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 29
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state of cultivation, and the remainder is well adapted for pasture.
Jacob Melil was born in Strasbourg, now in Germany, on the 22d of September, 1828, and came to this county in 1841 with his parents, Michael Mehl and Catherine Reop. The father died in the year 1876, and the mother in 1861. Mr. Jacob Mehl was married on the 30th of November, 1854, to Lena Wehr, daughter of George Wehr and Barbara Hitelinger, who came here in 1844, and are both living. Mrs. Mehl was also born in Strasbourg, February 2, 1840. Their union has been blessed with eleven children : Elizabeth Barbara was born September 17, 1855; Arna Caroline, October 20, 1857; Simeon Charles, August 19. 1860; Louisa Matilda, May 23, 1862; Mary Ann, September 25, 1863; Jacob Benjamin, March 7, 1865; Lena Barbara, February 12, 1867; Clam Ellen, February 11, 1869; Sarah Loviva, June 8, 1870; William Andrew, July 22, 1870, and Frank Elmer, January 17, 1875. Mr. Mehl is a farmer.
Frederick Mistler was born in Germany, January 14, 1834, being the son of John Mistler and Elizabeth Har- ris. He came to this county in 1859, and was married to Mary Lustyck, February 26, 1861, in this county. She is the daughter of John Instyck and Elizabeth Macon, and was born in July, 1836. Their children have been nine. Mary Elizabeth was born August 29, 1861; Catherine, April 20, 1863; Lena, October 25, 1864; Frederick, September 24, 1866; Pitt, March 5, 1863; Andrew, August 30, 1870; George, June 9, 1873; Jacob, January 27, 1876; and Mary Catherine Josephine, July 16, 1879. Lena died March 19, 1868, and Fred- erick, April 17, 1868. Mr. Mistler is a fariner.
A John Nixon was born in this eounty, May 8, 1837. His parents were William and Margaret Nixon. He was married on the 31st of December, 1861, to Margaret Lonner, daughter of David and Jane Longer, who was born in this county. January 1, 1838. They have four children. Linda Nixon was born November 19, 1862. and is dead. William H. was born April 25, 1864; Charles D , October 29, 1868; and Mary Jane, Decem- ber 9, 1870. He is a farmer. His father was in the War of 1812. .
William Nixon was born in August, 1787, in Ireland, coming to America at nine years of age with his parents, James and Jane Nixon. They remained in Pennsylvania for some time, and then emigrated to where Cincinnati now stands. In 1809 they removed to Butler County. James Nixon died on the 2d of August, 1825, and his wife October 17, 1840. William Nixon was married on the 11th of January, 1821, to Margaret Dodds, daughter of Andrew and Margaret Dodds, who moved to this county in 1808. Mrs. Nixon was born in Pennsylvania, March 18, 1800. They had nine children: Matilda, the ellest, is dead. She was born January 27, 1822; Jane Hueston was born May 8, 1824; Margaret Taylor, July 29, 1826; James, March 4, 1829; William, March 21,
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449
HANOVER.
1831; Anna, June 9, 1833; John, May 8, 1837; Eliz :- beth Pocock, July 25, 1839: Martha Louise Weaver, February 8, 1845. Mrs. Ineston lives in Blooming Grove, Franklin County, Indiana. . Mr. Nixon was always a farmer, but served one term in the War of 1812. He died August 2, 1861, his wife still surviving.
