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 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
To regulate the quantity of water and guard against freshets in the river, substantial head-gates of wood are placed, mostly submerged in water. The superficial area of a cross-section of the water at the gates is two hun- dred square feet. From the head-gates the canal was ex- cavated through the lands of Alexander P. Miller, about one mile. It is thirty feet wide at the bottom, and forty-five feet at the top water-line, and five feet deep, having a de- scent of one foot in the mile, which will give the water a velocity of one hundred and thirty-seven feet per minute, being capable of discharging twenty-six thousand cubie feet of water per minute. From the point where the excavation terminates to the grand reservoir, a distance of two-fifths of a mile, the canal is formed by a single embankment, located near the base of a high ridge, the depth of the canal averaging eight feet, by seventy feet wide. Here it enters the grand reservoir.
The reservoir is formed in the bed of what is com- monly called Old River, by an embankment across the old channel, some distance above where the canal enters it, and another embankment below, where it is taken out. The reservoir is one mile long, fifteen feet deep at the upper end, and twenty-four feet deep at the lower. The area of the surface of the water is about seventy acres. From the lower part of the reservoir to the north line of the lots of Hamilton, a distance of one mile and nearly a quarter, the canal was constructed over the lands then owned by the Messrs. Bighams, by a heavy artificial bank on one side, and a natural bank on the other. It is about seventy feet wide, and from ten to twenty feet deep. At the line of the corporation is a reservoir cov- cring six or seven aeres, having a depth of eighteen or twenty feet. This reservoir is of great importance in re- taining a supply of water to feed the canals below. From here the main branch continues west on the north line of the lots to the bank of the river. at such a distance from the river as to leave lots of convenient size between the canal and the river on which to erect milis and factories, so that the water-power can be applied.
In September, 1811, the Miami River was gauged by Messrs. John W. Erwin and Henry S. Earhart, above the head of New River, near where the hydrantie canal is taken out, and the quantity of water passing in the river was found to be 26, 122 feet per minute. The river
-
:
F.A.Black .
343
HAMILTON.
was extremely low at the time, and the Miami Canal passing its usual-quantity of water. The entire fall at the town of Hamilton, from top-water line in. the hy- draulie canal, to low-water mark in the Miami River, is twenty-nine feet. But deduct six feet of the fall, on ac- count of ordinary freshets in the Miami River, and allow two feet for the depth of water over wheels, and there remains twenty-one feet of fall. A column of water of 25,000 cubic feet per minute, over a fall of twenty-one feet, is sufficient to propel one hundred and sixty-six pairs of mill-stones four and a half feet in diameter, with the requisite machinery necessary for the manufae- turing of flour. The length of line along which the water-power may be used is about two miles.
It is the opinion of men of experience, well-skilled in such matters, that this water-power is the best west of the Alleghany Mountains, and east of the Upper Missis- sippi and its branches. The whole work is constructed in the most substantial manner, with a view to its sta- bility and durability.
The first water-power leased was to Erwin, Hunter & Erwin, who erected a flour-mill at the east end of Hamilton bridge. Along its banks are now many valu- able manufacturing establishments, and it has also been very useful in putting out fires. Another race was con- structed on the west side of the river, which was not as largely used as on the east side, but which has been of great value.
The Hydraulic Company passed the first water through their lower level from Fourth Street down Stable Street to the Miami River, on Monday, the twenty-seventh day of January, 1845. This lower level of the canal was three feet in depth, turning the water-wheels of Messrs. Erwin & Hunter's flour mill, and the Tobias Brothers' machine shop, near the east end of the Miami bridge. The first work done by water power was done by the Tobias Brothers, January 31, 1845. Their shop was thronged with curious visitors for many days. The occa- sion was a jubilee for the citizens, huzzaing, uring of cannons, and shaking of hands being among the demon- strations.
-
.
The Rossville Hydraulic Company was incorporated February 27, 1846. The corporators were Robert B. Millikin, James Rossman, John K. Wilson, Robert Beck- ett, Samuel Snively, Henry Traber, Charles K. Smith, William Daniels, Alfred Thomas, Wilkison Beatty, and Joshna Delaplane. It was organized in March, 1848. Henry Clayton was the first engineer employed. He was engaged about a year, and was succeeded by Henry S. Earhart, who made the location. The water is taken out one and a half miles above town, just below the mouth of Four-Mile Creek. Passing through the low grounds below, and under Two-Mile Creek by a tunnel, the water is spilled on a line between North Street and Rhea's line. The work was begun in May, 1849, the excavation being let to Connor MeGreevy and John Connaughton. The com-
pany built the dam. In the flood of January, 1852, the abntment on the east side of the dam was destroyed. It was repaired in a permanent manner, and the dam lengthened two hundred feet.
