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 64
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David Banker erected a fine mill on the property where the present Mr. Banker now resides, that was long known as Banker's mills, aud had at an early day cus- tomers from near Richmond, Indiana, and from near Greenville on the north. He continued to reside on this property till his death, which happened on the 25th of January, 1862, at the age of eighty-four. He came into the world the second year of the Revolutionary War, and died in the second year of the great Rebellion. When he first came to Ohio he brought with him, in a large pair of saddle-bags, the metallic part of a set of carpen- ter's tools, with which to carve out his fortune in this new country, and carried them in that way on horseback
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sion, as a relie of early days on the Miami, the mill- stone used by Elijah Mills when he erected the first mill on the Ohio River. It is a curiosity. It is sixteen inches in diameter and four inches thick, and weighs less than one hundred pounds.
Jacob Banker was married November 8, 1840, to Catherine Selby, daughter of Middleton Selby and Ra- chel Coon, who came to this county in 1797 and 1802. They have had ten children. Rachel B. Marsh was born August 23, 1841; David, May 8, 1843; Mary E., May 14, 1845; Ferdinand V., May 27, 1847; Martha J., January 13, 1850; Sarah L. B. Chamberlain, June 16, 1852; Laura C. Conover, March 27, 1854; Emma. J., September 3, 1856; James E., March 6, 1859; and Elmer L., July 31, 1862. David Banker, his son, was in the military service from December 25, 1863, until' after the close of the war. He was a member of the Seventh Indiana troop of cavalry, and was detailed on duty as an orderly at the White House at the time of the assassination of President Lincoln. Mr. Jacob Banker was a justice of the peace in Madison Township from 1847 to 1853, six years.
David W. Banker was born April 1, 1821, in Madi- son Township. His parents were David Banker and Mary MeDill, who came to this county in 1819. They are now dead. He was married October 9, 1842, 10 Julia Lucas, daughter of Samuel Lucas and Hannah MeCray, born in Madison Township, February 3, 1821. They have had three children. Samuel L. was born November 22, 1843; Charles D., November 23, 1859, and Harvey, November 10, 1862. The second of these is now dend. Mr. Banker is a farmer.
Matthias Brookley was boru October 20, 1836, in Ger- many. His parents were Matthias Brookley and Mary Heekluirey. Their son came to this county in 1857, set- tiing in Madison Township. On the 1st of May, 1873, he was married in Trenton to Elizabeth Ebel, born in Cincinnati April 10, 1853. Her parents were Adam Ebel and Elizabeth Fallenstein, who came to this coun- try in 1853. Mr. Brookley was elected supervisor in April, 1879, and held the office one year. He is a boot and shoe manufacturer.
Peter Benicit was born in Germany about 1815. His parents were John and Magdalena Bennett, and they came to this country in 1881, bringing their son with them. IIc was married in July, 1839, to Susan Intzi, daughter of Christian and Mary Iutzi, who came to this county in 1832. They have had five children. Amelia Augsburger was born August 9, 1840; Helen Kintzinger, April 21, 1842; Mary, January 14, 1844; Bertha, June 29, 1848, and. Randolph, November 24, 1855. Mr. Bennett first settled in Milford Township, remaining there but a short time. He then moved to St. Clair Township, and then on what is known as the Ha- german farm, where he stayed about fifteen years. Ile finally moved on the farm called the Snider farm, in
¡ Madison Township, where he has since resided. He has increased his worldly store until he now owns six hun- dred acres of as fine land as there is in the county, all lying in Madison Township.
