Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 99

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 99

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).

Digitized by Google

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

677

father-in-law had entered from the govern- ment, and there the father of Isaac Huffman was born and spent his life. Allen Huffman was a prosperous and successful farmer, his ambition being to excel in this time-honored avocation.

The subject of this sketch received his elementary education in the 'district schools of Springdale. This was supplemented by a thorough course at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Lebanon. He then entered the ranks of Butler county's educators, and followed the teaching profession for eight years. In this he was phenomenally suc- cessful and made a record for himself as a thoroughly practical educator. It was largely through his efforts that the public schools of Oxford township were classified and a course of study introduced whereby the country schools were placed on an equal- ity with the graded schools of the cities and towns, and a graduating course of study in- troduced.

But, like many others of the promising young people of modern times, Mr. Huff- man did not enter the teaching profession with a view to permanent occupation, but rather as a stepping-stone to something be- yond. From early boyhood he had an am- bition to become a lawyer and all his early efforts tended in the direction of a gratifica- tion of this ambition. He was employed as a teacher from 1890 until 1898, devoting the same time faithfully to his work and attend- ing to some preliminary work along the line of his chosen profession. He took a three- years course in the Cincinnati Law School and was graduated with the class of 1901. In December following he was admitted to practice in the state courts.

Mr. Huffman had always taken an active interest in political affairs and was

recognized as a local leader among his com- panions. He had scarcely established his law office when his Democratic friends be- gan to urge his candidacy for the office of representative from Butler county in the Ohio legislature. He does not deny having had political ambitions, and gratified that this signal honor should be so early thrust upon him, even though reluctant to leave, temporarily, the profession so recently es- poused, he yielded to the importunities of his friends and entered the race before the pri- mary election, on the first Saturday in August, 1901. The campaign which closed on the date above written was an exceed- ingly vigorous one and active, but Mr. Huff- man received a majority of nine hundred and ten votes over his competitor, thus be- coming his party's nominee. At the general election, following. he received a majority of two thousand three hundred votes over the Republican candidate. On the organization of the seventy-fifth general assembly Mr. Huffman was placed upon several of the standing committees, among which may be mentioned municipal affairs, labor, fees and salaries. and blind asylum. In the deliber- ations of each of these he took an active and intelligent part. At a special session of the legislature, convened to revise certain laws, Mr. Huffman was appointed on the special code committee. The enactment of the new code has created some confusion in mu- nicipal affairs, but the general sentiment is commendatory, and officials are better pleased with it as they become more acquainted with the simplified conditions and practical work- ings. Mr. Huffman was re-elected in 1903. after an active campaign, wherein he was confronted at the primaries by his former Democratic opponent. The results at both the primary and general elections were

Digitized by Google

678

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

practically unchanged, he having twenty- seven more votes at the former and a hun- dred less at the latter, which was over four hundred more votes than was polled by the head of the ticket, a very com- plimentary recognition of his services. Dur- ing the session just closed Mr. Huffman was a member of the finance, railroad and tele- graph, and library committees. Besides his services on these, he also took an active part in some special legislation and in the enact- ment into laws of a number of bills intro- duced by himself. He secured the most liberal appropriation ever given to Miami University. This is an achievement worthy of high commendation, in that it required constant work and vigilant watching since rival institutions without state support were jealous of Miami's claim for public recog- nition and aid. Mr. Huffman was the author of the Saturday half-holiday law and the law exempting from taxation all gifts and bequests to cemetery associations. He also championed the bill dispensing with grade crossings on all railroads hereafter to be built in the state, being the author of this , law. Many other measures were passed, or .defeated, through his efforts and the friendly co-operation of his colleagues. In his legis- lative duties Mr. Huffman was a tireless worker, strong and capable, and zealously earnest in the cause of his constituency. While he is an active partisan and an un- compromising Democrat, yet he is fair and impartial in the distribution of public pat- ronage. He is not one of those partisans who believe that "to the victor belongs the spoils," where the claims of the opposition are fortified with superior qualifications.

