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 7
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Upon their arrival, Mr. Markt found that the brother who had preceded him was not in a situation to render them much aid, and the young man determined that to his toil they should owe their subsistence. As yet he could not see his way clearly. The most imperative requisite for a livelihood is a knowledge of the language of the people among whom it is the lot of a stranger to be cast, and of English he as yet knew nothing. He soon, however, was in a way to remedy this defect, as a short time after he arrived he made the acquaintance of Postmaster Mead, an old and esteemed citizen of that town, with whom he exchanged lessons in music to his little girl for English. It was not long after he reached Thompson that his new friend perceived that he pos- sessed musical attainments far beyond the common, and that as a performer upon the piano he much surpassed any one in the neighborhood. In truth, Mr. Markt had beeu thoroughly grounded in the principles of music in Germany, and had been well kuown iu the places in which he had lived as an amateur of promise. He had, however, never intended to become a professional mu- sician, but the quick eye of Mr. Mead soon saw that here was the path that would lead him to a livelihood and competence. He took Me. Markt to Painesville, sixteen miles distant, where he performed before the umusical young ladies of the town, met for that purpose. Frem that time he had no fears of his future. He then removed to Painesville with the rest of the family, aud there established himself. He taught assiduously
during the day, and in the evening studied medicine, for which he had had an inclination from boyhood, with Dr. Carpender. He cared for his family as long as they needed it-his father until his death in 1865, and his sisters until their marriage.
In 1856, having attained sufficient means and a com- petent knowledge of the English tongue, he began at- tending lectures at the Eclectic Medical College, in Cin- cinnati, under charge of Dr. Cleveland, who died in Nashville, Tennessee, during the war, and was graduated in 1858. He at once came to Hamilton, and entered upon practice, being married the same year. Here he was at once successful. His easy and agreeable manners, his imperturbable coolness, his command of all the re- sources of the physician's art, at once made him a favor- ite. A year after coming here he was made brigade- surgeon of this district for the militia. Daring the war he was influential and active. He attended assiduously to his calling for many years, but finally, after a long attack of illness, became convinced that he had given too intense a devotion to his profession. He resolved to abandon the duties of a visiting physician, and bought the drug-store formerly owned by J. W. Baldridge, No. 13 Third Street, which had been established years before by Jolin O. Brown. To propose, however, is ore thing, and to do is another. Mavy of his old patients refused to leave him, and he found that he had, in addition to his medical practice, a drug-store on his bands. He had also, during his many years of residence here, acquired great skill as an operator in difficult cases of surgery, and in this respect his reputation has increased with time.
He was married in 1858 to Miss Josephine C. Car- pender, dangliter of his old preceptor, Dr. Joseph Brown Carpender (who was a man of much prom- inence in the medical profession as well as in other ways). He was a native of Miltou, Vermont, and the son of a physician. Mrs. Caroline Jackson Carpender was the mother. Dr. Carpender graduated at the Bur- lington Medical College about 1826. He came West in 1835, and settled in Wellsville, Erie County, Penusy i- vania, but in 1843 went to Painesville, Ohio, where he practiced until his death, in 1861, at the age of fifty-five. He had been mayor of Painesville, and for several years president of the school board. He was a man of great probity of character, and for years exerted a marked in- fluence in the affairs of the towu. Mrs. Carpender died in 1865. She was also a native of Milton, Vermont. Dr. and Mrs. Markt have had three children, two of whom are now living. Adelaide C. Markt was born July 25, 1869, and Karl Constantine, August 16. 1875. Mrs. Markt is a Presbyterian in religion, and a lady who enjoys the highest esteein of all who have the pleasure of her acquaintance, and is considered one of the most popular in the social circles of Hamilton. She is see- retary of the Butler County Children's Home, and one I of the managers. She is one of its founder-, and a
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charter member. She is active in Church and mission- ary work. Besides what we have mentioned above. Dr. Markt has taken an active interest in every thing that benefits society.
