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 53
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The Fear-not Mill en Four-Mile was built in 1816 by Joseph Watson, a bachelor from Pennsylvania. Watson
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was a lithe young man, full of energy, and when his | located, no doubt, near the famous spring in the center pioneer establishment was erected in the wilderness, the of this section. neighbors predicted a failure in business within a short Jacob Wehr owned and carried on a distillery in the eastern part of St. Clair fifty years ago, near where Enos Wehir now lives. This establishment ran for seven- teen years. It was a log building one and a half stories high. On the Warwick farm, one-fourth of a mile east of Overpeck's, Michael Earhart had a still-house in 1825. His place of business was in a log-house. time. Watson gave his mill a name which always re- minded his friends of his character-" Fear-not." It is probable that Mr. Watson was the same man who erected the mill below Hamilton described above, which bore his name. The first building at the Fear-not site was a frame, two stories high, undershot wheel, and two sets of buhrs .. Watson in due course of time sold out, and about Isaac Overpeck had a large distillery, which he car- ried on for twenty years, where Richard Hines now lives. Joseph Hershey had a distillery at the Flenner grist- mills forty years ago (which he owned in 1836), in a log-house: - His corn was ground in his mill. twenty years after the first mill was built, a second was erected. It was also a two story trame, with an under- shot wheel and two sets of buhrs. While Watson was in possession of the mill, he also did a large amount of saw- ing in an establishment near by. A carding-mill was also in active operation for some time.
Uncle Samuel P. Withrow, as he is familiarly known in the northern part of St. Clair, who was born in 1798, says when he was twenty-five years of age he could, on getting up early in the morning, see the smoke from thirteen still-houses while doing his morning's work. He at that time lived in Wayne Township on Section 27. The capacity of these manufactories was about one barrel per day. Whisky was sold from fifteen to eighteen cents per gallon. Many of these still-houses continued for only five or seven years.
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
The St. Peter's Lutheran Church, one and a half miles south-west of Hamilton, was organized as early as 1806 by Germans, who had settled in this part of the township, from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Caro- lina. Among the early members were the Garvers, Fishers, Lingles, Castators, Troutmans, Mitchells, Kyles, and Shellhouses. The first house was a log building, about sixteen by eighteen feet. The furniture was plain and simple. The fire-place was eight feet in width and five feet deep.
As there was no regularly-built school-house, at an early day the church was used for educational purposes also. It continued to till both thesc requirements for about thirty-five years.
Among the early preacher; was the Rev. Mr. Hining, a German Lutheran from Pennsylvania, but who at that time lived in Montgomery County, Ohio; and the Rev. Mr. Descombes, a German Reformed, who preached here with considerable regularity for some time. He was a citizen of St. Clair Township. The Presbyterians had an organized Church in this end of St. Clair in 1820. Many of the congregation came from the east side of the Miami.
The second or present building was built about forty years ago, and in 1858 was remodeled at a considerable cost. This house is alout forty by fifty feet. The land occupied by these houses was given for this purpose by Mr. Fisher and Mr. Crust, and comprises abont one and a half acres. used for both Church and burial purposes. South of the St. Peter's Church and grave-yard, about
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Flenner's grist-mill, at the junction of Four-Mile and Seven-Mile Creeks, was erected forty-odd years ago. It is a two story frame, with wings, and has for the pro- pelling power an undershot water-wheel, twelve feet in diameter. There are three sets of buhrs. The water was taken from Seven-Mile and emptied into Four-Mile by the tail-race. .
About two years ago this mill ceased to run. At one time, about 1830, there was a still-house in operation at this point. The old mill can yet be seen.
The second of a number of mills in St. Clair Town- ship, on Four-Mile, below the celebrated Fear-not Mill of Watson's, was owned by Samuel Scott, and stood a few rods above the mouth of St. Clair's Run. A good saw- mill was attached to the grinding department. The grist- mill was a two-story frame building run by an undershot wheel. Scott was in this neighborhood at an early day, and is said to have entered Section 16, on which his mill stood. He was a man of much force of character ; in the various walks of life he played an important part. There were three flat-boats built at Scott's Mill; one by Mr. Scott, and two by his neighbors. They were floated to Hamilton empty and there loaded fer New Orleans. Their owners returned by land.
George Flenner had a distillery in 1833 in a log- house in the enstern part of the township on the Gep- hert farm. He died not long siuce .. Still-houses in the first settlement of this valley were considered a necessity; and many of the best people in the country were found engaged in the manufacture of whisky.
