Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 100

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149

USA > Ohio > Butler County > Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio > Part 100

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Robert C. Reed was born on the old an- cestral homestead, in Lemon township, this county, on the 31st of October, 1854, and is a son of Thomas C. and Rachel (Gordon) Reed. The genealogy in the agnatic line is

of Scotch-Irish derivation, Thomas C. Reed having been a son of David and Elizabeth (Carrick) Reed, both of whom were born in county Tyrone, Ireland, near the Scottish border. David Reed immigrated to America when a comparatively young man, being ac- companied by his family, including his ven- erable father, Robert Reed. He soon made his way westward and became one of the

loyal citizenship on the part of the vast ma- first settlers of Butler county, Ohio, where

he took up his residence about the year 1797. He set to himself the task of grappling with the wilderness and literally hewing out a farm in the midst of the primeval forest. He secured a considerable amount of gov- ernment land in what is now Lemon town- ship, and here erected his primitive log house, which was the family domicile for a number of years. The tales of the pioneer days have been often told, and it is needless to here recapitulate the same, for privations, vicissitudes and strenuous labors of the early settlers have been so recorded as to make specific mention in a work of circum- scribed nature superfluous, though it is well in such a connection as this to refer to those who lived and labored so earnestly in laying the foundation for the opulent prosperity which marks this favored section of the Buckeye state at the present time. On this pioneer farm was born Thomas C. Reed. the father of the subject. the date of his nativity having been October 3. 1797. and as has been already noted he was the first male white child born in the county. the Reed family having been one of the very first to take up permanent abode here. Thomas C. was reared amid the scenes of the pioneer epoch, and thus became early familiar with woodcraft. forest lore and hard work. while it is needless to say that in a specific, sense his educational advan-

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tages were most limited, owing to the exi- gencies and conditions of time and place. He learned to turn his hand to almost every sort of labor, and in the early days he con- structed two flatboats, which he launched on the Great Miami river. These he loaded with flour from the Adam Dickey mill, one of the first in this section of the state, and transported the product down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, where he disposed of his cargoes and boats, after which he returned to his home in Butler county. walking the entire distance. He be- came one of the successful farmers of the county and ever commanded the unqualified confidence and esteem of its people, while he was influential in local affairs and ably carried forward the work of development and progress which had been inaugurated by his honored father. He died in 1874. at the age of seventy-seven years and is held in grateful memory as one of the sterling pio- neers of the county of which he was one of the founders and builders. It is related that Thomas C. Reed walked from Butler county. Ohio, to Detroit. Michigan, for the sole purpose of taking a pair of shoes to his brother, who, as a private soldier in an Ohio regiment. was encamped there. After de- livering the shoes, Mr. Reed returned on foot to his Butler county home, passing through dense forests infested with hostile Indians and British soldiers. Thomas C. Reed was twice married, first to Miss Mary Dickey, who bore him five sons and three daughters, of whom two of the former and two of the latter are still living. After the death of his first wife he wedded Miss Rachel Gordon, who was likewise born in this county, being a member of another leading pioneer family. Of this union were born two sons, Robert

C., the immediate subject of this sketch, and James, who is a resident of Lemon township. The devoted mother was summoned into eternal rest, having been a zealous member of the United Presbyterian church, as was also her husband, who was an elder in this church for about forty-eight years.

Robert C. Reed, to whom this sketch is dedicated, passed his youthful years upon the old homestead farm upon which he was born and a portion of which he owns at the present time. He assisted in the work of the farm during the summer months and attended the district schools in the winters, the educational advantages thus afforded en- abling him to lay a firm foundation for the broad fund of practical knowledge which he has since gained through personal applica- tion, well-directed reading and through the experiences of an active and successful busi- ness career. ' He owns one hundred and six- ty acres of valuable land just south of Mid- dletown, while Mrs. Reed is the owner of the farm of one hundred and seven and one- half acres which constitutes the family home and which is located in section 31, Lemon township. The farm buildings are of the best type and the residence is a commodious and attractive brick house of two stories. Mr. Reed supervises the operation of both farms, is known as an able and discriminat- ing business man and has attained a high degree of success, being numbered among the substantial and highly esteemed farmers of the county in which he has passed his life. Mr. Reed was the first vice-president of the Butler County Fair Association, which he assisted in organizing. He, with his brother, bought the first shorthorn cattle from Eng- land to this section of the country, from which time he kept on his farm a herd of good registered cattle. In his political pro-

