  hand- 
some church  edifice  was  erected  on  Sycamore  street,  near  the 
corner  of  Seventh.     Rev.  G.  Z.  Mechling,  pastor. 

Disciples  of  Christ.  —  The  Church  of  Christ  was 
originally  organized  on  the  West  Side  in  the  old  United 
Brethern  church  building.  Afterward  the  congregation  erected 
a  fine  building  at  the  northeast  corner  of  High  and  Center 
streets. 

Episcopal.  —  Hamilton  and  Rossville  have  had  two 
Episcopal  church  organ izatio'ns  named  St.  Matthew.  One  was 
organized  in  1823,  and  the  other  in  1834.  In  August  of  the 
last  mentioned  year  Rev.  Ethan  Allen  was  appointed  rector. 

On  Easter  Monday,  April  20,  1835,  a  meeting  of  the 
members  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Isaac  Howe,  in  Rossville. 
At  this  meeting  a  resolution  was  adopted,  accepting  the  act 
passed  by  the  Legislature  of  Ohio,  entitled,  "an  act  to  incor- 
porate the  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  the  parish  of  St. 
Matthew's  church  in  the  towns  of  Hamilton  and  Rossville,  in 
the  County  of  Butler." 

On  April  22,  1835,  a  meeting  of  the  wardens  and  vestry- 
men was  held.  It  appeared  that  a  contract  for  a  lot  whereon  to 
build  a  church  had  been  made  and  that  a  subscription  had 
been  raised  sufficient  to  justify  them  in  adopting  measures  for 
the  immediate  prosecution  of  the  contemplated  building. 
Isaac  Howe,  William  A.  Krug,  George  Keck,  P.  F.  Nardin  and 
Lewis  D.  Campbell  were  appointed  as  a  building  committee. 
Rev.  Ethan  Allen,  of  Christ  Church,  Dayton,  Ohio,  on  October 
31,  1835,  made  the  following  report  to  the  Episcopal  conven- 
tion: 


388  Historical  Sketches. 

"In  St.  Matthew's  church,  Hamilton  and  Rossville,  Butler  county, 
thirteen  communicants  have  been  added,  and  three  removed  making-  the 
present  number  nineteen;  and  five  children  have  been  baptised.  I  have 
preached  here  twenty-two  times  and  administered  the  Communion  thrice; 
the  first  time  to  fifteen  and  the  second  to  twenty-two.  This  church  is  gaining 
ground,  and  affords  much  encouragement.  The  erection  of  a  Gothic  edifice 
of  brick  for  public  worship,  sixty  feet  by  fourty,  has  been  commenced;  and 
the  walls  are  now  nearly  up,  and  will  soon  be  covered  in.  The  site  is  exceed- 
ingly eligible;  no  better  could  have  been  obtained.  The  corner-stone  was 
laid  by  me  on  the  twenty-second  of  last  month.  The  Lord  has  been  pleased 
to  favor  this  little  vine  much.  He  has  renewed  the  hearts  of  some  and  given 
the  cause  which  they  have  espoused  favor  in  the  eyes  of  others.  Social 
worship,  at  which  service  is  performed  and  a  sermon  read,  is  attended  every 
Sabbath;  the  labors  of  a  pastor  are  much  needed." 

The  building  above  referred  to  was  erected  on  the  lot  now 
occupied  by  St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  church.  The  edifice 
was  sold  under  legal  proceedings,  as  the  parish  was  unable  to 
pay  for  the  same.  After  a  long  lapse  of  time  the  congregation 
purchased  a  church  edifice  on  the  west  side  of  Third  street, 
one-half  square  south  of  Dayton  street.  Here  the  church  flour- 
ished for  years. 

In  1893,  the  parish  erected  the  Trinity  church,  a  fine  and 
modern  building  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Sixth  and  Butler 
streets.  Rev.  Frederic  E.  J.  Lloyd,  Rector;  Wardens,  Harrison 
Lieb  and  William  C.  Rinearson;  Vestrymen,  Robert  M.  Elliott, 
Alexander  Gordon,  H.  L,.  Morey  Frank  E.  Brandt  and  Estes 
G.  Rathbone. 

Evangelical  German  Protestant.  —  On  January  6, 
1837,  this  congregation  purchased  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  property.  The  trustees  were:  Daniel  Beaver,  Christian 
Rothenbush  and  August  Breitenbach.  In  1838  these  trustees 
transferred  the  property  to  Jacob  Rupp,  Peter  Jacobs  and  Fred 
erick  Gressle,  for  the  exclusive  purpose  of  a  German  church. 
During  the  brief  period  intervening,  both  English  and  German 
services  had  been  held.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  George  Reiss. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Rosenfeld,  who  remained  until 
1 84 1.  During  the  succeeding  twenty-nine  years,  the  church 
had  seventeen  pastors.  In  September  1866,  Rev.  C.  A.  Herr- 
mann took  charge  and  organized  the  congregation  anew.     The 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  389 

old  chuch  was  torn  down  and  the  present  building  was  erected. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Phillip  Stempel,  who  remained 
until  1888.  In  1887,  the  congregation  celebrated  its  semi-cen- 
tennial. In  March,  1883,  Rev.  C  A.  Herrmann  returned  to  the 
pastorate  where  he  still  officiates. 

Evangelical. — St.  Paul's  German  Evangelical  Church 
is  located  on  the  south  side  of  Campbell  avenue,  between 
Seventh  and  Eighth  streets.  Rev.  F.  J.  Doren,  Pastor.  It  is 
an  offshoot  of  the  church  of  St.  John's. 

Jewish  Synagogue. — The  Kahle  Kodeoh  B'nai  Israel 
Synagogue  is  located  on  South  Fourth  street,  between  Chest- 
nut and  Walnut  streets.     Rev.  Lippman  Liebman,  Rabbi. 

Lutheran  —  The  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Zion's 
church,  is  located  at  Front  and  Ludlow  streets.  Rev.  George 
H.  Trebel,  Pastor. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — In  18 18,  Rev.  Samuel 
West,  a  circuit  minister,  organized  in  Hamiton  the  first  society 
of  this  denomination  in  the  city.  It  was  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing members :  Thomas  Sinnard  and  wife,  Aaron  Jewell 
and  wife,  Mrs.  John  Caldwell  and  Miss  Lydia  Jones.  In  1819, 
Hamilton  and  Rossville  was  made  a  station,  and  Rev.  West 
preached  alternately  in  the  Academy  building,  at  Third  and 
Dayton  streets,  in  the  Delorac's  warehouse  in  Rossville.  In 
the  same  year  the  First  Methodist  meeting-house  was  built. 
It  was  erected  on  Ludlow  street,  between  Second  and  Third 
streets  on  the  site  of  the  present  church.  At  the  end  of  the 
year  1821  the  membership  had  increased  to  sixty-five.  In 
1833,  another  lot  adjacent  to  the  former  lot  was  donated  to  the 
society  and  a  new  church  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$4,800  and  the  old  building  was  occupied  by  Peter  Myers,  as  a 
carpenter  shop.  In  March,  1839,  both  the  carpenter  shop  and 
the  church  building  were  destroyed  by  fire.  In  1840  a  new 
church  building  was  erected  and  was  thereafter  occupied  until 
1868  when  the  same  was  remodeled  and  reconstructed  at  an 
outlay  of  $11,000. 


390  Historical  Sketches. 

The  ministers  who  have  officiated  as  pastors  of  the  church 
are:  Samuel  West,  Henry  Baker,  John  P.  Durbin,  Henry  Hilt, 
John  P.  Taylor,  Augustus  Eddy,  A.  S.  McClain,  John  P.  Tay- 
lor, A.  M.  Loriug,  William  Simmons,  D.  D.  Davisson,  John  A. 
Baughman,  Robert  O.  Spencer,  G.  R.  Jones,  William  Simmons, 
E.  Zimmerman,  J.  J.  Hill,  Daniel  Poe,  S.  A.  Latta,  W.  D. 
Barnett,  David  Reed,  O.  W.  Swain,  David  Whitcomb,  W.  R. 
Anderson,  A.  M.  Lorrain,  M.  Dustin,  Augustus  Brown,  Augus- 
tus Eddy,  W.  H.  Lawder,  W.  R.  Davis,  J.  J.  Hill,  Moses 
Smith,  E.  G.  Nicholson,  Charles  R.  Lovell,  A.  Lowrey,  W.  H. 
Lawder,  Moses  Smith,  J.  J.  Thompson,  Charles  Ferguson,  W. 
I.  Fee,  J.  D.  Starr,  T.  J.  Harris,  George  H.  Dart,  Granville 
Moody,  T.  S.  Cowden,  James  Murray,  George  W.  Dubois, 
C.  W.  Gullette,  John  W.  Peters. 

In  1893,  the  present  handsome  church  edifice  was  erected. 

German  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  —  Situated  on 
C  street,  between  Main  and  Park  avenue.  This  building  was 
formerly  owned  by  the  German  Lutheran  congregation.  Rev. 
John  Claus,  pastor. 

The  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
organized  in  1840,  by  Rev.  Thomas  Lawrence  of  Cincinnati. 
Nineteen  members  were  enrolled  at  the  organization.  Among 
these  the  names  of  Alfred  J.  Anderson,  Bud  Sampson  and 
Samuel  Jones  are  prominent.  A  church  edifice  was  erected 
and  dedicated  in  1842.  Rev.  Henry  Atkinson  was  the  first 
minister  of  the  congregation,  which  was  attached  to  the 
Cincinnati  circuit  in  1844.  Rev.  W.  M.  Clark.  Watkins  Lee, 
Daniel  Winslow,  John  Woodson,  Alexander  Austen,  were 
engaged  in  this  ministry.  Afterward  Oxford  and  Hamilton 
congregations  were  united,  and  had  a  pastor.  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Lewis  came  first.  Under  the  pastorate  of  H.J.  Jackson,  the  first 
work  was  done  toward  the  present  house  of  worship  and  it  was 
completed  under  the  pastorate  of  Philip  Tolliver.  In  1880, 
the  congregation  was  separated  from  Oxford,  when  Rev.  T. 
Knox  became  pastor.  The  subsequent  pastors  have  been:  C. 
H.  Bundy,  under  whose  pastorate,  the  comfortable  parsonage 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  391 

was  built,  P.  Alston,  J.  Griffin,  G.  W.  Prioleau,  G.  W. 
Maxwell,  John  Dickerson  and  W.  H.  Coleman. 

First  Presbyterian  Church.  — Among  the  early 
ministers  were  Revs.  James  Kemper,  M.  G.  Wallace  and  John 
Thompson,  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  These  preached  in 
private  houses,  in  the  Sycamore  grove  and  in  the  old  mess 
room  of  Fort  Hamilton.  In  1805,  Rev.  Matthew  G. 
Wallace,  who  resided  on  a  farm  eight  miles  south  of  Hamilton, 
began  to  preach  on  alternate  Sabbaths.  In  18 10  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  this  city  and  a  Presbyterian  church  was 
formally  organized  with  himself  as  pastor.  The  Union  Pres- 
byterian church  was  built  in  the  years  of  181 7  and  1818, 
jointly  by  the  Presbyterian  and  the  Associate  Reform  Presby- 
terian congregations.  They  purchased  lot  No.  103  of  the 
original  town  plat  situate  the  east  side  of  Third  street,  between 
High  and  Court  streets.  This  property  was  sold,  and  the 
Presbyterians  acting  for  themselves,  purchased  from  John 
Reily  lot  No.  22,  on  south  Front  street,  in  1829.  In  January, 
1837,  this  structure  was  sold  to  the  "German  and  English 
United  Luthern  and  Reformed  church,"  and  the  Presbyterians 
purchased  lot  No.  253.  Here  in  1838  they  erected  a  third  place 
of  worship.  In  1854  under  the  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Charles 
Sturdevant,  the  congregation  being  pressed  for  room,  took  the 
first  steps  toward  the  erection  of  a  fourth  house  of  worship. 
The  building  was  finished  in  1855,  and  is  still  used  and 
occupied  by  the  congregation 

Since  its  organization  in  18 10  it  has  had  nineteen  pastors: 
Matthew  G.  Wallace,  1810-21;  Francis  Montfort,  1821-37; 
Joseph  J.  Montfort,  1837-38;  Thomas  Wallon,  1838-40;  Adrian 
Aten,  1841-42;  Augustus  Pomeroy,  1832-36;  Charles  Packard, 
1837-39;  Thomas  E.  Thomas,  1839-49;  George  Darling,  1849-51; 
Charles  Sturdevant,  1852-54;  Levi  Christian,  1855-56;  Hugh 
Ustick,  1857;  William  McMillan,  1858-64;  C.  B.  Martin,  1865-66; 
Edward  J.  Hamilton,  1866-68;  S.  M.  C.  Anderson,  1S70-79; 
Edward  W.  Abbey,  present  pastor. 

United  Presbyterian  Church.  —  In  1828,  the  congre- 
gation purchased  of  John  Sutherland  the  lot  now  occupied,  on 


392  Historical  Sketches. 

the  southeast  corner  of  Court  and  Water  streets,  upon  which  a 
house  of  worship  was  erected.  It  was  a  modest,  neat  brick 
structure,  facing  toward  the  river.  The  trustees  in  behalf  of 
this  congregation  were  James  Brown,  William  Caldwell,  John 
Sutherland  and  Joseph  Latta. 

Dr.  McDill  served  as  pastor  until  June  1847,  a  pastorate 
of  more  than  thirty  years,  which  was  terminated  at  his  own 
request. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  Davidson  who  was 
installed  in  March  1848,  and  continued  in  the  pastorate  until 
April  7,  1874. 

In  1852  an  additional  lot  was  purchased  and  a  new  church 
edifice  erected  —  still  in  use. 

In  1866-7,  the  Lecture  and  Sabbath  school  rooms  in  the 
rear  of  the  church,  and  the  parsonage  were  erected.  The 
following  list  contains  the  names  of  all  the  pastors:  David 
McDill,  William  Davidson,  A.  W.  Clokey,  J.  W.  Bain,  K.  C. 
Simpson  and  Mason  Pressley. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  Ruling  Elders:  Messrs. 
James  Brown,  William  Caldwell,  James  Scott,  Samuel  Gray, 
William  Taylor,  Robert  Caldwell,  James  McDaniel,  John 
McDaniel,  David  Crawford,  James  Giffin,  George  R.  Caldwell, 
Robert  Scott,  R.  C.  Stewart,  William  E.  Brown,  John  McKee, 
Robert  Beckett,  D.  W.  McClung,  John  Scott,  Adam  Laurie,  J. 
L.  Kirkpatrick,  J.  R.  McKee,  Will  T.  Scott,  R.  C.  McKinney, 
George  C.  Rife  and  S.  T.  Wasson. 

Westminster  Presbyterian  Church.  —  This  congre- 
gation was  organized  in  1894.  The  members  seceded  from  the 
First  Presbyterian  church,  claiming  that  this  church  was  too 
liberal  in  its  Christian  views.  A  fine  church  edifice  was 
erected  in  1895,  at  the  northeast  corner  of  High  and  Seventh 
streets.     Rev.  J.  S.  Edenburn  is  pastor  of  the  congregation. 

The  First  Reformed  Church.  —  This  church  was 
organized  November  13,  1867,  at  the  residence  of  August 
Breitenbach,  on  the  West  Side.  John  Breitenstein  and  F.  B. 
Thomson  were  elected  elders;  Jesse  Jacoby  and  George  Huber, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  393 

deacons.  On  September  n,  1867,  a  lot  was  purchased  at  the 
corner  of  Ross  and  D  streets.  The  church  edifice  was  erected 
by  liberal  contributions  from  a  small  membership,  and  by 
other  congregations  in  southern  Ohio.  Rev.  G.  Z.  Mechling 
was  an  untiring  worker  in  the  cause.  The  corner  stone  was 
laid  August,  1868,  and  the  building  was  dedicated  September 
19,  1869.  The  defalcation  of  the  Treasurer,  left  a  debt  of 
fifty- five  hundred  dollars  upon  the  church,  and  the  property 
was  advertised  for  sale.  It  was  saved,  and  the  debt  finally 
extinguished  in  1875.  The  church  is  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion, under  the  able  pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  Ezra  Neikirk. 

St.  Stephen's  Catholic  Church.  —  This  church  was 
founded  in  1832.  The  Germans  and  Irish  communicants  wor- 
shipped together  until  1848,  when  they  separated.  The 
Germans  held  the  property  now  occupied  by  St.  Stephen's 
congregation.  The  first  resident  pastor  was  Rev.  Thomas 
Butler,  who  had  charge  of  the  congregation  from  1840-45. 
Since  that  time  the  congregation  has  been  under  the  charge  of 
the  Franciscan  order.  The  growth  of  the  congregation  ren- 
dered a  larger  house  of  worship  necessary,  and  in  the  year  of 
1852,  the  corner  stone  of  the  present  edifice  was  laid.  The 
church  was  completed  in  1853.  In  1849,  a  Parochial  school 
was  established.  Other  necessary  buildings,  a  school,  vestry 
room,  parsonage,  etc.,  have  been  built  as  necessity  or  ability 
suggested.  In  1887  the  interior  of  the  church  was  thoroughly 
overhauled.  In  1889,  a  new  school  building  was  erected  and 
was  dedicated  in  the  following  year. 

St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church.  —  In  1848,  this  congrega- 
tion purchased  St.  Matthew's  Episcopal  church,  which  was 
used  as  a  place  of  worship  until  1856.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  work  of  erecting  a  new  church,  not  a  cent  of  money  was 
in  the  church  treasury,  but  as  the  congregation  contained  a 
great  number  of  artisans,  each  of  whom  contributed  labor  in 
building,  this  seeming  obstruction  was  removed,  and  when 
finished,  the  edifice  was  truly  a  work  and  a  labor  of  love.  In 
1867,    the   congregation   purchased  a  tract  of  land   from   the 


394  Historical  Sketches. 

estate  of  William  Hunter,  situated  between  Hamilton  and 
Symmes  Corner,  for  a  cemetery.  The  first  Parochial  school 
was  established  in  i860,  in  the  basement  of  the  church,  and 
continued  there  until  1890,  when  possession  was  taken  of  the 
new  school  building. 

The  following  pastors  have  been  in  charge  of  the  congre- 
gation since  1848:  Revs.  T.  Hallinan,  Joseph  Kearney,  E-  P. 
Corcoran,  A.  O.  Walker,  Charles  F.  Hone,  M.  L-  Murphy,  J. 
H.  Bonner,  P.  A.  Quinn,  J.  O' Donahue  and  Henry  Anderson. 

St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church.  —  This  church  was 
established  in  1865.  The  square  on  Seeond  street,  between 
Washington  and  Hanover,  on  which  the  church  is  built,  was 
the  gift  of  William  Beckett,  Job  E.  Owens,  John  M.  Long  and 
Robert  Allstatter,  who  also  donated  $2,500  to  the  building 
fund.  In  June,  1866,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  by  Bishop 
Rosencrans.  The  church  was  dedicated  by  Archbishop  Pur- 
cell,  assisted  by  Bishop  Toebbe  and  others,  September  15, 
1867. 

In  March,  1873,  a  dwelling  and  school  house  for  the 
Sisters  of  Notre  Dame  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.  Rev. 
Francis  Varelmann,  Pastor. 

St.  Peter's  Catholic  Church,  is  situated  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Millville  Avenue  and  Ridge  Lawn  Avenue, 
West  Hamilton.     Rev.  Henry  Propperman,  Pastor. 

St.  Veronica  Catholic  Church  is  located  on  Shuler 
Avenue,  East  Hamilton.     Rev.  George  Franz,  Pastor. 

First  Universalist  Church,  east  side  of  Seventh, 
between  High  street  and  Campbell  Avenue.  Rev.  R.  E.  Olm- 
stead,  Pastor. 

German  United  Brethren,  southeast  corner  of  Ninth 
and  Rigdon  streets.     Rev.  Henry  Oehlschlegel,  Pastor. 

Congregational  Church,  corner  of  Seventh  and  Syca- 
more streets.  This  congregation  held  religious  services  in  the 
Fourth  ward  school  house  during  the  year  1895.  In  the  early 
part  of  1896,  a  neat  and  cozy  church  edifice  was  erected.  Rev. 
G.  Z.   Mechling,  the  pastor,  and  his  estimable  wife  were  untir- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  395 

ing  workers  in  the  vineyard  of  the  L,ord  during  the  building  of 
this  house  of  worship. 

Emanuel  Evangelical  Euthern  Church. — This  con- 
gregation seceded  from  the  Zion  church.  Services  are  held 
weekly  in  the  court  house  assembly  room. 

The  William  Davidson  Memorial  Chapel  was  origi- 
nally built  on  the  Whitehead  lot  on  East  Heaton  street  in 
1883.  Afterward  it  was  moved  to  the  rear  of  lot  No.  302 
North  Eleventh  street.  John  S.  Reeder  built  the  Davidson 
Memorial  Chapel  at  his  own  expense,  and  moved  it  to  its 
present  location.  He  is  a  cheerful  and  liberal  contributor  in 
the  cause  of  Christianity.  Rev.  Harry  Campbell  occupies  the 
pulpit  every  Sunday  evening. 


PERSONAL  SKETCHES. 


THE    MEN   WHO    HAVE    MADE    HAMILTON    AND   ARE 
MAKING    IT   TODAY. 

It  is  with  much  pleasure  that  the  writer  presents  the  fol- 
lowing sketches,  however  brief  and  imperfect  they  may  be,  of 
the  men  to  whom  Hamilton,  in  a  large  measure,  owes  its 
prosperity  today  and  the  proud  position  it  occupies  among  the 
substantial  cities  of  the  state.  They  are  men  who  have 
almost  grown  up  with  the  city;  who  have  at  all  times  worked 
for  the  best  interests  of  the  city,  and  who  have  always  been  in 
the  lead  where  the  city  needed  their  influence  and  support. 
Some  of  them  have  gone  to  honored  graves,  but  many  yet  live 
to  witness  the  growth  of  the  city  and  the  results  of  their 
labors  in  behalf  of  the  public.  They  are  citizens  whose  influ- 
ence has  always  been  felt  and  which  has  always  exerted  a 
beneficial  effect: 

Wieliam  Beckett  was  born  in  Hanover  township,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  March  17,  1821.  His  father,  Robert  Beckett, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  as  was  also  his  mother,  Mary 
(Crawford)  Beckett.  Robert  Beckett  came  to  Ohio,  with  his 
parents  in  1803,  when  he  was  eleven  years  old.  From  that 
time  until  his  death,  in  1863,  he  resided  in  this  county. 

William  Beckett  was  one  of  nine  children,  five  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Of  the  sons  but  one  survives,  Robert  Beckett, 

who  now  resides  in  Fair  Haven,   Preble  county,   somewhat 

396 


WIIJ.TA.M  BKCKKT 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  397 

broken  in  health,  caused  by  hardships  of  army  life  during  the 
Civil  War.  Major  David  Beckett,  a  graduate  from  Miami 
University,  and  a  man  of  fine  ability,  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Kenesaw  mountain.  James  Beckett  died  in  Hamilton  in 
1874;  and  John  passed  away  in  boyhood.  The  daughters  of 
Robert  Beckett  are  all  living,  namely:  Eleanor,  wife  of  Rev. 
John  Y.  Scuyller,  of  Fair  Haven;  Sarah,  widow  of  Captain 
John  McKee,  who  died  from  the  effects  of  a  wound  received 
at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro;  Mary  the  wife  of  William  E. 
Brown,  president  of  the  Second  National  bank  of  Hamilton; 
and  Martha,  wife  of  Rev.  John  Aten,  of  this  city. 

William  Beckett  was  the  recipient  of  excellent  educational 
advantages.  He  entered  Miami  University  in  1840,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1844.  He  then  read  law  with  his  father- 
in-law,  John  Woods,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Hamilton,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1846.  At  once  forming  a  partner- 
ship with  his  preceptor,  under  the  firm  name  of  Woods  & 
Beckett.  Law  was  not  congenial  to  Mr.  Beckett's  tastes,  and 
after  a  short  time  he  abandoned  it. 

It  was  with  the  Beckett  Paper  company  that  the  name  of 
Mr.  Beckett  was  most  closely  associated.  In  1848,  he  built  a 
paper  mill  of  which  he  was  president  until  his  death.  He  was 
probably,  the  oldest  paper  maker  in  the  United  States.  The 
mill  is  a  large  one,  having  a  capacity  of  twelve  thousand 
pounds  per  day.  Mr.  Beckett  laid  out  eighteen  additions  to 
the  cityof  Hamilton.  He  was  the  chief  promoter  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton  railroad  and  aided 
in  building  various  turnpikes  of  this  county.  In  the  develop- 
ment of  the  city  he  was  warmly  interested,  and  Hamilton  owes 
more  to  him  than  to  any  other  one  citizen.  In  business  Mr. 
Beckett  accumulated  vast  wealth,  but  his  kind  heartedness 
cost  him  his  fortune.  In  1873,  when  the  Jay  Cooke  panic 
fell  upon  the  country,  he  lost  about  $600,000,  of  which  over 
one-half  was  security  indebtedness.  He  persevered  and  paid 
every  dollar  of  the  vast  sum.  William  Beckett  in  all  business 
transactions  was  the  soul  of  honor,  strictly  reliable  and  honest, 
and  had  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  business  men  evervwhere. 


398  Historical  Sketches. 

?7t  a-  *-/'£<*_ 

Mr.  Beckett  was  united  in  marriage  to  Snrnh  Woods,  Sep- 
tember 22,  1846.  Eight  children  resulted  from  this  union, 
namelv,  Robert,  Sarah,  Frank,  Eleanor,  John,  William, 
Thomas,  Cyrus,  Howard,  David  and  May.  Of  these,  Robert, 
Howard  and  David  are  deceased.  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Horace 
Woodruff,  lives  in  Hamilton.  Eleanor  became  the  wife  of 
Colonel  Robert  C.  McKinney,  of  Hamilton,  and  May,  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Mark  Millikin.  Mr.  Beckett  was  a  deacon  in  the 
United  Presbyterian  church  during  his  life  time.  He  was 
active  and  prominent  in  the  councils  of  the  Republican  party; 
was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  that  nominated  Abraham 
Lincoln  for  president  in  i860.  His  last  sickness  was  of  short 
duration.  His  spirit  passed  gently  and  peacefully  to  his 
Heavenly  Father,  Wednesday,  November  27,   1895. 

M.  C.  McMaken. — A  short  sketch  of  M.  C.  McMaken's 
life,  now  residing  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  written  by  himself  when 
he  was  ninety-five  years  old: 

"My  father  and  mother,  Joseph  McMaken  and  Elizabeth 
McMaken  (nee  Elizabeth  Campbell)  were  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  the  northern  territory  in 
the  year  1789.  Through  the  advice  of  Judge  Symmes,  they 
took  shelter  in  the  North  Bend,  where  they  remained  until  after 
the  treaty  at  Greenville,  when  they  bought  land  of  Judge 
Symmes,  in  what  is  now  Union  Township,  Butler  county  Ohio, 
and  built  on  it  a  cabin  and  moved  into  it  on  December 
J5>  !795-  0Q  this  land  they  lived  the  balance  of  their 
lives.  They  were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent  and  were  all 
Protestants  of  the  Psalm  singing  denomination." 

