Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 97

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 97

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After teaching here one year Mr. Bon- ham was tendered the principalship of the school on the election of Mr. Campbell to the position of superintendent of all the schools of Dayton. He declined the honor, as he preferred to make the trial of build- ing on his own foundation in a new field. He had heard from his college friend, Rev. J. H. Brooks. then pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of St. Louis, that there was need there of a school for young ladies.

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With no other acquaintance in that city and with no capital nor any board of directors backing him, he opened Bonham's Seminary for Young Ladies January 3, 1859. The breaking out of the war, by the capturing of Camp Jackson in May, 1861, closed many schools and many families left the city, some to remain in the North, others in the South. From an enrollment of one hundred and twenty pupils the day of the capture of Camp Jackson, only thirty were in attendance dur- ing the rest of the school year. Mr. Bon- ham then offered his services to the govern- ment, but General Harney, then in com- mand, and Governor Gamble told him he could do more for the peace of the state by keeping his school going on the line he was then conducting it, free from politics and partisanship; that his work was appreciated was evident from increasing attendance from year to year. Beginning with three pupils in 1859, he closed with an enrollment of over three hundred in 1872. His health broken, he left the city for a home in the country.

On his arrival at his new home he chris- tened it Glen Ellen, in honor of his wife, Ellen G., to whom he was married before leaving Dayton. She was the daughter of Isaac and Lucy Wright Gere, who moved to Oxford, in 1809, from Williamsburg, Mas- sachusetts. Mr. Gere was a merchant and manufacturer of woolen cloth, but hearing of the wonders of the Ohio country and his health being poor, he hoped this wonderful Ohio climate might give him a new lease on life. He bought the farm on which Mr. and Mrs. Bonham live. Mrs. Gere and six daughters and two sons survived Mr. Gere and kept up the home until Mr. and Mrs. Bonham came to it, in 1872. The change

from city to country and from school to farm life gave Mr. Bonham the expected new lease on life. Until his health was restored the farm land was tilled by Joseph Morton, a successful farmer and breeder of Poland China swine. Glen Ellen farm adjoins the stock farm of D. M. Magie, and it was not long before neighbors Magie and Bonham found pleasure visiting fine herds in Butler county and other counties and states. With Magie as teacher, the new neighbor was readily enlisted in the business of breeding Poland China hogs. He was not long in the business before he saw the need of a re- liable record of pedigrees. Hon. John M. Millikin espoused the cause and soon the Ohio Poland China Record Company was formed, in 1875, the first record of any American-bred hog. Mr. Bonham served as secretary to start the record, but declined to continue, as the work was too confining. After the death of John M. Millikin, Mr. Bonham became president of the company and served in. that capacity until January, 1904, when he declined re-election. His col- lege mate, Murat Halstead, induced him to become agricultural editor for the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. He also wrote for the first number of the Breeders' Gazette and is yet a regular contributor. He was a con- tributor to the People's Farm and Stock Cyclopedia, the Ohio Farmer, and several other agricultural and stock journals. In 1883 he was elected member of state board of agriculture and in 1886 he was elected president of that body, and in 1887 secre- tary, and served for eight years. He was the author of the bill which put farmers' in- stitutes on a more solid basis and enlarged their usefulness by furnishing support from the general fund of each county. As a lec-

