History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 124

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

USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present > Part 124

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The father of our subject was born near Louisville, Kentucky, and is a mechani- cal engineer by profession. The mother was born in Virginia, and they removed to Mercer county about 1850, thence, nearly forty years ago, to Cincinnati, where they still reside. They had born to them twelve children, nine of whom survive, viz. : Clara; Mary (wife of Joseph Butler); Frank; Margaret (wife of Charles Greenup); Harry; Laura; Philip O .; Levi, and Louise. The parents of our subject's wife were born in Liberty, Bedford Co., Va. Mr. Stark is a member of the Methodist Church, his wife is a member of the Baptist Church. He is a member of the F. & A. M., K. of P., Lodge No. 2416, I. O. O. F., and the U. B. F.

THOMAS BENJAMIN ESTEP, undertaker, southwest corner Eighth and John streets, Cincinnati, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 2, 1833, son of Thomas Cartwright and Sophronia E. (Littell) Estep. The father was born in Maryland in 1808,

778

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

crossed the Alleghany Mountains in a wagon, and came down the Ohio river in a flatboat which he called " Broad Horn." He was a cabinet maker, learning his trade in Maysville, Ky., and came to Cincinnati about 1826. He died August 29, 1871, aged sixty-five years. His first wife, born in 1811, died in 1840, was the mother of the following children: William H., who is living in the Twenty-fifth Ward, is by trade a river engineer and molder, was for eight or ten years connected with the volunteer fire company, saw service in the war of the Rebellion, and is now with the City Fire Department as engineer in charge; Thomas B., Mary Jane, living in Cin- cinnati; Emma, now Mrs. J. G. Weaver, of Covington, Ky., and a son who died in infancy. Thomas C. Estep was married, the second time, to Mrs. Sarah Young Smith, by whom the following children were born: Endore; Laura, wife of John B. Clancy, freight agent of the Q. & C. Railroad, Cincinnati; Ella, widow of George C. Eagles, of Los Angeles, Cal., and Enoch Freeman, residing in the West.

Thomas B. Estep was educated in the common schools of Cincinnati, which he attended until his twelfth year. He then clerked in a grocery for three years; was employed by the Andress Wall-paper Company on Main street, about one year ;. worked in wood and willow ware, and at the bench, in his father's place, until he entered a mercantile college, from which institution he graduated in 1851. He then entered the employ of Megrue & Lyon as bookkeeper and clerk, remaining there until they sold out to Deman & Wiltsee. He remained with this firm until they dissolved partnership, and for sometime after that was with Mr. Wiltsee. About 1854 he entered the house of Sullivan & Riley, and in 1860 he went to J. P. Epply as bookkeeper and assistant. He served in the militia twelve years, in the Rover Cadets, Crocket Rangers and Continental Battalion, and in the Cylonian Battalion after the war. In 1862, under order of the War Department, Gen. Lew Wallace commanding, he formed the color Company C, Eleventh Cincinnati Regiment, and although officially excused he went with his company and served as orderly sergeant under Capt. Charles Cramsey of the Tenth O. V. I., as colonel, and did duty over the river; afterward was commissioned captain, and assigned to charge of a district until duty over the river ended, and he was dismissed after serving altogether about six months. In 1867 he formed his present partnership with Gustav B. Meyer. During this time the firm, in unison with other undertaking establishments, have exerted every energy possible to ease those in bereavement by bringing to their aid promptly everything needed, so far as it could, and working steadily in conjunc- tion with the State and City Boards of Health to prevent and stay the inroads of devastating diseases at all times, feeling it to be in their line of duty. There have been many serious scourges during the past forty-three years, among which were the smallpox devastation, the typhoid epidemic of 1864, the cholera of 1857-65, and, later, the smallpox of 1872, followed by the introduction of the yellow fever, in a small way, by the steamer " Wallter," all of which was outside of the great duty performed by them in caring for the remains of those noble martyrs for the cause of Freedom and good government during the war, the importance of which was admit- ted by the national government, when, in calling out the troops for the defense of Cincinnati, they excused from service, among other occupations, the undertaker and his first assistant.