"I  was  born  in  the  above  mentioned  cabin  on  January  1, 
1800,  and  was  brought  up  on  the  same  farm  and  land  that  my 
father  bought.  When  I  was  twenty-two  years  old  I  married 
Martha  McCrakken,  a  neighbor.  I  followed  farming  until  I 
was  forty-seven  years  old  when  I  rented  my  farms  and  came 
to  Hamilton  where  I  now  live.  In  my  early  boyhood  days  I 
remember  of  my  parents  bringing  me  to  Fort  Hamilton  where 
the  Indians  were  being  paid  by  an  Indian  agent,  Sutherland. 
At  that  time  there  was  but  very  few  houses  in   Hamilton.     I 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  399 

remember  how  I  feared  the  Indians.  I  had  only  the  advan- 
tages of  a  subscription  school,  held  about  three  months  in  each 
year  in  a  cabin,  without  a  nail  or  glass  in  its  construction.  Cat 
and  clay  chimney.  After  I  grew  up  to  be  help  we  cleared  off 
the  timber,  fenced  in  fields,  plowed  the  grounds,  harvested  the 
crops.  We  erected  the  first  frame  house  for  many  miles 
around,  erected  barns,  aud  stables,  etc.,  and  lived  on  that  farm 
and  one  adjoining  it  until  I  moved  to  Hamilton  to  be  near  the 
female  academy  to  enable  me  to  school  my  children.  While  I 
was  on  the  farm  I  gave  much  attention  to  raising  good  stock 
and  found  it  profitable.  I  was,  without  my  solicitation  made  a 
school  director  for  many  years  and  was  trustee  of  Union 
township  for  sixteen  years,  or  until  I  left  the  township.  I  repre- 
sented Butler  county  in  the  House  of  Representatives  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1842,  1843  and  1844.  During  the  late  war 
I  was  commissioned  a  sanitary  agent  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  I  was  made  a  deputy  United  States  Marshal  under 
General  Hickenlooper,  United  States  Marshal  for  the  southern 
district  of  Ohio,  and  continued  under  Dr.Thrall,  Hickenlooper's 
successor,  until  the  end  of  Thrall's  terms.  I  was  a  member  of 
the  board  of  health  of  Hamilton  for  more  than  forty  years  and 
health  officer  for  more  than  thirty  years  when  I  resigned  and 
have  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Hamilton, 
Springdale  and  Carthage  turnpike,  for  more  than  forty  years. 
Am  now  a  director." 

"My  grandmother  McMaken  died  at  my  father's  house  in 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  when  I  was  a  small  boy.  I  remember 
seeing  her.  When  she  died  she  was  one-hundred  years  old.  I 
claim  one  great-great-grandchild  which  enables  me  to  say  that 
I  have  seen  living,  seven  generations  of  my  father's  family." 

"I  was  one  of  the  originators  of  our  beautiful  Greenwood 
cemetery  and  have  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  National, 
State,  county  and  city  affairs.  Am  now  forty  pounds  heavier 
than  I  was  when  I  was  forty  years  old  and  am  able  to  attend  to 
my  business.  This  month,  March,  1895,  I  have  attended  three 
turnpike  meetings  and  had  to  travel  twenty  eight  miles  each 
meeting." 


400  Historical  Sketches. 

"I  have  seen  the  Miami  Valley  transformed  from  a  wild- 
erness (in  which  roamed  bears,  panthers,  wolves  and  in  fact  all 
kinds  of  native  wild  animals)  to  a  beautiful  fanning  country 
and  grand  manufacturing  city  and  from  the  oxen  and  sled  to 
the  steam  and  electric  railroads  with  telegraph  and  telephone." 

"I  saw  the  first  steam  boat  that  run  on  the  Ohio  river  and 
crossed  the  first  bridge  (foot  bridge)  that  was  built  across  the 
Niagara  river,  near  Buffalo,  New  York  State.  I  can  distinctly 
remember  matters  that  transpired  ninety-two  years  ago.  Look- 
ing back  to  that  time  I  can  say  that  the  blessings  of  God,  as 
bestowed  on  me  during  those  ninety-two  years  of  my 
recollection,  have  been  worth  living  for." 

Dr.  Cyrus  Falconer  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  January  21,  1810.  In  1812  the  family  removed 
to  Ohio,  passing  down  the  Monongahela  to  Pittsburgh,  and 
thence  on  fiat  boats  down  the  Ohio  to  Cincinnati.  Rossville 
being  their  point  of  destination.  Dr.  Falconer  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  schools  of  Hamilton.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen  he  began  studying  Latin  and  the  higher  branches  in 
a  select  school  conducted  by  John  L,.  Watkins.  In  1826  he 
entered  Miami  University  and  was  in  the  class  with  General 
Robert  C.  Schenck.  He  remained  at  this  institution  until  the 
fall  of  1827.  In  1829,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  Robert  B.  Millikin,  in  Rossville.  During  i830-'3i 
he  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Ohio  Medical  college,  at 
Cincinnati.  In  1832  he  was  licensed  to  practice  medicine  and 
immediately  opened  an  office  in  Hamilton.  In  the  fall  of  1834 
he  entered  into  partnership  with  Dr.  L-  Rigdon.  The  winter 
of  1837  was  passed  by  the  doctor  in  traveling  through  Texas, 
on  horseback.  He  then  returned  to  Hamilton,  and  in  the 
autumn  of  1838  entered  the  Cincinnati  Medical  college, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1839.  He  now  resumed  his 
practice  in  Hamilton.  Doctor  Falconer  for  many  years  has 
had  a  very  large  practice,  and  everything  intended  for  the 
advancement  of  medical  science  in  the  surrounding  country 
has  had  his  hearty  support  and  the  benefits  of  his  long  and 
successful    experience.     He   was    early   identified   with    the 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  401 

educational  interests  of  Hamilton,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  union  school  system  in  this  place  in  185 1.  He  was  one 
of  three  of  the  first  board  of  school  examiners,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  for  nine  years.  From  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party,  Dr.  Falconer  was  an  enthusiastic 
supporter  of  its  principles.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Andrew 
Jackson,  in  1832.  He  was  sent  as  delegate  to  the  Whig 
National  Convention  at  Harrisburg,  in  Pennsylvania,  1839, 
which  nominated  General  Harrison  for  President. 

The  doctor  was  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  of  Hamilton  for  many  years;  was  associated  with 
that  church  from  1845  and  was  thirty-two  years  one  of  its  elders 

Thomas  V.  Howell  was  born  in  Rossville,  September 
28,  1826.  He  received  an  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  when  from  ten  to  twelve  years  of  age  entered  the  employ- 
ment of  G.  P.  Bell,  a  merchant,  and  continued  with  him  some 
ten  years,  when  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  with  the  firm  of  Reily 
&  Woods.  He  returned  to  Hamilton,  and  entered  the  employ- 
ment of  Brown  &  Leigh,  remaining  there  until  March,  1849, 
when,  in  company  with  D.  G.  Leigh,  they  purchased  the 
business  of  William  B.  Van  Hook,  and  began  the  firm  of 
Leigh  &  Howell,  under  which  title  they  traded  for  two  and  a 
half  years.     Mr.  Leigh  then  sold  out  to  John  Dye. 

About  1854,  Mr.  Howell  purchased  the  interest  of  his 
partner  and  carried  on  business  by  himself  for  twelve  years. 
On  beginning  in  1849,  his  trade  was  not  limited  exclusively  to 
dry  goods,  but  embraced  all  that  is  commonly  sold  in  country 
stores,  including  at  one  time  a  large  stock  of  boots  and  shoes, 
and  afterward  of  millinery.  In  1870,  he  admitted  his  son, 
David  Leigh  Howell,  as  a  partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  T. 
V.  Howell  &  Son.  In  1875,  they  built  the  store  since  occu- 
pied by  the  firm,  a  handsome  three  story  building,  and 
admirably  adapted  to  its  present  use.  Their  former  store  had 
been   on  the  corner  of  Third  and  High  streets.     The  firm  also 

carries  on  an  extensive  concern  in  Middletown,  and  are   large 

26 


402  Historical  Sketches. 

dealers  in  all  lines.     Much  of  their  goods  is  imported  directly 
by  themselves. 

Mr.  Howell  was  married  October  20,  1849,  to  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Connor,  daughter  of  David  Connor,  a  former  well-known 
resident  of  this  place.  They  were  the  parents  of  one  daughter 
and  one  son,  the  former  being  Kate  C.  Howell,  and  the  latter 
David  L,.  Howell.  T.  V.  Howell  is  a  self-made  man,  and  had 
no  early  advantages.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order 
and  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  contributed  liberally  of  his  means 
and  influence  in  sustaining  the  government  during  the  Civil 
War.     Mrs.  Howell  died  April  30,   1896. 

Major  John  M.  Millikin  was  born  in  Greensboro, 
Greene  county,  Ohio,  October  14,  1804.  He  was  educated 
under  the  instruction  of  Rev.  Alexander  Proudfit  and  other 
early  teachers  of  Hamilton.  In  1824,  he  entered  Washington, 
Pennsylvania,  college  where  he  remained  one  year.  In  1825, 
he  began  the  study  of  law  with  Jesse  Corwin,  and  September 
5,  1827,  was  admitted  to  practice  by  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Ohio.  He  immediately  opened  an  office  in  Hamilton.  In 
1834,  the  firm  of  Millikin  &  Bebb  was  established,  and  con- 
tinued until  1840,  when  Mr.  Millikin  retired  from  practice; 
was,  in  1829,  appointed  Brigade  Major  and  Inspector  of  Militia, 
serving  until  1833;  was  aid-de-camp  to  Governor  Thomas 
Corwin;  was  in  1846  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Equiliza- 
tion.  In  1856  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of 
Agriculture;  was  twice  re-elected,  and  for  one  year  served  as 
president  of  the  board;  was  appointed  a  trustee  of  Miami 
University  in  i860.  He  was  appointed  by  the  Secretary  of 
the  Interior,  in  1873,  a  member  of  the  commission  to  proceed 
to  Indian  Territory  for  the  purpose  of  making  a.  treaty  with 
the  Creek  Nation  for  the  relinquishment  of  part  of  their 
territory  to  the  Seminoles.  He  was  elected  State  Treasurer  in 
October,  1875.  In  1877  he  was  again  the  nominee  of  the 
Republican  party,  but  suffered  defeat  with  the  rest  of  the 
ticket.  On  September  6,  1831,  Major  Millikin  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Greenlee  Hough.     They  were  the 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  403 

parents  of  four  children,  namely:   Minor,  Daniel,  Joseph  and 
Mary. 

Henry  S.  Earheart  was  born  three  miles  east  of  Frank- 
lin, Warren  county,  Ohio,  February  17,  1800.  He  first  came  to 
Hamilton  on  a  visit,  about  18 15,  but  did  not  reside  in  the 
county  until  the  year  1822,  when,  in  conjunction  with  his 
uncle,  John  L,.  C.  Schenck,  of  Franklin,  the  leading  merchant 
of  this  section  at  that  time,  he  established  a  store  at  Jacksons- 
burg.  After  remaining  there  a  few  years,  he  came  to  this 
city.  He  was  in  partnership  with  George  W.  Tapscott  for  a 
number  of  years,  finally,  however,  discontinuing  business. 
Possessed  from  youth  with  a  love  of  mathematics,  he  next 
took  up  civil  engineering,  and  projected  the  hydraulic  works 
and  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  and  Dayton  railroad.  He  was 
married  March  10,  1823,  in  Franklin,  to  Elizabeth  Tapscott, 
daughter  of  James  Tapscott  and  Mary  Hendrickson.  They 
came  from  New  Jersey  in  18 14.  Mr.  Earheart  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Hamilton.  He  was  council- 
man from  1854  to  1859;  was  Civil  Engineer  of  the  city  and 
identified  with  all  its  improvements. 

George  W.  Tapscott  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  in  18 10. 
In  1826  he  came  to  Hamilton  with  his  brother-in-law,  Henry 
S.  Earheart,  and  in  the  capacity  of  a  clerk  he  commenced  to 
serve  him  in  the  sale  of  merchandise.  A  few  years  after,  when 
he  attained  his  majority,  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Earheart  &  Tapscott.  His  urbanity,  strict  attention  to  business, 
and  exemplary  character  as  a  clerk  secured  for  him  a  high  and 
responsible  position.  As  a  member  of  the  firm  he  continued 
in  business  until  the  year  1843,  when  he  turned  his  attention 
to  other  pursuits.  For  more  than  twenty  years  he  had  been 
prominently,  actively,  and  successfully  engaged  in  the  milling 
business,  and  in  the  buying  and  packing  of  pork. 

Captain  Alexander  Delorac  settled  in  Franklin  in 
the  year  1805,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a  trader  for  many 
years,  making  regular  trips  to  New  Orleans.  He  was  an 
officer  in  the  army  in  181 2,  and  he  was  in  several  brushes  with 


404  Historical  Sketches. 

the  Indians.  In  his  earlier  life  he  was  somewhat  celebrated 
in  sporting  circles,  and  was  proclaimed  fistic  champion  on 
general  muster  days,  and  at  race  courses.  He  was  also  noted 
as  a  pedestrian. 

He  resided  for  many  years  on  Prospect  Hill  and  later  at 
the  corner  of  Front  and  North  Streets,  in  West  Hamilton,  a 
point  where  the  Indians  in  olden  time  laid  in  wait  to  shoot  and 
scalp  persons  who  straggled  from  the  fort.  In  his  youth  he 
was  a  clerk  for  John  Sutherland. 

William  C.  Frechtling  was  born  in  the  province  of 
Hanover,  Germany,  May  19,  1837.  He  came  to  Hamilton  at 
the  age  of  eighteen,  a  poor  German  lad,  fresh  from  the  father- 
land, and  possessed  of  nothing  save  a  stout  and  resolute  heart 
and  a  hand  not  afraid  of  work.  Where  he  is  today  he  has 
placed  himself  by  his  steadfast  integrity  and  industry.  In 
Cincinnati  where  he  located  immediately  after  his  arrival  in 
America,  he  learned  the  trade  of  cigar  maker,  but  this  he 
never  followed.  His  first  position  in  Hamilton  was  a  clerkship 
in  the  store  of  his  friend  and  countryman,  Conrad  Getz.  A 
faithful  service  of  three  years  enabled  him  to  start  in  business 
for  himself.  Together  with  his  brother  Henry,  he  founded  the 
Frechtling  grocery,  dry  goods  and  queensware  stores,  which 
has  since  developed  into  four  great  establishments.  The 
original  business  was  at  Mr.  Frechtling's  present  site  and  has 
only  changed  by  its  steady  and  substantial  growth  and  the 
retirement  in  1879  of  Henry  Frechtling,  Sr.  The  Frechtling 
wholesale  grocery  which  was  established  in  1892,  under  the 
management  of  Edward  H.  Frechtling  is  an  offshoot  of  the 
original  business.  In  1887,  Mr.  Frechtling  purchased  the 
Globe  Opera  House,  the  same  being  remodeled  in  1888-89, 
under  his  personal  supervision. 

Like  the  sagacious  business  man  that  he  is  Mr.  Frechtling 
has  always  conducted  his  business  on  an  honest  and  conserva- 
tive basis.  William  Frechtling  was  married  in  1865  to  Miss 
Mary  Fries,  who  has  born  him  five  children,  namely,  Edward 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  405 

IT.,  Helm  Philip,  Ralph,  Corrine  and  Camilla.  Mr.  Frechtling 
is  devoted  to  his  family  and  business  and  has  few  affiliations 
aside  from  his  church.     He  has  been  married  twice. 

W.  C.  Cope  was  born  in  Middleton,  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  March  21,  1850.  He  received  his  earlier  education  in 
the  district  schools.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered 
the  High  School  at  Lisbon,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  two  years. 
Afterward  he  attended  Alliance  college,  for  the  next  three 
years,  and  completed  his  collegiate  course  in  the  following  year 
and  a  half  at  Hiram  college,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1872  and  received  the  degree  of  B.  A.  After  leaving  col- 
lege, he  accepted  the  position  of  principal  of  the  High  School 
at  Burton,  Ohio,  serving  from  1872  to  1873.  He  was  later 
elected  as  superintendent  of  the  schools  of  Columbiana,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  until  1876.  Leaving  Columbiana,  he 
became  superintendent  of  the  Woodsfield,  Ohio,  schools  for 
one  year.  In  1877,  he  served  as  acting  professor  of  mathe- 
matics in  Heidelberg  college,  at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  and  the  next 
year  was  recalled  to  Woodsfield  as  superintendent  of  the 
schools.  In  1880,  he  was  elected  as  superintendent  of  the 
schools  of  Brooklyn,  Ohio,  which  has  now  been  made  the 
Forty-second  ward  of  Cleveland.  He  served  in  this  locality 
for  five  years,  when  he  received  the  call  to  Hamilton  as  princi- 
pal of  our  High  School.  The  present  high  standing  and 
reputation  of  our  High  School  is  largely  due  to  his  persever- 
ance and  work. 

On  July  24,  1878,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rose  Tilden,  of 
Welshfield,  Ohio,  and  two  children,  DeWitt  Tilden  and  Ella 
May  have  been  born  to  them. 

In  1 88 1,  he  received  a  High  School  life  certificate,  author- 
izing him  to  teach  in  any  High  School  in  this  state. 

Since  he  has  come  to  Hamilton  he  has  taken  a  non-resi- 
dent post-graduate  course  at  the  University  of  Wooster.  He 
was  graduated  from  this  university  in  1890,  in  the  course  in 
political  science,  receiving  the  degree  of  D.  P. 

Prof.  Cope  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  holds 
the  office  of  Senior  Deacon  in  the  Blue  lodge. 


406  Historical  Sketches. 

There  has  never  been  a  man  in  our  schools  more  popular 
among  the  people  and  scholars  than  Prof.  Cope.  It  is  largely 
through  his  efforts  that  the  High  School  library  has  grown 
from  a  very  small  beginning  to  nearly  one  thousand  volumes 
of  carefully  selected  books. 

Prof.  Cope  has  been  a  trustee  of  Lane  Free  Library  for 
several  years,  and  has  done  much  toward  broadening  its  scope 
and  increasing  the  number  of  its  volumes. 

His  views  of  education  are  broad  and  liberal.  He  is  a 
man  of  a  genial  and  kind  disposition  and  an  honor  to  our 
schools. 

John  C.  Hooven  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
September  29,  1843.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Franklin,  Ohio,  where  the  family  removed  in  1849.  In 
1864  he  removed  to  Xenia,  Ohio,  where  the  firm  of  Hooven  & 
Sons  was  formed,  in  the  hardware  business.  In  1874,  Mr. 
Hooven  came  to  Hamilton,  where  he  engaged  in  the  agricul- 
tural implement  business  with  the  firm  of  Hooven  &  Sons. 
In  1876,  the  father,  J.  P.  Hooven,  retired,  but  the  old  firm 
name  was  retained  by  the  two  sons.  In  November,  1878, 
John  C.  Hooven  became  sole  proprietor  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  portable  engines,  threshers  and  saw-mills.  In 
1880  the  Hooven,  Owens  &  Rentschler  Company  was  organ- 
ized and  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  Ohio,  for  the  manu- 
facture of  their  celebrated  Corliss  engines.  This  enterprising 
company,  from  the  inception  of  its  business  has  steadily  pushed 
its  way  to  public  favor  and  confidence,  building  up  in  a  short 
while  an  extensive  and  flattering  patronage.  President  Hooven 
is  a  man  of  energy,  judicious,  enterprising  and  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  his  calling.  In  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B, 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-sixth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar  in  the  order  of  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican;  in  religion, 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Hooven  was  married  November  21,  1867,  to  Jennie 
Enyeart,  of  Troy,   Ohio.     Five  children    have    resulted    from 


M.  C.  MCMAKKN 


THOMAS  V.  HOWELL 


WILLIAM  C.  FRKCHTLING  J.  C.  HOOVEN 


O.  V.  PARRISH 


SAMUEL  SHAFFER 


LOUIS  A.  DILLON 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  407 

this   union,'  namely,    Blanche,   the   wife   of  Dr.  E.  S.  Griffis, 
Earle,  Enyeart,  Paul  M.  and  Don  W. 

O.  V.  Parrish  is  a  native  of  Butler  county,  Ohio,  having 
been  born  at  West  Chester,  October  16,  1844.  His  parents 
were  Jared  Parrish,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  Phoebe  (Van 
Hise)  Parrish,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey.  He  received 
his  early  education  in  his  native  village  and  in  1861  he  entered 
Miami  University  where  he  remained  three  years.  He  then 
enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Regiment 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  from  May  2,  1864,  to  Sep- 
tember 7,  1864,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  After 
his  army  service  Mr.  Parrish  entered  the  Ohio  Weslyan  Uni- 
versity, where  he  completed  his  collegiate  education.  In  1866, 
he  began  business  at  Dayton,  and  a  year  later  went  to  Cincin- 
nati, entering  the  sewing  machine  business.  In  1869,  he 
came  to  Hamilton,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  agent 
for  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine  Co.  Later,  he  entered  the 
real  estate  and  insurance  business,  in  which  he  is  at  present 
engaged.  In  1868,  Mr.  Parrish  was  married  to  Miss  Augusta 
S.  Curtis.  He  is  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 
For  some  time  Mr.  Parrish's  firm  was  Moore,  Parrish  &  Co., 
and  was  the  successor  of  the  old  firm  of  Giffen,  Moore  &  Co. 
In  1893,  Mr.  Parrish  took  his  son,  Charles  J.  Parrish,  into 
partnership,  and  the  firm  has  since  been  known  by  the  style 
of  O.  V.  Parrish  &  Son.  The  firm  conducts  a  large  business 
in  real  estate  and  insurance.  It  is  a  calling  that  requires 
shrewd  intelligence,  with  great  business  capacity  and  integrity, 
which  is  possessed  by  this  firm  in  no  ordinary  degree. 

Lewis  A.  Dillon  was  born  on  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of 
this  city  April  4,  1866.  At  the  age  of  six  years  he  entered  the 
Hamilton  public  schools.  He  is  of  American  parentage. 
Very  early  in  his  school  studies  he  displayed  an  extraordinary 
adaptness  in  mathematics,  and  before  his  graduation,  which 
occurred  in  1885,  he  had  fully  decided  to  become  a  civil  engi- 
neer. Shortly  after  graduation,  he  went  to  Cincinnati  where 
he   entered    the    office   of  A.  L.  Hobby,    sanitary    and   civil 


408  Historical  Sketches. 

engineer.  During  his  four  years  study  under  Mr.  Hobby,  he 
made  excellent  progress,  being  actively  engaged,  a  major  por- 
tion of  the  time,  in  the  restoration  of  the  engineering  records 
that  had  been  destroyed  in  the  great  riot  of  1884.  After  the 
completion  of  his  work  in  1890,  he  came  to  this  city  as  assist- 
ant of  James  R.  Smedburg,  the  gas  engineer  in  charge  of  the 
construction  of  the  Hamilton  gas  plant.  Mr.  Dillon  did  all 
the  civil  engineering  work  in  connection  with  the  new  plant 
and  his  map  of  the  lines  is  accredited  with  being  one  of  the 
most  perfect  in  the  country.  After  these  arduous  duties  were 
completed  he  opened  an  office  as  a  private  engineer,  and  a  few 
months  later  became  civil  engineer  of  Dayton.  He  held  this 
position  till  1893  having  been  made  the  civil  engineer  of  Ham- 
ilton in  1 89 1,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

In  connection  with  his  public  duties  he  has  at  various 
times  been  employed  by  different  syndicates  in  laying  off  their 
sub-divisions,  having  mapped  out  all  the  streets  of  East  Ham- 
ilton, Iyindenwald,  Prospect  Hill  and  Gordon's  addition.  He 
was  also  the  civil  engineer  employed  in  the  construction  of  the 
Hamilton  and  Lindenwald  electric  road.  Mr.  Dillon  is  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Arch  Masons  and  Knights  of  Pythias. 
In  1887,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Laura  Faist,  who  has  born 
him  two  children.  Mr.  Dillon  fills  his  position  very  accepta- 
bly, and  is  already  an  established  and  useful  figure  in  our 
public  life.  In  1896  he  was  elected  county  surveyor,  and  as- 
sumes the  duties  of  the  office  in  September,  1897. 

Samuel  Shaffer  was  born  in  Chambersburg,  Franklin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  May  4,  18 16.  His  parents  were  Penn- 
sylvania Germans.  He  received  an  ordinary  education  and 
when  but  a  youth  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  trade  of  a  chair 
maker  at  which  he  served  three  years,  working  two  weeks  out 
of  each  year  as  a  harvest  hand  and  receiving  as  wages  his 
board  only.  When  he  was  nineteen  years  old  he  started  out  in 
life  for  himself,  went  to  Pittsburgh,  worked  there  a  short  time 
and  came  by  boat  to  Cincinnati.  He  was  a  steerage  passenger 
and  only  had  enough  money  to  pay  his  passage.     Mr.  Shaffer 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  409 

came  here  in  1835  and  located  in  the  village  of  Rossville, 
where  he  went  to  work  at  his  trade,  under  the  late  Joshua 
Delaplane.  He  subsequently  worked  for  a  time  in  Dayton  and 
Columbus,  and  ultimately  in  the  chairmaking  business  for  him- 
self in  this  city,  his  shop  being  located  in  a  little  frame  build- 
ing that  stood  in  the  rear  of  the  Rumple  building  on  B  street. 
He  followed  his  trade  for  some  years  and  then  took  a  position 
as  clerk  in  the  hardware  and  gun  store  of  Robert  h-  Howard. 
He  remained  there  for  some  years.  He  served  two  terms  as 
infirmary  director;  was  a  member  of  the  old  Rossville  fire 
department;  was  a  member  of  the  village  council  from  1848  to 
1852;  was  clerk  of  Rossville  at  the  time  of  the  annexation  in 
1854.  He  was  a  foremost  champion  of  the  rights  of  Rossville 
in  the  terms  of  consolidation.  He  was  marshal  of  Rossville 
for  some  time;  was  a  trustee  of  St.  Clair  township;  was  the 
first  real  estate  assessor  for  Hamilton  and  collector  of  income 
tax  for  Hamilton  and  Fairfield  townships,  serving  by  appoint- 
ment under  Judge  Dunlevy,  Col.  O.  C.  Maxwell  and  the  late 
Judge  VanDerveer,  and  continuing  in  service  until  the  office 
was  abolished.  During  the  war,  in  company  with  'Squire 
M.  C.  McMaken,  Oliver  Traber  and  Philip  Berry  he  was  one  of 
the  commissioners  sent  by  Hamilton  to  Pittsburg  Landing 
with  supplies  for  the  relief  of  the  Union  soldiers.  He  was  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  Harmony  lodge  No.  14,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
instituted  in  1841  and  was  the  last  of  the  charter  members 
formerly  surviving.  He  was  the  oldest  Odd  Fellow  in  Ham- 
ilton in  point  of  membership  and  one  of  the  oldest  in  the 
United  States. 

Mr.  Shaffer  was  married  twice.  His  first  wife  was  Sarah 
Jane  Mills,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  James  Mills,  who  served  in 
the  war  of  1812.  She  only  survived  the  union  for  a  brief  time 
and  a  few  years  later  Mr.  Shaffer  was  again  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Laird,  who  died  a  few  years  ago.  No  children  resulted 
from  the  first  union.  Of  the  second,  five  children  survive. 
Mr.  Shaffer  was  a  man  of  fine  character,  unswerving  honesty 
and  of  unquestioned  integrity.  His  life  was  spotless  and  in 
his   death    he   leaves   a  name  to  be  spoken  with  respect  and  a 


410  Historical  Sketches. 

character  to  be  emulated  and  patterned  after.  In  the  lodge, 
in  business,  in  the  family  circle,  among  friends  or  passing 
acquaintances,  in  all  the  responsibilities  of  official  duties,  in  all 
the  relations  of  life,  he  was  upright,  honorable  and  a  man  of 
men.  His  death  takes  one  more  name  from  the  record  of  the 
men  that  made  a  greater  Hamilton  and  laid  the  foundation  for 
our  city.  His  remains  were  followed  to  the  grave  with  rever- 
ence and  mourning  and  his  life,  his  genial  personality,  his 
many  fine  traits  will  long  be  remembered  and  revered. 

