Charles L. Beckett. Butler county has many fine farms, and they are owned to a large extent by members of old families of the Miami valley. In Hanover township, a part of the old Beckett farm is owned by Charles L. Beckett, one of the enterprising and well-to-do agriculturists of this locality. Mr. Beckett has been the architect of his own fortunes, and has earned his present possessions through honest effort, ordinary prudence and the exercise of natural good judgment. He was born on the homestead place in Hanover township, and is the only son of John C. and Sarah L. (Brosier) Beckett. Educated in the local schools, when he laid aside his studies he began working for his father, but after his marriage, in 1893, began farming on his own account on his present property, a farm of ninety-one acres, which he purchased from his parents. Here he has been successful in his operations as a farmer and raiser of live stock, and has taken much pride in his surroundings, his building's of all kinds being attractive and substantial. A friend of the public schools, he has served efficiently in the capacity of member of the board of education, and his good citizenship was also shown when he acted as captain in war drives. With his family, he belongs to the Methodist church. Mr. Beckett was married in 1893 to Mamie A., daughter of Robert and Martha E. (Watt) Harris, farming people of Milford township, Butler county, Mr. Harris being a Union veteran of the Civil war. Mrs. Beckett has one brother, Alva, who is engaged in farming in Hanover township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beckett: Nellie E., formerly a student at Miami university, who is now engaged in teaching school and is becoming very popular as an educator; Orveda, who attended school at Miami university, and is now the wife of Joseph W. Fichter, principal of Hanover township centralized school, with one child, Jean Marie; Marguerite, who is the wife of Charles Shafer, engaged in farming in Hanover township, with one daughter, Sarah Jane; and John, who is assisting his father in the cultivation of the home farm. The children have been carefully reared and well educated, and have gone to fill stations in life in which they are reflecting credit upon their parents and their community.
The Beckett Paper Company. In order to present the facts regarding the inception of the Beckett Paper company, it is necessary to delve nearly three-quarters of a century into the business history of Hamilton. In the year 1848, one Reilly, from the east, came to Hamilton and secured a site at the corner of Buckeye and Lowell streets, where he commenced the construction of a paper mill. With him, Reilly brought two millwrights, John L. and Frank Martin, and a Scotch paper maker, Adam Laurie. The two Martins had charge of the erection of the structure and it was
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stipulated that Laurie was to run the mill after its completion. However, when not much more than the foundations had been completed, Reilly got into financial difficulties, failed, quit the town and left the Martins and Laurie stranded. These men consulted William Beckett, at that time a successful practicing attorney of Hamilton, with the result that Mr. Beckett interested F. D. Rigdon, another Hamilton lawyer, and they, with the Martins, formed what proved to be the beginning of the present Beckett Paper company, under the firm style of Beckett, Martin & Rigdon. Adam Laurie was retained as foreman. In 1850 Mr. Beckett purchased the interests of the two Martins and the firm style was changed to Beckett & Rigdon. Two years later a second machine was added, the business having grown to such an extent that such a move was found necessary, and in 1854 Adam Laurie bought an eighth interest in the concern. In 1862 or 1863 Mr. Rigdon retired, the firm style at that time becoming Beckett & Laurie, and this later was changed to Beckett, Laurie & company when Adam Laurie, jr., in 1870, was taken into partnership. Under their auspices, Thomas Beckett had his training, and in 1885 he was taken into the firm. The Becketts then bought the Laurie interests and at that time the Beckett Paper company was incorporated with $100,000 capital. The mill was subsequently rebuilt, new machines and engines were installed which had been built by Hamilton concerns, and from that time on the business grew steadily. Improvements continued to be made, however, in paper making machinery and several years ago Mr. Beckett again decided to reconstruct the entire mill. This was done in 1906, the old machinery being entirely scrapped and the building razed to make room for the present structure. At the present time the Beckett Paper company has the finest equipment of its kind to be found in the country, and the purchase of this large amount of machinery from Hamilton companies attested to the worth of their product installed twenty years earlier. In 1913 a third story was added to the mill to enable the company to take care of the rapidly growing business and the end is not yet. The company lost heavily in the flood of March, 1913, but was able to resume operations in April, and at that time a "Flood Bulletin" was sent to the company's customers and dealers all over the country, in which occurred these words: "We got pretty wet when the Miami rose last March. It was eight feet deep on the main floor. But it did not get high enough to dampen our enthusiasm." Which may be called a pretty good Butler county sentiment.
Clyde S. and Ralph K. Beeler. A name that is indissolubly associated with the drug business at Hamilton, is that of Beeler. Practically from the close of the Civil war, men of one family bearing this name have been the proprietors of pharmacies, and their activities have been carried on in such a manner as to make the name stand for integrity and honorable dealing in every particular. At present the representatives of this family and business are Clyde S. and Ralph K. Beeler, who are conducting a large and well-patronized establishment under the style of Beeler Drug company. These brothers are sons of S. L. and Sarah Bachelor
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(Kennedy) Beeler, natives of Hamilton county, Ohio, the former born at Sharon and the latter at Montgomery. S. L. Beeler was still attending the graded schools when the Civil war came on, but a short time after his graduation therefrom managed to be accepted as an enlisted soldier in the Union army, and fought bravely until being wounded at the battle of Winchester. After receiving his honorable discharge, he resumed his education, and after taking a course at the Ohio Medical college, at Cincinnati, was given his diploma as a graduate physician. At that time he came to Hamilton and engaged in the drug business, in partnership with his brother, they purchasing what was then known as the Hanaford Drug store, on Main and B streets. This establishment was known for a quarter of a century as Beeler Brothers, and continued as such until the retirement of the brothers from active participation in business affairs. Doctor Beeler, as S. L. Beeler was universally known, died in 1910. He was a Spencerian student, and in politics was originally a Republican, but, as a Free Trader, during Cleveland's campaign, and on account of the tariff issue, he became a Democrat. He was also one of the early followers of the doctrines of Henry George. At all times a public-spirited citizen, he served Hamilton capably as a member of the city council, and in various other ways contributed to its welfare and advancement. Mrs. Beeler still survives her husband. They were the parents of five children: Emma, who died in infancy; John M., assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Hamilton, married Winnifred Fox and has two children: Ralph K.; Helen Grace, the wife of G. S. Helvey, manager of the Miami Foundry company, of Miamisburg, with two children; and Clyde S. Clyde S. Beeler was born April 30, 1883, and after attending the Hamilton graded and high schools became a student at the Ohio State university, from which he was graduated in 1903. At that time he entered business with his father on Main and B streets, and remained with him until the elder man's death, September 24, 1910, following which he continued in the drug business alone until 1915. In that year he formed a partnership with his brother, Ralph K., and this business has since been known as Beeler Drug company. Mr. Beeler was married October 27, 1917, to Miss Adela Schwartz, daughter of J. C. and Pauline (Windsich) Schwartz, also of Hamilton, Ohio. During the war period Clyde S. Beeler was chairman of the Butler County Food Administration. He is widely known in business circles as one of Hamilton's energetic and resourceful merchants, and is a valued member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Merchants association. He also has several other civic connections, and belongs to the Hamilton club and the Butler County Country club. Ralph K. Beeler was born at Hamilton, October 15, 1874, and received his early education in the graded and high schools of his native city, following which he took a course in the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy. Upon receiving his diploma, he began teaching chemistry and physics in the Hamilton high school and continued as an educator for two and one-half years. April 6, 1898, he was married to Mary Hughes, daughter of Frank M. Hughes of Butler county, and following their
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union went to Chicago, where they resided for four years. Returning to Hamilton, Mr. Beeler purchased a drug business from John C. Schwartz, at No. 134 High street, and conducted it from 1903 until 1915, in the latter year forming: a partnership with his brother, Clyde S. Beeler. The Schwartz business was then moved to Second and High streets and combined with the former establishment: Mr. Beeler resides in his own home at No. 379.S. D street, which he built. He is an excellent business man, with a high standing in trade circles, and an active member of the Retail Merchants association and the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. and Mrs. Beeler are the parents of two children: Hughes, aged nineteen years; and Francis, aged eleven years, the former a graduate of the local schools and now attending the Ohio State university, at Columbus.
