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 48
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the northwestern part of Oxford Township. They had a family of ten children-six sons and four daughters. Mrs. David Kennedy and Mrs. Chatten, of Oxford Town- ship, and one son, William, of Clinton County, Indiana, are now the only known survivors. After his marriage, Mr. Chatten settled on a farm in the woods in the north part of Oxford Township, which he improved and con- tinued to own and operate until his sudden death in Oc- tober, 1862, caused by falling from an apple-tree. His wife still survives him, residing in a house near the vil- lage, built By her husband a short time previous to his death. They had ten children-John Edward, William, James, Benjamin, Martha, Samuel, Mary, Sarah, George, and Margaret. The latter three are with their mother. The fourth, sixth, and seventh named died in youth. Martha married George Sadler, and they now reside in Peoria, Illinois. William and James are in Kansas.
The subject of our sketch was born on the farm, in Oxford Township, in 1827, and grew to manhood during the days of the beginnings of commercial and agricul- tural improvements, and remembers distinctly the com- motion caused by the introduction of steam navigation and railroads. His father introduced the first "endless- chain" thresher used in this vicinity in 1837, and it was then a sufficient curiosity to attract people from a great distance to witness its wonderful workings. Mr. Cbaiten remained on the farm during his youth, and when twenty years of age began to learn the saddler's trade, in Oxford. He married, in 1850, Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel and Ann Kyger, who were early residents of Milford Township. Mr. Chatten has been a resident of the vil- lage of Oxford since he came to learn his trade, with the exception of about five years, one of which was spent on a farm in Morgan Township, and the other four at Col- lege Corner. He has now been a continuous resident of' Oxford for a quarter of a century; has a family of four children: George W., the only son, is a resident of Illi- nois; Alice, now Mrs. John Van Arnem; Ida, and Frank. Mr. Chatten helped recruit a company of volunteers in 1862, which became Company C, Ninety-third Ohio Vol- untecr Infantry, and of which he was first lieutenant, but after about six months' service, on account of the death of his father, he resigned and returned home. Mr. Chatten still conducts a harness shop, with salesroom at- tached; is the Oxford agent for the United States Ex- press Company: has been a member of the Invincible Lodge, No. 108, I. O. O. F., since 1849, in which he has twice passed the chairs, and has twice represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge. He is an honored and wor- thy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and leader of the choir; is a Republican in polities, having abandoned the Democracy in consequence of the repeat of the Missouri Compromise and the refisal of Presi- dent Pierce to protect the well-disposed citizens of Kansas against the lawlessness of the ruffian pro-slavery element. Mr. Chatten's name will be found in the list of officials
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of Oxford Township. He has also been the candidate of his party for county office at different times, but always shared the usual fate of Republican candidates in this Democratic stronghold.
The Rev. William Wirt Colmery, D. D., is a native of Chartiers, Washington County, Pennsylvania. His father's name was William, also, and the mother's maiden name was Violet Seott. The paternal line of descent is supposed to date back to an ancestry, in Ireland, although this is not fully ascertained. The ancestors of the mother came to this country from Scotland, as early as 1700, in the person of Hugh Scott. The father's calling was that of a farmer, and with an earnest desire for the welfare of his family, his effort was to give all a sound and liberal education, and he so far succeeded in this, that five sons, of a family of eight children, com- pleted a collegiate course. The early and preparatory schooling was at select and common schools of the country, the first being where the tutorship was paid for at the rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents per term of three months, and before the system of common or district schools had obtained in that section. William W. Col- mery, of whom we write, was the third son, and born October 28, 1819, and finished his course of study at Washington College, Pennsylvania, in 1840. He then taught two years in Clark County, Kentucky, after- wards taking a course in theology at the New Albany Theological Seminary (since incorporated as the Nortli- western Seminary, of Chicago). The ancestors of Dr. Colmery were noted for their interest in education, and especially Christian education. A great grandfather, Mr. J. MeDowell, was the first to subscribe to the erection of the literary institute, out of which grew Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, and which was afterwards consol- idated with the Washington College. It was while cn- gaged in teaching in Kentucky, and attending a Presby- terian camp-meeting, conducted under the leadership of such men as Nathan L. Rice and others, that Mr. Col- mery was made the subject of converting grace. This was in 1841, and thereafter he was led to feel a draw- ing toward the ministry. He was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Salem, Indiana, and soon after ac- cepted the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church in Hayesville, (theu) Richland County, Ohio. The follow- ing year, 1846, he was married to Miss Mary C. Scott, of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and in the Octo- ber following was ordained to the full work of the min- istry in the Old School Presbyterian Church. Here he remained some nine years, preaching also to a neighbor- ing Church, at Jeromeville. He was also connected with Vermilion Institute, at the time one of the most flourishing academies of the State of Ohio.
