History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 161

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 161

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).

1000

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

This is a brief record of his life of forty years. Of his character no word of re- proach was ever spoken. It is related of him that no act of unkindness or of diso- bedience ever pained the heart of his widowed mother. That he possessed a tender and thoughtful regard for the members of his household, and that he was actuated by the highest motives in entering the services of his country, may be seen by this extract from a private letter written to his sisters, but sent to his brother, with direc- tions to give it to them only in case he was killed in the war. It is dated at Camp Wood, near Munfordville, Ky., December 18, 1861. "But the realities of war are around me, and I am not insensible to its danger, and have thought over the whole subject again and again. If I felt sure that death would be the only portion I should reap from this war, I should not the less be satisfied and even glad that I had taken up arms in defense of my country in the hour of her extreme need. I could not feel that I had performed my duty to that country, which, in peaceful times, has honored and trusted me, nor to the parents who gave me birth-to you who live now-nor to those who are to come after all of us shall have passed the dread trial that comes but once, but must come to all, if I had done otherwise than I have in this matter."

As a soldier Col. Langdon was conspicuous for his bravery. At Pittsburg Land- ing his commanding form made him a mark for the enemy's sharpshooters. One of their balls tore his hat from his head, and knocked him from his horse. At Perry- ville and at Stone River, while acting as a staff-officer for Gen. McCook, his horse was shot under him, and he was specially mentioned for gallant conduct at Mis- sion Ridge, where, notwithstanding he received an almost mortal wound, he still kept with his men, and was among the first within the enemy's works. From this wound he never fully recovered, the shock to his system having induced an affection of the heart. His death, though not unexpected, was sudden. On the morning of May 30, 1867, he rose early; his breakfast was brought to him by his devoted sisters, but it was not touched. Near dinner-time one of them brought him some mulled wine as a reviving drink. On rising to receive it his head fell forward, and when it was lifted by his sister's hand life had passed away. To the number of brave men who yielded their lives at Mission Ridge was added one more, in the person of E. Bassett Langdon, who as truly died for his country as if he had fallen in that historic charge. - [Whitelaw Reid.

HENRY B. SPRAGUE was born in Manchester, N. Y., March 10, 1819, the son of William and Desire (Benham) Sprague, both natives of New York, the former of Scotch, the latter of Hollandish, descent. The father was a blacksmith by trade. The subject of our sketch received his education in the public schools of Manchester and of Rochester. When he was a young man he learned the edge-tool trade - in which he excelled-with a Mr. Stager, in Rochester, N. Y. He remained there for a short time, and in 1840 came to Cincinnati, working first for the firm of Joseph Culp & Company; later he was a member of the firm of Seybold, Cunningham & Sprague, edge-tool manufacturers, and remained with that firm until the death of Mr. Seybold, after which he continued alone for some years. Mr. Sprague then went into the livery business, in which he was engaged, however, only a short time. He then came to Linwood, where he lived retired the remainder of his life, dying November 26, 1892. He was married, December 31, 1843, to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Drusilla (Wilson) Belt, both natives of Maryland, the former of English, and the lat- ter of Scotch, descent. Elizabeth's father died when she was but a small girl, and her mother afterward married John Carr, a boot and shoe merchant of Cincinnati. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sprague, six of whom are living: William, residing at Cambridge, Ohio; Sarah and Elizabeth, at home; James M., a United States ganger; John C., an engineer on the C. P. & V. R. R., and Anna B. Harry C. is deceased. Politically Mr. Sprague was a Democrat.

GEORGE ANDREW and JOHN WILLIAM SCHRIMPER are the proprietors of a hotel an.I grocery in Linwood. George Andrew was born at Oakley, Ohio, March 25, 1864.

Barrett Langdon

1001

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

His father, John William Schrimper, was born in Westphalia, Prussia. His mother, Anna Mary (Vogel) Schrimper, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany. The parents emigrated to the United States when single. They became acquainted while living in Reading, Hamilton Co., Ohio, and were subsequently married at Oakley. Here they farmed for a number of years, and afterward engaged in the hotel business, keeping what is known as the "Four-Mile House" at Oakley, which is now run by the Kroetz family. About 1866 they removed to Linwood, where Mr. Schrimper pur- chased the " Linwood House " and kept hotel until his death, January 8, 1872, after which his widow managed the business until her death, March 30, 1887. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are now living: George G .; John Will- iam; George Andrew; Anna Rosina; Anna Barbara, and Anna Mary. The deceased are: John George, who died March 27, 1874, and Anna Rosina, who died March 5, 1860. Mr. Schrimper was a soldier in the Mexican war, and was captain of Home Guards at Oakley during the Rebellion.

