USA > Ohio > The Biographical encyclopedia of Ohio of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2 > Part 9
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the academy he married Miss Hegeman, only daughter of Adrian Hegeman, at the time a prominent member of the bar of New York. Remaining at West Point seven years, he was sent, in 1847, to Newport, Rhode Island, to take charge of fortifications and other matters there. For the next five years he was engaged in various works calling into play his excellent qualifications as an Engineer, when, in 1853, his health broke down. He had now, after serving with credit for eleven of the best years of his life, reached the grade of First Lieutenant, and seeing no hope of early advancement he tendered his resignation. The Secretary of War (Jefferson Davis), alive to the value of his services, offered him a year's leave of absence as an inducement to him to withdraw his resignation, with the understanding that, at the end of his leave, he might still be at liberty to choose between civil and military life. Accordingly, in April, 1854, he resigned, the Chief of Engineers addressing him a complimentary letter in acknowledgment of his long and valuable services to his country. Soon after this he was located in Cincinnati, where his office sign read : " William S. Rosecrans, Consulting Engineer and Archi- tect." Some time after he became Superintendent, and then President of the Cannel Coal Company, interested in the development of coal fields of western Virginia. After this he took charge of the interests of the Cincinnati Coal Oil Company. But in these enterprises, although others have since largely profited by his researches and experi- ments, he was not pecuniarily successful. Still, he had be- come a man of influence in the city which he had made his home. The war coming on, he at once grasped the situa- tion, and devoted his whole time to preventing any threat- ened invasion of Ohio from over the border. On the 19th of April, Mcclellan, then raised to a Major-General of Militia, appointed him to select a site for a camp of in- struction for volunteers. The site he selected was after- wards known as Camp Dennison. Remaining here a few weeks, Governor Dennison gave him several tasks to perform in connection with the troops being raised, all of which he accomplished with success. Early in June he was ap- pointed Chief Engineer for the State, under a special law, and a few days later Colonel of the 23d Ohio Volunteers, and assigned to the command of Camp Chase at Columbus. Four days after this his commission as Brigadier-General, dating from April 16th, 1861, reached him, and he was called into active service in West Virginia. Two weeks after he assumed command his brigade won a victory that decided the first campaign of the war, and he displayed, not only his ability as a strategist, but great gallantry in charging the enemy at the head of his troops, The affair was known as the battle of Rich Mountain. His success was rewarded by his being placed in command of the de- partment of West Virginia on McClellan's departure for the East. But his command was much depleted by the expira- tion of service of some of his regiments, and the raw troops by which they were replaced had yet to be tested. General
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R. E. Lee was sent to oppose him, with Floyd and Wise | driving one division across Stone river and following in under him. The campaign ended with Lee being out- m.ucenvred by the Union General, and recalled to the East, By a nuanimous vote the Olfio Legislature thanked the victor, and the Legislature of West Virginia passed a like resolution of thanks for his conduct of civil as well as military affairs. In April, 1862, he was relieved of his command to give place to Fremont, and ordered to Wash- ington. After remaining there some time, about the middle of May he was ordered to report to Halleck, then in front of Corinth. Here, although placed in a subordinate com- mand, being practically reduced in rank, he did good ser- vice. After the battle he succeeded Pope in command of the Army of the Mississippi. Almost alone he fought the battle of Iuka, through a blunder of two other commanders, who failed to reinforce him. Becoming aware of a move- ment on the part of the enemy to recapture Corinth, he prepared to give them battle. Outnumbered, two to one, the Union troops fought desperately, alternately losing and gaining ground. At last, after great slaughter, the rebels were driven back. In " Pollard's Southern History " the. battle is described as " the great disaster which was to react on other theatres of war, and cast the long shadow of mis- fortune upon the country of the West." In the very flush of victory, and while in hot pursuit, he