Adam Beiser. In a history of the prominent and influential citizens of Butler county, Adam Beiser is well deserving of mention, for his well spent life, his ability, his loyalty to public duty and his fidelity in private life have all gained him a place among the leading residents of Collinsville. While he is retired from active agricultural pursuits, in which he was for many years engaged, he is still active in the affairs of his locality, and while residing at Collinsville is a member of the board of township trustees of Milford township. Mr. Beiser was born January 1, 1854, at Mauchenheim, Rhine Province, Germany, a son of Jacob and Anna Mary (Lingler) Beiser. Jacob Beiser was born in 1814, in Bavaria, Germany, where he was a small farmer and grain dealer, but in 1867 brought his wife and eight children to the United States. Long previous to this time, however, the name had been represented in Hamilton community, for one of Jacob Beiser's brothers, George, had emigrated to this country in 1836 in a sailing vessel, and for years drove a stagecoach between Hamilton and Cincinnati, and finally secured a farm near Port Union, in which community he was well and favorably known. After coming to the United States, Jacob Beiser began to work for a farmer on the Middletown pike, where he remained five years, subsequently securing possession of the Strasser place, in Milford township, Butler county, where he passed the remainder of his career and died April 27, 1894, his wife having passed away at Hamilton at the age of forty-eight years. They were faithful members of St. John's Lutheran church, at Hamilton and the parents of eight children: Jacob, a farmer at Crestonville, Ohio, who died in 1918; Lewis, a retired baker of Hamilton; Adam; George, a blacksmith of Chicago, Ill.; Philip, a grocer of Symmes Corners, Ohio; Eva, the wife of Philip Stepp, of Cleveland; Barbara, the wife of Andy Rahtgeber, Crestonville; and Mary, deceased, who was the wife of the late Conrad Kalpfleisch. To the public schools of his home community in Germany, Adam Beiser was indebted for his educational training, for after he came to the United States at the age of thirteen years, his youth was one filled with hard work and he had little opportunity to improve his knowledge by attending school. He remained under the parental roof until reaching the age of twenty-one years, and was married November 26, 1874, to Louisa, daughter of Conrad and Anna Maria (Hoffman)
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Bauer, natives of Bavaria. The Bauers came to the United States in 1851 and located on a farm near Hamilton, Mr. Bauer also working in Hanover and Wayne townships. He died in 1890 and his wife in 1894, both as faithful members of Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran church, Hamilton. They were the parents of six children: Mrs. Beiser; Conrad, a retired farmer of Collinsville; George and John, who both died young; Fred, a farmer and stockman who married Anna Smoyer; and Mary Ann, who married Samuel Niederman, of Ross township, Butler county. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beiser: Philip, operating the old homestead, who married Mabel Shephard and has three children: Ralph, Thelma and Carroll; Conrad, formerly a resident of Hamilton, but now a farmer of Hanover township, who married Della Crooker and has one son-Arthur; William, formerly a farmer, but now with the Niles Tool works at Hamilton, who married Emma Dome and has one child - Mary Louise; Anna Mary, the wife of Earl Brown of Seven Mile, with one son - Allen Charles; and Bertha, the wife of Edgar Truster, a farmer of Collinsville, with two sons - Roy and Marion. Following his marriage, Adam Beiser located on a farm in Milford township, where he became a prominent farmer and influential citizen, and served for ten years as a member of the school board. After fifteen years of successful agricultural operation in that township, he removed to Hanover township, which continued to be his home for six years, and where he also was on the school board, being a member thereof for two years. Eventually, Mr. Beiser bought a property consisting of 131 acres in Wayne township, the old home place, on which he put all the present buildings and made numerous other improvements. In addition to doing general farming, he raised first Shorthorn cattle and later Polled Durham cattle, and Poland China and Duroc Jersey Red hogs. In 1906, feeling that through his years of labor he had earned a rest, he transferred the burdens of farm work to younger shoulders and moved to Collinsville, which has since been his home. As before noted, he is at present serving faithfully and capably in the office of trustee of Milford township. He has always taken a keen interest in political matters, and votes the Democratic ticket. With the members of his family, he belongs to St. John's Lutheran church. Mr. Beiser is widely known in Butler county, where he has many friends, admirers and well-wishers.
