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 28
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
school-house, one mile north of McGonigle's, was erected i ing down to Cincinnati, where General Wayne's army in 1852 by J. S. Smiley, contraetor. There are about fifty people at the station, though it was never laid out.
HANOVER is another station on the railroad, but of less importance than the above-named. This place is a voting precinct for the township. There are no stores here, nor any thing else which deserves notice.
Henry Wanson, who fifty years ago lived on fifty aeres in the north-west corner of Section 26, was one of the most remarkable men who ever became a resident of the township. He claimed to be a water- witch, and often boasted of his power to find water when all other experiments failed. Wauson was well known throughout the country on account of his wild, roving, careless disposition. There were in the family three sons and one daughter. He was a cripple, caused by his horse taking fright at a flock of wild geese.
In 1829 corn sold to the distillers at six and a quarter cents per busliel, and few sales at that figure. The growth of eorn at that date formed a leading business in Hanover Township.
The soil in this township is now largely held by Ger- mans, who have supplanted the original settlers.
MATTHEW HUESTON.
Matthew Hueston was a native of Pennsylvania, coin- ing from what is now Franklin County, where he was born on the 1st of May, 1771. His father's next neigh- bor was a Scotchman, named Buchanan, who afterwards became better off in the world, and moved to Mercers- burg, where he became a justice of the peace. His son James was sent to Dickinson College, afterwards entering upon the practice of law. He was successively a mem- ber of the United States Senate, minister to England, and President of the United States. When Matthew Hneston was two years of age his father, William Hues- ton, removed to the baekwoods, and settled on the Monongahela, in Ohio County, Virginia. The Indians becoming troublesome, Mr. Hneston removed his family to Taylor's Fort, twenty-four miles from the town of Wheeling. The family remained most of the time at the fort, but occasionally went to the farm when it was deemed safe. Mr. Hueston went back and forth to eul- tivate his place, but on one of these trips he was shot, killed, and scalped by the Indians, at the door of his own cabin. Mrs. Hueston was left a widow with six small children.
As soon as Matthew Hneston was able he began work- ing around the farin, and at fifteen went as an appren- tice to learn the trade of a tauner and currier, continuing at that employment for several years. When he became a journeyman be saved up his money, and, in 1793, made a small venture of stock. with which he went down the Ohio River. Ou the 17th of April he landed at Cincin- Dati, but after a few days went down to the falls of the Ohio. He returned by the way of Maysville, again float-
had arrived in the mean time. Soon after arriving he sold out his goods to a man named MeCrea, who, how- ever, decamped without paying him. He then went to work in a tannery, being the one afterwards owned by Jesse Hunt, and afterwards went with Robert and William McClellan, who were engaged in driving a bri- gade of pack-horses from Cincinnati to Fort Jefferson. Completing his first trip, he drove a number of beeves from Fort Washington to Fort Jefferson, and then super- intended the killing of the cattle and putting up the beef, which was designed to subsist the men the next Winter. There being no salt at the garrison, the meat had to be hung up in the open air around the fort to prevent it from spoiling, until salt could be proeured. This caused a delay in the business for some time. Soon after Mr. Hueston was appointed commissary at this post, at the pay of thirty dollars a month. The next Summer he returned to Fort Washington; and went out with Wayne on his expedition, being issuing commissary until the Summer of 1795, when he resigned.
He then furnished himself with a stock of groceries and other articles, and began as a sutler, following this up until the year 1796. He had one store at Greenville and another at Cincinnati, in the latter bav- ing a partner. The business was very profitable, and he soon accumulated twelve to fifteen thousand dollars. In the latter part of 1796 Mr. Hueston was taken sick, remaining in his bed for three or four weeks. When he had sufficiently recovered, he set out for Cincinnati, but found his affairs were in a wretched condition. His part- ner had become dissipated, had squandered most of the property by gambling, and had finally sold out the stock, going down the river, and leaving Mr. Hueston to pay the debts of the firm. This he did, and found that, after- exhausting all his means, he still owed four hundred dollars. Undiscouraged, he persevered in his industrious way, and again embarked as a drover. He drove a large number of eattle from Cincinnati to Detroit for two dollars and fifty cents a head, and was successful in de- livering them all, although the route was a complete wilderness. He returned in forty days. This business he followed till the year 1800, when he had paid off all his old debts and had accumulated fourteen or fifteen hundred dollars in hard cash. This he laid out in land.
