Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 82

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

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tive worker when great state and national ately following his marriage he lived in Illi- questions are in issue. The year immedi- nois, and while there he served as a member . of the town council, and manifested a promi- nent and influential interest in promoting the growth and varied resources of the place. In 1869 he became a member of the Masonic lodge at Noble, Illinois, and in 1878 he took dimit to the Hamilton lodge, of which he is now an active member. He also belongs to Wetzel-Compton Post, No. 96, Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Cornth- waite is a gentleman of high moral and so- cial standing, and, although plain and un- assuming in demeanor, seeking to avoid the crowd rather than to court notoriety of any kind, is nevertheless a forceful character in his community and a leading spirit in all that tends to its material advancement and the general welfare of the people. Wisely avoid- ing the paths that lead to public distinction, he has pursued the plain and more satis- factory life of a thrifty and prosperous til- ler of the soil, contented with the slow but sure gains that come to him through legiti- mate channels, and satisfied to be known simply as a citizen.

JOSEPH SCHUMAKER.

In his religious views Mr. Cornthwaite The gentleman whose name introduces this article is one of Butler county's popular citizens and his life forcibly illustrates what energy, industry and a fixed purpose can accomplish when animated by no- ble aims and correct ideals. Joseph Schumaker is a native of Butler indorses the plea of the Christian church, of which both himself and wife are faithful and consistent members. Politically he is a pronounced Republican, and for a num- ber of years has been one of the leaders of his party in Milford township, also an in- fluential factor in county affairs and an ac- - county and dates his birth from the

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20th day of November, 1854, having first . kind of honorable employment he could find seen the light of day in Hamilton, with the to do and in this way several of his youthful years were spent. Later he became inter- ested with his brother-in-law in the manu- facture of patent medicine, an enterprise which marked the beginning of his substan- tial start in life, as the business proved suc- cessful and in due time paved the way to a comfortable fortune for the proprietors. interests of which city his life has been closely interwoven from that time to the present day. His father, who also bore the name of Joseph Schumaker, was a native of Germany, but came to America when a . young man and for a number of years worked at the carpenter's trade in the city of Hamilton. He also opened one of the In the year 1878 Mr. Schumaker con- tracted a matrimonial alliance with Miss Philomena Pater, who was born in the city of Hamilton in 1859, her parents coming to this country from Germany a number of years before and settling in Butler county. Three children are the fruits of this mar- riage. namely : Anna May, born in the month of May. 1882; Annetta, in Novem- ber, 1885. and George P., whose birth oc- curred on the 27th of July. 1886. first hotels in the town, which was well pa- tronized by the traveling public, and later was proprietor of the old Mason House, which for many years was one of the well- known and popular hostelries of the place. His wife, who bore him three sons, died prior to the war of the Rebellion, and when that struggle began he enlisted in Company K. Forty-seventh Ohio Infantry, and served from 1861 to 1865 inclusive, participating in many of the bloodiest battles of that his- torical period and winning honorable men- tion as a brave and fearless soldier. Some time after the war he entered the Soldiers' Home at Dayton and was an inmate of that institution when his death occurred, on March 6, 1878. The three sons of the old veteran are Joseph, the subject of this sketch, Barney, a farmer of Shelby county, Indiana. and John, who lives in the city of Hamilton, their births occurring in the order given.

Joseph Schumaker was reared in Ham- ilton and received his education in St. Ste- phen's parochial school, which he attended until his confirmation in the Catholic church, his parents being devoted members of that religious body. Being the oldest son and his father a poor man, he was early obliged to rely upon his own resources for a liveli- hood, accordingly he turned his hand to any

Mr. Schumaker is still interested in the manufacture of several popular remedies which have an extensive sale throughout the United States, their efficacy as remedial agents giving rise to a great demand not only in this country, but also in different European nations. The business has been prosecuted with most encouraging financial results, and with the large amount of pri- vate capital which has come to the subject from this source he has made a number of profitable investments from time to time. among them being the fine farm of two hundred and seventy-eight acres, in Milford township. the rental of which adds very ma- terially to his income and on which he and his family spend the heated seasons, in a well-built and elegantly furnished summer home. Mr. Schumaker is stanch in his al- legiance to the Democratic party, but has al- ways refrained from entering politics, hav-