Louis H. Beiser was born in Germany, April 20, 1859, son of Valentine and Mary (Wilig) Beiser. When Louis was fourteen years of age, he came to this country accompanied by his brother, Valentine, sixteen years old. The brothers settled in Hamilton, Ohio, but after a brief sojourn in that city, Louis went to Union township and engaged as a farmhand, and eventually chose the vocation of farming as his life work. In 1884, he was married to Elizabeth Spangenberger, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Spangenberger, and after his marriage, removed with his bride to Fairfield township, where he continued working on his farm. In 1915, he purchased a tract of seventy-five acres, thus becoming a farm owner as well as a farm worker. The same year, the people
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of the township honored him in an election to the office of trustee, the duties of which he performed very satisfactorily. Two children have been born to Mr. And Mrs. Beiser: Arthur, married Edna Friedman, daughter Frank Friedman, and has one child, Arthur; and Luella, deceased. Mr. Beiser was active in the solicitation of funds in the various war drives and rendered splendid service in that connection. He has achieved much success in life, and that, too, in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles encountered in the earlier years of his life. In politics Mr. Beiser is a Democrat.
Philip Beiser, Symmes Corner, in Fairfield township, Butler county claims a due contingent of well ordered business establishments, and one of the most important of these is the well equipped grocery store of Philip Beiser, whose fair and honorable dealings and personal popularity, as combined with the effective service rendered have conspired to evolve for him a substantial and profitable mercantile enterprise. Mr. Beiser was born in Germany, in December, 1858, and was an infant at the time when his parents, Jacob and Mary (Lingler) Beiser, severed the ties that bound then, to their fatherland and emigrated to the United States. This worthy couple established their home at Hamilton, Butler county, soon after their arrival in the land of their adoption, and Jacob Beiser became one of the sterling pioneer farmers of Fairfield township, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, secure in the high esteem of all who knew them. The names of their children are here entered in respective order of birth: Jacob, jr., Louis, Adam, George, Philip, Barbara, Mrs. Rathgeber, Mary, Mrs. Kalbfleisch, and Eva, Mrs. Stepp. Reuben Kellner, a grandson of Mrs. Barbara Rathgeber, served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France during the World war, as one of the contingent of young patriots who went forth from Butler county, Ohio. The early educational advantages of Philip Beiser were those afforded in the public schools of Hamilton, and after leaving school he learned the baker's trade, to which he devoted his attention for a period of eight years, during which time he maintained his residence at Hamilton. His marriage occurred in 1884 and thereafter he and his wife continued their residence in Hamilton until 1918, when they removed to Symmes Corner, where Mr. Beiser has since conducted a prosperous grocery business, the rapid growth of the enterprise indicating the high estimate placed upon him by the community. Mr. Beiser is known as a loyal and public-spirited citizen, and his patriotism was significantly shown during the period of America's participation in the World war as he served on various committees that had supervision of the vigorous Butler county drives in support of the various governmental loans and for the sale of war-savings stamps. He was one of the leaders in this patriotic service in his county, and his service reflects enduring honor upon him. Mr. Beiser is a Democrat in his political allegiance, he and his wife are earnest communicants of St. John's Evangelical church, and he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Knights of the Golden Eagle and
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various benevolent organizations. In 1884 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Beiser to Miss Eva Spies, a daughter of William and Eva (Kraft) Spies, well-known citizens in the vicinity of Marietta, Washington county. A fitting close to this brief review is the following record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Beiser: Mabel Frances is the wife of George O. Betscher, of Hamilton; Clifford Earl, married Selma Waldrick, and they have two children, Eva and Donald; Carl Wilhelm, whose death occurred November 6, 1918, married Miss Anna Tritsch, who survives him, as do also their two sons, Eugene Philip and Frederick Carl; Edwin Eugene assists in the operations of his father's store and is still an eligible young man; Walter James, who resides at Hamilton, married Miss Marie Pfoffman and they have two children, - Arnold and Eldon; and Philip Stanley died at the age of two years.
Edgar A. Belden. In the person of Edgar A. Belden, who has practised so long and so ably at the Hamilton bar, is linked the Hamilton of the past and the present. He has been alike a successful and distinguished attorney and a just, dignified and impartial judge, and in addition is a practical man of affairs, skillful, farseeing and reformatory, and an originator of actualities as well as a founder of good and new movements. Judge Belden was born at Hamilton, November 28, 1855, a son of Samuel C. and Mary (Fitton) Belden. His father was born in Massachusetts, November 29, 1815, and as a young man removed to Hamilton, where he became one of the successful business men of his adopted city, his energies and abilities for many years being exercised in the manufacture of brooms. His death, in 1885, when he was seventy years of age, removed from his city one of its capable business men and public-spirited citizens. Mrs. Belden, a member of the old and honored Fitton family, was born in Butler county, and died in 1868, when but thirty-eight years of age. They were the parents of James F., for many years in the dry goods business in the employ of the D. W. Fitton company; Horace T., a man of splendid business qualities, and teller in the First National bank of Hamilton, who died in 1876, at the age of twenty-two years; Edgar A.; William C., born in 1858, and educated at Hamilton, who in 1882, went to California and purchased a fruit farm, was elected in 1902 as judge of the court of San Bernardino county, Cal., is married and has two children; arid Webster A., born at Hamilton in 1860, who has spent his career in that city as a manufacturer, and is the father of three children. Edgar A. Belden attended the public schools of Hamilton and was graduated from the high school in the class of 1872, shortly after which he went to Cincinnati and for about six years was a clerk in the offices of the Union Central Life Insurance company. In 1879 he resigned to take up the study of law under the preceptorship of Hon. Thomas Millikin, one of Hamilton's most prominent attorneys, and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of the state, February 2, 1881. He at once entered active practice at his native place and soon had built up a large and gratifying clientele, which has increased in size and importance with
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the passing of the years. From the time of the attainment of his majority, Judge Belden has given his allegiance to the Republican party. In November, 1901, he was elected to the bench of the court of common pleas for a term of five years. While the district in which he was a candidate was normally Democratic by a large majority, many of the voters cast aside partisan preferences because of Judge Belden's well-known ability, integrity, and entire fitness for service, with the result that he secured a majority of more than 700 votes over his opponent. His course on the bench was marked by justice and wisdom, and his decisions were seldom appealed and rarely reversed. Fraternally, Judge Belden is identified with the Royal Arcanum and the National Union. He has been connected with the Y. M. C. A. since its organization, serving as president thereof for the first five years of its existence, and is a consistent and valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1886, with other graduates of the Hamilton High school, he was instrumental in effecting the organization of the High School Alumni association. May 22, 1888, at Hamilton, Judge Belden was united in marriage with Elisa M., daughter of Lucius B. and Mary B. Potter, of Hamilton, and to this union there have been born two children: Horace and Lucia.
