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 20
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Nelson Williams was born in Champaign County, Ohio, on the 23d of March, 1853, being the oldest child of George and Margaret Williams. He went to the conimon schools until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered Piqua High School, there remaining two years. He then taught school until he was twenty-one. He had previously been reading law, and at that age en- tered the office of Israel Williams, in Hamilton. He was admitted to the bar iu April, 1876, and continued
with Israel Williams, engaged in practice, until July, 1881. He was married in 1880 to Miss Susie, daughter of Dr. Henry Mallory, an old and well-established physi- cian of the West Side. Mr. Williams is an active and rising member of the Butler County bar, and has already attained much success.
William Yeakle was born in Butler County, October 29, 1834, and is the oldest son of Jacob and Margaret (Sortman) Yeakle. The former was a native of Penn- sylvania, and came to Ohio in the early years of the present century. and married a daughter of Bernhard Sortman, raising a family of six children to maturity. He died in 1844. Mrs. Margaret Yeakle, now the widow of Christopher Doner, is still living and in vigor- ous health. William Yeakle was educated in the con- mon schools of Butler County. When sixteen he com- menced an apprenticeship at the cabinet trade, which lasted for. three years. He continued as a journeyman three years. He entered the employment of Stephen Hughes, in the manufacture of bran dusters in 1855, and continued with him till 1869, when the firm of Stephen Hughes & Co. was formed, consisting of Mr. Hughes and Mr. Yeakle. It is now known as the Ste- phen Hughes Manufacturing Company, aud of this Mr. Yeakle is vice-president. It was incorporated in Febru- ary, 1882. Their bran duster takes the lead of anything manufactured, having a large sale. They employ a number of hands.
Mr. Yeakle was married October 16, 1860, to Eliza- beth, daughter of Jacob Galloway. They are the parents of eight children, six now living. They are Lurella, Sarah Elva, Maggie, William Stephen, Wilson G., and Robert R. Mr. Yeakle is a member of the Odd Fellows.
Charles H. Zwick was born in Williamsburg, New York, December 14, 1849, being the younger son of Christian and Mary Zwick. He came with his parents to Ohio in 1858, locating in Hamilton, where he attended the public schools. He received a limited education. having improved his opportunities by study and reading since. He entered a mercantile establishment at Ports- mouth, Ohio, a few years after, where he remained for some seven years as salesman. In 1872 or 1873 he re- turned to Hamilton, and entered the employment of Fit- ton Bros., where he remained for a year and a half. In September, 1873, Mr. Zwick commenced business in his present location, iu a comparatively small way, iu mil- linery and fancy dry goods. His trade has increased to a large extent, and he has added to his assortment dry goods and carpets. Mr. Zwick was married in 1872 to Miss R. B. Ruoff. They are the parents of one sou. Carl, born February 27, 1880. They are members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Zwick is of the firm of Charles H. Zwick & Co., which is engaged in the manufacture of woolen hosiery and mittens, em- ploying from eighty to one hundred hands. This was an " industry established iu 1880.
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REILY. 409
REILY.
REILY TOWNSHIP lies north of Morgan, south of Oxford, west of Hanover, and east of the State of Indi- ana. It was organized in December, 1807. The town- ship was named after John Reily. It originally formed a part of St. Clair. Some of the first settlers in the town- ship were named Allhand, Anthony, Baldwin, Burget, Baird, Burk, Clark, Chase, Conkling, Clem, DeCamp, Deneen, Housel, Halstead, Hancock, Jones, Lindley, Montgomery, Morris, Miller, Pierson, Ross, Sample, Thompson, Trimbley, Welliver, and Stevens.
