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 67
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The turnpike running through Seven-Mile, from Eaton to Hamilton, was built in 1833 and 1834. The pike was made wide enough for three teams to pass, and was sixty fuet from one side of the road to the other. The building of it was unnecessarily expensive, so much so that it has always been a poor investment. The first officers were John Woods, president, and David Barnett, James Barnett, Albert Haynes, Stephen Ingersoll, and Andrew MeCleary, directors. It was not an unusual sight to sce forty teams stopping in Seven-Mile over night at a time, so great was the travel.
A selcet school was established by Prof. B. Starr in 1870. He came to Seven-Mile four years previous to this time and took charge of the academy. He is a grad- uate of Middletown, Connecticut, and taught in the Wes- leyan Female College, Cincinnati, and Hamilton, prior to his coming to this place. His school is for boys only.
The first hotel was built by Peter Helwig, as early as 1810 or 1812. He was a son-in-law of Henry Jacoby, and was wealthy. He and Jacoby came from Penn- sylvania. He also built a mill in St. Clair Township, near the line, but sold it to a man by the name of Flick- inger. He was a carpenter, and sold out the hotel to his father-in-law. Henry Jacoby built the brick hotel just a few years before the pike was constructed. John Bolli- ard, a Pennsylvania German, kept the first store in the town. It was a small affair, and of a general character. It was established before the first hotel was built, and, after the coming of Henry Jacoby, the store was bought by him and considerably enlarged. He only remained a few years. Wilson Clarke and William Lightinger each have good stores in the place now.
The first school was taught by William Garrison, a lame man. The school-house was half a mile east of Seven-Mile. The building stood on the farm now owned
by Robert Withrow, and was one that had been lived in a few years. The first building was very early. The second building was erected in 1830, and the third house was put up in 1878.
Bethel is a church building erected about the year 1852, by both the German Reformed and Lutheran societies. Jacob Bartch, Nathau, George, and Henry Jacoby, Jr., Charles Wieder (who donated the ground), Reuben Wieder, and Jonathan Sorber, were the leaders in the movement. Each society contributed its share to- wards the enterprise, and both together control the Church. The building is a one-story brick, and is sixty- two by forty feet. The Rev. John Vogt was the first pastor, and remained four or five years. He was suc- cceded by a man who stayed but a short time. The present pastor, the Rev. Joshua Meckling, has had the pastoral care twenty-five years. The society consisted first of over a hundred members. It is now quite small.
The Cotton Run Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Seven-Mile in a very early day, but no house of worship save the cabins of the settlers existed previous to the year 1831, when the leading members took the matter in hand and built a church. Prominent among these few was Samuel P. Withrow. He was not then a Church-member, but with a heart in the work shouldered the chief responsibility, and through his efforts mainly the house of worship was built. He burned the brick, hired help, and did most of it him- self. ITis father, John Withrow, donated the lot of an acre of ground, on the corner of his farm, now where James Withrow lives. Daniel Short and Reuben Ker- chival were also prominent in this movement. The Rev. Joshua Holland was the first pastor. Samuel P. With- row soon after joined the Church, and was made leader of a class immediately, which position he has held ever since that time. He has also helped to build other churches. The Rev. Mr. Brecount is the present pastor, and the Church has a membership of seventy.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
John Brelsford was born in Wayne Township, August 9, 1822, being the son of John Brelsford and Nancy Ann Page, who came to this county in 1803. He was married on the 5th of January, 1845, to Jane Wolver- ton, who was born in Hamilton County, January 1, 1825, and by her had three children. John C. Brels- ford was born January 19, 1853; Catherine Ann Brels- ford was born February 7, 1856, and died October 17, 1857, and Elizabeth J. Phares was born January 16, 1858. Mrs. Brelsford died January 16, 1882. Mr. Brelsford was brought up on a farm, and has always followed the business. He was quarter-master of a ritte regiment for six years, while he lived in Preble County, Governor Bartlett giving bim the appointment.
