Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 109

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

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reason of the death of Thompson Gray, who was elected, but died during the inter- val between election and installment. On the election of W. S. Brown, in 1898, Mr. Engle was tendered the deputy treasurer- ship, but his personal affairs would not per- mit his acceptance until one year of Mr. Brown's first term had expired. He be- came the deputy treasurer in 1900, and served three years in that capacity. In rec- ognition of his ability and sterling integrity, he was nominated by his party in 1902, elected triumphantly, and took possession of the office as principal in September, 1903. He has surrounded himself with careful and obliging assistants, and launched upon his first term with years of successful experi- ence in the subordinate positions. It is us- ually a safe conclusion that a man who makes a success of his private affairs will be equally successful in the management of a public trust. Measured by this standard, the administration of Harry Engle bids fair to equal that of any of his predecessors.

Mr. Engle has never united with any re- ligious organization, though he is a liberal supporter of all worthy religious and benev- olent enterprises, and a believer in the di- vine realities of the Christian religion. His wife and daughter, Miss Mary, are members of the Freewill Baptist church, while the deceased daughter was a member of the same. Miss Eleanor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Engle sustains membership in the time-tested Ma- sonic fraternity, being a member of St. John's lodge at Dayton, Ohio. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor. On the maternal side, the subject is descended from Scotch royalty, the Alexanders being a very prominent family in Scotland, whose

history is thoroughly identified with the stirring and epoch-marking events of the fifteenth century.

LUKE BRANNON.

Luke Brannon, the very efficient and obliging sheriff of Butler county, is a native of the city of Hamilton, born on the 9th of December, 1859. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Brannon, early residents of the city and descendants of Irish ancestors. Luke possesses many of the characteristics peculiar to his nationality, being genial and witty, a warm friend in time of need, but brave and fearless in the discharge of official duty. He seems specially qualified for po- sitions requiring the exercise of strong will power, ready and prompt action in emer- gency, and utter disregard of personal safety in places of danger. For a number of years prior to 1890 he was a constable of Hamil- ton township, and on the date last written he was chosen by Sheriff Peter Bisdorf as his first deputy, taking possession of that office on the 6th of January, 1900. During a period of four years in this position he demonstrated his entire fitness for the higher office, to which he was inducted on the 4th of January, 1904. It is largely due to Mr. Brannon's efficiency that the term of Sheriff Bisdorf, just closed, was one of the best in the history of Butler county. It may be said incidentally that the term of Sheriff Bisdorf was one fraught with great responsibilities and active warfare against an unusually large number of criminals. Perhaps no sher- iff in Butler county was ever called upon to arrest and bring to trial as great a number

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of murderers, nor to employ greater detec- tive ability in ferreting out crime and in placing it where it belonged. In the dis- charge of this onerous duty Deputy Sheriff Brannon's services were in constant de- mand and his counsels eagerly sought. The notorious Knapp trial was one of several wherein the criminals were brought to the electric chair. It is reliably stated that Mr. Brannon, alone and single-handed, rescued a would-be murderer from the hands of an infuriated mob, even after the rope had been adjusted about the victim's neck, and brought him to Hamilton, where he received a legal trial and, probably, a just conviction. In the administration of the affairs of the sheriff's office Mr. Brannon is thoroughly familiar with every detail, and is prompt, methodical and efficient. The people of Butler county have made no mistake in ele- vating the deputy to the principalship in one of the most important offices within the gift of the county. Mr. Brannon is a man who will render a good account of his steward- ship and bring honor to himself and satisfac- tion to his constituency. As an official he is careful and painstaking, discharging his duties with proper regard to the rights of others and a sympathetic consideration for the criminal. But he never hesitates in the performance of any duty, believing in the majesty of the law and the ultimate correc- tion of wrongs through legal channels.

