History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 163

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

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lawyer, now residing in Switzerland county, Indiana; Eliza, a maiden sister, resid- ing with Martha, who married Jacob Richter, also farming in Switzerland county, Indiana; Frankie, wife of Thomas Heady, a farmer near Ghent, Ky .; Mary. wife of Rev. George C. Lamb, who has charge of the Presbyterian Church, Boone, Iowa, and James F. Edward C. died in 1878, and Dr. Thomas J. died in Memphis,. Tenn., in 1878, where he had gone to render medical services during the yellow- fever epidemic.

James Franklin Heady was prepared for college at Moorefield Academy, after which he entered the State University at Bloomington, Ind., in 1869, graduating in 1873. He then immediately commenced the study of medicine, and in 1874 entered the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating in 1878. In the spring of 1878 he located in Springdale, Ohio, and practiced medicine there six years. On June 24, 1884, he married Anna, the youngest daughter of the late Dr. John Ran- dolph Hunt, and sister of Judge Samuel F. Hunt of the superior court of Cincin- nati, Ohio. After the Doctor's marriage he located in Glendale, Ohio. He has been an exceedingly successful practitioner, coming to Springdale in 1878 with nothing but a thorough medical education, and by his industry he has accumulated quite a fortune. The Doctor having been a poor boy, and knowing the self-denial and persistent effort requisite for success, is always ready and anxious to assist the worthy poor, and more than one can thank him for a comfortable home. In 1877, after a fierce competitive examination for interne in the Cincinnati Hospital, at which seven out of eighteen applicants could be successful, he received the appoint- ment, and served during 1877 and 1878. He has been president of the Glendale Savings Association continuously since 1888, during which time the capital stock has increased five-fold. In 1893, when the treasurership of the village in which he resides became vacant, he was appointed to fill the vacancy, and in 1894 was elected treasurer without opposition, he being satisfactory to all factions. He has been a member of the Springdale Presbyterian Church since be located in that place. No one stands higher in the community than Dr. Heady.

REV. DAVID PISE, pastor of the Episcopal Church of Glendale, was born in Belchertown, Mass., September 29, 1815. His preparatory course was mostly in classical schools in his native State; and he was graduated from Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., in 1838. This college celebrated its one hundredth anni- versary in October, 1893. After four years spent in teaching he commenced his studies for the ministry in the General Theological Seminary, New York City, and afterward pursued them under the direction of Bishop DeLancy in the diocese of western New York. In August, 1846, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop DeLancy, and became rector of Christ Church, Manlius, Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he had ministered during the year of his diaconate. In 1848 he was called to Trinity Church, Fayetteville, N. Y., and was also at the same time re- elected principal of the academy in that village, a position he had occupied for

It was during this period that President some years before coming into orders. Cleveland was his pupil, the latter's father being at the time pastor of the Presby- terian Church in that village. In 1850 our subject was called to Trinity Church, Clarksville, Tenn., and in 1854 to the rectorship of St. Peter's Church, Columbia, Tenn., where he remained fourteen years, and then, in 1868, was elected rector of St. Paul's Church, New Albany, Ind. In 1873 he was called to the rectorship of St. Paul's Church in Portland, Maine. In 1875 he became rector of Christ Church, Glendale, which position he now occupies.

Dr. Pise was married in 1846 to Miss Amelia S., daughter of the late Richard Allison. She died in Glendale in May, 1877, the mother of six children, three of whom are living: Josephine; Rev. Charles T. A. Pise, rector of St. James Church, Marietta. Ga., and Elizabeth R., wife of P. V. Porter Wiggins, resident of Minne- apolis, Minn. Rev. William Taylor Pise died in 1882. The father of our subject,

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also a clergyman, was born in East Windsor, Conn., in 1783, and died in Ashfield, Mass., in November, 1878, in the ninety-sixth year of his age. The mother was the only daughter of Eliezer Ayres, of Granby, Mass., and died in New York in 1853. The family is of German ancestry, emigrated to England four hundred years ago, came to this country in 1634, and settled in Salem, Mass. The grandfather of Dr. Pise was a physician, and for a time was in charge of a hospital on Block Island after the Revolutionary war.

