Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 104

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 104

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The record of a busy life, a successful life, must ever prove fecund in interest and profit as scanned by the student who would learn of the intrinsic essence of individuality, who would attempt an analysis of character and trace back to the fountain head the widely diverging channels which mark the onward flow of such individuality. All hu- man advancement, all human weal or woe, -in short, all things within the mental ken, -are but mirrored back from the composite individuality of those who have lived and labored. "The proper study of mankind

is man," says Pope, and aside from this, in its broader sense, what basis of study and information have we? Thus biography of contemporary order exercises an important function and it is fitting that record be per- petuated concerning those who have proved worthy elements in the civic personnel of all communities, while the data thus secured, both genealogical and personal, will prove a valuable contribution to the generic his- tory of every such community. He whose name initiates this paragraph is a represent- ative of one of the old and honored families of Butler county, where he has lived from the time of his birth and where he has gained personal prestige and success in one of the most noble and exacting of all vocations to which a man may devote himself, being en- gaged in the practice of his profession in Trenton and controlling a large business as a physician and surgeon, while he has gained precedence by reason of his devotion to his profession and his marked ability as an ex- ponent of advanced and practical medical science.

Dr. Grafft was born on the homestead farm, in section 22, Wayne township, on the 25th of February, 1867, and is a son of Abraham and Jane Grafft, the former of whom was born in Butler county, this state, in 1839, while the latter was born in Frank- lin county, Indiana, in 1841. George P. Grafft. grandfather of the Doctor, was like- wise a native of Ohio, having been born in Butler county in 1804, the year which marked the admission of the state to the Union, while his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Moorehead, was born in the same county, in 1805, so that it may be seen that our subject is a scion of one of the very early pioneer families of the Buckeye

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commonwealth. Abraham Grafft served three years as a valiant soldier in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, hav- ing been a member of the Eighty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and having been mus- tered out, in Galveston, Texas, on the 30th of August, 1867. He then returned to his home and devoted the remainder of his life to agricultural pursuits, having been one of the prominent and influential farmers of Wayne township, where he died in 1892, honored by all who knew him. His wife was the daughter of Dr. A. B. James, who was a prominent physician of Scipio, Frank- lin county, Indiana, said town lying on the line between Ohio and Indiana, and she was born in that portion of the village which lies in Franklin county, Indiana. She is now dead.

Dr. Grafft passed his boyhood days on the homestead farm and early began to assist in its work, in the meanwhile prosecuting his studies in the public schools of the lo- cality. He completed a course in the high school at Jacksonboro and in 1885 was matriculated in Wooster University, at Wooster, this state, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1890, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. In the meanwhile he had formulated definite plans for his future career, having determined to prepare himself for the medical profession. and with this end in view he entered Miami Medical College, in the city of Cincinnati, in which celebrated institution he completed the prescribed technical course and was graduated in 1893, receiving his coveted de- gree of Doctor of Medicine and coming forth admirably well equipped for the prac- tical work of his chosen profession. He lo-

cated in Trenton soon after his graduation and has ever since been engaged in active professional work here, having built up a large and representative practice and being held in the highest confidence and regard both as a physician and a citizen. He is a close and devoted student, keeping in touch with the advances made in the sciences of medicine and surgery and having recourse to the best standard and periodical literature pertaining to his profession. In politics the Doctor is found stanchly arrayed as a leal and loyal supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party: for the furtherance of whose cause he lends his aid and influence to the fullest extent, his first presidential vote having been cast for Cleve- land. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church and fraternally he is identified with Jefferson Lodge, No. 90, Free and Accepted Masons; the chap- ter of Royal Arch Masons; and Hamilton Commandery, No. 41, Knights Templar; while he is also affiliated with Court Alpha, No. 1610, Independent Order of Foresters.

