Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 90

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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the third in order of birth. The brothers are Charles E., an employe of the Cincinnati, Dayton & Toledo Electric Railroad, and Clinton W. is an engineer in the employ of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail- road Company. Ida is the wife of Samuel Sauer, a prosperous young farmer in Han- over township. The brothers are all mar- ried and the heads of happy families.

Robert S. Woodruff was born and reared on the parental farm in Hanover township. There his early years were spent as the farm lads usually are-attending school in sea- son, and working on the farm. He made rapid progress in his studies and early de- cided upon a professional career. Attend- ing various institutions of learning, he rap -. idly developed along educational lines, and in 1891 he took up the study of law. After some preliminary study he entered the Cin- cinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in 1894. Being fully equipped for his chosen profession, Mr. Woodruff opened an office in Hamilton and became a regular practitioner at the Butler county bar. His fine attainments and special adap- tion to the profession readily brought him into prominence as a rising young attorney. After eight years of successful practice, he was selected by the Democratic primaries as the party's candidate for the office of prosecuting attorney, and was triumphantly elected at the general election of 1903. The contest before the county primary election was an animated one, hotly contested by four aspirants. Mr. Woodruff's selection as the party's standard bearer is especially complimentary to him, in that he received eleven hundred votes more than his highest competitor. The anti-primary canvass was

without some bitterness, as is usually the case in closely contested campaigns. But Mr. Woodruff became the candidate of the "people," and not of any political faction, hence he is untrammeled by the influences which often dominate the factional nominee. He entered upon the discharge of his official duties on the first Monday in January, 1904, with a fixed determination to perform his

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whole duty; in the light of his ability and judgment, thus becoming a public servant in the true sense of that term. It is the ex- pressed opinion of those familiar with the qualifications of Mr. Woodruff that the high standing of his office will be fully main- tained and that he will round out an adminis- tration in every way complimentary to him- self and satisfactory to the people whom he serves. He brings to the position the ac- complishments of a thorough lawyer backed by years of successful practice, and the further characteristic of being a broad- minded and intellectual gentleman.

Mr. Woodruff is a man wholly self- made, as that expression is understood. He never had a dollar of any man's money save his own, and launched out into his profes- sional studies in the face of seemingly in- surmountable obstacles. Endowed with a robust constitution and willing hands, he bravely met the inconveniences of being self- dependent, and rather than go in debt he employed his muscles as well as his brain in the attainment of the desired end. He is one of the men who realize that honest labor is more honorable than dishonest debts.

Mr. Woodruff was married on the 9th of October, 1901, when he led to the altar Miss Bessie, the only child of Mr. John C. Weaver, a well-known civil engineer and surveyor in Hamilton. She is a lady of culture and refinement, a graduate of the Hamilton high school and for some time a student at Oxford College. This is a most happy union and the domestic fireside is surrounded with the blessed influence of perfect love and peace.

One of the sad remembrances of the past 39

campaign is the fact that the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff was born and died during the anteprimary campaign. A ro- bust, healthy son was born on the first of June. 1903. Twelve days later, and when the mother and child appeared in perfect health, that dread disease small-pox attacked the mother and was transmitted in the natural way to the child. The mother re- covered, but the little flower from the shores of paradise was unable to withstand the ravages of the terrible malady, and joined the angels on the other shore. Mr. Wood- . ruff was under quarantine for three weeks just preceding the primary election, and this, coupled with the anxiety and concern about his afflicted family, was enough to have prostrated a person of less vigorous constitution. But the beloved wife was spared to him, and his political affairs were not seriously jeopardized by his enforced confinement. Advantage was taken of this misfortune and the public was warned to "not vote against their own interests through sympathy." Mr. Woodruff publicly disclaimed any right to support on those grounds, and announced that he stood be- fore the people on his own merits; but the sting of the accusation through political wire-pulling will not soon be forgotten.

