USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 74
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116
Among the most interesting antiquities in this town- is the grave of Adam Poe, the renowned Indian fighter
arid hero of some of the most remarkable stories of the border warfare, particularly of the conflict with the chief Big Foot. His remains are interred in the burying- ground used by the North family of Shakers, one to two miles from New Haven.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
Joab Comstock was probably the pioneer white in Crosby township. He immigrated from the vicinity of New Haven, Connecticut, in 1801, made a large entry of land, embracing several sections, and made his home about one mile and a half east of the present village of New Haven (Preston post office), with his farm reaching the bank of the Great Miami and the road to Venice, Butler county. He was the founder, in 1815, of the vil- lage of New Haven, in this township. He laid out the village of Crosby soon after coming, giving it his moth- er's maiden name, the township subsequently formed also taking its name from it. This was the only village of much account in the whole valley when the township was set off.
In April, 1801, when the public lands west of the Great Miami were first offered for sale at Cincinnati, a notable purchase was made in the northwest part of what is now this township. Jeremiah Britterfield, an enterprising young Massachusetts man who had come to Cincinnati shortly before as a prospector, and had assisted Colonel Ludlow to run the boundary line between the territory of the United States and that of the Indian tribes, as prescribed by the Greenville treaty, formed a company with Knoles and Alvin Shaw, their father, Esquire Shaw, Asa Harvey, and Noah Willey, to make investments in the lands. They bought at the first sales two full sec- tions and as many large fractional sections, extending from near the mouth of Indian creek, in what is now Butler county, about three miles down the Great Miami into this township and county. The tract comprises about two thousand acres, nearly all bottom land, per- fectly level, and exceedingly fertile. In order to secure it the company bid ten cents per acre above the mini- mum price, thus getting for two dollars and a dime an acre a tract probably now worth not less than two hundred thousand dollars. The six joint owners then divided the land, under a survey made by Emanuel Vantrees and according to the amounts they had respectively paid, each having a front on the river and his piece stretching back to the west line of the tract. Mr. Butterfield thus ob- tained eight hundred acres, partly in Buttler and partly in Hamilton county. . His own residence he fixed at a point near where Venice has since been founded. He handsomely improved his place, being the first in that region to plant an orchard, became an influential and wealthy citizen, and died at a good old age June 27, 1853. His sons Sherebiah, John, and Jeremiah, have since lived prosperously on parts of the ancestral estate, in Crosby township. The first named was during many years a justice of the peace for the township.
Among other early settlers were the Cones, the Dicks, the Wakefields, and other well known families, many of whom will be further noticed in this chapter.
284
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
THE ORIGINAL RECORDS
of Crosby township were kept by Hartman Vantrees, Robert Simmonds, Elijah Thompson, Daniel Bailey, C. Atherton, and Patterson Blackburn. The ear-marks of stock owners were duly and numerously recorded, as the law required in that day. Some of the entries are as follows :
No. I. June 25, 1803. Hartman Vantrees' ear-mark is a crop off left ear and a hole in the right ear. His brand is H. V.
. No. 2. July 14, 1803. Noah Willey's ear-inark is a half crop on the under side of the left ear. (Taken up by Israel Buell).
No. 19. May 10, 1805. Andrew Scott's ear-mark is an under bit and an upper bit in the left ear, and a small slit in the right.
H. VANTREES, Township Clerk.
No. 32. September 5, 1809. Adam Myers' ear-mark is a crop off the left ear and a slit on the right.
ROBERT SIMMONDS, Township Clerk.
No. 50. August 30, 1814. Clark Bunnell's ear-mark is a crop off each ear and an under-bit off both ears, with a slit in the end of the left.
No. 53. January 24, 1815. Joseph Sater's ear-mark is a crop and a slit and an upper and an under-bit, all on the right ear. His brand is J. S.
No. 54. January 24, 1815: William Sater's ear-mark is a crop off the left ear and an under half crop off the right.
DANIEL BAILEY, Township Clerk.
No. 70. July 24, 1817. Isaac Frost's ear-mark is a crop off the left ear, a slit on the right, and an under-bit out of the left.
ELIJAH THOMPSON, Township Clerk.
Some of the entries come down to a comparatively recent day ; as witness these:
No. 104. July 29, 1835. John Carter's ear-mark is an under-bit out of each ear. .
No. 105. August 3, 1835. Lathan L. Bartlett's ear-mark is a crop off the right ear. Formerly used by Samuel B. Looker.
No. 107. October 6, 1838. John Banghman's ear-mark is a large under-slope off both ears, so made as to take both the point and heel of the ear, which mark is sometimes called foxing.
