Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 108

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 108

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Ohio, and for the ensuing two years was en- gaged in the work of his profession in the city of Findlay. While thus engaged in the struggles incident to establishing a profes- sional standing in a strange city he was in- duced to apply for a position under the gov- ernment at Washington, and after passing successfully the ordeal of a civil-service ex- amination he was chosen to a responsible and lucrative position in keeping with his legal qualifications. He entered upon the duties of this position in 1889 and continued to reside in the national capital for the en- suing four years. In 1893 Mr. Haines re- turned to Hamilton and here resumed the active practice of his profession. He has never had occasion to regret the brief di- gression from professional work, from the fact that his experience in the nation's capi- tal familiarized him with many details in departmental service,-a knowledge which has been of marked value to him in his professional life.

On the 15th of April, 1890, Mr. Haines was united in marriage to Miss Rose Gid- dings, of Green Springs, Ohio, she being a daughter of Frederick S. Giddings, a promi- nent lumberman and influential citizen of that place.

HENRY HABIG.

The best history of a community or state is the one that deals most with the lives and activities of its people. especially of those who by their own endeavor and indomitable energy have forged to the front and placed themselves where they deserve the title of progressive men. In this brief review will be found the record of one who

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HENRY HABIG.

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has outstripped the less active trodders on the highway of life and achieved a career surpassed by few of his contemporaries, a career of marked success in business circles and a name which all who know him delight to honor. Henry Habig is a native of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and is the son of Michael and Corin (Auer) Habig. These parents were natives of Germany, but were brought to the United States when quite young and grew to maturity in Cincinnati, in which city their marriage also occurred. Michael Habig spent the greater part of his life as a trader, shipping goods to New Orleans be- fore the Civil war, and accumulated a hand- some property, losing it during the war. He was drafted into the Union army, but after serving about three months he was sent home because of sickness and soon after- ward died in Cincinnati, his wife surviv- ing him until 1886. Of their family of six children, five sons and one daughter, all ex- cept the latter are living and doing well in their respective spheres of endeavor.

Henry Habig was born on January 15, 1852, spent his early life in his native city and when a mere youth was obliged to rely upon his own resources for a livelihood, in consequence of which his education was somewhat neglected. He earned his first money by working for a tobacco company and while thus engaged contributed a goodly share of his meager wages to the support of his mother, to whom was early left the care of her children, the father, as already stated, having died before any of his children reached the years of maturity. The firm with which young Habig first secured em- ployment was the tobacco company of Auer & Sorg, and he worked for those gentlemen in Cincinnati as long as the business was

carried on in that city. In 1870, when the business moved to Middletown, he also came thither and remained with the firm, as a journeyman tobacco roller, until they sold out to Wilson & McCauley, with which firm he occupied the same position until July, 1879, at which time he accepted a po- sition as foreman with the firm of Auer & Sorg, who had just opened a factory in Middletown, Ohio, near the Big Four Rail- road. This position he filled for six years, when he was promoted to the position of tobacco buyer for the firm, which place he filled with them until they sold out to the Continental Tobacco Company in 1897, since which time he has filled the position of tobacco buyer with this corporation, go- ing to Cincinnati each working day during the year. Mr. Habig's long retention in the position he holds speaks well for the con- fidence reposed in him by his employers and the high esteem in which he is held by them. Thoroughly familiar with every detail of the industry with which he is identified, sound in judgment and blessed with prac- tical intelligence and a capacity for business, he discharges the duties of his station with credit to himself and to the entire satisfac- tion of all concerned and has won not only the unlimited confidence of his firm, but that of the general public as well.

In September, 1879, Mr. Habig was hap- pily married to Miss Amalia Weishaar, of Middletown, the union resulting in the birth of eight children.

Politically. Mr. Habig is a Republican and an influential party worker and fra- ternally belongs to the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. Born and reared a Catholic, he has ever remained loyal to the mother church and endeavors to shape his

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life according to the teachings and precepts of the same. His family are also of the faith and with him are identified with the congregation at Middletown, to the material support of which he is a constant and liberal contributor.

