Harrison Township (part 2 of 2)

Robert Cary was born in Lynn, New Hampshire, January 24, 1787, and moved with his father to the Northwest Territory in 1802, and settled in Cincinnati, but eventually moved to College Hill. A soldier in the war of 1812, he was with General Hull at the surrender of Detroit. His death took place November 13, 1866- He was a quiet, upright man, respected by all who knew him. In 1813, he was married to Eliza Jessup, of Hamiltoh county, Ohio, who died July 30, 1835. They had nine children: Rowena, married to Isaac B. Carrihan; Susan, married to Alexander Swift; Rhoda, Alice, Asa, whose wife was Leah A. Woodruff, of Hamilton county ; Phoebe; Warren, whose wives were Martha A. Tremper and Emma Tremper, of Hamilton county; Lucy; and Elmira, married to Alexander Swift.

Warren Cary was born in Hamilton county, October 16, 1826, where he received a common school education and also took a course of study at College Hill. He is a farmer, in which business he has been engaged nearly all his life. In politics he is a Republican; in religious belief a Universalist. His three children are Robert, Alexander S., and Clarence W.

Robert Cary was born in Hamilton county, in 1850, where he received a common school education and also a two years' course at College Hill) He married Eliza Wilson, of the same county, in 1874. They have two children, Elmira and Martha. He isa farmer in business, in politics a Republican.

Matthew Brown, a native of Ireland, was born in the year 1753, but emigrated to Ohio from South Carolina, and settled, in 1803, on the farm now owned by John Baughman, in Harrison. He was a farmer by occupation,«a Democrat in politics. His wife was Jane Jones, a native of South Carolina. She had eight children: Nancy, married to Samuel Harlen, and living in Indiana; David, married to Susan Gladwell, and also in Indiana; Katie, the wife of George Harlen, and living in Iowa; Robert, married to Katie Cotton, also in Indiana; Samuel, married to Betsey Atherton, and living in Indiana; Sarah, the wife of Thomas Goulding, of Indiana; Betsey, married to Isaac Ferris and residing in Hamilton county; and John, married to Sarah Herm, of the same county.

John Brown was born in South Carolina, in 1803, and came to Ohio with his parents. He has been a farmer all his life, and for many years was a member of the Harrison school board. In politics he is a Democrat, He married Sarah Herin, of New Jersey, in 1824. August 30, 1874, he died at the age of 1871. He was the father of seven children: Jane, now the wife of James Charelton, of Butler county, Ohio; John, married to Sarah Ellis and living in Indiana; Martha and Rebecca, both living in Hamilton county; Sarah, wife of Jehu John, and now living in Illincis; Hannah, married to John Vanausdall, and now in Hamilton county; and Jefferson, remaining in the same place.

George G. Oyler was born in England, in 1815, came to the United States with his father in 1828, and first settled in Hamilton county on the farm now owned by Thomas Bowles. After serving an apprenticeship with Mr. D. A. Davidson, he followed the painter's trade for thirty-five years, but at present devotes himself entirely to his farm: A Democrat, he has held the office of trustee in the township. He ranks high, too, as a Mason. He married Elizabeth Gerrard, of Ohio, in 1838. She had one child, Sarah, who died while an infant. The mother also died in 1876. He then married Honor J. Minor.

Frederick Biddinger, senior, was a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He was born in 1804, and came to Ohio with his father and settled in Butler county. After a year they moved to this county, and in 1810 he began on the farm which he now occupies. At present he is in possession of a fine competency. A Democrat in politics, he held the office of trustee of Harrison township one year; has always taken a deep interest in public improvements, and was instrumental in the laying out of the Biddinger pike, running from Harrison to Oxford. He is a member of the English Lutheran church; has held the office of trustee in the church for many years, and has always been deeply interested in the subject of education of youth. He married Sarah Black, of Ohio, who died in 1873. The children are John W., married to Margaret Otto, and now living in Butler county, Ohio; George A., married to Catharine Simonson, and now in this county; Emeline, wife of John Livingston, now in the same county; Jacob, married to Sarah Stephens, also living in this county; Angeline, now the wife of William Hutchinson, and residing in Missouri; Catharine, in this county; Melinda, Mrs. Thomas Thomas of the same county; Martha, the wife of Martis Holowell, and now residing in Indiana; Wesley M., married to Fanny Mc- Intyre, and now in Illinois; and Lewis F., of this county.

