Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 96

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 96

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

The Fred J. Meyers Manufacturing Company is one of the solid financial con- cerns which the city of Hamilton and But- ler county are glad to welcome to their busi- ness interests.

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REV. HENRY NEVIN KERST. A. B., der the services highly entertaining and in- B. D.

Rev. H. N. Kerst, the pastor of the First Reformed church in Hamilton, is a native of Greenville, Darke county, Ohio, and was born on the 20th of May. 1874. He is a son ' of Samuel and Sarah Jane (Beachler) Kerst, both of whom are natives of Ohio. Samuel Kerst was born in Shelby county in 1844, and his wife is a native of Mont- gomery county and is her husband's junior by two years. He spent his young man- hood years as a farmer and then for a time he engaged in merchandising, but later re- turned to the farm on account of ill health. He is now living a retired life in Greenville. There were eight children born to these par- ents, six of whom are living. The eldest is Flora, now the wife of George McGormley. of Toledo, Ohio; Mr. McGormley is a pros- perous business man connected. as part owner, with the Massillon Bridge Building Company. Mary Charity is a young lady at home. Henry Nevin, of this sketch, is the third in order of birth. Vanda Euterpia is teacher of elocution at Heidelberg Univer- sity, Tiffin, Ohio. Herman S. is one of the secretaries of the Young Men's Christian Association, Dayton, Ohio. Grace is a student at Toledo. Myrtle died in infancy. and Ada Maude died at the age of twelve years. The subject of this article is a young gentleman of exalted educational attain- ments and high literary capacity. As a pub- lic speaker, he is forceful and logical, a close biblical student, and well versed in con- temporaneous history. His sermons im- press his hearers with the conviction of sincerity. while his logical deductions, im- pressive similes and earnest perorations ren-

structive. He is a tireless worker in the cause of morality and Christianity. During his short pastorate in Hamilton his earnest labors have imposed new life into the church, the Sunday school and social meetings, and added many names to the roll of the church membership. Mr. Kerst is specially interested in the young people, among whom he is a universal favorite, and his lec- tures and helpful counsel in the Young Men's Christian Association are a fruitful source of awakening and conversion. He possesses, also, the special gift of being a good pastor, as well as a talented and force- ful preacher. The thirty years that have passed on the journey of life have been fraught with great activity upon the part of Mr. Kerst. He began his educational career in the country school. near the par- ental farm. He prepared for college at a select private school and by one year's study in Heidelberg Academy, and then completed a four-years course in Heidelberg University, at Tiffin, Ohio. Following this. he attended a summer session of Moody Me- morial College. at Northfield. Massa- chusetts, returning in the autumn to enter upon a three-years course at Heidelberg Theological Seminary.

After eight years of persistent college work he was ordained to the ministry of the Reformed church, and entered upon his du- ties at the First church in Hamilton in the spring of 1900. The membership of this church embraces two hundred and fifty com- municants. The Sunday school has an en- rollment of two hundred and seventy-five. in charge of able and earnest teachers. The Ladies' Social Circle embraces the names of nearly all of the female members of the

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church, which is also true of the Ladies' Missionary Society. The Young People's Society affords a season of recreation, both social and religious, while the Gideon Club is organized especially for boys. Its pur- pose is largely of a social nature. The boys have their own officers and manage the af- fairs of the club under the guidance of older heads. Rev. Mr. Kerst was married in Hamilton, on the 17th of December, 1903. to Miss Sophia Leonora, daughter of the late Capt. W. C. Margedant. A fuller sketch of this prominent and well-known family appears elsewhere in this volume.

Mrs. Kerst is prominently identified with the social and literary features of the city, and is president of the Woman's Club, one of the leading literary organizations in Hamilton. The Kerst family was first es- tablished on American soil by German an- cestors, who settled in Pennsylvania. The mother's family is descended from English .origin, established in Virginia, probably in Colonial days. On the maternal side the mother is descended from the Goode fam- ily, well-known in early Virginian history. Dr. Kerst resides at No. 620 Main street, Hamilton.

HOMER GARD.

Homer Gard, editor and public official, is a native of Hamilton, born on the 9th of January. 1866. He is a son of Hon. S. Z. Gard, whose sketch appears more fully under the title of Warren Gard. The sub- ject of this sketch was graduated from the Hamilton high school in the class of 1884, following which he took a three-years course at Amherst College in Massachusetts.