Pierson Brelsford, son of John, was born June 24, 1831, and was married, in 1859, to Sarah Ann Anns-
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paugh, born April 3, 1840, in St. Paul, Indiana. Eight children were born to bless this union, seven of whom survive. William S. was born January 29, 1861; James A. was born October 17, 1862; Ida L., August 13, 1864; Ehner P., October 30, 1866; Samuel L., September 3, 1868; Jolm H., January 25, 1871; Frances M., March 21, 1873; and Clara M., May 4, 1875. Samuel L. died July 2, 1870. William S. was married July 3, 1881, to Anna Haizman, born April 20, 1860, in Hamilton. He . is living at home. Mr. Pierson Brelsford owns and farms two hundred and forty-five acres, and has also managed a threshing-machine for about sixteen years. He has been township trustee for seven years, and still holds the office. He was one of the party mustered and sent to Hamilton during the Morgan raid. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Allison B. Crist was born in Franklin County, In- diana, in 1826, and was married, in 1848, to Mary Davis, who was born in the same county and State in 1824. By her he had four children. Elbert is married and lives in Illinois; Arbell is single, and lives in Preble County ; Perry is married, and lives in Wayne Town- ship; and Mary is the wife of James Merrill, who lives in Huntington County, Indiana. Mrs. Crist died in 1852, and Mr. Crist was married, in 1855, to Annie Smart, born in Franklin County, Indiana, in 1835, by whom he had one child. Marion, who is married, and lives in Middletown. Ilis wife died in 1858, and he was married, in 1838, to Phobe Maddock, who was born in Butler County in 1837. By her he has had nine chil- dren. They are John, Luella, Francis, Ellwood, Retta, Mattie, Emma, Allison, and Eva.
: Mr. Crist has held the various township offiees-town- ship supervisor, school director, and clerk of the schools. He emigrated from Indiana to Ohio in 1855, settling in Wayne Township on his present farm. He was in the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Ohio, the hundred-days' service, and was first corporal of Company D. They were stationed in the Kanawha Valley, Wes : Virginia. He owns and farms six hundred and seventy deres in Wayne Township. He and his wife are Orthodox Quak- ers. He has always followed farming and stock dealing, and is one of the most prominent .farmers in the town- ship. He had but about a thousand dollars when he commenced, and lost all that when he began farming in Ohio in 1855. He was then worse off than nothing, be- ing in debt about three thousand dollars.
Hiram Gudgeon, the son of William and Naney Gudg- eon, was born in Tyler County, West Virginia, October 12, 1821. He came to this county in 1869. On the 21st of December, 1851, he was married to Christine E. MeDonald, born in Canada East, October 12, 1826, aud the daughter of Patrick and Bridget MeDonald. The parents of both are dead. Mr. and Mrs. Gulgeon have had the following children: Charles W., Caroline E. Peterman, John F., William H., Effic C., Hiram W. S., I
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and Thomas J. He was postmaster in Jacksonburg for two years, beginning May 8, 1879, and served until July 1, 1881. He was also mayor at the same place, beginning April 1, 1879, and served until April 1, 1881. His grandfather, and also father, served in the War of 1812. His brothers, James D. Gudgeon, William H. Gudgeon, Charles W. Gudgeon, and Franklin B. Gudg- eon, were all in the war, and were all so fortunate as to come home without any serious wounds, excepting Charles W., who had his shoulder dislocated by a horse falling on him. William H. had his shoulder dislocated in the State service, at the time of the capture of John Morgan. He was also injured at the battle of Vicksburg, while he was in the gunboat service, being at that time on the Pittsburgh.
George W. Haslett is the son of John Haslett and Ann Cummins. He is a farmer. He was born the 4th of November, 1840, in this county. He was married on the 8th of November, 1864, to Catherine Cooper, dangh- ter of John Cooper and Phenner Dill, who are now both dead. She was born on the 19th of January, 1842. They have had seven children. Ida May was born July 26, 1865; George M., July 10, 1867 ; Charles G., No- vember 18, 1869; Maggie I., October 4, 1872; Mary J., April 30, 1875; Rosa Ann, March 28, 1877; and John E., October 22, 1879.
Jacob Inman was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, about 1779, and married Rachel Harriton, born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, about 1779. They had mine children, of whom only two survive. Jacob L., who is married, lives in Decatur County, Indiana, and Barzillai lives in Wayne. He emigrated from New Jersey to Ohio in 1818, and settled in Preble County, where he died in 1823. His wife survived him for many years, dying in 1863. He was a school-teacher aud sur- veyor, and during his brief residence in Preble County was a prominent man. At the time of his settlement le purchased upwards of four hundred acres of laud.
Barzillai Inman was born in 1820, in Preble County. and was married in 1843 to Rebceca Jones, daughter ci William Jones and his wife Elizabeth, who was born iu 1823, in Wayne Township. They have had six chil- dren, four of whom are now living. Andrew C. Inmm, born in 1844, is married, and lives in Wayne Towu-hip. Elizabeth, born in: 1846, died in 1849. Jacob J., born in 1849, is married, and lives in Wayne Township. Mary Ann, born 1852, died in 1871. Harriet, born 1855. is the wife of Andrew Wilson, and lives in Wayne Town- ship. William J., born in 1859, is married, and lives in St. Clair. Mr. Inman has held the office of real os- tate appraiser. He was drafted in the war, sending a substitute. He owns and farms five hunched and fifty arres, and his wife owns five hundred acres, part of the old homestead of the Jones family.
