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 31
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One of the first indications that civilization was mov- ing westward is found in a wrought-iron nail factory, which was in operation about 1823 on the bank of In- dian Creek near where the tavern now stands. It was carried on for a number of years, the iron coming from beyond the Alleghanies down the Ohio.
Thomas Baker, a tailor by trade, owned a carding and fulling mill here in 1828 and 1830. The mill is how standing, being the first house west of the Presby- terian church. This establishment continued for eight or ten years. The motive power was furnished by a horse trend-wheel.
John, Samuel, Matthew, William, Thomas, and Fran- cis Van Horne, sons of Joseph Van Horne, carried on the manufacture of whisky in Millville before 1825, in
a log still-house on the corner below where the bridge now stands on the west side of the creek. This bridge was built in 1849, two years after a like affair was car- ried off by high water.
It required but little foresight to see that store-keeping might be made profitable in Millville at an early day. We find, therefore. in 1825, or, no doubt, as early as 1819, Eliakim Ross here engaged in keeping what was pre-eminently a country store. Henry R. Coleman was in the same business in 1825, in a log house on the south side of the creek, a few rods above the bridge. John and Thomas Hanna were here in 1830, on the north or east side of the stream, a short distance above the tavern. John M. Cochran kept store in 1838, fol- lowed by Elias Kumler & Flickinger. Mr. Garner was also a business man in Millville at an early day. A. T. Carnahan was here also; he died in Venice. John W. Meeker, now of Harrison, was a merchant in the village some ten or fifteen years ago.
For the first blacksmith, Millville had William Ray, whose shop stood on the old turnpike, which formerly followed the creek without making a right angle at the corner. Mr. Shafer was also here early, on the old road. Henry Gallaway and his family were gunsmiths and blacksmiths in Millville more than fifty years ago. Fred- eric Zillyox was a blacksmith in 1845, or thereabouts. He afterwards became a taveru-keeper. Michael Emer- iek and Jacob Fillhardt were also blacksmiths. Thomas Gray was here as a mechanic for a time. There are two blacksmiths in town at present.
The first post-office in the village was kept in a log house now ocenpied as a part of George Ender's hotel. William Hill was the first postmaster. James Hill was the second postmaster, in a frame house above the bridge, near where the barness shop now is. Hill was postmas- ter for about thirty-five years. The third office was in a brick building across the creek. Before 1875, for ten or twelve years, the post-office was kept in various places, since which time it h's been in its present loca- tion. James Hill was also a justice of the peace and a tanner in 1825, opposite the town hall. The fixtures of this tannery were to be seen until within a few years back. Robert, a son of James Hill, bad control of the tannery for some time. Mr. Hill kept the post-office in the office of the tannery. The early mail route had for offices Dick's Mill, Millville, and Scipio (or Pbilan- thropy). A stage route which began about 1835 man from Oxford and beyond to Cincinnati. It was of very great service to the people.
In 1825 William Hill was a tavern-keeper in this village, and had probably been here for some time previous, in a log house on the north side of the creek. The house has long since disappeared. M. J. Milis- pangh was engaged in the same business as early as 1820, on the south side of Indian Creek, in a double i frame honse. Jacob, Hasler came in 1833 or 1834, and
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took charge of the Hill property. His wife was an -excellent cook, and many travelers made it a point to spend the night with them. Frederic Zillyox followed Hasler in the same house, and also did a good business, building the present large frame in 1850. Joseph Van Ausdall was a tavern-keeper here also, for a year after Zillyox. After railroads came to be regarded by the public as a means of travel, the Millville taverns were compelled to take a less lucrative position.
Dr. James Corey was the first resident physician here in 1825. He removed to Cincinnati, and in a few years to Oxford, where he died. Dr. Lot Cooper was here in 1828. Dr. Kingsley was here soon thereafter. Dr. Arbuckle came in 1840, and remained for many years. Dr. Herron followed Arbuckle, the latter being here for six or eight years. Dr. Battenburg was here as a physician for a short time. Dr. Roll, of MeGon- igle's, practiced in this vicinity with much success. The present physicians are Drs. Hancock and Dodd. All these men had the respect of the community.
Millville had for its first school-house a building, un- doubtedly of logs, which stood on the site now occupied by the Presbyterian Church. This house was here in 1825. A year or two after a brick edifice was built, which stood until 1872, when the present Presbyterian Church made additions, and it is now used for their church. The present school-building, a handsome brick structure, was erected in 1872. For teachers, Abel Bur- ress was here in 1825 and 1826; Mr. Dunn in 1835, and James A. Neal in 1836.
