USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. II, Pt. 1 > Part 30
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ticed until his removal to Cincinnati, in April, 1888. Dr. Hall is well equipped for the duties of his noble profession, both by study and experience. In 1884 he went to Europe and spent one year there under private tutors in surgery, giving attention to almost every possible surgical condition. Since then he has given especial attention to gynecology. His learning and skill have gained him entrance and a prominent position in the British Gyne- cological Association; the American Association of Obstetricians and Gyne- cologists; the Southern Surgical and Gynecological Society; the American Medical Association ; the Ohio State Medical Society ; the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine and other professional organizations. He is an ex-president of the American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and an ex-presi- dent of the Ohio State Medical Society. Dr. Hall is the surgeon in the gyne- cological department at the Presbyterian Hospital, Cincinnati, and is pro- fessor of surgical diseases of women, at the Miami Medical College, being also one of the clinical gynecologists of the same institutions.
On March 14, 1872, Dr. Hall was married to Margaret Chandler, daughter of Joseph and Ann (Bigley) Chandler, and they have had a family of four children : Joseph Arda; Anna Leona; Lydia, deceased; and Rufus Bartlett, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Second Presbyterian Church. Fraternally, his connections are with the Odd Fellows and the Masons, being a Knight Templar in the latter order. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.
Joseph Arda Hall, M. D., our subject's son, received his early educa- tion in the public schools of Chillicothe and Cincinnati. He pursued a full medical course in the Miami Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1897. He is now numbered among the prominent young physicians of Cincinnati, practicing his profession at No. 2513 Auburn avenue, Mount Auburn, this city. Recently he married Lucia Wheeler, daughter of Thomas B. Wheeler, of Troy, Ohio.
JOSEPH SCHREIBER.
For many years the late Joseph Schreiber was well known in Cincinnati, his business career having been one of integrity and marked with that suc- cess which attends industry, thrift and honesty.
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The birth of Joseph Schreiber occurred August 26, 1828, in Herolz, Hesse, Germany, while his death took place, after a long and severe illness, at his home on Elm street, Cincinnati, April 27, 1897. At the age of 18 years, in 1846, he joined the tide of immigration to America, reaching New Orleans after a stormy voyage of 74 days. Seeking employment, he went to Pittsburg, thence to St. Louis, Missouri, and there carried on a coopering business for several years, removing it later to Cincinnati. In 1864 he dis- posed of this business and with Henry Hust engaged in an undertaking busi- ness, being a pioneer in this line; a few years later, he bought his partner's interest and still later formed a partnership with the late W. T. Gerstle, Sr. This partnership continued until 1873 when he established himself in the undertaking business at the present location, on Race street, between Findlay and Henry streets, his large establishment being complete in every par- ticular. Until his fatal illness, Mr. Schreiber gave his personal attention to all the details and won the confidence and regard of the public. His estimable widow continues the business of Joseph Schreiber & Son and sus- tains its high reputation.
Mr. Schreiber was a popular member of almost all of the German societies of the city and his genial presence and friendly kindness were much missed. For a number of years he was a member of St. John the Baptist German Catholic Church and his burial was in St. Mary's German Catholic Cemetery.
In 1851, Joseph Schreiber was married to Mary Herberger, a.daughter of Frederick Herberger, who was a German and in his native country fol- lowed farming. Ten children blessed this union, of whom seven survive, six daughters and one son, William A., who was born January 27, 1868, in Cincinnati, where he was reared and educated, and who is the manager of the undertaking business of Joseph Schreiber & Son,-he was married to Catherine Grieb, a daughter of Joseph Grieb, deceased.
WILLIAM PARKER BIDDLE.
WILLIAM PARKER BIDDLE, whose death occurred May 20, 1903, at liis home at No. 659 June street, Walnut Hills, from an attack of appendicitis, was one of the leading members of the Hamilton County bar and a citizen
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whom Cincinnati could not well spare. Mr. Biddle was born in Green town- ship, Hamilton County, Ohio, April 3, 1837. His ancestry can be traced back in this country to the days of William Penn, the eldest son of each generation, with but one exception, bearing the Christian name of William.