The  funeral  services  took  place  from  the  house,  Satur- 
day afternoon,  October  17,  1896,  at  2  o'clock.  The  burial 
services  at  the  grave  were  conducted  by  Washington  lodge, 
No.  17,  F.  and  A.  M.  and   Harmony  lodge,  No.  14,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Colonel  Robert  C.  McKinney  was  born  in  Troy,  New 
York,  January  20,  1852.  He  came  with  his  parents  to 
Cincinnati,  in  1861  where  he  attended  the  public  schools,  and 
also  at  the  Woodward  High  School.  In  1872  he  entered 
Cornell  University,  where  he  took  a  course  in  mechanical 
engineering,  and  completing  his  education  there.  In  1873,  he 
entered  the  employment  of  the  Cope  &  Maxwell  Manufactur- 
ing Co.,  and  in  1876  was  assistant  postmaster.  In  1877  he 
became  connected  with  the  Niles  Tool  Works,  and  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  company  January  1,  1879,  a  position  he  still 
occupies.  He  has  been  chairman  of  the  Republican  county 
central  committee  for  theee  years  last  past.  He  is  a  good 
organizer,  employs  push  and  tact  in  the  campaigns  for  his 
party.  In  November,  1896,  he  was  appointed  on  Governor 
Bushnell's  staff,  with  the  rank  of  colonel. 

Mr.  McKinney,  was  married  in  the  fall  of  1879  to  Miss 
Nellie  Beckett.  They  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church. 

J.  M.  Johnson  was  born  October  15,  1817,  seven  miles 
south  of  Hamilton.  He  remained  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age.  In  1837,  he  came  to  Hamilton  and 
accepted  a  position  as  clerk  for  Andrew  McCleary  &  Co.,  in 
the    Dilg   building   on    High   street.      Three   years   later   he 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  411 

became  a  salesman  for  Isaac  Fisher.  Afterward,  in  1840,  he 
bought  the  A.  D.  Kyle  store.  In  1842,  he  removed  his  store 
to  New  London,  Morgan  township,  where  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Smith  Hart,  in  the  dry  goods  business.  Shortly 
afterward  Mr.  Hart  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Johnson.  In  the 
latter  part  of  1842,  he  removed  to  Hamilton  and  occupied  the 
Southerland  building,  corner  Front  and  High  streets.  He 
rented  and  occupied  both  rooms  for  $150.00  per  annum.  In 
1843,  ne  purchased  Andrew  McCleary's  store,  the  business 
then  being  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  M.  &  S.  John- 
son. In  1846,  F.  S.  Wilks  purchased  Samuel  Jshnson's 
interest  in  the  store,  the  firm  occupying  the  Earheart  build- 
ing corner  Third  and  High  streets,  the  firm  was  then  known  as 
the  F.  S.  Wilks  Co.  They  had  a  line  of  freight  boats  to  Cincin- 
nati; sold  out  the  store  to  Frank  Martin  and  Fred  Creighton. 
Mr.  Johnson  remained  with  the  firm  one  year  by  contract.  In 
187 1,  Mr.  Johnson  purchased  a  farm  near  McGonigle's,  farmed 
for  seven  years,  then  sold  out  to  J.  P.  P.  Peck,  and  returned  to 
Hamilton  in  1878. 

Adam  Laurie  was  born  in  Edenburg,  Scotland,  January 
25,  1818.  After  receiving  his  schooling  he  learned  the  paper- 
makers'  trade.  He  came  to  America  in  1842,  and  after  a  few 
months  of  precarious  employment  as  a  wood  chopper,  he 
secured  a  position  in  a  paper  mill  at  Morristown,  New  Jersey. 
Thence  he  went  to  Connecticut,  and  in  the  year  1849,  he  cast 
his  fortune  in  the  village  of  Hamilton.  The  motive  for  Mr. 
Laurie's  removal  to  this  city  was  the  erection  of  the  Miami 
Paper  Mill,  of  which  he  afterward  became  superintendent, 
until  in  1857,  when  he  became  a  partner  as  well  as  the  man- 
ager of  the  concern.  Four  years  later  the  late  William  Beck- 
ett purchased  the  remaining  share  in  the  business,  which  was 
thereafter  known  as  the  Beckett,  Laurie  &  Co.  It  assumed 
its  present  title  upon  Mr.  Laurie's  retirement  ten  years  ago. 
In  his  private  life  Mr.  Laurie  has  behind  him  a  record  of 
more  abiding  glory  than  even  that  of  his  business  career.  He 
has  lived  in  love  and  tranquility  with  his  neighbors,  and  he 
will  carry  with  him  to  his  grave  the  priceless  treasure    of   the 


4 1 2  Historical  Sketches . 

respect  and  veneration  of  his  fellow  men.  Upon  his  large 
posterity  will  descend  the  example  of  a  just  and  useful  career 
and  the  sacred  memories  and  associations  of  his  life.  He  is  now 
spending  his  declining  years  in  retirement,  after  half  a  century 
of  unremitting  industry. 

Stephen  D.  Cone,  the  printer-journalist,  first  saw  the 
light  of  day,  near  the  ancient  site  of  Crosby  village,  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  two  miles  south  of  Venice,  February  12,  1840. 
He  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  nine  children  of  John  and 
Mary  Francis  (Fodry)  Cone.  His  father  was  born  in  New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  January  20,  1795,  and  died  at  the  Wolf 
Tavern,  this  city,  then  located  near  the  southwest  corner  of 
High  and  Front  streets,  March  5,  1846.  His  mother  was  born 
in  Clarksburg,  Virginia,  May  16,  1800,  and  died  at  Hamilton, 
September  17,  1858.  S.  D.  Cone  attended  the  Nathan  Furman 
school,  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Third  and  Dayton  streets, 
for  two  years.  Afterward,  he  entered  the  Hamilton  public 
schools,  where  he  remained  until  June,  1859,  attending  High 
School  one  year  under  Prof.  Sidney  A.  Norton,  now  in  the 
faculty  of  the  Ohio  State  college  at  Columbus.  Shortly  after 
the  death  of  his  mother  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  compelled 
to  abandon  his  studies,  and  entered  upon  the  active  duties  of  life. 
On  August  13,  1859,  he  became  an  apprentice  in  the  Intelligencer 
printing  office,  under  E.  W.  Halford.  Here  he  received  a 
thorough,  practical  knowledge  in  the  art  of  printing,  which  has 
been  more  useful  to  him  than  a  college  education.  On  May  10, 
1862,  he  enlisted  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  Company  A,  Eighty- 
fourth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  command  of 
Captain  Richard  Waite,  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  a  brother  of  the  late 
Chief-Justice  Morrison  R.  Waite,  of  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court.  Covering  a  period  of  twenty-five  years,  he  was  employed 
as  foreman  of  first-class  job  printing  establishments  in  Cincin- 
nati, Columbus,  Ft.  Wayne,  (Indiana,)  and  Hamilton.  In 
1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
seventh  Regiment  O.  V.  I.  under  Command  of  Captain  John 
C.  Lewis.  He  was  a  United  States  storekeeper  in  1868-69. 
His  appointment  was  made  by  E.  A.  Rollins,  Commissioner  of 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  41 3 

Internal   Revenue,    through   the  influence  of  General  Robert 

C.  Schenck,  over  the  heads  of  the  collector  and  assessor  of  the 
Third  District  and  thirty-five  applicants  for  the  place.  From 
1866  until  1874,  he  issued  yearly,  a  daily  paper  during 
the  Butler  County  Fair.  From  these  publications  he  realized 
a  handsome  sum.  During  the  years  1876-77  he  was  business 
manager  and  superintendent  of  the  mechanical  department  of 
the  Butler  County  Democrat.  In  1879,  he  established  the  first 
exclusivelyjob  printing  office  in  Hamilton,  which,  in  1884,  he 
sold  to  E.  A.  Pangle.  On  January  19,  1885,  he  became  editor 
and  proprietor  of  The  Oxford  Citizen.  For  six  years  he 
labored  earnestly  and  faithfully  for  the  improvement  of  Oxford. 
Long  before  his  advent  in  the  village  a  majority  of  its  citizens 
had  been  agitating  the  question  of  a  new  school  house.  The 
old  structure  was  twenty-five  years  behind  the  times,  and  was 
actually  unsafe.  In  1886,  Mr.  Cone  was  selected  to  take  the 
lead  in  the  new  school  house  movement.  Accordingly,  through 
his  personal  efforts  the  Board  of  Education  was  increased  from 
three  to  six  members.     At  the  April  election  of  this  year,  S. 

D.  Cone,  Tom  Daw,  Dr.  J.  B.  Porter  and  W.  A.  Dogue  were 
elected  members  of  this  body  for  a  term  of  three  years.  The 
question  of  issuing  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $20,000,  for  a  new 
school  house  was  submitted,  at  a  special  election,  to  the 
qualified  electors  of  Oxford,  and  carried  by  a  majority  of 
seventeen.  S.  D.  Cone,  Tom  Daw  and  W.  A.  Dogue  constituted 
the  building  committee,  which  erected  one  of  the  finest  school 
edifices  in  Southwestern  Ohio.  It  was  dedicated  April  4, 
1887.  From  the  inception  of  the  new  school  house  Mr.  Cone 
was  made  the  target  for  all  kinds  of  abuse  by  a  coterie  of 
opponents,  who  had  been  milking  the  town,  for  lo!  many  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1887,  the  "mixed  school"  question  struck  Oxford 
in  the  shape  of  a  terrible  tornado.  The  colored  people 
demanded  admission  to  the  new  building  and  the  abolishment 
of  separate  schools.  The  Board  of  Education  were  opposed, 
with  the  exception  of  S.  D.  Cone.  Two  indignation  meetings 
were  held  in  the  town  hall,  and  the  members  of  the  board  were 
asked  to  come  forward  and  define  their  positions.     Mr.    Cone 


414  Historical  Sketches. 

refused  to  attend  the  first  meeting,  but  notified  the  leaders  that 
he  would  be  present  at  the  second  one.  As  he  entered  the 
densely  packed  hall  he  was  greeted  by  the  excited  populace  with 
hisses,  groans,  and  cries  of  "throw  him  out  of  the  windows." 
He  cooly  advanced  to  the  stage  and  defined  his  attitude,  in 
compliance  to  the  law  as  it  appeared  upon  the  statute  books. 
The  colored  people  took  the  case  to  court.  The  circuit  court 
decided  that  the  Board  of  Education  had  no  right  to  maintain 
separate  schools,  Judges  Smith  and  Cox  affirming  Judge  Swing, 
contra.  The  case  was  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court,  where 
it  was  decided  against  the  board.  In  this  cause  Mr.  Cone 
rendered  the  colored  people  valuable  service.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Education  in  1888-89.  In  April,  1889, 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  town  council.  He  instituted 
much  needed  reforms  in  the  transaction  of  its  business.  For 
years  council  had  been  appropriating  money  for  the  monthly 
pay  roll  on  a  viva  voce  vote.  He  compelled  council  to  pass 
ordinances  for  the  payment  of  all  claims  against  the  village. 
In  iVpril,  1 891,  he  sold  The  Oxford  Citizen  to  Charles  W. 
Stivers,  of  Liberty,  Indiana,  and  in  July  of  this  year  he 
returned  to  his  old  home  in  Hamilton.  In  May,  1892,  he 
became  editor  and  business  manager  of  the  Paulding  (Ohio) 
Democrat.  The  paper  was  owned  by  Hon.  N.  R.  Hysell, 
ex-speaker  of  the  lower  house  of  the  General  Assembly,  and 
Hon.  M.  F.  Eggerman,  ex-representative  of  Hardin  county. 
For  four  and  one-half  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  writing 
special  articles  for  the  local  daily  press  and  collecting  data 
and  writing  a  history  of  Hamilton.  He  and  Tom  Law  were 
the  organizers  of  Talawanda  Council  No.  266  Royal  Arcanum, 
of  Oxford,  Ohio,  where  he  still  retains  his  membership. 
Mr.  Cone  was  representative  to  the  grand  council  of  the  state 
for  three  years,  attending  the  annual  sessions  at  Columbus, 
Warren  and  Springfield.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
On  December  30,  1864,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Barbara 
Catherine  Burkett,  who  was  born  in  Lewisburg,  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  October  3,  1843.  Eight  children  resulted  from  the 
union,    five  of  whom  survive.     Mr.  Cone  has  lived  to  see   the 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  415 

fruition  of  a  life  of  labor  and  to  enjoy  the  blessings  which  a 
kind  Providence  has  bestowed  upon  him. 

James  R.  Fulkerson  was  born  in  Hamilton,  on  South 
Second  street,  opposite  Thomas  Millikin's  law  office,  April  30, 
1833.  His  father,  Epperson  Fulkerson  was  a  native  of  Virgina, 
but  came  to  this  country  when  but  nine  years  of  age.  The 
family  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Princeton,  where 
they  lived  for  a  number  of  years.  When  Epperson  Fulkerson 
attained  the  age  of  manhood,  he  came  to  this  city,  where  he 
afterward  established  a  general  store,  so  common  in  those 
times,  and  in  which  was  sold  a  little  of  everything. 

About  this  time  the  son,  James,  first  saw  the  light.  The 
child  grew  to  strong  and  vigorous  boyhood  and  was  duly 
educated  in  the  old  Masonic  building  on  North  Third  street. 
During  Saturdays  and  vacations,  Mr.  Fulkerson  spent  his  time 
working  in  his  father's  store  in  the  capacity  of  clerk. 

The  clerkship  was  not  suited  to  his  taste,  however,  and  in 
1849,  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  went  on  a  farm  in  the 
vicinity  of  Darrtown,  and  entered  upon  a  successful  career  as 
a  farmep.  He  cast  his  first  vote  in  Milford  township,  and  it 
was  then  as  now,  straight  Republican. 

In  1 86 1,  he  moved  to  Hanover  township,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  In  1854,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Catherine 
Bennett,  of  Milford  township,  and  one  child,  a  daughter, 
blessed  the  union.  Mrs.  Fulkerson  passed  to  the  great  beyond 
in  1890,  but  the  daughter  is  living  on  her  father's  farm,  the 
wife  of  John  S.  Miller,  a  prominent  young  farmer. 

Mr.  Fulkerson  has  always  led  an  extremely  quiet  and 
almost  reticent  life,  having  never  held  any  office  excepting 
that  of  a  member  of  the  school  board  of  Hanover  township. 
Although  the  township  is  acknowledged  to  be  strongly  Demo- 
cratic, Mr.  Fulkerson  has  been  repeatedly  elected  to  this 
position  in  the  face  of  all  opposition,  and  has  now  been  a 
member  of  the  board  continuously  for  twenty-six  years. 
This  fact  alone  is  a  strong  recommendation  to  the  mind  of  any 
thinking  man,  and  indicates  the  friendly  feelings  entertained 
toward  him  by  the  residents  of  the  entire  county.     Mr.    Fulk- 


416  Historical  Sketches. 

erson  has  a  host  of  friends  who  at  once  love  and  respect  him. 
Loving  him  for  his  true  and  unfailing  friendship  at  all  times, 
and  respecting  him  for  his  generosity  and  sterling  integrity. 

For  twelve  years  Mr.  Fulkerson  Was  superintendent  of 
the  Hamilton,  Darrtown  and  Fair  Haven  turnpike. 

S.  H.  Millikin  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Indiana, 
January  9,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  Millikin.  At 
the  age  of  nine  years  his  parents  came  to  Hamilton,  when  he 
entered  the  public  schools.  While  still  a  boy  he  was  placed 
in  a  photograph  gallery  whence  he  passed  into  a  carriage 
factory  where  he  remained  for  almost  eight  years.  A  pro- 
fessional life  during  all  this  time  had  been  the  goal  of  his 
ambition,  and  after  years  of  struggling  he  was  finally  able 
to  take  a  full  dental  course,  and  was  in  due  time  graduated 
into  the  profession  which  he  practiced  with  success  until  he 
engaged  in  his  present  enterprise.  In  1889,  he  purchased 
the  carpet,  wall  paper  and  bric-a-brac  establishment  of  George 
W.  Hughes.  The  concern  was,  even  at  that  time,  an  impor- 
tant one,  but  under  his  intelligent  care  it  has  since  developed 
into  one  of  the  finest  and  most  exclusive  business  enterprises 
in  the  county.  In  1886,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  Schelley,  and  two  children,  Arnold  and  Eugene,  have 
since  been  born  to  them.  Dr.  Millikin  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  is  influential  in  Royal  Arcanum  and 
K.  of  P.  circles.  His  long  identity  with  the  life  and  history  of 
Hamilton  has  given  him  an  opportunity  for  the  display  of 
those  civic  virtues  which  is  common  with  many  others  of  a 
higher  sort,  he  is  known  to  possess.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
famous  Millikin  family  which  has  figured  so  conspicuously  in 
the  history  of  this  county,  and  has  left  so  deep  an  impress  on 
many  departments  of  her  life  and  activity. 

Charles  E.  Mason  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  on 
March  5,  1873.  He  is  the  youngest  son  of  Martin  and  Barbara 
Mason,  who  came  to  America  in  the  fifties  and  settled  in 
Hamilton.  Martin  Mason  died  in  1877,  at  the  time  that  the 
youngest  son   was   four   years  old.     Charles   E.    Mason   was 


ADAM  LAURIE 


COL.   R.  C.   McKINXKY  J     R-   FULKERS 


H.  MILLIKIN 


FRANK  E.  B.  BRANDT 


tld 


JOSEPH  H.  LONG 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  417 

educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city,  where  he  proved 
himself  an  adept  scholar.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  entered 
upon  his  business  career  in  the  office  of  Seward  &  Sloneker. 
In  December,  1889,  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  Miami  Valley 
National  Bank  as  book  keeper.  He  soon  mastered  such  a 
knowledge  of  the  banking  business  as  to  be  advanced  to  the 
position  of  teller.  On  January  1,  1896,  he  was  elected,  unan- 
imously, by  the  board  of  directors  to  the  position  of  assistant 
cashier,  in  which  position  he  comes  in  contact  with  the 
business  world  of  Hamilton,  and  with  whom  no  one  is  more 
popular.  He  is  an  expert  accountant,  and  has  a  clear  mind 
for  the  unraveling  of  complex  business  transactions. 

Joseph  H.  Long  was  born  in  Hamilton,  October  4,  1858. 
He  was  educated  in  the  St.  Stephen's  parochial  schools. 
Afterward,  he  graduated  from  Beck's  Commercial  College  in 
a  course  of  bookkeeping  and  penmanship.  In  1871,  he 
started  on  the  road  for  the  firm  of  Long  &  Allstatter,  where 
he  remained  for  six  years.  He  then  entered  the  office  and 
took  charge  of  the  books  for  the  next  ten  years.  In  1891, 
when  the  Long  &  Allstatter  Company  was  incorporated,  he 
was  elected  vice-president,  which  position  he  still  occupies. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  for  four  years;  is  a 
member  of  the  water  works  trustees,  of  which  board  he  is 
president.  The  Long  &  Allstatter  Company  manufacture 
corn  cultivators,  sulky  plows,  hay  rakes,  harrows,  power 
punching  and  shearing  machinery  and  all  class  of  iron  work, 
for  car  shops.  The  location  of  the  campany's  shops  are  at  the 
corner  of  Fourth  and  High  streets,  and  the  plant  covers  five 
acres  with  fine  buildings. 

Frank  Erwin  Bernadotte  Brandt  was  born  August 
10,  1869,  at  Hamilton,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  Thorwald 
Eugene  Bernadotte  De  Lopez  Brandt,  deceased,  who  was  a 
photographer  and  an  artist  of  no  mean  ability,  and  Mary 
Erwin.  "Eugene  Brandt,"  as  he  was  generally  known,  was 
born  in  Copenhagen,  Denmark,  and  was  the  son  of  Christian 
and  Caroline  Brandt.  His  father  was  an  officer  in  the  Danish 
army   and  served  in  the   Schlesing-Holstein   war  with  distin- 


418  Historical  Sketches. 

guished  bravery.  He  was  also  in  the  Danish  army  for  a 
time,  and  emigrated  to  this  country,  was  married  in  Hamilton, 
became  the  father  of  two  children,  Frank  Erwin  and  Lutie 
Caroline,  and  died  at  Santa  Barbara,  California,  in  1877. 
IvUtie  Caroline  Brandt  died  when  she  was  one  year  old. 

On  his  mother's  side,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  des- 
cended from  the  Erwin,  Piatt  and  Chadwick  families,  his  grand- 
mother, being  Ann  Eliza  Chadwick.  John  W.  Erwin's  mother 
was  Elizabeth  Piatt,  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Piatt  the  First, 
who  was  born  about  1685  or  1690,  and  who  lived  in  Burling- 
ton, New  Jersey.  The  Piatt,  Erwin  and  Chadwick  families  came 
originally  from  England,  and  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
America.  Their  descendants  were  many  of  them  soldiers  in 
the  patriot  army  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  John 
Piatt,  Second,  son  of  Thomas  Piatt  Second,  received  in  1777 
his  commission  in  the  Deleware  regiment  of  foot  on  the  Con- 
tinental Establishment,  (Colonel  Hall)  and  served  until  1783. 
In  that  same  year  he  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Delaware  society  of  Cincinnati.  He  died  at  his  place,  "Chat- 
ham," near  Wilmington,  Delaware. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Hamilton,  and 
attended  the  public  schools  of  this  city.  Leaving  the  Hamil- 
ton High  School,  he  entered  Morgan  Park  Military  Academy, 
at  Morgan  Park,  Cook  county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for 
about  two  years.  In  1888,  he  went  to  Ithaca,  New  York,  and 
entered  the  Junior  class  in  the  Eaw  School  of  Cornell  Univer- 
sity. The  law  school  was  established  in  1888,  and  Mr.  Brandt 
was  therefore  a  member  of  its  first  junior  class.  After  a  short 
course  in  law,  Mr.  Brandt  went  to  Etiwanda,  San  Bernardino 
county,  California,  where  he  remained  for  several  months. 
After  his  return  to  Hamilton,  he  was  married  on  August  15, 
1889,  to  Miss  Anna  Margaret  Spoerl,  daughter  of  Frederick 
and  Christian  Spoerl  of  this  city.  As  a  result  of  this  union 
two  children  were  born,  Mary  Erwin  Spoerl  Brandt  and  Erwin 
Chadwick  Brandt,  both  of  whom  are  living.  Mary  Erwin 
Brandt,  mother  of  our  subject  died  March  12,   1890.     She  was 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  419 

universally     beloved     in     Hamilton,     by     her     friends     and 
acquaintances 

After  filling  various  minor  positions,  Mr.  Brandt  became 
a  reporter  on  the  Daily  Democrat,  under  Editor  John  K. 
Aydelotte,  in  1889,  and  ultimately  succeeded  Frank  I.  White- 
head, now  of  Washington  D.  C,  as  city  editor  of  that  paper. 
Resigning  from  the  Democrat,  Mr.  Brandt  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  Hamilton  Herald,  a  weekly  paper  published  by 
Fred  J.  Hilker,  but  later  on  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in  that 
journal  and  began  the  publication  of  The  Sunday  World, 
December  7,  1896.  After  publishing  four  issues,  he  sold  the 
paper  to  a  faction  of  the  Democratic  party.  After  appearing 
for   three  issues,  the  paper  was  discontinued. 

Mr.  Brandt  resumed  his  position  as  city  editor  of  the 
Democrat  and  held  it  until  April,  1893,  when  he  resigned  to 
become  city  editor  of  the  Hamilton  Daily  Repiiblican,  under 
Editor  Walter  L-  Tobey.  During  his  career  as  a  newspaper 
man,  Mr.  Brandt  has  been  the  Hamilton  correspondent  for  the 
Cincinnati  Post,  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer  and  the  Cincinnati 
Times-Star,  also  locally  representing  metropolitan  papers  in 
New  York,  Chicago,  Washington,  Cleveland  and  Columbus. 
In  August,  1896,  Mr.  Brandt  resigned  his  position  on  the 
Republican,  and  on  September  29,  1896,  entered  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  became  a  can- 
didate for  holy  orders,  under  Bishop  McLaren  of  the  Episco- 
pal church,  and  he  is  at  present  at  the  seminary  pursuing  his 
religious  studies.  Mr.  Brandt  was  reared  a  Universalist,  but 
never  united  with  that  church  as  a  member.  In  1894,  ne  was 
confirmed  as  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  has  been 
twice  elected  as  a  member  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Episcopal 
church  of  this  city,  and  represented  the  church  as  a  lay  dele- 
gate to  the  diocesan  convention  held  in  May,  1896,  at  Spring- 
field, Ohio. 

On  May  5,  1896,  Mr.  Brandt  was  unanimously  elected  by 
the  Hamilton  City  Council,  as  a  Trustee  of  the  Lane  Free 
Library,    to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Judge 


420  Historical  Sketches. 

P.  G.  Berry.     This  position,  Mr.  Brandt  resigned   before   he 
began  his  theological  studies. 

In  the  Masonic  order,  Mr.  Brandt  has  been  very  promi- 
nent. He  is  a  member  of  all  the  Hamilton  Masonic  bodies, 
including  the  Knights  Templars.  He  is  also  a  thirty-second 
degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  holds  membership  in  Ohio 
Consistory.  A  few  years  ago  he  went  to  Washington  D.  C. 
and  became  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
Royal  Order  of  Scotland,  an  ancient  Masonic  organization 
whose  seat  of  government  is  at  Edenburgh,  Scotland.  He  is 
secretary  of  the  Hamilton  Scottish  Rite  club,  and  is  a  member 
of  Syrian  Temple  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  Nobles  of 
the  M3^stic  Shrine.  Mr.  Brandt  is  Past  Thrice  Illustrious 
Master  of  Hamilton  Council  No.  19  R.  and  S.  M.,  and  is  the 
present  High  Priest  of  Hamilton  Chapter  No.  2 1  Royal  Arch 
Masons,  and  the  Generalissimo  of  Hamilton  Commandery  No. 
41,  Knights  Templars.  He  has  served  in  the  past  as  Junior 
Warden  of  Washington  Lodge  No  17  F.  and  A.  M.  The 
Masonic  apron  worn  by  his  grandfather  he  presented  to  old 
Washington  Lodge.  Mr.  Brandt  has  attended  the  convocations 
of  the  Grand  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Council  as  a  delegate,  and 
has  always  been  loyally  attached  to  Free  Masonry. 

Mr.  Brandt  is  also  a  member  of  Harmony  Lodge  No.  14, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  has  attained  the  Rebekah  degree  in  Odd  Fellow- 
ship; is  a  member  of  Hamilton  Lodge  No.  93,  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and 
has  served  his  lodge  of  Elks  as  trustee  and  secretary,  and  is 
also  a  member  of  Hamilton  Council  No.  338  Royal  Arcanum. 

Mr.  Brandt  is  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Hamilton 
Press  Club.  As  to  political  belief,  he  has,  since  he  attained  his 
majority,  been  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  warmly 
attached  to  the  principles  and  traditions  of  Democracy.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  third  district  congressional  convention 
which  gave  Hon.  Paul  J.  Sorg  his  second  nomination,  and  has 
been  a  senatorial  delegate,  but  he  has  never  taken  an  active 
part  in  politics  beyond  what  would  be  required  of  him  as  a 
newspaper  man. 


