Butler County, Ohio - Chapter 7: Necrological, 1905 (part 4 of 5)

The following year, 1791, McClellan descended the Ohio to Fort Washington at Cincinnati. The next spring, 1792, he and his brother William came to Fort Hamilton, and engaged in the commissary department as pack-horse masters, in transporting provisions and stores from Fort Washington to garrisons in advance.

Captain Robert Benham had command of this department, and was called packhorse-master general. He was assisted by John Sutherland, William McClellan and others, as subordinate captains, each having the care and management of forty horses and the men who had immediate charge of them. This branch of the service was arduous and dangerous. They were often attacked by the Indians, the men killed and captured, and the supplies plundered. For their protection they were generally furnished with a military escort. William Mc- Clellan continued in this service during the whole of General Wayne's campaign. Robert's scouting propensities soon obtained for him an appointment among the spies or rangers attached to the army. He was an extraordinary active man on foot and many marvelous stories are related of his athletic exploits. While at Fort Hamilton he would frequently leap over the tallest horse without apparent exertion. In the town of Lexington, Kentucky, when passing along a narrow sidewalk, a yoke of large oxen happened to be drawn up on the sidewalk; instead of walking around them, he, without hesitation, leaped over both at a bound. When with the army at Greenville, at a trial of feats of strength among the soldiers and teamsters, he leaped over a wagon with a covered top, a height of eight and onehalf feet.

dexterous enemy to contend with. It became indispensable for him to use the utmost caution in his movements, to guard against surprise. To secure his army against the possibility of being ambuscaded, he employed a number of the best woodsmen the frontier afforded to act as spies or rangers. A very effective division of the spies was commanded by Captain William Wells. Attached to Captain Wells' command, among several others, was Robert McClellan, whose name has been since immortalized by the graphic pen of Washington Irving in his "Astoria," and who was one of the most athletic and active men on foot that has appeared on this globe. This little band of spies performed more real service during the Wayne campaign than any other corps of equal numbers. They brought in at different times not less than twenty prisoners, and killed more than their own number, with the loss of but one man.

Robert McClellan remained with the army at Greenville till after General Wayne's treaty with the Indians, in August, ]794' which terminated the Indian war. His brother William married about this time, and opened a house of entertainment in the building at Fort Hamilton which had been erected by General Wilkinson for the accommodation of the officers of the garrison. The house stood on Main, now High street, about the west end of the site of the old Market-house. After the disbanding of the army for some time, Robert McClellan made his home with his brother at Hamilton, spending the most of his time in hunting, remaining in the woods for days at a time. In one of his excursions he killed an elk and brought his hide and a part of the meat home ; this was probably the last elk killed in the Miami country.

In the summer of 1799 went to New Orleans, where he was attacked with yellow fever, but recovered after a lingering illness. O11 August 28th he sailed for Baltimore, where he arrived on the 12th of October, after having encountered so severe a storm that they were obliged to run into Charleston and remain there twelve days for repairs. His object in going east was to obtain a pension for his sendees and wounds in Wayne's campaign. He went to Philadelphia, but found that General Wilkinson, from whom he expected to obtain the necessary certificate, had just gone to New York. He followed him, obtaining the proper papers, returned to Philadelphia, presented them to the secretary of war, who sent him to Dr. Shippen, the examining surgeon. He reported that McClellan was entitled to only one-third pension, which for his rank, lieutenant, was only twenty-six dollars, Pennsylvania currency, a year. About this time he became connected with the department of the quartermaster general of the army and he was located for a while at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and in May, t8oi, McClellan was sent on business connected with the commissary department to St. Louis, when, after completing his mission, he retired from the service. Soon thereafter he engaged in partnership with a Mr. Morton in trading at a post called Wilkinsonville, on the north bank of the Ohio river, about twenty miles above its mouth. His success in this adventure gave him a taste for trading, and for some years he made trading trips up the Missouri river with varying success in his dealings, which were principally with the Indians. Captain Clark, in descending the Missouri river on their return from the well-known Lewis and Clark expedition, met McClellan on the 12th of September,

1806, in a large boat with twelve men going on a trade with the Mahos. Captain Clark, who had served as a lieutenant in Wayne's campaign, recognized the well-known form of the ranger, and halting, he and his companions remained with him till next day, spending a pleasant evening in relating their own adventures and hearing the news of the occurrences in the States during their long absence.

In 1807 McClellan entered into partnership with Ramsey Crooks, an adventurous young Scotchman, who had gained some experience in Indian traffic in the employment of the Northwest Fur Company. Their object was to carry on a trading business with the Indians on the Missouri river. In this they continued for several years, with varying success. In 1810 they dissolved partnership and McClellan continued the business alone. On one of his expeditions to the upper Missouri, at the mouth of the Nodowa, he came across a camp of an expedition of Astor' s American Fur Company, under command of Wilson P. Hunt. Mc- Clellan was rejoiced to find in the party his old friend Crooks, who had joined the party at Milwaukee, as a partner. It needed but little persuasion to induce McClellan to accept a few shares and become a partner in the expedition. This expedition was sent overland to the mouth of the Columbia river on the Pacific coast, by John Jacob Astor, in the interest of the American Fur Company, to establish a settlement and trading-post at that point, in conjunction with an expedition which went by sea, under command of Capt. Jonathan Thom. After many arduous experiences in struggling forward through the trackless wilderness, the main body of the party arrived at

Astoria on February 15, 1812. Mr. Crooks, with five men, who had separated from the party in the mountains, did not reach Astoria until the 10th of May. The ship "Tonquin," commanded by Captain Thom and owned bv John Jacob Astor, of New York, arrived at the mouth of the Columbia in the summer of 1811. She was the first vessel sent there by the American Fur Company, and, in the month of June of that year, when trading on the coast north of the Columbia was taken by the Indians and every soul on board massacred. The news of this disaster had reached Astoria some time before the arrival of McClellan at that place, which struck dismay into the hearts of the Astorians and those engaged in the fur trade. As the spring opened, after the arrival of McClellan at Astoria, several important things had to be accomplished. One of them was the sending of dispatches overland to Mr. Astor, at New York. The dispatches were confided to John Reed, the clerk of the company, and when the expedition was made known, Robert McClellan announced his determination to accompany it. He had for some time been dissatisfied with the smallness of his interest in the co-partnership, and had requested an additional number of shares ; his request not being complied with, he resolved to abandon the company. McClellan was a man singularly selfwilled and of decided character, with whom persuasion was useless; he was permitted, therefore, to take his own course without opposition. The party set out the 22d of March, and proceeded up the Columbia river till they came to the falls where they had some trouble with the Indians and having irretrievably lost the important dispatches for New York, the object of the overland journey was defeated, hence the party returned to Astoria. On the 28th of June, 1812, another party set out to carry dispatches to Mr. Astor and McClellan concluded to accompany them. It was a long and perilous journey, in which they suffered great hardships from cold and hunger, and were often exposed to the danger and treachery of the Indians. On April 30, 1813, they arrived in perfect health and spirits at St. Louis, having been ten months performing their toilsome expedition from Astoria.

The next day Robert McClellan wrote to his brother William, at Hamilton, Ohio, giving him an account of his journey from the Pacific ocean and by another letter, dated Cape Girardeau, of July 14, 1814. he wrote that he had been furnished with a stock of goods by Risdon H. Price, of St. Louis, and he had opened a store at Cape Girardeau. He stated that his health had been very bad for several months, and that he was closing his business with an intention of returning to St. Louis. His health continued to decline until his death, some time in the latter part of the year 1814, at Cape Girardeau, where he lies buried.

Of the three brothers, John McClellan pursued the business of packing over the mountains from the Conecocheague valley to the backwoods of Pennsylvania, until 1800, when he came to the western country. For several years he engaged in trading with the Indians at their towns on the headwaters of the Wabash river. On August 13, 1814, while on such an expedition, en route from Greenville to Fort Recovery, about nine miles in advance of Greenville, he was waylaid and shot by some Indians. His body was not discovered for two or three days afterward, when it was found by

William, the eldest brother, continued in the employ of the quartermaster's department of the army as captain or pack-horse master, during the campaign of General Wayne, and until the treaty of peace concluded at Greenville, in August, 1795.

Soon after this he married Miss Mary Sterret, of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, and settled in Hamilton, Ohio, where he opened a tavern in one of the buildings of Fort Hamilton. At the organization of Butler county in 1803, William ^IcClellan was elected sheriff and was re-elected in 1805, and served until 1807* In 1809 he was again elected for a term of two years, and in 1 81 1 succeeded himself for another term. In 1 8 1 1 he removed from the town of Hamilton, and settled on a farm, on Two-Mile creek, about a mile northwest of Rossville, on the old St. Clair trace. However, he still kept an office in Hamilton, and a deputy to attend to his business. He continued to reside on his farm until his death, on October 2, 1827. His widow survived him several years, dying November 10, 1842. They had two sons and three daughters who inherited the estate.