JOAB COMSTOCK, Township Clerk.
Another unique entry, which would hardly find a prec- edent nowadays, is the following :
February 10, 1824. State of Ohio, Hamilton county, to Enoch C. Hunter, constable of Crosby township: You are commanded to sum- mons Polly Mathews to depart from this township with her family, if she has any, in time prescribed by law, and of this writ make due return.
NATHANIEL CROOKSHANK, Overseer of the Poor. JAMES SCOTT,
commissioned a justice of the peace for Crosby township, Hamilton county, Ohio.
JOHN CAVENDER, Township Clerk.
April 1, 1826.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
These documents show that Hartman Vantrees was township clerk in 1803-5; Robert Simmonds in 1809; Daniel Bailey, 1815; Elijah Thompson, 1817; John Cav- ender, 1826; and Joab Comstock, 1838. James Scott, it also seems, was a justice of the peace in Crosby in 1826, and Nathaniel Crookshank then an overseer of the poor. We have also notes of the following justices in the years designated :
1819-Luther Tillotson, Joab Comstock, Isaac Morgan, Samuel Halstead, William McCanee.
1825 -- William Wakefield, Jacob Scott.
1829-William Wakefield, Henry Lincoln, Oliver Hays, jr., Joseph McHenry.
1865-6-Christopher Kallenberger, John Carter.
1867-John Carter, R. J. Gwathney.
1868-9 -- The same, with M. V. B. Sater.
1870-3-John Carter, M. V. B. Sater.
1874-5-John Carter, Joseph Scull.
1876-G. W. Milholland, Israel Atherton.
1877-G. W. Milholland, Israel Atherton, William Siegle.
1878-G. W. Milholland, William Siegle.
1879-80-William Siegle, J. N. Duncan.
THE CROSBY TOWN-HOUSE
was put up in 1865, upon a lot granted for that sole pur- pose by Samnel Bevis. Mr. M. L. Bevis gives the fol- lowing account of its genesis :
During the last few years of the late Rebellion, there was an organi- zation composed of the voters in the township, for the purpose of aid- ing persons who were drafted. Each member deposited a certain sum of money with the treasurer of the society. Of course the entire asso- ciation was not likely to be called to the army at the same time, hence when a member was drafted a substitute was sent in his place, paid out of the treasury of the organization; thus it only cost the unlucky man a proportionate share of the expense. When the secession ended there remained some twelve hundred dollars in the treasury. The question was finally decided that a township house should be built with the re- maining funds.
The building was erected by Mr. James Williamson, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars, in the village of New Haven.
AN INCIDENT.
Perhaps the most remarkable case of lightning stroke on record, so far as it relates to effects upon the human being and remarkable recovery from terrible injuries thereby, occurred in this township about the year 1835, upon a farm one and a half to two miles northwest of New Haven. Captain James Cummins, who resided there, is the principal hero of the story. It was in the early spring, upon an afternoon, that a heavy thunder- cloud, threatening rain, was observed in the west. As it came up in the sky, it spread along the horizon, and from the horizon toward the zenith, making repeated and powerful lightning discharges during its approach. One of these at length descended upon the premises of Cap- tain Cummins. The astonishing effects upon the house and its occupants, and especially upon the head of the family, are thus told in a letter to the Harrison News of February 19, 1880, from Burlington, Iowa, by Mr. Joab Comstock, jr., who was at the time a student of medi- cine with Dr. James Comstock, at New Haven :
It struck the chimney of the house, ran down on the west side of it to the ridge of the roof, but soon parted, one stream passing down on the north side of the roof, zigzagging across the shingles until about mid- way, when it took down over the eave and the casing of a window, and thence to the ground. The other stream passed in like manner diagon- ally across the south side of the roof, but before reaching the eave di- vided again, one stream running over the eave and down the casing of a front window; the other stream going on further in like manner, ran down the casing of the front door, then into the ground. Mrs. Cum- mins was sitting in the west room, near its middle, rocking the cradle. John, the oldest son, was in the chamber above, lying on the bed read- ing. Nancy, the eldest daughter, was doing something before a bed that was in the room, where her mother sat. Two younger girls were in the other room attending to the work there. The mother was se- verely shocked, but not seriously hurt. Nancy was thrown forward onto the bed before which she was standing, but not much hurt; John, who was up-stairs, was stunned so much, as be told me, that the first thing that he remembered he was half way to New Haven for a doctor.