REV.   E.  W.  AliBKY 


7M.  C.  RINE ARSON  KTDGE  JOSEPH  COX  FRANK  B.   RINE ARSON 


WILLIAM   "WINKLER 


E.  B.   ROGERS 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  421 

Rev.  Edward  W.  Abbey,  pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church,  was  born  at  Watkins,  New  York,  March  12, 
1848,  where  his  youth  was  spent  until  having  completed  his 
preparatory  studies  in  the  academy  of  that  place,  when  he 
entered  Hamilton  College,  New  York,  and  was  graduated  in 
187 1.  Thence  he  went  to  Lane  Theological  Seminary,  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  where  his  theological  studies  were  completed  in 
1874.  Rev.  Mr.  Abbey  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  church  of  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  upon 
leaving  the  seminary,  and  remained  there  until  1880.  In  this 
year  he  became  the  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of 
Hamilton,  where  he  has  continued  until  the  present  time.  In 
the  fall  of  1877,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Augusta 
Hamill,  at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana.  Two  children  were  born  to 
this  union,  namely,  Edward  and  Samuel.  Rev.  Mr.  Abbey 
took  a  trip  to  Europe  in  1874,  covering  Great  Britain,  Ger- 
many and  France.  The  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  was  con- 
ferred upon  him  by  his  Alma  Mater,  Hamilton  College.  Jona- 
than Abbey,  the  progenitor  of  the  Abbey  family  in  America, 
came  from  England  in  1622  and  settled  in  Massachusetts. 
Rev.  Mr.  Abbey  is  an  able  and  talented  divine;  is  a  popular, 
social  and  genial  gentleman.  His  pastorate  in  this  city  has 
been  a  marked  one  in  the  cause  of  Christianity. 

Judge  Joseph  Cox,  presiding  Judge  of  the  First  Judicial 
Circuit  of  Ohio,  embracing  the  counties  of  Hamilton,  Butler, 
Warren,  Clermont  and  Clinton,  was  bom  in  Chambersburgh, 
Pennsylvania,  August  4,  1822.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Hiram 
Cox,  a  distinguished  physician,  and  Margaret  Edwards  Cox. 
When  seven  years  old  his  family  removed  to  Ohio.  Joseph 
attended  a  celebrated  classical  school  taught  by  Rev.  L.  G. 
Gaines,  of  Clermont  county,  and  afterward  entered  Miami 
University  at  Oxford,  which  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary 
degree  of  A.  M.  He  entered  the  law  office  of  Thomas  J.  Strait, 
a  distinguished  lawyer  of  Cincinnati,  also  the  L,aw  School  of 
Cincinnati,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Ohio,  September  26, 
1843,  locating  at  Cincinnati  in  partnership  with  Henry  Snow, 
which  firm  continued   for  five  years.     In  1855,  he  was  elected 


422  Historical  Sketches. 

Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Hamilton  county,  in  which  he  served 
one  term  of  two  years,  which  was  marked  by  very  many 
important  trials,  among  which  was  the  celebrated  Arrison 
murder  case,  in  which  two  persons  were  killed  by  an  infernal 
machine.  He  declined  being  a  candidate  for  the  second  term  and 
resumed  private  practice.  In  1866,  he  was  elected  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Hamilton  county;  re-elected  in 
1871  and  in  1876,  serving  three  terms  of  five  years  each.  On 
the  organization  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  state  in  1884,  he  was 
elected  one  of  the  three  Judges,  with  James  M.  Smith  and 
Peter  F.  Swing.  In  the  drawing  by  the  Governor  and  Secre- 
tary of  State  for  terms,  the  short  term  of  two  years  was  drawn 
by  him.  He  was  re-elected  subsequently  twice  for  terms  of 
six  years  each  and  has  now  served  twelve  years  in  that  court, 
his  third  term  ending  February  9,  1899.  Judge  Cox's  life 
has  been  a  very  busy  one.  In  addition  to  his  legal  duties  he 
has  varied  it  by  much  study  on  historical  and  archaeological 
subjects,  and  has  been  popular  as  a  lecturer.  Among  his  pub- 
lished addresses  are,  "General  Harrison,  of  North  Bend," 
"Archaeology  of  Ohio,"  "Battle  of  Gettysburgh,"  an  Address  at 
Springfield,  Ohio,  at  the  dedication  of  the  soldiers'  monument, 
Memorial  Address  at  Spring  Grove  cemetery,  "Centennial 
Address"  before  the  Historical  Society  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  "Cen- 
tennial Address"  at  Hamilton,  Ohio,  "Pioneer  Addresses"  at 
Soldiers'  Home  and  Historical  Society  of  Ohio,  Memorial  Ad- 
dresses on  the  death  of  Grant,  Garibaldi,  Garfield,  and  that  of 
General  Robert  C.  Schenck,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  "Legal  Ethics," 
"Sketches  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States"  before 
the  State  Bar  Association  of  Ohio.  In  politics  Judge  Cox  was 
a  Whig,  and  afterward  among  the  first  members  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Republican  party.  He  was  married  May  9, 
1848,  in  New  Orleans,  to  Mary  A.  Curtis,  who  died  July  19, 
1896,  at  their  home  in  Glendale,  Ohio.  Six  children  survive, 
namely,  Walter  T.,  Benjamin  H.,  Joseph,  Jr.  and  Samuel  C. 
The  first  three  of  whom  are  members  of  the  Cincinnati  Bar. 
Sarah  V.  married  Sabin  Robbins,  paper  dealer  of  Middle- 
town,  Ohio,  and  Mary  Alice,  who  resides  with  her  father. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  423 

William  C.  Rinearson,  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch 
was  born  at  Hamilton  in  1850.  He  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  this  city.  He  entered  the  service  of  the  B.  &  O. 
R.  R.  at  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  Subsequently  he  was  with 
the  Pennsylvania  Company  for  eleven  years  in  the  passenger 
department.  In  1885,  he  was  appointed  General  Northern 
Agent  of  the  N.  Y.  L.  E.  &  W.  R.  R.  and  two  years  later  was 
appointed  Assistant  General  Passenger  Agent  of  the  N.  Y.  P. 
&  O.,  which  position  he  held  until  1890.  From  August  6, 
1890,  to  December  1891,  he  was  General  Passenger  Agent  of 
the  Erie  Lines,  with  headquarters  in  New  York  City.  He 
was  afterward  with  the  Chicago  Great  Western,  at  Chicago, 
and  with  the  C.  A.  &  C.  Ry.  as  General  Passenger  Agent  until 
September  1,  1893,  at  which  time  he  took  charge  ot  the  pas- 
senger department  of  the  Queen  and  Crescent  Route,  a  position 
he  still  holds  with  distinction  to  himself  and  to  the  profit  of 
the  company.  Mr.  Rinearson  is  a  railroad  man  of  wide 
experience  and  unusual  popularity.  The  building  of  the 
Queen  and  Crescent  road  was  began  in  December,  1873,  and 
was  opened  for  traffic  from  Cincinnati  to  Somerset,  Kentucky, 
July  21,  1877,  and  completed  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1880.  Cincinnati  bonds,  amounting  to  $15,935,000, 
in  six  series,  bearing  interest  from  6  to  7.3  per  cent,  were 
issued  by  the  city,  the  first  series  in  1872  and  the  last  series  in 
1879,  and  they  become  due  in  1902-1909.  The  road  was 
leased  October  12,  188 1,  to  the  Cincinnati,  New  Orleans  and 
Texas  Pacific  Railway  company,  for  a  term  of  twenty-five 
years.  With  its  connections  south  of  Chattanooga,  this  road 
forms  the  favorite  Queen  and  Crescent  Route,  and  is  the  short- 
est line  making  the  quickest  time  between  Cincinnati  and 
New  Orleans.  From  Mr.  Rinearson's  inception  into  the  rail- 
road business,  he  has  steadily  pushed  his  way  to  public  favor 
and  confidence.  He  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  his  calling. 
It  is  only  in  the  nature  of  things  that  he  should  have  attained 
the  large  measure  of  success  that  has  rewarded  his  well-direct- 
ed efforts  from  the  start. 

Frank  B.  Rinearson  was  born  at   Hamilton,  in    1870. 


424  Historical  Sketches. 

He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city.  After- 
ward, he  was  employed  for  three  years  as  city  ticket  agent  for 
the  Erie  railway,  in  Cincinnati.  In  1893,  he  accepted  the 
important  and  responsible  position  of  cashier  of  the  Cincinnati, 
Hamilton  and  Dayton  railroad  passenger  department  in  Cin- 
cinnati, where  he  remained  until  the  time  of  his  death.  In 
social  circles  he  was  best  known  and  will  be  long  remembered 
by  the  people  of  Hamilton.  From  his  earliest  youth  he 
possessed  the  faculty  of  attaching  to  himself  the  strong  and 
abiding  affection  of  others,  and  there  was  in  Hamilton  no 
young  man  more  generally  known  and  liked.  His  other  fra- 
ternal connections  were  with  Washington  Lodge  No.  17,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons  and  with  Hamilton  Chapter  No.  21 
Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  the  Hamilton  Rifles.  He  was  a 
young  man  of  superior  ability,  and  death  alone  prevented  the 
fulfillment  of  his  high  promise  of  a  useful  and  successful 
career  in  his  chosen  work.  The  funeral  took  place  from  the 
residence  of  his  mother  on  Heaton  street,  Tuesday  morning, 
August  4,  1896,  at  10  o'clock.  The  services  were  conducted 
jointly  by  the  Rev.  Mason  W.  Pressley,  Chaplain  of  the  Ham- 
ilton Rifles  and  the  Rev.  F.  E.  J.  Lloyd,  rector  of  Trinity 
Episcopal  church.  The  burial  in  Greenwood  cemetery  was 
attended  by  the  immediate  family  alone.  The  pall  bearers 
were  Earl  Hooven.  Robert  Giffen,  Paul  Brown,  Neal  Harper, 
Edward  Poor  and  George  Smith,  of  Cincinnati,  William  Rad- 
cliffe,  Robert  Schaeuble,  Thomas  Dowling,  David  Brant, 
Charles  Hunter  and  Charles  Mathes. 

E.  B.  Rogers  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1842.  At  the  age 
of  fourteen  he  entered  the  Kingwood  College  in  his  native 
state.  Afterward  he  attended  a  small  academy  conducted  by 
Prof.  James  Boyd,  who  stepped  direct  from  his  pedagogical 
bench  into  the  post  office  portfolio  in  the  Southern  Confeder- 
acy. Mr.  Rogers  had  a  good  record  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
War.  After  a  course  in  the  Dayton  Commercial  College,  he 
became  the  manager  of  a  department  of  the  John  Shillito  Co., 
at  Cincinnati,  and  a  few  months  later  he  removed  to  Hamilton. 
For  the  fifteen  years  following  he  remained  in  this  city  in  the 


L.  C.  OVF.RPKCK 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  425 

practice  of  photography,  in  the  same  building  where  his 
present  business  is  located.  He  has  since  resided  and  prac- 
ticed the  art  in  Oxford  and  Dayton,  but  he  gradually  gravitated 
toward  the  city  of  his  choice  until,  in  1885,  he  returned  to 
Hamilton  and  in  conjunction  with  Theodore  Reutti,  estab- 
lished the  furniture  company  of  Rogers  &  Reutti.  Three 
years  latter  Mr.  Reutti  retired  and  the  E.  B.  Rogers  Furni- 
ture Company  was  established.  Mr.  Rogers  is  a  man  of 
energy,  business  capacity  and  high  reputation  and  standing  in 
social  and  business- circles. 

Luclen  C.  Overpeck  was  born  in  St.  Clair  township, 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  May  15,  1853.  He  attended  district 
school  in  his  native  township.  In  1870,  he  became  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  drug  store  in  Trenton,  this  county.  During  his 
spare  moments  he  practiced  photography,  and  read  much 
relating  to  the  subject.  He  made  a  special  study  of  chemistry 
with  the  one  idea  in  view  of  practicing  his  chosen  art.  Upon 
his  retirement  from  business  in  1873,  an  opportunity  was 
opened  for  him  to  devote  himself  seriously  to  the  calling 
toward  which  he  was  so  strongly  inclined.  Coming  to  Hamil- 
ton he  established  a  gallery  in  the  Jacobs  building  where  he 
built  up  a  large  and  permanent  patronage.  In  1887,  he 
removed  to  the  gallery  formerly  occupied  by  Tattersall,  in 
which  he  has  ever  since  continued.  After  getting  his  business 
in  good  shape,  he  visited  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  other 
large  cities  of  the  east,  with  a  view  of  ascertaining  the  true 
state  of  photography.  Mr.  Overpeck's  standing  in  his  profes- 
sion is  so  high  and  so  widely  known  that  it  needs  no  praise 
here.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active  factors  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Ohio  State  Association  of  photgraphers  in  1890,  and 
has  served  on  its  executive  board  four  of  the  six  years  of  its 
existence  in  the  various  capacities  of  president,  vice-president 
and  secretary.  At  the  meeting  of  the  National  Association  at 
Minneapolis  in  1888,  $50  in  gold  was  awarded  him  for  cabinet 
work  and  a  gold  medal  for  excellence  in  flash  light  photo- 
graphy. The  Ohio  State  Association  in  1893  awarded  him  three 
of  the  most  important  prizes  in  its  gift.      In  1893,  he  received 


426  Historical  Sketches. 

two  medals  from  the  National  Association  for  carbonette  pic- 
tures and  photographs  of  machinery.  He  has  served  on  the 
national  awarding  committee — which  is  a  very  high  professional 
honor — on  three  different  occasions. 

William  Winkler  was  born  in  Hamilton,  November  i, 
1862.  After  leaving  the  public  schools  in  1878,  he  accepted  a 
position  as  salesman  in  the  Strauss  clothing  house.  After- 
ward, he  was  employed  by  Gilcrest  &  Millikin  in  the  same 
capacity.  The  experience  and  reputation  which  these  years  of 
service  gained  for  him  were  the  best  possible  foundation  upon 
which  to  build  an  independent  business  enterprise. 

This  fact  was  grasped  by  no  one  sooner  than  by  Mr. 
Winkler.  In  association  with  Mr.  Thad  Straub,  he  organized 
the  well  known  firm  of  Winkler  &  Straub,  dealers  of  exclu- 
sive hats  and  haberdashery.  In  1895,  Mr.  Straub  retired  and 
the  business  has  since  been  conducted  by  Mr.  Winkler  alone. 
To  a  man  of  taste  his  store  is  a  delightful  place.  He  is  an 
enterprising  business  man,  whose  efforts  a  community  does 
itself  an  honor  in  recognizing.  He  is  a  well  known  young 
man  and  prominent  in  various  social  organizations. 

In  1889,  Mr.  Winkler  was   united  in   marriage   to   Miss 

Adeline  Straub. 

» 

Miles  D.  Lindley  was  born  in  Reily  township,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  in  i860.  He  is  the  son  of  John  C.  and  Elizabeth 
(King)  Lindley.  When  eight  years  old  his  parents  came  to 
Hamilton.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city. 
Mr.  Lindley  first  became  a  member  of  the  school  board  in 
1883,  in  which  board  he  has  since  remained  the  greater  part  of 
the  time.  He  has  always  been  allied  with  the  movements  for 
the  improvement  of  the  schools,  and  since  he  has  been  in 
office  he  has  done  much  to  bring  the  schools  up  to  their 
present  standard.  In  April  1894  he  was  made  president  of 
School  Board,  and  his  regime  has  been  one  of  marked  success. 
In  1885  Mr.  Lindley  was  elected  City  Commissioner,  which 
position  he  filled  during  a  term  of  two  years  with  credit  both 
to  himself  and  to  the  city,  whose  interests  have  always  been 


M.  D.  LINDLEY 


JAMES  A.  KELLY 


,,    9%  % 


JOHN  K.EFKR  HENRY  FRECHTLING,  Jr.  NELSON  F.  POTTERF 


GEORGE  RUPP 


ABE  ROTHWELL 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  427 

his  interests,  as  should  be  the  case  with  every  true  man. 
During  the  last  six  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business,  investing  with  characteristic  success.  Though 
Mr.  Ljndley  has  held  but  comparatively  few  offices,  he  has 
been  involved  in  politics  to  a  great  extent  through  his  aid  to 
his  friends  when  they  have  been  candidates  ior  office.  He  is  a 
man  whose  friendship  is  highly  valued  by  all  who  know  him. 
He  was  married  in  1S84,  to  Miss  Sophie  Straub,  daughter  of 
the  late  Joseph  Straub.  Mr.  Lindley  is  the  best  known  poli- 
tician in  Southern  Ohio.  He  is  one  of  the  shrewdest  and 
most  far-seeing  men  in  the  Democratic  party.  He  was  born  a 
leader  and  is  always  consulted  in  party  matters. 

John  Kaefer. — The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  was  born 
in  Wurtenburg,  Germany,  May  15,  1856.  At  the  age  of  ten 
years  he  came  to  America.  Upon  arriving  in  Hamilton,  he 
immediately  began  learning  the  machinist's  trade  with  the 
firm  of  Owens,  Lane  &  Dyer.  Afterward  he  entered  the 
machine  shop  of  the  Cope  &  Maxwell  steam  pump  works,  and 
was  later  employed  at  the  Niles  Tool  Works.  In  1887,  he  took 
charge,  as  foreman,  of  the  Phoenix  Castor  Company,  where  he, 
has  been  ever  since.  Mr.  Kaefer  is  a  master  mechanic,  and 
one  of  the  finest  as  well  as  one  of  the  best  informed  men  on 
machinery  in  this  section  of  the  country.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Foresters. 

In  April,  1895,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  from  the  Fifth  ward,  and  is  at  present  the  clerk  of 
that  body.  In  the  capacity  of  a  member  of  the  school  board 
he  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation  for  his  uprightness  and 
straightforward  dealings.  A  more  popular  and  well  liked 
gentleman  can  not  be  found. 

Henry  Frechtling,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio 
June  16,  1850.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Ham- 
ilton. On  Saturdays  and  during  the  vacations  he  was 
regularly  and  promptly  behind  the  counters  of  his  father's 
store.  Upon  leaving  school  in  1864  he  worked  without  inter- 
mission  in   the  same  establishment   for  two  years,  when  he 


428  Historical  Sketches. 

resigned  his  place  to  become  shipping  clerk  of  the  Hamilton 
Woolen  Mills.  In  1868,  he  returned  to  his  father's  store  in 
which  his  uncle  was  also  then  interested,  where  he  remained 
in  the  capacity  of  a  clerk,  until  in  1875,  when  he  became  a 
partner  in  the  enterprise.  His  father  grown  old  in  years  and 
business  successes,  retired  four  years  later,  and  the  present 
business  under  Mr.  Frechtling's  management,  was  organized. 
From  a  very  small  beginning  it  thrived  and  grew,  until  at  the 
present  time  it  stands  at  the  very  fore  front  of  the  local  trade. 
Its  success  can  be  attributed  with  justice  to  nothing  save  the 
close  attention  and  keen  business  sense  of  its  manager.  The 
construction  of  Henry  Frechtling  Sr.'s  handsome  new  block 
has  provided  this  magnificant  business  with  a  suitable  home, 
where  it  will  continue  to  merit  and  receive  well  at  the  hands 
of  its  patrons.  As  early  as  1891,  the  business  had  so  expanded 
that  a  successful  branch  store  under  the  management  of 
Philip  Geyer,  was  established  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  D 
streets. 

In  1877,  Mr.  Frechtling  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Hart- 
man  and  five  children  have  been  born  to  bless  their  union. 

George  Rupp  was  born  in  Hamilton,  August  8,  1851. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  Prof.  Benedict 
Starr's  academy,  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Dayton  streets. 
Afterward  he  entered  the  meat  store  of  his  father,  as  clerk, 
serving  in  this  capacity  until  1879,  when  he  engaged  in  the  ice 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Lorenz,  Rupp  &  Held.  He 
sold  his  interest  to  Fred.  Meyer,  of  Cincinnati,  in  1883.  It 
was  in  1884  that  he  began  the  butcher  business  for  himself, 
starting  in  the  old  Universalist  church  building.  Beginning 
mercantile  life  in  a  comfortable  little  shop,  he  has  advanced 
his  business  until  there  is  no  competitor  who  can  equal  him  in 
prosperity.  He  obtained  his  start  in  the  pork  and  butcher 
business  from  what  he  earned  and  saved  out  of  the  ice  trade. 
He  has  now  a  spacious  daily  meat  market  at  No.  122  High 
street  and  also  the  finest  cold  storage  and  killing  houses  in 
this  section  of  the  country. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  429 

Mr.  Rupp  has  a  well  equipped  establishment,  arranged 
on  the  plan  of  the  Chicago  pork  packing  houses.  The  build- 
ing is  a  three-story  brick,  situated  on  the  corner  of  South 
Front  and  Sycamore  streets.  He  does  a  large  foreign  busi- 
ness, shipping  a  good  deal  of  lard  to   Statten,    Germany. 

Mr.  Rupp  was  married  March  22,  1877,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Stemple,  daughter  of  Rev.  Philip  Stemple,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Abe  Rothwell  was  born  in  New  York  City,  February  8, 
1864.  In  1878,  he  came  to  Hamilton  with  his  father,  A. 
Rothwell,  who  for.  many  years  was  one  of  the  best  known 
business  men  in  Southwestern  Ohio.  For  a  long  time  Mr. 
Rothwell  was  engaged  with  his  father  in  the  auctioneering 
business,  and  during  this  period  he  sold  goods  extensively 
through  Ohio  and  Indiana.  He  began  an  active  business  life 
at  the  age  of  thirteen.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  had  charge 
of  eight  men.  In  1890,  he  became  manager  of  the  well  known 
Matthias  Stove  store,  on  Main  street,  and  two  years  later  pur- 
chased the  establishment.  When  he  had  owned  the  store  two 
months,  an  attempt  was  made  to  raise  the  building  on  account 
of  the  elevation  of  the  grade  of  Main  street.  This  building 
fell  in  and  was  completely  wrecked.  Although  his  loss  was 
severe,  Mr.  Rothwell  quickly  rallied,  and  a  handsome,  three- 
story  brick  block  was  built  on  the  old  site.  Of  the  building 
he  occupies  the  basement  and  the  first  and  second  floors.  He 
has  a  large  and  complete  stock  of  stoves,  ranges,  and  warm  air 
furnaces  which  are  obtained  direct  from  the  manufacturers 
and  have  no  superiors  in  the  market.  A  large  work  shop  is 
maintained  and  special  attention  is  given  to  roofing  and  gutter- 
ing. Mr.  Rothwell  is  an  excellent  business  man  and  is  highly 
esteemed. 

Nelson  F.  Potterf  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  Octo- 
ber 14,  1856.  He  was  the  son  of  James  and  Mary  Potterf;  his 
mother  died  some  years  ago.  When  a  young  boy  he  moved 
to  Eaton,  Ohio,  where  he  attended  school  till  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age.  He  resided  in  Eaton  for  nine  years,  when  he 
apprenticed   himself  to   learn    the    carpenter    trade,   serving 


430  Historical  Sketches.     _ 

for  term  of  three  years.  He  then  worked  as  a  journeyman 
carpenter  for  some  five  years  all  through  the  Miami  Valley. 
In  1880,  he  began  contracting  at  Seven  Mile  and  later  he 
settled  in  Hamilton.  He  has  resided  in  this  city  for  the  past 
ten  years.  Owing  to  his  ability  as  a  contractor,  he  was 
employed  by  Freeman  Compton  to  superintend  the  building  of 
the  Butler  county  court  house,  which  is  one  of  the  most  credit- 
able pieces  of  work  ever  turned  out  in  this  county.  He 
moved  to  this  city  in  1886. 

In  1 88 1,  Mr.  Potterf  was  married  to  Mary  M.  Goodman 
and  four  children,  three  boys  and  one  girl,  have  blessed  their 
union.  In  1893  Mr.  Potterf  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  for  one  term  from  the  Fifth  ward.  Mr. 
Potterf  has  the  superintending  of  the  buildings  of  the  public 
schools,  he  has  charge  of  all  repairs.  He  is  an  earnest  worker 
and  a  better  man  for  the  position  could  not  be  found  in  the 
county. 

James  A.  Kelly  was  born  in  Oxford  township,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  February  18,  1856.  In  his  early  manhood  he 
entered  the  Miami  University  Classical  School  whence  he 
passed  directly  into  the  profession  which  he  has  made  his  life 
work.  Three  years  later  he  pursued  a  special  course  in  ped- 
agogy at  the  well  known  National  Normal  University  at 
Lebanon,  which  completed  an  education  of  the  highest  order. 
Not  long  after  Professor  Kelly's  claim  upon  the  public  recog- 
nition were  fulfilled  by  his  election  to  the  place  he  now  occu- 
pies, and  his  record  in  it  covering  so  many  years,  fully  indi- 
cates the  judgment  of  those  who  first  chose  him  to  the  place. 
For  fifteen  years  he  has  been  principal  of  the  First  ward 
schools,  and  the  fact  that  he  has  survived  so  many  changes  of 
municipal  administrations,  and  has  administered  his  important 
trust  with  such  uniform  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to 
his  constituency,  bespeaks  his  ability  in  his,  the  highest  of  all 
secular  professions.  He  is  a  thoroughly  popular  man,  know- 
ing and  known  to  everybody.  He  is  a  leading  Elk  and  a 
member  of  the  Y.  M.  I.  and  the  A.  S.  of  C. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  43 1 

Conrad  M.  Semler  was  born  in  Hamilton,  August  20, 
1863.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city, 
which  was  afterward  supplemented  by  a  business  course  in  a 
Commercial  College.  Later  he  learned  the  miller's  trade  with 
his  father,  John  Semler,  who  came  west  from  Pennsylvania  in 
1849,  locating  at  Amanda,  this  county.  In  1862,  he  came  to 
Hamilton  and  engaged  in  the  milling  business  for  himself.  In 
1886,  he  erected  the  Eagle  Mills,  when  our  subject  became  his 
father's  partner,  and  has  ever  since  been  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Semler  &  Co.  At  the  death  of  John  Semler,  April  28,  1892, 
at  the  age  fifty-six,  the  business  passed  into  the  full  manage- 
ment of  the  oldest  son,  Conrad.  Later  in  the  same  year 
Anderson  &  Shaffer's  plant  was  purchased  and  the  out-put  of 
the  mill  increased  from  seventy-five  to  five  hundred  barrels 
per  day.  The  local  trade  is  managed  by  George  Semler,  and 
the  offices  are  under  control  of  Philip  Semler.  In  addition  to 
an  extensive  local  trade,  the  firm  annually  sends  thousands  of 
barrels  of  flour  to  the  Eastern  and  Southern  markets.  The 
Semler  Brothers  have  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  milling 
business;  are  courteous  gentlemen  and  their  solidity  and  integ- 
rity is  unquestioned.  Conrad  Semler  is  the  owner  of  valuable 
residence  property  and  a  number  of  lots  in  Sender's  Addition  to 
South  Hamilton.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Hamilton 
Council  No.  338,  Royal  Arcanum.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a  faith- 
ful and  unswerving  friend  to  the  best  interests  of  Hamilton 
and  contributes  liberally  to  every  movement  for  her  advance- 
ment, which  entitles  him  to  a  representation  in  a  history  of  his 
native  city. 

Oliver  Traber  was  born  near  West  Union,  Adams 
county,  Ohio,  October  10,  1821.  He  attended  country  school, 
in  a  log  cabin,  about  three  months  a  year.  Afterward,  he 
taught  a  winter  school  for  four  years  ;was  later  elected  Justice 
of  the  Peace  of  Tiffin  township,  in  his  native  county;  afterward 
he  came  to  Rossville,  where  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  and 
grocery  business;  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  St.  Clair 
township;  in  the   sixties   was   elected   Infirmary    Director   of 


432  Historical  Sketches. 

Butler  county.  In  1861,  he  was  a  member  of  the  City  Council 
from  the  First  ward,  and  was  elected  president  of  that  body 
while  serving  his  second  year.  In  1884,  he  was  elected 
Infirmary  Director,  and  re-elected  in  1887.  He  has  been  a 
life-long  Democrat,  casting  his  first  vote  for  James  K.  Polk. 
He  believes  "in  equal  and  exact  justice  to  all  men,"  and  tariff 
levied  on  imports  according  to  their  value.  He  is  noted  for 
his  business  and  official  ability,  and  possesses  the  confidence 
of  the  public. 

