History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 159

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 159

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).

988

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

discharge from the army he returned to his home, and settled down once more to the more peaceable occupation of farming. He was married, September 8, 1878, to Nancy, daughter of Benjamin and Melinda (Jinks) Woodworth, and widow of the late Jefferson Miller, and they have a family of six children, viz .: John Burton, Nellie E., Minnie May and Clara Lulu (twins), William Sherman, and Raymond. Our subject's family belong to the United Brethren Church. He is a Democrat politically, and has served as assessor of his township two years. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R.

The father of our subject was a carpenter and manager of a sawmill in White- water township, and was accidentally killed in his mill in May, 1851. The mother died April 4, 1888, aged sixty-four years, one month and twenty-three days. They had born to them seven children, four of whom are living: George, a veteran of the Rebellion, residing in Cleves; Annie Belle, wife of Caspar Rininger, residing in Cleves; Emma C., wife of William Morgan, residing in Cleves, and our subject. Mrs. Cox had one son, Harry, by her first husband, who resides with his stepfather.

WILLIAM RYAN, manager of the Cincinnati Gas & Coke Company, of Carthage, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, April 12, 1839. He received a common- school education in Ireland, and in 1854 came to this country, landing in New York City and going thence to Buffalo, at which place he commenced to learn the carpen- ter's trade, but never finished it. He then sailed on the lakes between Buffalo and Chicago for twelve years. In 1858 he assisted in laying the corner-stone to Perry's monument at Put-in-Bay. In 1859 he came to Cincinnati, finding employment on the river boats plying between Cincinnati and Madison, Ind., and after serving thus until 1861 again returned to Buffalo, and enlisted in the navy. He was a partici- pant in many of the principal battles, but came out without a scratch. In 1865 he accepted a position with the Adams Express Company as trip messenger between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh until July 28, 1866, when he entered upon the duties of engineer for the Cincinnati Gas Company, at their works in Cincinnati. He has been an employe of that company for about twenty-eight years. In 1867 Mr. Ryan was married to Miss Jane McKeen, and children as follows have blessed their union: J. J., Anna, Mary A., Andrew E. and William P.

WILSON SAFFIN, practicing physician and surgeon, with office and residence in Carthage, Ohio, was born in Cincinnati March 7, 1859, a son of James G. and Elmira (Malott) Saffin, the former of whom was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in March, 1835, and died in 1892; he was one of the survivors of Andersonville prison, having been confined there about eleven months. The mother was born in Plainville, Ohio, in September, 1833, and died in March, 1873; she was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Malott. They were the parents of two children: Wilson, and Ida, wife of Harry Courtney, of College Hill, Ohio. James Saffin was in the employ of the Government for two years prior to his death. His father was of English, and his mother of French-Scotch, descent.

Our subject received his early education in the common schools of Carthage and Cincinnati, Ohio, moving to Milford after the war broke out, and subsequently to Carthage in 1866. Dr. Saffin is wholly a self-made man, having started out in life, as the old saying is, "at the bottom of the ladder." At the age of fifteen he com- menced clerking in a drug store during the daytime, studying at night. He took a four-years course in the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, and was graduated in 1880, having won Dr. Dawson's gold medal, and the honors of his class. Since 1890 he has been visiting physician to the Hamilton County Infirmary. The Doctor makes a specialty of surgery, and has a large practice in this part of the county. On October 17, 1883, he was joined in matrimony to Miss Ella Wright, daughter of B. F. Wright, of Hartwell, Ohio, and they are the parents of six children, four of whom are living: Willis W., Gladys, Greta, and Dorothy. Those deceased are Marie and Corinene. The Doctor is a Mason and a member of the Knights of Honor. In

989

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

religious connection he is a member of the Methodist Church of Carthage, and politi- cally has ever been a strong Republican.

CHARLES A. SANTMYER, superintendent of the Hamilton County Infirmary, was born in Baltimore, Md., April 24, 1839, a son of John M. and Mary (Elder) Santmyer, the former of whom was born in France in 1780, and came to this country when but ten years of age. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was wounded in the battle of North Point. After the war he entered upon the manufacture of hats, which he followed up to the time of his death, in September, 1853. His wife was born in Carroll county, Md. They were the parents of ten children, four of whom are living: Louis, in business at Norfolk, Va. ; George, farining in Hartford county, Md. ; John, a resident of Baltimore, and Charles A.