He bought a tract of two hundred acres, four miles south of Hamilton. It was then altogether in the woods, but now the railroad, the canal, and the Cincinnati turn- pike pass through it. In a few years he had a large farm under cultivation. He built a hewed log-house, in which he lived and kept entertainment for travelers a number of years. At the United States land sales in 1801 he purchased, or entered, three sections of land and two fractional sections, on the west side of the river. comprehending in all about two thousand six hundred aeres. To these purchases he added from time to time.
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so that he eventually became the largest owner of land in this county.
On his farm south of Hamilton he began to reside in the year 1802, and on the 15th of April married Miss Catherine Daviz. He remained here till 1813, when he removed to his ferm on Four-Mile Creek, in Hanover Township. Here he built a large stone mansion, and attended to his agricultural interests for many years. He then removed to Rossville, taking up his abode there in October, 1834. This is in the house now occupied by his son-in-law, Robert Harper.
At the beginning of the century the militia was better organized than it is now. Mr. Hueston beeame captain of a company of light-borse, from which he was after- wards advaneed to the office of colonel of the Second Regiment. When Hull surrendered Colonel Hueston volunteered his services, and went with a number of others to Fort Wayne, which was then besieged by the enemy. After serving two or three months, he was made purchasing agent for the contractor of the North- western army, aeting in that capacity until the eonelu- sion of the war .-
In 1808 he became a justice of the peace in Fairfield Township, remaining so till he removed to Hanover, where, after a few months, he was again elected. In this position he served until his removal to Rossville, holding this office for twenty-three years. In no case was his judgment reversed on appeal. He was a com- missioner of Butler County from 1826 to 1835. He died on the 16th of April, 1847, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and was buried near the Presbyterian church in Collinsville. The services were conducted by the Masons.
He had four sons and five daughters. They were William, Eliza, Mary, Samuel, Thomas, Eleanor, Robert, Cynthia, and Catherine.
ANDREW LEWIS.
Andrew Lewis, son of Andrew Lewis and Martha Montgomery, was born in Campbell County, Kentucky, April 4, 1797. His parents came to this county March 4, 1804. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, and afterwards was employed in Indian warfare under Gen- erals Harmar and St. Clair. He was not in St. Clair's defeat, but helped to bury his dead. He was in the w bole campaign of General Wayne, and such confidence was reposed in him that when night came, or they were in camp, the pass-word was given him so that he could go out to shoot game. On one occasion he went out a short distance from camp and brought in a deer, although the Indians filled the woods in every direction. Another time he went out hunting, but accidentally got further than he designed, and finally lost his way; night came on, and he gave up the attempt for that time. But in the morning he began again, uselessly, as he knew not the direction, and it was nine days before he extri-
eated himself. He subsisted on game the whole time. At last he struck the Miami and followed its eourse down stream until it reached the Ohio. The camp bad been at Fort Hamilton, but while Lewis was lost in the woods they had proceeded on their way. By this Ineky mishap he failed of being present in the defeat of St. Clair. He remained in Fort Washington until after the battle, and saw the remnant of the army as it marched back.