Matthew Hueston

Matthew Hueston was a native of Pennsylvania, coming from what is now Frank lin county, where he was born on the 1st of May, 1771. His father's next neighbor was a Scotchman, named Buchanan, w o afterwards became better off in the wor , and moved to Mercersburg, where he came a justice of the peace. His son James was sent to Dickinson College, afterwar s entering upon the practice of law. He was successively a member of the United States senate, minister to England, and President of the United States. When Matthew Hueston was two years of age his father, William Hueston, removed to the backwoods, and settled on the Monongahela, in Ohio county, Virginia. The Indians becoming troublesome, Mr. Hueston removed his family to Taylor's Fort, twenty-four miles from the town of Wheeling. The family remained most of the time at the fort, but occasionally went to the farm when it was deemed safe. Mr. Hueston went back and forth to cultivate his place, but on one of these trips he was shot, killed, and scalped by the Indians, at the door of his own cabin. Mrs. Hueston was left a widow with six small children.

As soon as Matthew Hueston was able he began working around the farm, and at fifteen went as an apprentice to learn the trade of a tanner and currier, continuing at that employment for several years. When he became a journeyman he saved up his money, and, in 1793, made a small venture of stock, with which he went down the Ohio river. On the 17th of April he landed at Cincinnati, but after a few days went down to the falls of the Ohio. He returned by the way of Maysville, again floating down to Cincinnati, where General Wayne's army had arrived in the meantime. Soon after arriving he sold out his goods to a man named McCrea, who, however, decamped without paying him. He then went to work in a tannery, being the one afterwards owned by Jesse Hunt, and afterwards went with Robert and William McClellan, who were engaged in driving a brigade of packhorses from Cincinnati to Fort Jefferson. Completing his first trip, he drove a num- ber of beeves from Fort Washington to Fort Jefferson, and then superintended the killing of the cattle and putting up the beef, which was designed to subsist the men the next winter. There being no salt at the garrison, the meat had to be hung up in the open air around the fort to prevent it from spoiling, until salt could be procured. This caused a delay in the business for some time. Soon after Mr. Hueston was appointed commissary at this post, at the pay of thirty dollars a month. The next summer he returned to Fort Washington, and went out with Wayne on his expedition, being issued commissary until the summer of 1795, when he resigned.

He then furnished himself with a stock of groceries and other articles, and began as a sutler, following this up until the year 1796. He had one store at Greenville and another at Cincinnati, in the latter having a partner. The business was very profitable, and he soon accumulated twelve to fifteen thousand dollars. In the latter part of 1796 Mr. Hueston was taken sick, remaining in his bed for three or four weeks. When he had sufficiently recovered, he set out for Cincinnati, but found his affairs were in a wretched condition. His partner had become dissipated, had squandered most of the property by gambling, and had finally sold out the stock, going down the river, and leaving Mr. Hueston to pay the debts of the firm. This he did, and found that, after exhausting all his means, he still owed four hundred dollars. Undiscouraged, he persevered in his industrious way, and again embarked as a drover. He drove a large number of cattle from Cincinnati to Detroit for two dollars and fifty cents a head, and was successful in delivering them all, al- though the route was a complete wilderness. He returned in forty days. This business he followed till the year 1800, when he had paid off all his old debts and had accumulated fourteen or fifteen hundred dollars in hard cash. This he laid out in land.

He bought a tract of two hundred acres, four miles south of Hamilton. It was then altogether in the woods, but now the railroad. the canal, and the Cincinnati turnpike pass through it. In a few years he had a large farm under cultivation. He built a hewed-log house, in which he lived and kept entertainment for travelers a number of years. At the United States land sales in 1801 he purchased, or entered, three sections of land and two fractional sections, on the west side of the river, comprehending in all about two thousand six hundred acres. To these purchases he added from time to time, so that he eventually became the largest owner of land in this county.

On his farm south of Hamilton he began to reside in the year 1802, and on the 15th of April married Miss Catherine Davis. He remained here till 1813, when he removed to his farm on Four-Mile creek, in Hanover township. Here he built a large stone mansion, and attended to his agricultural interests for many years. He then removed to Rossville, taking up his abode there in October, 1834. This is in the house now occupied by his son-in-law, Robert Harper.

At the beginning of the century the militia was better organized than it is now. Mr. Hueston became captain of a company of light-horse, from which he was afterwards advanced to the office of colonel of the Second Regiment. When Hull surrendered Colonel Hueston volunteered his services, and went with a number of others to Fort Wayne, which was then besieged by the enemy. After serving two or three months, he was made purchasing agent for the contractor of the Northwestern army, acting in that capacity until the conclusion of the war.

In 1808 be became a justice of the peace in Fairfield township, remaining so till he removed to Hanover, where, after a few months, he was again elected. In this position he served until his removal to Rossville, holding this office for twenty-three years. In no case was his judgment reversed on appeal. He was a commissioner of Butler county from 1826 to 1835. He died on the 1 6th of April, 1847, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and was buried near the Presbyterian church in Collinsville. The services were conducted by the Masons.

J. G. Long was the son of Armel Long and was bom December 15, 1815, in Wayne township. He received a good education at both the common and graded schools. He was reared to the pursuit of a fanner, which was his chief occupation through life.

Mr. Long was the possessor of two hundred and sixty-four acres of good land, situated in this county, upon which he resided until his death. He also owned, in its natural state, four hundred and eighty acres of fine land near the city of Omaha.

may scan views pleasant to behold; by the aid of a field-glass, objects sixteen miles distant towards the south can be distinctly seen; firerockets, thrown in midair at Cincinnati on a favorable night, may be seen from Mr. Long's late residence with the naked eye. The gentleman of whom we now write was a good financier, and was assisted in his temporal affairs by an amiable and economical companion, who acquitted herself nobly in not allowing *'to run to waste" the accumulation of property acquired and under the control of her worthy mate.

On the 14th day of January, 1841, he being then twenty-five years of age, the nuptials were performed which made him the husband of Miss Hannah Squire. Four children were born to them to make their home a happy one, and to more strongly cement the sacred union of their lives. Hampton H. married the daughter of Mr. Henry Snively, of Wayne township; Josephine P. married Philip H. Kumler, also of Wayne township. The former is a retired farmer residing in Hamilton. Mr. Long was a successful speculator, and held stock in the Second National Bank at Hamilton. He held the highest rank as a Mason, had a very large acquaintance, and was highly respected by all. An epoch in Mr. Long's life occurred when at the age of ten years; he was one of those who witnessed at Middetown, this county, the breaking of the sod for the Miami canal.

John Augspurger

the fourth son of Christian Augspurger, was bom July 31, 1819, on a keelbo2t on the Ohio river, near Steubenville, at a time when his parents were on their journey from near Strasburg, France, to Butler county, Ohio.

His parents had. however, been in this country previous to 1819. It was in the year 1817 when they first emigrated to Pennsylvania with their family, consisting of six children. The old pioneer located his family in Pennsylvania, and, in company with others, went farther West, and took a view of the beautiful great Miami valley, in Butler county, Ohio. Having satisfied himself that it would be much better *for his children here than in Europe, he concluded to settle here. But as he was a great friend of society, and being in a strange country, with no friends or acquaintances, he again, in 1818, returned to Europe with his family. In 1819 he left Europe with his family and a colony of thirty-six families, among whom were his brother Joseph and family, and his second cousin Jacob with his family. After arriving in Butler county, the old pioneer bought a farm in Milford township, near Collinsville, and settled there with his friends. Times then were quite different from now. Cincinnati was only a small town, and Hamilton a small village. There were no turnpikes, no canals, and no railroads, and no money to be gotten for anything outside of Cincinnati. Whisky was fifty cents a gallon, wheat twenty-five cents . per bushel, com ten cents per bushel, pork one dollar and fifty cents per one hundred pounds, and butter three cents per pound. Times, however, finally changed for the better, and with industry, frugality and zeal he worked his way along. He was a practical farmer, and desired his children also to be farmers. He consequently kept buying land until he had a fraction less than twro thousand acres, all in this county, the most of which his children and grandchildren now own. His children were six sons and six daughters. The names of his sons were, Joseph, Christian, Jacob, John, Samuel and Frederic; the names of the daughters were, Catherine, Magdalena, Barbara, Mary, Anna and Jasabene. The number of the descendants of the Augspurgers now living is about two hundred and fifty, of whom there are about two hundred living in Butler county. The Augspurgers are remarkable for integrity, hospitality and unity, domestic, social and religious. In deal their promise is steadfast. The neighbor or stranger is alike greeted with open-hearted cordiality. In their families kindness and affection prevail. As relatives they are a band of brotherhood. Religiously, they are of one church and one belief, that of their fathers, - Mennonites.

James Kyle

James Kyle, of Kyle Station, Liberty township, was born in Pennsylvania, on the 17th day of September, 1791. and came with his father to Butler county in 1803. where he resided until his death, in the latter seventies, at the advanced age of over eighty-five years. Mr. Kyle married Esther Clark in 1816. This, the first wife of Mr. Kyle, departed this life in 1832. She was the mother of six children, - four boys and two girls. In 1834 Mrs. Elizabeth Conover was united in marriage to Mr. Kyle, and the result of this union were three children, - two sons and one daughter. Mr. Kyle's second wife died in 1865.

Through the many years of continuous residence of this pioneer in the township of Liberty, wonderful changes took place. Great progress in civilization - in the sciences and arts - occurred during the busy and eventful life of this man. Mr. Kyle resided here during the time that the wild forests were giving way to settlements, settlements to villages and cities, all the country to the brand of the husbandman; trails to wagon roads, these to pikes, and all to the supremacy of railroads and canals.