David  R.  Cone  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  October  8, 
1859.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  D.  and  Nancy  J.  (Wallace)  Cone. 
The  fromer  was  born  in  Wapokoneta,  Ohio,  June  3,  1834, 
and  died  in  this  city  July  28,  1865;  the  latter  was  born  on  the 
Reily  farm,  one  mile  south  of  Hamilton,  in  St.  Clair  town- 
ship, December  8,  1840.  Mr.  Cone  received  a  common  school 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city.  His 
experience  as  a  miller  might  be  called  life-long,  for  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  years  he  was  doing  roustabout  work  in  the  mill  of  P. 
Carle  &  Co.,  at  Hamilton,  Ohio.  In  this  mill  the  foundation 
of  his  milling  experience  was  laid,  it  being  one  of  the  first 
mills  in  the  state  to  adopt  the  roller  system.  While  in  this 
mill  he  served  four  years  under  the  well  known  milling  engi- 
neer, Mr.  E.  T.  Butler,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  Here 
the  Butler  Roll  was  invented.  After  serving  about  five  years 
with  this  firm,  Mr.  Cone  left  to  take  second  position  in  Carr  & 
Brown's  new  five  hundred  barrel  mill  in  this  city.  There  he 
served  under  the  able  head  miller,  Mr.  Louis  Fisher,  formerly 
of  the  "Gibson  Mills,"  Indianapolis,  Indiana.  After  a  success- 
ful term  here  he  milled  in  various  states,  and  acquired  such 
knowledge  as  would  be  beneficial  to  him  in  years  to  come. 

Returning  to  Ohio  in  1888,  he  engaged  with  Mr.  Albert 
Shupe,  of  Cannonsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  to  take  charge  and 
remodel  the  "Mokena  Roller  Mills"  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylva- 
nia. Here  Mr.  Cone,  with  the  able  assistance  of  the  enter- 
prising mill  owner,  Mr.  Shupe,  worked  up  a  fine  local  trade 
for  the  entire  output  of  their  one  hundred  and  fifty  barrel 
mill.     It  was  in  this  mill  his  idea  of  remilling  low  grade  flours, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  433 

blending,  etc.,  originated.  In  1890,  he  became  interested  in 
the  building  of  an  experimental  mill  at  Piqua,  Ohio,  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  milling  low  grade  flours  and  feeds.  The  work 
turned  out  in  this  mill  was  a  decided  success.  There  he 
experimented  in  blending  flours  to  meet  the  requirement  of 
different  trades  and  discovered  that  the  flours  bought  for  mix- 
ing were  of  a  different  granulation.  It  was  necessary  to  over- 
come this,  for  what  suited  the  baker  would  not  please  the 
housewife.  Then  it  was  that  Mr.  Cone  exercised  his  ability 
by  making  the  different  mixtures  uniform  so  that  it  was 
possible  to  suit  any  particular  trade.  He  now  resides  at 
New  Carlisle,  Ohio,  and  is  also  the  inventor  of  several  milling 
devices.  He  has  a  patent  pending  for  a  cloth  cleaning  system 
by  compressed  air,  which  has  many  valuable  features.  His 
latest  invention  is  called  Cone's  Centrifugal  Feeding  and  Mix- 
ing Machine.  It  is  "constructed  on  a  principle  that  is  com- 
bined in  no  other  machine  for  the  same  purpose.  It  will  mix 
and  blend  any  number  of  grades  of  flour  from  one  to  six. 
The  stock  is  acted  upon  in  the  cylinder  by  a  centrifugal  force 
which  insures  a  perfect  mixture.  In  connection  with  this 
machine  he  has  a  system  for  removing  the  jute  from  flour  that 
is  shipped  in  jute  bags.  Dealers  and  bakers  are  greatly 
annoyed  by  this  fine  jute.  It  works  into  the  flour  during 
transportation,  and  when  roughly  handled. 

"Cone's  Original  Pointers  on  Mixing"  is  a  book  contain- 
ing the  correct  directions  for  blending  and  mixing.  Mr.  Cone 
was  married  at  Hamilton,  in  1881,  to  Anna  Stomps.  One  son, 
Ralph,  resulted  from  this  union.  Mr.  Cone  is  a  self-made  man 
and  his  success  in  life  is  largely  due  to  his  personal  habits. 

Aaron  Potter  was  born  near  Middletown,  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  March  31,  1809.  His  geneology  is  traced  to  the  Potter 
family  that  settled  in  the  Passaic  Valley,  New  Jersey.  He  and 
Dr.  Laomi  Rigdon  organized  the  First  Baptist  Church  congre- 
gation in  Hamilton,  Mr.  Potter  was  the  first  man  in  this  city 
to  embark  in  the  monument  business.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  was  also  engaged,  in  partnership  with  Richard  Cole,  in  the 
manufacture   of  sash,   doors  and  blinds  on  the  Lower  Hydrau- 


434  Historical  Sketches. 

lie  near  Dayton  street.  Later  he  built  the  Hamilton  Flour 
Mills,  at  the  corner  of  North  and  B  streets.  The  building  is 
still  standing  and  is  used  as  a  warehouse  by  the  Sortman  & 
Blum  Furniture  Company.  Mr.  Potter  was  a  Christian  gen- 
tleman; upright  and  honest  in  all  his  transactions;  ever  ready 
and  willing  to  aid  all  interests  for  the  upbuilding  of  Hamilton. 
He  died  July  i,  1871. 

Matthias  Arent  was  born  in  New  York  City,  February 
14,  1835.  After  the  death  of  his  parents,  in  1847,  he  located 
in  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  where  he  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade;  came  west  in  1855,  taking  up  his  residence  in 
Jacksonsburg,  this  county.  In  1858,  he  moved  to  Hamilton, 
where  he  has  continued  to  reside  ever  since,  following  con- 
tracting and  building.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  City 
Council  in  1 89 1,  serving  two  years.  On  December  23,  1854, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  E.  Wintersteen  at 
Jersey  City,  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Arent  is  an  experienced  master 
of  his  trade,  active,  energetic  and  enterprising  in  all  his 
methods.  His  integrity  is  unquestioned;  his  ability  undisputed. 

Richard  Cole  was  born  at  Cartoff  Kirby,  near  York- 
shire, England,  November  8,  1825.  He  attended  school  at 
Redburn,  supported  by  the  Duke  of  St.  Albans,  at  his  seat  in 
Lincolnshire.  At  this  school,  engineering,  surveying,  and  all 
practical  branches  were  taught.  On  April  18,  1843,  he  em- 
barked from  Hull  on  a  sailing  vessel  for  America,  landing  in 
New  York  May  21.  He  located  in  the  town  of  Bolivar,  near 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  farming.  In  April,  1844, 
he  went  to  Massillon  and  was  employed  in  a  sash,  door  and 
blind  factory.  Later  he  came  to  Hamilton,  and  engaged,  as 
foreman,  in  the  same  business  until  1863.  In  this  year  he  and 
Aaron  Potter  purchased  the  Leiter  factory,  where  under 
different  firm  names,  Mr.  Cole  conducted  business  for  thirty 
years.  In  1870,  he  was  elected  as  a  Democrat  councilman 
from  the  Second  ward;  was  in  1881,  elected  to  the  same  office 
on  an  independent  ticket,  from  the  Third  ward.  He  succeeded 
against  great  opposition  in  dividing  this  ward  and  creating  the 
Fifth  ward.     He  was  the  first  to  agitate  the  water  works  ques- 


tik 


C.  M.  SEMLER 


DAVID  R.  CONE 


HRNRY  SCHLOSSER  WM.  O.  SCHLOSSER  DAVID  BELL 


S.  C.  LANDIS 


HARRY  G.  WALLACE 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  435 

tion  in  Hamilton.  Mr.  Cole  was  married  to  Sarah  A.,  the 
youngest  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Mary  Devou,  November 
23,  1848.  Nine  children  have  resulted  from  this  union,  eight 
of  whom  are  living. 

Henry  Schlosser  was  born  in  Erbenhausen,  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,  Germany.  He  received  a  liberal  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  land,  and  was  reared  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil. 
In  1849,  he  emigrated  to  America,  where  he  worked  as  a 
farm  hand  for  two  years.  Afterward,  he  learned  the  miller's 
trade  at  Burlington,  Hamilton  county,  Ohio.  In  1854,  he 
came  to  Hamilton,  and  secured  employment  with  Tapscott  & 
Russell,  proprietors  of  the  People's  Mills,  then  located  on  the 
present  site  of  Bender  Brothers'  planing  mill.  In  1855,  he 
rented  a  mill  at  Connersville,  Indiana,  having  a  capacity  of 
only  ten  barrels  per  day,  but  he  succeeded  in  making  some 
money  out  of  the  enterprise.  After  conducting  the  mill  for 
four  years,  the  water  power  failed,  when  he  returned  to  Ham- 
ilton, and  entered  the  employ  of  Jacob  Shaffer  in  the  Hydrau- 
lic Mills.  Later  he  became  foreman  of  Tanquary  &  Anderson's 
mills.  In  1863,  Mr.  Schlosser  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
Hydraulic  Mills,  and  was  connected  therewith  until  1865, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  the  commission  business  at  Cincin- 
nati. In  1870,  he  bought  the  L-  Emmons  malt  house  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  Fourth  and  High  streets,  and  established 
himself  in  the  malting  business,  where  he  continued  a  success- 
ful career  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  which  occured  on 
April  16,  1896.  Early  in  the  Civil  War  Mr.  Schlosser  had 
accumulated  $4,000  in  gold,  which  commanded  a  premium  of 
$2.70.  With  this  money  he  purchased  a  large  amount  of 
whisky  at  twenty  cents  per  gallon,  which  was  exempt  from 
the  $2.00  tax,  afterward  added.  In  this  deal  he  netted  $20,000. 
In  1855,  Mr.  Schlosser  was  united  in  marriage  with  Henrietta 
Bauersachs,  a  native  of  Neuremburg,  Germany,  who  was  born 
November  28,  1831,  and  died  on  July  2,  1891.  Of  seven 
children  born  from  this  union,  only  two  survive,  namely, 
William  O.,  and  Carrie  E.,  wife  of  Dr.   George  Trebel.     Mr. 


436  Historical  Sketches. 

Schlosser  was  a  man  of  good  repute;  possessed  an  honorable 
character ;  was  a  useful  and  intelligent  citizen. 

William  O.  Schlosser  was  born  in  Connersville,  Indiana, 
March  7,  1857,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Hamilton,  in 
1859.  After  a  considerable  course  in  the  public  schools  he 
entered  Nelson's  Business  College,  in  Cincinnati,  whence  he 
graduated  at  nineteen  into  active  business  life.  He  at  once 
became  book  keeper  at  Schlosser  &  Co.'s  extensive  malt  house. 
Afterward,  he  had  control  of  the  company's  foreign  trade.  He 
remained  in  this  position,  traveling  a  great  portion  of  his  time, 
until  the  death  of  his  father  when  he  was  elevated  to  the 
exclusive  management  of  the  establishment.  His  long  experi- 
ence and  thorough  knowledge  of  the  business,  to  its  smallest 
details,  qualifies  him  admirably  for  his  new  duties,  and  under 
his  vigorous  and  judicious  management  it  has  prospered  to 
such  an  extent  that  it  stands  today  a  sounder  and  stronger 
enterprise  than  ever  before  in  its  long  record  of  successful 
years.  Mr.  Schlosser  has  had  a  wide  and  successful  business 
experience,  and  is  a  man  of  decided  influence  and  weight  in 
the  community.  He  was  united  in  marriage  in  1885,  to  Miss 
Sue  Mason,  who  has  borne  him  three  children,  two  girls 
and  a  boy. 

Samuel  C.  Landis  was  born  near  Collinsville,  this 
county,  December  11,  1856.  He  followed  farming  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  Afterward  he  taught  school 
for  fourteen  years,  the  last  seven  of  which,  he  was  principal  of 
the  Third  ward  schools  of  Hamilton.  Mr.  L,andis  has  held 
different  township  offices  and  other  important  trusts. 

In  1893,  he  received  the  unanimous  nomination  of  the 
Democratic  party  of  Butler  county  for  Representative,  and  was 
elected  to  the  Seventy-first  General  Assembly,  a  position  he 
held  two  terms.  Mr.  Dandis  was  united  in  marriage  with  Anna 
Harlow,  Thanksgiving  eve,  1888.  One  daughter,  May,  aged 
six  years,  has  blessed  this  union.  Mr.  Dandis  posesses  in  a 
high  degree  the  confidence  of  the  people  of  both  parties.  He  is 
an  able  and  conscientious  gentleman;  is  an  ardent  member  of 
the  Democratic  party.     The  first   public   office   he   ever   held 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  437 

was  that  of  assessor  of  St.  Clair  township  to  which  he  was 
elected  in  1881.  He  has  been  faithful  to  every  trust  and  has 
proved  his  ability  as  a  public  officer.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  March,  1897,  and  is  actively  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession. 

David  Bell  was  born  in  New  London,  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  January  30,  1844.  He  was  educated  ill  the  schools  of 
his  native  township.  Afterward  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade. 
In  1889,  he  came  to  Hamilton,  and  followed  contracting  and 
building.  In  April,  1894,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
City  Council  from  the  First  ward:  was  re-elected  in  1896.  On 
August  1,  1894,  he  was  appointed  United  States  Deputy  Col- 
lector of  internal  revenue,  for  Hamilton,  which  position  he 
still  occupies.  Mr.  Bell  was  married  to  Martha  Vanausdall, 
December  23,  1866.  She  died  December  23,  1884.  In  January, 
1890,  Mr.  Bell  was  married  the  second  time  to  Martha  J. 
Morgan.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat;  socially,  a  member  of 
the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor.  His  business  and  official 
career  has  favor  and  popularity. 

Harry  G.  Wallace  was  born  in  Hamilton,  January  16, 
1862.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city. 
After  leaving  school  he  entered  the  employment  of  the  Niles 
Tool  Works  as  office  boy;  was  promoted  from  one  position  to 
another  until  he  became  stenographer  and  type  writer,  which 
position  he  still  occupies.  In  his  chosen  calling  he  is  an 
expert  of  rare  ability  and  keen  fore-sight.  In  1894  he  was 
elected  as  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education 
from  the  Fourth  ward,  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  with 
credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  He  is  a 
practical  man  to  the  business  in  which  he  is  engaged. 

Charles  Sohngen  was  born  in  Hamilton,  March  26, 
1858.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city  and 
a  Commercial  college  in  Cincinnati;  learned  the  malting  busi- 
ness under  his  father.  In  1878,  Charles  and  George  Sohngen 
became  proprietors  of  the  Louis  Sohngen  establishment,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Charles  Sohngen  &  Co.     In  1880,  the   plant 


438  Historical  Sketches. 

was  enlarged  and  new  machinery  added.  In  1891,  the  con- 
cern was  incorporated  as  the  Sohngen  Malting  Company,  with 
a  capital  stock  of  $100,000.  with  Charles  Sohngen  President, 
and  George  P.  Sohngen  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  The  com- 
pany's malt  house  is  the  largest  in  the  state,  consuming  half  a 
million  bushels  of  barley  annually.  Charles  Sohngen  was 
married  in  1880,  to  Annie  Mason.  Three  children  were  born 
to  this  union,  Arthur,  Robert  and  Lena.  The  family  attend 
Zion's  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  Sohngen  sides  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  is  one  of  the  progressive  citizens  of  Hamil- 
ton and  has  attained  a  prominent  position  among  her  business 
men. 

Bert  Surene  Bartlow,  Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Duputy 
State  Supervisors  of  Elections  of  Butler  county,  was  born  near 
the  village  of  Mt.  Carmel,  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  July  10, 
1869.  His  parents,  James  T.  and  Almira  (Luce)  Bartlow, 
were  also  both  natives  of  the  same  county,  the  father  having 
been  born  March  7,  1847,  and  the  mother  on  June  12,  1849. 
They  were  married  in  the  county  of  their  nativity,  September 
17,  1868.  On  the  paternal  side,  our  subject's  great-great-grand- 
father was  James  Bartlow  (born  May  10,  1766,  died  September 
26,  1854,)  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Franklin  county, 
Indiana.  His  father  was  Cornelius  Bartlow,  a  native  of  Holland, 
who  emigrated  to  America,  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century 
and  settled  in  New  Jersey.  James  and  his  youngest  brother 
Isaac,  left  home  about  1789,  and  came  to  Martinsburg,  Virginia, 
now  West  Virginia,  and  later  came  to  Kentucky  and  for  a 
time  lived  in  the  block-house  at  Augusta,  Bracken  county. 
After  the  extermination  of  the  Indians,  in  which  he  took  a 
prominent  part,  James  married  and  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Augusta,  where  he  resided  until  18 16,  when  he  removed  to 
Franklin  county,  Indiana,  and  settled  on  a  quarter  section  of 
government  land  which  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his 
youngest  son,  Joseph  Bartlow,  born  June  3,  1818,  grandfather 
of  B.  S.  Bartlow.- 

On  the  maternal  side  our  subject  traces  his  ancestry 
back  to  Henri  Luce  one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Martha's  Vin- 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  439 

yard.  The  Luce  family  was  closely  associated  with  the 
Colonial  and  Revolutionary  history  of  America.  One  of  the 
earliest  ancestors  who  achieved  distinction  was  Judge  David 
Luce  of  Morris  county,  New  Jersey,  who  was  appointed  judge 
of  the  Colonial  court  by  Governor  Dinwiddie  in  1742  and  he 
served  in  that  capacity  until  1768.  History  records  that  six  of 
his  sons  fought  in  the  Revolutionar3r  War,  three  of  whom 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Nathaniel  Luce,  Lieutenant  Walter  Luce 
and  Sargeant  Israel  Luce  were  members  of  the  order  of  Cin- 
cinnatus.  Great-great-grandfather  Matthias  Luce,  (born  1759, 
died  1828,)  with  his  father  and  two  brothers  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  Army.  His  wife  was  Susannah  Stark  of 
Flanders,  New  Jersey,  and  through  her,  our  subject  traces  his 
lineage  to  General  Stark,  the  hero  of  the  battle  of  Bennington. 
After  the  Revolutionary  War,  Matthias  Luce  was  a  Baptist 
minister  in  Greene  and  Washington  counties,  Pennsylvania. 
He  had  the  honor  of  administering  the  rite  of  baptism  to 
Alexander  Campbell,  founder  of  the  Disciples  or  Christian 
church.  Great-grandfather  Robert  Luce,  the  eldest  son  of 
Rev.  Matthias  Luce,  came  to  Ohio,  early  in  the  present  cen- 
tury and  settled  in  Butler  county,  near  what  is  now  known  as 
Ogleton  Station.  In  18 13  he  removed  to  Franklin  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  died  in  1827.  His  son,  Hiram  Luce,  father 
of  Mrs.  James  T.  Bartlow  owns  the  Luce  homestead  where  he 
now  resides.  He  was  born  in  Reily  township,  this  county,  in 
181 1  and  doubtless  is  the  oldest  person  living,  born  in  this 
township.  In  1876  James  T.  Bartlow  removed  to  Reily 
township  where  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  about  eighteen 
years.  He  is  a  staunch  Democrat  and  has  been  elected  by  his 
party  to  the  positions  of  Township  Clerk  and  Assessor.  In 
October,  1896,  Mr.  Bartlow,  with  his  family  removed  to  Ham- 
ilton, and  resides  in  the  First  ward. 

Bert  S.  Bartlow  received  his  primary  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  in  the  fall  of  1888,  he  entered  Miami 
University.  During  his  course  of  training  in  that  institution 
he  at  all  times  acquitted  himself  with  honor  and  distinction. 
He   was    a  leader   in  the  student  affairs  and   was   repeatedly 


440  Historical  Sketches. 

honored  by  election  to  important  positions  in  the  University. 
From  1 89 1  to  1893,  ne  was  Business  Manager  and  Editor-in- 
Chief  of  The  Miami  Student.  During  his  junior  and  senior 
years  he  was  called  upon  to  deliver  orations  on  the  celebration 
of  Washington's  Birthday.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Kappa 
Chapter  of  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  Fraternity,  being  one  of 
the  seven  young  men  who  procured  the  charter  for  the 
refounding  of  the  chapter  in  1889.  In  his  senior  year  he  was 
President  of  the  Erodelphian  society.  He  delivered  the  class 
oration  at  the  Class  Day  Celebration.  On  Commencement  day 
he  delivered  an  address  on  the  subject  of  Taxation.  In  the 
department  of  political  science  he  took  special  honors  and  was 
graduated  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  June  14,  1893. 
Since  his  graduation,  he  spent  one  year  reading  law  in  the  office 
of  E.  E.  Hull.  In  1894,  Mr.  Bartlow  was  chosen  Clerk 
of  the  Board  of  Deputy  State  Supervisors  of  Elections  for  this 
county  and  he  has  performed  his  duties  with  care  and  fidelity. 
In  political  faith  he  has  accepted  that  of  his  ancestors  and  is 
an  earnest  supporter  of  Democratic  principles.  He  takes  great 
interest  in  political  questions  and  is  devoting  much  time  to  their 
study  and  consideration.  He  is  ever  ready  to  defend  his 
convictions.  In  a  social  way,  Mr.  Bartlow  is  a  genial,  kind- 
hearted,  whole-souled  gentleman,  and  is  true  to  his  friends. 

Joseph  W.  Myers  was  born  in  Hamilton,  August  26, 
1843.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Hamilton. 
When  sixteen  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  was 
working  at  that  business  in  the  spring  of  1861.  He  enlisted 
in  Company  D,  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
participated  with  it  in  nearly  all  its  engagements.  At  Buz- 
zard's Roost  he  had  command  of  his  company  and  took  part  in 
the  siege  of  Atlanta.  He  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment, 
September  10,  1864.  He  was  engaged  in  the  broom  manufac- 
turing business  at  Indianapolis  in  1867-68.  He  was  elected 
city  street  commissioner  of  Hamilton  in  1875,  and  filled  that 
position  for  two  years,  afterward  being  a  builder  and  contrac- 
tor till  1879,  when  he  was  appointed  captain  of  the  police  force, 
acting  as  such  for  two  years.      In   August,    1881,    he   entered 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  441 

the  employment  of  Bentel,  Margedant  &  Co.  He  was  a 
United  States  store-keeper,  under  President  Harrison's  admin- 
istration. 

Mr.  Myers  married  in  1870  Miss  Mary  Stafford.  He  was 
captain  of  the  fire  department  from  1869  to  187 1.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  His  administration  as  street 
commissioner  was  marked  by  its  economy. 

Lucius  B.  Potter  was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio, 
August  17,  1843,  being  the  oldest  son  of  Dr.  S.  H.  and 
Augusta  S.  Potter.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Hamilton,  and  had  just  graduated  at  the  high  school  in  June, 
1 86 1,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Thirty-fifth  Ohio,  in 
August.  He  participated  in  all  its  battles  and  engagements, 
and  in  October,  1862,  was  appointed  Sergeant-major  of  the 
regiment.  At  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  he  had  a  horse  shot 
under  him.  He  served  out  his  time,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment  at  Chattanooga  in  September,  1864. 
Returning  to  civil  life,  he  took  a  course  at  a  commercial  col- 
lege in  Cincinnati,  and  then  entered  the  employment  of  J.  W. 
Davis  as  book  keeper  till  Mr.  Davis  retired  from  business.  He 
was  then  with  Giffen  Brothers,  and  afterward  with  the  Woods- 
dale  Paper  Company.  He  began  as  book  keeper  for  Louis 
Snider  &  Sons  in  1880.  At  the  present  time,  February,  1897, 
he  is  first  book  keeper  of  the  Niles  Tool  Works.  Mr.  Potter 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Bachman  in  1868,  and  is  the  father 
of  one  daughter,  Lizzie  A.,  now  the  wife  of  Edgar  A.  Belden. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic. 

Louis  Sohngen  was  born  in  Weilminster,  Germany,  in 
1824,  and  in  youth  learned  the  trade  of  a  cabinet  maker  in  his 
native  country.  In  1848,  he  came  to  America,  and  located  in 
Cincinnati,  where  he  followed  his  trade  for  two  years.  In 
1850  he  moved  to  Hamilton,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  furniture,  and  in  185 1  embarked  in  the  grocery  business, 
and  at  the  same  time  dealt  extensively  in  grain,  remaining  thus 
engaged  until  1858.  At  this  date  he  began  malting  on  a  small 
scale,    but  by  judicious  management  the  business  increased. 


442  Historical  Sketches. 

In  1864,  he  was  using  30,000  bushels  of  grain  annually. 
The  plant  was  twice  rebuilt,  in  1864  and  1873,  to  provide 
for  the  increasing  trade.  He  retired  in  1878,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  sons,  Charles  and  George.  Mr.  Sohngen 
married  Blise  Schmidt,  who  was  born  near  Frankfort,  Ger- 
many. She  came  to  the  United  States  in  girlhood  and  settled 
in  Hamilton.  Ten  children  resulted  from  this  union,  eight 
of  whom  survive,  namely,  Charles,  George,  Lizzie,  Lutie, 
Edward,  Paul,  Richard  and  Ida.    Mr.  •Sohngen  died  in  1893. 

Meyer  Strauss  was  born  April  18,  1836,  at  Unter  Rie- 
denberg,  the  county  seat  of  Bruckenau,  in  the  Kingdom  of 
Bavaria.  He  is  the  son  of  Philip  and  Jetta  Strauss,  who  are 
both  dead.  He  received  a  common  school  education,  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  the  year  1851.  He  was  in  the  cloth- 
ing business  in  Yellow  Springs,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  in  i860 
and  1861,  and  moving  to  Ripley,  Brown  county,  in  1862.  He 
stayed  till  1864,  then  going  to  Cincinnati.  There  he  carried 
on  business  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Fifth  and  Main,  and 
also  No.  20  West  Fifth  street.  He  moved  to  Hamilton  in 
1874  where  he  is  still  extensively  engaged  in  the  clothing 
business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  B'nai  B'rith, 
Knights  of  Honor  and  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor.  He  was 
married  October  3,  1 861,  in  Philadelphia,  to  Elisa  Klapfer. 

John  B.  Cornell  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio, 
February  1,  1833.  He  was  educated  in  a  log  school  house,  and 
at  a  college  in  Cincinnati,  but  on  account  of  his  health,  with 
drew  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  taught  school  a  year  and  a 
half.  He  then  went  into  Dr.  Peck's  private  bank  in  this  city  as 
book  keeper  till  1861,  when  the  bank  suspended.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1862,  he  engaged  as  book  keeper  with  Gwyn  &  Campbell, 
in  a  gun  shop  which  manufactured  government  carbines.  In 
August,  1863,  the  First  National  Bank  was  organized,  and  he 
was  made  cashier,  a  position  he  held  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death.  In  1878,  he  engaged  in  the  ice  business  and 
was  president  of  the  Lake  Erie  Ice  Company  with  S.  D. 
Fitton,  its  founder.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  Chase,  as 
governor,  and  was  a   Republican   and  Abolitionist  all  his  life. 


r 


JOHN  B.  CORNELL 


FRANK  X.  BLACK 


'* 


BERT  S.  BARTLOW  CHARLES  SOHNGEN  FRANK  L.  DICKINSON 


JAMES  I.  TULLY 


THOMAS  B.   HOWLING 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  443 

He  was  active  in    politics.     He  was  a  Mason  for  many  years, 
and  was  for  some  time  secretary  of  his  lodge  in  Sharonville. 