After this he and nine others returned to Pennsy !- vania, where General Wayne was then recruiting an army, and enlisted under him. With him they came to Cincinnati, and after a period of service were discharged. He went baek to Pennsylvania for a brief season, but soon was on his way west again, locating in Campbell County, Kentneky, about seven miles from Newport, ou the Lieking River. In March, 1804, he came to this county, cutting his own road to Ross Township. There were only three cabins the whole distance, one at Cum- minsville, another near Bevis's tavern, and one and a bloek-house near Millville. There were no houses be- tween his place and Hamilton. He entered half of a seetion, or 320 aeres. After three years he bought a quarter of a section more. He followed farming until his death, which happened in 1847. His wife died Febru- ary 12, 1852. He had eight children : Jane, Andrew, Robert M., Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Martha, and Clarissa.
Andrew Lewis, the second child, remembers the time when the county was a vast wilderness. Indians used frequently to go by, occasionally stopping. At one time Captain Pipe, a renowned warrior, came along from Hamilton, where he had been drinking whisky pretty freely. Stopping at Mr. Lewis's house, he asked for sonie more, but was told they had none. This infuriated the Indian, who replied that they had. Mr. Lewis again asserted that they had none, when Captain Pipe drew his long, glittering knife, and began flourishing it around his head. He was very angry, and told Mr. Lewis that he had seen him before, and knew that he was a bad man. On being asked where, he replied that it was in Wayne's army. He continued flourishing his knife until forbearance ceased to he a virtue. Mr. Lewis deter- mined to put a stop to it, and took down his rifle. No sooDer did the Indian see this than he began to run, and Mr. Lewis after him. How far they went the boy did not know, but they were never troubled with the pres- ence of Captain Pipe again.
Mr. Andrew Lewis remembers when the first church was built in the township. This was in the year 1815. It was completely surroun led by the willerness. Indiaus were very numerous for several years after they came here, and he has often played with them. They were regarded as very treacherons.
He was married on February 23, 1823, to Mary MeCleary, daughter of Sammnel MeCleary and Mary Young. They came to the county in 1804. Mrs. Lewis was born January 9, 1796, in Pennsylvania. They had
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
seven children, all now living. Robert was born December 10, 1823; Mary, October 13, 1825; Martha, December 13, 1827; Nancy, February 14, 1830; Dorcas, July 25, 1832; Sarah Jane, January 27, 1835, and Hannah E., June 16, 1837. Robert was in the hundred days' service in the last war. A grandson, James Jackson, was killed in the struggle. Joseph A. Beatty, a grandson, served three years, and a son-in-law, A. H. Miller, was in the hundred days' service. All Mr. Lewis's children are now living; all have been married, and all are living in Western homes but one, who is now a widow, Mrs. Dorcas L. Burke. She lives with her father. Her Imsband, Addison M. Burke, died March 17, 1860, leaving her with two children, John L. and A. M. Burke, the latter being only nine weeks old. The oldest one is now Auditor on the Dayton, Delphos, and Toledo Railroad, and the younger one is a teacher in the public schools. Mr. Lewis has had forty-nine grand- children and twenty-five great-grandchildren, and only six of the number have been lost. Mr. Lewis has through life been a farmer, although for many years' teaching school in the Winter season. He was a super- visor for a number of years, never receiving any money for it. His uncle, Richard Montgomery, was in the War of 1812, and Robert Lewis, another uncle, was a cap- tain of light horse ir the Revolutionary War. Mr. An- drew Lewis was always very fond of his dog and his gun, and spent much of his time in hunting, being very suc- cessful. Future dwellers in Ross will never know the hardships and privations that the first settlers endured.
The following have been the names of the postmasters: Stilbrell .- Jacob G. Stillwell, December 31, 1831; Willis R. De Witt, August 16, 1842; George Kyger, March 8, 1847; Jacob G. Stillwell, June 10, 1847 ; Shel- don A. Campbell, February 28, 1850; Jacob G. Still- well, January 6, 1851; Silas Roll, November 19, 1856 ; changed to McGonigle's Station, September 14, 1859.
