USA > Ohio > The biographical cyclopaedia and portrait gallery with an historical sketch of the state of Ohio. Volume III > Part 58
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the old paths. The moralist waited for him to make broad his phylacteries; the Christian, to show his faith by his works. He was thus, for awhile, alone in the world, save in the com- panionship of his faithful wife and dutiful daughter. Colonel Lewis had lavished upon others thousands of dollars out of his almost princely income, but had saved nothing, compara- tively, for himself and family out of the business he so ab- ruptly abandoned-only sufficient to save himself the humili- ation of asking favors of his friends, and to live in humble independence until he could make his way in the world upon the principles involved in the newness of his changed life. For awhile he served as proprietor of the Windsor, Duval, and Everette hotels, in Jacksonville, Florida. For three years he was general manager of the Athenaeum Hotel, at Lake Chautauqua, called to that responsible position by Col- onel Lewis Miller, president of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work). There Colonel Lewis met and mingled with the lead- ing representatives of the moral, literary, and Christian world. From his constant congenial intercourse with them he gath- ered additional wisdom, and superadded to that refinement of demeanor with which his gentlemanly address and polite conversation are uniformly characterized. From that po- sition he was induced to re-enter the Gibson House, as one of its associate proprietors. It was during this career that death entered his charmed family circle. First his daughter and then his wife went Beyond the Gates, and left him childless and wifeless in his voiceless woe. Approaching sixty years of age, he finds himself thus bereft, thus alone. He stands upon a moral eminence. Backward the glance stretches over a devious pathway, sometimes shadowed and sometimes re- vealed by the sunshine, and along which he came as if by some dark behest; but looking forward, the eye sees only a highway leading upward and upward to man's vast future. The glance backward kindles remorse, because of wasted time and talents, and opportunities for good; the glance for- ward inspires and strengthens him in a lofty purpose-to live peaceably with all men, and walk humbly before his God the remainder of his earthly pilgrimage. Why should he not be an example to the world of the extraordinary results that may be accomplished by way of voluntarily turning from a darkened pathway and fixing the eye on that light which shall grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day ? What London was to Shakespeare, Cincinnati was to Colo- nel Lewis-it was the world. After twenty-five years spent in the whirl and maelstrom of London life, Shakespeare re- turned to Stratford, and, filled with the wisdom of the world, led a corrected life, and died peacefully upon the banks of the Avon-
" The bard In whose capacious giant numbers Rolled the passions of old time."
After twenty-five years spent in the whirl and maelstrom of life in Cincinnati, Colonel Lewis became a self-reformed man, and, filled with the wisdom of the world, is at peace with his Maker, and all mankind. Both- sounded all the shoals and depths of the world's pleasures, and both renounced them at the last, saying, in the words of Henry V :
" Presume not that I am the thing I was ; For heaven doth know, so shall the world perceive, That I have turned away my former self."
The Prodigal Son did not return until he had wasted his sub- stance in riotous living; not until he was friendless and
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destitute and hungry, amid uncompanionable swine, upon whose husks he would fain have fed. Why should he not re- turn ? But if one who is a wanderer from the path of duty, while surrounded by flattering friends, among them those whose names are honored in social and political circles, and from whose patronage large revenue is realized; if one who is the head of a loved and loving family, upon whom he lavishly expends _his income; who is the friend of the poor and unfortunate, and whose constant giving for their relief, was proverbial-if such a one should suddenly make an about face, upon conscientious grounds, and march away from his resort and forego its revenues and all that that implies, and that without regret or casting a lingering look behind, and at once conform his wishes and wants and those of an endeared family, to his changed and strait- ened circumstances-is it not an act of the moral sublime, and indubitable evidence that there is a divinity within us that sometimes, somehow, stirs us all ?
