USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 2 > Part 16
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Jacob Lorenz, president of the Lorenz Refrigerator Car Company, was born in Grethen, Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, March 17, 1837. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Lorenz, whose maiden name was Stepp. In 1854, at the age of seventeen, he came to America and settled in Marietta, Ohio, where he learned the trade of a tanner. Here he remained until 1858 and then re- moved to Cincinnati and to Hamilton, where he finished learning his trade. He worked as a journeyman for three years, and at the expiration of that time opened a shop for himself. He sold out his store two years later to engage in other business. In 1877 he invented aud patented a new idea in the way of an ice house, and that year erected six ice houses on the Miami River and canal, and in partnership with Messrs. Rupp and Held, formed the firm of Lorenz, Rupp & Heid, which put in abont fourteen thousand tons of ice araually. Prior to engaging in the ice business Mr. Lorenz was a member of the firm of Loreuz & Bender, who were proprietors of the Star Refrigerator Manafactory. From this he con- ceived the idea of building cars on the same principle as family and saloon refrigerators, and in 1881 built and patented one made by himself, which gave such satisfac-
tion that in February, 1882, he had little trouble in forni- ing the corporation known as the Lorenz Refrigerator Car Company, composed of the following gentlemen : Jacob and Jchu Lorenz, II. and Joseph F. Rentti, Martin Mason, Israel Williams, Dr. A. Myers & Co., J. W. See, Carl Frenust, HI. P. Denscher, and J. F. Bender.
He was married March 17, 1858, to Miss Barbara Eberhardt, by whom he has seven children, the oldest of whom is dead. Mr. Lorenz is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Areannm.
Nathan Egbert Warwick, a member of the Butler County bar, was born in St. Clair Township, this county, February 11, A. D 1849. Ilis parents are Jeremiah Warwick, at present a citizen of that locality, whose biography appears in this book, and Lydia Smith, daugh- ter of Daniel Smith and Alice Mary Jacoby, two pioneers of this county, of Pennsylvania Dutch descent, and noted for their industry, integrity, and piety. Mr. Warwick's boyhood was spent on the farm and at the common school until the age of fifteen, when he attended the Seven-Mile Academy, where he prepared himself for en- trance to the collegiate course at the Miami University. In 1869 he entered the university at Oxford, then under the presidency of Dr. Stanton, and began the classical course, which he completed, along with the elective studies of practical astronomy and calculus, in the year 1872, graduating with the next to the highest average grade in all studies of any in the class of that year, and on account of his abilities as a speaker was by the faculty awarded the "honor speech" on commencement day. While at the university, Mr. Warwick was a member of the Erodelphian Literary Society, holding in turn each of the offices of that organization, and receiving a diploma from it, as well as from the university, which conferred on him at his graduation the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
Mr. Warwick, before this event, began the study of the law, which he pursued after the manner of his school studies, reading and digesting, and on October 25, 1873, was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court at Colom- bns, Ohio. He at once began active practice in all the courts, and has earned that degree of snecess which hard labor in his profession secures.
On September 18, 1879, Mr. Warwick was married to Miss Ida J. MeLinn, daughter of Isaac B. MeLinn and Mrs. Jennie MeLinn, nie Kennedy, daughter of Robert Kennedy and Joan Minor Millikin. Mr. and Mrs. Warwick have a daughter, Hope, to add to the attractions of their home, on Second Street, in Hamilton. Mr. Warwick has never held any political office, although in 1878 he became a candidate before the Democratie Convention for member of the Legislature, but failed to seeare the nomination. He has always been connected with the Democratie party, and since his removal to Ham- ilton has taken a deep interest in its success, and in nearly every campaign canvassed the county in its behalf.