The subject is a prominent member of various social orders, being a past chan- cellor commander of the local lodge, Knights of Pythias, and past exalted ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He also sustains membership in the Improved Order of Red Men. As may be properly inferred from what precedes this sketch, he is an active working Democrat in his political

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affiliations, and an honest and fearless ad- his preceptor, and Samuel Taylor in the city vocate of the party doctrines. But he stands aloof from the various factions within the party in Butler county and denies col- lusion with party machinery.

HARRY A. JUNKIN.

Harry A. Junkin, the very efficient deputy clerk of the courts of Butler county, was born at Peru, Miami county. Indiana. He attended school at Peru, Indiana, for six years. and at the Hamilton public schools for a like period. He mastered the business of photography and later learned the trade of a picture frame finisher. He was a clerk in a hotel for about one year, and was so employed when John L. Hoffman, the pres- ent clerk of courts for Butler county. ap- pointed him his deputy.

CHARLES. W. GATH.

The subject of this article was born at Oxford, Butler county, Ohio, on the 21st of October, 1853. He was reared in the educational atmosphere of that now historic village, his education being acquired in the public schools and at Miami University. Mr. Gath is descended from English an- cestors, his father, the late Samuel Gath, being born in Yorkshire on the 5th of April, 1807. He was reared and educated in his native land and then learned the trade of a cabinetmaker. He worked at his trade as a journeyman for seventeen years, being employed all this time by Benjamin Wood,

of Halifax. He then formed a partnership with his younger brother and was prospered in business. After a few years his savings amounted to three thousand five hundred dollars and with this he came to America. He arrived in Oxford, with his wife, on the morning of July 3, 1844, having been mar- ried the year previously to Miss Mary Tel- ley. a native of Yorkshire. They had a tempestuous voyage across the ocean, being five weeks on the "Patrick Henry" before reaching New York city. The trip from New York to Hamilton, via the Erie canal to Buffalo, thence across the lake to Toledo, and south on the canal to Hamilton, con- sumed almost a month of time. Today the same trip could be made while getting a night's repose in a sleeper, without change of cars. But this is not the only evidence of progression during the last sixty years.

Arriving in Oxford with their personal baggage, the young couple located tempo- rarily on a farm three miles north of the village. But an opportunity soon opened whereby Mr. Gath purchased a half interest in a furniture store owned by a Mr. Merrill. Eight months later he purchased his part- ner's interest and became sole proprietor. The store and shop combined, an unpreten- tious frame building, stood on the west side of the public square. As the years passed. and prosperity smiled on the zealous worker, a substantial brick building was erected on the old site and there the busi- ness was carried on successfully for many years. With the encroachments of age and infirmities, Mr. Gath finally transferred the business to his son, Charles W. The un- dertaking business finally became a promi- nent feature and there Charles W. Gath, of

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this sketch, laid the foundation of his future business career. While yet a small boy, he would accompany his father on his profes- sional rounds and assist him in the perform- ance of his solemn duties. As he attained to man's estate he continued in business on his own account at his father's old stand. In 1880 he sold out to his brother Harry and moved to Hamilton and became a claim- ant to public patronage. He is located on the west side and has established a large trade. His long experience in the business, and special adaptation to it, have brought him into prominence, though his visits are always fraught with the sorrows incident to such occasions, they are nevertheless wel- comed in the full confidence that the last sad rite will be properly performed. Mr. Gath has been a close student of his profession and is thoroughly conversant with the minutest details. His courteous and gentle- manly manner. together with his sympa- thetic nature and kindness of heart, are characteristics greatly appreciated while in the discharge of his professional duties. He has been highly successful in his business, and upon merit alone. His stock, appliances and vehicles have always been the best in the city and are carefully maintained at this high standard. Mr. Gath is very promi- nently connected with the business inter- ests of Hamilton and has high standing in the commercial world.

He sustains exalted relations in the time-honored fraternity of Freemasonry and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Royal Arcanum. In political views he is Demo- cratic, though not aggressive in politics.

