Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 136

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 136

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1847 he removed to Hamilton and bought a large portion of the block on which the late residence of ex-Governor James E. Camp- bell is located. He purchased about one- third of this block for one thousand four hundred dollars, and in less than two years thereafter he sold enough of the property to clear the entire purchase price and leave enough for a comfortable home. In 1849 he was appointed health officer of Hamil- ton, which position he retained for thirty- five years.

In 1862 'Squire McMaken and John W. Sohn were appointed by Governor David Tod as sanitary commissioners, to look after the sanitary condition of the army. They visited the Eastern and Southern armies, and looked after the boys in camp and were largely instrumental in securing their comfort.

Previous to the war 'Squire McMaken was a Whig in politics and a very pro- nounced anti-slavery man. In 1863-4 he was connected with the provost marshal's office in Hamilton. He was a lifelong mem- ber of the United Presbyterian church. His children residing in Hamilton and Middle- town are: Mrs. Oliver Traber, Mrs. James K. Thomas, Mrs. Abram Miller, Mrs. James Wood and Hon. J. J. McMaken, late state senator. Mr. McMaken died in the city of Hamilton on January 25, 1899, in the one hundredth year of his age. He was a man of much force of character and cour- age and of absolute fearlessness.

ISRAEL WILLIAMS

was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, August 24: 1827. His parents were Wil- liam and Mary Marker Williams. Subse- quent to their settlement in Montgomery county the family removed to Champaign

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county, where Israel, one of the nine chil- dren, spent his boyhood days. He received his early education in the country schools until the age of eighteen; then left the farm and taught school to obtain means to pay for further education. Attended the high school at Springfield and the college at Granville, now Dennison University ; gradu- ated at Farmer's College, 1853; read law with Gunckel & Strong at Dayton, Ohio, and graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in 1855, in which year he was also admitted to the bar. In 1856 he took up his residence in Hamilton, Ohio, where he opened a law office in the Beckett block. which he occupied continuously until the time of his death. He pursued an extensive and lucrative practice. For many years prior to and during the Civil war he was the proprietor and editor of the Hamilton Intelligencer. Mr. Williams was an ardent loyalist and warm supporter of President Lincoln and took a very active and promin- ent part in aiding Governors Tod and Brough in their efforts in behalf of the Union cause. Mr. Williams was ever a pub- lic-spirited citizen, assisting in all move- ments for the betterment and advancement of his community. For several years he was a member of the city council at Hamilton. He possessed a scholarly mind and devoted considerable attention to the study of ge- ology, mineralogy and archaeology. In the early days of the State Archaeological and Historical Society Mr. Williams took an ac- tive interest in its welfare and progress, con- tributing some valuable papers to the meet- ings of the society. He collected a very large and valuable cabinet of archaeological specimens, which he donated to the society and which are now in its museum at Orton

Hall, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. He was appointed by Governor James E. Campbell a trustee of the society in 1892 and was reappointed by Governors McKinley, Bushnell and Nash, the appoint- ment by the lattter being on March 1, 1901, for a term of three years. He had served continuously for nearly ten years.

Mr. Williams was married to Miss Mag- gie Wakefield, a native of Union township, Butler county. Ohio, on January 9, 1860, and leaves surviving him the widow and four children, Mary, Nina and Stella, three daughters. all of whom are married, and John W. Williams, his only son, who is an active young business man. Mr. Williams was a genial, courteous gentleman of the olden type. He was a lover of humanity, the friend of all, a delightful companion ; an upright and forceful man; his life was well spent and his fellow citizens paid fitting tribute in the last rites to his memory. He died September 9. 1901, at the St. James Hotel, Denver, Colorado, where he was tem- porarily stopping. He was buried at Ham- ilton, Ohio. September 13, 1901.