A public meeting was held in the town of Millville on the 19th of June, 1858, for the purpose of formning a high school. An organization was effected and twenty- eight shares of stock secured, at one hundred dollars each. The shareholders were James Whipple, Robert Moore, John Basler, J. C. Beaty, Peter Minton, H. Flickinger, Samuel Dick, James Williams, Lewis Bul- lock, Andrew Timberman, Ira M. Whipple, John W. Carr, John Ross, John H. Post, D. K. Zeller, W. R. Carnahan, Jacob Kamler, Michael Kumler, Samuel Dick, John Ross, Jacob Fillhardt, Jacob Wickard, James Dick, James Lewis, John Forlow, John Leffler, J. W. Cochran, D. P. Nelson.
By-laws and a constitution were drafted, and the school machinery set in successful running order. D. P. Nelson was the first teacher. He was a graduate of Ox- ford, and was very energetic in its organization. Lewis Bullock was also a teacher. The school-building was erected about 1855, by Robert Ferguson, and used as a store and post-office, but was sold afterwards to the high school corporation. This school continued for a number of years. All the higher branches were taught, prepara- tory for college. In May, 1870, the school-building was sold, and is uow used for a dwelling-house.
One of the ornaments of Millville is the public or town hall. On the 20th of December the incorporators
met and resolved to open books for subscriptions. The building committee was composed of Doctor A. Hancock, Luke Bradley, A. G. McKeon, C. F. Thomia, who was really one of the originators also, but who, because of holding the office of justice of the peace, was not so con- sidered in the corporation papers, and R. T. Hancock. Mr. Thomin was made secretary, and R. T. Hancock, treasurer. This committee began work on the foundation on the 11th of December, 1877. The house was com- pleted on or about July 4, 1878, although meetings and entertainments were held in it as early as April 1st. Total cost of building and lot was one thousand two hundred and eighty-eight dollars. The present direct- ors are Inke Bradley, president ; William B. Fienor, vice-president ; C. F. Thomin, secretary ; Jacob Fisher, treasurer, and A. J. Lewis. This hall is a handsome frame building, and is very useful to the public.
Samuel's Lutheran Church, above Millville, in Hanover Township, was beguu as early as 1815. This organiza- tion was very prosperous for a time-a period of twenty odd years-when some difference arose in regard to their creed, which caused a division. In 1842, October 1st, the corner-stone of a brick building, fifty by forty fect, was laid for a church in Millville, on a lot now under a state of cultivation in the south-east corner of the farm of W. B. Davis. This portion of the Zeigler congrega- tion formed what was known as the Millville Lutheran Church. The remaining worshipers continued to use the old church mutil 1853, when they also came to the vil- lage and erected their present house. Some of the original members of the Hanover Township Church were Samuel Zeigler, Frank Bcaler, and Daniel Brosier. This house is now standing, in a very dilapidated condition. There is also connected with it a grave-yard, also in a bad condition.
Mt. Zion, the proper name for the Lutheran Church in Millville, had, in 1842, for some of its prominent members John A. Keil, Philip Spangler, Jacob Kocher, Michael Shank, John Contare, Jacob Bealer, Daniel Shollenburger, George Spangler, and Michael and Philip Hawk. The Rev. John Surface, of Springfield, Ohio, dedicated the church. It was not until 1845 that there was any regular pastor-Rev. G. Sill. He was followed by E. R. Gwiney and W. C. Barnett, who is now in Tennessee preaching. Leonard Harrison and Me. Kooch were here soon after Gwiney. From the Rev. Mr. Kooch henceforward the congregation was supplied by irregular preachers. When the Church was iu a pros- perous condition, its highest membership numbered titty. Luke Bradley, Mrs. Sortman, and Mrs. Rothermel are the only living members. The house was sold to Mr. W. B. Davis about fifteen years ago, who tore down the building and sold the brick.
As has been said, the German Reformed Miliville Church was one of the branches of the Samuel Zeigler Lutheran Church in Hanover Township. Among its
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first members were Jaeob Kooch, John Fisher and wife, Frederic Zillyox, Jacob Fillhardt, Messrs. Hoover, George Maskopf, and their wives. Jacob and Barbara Muskopf were also early members. Their prominent preacher was Rev. John Bowman, a man who took a leading part in church erection. George Michling, Mr. Boleman, and Mr. Hostmaier were also prominently engaged here in the same work. Several years ago the Hanover Town- ship church was sold; the money is now in the hands of the trustees of the Reformed Church, and held for cemetery purposes. At present there are about one hundred and twenty-five members. A good Sunday- school is in operation, with some eighty scholars, begun in 1855.
