Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 54

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 54

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).

Alumnae Hall contains recitation rooms, art galleries and studios, laboratories, a ge- ological museum and the library. The art department is furnished with a represent-

ative collection of original paintings, work- ing models and a large number of photo- graphs and lantern slides for use in the history of art classes. The laboratories are well equipped for practical instruction and each one contains its special library. The scientific collections include a herbarium of more than twenty-five thousand plants, a large number of specimens of marine in- vertebrates, the gift of the Smithsonian In- stitution at Washington, and the geological collection, in which fossils of the Cincinnati group are especially well represented. There is also an interesting collection of mound pottery of several hundred specimens. The whole northern end of Alumnae Hall is oc- cupied by the library, which is fire-proof in its construction and which has a capacity for one hundred and twenty thousand volumes. The constant growth of the library is pro- vided for by a special fund. It now num- bers twelve thousand volumes. Alumnae Hall was built in 1892 by the Alumnae, trustees and friends of the college.

In 1904 the need for increased accom- modations for students having become im- perative, a new hall of residence was erected. There are in this hall rooms for about seventy students, besides reception rooms and dining room. All these build- ings are of brick, substantial and tasteful in their architecture.

The aim of the college is to furnish an all-round training of the highest standard. The entrance requirements are substantially the same as those of the large eastern col- leges, and the course of study leads to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Courses are offered in history, mathematics, literature, philosophy, political economy, pedagogy, Bible, the natural sciences, Greek, Latin, French, German, English, domestic science,

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music and art. The music department is a strong one. It gives opportunity for the study of piano, pipe organ, voice and violin and its courses are credited for the degree.

The art department gives thorough in- struction along the lines followed by the best art schools. Its aim is not only to teach a degree of proficiency in drawing and painting, but to cultivate the taste and to develop an appreciation of art.

Thorough physical training is considered an important part of the college course, the students receiving in addition to the gen- eral class work, corrective exercises for any existing defects. Outdoor sports are under the supervision of the physical director and every effort is made to secure and keep sound bodies.

The organization of the family life of the college is as much as possible like that of the home. Each student performs some slight portion of the household duties and thus feels a share of responsibility for, and an interest in the welfare of all.

Each class has its own organization and much of the social life centers in these groups. A number of plays and other en- tertainments are given during the year, and receptions and other social functions relieve the monotony of study and offer opportunity for training in social usages. The great festival days of the year are Tree Day, which occurs in May; College Day, in Oc- tober, and Senior Day, in February. On the first of these the freshmen plant their tree

with appropriate ceremonies, the seniors say farewell to theirs, and a play is usually given in the open air. College Day is cele- brated with appropriate addresses and music with out-of-door sports, and a picnic in the beech woods. On Senior Day the seniors appear for the first time in their caps and gowns, and this epoch in their college life is marked by special chapel exercises, a re- ception by the faculty and festivities in the dining room or some other observance which shall make it a memorable day for them.

Various clubs form centers for social life and for special study of literary, musical and art topics. There is a choral organiza- tion open to all students; also a glee club.

Although unsectarian, the college is dis- tinctly Christian in its character and strives to provide for the spiritual as well as the mental, physical and social needs of the students. Systematic Bible study is one of the required courses.

The Young Woman's Christian Asso- ciation is one of the active organizations of the college, and a missionary society has been maintained since the first year of the institution's history. A large number of graduates have gone into both home and foreign missionary work and are doing ef- ficient service.

Thus the aim of The Western is to give through its course of study the broad- est and highest intellectual training and to develop through the life of the students the finest type of womanly character.

HANOVER TOWNSHIP.

The township of Hanover was organized December 2, 1811, out of territory set off from Reily and St. Clair townships. It Clair, on the south by Ross and on the west

comprises thirty-six sections and is bounded on the north by Milford, on the east by St.

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by Reily. The first election was held at munity of settlers in the southern and west- the house of Aaron Sackett, on December 21, 18II.

The climate, soil and surface are similar to that of the adjoining townships. There are no villages within the borders of Han- over. The first settlements were generally made in locations favorable to agricultural pursuits.

