Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 79

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 79

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of a cherished flower, too delicate and frag- ile for an earthly career. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart treat their sons as companions and equals, according to them ,the position of young gentlemen in the home and making of them confidents and companions around the family fireside. It is a truly happy and contented family, where love and confidence and filial regard reign supreme.

The subject is a Republican of the stalwart type, well-versed on the current top- ics of the day, and an ardent and zealous supporter of the doctrines of this time-hon- ored and fire-tested organization. He has never sought or held public office. He is a member of various fraternal insurance or- ganizations, among which may be mentioned the Independent Order of Foresters and the National Union.

MAX HENNING.

Max Henning. the president and treas- urer of the Germania Publishing Company and editor and manager of the Volksstimme and National Zeitung, is a native of Ger- many, born on the 17th of September, 1867. He received a thorough education in the Latin school, or gymnasium, at Demmin, near his birthplace, in northern Germany. When in his twenty-third year he came to America and located. for the first year, in Milwaukee. There he was employed for six months at such labor as he could find. But in time his qualifications for a more lu- crative occupation became apparent, and he served the last few months of his stay in Milwaukee as reporter on a daily paper pub- lished in the German language. In the

spring of 1891, by the direction of a friend, he moved to Toledo, where he was for a time a laborer and assistant engineer at a manufacturing plant, till his experience in the newspaper field enabled him to secure a permanent position as telegraph editor of the Toledo Express, a German daily pub- lished in the Ohio city, and he entered upon his duties there in the fall of 1893. continu- ing until 1899, when he resigned his posi- tion to accept a place on the reportorial force of the Volks-Blatt, in Cincinnati, the oldest German daily newspaper in the United States. Mr. Henning remained in this work until April. 1903. Desiring to engage in the publishing business on his own account, he came to Hamilton to investigate the af- fairs of the Germania Publishing Company, with the result that he purchased a control- ling interest in the stock of that corporation and assumed the general management of its affairs. His broad experience in the news- paper field enabled him to infuse new life · into the publication and to greatly increase the business of the plant, which is fully equipped for all kinds of commercial and job printing as well as the publication of the weekly Volksstimme and National Zeitung. In addition to his local work. Mr. Henning is also a contributor to a number of the lead -. ing dailies of the country and has been so engaged during most of his career in jour- nalism. Associated with Mr. Henning as stockholders in the Germania Publishing Company are Thomas Boyd, president of the American School Furniture Company, in New York City; Professor C. C. Miller, superintendent of public schools at Lima, Ohio; the estate of Rev. C. A. Hermann, late of Hamilton; William Rembler, of this city ; John Pabst, also of Hamilton, and Mrs.

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Agnes Henning. Frederick Diesbach is the vice-president and Hermann Wuebbold is the secretary. The company is regularly in- corporated under the laws of Ohio, and is a . business enterprise of large interests and prominent standing in the community. It gives constant employment to six composi- tors and press operators, and does a large and growing business in the various depart- ments of the industry.

Aside from these various organizations of a purely German character, Mr. Henning is also a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles and American Insurance Union. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations and an ardent supporter of pure Democracy, purged of local factional influences.