James E. Bell. Few men are better or more favorably known in the enterprising-community of Seven Mile than James E. Bell. He has been an important factor in financial circles, and his success in his undertakings has been so marked that his methods are of interest to the commercial world. His advancement in business since the beginning of his residence at Seven Mile has been uniform and he has perservered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and gained a most satisfactory reward, his position as cashier of the Farmers National bank of Seven Mile giving him prestige among business men of this locality. Mr. Bell was born at Statesville, Tenn., a son of Edward and Margaret (Boyd) Bell, and is of Scotch-Irish lineage. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Bell, natives of Maryland, emigrated to Kentucky as young people and passed the remainder of their lives there. In that state was born Edward Bell who, following his four years of service in the Union army during the Civil War, went to Tennessee and engaged in business at Statesville, where he acted in the capacity of postmaster. He was married in Kentucky and subsequently went to Marion county, Ill., where for several years he was engaged in farming, but later returned to Kentucky, and for the balance of his life was engaged in farming in Mason county and in conducting a butcher business at Germantown. His widow survives him and resides at that place. They were the parents of four children: James E., of this review; Thomas H., cashier of the Bank of Trenton, Ohio; Mrs. Mattie Guy, of Germantown, Ky.; and W. B., cashier of the Bank of Somerville, Ohio. James E. Bell received a common school education and after graduating from the high school at Flemingsburg, Ky., engaged in farming on the home place. He was married March 28; 1894, to Anna E., daughter of Benjamin and Mollie (Rhoten) Kirkland, of Fleming county, Ky., whose uncle, William Rhoten,
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was a soldier of the Union during the war between the states. Following his marriage, Mr. Bell continued to farm for six years, and then became mail contractor, a position which he held seven years, at Germantown. Leaving Germantown, Mr. Bell went to Trenton, where he was identified with the Bank of Trenton until 1909, when he came to Seven Mile, and August 19 of that year became cashier of the Farmers National bank, which was founded October 1, 1909, by his brother, Thomas H. Bell. Mr. Bell has continued to hold this position ever since, and has built up a reputation that has made his name a synonym for integrity and probity in the business world, while the substantiality of the institution with which he is connected is everywhere acknowledged in banking circles, the enterprise having made a most creditable record throughout the eleven years of its existence. Mr. Bell is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias and has numerous friends in both orders. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a supporter of worthy movements pertaining to religious and educational advancement. During the war period he took a prominent part in the various drives and assisted materially in arousing public interest and enthusiasm.
Samuel Bell. Although the memory of the roar of cannon, of the glitter of bayonets and the depressing conditions of an army hospital has been drowned somewhat in the later peace of agricultural pursuits, the service of Samuel Bell in the Civil war remains the paramount and most absorbing experience in the life of this honored soldier and farmer of Madison township, Butler county. At the time of his enlistment he was just entering upon man's estate, and the discipline and hardships of the army broadened his outlook and gave him an increased understanding of the responsibilities of life that later were to prove of incalculable value to him. Mr. Bell was born near Piqua, O., October 14, 1843, a son of John and Elizabeth (Riggle) Bell, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio as a young married couple and bought land near Piqua. This property was nearly all covered with heavy timber, but was eventually cleared and cultivated, and upon it the father passed the rest of his life in agricultural pursuits and died at the age of eighty-one years. His first wife died in 1849, having been the mother of nine children: Henry, who died in 1913 after many years of residence in Darke county, Ohio; David, who served in the 100-day service during the Civil war, and later died in Ross county, O.; Mary, Catherine and Betsy, who are deceased; Samuel; Susan, who is deceased; Hannah, who married William Schlobiz, of Madison township; and John, deceased. Mr. Bell's second marriage was to Rachael Cummings, and they had four children: Amos, a ranchman of California; Ida, who lives in Darke county, O.; and Orlin and Artie, residents of Richmond, Ind. The family belongs to the United Brethren church. Samuel Bell grew up amid pioneer surroundings, and still has a vivid recollection of the heavy timber that stood on the homestead. His education was confined to attendance at the old log district schoolhouse, to reach which he was compelled to walk three miles, and upon his arrival he would sit on a puncheon bench
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while perfecting himself in the "three R's." When not attending school, he was usually engaged in helping his father and brothers in the farm work, and thus his boyhood and youth were passed. He reached the age of twenty-one years in 1864, and in the winter of that year enlisted in the Union army, joining Company A, 73d regiment, O. V. I., at Kingston, O. He was sent to Chattanooga, Tenn., where his regiment joined the command of General Hooker, and subsequently took part in the battles of Buzzards Roost, Burnt Hickory, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, the siege of Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain and numerous skirmishes. Mr. Bell contracted typhoid fever and for some time was confined to the hospital, but eventually recovered and rejoined his command, and went through Alabama and North Carolina with General Sherman. At the time of General Lee's surrender, the 73d Ohio was near Goldsboro, N. C., whence it marched 600 miles to Washington, D. C., and took part in the Grand Review. In July, 1865, Mr. Bell was sent to Louisville, Ky., and received his honorable discharge at Camp Denison. Following the war he returned to his home for one year, and then came to Madison township, Butler county, where he was married in 1867 to Miss Sarah Gephart, of Butler county, a daughter of Daniel Gephart, a farmer of Madison township, where he died. Mrs. Bell died in the fall of 1915, having been the mother of the following children: Ed, who is engaged in farming in Madison township; Daniel, deceased, who was also a farmer; John, who has also passed away after some years in agricultural pursuits; Elmer, a Madison township farmer, who married Virda Isabell, and has five children, Alice, Stella, Thelma, Renie and Opal; and William and Iva, who are deceased. Two years after his marriage, Mr. Bell settled on Brown's Run, in Madison township, where he bought 160 acres, a part of the Peter Gephart property, and to this has since added sixteen acres. He has made all of the improvements on the place, which is now modern in aspect and actuality. Mr. Bell is a general farmer, raising tobacco and all kinds of grain, and through industry and good management has made a success of his operations. In spite of his advanced years he is well preserved and active and takes a keen interest in local matters. He is a Republican and has held township offices. With his family, he belongs to the Baptist church. Mr. Bell is one of the highly respected men of his community, and during his long career has never failed to exhibit a high order of citizenship.