He is a member of the Miami Medical Society, the State Medical Association (of which he is president), the National Medical Society, president of the Physicians' Protective Association of Hamilton, and county examining physician of the Royal Arcanum and the Knights of Honor, and a contributor to various medical periodicals. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men, the Knights of Honor, and the Royal Arcanum. He was the leader of the Mannerchor in this eity for sev- eral years, and brought it to a high stage of excellence. Since entering upon medicine he has found but little leisure for this favorite pursuit. He is the secretary of the board of health, and has been so for eighteen years; has been a member of the school board, and has filled other offices of prominence and responsibility. In person Dr. Markt is tall and commanding, in manners courteous and obliging, and in business thorough and exact. No man is better esteemed in Hamilton, and when a friend has once been made by him he is always kept.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In the year 1834 a few persons, numbering about twenty-four, belonging to the Episcopal Church, living in Hamilton and the vicinity, united and formed themselves into a congregation, and on the 13th of August, 1834, au election was held, which resulted in the choice of William A. Krugg and Isaae Howe wardens; James Reily, George Keck, and Frederick P. Narden, vestry- men; and William G. Fields register. At the same meeting James Reily was appointed a committee to solicit the Legislature to grant a charter incorporating the so- ciety ; and in March, 1835, the Legislature passed a law, by which William A. Krugg, Isaac Howe, Frederick P. Narden, George and James Reily were incorporated under the name of "The Wardeus and Vestrymen of the parish of St. Matthew's Church, in the town of Ham- ilton and Rossville."
The society purchased the north part of lot No. 82, at the intersection of Front and Basin Streets, in the town of Hamilton, and made arrangements for the erec- tion of a house of publie worship. Lewis D. Campbell, William A. Krugg, George Keck, Frederick P. Narden, and Isaac Howe were appointed a committee to superin- tend the building. The builling of the church was com- menced in 1835. George Brown was the carpenter, and Isaae Howe the bricklayer.
The church was situated on the angling corner from the south-west corner of the public square, and was a brick building, sixty feet long on Basin Street, by torty feet wide on Front Street. There was a basement story under the whole building, divided into different apart- ments for vestry rooms aud Sunday-schools.
The entrance to the church was from Front Street, by two doors on the east, entering into a vestibule. The pulpit was on the west end of the church. Two aisles ran the whole length of the church from east to west, and the remainder of the floor was divided into fifty-four pews, capable of seating five hundred persons. There was also a gallery and seats for the choir on the east, and a cupola on the east end of the church. It was a handsome and neat building. The cost of erecting the church was $2,350, the amount being raised by sub- scription. The members belonging to the society being few in number, they were aided by those of other de- nominations, and the citizens generally.
The first rector of the Church was the Rev. Seth Davis, who settled in Hamilton and commeneed his duties in 1837. The church was consecrated to the serv- ice of Almighty God by the Right Reverend Charles P. Mellvaine, bishop of the diocese of Ohio, on the 5th of October, 1837.
The Rev. Mr. Davis remained rector of the Church until some time in the year 1839, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Paine, who remained until May, 1843, when he relinquished his charge and removed from Hamilton. The number of members belonging to the Church at that time was about twenty-four.
The Church, however, was heavily in debt, and finally the building was sold to the Catholics, who tore it down and erected a new church in its stead, some of the walls of the old building, however, being still preserved. The number of members was at all times small, and periods of several months often passed without preaching. Lat- terly they bought the Baptist Church on Third Street, near Dayton ; but that, too, was eneumbered with a mort- gage and was sold. The edifice has now been altered for commercial uses. No meetings have lately been held.
.DR S. H. POTTER.
Dr. Stephen H. Potter is one of the senior physicians and surgeons of Hamilton and ricinity. He was born in Cortland County, New York, November 12, 1812. His parents were Stephcu and Lydia Potter, who were noted among the early pioneers of Central New York for their enterprise, industry, and integrity. Until his seven- teenth year he was occupied on his father's farm, attend- ing the common schools about one-third of the year, his parents then giving him his time, which he employed in improving his education, working in Summers and teaching school during the Winters.
