History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 157

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

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place. Mr. Bevis was married, October 21, 1891, to Jennie F., the eldest daugh- ter of John and Margaret (Dore) Small, natives of Harrison. Mrs. Bevis was born November 4, 1872, and died July 28, 1893, after a short but happy wedded life of twenty months. She left a darling baby boy, named Forest H., who is now ten- derly cared for by his grandmother at Preston. Mr. Bevis has been successful in all of his business undertakings. The loss of his devoted companion so early in his. married career has weighed heavily upon him; but, realizing that every family must take their share of Death's calls, he has borne the affliction with a brave heart, believing that his loss has been her eternal gain, and that the dark and dreary clouds have but a bright and silvery lining for those in distress.

JOHN SILBERNAGEL, JR., carriage maker, Harrison, was born in Dearborn county, Ind., April 18, 1858, son of John and Elizabeth Silbernagel, both of whom were born in Bavaria, Germany, the former in 1830, the latter in 1832. They emigrated to the United States in 1856, and locating in Dearborn county, Ind., engaged in farming. In 1864 they removed to Harrison, Ohio, and Mr. Silbernagel took up the. business of a grain buyer, following same until 1888, when he moved back to Dear- born county, and resumed farming. They were the parents of six children.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of his native county. In 1875 he came to Cincinnati, learned the trade of carriage and wagon maker, and then worked for the Union Carriage and Wagon Company for fourteen years. The company becoming bankrupt he was thrown out of steady employment. and forced to work for different firms in Cincinnati. At the end of two years he went to Harrison and started a shop of his own, and has been identified with the town and its interests up to the present time. In 1878 he married Mena, daughter of L. G. and Catherina (Schimell) Rosenfelder, who were natives of Bavaria and farmers by occupation. By this marriage four children were born: Catherine, Louise, Tillie and Clara. In political sentiments he is a Republican.

ANTHONY KOCHER, of Harrison, Ohio, was born October 15, 1863. in Dearborn county, Ind., son of George and Mary (Pultz) Kocher, the former born in Germany of French descent, the latter a native of Pennsylvania.

Our subject attended the public schools of Dearborn county until sixteen years. of age, and then assisted his father in the brewery business, serving in the capacity of bookkeeper and collector for a number of years. Later he engaged in the hotel business at Harrison, Ohio, and is at the present time proprietor of the "Valley House " of that place. He married Miss Nellie Schrall, daughter of Frank Schrall, who was a native of Germany, and emigrated to America at an early day; he was a shoemaker by trade. Our subject and wife are members of the Catholic Church, and politically he is a Democrat.

PETER EBERTZ, of Harrison, Hamilton county, was born in St. Leon, Dearborn Co., Ind., August 19, 1851, son of Anthony and Maggie (Winkelbach) Ebertz, both natives of Germany. The father emigrated to America in 1851, locating in St. Leon, Dearborn Co., Ind., and engaged in farming; he died March 17, 1893. He and his wife were members of the Catholic Church. They were the parents of six children: Katie, Mary, Peter, Maggie, Rosa and Francis.

Our subject was educated in the common schools of the county, and after reach- ing manhood rented his father's farm until his thirty-eighth year, when he moved to Harrison, Ohio, and entered the hotel business, conducting what is known as the "Valley House " for a few months, when he sold out and opened the "Ebertz Hotel" in the same town, which he has managed successfully up to the present time. He was united in marriage November 5, 1878, to Miss Clementine Glankler, born March 5, 1857, daughter of John and Walburga (Sattler) Glankler, natives of Switz- erland, the former of whom emigrated to this country in 1850, first locating in New Jersey, thence removing to Aurora, Dearborn Co., Ind., and a few years since took up his residence 'in Cincinnati. He is a stone mason by trade. Mr. and Mrs.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Ebertz are the parents of eight children: Helena K., Frank P., John A., Charles A., Rosa C. and Joseph E. (twins), Mary E., and Otto L., deceased. They are members of the Catholic Church, and politically he is a Democrat. Mr. Ebertz also has an interest in the Harrison Canning Works, of which he is one of the directors.

WILLIAM HENN, of Harrison, Hamilton county, was born April 1, 1855, in Baden, Germany, and is the son of Joseph and Catherine (Knodich) Henn, natives of Ger- many, the former of whom was born in 1814 and died January 1, 1890, the latter born in 1817. They emigrated to America in 1866 and located in Lawrenceburgh, Ind., where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a marble cutter by trade. In religious faith they were members of the Catholic Church. They were the par- ents of seven children: Catherine and Margaret, residents of Germany; Francis, of Cincinnati; Frank J., marble cutter, proprietor of the marble and granite com- pany of Lawrenceburgh, Ind .; Helena, of Covington, Ky .; Caroline, of Lawrence- burgh, Indiana, and William.