COLONEL THOMAS KENNARD

was born in Kent county, Maryland. His parents were Richard and Mary (Green- wood) Kennard, natives of that state. About 1813, accompanied by his brothers, George G., Benjamin and William, he came to Ohio and for a time resided in Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade of shoemaker. Later the brothers settled at Westchester, in Butler county, where they were engaged in the manufacture of shoes for several years. Thomas Kennard married Mary Polhemus, a daughter of John Polhemus, an early settler of Union township, who

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was colonel of the First Volunteer Regi- a Revolutionary soldier. Thomas Kennard emigrated from New Jersey and who was 119

ment of Light Infantry raised in Butler county, of which John Crane was major. In the early 'forties Colonel Kennard re- moved to Clinton county, Indiana, where

years as a member of the lower house and he engaged in farming. He served several

senate of the Indiana legislature, and was a very intimate personal and political friend of the late Hon. William H. English, of that state. Subsequently he was elected and served several years as judge of the court of Clinton county. Colonel Kennard was widely known in Butler county, where he

often visited his relatives. His brothers, William and George G., about 1830, re- moved from West Chester to St. Charles, in the western part of Butler county, where they continued to reside until their deaths,

ively. Colonel Kennard died in Clinton which occurred in 1875 and 1879, respect-

county, Indiana, in January, 1866. His daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth K. Whittlesy, who was for many years a resident of Hamilton, died in August, 1904, aged seventy-two years.

ISAAC ROBERTSON

was born in Germantown, Montgomery county, Ohio, September 6, 1818, being a son of Isaac and Eleanor (Doke) Robert- son. His grandfather, John Robertson, was born in New Jersey and took part in the Revolutionary war. In 1804 he came to Ohio and in Warren county he engaged in farming and there died. The father of Isaac Robertson, Jr., was the eldest of seven children and came to Butler county when he was a boy. He was a soldier in the war

of 1812 and died at Germantown, Ohio, in 1871, aged eighty-six years.

Isaac Robertson attended college at Miami University, but did not graduate

owing to poor health. When he was a young man he read law and taught school, finishing his legal studies in the office of

for four years and later began the practice being admitted to the bar he taught school Lowe & Lowe, in Dayton, Ohio. After

of his profession at Middletown, where he remained about three years. During a por- tion of this period he was postmaster of Middletown. In 1849 he removed to Ham- ilton, where he followed his profession the remainder of his life, having continued in active practice for about fifty years. In 1851 he was elected to the office of prosecut- ing attorney of the county, which office he filled for four years, he having been re- elected in 1853. After Rossville became a part of the city of Hamilton, in 1854, Mr. Robertson took a deep interest and promi-

nent part in the educational affairs of the city. During the late rebellion of the South Mr. Robertson showed his patriotism and love of his country by shouldering a musket and joining the militia to resist the threat- ened attack of John Morgan's army upon the city of Hamilton in 1863. On the 27th of October, 1850, Mr. Robertson became a member of the First Presbyterian church of Hamilton, and in 1868 he was elected to the office of ruling elder in said church, a position held by him the remainder of his life. He was for forty years a prominent

member of the board of directors of Green- wood Cemetery Association, and ever since the death of the late Dr. Falconer he had been president of said board. As a citizen, neighbor and friend none stood higher in

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the estimation of his fellow men than did Isaac Robertson. He was ever genial, social and pleasant in his intercourse with all who came in contact with him. As a member of the Butler county bar, Mr. Robertson in his intercourse with his fellow members and the court never forgot that courtesy which constitutes and marks the true gentleman.

On March 21. 1843. Mr. Robertson married Miss Iva Death, at Dayton, Ohio. who only survived the union about one and a half years. The only child resulting was Mrs. Celia Giffen. widow of the late post- master. Charles E. Giffen, and who now resides in New York. On March 7. 1849. he was married to Miss Jane Hunter and the children surviving are John and Charles Robertson, of this city, and Mrs. Belle Ben- net and Mrs. Robert Hughes, of Beaver, Pennsylvania. On November 13. 1879, he was married to Miss Anna R. Macheath. who now also survives to mourn the death of an ever true, devoted and faithful and loving husband. His death was unexpected. resulting from a sudden attack of heart failure on March 7. 1902. in the eighty- fourth year of his age.

JAMES W. FYE

was born in Reily township. Butler county, Ohio, April 29, 1824. His parents were early settlers of Butler county. having em- igrated from Rockingham county, Vir- ginia, in 1814. When James was fifteen years of age he received a teacher's cer- tificate and. afterward taught school in the winter and farmed in the summer until the year 1852. In October. 1852, he was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Brundrette, of Mt. Car- mel, Franklin county. Indiana. Shortly afterward he purchased a farm near Hamil-

ton, Ohio, on which he resided for about ten years. He then removed to Hamilton and embarked in the grocery business, in which he had had experience for a time at Scipio some years earlier. He continued in busi- ness in Hamilton for nearly thirty years, or until 1892, when he retired from active life. Mr. Fye's grandfather was a Revolu- tionary soldier and his father fought in the war of 1812. After the death of Mrs. Fye, Mr. F'ye gave up his residence in Hamilton and resided with his children until his death, July 7, 1903, aged seventy-nine years, two months and eight days. Mr. Fye was a (levout Christian and was universally es- teemed for his noble qualities. He is sur- vived by four children, three sons and one daughter.