Mr. Huffman is a young man of strong personality, eminently capable, and a suc-

cessful organizer and leader in public thought and sentiment. As a campaign orator he is forceful and convincing, has a pleasing address and is endowed by strong magnetic power. If the biographer may be allowed a prediction it is that Mr. Huff- man's public career is just commenced. It would be a pleasure to record in this con- nection a beautiful romance about "happy domestic ties," and all the paraphernalia in- cident to juvenile life, but lo! the subject is a bachelor, and unacquainted with the joys of connubial bliss. The fates have de- creed that the single word "unmarried," must close the record of that line. Mr. Huffman is prominently allied with various fraternal organizations, and takes an active interest in lodge work. He is a member of Invincible Lodge, No. 108, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Oxford, and is representative of that order to the grand lodge of Ohio. He is also a member of the Rebekah degree, of the "triple link" fra- ternity. He sustains membership in Oxford Lodge, No. 187, Knights of Pythias, and is representative to the grand lodge of that order. In the Masonic bodies he has attained exalted rank, his initial membership being in Oxford Lodge, No. 67, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and in the higher branches, Hamilton Council, Hamilton Chapter and Hamilton Commandery. Besides these, Mr. Huffman sustains membership in a number of minor orders and social and beneficial societies.

Among the young people of Hamilton no one stands higher in social and literary circles than Isaac Huffman. He is genial and companionable, readily makes friends and has the happy faculty of retaining them. In religious affiliations Mr. Huffman is a

Digitized by Google

679

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

member of the Presbyterian church at Col- lege Corner, Ohio. While his law office and. general headquarters are located in the Frecthling building at Hamilton, he still re- tains his home at Oxford.

JAMES W. HUSTON.

The subject of this sketch is a represent- ative of the third generation of the family in Butler county and is one of the progres- sive and highly esteemed farmers of Ox- ford township, where he owns a finely im- proved landed estate of two hundred and twenty-five acres. He was born at College Corners, this county, on the 26th of De- cember, 1846, and is a son of Dr. R. C. and Jane (Montgomery ) Huston. Dr. Huston was born in the state of Pennsyl- vania. whence his parents came to Butler county. Ohio, when he was a child of five years, and here he was reared to manhood and passed the residue of his long and use- ful life, having been one of the leading physicians of this section and having held the high regard of all who knew him. He attended the Miami University for some time and was later graduated in the Ohio Medical College, in Cincinnati, after which he was for five years engaged in the prac- tice of his profession at College Corners. while in 1850 he took up his abode in Ox- ford, where he built up a large practice, in which he continued until his death, which occurred on the Ist of August, 1887. He was a member of the Ohio Medical Society, the Butler County Medical Society and the Union District Medical Association, stand- ing high in the confidence of his confreres

and attaining marked prestige in his profes- sion. He was a Republican in politics, fra- ternally was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. They became the parents of five children, of whom four are living.

James W. Huston passed his youthful days in Oxford, and after completing the curriculum of the common schools continued his studies for one year in Miami Univer- sity. In the spring of 1863, when but seven- teen years of age, he tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a mem- ber of Company E, Eleventh Ohio Volun- teer Cavalry, with which he continued in service for more than three years, having received his honorable discharge on the 31st of January, 1866. His command was in the frontier service and served principally in the states of Missouri, Kansas and Wyo- ming. Mr. Huston proved a valiant and loyal son of the republic and was ever found at the post of duty, while he has never fully recovered from the hardships and arduous work of his military service. After the close of the war Mr. Huston returned to his native county, and here he has ever since been identified with the great basic art of ag- riculture, his valuable farm being located in Oxford township and being one of the many attractive rural domains of this fa- vored section of the Buckeye state. He is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party and has been an active worker in its cause, while he has been called upon to serve in various offices of local trust and responsibility, including that of town- ship supervisor, of which he was incum- bent for two years, while for seven years he was a member of the school board. The

Digitized by Google

680

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

family are all members of the Presbyterian church.