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ing no ambition to gratify in the way of seeking office and little taste for public life or partisan work. Born and reared a Cath- olic. he has always been faithful to the church and is now one of the leading influ- ential members of St. Mary's parish, in Hamilton, to which congregation his wife and family also belong. Personally Mr. Schumaker is a most pleasant and agree- able gentleman, whom to know is to esteem and honor. Of pleasing presence and fine social qualities. he possesses the happy fac- ulty of winning and retaining warm friend- ships and in whatever circle he moves his cheerful disposition and desire to please make him a popular favorite. His business dealings, as well as his other relations, have always been honorable and above the suspi- cion of wrong doing, his integrity js of the sterling kind that begets and commands con- fidence, and among the people of his city and county his character and good name are held in high esteem, indicating. as they do. correct and praiseworthy conduct in every relation of life.

LAWRENCE E. GRENNAN.

The subject of this sketch has been long and prominently identified with educational and civic affairs in Butler county, where he has devoted nearly two score years to teach- ing, and he is also a veteran of the war of the Rebellion, in which he rendered valiant service in defense of the integrity of the na- tion. During the long years of his residence in the county he has held the unequivocal confidence and regard of its people and is today one of the representative citizens of the attractive village of Oxford.

Mr. Grennan comes of stanch Irish stock, and the name is a significant one, be- ing translated into English as "scholar." He was born in Kings county, Ireland, on the 23d of September, 1837. being a son of Law- rence and Ellen (Money) Grennan, who passed their entire lives in that section of the Emerald Isle, where the respective families have been established for many generations. The subject received an excellent education in the national schools of Ireland, comparing to our public-school system in America, and he remained in his native land until 1858. when, at the age of twenty-one years, he came to America to seek his fortunes and establish a home. He gradually drifted westward until he reached Ohio, arriving in October. 1858, and at the outbreak of the Civil war he was engaged in teaching school in Delaware county. this state. On the 16th of September. 1861, Mr. Grennan enlisted as a private in Company D. Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, proving himself a loyal and valiant soldier and receiving his honorable discharge on the 17th of July. 1865. being mustered out as hospital stew- ard. His regiment was assigned to the Sec- ond Brigade. Third Division. Seventeenth Army Corps, commanded by General J. B. McPherson, while the regiment was in com- mand of Col. M. F. Force, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Capt. C. H. McElroy, of Dela- ware. Ohio. The regiment participated in twenty-eight of the notable engagements of the great internecine conflict, including the battles of Fort Donelson. Shiloh and Vicks- burg. the Atlanta campaign and the mem- orable march to the sea, under command of General Sherman, thence passing through the Carolinas and taking part in the last great battle of the war, that of Bentonville,

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North Carolina. The health of Mr. Gren- nan has been permanently impaired as a re- sult of the hardships and injuries received during his term of military service, and in recognition of this he receives a pension of twelve dollars a month from the govern- ment.

Shortly after the close of the war Mr. Grennan came to Oxford, Butler county, where he has been engaged in teaching in the public schools for the long period of thirty-nine years, having been signally suc- cessful in his chosen profession and being highly honored in educational circles. He holds the highest grade certificate and has kept abreast of the advances made in meth- ods and systems, while he has ever contin- ued a close and appreciative student. He is a licensed preacher in the Methodist Epis- copal church, and has been a devoted worker in the field of religious endeavor, while he is also possessed of marked literary ability and has written much and well. He was for three years editor of the Oxford News and for a similar period filled the editorial chair of the Oxford Citizen, while he has come in contact with many men of public note, including the late Benjamin F. Harri- son, Whitelaw Reid and many others of na- tional reputation. He has ever been known as a stanch and uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies of the Repub- lican party, though he has never been an aspirant for public office. Fraternally he is identified with Millikin Post, No. 228. Grand Army of the Republic, and Oxford Lodge, No. 67, Free and Accepted Masons, of which latter he is past master.

