USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 111
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SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER.
The following biographies, settlement notes and other paragraphs have been received since the chapters of this volume, to which they severally belong, went to press :
ANDERSON TOWNSHIP.
Aaron Hopper, fruit and produce commission mer- chant, Cincinnati, Ohio, is a native of Anderson town- ship. His father, Abraham, settling in the centre pre- cinct of that town about the year 1812, having moved from New Jersey to that place, he carried on blacksmith- ing for about twenty years, but finally purchased four or five hundred acres of land, and farmed quite extensively before he died, which was about the year 1867. His wife died in 1861. They raised a family of twelve children, five of whom are still living, near Mount Wash- ington. Aaron Hopper was born in 1820 ; was raised a farmer, receiving such education as the winter schools · of his day afforded. He began the produce business some fifteen years ago on a small scale, more, however, for the express purpose of disposing of the products of his own farm than as a general business. For this work the winter seasons were the time, the summer time being spent on the farm ; but as years advanced experience in the business was gained, and now the store-room is kept open during the twelve months in each year. In 1875, Mr. Hopper was elected county commissioner, which position he held until 1878. As one of the custodians of the county he manifested considerable interest in its welfare during his stay in office, and, notwithstanding the bribes by the hatful that were offered him, is proud of his clear record when he retired. He has filled other positions of trust, having been in officefor fully twenty years, as township trustee or clerk, etc.
Abraham Hopper, salesman in a commission house on Sixth street, was born in 1825; has his residence near Mount Washington, where he owns a valuable farm, and was married to a Miss Johnson, of that vicinity.
J. R. Silvers, of Anderson township, book-keeper for the Cincinnati Grange supply house, Third street, Cincin- nati, was born April 2, 1857 ; completed his education in Lebanon, Ohio, and in Bryant and Stratton's com- mercial college. He was raised a farmer, but after teach- ing school six years, became shipping clerk for a fruit house on Sixth street, and afterwards for the Grange supply house. He was married in 1877 to Miss Emma Johnson, of Mount Carmel, Clermont county, Ohio, and has two children. His grandfather, John Silvers, came to Anderson township in an early day from New Jersey. His wife was Catharine Springer, relation of Jacob Springer, the wealthy citizen of Wilmington, Delaware. Of the six children raised, Joseph E., J. R. Silver's
father, born tenth of March, 1825, was the fourth child, and a well-known citizen of Anderson township. He was married to Sarah Hawkins, of the same place, in 1850, by whom he had seven children-the subject of this sketch being the second child.
Moses S. Shaw, formerly a teacher but now a prosper- ous farmer residing in California, is one of the best known men in Anderson township. Intelligent and hu- morous, he counts his many friends all over the eastern part of Hamilton county. Mr. Shaw has always taken an active interest in school affairs, and by his hilarious good nature has done much to keep down the political animosities of old Anderson. Mrs. Shaw, an estimable woman, is the granddaughter of Ignatius and An- toinette Ross, old settlers at Columbia in the early days. The graves of these old pioneers may be seen on a beau- tiful knoll near the Ohio, in eastern California. They died, the wife in 1827 and the husband in 1829. It is related by one of the old folks, that once upon a time Mrs. Ross was engaged boiling maple syrup, on what is now the town site of California, when, during momentary absence, the Indians stole the syrup and broke the ket- tles. At another time, when the Indians were threaten- ing an attack, Mrs. Ross buried the family treasures, gold and silver, in an old kettle. It was never taken up, and is yet to be plowed out by some astonished farmer.
Aaron Hopper lives near Mt. Washington, and owns the splendid farm known as "Fruit Hill." He was born in Anderson township in 1818; was county commissioner in 1875-76-77; and has served near thirty years in town- ship offices as trustee and on the board of education. His father, Abram Hopper, came from New Jersey to Anderson in 1812, and with Morris Sharp and James Stagg bought large tracts of land in 1814. Mr. Hopper is a public-spirited man, doing much for the comfort, good name and happiness of the neighborhood. He is also engaged as fruit dealer and produce merchant in Cincinnati.
Dr. W. W. Highlands, of Newtown, was born in Co- lumbia township, and came to Anderson in 1849. He was a surgeon in the late war. The doctor is an intelli- gent and estimable gentleman who has practiced about thirty years in Anderson township. He has served many years in the board of education at Newtown, and is now superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday- school.
