USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. II, Pt. 1 > Part 5
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five-story building on Main street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, was secured, and later the whole plant was removed to newly purchased quarters at the southeast corner of Sycamore street and the canal. Here, mainly through the energy and executive ability of Mr. Bishop, has been built up one of the largest plants for the manufacture of tin-plate, iron and plain and stamped Japan ware in the country. Employment is given 175 men, 150 of whom are engaged in the tin-plate specialty, while a large force of traveling men sell the products throughout the State, immense demand being made in the Ohio Valley.
On May 16, 1882, Mr. Bishop was united in marriage with Carrie Jane Bell, daughter of the late John E. and Caroline (Terry) Bell, and the two children born to this union are: John Edwin Bell and Elizabeth Henriette Bell. The family home is the beautiful John E. Bell homestead, one of the handsomest in the city, located on McMillan street and Bell place, East Wal- nut Hills, one of the most aristocratic portions of the city.
Mr. Bishop is socially inclined. He is an active member of the Manu- facturers' Club of Cincinnati and Queen City and Country clubs. In March, 1878, he became a member of McMillan Lodge No. 141, F. & A. M., and steadily advanced until he received his 32d degree, Scottish Rite, on February 21, 1894, and became a member of Syrian Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., on June 30, 1894.
Mr. Bishop ably sustains his reputation as one of the capable, conserva- . tive business men of his native city, and is a fair representative of its progres- siveness, its education, its poise and its high social qualifications.
SAMUEL WARE FISHER, D. D., LL. D.
SAMUEL WARE FISHER, D. D., LL. D., deceased, was for many years pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati, and during his day was one of the most distinguished members of the great Presbyterian body of the United States.
Dr. Fisher was born at Morristown, New Jersey, April 5, 1814, and died in Cincinnati, January 18, 1874. His grandfather, Jonathan Fisher, was chosen by field officers as 2nd lieutenant in the Fifth Company of Northampton, Second Hampshire County Regiment, Massachusetts, March
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22, 1776. His father was an eminent Presbyterian minister, for many years in charge of the church at Morristown, New Jersey, and afterward for 20 years pastor of the church in Paterson. He was the first moderator of the General Assembly of the New School Presbyterian body after its separa- tion from the Old, and was long recognized as one of the most earnest workers in the church.
Dr. Fisher was graduated from Yale College in 1835, spent the follow- ing year in Middletown, Connecticut, pursued a theological course at Prince- ton Theological Seminary for two years and completed it afterward at Union Theological Seminary in New York. His first charge was the West Bloom- field (New Jersey) Presbyterian Church, where he remained for several years, in which time he accomplished great good for his church and its members. On October 13, 1843, he was installed as pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Albany, New York, a larger and more exacting field for his labors, the church having a membership of 900 names. His work there was of such a high character as to gain for him a wide prominence and resulted in a call to succeed one of the great and most influential members of the Presbyterian ministry, Dr. Lyman Beecher, of the Second Presbyterian Church of Cin- cinnati. He entered on his new services in April, 1847. It was no small undertaking for so young a man to supersede one of the greatest pulpit orators and most popular ministers of the day. The congregation could not do otherwise than make a comparison and be critical of the new pastor's work. With vigor stimulated by Dr. Beecher's success and with boundless enthusiasm he entered upon his new duties. He became an intellectual and moral power in the city. His sermons revealed the great depth of his char- acter and the expanse of his great learning and were delivered in so clear, simple, forcible and entertaining a manner as to reveal the truths to every one of his hearers. He realized that the character as molded in youth en- dures, and children came in for a full share of his consideration. He gath- ered them about him and prepared more than one series of discourses par- ticularly adapted to their tastes and wants. One of these series known as "Three Great Temptations" went through six editions, the first publication being in 1852. He developed the latent energies and abilities of the Second Presbyterian Church and congregation in a remarkable degree, and by his skill in organizing and combining individual talent into congenial association for Christian work accomplished great results in the cause of his Master.
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Thus quietly operating he put in motion various plans and organizations in the church which resulted in great and lasting influences. He held regular monthly meetings at his own house of the younger members of the church for devotion, consultation and advice. In numerous ways he was constantly leading on the church in matters of Christian enterprise. He was a large factor in promoting the cause of education and frequently made addresses to schools, colleges and professional seminaries in Ohio and adjoining States.
