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 59
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Among the early preachers may be mentioned Arthur W. Elliott, who was a prominent minister in his day, and probably traveled this eirenit as early as 1810. He possessed a good education, and became widely known in his work. The Rev. James B. Finley and a Rev. Mr. Goddard were also pioneers in this field. Among the lay members may be mentioned Charles Legg, Duran Whittlesey, Thomas Jeffras, Ezra Dalton, and the Elliotts, who were actively interested in the cause. Major W. W. Elliott came to the township in 1824, since which time he has been identified with the Church, not ouly as a member of the society, but also as a leader, having served as steward full forty years, aud as class- leader fifteen years. ITis means have been liberally donated. The Rev. T. C. Crum is the present pastor, and William Van Hise the Sabbath-school superintend- ent. A Presbyterian Church existed here between 1830 and 1840, but was very weak, and soon ceased to exist.
Prominent among the early settlers of Union Town- ship was the old Revolutionary soldier, John C. Beckett, who settled near Westchester in 1810. He was an American officer during that war, and after its close was engagerl in transporting goods between Cincinnati and Fort Hamilton. His son James C. Beckett, who was born December 24, 1799, on Mill Creek, Hamilton County, came with his father in 1810 to this section of the county, and lived to an old and honored age.
Major William W. Elliott was born in Maryland, July 24, 1800, being the son of William Elliott and Rachel Bosley, of English descent. He received an ordinary education, and with his parents came to Ohio in 1810. locating in the vicinity of Princeton. He was brought up as a farmer, and continued that occupation until his parents died. During the Way of 1812 he saw the troops from Kentucky march up to the north on the road from Cincinnati to Payton, which had then been newly laid out. At the age of fifteen he went to live with a brother-in-law, and drove team for him for seven years. The county was still very aew, and huge forests encumbered almost the whole of the land.
The major bought his present place in 1824, having
The Methodist Church building in Westchester was erected in 1818. The Methodist people of this vicinity i been married in 1823 to Sarah Mutchner, a native of
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Maryland. To that marriage were born two children, one of whom is now living, the wife of George Jackson, a resident of Lebanon. Major Elliott settled upon his present place in 1824. It was then entirely wild. He put up a log cabin, cleared up the place, and rapidly improved it. He bought the land from General Will- ianı Henry Harrison, afterward President. He put up a hewed-log house, and remained there until building a brick one about 1840. The major was long active in military affairs, having command of the regiment in Butler County in 1837. On the making of the turnpike from Cincinnati to Dayton, he was elected director, and has been annually elected ever since. He has been town- ship trustee for many years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been for many years, and is one of the leading laymen of the denomi- nation. He is frequently called upon to make addresses before Sunday-schools and temperance societies. He has been presi:lent of the Pioneer Association of Warren and Butler Counties, and is an active and esteemed mem- ber of that body. Although eighty-two years of age, his bodily strength is still considerable, and his mental faculties unweakened. For many of the recollections embodied in these pages we are indebted to him.
UNION TOWNSHIP CEMETERY.
This cemetery was laid out in the Fall of 1870. George Vinnedge, Perry Wright, and Abner Jackson were the trustees at that time. They purchased an addi- tion to the old yard, which had been in existence for fifty years, making in all one of twelve and a quarter acres. Frederick Wieke, Jacob Francis, and James Patcheil, Jr., are the present board of officers. J. W. Gerard, the sexton, has been in charge of these grounds since 1871. The yard was formerly in a bad condition, owing to so much brush and undergrowth, but considerable attention has been paid to the grounds and the walks of late, and it now presents as fine an appearance as any in the country outside of the large cities. Three I undred per- sons have been buried in this yard, and an average of thirty deaths happens every year. The ground is divided off' into sections, four in number, and these again sub- divided into lots, of which there. are in all six hundred. A good fence incloses the cemetery, and on the inside evergreen trees adorn the grounds and shade the drivers, giving the whole a handsome appearance.
MAUDVILLE.
Maudville is yet in its infancy as a village, the first house being created by Henry Stickles after the railroad was built. He keeps a boarding-house, a saloon, and a grocery. He also owns a lumber-yard. Gilbert & Will- iamson keep a country store. It is a good grain center, and from this point cereals are shipped in quantities.
