USA > Ohio > The Biographical encyclopedia of Ohio of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 12
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spinning business, in which he was engaged until he began for himself the mercantile trade and milling business, which was prosecuted with the great energy so characteristic of Colonel Hill. In 1862, when the great war of the rebellion was fully inaugurated and all the loyal sons of the United States were preparing to defend our fag, he was among the first to settle his business and enroll his name in the Sist Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was chosen Captain of Company A. On the 12th day of August, 1864, in an engagement in front of Atlanta, Colonel Ilill received a gunshot wound in his left hand, and was sent to the hos- pital in Cincinnati. Before he had sufficiently recovered to return to his regiment he was assigned to duty on a court martial. As soon as he was relieved from that duty he immediately returned to his regiment, and remained with it until the war had closed with the surrender of General Lee. Ile was then with bis regiment mustered out of the service at Camp Dennison. He entered the service at the com- mencement of the war and attained the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel. lis war record is so good that he and his friends are justly proud of it. Very few men who drew their swords at the commencement of that terrible struggle served their country with greater devotion through the entire rebellion than did the gallant officer whose name stands at the head of our biographical sketch. On return- ing to civil life he found thousands of poor soldiers who had not yet received the money due them from the United States, and on their solicitation he opened in Cincinnati a war claim and real estate office, and was enabled to greatly aid the noble defenders of the country he loved so well. It is safe to say that no claim agent in the State had a larger business. In the spring of 1868 he removed to a farm in Butler county, where he remained till 1870, when he removed to his valuable farm in Sycamore township, Hamilton county. During the last seven years he has been largely engaged in farming. Without doubt Colonel Ilill grew and harvested more wheat on his farm last summer ( 1875) than any other farmer in his township. In August, 1873, he assisted in organizing Eden Grange, No. 97, Pourrons of Husbandry. When the Hamilton County Coun- cil was instituted, Colonel Hill was chosen for its special Business Agent. On the 29th of July, 1874, after the County Council had become thoroughly organized, he was appointed Business Agent of the State, the locating office being at Sharon; but, business increased so rapidly, it was necessary to open an office in Cincinnati, which was accom- plished on April Ist, 1875, with local agents in various parts of the State. On the Ist day of October, 1875, the business had become so extensive that a large warehouse was opened at No. 63 Walnut street, Cincinnati. He has now (November 12th, 1875) several assistants, with business increasing so rapidly that more clerical force will soon be employed in his counting-room. The following advertise- ment from the Cincinnati Daily Commercial shows the manner in which all purchases are made :
Proposals will be received at the Business Office of the Ohio State Grange, 63 Walnut street, Cincinnati, Ohio, until the 15th day of November, 1875, at 12 o'clock M., for furnishing on the cars, at the place of manufactory, 500, 750 and ICO0 or more first-class, two-horse sulky com- cultivators, in lots of not less than one car-load at a time, and at such times as the Business Agent may direct, said cultivators to be paid for on or before July or August, 1876, each bidder to furnish a sample cultivator on or before the day of letting. The right is reserved to reject any and all bids. Enclose in envelopes " Bids for Cultivators," and direct to the undersigned, Box 50, Cincinnati, Ohio.
W. II. III.I.,
Business Agent Ohio State Grange.
In 1874 Colonel Hill was a candidate for the office of County Commissioner, and although he was not elected, his popularity in his own township was so great that he re- ceived almost the entire vote. On September 8th, 1849, he was married to Charlotte L. Kelley, at Winchester, Indiana. Nine children have been born of this union, of whom only six are now living.
