History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 164

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

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The subject of our sketch received his education in the common schools, and took a commercial course in Cincinnati, graduating in 1867. About one year after he graduated he taught a writing school. He then engaged in handling flour and feed. In 1876 he began collecting for the Miami and Erie canal, in which capacity he has

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since continued. In connection with collecting he has an agency for the Royal and Northern Insurance Company. He is also secretary for the Building and Loan Associations of Lockland and Reading. He was married, February 27, 1870, to Vernelia, daughter of Patrick and Eliza (Palmer) Killin, who were of Irish descent. Nine children have blessed this union, of whom six are living. and three are deceased. Those living are: Verna E., Clyde N., Alma D., Corinne E., Lillian and Ada M. Those deceased are: Winfield, Charles W. and Myra. Mr. Skillman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he is a Republican.

JACOB VORHIS was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, July 8, 1830, son of Albert and Ann (Flummerfelt) Vorhis, natives of New Jersey and Ohio, respectively, and of German extraction. The father was one of Hamilton county's pioneer farmers, and died in 1849. The mother died in 1867. They were the parents of ten children, of whom six survive.

The subject of our sketch grew to manhood on his father's farm, and received such education as the schools of the neighborhood afforded. He first began tilling the soil for a livelihood, and subsequently, in 1889, engaged in the undertaking bus- iness in Sharon. His business soon increased so as to enable him to start a branch at Lockland. In connection with the Lockland undertaking establishment, he owns a livery barn, in which his son is a partner, and controls the business. On Novem- ber 8, 1851, our subject married Sarah, daughter of John and Elizabeth Meeker, which union has been blessed by two children: Albert M., of the firm of Vorhis & Son, of Lockland, and Freedis P., of St. Charles, Ill. Mr. Vorhis and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and politically he is a Democrat. He has been elected trustee of Sycamore township, and served several years.

G. W. DAVIS, M. D., office and residence Lockland, Ohio, was born at Batavia, Ohio, March 9, 1858, son of Azariah and Ruth (Patten) Davis, natives of Ohio, and farmers by occupation. The father died August 8, 1876; the mother is still living on a farm near Batavia, Ohio. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living: Rev. L. M. Davis, pastor M. E. Church, Sabina, Ohio; Dr. W. O. Davis, Batavia, Ohio; Mrs. Emma E. Robb, Frankfort, Ohio; Dr. C. W. Davis, Madison- ville, Ohio; E. C. Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo., bookkeeper and stenographer for a. law firm; Lillie M., Batavia; Albert L., a farmer of Batavia, Ohio, and G. W.

Our subject was graduated at Lebanon, Ohio, and taught school seven vears. He was a student at the Ohio Medical College and was graduated in March, 1888. He immediately opened an office for the practice of his profession in Lockland. He was united in marriage, July 28, 1891, to Miss Alma C., daughter of Dan and Han- nah (Renshaw) Mitchell, the former a native of Yorkshire, England, and the latter born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the Metliodist Epis- copal Church of Lockland, Ohio, and the Doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and is a member of the school board.

WILLIAM A. WILSON was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, May 24, 1848, son of John and Susan (Gorman) Wilson, the former of French, the latter of English descent, and both natives of Ohio. The father was a carpenter by trade, following this calling until 1852, when he went to California, where he died. The mother died in 1891. The subject of our sketch was reared in Lockland, and received his education in the public schools of that place. When a young man he learned the trade of carpentering. In 1867 he began building and contracting, in which he has since been engaged. He married, October 14, 1869, Miss Ida, the daughter of Elonza and Laura Abbott, the former of whom resides in Washington; the latter is. deceased. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the National Fraternal Union, and politically he is a Democrat.

MICHAEL GUTH was born in France December 5, 1830, the son of Anthony and Sophia Guth. The subject of our sketch was reared in his native land, and there.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

received his education. He came to America in 1851, landing at New York October 6. He located in Cincinnati the same year, and began work at blacksmithing, the trade he had learned in France. There he remained until March, 1855, when he located at Lexington, Ky., and the same year removed to Louisville. In 1855 he went to St. Louis, Mo. On September 17, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Missouri Volunteers, and participated in the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., and all the other skirmishes his company was engaged in. He received his discharge February 1. 1863, after which he returned to St. Louis, and worked for an iron company until 1866, when he removed to Cincinnati and took up his trade again. On April 23, 1868, he located in Lockland, where he has ever since remained, and owns and con - trols two large blacksmith shops. He was married, March 23, 1856, at St. Louis, Mo., to Louisa Tiemyer, and eight children have blessed this union, four of whom are living, as follows: Emil H., Edward F., Lizzie J. and Emma. Those deceased

are: Alfred H., Frank A., and two who died in infancy. Mr. Guth and his family are members of the Catholic Church. Politically he is a Republican, and has been a member of council two terms; he is a member of the G. A. R. Post of Lockland.

