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 4
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and Mrs. Murphy, though but four are now living. William J. H. was born June 7, 1871; Eva Pearl, June 28, 1873; Minnie Myrtle, December 31, 1877; and Marie, September 23, 1880.
Mr. Murphy has always been a Democrat in politics. He is a member of the Knights of Honor and Knights and Ladies of Honor, and has also been an Odd Fellow for the past three years. As a business man Mr. Murphy is cautious, considerate, and uniformly successful, and he has the reputation of being the best-natured man of Hamilton.
COLONEL A. DUNN.
Colove! A. Dann died very suddenly in November, 1854, while out valuing the property of Asa Emmons. He was taken with a fainting fit, dropping down in the field, from the effects of which he died in a few hours. He was one of our most respectable and highly esteemed citizens. He had done much for the advancement of our agricultural interests as well as the general prosperity .of the county, and was, at the time of his death, the president of the Butler County Agricultural Society. The esteem which the community entertained for him was appropriately attested in the very large procession which followed his remains to their last resting-place.
JAMES BEATTY.
James Beatty, a wealthy banker and well-known land owner of Butler County, died in March, 1880, at his residence, near Jones Station, of paralysis. Mr. Beatty was a native of Ireland, and about sixty-five years of age. He accumulated considerable wealth, most of which was made in the pork business. He owned one thousand nine hundred and forty-eight acres of land, and was es- timated to be worth about $800,000. He was for a num- ber of years vice-president of the First National Bank of Hamilton, and one of the principal stockholders.
THE NATIONAL ARMORY.
A nong the projects agitated in Hamilton forty years ago was one for the establishment of a national armory. Congress had ordered the construction of several new ones, and this place had several advantages which it was thought ouglit to secure the erection of such an establish- ment here. It was to be located in one of the Western States. Ohio had peculiar claims, owing to its superior representative numbers, and in consideration of its long line of exposed frontier. This place was better than any point further east or further north, because the naviga- tion of the river and the canals is less interrupted by ice and extreme low water. From here arms could be trans- ported with ease to the North on the lakes, or to the South or South-west. A meeting was held in Handkon in 1841, at which an elaborate report was made. It pointed out that the prices of property were low and rents always obtainable; provisions were cheap. There was an abinidance of timber, stone, and other materials.
No carting would be required, as in Cincinnati, and coal could be cheaply delivered. The prospective hydraulic works would furnish all of the water power, and an ex- cellent location was shown at the north end of town, just below Millikin's Island.
Brigadier-general Armistead and Colonel Long, of the United States topographical engineers, in their report to the Secretary of War, say :
" Of the Miami country generally beauty rather than grandeur is strikingly characteristic of its main features. The immediate valley of the Miami River, in particular, preseuts a beautiful expanse of intervale land, bounded on both sides by gently sloping hills, and like that of the Muskingum, embosoming two or more benches, or plains, rising by gentle gradations one above another, but far more spacious on the former than on the latter. These valley lands are remarkably rich and productive, and are for the most part cleared, and in a high state of cultiva- tion. A view of some portions of this interesting valley, early in September, when contiguous fields, as far as the eye can reach, are clad in the luxuriant verdure of growing corn, is one of the most delightful prospects that can be witnessed. . On returning from the valley and reaching the uplands, a view not less interesting, though less captivating, is presented ; a broad surface, generally of a rolling, but occasionally of a gently waving aspect, and stretching to the farthest limits of the horizon, here meets the eye. In richness of soil, variety of pro- ducts, and healthfulness of appearance, all combined, it. is not surpassed, probably, by any upland region to be met with in any other part of the United States.
"The country around Hamilton and Rossville, for many miles in every direction, presents the more comely and interesting features generally exhibited by the Miami country. The woodlands, which formerly presented a dense and heavy growth of timber, shrubbery, vines, grasses, etc., have given way to cultivated fields, yield- ing all the necessarics of life in the greatest profusion .. Corn, wheat, rye, barley, oats, potatoes, tobacco, hay, fruits of all kinds common or peculiar to the climais, peas, beans, hemp, tlax, etc., are among the products of the soil, and these, together with horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry, beef. butter, lard, tallow, etc., constitute . the leading articles produced for market, all of which can be supplied in abundance, and on the most moderate terms.