PPLY, JOHN P., Furnishing Undertaker, was born at York, Pennsylvania, January 9th, 1818. Ilis grandparents were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany. They emigrated to America about 1760, and settled in Vork county, Pennsylvania, where his parents were born. In 1830 his father purchased a large farm and mill property about five miles south of Gettysburg, upon which in 1863 General Meade rested his army during the night preceding the opening of the celebrated battle of Gettysburg. The family removed thither, and John was engaged in the labor incident to this farm until 1836, when he became an apprentice to the house carpentering trade. In November, 1837, he arrived in Cincinnati with a cash capital of $1.50 in his pocket. Ile found work at once at the carpentering trade at $1.25 per day, and commenced then to lay the foundation of a sub- stantial education, by attending night schools and employing all his leisure moments in study. In April, 1848, he en- gaged with P. Rush & Son, undertakers, as bookkeeper and assistant, and continued in this capacity until 1851, when he found his cash capital, gathered from scanty earn- ings, to be $100. With this he resolved to start in business on his own account, with the determination 'to make up in energy and enterprise what he lacked in ready cash. In 1853 he constructed the first glass hearse in the United States, and some years after he purchased in New Haven and introduced into Cincinnati the first Clarence coach used in that city. About the same time he secured the first oval glass hearse known to that section of the country, and by enterprises of this character acquired a business surpassed by none of the kind in southern Ohio. He was the first to bring into use the metallic burial-case, and is the only nu- dertaker in Cincinnati who has kept up a regular supply
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house for undertakers' goods. Ile has the credit alone of | success in producing a perfectly air tight wood case and casket. In addition to the manufacture of his own style of cases, he has for a long time constructed his own hearses and carriages, in an establishment which is one of the most complete in all its mechanical appointments. Rendered peculiarly susceptible to the taint of disease from the nature of his business, he had the good fortune to pass um- harmed through the dreadful cholera scourges of 1849-50 and 1866, and the ravages of the small-pox in Cincinnati. lle was a member of the old fire department of that city, and contributed largely towards raising that important mu- nicipal institmion to its present excellent condition. He is a man of liberal impulses, and an energetic supporter of public improvements. He takes little interest in politics, has no aspirations for civil office, and gives his entire atten- tion to a business which, developed from a small beginning with enterprise and care, is now the largest of its kind in Cincinnati, or any point in the United States.
0 ISHIER, SAMUEL WARE, D. D., LL. D., Cler- gyman and College President, was born at Mor- ristown, New Jersey, on April 5th, 1814. Ilis father was an eminent Presbyterian minister, for many years in charge of the church at Morristown, then one of the largest in the State ; and after- ward for twenty years the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in l'aterson. He was the first Moderator of the General Assembly of the New School body after its separation from the old, and was long recognized as one of the most earnest workers in the church, to whose welfare his life was conse- crated. To the example and counsels of such a father was naturally owing something of the tastes and tendencies of the son. Dr. Fisher was carly initiated into the modes of thought and action common to the great body with which he was connected. Its traditions were all familiar to him from boy- hood. The choice of a profession to a young man is some- times difficult; the result of anvions deliberation, the conclusion reached though much doubt and conflict. To him it was easy; a profession to which his life had been naturaliy and divinely shaped ; the most satisfying and best, he thought, which can be chosen by man. Ilis desires and wishes, his purposes and ambitions, if I may use the word in its better sense, opened out in the direction of work for and through the Presbyterian Church. Here was ground ample and noble, whose every hillside and vale were familiar to him, and it is perfectly natural that he should always have felt himself most at home with the congregations and presbyteries, the synods and assemblies of this powerful body. He was graduated at Vale College in 1835, spent a year in Middletown, Connecticut, pursued his theological studies at Princeton for two years, and completed them afterwards at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Immediately after leaving the seminary he became the