Mr. Gath was married September 10, 1874, to Miss Maggie Lintner, a daughter

of Andrew and Mary (Nichol) Lintner. This was one of the pioneer families in Butler county, Samuel Lintner being the founder of the family in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Gath have a son and daughter, named in order of birth as follows: Mary, now the wife of Thomas Steadman Steph- ens, a mechanical engineer in New York city, who have one child, Charles Stead- man, by name. The son is Andrew Lintner, a representative of the Chambersburg En- gineering Company, with headquarters at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The daugh- ter is a graduate of the Hamilton high school and of Oxford Female College. The son has a scientific and technical educa- tion. Mr. Gath and his wife and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Hamilton.

CHRISTIAN PABST.

Christian Pabst, the popular incumbent of the office of county auditor of Butler county, Ohio, is a native of the province of Rheinish Bavaria, Germany, where he was born on the 6th of December, 1853. The first twelve years of his life were passed in the fatherland, and there his early educa- tional discipline was received in the national schools. In 1865 he accompanied his par- ents on their immigration to America and the family took up their permanent abode in the city of Hamilton, Ohio. Here the subject completed his theoretical education, which was greatly augmented by his early apprenticeship to the "art preservative of all arts." for it has been consistently said that the training of a printing office is

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equivalent to a liberal education. Mr. his friends. Mr. Pabst did much to system- Pabst continued to be identified, in a prac- tical way, with the printing and publishing business until his entrance upon his public career, in 1893. He became an expert job printer and achieved much success in his chosen calling. He is a representative of that numerous class of German-Americans who are noted for their industry, thrift and sterling qualities, and who often succeeded where others would fail. He served his ap- prenticeship in the printing establishment of L. B. De La Court, but subsequently was em- ployed as a job compositor in the office of Jacob Long, of Hamilton. A few years be- fore entering politics Mr. Pabst became as- sociated with his father and brothers in the manufacturing and bottling of mineral waters, under the firm name of J. Pabst & Sons, and an extensive and profitable busi- ness was built up, the enterprise being still continued by members of the family and re- ceiving a representative support in this sec- tion of the state.

Mr. Pabst is thoroughly qualified for clerical work of an official nature and, though disinclined to enter the field of politics, he was finally persuaded to accept the position of clerk of the courts of Butler county, entering upon the discharge of the duties of that exacting and responsible office in February, 1893. At the August primaries of 1895 he received a total vote of eight thousand and forty-nine, this being the larg- est vote ever given a candidate in the county, his majority over all competitors being three thousand six hundred and eleven. His nomination by the Democracy of the county was equivalent to an election, yet his signal triumph at the polls was beyond the most sanguine expectations of either himself or

atize the work of the office of clerk of the. courts, to which he was thus elected, and gave the people a clean and intelligent ad- ministration, entirely above criticism of an adverse nature. His record was so thor- oughly satisfactory that the way was opened for his election to other positions, after he had served the statutory term in the clerk's office. This came in the form of his tri- umphant nomination and election to the office of county auditor, in November, 1900. He was duly qualified and entered upon the duties of this office on the 21st of October, 1901, while in the election of November. 1903. he was chosen as his own successor, again receiving a most significant and flattering majority at the polls. It goes without saying that the office of county au- ditor is one of the most important within the gift of the people. Its duties are diversi- fied, and absolute accuracy. promptness and efficiency are demanded on the part of its executive incumbent. . Mr. Pabst has sur- rounded himself with trustworthy, obliging and competent assistants, and has inaugur- ated a thoroughly systematic conduct of the office, a system well in keeping with his methodical and precise business principles. He is extremely popular in the county and is everywhere recognized as a useful and in- fluential citizen.