In 1855 he went to Indiana and spent some time preaching to the Presbyterian Church of Lafayette. In 1858 he returned to Ohio, settling with the Church at Lebanon, where he labored in the ministry for nine
years. At the meeting of the General Assembly in Lebanon in 1864 he was delegated by the Old School Assembly to present the Christian salutations of that body to the Cumberland Assembly, which duty was so grace- fully performed that he was soon after made the recipient of the degree of Doctor of Divinity by one of the col- leges of the Cumberland Church. He resigned his charge of the Lebanon Church in 1866, and accepted the pastorate of the Church in Monroe, Butler County, Ohio, with which he remained for six years; but his health failing, he removed with his family to Oxford, where he has since resided, preaching as his strength has permitted to Churches in the vicinity.
In 1867 he was made stated clerk of the Miami (Old School) Presbytery, and after the reunion of the two schools was continued in the same office in the Dayton Presbytery, which he still occupies. He was elected moderator of the Cincinnati Synod (Old School), at its session in Springfield, in 1865, as also at its last session held in the same city in 1881. Dr. Colmery has been warmly identified with the cause of temperance in its various presentations, and an ardent advocate of advanced and liberal Christian education, and has been (and still is) one of the trustees of Wooster University, Ohio, from its earliest foundation. He refers with pleasure to the fact that Judge Josiah Scott, of Hamilton, was his uncle, as also recalling the military record which he has been enabled to make. His first service in the cause of his country was as a member of the " corn-stalk bri- gade " in 1842 while residing in Kentucky, and as a one hundred days' man in the late war in the famed " Squir- rel Hunters," from which latter service he holds a highly prized discharge in the form of a striking lithograph engraving signed by Governor Tod.
Some time about 1790 a Scotch colony came to Amer- ica and settled in East Haddam, Connectient, among them Hezekiah Cone and a large family of the same name. In the same town was Miss Polly Selden, to whom Hezekiah was married, and by whom a family was born to him. Peleg H. Cone, leng a citizen of Ox- ford, was a son of Hezekiah, being born at East Had- dam, February 22, 1805. The parents being farmers, the lad, Peleg, in common with the rest of the children, had the education obtainable in the district schools of the day, and tried his hand a little at teaching. When seventeen years of age he went to the city of Hartford and apprenticed himself to a silver-plater to learn the trade. Here he remained several years, and while resi- dent at Hartford was married to Miss Mary Brace on the 21st of February, 1829. Hc next settled in New Haven, Connecticut, and established himself in his business as silver-plater. Some five years thereafter he was made high sheriff of New Haven County, and sol! out lis business. He was re-elected sheriff for the second term. At the close of his official term he engaged in a merean- tile agency recently established in New York City, trav-
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cling mostly in the West and South, his family still re- siding at New Haven. Leaving the New York house he accepted a position in the manufacturing concern of Hoadly & Co., a heavy firm in the carriage business in New Haven, and remained connected with the same for some sixteen years. In January, 1852, Mr. Cone moved his family to the village of Oxford, Ohio, where he be- came the proprietor of the public house known as the Mansion or Cone House, conducting it for about eleven years. After leaving this he opened an office as convey- ancer, real estate and insurance agent, in the store under the Mansion House, fronting on High Street. This busi- ness he continued until 1868, when he took his son, F. J. Cone, into the office as partner, and the two continued this occupation up to the death of the father, which took place March 14, 1882. Mr. Cone espoused the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1849, and had been active in its interests and in efforts for the promotion of its welfare. Mr. Cone was also an active member of In- vincible Lodge, No. 108, I. O. O. F., of Oxford, and as such was held in high esteem by his brother members. He was for eighteen years a member of the board of ed- ucation of Oxford, and for many years president of the board of trustees of Oxford Female College, only resign- ing this position about a year prior to luis decese. He was a well wisher to every good work which looked to the growth and well-being of the city of his adoption, aiding them to the extent of his ability. When Mr. and Mrs. Cone came to Oxford they had a family of seven children, two of whom have since died. Three of the sons were volunteers in the late war, William and George enlisting and serving in the one hundred days' service, and F. J. in the three years' men. Of the children living H. S. Cone is now residing at Galion, Michigan, and F. J. Cone, the other son, was the partner and con- tinues the business in the old office in Oxford; two daughters, Mrs. A. F. Bevis and Mrs. Dr. G. W. Keely, reside in Oxford, while a third is the wife of Dr. A. A. Barnett, of Jerseyville, Illinois.
