Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 131

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 131

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low of the impossibility of giving his ex- pedition an escort, at the same time warning him as to the danger of attempting the sur- vey, without such protection, among the hostile tribes of the Ohio wilderness. But, being a man of great energy, Mr. Ludlow undertook the task, and, keeping up friendly intercourse with the Indians, they did not molest him or hinder his operations. In 1789 he became one-third partner, with Matthias Denman and Robert Patterson, in the proprietorship of the lands about Fort Washington, and is claimed to have given the present city of Cincinnati its name, in honor of the Society of the Cincinnati, com- posed of officers who had served in the Revolutionary war, of which his father, Cornelius Ludlow, was a member. He be- gan, in the year just mentioned, the sur- vey of the town-a plat of which he placed on record. There was a controversy about its correctness, one having been previously made and recorded by another person; but the community soon became satisfied that the plat prepared and certified by Mr. Lud- low was the correct one. Ludlow Station was established in 1790 near the north line of the original town, a block-house having first been built for protection, the Indians at that date being exceedingly hostile and dangerous. In the summer of 1791 General Arthur St. Clair's army encamped at and about the above-named station, previous to its march into the Indian territory. It was not until 1792 that Mr. Ludlow, then known as Colonel Ludlow, completed his survey of the Miami purchase; but, having done so, in May of that year he made a full report of the survey, together with a report of all the expenses incidental thereto, which was ac- cepted by Alexander Hamilton, then sec-

retary of the treasury. Colonel Ludlow was subsequently the founder and sole proprietor of Hamilton, having surveyed its town plat in 1794.

There had been considerable competition for the location of the county seat, and Col- onel Ludlow made several stipulations, which were not entirely filled, however, at the time of his death.

In 1795, in company with Generals St. Clair, Dayton and Wilkinson, he also founded the present city of Dayton. After General Wayne's treaty with the Indians at Greenville, in the same year, Colonel Lud- low was appointed to survey the boundary line between the United States and the In- dian territory. This was a work of great danger; but it was of the highest impor- tance that the boundary should be estab- lished; and, as no military escort could be furnished, he undertook the task, and, with only three backwoodsmen as spies to give warning of danger, he accomplished it. Colonel Ludlow married Charlotte, daugh- ter of General James Chambers, of Cham- bersburg, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1786. He left four children,-James C., Sarah B., Israel L. and Martha C. Ludlow.

FRANCIS MONFORT.

One of the earliest preachers of the gos- pel in this county was Francis Monfort, who, for a long time, was pastor of the Pres- byterian church in Hamilton. He was a descendant of the Huguenots. The founder of the American family fled from France, after seeing the oppressions he would be subject to if he remained a Protestant in that country, first going to Holland, and then coming to the American colonies. The father of Francis Monfort was Lawrence

