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 76
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
cheap variety. He has one child, Hattie Mooney, who was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, July 23, 1873.
Theodore Marston, retired farmer, and vice-presi- dent of the First National Bank of Middletown, was born in Madison Township on the 26th of January, 1828. He is of an old Revolutionary stock. His grand- father Marston served all through the war of our inde- pendence. His father, Jeremiah Marston, came to this county in 1819. He was married to Mary Ann Vail, a native of this county, who was born in 1802. They are now both deceased. Theodore Marston's grandfather, Shobal Vail, came to Middletown from New Jersey as early as the year 1798, and in connection with his father, Stephen Vail, and three brothers, Aaron, Randall, and Hugh, bought the land where Middletown is now situated, on the east shore of the Miami, including Madison City on the west side. Aaron and Randall Vail settled on the western side of the river, and opened up two large farms. Aaron Vail also built at an early day the large frame mill ou the western side of the river, known in later days as the Mumma Mill. It does not now exist. Shobal Vail, in cornection with his father, built a full- ing mill and grist-mill on the site now occupied by the planing mill, which was the beginning of Middletown. Shobal Vail married Mary Bonnell, of Clear Creek Township, Warren County, in the year 1799, and they lived at Middletown ever afterwards, first in a house just across the canal, about opposite Second Street, and after- wards built and occupied till their death the brick resi- dence now owned by the Catholic Church, and occupied by the Rev. Mr. O'Rourke as a parsonage. Shobal Vail died in 1849, and his wife in 1851. At that time the canal was the western boundary of their farm, and the principal part of what is now called Dublin was embraced in it. It is now all in the corporation. Mary Aun Vail, the mother of Mr. Marston, was born in May, 1802, and was one of the first white children born in that neigh- borhood.
Jeremiah Marston was born in Maine in March, 1798. coming to Ohio on reaching his majority. He made the journey principally on horseback, teaching school the Winters of 1819 and 1820 in Monroe. The latter year he went to Middletown, acting as school-master, and there are old men now in that vicinity who recollect be- ing his pupils. He married Mary Ann Vail in 1821, and they lived either in Middletown or close by till March, 1826, when they purchased and moved on what became their future home for life, the farm known as the Marston homestead, situated half a mile west of Milton- ville, Madison Township. He was a leading man in the community in which he lived, having received a good education in his youth, and taught school six years. He was always a strong Waig in politics, serving one termi as associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas of this county. Hle died November 17, 1857, and the mother died November 14, 1855.
655
LEMON.
Theodore Marston was the third living child of his parents, and the first one boru at the old homestead in Madison Township. He was brought up to farm life, and adopted it as a profession, and was married in 1851 to Susan A. Flickinger. After one year's farming on his father's place, he purchased and moved on what was then known as the Parks farm, near Blue Ball, where he lived for six years, or until after the death of his parents. He then purchased and went to live on the old homestead, where he lived until 1879; then, having built a new residence on South Main Street, Middletown, moved into that place. He is now vice-president of the First National Bank of that place, of which he aided the organization, and has been director nearly ever since; and was formerly vice-president two years, and president of the American Color Printing Company. On the 2d of September, 1851, he was married at Seven-Mile, in this county, to Susan A. Fliekinger, daughter of Jacob Flickinger and Hannah Kumler, who came to this county in 1819. They have had five children. Mary Alice Good was born August 26, 1852; Jennie, August 26, 1854; Lizzie Kirkpatrick, June 12, 1857; Katie, October 28, 1861, and Edna, February 14, 1865. The latter is dead.
Daniel MeCallay, president of the First National Bank of Middletown, was born August 10, 1839, at Dayton, Ohio, being the first son of Henry and Anna (MeKnight) MeCallay. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of New Jersey. They re- moved to this State with their parents about 1830. The father early learned the wagon-maker's trade, at which he labored in Miamisburg, that being the place where his parents settled. He afterwards followed his trade in Dayton, where the subject of this sketch was born. Re- turning to Mieriisburg, he engaged in the hotel business. The MeCallay House, of that place, was conducted by him until about 1857, when he removed to Middletown, where he kept what was then and is now known as the United States Hotel. This he conducted till 1861, being compelled to withdraw from basiness on account of failing health. He died the year following, in 1862, at the age of forty-nine. His widow survived him but three years, dying in the year 1865, at the age of forty- nine, also.