On the 26th of March, 1866, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Grennan to Miss Julia Lowry, of Delaware county, this state,

where she had been a student in his school, and of the children of this union we incor- porate the following brief record: Mary E., who was graduated in the college in Ox- ford, also took a post-graduate course in the University of Chicago and is now assistant principal of the high school at Miamisburg, Ohio; Phoebe is the wife of C. A. Hayden, of Oxford; Ada is the wife of Moritz Schlenck, of this place; Minnie E. is the wife of John Robertson, of Somerville, Ohio; and Lawrence E., Jr., is second lieu- tenant of a company of government scouts in the Philippine Islands.

HARRY H. SMITH, M. D.

Butler county has its full quota of able representatives of the medical profession, and among its successful and popular practi- tioners is Dr. Smith, who has been estab- lished in practice at Reily since 1886 and who controls a large and representative business, being known as a thoroughly skilled physician and surgeon.

Dr. Smith is a native of Butler county, having been born on the parental homestead farm, in Reily township, on the 16th of January, 1862, a son of John W. and Catherine (Warfield) Smith, and a scion of one of the early pioneer families of the county, whither his paternal great-grand- father, came from Pennsylvania as early as 1790 the family being of stanch German lineage. Both the father and the grand- father of the Doctor were born in Butler county, and the name has been long and prominently identified with its history and with the record of its agricultural develop-

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ment. John W. Smith was one of the pros- perous and highly honored citizens of Reily township, where he was the owner of a fine farm of about five hundred acres, and there he continued to reside until his death, in 1893, at the age of seventy-six years; his wife is still living at the age of eighty-five · years. Mr. Smith was a man of influence in the community and was for many years an active worker in the ranks of the Demo- cratic party, while both he and his wife were devoted members of the Baptist church. They became the parents of six sons and six daughters, and four of the sons and four of the daughters are yet living, the subject of this review having been the youngest of the children.

- Dr. Smith was reared on the ancestral homestead, and attended the public schools of the locality until he had attained the age of fourteen years, when he entered the high school at New London, where he con- tinued his studies for two years, after which he was for an equal period a student in Miami University. In 1879 he began read- ing medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. James Robinson, of Reily, and thus con -. tinued until the fall of 1880, when he en- tered the Ohio Medical College, in Cincin- nati, being graduated in this excellent in- stitution in the spring of 1883. (Shortly af- terward the Doctor located in Okeana, But- ler county, where he was in practice one year, after which he returned to Cincinnati, where he was engaged in professional work for one and one-half years, at the expiration of which, in 1886). he took up his residence in Reily, where he has ever since maintained his home and where he has built up a very satisfactory practice, his success and per- sonal popularity tending to set at naught the

scriptural adage that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country." In politics Dr. Smith is an unswerving ad- vocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and fraternally he is identified with St. Charles Lodge, No. 315, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Reily, of which he is past grand; and of Oxford Lodge, No. 67, Free and Accepted Masons. He is-a member of the Butler County Medical So- ciety and the District Medical Association, while he is also local medical examiner for several of the leading life-insurance com- panies. The Doctor moved to Oxford on September 15, 1903 and has entered into the practice of his profession, and is meet- ing with encouraging and satisfactory re- sults.

On the 24th of August, 1887, Dr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Louise Gil- lespie, who was born and reared in Reily township, this county, being a daughter of Robert and Caroline (Balser) Gillespie. Dr. and Mrs. Smith have one son, Parke, who was born on the 13th of August, 1890, and who is a graduate of the public schools and is now a student in the Miami University at Oxford.

ALBERT Y. SHOLLENBARGER.

The subject of this sketch is junior mem- ber of the firm of Shollenbarger Brothers, who conduct a well-equipped and popular livery in the city of Hamilton, and not only is he known as one of the progressive and enterprising young business men of the place, but he is also a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of the county.