John F. Rader was born June 25, 1842, in Franklin County, Ohio. He was the son of Frederick Rader, born in 1803 in Germany, and Mary Welch, born in 1817 in Ohio. They are now living in this county, having come bere from Van Wert County in 1879. John F. Rader was married in Delaware County, December 13, 1866, to Jo- sephine Lewis, daughter of Morgan S. Lewis and Mary Shoemaker, the former boru in 1826 in New York State, and the latter in Ohio in 1828. Their daughter was born in Warren County, October 12, 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Rader have had six children. Thomas J. was born October 4, 1867; Jenny L., July 7, 1869; Mary I., September 7, 1871; Frederick M., September 20, 1873; John William, Feleuary 5, 1876; and Jane Louisa, Jane 17, 1879. The first child was born in Delaware County, and the last in Butler County, the others in Van Wert County. Mrs. Rader's parents have also moved to this county, coming here October, 1878. John F. Rader was a private in Captain Kimball's company. G, Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted June 12, 1862, and was engaged in the battles of Yazoo Swamp, Arkansas Post, Port Hudson, Island No. 10, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, Banks's expedi- tion to the Red River, and a great many others. He served until the end of the war, and was honorably dis- charged at Columbus, Ohio, August 20, 1865, then re- . turning to his farm, where he still is.
William H. Riley, the son of John Riley and Numa- lennia MeGilberry, was born in Hanover Township, July 9, 1846. He was married on the 8th of June, 1869, at Hamilton, to Hannah S. Beckett, who was born June 1, 1850. Her parents, James Beckett and Elizabeth Hill, ca he to this county at an early period, and are now both dead. Mr. and Mrs. Riley have had five children. John Sheldon was born April 26, 1872; Minnie, October 30, 1873; Myrtle Gertrude, January 11, 1876; James Ehner, September 1, 1878; and William Henry, March 22, 1880. Minnie died on the 30th of November, 1875. Mr. Ri- ley's uncle Joshua was in the War of 1812, and he had a brother in the war of the Rebellion. He was a mem- ber of the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served about two years, then being killed in the battle of Perry- ville. Mr. Riley is a farmer and stock-raiser, and has maudle a specialty of the latter.
Henry C. Settle, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in North Carolina, May 5, 1838. His parents, Josiah Set- the and Nancy 1. Settle, were natives of that State, where they were born, the former in November, 1799, and the latter in July, 1819. They came to Ohio from Mississippi in 1856, arriving here on the 20th of March.
Henry C. Settle was married in Hamilton on the 26th of March, 1868, to Molly O. Berry, who was born in Mississippi, November 15, 1850. They have four chil- dren. Arta A. was born May 26, 1869; Charles H., August 1, 1872; James T., August 9, 1874: and John C., November 22, 1877. Mr. Settle was a carpenter's mate on board the General Bragg, of the gulf squadron, for two years, and was engaged in a good many battles of the war. Thomas Berry was the colonel of a Mexican regiment in the Mexican War. Mr. Settle owns one hundred and eight acres of land on Section 13.
Robert P. Settle was born in South Carolina, on the 29th of July, 1834, and came to this county in 1856, from Mississippi. His wife, Lizzie Weaver, was born February 29, 1838, in North Carolina, and was married to him- December 28, 1864. They have one child, Nancy, born September 29, 1867. Mrs. Settle's parents were Bird Weaver and Sarah Day. Mr. Settle was for two years supervisor, and is a farmer and stock-raiser.
William E. Stewart, farmer, was born in Harrison, Pennsylvania, in 1860. He is the son of John and Lucy Stewart. He settled in this county in 1868.
Henry Stahlbeber was born in Bavaria, Germany, Jane 10, 1820, his parents being Henry and Elizabeth Stahlheber. He came to this country in 1850, having previously been married to Elizabeth Keepenbacken, daughter of Philip and Philippine. They came to this county in 1874, and both are now living. She was born September, 1825, and their marriage was in March, 1846. They have had eight children. Philip was born Septem- ber 18, 1849; Michael. September 1851; Henry, August 11, 1853; John, September 1, 1855; Elizabeth, June 18, 1858; Philippine, June 11, 1860; Charles, December, 1863; and Jacob, April 16, 1866. Mr. Stehlheber has now lived in the county thirty-one years, and has by in- dustry accumulated considerable property. He owns two good farms. one containing one hundred and sixty-three aeres, and the other a hundred and sixty aeres. Que of these is situated about a quarter of a mile from Hamil- ton, and the other about three miles. He carries on the dairy basiness in connection with his farms very exten- sively, now milking forty cows, and finding ready sale for all he makes.