At the age of eighteen, Daniel engaged as eleck in . the dry goods store of Jacob Leibee, of Middletown. He continued in his employment for three years, till 1861, when he was made a partner in the business. The - firm of Leibes & McCallay was continued till 1870). Mr. McCallay then withdrew from the dry goods trade, and with the proceeds of nine years' prosperous business, engaged in the lumber and grain trade in the country with Mr. J. M. Robinson, a silent prirtner. They ear- ried on a large business, both in Middletown and Frank- lin, till 1877. Mr. MeCallay was the first to build a grain-house in Middletown with modern conveniences. i
constructed so as to admit teams and wagons, by which means the grain could be dumped under a roof.
In 1877 Mr. MeCallay, in company with his brother- in-law, Mr. Robert Wilson, bought the tobacco factory then carried on by Mr. P. J. Sorg, Mr. John Auer, and Mr. Wilson. Mr. McCallay and Mr. Wilson bought the interest of the other partners. A large addition to the factory was soon built, and the enterprise greatly in- creased. The original capacity of four hundred thousand pounds per year was increased the first year to nearly a million, and the second year to nearly two million pounds, which is its present annual product. The plug tobacco manufactory of Wilson & MeCallay is one of the largest west of the Alleghanies, and gives employment to upward of three hundred operatives. In 1878 Mr. MeCallay dis- posed-of his real estate and invested it in stock of the First National Bank of Middletown. The year follow- ing he was made one of the directors, and at the election of January, 1882, was chosen its president. The capital of the bank is now one hundred and fifty thousand dol- lars, with fifty-five thousand dollars of surplus, of which Mr. McCallay owns one-sixth. Mr. McCallay's religions affiliations are with the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a member since 1875.
On the 23d of October, 1859, Mr. MeCallay was married to Miss Mary E. Leibee, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Leibee, of Middletown. Mr. Leibee, who was Mr. McCallay's first employer and partner, died June, 1876. His wife had preceded him but a few months, having died in November, 1875. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCallay. both living. Mary E. was born July 15, 1862, and Edwin L., born July 30, 1874.
Edmund L. McCallay, commercial traveler in to- baceo, was born in Miamisburg, Montgomery County, Ohio, June 15, 1842. He is the son of Harry MeCallay and Lydia Ann MeKnight, who came to this county in the Spring of 1857. William McCallay served in the Mexican War. Edmund L. MeCallay enlisted in Com- pany D, Ninety-third Ohio Volunteers, August 5, 1862, and was taken prisoner at the bottle of Stone River, December 31, 1862, being confined in Libby Prison three months. On being paroled, he was sent to Annapolis, " Maryland, and from there to Camp Chase, where he acted as a clerk in the office of the provost-marshal, Cap- tain John W. Kyle. He remained there nearly one year. Securing an appointment as second lieutenant United States Colored Infantry, March 4, 1864, and passing a satisfactory examination before a board of regular army officers at Louisville, Kentucky, he was sent on to Camp Delaware, Ohio. He was appointed post quartermaster and commissary in April, 1864. On application, he was relieved by the governor and sent to the front in An- gust, with two hundred and forty recruits. He was ordered to Washington, and appointed assistant aide- camp to General Yeoman, being promoted to first lieu-
656
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
tenant, August 10. After being relieved, he was again appointed an aid-de-camp to General A. M. Blackman, and shortly after made brigade commissary. During the - next few months he served as aid-de-camp and acting assistant adjutant-general, being appointed post adjutant at Smithsville, North Carolina, in September, 1865. He was mustered out at Camp Chase, in October, returning to Middletown, where he went into the dry-goods business. Shortly after he received an appointment as second lieu- tenant in the regular army, to date from July, 1866. Ile was ordered to Fort MePherson, where he was till May, 1867, afterward acting as commissary to Major- general John E. Smith. He was promoted to first lieu- tenant in 1867, and was afterward stationed at several military posts. He resigned his position as first lieutenant December 31, 1870. He participated in many engage- ments with the Indians while stationed at Forts C. F. Smith and Phil. Kearney. At present he is a traveling salesman for Wilson & McCallay, plug tobacco manu- facturers.
John Nicol, farmer, was born on the 1st of May, 1831, in Germany. He is the son of Leonard Nicol and Mar- garet Billman. The former died in Union County and the latter in Germany. He was married on the 28th of October, 1856, in Middletown, to Kunigunda Eichler, barn in Germany on the 19th of June, 1828, dying in 1874, on the 4th of October. They had three children -- John A., born October 19, 1858; Catherine M., born November 20, 1861; and Auna B., born July 17, 1861. Catherine M. died April 23, 1881. Mr. Nicol came to Middletown in 1854, and worked nine years in the paper- mill, then buying a farm in Union County, living there six years. He then came back to Butler County, in Lemon Township, where he bought a farm of fifty acres, upon which he still resides with his family. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.