William Jones was the first member of the Jones family that settled in Wayne Township. He cante in
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1802, at the same time with his father, Henry Jones, ! who settled in Curtis/Township, Preble County. Willinn Jones was born in 1774, and died in 1851. He owned at one time twenty-three hundred acres of land. His wife was Elizabeth Culbertson. She was born about 1775, and died in 1846. They were both natives of North Carolina, and were buried together in Preble County. They had eight children, five of whom, all girls, survived them. Andrew Jones, his son, was born in North Carolina, in 1799, and was a mere infant when brought to Butler County. Susan was born in 1794, dying in Indiana; Keziah, in 1797; Amy, widow of John Fox, 1802, lives in Prebie County ; Jemima, 1805; John, 1808; Mars. 1810; Elizabeth, 1813; Sarah, 1820; aud Rebecca, 1823. The last, the wife of Barzillai Inman, lives in Wayne Township.
Andrew Jones married, in 1822, Harriet Smith, who was born in this county in 1803. They had six chil- dren, three of whom survive: John C., who is mar- ried, and lives in Seven-Mile; Andrew, living in Chi eago; and Isabel, wife of John Ray, who lives in Arcola, Illinois. Mr. Jones died in 1833, and his wife died in 1877. John C. Jones, son of the above, was born in 1828, and is married to Susan Gregg. She was born in 1839. They have had four children. James, Anna Maud, and William live at home; Charles is dead. Mr. Jones is a large landed proprietor, owning two hundred and twelve acres of land in Indiana and some in his own township. He does not himself farm, but devotes his attention to dealing in stock and grain, being one of the largest stock dealers in the county. He is one of the leadling citizens of the township. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Johus family, an important and wealthy one in this township, were originally Quakers, coming to Penn- sylvania about the year 1700, under the auspices of Will- iam Penn. They engaged largely in commerce, and were extensive ship owners. The War of the Revolu- tior , however, ruined them. James Johns, the grand- father, came to this country about 1805, settling in War- ren County, where he died. Five of his children settied in Ohio : Ellis, Isaac, Thomas, John, and Ruth. Thomas Johns was the first member of this family that came ont. He was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, about 1776, and died in 1864, in Union Township. About the year 1801 he married Elizabeth Barnes, who was born about 1783, near Hagerstown, Maryland, and died in 1834 in Union Township. They had eleven children, of whom six are still living. Hannah, widow of Thomas Cox, who lives in Warren County ; Jenima, wife of James Steele, now living in Darke County; Uriah, now living in Miami County; Nancy, wife of John Dawson, living in Clarke County, Missouri; John, in Wayne Township, and Thomas B., who is married, and lives in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Mr. Johns first came to Ohio in 1800, buying land in
Union Township, and in 1802 moved his family and set- tled there. He was drafted during the War of 1812, but owing to the sickness of his wife, he sent a substitute. He was a farmer, but did a good deal of carpenter work, building houses, barns, etc. . John Johns was born in 1815, and married in 1837 Mary Hess, born in 1821, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They have had eleven children, of whom nine are still living. Franklin is married, and lives in Illinois; Susan is at home; Daniel is dead ; Theodore is married, and lives in Kansas; John and William are married, and live in Butler County; Aivadore lives in Terre Hante; Alpheus and Horace are married, and live in Batler County ; Mary lives at home, and Ada is dead.
Mr. Johns has been a school director for more than twenty years. For over two years he owned a general store at Miltonville, which did a business of from twelve to fifteen thousand dollars per year. Ill health, how- ever, interfered with his continuance in this business, and he abandoned it and took up farming. He now owns about seven hundred acres of land in the county, which he and his sons farm. Mr. Johns is one of the leading citizens of Wayne Township.
Henry Jacoby was born in Lehigh County, Pennsyl- vania, about 1785. He was married to Sarah Kerr, a native of Lehigh County, by whom he had three chil- dren. Charles is married, and lives in St. Clair Town- ship; Susannah, widow of Charles Wetzel, lives in Hanı- ilton ; and Elizabeth is deceased. He married for his second wife Salome Macan, born in Lehigh County, who died in 1837. He owned and farmed one hundred and fifty-six acres of land iu Wayne, and one hundred and sixty-eight acres in Lemon.
