History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 155

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

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

office, the law creating a board of control was procured from the State Legislature .. He would recognize no business transaction by the board which was transacted in beer saloons or anywhere else than in the rightful place of meeting, and succeeded in breaking up the practice of signing bills or records that were not regularly before the board in its own room in the courthouse. Repeatedly he filed his protest against. the payment of illegal claims, and generally succeeded in preventing payment. Many resolutions were introduced by him, which were finally carried, to lop off super- fluous officials and otherwise economize the expenditure of public funds. After the. organization of the board of control, any bill not signed by him was closely scrutin- ized by them before they took action, and with but very few exceptions the failure of his approval was fatal to its approval by the board of control. The amount paid from county funds for two years previous to his term averaged about $260,000 per year, while the amount paid out during the six years he served was about $210,000 per- year, although there were two more courts organized and in session during that time, making a saving of $50,000 per year, in addition to the extra court expense paid from county fund alone, saying nothing about the savings in the bridge, road, build- ing, and other funds. The signal impression produced by his service during the first term upon the taxpayers and voters of the county is shown by the triumphant suc- cess of his second canvass for the same office made in opposition to a regular nominee.

At the close of his second term, November 30, 1877, after serving six years, a complimentary dinner was tendered him at the "St. Nicholas" in Cincinnati, to "Honest Joe Sater," as his friends were wont to call him. It was attended by many county officers and other prominent persons, and was presided over by Gov. - elect R. M. Bishop, who said in his introductory remarks: "I feel complimented in being called on to preside on the present occasion, which is intended by the friends of Mr. Sater as a compliment to a man who has filled a position for the past six years not only with credit to himself, but to the county which he has had the honor to repre- sent." Thomas B. Paxton, county solicitor, upon the same occasion expressed the- opinion that he "had found that Sater was better advised on all laws governing his board than any lawyer he knew, and he believed he had saved to the county $100,000- per year, and was eminently entitled to the honor conferred upon him." Many complimentary remarks were made by Gov. Thomas L. Young, and others in letters- conveying regrets. B. F. Brannan, for example, in a letter said he had "for the period of three years as a member of the board of control had occasion to closely watch the manner in which Mr. Sater performed the duties of his office. In all that time there could not be discovered the slightest divergence from the strict and just path of duty. His course was invariably marked by an austere devotion to the economic interest of Hamilton county, and his record was found true and clean. A record that will stand on the pages of the history of Hamilton county bright and shining as the old silver dollars of the father fresh from the mint, stamped with the finger of that noble bird which is the emblem of the Republic; symbolizing a character that at life's end will soar to the skies and beyond to receive the just reward due to the faithful public servant." Murat Halstead, editor of the Commercial, said in excusing his absence: "I would with sincerity join in the recognition proposed of the faithful and valuable public service of Mr. Joseph Sater, whose name is identified in the community with vigilance and integrity in the discharge of the duties of a position of responsibility. It is well to say 'well done' to the good and faithful servant as he leaves us if we must part with him, but as a first choice I would celebrate tlie con- tinuance of such men in office rather than their retirement." Judge M. F. Force's letter said: "Mr. Sater has well earned the compliment of his valuable service." Hon. Alex. Long remarked that "Mr. Sater had well merited Mr. Halstead's letter, well done true and faithful servant of the people, you have merited the compliment that a few friends bestow on you this evening." Richard Smith said "I have no doubt that Mr. Sater feels much better to-night to go out of that very responsible-

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

office which he has very faithfully filled with the reputation which he has, than with a half million of dollars stolen. Money will perish. His reputation for honesty will never perish. It will live when the grass shall grow over his grave." I. J. Miller said "he had not only been an honest officer, but a capable one. He had shown himself better acquainted with the laws governing his office than any member of the bar of Hamilton county." Judge Longworth said: "It was better to have written on Sater's record as it was now written, than on the tomb the tribute to his honesty and capability." Remarks equally complimentary as the foregoing were made at the same time by Judge Joseph Cox, Judge Robert A. Johnson, Moses F. Wilson, Auditor W. S. Cappellar, Treasurer James S. Wise, and others.

