Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 69

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 69

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Professor Thompson's professional career has been characterized by great in- .

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nently proper to state that the bright prom- that notwithstanding the interest and en- ises of his youth have been more than re- thusiasm which he displays in his profession he is by no means narrow or pedantic, as so many school men are; on the contrary, be- ing a man of broad mind, liberal views and a student of many subjects in which the pub- lic manifest a lively regard. A reader and a thinker, he is well informed upon political economy and history, being familiar with the principles and doctrines of the different political parties and a close and intelligent observer of current events and, like all pub- lic-spirited citizens, takes an active interest in good local government, besides giving his support to all progressive measures for the material advancement and moral welfare of the community in which he resides. In state and national affairs he is a Republican, but in county and municipal matters gives his support to the best qualified candidates regardless of party affiliation. He may with propriety be termed an independent Repub- lican and with tendencies in voting on the side of reform, and all measures with this object in view are sure to enlist his earnest co-operation. He has done duty at various times on the election board and while a resident of Pennsylvania served as a mem- ber of the school board of Beaver Falls, hold- ing a similar position since 1900 in the city of Oxford. alized in the distinguished record which he has achieved in his chosen field of endeavor. He never courted notoriety, but always aimed to excel and make himself efficient, in consequence of which he has never had to seek for position, his reputation being such as to create a wide demand for his services by the leading colleges and univer- sities of the country. An estimate of his per- sonal and professional standing as fair per- haps as any other is that of President W. O. Thompson, of the Ohio State University, who in 1898 said of him : "Professor E. P. Thompson came to Miami University as professor of mathematics in September, 1893. He has during these years impressed himself upon the members of the faculty as a student of his subject and a scholar. He is not contented with the mere routine of his work, but is a progressive scholar, glean- ing constantly from the experience of the best teachers. The high ideals that govern his life have produced the diligent student. In him the better is never permitted to be the solving of the best. His example and attainments alike inspire an earnest student. His never failing fidelity to his calling com- mends him to those who know him. He has learned the art of attending to his own work and insists upon doing it. Such qualities make him an agreeable and acceptable col- league in a faculty."

Other commendation in keeping with the above could be adduced were it necessary, but sufficient has been said to form a correct estimate of the Professor's attainments and ability in the line of his work and to dem- onstrate his sterling qualities of manhood and citizenship. It may be added, however, 29

Religiously, Professor Thompson was born and reared in the United Presbyterian church and became actively identified with the same at Dickson, Tennessee, on the first day of April, 1871. He has served as rul- ing elder since his ordination at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and in addition to this office holds at the present time the position of trustee and treasurer in the church at Ox- ford, being also the efficient superintendent

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of the Sabbath school under the auspices of tion at the present day that carries with it the congregation. In brief, it may be said that his life has been largely devoted to others, through the medium' of the family, the school, the college and the church, and in these several capacities his abilities have shown transcendence and his labors have been crowned with abundant success. Few men of his age and experience have accom- plished as much or risen as high in profes- sional and public esteem and, being still in the prime of his physical and mental pow- ers, he is not content to rest with honors al- ready won, but looks forward to a future in which there is a wider sphere of usefulness to achieve and brighter laurels to be won.

Professor Thompson comes from a fam- ily that has long been active in religious and educational work, several of its represent- atives having gained more than local repute as ministers and teachers, while others have achieved honorable careers in different lines of labor. Rev. Samuel Findley Thompson, the subject's father, is at this time one of the older living divines of the United Pres- byterian church in the West, and a brother, the Rev. J. A. Thompson, D. D., an able minister and erudite scholar, is president of Tarkio College, Missouri. Another of the subject's brothers is professor of mathe- matics in an educational institution at Ster- ling, Kansas, while a third is pastor of the · United Presbyterian church at Washington, Pennsylvania.

DAVID H. AYERS.