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Monfort, and his mother was Elizabeth Cas- the gospel, delivering his first discourse at sat, and he was born seven miles northeast New Castle, Kentucky. Through the south of Kentucky he soon after went on a preach- ing tour, extending it into Tennessee, in the neighborhood of Nashville. Then he came over into Ohio, in the Mad River country, and afterwards preached in Kentucky. He did not at this time belong to the Presby- terians, but from the time he began his stud- ies was a "New Light." His church, with many others, had seceded from its previous denominational relationship and joined the new body, which was then thought to be more thoroughly moved by the grace of God. On the 6th of June, 1809, he was married, in Scott county, Kentucky, to Sophia Glass, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Glass. formerly of Frederick county, Virginia, and sister of Mrs. Marshall, the wife of Rev. Robert Marshall. After his marriage he came back to Ohio, and preached on Clear creek and then on Dick's creek till October, 1811, when he joined the Presbyterian church, returning at the same time as the Rev. John Thompson. He was placed on probation for sixteen months, at the same time pursuing additional studies under the direction of the Rev. Daniel Hayden and the Rev. Joshua L. Wilson, D. D. No stop, however, was put to his conducting religious meetings, and he continued them until li- censed by the presbytery at Dayton, Ohio, in March, 1813. of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in what was then York county, but is now Adams, on the 15th day of December, 1782. Mr. Monfort moved to the West with his family, in 1799, and arrived in Cincinnati, May 28th. He soon removed to Warren county, remaining for the summer on a place three-quarters of a mile south of Lebanon, and in November taking a place eight miles west of that town, on the way to Hamilton. Francis Monfort assisted his father on the farm until he was of age. In 1800 he experienced a religious change, and he united with the Presbyterian church of Turtle creek, which was the near- est to his home, and which was then under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Richard Mc- Nemar. As he grew older he determined to enter the ministry, and began his studies under the supervision of his pastor, occupy- ing more than two years. There was then no theological seminary in Ohio, and it was the common plan for those who could not go east and complete their studies to take them up with some approved clergyman in their neighborhood. The one then best known hereabouts was the Rev. John Thompson, of the place now called Spring- dale. He taught many, and continued in the labor year after year. Previously to go- ing with Mr. Thompson, Mr. Monfort stud- ied for a time with Mr. Malcolm Worley. After being instructed by Mr. Thompson for Not far from the bounds of Butler county, but located in Warren, about that time there was begun a new congregation. called the New Jersey congregation, from the fact that many of their members. had come from that state. There he was called to preach, and afterwards was settled as pas- tor of the church on the 14th of June, 1814. a year, he passed eight months with the Rev. Barton W. Stone, at Cane Ridge, Bourbon county, Kentucky, and he was six months with the Rev. Robert Marshall, in Fayette county, of the same state. He then consid- ered himself qualified to preach, and on the 3Ist of July, 1807, he was licensed to preach

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The flock increased and multiplied. and he remained with it until April. 1821, when he began to preach in Hamilton and Seven- Mile, places left vacant by the removal of the Rev. Matthew G. Wallace. He removed to Hamilton the following October. Here he stayed for sixteen years, during ten years of which time he also preached at Seven- Mile.

In 1830 a petition was sent to the pres- bytery by four of the elders, four trustees. and fifty members, asking for a dissolution of the relations existing between them. This was resisted by Mr. Monfort. who appealed to the synod, and received a decision in his favor. The dissatisfied members would not take this answer as conclusive, and organ- ized another Presbyterian church in Ross- ville, both of the churches flourishing. They were finally united in 1842, under the Rev. Thomas E. Thomas. Mr. Monfort resigned his charge in 1837. and removed to Mt. Car- mel. Indiana, where he officiated as pastor for nine years. He then preached at St. Omer and Concord, in the Whitewater Pres- bytery, remaining with them for five years.

His bodily health, however, had grown weak, and he then ceased regular charge of a church. For four years, however, he preached occasionally. and at two different times, for three months each. he occupied the pulpit of the church at Greensburg. In- diana. He never was more useful than at these times. Mr. Monfort was a strong and fervent preacher, and to him many owed their spiritual birth. He was for forty-eight years in the ministry, and he lost no oppor- tunity of doing good. His piety was con- stant : no one could be in his society, for a few minutes even. without knowing that he was a religious man. He did not grow lax

and idle as he grew old, but was willing to undertake new tasks. He began the study of the Hebrew language when sixty-one years of age, and kept it up until his death. He died June 18, 1855, aged seventy-two years. He had one daughter and four sons, all of the sons being ministers of the Pres- byterian church.

FERGUS ANDERSON.

Fergus Anderson died early in April, 1880, at his residence in Venice, from gen- eral debility, aged eighty-three years. His death had been expected for some time, as he had gradually become very weak. The life of Fergus Anderson stands out promi- nently in Butler county history. His period of greatest activity in political affairs ex- tended from 1828 to 1840.

Fergus Anderson came of good stock. His father was Isaac Anderson, mentioned elsewhere in this book. Fergus was the sec- ond oldest son, and was born in Cincinnati June 14, 1797. He was married to Miss Mary Dick, daughter of Samuel Dick, an old associate pioneer of Isaac Anderson. June 28, 1821. Fergus was brought up to the business of farming. and after he was married settled on a farm on Indian creek, near the residence of his father. In 1828 he was elected to the legislature. He served two years, and was then elected to the sen- ate. where he remained the same length of time. In 1835 he was chosen a justice of the peace in Ross township, in which office he served until he was elected associate judge of Butler county by the legislature. This office he retained seven years. For many years he was also president of the board of trustees of Miami University, and a member of the county agricultural board.