McGonigle's Station .- James MeGonigle, September 14. 1' 59; changed to Woods' Station, November 24, 1863: revived with James MeGonigle as postmaster March 13, 1866.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
Reason R. Baxter, the son of Sill and Mary Baxter, was born in Clark County, Kentucky, November 15, 1829. He settled in this county in 1877. He was married on the 22d of December, 1860, at Winchester, Kentucky, to Clara French, daughter of Charles and Alice French, who was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, in 1840. They have had three children : Anna was born March 17, 1863; Carrie, April 26, 1868, and Lewis IL., March 15, 1871. Mr. Baxter was a member of the Fitth United States Cavalry, serving two years. He is a farmer.
Janes HI. Bell was born in Hanover Township, Octo- ber 17, 1826. Ile is a retired farmer, and is the son of James Boll and Nancy Hall. His father was in the War
of 1812, coming to the county in 1811. He was born in Philadelphia, December 2, 1779, and died May 29, 1828. Mrs. Bell was born in South Carolina, May 5, 1792, and died August 24, 1871. They raised a family of seven children, five daughters and two sons, of whom two sons and two daughters. are still living. All but James H. Bell are married. He now controls and resides upon the farm where he was born. For the past five years he has been unable to get around much, owing to a stroke of paralysis. Mrs. Rhoda Bugg, who is and has been his housekeeper the thirteen years last past, was born in Clayton, England, November 17, 1824. She was married March 4, 1848, to John Henry Bugg, who died in 1855. In the year 1869 she embarked for this country and located in this county.
The Boatmans were one of the carliest families in the county. Jeremiah W. Boatman, now living in this town- ship, is a descendant of this family. . He was born in Hamilton, September 7, 1840, and is the son of Mark M. Boatman and Cynthia Warwick. The great-great- grandfather Boatman was of French dlescent, enlisting as a soldier under Lafayette, and taking part in many of the actions of the Revolutionary War. He remained in America at the close of the war where he had married, and raised a small family, of which the members were nearly all massacred by the Indians, in Pennsylvania. James Boatman was born in Northumberland County, in that State, about 1771, as nearly as can be told. On the 22d of August, 1799, he was married to Anna Mills, daughter of Colonel JJames Mills, and emigrated to Ohio two years after. Colonel Mills was of Irish descent. He emigrated from Berks County, Pennsylvania, and settled at Hamilton. He had seven children: Reed, Mark. James, Anna, Abbie, Julia, and Eliza. When the colone! started from the East he had three fine-blooded horses. These he sent on in advance, in charge of a man who was going that way, but when he arrived, either owing to the Indians or to the duplicity of his agent, he found neither horses por man, and was obliged to content himself with his loss. Colonel Mills came down by boat, as did Mr. Bontman, who carried his family in a canoe. landing at Cincinnati, where there were then only a few cabins. From there he went to Hamilton. I: was at that time a common thing to mark a road by little sticks and stones, to indicate the route ; they followed these for a long time, aud then discovered that some person had maliciondy changed the little end, which indicated the right way, so as to point out another and entirely wrong direction. This cost them several days' lost Inbor.
As soon as the land was surveyed on the, west side of the river, he located one hundred and sixty acres four miles north of Hamilton. on Four-Mile Creek. Hers he built a small cabin, in which he lived until he became easy in money matters, when he erected a cori: dious frame house, which is still standing. At the time he took up his settlement here there were only three fami-
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HANOVER.
lies in his neighborhood -- one opposite the Flenner Mills, one on the farm now owned by Andrew Flenner, and oue ou William Brooks's present farm. The two former lived in block-houses.