"The facilities afforded to this neighborhood by the hydraulic canal for trade and intercourse by water with remote parts of the country are invaluable. A broad basin, nearly a mile long, and fifteen to twenty feet deep. connecting the town of Hamilton with the canal, affords a spacious and commodious port for the commercial busi- ness of the neighborhood.
"The valley of the river and the adjacent country ou both sides, in this neighborhood, are similar to what they are represented to be in the ucighborhood of Day ton,
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except that the uplands present an aspect considerably more rolling and diversified in the vicinity of the site now under consideration. The river, in its passage through this neighborhood, is more serpentine, shoally, and rapid than in other places, and embosoms an island containing three hundred and ten acres, called Millikin's Island, which is situated a little above the town site of Hamilton."
D. W. McCLUNG.
David Waddle McClung, surveyor of customs for the port of Cincinnati, is of West Scotland or Highland stock. In 1730 his great-grandfather came to this coun- try and settled in Washington County, New York. His descendants mostly resided in that State; but his son Charles McClung, grandfather of David W. McClung, removed to Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, where David's father and mother were both born, but were both brought to Ohio by their parents in early childhood, the families settling in Fairfield County. The father's name was also David. He was married in 1824 to Miss Eliz- abeth Brown, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Mc- Teer) Brown. Their fifth child and fourth son was Da- vid Waddle, born December 18, 1831, in Eaton Town- ship, Seneca County, Ohio, to which his parents had removed two years after marriage. But five of this large family, including David, are now living. The father died in October, 1867, and the mother in August, 1877. David was brought up on a farm, attended the country schools in his childhood, which were very good for the time, the residence of the family being on the border of the famous Western Reserve, and was a mem- ber of the Seneca County Academy at Republic, then taught by Thomas W. Harvey, since State commissioner of schools. Here he prepared for college, and entered as a freshman at Muskingum College, New Concord, in October, 1850 ;. remained one term, and then transferred his allegiance to Miami University at Oxford, from which he was graduated A. B. in 1854.
During much of his preparatory course he maintained himself by teaching school, beginning at the early age of fifteen, and for a large share of the expenses of his college course he served the university in various capac- ities, but had to create a debt, which was faithfully re- paid upon his entrance into business life. After gradua- tion he again undertook the pedagogue vocation, but in a higher field, becoming at first principal of the high schools, then superintendent of the public schools in Hamilton, in which two positions he remained three years.
At the expiration of his year as superintendent, he accepted the charge of the Republican organ herc, the Hamilton Intelligencer, which he conducted, or assisted in editing, for about two years, in association with his old friend and classmate, Colonel Minor Millikin. It was the early day of the Republican party ; Butler County was largely Democratie. It was an important
transition period, and the Intelligencer bore its full share "in fixing the current of public opinion. The fight with the opponents was at times close and sharp, and Mr. McClung was himself personally attacked by an infuri- ated Democrat, and bore from the conflict an honorable scar which he wears to this day. He was, during this time of editorial work, engaged at intervals in the study of the law, and in the Winter of 1859 and 1860 he was appointed by the governor to the position of pro- bate judge of the county in the placc of William R. Kin- der, who died in office.
Upon the outbreak of the war, the call for volunteers being issued Monday morning, April 16, 1861, he en- listed in a Hamilton company as a private soldier, and went with it to Camp Jefferson, Columbus, where it was sworn into service April 24th, and assigned as Com- pany F, Third Ohio Infantry. On the 27th of the same month the regiment was sent, with five companics of the Eleventh, to establish Camp Dennison, on the Little Miami Railroad. Mr. MeClung was taken from the ranks, where he was still serving as a private, and made quar- termaster of the camp, in which place of responsibility and honor he was detained, contrary to all precedents of the service, until the following March, hundreds of thousands of dollars in money and property passing through his hands meanwhile. He then received a com- mission, to date from February 19, 1862, as captain and assistant quartermaster. He remained at the camp un- til June 15, 1862, having meanwhile rebuilt it, in order to fit it for Winter quarters, and was then ordered to Camp Chase to build the barracks for rebel prisoners there.