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clivities he is a stanch Republican, having cast his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant and having never wavered in his fealty to the party, though he has never been ambitious for official preferment. He and his wife hold membership in the Seventh Day Adventist church at Dayton, Ohio.

On the 12th of October. 1882. was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Reed to Miss Anna M. Britton, who was born in this town- ship, being a daughter of Ezra and Angeline (Conover) Britton. She completed a course in the high school at Middletown and is a lady of gracious presence and distinctive re- finement, being accomplished in music and painting and through her talents in these lines being able to add much to the attract- iveness of her charming home, which is a center of social hospitality and a favored re- sort for a large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Reed became the parents of two chil- dren. Gladys and Thomas, both of whom died in early childhood.

EDGAR A. BELDEN.

As a representative of honored old fam- ilies of Butler county, as an able member of the bar of the state, and as a loyal and pub- lic-spirited citizen of Hamilton. the subject of this review is eminently entitled to con- sideration in this work, and it may further he said that he is at the present time pre- siding with ability and discrimination on the bench of the common pleas court of But- ler county.

Judge Belden is a native of Hamilton. having been born here on the 28th of No-

vember, 1855, and the success and prestige which he has attained sets at naught any ap- plication of the scriptural adage that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country." He is a son of Samuel C. and Mary (Fitton) Belden, the former of whom was born November 29, 1815, in Massachu- setts, when he came to Hamilton as a young man, becoming one of the successful busi- ness men of the city, where he was for many years engaged in the extensive manufacture of brooms. He died in 1885, at the age of seventy years, while his devoted wife. who was born in Butler county. Ohio, was sum- moned into eternal rest in 1868, at the age of thirty-eight years. She was a member of the Fitton family. long prominent in the business, social and church circles of Ham- ilton. In the family were six children, con- cerning whom we enter the following brief record : James F. was for many years in the dry-goods business in the employ of the D. W. Fitton Company: Horace T .. who died in 1876, at the age of twenty-two years. was teller of the First National Bank of Hamilton and gave evidence of the posses- sion of business qualities of a high order : Edgar A. is the subject: William C., who was born in 1858. was educated in Hamilton and in 1882 went to California. where he purchased a fruit farm and has since resided; he is married and has two children, and in 1902 was elected judge of the court of San Bernardino county. Califor- nia : Webster A., who was born in Hamilton in 1860 and has resided there all his life. is employed in a large manufacturing estab- lishment here; he is married and is the fa- ther of three children; Mary S., the young- est of the family, was born and educated in Hamilton, and is a proficient stenographer ;

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she is a member of the Unity Club, a literary society, and is a general favorite with all who know her.

Edgar A. Belden, the immediate subject of this review, received his early education in the public schools of Hamilton, being graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1872. Shortly after his gradu- ation he went to the city of Cincinnati, where he remained about six years as clerk in the office of the Union Central Life In- surance Company. In 1879 he resigned this position for the purpose of taking up the study of law, having had a predilection for this profession from his early youth, while it may be said that this inclination was fos- tered by debates and addresses respectively entered into and given by members of the Irving Literary Society, an organization composed of young men and women of Hamilton. Meetings were held each week and the time was devoted to the study of lit- erature, parliamentary law, etc. Judge Bel- den began reading law under the preceptor- ship of Hon. Thomas Millikin, one of Ham- ilton's most prominent and distinguished lawyers, and was admitted to the bar, by the supreme court of the state, on the 2d of February, 1881. He forthwith entered upon the active practice of his profession in his native city, and his ability and earnest and concentrated effort soon gained to him a gratifying support, his clientage at the time of entering upon his judicial labors hav- ing been large and of representative order. while his standing as a trial lawyer and counsellor is upon a high plane. Judge Bel- den has given an unfaltering allegiance to the Republican party from the time of at- taining his legal majority, and has mani- fested a deep interest in the questions of