The principal water-courses are, Indian creek, which passes diagonally through the southwest corner, and Four Mile, which cuts the northeast corner in a very similar manner. Both of these streams are of con- siderable size and have numerous tributaries. The most important branches of Indian creek are Salmon's run and Ziegler's run, named after early settlers. Four Mile has for its inlets Stony run and Beckett's run. In the early days wild game abounded in this region and as late as 1820 deer and wild turkeys were very common and the county was fairly alive with squirrels, ground-hogs, opossums, raccoons, foxes, wolves and deer.

The first settlers of the township were named Ayers, Anderson, Alexander, Beaty, Beaver, Bell, Blackford, Beckett, Brozier, Carr, Coomb, Caldwell, Doner, Delaplane, Dodd. Earhart, Gray, Hazlett, Hueston, Hall, Irwin, James, Kumler, Lewis, Lintner, Moore, McVicker, Marshall, Mckinstry, Mccullough, McGonigle, Nixon, Nichols, Roll, Rhinehart, Reese, Rainey, Ross, Rum- ple, Sample, Salmon, Lindley, Stephens, St. Clair, Tracy, Thorne, Wickard, Wason, Willis, Weaver, Yeakle, Zartman, Ziegler, Zeller and others.

Millville, in the edge of Ross township, where Williams' mill was located, was the principal trading point of a large com-

ern part of Hanover township. The first roads, therefore, naturally led in the direc- tion of this point. From Hamilton to Mill- ville the first road part of the way followed the dividing line of Hanover and Ross townships. From Millville to Reily it fol- lowed the windings of Indian creek. This highway was one of the roads which tapped the border counties of Indiana. Another road, but of less importance, led from Darr- town to Hamilton. In the early days an important highway was the State road that followed the dividing ridge between the In- dian creek and Four Mile valleys, passing through Stillwell's and leading from Ox- ford to Hamilton.

Distilling was extensively engaged in from 1810 to 1830. David Doner, on Kum- ler's run, had a still house at an early day. In 1808 William Salmon established a dis- tillery on a creek bearing his name. Others who conducted distilleries were Alexander Moore, Philip McGonigle, Richard Martin- dale, Robert Beckett, Michael Yeakle, John Morse, James Willis, J. Heitzman, Philip Shafer, Michael Hawk and Andrew Lewis, Sr. Many of the distilleries had grist mills connected with them. One of the earliest mills was that of Matthew Hueston, which stood on Four Mile in the southwest corner of section 1. The mill was built in 1809 by Joel Williams, who was a millwright by trade and who built at least a half-dozen mills in the Miami valley near Hamilton. Andrew Lewis, Jr., built an undershot saw mill on Indian creek, section 30, in 1827. Ezekiel and Michael Ross built a tub-wheel grist mill and saw mill on Indian creek about twenty rods below the Bethel church in 1815. Later this mill passed into the

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possession of Jacob Zinn, and from him to Robert Moore and P. H. Shafer, in 1847. In about a year Robert Moore became sole proprietor and conducted the mill until 1861.

The population of Hanover consists pre- eminently of farmers, and they were not long in establishing schools and churches. The first school in the neighborhood of Bethel was a log house, which stood between the church and the mouth of Salmon's run. Andrew Lewis taught here about 1809. Later Alexander Martin was teacher. Later a second house was built near the junction of the Reily and Oxford pikes. Griffith and Evan Morris, of Paddy's Run, were early teachers. The first school house in the cen- tral part of Hanover stood near the present voting precinct on the State road. It was a hewed-log structure, built about 1825. Andrew Lester, Joseph Douty and Jasper Branden were among those who taught here. A school house stood on the bank of Two Mile creek in 1820. It was built of logs and had no floor. John Ducat was the teacher. Some of the scholars were Robert Moore, who is still living, the Wickards, Doners, Wansons and Heitzmans.