On the 26th of January, 1869, Mr. Huston was united in marriage to Miss Alice White, who was born and reared in this county, being a daughter of the late Jacob White. Of this union have been born four sons and three daughters, concerning whom we enter the following brief record : James L., the second child, who is a gradu- ate of Miami University. is now a success- ful farmer of Oxford township; Dwight M .. who was graduated in the same institution. is now a resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, being an auditor for the Power Mining Company : the first child, William A., who attended Miami University about four years. is now associated in the management of the homestead farm: Jennie A., who completed a three-years course in Western College, in Oxford, is at the parental home; Eulalia. who was graduated in the Oxford high school, is also at home; Celia, likewise a graduate of the high school, is now taking a course as a trained nurse in Cincinnati. Ohio, and John R. is a member of the class of 1907 in the Oxford high school.

CHARLES HOWALD.

The subject of this sketch has been prominently identified with hotel interests of Hamilton for many years. He began his career along this line in the old Hamilton House, one of the early landmarks of the city, which has given way to the onward march of progress. He is now the pro- prietor of Hotel Howald, on High street. opposite the court house. This famous

hostelry unquestionably stands at the head of institutions for the entertainment of the traveling public in the city of Hamilton, being complete and up-to-date in all its ap- pointments. The rooms are airy. well heated, scrupulously clean and elegantly fur- nished. the beds "inviting to repose," and the guest is thoroughly protected from dan- ger of fire by a modern system of electric bells. The dining equipments are abreast of the times and equal to the demands of the most exacting. The fastidious traveler, in seeking a first-class hotel, is invariably di- rected to Howald's, where the most exacting appetite can be satisfied.

At the same time, if he desires an even- ing's entertainment, the opportunity is here afforded. The bar and contingent amuse- ments at Howald's are complete in all de- tails and patronized only by the best class of citizens. A little army of attentive and obliging attendants is ever ready to. cater to the reasonable demands of the guests, and peace, quiet and comfort reign supreme. The house throughout is elaborately fur- nished, and may be very properly described by the familiar quotation, "A thing of beauty and a joy forever." Thousands of dollars. aggregating quite a fortune, are in- vested in the well-selected stock and appli- ances at Hotel Howald.

Mr. Howald is also an extensive stock- holder in the Fort Hamilton Milling Com- pany. being president of the corporation. This is one of the leading business concerns of the city, which sustains a high standing in the commercial world. Other business in- terests also engage Mr. Howald's atten- tion, and it is safe to say that he is one of the busiest men in Hamilton. He is an af- fable and companionable gentleman, who .

Digitized by Google

CHARLES HOWALD.

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by

Google

681

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

has a pleasant word for everybody, though overwhelmed with the multitudinous af- fairs of his business life. He has been pre- eminently successful, the result of well-di- rected energies, and takes high rank in the financial world. Mr. Howald is a careful, conservative business man, and stands very high in the social functions of Hamilton.

Charles Howald was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 16, 1862. His parents emigrated to America in 1866, and located, temporarily. on a farm in Butler county, Ohio. But a year later they removed to Hamilton, and here their lives were ended. The father, whose name was Martin How- ald, was born October 24, 1821, and died in the same month, 1896. The mother's maiden name was Katherine Wieser. She died at the age of forty-three years, her death occurring in 1872. These were the parents of four sons and two daughters who lived to years of maturity. Of these. John Howald is the eldest. He was born in Bavaria, June 24. 1852. Jacob Howald, the second in order of birth, is a retired mer- chant living in Dayton, Ohio, who was born in April, 1852. Maggie is now the wife of George Stroh, who is the proprietor of the Stockton Club, a well-kept and popular place of resort at Stockton: Minnie is the only member of the family deceased. She was a handsome and popular young lady, whose untimely death was a severe blow to her many friends and relatives ; she died in 1880. at the age of twenty-one years; Charles, of this sketch, was the next in order of birth, and Martin completes the family circle. He was born July 12, 1865, and has been en- gaged in various lines of business, buit is not actively employed at the present time. All the brothers are married and the heads of happy families.

