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 40
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Few of the citizens of Butler were better known than Christopher Hughes. He was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, December 12, 1813, being the sixth child in a family of eleven children of Elijali Hughes and Sarah Muchner. As will be seen elsewhere, the family came to Olio at the close of the second war with Great Brit- ain, and settled in Liberty Township. Christopher Hughes was married to Eliza A. Young on the 6th of February, 1838. He speedily became noted as a polit- ical leader, anl fought strenuously for his party, the Democratic, from the time of his majority till his death. He was endowed with more than ordinary natural abili- ties. Clear in his judgment, and decidedly firm in his convictions, enterprising and public-spirited, lie acquired great influcace, and for many years occupied a prominent place in social and political circles. He was of the Jack- sonian type. He was four times elected to the Legisla. ture, serving eight years. During the civil war he was a staunch opponent of the policy of the administration, yielding nothing to popular clamor. He took especial delight in agricultural pursuits, and for many years was connected with the county agricultural society, and for a long time was a county commissioner. He took an active part in securing the location of the Short Line Railroad from Dayton to Cincinnati. He possessed high prin- ciples of honor, and, though strong in bis likes and dis- likes, was by no means revengeful. He was very deter- mined in his efforts to accomplish any object which he believed to be right, but whenever unsuccessful lie took
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his defeat like a philosophier. He was a sincere and steadfast friend, and a very highly esteemed citizen.
Elijalı Hughes was born in Baltimore County, Mary- land, about 1777, and died about 1838. Before leaving Maryland he married Sarah Muchner, born in the same county about 1780, and dying abont 1831. Mr. Hughes learned the trade of blacksmith, serving his full time in Maryland, and carrying on the business for about ten years. In 1816 he purchased a tract of one hundred and seventy acres in Liberty, this county, from Peter Lesourd, moving on it in 1817 with his family. He came overland on wagons, and immediately on his arrival went to work as a blacksmith, laboring at this occupation for about seven years. He also farmed a little, and at the expiration of the period just mentioned, gave up his forge, and turned his attention entirely to farming and stock dealing. He was a prominent man and well liked by lis neiglibors, very industrious and of good judgment. He was a pioncer member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Philip Hughes was born in Liberty Township, Oeto- ber 19, 1820, and was married on the 5th of May, 1847, to Elizabeth Rose, daughter of Isaac Rose and Charity (Garwood) Rose, who was born in Liberty Township. February 26, 1827. They have had two children. Reza was born September 4, 1845, and is the wife of Linus P. Clawson; Emma was born May 12, 1852, and is at home. Mr. Hughes is one of the prominent citizens of Lib- erty, has held the office of township clerk two terms, and township trustee several years. He is a member of the school board in Fairfield Township, and also in Liberty Township. He began life as a farmer, and remained so until his marriage, since which time, although owning farms, he has never conducted them himself, but has de- voted his time to breeding stock. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, and at present owns enough stock to act as director, an office he now holds. He was one of the organizers of the Butler County Fire Insurance Company, and served as a di- rector until it closed up. He was a stockholder and director for some the in the Union Central Life Insurance Company in Cincinnati.
Michael Iutzi was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, August 14, 1777, and married there Maria Holly, born April 23, 1783. They had three children and came to America with them. John was born in Hesse Cassel, November 13, 1803, and died in June, 1868, in Liberty Township. Elizabeth, born about 1805, died in 1879, in Illinois. She was the wife of Daniel Brennerman. Jacobina was born June 19, 1807, became the wife of Leonard Allendorf, and died December 30, 1653. John Iutzi married Elizabeth Schantz, who was born February 20. 1809, in Nassau. near Wiesbaden, Germany, on the 26th of October, 1828, in Hesse Cassel. They had ton children. Christiana was bora October 29, 1829; George, August 11, 1831; Helen, September 25, 1832; Freder-
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ick, December 22, 1834; William, April 27, 1837; Mary, September 19, 1839; Elizabeth, February 18, 1842; Jacobina, September 8, 1844; Joshua B., June 14, 1847; John, July 14, 1853. Christiana aud George died in Germany. Helen is the wife of Killian Kennel. Elizabeth is the wife of Simon Tweedel. Mr. Michael Iutzi came to America in 1832, and in April, 1833, re- moved to Liberty Township, settling on the farm where the family now reside. He was a farmer in Germany, and his son, John, brought some means when he came to this country. He purchased two hundred and three acres where he settled. He died December 5, 1840, and his wife died April 29, 1853.
