USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 114
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H. H. Lammers, keeper of a hotel and feed store, at Carthage, was born in Oldenburgh, Germany, in 1830. He came to the United States and landed in New Or- leans in 1848; thence he came to Cincinnati, arriving there in January, 1849. Here he began to work at his trade as a wagon-maker, which trade he had learned in Germany. He continued at his trade in Cincinnati up to 1858, when he moved to Carthage and carried on the business until 1860, when he entered his present bus- iness. Mr. Lammers has been very successful while'a resident of Carthage. By his hard work and good man- agement he has accumulated a good property, and made hosts of friends. He was one of Carthage's honored councilmen for one term. He is a hard worker in the Catholic church, taking an active part in the church and school. He is a director of the St. Mary's cemetery, which bids fair to become one of the handsomest ceme- teries around Cincinnati.
L. W. Haley, who keeps a tin and stove store at Carthage, was born in Winterport, Maine, in 1848. He learned his trade as a tinner in Waldo county, Maine, when he was eighteen years of age. In 1869 he came to Cincinnati and worked at his trade. In September, 1873, he embarked in business for himself in Carthage, where he has remained since. He is now doing a good business-employing as high as seven men-doing work for the public works in and around Carthage. Mr. Haley has represented Carthage as city councilman for one term, filling that office with honor and credit.
Rev. Daniel Heile, pastor of St. Bernard's Catholic church, was born in the province of Hanover, August 6, 1842, and is the son of Bernard and Elizabeth (Schulter) Heile, both parents natives of Germany. Our subject, in
1867, came to America, coming to Cincinnati. He entered the St. Francis college, where he remained for several years. After receiving a thorough education, attending different colleges, he was ordained as minister July 26, 1874, at Oldenburgh, Indiana. He was for six years pastor of St. Stephen's church, of Hamilton, Ohio, when, in 1880, Father Heile received a call from his present church, where he has filled the pulpit ever since.
G. H. Esselmann, superintendent of the German Catholic cemetery, at St. Bernard, was born in Hanover, Germany, May 11, 1853; came to the United States and landed in Baltimore in 1871, coming direct to Cincinnati. Since then he has learned his trade as a steel polisher, working in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Mansfield, thence to Cincinnati. He was for four years connected with the St. Joseph cemetery. In 1879 he was made superintendent of the present cemetery, which position he has filled with ability since, giving the best of satis- faction. He married, in 1878, Miss Katie Estermann, she being a native of Cincinnati, her parents locating here at an early day.
Joseph Wallrath, superintendent of the New German cemetery near St. Bernard, was born in the Rhine prov- ince, Germany, May, 1848; came to the United States and landed in New York city in 1867, coming direct to Cincinnati. Here he was engaged in landscape gar- dening, being concerned in laying out some of the finest places in Clifton. He made a visit to California, remain- ing a short time. He returned to Cincinnati and again entered his profession as a landscape gardener, and was made superintendent of the new cemetery, which so far is acknowledged to be one of the handsomest cemeteries around Cincinnati.
Bernard Strothman, gardener near St. Bernard, was born in Hanover, April 19, 1841; came to the United States, and landed at New York city, in 1854, thence to Cincinnati. Here he was engaged by day's labor. In 1864 he entered his present business, in which he has been very successful. He built the improvements on his present place, which consists of four and one-fifth acres of land, all in good order. Mr. Strothman attends to the gardening. He married, in Cincinnati, Miss Henrietta Faurnan, of Germany, by whom he has had five children.
Frank Kaufmann, grocer, St. Bernard, was born in Prussia in 1816. Here he learned his trade as a black- smith. He soon after came to America and landed in New York city in 1848. He then went to Pittsburgh. Here he worked at his trade, and was married to Miss Mary Brandhover. After remaining there until 1850 Mr. Kaufmann, with his wife and one child, came to Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade up to 1854, then on the Reading road some two years, when, in 1856, he came to St. Bernard and worked at his trade for a number of years, when he engaged in the gro- cery business, and coming to Cincinnati with but little money, is to-day one of the most successful and highly respected business men of St. Bernard. He has five children.