Asa R. Mittler, born in Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1817, isa farmer of Hamilton county, where he settled in 1848. The first few years he was a resident of Harrison township, and while there he dealt in stock. In 1852 he organized a company and went over the plains to California where he was engaged for a year in mining and keeping hotel, and returned to Ohio by way of Panama. At the end of two years he purchased a farm in Whitewater township, on which he lived until 1870, when he moved to the place on which is now his home. While in Whitewater township he held the office of township trustee and treasurer for a number of years, and has filled the same office in the township where he now resides. He has always been a Democrat. February 22, 1855, he was married to Euphemia Rittenhouse, of Ohio The children are Alice, Ellen (now the wife of George Arnold), Charles, George, and Mabel.

John Jones, born in Baltimore county, Maryland, first settled in Harrison township in 1809. He was both a farmer and miller. In religious faith he was a Baptist, but never united with a church. His wife was Sarah Harriman. Their children are Betsy, Sarah, Rachel, Temperance, Ruth, Nancy, Rebecca, Stephen and Ellen.

Benjamin Simonson, the oldest member of the family of Aaron and Margaret Simonson, was born in this county in 1827. In 1864 he entered into partnership with George and John Punny, for the manufacture of bedsteads, in which business he continued four years, when he disposed of his interest and returned to his farm. He is a member of the Sand Hill grange, in which he has twice held the place of overseer, and was also an officer in the Ancient Order of Red Men. In politics he classes himself with the Democratic party. In 1848 he married Maria Johnson, of Indiana. Their nine children are Margaret E., now Mrs. Harry Sleet; Nicholas J., Pricilla, Helen M., Mary E., Zaruma, Benjamin F., Maria A., and Charles G.

George Hopping was born in Whitewater township in 1826, where he received an ordinary education, and began the business of farming. He is a strong Republican, and always has shown much interest in education. In 1850 he was married to Rebecca Ireland, a citizen of Indiana. He has six children - William, Frank, Charles, Laura, Hattie, and Lillie. :

Robert Marvin was born September 12, 1770, in Lynne, Connecticut. He was left an orphan when three years old. When a young man he engaged in teaching. About the year 1800 he moved to Morristown, New Jersey, and soon after was married to the widow of Moses Ross. Her maiden name was Pheebe Ford. About the year 1805 he emigrated to Harrison, Hamilton county, Ohio. The journey westward as far as Wheeling was made in a covered wagon, drawn by horses and oxen. The rest of the trip was effected mn a flatboat down the Ohio river to Cincinnati. He settled on land obtained by his predecessor from the Government at four dollars per acre, and entered the adjoining quarter section from the Government. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. He was an Abolitionist of the old style, and so noted for his zeal that he was threatened with expulsion from the church! He died in January, 1842, in his seventy-second year, His wife survived him about ten years, expiring in the eightythird year of her age.

Samuel R. Marvin was born in Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, June 5, 1804. He came to this State with _ his parents, and first settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. Narcissa Snow, in Harrison township. At one time he attended the Miami university at Oxford. He devoted twenty years tq teaching school. He received the rudiments of a good English education from his - scholarly father, but by reason of weak eyes was never able to pursue a regular course of study. He was a great reader, a close observer of human nature, and, in his day, succeeded well as a teacher, in which profession he spent the best part of his life. In 1842 he married Julia A. Place, who was born in New York in 1808. After. his marriage he became a farmer, which business he followed the remainder of his life. He filled the office of township clerk for Harrison township, and was also a member of the school board, in the same township, fot several years. Early in his life he was a believer in Universalism, but he afterward adopted the Swedenborgian faith. In politics he was an Old Line Whig, a strong Abolitionist, and, after the forming of the Republican party he became a Republican. A highly educated and truly good man, he was highly respected by the many with whom he was acquainted. He died at his home near Harrison, June 29, 1863. His wife survives him. He was the father of three children, Gustavus L., who died in infancy; Jerome P., now married to Martha A. Stokes, and Melissa A., now the wife of Henry N. Congden.