Anton Neuner was born in the North Tyrol, Austria, August 29, 1829, and is the son of John Neuner and Jose phine Schefthaler. His occupation at home was that of a miner. He was married in Cincinnati, July 12, 1863, to Sarah Deutschler, who was born in Oberkirch, Baden, October 29, 1831. Her parents were Joseph Deutsehler and Ere Veglir. Mr. and Mrs. Nenner have had eight children-Kate, Carrie, Josephine, John, An- tony, Emma, Rosa, and Mary. Mr. Neuner stayed with . his parents until he was seventeen years old, then going to Steunermacht and working in an iron mine for thirteen years. Then he came to America, and eight years ago went to Middletown, where he has been farming ever since.
William B. Oglesby, treasarer of Batler County, was born Jannary 30, 1815, in Chester County, Pennsy !- vavia. He is the second son of Joseph and Mary (Ad- (leman) Oglesby, who reared a family of nine children. Mr. Oglesby's parents were both natives of Pennsylvania. In the year 1818 the family removed to Cincinnati in company with Mrs. Oglesby's parents. In 1823 the
family took up their residence on Elk Creek, about two miles north of Jacksonburg, where they lived until within two years of the death of Mr. Oglesby, in 1860, at the age of seventy-two. His wife died in 1859, aged sixty-right.
At the age of thirteen, William B. Oglesby left home to clerk in the store of Captain Hiram Potter, of Jacksonburg. In 1830 he went to Middletown and en- tered the store of Jonathan Martin as elerk in the same room now oceupied by himself and Mr. George C. Barnitz as bankers. He remained there about three years till the death of Mr. Martin, who was succeeded in the business by Messrs. Tytus & Wrenn, in whose service Mr. Oglesby continued till 1835, with the exception of six months. In that year Mr. Tytns bought his partner's interest, and Mr. Oglesby was given his former position, which- he filled for the next two years. In 1838 Mr. Oglesby became a partner with Mr. Tytus, which was continued till 1840. In the Fall of that year he, with his brother Jacob, bought a stoek of goods in Philadelphia, which at Pittsburg were shipped on the steamer Troy for Cincinnati. Near Portsmouth the boat with freight was sunk, and no insurance. Mr. Oglesby succeeded in fish :- ing his goods out of the river after lying at its bottom for ten days. They were dried in the corn-fields near by, and reshipped to Cincinnati, and thence to Dayton, where a store was opened. After two months' experience there the goods were shipped to Sidney, where they sue- eeeded in seliing them to good advantage at the end of one year. Mr. Oglesby sold out his stock and immedi- ately engaged in the grocery trade at Urbana, where he remained for two years. He then went to Philadelphia as elerk in a dry goods store, remaining there about eight months, at the expiration of which time he married a lady from Hanover, Pennsylvania. In company with his wife he came to Middletown, and in the Spring of 1844 engaged in the dry goods trade again, in company with George C. Barnitz. This partnership was continued till 1857. A great portion of the time from 1844 to 1855 the firm was engaged in buying produce, pork- packing, and various other branches, including a kind of banking basiness.
In 1855 Mr. Oglesby engaged in the manufacture of paper at the mills now owned by Oglesby, Moore & Co .. and which is still continued. The business was then car- ried on by John W. Erwin & Bros., and a half-interest was purchased by Mr. Oglesby and his partner. He is senior member in the present firm, and since it was in- incorporated, in 1867, has been its president and general manager, and attends to all its interests. They carry on a very extensive business, and for many years were the largest in Middletown. He is also interested in the Harding Paper Co., of which He has been treasurer for several years. He owned an interest in the institution ! years before, under the firm name of Harding, Erwin & Co. Mr. Oglesby has also been interested for ten year- [ in the Tytus Paper Co., of which he is likewise iressite r.
657
LEMON.
William A. Powell was born in Green burg, Decatur County, Indiana, being the son of Elijah S. Powell and Clarissa A. Sweet. He went out in the war, enlisted as a veteran with the Seventeenth Ohio, was through Sher- man's great march to the sea, and was mustered out at the close. Elijah served eighteen months, and was dis- abled near Atlanta, Georgia, still suffering from the effects. William A. Powell was married in Oxford, Ohio, in 1868, to Mary J. Moore, daughter of Moses and Char- ity Moore, who was born in Cumminsville, Hamilton County, by whom he has had two children -- Harry W., born March 12, 1865, and Jennie G., who is dead. Mr. Powell carries on book and job printing in Middletown.
