History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 123

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592

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THE COURT STREET ACADEMY, corner of Court and Mound streets, Cincinnati, was established for the day scholars, who resided at the west end of the city. Later, schools and academies were founded in other parts of the State, notably in Toledo, Dayton, Hamilton, Chillicothe and Columbus. Schools and academies were also opened in other States, mostly, however, in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois and California. In 1893, the statistics of the Sisters of Notre Dame showed that they have firmly established thirty eight houses or convents, besides one novitiate at Sixth street, Cincinnati, and another at Waltham, Mass. One of their largest boarding schools is at San Jose, Cal. The Sisters have at present 22,236 pupils enrolled in their parochial schools; besides 404 boarders, and 1,618 select scholars in their academies; furthermore, there are 12, 949 girls in their Sunday-schools, and 19,614 in their sodalities. The congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame in the United States numbers 1,104 members. Fifteen of their schools sent exhibits to the World's Fair Educational Department, at Chicago, and all were judged worthy of awards, four receiving special mention. As is well known, this remarkable edu- cational exhibit commanded the admiration of the most learned and the leading educators of the world.

The success and popularity of the Sisters of Notre Dame, as educators, are to be ascribed to their own excellent beginning; the sublime Christian motive that actuates -them in all their undertakings; their self-sacrificing devotion to duty for the glory

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of God and the good of others; their simplicity and practical method of teaching, and their firm yet gentle discipline. The Sisters of Notre Dame, and the pupils- whom they have taught, are everywhere noted for their charming simplicity, com- bined with breadth of mind and freedom from little feminine weaknesses which so often mar the completeness of an otherwise excellent training. The aim of the Sis- ters of Notre Dame is to form good women, useful at home and admirable in society. The latest and grandest achievement of the Sisters in the cause of education is the erection of the convent and academy on Grandin road, East Walnut Hills, popu- larly called "Our Lady's Summit." This enterprise was begun in 1890. It will be known as the "Mother House" of the Sisters of Notre Dame in the United States, and will serve the triple purpose of a novitiate or training house for postu- lants and novices, a home for invalids and superannuated Sisters, and a select day school and academy. The new convent stands on a proud eminence, near the inter- section of Grandin road and Madisonville pike, and is surrounded by a park of ten acres. It commands a magnificent view of the surrounding country; at the foot of the hill, the beautiful Ohio river, and, beyond, the blue hills of Kentucky; to the west, the busy city; both north and east, the green fields and wooded vales, with here and there a quiet, nestling hamlet-a view indeed for painter's pencil and poet's song. The new convent is six stories high, built of red pressed brick and stone trimmings, having a frontage of 320 feet, and a depth of 85 feet. The chapel in the rear is a large and beautiful structure, 141 x 52 feet, of Gothic architecture, with a seating capacity for 500 people. While the designs are beautiful and the dimen- sions magnificent, there has been no extravagance, and everything has been con- structed with a view to practical utility.

Sister Louise, the first Superior of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Cincinnati, after a long life of usefulness in the cause of charity and education, passed from the scenes of her arduous labors December 3, 1886. "She was a remarkable woman " (writes a pupil of Notre Dame); "from her earliest youth she had been devoted to the care of the poor. She was of stately and dignified presence. Gentleness and firmness, modesty and transcendent ability, utter unworldliness, joined to wonderful discernment in reading character, were in her singularly blended. She possessed a rare charity; only the God, whom she loved and served from the cradle to the grave, will ever know her benefactions." Sister Louise was succeeded in the office of Su- perior of the Sisters of Notre Dame in the United States, by Sister Julia, one of the first pupils in America, and for many years the Superior of the convent in Phila- delphia. At the time of the death of Sister Superior Louise, the loss seemed irre- parable, but it must be confessed, now, that in the person of the present Superior- General, Sister Julia, the Sisters of Notre Dame have received from Divine Providence a most worthy Mother, a woman of rare intellectual ability, and splendid executive talent; one imbued with the true, religious spirit of self-sacrificing charity, under whose wise direction and maternal influence, the noble object of the institute, the moral and intellectual education of the young, will be successfully accomplished. -[By Rev. Francis Xavier Lasance.