BUTLER, GENERAL RICHARD, after whom But- ler County was named, was born in Ireland. With his brothers he came to America before 1760, and was, for a long time, in the Indian trade. Just before the outbreak of the American War he was settled in Pennsylvania, where his courage and knowledge of character made him a man of influence. It was a matter of great importance to persuade the Indians not to take up arms against us, and as agent and interpreter he went to Fort Pitt, in April, 1776, hoping to dis- suade the Six Nations from entering the field as our antag- onists. They were the most powerful of all the Indian tribes, and had been able to maintain their independence against both the French and English. With the latter, how- ever, they had formed an alliance at the close of the war that added Canada to the British dominions, and, while not unfriendly to the Americans, it was feared that the solicita- tions of English agents would finally turn them from neu- trals into enemies. Mr. Butler met the Indians in formal con- ference, and during their meetings delivered three speeches, two to Kiosola, the leading Indian chief, and one to the Delawares, who were, in a sense, subsidiary to the Iroquois. His efforts were for the time successful; Kiosola declared himself in favor of the Americans, and every thing prom- ised prosperously, but the current of feeling was too strong for the chief, and he and the Six Nations finally drifted into an alliance with the English, a movement which proved in the end fatal to the confederated tribes. Butler was made a lieutenant-colonel of the Pennsylvania line at the beginning of the war, and in the Spring of 1777 was lieutenant-colonel of Morgan's rifle corps, which was present at the battle of Saratoga, and distinguished himself by his conduct on several occasions. He was in the battle of Monmouth. While with a detachment commanded by General Lafayette, near Will- iamsburg, Virginia, on the 26th of January, 1781, he at- tacked Colonel Simcoe's rangers, gaining the advantage. He held the rank of colonel of the Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment at the close of the war, and acted as a commis- sioner in settling affairs with the Indians at about that time. He took up his residence in Carlisle, where, with General Irvine and General Armstrong, and a few others, an agree- able society was formed. In conjunction with these officers he quelled a mutiny at Fort Pitt. In 1784 he was one of the United States Commissioners at a treaty held at Fort Stan- wix, New York. His fellow commissioners were Oliver Wol-
cott, of Connecticut, and Arthur Lee, of Virginia. It does not appear that they had any particular knowledge of the In- dian character, and the bulkof the business fell upon Gen- eral Butler. New York State sent a commissioner, Peter Schuyler, to protect her interests, as the chief portion of the lands which were indisputably in the possession of the Six Na- tions were within her limits, and for all west of New York a treaty, some twenty years old, was in existence. The United States Commissioners adopted a very high and lofty tone to the Indians, and but for the conciliatory policy adopted by New York in her treatment it is probable an Indian warfare would have broken out, retarding the settlement of Western New York, as, at the same time, Indian troubles did the territory northwest of the Ohio. The Indians advocated their side at this meeting with much ability. General Butler subse- quently attended at Fort McIntosh, and in September, 1785, left his home in Carlisle to proceed to the Miami, where it was thought desirable a treaty should be made. He kept a journal, which is full of interesting matter. From it we learn that the journey was down the river, and occupied con- siderable time. James Monroe, afterward President, and then a member of Congress, accompanied him a consider- able part of the way. Three months after starting, at the mouth of the Great Miami, a treaty was concluded between the American commissioners-General Parsons, General But- ler, and General Clark-and several tribes of Indians. The honors were with General Butler, who delivered the principal address to the Indians. Tradition has imparted to this scene some startling particulars not to be found corroborated in history. In 1791 he joined the expedition of St. Clair, to- gether with a brother, Colonel Butler. He was appointed second in command, and was charged with the arrangements necessary for the recruiting service. He established a ren- dezvous at Baltimore, and several points in Pennsylvania. Those enlisted east of the mountains assembled at Carlisle, where they were disciplined and prepared to march for the West. He joined the army at Fort Hamilton, on the 27th of September, and the army was set in motion on the 4th of October, being led by General Butler. They crossed the river by wading. At Fort Hamilton General St. Clair issued an order prohibiting more than two or three women for each company from proceeding with the army. This, however, was disregarded, and when the army commenced crossing the river they also plunged into the stream, but the water being deep, their progress was considerably obstructed by their clothes. Many