Bethel chapel, or as it was called from 1815 to 1818, Indian Creek church, for many years was one of the most important religious institutions in Butler county. The church was organized June 25, 1815, with about thirty communicants. Shortly after- ward a brick church for the use of the con- gregation was built on the Reily road about two and one-half miles above Millville. For years it was the only Presbyterian church in western Butler county, and it drew its congregations from not only the surround- ing neighborhood, but from the distant vil- lages of Paddy's Run, Venice, Reily, Bunk- 22E

erhill, St. Charles, Oxford, Darrtown and from the direction of Hamilton. Its pas- tors in its most prosperous days were Rev. John Boyd, Rev. David Monfort, Rev. A. B. Gilliland and Rev. John S. Weaver. The natural desire of many of the members to have a church nearer home in due time led to the establishment of churches at Venice and Reily. These churches reduced the attendance and membership somewhat, but still the old church was full of life. Not until 1873 was Bethel abandoned, when the Millville Presbyterian church was erected. The old church had grown out of date, with its old-fashioned furniture. It was al- lowed to fall into decay and a few years ago was torn away. The Bethel burying ground near by, and in which about three hundred persons have been buried, many of whom were pioneer settlers of the township and who were among the most prominent and influential citizens of their time, has been neglected and is overgrown with briers and bushes. The Millville church, which has taken the name of the old church-Bethel, is a handsome brick structure capable of accommodating a congregation of about five hundred. The society is in a flourishing condition.

The Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal church, located in the extreme southwest corner of section 7, is another of the famous old churches that have been abandoned. This church was probably organized about eighty- five years ago. In 1822 a log church was built, and in 1833 a brick structure was erected. Thomas A. Morris, presiding elder, afterwards bishop, preached the dedication sermon. Here. in the old burying ground, lies the remains of many of the old citizens of Hanover township. Since the abandon-

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ment of the church in 1878 the congre- gation has worshiped in the Union chapel at McGonigle's.

M'GONIGLE'S.

McGonigle's is a station on the Cincin- nati, Dayton & Indianapolis branch of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad. The village numbers about seventy-five in- habitants and has a store, postoffice, black- smith shop, saw mill, telegraph office and a church. The name originates from Philip McGonigle, an early settler who contracted for and built one mile of the railroad at this point. Among the early settlers hereabouts were the Rolls, Shanks, Hilemans, Mc- Gonigles, Lintners, Yeakles, Nelsons and Larneys.

In 1806 Daniel Larney was a blacksmith

at this point. Later blacksmiths have been Michael Shank and Joseph Hileman. Dr. Silas Roll was a famous physician here more than half a century ago. Dr. J. H. Roll, now of Hamilton, formerly practiced medicine here.

The Union church was erected in 1854 by the Old and New School Presbyterians and the Associate Reformed churches. For several years this congregation flourished, but was finally broken up by dissension. In 1878 the Methodists abandoned their church at Ebenezer and took charge of Union with such reservations as the Presbyterians thought proper to make. This charge, to- gether with Walker chapel in Reily town- ship, now constitute a circuit, and the church has prospered. Services are held every Sunday morning.

UNION TOWNSHIP.

Union township was organized June 2, 1823. Originally it was a part of Liberty township, but on petition of a number of in- habitants of Liberty that township was di- vided in 1823 and the portion set off on the south was called Union. The bound- aries of the township are as follows : On the north by Liberty township; east, by War- ren county ; south, by Hamilton county, and west, by Fairfield township. In the early days this section of Butler county was called "the woods," because of the dense forest with which the country was covered.

Union township was settled principally by Marylanders, Pennsylvanians and Vir- ginians. The earliest settlers in the town- ship were Capt. Joseph Cox, on section 22; Joseph McMaken, on section 4; George

Van Ness, section 5; Thomas Huron and Mr. Travis, section 35; Michael Ayers, Brice Virgin, Samuel Seward, Abraham Montgomery, William Symmes, Benjamin Mead. James Thompson, Charles Legg, John C. Beckett, William Parrish and others.

PORT UNION.

Port Union was laid off in 1827 by William Elliott. It was first called Mc- Maken's Bridge in honor of William Mc- Maken, who started the first grocery and built the first frame building in the village. The town had its origin during the con- struction of the canal. The town has not increased much in population during the last quarter of a century. It now has a

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grocery and dry goods store, two or three , shops, a saloon and a church. The I. O. O. F. hall was built in 1878 and in it the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias meet. At this point is a station of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

The Methodist church of Port Union was organized December 17, 1853. At that time it belonged to the Cumminsville dis- trict. Samuel D. Spellman was the founder of the society. Bishop J. M. Walden was first licensed to preach at Port Union June 3, 1854. A church was erected in 1856. Among the early members of the church were the following : Samuel Goslin, Nathan Whittlesy. Brumfield Boon, William Marsh, Thomas Jeffras, William Moore, Samuel D. Spellman, Manning F. West, Samuel Winnings and Samuel Hard. The society now numbers about one hundred members and is in the circuit with the church near Jones Station.