Mr. Estep was married February 26, 1857, to Margaret Esther Robinson, daugh- ter of Capt. William E. and Gertrude E. (Arnold) Robinson, natives of Ohio. They are the parents of three children: William Cartwright, educated in Chick- ering Institute, and graduated from Bartlett's Commercial College, is an undertaker in Council Bluffs, Iowa; Bertha Letitia, educated in the common schools, and stud- ied in Cincinnati College of Music, becoming quite an expert on the piano and in music generally, is now giving private lessons, and Gertrude, who died at the age of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Estep are members of the Universalist Church, while William C. and Bertha L. are Episcopalian communicants. Mr. Estep is a Repub-

779

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

lican in politics, though he would never accept a political office when tendered a nomination. He is a member of " Wildey Encampment " No. 1, I. O. O. F .; Mag- nolia Lodge No. 83, I. O. O. F .; McMillan Lodge No. 141, F. & A. M .; Damon Lodge No. 8, K. of P .; Ruth Lodge No. 575, K. & L. of H .; Imperial Order of Muscovites, and Damon Lodge No. 42, A. O. U. W. He was also a member of the grand trustees of Ancient Order of United Workmen one term, and grand protector of Knights and Ladies of Honor two years, during which time a number of good Lodges were instituted.

W. C. NOLAN, florist, Woodburn and Forest avenues, Walnut Hills, was born in Cincinnati, and is the eldest of seven living children born to James and Margaret (Navin) Nolan. His parents were born in Ireland, came to Cincinnati via New Orleans in 1850, and now reside on Madison street, Covington, Ky. The names of the brother and sisters of our subject and their residences are as follows: Julia, wife of Benjamin Berning, Covington, Ky. ; Margaret, wife of Andrew Anderson, Elm street, Cincinnati; Fannie, wife of Vincent Duffner, Covington, Ky .; Nellie, wife of Joseph Lynch, Newport, Ky .; Mollie, residing with our subject, and James, residing in Covington, Kentucky.

Our subject was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati. He was married in 1878, in Rochester, N. Y., to Fannie, daughter of Eben Watson and Annie (Frost) Carr, of that city, who was separated from him by death June 24, 1890. Mr. Nolan is one of the most popular florists in Cincinnati. He has been in the business ever since he was thirteen years of age, and has made a careful study of it from a scientific standpoint; has built his greenhouses on the most improved plan, and stocked them with every plant known to horticulture. The premises he occupies are spacious and tastefully arranged, covering an area of some seven thousand square feet of glass. Mr. Nolan has achieved a reputation, as a designer of floral designs for funeral or wedding purposes, that extends to a more than local territory. He is. esteemed in mercantile circles, a gentleman of unmistakable ability and keen intelli- gence, and is widely known as a leading financier and thorough business man.

C. J. JONES, JR., florist, office and residence State street, Walnut Hills. One of the leading houses in Cincinnati devoted to the culture of plants and flowers is that owned by the subject of our sketch. The greenhouses, which contain over sixteen thousand square feet of glass, have been built with great care and expense, and are filled with the choicest plants and flowers.

Mr. Jones was born in Campbell county, Ky., near Newport, and is a son of Charles J. and Mary (Holland) Jones. He was educated in the public schools of Newport, and has been engaged in the florist business ever since the time of his- leaving school; in fact, we might say he is a natural born florist, his father having been engaged in the same occupation. He was married, November 24, 1886, to. Dora Nolte, daughter of J. B. and Carrie (Auperly) Nolte, and to them has been born one son, Charles B. The parents of our subject were of English and German origin. The father died in 1893, and the mother still resides in Newport, Ky .. They had born to them seven children, five of whom survive, viz. : M. J., superin- tendent of Evergreen cemetery, Newport; C. J., Jr., our subject; William, residing in Newport; Margaret, wife of Lieut. Bishop, of the Newport police force, and Susan, wife of Newton May, of Newport, Ky. Mr. Jones is one of the most popu- lar florists in Cincinnati, and has studied the business thoroughly from a scientific- standpoint. He is an old resident of this vicinity, and is esteemed in its mercantile circles as a gentleman of unmistakable ability, keen intelligence and unswerving integrity. He is recognized in financial circles as one of the solid business men, is universally respected, and his rapidly increasing business is proof that the people- of this city and vicinity thoroughly appreciate his excellent qualities.

WILLIAM LAWRENCE ORTLIEB, senior member of the firm of Ortlieb & Motz, florists, whose place of business is situated on May street near Oak, resides on

780

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Symmes street, Walnut Hills. He was born March 20, 1865, in Dayton, Ky., and is the eldest of eight surviving children who were born to Constance and Catherine (Smith) Ortlieb.