William Henn, our subject, was educated in the public schools of Lawrenceburgh, at the age of fourteen commenced to learn the trade of wood carver with Charles Henegen, with whom he remained eight years, and was subsequently employed for a number of years at different chair factories and at the marble works in Lawrence- burgh. At the present time he is the proprietor of the "East End Hotel" of Har- rison, Ohio. He was married in 1886 to Elizabeth Stenger, born September 2, 1854, in Harrison, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Schneider, natives of Bavaria, Germany, the former of whom is a brewer by occupation. One child has come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Henn, Clara. They are members of the Catholic Church, and politically he is a Democrat.

PATRICK FENTON, of Harrison, Hamilton county, was born in Ireland in 1835, and is the son of John and Mary (Hogan) Fenton, both natives of Ireland and of Irish descent. They emigrated to America in 1850, and located in Manchester, N. H., where he died a few years later. The following children were born to them: Timothy, Thomas, John, Rodger, Jemima, and Patrick, our subject. Soon after coming to this country Mr. Fenton began working in mills in the East, remaining there only a few years, when he went to Chicago and worked in a lumber yard, later finding employment on the Big Four railroad as a section hand in the vicinity of Cincinnati, continuing as section hand for twenty-two years. On December 19, 1879, he and Miss Virginia Cunningham were united in marriage; she was born in New York City and is the daughter of Anthony and Margaret (Cannon) Cunningham,. both natives of Ireland and of Irish descent. They came to America on their wed -. ding tour, and after remaining here a short time decided to make this country their home, and located permanently in New York, where he was a contractor of public works nearly all his life, and was very successful. He died in 1881, his wife the following year. By this marriage there were five boys and four girls, all deceased but two, our subject's wife and her sister, who resides with her. The deceased are: Bernard, William, John, Patrick, Anthony, Catherine and Margaret. One child, Bernard, has come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fenton. They reside in a substantial residence just outside the corporation limits, and have been residents of the town since 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Fenton are members of the Catholic Church, and politically Mr. Fenton is a Democrat.

GEORGE B. TEBBS, of Harrison, is a native of Dearborn county, Ind., and is a son of Alvin G. and Maria (Snyder) Tebbs. The father was a graduate of Oxford College, taught school, and was a member of the Indiana Legislature. The grand- father, Maj. Warren Tebbs, also served as a member of the Indiana Legislature twice.

Our subject is of a family of six children: Frances; Warren, a resident of Lawrenceburgh, Ind., a real-estate dealer, was a member of the Legislature, clerk

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

of the circuit court, and for twelve years served as deputy clerk; George B. ; John F., a partner with his brother, George B. at Harrison; Arthur Grant, a leading groceryman at Lawrenceburgh, Ind .; James W., a salesman for George W. Keen for several years, and at the present time bookkeeper for his brothers, George B. and John F. ; he also served in the sergeant-at-arms' office of the United States Senate for five years.

George B. Tebbs, our subject, taught school for a number of years, and then entered the mercantile trade. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he entered the U. S. Army, enlisting October 16, 1861, in Company H, Fifty-second Indiana Volunteers, for three years, and served until October, 1862, when he was discharged for disability. He re-enlisted in Company G, Ninth Regiment United States Volunteer Veterans, and served to the close of the war. He was an engrossing clerk during a term in the Legislature, and was assistant State librarian for two years. He served three terms as commander of Harrison G. A. R. Post. He was united in marriage December 3, 1873, with Miss Maria Gunckel, of Germantown, Ohio, daughter of George and Julia (Ayres) Gunckel, the former of whom was a dentist by profession; he is at present living a retired life at Germantown, Ohio. Two children have made happy the union of Mr. and Mrs. Tebbs: Dona and George Emmit. They are members of the Christian Church, and politically Mr. Tebbs is a Democrat.

JESSE SIMONSON was born April 27, 1835, in Harrison township, Hamilton Co., Ohio, son of Barney and Elizabeth (Passmore) Simonson. Barney Simon- son was a native of New Jersey, and migrated to this country about the year 1812, locating in Harrison township, where he engaged in farming until 1862, when he moved to Dearborn county, Ind., and there remained until his death, which occurred in 1889. His wife is also deceased. For years she was a member of the Baptist Church. To their marriage were born ten children: Martha, William, Jesse, Elizabeth, Catherine, Eron, Anna, Barney, Henry and Charley.