When the call for five hundred thousand more was made by President Lincoln, Camp Dennison acquired more importance than ever, and Captain McClung was ordered back to equip the regiments forming therein. From first to last it is believed that he prepared not far from one hundred regiments for the field. When the second levy of troops had been equipped he supervised the conversion of the barracks at the camp during No- vember and December, of 1862, into a convalescent hospital. Thence he departed for Madison, Indiana, where hospitals more convenient to the river were to be built, and then to Cincinnati, to take charge of the pur- chase of supplies, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. His money accounts with the govern- ment, during his entire term of service, aggregated about twenty-five million dollars; his property accounts, more than twice as much.
His services were not finally dispensed with until No- vember 8, 1865, when he was honorably mustered out, at his own reiterated request. Shortly before this, Or- tober 30, he was breveted major of volunteers, for faitte. ful and meritorious services, on the recommendation of General Ekin and other high officers of the quarter- master's department.
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He returned to Hamilton, and was elected president of the Second National Bank, although not then a stock- holder. In about a year and a half he resigned that. place, and Legan the manufacture of machinery, in Ham- ilton, remaining in this business for two years, when he exchanged his stoek in the machine-shop for an interest in the Woodsdale Paper Company, of which he took charge, and remained its business manager until Febru- ary 1, 1879, when he removed to Cineinnati and became assistant postmaster. In January, 1881, he was nomi- uated by President Hayes surveyor of the port of Cincinnati, and again by President Garfield, upon his accession, when he was promptly confirmed by the Senate, and received his commission of date March 10, 1881.
Colonel McClung was married on the 19th of March, 1861, to Miss Anna' Carter Harrison, only daughter of Carter B. Harrison, youngest son of General Harrison, Her mother was Mary, of the family of John Sutherland, one of the pioneers of Butler County. She is a worthy helpmate of her distinguished spouse. They have had no children.
FIRE COMPANY.
Hamilton had a fire company as far back as 1839, and it is possible it had one at a much carlier date, although we have no record of it. It was entitled the Hamilton Fire Company, No. 1, and was to consist of not more then fifty members. The officers of the eom- pany were Thomas H. Wilkins, foreman; James Rey- nolds, assistant foreman ; George Seward, treasurer ; and Elisha Dalton, secretary.
The members were as follows: C. K. Smith, A. D. Kyle, James B. Cameron, Ira M. Collyer, Sineas Pier- son, Richard Cornell, H. S. Earhart, G. W. McAdams, J. H. Smith, John Davis, James C. DeCamp, Aaron Potter, John Herron, Philip Berry, John Rinehart, James Albert, J. B. MeFarland, James Watson, Wil- liam Cornell, Benjamin Davis, Stephen West, John S. Wiles, M. W. Clyne, George Krug, Isaac M. Walters, William Conley, Robert Whitehead, Aaron Woodruff, W. B. Saunders, John Eichleberger, Joseph Durbin, D. G. Rose, John Jewell, F. T. Walton, J. Bayles, Ja- eob Wayne, Joseph Wallace, A. Rollins, Thomas Faw- cett, Otis Brown, Jonathan Conover, Samuel Johnson, Andrew Stewart, James O'Connor, Peter Myers, M. L. Serrel, and Nelson Ralph.
MASONIC LODGE.
In the year 1811 the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, at Chillicothe, granted a dispensation or charter, authorizing the establishment of a lodge of Freemasons at Hamilton. The dispensation was signed by Lewis Cass, grand master, and Henry Brush, grand secretary, and dated the 7th of September, 1811. On the 10th of October, 1811, a number of Freemasons met at the tav- ern then kept by William Murray, on the south-west cor-
ner of Dayton and Water Streets, in Hamilton, and organized themselves into a lodge, by the name of " Wash- ington Lodge, No. 17," the first officers of which were Joseph Hough, worshipful master; Thomas Blair, senior warden; Matthew Hueston, junior warden ; Robert Tay- lor, senior deacon; Joseph Potter, junior deacon ; Will- iam Wallace, tyler; John Taylor, treasurer; and Alex- ander Sackett, secretary.
At that time not more than nine Freemasons were known to reside in Hamilton or the vicinity; but soon after the establishment of the lodge a number of persons joined, and were initiated into the mysteries of the eraft, so that they shortly beemine respectable as to numbers and standing in society. They continued to hold their meetings at the house of William Murray for several years. The lodge was then removed to the house on the south-west corner of Second and Basin Streets, where a tavern was then kept by Thomas Blair, and afterward by James Wilson.