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In all these varied capacities he served the public faithfully and well.

In middle life Mr. Anderson was a wealthy man, but he gave considerable money to his married sons, and two of them dying, many thousands of dollars went out of the home estate, and he finally found himself in embarrassed circumstances.

In disposition his principal characteris- tics were his kindness of heart and gentle- ness. Enemies he had none, while his friends could be numbered by hundreds.

GEORGE W. WHITE .

was born on the 8th of November, 1826, at Oxford. His father. George G. White, was a native of Virginia, and emigrated at an early age to Ohio, settling in Fairfield township. near Black Bottom, in the year 1800. In 1824 he became postmaster of the village of Oxford. continuing in office some twenty-five years. Here George W. White began his first attempts at painting. which, it is believed, are mostly destroyed. Mr. Higgins, of the village, was the first to encourage him in the idea of becoming a painter, and gave him a lump of crude umber, gamboge and Prussian blue, with some white lead. With these crude appli- ances he began a picture on a piece of un- prepared bed-ticking, and placed it on the housetop to dry. His first essay at painting heads was made in Hamilton, in the year 1840, with S. S. Walker, under whose direc- tion he was placed a short time, when he became ill from close confinement, on re- covery being sent to the Miami University as a student. Prof. Moffatt, seeing his pred- ilection, advised him to continue the study of art. Although his father was unfavor- able to this course of life, he supplied his

son with means to go to Cincinnati, where he entered upon an artist's career in 1843. He met with but little encouragement. The painters all assured him that the life of an artist was "a starving one," and he was obliged to catch up what instruction he could from the others, not being able to afford reg- ular lessons.

His scanty means were soon exhausted, and he began traveling as a negro minstrel. This was then new, and he went through the country with Webb's Serenaders and Sable Sisters, following this with a trip on the Ohio and Mississippi with a show com- pany, comprising minstrels, tumblers and athletes. At New Orleans the company dis- banded in trouble, and White returned to Cincinnati and engaged with Rockwell's Amphitheater. Here he sang and played nightly in the saw-dust of the arena. under the cover of burnt cork. This was his last appearance in public in this capacity. He resumed the pencil. and returned for a sea- son to his native village, where he painted cabinet heads of all who would sit. at five and ten dollars a head. He returned to Cincinnati in 1847, and took rooms in the Apollo building, at the corner of Fifth and Walnut, which was at that time the retreat of several meritorious artists, amongst whom we might name Beard, Brannon, Miller, Eaton. Duncanson. Whittridge. Johnson, Tom Jones; the sculptor. and oth- ers. Mr. White had as his first roommate W. L. Sonntag, the landscape painter, later of New York city. The first picture which Mr. White ventured to place before the pub- lic was a half-length portrait of Julia Dean, the celebrated actress, afterward known as Julia Dean Hayne. She was then the city's favorite, and her picture attracted wide at-

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tention. She was represented as "Virginia" in the play of the "Roman Father." From that time on he continued to paint portraits, landscapes, and so on; in fact, any kind of work was gladly received. Some of these canvases were the joint productions of White and Sonntag, who, when not engaged in painting, were skirmishing about for something to eat. They suffered keenly from the distresses and difficulties which us- ually attend this class of young and undis- . tinguished painters, and were forced to do whatever offered. Occasionally they decor- ated omnibuses and railroad cars, and at "other times painted scenes in the Museum Theater.

experience of a year he returned, setting up his easel in Cincinnati, and shortly after painting "Louis Kossuth" and "Lola Mon- tez." In 1857 Mr. White came to Hamil- ton, where he resided, excepting during the Rebellion, when he was in. Cincinnati, until his death, which occurred in 1890.

CAPTAIN ISRAEL GREGG.