Benjamin Franklin Kyle was born in this township in 1837. His father was James Kyle, who was born September 17, 1791, and died April 19, 1879. His mother was Elizabeth Kyle. She was born February 22, 1796, and died September 24, 1865. They came here in 1803, from Pennsylvania. . Benjamin F. Kyle was married, in 1868, to Helen Leighter, daughter of Samuel K. Leighter and Henrietta Caroline King. The former was born in Maryland, and the latter in Stark County, Ohio. Their daughter was born in Stark County in 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Kyle have had three children. Henry Leighter was born July 5, 1870; Blanche, June 29, 1873; and Walter Smedley, June 28, 1875. Mr. Kyle is a member of the school board. James D. Kyle was born on the 27th of September, 1839. He is the son of James Kyle, who had by his first wife, Esther Clark, one child, Sarah, wife of Vincent Wyle. By his second wife, Eliz- abeth Deardoff, he had three children: Maria Ann, born April 11, 1835, the wife of A. C. Martin, of Hamilton ; James D., and Benjamin F. Mrs. Elizabeth Kyle was one that formed the first Methodist Society in Monroe. James D. Kyle married, February 16, 1869, Mary M., daughter of Alexander Carr. She was born in Clermont County, February 27, 1843. They have four children, as follows: Julia Irene, Elizabeth Olive, Clarence J. A., and Mary Lenetha. He was a member of Bethany Gringe, and is a member of the Methodist Church, as is also his wife.
Adam Linn was born in Westmoreland County, Penn. sylvania, about 1740. He married a Miss Dickerson, and had nine children. John, James, and Adam were the first three; Sarah married James Gilbreth; Isabel married Jeremiah Wakefield ; Margaret married William Patterson; Nancy married Jacob Powers; Mary married Enoch Thompson; and Jane married John Patterson. He came to Ohio in 1804, and settled in Liberty Town- ship. By occupation he was a farmer, and served in the Revolutionary War. He died about 1810, his wife dying about 1815. Of his children, Adam was boru in 1785, in Westmoreland County, and married Jane Patterson, born in the sune county about 1790. They had eight children, three of whom are living. Anue, deceased, was born in 1806. and Samuel, born in 1808, is dead; William was born in 1810; Mary, deceased, was born in
1812; Margaret, born in 1814, is the wife of Louis Roff, and lives in Sidney; Nancy was born in 1817, and is the widow of Joseph Boggs, living at Rialto, in Union Town- ship; Jane, born in 1819, is dead; Charlotte was born about 1824. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was a soldier of 1812, under Captain Shaw, volunteering in place of a drafted man. He died in 1846, and his wife died about 1847. Of his children, William, born in 1810, married Jane Dayison, who was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, in 1819. They had one child, Dr. William D. Linn, who was born in 1840, and is now deceased. At his second nion, William Lian married Rebecca Jones, who was born in Warren County in 1824. They had six children: Henry G .; Jane, wife of Joseph Lesourd; Mary, wife of Dr. C. W. Stedom; Aletha A., James F., and Joseph M. Mr. Linn owns and farms one hundred and two acres. He is a self- made man. He originally learned the trade of a car- penter, at which he worked for thirty years, but upon the failure of his eyesight he purchased the farm.
Charles Legg was born in 1767, in Montgomery County, Maryland. He married, in 1787, Rachel Wil- coxon, born about 1764 in the same county, and had eleven children, three living. Elizabeth was born ahout 1788, and is dead. Polly, born December 18, 1789, the widow of Aaron Burdsall, lives in Liberty Township. John, born in 1791 ; Rebecca, in 1793; William. in 1794; Walter, in 1796; Nancy, in 1797; Sarah, in 1799, are dead. Charles C., born July 12, 1801, is living ; Arthur, born 1803, is dead; Amos, born September, 1805, is married and lives in Union Township. Mr. Legg moved to Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1800. where he resided about five years, and in 1505 he came down the Ohio on a flat-boat, and landed at Cineimati. He moved at once to Butler County, where he settled in the present limits of Usion Township, and entered eighty acres of land in Madison Township. He afterwards moved to Liberty, on the farm now owned by Simeon Roseneranz. and in 1811 he leased the ministerial section, to whiel he moved Christmas-day, where he stayed ten years. Ile then bought eighty-eight acres in Union Township. where Antos now lives, and where he remained until his death, which ocenrred September 4, 1864; that of his wife happening about 1857. His son, William, was a soldier in 1812. He went to Detroit, Michigan, and re- turned after a brief service, sending a substitute. Mr. Legg was a member of the Methodist Church, which both he 'and his wife joined early in life. His wife's brother, Amos Wilcoxon, and his brother, Arthur Logg. were out in the Revolution. Charles C. Legg was born in Washington County, July 12, 1801, and married Sarah Kain, born in New Jersey in 1801. They bare had one child, Mary Ana, bora May 18, 1528, the wife of Joslata Hughes. Mr. Legg has been sebool director and township supervisor. He is a member of the Moth- odist Episcopal Church.