Charles Howald is entitled to great credit for his achievements in life. What- ever he has, and is, are the results of his own well-directed efforts. He began his business life at the very bottom of the financial lad- der and in the most humble employment. He attended the public schools of Hamilton until his thirteenth year, when he engaged in the battle for self-support. For three years he was employed in various ways about a factory in Cincinnati, making his home with an aunt. In 1878 he returned to Hamilton, and the succeeding six years he was variously employed about the city, en- gaged as a clerk for the most part. But on the 25th of March, 1884, he launched out in business on his own account, becoming the proprietor of the Hamilton House, as pre- viously intimated. But there is something always lacking in a hotel without a good landlady. This defect was remedied on the 7th of April, 1884. when he led to the mar- riage altar Miss Phoebe C. Niederman, daughter of a well-known and prominent early settler of Ross county, Mr. Jacob Niederman, deceased. Together this young couple launched out into the world of busi- ness, and were successful from the start. They operated the Hamilton House for about six years and after a brief respite from business, on the Ist of March, 1890, they opened Hotel Howald, with the experience of six years of successful business along a similar line, and the savings of that period. as their "stock in trade."

Mr. and Mrs. Howald are most happily mated. Their domestic life is all that could be desired: and the charm and beauty of a happy home has been strengthened by the advent into the family circle of four charm- ing daughters and one little son. The eld- est of the family is Miss Ora G., a gradu-

Digitized by

Google

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

682

ate with hight honors on June 22, 1904, at St. Xavier's Academy, Beatty, Pennsyl- vania. She is a bright and studious daugh- ter whose future life promises great com- fort to her loving and indulgent parents. Marie Elizabeth, just budding into a beau- tiful womanhood, is a student in the Hamil- ton high school. Hildah W., a very promis- ing child, died July 26, 1898, at the age of nine years and ten months. The only son is Carlisle L., a bright boy of eleven years,' who in company with his baby sister, little Miss Katherine P., are probably rather ex- acting task masters.

It is probable that Charles Howald sus- tains membership in as many different social and beneficial orders as any man in Hamil- ton, and to that extent at least he is always well "lodged." Following is the list : Char- ter member of Hamilton Lodge, No. 93, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in which he has passed all the principal of- ficial stations. He was a member of the general committee of arrangements for the annual reunion of the order in the United States, held at Cincinnati during the sum- mer of 1904; he is a member of Lone Star Lodge, No. 39, Knights of Pythias, and of Phillips Division, No. 24, Uniformed Rank Knights of Pythias; Cincinnati Aerie, No. 142, Fraternal Order of Eagles; Germania Castle, No. 68, Knights of the Golden Eagle; Hamilton Camp, No. 3, Knights of Ancient Rome, and Ottamowas Tribe, No. 190. Improved Order of Red Men.

Mr. Howald is an active member of the Ohio Hotel Association, and is the vice- president for Butler county. In this organi- zation he has served on some very important committees along the lines of legislation and executive council work. He is not in any

sense a politician, having neither time nor inclination to hold official positions should they be offered. Though a Democrat in political views, he is usually content with exercising his right of suffrage along the lines indicated by self-interest, or in assist- ing a personal friend.

In religious matters he holds member- ship in St. John's German Evangelical Prot- estant church, and was a warm friend of Rev. C. A. Hermann, his late pastor, now deceased. Mrs. Howald and the children are members of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran · church.

GUY P. BENTON, A. M., D. D. .

It is in distinctive harmony with the province assigned to this work that there should be incorporated in its pages at least a brief review of the life history of the able and honored president of Miami University, one of the leading educational institutions of the state and one in which Butler county and the state of Ohio take much pride. The subject has attained a position of prominence in educational circles, is a man of fine schol- arship and also has the executive and ad- ministrative ability which thoroughly quali- fies him for the responsible position of which he is now incumbent.

