Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 71

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 71

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Digitized by Google

464

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

station agent, a position he long held with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the company with which for eighteen con- secutive years he was connected. Mr. Allen was one of the old and trusted employes of the above road and his long continuance in the important position demonstrated not only professional skill and ability of a high order, but also faithfulness in looking after the interests of the company that won him the esteem and unbounded confidence of his superiors. His quick observance of every duty devolving upon him, his promptness in meeting and discharging the responsibilities which came to him and his familiarity with the various details of his profession and the railroad business generally made his services especially valuable, and there were few as ef- ficient agents on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad as he. Mr. Allen severed his connection with the road in 1892. No one did more than he to bring about the mutually pleasant and satisfactory relations between the company and the public that have long obtained at Oxford. Mr. Allen is identified with various public improvements in Oxford, including among others the city water works, established in 1896, and the electric light plant, established in 1889. He has been secretary of these systems ever since 1895 and it is not too much to say that their efficiency and success are largely due to the untiring interest he has manifested in their behalf. He was also one of the first to agitate the matter of a local telephone sys- tem and took the initiation in organizing and incorporating the present company, be- ing at this time secretary of the same and a member of its board of directors. In mu- nicipal affairs he has long been a leading spirit, every movement for the material ad-

vancement of the city meeting with his en- couragement and co-operation, while not a few of the progressive measures which have characterized the recent growth and de- velopment of the community have been the outgrowth of his wisdom and forethought. Mr. Allen is justly regarded one of the most enterprising citizens of Oxford, being up- to-date in all he does, a leader in matters of public import and an influential force along the various lines of industrial and general business growth. His active brain, quick in- tellect and willing hands are never idle and in matters of social improvement, educa- tional advancement and moral reform he is as deeply interested as in the enterprises of a material nature referred to above.

Mr. Allen is a firm and uncompromising Republican and a politician, being an active participant in the councils of his party and one of its recognized leaders in Oxford and Butler county. He is a good organizer, a resourceful worker and, although a partisan, has never sought public honors at the hands of his fellow citizens nor asked for office of any kind, his faith in the principles of the party and belief that it is accomplishing the great mission which its founders had in view fully justifying him for all his labors and the sacrifices he has made to promote its success.

Mr. Allen has been successful in a ma- terial way and is now one of the financially solid men of Oxford. He has added con- siderably to the beauty of the city by erect- ing in 1885 the handsome and commodious residence at the corner of College avenue and South street which he now occupies and which is supplied with all modern con- veniences. The presiding spirit in this household is the intelligent and accomplished

Digitized by Google

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

465

lady to whom Mr. Allen was united in the bonds of wedlock September 19, 1878, and who prior to that time bore the name of Julia Finch. Mrs. Allen was born and reared in Oxford township and received her education in the city schools; her grand- father, a native of New York, came to this part of Ohio about eighty-five years ago and in due time became one of the leading farm- ers of Butler county. Her father was born in Butler county in 1825 and moved onto his present farm in Oxford township soon after his marriage, and became a prominent farm- er and stockraiser, his wife and family as well as himself being highly esteemed in the county. Although not blessed with any chil- dren, the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Allen has been mutually pleasant and agreeable in all the terms imply, their domestic re- lations being of the happiest character, while their worth as members of society is duly appreciated in the best social circles of the county. Both are interested in the various movements for the general good of the city along charitable, benevolent and moral lines, and those who know them best speak most highly of their many estimable qualities of mind and heart.

LINUS P. VAIL.

Linus P. Vail is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Butler county and a man of integrity, mature judg- ment and high moral worth, and it is emi- nently fitting that specific mention be made of him among the leading citizens of the county of which this work treats. The Vail family is of English origin and its history 30