The justices of the peace have been Ithamar White and William Mitchell in 1808; Ithamar White and John Burke in 1811; the same in 1813 and 1814; Daniel Trimbly in 1816; John Burke in 1817; Daniel Trimbly in 1819; John Burke from 1820-23; Daniel Trimbly again in 1824-25; John Burke in 1826; Daniel Allhands in 1828; John Burke in 1829; in 1831, Daniel Allhands; John Clark and John Johnson in 1832; in 1833, Samuel Port; in 1834, Amos Larison, and in 1835, Jacob Miller and David Lindley; in 1836, Isaac Clark; in 1838, Amos Larison and Jacob Miller; in 1839, Isaac Clark; Amos Larison in 1841, also Samuel Trimbly; 1842, Elias H. Gaston; in 1844, Alexander Ogle and W. P. De- neen; and in succeeding years, James B. Trimbly, Silas C. Stewart, Thomas W. Lawrence, P. J. B. Welliver, Thomas Smith, Joseph W. Frazee, William L. Lane, John W. Owens, G. W. Welliver, L. D. Hancock, L. C. Addison. and Alonzo Urmston.
In 1841 there were nine school districts in the town- ship and $1,206 annually collected for school purposes. The population in 1820 was fourteen hundred and fifty- one; in 1830, eighteen hundred and thirty-two; in 1840, seventeen hundred and fifty-eight. Reily post-office was the only one in the township in 1844.
TOPOGRAPHY.
Indian Creek passes through . Reily Township from north-west to south-east. Its principal tributaries are Little Indian, which Hows from the west, taking its rise in the neighborhood of Peoria. Chase's Run flows from the north, and takes its name from Valentine Chase, a pioneer in this part of the township. Mr. Chase entered the south-east quarter of Seetion 5, the same quarter on which the Indian Creek Baptist Church stands. Further rast is Boone's Run, also an affluent of Indian Creek. This creek took its name from a distant relative of Dan- iel Boone, who settled in this region far back in the 20%. Reserve Run flows from the north through See- tions 5 and 6, emptying muto Indian Creek one-quarter of a mile below Reily. Indian Creek has a bottom
some three-quarters of a mile in width, which is very fertile. These bottoms are very fine lands for raising corn. It was along this stream and its tributaries, in the opening of Indian Creek Valley to agriculture, that such fine crops were raised. The other streams named have no bottoms of any size. In the south-west corner of the township the lands are well adapted to agricultural purposes. The soil is a dark, rather heavy loam, inclined to be wet. When drained it produces the best of crops. The north-east corner is broken some- what, and not so well adapted to farming; the soil is clayish generally. In the vicinity of Ogleton and Woods' Stations the surface is flat, and the soil a dark loam, naturally wet. All kinds of timber abounded bere when the first settlements were made. There has been a very great quantity of good timber destroyed, but there is still standing a sufficient forest for many years. This town- ship, like Morgan and Hanover, was plentifully supplied with pea vines along the creek bottoms in early times. The undergrowth was mainly spice bushes. Many boop- poles were ent from the forests when still-houses were running their best. Flour barrels, as well as whisky barrels, commanded a good price in those days, and it is said "a cooper-shop was kept going on every section."
The first white child buried in Reily Township was Thomas D., son of George and Nancy Allhands, who died March, 1803, and was buried in a grave-yard on Sec- tion 9, a few rods south-west of the center, on a farm now owned by Colonel William Stephens, one hundred and fifty yards due cast from the house. In 1837 there were thirty-three graves here, two of them being colored people. Bat one tombstone was erceted in this grave- yard-an old sandstone, which now lies on the ground. This child was scalled to death by hot sugar water. There have been no burials here since 1837. The yard is now under a state of cultivation.
In 1807 there were but three or four houses frem where the Miami was crossed at Venice and Brookville. From where James Stephens settled, in 1809, on the south-east quarter of Section 7, to Brookville, a distance of fourteen miles, there was not a single house. Andrew Lewis, below Reily, was the first settler below Stephens's and Venice for a number of years. During the years of 1808, 1809; and 1810 there were many families who came here from all sections. In 183-4 there were three hundred and thirty six voters in the township. There are now about four hundred voters, a very small gain in nearly fifty years.
