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 36
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Freeman Grant Cary was born in Cincinnati April 7, 810. His father, William Cary, emigrated to the Northwest Territory in 1803, and settled on a farm he had purchased at the head of Main Street, Cincinnati, where he resided until 1814, when he removed to College Hill. His thirty-two acres in Cincinnati were soll, and he bought Section 30, in Mill Creek Township, now College Hill, where he resided until his death, March 25, 1882.
In this place Freeman G. Cary, with his two brothers, William Woodward and Samuel Fenton, received his early education. He afterwards attended college at Miami University, and graduated with honor in the class of 1831. This was more thau fifty years ago, and since that time Mr. Cary has left a marked impress of his character for good, which, in the history of the times, is inerasable. He has devoted more than thirty years of his life to teaching. He established Cary's Academy and originated Farmers' College, into which the academy was merged; also originated for females what afterwards be-
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came the Ohio Female College. These institutions were eminently successful until after he resigned the presi- dency, the Farmers' College at that time numbering three hundred students. The Female College was like- wise successful.
Mr. Cary's strong point was in government, and he was also a successful teacher. During his presidency he associated with him men of ability in the various depart- ments of his institution. In the first period of its exist- ence under him, he educated, to a greater or less extent, some three thousand young men, many of thein occupy- ing distinguished positions North and South, in the min- istry, the bar, or as physicians or business men. Mr. Cary's character is marked by a combination of striking traits ; being possessed of a strong constitution, temperate habits, and good health, giving him physical ability to accomplish successfully whatever he attempts.
He has made his own place in society, and is known to be persistent and energetic in all he undertakes. He has filled all the duties that have fallen to his charge with ability and tact. He is thoroughly conversant with all the branches of natural science, especially those apper- taining to agriculture and horticulture, of which he has acquired both a practical and theoretical knowledge. He has connected with his residence an admirably arranged conservatory and greenhouse, on his own plan, in which he spends much of his time in experimenting for his own gratification. He established and edited an agricultural periodical, the Cincinnatus, which for five years had a wide circulation, and only ceased by reason of the Re- bellion. He was one of the distinguished carly leaders and supporters of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, being several times its honored president. Mr. Cary is not only an adept in the natural sciences, but is also a good classical and mathematical scholar, his education and ability eminently fitting him for marked prominence. He was selected as one of two to represent the great State of Ohio, under Buchanan's administration, in a congress of the States for the promotion of agriculture, with Marshall P. Wilder at its head. After over a quarter of a century's labors in the schools originated and constructed by him he retired to a farm in Butler County, where, with his wonted zeal and industry, he devoted himself to rural pursuits, leading a quiet and retired life. His residence, planned by himself, is a model of taste and fine architecture, combining as many conveniences as any structure in the world. His place is set with the choicest fruits grown in the climate, and his house is completely cneireled by evergreens and decid- uous trees, all being in keeping with the intelligence of' the man. He has been an eller in the Presbyterian Church for over forty years, aud its active, zealous supporter.
His Best with was Malvina MeCan. He was married to ber on the 4th of April. 1833. She was a uative of Chillicothe, and the daughter of an obl pioneer, who was
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a man of fine education and was an extensive surveyor. She died in the month of January, 1872. By her he had eight children, five of whom survive. His second wife was the widow of Dr. James Richardson, and daughter of Clark Bates, one of the earliest pioneers of the West. He was married to her March 6, 1873. His mother, Mrs. William Cary, now ninety-one years of age, intelli- gent and still active, lives with him. Notwithstanding her advaneed years she enjoys all her faculties of mind. William Woodward, named. after William Woodward, the founder of Woodward College, died in 1847. He was a farmer, a man of sound judgment and mathemati- eal education. General S. F. Cary, of world-wide re- nown as a lecturer and popular author, is the youngest of the three brothers. The Cary sisters, the celebrate !! writers, were his cousins, and were greatly aided in their first efforts by the subject of this sketch. Few men, in an independent and unaided life, and on their own re- sources, have exerted a more extended influence than F. G. Cary. -
Thomas Cooper was born in Liverpool, England, about 1785, and died in Fairfield, in 1858. He married in England and had seven children, one only surviving- Robert, born in 1812 in England. Mr. Cooper eame to the United States about 1815, and settled in the South, near Natchez, but in 1820 moved to Ohio. In 1823 he , moved to Fairfield, in this county, where he resided till his death. He was educated for a surveyor, and followed it for a few years. He taught in a high school in Cin- einnati before he settled in Butler County. His son, Robert, married Eliza Jane Howard, born in Hamilton County in 1821. They had cleven children, eight of then being living. Mary Belle is the wife of Calvin Bur- fridge; William is married ; Electa is the wife of Richard Applegate, M. D. ; George; Jennie, wife of George Van- dergriff; Anne Eliza, wife of Isaac B. Rice; Benton, and Jessie. Mr. Cooper is a farmer, and one of the represen- tative men of Butler County, owning over eleven hundred acres of land, all of which he made himself, commencing life with nothing.