Mr. Henning was married in Toledo, Ohio, September 22, 1896, Miss Agnes WILLIAM E. ANDERSON. Rietzke being the lady of his choice. She is a native of Germany, where she was reared William E. Anderson, a well-known farmer of Fairfield township, Butler county, Ohio, was born May 28, 1849, at the south end of Bethany, on the old Cincinnati and Dayton pike, in Liberty township, Butler county, and is the son of William and Maria (Elliott) Anderson. His grandfather was John Anderson, a native of Kent county, Delaware, who came to Butler county in 1809, settling in Liberty township when that section was practically a wilderness. In 1811 he married Miss Maria Hagerman, a native of New Jersey, and to them were born nine children, one of whom died in in- fancy and two at the ages of seven and nine years respectively. Those reaching maturity were George, William (father of the sub- ject), Adrian, Jane (married Daniel Brewer), Simon, Sarah A. (married David Staats). John Anderson was drafted in the war of 1812, but sent a substitute. and educated, and came to America with her parents in young womanhood. Mr. Hen- ning is a gentleman of fine literary attain- ments and excellent business capacity. He is active and aggressive in every enterprise which engages his attention, broad-minded and public-spirited in his attitude towards local affairs, and withal a prominent, use- ful and influential citizen. He takes an ac- tive interest in promoting the welfare of his countrymen and is specially zealous in the social and fraternal organizations distinc- tively German. He is a member of the grand lodge of the Harugaris and Druids, and of all the German singing societies in Butler county. He is also a member of the executive board of the National Swiss- American Saengerfest. He was the prime factor in establishing "German Day" in Hamilton, the first meeting of which oc- curred on September 11, 1903, and is to be William Anderson, father of the subject, was born in Liberty township, Butler county, Ohio, February 10, 1816, and on February 6, 1839, married Maria Elliott, who was born in Liberty township, Butler county, November 15, 1817. He learned the car- followed with an annual outing and picnic in future. He is the founder of the Butler County German-American City Federation, which is affiliated with the national and state federations. He is also prominent in Ger- man benevolent societies of the county. penter's trade at Bethany as an apprentice

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bound out to Charles C. Legg. He subse- quently carried on carpentering for many years, then bought a farm and carried on farming and carpentering together. He was a township trustee for twenty-five years and also served on the school board. He died May 27, 1891, his widow surviving until July 11, 1896. Their children were as follows: Elmore T., born October 4, 1841 : John E., born June 27, 1845; William E., the subject ; Caroline, born July 21, 1855, married Lew McLain, a pioneer of Liberty township.

The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm and secured a common-school edu- cation. He remained with his parents until 1887, when he married and moved into Han- over township. A few years later, however, he returned to Fairfield township, where he has since resided. In about 1892 he engaged in the dairy business, in connection with farming, and has continued the two success- fully to the present time. Mr. Anderson married, on February 2, 1888, Miss Mary Addie, the daughter of Michael W. and Ma- tilda (Bell) Emerick (see sketch of B. E. Urmston). Mrs. Anderson was born in Hanover township, Butler county, Novem- ber 10, 1861. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson a daughter, Ruth, was born October 28, 1889.

DANIEL W. PIERSON.

An honored veteran of the Civil war and a man who retains the unqualified con- fidence and esteem of the people of Butler . county, where the major portion of his life has been passed, is Mr. Pierson, who will

have attained the psalmist's span of three score years and ten ere this work is issued from the press. His life has been one of signal integrity and consecutive endeavor and he is well entitled to representation in this volume. He has for fifty-five years maintained his home in Reily township, this county.

Mr. Pierson is a scion of one of the ster- ling pioneer families of Ohio and is himself a native of the city of Cincinnati, where he was born on the 16th of January, 1834, be- ing a son of Daniel and Mary A. (Loftland) Pierson. His grandfather was born in Westfield, Union county, New Jersey, and in 1815 he came to Ohio and settled in Reily township, Butler county, locating on section 14 and shortly afterward removing to section 13, the entire district being at that time a primitive forest wild. The grandfa- ther of the subject here improved a farm, upon which he continued to reside until his death. in 1849, having been one of the hon- ored and prominent pioneers of the county. At the age of eighteen years the father of the subject removed to Cincinnati, where he learned the trade of carpenter, to which he there devoted his attention until 1870, when he returned to Butler county, locating in the village of Bunker Hill, where he passed the remainder of his life. They became the par- ents of five sons and one daughter. and of the number three of the sons are living, two being residents of Butler county, while the third resides in Illinois.