٤
RESIDENCE AND MILLS OF GEO,
ABNITZ, NEW BALTIMORE, OHIO,
、
285
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
The two girls in the other room were severely shocked, so that they complained for days of severe pains in their limbs.
Mr. Cummins called Adam, the second son, to help him carry the new wagon under the shed. Adam took the end of the tongue, it be- ing a stiff tongue, and the father took the axle. Adam had passed un- der the shed, and Mr. Cummins had reached a position directly under the point of the scythe that hung above him, when a stream of lightning. which, no doubt, had become detached from the main shaft, was at- tracted by the scythe, and by it conducted to its point, dropped on the top of the captain's head. It made a small hole in the middle of the hat-crown, much like a small bullet-hole; the body and rim of the hat, which was of strong felt, were literally torn to pieces. The neighbors picked up and counted sixty-three pieces. The crown of the hat re- mained entire, except the hole through the centre. His underclothes were badly lorn and set on fire The pants, of nearly new and strong casinet, had the backs of the legs torn literally into shreds. His shoes, nearly new and of strong cowhide, had the outside quarters literally torn out. The stream, after penetrating the hat-crown, struck Mr. Cummins just in the crown or curl of hair on the top of his head. It spread out into a stream some three inches wide, passing down the back of his head and neck, burning the hair into a crisp, and matting it to the scalp so firmly that I presume I was an hour in detaching it from the scalp. On the back of the neck the stream divided, one part pass- ing on down the spine to the hips, burning a wide strip all the way as broad as your hand and setting the clothes on fire. There were two or three places burned so deeply that subsequent sloughing took place. At the hips the main stream, as I call it, divided, the two streams pas- sing down the back of each leg, and off at the heels, as above stated. The stream that parted from the main stream on the neck wound around the side of the neck to the sternum or breast-bone, passing down the sternum to the pit of the stomach; then it divided and wound around each side to the hips, and there united with the stream already described; and thus united, passed off at his heels.
Captain Cummins was of course very severely injured by the tremendous shock and the burns received. It is almost beyond belief that one could have such an elec- tric discharge pass through, or rather over him, and not be instantly struck out of life. He did lose his hearing, at once and forever. Mr. Comstock tells the rest of the story in these words :
He recovered slowly, but suffered a great deal from his hurns and the shock his nervous system had received. I visited him and dressed his wounds every morning for two or three weeks. It would take as much plaster to cover his burns as would cover the leaf of a common break- fast table. He finally recovered his health, and became hearty and well, and in 1839 moved with his family to Iowa, and settled at Middle- town. He subsequently died of cholera; so that what lightning failed to accomplish the cholera did. I have never read or heard of a paral- Iel case to this, and I do not believe there can be a case to equal it found on record.
NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.
Ezra Sherman, sr., was born in Connecticut in the year 1765. He served for a short time in the Revolu- tionary war, and also took part in Wayne's campaign. He was a member of the Methodist church, and for a number of years was a minister in that denomination. Coming to this State with the Ohio company he settled in Washington county, near Waterford. He was one of the first settlers who ventured into what was then the Northwestern Territory, and remembers seeing the first steamboat that sailed down the Ohio river. He married Mary Pierce, a native of Connecticut. After a few years in Ohio he removed his home to Kentucky, and thence, after a stay of six years, to Indiana, where he lost his wife in 1822. After her death, the father and three of his children joined the society of Shakers, in which they remained till death. The family consisted of five chil- dren-Anna, who married David E. Whitney, of Hamil- ton county ; Manley, who married Frances Sterritt, of the
same; Abel, married Ann McGuire, of Alabama; Ezra, who never married, and lives in this township; and Mary E., also single, and living in Indiana.
Ezra Sherman, jr., one of the first trustees of the so- ciety of Shakers, was born in Washington county, Ohio, in 1805. When seven years old he went with his parents to Kentucky to live, and afterwards to Indiana. In 1826 he joined the society of Shakers. At various times he has learned the boot and shoemaker's, the stonemason's and the blacksmith's trades. He is a natural mechanic, and can do at once almost anything in the manufactur- ing line. He understands farming equally well, and has given especial attention to bee culture. Owing to the rules of the society, he takes no part in political affairs. He has voted for President of the United States only once, and that was for John Quincy Adams.