of them got out of the water on the artillery carriages, and rode over astride of the cannon. On November 3d, 1791, St. Clair's army was encamped on a branch of the Wabash, now in Mercer County, Ohio, within a mile or two of the Indiana State line. Here, on the morning of the 4th, the army was defeated and fearfully cut up by about two thousand Indians. The right wing, or first line, was commanded by General Butler. He and General St. Clair were continually going up and down the lines. As one of them went up one line the other was going down the other line. About an hour after the charge made by Major Thomas Butler's troops, General Richard Butler was mor- tally wounded when passing on the left of that battalion. Four soldiers put him in a blanket and carried him back to have his wounds dressed by a surgeon. They placed him in a sitting posture on the blanket, leaning against a tree. He was vomiting blood at the time. Almost immediately afterward, while the surgeon was examining General But-
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ler's wounds a single Indian, who had penetrated the ranks of the regiment, darted forward and tomahawked and scalped the general before his attendants were aware and could interfere. Such was the end of life to this brave sol- dier. He came of a patriotic family, three of his brothers having been in the service of the United States, fighting no- bly for us. His son has caused his journal to be published, and the other descendants of the family have filled high sta- tions in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
FALCONER, CYRUS, physician and surgeon of Ham- ilton, was born January 21st, 1810, in Washington County, Pennsylvania. His parents, Isaac and Nancy (Wilkins) Falconer, were natives of the same place. In 1812 the family removed to Ohio, passing down the Monongahela to Pittsburg, and thence on flat-boats down the Ohio to Cin- cinnati. Rossville (now West Hamilton) being their point of destination, they started for that place, crossing the Big Miami by ferry-boat where the iron bridge now spans it. The doctor's father rented a hotel opposite to where the Straub House now stands. The building was erected as early as 1806, and still remains a land-mark. Mr. Falconer con- ducted this hotel and the ferry till 1816, when he erected the frame building now occupied by W. C. Miller as a drug- store. It was known as the "Falconer House," and was conducted by Mr. Falconer until 1838. Besides his hotel business he, for several years, carried on the cabinet-maker's trade, which he had learned while young, in company with Mr. Thomas Enyeart. He was among the first to build flat-boats on the Miami, and for many years carried on an extensive trade down the Ohio and Mississippi. He made several trips to New Orleans, the last one being in 1827, with a load of furniture of his own manufacture. Mr. Falconer built one of the first saw-mills in Hamilton (Rossville), which he carried on for a short time. He also was engaged in farming to some extent. He was drafted, in 1814, for the second war with Great Britain, but before reaching the seat of hostilities the conflict was over. He served for several years afterwards as captain of a military company. He died in 1840, aged sixty, while his widow survived him four- teen years, dying at the age of sixty-four. But one brother of Dr. Falconer's, John H. Falconer, ever grew to manhood. He was a tailor and hotel-keeper in Rossville for several years, and afterwards a farmer in Illinois, where he died in 1866. His only sister was Mrs. Louise M. Deshler, widow of the late John G. Deshler, of Columbus, who was a very prominent and wealthy banker. Dr. Falconer received his primary education in the schools of Hamilton. At the age of fourteen he began studying Latin and the higher branches in a select school conducted by John L. Watkins. In 1826 he entered Miami University (then in its infancy), and was in the class with General Robert C. Schenck. He re- mained at this institution until the Fall of 1827. To add a little experience and knowledge of the world to his book learning, he accompanied his father on his last trip to New Orleans on a flat-boat down the Ohio and the Mis- sissippi. It was on this romantic trip that he became in- stilled with abolition principles. He witnessed slavery in its worst form ; and the cruelties and degradation seen by him made a lasting impression upon his mind. Upon his return in the following Spring he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. R. B. Millikin. During 1830 and 1831 he took a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College,