government, national, state and municipal. In November, 1901, he was elected to the bench of the court of common pleas, for the term of five years, receiving a majority of seven hundred and seventeen votes over the candidate of the Democratic party, his elec- tion being due to the fact that many of the voters in the county cast aside their partisan preferences, as the normal political complex- ion of the county is strongly Democratic. His course on the bench has been marked by wise discrimination and impartial judg- ment, the natural qualities of his mind and his exact and comprehensive knowledge of the law eminently fitting him for the posi- tion which he is honoring by his services. Fraternally the Judge is identified with the Royal Arcanum and the National Union. He has been connected with the Hamilton Young Men's Christian Association from the time of its organization, in 1889, and has been one of its most zealous and devoted workers, having served as president of the organization for the first five years of its existence, and being at the present time a member of its directorate. He is a member and trustee of the First Methodist Episco pal church. deeply concerned in the further- ance of its spiritual and temporal welfare, and being particularly active in the work of the Sunday school, in which he has been a teacher for the past fifteen years. In 1886, with other graduates of the institution, he was instrumental in affecting the organiza- tion of the High School Alumni Associa- tion, which has ever since held annual reun- ions.

On the 22d of May, 1888, in Hamilton, Judge Belden was united in marriage to Miss Elisa M. Potter, daughter of Lucius B. and Mary B. Potter, of this city. Mr. Potter is

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at the present time treasurer of the Niles ily circle. The latter is a florist by profes- Tool Works Company, of this place, and is a sion, unmarried, and a traveler for the pleas- ures of sight-seeing. son of Dr. Stephen H.' Potter, who was for many years one of the leading physicians of Hamilton, having taken up his residence here in the pioneer days. Judge and Mrs. Belden have two children, Horace and Lu- cia, and the family reside on East Dayton street, in this city.

CHARLES I. YERIGAN.

Charles I. Yerigan was born in Ross township, Butler county, Ohio, on the 4th of December, 1869, and is a son of Matthew and Grace (Clarke) Yerigan, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. In early life the parents established a home on a farm in Ross township, in this county, and there the parental home still exists. The father is a prosperous farmer. The family consists of three sons, all of whom have gone out from the parental home to make their own way in the world of affairs. The eldest of the trio is John B., who has turned his attention to journalism. He is located in Hamilton, and is making a success of life as an advertising solicitor for the Democrat and Sun, local newspapers in this city. He is also making a business success in soliciting advertising on his own account and securing the work at job offices. John B. Yerigan married Miss Lizzie Kromer, whose maternal grand- father, Sebastian Herold, was one of the first settlers of Butler county. He was the first drayman in Hamilton, and died in the spring of 1903, at the age of ninety-four years. Charles I., of this sketch, was the second son, and Oliver completes the fam-

The subject of this article was educated in the public schools of Ross township and spent his early years on the parental farm. When a lad in his teens he became an ap- prentice to the blacksmith's trade in Hamil- ton, serving three years and a half in that capacity. His mechanical skill became ap- parent from the first and he readily became recognized as a master mechanic. He turned his attention to horseshoeing and hand forg- ing. As a specimen of his handiwork he has a case of shoes forged by himself and handsomely nickel-plated, which represent nearly every form of horseshoe known to the profession or to veterinary surgery. After working for thirteen years as a jour- neyman blacksmith, he turned his attention to horseshoeing exclusively, and started a shop on his own account. As an evidence of the magnitude of the work done, he has in the corner of his shop a stack of fifteen tons of old shoes which have been replaced by new ones in the space of two years, this being the work of himself and his two assist- ants. It is needless to add that Mr. Yerigan is one of the leading horseshoers in Hamil- ton. He has studied the subject from the standpoint of scientific investigation, and is perfectly familiar with the diseases which cripple and render useless so many valuable horses, and their correction by proper shoe- ing. Mr. Yerigan takes special pride in his work and employs only the most skilled workmen as his assistants. A feature of his work is the fact that most of the shoes used to correct traveling defects are hand forged and made to meet the requirements.