Jacob Vitzedom, son of Daniel, was a native of Ger- many, being born there on the 26th of October, 1801. He came to this county in 1845, and on the 19th of July, 1846, was married, in Hamilton, to Catherine Sohn, also born in Germany. Her parents were John Lewis Sohn and Catherine Davison, and she was born Febru- ary 15, 1821. Mr. and Mrs. Viizedom had eight chil- dren. Barbara was born June, 18, 1847, and died the next October. John J. was born March 20, 1849, and die-in 1851 ; Elizabeth B. was born August 19. 1511; John William, Derember 12, 1553: Johu Jacob, Febru- ary 7, 1855; George William, September 3, 1:57: John Lewis, January 17, 1859; and William Martin. No-
450
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
vember 10, 1862. The last named died in 1867. Mr. Vitzedom died on the 2d of November 1875, leaving a good farm for his widow and surviving children.
Leouhard Wasserman was born in Germany, February 18, 1820. His parents were John Courad Wasserman and Barbara Wolferd. Mr. Wasserman settled in this county in 1847, and was married two years after, or in August, 1849, at Hamilton, to Maria Gailey, daughter of Balser Gailey and Mary Yeakle. They were early settlers, and are now both dead. Mrs. Wasserman was born in Fairfield Township, April 12, 1832. They have had ten children. Mary was born April 29, 1850; Eliz- abeth, April 19, 1852; Jacob, May 5, 1854; Henry, March 26, 1856; Sarah, July 18, 1858; Joseph, March 6, 1860; Clara, October 9, 1862; Julia, March 3. 1864;
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Susan, June 24, 1866, and Ida, November 2, 1868. Mr. Wasserman is a farmer. He has been supervisor and school director for several years.
William Yerein was born in Fairfield Township, But- ler County, February 14, 1825. He was the son of Frederick Yerein and Matilda McCain. His father caine here in 1814, and is still living William Yerein was married in May, 1855, to Hannah Yerein, and has had eight children . James M. was born February 9, 1856; Miller, in the Fall of 1858; Harriet, in 1860; Anna, in 1862: William, May 16. 1864; Ira Bell. July, 1866; Elizabeth D., in the Fall of is6S. and Flora in the Winter of 1873. Miller. Harriet, and Anna are dead. Mr. Yerein is a former. One of his uncles was in the Rev- olutionary War.
ROSS.
THIS township originally embraced all of what is now Morgan as well as its present territory. It was organized in 1803, forming one of the original subdivisions of the county. Morgan Township was struck off of the west end in 1811. There are in its limits 19,490 acres. The population of the township in 1820 was sixteen hundred and sixty-five; 1830, seventeen hundred and forty-five; 1840, fifteen hundred and twenty-six. Since its organization up to 1844, the following persons have been justices of the peace; their names will also show to a very great extent who the prominent early settlers were:
In 1803, William Mitchell; 1805, Maxwell Parkinson; 1806, William Mitchell; 1807, Emanuel Vantrees and William Smith; 1808, George Isaminger and Maxwell Parkinson ; 1810, Robert Smith; 1811, John Dunn; 1812, William D. Jones; 1814, John Dunn; 1815, William D. Jones; 1816, John MeCloskey; 1817. Robert Ander- son ; 1818, John Knox; 1818, Nehemiah Wade and John MeCloskey; 1821, John .Knox; 1822, same; 1.324, James Comstock ; 1825, Isaac Morris, Jomm McCloskey: 1827, James Comstock; 1828, James Hill and John McCloskey; 1830, James Comstock; 1831, Griffin Halstead and James Hill; 1832, Allen Fuller ; 1834, Samoel B. Demoret and Abraham Bereaw; 1835, Fergus Anderson: 1836, Isaac Anderson; 1837, James Hill and William Kay; 1838, William J. Elliott; 1840, James Hill, William Ray, and Enoch Larison; 1841, William J. Elliott; 1843, James Hill and Jonathan Kilbourn. After 1844 they were Griffin Halstead, Elijah Butterfield, William C. Woodruff, Alex. J. Lutes, Michael Hawk, A. G. McKoon, Robert Joyce, Reily Gordon, Daniel Brown, Jr., B. F. Bedinger, John R.