George Andrew Schrimper received a public-school education. He was brought up in a hotel, and as soon as he was able to work assisted his father in that business. At the death of his mother, he and his brother, John William, became proprietors of the hotel which they have ever since conducted to the entire satisfaction of their many guests. The brothers are engaged in the grocery business in Linwood, and are doing an excellent trade, giving their personal attention to the business. Mr.

Schrimper was married, January 7, 1890, to Ada Bell, daugliter of Joseph A. and Anna (Drusil) Rodocker, and they are the parents of two children: Mabel Alena, and George F. The family are adherents of the Evangelical Protestant Church.

JOHN MITCHELL DOGGETT was born in Hillsborough. Highland Co., Ohio. Febru- ary 17, 1819, son of Newton and Mary (Mitchell) Doggett, natives of Kentucky. His grandmother's father was Jacob Boone, a brother of Daniel Boone. of Kentucky fame. His father was an undertaker and furniture manufacturer at Hillsborough, Ohio, where he located in 1808, and continued in business until his death, April 2, 1839. His wife died in 1845.

The subject of our sketch was reared in Hillsborough. When a young man he entered into business on his own account, as builder and furniture dealer. In 1866 he located in Cincinnati, where he followed building and contracting, and in 1889 moved to Linwood, where he has since lived a retired life. He married, January 12, 1843, Elma B., daughter of Isaac and Sallie (Fenner) Parker, natives of Virginia, who came to Highland county in 1809. To this union have been born eight children, three of whom are living: Madison W., who has been connected with the Consolidated Coal Mining Company in Cincinnati for the past twenty years, is single, and resides with his parents in Linwood; Charles L., who is married, and resides in Cincinnati; and J. Kirby, who is also married, and lives in St. Louis. Those deceased were named as follows: Anna, Parker, Clarke, and Lizzie, who died in infancy, and Sal- lie M., deceased November 30, 1891, at Linwood, aged forty-one, who married Oscar B. Grant, and became the mother of three children: Arthur D., Frank D., and William D. Mr. and Mrs. Doggett are members of the Presbyterian Church at Lin- wood, and Mr. Doggett is a Democrat in politics.

JAMES D. LANGDON, a native of Vershire, Vt., came to Ohio in 1806, with quite a number of friends and relatives, who settled on farms on the Little Miami river. James D. Langdon, his father, lived to the age of ninety-three years. The gene- alogy of this branch of the Langdon family is somewhat interesting, and is briefly as follows: Phillip Langdon, with two brothers, came from Yorkshire, England, in 1640; he was the great-great-grandfather of James D. Langdon; his family home was in Wilbraham, Mass .; his son Paul was the great-grandfather of James D. Langdon. Paul had seven children; he and his son John were soldiers for a time in the Revolutionary war. John. the grandfather of James D. Langdon, had a family of eight children in Wilbraham, Mass., of whom the second son was James,

1002

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

the father of James D. Langdon. Of this family of eight, five came to Ohio in the fall of 1806, traveling in common wagons from Massachusetts and Vermont in com- pany with other pioneers, to Wellsville on the Ohio river, where they embarked on flatboats and floated down the river to Columbia, a short distance below the mouth of the Little Miami, where they landed and spent the winter. In the spring of 1807 land was selected on the Little Miami river which has been known ever since as the " Langdon Bottoms," and almost wholly devoted to the cultivation of corn.

James D. Langdon, the father of Elam C., was married in 1818 to Sarah Phelps, a native of Hallowell, Maine, who came to Ohio in 1817, making the long overland journey in wagons. A family of nine children was born and reared on the original homestead where the son John P. now resides. The family record of James D. Langdon is as follows: James D. was born June 13, 1792, and died April 13, 1887; Sarah P., his wife, was born May 1, 1797, and died September 11, 1863. James Harvey, born November 23, 1819, died, unmarried, in 1842; Sarah, born October 1, 1821, died in 1825; Cynthia, born August 23, 1823, married Henry E. Morrill, and died January 9, 1861; Harriet, born July 25, 1825, married Charles H. Williams, and resides in Springfield, Ohio; Cyrus Stebbins, born January 5, 1828, died unmar- ried in 1864; John Phelps, born December 8, 1829, married Keturah A. Nash, and resides in Linwood, Ohio; Elam Chester, born March 31, 1832, married Martha F. Nash, and resides in Linwood; Edwin Mattoon, born December 20, 1834, died unmarried in 1847; Henry Archer, born May 28, 1839, married Eleanor Corbly, and died May 13, 1876.