F. W. Boye, of Mount Washington and of the firm of A. A. Colter & Co., wholesale and retail grocers, of Main and Sixth streets, was born in Hanover, Germany, in the year 1833. In 1849 his father, with his family, emigrated
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
to America, and came directly to Marietta, Ohio, where he run a mill, also carried on farming, but F. P. Boye found a situation in a store, where he obtained his first ideas of carrying on business. In 1857 he came to Cin- cinnati and kept the books for B. P. Baker & Co., corner Walnut and Columbia streets, and afterwards for Mill & Kline, No. 56 Main street, and in 1862 came here, and in 1863 became a member of the firm. In 1863 he mar- ried Miss Sallie Colter, sister of A. A. Colter, the well- known grocer. He resides in Mount Washington in an elegant, substantial homestead of that place.
Cyrus Broadwell was born May 9, 1801, in Anderson township. He spent part of his life in the south, from 1825 till 1830. He and his brother Jacob opened the first boat-store in Cincinnati, at the corner of Sycamore and Front streets, where they succeeded in building up a flourishing business, which continued until the death of Jacob, in 1840. Cyrus then retired to his farm, near Newtown, where he resided until his death, March 31, 1879. His generosity for all religious and charitable purposes is well known.
Carvil Hawkins, one of the oldest citizens of the town- ship, was born in what is now Cincinnati, but was then outside of the corporation, June 24, 1813, and married Achy Shinn March 24, 1833. Mrs. Hawkins was born May 26, 1815. His mother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-five. Mr. Hawkins began life as a poor orphan boy, his father dying before he was born. He worked on the Little Miami bottoms when thirteen years old for eighteen and three-fourths cents per day, and is now one of the solid men in Anderson, owning two hun- dred and fifty acres of good, tillable land, and more than half a dozen dwelling houses. His entire life has been spent in the pursuits of industry, buying timbered farms, having the trees burnt into charcoal, and hauling it to Cincinnati, trading in all kinds of merchandise, and all the while engaged in farming. A great portion of his wealth was made in the thirteen years he was engaged in coal dealing. He is one of the men who have grown from childhood to old age in this county. He saw Cin- cinnati in its infancy, the first locomotive which entered the city, and Main and Sycamore streets when but a long row of stumps, and a rough bluff was at their foot, and when there were but six houses between Deer creek and the Little Miami river. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, are known and admired throughout the county for their Christian charity, and esteemed for their interest in all philanthropic endeavors.
Leonard Armstrong Webb was born February 7, 1826, on the island north of Newtown, and married May 16, 1846, Penthesilea Frost, in Harrison township, three- fourths of a mile west of the old Lee's Creek Baptist church in this county. By this union three daughters have been born-Gertrude, Adelaide, and Martha Vane- lia. Mr. Webb is grandparent of one child. Education- ally, he dwelt altogether in our common schools. Relig- iously, he has been a member of the Regular Baptist church forty-one years. His father came from Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, in 1793. His mother, whose
maiden name was Hannah Frost, came from Berkeley county, Virginia, at the same date, from Bunker Hill, a little town situated between Martinsburgh and Winches- ter. Mr. Webb owns a well-arranged farm of one hun- dred and seventeen acres, and according to good author- ity his dwelling occupies the highest point in the county.
Charles Johnson was born in Anderson township, De- cember 11, 1819, and married Rebecca Corbly October 17, 1841. He is the father of five sons, four of whom are living. He is of Scotch extraction on his father's side, who came from Pennsylvania in 1790, and settled in this county. His mother is of Yankee descent, was Anna Bridges in her maiden days, and was the first white child who crossed over into Anderson township and set- tled permanently with her parents. Mrs. Johnson is of German origin on the line of her father, and from her mother received English blood. By trade Mr. Johnson is a carpenter, but is now particularly engaged in farming and fruit-growing. He is one of those men who ob- tained his knowledge outside of colleges and academies, but has that rare culture which comes from experience. During the early years of the war he raised a company of volunteers, was elected captain, and served with his men in the Seventieth Ohio regiment for three years. Among the township offices he held are such as justice, school director, and other positions, which show the estimation in which he is looked upon by the people.
Richard Ayres was born March 17, 1817, in the south- east corner of Anderson township, in sub-school-district No. 3, and married December 27, 1842, Matilda Archer, of Clermont county. He is father of eight children- five sons and three daughters-two dead. Mr. Ayres during his entire life has been engaged in farming, but dealing a good deal in real estate. He began with sev- enty-five acres to which he fell heir by his father's death, (the latter came from Maine in 1800), and ended with seven hundred and twelve acres. Mr. Ayres' father was a ship carpenter, the son of a Hollander. His mother was Priscilla Durham, born in Hamilton county, but was of English extraction. Her mother came from Mary- land. He has been an important influence in the com- mon schools, and has taken an active part in religious matters, giving donations liberally. He has also always interested himself in turnpike building.