REV. JOSEPH KLOSTERMANN is pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. The Congregation of "Our Lady of Perpetual Help" was first organized by the Franciscan Fathers in the year 1878. An old school building situated on Sedam street, 133 feet north of Lower river road, was purchased and the upper story fitted out for a place of worship, and the basement assigned to the parochial school and teachers' residence. On account of the frequent inroads of the Ohio river by floods, it was deemed necessary to look for a higher locality. The priest's residence had already been built on Delhi avenue. Several vacant lots were secured for a new church adjoining the parsonage and fronting on Orchard street, at present Steiner avenue. On June 10, 1888, the corner stone of the new church was laid by Adm. Rev. J. C. Albrinck, V.G. ; on May 5, 1889, the new church was solemnly dedicated

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to the service of God by Most Rev. W. H. Elder, Archbishop of Cincinnati. The church is situated on an elevated plateau, commanding a beautiful view of the sur- rounding sceneries of the Ohio river and the Kentucky hills. The edifice, when completed, has a length of 145 feet, and width of 51 feet, transept 70 feet, sur- mounted by a tower 170 feet high. The basement, large and airy, is used for school purposes. The church is heated by a hot air furnace. It has a chime of four bells, and has a large pipe organ. Fully equipped with all necessary and ornamen- tal church furniture, it presents a pleasing appearance, inside as well as outside. In 1890-91, a spacious and commodious parsonage was built. The Sisters of St. Francis, who teach the children of the parochial school, occupy the old residence. The present pastor is Rev. Joseph Klostermann .- [Contributed.

UBALD WEBERSINKE is pastor of St. Clement's Church, St. Bernard, Ohio, This parish was formed well nigh fifty years ago, and from the very beginning was at- tended by Franciscan Fathers, who have remained in charge of it ever since. It was in the latter part of the " forties," when the two families that then constituted St. Bernard assembled in a private residence on Sundays to attend Mass and sermon which were given them by one of the Fathers then stationed at St. John's Church, Green street, Cincinnati. Ere long a frame structure was erected, which was used as a church, while its basement served as a pastor's residence. Under the direction of Rev. Edmund Etschman, Order of Franciscan Fathers, a neat brick church was built in 1850; whereupon Rev. Auselin Koch, O. S. F., was designated to be its first resident pastor, whom the pioneer members of the parish still hold in grateful remembrance. In his own little house he established a school for children, and he himself was its teacher. Soon, however, a spacious two-story schoolhouse was constructed in the rear of the church, and for many years it was the only one in the village. Because of its quiet seclusion, the place was deemed especially suit- able for a novitiate, where the young postulants of the Franciscan Order might be trained in spiritual life. By the munificence of a parishioner the Fathers were, in 1863, enabled to build the monastery which stands beside the church, and still serves as a study-house of the Order. Rev. Nicholas Wachter, O. S. F., was then in charge of the parish. In the year 1870 the church, that had been built twenty years ago, was replaced by the present beautiful edifice, which was erected on the same site at a cost of fully forty thousand dollars. Rev. Juvenal Eiberger, O. S. F., was at that time the energetic pastor, but died, much regretted, soon after its completion. Only a few years later, in 1877, it was found necessary to build a new and larger schoolhouse. An adjoining lot was purchased, and the stately building fronting on Carthage pike was constructed at an expense of $11,000, under the pastorate of Rev. Gregory Fangman, O. S. F. Numerous improvements, some of them involving heavy expenditures, have since been made upon the church property. Two hundred and sixty-five children now visit the parochial school, and the parish probably con- tains about two hundred and seventy-five families, over whom Rev. Ubald Weber- sinke, O. S. F., presides as pastor, with Rev. Francis S. Schaefer, O. S. F., as assistant.

From these meager statements an estimate can be formed of the spirit of munifi- cence that has ever been a characteristic of St. Clement's parish. Besides those already mentioned, the following priests have held appointments at this church: David Widmann, Louis Haverbeck, Sigismund Koch, Pirmin Eberhard, Dennis Aba- reth, Austin Bayer, Ambrose Sanning, Jerome Kilgentein, F. X. Gangel, Daniel Heile, Albert Steigerwald, Lucas Gottbehoede, Bernard Hurre and Angelus Hafer- teper .- [Contributed.

JOHN P. EPPLY, funeral director and embalmer, was born at York, Penn., Jan- uary 9, 1818. His grandparents were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, who emigrated to America about 1760, settling in York county, Penn., where his parents were born. In 1830 his father purchased a large farm and mill property about five

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

miles south of Gettysburg, upon which, in 1863, Gen. Meade rested his army dur- ing the night, preceding the opening of the celebrated battle of Gettysburg.

