USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > Lancaster > Centennial history of Lancaster, Ohio, and Lancaster people : 1898, the one hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the spot where Lancaster stands > Part 11
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His wife died in the year 1874, and in the year 1876, he married Mrs. Susan Ashbrook, daughter-in-law of John Ashbrook. Two children of this marriage, Su- san and Jacie, twins, survive him. In the early days collections were slow and money scarce, and the firm, in exchange for notes and accounts, took large num- bers of horses, which they drove to Baltimore and Philadelphia. Kutz & Ulrick did the buying and Ulrick became an excellent judge of horses and a good buyer. The wool trade of the different firms became a very large business and Ulrick was the buyer.
He was known all over southern Ohio as a compe- tent judge of wool and shipped from four to six hun- dred thousand pounds annually. During his long life,
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Mr. Ulrick had the confidence of his partners and of the public, and probably no merchant ever lived in Lancaster more useful to the farmers of this region or more universally liked. He was the last of the old time merchants to leave us, and his death was much lamented. He was an untiring worker, with an energy that never flagged. Lancaster will not soon see his like again.
JOHN T. BRASEE
John Trafford Brasee was born in Hillsdale, Co- lumbia County, New York, December 24, 1800, and died at his home on Wheeling Street, Lancaster, Ohio, October 27, 1880.
When seven years of age he lost his mother, and he and his only sister, Jane, went to live with their grandfather, John Trafford, where they remained until his death, October 19, 1809. They continued to live in the same house with their uncle, Benjamin Snyder, until the spring of 1810. The next five years were spent, first with a man named Lane and then with Isaac Foster, a blacksmith. Lane treated him very cruelly and he was glad to find Foster a humane man, from whom he received kind treatment. Here he made himself useful and was quite helpful in the black- smith shop. He formed a warm attachment for a blacksmith shop and throughout his life was always charmed with the music of an anvil. At the age of fifteen he left Foster and engaged with Jonathan Tur- ner, a hotel keeper and tanner in Hillsdale. His du- ties varied, he was clerk, manager, hostler and breaker of tanbark, also barkeeper. He was frequently in charge of the entire establishment and managed it to the entire satisfaction of Turner.
In the spring of 1819 he arranged with Zadock New-
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berry, of Hudson, to bake for him all the ginger bread that he could sell at the general muster to be held in the county. This transaction netted him $25, a large sum at that time.
In the winter of 1817 he attended the first good school, became a good penman and thoroughly mas- tered Daball's Arithmetic. In February, 1818, he located in Canandaigua, New York, and was employed in J. W. Beal's tin and leather store, and lived with his pleasant family. They were Episcopalians and he at- tended that church. The future bishop, the Rev. Mr. Onderdonk, was the pastor. In July of that year he concluded to emigrate to Ohio; with two friends he made his way to Olean, New York, and embarked in a small flat boat for Pittsburgh. This was eight years earlier than D. Tallmadge undertook the same trip.
The water was low and they had a hard time, and were finally compelled to abandon their boat and pro- ceed on foot to Pittsburgh. In about ten days the river rose and they took passage on a family boat, bound for Cincinnati. Upon his arrival in Cincinnati, he started on foot for Wilmington, Ohio, where he met his old teacher, Truesdell, and Jacob Bosworth, an old friend from New York. Bosworth became a leading and wealthy citizen of Wilmington.
He was employed for six months by Isaac Morris, Clerk of the Court, at $15 per month. Here he first met Judge Dunlevy and Thos. Corwin, and was charmed with the eloquence of the latter. Here he determined to become a lawyer. Knowing his want of education he repaired at once to the Ohio Univer- sity, Athens, Ohio. From Chillicothe he walked to Athens, sixty miles distant, arriving July 5, 1819. Here he entered upon a course of study that required
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seven years to complete. He boarded with General John Brown the entire time and worked in the clerk's office and taught school during vacations. This in- cluded six months as principal of the Lancaster Acade- my in 1824, for $200. Returning to Athens he took charge of the clerk's office as deputy, and entered the office of Joseph Dana as a law student. In the spring of 1826 he was admitted to the bar by Judge Hitchcock and Burnett, and immediately located in Gallipolis.