in this country dates from the early set- tlement of New Jersey, in addition to which it is also closely identified with the pioneer period of different parts of the state of Ohio. The first ancestor of whom the sub- ject has any definite knowledge is Samuel Vail, who was born in New Jersey, where his antecedents settled a number of years prior to the war of the Revolution. He mar- ried, in his native commonwealth, Keziah Jennings, and later migrated to southern Ohio, of which part of the state he was one of the earliest pioneers. Among the chil- dren of Samuel and Keziah Vail was a son by the name of Isaac, who married Fannie Clifton and reared a family, from which the subject of this review is directly descended. Isaac Vail settled at Cincinnati in about 1806, and one year later his son Moses was born at that place. All the above were till- ers of the soil and they were noted for their great physical powers, each being over six feet in height and correspondingly developed and robust. Moses Vail came to the county of Butler, settling in Liberty township, where he was married, in 1827, to Miss Elizabeth Vail. He arrived here poor in this world's goods, but, possessing great energy, remarkable endurance and fine busi- ness abilities, he soon bettered his condition and in the course of a few years was one of the leading farmers and wealthy business men of this section of the state. He pur- chased and developed several large tracts of land, traded in various kinds of commodities. conducted successfully a country store, and in these different capacities money rapidly came into his possession, besides achieving considerable prestige as a leader in public affairs. The family of Moses and Elizabeth Vail consisted of seven children, all of whom

Digitized by Google

466

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

are living, their names being as follows: stock, in the breeding and raising of which Ellen, wife of Elias Smalley; Sarah, who his success has long been assured. He de- votes much attention to fine cattle and hogs, keeping none but the best domestic animals, and his efforts in this important branch of farming have aroused a commendable inter- est among his neighbors in the matter of im- proving their breeds of live stock. married Nelson Murphy, of Union City, In- diana; Linus P., of this review; Maria, wife of Samuel Enyart; Matilda, now Mrs. Joseph Kinikin, of Hamilton, and Eliza, who became the wife of Thomas Peak, of Illinois. The father died in 1876, the mother in 1894.

Linus P. Vail was born in Liberty town- ship, Butler county, Ohio, July 12, 1836, and grew to manhood on the farm which he now owns and which was the house of his childhood. Endowed with the vigorous bodily powers characteristic of his ancestors and blessed with fine health and excellent parental training, he early made good use. a livelihood, he still looks after his agri- of his time by working in the woods and cultural and live-stock interests, manages the farm and attends to his business affairs, leaving the more difficult work to other and younger hands. fields and in various other ways assisting his father in developing and cultivating the family homestead. During the winter months he attended such schools as the coun- The political support of Mr. Vail is given to the Republican party and its can- didates and he takes quite an active interest in local affairs, but has never sought nor de- sired office. The only public positions he has ever held have been judge of elections and school director, serving three years in the former and eleven years in the latter. try afforded and by close application to his studies he obtained a good education for the times. He remained with his parents until his twenty-first year and then started in life for himself, choosing, in 1857, a wife and helpmeet by the name of Emmeline Jeffries, who was the fifth of the twelve children of Thomas Jeffries, an early settler and promin- ent farmer of Union township.

During the fifteen years following his marriage Mr. Vail farmed as a renter, but in 1872 purchased the home farm, since which time he has made additions thereto until he now has one hundred and five acres of excellent and highly improved land in Liberty township, besides owning valuable real estate near the village of Pueblo. While fortunate in the matter of general farming, his principal source of income has been live

Mr. Vail began life considerably han- dicapped by lack of means and he has never received aid from any outside source, his present independent condition and the ample competency laid aside for his declining years being the result of his own industry and well-directed business efforts. Although no longer under the necessity of laboring for

Mrs. Vail was born in the month of November, 1835, spent her childhood and youth in Union township and received the best education the public schools could im- part. She has nobly seconded her husband in all of his endeavors, contributed not a little to the building up of his fortune, and without her assistance and co-operation it is doubtful if his success would have been so marked as it now is. She is a worthy and respected member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in the rearing of her

Digitized by Google

467

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

children has endeavored to implant in their hearts a love of truth and right and to im- press them with the necessity of guiding their lives by the religious principles which have ever been among her most pronounced characteristics.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Vail, viz: Ella, wife of Dr. Otto Mayer, of Hamilton; Charles, a married man with two sons, living in the city of St. Paul, Minnesota; Hubert, who married Miss Jessie Sinkey, and resides in Hamilton ; Rosa, born August 3. 1858, died August 14. 1876; Jessie, born in October, 1863, died when about one month old.

REV. PIUS NIEHAUS, O. F. M.

Rev. Pius Niehaus, pastor of St. Stephen's Roman Catholic church, Hamil- ton, Ohio, is a native of Cincinnati, born on the 26th of November, 1853, his ancestors being of German nativity. Father Pius re- ceived his elementary education and prepar- ation for college in the parish schools of St. John and St. Francis, in the city of his birth. He completed his collegiate studies in the colleges of St. Xavier and St. Francis, and entered the Order of Franciscans on the 25th of August, 1869. He was ordained a priest at Detroit, Michigan, in the Bishop's oratory, by the Rt. Rev. Caspar Henry Bor- gess, D. D., bishop of the diocese, on the 20th of December, 1876, and he immediately entered upon his ministerial duties as assist- ant pastor of St. Mary's church. Detroit. From that day to the present he has been an active servant in the cause of his Master and the church.

