Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 59

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 59

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In 1879 Mr. Minton entered the mar- riage relations with Miss Florence J. Parker, of Michigan, the accomplished daughter of D. W. Parker, a native of Massachusetts and a representative of one of the stanch old Puritan families of that state. Mrs. Minton was educated in the district schools and in the institution at Wheaton, Illinois, which her husband attended, and sub- sequently was graduated in music from the Northern Indiana Normal University at Valparaiso. She is a lady of many ac- complishments, being especially talented in music and is quite popular in the social cir- cles of her neighborhood. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Minton has been blessed with eight children, the oldest of whom, a

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daughter of the name of Mabel, attended the high school at Hamilton, the Whea- ton College and the Miami University. Mary, the second daughter, now the wife of Prof. Ward Pensin, of Philadel- phia, is an alumnus of the Hamilton high school and a lady of refinement and varied culture. Lillian. the next in order of birth, is, like her older sisters, well educated, hav- ing studied for some time in the high school, after which she spent two years in college where she made rapid progress. Peter Parker. the oldest son, after finishing the usual preliminary course of study. entered the Miami University at Oxford, of which he is now a student. Sarah was graduated from the common schools and at this time is prosecuting her studies in the high school at.Hamilton. Eugene and Harvey are still in the public schools and Florence, the youngest member of the family, is a bright little miss of about three years.

Mr. Minton has always been a friend of education and it will be seen from the fore- going that he has spared no pains nor ex- pense in providing for the intellectual dis- cipline of his children. He is proud of his family and has every reason to be so, as his daughters are far above the average in in- telligence and culture, while his sons are equally bright and ambitious and give every promise of future usefulness. All have nobly responded to his efforts in their be- half, and by taking advantage of the splen- did opportunities afforded them are now. among the most cultivated and highly es- teemed young people of the county. The daughters are natural musicians and all have taken instruction from first-class teachers.

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Minton sub- scribe to the United Brethren creed and

are earnest and consistent members of the local church. In his political affiliations Mr. Minton is a Republican of the most ortho- dox type and as such exercised a strong in- fluence for the party in the township of Hanover. He has traveled quite extensively. visiting nearly every state in the Union, and believes in getting from life all the pleas- ure it contains. He is a wide-awake, in- telligent, up-to-date man, thoroughly in touch with the times, and as a neighbor and citizen stands high in the public esteem. Practically all of his life has been spent in his native county and his personal history presents no pages blotted by the record of unworthy acts. Few men in his community are as well known and none enjoy more favorable standing as a generous and self- sacrificing friend. His hand is ever opened to accommodate the needy, no worthy object ever appealed to him in vain, and all enter- prises for the advancement of the country along material lines or for the general wel- fare of the people enlist his co-operation and support. As already indicated, Mr. and Mrs. Minton have a pleasant and beautiful home. supplied with many of the comforts and conveniences and not a few luxuries and their domestic relations are of the most agreeable character.

REV. SAMUEL K. HOLTSINGER.

Rev. S. K. Holtsinger, an eloquent and scholarly divine and one of the leading min- isters of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Butler county, is a native of Washington county, Tennessee, where his birth occurred on December 22, 1838. John

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Holtsinger, his grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania, but moved to east Tennessee a number of years ago and became widely and favorably known throughout the county of Washington, where he spent the greater part of his life. He married a lady by the name of Elizabeth Patton, who bore him ten children, five sons and five daughters, among the former being Rev. John P. Holtsinger, who was the second in order of birth and who spent forty years of min- isterial work in the Cumberland church. John P. Holtsinger espoused the cause of the Union during the late Civil war and served as chaplain of the First Tennessee Regular Cavalry. which was first com- manded by Col. Robert Johnston and later by James P. Brownlow, his military ex- perience covering a period of three years. The maiden name of Mrs. John P. Holt- singer was Nachey Roberts; she was also a native of east Tennessee and became the mother of three children, namely : Samuel K., of this review; John R., who served as a Union soldier in the war of the Rebellion and mysteriously disappeared during the struggle, and Nachey E., now the wife of Rev. James A. Francis, of Winchester, Kentucky.