Dr. Fisher was chosen as moderator of the New School General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at Cleveland in 1857. The Assembly pointedly condemned the Southern members who defended slavery; as the two sides were so antagonistic fraternal cooperation was impossible and the Southern synods withdrew and formed themselves into a separate body called the United Synod of the Presbyterian Church. It was in reference to this seces- sion in the General Assembly held in Chicago in 1858 that Dr. Fisher as retiring moderator opened the sessions of that body with a powerful and weighty discourse on the "Conflict and Rest of the Church." It was an able effort, the sermon being strong and forcibly delivered, but in a spirit of generosity toward his Southern brethren. After the Assembly, Dr. Fisher went directly to Clinton, New York, and accepted the presidency of Hamil- ton College. He entered upon his. new duties in the fall of 1858, and as an educator he attained as great distinction as he had previously done in the ministry. He was progressive in his tendencies and was not content until ' he had raised the standard of the college to the front rank. His views of the ends and methods of education are contained in several addresses which he delivered at different times, and which were afterward collected and pub- lished. The very subjects of these are suggestive of broad and careful thought. They are such as: "College Education," "Theological Training," "The Three Stages of Education," "Female Education," "The Supremacy of Mind," "Secular and Christian Civilization," "Natural Science in its Rela- tion to Art and Theology." After a service of eight years as president of Hamilton College, Dr. Fisher was solicited to again enter the ministry actively as pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Utica, New York, and was installed in that position November 15, 1867. For nearly four years of active and progressive work the church enjoyed the ministra- tions and stimulating energies of this able, active and untiring pastor.
There is yet one other occasion not to be forgotten in which Dr. Fisher
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How affectionate Ante C Bulla
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bore a prominent part in a great and memorable public service whose influ- ence is incalculable, viz .: the measures which led to the reunion of the separated branches of the Presbyterian Church. There was no object, per- haps, nearer his heart, none which more moved his enthusiasm. The disrup- tion had taken place in 1837, just before he entered upon his ministry. His father was the first moderator of the New School Assembly. The doctrines and the men, the causes and the consequences, he had heard discussed from his boyhood, and in the reunion of the two branches of the church he was relied upon as among the most judicious counselors in the very delicate and difficult questions that impeded its progress and threatened to prevent its consummation. He was one of the able committee of conference appointed by the two assemblies which reported the plan of reunion in 1869. In behalf of the joint committee he proposed the resolution for raising $1,000,000, immediately after raised to $5,000,000, as a memorial fund. His last work to which he gave himself with all the confidence and enthusiasm of his nature was to prepare a paper for the General Assembly of 1870, an Assembly which he was never to see.
Dr. Fisher was united in marriage with Jane J. Jackson of New Jersey, descended on her mother's side from the Van de Lindas, an old Holland Dutch family, and from Peter Schuyler, Governor of New York. The Doctor received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Miami University in 1852 and the degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of the City of New York in 1859.
JOSEPH CURRAN BUTLER.
The city of Cincinnati has a long roll-call of prominent citizens, who, through various channels have distinguished themselves beyond their fel- lows, but of not all of them has the popular verdict been, at their decease. "a great and good man." Eminently was this a just commentary upon the closed life of the late Joseph C. Butler, long one of the prominent, high minded and representative men of this city, whose portrait accompanies this sketch.
Joseph Curran Butler was born at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania,' in 1823. and was a son of Maj. John Bartlett Butler, who was at that time the editor
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and publisher of the Pennsylvania Statesman. Major Butler served as a private in the War of 1812, after which he went to Pittsburg and engaged in the printing business. At this time in his life he was actively engaged in politics and in 1838 was appointed recorder of deeds, and, afterwards, canal commissioner. At the commencement of the war with Mexico, he was commissioned paymaster in the army, and accompanied General Taylor's command to the seat of war, after which he was made military storekeeper at the Allegheny Arsenal, where he remained until about 1863, when he retired. His death occurred on December 7, 1870, at Mount Auburn, Cin- cinnati, aged 78 years.
