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 17
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Jacob Reister was born in Wirtemberg, Germany, December 25, 1830, being the oldest son of Jacob and Sarah (Krafer) Reister. He received instruction in the common schools in Germany, and was brought up to farming. "He came to America in September, 1853, staying at Cincinnati. He learned the trade of wagon- maker with his uncle, John Krafer, in that city, after- wards working as a journeyman, coming to Butler County in 1857, and here beginning wagon-making and black- smithing. At this he worked for eight years, being suc- cessful, and coming to Hamilton in 1864. Here he built a resideuee at the corner of Fourth and Walnut. He was in the employment of Giffen & Brothers in their lumber yard as foreman for four years. In the Spring of 1873 he began the coal and wood business in Ham- ilton in a small way, removing to his present location on Canal Street in the Fall of 1877. He is now doing an extensive business, employing from six to twelve hands. Mr. Reister married in 1856 Mary Lagua, and had by her two children, George and Louisa. Mrs. Reister died in 1863. The present Mrs. Reister, to whom he was married in 1864, was Miss Katie Isley. Mr. and Mrs. Reister are. the parents of five children : Jacob, Amelia, Dora, John A., and Emma. Mr. Reister and his wife are members of the Zion Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Cordelia S. Quire was born in Harrison County, Indiana, on the 3d of March, 1830. Her maiden name was Fripps, and she was the eighth child of John and Sarah Pripps, out of a family of ten children. Their names were William, Susan, Mary S., Jonathan H., Margaret S., John H., Naney Jane, Cordelia S., Joseph P., and Wilkison B. She was married in 1849 to Charles N. Quire, who was a farmer, and followed that as his vocation until his death on the 7th of August, 1853. They had two children, Charles H., born Feb- ruary 22, 1851, and Joseph S., born August 22, 1853. The Fripps family were from Virginia, where John was born, September 16, 1782, and Mrs. Fripps, September 5, 1792. They came to this county in 1837. Her grandfather, Beverly Spencer, was a private in the Reve- lutionary War, and served completely through that struggle under General Washington.
Philip Rothenbush was born in Hamilton, Butler County, July 1, 1842, being the son of Christian and Dorothy ( Michacl) Rothenbush. Christian Rothenbush
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was a native of Germany, where he was born in 1806, and came to Hamilton in 1828. He was a baker by trade, and carried on that business on the west side of the river until retiring, about 1850. He was a success- ful business man, and built and condneted for many years what is now known as the Butler House. He reared a family of four sons and two daughters, most of them being residents of Butler County. He was a council- man of Rossville one term, and a member of the Masonic order.
Philip Rothenbush went to the common schools in this place and to the academy then kept by Mr. Fnr- man. He was in the employment of his brother as dis- pensing druggist for some six years, until April, 1861, when he enlisted in the company of Captain W. C. Ross- man, Third Ohio Volunteers. He served out his three months' terin of enlistment, and again entered the serv- ice in Company I, Thirty-fifth Volunteers, as orderly sergeant. February 1, 1862, he was promoted to first lieutenant, and on March 30, 1864, to captain. His was the first company to take possession of the Ken- tueky Central Railroad, and its subsequent exploits are mentioned in our history of the Rebellion. Lieutenant Rothenbush was severely wounded at Chickamauga, but stannched his wound and continued in action. No hos- pital existed, every thing having been captured, and dur- ing a lull in battle he was shot again by a sharpshooter, while he was gathering cartridges for his men, as a searcity existed. He received a third wound before leaving the field. He was then led off by his men. In the evening he went to Chattanooga, and remained un- der the care of a surgeon there for some time. After a while he obtained leave of absence for six weeks. He returned to the front January 1, 1864, and went to Ringgold, and from that time on took an active part in the advance of the army. At Peach-tree Creek he had a narrow escape. He served out his term of enlistment, and was mustered out at Chattanooga, September 29, 1864.