Rev. S. K. Holtsinger spent his early life in the South and when old enough to be of service began earning his own livelihood by working on a farm in his native county and state. While thus engaged he devoted the winter months to study, attending for a couple of years an academy at Greenville and later becoming a student of Clear Springs Academy, Green county, where he spent about the same length of time. The training received in these institutions. aroused an ambition in the mind of young

Holtsinger to prosecute his studies further, in order to fit himself for the ministry, a calling for which he early manifested a de- cided preference. Yielding to this laudable desire, he entered Ewing and Jefferson Col- lege, about fifteen miles west of Knoxville, where he devoted three years to close study and painstaking research, during which time he made a creditable record as a stu- dent, and at his graduation, in 1861, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, he stood among the first in his class. It was about this time that the dark and ominous clouds of civil war began to overshadow the country and, with other loyal young men of his state, Mr. Holtsinger responded to the President's call for volunteers by enlisting. in August, 1862, in a Tennessee regiment, with which he served for a period of one year. Receiving his discharge at the expiration of that time. he entered the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and, thinking to find in the north a more favorable field than the disturbed condition of the South then pre- sented, he made his way to Hamilton, Ohio. where for some time he was under the necessity of laboring with his hands for a livelihood. He arrived in Hamilton in 1863 and the latter part of the year follow- ing was formally ordained and set apart to the holy office of the ministry, immediately after which he entered upon the active du- ties of the same, taking charge of the church at Sharon, Ohio, and continuing his labors with great acceptance during the thirty-one succeeding years. Rev. Holtsinger's work in Sharon was greatly blessed and the church to which he ministered grew steadily in members and influence during the entire period of his long and successful pastorate. He endeared himself not only to his own

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congregation but to the people of the and concise in statement, cogent in reason, county, irrespective of church or creed, manifesting an abiding interest in secular as well as religious affairs and winning a conspicuous place in public esteem. While devoutly attached to his own parishioners. he found time amid his pressing duties to labor in other fields near by, the churches at West Chester and Bethany having been founded by him. September 22, 1895, Rev. Holtsinger severed his connection with the church for which he had so long been a spiritual leader and guide and went to Cali- fornia, where he spent the ensuing three years as pastor of the congregation at Santi- ago, during which period he also organized the church at the town of Elmonte and made it self-supporting. Closing his labors in the West at the expiration of the period noted. he returned to Ohio and since the year 1898 has lived at West Chester, the scene of his former labors, where he owns a beautiful and comfortable home and en- joys the friendship and love of many to whom in days gone by he broke the bread of life.

Rev. Holtsinger's ministerial career has been one of continued success and advance- ments and, as already indicated, he is today numbered with the ablest preachers and most scholarly divines of the church with which he is identified. Through his efforts thousands have been induced to abandon lives of sin and chose the better way, churches have been established that are powerful agencies for good and in the dif- ferent communities in which he has lived the people have felt the influence of his earnest preaching and strong personal pres- ence, as powerful incentives to noble aims and high ideals. As a preacher he is clear

strong and logical in discussing doctrinal points, and earnest and eloquent in present- ing the claims of the gospel, his chief aim being to convince and save men and women rather than to flatter and please his auditors. His every-day walk and conversation forc- ibly exemplify the beauty and exceeding worth of practical religion, his presence is an inspiration and his life has been his most eloquent sermon. A thinker and a scholar. deeply informed on ecclesiastical matters and firmly guided in the oracles of God, he wields a wide and powerful influence in his own denomination and is held in the high- est esteem by leading divines of other re- ligious bodies. Mr. Holtsinger gave up his ministry in the Cumberland Presbyterian church in September, 1903, and is now af- filiated with the Presbyterian church. His spirit is broadly and intensely catholic, per- ceiving good wherever it may be found. recognizing the truth under whatever ec- clesiastical garb it may appear. and appre- ciating every earnest effort for the advance- ment of the Redeemer's kingdom among men, providing the motives be honest and pure. He has never allowed his calling to make him narrow or pedantic nor permitted it to interfere with the duties of citizenship. He has mingled much with men, is an ex- cellent judge of human nature and by com- ing in contact with the world in many prac- tical ways has learned to realize his obli- gations to the public and to know how to meet and discharge the same. Mr. Holt- singer is well posted on current events, keeps abreast the times relative to the lead- ing questions of the day and, while not a politician, takes considerable interest in party affairs, voting the Republican ticket.