Joseph C. Butler began his business career in his father's printing office, which he was wont to call "the poor man's college"; it was in these early days that he began that habit of close study and careful reading that event- ually resulted in making him one of the best read business men in Cincinnati. He came to Cincinnati in 1839, a lad of 14 years, rather poorly equipped financially, but with good principles and a determination to succeed in life. After a short season with his uncle, in the latter's grocery store, he accepted an offer made by John Bailey and became Mr. Bailey's bookkeeper and busi- ness assistant. After leaving Mr. Bailey, he formed partnerships with sev- eral other citizens and his sphere of operations increased until at last he became the head of the house of Joseph C. Butler & Company, on Walnut street. However, he accepted too many responsibilities and with un- diminished ambition entered too deeply into business to stand the strain upon a constitution never very robust. A trip to Europe reinvigorated him. Shortly after his return, he became interested in the Lafayette Bank and his later years were devoted mainly to banking, though not exclusively. He was president of this bank for the last 18 years of his life, being at the head of this strong financial institution at his death.
This is the brief record of the business life of one who was thoroughly identified with the interests of Cincinnati for more than 30 years and to whose energy and enterprise this city owes many of the prosperous institu- tions which make her notable as a business and educational center.
In the business world Mr. Butler was regarded with profound respect. His intelligence, `enterprise and industry contributed to make his under- takings successful. He was one of the small body of men who originated the daily sessions of the Chamber of Commerce, and, as president of this
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body during the crucial period between the years 1860 and 1862, his com- prehension of business wants, demands and requirements, rendered his serv- ices of the greatest value to that body and to the city. Mr. Butler accumu- lated a very large fortune by the most honorable methods, and in its ex- penditure he displayed the nobility of his character. He was markedly un- selfish; he was liberal and kind hearted; and some of his charities were princely in their munificence. His endowment of a hospital, under the direction of the Sisters of Charity, well illustrates this noble side of his character. A number of years prior to his death, connection with another, he purchased the Marine Hospital, which as the Good Samaritan Hospital is an institution that worthily exemplifies the truly Christian character of this benefactor, for, while it is under the management of the Sisters, it is open to all in need, without relation to nationality, or religious or medical preferences .. The Good Samaritan Hospital stands as a lasting monument to Joseph C. Butler. A Foundling and Lying-in Hospital has also been added, on the same lines, and is one of the noblest charities of Cincinnati.
Toward the close of his life, Mr. Butler's business relations were en- larged and possibly on account of this fact he found little time for politics. He was eminently fitted for public life, but, aside from some candidacies at the solicitations of his friends, he took no very active part for any length of time. In 1864 he ran against Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes for Congress, but was defeated, and in 1868 he was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention. Although not ultra, he was always a decided and pronounced Democrat, and his advice and aid were uniformly given to that organization.
For a number of years Mr. Butler had known that death was a near possibility, but on the day of his fatal attack of apoplexy he apparently was in better health than usual, and started on a short business trip up the river in the company of friends. The Dark Angel came suddenly, and, away from home, although surrounded by every comfort and attention, he passed, out of life, on June 13, 1873, leaving a vacancy in his immediate household and in the commercial and social circles of his city, that can ยท never be filled. From every channel came words of sympathy, and demon- strations of the appreciation in which he was held in Cincinnati, and the general grief at his comparatively early death.
Mr. Butler was married to Alice Bryant Laverty, a daughter of Col. Kenny Laverty of New Orleans, who served under General Jackson, in the
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War of 1812, and a cousin of Commodore William Wallace Hunter of the Confederate States Navy. Mrs. Butler with these children, survive: Joseph C., who resides at home, and is the manager of the immense Butler estate; Pierce O .; Kenny L., who married Alfreda Fortiner; Alice B .; Florence H. ;
- Nora B., wife of John A. Langmuir, of Toronto, Canada; and Mary N. The family residence is one of the most beautiful on Auburn avenue, and there assembled a large and representative concourse to do honor to this "great and good man." The Chamber of Commerce, of which he was so proud and in which he was so profoundly esteemed, attended the sad burial services in a body. We quote from the touching address made by President Covington, in making the sad announcement to the Chamber of Commerce, these pregnant words that were endorsed by the whole city :
"Deeply and sincerely do all classes mourn his loss. He goes down to the grave honored and beloved; his memory cherished for his many vir- tues, and without the slightest blemish on his character."
HENRY STANBERY.