Jerome P. Marvin was born in this county in 1846. He taught school after having obtained an ordinary education, after which time he spent a year at Wabash college, Indiana, and studied medicine at the Eclectic Medical institute, of Cincinnati, five years, where he graduated in June, 1866. In 1864 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Ohio regiment of infantry, where he served three months. The practice of medicine was begun in Cincinnati in the fall of 1866, in partnership with Dr. Scudder, which partnership continued six years. During that time he was demonstrator of anatomy in the Eclectic institute of Cincinnati for three years. In 1872 he began medical practice in Sidney, Ohio. After a year he gave up the place and came to Harrison, buying the interest of C. G. Thomas in the drug business, in which he is at present engaged. He held the office of township treasurer of Harrison township one year, was a member of the school board three years, and gave material aid in establishing the present graded system in the schools. In politics he is a Republican, and as a member of Snow Lodge No. 193 has had the place of master during three years. He was married to Martha Stokes, a native of Ohio, April 16, 1868, and is the father of two children, Mabel and Maude.

William Dair, born in Harrison, Ohio, August 20, 1848, married Jeannette Bonham September 21, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Dair have three children, two daughters and one son. In the way of descent he is the son of James Dair, who was one of the successful men of the county, and to whom excellent business tact and foresight have been transmitted. He is a gtaduate of Bartlett's Commercial college, of Cincinnati. In the matter of positions he has filled - and filled successfully, too - the township treasurer's and councilman's office, has been engaged in causes which advance the practical interests of a community, and deals in facts and results. He, with his brother Charles, is among the wealthy men of Harrison township, and year by year add by honorable means _

Lewis M. Dair was born in New Jersey, Greenwich county, in 1798. He was a ship carpenter by trade, and came to Ohio in 1844 and settled in Harrison. While there he worked at the carpenter's trade. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife, Hannah Mulford, was a native of New Jersey. She died in Harrison in 1854. Her husband survived her fourteen years. They had eleven children - Benjamin, married to Julia A. Beard, and now living in Indiana; James, whose first wife was Charlotte Briggs, and whose present wife is Louisa Brakenridge; Mary J.; Elizabeth, the wife of Owen Williams; Amanda, the wife of Asa Curry, now of Indiana; Hannah, at present Mrs, Richard Bowles; Lewis, married to Elizabeth Perrine; Jonathan M., married to Mary J. Campbell, now living in Kentucky; Lucy A., Mrs. George Legget, at present a resident of Indiana; Edward, now married to Angeline Phillips and also in Indiana; and Emily, the wife of Theodore B. McCafferty.

James Dair, the second son, was born in 1822, in the State of New Jersey, where he learned the miller's trade, in which business he continued until he came to Ohio, in 1842. He settled in Harrison township, and in company with Joseph T. Cloud built the distillery now owned by the Dair Brothers. In politics he was a Republican. He married Charlotte Briggs, a native of Indiana, who died'in 1864. Their children were - Charles, now married to Addie Rittenhouse; two daughters named Sallie; Katie, the wife of Theodore Rockafeller, and now a resident of Indiana; Charlotte, married to Purlu Scott; Ida, now Mrs. Charles Wren, of Butler county, Ohio; Anna, and one that died in infancy.

Isaac L. Frost was born in Harrison township, at Lee's creek, and worked on his father's farm till he was of age, when he began mercantile business in Venice, Butler county. In 1854 he bought Mr. A. M. Wakefield's stock of goods in New Haven, and continued business there until 1863, when he died. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a Democrat in pol- He was married to Miss Nancy Huchinson, who still survives him. They had nine children - Elsie A., now married to Aaron Shaw; Amos H., whose wife is Sarah J. Hank; Sarepta, the wife of William Pharas; Harriet E.; John S.; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Jasper N. Shaw; Nancy J.; Isaac $.; and Theodocia.