At the age of twenty-one, in March, 1833, he was employed as principal of a high school at Canandaigua, New York, with three assistants, remaining there success- fully two years and four months. The next September, after engaging in this school, he also commenced the study of medicine with Dr. E. B. Carr, reciting to him an hour daily, Sundays excepted, until July, 1837, when, in order to pursue his studies more favorably, he went
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to Olean, New York with his brother-in-law, Dr. E. W. Finn, who owned a large drug store and had an exten- sive practice. Here he devoted his time industriously to these pursuits until September, 1837, when with two other medical students he came to Ohio and attended a medical college six monthis, graduating honorably, March 15, 1838. He immediately settled at Canal Winchester, in the Seioto valley, where he enjoyed a large practice until December, 1844, when his father was entirely disabled by palsy, which necessitated his return to Cortland, his na- tive place. Here he soon received a large patronage among his early school companions and friends, until May, 1849, when his father having died and other relatives being provided for, he settled in the city of Syracuse, New York. Here with others he organized and had incorpor- ated the Syracuse Medical College, and established, edited, and published the Syracuse Medical and Surgical Journal, a monthly. The first term of the institution opened the next November 5th, with eighty-seven actual matricu- lants, and continued two terms each year, of four months each, or thirteen terms, until June, 1855. In February, 1852, to improve his knowledge of surgery, Dr. Potter went to Philadelphia, and attended the clinics in the Pennsylvania hospital, and surgical lectures in the medi- cal department of the University of Pennsylvania, until the latter part of May.
He continued dean of the Syracuse Medical College and in charge of the Journal until September, 1855, when his wife suffered incipient consumption, rendering it necessary to return to this valley, her native place, hoping that the change might restore her health. He ar- ranged with his partner, Dr. F. W. Walton, now of Piqua, Ohio, to settle their business. Dr. Potter then went to Cincinnati, where he accepted the position of lecturer on principles and practice, in the American Medical College, where he continued publishing his journal, and attending the clinics twice weekly in the Commercial Hospital of that city until June, 1856, when he resigned, sold his jou nal, and settled with his family permanently in this city, where he has ever since been in active practice, with the exception of two brief intervals. At the urgent solicitation of friends, in May, 1873, he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and assisted in organizing the American Medical College and the American Medical Journal, which have both enjoyed surprising patronage. The former is now holling its eighteenth terin, and has become a lead- ing institution in the West, and the Journal has attained a large circulation.
The doctor was for four consecutive years president of the Ohio State Eclectic Medlical Society, and the past two its recording secretary; he was one of the incor- porators and first vice-president of the National Eclectic Medical Association at Chicago in 1870. which organi- zation has since grown to thirty State auxiliary societies, with prosperous working members; and has bech the president the most of the time for about twenty-two
years of the Miami Medical Society. He has also been for four years a member of the city council, and is at present a member of the board of health.
The deetor has been married four times, each time happily; has reared seven children to adult age, and, unfortunately, lost as many in infancy aud childhood. He is the well-known author of a "Compendium of the Principles and Practice of Medicine," a book of five hun- dred pages, a work full of research and a marvel of condensation, for ready reference, and invaluable to busy practitioners and medical students. It has a large demand, having passed two editions, and has bech adopted as a text-book in our medical colleges.
Perhaps the most notable incident in the extended and eventful life of Dr. Potter was the rescue of a fugi- tive slave named Jerry in Syracuse, New York, about 1852. It occurred soon after the fugitive slave law was passed, and on the occasion of holding a national anti- slavery convention at that place. Daniel Webster lad recently delivered a specch to an immense concourse there, threatening that "when this convention thronged the city, a noted fugitive would be arrested and taken back to slavery. The United States Government would teach the people that there was potency in law." Four United States marshals had been detailed from as many adjacent cities, and the whole police force of Syracuse were ready. Jerry was arrested and placed in chains. About thirty thousand people were waiting to witness the scene. The man, with blue eyes, red cheeks, and brown curly hair, with no other semblance of a negro, was taken away from the officers by the mob, and finally placed by Dr. Potter in the grounds of a residence in- habited by a stiff pro-slavery man, where the most active search failed to find him. After the lapse of a week, and search having been made from house to house, when detection was imminent, the doctor arrangedl with Jerry's host to drive in with a meat wagon, got Jerry in, and, covered with blankets, he drove before the door of the Syracuse House, hitched, went in with the loetor, touk cigars, and drove out through the city about 4 P. M. in beautiful sunshine, no one suspecting the presence of Jerry. After reaching Brewerton, seventeen miles, Dr. Potter took Jerry in his carriage, sending the team back, and conveyed the fugitive to Mexicoville and by the underground railroad to a small harbor on Lake Ontario, whence he obtained a passage on a small sailing vessel to Canada. No more noted fugitive slave case ever oc- curred in the United States, and in it the doctor was the principal agent of success.