HENRY STANBERY, who for three eventful years served the United States as Attorney General, and who for a long period was one of the most prominent lawyers of Cincinnati, will ever be recalled on the pages of history, along with those other mental giants who have left their impress upon the statute books of their time. Mr. Stanbery was born in New York as early as 1803, and was a son of Dr. Jonas Stanbery, a physician, who settled as a pioneer in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1814.
The education of our subject was the best the community afforded and his preparation was sufficient to insure him admittance to Washington Col- lege, Pennsylvania, in 1815, where he was graduated in 1819. His choice of profession being the law, he entered the office of a successful practitioner at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but later returned to Zanesville and continued his studies with Charles B. Goddard, of that city. Although he mastered the intricate subjects of the law and jurisprudence sufficiently to pass an examin- ation for the bar, he was not admitted to practice until 1824, when he became of age. He began practice at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but in 1853 moved to Cincinnati, having served as Attorney General of the State for five years
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previously. Here he continued in practice for many years with marked suc- cess, continually growing more prominent in his profession and more useful in his State. In 1850 he was made a member of the Constitutional Conven- tion, in which his judicial mind was shown to advantage by his even balance of judgment and comprehension of the law. In 1866 he was appointed by President Johnson a member of the United States Supreme Court as a mark of recognition of his great ability, but this was made ineffective by the passage of the law limiting the number of judges on the Supreme bench. The President then secured his services as United States Attorney General and his wise administration of the duties of the office during the trying period following the close of the war is a matter of history. The strain after three years became too great, and Mr. Stanbery resigned the office. He was selected as one of the counsel for the President in the latter's impeachment trial.
Mr. Stanbery returned then to Cincinnati and resumed practice in the United States courts of Southern Ohio and the Supreme Court of the United States, winning through the succeeding years of prosperity and activity higher honors and more legal laurels. He was endowed by Nature with a winning manner and dignified personality and possessed all the courtesy of the old-time gentleman. No man was truer in his attachments to his friends and among them he included such men as Hon. Thomas Ewing.
Mr. Stanbery was first married to Frances Beecher at Lancaster, Penn- . sylvania, and the three children of this union are: Philemon Beecher, George and Mrs. Francis Avery. The second marriage was to Cecelia Bond, a daughter of William Key Bond, of Cincinnati. The family in religious views are connected with the Protestant Episcopal Church. They are promi- nent socially.
A grandson of our deceased subject, Philemon B. Stanbery, Jr., worthily represents his distinguished grandfather in the same profession. He grad- uated from the Cincinnati Law School in 1901, and immediately thereafter entered upon the practice of his profession, which he has since continued, in association with Herman P. Richt, under the firm name of Richt & Stanbery, with offices in the St. Paul Building. He succeeded his distinguished father, Philemon B. Stanbery, who is, at the publication of this work, president of the Pomeroy National Bank of Pomeroy, Ohio, having abandoned the prac- tice of the law in the past year to embark in the banking business-he was
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one of the successful practitioners of Ohio and will be long remembered as one of the ablest members of the Hamilton County bar. Hart Stanbery, son of Philemon B. Stanbery, and grandson of Henry Stanbery, has also entered upon a career in the legal profession. He graduated from the Cin- cinnati Law School in 1903.
EDWARD PAYSON BRADSTREET.
EDWARD PAYSON BRADSTREET, an eminent lawyer and a citizen of Cin- cinnati of the highest intellectual acquirements and moral character, was born at Vermilion, Ohio, June 5, 1830, and is a son of the late Rev. Stephen J. and Anna (Dana) Bradstreet, both of whom belonged to noted families of New Hampshire and of distinguished New England ancestry.
Mr. Bradstreet is a man of courtly manner, unimpeachable integrity and high standards of living, and those who believe in heredity can easily trace its influence in his case. He is a lineal descendant of Governor Simon Bradstreet, of Massachusetts, who married Anna Dudley, a granddaughter of that man of old-time integrity and solidity of character-Governor John Win- throp. Anna Dudley was sometimes named, in early days and in the quaint phraseology of the time, "The Tenth Muse," on account of her poetical gifts. The father of our subject was a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1819 and of Andover Seminary in 1822. He became a noted divine and was one of the founders of Western Reserve College.