Vincent D. Enyart

Judge Vincent D. Enyart was born in New Jersey in 1799 and came to Ohio with his parents when but a child. He resided in Middletown until his death, on Saturday morning, October 14, 1848, aged forty-nine years. Judge Enyart was one of Butler county's most useful citizens. He had man\ admirable traits of character. He was a man of sound judgment and of wide information. In the winter of 1834-5 he represented Butler county in the Ohio legislature with credit and ability. He was afterwards elected associate judge for Butler county, the duties of which office he continued to discharge for the constitutional term of seven years. He took a deep interest in the political events of the county, and advocated warmly the Democratic cause. His op ponents in politics alwaiys admired him f°! his frankness, and confided in his integrity as a politician. He was a faithful member of the Baptist church. He left a widow, two daughters and a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his departure.

Jeremiah Marston

Jeremiah Marston was born in Kennebec county, Maine, March 19, 1798* |s father was a Methodist preacher and, as is generally the case with the clerical pro es sion, he had but little of this world s gooes to bestow upon his children. Jeremiah live in his native state until 1819, and came to

Butler county, where he passed the remainder of his days. June 18, 1821, he was united in marriage with Miss Vail, with whom he lived happily for thirty-five years, when he was called upon to follow her to her tomb. From this marriage eight children survived them. Mr. Marston was strictly an upright man. Industrious and persevering in business, economical in the management of his affairs, he was enabled to accumulate a comfortable competency. In politics he was a Whig, while that party had a living existence; then he was found acting with the Republican party. He received the appointment of associate judge, at which post of honor he reflected credit to himself and the state. Though connected with no church, he was a firm and consistent believer in the truths of the Christian religion. He died at his home near Miltonville, after a brief illness, November 17, 1857, in the sixtieth year of his age.

Samuel Young

Samuel Young was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, October 9, 1792. About 1800 he moved with his fathers family to Ohio, and settled in Warren county.

In 1804 he came to Butler county, where he spent the remainder of his days. In 1819 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Riarson Baker, who lived but a few years.

Mr. Young was intimately connected with the early history of Butler county and took a deep interest in everything that tended to promote its prosperity. When a young man he became a member of the Presbyterian church of Seven-Mile. In 1824 he was ordained to the office of ruling elder. This profession he adorned and this office he honorably filled until his death, which occurred at his old home near Somerville on June i, 1875, in the eighty-third year of his age.

Lewis D. Campbell

was bom in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, August 9, 1811. He attended school in Franklin, in a log school house, with R. C. Schenck until he was fourteen years old, when he was transferred to the farm, on which he labored for three years. From 1828 to 1831 he served an apprenticeship in the office of the Cincinnati Gazette. In the latter year he came to Hamilton, Ohio, where he published a weekly newspaper, writing the editorials and other matter, setting it up, printing the issue on an old Washington press, and acting most of the time as his own carrier. In this paper he advocated the election of Henry Clay to the presidency. While editing his journal he studied law and in 1835 was admitted to the bar. He soon acquired a large and profitable practice. In 1848 Mr. Campbell was elected a representative in congress over General Baldwin. In 1850 he was elected to the same position over Judge Vance; in 1852, 1854 and 1856 over Hon. C. L. Vallandigham, and in 1870 over Hon. R. C. Schenck, his old schoolmate. This was his most celebrated campaign, for he had not only the influence and money of the administration to contend with, but a large Republican majority and the influence and money of eastern monopolies that favored a high tariff. During his first service in congress, from 1849 until 1858, slavery was the all-absorbing question. He participated prominently in the debates, contending that slavery should be excluded from the territories by congressional enactment. In the thirty-third congress, when the great question of repealing the Missouri compromise came before the house of representatives, he was selected, in a conference of the opposition members, as their leader on the floor. The debate between him and Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, on the relative advantage of free and slave labor, gave him rank with the ablest debaters of congress.

At the opening of the thirty-third and thirty-fourth congresses Mr. Campbell received the votes of a large majority of his party for the speakership, and, no doubt, would have been elected had he continued to be a candidate, but in consequence of pledges exacted from him he withdrew his name. After a struggle, prolonged for many weeks, Hon. N. P. Banks was elected. During this congress Mr. Campbell served as chairman of the ways and means committee. The arduous duties thus devolving upon him were discharged with great ability. Among the measures reported by him which became laws was the tariff act of 1857, which levied the lowest average duties on imports of any act passed within the last three-fourths of a century. It was during this congress that Preston H. Brooks made the assault on Charles Sumner in the old senate chamber. Mr. Campbell was the first to reach the senate after he was stricken down. On the following day he introduced the resolution for an investigation, was chairman of the committee appointed for that purpose, and made a report for the expulsion of Brooks. The challenge which the latter subsequently sent Mr. Burlingame was one of the results of the assault on Mr. Sumner. Upon the pressing request of Mr. Burlingame Mr. Campbell took charge of the affairs as his friend. General Joseph Lane, of Oregon, being the friend of Mr. Brooks. The correspondence on the part of Mr. Burlingame was wholly written by Mr. Campbell, who retained all of the original papers. It was through his skillful management that Mr. Burlingame was carried safely through without a stain upon his honor. When the Southern rebellion commenced Mr. Campbell ardently espoused the cause of the Union. In the spring and summer of 1861 he was assisted in raising several regiments. In the autumn following he organized the Sixty-ninth Ohio Regiment, and was commissioned colonel. In the winter of 1861-2 he was in command of Camp Chase, where he received and kept as prisoners of war the officers taken at Fort Donelson and in other battles. In April following he went under orders with his regiment to Tennessee, where he served in the Army of the Cumberland until the failure of his health unfitted him for the service, when he reluctantly retired.

In 1866 Mr. Campbell was appointed minister to Mexico - the successor of Hon. Thomas Corwin. In November of that year, accompanied by General Sherman, he proceeded on his mission. The French army of occupation and other forces of Maximilian were then in Mexico holding the capital and other principal cities. President Juarez and his cabinet officers had been driven to a point on the northwestern border. Failing to reach the government of that republic in its then migratory condition, Mr. Campbell was directed by Mr. Seward, secretary of state, to make his official residence tem-

Taking his seat as a member of the forty-second congress in March, 1871, he was at once recognized as possessing commanding influence which is attained only by a long and honorable public service. Acting with the minority, he was not placed in such a position as to take the leading part which had fallen to his lot in previous congressional service, yet his influence was very perceptible in the promotion of salutory legislation. In April, 1873, Mr. Campbell was elected a delegate to the convention to revise and amend the constitution of the state of Ohio. After the convention assembled at Columbus he was elected, on May 22(1, its vice-president by a unanimous vote.

In politics, Mr. Campbell was a Whig until the dissolution of that party. Subsequently he was a Republican, but after the rebellion closed he left that party and cooperated with the Democratic party. He was in failing health for months before his death, which occurred November 22, 1882. He was survived by an aged wife, who has since died, and three daughters. In his death Butler county sustained a great loss, and the state one of its greatest and most distinguished sons.

James Shields

sound, discriminating judgment. He had an extensive acquaintance with every branch of useful knowledge. With natural, civil and ecclesiastical history, and with law, physic and divinity he obtained a very general acquaintance. Few men possessing knowledge so various and extensive made so little display of their attainments or so reluctantly acknowledged the extent of their acquisitions.

Having early imbibed an ardent love of liberty, with an unconquerable aversion to priestly and royal domination, he resolved to leave the land of his birth, and to cast in his lot with the sons of freedom in the United States. He landed in this country in 1791. He spent a short time in the state of Pennsylvania, after which he removed to Virginia. In this state he spent thirteen years in cultivating his own mind, and in the useful and honorable employment of teaching. In 1804 he married Miss Jane Wright, daughter of James Wright, of Berkeley county, Virginia. In 1805 he removed to Morgan township, in Butler county, Ohio, where he had previously purchased land. He began farming in the midst of a dense forest, surrounded by few settlers, and these entire strangers. It must be confessed that from the natural disposition and former habits of Mr. Shields, he was little qualified for this course of life. But while he was reasonably successful in his undertaking, he speedily rose to commanding influence among his fellow citizens, that must have recompensed him for the failure to reap great pecuniary success. His immediate neighbors soon discovered his superior acquirements, and they uniformly looked up to him for counsel, but never in vain. He was successful in political life.

He never took a step, wrote a line, or dropped an expression to obtain preferment, yet the public demonstrated its conviction of his superior worth by sending him to the state legislature for a period of nineteen years. He was chosen a presidential elector, and for the last two years of his life was a member of the national congress. Mr. Shields was a man of the highest moral ^character. His word was, in all cases, his bond, and his declaration in regard to facts which he had witnessed was never disputed. He was uniformly abstemious in eating and drinking. Wherever he was, in his family, on his farm, in a party of friends, or in public company, his conduct strictly conformed to the rules of moral rectitude. He was an enlightened and firm believer in revealed religion. Few men have studied the subject more diligently. He was warmly attached to the Bible Society, Sabbath schools, missionary societies, the American Colonization Society, and every other institution which had for its object the illumination, liberty and happiness of men. He attended public worship regularly. James Shields died August 13, 1831, after a lingering sickness. He had returned home from Washington with extreme difficulty and gradually declined. He left a wife and twelve children to lament their loss.