In 1805 there was a powerful combination of ho se- thieves at work in this and adjoining townships. The
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
line extended from New Orleans to Canada, and had en- listed in the business all grades of men. Blind stables were used to conceal stolen goods. One formerly stood on the west side of Indian Creek, about a mile below the Baptist Church, and was in a very secluded place. It could have been discovered only by mere accident. Horses were stolen, hidden here for a short time, and then taken off during the night to other stables, which had been previously notified of their coming. This kind of enter- prise was carried on so extensively that the settlers finally broke up the gang, in 1815, by hanging a number of the leaders.
ROADS.
One of the first and most prominent roads in the town- ship led from Millville through what is now Bunker Hill, but then Dog Town, on to Reily, up the creek, and dis- appeared from the State in the south-west section of Ox- ford Township. This road was a great outlet to the counties along the State line, teamsters and drovers tak- ing this route to Cincinnati. Hundreds of white-covered wagons made the trip to the Queen City on this road yearly, with the familiar four-horse team hauling whisky and flour. Hog driving began early in October and lasted until March. The growing of hogs was a lucrative busi- less. Many a man made his fortune in raising corn, fattening hogs, and driving them to Cincinnati. The mast, which in those days never failed, greatly assisted in producing pork. Hogs were branded and turned loose in the woods to . feed for months. They never became very fat, but were will, many a narrow escape having been made from their ferocity. In driving to market .. two or three weeks were often consumed, men returning covered with mud and pockets filled with bank notes or silver. The road generally taken in early times was by the way of Layhigh.
Another road, described, in Morgan Township, was called the post-road, leading from Lawrenceburg, Indi- ana, to Oxford, Ohio. It was of less importanee, because leading to no large markets. Mails were carried over this route every fortnight, in a pair of saddle-bags thrown behind a horseman.
The county road from Hamilton to Oxford cut the north-cast corner of the township, oue fork taking the direction of Oxford from Stillwell's Corner, the other following the township line between Oxford and Reily Townships to the State line.
There was another road which followed the section line, one mile north of the south side of the township, as far east as the road leading from Sayres's saw-mill to the Laylagh road to Venice. This road was used a great deal by the people who lived along its route. During the last forty years there have been many changes.
MILLES.
About 1808 or 1809 Robert Denney built an under- shot, sawmill at Bunker Hill. The same mill, or one on
the same site, is now running. This mill finally passed into the hands of Elias Sayres, who also had a carding. machine, fulling-mill, and a machine for weaving and spinning. These establishments ran from 1825 to 1834.
One of the first blacksmiths at Bunker Hill was Henry Garver, who was here from 1825 to 1830. He was a man of considerable mechanical skill. and was well liked by his customers.
There was a grist-mill here, owned by John Kinsey, about 1820. The millwrights were James and Robert Nelson. The mill stood on the south side of the road, a hundred feet above the iron bridge. Two of the millers were Perry Orendorff and Mr. MeFreely, who were hired by Kinsey. This was an undershet mill, which run for about fifteen years. Some of the other owners were John Seudder, Obadiah Welliver, and Samuel Haslet. A part of this mill is now standing.
A school-house was ereeted in 1809 or 1810, in the northern or upper end of Bunker Hill, on the north. side of the pike. Two of the teachers were Messrs. Noble and Harris .. Some of the early settlers in Bunker Hill were Obadiah Welliver, who was here about 1810; Thomas Burke, here in 1808; John Israel and John Kinsey, later; James Deneen and Siias Anderson, both on the other side of the Universalist Church.
It is said that Bunker Hill was called Dog Town, be- cause, when the place first began to assume the propor- tions of a village, a fierce dog-fight took place at Kinsey's mill, hence the result.
Abraham and James Thompson built a still-house on Philip's Fork, above Seipio oue-half mile, in 1818, or abont that time. In 1820 James Beard bought out the Thompson brothers, who were from Pennsylvania. This still-house was built of round logs, and was thirty by twenty feet; the capacity was one barrel per day. Corn was ground at neighboring mills on Dry Fork. Beard, as soon as he became owner of the site, erected a hewed- log house, forty-one by forty feet, one story high. He ground his corn by horse power. This still-house con- tinned to run for about twenty-five years.