CHARLES PORTER DAVIS, United States Volunteer Signal Service Observer, was born in Cincinnati September 7, 1843, eldest son of Charles Davis, Sr., president of the Second National Bank of Cincinnati. He received his education at J. B. Chickering Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H., and graduated in what is called a special course. After leaving college he studied art in Cincinnati, New York City, and abroad, and afterward had his studio in New York City for about five years. He then turned his course westward and located at Glendale, Ohio, where he has since resided. Although Mr. Davis is yet in the prime of life he has traveled all over Europe and America, and has also visited Cnba, Mexico, and many points of interest throughout the West. He now has charge of the United States Volunteer Signal Service Station, located in Glendale, a position he has occupied about four years. On October 5, 1892, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Josie V. Law, daughter of John Law, of Cincinnati. Mr. Davis has in his studio a very large collection of paintings and curiosities from both the United States and foreign countries, many of which are famous in the early history of Ohio. On his place he has a log house and stockade, which were built after the style of those in 1792, and are filled with many valuable books and relics. One oil painting which adorns the walls of the studio is more than five hundred years old. Mr. Davis was one of the defenders during the time of Kirby Smith's raid on Cin- cinnati and Morgan's raid through this section in the Civil war.

Charles Davis, Sr., father of our subject, is a native of Brighton, Mass. The mother, who was a native of Danversport, Mass., died in Cincinnati in 1881. They were the parents of two children. B. F. Davis, the youngest son, is connected with the Second National Bank, of which his father is president. The family is of English descent, and in politics its present representatives are Republicans.

EDWARD A. BICKEL, retired merchant, was born in Heidelberg, Baden, Germany, January 1, 1835, son of Peter Philip and Margaret (Rutz) Bickel. He was edu- cated at Bender Institute in Weinheim, Baden, and came to this country with his parents in 1848. They bought land in the then center of what is now Lincoln Park, Chicago; but when the cholera was raging there in 1849 they sold out to a Mr. Millerman and removed to Evanston, Ill., thence to Waukegan, Ill., and thence to St. Clair county, coming finally in 1859 to Cincinnati. Mr. Bickel's father ran a stage and mail line in Germany and followed farming in this country. He was the father of five children, three of whom are living: Edward A., George P. and Philip. Philip is the originator of the leading German Baptist Churches of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and Louisville, Ky., and a number of other leading cities throughout Ohio. He is at present publisher of a missionary work in Hamburg, Germany, collecting his literature from all the leading countries of Europe. He married Miss Kittie Clark, of Rochester, N. Y. George P. is in the cigar business in Cincinnati. The two deceased are Kate and Maggie.

Edward A. Bickel was married October 28, 1857, to Miss Mary K., daughter of Gearhart and Eliza Mellen (Brink) Greenfield, of Hanover, Germany, and they have been blessed with one child, a son, who was born May 30, 1858. He received his education in Cincinnati. Mr. Bickel is a member of the Presbyterian Church and of the German Pioneer Society of Cincinnati; also of Washington Lodge No. 2, I. O. O. F. His political views are Republican. He was in the stove and house- furnishing goods business in Cincinnati for thirty years. Peter Philip Bickel, father of our subject, died November 23, 1884, and the mother died June 28, 1869.

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JAMES FRANCIS CHALFANT was born January 20, 1821, at Augusta, Bracken Co., Ky., of which place his father, Thomas Chalfant, was a merchant. His mother, America (Coburn) Chalfant, was a daughter of Judge Coburn, one of the earliest jurists of Kentucky. Our subject was early bereft of both parents, his father having died when he was but nine months, his mother when he was five years of age, and he then lived with his uncle, Francis Chalfant, in Kentucky. Afterward he came to this State and lived with his uncle, Robert Chalfant, a merchant of Felicity. Here our subject was given a clerkship, was finally admitted as a partner, and placed in charge of a second store in that place. His business knowledge was such that, while yet in his "teens," he was sent east to make annual purchases for the busi- ness.