Amos Hutchinson Frost was born December 18, 1840, three miles northeast of Harrison, on Lee's creek, in Harrison township. November 12, 1867, he married Sarah Jane Hawk, daughter of William Hawk, of Crosby, who bore him three children, one son living, Early in life the family moved to Venice, in Butler county, and resided for twelve years; from there they came to New Haven in the year 1854, and finally Amos left in 1871 and engaged in the drug business. In all matters of public concern he has been favorably known. He is secretary of Harrison Loan and Business association, is a member of the school board, and treasurer and trustee of the First Presbyterian church, of which he is a member.

Dr. Milton L. Thomas was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1821. When eleven years old he went with his parents to Jefferson county, Indiana. At the age of twenty-one he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. J. H. D. Rogers, at Madison, Indiana, and continued the same during three years. After attending the Medical institute of Louisville, Kentucky, he began the practice of medicine in Morgan county, Indiana. In 1849 he moved to New Haven, this county, where he was in practice five years, during which time he attended a course of lectures at the Eclectic Medical institute in Cincinnati, from which institution he graduated in 1850. Four years later he opened an office in Harrison, where he is at the present time. He is an earnest member of the Methodist church, of which he is a trustee. He is also superintendent of the Sabbath-school. In politics he walks with the Republican party. In 1844 he* was married to Harriet W. Chase, who was born in Ohio. She became the mother of two children, and died July 17, 1852. He then married Susan J. Rybolt, of Indiana.

They now have a family of four children: Charles S., now married to Margaret Little; Eda A.; Elminea, now Mrs. James S. Bittler; and Rolla, married to Sallie B. Cook, of Indiana. Rolla was born in Harrison in 1857. In 1877 he graduated at Ashbury university, at Green- 'castle, Indiana, where he studied medicine.

Charles G. Thomas was born in the year 1845, in Jefferson county, Indiana, whence he came to Harrison with his parents. In addition to a common school education he attended the Miami university at Oxford. For the last eighteen years he has been in the drug business. In politics he isa Republican. In 1869 he was married to Maggie A. Little, of Ohio. They have two children, Harrietta and Eda L.

Joseph C. Meyer was born 1824 in Hanover, Germany, where he learned the jeweler's trade. He came to America in 1849, and first settled in Cincinnati, where he re-

-mained about four years. While there he worked asa journeyman in the jewelry business. In 1854 he came to Harrison, and entered the employ of Thomas Dorr, on his own account, which he still continues. During two terms he filled the position of councilman for Harrison, is a member of the Catholic church, and in politics ia a Democrat. In 1860 he married Anna M. Gardiner, a native of Pennsylvania. They have two children, Lizzie and Joseph.

Rey. Charles West was born in 1792, in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, from which State he moved to Ohio, and settled in Colerain township in 1819. His death occurred in August, 1878, in Butler county, Ohio. By trade he was a tanner and curries, but after coming to Ohio was engaged in farming. In 1817 he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and took an active part in its work. In 1850 he built a church with his own funds - the West Union church, at Greusbeck, in Colerain township - and was pastor of the church until his death, He was an active, earnest Christian, respected by all. In 1817 he married Rebecca Sparks, of Baltimore, Maryland. She died at the age of sixty-eight years, in Butler county. The had nine children: Manning, now married to Amanda Stout, and residing in Iowa; Stockston, now of Illinois, whose wives were Catharine Bevis and Mary Applegate; Pieson, whose wife is Mary Gosling; Allison Sylvester, Pitman; Augustus E., married to Annie H. John son; Miranda, now Mrs. Samuel Wilson of Indiana; and Charles, married to Harriet Ponder.

Dr. Augustus E. West was born in 1824, in this county. After obtaining a common school education he attended school at College Hill, and at twenty-one years of age began the study of medicine with Dr. Bartlett at Cheyiot. After four years he graduated at Starling Medical college in Columbus, Ohio, and the next year began the practice-of medicine at Farmersville, Montgomery county, Ohio, but soon after moved to Miamitown, where he practiced fourteen years. He then went to Illinois, purchased a farm and followed farming about a year, when he returned to Ohio and settled in Harrison. In 1865 he opened an office and began prabtice there and is still engaged inthe same employment. He isa most successsful physician of the regular school. At various times he has held various public offices of trust and responsibility. He is a member of Snow lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, also of Harrison lodge, Knights of Honor, and is a Democrat in politics. In 1849 he was married to Miss Annie Tomlinson, of New Jersey. His eight children are: John A., now of Montgomery county, this State; Helen M., Mrs. Charles Ferris; Rebecca, wife of William Converse, and Frank, Francis, Annie C., Manning, and Eddie.