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turer he was welcomed into every county in tax, and if each does his part cheerfully and the state and was high authority on the fully, better schools, better roads and stronger churches naturally follow. He was a charter member of the Oxford Farmers' Club that was organized in 1874 and whose constitution he wrote and which has been the model for hundreds of other clubs in Ohio and other states. He and his wife have not in thirty years missed a meeting of this club except when sick, and they never fail to furnish the paper or part assigned them. They claim that the club has been to them an unfailing benefit and source of pleasure and has knit them to a bond of friends whose memory will never die. science of breeding. He served as a mem- ber of the Miami University board for many years, and resigned after becoming secre- tary. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and considers the support of the church one of the fixed charges of his busi- ness. Up to when, in a runaway, he had his hip broken he was active in every good work of a public nature. He found time to keep his farm in prime condition, to serve his church as elder and for the public was a leader in the good roads movement. He was one of the committee from the National Live Stock Association to prepare and se- cure the passage of the bill creating the bureau of animal industry, which has be- come a power to prevent and control con- FRANK INSCO WHITEHEAD. tagious diseases among domestic animals and to prevent the home use and export of The subject of this sketch is a "Hamil- ton boy" by birth, though he has long since outgrown the narrow fields of usefulness af- forded in literary work outside of a great metropolis. All old residents of Hamilton will remember with feelings of deep regard William R. Whitehead, who was born in this city July 18, 1836. His parents were Robert W. and Lavina (Wilsey) White- head. The former was a native of Plymouth, Massachusetts, born of English ancestors, in 1806. His wife's people were formerly from New England, though she was born at Albany, New York, in 1802. William R. Whitehead was reared and edu- cated in Hamilton. He early evinced an aptitude for drawing, but his father appren- . ticed him to the cabinet and pattern maker's trade. He followed that business for a number of years, but finally abandoned that for photography, an art in which he could, diseased meat. He wrote the history of the Poland China hog, which was approved as the official history by the National Swine Breeders' Association. He was chairman of the committee appointed by the Poland China Association to prepare a scale of points or standard of excellence for the Po- land China hog. This standard has been modified as views of breeders changed and is in use at every agricultural college and by every swine expert in the show ring and has led to more distinct and uniform ideals among the breeders of swine. Prior to the preparation of this standard there was no uniformity in color or style of Poland Chinas. Breeding to one standard, the type has been well defined and is as uniform as that of almost any other breed of animals. He believes that every farmer owes the public more than merely his road and school

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in some degree, exercise his talents for painting and drawing. He operated a gal- lery for some years, but finally gave up that profession and was thereafter, until his death, prominently connected with the sew- ing-machine business. He was among the first to introduce the Singer machine into the state, and was assuredly the first to start a sewing-machine wagon. Distributing of- fices were established by Mr. Whitehead in Hamilton, Richmond and Dayton, with promise of successful business career. but the irrevocable laws of nature decreed other- wise, and he was called to another state of existence in middle life.

William R. Whitehead was a man of somewhat limited educational advantages, though any deficiency in that line was fully made up in after years by careful reading and study. He was a devout and active Christian and a zealous worker in the cause which he so ably advocated. As a Sunday school organizer and teacher, he was per- haps the best known man of his day within the circuit of his labors. His church re- lations were with the First Baptist church in Hamilton, where he had charge of the primary department of the Sunday school at the time of his death, December 6, 1880. Mr. Whitehead was probably among the first Sunday school workers to introduce the blackboard and off-hand drawings in illus- tration of the scriptural texts. This feature of his work was a strong leverage in favor of prompt and regular attendance, as well as in popularizing a dry and uninteresting subject among the majority of Sunday school attendants.

He was a man of the highest character, honored and esteemed by all who knew him. He married Miss Nancy J. Randall, on the

5th of May, 1857. She was a representative of a numerous family of early pioneers who came here from Pennsylvania. Her death occurred on the 19th of August, 1879.

Frank Insco Whitehead, of this review. was born in Hamilton, February 14, 1858. His early years were spent in school after the manner of most boys of his day. He discontinued his studies one year before graduation, and learned the printer's trade. but returned to the high school and was graduated with the class of 1876. A year later he became the Hamilton correspondent to the Cincinnati Commercial, under the guidance of the well-known writer, Murat Halstead. Continuing the journalistic work, he took up the study of law under the tuition of the late Hon. John C. McKemy, and was admitted to the bar in 1879. In August of this year his mother died, and in December of the following year he found himself doubly orphaned and the eldest of a family of seven children. Becoming thus the active head of a somewhat dependent and helpless family, he abandoned the pos- sibilities of a coming law practice and de- voted his energies to journalistic work. with its sure recompense. Mr. Whitehead had already developed a taste for newspaper work and other lines of literature, hence the enforced change in his plans was not as serious a disappointment as it otherwise might have been. In the early seventies. however. Mr. Whitehead had been led by a popular fad, of the day. into establishing and editing a small monthly journal entitled "The Novelty." This experience and his knowledge of the "art preservative" now stood him in good part. as it familiarized him with many important details of the printing office. He became local reporter