Philip Sowers had a still-house some time in the '30s in a log-house near Busenbark's on James Cummings's farm. David and James Chevalier bought out Mir. Sowers and continued the business for some time. This distillery has disappeared.
Henry Kerns had another one mile south of Seven- Mile village at an early day, on what is now the pike to Hamilton. He also had an insignificant grist-mill ou Seven-Mile Creek, near the still-house, in 1836. Frederic Bubenmyer had a still-house on Section 4 abont 1830, |
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
three-quarters of a mile, Peter Garver began a private burying-ground. It has all the appearances at present of age and dilapidation. Many of the first members of the Church are buried near the house in which they worshiped.
James Hill, of Millville, now dead, was a school teacher in the old church, in 1832. He was followed by Cap- tain William Giffin. Jonas Ball came soon afterward.
Justice Troutman, who attended school here when a boy, says the "teachers always had a stock of iron-wood switches on hand, stuck above the joist, to be used in cases where the youngsters needed trimming." These men were not very conscientious about the application of the whip. When there were six scholars in the classes they were thought to be large. Among those who at- tended school here were James Garver, now a distin- guished physician of Minnesota; William Garver, a prominent lawyer, and Henry Garver, now acting sur- geon at the Soldiers' Home, Dayton, Ohio. Jacob Trout- man, well known in Hamilton and elsewhere throughout the county, and a man who has filled nearly all the mu- nicipal offices in the gift of the people and the city, was another pupil.
The second school-house, or really the first especially erected for educational purposes, was put up abont 1840. It was a frame, and stood one mile south of the old church on the Lawrenceburg Road. The present house was built in 1856 or thereabouts, and is a brick.
North-western St. Clair was settled at first by people mainly from the South. They were generally industrious, and many of them brought a considerable amount of fur- niture, farming utensils, implements for wood-working and such like, with them. The second set of settlers was from Pennsylvania. They added much to the general wealth and prosperity of the community. At last there came a third class, mostly Germans, who did not assim- ilate well with their neighbors.
Among the early settlers in north-western St. Clair vere the Brookses, Irvings, Wallaces, MeClellans, Eatons, Cornells, Browns, Caldwells, Robinsous, Longfellows, Grays, and Harrises. One of the oldest men in the township, William Brocks, owns nearly four hundred acres in Section 7. His fund of pioneer incidents is complete, and in many cases appears somewhat romantic. His age is nearly cighty-six. The Blue Grass Church, which stood near the Fear-not Mill, was one of the earliest of a large and flourishing set of similar institu- tions in the county. It was so named because about the time of its organization blue grass spread out over the bottoms in this section of country, furnishing the best of pasture for all kinds of stock. This grass began to ap- pear in considerable quantities as soon as the dense growth of pea-vines had disappeared. For the first ap- pointments the Methodists met at the barn of John Gray, which stood three-quarters of a mile north- west of the present church. This barn is now standing, owned by
William McKee, but has greatly changed in appearances since first it was put up. Its original size was thirty by forty feet, and it was then considered a large building of its kind.
The first church, a brick, was erected more than sixty years ago, and stood half a mile east of Four-Mile. It served for both school and religious purposes. John Gray gave the land on which the house stood. After the death of Mr. Gray, the Church began to lose its hold upon the people. On account of deaths and remov- als, it has now ceased to have an organization at all. Among those who mited with the Church here, and who have since become somewhat roted, are the Rev. Joseph Brooks, who died in Kansas some eight years ago, and the Rev. James Gray, son of John Gray, now a circuit preacher in Indiana. John Gray was buried in a family yard on his farm, but which, in due course of time, was used by the public. Many of those who were buried here have since been taken up by their friends and re- moved to grave-yards of a more public nature.
About the time the Methodists ceased to exist, the Old School Presbyterians began to hold services in the church. A Church was consequently organized, which used the Methodist church for about eighteen years. A Dew church was then erected, yet standing and in use. Chambers Stewart gave the land on which this house stands. Mr. Stewart, with William Brooks and Mr. MeKee, were early Presbyterians. The early ministers came mostly from Hamilton.
At the close of the Methodist Church, fifty-two years ago, a large camp-meeting was held three-fourths of a mile sonth of the old church, across the creek in a little sugar-tree grove which bordered on the bank of Four- Mile. These meetings were held for two successive sea- sons, and continued for one week. There were canvas tents of a temporary nature scattered throughout the grove to shelter the worshipers. The Rev. Joshua Hol- land, the Rev., or Captain, Joseph Gasner, and the Rev. Moses Crume were among the preachers.
