Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 125

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 125

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Seminoles. In 1875 he was elected state Middletown schools and later Farmers' Col- treasurer of Ohio and in 1877 was again nominated for the office, but suffered defeat. On September 6, 1831, Major Millikin was united in marriage to Miss Mary Greenlee Hough and to this union were born four children, Minor, Daniel, Joseph and Mary. The husband and father passed away in 1884.

THOMAS SLADE

was born in Liberty township, Butler county, Ohio, January 5, 1824. His mother was a sister of the Rev. Arthur Elliott. the noted Methodist divine, and also a sister of the mother of the late Hon. Daniel WV. Voorhees, United States senator from Indiana. Mr. Slade received his education in the public schools and in 1849 removed to Fairfield township, this county. He started in life comparatively poor, but became a successful farmer and at the time of his death was the possessor of a competence, owning six hundred acres of land in Fairfield township. He was benevolent, donating much money to church uses. He held many public offices, having been for six years trustee of Fairfield town- ship and for many years a school director and supervisor. In 1879 he was elected county commissioner and re-elected in 1882, being regarded as the leader of the board and conducting many improvements of a substantial character, including the county infirmary. On December 18, 1845, he was married to Miss Rosana Vinnedge, five chil- dren being born to this union. Mr. Slade died April 20, 1891.

FERDINAND VANDERVEER

lege, near Cincinnati. He read law and in 1845 was admitted to practice at Memphis, Tennessee, shortly afterwards returning to Hamilton and continuing his legal studies. In May, 1846, Mr. VanDerveer enlisted for service in the Mexican war and in Septem- ber was elected captain of his company over three lieutenants. He was noted for his coolness and bravery and upon his return home was presented with a fine sword and sash by the citizens of Middletown. In 1847 he was elected sheriff of Butler county and was nominated for the second term, but was defeated. In 1849, and again in 1860, he edited the Hamilton Telegraph, the organ of the Democratic party in that county. In 1860 he was elected prosecuting attorney and sent more criminals to the pen- itentiary than any other prosecuting attor- ney that ever held the office. At the break- ing out of the Civil war he organized the Thirty-fifth Ohio Regiment and was com- missioned as colonel. At the battle of Chickamauga he commanded a brigade and because of his conduct here he was made a brigadier general. In 1865 he was appointed internal revenue collector for the third dis- trict of Ohio, and in March, 1885, was ap- pointed postmaster, resigning this position the following December. In 1886 he was elected judge of the court of common pleas and was re-elected in 1891. His death oc- curred November 5. 1892.

JOHN S. EARHEART

was born in Jacksonburg, Butler county, Ohio, March 10, 1824. and accompanied his parents to Hamilton when but two years of age. After having completed the course in the common schools, he attended the Ham-

was born in Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, February 27, 1825. He attended the ilton Academy and later the Ohio Farmers'

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College. He made a study of civil engineer- ing and assisted his father in the construc- tion of turnpikes and the Hamilton hy- draulic canal, also engaging in land survey- ing and railway construction. The Ohio division of the Junction Railway was under his supervision and he also constructed the viaduct through the first ward of Hamil- ton. He was appointed chief engineer on the first section of the Miami and Erie canal, but on the outbreak of the Civil war resigned and was instrumental in the organization of the Thirty-fifth Regiment. He was ap- pointed captain of Company C. which he commanded until 1863, when he was ap- pointed topographical engineer on General Steadman's staff, afterwards being trans- ferred to General Brannon's staff, where he served until his death, on August 10, 1863.

COL. GEORGE F. ELLIOTT

was born in Liberty township, Butler county, Ohio, April 8, 1826, the son of Rev. Arthur Elliott, of Maryland. At the age of fourteen years George removed to St. Clair township, where he engaged in farming work, attending such schools as circum- stances permitted, though the greater part of his education was acquired in the school conducted in the basement of the old Epis- copal church at Hamilton. At the outbreak of the Civil war he, almost entirely unaided, raised Company C. Sixty-ninth Ohio Regi- ment. He was appointed major in August, 1862, and lieutenant colonel in the follow- ing October. His military record at the battle of Stone River was a crowning event of a brilliant career as a soldier. Just be- fore the close of the war his wife's illness caused him to resign and return home and he conducted the homestead farm until