TYLERSVILLE.

This village, locally known as Pug Muncy, was laid off in 1842 by Daniel Po- cock and was named by John Sullivan after President John Tyler. The first building was erected by Michael Dalton, who also erected the first cooper shop. Cooperage was the principal industry here in the early days, due to the dense forest surrounding the place. Andrew Hough conducted the first store in Tylersville. He was succeeded by John Sullivan. Mr. Abram Sharpe after- ward conducted a store here for about twenty years. During the same time George Shepherd carried on an opposition store.

The Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1850. Among its organizers were Thomas Jeffras and Nathan Whittlesey.

About 1830 a log school house was built and Elisha Dalton was the first teacher. Others who taught here in the early days were William Caldwell, Ames Sedam and James S. Wiles. In 1840 a little brick school house was erected, which stood until 1866, when the present house was built.

WESTCHESTER.

This is the oldest village in the town- ship and was originally called Mechanics- burg, and the postoffice was called Chester. On October 2, 1826, the name of the town and postoffice was changed to Westchester. Hezekiah Smith laid out the town in March, 1817. He kept a tavern and ran a harness shop. He was also a Baptist preacher. James Cummins made an addition of lots, numbering from one to twenty. inclusive. Other additions have since been made.

The first settlers in the neighborhood of Westchester were Joseph Cox, Charles Legg, John C. Beckett, William Van Hise, John Caldwell, Samuel Foster, James Cum- mins, Ezekiel Gard, Thomas Kennard, George Kennard, Michael Ayers, James Thompson, William Parrish. John Nixon and others.

In the early days before 1830 West- chester was quite a manufacturing place. At the lower end of the town was a flax-seed oil mill, a fulling mill, a carding mill, a saw mill and a grist mill. They were built by Samuel Burnes and were operated by a tread mill run by oxen. James Cummins started the first tan yard about 1810. This tan yard was conducted by various persons until about 1875. Mr. McLean owned it last. Jared Parrish owned it some forty years. His brother, William Parrish, pre- ceded him in the business. The first tavern

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was kept by Ezekiel Gard, in which busi- ness he continued for over forty years. John Caldwell had a farm and a tan yard. The first store was kept by a man by the name of Anderson. He was succeeded by James Freeman. Jeremiah Day was the first blacksmith. He afterward conducted a store in the Cummins property. Zadock Wharton also kept store for many years. He was a quaint old character and wore a queue about fifteen inches long done up very artistically in ribbon. Thomas Kennard and his brothers, George and William, conducted a shoe shop before 1830. They did quite a business and employed a number of help-

ers. William Foster had a woolen mill which he ran by steam ; he also ground corn into meal. It was the only steam mill of any kind in that part of the country and was located near the Gard tavern. Joseph Layman, store keeper, kept the brick house, where William Van Hise lived, in 1833. Other business men about that time were Jesse McMacken, tailor; John Bundy, wagonmaker; George Jameson, blacksmith; Dr. Opdyche was a practicing physician. He was what was termed a "dandy-up-to-date." He wore a ruffled frill bosom shirt, a swal- low-tail coat with brass buttons, and a white fur hat.

Westchester has had a newspaper for several years. It is called The Miami Val- ley Times, and is published weekly by the Times Publishing Company.

The first school house stood south of town on the farm of the late J. C. Wakefield, and was built before 1810. The second school house was built near the first and was a frame building. The third was also frame. The fourth school house is the

building formerly used as a Grange hall. About 1878 the present substantial building was erected.

The . Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1818. Prior to the building of the church the society met at the homes of the members for worship. Charles Legg and Duran Whittlesey collected funds with which to build the first church edifice, which was of brick. The lot was donated by Hezekiah Smith, who was a Baptist preacher and founder of the town. This building stood until 1848, when a larger and more substantial brick church was built. Among the early preachers were Arthur W. Elliott, Rev. James B. Finley and Rev. God- dard.