Luke Brannon has spent his entire life in Butler county. He is one of the most widely known men in the county, and each day of his life he comes in contact with men whose heads are whitening with years, with whom he played "hide and seek" in the knee breeches of thoughtless, happy youth. He was educated in the city schools and was

considered a rather delicate youth and un- able to engage in life's activities until he was well past the years of maturity. He possesses a strong will power, which charac- teristic has aided him in battling disease to as great an extent possibly as in fighting the battles of later life.

Mr. Brannon was married on the 6th of January, 1896, when he chose for his life companion Miss Emma K. Yauck, a most estimable young lady, with whom he spent five years of wedded life. Two bright chil- dren came to bless the domestic fireside and keep green the memory of the sainted mother, who passed away, after a brief ill- ness, on the 27th of March, 1901. No one without experience can suitably picture the bereavement of such an hour. To be left on the threshold of life's young morning ob- scures the light of hope and renders the fu- ture dark and gloomy; but the bereavement is doubly severe when young and helpless children, the fruit of a happy marriage, are left motherless and dependent. But in the society of Marie and Luke, Jr., Mr. Bran- non has learned to bear his poignant grief and to feel grateful to divine providence for the remaining links in the claim of domestic felicity.

The subject has been allied with the Democratic party in Butler county from his early youth, and is one of the leaders in local politics. For the benefit of future readers of these pages, it may be said that local De- mocracy is not a unit in Butler county. There are two or more factions claiming supremacy, and each succeeding to a greater or less extent at each local election. Rec- ognizing this branch in the party politic, Mr. Brannon held aloof from factional con- tentions and entered the contest at the pri-

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mary election untrammeled by promises or impossible conditions. The primary elec- tion which made him the nominee was hotly contested by a number of prominent men, any one of whom would have filled the posi- tion acceptably and well. The good-natured rivalry was prosecuted with vigor and intel- ligence during a long anteprimary cam- paign. But Mr. Brannon received a nice plurality over all contestants and thus be- came his party's standard bearer, ordinarily equivalent to an election in Butler county. At the polls he received a flattering majority over his Republican contestant. After a pe- riod of three years devoted to the rearing and educating of his children, to whom Mr. Brannon filled the place as nearly as possi- ble of both father and mother, he was hap- pily remarried on the 29th day of Decem- ber, 1903. choosing for his companion and helpmeet Miss Catherine Hoderlein, of Hamilton, Ohio. The parents of the sub- ject were married in Hamilton fifty-three years ago and have spent their lives in this city. Of their family of seven sons and two daughters, all are living, including the parents, who are both hale and hearty.

JOHN L. HOFFMAN. JR.

The subject of this review is the able and popular incumbent of the office of clerk of the courts of Butler county, and has here passed virtually his entire life.

Mr. Hoffman was born in the city of Hamilton, on the 19th of October, 1862, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Petri) Hoffman. The father of our subject was born in Ausbach Byrne, Germany, and came

to the United States in 1851, being then a lad of thirteen years. He located in Hamil- ton, this county, where he has ever since maintained his home, having devoted the active years of his life to his trade, that of blacksmith, and being known as one of the sterling citizens of Hamilton, where he is now living practically retired. He served for three years in the Civil war, as a mem- ber of the Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and re-enlisted as a veteran, but soon afterward received injuries which resulted in his discharge from the service, on ac- count of disability. Ever since that time his health has been somewhat precarious. His devoted wife passed away in 1891, at the age of forty-eight years. They became the par- ents of six sons and two daughters, the im- mediate subject of this sketch being the eld- est.

John L. Hoffman, Jr., received his early educational discipline in the public schools of his native city, and at the age of thirteen years he began work in the manufactory of the firm of Long & Allstatter Company, and after he had been thus engaged for a short time his services ceased by reason of a most deplorable accident, his escape from death being almost miraculous. He was caught by a machine belt and his right arm was torn from his body, his right leg broken and both feet crushed, rendering him a crip- ple for life. This accident occurred on the 17th of February, 1876, and after recover- ing as far as could be from his terrible in- juries Mr. Hoffman attended school for ten months, at the expiration of which he ini- tiated his independent career. He first se- cured a position in the office of a local coal yard, where he was employed eighteen months, receiving one dollar a week for his