The first William Biddle to settle in America was born in England and located his new home in New Jersey. The family has always been a lead- ing one in business and social life. Mrs. Biddle has in her possession a token of the esteem in which William Penn held one of the Biddles in the 17th century, in the shape of a gold-headed cane which the distinguished Quaker presented as a gift. Judge Biddle resided at Upper Penn Neck, New Jersey, and during the Revolutionary War rendered distinguished serv- ices as a captain in the patriot army. His son, William B. Biddle, the father of the late William P. Biddle, was born in 1807, near Salem, New Jersey, and died on the old homestead farm July 16, 1890, in Green township, Ham- ilton County, Ohio, after a residence in that township of 68 years. The mother of our late subject was Mary C. Parker, a daughter of an old pioneer of Cincinnati. She died in December, 1881.
William Parker Biddle was the eldest of 10 children who grew to maturity ; he received his early education in the public schools of his township and later took a three years course, from 1853 to 1856, at Farmers' College. The succeeding three years were spent in teaching school. In 1859 he began the study of the law in the office of Judge Bellamy Storer, and was admitted to practice in 1860. After a year with Judge Storer, during which time he continued his attendance on law lectures, he entered upon practice and soon displayed that legal ability which contributed to his reputation for sound judgment and thorough knowledge of law and jurisprudence, making him the chosen counsellor of many great estates.
Mr. Biddle was always a consistent party man and on more than one occasion was urged to accept high, honorable and lucrative positions in the gift of the Democracy. Although no political aspirant, he accepted liis elec- tion as alderman in 1875, was made vice-president of the Board of Legisla- tion and served with the sincerity which marked the course of his life. He founded the Citizens' Committee of 100 over 25 years ago and was one of its active members during its existence. Mr. Biddle was one of the earliest members of the Ancient Order of United Workmen in this city, and capably filled all its offices.
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The first marriage of Mr. Biddle was to Abba E. Rogers, of Cincinnati, on March 4, 1861. She was a daughter of Hiram Rogers, an old resident of this city. Her death took place September 21, 1864, two children sur- viving her, William Rogers and Abba L. On July 13, 1871, Mr. Biddle was united in marriage with Lavenia Wardall, who is a daughter of Christopher and Adeline ( Hoffman) Wardall, both of whom were descendants of early settlers of Green township, Hamilton County. Mrs. Biddle survived her husband and her grief at the passing away of a kind husband and congenial companion was shared by all those who knew him intimately.
A. C. SHATTUCK.
A. C. SHATTUCK, whose long and honorable connection with the Hamil- ton County bar has made him a well known citizen of the State of Ohio, is no less prominent in Cincinnati, where his name has been associated with almost all of the important litigation for a long period, and where he is re- garded as one of the city's representative men. Mr. Shattuck was born at Plainfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, December 22, 1852, and is the only child of the late A. C. and Florilla D. ( Warner) Shattuck. These parents were of English and Scotch extraction, respectively, although both were born in Massachusetts. The father was for a number of years a promi- nent retail merchant of Boston, in the book and periodical line.
A. C. Shattuck received his education in the public schools and later attended Geauga Seminary, at Chester, Ohio, subsequently entering Oberlin College, where he was graduated in 1878, with the degree of B. A. In 1879 he entered the Cincinnati Law School, where he was graduated in 1880, with the degree of LL. B. He then entered upon the practice of his profession, and in this has been eminently successful, winning many laurels. He has been very prominent also in fraternal life and is past noble grand in the Odd Fellows, and as a Mason is past master of the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., past high priest of the Chapter, R. A. M., and past commander of Hanselmann Commandery, K. T. In the Scottish Rite he has attained to the 32nd degree, and also belongs to Syrian Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Cincinnati.
On November 27, 1884, Mr. Shattuck was married to Mrs. Louise (Moore) Bailey, of Cincinnati, who is of English ancestry. One son,
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A. C., Jr., was born to this marriage, September 2, 1890. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shattuck are members of the Columbia Congregational Church, in which he has been a teacher in the Sunday-school and its superintendent for a long period. Mr. Shattuck is well known also for his connection with the Young Men's Christian Association, of which organization he was for several years a trustee. In politics, he is identified with the Republican party. His commodious and convenient offices are located in the Johnston Building.
GEORGE A. BLAIR.