About this time Mr. Chalfant was received into the Church by Wesley Rowe, then pastor of Felicity, and he at once supplied himself with a carefully selected library, and industriously pursued a well-chosen course of study to prepare himself for the ministry. His first sermon was preached in a revival meeting held by W. I. Fee, at New Hope, on the Georgetown circuit. Rev. H. W. Raper recommended him to the Ohio Conference at its re-union at Chillicothe, September 27, 1843, and he was received into the traveling connection. His first charge was Lewisburgh circuit, and the following year he was appointed to the Fletcher circuit. While in this charge he was united in marriage July 17, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Talley, of Batavia, Ohio, the marriage being solemnized by Rev. William H. Raper, his first presiding elder. She was the daughter of John and Sarah (Newcomer) Talley, the former from Delaware, the latter of Maryland. They came to Clermont county, Ohio, soon after their marriage, where he settled on a farm and followed that voca- tion the remainder of his days. Mrs. Talley was a member of the River Brethren Church, while he was a Quaker. Mrs. Chalfant entered heartily into sympathy with her husband in his plans of work, and successively they served the Church in the following pastoral charges: Troy circuit; North Bend; Wilmington; Mays- ville, Ky .; Covington, Ky .; Springfield, and Oxford, Ohio. He then went to Urbana, and presided over a new church at that place. He was then stationed at Park street, Cincinnati. At this place he became intimately connected with the late Bishop Morris, whom he accompanied in his official visit to the Conference in the Northwest. He next went to Dayton, Ohio. Afterward he was appointed to Trinity Church, Cincinnati, and under his pastorate the final indebtedness of this costly structure was paid. In the summer of his third year at Trinity he was appointed by the bishop and commissioned by Bishop Clark to go into the South as a superin- tendent of the mission work. After spending two years there with great credit to himself he returned, and was appointed presiding elder of the West district of Cin- cinnati. Having served a full term he was transferred to the East Cincinnati dis- trict, of which he was the successful elder for the next four years. This was his last charge in regular ministerial work. Having for several years suffered from dis- ease of the heart, his physician advised him to retire from regular work. He was always active in the work, however, when health and circumstances would permit. In 1872 he was elected a delegate to the General Conference. This was the Con- ference that settled the Book Concern tronbles at New York, and had before it many subjects of great importance. He acted on all this with great prudence and wisdom. When in 1863 Bishop Morris was designated by the bishops to visit the Conferences in Western New York, and adjust the troubles that threatened the destruction of the Church in that region, he chose Dr. Chalfant as his confidential adviser, and took him with him as his private secretary.

Dr. Chalfant's abilities were recognized beyond the limits of his denomination, and in 1854 he was chosen one of the trustees of Miami University, which position he filled with credit to the State, the University, and to the Church he represented for a score of years. The hold he had on the minds of public men is also seen in

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the fact that after he returned he was appointed to the responsible and honorable trust of a director of Longview Asylum for the Insane. His mind was of a high order, and under excellent discipline. His varions and extensive acquirements were such that in about 1864 the degree of Doctor in Theology was conferred upon him by the Ohio University. He was a good presiding officer and a good judge of men and character, an excellent manager of the business of the Church, and the institu- tions of which he was trustee. He was a successful business man in his own affairs, a sincere Christian, a true friend, a generous neighbor, and a devoted husband, and his death is deeply deplored. To the brethren, wife and friends who visited his bedside he gave strong evidence of his spiritnal triumph, his resignation to the will of God, his soulful trust in Christ, and his good hope in an everlasting life. In this blissful assurance he sweetly fell asleep in Christ, October 15. 1884, at his residence in Springdale, Ohio. His funeral services were held the following Saturday, and were participated in by Revs. R. K. Deem, W. I. Fee, W. L. Hypes, I. W. Joyce, J. J. Reed, J. Murray, D. C. Bigney, Mr. James, of the Presbyterian Church, and D. J. Starr, D.D. His remains rest in Spring Grove Cemetery.

F. C. WRIGHT was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 16, 1813, a son of John N. and Maria Wright, natives of Ireland. The father emigrated to this country, and, locating in the District of Columbia, remained there for a short time, and then, in 1798, settled in Cincinnati. He took part in the war of 1812. By occupation he was a school teacher. Our subject was a cooper by trade, and industriously followed this for a period of fifteen years. He was successfully engaged in the mercantile trade at Mt. Pleasant from 1848 to 1873, since which time he has been living a retired life. In 1838 he married Miss Julia LaBoyteaux, of an old and noted family. This union has been blessed with. the following children: Aloin D., John, P. H., T. C., J. F., Mary and Cornelia. Of these, John and Cornelia are deceased.