F. D. BLACK.
F. D. Black, sheriff of Butler County, was born Sep- tember. 12, 1849, at Hamilton, Ohio, being the third son of Peter P. and Mary (Kirbel) Black. who were both immigrants from Europe. The former was born in France and the latter in Prussia. They came to America in 1839, the mother in company with her parents, but Mr. Black being alone. He was then twenty-one years of age. His father had served under Napoleon in all his wars, and was one of the survivors of the terrible expe- riences at Moscow and the subsequent retreat. A brother of Mr. Black, who accompanied him to this country, while on a visit to France in 1860, was also a soldier under Napoleon III, and in 1861 went out as captain of a company under General Siegel, and was wounded at Pea Ridge. Peter Kirbel, the maternal grandfather of Sheriff Black, lived to the advanced age of ninety-six, having been a resident of Butler County ever since 1839, and for the thirty years prior to his death, in 1873. dwelt with his daughter, Mrs. Black, in Hamilton. Peter Black has been a resident of Hamilton for some forty- three years, and for the greater portion of that time has been known as one of the largest manufacturers of the county. He has been one of the active founders of several of the largest establishments in Hamilton, among which is the large institution now carried on by Messrs. Long & Alstatter, of which he was the original projector and in which he was interested for many years. He is at pres- ent senior member of the large establishment of Black & Clawson, engaged in the manufacture of machinery for paper manufacturers.
F. D. Black, after attending the schools of Hamilton, entered at the age of thirteen St. Mary's College, at Dayton, where he remained till eighteen years of age. Having acquired a liberal education, he now turned his attention to business affairs. In the Fall of 18GS he went to St. Louis, Missouri, in charge of a branch house of Long, Black & Alstatter, engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements, of which his father was a partner. In 1870 Mr. Black withdrew from business affairs, in consequence of his father's disposing of his in- terest in the above firm.
He immediately turned his attention to politics and public affairs, and was appointed by Sheriff R. N. An- drews as his deputy, which position he filled with credit, so that upon Mr. William H. Allen succeeding Mr. An- drows he retained Mr. Black in the position he had so well filled. He was also appointed by Mr. Marcellus Thomas, who retained him. during his torm. Upon look- ing for a candidate for sheriff in 1879 the Democrats wisely chose Mr. Black. Ten years' experience as dep-
344
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
uty recommended him as highly qualified to fill the of- fice, and consequently he was elected by a decided ma- jority over his opponent. Mr. Black had during his first term so well performed the duties of his office, and secured the approbation of the public, that he was nom- inated in 1881 for a second terin, and elected by a large majority. Since he assumed the duties of his position . he has acquitted himself with great credit, and deserves special commendation for his vigilance and success in the capture of the notorious Jones and Vanderpool, in- dicted and held for trial on a charge of forgery. Three months were spent by Sheriff Black in tracing them through Ohio, Michigan, and Canada. They were finally arrested about forty miles from Toronto, and extra- dited. Mr. Black has the honor of having in his pos- session the only extradition warrant in existence signed by President Garfield. . By the arrest of these chiefs of forgery and swindling he effectively broke up that sys- tem of robbery in this part of Ohio.
Mr. Black was married to Miss Mary Rifile, of Lib- erty Township, Butler County, who bore him three chil- dren, two girls and one boy. The son, Paul, is now be- ing educated at St. Mary's College, at Dayton, where his father fornierly attended, and the two daughters are about to enter Cedar Grove Seminary, in Hamilton County. Mr. Black is a young man of superior native powers, and a mind with proper training capable of fill- ing high positions.
WILLIAM BECKETT.
William Beckett, son of Robert Beckett and Mary Crawford Beckett, was born in Hanover Township, in this county, on the 17th of March, 1821. He gradn- ated at Miami University in 1844. In 1845 he came to reside in Ilamilton, and began the study of the law in the office of Hon. John Woods, whose second daughter he married in September, 1846. On his admission to the bar he connnenced practice with Mr. Woods. It is a fact pretty well known in the Miami Valley that Mr. Beckett is possessed of a tongue which, when engaged in conversation, works very smoothly and quite effect- ively ; but he soon ascertained that when he arose to ad- dress a jury or a public audience, that member utterly refused to perform its proper function, but rather "clove to the roof of his mouth." Thereupon he promptly abau- doned the idea of practicing law, and took the position of a general business operator-buying and selling real estate, manufacturing, assisting in the management of the hydraulic works, etc.