Benjamin Bassett Davis, mayor of Oxford, is a native of Edgartown, on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Mas- sachusetts, and was born on the 4th of April, 1816. His parents were Zadock and Elizabeth Bassett Davis. He was the third born of a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, ouly three of whom are now living. When Benjamin was three years of age the parents, with their family, emigrated to the State of Ohio, and settled on a farm, near the present hamlet of Warsaw, some five miles west of Cincinnati. Here the elder Davis for a few years carried on a small tannery, but relinquished this calling and gave his attention more fully to the cul- tivation of his farm. In early life Mayor Davis had little, if any, advantages of school education, but was of an active temperament and a quick, discriminating mind. As he came to manhood, while busy assisting his father in the care of the farm, the latter was removed by death,
which event occurred in August, 1834. The son remained on the farm with the mother and the rest of the family for several years thereafter. On attaining his majority. he espoused the politics of the Whigs, and for many years was active in the local interests of that party. He was for some nine years made one of the justices of the peace in the township where he resided. August 6, 1836, he was married to Miss Rhoda Cullon, who bore him seven sons and one daughter. In 1861 Mr. Davis took up his residence in the city of Cincinnati, and having early cs- poused the cause of the Republican party when it was organized, he was favored by an appointment to the posi- tion of chief local agent in the post-office blank depart- ment of the West, which was then located at Cincinnati. This position he held with honor to himself and to the interests of the department for over a year, when, the office being transferred to Buffalo, New York, he re- signed his position and accepted an appointment as superintendent of the local city mail distribution, a posi- tion he held for nearly three years. While residing in Cincinnati, January 23, 1865, he lost his wife by death. On the 21st of February, 1867, he was married to Mrs. Sarah (Gath) Horsefall, then of the city.
In March, 1868, Mr. Davis moved with his family to Oxford, Ohio, which place has continued to be his resi- dence since that date. Not long after becoming a resi- dent the community saw fit to elect him to the highest honor which, as a municipality, it was in their power to bestow, and with so great au acceptance have the re- sponsible and often ardaons and uupleasant duties of the office of mayor been administered, that he has been re- peatedly re-elected, usually by large majorities, marking no special party distinctions nor lines, so that his contiu- ued term of service in this capacity is now some thirteen years, marked by only one interini of about three months. Mr. Davis was not permitted for many years to enjoy the companionship of his wife, Sarah, as she died on the 14th of May, 1871. On February 21, 1872, he was again mar- ried, choosing for his third and present wife, Mrs. Eliza- beth (Wright) Douglass. Of the children born to the first Mrs. Davis four sous and a daughter are still living. One of the deceased, Carlos, served as a volunteer in the late war with much honor and credit, being mustcred out of the service at Columbus at the close, after some three years' enlistment. Mr. Davis has for many years been a firm believer in the doctrines of the Universalists, and is warmly identified with this organization in Oxford. He is of a naturally quiet, reflective turn of mind and has those qualities which are needful to make him a good magistrate and officer of justice. In addition to his offi- cial duties, Mayor Davis is now the proprietor of the " Girard House," on the corner of High and Poplar Streets, which has recently been remodeled and the co- tire house refurbished, making it now one of the most desirable tariying-places for the traveler or pleasant home for the regular boarder, which can be found in the
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county. Wilson S., the oldest son, is now teaching in Washington, Indiana. Albert G. is in the Times-Star office of Cineinnati. Merrill B., Alexis B., and Darwin F. are residents of Cincinnati also. Elizabeth, the daugh- ter, now Mrs. I. F. Williams, is a skilled music teacher just west of Cincinnati.