Father Pius Niehaus received his first pastoral assignment to St. Mary's church, at Bloomington, Illinois, in September, 1881, and from there he was transferred to the position of pastor and guardian of the con- vent at Oldenburg, Indiana. His next lo- cation was in the capacity of pastor of St. John's church in Cincinnati. He was then transferred back to Indiana, and was pastor of St. Boniface church, and chaplain of the hospital, at Lafayette. Next he was pastor of Sacred Heart church at Peoria, Illinois, and from there he was returned to Olden- burg, Indiana, and was chaplain at the Sis- ters' convent and academy. His next as- signment was at Louisville, Kentucky, where he was assistant pastor. In 1900 he was made rector of St. Francis College in Cin- cinnati, and in 1901 he was transferred to St. Stephen's church, in Hamilton, his pas- torate beginning here on the 5th of August.

In the administration of the affairs of this church he has two assistant priests, Rev. Ignatius Wilkens, O. F. M., and Rev. Pros- per Stehmann, O. F. M., who arrived here .August 5, 1904, to succeed Rev. Herculan Zeug, who was assigned to St. Michaels. Apache county, Arizona, to labor among the Navajoes. The sermons are preached in both the German and English languages. The congregation comprises over four hun- dred German families. The parochial school, in connection with the church, has an enrollment of over three hundred pupils, in charge of two Franciscan brothers and four sisters of Notre Dame.

A Catholic church was erected on the present site of St. Stephen's church in 1832, and this became the property of the present occupants in 1848. The corner-stone of the present edifice was laid in 1852, and the

Digitized by Google

468

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF,

church was completed and blessed in 1853. In the year 1893, under the pastorate of Rev. Raphael Hesse, O. F. M., the seating capacity of the church was much enlarged and the building beautified by the construc- tion of the transept.

The Rev. Nicholas Wachter, O. F. M .. was the first resident Franciscan priest in Hamilton, and also the first pastor of St. Stephen's church. Following are the names of his successors, in the order of appoint- ment : Rev. Pirmin Eberhard, O. F. M., Rev. Lawrence Oosterling, O. F. M., Rev. Frank Paul Kolb, O. F. M., Rev. Nicholas Wachter, O. F. M., second term, Rev. Dionysius Abarth, O. F. M., Rev. Lucas Gottbehoede, O. F. M., Rev. Jerome Kilgen- stein, O. F. M., Rev. Clement Steinkamp, O. F. M., Rev. Daniel Heile, O. F. M., Rev. Nicholas Holtel, O. F. M., Rev. Accursius Beine, O. F. M., Rev. Raphael Hesse, O. F. M., Rev. Ubaldus Webersinke, O. F. M., and Rev. Pius Niehaus, O. F. M.

The social functions of St. Stephen's church have attained a high order of ex- cellence, both in organization and efficiency for the purpose designed. The following list embraces the names of the leading so- cieties having pastoral sanction and co-oper- ation : St. Stephen's Men's Society; St. Mary's Women's Society; St. Joseph's Young Men's Society; St. Rose's Young Ladies' Society; Married Ladies' Sodality B. V. M .; Young Men's Sodality B. V. M .; Young Ladies' Sodality B. V. M .; the School Children's Guardian Angel Society, under direction of the school brothers and school sisters; this organization has a mem- bership of three hundred and fifty boys and girls; Tabernacle Society; Poor Soul's So- ciety ; St. Anthony's Orphan Society; St.

Raphael's Literary Union; St. Stephen's® Cemetery Association; St. Paul's Relief So- ciety; Catholic Knights of St. John; Catholic Knights of America; Catholic Or- der of Foresters, and Catholic Knights of Ohio.

The underlying principle of each of these numerous organizations is to benefit hu- manity and elevate human character. The mission can not but commend itself to the world. There is no phase of human suf- fering which the broad philanthropy and diversified application will not reach. At the same time the members of the societies are brought in wholesome contact with each other and with the religious atmosphere which emanates from their social deliber- ations.

JOHN A. YAGER.