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Robert MeClellan, who was the son of Daniel, was born in Lemon Township, in 1809, and married Eleanor Sntphin, also a native of that township, where she was born in 1811. He had two children. Daniel was born in 1836, is married, and lives in Liberty. Maria was born in 1834, and died in 1852. Mr. MeClellan died about 1859, his widow afterwards marrying John Web- ster. They had four children, three still living. Letitia, wife of Charles Bedell, lives in Dayton. She was born in 1849. John and Robert, twins, were born about 1855. They are married. John lives in Newport, Ken- tucky, and Robert lives in Shakertowu, Warren County. The mother died in May, 1874. Daniel Mcclellan came to Liberty Township when he was about ten years old, and lived with his mother on the old Webster farm, and farmed for her until 1862, when he purchased his present place of 105 acres, the Reulen Davis farm.
Peter W. Shepherd, banker and farmer, was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, January 28, 1804, being one of twelve children, six boys and six girls. He is the son of Joseph Shepherd, a native of New Jersey. His ancestors were wealthy people, down to aud including his grandfather, who lost his property through bad management and the treachery of other people. That left his father in a bad condition to make any thing. At that time and in that country it was a hard matter for a poor man to acquire property, and he consequently left his children much in the same position in which he began life. .
When Peter W. Shepherd was between seventeen and eighteen years of age he went as an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade, at which he soou attained a good proficiency. After the completion of his term he worked in various parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Ohio. To this State he came in December, 1829, crossing the mountains in a farm wagon. Arrived at Wheeling, he found the roads almost impassable, and took passage for Cincinnati in a steamier. From that place he went to Middletown, in this county. He still remembers the muddy appearance of the roads. From Middletown he went to the neighborhood of Jackson- burg, remaining there the rest of the Winter, but in the Spring going to Franklin, Warren County, where he en- tered into an agreement with Lemuel Moss, a contractor on the public works, to go with him to Portsmouth, and there to take charge of a smith's shop. Mr. Moss was engaged in the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal, and needed just such a man as Mr. Shepherd with him. There the latter wrought for three or four years, receiv- ing the highest pay ever given in that portion of the country for similar work, oue dollar twelve and a half cents per day. There was then no ten hours' or eight hours' rule, and no strikes or organized trades-unions. Men began work soon after daylight and continued till dark. One of the years which he was there he only lost one half day, in which he went to a cireus. When the
account came to be settled up at the end of the year Mr. Moss declared that he would make no deduction ; a man who worked as close to a whole year as that should be allowed the full twelve-month. When the contract was finished Mr. Moss erected a large flouring-mill at the loeks, a short distance from towu. In the basement ma- chiuery was put up for sawing stone, of which there was a splendid quarry close at hand.
Mr. Shepherd was offered a partnership in an edge- tool factory to be conducted there as soon as the canal contract was finished, but declined. He went to Cincin- nati, beginning work for Adonijah Peacock, who was carrying on the plow business, and remaining there until the cholera year, when he left the city, going to Frank- lin. There he bought some property, put up a shop, aud began business on his own account. He then pur- chased the farm upon which he now lives, and came to Butler County, selling his property in Franklin. This was in 1836. His farm was of one hundred and fifty- three acres, and he succeeded in getting good crops from it. But he did not acgleet his trade. He put up a shop and carried on business for six or seven years, when he sold out to one of his journeymen.
A little while before his removal to Batler County his father died in New Jersey. He was eighty-three years old. The mother and two single sisters came out here about the year 1840, with his brother-in-law, Addi Chami- berlin. Mrs. Shepherd made her home with Mr. Cham- berlin uutil her death, which took place April 1, 1848, being then eighty four years old. Three brothers and one sister died in New Jersey, aged respectively eighty- one, eighty-two: eighty-two, and sixty-one. Those who died in Ohio were respectively aged seventy-six, eighty- four, sixty-two, seventy-four, and seventy-one, and in Indiana, sixty-four, and sixty-one. Mr. Shepherd is now the sole survivor of his family.