He traveled the circuit and soon obtained a good practice, made money and was on the road to fame. In November, 1829, he was married to Mary Jane, daughter of Judge Scofield. Her only sister mar- ried James R. Stanbery in 1832. Of Mr. Brasee's children, Ellen and John, were born in Gallipolis. In the year 1833, with his family he moved to Lancaster and with Judge Scofield and wife occupied the fine house now used as the postoffice. Henry Bartlett, of Athens, was very kind to Mr. Brasee, which kindness was always gratefully remembered by him, and throughout his life he often gratefully referred to the men who had befriended him when a poor boy.
When Mr. Brasee came to Lancaster, he found at the bar, Thomas Ewing, a United States Senator, Henry Stanbery and Hocking H. Hunter, all able lawyers. He took his place alongside of them and held it to the end. They were the lawyers who took the places of Beecher, Sherman and Irvin, as they dropped out, and added to the fame and renown of the Lancaster bar. He rode the circuit with such men as Goddard, Vinton, Douglass, Murphy, Bond, King, Dunlevy, Price, and many others, whose peer he was. He was not an orator, but he always thoroughly under- stood his cases and could present them to both court
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and jury in a very effective manner. He was one term, in 1855, a State Senator, the only political posi- tion he ever held.
About middle life he became largely interested in farming and, at the time of his death, was the owner of about one thousand acres of the best land in Fair- field County.
John T. Brasee was a gentleman in the highest sense of the word, polite and courteous to all.
He took pride in his personal appearance, and was always well dressed. He was a man of his word, and when an engagement was made with a client for a future day, he never disappointed him. He was a capital story teller and enjoyed a good joke. He lived a pure, honorable life, supported the church of his choice, and became a communicant of St. John's Epis- copal Church late in life.
John T. Brasee was one of the old school lawyers- the men who traveled the circuit and educated the people, and with the traveling preachers were the most potent factors in the building up of a civilization that is the wonder and admiration of the world. He did not forget the kindness extended to him in his youth and was the friend of young men. His daughter, Ellen, married T. W. Tallmadge; Mary J., Dr. Ham- mill, of Newark; Clara, Dr. J. H. Salisbury; Alice, George Witte, of New Orleans; John S. is an eminent member of the Lancaster bar; George B. is a pros- perous farmer; Morton died in the year 1870.
THE MILITARY
The militia of Fairfield County held an annual gen- eral muster, and, as this was held at or adjoining Lan- caster, it is worthy of mention. This sketch will also
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include military companies of Lancaster. This is especially appropriate as three or four of Lancaster's best known citizens were commanders of the soldiers. As a rule, except the officers, the early militia had no arms, and the general musters amounted to little more than the call of the roll. Portions of the day were spent in various amusements, and in the consumption of ginger-bread and the slaughter of water-melons, varied by an occasional fight; for the champions of the different townships could not leave without a test of each others strength and skill. The general muster of the corn stalk militia was therefore a broad farce; but the militia gave us majors, colonels and brigadiers. Later, however, many good independent companies were formed, sufficient to make a brigade, and these troops always made a respectable appearance; and the annual muster or encampment drew to Lancaster large crowds of people. The citizen soldier generally had a fine time, and it was no trouble to keep up the companies. It was fun to play soldier, but when it became a serious matter, all of their military ardor vanished, as an anecdote related further on illustrates.
They were always ready for fun and frolic. This was illustrated on an occasion when Parson Cox, a distinguished Presbyterian divine, was called upon to offer prayer. At the conclusion of his eloquent prayer some enthusiastic soldier called for three cheers for the pastor's prayer and every man in the line joined in a hearty cheer, greatly to the disgust of the parson.
The soldiers had no purpose of offending Rev. Wm. Cox, for he was a great favorite. He loved outdoor life, fine horses and game chickens and owned the
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finest specimens, and but few amateurs could more charmingly entertain with the violin.
On another occasion, General Jacob Bope had his brigade assembled for general muster. There were then rumors of a war with Mexico. General Bope at dress parade spoke of the prospect for war, and called upon all who were willing to go when called upon to step three paces to the front. The entire bri- gade responded to the call. It was unanimous.
Six months later war came and the General's brigade was called to Lancaster. After the reading of the proclamation by General Sanderson, General Bope reminded his soldiers of their promise six months previous and called upon all to march three paces to the front. After a long delay three men besides the General responded to the call. It was a comical situ- ation and the soldiers of that brigade never heard the last of it.