The old saw-mill that stood where the railroad crosses the pike is among the most interesting things of the |
past. Like all saw-mills of pioneer days, it was to be run with water, but instead of a sluggish stream to furnish power for the wheel, a more tub-full of that element was thought to be sufficient to run it forever, with an occa- sional drop now and then added to make good what might be lost by evaporation. The contrivance consisted of au upright saw, with all its ordinary attachments; a large tub was placed aloft and filled with water. This tub held about one hundred barrels, and was filled by the proprietor and his devoted wife, it was said, who was to share honors, undoubtedly world-renowned, if this thing worked. The expectant day arrived; logs filled the yard below; the mill had been erected, but not weatherboarded or roofed ; the tub filled, and pump fixed in its place. It was supposed that the same force of water used to run the wheel would also run the pump, and throw the water back as fast it escaped. On trial, of course, it proved a failure ; the logs in the yard rot- ted, the mill tumbled down of old age, and no trace of its former existence is now visible.
GANO.
Gano is a small place on the southern portion of the township, on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railroad, and is a station built - since that road was put through, by Charles Gano, of Cincinnati. This was in 1874. In 1879 Mr. Charles Gano, Jr., built a large flouring-mill and did a fine business, bat unfor- tunately the mill took fire soon after it was erected and burned down. The ambition of the village tempered down after the loss of the grain trade incilent to this event, and Maudville was left thenceforth as cock of the walk. A well one hundred and twelve feet deep was dug near this mill for water, but gas was discovered and from that time to this it oozes up in great quantity. This gas was conducted by a pipe into the mill and was used for drying the wheat; it probably comes from the decomposed matter of the drift below, and is odorless. Mr. C. L. Gano owns a beautiful residence in this place.
RIALTO.
Rialto is owned by the Friend & Fox Paper Company, and consists of three mills, about seven miles from Ham- ilton, on the edge of the canal. It manufactures book and news paper. Capacity, five thousand and five hun- dred pounds per day. The new Crescent mill, built in 1881, is a mile below the others, and is illuminated by electric lights, aud filled with the finest machinery made in the East. It manufactures roofing and wrapping papers. The original manufactory was a grist-mill, be- gun by Taylor Webster, who did a good business for many years. He sold to Beatty & Cooper, who sold to Friend & Fox.
MISGAATT.
Pisgah is the highest point in Union Township, al- though to the casual ohserver it seems to be on a general
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level with the surrounding country. It is higher than Lebanon and all points around. It was probably named by William Belch, a pioneer of the place, and so called from the old church that stood on this land. The village has but eleven residences, a grocery store, post-office, and a blacksmith's shop.
William Belch came here as early as 1812 or 1815. He was a Pennsylvania German, and very energetic. He kept the first hotel of the place many years before he died, after which his son William kept it fifteen or twenty years longer. William and James Van Hise started a hotel about 1838, and also a store and post- office. This.was the first post-office in Pisgah. It was sub- sequently kept by David Conover and James Middleton, and now by S. M. Sprinkle. The two Van Hises also kept the first store. They carried on the business a number of years, and were the last to keep hotel.
A still-house was erected in an early day by James Irwin on the farm now owned by James Irwin, his grand- son. Mr. Irwin came to Ohio before 1800, and settled first in Warren County, and after a few years came to Pisgah and settled on 360 acres of choice lands. He started the first tan-yard. He was the grandfather of Governor Irwin, of California. This distinguished man, Willian: Irwin, received a good education in the public schools, and subsequently in colleges, after which he went to California, abont 1850, and for several years edited the leading paper of that State. He was after- wards sent to the State Legislature, and later elected governor of that State. He has since that time been conspicuous in the management of State affairs, and is known as a representative citizen of the country.
The people of Pisgah, in an early time, attended Church at Muddy Creek. This was a Baptist society just outside the county. Subsequently the Presbyterians erected a church buikling on the Belch property. This house stood on the old Quakertown Road, near the village, and on the same lot upon which the school-house stood. The two buildings were within the san.e fencing. The school-house was made of round logs and the church of hewed logs. After a few years the Church people built a brick house, and the school was moved into the old church building. This was on James Irwin's place, and in 1835 or 1836 the distriet built the new brick school-house, on the identical spot on which stood the olt log-house, and its remains, in a repaired condition, still stand, but the house is owned as private property. The district purchased land in 1862, when and where the present structure was erected. The church served its purpose for a long period of time, but for many years it has gone into disu-e, save for au occa- sional service. The property was finally sold, and the organization has lost its identity.