This representative citizen and gallant ex-soldier is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in the old historic county of Lan- caster on March 31, 1831. His paternal grandfather came from Germany a number of years ago and settled in Lancaster county, where descendants of the family still reside. George W. Yager, father of the subject, was born in the above county and state and. being left an orphan at an early age, was obliged to struggle for a livelihood against many opposing circumstances and hardships. Shortly after attaining his majority he mar- ried Barbara Carpenter, whose ancestors were among the pioneer settlers of Lancas- ter county, and subsequently moved to Co- lumbiana county, Ohio, thence to Park county, Indiana, and still later changed his residence to the county of Shelby, in the

Digitized by Google

...

469

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

latter state, where he spent the remainder of his days. George W. and Barbara Yager were the parents of ten children, six of whom are still living, three of the sons hav- ing served with distinction in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion.

John A. Yager was reared in his native state until his eighteenth year and at in- tervals the meanwhile attended, as oppor- tunities afforded, the common schools of the various localities in which he lived. At the age noted he accompanied his parents to Indiana, and until the breaking out of the Civil war assisted his father in cultiva- ting the home farm in Shelby county, his out-of-door life, in close touch with nature, being the means of developing the strong and vigorous constitution which enabled him to encounter so many hardships and per- form so much manual labor in subsequent years.

When President Lincoln issued the call for volunteers in 1861 Mr. Yager was among the first of Shelby county's patriotic young men to respond, and on October 17th of that year enlisted in Company K, Forty- third Indiana Infantry, which experienced its first active service in the campaign against Forts Henry and Donelson, under the lead- ership of General Grant. Later the regiment was brigaded with the Seventh Army Corps and took part in the operations along the Mississippi river to Island No. 10, and later participated in a number of campaigns and hard-fought battles, in all of which the sub- ject shared with his comrades their varied fortunes and vicissitudes, performing the part of a brave soldier whose record from this enlistment until mustered out of the service, on the 18th of October, 1864, is without a stain. Retiring to Indiana after

leaving the army, Mr. Yager spent one year at the town of Rockville and in 1865 dis- posed of his interests there and came to But- ler county, Ohio, locating at Seven Mile. On October 26th of the latter year he entered the marriage relations with Miss Mary E. Cornthwait, who was born in Butler county March 11, 1837, and whose parents moved to this part of the state from Mary- land in an early day. For a number of years Mr. Yager devoted his attention to the carpenter's trade and in due time became a prominent contractor and builder, many of the better class of private dwellings, as well as a number of public buildings and other edifices in various parts of this county, bearing testimony to his skill and efficiency as a mechanic. By diligently prosecuting his chosen calling and exercising the thrift for which he has long been noted, he suc- ceeded in accumulating a sufficiency of this world's goods to enable him to retire from active life, since which time he has resided at Seven Mile, where he owns a beautiful and comfortable home and where he is also greatly esteemed for his manly qualities and genuine personal worth.

Mr. Yager has been interested in politics since old enough to cast a ballot, and his loyalty to the Republican party has made him one of its able leaders and trusted ad- visers in the town and township in which he lives. He has served as councilman ever since the incorporation of Seven Mile, was mayor of the town one term of two and a half years, besides serving two terms as a member of the school board, in all of which capacities his services were greatly appreci- ated by the public. Mr. Yager has been alive to the best interests of his town, has done much to promote its development and

Digitized by Google

470

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

his activity and leadership in all worthy en- terprises have won for him a conspicuous place in the confidence and affections of his fellow citizens. His ideas are essentially progressive, his aims have always been to benefit those with whom he came in contact, and every movement having for its object the moral advancement of the community is sure to enlist his hearty co-operation. In matters religious he has strong convictions and as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church his influence has tended greatly to the spiritual good of his fellow men, his daily life being in harmony with the faith which he has so long professed. Since be- coming a resident of Seven Mile he has been a leading worker in the congregation wor- shiping at the town and for several years past he has held the office of trustee in the church, besides contributing liberally of his means to its material support, also to the furthering of all good works under its auspices. Mr. Yager is deeply interested in the welfare of the old soldiers and none ap- preciate more fully than he the deep debt of gratitude the country owes the remaining veterans who during the dark days of the Rebellion made such costly sacrifices to pre- serve the Union from dissolution. He was long a leading member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post No. 96, at Hamilton, but of late does not attend its sessions very regularly, his age and infirmities naturally incident thereto preventing him from meet- ing with his old comrades of the iron days and recalling the scenes of their struggles, sufferings and triumphs in the Southland.