The prayer of Parson Cox referred to above was a patriotic one made when the soldiers were massed to hear speeches upon the subject of a probable war with Mexico. Dr. Boerstler was the principal speaker and delivered a patriotic address. Colonel Alfred McVeigh read a set of resolutions appropriate for the occasion, pledging the soldiers to the support of the government in case of war with Mexico. These reso- lutions were unanimously adopted by the soldiers. The Rev. William Cox was one of the chaplains of the brigade. After the declaration of war in 1846, a company called the Fairfield Guards was soon raised. William Irvin was elected captain; E. Julian, first lieutenant; and Peter Brown, second lieutenant. Captain Irvin was afterwards promoted to lieutenant- colonel and Julian was made captain of the company.
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Dr. Robt. McNeill went with the regiment to which this company was attached, as surgeon. One year later a second company volunteered, and William F. Ferguson was elected captain. Perry Steinman and Alvah Perry were elected lieutenants. Both companies served one year each. Captain Irvin's company was assigned to the 2nd Ohio Regiment. The day of the cornstalk militia came to an end, and good, well-drilled and well-uniformed companies took their place, armed with the regulation muskets. The officers were all well uniformed and were a fine looking set of men. The general musters usually took place on the farm of Thomas B. Cox, Sr .; but they are known to have been held on the Baldwin farm, the Levering farm, and at Ream's mill.
General Samuel F. Maccracken was a brigadier- general about the year 1834. In this year he was the senior officer and in command. It was his duty to review the troops. He had just finished his fine house, of which he was justly proud, and with his staff and invited guests took position on his fine veranda with its Ionic columns, having previously directed General Bope to march the troops to town and have them pass his house on Broad Street for review. General Bope did not appreciate this little bit of vanity and the troops did not appear. For this offense General Bope was court-martialed. William King and M. B. Browning were members of General Maccracken's staff. At this period General Maccracken was a splendid looking man, the richest merchant in Lancaster, owned the finest house west of the mountains, and in point of position was second to no man in Lancaster. About this time Henry T. Myers was captain of a cavalry company of which John Van Pearse was a member.
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Captain Witte, who had been an officer in the German army, came to Lancaster in 1829. His opinion of the Ohio militia, as recorded in his diary, was not a flat- tering one. He attended a general muster in 1829 and describes the soldiers as the most grotesque looking set of men he ever saw. He said their appearance was good material for a Ransberg comical picture. He saw two officers with golden epaulets on the right shoulder and yellow woolen rings on the left. One had a black and the other had a white necktie. An officer on horseback wore an ordinary black coat, car- ried an old rusty sword and an umbrella. Another field officer wore only a military hat to designate his rank. He rode a mare with a young colt at her side. From brigadier down to lieutenant they had no con- ception of military duty. He said most of the men · were excellent marksmen. A few years after the scene he described, he organized the German Guards and soon had a thoroughly drilled company. Along in the thirties the people of Lancaster took great interest in military matters and three or four good companies were organized. The "Mucquatiah Mas- keekia Kaqua Wenda Takas," sometimes called the Black Hawks, were commanded by Robt. Barnett. This was a famous well-drilled company and was still in existence in 1841. Old citizens still speak of Cap- tain Barnett and his "Mucquatiahs" with pride. Cap- tain Barnett, some time in the forties, moved to St. Louis, Mo. For many years he was a popular work- man in Nicholas Little's saddler shop. The Lancaster Blues, another stylish company, was, as old citizens state, commanded in succession by Captain William J. Reese, Captain Gabriel Carpenter (the merchant), Captain Joseph Grubb, and Captain William F. Fer-
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guson. Captain Ferguson was in command when they visited Columbus at the laying of the cornerstone of the State Capitol. The Lancaster Guards were com- manded by Captain Henry T. Myers.