Mr. Shillings was the first blacksmith in the north- western corner of the township in 1815. His shop was on a farm, which afterwards belonged to John Wehr, in the south-east quarter of Seetion 7. Shillings had a large family of girls and one son. He died at his place of business.
There was a store in 1821 and 1822, kept by Thomas Chase, exactly where Samuel King now lives, which lasted for five or six years.
Elijah Vanness had a saw-mill on Indian Creek in 1836, on the north-west quarter of Section 5; Philetus Munson had another at the same time on the north-west. quarter. On Section 9 George Allhands built a 31W- mill, which was soll, with a considerable portion of land, to Colonel William Stephens, who, with his large family, did an immense business for many years. John Burke
REILY. 411
had a mill on Indian Creek in 1825, on the north-west quarter of Section 22, where he ground corn and wheat. All of these mills have disappeared.
A very prominent tavern for hog-drivers was at John - Wehr's, two and three-quarter miles above Reily, on the pike now, then on the old county road, in the south-east quarter of Seetion 7. Wilson V. Ragsdill was an old tavern-keeper on this road, near St. Charles, then the leading and most direct route to Cincinnati, but which, after leaving St. Charles, was known as the Trace road.
Union school was commenced iu 1816 by the neigh- bors who lived in the north-western corner of the town- ship, and who erected a hewed log house on a lot of two aeres, donated by Maxwell Parkerson, in the south-east corner of seetion six. The Walker Chapel Church hell many of its first services here ; also the Indian Creek Baptist Chureb. Parkerson came here in 1806, from Virginia. Their teachers in early times were John Elliott, a pen- sioned Revolutionary soldier, from New York State; Robert Riggs, of Maine; Alfred Chamberlain, of New York State, who "was the best grammarian ever in this part of the county; " Winson Lusk, of Virginia, and John Ferguson. Among the scholars were James, Will- iam, Levi, Andrew, and Lurene Stephens, children of James Stephens, a pioneer of 1809; Collin, William, E.l- ward and John Forbes; Randall, Rebecca, and John Wes- ley; Maxwell Johnson; Eleazer, Rodney, Mayhew (who was named after his father), Franklin, James, Rebecca, and Malinda Donham. The oll hewed log-house was used for thirty-five years. The present brick building, school district No. 3, is almost on the same site.
BEMGIOUS MATTERS.
The Bunker Hill Universalist Church was organized in 1845 or 1846, with Elias Sayres, J. C. Welliver, Hi- ram and David Pearson, Samuel Guruer, Sr., and brother William, John Creaginiles, Noah Sayers, George Gar- ner, and several of the Rosses, for its first members. The land on which the church stands, as well as where the graveyard is, was owned by Alexander Deneen. The house was erected in 1857 by Elijah Ross, contractor. Before the church was built, meetings were held in a franie school-house, built in 1852, on the south side of the road, at the foot of the hill near the creek, at the junction of the St. Charles and Millville Roads. Among the preachers were the Revs. Messrs. Bruce, Wm. Curry. B. B. Bennett, who also supplied the Oxford Church ; William Brooks, of New York; W. Emnictt, Mr., Bid- dle, who came from Dayton, Ohio; E. K. Brush, Mr. Grandy, Mr. Tucker, and others. The present minister is the Rev. J. P. Mebeau, of Hamilton. There are now about sixty members. The largest membership was reached iu 1859, when there were one hundred and thirty- four. This Church suffered greatly on account of the war, many members taking up arms for their country. Preaching is had here the thinl Sabbath in every mouth.
