Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 73

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 73

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At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Gray accepted a clerkship in a store at Pisgah, but after a comparatively brief ex- perience in that capacity resigned his posi- tion and turned his attention to agriculture, which he has since pursued with marked success, being at this time one of the lead- ing farmers and stockraisers of Union town- ship, as well as one of its most enterpris- ing and public-spirited men of affairs. In connection with tilling the soil, he has been operating a threshing machine for a num- ber of years and in this way no small part of his liberal income is earned, his ex- perience as a thresher gaining him a large and lucrative patronage, as the demands for his labor during the busy seasons abund- antly attest. Mr. Gray is an exceedingly careful and methodical farmer and keeps fully abreast the times in all matters pertain- ing to agricultural science. His place is a

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model of neatness, the beautiful and attrac- tive dwelling, substantial barns and out- buildings, the excellent condition of his fields, and the presence of live stock of all kinds bespeaking the prosperity of the pro- prietor and indicating the home of a gen- tleman of intelligence and good taste, as well as industry and thrift.

In the year 1875 Mr. Gray was happily married to Miss Mary E. Stevenson, a na- tive of Butler county, the union resulting in the birth of one child, James Frank. Mr. Gray provided handsomely for the educa- tion of his son, first sending him through the public schools, after which he was pre- pared for a business career by taking a full course in a Cincinnati commercial college. At this time he holds an important position with a well-known banking house of New York city, being an agent and bookkeeper and standing high in the confidence and es- teem of his employers. He possesses busi- ness abilities of a high order and has al- ready achieved an enviable standing in the financial affairs of the great metropolis in which he lives, being a married man and quite popular in the social circles in which he and his wife move.

Mr. Gray is a local politician of con- siderable note and for a number of years he has been one of the influential Republican leaders in Butler county. As a member of the county central committee from Union township he has rendered valuable service to his party, in recognition of which he was nominated in 1899 for the office of real- estate appraiser, being opposed by one of the most popular men the Democracy could put in the field against him. In the en- suing election he ran two hundred votes ahead of the other candidates on the ticket,

overcoming a large normal Democratic ma- jority and defeating his competitor by a ma- jority of fifty-six, a fact of which he feels deservedly proud, being the first Republican elected to the office of appraiser in forty years. Mr. Gray proved a most capable and judicious official and filled the position to which he was chosen with credit to him- self and to the satisfaction of the people of the county irrespective of political ties. His sound judgment and mature business abili- ties won the confidence of the public and there was comparatively little if any dis- satisfaction with the manner in which he met the duties and responsibilities of an office, which all concede to be one of the most difficult and exacting within the gift of the people.

Mr. Gray is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 209, in which he has passed all the chairs. In every relation of life his con- duct has been upright and commendable and his high standing in the social world, as well as his leadership in political and public affairs, attest the esteem and con- fidence with which he is regarded by the people of his township and county.

CASSIUS W. CARTER.

Among the successful agriculturists of Union township whose names are worthy of mention in this volume is Cassius W. Car- ter, a native of Butler county, Ohio, and the third of nine children who constituted the family of Daniel and Maria (Chance) Car- ter. Daniel Carter was also a native of Butler county and by occupation a farmer

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and carpenter. He spent the greater part of his life in Liberty township, where he owned a good home and was a man of ster- ling worth and excellent repute. He de- voted his attention very closely to his chosen callings, exercised a salutary in- fluence in the community, and his death, on the 11th day of December, 1876, was deeply lamented by a large circle of friends and acquaintances who had learned to prize him for his high character and spotless integrity. Mrs. Carter, who is still living, resides in the town of Bethany and has reached her sixty-eighth year; she was her husband's able assistant and efficient adviser during their married life, reared her children in the way they should go and her wise coun- sel and judicious instruction had great in- fluence in moulding their characters and shaping their lives for good.