Enoch Chambers, who lives near Jones's Station, was born in Maryland, on the List of July, 1805. His parents were Henry and Perslia Chambers, who cante to this county in 1812. He was married March 16, 1839, to Mary Ann Moore. They lived together until 1864, when Mrs. Chambers died. They had seven children. Francis Marion was born November 10, 1839; Harriet Moore, November 26, 1840; Orpha Trender, April 28, 1843; Emma Rebecca Duson, May 30, 1845; Lydia Anu Mills, December 5, 1847; Sarah Jane Miller, May 17, 1850; and Laura Cornelia Sweet, April 17, 1850. The two last named live in Kansas, aud Lydia is dead. Since the death of his wife, Mr. Chambers has remained on the farm with bis daughter, who is assiduous in his care. Hle has a fine farm of one hundred acres, with every thing convenient. His first vote for President was cast
for Andrew Jackson, remaining with the Democratic party until the Kansas imbroglio, since when he has voted the Republican ticket. When he bought the place he now lives on, only thirty acres were cleared. Mrs. Chambers was the daughter of William and Ruth Moore, who came out here in 1830.
Vincent Davis, son of Joshua, was born in New Jersey, about 1785, and died in 1872. He married Anna Smalley, born in New Jersey in 1788, who died in 1875. They had twelve children, six of whom are still living. Mary, the widow of Mark Moore, lives in Indiana. Joshua, born June 7, 1808, is married, and lives in Fairfield : Jemima, wife of William Sleith, is in Indiana; Amy and Emma Jane are single, and live in Fairfield Township. Francis is married and lives in Missouri. He came to Ohio in 1805 with his father, and settled in Middletown, where he worked in the Mid- dletown grist-mill, owned by his father. He married about 1806, and settled in Monroe, where he recom- menced farming. He purchased land, and about 1813 moved to Liberty Township, where his father-in-law gave him sixty acres in the woods, which he cleared and lived on till his death. He was drafted in the War of 1812, but sent a substitute. His son Fraueis was captain of : cavalry company during the late war. His son Joshna was born January 7, 1808, and was married the first time in 1830, to Mary Cummins, born in Butler County in 1800. She died in 1873, leaving no family. He was married the second time in 1875, to Emma Bell- chambers, born in Sussex, England, September 28, 1847. They have one child, Joshua Dunham, born February 19, 1881. He has been township trustee for one term, director of the school board, and lieutenant of the Butler County Light Horse.
William S. Gilmore was born on Long Island, in the State of New York, January 8, 1808, and was married the first time about 1833. His wife was Jane Brogden, born in Springdale, Ohio, about 1818, and dying in Sep- tember, 1870. By her he ha six children, five of whom are living. One died in infancy. John is married and lives in Hanover Township; Margaret, widow of Elva Spellman, lives in Hamilton; Jeremiah is married and lives in Fairfield Township; Mary is the wife of Jacob Bonnell, and lives in Columbus, Pennsylvania; and Laura is the wife of Ross Lockwood, and lives in Frank- lin, Ohio. Mr. Gilmore came to Cincinnati with his Trirents about 1824, where his father started in business as an auctioncer, the first in Cineinuati. He removed to Pittsburg after three years, remaining there four years. About 1830 he returned to Cincinnati, where his father and uucle Gordon had established a banking business, and he aeted as clerk in their office. About 1833 he was married, and went on a farm, now part of the cor- poration of Cincinnati, which his father and uncie had purchased. He remained there until 1840. when he moved to Butler County, where he settied in Union
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Township, on land which had previously been purchased by his father. He received at his father's death four hundred and fifty acres, and on this ground he has spent the best part of his life. He was married again on the . 220 of December, 1871. His wife was Elizabeth Boyd, widow of Charles Moore, born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, September 15, 1815. He is a stockholder und director of the Sharon pike, owning one-half of it, and has always been one of the prominent citizens of Butler County.
Gottlieb Gressle, now deceased, was born in France. Coming to this country he was married June 13, 1856, in Hamilton, to Mary F. Custer, daughter of Frederick Custer and Maria Bolter. She was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1838. They had four children. Edward was born December 22, 1862; Esther E. was born January 24, 1865; Eugene, August 13, 1867, and Bertha M., May 5, 1871. Esther E. died March 17, 1866, and Mr. Gressle March 24, 1881.