GEORGE A. BLAIR, commercial agent at Cincinnati for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, with office in the Carew Building, was born at Steubenville, Ohio, in 1866. He is a son of Capt. James Blair, who for a period of 25 years was identified with the railway mail service at Cincinnati. Captain Blair was a veteran of the Civil War and afterward served in the regular army for a time. He was quite active in the local poli- tics of the city. He died in December, 1900, at the age of 58 years, and his widow resides with a daughter, Mrs. Charles F. Fischer, at Columbus, Ohio, where Mr. Fischer is advertising manager of the Columbus Dispatch. Our subject has one brother, W. R. Blair, who is connected with the Cin- cinnati Gas Coke, Coal & Mining Company.
George A. Blair was II years of age when he accompanied his parents to Cincinnati, and has since made his home in this city. He began his busi- ness career as a clerk in Senator Foraker's law office, then entered the employ of the old Ohio & Mississippi Railroad Company, with which he remained for five years. He was next identified with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway at Cincinnati for nine years, and since 1898 has occupied his present position as commercial agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. He was a member of the board which first opened the Business Men's Club, and was vice-president of the club during 1899 and 1900. Dur- ing the years 1900, 1901 and 1902, he was a director of the Fall Festival Association, and served as recording secretary during the festival of 1900. He has been actively interested in securing better terminals for the city, thus insuring greater development of this community.
Mr. Blair was united in marriage in 1888 to Eva Bower, and to them
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HON. ALEXANDER BOTKIN HUSTON.
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a son was born,-Archibald C. Mrs. Blair died in 1897 and in 1900 our subject was married to Ida D. Atkins of Cincinnati, a daughter of George Atkins, an early merchant of the city. The family residence is on Walnut Hills. Our subject is a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 81, F. & A. M., and Kilwinning Chapter, No. 97, R. A. M., of Cincinnati.
HON. ALEXANDER BOTKIN HUSTON.
HON. ALEXANDER BOTKIN HUSTON, a member of the Hamilton County bar and an old and highly esteemed resident of Avondale, was born December 7, 1829, in Colerain township, Hamilton County, Ohio, and is a son of Paul C. and Esther ( Phillips) Huston, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New Jersey.
The ancestry of our subject is Irish on the paternal and English on the maternal side. His great-grandfather, John Huston, emigrated from County Antrim, Ireland, in colonial days, and settled in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and lost his life at the battle of Brandywine during the War for Indepen- dence. His grandfather, Paul Huston, with two brothers, Samuel and David, came to Cincinnati in 1794. Following the trail of General St. Clair's army when it went to fight the Indians, he struck out into the wilderness and settled upon a well located tract of land in Hamilton County, near the line of Butler County. The settlement became known and is still known as the "Huston Settlement," and the road from it to Cincinnati, as the "Huston Road," the latter becoming the Cincinnati and Hamilton Turnpike. There the grandfather reared a large family and prospered so well that he gave each of his children a large farm.
Paul C. Huston, the father of our subject, was born in 1797 and in 1822 was married to Esther Phillips, who was born in 1802, near Penning- ton, New Jersey. She was a daughter of Titus Phillips. Her parents sub- sequently migrated to Hamilton County, Ohio, and later to Sangamon County, Illinois, where the most of their posterity yet live. After marriage Paul C. Huston and wife settled on a tract of land some three miles from the old Huston home, but in the same township, located about 12 miles north of Cincinnati, on the Colerain and Oxford Turnpike. The tract with subsequent
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additions became a farm of about 350 acres, a part of which, including the homestead, is still in the possession of members of the family.
On that farm Alexander Botkin Huston, the subject of this sketch, was born and there he spent his boyhood working on the farm and attending the district schools. In his 14th year he went to Cary's Academy, which in- stitution became Farmers' College in 1846. According to the general cus- tom of the time, he boarded himself, and continued there until he completed the prescribed course, graduating at the age of 18 years. Later he became on of its directors and never lost his interest in the institution. Among his schoolmates at that instituion were President Benjamin Harrison, Bishop Walden, Murat Halstead, Hon. Lewis B. Gunckel, the Nixon brothers, of the Chicago Inter Ocean, and Dr. Gray, late of The Interior of Chicago. In the fall of 1848, he came to Cincinnati to study the law, and entered the office of the county clerk, paying his way by clerking in the day time, his evenings being devoted to reading the law. He remained in that office some years, first under Edward C. Roll, and later under James McMasters.