S. B. Berry, late county auditor, was born November 29, 1838, near Miltonville, and is a son of Thomas G. Berry, also born near Trenton, March 18, 1808. He lived in the township until his death, September 28, 1848. Thomas G. was the son of Thomas Berry, who came to Ohio from Virginia about 1793. He was about fourteen years old at the beginning of the Revolution, entered the service while a boy, and continued to the close. Thomas Berry married Hester Grey in Virginia, coming to Ohio with two children, settled on the east bank of the Miami River, below Middletown, and raised eleven children. The mother of S. B. Berry (still liv- ing) was Susan, daughter of George Bennett, a New Jersey mill-wright, who together with John Allen, whose daughter he afterwards married, built a griet-mill on the east bank of the Miami River, about four miles north of Hamilton, near the present site of Augspurger's bridge. George Bennett, after marrying Nauey Alieu, moved to Miltonville, and erceted a saw and grist mill, still in operation.
Thomas G. Berry was chosen to and served with: credit in many positions of publie trust, and had just, closed a term in the Legislature the Winter preceding his death. S. B. Berry was less than ten years of age at his father's death in 1848, and was compelled to leave the parental roof to earn a living to aid his mother in providing for the other children younger than himself. He attended school a few weeks in the Winter season only until November, 1853, when he was apprentieed to Jacob Simpson for four years, a Virginia blacksmith, then working at Lesourdsville, in Lemon Township. In 1858 Mr. Simpson retired, leaving his apprentice in charge of the shop, with the good will of his customers his only stock in trade. By energy and industry he re- taiued these until he changed his place of business by moving to Hamilton in 1874.
In October, 1871, Mr. Berry was elected to the Leg- islature from Butler County, following in the steps made by his father twenty-four years before. He served two years with honor to himself and credit to the county. The Hamilton Telegraph, the opposition paper, near the close of his term, said : " Were Mr. Berry a candidate for re-election, he would have no opposition from either party." Business and domestic affairs would not permit him to do so, and in the Summer of 1873 he wrote and published a letter of declination. In the year 1874 he was nominated for county auditor ; but, owing to the di- vided condition of the Democracy, caused largely by rival newspapers in the party, was defeated by H. H. Wallace by a few votes only. Continuing to work at his trade. he was again, in 1876, nominated for and cleeted to the same position over the same competitor. After serving
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acceptably in this very important position, he was again, in 1878, re-elected for three years, having a majority of 2,486 votes. The Hamilton Telegraph, the Republican paper, said of him near the close of bis first term : " Mr. Berry has announced himself as a candidate for re-election. It is due Mr. Berry to say that he has proved himself to be an energetic, efficient, and trust- worthy official, accommodating to those having business in his office, exact in the discharge of his official duties, and a vigilant opponent to extravagance in every shape. His administration will compare favorably with those of the best auditors who have filled the office in Butler County. His route to a second term will be over a road strewn with roses." His second term has now elosed, and the condition of the records of the office reflects eredit upon Mr. Berry and bis very efficient corps of clerks.
During the last five years Mr. Berry has taken an active interest in the " Ancient Order of United Work- men," a beneficial order, serving one term as Grand Master for the State of Ohio, two terms as one of the representatives from Ohio to the Supreme Lodge, and is at this time (1882) a member of the Supreme Lodge Finance Committee, supervising the affairs of the entire order, embracing twenty-three States and 125,000 mem- bers. He has now returned to Madison Township, near the place of his birth, and is actively engaged in farming.
Martin Clark is a native of New Jersey, where he was born March 23, 1833. His father was John Clark. He is married to Elizabeth Deem, daughter of John F. Deem and Elizabeth Darr, and the marriage took place on the farm where they now live, November 1, 1856. She was born January 23, 1836. They have ten child- dren. Mary, the eldest, is dead. Hiram was born De- eember 20, 1858; John, March 23, 1860; Samuel, Feb- ruary 6, 1862; William, August 7, 1864; Charles, March 23, 1866: Jane, October 27, 1867; Laura, Octo- ber 23, 1871; Harry, October 25, 1873; and Ida May, October 12, 1879. Hiram Deem was in the anny, and died in the service.
