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 47
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JOHN W. HALL.
John W. Hall, D. D., was president of the Miami University from 1854 to 1866, and during that time a eitizen of Oxford, Ohio. He was born January 19, 1802, in Orange County, North Carolina, and was educated chiefly in Harpeth Academy, near Franklin, Tennessee, then under the presideney of the celebrated Rev. Gideon Blackburn, D. D., who was afterward president of Cen- te. College, Kentucky, and the founder of Blackburn University, Illinois. After completing his academic course, Mr. Hall studied theology under Dr. Blackburn, his former teacher, and in the year 1824 was liceused to preach as a Presbyterian minister. He became sueees- sively pastor of the Presbyterian Churches at Jackson, Murfreesboro, and Gallatin, Tennessee, wbeu, in 1840, he was chosen pastor of the Third Street Presbyterian Church at Dayton, Ohio. His efforts in this field were eminently successful.
In the year 1852 Mr. Hall removed to Huntsville, Alabama, for two reasons: taking charge of the Presby- terian Church and assuming control of the presidency of tle North Alabama College, which was abont to be located at that place. While here he was elected to the presidency of the Miami University, of Oxford, Ohio. This position was uusought, and Mr. Hall knew nothing of the honor conferred upon him until he received official
information of the faet. By the same mail came eon- gratulatory letters from old friends, urging him to accept the situation. After mature deliberation and the advice of his most intimate friends, he removed with his family, in the latter part of 1854, to Oxford, and on the first day of January, 1855, entered upon his duties.
When Dr. Hall took charge of the university he found that the preparatory and normal departments were largely attended by students, but he found that the finan- ees were in a bad condition. He immediately proposed a change, and at the end of his administration, in 1866, there had aceumulated a surplus in the treasury of over $10,000.
Notwithstanding the eminently successful presideney of Dr. Hall, a majority of the board of trustees, during 1866, became dissatisfied, and, if possible, would have foreed his resignation ; but Mr. Hali, hearing of their intentions, refused to allow his name to go before the board as a candidate for election, and Dr. R. L. Stanton was chosen his suceessor. Previous to this action the board had been presented with a memorial, signed by nearly all the alumni who had graduated in the twelve preceding years, the students of the university at this time, and the leading citizens of the town, protesting against the change. Dr. IIall bade farewell to Old Miami, and has since resided in Covington, Kentucky, honored and respeeted by all.
On Thursday, July 5, 1866, 3 P. M., the trustees eleeted a new faculty, all the chairs having been declared vaeant at the end of the college year. As soon as the above action was made known the students assembled ou the streets and at the depot, when the train was leaving, cheering for Dr. Hall and hooting, yelling, and swearing at the trustces. In the evening Dr. Hall was screnailed by the Oxford brass band.
OXFORD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
This institution was established and controlled by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Synod of the West. The eharter bears date January 16, 1838. Rev. Joseph Claybaugh was elected by the synod the first professor. Rev. S. W. MeCracken was elected assistant professor to teach Hebrew, but resigned at the close of the first session. The seminary was opened in the Fall of 1839. The synod and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Congregation of Oxford had conjointly erected a build- ing which furnished au audience-room for Churchservices, on the second floor, and a lecture-room, library room!, ehapel, aud several rooms for students on the first. The library contained about two thousand volumes, to which additions were made from time to time.
Dr. Claybaugh was born in 1803, in Maryland, and was of German descent. He was taken to Ohio when a child, and lived uear Chillicothe. He graduated at JJof- fersou College in 1822, and was ordained and installed pastor of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, of
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Chillicothe, in 1825, and remained pastor until 1839. At Oxford he was both pastor of the Church and professor in the seminary. He was a good scholar, an excellent pro- fessor, an eloquent preacher, an accomplished Christian gentleman, and a man of deep piety. He was a diligent student and earnest worker, though an invalid. He died on the 9th of September, 1855, of serofula, in the fifty- third year of his age. He had labored as professor in Oxford sixteen years.