Our subject spent his early days in a private school, and then attended Calvert College and Mt. St. Mary's at Emmitsburgh, Md. In 1857 he left school and joined the regular army, later going to New York City, where he re-enlisted, crossed the continent to Utah, and served in Battery B, Fourth United States Artillery. He then served in the army of the Potomac until the close of the war, when he came to Cincinnati, and received an appointment to a position in the United States Custom House, serving as clerk until 1876, and as appraiser from 1876 to 1886, when he was removed by President Cleveland. In the meantime another position was tend- ered him by Secretary Manning, which he accepted, but one year later he resigned to accept his present office. He was married, in 1868, to Helen, daughter of Dr. Thomas Wright, and this union has been blessed with seven children: Joseph, a student in Ohio Medical College; Jessie, Helen, Louise, Haidee, Reuben and Charley, all at home. Dr. Santmyer is a member of the G. A. R .; Knights of Honor; Knights of Pythias; Masons and Knights Templar. In religious faith he is a member of the Episcopal Church, and politically he is a Republican.

MAJOR JAMES STEWART, retired army officer. was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 18, 1826. His father, who was also a native of that country, was a contractor and builder, and died in 1841. His mother died in 1829. Our subject was educated in his native city, and for a time performed the duties of compositor in the Queen's Printing Office. In 1843 he withdrew from that position, and emigrated to New York City, where he also worked at the printer's trade. On October 29, 1851, he entered the military service of the United States, being sent to Governor's Island,. headquarters of the Fourth United States Artillery. He was soon made acting first sergeant over ninety recruits. In May, 1852, he was sent to Brownsville, Texas, as acting first sergeant under command of Capt. Albion P. Howe, Fourth Regiment of Artillery. Here he was assigned to Battery B, Fourth Light Artillery. Later he was appointed corporal, and 1855 promoted to first sergeant, retaining that position? until November 15, 1861, when he was commissioned second lieutenant in the Fourth Artillery. While in Texas he went on several scouts along the Rio Grande river. In 1856 the battery was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, arriving there in April, 1857. In July following, the battery started on the Utah expedition, and in June, 1858, left Fort Bridger for Salt Lake City. Later they proceeded to Cedar Valley, where Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson established Camp Floyd, and here they remained until May, 1860, when the battery was ordered to be left at the Fort, the men to perform duty as cavalry between Fort Floyd and Carson Val- ley, keeping the mail route open, protecting the pony express and emigrant trains. During that summer Mr. Stewart marched about two thousand miles over a barren and almost desolate country infested with hostile Indians, whom he encountered sev- eral times, but with his command drove them into the mountains. For bis services he was especially mentioned in General Order No. 11 from headquarters of the army, dated New York City November 23, 1860. On July 1, 1861, he re-enlisted the second time in the same battery, and on the 19th the battery was ordered east. At Fort Laramie he was placed in command of a section of the battery, by Capt. John ...

990

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Gibbon. The battery reached Washington in October, 1861, in November he was commissioned, and at the request of Capt. Gibbon he was assigned to duty with his old battery. He served as a subaltern until September 17, 1862, when he assumed command, Capt. Campbell having been wounded. He participated in the following engagements: Gainesville; Second Bull Run; South Mountain; Antietam; Fred- ericksburg; Chancellorsville; Gettysburg; Mine Run; Wilderness; Spottsylvania; North Anna River; Bethesda Church; Petersburg; Weldon Railroad; Hatchers Run, and Gravelly Ford. He received wounds at Antietam, Gettysburg and Petersburg.

Early in 1863 Maj. Stewart was sent for by Gen. John F. Reynolds, command- ing the First Army Corps, and asked to accompany an expedition with a section of his battery to Port Royal, Va. While on the trip valuable mail was captured, for which he was thanked by Gens. Wadsworth and Reynolds. In 1865 he was trans- ferred to Battery G, Fourth Artillery, and served at Fort Wayne, Mich. He was appointed captain of the Eighteenth United States Infantry, July 28, 1866. In the spring of 1867 he joined the regiment at Fort McPherson, Nebraska, and in May of the same year joined Company K at Bridger's Ferry, now in Wyoming Territory. From there he escorted a large train and 250 head of beef cattle to Fort Reno, and on return escorted another train back to Fort Laramie. From there he went to what is now Fort Fetterman, and took charge of the government sawmills, sixteen miles from there. The company took out all the material for building that post. He was then ordered to build a road from Fort Fetterman to Medicine Bow station, on the Union Pacific railroad. From there he marched the command to Sydney Barracks, Nebraska. The company joined the regiment in the following spring at Omaha, Neb., en route to Atlanta, Ga., for consolidation with the Twenty-fifth United States Infantry. They remained at McPherson Barracks, Atlanta, until Octo- ber, 1870, when the company was ordered to Columbia, S. C. By request of the Treasury Department our subject was ordered to Greenville, S. C., to suppress illicit distilling, the Treasury Department furnishing horses for his entire company, and he rendered such services as brought thanks from that department. From there he was ordered to Pittsburgh, Penn., to assist in suppressing the railroad riots at that place, in July, 1877. In Pittsburgh he remained until October 30, of that year, when his company was ordered to take post at Atlanta, Ga., and here the Major remained until he was placed on the retired list in 1879.