Mr. Sater was, by the joint action of the judges of the common pleas and superior .courts of Hamilton county, in April, 1881, appointed one of three jury commissioners to select a list of six thousand names from which the juries for said county were drawn, they being the first jury commissioners ever appointed in Ohio. In 1886 he was again appointed to the same position. In the fall of 1881 he was appointed, in connection with Peter Rudolph Neff, to examine the proceedings of the county com- missioners and other county officials, with instructions to go back for three years, which took them between four and five months. The public was amazed and astonished by their report, showing how extravagantly the public money was being expended, a large amount of which was paid without authority of law. After the burning of the courthouse, in March, 1884, the judges of the court of common pleas met in joint session and selected a special grand jury to investigate the cause of the burning thereof, Sater being the foreman.

Mr. Sater never thought it necessary to belong to any secret Order, and never joined a church until December, 1889, at which time he became a member of the United Brethren Church at New Haven. He has always been a liberal supporter of churches and charitable institutions. He has given about two thousand five hun- dred dollars to churches and charitable institutions within the last six years. He was appointed a member of the advisory council of the World's Congress Auxiliary on farm culture and rural industry, and a member of the World's Agricultural Con- gress that convened in the city of Chicago Monday, October 16, 1893. He has been an active notary public for more than twenty-six years, and is a general adviser and counselor of his neighborhood. He has settled large estates as assignee both under the bankrupt and State laws. He has settled more than thirty estates of deceased persons, all of which were completed to the satisfaction of all parties interested. Mr. Sater is not only the most prominent man of his township, but one of the leading and substantial citizens of Hamilton county. He enjoys the esteem and respect of all the better elements to be found in all political parties of the present day. His integrity, honesty and wise counsel have secured for him a reputation which few men are permitted to enjoy. His home is one of the finest in the township. Hos- pitable, generous, respected by all, he is a living example of what honesty and fair- dealing will earn for a man who possesses all these qualities as does "Honest Joe Sater. " Mr. Sater was united in marriage, March 29, 1849, with Eliza Ann Hedges, who was born January 11, 1826, daughter of Anthony L. and Hannah A. (Johnson) Hedges. To this union were born four children: Hannah. William, George L. and Mary Eliza, of whom the last named is the only survivor; she is the wife of John L. Wakefield, and they are the parents of three children: Almina E., born October 7, 1875; Joseph M., born April 19, 1880, and Blanche E., born January 12, 1886 .- [Contributed.

JOHN WILLEY was born March 30, 1824, in Hamilton county, where he has been a successful farmer, having devoted most of his life to agricultural pursuits. His father, Horace Willey, who was born in Massachusetts February 13, 1792, migrated to Ohio in 1800. He was a man of sterling character, a quality which has shown itself in his children. He married Ann Tate, a daughter of John Tate, of Pennsyl-

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

vania, in which State she was born June 16, 1792, and came to Ohio in 1818. She was united in marriage with Horace Willey March 7, 1822, and to their union were born seven children: Sarah J., John, Louis, Lavinna, Marshal, Rachel and Andrew J. Mrs. Willey was laid to rest in Venice cemetery, January 7, 1879; her husband was buried by her side March 3, 1880.

The subject of our sketch received his education in the common schools and at. Farmers' College, College Hill, Ohio. He was married, October 16, 1860, to Roxy A., daughter of D. Clinton Buell. Mr. Buell's family were among the early pioneers of southwestern Ohio, and were distinguished as intellectual industrious people of highly-ordered lives. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Willey: Lottie A., Aurelia E. and Emily, of whom Lottie A. was united in marriage, in 1885, to Dr. T. V. Fitzpatrick, of Cincinnati, and was called to her eternal rest in 1893; Emily, the youngest daughter, died in infancy. Mr. Willey has held many positions of honor in his native township, having served as trustee and in other offices many terms. He has been greatly interested in educational work, having in his younger days taught school himself, and he has never lost sight of the relation the schools sustain to society. He held the position of school director fourteen years, always directing the school affairs with a high aim.

MICHAEL WILKINS was born March 7, 1816, in Crosby township, son of- Daniel and Elizabeth (Drybread) Wilkins, the former of whom is a native of Pennsylvania, and emigrated to this county with his parents in 1792. His father, Michael Wilkins, was born in Germany, and served three years as a soldier in his native country; after coming to America he served in the Revolutionary war four years. Our subject's father, after reaching manhood, engaged in the distilling business, which he successfully conducted for a period of twenty-five years in Crosby township. He also managed his farm, which contained 900 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins were the parents of five children: Daniel, deceased; John, deceased; Susan, living in Crosby township, the widow of David Smith; Michael; and Sarah, deceased.