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services. His employer, Peter C. Schneider, took special pains in teaching him book- keeping and instructing him in general busi- ness forms and methods and while thus working Mr. Hoffman also attended night school for ten weeks, and so perfected his knowledge that thereafter he was able to materially add to his income by keeping books at night for physicians and small mer- cantile concerns. The ambition and tenacity of purpose of the young man were thus man- ifested and he has gained preferment through his own efforts and fidelity, having the implicit confidence and high regard of all who know him. He left the employ of Mr. Schneider in 1878 and secured a posi- tion in the office of Jacob Reister, who was likewise a coal dealer, and with this gentle- man he remained for five and one-half years. continuing to devote his evenings to the handling of the bookkeeping for merchants, physicians and others, having all the work he could do along this line. On the 16th of July, 1883. Mr. Hoffman secured the po- sition of bookkeeper for the firm of Carr & Brown, of Hamilton, who own the largest flouring-mill plant in the Miami valley, and with this firm he remained for sixteen years. resigning to enter upon the duties of the of- fice of clerk of the courts, to which he was elected in the fall of 1898 and in which ca- pacity he has ever since continued to serve. with marked efficiency and to the satisfac- tion of all concerned. He took up his offi- cial duties in August, 1899. and was re- elected without opposition in 1901. being the only candidate before the primaries, though confronted by an opponent on the opposition ticket. He is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party and takes an active part in its local work.

but he has many friends in the Republican ranks, as is evident from the support which he has received in connection with his elec- tion to office. Mr. Hoffman is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 14, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Butler Encampment, No. 7, and has held honored stations in the order; he is also a member of Hamilton Lodge, No. 93, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Hamilton Camp, No. 4448, Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife are members of St. Paul's Ger- .man Protestant church.

On the 2d of February, 1888, Mr. Hoff- man was united in marriage to Miss Caro- line M. Suttner, who was born and reared in Hamilton, being a daughter of Conrad and Katherine Suttner, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have one child. George William, who was born Au- gust 9. 1889. and who is now a student in the high school.

ABRAHAM G. CLENDENIN.

Nearly eighty years have dissolved in the mists of time during the lifetime of the venerable subject of this review, a period of time including the most momentous events and witnessing the most phenomenal growth and development in all the annals of human history. A life of such length, however devoid of event or tragic feature, is not without its lessons of value and it is hoped the following brief outline of a pro- tracted and useful career and the honorable tribute to modest manly worth may be read with profit by the young man whose achieve- ments are yet to be wrought out and whose

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destiny is a matter for the future to deter- mine. Paternally, Abraham G. Clendenin was descended from sturdy Irish stock and his genealogy in this country goes back to the colonial period. Some time prior to the war of the Revolution three Clendenin brothers, Isaac, John and William, left their native home in the Emerald Isle and came to America, the first named settling at Princeton, New Jersey, where he married the daughter of a well-to-do Dutch immi- grant and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness. He spent the remainder of his life in that city, accumulated considerable means and became widely and favorably known in the public as well as the commercial circles of his adopted commonwealth. George Clendenin, son of Isaac and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in New Jer- sey and, when a young man, went to New York city, where he devoted his active life to teaming and draying. He married, in New York, Miss Nancy Crane and reared a family of six children, only two of whom survive, Abraham G., of this review, and Elizabeth, widow of the late George Straut, who at the time of his death was one of the wealthy business men of New York city.