FRANCIS M. LEFLAR was born at Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, April 10, 1835, son of James and Phoebe (Frazier) Leflar, who were natives of Ohio, the former of French and the latter of Scotch origin. His father was a brickmaker by trade, and followed same till his decease, in 1837. The mother died in 1839. They were the parents of ten children, of whom five are living.

The subject of our sketch grew to manhood in Hamilton, and received his educa- tion in the public schools of that place. He first learned his trade of brickmaking, which he followed until 1861, when he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-sixth O. V. I., being mustered in as first lieutenant. After serving fourteen months he resigned and organized a company for the Eighty-third O. V. I., of which he was appointed captain, serving in this capacity until January 17, 1865, when he was transferred to Company A, as captain. He was mustered out July 24, 1865, at Galveston, Texas, and returned to his home in Hamilton, but remained there only a short time. He then went west, and was employed by the Government to make the brick and lay them for Fort Sell, now Oklahoma. He returned in 1875, again locating at Hamil- ton, where he remained about ten years. He then located in Lockland, where he has since been engaged in a government store under D. W. McClung. Mr. Leflar was married, in 1871, to Dora Madox, daughter of William and Mary (Brown) Madox, and five children have blessed this union: Frances M., Stephen, William E., Albert A. and Herbert G. Mr. Leffar is a member of the K. of P. and the .G. A. R., and is a Republican in politics.

CASSIUS M. SKILLMAN, attorney at law, residence Lockland, Ohio, office, room No. 51, Carew building, Cincinnati, was born at Lockland December 5, 1860, the son of Isaac and Martha A. (Bachelor) Skillman, the former of whom was born near Lock- land October 16, 1827, and the latter at Manayunk, Penn., April 9, 1829. Six chil- dren were born to them, of whom are living: Theodore; Mrs. Hannah R. Buchanan; Belle; Grant, and Cassius M. The senior Mr. Skillman is proprietor of the Lock- land Packet Line.

Our subject graduated from Chickering Institute, Cincinnati, with honors, June 10, 1880, and from the law school of that city May 28, 1885. In 1881 and 1882 he was entry clerk in the wholesale department of Robert Clarke & Company's book store at Cincinnati. Immediately after completing his legal studies he entered upon the practice of his profession, which he has pursued with fair success. He was solicitor of Lockland from December, 1885, to April, 1888, at which time he was elected mayor, and has served as such up to the present time. He was married, October 16, 1889, to Clara L., daughter of Washington M. and Emma C. (Witham) Park, of Clermont county, Ohio. Mr. Skillman is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the Knights of Pythias; politically he affiliates with the Republican party.

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D. W. McCLURE, physician and surgeon, was born in La Salle county, Ill., June 18, 1859, son of David D. and Hannah E. (Constable) McClure, the former born December 29, 1822, in Dearborn county, Ind., the latter born February 3, 1828, in Hamilton county, Ohio. He was one of a family of six children. After leaving Illi- nois they located in Indiana, where the father died when our subject was but five years of age. They removed from Indiana, and lived in different parts of Ohio, again returning to Indiana, where he found employment on a farm, receiving fifteen dollars per month for his services, from which he saved enough money to enable him to begin the study of medicine under the tutorship of Dr. W. H. Swale, Sr., and later attended the Medical College of Ohio three terms, being graduated from that institution March 5, 1885. During his college terms he worked on a farm during the summer months. After graduating he returned to Indiana, thence removing to Lockland, Ohio, where his mother and three aunts resided. Here he became acquainted with Dr. B. A. Mecum, of Reading, Ohio, with whom he subsequently engaged in the practice of his profession until the death of the latter, March 13, 1887. He continued the practice alone in Reading, where he enjoys a large and lucrative business; he has also been the surgeon for the P. C. C. & St. L. R. R. since 1889.