Maj. Stewart has been twice married, first time, in 1856, to Selvina Haas, daughter of John Haas, who was a farmer in Germany. This union was blessed with seven children: James, in Chattanooga, Tenn .; Madge, a stenographer; Sebina, at home; Mary, a secretary in the office of the Cincinnati Post; John, engaged in business in Ludlow, Ky .; William, employed in railroading in Kansas, and Emma, wife of E. L. Thomas. Our subject's second marriage was to Miss Rebecca, daugh- ter of Dr. Thomas L. Duffey, of North Carolina, and they have three children: Kate, Thomas, and Mignone. Maj. Stewart belongs to the G. A. R., the Loyal Legion, the Masonic Fraternity, and to the Episcopal Church; in politics he is a Republican. He resides in Carthage.

JAMES L. ORBISON was born in Troy, Ohio, September 21, 1851. He is a son of James T. and Elizabeth J. Orbison, the former of whom, born September 18, 1810, died in 1881; the latter was born May 25, 1819, and died in 1862. They were both natives of Troy, Ohio, where they died. He was a blacksmith by trade. They were the parents of four children: Mary E., widow of J. C. Robb, of Lima, Ohio; Julia E., wife of R. W. Miley, of Lima, Ohio; Alice J., wife of H. L. Cooper, of Chicago, and James L.

Our subject attended the common schools of Troy, Ohio, until he reached the age of sixteen, when he went to Covington, Ky., to learn the jeweler's trade. After a few months he returned to Troy, learned telegraphy, and worked at various offices on the D. & M. division of the C. H. & D. system, from there being transferred to

991

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

the C. H. & D. division in the train dispatcher's office in Cincinnati, where he remained three years. He then accepted a position as operator for the Cincinnati fire department, in which he continued five years, then returned to the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton office. as clerk in the superintendent's office of the D. & M. division at Toledo, Ohio. He was again transferred from Toledo to Cincinnati, and made chief clerk to the general superintendent, which position he held four years, when he was appointed superintendent of telegraph of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton system of railroads. Subsequently he was made division superintendent, a position he occupied for fifteen months, when he was again appointed superintendent of telegraph of the C. H. & D. system, together with parlor car and vestibule ser- vice, which position he still holds. He was married, January 19, 1875, to Miss Eva, daughter of John D. and Anna Van Kirk, formerly proprietors of the "Mansion House " of this city. They are the parents of one child, George, who is in the local freight office of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, in Cincinnati. Our subject is a member of the Knights of Honor, the Knights of Pythias, and the Royal Arcanum. He has held all the local offices worthy of mention in Carthage, where he was elected mayor in April, 1892, being re-elected April 2, 1894, without opposi- tion. Politically he is a Republican.

THEODORE C. FROST was born in Rochester, N. Y., December 20, 1844, a son of George T. and Elizabeth E. (Smith) Frost, the former born in Hampton, England, August 2, 1818, the latter born in New London, Conn., February 18, 1820. They were the parents of children, as follows: Alusta F., a resident of Newport, R. I .; Charles W., Ogden, Utah; George B., residing in Carthage; Eugene E., Rochester, N. Y., and Theodore C. Mr. Frost was a printer by trade, and had charge of the job department of a Cincinnati paper from 1857 to 1866, when he retired to his old home in Rochester, where he resides at the present time.

