Springfield Township (part 2 of 2)

Elijah Hills came to Cincinnati in 1818. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and emigrated from that State to Ohio. While living in the former State he followed the tailor's trade. After coming to Ohio he was a farmer. His death occurred in 1848. His wife, Rebecca Hills, died the year previous. The surviving members of his family are Townsend, Rebecca Maine, Martha Sprong, Susan, and Alfred, the eldest son, who was born in 1805, in the State of Connecticut. He came to Ohio with his parents, and at the age of thirty he married Ellen McCash, the daughter of an early settler. Three sons were born to them - Townsend, Alfred, and Charles, who died in infancy. Mr. Hills has gained sufficient property to make his old age comfortable, and he and his aged wife can now fully enjoy their pleasant home, and cheerful surroundings.

Joshua Yerkes was born in Virginia and came from that State to Ohio, where he settled in Springfield township in the year 1819. All through his life he followed the business of farming, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He died in Indiana in his hundredth year. His wife, Margaret Yerkes, died in her eighty-seventh year. The surviving members of the fainily are John H., Rachel Reed, Mary Griffith, Margaret Jolly, and Joshua, the second son and subject of this sketch. He was born in Virginia, in the year 181 2, and came with his parents to Hamilton county when but a lad of seven summers. He left the parental roof at the age of fourteen; was twice married, first to Miss Eliza McGillard, daughter of an early pioneer. To Mr. and Mrs. Yerkes was born an only son, Howard, who resides in Iowa and has a wife and two children. Mr. Yerkes lost his companion after four years of married life. Mr. Yerkes married for his second wife Miss Elizabeth Brown, who was also of quite an early and prominent family, of whom an extended account will be found elsewhere. To this second marriage were born six children - four sons and two daughters - Susan, Alfred, Elizabeth, Hiram, Martin, and Edward - all living.

Benjamin Sterritt was born in the State of Pennsylvania, Franklin county, in 1801, and came to Cincinnati in the year 1820. His business career has been entirely devoted to the mercantile trade in Cincinnati. He has been twice married; first to Jane B. Keys. His second wife was Abigail C. McCoy. Both are dead, and our subject is now living a retired life in a pleasant home in Glendale.

Elias Compton was born in New Jersey, and emigrated to Ohio in the year 1820. His settlement was made in Springfield township. He followed shoemaking, and afterward farming. His wife, Bacheba Hill, died in 1832; the husband lived till 1866. The children are Joseph, Azariah, Wilson, Mary Ann, Phoebe, and Charles. The last-named was born in 1827, and remained at home until his marriage in 1863, to Miss Margaret Boggs. They had one child only - Ella M. In 187 1 his wife died, and he again married in 1873. The second wife was Martha N. Hurst, who has become the mother of a son, Clarence M. The family are now living on the old homestead of the Comptons. They are all connected with the Presbyterian church. His father ai^d mother are buried in the Springfield cemetery.

Archibald Brown was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, January 22, 1776. In the year 1825 he emigrated to America, and settled in Cincinnati, but subsequently moved into Mill Creek township, where he died May 22, 1858. His aged wife, Ellen Brown, survived him less than a year, dying January 6, 1859. She was born on the twentieth of May, 1779. His business was that of fanning. The children were William, Archibald, Isabelle Adams, and Matthew, the youngest son and subject of the following sketch. Matthew Brown was born in Scotland in the year 182 1, and four years later came with the family to Hamilton county. He reinained with his parents till the time of his marriage to Miss Martha Brown in the year 1847. Nine children have been born to them, eight of whom are now living. Mr. Brown is one of the substantial and enterprising farmers of his region, and a citizen respected and esteemed. He and his wife are both earnest members of the Presbyterian church, and are staunch supporters of the faith they profess. By dint of hard labor and careful management, he has acquired a comfortable property. He is now surrounded by almost every comfort that a gracious heaven can confer, and as he and his estimable lady pass along life's journey, they can look back without regret upon a well-spent life. Grandfather and grandmother Brown He buried side by side in Spring Grove cemetery.

Thomas Weston settled in Springfield township in in 1827. He was born in 1769, in Townsend, Massachusetts, and died in 1836, at his home in this township.

He was a farmer and shoemaker, and in the winter was sometimes a miller. Mercy, his wife, was born in 1776, and died in 1829. The surviving children are: Maria Adams, who lives at Mount Pleasant; Phoebe, who lives in Missouri; and Silas, the only present male representative of the family. He was born in Massachesetts in the year 181 2, and came with his parents to Hamilton county.

John Adams, the eldest son of John and Asenath Adams, was born in the State of Massachusetts in the year 1805. He assisted his father in cultivating the farm and in the manufacture of barrels, up to the year 1827, when he married and immediately after came to Hamilton county. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born two daughters - Mary Ann and Harriet D. His pursuit since coming to Ohio has been that of a cooper and farmer. In the year 1855 he lost his companion. He was married again, in the year 1856, to Miss Maria Weston. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are active members of the Universalist church, and have ever been staunch supporters of the faith they profess. He has retired from business, and he and his family live at ease in a comfortable Httle home in Mount Pleasant.

Joseph B. Hall, the eldest son of John and Sarah Hall, was born in this township - February 16, 1828. He resided with his parents until the time of his marriage to Miss Catharine Ayers, daughter of a prominent early family. Mr. and Mrs. Hall had eight children: Caroline, Mary E., Mary Elizabeth, William B., James A., George W., Thomas J., Flora May, and Mary Ellen (deceased). Hard labor and excellent management have accumulated quite a handsome property. Himself and wife are both members of the Presbyterian church at Springdale, and have ever been strong believers, and supporters also, of the faith they professed.