The family removed thither, and our subject was engaged in work upon the farm until 1836, when he became an apprentice to the house-carpentering trade. In November, 1837, he arrived in Cincinnati with a cash capital of $1.50 in his pocket. He found work at his trade at once at $1.25 per day, and commenced to attend night school. In April, 1848, he engaged with the undertaking firm of P. Rust &. Son, as bookkeeper and assistant, and continued in this capacity until 1851, when he found himself in possession of one hundred dollars, savings from bis slender wages. With this sum he started in business on his own account. In 1853, he con- structed the first glass hearse ever put in use in the United States, and some years. after purchased in New Haven, and introduced into Cincinnati, the first Clarence coach used here. About this time, too, he secured the first oval glass hearse known in this. section of the country. He was the first to bring into use the metallic burial case, and is the only undertaker in Cincinnati who has kept up a regular supply house of undertaking goods. He was a member of the original fire department of Cincinnati, "running with the machine," and contributed largely toward raising this important municipal institution to its present excellent condition. He is a Republican in pol- ities, has never been an aspirant for office, but has served the city as a member of council, and of the board of education. For many years he was actively identified with the I. O. O. F. Mr. Epply has been twice married, his first wife being Celina A., daughter of William Burke, who was in the employ of the government in the. Cincinnati Post Office for thirty-one years. Of this marriage there is no surviving issue. His second wife is Harriet L., daughter of William Mansur, one of the pio- neer residents of Delaware county, Ohio, and who donated to its trustees a consider- able portion of the tract of land upon which is built the Delaware University. Of the six children born of this marriage, four survive.

Of these the eldest, Charles M. Epply, is successfully engaged in the same line. of business as his father, on Walnut Hills. He has been twice married, his first wife being Ella, daughter of John Medary, an old resident of Cincinnati. Three chil- dren born of this marriage survive. They are Charles Clifford, Lillian May and Lurinda, all of whom are graduates of Woodward High School. His second wife was a Mrs. Annie Edwards, widow of Thomas Edwards. They have no children. The second son, William H. Epply, is unmarried. He is a resident of Chicago, where he is engaged in a lucrative brokerage business, and is a member of the Chicago. Board of Trade. The third child is Ella G., wife of J. H. Hoover, a merchant of Lima, Ohio. The fourth child is Belle M., wife of Charles J. Foust, secretary and treasurer of the Cincinnati Incandescent Light Company. He has two children, Charles Ellis and Aline. Mr. and Mrs. John P. Epply reside at No. 147 Dayton street, and are members of St. Paul's M. E. Church.

CAPTAIN PRESTON LODWICK was born in Adams county, Ohio, October 25, 1810, son of Col. Lodwick, who served in the war of 1812. In 1824 our subject engaged in the dry-goods business with his brother James at Portsmouth. Ohio, continuing until 1828, when he removed to Cincinnati and became a member of the dry-goods firm of Bar, Lodwick & Company. In 1832, in partnership with Thomas Huff, he purchased the store of Graham & Close, on the corner of Main and Second streets; several months later they removed their stock to a store boat. This was Capt. Lod- wick's first introduction to river life, in which he afterward achieved great success. He soon purchased the steamboat "Argo" from Armstrong & Barkley, the former being the John Armstrong so well known to river men of the olden times as the pio- neer commander of the mail line service between Cincinnati and Louisville, this be- ing the first regular established mail line along the river. Capt. Lodwick took the "Argo" south and entered her in the Natchez and Shreveport trade. After a suc- cessful season he returned to Cincinnati, and shortly afterward sold the boat to

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Texas parties. He then purchased the "Sylph," and afterward sold a one-half inter- est to Capt. Preston, they running her between Louisville and Owensboro. This ven- ture was very profitable, and they were compelled in a few months to purchase the "Gallant," a larger boat, to meet the demands of their business. Capt. Lodwick bought an interest in the Northern Line, and was captain of several of the large boats of that company. Later on, he was sent by the company to Madison, Ind., to superintend the construction of the "Northern Light." Disposing of his interests, he returned to Cincinnati, and, with David Gibson and others, built the "Prince of Wales," which was subsequently sold and used in Southern trade, afterward cap- tured by Rebels and burned in the Yazoo river to prevent her again falling into the hands of the Federal forces. Capt. Lodwick then bought the steamer "Kentucky," and ran her in the St. Louis and New Orleans trade. While commanding this boat the Confederates pressed him into service, using the steamer as a transfer between Memphis and Columbus, the latter place being headquarters of Gen. Polk. After

