Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 58

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

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deservedly high in a profession which per- haps more than any other tests the ability,. tact and success of those who adopt it as a life work. Prof. Arthur M. Dunn is a native of Noble county, Ohio, where his birth occurred on October 28, 1845. His paternal ancestors were English, and the family was first represented in America by five brothers who settled in New Jersey in colonial lines and figured actively in the early history of that commonwealth. One of these brothers was the subject's great- grandfather and from him is descended the branch of the family that is now scattered over various parts of Ohio and other cen- tral and western states. Samuel Dunn, the Professor's grandfather, was a native of New Jersey and a farmer by occupation. He married Mary Penn, a distant relative of William Penn, the founder of Phila- delphia, and about the year 1800 migrated to Belmont county, Ohio, where he entered land, founded a home and took an active part in the growth and development of the part of the country in which he settled. He reared his family on the farm which he cleared from the wilderness, lived a quiet, useful life, as a thrifty tiller of the soil, and died many years ago, leaving to his de- scendants an honorable name and a repu- tation above reproach.

Among the children of Samuel J. and Mary Dunn was a son by the name of Arthur, who was born and reared in Bel- mont county, and who married in his young manhood Miss Salina Mitchell, a member of one of the early families of that part of Ohio. The Mitchells were English stock and the father of Mrs. Dunn was one of the pioneers of Noble county and devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. It is a mat-

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ter worthy of record that five of his sons were ministers of the Christian church, and to their labors and influence was largely due the success which attended the Current Reformation in Noble and other counties, as they were all able preachers and untiring in their efforts to restore the primitive faith and bring about a closer union with the different religious bodies. Arthur and Sa- bina Dunn were the parents of nine chil- dren, six sons and three daughters, of whom five are living at the present time. the sub- ject of this review being the youngest of the family.

The early years of Professor Dunn on the farm were without any event of note, having been spent amid the routine of daily toil in the summer time, varied of winter months by attendance at the public schools, where he pursued his studies until his seventeenth year. He then entered Mt. Union College, and after completing a course in that institution, took charge of a school in his native county, which was the beginning of his long and remarkably suc- cessful career as an educator. Professor Dunn's educational experience in Noble county covered a period of eight years, dur- ing which time he taught in various dis- tricts and towns, rose rapidly in his profes- sion and achieved wide repute as a capable instructor and efficient disciplinarian. His popularity is attested by his employment for many successive terms in the same district. and the demand for his services were so great that he always commanded a liberal salary, frequently receiving considerably in excess of the wages paid other teachers.

In 1898 Professor Dunn changed his field of labor to Butler county, where he has since been actively engaged in his chosen

calling, devoting his vacations to work on the beautiful little farm in Liberty township, which he owns and which is planted with the choicest varieties of fruits, affording him a valuable as well as a varied and pleasing recreation. He has adorned and beautified his home in many ways, adding greatly to its appearance and attractiveness, and, be- ing an enthusiastic horticulturist, receives no small part of his income from the pro- ceeds of his farm. Professor Dunn carries a five-year license, one of the-highest grades under the present law. The demand for his services is so great that he is saved the trouble of seeking a place, his only difficulty being to make a judicious choice among the many schools offered him. He came to his life work with a mind well-disciplined by intellectual and professional training, and from the beginning to the present time has not ceased being a student. As already in- dicated, he keeps fully abreast the times in all matters relating to his profession, stands high in the educational circles of the county and as a teacher, institute worker and all- round school man has few equals and no superiors in this part of the state. His long experience with young people has taught him how to secure their confidence and good will, without which no teacher, however . brilliant his attainments, can hope to suc- ceed, while his ability to interest his pupils as well as to instruct them, makes discipline and control in his school matters of minor importance. In his class work Professor Dunn aims to train the heart as well as the intellect, so as to produce well-rounded, sym- metrically developed character, the true ob- ject of education, in his opinion, being to send out from our schools young men and women mentally and morally qualified to

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meet and successfuly discharge the duties and responsibilities which must soon come to them as intelligent members of the body politic.

In addition to his professional career. Professor Dunn can boast of a brief but honorable military record, having served three months in the Army of the Potomac during the latter part of the Great Rebel- lion, and received a severe injury which necessitated his discharge at the expiration of the time noted. He enlisted May 2, 1864. in Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Infantry, and proceeding at once to the front soon experienced the vicissitudes of warfare, in campaign and battle, the princi- pal engagement in which he participated be- ing the action at Monocacy, Virginia, where he received the wound which rendered him unfit for further duty. In politics the Pro- fessor is a Republican, but he has never been an active party man, although well in- formed relative to all the great public ques- tions of the times. Aside from serving for some years as marshal in Meigs county, Ohio, he has never held an office, his pro- fessional duties being, such as to prevent him aspiring to or seeking public position at the hands of his fellow citizens. Fraternally he is a member of Thomas Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Cincinnati, and reli- giously subscribes to the Methodist creed.