Abraham Clendenin was born in the city of New York, November 27, 1822, and spent the first twenty-three years of his life in the place of his nativity. His education was neglected and at the early age of ten years he began an apprenticeship to a blacksmith, with whom he remained until attaining his majority, receiving in addition to his board the sum of twenty-five dollars for each of the first two years, after which his yearly salary was increased to thirty dollars. At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Clendenin began as a journeyman at his trade and was

thus engaged in New York city until 1845, when he came to Ohio, locating at Franklin, where he followed his trade for some months at fairly liberal wages. Leaving that place he worked successively in Dayton and Cin- cinnati and in June, 1847, he came to Mid- dletown, where he was employed as a jour- neyman during the eleven years following. In 1858 Mr. Clendenin established a shop of his own in the village of Heno, across the river from Middletown, and in due time built up a large and lucrative business, laying aside in the course of the six years and eight months spent at that place the sum of six- teen hundred dollars, besides providing him- self with a valuable outfit of tools and a full complement of household goods, to say noth- ing of other personal property which a well- to-do mechanic usually collects. With this substantial start he sold his shop in Heno and, returning to Middletown, opened the large blacksmithing establishment which he operated with such marked success for so many years, in addition to which he also ran a boarding house for a considerable time, realizing almost as liberal profits from the latter as he received from his regular busi- ness.

After working at his trade until the year 1869, Mr. Clendenin disposed of his shop and turned his attention to a less strenuous line of business, entering into the sale of groceries for four years, when he engaged in the sale of sewing machines for a local agent whose interests he represented in Middle- town and adjacent territory for a limited period. Severing his connection with his employer, he accepted the agency for the Victor Sewing Machine Company, and after a few years began selling the Domestic ma- chines, which he handled and to which he

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devoted especial attention from about 1879 up to the time of his death. Mr. Clenden- in's stand on Third street was one of the old, reliable and best-known business places in the city and from his rooms he sent out hundreds of machines every year, his pat- ronage, which was very large, extend- ing over a considerable portion of But- ler county and parts of counties ad- joining. His long experience in hand- ling machines made him familiar with the business in its every detail and not- withstanding his protracted age and the in- firmities naturally incident thereto, he was numbered among the most aggressive and efficient agents of the Domestic Company in the state of Ohio. Mr. Clendenin, in ad- dition to his long and active business career. had a military record, having served from May 2, 1864. to September 8th of the same year in Company G, One Hundred and Six- ty-seventh Ohio Infantry, for which service he was the recipient of a liberal pension.

In politics Mr. Clendenin was originally a Democrat, but during his later years he gave his support to the Prohibition party. the liquor evil in his judgment being a greater and more important matter to the American people than any of the various issues which attract public attention. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, be- longing to Jefferson Lodge, No. 90, Middletown Chapter, No. 87, Royal Arch Masons, and Reed Commandery, No. 6, at Dayton, in all of which branches he held high official positions and received many honors. Religiously, the Baptist church represented his creed and for many years he was an in- fluential member and leading worker of the congregation worshiping in Middletown,

also a generous contributor to its support and to its various lines of missionary and charitable work.

In the year 1850 Mr. Clendenin entered the marriage relations with Miss Margaret J. Pierce, who was born near Winchester, Virginia, July 13, 1826, and who accom- panied her parents to Butler county, Ohio, in the year 1832. Of the eight children born to this marriage, only three survive, namely : Frank P., whose birth occurred September 6, 1852; Henry N., June 13, 1856, and James L., who first saw the light of day on October 22, 1860. Abraham G. Clendenin died October 4, 1903, and his death was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends.

G. A. HERMANN, M. D.

This well-known and popular physician of Hamilton is a native of Louisville, Ken- tucky, and was born on the 17th of August. 1864. His father, Rev. Charles A. Her- mann. D. D., was then pastor of a church in Louisville, at which point he was dis- charged, after serving three months' time in the Union army at the beginning of the - Civil war. A complete and accurate history of Butler county could not be written with- out giving more than a passing notice of the life character of Rev. Charles A. Hermann, hence, to avoid repetition, the reader is re- ferred to the personal sketch of this eminent divine, now gone to his reward. In this con- nection, however, it is necessary to mention briefly some of the leading characteristics of his life work. He was born in Germany, where he received a liberal education, and was graduated from the theological school