Among the most important of churches in Ross Township has been" the United Brethren, ereeted about 1822, on the hill above Millville, on the south side of the old dirt road. This house, like the one built in the village in 1851, was a briek building about thirty-six by forty feet. For many years this society was by odds the leading congregation in this vicinity. It led in member- ship the famous Bethel Society, until some ten years ago, when the latter organization took the lead, sinee which time it has held it.
After about thirty years of continual use, the old church was torn down and the brick used in the con- struction of a new house. This society has seasous of promise and adversity. Some of the most distinguished of the early ministers were Henry Kumler and Mr. Sellers. The Rev. Christopher Flinchpaugh, a man who rode for over fifty years the circuit lying between the two Miamis, and extending as far north as Dayton, Ohio, was a noted visitor. Many names of the first members will appear in these inscriptions :
Ann Maria, wife of Michael Bottenburg, Sen., died Au- gust 5, 1850; aged 75. Dr. Daniel Bottenburg, died July 19, 1834; aged 25. Adam Clippinger, Sen., born in Northamp- ten County, Penn., October 12, 1780; died in Butler County. Ohio, December 27, 1850. Benjamin Whalin, born in Lan- caster County, Penu., died October 11, 1835 ; aged 22. Alex- ander Moore, died December 5, 1842; aged 63. Moses Laugh- lin, born December, 1777; died February 6, 1855. Tamson, wife of Moses Laughlin, departed this life December 23, 1844; aged 67. John Morse, who died January 9, 1850; aged 56. Also, Elizabeth, his wife, who died September 25, 1841; aged 47. David Doner, died September 10, 1828; aged 55. Nancy, wife of David Dener, died May 8, 1843; aged 64. A conspic- nous monnment in the south side reads, Mary, wife of Alex- ander Moore, died November 12, 1853; aged 62. Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Wickard, died December 28, 1852; aged 40. Aurob Carr, died August 29, 1854; aged 66. Amos Flick- inger, Co. F., 93d O. V. I., wounded in the battle of Mur- freesboro, Tenn., died January 14, 1803; aged 20. Charles Kichling, born in Prussia, May 26, 1827; died September 22. 1576. John Zeller, died October 16, 1857; aged 59. Daniel Beal, died January 18, 1871; aged 75. Amy, wie of Daniel Beal, died April 24, 1870; aged 73. John Lettler, died April 3, 1876; aged 68. Jacob Snyder, died June 21, 159; aged 58. Catharine, wife of Jacob Snyder, died March
12, 1878 ; aged 75. Solomon Rothermal, died July 28, 1879; aged 65. Sarah, wife of Solomon Rothermal, died February 21, 1871; aged 51.
The following are the names of the postmasters and post-offices in the township since its beginning :
Dick's Mills .- George Dick, January 15, 1819; Jane Diek, September 15, 1828. Changed to Ross, July 3, 1834.
Ross .- William S. Vandike, July 3, 1834; Abraham P. Carnahan, January 4, 1837; William Ray, April 21, 1840; Alfred J. Reese, September 26, 1840; Isaae S. Frost, May 1, 1843; Jonathan Kilburn; Isaac A. Boal, June 9, 1849; John B. Frost, August 8, 1853; William Powell, March 21, 1855; William Turner, March 23, 1855; Alfred J. Reese, June 2, 1855; Samuel D. Anderson, March 7, 1856; Matthew T. Jones, July 7, 1857; Henry Kreisman, March 13, 1860; George M. Cone, April 8, 1862; Henry Kreisman, April 1, 1863; Benjamin F. Clark, Jr., August 17, 1865; Louis Lehne, December 6, 1880.
Millville .- William Hill, February 17, 1817; James Hill, February 20, 1830; Robert Fergusou, October 23, 1854; James Hill, June 29, 1857; Robert Hill, May 21, 1866; Hugh D. Goshoru, March 17, 1871.
NEHEMIAH WADE.
Nehemiah Wade was boru in Cineinnati, Ohio, in the year 1793. He was the son of David E. Wade, one of the first settlers of Cincinnati, a man of vast wealth, in addition to about two thousand aeres of land which he owned at the month of Indian Creek, in Butler County. Nehemiah Wade was elected a justice of the peace for Ross Township in 1818, au office he held for six years. In 1841, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ohio as an associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County, and again chosen at the session of 1847 and 1848, holding the office until the organization of the courts under the new constitution-a term of eleven years. In addition to these trusts, Mr. Wade held various other important offiees aud posts of usefulness. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church for about half a century ; a superintendeut of the Sunday-school for about forty years, aud always a liberal supporter of Christian institutions. He died July 24, 1879, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, leaving behind him a large and admirable posterity, many of whom still live in the vicinity of Venice, Ross Township.