James Boatman resided on his farm till his death, at which time he was eighty years old. He reared a family of thirteen children : Claudius, James M., Mark M., Sarah M., Mary A., Ann, Jane, Reed M., William, John M., Nathan C., and Jeremiah N., eight boys and five girls. Himself, wife, brothers, and sisters were great hunters. In Pennsylvania they would go out hunting many miles from home and remain for weeks. The game was bears, raccoons, deer, and turkeys, besides small fry. They were often chased by the Indians, hav- ing many narrow escapes. On one cecasion, while he and his sister were huuting, they were pursued by In- dians, and the sister was caught, sealped, and left for dead. She escaped, recovered, and afterwards married and lived to a good old age, although without a forelock, which was artificially supplied.
Being penniless at the time of his marriage, he and his wife apprenticed themselves to a farmer for one year to get the means necessary for housekeeping. His wife, besides faithfully attending to her household duties and enduring the hardships of frontier life, acted as an herb physician, in which she was very successful. She was a fine horsewoman and a good marksman. One night they had a visitor. The meat was out, and there was no way of getting any more except by shooting it. So she rose carly in the morning, built a fire, put on the pot, and went out. Guided by her knowledge of the habits of deer, she soon found one, brought her riffe to her shoul- der, and fired. The animal fell, and she soon had a large piece of it in the pot. Her breakfast was soon got ready, and by the time the family was awake and dressed it was upon the table.
Jolm Doyle was born in Morgan Township, August 31, 1823. His parents were Thomas Doyle and Cath- erine Weaver. The former was a soldier in the War of 1812, and came here abont 1819. He died in 1834 with cholera. Mrz. Doyle, the mother, died January 9, 1879, aged one hundred and five years. John Doyle was mar- ried October 22, 1851, in Rush County, Indiana, to Euphemia Warner, born in Ohio, April 16, 1833. They have had eight children. Eliza Jane was born October 4, 1854; Angelette, November 10, 1856; Thomas Jeffer- son, July 22, 1860; Wilfred W., known as John, Sep- tember 7, 1862; Elisha IL., October 9, 1864; Sarah M., November 25, 1868; Lella I., June 28, 1872; Edna Auna, March 9, 1877. Mr. Doyle served in the late war as a member of Company E, Sixty-ninth Olio Vol- unteer Infantry.
John Egby was born in Centerville, Indiana. Febru- gry 3, 1855, being the son of Armistead Egby and Emily Craig. Mr. Egby served four years in the late war, and died while in the army. John Egby was married at
Hamilton, October 4, 1879, to Ida Hyers, daughter of Moses Hyers and Rachel Pembrew, who was born in Centerville, Indiana, August 14, 1861. Mr. Egby is a farmer.
John M. Hall was born in Hanover Township, in 1809. He is the son of John Hall and Elizabeth Mor- ris, who came here in March, 1806, from Kentucky. He is a farmer, and has been supervisor and school director. His father was in the Revolutionary War as a private in a South Carolina regiment, and received a pension a few years before he died. This was in the year 1836, his wife dying May, 1838. They were both buried on their farm.
John Theodore Lagetrost was born in December, 1832, in Germany. He was married to Mary Hafer- tepen in 1852, and had ten children. John was born May 2, 1853; Minnie, December 6, 1855; Henry, Jan- uary 27, 1858; Lizzie, January 11. 1860; Caroline, June 24, 1862; Anthony, September 25, 1864; Benja- min, October 20, 1866; Annie, December 21, 1868; Rosa, December 30, 1870; Joseph, January 14, 1873. The oldest lives in Minster, Auglaize County, and the rest in this county. Mr. Lagetrost was a farmer. He died January 15, 1873, and since that time the widow and her children have carried on the farm.
Adam Hummell, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Bavaria, October 18, 1842, and is the son of David and Elizabeth Hummell. The father died June 20, 1854, but the mother is still living in Germany. Mr. Hum- mell eame to this country in 1865, and was married February 19th, of that year, to Elizabeth Ritter, daugh- ter of Christian Ritter, who died January 24, 1864. in Germany, and of Pheby Ritter, who died December 4, 1874, at Hamilton. Mrs. Elizabeth Hummell was boru January 11, 1844. Their children have been Katharine, born January 28, 1868; Adam, February 2, 1870; Michael, January 9, 1870; Francis S., March 8, 1874; Frita, September 1, 1876; Anna, September 24, 1878; aud Hilda, September 23, 1886. Mr. Hummell has al- ways been a farmer, and now owns a place of one hun- dred and forty-two acres. He was a school director of District No. 2 from 1876 to 1881.