Rev. Gerberd Egger, the Catholic priest of Harrison, Ohio, was born in Switzerland, educated at Thubingen university, Wurtemberg, and came to the United States November, 1866. He began his ministry at Dry Ridge, this county, where he preached for six years and four months, coming to Harrison in February, 1873. His first station was without the ordinary improvements which belong to places of this kind - no parsonage, no schoolhouse, in debt for the church proper, and, in fact, even the commonest grades of enterprise. He lifted a heavy church debt to a very great extent, increasing the value of church property from three thousand dollars to seven thousand dollars.

Since being at his present location he has won the admiration of those even outside of his congregation by his business tact and discipline. The old school-house and charch at Harrison, which stood in a dilapidated state in 1873, now are handsome structures of brick, The church proper, with a congregation of four hundred or five hundred souls, was built in 1876; the priest's house, in 1873; and the school-house in 1877. Church property has advanced from one thousand eight hundred dollars to ten thousand dollars, and healthiness in all départments pervades. No surer sign of advancement in religious matters can be seen than that the minister is liked, the debt being liquidated, and everybody satisfied.

Harrison Village

county west of the Great Miami, except the early extinct Crosby, on the banks of that stream. Its recorded plat is dated December 8, 1813, and it was laid out that year by Jonas Crane, at the southwest corner of section eighteen and the northwest of section nineteen, just half way across the present township of Harrison, on its extreme west line.- A small part of it extends into Indiana. The village is described in the State Gazetteer of Ohio, in 1821, as on the Whitewater river, twenty-four miles northwest of Cincinnati, laid off on the State line, with the main north and south street on that line, and half the village on each side. The post office, we believe, has always been kept on the Ohio side, but the railway station is a little way beyond the line, in Hoosierdom.

Twenty years later, in the State Gazetteer of 1841, Harrison is noted as containing about three hundred inhabitants, with three churches, four stores, two taverns, two groceries, two physicians, three clergymen, one apothecary's shop, sixteen mechanics' shops, one flouring mill, one carding machine, and one hundred dwellings. One-third of the inhabitants then resided on the Indiana

Joseph H. Hayes

Joseph H. Hayes was born April 8, 1824, in Whitewater township, one mile below Elizabethtown, on the Great Miami. His grandfather, Job, was probably of German descent, and died three months before his son Job, the father of Joseph H., was born. His death was caused by sickness contracted while coming down the Ohio from Pittsburgh. His grandmother, Bulah Tussey, was born in Philadelphia, and came to South Bend in 1791. She was of Yankee origin.

Joseph Hayes, his mother's father, came from Chester county, Pennsylvania, to Switzerland county, Indiana, and remained as a farmer and machinist until 1836 or 1837, and then moved to Bartholomew county, same State, and died near 1840. His grandmother Hayes was of Swiss descent. °

His father, Job, settled below Elizabethtown for afew years; took a lease on real estate, made money, and soon moved across the Big Miami toa more favorable site. Here he bought one hundred and ninety acres of land, mostly on the hill, but made in several pur-

Job Hayes, jr., married his cousin June 28, 1816, at Middletown, Ohio. His wife died in 1873, being : SS seventy-eight years of age. SS : SEES

Joseph H. remained = S with his parents until twenty-one years of age, all the while accumulating money outside of the parental "roof, his par- - ents providing him with common necessities - clothes, boots and food. By his active work, at the age of twenty-one, he had accumulated three hundred dollars, his mother acting as banker. The first year after becoming of age he worked for his father during the summer season, earning in all sixty-five dollars. In the summer of 1846 he engaged with his cousin, Stephen B. Hayes, to work for ten dollars and fifty cents per month, five months. In 1847 he visited lowa, prospected a good deal, and returned in the fall to collect the three hundred dollars, which had been loaned, and returned to the State of his father. But the money was hard to collect. His notes he did not care to discount, and, by persuasion of his cousin Stephen, leased land for three years, and carried on a sort of co-partnership. At the expiration of this time he rented land of his cousin, Charles G. Guard, and worked four years.