Robert Caldwell, an Irishman, was probably the first teacher of Pisgah, who applied the beech and black-walnut 1 methods of imparting instruction in an carly day. He [ time.
believed in " the laying on of hands," and there are some of his pupils still living who distinctly remember how they were thrashed through to the Rule of Three. He was " master" for some years, and was then followed by Michael Dalton, who became a prominent citizen of the place, and is very kindly remembered by many people yet. Mrs. James Hunt (formerly Miss Anna Ellsworth) was the first lady teacher of these schools. She taught for a long while. She was a woman of rare abilities; was finely educated, and was unexcelled as a teacher. The Slayback brothers, John C. and James N., taught here a number of years, and a good report of their work follows thein. The Pisgah schools have always been in a flourishing condition, and have been successful in fur- nishing many good teachers to the county.
Among the early preachers of Pisgah may be meu- tioned the Rev. Mr. Graves, of the Presbyterian Church, fifty years ago, and Mr. Bryan and Mr. Lemon, of the Muddy Creek Baptist Church. Mr. Graves remained with this congregation many years, and during that period of time the Church was prosperons.
In former times bleeding was common in the art of curing. People sent to Westchester for a doctor, and it was not until as late as 1845, when James L. Round, M. D., formerly of Westchester, moved to the place and settled as the first resident physician. He stayed many years, but some six years before he died, feil from a ladder, and so injured himself that he was com- pelled to go on crutches the remainder of his life. This was but a few years ago, and he was about the ouly physician of note who took up his residence in the place.
Mrs. David Hulse has probably rendered as much service to the sick as many a physician with college diploma. Her parents were educated people. Louis Kronskopf, her father, was an educated German, and was a cavalry officer under Napoleon in the French expe- dition against Russia. His regiment lost all but fifty-five men in that campaign. He came to America in 1822, settling first at Sharon, Ohio, and subsequently at Pisgah, where he kept a hotel on the Lebanon and Cin- cinnati Turnpike, a mile and a half' west of the village, and afterwards became gate-keeper on that road. He came in 1829, and in 1838 kept toll-gate, aud was the originator of the pole sweep in this neighborhood. The gates previous to this time were similar to those used in fences, and swung around. The innovation of the ordi- nary pole had its enemies at that time, there being those who vigorously contended they were under no obligation to pay toli when they had no gate to go through. Mr. Kronskopf was also a physician, and was edneated in the Prussian schools of medicine, but did not practice sur- gery, his specialty, after coming to America. He died December 31, 1860. William Hulse had the first black- smith's shop in the village, which he kept until 1531, when he died. Tullis & Middleton have a shop at this
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
During the late war, Pisgah furnished a score of men for the army, out of which a full dozen either were killed outright, died in hospital, or from the effects of the hardships and exposures of camp life soon after return- ing home. Lewis A. Hulse, son of David Hulse, was a mere lad when he shouldered his musket for the army. He was wounded at the battle of Stone River, and died ia camp. In this connection should also be mentioned the names of Benjamin Belch, Marsh and Joel Tullis, James Round, Isaac Myers, Vermillion Voor- hees, William Burch, Joseph Moore, Joseph and Jesse Gray, Jesse Price, Richmond Middleton, Benjamin Stew- ard, and Charles Catro. The names of these heroes will uever be forgotten.
The Bureh Spring, once so noted, now abandoned. was dug on the Deerfield road, on land now owned by Harvey Webb, about 1860. The well was sunk to the depth of seventy-five feet, when water flowed in a tor- rent, filling the well abont half full immediately, and scarcely giving a chance for the men to get ont. It was believed that an underground river had been struck. The sides fell in, until there was apparently a subter- ranean lake of water, which to save next drew atten- tion, and during the next Spring, rocks and logs were hauled in large quantities and dumped in, but when the cavity was filled the well was lost, and there is nothing there now save a great depression to mark the once great well.