was refused aid by Grant and ordered back to Corinth, much against his will. A week or so after his return to Corinth he was ordered to Cincinnati. From hence he was instructed to relieve Gen- eral Buell in Kentucky. At the head of a large but de- inoralized army, he was requested by Halleck to move into East Tennessee. Replying that this was impossible, he con- tinued in his work of reorganization. Subsequent move- iments of the rebels vindicating this course, his displeased chief again and again ordered him to move, adding at last that " he had been requested by the President to designate a successor for General Rosecrans." The soldier's reply was : " My appointment to the command having been made without any solicitation from me or my friends, if the Presi- dent continues to have confidence in the propriety of the selection, he must permit me to use my judgment and be responsible for the results; but if he entertains doubts he ought at once to appoint a commander in whom he can confide, for the good of the service and of the country." At last, after having thoroughly completed the reorganiza- tion of his army, and having been in command two months, he advanced upon the enemy at Murfreesboro', December 26th, 1862. llis plan of battle was admirably arranged, but was destined to be marred by the ill luck of a division commander, who failed to hold his position, Disaster fol- lowed hard upon, but the general in command never lost his presence of mind. Rushing where danger was greatest, his orders were quick and peremptory. The rebels under Bragg were checked, but the Union forces had lost heavily in officers and men. After two days of fighting, withont advantage to cither army, Bragg made a grand onslaught,
pursmit. On an eminence the Union general bad placed a collection of batteries, which was to turn the tide of the day. When they opened their mouths the shock was terrific. In forty minutes two thousand rebels were strewn about the field, and as this slaughter was followed up by a charge by. the Federals the enemy retreated in confusion. The battle of Stone River was over. On the first day the general's chief of staff, while riding by his side, had his head blown from his shoulders, and others of his staff were struck. The country went wild with joy over the great victory. The personal courage of its author was in everybody's mouth. But with this victory the star of the general began to descend. Ile could never agree with Halleck, and the latter was ever finding fault. There is not space here to give a full account of what followed Stone River. He had further successes against Bragg. The bloody battle of Chickamauga was fought. Neither army could claim a vic- tory, but it furnished cause for the removal of the Union com- mander. He was relieved by General George 11. Thomas. Returning to Cincinnati, after having held the command for one year, he was out of active service for three months, and served as President of the Sanitary Fair at that place. Ile never uttered a murmur at his misfortunes, but still used all his influence for the cause of the Union, especially among the Roman Catholics of the State. Ile was still warmly regarded by the citizens of Ohio, and he was looked upon by them as a much-abused man. At last he was called from his retirement, and ordered to relieve Schofield in command of the department of Missouri. Ilere he was actively engaged in suppressing guerilla warfare, in ex- posing the machinations of the "Order of American Knights," and in preparing to repel the rebel Price's threatened invasion of the State. In the campaign against l'rice, when the latter at last invaded Missouri, he success- fully drove him out and inflicted severe punishment upon him. But he never rose again into the full confidence of the administration, and had not been for some time regarded . kindly by Grant or Halleck. The danger in Missouri being over, he was, without explanation or warning, relieved of his command, December 9th, 1864, and took final leave of active service. At the close of the war, being assigned to no department of the service, he asked for a year's leave of absence. During this year he visited Nevada, and in- spected the silver mines in that and other Territories. At the end of his leave he resigned his commission in the army. For some years he has been engaged in mining on the Pacific slope, taking no part in public affairs, and strictly confining himself to his business. He was, without doubt, one of the greatest generals the war produced, and certainly the greatest strategist. In appearance he is about six feet high, well-formed, and wears a full but trimmed beard. He is a very devout Catholic, and his brother, Right Rev. Sylvester Rosecrans, is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church at Columbus, Ohio.