Captain Israel Gregg, for many years a prominent steamboat man, was for a long time a resident of Hamilton. He was born on the 20th of February, 1775, in Virginia, but his parents, who were adventurous pio- neers, removed to Brownsville. Pennsyl- vania, shortly after, where, on attaining a sufficient age, he was taught the art of a silversmith, and on reaching his majority

Mr. White became a member of the Ar- tists' Union on its formation, which af- forded him a sale for a number of his pic -. set up for himself. Two years after, or on tures. In the summer of 1848 he painted the 12th of July, 1798, he married Elizabeth Hough, one of the younger children of a Quaker family, and sister of Joseph Hough, for twenty years the leading merchant of Hamilton. Another brother, Benjamin, was auditor of the state of Ohio from 1808 to 1815. the "Greek Slave," two pictures, embody- ing the front and rear views, with the matchless profile seen to equal advantage in both. This effort placed him favorably be- fore the public as an artist. The pictures, after being shown in the East and West, were finally taken to New York and sold Mr. Gregg afterwards became interested in steamboating, and in 1814 was in com- mand of the steamboat "Enterprise," built at Brownsville by Daniel French. on his patent, and owned by a company at that place. It was a boat of forty-five tons. It made two voyages to Louisville in the sum- mer of 1814. In December she took in a cargo of ordnance stores at Pittsburg, and sailed for New Orleans, arriving at that port on the 14th of, the same month. She was then dispatched up the river in the search of two keel-boats, laden with small arms, which had been delayed on the river. She for a thousand dollars apiece. He continued painting, turning out some fine work occa- sionally, among which were his pictures of "Musidora," "Helen McGregor," "Beauty's Reverie," "Galbina," "Undine," and "Ophelia." Among his portraits at that time were those of the Rev. Thomas H. Stockton and Edwin Forrest, the actor. At the burning of Wood's Museum, in 1857, these and many other works of the artist were destroyed. They represented the labor of years. He had resided for some time in Covington, when he was induced by his friends to go to New York city. After an had reached twelve miles above Natchez

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when she met the boats, took their masters and cargoes on board, and returned to New Orleans, having been out six and a half days, in which time she ran two hundred and six- ty-four miles. She was then for some time actively employed in transporting troops, etc. She made one voyage to the gulf of Mexico, as a cartel, and one voyage to the rapids of Red River with troops, and nine voyages to Natchez. She set out for Pitts- burg on the 6th of May, and arrived at Shipping Port on the 30th, twenty-four days out, being the first steamboat that ever ar- rived at that port from New Orleans. She then proceeded to Pittsburg, where her ar- rival was warmly greeted, as the passage from the sea by the means of steam had been successfully accomplished for the first time. Captain Gregg afterwards com- manded the "Dispatch," a small boat of twenty-five tons, built at Brownsville, which was wrecked near New Orleans in 1819, and he continued as a commander in the river service for several years after.

He then became an inhabitant of Hamil- ton, where he dwelt the remainder of his days. He was elected sheriff of Butler county in 1835, and served four years, also holding other offices of trust and responsi- bility. By his first wife he had eleven chil- dren, who are now all dead. Upon her de- cease he married Mrs. Phebe Kelley, of Rossville, an aunt of William D. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, on Thursday, the 5th of December, 1822, the ceremony being per- formed by the Rev. H. Baker. By this mar- riage he had two children: Jane H., the widow of J. C. Skinner, and Sarah, widow · of Samuel Cary. He died on the 20th of June, 1847, aged seventy-three years. He

was a man of great uprightness and benev- olence. and his memory is still cherished by those who knew him.

FREEMAN GRANT CARY 1

was born in Cincinnati April 7, 1810. His father, William Cary, emigrated to the Northwest territory in 1803, and settled on a farm he had purchased at the head of Main street, Cincinnati, where he resided until 1814, when he removed to College Hill. His thirty-two acres in Cincinnati were sold, and he bought section 30, in Mill Creek township, now College Hill, where he re- sided until his death, March 25, 1862.

In this place Freeman G. Cary, with his two brothers, William Woodward and Sam- uel Fenton, received his early education. He afterwards attended college at Miami University, and graduated with honor in the class of 1831. He devoted more than thirty years of his life to teaching. He estab- lished Cary's Academy and originated Farmers' College, into which the academy was merged; also originated for females what afterwards became the Ohio Female College. These institutions were eminently. successful until after he resigned the presi- dency, the Farmers' College at that time numbering three hundred students. The Female College was likewise successful.