Our subject was educated in the public schools of Harrison. After reaching his majority he rented his father's farm for about six years, and then bought a farm in the township, where he has since been actively engaged in his chosen vocation. He married Margaret Penny, who was born February 14, 1842, and their union was blessed by the following children: Elizabeth, Mary, Barney, George, Martha Ann, Jane, William, Charles and Margaret. Mrs. Simonson died April 11, 1889. Our subject owns 280 acres of well-improved land, his comfortable circumstances being the result of his own energy and industry. He is of German and English extrac- tion. Politically he is a Democrat.

M. S. BONNELL, farmer, was born near Harrison November 8, 1816. He is a grandson of Aaron Bonnell, who migrated to the Miami Country in 1805 with his brothers, Benjamin and Paul, and married sisters, Rhoda and Abigail. They were the children of Benjamin and Rachel Bonnell, who emigrated from England to New Jersey. The father was drowned November 10, 1798, in the East river, near New York, with ten others, the boat on which they were crossing having been overturned by the rolling to one side of several casks of rum. The mother survived until 1812.

Aaron Bonnell, the seventh child, was born March 4, 1759, in Essex county, N. J. He married Rachel Clark, and six children were born to them. Of these, Clark Bonnell was born November 18, 1790, in New Jersey. His father, Aaron, was the only one of the Bonnell colony who settled in Harrison township, the others stop- ping in the neighborhood of Carthage. During his lifetime he drew a pension, hav- ing been an artificer for the government during the war of the Revolution. His- wife also died upon the old place near Harrison. Clark Bonnell had learned, in part, the trade of a shoemaker in New York State before the removal of the family to the West. Sometime before the death of his parents he was married to Miss Elsey Wykoff, of a family residing near Harrison on the Indiana side, and removed to the

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

village, where he pursued his trade for many years, and then removed to a country neighborhood in Ross township, Butler county, five miles from Hamilton, where he continued to follow his trade. Remaining here about five years, he removed to New London, Butler county, where his wife died in September, 1835; she was born Feb- ruary 7, 1794. Clark Bonnell died in Cincinnati in 1864, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. Their children numbered nine, of whom M. S. was the third and the eldest son.

M. S. Bonnell was born upon the old place near Harrison, in a cabin where bis father was then residing. He received some schooling in the poor " subscription schools " of that day, which he attended for brief periods, as the pressing labors of the farm and workshop would allow, and in due time learned his father's trade, be- ginning to help in a small way when he was but nine years of age. He did not take kindly to the business, as it was too confining, and he was strongly predisposed to farm life, so he did little at shoemaking after he was fifteen years of age. For about eight years he served as a farm hand in various places in Hamilton and But- 'ler counties, by the month or year, and for the next two years worked Judge Ander- son's farm in Butler county "on shares." Then for two years farmed similarly on the old place near Harrison, which had become the possession of his grandmother. He also managed it a similar term after her death for the purchasers of the farm- Messrs. George Arnold and Peter Riffner. The latter was father of Martha R., who became the wife of Mr. Bonnell December 8, 1842. He was then residing on a rented farm on the other side of the Whitewater, near the edge of Indiana, where he remained a year, and then removed to the Frost farm on Lee's creek, in the north part of the township. This he occupied on five-year leases for the period of fifteen years, and so successfully that in 1856 he was enabled to purchase the 140-acre tract, upon which he now lives, two years before his last lease expired. To this he removed at the expiration of his lease, and here he has since resided, adding acres to his original purchase, and making a farm of high excellence. The Hamil- ton County Agricultural Society decided in 1880 to give a premium to the owner of the best regulated farm in the county. With this in view, a committee composed of Lew Fowler, I. H. Pendry, A. Brown, M. Hosbrook, V. B. Sater, aud William Dur- ham, made a careful examination of every nook and corner of the farm, and readily awarded Mr. Bonnell a silver medal. Thirty-one miles of underdrain have been constructed on this farm. It is of interest to note that in 1842 Mr. Bonnell sold corn at Harrison for 13 cents per bushel; hogs at Cincinnati for $2.25 net; and after spending four days hauling 100 bushels of oats to Cincinnati he sold it for 6 cents per bushel; in 1863 he sold hogs at $14.75 per hundred gross; hay at $30 per ton at Harrison; corn at $1.30 a bushel by the carload, and wheat at $3 per bushel at home. In connection with his farming operations Mr. Bonnell has raised horses for sixty- one years, and never lost one by death until April 2, 1894.