JOHN C. MICKEMY.
John C. MeKemy, late judge of the common pleas court in Darke County, but now a resident of Hamilton, was born May 5, 1835, in Lexington, Virginia. His father and mother, William and Elizabeth ( Kirkp.u- rick) MeKemy, were both natives of Virginia, and de- 1
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scendants of the earliest settlers of that State. Both are now dead, the former having died April 8, 1882, aged seventy-nive, and the latter in December, 1878, at the age of sixty-nine. Farming was their life vocation, and they resided in their native State until death. W. D. Mc- Kemy, a brother of John C., who was educated by the latter, after serving in the rebel army throughout the Rebellion, and for a long time a prisoner, being captured at the battle of the Wilderness, is now judge of probate at Dayton, and a lawyer of excellent ability.
John C. McKemy remained at home upon his father's farm until 1855, when he came to Ohio and lo- cated in Darke County, where he labored on a farm during the Summer and attended school in the Winter. His circumstances were such as to deny him the privi- lege of a collegiate education, but he made the best of what opportunities he had, aud gained a good, practical knowledge of books. In 1858 he entered the law office of Evan Baker, of Greenville, as a student, and after two years of arduous study, was admitted to the bar of Darke County in 1860. He immediately established himself in practice in Greenville, making his mark at once, and in 1865 formed a partnership with Mr. D. L. Meeker, of that place. This connection was continued up to 1866, when Mr. MeKemy was elected probate judge of his county. His ability as a lawyer, and the judicial quality of his mind were soon, however, to ele- vate hiin to a higher position in his profession than he had previously held. In 1868 he was elected judge of the common pleas court, to accept which he resigned his position as probate judge.
Judge MeKemy remained on the bench till the Fall of 1872, when he resigned, with the determination to re- sume practice. He established himself at Dayton, where the firm of Mckemy & Nauerth existed till 1876. He then removed to Hamilton, where he has since remained in successful professional pursuits. During the four years in which Judge MeKemy presided as common pleas judge there were perpetrated within bis circuit the greatest number of terrible murders and crimes ever known in the history of the county. The state of affairs was dreadful. Six months of the year were of necessity devoted to the trial of criminal cases. Judge McKemy did not shrink from the responsibility. Among those which came before him were the famous McGehean and Licklider murder cases, and many others of aggra- vated character. Substantial justice was attained, and the purification of the community was largely owing to his strenuous efforts. There were also several very im- portant civil actions tried before Judge MeKemy, in which he did himself great honor. One particularly worthy of mention, was tried in Dayton. involving the rights of the veterans in the Soldiers' Home of that city to vote. Judge MeKemy decided that they had no right to exercise the elective franchise in that place, and his decision was sustained by the Supreme Court of Ohio.
However, Congress subsequently passed a law granting to them that privilege, which they now enjoy.
Probably no other judge in the State within a period of equal length has been obliged to sit in judgment in so many cases of equal weight and importance as did Judge McKemy from 1868 to 1872, in the first subdivision of the Second Judicial District of Ohio, trials in which pub- lic feeling ran high, and in which personal sympathies and prejudices placed the lives of men involved in them in actual jeopardy. Since his retirement from the bench Judge MeKemy has been an attorney in nearly every important case tried in Hamilton and the neighboring cities. He was in the noted Dickcy-Tytus breach-of- promise and seduction case, and also assisted in the trial of the State i's. John Francis, for murder, which was transferred from Montgomery County to Hamilton on a change of venue. He was also one of the attorneys in the settlement of the Beatty estate, the largest ever brought into the courts of Butler County.