John Hall, the second son of John and Christiana Hall, was born in Springfield township, Hamilton county, in 1829. His occupation has always been that of a farmer. In the year 1877 he was married to Miss Clara Riddle, daughter of a quite early and prominent pioneer family. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall was born an only son, John Henderson. Mr. Hall is enterprising and prosperous. His wife is an active member of the Presbyterian church, and is one of its earnest supporters; he is not connected with any church organization, but always favors the right, and firmly advocates law and order.

William Herbert may not be classed among Hamilton county's pioneers, yet he deserves a place in its history. He was born in Northamptonshire, England, in the year 1806. At the age of fourteen he began an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade. His time expiring when he had attained his majority, in the year 1829 he married Mary Page, whose maiden name was Matthews. They had three children, one son and two daughters: Elizabeth, Mary Ann, and William, of whom only Elizabeth remains. He is one of the first farmers of the township. He followed the occupation of tailor for a period of seven years in Cincinnati. He has quite a comfortable home in Springfield township, where he resides, leading a quiet life. He lost his companion in the year 1872. Both he

Augustus Isham was born in the year 1801, in the town of Colchester, Connecticut, and comes of quite a prominent family. His life has been taken up in various pursuits, but principally that of the mercantile business. He married, in the year 1822, Miss Eliza Bryce. To Mr. and Mrs. Isham were born six children, five of whom are living, one son and four daughters. He lost his companion in the year 1859. He now resides in Glendale, has laid aside business, and lives a quiet and retired life.

Mr. Alexander Brown may not be identified with the earliest pioneers of Hamilton county, yet he is nevertheless a character whose name deserves a place on the pages of history. He was born in Scotland on June 3, 1809. He married, in the year 1834, Miss Margaret Brown. They have had six children, one son and five daughters - Elizabeth R., Margaret, Elizabeth Jane, Jeannette, and William. Elizabeth R., Margaret, and Jane, are dead. Mr. Brown is one of the most enterprising farmers of his township, his home and surroundings denoting more than ordinary thrift. He and his family are earnest members of the Presbyterian church. Our subject is a member of the county board of control, and has occupied nearly every position of honor that the citizens of his township could give, thus bespeaking for him the full confidence of his people. Mr. Brown is surrounded by almost every comfort necessary to his wants.

Mr. James Lovett may not be classed among the earliest pioneers, yet he is a character whose name richly deserves a place in history. He was born in England January 13, 18 13. He, with his parents, came to America and first made settlement in the State of New Jersey. Here the family remained for about five years, when, hearing of Ohio's fine climate and fertile soil, they started for the land of promise. His father's first purchase was the farm now owned and occupied by him. Here the parents resided until the time of their decease, both living beyond four-score years. Mr. Lovett married, in the fall of 1851, Miss Sophia McLean, daughter of an early settler. Two children were born to them - Amanda, who died April 6, 1878, and Robert. Our subject lost his companion in 1875. He is now an old gentleman, living a quiet and retired life on the old Lovett homestead. His only son, Robert, resides with him, looking after his interests and superintending the farm. Robert married Miss Julia Riddle, of whose family will be found an account on another page. To him has been Dorn one child, James R., a bright lad of two summers. Grandfather and grandmother Lovell are both dead, and lie buried side by side in the Hamilton cemetery.

Andrew L Sorter, second son of Hezekiah and Sarah Sorter, was born in Springfield township in the year 1830. He was married in 1852 to Miss Harriet Huffman. To them were born six children - Sarah Ann, William P., Laura, Mary, Ida, and Douglas. Sarah Ann is dead. Mr. Sorter is one of the substantial farmers of his township, and a gentleman respected and esteemed by all.

Philip Dorn, the eldest son of Philip and Catharine Dorn, was born in Germany in the year 1809. He came with his parents to Maryland. The family removed to Pennsylvania in 1819 or 1820, where the parents resided until the time of their decease. The son came to Hamilton county in the fall of 1831. He was a blacksmith by trade, with which business he afterward associated the manufactory of carriages and wagons. He was twice married, first to Miss Catharine Lowe, by whom he had nine children, six sons and three daughter - Alexander, John, William, Gilbert, Frank, Martha, Ruth, Ellen, and Louisa, and one son who died in infancy. Louisa, William, and John are dead. Mr. Dorn lost his companion about the year 1852. He was afterward married to Miss Susannah Aldman, and there were added to the family five children, three sons and two daughters - Albert, Mary, Julia, John, and Philip, all now living. For almost half a century Mr. Dorn has been one of the prominent business men of the county. He began at the bottom of the ladder, but by hard labor and wise economy he has climbed upward, and to-day ranks among the most prosperous of his community. While he is not associated with any church he is interested in public improvement, and is an earnest advocate of the right. His wife is an active member of the United Brethren church. Although past his three-score and ten years, he is yet in the manufacturing business, and successfully superintends all his affairs.

David H. Gillespie was second son of John W. and Catharine (Reese) Gillespie. The father is still living near Cumminsvilie in his seventy-ninth year, and still hale and hearty. He was a son of Robert Gillespie, who settled very early in Butler county. John came to Springfield in 1847, and settled upon a farm near Lockland. He had ten children among whom was David, who was born at Seven-mile village, north of Hamilton, July 30, 1 83 1. He came with his family to Lochland, in and about which he has since resided with brief intervals. He now resides in the village, and has a saloon near the Hamilton & Dayton depot. He was married to Miss Mary E. Turner in December, 1853, and has four children - Sarah, Abbeville, married to John Grismere of Lockland; Charles, William, and Alverda, all at home with their parents.