Mr. Shepherd continued farming until 1872, then selling out his stock and farming implements, and since has been engaged in various enterprises. He now owns two farms in the Miami Valley, containing two hundredi and sixty acres, and a half interest in eleven hundred acres of first-rate cotton land in Bolivar County, Missis- sippi, adjoining the Mississippi River. Mr. Shepherd has been an active and industrious man his whole life. He began with no advantages, aud by his own hard knocks has wrested success from fortune. He formerly owned a half interest in the Hamilton woolen-mills, in connection with Israel Williams, and sustained a heavy loss when the mills were burned down. He has a third interest in the Hamilton Bank, in partnership with Jo- seph and A. D. Curtis. He has been a township super- visor and school director. He is now, in spite of his ad- vanved age. hale and hearty.
Peter Shafor was born February 5, 1825, in Lemon 1 Township, and was married in Liberty Township, on the 6th of December, 1849, to Elizabeth Cheeseman, danghter
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of Abijah Cheeseman. She was born in New Jersey, September 16, 1830. They have six children. John P. was born February 23, 1851, and is married to Hattie B. McClure; William was born January 25, 1855, and lives in Lemon Township; Hannah J. was born Decem- ber 18, 1856, and is the wife of Frank W. Hughes; Mary F. was born January 30, 1860; Ira R., September 2, 1861; and Lewis C., October 10, 1863. Mr. Shafor commenced life for himself. He is the son of an old sol- dier of the War of 1812, who lived to near a century, and of whom a full account is given under Lemon Township. Feter Shafor went to farming in 1846 for Mrs. Lydia Rogers, and remained there for nearly four years, and in 1850 he rented the farm of John Hankins for nearly two years. He then purchased seventy acres in Lemon Township, part of the John Gregory farm, where he re- mained four years, and then bought the old Randolph farm, in Fairfield, of one hundred and fifty-eight acres, where he resided about nine years. During his residence there he served as township trustee for about seven years. He then sold out, and about 1865 moved to his father's old farm, which he rented for two years. He then purchased his present farm of Peter W. Shepherd. It consisted of one hundred and fifty aeres, to which he haz since added another hundred. He now owns two hundred and fifty acres in Liberty. He has held the office of township trustce for thirteen years, and is one of the directors of the county infirmary, an office he has held for twelve years. He has also been a member of the agricultural board for six years. Mr. Shafor is a self-made man. He received nothing from his father until his death, and the estate is not yet divided. He is one of the leading eitizens of this township.
Benjamin Scudder came from Elizabeth, New Jersey, about 1814, and purchased a section of land in Liberty Township, which he gave to his four grandsons, the chil- dren of his son Jesse. He also bought fifty acres besides, which he gave to his granddaughter, also the daughter of Jesse. She married Aaron Simpson. He then re- turned to New Jersey, where he died. Jesse, his son, accompanied his children, and lived and died in Butler County. He was married to Keziah Marsh. They had five children: Benjamin, Hezekiah, Enoch, Stephen, and Jemima, wife of Aaron Simpson. Hezekiah Seudder was born in New Jersey in 1790, and died August 29, 1842. He married, in New Jersey, Jane Wade, born in that State about 1796, dying in Liberty Township about 1873. They had nine children, six of whom are living. Hannah, the widow of Pearson Carl. lives in Milford Township. Hetty, married to Stephen Squires, died, leaving two children in Illinois. Harrison is married and lives in Shelby County, Indiana; William, bora August 20, 1824, is married, and lives in Liberty Town- ship; Charity Jane is the wife of Wilson Rosencranz. and lives in Shelby County, Indiana; Heffkiah is mar- ried, and lives in Shelby County, Indiana : Eli is married,
and lives in Liberty Township; Harriet was married to Stacey Hunt, who is now dead; Enos was killed in the late war. Mr. Sendder came to Ohio about 1816 and settled on the quarter section given to him by his grand- father. He was a prominent citizen of Liberty Town- ship for many years. He was a farmer, and spent his time in improving his land. He was an old-time Whig, but objected to holding office. The party came overland from New York in wagons, three in number. When they arrived they built log-cabins, with puncheon (split slab) floors, and having no boards, used quilts for doors and windows. They were often disturbed by the wolves. His son William was born in Liberty Township, August 23, 1824, and was married March 19, 1851, to Harrict Flenner, who was born December 25, 1833, in Liberty Township. They had three children. Louisa M. was born January 26, 1852, and is the wife of Charles Wads- worth, who was married November 12, 1874. They have one child, Alice, born January 14, 1876. Flora May was born August 2, 1859, and died October 2.4, 1862. Eddie F. was born November 30, 1864, and died January 6, 1865. Mr. Scudder has been a member of the school board and school director in the district. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his wife also. He is a farmer and owns and farms one hundred and ten acres in Liberty Township. In politics he is a Republican.