Samuel M. Dickey, son of George Dickey and Mar- garet Miller, was born on the farm where he now lives, March 16, 1818. He was for many years a lumber dealer, but is now a farmer. He has been twice married. His first marriage was December 30, 1840, in Preble County, to Elizabeth Sherer, daughter of Daviel Sherer and Catherine Yazel, who was born Mareh 24, 1821. By her he had nine children. George S. was born April 23, 1842; Mrs. Kate De Bolt, October 8, 1843; Margaret A., February 27, 1845; Samuel L., February 21, 1847; Mrs. Mary E. Hinkle, February 12, 1849; Daniel J., September 10, 1851 ; Abraham, September 1, 1853; Squier M. V., August 5, 1856, and Martha W., March 12, 1860. Abraham Dickey is dead. In his second marriage, Mr. Diekey was anited to Mary E. Martin, who was born September 16, 1846, on the 19th
of January, 1865. She is the daughter of Denis Martin and Gertrude A. White. By this marriage he has six children. Charles V. was born October 30, 1865; Thomas Jefferson, July 18, 1868; Hume, November 2, 1870; Alfred, February 25, 1875; James E., April 1, 1876, and Sadie Marie, November 11, 1879.
Mr. Dickey has been a member of the board of edu- cation for twenty-seven years, trustee of Madison Town- ship four years, justice of the peace six years, and notary public for six years. His son George S. Dickey was in the service three years, and his son- in-law, Thomas J. DeBolt, was in the service three years. The grandfather of Mr. Dickey, Samuel Dickey, was in the Revolutionary War, and was once an Indian prisoner and twice a British prisoner. He set- tled on the bank of the Miami River in the year 1799, from Kentucky. Ague prevailed in the place they had chosen, and they took up their march for a new location. This was on Elk Creek, on Section 7. George Dickey, his son, and the father of Samuel M. Diekey, had no playmates for two years but Indian children. Tom Killbuck was the Indian chief. After two years three families came from Kentucky and settled on the adjoin- ing sections, making too many white people for the red men. They then moved their wigwams three miles north-west, on a branch of Elk Creek, now called Kill- buck Run, after the name of the Indian chief. George Dickey was in the War of 1812, and is in his eiglity- eighth year. He is a pensioner, and lives with S. M. Dickey.
George Dickey is the son of Samuel Dickey and Catherine Sexton, of Scottish descent, and was born in Franklin County, Kentucky, October 25, 1794. George Dickey was engaged in mill-wrighting and man- ufacturing, and also in farming, but is now retired. IIe was twice married. His first wife was Margaret Miller, to whom he was married in 1817. Her parents were Abraham Miller and Mary Yarnell. His second wife was Saloma Hartman. By them he had six children. Samuel M. Dickey was born March 16, 1818; Abraham Dickey, April 21, 1820; George W. Dickey, M. D., February 14, 1823; Mary Dickey, dcceased, January 21, 1826; Squier Dickey, M. D., September 2, 1832; and John C. Dickey, May 10, 1835.
Mrs. Saloma Dickey was born in Madison Township, May 21, 1819. She has been twice married. Her first husband was John Hartman, and the next one was George Dickey. The marriage with the first was May 23, 1839, and the second January 26, 1854. She has had five children. Benjamin F. Hartman was born August 10, 1840; Francis M. Hartman, June 10, 1843; Eliza- beth Ann Post, November 9, 1847 : Catherine J. Eichler, October 8, 1855; and Mary Jane Dickey, January 25, 1863. Elizabeth died November 9, 1850. Mrs. Dickey's parents were John Weidner and Elizabeth Suyder, who came from Pennsylvania in a four-horse wagon, about
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1800. She was brought up on a farm. She has only moved once in her life, and that was from the farm on which she was born to her place in Astoria. When her first husband, who was a tailor, died, she was left with three small children. She learned her husband's trade, and took in work to support herself and family, succeed- ing better than most men do. She is a member of the Church of United Brethren, and has been for about thirty years. Her father was among the first settlers, having to clear his farm, which was completely covered with trees, and being surrounded with wild animals. He bought, when he first came, about one hundred and forty acres, and brought up a family of twelve children, marrying twice. aud having six children by each wife. He was very highly esteemed. His death was a linger- ing one, being occasioned by dropsy of the heart.