Heury A. Walke was born in Union County, Ohio,
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December 15, 1833, and settled in this eounty in 1877. { of great purity of mind, and highly respected in the He is the son of William Walke and Virginia (Evans) community. Walke. He was married in Port Huron, Michigan, July William R. Whitehead was born in Hamilton, July 18, 1836. He was the son of Robert W. Whitehead and Lavina Wilsey. The former was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1806, being the son of an Englishman who had emigrated to this country. Mrs. Whitchead was born at Albany, New York, of New England parents. Her birth was in 1802. Mr. Whitehead received only the instruction of the average youth and left school early to learn a trade. His original tastes were for draw- ing and painting, but his father put him with a cabinet and pattern maker, which trade he learned and followed for a number of years. His artistic proclivities, how- ever, led him into photography, and he finally bought out Poe Brewer, and started a gallery in Beckett's Block, which he carried on for a number of years. He felt a warm interest in the supremacy of the government in the late national struggle for existence, and sent out a substitute to the war, but did not himself enlist, owing to ill health. 26, 1871, to Maggie A. Kimball, the daughter of David Kimball. She was born in Ontario, Canada, January 2, 1841, and has given him two children. Cora H. was born June 26, 1874, and Frances L. November 22, 1876. By a former marriage he has had Dora E., who was born January 15, 1858; Irena V., December 26, 1860, and . Arthur, October 2, 1867. Dora E. is dead. Mr. Walke was justice of the peace and county commissioner of Lenawee County, Michigan, from 1867 to 1870. Mr. Walke is the inventor of the celebrated fountain pen known by his name, and is the manufacturer. His grand- father, Anthony Walke, served in the War of 1812, and was afterwards a member of Congress. His uncle, Henry Walke, rear-admiral in the United States navy, has been in that service since the age of sixteen, now a period of about fifty years. At the breaking ont of the war he commanded the steamship Supply at Pensacola, bnt was soon transferred to the gun-boat Taylor, with Commodore Foote's fleet. From that he went to the gun-boat Carondelet, running the blockade at Island No. 10, and firing the first guu at Fort Donelson. Mr. Walke's brother William served in the Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry a short time as wagon-master, and afterwards was transferred to take charge of the supply between Louisville and Nashville. He was finally given charge of the hospital at Nashville, and was honorably discharged in 1864. Other brothers were in the hun- dred days' service.
George G. White was born in Virginia, April 24, 1792. At an early age he emigrated with his father to Ohio, and settled near the river, when it was the home of the Indian. In 1796 they set sail on a broadhorn, intending to go down the Mississippi, but were convinced it was highly dangerous, and remained in this section of the State. In 1821 he was married to Miss Jane White, sister of the late Rev. Levi White, of the Cincinnati Conference. He united himself with the Methodist Epis- copal Church in 1815, and remained a consistent member all of his life. In 1824 he moved to Oxford, on the day Dr. Bishop was inaugurated the first president of Miami University. A few years after going there he was ap- pointed postmaster, which he held for a long time, under five or six different administrations, up to that of Presi- dent Buchanan. After that time he acted with the Re- publicans, having previously been a Democrat. He had four sons and four daughters, of whom George W. White, of Hamilton, is the only one living. His last illness was brief and uot severe, his death occurring on the 15th of June, 1867, at the age of seventy-nine. He was an amiable, honest, and intelligent man, with a good literary taste. He was well versed in the best of the English poets and prose writers, quoting them with ease and accuraey. He was a man of high religious character,
He was a prominent member of Hamilton Temple, No. 17, Temple of Honor, and of the Sons of Temper- ance, for a number of years. He was an ardent and de- voted Christian. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, and attained a reputation throughout the county as one of the most successful of primary teachers. His drawing aided him in showing the meaning of the lessons. He was in charge of the primary department of the Baptist school at the time of his death. He married Mary J. Randall, May 5, 1857. She came of a long- lived family of hardy pioneers, who emigrated here from Pennsylvania. She died Angust 10, 1879. At one time he was prominently connected with the sewing-machine interest. He first introduced the Singer machine and started the first sewing-machine wagen for that company in the State. He conducted the large offices at Hami !- ton, Richmond, and Dayton. Mr. Whitehead was a man of the highest character, and was esteemed and respected by all who knew him. He died December 6, 1880.
Americus Symmes is the son of John Cleves Symines, the author of the theory of a hollow inhabited world. of whoni an account is given on an earlier page. Americus Symmes came to Hamilton in March, 1828, on a canal boat, and carried on and cultivated a farm here success- fully. In later years he retired to the neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky, where he is still living. He is an ardent defender of his father's theory, and points to several facts recently discovered as a confirmation of the doctrine.