Professor Dunn was married, in 1871, to Miss Belle Fowler, of Noble county. Ohio, a cultured and well-educated lady and for many years one of the most accom- plished and successful teachers of the county in which she was born and reared. In ad- dition to presiding over her husband's home, and being a loving and devoted mother to his children, she has aided him not a little

in his professional work and kept in touch with his literary studies, besides manifesting an abiding interest in the intellectual, moral and religious movements of the different communities in which they have lived. At the present time she is president of the liter- ary society at Monroe, also an earnest and consistent member of the church with which her husband is identified and a worker in all lines of activity under the auspices of the same. Of the children born to Profes- sor and Mrs. Dunn four are living, namely : Rosa, wife of Prof. H. E. Smith, principal of the schools of Jacksonboro, this state; Nellie M., who married Edward Stewart, a machinist of Middletown; Waldo H., a student of Wooster University, also a teacher in the public schools, and E. How- ard, who is prosecuting his studies in the Jacksonboro high school; Willie M., the sec- ond in order of birth, and the only member of the family not living. died at the age of thirteen years.

THOMAS LAW.

The subject of this sketch is one of the representative business men and honored citizens of Oxford, where he has maintained his 'home for more than thirty years and where he has gained success through well- directed effort. Mr. Law comes of stanch old English stock and is himself a native of the "tight little isle," having been born in Yorkshire, England, on the 17th of No- vember, 1850, and ,being a son of James and Mary A. Law, both of whom passed their entire lives in England, where the father was engaged in the shoe business for the major portion of his active life. They

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became the parents of three children, of whom the youngest is the subject of this sketch. His sister Emma still resides in England and the other sister, Fannie, is a resident of Australia.

Thomas Law was reared and educated in his native land, having attended the com- mon schools and later completed a thor- ough course in Dove's Commercial College. in Yorkshire, this being one of the largest institutions of the sort in the country. He continued his studies in this school for six and one-half years and then entered the employ of his father, with whom he was thus associated in the shoe business until 1870, on July 27th of which year he set forth to seek his fortunes in America, be- ing at the time a young man of twenty years. He landed in due time in the city of . is a center of gracious hospitality. New York and thence came directly to Ox- ford, Ohio, where he took up his residence on the 10th of August, 1870. In the fol- lowing year he here established himself in HARRY E. SMITH. the boot and shoe business, and in this line of enterprise he has ever since continued, while he has also been engaged successfully in the real-estate and insurance business since 1884. Through his energy, indefati- gable industry, good management and sterl- ing character Mr. Law has gained gratify- ing success and has retained the unqualified confidence and esteem of the community in which he has so long made his home. Though he is public-spirited and progressive he has never been an active worker in poli- tics, giving, however, a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party. He is a communi- cant of the Protestant Episcopal church, as was also his wife, and fraternally he is identified with the Royal Arcanum, the For- esters and the Order of Ben Hur.

On the 5th of August, 1875, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Law to Miss Margaret Schlenck, who was born in Brook- ville, Indiana, and who was a resident of College Corners, Ohio, at the time of her marriage. She was summoned into eternal rest in 1898, and is survived by her four daughters and one son, namely: Charlotte, who is the wife of William Timberman, of Oxford, Ohio; Jeanette, who remains at the paternal home; Mildred, a student in the Miami University, and Margaret and Thomas, who are students in the Oxford high school. The two elder daughters are both graduates of the high school, and Miss Jeanette also attended the Miami Univer- sity. The family is prominent in the social life of the community and the pleasant home

In no other land on the face of the globe is there accorded so perfect and consistent a recognition of individuality as in America, and here only has it been possible to over- come the prejudicial animus against admit- ting the ability and capacity of youth and to afford the individual a full province in which to exercise the most potent functions of which he is capable, regardless of the fact that over his head may not have passed so many years as represent the ages of those with whom he comes in competition in any of the fields of human endeavor. An ex- emplification of the potentialities of youth has been given in the successful career of the subject of this sketch, who is a mem- ber of the bar of Butler county, though not

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an active practitioner, and who has attained distinctive prestige in the educational work of this section, having been engaged in teaching for a number of years and being a man of high intellectual attainments and distinctive administrative ability. He is now principal of the public schools of Jacksonboro, and is one of the popular and highly esteemed citizens of the county. Mr. Smith is a scion of sterling pioneer stock in the Buckeye state, both in the agnatic and maternal lines, and his entire life has been passed in this fine old commonwealth.