Cassius W. Carter was born December II, 1860, spent his early life on the home- stead in Liberty township and received his education in the district schools. Owing to his services being needed at home, he was not permitted to prosecute his studies as long as the majority of country boys, a matter which he has always regretted, but for which he has largely made up by a wide course of reading and close observation in subsequent life, being at this time one of the intelligent and well-informed men of the community in which he lives. When a mere youth he quit school and engaged as a farm hand, in which capacity he continued for several years, retaining only enough of his wages to keep himself comfortably and respectably clad, the rest being generously turned over to his widowed mother, to whose support he contributed until a short time prior to his marriage. 31

In the year 1884 Mr. Carter contracted a matrimonial alliance with Miss Mary Al- len, of Butler county, daughter of Martin Allen, a well-to-do farmer of Union town- ship, and for ten years thereafter worked for a Mr. Kyle, following which he entered the employ of his father-in-law, whose farm he cultivated for a period of three years. Some time after the death of Mr. Allen he purchased the farm and has lived on the same ever since, the place, under his in- dustry and effective management, being con- verted into one of the best improved and most valuable tracts of land of its size in Union township. It consists of two hun- dred and thirty-three acres of excellent land, the greater part under cultivation, the build- ings being modern and in good repair, the dwelling commodious and comfortable, the fields in fine condition; indeed, everything pertaining to the place indicates the energy and success with which it is cultivated, while the wisdom and enterprise displayed in its management bear eloquent testimony to the proprietor's skill and tact as a judicious, progressive and, in every sense of the term, representative agriculturist.

Owing to a severe injury caused by the accidental falling of a bridge Mr. Carter, for some time past, has not been able to do much manual labor, but he gives personal attention to his business affairs when able. Possessing mature judgment, sound dis- cretion and keen forethought, he lays his plans wisely and well and in the main car- ries them to successful conclusion, being sel- dom mistaken in the outcome. In the midst of his various farm duties and business af- fairs he finds time to meet his obligations as a citizen and to give attention to those public matters in which every enterprising,

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cratic ma- r by a ma- :h he feels Republican er in forty capable and position to dit to him- ne people of al ties. His usiness abili- e public and if any dis- in which be ilities of an e one of the ithin the gift

the Independ- belonging te has passed " of life his com- commendabie : social work: political ani eem and con- garded by the ountv.

TER. Ticulturists of are worthy o: ssius W. Car- Ohio, and the constituted the (Chance) Car- O a native ei tion a fazer

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wide-awake man should be interested. In years and established his home at Paddy's state and national issues he is a Republican Run immediately thereafter. The family came to Hamilton about 1887, and for sev- eral years Mr. Burnett was proprietor of the hotel on the west side which still bears his name. But the later years of his life were spent as an installment merchant, he being among the first here to engage in that line of merchandising. His death occurred on the 30th of December, 1903. His widow is still a resident of Hamilton, and occupies a pleasant home at 639 East Ludlow street. Her two unmarried sons, Coy E. and Wil- liam J., reside with her. The mother was left in comfortable circumstances. A fam- ily of six children were born to these par- ents. four of whom are living. The eldest is Clarence M., who is a salesman in the carpet department of Holbrock's extensive- dry-goods establishment in this city. He and an unswerving supporter of his prin- ciples, but, holding good local government above mere party, he usually votes. for the best qualified candidates in township and county affairs. In religion the Cumberland Presbyterian church represents his creed and for some years past he has been an elder and trustee of the congregation with which he holds membership. In common with the majority of humanity, Mr. Carter has ex- perienced many of life's vicissitudes, but on the whole his career has been eminently successful and he stands today by common consent among the leading farmers and public-spirited men of affairs in the com- munity honored by his citizenship. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Carter, namely : Warren Kyle, born October 21. 1884, died when about four months old; married Miss Daisy Hurm, a native of Ham- Cora I., born December 17, 1885, now at home; Edith Anna, born September 19, 1888, died July 19, 1892.

JOHN A. BURNETT. M. D.