David Hulse, one of the leading and progressive men of Pisgah, was born in Union Township, April 2, 1819, and was the youngest son of William Hulse and Cather- ine Lutes, both natives of New Jersey, and of Dutch descent. Mr. Hulse was one of the pioneers of Butler County, settling upon the farm adjoining the one Gow owned by his son in 1815. It was then in the woods, and hardly any roads existed there. Indians still occa- sionally passed through on their hunting expeditions, and there was an abundance of game and only one moderately good! road. He was a blacksmith by trade, carrying on that business for many years jointly with farming. He was an active member of the Baptist Church at Muddy Creek, in Warren County, there being none near his residence. He raised a family of eight sons and two daughters, of whom the only survivor is David Hulse. William Hulse died in 1833. David attended the com- mon schools at Pisgah until he had obtained a fair cdu- cation, and after leaving school became thoroughly versed in agricultural pursuits. In his fourteenth year he went with an older brother to Indiana, where he remained for three years, the only period of his life in which he was not a resident of Ohio. He returned to Ohio in 1837, and was employed in farm-work.
Mr. Hulse was married November 21, 1839, to Er- nestine Krouskopf, who was born in Germany, September 22, 1820. She was the daughter of Louis Krouskept and Catherine Merser, who emigrated to America in
August, 1821, and settled in Hamilton County. They removed to this county in 1829.
Mr. and Mrs. Hulse were the parents of seven chil- dren, of whom three survive. Lewis A. was born Feb- ruary 12, 1845. Energetic and patriotic, he enlisted September 1862, in the Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. At the battle of Stone River, the first battle he bad an opportunity to be in, he was acting as a scout. On the morning of December 31st he was shot down, although living until February 16, 1863. Mr. Hulse's first child, Olclia Jane, was born October 30, 1840, and is now the wife of Irwin Miller. She resides in Union Township; Loretta Emeline was born September 7, 1842, and married James Ayers, a well-known resident. The third child was Lewis A .; the fourth was William Fran- cis, who was born August 4, 1849. He lives on the home farm and helps in its management. Hulda Amanda, born February 17, 1851, was the wife of Servetus Daw- son, but died May 6, 1881. David Charles was born December 3, 1854, and is now telegraph operator at New Morefield, Ohio. Ernest Eugene was born June 22, 1861, and is still at home.
Mr. Hulse, immediately after his marriage, located upon the farm where he now lives. This was in the Spring of 1840. There was a log cabin, and some little improvements in the way of deadened timber had been made. He occupied the log cabin nutil he built his present handsome residence in 1851. The place consists of one hundred and fifteen acres, finely cultivated, situ- ated just upon the eastern edge of Pisgah. Mr. Hulse derived a little means from his parents, but his success is due principally to his own industry. He is well read, and frequently contributes to the newspapers. Both he and his wife are very methodical. Mrs. Hulse has for a long time been a practitioner in obstetries and in female diseases, in which she has had great success. She has taken pains to inform herself, both from books aud observation, and in the cases she lias attended has been nnusually fortunate. She has also done much in chil- dren's diseases, and enjoys the confidence of the commu- nity. . Of late, however, she has partially retired from !! practice.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
Joseph Allen was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, September 11, 1822. He was the son of Martin I .. Allen and Susan Frasie, both natives of New York. He attended the common school in Hamilton County, and received a liberal education. He was trained as a farmer. He remained in Hamilton County until he was twelve years old, then coming to Butler County, and settling near Princeton. He worked on a farm for three year -. then going to Hamilton Conuty, where he stayed until he was twenty-four years of age. He was married De- cemuber 7, 1845, to Miss Mary Thompson, born in Ham- ilton County in 1827. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are parents of one daughter and four sous. Lee F. was born March 1.
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1847, and is now a resident of Xenia ; Fanny J., now the wife of Lake Wyle, a resident of Liberty Township, was born June 28, 1850; Henry D. was born January 31, 1858; Joseph P., February 26, 1862; and Elwood C., September 8, 1869.
