Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 67

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 67

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Griff. The subject is an active member of Esther Court, No. 4, Tribe of Ben Hur, of which he was organizer. Here his abil- ity was again recognized and he was ap- pointed deputy grand chief, a position in which he represented the highest tribunal of the order. In the local court he was elected scribe, a position he has held for nine years. At a recent meeting of the su- preme court of this fraternity a resolution was passed awarding prizes to local scribes who should sustain the greatest percentage of members in good standing, and for other official evidences of interest and activity. The first prize of thirty dollars in cash was awarded to Mr. Van De Griff, a more tan- gible recognition of his usefulness in the order than any long-drawn-out articles in this connection would represent.

Mr. Van De Griff was married on the 30th of November, 1875, choosing for his companion on life's journey Miss Agnes J. Cooper. She was born in Fairfield town- ship, Butler county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Robert and Eliza (Howard) Cooper. Her father died in 1895, at the age of eighty-three years. Her mother is living and has passed the four score and third mile- stone on life's journey. The parents of the subject are William J. and Letitia S. (Stev- ens) Van De Griff. The father was born in Hamilton, August 23, 1823, and has always lived here except seven years the family lived in Cincinnati. He has spent his active years as a wholesale trunk dealer and manu- facturer. The mother of the subject was born in Cincinnati, February 18, 1823, and was married to William J. Van De Griff on the 10th of June, 1844. These venerable people have traveled life's rugged path to- gether for almost sixty years. They are in

the enjoyment of excellent health and in possession of all their natural faculties. George Van De Griff was the eldest of five children, three of whom have passed to their reward in another life. The surviving brother is William J., Jr., a mechanic in the employ of the Hamilton Foundry Company, where he has held a lucrative position for many years.

In 1894 Mr. Van De Griff gave up his mechanical labors, except for a brief period when he was employed as a supervising ar- chitect, and turned his attention to fraternal insurance. He has numerous deputyships as an organizer, but is specially interested in the Tribe of Ben Hur. Through his ef- ficient efforts Esther Court, No. 4, of this order, has had a phenomenal growth, and now numbers on the books of the court five hundred members in good standing, without a lapse in two years. The maintenance of this record was the secret of Mr. Van De Griff receiving the prize, as previously men- tioned. He is also an organizer for the Pathfinders and the Order of Americans. Besides being associated with these orders in the matter of organization, he is also the local collector for all of them. Mr. Van De Griff is also commissioned as a notary public and pension attorney. In 1898 he engaged in the mercantile pursuits and conducts a good business in groceries, provisions, no- tions, etc., at No. 923 Sycamore street. The store, however, is practically in charge of his son, Robert C., a young man of fine liter- ary and business attainments. This is the only child and he is unmarried and living at home. Mr. Van De Griff has been suc- cessful in the accumulation of property and is rated well-to-do. His life has been a busy one, and even now there seems to be

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but little relaxation from its active duties. He is a man of unswerving integrity and uprightness of character. He is firm and uncompromising in his political principles as a Republican and seldom fails to attend all the conventions of his party and take an active part in their deliberations. He has been register judge in his precinct for twelve years, and still holds that position.

Mr. Van De Griff traces his ancestral lines to Revolutionary stock through his maternal grandfather, and he is a member of that distinguished society, Sons of the American Revolution. His paternal grand- father, George Van De Griff, was pay- master general of New Jersey troops during the second war with Great Britain. The founders of the family in America first lo- cated in New Jersey, whence the paternal grandfather emigrated to Butler county, Ohio, in 1814. Here he was known as Colonel George Van De Griff, and was prominently associated with the state militia. Two brothers of the subject's father went South in their early lives, and were there identified, as soldiers, with the "lost cause." Others of the same family were arrayed against them, hence in this case it was truly "brother against brother." Mr. Van De Griff has been secretary of his regimental association since its organization in 1893. and takes great pleasure in the annual re- unions of his old comrades.

CHRISTOPHER L. EBERLING.