JACOB VOORHEES, of Sycamore township, Hamilton county, was born in Reading, Ohio, November 17, 1820, son of Jacob and Isabella (Pendry) Voorhees, the former a native of New Jersey, born October 7, 1777, died 1827; the latter of Berkeley county, W. Va., born May 1, 1789, died 1876. Jacob Voorhees, Sr., was educated in the common schools of New Jersey, and his boyhood days were spent on a farm. He emigrated to Hamilton county with his parents about the year 1792, and after marriage located on a farm near Reading, and engaged in farming and shipping pro- duce to New Orleans on flatboats until his death, as noted above. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Jacob Voorhees and wife had nine children, three of whom are still living: Ralph, who resides in Reading; William, in California, and Jacob. Our subject lived with his parents until he was seventeen years old, when he learned the carriage-making trade with Messrs. Armstrong & Barnes, of Cincinnati, serving an apprenticeship of four years. He then returned to Reading, and worked at his trade at different places in the county until about 1872. He was then elected a magistrate in Reading, and has served in that capacity, by re-election, up to the present time. Mr. Voorhees never married. Politically he is a Democrat.

HENRY IHLENDORF, of Reading Sycamore township, Hamilton county, was born July 31, 1848, in Oldenburg, Germany, and is the son of Frank and Engle (Frimer- ding) Ihlendorf, farming people, who were both of German nativity. They were members of the Catholic Church. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: Elizabeth, Bernhart, Frank, Agnes and Henry, all residing in Germany except the subject of this sketch.

Henry Ihlendorf was educated at college and lived with his parents until 1871, when he emigrated to this country, locating in Cincinnati, where he attended college for one year, and then engaged in the dairy business for two years. He then moved to Reading, where he embarked in business as a liveryman and undertaker, and has been identified with the town ever since. He has held a number of offices of trust; has served his township in the capacity of trustee for two terms, was a director of the County Infirmary three years, and was city treasurer five years. By his indus- try and integrity he has won the confidence of the people, and, as a matter of course, has a large trade in his line of business. On September 28, 1873, he married Miss Caroline Goeke, who was born June 1, 1840, in Hanover, Germany, daughter of John and Elizabeth Goeke, both also natives of Germany, and farmers by occupa- tion. They were members of the Catholic Church. They were the parents of the following children: Elizabeth, residing at Batesville, Ind .; Henry; Caroline, who came to America in 1870; Philomenia, residing in Cincinnati; Herman, residing in

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Reading, and four deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ihlendorf are the parents of the follow- ing children: Henry, born September 20, 1874; Carrie, born December 23, 1875, died November 16, 1876; Philomenia, born February 28, 1877; Frederick, born April 10, 1878, Herman William, born November 19, 1880; Mary Catherine Cecilia, born February 25, 1883; died April 28, 1886; Mary Clara Henrietta, born February 23, 1884, died September 4, 1884; Mary Barbara Josephine, born May 10, 1885, and Mary Agues Antoinette, born May 9, 1893.

JOHN MYERS, of Sycamore township, Hamilton county, Ohio, was born January 31, 1823, in Charleston, Va. (now W. Va.), a son of John and Margarett (Gleason) Myers, both natives of Maryland, the former of German the latter of Irish extrac- tion. Mr. Myers, Sr., was superintendent of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad for a number of years, but his later years he spent on a farm. Our subject was educated at Georgetown College, in the District of Columbia, and at the mathematical school in Alexandria. At the age of seventeen, he joined the engineer corps of the Balti- more & Ohio railroad, working for that company in different capacities for a period of sixteen years; was passenger conductor, gauger of engines, and assistant ticket agent at Baltimore. He worked for this company continuously from the age of seventeen or eighteen to 1846, and was then in the employ of the Georgia Central railroad for four years as civil engineer. He then returned to the Baltimore &. Ohio. In 1853 he came to Cincinnati, to locate the line of the Dayton & Ohio Short Line, and located the road from Maysville to Covington, constructing most of it. He also located the "Big Four" railroad, and helped to build the first street rail- road in Cincinnati. He was then, in 1866-67, engaged in building street railroads in Milwaukee, Wis. He also superintended the water works at Rochester, N. Y., during those two years, and was chief engineer for the State of Ohio. He has done the principal surveying in Reading. Mr. Myers is a Democrat, and was nominated for the board of public works of the State in 1892, but was defeated by a small majority. He has served two terms as assessor, and in 1890, was elected real-estate assessor of Sycamore township.