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Fraternally he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, holding membership with A. W. Graves Post, at Lockland, Ohio.

The domestic life of Rev. Holtsinger dates from 1865, on September 27th of which year was solemnized his marriage with Miss Margaret O. Housel, of Warren county, Ohio, but for many years a success- ful and popular teacher in the schools of Butler county. To Rev. and Mrs. Holt- singer two children have been born, John P .. who died at the early age of two years, and a daughter by the name of Nachey H., who . married E. W. Scribbs, a prominent jour- nalist of Ohio, and the present proprietor of the Cincinnati Post.

JOHN AUER.

Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life will inevitably re- sult in the attaining of a due measure of success, but in following out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplish- ment possible, and there is thus granted an objective incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. The qualities which have made Mr. Auer one of the prominent and successful men of Butler county has also brought him the esteem of his fellow townsmen, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong de- termination and honorable methods.

John Auer is a native of the fatherland. where he was born on the 7th day of June, 1834, the son of John and Cora Auer. He

remained in Germany until he was eight years old, when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to America, landing at the port of New Orleans. They remained in that city for two years, and then came to Cincinnati, Ohio. The family treasury was represented by the magnificent sum of two dollars when they reached New Orleans, but they were energetic and ambitious and all at once sought employment, in which they were successful. After the removal to Cin- cinnati, the subject was enabled to attend school for two years, but at the end of that time found it necessary to relinquish his studies, much to his regret. His first em- ployment was in a tobacco factory, at the remuneration of twenty-five cents a week. The lad was determined to succeed, how- ever, and gave strict attention to the work assigned him, thus winning the confidence of his employers, who advanced him from time to time, until at length he gained the position of foreman, at a salary of forty dollars a week, holding this position two years. During these years he had practiced a wise economy and was thus enabled to save about seven hundred dollars. At the solicitation of a friend, he invested his money in an enterprise which in four months returned him four thousand dollars. In 1866 Mr. Auer became associated with P. J. Sorg in the tobacco manufacturing business, under the firm style of Auer & Sorg, representing a capital of six thousand dollars. In 1869 they removed their plant from Cincinnati to Middletown, Ohio, and the firm was reorganized as Wilson, Sorg & Company. The firm was progressive and enterprising and pushed their goods into every corner of the tobacco market and as a result were rewarded with a remarkable

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success. They at length found it necessary to erect a large building, forty by one hun- dred and forty feet in dimensions and three stories in height. In 1878 the business was sold to Wilson & McCauley, Messrs. Auer & Sorg receiving about thirty-five thousand dollars each for their interests. The same year the subject and his old associate started again in the same business under the name of Sorg & Company, which was finally ab- sorbed by the Continental Tobacco Com- pany. In 1883 the subject withdrew from the concern, realizing a very handsome sum as the result of his business career. Since that time he has not been as actively identi- fied with business interests as formerly, though he now owns a large amount of real estate and other investment interests, being now considered one of the solid and sub- stantial citizens of the county.