JOEL BROWN was born February 28, 1806, in Connecticut, the eldest son of Aaron and Cynthia (Murray) Brown, both natives of Connecticut. He came with his parents to Ashtabula county, Ohio, and settled in that county on one hundred acres of land, which at that time was all in the woods, with no evidence of civilization'for miles around. They at once went to work clearing the land, and much of this work fell to the lot of our subject, he being the eldest in the family. Our subject's father remained in Ashtabula county until 1837, when he moved to Kentucky, and there engaged in mercantile trade for a few years. He then returned to his old home, and remained there till his death, which occurred August 31, 1876. His wife died August 17, 1837. Five of their children are living: Joel, Ezra, Cynthia, Marinda and Merrett. Aaron Brown's second wife was Loretta Lincoln, and to this marriage were born: Herbert, Birdsell, Melvin and Helen.

Our subject at the age of seventeen commenced working at the carpenter trade, which occupation he industriously and successfully pursued for twenty years, living in Cincinnati from 1838 to 1849. He then moved on a farm in Springfield township, and became one of the thrifty and substantial farmers of that township. He and wife moved to Mt. Healthy a few years ago, and are now living a retired life. In 1829 he married Miss Ann Wright, whose parents are prominent in the early settle- ment of Ashtabula county, Ohio. She was born in 1806 in Colebrook, Conn., daughter of Moses and Esther Wright, natives of Litchfield, Conn. In 1807, with his wife and five children, Mr. Wright moved to Ashtabula county, Ohio. and began farming, which occupation he followed very successfully the remainder of his days. Mrs. Wright made most of the trip from Connecticut to Ashtabula county, Ohio, on horseback, carrying our subject's future wife in her arms. Mr. Wright held the office of justice of the peace for seven terms, and was twice elected county commissioner. He was a very devoted Christian, a member of the Congre- gational Church, and did much for that organization. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born eight children, all of whom are dead except Alexis and Emma.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

THOMAS BUTLER was born in County Kildare, Ireland, a son of Michael and Eliza- beth (Tracy) Butler, farmers by occupation, both natives of that county, who spent their entire lives in the vicinity of Kildare. They were the parents of four children : Edward, Tobias, Anna and Thomas, all deceased except Thomas. They were resi- dents of this country.

Our subject emigrated to America in 1849, and landed at New York in May of that year without a dollar. He started westward on foot, locating in Butler county, Ohio, in the fall of the same year, and began working on a farm for one Robert Gib- son, with whom he remained continuously some fifteen years. During this time he met the lady who became his wife, Miss Bridget Fritzpatrick, and they were married November 27, 1854. She is a daughter of John and Hanora (Maroy) Fritzpatrick, both natives of Ireland, the parents of five children. two of whom are living: Mrs. Butler, and Winfred, the latter a resident of Cincinnati. Mr. Butler purchased a farm of eighty acres in Springfield township, this county, in 1864, and located on the same in the following year. Here he has since remained, engaged in improving his farm. He has not been actively engaged in tilling the soil, but is living a retired life, enjoying the blessings of a well-earned rest.

MICHAEL JOSEPH LONEY, Sycamore township, Hamilton county, was born in Clarke county, near Springfield, Ohio, November 15, 1862, son of Daniel and Margaret (Foley) Loney. Both parents were natives of Ireland, the father born in 1822 and the mother in 1830. Their vessel was shipwrecked off the coast of Newfoundland, but fortunately they were picked up by an outward-bound steamer, and carried back to Liverpool. Taking a steamer again, they landed finally, in 1851, at Boston, where they remained one year, Daniel Loney in the meantime being employed on a rail- road. This work did not suit him, as he had been engaged at farming in Ireland, and he therefore, in 1852, moved to Clarke county, Ohio, and commenced farming, which occupation he has successfully followed.

Our subject remained under the parental roof, attending the district school and working on the farm, until he was seventeen years of age. He then spent one year in college at Springfield, Ohio, afterward attending St. Mary's College for another year. From here he entered a college in Maryland, whence he graduated in 1884. After spending four years more in preparations he was ordained a catholic priest June 28, 1889, by Archbishop William H. Elder. He was then stationed at Dayton, Ohio, for five months as pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, when he was transferred to Holy Trinity Church, Middletown, Ohio; then to St. Bridget, Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, when he was appointed to look after the missions of northern Ohio for a few months. His next change was to Cincinnati, where he had charge of a congregation for one year. From here he was returned to Dayton and placed in charge of St. Joseph's for a few months. On December 8, 1891, he took charge of the Sacred Heart, at Reading, Ohio, where he still remains. He has had the church re-fitted, a new parsonage built, and other improvements made. Father Loney is also chaplain to Notre Dame Convent, Cincinnati. Politically, he is a Democrat.