Abner Gerard Hahn, born in Newtown May 9, 1812, was married December 23, 1838, to Lucinda Barrow. By trade Mr. Hahn is a blacksmith, in which business he continued for twenty years. In 1836 he was a trades- man in Cincinnati, but since that time has been employed mainly in farming at Newtown. About 1844-5 he was one of the trustees of Anderson township, and at several other times has held two or three minor offices. His entire life has been spent in the vicinity of his birthplace, making him one of the very oldest residents. His de- scendants will not feel ashamed of their ancestor.
John J., the father of William Ferris, came from Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1812, and settled at Lin- wood, where he lived until his death in 1857. Mr. Fer- ris is among the first families, and has often filled public offices. Hope M. Brown, father of Mrs. Ferris, was a
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
practitioner of medicine at Newtown for forty years, re- ceiving a diploma from the Miami Medical college. On the side of the husband farming has prevailed, while Mrs. Ferris' people have followed medicine.
William Meldrum Ferris, the subject of this sketch, was born at Linwood October 19, 1832, and married Sarah A. Brown May 22, 1861, by whom two children have been born, both girls. Mr. Ferris' life has been spent on a farm from early childhood, except two years as a student at Farmers' college. He is now employed in surveying, engineering and improving real estate. He ceased to farm in 1868. Linwood, principally through his efforts, has been made what it is, he being one of the first who realized profits from the sale of lots.
Abram Bogart was born December 25, 1812, in New Jersey, twenty miles from New York, in Bergen county, and came to Anderson township in 1814. There he has remained ever since. He married Patsy Bridges Sep- tember 22, 1836, and is father of eight children, all of whom are living, and all married. He has been a farm- er from boyhood. He saw Cincinnati when forest trees stood on Fourth and Fifth streets, and saw the high water of 1832 on Pearl street. He played in a locust grove on the beach of Cincinnati on what was called Western Row, now Central avenue. Mrs. Bogart was educated in a log school-house, with greased paper window panes. Her father came from New England and her mother from Virginia. John Bridges, her grandfather, was the first white man who built a house in Anderson. Both have been members of a Christian church for more than forty years. He has divided his property among his children, and now lives retired, but is superintendent of the Clough turnpike. He is respected by everybody.
Gano Martin was born February 4, 1811, and has been married three times-first to Elizabeth A. Curry, by whom six children were born, two of whom are living, one son and one daughter. Mrs. E. A. Martin died Oc- tober 31, 1851. Second, to Mrs. Elizabeth Hulick, whose maiden name was Nash, April 29, 1852. By this marriage three sons were born, all of whom still live, the eldest being married. Mrs. Martin died June 20, 1865. Third, to Rachel Highlands, April 5, 1866. Educa- tionally, he received his instruction in an old hickory log school house; religiously, his family from the beginning devoted themselves to the Baptist church. Mr. Martin joined this denomination in 1844, and was elected dea- con in 1846, which office he yet holds. In politics he has always served his country first. He was paymaster under the old regimental system for six years; has been a school director for twenty odd years; during the Re- bellion was township trustee, and one of those who forced the payment of the township loan of fifteen thou- sand dollars for war purposes to be paid at one taxation. In the Eastern railway he granted the right of way through most of his farm, and took shares in the capital stock. In 1879 he received a stroke of paralysis, from which he is still a sufferer. But, all in all, he will leave behind him an honorable record.
The father of C. C. Johnson was Jeptha Johnson. His mother's maiden name was Martha Estell, her na-
tive State, New Jersey. His father was born in Virginia. His wife's father, Abraham Hopper, was a native of New Jersey. Her mother's maiden name was Sarah Conklin, a native of Ohio, born in this county. Christopher C. Johnson was born December 8, 1837; his wife, Joanna F. Johnson, April 17, 1843. They were married October 5, 1865. Their son, Ogden E. Johnson, was born De- cember 10, 1867. October 16, 1874, was the birthday of their daughter, Carrie E. Johnson. All of the family were born in this county, and still reside here. Mr. Johnson followed the occupation of teacher in the com- mon schools of Anderson township for ten years, and since 1868 has been engaged in farming.
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP.