Our subject was educated in the Roman Catholic school of Dayton. Leaving school at the age of thirteen he worked on his father's farm for about five years, and when eighteen years of age went to Madison, Ind., where he learned the florist business. The greenhouse of this firm has all the latest improved heating appli- ances and other facilities in service. They have a large and splendid assortment, including select cut flowers, fresh and fragrant roses, wreaths, nosegays, bouquets, etc., also potted plants, grasses, mosses, fern roots, bulbs, rustic baskets and emble- matic floral designs, harps, anchors, etc. Appropriate designs are also furnished to order for funerals, weddings and all occasions of floral display. Mr. Ortlieb is a thoroughly practical florist and gardener, and possesses a minute knowledge of the business in all its branches. He is gentlemanly and courteous to his patrons, and is rapidly building up a business which bids fair to assume large proportions. Mr. Ortlieb was married, November 26, 1890, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary (Record) Semon, natives of Germany, but residents of Indiana, and to them has been born one child, named Edward. The father of our subject, who is a native of Germany, came to America with his parents when only about four years old, and is a prosperous farmer, residing on his farm near Dayton, Ky. His mother died July 25, 1889. They were the parents of nine children, eight of whom survive, viz. : William L., Frank, John, Mary, Edward, Catherine, Harry and Charles. The family are members of the Catholic Church, and our subject is a Republican.

JOHN B. PEASLEE was born September 3, 1842, at Plaistow, Rockingham Co., N. H. His father, Reuben Peaslee, was educated at Dartmouth College in the class of 1835; was a leader of his party, as a member of the State Legislature, was a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1850, and, as chairman of the most important committees, drew many articles of the Constitution. Mr. Peaslee's ancestors, both maternal and paternal, were Quakers, dating as far back in this country as 1640. Mr. Peaslee's mother was Harriet Atwood Willetts, a native of New York City.

John B. Peaslee was educated in the schools of his native township, in the Atkin- son and Gilmanton Academies, and at Dartmouth College, where he was graduated in the class of 1863. Shortly after graduation, on the recommendation of Dr. Lord, president of Dartmouth College, Mr. Peaslee came to Columbus, Ohio, to assume the principalship of the North grammar school. One year later he removed to Cin- cinnati to accept the first assistantship in the Third District school. During the three years he held this position Mr. Peaslee studied law, graduated at the Cincin- nati Law School and was admitted to the Bar. In 1867 he was promoted to the principalship of the Fifth District school, and in 1869 to that of the Second Inter- mediate, where he remained until 1874, when he was chosen superintendent of the Cincinnati schools, a position to which he was elected twelve times. While Mr. Peaslee was superintendent he originated many reforms, some of which have spread over the entire country, from Maine to California. His method of teaching addition and subtraction to primary grades, known as the "Peaslee method," but which he called the "tens method," has attracted wide attention among educators and has been adopted in many other places. He was one of the first, if not the first, to write on the subject of "orthoepy," and to call the attention of the public to the import- ance of introducing the diacritic marks into the school readers, and the first to intro- duce into the examination of teachers for certification the subject of orthoepy as a distinct branch of study. Mr. Peaslee was the first to introduce into the Cincinnati schools a systematic and graded course of gem-selections from English literature, which he made the basis of moral and literary training. The book containing gem- thoughts of great authors, adapted for use at home or in school, entitled, "Graded

781

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Selections for Memorizing," compiled and edited by Mr. Peaslee, has received the most flattering notices from the public press and from distinguished authors. In honor and memory of American authors, statesmen, soldiers, etc., Mr. Peaslee orig- inated the celebration of authors' birthdays; planned and inaugurated the celebra- tion of " Arbor Day," by the planting and dedicating, by public schools and others, of memorial trees, with literary and other appropriate exercises. Authors' Grove, planted by school children of Cincinnati, in beautiful Eden Park, at the organi- zation of the American Forestry Congress in 1882, is the first grove ever planted to American authors. This beautiful custom has been adopted by thirty States of the Union, in Canada, has crossed the ocean into England, and last year even in Austria memorial trees were planted after what is called the "Cincinnati plan." In this connection it should be mentioned that Mr. Peaslee prepared a pamphlet of sixty- four pages, entitled "Trees and Tree-planting, with exercises for the Celebration of Arbor Day," which was first published under the auspices of the Ohio Forestry As- sociation and afterwards by the United States Government.