Jonathan J. Pettit, son of Joab Pettit and Nancy Thomas, was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, No- vember 9, 1806. His mother lived to the great age of ninety-nine, her death then being the result of an acci- dent. She was walking on a stone floor, when her cane slipped, and she fell, breaking her hip. She had always been a very active woman, was highly esteemed by all who knew Ler, and had been a member of the Methodist Church for over sixty years. Mr. Pettit was married in Middletown, in 1844, to Susan Bridge, who was born in this county, in 1811. She is the daughter of William Bridge and Rebecca Grimes, who came to this county in 1804, and settled in Middletown. James Grimes, the grandfather of Susan Bridge, was a local Methodist Episcopal preacher, the first Methodist sermon that was ever preached in Middletown being delivered in his honse, that being used as the church for a number of years. In this part of the country he was a cabinet- maker, and used to make the coffins, and then go and preach the funeral sermon. The house mentioned was located on what is now known as East Fourth Street, but was then known as East Greet Street. He died at the age of eighty-seven, in March, 1845. Mr. Pettit's grandfather was in the War of 1812. Jonathan J. Pet- tit came to Middletown in 1843. He is a builder and brickmaker and Jayer. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for over fifty-four years, having joined in 1828.
John George Rish, farmer, was born in Germany, on the River Rhine, on the 2d of December, 1814. He is the son of Frederick Rish and Katherine Weber, now both dead. He came to this county in 1846, having previously been married, in February, 1837, to Eliza- beth Eveningred, born in the same neighborhood as her husband, April 28, 1812. She is the daughter of Cou- rad Eveningred and Louisa Stoke. Neither the parents James Martin Robison was born April 11, 1811, in Butler County. His father. James Robison, was born and brought up in Pennsylvania, and his mother, Jane Parks, was born in Peansylvania, but when four years of age was removed to Kentucky. They came to this I county in 1896. A brother to his father, John Robi. son, was in the Revolutionary War. At the age of of Mr. or Mrs. Rish ever came from Germany. They have had nine chillren. Catherine Segalox was born October 18, 1838: Mary Stole, November 1, 121. dy ing in October, 1870; Eroma Diver, August 22, 1548; Elizabeth Sehriner, August 11. 1545. deceased; Samuel, August 15, 1848; and Sarah shafer, March 28, 185t. George died in Germany, and the dates of the births of I seventeen James M. Robison began learning the wagon
Daniel and Julia Ann have not been preserved. Mr. Rish was made an apprentice to the shoemakers' trade very early in life, being only fifteen years old, giving for the privilege twenty dollars and two years of his time for nothing, supporting himself. This occupation he has always followed, but he has now a farm in addition.
Nicholas Rushart, born in Bavaria, August 8, 1826, emigrated to this country in 1853, and not long after was married to Margaret Meny Maixner, who was also a native of Bavaria, where she was born on the 15th of June, 1834. The parents of Mr. Rushart were Jacob > Rushart and Charlotta Stubie, and those of Mrs. Rus- hart George and Mary Aun Maixner. None of them ever came to this conutry. Mr. Rushart has six chil- dren, Charlotta Eve, George John. Mary Anza, Elizs. Catherine, Nicholas John, and Freddie. Mr. Rushart was out in the hundred-day?' service.
Stephen V. Russell was born in Lemon Township December 17, 1811, and was reared on a farm, staying there until he was fifteen or sixteen years old. Then he went out to work by day's work and by the month, re- maining at this until within the last twelve or fifteen years, when he began dealing in stock, buying and feed- ing hogs, and they selling them. He is the son of George Russell and Mary Vail. His father's people came down the Ohio River in a flat-boat to Cincinnati, and then came on horseback to the Miami River, where they began clearing and building a eabin. George Russell died when his son was a small boy. The mill bailt by his grandfather Vail was torn away by high water in 1805, when it had stood but two years. Stephen V. Russell has a table made out of the first walont log sawed in this township. His parents were Friends, and to that belief their son still adheres.
Thomas E. Reed, physician, was born in this county in 1844. He is the son of William Reed and Margaret Sigerson, both born and brought up in this county. After a collegiate education at the Miami University at Oxford, he began reading medicine in the office of Dr. W. D. Linn, of Middletown. He then studied at the Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, where he graduated in the year 1872, afterwards loeating in Viu- cennes, Indiana, in partnership with Dr. S. C. Whiting, where he remained two years, since when he has been in active practice in Middletown. He is a firm believer in the doctrine of similia similibus curuntur, and conforms his practice strictly to that of the homeopathic school of medicine.