In closing this brief review of the career of one of Butler county's most accomplished and up-to-date business men, it is needless to state that he combines the sterling and admirable qualities of head and heart that win success and gain the esteem and good will of his numerous friends and associates. Vigorous in action, resolute in purpose and with a will that hesitates at no opposing circumstances, he has made his presence felt in business and social circles and the promi- nent position he now occupies has been reached by energetic and persevering in- dustry, as he started in life poor and un- known, and only through his own efforts did he finally succeed in winning some of fortune's choicest favors. The story of his success is short and comparatively simple. but in it lies one of the valuable secrets of the prosperity which it records and his business and private life are fruitful of in- terest and incentive, no matter how lacking in dramatic action.

HON. WILLIAM RITCHIE.

Hon. William Ritchie is a native of Cin- cinnati, born on the 26th of May, 1839, and is the only son of George Ritchie, a former well-known citizen of the Queen City. The subject of this sketch remained in his native city, attending the public schools until the age of fourteen, when he came to Hamilton

as an apprentice at the machinist's trade. He made rapid progress along the line of mechanics, and was for many years superin- tendent of the extensive plant of Owens, Lane, Dyer & Co. (with whom he learned his trade), and continued in that capacity until the firm went out of business in 1879. After serving two years as chief of the fire depart- ment, after this date he became senior part- ner in the firm of Ritchie & Dyer, and en- gaged in the manufacture of sawmill out- fits, traction engines and small machinery. This is an extensive manufacturing enter- prise which gives employment to forty or fifty mechanics. It has been operated suc- cessfully, and proved a source of profit to the promoters, whose knowledge of the busi- ness was acquired in the school of experi- ence. Mr. Ritchie has accumulated a hand- some competence through industry and wise management, and has reached the point on life's journey where he need not be further annoyed by the perplexities of business life. He is a thorough mechanic, however, and is never better satisfied than when examining and studying the constituent elements of some complicated piece of machinery. His addresses before the Young Men's Christian Association in Hamilton, touching upon the marvelous expenditure of money and brains in installing the power plants at St. Louis, are the best evidence of his interest and ca- pability. But Mr. Ritchie is something more than a mechanic, and loyal, popular and progressive citizen. He is one of the survivors of the great civil strife of the six- ties, and has a military record of which any man may feel justly proud. He was among the first volunteers who responded to the President's call for three-years troops, and enlisted early in 1861 as a member of the

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Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was subsequently transferred to the Sixty-ninth and served over three years at the front. He participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the Western army, and went on Sherman's memorable march to the sea. Soon after the battle of Murfreesboro he was transferred to the engineers' corps of the Cumberland Army, and was there en- abled to turn his mechanical knowledge to good account, having charge of the various mechanical appliances of that department. The uninitiated may draw the conclusion that this position relieved Mr. Ritchie of the exposures of the battle-line. But not so: the engineers' corps was often the advance guard of an army. It was one of their du- ties to lay pontoon bridges across unford- able streams, and this was frequently done, in fact almost always, under a galling fire from the enemy's pickets, skirmishers or scouts. The examination and strengthen- ing of bridges which happened to be only partly destroyed was another of their peril- ous duties, and every old soldier knows that the "sappers and miners" (a term equiva- lent to engineering corps) were not only the most advanced and dangerous positions, but they were often under fire while the main army was sleeping. Their labors were ex- tremely arduous and exhausting to the phys- ical force, hence only strong, able-bodied men, with fearless hearts. were selected. Their labor consisted mostly in handling heavy pontoon boats, timbers and planks, felling trees for abattis to protect road cross- ings or bridges, taking up their pontoons and reloading them upon wagons, cars, etc. And here again they were often exposed, if the troops they served happened to be re- treating or abandoning the locality, since the