Daniel Beal

Daniel Beal was born in Virginia, August 22, 1795. He came to Butler county in 1811, and settled in Hanover township. When he came to this section all kinds of wild game were in abundance and many were the deer that his true rifle brought to the ground. The subject married Miss Amy Morris, of Reily township, daughter of William Morris, who was well and favorably known in the early settling up of Butler county, especially in the Indian Creek valley. Mrs. Beal was bom in Kentucky, April 2, 1797, and died April 24, 1870. The husband - our subject - was not permitted to tarry long after her, and died January 18, 1871, aged seventy-five years, four months and twenty-seven days. The children of those pioneers numbered eleven, all of whom survived their parents. Daniel Beal was a man of true moral character, and those who knew him best esteemed him highest.

Colonel Absolom Dunn

died very suddenly Friday, November 3. 1854. He was born in New Jersey, where his father died when he was quite a youth. Having thereafter to rely upon his own efforts he apprenticed himself to leam the trade of blacksmith. After acquiring his trade he resolved to try his fortune in the West, and thereupon removed to Butler county about 1809. Without money, without the tools of his trade and without the assistance of influential acquaintances, he began his career as a journeyman blacksmith. Relying upon his industry, and believing that an intelligent community would properly reward those who deserved their confidence, he determined to be the artificer of his own fortune and his own character, with a limited education, with only respectable business capacity, guided by honesty of purpose and straight forward integrity in all things, and of industrious and frugal habits, acquired a competency of this world's goods. He was elected repeatedly to a seat in the Ohio legislature; he held many other public trusts, and at the time of his death was president of the agricultural society of the county. He was taken ill very suddenly while valuing the property of Asa Emmons, deceased, from the effects of which he died in a few hours.

Colonel Dunp was respectable for his intelligence, was faithful in all his engagements, was honest, industrious, temperate and of frugal habits ; was kind and considerate as a neighbor; he was in addition, a man of benevolence; amiable and affectionate in his family, and a devoted and liberal friend to the widow and orphan.

John Crane

was born in the state of New Jersey in 1796, and died on the 16th of March, 1864. He came with his family to Butler county in the early decade of the eighteenth century, and first settled in Jacksonburg, where in 1818 a postoffice was established, he becoming the first postmaster. In 1825 he was elected a county commissioner, serving in this capacity for three years. In 1828 he was a member of the Ohio legislature, having as a fellow member Fergus Anderson, of this county. From 1841 to 1845 he was coroner. Major Crane removed to Hamilton in 1825, keeping for several years a hotel in the frame building on the comer fronting the public square. During his residence in Hamilton he was engaged for several years in the grocery and liquor business, in company with William B. Van Hook, and was at the same time city inspector. About 1855 he PrePared great labor and expense a useful map of this county, being a loser by it to the amount of five hundred dollars. He was for several years the commandant of a splendid battalion of uniformed light infantry. One of these companies, known as the Miami

Guards, was composed of the finest young men in Hamilton. Major Crane had taken the lodge, chapter and commandery degrees of Masonry. He was a Knight Templar, becoming such in the year 1827, in Lebanon. For a few years before his death he resided in Covington, Kentucky, but his remains were brought to Hamilton, and were buried in Greenwood cemetery.

Samuel W. Beeler

Samuel W. Beeler was born in Virginia in 1743. He came to Butler county, Ohio, early in 1800. His son, Col. Samuel Beeler, Jr., was one of the first settlers of Oxford township, having purchased section 25 and settled there about 1802. Shortly before Samuel W. Beeler's death, on July 13, 1824, his son in looking over his father's papers found a captain's commission, which read as follows:

Know ye, that I, John, Lord of Dunmore, Governor of his Brittanic Majesty's colony of Virginia, in the continent of North America, having full confidence in the valor, patriotism and integrity of Samuel Beller, Gent., of the County of Berkley, in his majesty's said colony of Virginia, doth hereby appoint and commission him, the said Samuel Beeler, a captain in the Provincial Militia of his majesty's said colony of Virginia.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the great seal of his majesty to be affixed unto these presents, the 25th day of May, in the year of our Lord, 1768.

Captain Beeler stated that Lord Dunmore's plain and proper name was John Murry, a long-nosed old man whose native residence was in the county of Blair in Scotland ; and that he had so far gained the good will of George III as to obtain the appointment of governor of Virginia. Samuel W. Beeler was among the first thirty or forty persons who died among the early settlers of the College township, and were buried at the base of "Chowraw hill, where once stood a log church, erected for church and school purposes in 1808.

Samuel Dickey

Samuel Dickey was born in Pennsylvania in 1794. His father was Adam Dickey, one of the early settlers of the Miami valley, and who came from Ireland to America soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, and settled in Pennsylvania, where he soon after became acquainted with and married a Virginia lady. In 1801 he removed his family to Cincinnati, where he engaged in brickmaking and farming for four years, during which time he made the first brick ever laid in a house in the Queen City. He afterward removed to Lemon township, Butler county, where he purchased between four and five hundred acres of the richest and most valuable land in Butler county. Here he lived until his death, in 1828, at the age of sixty years. The subject of this sketch remained with his father and engaged in the milling business until 1821, when, after arriving at the age of twenty-eight years, he married Miss Jane Greer, with whom he lived seven years, when death separated them, leaving him a widower with one child. In 1831 he married Miss Kerren H. Heath, by whom he had four children. In 1851 his second wife died, leaving him again a widower. In 1864, at the age of seventy years, he contracted a third marriage, Mrs. Elizabeth Kinder, an estimable lady of Warren county, this* time becoming his companion and with whom he spent his remaining years.

Having learned the milling trade from his father, Samuel Dickey continued the business from boyhood to old age, remaining in one neighborhood for more than sixtyfive years. In 1818 he loaded a flat boat with flour and whiskey, which he floated down the Great Miami, Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, where he sold the boat and cargo to a "good advantage" and returned home through the wilderness on horseback. In politics Mr. Dickey was an earnest and life-long Democrat, and a Protestant in religious sentiment. Though not a communicant, he was a regular attendant at the Presbyterian church in Middletown. He died at his home in Amanda, on Friday evening, April 12, 1878, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. He was respected and honored by all of his neighbors, and was mourned by a wide circle of relatives and friends.

Matthew Richardson

Matthew Richardson was born in 1758 in the state of Maryland. In 1802 he came to Ohio and settled on the farm where he died. He was one of the first county commissioners of Butler county, and served three terms. Milford township was organized into a civil township in 1805, and in 1810 he was elected a justice of the peace, and continued to serve the people of that township for about twenty years. Mr. Richardson was a member of the Ohio legislature two sessions as a representative from But ler county. He was a man of good sense and of business habits. The conveyancing and public writing of the township was principally transacted by him for many years. In all stations to which he was caller by his fellow citizens, he served them faith fully and with great honesty of purpose.

His friends were numerous, and he was of that mild, conciliatory disposition that lie had few enemies. He lived beloved and respected and died at his residence in Milford township on Tuesday, January 2, 1838, <it the advanced age of eighty years.

Mark C. M'Maken

was born January 1, 1800, in Union township, Butler county, Ohio. His parents, in 17&9> came from Pennsylvania and located at North Bend. In the early fall of 1791 they removed to this section of the country. Joseph McMaken, the subject's father, was well acquainted with General* Wayne, and after the treaty at Greenville he purchased the woods of what is now Union township, this county. Pie cleared the land and built a cabin, planted his corn, took it to the mill, gun in hand. Divine worship was conducted in a little, old log meeting house, and God was worshiped with loaded rifles near at hand, for fear of the Indians. Joseph McMaken and wife met General Wayne on his march to the North near the present northwest corner of section 14, Fairfield township, General Wayne and Mr. Mc- Maken drinking generously together, as was the custom in those days. As twilight began to set in Mrs. McMaken reminded her husband that to get home before dark it was best to begin starting and so they left. Mr. McMaken had "blazed" the way through woods, and it was only by following this way back that they reached home in safety, through the primitive and comparatively unbroken wilderness.

M. C. McMaken grew to manhood on the farm and was justice of the peace of his native township for years. He was a member of the lower house of the Ohio legislature during the years 1843-4. In

1847 he removed to Hamilton and bought a large portion of the block on which the late residence of ex-Governor James E. Campbell is located. He purchased about onethird of this block for one thousand four hundred dollars, and in less than two years thereafter he sold enough of the property to clear the entire purchase price and leave enough for a comfortable home. In 1849 he was appointed health officer of Hamilton, which position he retained for thirtyfive years.

In 1862 'Squire McMaken and John W. Sohn were appointed by Governor David Tod as sanitary commissioners, to look after the sanitary condition of the army. They visited the Eastern and Southern armies, and looked after the boys in camp and were largely instrumental in securing their comfort.

Previous to the war 'Squire McMaken was a Whig in politics and a very pronounced anti-slavery man. In 1863-4 he was connected with the provost marshal's office in Hamilton. He was a lifelong member of the United Presbyterian church. His children residing in Hamilton and Middletown are: Mrs. Oliver Traber, Mrs. James K. Thomas, Mrs. Abram Miller, Mrs. James Wood and Hon. J. J. McMaken, late state senator. Mr. McMaken died in the city of Hamilton on January 25, 1899, in the one hundredth year of his age. He was a man of much force of character and courage and of absolute fearlessness.