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at Ruebingen. In 1848 he came to America, being then a young man of eighteen years. At first he located at Long Island, New York, where he was engaged in manual services, working on a farm and in a brick yard. His superior talents were accidentally disclosed, and he was soon accorded the po- sition to which his attainment entitled him. In due time he received his first pastoral as- signment at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Re- sponding to the President's first call for troops, he enlisted in the Eighth New York Infantry, serving the prescribed term of three months. He was at Louisville when this term expired, and there he resumed his ministerial labors for the succeeding five years, and came to Hamilton in 1866. Here Rev. Hermann had pastoral charge of St. John's German Evangelical church, with an intermission of a few years, for thirty-seven years. Under his able pastorate, the church grew in numerical strength, from a few hun- dred to over two thousand communicants, while outlying missions were established, now included in three or four prosperous churches. In the secular affairs of life Rev. Hermann was equally zealous and influen- . tial. He was an ardent supporter of the public-school system and served many years as a member of the city board of school examiners, and was president of that body for several years. He was prominently identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Masonic bodies, and took an active interest in all phases of benevolent work. He was ever ready to respond to the relief of distress, and a willing helper in time of need. In his social life he carried the impress of a strong character and con- veyed to the observer a true appreciation of his vital piety and intensely religious nature.

His views on public questions were peculiar to himself and his habits of life savored of his independence of thought and action. He was always pleasant and agreeable to every one, regardless of the station in which they moved. This was one of the strong features in his pastoral life; human sympathy was a characteristic of his every-day work, and a broad philanthropy rendered it effective and beautiful. Rev. Hermann sustained ex- alted relations with the legislative machinery of his church and was president of the Cin- cinnati district conference for several years. This distinguished divine departed this life on the 10th of September, 1903, in the sixty- ninth year of his age. As previously inti- mated, a more complete sketch of the family appears in this volume, under proper title.

Dr. G. A. Hermann is the eldest in a family of three sons and four daughters born to Rev. C. A. and Anna (Bauer) Hermann. The mother is still living. Dr. Hermann re- ceived his elementary education, after the manner of minister's children generally, in the public schools of Hamilton, Cleveland and Steubenville, Ohio. He completed a thorough business course in the Iron City Commercial College at Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, and was engaged in the banking busi- ness in that city for nearly eight years. He entered the employ of the West End Savings Bank as teller, being advanced to the posi- tion of assistant cashier. But his inclination was toward professional life, with a strong preference for the medical. In the further- ance of this plan, he entered the Western Pennsylvania Medical College at Pittsburg. in the spring of 1893, and completed a thor- ough course in medicine, being graduated in the spring of 1896. As supplementary to ` this, he took an additional course in the Col-

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lege Clinic and Dispensary, serving also as interne during the years 1895-6.

During his residence in Pittsburg, Dr. Hermann was married and, after graduation, he brought his wife and daughter to Hamil- ton, where the parental home had been re- established. Here he engaged in practice in September. 1896, and soon demonstrated his superior ability along professional lines. Dr. Hermann at once took high rank among the physicians of the city and has achieved a de- gree of success beyond his most sanguine hopes. He enjoys a large and lucrative private practice, while he was recently ap- pointed to a five-years term as a member of the board of health. He is a careful and diligent student along professional lines, and keeps abreast of the onward march of the sciences of medicine and surgery. In fur- therance of this end, he has allied himself with all the leading professional societies, in the deliberations of which he takes an active part. Of these may be mentioned the Butler County Medical Society, the Union District (or Tri-State) Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society, the Ohio State Pediatric Society and the American Medi- cal Association. Of the social fraternities and beneficial or insurance orders he is also an active and influential member of the fol- lowing: Washington Lodge, No. 17, Free and Accepted Masons. Hamilton Chapter, No. 21, Royal Arch Masons, Hamilton Council, No. 19, Royal and Select Masters, Hamilton Commandery. No. 41, Knights Templar, of the Masonic bodies, while of the social and beneficial orders he is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Modern Woodmen of America, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Tribe of Ben Hur. He is the local medical examiner for all of

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 109

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