After his death, Rev. Alexander Young was elected professor of Hebrew and Greek Exegesis, and Rev. Will- iam Davidson, pastor of the Hamilton Church, was ap- pointed professor of ecclesiastical history. In view of the increase of population and of the Church in the West, the seminary was removed, in 1858, to Monmouth, in Illinois. Professor Young's connection with the sem- inary continued' after its removal to the West. Partly owing to financial difficulties, the seminary was removed back to Ohio in 1874, and consolidated with the sem- inary at Xenia.
During the time that it was at Oxford, about nine- teen years in all, more than one hundred students re- ceived theological instruction in connection with it. Al- most all these entered the ministry. Some of them are now prominent in their respective Churches. Among those outside of the United Presbyterian Church may be men- tioned Dr. G. L. Kalb, of Bellefontaine, Ohio; Dr. J. H. Brooks, of St. Louis, and Rev. D. Swing, Chicago.
The following are the names of post-offices and post- masters in Oxford Township :
Contreras .- John R. Hand, November 14, 1841; Ezra Bourne, June 3, 1854; Jolin Bake, October 11, 1864.
College Corner, from Preble County, May 19, 1830- John Jones, May 19, 1830; Gideon S. Howe, February 16, 1833; Christian Eby, June 24, 1839; Joseph L. Nye, September 6, 1841: James McCaw, November 3, 1841; John M. C. Howe, November 13, 1849; William A. Weidner, October 24, 1867; Samuel R. Ramsey, April 8, 1873; John C. Huston, June 8, 1881.
Oxford .- John E. Irwin, April 1, 1817; David Morris, January 12, 1818; James M. Dorsey, September 11, 1822; Moses Crume, March 13, 1827; Joseph Harris, October 18, 1833; George G. White, December 11, 1833; Will- iam J. Mollyneaux, January 21, 1857; Sutton C. Richey, April 13, 1861 ; Daniel P. Beaton, July 15, 1870.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
Ethan A. Allen, the last of his family, was born in Massachusetts, on the 10th of November, 1789, and came to Oxford in 1818. On the 10th of January, 1820, he married Nancy Hazeltine. Oxford had been laid out but a few years previously, and he used to recount the fact that he cut wood where many a fine residence or business house now stands, at twenty-five cents a cord. He afterward engaged in making plows and other agricultural implements, being very ingenious
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and an adept in the use of tools. He settled on a farni near the village, where he passed his life until a few years since, when he removed to the town, where he resided until the death of his wife in 1876, then remov- ing to the house of Samuel F. Shook, a connection by marriage, where he had an excellent home, and con- tinued until his death.
His wife, four children, and eleven brothers and sisters had all been called away before him. In 1839 he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Zion.
G. W. Adams is a native of Butler County, having been born on a farm in Oxford Township. in 1834, and continued there until twenty years of age. He has large business experience, having been engaged in trade during the war period in Springfield, Indiana. He has brought experience, energy and ability to his aid, and has made a decided success. He is doing the largest trade of any merchant in Oxford. His store is located on the north- west corner of the Public Square. His stock occupies two stories, and his business requires six clerks constantly, and in the busy seasons, additional help. Mr. Adams is in the prime of life, active and cuergetic, and applies himself closely to affairs; is a member of the Oxford Lodge of Odd Fellows, and also of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and identified with the best interests of the village. His wife is also a native of Oxford Towu- ship, and a member of the Sadler family, who are noticed among the early settlers of this township.
Robert H. Bishop was born in Fayette County, Ken- tucky, near Lexington, August 20, 1815. He came to Oxford in 1824, and during the same year entered the grammar school, and in August, 1831, was graduated. The following Fall, after graduation. he went to South Hanover, Indiana, to attend the Theological Seminary, which opened at that time, and which, after two or three removals, is now at Chicago, Illinois. The professor of mathematics of Hanover College, having resigned in February, 1832, Professor Bishop took charge of the chair for the remainder of the year. He then returned to Oxford and entered a printing office, having learned the art of type-setting in 1828. In 1834 he began his teaching in Burlington, Kentucky, and then again, in: 1835, returned to Oxford, purchased a printing-office and book-store, which he retained until 1838, when he entered the Miami University as assistant in the grammar depart. ment. In 1839 he was married, and in 1841 was elected principal of the school of which he had formerly been assistant. He held this position until 1852, when he was elceted a professor of Latin, remaining such until 1873. In 1855 he was elected secretary of the board of trustees, a position he still holds.