From remote antiquity tilling the soil has been considered an eminently honorable and dignified calling and if there is a voca-

a patent of nobility it is that which the ag- riculturist follows. The farm is the fruitful source from which has sprung the majority of our country's leading statesmen, soldiers, men of letters, and artisans, to say nothing of the great rank and file of the body politic, while nearly all the leaders of thought and captains of industry attribute their rise and success to their early training in the fields. It is a fact demonstrated by centuries of ex- perience that the success of any nation or people depends very largely upon the agri- cultural classes, as all wealth comes from the earth, the greater part being derived from the products of the soil. The farmer is not only independent, but eminently respectable, and now more than at any previous time he is an influential factor in promoting the wel- fare of the community in which he resides and a great conservative force in formulat- ing political policies, directing public opin- ion, and giving tone and moral standing to the social element which constitutes the cor- ner-stone upon which the real stability of the American republic rests. While he has always fed all and paid for all, it is only of recent years that he has forged to the front and became a leader in the dominion of thought and action instead of a mere slave of the soil as in former centuries. The hus- bandman of the twentieth century, if appre- ciative of his vocation and successful in its prosecution, is nature's true aristocrat and to him more than to the votary of any other calling do we look for the clear brain, the sound judgment and the high aim which enter so largely into our national conscience. A follower of this vocation is the well- known gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article, a gentleman of practical intelligence and progressive ideas, whose in-

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fluence has helped to elevate agriculture in his community and make it not only the source of substantial material wealth, but also the means of mounting to a conspicu- ous position among his fellow men in busi- ness circles and in the social world.

David H. Ayers, of Union township, is a native of Butler county, Ohio, as was also his father, James Ayers, son of Elias and Ursula (Davis) Ayers, who, with their par- ents, came to this part of the country in an early day. James Ayers married, in his early manhood, Miss Loretta E. Hulse, daughter of David and Ernestine (Krous- kopf) Hulse, and became the father of three children, Weller, David H. and Bertha J .. the last named being the wife of Walter W. Voorhis.

David H. Ayers was born on the family homestead in Union township November 13, 1867, and there spent the years of his child- hood and youth, growing up to habits of in- dustry and while yet young becoming ac- customed to the discipline of farm life. He received a practical education in the public schools and from the death of his father, in 1882, until his marriage, eleven years later, remained at home helping to look after his mother's affairs and cultivate the farm; while thus engaged he laid plans for his future course of action, one of them being the earnest desire to become a prosperous tiller of the soil, which he has since carried into effect.

In the year 1893 Mr. Ayers contracted a marriage with Miss Anna C. Block, who was also born in Union township. Decem- ber 21. 1870, being a daughter of John and Stevania (Brown) Block. well-known and highly respected citizens of Union town- ship. Mrs. Ayers' parents were both natives

of Germany, having emigrated to America when young and living in Butler county ever since their marriage, in February, 1859.

Immediately following his marriage, Mr. Ayers set up his domestic establishment on the paternal homestead, which had come into his possession, and he has cultivated the same ever since, meeting with continued success as an agriculturist and stock raiser. In addition. to his home place, Mr. Ayers owns two hundred and twelve acres in sec- tion 18, Union township, all of which is in a fair state of cultivation and otherwise im- proved. In 1903 he was elected trustee of Union township, which position he still holds, discharging the duties of the same to the satisfaction of the people of the juris- diction.

The beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Ayers is gladdened and made bright by the presence of five children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Howard J., April 15. 1895: Walter E .. January 22, 1897; Mildred, May 13, 1900: Alfred C .. February 17. 1902, and Alice, February 19, 1904.

David Hulse, the grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch and one of the leading and progressive men of the community in which he lived, was born April 2, 1819, and was the youngest son of William and Catherine (Lutes) Hulse .. both natives of New Jersey and of Dutch descent, who emi- grated to Ohio in 1815 and settled on a farm in Union township. He reared a fam- ily of eight sons and two daughters. David attended the common schools and obtained a fair education, becoming also thoroughly versed in agricultural pursuits. In his four- teenth year he went to Indiana with an older brother. remaining there for three years.