Brown, Robert Goshorn, Andrew Joyce, Samuel Gil- lespie, John F. Beal, C. F. Thormin, A. H. Cone, Jolli Landerman.
TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOGRAPHY.
For the most part the township is rolling. All that portion of the township lying east of Indian Creek is well adapted to farming. The general elevation is about seventy-five feet above the river. Sections 1 and 12 are quite rugged. The greater part of the remaining town- ship is elevated above the Miami from one to two hun- died feet. A range of hills extends almost the whole distance from Layhigh to the south side of the county.
Indian Creek is the principal stream, which flows diagonally from north-west to south-east, but which in some places has a southerly course. This stream takes its name from the fact that away back in "ye olden days" the Indians camped on its banks a good deal. There are no tributaries flowing into Indian Creek of any considerable size in this township. Zeigler's Run, however, unites with it a short distance below Millville. In the south-west, Dry Run. which heads near Layhigh, flows in a south-easterly direction and empties into the Miami. This stream takes its name because it is dry most of the time at its mouth. It is spanned in several places by good bridges. Paddy's Run enters the town- ship about one mile and a quarter from the county line. flowing dircetly south. emptying into the Miami one mile below Now Baltimore, in Hamilton County.
The soil along these strom's is exceedingly fertile. On both sides of Indian Creek large bottoms spread out. which in the Summer months toim a beautiful landscap. The bottoms of Paddy's Run are of less importance.
451
ROSS.
Dry Run has some fine land which borders it. Along the Miami the soil is very fertile, being composed of a rich alluvial loam.
Ross Township was rich in the original growth of her timber. Poplar, oak, buckeye, ash, walnut, sycamore, hickory, wild cherry, gum, sugar-tree, sassafras, and dog- wood grew spontaneously. A very large portion of the creek and river bottoms were covered with spice and hazel bushes, wild gooseberry bushes, black currants, which in some places spread over several acres, pawpaw bushes, wild onious, pea-vines, thistles, briers, burrs, and weeds. This growth was so dense in some places as to make it impassable. And here lived all manner of game. The hunter liked best of all the deer or wild turkey. Both abounded here in the beginning of this century. Along the Miami, wild geese and brant, as well as ducks and other water-fowl, lived by the thousands. In the woods were pheasants, quails, squirrels, foxes, wolves, and all their neighbors. It was the general custom of the people for many years to spend a portion of every Fall in hunting. The Miami was also full of fish, im- mense quantities of which were taken in nets or drag seines made of brush.
IMPROVEMENTS.
The most prominent of all the early roads was the Trace road, passing through Layhigh and ou to the Miami, much as the road now does. Another road, which was of considerable note, is now the Venice and Millville road. Paddy's Run road ran from Hamilton to New London. The road as it now is passes over pretty much the same road-bed. The Lawrenceburg and Columbus, or State road, leading from the former of these places in Indiana to the capital of Ohio, was in constant use in 1811. It followed the ridges so as to prevent cats -- a plan the early surveyors often used to great advantage in locating highways through a new country. In 1808 there were very few houses between Millville and Hamilton. One stoo where Robert Dick now lives. Another was known as Sutherland's, on the upper road or pike, and stood where the toll-pate now is. Both of these houses are stauding.
The Jackson School District, No. 2, began with a log-house in 1811, which stood near where Joseph Tim- berman now resides. About 1820 the district proper had its beginning in a second log-house on the hill. In [^73 a third house was built by Jolin Timberinan, a good brick, which is now in use. Among the scholars of the 1820 house were John and Peggy Maze. William Harmey was one of the teachers.