Mr.  Cornell  was  married  April  9,  1857,  to  Miss  Phebe  F. 
Hageman,  of  Sharonville,  Hamilton  county.  She  died  May 
24,  1864,  leaving  two  children,  Carrie,  born  October  18,  1859, 
and  Charles,  born  September  7,  1861.  Mr.  Cornell  was  again 
married  April  18,  1866.  One  child,  John,  was  born  October 
18,  1869.  With  his  family,  Mr.  Cornell  went  to  Europe  in 
1 88 1,  taking  a  tour  through  the  principal  cities,  and  going  as 
far  south  as  Rome  and  Venice.  Mr.  Cornell  died  August  2, 
1894. 

Joseph  E.  Blair  was  born  in  this  city,  September  26, 
1 86 1.  He  attended  the  Hamilton  public  schools  until  twelve 
years  of  age,  when  he  started  in  life  for  himself  as  a  newsboj\ 
In  April.  1878,  he  entered  the  employment  of  the  Niles  Tool 
Works  as  office  boy,  and  later  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
stenographer,  and  also  kept  time  accounts  of  the  firm.  In 
1883,  he  became  connected  with  the  Gordon  &  Maxwell  Com- 
pany. He  is  now  employed  at  the  Niles  Tool  Works.  On 
January  31,  1S93,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Joseph  L.  Blair 
and  Jennie  Wasson.  They  are  members  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian church.  In  April,  1894,  Mr.  Blair  was  elected,  as  a 
Republican,  to  represent  the  Fifth  ward  in  the  City  Council. 
He  is  a  worthy  young  man,  with  considerable  experience. 

Frank  E.  Dickinson  was  born  and  educated  in  Cincin- 
nati. At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  began  learning  photo- 
graphy in  his  native  city.  In  1887  he  engaged  in  business 
for  himself  on  Fifth  street,  Cincinnati,  and  while  there  he 
took  the  largest  individual  contract  for  photography  ever  done 
in  Cincinnati.  It  was  the  photographing  of  the  C.  &  O.  bridge 
of  construction,  which  was  successfully  done  and  won  for  Mr. 
Dickinson  much  praise.  In  1891  he  removed  to  Hamilton, 
buying  out  the  gallery  of  C.  E.  Doty.  Taking  hold  with  a 
determination  to  succeed,  he  built  up  a  business  that  any  one 
might  feel  proud  of.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows, 
Elks,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Foresters  and  the  Hamilton  Rifles. 
He    takes  an  active  interest  in  all  of  them  and  is  very  popular 


444  Historical  Sketches. 

i 
with  everybody.  Mr.  Dickinson  is  ever  up-to-date  in  his 
business  and  was  the  first  to  introduce  the  platino  type  photos 
to  the  people  of  Hamilton.  A  more  accommodating  and  pop- 
ular gentleman  cannot  be  found.  In  conclusion,  suffice  it  to 
say,  he  is  an  enterprising  and  genial  gentleman. 

Frank  X.  Black  was  born  in  Hamilton,  May  2,  1848. 
He  was  educated  in  the  St.  Stephen's  parochial  schools. 
Afterward  he  learned  the  machinist's  trade.  In  1875,  Mr. 
Black  and  L.  P.  Clawson  formed  a  partnership  for  roll-grind- 
ing. Later,  they  began  manufacturing  paper-making  machin- 
ery. Their  first  machines  are  in  operation  today,  and  are 
turning  out  paper  of  the  first  grade.  In  1881  the  old  shop 
proved  entirely  inadequate  to  the  trade  that  had  been  built  up, 
and  a  new  and  very  extensive  shop  was  built  at  Second  and 
Mill  streets,  which  is  the  present  location.  The  present  shops 
are  the  finest  of  the  kind  in  the  world.  The  firm  was  incor- 
porated in  1883,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $150,000,  and  with 
Mr.  Black  as  president  and  Mr.  Clawson  as  secretary  and  treas- 
urer, the  capital  has  since  been  increased  to  $250,000.  The 
Black  &  Clawson  company  is  a  pioneer  in  the  United  States 
in  the  making  of  paper  perforating  machinery.  They  began 
the  manufacture  of  these  machines  in  1878,  at  which  time 
there  were  four  of  the  machines  in  the  United  States,  and  all 
of  them  imported.  Today  they  are  in  use  all  over  the  world. 
Messrs  Black  &  Clawson  give  constant  attention  to  the  details 
of  their  business,  and  each  have  made  important  inventions  in 
the  line  of  their  manufacture.  Their  machines  are  known 
and  used  all  over  the  globe,  having  pushed  their  way  to  the 
front  by  merit.  In  the  United  States  this  company  leads  all 
other  makers  of  paper-making  machinery.  They  have  the 
high  reputation  that  crowns  a  long  career  of  conscientious  and 
able  work.  Mr.  Black  is  serving  his  second  term  as  member 
of  the  Board  of  Gas  Trustees.  He  stands  high  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  public,  both  in  business  and  social  circles. 

James  I.  Tully,  senior  member'  of  the  firm  of  Tully  & 
Dowling,  merchant  tailors,  was  born  in    Kentucky,   August  2, 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  445 

1858,  and  came  to  Hamilton  in  1876.  He  was  educated  in 
the  Hamilton  schools  and  Nichol's  Commercial  College.  In 
1876,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Gas  Trustees. 
He  was  married  June  19,  1889,  to  Carrie  Schruuder.  He  has 
achieved  success  in  his  calling,  and  posesses  a  natural  aptitude 
for  the  business,  with  a  pride  to  excel. 

Thomas  B.  Dowling  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
December  23,  1863.  He  was  educated  and  reared  in  Coving- 
ton; has  followed  his  trade  in  various  cities  of  the  Union  for 
years.  He  was  married  in  1888,  to  Minnie  Goodman.  Mr. 
Dowling  is  an  Elk  and  an  officer  of  the  Hamilton  Rifles. 

The  popular  tailoring  establishment  of  Tully  &  Dowling 
was  founded  at  its  present  location  in  this  city  in  1887.  It 
was  instituted  as  a  sort  of  protest  against  the  conservative 
methods  which  then  prevailed  in  the  trade  in  this  city,  and  it 
has  always  adhered  closely  to  the  progressive  policy  upon 
which  it  is  based.  Both  proprietors  are  gentlemen  of  exper- 
ience in  this  particular  line.  Mr.  Dowling,  the  junior  partner 
is,  and  has  been  for  years,  known  to  the  trade  as  one  of  the 
most  expert  cutters  in  the  country.  Their  principle  line,  was 
early  supplemented  by  the  addition  of  a  haberdashery  depart- 
ment Messrs.  Tully  &  Dowling  are  courteous  gentlemen 
and  business  men  without  reproach. 

Isaac  L.  Riley  was  born  in  Wood's  Station,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  September  21,  1852.  He  attended  district  school 
and  followed  farming  until  1870,  when  he  came  to  Hamilton; 
was  clerk  in  the  Butler  House  for  five  years.  In  April,  1876, 
he  went  west,  where  he  remained  until  1879.  Upon  his  return 
to  Hamilton  he  engaged  in  the  livery  business  with  his  father 
on  the  West  Side.  In  1882  he  was  employed  in  the  fire  depart- 
ment under  Chief  Boose.  Afterward,  he  was  salesman  for  H. 
C.  Gray  in  the  agricultural  business;  was  Deputy  Sheriff,  for 
three  years,  under  George  W.  St.  Clair;  was  on  the  police  force 
during  Mayor  Getz's  administration.  In  September,  1890,  he 
was  appointed  Truant  Officer  of  the  public  schools,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  retains.     He  was  married  June  24,  1890,  to  Laura 


446  Historical  Sketches. 

L.  Rooke.  Mr.  Riley  is  a  man  of  natural  ability  and  persever- 
ance and  has  won  official  prominence  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties. 

P.  E.  Welsh,  ex-Health  Officer  of  the  Board  of  Health,  was 
born  in  Hamilton,  January  21,  i860.  He  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  this  city,  and  afterward  learned  the  art  of 
printing.  For  several  years  he  was  the  able  superintendant  of 
the  job  department  of  the  Butler  County  Democrat.  Later  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Peter  A.  Clair,  and  for  six  years 
conducted  a  cafe  and  sample  room  on  Third  street.  Mr.  Welsh 
is  a  Democrat  of  the  thirty-third  degree.  He  has  frequently 
represented  his  party  as  councilman  from  the  Fourth  ward, 
and  his  record  as  a  member  of  that  body  is  one  that  he  can 
always  point  to  with  pride.  In  1896,  he  remodeled  his  place 
of  businesss  —  a  transformation  that  marked  a  new  era  for 
elaborate  decorations  in  this  city.  Nothing  since  has  been 
attempted  that  equals  '"The  Mecca"  in  gorgeousness.  He  was 
married  October  28,  1896,  to  Mary  Murphy.  Mr.  Welsh  is  a 
politician  of  no  mean  ability,  and  is  always  true  to  his  friends. 
He  is  a  liberal  contributor  in  the  cause  of  charity. 

John  Hahn,  Jr.,  was  bora  in  Hamilton,  March  10,  1864 
After  a  liberal  education  in  our  public  schools,  he  entered  the 
employment  of  his  father,  where  he  was  thoroughly  educated 
in  the  craft  of  a  butcher.  He  followed  this  avocation,  till  by 
dint  of  hard  work,  unflagging  industry  and  frugality  he 
acquired  sufficient  means  to  start  business  on  his  own  account. 
In  1893,  he  established  himself  in  the  old  Sutherland  building, 
near  the  corner  of  High  and  Front  streets,  where  he  success- 
fully conducts  a  prosperous  trade.  His  store  is  neatly  finished 
and  is  provided  with  all  the  modern  appliances  necessary  for 
the  complete  prosecution  of  a  daily  meat  market.  He  carries 
at  all  times  a  full  supply  of  fresh  and  salted  meats.  He  is  a 
member  of  Hamilton  Council,  No.  338,  Royal  Arcanum.  Mr. 
Hahn  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Kate  M.  Holdefer 
in  1885. 

George  P.  Sohngen  was  born  in  Hamilton,  June  25,  i860. 


GKORGE  P.  SOHNGEN 


V 


I 
P.  E.  WELSH  HENRY  HAMMERI.E  JOHN  HAHN,  JR. 


GEORGE  BRENER 


HENRY  WELSH 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  447 

He  was  partly  educated  in  the  schools  of  this  city.  Subse- 
quently he  entered  the  Ohio  State  University  at  Columbus, 
where  he  remained  several  years.  Later  he  completed  a  thor- 
ough business  course  in  the  Cincinnati  Commercial  College, 
after  which  he  began  malting  with  his  father,  Louis  Sohngen, 
who  retired  from  the  business  in  1878,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  sons,  Charles  and  George,  under  the  firm  name  of  Charles 
Sohngen  &  Co.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Sohngen  Malting  Company.  He  also  occupies 
the  same  official  positions  in  the  Sohngen  &  Brown  Company. 
They  fill  promptly  all  orders  at  the  lowest  ruling  market  prices, 
and  always  transact  business  on  the  highest  principles.  Mr. 
Sohngen  is  interested,  with  Charles  Conner,  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  St.  Charles  Hotel,  the  leading  hostlery  of  Hamil- 
ton. Politically,  he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party;  socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  Hamilton  Council  No.  338  Royal  Arcanum, 
and  the  Modern  Woodmen.  Mr.  Sohngen  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Ida  M.  Conner,  December  14,  1881.  He  is  an 
able  and  progressive  business  man,  ever  working  for  the  best 
interests  of  Hamilton. 

Henry  Welsh  was  born  in  Rossville,  February  20,  1855. 
After  receiving  a  common  school  education,  he  was  employed 
in  Louis  V.  Feme's  restaurant  on  West  High  street,  opposite 
the  old  market  house.  Subsequently  he  worked  for  J.  &  J. 
Kirn,  pork  packers,  for  two  years.  In  1870,  he  began  his 
career  as  a  railroad  man  on  the  C,  H.  &  I.  railway,  as  brake- 
man.  After  serving  in  this  capacity  for  two  years  he  accepted 
a  position  as  switchman  in  the  C,  H.  &  D.  yards,  and  by  close 
application  to  business,  worked  himself  up  to  yardmaster.  He 
was  in  the  employ  of  this  railroad  company  for  fifteen  years. 
In  August,  1887,  he  became  yardmaster  of  the  P.,  C.,C.  &  St.  L. 
railroad,  which  place  he  retains  today.  In  April,  1888,  he  was 
elected  councilman  from  the  Fourth  ward;  was  re-elected  in 
1891  and  1893;  was  vice-president  of  this  body  for  two  years. 
While  in  council  he  was  first  to  agitate  the  question  of  sewer- 
age and  street  paving.  Mr.  Welsh  is  the  father  of  Hamilton's 
electric   light   plant,   which  was  completed  in  July,  1896,  at  a 


448  Historical  Sketches. 

cost  of  $100,000.  It  was  through  his  efforts,  in  council,  that 
the  Hamilton  and  Linden wald  street  car  station,  which  stood 
in  the  center  of  High  street,  was  forcibly  removed  at  night 
time.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  B.  P.  O.  E.,  and 
C.  K.  of  O.  Mr.  Welsh  was  married  February  24,  1876,  to 
Miss  Maggie  Dowd,  daughter  of  the  late  John  Dowd.  Eight 
children  have  resulted  from  this  union,  seven  sons  and  one 
daughter,  and  each  boy  has  a  sister.  He  is  just  the  man  for 
yardmaster,  alert,  attentive  and  experienced.  The  public 
finds  him  painstaking  and  obliging. 

George  H.  Bruner  was  born  in  Hamilton,  October  7, 
1859,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  He  took  a  course  in 
Beck's  Commercial  College.  Afterward  he  learned  the  car- 
penter trade,  which  calling  he  is  following  today.  In  April, 
1895,  ne  was  elected  to  council  from  the  First  ward,  and  re- 
elected in  1897.  Mr.  Bruner  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Augusta  Bruck,  October  26,  1887.  Two  children  have  been 
born  unto  them.  Mr.  Bruner  possesses  a  comprehensive  and 
far-reaching  knowledge  of  his  calling  in  all  of  its  details.  He 
is  held  in  high  repute  in  business  circles,  and  is  in  every  way 
a  representative  man  and  citizen. 

Henry  Hammerle,  Assistant  Postmaster  of  Hamilton, 
was  born  in  this  city  December  25,  1865,  where  he  received  a 
liberal  education  in  the  public  schools.  Afterward  he  learned 
the  gunsmith  trade  with  his  father.  Later  he  was  employed 
by  B.  Kittredge,  of  Cincinnati,  in  his  extensive  gun  manufac- 
tory. After  his  return  to  Hamilton,  he  became  stock  and  time 
keeper  for  the  Hamilton  Buggy  Company,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  He  was  letter  carrier  under  Postmaster  Lohman, 
during  his  first  administration,  for  a  period  of  two  years.  On 
July  1,  1893,  Mr.  Hammerle  was  appointed  Assistant  Post- 
master, in  which  capacity  he  is  still  serving.  He  is  a  young 
man  of  practical  experience  in  his  duties,  and  of  high  standing 
in  the  community.  He  is  active  and  energetic,  upright  and 
reliable  in  official  and  business  transactions.  Mr.  Hammerle 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Grace  Sheley,  September 
5.  1894. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  449 

James  K.  Cuxlen  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 1 8,  1853,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In  1871, 
he  began  learning  the  machinist  trade  with  the  C,  H.  &  D. 
Railway  Company,  where  he  remained  for  four  years.  After- 
ward he  was  with  the  Big  Four  Road  for  nearly  four  years, 
first  as  foreman  and  later  as  draughtsman.  In  1879,  he  came 
to  Hamilton,  where,  for  one  year  he  was  foreman  of  the  Niles 
Tool  Works,  and  subsequently  was  chosen  superintendent  of 
the  works.  In  1886  he  was  sent  to  Chicago  to  manage  the 
Western  business,  and  for  eight  years  made  his  home  in  that 
city.  On  his  return  to  Hamilton  he  became  secretary.  The 
Niles  Tool  Works  are  among  the  most  important  of  Ham- 
ilton's industries.  He  married  November  27,  1879,  Miss 
Addie  Barnes.  Their  family  consists  of  two  children.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cullen  are  attendants  at  the  services  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  Socially,  he  is  a  Thirty-second  degree 
Mason.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  takes  great  interest  in 
party  matters,  and  few  men  are  better  informed  on  the  topics 
of  the  day  than  he.  Mr.  Cullen  is  enterprising  and  public 
spirited;  always  lends  substantial  assistance  to  all  enterprises 
that  benefits  his  adopted  city.  He  is  a  man  of  practical 
experience,  and  of  high  standing  in  the  community.  His 
past  success  is  a  sufficient  assurance  of  his  continued 
prosperity. 

Jacob  Still waugh  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  June 
23,  1823.  He  emigrated  to  America  in  1833,  landing  at  Bal- 
timore, Maryland.  He  located  in  Wheeling,  Virginia,  for 
four  years.  In  1839,  he  came  to  Hamilton,  where  he  learned 
the  brick  making  business,  which  he  followed  until  1857, 
when  he  removed  to  Chester,  Illinois,  where  he  remained 
thirteen  years.  In  1870,  Mr.  Still waugh  returned  to  Hamilton 
and  opened  up  a  brick-yard,  and  continued  the  business  until 
a  short  time  ago,  when  he  retired,  when  his  son  Philip  sus- 
ceeded  him.  Socially,  Mr.  Stillwaugh  is  identified  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  attained  a  high  degree. 
He  has  always  been  held  in  high  repute  in  business  circles, 
and  is  a  representative  man  and  citizen. 


450  Historical  Sketches. 

Lou  J.  Beauchamp  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Jan- 
uary 14,  1 85 1.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  city  and  Hamilton.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  began 
the  profession  of  printing  in  the  Hamilton  Telegraph  office. 
Before  reaching  his  majority  he  was  telegraph  and  news  editor 
of  the  Cincinnati  Daily  Star,  and  was  connected  with  several 
other  papers  for  five  years.  Then  he  fell  a  prey  to  the  drink 
habit  and  lost  his  business  standing  but  was  saved  by  his  wife. 
Immediately  upon  his  reformation  he  began  a  brilliant  career 
as  a  temperance  and  Prohibition  lecturer,  traveling  in  the  past 
nineteen  years  over  900,000  miles,  all  over  the  United  States, 
British  America,  Mexico,  Great  Britian,  and  the  continent  of 
Europe,  accompanied  all  the  time  by  his  faithful  wife.  Half  a 
million  persons  have  signed  the  Total  Abstinence  pledge 
through  his  instrumentality. 

Mr.  Beauchamp  has  established  a  reputation  as  a  writer. 
He  is  the  author  of  a  book  entitled,  "Sunshine,"  a  series  of 
charming  sketches,  and  "What  the  Duchess  and  I  Saw  in 
Europe,"  an  absorbing  tale  of  travel  told  in  Mr.  Beauchamp's 
best  style.  He  is  also  the  author  of  a  number  of  poems,  which 
have  appeared  in  magazines  and  newspapers. 

Mr.  Beauchamp  is  popularly  known  as  "the  Western 
Gough."  His  lectures  appeal  to  the  heart.  He  is  a  master  of 
language;  beautiful  imagery  falls  from  his  lips  as  if  by  inspir- 
ation and  his  word-painted  scenes  glow  with  the  divine  fire  of 
genius.  No  lecturer  has  ever  attracted  so  much  attention  or 
spoken  to  such  large  audiences.  Mrs.  Beauchamp  has  been 
her  husband's  strong  stay  and  constant  companion.  She  was 
a  delegate  to  the  session  of  the  Grand  Templars  at  Edinburgh, 
Scotland,  in  1895.  The  world  needs  more  Mellie  Beauchamps 
in  the  noble  work  of  reclaiming  fallen  mankind.  Mr.  Beau- 
champ is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  lives  with 
his  wife  and  son,  Earl  Gardner,  on  Sycamore  street,  in  this 
city. 

Isaac  Matthias,  for  many  years  one  of  the  best  known 
residents  of  this  city  and  whose  name  is  indissolubly  associa- 
ted with  the  early  history  of  Rossville,  now  the  First  ward  of 


I,OU  J.  BKAUCHAMP 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  451 

Hamilton,  was  born  in  Winchester,  Virginia,  February  6,  1805. 
He  received  his  early  education  there  and  learned  the  trade  of 
a  coppersmith  with  J.  A.  Richardson  of  Winchester.  In  the- 
fall  of  1827  he  left  his  Virginia  home,  came  west  and  located 
in  Cincinnati,  where  he  remained  for  one  year.  In  1828,  in 
company  with  his  brother,  Jacob,  he  settled  in  this  city,  locat- 
ing at  Nos.  31  and  33  Main  street,  Rossville,  where  he  and  his 
brother  embarked  in  the  coppersmithing  and  turning  business, 
afterward  adding  a  stove  and  tinware  branch  to  the  business. 
At  that  early  day  Butler  county  was  thickly  studded  with 
distilleries  of  a  simple  and  primitive  character.  There  were 
seventeen  in  Oxford  and  twelve  in  St.  Clair  townships,  alone. 
Their  equipment  was  largely  furnished  by  the  Matthias 
Brothers,  and  this  work  was  a  source  of  very  considerable 
profit.  In  1839,  the  firm  of  Matthias,  Reiser  &  Traber  was 
formed  for  the  sale  of  a  general  line  of  dry  goods,  groceries, 
hardware,  etc.  The  business  was  successfully  carried  on  until 
March  1842,  when  Aaron  Reiser  retired  and  was  succeeded  by 
David  Taylor  and  Benneville  Kline,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Matthias,  Kline  &  Taylor.  From  1843  to  1849,  Isaac  Matthias 
conducted  the  coppersmith  and  stove  business  alone,  as  the 
following  characteristic  advertisement  denotes: 

"Stoves!  Stoves!  — There  is  nothing  in  this  lower  world  that  con- 
duces so  much  to  true  enjoyment  as  a  good  Cooking  Stove:  one  that  draws 
well  and  bakes  belter.  It  is  as  good  as  a  new  milk's  cow  in  the  family,  or  a 
barrel  of  whiskey!  Why,  see  here!  I  don't  care  if  your  wives  have  tempers 
as  even  and  gentle  as  a  lamb's  (and  most  women  have  such,)  they  will  most 
assuredly  be  spoiled  if  you  oblige  them  to  cook  on  an  old  worn  out  Stove, 
that  won't  draw,  and  won't  bake,  if  it  does  draw.  Now  just  come  to  town  and 
call  on  me,  as  I  have,  'pet  haps,'  the  largest  and  best  assortment  of  STOVES 
you  ever  saw;  and  I  will  sell  them  very  low.  I  continue  to  carry  on  the 
Copper  and  Tinning  Business,  as  usual.  jn^  Old  Copper  and  Castings 
taken  in  exchange  for  work.  "ISAAC  MATTHIAS. 

"Rossville,  Nov.  22,  1S49." 

About  that  time,  Jacob  Matthias,  who  had  formerly  re- 
tired from  the  original  business,  re-entered  it  and  the  firm  was 
established  of  I.  &  J.  Matthias.  A  large  trade  was  built  up 
and  Isaac  Matthias  continued  in  the  firm  up  until  his  death, 
June  26,  1879.     On  December  2,    1829,    Isaac    Matthias   was 


452  Historical  Sketches. 

married  to  Miss  Fannie  Grooms,  who  was  born  July  12,  1804 
and  died  January  8,  1852.  Of  this  union  five  children  resulted: 
Emma,  afterwards  married  to  Abraham  Van  Dyke,  Ann, 
married  to  Wilson  H.  Dowty,  and  both  of  whom,  with  their 
husbands  are  deceased,  Jacob,  George  P.,  and  Jennie  Matthias, 
now  the  widow  of  the  late  Benjamin  James,  and  living  at 
Mexico,  Missouri.  On  November  5,  1854,  Mr.  Matthias  was 
again  married  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Galbraith,  who  died  January  6, 
1895.  Five  children  were  born  of  the  union,  of  whom  two, 
Lewis  and  John  Matthias  now  survive. 

Isaac  Matthias  was  never  a  candidate  for  office.  He  was  a 
man  of  sterling  character  and  of  a  most  genial  and  jovial  dis- 
position. He  was  an  inveterate  joker  and  was  always  the  life 
of  any  company  in  which  he  was  found.  He  leaves  behind 
him  a  memory  that  will  long  endure  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  man 
and  his  name,  his  life  and  character  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 

John  Crawford  was  born  on  the  Four  Mile  Creek,  near 
Oxford,  Ohio,  July  13,  1827.  In  1832  his  parents  moved  to 
Hamilton,  when  our  subject  was  sent  to  a  private  school  on 
north  Third  street,  on  the  present  site  of  the  Third  ward  engine 
house,  where  he  remained  three  years.  Afterward  he  attended 
the  Ohio  Farmers'  College,  at  College  Hill,  Hamilton  county, 
Ohio.  After  leaving  college  he  was  employed  in  the  general 
merchandise  store  of  James  Rossmann  in  Rossville,  for  seven 
years.  In  1850,  he  went  to  California,  via  Mexico.  In  1854, 
he  returned  to  Hamilton  and  formed  a  partnership  with 
Thomas  D.  Temple,  where  the  firm  of  Temple  &  Crawford  con- 
ducted a  dry  goods  establishment.  The  senior  member  of  the 
firm  died  in  1856,  when  Mr.  Crawford  opened  the  first  house 
furnishing  store  in  this  city,  and  continued  in  active  business 
until  1870.  He  was  married  December  20,  1855,  to  Eliza 
Walker,  of  Venice,  Ross  township,  Butler  county,  Ohio.  Seven 
children  were  born  unto  them,  six  of  whom  are  living.  Mr. 
Crawford  is  one  of  the  best  informed  men  in  this  city  on  the 
early  history  of  Hamilton  and  Butler  county,  and  also  on  cur- 
rent events. 


ISAAC  MATTHIAS 


WILLIAM  F.  MASON 


CHARLES  H.  LIPPHARDT  PETER  SCHWAB 


GEORGE  BISDORF 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  453 

Peter  Schwab  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  May  27, 
1838.  He  emigrated  to  America  in  1850,  landing  at  New 
Orleans,  coming  direct  to  Cincinnati  by  river,  then  to  Hamil- 
ton by  canal,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  He  learned 
the  cooper's  trade  and  followed  it  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
was  shrewd,  industrious  and  saving.  In  1865-66,  he  was 
engaged  in  the  commission  business  at  Cincinnati,  with 
Henry  Schlosser  and  James  Fitton.  The  business  was  con- 
ducted under  the  firm  style  of  Peter  Schwab  &  Co.  In  1868 
the  firm  of  Peter  Schwab  &  Co.,  composed  of  Peter  Schwab, 
General  Ferd.  VanDerveer  and  Herman  Reutti  bought  the 
John  W.  Sohn  brewery,  at  the  corner  of  Sycamore  and  Front 
streets,  of  M.  Jacobi.  In  1870,  Mr.  Schwab  retired,  as  the 
business  was  conducted  at  a  loss.  In  1874,  Mr.  Schwab  pur- 
chased the  brewery  of  VanDerveer  and  Reutti.  At  this  time 
its  capacity  was  fifty  barrels  per  day,  but  no  sale  could  be 
found  for  that  amount  of  beer  in  Hamilton.  The  brewery 
was  operated  in  hard  luck  for  several  years.  In  1875,  the 
business  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Cincinnati 
Brewing  Company.  In  1890  an  artificial  ice  plant  was  added, 
with  a  capacity  of  fifty  tons  per  day.  From  time  to  time  large 
and  expensive  additions  have  been  made  to  the  brewery,  so 
that  its  capacity  at  the  present  time  is  six  hundred  barrels  per 
day.  From  a  small  beginning  the  plant  has  increased  to 
magnificent  proportions.  All  this  has  been  brought  about 
through  the  persistent  energy  of  Mr.  Schwab,  who  has  suc- 
ceeded where  a  million  other  men  would  have  failed.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  twelve  years, 
eight  of  this  time  he  was  president  of  that  body.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Sewer  and  Paving  Commission  of  this  city. 
Mr.  Schwab's  career  has  been  a  remarkable  one  in  national, 
state  and  county  politics.  Mr.  Schwab  was  married  in  1859  to 
Caroline  Young.  Eight  children  resulted  from  the  union,  six 
of  whom  are  living. 