On the 18th of October, 1892, Dr. Grafft was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Wil- liamson, who was born in Milford township, this county, being a daughter of John H. and Rachel Jane Williamson, her father being one of the representative farmers of the county. She secured her preliminary educational training in the public schools and thereafter was for two years a student in the Oxford Female College, at Oxford, this state. Dr. and Mrs. Grafft have three children, namely : Helen, who was born on the 18th of October, 1894: Jennie, who was born on the 27th of August, 1896; and Wal- ter, born on the 6th of September, 1898.

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WILLIAM HARVEY BANKER.

Within the pages of this work will be found specific mention of many sterling citi- zens who are native sons of Butler county and who have here passed their entire lives, becoming identified with the industrial ac- tivities of this favored section of the old Buckeye state and ably upholding the high standard of the honored names which they bear. Of this number is the subject of this brief sketch, who is one of the progressive and highly esteemed farmers of Madison township. He is familiarly known by his second name.

Mr. Banker was born on the old family homestead in Madison township, this county, on the toth of November. 1862, and is a son of David W. and Julia A. (Lucas) Banker, both of whom were like- wise born in this county; the former on the Ist of April. 1821. and the latter on the 3d of February of the same year. The father of our subject grew up under the conditions of the pioneer era in this section and con- tributed his quota to the work of develop- ment and progress, while he continued to be actively identified with agricultural pursuits during the long years of his active life. He attained the venerable age of eighty years, having been summoned into eternal rest on the 17th of February. 1902. He was a man of sterling integrity of character, of strong mentality and generous heart. while to him was ever accorded the fullest measure of esteem and good will in the county which was his home during the entire course of his life. His marriage to Julia A. Lucas was solemnized on the 9th of October, 1842. and thus they walked side by side down the pathway of life. with its alternating clouds

and sunshine, for more than half a century, sharing each other's joys and sorrows and being sustained by mutual love and con- fidence. The venerable mother of the sub- ject now resides with him and is accorded all of filial care and solicitude, while she is held in affectionate regard by all who know her, being numbered among the oldest of those now living in the county in which they were born and reared. Of the chil- dren of this union we are able to enter the following brief record: Samuel L., who was born November 22, 1848, died at the age of forty years; Charles David, who was born November 23, 1859, died in Novem- ber, 1860, and William Harvey is the im- mediate subject of this sketch. He is a rep- resentative of the third generation of the family in Butler county, since his grand- father, David Banker, who was born in Frederick county, Maryland, on the 26th of March, 1778, was the founder of the line in Ohio, having immigrated hither in 1800. He first settled in Ross county, and there married Miss Mary McDill. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, after which he continued his residence in Ross county until 1819, when he came with his family to But- ler county, where he had taken up govern- ment land in 1815.

David Banker was one of that sturdy band of earnest and devoted pioneers who opened the way for the march of civilization. He cleared his land and placed much of the same under cultivation, the tract having been covered with the native timber at the time when he located on the same. while the Indians were still much in evidence and wild game of all sorts plentiful. He be- came one of the influential men of the county and here continued to reside until his

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death, which occurred on the 25th of Janu- ary, 1862, a few months prior to the birth of his grandson to whom this sketch is dedi- cated. On his farm was located the first gristmill placed in operation on the Great Miami river, and he became the owner of the same. The mill and its entire me- chanical equipment were built by Elijah Mills, who hewed out from the rough stone the diminutive sixteen-inch millstone which was first utilized, principally for the grind- ing of corn, while this primitive mill sup- plied the major portion of the flour for the settlers throughout a wide radius of coun- try

William Harvey Banker was reared to manhood on his father's old homestead farm on which he now resides, and his early edu- cational discipline was received in the public schools, which he continued to attend until he had attained the age of nineteen years. Much of the care and management of the homestead early devolved upon him and he proved his earnestness and capacity in no uncertain way. He has a finely improved farm of one hundred and thirty-six acres. the greater portion of which is under effect- ive cultivation, the land being of particular arability through its location in the beautiful river valley. On the place is a substantial two-story brick residence which constitutes one of the most attractive rural homes of the county, and the other farm buildings are in harmony therewith. Mr. Banker brings the most approved and scientific methods to bear in all departments of his farming in- dustry, realizing that in this, as in all other lines of business enterprise, the highest re- sults are to be attained only by means of discrimination, careful attention to details and the utilization of all available facilities.