Afterwards they leased from the Hamilton Literary Society the second story of a building erecting for an academy on lot No. 140, at the intersection of Dayton and Third Streets, then belonging to the literary society, on condition that they would erect and finish the second story, and maintain it in good repair at their own ex- pense. This they fitted up in a neat and tasteful man- ner, and the lodge was removed to that room, where it was continued until 1831. A school was kept in the lower apartment. The building standing in an isolated place, some evil-disposed persons broke open the room, carried away their jewels, and injured the furniture. This induced them to remove to a more secure place. Accordingly, on the 1st of April, 1831, they leased the fourth story of the Hamilton Hotel for a term of twenty years, at a rent of eighteen dollars per year, which they forthwith fitted up in a neat and appropriate manner for the accommodation of the lodge.
The number in 1843 attending the lodge, as actual members, was forty. In addition to these, there were about fifty more who belonged to the order, but were not in the habit of attending regularly, making in all about ninety Freemasons within the jurisdiction of the lodge.
The excitement as to Masonry and anti-Masonry which prevailed in several parts of the United States from 1827 to 1836, did not agitate (at least to any con- siderable extent) the neighborhood of Hamilton. The fraternity was not interfered with by the community.
The worthy masters have been Thomas. Blair, Sam- uel Bayless, Joseph Hough, Joseph Benham, Alexander Proudfit, Lewis West, Daniel Millikin, Charles K. Smith, William B. Van Hook, Jesse Corwin, John H. Dubbs, T. M. Thomas, Elijah Vance, Thomas Reed, Benjamin F. Raleigh, William Sheeley, Isaac Robertson, George W. Louthan, William C. Hunter, John M. Parks, H. H. Wallace, George W. Dye, John B. Lawder, John
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Crane, William Fenn, J. Conover, and Allen Andrews. There are other Masonic institutions here, but we have been unable to get information about them.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
A society of Baptists was formed in Hamilton and organized in 1829, at which time they numbered twenty- seven members. Leonard Garver, of Rossville, made them a donation of lot No. 151, in the south part of the town of Rossville, on which, in 1833, they erected a briek building as a place of public worship, at a cost of about one thousand dollars. In February, 1833, the Legis- lature passed an act incorporating the Hamilton and Rossville Baptist Church, under the name of "The Ham- ilton and Rossville Regular Baptist Church," by which act Samuel Fields, Leonard Garver, Isaac T. Saunders, Isaac Paxton, and William Morris were elected trustecs to manage the property of the association.
The first stationed preacher in the congregation was the Rev. Daniel Bryant, who settled in Hamilton in 1829, and continued to officiate for two years and four months. He was succeeded by the Rev. Stephen Gard, of Trenton, who preached to the congregation three years. The Rev. Thomas Childers then officiated four years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph H. Flint, who re- mained two years, and then the Rev. Wilson Thompson officiated two years, up to May, 1844, at which time the number of members belonging to the society was about thirty-five. Number of members at the time the society was organized, twenty-seven; there had been added by baptism, thirty-four; by letter, forty; total, one hundred and onc. There had been dismissed by letter, forty; excluded, eight; dcecased, eighteen; total, sixty-six. Number of members in April, 1844, thirty-five. Owing to the smallness of the congregation, it has been impos- sible to obtain any definite particulars of the later years of this society. In the division between the Old School and New School, in 1836, they adhered to the Old School, and their numbers gradually diminished. For some time past they have had preaching once a month by Mr. Danks, of Cincinnati.
CHARLES L. WELLER.
Charles L. Weller was born in. the town of Mont- gunnery, Hamilton County, September 4, 1821, from whence his parents moved to Oxford, . Batler County, Ohio, about the year 1826. Both parents died there. Charles was appointed a cadet at West Point in 1841, but his health failing under the rigorous discipline of that institution, he resigned after about nine mouths serv- ice. He was schooled at Miami University, though not to graduation. In 1844, after the deccase of his father, he took up his residence at. Hamilton, where he served about a year as deputy sheriff poder William J. Elliott. Then he went to Washington City as a clerk in the gen- cral post-office under Cave Johnson. In 1849 he re- signed to take the position of disbursing officer in the
boundary commission under his brother John B., who had been appointed to ruu the boundary line between the United States and Mexico. On the way to the field- of survey he was sent back from Panama with dispatches to the government at Washington. He had there a long controversy with the Secretary of the Interior, over an attempt to remove him from the commission, in conse- quenee of which he was detained there some six months, during which time he was employed by the secretary of the United States Senate in compiling a book of claims.