Captain Von Roden, Captain Ressler, Captain F. A. Steck, and Captain John Reel commanded the Ger- man Guards as successors of Captain Witte in the order named. The German Guards was the last com- pany to disband. This company had a band of music and a cannon, and were well uniformed. The Guards made a fine display at Columbus on the occasion of the laying of the cornerstone of the State Capitol. Adam Boch, who lives near Geneva, Fairfield County, is believed to be the only survivor of this company. In Berne Township there was a military company at that time, called the Hocking Spies, commanded by Captain Jonas A. Ream and Lieutenant Stump Crook. The companies named all took part in the celebration in honor of the opening of the Lateral Canal at Lancaster in 1834. In 1833 a public meeting was held, by men interested in military affairs who saw the defects of the militia law of that period, to take measures to have the Legislature reform the system. The prominent men who took part in that meeting and were appointed on committees were: General Jesse Beecher, Colonel Abram Pitcher, Col- onel S. F. Maccracken, Major Joseph Grubb, Captain Wm. J. Reese, Major Geo. Myers, and Major-General George Sanderson. The Lancaster Blues attended the laying of the cornerstone of the Capitol at Colum- bus July 4, 1839, Captain William F. Ferguson in command. They made the trip on the canal boat, Henry T. Myers; James Weaver was the commissary and had a bar on board furnished with liquid refresh-
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ments. The trip to Columbus was made in good order, but the return trip was made without discipline. It was customary for men to drink then on such occa- sions and they were all more or less intoxicated and what they called "fun" was the order of the day. Big John Green was along and got into a row with Captain Ferguson, who threw him overboard. At that time Captain Ferguson was the bully of Lancaster and a noted character. The "Mucquatiahs" went on another boat in command of Captain Bob Barnett. This com- pany carried off the honors at Columbus and were cheered throughout their line of march. The men who took part in the revels of those times on public occasions, say that there is no fun now. Of all who had a part on this great occasion, so far as can be ascertained, none are living save James Weaver, of Lancaster, and Adam Boch, of Geneva, Fairfield County.
The Lancaster Guards, an independent company, was organized in May, 1859, and made its first appear- ance upon the streets of Lancaster in June following, with John Gibbs as fifer, under command of Captain W. F. Cloud.
Captain Cloud came to Lancaster in the spring of 1858 as a cutter for Springer & Trout.
July 4, 1859, this company was the principal attrac- tion in the parade. The celebration of the day was presided over by Colonel Van Trump. J. C. Jeffries read the Declaration of Independence, and Hon. Charles D. Martin delivered the oration.
November 5, 1859, a balloon ascension was given at the Fair Grounds for the benefit of the Guards, attended by a large concourse of people. Captain Cloud requested the manager to grant him the priv-
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ilege of making the ascension, which was granted. He stepped into the basket, the ropes were cut, and he sailed over Mt. Pleasant to a great height, supposed to be one and one-half miles, and landed in a field of standing corn a mile or two from town, without dam- age to himself or balloon. This was a daring and mad act, for the balloon had neither valve nor ballast.
Captain Cloud left Lancaster for Kansas in 1860; and the next heard of him he was in command of a Kansas regiment in the Union Army. J. W. Stinch- comb, John Sears, Newton Schleich, H. H. Giesy, and Charles Ewing were members of this company and were afterwards officers in the Union Army.
Upon the resignation of Captain Cloud, Lieutenant Joab A. Stafford was elected captain.
When President Lincoln called for troops in 1860, this company responded and became Company A, First Ohio Regiment. They left Lancaster sixty strong and arrived in Columbus with one hundred and thirty men.
AUGUSTUS F. WITTE
Captain Augustus Frederick Witte was born at Kirchrode, Hanover, Germany, March 21, 1788. He was a member of a good German family and received a liberal education. At an early age he engaged in the mercantile business and continued it until he was twenty-six years of age, when he entered the military service as an ensign in the German army. He was soon promoted to the position of lieutenant and at- tached to the staff of Major Lyon, all under command of General Blucher. At this time the army was on the march that ended at Waterloo. He took part in that great battle June 18, 1815. On the return of the
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army to Germany he was commissioned a captain and continued in the service until the year 1828, when he permanently retired. On May 15, 1829, he embarked at Bremen for the United States and landed at Balti- more June 29, 1829. From Baltimore he went to Dayton, Ohio, but did not tarry long and went from there to Lancaster. Here he purchased the tract of land now owned by Judge Brasee, on which there was at the time a treadmill for grinding grain.
In the fall of 1829 he commenced the erection of a steam flour mill (about the first in the county) and a whiskey distillery, and also laid the foundation of a fine brick dwelling, the plan of which he had brought from Germany. Mr. C. Schur, a brother of Mrs. Dr. Boerstler, superintended the construction of his build- ings. While his buildings were going up, he returned to Germany to bring out his family.
In the summer of 1830 he arrived in Lancaster with his family and occupied a log house. In No- vember of that year this house and his furniture were destroyed by fire.