September 23, 1852, he married Sarah J. Myer, Colonel William H. H. Taylor, son-in-law of General Harrison, performing the ceremony. Mrs. Hayes was of Kentucky extraction; bornin Indiana April 5, 1834. By this marriage seven children were born - six sons and one daughter, Alice, Wilson and Charles being dead; Job W., Enos, Isaac D., and Joseph G. are living, none of whom are married. Mr. Hayes is one out of eleven children - six sons and five daughters, five of the family being dead. Mrs. Hayes is one out of a family of five, three brothers and two sisters. Since marrying, agriculture has rewarded him with handsome gains. At twenty-eight fifteen hundred dollars had been accumulated, and the first year after he cleared seven hundred dollars. Inthe spring of 1855, the second month, he purchased fifty acres for three thousand dolars, paying two thousand cash and discounting the remaining debt before it became due. When thirty he owned a farm of fifty acres, had moved on it, and was busily engaged in the choice of his life. In 1869 he bought seventyeight acres of Stephen W. Garrison, paying seven thousand two hundred dollars, February, 1880, he added again, and now owns two hun-

S dred and seventy acres of good tillable land. Mr. Hayes is remarkable asa flat-boat man, making five round trips from Lawrenceburgh to New Orleans.

Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the former for twenty-three years, the latter for the same length of time.

Educationally, both belong to that class of people who develop by contact with the world, by labor and industry. Great and generous deeds hang in clusters about them, friends respect and admire their many virtues, and many aspire to reach so envied a character.

Marcus Seneca Bonnell, a prosperous farmer, occupying a beautiful residence on the dividing line between Harrison and Crosby townships, five miles northeast from Harrison and two miles northwest from New Haven, is a grandson of Aaron Bonnell, who came to the Miami country in 1805, with his brothers Benjamin and Paul, and his married sisters, Rhoda and Abigail - a strong delegation for one family at one time. came from England and settled in New Jersey, where their family was reared. The father was drowned in the East river, near New York, with ten others, November to, 1798, on a boat crossing from the city to Brooklyn, upon which a number of casks of rum rolled to one side and overturned the frail vessel, with the terrible results above noted. He was then seventy-five years old. His wife survived him until 1812, when she departed this life, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. Aaron, the seventh child and filth son, was born March 4, 1759, it is believed in Essex county, New Jersey. He was a brother-in-law to Judge Othniel Looker, the distinguished pioneer who settled near Harrison in 1801; they having married twin sisters - Judge Looker Pamelia, and Mr. Bonnell Rachel Clark. They had six children - two daughters and four sons, of whom the father of the subject of our sketch was one - Clark Bonnell, born November 18, 1790, in New Jersey. His father, Aaron, was the only one of the Bonnell colony who settled in Harrison (formerly Crosby) township, the others stopping in the neighborhood of Carthage, and taking farms there. Aaron entered the northwest quarter of section eighteen, due north of the subsequent site of Harrison village, in the valley of the Whitewater, improved the place, and remained there until his death. During his lifetime he drew a pension as an artificer for the Government during the war of the Revolution. His wife also died upon the old place near Harrison. Some time before the death of his parents, Clark Bonnell, who had learned, in part, the trade of a shoemaker in New York State, before the removal of the family to the west, was married to Miss Elsey Wykoff, of a family residing near Harrison, on the Indiana side, and removed to the village, where he pursued his trade for many years, and then removed to a country neighborhood in Ross township, Butler county, five miles from Hamilton, where he continued to follow his business. Remaining here about five years, hé removed to New London, Butler county, where he lost his wife by death. She was born February 7, 1794, and died in September, 1835. Her husband died in Cincinnati in 1864, in the seventyfourth year of his age. Their children numbered nine, of whom Marcus Seneca was the third, and the oldest son. He was born upon the old place near Harrison, in a cabin where his father was then residing, November 8, 1816. He had some schooling in the poor ''subscription ing labors of the farm and workshop would allow, and in due time learned his father's trade, beginning to help in a small way when he was but nine years of age. He did not take kindly to the business, as it was too confining, and he was strongly predisposed to farm life; so he did little at shoemaking after he was fifteen years of age. For about eight years he served as a farm hand at various places in Hamilton and Butler counties, by the month or year, and for the next two years worked Judge Anderson's farm in Butler county, ''on shares." Then for two years he similarly farmed the old place near Harrison, which had become the possession of his grandmother. Healso managed ita similar term for the purchasers of the farm after her death - Messrs. George Arnold and Peter Riffner. The latter was father of Martha R., who became the wife of Mr. Bonnell December 8, 1842. He was now residing on a rented farm on the other side of the Whitewater, in the edge of Indiana, where he remained a year and removed to the Frost