Adrian Beaugureau was born in Paris, France, on the 27th of December, 1835, and came to the United Suite- in 1843 wich his father and family. His father was an artist, and conducted a boys' French and English school, where his son completed his education, subsequently
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becoming a teacher there, in the same place, of French, drawing, and painting. After his father's decease in 1852 he became a special teacher of French, drawing, and painting, having classes in many different schools of the city of Philadelphia, and thus continued until December, 1861, when he enlisted in the Ninety-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served his full three years. After this he returned to Philadelphia and resumed teaching, being with Professor Phillibert for a while ; but after a year sick- ness and the death of an older brother caused him to de- cide to come to Oxford, and accept a similar position at the Female College, a position he still ocenpied at the close of its last season. In addition to his scholastic duties he conducts, with the aid of his nephew, Mr. Louis Wuille, an art emporium in the village, which is not only one of the prettiest establishments of the kind to be found anywhere, but is also the means of fostering and developing art ideas. Professor Beaugureau is not only an accomplished teacher of his native tongue and an excellent instructor in draw- ing, but he is a natural artist, and takes special pride in that department. His work will compare favorably with any of the best teachers. A large number of instructors in art of the South and West received their education in this line from him.
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L. N. Bonham is a native of Ohio, born in Eliza- bethtown, Hamilton County, March 27, 1830. He was brought up on a farm. At the age of seventeen he en- tered a store and clerked for three years, then entering college. After five years, during which his vacations were spent in active work on the farm, he graduated from the Miami University, and soon after took charge of the Lebanon Academy, but after a year sold his inter- est to the Southwestern State Normal Association, and took a position as teacher with them. A year after he severed his connection there and became a teacher in the Dayton High School, with which he remained three years, after which he went to St. Louis and established " Bonham's Female Seminary," starting with three pupils, in 1859. Within six years it grew to a school of three hundred pupils, requiring nineteen teachers, and he eon- tinued in its management until the close of the school Daniel P. Beaton, postmaster at Oxford, is of Scotch parentage. The father, Alexander Beaton, was born in 1809, and marrying Miss Mary MeMillan, emigrated to this country in 1838, making their residence for a little time at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Thence they came to Cincinnati, and after a couple of years came to Oxford, in 1841. Here he established himself in business as merchant tailor, on the south side of High Street. On the 16th of September, 1843, Daniel P. Beaton was born. When he was but eight years of age, the father left the family at Oxford and started for California, by the way of Paname, but diet on the voyage, on shipboard. The youth, thus lett fatherless, made good use of the school suivantages of his native town, and closed his education with one year in Miami University, in 1858-9. He year of 1871-72, when he abandoned teaching, his health being very much impaired. Mr. Bonham came to Ox- ford in the Sunumer of 1872, and purchased his wife's parents' old homestead, which he leased at first, but as returning health permitted, took charge of and has in- proved it until he now has one of the best, if not the best, improved farms in Oxford Township. Mr. Bonham is one of the few who have been able so to combine scientific and practical knowledge as to make a success of advanced methods, both as to agriculture and the raising of stock, swine and sheep being his specialty, and quality, rather than nuinbers, being his object. He was the first breeder in Oxford Township to institute pedigreeing his hogs; was also the first to introduce the riding plow and corn- planter. And in many other ways his influence has been | then went to work at the trade of a carpenter, which he
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felt in elevating the farmers' methods and increasing the intelligence and general tone of the agricultural commu- inity. He is the editor of the agricultural department of the Cincinnati Commercial. ITis enterprise and public spirit make him one of the most valuable citizens of his locality, and he is identified with all important measures for the advancement of the community, whether pertain- ing to agriculture or education. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he occupies an official po- sition, and is identified with its interests. He married Miss Ellen M. Gere, a native of Northampton, Massa- chusetts, and a daughter of Isaac and Lucy Gere, old residents of Oxford Township. She is a lady of intelii- gence and refined culture, whose acquaintance Mr. Bon- ham formed while a student at the Miami University. Their family consists of one son, Linn, now a young man. Mrs. Bonham's mother, who is also a member of the household, is a worthy representative of the refine- ment that graced many of the homes of the pioneers.