Joab Whipple was born in Butler county, Ohio, March 20, 1817. About the year 1839, he removed to this county. His wife's maiden name was Jane J. Lutis, daughter of Isaac Lutis. They were married January 12, 1837. Nine children were duly born to them- Elizabeth L., Albina, Eunice J., Phœbe L., Isaac L., Zachary T., David J., Charles F., and Joab C. Of these, only five are now living-Elizabeth, Eunice, Isaac, Zachary, and Joab. Elizabeth married Henry Cone, and resides in Butler county; Isaac married Miss Inia L. Davis, and is a resident of Franklin county, Kansas ; Zachary married Miss Letitia A. Davis, and also is in Butler county, Ohio; Joab married Miss Elizabeth Wab- nitz, and lives in Crosby township. The last-named lives on the old home, his sister Eunice living with him. He was married March 17, 1880. Mrs. Whipple is a member of the church of United Brethern, and is one of its most liberal supporters. Joab Whipple, jr., is now a leading farmer in Hamilton county. His father died July 4, 1859, aged forty-six years. He was a man re- spected by all who knew him.
Charles Cone, one of the pioneers, was born in Con- necticut in the year 1772, whence he emigrated with his family in the spring of 1800, and was a resident of' the county up to the time of his death, April 26, 1853. He was married to Miss Jane Harvey, who became the mother of twelve children: Rufus, Philena, Ann, Charles, Asa, James, James S., Thomas H., Grace, Rachel, Wil- liam, and Martha. All of these but one, William, are now alive. He was born in this county January 2, 1810, and has been a resident of the county all his life, with the exception of about two years. He has been twice married; first February 6, 1834, to Miss Mary Atherton, daughter of Henry Atherton, of Massachusetts. Three children followed: William H., Charles, and George M. February 9, 1841, he married Miss Mary Brown, daugh- ter of Joseph Brown, of Butler county. To them were born two children: Rachel J., and Joseph. All the chil- dren have been married and are living. Mr. and Mrs. Cone are both members of the Presbyterian church, of which they are liberal supporters. When the elder Mr. Cone came to Ohio the country was all in woods. The first thing he did was to build a cabin to shelter his fam- ily. At a later day he built an inn on the bank of the
286
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
Great Miami river, and kept a ferry-boat for taking people across. The Indians at that time were exceedingly trou- blesome. William, the son, is now living in the same yard where the house stood in which he was born, and has reached the ripe age of seventy. His memory is still good, and he looks as though he might live many more years.
William W. McClure, jr., fourth child of William Mc- Clure, sr., was born in Franklin county, Indiana, No- vember 6, 1830. In 1861 he moved to Hamilton county, where he has remained to the present day. February 18, 1860, he was married to Miss Martha A. Simonson, daughter of Barney Simonson, and to them were born six children, two of whom, William and Martha, are dead, and Elizabeth, Barney, Mary, and James, remain at home. Mr. McClure is considered a model farmer and one of the most influential citizens of the county. He is a consistent Christian, too; has long been a reliable member of the Christian church of his vicinity. At the present date he is serving his second year as school director in the township for district No. 2.
Andrew Nugent, sr., one of the pioneers, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1786. From this place he emigrated to Ohio about the year 1812. He was married to Miss Mary Hill March 4, 1814. Seven children were given them: Christiana, Catharine, James, John, Andrew J., William S., and Julia. Of these, all are living, with the exception of John. The mother died August 2, 1865; the father followed November 14, 1872. William was born in Whitewater township, Hamilton county, February 23, 1830; came to Crosby township in 1860, and has been a resident there ever since. He was married twice; first to Miss Elizabeth F. Lacy, daughter of Thomas Lacy, on the first of March, 1855. Ten children were born to them; three are now dead, and the mother also died November 12, 1875. His second mar- riage was to Mrs. Lydia Breese, daughter of Curtis Dean, and the widow of John Breese, on the eighth of March, 1878. Mrs. Nugent is a member of the Methodist Epis- % copal church, and has always been active in its work and reliable in its support. Her husband connects himself with no organization. He is, however, a good moral man in his life, and has always been a worthy and re- spectable citizen. Andrew J. Nugent, the fifth child, and brother of the preceding, was born in Whitewater town- ship on the fifth day of July, 1826. About the year 1854 he moved to Crosby township, and has been a resi- dent here from that date to the present. He was married first to Miss Mary Baughman July 23, 1853. Eight children were born to them. Mrs. Nugent died on the second of October, 1873. He was married, the second time, to Miss Mary A. Bacon, of Miami township, August 2, 1879. One child has been added to his family. Mr. Nugent joined the "hundred days'" service during the late war of the Rebellion. He is now an enterprising farmer and a respected citizen.