minister of the l'resbyterian church in West Bloomfield, New Jersey. During his ministry of a little more than four years in this place his fidelity was crowned with two revivals of religion. From there he removed in 1843 to a larger and more trying field of labor, being installed on the 13th of October in that year as pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Albany. This position was one of unusual deli- cacy and difficulty. The church was probably, at that time, the largest in the whole denomination, having more than nine hundred names upon the roll of its communicants. The important work of his predecessors he supplemented by other work quite as important in forming a complete and sound Christian character, and a vigorous and active Chris- tian church. The work that he did there has not lost its value by the lapse of years, nor is the estimation of its im- portance in the judgment of the most judicious observers less than at first. The extent of his reputation as a vigorous and effective preacher may be indicated by the fact that, in October, 1846, he was called to succeed the most popular, the most widely known, and the most powerful preacher of the New School body, in the Second Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati, Dr. Lyman Beecher, and entered on the duties of the service in April, 1847. It was not a small thing then for a minister still young, comparatively unknown, to follow in pulpit ministrations the most renowned pulpit orator, the most powerful controversialist of the West ; not an easy task, with prudence, skill, commanding vigor, and above all, with Christian fidelity and with a view to the broadest Christian success, to maintain his position, to secure the confidence, the good-will, the sympathy of a large and un- usually intelligent congregration, of various political afoni- ties, trained to vigorous and discriminating thought. Here was not only opportunity but imperative demand for large and exhaustive labor. Here were conflicting opinions to harmonize, critical minds to satisfy, plans for Christian labor to be formed, machinery to be organized and put in motion, new evils to be met by new methods, the life and vigor of the church itself to be maintained in the midst of peculiar temptations, and so a larger and completer Christian household gathered and inspired. This was the work which he performed. The difficulties of his position stimu- lated his energy. Ile was in the full vigor of every faculty. The field of labor was broad and full of encouragement. Ilis words were not spoken to the empty air, but came back laden with the murmurs of approving voices, Ile became an intellectual and moral power in the city. The young gathered about him, and he prepared more than one series of discourses particularly adapted to their tastes and wants. One of these series, " Three Great Temptations," published in 1852, went through six editions. In no other place did he labor continuously so long as in Cincinnati, and to this period he afterward looked back as on the whole the most successful and fortunate of his life. He was in his chosen employment, his manly energies at their highest vigor ; a working church, trained and stimulated by laige foresight,
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in full sympathy with him, accepting his leadership, and cheerfully co-operating in Christian word and work. His mmistry in this church was eminently successful --- one hun- dred and seventy-eight persons having been added to the church by profession and two hundred and forty-eight by letter during the eleven years of his pastorate. His charac- ter was a rare combination of mildness and energy. Ile possessed the faculty of discovering the capabilities and most valuable characteristics of those with whom he asso- ciated, and of infusing into them the ardor and zeal which animated his own heart. He developed the latent energies and abilities of the Second Presbyterian Church and con- gregation in a remarkable degree, and by his skill in organ- izing and combining individual talent into congenial asso. ciation for Christian work, accomplished great results for the cause of his Master. Thus quietly operating, he put in motion various plans and organizations in the church which resulted in great and lasting usefulness. Among them was the Young Men's Home Missionary Society, so successful in establishing Sabbath schools, providing for vacant churches, and other works of a similar character. Ile awakened an unusual interest in Foreign' Missions by ap- pointing different members of the church to make reports at the monthly concerts on the condition of the important foreign stations. Ile held regular meetings at his own house of the younger members of the church for devotion, consultation and advice. In numerous ways he was con- stantly leading on the church in matters of Christian enter- prise. Daring the eleven years of his service in the great commercial city of Ohio, his mind had not been growing narrower, nor, engaged as he constantly was in duties most important and exacting, had he forgotten the claims of science and letters, or failed to meet the demands upon his time and talents necessary to their encouragement. The schools, colleges and professional seminaries of the State, and of neighboring States, heard his voice and felt his in- fluence whenever he could say a word or lift a finger for their help. It was natural also that, occupying so promi- nent a place, he should have been called upon for various public services, and become of influence in the larger assem- blies of the church. In 1857 the New School