He began his independent career in the field of journalism, being employed on the repor- torial staff of the Daily News in this city. In 1890 he accepted a position as reporter on the Daily Democrat, and in January, 1891, he was advanced to the position of editor and business manager. Mr. Gard was entitled to great credit in bringing this paper up to a high standard in the ranks of progressive journalism and in placing it upon a paying basis as the leading organ of Butler county Democracy. He instituted needed reforms in the management of the paper and assumed an attitude of independ- ence. advocating the rights of the people, as against the influence of the party lash and the dictations of would-be office holders. Such an attitude was a new feature in Democratic journalism in Butler county and naturally developed some opposition among the disappointed aspirants, the ef- fects of which are apparent at this time. But Mr. Gard was equal to the emergency and the Democrat improved in value as a fearless and independent advocate of the party's principles. The value of the plant was greatly enhanced and during his man- agement the paper was sold to a syndicate for thirty-eight thousand dollars, an increase of twenty-four thousand dollars over the price originally paid for the plant.

In January, 1895, Mr. Gard purchased the controlling stock in the News-Democrat at Canton, Ohio, and was elected president and managing editor. He sold his stock in that paper after fifteen months to a syndi- cate of politicians, having more than dou- bled the circulation and placed the plant on a paying basis. Returning to Hamilton, he became managing editor of the Daily News in June, 1896, continuing in that capacity

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until 1903, when, in company with Clay- young lady at home with her parents; ton A. Leiter, George Holderfer and L. R. Daniel married Miss May Bauer, and their home is on a Butler county farm. Hensley, the Evening Democrat was pur- chased and Mr. Gard was elected president .of the corporation, which position he still efficiently fills.

In May, 1903, Mr. Gard was appointed city clerk for the term of two years. He is a thoroughly competent and active busi- ness man and has established for himself an enviable record as a journalist. Mr. Gard was married, on the Ist of June, 1892, to Miss Lutie Matthias, of Hamilton. The social relations of the family are of the highest order.

PROF. JOHN C. UNZICKER.

Prof. John C. Unzicker, principal of the Second Ward school in Hamilton, is a native of Butler county, born on a farm in, Milford township, December 13, 1867. He is the eldest of a family of four children born to Jacob and Fannie (Sloneker) Un- ziker. His parents were also born in Mil- ford township, the father's birth occurring on the 7th of September, 1846. He has spent his life in agricultural pursuits, and is one of the well-to-do farmers in Milford township. The home farm consists of one hundred and twenty-one acres and is in a high state of improvement. The mother of Prof. Unzicker was born on the 4th of June, 1836. Both parents are living on the farm where their lives have been spent. The names of their children are as follows: John C., of this sketch; Mary, who is now the wife of John Dome, resides at Jones- boro, Grant county, Indiana; Maggie is a

The subject of this sketch was educated in the district school of his home neighbor- hood and in normal school work in prepar- ation for teaching. The years 1887 and 1888 were spent at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and this was followed by a year's work at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. He was employed in the country and village schools of Butler county for fifteen years, during which time he acquired an enviable reputation as a thorough scholar and suc- cessful educator. During eight years of this time he was a member of the county board of school examiners, resigning that position when he temporarily retired from the school room. He was engaged in the mercantile business at Trenton, Ohio, for one year, but that work not proving con- genial, he accepted a proposition to take charge of the Second Ward school in Hamil- ton, entering upon the discharge of the du- ties of this position in September, 1903, bringing to it the experience of fifteen years of teaching in all grades of school work. The Second Ward school is one of the largest in the city, having an enrollment of over five hundred pupils. These are in charge of fourteen teachers, covering every phase of school work, from the first to the eighth grades inclusive.