enemy was always anxious to capture this necessary adjunct to military maneuvers. Every old soldier who was at the front has a well-grounded respect for the brave, fear- less and industrious men, whose intelligence and ready action often saved thousands of men from death or the horrors of a prison pen. Assuredly it was no sinecure to be a member of the engineers' corps during the Civil war. Mr. Ritchie was one of the judges of election in the Cumberland Army, on the re-election of President Lincoln in 1864, and believes that he is the only survivor of that election board. He was in Atlanta at the time the city was burned, and was or- dered by General Sherman to return to Chat- tanooga to conduct a pontoon train to At- lanta. Returning with the train as far as Big Shanty, he was stopped by pickets, who reported that the Rebel General French was between his train and Big Shanty. They retired to Moon Station, where they lay un- til about one o'clock at night, when scouts reported French's advance within half an hour's march of the station. The train was then backed to Altoona Pass, where there was a fort garrisoned by twelve hundred soldiers, while there was a million and a half of rations there awaiting shipment to Sher- man's army at Atlanta. About twenty min- utes after his arrival at Altoona he received a dispatch from General Corse, at Rome, Georgia, to unload the train and hasten to Rome for troops. This was done and the train returned with General Corse and about twelve hundred soldiers to reinforce the garrison at the fort. They arrived about five o'clock the next morning and immedi- ately after unloading, the pickets were driven in by the advance of French's army. Here was fought one of the bloodiest little

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battles of the Civil war. Out of twenty-six hundred men engaged, twelve hundred fifty were killed and wounded in the fort; but they held possession, thus saving to the gov- ernment a million and a half of rations, and enabling Sherman to make his memorable march to the sea. This is one of the "little" things which assisted in crushing the great Rebellion.

Mr. Ritchie was discharged in January, 1865. at Savannah, Georgia, and returned to Hamilton and the peaceful pursuits of life. He resumed his former position with the firm of Owens, Lane & Dyer, and thus commenced his future career as previously outlined. The attainments and achieve- ments of William Ritchie are wholly the re- sult of his own unaided efforts. Whatever he has accomplished in the business world is chargeable to the sterling qualities of en- ergy, intelligence. economy and personal push. In American citizenship this combi- nation usually brings success, the degree of which is measurably dependent upon an equal balance of the characteristics included in the "formulae."

Mr. Ritchie was married, in 1870, to Miss Pattie Nifong. a native of Missouri and a lady of many accomplishments of head and heart. Chief among these was her con- geniality and willing co-operation in making the family home the happiest and most de- sired place in the world. The only child born to this union is Oscar N., who was born in 1874. He is now the secretary and treasurer of the Advance Manufacturing Company. of which his father is the presi- dent and principal owner. Oscar N. was educated in the public schools of Hamilton and in the Cincinnati Technical School. He is a thorough machinist and practical busi-

ness man. His home is still under the par- ental roof. Mr. Ritchie was appointed in 1892, by President Harrison, as a federal commissioner of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. He was chosen as chairman of the committee on machinery, and assisted in planning and installing the marvelous exhibit in Machinery Hall.

The subject is well advanced in the mys- teries of the Masonic fraternity, having at- tained to the thirty-second degree. He is also prominently identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, in each of which organizations he has passed the prin- cipal official stations. He and family are members of the Christian church.

OAKEY V. PARRISH.

It is not an easy task to describe ade- quately a man who has led an eminently ac- tive and busy life and who has attained a position of relative distinction in the com- munity with which his interests are allied. But biography finds its most perfect justifi- cation, nevertheless, in the tracing and re- cording of such a life history. It is, then, with a full appreciation of all that is de- manded and of the painstaking scrutiny that must be accorded each statement. and yet with a feeling of satisfaction, that the writer essays the task of touching briefly upon the details of such a record as has been that of the honored subject whose life now comes under review.