Harry E. Smith was born on the home- stead farm, in Warren county, Ohio, on the 17th of May, 1867, and is a son of Robert T. and Sarah E. (Allen) Smith. The father was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, in October, 1837, and devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, having become one of the influential and successful farmers of Warren county, Ohio, where his death oc- curred on the IIth of August, 1901. His wife was born in the city of Cincinnati. on the 11th of April, 1847. and was there reared and educated. She survives her honored husband and still resides in Love- land, Warren county. The father of our subject was educated in Farmers' College, in Cincinnati, and was a man of high men- tality and sterling character, ever command- ing the esteem and confidence of his fellow men. He served for four years during the war of the Rebellion, having been a member of the Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, and having made an enviable record as a loyal and valiant soldier. His marriage to Miss Sarah E. Allen was solemnized on the 8th of August, 1866, and of this union were born eight children, all of whom are living, while all save two remain with their

mother on the old homestead, a record con- cerning them being briefly entered, as fol- lows : Harry E. is the immediate subject of this sketch; Araminta and Vessie E. re- main with their mother; Retta is the wife of Dr. Paul Fisher, of Columbus, Ohio; Alvin has the general management of the home farm: and Leota, Earl and Wilson re- main on the home place.

The subject of this review was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm and waxed strong in mind and body under this grateful training, whose value is far too often unappreciated by those who thus gain the basis of the strength which makes for success in life, no matter what vocation may be chosen. After completing the curriculum of the public schools he entered the state university, in Columbus, continuing his studies in the literary department for one year. He then spent two years in the Nor- mal University, at Lebanon, Ohio, where he was admitted to the bar in 1896. He began teaching in 1887, and has followed the peda- gogic profession for the major portion of the time since, save for the intervals of col- lege work. After his marriage he was for . two years employed in the public schools of Warren county, and for the ensuing five years he was a teacher in Mason, that county, while his success has been at all times pronounced in his labors as an in- structor. After leaving Mason he taught for one year in Princeton, and since that time has been retained in his present posi- tion at Jacksonboro. He is enthusiastic in his work and an earnest and indefatigable student, while he has the power of infusing enthusiasm in his pupils, leading them to do the most effective work in their studies, and ever retaining their respect and confidence.

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In politics Mr. Smith is an ardent advocate havoc through the reaction of the remedial of the principles of the Republican party, agents administered. Among the able mem- bers of this popular school of medicine in Butler county is Dr. Marshall, who is suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in the city of Hamilton. whose cause his father espoused at the time of its organization, while his paternal grand- father was a stalwart supporter of the Whig party. Mr. Smith became affiliated with the lodge of Knights of Pythias at Love- land, Warren county. Both he and his wife are zealous and valued members of the Pres- byterian church.

On the 24th of December, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Smith to Miss Rosabel Dunn, the nuptial ceremony being performed in the home of the bride's parents. in Lebanon, Warren county. She is a daughter of Arthur M. and Belle F. (Fowler) Dunn. well-known and honored residents of Warren county, where they have maintained their homes for many years, while Mr. Dunn has been a teacher in the public schools for the past thirty-five years. He was born October 28, 1845, and his wife on the 18th of June, 1849. They now reside in Middletown, Butler county. Of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith only one is living. Stanford A., who was born on the Ist of December, 1892, died on the IIth of June, 1894; Robert A., who was born on the 20th of Match, 1895, died April 7, 1896; and Stewart M. was born July 26. 1897.

JOSEPH D. MARSHALL, M. D.

The homoeopathic system of medicine has proved a boon to humanity and its beneficent influence has gradually permeated the whole scheme of therapeutics, doing away with the heroic dosage which in past years worked so unmistakable physiological

Dr. Marshall is a scion of sterling pioneer families of Butler county and was born near the town of Middletown, this county, on the 5th of April, 1868. He is a son of Isaac and Eleanor (Doty) Mar- shall, both of whom were born in Butler county, where the former has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, being one of the honored and prominent citizens of Mid- dletown and being at the present time a member of the board of directors of the county infirmary. He was born on the 2d of February, 1843, and his wife's death oc- curred .on the 28th of July, 1879. Of this union were born five children, namely : Rachel A., who is now the wife of William Diver, a successful farmer of Madison township; Joseph D., who is the immediate subject of this sketch; Olive, who is the wife of Edward Stewart, of Middletown; Minnie A., who is the wife of Virgil Puckett, of Hamilton; and Sarah E., who died at the age of six years.