In 1854 our subject married Miss A. Delia Woodruff, who was born in Hamil- ton, Butler Co., Ohio, in 1837, daughter of John and Catherine (Vanauker) Wood- ruff, the former of whom was a native of Elizabethtown, N. J., coming to Cincinnati in 1804, and engaging in the manufacturing of brick. He burnt and laid the brick for the first courthouse in Cincinnati; afterward bought a farm in Butler county, Ohio, and engaged in farming. He kept a hotel at Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, the principal part of his life, and was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers have been born the following children: Flora, wife of Howard Friend, paper manufacturer, of Dayton, Ohio: Herman, agent for Mr. Friend; Arthur B., civil engineer, Mansfield, Ohio; Maggie, wife of Alfred Keeley, merchant tailor, of Cincinnati; Catherine; Grace; Latrobe and Guy Stanley.

FERDINAND FLADUNG was born July 13, 1842, in Spahl, near Geisa, Sachsen- Weimar, Germany, son of Henry and Barbara (Kell) Fladung, both also natives of Germany, the former, whose business was that of a farmer and stock dealer, born in 1801, and died in 1881, the latter born in 1810, and died in 1887. In 1867 Fer- dinand Fladung emigrated to the United States and made his location at Reading, Ohio, where he worked at the trade of stone mason, his first stone work being on Mt. Notre Dame Convent at Reading. He also laid the corner stone of this great build- ing under direction of Archbishop Purcell. After following his trade for a number of years, he began contracting, following same four years. He then commenced to ship stock, and also became proprietor of the "Farmers' Hotel" at Reading. He supplied Longview Hospital with cattle and hogs for several years, and in 1882 was made agent for John Klee & Son, selling their mineral water, ginger ale, etc., some ten years. He then erected bottling works of his own, and began the manufacture of ginger ale, mineral water and all kind of soft drinks, at the present time giving that business his whole attention, and enjoying a large trade.

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Mr. Fladung is considered one of Reading's self-made men, and owns consider- able real estate, which he has acquired through his own industry, economy and strict attention to business. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Priska Bambaugh, born in Germany in 1843. They were married in March, 1867, and she died June 21, 1882, leaving the following children: Edward, Anna, Andrew, Henry and Jacob, the last named being three months old when his mother died. In May, 1883, our subject married his second wife, Miss Mary Voelk, who was born in Germany May 7, 1863, a daughter of Adam and Margaret Voelk, also natives of Germany, who emigrated to Cincinnati in 1880. Mr. Voelk, who was a farmer, was born in 1825, and died in 1889; his wife was born 1824, and died in 1891. Both were members of the Catholic Church. By this last marriage there have been three children: Rosa, Philip and Joseph. Mr. Fladung is a member of the present coun- cil of Reading. He is president of the Roman Catholic Cemetery of that place, and is also president of the German Building, Loan and Savings Association, of which he has been an officer for ten years. He was one of the first in Reading to have an electric light plant and water works built. In politics he is a Democrat.

JOHN KOELSCH, of Reading, Sycamore township, Hamilton Co., Ohio, was born July 20, 1837, in Germany, a son of Henry and Sarah (Ring) Koelsch, the latter of whom was born in Germany in 1811, emigrated to this country in 1850, and is now living in Kansas. The father was born in 1807, was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1846. Our subject emigrated to this country with his mother, making the voyage in a sailing vessel called the "New England," and landing in New Orleans. He came to Reading, Ohio, in 1852, and commenced to learn the tailor's trade, working three years with John Crow. He moved into the city, and worked there for a year; then went to Reading, and in 1820 started in business for himself, which he has since followed, furnishing employment to about twenty employes. He has accumulated considerable property, among which may be mentioned twelve vacant lots and a number of houses and lots, all accumulated by his own energy and industry. He is a stanch Democrat, has been councilman of Reading fourteen years, has held the office of trustee of the Seminary of St. Peters, and is consid- ered one of Reading's very best citizens.

Mr. Koelsch was married, in 1862, to Barbara Doll, who was born in Germany April 11, 1837, emigrating to Canada and thence moving to this State. She is a daughter of Michael and Margarett Doll, the latter dying when she was quite young. The father was a stone cutter by trade. This union has been blessed with the following children: Henry, Barbara, Charles; Frank, George and John (all three deceased); Ursula, Theodore, John and Augustus. The family are members of the Catholic Church.

