Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 119

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 119

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responsibility, performing his duties with ability and with inflexible regard to prin- ciple. His political life has been associated with the Democracy, and he has wielded no little influence in the councils of his party in this county. He is an active and valued member of St. John's German Evangelical church, in which he is a ruling elder. In 1882 his venerable mother joined him in America and remained a cherished member of his family circle until her death, in 1891. Mr. Bisdorf has been an active member of the Masonic fraternity about thirty-five years. In the city of Hamilton, in 1860, was solemnized the marriage of George Bis- dorf to Miss Katherine Streher, who has been a devoted wife and helpmeet, and they became the parents of ten children, of whom eight are living.

Peter Bisdorf, whose name initiates this article, secured his early education in the public schools of Hamilton and thus qualified himself for the active duties of life, while in the home circle he became familiar with the German language, which he speaks with as great fluency as does he the vernac- ular of his native land, this knowledge being of great value to him in his present position. After leaving the public schools he completed a thorough course in a busi- ness college, and thus on attaining to man's estate he was well equipped for the battle of life. After his school days he was en- gaged in various lines of business occupa- tion until the political campaign of 1899, when he consented to permit his name to be used in the Democratic county convention in connection with the nomination for sheriff. His personal popularity became distinctively manifest in the nominating convention, where he received the highest

number of votes ever given to any candi- date for county office, and this signal vic- tory was followed by an equally significant triumph at the polls, for the ensuing election rolled up to his credit the highest number of votes accorded to any candidate on the ticket. He assumed the active duties of the shrievalty on the first Monday of January, 1900, and so acceptable and able was his administration that he was chosen as his own successor in the election of 1901. Upon being inducted into this important office Sheriff Bisdorf surrounded himself with competent and thoroughly trustworthy deputies and office assistants, and his regime stands creditable alike to himself, his corps of assistants and to the people of the county. He has now passed the statu- tory close of his official career, and he can feel a full measure of personal satisfaction in the thought that he did his best as a public servant and that his efforts were fully appreciated in the county, his ad- ministration having been careful and con- servative. He made no effort to expand his official functions by irregular means for the purpose of increasing his emol- ument, but his aim was solely to dis- charge his duties promptly and efficiently for the conservation of law and order and good government. He dealt with a number of desperate criminals and was never found lacking in courage, though he showed a deep humanitarian spirit and did not lack in sym- pathy for those whose lives have been cast in shadow through their own malefactions. He has been a zealous worker in the cause of the Democratic party and a prominent figure in its local contingent. Fraternally the sub- ject is identified with Hamilton Lodge, No. 93, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,

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and also with the local organization of the Royal Arcanum, the Columbia Mutual Aid Society and the Monkey Mutual Aid So- ciety. It is probable that the term "mon- key" is used for euphony; certainly not in any sense of reproach, for the society men- tioned numbers among its members a large following of the representative young men of Hamilton. The writer is inspired to add this word of explanation in order to fore- fend the popular inference that "any mon- key" can join the order. This is an as- semblage of "select monkeys," who have to pass a crucial test and bear the ignominy of serving a period of probation before attain- ing the highest rank in exalted monkeyship.

In the city of Hamilton, on the 21st of April. 1886, Mr. Bisdorf was united in marriage to Miss Clara Heckroth, who was born and reared in this city. where she is a favorite in social circles and who presides with gracious dignity in the home circle. Of this union were born seven children, of whom five are living, Bertha, Stella, Elsie, Peter, Jr., and Warren G.

SLOANE GORDON.

One of the best known young men of Butler county, Ohio, and one whose ac- quaintance extends over almost the entire country, is he whose name appears above. His grandparents were of Scotch-Irish blood on the paternal side, while English- Welsh blood predominated on the maternal side. His maternal grandfather was a na- tive of the state of Virginia and was a relative of President Thomas Jefferson. The subject's parents were James S. and

Margaret C. Turpin. The father was one of the most prominent newspaper corres- pondents of his day, having written under the non de plume of "Ithuriel" in the Cin- cinnati Enquirer, New York World, Phila- delphia Press and other leading metropoli- tan papers. It thus becomes apparent that the subject must have inherited a natural tendency to or liking for the work which he has so successfully carried forth during the greater part of his active years.