Henry Jacoby, his son, was born in 1824, in Wayne, and was married in 1846 to Caroline Barteh, born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in 1828. They had ton children, of whom two died young. Barbara E. is the wife of Isaac Boatman. He was boru in 1848, and lives in Seven-Mile. Jacob, born in 1850, lives in Lemon Township; Francis, born 1852, is married, living in Monroe; Melinda, born in 1854, is the wife of Albert Yuengling; Mary Alice, born in 1856, died in 1859; Edwin, born in 1852, is single, and lives at home ; Henry and Charles are twins, and were born in 1862, and David A. was born in 1864. One died an infant. Mr. Jacoby led an upright and virtuous Christian life, and was an elder of the Reformed Church. He died in 1866.
Nathan Jacoby, born in 1812, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, was married in 1838 to Sarah Barger, bora in 1821, in Berks County, Pennsylvania, the daugh- ter of Samuel and Mary Barger. They had four chil- dren. Mary Ann, boen is 1840, the wife of George Y. Mechlin, lives in Hamilton. Emma, born in isti. is the widow of Reuben Fulmer, and lives in Hamilton. David Albert was born in 1852, and died in 1861, when
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but nine years old. Maria Alice, born in 1855, the wife of George N. Clapp, lives in Wayne Township. Mr. Jacoby came to Ohio in 1820, and settled in Wayne Township, where his father had bought three hundred and twenty acres, and he owns and farms one hundred and fifty acres, part of the old homestead, Mr. Jacoby and his wife are members of the Reformed Church, of which he is an elder.
The Kumler family is one of the largest and best known in the county. Henry Kumler, the ancestor of the funily, was a bishop of the Church of the United Brethren. He was born January 3, 1775, in Lancaster, Penn., and died January 8, 1854, in Hanover Township. He was a man of great religious gifts, and for more than half a century labored as a servant of the Lord. He was married Septen:ber 7, 1797, to Susannah Wingart, born October 1, 1779, in Lancaster County, Penn. She died in 1874, on the 30th of November, in Hanover.
They had eleven children, who grew to maturity, and one that was drowned in a spring when five years old. Hannah, the widow of the Rev. Jacob Flickinger, born in 1798, lives in Seven-Mile. Henry Kumler, born Jan- uary 10, 1801, lives in Dayton, Ohio. He is an ex- bishop of the United Brethren Church, an office he held for twenty years. Susannah, the wife of the Rev. John Zeller, horn January 3, 1804, died in 1875. Elizabeth, the widow of the Rev. A. Hess, born July 5, 1805, lives in Brazil, Indiana. Daniel C., born September 30, 1807, lives in Seven-Mile. Elias, born October 21. 1809, died in 1873. Jacob and Michael, twins, were born August 31, 1811, and are each marrica, and live near Millville, in this county. Joseph, born February 23, 1813, is married, and lives in Wayne Township, at Jacksonburg. John, born December 24, 1814, is married, and lives in Dayton. Catherine, widow of Henry Welty, born April 6, 1817, lives in Oxford. Mary, born 1819, was drowned.
Bist:op Kumler settled in Wayne Township when he first came to Ohio. He was a wealthy man for the times, and when he came to Obio he purchased lan I in Wayne Township, increasing the quantity gradually until he owned about eleven hundred acres, besides other prop- erty. This was distributed among his children, the boys each getting a farm of about one hundred and fifty acres, and the girls receiving money. He was a very promi- nent man during his life-time. He frequently crossed the Alleghanies upon Church business. He was noted for hospitality, keeping an open house for the ministry.
Elizabeth R., widow of John Miller, born February 1. 1835, lives in Seven-Mile. Jacob Henry, married, boru April 14, 1838, lives in St. Clair. Charles J. S., born January 15, 1843, lives in Peru, Indiana. Hannah C., wife of B. F. Ozias, lives in Arcanum, Darke County. She was born July 20, 1840. Susan M., wife of Professor George A. Funkhouser, D. D., born October 26, 1845, lives in Dayton. Eunice, born about 1847, died while an infant. Luther M., born August, 1849, lives in Ber- wick, Pennsylvania, being a minister of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Kumier was for some years minister of the United Brethren Church, and went to Africa as a missionary in 1854, but had to return after a few months, on account of illness. He studied medicine at Millville, and prac- ticed for about forty years, beginning about 1829, and at one time had a very large business. He also owned a great deal of land, which was attended to by his children. He has distributed it among them. Four of his sons were out in the war, in the hundred-days' service, being members of the One hundred and Sixty-seventh Reg- iment Ohio National Guard. Charles was sergeant- major ; William, a private; Amos, a corporal; and Jacob H., a private in Company C. They were stationed in the Kanawha Valley.