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ESOR, WILLIAM, Stove Manufacturer, was born, 1 1 September 6th, 1810, in Mercersburg, Pennsyl- vania. Ilis father removed to Cincinnati in the spring of 1811, where William was educated at a private school. Ile was apprenticed to learn the tinner's trade with his father, who had established that business in connection with copper and gunsmithing. Ile labored industriously at this calling until 1833, when he engaged in the same business on his own account. In 1835 he took the stove patterns to the iron furnaces on the Ohio, and became the pioneer of stove manufacture in the West. In 1837 he started the first stove foundry in Cincinnati, and from a small beginning increased the same from year to year, until it now employs some two hundred and fifty hands. In order to afford necessary business facilities for his largely augmented business, he removed to a larger site in 1847, where he carried on the manufactory until 1857, when the foundry was destroyed by fire, together with the large stock of patterns, Within sixty days after this casualty occurred he had rebuilt the foundry, pattern shop, etc., and had prepared new patterns and tools. At his own expense he erected the first public school building at Clifton, where he resided, and of which he had been one of the earliest projectors, having removed thither in 1844. Ile was one of the originators and directors of the Spring Grove Cem- etery, and took a warm interest in various public enter- prises. He was a man of great energy, and possessed fine executive abilities. Ile was exceedingly well informed, and had attained rare culture from extended reading, and observation while travelling in Europe and other parts of the world. During a portion of his business career his two brothers had been associated in partnership with him; and for some time previous to his death his sons had been active participants in the management of the works. Ile was married in 1832 to Mary T., daughter of Hon. Laae G. Burnet, late Mayor of Cincinnati. He died April 3d, 1874, having been in active business until his death, when the establishment passed into the hands of his sons and another person who is likewise interested in the business,
ENNETT, JOSIAII IIIBBARD, Physician and Surgeon, was born, July 12th, 1826, in Allegany county, New York, of American parentage and of Welsh and French ancestry. Ile was princi- pally educated at Temple Ilill Seminary, at Geneseo; emigrating to Ohio in 1846 he com- menced the study of medicine under the tuition of Dr. William C. Porter, and subsequently finished his course of study at the Starling Medical College, in Columbus, in the winter of 1849-50. Ile commenced the practice of his profession at Evansport, Defiance county, and was one of the pioneer physicians of that section, Ile remained there thirteen years, and in 1863 removed to Wauseon, in Fulton
county, where he has ever since resided and where he is known and recognized as an able physician and surgeon. In 1869 he was appointed Surgeon for the air line of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, upon the special recommendation of Ilon. M. R. Waite, the pres- ent Chief-Justice of the United States Supreme Court, which position he still occupies with credit to himself, with satisfaction to the company and with honor to the profes- sion. Ile is an active member of the Fulton County Medi- cal Society, and also of the United States Medical Congress. Ilis present prominence as a physician and surgeon is due entirely to his own exertions and energy. In early youth his advantages for culture were rather limited ; but by dint of industry and self-reliance -- for he never received any outside assistance-he has attained the position he at present occupies ; and his talents and rare skill have received the deference to which he is entitled. Ile was married, September 4th, 1850, to Tryphena Denman, of Defiance county, Ohio.
OHIN, JOIIN W., Merchant, Manufacturer and Wine Producer, was born in Bavaria, May 15th, 1815. His parents were William 1 .. and Cath- erine (Daener) Sohn. He received an excellent education in the public schools of the free city of Windsheim, studying Latin, Greek, French and the higher mathematics at the Gymnasium, and at the age of seventeen was apprenticed to learn the trade of brewer and cooper. Having finished his apprenticeship he came to America in 1834, and made his way to his present home, Hamilton. Ilere for a time he was reduced to the greatest extremity ; and, being unable to find work at either branch of his trade, began his career in the new world by chopping wood at twenty-five cents a cord. After some months he obtained work at his trade in Cincinnati, where he remained three years, and then returning to Hamilton started for himself in a small way at brewing. His business gradually extended and his means constantly increased till, in 1846, he engaged in the tanning business, and this enterprise has increased to very extensive proportions, embracing one large tannery in Ilamilton and another in Pike county. Though no longer a brewer, he is still engaged in the business of malting, and for years has been experimenting with great interest in the production of native wine. Ile has the largest vineyard in Butler county, and has had great success in producing wine from the Venango grape. To all these enterprises Mr. Sohn has added the business of pork-packing, in which line he does the largest business in the county, and is interested with two of his sons-in-law in the manufacture of the " Universal Wood working Ma- chine," which is the invention of the young men, and a work of great merit in the manufacture of scroll and other kinds of wood-sawing and dressing. Ile also carries on a leather and shoe-findings store in Hamilton, is a Director
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26. 6. Bennett