Mr. Unzicker was married at Collinsville, Ohio, February 5, 1891, Miss Anna Fulker- son, a native of Darrtown, Butler county, Ohio, being the lady of his choice. Three children have come to bless this union, namely : Ruth, aged eleven; Paul, nine, and Grace, seven years, respectively. The Pro-

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fessor is a member of Summerville Lodge, No. 665, Knights of Pythias. He was reared in the faith of the Mennonite church, and in politics affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a man of broad culture and wide experience in the world of affairs. He is well informed upon the current issues of the day, both political and general. His habits of life are domestic and his home and little family are dearer to him than the al- lurements of clubs or social distinctions. Professor Unzicker is a gentleman of high attainments in his professional life, is cour- teous and agreeable with all, and greets with a pleasant word and encouraging smile the smallest pupil on the street. The Unzicker family . is of German extraction. and the Slonekers, as represented by the mother, are descended from Swiss ancestors. Both families have been long established on American soil, and are numerous and promi- nent in southern Ohio.

THOMAS L. CURLEY.

Thomas L. Curley, president of the Co- lumbia Carriage Company, is a native of Cincinnati. After completing his education in that city, he accepted a position in the stock department of the Louis Cook Car- riage Company, of Cincinnati, and remained with that company for a number of years. In 1882 Mr. Curley assumed the position of purchasing agent for the Hiram W. Davis Carriage Company, also of Cincinnati, but resigned the position after about four years' service to represent on the road the carriage hardware house of Crandall, Stone & Com- pany. of Binghamton. New York. In. 42

1888 he left this company and embarked in business on his own account, having, with others, established the Hamilton Buggy Company. He disposed of his interests in this business and became the central figure in the organization of the Columbia Com- pany, in which he holds a controlling inter- est in the stock and has been a leading spirit in the promotion of its interests. The other incorporators were J. E. Wright, R. A. Davis and R. L. Hedges. They pur- chased all outside interests in this company in 1898, and incorporated under the laws of Ohio, with a capital stock of two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. Mr. Curley was elected president, with J. E. Wright as secretary and manager and Charles M. Anderson as secretary. The plant has grown in a few years to mammoth proportions and is today recognized as one of the leading vehicle manufacturing con- cerns in this country. A more detailed de- scription of the plant appears in the sketch of Charles M. Anderson.

Mr. Curley has been a successful busi- ness man, and has demonstrated what can be accomplished by push and energy. He owns one of the handsomest houses in Ham- ilton, and is never more pleased than when he can add to its comfort and beauty. He also derives much pleasure in driving his fine trotter "Austin Boy," 2:15.

FRANK VALLANDINGHAM JONES.

Frank Vallandingham Jones, the well- known superintendent of the Butler county infirmary, is a native of Union township, this county, and was born on the 30th of

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October, 1862. His father, Frank Jones, was an old resident and served in numerous official capacities in township and county. He was born in 1838, at Madisonville, Hamilton county. Ohio, and after his mar- riage with Miss Nancy Vinnedge, in Union township, established a home in the same township, Butler county, where he was suc- cessfully engaged in farming for many years. But his later life was devoted to clerical pursuits, in which he proved himself highly efficient and thoroughly competent. He was a member of the board of education in Hamilton for twelve years and was sec- retary of that body for nine years. He served twelve years as deputy clerk of courts of the county under different principals, and was local correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer for many years, achieving in that capacity quite a record as a terse and accur- ate writer. Mr. Jones was reasonably suc- cessful in the accumulation of property and was a man highly esteemed in the com- munity. His death occurred May 7. 1896. and his wife survived him until April 24. 1904. Both were devout Christians and active members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mrs. Jones was a representative of one of the early and prominent families in Butler county. She was a daughter of the late George Vinnedge, who was born in Fairfield township. November 30. 1809. His father. John Vinnedge, came to Ohio with General Wayne's army in 1794. He was one of But- ler county's soldier representatives in the war of 1812, and died at the home of his son George, in August, 1868, in his ninety- fifth year. He and his wife, who was Miss Rosanna Moore, were natives of Pennsyl- vania, and were of German lineage. Being

among the very earliest settlers of the ter- ritory now embraced within Butler county, the Vinnedge family has been thoroughly identified with the county's history. The humble cabin of John and Rosanna Vin- nedge in the early days was a house of wor- ship and the home of ministers and traveling brethren. John Vinnedge was the township squire and a man of high social standing in the county. He was a son of Adam Vin- nedge, a native of Germany, who first es- tablished a home among the pioneers of Pennsylvania, but in old age. removed to the Buckeye state and died in this county.