General As- sembly of the Presbyterian Church met at Cleveland, Of this learned and able body Dr. Fisher was chosen Moderator. The subject of slavery had been discussed in more than one General Assembly, and the system strongly condemned. The southern members had as frequently protested against these deliverances, and in 1856 did not hesitate to acknowledge that their views in respect to the evil of slavery had mate- rially changed, and they openly avowed that they now ac- cepted the system, believing it to be right according to the Bible. This position the assembly at Cleveland pointedly condemned, while yet expressing a tender sympa- thy for those who deplore the evil, and are honestly doing all in their power for the present well-being of their slaves, and for their complete emancipation. These ideas of the
two parties were too radically antagonistic, too deeply held, too frequently and publicly affumed to allow fraternal co- operation. The southern synods thereupon willshew, and formed themselves into a separate body, called the United Synod of the Presbyterian Church. It was in reference to this secession that, in the sermon before the General Assem. bly of 1858, in Chicago, with which, as retiring Moderator, he opened the sessions of that body, Dr. Fisher used these strong and generous words : " Fathers and brethren, minis- ters and elders, we assemble here amidst the brightness of scenes of revival, scenes such as the church of Christ, per- haps, has never enjoyed so richly before. But as my eye passes over this andience, a shade of sadness steals in upon my heart. There are those who have been wont to sit with us in this high council, whose hearty greeting we miss to- day. Taking exception to the ancient, the uniform, the oft-repeated testimony of our church, as well as to the mode of its utterance, respecting one of the greatest moral and organic evils of the age; deeming it better to occupy a plat- form foreign, indeed, to the genius of our free republican institutions, yet adapted, in their view, to the fuller promul- gation of the Gospel in the section where they dwell, they have preferred to take an independent position ; and while we cannot coincide with them in their views on this subject, while we know that this separation has been precipitated upon us, not sought by ns, yet, remembering the days when, with us, they stood shoulder to shoulder against ecclesias- tical usurpation and revolution, when in deepest sympathy we have gone to the house of God in company, and mingled our prayers before a common mercy-seat, we cannot but pray for their peace and prosperity. We claim no monop- oly of wisdom and right. If in our course hitherto we have been moved to acts or deeds unfraternal or unbefitting our mutual relations-if in the attempt. to maintain our an- cient principles and apply the Gospel to the heart of this gigantic evil, we have given utterance to language that has tended to exasperate rather than quicken to duty, we claim no exemption from censure, we ask the forgiveness we are equally ready to accord." From the delivery of this able and weighty discourse on the "Conflict and Rest of the Church," of the style and spirit of which the above brief extract may give us an imperfect notion, Dr. Fisher went directly to Clinton, New York, having been already con- sulted respecting the presidency of Hamilton College. Hle entered upon his duties at the opening of the fall term of 1858, the ceremonies of the inauguration not taking place until the 4th of November. The college had risen far above its earlier difficulties, and under a wise administration had for many years enjoyed an honorable reputation for thorough- ness of instruction and discipline, but its resources were still insufficient, and its appeals for aid had not been quite loud enough to reach the car of the wealthy and the liberal. To the period of his presidency dates the growth of a greater confidence in the college, the endowments of its professor- ships and charitable foundations, and prizes for the encour-
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agement of good learning, bearing honored names in this and in neighboring communities, never to be forgotten. From this period dates also the effective enlargement, almost the new creation of the general funds of the college, and an impetus and direction imparted to the hberality of the gen- crons and noble-minded which has not ceased, but has yielded but the first fruits of an increasing harvest. During his presidency the efficiency of the college instruction was increased. Under his influence and in accordance with his wishes the Bible assumed a more prominent place as a part of the regular curriculum, a place which it has ever since re- tained, for the advantage of all. Dr. Fisher's views of the ends and methods of education are contained in several ad. dresses which he delivered at different times, and which were afterwards collected and published. The very sub- jects of these are suggestive of broad and careful thought. They are such as "Collegiate Education," " Theological Training," "The Three Stages of Education " (by which he discriminates child-life, the school and society), " Female Education," " The Supremacy of Mind," "Secular and Christian