Mr. Yerigan was married on the 8th of

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January, 1893, choosing for his companion Miss Carrie Belle Noole, of Eaton, Ohio. This happy union has been blessed with the advent of two interesting children, Freddie and Grace. The Clarke family, as repre- sented by the mother of Mr. Yerigan, is one. of the pioneer families of Butler county. The maternal grandmother, the widow of Isaac Clarke, resides at College Corner, Butler county, at the advanced age of nine- ty-four years. They have been prominently identified with the growth and progress of the county almost from its first settlement to the present. The subject of this article and his wife are members of the United Brethren church. They are also worthy members of the social and beneficial society known as the Knights and Ladies of Honor. Mr. Yerigan is a member of the Bosses' Pro- tective Association, a local organization, the name of which suggests its purpose. .

WILLIAM E. NEIN.

William Ernst Nein was born on a farm near Collinsville, this county, on the 18th of October, 1869. He is the eldest of eight living children born to Henry and Margaret (Grau) Nein. His father was a native of Germany, who came to Butler county when a lad of fourteen years. Here he grew to manhood, and married. Miss Grau, in 1867, following which he located on a rented farm near Collinsville. He was an honest, hard- working man, whose integrity was never questioned. With a large family to rear and educate, his financial progress was neces- sarily slow until his children reached the age 4

of helpfulness. . About 1882 the family sav- ings were sufficient to justify the purchase of a farm and one hundred acres were pur- chased in Morgan township, where the fam- ily located and where the father died Octo- ber 14, 1901. This property is still owned by the mother, who has removed to Hamil- ton.

William E. Nein remained at home until eighteen years of age, when he started out to make his way in the world. He appren- ticed himself to the machinist's trade at the Niles Tool Works in Hamilton. After com- pleting his apprenticeship, he secured a posi- tion in a large manufacturing establishment in Dayton, Ohio, where he remained in prof- itable employment for twelve years. On the first of June, 1902, he and his brother Frank L. purchased the well-known livery business of N. Bruner & Son, at No. 332 Court street, and after adding materially to the stock and appliances, presented their claims for public patronage. About the time of purchasing the livery stock Mr. Nein decided to take a course at Clarke's. School of Em- balming and after graduating he entered the employ of N. Bruner, the oldest undertaker in Hamilton. The office being located next door to the livery barn, there is no incum- brance in attending to both departments of his work. The firm of Nein Brothers has already established a fine livery business. Being courteous and accommodating gentle- men, it is reasonable to presume that they will control a fair proportion of the livery business in Hamilton.

William E. Nein has been twice married. first, in 1893, with Miss Clara Christman, who survived but seven years, and died leav- ing three children, Homer. Melvin and

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Blanche. His second wife was Miss Louesa Christman, a sister of his former companion, who assumes a double relationship to the motherless children. Mr. Nein is a member of the First Reformed church. In his frater- nal relations he holds membership in the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles and Royal Arcanum. In political affiliations he is a Democrat.

FRANK L. NEIN.

Frank Luther Nein is the junior partner in the livery firm of Nein Brothers, at No. 332 Court street, Hamilton. He was born near Collinsville. Butler county. Ohio, on the 11th of April, 1871, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Grau) Nein. His father was a native of Germany, and mother was born in Butler county, of German an- cestors. The father was a soldier in the Civil war, rendering valiant service to his adopted country. He was married in 1867, and from that date until 1882 operated rented farms in this county. from the sav- ings of which he purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Morgan township. He died upon this farm on the 14th of October, 1901, and this valuable property descended to his widow, who is now a resident of Hamilton.