Charles  H.  L,ipphardt  was  born  in  Carlsrue,  Baden, 
December  7,  1845.  He  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Amer- 
ica in  1850,  first  locating  at    Cincinnati,    then    at    New    Rich- 


454  Historical  Sketches. 

mond,  Ohio,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  until  1859, 
when  he  went  to  the  Queen  City  and  learned  the  butcher 
trade.  During  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  One 
Hundred  and  Ninety-sixth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
serving  with  credit  until  its  close.  In  1868,  he  came  to  Ham- 
ilton and  entered  the  employment  of  J.  &  J.  Kirn,  butchers 
and  pork  packers.  Afterward  he  embarked  in  business  for 
himself  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Ludlow  streets.  He  is  now 
located  at  No.  127  South  Third  street,  where  he  has  a  large 
and  select  trade.  Socially,  he  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  and  a 
member  of  Wetzel-Compton  Post  No.  96,  G.  A.  R.;  politically 
he  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party.  He  was  married  in 
1875  to  Mary  L.  Endress.  By  this  union,  our  subject  has 
become  the  father  of  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living, 
namely,  Albert,  Jacob,  Herman  and  Helen.  Mr.  Lipphardt  is 
a  loyal  citizen,  and  is  well  informed  on  political  questions  and 
is  ever  ready  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  Hamilton  and  Butler 
county. 

Jacob  Schi^osskr  was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many, October  24,  1842.  He  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1852,  coming  direct  to  Hamilton,  where  he  learned  the 
tinner's  trade.  On  April  18,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Captain 
William  C.  Margedant's  company,  and  left  the  same  day  for 
Cincinnati  and  was  assigned  to  Company  B,  Ninth  Regi- 
ment Volunteer  Infantry,  commanded  by  Colonel  Robert 
McCook.  Mr.  Schlosser  served  over  three  years  during  the 
Civil  War,  and  had  a  good  record  as  a  soldier.  On  his  return 
to  Hamilton  he  engaged  in  the  malting  business  for  four  years. 
In  1874,  he  embarked  in  the  stove  and  tinware  business,  in 
the  Hunter  &  Robertson  building  on  Court  street,  where  he 
has  continued  ever  since.  He  was  married  in  1873  to  Johanna 
Sohngen,  who  died  in  1879.  Mr.  Schlosser  was  married  the 
second  time  to  Anna  Schlosser  in  1888.  Seven  children  re- 
sulted from  these  unions,  three  from  the  first  and  four  from 
the  latter.  Mr.  Schlosser  stands  well  in  the  community  as  a 
citizen  and  business  man. 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  455 

Hon.  F.  R.  Vinnedge  was  born  iu  Hamilton,  March  18, 
1834.  He  was  educated  in  the  old  Nathan  Furman  school 
and  in  the  Hamilton  Academy.  He  early  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  engaging  in  this  connection  in  the  dairy,  grain  and  ice 
business  with  marked  success.  He  always  took  an  active 
part  in  politics,  is  prominent  in  the  councils  of  his  party  and 
in  1885  he  was  elected  as  a  Democrat  to  the  Dower  House  of 
the  General  Assembly,  being  re-elected  in  1887.  While  in 
the  legislature  he  took  an  important  part  in  opposition  to  the 
sale  and  surrender  of  the  canal  by  the  state  and  he  served 
throughout  with  honor  to  himself  and  credit  to  his  con- 
stituency. He  was  married,  March  24,  1858  to  Martha  Van 
Cleaff  and  his  married  life  has  been  uniformly  happy  and 
fruitful.  Mr.  Vimiedge  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  is 
recognized  in  business  and  financial  circles  as  a  man  of  unim- 
peachable integrity  and  among  friends  and  neighbors  alike 
he  stands  very  high.  He  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  and 
representative  farmers  in  Butler  county  and  his  life  has  been 
one  of  labor  and  usefulness  and  crowned  with  deserved  pros- 
perity and  success. 

Elmore  T.  Anderson,  a  Butler  county  boy  bj^  birth 
and  in  his  early  and  later  life  a  thorough  representative  of  the 
county  of  his  nativity,  was  born  in  Bethany,  Liberty  Town- 
ship, Ohio,  October  4,  1841.  He  came  from  a  sturdy  stock 
and  from  that  line  of  robust  pioneers  who  made  Butler  County 
and  gave  to  it  the  proud  rank  it  now  occupies  among  the 
counties  of  the  great  state  of  Ohio  today.  He  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  village  and  there  grew  up  into 
vigorous  manhood.  He  conducted  a  general  mercantile  store 
in  Bethany  for  some  seven  years  and  later  he  came  to  Hamil- 
ton and  entered  the  mercantile  business  in  the  Jacob's  build- 
ing on  Third  street  where  he  was  engaged  for  some  years.  He 
subsequently  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and  combining 
the  pursuit  of  agriculture  with  the  operation  of  a  dairy,  he 
combined  success  and  prosperity  in  one.  Always  a  Democrat 
in  his  political  faith  and  ever  an  active  advocate  of  his  politi- 
cal  belief,    in    1896    he   was  deservedly  honored  by  his  party 


4  5  6  Historical  Sketches . 

with  the  nomination  for  Infirmary  director  and  at  the  election 
in  that  year  was  elected  by  a  very  handsome  majority.  In 
January,  1897,  ne  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
and  has  made  one  of  the  most  capable  members  that  ever 
served  the  county  in  a  similar  capacity.  He  is  now  on  his 
first  term  and  his  services  in  the  past  are  a  guarantee  of  his 
continuance  in  the  future.  On  December  24,  1864,  Mr. 
Anderson  was  married  to  Miss  Frona,  daughter  of  the  late 
Christopher  Hughes  and  from  this  union,  one  son,  Harry  L. 
Anderson  was  born  and  is  now  well  connected  with  the  C, 
H.  &  D.  R.  R.  Co.  Mrs.  Anderson  died  in  February,  1868. 
In  May,  1873,  Mr.  Anderson  was  married  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  David  Urmston  and  the  union  has  been  a  most  happy  one. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Anderson  is  firm  and  unswerving  for  Democ- 
racy. He  is  frank  and  outspoken  in  his  views  and  fearless  in 
the  expression  of  his  opinions.  He  wears  his  politics  on  the 
outside  and  not  in  his  pocket.  He  respects  the  opinions  of 
those  who  differ  from  him,  but  respectfully  reserves  the  right 
to  himself  to  entertain  his  own.  He  is  honest  and  conscien- 
tious and  a  man  of  and  for  the  people  every  time. 

Fletcher  S.  Heath,  Cashier  of  the  Miami  Valley  Nat- 
ional Bank,  of  Hamilton,was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana, 
December  31,  1862.  He  was  educated  among  the  environ- 
ments of  his  birth  and  in  1874,  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen 
years,  he  entered  the  Muncie  Bank,  at  Muncie,  Indiana,  where 
he  remained  for  a  number  of  years  and  acquired  a  thorough 
business  training  which  finely  supplemented  his  natural  apti- 
tude as  a  financier.  In  1884,  Mr.  Heath  went  to  Oxford, 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  where  he  took  a  position  as  cashier  in 
the  Citizens'  Bank,  then  under  the  control  of  Thomas  McCul- 
lough,  a  wealthy  and  influential  resident  of  the  village  and 
now  the  oldest  inhabitant  born  in  Oxford  township.  He 
served  in  this  bank  with  conspicuous  ability  and  fidelity.  In 
1888,  Mr.  Heath  came  to  Hamilton  and  was  one  of  the  most 
potent  and  important  factors  in  the  organization  of  the  Miami 
Valley  National  Bank,  of  which  institution  he  was  elected 
cashier,  which  position  he  now  permanently  retains.     Much  of 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  457 

the  fine  success  of  this  bank  is  due  to  the  clear  financial  and 
business  ability  of  Mr.  Heath.  He  is  yet  a  young  man  and 
specially  gifted  in  the  chosen  field  of  finance  where  he  intends 
to  do  his  life  work.  He  has  unusual  executive  ability,  is  a 
close  student  of  current  events  and  combines  a  knowledge  of 
men  and  affairs  with  a  personal  character  above  reproach. 
On  January  20,  1897,  Mr.  Heath  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Bessie  McCullough,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  McCullough, 
of  Oxford,  and  a  young  lady  of  much  refinement  and  accom- 
plishment. After  an  extended  wedding  tour  to  the  Pacific 
coast,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heath  returned  to  Hamilton  and  have 
since  made  their  home  here.  Mr.  Heath  is  in  every  sense  a 
representative  citizen  and  one  of  the  most  promising  young 
men  in  Ohio. 

J.  H.  Beard,  member  Soldiers'  Relief  Commission  was 
born  at  Foster's  Crossing,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  January  13, 
1842.  He  received  his  schooling  at  Mainville,  six  miles  from 
his  birthplace.  Afterward  he  followed  farming  until  Sep- 
tember 12,  1 86 1,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Thirty- 
fifth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  bore  an  honor- 
able part  in  the  Civil  War,  for  three  years,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  September  26,  1865. 
After  his  return  home  he  followed  farming  and  horse-breed- 
ing. On  June  20,  1891,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Soldiers'  Relief  Commission,  vice  Adam  Bridge  resigned,  serv- 
ing two  years.  He  was  re-appointed  a  member  of  the  com- 
mission April  14,  1897,  by  Judge  Neilan,  for  a  term  of  three 
years.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  N.  J.  Snodenly, 
January  7,  1866.  Three  children  has  blessed  their  union. 
Mr.  Beard  is  active  and  energetic,  and  in  all  business  and 
official  transactions  will  be  found  upright  and  honorable. 

Charles  E.  Heiser  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Butler 
County,  Ohio,  February  26,  1857.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city,  but  soon  adopted 
a  business  career  to  which  he  is  naturally  adapted.  In  1872 
he   became   associated  with  the  Second  National  Bank,  enter- 


458  Historical  Sketches . 

ing  the  employment  of  the  institution  as  messenger.  By- 
careful  and  conscientious  attention  to  his  duties,  Mr.  Heiser 
worked  his  way  up  to  the  position  he  occupies  today.  As 
cashier  of  the  Second  National  Bank,  his  judgment  is  a  stand- 
ing reference.  His  character  is  stainless  and  unimpeachable. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  responsible  business  men  in  this  city. 

John  E.  Heiser,  Assistant  Cashier  of  the  Second 
National  Bank,  was  born  in  Hamilton,  January  16,  1851.  Mr. 
Heiser  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city  and 
rapidly  began  to  turn  his  education  to  a  good  advantage.  His 
first  business  association,  outside  of  the  immediate  connection 
with  his  father  was  with  Louis  Sohngen,  where  he  remained  as 
a  bookkeeper  for  one  year.  He  then  worked  for  Bender  &  Bro., 
then  for  William  Anderson  &  Co.  for  two  years,  when  he  was 
made  Assistant  Postmaster  under  the  late  Captain  John 
McKee.  On  February  20,  1882,  Mr.  Heiser  became  Assis- 
tant Cashier  of  the  Second  National  Bank  of  Hamilton,  which 
position  he  still  fills.  He  is  a  careful  and  expert  accountant, 
a  man  of  unquestioned  integrity,  his  word  is  as  good  as  a 
dollar,  his  character  as  good  as  a  government  bond,  and  in  all 
the  walks  of  life,  John  K.  Heiser  is  a  thorough  representative 
citizen.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  in  1886- 
87.  Mr.  Heiser  was  married  March  29,  1875,  to  Annie  O. 
Miller,  daughter  of  Hon.  William  H.  Miller,  a  former  promi- 
nent attorney  of  Hamilton,  and  whose  death  was  one  of  the 
saddest  that  occured  in  local  history  during  the  Civil  War. 
As  a  man,  Mr.  Heiser  commands  the  respect  of  the  commu- 
nity. In  social  and  fraternal  circles  he  stands  high  and  of  an 
old  and  an  honored  family  he  is  at  once  looked  up  to  and 
respected. 

William  F.  Mason,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the 
Martin  Mason  Brewing  Company,  was  born  in  Hamilton, 
May  26,  1869.  Coming  from  an  old  and  sturdy  German  stock, 
he  received  a  rudimentary  education  in  the  public  schools,  but 
while  yet  a  youth  he  adopted  a  business  career  and  went 
through  a  thorough  business  training.     After  a  course  in   the 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  459 

W.  A.  Nichols'  Commercial  College,  Mr.  Mason  was  employed 
as  book  keeper  in  the  well  known  H.  P.  Deuscher  manufac- 
turing establishment,  where  he  remained  for  seven  years,  dis- 
charging his  responsible  duties  with  fidelity  and  promptitude. 
When  later  the  Eagle  Brewery  in  West  Hamilton  was  con- 
ducted by  Deuscher  &  Mason,  William  F.  Mason  became 
book  keeper  of  that  concern,  and  later  under  the  well  known 
management  of  the  Martin  Mason  Brewing  Company,  in  his 
joint  capacity  as  secretary  and  treasurer,  he  has  commanded 
the  attention  of  the  business  world  and  has  discharged  his 
duties  with  fine  executive  ability  and  capacity.  Mr.  Mason 
is  one  of  the  most  promising  young  business  men  in  Hamilton, 
and  has  a  bright  future  in  store. 

George  Bisdorf,  one  of  Hamilton's  best  known  and 
highly  respected  citizens,  was  born  in  Jesberg,  Kreis  Fritzlar, 
Hessen,  Germany,  July  24,  1835.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Mary  (Rissel)  Bisdorf.  In  1848  Mr.  Bisdorf  sailed  from 
Bremen  on  the  "Venkey,"  and  after  thirty-six  days  voyage, 
landed  at  Baltimore,  Maryland.  Shortly  afterwards  he  went 
to  Philadelphia,  thence  to  Wilmington,  Delaware.  Later  he 
came  west  and  for  several  months  worked  in  a  mill  at  Cincin- 
nati. At  this  place  he  joined  a  party  bound  for  San  Francisco, 
by  the  overland  route  and  during  the  next  three  years  visited 
Pike's  Peak,  San  Francisco,  Texas  and  other  points  in  the 
West.  Returning,  he  went  to  Chicago,  and  afterward  spent 
several  months  cruising  the  Great  L,akes.  In  1852  he  came 
to  Hamilton,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  In  i860  he 
married  Miss  Catherine  Straher  and  they  have  an  interesting 
family  consisting  of  nine  children  and  fourteen  grandchildren. 
Mr.  Bisdorf  is  a  staunch  and  active  supporter  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  this,  together  with  his  well  known  quality  of 
devoting  scrupulous  care  and  attention  to  duty,  has  gained 
for  him  repeated  honors.  In  1863  he  was  appointed  Super- 
visor of  the  Second  ward,  in  which  capacity  he  served  for 
four  years.  In  1867  he  was  elected  Constable  of  Fairfield 
Township,  which  then  included  Hamilton.  In  1873  ne  was 
elected  Street  Commissioner   of  the   city   of   Hamilton,   and 


460  Historical  Sketches. 

served  for  two  years.  In  1888  he  was  appointed  janitor  for 
the  Court  House,  which  position  he  now  holds.  In  1882,  Mr. 
Bisdorf's  mother  came  to  America  and  resided  with  her  son, 
until  her  death  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  He 
has  three  brothers  and  three  sisters  living,  of  which 
one  brother  and  one  sister  reside  in  this  country.  Socially,  Mr. 
Bisdorf  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  lodge,  F.  and  A.  M. 
with  which  he  has  been  connected  for  twenty-nine  years. 
Religiously  he  is  a  member  of  the  St.  John's  church  in  which 
he  holds  the  position  of  Ruling  Elder. 

James  R.  Elrick,  was  born  in  Wheeling,  West  Virginia, 
September  14,  1819.  His  parents  removed  to  Cincinnati  in 
1828,  where  they  remained  for  two  years.  May  21,  1830  they 
came  to  Hamilton,  where  our  subject  has  resided  ever  since. 
Mr.  Elrick  was  educated  in  a  private  school  in  this  city. 
After  completing  his  studies  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade 
under  the  tutorship  of  his  father,  Jacob  H.  Elrick,  who  died 
October  22,  1852.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Elrick  has 
been  engaged  as  a  contractor  and  builder  and  is  one  of  the 
finest  workmen  in  the  city.  March  24,  1846,  he  married  Mary 
L,.  Wood  of  this  city.  As  a  result  of  this  union,  seven  child- 
ren were  born  of  which  two  are  now  living.  Mr.  Elrick  is 
an  old  line  Democrat  and  is  well  informed  on  the  political 
issues.  His  early  residence  here  gave  him  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  pioneers  of  fifty  years  ago,  and  he 
takes  delight  in  recounting  the  early  history  of  our  city  and 
county. 

Joseph  B.  BieeingseEa  was  born  in  Harford  County, 
Maryland,  July  26,  1843.  He  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation in  his  native  county  and  in  1869  he  came  West  and 
located  at  Princeton,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  where  he  followed 
huckstering  for  three  years  and  butchering  for  a  period  of 
twelve  years.  In  1883  he  removed  to  Hamilton  and  engaged  in 
the  dairy  business.  He  began  with  a  trade  of  less  than  five  gal- 
lons of  milk  a  day  but  by  close  attention  and  honest  dealing  he 
built  up  a  large  and  paying  business.  In  1888  he  was  elected  as  a 
Democrat    to   the   office    of  Infirmary    Director,    serving  with 


JOHN  P.  DAY 


Hamilton  and  its  Residents.  461 

ability  during  1889-90  and  discharging  his  duties  with  honestly 
and  fidelity.  Mr.  Billingslea  was  married,  January  1,  1873  to 
Rebecca  Clawson,  a  neice  of  the  late  Hon.  Thomas  Corwin 
and  a  most  estimable  woman.  Four  children  resulted  from 
the  union,  three  of  whom  survive,  namely:  Clara  J.,  Celia  and 
Stanley.  As  a  business  man  and  as  a  citizen,  Joseph  B.  Bil- 
lingslea stands  high  in  the  community  and  enjoys  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  His  word  is  as  good  as  his 
bond  and  his  integrity  of  character  beyond  reproach. 

John  P.  Day,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  Hamilton's 
mechanics,  was  born  in  Dover,  Delaware,  December  17,  i860, 
where  he  received  a  good  education.  Subsequently  he  went 
to  Philadelphia  and  began  learning  the  machinist's  trade  with 
William  Sellars,  one  of  the  largest  manufacturers  in  that  city. 
In  1887  he  came  to  Hamilton  and  entered  The  Niles  Tool 
Works  as  general  foreman,  in  which  capacity  he  has  remained 
ever  since  and  is  still  serving.  Mr.  Day  was  elected  member 
of  the  city  council  on  the  Republican  ticket  in  1893,  serving 
two  years,  taking  a  prominent  part  in  all  public  measures 
coming  before  the  body  and  discharging  his  responsible  duties 
with  credit  to  himself  and  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  con- 
stituents. He  was  married  in  1879  to  Effie  M.  Steel,  of  Phila- 
delphia. Socially,  Mr.  Day  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  an 
Elk.  He  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  employers  and  the 
number  of  his  friends  is  legion. 


IN  CONCLUSION. 

We  here  find  it  necessary  to  close  the  volume.  It  has 
exceeded  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  pages  the  original  estimate 
and  agreement  with  our  subscribers.  Its  cost  of  publication 
has  passed  the  thousand  dollar  limit,  which  has  been  secured 
by  subscriptions  alone.  Not  a  line,  or  any  other  amount,  of 
paid  matter  has  been  used  in  the  work.  The  volume  is 
already  too  large,  when  we  take  into  consideration  the  size  of 
the  pages.  //  is  complete  within  itself.  But  we  know  so  much 
more  of  Hamilton's  history  which  unavoidably  could  not  be 
touched  upon  within  the  limits  of  the  present  volume,  but 
which  is  of  equal  historic  interest,  that  we  are  not  satisfied 
to  leave  the  subject  in  an  unfinished  condition.  It  will  require 
a  second  volume  to  complete  our  history,  which  we  will 
publish  shortly  and  hope  to  receive  that  encouragement  which 
we  believe  the  undertaking  is  justly  entitled  to. 


462 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


Abbey,  Rev.  E.  W.,  421. 

Allen,  William  H.,  274. 

Anderson,  Elmore  T.,  455. 

Andrews,  Allen,  246. 

Andrews,  Robert  N.,  274. 

Arent,  Matthias,  434. 

Auditors  of  Butler  County,  293-301. 

Bank  First,  10. 

Banks  of  Hamilton: — The  Peek,  167; 
Shaffer  and  Curts,  167;  First  Na- 
tional, 167;  Second  National,  168; 
Miami  Valley  National,  169. 

Baptist  Church,  386. 

Bar,  The  Hamilton,  238-263. 

Barden,  Dr.  Frank,  236. 

Bartlow,  Bert  S.,  438-440. 

Basin,  The  Hamilton  23-25. 

Beauchamp,  Lou  J.,  450. 

Beard,  J.  H.,  457. 

Bebb,  William,  178. 

Beck,  Jr.  Charles,   315. 

Becker,  William  J.,  321. 

Beckett,  William,  396. 

Belden,  Edgar  A.,  259. 

Bell,  David,  437. 

Bender,  Peter,  319. 

Ben  ham,  Joseph  S  ,  240. 

Berk,  Frederick,  315. 

Berry,  Philip  G.,  219. 

Berry,  S.  B.,  29S. 

Betz,  Ludwig,  294. 

Bickley,  U.  F.,  250. 

Billingslea,  Joseph  B.,  461. 

Bisdorf,  George,  459. 

Bishop,  Ebenezer  B.,  in. 

Black,  F.  D.,  275. 

Black,  Frank  X.,  444. 

Black  Street  Bridge,  149. 

Blair,  Toseph  L.,  443. 

Blair,  William  H.,124. 

Board  of  Education,  34-92. 

Bosch,  Charles  H.,  142. 

Boose,  John,  376. 

Boyd,  Thomas,  292. 

Boyd,  W.  M.,  292. 

Boynton,  Major  H.  V.,  346. 

Brandt,  Frank  E.  B.,  417-420. 

Brant,  David  W.,  288. 

Bridge,  First,  10-11. 

Brown,  Richard,  300. 

Brown,  William  E.,  247. 

Bruck,  William,  277. 

Bruner,  George  H.,  448. 

Budd,  Major  Joseph  L-,  346. 
463 


Burns,  M.  O.,  254. 

Business  and  Professional  Men  of 
1820,  322;  of  1831,  120. 

Caldwell,  S.  W.,  281. 

Caldwell,  Dr.  W.  W.,  309. 

Cameron,  James  B.,  150. 

Campbell,  James  E.,  180. 

Campbell,  Lewis  D,  196. 

Campbell,  S.  A.,  297. 

Carl,  Charles  C,  380. 

Carter,  Dr.  H.  H.,  237. 

Chamberlain,  John  Reily,  108. 

Cherryholmes,  Dr.  W.  H.,  237. 

Chiefs  of  Fire  Department,  374. 

Churches,  386-395. 

Clark,  James,  241. 

Clerk,  First,  7. 

Clerks  of  Court,  27S-283. 

Clinton,  DeWitt,  Governor  of  New 
York,  at  the  completion  of  Miami 
Canal,  22. 

Civil  War,  Hamilton  in,  330-335; 
"Jackson  Guards,'  330;  Thealarm," 
330;  Capt.  W.  C.  Margedant,  Com- 
pany B,  Ninth  Ohio,  330;  Presenta- 
tion of  silk  banner  given  by  young 
ladies  of  Hamilton — Miss  Kate 
Campbell  331;  Acceptation  and  Re- 
ply by  Capt.  W.  C.  Rossmau  331- 
332;  Meeting  at  Beckett's  Hall,  Rev. 
William  Davidson's  patriotic  ad- 
dress, 332;  Incident  of  the  little 
daughter  of  Lewis  Emmons,  332; 
Minor  Millikiu's  cavalry  recruits, 
333;  Eightv-third  333;  Ninety-third 
333;  History  of  the  Thirty-fifth  O. 
V.  I.,  335-346;  Col.  Boynton's  official 
report  of  the  battle  of  Chickamau- 
ga>  339-342;  History  of  the  Sixty- 
ninth  O.  V.  I.,  349. 

Cochran,  William  R.,  217. 

Cole,  Richard,  434. 

Columbia  Bridge,  149. 

Collett,  Benjamin,  240. 

Conclusion  In,  462. 

Cone,  David  R..  432. 

Cone,  Stephen  D.,  412-415. 

Congregational  Church,  387. 

Cope,  William  P.,  405. 

Cornell,  John  B.,  442. 

Corry,  William,  239. 

Corwin,  Jesse,  204. 

Corwin,  Thomas,  194. 

Counterfeiter  Charles,  14-15. 


464 


General  Index. 


Countv  Commissioners,  302-317. 
Court,  First,  7. 
Court  House,  built,  10. 
Cox,  Judge  Joseph,  421. 
Crane,  Stephen,  257. 
Crawford,  John,  452. 
Cullen,  James  K.,  449. 
Cunningham,  Francis  A.,  196. 
Curtis,  Joseph,  131. 

Dalton,  Edward,  280. 

Daughtery,  James,  295. 

Davidson,  William  Mem.  Chapel,  395 

Day,  John  P.,  460. 

Dayton,  Jonathan,  6. 

Decher,  John,  364. 

De  La  Court,  William  C.  A.,  371. 

Delaplane,  Joshua,  383. 

Delorac,  Capt.  Alex.,  403. 

Dentistry,  378-380. 

Dickinson,  Frank  L.,  443. 

Dillon,  Lewis  A.,  407. 

Dirk,  John,  141. 

Disciples  of  Christ  Church,  387. 

Dix,  Albert,  372. 

Dowling,  Thomas  B.,  445. 

Druggists,  380-383. 

Duerr,  Frank  X.,  301. 

Duffield,  R.  G.,  384. 

Dunlavey,  Francis,  7-238. 

Earheart,  Henry  S.,  403. 

Earheart,  John  S.,  347. 

Easton,  Richard,  285. 

Edwards,  John,  no. 

Educational  Institutions,  10-31-11S. 

Egry,  Frederick,  139. 

Elliott,  Colonel  George  F.,  357-359- 

Elliott,  John  C,  181-188. 
Encounter  with  and  killing  of 
Mormon  Prophet  Joe  Smith,  183; 
Attempted  assassination.  185;  En- 
counter with  mulatto  slave  at  TJr- 
bana,  186;  Experience  at  a  colored 
revival  meeting,  186;  Entered  the 
army,  187. 

Elliott,  Robert  M.,  320. 

Ellis,  Alston,  m-115. 

Elrich,  James  R.,  460. 

Emanuel  Evan.  Lntheran  Church,953 

Engle,  Harry,  291. 

Episcopal  Church,  388. 

Erwin,  John  Wardell,  25-303-307. 

Erwin,  Hunter  &  Erwin,  25. 