Thomas H. Bell. In Thomas H. Bell, the thriving community of Trenton has a citizen of recognized worth and standing who has contributed to its financial strength and prestige as well as to its civic development and importance. A resident of this community since 1907 he has allied himself with the interests that have made for community strength and stability and as cashier of the Bank of Trenton has impressed his ability and integrity upon the people in a way that has gained their confidence and esteem. Mr. Bell was born in Marion county, Ill., September 30, 1874, a son of Edward and Margaret (Boyd) Bell, of Scotch-Irish lineage. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Bell, natives of Maryland, emigrated to Kentucky,
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where they passed the remainder of their lives. In that state was born Edward W. Bell, who, following his service of four years in the Union army during the Civil war, went to Tennessee and engaged in business at Statesville, where he acted in the capacity of postmaster. He was married in Kentucky and subsequently went to Marion county, Ill., where for several years he was engaged in farming, but later returned to Kentucky, and for the balance of his life was engaged in farming in Mason county and in conducting a meat business at Germantown. His widow survives him and resides at the place last mentioned. They were the parents of four children: James E., cashier of the Bank of Seven Mile, Ohio; Thomas H.; Mrs. Mattie Guy, of Germantown, Ky.; and W. B., cashier of the Bank of Somerville, Ohio. Thomas H. Bell secured his education in the public schools of Fleming county, Ky., and his business preparation at a commercial college. He devoted himself principally in farming until 1905, when he entered the Bank of Germantown, Ky., and after two years came to Trenton, February 4, 1907, and organized the Bank of Trenton, of which he has since been cashier. In 1909 he was the organizer of the Bank of Seven Mile, and in 1910 of the Bank of Somerville, but although he was the main factor in the organization of all three of these institutions, is interested at this time only in the Bank of Trenton. He has assisted in making this a strong and substantial banking house, and through his conservative, although progressive, methods has gained and held the full faith of the people and succeeded in securing an annual addition to the deposits. He is a valued member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. During the participation of the United States in the great World war, Mr. Bell's abilities were enlisted in various war activities, he being chairman of the various drives, including the Red Cross and Liberty Bond, and local chairman of the Y. M. C. A. With his family, he belongs to the Presbyterian church. May 27, 1908, at Trenton, Mr. Bell was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of W. O. and Lou H. Dimmitt, of Germantown, Ky., the former of whom is now a resident of Trenton. Four children have come to them: Louise M., born in 1909; William H., born in 1911; Margaret E., born in 1914; and Thomas Henry, born in 1917.
Major John F. Bender, a retired contractor of Hamilton, has the distinction of being one of the pioneers of Butler county, and he is a man known all over the Miami valley for his probity of character and high principles. He was born in the Rhine Province, Germany, September 28, 1830, a son of Frederick W. and Catherine (Diehl) Bender, both natives of Germany. They realized the limitations of their native land, and desiring to get away from the oppressive rule of the Prussian military element, they came to the United States in January, 1855, making the then long and dangerous voyage on a sailing vessel, and after their arrival in this land of promise, came west to Ohio, stopping first at Cincinnati, but later removing to Hamilton. The good old grandfather, Peter Bender, had been active in military affairs, serving in the war against Holland, and although he was eighty-five years old at the time of
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his death, he was so active that he was working, up to within two weeks of his demise. After the Bender family were settled at Hamilton, Frederick Bender, who was a practical carpenter and builder, looked about him to see in what way he could best use his knowledge and he and his brothers, William and Ernest, erected a planing mill, a frame structure, later replacing it with a four-story brick one, with a basement, affording room for the employment of 150 workmen. They also developed a large contracting business and erected all of the principal buildings at Hamilton during their time, including those occupied by the Ohio Nail, Tool and Pump works, the Mosler Safe company, the McNeil & Urban Safe works, the Myers Manufacturing company, three large schools and many others. The extensive plant of the pulp mills, which turns out annually a product valued at $300,000 was also built by these brothers. At first the firm was Bender Bros. Later Frederick W. Bender took his sons into partnership, buying out the others, and operating under the name of Bender & Sons. After his death, the firm became J. F. Bender & Bros. In 1867, Frederick W. Bender died, aged sixty-seven, his wife surviving him until 1891, when she passed away, aged eighty-six years. While living in Germany, Frederick W. Bender gave to his native land the compulsory three years of military service. He and his excellent wife were consistent members of the Lutheran church. Their children were as follows: John F., whose name heads this review; Conrad, who is deceased, was a carpenter; William F., who is now living retired, was at one time interested in the paper mill; Peter, who was formerly a druggist, went to California, and is now a ranch owner of that state; Jacob, who was a hat manufacturer, is now deceased; John, who was a bookkeeper, is deceased, and he married Lena Martin; Catherine, who married George Iutzi, a retired farmer of Hamilton, Ohio, is now deceased; Lizzie, who is married, lives with her son on the Darrtown pike; Ernestine, who is unmarried, lives at Hamilton, O.; Ernest, who was a carpenter, went to California, and there died; Philimena, who was married, is deceased and so is Henry, her husband. John F. Bender came to the United States when he was twenty-five years old after completing his period of military service in the Prussian army. He had learned the carpenter trade under his father's supervision, and locating at Hamilton, found employment for his skill. Later he went into business with his father and brothers, and became one of the leading contractors of the Miami valley. April 16, 1857, Mr. Bender was united in marriage with Miss Mary Elizabeth Herdegan, born in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Bender have three adopted children, who were born to a sister of Mrs. Bender, and to them they have given a loving and parental care. They are as follows: Simon Kronester, who was associated in business with Mr. Bender for many years, and has succeeded to his interests. He was married to Minnie Heiser, and their children are as follows: Marcella, who married Albert Henneberger, has one child, - Jane; Helen, Alma and Adelia, who are at home; and Paul, who died at the age of nine years. The second adopted child of Mr. and Mrs. Bender is Barbara, who
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married Conrad Erbeck, a carpenter of Hamilton, Ohio, and their children are as follows: Edwin, who is a farmer; Alvin, who is a carpenter; Robert, Martha and Arthur, attending school. The third adopted child of Mr. and Mrs. Bender is Elizabeth, and she has always resided with her adopted parents. In addition to his extensive contracting operations, Mr. Bender found time to serve as the head of the Hamilton Brick company, and as trustee of the Snyder Preserve works, of which he is part owner, and of late years he has invested to a considerable extent in farm lands in Butler county. Zion Evangelical church of Hamilton has long held his membership, and benefits from his generous contributions. Since casting his first vote, Mr. Bender has very strongly supported the candidates of the Republican party, and if he had so desired, could very probably have had any office within the gift of his neighbors, but he has never had political aspirations. Like so many of the Germans of his age, Mr. Bender served his adopted country during the Civil war, his former military training coming into good stead in the new land. He enlisted in the Ohio National Guards, and was advanced to the rank of major under Colonel Moore. His period of service expiring, he was mustered out in Virginia, in 1864. Since the organization of the Hamilton Post, G. A. R., Mr. Bender has been one of its active members. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bender stand very high in public esteem. During the many years they have resided at Hamilton they have seen it develop along all lines, and have borne their part in this remarkable growth.