Henry Moser, one of the prominent merchants of Mount Pleasant, was born in Switzerland in 1837. He came to America in 1849, and began in the mercantile business in Mount Pleasant in the year 1867. He erected a large and commodious brick building, in which his business is now conducted. He married, in 1861, Miss Sarah E. Rogers, who has five children, two sons and three daughters. Both are faithful members of the Christian church, and excellent supporters of the faith they profess. Mr. Moser was a soldier in the late civil war.

Mr. J. H. Story was a native of New Hampshire, from which place he came to Ohio, with his parents, and afterward became a resident of Cincinnati. He was born in the year 1810, was the eldest son of John Story and Sally Hoyt, who settled on their coming in Athens, now

Meigs, county. In 1832 he began the lumber trade, which he industriously pursued for forty years. In 1836 he married Miss Hannah Smart, and to them were born five sons: James, Joseph, John, Charles, and William. In the year 1872 he moved to Springfield township and purchased a tract of land containing two hundred acres, known as the old "Joe Cooper farm." His surroundings denote more than ordinary thrift. He has had a life full of activity and prosperity. He has never joined any church but his wife is a member of the Baptist church. His father died at the age of seventy-seven. His mother also lived to an advanced age, and the aged couple lie buried near the old home in Meigs county.

Glen Dale

This beautiful suburban village is situated on parts of sections five, six, eleven and twelve, in the northeast part of the township, close to the east line and a little over a mile and a half from the county line. The Hamilton, Springfield and Carthage turnpike skirts its western border; the Princetown and Sharon turnpikes, as also the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad intersect it, and the Miami canal passes a mile to the eastward.

The site of Glendale was originally a series of fine cultivated farms, belonging to Edmund R. Glenn, John M. Cochran, John Riddle, Robert Watson and others. In 185 1 a number of wealthy Cincinnatians, desiring to build suburban homes, made an inspection of the country between Hamilton and the city, and lighted upon this spot as the most promising and eligible for their purposes. Among them were the Hons. S. S. L'Hommedieu and John C. Wright, Messrs. Jacob Strader, R. B. Bowler and others, constituting a joint stock company of thirty, called the Glendale association. They purchased five hundred and sixty-five acres from the several owners, had two hundred acres at first surveyed m lots of one acre to twenty acres each, selected their own building sites, and then offered the remainder at public sale upon condition that purchasers should become actual residents of the jilace, at least for the summer, and that none but good dwellings should be erected. It was understood, on the part of the company, that all receipts above original cost of land and expenses should be devoted to public improvement - as parks, an artificial lake and the like. The lake was made with comparative ease, by constructing a dam three hundred feet long just below some springs, whereby a beautiful sheet of water covering four acres and having a depth in places of seventeen feet, was created. An hotel was presently erected for summer boarders, but its early patronage did not equal expectations, and it was sold to the Junction railroad company by whom it was conveyed to the Rev. John Covert, who founded therein the American Female college. Three pretty little parks were laid off and improved in different parts of the village. A neat public school building, a one-story brick with four rooms, was put up in due time. The avenues were staked off in beautiful and symmetrical curves, and are generally sixty feet in width. Sharon avenue, upon which the road to Sharon, in Sycamore township, passes straight through

George W. Walker

Whichever way the stranger takes, he is constantly impressed with the thought that he has made a mistal<e ; and whatever point he attains is certain to be one unlool<ed for. This is the more embarrassing to the visitor, who asks in vain for the names of avenues that appear neither upon guideboards, or at Avondale. nor in the minds of the inhabitants, who feel no necessity of troubling themselves cencerning the mazes of thoroughfares with which time has made them thoroughly familiar. A better acquaintance, however, removes the annoyance, and a score of visits demonstrate quite clearly how study unravels the most intricate ways.

Several additions have been made to the village plat since it was first laid out, and the Glendale Building and Loan association was incorporated October 5, 187 1.

Glendale had six hundred and ninety inhabitants in i860; one thousand seven hundred and eighty in 1870; and one thousand four hundred and thi^e in 1880. The village was incorporated in 1855, and has had among its mayors the Hon. Stanley Matthews, 1 867-8; R. M. Shoemaker, 1869; Samuel T. Crawford, 1870-73; Captain T. J. Haldeman, 1B74.

The place was visited with an extensive fire on the afternoon of Friday, May 14, 1880, during the prevalence of a brisk breeze, which spread the flames rapidly. No fire-engine was at hand, but assistance sent from Hamilton and Cincinnati finally quelled the conflagtation. The loss was about thirty thousand dollars. A further loss of twenty-five thousand dollars was experienced by a fire August 17, 1880.

The village was laid out in 1852. Among the first to settle there this year and the next, were Messrs. Robert and Henry Clarke, Mr. Glenn, Benjamin Stenell, Fenton Lawson, and Robert Crawford. Not long after them came Hon. Stanley Matthews, Anthony Harkness, esq., Elliott, and others; and in later years it has been the home of the Hon. Warner M. Bateman, Judge J. Cilley, Florien Grauque, and many other well-known Cincinnatians.

The chief public institution of Glendale, is the Female college. This, as before stated, occupies the original hotel building in the place. The following paragraphs of its history are extracted from an address by its president, the Rev. Dr. Potter, at the quarter century reunion, June 12, 1879.