OVERPECK'S.
Overpeck's takes its name from Isaac Overpeck, one of the first settlers in this part of St. Clair. The country which Mr. Overpeck selected for a home had all the natural requisites which tend to make life prosperous and happy. There soon gathered, therefore, in this sec- tion a busy class of people. Among the settlers and land-owners in this immediate neighborhood in 1836 were Isaac Overpeck, Henry Jacoby, Joseph Kelley, Michael Earhart, Peter Conrad, John Wehr, Daniel Smith, and Abner Torbet.
Overpeek's is now a station on the Cincinnati, Hamil- ton and Dayton Railroad, very nearly four miles from the court-house in Hamilton. There are simply a few houses built, something after the manner of other little I villages which have from fifty to two hundred inhabit-
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ante. One of the most noticeable features of the station is a fine brick building, used for the waiting-room of the railroad, for the post-office, and a store, and for the various purposes of township business. There are three separate rooms, all well-kept and substantial. The build- ing looks quite new, and was built about eight years ago.
For the first store-keepers this village had Isaac and John Overpeck. They were here soon after the railroad was built. Their place of business was in a frame house, near the center of the village, since destroyed by fire. The Overpecks were followed by William Iutzi, who is also the present merchant.
Before the present township house was built, making it a part of the station, waiting-room, and post-office and store, the voters of St. Clair cast their ballots on the farm where Willian Caldwell now lives. In the course of time West Hamilton was made the voting precinet, and continued to be so used until about 1876.
Henry Sellers was probably the first blacksmith in the eastern part of the township. His shop was near Busenbark's, on the farm now owned by Robert Richter.
The German Reformed Church at Overpeck's was or- ganized sixty years ago. Jacob Wehr and wife Catha- rine; Henry, Charles, and John Jacoby and their wives ; Henry Kerns and wife; Mr. Wykel, who lived near Trenton; Mr. Miller, and Jacob Descombes were among the early members. The Rev. Messrs. Hininger, Grover, Hinkle, and Descombes were among the first preachers. At the time of the organization of this Church it was composed almost entirely of Pennsylvania Germans, but was subsequently strengthened by additions from Amer- ican families. After a period of varying success the present and very respectable Church of both Lutherans and Presbyterians came into existence. The early Pres- byterian members were also known as "Pennsylvania Dutch."
The first meeting-house at this point was a hewed log building; it stood in the south-east corner of the yrd. Jacob Wehr sokl two acres of land at one dollar per acre to the Church authorities for burial purposes and for a building site. The old house has long since passed away. For the second place of worship there was a large brick building capable of seating five hundred people. There was a large gallery above, and under- neath were ample accommodations for many more. The oll pulpit of this house is now in the possession of Jo- seph Landis, kept as a venerable relic.
The present brick building, which will seat comfort- ably two hundred and fifty people, was erected a few years before the late war. Charles Barger. a leading man of Seven-Mile village, organized a Sunday-school here twelve or fifteen years ago.
The first person buried in the grave-yard was Henry Jacoby, more than sixty years ago. There are about two two hundred interments in the yard. Every thing about is clean and neat.
About twenty years ago the Mennonite Church at Overpeck's was organized. An acre of ground, upon part of which the church stands, was given to this de- nomination by Christian Slonacker, an early member. The membership is composed mainly of Germans. Among those who were instrumental in the organization were Dr. John Borker, the Augspurgers, and Peter Imhof. The Rev. Nicholas Augspurger was an early preacher. The first meetings of this society were held in private houses. In the neighborhood where this society is known best it goes by the name of the " Hook-and-Eye " Church.
The Apostles' Church, in this same neighborhood, sprang from the other Mennonite Church, and was con- posed principally of the younger members. The division was caused on account of some disagreement in disci- pline." The outside people call the Apostle the "Button" Church, in order to note the improvement over hooks- and-eyes.
For the first school-house in the eastern part of St. Clair there was an old log-house, which stood on the south-east corner of the old Conrad farm. It was here in 1812, and was built after the pattern of all log school- houses of those days.
For the first school-house in the neighborhood of Overpeck's, a building was erected on the situe lot occu- pied by the present house. It was here in 1820, and for a portion of its furniture had the familiar slab seats, with legs for supports. Mr. Wilson was one of the early teachers.