This prominent young physician of Hamilton is a native of Butler county, born at Paddy's Run. Morgan township, on the 16th of January, 1879. His birthplace is quite noted as the former home of Murat Halstead and other natives of Butler county who have achieved renown in the world of affairs. The parents of the subject were William P. and Hyla (Campbell) Burnett, both of whom were natives of Hamilton county, Ohio. The father was born in 1837, and was married at the age of twenty-six

ilton and a representative of one of the prominent families of the city. Coy E. is a window draper in the large mercantile house of Howell & Son; John A., of this sketch, is the next in order of birth, and William J. completes the family circle and is ticket agent in Hamilton, for the Cincin- nati, Dayton & Toledo Traction Company.

Dr. Burnett received his elementary ed- ucation principally in the schools of Ham- ilton, being graduated from the city high school in the class of 1897. Having decided upon a professional career. he at once en- tered the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cin- cinnati, and was graduated from that well- known institution in 1902. Returning to his parental home. he began practice in Hamilton, in which he has met with success beyond his highest expectations. His pro- fessional life has been all that he could de-

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sire and he is now well established in a lu- crative practice, which is constantly grow- ing. The Doctor promptly allied himself with the various professional societies of the eclectic school, including the Cincinnati Ec- lectic Medical Society and the state and na- tional association. He is local examiner for a number of fraternal insurance orders and a member of the fraternities which they rep- resent.

Dr. Burnett was married October 29. 1902, to Miss Pearl G. Sheley, a native of Butler county. She was educated in the public school at Sheley Station and in the Hamilton high school. On the 28th of Sep- tember, 1903. little Miss Marjory Hyla took up her residence with the loving parents and began to assert her infantile authority. Dr. and Mrs. Burnett are members of the West- minster Presbyterian church. The Doctor is a Democrat in political views, though in- clined to be independent in his support of local candidates. He is a pleasant and agreeable gentleman, well-versed in the in- tricacies of professional lore. The pleasant home of these popular young people is lo- cated at No. 639 East Ludlow street, the Doctor's office being in the same building.

WILLIAM C. GOSHORN.

William C. Goshorn, the popular and efficient superintendent of Greenwood ceme- tery, Hamilton, Ohio, was born in the resi- dence in which he now lives, on the 21st of March, 1855. and is the only surviving child of Andrew J. and Sarah J. (Clements) Goshorn. They were both born in Hunt- ingdon county. Pennsylvania. the father on

the 14th of June, 1819, and mother on Janu- ary 26, 1821. They accompanied their re- spective parental families to Ohio, arriving in Hamilton in 1849 and 1837 respectively. Here, on the 24th of June, 1849, these par- ents were married and established a home of their own. They had six children born to them, four of whom died in infancy, and Margaret survived until the age of twenty- four, when she died.

Andrew J. Goshorn was a tanner by trade and soon after his arrival in Hamil- ton entered the employ of John W. Sohn, with whom he remained some six years. On the 7th of February, 1855, on motion of Dr. Cyrus Falconer, he was appointed superintendent of Greenwood cemetery. This position he filled acceptably until his death on the 21st of March. 1894, a period of nearly forty years. He was the third superintendent of Greenwood, assuming charge when there had been but eight hun- dred and twenty-eight interments, he him- self joining the little army of silent sleepers, which then aggregated nine thousand and ninety-four. During his incumbency the cemetery grounds were increased in size .from twenty-one to sixty-seven acres. The grounds had been greatly beautified and the work thoroughly systematized. Mr. Gos- horn was a man highly esteemed in the community, and the large attendance at his funeral gave evidence of the universal be- reavement. He was a devout Christian and his life was pure and exemplary. He and his estimable wife, who survives him, were members of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Goshorn was an ardent Republican in his political affiliations. The aged widow is a member of the family of her son, the . subject of this article.