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of the First National Bank, and for fifteen years has been President of the Hamilton Fire Insurance Company. With all his private enterprises he has still found time to take an interest in public affairs, and has frequently been a member of the City Council aud the Board of Education of the city of Hamilton. Ile has also been County Commissioner, and in 1872 was nominated for Congress by the Liberal or Greeley faction ; and though he had been a life-long Re- publican he received the unanimous vote of the Democratic party, which refused that term to place an opposition can- didate in the field, but with the great chief under whose ensign he entered the arena he was defeated. It would be superfluous to add, after having enumerated his business enterprises, that Mr. Sohn is a man of great executive ability, and it is likewise needless to state, having shown the repeated marks of public confidence which he has received, that he has the esteem and good will of the com- munity in which he resides. Cordial in his manner and simple in his mode of life, he has acquired a large fortune by honesty, industry and economy, and has done it all without incurring the reproach (that too often falls npon men of riches) either of parsimony or fraud. His charity has been as broad as his means, and for a great many years he has been President of the United German Society, an association which looks after the physical welfare and in- tellectual improvement of the German population of that county. In 1840 he married Catharine, daughter of Rev. Charles E. Rosenfield, pastor of the German Lutheran and Reform Church of Hamilton. With her he has had nine children, three sons and six daughters, all of whom are living.
ANKS, JEDEDIAH, Pioneer Manufacturer of Cincinnati, was born at Millville, New Jersey, September ist, 1792. Ilis grandfather was a captain and his father a captain in the American army of the Revolution. Both were captured by the British, at Amboy, and imprisoned for some months. Jedediah was raised on a farm, received some education, and in the war of 1812 was one of the " Minute men " of his neighborhood. In 1817, at the age of twenty- five, he came to Cincinnati with his wife and child. He was a man of mechanical genius, and had picked up a knowledge of iron-work that served him well in after years. Ile assisted in the construction of the first boiler made in Cincinnati. In the particular work of heavy welding in those pioneer days he had no superior. His shop was sit- uated on Columbus street, in what was known as " Flat-iron Block." Ile was the first Steamboat Inspector appointed through act of the Ohio Legislature, and for several years held this position. Ile was one of the oldest and most prominent Masons in the West, and for fifty years held faithful relations with the order in Cincinnati, although he had become a member many years before in the East. Ile
was made a Knight Templar at Lebanon, Ohio, more than half a century ago, Sir Thomas Corwin being Eminent Commander on the occasion. He was an enthusiast in the order up to the time of his decease, and was one of those who united in the organization of the Cincinnati Com- mandery, in 1839. Ile was also one of the oldest volunteer firemen. From his youth he had been a member of the Methodist Church, although he seceded from the mother church years ago and joined the Methodist Protestants. HIe died, January 28th, 1876, having been retired from activities of life over twenty-five years. Two sons and a daughter survive him.
OX, DAVID C., Pension Agent for the District of Columbia, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on the 14th of March, 1831. Ilis father, Horatio J. Cox, was a native of New Jersey, but became an early settler in the State of Ohio, where he was largely engaged in the manufacture of paper, and for some years acted as an associate judge. The mother of David C. was nee Ann Chambers, of Virginia. The education obtained was only the thorough course given in the public schools, at the completion of which Mr. Cox engaged in assisting his father in his business, with whom he remained until about thirty years of age. Ile then entered the service of the Central Ohio Railroad, at Bellaire, where he remained until January, 1862, when General B. R. Cowen (the present Assistant Secretary of the Interior), who had been chosen Secretary of State for Ohio, selected him to be his chief clerk. In this capacity he was engaged for about one year, and at the assembling of the Ohio Legislature, in January, 1863, he was chosen Clerk of the House of Representatives of that body, the duties of which office he satisfactorily performed for the session. On the adjournment of the Legislature he be- came one of the secretaries of Governor Tod, remain- ing thus occupied during the completion of that Executive's term, and also during the succeeding year (1864) under the administration of Governor Brough. In 1865 he was again called to the chief clerkship in the Secretary of State's office, under Hon. W. II. Smith ; but he remained here only for a brief period. On the election of Governor Cox he was appointed on the gubernatorial staff as Assistant Adjutant-General, with the rank of Colonel, and acted in this capacity during his term of office. In 1869 Mr. Cox was appointed, by Columbus Delano, Supervisor of the Internal Revenue Burean, and consequently removed to Washington, District of Columbia. The manifold duties of this office were thoroughly and eminently satisfactorily performed by Mr. Cox during his term of service in this department, which lasted until March, 1871, when he was transferred to the Interior Department, and acted as Super- intendent of Documents up to February, 1872, when he was appointed to his present office of Pension Agent of the
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District of Columbia, and reappointed at the expiration of his first term, a short time since. Ile was married in 1856 to Alice Lee, of Zanesville, Ohio. In politics Mr. Cox has always acted with the Republican party, and his long con. tinuance in pubhe positions bears testimony to his ability and integrity as a public servant. In 1871 he was appointed by the President one of the Board of Civil Service Commis- sion, in which body he served for three years, and until its dissolution.