A stone house took the place of the above log build- ing. It was supplanted by the present brick, a commo- dious structure capable of seating a very large number of school children.
The following have been the justices of the peace:
John Hamilton, Matthew Winton, James Smith, James Mills, Robert Taylor, Lewis Laing, Daniel Flen- ner, William Cornell, George Burnap, Sampsou Hut- man, Samuel Fleming, John Nelson, Samuel Gray. Isaac P. Van Hagen, William Warwick, Russell Bur- rows, Mark Boatman, Andrew Lister, John W. Robi- son, Michael Bowerman, Joseph McCloskey, Samus! Landis, Andrew Curtis, Gary Longfellow, Jobn Hunt, William C. Harper, Levi Richmond, William M. Beall, James B. Gray, Martin Fleaner, Orrin Line, Eli Stiekle, Clement Clifton, William H. Layman, Oliver Traber, Albert G. Clark, Robert Hargitt, Evan Davies, Jacob Troutman, John K. Wilson, David S. Bennett, Masou S. Hamilton, Jeremiah Warwick, David Farlow, Joka A. Overpeck, John W. Wilson, Jacob Steek, Charles Schneider, John S. Garver, Courad Getz, R. B. David- son, I. M. Warwick, James A. Walker, David .A. War- wick, Walter A. Trowbridge, Andrew Fleuner.
There is only one post-office in the township, Over- peck's. The south part supplies itself from Hamilton, and the north part from Seven-Mile, on the border of Wayne Township, aud Trenton, in Madison Town-
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
ship. The postmasters at Overpeck's have been John A. Overpeck. February 25, 1860; Isaac E. Overpeck, March 27, 1865; Joseph A. Kennell, April 4, 1881; William Iutzi, April 18, 1882. The office was discon- tinued from July 10, 1879, to February 27, 1880.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
Jolin Betz, the son of Jacob Betz and Lena Smith, was born in Streitberg, Germany, November 14, 1840. His father was born in Hanau, Germany, June 18, 1807, dying March 28, 1880. His mother died August 28, 1861. They came to this county in November, 185-4. John Betz was married in Hamilton, March 26, 1862, to Kate Anne Stroh, born in Markbel, Germany, Sep- tember 20, 1841. Her parents were Henry Stroh aud Dora Shaffer, both being born in Germany, in 1822, and coming to this country in June, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Betz have had one child, John Curran, born November 20, 1873. During the war Martin Betz was the quarter- master-sergeant of the Thirty-fifth Ofrio- Volunteer In- fantry, and Henry was a private in the Sixty-ninth. John Betz had four brothers, one in the hardware, one in the grocery business, one a farmer, and the other died in the army in 1861 of camp dittrrhea. John went to Nashville to bring back the body, but was unable to effect his purpose.
William Brooks, retired farmer, was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1797, and is consc- quently one of the oldest men in the county. His father, James Brooks, was in the Revolutionary War, He has been a resident of this county for over sixty years. He has been twice married; first, to Emily Wallace, who died at the age of forty. The fruits of this union were four children. Ellen Jane was born December 20, 1826; James, July 4, 1829; Mary Ann, January 28, 1830; and William W., October 25, 1832. All are now living but James, who died at the age of fifteen. Mr. Brooks's second wife was Jane Wallace, who bore him one daugh- ter, Emma Eliza, October 3, 1855. Mrs. I rooks died March 26, 1881, aged seventy-five years. She was a constant attendant of the Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member, and a devoted wife and beloved mother. Mary Ann Brooks married James MoMechan November 11, 1863, her husband dying May 14, 1880, aged fifty-nine years. He was born in Milford Town- ship. They have had three chikIren. Willam D. was born August 26, 1865, and James E., February 23, 1867. The third one died in infancy.
John M. Buhl, farmer, was born in this county, in the township he now lives in, on the 4th of September, 1852. He was married in Hamilton on the 23d of Octo- ber, 1877, to Anna B. Sutler, daughter of Conrad and .Catherine Sutler, who became residents of Butler County in 1839. They have one child, Elizabeth, born October 4, 1878. The parents of Me. Buhl are Elias and Sarah Buhl, the maiden name of the latter being Houseleth.
Elias Buhl was out in the war of the Rebellion for two and a half years.