Our subject received his early education in Rochester, and came to Cincinnati in 1858. He returned to Rochester in a short time, and worked at his trade there until 1862, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fortieth 'New York Volunteer In- fantry, and served until the close of the war. During his service as a soldier he spent about six months in rebel prisons. After the close of the war he came to Cin- cinnati, and engaged in the wood-working machine business, at the present time hav- ing charge of one of the departments of the J. A. Fay & Egan Company of Cincin- nati. He was married, December 16, 1869, to Jodie Everts, a daughter of George C. and Mary E. Ferris, of Carthage. This union has been blessed with three chil- dren: Mary E., Walter C. and Eva, all of whom are living at home. Mr. Frost is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor, and Robert L. McCook Lodge, of Carthage. Politically he is a Republican.

C. J. SPENCE, M. D., physician and surgeon, was born in Perintown, Ohio, June 1, 1858, son of Colon and Margaret (Cline) Spence, the former born in January, 1809, in Warren county, Ohio, of Scotch origin. He was the pioneer physician of that county, and practiced there for fifty-five years. He died January 1, 1892. The mother of our subject was born in November, 1819, in Strasburg, France, and came to this country when but ten years of age. She now resides in Clermont county. They were the parents of five children, all of whom are living: Sheridan S., farmer near Mt. Carmel, Ohio; Mrs. Cohoon (widow), Perintown, Ohio; Joanna, living with her brother, Sheridan, on the farm; Ada, married to William Teal, and C. J.

Our subject, C. J. Spence, was reared on the farm, and attended district school, graduating at College Hill in 1879. He was a graduate of the Miami Medical Col- lege in the class of 1883. He then settled in Clermont county, Ohio, remaining there until 1885, when he came to Elmwood Place, being the first physician to locate in the village, where he has since remained. He is also a graduate of the New York Post Graduating Medical College of New York City. He was married, Sep-

992

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

tember 1, 1886, to Miss Fannie, daughter of John Spence, of Cincinnati; previous to their marriage, she was a teacher in the Elmwood Place public school. They are the parents of two children: Melville De Witt and James C. Dr. Spence is a mem- ber of the Scottish Rite, Masonic Order, and has the distinction of being the first health officer of his village. Since his marriage he has taken special courses in the Cincinnati laboratories and in the Miami Medical College, and is at the present time local surgeon for the "Big Four " railroad. Politically the Doctor is a Democrat.

JOHN G. REED, physician and surgeon, residence Elmwood Place, was born at Wolf Lake, Ind., November 23, 1853, of English descent, a son of R. G. S. and Nancy (Clark) Reed, the former of whom was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, but is at the present time residing in Stockton, the latter in Somerville, Butler Co., Ohio. Their family was as follows: John G., our subject; Robert Mcclellan, step-brother to John G., residing on a farm near Anna Station, Ohio; Mollie Mcclellan (step- sister), wife of Howell Stewart, residence Butler county, Ohio; Dr. William and Horace Reed (half-brothers), and Katie Reed (a half-sister), all residing in Stock- ton; Dr. C. A. L. Reed (a full brother), who is a practicing physician in Cincinnati, and the successor in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery of his father, who was one of the founders of that institution, and was president of same until 1892, when he became professor of materia medica and therapeutics.

Jobn G. Reed came to Union township, Butler county, Ohio, with his parents, when but two years of age. His early school days were spent in the district schools of Butler county, and in the Independence school of Glendale, Ohio. After finish- ing there he took a scientific course in the Holbrook Normal School, at Lebanon, Ohio, then attended the Cincinnati Medical College and was graduated in 1877. He immediately began the practice of his profession at the corner of Pearl and Law- rence streets, Cincinnati, and after remaining there two years removed to West Chester, Butler county, where be practiced his profession until October, 1889, at the same time performing the duties of demonstrator of anatomy at the Cincinnati Med- ical College. In October, 1889, he removed to Elmwood Place, where he has since remained. He is a member of the Ohio State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of Cincinnati, and the Pan-American Medical Associ- ation. He was married, in June, 1891, to Miss Lillie M., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kendly, of Hartwell, Ohio. Dr. Reed is a member of the Royal Arcanum. Politi- cally he is a Republican, but with a weather eye open for good men.