In 1853 Judge Huston was admitted to practice the law but did not really begin his professional career until 1856, from which time until the present, except while serving on the bench, he has been continuously engaged in practice at Cincinnati, being associated with Edwin D. Dodd, as Dodd & Huston, from 1856 to 1864; with C. K. Shunk as Huston & Shunk, from 1866 to 1875; with John R. Holmes, as Huston & Holmes, from 1881 to 1884, and the remainder of the time, alone. He enjoyed a large and lucra- tive practice, until it was interrupted by the loss of his voice for three years, and by his subsequent service on the bench. He has his office in the St. Paul Building. He assisted in organizing the present Cincinnati Gymnasium, and was its first president. Possessing marked literary tastes, he was one of the early members of the Literary Club of Cincinnati, organized in 1849, and helped to found, in 1860, the Shakespeare Club of Cincinnati, devoted to the study of the higher drama.
Judge Huston early took an active interest in the Masonic fraternity and was honored with the 33rd degree in 1872. He is one of a large family of Democrats, and has been more or less actively identified with the work of his party. He has repeatedly received nominations for office from its conventions, five of which were for Common Pleas judge,-in 1881, 1885. 1886, 1893 and 1896,-and in 1884 was nominated for the Circuit Court
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bench. In October of the same year he was appointed by Governor Hoadly to a Common Pleas judgeship, in place of Judge William Ledyard Avery, resigned, and immediately assumed the duties of the office. In October, 1893, he was placed on the ticket of the Independent Citizens' party, without his knowledge, for the position of Common Pleas judge, but he declined to per- mit his name to be used. In the fall of 1896 he was one of the nominees for Common Pleas judge on the Lawyers' and Democratic tickets.
On December 27, 1871, Judge Huston was married to Alice M. Gris- wold, daughter of Hezekiah Griswold, then of Toledo, Ohio, and formerly of Hartford, Connecticut, in which city Mrs. Huston was born. Her ances- tors were prominent in the history of that State, lier maternal great-grand- father, Roger Welles, being a general in the Revolutionary War, a friend of Washington and a staff officer of Lafayette. Three children were born to Judge Huston and wife. namely: Paul Griswold, born June 22, 1873; Francis P., born May 18, 1879; and Alice Welles, born June 5, 1884. Paul Griswold Huston, after graduating from Woodward High School, attended Princeton University, from which he was graduated in the class of 1895; he then took a post-graduate course at Princeton and subsequently took a special course at the. University of Chicago. He is the author of "An Old Fashioned Sugar Camp and Other Dreams of the Woods." He has devoted much of his life since leaving school in the haunts of Nature; his love for this life drew him into the Bureau of Forestry, Department of Agriculture, where he spent one year in field work. He is now engrossed in literary labors. Francis P. Huston completed his studies in Woodward High School and later attended the University of Cincinnati; he now holds a responsible position with The American Tool Works Company of this city. Alice Welles Huston graduated from the public schools of Avondale and also from The H. Thane Miller School for Girls, of Avondale. The Huston residence on Oak avenue, College Hill, has been the family home for a number of years. The family attend the Presbyterian Church.
N. D. CARLILE HODGES.
N. D. CARLILE HODGES, librarian of the Public Library of Cincinnati, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, April 19, 1852, and is the youngest of
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eight children born to John and Mary Osgood (Deland) Hodges. The father of our subject was also born in Salem, where he was one of the lead- ing and prosperous merchants ; he died in 1882, and is survived by his widow.
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Mr. Hodges' preliminary education was acquired in the common schools of Salem, after which he pursued a course of study in Harvard University, from which he was graduated. He afterward took a course of study in Heidelberg University, Germany, and upon his return to this country accepted a position in Harvard University. There he continued for four years, after which time he held other positions as an instructor, and for some years was editor of Science. He was a librarian in the city of New York and at Har- vard for a number of years, and was appointed to his present position in the spring of 1900, a position for which he is well qualified by reason of his training and experience. The patrons of the institution have found him a kind and courteous gentleman, and his administration of affairs as librarian has been eminently satisfactory to every one concerned.