Sloane Gordon is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having first seen the light of day at Foster's Crossing, Warren county, Ohio, on the Ist day of March, 1871. He was educated in the country schools at Foster's Crossing and at Newton, Ohio, and in the public schools of Washington, Dis- trict of Columbia ; Paris, Illinois, and in the Hughes high school of Cincinnati, Ohio, though he did not graduate from the latter. His first practical experience on his own account was in the capacity of a farmer boy, his compensation being five dollars per month and "found." In 1887 he went to Cincinnati and procured employment as a clerk in the office of Proctor & Gamble, the noted soap manufacturers, there receiving a good training in business methods. He re- signed this position in 1891 to accept that of invoice clerk with the Wilson & Mc- Callay Tobacco Company. at Middletown, Ohio, but at the end of two years he also relinquished this position and became a re- porter on the staff of the Middletown Sig- nal, of which paper he subsequently became editor. A Democrat in political faith, he always took a keen interest in the trend of passing events and exhibited a remarkable insight into political situations, which, to- gether with his trenchant and forceful style

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of writing, led to his engagement by the Cincinnati Enquirer as traveling corres- pondent, in which capacity he visited all parts of the country, describing accurately and succinctly the political conditions in each section he visited. He has reported many political conventions of both the dominant parties, both state and national, and was one of five correspondents who made the tour of the entire country with William Jennings Bryan during the memor- able campaign of 1900. He enjoys the per- sonal acquaintance and friendship of Mr. Bryan and many other leading men of both parties and is esteemed highly because of the faithful and able accounts he has given the public of leading events which have come under his notice.

On the 24th of June, 1896, the subject was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Y. Crawford, the daughter of James and Belle Crawford, whose father is a pioneer resi- dent of Butler county and a leading mer- chant of Middletown. To this union have been born two children, James Sloane, who died in 1898, and Robert. who was born May 28, 1900. Socially he is affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In all the relations of life the subject has been true to every trust and today no man stands higher in popular esteem than does he.

GEORGE KOLBENSTATTER.

George Kolbenstatter, who is one of the three trustees of Fairfield township. Butler county. Ohio, was born on a farm in Delhi township. Hamilton county, Ohio, on the 8th of August. 1854. His parents, Chris-

topher and Sophia (Kern) Kolbenstatter, were born and reared in Bavaria, Germany, where they were also married. They came to the United States in 1850 and, landing at Baltimore, came direct to Cincinnati, re- moving thence to a farm in Delhi township. In 1862 they came to Fairfield township, Butler county, where they lived the balance of their lives, the father dying in March, 1886, aged sixty-five years, and the mother on January 10, 1904, aged seventy-six years. The father followed trucking and small farming all his life and had a stand in the market at Hamilton for many years, and was well and favorably known. To these parents the following children were born : Mary (died in infancy,) George (the sub- ject), John, Mary (second; died in infancy), Louisa and Fred M.

The subject of this sketch received a common-school education. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, and worked on the truck farm and "stood market" with his father in Ham- ilton. In 1877. at the above mentioned age, he married and then set up an independent home for himself and wife. He inherited the old family farm, near Hamilton, and still continues trucking and fruit farming. He is a Republican in politics and in April, 1902. he was elected as a trustee of Fair- field township, for a term of three years.

On February 7, 1877, Mr. Kolbenstatter was married to Miss Annie Appleby, who was born in Monmouth, Illinois, in 1858, being the daughter of Thomas and Maria Appleby. She died March 10, 1904. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kolbenstatter children were born as follows: William C .. Edward G .. Louisa, Walter. Charles and Frankie, the latter being now deceased. In

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all the relations of life the subject has proved faithful to every trust and because of his sterling personal qualities has won and retains a host of warm personal friends.

STANLEY SHAFFER.