Among the first voting precincts in Ross Township Was Judge Knox's, near the bank of Indian Creek, one mile above the iron bridge. This place of voting was in existence from 1820 to 1835. A man by the Danne of Smith was an early settler in this region, and owned the farm on which Judge Knox afterwards lived. Smith had a still-house here.
In 1811 Thomas Moorehead opened for his family a burying-ground on the east side of Indian Creek, one mile below Millville. This place of interment was among the first in the township. The yard is now overgrown with briers and bushes. There is another very old yard on the farm now owned by Mr. Hoover, of Venice, on the left bank of Indian Creek, near the Miami, which was established in the year 1811. This yard is now in a very bad condition-without fences, overgrown with briers, bushes, and left to take care of itself, apparently.
One of the first blacksmiths in Ross carried on his business near the iron bridge over Indian Creck. He was soou followed by another, on the bill one mile above, on the State road.
Christopher Timberman was an early mechanic in the' neighborhood of School District No. 2, in 1811. He was a native of Pennsylvania, coming here from Tennessee; and during his life, which ended at eighty-eight years, made many spinning-wheels, chairs, bedstends, and such like for the people of this valley. He is buried at the Moorehead grave-yard. His son, Christopher, died at the age of eighty-seven years.
Many fine farms now in this township were paid for with money made in manufacturing whisky. There was no disgrace attached to its manufacture. Two men by the name of Fayres and Avery, of Cincinnati, entered the western half of Seetion 15, and bought enough more to reach four hundred acres in 1810, or thereabouts, and erected a still-house. This distillery was afterwards rented by Andrew Lintner, who worked it for a while.
Matthew Timberman was a distiller in the towns hip in 1815, where Andrew Timberman now lives. When this establishment first began the manufacture of whisky, their corn was ground at Dick's mill, on the Miami, and Van Horne's mill, at Millville. After several years, the profits were found to be much larger if the corn was ground at home; hence the change was made. The whisky was hauled to Cincinnati in four and six horse wagons, and often with as many oxen, though the latter were not so easily managed, especially during " Ay-time."
James Comstock carried on distilling on Dry Run, above Venice, from 1820 to 1840. Joseph Van Horne had a still-house in Miliville about 1818. The distillery was superintended by Mr. Wilcox. This establishment continued for about twenty-five years. Balser Gailey's still-house, on the Wickard farm, now owned by the heirs of John Crawford, was in operation in 1831. There were other and more prominent establishments scattered throughout the township.
Abont 1840 Samuel Diek built a grist and saw mill. one mile below Millville, on Indian Creek. This mill was burned in a few years. The sawing department was rebuilt by Dick.' The grinding department continued fr a dozen or fifteen years. Captain Michael Hawk after- wards owned the mill. Jacob Shafer was the head miller under Hawk.
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452
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Judge John Dunn was an early settler on Indian Creek, near the wooden bridge which crosses the stream. He was liere in 1811. He entered a large tract of land in this vicinity, which he sold out to those who followed. Near Andrew Timberman's an old settler lived by the name of William Morris. Daniel Rumple, from one of the Carolinas, bought out John Elliott (who removed to the country of the Wabash), and took up his residence in the eastern side of the township at an early day.
It would be a difficult matter for a writer of local his- tory to tell which of the two mills, Van Horne's at Mill- ville, or Dick's at or near Venice, has been the most serviccable to the country at large. Both were built about the same time, the former in 1805 by Joel Will- iams, and the latter by Jacob Hyde. The first mill at Dick's was of round hickory logs, and contained . what was known as a corn-cracker for the grinding machinery. Some five or six years after the mill was built it passed into the hands of Samuel Baxter. About 1812 Samuel Dick, Sen., and his son, George, purchased the property and erected the first frame the same year. This house was forty by forty feet and three stories high. Samuel Diek in the course of time released his interest in favor of his son, George. The property remained in his fam- ily until 1856. In 1848 one of the sons of George Dick, Samuel, Jr., erected the present frame, forty by forty- five feet, and three stories high. Samuel Dick, a brother of George Dick, and his son, G. W. Dick, bought the property in 1856. About 1875 G. W. Dick, the pres- ent owner, came into possession of the property, since which time the mill has been actively at work.