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this being the only period of his life in cultivated experience which made him the which he was not a resident of Ohio.

In 1839 David Hulse was united in mar- riage to Ernestine Krouskopf, who was born in Germany September 20, 1817. She was the daughter of Louis and Catherine ( Mer- cer) Krouskopf, who came to America with their family in 1821, and settled in Hamil- ton county, Ohio. They removed to Butler county in 1829, where he resided until his death, December 31, 1860, his wife surviv- ing him about five years. Louis Krous- kopf was a highly educated German and was a cavalry officer under Napoleon in the French expedition against Russia, his regi- ment losing all but fifty-five men in that campaign.

Mr. Hulse, immediately after his mar- riage, located upon a farm adjoining the one his father had settled on, which had come into his possession at the death of his father, in 1833. There were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hulse seven children, four sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, but all pre- ceded their parents to the great beyond, Lewis, the eldest son, dying from a wound received at the battle of Stone River De- cember 31, 1862.

Mr. Hulse was a Republican and, al- though never aspiring to public distinction, he always displayed a commendable inter- est in whatever concerned the welfare of the community, and his influence and ma- terial assistance were given to every laud- able enterprise for the public good. He pos- sessed in a marked degree the sterling char- acteristics which beget and retain confidence and in every relation of life his integrity was conspicuous and his good name above sus- picion or reproach. He possessed a fund of

sage of reference among those who knew him. Mrs. Hulse for a long time was a practitioner in obstetrics, in which she was very successful, exhibiting also marked ability in the handling of children's diseases, and she enjoyed the full confidence of the community. Through her nursing the sick and administering home remedies to the af- flicted, her sound advice to the growing young and her proficiency in the propaga- tion of flowers, she became one of the most interesting of neighbors. Neither she nor her husband ever showed any selfish greed, but were always willing to share with those in distress or want. Mr. Hulse was a man among men and Mrs. Hulse a true and tried ministering angel to all with whom she came in contact. Mr. Hulse died July 7, 1903, at the home he had built in his younger days, on the farm he commenced operations on sixty-four years before. Mrs. Hulse pre- ceded him to the silent land about seven years.

CONRAD WUNDER.

This gentleman is a worthy represent- ative of the agricultural interests of Butler county and his success in the prosecution of his life work has won him an honorable reputation among the leading farmers and stock raisers of Reily township. As the name indicates, Mr. Wunder is of German lineage, his parents, Paul and Anna (Huff- man) Wunder, having been natives of the kingdom of Bavaria. They came to America in 1848, were married in Cincinnati, Ohio. in 1851, and seven years later moved to Butler county and took up their residence .

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at which he served an apprenticeship in the land of his birth. Paul and Anna Wunder spent the remainder of their lives in Reily township, both dying some years ago, and of their eight children five survive, namely : John, a contractor and builder, whose home is in Minnesota; Carrie, wife of Jacob Avrams, of College Corners, Indiana; Dr. Henry E., a practicing physician of Soudan, Minnesota, and the proprietor of a large hospital at the same place; Anna Stein, now living in Reily township, and Conrad, whose name introduces this sketch.

Conrad Wunder was born September 26, 1852, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and after spend- ing the first six years of his life in that city was brought to Butler county, of which part of the state he has since been an honored resident. A good common-school training was the extent of his educational experience, and until attaining his majority he remained at home assisting his father in various ways and contributing of his earnings to the sup- port of the family. For some time after reaching manhood's estate he worked for his father by the month and in this way spent his time until his marriage, which was solemnized in the year 1876, with Miss Catherine Urban, who died in 1880, leaving one child, a daughter by the name of Char- lotte, who is now the wife of Harvey Weaver, of Reily, this state. Subsequently Mr. Wunder contracted a matrimonial al- liance with Miss Barbara Chalip, the union being without issue, but since then he has reared an orphan boy, Harry Peterman, whom he has provided with a good home and given all the privileges and benefits that would have been conferred upon a child of his own flesh and blood.