The subject of this sketch received his early educational training in a subscription school, the advantages thus afforded him being excellent for the time and locality. Subsequently he left the parental home in Cincinnati and came to Reily township, this

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county, where he lived with his uncle, Hi- ram Pierson, and here he learned the ma- son's trade, to which he has continued to de- vote his attention during all the long inter- vening years, having been a successful con- tractor and having been identified with much important building work in the county. On the 15th of June, 1861, in response to Presi- dent Lincoln's first call for troops to assist in the suppression of the rebellion, Mr. Pier- son enlisted as a private in Company D, Forty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was eventually promoted to the office of sergeant major, securing this honorable pre- ferment on the 23d of December, 1864. His command was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee and participated in many of the notable campaigns and engagements inci- dental to the progress of the great conflict. He was with General Grant in the Vicks- burg campaign, being wounded in the siege of that city, and later took part in the bat- tles of Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge. after which he was with General Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and in the subse- quent and ever-memorable march to the sea. He was in active service until the close of the war and was mustered out at Little Rock. Arkansas, in September, 1865. From disabilities incurred while in service he receives a pension from the government.

After the close of the war Mr. Pierson returned to Butler county, and here, on the Ist of November. 1865, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Vina Burgett, who was born in Reily township, on the Ist of No- vember. 1847, being a daughter of John Bur- gett. To Mr. and Mrs. Pierson were born two children,-Grant, who died at the age of four years, and Scott B., who was born December 26, 1871, and who is now princi-

pal of the public schools at Heno, this county ; he was graduated in the Oxford high school and continued his studies for two years in Miami University. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson are prominent and active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at McGonigle Station, and he is one of the stewards of the same. In politics the sub- ject has ever given a stanch support to the Republican party, and for seven years he has served consecutively as judge of elec- tions in his township, being incumbent of this office at the present time.

GEORGE DOME.

Hard and laborious effort was the lot of George Dome during his youth and early manhood, but his fidelity to duty won him the respect and confidence of those with whom he was thrown in contact and by pa- tient continuance in well doing he gradually arose from an humble station to his present high standing among the leading farmers and stock raisers of the township in which he resides. Mr. Dome is a native of Ger- many, and was born May 4, 1838, being one of the seven children whose parents were George and Anna E. Dome. The parents immigrated to the United States in 1844, and after spending part of the following year in Hamilton moved on a farm in But- ler county, Ohio, until about 1852, when they moved to Indiana. Then they came back to Butler county, locating near Seven Mile, where George Dome spent the re- mainder of his life. He was a man of great industry, but never succeeded in acquiring .much property, being poor in this world's

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goods, but moral and upright in his daily life and eminently honorable in his relations with his fellow men. Of his seven children four died in childhood and of the three that grew to maturity two are living at the pres- ent time, the subject of this review and Mrs. Elizabeth Stock, whose home is in the state of Nebraska.

George Dome spent the early years of childhood in Germany and was a lad of five years when the family came to America. Shortly after his arrival in this country, at eleven years old, he found employment as a farm hand and in this way earned a liveli- hood until 1862, in September of which year he enlisted in the Eighty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served in the state of Kentucky until severe sickness unfitted him for further active duty. By reason of disability thus incurred he was discharged at Cairo, Illinois, in 1863, and returning home, immediately thereafter resuming the pursuit of agriculture in Butler county, and has since devoted his attention to the same.

Beginning the struggle of life under rather discouraging circumstances, Mr. Dome for a period of thirty years was obliged to till the soil as a renter, but dur- ing that time he labored so earnestly and managed so well that he was able to lay by sufficient means to buy a farm of his own, his first investment being made in 1888, when he became the possessor of eighty acres of good land in the township of Milford. Since then he has added to his realty from time to time until he now owns one of the finest and best improved farms in the above town- ship, and his success the meanwhile has won him a conspicuous place among the most progressive agriculturists in this part of the state. Mr. Dome has made the greater part 34

of his money as a raiser of fine live stock, his success in this branch of farming giving him much more than local repute and today there are few stockmen in Butler county whose progress has been as rapid or who have achieved in the same length of time such encouraging financial results. His la- bors have been prosecuted with energy and system, and in the management of his af- fairs his sound discretion and good judg- ment have enabled him to lay his plans so as to realize the largest possible returns.