Albert Young Shollenbarger was born in the village of Collinsville, this county, on

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the 2d of September, 1875. and is a son of Jacob H. and Alice ( Young) Shollenbarger, both of whom were likewise born in this county. and they still reside on the farm, in Milford township. The subject of this re- view passed his boyhood days on the home- stead farm, and his educational discipline was secured in the public schools of Collins- ville. At the age of nineteen years he en- gaged in the livery business at Oxford, this county, where he continued in this line of enterprise for the ensuing six years, being successful in his efforts. On the Ist of June, 1899, he came to Hamilton and formed a partnership with his brother Harry in the purchase and equipment of a fine livery stable at 328 Maple avenue, where they had a large and valuable stock of horses and vehicles and controlled large and remuner- ative business, the enterprise being under the management of our subject. who is thor- oughly familiar with all its details and able to maintain the same at the highest stand- ard. On the 10th of May, 1903, this barn was destroyed by fire, together with all its contents, including forty-eight horses, about seventy-five carriages, together with other vehicles and equipments and a large amount of feed, entailing a loss of fifty thousand dollars, with but little insurance indemnity. The loss was divided between the two in- terested principals and a number of patrons whose horses and carriages were kept in the stables, the loss on the two sides being about equal. The fire occurred on Sunday, and on the following Friday the firm purchased the present stock and resumed business, their present stables being located at No. 22 South Second street. The equipment is thoroughly modern and complete and the firm has still further added to their prestige

through the misfortune which drew general attention to their business. Mr. Shollen- barger is a stanch Republican in his political proclivities but has never sought or desired official preferment. and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

On the 12th of January, 1897, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Shollen- barger to Miss Emma Gerber, who was born and reared in Collinsville, this county, and of this union have been born three children, Fern. Hugh and Louis.

JOHN T. SUTPHEN. M. D.

There is no class to whom greater grati- tude is due from the world at large than to those self-sacrificing. sympathetic, noble- minded men whose life work has been the alleviation of physical suffering. thus lengthening the span of human existence. There is no known standard by which their beneficent influence can be measured: their helpfulness is as broad as the universe and their power goes hand in hand with the wonderful laws of nature that come from the very sources of life itself. Some one has aptly said, "He serves God best who serves humanity most." The skillful physician, then. by the exercise of his native talents and his acquired abilities. is not only per- forming a service for humanity, but is fol- lowing in the footsteps of the divine teacher himself, who said, "Inasmuch as ye have clone it unto the least of these my brethren. ve have done it unto me."

Among the leading physicians of Mid- dletown, Butler county, Ohio, is the gentle- man whose name appears at the head of this

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JOHN T. SUTPHEN.

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sketch. He is the oldest of the five children born to Carlton W. and Elizabeth ( Coch- ran ) Sutphen. his nativity occurring at Mid- dletown. Ohio, on the 29th of September. 1849. The subject's grandfather was John Sutphen, who was one of the earliest pio- neers of this part of the state, having located at Middletown, Ohio, when its population consisted of but a few score of people. He entered from the government a tract of land and, as he was possessed of a fair edu- cation, received in the schools of his native state of New Jersey, he assumed a prominent place in the community in which he settled. Though he never sought office or public sta- tion, he was influential in the councils of the old Whig party and, later, also of the Repub- lican party, of whose principles he was an ardent advocate. He was closely associated with many prominent men of his day, among whom were the late Governor Campbell and Gen. Robert E. Schenk. He was the first superintendent of the Miami and Erie Canal. He was united in marriage with Miss Jane Potter by whom he became the father of twelve children, of whom Carlton W .. the subject's father. was the fifth in order of birth. Carlton W. Sutphen received such ed- ucational advantages as the schools of the place and period afforded and grew to sturdy manhood. well equipped for life's battles. For a number of years he conducted a packet line on the canal from Middletown to Cin- cinnati. in which enterprise he was fairly successful, and was also for a number of years a merchant collector on the Miami and Erie Canal. holding that position at the time of his death, in December, 1899, at which time he was seventy-seven 'years of age. At one time he was rated as a wealthy man. but met with some business reverses later in

life. He was energetic and indefatigable in every matter in which he engaged and for many years held prominent places in public life. He was active in politics, endeavoring at all times to advance the interests of the community, and was honored with the con- fidence and respect of the people with whom he associated and who knew him best. hav- ing been elected to the position of treasurer of Middletown and fulfilling the duties of the position to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. To his marriage with Eliza- beth Cochran were born five children. of whom the subject was the eldest.