JOHN P. LANGDON Was born December 8, 1829, on the farm where he and bis family now live in Spencer township, Hamilton Co., Ohio. He has always been an active busy farmer, and lives on the very site where his father began his career and built his early western home about 1820. He enjoyed only such educational advantages as the common district schools afforded in the early days of subscription and free schools of Ohio, but he has found time to read and keep posted in the progress of events and all matters of public importance. Mr. Langdon has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Williams, daughter of one of the pioneer families of Ohio, but she died about five years thereafter, leaving a son, James W., who with his father cultivates corn on a large scale in the Little Miami Bottoms. The second marriage was with Keturah A. Nash, also a daughter of one of the oldest settlers of Hamilton county.

Although the business of an active farmer usually occupies almost exclusively a man's time and attention, yet Mr. Langdon has from his early manhood been called upon to act and interest himself in public matters, both religious and secular. He has been an officer of the township and village repeatedly, and when the village of Linwood was first incorporated he was chosen mayor, which office he now holds, having been re-elected thereto for seven terms. His father was a prominent member and a local preacher of the Methodist Protestant Church, and very naturally he, as a result of his early training and surroundings, became also a member of that Church. Having a good voice and fair musical talents, he has always taken great interest in the music of the Churches and Sunday-schools. At present he is a teacher of the large Bible class of the Sunday-school in the Baptist Church, and is one of the prominent representative men of the village, in all public and moral advancement.

ELAM C. LANGDON was born in what is now the village of Linwood March 31, 1832, son of James D. and Sarah P. Langdon. During the early years of the his- tory of Ohio the schools were maintained by subscription, and the subject of this sketch attended the district schools in the winter months till he was sixteen years old, when he became a student for the two succeeding years in Woodward College, Cincinnati, graduating in the English course in June, 1850. During the ensuing fall he accepted an offer of the position of clerk and bookkeeper in the store of his

1003

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

brother-in-law, Dr. H. E. Morrill, on Broadway, New York City, and was thus engaged for about five years, residing in Brooklyn, across the East river. In the spring of 1855 he returned to Linwood and resumed the occupation of a farmer, which he has followed ever since. In April, 1859, he married Cynthia B. Allen, from western New York, and two children were born of this union. This wife died in 1868; the eldest daughter, Minnie, died in early girlhood; Leonora Snow, the youngest daughter, married Ernest E. Baker in April, 1891, and now resides in the Red Bank part of the village. In December, 1869, Mr. Langdon was married to Martha F. Nash, and they have had two children, one of whom died in infancy; the other, Harriet N., resides at home.

When quite a boy our subject became a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, and on removing to Brooklyn, N. Y., he united with the Plymouth Church, of which the famous Henry Ward Beecher was then pastor. On return-to Linwood he became a member of the Congregational Church in Columbia, one and one-half miles distant, and was also a teacher or officer in the Sunday-school there and the Union Sunday-school in Linwood. During the last few years, since the organization of the Baptist Church of the village, he has, with his wife and daughter, attended this Church and its Sunday-school, and with them became a worker in advancing the Christianity and morality of the village. The village was incorporated in 1874, and at its first organization he was chosen a member of the council, a position to which he has been re-elected eight terms. He was a member of the school board of the township and village for seventeen consecutive terms, and has always taken great interest in the affairs of the community generally.

JUDGE JOSEPH Cox, presiding judge of the First Judicial District of Ohio, was born August 4, 1822, at Chambersburg, Penn., son of Dr. Hiram and Margaret Edwards Cox. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Virginia and Penn- sylvania. Both of his grandfathers participated in the Revolutionary war, and were sturdy pioneers on the then outskirts of civilization. His father was a finely-edu- cated man, quite a linguist, and able to pursue his studies in various languages. A graduate of the Ohio Medical College, he was for many years a leading physician in active practice in Cincinnati and vicinity, often advocating propositions pertaining to his profession that were far in advance of the opinions of his contemporaries, but which have since been universally recognized.