REV. CHARLES WIEDERHOLD, Reading, Sycamore township, was born in Treves, Rhine Province, Germany, June 11, 1853, son of Charles and Bertha (Ruehl) Wied- erhold. The former was born in Saxony, and was for almost fifty years postmaster inspector.

At the age of ten years our subject entered the gymnasium at Treves, where he graduated at the age of eighteen years, when he entered the priest seminary at that place and remained three years. He then spent one year in the University of Muenster, Westphalia, when he was ordained a priest March 29, 1876, at Treves, by Bishop Eberhart. In April, 1877, he came to Cincinnati and was appointed assist- ant priest at the St. Anthony for one year. From there he was sent to Piqua, Ohio, where he remained three years, when he was transferred to Reading, Hamilton Co., Ohio, where he remained two years. Then he took charge of St. Philumena Church, Stone Lick, Clermont county, and St. Paul's Church, Yellow Springs, Greene county. In September, 1887, he became pastor of SS. Peter and Paul's Church at Reading, where he still remains. Politically he is a Democrat.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

JOHN WILLIAM SPRUNG, JR., Reading, Hamilton Co., Ohio, was born on Grant street, Cincinnati, Ohio, June 6, 1853, son of John and Louise (Eggers) Sprung. They were born in Hanover, Germany, emigrated to America in 1846, and located in Cincinnati, where the father engaged in plastering, having learned that trade in Germany, which he followed exclusively until 1859. He then engaged in handling sand in connection with his trade, which he continued until 1889, when he removed to Carthage, where he is now living a retired life. He is a Republican, and with his wife is a member of the German Lutheran Church. They have the following chil- dren: Anna, residing in Ludlow, Ky .; Mary, living in Reading; Ludlow, of Car- thage, and John William.

Our subject lived with his parents until he was twenty-one, and was educated in the common schools of Cincinnati and Carthage. At the age of thirteen he began driving on the canal, and continued at this business until he was.seventeen; was captain of a canal boat eight years. He then engaged in the furniture business at Reading, where he is still doing a good business. On May 23, 1889, he was mar- ried to Miss Mary, daughter of Francis and Wilhemina (Kroegert) Vorelman, natives of Hanover, the former of whom was born in 1813, and died April 29, 1892; the latter was born July 18, 1820. Mr. Vorelman came to Cincinnati when he was a young man, and opened a tailor shop which, however, he carried on but a short time. He then located in Reading, and engaged in the dry-goods business in con- nection with his trade, which he conducted until his death. He and his wife were Catholics. They had the following children: Mary, Henry, Minnie and John D. Mr. and Mrs. John Sprung have had three children: Mary and Martin Henry, both deceased, and John. Politically Mr. Sprung is a Republican.

THOMAS J. HOFFNER (deceased) was born, in 1827, in Springfield, Ohio, son of George and Mary (Tucker) Hoffner, both natives of Maryland. He lived with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, when he came to Cincinnati and engaged in the tinner's trade with his brother Jacob, which he followed three years. He then went to Dayton, Ohio, and started in the tinning business for himself, con- ducting same three years, and then located at Licking, Ohio. After a few years residence in that place he removed to Lockland, same State, where he remained in business as a tinner and general hardware dealer until his death, which occurred December 5, 1889.

On November 7, 1850, he was married to Miss Sarah Gismere, born February 13, 1829, in Sycamore township, Hamilton Co., Ohio, daughter of Samuel and Mary Dorel, both natives of Pennsylvania, who came here in 1833 and located on a farm near Reading. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffner had two daughters and one son. Ara- bella, one of the daughters, is a music teacher by profession, and lives at home for the purpose of managing her mother's business affairs. Jessie, the second daughter, is the wife of B. F. Curtis, and lives in New Haven, Conn. They are all members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hoffner started in life with very little money, but was fairly successful in business, and left his widow in comfortable cir- cumstances. During the latter part of the Civil war he served his country in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth O. V. I. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, in politics a Republican.

HERMAN J. GOETZE. To him who pens the incidents of a life resplendent with military glory, or colors the fame of one whose character warms aglow in the ap- plause of admiring senates, there comes at times a satisfaction no less pleasurable in the bestowing of praise in the civil walks of life, where industry and honesty, intelligence and modesty, affection and kindness, round up to the full stature of manhood those whose being and doing give stability and excellence to human affairs.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 164

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