C. L. Eberling, a well-known and promi- nent resident of Hamilton, was born in Green township, Hamilton county, Ohio, on

the 25th of June, 1850. He is a descendant from pure German ancestors and is a son of Louis T. and Katherine (Van Neda) Eberling. The father was born in Saxony in 1825, and the mother in Bavaria on the 7th of June, 1828, while they were married in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1848. The father emigrated to America in his sixth year, locating at Cincinnati, where he died in 1860, having been a butcher by occupa- tion. The mother died in Dayton, Ohio, while on a visit, in 1902. They were the parents of five children, two sons and one daughter living, and two daughters dead. Their names were: Christopher L., the eld- est; Margaret, wife of Michael Kareth, of Cincinnati ; Lewis, also of the Queen City, and two that died in childhood.

C. L. Eberling, of this sketch, was edu- cated in the Cincinnati public schools. He learned the machinist's trade with Miles Greenwood, of Cincinnati, and began his career as an engineer in that city, and has since followed that business, mostly, as a means of livelihood. For the past nineteen years he has been employed as chief en- gineer at the city water-works in Hamilton. His long continuance in that position is the best evidence of his qualifications. His work has been so faithfully performed, and his administration so careful and painstaking, that he has been continued through different systems of municipal government without regard to political strife or party supremacy.

Mr. Eberling is an avowed Democrat in his political relations, though in no sense an office seeker. He has served a number of years as a member of the board of edu- cation and occupies that honorable position as a representative from the third ward at the present time. He served two years as

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treasurer of the board, and has always proved himself a safe and conservative mem- ber, manifesting at all times a strong per- sonal interest in the success of the public schools.

Mr. Eberling was married on the 31st of December, 1874. Miss Eliza Frances Dowty being the lady of his choice. She is a sister of William C. Dowty, whose family genealogy appears upon another page of this work. Two children have come to bless the happy domestic fireside of Mr. and Mrs. Eberling, namely : Lutie Mathias and Karl Wilson. Himself and wife are Uni- versalists in religious views. Mr. Eberling is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

When the Hamilton water-works were established in 1884 Mr. Eberling was se- lected as chief engineer, and has occupied that position continuously since. He has one assistant. also a licensed engineer. Mr. Eberling holds a license from the state board of examiners as a first-class engineer. He and family sustain high social relations in the city of Hamilton and are classed among the best people in the city.

SALEM R. CLAWSON.

The best title one can establish to the esteem of an intelligent community is a long and honorable residence therein, and the best evidence he can produce as to his worth is the record of what he has done to benefit his fellow men. The subject of this review is a native and lifelong resident of Butler county, but the results of his experiments in the branch of industry to which his life

has been mainly devoted have given wide re- pute not only in his own county and state but throughout a large section of the Union. Salem R. Clawson, son of Stephen and Re- becca (Pocock) Clawson, was born in Liberty township. this county, on Novem- ber 15. 1852. His grandparents were James and Rebecca ( Vail) Clawson. both natives of the state of Pennsylvania and among the early settlers of Butler county, the maternal branch of the family locating in Lemon township. the paternal in Middletown. Stephen Clawson was born in the latter place, being the second in a family of eight children. He was reared a farmer and became one of the leading agriculturists and stock raisers of the township in which he lived. also one of its most intelligent and progressive men of affairs. For many years he devoted his attention to the raising of fine cattle and other high-grade live stock and was long a leader and an authority in this important branch of husbandry. To him more perhaps than to any other man was due the success of the Agricultural So- ciety of Butler County, in the establishing of which organization he took a leading part and for a period of twenty-one years he served as a member of its board of directors. He was successful in his business affairs, ac- cumulated a valuable estate, and his name was long identified with matters of public interest. Few men of the county were as widely and profoundly informed on state and national questions as he, and his influ- ence was always with the side of right as he saw and understood the right. Religious- ly. he was an active member of the old- school Baptist church, and politically, he wielded a strong influence for the Repub- lican party, of which he was for a number of years a leader in the township of his resi-