1866. During the next three years he en- gaged in the distillery business in Hamilton and in 1873 he retired from business life and at the same time began his career in public service. He was made a member of the state board of equalization and in 1881 was nominated by the Democratic party for state senator, being defeated by a small mar- gin. In 1883 he was again nominated for the senate and was elected, making a long record of distinguished service in behalf of his district. Among his successful efforts in the assembly, the passing of the first ap- propriation bill for the Miami University was not the least important. In 1889 he was appointed to a place on the soldiers' re- lief commission and was also a member of the United States land commission, whose function was to recover abandoned or swamp lands and in 1888 he had jurisdiction over the states of Oregon and Washington. He was a director of the Second National Bank in the years 1868 and 1869 and was always an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1854 Colonel El- liott was married to Miss Eleanor Hueston, and his death occurred on the 13th of May, 1896.

SAMUEL SHAFFER

was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1816, his parents being of Pennsyl- vania German stock. He received a com- mon-school education and in youth was ap- prenticed to the trade of a chairmaker, at which he served three years. At the age of nineteen years he started in life for him- self, going to Pittsburg. where he worked for a time, then coming by boat to Cincin- nati. In 1835 he located in the village of Rossville, where he worked at his trade and

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subsequently was employed in Dayton and Columbus. Subsequently he started the chairmaking business for himself in Hamil- ton, his shop being located in a little build- ing in the rear of the Rumple block on B street. He followed his trade several years and was then employed as a clerk in the hardware and gun store of R. L. Howard, where he remained several years. He served two years as infirmary director and as a member of the Rossville fire department and was also a member of the village council from 1848 to 1852 and clerk of Rossville in 1854. Among other public capacities in which he served was that of marshal of Rossville, trustee of St. Clair township, the first real estate assessor of Hamilton and collector of income tax for Hamilton and Fairfield townships, continuing in the latter service until the office was abolished. Dur- ing the Civil war he was one of the commis- sioners sent by Hamilton to Pittsburg Land- ing with supplies for the relief of the Union soldiers. He was the oldest Odd Fellow in Hamilton and one of the oldest in the United States. His death occurred in Octo- ber, 1896. He was twice married, first to Miss Sarah Jane Mills, who survived the union but a brief time, and later he was mar- ried to Miss Mary Laird, several children being born to the union.

JOHN B. CORNELL

was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, Febru- ary 1, 1833, and was educated in a typical log school house of the period and later at a college in Cincinnati. He taught school a year and a half and then entered Doctor Peck's private bank in Hamilton as book- "keeper, remaining there until 1861, when the bank suspended. In 1862 he engaged as

bookkeeper with Gwyn & Campbell's gun- shop. In August, 1863, he was made cashier of the newly organized First National Bank, holding this position until his death. In 1878 he engaged in the ice business, becom- ing president of the Lake Erie Ice Com- pany. He was an abolitionist and a Re- publican all his life and was active in poli- tics. His fraternal affiliations were with the Masonic order. Mr. Cornell was married April 9, 1857, to Miss Phebe F. Hageman, who died May 24. 1864, leaving two chil- dren, Carrie and Charles. On April 18, 1866, Mr. Cornell was again married, one child, John, being the fruit of this union. His death occurred on the 2d of August, 1894.

ISAAC MATTHIAS

was born in Winchester, Virginia, February 6, 1805. He received his early education in the schools of the neighborhood and learned the trade of a coppersmith. In 1827 he located in Cincinnati and one year later, with his brother Jacob, settled in this city. The brothers engaged in the coppersmithing and turning business, to which they later added stoves and tinware. They engaged largely in furnishing equipments for distil- leries, of which there were many at that time in Butler county, this work being to them a source of very considerable profit. In 1839 the firm of Matthias, Reiser & Tra- ber was formed for the sale of dry goods, groceries and hardware, the business being carried on successfully until March, 1842. Then Mr. Matthias conducted a copper- smith and stove business alone until 1849, when his brother Jacob re-entered the firm, from which time they conducted the busi- ness until the subject's death, June 26, 1879.