In 1858 Mr. Auer was united in mar- riage with Miss Amelia Grave, who was born in Kentucky in 1838, the daughter of Louis Grave. She was brought from her native state to Ohio when but six months old and here received a good common-school education. To this union four children have been born, but all are deceased. Mr. Auer hadone son married, Anthony, who left two sons who have been at the home of and under the care of their grandfather, the subject. Mr. Auer and his wife are mem- bers of the Catholic church and exemplify in their daily life the beneficent principles of the mother church. Fraternally Mr. Auer is a member of the Benevolent and Protect- ive Order of Elks, having been a charter member of the lodge at Middletown. In politics the subject is a Democrat, though he has 'never given much attention to the detail work of his party campaigns, being

satisfied with the casting of his ballot. He has been a co-operant factor in many move- ments for the public good, his assistance be- ing withheld from no measure which he believes will prove of benefit to the com- munity. A man of distinct and forceful in. dividuality, he is leaving his impress upon the commercial, social and moral develop- ment of the community.

GEORGE L. HINKLE.

Among the native sons of Butler county who have here passed their lives and by their energy, integrity and progressive methods have attained to a marked success in temporal affairs is the subject of this brief review, who is one of the prominent and highly honored members of the agricultural contingent in the county, his home place being located in Wayne township. He is a representative of one of the pioneer fam- ilies of this section of the state, his paternal grandparents having located in Butler county in the closing years of the eighteenth century, before Ohio was admitted to the Union, and having established their home in the sylvan wilds, the forests still standing practically untouched by the hand of man. while the Indians disputed dominion with the white settlers who were seeking to ex- tend the march of civilization into the new country.

George L. Hinkle was born in Madison township, this county, on the 12th of June, 1858, and is a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Selby) Hinkle, both of whom are still living, maintaining their home on a farm in Madison township. In that same town-

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jamin and Nancy (Selby) Hinkle were born eleven children, of whom only four are living, namely: Mary; George L., who is the immediate subject of this sketch; Bertha, who is the wife of Philip Telman, who is engaged in farming near Dayton, this state,. and Benjamin, Jr., a successful farmer of Preble county, Ohio.

ship the father was born, the date of his nativity having been December 24, 1827, and here he has been actively identified with agricultural pursuits during the entire course of his life, while he has ever com- manded the unqualified confidence and re- gard of the people of his native county. He is a man of mature judgment and strong mentality and his life has been one of in- The subject of this review was reared on the home farm, in Madison township, and his educational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools of the locality. He initiated his independent career at the age of twenty-two, and has been consecutively identified with the great basic industry of agriculture, which he has found worthy of his best efforts and through which he has gained independence and unequivocal prosperity. He continued! to reside in Madison township until 1900. when he removed to his present farm. known as the Cory place, in section 26, Wayne township, the same being well im- proved and comprising one hundred and fifty-one acres of most arable land. He is enterprising and progressive, has the pre- science to take advantage of opportunities presented, and has thus been able to make his success cumulative in character, while he stands as a type of loyal and public- spirited citizenship, ever standing ready to- dustry and definite accomplishment, so that he is numbered among the substantial and influential farmers of this favored section of the state. He has resided on his present fine homestead farm since 1859, having previously purchased and sold a number of other farm properties in the county. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and both he and his wife hold membership in the Baptist church. Their marriage was solem- nized on the 26th of September, 1850. Mrs. Hinkle having been born in this county, on the 18th of March, 1830, and having been here reared and educated, while she likewise is a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of the county. Joseph Hinkle, the grandfather of the subject, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1787, two years be- fore the inauguration of the first president of the United States, and five years later he was brought by his parents to Ohio. where he passed the remainder of his life, having become one of the representative endorse and support all measures projected farmers of Butler county, where he died for the general good of the community. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Demo- cratic party, and winle he has never sought public office he has been called upon to serve- as a member of the school board of his dis- trict, while for twelve years he was incum- bent of the office of road supervisor of Madi- son township. Neither he or his wife are formally identified with any religious or- on the 3d of July, 1881, the day made memorable by the assassination of President Garfield. He was well versed in Indian lore and customs, having passed the early portion of his life in Ohio when the In- dians were more in evidence than the white settlers, and his reminiscences of the pioneer era were graphic and interesting. To Ben-

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ganization, but they contribute to the sup- roy W., May 1, 1891 ; Orvin T., March II, port of church work. They have an inter- 1896; George D., who was born February 2, 1899, died on the Ist of the following August, and Arthur C. was born April 19, 1901. esting family of children, all of whom have been or will be afforded the best possible educational advantages, of which the older ones, who have initiated their work in this line, have shown themselves very appreci- ative, making excellent and gratifying ALBERT H. NESBITT, M. D. progress in their studies.