John Garber was born in Lorraine, on the borders of France and Germany, about 1799. He was married the first time to Barbara Springer, born in Lorraine in 1797, and dying December 13, 1867. By her he had three children, of whom two are living. John was born April, 1838; Magdalen in 1835, dying in 1859, and the other child was Christopher. Mr. Garber emigrated to Amer- ira about 1825, settling in this county. He was first at Trenton, working for Christian Augspurger, and then rented a farm near that place, afterwards going to Fair- field Township, and renting the Wurmzer farm. About 1836 he bought sixty-six acres of land in that township, the same now owned by his son John, for which he paid thirty dollars an acre. He came to this country with sixty dollars, and by dint of his own industry and per- severance accumulated a large property, becoming one of the wealthiest meu in Butler County. He owned, at the time of his death, twelve hundred acres in this county, and six hundred and forty in Missouri. He was married a second time in 1868, to Barbara Engel, a native of Lorraine, and had two children, both deceased. Mr. Garber died in 1875. His property was divided among his children at his death. They live in Fairfield Township. John was married to Rake Garber, born in Champagne, in France, in 1843. They have two children, Mary and Amy. Ile owns four hundred and fifty acres in Butler County, and six hundred and forty in Missouri.
where he married Agnes Gray, born in Pennsylvania in 1753, who died in 1851, in Fairfield Township, in this county. Ile had eleven children. James, who died in infancy, was born March 13, 1776; James, the second, was born March 1, 1777; William, July 20, 1778; Rich- ard, October 29, 1780; Robert, April 17, 1783; Mary, April 10, 1785; James, the third, May 7, 1787; John G., August, 1789; Hagh, May, 1792; Jonathan, Janu- ary 14, 1794; Martin, November 4, 1796. Mr. Gray came to this State about 1814, and purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Fairfield Township, where he lived till the time of his death. He taught school for some years, his sons carrying on the farm. Of his chil- dren, Jonathan was the only one who remained in But- ler County. He was born in Pennsylvania, January 14, 1794, and was married in 1825 to Mary Woods, born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1803. They had six children, of whom four are living. Alexander and Marilla are dead; William is married and lives in Chicago; Mary H. is the wife of Andrew Ritchie and lives in Cincin- nati; Johanna lives in Fairfield ; and John is married, living in Fairfield. Jonathan Gray was a member of the Presbyterian Church at the time of his death, and had been a member of the Associate Reformed Church previous to joining the other. He died in 1870, in Fair- field, and his wife died in 1880.
Manning Hathaway was born in New Jersey on the 6th of April, 1788, and died in Butler County, March 29, 1861. He married, December 7, 1812, Sarah Beach, born in New Jersey, August 26, 1793, who died June 9, 1868. They had seven children, of whom two are living. John, born April 23, 1814, died May 2, 1814; Eliza, September 25, 1815, died September 22, 1819; Catherine, widow of James Graham, October 2, 1817, lives in St. Louis, Mo .; Calvin, born January 10, 1819, died October 27, 1819; Alpkeus, July 24, 1821, died June 6, 1822; Amarda, April 12, 1824, died December 16, 1850; and Silas, February 8, 1832, lives single iu Fairfield. Manning Hathaway moved to Chio about 1812, and settled in Fairfield Township. He was a mill- wright, and followed this vocation as long as he was able. He began with nothing, but saved enough to buy sixty-eight acres, which was divided among his children, and which is now owned by lis son Silas. The latter is a member of the Butler County Grange, and has heldl the office of secretary to the Grange for three years.