The Moore family, previously mentioned in this connection, was established in Penn- sylvania by Patrick Moore, a native of Ire- land. He came to Ohio with his daughter Rosanna, in 1779. He settled on a farm in this county, and dispensed a liberal hospi- tality, being a true son of the Emerald Isle, jovial, of happy disposition, and notably kind and generous to those in distress. He was a man of considerable means and was content with a general superintendence of his business affairs, without engaging in the labors of the field and forest. These are the ancestors of Frank Jones on the maternal side. the paternal ancestry being somewhat obscure. They were of Welsh extraction and early settlers of southern Ohio. Frank Jones is the eldest of three children, the others being Ella and George. The former is a highly accomplished and successful teacher in the Hamilton city schools, where she has been employed for a number of years. George is a skilled mechanic, profit- ably employed at the Columbia Carriage works, in Hamilton. He married Miss Iva Yingling, and their living children are Isabel and an infant.

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Frank Jones received his education in the public schools of Hamilton. He began his independent career as a farmer and fol- lowed that business for several years, and then was engaged in the hotel and grain business at Port Union for eight or nine years. Mr. Jones was president of the school board in the special district of Port Union for nine years. He was twice chosen as the representative of Union township on the Democratic county central committee, and has always been prominent in local politics.

In September, 1901, the board of county infirmary directors elected him as superin- tendent of the Butler county infirmary, a position to which he has been unanimously re-elected each year since. The county farm embraces one hundred and ninety-six acres, adjoining the city plat of Hamilton on the east. The buildings, stock and appurten- ances represent a value of many thousands of dollars, which, in connection with the operation of the farm and the caring for the inmates, are under the direct supervision of Mr. Jones. At the present time (July, 1904) there are one hundred and sixty wards of the county being cared for, in this beneficent institution, fifteen of them being classed as "harmlessly insane." All are sup- plied with an abundance of wholesome food, properly clothed and sheltered, while the sick have the personal care of competent physicians and nurses. At the infirmary sanitary conditions are perfect. The beds. clothing, floors and dining rooms are kept scrupulously clean by a corps of competent housekeepers, this department being under the direct supervision of Mrs. Jones, as the matron. She is fully alert to the duties of her office and manages the internal affairs of

the great institution with a masterful hand. Mrs. Jones, who was married to Frank V. Jones on October 12, 1887, was in maiden- hood Miss Henrietta M. Ratz, a native of Port Union, Butler county, Ohio, a daughter of Frank and Margaret (Berlein) Ratz, na- tives of Germany. Both parents are now living at Port Union. Her father is a re- tired grain merchant and hotel proprietor, in which business he accumulated a hand- some fortune. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have an interesting family of two sons and one daughter, the eldest of whom is Carl V. He was born on the 26th of February, 1889, and is now a student in the Hamilton high school. Paul J. Sorg was born March 30, 1896. He is a namesake of the late Hon. P. J. Sorg, of Middletown. Marguerite was born July 18, 1900.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of St. . John's Evangelical church and spent almost their entire lives under the teachings of their late pastor, the lamented Rev. C. A. Her- mann, D. D. Mr. Jones is a prominent member of various social orders, both local and general. He was a charter member of Hamilton Aerie, No. 407. Fraternal Order of Eagles, and is a trustee of the lodge. He is also prominently affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men, and "Monkey Mutual Aid Society." and the "Ground Hogs."

HENRY W. BROWN.

This old and highly esteemed citizen has been a lifelong resident of Butler county, having been born in Middletown in the year 1832. Paternally he is descended from

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sturdy New England stock, his grandfather, John Brown, settling in Vermont in colonial times, and his father, who also bore the name of John, being born in that state as early as 1804. When eighteen years of age John Brown, Jr., came to Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life as a merchant and it was in this state that he met and married Miss Sarah Bowen, a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. The death of Mr. Brown occurred in 1854, that of his wife forty- five years later, she departing this life in 1899.