ROBERT M. BENHAM was born in Butler county, Ohio, July 7, 1843, son of John and Fanny (Densmore) Benham, the former a native of Ohio and of English and German extraction, the latter a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. Our subject's father was born in 1808 and died in 1874; he was a farmer by occupa- tion. His wife died in 1871. They were the parents of eight children: Elizabeth, Anna, Harrie H., Emeline, Alfred, Robert M., William and Martha.

The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and received his education in the common schools. In 1861 he joined the Seventh Rhode Island Regiment, Thir- teenth Army Corps. under Gen. Burnside, under whom he served six months, when he joined the Middle Division of Mississippi, and remained there until the close of the war. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea. After the war he returned home and began to learn the carpenter's trade, but only worked at it for about three

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years, when he learned the trade of plastering with his brother, in which he has since been engaged. He was married, April 4, 1872, to Minnie Dunn, the daughter of Breacha and Athensia (Patterson) Dunn, natives of New York and of Irish descent. To this marriage five children were born: Mael, wife of John Buck; Jessie, John, Frank and Miles. Mr. Benham is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the A. P. A., and politically he is independent.

THOMAS BYWATERS, born in Cincinnati December 29, 1819, the son of Hankerson R. and Sarah (Beard) Bywaters, the former a native of Virginia, and of English and Welsh descent, the latter a native of Louisville, Ky., and of Scotch and Irish descent. The father was a plasterer by trade. In 1815 he came to Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade until 1836, when he was appointed treasurer; he retired from business in 1840, and moved from the city to a farm near Carthage, in Springfield township. He died in 1852; his widow in 1878. They were the parents of ten children, only two of whom are living ..

The subject of our sketch was reared in Cincinnati, and received but a limited education. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the bricklayer's trade, which he has since followed, taking large contracts in the city and surrounding towns. He married, December 6, 1845, Sarah J., the daughter of Freeman and Lydia (Hersey) Ritterhouse, and five children have blessed this union, of whom two are living and three are deceased. Those living are: Adelbert and Norman, both in business in Lockland; the deceased are: Charles S., Edwin and Henry. The mother died May 6, 1888, and is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery. Mr. Bywaters is a descendant of Col. John Campbell, one of the early settlers of Kentucky. Politically he is a Democrat.

JAMES F. PENDERY, deceased, was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, July 17, 1816, son of Alexander and Mary (Ludlow) Pendery, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish descent. His father was a farmer by occupation. The subject of this sketch when a young man learned the blacksmith trade, which he worked at until 1870. He then engaged in mercantile business in Lockland, at which he continued until he retired from active life. He was married, May 11, 1848, to Naomi I., daughter of Bracha and Mary (Gorman) Dunn, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter of Connecticut. Mr. Dunn was foreman of the second shoe shop of Cincinnati. He was married in 1801 at Columbia, and in the same year bought a farm near Avon- dale, and locating thereon commenced its cultivation. After a few years he bought a large tract of land, now the village of Lockland. He died in 1858. He was the father of twelve children, of whom onr subject's wife is the youngest, and the only one living.

To Mr. and Mrs. Pendery were born eight children, of whom six are living: Belle, widow of Sherman Baken; Clara, wife of Thomas Mullen, superintendent of the Halderman Paper Company, of Lockland; Jessie H., wife of Herman Myers, who resides in Michigan; George W., station agent at Cumminsville; James A., who succeeded his father in the grocery business, and John M., a clerk in a freight office at Norwood. Mary J. and Luellen are deceased. Mr. Pendery was a member of the I. O. O. F. of Lockland, and politically a Republican. He was a faithful member of the Christian Church, and was highly respected by all who knew him.

CHARLES W. SKILLMAN was born in Lockland August 17, 1850, the son of Hiram and Eliza A. (Palmer) Skillman, natives of Ohio, and of English and German descent. His grandfather was a native of New Jersey, his grandmother of Ger- many. Our subject's father was a farmer by occupation, and a miller by trade, which he engaged in for many years at Lockland. He came to this place in 1844.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 163

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