Robert Gray was born in Ireland in 1744, and died Ezekiel C. Hamilton was born in Portland, Maine, in 1812. He came out here in 1842, and settled in Fairfield Township, being married in 1848 to Mary A. Blackburn, born in 1821, and daughter of James Black- burn and Sarah Lytle. They had nine children. Sarah Augusta is the wife of Albert Huston, who lives in Ham- ilton County ; Charles is married, and lives in Fairfichi Township; Arthur is dead, and the others are Albert, Ettie, Ida, Kate, James, and Lillie. Mr. Hamilton was in 1843 in Fayette County, Indiana. He came to the American colonies in 1763. He joined the American army in the war of the Revolution, having taken the onth of allegiance, and was in several engagements. He served maler General Putnam, first in the militia, and afterwards in the regulars at Sandy Hook. He ako served under General Watts in Captain Jonathan Robin- son's company, and received his discharge from General Putnam. After his discharge he settled in Pennsylvania, | justice of the peace, real estate assessor, personal prop-
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erty assessor, township trustee, and school director. He | sylvania, and were among the first settlers of Covington, died in 1880. Kentucky. The grandfather of Robert, Mr. Thomas Johnson B. Haythorne was born in Hamilton County, December 17, 1842, and was married in 1867 to Rachel A. Divley, a native of this State, where she was born December 30, 1845. They had four children, of whom three are living. Lulu S. was born October 30, 1868; Clifford P., May 11, 1875; Melvin and Milton, twins, January 2, 1875. The latter is dead. Mr. Haythorne came to Butler County in 1876, and leased the farm of William Beatty, one hundred and twelve acres. Previous to this he lived in Newton, Hamilton County. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is the superintend- ent of the Sunday-school at Furmandale, of which he was one of the founders. The school was organized in April, 1881, and at present averages about seventy at- tendants. During his residence in Hamilton County he was secretary of the Sabbath-school for several years. His wife is also a member of the Baptist Church. Kennedy, when he came West, purchased and owned for a number of years the entire tract of land upon which Covington, Kentucky, now stands. At an early day he removed to this place and erected a dwelling and other buildings upon it, among them what is now known as the "Old Stone House," which is still standing in Cov- ington, on the bluff overlooking the Ohio and Licking Rivers, and is the oldest house in that city, having been built in 1790. Mr. Thomas Kennedy, who may be con- sidered the head of the Kennedy family in the West, brought with him his family, consisting of four sons and one daughter. They were Joseph, born January 13, 1768; Samuel, born May 19, 1770; Thomas, Jr., born August 21, 1775; Robert, born May 4, 1777, and Han- nah, born April 15, 1773. Mr. Samuel Kennedy was married to Miss Jane Richardson, February 10, 1796, and these were the parents of twelve chillren, amoug them Robert Kennedy, the subject of this sketch. They were Dinah and Betsy, born January 15, 1797 ; Hannah, born February 1, 1799; Rebecca, born October 26, 1801; Robert, boru January 18, 1804; Edmund and Thomas, born July, 1806; Eliza, born October 5, 1808; Nancy, born February 11, 1811; Samuel, born October 16, 1813; Porter, born Angust 18, 1816; and Jane, born Noveut- ber, 1819.
Cornelius House was born on the 22d of October, 1798, in Virginia. He is the son of Jacob and Susan House. He was married in 1823 to Rachel Cregor, who was born iu West Jersey, on the 3d of February, 1803, and has borne him eleven children. William was born June 23, 1823; Susan Bill, August 18, 1828; Elizabeth Ayers, August 19, 1830; Jacob, October 5, 1832; George, February 10, 1835; Isaac, April 10, 1837; Joel, August 17, 1839; Alexander, June 30, 1842; and Albert, July 13, 1845. Alexander House was killed in the last bat- tle of the war, at Bentonville, North Carolina, March 15, 1865. He was aged twenty-two years, eight months, and thirteen days. He was brought home on the 28th of December and was buried on the 31st, at Greenwood Cemetery. One of the children, Cregor, died at eight years of age; but with this exception all his children have lived to maturity. He and his wife have lived to- gether for sixty years. She was the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Cregor, who came to this courty in 1808. Mr. Cregor served in the War of 1812. M ... and Mrs. House have lived on the farm they now occupy for the last forty-six years, and own a fine farm on the Spring- dale pike, consisting of one hundred acres. It is near Jones's Station.
David B. Huston was born in Fairfield Township, January 7, 1840, and married iu 1864 Clara Stout, born in Colerain Township, Hamilton County, August 6, 1839. They have had seven children, six of whom are living : Grace, Lily, Edgar, Ethel, Mabel, Ralph, and a baby not named. Ethel is dead. He is a member of the Hamilton Grange, holding the office of master; is a member of the school board, and clerk of the district, and collector. He is a member of the Republican Cen- tral Committee.
Robert Kennedy belonged to one of the oldest and largest families of the Ohio Valley. His immediate an- cestors came from the vicinity of Chambersburg, Pen-
Mr. Samuel Kennedy, the father of Robert, in the year 1796 purchased from Jonathan Dayton, an associate of John Cleves Symmes, a tract of two hundred and sixteen acres in Section 21, in Fairfield Township, Butler County, Ohio, and soon after settled upon it. At that time the entire tract was covered with heavy timber, and is now part of the homestead farm owned by the Kennedy family. Upon this farm, in 1804, when but few white settlers had established themselves in this scetion, and the Indians were yet occasionally scen, at the very beginning of the county, Robert Kennedy began life, and amid scenes of hardship incident to pioneer life grew to manhood.