A Presbyterian church was organized at Westchester between 1830 and 1840, but soon ceased to exist. The church was built in 1842. The society flourished under the leadership of Jerry Day and Enoch Conover. The Cumberland Presbyterian church is a scion of the Sharon church in Hamilton county and was organized in 1869. It worshiped for a time in the old Presbyterian church but, about 1882, a handsome new church edifice was built, in dimensions thirty-eight by fifty-nine feet and costing thirty-three hundred dollars.

The Catholic church is a very handsome structure and was organized in the early 'sixties. Services were held at first in the Grange hall. The parish numbers about one hundred and fifty members.

The Union township cemetery is located near the village. It was laid out in 1870, according to the present plan. The old cemetery, which is a part of the present grounds, has been in existence for seventy-

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five years. The cemetery now comprises about thirteen acres and is one of the most beautiful in the county.

MAUDS.

Mauds was first known as Shoemaker. It takes its name from Richard Maud, the first postmaster of the town. The town had its beginning with the construction of the Big Four Railroad from Dayton to Cincin- nati. The first house erected in the town after the railroad was built was by Henry Stickles. It is used as a boarding house and saloon. John Steinman is the present pro- prietor. There is a church, store, saw mill and blacksmith shop located here.

GANO.

RIALTO.

Rialto is located on the canal about seven miles from Hamilton and is the site of the Rialto paper mills. At Crescentville, a mile below, is also an excellent mill. Book, news, roofing and wrapping papers are manufactured in large quantities.

PISGAH.

Pisgah is the highest point in Union township and is a small village named by William Belch, and so called from an old church that formerly stood on this land. William Belch came here about 1812, and kept the first hotel in the village, which was continued by his son for several years. Wil- liam and James Van Hise started a hotel and store about 1838. In 1843 the post- office was established. James Irwin settled here before 1800 and later run a still house and a tannery. He was the grandfather of ex-Governor William Irwin, of California, who was born here and went to the Pacific coast during the gold fever in 1849. He edited a leading newspaper for several years. Later he became a member of the state legis- lature and was elected governor of the state.

Gano is a small station on the Big Four Railroad near the southern part of the township. It was laid out in 1874 by Charles Gano, a promoter of the Short-line railroad. Charles Gano, Jr., in 1879, built a large steam flouring mill and did a fine busi- ness, but unfortunately the mill burned soon after it was constructed. A well, one hundred and twelve feet deep, was dug near this mill for water, but natural gas was dis- The Pisgah schools have been very suc- cessful and have had good teachers. Among the early teachers were Robert Caldwell and Mitchell Dalton. J. C. Slayback taught here in later years. covered and from that time until now it has escaped from the well. There was quite a volume of gas discovered, and while the mill was in operation it was conducted by pipe into the mill and was used for drying The people of Pisgah, in the early times, attended church at Muddy Creek. This was a Baptist society. Subsequently the Pres- byterians erected a church building on the Belch property. Among the early preach- ers were Rev. Graves, of the Presbyterian the grain. Gano was originally intended for a suburban residence place, but the scheme failed. It has now dwindled into a town of very little trade importance, though it is situated in the midst of one of the richest agricultural districts in the church, and Elders Bryan and Lemon, of state.

the Baptist church.

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CHAPTER VI

PERSONAL MENTION.

BERT S. BARTLOW.

This well-known and representative citizen of Hamilton stands as a worthy scion of old colonial stock, both in the agnatic and maternal lines. He has served as a mem- ber of the Ohio legislature and held other positions of distinctive public trust, while he is specially eligible for representation in a publication of the province assigned to the one at hand.

Bert Surene Bartlow was born near Mount Carmel, Springfield township. Franklin county, Indiana, on the 10th of July, 1869, his place of nativity having been the old ancestral homestead which was se- cured from the government by his great- grandfather, James Bartlow, in 1814, prior to the admission of Indiana to the Union. Said homestead comprised a quarter sec- tion of the land in the territory northwest of the Ohio river directed by act of con- gress to be sold, and was deeded to James Bartlow by the United States government under date of June 25, 1816. This original deed is in the possession of the subject of this review and bears the signature of James Madison, then President of the United States.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 54

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