Mr. Cary's strong point was in gov- ernment, and he was also a successful teacher. During his presidency he associ- ated with him men of ability in the various departments of his institution. In the first period of its existence under him, he edu- cated, to a greater or less extent, some three thousand young men, many of them occu- pying distinguished position north and

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south, in the ministry, the bar, or as physi- cians or business men. Mr. Cary's charac- ter was marked by a combination of striking traits, he having been possessed of a strong constitution, temperate habits, and good health, which gave him physical ability to accomplish successfully whatever he at- tempted.

He made his own place in society, and was known to be persistent and energetic in all he undertook. He filled all the duties that fell to his charge with ability and tact. He was thoroughly conversant with all the branches of natural science, especially those appertaining to agriculture and horticulture, of which he acquired both a practical and theoretical knowledge. He had connected with his residence an admirably arranged conservatory and greenhouse, on his own plan, in which he spent much of his time in experimenting for his own gratification. He established and edited an agricultural periodical, the Cincinnatus, which for five years had a wide circulation, and only ceased by reason of the Rebellion. He was one of the distinguished early leaders and supporters of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, being several times its honored pres- ident. Mr. Cary was not only an adept in the natural sciences, but was also a good classical and mathematical scholar, his edu- cation and ability eminently fitting him for marked prominence. He was selected as one of two to represent the great state of Ohio, under Buchanan's administration, in a con- gress of the states for the promotion of agri- culture, with Marshall P. Wilder at its head. After over a quarter of a century's labors in the schools originated and constructed by him he retired to a farm in Butler county, where. with his wonted zeal and industry,

he devoted himself to rural pursuits. lead- ing a quiet and retired life. His resi- dence, planned by himself, was a model of taste and fine architecture, combining as many conveniences as any structure in the world. His place was set with the choicest fruits grown in the climate, and his house was completely encircled by evergreens and deciduous trees, all being in keeping with the intelligence of the man. He was an el- der in the Presbyterian church for over forty-five years, and was its active, zealous supporter. He was twice married and was the parent of eight children. Gen. S. F. Cary, the world-renowned lecturer, was his brother, and the Cary sisters, the celebrated writers, were his cousins. He died August 26. 1888.

GENERAL. RICHARD BUTLER.

Richard Butler, after whom this county was named, was born in Ireland. With his brothers, he came to America before 1760, and was for a long time in the Indian trade. Just before the outbreak of the American war he was settled in Pennsylvania, where his courage and knowledge of character made him a man of influence. It was a matter of great importance to persuade the Indians not to take up arms against us, and as agent and interpreter he went to Fort Pitt, in April, 1776, hoping to dissuade the Six Nations from entering the field as our antagonists. They were the most powerful of all the Indian tribes, and had been able to maintain their independence against both the French and English. With the latter, however, they had formed an alliance at the close of the war that added Canada to the British dominions, and, while not unfriendly to the Americans. it was feared that the so-

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licitations of English agents would finally turn them from neutrals into enemies. Mr. Butler met the Indians in formal conference, and during their meeting delivered three speeches, two to Kiosola, the leading Indian chief, and one to the Delawares, who were in a sense subsidiary to the Iroquois. His efforts were for the time successful; Kiosola declared himself in favor of the Americans, and everything promised prosperously, but the current of feeling was too strong for the chief, and he and the Six Nations finally drifted into an alliance with the English, a movement which proved in the end fatal to the confederated tribes.

Butler was made a lieutenant-colonel of the Pennsylvania line at the beginning of the war, and in the spring of 1777 was lieu- tenant-colonel of Morgan's rifle corps, which was present at the battle of Saratoga, and distinguished himself by his conduct on several occasions. He was in the battle of Monmouth. While with a detachment com- manded by General Lafayette, near Wil- liamsburg, Virginia, on the 26th of January, 1781. he attacked Colonel Simcoe's rangers. gaining the advantage. He held the rank of colonel of the Ninth Pennsylvania Regi- ment at the close of the war, and acted as a commissioner in settling affairs with the Indians at about that time. He took up his residence in Carlisle, where. with General Irvine and General Armstrong and a few others, an agreeable society was formed. In conjunction with these officers. he quelled a mutiny at Fort Pitt.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 131

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