This institution was founded by Rev. John Covert, A. M. , in September, 1854, and named by him " The American Female College, " Mr, Covert and his accomplished lady, Mrs. Covert, who received her education at two of the institutions of eastern New York, had been connected with an institution in that State, subsequently founded a seminary in Ohio, near Columbus, and still later founded and conducted the Ohio Female college, at College Hill. In April, 1856, he transferred this institution to Rev. J. G. Monfort, D. D., Rev. S. S. Potter, and Rev. L. D. Potter, who assumed the possession and management on the lifteenth of May, five weeks before the close of the second collegiate year. We changed the name next year to "Glendale Female College." All of the party just named and their wives had had considerable experience as practical teachers. Your speaker, though the youngest of the three, had had, however, a long experience, having been connected, in some capacity, for ten years, with some interruptions, as scholar, teacher, or principal in boarding institutions, similar in character to this. Madame C. Rivi^ and her si>ter, now Mrs. Kitchell, were already here, having come with Mr. Covert from CoMege Hill. Mrs. McFerson, our lady principal for five years, and who is with us to-day, having given up her seminary in Bloomington, Indiana, joined us in September following. During the latter part of the summer vacation of 1856 a fire occurred, cause unknown, which destroyed the chapel, a music building with its contents, and other structures of lesser importance. The work of reconstructing the chapel, and of the addition of a better music building attached to the main building, was immediately commenced. The session was opened, however, at the time appointed, and continued until the new buildings were finished, though with many inconveniences on account of room, as many of the old scholars present remember. Rev. S. S. Potter left us in i860, and Mrs. McFerson in 1861. Rev. J. G. Wilson, now United States Consul at Jerusalem, became connected with us in i86t, but left in 1862. Dr. Monfort left in 1865, after a successful administration as president for nine years, at the end of which time the college seemed to have become settled upon a secure and permanent basis. The steam-heating apaiatus, quite a novelty at the time, was introduced in the summer of 1856, and various improvements to the grounds and buildings have since been added from year to year. The number of scholars has been tolerably uniform from the beginning, with three exceptions - i. During the first years, when our public school was small and ungraded, the number of day scholars was much larger than it has been since ; 2. During the first two years of the war our numbers were greatly diminished ; and, 3. From 1871 to 1875, after the late financial crisis commenced, we were crowded almost beyond what our accommodations would warrant.

When the college was opened there was no church building in the place, and the Presbyterian church was organized in this chapel in 1855. The citizens generally, without respect to denominational preferences, worshipped with us in this house for the first six years - the worship being conducted by ministerial members of the faculty. The Presbyterian, Catholic, New Jerusalem, and Episcopal churches were subsequently erected in the order named.

So far as I am aware, we were the first institution, east or west, to adopt the regular classification and a fourfold division of studies, in the form and under the designation historically known as applied to colleges for males - freshman , sophomore, junior, and senior. We have been followed by many others, so that now it has become common. Of the two hundred and one, exclusive of those who graduated yesterday, only eleven, in these twenty-five years, have been called into the eternal world. All of them, we have reason to believe, died in the triumph of faith, and several of them were uncommonly bright examples of Chris-* tiau piety and character. Of those who remain, I have recorded seventy-four as having been especially commended to us for taking a leading part and prominent positions in the churches and the higher walks of society in the places where their lot has been cast; seventy-three have been teachers for a longer or shorter period; thirteen have distinguished themselves as authors and writers; seven have married professors in our higher institutions, and forty-six have married gentlemen in one of the learned professions. Several of these husbands {no doubt owing largely to the influence of their wives, as is usually the case) have risen to eminence in the army, in their professions, and in other positions; one a justice in the United States supreme court, one a United States minister to one of the foreign missions of the first class, others in the councils of the States or of the United States, and others in places of influence in the churches. Two are members of the present Congress of the United States. Two old scholars are foreign missionaries. Should this institution live for another quarter century, when more than half of the alumnse may have reached the prime of life, we may hope for a still brighter record, for we must remember that comparatively few of our number have as yet passed beyond the period of early life.

The last catalogue of the institution at hand - that for 1879-80 - exhibits a total attendance of eighty-three: Resident graduates, two; seniors, seven; juniors, twentytwo; sophomores, eleven; freshmen, twenty-six; preparatory, six; in ornamental studies only, nine. Twenty-five were from Ohio, twenty-three from Indiana, three each from Pennsylvania and Kentucky, and one each from Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Kansas, Indian Territory, New Mexico, and Russia. There were also twentyone Ohio day scholars.

The Rev. Ludlow D. Potter, D. D., president of this institution, is a native of New Providence, Union county, New Jersey, born in 1823, upon a farm which now constitutes the site of the village of Summit. He is re- lated by blood to the Ludlow family, of which Colonel Israel Ludlow, one of the founders of Cincinnati, and was from another of them originally named Benjamin Ludlow Day Potter, his parents dropping the first name, however, when he was baptized. He prepared for college at a boarding school in Mendham, and entered as a sophomore at Princeton college in 1838, graduating honorably in 1 84 1. During the next two years he taught languages and mathematics at a classical school in Plainfield, conducted by E. Fairchild, A. M. In the fall of 1843 he entered the Union Theological seminary, in New York city, but the next year transferred his student, ship to Princeton, where he was graduated as a theologue in the spring of 1846. Again during the next academic year he taught a classical school in Pennington, New Jersey, and then in the fall of 1847 he set his face westward, and became pastor of the Presbyterian church in Brookville, Indiana, where he remained about five years. He had been licensed as a Presbyterian minister in New Jersey in 1846, and was here ordained the second year thereafter. He was in 1853 elected principal of the Whitewater Presbyterian academy, and held the post for three years, when he removed to Glendale, and became associated, as above stated, with the Revs. Dr. J. G. Montort and S. S. Potter, in the management and instruction of the female college. He was here head of the department of instruction; and in 1865, Dr. Monfort having resigned the presidency, he succeeded to that position, and has since remained president of the institution. Education is thus seen, in the length and prominence of "his connection with it, to be his field of usefulness and honor, rather than the pulpit, although he has in the latter done reputable service, both as pastor aforesaid and as occasional preacher to congregations in Hamilton county and elsewhere. His academic honors have also approved his career, he having been made a master of arts by Princeton college in 1844, and a doctor of divinity by Hanover (Indiana) college in 1872.