David A. Bevis, son of David and Axsher (Stout) Bevis, was born in Colerain township, Hamilton county, Ohio, September 19, 1857. The father, David, was also born in Colerain township. The latter was the son of Jesse Bevis, who came from England and was one of the pioneers of this section, who experienced all the inconveniences and suffered the deprivations and hardships undergone by those sturdy old settlers. Oliver, a brother of David, sr., was a soldier in the War of Rebellion and gave his life in the service of his country. David A., subject of this sketch, was the eleventh child in a family of twelve children, and received his education at College Hill, Colerain township, and on completion of his schooling, he began the occupation of a farmer. In 1883, he was married to Cora Bosserman, daughter of George and Alvira (Jacques) Bosserman, one of whose nephews, Charles Bosserman, served with distinction with the U. S. army in France. Until 1913, Mr. Bevis was engaged in farming in Hamilton county, when he removed to Ross township, Butler county, where he purchased a fine farm of ninety-seven acres, which he has made a very notable success and to which he still devotes his time and energy. The home-life of Mr. and Mrs. Bevis is especially charming and elevating and such as can but exert a good influence throughout the entire community. To them it is also most gratifying that the three sons born to them - Rolland, Normund and Emery - are not only successfully solving business affairs but are the heads of happy contented homes. Normund, a graduate of the seminary at Dayton, Ohio, is a prominent minister of the United Brethren church and lives at Union City,
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Ind. Emery, born November 2, 1892, after graduating from the common and high schools and the Mechanics institute of Cincinnati, was for three years engaged in mercantile pursuits which were given up for farm work. In 1915, he was married to Frieda Harmony, daughter of George and Libbian Harmony, of Colerain township, and now has in charge a fine farm of sixty-three acres. Rolland born March 1884, after graduating from the common and high school completed a course in the Cincinnati High school, specializing in mechanics. He became a practical carpenter, worked in Kansas City, where he studied architecture and home building, and business relations with Des Jardins, the well-known Cincinnati architect, developed into a partnership. In 1809, he married Mary A. Burns, daughter of A. Y. and Marie (Lehne) Burns, of Ross, Ohio. The result of this marriage is two children, Robert F. and Leona M. After marriage, they lived a short time in Cumminsville, then moved to the home farm, the affairs of which continue under his management.
Henry Joseph Bieker. There can be no more desirable association in the business world than that which exists in the case of a partnership of father and son. The elder man's experience is backed up and strengthened by the greater energies and enthusiasm of the younger man, combining to form a happy whole which makes for success in any line. One of these affiliations exists at Hamilton, where Theodore and Henry Joseph Bieker, father and son, are engaged in the custom tailoring business, having an excellent patronage at their establishment at No. 16 S. Second street. Henry Joseph Bieker was born September 22, 1883, at Hamilton, Ohio, a son of Theodore and Margaret (Turnbeit) Bieker, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Butler county. Theodore Bieker was educated in his native land, where he learned his trade and where his home was made until he reached the age of twenty-four years. At that time, deciding there was a better future for him in America, he emigrated to this country, and located at Hamilton, where he held various positions for some years. Eventually, after he had worked for a number of merchant tailors in the capacity of coat maker, in 1903, he embarked in business on his own account, establishing himself as a custom tailor in a store on Main street. The business flourished and father and son continued at the same location until the disastrous flood of 1913 caused them a loss of $6,000 and practically destroyed their establishment. As soon as possible, they secured a new location, opening their present tailoring establishment at No. 16 S. Second street, where they have since remained. Their reputation for making finely tailored and stylish garments has spread to other localities and they at presently have a patronage of the most desirable kind. June 14, 1881, Theodore Bieker married Margaret Turnbeit, and not long thereafter built the present comfortable and attractive family home at No. 344 Wayne street. Nine children have been born to Mr. And Mrs. Bieker: a daughter who died in infancy; Frank, who died at the age of sixteen years; Lou, a machinist of Hamilton, who married Mary Beckman of this city and has two children: Margaret,
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the wife of Frank Bradner, a machinist of Hamilton with one child; Mary and Louise, who are unmarried and reside with their parents; William, aged twenty-six years, formerly associated in the tailoring business with his father, at outbreak of war enlisted in the 322nd Field Artillery, was stationed at Camp Sherman for seven months in training, and then was sent overseas, where he saw active service, is now at home, associated again in the business, and a member of the Elks and the Eagles; Paul, a machinist of Hamilton, who married Merle Emrick; and Henry Joseph, of this review. Henry J. Bieker received his education in the graded schools of Hamilton, and learned the trade of custom tailor under the able tuition of his father, supplementing this by taking a course in custom cutting in Chicago. In 1903, he became established in business with his father, and it is due to his energetic labors and skill in workmanship largely that the business has proved such a success. July 2, 1912, Mr. Bieker married Mary Ann, daughter of Peter Becker, formerly of Harrison township, Butler county, but now of Hamilton. To this union there have been born three children: Mary Ann, born in 1913; Robert Louis, born in 1916; and John R., born April 27, 1919. The pleasant family home is located at 342 Wayne street. The family holds membership in St. Peter's church, and Mr. Bieker has a number of business, social and civic connections.