Stanley Shaffer, a well-known attorney in Hamilton, was born in this city on the 5th of October, 1861. He is the son of William Shaffer, a well-known and success- ful business man, who operated an extensive pork-packing establishment in Cincinnati in the days when that city was considered the "Queen of the West" along the lines of that and kindred industries. William Shaffer's intercourse with Hamilton was continuous throughout his entire business life, and the old Shaffer homestead, a handsome sub- urban residence, is still occupied by mem- bers of his family. William Shaffer mar- ried in Rossville, now the first ward of Ham- ilton, Miss Susan Lewis, who came to this

city from New Jersey with her family. Both families were prominent in the early social and business affairs of Hamilton. They were the parents of a family of whom six still survive. and four of the sons were graduated from Yale College.

Stanley Shaffer spent the early years of his life in preparatory study. and was graduated from the Chickering Institute, at Cincinnati. in 1878. The year following he entered Yale. taking up the classical course. and was graduated with the class of 1883. Returning to his home in 1892. he took up a course in law at the Law School of Cin- cinnati, graduating in 1893. On the Ist of January. 1899. he formed a law partner-

ship with W. C. Shepherd under the firm title of Shepherd & Shaffer. They occupy offices in the Jefferson building, and are rated as one of the strong law firms in the city.

Mr. Shaffer is not a politician in any sense, though he is an ardent devotee to the single tax as advocated by the late Henry George.

THOMAS H. BATEMAN.

Thomas H. Bateman is a native of Cin- cinnati, born on the 13th of March, 1870. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, and, while yet a youth, secured a clerical position in the offices of the Ches- apeake & Ohio and the Big Four Railroads. At a later date he was promoted to the posi- tion of assistant depot agent in the employ of the Chesapeake & Ohio. During the memorable strike of 1894. owing to his sympathy and affiliations with the strikers, he lost his position and has never since re- turned to railroad work. In 1896 he came to Hamilton and was employed for a time as a salesman in a clothing house. This was followed by his appointment to a more lucrative position as day clerk in the police department. He was thus employed for several years. when he retired from the force. but in April. 1901. he was re- appointed to his old position. retaining that place until called to superintend the adver- tising department of the Hamilton Evening Sun. This is a popular Democratic daily. ably edited, and an advocate of the people's interest. regardless of "where the chips may fly." Its growing strength in the city and county is the best evidence that it has

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struck the key notes of popular sympathy. Mr. Bateman is manager of the advertising department of the Sun, a position which he is eminently qualified to fill. His favorable and extensive acquaintance in the city brings to the position the prestige of strong influence. Mr. Bateman was married on the IIth of May, 1892, to Miss Jennie Katerina Early. Three interesting children have resulted from this happy union : Thomas H .. Jr., Ida Dorothy and William Earley. The family are prominent in the so- cial functions of Hamilton and have high standing in the community.

J. E. WRIGHT.

J. E. Wright, vice-president and man- ager of the sales department of the Colum- bia Carriage Company, is a native of Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, born in 1859, and edu- cated in the schools of the Smoky City. Shortly after Horace Greeley's utterance of "Young man, go west." he obeyed the in- junction, but failed in the matter of grow- ing up with the country. The West did not meet Mr. Wright's expectations as a field for successful growth in the business world and he ventured to return home as far as Columbus, Ohio. There he entered the employ of the Columbus Buggy Com- pany, in the stock department. and later occupied a position in the company's office. He remained there some three years. when, in 1882. he accepted a more lucrative and responsible position with the Hiram W. Davis Carriage Company, of Cincinnati. After a short probationary service, he was made superintendent of the factory and so

continued until he resigned to associate himself with Thomas L. Curley, in the or- ganization of the Hamilton Buggy Com- pany. Later they disposed of their inter- ests together, and each became one of the incorporators of the now well-known Co- lumbia Carriage Company. Mr. Wright was made the vice-president and manager of the sales on the incorporation of the com- pany and has so continued to the present. It is largely due to his energy and business capacity that the products of this plant finds its way into every state and territory in the Union, and into the markets of several foreign countries. Mr. Wright is a thor- ough-going and systematic business man. He is a next door neighbor to his friend. Mr. Curley. and owns a handsome modern house on aristocratic Dayton street.