Dr. Marshall passed his youthful days on the homestead farm and his early educa- tional training was secured in the public schools of this county. At the age of twenty years he began reading medicine under the direction of Dr. Thomas E. Reed, of Mid- dletown, and after gaining an excellent pre- liminary knowledge he was matriculated, in 1888, as a student in Pulte Medical Col- lege, in Cincinnati, one of the leading homoeopathic institutions in the Union, and there he was graduated as a member of the

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BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

class of 1891, receiving his degree of Doc- ton B. and Clara Davis, the latter being now deceased, while the father is one of the rep- resentative farmers of Hanover township. To Dr. and Mrs. Marshall were born two children, Alfred E., who was born Decem- her 26, 1892. and who died March 31, 1894, and James Edgar, who was born June 7, 1898. tor of Medicine. He initiated the practice of his profession by locating in the village of Millville, five miles west of Hamilton, where he remained two years, at the expira- tion of which he located in Hamilton, in order that he might have a broader field for his professional endeavors, and here he has built up a large and representative prac- tice, which fact stands as the best voucher for his ability and for the success which has HARVEY MINTON. attended his ministrations. The Doctor served two years as district physician and The enterprising farmer and popular citizen whose name heads this sketch needs no formal introduction to the people of for an equal period as physician at the county infirmary, while for nine years he was police surgeon of Hamilton, giving Hanover township and Butler county. For most effective service. Dr. Marshall is genial and companionable, is unswerving in his devotion to his profession, and he is held in the highest esteem in his native county. The Marshall family is of stanch English lineage. the original progenitors in America having come hither on the historic Mayflower, and a son of the line was the first white child born after the arrival of the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock. Dr. Marshall gives his allegiance to the Demo- cratic party, though he has never sought of- ficial preferment or been an active factor in political affairs. He and his wife are mem- bers of the First Baptist church of Hamil- ton, and fraternally he is identified with both the lodge and encampment of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, while both he and his wife hold membership in the local organization of the Knights and La- dies of Honor.

On the 24th of September, 1891, Dr. Marshall was united in marriage to Miss A. Etta Davis, who was born in Millville, this county, being a daughter of Washing-

many years identified with agricultural in- terests and always taking an active part in promoting the welfare of the public, he has risen to a high place in the business and social circles, besides earning a reputation as one of the county's progressive men of affairs. Peter Minton. the subject's father, was a native of Roscommon county, Ire- land. He came to the United States when a young man, worked for some years in Pennsylvania as a farm hand and later changed his abode to Butler county, Ohio, locating at Millville, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. His business career, which was long and eminently successful, resulted in the accumulation of a handsome fortune, after which he returned to a farm in Hanover township, where he spent his declining years, dying on the 9th of April, 1888. Peter Minton was a man of excel- lent parts, thorough in business, energetic in carrying out his plans and few merchants in this county were as fortunate as he in the acquiring of wealth. He was reared a Catholic, but after coming to America joined

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the United Brethren church, of which he continued a faithful member the rest of his life. In politics he was a firm and uncom- promising supporter of the Republican party, and during the late Civil war used his influence to induce young men to enlist, be- ing himself too old for military service. Hanna Conklin, wife of Peter Minton, was a native of New Jersey and a descendant of one of the old and highly respected families of that commonwealth. She bore her husband ten children, three sons and seven daughters, of which large family the following are living: Mrs. Henry Kumler and Mrs. Frank Clawson, of Hamilton; Mrs. William Rasencras, of Hanover town- ship; Mrs. Elmore Wiley, of Liberty town- ship; William Minton, of Ross, and the sub- ject of this review.

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Harvey Minton was born June 7, 1853, on the home farm in Hanover township and received his preliminary education in the public schools. This training was after- wards supplemented by a course in the Na- tional Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and still later he prosecuted his studies for some time in an educational institution at Whea- ton, Illinois. After finishing his education he returned to the homestead and turned his attention to agriculture, which vocation he has since followed with most gratifying results, being at this time one of the lead- ing farmers and stock raisers of Hanover township. Mr. Minton's home farm con- sists of one hundred and eleven acres of excellent and highly-improved land, pur- chased from the government in an early day by a man by the name of Beaty, in whose family it remained until about 1849, when it was bought by Peter Minton. In due time it came into the possession of the

subject, who has brought it to a high state of cultivation and added many valuable im- provements, including among others the elegant and commodious modern dwelling which is generally considered to be one of the finest and most attractive rural homes in Butler county. In addition to the place on which he lives, Mr. Minton owns an eighty- acre tract adjoining it on the north, which is also well improved, the two combined making one of the most valuable farms in this part of the state. It is a fact worthy of note that this place was the scene of one of the first settlements in Butler county, which was made as early as 1803, by a col- ony of Germans from Pennsylvania. There is now standing on this place a log house, still in good repair and occupied, which was built nearly one hundred years ago. The first German church in the county was built by these people and stood on the Zeigly farm, where the organization was main- tained until removed to Millville a number of years ago.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 58

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