Este,  David  K.,  239. 

Evangelical       German       Protestant 
Church,  388. 

Evangelical  St.  Paul  Church,  389. 

Falconer,  Dr.  Cyrus,  400. 
Farrow,  Lawrence  M.,  123. 
Fire  Department,  28-30. 
Fisher,  David,  196. 


Fitton,  Dr.  Francis  M.,  235. 
Fitton,  Jr.,  Samuel  D.,  260. 
Fort    Hamilton,    erected,    5;     Aban- 
doned, 6. 
Frechtling,  Jr.,  Henry.  427. 
Frechtling,  William  C,  404. 
Frey,  Henry,  376. 
Fulkerson,  James  R.,  415. 
Funeral  Directors,  383-386. 

Gard,  Homer,  367. 

Gard,  S.  Z.,  207. 

Gardner,  Mills,  201. 

Garrison,  Joseph,  272. 

Gaston,  Elias  H.,  2S7. 

Gath,  Charles  W.  384. 

Getz.  Alexander,  141. 

George,  James,  318. 

Giffen,  Charles  E.,  126. 

Giffen,  William  S.,  245. 

Gordon,  John  H.,  319. 

Gordon,  Patrick,  280. 

Graduates    of   the    Hamilton    High 

School,  93-105- 
Grav,  Henrv  C,  319. 
Greer,  Carl  Richard,  370. 
Gregg,  Israel,  268, 
Greenwood  Cemetery,  170-172. 
Griesmer,  John  O.,  385. 
Griesmer,  Charles  E.,  385- 

Hahn,  Jr.,  John,  446. 

Haines,  Charles  S.,  263. 

Haines,  Henry  H..  257. 

Halford,  Elijah  W.,  188-190. 

Hall,  John.  266 

Hamilton,  position  of,  6;  incorpor- 
ation of,  8-365-366;  population  of, 
in  1807,  10. 

Hamilton's  Ex-Governors,  178-181. 

Hammerle,  Henry,  448. 

Hargitt,  Jervis  ,  281. 

Hargitt  Robert,  132-133. 

Harr   W.  H.,219. 

Harrison,  William  Henry,  191. 

Hatch,  M.  B.,  314. 

Heath.  Fletcher  S..  456. 

Heath,  John  F.,  258. 

Heiser,  Charles  E.,  457- 

Heiser,  John  E.,  458. 

Hensley,  Daniel  H.,  127-128. 

Hensley,  LeRoy  R.,  373"374- 

History  of  35th  O.  V.  I.,  334"346- 

History  of  69th  O.  V.  I.,  349"  354- 

History  of  167th  O.  V.  I.,  354-355- 

Holdefer.  George  E.,  374. 

Holly,  Peter  B.,  251. 

Houk,  George  W.,  202-203. 

Howe,  George  E.,  106-107. 

Howell,  Thomas  V.,  401. 

Hooven,  John  C,  406. 

Hughes,  Edward,  138. 

Hughes,  Joseph  B.,  298-300. 


General  Index. 


465 


Hume,  Alexander  F.,  244. 
Hunter,  Alexander,  385. 
Hunter,  William,  285. 
Hunter,  William  C,  296. 
Hurtt,  Francis  W.,  107. 
Huston,  Dr.  Charles  N.,  227. 
Huston,  Dr.  William  C,  231 
Hydraulic  Co.,  The  Hamilton,  25. 
Hydraulic  Co.,  The  Rossville,  26. 

Jacoby,  David,  13 
Jacobs,  Dr.  Minor  M.,  233. 
James,  Barton  S.,  281. 
Jewish  Synagogue,  389. 
Jones,  Edward  H.,  252. 
Jones,  H.  H.,  290 
Journalists,  367-374. 
Judge,  First  in  Hamilton,  7. 
Junction  Railroad  Bridge,  148. 

Kaefkr,  John,  427. 
Keeiey,  Charles  I.,  379. 
Kelly,  James  A.,  430. 
Kinder,  William  R.,  214. 
Kirkpatrick,  Dr.  J.  L.,  228. 
Klemm,  L.  R.,  116. 
Kumler,  Dr.  W.  Z.,  235 
Krebs,  Frank,  277. 
Krone,  Dr.  Charles,  382. 

Landis,  Samuel  C,  436. 

Lane  Free  Library,  27-28. 

Larsh,  L.  M.,  141. 

Laurie,  Adam,  411. 

Lawder.  J.  B.,  138. 

Layman,  Wilson  H.,  294. 

Leiter,  Clayton  A.,  369. 

Literary  and  Library  Associations: 
Thespian  of  1820,  173;  Hamilton  and 
Rossville  Library  Association,  174; 
Thespian  of  i860,  177;  Jefferson, 
178;  Franklin,  178;  Hamilton  Liter- 
ary Society,  10. 

Lipphardt,  Charles  H.,  453. 

Lindley,  John  C,  2S8. 

Lindley,  Miles  D.,  426. 

Lingler,  David,  377. 

Lohnian,  John  E.,  127. 

Long,  Eli,  313. 

Long,  Samuel,  310. 

Long,  Joseph  H.,  417. 

Long.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Charles 
L'Hommediem,  345. 

Long,  Samuel  M.,  310. 

Longfellow,  Daniel,  134. 

Longfellow,  George,  132. 

Lowes,  James,  122 

Ludlow,  Israel — laid  out  lots.  6; 
placed  same  011  record,  7. 

Lutheran  Church,  389. 

Maginnis,  M.  X.,  135-13S. 
Mallory,  Henry,  223. 
Markt,  Dr.  Con  st  an  tine,  229. 
Marts,  David,  310. 


Mason,  Charles  E.,  416. 

Mason,  William  P.,  45.S. 

Matthias,  Isaac,  450. 

Mayors  of  Hamilton,  133-142. 

McBride,  James,  in  reference  to  Fort 
Hamilton,  6;  first  impression  of 
Hamilton,  8-9;  biography,  264-266. 

McCleary,  Andrew,  14;  24. 

Mc^leUan,  William,  264. 

McClung,  David  W.,  105-106. 

McClure,  John,  294, 

McElwee,  John,  279. 

McHenry,  Dr.  O.  P.,  234. 

McKee,  John,  125. 

McKeon,  A.  G.,  313. 

McHenry,  R.  C.,'410. 

McLaughlin,  Martin,  317. 

McLean,  John,  192. 

McMaken,  J.  J.,  360. 

McMaken,  M.  C.,  398-400. 

McMahon,  John  A.,  201. 

McMillan,  William,  192. 

Medical  Profession,  221-238. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  3S9. 

Methodist  Church,  German,  390. 

Methodist  Church,  African,  398. 

Miami  Bridge  Co.,  143-148. 

Miami  Canal,  built  10;  21-23. 

Miami  House,  12. 

Miller,  Charles  C,  116. 

Miller,  William  C,  381. 

Millikin,  Brandon  R.,  256. 

Millikin,  Dr.  Dan,  223. 

Millikin,  Dr.  Mark,  229. 

Millikin;  Colonel  Minor,  159-165; 
charge  and  death,  163;  Prof.  David 
Swing's  eulogy  on,  164;  letter  of 
Elijah  W.  Halford  in  reference  to 
his  bravery  written  to  S.  D.  Cone, 
165. 

Millikin,  Major  John  M.,  402. 

Millikin,  Dr.  Robert  B.  129. 

Millikin,  R.  B  ,  232. 

Millikin,  Samuel,  131. 

Millikin,  Samuel,  266. 

Millikin,  S.  H.,  416. 

Millikin,  Thomas,  242. 

Moore,  Colonel  Thomas,  14;  356-369. 

Moore,  Jr.,  Thomas,  369. 

Morey,  H.  L.,  201. 

Morey,  J.  E.,  261. 

Morrow,  Jeremiah,  192. 

Murphy,  Clarence,  220. 

Murphy,  Peter,  272. 

Murphy,  William,  313. 

Myers,  Joseph  W.,  4(0. 

NRrLANT,  JtJDOE  JOHN  F.,  209. 

New  High  and    Main    Street    Bridge, 

150. 
Newspaper,  First,  10. 

Oc.i.eshv.  X.  G.,  887. 
Oglesby,  William  B.,  290. 


466 


General  Index. 


"Old  Third"   District  Congressmen, 

190-203. 
Owens,  Job  E.,  375 
Overpeck,  i/ucian  C,  425. 

Pabst,  Christian,  2S3. 

Parrish,  O.  V.,  407. 

Peck,  H.  P.  K.,  297. 

Phares,  William  S.,  294. 

Phillips,  A.  A.,  273. 

Pierce,  David,  262. 

Pioneers,  principal,  7. 

Pontoon  and  Foot  Bridge,  14S. 

Press,  The,  150-159. 

Postmasters  of  Hamilton,  118-12S. 

Postmasters  of  Rossville,  128-133. 

Potter,  Aaron,  433. 

Potter,  Lucius  B.,  441. 

Potterf,  Nelson  F.,  429. 

Probate  Judges,  214-221. 

Prosecuting     Attorneys     of    Butler 

County,  203-214. 
Presbyte  ian  Church,  391. 
Presbyterian  Church,  United,  391. 
Presbyterian    Church,   Westminster, 

392. 
Puthoff,  Frederick  B.,  139 

Rathbone,  Estes  G.,  359. 

Recorders  of  Butler  County,    317-321. 

Rees,  A.  J.,  273. 

Reformed  Church,  392. 

Reily,  John,  8;  1 19-120. 

Reservoir,  26. 

Retrospective    View    of     Hamilton, 

326-329. 
Rhouemus,  W.  K.,  211. 
Richmond,  Levi  P.,  131. 
Richter,  Frank  P.,  253. 
Riley,  Isaac  L-,  445- 
Rinearson,  William  C,  423. 
Rinearson,  Frank  B.,  424. 
Ritchie,  William,  376. 
Robertson,  Isaac,  243. 
Rogers,  Edward  B.,  424 
Rogers,  Isaac,  276. 
Roll,  Dr.  J.  H.,  232. 
Rose,  S   L-,  117. 
Ross.  Thomas,  193. 
Rossman,  James,  14. 
'  Rossman,  W.  C,   124. 
Rossville,  laid  out,  12. 
Rothwell,  Abe,  429. 
Rothenbush  Dr.  James  E  ,379. 
Rothenbush,  Captain  Philip,  34S. 
Rudolph,  Major,  6. 
Rupp,  George,  428. 
Russell,  William,  289. 
Ryan,  Colonel  M.  C,  206-27S. 

Sample,  Dwid,  311. 
Sargeant,  George,  240. 
Sargeant,  Michael  B.,  241. 


Saunders,  Isaac  T.,  31S. 

Sanders,  D.  B.,  140. 

Savage,  John  S  ,  200. 

Sayre,  Pierson,  266. 

Scott,  Dr.  John  B.,  233. 

Schenck,  Aaron  L.,  269. 

Schenck,  Robert  C,  199. 

Schlosser,  Henry,  435. 

Schlosser,  Jacob,  454. 

Schlosser,  William  O.,  436. 

Schmidt,  Adolph,  297. 

Schools,  Public,  31-118;  first  election 
held  and  schools  begun,  31;  early 
educators  of  Hamilton,  viz. —  Rev. 
M.  G.  Wallace,  Benj.  Pardee,  Alex. 
Proudfit,  Ellen  McMechan,  Rev. 
Francis  Montfort,  Benj.  T.  Raleigh 
and  Marie  Drummond,  32;  earl}' 
educators  of  Rossville, viz. — Lemuel 
Ball,  Stephen  White,  Eliza  Green, 
Evan  Davies,  Ransford  Smith,  Mrs. 
A.  A.  Phillips,  Mrs.  J.  Curtis 
Strode,  William  S.  Phares,  James 
A  Neal  and  Enoch  Powers,  33; 
Miss  H  H.  Ringwood,  principal  of 
High  School,  34;  Josiah  Morrow, 
principal  of  the  First  ward,  34; 
Board  of  Education,  their  proceed- 
ings and  elections,  34-36;  meetings 
of  the  School  Board  from  June  13, 
1851  to  June  21,  1853,  36;  October  17, 
1853  to  August  b,  1854, 17;  August 
26/1854  to  December  14,  1854,38; 
July  1855  to  May  1856,  39;  salary  of 
teachers  in  1856,  40;  erection  of 
new  school  house  in  First  ward, 
40;  proceedings  of  Board  from  July 
1856  to  July,  1857,  40-45;  first  school 
house  for  colored  children,  44; 
rooms  rented  for  school  purposes, 
45;  report  of  committee  in  reference 
to  financial  condition,  46;  High 
School  pupils  desire  change  of 
hours,  but  refused,  47;  reduction 
of  salaries  and  abandonment  of 
the  office  of  superintendent,  peti- 
tion, from  prominent  citizens  con- 
demning this  action,  48;  William 
H.  Miller  places  his  objections  on 
minutes,  49;  records  from  Sept.  iS, 
1858  to  Feb.  24,  i860  lost,  and  new 
election  of  members,  50;  boy  ex- 
pelled from  High  school  but  rein- 
stated, 51;  officers  and  committe- 
men  of  i860,  52;  teachers  of  i860, 
53;  Miss  Sallie  Millikin  dismissed 
from  school  but  reinstated  by  the 
Board,  54;  resolution  of  compen- 
sation for  the  members,  55;  Miss 
Malissa  Daugherty  elected  a  teach- 
er, August  26,  1 861,  56;  the  case  of 
Miss  Belle  Caldwell  reported,  56; 
election  and  committees  appointed, 


General  Index. 


467 


Schools,  Public. — Continued. 

57;  charges  preferred  against  five 
boys  and  resolution  of  censure 
adopted  against  conduct  of  teacher, 
Miss  Dode  Buckingham,  51;  com- 
munication from  Presbyterian 
church  in  relation  to  the  colored 
school  question,  61;  committees  for 
1866-67,  62;  no  commencement 
held,  6^5;  meetings  from  June  17, 
1869,  64;  1S69-1870,  65:  Alston  Ellis 
elected  superintendent,  66;  new 
Fourth  ward  school  house,  67; 
teachers  of  1873,  60;  additional 
teachers,  69;  resolution  adopted 
referring  to  paymest  of  money,  70; 
meetings  from  April  8,  1S76  to 
March  27,  1878,  71;  resignation 
and  election  of  teachers,  172;  resig- 
nation of  Alston  Ellis,  73;  school 
library  transfered  to  Lane  Free 
Library,  74;  High  school  transferred 
to  Four  h  ward,  75;  school  examin- 
ers elected,  76;  teachers  and  salar- 
ies of  1882-83,  1T<  resolutions  refer- 
ring to  admission  of  colored  child- 
ren to  High  school,  adopted,  78; 
resolution  to  erect  a  school  house 
in  Fifth  ward,  adopted,  79;  L.  R. 
Klemm  elected  superintendent,  80; 
resolution  fora  entral  High  School 
failed,  81;  Board  of  Education  for 
1886-87,  82;  charges  preferred 
against  Superintendent  Klemm, 
Alston  Ellis  elected  superintend- 
ent, 84;  teachers  and  salaries  of 
1887,  85;  admission  of  new  mem- 
bers to  board  and  election,  86; 
Isaac  Reily  appointed  truant  offi 
cer,  87;  High  School  contract 
awarded,  88;  Columbia  building 
deemed  necessary,  89;  new  teachers 
elected,  90;  S.  L.  Rose  elected  sup- 
erintendent, 91;  faculty  of  Hamil- 
ton High  School,  92;  graduates  of 
the  High  School,  93-118. 

Schwab,  Peter,  453. 

Schwartz,  John  C..  383. 

Selby   Z.  W.,  206. 

Semi-Centennial  of  Hamilton,  323. 

Sender,  Conrad,  M.,  451. 

Shaffer,  Samuel.  408. 

Shank,  John  A    109. 

Sharkev,  Dr.  Thomas  D.,  231. 

Sheriffs  of  Butler  County,  26^. 

Sheely,  William,  267. 

Schell,  Dr.  S.  M..  22S. 

Sheley,  Daniel,  M.,  315. 

Shepherd.  W.  C,  210/ 

Shields,  James,  194. 

Shotts,  Robert  X.,  262. 

Shuler,  Henry  and  George,  13. 

Shuler,  Maudes,  376. 


Sill,  Dr.   E.  C,  230. 

Skinner,  Dr.  George  C.,224. 

Slade,  Thomas,  312. 

Sloneker,  Joseph  W.,  293. 

Slayback,  John  C,  249. 

Smith.  Charles  K.,  284. 

Smith,  Culbertson  J.,  212. 

Smith,  Hinckley,  2ci. 

Smith,  John  O.,  200. 

Smith,  Joseph,  181. 

Smith,  Ransford,  134. 

Snyder,  John  W.,  287. 

Sohn,  John  W.,  307. 

Sohngen,  Charles,  437' 

Sohngen,  George  P.,  446. 

Sohngen,  Louis,  441. 

Sohngen  Louis  and  D.  Crane,  3^4. 

Soldiers  Relief  Commission,  361. 

Sorg,  Paul  J.,  203. 

State  Senators,  356-360 

St. Clair's,  General  A.,  route,  5. 

St.  Clair,  George  W.,  276. 

St.  Stephen's  Catholic  Church,  393. 

St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church,  393. 

St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church,  394. 

St.  Peter's  Catholic  Church,  394. 

St.  Veionica  Catholic  Church,  394. 

Stephenson,  A.  C,  135. 

Stillwaugh,  Jacob,  449. 

Straub  House,  12. 

Strauss,  Meyer,  442. 

Stubbs,  Noah,  363. 

Superintendent  of  schools,    105-118. 

Supreme  Court,  first  held,  8. 

Tapscott.  George  W.,  403. 

Temple,  Thomas  D.,  371. 

Terms   of  Annexation   of    Hamilton 

and  Rossville,  324-326. 
Thomas,  Alfred   294. 
Thomas,  Benjamin  F.,  218. 
Thomas,  James  B.,   120. 
Thomas,  James  K.,  122. 
Thomas,  Marcellus,  275. 
Tobey,  Walter  L.,  368/ 
Traber,  Henry,  286. 
Traber,  Jacob,  13. 
Traber,  Joseph,  "215. 
Trabc,  Oliver,  431. 
Trebel,  Dr.  George,  225. 
Treasurers  of  Butler  County,  283. 
Troutman,  Jacob,  123. 
Tully,  James  I.,  444. 
Twitchell,  Herbert  Eugene,  226. 

United    Brethren  Church,    394. 
Universalist  Church,  394. 

Van  De  Griff,  Georke  A.,  364. 
Van  Derveer,  Ferdinand,  344. 
Vallandingham,  Clement  L.  198. 
Yallaudingham,  James  L.  208. 
Yanee.  Eijah,  205. 
Vinnedge,  F.  R.,455 


468 


General  Index. 


Wallace,  Harry  G.,  437. 
Wallace,  Henry  H.,  295. 
Watson,  Harrison,  384. 
Wayne,  General  Anthony, 
Webster,  Taylor,  195. 
Weidenborner,  John,  311. 
Weller.John  B.,  195. 
Welliver,  A.  J.,  282. 
Welsh,  Henry,  447. 
Welsh,  P.  E.,  446. 
Wheeler,  H.  T.,  109. 
Whitaker,  F.  W.,  291. 
Wiles,  John  S.,  133. 
Williams,  Charles  Alf.,  36c 
Williams,  Israel,  248. 


Abbey,  Rev.  E.  W.,  421. 
Andrews,  Allen,  242. 
Andrews,  Robert  N.,    274. 
Barden,  Dr.  Frank,  22S. 
Bartlow,  Bert  S. ,  442. 
Beauchamp,  Lou  J.,  450. 
Beard,  J.  H.,  364. 
Becker,  William  J.  320. 
Beckett,  William,  396. 
Belden,  Kdgar  A.,  252. 
Bell,  David,  435. 
Berrv,  Philip  G.,  219. 
Biekley,  U.  F.,  252. 
Bisdorf,  George,  452. 
Black,  Frank  X  ,  442. 
Bosch,  Charles  H.,  141. 
Boose,  John,  37s. 
Brandt,  Frank  E.  B  ,   416. 
Brown,  Richard,  300. 
Brown,  William  F,.,  168. 
Bruck,  William,  274. 
Bruner,  George  H.,  446. 
Burns,  M.  O.,  252. 
Campbell,  James  E.,  180. 
Campbell,  Lewis  D.,  196. 
Carl,  Charles  C  ,  380. 
Carter,  Dr.  H.  H  ,  22^. 
Cone,  David  R.,  43s. 
Cone,  S.  D.,  Frontispirce. 
Cope,  William  P.,  92. 
«.  oruell,  John  B.,  442. 
Cox,  Judge  Joseph,  421 
Day,  John  P.,  461, 
Deeher,  John,  364. 
Delaplane,  Joshua,  3S5. 
Dickinson,  Frank  L.,  442. 
Dillon,  Lewis  A.,  406. 
Dirk,  John,  141. 
Dix,  Albert,  368. 
Dowling,  Thomas  B.,  442. 
Duerr,  Frank  X.,  300. 
Elliott,  Col.  G.  F.,  ;-58. 
Elliott,  Robert  M.,  320. 
Ellis,  Al-iton,  in. 
Erwin,  John  Wardell,  315. 
Fitton, Dr. Francis  M.,  22S. 
Freeh  tliug,  Jr.,  Henry,  426. 
Frechtling,  Wm.  C,  406. 
Fulkerson,  James  R.,  416. 
Gard,  Homer,  368. 
Gath,  Charles,  3S4. 
C,ath,  Samuel,  384. 
Gath,  Jr.,  Samuel,  38). 
Cray,  Henry  C,  320. 


Williams,  Nelson.  2S5 
Wilkins,  Thomas  H.,  214 
Wilson  Sr.,  John  K.,  268. 
Wilson,  John  W.,  207. 
Wilson,  Joseph,  14. 
Wing-ate,  John,  264. 
Winkler,  William,  426. 
Witherby,  Oliver  S.,  205. 
Winton,  Matthew,  13. 
Woodruff,  Robert,  260. 
Woods,  John,  193. 

Yeakle,  David,  289. 

Zoller,  Michael,  316. 
Zwick,  Charles  H.,  373. 


PORTRAIT  INDEX. 
Griesmer,  John  O.,  384. 
Griesmer,  1  harles  E.,  384. 
Hahu,  Jr.,  John,  446. 
Haines,  Henry  H.,  255. 
Hammerle,  Henry,  446. 
Harr,  W.  H.,  219. 
Heath,  John  F.,  255. 
Heiser.  Charles  E.,  168. 
Heiser,  John  E.,  16S. 
Hensley,  Daniel  H,,  120. 
Henslev,  LeRoy  R.,  368. 
Holly,  Peter  B  ,  252. 
Howell,  Thomas  V.,406. 
Hooven,  John  C,  406. 
Hughes,    oseph  B.,  300. 
Hunter,  Alexander,  384. 
Hurtt,  Francis  W.,  107. 
Huston,  Dr.  C.  N.,  223, 
James,  Barton  S.,  283 
Jones,  Edward  H.,  252. 
Kcefer,  John,  426. 
Keeley,  Charles  I.,  380. 
Kelly,  James  A.,  426. 
Kirkpatrick,  Dr.  J.  L.,223. 
Krone,  Dr.  Charles,  380. 
Landis,  Samuel  C,    435. 
Larsh,  L.  M.,  141 
Laurie,  Adam,  416. 
Leiter,  Clayton  A.,  36S. 
Lipphardt,  Chas.   H.,  452. 
Lindley,  Miles  D  ,46.' 
Lingler,  David,  375. 
Lohman,  John  E-,  120. 
Long,  Joseph  H  ,  416. 
Mallory,  Dr.  Henry,  223. 
Markt,  Dr.  C.  223. 
Mason,  Charles  E.,  168. 
Mason,  William  F.,  452. 
Matthias,  Isaac,  452. 
McHenry,  Dr.  O.  P.,  22S. 
McKinney,  R    C.  410. 
McLaughlin,  Martin,  315. 
McMaken,  J.  J.,  358. 
McMaken.  M.  C,  406. 
Miller,  William  C,  380 
MiHikin,  Dr.  Dan,  223. 
Millikin,  Dr.  Mark,  228. 
Millikin,  S.  H.,  416. 
Millikin,  Thomas.  242. 
Moore,  Col.  Thomas,    344. 
Morey,  H.  L.,  196 
Murphv,  Clarence,  219. 
Murphy,  Peter,  274. 
Murphy,  William,  315. 


9782 


Neilan,  Judge  J.  F.,  209. 
Owens,  Job  E.,  37;. 
Overpeck,  Lucien  C  ,   425. 
Pabst,  Christian,  283. 
Parrish,  O.  V.,  406. 
Potterf,  Nelson  F  ,  426. 
Rathboue,  Estes  G.,  358. 
Reily,  John,  120. 
Richter,  Frank  P.,  252. 
Ritiearson,  Wm.  C,  42r. 
Rinearson,  Frank  B.,  421. 
Robertson.  Isaac,  242. 
Rogers,  Edward  B.,  421. 
Rose,  S.  L  ,  117. 
Rothwell,  Abe,  426. 
Rothenbush,  Dr  J.  E.,3So. 
Rothenbush,  Philip,    34S. 
Rupp,  George,  426. 
Scott,  Dr.  John  B..  233. 
Schlosser,  Henry,  435. 
Schlosser, William  O.,  435. 
Schwab,  Peter,  452. 
Schwartz,  John  C  ,  3S0. 
Semler,  Conrad  M.,  4  5. 
Shaffer,  Samuel,  406. 
Sharkev,  Dr.  T.  D.,  228. 
Schell.'Dr.  S.  M.,  22S. 
Sheley,  Daniel  M.,  315. 
Shepherd,  W.  C,  255. 
Skinner,  Dr.  G.  C,  223. 
Sloneker,  Joseph  W.,  291. 
Slayback,  John  C,  942. 
Smith,  Culbertson  J.,  212 
Sohngen,  Charles,  442. 
Sohngen,  George  P.,   446. 
Sorg,  Paul  J.,  196. 
Thomas,  James  B.,  120. 
Thomas,    Marcellus.    274. 
Tobey,  Walter  L  ,  368. 
T  rebel,  Dr   George,  223. 
'fully,  James  I.,  442. 
Twitchell, Herbert  P).,  226. 
Van  De  Griff,  G.  A.,  364. 
Van  Derveer,  Ferd.,  344. 
Wallace,  Harry  G.,  435. 
Welliver,  A.  J.,  283. 
Welsh,  Henrv,  4  6. 
Welsh,  P.  E."  446- 
Whitaker,  F.  W.,  291. 
Williams,  Israel,  242. 
Williams,  Nelson,  255. 
Winkler.  William,  421. 
Woodruff,  Robert,  255. 
Zoller,  Michael,  315. 
Zwick,  Charles  H.,  36S. 


■     ^  »  A 


l»   "CPPIER 


Of  524  Vine  Street  Has  Been 
Claimed  by  Death. 

""-'  Elizabeth  Catherine  Kepplcr,  ths 
beloved  wife  of  Emil  Keppler,  of  52-1 
Vine  street,  died  at  2  o'clock  Tuesday 
afternoon  of  Bright  V  disease,  at  the 
age  of  35  years,  4  months  and  13 
days. 

She  was  born  in  New  Paris,  0.,  &nd. 
resided  in  Hamilton  for  thirty  years. 

-She  is  survived  by  the  bereaved 
husband,  two  brothers,  Louis  and  Wil- 
liam :  Stomps,  and  two  sisters,  'Mrs. 
D.  R.  Cone  and  Mrs.  Louis  Steiger, 
who  have  the  sympathy  of  their  many 
friends  and  acquaintances. 

.     HUGHES'  SGOBE