O. V. Parrish is a native son of the old Keystone state, having first seen the light of day at West Chester, Butler county, on the

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16th of October, 1844. His parents were the firm was known by the style of O. V .. Jared and Phoebe (Van Hise) Parrish, the Parrish & Son. The firm has been phenom- enally successful in the business lines in which it is engaged and has long com- manded the confidence of the public, this being evidenced by the large share of patron- age which it has received. The subject and his son are both men of sterling worth and integrity of character and have honestly earned the enviable position which they now occupy in the community. In April, 1873, Mr. Parrish organized the Home Loan and Building Association and continued as its secretary and manager for a period of thirty years, building up the assets to three-quar- ters of a million dollars, and paying to the stockholders a half million dollars in divi- dends. former a native of Kentucky and the latter of New Jersey. The subject is indebted to the schools of his native village for his early educational advantages, which were supplemented by an attendance of three years at Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio. At this time the country was in the midst of that terrible internecine struggle, the greatest civil conflict in all history, and feel- ing that his country needed his services to as- sist in the suppression of the insurrection, Mr. Parrish enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving from May 16, 1864, to September 7, 1864, receiving an honorable discharge at the close of his service. Upon his return from military service Mr. Parrish On the 7th of October, 1868, at Dayton, Ohio, Mr. Parrish was united in marriage with Miss Augusta S. Curtis, a union which resulted in the birth of the following chil- dren : Charles Jared, Luella C., Elizabeth F. and Lee N. Mr. Parrish's religious belief is in harmony with the creed of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and he takes an ac- tive interest in all matters affecting the wel- fare of the congregation with which he is affiliated. Politically he has always been a Republican and has been a delegate to many important county, district and state conven- tions of his party and was a delegate to the national convention at Philadelphia in 1900, at which William McKinley was renomi- nated for the presidency. April 16, 1887, Governor Joseph B. Foraker appointed Mr. Parrish a member of the board of affairs for Hamilton, and on January 6, 1902, Gov- ernor George K. Nash appointed him a member of the board of trustees of Miami University. May 25, 1893, he was appointed entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he completed his collegiate education, which had been interrupted by his enlistment in the army. In 1866 he entered into busi- ness at Dayton, Ohio, but a year later he went to Cincinnati, where he engaged in the sewing machine business. In 1869 he came to Hamilton, Butler county, and for a num- ber of years was here engaged as an agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He was fairly successful, but felt that he had not yet found the proper field for the exer- cise of his talents. He subsequently en- gaged in the real-estate business, with which he combined the selling of insurance policies. and such has been his success that he has since then given his continuous attention to these lines of business, meeting with a suc- cess commensurate with his efforts. For some time the firm was known as the Par- rish Agency. In 1893 Mr. Parrish took his son, Charles J. Parrish, into partnership and

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an aide-de-camp on the staff of Command- er-in-Chief A. G. Wessert, of the Grand Army of the Republic. On July 13, 1902, President Roosevelt appointed him postmas- ter of Hamilton. It is thus seen that the subject's abilities have been signally recog- nized on various occasions and today few men have a higher standing among their confreres or in the community at large. So- cially Mr. Parrish is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Knights of Pythias, having been a charter member of the local lodge of the last-named order. Aside from his business associations already referred to, Mr. Parrish is a member of the directorate of the Second National Bank of Hamilton and of the Cincinnati Trust Com- pany. In all the relations of life he has been found faithful to every trust confided in him and because of his genuine worth, courteous manners and genial disposition he has won and retains the warm regard of all with whom he associates, the latter including the best people of the county.

HARRY E. ENGLE.

Harry E. Engle. the efficient and pop- ular treasurer of Butler county, is a native of Zanesville, Muskingum county. Ohio. and was born on the 3d of October. 1838. His early years were spent in his native lo- cality. where he received a good practical education in the public schools. The family home was located at Putnam, Muskingum county, for many years, and there the sub- ject's father conducted a successful business. but he ended his days in Champaign county. where he passed away at the age of seventy-