He was with his father, in 1865, in the grocery busi- ness, in the First Ward, being there two years. He was married, January 16, 1866, to Miss Ollie M., danghter of Robert Ratliff, a former well known resident of Ox- ford. They are the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter. They are James E., Jennie M., and Clifford E. In 1866, he was assistant United States assessor, and was also United States storekeeper in 1867, 1868, and 1869. He was of the firm of Borger & Roth- enbush, in the fruit business, for two years. In 1871 the firm of Rothenbush & Ratliff was formed, which is still in existence, and does a large and successful business in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and confectionery. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
William Ritchie was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 26, 1839, being the only son of George Ritchie, formerly of that place. He was educated in the public schools, aud when twelve or fourteen began an apprenticeship to
the machinery trade, in Hamilton, where he had come in 1856. He was in the employment of Owens, Lane, Dyer & Co., continuing with them in later years, as superintendent of their works, until they discontinued business, in 1879. He then organized the Ritchie & Dyer Company, manufacturers of saw-mills and road- engines, now employing some forty hands. It is an ex- tensive concern.
Mr. Ritchie was married, in 1870, to Miss Pattie Nifong, who was born in the State of Missouri. They are the parents of one son, Oscar N., who was born in 1874. Mr. Bitebie was elected chief of the fire depart- ment, as an independent candidate, in 1879, for two years. Besides his business life, Mr. Ritebie has a long and honorable record in the last war. He enlisted, in 1861, in the Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after- ward was transferred to the Sixty-ninth. After the battle of Murfreesboro, he was transferred to the engineer corps, where he was placed in charge of the machinery, in connection with the Army of the Cumberland. He made the celebrated march to the sea with Sherman. He more than served out his time, and was mustered out at Savannah, Georgia, in January, 1865. Returning to civil life, he resumed his former position with Owens, Lane & Dyer. He is a self-made man, prosperous and influential. He is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Dr. Silas J. Nicolay was born in Somerset, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1847, being the sen of Frederick and Margaret (Jennings) Nicolay, the lat- ter being a daughter of Colonel Benjamin Jennings, an officer in the Continental army under Washington, cross- ing the Delaware with him and assisting in the capture of a thousand Hessians on the night of December 24, 1776. Mr. Frederick Nicolay is still living in Pennsyl- vania. Dr. Nicolay was a pupil at the common schools until he was fourteen, when he commenced an appren- ticeship of three years at the trade of silversmith. He had acquired the trade in 1864, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Veteran Vol- unteers, participating in the capture of the Weldon Rail- road, and in numerous skirmishes and raids. He was at the battle of Hotel's Run, February, 1865, when the regi- ment suffered a loss of one-third of its men, and in the battles preceding Lee's surrender, also being present at that event. He served until the close of the war, and was discharged at Washington, June 3, 1865.
He came to Ohio in 1865 as a student in the National Normal School at Lebanon, where he remained one year, graduating from that school in. 1868. He engaged ia teaching in Butler and Hamilton Counties till 1871. In 1870 he entered the office of Dr. William Jones, at Montgomery, Hamilton County, remmining there till 1871, when he commenced a three years' course at the Ohio Medical College. He graduated from that institu- tion March 1, 1874, then beginning the practice of his
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profession at Mercer, Illinois, in connection with an older. brother, Dr. William J. Nicolay. He continued there till September, 1880, when he came to Hamilton, pur- chasing the business formerly carried on by Hilker & Son, and dealing extensively in drugs, medicines, paints, oils, books, stationery, and fancy articles.
Dr. Nicolay was married in 1875 to Miss Margaret Parrish, daughter of Jared Parrish, a former well-known resident of Westchester, Butler County. They are the parents of one daughter, Helen, born August 6, 1881. Hle is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Odd Fel- lows, and the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church.
William Arthur Nichols was born in Hamilton County, Indiana, in 1839, being the son of George and Margaret Nichols. He was married in Dayton, Ohio, in 1870, to Mildred Wiley, daughter of Thomas and Mildred Wiley, who was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, in 1851. They have five children. Maggie was born in 1871; Harry, in 1873; Nellie, in 1875; Blanche, in 1877; and Paul, in 1880. Mr. Nichols enlisted in the Eighty-sixth In- diana Volunteers, in 1862, and served nearly three years. Two brothers enlisted in 1864, and were out till the close of the war. Mr. Nichols came to Hamilton in 1874, and is the principal of the Ohio Commercial College.