William G. Oyler, second son of George and Sarah Oyler, was born in Kent, England, August 22, 1817. In 1828 he came to America. His home was with his parents in Crosby township, and he has remained in the
same location, with the exception of four years' residence in Indiana. He was married first to Miss Rebecca Phillips, of Butler county, on the fifth of April, 1839. Their family consisted of six children. Of these three are living-Harriet, Sophia and Sarah. All are married : Harriet to Franklin Washburn, and is residing in the State of Indiana. Sophia married Alexander Campbell, and remains in this county. Sarah married William H. Guy, July 25, 1850, and lives in Madison county, Ohio. Mr. Oyler married for his second wife, Miss Eliza Van- tress, daughter of Isaac Vantress, of Indiana. She had nine children: Rebecca, James A., Alice C., Ada M., Elizabeth, Electa J., McClellan, William T., and Lida B. Of these seven are living, Rebecca and Elizabeth having died. The seven are all at home, excepting Alice, who married Charles L. Purlee on the sixth of October, 1880, and James, who has made his home in Kansas. Mr. Oyler has served as trustee in Crosby township for a period of fourteen years, and in every way ranks in his neighborhood as a leading citizen, and a genuinely good man.
Samuel Pottinger came with his family to Hamilton county in 1815, and continued a resident of that county up to the time of his death. He was the father of eighteen children. John, the father of our subject, was born near Bardstown, Kentucky, April 2, 1797. He was married to Sarah Cornick about the year 1821. Eleven children were afterward born to them: Susanna, David H., Eliza A., James, Mary J., John, Samuel, Thomas, Sarah J., Nancy, and Elizabeth E. Of these, seven are living and four dead. David H., the second child, was born in this county February 11, 1825, and has remained a resident all his life. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Atherton, daughter of Amos Atherton, October 10, 1847. Five children followed this union: John W., Mary A., David F., William, and Sarah E .- all living except William. Two are at home, and two are married. John married Maria A. Simonson, and they are living in Crosby township. Mary married George Kemp, and they reside in Butler county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Pot- tinger are members of the United Brethren church, and are classed among the most prosperous and worthy citi- zens of their township and county.
Hugh Montgomery, the fourth child of Henry Mont- gomery, was born in Butler county, Morgan township, in the year 1821, February 28th. He married Miss Phoebe Brisbin, daughter of Robert Brisbin, January 18, 1849. Of this union were born twelve children: Ellen, Aaron, Mary, James, Thomas, Sarah, Henry, William and Nancy, living; and Mary, Andrew and George, dead. Seven of the children are still at home. James married Martha Sefton, and is a resident of Crosby township. Ellen married Benjamin Hawk, and they reside in the same township. Mr. Montgomery has long been one of the leading citizens of this county, and served as trustee for Crosby township during the term of four years, end- ing about 1876.
Horace Willey, another of the pioneers, was born in Hampshire county, Massachusetts, February 13, 1792. His father's name was Israel Willey. He came to Ohio
MOSS
George Wabnity.
Mis. George Vabnity
Daniel Wabnitz was born in Baden, Germany, in 1796. He came to America in 1844, and settled in Colerain township, upon the farm now owned by Theodore Ferry- baugh. He followed the business of farming from pref- erence. He was a member of the German Lutheran church and in politics a Democrat. His wife was Han- nah Roof, of Wurtemburg, Germany. He died in Cole- rain township in 1863, his wife died the previous year; They are buried in the cemetery at Bevis. Their family consisted of six children-Daniel, whose wife was Mary Hite, and who still lives in Hamilton county; Charles, married to Elizabeth Wike, and living now in Iowa; George, who married Frederika Wike, now living in this county; Louise, married to Rosini Wike and living in the same; Sarah, the wife of David Shearing, of Hamilton county ; and Elizabeth, now in Baden, Germany. George Wabnitz was born in Baden, Germany, in the year 1829. He came to America with his father and settled in the same
place. After coming here he learned the miller's trade, in which business he is now engaged at New Baltimore, in connection with farming. In 1866 he bought the mill property, which he now owns, from George Andrews Since purchasing he has expended nine thousand dollars in repairs, and the mill is now second to none on the Miami river. He also owns a steam saw-mill immediately adjoining. Beginning business with very little, he has now a handsome property. At one time he was trustee of Crosby township. In 1879 he became infirmary di- rector of the county, which office he still holds. In 1851 he married Frederika Wike. Their children are Caro- line, wife of Andy Lower; Lena, married to Coonrod Jacobie; Elizabeth, married to Joel Whipple; George Emily, Katie, Rachel, Emma, and one that died in in- fancy without a name. Mr. Wabnitz is a member of the United Brethren church. Concerning politics he is a staunch Republican
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.