five years. His name was David Engle, a native of Pennsylvania, of German anteced- ents. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Alexan- der, a native of Putnam, Ohio. She died in young womanhood, leaving a family of six children, the youngest of whom was an in- fant. The subject of this sketch never knew the priceless value of a mother's love, being but two years old at the time of her death. After that sad event in the family life. the children were scattered, and the family rela- tions were never afterward renewed. John was the eldest of the family. He went south in early life, and married a Miss Frierson in Columbia, Tennessee, where he was success- fully engaged in mercantile pursuits, when he died in middle life. He left a wife and several children who still reside in the vicin- ity of Columbia. The Frierson family is prominent and well known in that locality. The second born was William, who now re- sides at Springfield, Ohio. David. the third in order of birth, joined the forty-niners, and made the overland trip to California, where he lost his life. being killed by a run- away team. He left a wife and children on the Pacific coast. Sarah became Mrs. Sulli- van, and now resides in Illinois. Edward died in young manhood. at the age of twen- ty-five years. Harry E., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth, and George com- pletes the family circle. He is also deceased. so that one-half of the family have passed to the other shore.

Harry Engle was but a boy in his teens when he engaged in life's duties on his own account. He was employed as a clerk in Dayton for about ten years and became a resident of Butler county in 1860, though he was married in this county on the 22d of February, 1859. On that date he led to the

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marriage altar Miss Ida Ryerson, a daugh- ter of Michael F. and Eleanor Ryerson, a well-known and prominent pioneer family in Butler county. Mrs. Ryerson was a member of the Boylan family, who came from New Jersey in 1802, and soon there- after located in Butler county. The family made the trip down the Ohio from Pitts- burg in a flatboat and landed in Cincinnati in 1802. After his marriage Mr. Engle lo- cated on a farm two and a half miles south of Middletown, and there the family home has been continued for forty-five years. With the onward march of time it has been improved and beautified, and the building of the Cincinnati. Dayton & Toledo electric road has added materially to the conven- ience and attractiveness of "Engleside," the local name of the place. Since his induction into office Mr. Engle makes the trip daily from his country home to the office, return- ing to his pleasant home in the evening. Mrs. Engle enjoyed excellent educational advantages and is a lady of culture and re- finement. She completed her education in an institution of higher order than the pub- lic schools at Richmond. Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Engle have an interesting family of five children. the survivors of whom, by their culture and accomplishments, add greatly to the pleasure and enjoyments of the home circle. Miss Mary. the eldest of the family. occupies a prominent position in the public schools of Middletown, where she is employed as director of drawing. She is a young lady of exalted accomplishments and high literary attainments. After fin- ishing her scholastic work at Glendale (Ohio) Female College, her artistic talents were developed by attendance at the art schools of Boston and Chicago. She has

been employed in the Middletown schools for several years and is considered an adept in her chosen calling. Harry R. was the second born. After completing his school work, he accepted a lucrative position with the Harding Paper Company at Franklin, Ohio, where he now resides. He is married and has one child, a daughter. Miss Elean- or is her mother's companion and assistant in the domestic duties of the home. She was educated at the Methodist Female Sem- inary, Hillsboro. Ohio. Louis was married in girlhood, becoming the wife of George W. Hood, a native of Cincinnati, but after marriage a resident of Middletown. This happy union was severed in the morning of its beauty and loveliness, by taking away the central figure in a happy domestic life. Her death occurred at the age of twenty- four, leaving two sons and a daughter, Har- ned. Eleanor and Robert. The youngest of the family is Fred W., who is his father's efficient deputy. He is a young man with bright prospects for a career of prominence and usefulness. Like his sisters, he has en- joyed excellent educational advantages. while his early advancement to a position of trust and responsibility emphasizes his fit- ness and integrity.

The subject of this review has been active and prominent in local political affairs all his mature life. He is a recognized leader and wise counsellor in the ranks of the Dem- ocratic party. He has served in various minor offices in Lemon township, and on committees, etc. For six years he held the position of township clerk of his home town- ship, and served the people of Butler county as their treasurer, by appointment, from September. 1882, until September, 1883. He succeeded to the office at this time by

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 108

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