Died at his home in Oxford, July 25, 1881, John Douglass, in the 60th year of his age. He was born in Chester Distriet, South Carolina. In 1834, with his parents, five brothers, and five sisters, he removed to the neighborhood three miles north of Oxford, where he re- mained on the farm until about fifteen years ago, when he removed to the town. He at first engaged in the grocery business with Mr. Higgins; afterward he went into the boot and shoe business, and about five years ago retired from active life. Mr. Douglass was for two terms (six years) president of the board of education, and had just been elected to another term. He was an efficient officer and a true friend of education. When only nineteen years of age he united with the Associate Reformed Church at Hopewell, then under the pastorate of the Rev. S. McCracken. For the past twelve years he had been an elder of the United Presbyterian Church, Oxford congregation. For many years he was superin- tendent of the Sabbath-school, and during the seven . years preceding his death was actively engaged in re- ligious work. He left behind him a record worthy of careful and earnest study.
Isaiah Douglass, farmer, is a son of John and Martha Douglass, who were among the early residents of Oxford Township. They emigrated from South Carolina in 1834, and moved on the farm where Isaiah now lives in 1835, and where his parents continued to reside until their decease. Isaiah Douglass was the youngest of a family of eleven children, sis sons and five daughters. He was born in South Carolina in 1829, and was there- fore about six years old when his parents moved on the farm in the corner of Section 2, where he has resided ever since, having purchased and received quit-claim deeds from the other heirs about 1856. He has added to his original farin, and now has 240 aeres in oue body and 132 acres in Seetion 11. He married, in 1863, Anna Patterson, They have five children living and one who died in infancy-Albert J., Martha E., William C., Samuel L., and Zaidie Maggie.
Israel Dewitt, farmer, was born in Kentucky in 1805. He is the son of Zachariah Price Dewitt and Elizabeth Dewitt. The father served in the Indian wars at the close of the Revolution, and Israel Fowler, one of his grandsons, was in the Mexican War. Zachariah P. Dewitt emigrated from Kentucky to Butler County in 1805, and entered three hundred and twenty acres of land, situated on Section 24. Here he lived until his death, at the age of eighty-two. His wife died in 1840, at the age of sixty-seven.
Dunham F. Davis, son of Joshua and Elizabeth Davis,
was born in Hamilton County, March 30, 1856. Hc graduated in 1872, at the Oxford High School, and was married October 10, 1876, to Ella S., daughter of Will- iam and Mary (Carr) Rumple, who was born in Han- over Township, July 18, 1856. They have one child, William R. Davis. Mr. Davis formerly kept a livery stable, but in the Spring of 1878 moved on his present farm.
Joshua Davis, Sen., of Oxford, is a native of New Jersey, where he was born May 28, 1803. His father emigrated to Ohio in 1805, bringing his family and household goods all the way to Middletown in wagons. He engaged in merchandising and milling at Middletown, but not being suited with the country after a stay of less than two years, he went back to his old home in New Jersey, but again returned to Butler County soon after the close of the War of 1812. The subject of this sketch was the ninth of a family of ten children, of whom himself and a sister, Mrs. Phoebe Laboyteaux, are the only survivors. Mr. Davis had but little opportunity for education. He learned the cooper's trade, and after his marriage in 1828 purchased his father's farm, near Bevis P. O., where he also carried ou the cooper business, in connection with his farm, for a number of years. In 1864, having sold his farm, he removed to Oxford, where he had purchased property, and where he has since lived a retired life, supported by the accumulations of years of toil. He built, in 1872, and now owns, the edifice known as Davis's Hall. Mrs. Davis's maiden name was Elizabeth Bevis. She also comes of a pioneer family. Mr. and Mrs. Davis began married life more than fifty years ago with but little means in the days of limited facilities, and by industry and economy have accumulated a considerable property. They have had twelve children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, and ten of whom are now living. All are re- spectably and comfortably started in life. Mr. Davis, though beyond age, volunteered in the late war with the forces regularly mustered during Kirby Smith's raid. One son, Joshua, served three years, and two other sens short. terms. Mr. Davis's father, whose name was also Joshua, served in the Revolutionary War, and a brother was a volunteer in the War of 1812. Mr. Davis has been an industrious and useful citizen, and has contributed his full share to the general good.
John Ferguson is a native of Scotland, being born in Campbelltown, Argyleshire, April 8, 1810. He learned the tinner's trade in Scotland, and came to the United States in 1832. After a stay of a few months iu Cin- cinnati, during which he was employed at his trade, he came to Oxford in the Spring of 1833, and there being no tinner's establishment in the village at that time, he opened a shop and began business for himself. Though unpretentious in the beginning, he gradually develope !. and as the general commercial facilities improved. le was shrewd and thoughtful enough to keep abreast of the times. In the Fall of 1838, Mr. P. D. Matson be-
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came a partner, and so continued until 1868, when he retired, and Mr. Ferguson continued the business alone until 1880, then selling out and withdrawing from active life. His residence is one of the handsomest in the vil- lage. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a trustee of Oxford Female College, and has been thor- oughly identified with the growth and general interest of Oxford for almost half a century.