Israel Williams

was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, August 24; 1827. His parents were William and Mary Marker Williams. Subsequent to their settlement in Montgomery county the family removed to Champaign county, where Israel, one of the nine children, spent his boyhood days. He received his early education in the country schools until the age of eighteen ; then left the farm and taught school to obtain means to pay for further education. Attended the high school at Springfield and the college at Granville, now Dennison University ; graduated at Farmer's College, 1853: read law with Gunckel & Strong at Dayton, Ohio, and graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in 1855, in which year he was also admitted to the bar. In 1856 he took up his residence in Hamilton, Ohio, where he opened a law office in the Beckett block, which he occupied continuously until the time of his death. He pursued an extensive and lucrative practice. For many years prior to and during the Civil war he was the proprietor and editor of the Hamilton Intelligencer. Mr. Williams was an ardent loyalist and warm supporter of President Lincoln and took a very active and prominent part in aiding Governors Tod and Brough in their efforts in behalf of the Union cause. Mr. Williams was ever a public-spirited citizen, assisting in all movements for the betterment and advancement of his community. For several years he was a member of the city council at Hamilton. He possessed a scholarly mind and devoted considerable attention to the study of geology, mineralogy and archaeology. In the early days of the State Archaeological and Historical Society Mr. Williams took an active interest in its welfare and progress, contributing some valuable papers to the meetings of the society. He collected a very large and valuable cabinet of archaeological specimens, which he donated to the society and which are now in its museum at Orton

Hall, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. He was appointed by Governor James E. Campbell a trustee of the society in 1892 and was reappointed by Governors McKinley, Bushnell and Nash, the appointment by the lattter being on March 1, 1901, for a term of three years. He had served continuously for nearly ten years.

Mr. Williams was married to Miss Maggie Wakefield, a native of Union township, Butler county. Ohio, on January 9, i860, and leaves surviving him the widow and four children, Mary, Nina and Stella, three daughters, all of whom are married, and John W. Williams, his only son, who is an active young business man. Mr. Williams was a genial, courteous gentleman of the olden type. He was a lover of humanity, the friend of all, a delightful companion ; an upright and forceful man; his life was well spent and his fellow citizens paid fitting tribute in the last rites to his memory. He died September 9, 1901, at the St. James Hotel, Denver, Colorado, where he was temporarily stopping. He was buried at Hamilton, Ohio, September 13, 1901.

Colonel Thomas Kennard

was born in Kent county, Maryland. His parents were Richard and Mary (Green wood) Kennard, natives of that state. About 1813, accompanied by his brothers, George G., Benjamin and William, he came to Ohio and for a time resided in Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade of shoemaker. Later the brothers settled at Westchester, in Butler county, where they were engage in the manufacture of shoes for severa years. Thomas Kennard married Mary emigrated from New Jersey and who was a Revolutionary soldier. Thomas Kennard was colonel of the First Volunteer Regiment of Light Infantry raised in Butler county, of which John Crane was major. In the early 'forties Colonel Kennard removed to Clinton county, Indiana, where he engaged in farming. He served several years as a member of the lower house and senate of the Indiana legislature, and was a very intimate personal and political friend of the late Hon. William H. English, of that state. Subsequently he was elected and served several years as judge of the court of Clinton county. Colonel Kennard was widely known in Butler county, where he often visited his relatives. His brothers, William and George G., about 1830, removed from West Chester to St. Charles, in the western part of Butler county, where they continued to reside until their deaths, which occurred in 1875 and 1879, respectively. Colonel Kennard died in Clinton county, Indiana, in January, 1866. His daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth K. Whittlesy, who was for many years a resident of Hamilton, died in August, 1904, aged seventy-two years.

Isaac Robertson

was born in Germantown, Montgomery county, Ohio. September 6, 1818, being a son of Isaac and Eleanor (Doke) Robertson. His grandfather, John Robertson, was born in New Jersey and took part in the Revolutionary war. In 1804 he came to Ohio and in Warren county he engaged in farming and there died. The father of Isaac Robertson, Jr., was the eldest of seven children and came to Butler county when he was a boy. He was a soldier in the war

Isaac Robertson attended college at Miami University, but did not graduate owing to poor health. When he was a young man he read law and taught school, finishing his legal studies in the office of Lowe & Lowe, in Dayton, Ohio. After being admitted to the bar he taught school for four years and later began the practice of his profession at Middletown, where he remained about three years. During a portion of this period he was postmaster of Middletown. In 1849 he removed to Hamilton, where he followed his profession the remainder of his life, having continued in active practice for about fifty years. In 1851 he was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney of the county, which office he filled for four years, he having been reelected in 1853. After Rossville became a part of the city of Hamilton, in 1854, Mr. Robertson took a deep interest and prominent part in the educational affairs of the city. During the late rebellion of the South Mr. Robertson showed his patriotism and love of his country by shouldering a musket and joining the militia to resist the threatened attack of John Morgan's army upon the city of Hamilton in 1863. On the 27th of October, 1850, Mr. Robertson became a member of the First Presbyterian church of Hamilton, and in 18 68 he was elected to the office of ruling elder in said church, a position held by him the remainder of his life. He was for forty years a prominent member of the board of directors of Greenwood Cemetery Association, and ever since the death of the late Dr. Falconer he had been president of said board. As a citizen, neighbor and friend none stood higher in the estimation of his fellow men than did Isaac Robertson. He was ever genial, social and pleasant in his intercourse with all who came in contact with him. As a member of the Butler county bar, Mr. Robertson in his intercourse with his fellow members and the court never forgot that courtesy which constitutes and marks the true gentleman.

On March 21, 1843, Mr. Robertson married Miss Iva Death, at Dayton, Ohio, who only survived the union about one and a half years. The only child resulting was Mrs. Celia Giffen, widow of the late postmaster, Charles E. Giffen. and who now resides in New York. On March 7. 1849. he was married to Miss Jane Hunter and the children surviving are John and Charles Robertson, of this city, and Mrs. Belle Bennet and Mrs. Robert Hughes, of Beaver, Pennsylvania. On November 13, 1879. he was married to Miss Anna R. Macbeath. who now also survives to mourn the death of an ever true, devoted and faithful and loving husband. His death was unexpected, resulting from a sudden attack of heart failure on March 7, 1902. in the eightyfourth year of his age.

James W. Fye

was born in Reilv township, Butler county, Ohio, April 29, 1824. His parents were early settlers of Butler county, having emigrated from Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1814. When James was fifteen years of age he received a teacher's certificate and. afterward taught school in the winter and farmed in the summer until the year 1852. In October, 1852, he was married to Miss Sarah Brundrette, of Mt. Carmel, Franklin county, Indiana. Shortly afterward he purchased a farm near Hamilton, Ohio, on which he resided for about ten years. He then removed to Hamilton and embarked in the grocery business, in which he had had experience for a time at Scipio some years earlier. He continued in business in Hamilton for nearly thirty years, or until 1892, when he retired from active life. Mr. Fye's grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier and his father fought in the war of 1812. After the death of Mrs. Fye, Mr. Fye gave up his residence in Hamilton and resided with his children until his death, July 7, 1903, aged seventy-nine years, two months and eight days. Mr. Fye was a devout Christian and was universally esteemed for his noble qualities. He is survived by four children, three sons and one daughter.

George C. Rider

was born in Kent county, England, April 3, 1816. lie came to the United States in 1837 and soon thereafter settled in Franklin county, Indiana, where he was married to Miss Rachel Jones, on January 29, 1849. To this union were born three children, one son and two daughters. For several years Mr. Rider was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but about 1876 he removed to Scipio and lived a retired life.

Mr. Rider was a son of a clergyman of the Church of England - a lineal descendant of a lord mayor of London, and a brotherin-law of Lord Walker, a member of the British parliament. A younger brother of Mr. Rider was adopted by a wealthy landowner of England and at his death succeeded to the estate, and when the brother died the subject of this sketch became sole heir of the estate for life. This good for tune came late in the life of Mr. Rider, >et for a few years he enjoyed the fruits of the estate, on which he resided at the time of his death, January 24, 1892. Under the English law the estate was inherited by his eldest and only son, George C. Rider, Jr., of Harrison, Ohio. Air. Rider was a good citizen and neighbor and possessed more than average intelligence. He was upright and just in business and was a thorough gentleman and a steadfast friend.

Evan Evans

was born in Alorgan township, Butler county, Ohio, May 2, 1816. His parents were William and Jane Evans, natives of \\ ales, who emigrated to America early in 1800, and settled in Morgan township, Butler county, Ohio, about one mile south of the present site of Okeana. The father of i'.van Evans died soon after his son's birth, and thereafter the son resided with a brother-in-law, Morgan Gwilyin, an early pioneer and a most excellent man, until he became of age. He was married May 28, 1844, to Miss Anna Mering, and soon thereafter purchased a farm on the Dry Fork of Whitewater. On the death of his father-in-law, in 1850, he purchased the Mering homestead and thereafter he resided there. Mr. Evans was a successful farmer, and an active, efficient business man, with rare good judgment, firm in his convictions, courageous and bold in their defense. He was unselfish and was at all times ready to assist and advance the interests of his neighborhood. Numbers of young men can thank him for success in business, for kind and strong words of encouragement when needed and for the free use of his purse when required. He was a school director for thirty years, a member of the Butler county agricultural board for twelve years and a trustee of Alorgan township for several years, all of which positions he filled with ability and credit. He died August 24, 1895, in his eightieth year. He left to his family a good home and what is far better - the inheritance of a good name.