In 1881 Mr. Bonnell was elected in the Hamilton County Agricultural Society, and gave his assistance thereto for eleven years. The fair grounds are at Carthage, and when it was necessary for him to be there he made trips from home and return, a distance of eighty miles in a day, and always bore his own expenses. He was presi- dent of the Miami and Whitewater Valley Pioneer and Harvest Home Association in 1888, and served with much credit to himself and the entire satisfaction of the or- ganization. More than forty years ago he became a member of Harrison Lodge No. 140, I. O. O. F., and belongs to the Sterns Encampment No. 183, and Daughters of Rebekah No. 360. He is also a Master Mason in Snow Lodge No. 193, F. & A. M., at Harrison. Mr. Bonnell has taken little interest in politics, but has devoted his time to his farm, and cared for two other families besides his own. His brother, Robert Burns Bonnell, and wife died in November and February, 1870, respectively, in Daviess county, Ind., leaving five children without a home: Mary Ann, born Novem- ber 12, 1856; Naomi, born February 2, 1859; Jacob W., born April 15, 1862; Emma

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

J., born February 25, 1864, and Robert, born March 13, 1867. Mr. Bonnell brought them to his home on December 24, 1870, and educated and cared for them until they were able to make their own living. His daughter, Elizabeth Isabel, after her husband left for South America, whence he never returned, came to her father's home in the spring of 1876, and Mr. Bonnell has cared for her and her three children, to whom he gave good educational advantages. Mr. Bonnell's wife, Martha Riley Bonnell, third daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Riffner, was born February 11, 1815, at the old home near Harrison. She died August 4, 1888. Their children were as follows: Elizabeth Isabel, born September 23, 1843, who married. John S. Bowles, December 22, 1866, and became the mother of three children : Sam- uel C., born November 3, 1867, Seneca B., born January 20, 1870, and Martha B., born May 10, 1872; Clarke Marion, born March 18, 1845, who married Sarah Butts, and died December 21, 1880, leaving one child, Clarence C. Bonnell, born March 27, 1874; Peter R., born April 20, 1847, deceased; William R., born May 30, 1849, who married Sarah Cook December 5, 1870 (both are deceased; their only child, Emma G., born October 3, 1871, was married June 15, 1893, to Edward McKasson, and has one child, Clarence Leroy, born March 24, 1894); Stephen Easton, born June 21, 1851, deceased; Elsey Alice, born May 5, 1853, who married William Butts, and died March 26, 1873; and Emma Angeline. born March 21, 1855, deceased.

Mr. Bonnell is truly a pioneer of the Whitewater Valley. James Andrews, of Harrison, is said to be the only person now living who was a resident of that town when Mr. Bonnell was born. Our subject began to hew his own way through life with strong arms and a willing heart, but with no financial inheritance. The for- tune he has amassed is the result of his industry, frugality and honest dealings. He- and his companion, who has gone to her reward, made many a neighbor happy by their generous hospitality, and long after he has been stricken from life's roll on earthi will the name of " Uncle Seneca Bonnell" be referred to by those who knew him. He believes in learning of the country he loves so well by travel. In 1876 he. and his wife left Cincinnati via the little Miami railroad for Philadelphia, to witness the Centennial Exposition. They spent the first night in Cleveland, the second in Buffalo, and the third at Niagara Falls, where they took in all the wonderful sights. They proceeded to Rochester and Albany, and taking a boat at the latter city beheld the beautiful scenery along the Hudson river to New York City. Here they remained four days, being there at the time Hell Gate was blown up, experiencing the shock which made the whole city tremble. They went to Philadelphia, saw the wonders of the Centennial, and afterward visited Washington City and Mount Ver- non, the home of George Washington. -. They returned home by way of Baltimore and Harper's Ferry. It is a remarkable fact that the railroad fare for himself and - wife was only $42 for the entire trip. Mr. Bonnell also visited the World's Colum- bian Fair at Chicago in 1893.