There have been many changes in the mill siuce it was built at this site three-quarters of a century ago. For many years the extensive and productive country which surrounds it has called here to have its wheat, corn, and buckwheat ground. For many years there has also been a good saw-mill in continual use. The site is admirably adapted to a successful business.
Dick's mill was for a good many years use. as a post- office. The original ford for the entire north-western part of the county, and a large area of country in Indi- ana, made Dick's Ford a crossing-point. The Legisla- ture, in the year 1830, passed a law to incorporate the Venice and Colerain Bridge Company, and gave Enoch Bond, Giles Richards, James Comstock, Albin Shaw, Y Isaac Anderson, and Nehemiah Wade power to erect aud build a toll-bridge across the Miami at or near Venice. Immediately after the bridge was erected, which was, 110 doubt, in 1824 and 1825, the ford ceased to be used ex- cept for very ordinary purposes.
VENICE.
Venice was laid out by Dr. Benjamin Clark, Feb- ruary 1, 1817. The founder of this place called it " Venus" because it was so pleasantly situated, having beautiful surroundings, and well located for rapid and
mature growth. Clark, however, laid out only the west- ern half of the village, his east line extending as far as where the Layhigh road now is. The eastern part of the town is mostly additions made by various men at different times. Dr. Clark gave an acre of ground, when the town was platted, for burial purposes. This ground was located immediately opposite the Presbyterian church, just north of the Odd Fellows' Hall.
Dr. Jolin Woods was an carly resident of "Venus." He practiced medicine throughout the country. Dr. Clark was also active in the same profession. Dr. Woods lived in the house now occupied by Frank Ochs. Daniel Hawk took up his residence in the village more than fifty years ago. He has remained here most of the time since; but was born on Indian Creek, above Mill- ville. - The Butterfields and Shaws were here very early; also the Boals and Daniel Haldeman. In 1816 Isaac Lutes was a blacksmith near Dick's mill, near where his son Alexander now resides. Lutes was the_ only blacksmith ever at this point. James Comstock built the store now occupied by Moorehead, which is one of the oldest houses in town, about 1820. Com- stock was a justice of the peace for several years. He sold out his property and removed to the West. Enoch Vaughn was here as a store-keeper in the Comstock house many years ago. Jonathan Kilburn was engaged in the same business as early as 1830. Thomas and Anderson Boal were here engaged in mercantile pursuits in 1850. Dr. Woods was a successful tavern-keeper in his time. Lloyd Reese was here in a similar occupation in 1840, in the house now cecupied by Ochs. Reese is now a resident of Kansas. Allen Fuller carried on the same business in " Venus" not less than a quarter of a century since. William Huxford and his son Charles were probably the first blacksmiths in the village. Campbell, Andrews, and David Timberman were also here quite early. James Hannah succeeded Huxford. One of the most permanent of all the blacksmiths who have made Venice a place of business is Thomas Joyce.
When the public lands were first offered for sale in Cincinnati, in 1801, Jerennah Butterfield, an enterpris- ing young man from Massachusetts, who had shortly before come to what was theu Fort Washington, and who had assisted Colonel Ludlow to run the boundary line between the United States and the Indian tribes, formed a company with Esquire Shaw and his son Alvin, Asa Harvey, and Noah Willey to make invest- ments in lands. They bought at the first sales two full sections, and as many fractional sections, beginning at the mouth of Indian Creek and extending down the river for about two miles. This land is now under a tine state of cultivation, and dotted with splendidi resi- dences. A small part of it is now occupied by the vi !- lage of Venice. In order to secure it the company bid ten cents per acre above the minimum price. The six owners then divided the land, under a survey made by
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