a time he escaped and returned north, leaving his elegant steamer in the hands of the Rebels, for which loss he never received a dollar by way of indemnity. He then purchased an interest in the "Bostona" of William McLelain. This boat burned and another was built which bore the same name, and which the Captain commanded until sold. His next purchase was an interest in the Burgess Steel and Iron Works, a venture which proved a heavy loss to him. He then commanded the "Ohio" for a while, and in 1874 built the "Eldorado." In 1880 he commanded the Kansas packet, "Virginia Lee," for a season, and from that time on until his death he de- voted his time to real estate. The following is a list of boats owned or commanded by him: "Argo," "Sylph," "Gallant," "Rotary," "Sante Fe," "Swallow," "Ben Campbell," "Dr. Franklin," "Galena," "Nominee," "Lady Franklin," "Royal Arch," "Alhambra," "City Belle," "Dora," "Belvidere," "Rob Roy," "Granite State," "Northern Bells," "Northern Light," "Prince of Wales," "Kentucky," "Sultana," "Monsoon," "Henry Atkins," "Mattie," "St. Nicholas," "Bostona No. 3," "Bostona," "Ohio No. 4," " Eldorado," and " Virginia Lee." Capt. Lod- wick was married in 1864 to Sarah C. Halsey, who survives him and resides at the old homestead in Sedamsville. Their only child, C. Ross Lodwick, is an undertaker and embalmer. The Captain was a man of the highest integrity, honest and upright in all his dealings, whose word was as good as his bond, and he was beloved and re- spected by all. He died January 17, 1888, and was buried in Spring Grove Ceme- tery, Cincinnati.

C. Ross LODWICK, undertaker and embalmer, No. 1909 West Sixth street, Se- damsville, was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, November 19, 1865, the only child of Preston and Sarah C. (Halsey) Lodwick. His grandfather was a colonel in the war of 1812, and died at the ripe old age of ninety-six. Another member of the family, Aunt Jane E. McCabe, still survives, and although she has reached the age of eighty is hale and hearty. The subject of this sketch came to Cincinnati with his parents when only six months old, and has resided here ever since. He received his primary education in the public schools, and later on attended the Collegiate School on West Fourth street, kept by William S. Ricks. After leaving college he was engaged for a time as telegraph operator and agent, after which he was employed in the com- mission business with W. J. Lykins & Co., at No. 6 West Front street. Mr. Lykins died recently and Mr. Lodwick is administrator of the estate. Severing his con-

nection with the commission house, he embarked in undertaking and embalming, which he has ever since followed. Mr. Lodwick was married September 16, 1892, to Laura F. Zins, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Foster) Zins. She is a relative of Seth C. Foster, a cotton manufacturer, of the firm of Stearns, Foster & Company. Mr. and Mrs. Lodwick have one child, Preston L., born December 25, 1893. Mr. Lodwick has few if any superiors in his business. Embalming is made a specialty, and particular attention is given to the preservation of life-like expressions. He

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supplies everything necessary for a funeral, from the laying out of the body to its final disposition in the ground. He has one of the best appointed establishments in Cincinnati, keeps his own horses and carriages for funeral purposes, and is a live and prosperous business man, highly esteemed for his ability, keen intelligence, and unswerving integrity.

W. A. WATKINS was born in new Richmond, Ohio, June 3, 1837, and reared and educated at the place of his birth. His father was a native of New Jersey, his mother of Ohio; they were both of English descent. Their family consisted of five children, four of whom still survive: Maggie, widow of the late Thomas F. Donham; W. A .; Charles, and Thomas Edgar. The father was a pork-packer and dry-goods merchant, and the son worked with him in the store until the breaking out the Civil war. He promptly entered the service, and was commissioned captain of Com- pany G, Fifty-ninth O. V. I. At the close of his service, he returned home and commenced business as a tobacco manufacturer, which he followed for three years. He then engaged in the coal business, conducting same three years, at the same time handling grain, coal and supplies for The Roberts & Mores Distillery, of New Richmond, Obio. Since quitting the foregoing branches of trade Mr. Watkins has conducted an undertaking establishment in connection with the livery business in Cincinnati for the past twenty years. He has been twice married, first time, in 1858, to Cornelia D. Walker, who died in 1863, leaving two children, Fannie and William C. His second wife was Miss Louise, daughter of J. R. Corbly, of Clermont county, Ohio, and the issue has been three children: Frank, Nellie, and Lewis.

FRANK SEIFKE is the senior member of the firm of F. & W. Seifke, undertakers, whose offices and places of business are situated on Charles street, between Central avenue and Plum street, and also at No. 452 Eighth street, corner of Linn.