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William C. Goshorn received a good education in the city schools. His boyhood and youth were spent uneventfully, and in early manhood he became his father's as- sistant in the labors involved by his posi- tion, in fact many of his youthful days were spent in interested observations as his father's companion. A natural aptitude, combined with years of training, rendered him the most available person for the posi- tion when the vacancy occurred, and he succeeded to his father's position without question or comment. For more than ten years Mr. Goshorn has been superintendent, and during that period he has inaugurated some needed reforms in the interior arrange- ments, rendered necessary by the rapid ag- gressions upon the territory and the intro- duction of modern monumental work. Mr. Goshorn is thoroughly familiar with his work and takes great interest in the adorn- ment and beautifying of the grounds. Several men are employed in this work.

Mr. Goshorn was married on the 29th of November, 1877, to Miss Laura J. Tid- dler, of Hamilton, and they have three daughters, Lou B., Ida M. and Sadie H. The family resides upon the property where Mr. Goshorn was born and where his en- tire life has been spent.

JOHN SIPP.

John Sipp is an enterprising and success- ful contractor and builder in Hamilton, where he was born on the 8th day of July, 1868. His parents, Christ and Mary (Thomas) Sipp. were natives of Germany, who came to this country with their parental

families and were married in Ohio. Christ- Sipp was a successful farmer in Butler county for many years. At one time he owned a very large and valuable estate, the magnitude of which may be guessed at when it is understood that it required thir- teen teams of horses to operate his lands. He was prospered and grew very wealthy, enjoying the distinction of being one of the leading farmers in southern Ohio. He was a man of most credulous nature and be- lieved implicitly in the statements of his fel- low men. His credulity led him into troubles innumerable, and the too free use of his name on other men's paper swept away most of his fortune and left him broken and dis- pirited. He never fully recovered from the shock of betrayed confidence, and died on the 7th of December, 1898. His widow sur- vives him, and is now a resident of Hamil- ton. They were the parents of nine children, of whom seven are living, their names being William, a well-to-do farmer in Oxford township; Mary, the wife of John Jacobs, a mechanic in Hamilton; Kate, who became the wife of John Elble, a contractor and builder in this city; Minnie married Fred Lentz, of Hamilton; Clara is at the maternal home; Christie died in infancy, and David, who died in middle life, was a contractor and builder, and a partner of the subject of this sketch until the time of his death, in March, 1898.

John Sipp was the third born in the par- ental family. He remained at home until twenty-five years of age, employing his time in attending school and in working on the home farm. At the age above written, he began to work at the carpenter's trade, hav- ing previously demonstrated his liking for mechanics. The handling of tools came to

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him by instinct, even from childhood, and their use in profitable employment was only a change from the construction of kites, whirl-i-gigs and boyish playthings, to that of useful articles, which brought profit for the time and labor employed.

In 1893 he joined forces with his brother David and began his career as a con- tractor and builder. The partnership of the two brothers was severed in 1898, since which time Mr. Sipp has prosecuted his busi- ness alone. From the start he has been more than usually successful, seldom making an unprofitable estimate, and he has erected a large number of residences in Hamilton, the principal field of his labors. He gives employment during the building season to an average of six or seven skilled mechanics.

' The family home, at No. 907 Heaton street, is a model of neatness, comfort and convenience. Mr. Sipp was married on the 20th of June, 1894. to Miss Clara Fabing, a daughter of John and Mary Fabing, the father a native of Germany and the mother born in Butler county, of German anteced- ents, her maiden name being Fisher. Mr. and Mrs. Sipp have two bright and interest- ing children. Edith, aged eight, and Master Edward, an observing and intelligent little gentleman now serving as his sister's "guard- ian and protector," at the age of six. Mr. and Mrs. Sipp are members of St. John's German Evangelical Protestant church. Their entire lives were spent under the pas- torate of the late Rev. Charles A. Hermann, D. D .. whose recent death brought sadness to the family circle as severe in degree as the removal of some near relative. Mr. Sipp was reared in the political faith of the Democracy, and supported zealously the candidates of that party until 1896.

OSCAR N. JONES.