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on the Hamilton Daily News when that paper was established and subsequently served as reporter on the same for a number of years. He was also local editor of the Hamilton Daily Democrat for a time. But from 1877 until May 1, 1891. he retained his connection with the Cincinnati Com- mercial and Commercial Gazette. During these years he did considerable political work in various state and congres- sional campaigns. This experience broad- ened his field of observation and led to ac- quaintance and recognition in a higher sphere of labor.

On the Ist of May, 1891, Mr. White- head was called to a lucrative position on the Washington Post and transferred his resi- dence to the seat of national government. After a year and a half on the Post, he ac- cepted a place on the United Press, for which news-gathering institution he did the United States senate work for five years. While thus employed. he established con- fidential relations with influential senators and made a reputation as a gatherer of executive session news and debates con- ducted behind closed doors. While with the United Press Association Mr. Whitehead was also a member of the Washington staff of the Cincinnati Enquirer and (more re- cently ) on the staff of the New York Amer- ican. Since 1900 he has been engaged on special lines of work at state and national conventions.

To say that Mr. Whitehead's life has been a busy one in the newspaper world would be superfluous, in view of the facts above recorded. Equally so would be any attempt to speak of his attainments in the literary world. The facts are before the generous reader, and, with feelings of pride

for the achievements of the "Hamilton boy," we leave them there without eulogy or com- ment.

The subject of this sketch was married April 29, 1885, to Miss Ida Maud Badgely, of Cincinnati, daughter of Robert Wright Badgely and Matilda Ann Stevens. Her father was a member of one of the first families that settled at Losantiville, after- wards Cincinnati. The Stevens family were well known in the early history of Butler and Preble counties. Mrs. Whitehead is a na- tive of Oxford, Butler county. Two daugh- ters have been born to this happy union, the eldest of whom died January 31. 1891, at the age of four and a half years. The sec- ond daughter is Miss Dorothy Winnifred, born August 18, 1892.

EDGAR BARD.

The subject of this sketch occupies the position of extra or special engineer in the employ of the Cincinnati, Dayton & Toledo Traction Company. His duties are onerous, in that he is required to go to any station on the line where for any reason the regular engineer is unable to attend to his duties. The selection of Mr. Bard for this respon- sible position is a high compliment, not only to his ability. but also to his integrity and faithfulness. It is a virtual admission upon the part of his employers that they recognize in him a man upon whom they can always depend in an emergency. He is at present employed at the Lindenwald power station. where he owns a pleasant home. the result of his own industry and economy.

Edgar Bard was born in Muhlenberg

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county, Kentucky, near the city of Green- ery. After two years of this practical ap- ville, April 23, 1874. His parents, Luther prenticeship he was promoted to the position which he now occupies, with increased sal- ary and responsibilities. For the past several months he has been engineer in charge of the power house at Symmes' Cor- ners. and Idella E. (Steger) Bard, were na- tives of the same county. The Bard family is closely allied with the pioneer history of the Blue Grass state, the city of "Bards- town" being named in honor of some of the early families of this name. The mother of Mr. Bard chose for his life companion Miss Adell DeKinder, of Rockport, Indi- ana. She was born in Cannelton, that state, and is a daughter of John and Eliza De- Kinder. The marriage was solemnized on the 2d of April, 1901, at the home of the bride's parents. Her father is a well-to-do business man at Rockport. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Bard is John Wilbur, born August 27, 1903. They are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Lind- enwald and a young couple who have bright promise of future usefulness and promi- nence in the social and religious world. Mr. Bard died in July, 1889, at the age of forty-nine years and six months, while the father, a prosperous farmer, is still living on the old home farm where the subject was born. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, five of whom are now living. The eldest is William H., who is a well-to-do farmer and merchant in his native county ; Ida S. became the wife of Zehring Ashlock and together they are seeking their fortunes in Oklahoma territory; Elmer Luther, who was a farmer in Kentucky, died in young manhood, leaving a wife and two children. Edgar of this sketch was the next in order Mr. Bard is a Democrat in his political views, though taking greater interest in maintaining a happy home than in healing the nation's woes. of birth. Charles is married and is living on the home farm, and Joseph G., a young man unmarried, is also at home with his father and brother.