W. O. C. HARDING, physician and surgeon of considerable prominence, was born near Grant City, Mo., October 10, 1867, only son of W. S. and Maggie (Colcher). Harding. The father, who was a cooper by occupation, was born in Iowa, February 22, 1843, son of a very prominent surgeon of that State, of Scotch descent. He was corporal in Company C, Seventh Indiana Cavalry, and afterward sergeant in the barracks at Newport, Ky .; he is at present a resident of Cincinnati. Mrs. Harding, whose parents were natives of Massachusetts, was born in Pierceville, Ind., in 1847. They were the parents of one child, the subject of our sketch, who received his early education at Logansport, Ind., and Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a student of the Eclectic Medical Institute, and was graduated with high honors. He opened an office for the practice of his profession on Court street, Cincinnati, after which, in 1891, he removed to Elmwood Place, where he has built up a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Harding was married, June 12, 1889, to Miss Kittie, the accomplished daughter of Bernard and Kate McCune, of Cincinnati, and one child has blessed this union: Ray E. Dr. Harding is a member of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Society, the Sons of Veterans, and Catholic Knights of Ohio. He is a member of the Catholic Church.

CHARLES SCHILDMEYER, born in Cincinnati, September 30, 1861, is the eldest son of H. H. Schildmeyer, of the same city, who is at present assistant chief of the fire department, of which he has been a member for thirty-eight years. He was born

993

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

in Germany, April 9, 1836, and came to Cincinnati in 1850. On October 12, 1860, he married Catherine Krogmann, and they are the parents of seven children: Charles; Josephine, wife of Dr. H. H. Gott, of Cincinnati; Ella, wife of Henry Nodler, of Covington, Ky. ; Addie, wife of Frank Kapke, of Cincinnati; and Amelia, Katie, and Harriet, at home with their parents.

Charles Schildmeyer, the subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in the city of his birth. At the age of sixteen years he selected an occupation, the trade of shoe cutting, which he followed until he became of age. He then served three years as a member of the fire department, when he entered into the general mercantile business. At the end of four years he sold out, and started a grocery in St. Bern- ard, which he has since conducted. He has been a member of the board of education, and at the present time is a member of the city council. He was married, October 28, 1885, to Miss Emma, daughter of Frank Kauffman, an old and much respected citizen of St. Bernard, and they have five children, all of whom are at home: Charles, Jerome, Joe, Herman H., and Howard. Mr. Schildmeyer is a member of the Cath- olic Knights of Ohio, and of the Firemen's Association of Cincinnati. Politically he is a Democrat, and served as postmaster of St. Bernard under Cleveland from 1884 to 1888.

WILLIAM CORDES, lumber dealer, was born in Hanover, Germany, November 18, 1841, the son of Henry and Amelia (Lueake) Cordes. He emigrated to this country with his parents in 1849, coming direct to Hamilton county, where they carried on the dairy business for a number of years. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are still living: Henry, living near Oakley; Louis, of Ivanhoe; Conrad, of Seymour, Ind. ; William, our subject; Margaret, wife of J. Fielkop, in Oakley, and Caroline, wife of Louis Langhorn, of Cincinnati.

Our subject was reared and educated in Avondale and Norwood, and engaged in the dairy business with his father until 1865, when he took full charge of the busi- ness and successfully conducted it until 1884, when he sold out, and with his sons engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of lumber, lath, sash doors, etc., under the firm name of William Cordes & Sons, with business and office at Carthage. He was married in October, 1863, to Charlotte, daughter of C. H. Steinkamp, of Pleasant Ridge, this county. This happy union has been blessed with eight children, six of whom are living: Edward, Albert, Harry, Ferdinand, Malinda and Amanda, all' at home. Our subject is a member of the Knights of Honor. In religious connec- tion he is a member of the German Protestant Church of Carthage.

WILLIAM M. ALLEN was born in Westchester, Butler Co., Ohio, January 29, 1854, son of Martin L. and Rachel (Hughes) Allen, the former of whom was born in New Jersey, February 12, 1819, and died September 13, 1889; his business was that of farming and stock raising. The mother was born in Baltimore, Md., June 20, 1825, and died February 12, 1889. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living: Mary, wife of Cash W. Carter, residence in Butler county; Emma, a. stenographer in Cincinnati, and our subject. They are of Irish descent.

William M. Allen received a common-school education in Butler county, and a business education in Cincinnati, graduating from Nelson's Business College in 1875. He then entered the employ of John McGowan & Company, where he remained for eight years; was then in the employ of Laidlaw & Dunn Company, with whom he remained eighteen months, and is at the present time in the employ of the Union Axle Company of Carthage, where he has been since 1892. He erected the Carthage Water Works. Mr. Allen was married in June, 1881, to Abbie, daughter of William and Annie Krousekoff, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. This union has been blessed with two children, only one of whom is liv- ing, Nancy Ethel. Our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Knights of Honor; politically he is a Republican, and has been a member of the school board for three years.

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 159

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