Mr. Pabst is a stanch supporter of the public-school system and an ardent friend of the cause of education in general. In 1882 he was chosen one of the trustees of the Lane Free Library and served in that capacity for many years. His record as a citizen is clear and untarnished and his social and domestic life entirely above re- proach. , He has been a stanch adherent of

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the Democratic party from the time of at- taining his majority, and has ever mani- fested the courage of his convictions, be- lieving firmly in the principles of the party as exemplified by its founders. He is well known to the people of the county and is accorded the fullest measure of popular con- fidence and esteem. Fraternally, he is identified with the Benevolent and Protect- ive Order of Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Royal Arcanum, and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, while both he and his wife are valued members of the German Evangelical church.

On the 15th of April, 1896, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Pabst to Miss Catherine Gerlach, of Cleveland, this state. her father, Peter Gerlach, being a well-to- do and prominent citizen and manufacturer of the beautiful Forest City of Ohio. To them three sons have been born as follows : Robert P. and Warren J., twins, born on November 12. 1898. and Herbert G., born April 15, 1901.

WILLIAM A. LUCAS, M. D.

The world has little use for the misan- thrope. The universal brotherhood is widely recognized, as is also the truth that he serves God best who serves his fellow men. There is no profession or line of business which calls for greater self-sacrifice or more devoted attention than the medical profes- sion, and the most successful physician is he who through love of his fellow man gives his time and earnest attention to the relief of human suffering. The successful physician is bound to make friends wherever he is

known and will retain the respect and esteem of all classes of people.

William A. Lucas was born in Middle- town. Butler county. Ohio, on the 19th of "April, 1873, and is the son of Benjamin P. and Rhoda (Sutphen) Lucas. Benjamin P. Lucas was also a native of this county and was reared on a farm. He obtained his preliminary education in the common schools, which was supplemented by attend- ance at. Antioch College, where he took the literary course. However, a promising career was cut short by death at the early age of thirty-four years, his widow and two children being thus deprived of a husband and father's loving support and protection. The two children referred to were Charles. of Middletown, and the subject. The mother is still living and makes her home in Middletown.

The subject is indebted to the common schools of Middletown for his early educa- tion and during young manhood he was for a year employed in the capacity of assist- ant mailing clerk in the Middletown post- office. He then entered the employ of the Cleveland Lumber Company. being assigned to the estimating department. He had long entertained a desire to enter the medical pro- fession and during his employment as afore- said he had employed his leisure moments in the reading and study of medicine. The lumber company's plant was destroyed by fire in July, 1893, thus throwing him out of employment, but this apparent misfortune really but hastened the culmination of his desire, for in the autumn of the same year Mr. Lucas entered the Ohio Medical Col- lege, where he pursued his studies for three years, being graduated in 1896. Im- mediately upon receiving his degree of Doc-

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tor of Medicine the subject located in Co- lumbus, where he was actively engaged in the practice, but a year and a half later, in September, 1897, he located in Middletown, where he has since remained. He has been" accorded a liberal share of the public patron- age and is today numbered among the most successful professional men in the county. In order to better equip himself for any de- mands that might be made upon him, the Doctor took a thorough course in the Illinois Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Infirmary at Chicago and by a constant attention to the most recent advances made in the healing art he has acquired a skill in the treatment of diseases that has easily placed him in the front ranks among the physicians of his county.

1 In politics the Doctor is a stanch Re- publican, but the demands of his profession have precluded his taking a very active part in the campaign work of his party. He is, however, keenly alive to the leading ques- tions of the day and is able to intelligently discuss the great measures which from time to time confront the American voters. Fra- ternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also a charter mem- ber of the K. of A. E. O .. which was in- stituted here in 1901 and in which he has held official position.

On the 8th day of September, 1897, Doc- tor Lucas was united in marriage with Miss Edna V. Bonnell, who was born at Middle- town, Ohio, on November 7, 1875, being the daughter of J. V. and Emma Bonnell. Her father is a prominent resident of Mid- dletown and a member of the city officiary for twenty years. Mrs. Lucas received a good education in the schools of Middle-

town, which was supplemented by a liberal musical education. To the union of the sub- ject and his wife has been born one child, Louise, born August 31, 1899.