Mathias Schulhof, grocer, St. Bernard, was born in
H. KNUWENER.
Herman Knuwener, head of the prosperous firm of Knuwener & Verhage, owning and managing the Cincinnati soda and mineral water works, is of full German blood on both sides; was born in Hanover, now in Prussia, July 23, 1848; the oldest son of William and Lizzie (Hnxal) Knuwener, both natives of the same German State, and both are still living at the old home in the Fatherland. He was educated in the elementary schools, under the compulsory system of school attend- ance long in vogue throughout Germany. In his fourteenth year he began active life among total strangers at Diepholtz, some ·distance from his native place. He engaged as an apprentice in the dry goods business, serving according to the German system, not only withont pay, but at his own cost for instruction in the business. For four years . he sustained this burden, not being allowed the use of any money, and being pledged against the use of tobacco in any shape, his father sign- ing a bond that he would observe an agreement to this effect. At the expiration of his apprenticeship, feeling opposed to the stern, severe military laws, which would presently have called him into needless ser- vice for three years, he resolved to emigrate to America, and again started out alone in the world. He landed in New York in 1866, came on at once to the Queen City, and for about a year did not engage in business, but improved his time in learning the language of his adopt- ed country and taking a full course in Nelson's Business college. His acquaintance in the city, and with the English speech, then enabled him to obtain a situation in the now great dry goods store of Alms &. Doepke, then a comparatively small establishment in the old building at the head of Twelfth street. He was given the honorable post of salesman at the front counter, and was otherwise very kindly treat- ed by the firm, to whom he justly attributes the beginning of his for- tunes in Cincinnati. He was with them but a year, however, and then entered as a salesman the store of Messrs.C. Steinkamp & Co., on Main street above Twelfth, in which, after only about half a year, he became a junior partner. He went out of this connection in 1874, and the house has since become extinct. Mr. Knuwener sold his interest to Mr. Steinkamp, and embarked in the soda and mineral water mannfac-
ture, buying the business of his father-in-law, Mr. J. H. Overdyck, at 719 Home street, after the death of the latter. He conducted the business alone until 1876, when the establishment was consolidated with the similar works of Mr. Henry Verhage, on Walnut street, and the two joined their energies in a strong and prosperous partnership. In the spring of the same year, they moved to the much more spacious and convenient quarters they now occupy, at 270-2 Sycamore street, near the corner of Eighth street, where their business and popularity have grown upon their hands until they now have the largest estab- lishment of the kind in the city and in the State of Ohio, and probably in the entire west. They have certain specialties in soda fountains (steel) not enjoyed by any other house in the city, and now supply most of the dealers in soda-water. Their business is almost exclusive- ly with city retailers, and is a good, safe traffic, which nets them very profitable results. Mr. Knuwener is the sole manager in charge of the works, and to him may be credited the success and prosperity of the firm.
He has taken time, however, to interest himself somewhat in politics and other affairs, and is a member of the Lincoln club and sundry other organizations. In 1880, though a Republican, he was elected, against his inclination, in the strong Democratic Sixteenth ward, a member of the board of councilmen, in which he is now acceptably serving his constituents. When the new committee of the council was formed on the consumption of smoke, under a recent act of the legis- lature, he was appointed a member of this important committee. In the council he has kept a vigilant eye upon the public interests, partic- ularly the plunder of the city treasury, and not long since moved a resolution of inquiry into the vast expense of the city advertising, which was passed and has already been productive of much good.
Mr. Knuwener was married in Cincinnati February 23, 1871, to Miss Louisa, daughter of Mr. J. H. Overdyck, a well-known German citizen, and Mrs. Henrietta (Dunker) Overdyck. Their children num- ber two: Millie and Henry Knuwener. The family live in a pleasant residence at No. 388 West Court street.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
Hanover, Germany, October 8, 1811. He came to the United States and landed in Baltimore July 13, 1833, where he remained in that vicinity for about four years, working as day laborer. In 1837 he came to Cincinnati and worked at gardening. He soon after began teaching school, and followed school teaching for some six years. In 1850 Mr. Schulhof started in the gardening business where is now located the Catholic graveyard, which busi- ness he continued there until 1862, when he began the grocery business, which he has continued in St. Bernard ever since, being now one of its highly honored pioneer settlers. Mr. Schulhof married Miss Catharine Dickmann, who came to Cincinnati at an early day. She was a good Christian lady, respected and loved by all. She died January 26, 1877. There are five children liv- ing-two sons and three daughters.