George S. Bishop, (deceased), the scion of a prominent family among Ohio's educators, was born in Oxford, Ohio, August 21, 1845, a son of Robert H. Bishop, jr., of Miami university. George S. Bishop's paternal grandfather, Robert H. Bishop, sr., was a native of Scotland, born in 1777, and became a Presbyterian minister. Later he came to Kentucky, and being a man of profound learning was asked to take a professorship at Transylvania university. In 1824, he was appointed the first president of Miami university, Oxford, Ohio. From this high seat he taught many of Ohio's great men, and among his students was enrolled the illustrious Benjamin Harrison, who later became president of the United States. For many years the Reverend Bishop was a moulder of men, and his influence has been keenly felt in Ohio wherever his students were able to act upon the great example of their teacher. Robert H. Bishop, jr., George S. Bishop's father, after his graduation from Miami, taught in the university for thirty-seven years. From 1857 to 1887, he held the chair of the Latin professorate, and later became professor emeritus of Latin. For thirty-five years he was secretary of the board of trustees of Miami college. After his death, his daughter, Anna Bishop, became secretary of the board, and this position she held until 1908, when she was succeeded by George S. Bishop. Mr. George Bishop was the third of the Bishop male line to serve Miami university. In 1867 he graduated with second highest honors. Before graduation, and during his years of study at the university - it was in the year 1864 - he enlisted in Company A, the 167th Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, and served during the duration of the Civil war. At the close of the war, after finishing his course at the university, he was principal of the
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academy at Bloomingburg, later taught at Covington, and still later was principal of the academy at Sangamon, Ill. After serving in such capacities, he went to Kansas, and while there pursued the study of law, and was state representative from his district. He was also the president of a National bank in the State of Kansas. In 1908, he returned to Oxford, Ohio, and was appointed business director of the university. Soon after he was selected as secretary of the board of trustees, in which capacity he served until the time of his death, which occurred November 7, 1916. George S. Bishop was married October 27, 1881, at the family home, Glendale, Ohio, to Virginia Oliphant Patterson, a daughter of Rev. Dr. A. O. and Maria (Speer) Patterson. James Buchanan, president of the United States, was the first cousin of Maria Speer, his mother being a Speer. Other illustrious relatives of the Speer family included Benjamin Harrison of Indiana. A brother of Mrs. George Bishop, Dr. John E. Patterson, was a surgeon in the army during the Civil war. James R. Patterson, L. L. D., another brother, was a trustee of Miami university and with Whitelaw Reid, later ambassador from the United States to Great Britain, made possible the erection of the beautiful Alumni Library building, of the university group of edifices, by reason of their liberal donations. Anna Patterson, a sister of Mrs. George Bishop, married J. S. Earhard, who was a captain during the Civil war. Another sister, Alice C. Patterson, was synodical secretary of the Presbyterian Home Missionary society of Ohio, and compiled the reports of this society from 1882 to 1915. After marriage, George Bishop and his wife lived in Kansas, where he was prominent in business and in politics, as the sketch above shows. Later they moved to Glendale, and finally to Oxford. To them was born Maria Speer Bishop, who graduated at Glendale college, afterward studying at Oxford. George Bishop was at one time county surveyor of Jewell county, Kans., and was a deputy United States revenue collector, in Kansas, from 1880 to 1884. In his death Ohio and Oxford, as well as Miami university, have suffered a loss that will be keenly felt for years to come. His accomplishments and achievements will live forever in the annals of the university, and his name will be spoken tenderly by students in generations to come. Mr. Bishop's widow resides in Oxford.
J. F. Bishop. The career of J. F. Bishop, of College Corner, as a dealer in real estate, has extended over a period covering nearly a quarter of a century, during which time he has supplied the medium through which numerous important transactions have been successfully and satisfactorily conducted. During this long time he has steadfastly maintained a reputation as a man of high business principles and ideals, who, underlying his desire for personal advancement, has always had at heart the welfare of his community as to material advancement and progress. He is a native of Preble county, born one mile north of Fairhaven, August 1, 1858, and a son of John and Ellen (Laird) Bishop, the father born on the same farm as his son, and the mother a native of Ireland. Mrs. Bishop came to the United States with her parents as a child, the family settling near Mixersville, Franklin county, Ohio. After their marriage
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Mr. and Mrs. Bishop settled on a farm in Israel township, Preble county, where they resided for some years, and where both died and are buried. They were the parents of nine children: James M., Alice, J. F., Mrs. Mary F. Wells, Mrs. Catherine Collins, William, Mrs. Caroline Bostick, Charles and Mrs. Fannie Heavenridge. J. F. Bishop is indebted to the public schools of Fairhaven for his education, and after leaving school was engaged for three years in farming for his father-in-law. He then went to Darke county, Ohio, where he continued agricultural operations for four years, then going to Greenville, where he was engaged in the implement business. He also worked as a traveling representative for a fertilizer company, but eventually located at College Corner, where for twenty-three years he has carried on a general real estate business, with constantly growing success. He has engineered some large and important transactions, enjoys an excellent reputation in business circles, and is generally accounted a good judge of realty values and a man entirely capable of handling any matter which comes within the scope of his line of effort. March 18, 1886, Mr. Bishop was united in matrimony with Sallie, daughter of Joseph M. Stout, of College Corner. Mrs. Bishop died August 7, 1897, leaving one son, Fred S., who was born in 1887. He was educated in the public schools of College Corner and at Purdue university, from which he was graduated as an electrical engineer, a profession which he followed for a number of years. At the present time he is purchasing agent for the Staar Piano company, of Richmond, Ind. He married Elsie Earhart of College Corner. J. F. Bishop has a number of business, civic and social connections, and is actively and constructively identified with the various activities which go to make up life in his community, where he has been a helpful factor in the support of worth-while movements.