The subject of this sketch was, when quite young, placed under the care of Rev. L. G. Gaines, a very eminent tutor of Clermont county, Ohio, where he was thoroughly drilled in the common branches of learning and in Greek and Latin, and afterward pursued a classical course at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, which insti- tution in late years conferred upon him the degree of A. M. After leaving Miami University he studied medicine for a time with his father, but preferring the legal profession he became a student in the law office of Hon. Thomas J. Strait, a prom- inent lawyer of Cincinnati. At the age of twenty-one he was admitted to the Bar and began practicing law, occupying his leisure hours in literary labor of various kinds, contributing frequently to the journals of the day, and preparing works descriptive of the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys. He was associated for a while in the practice with Mr. Henry Snow, and afterward with his brother, Capt. Myron S. Cox. In 1855 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Hamilton county, and served in this position with marked ability. His term was an extraordinarily active one. Of the thirty murder trials which he conducted, the most noted in the Western country at that time was that of Arrison, for the murder of Allison and wife, by means of an "infernal machine " exploded in the Medical College on Central avenue, in Cincin- nati, in which Mr. Cox gained high encomiums. By active prosecution he broke up the Big Sandy gang of counterfeiters, and sent ten of its members to the penitentiary ; he pushed the investigations against corrupt officials and contractors, and, by having their contracts of the Courthouse and Lunatic Asylum annulled, saved thousands of

1004

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

dollars to the county. He refused a renomination at the end of his term, and resum- ing private practice was actively and remuneratively employed until his election to the judgeship of the common pleas court, in 1866. In this position he served the public faithfully for fifteen years, being re-elected in 1871 and 1876. As a judge his integrity and ability as a lawyer were unquestioned, and was specially recognized by the Bar when, in 1877, there being a vacancy caused by the death of Judge H. H. Leavitt, the entire Bar united in a recommendation for his appointment to the position of United States District Judge. The election in 1876, which was a Presi- dential year, was very close, and, in order to establish his election, Judge Cox was compelled to lay bare the frauds perpetrated at the polls in a very celebrated cause before the Senate of Ohio, where he succeeded in maintaining his position. The judgment of the Senate was afterward confirmed, on the case being referred to the supreme court of the State. Retiring from the Bench in 1882, he engaged in practice with his two sons, Benjamin H. Cox and Joseph Cox, Jr., until the formation of the circuit court, when he was again called to judicial honors, and became the first pre- siding judge of that court for the First Judicial Circuit of Ohio. His large experi- ence, deep learning and marked executive ability were recognized by his unanimous renomination and election by an overwhelming majority in 1886, and he still serves in that capacity with eminent satisfaction to the public and the Bar.

Before entering his judicial life Judge Cox was noted as a brilliant speaker on the political and social questions of the day. He was a strong advocate of the abolition of slavery. On the dissolution of the Whig party he was among the organizers of the Republican party, became one of its active campaign orators, and served faith- fully in the promotion of its principles as a citizen and on the stump, and as delegate to its State and National conventions. During the war of the Rebellion he labored unceasingly for the Union, devoting liberally of his means and giving the greater part of his time in efforts to raise recruits, build hospitals and provide for the care of the wounded and the comfort of the soldiers in the field. During this time he was obliged to travel extensively, and was intrusted with many important

confidential duties. During the Kirby Smith and Morgan raids he served as captain of cavalry in the Union army. Since the close of the war he has been an earnest advocate, whenever the occasion presented, of the just claims of duty and gratitude which the Government owes to its defenders. Judge Cox is not noted alone in his profession, but he is frequently called upon to give the public the benefit of his scientific and historical learning. As a lecturer he never fails to attract large audi- ences, and by his instructive and entertaining discourses to please and educate the people. He is well versed in literature, and his style of delivery is always enter- taining. His addresses and papers, which have been widely published and circulated, include among others "Archaeology of the Mississippi Valley," "Life of General Harrison," the "Battle of Gettysburg," "Centennial Address at Marietta, Ohio," "Address at the Dedication of Eden Park, July 4, 1870;" "Sketches of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States;" "Addresses to General Grant, Gari- baldi, Garfield, Schenck and others," and eloquent discourses at Decoration services at Springfield, Ohio, and at Spring Grove in the Centennial year. Judge Cox is a frequent contributor at the meetings of the distinguished Society of Cincinnati; he is an honorary member of many literary and scientific societies of this country and of European countries, and is one of the professors in the Law Department of the National Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio. In his private life Judge Cox is known as an excellent citizen, kindly and charitable in all his relations with his fellows, and a delightful social companion. He was married in New Orleans, May 9, 1848, to Mary A. Curtis, daughter of Benjamin R. Curtis, formerly of Richmond, Va. Of their children four sons and two daughters still survive. The sons are all engaged in active business or professional life, and are prominent and respected citizens; one of the daughters, married to Mr. Sabin Robbins.