Success in any line of endeavor or in any field of activity is not a matter of sud- den growth, but rather the result of the ap- plication of talents and energies along the avenues where lies the greatest potentiality. He who has the judgment and discretion to perceive his own powers, and to follow their bent through the various exigencies of time and place, is the one to whom success is apt to come as a natural sequence. In a very important sphere the subject of this review has proved his ability and usefulness, hav- ing for a number of years been superintend- ent of the Fox Paper Company, one of the leading industries of Butler county, and an establishment in which the people manifest an abiding interest and pride. Oscar N. Jones is. proud to claim Butler county as his native heath, having been born in Union township on July 9, 1865, the youngest in a family of eight children whose parents were James and Jane (Hall) Jones. His father was a farmer and it was amid the quiet scenes of rural life and under the wholesome influence of outdoor labor that the subject spent his early years, receiving during his childhood and youth the bent of mind which led him to plan for his future so as eventually to rise superior to his cir- cumscribed environment and become a use- ful factor in the world of affairs and an honorable citizen. At the proper age he entered the public schools, where he prose- cuted his studies about the usual length of time, following which he turned his atten- tion to farm work, in the townships of Liberty and Fairfield, until his fifteenth year. In 1875 young Jones entered the em- ploy of the Fox Paper Company, beginning

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in the modest capacity of a common laborer, but his faithfulness and efficiency were such as soon to commend him to the favorable notice of the management of the concern, the result being his gradual promotion to positions of greater responsibility and trust. It may truthfully be said that he has liter- ally grown up with the plant, and it is not too much to state that much of the steady growth and development of the industry are directly attributable to his abiding interest, effective service and judicious management. After working in various capacities and fully demonstrating his ability and useful- ness in each. Mr. Jones finally rose to the responsible position of foreman, which he filled to the satisfaction of his employer until 1890, when he was further honored by being promoted to the superintendency, which post he still holds, discharging the exacting duties of the same in the able and business-like manner for which he had long been characterized. in the meanwhile bring- ing the establishment to a high state of ef- ficiency, greatly enlarging its capacity and . extending the scope of its influence as one of the leading industries in this part of the state. Mr. Jones is highly regarded in business circles as a man of sound, practical intelligence, mature judgment and com- mendable enterprise. He has fine executive ability, as the successful management of the large concern with which he is identified at- tests, enjoys the confidence of his employers and the esteem of the men under his con- trol, while his series of promotions from an . humble and subordinate beginning to the present influential position he occupies in business and industrial affairs shows him the possessor of the strong powers of mind, the tact, resourcefulness, and wise fore-

thought which never fall short of the ac- complishment of well-devised plans and purposes. Mr. Jones is essentially a self- . made man and owes his present advance- ment to his own plans and energies rather than to fortuitous circumstances. He is also a man of action, knows how to take advantage of opportunities and bend them to his will, or, in their absence. possesses the ability to create them. While making every other consideration subordinate to his business interests, he finds time to attend to the duties of citizenship and to discharge his obligations to the public. He has ever had the welfare of the community at heart, gives his influence and support to all enterprises on progressive measures for the promotion of the same and encourages every laudable ob- ject whereby his fellow men may be benefited.

Mr. Jones has ever been a zealous and uncompromising Democrat, but in no sense a politician in the commonly accepted sig- nificance of the term, although an active worker for the success of the party. Aside from serving as township trustee, of which office he is the present incumbent, he has held no elective positions, never having en- tertained any ambition for public prefer- ment, his chief aim being to fill efficiently his present station and to hold no other title than that of private citizen.

Fraternally he is identified with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the lodge at Port Union, in which he has long been an active and influential worker and in which he has also twice passed the several chairs.

Miss Ollie B. Powell, who became the wife of Mr. Jones on November 5, 1883, was born at New Paris. Ohio, in August,

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1868. Their pleasant and attractive home is brightened by the presence of four chil- dren, namely : Harry, Ruth, Raymond and Mildred, who with their parents constitute a happy domestic circle in which love, mu- tual forbearance and a reciprocity of in- terests have always predominated.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 73

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