Mrs. Christina Emerick, whose maiden name was Kemp, was born in 1809, in this county. Her parents were John Kemp and Elizabeth Zeller, who came in 1804. She was married December 28, 1827, and had the following children : Maria Childs, February, 1829; Catherine, December 10, 1830; Simon, April 5, 1833; and Elizabeth Yost, June 13, 1837. Andrew Zeller was in the War of the Revolution.
Joseph P. Eckert was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, September 22, 1808, and is the son of Jacob P. Eckert and Elizabeth Barnhart, who came to this county in 1824. He was married December 6, 1832, to Eliza Moore, daughter of Louis Moore and Susan Enyart. She was born in St. Clair Township, December 17, 1809, and bore him seven children. Susannah Eckert was born June 9, 1835, and died March 31, 1854; Mary J. was born October 26, 1837, and died March 5, 1851; Sarah E. Scudder was born March 28, 1843, and lives near Bethany ; Minerva Ellen West was born September 2, 1845, and lives in Boston, Massachusetts; William Augustus Eckert was born October 3, 1848, and died December 8, 1848; Laura Janette was born August 23, 1850, and died October 30, 1850, aud George Albert was born October 28, 1853, and died August 12, 1854. Peter Barnhart, his grandfather, was iu the Revolution- ary War, as was his father-in-law, Mr. Lewis Moore, who was also in the War of 1812. Mr. Eckert learned the potter's trade at the age of thirteen, at which he continued for many years, or until he arrived at the age of sixty-eight. He has also followed the business of ane- tioneer from 1835 up to nearly the present time. He has now retired from all occupation.
Augustus Eckert, M. D., of Trenton, is the son of Jacob Peter Eckert, who was born near Mannheim, Ger- many, Jannary 13, 1780. He emigrated to North America in 1504, embarking at Amsterdam, Holland, and after a stormy voyage of twenty-six weeks, landed at Norfolk, Virginia. In 1807 he married Miss Eliza- beth Barnhart, of Rockingham County, Virginia, the daughter of Peter Barnhurt, a Revolutionary soklier.
| The fruit of their marriage was eight sons and thres daughters. One son and one daughter died in infancy, and one daughter, the wife of Rev. G. L. Gilbert, at the age of thirty-two years. With his family, consisting of a wife and four sons, he emigrated from Rockinghanı County, Virginia, to Jefferson County, Kentucky, twelve miles east of Louisville, in 1816, and in 1822 to the Tunker neighborhood, two miles west of Dayton, Ohio, near where the National Soldiers' Home is now situated. In 1825 he moved to Miltonville, in this county, where he resided until his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-nine years. Mrs. Eckert survived her husband seven years, and died at the age of eighty-four. Three of the sons reside in this county, two in the State of Ili- inois, and two in Indiana, and the surviving sister, Mary M., is the wife of J. S. Weinland, M. D., of West Elk- ton, Ohio.
Augustus Eckert, being the fourth son, was appren- ticed to the tailor's trade at the age of fourteen, and followed it until he was twenty-five. At that time his health began to fail, in consequence of his close confinc- ment to business, and he was compelled to seek some other way of procuring a living. He was troubled with indigestion, and was under the necessity of undergoing medical treatment. He procured some medical books, and by combining several remedies made a restorative, which relieved him of that malady. Mr. Eckert thon resolved to read medicine, and bought books for that purpose, and studied a part of the time, working a por- tion of each day to defray expenses. This course he followed for three years. He then attended medical Jee- tures in Cincinnati, and in June, 1844, began the prac- tice of his profession in Butler County, where he had resided for fourteen years. One year was spent in Daytoa, Ohio.