Dr. Lucas is a man of genial disposition, affable and companionable. He is a man whose sympathies are easily aroused and who ever responds with alacrity to calls from the suffering, whether it be beneath the humble roof of the cottager or within the home of wealth. Still comparatively young in years and in his profession, he has all the requisite ability to rise to still greater emin- . ence in his profession and his many friends predict for him a brilliant future.

DANIEL W. CHARLES.

Daniel W. Charles, one of the leading business men of Hamilton, is a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania, born at the foot of the Alleghanies on the 19th of March, 1852. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Mary (Johnson) Charles, natives of Perry county, of Holland and Irish ancestors re- spectively. When the subject was a lad of nine or ten years old, he came with his par- ents to Mount Healthy, Hamilton county, Ohio, and there completed his education, commenced in his old Pennsylvania home. His parents died at Mount Healthy, the father at the age of seventy-three years and mother at sixty-nine. They had a family of eight children, three of whom, Benjamin F., Wesley and Lillie, died in infancy. The surviving members of the family are David M., of Cumminsville, Ohio; Daniel W., of this sketch; Mrs. Mary Wert, a widow re- siding at Mount Healthy; Samuel E., a

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grocer at College Corners, Butler county, ings up to that date. He necessarily began Ohio, and William F., a grain dealer at East St. Louis, Illinois.

After completing a common-school edu- cation, Mr. Charles began his independent career as an apprentice to the broom-maker's trade. Some five years were spent at this trade, when he abandoned it and became a clerk in a general store at Mount Healthy, in the employ of Henry Moser. His salary was small and he sought an opportunity to grow in the business. He reached Hamil- ton in 1875, with fifty cents in his pockets, the sum total of his earthly store, except- ing only his indomitable energy and busi- ness ability. He entered the employ of John S. Whitton on a salary of six dollars per week, and paid five dollars a week for his board and room. But his meager salary was increased from time to time until he received a fair recompense for his labor during a portion of the time he remained with Mr. Whitton. After six years thus employed Mr. Charles accepted a position with the late William C. Frechtling as manager of the retail grocery department. and remained under this engagement for five years. He was married in September, 1878. to Miss Lida B. Sullivan, of Hamilton. With in- creasing home interests it seemed necessary for Mr. Charles to make a venture in busi- ness on his own account and thus augment the meager receipts with increased revenues. On the 26th of October. 1886, Mr. Charles purchased a stock of goods then in the same room which he now occupies, at the north- east corner of Third and Court streets. His predecessor was the late M. Shellenbach. The consideration was fourteen hundred dollars, and Mr. Charles had saved one thousand and twenty dollars from his earn-

business with a small stock, but soon dem- onstrated his ability as a buyer and sales- man, and the stock has been constantly grow- ing and the trade expanding. The "Dan" Charles corner is a favorite designation of his locality, and the volume of goods han- dled at that point is very large. It is surely one of the busiest corners in the city, with six clerks and three delivery wagons kept busy selling and delivering goods. The capi- tal invested is turned many times each year, owing to the staple character of goods han- dled. Several lines of goods, notably flour and coffee, are put up expressly for Mr. Charles and bear his name. From the small beginning of fifty cents, Mr. Charles has developed a business industry equaling that of the largest retail grocery house in Hamilton. He handles all the staple lines of groceries and provisions, including many specialties and novelties. The large store- room is full of goods from the floor to the ceiling, with a basement, equally as large, full of surplus stock not needed on the shelves. Mr. Charles has invested his sur- plus earning in other interests and is rated very well-to-do. He is an extensive stock- holder in the Ohio Valley Grocery Company, of Cincinnati, a well known wholesale house, and is also a stockholder in the Miami Val- ley National Bank of Hamilton. Other and varied business interests receive his at- tention outside of purely mercantile pursuits. One of these is the Sanitary Manufacturing Company, of Hamilton, in which he is an extensive stockholder. Mr. Charles recites with pleasure and satisfaction some of his early experiences in securing positions in Hamilton, and how one big firm offered to' put him to work as an "errand boy" and

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 90

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