GEORGE C. RIDER

was born in Kent county. England, 'April 3, 1816. He came to the United States in 1837 and soon thereafter settled in Franklin county. Indiana, where he was married to Miss Rachel Jones, on January 29. 1849. To this union were born three children, one son and two daughters. For several years Mr. Rider was engaged in agricultural pur- suits, but about 1876 he removed to Scipio and lived a retired life.

Mr. Rider was a son of a clergyman of the Church of England-a lineal descendant of a lord mayor of London, and a brother- in-law of Lord Walker, a member of the British parliament. A younger brother of Mr. Rider was adopted by a wealthy land- owner of England and at his death suc- ceeded to the estate. and when the brother died the subject of this sketch became sole heir of the estate for life. This good for- tune came late in the life of Mr. Rider. yet

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for a few years he enjoyed the fruits of the estate, on which he resided at the time of his death, January 24, 1892. Under the English law the estate was inherited by his eldest and only son, George C. Rider, Jr., of Harrison, Ohio. Mr. Rider was a good citizen and neighbor and possessed more than average intelligence. He was upright and just in business and was a thorough gentleman and a steadfast friend.

EVAN EVANS

was born in Morgan township, Butler county, Ohio, May 2, 1816. His parents were William and Jane Evans, natives of Wales, who emigrated to America early in 1800, and settled in Morgan township, But- ler county, Ohio, about one mile south of the present site of Okeana. The father of Evan Evans died soon after his son's birth, and thereafter the son resided with a broth- er-in-law. Morgan Gwilyin, an early pioneer and a most excellent man, until he became of age. He was married May 28, 1844, to Miss Anna Mering, and soon thereafter pur- chased a farm on the Dry Fork of White- water. On the death of his father-in-law, in 1850, he purchased the Mering home- stead and thereafter he resided there. Mr. Evans was a successful farmer. and an active, efficient business man, with rare good judgment, firm in his convictions, cour- ageous and bold in their defense. He was unselfish and was at all times ready to assist and advance the interests of his neighbor- hood. Numbers of young men can thank him for success in business, for kind and strong words of encouragement when needed and for the free use of his purse when required. He was a school director for thirty years, a member of the Butler

county agricultural board for twelve years and a trustee of Morgan township for several years, all of which positions he filled with ability and credit. He died August 24, 1895, in his eightieth year. He left to his family a good home and what is far better-the inheritance of a good name.

WALES B. BONNEY

was born June 26, 1799, at Charleston, New Hampshire. In 1816 he came with his par- ents to Ohio, and settled in Butler county, about one mile northwest of Oxford. In his early youth Mr. Bonney showed a dis- position for study and a desire for an edu- cation. When only sixteen years of age he entered Dartmouth College as a student. After coming to Ohio he attended Miami University for two years and later engaged in teaching. Among the places where he was so engaged were Rochester and Brighton, New York. At the latter place he was married to Miss Lucinda Abbey, in January, 1829. To this union were born eleven children. In 1830 he removed to Texas and the next fall he returned to Ox- ford, where he resided until 1845 and then emigrated to Oregon. The following spring he started with two horses and a wagon on the return trip from Oregon to. Oxford. After many hair-breadth escapes and suf- fering untold hardships he arrived at his old home near Oxford several months later with only his gun, as the Indians had taken his horses and other property. He then settled in the village of Oxford, where he became a justice of the peace and retained the office for many years. He died June 10, 1887. aged seventy-nine years, eleven months and fourteen days, and was survived by his wife, four sons and one daughter.