In 1879 the Ohio University conferred upon Mr. Peaslee the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, in recognition of his services. He was four years president of the Ohio State board of examiners for teachers; for nine years a trustee of the Miami Univer- sity at Oxford, Ohio; for over fourteen years director of the University of Cincin- nati; is a life member of the National Educational Association, and ex-president of one of its departments; is also a member of the National Council of Education; is ex-president of the Ohio State Teachers Association; was a director for nearly twenty years of the Ohio Humane Society. Mr. Peaslee is president of the Ohio State For- estry Bureau; was one of the projectors of the American Forestry Congress; the Citi- zens Memorial Association of Cincinnati; the Ohio State Forestry Association; one of the incorporators of the Ohio State Archaological Society; one of the incorpora- tors of the National Fraternal Union, a beneficial organization, of which he is pre- sident; an incorporator and president of the Custom House Building & Loan Asso- ciation of this city. Mr. Peaslee is a 32° Mason, and prelate of Hanselman Comman- dery, of which he is also past eminent commander. Besides his book entitled " Graded Selections for Memorizing," and his pamphlet on "Trees and Tree- planting, with Exercises for the Celebration of Arbor Day," heretofore referred to, Mr. Peaslee has published twelve reports of the Cincinnati Public Schools; a pamphlet on "Moral and Literary Training in Public Schools;" a pamphlet on "School Celebration of Arbor Day;" a poem entitled "Now and Then," and a hymn entitled "Converted to Jesus." Three of the above have been republished by the United States Government. He has also written many articles for educational jour- nals.

Mr. Peaslee married, April 25, 1878, Miss Lou Wright, daughter of Hon. Joseph F. Wright, of Cincinnati, and on the occasion of his marriage was presented by his fraters of Hanselman Commandery with one of the most beautiful and elaborate Masonic jewels ever manufactured in this country. Mrs. Peaslee is one of the most popular ladies of Cincinnati. She was one of the associate commissioners of the Centennial Exposition in Cincinnati in 1888; is one of the directors of the Free- Kindergarten Association, and is deeply interested in all humane and charitable work. Mr. Peaslee is at present time clerk of the courts of Hamilton county.

HON. STEPHEN H. BURTON, who was one of Cincinnati's most successful business men, was born June 25, 1816, in Albany, N. Y. He received his education in the private schools of his native city, but at the age of twelve years he was placed in business and never again returned to school. When fourteen years old he left home to seek his fortune, and at the age of nineteen went to Texas, where he engaged with the band of Col. Fannin in the deliverance of that State from Mexican dominion. This was a career of great excitement and danger. Young Burton and several others were taken prisoners by the enemy at Goliad, but escaped in the following

782

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

manner, as given in his own language in 1861: "Miller's command was not in- cluded in the massacre. He was saved by the interference of the wife of Alvarez, the Mexican officer by whom we were taken; she was a most noble woman, who persuaded her husband to spare us. Santa Anna subsequently dispatched orders for our execution, but we had so happily won the esteem of the Mexican officers that they united in a petition in our behalf to Santa Anna. In the meantime occurred the victory of San Jacinto, and Santa Anna was himself a prisoner. Our men were soon released, but the Major and myself were conducted to Matamoras, and after an im- prisonment of three months escaped from them on horseback, in the disguise of Mexican officers, and in this way passed through the ranks of several of their corps .on their march thither.

"The morning of the massacre was slightly foggy. Without understanding wherefore, we of Miller's command were ordered to tie a white band around out left arms; some of us tore pieces from our shirts for that purpose. This was to dis- tinguish us from Fannin's men, who alone were doomed. We were conducted out to a peach and fig grove, in front of the church, and in sight of two of the three parties into which Fannin's men were divided; the third being out of view behind the church, near the river bank. When the firing began, boy as I was, I was im- pressed by the varied expressions in the faces of our men, thus made unexpected witnesses of the awful tragedy. Surprise, horror, grief, and revenge were depicted in the most vivid lines. At first all were startled; some became at once horror stricken, others wept in silent agony, still others laughed in their passions, swore, clenched their teeth, and looked like demons. Now, at the lapse of more than a quarter of a century, I can never think or talk of that dreadful scene with any degree of composure. Some of the poor fellows attempted to escape, and of course outran the Mexicans; but then the cavalry! Just as one of those men of Fannin's had got fairly clear of his pursuers, a mounted Mexican from close by me at once started on the chase, and catching up with him, cut him down. Never did I so want to ham- string a horse. Those not killed outright were deliberately butchered by the Mexi- cans, men and women, and stripped. This over, some of them, even the women, as they passed by us on their return laden with plunder, insulted us by the grossest vulgarities, shook their fists in our faces, swearing in taunting tones and the vilest words-' Your turn, to-morrow.'