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On December 2, 1829, Mr. Matthias was pension in 1842, he entered upon the prac- married to Miss Fanny Grooms and to this union were born five children : Emma, Ann, Jacob, George P. and Jennie. Mrs. Fannie Matthias died in January, 1852, and in No- vember, 1854, Mr. Matthias was married to Miss Mary Galbraith, who died January 6, 1895. after having become the mother of five children.

AARON L. SCHENCK

was a native of Butler county, Ohio, having been born in Fairfield township in 1804, and here received his education in the common schools. He followed farming as his vo- cation all through his life and accumulated a large estate. He early evinced a deep in- terest in public affairs and in 1849 was elect- ed sheriff, serving one term, his election be- ing the result of a fusion between a bolting faction of the Democratic party and the Whigs. He was a man of great force of character and was considered as one who would scorn to do a wrong to his fellow men. His death occurred in March. 1856.

CHARLES K. SMITH

was born February 15, 1799, in Cincinnati Ohio, and after receiving a preliminary com- mon-school education he was sent in 1812 to a grammar school in Oxford, where he remained for three years. He then came to Hamilton to live and was employed by John Reily, postmaster and clerk of the courts, and for two years the subject was employed as deputy postmaster and clerk. In 1821 he was chosen as recorder of Butler county and served in this capacity until 1835. Dur- ing this interim, in 1827. he was also chosen treasurer of the county. He later became cashier of the Bank of Hamilton and after his retirement from the bank, upon its sus-

tice of law, having been admitted to the bar in 1840 after legal study under the pre- ceptorship of John Woods. In 1848 he was elected associate judge by the general as- sembly and shortly afterwards, when the act creating the territory of Minnesota was passed by congress, Mr. Smith was made secretary of the territory, assuming his du- ties in May, 1849. He entered upon his duties with energy and became one of the most prominent founders of the empire of the Northwest. Upon his return from Min- nesota he bought his father's farm in St. Clair township, where he remained until his death, which occurred in September. 1866. He was a regular attendant of the United Presbyterian church and donated the lot on which the First Presbyterian church now stands. He was married November 21, 1827. to Miss Eleanor A. McMechan.

JOHN W. SOHN

was born in Windesheim, Germany, May 23. 1815, the son of Wilhelm Ludwig Sohn and Catherine Daehmer Sohn. He received a good education in a Latin school and gym- nasium in his native land and at the age of seventeen years became apprenticed to his father as a cooper and brewer. When nine- teen years old he embarked for America, landing at Baltimore, from whence he came west on foot, reaching Hamilton in Novem- ber. 1834. He assisted first in chopping wood at twenty-five cents a cord, but later went to work in a brewery and later in a pork house. About a year later he went to Cincinnati and for three years was employed as a brewer. Returning to Hamilton in 1839. he bought a brewery and through his' energetic efforts greatly extended the busi- ness until in 1846 he was enabled also to

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embark in tanning. These enterprises were he prepared himself as a civil engineer and also successful and he became owner of two large tanneries, one at Hamilton and one at Waverly, in Pike county. In connection with these businesses, he also opened a leather findings store, and was successful in all his enterprises. He had the largest vine- yard in Butler county and had great suc- cess in the growing of native wines. He added the packing of pork to his other en- terprises and was also interested in the manufacture of a wood working machine. Not satisfied with these businesses, he en- gaged in farming quite extensively, owning large tracts of land, and was also a member of the board of directors of the First Na- tional Bank. Originally Mr. Sohn was a stanch Democrat until the time of the Civil war. when he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party. His first public office was that of a member of the city council and he was also a member of the school board that introduced the union-school sys- tem in Hamilton. In 1849 he was elected county commissioner and in 1872 was the nominee of the Democratic party for con- gress, but was defeated. He was a leader among his countrymen in Butler county and was instrumental in organizing the first be- nevolent society of Germans in Cincinnati in 1836, which is still in existence. He was also president of the United German So- ciety. In 1840 Mr. Sohn was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Rosenfeld, a na- tive of Saxony, Germany, and to them were born nine children.