Daniel A. Brosier was born in Hanover Township, July 4, 1835. His father, Jonathan Brosier, was born near Millville, and was married December 16, 1832, to Elizabeth Rumple, also a native of this county. He learned the blacksmith's trade, and in 1837 moved to Shelby County, saving sufficient to buy two hundred and seventy acres of land. When the canal was to be dug. . he and Mr Westerfield took a large contract, but through the misconduct of his partner, who had drawn the money, he was ruined. He then removed to Indiana, afterwards returning to Butler County. On a trip to the South he sickened and died, and his remains rest near Nashville, Tennessee. He was a German Lutheran. There were seven children : Daniel A., Peter, James, Mary Ann, Sarah J., Margaret E., and Jonathan. Peter is dead. Daniel A. Brosier has always worked on a farm. He was married October 28, 1858, to Maria E., daughter of Michael W., and Matilda (Bell) Emerick, who was born in this county February 22, 1837. They have had seven children : Alexander E., Frauk E., Carrie May, Ida Wood, George E., Amy E., and Charles H.
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followed until after the first year of the Rebellion. In ! May, 1862, he enlisted in the three months' service in the infantry, and served in Western Virginia, in a com- pany under Captain MeFarland in the Eighty-sixth Ohio. Returning to Oxford in September, he again re-enlisted in October, at Camp Deunison, under Captain William Ullery, in the Second Ohio Cavalry. The December following the company joined the Ninth Army Corps, under Burnside, and was engaged in the campaign in Kentucky. In an engagement at Monticello, on the 9th of June, 1863, Mr. Beaton received a gun-shot wound in the ankle, and was made an inmate of the army hos- pital at Somerset, Kentucky. From that place he was transferred to Crab Orchard, thence to Camp Nelson, Kentucky, and was finally and honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., October 24, 1864. He was per- manently disabled from the effects of the wound, which has made it necessary to make constant use of a crutch or cane. Returning to Oxford, he was employed as clerk for a time in the grocery store of Mr. Mccullough, and since then has held the appointment of postmaster at Oxford by continuous reappointment and with much ac- ceptance to the people. September 14, 1866, he was married to Miss Harriet Miller, of Oxford. They have a family of five children.
Wales B. Bonney is a native of Charlestown, New Hampshire, where he was born June 26, 1799. His father, West Bonney, finds a line of family descent from Thomas Bonney, who was born in Dover, England, in 1604, and who came from Sandwich, in Kent, England, in the ship Hercules in 1034 or 1635, and who located in Duxbury, Massachusetts. The mother's maiden name was Lydia Reed-she also being of Welsh-English par- entage. In carly life the boy Wales, in addition to the advantages offered by the common schools of the day, spent nearly a year in Dartmouth College. In 1816, in company with his parents and an only brother, he came into Ohio, the family settling on a farm about one mile northwest of the village of Oxford. He soon after entered Miami University as a student, boarding with his parents and taking his hand at the work of the farm nights and mornings, riding to and from school on horseback. He continued at the university until the fol- lowing year, remaining at home afterwards until about. twenty-one years of age, when in the Spring of 1820 he made a trip to his native State, making the entire dis- tanee on horseback. There he spent the Summer, and in the Fall returned as far as Chautauqua County, New York, where he engaged in teaching school until the next Spring, when he took up his residence for several years at Rochester and Brighton iu the same State, and while there formed the acquaintance of and married Miss Lucinda Abbey, whose family were of Massachusetts origin. This was in January. 1829. Two years there- after Mr. Bonney, with his family, returned to the home of his parents in Oxford, and there they spent the |
Winter. The next Spring Mr. and Mrs. Bonney emi- grated to Texas, landing from a schooner from New Orleans at Brazoria, near the mouth of the Brazos River, then an insignificant collection of low shanties and hut. Their intention had been to make that province their future home, but after living there some months they decided to retrace their steps to their Oxford home, and reached that place late in the Fall following, having lost one of their little children while absent.