He does not permit himself to consider only his personal success and advancement, but maintains a public-spirited attitude and ever stands ready to do his part in the support of all enterprises for the general good. He is a stalwart advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and while he has never been ambitious for official preferment he shows a lively interest in the party cause and never fails to utilize his franchise, though in local affairs he does not confine himself to strict party lines, no issue being involved and eligibility being the paramount consideration. He has affiliated with Lafayette Lodge, No. 37, Knights of Pythias, at Middletown.

It is pleasing to enter in this publication reviews of the life histories of such worthy . native sons of the county, and the records thus incorporated will prove of perpetual value as later generations take up the work, even as has the present one received the in- heritance from the former, which touched the pioneer era, thus making the narrative consecutive and complete if equal care is taken in the future by the publication of such personal data.

On the 30th of December, 1882. Mr. Banker was united in marriage to Miss Sal- lie Stout, who was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on the 11th of October. 1864, being a daughter of Levi and Sarah (Con- over) Stout. When she was but two weeks of age her mother died and she was reared by her maternal aunt, Mrs. John L. Schenck, whose maiden name was Eleanor Conover. When Mrs. Banker was but four weeks old she was brought to Butler county to her foster parents and here she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Banker have six children, whose names, with respective dates

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of birth, are here entered : Claude, March 19, 1883; Charles, April 6, 1885: Julia, Oc- tober II, 1887 (died September 9, 1889) ; Lucy, May 18. 1890; Maude, August 9, 1893, and Earl, February 29, 1896.

JAMES E. BANKER.

The annals of Butler county bear dis- tinctive evidence that the Banker family has been identified with its history from the early pioneer epoch and with that of the state for more than a century, David Banker, grandfather of our subject, having taken up his residence in Ohio in 1800, while it was still a territory. These facts lend added interest to a consideration of the individual career of our subject, who has passed practically his entire life in Butler county, of which he is a native son, and who is one of the prominent citizens and success- ful farmers of Madison township, where he has a finely improved and valuable landed estate, the same being an integral portion of the tract secured from the government by his grandfather more than four score of years ago, the property having always re- mained in possession of the family.

That honored pioneer, David Banker, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, on the 26th of March, 1778, and was reared to manhood in that state, where the family was established in a very early day. In 1800 he emigrated to Ohio and located in Ross county, where he wooed and won as his wife Miss Mary McDill, a member of an- other prominent and honored pioneer fam- ily. They there continued to maintain their home until 1819, when they came to Butler

county, locating in Madison township, where he purchased land, this section being at the time essentially an unbroken and sylvan wilderness, the virgin forests stand- ing where are now to be found valuable farms and thriving cities and villages. Mr. Banker here passed the residue of his long and useful life, and his name merits an en- during place on the roll of those honored pioneers who here laid broad and deep the foundations on which rest the magnificent civilization and great material prosperity of the county at the present day.

David Banker operated the first grist- mill established on the Great Miami river, the same having been located on his farm in Butler county. The mill was built by Elijah Mills, who constructed every portion of its equipment, including the little sixteen- inch millstone, utilized principally for the grinding of corn. This stone is still retained in the possession of the Banker family and is a highly prized heirloom, being owned by the subject of this review. In case it is ever permitted to pass out of the possession of the family it should certainly be donated to some local or state historical society, in order that it may be permanently retained and exhibited as a relic of the early pioneer epoch. The stone is about six inches thick and was dressed from the rough stone by Mr. Mills, who also erected the mill build- ing. In later years this primitive stone was replaced by a substantial corn buhr, and the mill supplied for a number of years the principal supply of bread stuff for the set- tlers for miles around.