JOHN W. ERWIN

was born in New Castle county, Delaware, September 8, 1808, and was of Quaker stock. In 1828 he started westward on foot and stopped at Richmond, Indiana, where

for five years acted as engineer on the west division of the national road, extending from Indianapolis to the state line on the east. In the winter of 1835 and 1836 he located the Hamilton, Rossville, Summer- ville, Newcomb and Eaton turnpike, the first public work of the kind built of gravel west of the mountains. This was followed by other works of the same character. The hydraulic works at Hamilton, Middletown, Franklin and Troy were located by him, as were also works of like character at Goshen, Elkhart and Bristol, Indiana, and Constan- tine, Michigan. From 1837 for many years he was resident engineer on the Miami and Erie canal, being during his later years in charge of the third division of these works. In 1839 he was employed by the city to superintend the reclamation of a large tract of land known as the "Big Pond," in the southern part of Butler county, and was identified with nearly all the public works of the city of Hamilton. He also assisted in the erection of the first paper mill there in 1847 and assisted in building the first flouring mill run by water furnished by the hydraulic works of Hamil- ton. He made the preliminary surveys for the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail- way, and superintended the construction of the hydraulic works in Middletown and, in company with his brother, erected two paper mills at that place. He was also one of those who secured the tract of land that is now known as Greenwood Cemetery. He was an ardent Democrat and during the Civil war was identified with the war faction of that party, being known as a friend of the colored race. When Ft. Sumter was fired upon he united with the Republican party and remained so affiliated until his death.

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He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging also to the chapter, coun- cil and commandery of that order. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and sat in the grand lodge of that order. On May 12, 1833, Mr. Erwin was married to Miss Ann Eliza Chadwick, of New Jersey, and to them were born five children, Henry, Charles, Frank, Lutie and Mary. Mr. Erwin died April 17. 1889.

JAMES M'BRIDE

was born at Greencastle, Pennsylvania, No- vember 2, 1788, and though he received no school education, he by his persistent per- sonal efforts acquired a comprehensive knowledge. His first employment was as clerk for John Reily and he soon gained the confidence of all with whom he had deal- ings. Just prior to the war of 1812 he en- gaged with Joseph Hough in the shipment of flour to New Orleans, a venture which netted them a large profit. In 1813 Mr. McBride was elected sheriff and was re- elected in 1815, a noteworthy fact when it is considered that at that time this office was considered the chief one in the county and the subject was then but twenty-five years old. Mr. McBride took a deep in- terest in the affairs of the early history of this region and much of his research has been preserved and is in existence today in his own handwriting. Among the works produced by him was one published in 1869, entitled "Pioneer Biography of But- ler County." and he also wrote in 1831 a history of Hamilton, which was not published until a few years ago. Subse- quently Mr. McBride was elected mayor of Hamilton and while in this position aided in a codification of the city ordinances. He

was later employed in the office of the au- ditor of state at Columbus and in 1846 was elected clerk of courts of Butler county, holding this position until 1852. On Oc- tober 4, 1859, his death occurred, his wife having passed away but ten days previously.

JOHN M'ELWEE,

who was born in 1824 at Miamisburg, Ohio, received a classical education at Dayton and then studied medicine and graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, after which he located at Hamilton and there practiced his profession for a short time. He took a deep interest in public affairs and served two terms in the Ohio legislature, being also clerk of the Butler county courts from 1858 to 1864. He engaged in the dis- tilling business in Hamilton and Cincinnati and when the tax of one dollar per gallon was placed on whiskey he had a large amount on hand which was exempt from taxation, netting him an enormous profit. In 1861 in company with Doctor John P. P. Peck, he purchased the Telegraph, a Demo- cratic newspaper, and himself filled the edi- torial chair. Doctor McElwee was an op- ponent of the Civil war, while Doctor Peck was a war Democrat. In August, 1861, Doctor Peck objected to the publication in the Telegraph of the famous secession reso- lutions passed by a Democratic mass meet- ing held in Hamilton, in consequence of which Doctor McElwee retired from the partnership and in September, 1862, pur- chased the Oxford Union and removed the plant to Hamilton. In the same month he issued the first number of the True Tele- graph, which editorially denounced the war, the abolitionists and the President. In 1866 the Doctor superintended the construction

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of the opera house and afterwards opened a drug store in the same building. In 1875 he took a course of lectures at the Miami Medical College and thereafter was en- gaged in the active practice of his profession at Bath, Indiana. His death occurred in 1887.