From about fifty interments in the burying ground we take the following:
Michael Pressler, born in: Berks County Pennsylvania, May 26, 1792; died February 7, 1866. Sasanna Bressler, born February 27, 1797; died April 5, 1866. Obadiah Wil- liver, born September 19, 1777; died September 15, 1839. Hannah Welliver, born October 3, 1780; died July S, 1809. These two people were the parents of largo and respect.i- ble posterity, many of whom still reside in this vicinity. Margaret Trembly, died April 23. 1861, aged 65 years, eight months, and 11 days. The Tremblys were also early mem- bers of this Church. Abraham Balser died June 6, 1858, aged 72 years. Elizabeth Balser died December 23, 1859, aged 72 years. Michael Burgett died June 22, 1857, aged 40 years and 1 day.
For a number of years a good Sunday-school has been in successful operation at this plaec. The furniture of the church is quite modern, and every thing has the ap- pearance of neatness and prosperity. The church is a frame, capable of senting three hundred people. These inscriptions are from a private yard, one mile above Reily, near the line which divides sections sixteen and seventeen, about ten rods south of the present pike, ten feet west of the seetion line :
In memory of Eleanor, wife of James Post, who de- parted this life December 17, 1841, aged 82 years and nin. months. James Post died July 28, 1646, aged Số years. 10 months and 28 days. Further ap the pike, near the old road, below Walker Chapel half a mile, in a private groumi among a clump of cedars are, John Wehr, a native of Sont- erset County, Pennsylvania, who died Jannary 25. 1:53, aged 73 years, one month and 17 days. Sarab, wife of John Wehr, died May 12, 1866, in the 77th year of her age. Mr. Wehr was an early tavern-keeper.
The Washington Methodist Episcopal Church was or- ganized in 1819, by Russel Bigelow, at a dwelling-house one-fourth of a mile south-west of the place where the church now stands. Charles Stewart was appointed class-leader, in which capacity he served for many years. He was a member of this Church at the time of his death, which occurred December 24, 1854, aged 73 years and 22 days. His body is in the graveyard at St. Charles, a village that was named in honor of this pioncer. The Rev. Benjamin Lawrence, who was one of the pioneer preachers. also sleeps in the same yard ; died September 7, 1955, aged 74 years. For several years after its or- ganization, the Church worshiped in the house where it was organized. It afterwards occupied a log school-house in St. Charles, just west of where the cemetery is en- tered, ou the same side of the road. In 1834, during the pastorate of the Rev. C. W. Swain and the Rev. J. Water- man, Washington Chapel was created; dedicated the. same year. The contractor was Levi Spark, who at ; that time had a saw mill a short distance below scipio. The groand on which the church stands was given by Matthew Moorhead. There was a great deal of strife among the members of the society concerning the ben- tion of this house. Mr. Stewart proposed to give a
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
building-site near St. Charles, but the proposition was disregarded, principally through the influence of Mr. Lawrence, and a local preacher by the name of Powers, who afterwards became a Mormon saint. There was a time when Washington was the strongest society on the circuit, but from lukewarmness, deaths, removals, and dissensions, it is now the weakest. During the late war the house became very much out of repair. In 1865 a new roof was put on it, and in 1868 the ceiling was re- plastered.
The Washington Sunday-school was organized as many as forty years ago. Samuel Stewart was one of the first superintendents. There were about forty scholars. Exercises consisted mainly in the recital of verses, which had been memorized, and for which the best scholar re- ceived a reward ; reading portions of Scripture in concert, and singing.
Some of the first members of the Church were Charles Stewart and wife, Jauc and Matthew Moorhead, Nathan- iel Mecker and wife, James Emerson and wife, Michael and Rachel Mecker, Benjamin and his wife Margaret Stites, Robert Bell, Aaron Powers, Jouathan Richmond and wife, the Rev. Mr. Lawrence and wife.