George Young, blacksmith, St. Bernard, was born in Camp Washington December 30, 1845, and is the son of George Young, who came to Hamilton county at an early day. Our subject is to-day the pioneer blacksmith of St. Bernard. He is now engaged at the blacksmith business, employing three hands in the manufacture of wagons and the general blacksmith business. He mar- ried Miss Annie Sprung, of Cincinnati. By this marriage they have seven children living. Mr. Young was a sol- dier in the late war, serving in the Twenty-second Indi- ana volunteer infantry, company B, for two years and a half. He was a faithful soldier, and was honorably mus- tered out at the close of the war.
The subject of this sketch, Jacob Ries (deceased), of St. Bernard, was born in Germany in 1822. He came to the United States in 1841, coming direct to Cincin- nati. In 1856 he moved to St. Bernard. Here he was actively engaged in business up to his death, which oc- curred in 1880. He was a man liked by all for his up- rightness and honorable dealings. He took an active part in the building up of St. Bernard. He died re- spected and loved by a host of friends. He was an ac- tive member of the Catholic church. Thus passed away a kind father and a loving husband, leaving a wife and five children to mourn his loss. He was married in Cincinnati in 1848 to Elizabeth Morio, who came to Cin- cinnati with her father, Michael Morio, his wife and four children.
Herman Witte, a resident of St. Bernard, was born in Hanover, Germany, February 18, 1820. He learned the bakery trade, and in 1845 he sailed for America, and landed in Baltimore. Here he worked for some six months at his trade, and in the same year (1845) he came to Cincinnati, coming here very poor, having only a five-franc piece, which was soon after stolen from him. He, besides working at his trade, worked on the railroad and at other labor until he, in 1850, entered the grocery business on the corner of Race and Green streets. In 1852 Mr. Witte moved to St. Bernard, and has been one of its honored and respected citizens ever since, and is now one of the oldest settlers of the place. He moved in a little frame house, where he carried on business un- til 1861, when he built his present place of business. Mr. Witte was married in 1850 to Miss Rosena Stubbe,
of Hanover, Germany. She came to Cincinnati in 1848. By this union of marriage they have had seven children, of whom four are living.
Mrs. Carrie Meyer Eckert, a resident of St. Bernard, was born in Baden Baden, Germany, and is the wife of the late Val Eckert, who was born in France in 1815. He came to the United States and landed in New York city in 1834. He went then to New Orleans, and in 1845 came to Cincinnati. Coming here in meagre cir- cumstances, he went to work at day labor. He managed well, and by hard work he accumulated a good property. In 1854 he moved to St. Bernard, where he became one of its most honored and prominent citizens, taking an interest in the building up of the town. He was married in Cincinnati in 1846 to Carrie Meyer, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Eckert died in 1878, leaving a wife and five children to mourn his loss.
Mrs. Julia A. Kemper, of St. Bernard, was born in Mill Creek township, Hamilton county, Ohio, March 31, 1820, and is the daughter of John Boswell, who came to Hamilton county from Maryland as early as 1812. He farmed here up to his death. Of that family there are five children living: George, Elizabeth, Mary Jane, Alex- ander and the subject of this sketch, who has remained a resident of Mill Creek township ever since she was born. She was married in 1841 to the late Reuben Kemper, who was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, July 28, 1813, and is the son of Presley Kemper, who was one of the pioneers of this county. Reuben Kemper was raised on the farm. He also followed the tannery business for sev- eral years, but spent the greater portion of his life on the farm. He died on the old farm respected and honored, leaving a wife and four children: Robert, Henry, Mary E. and Sarah.
Thomas Branch Weatherby, retired, a resident of Col- lege Hill, was born in Thetford, Vermont, July 20, 1802, and is the son of Danforth and Lucy (Stiles) Weatherby. Our subject, with his father and family, in 1806 started in wagons for Kentucky, but on their way, after being out eleven weeks, arrived in Cincinnati, where they located, remaining there until about 1808, when they moved to Columbus, and in 1809 returned to Cincinnati, living in a rented log cabin on the land where the Grand Hotel is now located. In 1810 the family moved to Eighth street, between Broadway and Sycamore. Here they remained until 1816, when they moved to a farm in Springfield township. In 1831 the father and mother moved to Oxford, where they both died. Our subject engaged in farming on the old farm, which he purchased in 1832, where he has remained ever since. Mr. Weath- erby was married in Springfield township to Miss Mercy Van Zant. She was born in Hamilton county, her par- ents being among the early settlers, by whom they have had four children.