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dence. The death of this worthy man and and never undertook anything without car- public-spirited citizen occurred in the year rying it to a successful conclusion. The maxim "Do with your might what your hands find to do" he found the key that opened the door to successful endeavor and by following the advice so tersely expressed in this brief sentence, his progress from the beginning to the present time has been rapid and today he occupies a prominent stand- ing among the leading men of his vocation not only in the township of his residence but in the county as well. Realizing that the raising of live stock, if properly con- ducted, afforded a much surer and more liberal source of income than that of mere tilling of the soil, Mr. Clawson early gave his attention to this important branch of farming and in due time his success was as- sured. He made a specialty of shorthorn cattle and to him is due the credit of intro- ducing this idea into this part of Ohio. He believed that they were a superior breed and conceived the idea that they could be pro- duced without horns by scientific breeding. 1891 and fifteen months later his good wife followed him to the silent land. The fol- lowing are the names of the four children born to Stephen and Rebecca Clawson : Frank, who became a well-to-do farmer and stock raiser of this county and who died some years ago from the bite of a mad dog. He was married, his wife having formerly been Miss Maria Minton, daughter of Peter Minton, a well-known resident of Butler county, near Millville. The second son. Clinton, was also a farmer and live-stock man who met with encouraging success in all of his undertakings, He married Eliza- beth Harper, daughter of James Harper, of Liberty township, and departed this life a few years ago, greatly lamented by all who knew him. Linus P., the next in order of birth, lives in Hamilton and is regarded as one of the prominent men of that city. He married Rosa Hughes, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Hughes, of Butler county. After his marriage he removed to Hamilton and engaged in the manufacture of paper mill machinery, in which he was eminently successful, having retired from active busi- ness some years since. The subject of this review completes the list.

Salem R. Clawson was born and reared on the old family homestead in Liberty township, and in the college of Xenia, this state, supplemented the knowledge he had acquired in the district schools of his neigh- borhood. From an early age his chief am- bition was to become a first-class farmer and to the attainment of this end all of his energies were bent. He did not labor in the perfunctory way that so many country lads do, but threw all his powers into his work

In the year 1889 Mr. Clawson was one of the eight men who met in Chicago for the purpose of organizing the Cattle Breeders' Association, one of the principal objects of which was to produce the shorthorn cattle with all their quality, but minus the horns. The result was the development of the new and superior breed of Polled Durham cat- tle, which have since become so popular among live-stock men of the United States and other countries. He devoted much in- telligent study and practical investigation to this important matter and by a series of successful experiments finally developed the absolutely hornless breed which he and Peter Shaffer first exhibited in the states of Ohio and Indiana and for which there has

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since been such a wide and constantly grow- the age of seventy-seven years, together ing demand. On Northview Place, his beautiful and admirably situated stock farm, Mr. Clawson keeps a large herd of these valuable. animals, selling such as he cares to dispose of by private sale and receiving for them the fancy prices to which his scien- tific experiments so justly entitled him, his customers coming from many parts of Ohio, also from remote places in other states. Mr. Clawson has been liberal in the matter of beautifying and adding to the attractiveness of his farm, which is today one of the finest and decidedly one of the most desirable rural homes in Butler county. The buildings are in good repair and up-to-date, both in the matter of architecture and appointment, while all his other improvements are in keeping therewith and the evidences of thrift and good taste everywhere manifest bespeak the presence of a master mind, thor- oughly abreast the times and in close touch with the spirit of progress in the matter of advanced agriculture.