Joseph Kumler, son of the bishop, was born in 1813, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and married in 1835 to Margaret Zeller, born in 1816 in Montgomery County, this State. They have had seven children. Mary Ann is the wife of Simon Emerick, and lives in Montgomery County ; Melinda E. is now dead; Juan R. lives at home; Myra F., wife of Samuel Baird, lives in St. Clair Township; Belle J., Joseph Edwin, and Franklin A. Z., all live at home. Mr. Kumler held the office of justice of the peace from 1853 te 1856, and has also been a member of the school board for nine years. He is the clerk of that body. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, of which he is a trustee, holding this position for twenty-five years. He is also a class-leader, and has been superintendent for several terms of the Sunday-school. By occupation he is a farmer, and has owned at one time three hundred and ten acres, part of which he has given to his children. At present he owns and farms one hundred and sixty acres. He is the president of the recently incorporated society for taking charge of a new cemetery at Miltonville, in Madison Township.
Of his sons, Daniel C. was born September 30, 1807, John Leslie was born in London County, Virginia, and his wife, Hannah Davis, was born in Pennsylvania, the former in 1774, and the latter in 1779. They were united in 1799. Ten children were given to them, four of whom survive. Joseph, born in 1805, is married, and lives in Preble County. Readin, born in 1-13, is married, and lives in Wayne Towaship. Joli:, born in 1815, and Hannah, born in 1817, live in Wayne. Mr. in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was married, in 1827, to Catherine Walter, also born in Lancaster County, February 11, 1807. She died Jupe 27, 1876, in Seven- Mile. They had ten children, of whom nine are living. William E., born May 17, 1828, is married, and lives in St. Clair. Amos D., born May 22, 1830, lives in Seven- Mile. Mary K., wife of Dr. A. H. Landis, lives in Logansport, Indiana. She was born August 27, 1832. ! Leslie went to Pennsylvania about 1797, and emigrated
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to Ohio in 1805, settling in Preble County. He died in 1853 and his wife in 1855. By successive purchases he finally owned about one thousand two hundred aeres of land, which he divided among his children. He first entered five quarters, his entire capital being $500. He served as a teamster in the War of 1812, hauling flour from Middletown to Fort Meigs, Fort Defiance, and Fort Recovery. His father, Patrick Leslie, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, serving in the commissary department during the entire struggle. John, the son of Jolin, moved to Butler County in 1854. He has been road commissioner.
John Moore, farmer, was born in Kildare County, Ireland, in 1850. His father, John J. Moore, lives in Ireland, and is a farmer. His mother, whose maiden name was Kelley, is dead. Mr. Moore was supervisor of Wayne Township for one term, being elected in 1862. He was one of the home guards that went out to capture John Morgan. Mr. Moore has been an extensive trav- eler in South America, Texas, Alabama, and elsewhere.
George W. Oberfell was born in Butler County, April 18, 1858, being the son of Gottlieb Oberfell and Cath- erine Brooks. He came to this county in 1833, and she in 1849. George W. Oberfell was married September 15, 1878, to Louisa L. Howe, daughter of Junius A. Howe and Sarah A. Sherard. The former came from New York, but the latter was a native of the county. Mrs. Oberfell was born September 5, 1850, and has borne her husband three children. Harry and Clara Oberfell were born September 6, 1879, and Charles A., November 24, 1881. In the last war Gottlieb Oberfell served three years.
William C. Phares was born in Butler County, May 11, 1829. He is the son of William W. and Auna C. Phares. His father was a colonel of militia in 1812, and went up to Fort Meigs to the assistance of our troops. The fighting, however, was over, and he returned. He came to this county in 1805, and his wife in 1809. W lliam C. Phares was married on the 29th of Decem- ber, 1862, to Eliza M. Phares, who was born in Evans- ville, Indiana, and the daughter of Joseph and Lucinda Phares. She was born June 30, 1838. They have, as fruits of their union. Susau, born January 16, 1869, and Joseph, born December 23, 1866. Mr. Phares was out in the war, serving under Colonel Thomas Moore, in the One Hundred and Sixty seventh Regiment. He fol- lows the occupation of a farmer.
Samuel A. Phares, farmer, was born in this township December 20, 1830. His father was W. W. Phares, the first postmaster of Jacksonburg, and his mother was Anna Caroline Phares. They came to this county in - 1805. Samanel A. Phares was a member of the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Regiment, Colonel Thomas Moore, in the rebellion, during the year 1564, serving in Company D, Captain Bookwalter. He was married August 15, 1878, in Hamilton, to Phebe A. Page.
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