Our subject attended the public schools of his native township, and Farmers' College, College Hill. After leaving school he made a trip down the Ohio river to New Orleans, and after remaining a short time, returned home and rented his father's farm, continuing to farm in that way until his father's death, which occurred October 17, 1841. Practically speaking he has been a farmer all his life. In 1855 he began the cultivation of grapes for the purpose of converting them into wine, and he continued this business for a number of years, thus giving employment to a great many people. He has also been extensively engaged in manufacturing vine- gar from apples and grapes. Of late years he has given considerable attention to raising stock, more especially sheep. He owns an elegant farm of 340 acres. He was married to Miss Julia Ann McGonigle, born November 11, 1821, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth McGonigle, and Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins are the parents of the following children: Olive, born November 29, 1842; Emma, born October 4, 1844; Mary A., born May 24, 1849, deceased; James L., born September 26, 1851; Laura Ellen, born January 1, 1854; Dora, born March 13, 1856, deceased; Ida, born No- vember 16, 1859, deceased. Politically Mr. Wilkins is a Farmers' Alliance man.

ISAAC SCOTT was born March 6, 1842, in North Ireland, the son of Isaac and Ann. (Williamson) Scott, both also natives of Ireland, the former of whom was a farmer by occupation, and died in the old country. His wife emigrated to this country in 1849, and at present lives in Lawrenceburgh, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Scott were both members of the Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of only one child, our subject, who lived at home until he was nine years of age, when he took up his residence with Thomas Miller, of Elizabethtown, remaining with him for five years; the next five years he lived with a Mr. Moses Hayes. He then enlisted, September 11, 1861, in Company D, Fifth O. V. C., receiving his discharge November 29, 1864; he participated in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, "the Hatchie," and was

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

with Grant on his raid through Mississippi when he had his supplies destroyed at Shallow Springs; marched from Memphis to Chattanooga to relieve Thomas when besieged; participated in the battle of Mission Ridge; thence going to Knoxville to relieve Burnside, then returned to Huntsville, Ala., and remained there until Sher- man started on the Atlantic campaign, throughout which he served. When Hood made his raid in Sherman's rear, followed him back to the Blue Ridge, then turned and marched back to Marietta, Ga., and was shipped from there north to be dis- charged. He re-enlisted, in Company K, First United States Volunteer Infantry, February 9, 1865; served with Hancock in the Shenandoah and Loudoun Valleys, and several minor engagements with Mosby. After Lee's surrender he inarched to Washington and witnessed the execution of Surratt and the other conspirators; was discharged February 4, 1866.

After the war Mr. Scott returned to Hamilton county, and rented a farm on which he remained for fifteen years. He next lived on a Mr. Walker's place for seven years, and then bought his present farm of seventy-five acres. On August 29, 1866, he married Miss Margaret, daughter of Morgan and Martha (Stewart) Robison, the former born in this county, and the latter in Knox county, Ky. He was a carpenter by trade. They were members of the Methodist Church, and were the parents of the following children: Malinda J .; Minerva, deceased; John M., deceased; James, killed at the battle of Gainesborough; Barbara Ann; Eliza, deceased; Mar- garet and Mary E. Mr. and Mrs. Scott are the parents of the following children: Leonard L., Jennie T., Thomas W., Jeannette G. and Walter T. Mr. Scott is a member of the G. A. R. of Harrison.

GEORGE WABNITZ, miller, P. O. address Sater, one of the most prominent and progressive residents of Crosby township, was born in Baden, Germany, February 10, 1829, and is a son of Daniel and Joanah Wabnitz, both also natives of Germany. The father died in 1865, the mother a year previous. Four of a family of eleven children born to them survive, viz. : Daniel, residing in Colerain township; Charles, residing in Iowa; George and Lewis, also residing in Crosby township.

Our subject was reared to farming, was educated in his native land, and came to America with his parents about 1844. He engaged in farming in Colerain town- ship until 1866, when he erected a lumber and grist mill and embarked in the lum- ber and milling business. Recently he has discontinued the sawmill, but still con- tinues to operate the gristmill, which is located on the borders of the Big Miami river, and is operated by both steam and water power. Mr. Wabnitz was married November 2, 1851, to Frederica, daughter of George and Catherine Weik, natives of Germany, and their union has been blessed with nine children, three only of whom survive: Carolina, wife of A. R. Saur; Lena, wife of Conrad Jacoby, of Pasa- dena, Cal., and George, residing in Wyoming. Mr. Wabnitz and his family belong to the Lutheran Church. He has filled all the prominent public offices in his town- ship, not only with credit to himself but also to the advancement of the welfare of Crosby township. He has also been a member of the board of control for two years. He is universally respected by all who know him, and justly worthy of the eminent success which has attended his well directed business efforts.