James E. Banker, whose name initiates this sketch, was born on the ancestral home- stead in this county, on the 6th of March, 1859, being a son of Jacob and Catherine

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(Selby) Banker, both of whom were like- wise born and reared in Butler county, where they passed their entire lives, the father having ever continued his identifica- tion with the great basic art of agriculture and having ever commanded the unqualified confidence and regard of the people of the community in which he lived and labored to so goodly ends. The strenuous life of the pioneer has been the theme of many a writer, and yet there can never be too much written concerning those who blazed the way for progress and civilization in the various sovereign states of our great re- public and who were the founders of our enlightened commonwealths. The subject received a good common-school education and early began to lend his aid in the work of the home farm, where he waxed strong MICHAEL E. SMITH. in mental and physical vigor under the sturdy discipline involved. In 1888 he was married, and shortly afterward resumed the vocation to which he had been reared, again identifying himself with agricultural pur- suits. He has now an interest in a finely im- proved farm of one hundred and thirty-six acres, located in the fertile and beautiful valley of the Great Miami river, the same being a portion of the land purchased by his grandfather in 1815, though the family did not remove to the county until 1819. The permanent improvements on the place are of the most substantial order, including a commodious, two-story brick residence and large barns, while everything about the place is kept in excellent repair and gives evidence of the good management of the fortunate owner. In politics Mr. Banker has been an ardent advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party from the time of attaining his majority, and he has ever a man of fine intellectuality and marked

lent a hand in furthering the party cause, having served several times as a member of the central committee of his native county and having held various local offices of trust.

On the 14th of June, 1888, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Banker to Miss Mary Vorhis, who was born in Butler county on the 9th of July, 1858, being a daughter of Jacob and Caroline Vorhis. Mrs. Banker was summoned to the life eter- nal on the 17th of November, 1899, and is survived by her four children, namely : Fred Ellsworth, born in 1891; Madalen, born in 1894; Lucille, born in 1897, and Carl, born in 1899.

Most of the successful men of America have been the architects of their own for- tunes, and it is one of the glories of our great Republic that this is true. It shows that here are afforded adequate opportunities and that our citizens have possesseed the courage, determination and strength of pur- pose to make proper utilization of the ad- vantages offered. The subject of this sketch is one who deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he has been dependent upon his own exertions from his early youth and has built the ladder upon which he has risen to the plane of definite success, while it has been his to retain at all times the uniform confidence and esteem of those with whom he has come in contact in the varied relations of life. He is a native son of Butler county, and a representative of one of its sterling and honored families, while he is known as

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business acumen. He is today one of the influential farmers and stock growers of Lemon township and is devoting special at- tention to the dairy department of his enter- prise.

Mr. Smith was born in Liberty town- ship. near Woodsdale, this county, on the Ist of September, 1861, and is the youngest of the four children of James and Margaret (Fitzpatrick ) Smith, the three older chil- dren having been born prior to the immigra- tion of the family to the United States. The parents of our subject were born and reared in Ireland, where their marriage was sol- emnized and where the father followed the vocation of farming until 1859, when they came with their three children to the United States, landing at Castle Garden, and forth- with continuing their westward journey to Ohio, making Butler county their destina- tion. They located near Woodsdale, where the subject was born, and the father here devoted his attention to farming until his death, which occurred in 1861, the subject of this review being a child of two weeks at the time. The family were left in somewhat straitened circumstances, but by strenuous effort the devoted mother, with the aid of the older children, succeeded in keeping the family together and in preserving and im- proving the little property which her hus- band had purchased. She has continued to make her home in Butler county to the present time. She is a devoted member of the Catholic church, as was also her hus- band.