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DAVID P. NELSON

was born in Essex county, New York, May 31, 1810, on the western shore of Lake Champlain. His father, Ezekiel Nelson, was a sailor and died at sea in 1812, leaving a young widow with the infant son to dwell with the widow's parents. In 1816 he was brought with an emigrant caravan to the vicinity of Oxford township, about three miles southeast of Oxford village. There he remained with his people until fourteen years of age, when he became apprenticed to a carpenter. After three years had passed he was obliged to abandon the occupation on account of failing health. His educa- tional advantages had been very limited, but through his own efforts he acquired a fair knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic. Finding himself practically alone in the world, his health broken down, he nevertheless found it necessary to sup- port himself. As there was no school law in force he was offered a situation as teacher in a subscription school, and in compen- sation for his services was to receive one dollar for each pupil for the term of three months. He was to "board around" in the families of these pupils, and take one-half his pay in wheat and the remainder in cash. The first term the young teacher had about twenty pupils, and though he received his cash payments, he never collected the wheat, so he actually was paid only ten dollars for three months' service. Mr. Nel- son paid diligent attention to his studies and determined to thoroughly prepare himself for the profession of teaching. During several succeeding winters he taught and in the summer worked at his trade. He taught his last term in 1878. The probate

judge of Butler county appointed him a member of the county board of school ex- aminers at that time, a position he filled for eight years, when he declined a reappoint- ment.

In November, 1832, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage with Hannah Davis, daughter of Samuel Davis, who was one of the early settlers at Columbia, near Cin- cinnati. To this union were born ten chil- dren, of whom but three reached maturity. His wife died in 1851, and the following year Mr. Nelson was married to Elvira R. Gillman, of Preble county, who died in 1863. In 1866 Mr. Nelson married Eliza Jane Rees, who was a faithful helpmate for about a quarter of a century, until called to her rest in 1891.

In his early years, as a voter, Mr. Nel- son was an active supporter of the Whig party and after the formation of the Re- publican party he warmly supported its men and measures. For many years Mr. Nelson was a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 67, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he filled nearly all of the official posi- tions, and he represented that body in a committee before the Ohio legislature, and to his efforts was due the appropriation to the Agricultural and Mechanical College by congress. He died February 18, 1898, aged eighty-seven years, eight months and nine days.

THOMAS M'CULLOUGH

was born in Oxford, Butler county, Ohio, July 12, 1818. He was the first white male child born in the village. His parents came west on the Ohio river from Pittsburg while Ohio was yet a territory. While coming down on the flat boat they had to anchor

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in mid stream on account of the hostility of the Indians. His ancestors were of Scotch origin and possessed the spirit of industry and frugal habits of this hardy people. They first came to Cincinnati, where they resided for a few years. His father's name was Samuel, and his mother was Elizabeth Neil. Mr. Mccullough's parents moved from Cincinnati to Fort Hamilton, where they resided for some time. While residing there Mrs. McCullough rode on horseback from Fort Hamilton to Pittsburg to visit relatives.

Samuel Mccullough settled in Oxford in 1810, having attended the first sale of lots, May 22, 1810, at Hamilton, Ohio. Eleven in-lots and eight four-acre lots were sold, the in-lots at prices ranging from six- teen dollars and sixty-six and two-thirds cents to twenty-five dollars and ninety cents each; the four-acre lots at twenty dollars each. Mr. Mccullough purchased in-lots 41 and 43, east side of the public square. He afterwards bought the lots on the entire block, but at the time the trustees of the university decided to sell only the odd num- bered lots, thinking the others would rapidly increase in value. That they were partly right is evidenced by the fact that the corner lot where Adams' drug store stands only pays one dollar and fifty cents university rent, while lot 42, a back lot, pays five dollars and thirty-four cents.

Colmery, and used the water from the spring. This spring afterwards disappeared and came up on the tan-yard lot, south, near Spring street.

Mr. Mccullough was quite young when he clerked for his brother-in-law, Jacob D. Stillwell, of Stillwell's corner, in Hanover township, at eight dollars per month. About the time he became of age he started a grocery in Oxford on the corner where Adams' drug store is now located. A man named Chamberlain kept a drygoods store north of the public square, where the Hay- den grocery store is now located. Captain Bonney kept a store in 1843 where Munns and Gerber lately conducted a tailoring es- tablishment. This was the first brick house built in Oxford and was afterwards pulled down by Mr. Mccullough when the present building was erected. Captain Bonney, at the time he conducted a store there, owned the block, which afterward was owned by David Smith, and still later by Allen Clute. Mr. Mccullough bought the lot of Alfred Luce, administrator of Allen Clute. Samuel Mccullough, father of Thomas, kept a dry- goods store in the same building where Thomas had kept the grocery. Mr. Mc- Cullough had two brothers : Rev. John Mc- Cullough. a Methodist minister, and Neil Mccullough, an attorney. He had three sisters : Mary, who married J. D. Stillwell; Jane, who married John L. Murray, a Ham- ilton printer who published a paper called the Volunteer. which continued from 1821 to 1825; a third sister, Elizabeth McCul- lough, married Joseph Markle.