He married Miss Elizabeth MeKean, of Montgomery County, Ohio, October 12, 1844. The fruits of their union were four sons and two daughters. Three sons died in childhood. His elder daughter, Sarah Jane, married Mr. A. A. Hunt, December 15, 1863, by whom she had one daughter, who is now in her seventeenth year. Mr. Hunt died at Miamisburg, Montgomery County, Olio, November 6, 1880, and his family still reside at that place. His younger daughter, Mary Ann, married Mr. John V. Good, son of Henry Good, March 4, 1873, to whom she has borne two children, a son and daughter. aged respectively seven and five years. Mr. J. V. Good is engaged in the grain and stock business at. Trentoa, Ohio. Dr. Eckert's son, Charles Albert, attended the dental department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and gradaated in March, 1882.
Dr. Eckert's wife died November 14, 1874, at the age of forty-eight years, and on September 5, 1879, be married Mrs. Keturah A., widow of Levi Schenck and daughter of the Rev. J. Antrim. She is a native of Battre County. His life has been an up-grade, having started on his own
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muscle and carned all that he possesses. His practice has been eclectic in the true sense of that word, using all that is good of all systems, and rejecting the bad. In his practice he has been successful. He is and has been a member of the Miami Medical Association ever since its organization, and has been identified with the Christian or Disciples' Church for over forty-five years.
John W. Finkbone was born in Berks County, Penn- sylvania, May 22, 1832, and came to this county in 1842. He is the son of John Finkbene, who was born in Wir- temberg, Germany, and was seventy-seven years of age at his death, aud Susannah Smith. John W. Finkbone was married, November 24, 1853, to Elizabeth Long, daughter of John B. Long and Delilah Ann MeNealy. George MeNealy, the grandfather, was in the War of 1812, and was drowned in Lake Erie. Mr. and Mrs. Finkbone have had ten children. John W. was born March 19, 1850; Mary E., February 2, 1858; Tobias L., February 26, 1860; Ezra A., July 6, 1862; Sarah Jane, January 3, 1865; George W., February 22, 1867; Jacob E., September 15, 1869; Susannah, January 6, 1873; Mattie E., June 25, 1877 ; Amanda E., July 22, 1878. Mary E. and Jacob E. are dead. Mr. Fink- bone served as school director some nine years consecu- tively. Ransom Freeman, his brother-in-law, was in the Eleventh: Illinois Regiment, and was at the battle of Fort Donelson, where he received eighteen bullet-holes in his cap and clothes withont drawing blood. He was never in a hospital. Mrs. Finkbone's brother, William B. Long, served three years and eight months in the Ninety-third Ohio, acting as teamster over two years.
Samuel Fouts, farmer and dealer in farm implements, was boru in Montgomery County, July 24, 1840. He is the son of John Fouts and Mary Judy, and settled in this county in the year 1862. He was married, October 10, 1861, to Mary Jane Williamson, who was born in this county December 1, 1843, and was the daughter of William Williamsou and Ann E. Francis. They have one child, Calvin C. Fouts, born January 18, 1863. Mr. Fouts was in the hundred-days' service at Baltimore, Maryland.
Frederick Featherling, son of George and Susan Featherling, was born in Virginia in 1793, coming to this county with his parents in 1812. Mr. Featherling settled close to what is now called Busenbark's Station, and lived to the extreme old age of ninety-one. He was in the War of 1812. He had three daughters and two sous, who still survive. Sally Flenner was born in 1807; David Featherling, June 4, 1809; Michael Featherling, May 12, 1816; Elizabeth Weare, about 1820; and Lovina Gougor, who was born in 1825. The two sons still own the farm which their father formerly possessed. Mr. Featherling's wife was Rhoda Morris, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Morris, who came to this county in 1804. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1777.