C. H. Stahler was born in Lehigh County, Pennsyl- vania, April 23, 1843. He is the only living child of Joel and Elizabeth (Shantz) Stabler. He was educated in the common schools in Lehigh County, and completed his education in a commercial college at Allentown. He was brought up to farming, but began to learn the tan-
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ner's trade, which was interrupted by the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, which was after -. wards consolidated with the Ringgold Battery. He re- mained with that command during his first term of enlistment of three years, being in sixteen battles, in- eluding the second Bull Ron. His regiment was attached to Burnside's army corps. He was an inmate of a hos- pital at Covington, Kentneky, some three months, then re-enlisting. On account of physical disability he was sent home for medical treatment. He again went to the front, in Virginia, when his regiment took part in the battle of the Wilderness. He was appointed postmaster of the artillery corps, occupying that position until the end of the war. He took part in the siege of Richmond, and was present at the surrender at Appomattox and at the grand review in Washington.
He served until the close of the war, and with the command was mostered out at Philadelphia, June 13, 1865. He came to Cincinnati in the Fall of 1865, and the next Spring arrived in Hamilton. He entered the employment of Owens, Lane & Dyer, and was with them about a year. He was then a book-keeper for Eli Cook. In the Fall of 1868 he went with M. Weismeyer, and re- mained there until the death of his employer, some three years. He conducted the business for the widow three years longer, until 1872, when he purchased it, and has since carried it on. He is an extensive dealer in family groceries, fresh and salt meats, and provisions.
Mr. Staller was married in 1870, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Philip Lohrey. They are the parents of two sons, Joshna M. and Harry. Mr. Stahler was elected a member of the city council in 1876, and again in 1878, from the Second Ward. He is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, and also of the Masonic order. Mr. Stahler's mother is still living with him, vigorous in mind and body, in her sixty-fourth year.
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Perry D. K. Travis was born in Tylersville, Butler County, August 9, 1848, being the younger son of Amos and Hester R. (Horton) Travis. Amos Travis was a native of Butler County, where he was born Jannary 12, 1805, and was the son of Amos Travis, Sen., one of the pioneers of Union Township. Amos Travis, Jr., reared a family of five children to maturity, who are all living. He was a farmer by occupation. He was an active meni- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His later years were spent at the house of his sou, Captain Travis, in Hamilton, where he died January 12, 1882. Mrs. Hester R. Travis died November 24, 1880.
Captain Travis was a pupil at the common schools in Tylersville, till coming to Hamilton with his parents, in 1861. He completed his education in Hamilton, but was brought up to farming. He was in the employment of a gunsmith a short time, and then was with John C. Holbrook. He stayed with him from November, 1864, till 1875. He was a member of the police force, under
Mayor Maginnis, but was in that position a short time only. He began business for himself, October 14, 1875, in the firm of Travis & Niphardt, an arrangement that lasted for some three years. He then was a member of the house of Travis & Louthan for over a year. In Jonc, 1881, he sold out to Mr. Louthan, then commencing in his present location. He has an excellent trade in gen- eral family groceries. Mr. Travis was married, in 1875, to Miss Lucinda Meyers, and is the father of two sous -- Harry DeKalb and Charles B. He is a member of the Masonic order, and also of the Knights of Pythias.
John Thomas, of Wayne Township, was born there August 27, 1829. He is the son of Benjamin Thomas, born in Maryland, who came to Butler County about 1805, and Anna Good, sister of Henry Good of Trenton. She came to this neighborhood with her parents in 1816. Mr. Thomas was married in Madison Township, Novem- ber 9. 1854, to Maria Miller, daughter of Charles Miller and Catherine Reed. She was born July 23, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have had six children. Benjamin was born November 3, 1856; Anna, March 7, 1858; Ida Alice, February 28, 1861; Elizabeth, May 11, 1864; Charles M., February 4, 1866, and John L., February 21, 1871. Mr. Thomas's wife died March 19, 1882. She was a member of the Methodist Church at Seven- Mile, of which her husband is also a member. He is a leader and steward.
Benjamin F. Thomas, lately probate judge, was born in Liberty Township, Ross County, Ohio, February 19, 1830, and is the son of James and Tamson (Wilkins) Thomas. His education was limited to the merest rudi- ments of the common school branches till he was grown, when he attempted the task of acquiring a collegiate course, which was begun in 1851 and completed in June, 1857, graduating from Miami University with a class of twenty-six. He taught school from 1858 to 1866, at which time he was admitted to practice at the Batler County bar. He came to this county in 1852. He was married on the 24th of September, 1857, to Elizabeth Marston, a native of Butler County, being born near Trenton, daughter of Jeremiah and Mary Ann (Vail) Marston. The mother, who was a native of Ohio, died in 1855. Mr. Thomas was school examiner of Butler County from July, 1863, to September, 1868, and pro- bate judge from February 9, 1876, to the 9th of Febru- ary, 1882.