Wales B. Bonney

was born June 26, 1799, at Charleston, New Hampshire. In 1816 he came with his parents to Ohio, and settled in Butler county, about one mile northwest of Oxford. In his early youth Air. Bonney showed a disposition for study and a desire for an education. When only sixteen years of age he entered Dartmouth College as a student. After coming to Ohio he attended Miami University for two years and later engaged in teaching. Among the places where he was so engaged were Rochester and Brighton, New York. At the latter place he was married to Miss Lucinda Abbey, in January, 1829. To this union were born eleven children. In 1830 he removed to Texas and the next fall he returned to Oxford, where he resided until 1845 and then emigrated to Oregon. The following spring he started with two horses and a wagon on the return trip from Oregon to. Oxford. After many hair-breadth escapes and suffering untold hardships he arrived at his old home near Oxford several months later ' with only his gun, as the Indians had taken his horses and other property. He then settled in the village of Oxford, where he became a justice of the peace and retained the office for many years. He died June 10, 1887. aged seventy-nine years, eleven months and fourteen days, and was survived by his wife, four sons and one daughter.

David P. Nelson

was born in Essex county, New York, May 31, 1810, on the western shore of Lake Champlain. His father, Ezekiel Nelson, was a sailor and died at sea in 1812, leaving a young widow with the infant son to dwell with th£ widow's parents. In 1816 he was brought with an emigrant caravan to the vicinity of Oxford township, about three miles southeast of Oxford village. There he remained with his people until fourteen years of age, when he became apprenticed to a carpenter. After three years had passed he was obliged to abandon the occupation on account of failing health. His educational advantages had been very limited, but through his own efforts he acquired a fair knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic. Finding himself practically alone in the world, his health broken down, he nevertheless found it necessary to support himself. As there was no school law in force he was offered a situation as teacher in a subscription school, and in compensation for his services was to receive one dollar for each pupil for the term of three months. He was to "board around" in the families of these pupils, and take one-half his pay in wheat and the remainder in cash. The first term the young teacher had about twenty pupils, and though he received his cash payments, he never collected the wheat, so he actually was paid only ten dollars for three months' service. Mr. Nelson paid diligent attention to his studies and determined to thoroughly prepare himself for the profession of teaching. During several succeeding winters he taught and in the summer worked at his trade. He taught his last term in 1878. The probate judge of Butler county appointed him a member of the county board of school examiners at that time, a position he filled for eight years, when he declined a reappointment.

In November, 1832, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage with Hannah Davis, daughter of Samuel Davis, who was one of the early settlers at Columbia, near Cincinnati. To this union were born ten children, of whom but three reached maturity. His wife died in 1851, and the following year Mr. Nelson was married to Elvira R. Gillman, of Preble county, who died in 1863. In 1866 Mr. Nelson married Eliza Jane Rees, who was a faithful helpmate for about a quarter of a century, until called to her rest in 1891.

In his early years, as a voter, Mr. Nelson was an active supporter of the Whig party and after the formation of the Republican party he warmly supported its men and measures. For many years Mr. Nelson was a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 67, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he filled nearly all of the official positions, and he represented that body in a committee before the Ohio legislature, and to his efforts was due the appropriation to the Agricultural and Mechanical College by congress. He died February 18, 1898, aged eightv-seven years, eight months and nine days.

Thomas Mccullough

was born in Oxford, Butler county, Ohio, July 12, 1818. He was the first white male child born in the village. His parents came west on the Ohio river from Pittsburg while Ohio was yet a territory. While coming down on the flat boat they had to anchor in mid stream on account of the hostility of the Indians. His ancestors were of Scotch origin and possessed the spirit of industry and frugal habits of this hardy people. They first came to Cincinnati, where they resided for a few years. His father's name was Samuel, and his mother was Elizabeth Neil. Mr. McCullough's parents moved from Cincinnati to Fort Hamilton, where they resided for some time. While residing there Mrs. McCullough rode on horseback from Fort Hamilton to Pittsburg to visit relatives.

Samuel McCullough settled in Oxford in 1810, having attended the first sale of lots, May 22, 1810, at Hamilton, Ohio. Eleven in-lots and eight four-acre lots were sold, the in-lots at prices ranging from sixteen dollars and sixty-six and two-thirds cents to twenty-five dollars and ninety cents each; the four-acre lots at twenty dollars each. Mr. McCullough purchased in-lots 41 and 43, east side of the public square. He afterwards bought the lots on the entire block, but at the time the trustees of the university decided to sell only the odd numbered lots, thinking the others would rapidly increase in value. That they were partly right is evidenced by the fact that the corner lot where Adams' drug store stands only pays one dollar and fifty cents university rent, while lot 42, a back lot, pays five dollars and thirty-four cents.

Thomas McCullough went to school in the old brick school house south of the Episcopalian church. The building was subsequently used as a Catholic church. There was a fine spring on the lot. now occupied bv the Episcopalian church, and David Irwin had a tanyard on the lot where stands the residence of the late Rev. W. W.

Mr. McCullough was quite young when he clerked for his brother-in-law, Jacob D. Stillwell, of Stillwell's corner, in Hanover township, at eight dollars per month. About the time he became of age he started a grocery in Oxford on the comer where Adams' drug store is now located. A man named Chamberlain kept a drygoods store north of the public square, where the Hayden grocer}' store is now located. Captain Bonney kept a store in 1843 where Munns and Gerber lately conducted a tailoring establishment. This was the first brick house built in Oxford and was afterwards pulled down by Mr. McCullough when the present building was erected. Captain Bonney, at the time he conducted a store there, owned the block, which afterward was owned by David Smith, and still later by Allen Clute. Mr. McCullough bought the lot of Alfred Luce, administrator of Allen Clute. Samuel McCullough, father of Thomas, kept a drygoods store in the same building where Thomas had kept the grocer}'. Mr. Mc- Cullough had two brothers: Rev. John Mc- Cullough, a Methodist minister, and Neil McCullough, an attorney. He had three sisters : Mar}', who married J. D. Stillwell ; Jane, who married John L. Murray, a Hamilton printer who published a paper called the Volunteer, which continued from 1821 to 1825: a third sister, Elizabeth McCullough, married Joseph Markfe.

Thomas McCullough was married to Martha Luce, daughter of Alfred Luce, in 1842. Two children were born to them, Neil, who is now in Dallas, Texas, and

Fountain, who died in early youth. Mrs. McCullough died four years after her marriage. Mr. McCullough was married, the second time, to Elizabeth L. Girton, of Oxford township. To this union were born two children, Mrs. Bessie McCullough Heath, wife of Fletcher Heath, and Daisy M. Mr. McCullough was a successful business man. He had carefully and safely invested his surplus funds in lands until he owned land or city property in Arkansas. Texas. Kansas. Tennessee, Illinois, North Dakota, Indiana and several large cities. Mr. Mc- Cullough loved Oxford and was thoroughly identified with its moral, educational and material interests. He was always an enthusiast about improving the town, and took the lead in every movement inaugurated for that purpose. One of the traits of character that endeared Mr. McCullough to everybody was his thoroughly democratic spirit. He was always the same ideal man. Despite his great wealth he never lost sight of his friends or neighbors less favored in material prosperity. He died, after a brief illness, on March 12. 1901, aged eightythree years.

James Woodmansee

was born in Liberty township, Butler county, Ohio, in 1814. His father was Dahiel Woodmansee, a native of New Jersey, who settled in Butler county in 1809. The son received a good education, and was brought up to agricultural pursuits, but this life did not have any attractions for him. In his early youth he showed a fondness for verse, and he developed into a literarv character of ability and in the selection of the topics for his muse of unusual eccentricity. He called himself the "Bard of Sugar

Valley," and was sometimes denominated the "Milton of America." James Woodmansee was the author of two epic poems, "The Closing Scene: A Poem in Twelve Books," and "Religion : A Poem in Twelve Books." The subject of the first named is the great war between Gog and Magog, ending with the "Wreck of Matter and the Crash of Worlds." The second shows religion from the time the "Spirit brooded o'er the water's face" to the millennium. Besides these he wrote "Wrinkles from the Brow of Experience," "Poetry of the Seasons : a Poem in Four Books, Descriptive of every Month in the Year," and "The Prodigal Son : a Drama in Five Acts." "The Closing Scene" and "Wrinkles," published many years ago, received much praise both in America and Europe. Thomas Noon Talford, the great critic and judge of Westminster, said " 'The Closing Scene' rivals the 'Divina Commedia' of Dante;" and Samuel Rogers, the author of "Pleasures of Memory," called it the "Paradise Lost of America." ' Mr. Woodmansee had traveled considerably in Europe and all over America. He died in December, 1887, in his seventy-fourth year, in Butler county.