After the death of Mr. Woods, in 1855, Mr. Beckett, his executor, took his place as director in the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railroad, and also in the Cincin- nati and Indianapolis road, known as the Janetion. From that day to the present time he has been an active and liberal supporter of every movement to advance the interests and promote the prosperity of the city and
county. He is largely interested in the manufacturing industry, and any event which would deprive the city of his efficient capacity and energy would be severely felt by the whole community.
There are few men in Butler County more widely known personally than Mr. Beckett. During a consider- able portion of his life he was a man of large means, and his hospitality was fully commensurate therewith. Pub- lic men when in this vicinity commonly gravitated to his home, and some of his well-known political influence may have been promoted in this way.
POLITICAL HANDBILL.
It is interesting to see that the great political crisis which threatens the country this year, and threatened it last year- and the year before, has always been existing. It can not be said that the campaign of 1852 was con- ducted on any other than party issues, or that there was any thing remarkable in the situation of the country. Yet sce the appeals in the Intelligencer:
BASE FRAUD! OUTRAGEOUS ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT
L. D. CAMPBELL.
We have it apon reliable information, that on Monday last, JOHN CARR, formerly representative from this county, and one of the trustees of Fairfield Township. was in Mason, Warren County, wanting to hire TWO HUNDRED HANDS to work in this eounty. He there represented that Campbell would be elected by a small majority, doubtless as'a blind to eover his real intentions.
FREEMEN OF THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT! What say you to such infamous conduet on the part of the Locc- foeos of Butler County? Desperation is seen in every movement. Campbell must be defeated, say they, at all hazards; and, to our certain knowledge, one of the State officers has boasted that he could beat the world at pipe- laying.
Whigs of the townships, be on your guard. Some of these hirelings will be quartered in every township in the county. GUARD WELL THE POLLS ! See that none bitt LEGAL VOTES are deposited and a triumphant victory is sure!
JOHN M. MILLIKIN.
Major John M. Millikin, the oldest professional man in Hamilton, and once treasurer of the State of Ohio, was born in Greensboro, Greene County, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of October, 1804. He is the son of Dr. Daniel Millikin and Joan Minor. When he was three years of age his father removed to the West and settled in Hamilton, being the first physician who permanently took up his abode here. John M. Millikin received in- struction from Dr. Alexander Proudfit, who taught a school here about the time of the second war with Great Britain, and from others, and in 1824 went to Washing- ington College, in Washington, Pennsylvania, spending a year there, and returning home the last of May, 1895. in that year he began the study of law with Jesse Cor- win, in this city, and on the 5th of September, 1827, at
----
-
HAMILTON.
345
Colunibus, he was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Ohio, and immediately opened an office. Col- onel Campbell, who is next junior to him at the bar, did not enter practice till 1835, nor Thomas Millikin, the next in age, till 1840.
In 1834 the law firm of Millikin & Bebb was begun by the formation of a partnership between himself and William Bebb, afterwards governor, and this connection lasted till 1840, when Millikin retired from practice. In 1829 he was appointed brigade major and inspector of militia, an office he retained till 1835. January 1, 1841, he was appointed an aid-de-camp by Governor Thomas Corwin, and in 1846 he was a member of the State Board of Equalization. In 1856 he was elected a niem- ber of the State Board of Agriculture, and was twice re-elected. He served as president of the board one year. In 1860 he was appointed a trustee of Miami University. In this capacity he has served two terms of nine years each, and has been reappointed for the third term. In 1873 he was named by the Secretary of the Interior as one of a commission to proceed to the Indian Territory for the purpose of making a treaty with the Creek Na- tion for the relinquishment of a part of their territory to the Seminoles. In October, 1875, he was elected treas- urer of the State of Ohio, and on the 10th of January, 1876, entercd upon the discharge of the duties of his office. The Republicans renominated him for the same position in 1877, but at the October election the Demo- crats were in the ascendency, and he was, therefore, de- feated. He retired from office on the 14th of January, 1878. He has always been a Whig and a Republican in politics. Hle cast his first ballot in 1826, and has voted at all State elections since. His first vote for Pres- ident was cast in 1828 for John Quincy Adams.