For years Judge McKemy has been a very active and influential Democrat, and up to within a few years was one of the leaders of his party in his own and sur- rounding counties. He served as chairman of several Democratic conventions, aud in several presidential cam- paigns canvassed both Ohio and Indiana as a speaker. His life has been one of activity and industry, which, coupled with his native ability, has made him not only an excellent lawyer and able judge, but successful in pecuniary affairs. He is the possessor of considerable
real estate in Hamilton and other places, besides having an interest in four silver mines in Colorado, two of which are in successful operation, and the others are under pro- cess of tunneling. He is a member of the Knights of Honor and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Judge McKemy was married December 6, 1861, to Miss Mary A. Wiley, of Darke County, daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth Wiley. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley were both natives of Virginia, though they removed to Ohio when young. They have lived on one farm for about sixty years. The former is eighty-three years of age, and the latter sixty-three. Of this union there are seven children now living. The oldest, Fannie Belle, born in 1865; Ella J., born 1866; Pearl C., born in 1868; Will- iani C., in 1875; Florence May, in 1876; Blanche, in 1880, and the youngest in 1882.
SAMUEL DAVIDSON.
Samuel Davidson was born in Portage County, Ohio, June 10, 1825, and was the second son of Patrick and Jane (Custard) Davidson. He is of Scotch and German descent. With his parents, he moved to Mercer County, Pennsylvania, about 1832 or 1833, and was educated in the common schools. . In the Spring of 1840 he began an apprenticeship of four years at the cabinet and fur- niture trade, which he acquired. working as a journey- man some three years. He then learned the business of
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a mill-wright, an occupation which he followed till 1856. In the Spring of that year he came to Hamilton, taking charge of a portable saw-mill and machine shop. At this he continued till 1862, then organizing the firm of David- son & Co., founders of Cincinnati, continuing there till 1865. He entered into partnership with Bernhard Stemps, in 1865, in the stove, tin, and hardware business, which lasted till 1870. In the Spring cf 1872 he began busi- ness in his present location. Although small at first, it has grown to large proportions. It embraces hardware, grates, and mantels, and agricultural implements.
Mr. Davidson was married, in 1849, to Miss Amanda Smith, and they were the parents of two children, both deceased. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Davidson is a member of the Masonie order. He. has always declined office, but in 1861 was a member of the city council, and in 1865 was again a member, being elected president of the board. He had no start in life, but is entirely self-made.
GEORGE W. WHITE.
George W. White, the well-known artist of this city, was born on the 8th of November, 1826, at Oxford. His father, George G. White, was a native of Virginia, and emigrated at an early age to Ohio, settling in Fair- field Towoship, near Black Bottom, in the year 1800. In 1824 he became postmaster of the village of Oxford, continuing in office some twenty-five years. Here George W. White began his first attempts at painting, which it is believed, are mostly destroyed. Mr. Higgins, who re- sides in the village, was the first to encourage him in the idea of becoming a painter, and gave him a lump of crude umber, gamboge, and Prussian blue, with some white lead. With these erude appliances he began a pieture on a piece of unprepared bed-ticking, and placing it on the house-top to dry. His first essay at painting heads was made in Hamilton, in the year 1840, with S. S. Walker, under whose direction he was placed a short time, when he became ill from close confinement, on recovery being sent to the Miami University as a student. Prof. Moffatt, secing his predilection, advised him to con- tinue the study of art. Although his father was un- favorable to this course of life, he supplied his son with means to go to Cincinnati, where he entered upon an artist's career in 1843. He met with but little encour- agement. The painters all assured him that the life of an artist was "a starving one," and he was obliged to catch up what instruction he could from the others, not being able to afford regular lessons.
His scanty means were soon exhausted, and he began traveling as a negro minstrel. This was then new, and he went through the country with Webb's Serenaders and Sable-Sisters, following this with a trip on the Ohio and Mississippi with a show company, comprising min- strels, tumblers, and athletes. At New Orleans the company disbanded in trouble, and White returned to
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