Until his twentieth year the subject lived with his parents, working a part of the time as a farm hand, but on attaining the age noted he took up the carpenter's trade, in which he soon became proficient and to which he devoted his attention until the breaking out of the late Civil war. He served a short time in that struggle as a member of Company G, One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Ohio Infantry, and at the ex- piration of the period of enlistment (one hundred days) returned home and began learning the trade of shoemaking. After acquiring skill in this calling Mr. Brown opened a shop in Okeana, where in due time he secured a lucrative patronage and from that time to the present he has steadily fol- lowed the trade, his success the meanwhile being such as to enable him to provide com- fortably for those dependent upon him and to accumulate a competency for his declin- ing years.

In the year 1855 Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Caroline DeArmod, whose birth occurred in Morgan township, Butler county, Ohio, in 1834, being the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Youmans)

DeArmod, both parents natives of the Key- stone state. Mr. DeArmod, a descendant of one of Pennsylvania's old French fam- ilies, was born in 1809 and died a number of years ago, the exact date not known; his wife, who was born in 1810, departed this life in 1897, at the ripe old age of eighty- seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born five children, three of whom died in early life, those living being L. V., and Mahala, wife of W. A. DeArmod.

Mr. Brown has lived a long, active and useful life and has the satisfaction of look- ing back over a past in which he finds lit- tle to criticise and much to commend. When a boy he acquired those correct habits of industry, perseverance and resoluteness of purpose which exercise such a powerful in- fluence in the development of character, and by living as nearly as possible according to his ideal of manhood, his career, though uneventful, has been eminently honorable and his example at all times worthy of emulation. He has never aspired to high position nor sought the notice of the public, but in a quiet, unobtrusive manner pursued the even tenor of his way, unmindful of the applause of men, but ever intent upon dis- charging his duties and making the world better by his presence. Mr. Brown belongs to no church or religious organization, but has well-grounded opinions relative thereto. his own views being broad and liberal. He recognizes good wherever it may be found and perceives in every human being, how- ever humble, the spark of divinity which indicates a heavenly origin and an immortal destiny. When the Republican party came into existence he was not long in giving it his support, but a number of years later he severed his allegiance and since about 1884

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has affiliated with the Democracy. Mr. Brown is a gentleman of kindly nature, gen- ial manners and large heart and has many warm friends who have ever entertained for him the highest personal regard. A con- tinuous residence of nearly three-quarters of a century in Butler county has been the means of giving his name wide publicity and today few men are as well or favorably known and no one enjoys in a more marked degree the esteem of the public.

L. N. BONHAM.

Lazarus Noble Bonham was born at Elizabethtown, Hamilton county, Ohio, March 27. 1830. His father, John LeFevre Bonham, was a farmer after his mar- riage to Charlotte Schenck Hunt. Prior to that he was clerk of courts in Dearborn county, Indiana, and because of his intimacy with Laz Noble, of Indiana, named the sub- ject of this sketch for him. The beggarly name, though scriptural, was not popular with L. N.'s college mates, and they dubbed him "Louis Napoleon." His relatives gen- erally adopted the college nickname. and he was widely known as Lou Bonham. His grandparents were members of a colony from about Elizabethtown, New Jersey. that took up land in the Symmes purchase in, the southwestern part of Hamilton county. hence the name Elizabethtown, Ohio. These were the first settlers west of the Big Miami and Whitewater rivers. His grandfather Hunt built the first frame house on his section, bounded on the east by the Whitewater and Miami. With these fertile lands the father and uncles all became farmers. The subject of this sketch attended

the public school at Elizabethtown, and at the age of seventeen years went to Cary's Academy. College Hill, where he was asso- ciated with Murat Halstead, Benjamin Har- rison, L. W. Ross and others who became men of note in their professions. The lat- ter two, with four others, went with Bon- ham to Miami University, where he gradu- ated in 1855. From there he succeeded Dr. Locke as principal of Lebanon Academy. He sold his interest in the academy the year following to the trustees of Southwestern State Normal School and taught Greek and Latin there one year. at the end of which time he found that the trustees had no means of paying him the contract price of two thousand dollars for his school, and only script to pay salaries with. They found themselves superseded by their principal, Alfred Holbrook, who promised to pay in the dim future. when the school might have a surplus. Young Bonham realized that he had let go of a good business for a promise from well-meaning men who unfortunately could not make good. They did for him the next best thing in their power. They were all teachers in Dayton, so they secured for him a place in the Dayton high school, and were his personal friends to the day of their deaths. .

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 96

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