COL. THOMAS MOORE

was born in Quebec, Canada, July 22, 1822, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He accompanied his parents to Pennsylvania in 1828, where his father died one year later, and in 1830 he accompanied his mother and two brothers who came to Ohio, locating at Oxford, where he went to school until his removal to Preble county in 1833. At the age of fifteen years he engaged in the tail- or's trade and after completing his time, la- bored a few weeks, acquiring enough money to carry him through one term at Miami University during the fall of 1839. He re- mained at that institution about four years, working at his trade during his vacations. He then entered the office of L. D. Camp- bell at Hamilton, where he studied law, and still later studied with Jackson & Hawkins at Eaton, being admitted to the bar of the Ohio supreme court. A year later he en- tered into a partnership with Judge William J. Gilmore, which was dissolved about a year later. The subject was elected state senator from the Butler-Warren district in 1860, being the first Republican to fill that position, and he introduced and pushed to its completion the criminal cost act. In 1850 he served as mayor of Rossville, though subsequently resigning the position. In 1864 he was elected colonel of the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Ohio Regiment and commanded it during its service of four

months in West Virginia. Colonel Moore was an ardent member of the Whig party and later of the Republican, taking an act- ive part during campaigns. He was origi- nally a member of the Associate Reformed church, but later became a Presbyterian. He was married in 1845 to Miss Mary C. Caldwell and they became the parents of seven children. The Colonel's death oc- curred June 19, 1893.

ELIJAH VANCE

was born February 1. 1801. at Bel Air, Maryland, and came to Ohio in 1816, locat- ing in Cincinnati. In 1821 he removed to Lebanon, this state, where he studied law with Judge Dunlevy, being admitted to the bar in 1826. Afterwards he came to Ham- ilton and followed the practice of his profes- sion. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Butler county, serving from 1839 to 1843, and was then elected a member of the state senate, being made speaker of that body. In 1843 he was elected common pleas judge of the judicial district composing the coun- ties of Butler. Clinton, Greene and Warren and in 1850 was a member of the state con- stitutional convention, taking a leading and prominent part in the debates of that body. He was again elected prosecuting attorney. serving two terms from 1865 to 1870, and in 1879 was elected city solicitor. For a number of years he was a trustee of Miami University and several times a member of the Hamilton board of education. His death occurred on January 11, 1871.

THOMAS MILLIKIN,

who at the time of his death was the oldest practicing member of the Hamilton bar, was born in Rossville, now a part of Hamilton.

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September 28, 1819. He began his classical studies with Rev. J. G. Monfort in Ross- ville, in 1832, and then entered Miami Uni- versity, from which he graduated in 1838. He studied law with Elijah Vance and was admitted to the bar in 1840. Three years later he was appointed prosecuting attorney, serving for one year, and from that time un- til his death he was uninterruptedly engaged in the practice of his profession. He took a prominent part in public affairs and was one of the organizers of the Hamilton Gas Company and of the Hamilton & Linden- wald Electric Transit Company. For many years he was attorney for the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway and the Big Four Railway Companies. In 1874 he was tendered a commission as judge of the su- preme court of Ohio, but declined the honor. He was a noted speaker at public meetings and on July 4, 1876, delivered a noted ad- dress at the Hamilton centennial celebra- tion and was also president of the citizens' committee during the centennial celebration of the building of old Fort Hamilton. He also delivered an address at the laying of the corner-stone of the present court house. Mr. Millikin was married at Columbus, Ohio. November 4, 1841, to Miss Mary Van Hook, who died in 1894. To them were born seven children: William, Robert, Sal- lie, Murray, May, Ira and Julia. Mr. Milli- kin's name was a synonym for all that was honorable and few men have left a deeper impress on the city and state in the last half century than he. His death occurred in Hamilton, November 10, 1899.

COL. M. C. RYAN

was born in 1820 at Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, and accompanied his parents to Ohio in 1832, locating at Hamilton. He attended

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 125

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