Elizabeth Smalley, who became the wife of Mr. Clawson in 1879, was born in Ben- ton county, Indiana, May 1, 1859, being the daughter of Elias and Ellen (Vail) Smalley, whose father, Jonathan, was the son of John Smalley, who achieved a distinguished record as a soldier in the war of the Revolu- tion. The Smalleys are an old family of Scotch-Irish descent, and the ancestors of the American branch came to this country a number of years before the struggle for independence and settled in one of the east- ern colonies. Mrs. Clawson's father was a prominent Indiana farmer. After spending many years in that state he came to Ohio, but subsequently returned to his former place of residence, where he still resides, at

with his wife, at the age of seventy-two years. After his marriage Mr. Clawson set- tled on the family homestead where he has since lived and which, as already indicated, is now one of the representative stock farms of southern Ohio. . Mr. and Mrs. Clawson have had two children, the oldest of whom, Hubert, was born June 14, 1884, and died in the year 1895. Amor E., whose birth oc- curred on the 2d of February, 1886, and who has just finished his education, is his father's assistant on the farm. In politics Mr. Clawson is a stalwart Republican, un- wavering in the support of the party and its principles. He is recognized as a leader in its ranks in the township of Liberty, has been a delegate to a number of conventions and his influence has tended greatly to the success of the ticket in the campaigns of past years. In all that concerns the welfare of the community and the advancement of its various interests, Mr. Clawson has mani- fested the progressive spirit of the true American times. He is a public-spirited citizen who lends an active support and co- operation to every movement for the general good, has always worthily upheld the credit of the family which he represents and is re- garded in business and social circles as a gentleman of sterling worth and a loyal friend, whom to know is to honor and es- teem.

CHARLES A. PATTON.

Among the enterprising men who have acted a leading part in promoting the varied interests of Butler county, Charles A. Pat- ton has long been a noticeable figure. Dur-

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ing a continuous residence here of fifty-one he was a youth of fifteen, and from that years, or ever since his birth, he has con- time until his twenty-second year he made his home with his uncle, Brelsfoard, who lived in Wayne township. Meantime he enjoyed the advantages of a public-school education and at the age of twenty-two con- tracted a matrimonial alliance with Miss Lydia A. Paulin, daughter of Isaac and El- len (Schenck) Paulin, the marriage being solemnized on February 27, 1873. tributed to the development of his commu- nity in various ways, earning by legitimate efforts honorable positions and ample means, and at all times he has exercised a wholesome influence among his friends and fellow citizens. The Pattons were among the pioneers of Butler county, the subject's grandfather moving here in an early day from the state of New Jersey and settling near Miltonville, Madison township. After a few years he moved to Preble county and still later changed his residence to Cam- den, this state, where the remainder of his life was spent. David Patton, the subject's father, was born in Madison township, But-

Shortly after the marriage Mr. Patton embarked in the grocery business at Mid- dletown and continued the same until 1899, when he disposed of his establishment and purchased the farm in Wayne township, on which he now lives and which under his effective labors has been brought to a fine ler county, and on reaching manhood mar- . state of cultivation and otherwise highly im- ried Miss Sarah Brelsfoard, whose parents were also early settlers and for many years neighbors of the Patton family. After his marriage David Patton engaged in the gro- cery trade at Camden and later went to Cin- cinnati, where he embarked in the commis- sion business, to which he devoted his atten- tion for some time. He was also connected with the Western Union Stock Yards of that city, but of late years has been dealing in horses, which he handles on quite an ex- tensive scale. By his first wife he had two children, James, and Charles A. of this re- view, the former dying at the age of seven years. proved. Mr. Patton is one of the most en- terprising and progressive agriculturists in his part of the county, also a man of excel- lent business ability and sound judgment and possesses the capacity to carry to successful completion any undertaking in which he may be engaged. Personally, he is an agree- able and companionable gentleman, inherit- ing the sturdy characteristics for which his family has long been noted, besides exhibit- ing to a marked degree the attributes of mind and heart which win the respect and command the confidence of those with whom he mingles in business or social relations. For a number of years he has been active Charles A. Patton was born in Wayne township, Butler county, April 13, 1851. and at the tender age of six months was de- prived of his mother by the cruel hand of death. He was then taken by his grand- mother Brelsfoard, who cared for him until her own death, which event occurred when in the political affairs of Butler county, being one of the leading - Democrats of Wayne township, and as a reward for his energetic and valuable services in behalf of his party he was twice elected to the office of assessor, besides serving two terms as township trustee. In the year 1903 he re-

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ceived the nomination for infirmary director and was elected and is now serving his first term.