John D. Moore, born in 1836 at Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania. Came to Cincinnati in 1838; learned the shoe business in early life with E. G. Webster & Company. Remained in the shoe business until 1865-the preced- ing ten years being on Central avenue near Sixth street. Retired to a suburban life at Madeira. Not being suited to an inactive life he drifted into the real estate and build- ing interest, being instrumental in subdividing and build- ing the principal part of the town of Madeira, and en- gaged in improving his vacant property in Cincinnati. At present and for a number of years superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school at Madeira. Elected member of the board of education for three terms. Married to Miss Rachel Mann, of Indian Hill, now Madeira, in 1858, daughter of Joseph B. and Cath- arine Mann. Both of their parents, John Mann and wife and Jacob Hetzler and wife, settled here in the last century.
Major J. B. Mann was born in 1804, and died in 1860 on the same tract of land his parents settled upon. Catharine Hetzler, his wife, was born in 1801, near by, and died on the same tract of land in 1875-now the residence of J. D. Moore. Major J. B. Mann was a suc- cessful farmer and business man; a public spirited citi- zen; a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Indian Hill; and is holding positions of trust in the con- munity.
Charles S. Muchmore, an enterprising and well-to-do farmer near Madisonville, was born in Hamilton county in 1831. His grandfather removed from New Jersey to Madisonville about the year 1800. His father, David Muchmore, about the year 1820, married Miss Sarah Stites, niece of Judge Symmes and daughter of Benja- min Stites. David was born in 1777; his wife was born in 1776. They reared a family of six children, Charles being the only son now living. He was reared on the farm, in which business he has been careful and very success- ful, and is, in matters of an agricultural character, regard- ed by his fellows as authority. He was married to Miss Alvira Leonard January 14, 1855, daughter of a well- known and prominent citizen of Hamilton county. Mr. Muchmore has been a member of the board of educa- tion of the Madisonville schools for the past fourteen years.
Joseph Coppin, of Pleasant Ridge, now in the ninety- first year of his age, came to America by himself when a
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WILLIAM DAVIS MUNDELL.
William Davis Mundell, of the firm of Short & Mundell. wholesale and retail grocers and produce dealers, 102 East Pearl street, was born near Mt. Washing- ton, Anderson township, September 17, 1825. Jonathan Mundell, his grandfather, was one of the original settlers of the county; he came from Virginia to Ohio before the day log school-houses were erected, it being necessary then for the young philomatheans to assemble in squads at some convenient place and by mutual consent teach one another. Mr. Mundell was a gunsmith, a man of some genius, and one who could render service to his fellows in the early pioneer days. He settled with his family, consisting of himself, wife and five children, near Mt. Washington about the year 1795. Some pear trees planted by him soon after his arrival are still standing. He died about the year 1830, James Mundell, his son, and father of William Davis Mundell, was about two years of age when his father moved on this farm; he was reared a farmer, possessed no educational advantages, his time being taken up in tilling the land and warding off the hostile Indians, who were sometimes troublesome. In 1812 he served in the war, and received an honorable discharge from the service when it ended. In 1815 he was married to Miss Mary McMahon daughter of Francis and Mary McMahon, pioneer set- tlers of Columbia town- ship. The old log house, her birthplace, which was then occupied by her par- ents, is still standing- weatherboarded now-as a relic and tenement of the early days of Colum- bia. Mrs. Mundell was the mother of eleven chil- dren, eight boys and three girls, ten of whom lived to man and womanhood- Mary, Catharine, An- drew, Hugh, William Davis, Jackson W., John R., Martha A., Isaac N., and Oscar C. With so large a family, the duties incumbent upon her were truly irksome, but she was blessed with more than ordinary will and courage, and having that large hope so characteris- tic of the pioneer parents, did not become, with all her hardships, disheart- ened with her lot. The religion of Christ was her support in every trying hour, and her children, once a charge and a re- sponsibility, lived to be her comfort, and to cheer her declining years and dying hour.
Adjacent to the town on the mound near her father's cabin was the old Baptist church-probably the first church in south- western Ohio-to which place of worship, when a little child, she was often wont to wend her way with her parents to attend religious service. În those days it was the custom and necessity to goarmed, and her father always took with him his faithful rifle and stood sentinel at the door or house corners, with others, to guard against the approach of hostile Indians, while the minister, old men, women and children would hold worship in the house. How many of us, in this our day, would go to church if attended with the dangers that our pio- neer fathers had to en- counter?