The following inscriptions from tombstones are taken from the St. Charles Cemetery :
Sacred to the memory of David Bell, who departed this life July 18, 1834, in the 60th year of his age. Margaret, consort of David Bell, died July 10, 1834, in her 55th year. Emanuel Burget, died February 4, 1822, in the 46th year of his age. In memory of David Williams, who departed this life April 22, 1821; aged 51. Thomas Faucett, died Septem- ber 30, 1856; aged 56. Abigail, wife of Thomas Faucett, died September 15, 1847; aged 67. Lare, consort of John Fitzgerald, died September 3, 1839; aged 50. John Fitz- gerald, died August 19, 1839; aged 48. Margaret, wife of Benjamin Stites, departed this life December 28, 1828; aged 25. Sacred to the incinory of Esther, consort of Matthew Moorhead, who departed this life January 1, 1833; aged 48. Eleanor, wife of Garret Van Ausdall, departed this life De- cember 15, 1844; aged 72. Jonathan Richmond, died July 1., 1835; aged 57. Barbara, wife of Jonathan Richmond, died June 8, 1851; aged 64. Both of these inscriptions are - on the same tombstone. Esther, wife of Nathaniel Meeker, a Revolutionary soldier of 1776, died March 29, 1834; aged 74. Michael A. Thomson, died May 28, 1857 : aged 59. Wilson V. Ragsdill, died May 4, 1853, in the 60th year of his age. Mary, wife of Wilson V. Ragsdill, died March 10, 1854; aged 50. Rachel C., wife of James Emerson, died January 17, 1855 ; aged 61. John Keever, died Angust 4, 1803; aged 96. Lydia, wife of John Keever, died June 30, 1859, in the 78th scar of her age. Daniel P. Inloes, died June 26, 1864; aged 70. Catharine, wife of Daniel P. Inloes, died November 12, 1873; aged 74. Benjamin Wynn, died May 15, 1876; aged 85. Nancy, wife of Benjamin Wynn, died Jnue 29, 1879, aged 86.
The Walker Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as early as 1550 at the houses of the first members. About the same time this Church received a lot ou which to build a house of worship. This lot ad-
joined the one on which school-house No. 4 stands, one mile north-east of the present Church. Until 1844 or 1845 the society worshiped in the school-house. This lot was then sold, and the proceeds applied in payment of the lot on which the chapel now stands. This church was built in 1845, and dedicated by the Rev. George W. Walker, for whom the chapel was named. During the last three years of the civil war it enjoyed considerable prosperity. James T. Faucett and Henry Cubberly have contributed greatly to the advancement of this soeicty. It is now next to Ebenezer in importance as an ap- pointment on the circuit. George Allhands was one of the early class-leaders, and services were held on his farm as early as 1818. Dr. Andrew King and James Stephens were the principal originators of this society. James Stephens owned the land on which the church stands, and also where the graveyard now is. Among the early members were, Caleb Stephens, Elisha Landon, Jacob Hansel, William Anthony, Mr. Mack, and Mi- cajah Anthony, with their wives. Aaron Powers was one of the first preachers.
Some inscriptions from tombstones in the graveyard read :
Charles Cone, born September 12, 1797, died October 12. 1847. Ile was killed by lightning on the above date about six o'clock in the morning. Charles H. Cone, Co. E., 69th Regiment, O. V. I .. died May 3, 1863 ; aged 21. Rufus Cone, Co. E., 69th Regiment, O. V. I., died August 2, 1865; aged 27. Jane, wife of Harvey Miller, died August 24, 1847 ; aged 62. William Anthony, died November 18, 1839; aged 65. Fanny, wife of William Anthony, died March 13, 1835 ; aged. 55. Another Anthony is John, who died February 27, 1870; aged 61. Julia Ann. wife of John Anthony, died January 2, 1851; aged 40. Henry C., son of John and Julia Ann Anthony, died April 9, 1863; aged 20. Hugh Rust, died April 16, 1876; aged 67. William Creagioile, died April 16, 1855; aged 68. Catharine S., wife of William Creagmile. died August 17, 1801 ; aged 56. Andrew King, a native of Ireland, departed this life March 9, 1860 ; aged 67. Joseph King, a native of Ireland, died January 26, 1838; in the 930 year of his age. Rebecca, wife of Joseph King, died Janu- ary 2, 1864; aged 97. These two are the parents of a large posterity in this township. Grace, wife of Dr. Andrew King, departed this life September 11, 1851, in the 53d year of her age.
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