Thomas Mccullough went to school in the old brick school house south of the Episcopalian church. The building was subsequently used as a Catholic church. There was a fine spring on the lot. now oc- Thomas Mccullough was married to Martha Luce, daughter of Alfred Luce, in 1842. Two children were born to them, cupied by the Episcopalian church, and David Irwin had a tanyard on the lot where stands the residence of the late Rev. WV. W. Neil. who is now in Dallas, Texas. and

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Fountain. who died in early youth. Mrs. Valley," and was sometimes denominated Mccullough died four years after her mar- riage. Mr. Mccullough was married, the second time, to Elizabeth L. Girton, of Ox- ford township. To this union were born two children, Mrs. Bessie Mccullough Heath, wife of Fletcher Heath, and Daisy M. Mr. Mccullough was a successful business man. He had carefully and safely invested his surplus funds in lands until he owned land or city property in Arkansas, Texas, Kansas. Tennessee, Illinois, North Dakota. , Indiana and several large cities. Mr. Mc- Cullough loved Oxford and was thoroughly identified with its moral, educational and material interests. He was always an en- thusiast about improving the town, and took the lead in every movement inaugurated for that purpose. One of the traits of char- acter that endeared Mr. McCullough to everybody was his thoroughly democratic spirit. He was always the same ideal man. Despite his great wealth he never lost sight of his friends or neighbors less favored in material prosperity. He died, after a brief illness. on March 12. 1901. aged eighty- three years.

JAMES WOODMANSEE

was born in Liberty township. Butler county. Ohio. in 1814. His father was Daniel Woodmansee, a native of New Jer- sey, who settled in Butler county in 1809. The son received a good education, and was brought up to agricultural pursuits, but this life did not have any attractions for him. In his early youth he showed a fondness for verse, and he developed into a literary char- acter of ability and in the selection of the topics for his muse of unusual eccentricity. He called himself the "Bard of Sugar

the "Milton of America." James Wood- mansee was the author of two epic poems, "The Closing Scene: A Poem in Twelve Books," and "Religion : A Poem in Twelve Books." The subject of the first named is the great war between Gog and Magog, ending with the "Wreck of Matter and the Crash of Worlds." The second shows re- ligion from the time the "Spirit brooded o'er the water's face" to the millennium. Besides these he wrote "Wrinkles from the Brow of Experience," "Poetry of the Sea- sons : a Poem in Four Books, Descriptive of every Month in the Year," and "The Prodigal Son : a Drama in Five Acts." "The Closing Scene" and "Wrinkles." published many years ago, received much praise both in America and Europe. Thomas Noon Talford, the great critic and judge of West- minster, said " 'The Closing Scene' rivals the 'Divina Commedia' of Dante;" and Samuel Rogers, the author of "Pleasures of Memory." called it the "Paradise Lost of America." ' Mr. Woodmansee had traveled considerably in Europe and all over Amer- ica. He died in December. 1887. in his seventy-fourth year, in Butler county.

DR. ROBERT B. MILLIKIN

was born in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania. December 9, 1793, and came to But- ler county in 1810. His brother, Dr. Daniel Millikin, had come here a few years before, and near the same time his two brothers, Samuel and Andrew, arrived and settled here. All located in Hamilton and have nu- merous descendants residing there now. At the time of his coming steamboats and rail- roads were unknown. so that Dr. Millikin descended the Ohio river in a flat boat, ac-

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companied by Captain Isaac Falconer and family, which circumstance produced a warm and lasting friendship between the two families, and subsequently Dr. Cyrus Falconer (son of the Captain) studied medi- cine in the office and under the direction of Dr. R. B. Millikin, the friend and com- panion of his father.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 136

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