Dr. Robert B. Millikin

was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania. December 9, 1793, and came to Butler county in 18 to. His brother. Dr. Daniel Millikin, had come here a few years before, and near the same time his two brothers. Samuel and Andrew, arrived and settled here. All located in Hamilton and have numerous descendants residing there now. At the time of his coming steamboats and railroads were unknown, so that Dr. Millikin descended the Ohio river in a flat boat, ac- companied by Captain Isaac Falconer and family, which circumstance produced a warm and lasting friendship between the two families, and subsequently Dr. Cyrus Falconer (son of the Captain) studied medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. R. B. Millikin, the friend and companion of his father.

Soon after locating at Hamilton Dr. Millikin married Miss Sarah Gray, and to them were bom several children. As a physician Dr. Millikin was successful, safe, skillful and popular, and by industry, economy and perseverance became a man of wealth, distinguished for his plain but cordial manners, his promptitude to professional calls and business engagements.

In the war of 1812 Dr. Millikin received an appointment as assistant surgeon and ministered to the sick and wounded of the army at Fort St. Mary's and other points. In 1827 he was made brigade inspector of the militia in this section of the country, in which position he served for several years. Subsequently he was brigadier general of the militia. In 1836 to 1838 he was a member of the Ohio legislature. I11 1849-50 he was the treasurer of Butler county. Dr. Millikin was a kind father and husband, a warm-hearted, benevolent and unchanging friend. His habits of industry, sobriety and punctuality in life were remarkable and worthy of imitation by young and old. The idol of his life seemed to be the advancement, prosperity and improvement of the first ward of Hamilton, where he resided. You could not touch the interest of this part of the city without encountering his sturdy opposition. He died in i860, in the sixtyseventh year of his age.

Rev. Arthur W. Elliott

a native of Maryland, came to Butler county and settled in Liberty township in the year 1807 or 1808.. He immigrated here from his native state nearly at the same time with the Curtises. Slades, Hughes, Murphys, Clarks, Williamsons, Flennards and others of the first residents of the township, with most of whom he was connected. Here he resided for nearly forty years on the farm which lie purchased when he first arrived in this county. About 1850 he purchased a farm and built a house, about one mile west of Hamilton, where he resided for a few years, and in 1856 he removed with his family to Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, where he breathed his last, on January 18, 1858, aged seventy-five years. From the time the deceased became a resident of Butler county until his death he was connected with the Methodist Episcopal church as a preacher. He was a man of genius, and great power as a speaker. His early educational training had been neglected, but his intuitive perceptions and native powers of eloquence surmounted every obstacle thrown in his way by this neglect, and he could captivate his hearers at will. The spirit of his genius awakened all his features. His countenance shown with a nobleness and grandeur which it had not before exhibited, and he was able to exert a power over his auditors that all who heard him acknowledged. He was a great man naturally. He had been a soldier under Harrison, iq the war of 1812, and he felt in duty bound to support him for the presidency, and in the heated political contest of 1840 he accompanied General Harrison to a number of meetings in the Miami valley, where he made speeches, and it was said at the time that his addresses were the most able, effective and satisfactory of any of the speakers. General Harrison said himself, "He is the strongest and most useful on the stump of any of us." General Harrison was the presidential candidate and the chief, but Rev. Elliott was the second man in notoriety and consequence. His march through the Miami valley was a triumphal one, and was marked by every consideration of love and admiration. In the spring of 1840 he. with two or three hundred citizens of this part of the country, paid a visit of congratulation to General Harrison at his residence at North Bend. They were marshalled in front of the General's house, when Rev. Elliott advanced in front and addressed the General in the most affecting, eloquent and interesting manner, to which the General replied in his wonted felicitous and forcible style. Rev. Elliott was blessed with a strong mind, robust body, and habits of industry and frugality. He was for many years a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and was much attached to the principles of the order, was grand chaplain of the grand lodge of Ohio for the years 1839 and 1840 and was the speaker at numerous celebrations of St. John the Evangelist and other occasions.

William R. Kinder

was bom in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, December 17, 1827. While yet a youth he entered the office of the Germantown Gazette, where he served his apprenticeship at the printing business, after which he entered Farmer's College, near Cincinnati, where he graduated with the highest honors of the institution, September 21, 1848. He then entered the law office of Weller & Ryan in this city as a student, where he remained until February, 1849. Colonel Weller having been appointed commissioner on the part of the United States to survey the boundary between California and Mexico, Mr. Kinder accompanied him as chief 'clerk of the commission. After Colonel Weller was succeeded as commissioner Mr. Kinder accompanied him to San Francisco, where they opened a law office in partnership, and soon obtained a lucrative practice. At this time an election was held for members of the territorial legislature. Mr. Kinder was a candidate for member of the senate, but was defeated by about thirty votes, although he ran four hundred votes ahead of his ticket. In 1850 he was a bearer of dispatches from the territorial government of California to Washington. In the spring of 1851, his health having broken down, he embarked on board a sailing vessel at San Francisco, bound for China, via the Sandwich Islands. He spent about a month in China, and then started on his return home. Upon his arrival at Hamilton he took charge of the Telegraph office, which he conducted with signal ability until June, 1854, when he disposed of the office to Messrs. Barker and McCormick. In the month of October. 1855. he was appointed by Governor Medill probate judge of this county. At the expiration of the term for which he was appointed, in 1857, he was elected to the same office, which he continued to hold until his death, Februan 9* i860. He was a very popular judge, filling the office with dignity and to the entire satisfaction of all parties. He had for some time served as one of the trustees of Miami

University. From his early boyhood Judge Kinder was a politician. While a school boy the larger portion of the papers and books that he read were political. While at college political works occupied his attention when not engaged in his studies. He made himself familiar with the political parties of our country. Indeed, it was often remarked how familiar he was with political history - he seemed to know it all by heart. As a political writer he had but few equals. He was a bold and fearless defender of his principles, wielding the pen with the power of a giant. He was also a popular orator, although his great strength was with the pen. As a leader of the Democratic party of Butler county he exercised an influence which no other man could. He had multitudes of friends, who were ardently of the opinion that he had talents to adorn and character to dignify the highest and most honorable station in public life. He was but thirtythree years of age. He left a wife and three infant sons.

Aaron Potter

was born near Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, March 31, 1809. His father was Enos Potter, who was an early settler at Columbia, and who immigrated from New Jersey in 1788. In 1798 he removed to his farm near Middletown, which he had purchased of John C. Symmes. Here, in this rural home, Aaron Potter grew up under the fostering care of a more than ordinary mother, for his father died when he was only five years old. In 1827, when eighteen years old, he removed to Cincinnati, where, under the tuition of E. B. Potter, he learned his trade, that of marble and stone cutter.

On September 20, 1830, he married Miss Emeline Ransdale and settled down to the work of life. In 1836 he removed his business to Hamilton where he remained to the day of his death with the exception of a few months which were spent in Indiana. He was the first to embark in the monument business in the city of Hamilton. For a number of years he was also engaged in partnership with Richard Cole, in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds on the lower hydraulic near Dayton street. Later he built the Hamilton Flour Mills at the corner of North and B streets. Mr. Potter was a Christian gentleman and, with Dr. Laomi Rigdon, organized the First Baptist church of Hamilton in 1841. He died July 1, 1 871, aged sixty-two years.

David Brooks Sanders

was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, November 15. 1819. He was the son of David and Elizabeth (Stafford) Sanders; the family was in very poor circumstances and the son's early life was a series of struggles with poverty. At the age of ten vears he walked the entire distance from his birthplace to Richmond, Indiana, where his mother then resided, and he was there bound out to a Mr. Holman. Owing to the harshness of his employer young Sanders unceremoniously departed. Barefooted and illclad. and facing the blustering March wind, he walked to Oxford, Ohio, where a cousin, Joseph Stafford, resided. Soon afterward young Sanders learned the blacksmith trade with Frank Davis. In 1844 he removed to Hamilton and engaged with Philip Berry, who kept a blacksmith shop at the northeast comer of Court and Reily streets. Four years later, in 1848, he opened a restaurant on a small scale at what was then the head of the old Hamilton basin, where he also began the manufacture of cigars. Subsequently Mr. Sanders removed to No. 17 South Third street, where C. A. Stroble is now located, and at this location he conducted a large business for about thirty years. Being a man of unusually genial and affable disposition, with always a kind word and a pleasant smile for everyone, there was a time when he was known by every man, woman and child in Hamilton.

He began business on a capital of but twenty-five dollars but by close application to business and gentlemanly treatment of his customers he amassed a fortune. His place of business was a veritable curiosity shop. He dealt in an infinite variety of articles and his oysters and lemonades - elephant's milk he called the latter - were famous. In 1887 he retired from business. Politically he was a Democrat, cast his first vote for James K. Polk for President and as an independent candidate he was elected mayor of Hamilton, commanding the Republican support. In 1885 he was reelected on the Democratic ticket and his administration was creditable to himself and satisfactory to his constituents. Socially he was a member of Hamilton Lodge, No. 1 7, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Canton Sanders, Patriarchs Militant, of Hamilton, was named after him.

On December 23, 1847, Mr. Sanders was married to Nancy Ward, a daughter of John and Maria Reed Ward, and who was born in this county July 22, 1819. Her father died when she was quite young, and her mother was afterward married to Samuel Hammond, by which union she had twelve children. Mrs. Sanders died several years prior to the death of her husband. Mr. Sanders was in every respect a selfmade man, of fine integrity of character and throughout his life an upright, honorable citiz^i. He died March 1, 1902, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.