A. B. Johnson, superintendent of the Avondale public schools, was born in Ogden, New York. His father was a teacher of thirty years' experience, and gave his son a good education in the schools of his native town and in those of Rochester, New York. . He also learned to work on a farm, and afterwards studied book-keeping
54
426
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
and the principles of penmanship, and the knowledge thus gained enabled him to earn a sufficient amount to graduate him in the Oberlin college, which occurred in the year 1853. He taught school in the college, and dur- ing vacations on the evenings and Saturdays of each week he posted books. In 1856 he received the degree of A. M. He taught school one year after graduating in New York, having charge of the Academy of Sodus, Wayne county, of that State. In 1855 he came to Avon- dale, where he has been elected superintendent of the school twenty-five times in as many years, without a sin- głe opposing vote in the board of education of his place. He has been for years an active member of the teachers' association of Hamilton county; has been county exam- iner of teachers of his own county, and now holds the position as one of the State examiners of applicants for State certificates. His estimable wife has labored with him during these long years of toil, and done much to make the schools of Avondale what they are.
John Trotter, sexton of Spring Grove cemetery, was born in Scotland May 12, 1836. In 1863 he came to America, and landed in New York; thence to Chicago, Illinois, where he remained, engaged in the gardening business, until 1867. In 1869 Mr. Trotter entered the employ of the Spring Grove cemetery as gardener. In 1871 he was made the sexton, which position he has filled very satisfactorily since.
Keeshan & Weber, grocery and meat store, Avondale, is one of the leading business firms of Avondale. The meat store was established about the year 1864 and was one of the first meat markets of the place. Mr. T. J. Keeshan is a native of Ireland, having come to Amer- ica when very young. He has been engaged in the mer- cantile business for the last twelve years. Mr. Henry Weber is one of the old pioneers of Hamilton county. He was engaged in farming in Glendale. Afterwards the firm of Keeshan & Weber was formed, since doing business in Avondale.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Rudolph Rhemboldt, of Springdale, formerly an en- terprising business man of Cincinnati, was born in Baden, Germany, December 27, 1827, His father was a brewer and gave him a good education in this business, he hav- ing attended the colleges of Carlsruhe and Freiburg, Ger- many. In 1818 he emigrated to America and began in the brewer's business as teamster for Kauffman, where he remained for three years. He made a visit to Europe but returned in 1851 after a short stay, and went into the commission business on Fourth street, and soon after into the brewer's business again as one of the partners of Glass & Brauer. In 1854 he married a daughter of Mr. Kauffman, and in 1856 went into the firm of Erchenlaub & Kauffman, on Vine street, which business he conduct- ed with success until 1877, when he retired from ac- tive life and settled on his farm.
William P. Bruce, of Glendale, Springfield township, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, December 7, 1832. When eighteen years of age he formed a part- nership with a Mr. Chappell in the merchandise business, and later a Mr. McIntyre was admitted, and the firm
continued thus until 1865, when Mr. Bruce, in the firm of Chappell, Bruce & McIntyre, came to Cincinnati and located at 44 West Fourth street, where they kept a wholesale dry goods store. In 1873 Mr. Bruce went into the real estate business at 73 West Third street, but in 1875 removed to Glendale, where he operated until 1876 with Mr. McIntyre in the general merchandise trade, and since that time with his son, under the name . of \V. P. Bruce & Son. Mr. Bruce's grandfather came from Scotland and settled in Virginia, but removed to Kentucky, where his father (William P.'s), was born. The family of Bruces is a large one, and includes some of the oldest prominent citizens of that State. The grandfather was high sheriff of his county, and his nu- merous descendants are well and favorably known.