" The stripped bodies of the slain were collected and placed in piles. Those of the wounded who had been massacred at the fort, Fannin's among the rest, were chucked stark naked into carts, like so many dead hogs, carried out and dumped on top of the others. Brush was then piled over the whole and set on fire. It took several days' successive burnings to consume them. Nightly the prairie wolves gathered to feast on the half-roasted bodies, and kept up their howlings through all the long hours, and as the day dawned their execrable screams increased, in rage at being thus driven by the morning light from their horrid banquet!" Thirty-eight years later the appreciation of his services in this struggle was shown by the special act of the Legislature of Texas, which gave him a pension of $1,000. He then re- turned home and went to Troy, N. Y., where he took a clerkship in a hardware store, and remained seven years. In 1844 Mr. Burton came to Cincinnati and engaged for a short time in business with a Mr. Lockwood, but soon entered into partnership with Mr. Miles Greenwood, with whom he was connected for nearly thirty years, but he retired from active life in 1869. Mr. Burton was an enthusias- tic student and a great reader, which accounts for the extensive store of substantial knowledge which he acquired through his own efforts. Mr. Burton was a director of the Ohio Valley and National Lafayette Banks, of the latter upward of twenty years, and also served as a member of the board of directors of the Cincinnati Gas- light & Coke Co., and many other important institutions of Cincinnati. He was a «devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the progress of which he

783

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

took a lively interest. He was one of the founders of the Union Chapel, perhaps the first pewed Methodist church in the West. During the closing years of his life Mr. Burton travelled to a considerable extent, and did much with his means and influence for the advancement of the many noble public and charitable institutions of which Cincinnati is so justly proud. Early in April, 188-, Mr. Burton received a telegram that his brother, Francis C. Burton, of Albany, N. Y., was seriously ill and not expected to recover. He immediately started for that city, but was stricken with paralysis shortly before reaching his destination, and had to be carried from the train. His brother died soon after his arrival, and Mr. Burton died a few days later, .on the 10th of April.

Mr. Burton was married in Troy, N. Y., in 1839, to Miss Martha Whipple, by Rev. Noah Levings, who ten years later, while on an official duty for the Methodist Episcopal Church in the West, died at the home of Mr. Burton, in Avondale. Of Mr. Burton's children two survive, Stephen R. and Casper H., of Cincinnati. In 1849 Mr. Burton became a member of the Cincinnati Lodge, F. & A. M., and in May, 1863, was made a Royal Arch Mason in McMillan Chapter, No. 19. In his politi- cal views Mr. Burton affiliated with the Republican party, to which he rendered much valuable service. He was elected to the State Senate in 1873, and also served as mayor of Avondale and a member of the village council.

WILLIAM AUGUSTUS GOODMAN, president of the National Lafayette Bank (Bank of Commerce), Cincinnati, was born November 22, 1822. His parents, Timothy S. and Amelia (Faxon) Goodman, removed to Cincinnati from West Hartford, Conn., in 1817. Mr. Goodman's paternal ancestors date back to a very early period in Ameri- .can history, one John Goodman having been one of the passengers on the "May- flower." His father was engaged in the wholesale dry-goods trade in Cincinnati until 1840, when, in company with a brother, H. H. Goodman, who had been a banker for some years, he engaged in the same business, under the firm name of H. H. Goodman & Company. The remainder of his active career was devoted to this vocation, from which he retired but a few years before his death, which occurred in 1873.

Our subject was a student at Woodward High School and at Marietta College, where he finished his education. On leaving college he at once joined his father and brother in banking, and remained with them until 1858, when he was made cashier of the Bank of Ohio Valley, with which he was connected until 1871, having been for several years prior to that date its vice-president. In that year the bank was merged into the Third National, and Mr. Goodman was made its vice-president, which position be held until 1876. He then organized a new bank, known as the Bank of Commerce, with a capital of $300,000, of which he became president. In 1879 the consolidation of his bank and the old Lafayette National was effected, which new corporation has since been known as the National Lafayette, with a capi- tal of four hundred thousand dollars, afterward increased to six hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Goodman became its president, which responsible position he now

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

History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 124

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