Mr. Seifke was born in Cincinnati, and is the eldest of the six surviving children born to Henry and Katherine (Tapen) Siefke. He was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati, and also attended the St. Francis Xavier College. After leaving this institution he worked for a number of years for his father in the retail grocery busi- ness, after which he engaged in the livery business on his own account, carrying same on for over twenty years. Two years ago he added to this the undertaking busi- ness, and he has now one of the best appointed establishments of the kind in the city, being tastefully and appropriately fitted up, and provided with all the latest improved appliances for the successful prosecution of the business. Mr. Siefke was married in 1882 to Elizabeth Schlichte, daughter of Frederick and Lazetta Schlichte, both natives of Germany. They have had born to them two children, one of whom, Lazetta, is yet living. Our subject enlisted for ninety-days' service during the Civil war under Col. Louis Wallace in Company 6, Capt. Parshall, commandant. In his political views he is a Republican, and he and his family attend the Roman Catholic Church.

The parents of our subject were natives of Oldenberg, Germany, but for a num- ber of years previous to her marriage his mother resided in Toledo. The father came to Cincinnati in the early "forties," and here resided up to the time of his death. For seventeen years he was employed with F. H. Lawson, on Main street, in the tinners' supply business, and later on engaged in the retail grocery trade. He received his papers of citizenship March 28, 1844, and passed away on February 4, 1893, after an active life of seventy-seven years; his widow followed him within a month, dying March 1, 1893, at the age of sixty-seven years. The surviving mem- bers of the family are as follows: Frank; William; Emma H., wife of Jeremiah Bud- dikee, a dry-goods merchant of Cincinnati; Edward, George, and Clara, wife of James · Costello, of Cincinnati.

WILLIAM E. MOTSINGER is a member of the firm of Hill & Motsinger, the most prominent undertakers and liverymen in Clermont county. Their office and stables are located on Water street, Milford, just outside of Hamilton county nevertheless

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their interests are closely identified with this county, and owing to their establish- ment being fitted up with the latest and most improved appliances for the success- ful prosecution of their business, together with their courteous manner and good business qualifications, a large share of the patronage of Hamilton county has been gained for them.

W. E. Motsinger was born in Miamiville (near Clermont), and is the second eld- est in the family of five children who blessed the union of Felix Jackson and Lydia (Young) Motsinger, the father a native of Ohio, the mother of New Jersey. Our subject was educated in the public schools of his native town, and after leaving school worked at farming until nineteen years of age, when he engaged in black- smithing, which he followed until embarking in the undertaking and livery business at his present location. He was united in marriage in 1879 to Rebecca, daughter of Charles and Rebecca (Hand) Hill, whose father was a native of North Carolina, and mother of Milford. Mr. Motsinger is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, also of the Knights of Pythias; he has held the position of trustee of Stonelick township, and councilman of Omensville, Clermont county. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church: politically he is an active member of the Prohibi- tion party. They have no children. The father of our subject is a prominent far- mer, and resides with his wife on the farm near Miamiville. The remaining mem- bers of the family are Charles W., residing in Norwood; John B., of Miamiville; Laura, wife of P. K. Applegate, of Loveland, and Mollie M., with her parents at home.

PHILIP OLIVER STARK, senior member of the firm of Stark & Bundy, undertakers and liverymen, office and residence, corner of June street and Reading road, was born in Mercer county, Ohio, January 12, 1864, a son of Oliver and Margaret (Mare) Stark. He was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati, and after leaving school worked on the canal for about four years. He then went to work for the Cincinnati Buggy Spring Manufacturing Company, and later on moved to Ports- mouth, Ohio, where he worked at same business for about a year. He then returned to Cincinnati, and went into the furniture car business which he carried on for about three years. About four years ago he went into the livery business, and about a year ago added to that rapidly increasing business the undertaking and embalming branch. About three months ago he received Mr. Bundy into partnership, and the business is now carried on under the firm name of Stark & Bundy. Their establish- ment is tastefully fitted up and provided with all the latest improved appliances for the successful prosecution of their business, and contains as fine an assortment of funeral furnishing goods as can be found in any similar establishment. Besides this feature of the business, well-appointed equipages for private hire, carriages for theaters, balls and parties, buggies for pleasure driving, and well-trained saddle horses are kept constantly on hand. Mr. Stark was married December 8, 1887, to Mary V., daughter of Lindsay and Jane (Mills) White, and to them has been born one son named Clifford Oliver.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 123

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1592

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592