Judge Thomas's father moved with his father from New Jersey iu 1806 to Ohio, settling on the Scioto River about seven miles east of Chillicothe, where he died in 1879, at the age of seventy-eight years, having reared to manhood eight sons, and to womanhood one daughter. The grandfather, Webster Thomas, was in the War of 1812. Judge Thomas's oldest brother, Webster, was in the Mexican War for about thirteen months as sor- geant, and was also in the War of the Rebellion. He I served from 1862 till the close of the war as captain of
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a company from this county. He was at the capture of Vicksburg, and at numerous other smaller engagements. Another brother, William A., was also in the war for one year as a member of the band connected with Col- onel Campbell's, the Sixty-ninth. Judge Thomas is a trustee of the Lane Free Library.
Baltis B. Rusk was born in 1811, in the State of Maryland, in Baltimore County. His parents were David Louis Rusk and Elizabeth Rusk, and they came to Han- ilton County in 1823, and to Butler County in 1837. Baltis B. Rusk was married, in 1837, to Elizabeth W. Gibson, born in this county in 1819, and the daughter of Robert and Anna Gibson. They raised six boys and five girls. Three of his sons were in the Union army, serving three years. One went through to Savannah, with Sherman, and was in twenty-two battles; one was down on the coast, and one in the Carolinas. His grand- father Rusk was quartermaster to the French division, in Baltimore, in the Revolution. Two great-uncles were in the Revolution, both being wounded at the battle of Brandywine.
Jonathan Rowland settled in this county in 1831. He served as a member of Company H, Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and also in the three months' service. He was married, on the 18th of June, 1865, to Mary Vencan, and has one child, Dora A., boru September 17, 1870.
Charles A. Lee Reed, M. D., was born at Wolf Lake, Noble County, Indiana, July 9, 1856. He is the son of Dr. R. C. Stockton Reed and Nancy Clark Reed. His literary education, aside from that obtained in the public schools, was acquired under private instructors. He re- ceived his medical education in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, where his father was professor of materia medica and therapeutics, graduating February, 1874. His taste for this profession was pronounced in early life, in consequence of which he was put at his medical studies when a mere lad. He first located in Cincinnati, in 1875, but in 1878 removed to Fidelity, Illinois. where he remained in practice till the time of his marriage. He ' then returned to Butler County, settling in Hamilton. He was professor of pathology in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, from 1877 to October, 1878, having been elected to that position by the trustecs. He resigned when he went to Illinois. He was elected pro- fessor of obstetrics and diseases of women in the same institution in June, 1882, and is now discharging the duties of the place. He was elected a member of the Ohio State Medical Society, in 1874, and is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is the editor of the Clinical Brief, formerly the Sanitary News, and has displayed, in its management, industry, learning, and tact. He was married, at Otterville, Illinois, May 30, 1880, to Miss frena A. Dongharty, daughter of John G. Dougharty. The family is Scotch, coming originally from the town of Haddington.
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Celadon Symmes, an old and highly respected citizen of Fairfield Township, was born January 25, 1807, on Section 34, in that township. His father, Celadon Symmes, was one of the earliest settlers in the county. He was a nephew of John Cleves Symmes, the patentee of the Miami lands. The present Celadon Symmes was married October 16, 1828, to Catherine Blackburn. They have had eight children, seven boys and one girl, of whom four survive. They are John Milton, Daniel T., Joseph C., and Aaron B. Mr. Symmes is still in hearty old age, vigorous in mind and body. He has filled many town- ship offices, and for a number of years was infirmary di- rector. When General Harrison went up through this region to the battle of Tippecanoe he-borrowed of Cela- don Symmes, Sen .. a sword and pair of pistols used by Judge John C. Symmes in the war of the Revolution, and which are still in the possession of the family. Mr. Symmes has all his life lived in this township.