at Cincinnati. In 1832 he was licensed to practice med- icine 'by the Second Senatorial District Medical Society, and immediately opened an office in Hamilton. In the Fall of 1834 he entered into partnership with Dr. L. Rig- don, brother of Mr. Sidney Rigdon, made famous by his association with Joseph Smith, of Mormon notoriety. The Winter of 1837 was passed by the doctor in traveling through Texas on horseback, shortly after the capture of Santa Anna by Sam Houston, prospecting for a new loca- tion. A tour was also made through Illinois and lowa, when he returned to Hamilton, and in the Autumn of 1838 he entered the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he graduated in 1839. He now resumed his practice in Hamil- ton, opening an office on the grounds where his residence now stands. In 1846 he took as assistant Dr. L. J. Smith, and in 1850 received him as partner. In 1859 this relation was dissolved, and it was not until 1878 that another and last partnership was formed, when Dr. Lee Corbin became associated with him in practice for one year. It is more than half a century since Dr. Falconer entered upon the duties of his profession, which gives him the distinction of being the oldest practicing physician in the county, while but few in the State can lay claim to a professional career of equal length. No physician in Butler County is more widely or more favorably known than Dr. Falconer, not only by his acknowledged skill as a physician and surgeon, but also as a man of prominence outside of his chosen profession. His early education was liberal, and from studious habits and a nat- urally inquiring disposition his mind is replete with a store of knowledge that constitutes him one of Hamilton's most cultured citizens. He is a ready writer, which from time to time has enabled him to furnish scientific and medical jour- nals with able articles. His first contribution was a report on cholera in Butler County, published in 1834 in Dr. Drake's Western Medical Journal. Another article which attracted considerable notice was furnished the same journal some years afterwards, describing a Cesarean operation performed by him. Dr. Falconer has been a prominent member of the Ohio State Medical Association ever since 1845, shortly after its inception, and is one of a few of its oldest members now liv- ing. He has been its vice-president repeatedly, and, in 1881, was nominated for president, but was defeated by a small vote. He has also been a member of the American Medical Asso- ciation since 1859, and was a delegate to the first international medical congress, which was held in Philadelphia in 1876. The medical profession in Butler and surrounding counties owe much to Dr. Falconer for his efforts in their behalf. He was the active founder of the Butler County Medical So- ciety, established in 1837, and served as its president for many years. He has also been president of the District Medical Society, composed of physicians of Butler and Preble Counties, Ohio, and Union, Rush, Wayne, and Fay- ette Counties, Indiana. Dr. Falconer for many years has had a very large practice, and every thing intended for the advancement of medical science in the surrounding country has had his hearty support and the benefits of his long and successful experience. Upon the first draft of soldiers in 1861 he was appointed examining surgeon of this dis- trict. For the past three years Dr. Falconer has been car- rying on a farm in Hanover Township in connection with his other duties. During R. B. Hayes's first term as Gov- ernor of the State Dr. Falconer was, by appointment, trus- tee of the State Agricultural College, and was also ap-
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pointed by Governor Noyes. Ever since the inception of the Republican party Dr. Falconer has been an enthusiastic supporter of its principles, although his first vote was cast for a Democratic candidate, General Jackson, in 1832. Be- tween that date, however, and the birth of the Republican party his affiliations were with the Whigs. He figured con- spicuously in politics in those days, and was sent as delegate to the Whig National Convention in Harrisburg, in 1839, which nominated General Harrison for President, and took an active part in the campaign following. The doctor has been one of the leading members of the Presbyterian Church of Hamilton for a great many years, having been associated with that Church since 1845, and for the past thirty-two years one of its elders. In 1857 and 1864 he was a delegate to the Presbyterian General Assembly at Lexington, Kentucky, and Newark, New Jersey, respectively. He was early identified with the educational interests of Hamilton, and was one of the organizers of the union school system in this place in 1851. He was one of three of the first board of school ex- aminers, in which capacity he served for nine years. Dr. Falconer married his first wife, Miss Mary, daughter of the Hon. John Woods, October 8th, 1839, who died September 18th, 1870. Eight children were born of this union. The oldest, John W., born September 30th, 1840, was killed at Appomattox Court-house, April 9th, 1865, thirty minutes be- fore the flag of truce was raised by General Lee asking a cessation of hostilities from General Grant. He was captain of a company of United States colored troops, and was lead- ing the skirmish line which checked the last effort of the rebels to escape, when he received a mortal wound. The second son, Jerome, born March, 1844, was also shot at Stone River, December 31st, 1862. He died at his home, in Hamil- ton, seven months afterwards. William B. was born May 14th, 1847. Louise, wife of General Eugene Powell, of Delaware, Ohio, was born February 15th, 1852. Helen, wife of Captain O'Brien, of the Seventeenth Regiment in