Mr. and Mrs. Yager have had three children, the oldest of whom, a son by the name of Walter M., was born September 26, 1866, and departed this life on the 2d

day of April, 1900; he was a married man and for a number of years served as freight agent of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad at Cincinnati ; Luvernia, the second of the family, was born March 7, 1869, and is now the wife of Harry Snively, a well-known business man of Seven Mile; Oren C., the youngest, whose birth occurred on March 15, 1872, is single and lives un- der the parental roof.

LUTHER M. HITCHCOCK.

Luther M. Hitchcock, a retired farmer and teacher in St. Clair township, was born in Prince George county, Maryland, on the 3d of December, 1826. He received a good education in the schools of Ohio, having ac- companied his parents to this state when a child of four years. The trip across the mountains in that early day was fraught with perils and privations, the details of which came to him as family tradition in later years. His father paid a man two hundred dollars to haul the family equipage to Pitts- burg, from which point they took the "flat- boat route" to Cincinnati, finally landing in Butler county, where more than seventy years of Mr. Hitchcock's life have been spent. He is a son of Dr. Samuel and Maria (Lane) Hitchcock, who were natives of Vermont. The father was a man of liberal education, being a graduate of West- minster College. He was graduated in medicine from the Baltimore Medical Col- lege, and entered upon the practice of his profession in Prince George county, Mary- land. After six years in practice of his pro- fession in Prince George county he decided

Digitized by Google

----

471

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

to seek a home in the then far West, and tered the military service and was stationed came to Butler county, Ohio, in 1830. Here in the defenses of Washington for several months. While his military experience was not as varied and exciting as that of others at the front, he nevertheless showed his patriotism and faithfully performed the du- ties required of him. Returning from the war, Mr. Hitchcock was married on the 19th of December, 1865, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Smith, who was born in St. Clair township, Butler county, Ohio, in 1827. She is a representative of one of the early established families of the county. While they have never had any children of their own, they have not been strangers to the innocent prattle of childhood, but have reared several adopted children. Mr. Hitch- cock has been a lifelong Republican, ad- hering to the doctrines of that time-honored and fire-tested organization from the birth of the party to the present. He is a bright and intelligent old gentleman. thoroughly posted on current events and a zealous and careful reader of high-class literature. He has witnessed with great interest the won- derful advancement in science, literature and art during the last fifty years, and has been a participator in the material prosperity of Butler county during the same period. He well remembers the time when the slow- plodding stage coach was the only public conveyance between even the largest cities, when electricity, now the most useful mo- tive power, was unknown except as a de- structive agent. He has witnessed the pass- ing of the hand sickle, the old "turkey wing" cradle, the "dropper," the hand rake, and all the crude implements of the farm, and the advent of labor-saving machinery, un- thought of in his boyhood days. The blazed bridle path, through almost impassable mud, he was in active practice for many years, and was deservedly prominent in his pro- fession; but he subsequently purchased a farm and removed to Miami county, where he ended his days. His wife survived him for a number of years and, after his death, returned to Hamilton, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bell. Both parents attained to a ripe old age. There were nine children born to Dr. and Mrs. Hitchcock, seven of whom are now living. Of this family, Luther M., of this sketch, was the eldest son. The names of the living mem- bers of the family are Holiday, of Mattoon, Illinois; William, of Hamilton, Ohio; Ben- jamin F., of Indianapolis, Indiana; Mrs. Harlan, of Indianapolis, and Laura, who re- sides with her sister, Mrs. Bell, in Hamilton. Henry L. died in Indiana, leaving a family, and Samuel died in Hamilton, unmarried. at the age of seventy years. Luther M. Hitchcock began his independent career as a teacher, and followed that profession in this and other states for twenty years. He purchased his present farm in St. Clair township in 1864, and has occupied it con- tinuously since. This is a valuable prop- erty. embracing eighty-five acres, with good buildings and in a high state of improve- ment. The purchase price was one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. It is located on the line of the Cincinnati, Dayton & Toledo Traction Company, giving the advantages of city life, with the comforts and retirement of the country. Mr. Hitchcock has been re- tired from active labors on the farm for the last fifteen or twenty years and leases the property to tenants. During the closing months of the Civil war Mr. Hitchcock en-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 71

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