Colonel George F. Elliott was born on the 8th vi April, 1826, in Liberty Township, a quarter of a naile from the old Spring Meeting-house. He is the youngest of seven sons of the Rev. Arthur W. Elliott and Mary Pierce, both of Baltimore County, Maryland. They had also four daughters, of whom one was younger than George. At fourteen years of age he went to St. Clair, where he worked on the farm, and going to school occa- sionally. The last place of that kind which he attended was in the basement of the Episcopal Church in Hami !- ten, kept by Mr. Wade. He was married in September, 1852, to Miss Eleanor Hueston, daughter of Thomas Hueston, who had been out with Wayne as captain of pack-horses, and was also a soldier of the War of 1812. He was a brother of Matthew Hueston. Mrs. Elliott's mother's name was Mary Hardin. She was the daugh- ter of Samuel Hardin, an early settler of Colerain Town- ship. Colonel Elliott, upon his marriage, received from his father two hundred acres of land, upon which he now lives, and which he cultivated until 1857. He then went into the firm of Long, Black & Alstatter, traveling and working for them four years, in the sale of reapers and mowers.
When the war broke out he raised a company to de- fend our imperiled Union. It was Company O, Sixty- ninth Ohio, and went out in September, 1861, continuing in ths service until March, 1863. He was appointed major, August 9, 1862, and lieutenant-colonel, October 24, 1862. He refused higher appointments. At the battle of Stone River he had command of the regiment from the beginning to the end of that conflict, a period of six days, leaving scarcely any thing to eat, and couch- ing upon the hard ground without a blanket. He came home on account of the health of his wife, which had been seriously affected by the loss of one of her children by a railroad accident. On his return, he continued farming till 1866. He then went into the distilling busi- ness, remaining in that until December, 1869. During the last two years he ran distilleries No. 1 and No. 2. but on the date just mentioned made an assignment. He refused to go into bankruptcy, and finally nearly all of his indebtedness was settled up. The establishment had paid the government over two millions of dollars as a tax on distilled spirits during the time in which he had connection with it. Out of the wreck was saved a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which the col- onel now lives. He continued in the same business until September, 1873.
The first office he was elected to was that of member of the decennial State board of equalization, in October, 1880. This isa very important position. In 1881 he was a candidate for State senator, being nominated by aschauma- tion for the services he had rendered in the board of equalization. He was defeated by twenty-seven votes.
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He has had four children. Charles was born in 1858, and Frank in 1864. Thomas Arthur was the one who was killed by the railroad. He was three years old at that time. Colonel Elliott is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is universally liked. After a long life in this county, there is no one to whom he can not go up and shake hands, whether he is white cr black, rieh or poor. He is never idle.
James J. Everson, the son of James Eversou and Rachael Mills, was born March 7, 1836, in Reily Town- ship. His parents were early settlers. He was married in September, 1857, to Mary Ann Garver, boru in Reily Township, February 16, 1638. Her parents were Samuel Garver and Elizabeth Keiver. They have had three children : Addie L. was born August 1, 1860; Eva May, October, 1862, and Samuel A. Curtiss, July, 1864. Mr. Everson is a farmer, and has been super- visor for four years.
John W. Eaton is a native of Rowan County. North Carolina, and came to this county in 1814. He is the son of Ebenezer Eaton and Naney King. The former came to this county in 1809, but the mother never did. He was married in Hamilton, Ohio, February 13, 1861, to Jane Stewart, a native of County Down, Ireland, and daughter of William and Mary Stewart, who came to this county thirty years ago, and are still living at Oxford. They have seven children. Nancy Jane was born November, 28, 1861; Mary Phebe, August 20, 1863; Martha Anu, April 11, 1865; Robert Chambers Stewart, February 13, 1868; Emily Eliza, July 27, 1870, and William Ebenezer, May 30, 1873. Mr. Eaton is a. farmer, and has now been a resident of the county sixty-seven years. At the age of fourteen, while cutting down some trees, his left leg was broken by a tree fall- ing on it, and has since been lame. He was kept on a straw bed for twelve weeks, and since then, from time to time, he has been afflicted with rheumatism.
James R. Foster was born in St. Clair Township, and married Naney Wilcox, April 18, 1860. He was the son of Sullivan Foster, and followed the occupation of a farmer. Mrs. Foster was born January 16, 1836, and is the daughter of Edward Wilcox. and Margaret Evans, being the fourth of seven children. The mother is still living. "She came to this county in 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Foster had four children. Sarah A. was born July 6, 1862; Lillie M., Deeember 16, 1865 ; Gracie F., August 13, 1868, and John E., January 13, 1871. Mr. Foster died May 11, 1871.
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