While a young man Robert removed with his father to Covington, Kentucky, and dwelt in the " Old Stone House" for about three years, and then returned to the farm in Butler County, and remained there until after his father's death, which occurred in 1834; after which Robert purchased the old homestead and lived upon it until 1849, when by changes in his family he was required to move to Covington, and take charge of the Cincinnati and Covington Ferry, which had been in their hands for two generations. Mr. Kennedy, during his fourteen years' management of the ferry, a time of great activity and growth in business and population in Cincinnati and Covington, and prior to the building of any bridges, so conducted that interest as to accom- todate the public and make but few enemies. Especially did he manage the ferry with great discretion during
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the trying times of the Rebellion, from 1861 to 1863, and when he left it to return to his farm in 1863 it was with the sincere regret of both employes and the public. Mr. Kennedy was a man of sterling qualities in all the relations of life. As a business man he was prompt, honest, and fair in his dealings. He was twice married, first to Miss Harriet Adanis, February 8, 1826, by whom he had one daughter, who died while quite young. His wife died March 24, 1829. On December 6, 1832, Mr. Kennedy was married to Miss Joan Minor Millikin, daughter of Doctor Daniel Millikin, one of the oldest and most respectable physicians of Butler County. Of the second marriage there were seven children, four of whom are living -- three sons, Joseph M., Daniel M., Samuel Porter, and a daughter, Joan M.,-while Mary M., Robert M., and Jane K. are deceased.
Mr. Kennedy united with the Presbyterian Church of Hamilton, Ohio, in early life, and always maintained the character of a consistent and faithful Christian, amid all-the pressure and perplexities of business, not a little trying ou Christian patience and principle. He was always in his place when not absolutely required to be absent; was liberal with his means in advancing every good work, and endeavored to carry the influence and power of his religion down into every-day business.
His membership, with that of his excellent wife, was transferred to the First Presbyterian Church of Coving- ton, Kentucky, in 1851, and in January, 1861, he was elected a ruling elder in that Church. Accepting the office with great distrust of his fitness and ability, and only at the earnest solicitation of those who knew him best, it is the testimony of all who served with him dur- ing those troublesome years of war and excitement that he did his work faithfully and well, and tried to meet every obligation laid upon him.
Mr. Kennedy had long been siek, and approached death by slow and measured steps. In all his siekness he was sustained by that grace he so constantly sought, and when death came he was ready.
He died at "Oakland Farm," the name given the Kennedy homestead, near Hamilton, February 9, 1877, being a few days over seventy-three years of age. His funeral was attended in the Presbyterian Church at Hamilton by the pastors of the two Churches where his life had been spent, and his memory honored and de- parture mourned by a very large concourse of the okt- est citizens from every part of the county. His remains rest in Greenwood Cemetery, and his memory is eher- ished among many who loved him long and well on earth.
Benjamin Line came to Butler County in 1797. He was born in Pennsylvania, and was there married. He brought bis family with him, consisting of a wife and nine children, all of whom are deceased. He died in 1×15. Of his children, Moses was born in Pennsylvania, Washington County, in 1790, and was married in 1811
to Elizabeth MeClellan, born in Kentucky in 1795. They had nine children. James, born in 1817, is mar- ried and lives in Fairfield Township. Mary Jane, the wife of Samuel Stevenson, born in 1819, lives in Ham- ilton. Robert, born in 1831, is married and lives in Fairfield Township. Moses Line eame to this eounty when seven years old, and after his father's death pur- chased the family estate of the heirs. It -consisted of one hundred and eighty-one aeres, and during his life- time was enltivated by him. His son James now owns it. He was a soldier of 1812, for which he received a land warrant. He died in 1853, and his wife in 1876. James was born Angust 18, 1817, and was married in 1870 to Elizabeth Brewer, widow of John Niggis. They have one child, James C., who was born February 24, 1875. James Line has held several offices. He was infirmary director for seven years, justice of the peace six years, county commissioner from 1870 to 1875, and a member of the school board. Robert Line was born in Fairfield Township, on the old farm, March 9, 1830, and was married September 5, 1867, to Naney Agnes Slipher, born in St. Clair Township, June 27, 1843. He bad four children. Carrie E. was born August 7, 1869; Charles R. was born November 11, 1870; Laura B .. April 22, 1874, and Lula Jane, July 11, 1877. Mr. Line and his brother purchased the place on the death of the former, being in partnership till 1865, when he bought the place where he now lives, of eighty-five acres. He was drafted twice in the late war, and paid six hundred dollars for substitutes. He owns at present one hundred and twenty-two acres in Fairfield Town- ship, and ninety-five in Clinton County, Indiana.
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