He married in Scotland just previous to embarking for the United States, Catherine McGregor, by whom he had these children : William, Charles, Duncan, David, Isabella, and one infant, deceased. Christina married John B. Morris, who died about 1873. She now resides in Oxford. James S. is a physician of Camden. His first wife dying in 1868, he married in 1869 Miss Isabella McMillan, also a native of Scotland. They have one infant child-Edward Bruce-living, and one deceased.
John Fisher, a native of Ireland, emigrated to Amer- ica and located in Pennsylvania, where he married, in 1789, Ruth Mathers. About the year 1796 he removed to Cincinnati, where he followed his trade, that of shoe- maker. About 1798 he moved to what is now Lemon Township, and entered a quarter scetion of land on the north fork of Dick's Creek. On this farm he lived and died, and the remains of himself and wife rest on that . place. Of their children there were seven, five boys and two girls. Two remained in Butler County-Robert and Naney Phares. Robert was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1794, and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed most of his life. He was married in 1816 to Sallie Ball, daughter of Ezekiel Ball. Of their family there were six who grew to maturity. These were Jobn, Mary B., Elizabeth R., Almira, Sarah J., and Ezekiel Ball. Robert Fisher died in Middletown, June 4, 1874, aged eighty years. Mrs. Sallie Fisher died September 9, 1831, and is buried in the cemetery at Middletown. John Fisher was born January 6, 1818, in Middletown. By occupation during life he is a fariner. He has been twice married. The first time was to Ruth Mallory, De- eember 25, 1844, the daughter of William and Mary Mallory, of this county. They had two children, Mary J. and William M. The first wife died November 25. 1866, and he married his second wife, Mrs. Rebecca Young, willow of Josiah Young, and daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Riley) Greenwood. She was born in Milford Township, Jannary 27, 1821. The Greenwood and Young families were among the pioneers of Milford Township.
Joshua J. Fry, banker and stock raiser, is a native of Indiana, where he was born, in Franklin County, in 1852. He resided there until the Spring of 1870, when he removed to Oxford. Mr. Fry began trading in stock when a young man, and continued that business in con- nection with farming, increasing the magnitude of his operations as his means increased. When he came to Oxford he established the Oxford Bank, with which he still retains his connection, but has continued his farming
and stock dealing. He now has two farms, containing upwards of three hundred acres, which he keeps well stocked, and is buying and selling constantly. He mar- ried January 1, 1857, Miss Sarah J., daughter of Jamnes Murphy. They have three children: William L., James G., and Philip O. Fry. Thus it will be seen, Mr. Fry is a native of this vicinity, and he has been more or less identified from boyhood with Oxford and its commercial interests; for the last ten years he has been the head of one of its most important financial enterprises.
William J. Finch, son of Edward and Elizabeth (Wiekard) Finch, was born May 28, 1831, in Hanover Township. Edward Finch was born May 5, 1800, in Orange County, New York, and in 1814 came to Butler County with his parents. Elizabeth Wickard was born February 5, 1806, in Pennsylvania, and came West with her parents. She was united to Mr. Finch November 4, 1824. They had five children : Andrew, Sarah And, Jacob W., William J., and Ellen J., now Mrs. Lewis Wool. The three oldest are dead. Mr. Finch was treas- urer of Hanover Township for three or four years, and in 1852 moved on the farm where William now lives. He died there on the 17th of July, 1853, but his wife still survives. He was a generous, kind-hearted man, and was liberal towards all benevolent and charitable enterprises. He and his wife were members of the United Brethren Church. Mr. William J. Finch bas followed farming all his life. He was married March 1, 1859, to Abigail, daughter of Gideon and Mary Wilkin- son, who was born March 9, 1838. They have seven children : Orlando B., William E., Gideon W., Elmer B., Charles L., Mary E., and Ella I .. Mr. Finch is one of the trustees of Oxford Township, being on his fourth year, and has served as school director some twenty years, off and on. He is a member of Oxford Lodge No. 74, of the Ancient Order of United Work- men. At the death of his father Mr. Finch bought the farm of seventy acres, and has added to it until now he owns one hundred and eight -five, which he has made through his own industry and good management.
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