JEREMIAH BUTTERFIELD.
Jeremiah Butterfield was born on the 4th of March, 1776, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. When he was twelve years old his father removed to the State of New York. In 1797 young Butterfield left his home to seek his fortune in the West. He traveled to Pittsburg, where he embarked on a flat-boat and descended the Ohio River to Marietta. Here he remained in the family
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of Doctor Spencer for the Winter. In the following Spring he started on board a flat-boat to Cincinnati. The place was then only an inconsiderable village, con- taining not more than one thousand inhabitants. The boat's crew proceeded ou their voyage down the Ohio to Louisville, and from thence to Fort Massac, on the north bank of the Ohio, thirty-six miles above its mouth. Butterfield remained at the fort only a short time. He purchased a pirogue, and, in company with a Kentnekian, set out for St. Louis. The trip to St. Louis was made by taking the river. From St. Louis he went to St. Charles, a small village on the north side of the Missouri River, eighteen miles above its month, where he remained one year. Mr. Butterfield, not liking the manners and eustoms of the people, returned to St. Louis, and from there erosscd the country to Vincennes, on the Wabash. While crossing the prairie he encountered vast herds of buffalo. From Vincennes he went into the interior of Kentucky, where he remained for three months and then set out for the East. He arrived at his father's house, in New York, in the Winter of 1799. He was now twenty- three years old, and determined to take unto himself a wife, a Miss Polly Campbell, whom he married in 1800. He now began to look for some place to live. After some delay, he again took the flat-boat for Cincinnati. The company, of which Butterfield was a part, made arrangements to work at harvesting for Colonel John Riddle, who, at that time, lived two miles north of Cin- einnati, on the Hamilton road. One corner of his land was where the Brighton House used to stand. Israel Ludlow, who was at that time employed by the govern- ment to run the boundary line between the United States and the Indian nations, employed Butterfield to act as one of his chain carriers. On this expedition they were three months without seeing a dwelling-house, and at one time came near starving, being five days without food.
Early in the ensuing Spring he visited and explored the valley of the Great Miami, the bottom lands of which pleased him very much. He, with a company of others, in the Spring of 1801, made a purchase of two full and as many fractional sections, beginning at the mouth of Indian Creek and extending down the river for about two miles. The land was divided, and Butter- field became the owner of about eight hundred aeres, near where Venice now is. His friends, who had come on with him, returned to New York, and he remained to make a home for his young wife. After some work, he returned for his wife and sister, and when returning, brought with hin: the seeds of varions fruit trees, from which he afterwards raised fine fruit.
About the year 1805 or 1806, the neighborhood where Mr. Butterfield resided became infested with a band of ontlaws, maranders, and horse-thieves. There was no law that could be carried into excention effectually but lynch- law, which was resorted to successfully. He was active
in this undertaking, and did much in ridding the country of the band.
In the Winter of 1819 Mr. Butterfield drove a large number of hogs through the woods from the neighbor- hood where he lived to Detroit, a distance of more than two hundred and eighty miles. For most of the distance on the route which he chose there were no roads, and what rendered the trip more difficult, a severe snow :- storm set in. Some of his men became disheartened and returned, but he pushed forward, breaking a path in the snow with his horse for his hogs to follow. After many days of hardship he arrived safely, sold out to a good advantage, and returned home with his saddle-bags full of silver. Three times he shipped his hogs from his own door down the river to New Orleans, going with them himself in each instance. From New Orleans he shipped his hogs to Cuba, and in 1828 was shipwrecked. When the vessel neared the shore she struck a rock, and the cap- tain and the erew took to the long-boat. Mr. Butterfield would not leave until he had cut open the pens contain- ing the hogs, which were on deck, and let them into the sea. They nearly all swam to the shore, so that he lost but few, and in selling them received twelve dollars per hundred weight, weighing them alive, so that,. notwith- standing he was shipwrecked, and had to pay three dol- lars' duty on each hog, he made a profitable voyage.
He died at his home, near Venice, on the twenty- seventh day of June, 1853, aged seventy-seven years.