DAVID W. McCLUNG.

David W. McClung was born Decem- ber 18. 1831. in Seneca county, Ohio, and was reared on a farm, the homestead bor- dering on the Western Reserve. He re- ceived a good common-school education and afterwards attended the Seneca County Academy. at Republic, at which institution he prepared for college. In 1850 he entered Muskingum College. at New Concord. where he remained one term, and then en- tered Miami University, from which institu- tion he graduated in 1854. During his col- legiate course he had maintained himself largely by teaching and after graduation he resumed this profession, though in a higher field. His first position was as principal of the Hamilton high school, in which his suc-

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cess was so pronounced that he was chosen as superintendent and principal of the city schools, serving in this capacity from Sep- tember, 1854, until June, 1857. In Decem- ber of the latter year he associated with Col. Minor Millikin in conducting and editing the Hamilton Intelligencer, but retired from this paper in July, 1858, to prosecute the study of law. In 1860 he was appointed by Governor Dennison probate judge of Butler county, but at the outbreak of the Civil war he relinquished this position and enlisted as a private in Company F, Third Ohio In- fantry Regiment. A few days after his mus- ter in he was made quartermaster of Camp Dennison, with rank of captain, and in June, 1862, he was ordered to Camp Chase, Co- lumbus, to erect the prison pen. He was honorably mustered out of service on No- vember 8, 1865, having been breveted major of volunteers for valuable service rendered his country. During his services his money account with the government aggregated twenty-five million dollars and his property account about sixty million of dollars. In 1866 Major McClung returned to Hamil- ton and was elected president of the Second National Bank, filling this position for about eighteen months, at the end of which time he resigned and engaged in the manufacture of wook-working machinery. Subsequently he became superintendent and business manager of the Woodsdale Paper Company and in 1879 he removed to Cincinnati and was appointed assistant postmaster. In 1881 he became surveyor of the port in Cincinnati, serving as such until 1885 and in 1889 President Harrison appointed him collector of internal revenue for the third district of Ohio, filling this position until December I. 1893. He has served two periods as trus-

tee of Miami University. In politics he is a Republican and has taken prominent part' in the campaigns of his party, being well- informed on all questions of national mo- ment and a ready debater on the great ques- tions of the day. On March 19, 1861, Ma- jor McClung married Miss Anna Carter Harrison, granddaughter of President Wil- liam Henry Harrison.

WILLIAM H. TODHUNTER.

The name borne by the subject of this review is an honored one in southern Ohio, with whose history it has been long, prom- inently and intimately identified. William H. Todhunter has well upheld the prestige of his patronymic, as a representative mem- ber of the bar of the state, as a public-spir- ited citizen and as a man of affairs. He has passed practically his entire life in this county, and it is a matter of gratification to the publishers of this work to incorporate a brief review of his family and personal history.

William H. Todhunter is a native of Monroe, Butler county, Ohio, where he was born on the 20th of May, 1844, being a son of John D. and Hannah W. (Clark) Tod- hunter, the former of whom was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1811, while his death occurred in 1874. He was a farmer by vocation and was successful in temporal affairs; a man, too, of unbending integrity, unusual strength of character and mental force. His father, Jacob Tod- hunter, was one of the early settlers of War- ren county, Ohio. The mother was born in Butler county, in 1821, and her death

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occurred in 1893; she was a woman of gra- fessional studies by attending lectures in the cious and noble character, wielding an in- fluence for good upon all who came into her benign presence; and was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Monroe, as also was her husband. John Clark, her father, was one of the early set- tlers of Butler county. The paternal and maternal grandfathers of the subject were prominent in the civic and industrial life of this section of the state and were, distinc- tively, men of affairs. The Todhunter line- age is traced back to pure English origin, and the first of the name in the new world settled in Virginia in the early colonial epoch, and came of good Quaker stock. From the Old Dominion representatives of the family came westward into Kentucky and Ohio, following the course of empire, and today numerous scions of the parent stock in America are to be found in the two states mentioned, as well as in Iowa, other western commonwealths and along the Pa- cific . slope. Incidentally it may be noted that a singular family trait seems to have 'been inherent in each generation,-a great love for horses, their rearing and training.