the regular army, serving at Fort Yates, Dakota, was born December 9th, 1853. Cyrus, Jr., was born March 5th, 1856. Scott, born May 12th, 1858, died, aged two years, and Mary was born May 22d, 1863. The date of his second marriage was February Ist, 1872, to Miss Margaret McKee, of Columbus, who died September 15th, 1878. He married his present wife, Miss Ella Crawford, of Hamilton, May 20th, 1880. Of the last union one child, a son, was born February 16th, 1882. Dr. Falconer, although of advanced age, is firm and elastic in step, vigorous in movement, and displays the same activity and quickness he did thirty years ago. His face is very marked in its outline, and his head is crowned with an abun- dant growth of white hair. He has been concerned in nearly every public measure which affects the interests of Hamilton, and has been distinguished in his action by originality of views. He is but little affected by the ideas of others, and pursues his course regardless of popular clamor. Often he has been the most unpopular man in town, but time has gen- erally shown the correctness of his opinions. He never shrinks from maintaining what he believes to be true ; neither does he mince words in branding a falsehood. For the last fifty years he has taken a decided stand in every thing that can affect mankind in this neighborhood. He was an ardent Whig, and is now an ardent Republican ; he is unremitting in his attendance on the ordinances of religion; he is an ac- tive Sunday-school teacher ; he has, on occasions, delivered addresses on patriotic and professional subjects; in com-
mittee work he has done a great deal; he has exposed wrong and fraud wherever he has met them, whether intended to defraud the taxpayers of Hamilton or of the country. He attends every public meeting at which it is desirable that good citizens should turn out, and he has not been backward in putting his hand into his pocket when desired to do so for the good of community. For many years he has been regarded as among the first three or four citizens of the town.
HUGHES, EZEKIEL, was the descendant of an an- cient and honorable family in the parish of Llanbrynmair, Montgomeryshire, North Wales, Great Britain. The first of his ancestors was Evan ap Owen Fach, who died in 1680. His son, Hugh Evan ap Owen, died in 1720, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward, who, according to the Welsh custom, took for his surname the given name of his father, and henceforth the name of Hughes became the surname of the family. Edward Hughes was succeeded by his eldest son, Richard, born in 1700, and he by his son, William, born in 1725, and he by his son, Richard, who married Mary Jones, of Pen-y-bout, in the same parish. They had three children : William, Ezekiel, and Martha. The family, for over two hundred years, had lived on a large farm called Cum Carnedd Uchaf, leased from Sir Watkin William Wynne, the great land proprietor in North Wales. The family owned three farms in the same parish; but the lease- hold was so valuable that, for all these years, and to this day, they have lived on a rented farm. In accord with the rights of primogeniture, William, the eldest son, became, at the death of his father, in 1807, owner of the real estate, and continued on the leasehold. Ezekiel Hughes was born August 22d, 1767. His father gave him a good education, sending him to Shrewsbury, where a good school was found, that he might acquire the English language. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to learn watch and clock mak- ing at Machynlleth. His venerable father encouraged him to visit the United States with the view of selecting and purchasing a large tract of land for his future home. In April, 1795, with a good outfit, and in company with his cousin, Edward Bebb (father of Hon. William Bebb, late Governor of Ohio), he sailed in the ship Maria, of Salem, Mas- sachusetts, reaching Philadelphia after a tempestuous and tedious voyage of thirteen weeks. He remained in this city and vicinity for nearly a year. Congress being in session, he improved his time by acquiring a knowledge of the govern- ment and the laws of the country, and preparing for an ex- ploring tour beyond the Alleghenies. In the spring of 1796, he left Philadelphia for the West. He traveled on foot to Red Stone Old Fort (Brownsville, Pennsylvania), thence on a flat- boat to Fort Washington (Cincinnati). This journey was per- formed in three months. Mr. Hughes, accompanied by his trusty and faithful friend, Edward Bebb, explored the Symmes purchase, and bought one hundred acres in section thirty- four, Colerain Township, then an almost unbroken forest. Here these two adventurers built a cabin and cleared a few acres, and spent their time cultivating the virgin soil, hunt- ing, and exploring the regions beyond the Great Miami River. In 1800 this great-and fertile domain was surveyed, and in 1801 offered, by the United States, for sale. Mr. Hughes purchased two sections, paying for it two dollars and five cents per acre. Having secured this fine body of land, he returned to Wales in 1803, and married Miss Margaret Bebb, and in 1804 returned with his bride to
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