The subject of this article was reared and spent his early manhood years on the home farm. He received a good common- school education in the district schools, and employed his time on the farm until twenty- seven years of age. He came to Hamilton, Ohio, August 9, 1900, as an employe of the company with whom he has since been as- sociated. The first year of his sojourn here he was employed as a car repairer and dur- ing the succeeding two years he was fire- man for the company at the Symmes' Cor- ners power plant. He readily adapted him- self to the business and made rapid progress in the handling of the complicated machin-

JOHN A. BUTTERFIELD.

This gentleman, who is numbered with the enterprising farmers and substantial citizens of Morgan township, Butler county. was born in Hamilton county. Ohio, March 17, 1859, the son of Jeremiah and Sarah Jane Butterfield, both natives of the Buck- eye state. The subject's grandfather, who also bore the name of Jeremiah, was one of the pioneers of southern Ohio and the fam- ily has been well known in the counties of Hamilton and Butler from a very early day.

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Jeremiah Butterfield, Jr., was born in the former county March 6, 1811, grew to man- hood a tiller of the soil, which vocation he followed all his life, and died on March 25, 1892; his wife, whose birth occurred on the 29th of November, 1822, departed this life January 2, 1899.

The subject of this review was brought up on his father's farm in Hamilton county and after finishing the common-school course entered the National Normal School at Lebanon, where he prosecuted his studies for some time with the object in view of fitting himself for teaching. On leaving the above institution he engaged in educational work and continued the same during the en- suing four years, meeting with encouraging success as an instructor and disciplinarian and earning the reputation of being one of the able and popular teachers of this county. The financial inducements of the profession not being very flattering, Mr. Butterfield at the expiration of the period noted decided to abandon educational work: accordingly he returned home and taking charge of the farm continued its cultivation until the year 1900, when he was elected real estate ap- praiser of his township. The duties of the position, being responsible and onerous, re- quired all of his time, and he applied him- self diligently to the same until the close of his term, when he purchased a farm in Morgan township, Butler county, to which he at once moved and on which he has since lived and prospered. Mr. Butter- field has increased the value of his place by bringing it to a high state of cultivation, and adding a series of substantial improve- ments, sparing no efforts in any of these respects to make it one of the finest and most attractive farms of the township in

which it is situated. He has labored dili- gently to bring about the results that now obtain, the excellent condition of his fields, buildings and other improvements and the spirit of thrift apparent in every part of the premises demonstrating unusual capacity on his part as an enterprising tiller of the soil, as well as the lively interest he manifests to keep fully abreast the times in all matters of modern thought in the domains of agricul- tural science. His persevering industry and devotion to duty have brought their re- ward in the beautiful home and comfortable competency now in his possession, while his upright course of conduct and the desire al- ways to do as he would be done by have won him a conspicuous place in the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens.