Joseph W. Myers was born in Hamilton, August 26, 1843, being the son of Peter and Mary J. (Ward) My- ers. Peter Myers was a native of Pennsylvania, being born in 1815. He came to Ohio about 1837 and engaged in building. He brought up to maturity five sons, four of whom were members of the Union army during the Rebellion. But two of these sons survive-Joseph W. and Edward, also of Hamilton. Peter Myers is still liv- 'ing, acting as an assistant foreman in the building depart- ment at the Soldiers' Home, at Dayton. Joseph W. Myers 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 en- listed in Company D, Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, and participated with it in nearly all its engagements. At the battle of Perryville he was a sergeant. During the battles of Chickamauga and Mission Ridge he was engaged on detached duty, recruiting for the regiment. At Buzzard's Roost he had command of the company, and took part in the siege of Atlanta. He was mus- tered out with the regiment September 10, 1864.
Returning home he again went to work as a carpen- ter. He was engaged in the broom manufacturing busi- ness in Indianapolis in 1867 and 1868, and carried on the confectionery business in Hamilton for some years. He was elected city street commissioner in 1875, and tilled that position for two years, then being a builder and contractor till 1879, when he was appointed captain of the police force, acting as such for two years. In An- gust, i881, he entered the employment of Bentel, Mar- gedant & Co., and is still with theu. Mr. Myers mar-
ried in 1870 Miss Mary Stafford. He was captain of the fire department from 1869 to 1879, and is now cap- tain of the Veteran Guards, an organization connected with the Grand Army of the Republic. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, and Mrs. Myers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His administration as street commissioner was marked by its economy, saving the city some eleven thousand dollars during his term.
Robert C. Mckinney was born in Troy, New York, January 20, 1852, being a younger son of Robert and Mary Mckinney. With his parents he came to Cin- cinnati in 1861, where he attended the public schools, and was 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 Manufacturing 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. Mr. Mckinney was married in the Fall of 1879 to Miss Nellie, daughter of William Beckett. Mr. and Mrs. MeKinney are members of the United Presbyterian Church.
Joseph J. MeMaken, city elerk, was born in Union Township, January 10, 1848. He is the youngest child of Mark C. and Martha (MeCracken) MeMaken. His family are among the oldest settlers in the county, hav- ing been here eighty-seven years, and his father is the oldest living native of the county. He was educated in the public schools in Hamilton, being occupied in farm- ing for some time. He entered the United States Navy in the Fall of 1862, being in the lower Mississippi squadron, on the steamer Benton, at Vicksburg and Grand River. Ill health compelled his removal to the hospital at Memphis, where he remained three months, then being discharged for disability. In December, 1864, he returned home, and entered the Miami University in 1866. Ile was there four years, and graduated in 1870. He read law in the office of James E. Campbell, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. The state of his health, however, did not permit him to practice. He became connected with the Cincinnati Enquirer about 1875 as a local writer. He now controls the branch office in Ham- ilton. He was appointed United States commissioner in 1876, and still occupies the position, and he is also city clerk, being elected to that place in 1881. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married in 1871 to Miss Sarah Belie MeElwee.
Mrs. Charlotte McGuire was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 9, 1814, and was the oldest daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Cameron. She received her eineation in subscription schools, and lived with her mother until her marriage, August 7, 1835, to James McGuire, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born in 1803. He came to Ohio in 1834, and was connected with a paper mill, in
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various capacities, till 1848, when he formed a partner- ship with Kline and Erwin, under the firm name of McGuire, Kline & Erwin, the present Skinner & Tweed- ale mill. He was eonneeted with that mill, under dif- ferent firm names, as long as he was living, and was one of its originators. He always declined office. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church at the time of his death, and had been an active member of the Masonie order. He was of a retired, quiet disposition, and was a Democrat in polities, but supported the war earnestly. He was a successful and esteemed gentleman. He died August 6, 1874. Mrs. McGuire is very pleas- antly located, and is an intelligent lady.