Dr. Jacob Hittell

Dr. Jacob Hittell, born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1797, moved to Butler county in 1839, and after spending three years in Trenton and Rossville, bought a home in Hamilton directly in front of the court house on High street, devoting himself to the practice of his profession. He was of German descent, his grandfather having come from Europe in the early part of the eighteenth century. When he was a boy the common speech in Lehigh was German, and he knew no English when he started out, at fourteen, to earn his living. At sixteen he was a clerk in a grocery store, saving every cent not necessary for food, clothing, lodging, and education. He had every thing to learn and he had already determined that he would be a physician. After eight years of unaided effort he obtained his diploma with the signatures of Rush, Physick, Wistar and the other great professors of the leading medical college of the United States at that time. He then had eight more years of struggle before he had a comfortable position pecuniarily. His settlement in Hamilton proved fortunate for him. He was industrious, economical and sharp-witted. He bought lots, >vhich rapidly rose in value. There were many Germans and Pennsylvania Germans in the county, who gave him most of their medical practice, and his income from that source arose in some years, it was said, to five thousand dollars - a large amount sixty years ago. Nearly every fall he took a journey through northern Ohio and Indiana to buy wild land, which was then rising rapidly in value. These purchases turned out well in nearly every instance, and as early as 1840 Dr. Hittell was considered one of the richest men of Butler county. He was a very close man in money matters, but in at least one respect no man in Hamilton was more generous - that was in educating his children, of whom he had five. One of these graduated at a young ladies' seminary in Philadelphia, one in Holyoke, one in Oxford and one in Yale, and the other would not graduate anywhere because he disliked books. About 1865, when nearly seventy years of age, Dr. Hittell abandoned his practice and moved back to his old home in Pennsylvania, where he died in 1878. He laid off" an addition to Hamilton in the southern part of the town, near the eastern bank of the river. He was a good surgeon and a jovial associate among those whose company he enjoyed.

John S. Hittell, his eldest son, was seven years old when his father arrived in Hamilton. After graduating at Oxford he read law for a time with the late John Woods, William Beckett being in the office with him. Dyspepsia interrupted his studies, and he never completed them. He went to California in 1849, an(b after trying his hand at various occupations, including mining, became one of the editorial writers of the Alta California newspaper, a position which he held, though not continuously, for more than twenty-four years. He was known as a hard worker and careful student, and was soon recognized as an authority in matters relating to the industries and resources of the state. In 1862 he published a book called "The Resources of California,"' and the seventh edition of it appeared in 1879. "A History of San Francisco," from his pen, was issued in 1878. He has written several other books, numbering at least half a dozen, and has contributed much to cyclopedias and magazines. His range of knowledge is wide, including familiarity with the literature and tongues of Germany, France, Spain and Italy. He is a bachelor.

Theodore H. Hittell, his brother, born in 1830, studied law in Cincinnati and moved to San Francisco in 1855, where he was for a time a journalist, and is now an attorney. He has been engaged in some very heavy law-suits, including the Lick will case and the San Pablo partition suits, in which, rumor says, his fees have amounted to little fortunes. He has been a member of the state senate, and has compiled several law-books, which are standard authorities, and perhaps no name appears more frequently than his in the reports of the state supreme court. He is married and has three children.

Dr. Peter Van Derveer

One of the earlier physicians of Butler county was Dr. Peter Van Derveer. of Middletown. He was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, on the 12th of March, 1798. His father was Colonel Henry Van Derveer, a substantial farmer, who at one time held a colonel's commission among the volunteers called upon by the government to put down the whisky rebellion in Pennsylvania. The family came to New York from Holland about the year 1645. and during the Revolutionary war were active partisans on the side of liberty.

The subject of this sketch received a collegiate education and commenced the study of medicine and surgery in 1817. We find among his papers a certificate showing his attendance at the New York Hospital, and signed by David Hosack, Wright Post, Valentine Mott, and other physicians famous in the history of medicine in this country. His diploma was issued to him by the Medical Society of the State of New Jersey, and is dated July 9, 1818, and signed by John Vancleve, president.

Shortly after graduating he determined to make the West his home, and, with his horse, saddle and pillbags, started for Ohio. Early in the year 1819 he came to Middletown, and, after a short delay, passed on to the village of Salisbury, Indiana. Here, however, he remained but a few months, when he returned to Middletown, where he permanently located. The practice of his profession required that he should spend a great part of his time in the saddle. Patients were scattered, the roads and bridlepaths sometimes scarcely marked bv a blazing. There were none of the luxurious modes, now so common, for traveling. The physician of that day, in this Western world, had to depend upon his horse to take him to the cabins where duty called; and it was only a strong, healthy body and a heroic spirit that could endure the hardships incident to exposure to storms at all hours of the day and night. His practice was along both banks of the Great Miami, and required that he should frequently cross its waters. When the stream was swollen, it was a somewhat dangerous task, as there were no bridges, and but a single ferry. The writer of this has heard Dr. Van Derveer describe his many escapes from a watery grave, when compelled to swim his horse through its rushing waters to reach patients whose condition required immediate relief. In the year 1822 he was married to Miss Mary Ann Dickey, who lived only about two years after her marriage, leaving a son, Ferdinand, who, in after years, won distinction as a soldier in the Mexican and Civil wars, and was judge of the court of common pleas of Butler county in the 'eighties. His second wife was Miss Mary Ann Hubble, whom he married in 1826, and with whom he lived until 1849, when she died, leaving several sons and daughters. He had been early in life an attendant upon the Dutch Reformed church of New Jersey, but never united with any denomination, until about the year 1837, when he joined the Presbyterian church and remained a consistent member until his death. For a long time he was an elder in the church at Middletown.

Although belonging to the allopathic school of medicine, he always met the practitioners of other schools with courtesy, and treated all with consideration, especially in the later years of his life, when he never refused to consult with physicians of other creeds.

At the time he settled in Ohio there were but few graduates of the medical colleges to be found in the woods, and the fact that he carried a diploma and had been an attendant upon the hospital lectures in New York gave him a high place in the estimation of the public.

In a newspaper notice of his death we find the following: "If he differed in sentiment concerning a point of pathology, diagnosis, or practice, he expressed himself with the modesty of a gentleman and the kindly feelings of a professional brother. In his intercourse with his patients his conduct was regulated by the nicest sense of honor; his moral character was cast in the finest and purest mold; his conduct in all phases of life was squared by the strictest rules of honesty and by the nicest regard for the feelings of others.,,

The exposures and hardships attendant upon the earlier years of his practice told on his once vigorous constitution, and he became feeble, and suffered from ill health in the latter part of his life. He died on the 17th of January, 1861, at his home in Middletown.

Joseph Hough

Among the earlier merchants of Hamilton Joseph Hough is, perhaps, best known. He carried on the largest establishment, and his operations were conducted with a vigor unusual at that day. He did not inherit this trait from his parents, who were Quakers, but it seemed entirely the offspring of his own genius. He was born on a farm near Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of February, 1783. In 1788 the family removed to Washington county, at the extreme southwest part of the state, where Mr. Hough died, in 1798, and his wife eighteen months later. Joseph Hough then resolved to learn the watchmakers' trade from his brother-in-law, Israel Gregg, who afterwards also became a resident of Hamilton and stayed with him till he was twenty-one. Immediately upon completing his majority he engaged with another watchmaker and silversmith in Brownstown, and wrought as a journeyman for two years, saving in the course of that period over one thousand dollars. At this time his brother

Thomas, who had acquired some capital, proposed to Joseph that they should, unite their capital, buy a stock of goods, and go west. The suggestion seemed good to him, and the two young men joined their forces and came out to the Miami country, intending to settle at Lebanon, Warren county. They bought their goods in Philadelphia, wagoned them over the mountains, and on the 1 st of June, 1806, committed them to the Monongahela river. The water in that stream was very low, as was also the Ohio, and the journey was slow and tedious. Cincinnati was reached in twenty-five days, and from that place they hired wagons to take on their goods to Lebanon. Saddle-horses were scarce, and from the river they followed their wagons on foot. These had started first, and the Hough brothers expected to overtake them near Reading, but missed their way, being obliged to stop over night at the house of a friendly miller, Jacob White, about nine miles from their startingplace. Mr. White questioned them as to their intentions, and on learning that they meant to go to Lebanon advised against it. There was, he said, no good building to be obtained there; but in Hamilton there was. John Wingate had just given up business in the latter place, and the Houghs could, no doubt, obtain his house. They thanked him for his friendly advice and determined to follow it. Early in the morning they started out and overtook the wagons, which they turned in the new direction.

They had been just one month on their journey when they reached this town, on the 1st of July. No difficulty was experienced in obtaining the house which Mr. Wingate had used, and they immediately commenced selling goods. Their stand was on Front street, near the corner of Court, on the ground now occupied by the St. Mary's Catholic church. It was of logs. There was then no other store here, except John Sutherland's, on the east side of Front, between Stable and Dayton streets. Business went well with them ; but in September Thomas was attacked with bilious fever, which was then epidemic, and died on the 17th of that month. Four days after his death the surviving brother was taken with the same disease, and for some days his life was despaired of. On his final recovery he settled up the estate, giving to his younger sisters his share of his brother's estate, and still continuing the trade.