Major Millikin has always been an important man in local affairs. He has been president of the County Ag- ricultural Society, president of Greenwood Cemetery As- sociation, president of the Farmer's Club, and other so- cicties. He has an excellent knowledge of local history, and skill in narrating it. He is highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens, and has frequently been named by them as a suitable man for governor. He resides a little east of Hamilton on a farin which is cultivated according to the true principles of agriculture.
He was married on the 6th of September, 1831, to Mary Greenlee Hough, daughter of an esteemed early citizen of Hamilton, and has had by her four children, who attained full age: Minor, Joseph, Dan, and Mary. Mention is made of them in a sketch of the Millikin family, on page 185.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
On the 31st of December, 1841, Dr. Loammi Rigdon, Rebecca Rigdon, Aaron Potter, and Emeline Potter, be- ing desirous to have Baptist preaching, resolved to make an effort to maintain a minister oue-half of his time, and
-
engaged the Rev. A. Drury, of Cincinnati, for that pur- posc, at the rate of four dollars for each visit. In 1842 he closed, and Elder Quant succeeded, staying, however, but a short time. In April, 1843, the Rev. Mr. Osborn began preaching, receiving two hundred dollars per year. Of this Dr. Rigdon and Mr. Potter each paid seventy- five dollars, and the Ohio Baptist Association, fifty dol- lars. There being no organization of the Church at this time, an arrangement was made with the Muddy Creek Church to receive into their membership any who might wish to join at Hamilton. It should be remembered that all this time there was a Baptist Church here, which ad- hered to the anti-mission side. The split had occurred in 1836.
In 1844 the Lockland Church received the members of the Hamilton congregation into membership, and con- stituted it a branch Church. The members were L. Rig- don, Rebecca Rigdon, Aaron Potter, Emeline Potter, Eve Davis, Elizabeth Walton, Sarah Stecle, Sarah Garrison, Mary Garrison, Mary Kelley, S. Jaue Walton, Louisa Pharis, and Louisa Boatman. When Mr. Osborn's term expired no other preacher was called, but services were held occasionally, at which neighboring ministers offici- aied. Meetings were held in the court-house and at the Female Academy. October 20, 1344, the Rev. D. Bry- ant was called as pastor, and a couple of months after it was resolved to erect a meeting-house. This house was in due time erected, at a cost, with the lot, of 83,311, and, with an addition afterward made, was occupied till 1858, when it passed into the hands of William Miller, the German Lutheran Church, and the Episcopal Church, successively. It is now changed into stores.
Mr. Bryant accepted another call in 1845, and Will- iam Roney was installed as pastor soon after. April 15, 1846, the Church was received into membership with the other Baptist Churches of the State, under the title of the First Baptist Church of Hamilton. The first trustees were L. Rigdon, A. Potter, J. L. Batcheldor, Joseph Shotwell, and J. S. Beat y; treasurer, L. Rig- don; clerk, W. S. Going: deacons, L. Rigdon and Joseph Shotwell. Mr. Roney left on the 4th of June, 1848, and was succeeded by William Asbmore. In 1850 he went to China as a foreign missionary, and for a year the Church was without a pastor. The Rev. H. M. Rich- ardson became pastor in 1852. The membership at this time was seventy-two. He stayed with the Church ten years, and did much good service. During his ministra- tions it was that the new church was built, at a cost of ten thousand five hundred dollars. He was succeeded by C. B. Keys, J. M. Pendleton, V. W. Snow, R. Telford, N. A. Reed, Thomas Hanford, J. R. Ware, W. E. Lyon, W. A. Smith, P. M. Weddell, and Homer Eddy. The last is the present pastor.
On Sunday, January 17, 1875, the church building was partly destroyed by fire. The other Churches, the Young Men's Christian Association, and the Masons
44
--
-------
=
346
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
promptly tendered their aid. The loss was fully covered by insurance. About this time, too, the Church became straitened for means, could not pay the pastor's salary, and was for several short spaces of time without preach- ing. It is now, however, on the upward wave. The. membership is increasing, and there is much interest felt. The Sunday-school has had as superintendents Aaron ·Potter, E. G. Dyer, W. Richardson, W. E. Scobey, George P. Brown, Walter Webster, Joseph R. Gibbons, and F. P. Stewart. Much of the success of this Church was owing to the indefatigable zeal of Mr. Aaron Potter and Dr. Loammi Rigdon, who put their shoulders to the wheel and made the Church an accomplished fact.