Guy Potter Benton is a native son of the Buckeye state, having been born in the beau- tiful old town of Kenton, Hardin county, Ohio, on the 26th of May, 1865, and being a son of Daniel Webster and Harriet Maria (Wharton) Benton, the father being a farmer by vocation. President Benton re- ceived his preliminary educational discipline

Digitized by Google

683

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

in the public schools of Hardin county, Ohio, and in 1879 was matriculated in the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, where he prosecuted his studies for six years. He later entered Baker University, at Baldwin, Kansas, in 1895, where he was graduated, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Later he became a post-graduate student in the University of Wooster and has since re- ceived the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater. He began teaching in the public schools at the age of eighteen years, and has since given the greater portion of his time and attention to the pedagogic profession, while for a time he was engaged in journalistic work. The subject was for seven years superintendent of the city schools of Fort Scott, Kansas, in which state he gained marked prestige in connection with educational affairs. He was for two years assistant state superintendent of public instruction in Kansas, and in 1899 was made a member of the state board of education, while he held the chair of history and sociology in Baker University for three years. In 1899 he was chosen president of the Upper Iowa University, at Fayette, Iowa, and retained this office until July I, 1902, when he assumed his present office of president of Miami University, in Oxford. Within the comparatively short period of his tenure of this executive office President Benton has done much to vitalize and ad- vance the work of Miami University and his regime promises to be one of the most successful the institution has ever known. In 1899 the subject was ordained to the min- istry of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is now a member of the Cincinnati confer- ence, and he has exercised the functions of his high calling most ably and earnestly, in

connection with the other duties devolving upon him. He is a member of the Odd Fel- lows order and is also a Master Mason.

In Arcadia, Kansas, on the 4th of Sep- tember, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Benton to Miss Dolla Konantz, who was born and reared in Kansas, being a daughter of John and Rose Konantz. Mr. and Mrs. Benton have two children, Helen Geneva, who was born in Fort Scott, Kan- sas, on the 16th of October, 1892, and Paul- ine Corinth, who was born in Baldwin, Kansas, on the 25th of January, 1898.

Dr. Benton has studied the leading uni- versity systems of America and Europe and as a close student of the college of the modern world has given himself the best possible training for a successful career in educational administration.

ROBERT C. REED.

Wilmott has aptly designated biography as the "home aspect of history," and thus it is within the province of true history to com- memorate the lives and characters, the achievements and labors of those who have played well their parts in their respective fields of endeavor. No more definite and clear perspective can be given to the generic annals of any section than to offer a record of the careers of representative citizens, and the data thus perpetuated will prove of cu- mulative value during all the years to come. It is a noteworthy fact that Ohio's sons al- ways have a deep attachment for their na- tive state, and in many senses her history has been a wonderful one. Her sons have been prominent in every walk of life, and

Digitized by Google

684

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

several have become the nation's leaders, oc- cupying the chair of chief executive of our great republic. so that the Buckeye commonwealth may well dispute with the Old Dominion state the title to being the "mother of presidents." One man alone or even a select coterie of men do not constitute the strength of the com- monwealth. It is the aggregate endeavor of

jority which makes for this end, and in this respect Ohio has been signally fortunate, for hers have been enterprising, resolute men and gracious, self-abnegating women, from the early pioneer era to the present day, when the wonderful twentieth century rolls into the cycle of the ages. No history of Butler county could be consistent with it- self were there neglect to make definite men- tion of the honored pioneer family of which the subject of this sketch is a worthy scion, and no better or more significant evidence as to the long identification of the name with the annals of this section of the state can be offered than that implied in the sim- ple statement that the father of our subject was the first male white child born within the limits of the county. The subject has passed his entire life in Butler county and has ably upheld the high prestige of the honored name which he bears. He is one of the prominent and influential farmers of Lemon township, where he controls a large and valuable landed estate, and it is with much satisfaction that we offer in this work a review of his genealogical and personal history.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 99

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