At the session of Congress in 1849 and 1850 he was the Democratic candidate for sergeant-at-arms, and was within one vote of an cleetion. In 1850 he returned to his former home, Hamilton, bought out the newspaper organ of the Democratie party, the Telegraph, which he edited. for two years or more, during which time he was sent by his party as representative to the Ohio Leg- islature. After serving one session he resigned, and .in December, 1852, he started with his wife (hranda Mar- tindell), whom he married in 1846, for California, where he arrived January 6, 1853, and located at San Fran- cisco, where he still resides. He was appointed under President Pierce assistant United States appraiser of merchandise; also pension agent, both of which posi- tions he resigned, upon his being appointed postmaster of San Francisco in August, 1854. This latter office he held until April, 1801, since which time he has been en- gaged in the real estate and stoek-broker's business, and in mining operations, being president of the Ophir, the Mexican, the Crown Point, and the Exchequer mining companies, and also president of the Pacific Stock Ex- ellange Board, of San Francisco.
GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH.
The German Methodist Episcopal Church was organ- ized as a branch of the Methodist Episcopal Society of Hamilton in 1843. The first members were Conrad Stonebreaker, Mrs. Ruotf, and Mr. Griesel. A few others came to Hamilton with their families, when a Sunday- school was begun, and a church bought in 1860, form- erly the property of the Lutheran Society. They paid for it two thousand two hundred dollars. The trustees were Philip Berry, S. W. Mower, Joseph Lashhorn, and Conrad Stonebreaker. They were much persecuted by the members of the other German Churches, who tried to keep their members away.
They have grown considerably in the last three years, now having sixty-two members. A year ago they bought a lot, and intend shortly to begiu the ercetiou of an edli- fiee on the cast side of the river. The Church is still a mission, and receives support from the general Church fund. The first pastor was the Rev. Martin Hartman, and since that tune they have had as preachers Messrs. Kessinger, Voltz, Binchart, Jacob Gabler (under whom the church was bought), Brenning, Charles Heiwig, John Feling, and John Bier. The Sabbath-school has eighty
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scholars, and fifteen officers and teachers. Frank Keller is superintendent. There is also a Christian Church, on the west side, of which Elder Gaff is the pastor, of whose history we are not informed.
THOMAS MOORE.
Colonel Thomas Moore, one of the oldest members of the bar in this county, was born in Quebec, Canada, July 28, 1822. He is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Moore, who were of Scotch-Irish descent. He was brought to Pennsylvania in 1828, where, after the sojourn of a year, his father died, in 1829 or 1830. With his mother and two brothers, he came to Ohio the year after, and settled in Oxford, in this county, where he went to school until removing to Preble County, in 1833. When he was fifteen he began working at the tailor's trade, and after completing his time, labored for eight weeks-as a journeyman, acquiring enough money in this time to carry him through one term at the Miami University, in . the Fall of 1839. He was a student in that institution for some four years, working at his trade during vaca- tions, and whenever the opportunity offered, and also teaching school, using the money thus acquired to gain an education.
Completing his course, he entered the office of L. D. Campbell, in Hamilton, about 1845, and read law with him. From this he went to Jackson & Hawkins, at Eaton, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Ohio, at Columbus, in the Winter of 1845 and 1846. A year after he entered into a partnership with Judge William J. Gilmore, which lasted a year, and was dissolved by Judge Gilmore going to Eaton, where he `married. Mr. Moore remained in Hamilton, and has been here ever since. He was elected State senator from Butler and Warren Counties in 1860, being the first Re- publican to fill that position. He was mayor of Ross- ville in 1850 or 1851, a position he soon after resigned. He was originally a member of the Associate Reformed Church, but for the past cight or ten years has been a member of the Presbyteriau Church. In 1864 he was elected colonel of the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Ohio National Guard, and commanded it during its serv- ice of four months in West Virginia. A full account of this regiment is given under the head of the Rebellion. They were mustered out at Hamilton, in September of that year.
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