May 13, 1886, Mr. Hodges was joined in marriage with Adele L. Goepper, who comes of a prominent family of Cincinnati and is a sister of Herman Goepper, a record of whose life appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges, in religious attachment, are members of the Unitarian Church.
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OTTO W. FENNEL, M. D.
OTTO W. FENNEL, M. D., a prominent member of the Cincinnati Acad- emy of Medicine, the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, takes a leading position in the medical ranks of Cincinnati. Dr. Fennel was born in this city, September 29, 1861, and is a son of the late distinguished Prof. Adolphus Fennel and Anna Bode, both of whom were natives of Cassel, Germany. Professor Fennel was one of the best known chemists of this city and occupied a leading place on the faculty of the Cin- cinnati College of Pharmacy. His deatlı on September 29, 1884, removed a man of great scientific knowledge.
After completing the common school course and also that of the Uni- versity of Cincinnati, Dr. Fennel came under the able instruction of such medical tutors as Drs. Torchieimer, Josephi Aub and Edward Walker, which resulted in his more than creditable graduation from the Medical College
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of Ohio, in 1884. He supplemented the knowledge gained in that institu- tion with two years of close, scientific study in the great universities of Heidelberg, Gottingen and Vienna. Upon his return to Cincinnati, more thoroughly prepared to face the great responsibilities of his profession than three-fourths of his fellow practitioners, Dr. Fennel opened his office at No. 3018 Jefferson avenue. His treatment of every phase of illness, bodily and mental, has been most successful and has won him the confidence of the public, while his sterling character and personal characteristics have brought him the esteem and friendship of many.
Dr. Fennel was united in marriage in 1886 to Anna Koch, who is a daughter of John Henry and Eliza Koch, both of whom are natives of Ger- many. To this marriage two children have been born, namely: Eric, born in 1887; and Sylvia, born in 1889. Politically, the Doctor is a Republican.
HON. WILLIAM MARTIN DICKSON.
HON. WILLIAM MARTIN DICKSON, deceased, one of the eminent men of Cincinnati, whose memory will long be kept green on account of his dis- tinguished services to his State, was born in Scott County, Indiana, Septem- ber 19, 1827, and was a son of Rev. Jacob Dickson.
Judge Dickson enjoyed excellent educational advantages, passed through the collegiate course at Hanover, Indiana, and in 1846 graduated fifth in a class of 19, at Miami University. His financial resources depended largely upon his own efforts. After graduation, he taught school for two years, applying himself in the meantime to the study of the law. He was admitted to the bar, at Lexington, Kentucky, and then entered Harvard College, where he graduated in 1850. It was at this date that he became a resident of Cin- cinnati and was employed as instructor in Greek, at St. John's College. In 1853 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the Police Court, on the Inde- pendent Free School ticket, but this position he resigned in 1854 in order to enter the law office of Taft & .Key, and later established himself alone. That he was rapidly making headway in public esteem was shown in 1859 when Governor Chase appointed him to fill a vacancy as judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1860 he was nominated a presidential elector for Mr. Lincoln. His attitude of fairness in the discussion of public questions and
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his known probity and great ability brought him offers of many responsible positions, and one of these, assistant judge advocate on the staff of Gen. George B. McClellan, he declined in 1862, but in 1863, during the threat- ened siege of Cincinnati, he accepted the command of the negro forces, and he it was who organized the famous "Black Brigade", whose services in defense of the city is a matter of more than local history.
For years Judge Dickson was a trustee in the Medical College of Ohio, in which he took an interest until his death. In all movements to advance the city, in arts, industries and sciences, he was ever active, extensive travel both at home and in foreign lands making his suggestions appropriate and practical. In politics, he was a Whig early in life, and was one of the first to engage in the organization of the Republican party and thereafter through life he ably supported its principles. He was in entire sympathy with Presi- dent Lincoln's administration, and indeed had written to Secretary Chase a letter, proposing the outlines of an emancipation scheme, fully a month be- fore President Lincoln announced his great measure. Judge Dickson was learned, fearless and impartial, as a citizen he was public spirited and gen- erous, and in private life he was exemplary to the highest degree.
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