But the spirit of unrest was upon the subject of our sketch, and in the Spring of 1845, accompanied by two other younger men by the names of Buell and Worstell, he started for an overland trip to Oregon, a hazardous adventure in those days. Joining another party at Inde- pendence, the company were some five months on the way before they reached the Dalles on the Columbia River, their place of destination. Arriving there the earlier part of October most of the party made this their home the ensuing Winter. But Mr. Bonney was not yui content. He did not discern his desired fortune in the immediate future. So the following Spring, with no com. pany save a couple of horses, one for the saddle and the other to carry his clothing and provisions, a couple o guns, and a bold spirit, he set out for a return to tir States. When crossing the plains he fell in with sony Indian scouts in advance of a roving tribe, who took fron hin his horses, paek of provisions, and one gun. Th traveler, however, managed to save one gun and a sacl containing a large packet of letters which had been it trusted to nis care by comrades and others in the Wes for loved ones at home. He pursued his lonely way o foot for some three days when he was overtaken by party of returning Californians, with whom he kept cor pany to the States, and reached home early in the Fa of 1846. He soon after settled in the village of Oxfor which place has since been his residence. Here he be many years been honored by his fellow-citizens in repeate elections to the office of justice of the peace, the defeat and responsible duties of which office he has performs with uniform acceptance to the people: Here a family eleven children has been born to him, of whom a daugi ter, Julia, and four sons, Franklin, Oregon, Robert, an Edward, are now living, the sons all being engaged : trade in Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter reski: with the parents.
The Rev. Dennis Vincent Crowley, rector of S Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Oxford, Chio, is a n tive of Cork, Ireland, where he was born September 2 1844. Mr. Crowley, though a young man in ape: ance, is old in service. He was carly dedicated for t priesthood and began his literary studies at St. Vince? subsequently pursued philosophical studies at Holy Crc College, Dublin, and completed his theological trainii at the Catholic University of Louvaine, in Belgiur Ile received minor orders at the hands of the Pay Nuncio, in the Chapel Royal at Brussels, and v
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ordained priest at Meclilin, Belgium, June 2, 1871. After this he traveled extensively on the continent, spending considerable time in its places of interest, and while at Louvaine was thrown in company with Archbishop Pur- cell, of the United States, then just returning from the Vatican Council. A pleasant acquaintance was the re- sult, and it was through the bishop's influence that the young priest was induced to come to America and take a parish within his jurisdiction. His first charge as pas- tor was St. Aloysius Church at Cumminsville, afterward consolidated with and becoming St. Patrick's Church, of Cincinnati, Ohio, of which he remained pastor a number of years. The following extract from the local press gives a concise summary of his labors while in this field :
"Rev. D. V. Crowley, for the past nine years pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Cumminsville, has been called to take charge of the Church at Oxford, Butler County. His farewell to his congregation last Sunday was very affecting. He came to Cumminsville direct from college. This charge, the first of his priesthood, he found in debt fifty-nine thousand dollars, thirty-eight thousand of which has been paid by his fortunate and far-sighted manage- ment. He has brought to Cincinnati, as lecturers, some of the most distinguished talent of the United States. He is the possessor of abilities that, turned to a worldly purpose, would have long since placed him in a position of independence. Father Crowley takes leave of his congregation no richer in the world than when he came among them, and now as then, taking no thought for the morrow. His work is an earnest of his faith, and he takes with him the best regards and respect of all who know him.".
At his own request for a change on account of ill- health, he was made rector at Oxford, Ohio, in August, 1880, and has within less than a year liquidated more than one thousand dollars of indebtedness, which he found resting on the Church. Bright, hopeful, and intelligent, devoted to his work, a scholar and gentleman, Mr. Crow- ley can not help but have success and popularity where- ever he goes. He has been an indefatigable worker, bread in charity, and abundant in good works.
John Edward Chatten is a descendant of pioneer stock. His grandfather, John Chatten, who was a na- tive of the vicinity of Wilmington, Delaware, came to this part of Ohio in 1811, but in consequence of the War of 1812 returned to the East, and at the close of the war came back in 1814, and permanently located in the southwestern part of Oxford Township, where he continued to reside until about 1848, when he removed to the vieinity of Hartford City, Indiana, where he subse- quently died. Kenard Chatten, a son, was the only men- ber of the family who remained in Butler County. He was born in Delaware in 1802. He married, in 1826. Mary, daughter of William and Esther Davidson, who came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1817, and settled on what is now known as the Howell farm in
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