ARRERE, HION. JOIIN M., Postmaster of ITills- borough, Ilighland county, Ohio, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, July 11th, 1800. Ile was the third in a family of twelve children, whose parents were George W. Barrere and Abi- gail Mills Barrere, who came to Ohio and settled in New Market, Highland county, in the fall of 1803. Until his boyhood days were passed he was occupied mainly in attending school during the winter months and working on a farm the balance of his time. He was married, August 30th, 1821, to Margaret Morrow, a daughter of James Mor- row, an early pioneer of Highland county, Ohio, who re- moved to that place from Pennsylvania in 1807; he was a useful and loyal citizen, and for a number of years held the office of Justice of the Peace ; he died February 22d, 1838. In the spring of 1822 John M. Barrere erected his log cabin in the midst of a dense forest, bis nearest neighbor being one and a half miles away, and lived there until 1830, clear- ing in that time about twenty-five acres, and encountering such hardships and privations as are unknown to the more recent and fortunate settler. In the course of that year he disposed of his farm and moved to the village of New Market, where he was subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits for about sixteen years. ITe then sold out his in- terest in the business and purchased a farm adjoining the village, and returned to his former mode of life. On this property he resided until 1867 .. Hle was made a Mason, and admitted a member of Highland Lodge, No. 38, of Free and Accepted Masous, on February 4th, 1826. IIc was subsequently exalted to the most sublime degree of Royal Arch Mason ; advanced to the degrees of Royal and Select Master, and admitted to the order of Christian Knighthood ; he has been an active and working Mason for fifty years, serving as Master of Highland Lodge, No. 38; Iligh Priest of Hillsborough Chapter, No. 40, Royal Arch Masons, and Thrice Illustrious Grand Master of Hillsbor- ough Council, No. 16, Royal and Select Master Masons, for many years, and long a member of the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter and Grand Council of Ohio. ITis first election to the Senate of Ohio, in which he served two years, dates from 1843; his second from 1853, when he again served two years. During his first term as a member of the Legislature he secured distinction as a zealous supporter of the general system of State banks. For thirty-five years he has been a
consistent and exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in its doctrines and communion finds the solu- tion of the great problem of the life that now is and the life that is to come, In 1801 be assisted in raising and organizing the both Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and accompanied it to the scenes of war as Adjutant, and remained in the service until the fall of 1862. At Harper's Ferry, Virginia, he was wounded, and lost his left hand, and with his regiment was taken prisoner by the Confed- erate forces. Ile was subsequently released on parole and returned to his home. Of five sons who served efficiently in the Union army during the progress of the sectional con- test, one died of disease, contracted while assisting in the defence of the national flag and the unity of the nation; one was blown up on board of the ill-fated steamer " Sultana; " and one was starved to death in that monstrous enclosure known in the annals of infamy as Andersonville Prison. In 1863 he was elected a member of the Board of Public Works of Ohio, and was again elected in 1866, serving in that re- lation for six years. In 1867 he moved to Hillsborough, where he now resides. In 1869 he was appointed Post- master, and since that date has been constantly engaged in the active discharge of the duties of that office.
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