John T. Sutphen, the immediate subject. attended the common schools. after which he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University. at Delaware. Ohio. Being desirous of mak- ing the practice of medicine his life work. he then matriculated in the Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia. Pennsyl- vania, from which he was graduated in March, 1871, at the age of twenty-one years. Upon completing his professional training he at once returned to Middletown and com- menced the active practice in partnership with his former preceptor. Dr. W. D. Linn. remaining so associated until the latter's death. since which time he has remained alone in the practice. He is endowed with those peculiar qualities which contribute to the successful pursuit of his profession and. because of his emphatic success in combat- ting disease he has acquired a reputation which extends far beyond the boundaries of his immediate community.

Politically Dr. Sutphen is a Republican and has long taken a deep interest in the pub- lic questions of the day, exercising his right of franchise in favor of. the party whose principles he believes to be most conducive

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to the welfare of the American people. He has been honored by selection as vice-presi- dent for Ohio of the National League of Re- publican Clubs. Fraternally the Doctor is an enthusiastic member of the time-honored order of Free and Accepted Masons, being a Knight Templar and having also attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, thus being a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret. He is also a past officer in both branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has also attained official dis- tinction in the Knights of Pythias, being past grand chancellor of the grand lodge of Ohio and representative of Ohio in the su- preme lodge, being also a member of the board of control of the Endowment rank of the order. He also belongs to the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks and the Royal Arcanum, being a past exalted ruler of the former and past regent of the latter or- ganization. He is a firm believer in fra- ternalism, having witnessed many beneficent results of the application of the benign prin- ciples of the orders with which he has been connected. Doctor Sutphen is a man of broad and liberal views, at the same time abiding closely to the ethics of the profes- sion in which he is engaged and following only the best rules of living. By a life of earnest endeavor, upright living and court- eous demeanor to all he has won for him- self a host of warm personal friends in the community in which he has so long resided. Doctor Sutphen's great-grandfathers, Abram Sutphen and Moses Potter, served in the American war for independence on the side of the colonists, and by virtue of this fact the Doctor holds membership in the Sons of the American Revolution, an association of which he is justifiably proud.

JACOB H. SHOLLENBARGER.

Among the representative citizens of Butler county the subject of this sketch can be appropriately numbered, as he has long enjoyed distinctive prestige in business cir- cles and for many years was one of the leading agriculturists of the township in which he made his home. As the name indi- cates, Jacob H. Shollenbarger is of German lineage, not only on the paternal side, but also on the maternal, his mother's ances- tors coming to America many years ago from Geisen, Germany, and settling in the state of North Carolina. The subject's grandfather was Frederick Shollenbarger, and his grandmother, before her marriage, was Mary C. Scholanch. her grandmother. Mrs. Klein, being the native of Geisen re- ferred to above.

Frederick Shollenbarger immigrated to the United States in 1815, and settled near Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, where he purchased land and developed the farm on which he continued to live until death called him hence. His son Daniel, who was reared on this place, cultivated it until 1850, when he moved to Oxford township, his death oc- curring in Milford township in the year 1868. He married Elizabeth Smith, of But- ler county, and became the father of nine children, seven of whom survive, the sub- ject of this review being one of the number. Daniel Shollenbarger and wife were devout members of the Lutheran church at Darr- town and are remembered as a most ex- cellent and praiseworthy couple, whose in- fluence was potent for good and whose lives exemplified. the purity and great practical values of the religious faith which they pro- fessed.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 82

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