Mr. Patton is connected fraternally with Jefferson Lodge, . No. 90, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Lebanon Commandery, No. 22, Knights Templar, and the chapter of Royal Arch Masons, in all of which branches of this ancient and honorable brotherhood he is active and enthusiastic, thoroughly posted in the different lines of work; in brief, he is accounted one of the brightest and best informed Masons in the several departments of the order to which he belongs.

Mrs. Patton was born in Madison town- ship and her home was only a half mile from the place where her husband spent his child- hood and youth. The two were reared in the same neighborhood, attended the same school and have known each other from an early age, having been playmates and com- panions from their childhood. Their mar- riage, a pleasant and happy one, has been blessed with one child, a daughter. Della B., whose birth occurred on the 26th day of February. 1882, and who is now the wife of Rudolph Imhoff, a farmer and stock raiser of St. Clair township. Butler county.

HENRY BLOCK.

Success has been worthily achieved . by the enterprising agriculturist of whom the biographer writes in this connection, a man of sterling worth, whose career from the time of beginning the struggle of life in humble circumstances to his present in- dependent position and high standing among

his fellow citizens of his township, demon- strated the possession of business ability and the faculty of rising superior to environ- ments. Henry Block is in every sense of the term a self-made man and as such he not only compares favorably with the most in- telligent and progressive of his contempora- ries, but is deserving of great credit for his continuous advancement in the face of so many opposing circumstances. His life has been one of great activity and, never having seriously considered the possibility of fail- ure nor at any time lost faith in his own resources, it is not at all surprising that his energy and ability, encouraged by a spirit of splendid optimism, should have paved the way to success such as few under like circumstances would have achieved.

Mr. Block is one of Butler county's native sons, born in Union township No- vember 13. 1861, being the second of eight children whose parents were John and Fan- nie (Brown) Block. He was reared on his father's farm, and in due time learned the lessons of industry and frugality in the fields where he spent the summer months until a youth in his teens, devoting the win- ter seasons to attending the district schools, in which he received a fair educational training, completing the branches constitut- ing the prescribed course of study. Reared with the idea ever prominent in his mind that labor is honorable and idleness akin to disgrace, he early formed industrious habits

. and grew to manhood with a firm determi- nation to make it subserve useful and noble ends. His father found him a ready and valuable assistant. in all the labors of the farm, and to him more, perhaps, than any of his brothers fell the responsibility of managing the place and looking after the

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interests of his parents and the younger members of the family. With true filial re- gard, he remained with his parents longer than do the majority of young men, for it was not until his twenty-third year that he severed the ties which bound him to the fireside and set up a domestic establish- ment of his own.

On the 6th day of November, 1884, Mr. Block entered the marriage relation with Miss Maggie Lintner, who was born in Butler county. Ohio, August 31, 1864, the daughter of John Lintner, for a number of years a prosperous farmer of Union town- ship, also one of its respected and most praiseworthy citizens. During the two years following his marriage Mr. Block lived at Maud Station and cultivated his father's farm for a share of the proceeds. but not satisfied with being a renter he re- moved at the expiration of the time to the place near Fort Union, which he purchased and on which he has since lived, the mean- while, by diligent and continuous toil and superior management, reducing the greater part of his land to tillage besides making a number of substantial improvements thereon. Mr. Block's farm contains one hundred and thirty-eight acres of valuable land, the productiveness of which not only has been maintained but enhanced by the judicious use of artificial fertilizers and proper rotation of crops, and in addition to the abundant returns realized from its cultivation he adds very materially to his income from the sale of live stock, especially of hogs, in the breeding and raising of which he has been quite successful. He keeps none but the finest and most approved breeds of domestic animals, his horses and cattle as well as his swine being 'of the best

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 67

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