William H. Todhunter received his early educational discipline in the common schools of his native town and in the Pres- byterian Academy at the same place, while in 1863 he matriculated in the Ohio Wes- leyan University, at Delaware, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1867, receiving the usual degrees. There- after he was for a time employed as an in- structor in Warrenton College, Missouri, after which he returned to Ohio and took up the study of law under the preceptorship of the firm of Doty & Gunckel, of Middle- town, Ohio. Later he prosecuted his pro-

Chicago Law School, being admitted to the bar of Ohio by the supreme court of the state in 1871. He settled in Middletown and initiated the active practice of his pro- fession, which he has steadily and thought- fully pursued to the present time. Mr. Todhunter has been from his youth a man of studious habits, deeply interested in scientific, moral and social questions and has been an extensive and appreciative gen- eral reader, aside from his unceasing de- votion to the literature of his profession, keeping in close touch with all the modern phases of public thought. He has given much time to the study of the theory of evo- lution, biology, plant life, economics, the origin of the books of the Bible, their canonical selection and placing, and influ- ence of the Book upon the world. All this labor and thought have conspired to make him a man of liberal views and safe judg- ment. Mr. Todhunter is imbued with the true spirit of humanitarianism and has given much time to the elevation of his home city, the cause of education, both through the energies of the church and the civic right- eousness of good citizenship. In his profes- sional life he has been plain, earnest and devoted, realizing the supreme majesty of the law, and striving always to uphold it in the interests of justice, humanity and good government. In the early seventies Mr. Todhunter was associated with Capt. D. V. Bonnell in the enterprise of transporting freight by canal from Middletown to Cin- cinnati, being identified with this under- taking for several years. He was one of the promoters of the Middletown Journal, which was founded in 1858 by the Brock Brothers, later becoming one of its owners;

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and was concerned in the initial steps for the establishment of the Daily Journal and the equipment of a large printing establish- ment, under the firm name of W. H. Tod- hunter & Company. In 1899 he disposed of his interests in this enterprise to its present owner.

In politics. Mr. Todhunter has given an unwavering allegiance to the Republican party from the time of attaining his legal majority, and. while he has been an earnest worker in the promotion of its principles, he has not sought nor desired the honors or emoluments of public office; he has, how- ever, manifested his deep civic pride and interest in public affairs by consenting to serve his city in offices not political in their significance, having been a member of the city board of education for the long period of twelve years, while for fifteen years he has been a member of the board of school examiners. Mr. Todhunter was unanimously chosen as secretary of the in- dustrial commission of his city, which com- mission had in hand the expenditure of one hundred thousand dollars, voted by the peo- ple a few years ago for its promotion of new industries in Middletown. With the same unanimity. he was chosen as presi- dent of the commission having in charge the erection of the soldiers and sailors' monument, which unique but striking shaft now stands in Monument Place in Wood- side cemetery. To his efforts was mainly due the securing of this beautiful and silent teacher of patriotism for this city. He is an easy and graceful public speaker, draw- ing upon his wide storehouse of knowledge for illustrations and precept, utilizing a dic- tion classical in its precision, felicity and directness, and is recognized as an easy

and facile writer on subjects in his field of thought. He has been for several years a member of the board of health of his home city, and in this connection he rendered no nominal service, but has given the same attention and care to his official duties that he does to all other work. Mr. Todhunter is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of several literary clubs in the city, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1858, having held official preferment in the same for the past thirty years. He was one of the members of the building committee which had in charge the erection of the large stone church which was built in his home city in 1891, at a cost of fifty thousand dollars, and was secretary of the committee. His aim, and that of his colleagues, was to secure the ultimate freedom of the church from the burden of debt, and to this end he gave much time, effort and money. This end was finally at- tained only a few months ago. He has been prominent in all departments of the church work, and for twelve years served as the very efficient superintendent of its Sunday school.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 119

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