SAMUEL MCCLELLAN GOODMAN, treasurer of the Cincinnati Rolling Mill Company, residing at Riverside, Ohio, was born in Wheeling, W. Va., January 20, 1858, and is the only surviving son of Timothy S. and Julia E. (Shipman) Goodman.

The subject of our sketch was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati up to the second year intermediate, afterward attending Farmers' College, College Hill, and leaving school in the third college year. After leaving college he was engaged as clerk for Harrison Leib for about two years, was subsequently bookkeeper for Snodgrass & Company for about one year, then a clerk in the Merchant's National Bank for seven years, bookkeeper for J. L. & N. L. Pierson six years, and was appointed to his present position in 1891. Mr. Goodman was married, June 21,

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

1883, to Ida Belle, daughter of Josiah and Emmeline (Morse) Wilder, and their union has been blessed with three children, viz .: July Morse, Timothy Seymour and Emma Wilder. The religious views of the family are Presbyterian, and politically our subject is a Republican.

Timothy S. Goodman, the father of our subject, was born in Cincinnati April 26, 1825; and his mother, Julia E., was born May 1, 1827, in Marietta, Ohio. They reside at College Hill. Mr. Goodman is secretary and treasurer of the Cincinnati Equitable Fire Insurance Company. They had born to them six children, two of whom survive, viz. : Samuel Mcclellan, and Amelia F., residing at College Hill, wife of Edward N. Wild, of the firm of Emerson & Wild, Dakota farmers, and also connected with the Cincinnati Abstract Company. Mrs. Emmeline Goodman's father, Josiah Wilder, was born at Winchendon, Mass., March 4, 1826, and her mother Emmeline Morse, at Royalston, Mass., February 17, 1827. The grandfather and grandmother Goodman came from Hartford, Conn., over the mountains by stage coach, down the Ohio river from Pittsburgh by flatboat, and reached Cincinnati in 1819. The grandfather was a banker in Cincinnati for many years, doing busi- ness under the firm name of T. S. Goodman & Company.

GEORGE B. CATT, bookkeeper and soap maker at the Jones Company's Fertiliz- ing Works, was born in Bloomington, Ill., November 27, 1859, and is a son of John J. and Lavina (Ulm) Catt, the father a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., and the mother born in Warren county, Ohio; both have passed away. They had a family of four children, two boys and two girls, all of whom survive, as follows: Emma L., wife of Rev. Walker, of Sioux Falls, Iowa; Mary E., wife of William Creighton, of Lima, Ohio; George B., and Asa A., of Lima, Ohio.

Our subject came to Cincinnati with his parents when only a year old, and attended the public schools of this city until he was fifteen years old, when he en- tered the employ of Procter & Gamble, and learned the soapmaking business, which profession he has followed ever since, and for five years preceding his engagement with the present firm was assistant superintendent and bookkeeper of the Cincinnati Des- iccating Company's Factory at Anderson Ferry. Mr. Catt was married, January 2, 1882, to Mary A. Glenn, daughter to James Glenn, and their union has been blessed with seven children, viz .: Bessie May, Blanche, Elma, Edith, George B., and Flora and Bertha (twins). Mr. Catt is not a member of any society; he resides with his family at Anderson Ferry, Ohio.

JOHN TREDEGAR HASKIN, assistant superintendent of the Cincinnati Rolling Mills, residing at Riverside, Ohio, was born April 5, 1861, in Richmond, Va., son of Uri and Sarah (O'Neille) Haskin. His parents were natives of Canada, but lived in the United States many years. His father was for many years superintendent of the Cotton Tie Mills at Chattanooga, Tenn., where he resided with his family, consisting of himself, wife and five children: Mary, Debby, Gertrude, Stanley, a machinist, and John T. Our subject was educated in Chattanooga. He was master mechanic in Pittsburgh, Penn., from 1880 to 1888, since which time he has resided in Ohio. He was married January 19, 1891, to Sallie Glover, daughter of Thomas and Annie (Blackburn) Glover, of English nationality, and they are the parents of one child: Earl Glover Haskin. Mr. Haskin is a member of the Society of American Mechan- ics. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church, and politically Mr. Haskin is a Republican.