On the 22d of December, 1880, Mr. Hinkle was united in marriage to Miss Nancy A. Bratton, the ceremony being solemnized at the home of her parents, in Madison township. She was born in Madi- son township and is a daughter of Mordacai and Matilda (Huffman) Bratton, both of whom were likewise born and reared in this country, the former on the 19th of Septem- ber, 1827, and the latter on the 27th of January, 1828. They resided for a few years in Illinois, and with this .exception have maintained. their home in Butler county from time of birth to the present. Mr. Bratton being one of the honored pioneers and influential farmers of Madison township. They became the parents of nine children, all of whom are living with the exception of the eldest daughter, Mary Catherine, who was the wife of Martin Weaver, and who died in 1898, at the age of fifty years. Mrs. Hinkle was the sixth in order of birth. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Hinkle we enter the following brief record in conclusion of this sketch : Roxie M. was born January 15, 1882, and remains at the parental home; Ethel, who was born March 12. 1884, was married, on the 28th of December, 1902, to William Schul, and they reside in Greenbush, Preble county ; Clare W. was born December 20, 1886: Clinton C., November 29, 1888; Le-

The eclectic school of medicine has a most able and successful representative in the city of Hamilton, for here the subject of this sketch is actively engaged in the practice of his profession according to the methods and system of this effective and popular school, while he has gained a high reputation in the treatment of certain classes of disease to which he has given much study and investigation, being a specialist in the line.

Dr. Nesbitt was born in Clermont county, the parental homestead farm being located in Ohio township, and there he was ushered into the world on the 26th of April. 1851. He secured his preliminary educa- tional training in the schools of his native county, and that he duly availed himself of the advantages thus afforded is evident when we revert to the fact that he became eligible for pedagogic honors, being success- fully engaged in teaching in the district schools of Clermont county for a period of five years. The Doctor is a son of William S. and Elizabeth (Clark) Nesbitt, both of whom were likewise born and reared in Clermont county, being representatives of sterling pioneer families of that section. The father devoted his entire life to agricul- tural pursuits and was one of the honored citizens of the county. He died on the old .

homestead, at the age of seventy-three years,

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while his devoted wife passed away at the age of sixty-three. They became the par- ents of eleven children, and of the number three of the sons and five of the daughters are still living, all of the sons being en- gaged in farming in Clermont county with the exception of the Doctor, while the daughters are likewise resident of that county and married to representative farm- ers.

While still engaged in teaching Dr. Nes- bitt took up the study of medicine, under the . direction of Dr. Cyrus Gaskins, of Amelia,

Clermont county. In 1880 he was matricu- lated in the Eclectic Medical Institute, in the city of Cincinnati, where he completed the prescribed course and was graduated on the 6th of June, 1882, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He initiated the active practice of his profession by locating in Chilo, Clermont county, Ohio, whence he removed one year later to the village of Tremont City, Clark county, where he con- tinued in practice for fourteen years, re- ceived a representative support from the people of that section and being very suc- cessful in his work, which extended over a wide radius of country adjacent to the town in which he lived. At the expiration of the period noted the Doctor removed to Springfield. Clark county, Ohio, where he soon secured. a large practice, principally among the laboring class, but owing to the general financial depression in the early nine- ties he found it impossible to collect his pay for professional services, and when he left Springfield he had outstanding several thousand dollars in unpaid bills for services which he had rendered to those in affliction. In April, 1899, Dr: Nesbitt took up his resi- dence in Hamilton, and here he has se-

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 59

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