| farm, on Lee's creek, in the north part of the township. This he occupied, on five-year leases, for the period of fifteen years, and so successfully that he was enabled to purchase the one-hundred-and-fortyacre tract upon which he now lives, .in 1856, two years before his last lease expired. To this he removed at the expiration of his lease, and here he has since resided, adding one hundred and fourteen acres to his original purchase, and making a farm of such high excellence and reputation that the award of the premium offered in 1880, by the Hamilton County Agricultural society, for '' the best farm of forty or more acres, y ; in the general plan of buildings, fields, fences, and the skill shown in drainage and general cultivation of the several kinds of crops, in care of stock, implements, and tools, etc.,'" was made to Mr. Bonnell, after careful inspection of his place by a committee of the society. He has, among other improvements, as many as twenty-two and one-fourth miles of under-draining. In 1860 he built the fine residence in which he now lives, and which appears to advantage in our illustration of his premises. He has devoted himself to his business,« taking little interest in politics and holding no public offices. He has been for many years a member of the lodge of Odd Fellows of Harrison.

Mrs. Martha Riley Bonnell was the third daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Riffner, and was born February 11, 1815, at the old home near Harrison village. She is still surviving, in a hale and happy age. Their children have been:

Elizabeth Isabel, born September 23, 1843; married John S. Bowles, of Harrison township, December 22, 1866, a farmer, who went to South America in 1874 and is believed to be dead. She now resides with her parents.

Mr. James Campbell

James Campbell, inventor of the Campbell Improved corn and seed drill, and sole manufacturer of the same at his Pioneer Drill works in Harrison village, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1817. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, on his father's side descended from the famous Clan Campbell, and on his mother's side a Harper. His maternal grand-parents were Alexander and Nancy (Adams) Harper. The Harpers came from Ireland to America in 1794, bringing six children - William, Alexander, James, Mary, Margaret, and Sidney. Margaret was born in Donegal, Ireland, October 31, 1787, and was married in 1806 to Andrew Campbell, of Scotch blood, but a native of Londonderry, born July 18, 1774, who had come to this country in 1801. His mother was a Stewart, and he had three sisters, also a brother, John, who was a soldier in the Scotch Greys in the battle of Waterloo, and was killed there. The children of Margaret and Andrew Campbell were John, Mary, William, Alexandria, James, Martha, George, Charles, Andrew Jackson, and one who died in infancy - all born in Chester county, Pennsylvania. Alexander came to the west in 1836, and settled in Harrison as a wagon-maker. His brothers William and James followed him thither two years later. They were both blacksmiths, and opened a shop for the prosecution of their business. They were inventive and enterprising, and manufactured a number of implements then new in the country, as cultivators and double-shovel plows. Before that corn had been cultivated in that region simply with

- harrows, single-shovel plows, and three-hoe flukes. They also introduced a paent spring for wagons, which took the place of the wooden affairs used on the ''Dearborn wagons." In 1841 or 1842 Alexander made two corn drills, which failed to do the work, and in 1849 the brothers bought the right of the '' Dickey drill" and began manufacturing them. It hada roller which ran over the corn after it was dropped, and if the ground was wet it packed the earth on the corn, making a crust and preventing the corn from growing. In 1859 they invented a corn drill, placing the drive-wheel in front and covering the corn with shears. It failed, however, in the dropping and driving arrangements.