JOHN H. HERBERT, brick manufacturer, P. O. address Mt. Airy, was born in Germany, January 8, 1845, and is a son of Frederick and Annie (Torwegge) Her- bert. He was educated in the schools of his native country, and after leaving school learned the coopering business, in which he has been engaged the greater part of his life. He has also a large brick works at Mt. Airy, where in summer he turns out a superior quality of brick for building purposes, in winter time pursuing his business of coopering. Mr. Herbert was married, in 1867, to Miss Caroline Barnsmith, of

Joseph Sater

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Delhi township, and to their union have been born ten children, all of whom survive, viz .: George Henry, who married Laura Heisel, of Green township; Caroline; Emma; Edward; Bertha; Ida; Elizabeth; Harry; Annie, and Frank, an infant. The family belong to the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Herbert is a Republican politically.

The parents of our subject came to Cincinnati in 1860 from their native land. The father died in 1862, the mother in 1869. They had born to them a family of nine children, six of whom survive, viz. : Charlotte, widow of the late George Schnidt- ker, of St. Louis; Catherine, wife of Louis Roth, of Cincinnati; Henrietta, wife of Henry Westrup, of St. Louis; Sophia, wife of William Peters, of Cincinnati; John H., our subject, and Elizabeth, wife of Claus Beneke, of Wheeling, West Virginia.

JOSEPH SYKES, retired farmer, was born in Paddock, England, February 20, 1844. His parents, George and Mary (Crowther) Sykes, were also born in England. George Sykes learned the trade of a machinist in his native country. In 1847 he emigrated to America, locating for the first two years in Philadelphia. In 1848 his family, consisting of wife, one son and one daughter, and John and William Crowther, brother and cousin, respectively, of Mrs. Sykes, made the voyage across the ocean to America in the sailing vessel " Andrew Foster," and joined Mr. Sykes in Philadel- phia, where, during his residence in that city, he was engaged in partnership with a cousin, William Sykes, in the manufacture of stocking yarns. Through no fault of George Sykes, this investment proved a failure for him financially. In 1849 he accepted employment at Swedesborough, N. J., where he remained some time, going thence to Little Falls, same State, and acting as superintendent of Beatty's Woolen Mills for two years. He then removed to Paterson, N. J., and for a short time fol- lowed his trade. His wife, having learned the milliner's trade, at Hull, England, became ambitious to start in business, consequently she and her husband opened up a stock of millinery and dry goods. Within three years their trade had grown to such a proportion that they were compelled to find more commodious quarters at the corner of Main and Broadway streets. Here they added to their stock carpets and oil cloths, and did the leading trade of the place until the panic of 1854, which com- pletely ruined them. Mr. Sykes could have saved a portion of his fortune by ques- tionable methods, but true to his honest nature he turned everything over to his anxious creditors and began life anew. Shortly afterward he returned with his family to England, but their love for American soil was too great for them to remain long there. Returning to Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Mr. Sykes became superin- tendent of the Black River Woolen Mills for a Mr. King, and while here he intro- duced the manufacture of California flannels, which enhanced his employer's business and made him very wealthy. Giving up this position Mr. Sykes migrated to Phila- delphia, where he engaged in the hotel business for some time. In 1863 he went to Washington, D. C., and soon after removed to Cincinnati, where he died in 1866. His widow was subsequently married to James Wheeloch, a bridge carpenter, who died in Louisiana four years later. She died in Washington, D. C., in 1888, and is buried beside her first husband in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati. Mr. and Mrs. Sykes were Baptists in religious faith. Their union was blessed with two chil- dren, of whom Joseph is the subject of this sketch; Jane, married Henry Wilson, who entered the service in the Civil war as a private in Company A, Fifth New York Cav- alry, and for gallant conduct was promoted, and rose to captain of his company. He lost his life at Rising Sun by falling from a steamboat while on a trip to New Orleans. There were four children born to this union, all living: George, Stephen, Joseph and John. Mrs. Wilson is now the wife of Charles Juelg, of Cincinnati, by whom she has one daughter, Lottie.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 155

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