Robert Barbour Millikin, clerk of the courts of But- ler County, was born in this city March 21, 1844. He is the son of Thomas Millikin, and grandson of Dr. Robert B. Millikin, and his mother was Mary Van Hook, danghter of William B. Van Hook. He attended school in Hamilton, and afterwards was two years at the Park Latin School, Boston, Massachusetts. On leaving there, he entered Miami University, where he was two years, then enlisting in the Ninety-third Regiment, on July 16, 1862. He was promoted to be second lieutenant May 6, 1864, and first lieutenant May 31, 1864. He resigned on account of disability November 22, 1864. He began business as a manufacturer of implements and machinery at Hamilton in 1865, in the firm of Millikin & Co., now Millikin & Ciste. He was clerk of the eity of Hamilton for six years from 1875, and is now the elerk of the courts of Butler County. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Knights of Honor. He was married at Piqua, Ohio, August 16, 1865, to Carrie E. Brandon, daughter of Abel and Martha Brandon, pio- neer settlers of Miami County, Ohio.
David Mering was born in Morgan Township, June 10, 1836. Ile is the son of John and Mary E. (Botten- burg) Mering. John Mering was born in Maryland in 1799, and came to Ohio in 1819, settling the next year on the place in Morgan Township now owned by Evan Evans. He was married in Morgan in 1820, and raised a family of eight children, of whom five are living. Two died in infancy. Jolin George enlisted in an Illi- nois infantry regimeut, and was killed in battle at Jack- son, Tennessee, in 1864. Two of his daughters are resi- deuts of Butler County. John Mering was an active militia man, an ardent Whig, and a prominent member of the Congregational Church .. At the time of his death he was a member of the Lutheran Church. He was a mil- ler by trade, and conducted the Smith Mills, which he owned for many years. He died October 29, 1849.
David Mering was educated iu the common schools, was at Farmers' College for the years 1852 and 1853, and afterward was two years at Franklin College, Indiana. He taught school some two years in Warren and Mont- goinery Counties, and also in Indiana. He was brought
up to farming and milling. He was married, in 1858, to Miss Mary E. Crockett, daughter of Marmaduke Crockett, a relative of the colonel. After a residence of one year in Minnesota, he located in Warren County, at Springboro, where he is engaged in mercantile business, also having been postinaster for the past ten years. He was a licensed preacher of the Gospel in Indiana, but is now a member of the Methodist Church, in which he has been made a local preacher. In 1862 Mr. Mering en- listed as a recruit in Company HI, Fifth Ohio Cavalry, and participated in its engagements. He served till the close of the war, and was honorably discharged June 29, 1865. He is a member of the Masonic order.
John MeKee, late postmaster of Hamilton, was born in Kentucky, February 20, 1829. His parents were William and Louise MeKee. The father is still living, bat the mother, whose maiden name was Stip, died Feb- ruary 21, 1881. They came to this county in 1844. Mr. McKee's grandfather, Johu MeKee, was in the Revolu- tionary War. The late John McKee was married to Sarah J. Beckett, daughter of Robert Beckett and Mary Crawford, September 24, 1861. Robert Beekett died March 11, 1863, aged sixty-nine years, and Mrs. Beckett died in August, 1873, aged seventy-eight. He came to this county in 1805, and she in 1812. Mr. and Mrs. McKee had three children. Mary L. was born October 18, 1865; Ellen, September 2, 1868; and David B., February 11, 1871, dying the same day.
When the war broke out Mr. McKee went out as captain of Company K, Thirty-seventh Indiana. At the battle of Stone River, December 31, 1862, he was wounded, afterward being unable to do any more active service. He therefore resigued, having served his country for two years and two months. He was brought up as a farmer, but for six years before entering the army was a school-teacher. He graduated at Williams College, iu 1855, the year before President Garfield. He was ap- pointed postmaster September 8, 1873, and held the position for eight years. Hi successor was appointed on the 30th of January, 1882, and within three or four weeks Mr. McKee died. His health had been deplor- able for a long time. He was an elder in the United Presbyterian Church, and was a man of great probity of character.
Lot D. Northrup was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, August 6, 1837, being the son of Joseph and Alice (Van Sands) Northrap. He remained on the farm at home until he was of age. In the Fall of 1858 he began as a clerk in a shoe store at Middletown, Con- necticut. He returned home, and afterwards traveled some years on pleasure and business combined. In 1863 or 1869 he came to Ohio, entering the employment of 1. Benninghofen & Co., as traveling salesman, and con- tinued with this house some four years. In the Spring of 1874 he began business in fuel, lime, and cenieat, in a small way. The business is now much larger, and
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embraces dealings in coal, lime, cement, and lath. He employs a number of men and a good many teams. He was married in 1874 to Elizabeth Protze, and they have three daughters. Frances Elizabethi was born July 16, 1876; Georgiana, July 20, 1879; and Josephine Alice, February 8, 1882. Mrs. Northrup is a member of the Lutheran Church. He is a charter member of the Royal Arcanum. Mr. Northrup was elected a mem- ber of the board of education in 1878, and served two years from the Second Ward. He resides on Greenwood Avenue, in a house which he recently built.