Michael Smith, to whom this sketch is dedicated, passed his youthful years in But- ler county, devoting himself to farm work during the summer seasons while during the winter terms he prosecuted his studies in

the public schools of Woodsdale, thus con- tinuing until he had attained the age of twenty years, and having in the meanwhile completed the curriculum of the normal school. He then went to Kansas, where he attended the State Normal School in 1881-2. At the expiration of his year of study in that institution he returned to Ohio, and during the winter of 1883-4 was a student in the Normal School at Ada. He had thus qualified himself for effective pedagogic work, and he thereafter engaged in teaching during the winter months and in farming during the summers for a period of seventeen years, save for an interim of two years, during which he was employed as clerk in a hard- ware establishment in the city of Hamilton. In 1890 he was married, and in 1898 he pur- chased a portion of the old homestead farm upon which his wife was born, while she inherited a further share of the same, and this constitutes their present place of abode. From August, 1900, to December, 1902, Mr. Smith was employed as bookkeeper for the Otto Coke Company, of Hamilton, and he then removed to his farm, where he has since resided. The farm comprises one hundred and eight acres, is improved with excellent buildings, including an attractive two-story frame dwelling, and is one of the valuable places of this section of the county. To the farm the subject now gives his undivided at- tention, raising the cereals and other prod- ucts best adapted to the soil and climate. He is a man of marked executive and busi- ness ability, and his success is certain to be cumulative, since he is familiar with all de- tails of the industry under whose discipline he was reared, and is unflagging in energy and fertile in expedients. In politics he is a stanch advocate of the principles and

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policies of the Democratic party, with which he has been affiliated from the time of at- taining his majority. Though never ani- mated with ambition for official preferment he has ever lent his aid in furthering the party cause, and is well fortified in his polit- ical convictions, while he is essentially pub- lic spirited and progressive.

On the 2d of July. 1890. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Smith to Miss Minnie Long, who was born on the farm on which they now reside, the date of her nativity hav- ing been February 15. 1871. She is a daughter of Edward and Sarah (Mulford) Long, who are now deceased, both having been born in Butler county. Her mother was a daughter of John and Mary Mulford, who were born and reared in New Jersey, where they continued to reside for some time after their marriage, finally coming to Ohio and numbering themselves among the pioneers of Butler county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children, namely: Harry, who was born on the 20th of March, 1891 ; Cecil, who was born on the 5th of June, 1895; Mary, who was born on the 4th of February, 1898, and Charles, who was born on the 18th of March, 1900.

FRANCIS JEFFERSON TYTUS.

Among the broad-minded, public-spir- ited men of a former day and generation whom the people of Butler county delight to honor, few, if any, enjoyed a higher repu- tation or exerted a wider and more bene- ficial influence than the late Francis Jeffer- son Tytus, of Middletown. A representa-

tive of an old and highly respected family of the historic commonwealth of Virginia, and inheriting the sterling characteristics for which his antecedents were long distin- guished, he achieved an honorable career in the business world, dignified every station to which he was called during a life pro- longed beyond the allotted span, devoted his energies and the best powers of mind and heart to the material interests of his com- munity and to the social, moral and spiritual welfare of his fellow men. Mr. Tytus was born in Manchester, Frederick county, Vir- ginia, on February 5, 1806, and was the son of Tunis and Elizabeth Tytus, both natives of the Old Dominion state, and, as already indicated, descendants of two of its earliest and most highly esteemed families. Blessed with exceptional parental influence and cor- rect home training. Mr. Tytus enjoyed dur- ing his youth such opportunities as fell to the lot of few of his, associates, among which were good educational advantages in his own native town. After finishing the usual preliminary course he entered an in- stitution of higher grade in Manchester, where he prosecuted his studies until gradu- ating with high honors, his record as a dili- gent and critical student being second to that of no other member of his class. Mr. Tytus's father was a man of considerable wealth and influence in Manchester, and at one time held a number of slaves, not a little of his means consisting of this kind of property. Under the gradually growing influence of the anti-slavery movement, which for some time had been gaining headway in Frederick county, he came to the conclusion that in- voluntary human servitude was a crime, and accordingly he manumitted his slaves, thus

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 104

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