. WILLIAM MURPHY.
William Murphy, flour manufacturer of Hamilton, Ohio, was born September 30, 1838, in Franklin County, Indiana. His parents are James and Susan Caroline (Erwin) Murphy, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Indiana. His paternal grandfather re- moved from New Jersey about 1816. From Pittsburg he took passage on a flat-boat to Cincinnati, and thence he went to Indiana, settling near Brookville. He engaged in farming and distilling, and conducted a country store in addition. Mr. James Murphy was brought up on the farm, a vocation he has ever since followed, though he has for years been largely interested in other enterprises. He has for a long time been a large stock-raiser and pork dealer at Oxford, Butler County, Ohio. He also conducted for many years a large saw-mill. He is a man of consider- able wealth, and is widely and favorably known among the business men in his seetion of country. He is now a man of about seventy-five years of age, while his life-part- ner is but little his junior.
At the age of thirteen William Murphy entered the Miami University at Oxford, where he diligently devoted himself to his studies for the four succeeding years, which put hita in possession of a thorough English education. .His tastes, however, wore for a business career. After spending some time with his father, who was then largely engaged in the stock business, he settled at Oxford (to which place his father soon removed), and established himself in the grain trade, which he continued with sue- cess till 1865.
He now sought a larger field for his operations. He settled in Hamilton, and in company with Jacob Shaffer, bought the Hamilton City Mills, in West Hamilton, for- merly owned by N. G. Curtis. An extensive business was soon built up, and continued till 1869, when the malls were burned. With but little delay Mr. Murphy and his partner bought the West Hamilton Mills, where they continued the manufacture, very extensively, of the finest grades of flour, till 1876. Mr. Murphy then dis- solved partnership with Mr. Shaffer, disposing of his interest to him. He then formed a partnership with Mr. John Sortman. The Hamilton City Mills were re-
built by them, and under the firm name of Murphy & Sortman, the mills were kept in operation till 1880. Mr. Murphy then withdrew from the firm, and leased the Hydraulie Mills, which are still operated by him. The business done here is exclusively flouring, and is very extensive. Mr. Murphy manufactures a very superior quality of flour, for which he finds a ready market throughout the New England States, where the greater portion of his shipments are made.
In the Spring of 1882, Mr. Murphy, in company with Messrs. F. B. Thompson, S. D. Cone, and H. A. Dilg, organized the Dr. Temple Medicine Company at Hamilton and Cincinnati, with a capital of $150,000. Mr. Thompson was made president and Mr. Murphy treasurer of the concern. The medicines manufactured are the well-known Asthma specifie and " Hops aud Boneset" discovered by Dr. C. W. Temple nearly forty years ago. The former remedy had been improved in its medicinal powers by the Temple Company, who have also prepared specifics for bay fever, dyspepsia, and other diseases. From the inception of the company, which is but a few months since, it has met with great success. They are pushing the enterprise vigorously, and their popular remedies now are found in all parts of the United States and other countries. Although these medicines have had great local popularity for many years, certainly as far back as 1849, their manufacture and sale have never been properly managed, until the present company took the enterprise in charge, and it is now fast beeom- ing one of the important institutions of the city. Mr. Murphy owned and controlled the West Hamilton Hy- draulic Water-power for ten years.
In 1876 Mr. Murphy was elected a member of the city council of Hamilton, and served in that capacity for three successive terms, or till 1882. During these six years he was always found among the first to take steps towards publie improvements, and to institute meas- ures for the city's good.
Mr. Murphy has been married twice. He married his first wife, Miss Lorinda Bake, of Contreras, Olio, daughter of Peter and Tabithin Bake, December 22, 1864. She died the following year from the effects of a burn by coal oil, two days following the accident. She left one ehild, a daughter, Dora, now seventeen years of age. He married his present wife, Mrs. Eliza Smalley, wilow of Isaac Smalley, daughter of Henry H. and Lydia Myers Seal, February 9, 1868. Mrs. Murphy's father was a native of l'ennsylvania, and her mother of Butler County, Ohio. The former removed with his father, at an early day, near Brookville, Indiana, where he after- wards engaged in farming, a calling he still follows. He carries on a very extensive farm, though at the advanced age of seventy-three, while his wife is sixty-eight. Mrs. Murphy has one son by her first husband, Henry Burton Sinalley, now eighteen years of age, and engaged in the milling business. Seven children have been born to Mr.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.