Daniel Sortman was born in Dauphin County. Penn- sylvania, November 17, 1809, and is the oldest son of Benjamin Sortman and Mary Stonebreaker. He came hither with his parents on the 1st of October, 1811, set- fling in Hanover Township, where his father was a pio- neer. He reared a family of eleven children. Daniel received a limited education in the common schools, and was brought up on a farm until he was twenty-five. When he was nineteen he learned the trade of a black- smith, and after working as a journeyman one year opened a shop on his father's farm about 1830, renmin- ing there some three years. From there he went to Millville, Ross Township, where he stayed thirteen years. The death of his father oceurring, he returned home, when he carried on the farin for three years. He pui- chased a farm, and conducted it for six years, and then was in Reily Township for eight years. He came to Hamilton to live in 1856, and engaged in mercantile business. Since then he has been in trade in company with his son William., doing an extensive business, as dealers in groceries and provisions. Mr. Sortman was married November 29, 1832. to Elizabeth, daughter of Judge John McCloskey, a former well known resident of Butler County. They are the parents of two sons, Will. iam, a merchant of Hamilton. and Join, who is conduct- ing a flouring mill in this city. He never desired office, and is a self-made man, influential, prosperous, and re- spected. Hle is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a War Democrat.
James Rosaman was born in Brownsville. Pennsvi- vania, November 3. 1802, and is the son of James and Martha Rossman. He came with his parents to Ohio in the Fall of 1806, by way of the Ohio River and Cinein- nati. The family attled in Franklin, Warren County, Ohio. James Rossman was educated in the common schools nuti 1815, then removing to Rossville, now West Hamilton. He entered the employment of Alexander Delorac, then a kading merchant, and was with hies
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until his failure, five years after. Returning to Frank- lin, he commenced learning the saddlery trade with his brother. After completing his time, he worked as a journeyman for two years, and entered the employment of Mr. Lowry as a elerk, at Lebanon. He then entered into business as one of the firm of Skinner & Rossman, in the saddlery business at Lebanon, for two or three years. He returned to Hamilton in 1828, being in part- nership as Taylor & Rossman, in the saddlery line. They did an extensive trade, particularly with Indian agents. They sold out in 1839. He then began a general store on the west side. Afterwards his brother was admitted under the firm name of J. & J. Rossman, which was continued till 1876. Sinee that time he has not been actively in business. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Rossman married, on the 31st of Decem- ber, 1828, Miss Clarissa Crawford, born in Virginia in 1809, on the 16th of December. They are the parents of sight children, of whom but two survive. Three died young. Edward H. was a student at the time of his sudden death, in his nineteenth year, about 1844. Alex- ander C. Rossman was in the civil war. Mrs. Rossman died in December, 1880. .
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Herman Reutti, maltster, and for twenty-five years a resident of Hamilton, was born in Freiburg, province of Baden, Germany, February 5, 1834. He was the son of Carl and Charlotte (Wesser) Reutti. His father died when the son had reached the age of fifteen years. The boy then went to learn the brewing and malt business in his native province, serving an apprenticeship of two years. Desiring greater advantages than could be had at home in this business, he went to Bavaria, and thenee to France, where he spent some time. In 1854, with his widowed mother and the remainder of the family, he set sail for America, landing in New York City. He left his mother at this point, and went on to Cincinnati, where he soon became employed in Schaller & Schiff's brewery. After an absence of ten months, he returned to New York, where he worked for a short time, but becoming dissatisfied with the wages there paid he removed to Sprauton, Pennsylvania, where he was at work for two years.
In 1851 he left Pennsylvania, and calling at New York for his mother, he came direct to Hamilton, where his first, employer was John W. Sohn. who at that time was in the brewing business. He was in Mr. Solin's employment about four years, and for the greater part of this time he filled the position of foreman. In 1856 he, in partnership with Erust and Moritz Jacoby, bought out Mr. Sohn in the brewing business, and under the firm name of Jacoby & Co. conducted the business two years. Then another change took place, Peter Schwab buying eat the Jacobys, and the firm changing to Schwab & Co. Mr. Rentti remained a partner in this concern until 1875, when he sold his interest to Mrs. Schwab, the wife of his partner. Subsequent to this, for
the space of four years he conducted a restaurant and billiard saloon. Then desiring a change of climate and to once more visit the scenes of his early boyhood, he went to Germany, and spent that Summer in his native land. Returning to Hamilton in the Fall, he made ar- rangements to lease the extensive malt house of John Schelley, and in partnership with his son-in-law, Martin Mason, the firm of Rentti & Mason, general maltsters, was formed, and has continued up to the present time. Mr. Reutti was married March 4, 1864, to Mrs. Henri- etta Regner, by whom he had two children.
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