Major James N. Caldwell, of Carthage, was born in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, November 17, 1817. His father, Samuel Caldwell, was a master builder in Philadelphia, from which place he moved to Cincinnati in 1794, and settled at North Bend. He afterwards kept a dry goods store in Cincinnati; but moved to Franklin in 1808, where he died in 1848. He was a prominent man, holding the offices of judge of the common pleas court, was a member of the legislature. also a State senator. J. N. Caldwell received a good, liberal educa- tion at the college of Hanover, Indiana. Was a cadet at the West Point academy from 1836 to 1840, grad- uating at that time and promoted to brevet second lieuten- ancy, and from there served in the Florida war-1840- as second lieutenant, and on frontier duty from 1841 to 1845; then in the recruiting service, one year after which he was placed at different posts in Texas, and promoted to the positions of first lieutenant and then to that of captain. In 1861 he entered the service as commander of the barracks at Key West, Florida, and was promoted to major of infantry February 27, 1862, his corps operating principally in Tennessee and Ken- tucky. December 31, 1862, for gallantry and meritori- ous services at Murfreesborough, Tennessee, was pro- moted to brevet lieutenant colonelcy. In 1863, on account of ill health and disability, he retired from the service, and was for one year-1866-7-member of the executive board of candidates for promotion in the army at Louisville, Kentucky. January 1, 1866, per special order No. 198, A. G. O., he was detailed as professor of military science at Louisville, Kentucky, and at his own request relieved in 1869, since which time he has lived on his farm at Carthage.
Elijah Vancleve is as on of Asher, who came to Cole- rain township, Hamilton county, in 1802. He was a local preacher, a justice of the peace, and a highly re- spected and very public-spirited citizen of the county. He was killed by a runaway team in 1844. Elijah was born in 1832; and after some years of maturity had come upon him, he flat-boated from Cincinnati to New Orleans for about five years. He enlisted in the Mexican war, went south one time, but was discharged on account of sickness. In the late war he entered the service of com- pany K in 1861, as second lieutenant in the Fifth Ohio cavalry, was promoted to the first lieutenancy, and mus-
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
tered out as captain, December, 1864. His regiment formed part of the army of the Tennessee. When twenty years of age he learned the carpenters' trade and has followed the same business ever sinee. In 1862 he was married to Miss Adda Cummings, of New York. They are comfortably located in Glendale, and are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, Mr. Vancleve is also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity of his place.
John P. Decker, the able and efficient superintendent of the Cincinnati infirmary at Hartwell, was born in Mt. Auburn, July 28, 1841. His parents were of Germanic birth, the father being born near Strasburgh and his mother near Mentz. When nineteen years of age the father came to America and in 1853 died in Cincinnati. John was raised a farmer near Hartwell, and experienced the usual hardships common to orphans (his parents were both dead when he was thirteen years of age), be- ginning life empty-handed and without friends. But he was sturdy, honest, reliable, and in the main successful. In the beginning of the war he was in the South, and in order to escape joined the Confederate army, where he remained about twenty-four hours, and on making his way to St. Louis entered the army under General Fremont. He also served in the Red River expedition and after- wards was with Sherman in his raid to the sea. In 1865 he was mustered out and went to work as a farmer at the infirmary. In 1871 he held the position as captain of the guard under Ira Wood for five years at the work- house In 1876 he was appointed as lieutenant of the police force of the Twenty-fifth ward, and in 1877 as superintendent of the city infirmary. In 1878 he was legislated out by the O'Conor legislature, and until 1880 was United States store-keeper, appointed by Amor Smith, collector of the First district, at the end of which time he was reappointed to the position of superinten- dent of the infirmary. His amiable wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Cincinnati, matron of the infirmary, is a woman well fitted for the position she holds, having worked in and filled all the minor posts of the institution previous to her promotion. The infirmary now furnishes a home for five hundred and sixty persons.
George W. Bacon, grocer, of Glendale, Springfield township. He was initiated into his business as clerk for Aaron A. Colter & Co., Sixth and Race streets, Cincin- nati, and afterwards for five years with Abner L. Frazier & Co., No. 44 Walnut street, in the same city. Thus, with eight years' experience in all, he came to Glendale and formed a partnership with McCormick, which was continued up to January, 1880, when Mr. Bacon began business for himself. He was born in Carthage, Ohio, in 1852; received a good common school education in his own village, and in the high schools of Cincinnati. He was married to Amanda M. Langdon, daughter of William Langdon, in October, 1879. Her parents were old settlers of the county.
Joseph Sampson, bricklayer and plasterer in Lockland, in which business and town he has been for the past twenty-two years. His father, James Sampson, was an old settler of the county, being eighty four years of age when he died in 1878. In 1854 Mr. Sampson was mar-
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