---
83
-
658
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
trade, when his employer broke up business. He again returned to the farm, afterwards was in Middletown in the lumber business, and conducted a planing-mill where Mr. Tytus's paper-mill now stands. He also owns a fine farm two miles north of Middletown, on the German- town Pike, and a large steam saw-mill, one hundred and forty feet long and forty feet wide, three stories high. The first story is built of stone. The mill is of forty- five horse power capacity. There is also a turning-lathe and planer. It is situated where there is business all of the time. He was married on the 14th of September, 1851, to Sarah D. Talbert, who was born in North Car- $ olina in 1825. She is the daughter of William Talbert, who died March 9, 1867, and Willmett Lamb, who died December 7, 1837. The father came in 1857, but the mother never came. She lived and died in Preble County. Mr. Robison has been a member of the New School Baptist Church for about twenty years. His wife is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, and has a large acquaintance and circle of friends.
Abraham Simpson, retired farmer, was born in Mid- dlesex County, New Jersey, on the fifth of September, 1795. His parents were Thomas Simpson and Margaret Griggs. He came to this country from New Jersey in 1818. His father had left home, in 1799. to come to this region on horseback, by the way of Fort Pitt, and from that place, now known as Pittsburg, started on alone. The man who kept the tavern there persuaded him to trade his horse for a skiff and come down the river, as it was considered very dangerous to travel any other way. So he, and a companion he met in that place, left together, having plenty of provisions, and were never heard of afterwards. Abraham was reared on a farm until he had attained sufficient age to be put as an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade, where he stayed four years. After completing his time he worked for a little while, but could get no steady employment, and determined to go West to Ohio. With his brother- in-l :. w, Seth Dye, who had a wife and one small chikl, about a year old, they left, and were six weeks and four days on the road. The highways were very muddy, there being no turnpikes then ; but they had a good team of horses, and got through with only one accident. They overtook an Irishman and his family who had four horses to his wagon, and Mrs. Dye was persuaded to get . in their wagon, as there was a place to lie down. She had not gone far before they upset, breaking three of her ribs. All thought the child was killed, but it was not, and in faet had scarcely received any injury.
After getting to Middletown Mr. Simpson worked at bis trade, blacksmithing, for about twenty years, his shop being the only one in the town. He then sold out and bought a firm of one bundred and thirty acres. He has added to it until it now comprises one Inundred and ninety- six. It is one of the best improved farms between Mid- dletown and Lebanon. He has been a member of the i
Presbyterian Church for about fifty years, his wife joining at the same time. Nearly all his children are members also. He was married on the 15th of May, 1823, in Warren County, five miles west of Lebanon, to Euphe- mia Longstreet, born in Middlesex County, New Jersey, in 1799, on the 9th of January. Her parents were Aaron Longstreet, who died June 7, 1858, and Mary Higgins, who died March 20, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Simp- son have had nine children.
Martin Sheets was born in Miami County, Ohio, Feb- ruary 3, 1824. His father, David Sheets, died January 30, 1836, and Sarah Fouts, his mother, died October 28, 1862. He was married November 28, 1848, in Hamil- ton, to Elizabeth J. Matson, whose parents were Enoch Matson and. Mary Direly. She was born in this county. September 20, 1824, and her father died in March, 1847, and her mother, May 5, 1855. They came to the county in 1807, but the grandfather came in 1800. His name was Frederick Fouts. He was drafted during the War .of 1812, but instead of going out hired a substitute, for whom he paid eighty dollars. Mr. Sheets stayed on the farm until the age of twenty was attained, when he en- tered a blacksmith's shop as an apprentice, serving two years. Then he labored as a journeyman for a year and half, starting ent for himself September 20, 1847, in the village of Amanda, and has been working at the business ever since, with the exception of eight months he spent in Illinois in farming, in 1862, then returning to his oll home. He is a member of the Masonie order, and has been so since 1868, holding the office of junior waren and trustee for a good many years. He has also been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1853, his wife also joining at the same time. Their children are William Alexander, boru February 22, 1850; Davil H !.. August 10, 1852; Charles M. and Henry B., twins, born on the 15th of May, 1856, and dying the same day: Ed- die, February 2, 1362, dying January 7, 1863; and two infants, one born on the 25th of December, 1854, and the other on the 1st of April, 1864, both dying on the day of their birth. Mr. Sheers was supervisor in 1851. 1 brother, Robert Sheets, was in the army as a private, and died of small-pox at Paducah.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.