Azariah T. Irwin was born in Butler County, June 9, 1821, being the son of John Irwin and Mary Thorn. The land on which he was born was entered by his grandfather, Azariah Thorn, December 13, 1811. and his deed bears the names of James Madison, President, and James Monroe, Secretary of State. Mr. Thorn served in the War of 1812. Azariah T. Irwin was mar- ried April 28, 1853, in Fairfield County, Indiana, to Elizabeth Cheney, daughter of Jacob Cheney and Mahala Hill, who was born in that place March 29, 1834. They had five children : Charles E. was born February 7, 1854; John, Jannary 4. 1856; Washington, September 5, 1859; Elwin C., September 4, 1860; and Mary Vir- ginia, November 12, 1864. John died October 5, 1856.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Mrs. Irwin had a brother, Edwin J. Cheney, who par- ticipated in the late war. He was first sergeant of Company G, 68th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving throughout the entire struggle. Mr. Irwin died in Indi- 'ana on the 2d of August, 1873.
Gilea L. Kumler was born in Hanover Township, January 27, 1853. He is the son of Michael Kumler and Nancy Beam. He was married September 27, 1879, to Hannah Gillespie, daughter of Robert Gillespie and Margaret Bigham, who came to this county about 1833. She was born on the 25th of December, 1855. They have one child, Leola, born April 2, 1880. Mr. Kum- ler is a farmer and stoek-raiser, and lives on the farm on which he was born.
John Kelly, son of Jacob Kelly and Morris Brooks, was born in Butler County, Ohio, May 6, 1855. His parents had come here two years prior to this event. He was married April 7, 1880, to Elizabeth Gardner, daughter of Peter Gardner and Elizabeth Gardner. Her parents eame here in 1851, and she was born in 1861. Mr. Kelly is a farmer, and has served one term as supervisor.
Frederick Krueker was born in Germany, coming to this county in 1865 from Hamilton County. He was twice married. His second wife, whose maiden name was Louisa Frankhouser, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, March 29, 1838, and was married in Hamilton County, November 24, 1855. Her parents were Daniel and Mary Frankhonser, and they live in Belmont County. She has had five children : William was born March 17, 1859; Mary, March 22, 1861; Frederick, February 15, 1863; Edward, April 23, 1868; Jomm Frank, June 5, 1868; and Louisa, October 23, 1864 William died June 25, 1864; Frederick, January 15, 1864; and Louisa, January 13, 1866. Mr. Krucker was a wagon- maker by trade, but carried on a farm the last three years of his life. He died April 2, 1862.
Oliver P. Morris is the son of Isaac K. Morris and Sarah J. Hinkle. They came to this county about 1838. The father is now dead. Oliver P. Morris was born in Fairfield Township, April 22, 1848, and was married October 20, 1870, at Cincinnati, to Orlette J. Clark, daughter of William V. Clark; born December 4, 1827, and Elizabeth Holmes, born December 30, 1832. Their daughter was born in Fairfield Township, October 22, 1851. She and her husband have four living children. Albertine was born January 4, 1872; William Isaac, September 4, 1874; Ann Elizabeth, November 6, 1877, and Charles L., November 13, 1880. Two other chillten were born who were not named; one on the 17th of June 1876, and one October 30, 1879. Mr. Morris is a school-teacher by profession, following that occupation for several years prior to his marriage, and one term since then. Since 1871 he has paid ail his attention to his farm anl raising stock. He now has control of five hundred acres, three hundred of which is under a good
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