Another excellent institution of Glendale for years was the Circulating book club, whose object is sufficiently indicated in the title. The organization was changed in the winter of 1880-1 to the Library Association of Glendale, upon the plan of the Young Men's Mercantile Library Association in Cincinnati, but without a leading room for the present. The officers are as follows: Pres.- ident, Rev. W. H. Babbitt; vice-president, J. B. C. Morres; secretary and treasurer, H. L. Keys; and a board of six directors. The library is kept in a room of Bruce's new building.

The First Presbyterian church (Old School when formed) is the oldest religious society in Glendale. It was organized November 29, 1855, with the Rev. H. A. Tracy as pastor. An unique, Swiss-like church edifice was erected for it in i860, which has, within a few years, been displaced by a new and finer building.

The Catholic church is strong in Glendale. Saint Gabriel's was organized in 1858, and at once erected a brick building upon a lot given the society by Messrs. Gross and Dietrick, which has since been steadily occupied. It cost about two thousand dollars. The church is under the pa:storal care of the Rev. Father James O'Donnell. It has a parochial school of four departments, and about two hundred and fifty pupils, kept in the rear of the church by the the Sisters of Charity. It is free to all children, and the citizens of Glendale in 1868 contributed one thousand and three hundred dollars to make valuable additions to its facilities. The Sodality of the Living Rosary is a society attached to this church.

Christ Episcopal church was organized August 6, 1865, under the auspices of the Rev. J. B. Pratt. Services were held in the school-house and in private houses until about 1867, when a chapel was erected by the society on Sharon avenue, and subsequently the fine building now occupi^ at the top of the hill just south of the avenue. Its cost was twenty thousand dollars, and it was first occupied May 30, 1869.

Rudolph Rhemboldt, of Springdale, formerly an enterprising business man of Cincinnati, was born in Baden, Germany, December 27, 1827, His father was a brewer and gave him a good education in this business, he having attended the colleges of Carlsruhe and Freiburg, Germany. In 181 8 he emigrated to America and began in the brewer's business as teamster for Kauffman, where he remained for three years. He made a visit to Europe but returned in 185 1 after a short stay, and went into the commission business on Fourth street, and soon after into the brewer's business again as one of the partners of Glass & Brauer. In 1854 he married a daughter of Mr. Kauffman, and in 1856 went into the firm of Erchenlaub & Kauffman, on Vine street, which business he conducted with success until 1877, when he retired from active life and settled on his farm.

William P. Bruce, of Glendale, Springfield township, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, December 7, 1832. When eighteen years of age he formed a partnership with a Mr. Chappell in the merchandise business, and later a Mr. Mclntyre was admitted, and the firm continued thus until 1865, when Mr. Bruce, in the firm of Chappell, Bruce & Mclntyre, came to Cincinnati and located at 44 West Fourth street, where they kept a wholesale dry goods store. In 1873 Mr. Bruce went into the real estate business at 73 West Third street, but in 1875 removed to Glendale, where he operated until 1876 with Mr. Mclntyre in the general merchandise trade, and since that time with his son, under the name of W. P. Bruce & Son. Mr. Bruce's grandfather came from Scotland and settled in Virginia, but removed to Kentucky, where his father (William P.'s), was born. The family of Bruces is a large one, and includes some of the oldest prominent citizens of that State. The grandfather was high sheriff of his county, and his numerous descendants are well and favorably known.

Major James N. Caldwell, of Carthage, was born in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, November 17, 181 7. His father, Samuel Caldwell, was a master builder in Philadelphia, from which place he moved to Cincinnati in 1794, and settled at North Bend. He afterwards kept a (Jry goods store in Cincinnati; but moved to Franklin in 1808, where he died in 1848. He was a prominent man, holding the offices of judge of the common pleas court, was a member of the legislature, also a State senator. J. N. Caldwell received a good, liberal education at the college of Hanover, Indiana. Was a cadet at the West Point academy from 1836 to 1840, graduating at that time and promoted to brevet second lieutenancy, and from there served in the Florida war - 1840 - as second lieutenant, and on frontier duty from 1841 to 1845; then in the recruiting service, one year after which he was placed at different posts in Texas, and promoted to the positions of first lieutenant and then to that of captain. In 1861 he entered the service as commander of the barracks at Key West, Florida, and was promoted to major of infantry February 27, 1862, his corps operating principally in Tennessee and Kentucky. December 31, 1862, for gallantry and meritorious services at Murfreesborough, Tennessee, was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonelcy. In 1863, on account of ill health and disability, he retired from the service, and was for one year - 1866-7 - member of the executive board of candidates for promotion in the army at Louisville, Kentucky. January i, 1866, per special order No. 198, A. G. O., he was detailed as professor of military science at Louisville, Kentucky, and at his own request relieved in 1869, since which time he has lived on his farm at Carthage.