All his children but one are yet living. Sherebiah, the oldest son, lives on a part of the land purchased by his father in Hamilton County. John, the second son, and Jeremiah, the third son live in the same neighbor- hood, in Hamilton County. Nathaniel lived to raise a family, but died several years ago. Elijah, another son, lives in this township. Mary, a daughter, married James Radcliffe, and lives near New Baltimore in Hamilton County, Ohio. Elizabeth, another daughter, married Mr. Maynard. All the children are in comfortable eir- cumstanees and are much respected by the community. John C. was born in 1808. and was married in 1845 to Caroline Brown, born in Butler County in 1818. They had seven children. Mary Elizabeth, wife of John Kleinfelder, lives in Venice : Elijah lives in Ross Town- ship; Jesse is married and lives in Ross; Rachel is the wife of John Knox, and the others are John W., Sarah E., and Susan C. He is a farmer, and owns one han- dred and five acres, part of which belongs to the original two hnadred acres his father purchased. He lives in the old homestead built by his father.
ISAAC ANDERSON.
Isane Anderson was long and favorably known in Butler Comity, having been a resident for more than forty years. He was born in Donegal County, Ireland, September 15, 1758, and was the youngest of thirteen children. When he was about twelve years of age his
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j'rents died within a short time of each other, and there ixiug no legal guardian appointed for him, he was left pretty much to his own control, and in after life was often heard to say that until he was fourteen years old he was a self-willed and very rude boy. At that time he resolved to reform, and at once beeame industrious and steady. He soon became ready in mathematies, and es- pecially so in surveying, for which he had a natural gift. At the age of sixteen he determined to seek his fortune in America. He sailed from Donegal, in the north of Ireland, and landed at Philadelphia in the carly part of the year 1774. During his passage he kept up his mathematical studies by learning navigation under the mition of the captain.
Several of his brothers and sisters had come to Amer- ica some years previous, and settled in Virginia, where many of their deseendants are yet residing. Isaac stopped in Pennsylvania until the Spring of 1776, when the war with Great Britain commenced, and he entered the serv- ice. He was enrolled in Colonel Morgan's rifle regiment, and from that time to the end of the war bore an honored and distinguished part. The first, or about the first, act- ive serviee in which Anderson engaged was at Bemis Ileights, between the American army under General Gates, and the British army under General Burgoyne. Colonel Morgan's regiment was detached to observe the movements of the enemy and to harass them as they advanced. The battle was long and bloody, and a dozen times in the day the result was doubtful. Darkness ter- minated the battle, and the Americans withdrew, but the defeat, was equal to a vietory. The second battle in which Mr. Anderson participated was fought on the 7th of October following. This battle was also a long and sanguinary conflict, and the result was entirely favorable to the Americans. Isaac Anderson was also present at the surrender of the British army uuder General Bur- goyue at Saratoga, which took place October 16, 1777. In December, 1777, during the time the British occupied l'h 'adelphia, and while Congress held their sessions at Yorktown, the regiment to which Mr. Anderson be- longed happened to be on a seouting expedition, when, on the 10th of the month, they fell in with a British regiment on a similar service. A skirmish ensued, dur- ing which Mr. Anderson was severely wounded by a musket-ball, which passed in at one check aud out the opposite side, carrying away some of his teeth and a part of his jaw-bone. The wound injured the sight of one of his eyes, and made a scar which he carried through life. Mr. Anderson was supposed to be dead, and was left on the field. In the morning the British found him and carried him to the hospital, where he finally recovered.
When the British evacuated Philadelphia, on the morning of the 18th of June, 1778, Mr. Anderson feigned himself extremely ill, and was left behind in his berth in the hospital, by the connivance of a friend, who was the assistant surgeon. As soon as the army bad
gone, he jumped from his bed and set out for the Amer- ican camp, where he arrived the same evening.
The British, after leaving Philadelphia, followed by General Washington, fought a severe battle on the 28th of June, 1778, at Monmouth Court-house. Mr. Ander- son often stated that in this battle he discharged lis rifle with aim thirty-two times. In 1781 we find him engaged with General George Rogers Clark, on his ex- pedition to the Falls of the Ohio. In this command he held the office of lieutenant in Captain Shannon's regi- ment. Many hair-breadth escapes occurred on this expe- dition. During his journey he kept a diary, which is still preserved in the family and contains much authentic information.
In November, 1788, Isaac Anderson was married to Euphemia Moorchead, eldest daughter of Fergus Moore- head, who had also been a soldier in the Revolution. Fergus Moorehead was the father of Joseph Moorehead, who received an ensign's commission, and marched to the West with the army under General St. Clair. In 1791 Mr. Anderson was offered a position as commander of a company fitting out to march against the Indians in the North-west, under the command of General St. Clair, but, being previously engaged by the Holland Land Company to make surveys in Western Pennsylvania, declined.
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