Upon the death of the parents of Mr. Bradstreet, which took place when he was eight years of age, he took up his residence in the family of Alexander Gaston, near Oberlin, Ohio. His early education was secured in the schools of Elyria and in 1849 he entered Western Reserve College, subsequently entering Yale College and graduating in the renowned class of 1853. He obtained his education chiefly by his own efforts. After filling the position of principal of an academy at Talinage, Ohio, for one year, he came to Cin- cinnati and in 1854 began the study of the law in the office of Ferguson & Long, and in 1856 was admitted to the bar. From 1857 to 1859 he was in partnership with Henry Snow.
Mr. Bradstreet was one of the founders of the Cincinnati Gymnasium and for many years was its president. His interest in educational matters
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has led Mr. Bradstreet to accept positions which have taken much valuable time from his private business. He served many years on the Board of Edu- cation and assisted in the establishment of the Public Library. From 1869 to 1871 he served as trusteee of the Homeopathic Free Dispensary and for many years has been a director in the Young Men's Bible Society. He was one of the founders of The Associated Charities and the Ohio Humane Society. Mr. Bradstreet's exemplary life makes him a power in the Pro- testant Episcopal Church; he is one of the vestrymen of St. Paul's Pro- Cathedral, and was superintendent of St. Paul's Sunday-school for 20 years. He was one of the founders of the Yale Club, a trustee of Kilwinning Chapter, No. 97, Royal Arch Masons, and a member of the Literary Club of Cincinnati. He is universally respected, possessing those characteristics which call forth admiration and those attributes which preserve esteem.
On August 9, 1883, Mr. Bradstreet was married to Harriette B. Her- rick, who was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, and a family of three children have been born to this union, namely: Marjorie H., Edward Payson and Annabella.
COL. LEOPOLD MARKBREIT.
COL. LEOPOLD MARKBREIT, president of the Cincinnati Volksblatt Com- pany, and one of the best known men of this city, formerly the junior mem- ber of the law firm of R. B. Hayes & Markbreit, is one of the representative citizens of the Queen City. Born in the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria, March 13, 1842, he is a son of Leopold and Jane (Abele) Markbreit. The family came to America in 1848 and located at Cincinnati, where the father died one year later, survived by the mother until March 30, 1890. The living members of the family now are: Colonel Markbreit and his sisters, Mrs. General Kautz and Mrs. Jane Schoenle ..
Colonel Markbreit was liberally educated, attending school in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania; Sandusky, Ohio; and Cincinnati. Deciding upon the law as a profession, he began its study with his half brother, Frederick Has- saurek, and was admitted to the bar, his ability being recognized by Ruther- ford B. Hayes, later President of the United States, who took the young lawyer into partnership. The association of Hayes and Markbreit was
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broken by the patriotism which impelled both members to offer their services in defense of their country, in 1861. Colonel Markbreit served first as a sergeant in the 28th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., later was made sergeant-major, and immediately after the battle at Carnifex Ferry, on account of gallantry on the field, was promoted to the rank of 2nd lieutenant, and rapidly advanced to the positions of Ist lieutenant, adjutant, and assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of captain. He served with distinction in some of the fiercest battles of the Civil War. In December, 1863, he was made a prisoner while taking part in Averill's raid into Confederate territory, for the purpose of destroying bridges, railroads and stores, and was confined in Libby Prison. After five months of imprisonment, he, with three other prominent prisoners, were selected as hostages and were placed in close confinement, to prevent the execution of four Confederates who had been captured while re- cruiting within the Union lines in Kentucky, and had been 'sentenced to die as spies. Colonel Markbreit and his unfortunate compan- ions then found out what military imprisonment really meant, be- ing kept in their narrow dungeon for months, subsisting on a handful of ground corn-cobs and a bit of ancient bacon as a day's rations, which were gladly supplemented by the huge rodents which they had scarcely strength to catch, and which their negro attendants enabled them to have cooked. These truths are matters of history, sad blots on the civilization of the most enlightened nation on the earth. A change of quarters to Salis- bury, North Carolina, improved the condition of these unfortunate prisoners in a small degree, and later, after a sojourn at Danville, Virginia, Libby Prison was reached once more. On February 5, 1865, after 131/2 months of prison life, this brave soldier and gallant gentleman was released, through the efforts of his half-brother. To this day he bears the effects of the ills then engendered.
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