Elijah Vancleve is as on of Asher, who came to Colerain township, Hamilton county, in 1802. He was a local preacher, a justice of the peace, and a highly respected and very public-spirited citizen of the county. He was killed by a runaway team in 1844. Elijah was born in 1832; and after some years of maturity had come upon him, he flat-boated from Cincinnati to New Orleans for about five years. He enlisted in the Mexican war, went south one time, but was discharged on account of sickness. In the late war he entered the service of company K in 1861, as second lieutenant in the Fifth Ohio cavalry, was promoted to the first lieutenancy, and mus- tered out as captain, December, 1864. His regiment formed part of the army of the Tennessee. When twenty years of age he learned the carpenters' trade and has followed the same business ever since. In 1862 he was married to Miss Adda Cummings, of New York. They are comfortably located in Glendale, and are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Vancleve is also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity of his place. John P. Decker, the able and efficient superintendent of the Cincinnati infirmary at Hartwell, was born in Mt. Auburn, July 28, 1841. His parents were of Germanic birth, the father being born near Strasburgh and his mother near Mentz. When nineteen years of age the father came to America and in 1853 died in Cincinnati. John was raised a farmer near Hartwell, and experienced the usual hardships common to orphans (his parents were both dead when he was thirteen years of age), beginning life empty-handed and without friends. But he was sturdy, honest, reliable, and in the main successful. In the beginning of the war he was in the South, and in order to escape joined the Confederate army, where he remained about twenty-four hours, and on making his way to St. Louis entered the army under General Fremont. He also served in the Red River expedition and afterwards was with Sherman in his raid to the sea. In 1865 he was mustered out and went to work as a farmer at the infirmary. In 1871 he held the position as captain of the guard under Ira Wood for five years at the workhouse* In 1876 he was appointed as lieutenant of the police force of the Twenty-fifth ward, and in 1877 as superintendent of the city infirmary. In 1878 he was legislated out by the O'Conor legislature, and until 1880 was United States store-keeper, appointed by Amor Smith, collector of the First district, at the end of which time he was reappointed to the position of superintendent of the infirmary. His amiable wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Cincinnati, matron of the infirmary, is a woman well fitted for the position she holds, having worked in and filled all the minor posts of the institution previous to her promotion. The infirmary now furnishes a home for five hundred and sixty persons.

George W. Bacon, grocer, of Glendale, Springfield township. He was initiated into his business as clerk for Aaron A. Colter & Co., Sixth and Race streets, Cincinnati, and afterwards for five years with Abner L. Frazier & Co., No. 44 Walnut street, in the same city. Thus, with eight years' experience in all, he came to Glendale and formed a partnership with McCormick, which was continued up to January, 1880, when Mr. Bacon began business for himself. He was born in Carthage, Ohio, in 1852; received a good common school education in his own village, and in the high schools of Cincinnati. He was married to Amanda M. Langdon, daughter of William Langdon, in October, 1879. Her parents were old settlers of the county.

Joseph Sampson, bricklayer and plasterer in Lockland, in which business and town he has been for the past twenty-two years. His father, James Sampson, was an old settler of the county, being eighty four years of age when he died in 1878. In 1854 Mr. Sampson was married to Miss Jane Dotey, of Carthage, at which place he lived a short time, but since then in Lockland where he has followed his business and in which he has been very successful. He is at present engaged in building a large cotton factory. One son, Albert, the oldest, is married and lives at Cleveland, and is a telegraph operator on the Short Line. His son John is in business with his father. Mr. Sampson is not only comfortably located in the town, but owns considerable property in the country.

Captain Charles Ross, of Carthage, Springfield township, the well known steamboat captain and pilot, was born in 1806 in Warren county, Pennsylvania, where his parents (Scotch descent) had removed from New Jersey in 1800. In 1 810 the family removed to Columbia, Hamihon county, and from there to Cincinnati in 1815. When twelve years of age he went to New Orleans, going on a barge down and walking part of the way back. After this he took several trips down and back in steamboats. In 1825 he commenced piloting steamboats to and from Cincinnati and New Orleans, and, when the river was too low, running keel-boats and flat-boats. Between the years 1825 and 1852 he commanded not less than thirty steamers of different classes, and during all that time never met with any serious accident. In Buchanan's administration he was appointed supervising inspector of steamboats, with headquarters at St. Louis. During the war he helped to get up regiments, and volunteered to help the Cincinnati surgeons to the fight at Fort Donelson, and brought back a boat-load of sick and wounded to Cincinnati. His boat plied between all the important places on the Mississippi and the Yazoo rivers, sometimes carrying troops, at other times bringing off sick and wounded. He did efficient service for Admiral Porter, and also transported Colonel Garfield's regiment from the Big Sandy to the south. He was at Lexington, Kentucky, during the Morgan raids, and was at the siege of Vicksburgh; at this place he had an operation performed on his hp, to remove an epithelia or lip cancer, cutting off the whole of the lower lip. It would take a volume to recount all the romantic incidents connected with the captain's history during the war; suffice it to say he performed gallant service until he resigned, June 11, 1864. He has travelled with many distinguished men, such as Andrew Jackson, General Scott, General McComb, General Harrison, General Samuel Houston, Colonel David Crockett, Colonel Thomas Benton, Zachary Taylor, Prentiss,' and a host of others. He has now two sons and three daughters grown up, twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His wife is dead.

Mary I. Brown, of Wyoming, was born in Cincinnati in 1830, and when twelve years of age her father, Anthony Ireland, moved to Springfield township, where she has lived ever since. Her father, Mr. Ireland, was born in New Jersey in 1778, and settled in Ohio at an early day. He was a boss carpenter, and left many monuments of his life work in Cincinnati and elsewhere to attest to the industry and honesty of the man. In 1822 he was married to Miss Phoebe Collins, who was born in 1800, and by her had four children. He died in Lock- land in 1862; she died in 1854. In 1862 Mis. Brown was married to Daniel Brown, whose father was an old settler of the township. Mr. Brown was through life an active, public-spirited citizen, and was one of the first to lay out and advance the interests of Wyoming. He died in 1877.