In his political affiliations Mr. Dome is a Democrat. but aside from defending his principles and voting for the candidates of his party he takes little interest in public affairs. His religious belief is in accord with the teachings of the German Reformed church, and for a number of years past he has been identified with the St. John's con- gregation at Trenton. The only fraternal organization to which he belongs is the Grand Army of the Republic, being a mem- ber of the Wetzel-Compton Post, No. 96, and a zealous and influential worker in up- holding its principles and purposes so as to make the organization attain the objects which the founders originally had in view.

On February 25. 1864, was solemnized the ceremony by which Mr. Dome and Miss Catherine Schwab were united in the holy bonds of wedlock, a union terminated by the death of the good and faithful wife in 1891, after she had borne him eleven children, eight of whom are living, three of the sons being married and the heads of families. Like her husband. Mrs. Dome was born in Germany, but came to America a number of years ago and spent the greater part of her life in this country, principally in But- ler county, Ohio. Since her death Mr. Dome's

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domestic interests have been looked after by his daughters, who spare no pains in minis- tering to his comforts to the end that his home life may be made as pleasant and agreeable as circumstances will admit. While not as actively engaged as formerly, he still gives personal attention to his large agricultural and live-stock interests, and at- tends to the management of his farm with the same energy and foresight that charac- terized his labors during the years of his prime. His has indeed been an eminently honorable career and having every dollar of the comfortable competence in his posses- sion, and that, too, in the face of opposing obstacles and not a few adverse circum- stances, he can honestly lay claim to the proud American title of a self-made man.

GOTTLIEB WAGONFIELD.

Among those who have attained a high degree of prosperity in connection with, the agricultural industry in Butler county is the subject of this sketch, who is one of the prominent and influential citizens of Mil- ford township.

Mr. Wagonfield is a native of Prussia. where he was born on the 9th of May, 1838, being a son of William and Wilhelmina (Hire) Wagonfield. His father was a well- to-do farmer in Prussia, where he died when still a young man, his wife surviving him by many years. The subject of this sketch attended the excellent schools of the father- land from the age of seven until he was fourteen years old, and was thereafter iden- tified with farming until his emigration to America, whither his brother Charles had

preceded him, having engaged in the con- ducting of a dairy farm near the city of Cin- cinnati, Ohio. The subject severed the ties which bound him to home and native land and set sail for the United States in the year 1858, being twenty years of age at the time. He landed in the city of Baltimore, and had a sufficient amount of money to defray the expense of his further journeying to Ohio, where he joined his brother, in whose em- ploy he continued about eight months, with- in which time they removed to Ripley county, Indiana. After leaving the employ of his brother Mr. Wagonfield returned to Cincinnati, where he was variously em- ployed for several years. He carefully hus- banded his resources, being industrious and frugal, and in the course of a few years had accumulated a capital of about one thousand dollars. He was married in 1867, and in the spring of the following year began to farm on rented land, in Lemon township. Butler county, and he continued to rent land for the ensuing fourteen years, laboring in- defatigably and meeting with success. He purchased his present homestead farm, of one hundred and sixty-five acres, in Milford township, for a consideration of sixteen thousand six hundred dollars, assuming an indebtedness of nine thousand six hundred dollars in the connection, and within six years he succeeded in wiping out the indebt- edness, in the meanwhile making many im- provements on his farm, which is one of the best in this section. To the homestead he has added an adjoining thirty-two acres, and he is also the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-nine acres in Hanover township, and two good houses and three lots in the city of Hamilton. His prosperity represented the results of his own efforts

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and good management, and his estate at the present time reaches a valuation of fully thirty-five thousand dollars. He is a man of progressive ideas, is genial and whole- souled and has the friendship and confi- dence of the people of the community in which he has so long lived and labored. He is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party and has taken a deep in- terest in public affairs of a local nature. He and his wife are communicants of St. John's Lutheran church, in Hamilton, and frater- nally he is identified with Milford Lodge, No. 472, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and with the encampment of the order at Oxford. He has passed the various offi- cial chairs in the subordinate body and has been treasurer of his lodge for the past four- teen years.