The domestic life of Mr. Butterfield dates from February 4, 1897, at which time he was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Miss Lillian Atherton, daughter of Israel and Jane Atherton, of Ohio, the father for many years a well-to-do farmer and representative citizen of Hamilton county. This union has been blessed with one child, Helen. around whom all the wealth of the parental affection is being thrown and in whom are centered many fond hopes and bright anticipations for the future. Mr. Butterfield affiliates with the Democratic party. Although a member of no church, he has profound respect for religion and ex- emplifies the vital principles of Christianity in his daily life and conversation, which in the sight of reasonable men is of greater weight and influence than ostentatious pro- fession. He is an attendant of the Presby- terian church, to which his wife belongs, and contributes generously to its support, ,

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besides giving liberally of his means to further the interests of all charitable and benevolent enterprises of whatever name or order. Mr. Butterfield is a genial and pleas- ant companion, of a cheerful and lively dis- position, and in his domestic relations is as happily situated as he is popular among his fellow men, being respected by all classes as a gentleman of integrity and honor. He possesses a strong will, is energetic and de- termined in carrying forward any under- taking which he considers just and right, at the same time exercising that control of self which under all circumstances is the surest evidence of personal power. He has lived as nearly as possible according to his ideals of manhood and citizenship, and with others of his type and class is deserving of a place in a volume dedicated to the repre- sentative men of his adopted county.

M. E. MILLER.

The representative farmer and estimable citizen of whom the biographer writes in this connection is a native of Pennsylvania and a son of William and Mary ( Davis) Miller. the father born in the Keystone state and the mother in Indiana. These parents were married in Pennsylvania and spent the

greater part of their lives in that common- wealth, their union resulting in the birth of eight sons and three daughters. Five of the children have always lived in their native state, the subject and a sister, Mrs. Pleas- ant Cook, of Somerville. being the only members of the family in Butler county.

M. E. Miller, whose birth occurred in Fayette county. Pennsylvania, on January

23, 1844. was reared a farmer and enjoyed the advantages of the district school, which he attended as opportunities afforded until acquiring a thorough knowledge of the fundamental branches. He remained on the family homestead until 1864. when he came to Butler county. Ohio, to visit a brother and sister who had previously removed to this part of the state. and. being pleased with the country, he decided to make it his permanent place of abode. To earn a liveli- hood he worked for a considerable length of time as a farm hand and in this way sup- ported himself until his marriage, which was solemnized in 1867 with Miss Miranda Cook, who was born in this county in 1847, her parents moving here a number of years before from their native state of South Carolina.

Immediately after taking with himself a wife Mr. Miller rented a farm in Milford. which he now owns and cultivates and, set- ting up a modest domestic establishment. ad- dressed himself to the task of making a home of his own. After farming a num- ber of years for a share of the proceeds, he succeeded by persevering industry and economy in saving sufficient means to pur- chase the place on which he lived, since which time his progress has been very com- mendable, as he is well situated to enjoy the fruits of his frugality and thrift, his farm being in excellent condition, with many sub- stantial improvements, and his home plenti- fully supplied with the comforts and con- veniences calculated to make country life not only prosperous but a very pleasing and desirable experience as weil. The career of Mr. Miller has been that of a common, un- assuming man, a man of the people. whose industrious habits, sterling integrity and

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sturdy worth have gained the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens and bound them to him in bonds of friendship like unto bands of steel. . Honesty and devotion to duty and right are among his more pro- nounced characteristics, to which may be added mature judgment, sound common sense and other estimable qualities of head and heart that never fail to win the good will of all with whom he has relations of a business or social nature. Mr. Miller's political creed embodies the principles and doctrines of the Democratic party. which he has earnestly endorsed and supported ever since old enough to exercise the rights and privileges of citizenship. He served six years as trustee of Milford township and discharged the duties of the position with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public, his administration being straight- forward and business-like, and he left the office without a stain upon the record which he so faithfully and honorably made. Mr. Miller has served a number of terms on the board of education, of which he has been a member for the period of three years His fraternal relations include membership with Lodge No. 665. Knights of Pythias, at Som- erville. in which he has passed all the chairs, his present title in the order being that of past chancellor. He also belongs to Cove- nant Lodge, No. 54. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Somerville, in which lodge he has filled all the chairs. .

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 97

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