Mrs. Mundell was born in Columbia township, Hamilton county, Ohio, April 25, 1797; was married in 1815; joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Salem, Ohio, in 1840; and died at the residence of her son, Hugh Mandell, Clermont county, Ohio, January 27, 1874, aged seventy-seven years. James Mundell died about the year 1853. William Davis Mandell was reared on the farm near Mt. Washington. He attended school in a log house in the Salem neighborhood a few weeks or months each winter, and frequently religious worship at the same place on Sundays-the same house being used for both purposes. In the year 1843 he apprenticed himself to a Mr. Joseph Hime to learn the blacksmith trade, and was to receive about thirty dollars a year for three years for his services. The full time was served, with the exception of the last three months, which he bought off from his employer that the might attend school, feeling the need of a better education. The instruction received during these three months proved to be of incalculable benefit to him in after years. He afterwards opened up a shop in Mt. Washington, being the first blacksmith of that place. In 1850 Mr. Mundell and his brother Hugh organized a company, of six persons in all, from Mt. Washington, to cross the plains for California. The wagon for the trip was made by Mr. Mandell and Davis Whippy (one of the company), and was so con- structed that it could be used as a boat when crossing rivers. They left Cincin- nati for St. Joseph, Missouri, March 25, 1850, by steamer, and at that place lay
in wait three weeks organizing a force of forty wagons of six horses each. At Fort Kearney the company disbanded, seven teams proceeding along the northern Pacific route via of Fort Laramie to the Humboldt river, from which place the original six from Mt. Washington, after throwing away their wagon, and finally Mr. Mundell and his brother alone, proceeded, crossing the desert on pack- horses, a distance of forty miles, going over in the night time and reaching Car- son river in the morning-Sunday-where they rested and also laid in a supply of provisions, paying for six pounds of flour the snug sum of nine dollars. At Sacramento City they sold their stock and footed it up into the mountainous re- gion on a mining expedition, but got sick and soon returned to Sutler's Fort, where, on account of a severe illness of some two months' duration, the doctor advised a trip on the sea as necessary to a speedy return to health. They ac- cordingly set themselves adrift in a sail vessel on the Pacific ocean, where it was becalmed for three weeks, and being disgusted with such slow progression the brothers, upon putting in at Acapulco, went aboard a steamer, reaching Panama in December, 1850, after being on the water twenty-seven days. They crossed the isthmus to Shager's river on mules, paying forty dollars for their tran- sit. ' At this point they took canoes to the mouth of the river, where, in company with about sixty others, they set sail in the schooner Thorne for New Orleans. The Mundell brothers had already ex- . perienced sore disappoint- ments in their trip west, but the trying ordeal was yet to come. The little vessel when fairly out at sea encountered one of those tremendous and tempestuous storms, and for three days and nights was driven like a feather in a gale, and turned up finally on a coral island in the Carribean sea. The captain had lost his reck- oning and the vessel had been driven far out of its course and among the many dangerous coral reefs with which these waters are filled. At first, upon the stranding of the vessel, the captain sup- posed the bark would go to pieces in half an hour and ordered the mate to scuttle the fresh water baths, bat he disobeyed orders, and this probably saved the lives of the crew as the ship was resting with one side on the reef in about four feet of water, the depth of water on the other side could not be ascertained. Lots were now cast for occupancy in the long-boat, there being but the one and that only large enough to hold six or eight persons, and these were to be taken to a little barren egg-shaped island full fifteen miles off before it could be re- turned for another load. The Mundell brothers were by lots cast destined to wait till the last ones. Everything shadowed forth a precarious condi- tion, and in an act of des- peration they tore off loose boards from the side of the vessel with which they constructed a scow, hasti- ly huilt but large enough to accommodate about fif- teen, and in this frail structure they reached the island. The crew were all saved; provisions and water at the rate of one-quarter rations were divided among them. The captain apon taking his reckoning found that they were about one hundred miles from Old Town (?) (Balize), Honduras, and that it would take at least eight days to go for rescue and return. But the time from the stranding of the vessel (2 o'clock in the morning) until their rescue was about fifteen days, but deliverance carried them to Balize, from which place they sailed in a few days for New Orleans. Their stay on the barren island was attended with other dangers than those of abandonment and desolation. They were on one-fourth rations and water, and in a feverish and, to them, over- heated, torrid clime, but fortune favored them with one or two showers, and the tents being up the rain-drops were collected and carefully saved. The island fur- nished the iguana, a species of lizard, and the couch which were of great use to them for food. At New Orleans Mr. Mundell and his brother took a steamer for Cincinnati, bat, to make the circuit of accidents complete, we are in truth bound to say that the vessel was snagged in the river. But despite ill fortune they reached home about March 1, 1851, and Mr. Mundell again resumed work at his trade. In 1852 he married Miss Pattie C. Corbley, and has since lived in Mt. Washington. During the war he served asa recruiting officer for some time, and during the Kirby Smith raid was made captain by the unanimous voice of the com- pany, but was immediately afterwards put in charge of the regiment as colonel.
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