Isaae Vail was born in Pennsylvania, where he was married and had six children. William was born about 1803. He is married and lives in Indiana. Meses was born February 10, 1807, and died July 31, 1876. Na- than was born aboat 1810, and is dead. Desire married Aaron Clawson; Parmelia married James Rupple; Hul- dah married Benjamin Murphy. The three latter are all dead. He came to Ohio about 1803, and settled in Cin- einnati, and about 1808 moved to Butler County, settling in Union Township, where he rented. He moved to Darke Conuty afterwards aud purchased, dving there in September, 1860. His wife died about 1850. Mores Vail, his son, was born February 10, 1807, in Cincinnati, and married, about 1828, Elizabeth Vail, daughter of Henry Vail and Parmelia (Bridge) Vail. She was born in Madison Township, February 24, 1813, and had eight children. Frankliu was born July 31, 1829; Ellen, who was born September 23, 1831, is the wife of Elias Smalley: Sarah, born December 19, 1833, is the wife of Nelson Murphy ; Linus, born July 12, 1836, is married, and lives in Liberty Township; Fanny M., born March 25, 1839, is the wife of Samuel Enyart: Martha B .. born February 12, 1842, is the widow of Joseph Kinikin : Heury L., born February 22, 1845, is married, and Eves in Illinois; Eliza Jane, born May 7, 1849, is the wife of Thomas Peak. Mr. Vail settled after his marriage in Lib- erty Township, where he purchased forty acres. His son Linus now lives on the old homestead. He acquired a large property of two hundred and tou aeres in this
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county, seven hundred and fifty acres in Illinois, and two hundred and forty acres in Indiana, and considerable personal property. He filled the office of township trustee and school director. He and his wife were both members of the Baptist Church. He died July 31, 1876. Linus was married January 1, 1857, to Emmeline Jef- fries, daughter of Thomas Jeffries and Sarah (Mervis) Jeffries, who was born in Union Township, November 6, 1835. They had five children. Rosa was born August 3, 1858; Ella, February 27, 1860; Jessie, October 20, 1863; Charlie, November 6, 1865; and Hubert S., Sep- tember 7, 1873. Rosa and Jessie are dead. Mr. Vail is a school director, and owns and farmis one hundred and sixty acres.
John Van Seoyk was born in Redstone, Pennsylvania, January 5, 1780, and after coming to this vicinity mar- ried, in Lemon Township, Elizabeth Freeman, daughter of John Freeman, who came to this county before 1800. She was born May 13, 1789. They had nine children, three of whom are living. William is married, and lives in Liberty; James is married, and lives in Hamil- ton ; Catherine is the wife of Prior Fitzgerald, and lives in Liberty. Mr. Van Scoyk came to Ohio in 1806, with his widowed mother, and the remainder of the family, consisting of seven children, five boys and two girls. He settled in Lemon Township, near Amanda, aud went to work at his occupation, that of a cooper, continuing at this till his death. He brought no means with him, but accumulated a large property, which he was unfortunate enough to lose, chiefly by bailing his brother-in-law. He was drafted for the War of 1812, but hired a substitute. He died March 4, 1829. His son William was born in Lemon Township, October 27, 1817, and was married September 6, 1853, to Rachel Baker, daughter of John Baker and Jeannette (Hand) Baker, who was born January 21, 1811 .. They have had no children. He is a self-made man, and was a carpenter by trade, working at it eight years, but when he married he settled down on the farm where he now lives, which was formerly owned by his wife's father, John Baker. Mrs. Van Scoyk has never moved but once in her life, and that was from the old house she was born in to the one she now lives in, which was built after her marriage, and which is about one hundred and fifty yards from the old one. John Freeman, Mr. Van Seoyk's grandfather, was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and served under Washington during the entire contest. He died in Miami County at the age of 96.
Briee Virgin was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, and after a long service in the Indian wars, during which he distinguished himself, settled in Union Township, at the beginning of 1796. He came to Liberty Township in 1804. He had eleven children, of whom he reared ten. Cassandra, Thomas, Mary, Jeremiah, William, Rozin, Matthew, John. Priscilia, and Hiram are dead. Elizabeth was born April 9, 1800, in Hamilton County,
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