1005

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

THEODORE MARSII, deceased, was born June 20, 1821, in Cincinnati, Ohio, son of John and Margaret (Gillman) Marsh, both natives of New Jersey, and of French and German extraction. John Marsh, who was a bricklayer and plasterer by trade, was one of the early pioneers of Cincinnati (1814). He was the father of seven children, six of whom reached maturity: William, Margaret, John, Theodore, Sarah and Mary.

Theodore Marsh was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati and at Wood- ward High School of that place. At the age of sixteen he entered the employ of W. Hodgson to learn the drug business, and served an apprenticeship of six years, receiving $16 per year for his services. During this period it was necessary that he remain at the store during the night to supply the wants of any that might need drugs, or to frustrate any attempts of burglary. One night he was awakened by a noise at one of the side windows; he cautiously arose, not taking time to arrange his toilet, and with a weapon of an ancient pattern, called a revolver, belonging to his uncle, slipped through the front door, and found three men trying to gain an entrance through the window. He rushed on them like a demon, using his navy for a club, and succeeded in driving them away, but received a wound in the side from a knife that nearly cost him his life. He worked for Mr. Hodgson a short time after com- pleting his apprenticeship, then went into business for himself on the southeast corner of Sixth street and Central avenue, continuing very successfully until 1861, when he served one term in the Ohio Legislature. He was city councilman for ten years, and also served one term in the State Senate. During the Civil war he raised a company of two hundred men to protect the city during Morgan's raid. He made a trip to Virginia during the war to collect the money due the soldiers of Cincinnati, and brought it home to their families. He was vice-president of the Kilgour Street railway for a number of years. On November 17, 1845, he married Miss Rachel Cunningham, born June 5, 1824, daughter of Thomas and Ann (Slack) Cunningham, natives of Pennsylvania, who were farmers by occupation, and Quakers in religious faith. Mr. Marsh died October 5, 1889, beloved and respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Marsh is a prominent member of the Episcopal Church, and has been president of the Ladies Aid Society for fourteen years.

ISRAEL PENDERY was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, January 16, 1830, a son of Alexander and Mary (Ludlow) Pendery, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Hamilton county; she was the first white woman born in Cincinnati. Alex- ander Pendery's father came to Hamilton county in 1805 with four other families on a keelboat. Alexander and his sisters located at Ludlow Station in 1805. In 1807 he bought 100 acres of land in what is now Wyoming, where he remained until his death, in 1866. His wife died February 18, 1854. They were the parents of twelve children, four of whom are living: Goodlow, a retired merchant, born November 10, 1808; John L., born December 20, 1823; Israel H., our subject, and Susan B., born July 23, 1834. Those deceased are: Ludlow, William, Alexandra, Martha L., James T., Ralph and Mary A.

The subject of our sketch was reared on his father's farm, and received his edu- cation in the common schools, and at College Hill. After the death of his father he located on the old homestead, the same farm his grandfather bought in 1807, and in connection with farming he has followed contracting and landscape grading. He was married, January 28, 1858, to Mary S., daughter of Reuben and Eliza Van- zandt. Five children have blessed this union; Virginia M., wife of Albert Murray, residing in Louisville, Ky. (he is an adjuster for the Phoenix Insurance Company); Clarence A., who is engaged in the grocery business at Wyoming; Cora B .; John L., and Rosa G. Politically, Mr. Pendery is a Democrat. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Masonic Lodges of Wyoming. Mr. Pendery has done a great deal toward the building up of Wyoming, and is highly respected by all who know him.

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 161

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