Civilization," " Natural Science in its Relations to Art and Theology." These addresses are eloquent and sound. The most complete of them, perhaps, is his inau- gural, in which he endeavors to develop his idea of what he calls the American collegiate system. The whole address is an argument for breadth and loftiness of culture. The scheme which it defends and enforces is noble and generous to the last degree. In 1862, in the midst of our civil war, occurred the semi-centennial celebration of the founding of Hamilton College, a memorable occasion, marking the age and progress of the institution as with a tall memorial shaft visible from afar. The address of Dr. Fisher is an admira- ble sketch of the college history, portraying in picturesque language the events of its early and later life, with enthusi- asm and faith commending it to the good will of its alumni and friends, and predicting its future prosperity. " It was," he said, " amid the smoke and thunder of war that, fifty years ago, the foundations of this college were laid; and when they passed away, lo! on the hill top had sprung into being a power mightier than the sword, more glorious than its trimmphs, It is amid the heavier thunder and darker clonds of this dread conflict, when all that to us is most precious is in peril, that we celebrate our semi-centennial jubilee. This thunder shall roll away and the cloud dis- perse before the uprising patriotism of twenty millions of freemen and the red right arm of the Lord of hosts." That was indeed to the nation an hour of darkness, when the light was as darkness, but he never "bated one jot of heart or hope," or failed to act up to his patriotic faith. After a service of eight years in Hamilton College, Dr. Fisher was solicited to accept again the position of pastor by the West- minster Church of Utica, New York, and was installed as pastor November 15th, 1867. For nearly four years of active and progressive work the church enjoyed the minis trations and stimulating energies of this able, active, and 8
untiring pastor. There was yet one other occasion not to be forgotten in which Dr. Fisher bore a prominent part in a great and memorable public service whose influence is in- calculable; viz., the measures which led to the reunion of the separated branches of the Presbyterian Church. There was no object, perhaps, nearer his heart, none which more moved his enthusiasm. The disruption had taken place in 1837, just before he entered upon his ministry. His father was the first Moderator of the New School Assembly. The doctrines and the men, the causes and the consequences, he had heard discussed from his boyhood, and in the reunion of the two branches of the church he was relied upon as among the most judicious counsellors in the very delicate and difficult questions that impeded its progress and threat- ened to prevent its consummation. He was one of the able committee of conference appointed by the two assemblies, which reported the plan of reunion in 1869. Nor does he seem to have doubted the beneficent result. In behalf of the joint committee, he proposed the resolution for raising $1,000,000, immediately afterward raised to $5,000,000, as a memorial fund. His last work to which he gave himself with all the confidence and enthusiasm of his nature was to prepare a paper for the General Assembly of 1870, an as- sembly which he was never to see. Dr. Fisher received the Doctorate of Divinity from Miami University in 1852, and the Doctorate of Laws from the University of the city of New York in 1859. As a preacher, Dr. Fisher must be held to rank among the ablest of the Presbyterian body. With all that may be said by way of detracting criticism, it must still be allowed that our religious communities move along a pretty high level of intellectual experience and of religious feeling. To satisfy the reasonable demands of our congregations requires a continuous intellectual exertion, which, when we come to measure its force, is something startling. It is not a wonder that so many poor sermons : re preached, but rather that there are so many good ones. But Dr. Fisher moved above, far above the common level. Within the ample dome of that forehead, you feh, at sight, there dwelt a powerful brain. He brought to his discourses a mind well stored and well disciplined. There was a ful- ness and richness of thought which left you little or nothing in that direction to desire. An intellectual hearer could not fail to be attracted by his vigor. His style was often bold, sometimes picturesque, almost always clear and direct. His words were well chosen and exuberant. Thus full and "weighty in matter, affluent in language, with no ambiguity in expression, fertile in imagery and illustration, with a voice clear and penetrating, and a manner somewhat au- thoritative, it is not surprising that he was constantly sought for to address public bodies on important occasions, a duty which he always performed with dignity and to the satisfac- tion of his hearers. The subjects of his discourses were va- rious, and as his mind was mainly occupied with grand and lofty themes, so there was a certain nobleness, freedom, and power of development, the natural and necessary fruit of hi,
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