After marriage Mr. Allen conducted a farm two miles north of where he now lives, for one year. In 1847 he located at his present home, which was but partially im- proved. It was then a wild place. He cut off over a hundred acres, and otherwise made improvements. He occupied a log-house for a time, and afterward a small frame house, which was used until the present mansion was erected. The place is now fully improved. It con- sists of one hundred aeres. He received no assistance on beginning life, but is wholly self-made. He was town- ship trustee about 1868, for one term, and a director of the county agricultural society for two terms. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is superintendent of its Sunday-school. He took an active part in raising volunteers during the Rebellion, for Company I, Eighty-third Regiment. He was largely instrumental in raising the quota of the township.
Eliphalet Beckley was born in Franklin County, In- diana, in 1817, on the 16th of June, being the oldest son of Henry Beckley and Ann Ferris, of Connecticut. With his parents, he came to Hamilton County, in this State, in 1831, locating near Cincinnati. His father died when the boy was thirteen years of age, and he took charge of the family until he was twenty-one. He began learning the carpenter's trade when he was seven- teeu, and after his majority worked for seven years as a journeyman. Mr. Beckley was married October 5, 1841, to Jane Moore, who was born in Hamilton County, De- cember 3, 1822.
Mr. and Mrs. Beckley had nine children, of whom seven are living. Amanda was born May 18, 1842, and is now dead; Heury. who is a resident of Hamilton, was bon February 6, 1845. Cordelia was born August 9, 1846, and is now the widow of George Muchmore, of Union Township; Ruth was born April 26, 1849, and is the wife of George Nash, a resident of Hamilton County; Charles was born February 6, 1851, and is a farmer of Union Township; Mary was born March 27, 1857; W. H., May 12, 1859; and Eliphalet, Jr., October 13, 1860. He continued to live in Hamilton County after contracting marriage, having been twenty-one years there, when he removed to this county, in March, 1862. He first located upon the farm now owned by William Townsend, staying there until the Spring of 1875, when he purchased the place where he now lives, known as the MeAdams place. He owns fifty-nine aeres, unler fine cultivation. Mrs. Beckley is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Mary L. Belch was born in Mason, Warren County, September 1, 1811, being the daughter of Ben-
jamin Dodds and Martha Drake, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She went to school in the common log cabin. October 23, 1833, she was married to Will- iam Belch, a native of the State of Maryland, who was born July 2, 1801. He was of Scotch deseent, coming with his parents to Ohio, Warren County, in 1813, and afterwards settling upon the farm now owned by Mrs. Belch, in Union Township, Butler County. This they acquired in 1815, keeping a public house known as the Belch House for many years. The land was entirely wild when they settled upon it.
Mr. and Mrs. Belch were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living. Plessy M. was born about 1834 and died about 1848. The second child died io infancy. Catherine was born in 1835, and is now the widow of Francis Burdsall, living in Lebanon. Martha B., the widow of Samuel Burdsall, was born in 1827. She is now living at Mt. Washington, Hamilton County. William Wallace was born September 6, 1840. He is a well-known farmer of Union Township. Edwin, born November 12, 1858, is at home. Mr. Belch died in March, 1863. He was a supporter of the Presbyterian Church, and a good farmer. Mrs. Belch has conducted the place successfully, and given her children good edu- cations. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
John Block was born in Holstein, Germany, Jane 24, 1832, and was the son of Henry Block and Margaret Kruse. He came to America in the Fall of 1853, and soon after was in Cincinnati. He remained one year in Hamilton County, engaged in farming, coming to Butler County in 1854. He worked at farming a year and a half in Liberty Township. He was married February 22, 1859, to Fanny Brown, born in Baden, Germany, December 30, 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Block are the parents of eight children, of whom seven are living. Caroline Elizabeth was horn May 15, 1860; Henry, November 13, 1861; Mary Ellen, March 1, 1863: John Adam, December 10, 1864; Charles Matthew, November 10, 1867 ; Anna Kate, December 21, 1870; Frank, July 7, 1873, and George William, May 19. 1879. Frank died May 8, 1876.
After 1859 Mr. Block conducted the Muchmore farm two years, the Rogers farm four years, the Gerard place one year, and various other places in Union Township. He was on the Stiles farm and the Hiram Smith fanta, and managed the James Patchell farmi for six years. He located on the Samuel Spellman farm, where he still re- sides. It consists of two hundred and eight acres of finely improved bottom lands. He is a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser. He has been a school director. and is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Block is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
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