Nathan W. Hickox, of Glendale, came with his father from the battle-grounds of Wyoming in 1836 to Ohio, when but seventeen years of age. His father was a farmer, and was born near Litchfield, Connecticut, in 1793. In 1816 he married Miss Laura Waller, and in

1862 he died. Mr. Hickox, carpenter and builder, learned his trade in 1847, ^"^ followed the business in Cincinnati until 1852, since which time he has built many houses in the town in which he lives. Mr. Hickox has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for forty years, is one of the deacons, and is also superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He has been married twice, his last wife being Miss Ann Drake, of Butler county. He built himself a nice residence in 1869.

J. M. Miller was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1831, and was engaged while a boy on his father's farm, attending school through the winter. At the age of eighteen he commenced teaching, and while not thus engaged attended the academy in the village during the summer months. In the spring of 1856 he removed with his family to Illinois, and while there he taught a short time; then removed to Lawrenceburgh, Indiana, where he taught eight years. In the spring of

1863 he became principal of the Camp Washington school, now the twenty-fourth district; and after four years of successful teaching, he left for a more lucrative position at Lockwood, Ohio, where he has been engaged ever since, with the exception of four years that he taught at Carthage. In 1874 he was appointed one of the examiners of the county, which position he has held for seven years.

Source changes here: from 1789 History of Hamilton County Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, by Henry A. Ford and Kate B. Ford, published 1881; 2,041 words in this source stream.

Springfield Township

Rudolph Rhemboldt, of Springdale, formerly an enterprising business man of Cincinnati, was born in Baden, Germany, December 27, 1827, His father was a brewer and gave him a good education in this business, he haying attended the colleges of Carlsruhe and Freiburg, Germany. In 1818 he emigrated to America and began in the brewer's business as teamster for Kauffman, where he remained for three years. He made a visit to Europe but returned in 1851 after a short stay, and went into the commission business on Fourth street, and soon after into the brewer's business again as one of the partners of Glass & Brauer. In 1854 he married a daughter of Mr. Kauffman, and in 1856 went into the firm of Erchenlaub & Kauffman, on Vine street, which business he conducted with success until 1877, when he retired from active life and settled on his farm.

William P. Bruce, of Glendale, Springfield township, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, December 7, 1832. When eighteen years of age he formed a partnership with a Mr. Chappell in the merchandise business, and later a Mr. McIntyre was admitted, and the firm located at 44 West Fourth street, where they kept a wholesale dry goods store. In 1873 Mr. Bruce went into the real estate business at 73 West Third street, but in 1875 removed to Glendale, where he operated until 1876 with Mr. McIntyre in the general merchandise trade, and since that time with his son, under the name of W. P. Bruce & Son. Mr. Bruce's grandfather came from Scotland and settled in Virginia, but removed to Kentucky, where his father (William P.'s), was born. The family of Bruces is a large one, and"includes some of the oldest prominent citizens of that State. The grandfather was high sheriff of his county, and his'numerous descendants are well and favorably known. Major James N. Caldwell, of Carthage, was born in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, November 17, 1817. His father, Samuel Caldwell, was a master builder in Philadelphia, from which place he moved to Cincinnati in 1794, and settled at North Bend. He afterwards kept a dry goods store in Cincinnati; but moved to Franklin in 1808, where he died in 1848. He was a prominent man, holding the offices of judge of the common pleas court, was a member of the legislature. also a State senator. J. N. Caldwell received a good, liberal education at the college of Hanover, Indiana. Was a cadet at the West Point academy from 1836 to 1840, graduating at that time and promoted to brevet second lieutenancy, and from there served in the Florida war - 184o - as second lieutenant, and on frontier duty from 1841 to 1845; then in the recruiting service, one year after which he was placed at different posts in Texas, and promoted to the positions of first lieutenant and then to that of captain. In 1861 he entered the service as commander of the barracks at Key West, Florida, and was promoted to major of infantry February 27, 1862, his corps operating principally in Tennessee and Kentucky, December 31, 1862, for gallantry and meritori-

_ ous services at Murfreesborough, Tennessee, was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonelcy. In 1863, on account of ill health and disability, he retired from the service, and was for one year - r1866 - 7 - member of the executive board of candidates for promotion in the army at Louisville, Kentucky. January 1, 1866, per special order No. 198, A. G. O., he was detailed as professor of military science at Louisville, Kentucky, and at his own request relieved in 1869, since which time he has lived on his farm at Carthage.

Elijah Vancleve is as on of Asher, who came to Colerain township, Hamilton county, in 1802. He was a local preacher, a justice of the peace, and a highly respected and very public-spirited citizen of the county. He was killed by a runaway team in 1844. Elijah was born in 1832; and after some years of maturity had come upon him, he flat-boated from Cincinnati to New Orleans for about five years. He enlisted in the Mexican war, went south one time, but was discharged on account of sickness. In the late war he entered the service of company K in 1861, as second lieutenant in the Fifth Ohio cavalry, was promoted to the first lieutenancy, and musas tered out as captain, December, 1864. His regiment formed part of the army of the Tennessee. When twenty years of age he learned the carpenters' trade and has followed the same business ever since. In 1862 he was married to Miss Adda Cummings, of New York.