On the 27th of July. 1867, Mr. Wagon- field was united in marriage to Miss Mary Silvers. of Butler county. who proved to him a true helpmeet. She was summoned into eternal rest on the 9th of February. 1894. at the age of sixty-six years, and is survived by her three sons, Charles, Wil- liam and Hudson, all of whom are success- fully identified with farming in this county. In November. 1894. the subject married Miss Barbara Schwedes, of Hamilton, and they have two children. Wilhelmina and Au- gustus.

HENRY B. FISHER.

Holding worthy prestige among the suc- cessful self-made men of Butler county is Henry B. Fisher, who ranks with the leading farmers and stock raisers of Milford town- ship and whose character as a progressive

citizen stands out clear and distinct. Mr. Fisher is one of Butler county's native sons, having been born in St. Clair township on September 30, 1859. Frederick Fisher, his father. was a native of Germany, but came to the United States when a young man and spent the remainder of his life in Butler county, Ohio, dying on his farm in Milford township. in the year 1887. His wife, Mary Winklemar, also departed this life in the above year, her death occurring the same week in which he was called to the final re- ward. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, five of whom survive, the subject of this review being the fifth of the family in order of birth.

Henry B. Fisher, reared to agricultural pursuits. early acquired efficiency in all kinds of farm work and remained with his parents on the home place until reaching the years of manhood. Meantime he attended as op- portunities afforded the public schools of his native township and on attaining his ma- jority rented the family homestead. which he continued to cultivate until purchasing his present farm, in 1899. Meanwhile, in 1890. he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Kellian, of this county, who proved a loving and faithful wife and com- panion until summoned to the great beyond, after a brief but happy wedded experience, her death and that of her young son four months of age occurring in the year 1896. Four years after this event Mr. Fisher con- tracted a matrimonial alliance with his pres- ent wife. Miss Bena Funk, who has been a true helpmeet. much of his success since she came to preside over his home and look after his domestic interests being directly attrib- utable to her wise counsel and judicious co- operation.

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Mr. Fisher moved to his present home the year following its purchase and from that time to the present he has added greatly to its appearance and value by a series of sub- . stantial improvements which compare fa- vorably with those of any other farm in the township of Milford. The place, which lies in sections 25 and 26. contains two hundred and seventy-seven acres of as fine land as the county can boast and, being cultivated according to the most advanced methods, it yields abundantly of all the crops grown in this part of the state, beside affording rich pasturage for live stock, a branch of farm- ing to which Mr. Fisher devotes especial at- tention and from which most of his income is derived. He raises various grades of im- proved cattle, some of them of fine blood and great value, also devotes considerable atten- tion to the best breed of hogs, while his `horses are of superior stock and for road. draft and general purposes are not excelled by any like animals in this part of the coun- try.

within a comparatively short time shows him to be the possessor of those powers of mind and of that energy which control cir- cumstances, create opportunities and rise superior to obstacles, however numerous and formidable. In his social relations he en- joys the confidence and esteem of those who know him best, and is regarded by his ac- quaintances and by the public generally as a kind neighbor, sincere and genial friend and ,as one whose highest ideas of right are ex- emplified in his daily life. Mr. Fisher is a Democrat, but has never taken a very active interest in politics further than to stand . firm for his principles and use his influence in hehalf of a judicious selection of candi- dates : when his party fails in the latter re- spect. as is sometimes the case, he does not feel morally bound to support it, but gives. his ballot to the men best qualified for the office to which they aspire, regardless of po- litical creed. Religiously Mr. Fisher is a Presbyterian, belonging to the church at Col- linsville, his wife being a Lutheran in belief and an active member of the congregation at Trenton.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 79

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