Lucien C. Overpeck, photographer, was born in St. Clair Township, May 15, 1853. He is the son of Daniel and Rachel ( Warwick) Overpeck, both natives of Butler County. His father was a farmer. The son attended common school, and at the age of fifteen began to learn photography at home, in a shed at the rear of the house, making his own skylight out of a window frame. He always had a mechanical turn of mind, and a desire to learn photography. In 1870 he entered a drug store at Trenton, where he remained three years. During his spare moments he practiced photography, and read much relating to the subject. He made a special study of chemistry with the one iden in view of practicing his chosen art. In the Summer of 1873 he rented the old Brant gallery, which had been vacant for some time, where he has continued ever since, his stoek and capital being forty dollars. He has made a great success. His pictures are distinguished for clearnes, and distinctness of outline, harmony, and softness of detail, uniting them with an excellent knowledge of light and shade. He is a member of the Photographers' Association of America. 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 there, and learning any new things that might have
lately originated. Ju January, 1882, he united with the Odd Fellows. He was one of the charter members of the Hamilton Harmonic Society, aud was one of the thirty-five who went from Hamilton to open the great Music Hall in Cincinnati. He is very fond of music, and has attained a great proficiency in it. The family, consisting of four brothers and one sister, each play an instrument. He is now leader of the Hamilton Glee Club.
Oakey V. Parrish was born in Westchester, in this county, October 16, 1844. His parents were Jared Parrish, who was born in Kentucky, and Phebe Van Hise, horn in New Jersey. He attended the common schools in Westchester, and entered Miami University in 1861, remaining there until 1864, when he entered Dela- ware University, staying till 1865. In 1866 he went into business in Dayton, and from there, in 1867, re- moved to Cincinnati, and engaged in the sewing-machine business. In 1869 he came to Hamilton, and has re- sided here ever since. He is engaged in the sewing-
machine and ice business. On the 2d of May, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Ohio, at Oxford, and was honorably discharged September 8, 1864. He is a member of the Methodist Church. He was married October 7, 1868, to Augusta S. Curtis.
John Pascal Paoli Peck, M. D., was born at Rich- mond, Ontario County, New York, August 15, 1820. 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 Bar- celona, Spain, and the maternal great-grandmother was an American lady of Scotch and Irish parentage. The ancestors on the father's side were English with a mix- ture of French blood, the first, William Peck, emigrating to this country in 1635, and being one of the founders of Norwich, in that colony.
John P. P. Peck was educated in the common schools and at Mayville Academy, Mayville, New York. He began the study of medicine in Mayville, in 1838, and attended the Geneva Medical College, at Geneva, New York, securing his diploma in 1841, in March. He is full of self-denial and perseverance, and was obliged to earn the money to get his education. He was clerk in a drug-store in the Simmers, to help pay his board and tuition, and he taught school in the Winters. He had a taste for commercial business from his boyhood, and was diverted from that course by his desire to get an educa- tion. He began practice in Warren County, Pennsyl- vania, in 1841, and removed to Sharon, Ohio, in 1843, where he followed his profession for ten years longer, having succeeded so well as to be able to begin dealing in real estate and money loaning. His success continned, and in 1856 he removed to the city of Hamilton, and opened a private bank, which he successfully carried on till 1862, when he organized, in connection with its present cashier, J. B. Cornell, and S. D. Fitton, assist- ant cashier, and other prominent and wealthy gentlemen, the First National Bank of Hamilton, and was elected one of the directors and its first cashier. While in the business of banking he purchased the West Hamilton Flonring Mills, and carried on the manufacture of flour. He also had some transactions in real estate, and in 1861 he purchased and controlled the Hamilton Telegraph, a weekly newspaper, for a brief period, turning it to the support of the war for the Union.
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