John P. Decker, the able and efficient superintendent of the Cincinnati infirmary at Hartwell, was born in Mt. Auburn, July 23, 1841. His parents were of Germanic birth, the father being born near Strasburgh and his mother near Mentz. When nineteen years of age the father came to America and in 1853 died in Cincinnati. John was raised a farmer near Hartwell, and experienced the usual hardships common to orphans (his parents ginning life empty-handed and without friends. was sturdy, honest, reliable, and in the main successful. In the beginning of the war he was in the South, and in order to escape joined the Confederate army, where he remained about twenty-four hours, and on making his way | to St. Lowis entered the army under General Fremont. | He also served in the Red River expedition and after- | house. In 1876 he was appointed as lieutenant of the police force of the Twenty-fifth ward, and in 1877 as superintendent of the city infirmary. In 1878 he was legislated out by the O'Conor legislature, and until 1880 was United States storekeeper, appointed by Amor | Smith, collector of the First district, at the end of which | | field's regiment from the Big Sandy to the south, He time he was reappointed to the position of superintendent of the infirmary. His amiable wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Cincinnati, matron of the infirmary, is 2 wornan well fitted for the position she holds, having worked in and filled all the minor posts of the institution previous to her promotion. The infirmary now furnishes a home for five hundred and sixty persons.

Aaron A. Colter & Co., Sixth and Race streets, Cincinnati, and afterwards for five years with Abner L, Frazier & Co, No. 44 Walnut street, in the same city. Thus, with eight year' experience in all, he came to Glendale and formed a partnership with McCormick, which was continued up to January, 1440, when Mr. Bacon began business for himself. He was born in Carthage, Ohio, in 1252; received a good common school education in his own village, and in the high schools of Cincinnati. He was married to Amanda M. Langdon, daughter of William Langdon, in October, 1479. Her parents were old settlers of the county,

Joveph Sampuon, bricklayer and plasterer in Lockland, in which business and town he has been for the past twenty1wo years. His father, James Sampoon, was an old settler of the county, being eighty four years of age when he died in 1474. In 1454 Mr. Sarapson was mar- has followed his business and in which he has been very successful. He is at present engaged in building a large cotton factory. One son, Albert, the oldest, is married and lives at Cleveland, and is a telegraph operator on the Short Line. His son John is in business with his father. Mr. Sampson is not only comfortably located in the town, but owns considerable property in the country. Captain Charles Ross, of Carthage, Springfield township, the well known steamboat captain and pilot, was born in 1806 in Warren county, Pennsylvania, where his parents (Scotch descent) had removed from New Jersey in 1800. In 1810 the family removed to Columbia, Hamilton county, and from there to Cincinnati in 1815, When twelve years of age he went to New Orleans, going on a barge down and walking part of the way back. After this he took several trips down and back in steam- In 1825 he commenced piloting steamboats to and from Cincinnati and New Orleans, and, when the river was too low, running keel-boats and. flat-boats. Between the years 1825 and 1852 he commanded not less than thirty steamers of different classes, and during all that time never met with any serious accident. In Buchanan's administration he was appointed supervising inspector of steamboats, with headquarters at St. Louis, During the war he helped to get up regiments, and volunteered to help the Cincinnati surgeons to the fight at Kort Donelson, and brought back a boat-load of sick and wounded to Cincinnati, His boat plied between all the important places on the Mississippi and the Yazoo rivers, sometimes carrying troops, at other times for Admiral) Porter, and also transported Colonel Garwas at Lexington, Kentucky, during the Morgan raids, and was at the siege of Vicksburgh; at this place he had an operation performed on his lip, to remove an epithelia or lip cancer, cutting off the whole of the lower lip. It would take a volume to recount all the romantic incidents connected with the captain's history during the war; suffice it to say he performed gallant service until he resigned, June 11, 1864. He has travelled with many distinguished men, such as Andrew Jackson, General Scott, General McComb, General Harrison, General Samuel Houston, Colonel David Crockett, Colonel Thomas Benton, Zachary Vaylor, Prentiss, and a host of others. He has now two sons and three daughters grown up, twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, His wife is dead,

Mary 1, Brown, of Wyoming, was born in Cincinnati in 1830, and when twelve years of age her father, An- - thony Ireland, moved to Springfield township, where she " has lived ever since. Her father, Mr. Ireland, was born in New Jersey in 1778, and settled in Ohio at an early day, He was a boss carpenter, and left many monuments of his life work in Cincinnati and elsewhere to attest to the industry and honesty of the man, In 1822 he was married to Miss Phoebe Collins, who was born in 1400, and by her had four children, He died in Lock- land in 1862; she died in 1854. In 1862 Mrs. Brown _was married to Daniel Brown, whose father was an old settler of the township. Mr. Brown was through life an active, public-spirited citizen, and was one of the first tolay out and advance the interests of Wyoming. He died in 1877.

Nathan W. Hickox, of Glendale, came with his father from the battle-grounds of Wyoming in 1836 to Ohio, when but seventeen years of .age. His father was a farmer, and: was born near Litchfield, Connecticut, in 1793. In 1816 he married Miss Laura Waller, and in 1862 he died. Mr. Hickox, carpenter and _builder, learned his trade in 1847, and followed the business in Cincinnati until 1852, since which time he has built many houses in the town in which he lives. Mr. Hickox has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for forty years, is one of the deacons, and is also superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He has been married twice, his last wife being Miss Ann Drake, of Butler county. He built himself a nice residence in 1869.

J. M. Miller was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1831, .and was engaged while a boy on -his father's farm, attending school through the winter. At the age of eighteen he commenced teaching, and while not thus engaged attended the academy in the village during the summer months. In the spring of 1856 he removed with his family to Illinois, and while there he taught a short time; then removed to Lawrenceburgh, Indiana, where he taught eight-years. In the spring of

- 1863 he became principal of the Camp Washington school, now the twenty-fourth district; and after four years of successful teaching, he left for a more lucrative position at Lockwood, Ohio, where he has been engaged ever since, with the exception of four years that he taught at Carthage. In 1874 he was appointed one of the examiners of the county, which position he has held for seven years.