Wunder has devoted his time and attention to agriculture, and his continued success has won for him a leading place among the rep- resentative farmers and stock raisers of Reily township. He owns a beautiful, well- cultivated place in which are some of the best improvements in the township, and the excellent condition of the buildings and the farm generally shows him to be a man of advanced ideas in everything relating to ag- ricultural science, and progressive in the prosecution of all of his undertakings. Mr. Wunder has a well-established reputation as a raiser of fine live stock, making a specialty of swine, for the proper caring of which he is perhaps better prepared than any other man in the county. His hog house, twenty- four by seventy feet in size, and supplied with every convenience for the successful breeding and raising of first-class animals, is one of the largest and most complete structures of the kind in this part of the state and the Poland China and other breeds to which he devotes especial attention, and of which he sells a great many every year at the highest market price, are of the highest grade and the source of a very liberal in- come. Mr. Wunder is also a successful 'chicken fancier and takes great pride in rais- ing fine fowls, of which he is not only an excellent judge, but a recognized authority. His favorite breed is the celebrated Plymouth Rock, which he raises for general purposes as well as for special sale, some of his finer fowls having taken first premiums at the different places where exhibited, and he has no difficulty in disposing of them at figures far in excess of what are usually asked for the more common species.

In politics Mr. Wunder is a Democrat, Since leaving the parental fireside Mr. but he can not be called a politician, al-

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though manifesting a commendable interest in public affairs and keeping himself well informed relative to the great questions and issues on which men and parties differ and divide. He is an enthusiastic member of the Odd Fellows order and its several branches, having passed all the chairs in St. Charles Lodge, No. 332, at Reily, besides important positions in the Rebekah degree and in the encampment at Oxford. As a citizen Mr. Wunder is public-spirited to the extent of lending his influence and aid to all. worthy enterprises for the advancement of the com- munity, materially and otherwise, and every laudable measure having for its object the moral welfare of his fellow men is sure to enlist his sympathy and support. He has not sought public attention, nor at any time attempted to gain high positions, but on the contrary has rather chosen the more seques- tered ways and contented himself with the unobtrusive manner in which his success has been attained and his eminently useful career achieved. In every relation of life he is worthy the high regard which is uniformly extended him and it is with pleasure that the foregoing brief review is presented in this connection.

ALFRED COMPTON.

The subject of this sketch was born on farm near Pleasant Run, Hamilton a county, Ohio, on the 16th of July, 1833. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers of southern Ohio, as appears more fully in the sketch of his brother, Freeman Comp- ton, in this volume. To avoid unnecessary

repetition, the reader is referred as above indicated.

Alfred Compton was the seventh child in a family of ten born to Abraham and Abigail (Phillips) Compton. His educa- tion was acquired in the district schools of his native locality in the well-remembered old school house at Pleasant Run. At the age of about sixteen years he became an apprentice to the carpenter's trade in Ham- ilton. Later he worked at the business for a time in Piqua, Ohio, and from the latter place he went to Iowa, which state was then rapidly developing with the impetus of west- ward emigration. Mr. Compton located at Columbus City, in the Hawkeye state, and there began his career as a contractor and builder. After ten years thus spent, he re- turned to Ohio and in 1864 located at Sym- mes Corners, a village four miles south of Hamilton, and, from that point as head- quarters, he continued the work of contract- ing and building for ten years. He then moved to Hamilton and for a short time he was in partnership with his brother Free .. man. On the Ist of June, 1875, the brothers dissolved their business relations. since which time Alfred Compton has given his entire attention to the lumber business. He has occupied a very desirable and convenient location at the southwest corner of Third and Sycamore streets for nearly thirty years and enjoys a fine trade in all kinds of lum- ber and building materials. Mr. Compton has been phenomenally successful in a finan- cial way and stands in the front rank of Hamilton's corps of able business men. The site upon which his yards are located rep- resents quite a fortune in market value, while he carries a heavy stock of goods at

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all times. In addition to this his rentals from numerous residences in the city yield him a handsome income. His possessions are wholly the result of his own well-di- rected energies and business sagacity.