Frank L. Nein remained at the parental home until about the time of his father's death, when he came to Hamilton and pur- chased a livery stock on the west side. This he operated successfully for about two years, when he formed a partnership with his brother William E. and removed to the pres- ent location, bringing some of the stock from the West Side. There were eight

children in the parental family, two of whom died in infancy. The living are Wil- liam E., Frank L., Mary, Emma, now Mrs. Henry Zilliox, of Jacksonburg: Edward, a bookkeeper in Hamilton; John, who oper- . ates the home farm; Lewis, a teacher in the public schools at Collinsville, and Lorena, a student in the Hamilton high school. Misses Mary and Lorena reside at home with their mother.

Frank L. Nein was married, February 15, 1894, to Miss Mary Schaffer, a native of Ross township, Butler county. They have two interesting children, Raymond and Ruth. Mr. Nein is a member of the First Reformed church and in political views a Democrat. Of the social and beneficial so- cieties he is a member of the Fraternal Or- der of Eagles and the Royal Arcanum.

RUDOLPH THIEM.

Rudolph Thiem, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Berlin, Germany, born on the 22d of October. 1859. His parents were Ferdinand and Pauline (Moritz) Thiem, both of whom were natives of Ber- lin. where their lives were spent. The fa- ther, who was a prosperous manufacturer of billiard tables and fixtures, died in his na- tive country well-advanced in years. Ru- dolph Thiem scarcely knew the depths and fervency of a mother's love, since he was bereft of her tender care at the age of four years. Two of the three children of these parents remained in their native country. The eldest of the two is Marie, who is now the wife of a Mr. Kanow. The subject of this article is the second born, and his

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brother Hermann completes the family cir- cle. He is overseer of a large and valuable estate in Germany and lives in Berlin. He has three children, the eldest of whom is named for the absent brother Rudolph and the others are Dorothy and Otto. Mr. Thiem received a thorough collegiate edu- cation in Berlin and early developed an apt- itude for an art profession. He learned model making and sculpture under some of the great masters of Europe and followed that fascinating profession in his native land for some years.

In 1881 he decided to seek a new field for his talents and leaving behind his relatives and friends, sought a home in the new world. Landing at New Orleans, he remained in that southern city some five years, when he met one of the Kahn brothers, owners of stone works of Hamilton, Ohio. A contract was soon made for one year, and Mr. Thiem came to this city in April, 1886, as an em- ploye of Kahn Brothers as a model maker and designer. He remained with this firm over three years, during which time he had fully demonstrated his ability and established a reputation as a thoroughly competent and skilled designer. He then severed his con- nection with Kahn Brothers and established himself in business on his own account, as a model maker. designer and ornamental carver. Mr. Thiem met with success from the start and soon established a large and hicrative business in his line. During the presidential campaign of 1896 he made plaque figures of the two contending candi- dates which he sold at good figures to their respective admirers. He sent a specimen of his handiwork to Major Mckinley and received a very complimentary acknowledg- ment and letter of thanks, which is now

among the family treasures. Mr. Thiem was the successful bidder on the contract for a bronze statue to adorn the top of the Pio- neers, Soldiers and Sailors' Monument in Hamilton. The contract was awarded to him in close competition with foreign bid- ders, principally because of his known ability and high standing. He submitted an orig- inal design, the like of which is not known to exist in the world today. The figure is designed to represent "Victory," a private soldier in full equipment, with cap in hand above his head and mouth open, as in the act of shouting. The figure stands sixteen feet in height from base to the cap, and is pro- portioned throughout with mechanical accu- racy. A distinguishing characteristic of this figure is the fact that all previous statues of this character have represented female fig- ures. This is the largest piece of work which Mr. Thiem has ever undertaken and he very properly feels a great interest in it. The monument committee and surviving sol- diers are highly pleased with this artistic production. Mr. Thiem has made a number of medallion figures to adorn regimental monuments on southern battlefields and in national parks, but he considers this effort as the crowning feature of his life work. Only words of praise are heard from those most interested and great credit is given him for his originality and painstaking care.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 100

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1149

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149