Soon after this event his wife died. This was his second wife. Her name was Agatha Von Roden. They were married in 1824. She was the mother of Mrs. G. A. Mithoff, Mrs. L. C. Graue, Julius, George, and Augustus. The two last named died in New Orleans. George Witte married the youngest daugh- ter of John T. Brasee.
The first wife of Captain Witte was a niece of Gen- eral Blucher of the German army.
The new dwelling was finished and occupied in 1831; and the mill and distillery were then in full ope- ration, and so continued until the latter part of 1833. Maccracken, Latta and Effinger were Witte's brokers
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and sold his whiskey, and furnished him grain and made advances. The business was not a success and Witte was compelled to accept the assistance of Cap- tain Joshua Clarke at the instance of his creditors. Captain Clarke moved into the fine large house with Witte and operated the distillery in his own name and paid the taxes for three or four years. But the result was not much, if any, better than under Witte's ınan- agement, their backers were still losers. In 1838 Cap- tain Witte and John J. Gromme formed a partnership and ran the business in a small way for several years. In the year 1844 he sold the entire property to Gromme. He then purchased the Stripe farm and moved his family there.
In 1846 he came to Lancaster and taught the lan- guages and music. During this time he wrote a gram- mar of the English language. He also translated from French to German the work of Dr. Raspail. This last work was published and there are copies of it in Lancaster. From Lancaster he went to Danville, Ky., and taught a class of pupils. In the year 1851 he moved to Columbus, where he lived a retired life until 1858, the year of his death.
Captain Witte organized the German Guards, a very fine military company, probably soon after his estab- lishment in business, the exact date is not known. This company was thoroughly drilled and always at- tracted attention. The captain with his company took part in laying the cornerstone of the State House at Columbus July 4, 1839, and his name was placed upon the record that was deposited in the stone.
Captain Witte was a German gentleman of fine manners and of martial bearing. He brought with him to this country his German habit of hospitality,
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and he dispensed it with a lavish hand. The result was his house was always full and, like all liberal men, he was imposed upon. He met with heavy losses by the failure of consignees, and on one occasion he shipped two boat loads of whiskey to an agent in Detroit, who decamped and he lost all.
Captain Witte was a striking figure in the large and well educated German society of his time in Lancaster.
Captain Witte was married the third time. His last wife was Miss Anna Schloman. This event occurred in 1838. The children of this marriage were Alexis, of Brooklyn, New York, Lewis, of Cleveland, Ohio, Theodore, of Springfield, O, Henry, of Columbus, Ohio, and Matilda, who died in Brooklyn, New York.
His family highly prize a medal presented to him by the German Government for gallant conduct at the battle of Waterloo.
JOHN J. GROMME
Mr. Gromme was a native of Germany and came to Lancaster in the year 1834. He was a tanner and operated a tannery at the foot of Main Street where John Cly now resides. This business he managed for four or five years. He then became interested in the business of distilling whiskey in connection with Cap- tain A. F. Witte. They continued as partners for several years. In the year 1845 he purchased the farm and distillery of Captain Witte and for a short time continued the business. The whiskey business was not a success and he soon abandoned it for farming and dairying. About the year 1858 he sold his farm to John T. Brasee and moved his family to the John U. Giesy farm south of town.
In the year 1865 he moved to Lancaster and lived
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a quiet, retired life until his death in 1870. Mr. Gromme was a fine citizen, a representative of the Ger- man element and an honest man. In the year 1841 he was married to Miss Loretta Albers, of Logan, O., a native of Germany.
REV. ABRAHAM RECK
Mr. Reck was born in Littlestown, Pa., January 2, 1791. He married Miss Louisa Motter, of Shephards- town, Va., May 22, 1820.
He was licensed as a Lutheran minister in the year 1812 at Carlisle, Pa. His first charge was at Win- chester, Va., where he remained until 1827. Leaving Winchester, his energies were devoted to the organi- zation of new churches, in which he was very success- ful. He seemed especially adapted to this work. In Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, and Indiana, there are many churches the fruit of his labor and self-sacrifice. Middletown, Md., Indianapolis, and Cincinnati were the most prominent points in his work. In Indianapo- lis he gave land for both church and cemetery. He was ably and nobly seconded in his work by a lovely Chris- tian wife. They both inherited slaves, but immediately liberated them. Rev. Reck came to Lancaster in 1852 in broken health. Here he spent the last years of his life with his interesting family, occasionally supplying a pulpit. He was the friend of young ministers and gave them hope and encouragement.
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