While a resident of Iowa, Mr. Compton was married to Miss Nancy Jane Luckey, a native of Piqua, Ohio, born on the 4th of February, 1835. This union was solem- nized at Columbus City, Iowa, on the 30th of March, 1854, and proved a most happy marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Compton have had six children born to them, two of whom died in infancy. Francis, a prominent young man of eighteen, lost his life as an employe of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail- road Company. The living children are Lester and Thomas L., engaged in business with their father, and John A., a transfer man in Hamilton. Lester is unmarried and lives at home with his parents. Thomas married Martha Jane Green, and their three children are named Mary Jane, Thomas Alfred and Paul Dewitt. John married Miss Laura Frazier and their only living child is Alfred. Thus the ancestral name Alfred is to be perpetuated through suc- ceeding generations.

The subject of this review and his es- timable wife celebrated their golden wed- ding anniversary on the 30th of March. 1904. It is a pleasant duty to record the fact that this event, which is of seldom oc- currence in these days of "divorces for triv- ial cause," only emphasized the wisdom of their first choice, and shows that in spite of the lapse of half a century, the "old, old story" of love, trust and confidence was re- affirmed and intensified at the nuptial altar of 1904.

Mr. Compton has been an active mem-

ber of the Church of Christ for many years and is a zealous and conscientious worker in the cause of Christianity. Nearly all the years of his membership have been spent in some official capacity in the church, but mostly as a member of the official board. Mrs. Compton is also a member of the same religious organization, a devout Christian lady and an active member of the various ladies' societies connected with the church. In political affiliations Mr. Compton has been a lifelong Democrat, but has never allowed his name to go before the people as a candi- date for any public office. He regards politics as a "necessary evil," as the affairs of the political parties are usually conducted, and has no place in his make-up for the chronic office seeker. Social orders, or lodges, he classes in the same category as politics, withholding the word "necessary." But he is not aggressive in forcing his views upon others, giving to all the same privileges which he claims for himself.

WILLIAM C. DOWTY.

William C. Dowty, fire marshal of the city of Hamilton, was born on the 14th of. November, 1855, and has been a resident of Hamilton all his life. He was the second child in a family of two sons and two daughters born to James Wilson and Anna (Mathias) Dowty, both of whom were na- tives of Butler county. The father died of consumption in young manhood, thus end- ing a promising career of usefulness in 1861, at the age of thirty-three years. He was serving in the capacity of a county officer at the time of his death, and was promi-

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nent and well known in local political circles. He was a young man of exemplary habits and a high order of intellectual attainments. His wife was a daughter of Isaac Mathias, a well-known early pioneer of Butler county, and died in 1894, at the age of fifty-five years. Both the Dowty and Mathias fam- ilies came to this county from Pennsylvania and were of German extraction. Mrs. Lida Eberling, of Hamilton, was the eldest child born to James W. and Anna Dowty, and William C. of this sketch was the second. The third born was James Wilson, who tips the scale at three hundred pounds, and is employed as watchman at the county treas- urer's office in Hamilton. Carrie, the youngest of the quartette, died in infancy.

William C. Dowty was reared and edu- cated in the city of his birth, and when quite young learned the tinner's trade, as did also his brother, and they were in busi- ness together for a number of years. In 1879 Mr. Dowty first became connected with the fire department and from that date he served three years in the capacity of "runner." or pipeman, in 1882 becoming the driver of a hose wagon. He filled this position, with entire satisfaction to his su- periors and the city he served, for a period of eleven years, hence is one of the oldest men now connected with the department. In October, 1903. he was appointed fire mar- shal, a position second in importance and authority to that of chief. But aside from being the chief's assistant at fires, he has specific duties outside of that sphere. The position carries with it a good salary, and the appointment of Mr. Dowty is a compli- ment worthily bestowed upon a faithful guardian of the city's interests. He is prompt and reliable in the discharge of his

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 69

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