JACOB BIDDINGER, of Harrison township, Hamilton county, was born December 19, 1838, in this county, son of Solomon and Catherine (Shroyer) Biddinger, the former of whom was a native of Fayette county, Penn., born in 1799, the latter born in 1800. Mr. Biddinger migrated to this county in 1829, located in Harrison town- ship, and engaged in farming. He was very successful, owning about five hundred acres at the time of his death, which occurred in 1885. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Methodist Church, and politically he was a Democrat. They were the parents of ten children: John, who resides in Chesterfield, Ind. ; Sarah, deceased; Catherine, a resident of Chesterfield, Ind .; Adaline, deceased; Elizabeth, residing in. Harrison, Ohio; Calesta, residing in Illinois; Jacob, our subject; Frederick, who re- sides in this township; George, and Emeline, deceased.

Our subject was reared and educated in Harrison township, and after becoming of age rented his father's farm for about ten years when he bought part of it. Mr. Biddinger's farm at present consists of 366 acres, all of which is under a high state-

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of cultivation. He is one of Harrison township's model men. He has been twice elected trustee of his township. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Honor, Harrison township, No. 1018. Politically he is a Democrat. He was married Sep- tember 13, 1865, to Miss Elizabetli, a native of Franklin county, Ind., born April 22, 1844, daughter of Peter and Joanna (Lyons) Hollowell, the former born in New York, the latter in Hamilton county, Ohio, of Scotch and German extraction respec- tively. He emigrated to Franklin county, Ind., at an early day; he was a farmer and miller by occupation. To Mr. and Mrs. Biddinger have been born four chil- dren: Preston, deceased; Josie; Harry, and Orville. Mrs. Biddinger is a member of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Biddinger is a member of the F. & A. M., Snow Lodge No. 193, located at Harrison.

CHARLES WUESTEFELD, of Harrison township, was born April 2, 1851, in Cincin- nati, son of Philip and Margaret (Copper) Wuestefeld, both of whom were natives of Hannover, Germany, the former born December 12, 1820. They emigrated to Cincin- nati in 1845, and engaged in manufacturing baskets, remaining there until 1859, when they removed to Dearborn county, Ind., and engaged in farming. Mr. Wueste- feld still resides there; his wife died in June, 1889. They were members of the Catholic Church. The following children were born to them: Louisa, Charles, Joseph, William, Henry (deceased), and Philip.

Our subject entered the grocery house of Henry Watsock at the age of eleven years, remaining only a short time, when he entered the employ of a Mr. Shafer as clerk, continuing thus for two years. At the age of fifteen he commenced serving a four-years' apprenticeship at blacksmithing in the shop of John Kichler, and after having learned his trade was employed for a time on a bridge at Brookville, Ohio. Later we find him working in a horseshoeing establishment owned by a Mr. Henry; then he worked for H. G. Steible, and next found employment with the Union Columbus Company, at Harrison, Ohio. Leaving this firm he started in the black- smith business for himself, and soon afterward bought a small farm on the Harrison pike, on which he built a shop, and he has since followed general blacksmithing. He has held the office of township trustee, has served as chairman of the board of education, chairman of the board of health, and has ever been a prominent man in public affairs. He married, May 14, 1872, Catherine Stumpp, a native of Dearborn county, Ind., daughter of Valentine and Eva (Seifert) Stumpp, natives of Bavaria, Germany, the former of whom was a shoemaker by trade; he was a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. and Mrs. Wuestefeld are parents of the following children: Catherine, Charles, Tressie, William (deceased), Estella (deceased), George, Irena, Stephen, and Ralph. Politically he is a stanch Democrat.

B. H. WARBURG, of Harrison township, was born April 4, 1828, in Hannover, Germany, son of Everett and Mary (Wiggers) Warburg, natives of Bavaria, Ger- many. They emigrated to New Orleans in 1847, and after remaining there a short time came to Cincinnati, where Mr. Warburg engaged in manufacturing wooden shoes, and passed the remainder of his life. He passed away in 1885, and his wife was called from earth the following year. Both were members of the Catholic Church. They were the parents of the following children: Mary, Barney, B. H. (our subject), George and Elizabeth.

Our subject, after reaching his majority, worked in a brickyard five years, and later was employed by a Mr. Cook, of Cincinnati, in the same capacity. On leaving the employ of Mr. Cook he started in business for himself in Cincinnati, manufactur- ing brick, and continued successfully until four years ago, when he bought his pre- sent farm in Harrison township, consisting of 123 acres of well-improved land. Here he has since resided, the farm being conducted by his only surviving son, Anthony. On February 15, 1852, Mr. Warburg married Miss Mary Bose, a native of Germany, who is the daughter of Henry and Mary Bose, farming people, both of whom died in the old country, her mother when she was but eighteen years of

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 157

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