David Featherling was born in Pennsylvania, and i
came to this county with his parents, Frederick and Rhoda Featherling, in the year 1812. He was married in 1858 to Rachel MeGellin, daughter of Matthew and Mary McGellin, who was born in Oxford, February 14, 1840. Her parents came to this county in 1812. They have had four children. Mary Eilis Morrow was born May 1, 1859; David, April 4, 1868; Anna Bell, May 17, 1871; and William, June 2, 1878. Mrs. Feather- ling's grandfather, Enoch Golonay, fought in the War of 1812. Mr. Featherling is a farmer.
Jacob Francis was born November 25, 1793, in West- moreland County, Pennsylvania. His father, George H. Francis, was a soldier, and served during the entire Rev- olutionary War. Jacob Francis himself was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was in the service about eight months. Ile was commanded by Brigadier-General John S. Gano, and is the last survivor in this county of those heroic men. His mother's name was Elizabeth Shawk. He has been twice married, the first time to Lydia Ford, who was born in New Jersey, December 1, 1798. He was united to her September 14, 1817, and had by her eight children. Samuel was born June 27, 1819; Ann Eliza, May 19, 1822; Jacob, May 10, 1824; George, January 19, 1826; Mary, September 20, 1827; John, July 5, 1829; Rachel, November 30, 1831; and Charles, December 2, 1833. Samuel, George, Mary, and Charles are dead. Mr. Francis's second wife, to whom he was united June 17, 1834, was Maria Young. She was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, August 28, 1811. By her he has had eight children. Lewis was born March 28, 1835; Maria, June 15, 1837; Joseph H., November 5, 1839; Daniel, January 21, 1842; Rebecca, July 31, 1845; William H., January 31, 1S48; Eliza- beth, January 30, 1850; and Margaret, June 8, 1853. Joseph H., Rebecca, and Margaret are now dead. Mrs. Francis's parents were John Young and Rebecca Brighton, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Francis came out to this country in 1806, and has always followed the oceu- pation of a farmer.
O. F. Fleming was born in Lemon Township, May 11, 1837. He is the son of John Fleming and Catherine Hoagland. He learned the trade of shoemaker when he was eighteen, and has followed it all the time since, with the exception of about six years, when he was employed at farming. He was constable in Lemon Township, be- ing elected in the Spring of 1864, for one term. He is
now school director, and has been for six years. During the war he was in the hundred-days' service. He was married August 17, 1859, to Susan MeCray, danghter of Jesse MeCray and Elizabeth Gebhart, and they have one child, John H., born July 22, 1860.
Martin Goebel was born in Pfordt, in the circle of Lauterbach, Hesse-Darmstadt, December 8, 1834, sei- tling in this county August 16, 1856. His parents were Johannes Goebel and Eva Katharina Goebel, the latter now being dead. He is a farmer. He was married
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in Trenton, September 3, 1861, to Anna Elisabetha ! became initiated in the business of teaching at a very Schul, daughter of Heinrich and Auna Elisabetha Schul. early period of bis life. and has continued the same more or less for thirty-nine years. He has taught from one to eight quarters in eight different churches, twenty-seven different school-houses, and five or six private houses, these places being located in the counties of Butler, War- ren, Montgomery, Preble, and Darke. He has been residing on his present farm for twenty-six years. It is the birth-place of his wife, and is located in the neigh- borhood of Elk Creek, three miles north-west of Middle- town. She was born at Franrombach, in the circle of Lauter- bach, Hesse-Darmstadt, on the 28th of August, 1840. They have ten children. Katharina Elisabetha was born June 21, 1862; Heinrich, February 11, 1864; Anna Elisabetha, September 3, 1865; George, April 1, 1867; Eva Katharina, August 16, 1869; Emma Elisabetha, July 11, 1871 ; Maria Friederika, September 20, 1873 ; Leonhart, August 9, 1875; Edna Paulina, January 3, 1877; and Wilhelmina Christina, December 25, 1879. Heinrich died May 30, 1875. Mr. Goebel was road supervisor in 1877, 1878, and 1879.
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