Up to this time James assisted his brother, but the latter becoming discouraged, James then took it into his own hands, aud invented two other drills, which also failed. In 1863 he invented one on the princiciple according to which he is now manufacturing, which is in general use throughout the south and west. In 1877 he added'some improvements for dropping cotton as well as corn and other small seeds, and also made it a fertilizing drill, He adopts for his implement the name "Pioneer drill," because it was the first successful one of the kind, and is still in advance of all others. Over seventy-five thousand are now in use in different parts of America and Europe. One of his nephews, James A. Campbell, was formerly associated with him in business, but recently retired, and Mr. Campbell conducts it alone. He has been successful from the time of his humble beginnings in Harrison, reaping the rewards of industry, intelligence, and enterprise, and has added largely to his facilities for manufacturing. His blacksmith-shop occupies one building, the machine-shop another, and still another is used for the putting together and shipping of the drills. His manufactory, at the corner of Sycamore and Walnut streets, is just opposite the spot where he began business in the village in 1839. Several times, however, he has suffered reverses, being once entirely burnt out, the last day of August, 1867. Since then his business has steadily increased, and he has now the largest manufactory of any kind in Harrison, on the Ohio side. For some years he was a Free and Accepted Mason, but has not for some time given much attention to the order. With nearly all his family, he is a member of the Christian or Disciple church. He is a Republican in political faith, having been opposed to slavery ex tension ever since the Cass, Van Buren, and Taylor campaign, when he voted for the Kinderhook statesman on the Free Soil ticket, and voted steadily with that party until Republicanism was organized.

Mrs. Maria (Matsenbaugh) Campbell is of Pennsylvania German stock, daughter of Samuel and Rachel Matsenbaugh. Her father, as well as Andrew Campbell, of her husband's family, was a volunteer of the War of 1812. Her parents moved from Pennsylvania to New Lisbon, Columbiana county, at an early day, and thence to Harrison shortly before her marriage. Her father, born August 9, 1794, in Virginia, died here December 24, 1850; her mother, born in Maryland March 1, 1799, also died here July 14, 1868. Maria remained at home with her parents until her marriage with Mr. Campbell, June 17, 1849, since which time her history has been identified with tbat of her husband. she is likewise a member of the Christian church in Harrison, and faithfully discharges her various duties as wife and mother, and in all other relations of life.

Hattie Belle, bora March 7, 1853; married July 26, 1874, to George F. Orr; residing in Harrison, Mr. Orr being an assistant of his father-inlaw. d

The village has had a quite satisfactory growth, considering that it has no special advantages of position. In 1830 it had but one hundred and seventy-three inhabitants. In 1850, under the stimulus of the Whitewater canal and the general growth of the country, its population had advanced to nine hundred and forty; in 1860, to one thousand three hundred and forty-three; and in" 1870, to one thousand four hundred and seventeen, of course all in Hamilton county. Last year (1880) the census found one thousand five hundred and fifty inhabitants within its limits, on the Ohio side.

Mr. William F. Converse was the first mayor of the village. Among other mayors have been Benjamin Bookwalter, 1866-8; and A. E. West, 1873-4.

institute. The expense of its erection and equipment was borne mainly by Mr. George Oyler, whose son, G. W. Oyler, then a recent graduate of the Farmers' college, at College Hill, was its first principal, and has since become a well-known teacher in the county.

In 1872 the Jackson Building and Loan association, for operations at Harrison, was organized, its certificate of incorporation being filed with the secretary of State, June 4th of that year.

The Census

The census in 1870 gave Harrison township two thousand one hundred and seventy-five people; in 1880, two thousand two hundred and seventy-seven.

Source changes here: from History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio, by Various, published 1894; 18 words in this source stream.

Harrison Township

Erection and Boundaries - Founding, Growth, Business and Industrial Interests, and Municipal Government of Harrison - Churches.............00++.0..- sUeielele fer sutes eee 411-415