Hon. C. M. Black. Some men attain to more than ordinary prominence through the recognition by their associates of their ability to discharge certain duties, and this is undoubtedly the case of Hon. C. M. Black, who during the past four years has served as mayor of College Corner, Ohio. Elected first in 1915, during his first administration he gave such forcible evidence of his executive capacity that his fellow-citizens again chose him for the office at the election of 1917, and his subsequent term has been one in which he has continued to work with excellent results toward the attainment of civic perfection. Mr. Black was born in Union township, Union county, Ind., July 24, 1862, a son of George and Mary (Stewart) Black, the former a native of Rockbridge county, Va., and the latter of Pennsylvania. George Black was twenty years of age when, with his brother, he came overland on horseback from the Old Dominion state to Union county, Ind., and settled on a farm in Union township. He was first married to a Miss Miller by whom he had five children: Mary, whose husband, George Winand, fought as a soldier in the Civil war and was a prisoner in Andersonville for three months; Miller, who served three years as a soldier during the Civil war; Nan, Delazon and Rachael. His second wife was a Miss Cox, and after her death he married Mary
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Stewart, and who had come from Pennsylvania with her parents, the family settling on a farm near Loveland, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Black passed their lives as farming people and were highly respected in their community, where they were faithful members of the Presbyterian church. They were laid to rest in the Kingery graveyard. They had three children: C. M.; B. M., of Butler county; and Miss Electa. After attending the country schools of Union county, Ind., C. M. Black began working as a farmhand, and continued as an agriculturist for nineteen years. He was married March 20, 1884, to Rena, daughter of Hugh and Sarah (Davis) Roll, the latter the daughter of Samuel Davis, at one time recorder of Butler county. Hugh Roll was a blacksmith of College Corner, and both he and his wife lie buried in the Oxford cemetery. They had four children: Van Landingham, Davis, Charles and Rena. By his first marriage, Mr. Black had nine children: Sarah, who is now Mrs. David Owens, of Richmond, Ind.; Mary, who is deceased; Morris, of Boston, Ind.; Dwight, of College Corner; Camilla, the wife of O. Overman, of Richmond, Ind.; Ivan, of College Corner; Esther, a trained nurse of Richmond, Ind.; Kesley, a student in the home community; and one child who died in infancy. Ivan Black, of this family, enlisted in the regular army and was trained at Fort Thomas, Ky., Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and Camp Greene, N. C., becoming an attache of the Medical Base Hospital Corps and serving until receiving his honorable discharge in February, 1919. He was born October 4, 1897, and was married January 3, 1919, to Frieda Lynch, who was born at Burlington, N. C., and who had served as a Red Cross nurse at Camp Sevier, S. C. Morris Black, one of the older sons, served for three years in the regular army and saw active service in the Philippine Islands during the time of the Philippine Insurrection. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Black married Carrie, daughter of Louis and Katie (Epley) Ault, who are still living at College Corner and are the parents of nine children; Carrie; Emma, the wife of Chas. Hayes, Fair Haven, Ohio; Louise, of Hamilton, Ohio; Edward of Indianapolis, Ind.; Clara, wife of Howard Bryant, Oxford, Ohio; Marie, wife of Soren Pierce, of Hamburg, N. Y.; Mable, wife of Orea Brown, College Corner, Ohio; Margarite and Charles, deceased. For some years C. M. Black continued to be engaged in farming, but about 1904 took up his residence at College Corner where, he applied himself to the trade of carpenter, a vocation which he had learned in his youth. He was a skilled, efficient and conscientious workman and was able to build up an excellent business, at the same time thoroughly establishing himself in public favor and confidence. Thus, by the time he became a candidate, in 1915, he was well known to the people as a man of sound and practical ideas, absolute integrity and industry, and received a large majority at the polls. He vindicated the people's confidence by giving them an excellent administration and was accordingly re-elected in 1917. His administrations have been excellent ones, in which he has managed civic affairs of government in a businesslike, expeditious and thoroughly efficient manner. He was active in
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the promotion of all war activities and had charge of the Red Cross membership at College Corner. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, to which the members of his family also belong.
Dwight E. Black, the well-known blacksmith of College Corner, Ohio, was born in College Corner, June 15, 1889, the son of C. M. and Rena (Roll) Black. His education he received from the fine graded school and high school of Union county, Ind. After finishing at the latter institution, he learned the blacksmith's trade, and five years ago, started into business for himself. In October, 1912, he married Ruth Ridenour, daughter of David and Pauline (Flock) Ridenour. His wife's father, David Ridenour, was born in Preble county, Ohio, and his wife in Berlin, Germany. She came to this country with her parents some years before her marriage, and with them settled in Union county, Ind. To David and Pauline Ridenour were born twelve children. Those living are: Charles, of Richmond; George, now of Liberty, Ind.; William, also living in Liberty; Sylvanus, who married Miss Rogers; August, of Mixersville; Curtis, of College Corner; Alonzo, of Liberty, Ind; Ruth, the wife of the subject of this sketch; and Lester. The marriage of Dwight Black and Ruth Ridenour has been blessed with two children: Rena Pauline and Curtis Rogers Black. The family belong to the local Presbyterian church. Mr. Black is active in K. P. lodge circles, as well as in Masonic circles. During the war he entered whole-heartedly into patriotic work, his endeavor being crowned with great success.
Edward C. Blacker. Practical industry wisely and vigorously applied seldom fails of winning success, and the life of Edward C. Blacker is but another proof of this statement. With only ordinary advantages in his youth, he started out to make his own way in the world, and his diligence and judicious management have brought to him a handsome reward for his labors. He is now one of the well-to-do retired agriculturists of Butler county, spending the evening of life at Seven Mile after many years spent in farming, and in his life are many principles which might well be taken as examples by those of the rising generations. Mr. Blacker was born on a farm in Riley township, Butler county, Ohio, October 21, 1849, a son of James H. and Sarah (Tinney) Blacker. His paternal grandfather, Edward Blacker, was a native of Ireland, who, as an early immigrant to Butler county, secured wild land from the Government in Riley township, and there hewed out a home from the wilderness and developed a good farm. He married a Miss Port and both passed the rest of their lives in Riley township, being the parents of five children: James H., Clara, Allen, Louisa and William. James H. Blacker was born in Riley township, and while the schools of his day in Butler county were somewhat primitive, he was an omnivorous reader, and not only obtained an excellent education but also became a great Bible student. After his marriage he located on the old home place, where he spent the rest of his life with the exception of sixteen years passed in Union county, Ind. His death occurred when he was eighty-four years of age, and his wife passed away when seventy, both being faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal
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church. Mr. Blacker was a Democrat. His children were: William, a retired farmer of Richmond Ind.; Edward C.; John, a farmer of Union county, Ind.; James, a farmer of Franklin county, Ind., who died in 1916; and Nancy and Ella, deceased. Edward C. Blacker attended the public schools of Peoria, Ind., and seems to have inherited some of his father's desire for attaining an advanced education, for as a student his mind was bright and retentive and he took a leading place in his classes. During his earlier years he spent many winter terms in teaching, and thus passed ten years in Riley and Morgan townships, Butler county, and several terms in Indiana. In the meantime, in the summer months, he applied himself to farming, and remained on the home place until the time of his marriage, in October, 1873, to Charlotte, a daughter of William and Margaret J. Salmon, the former of German lineage and the latter of Welsh and Irish stock, Mr. Salmon being for many years a farmer of Riley township. Following his marriage, Mr. Blacker went to Franklin county, Ind., where he resided for seven years, following which he went to Union county, in the same state, and lived sixteen years. Returning then to Riley township, Butler county, Ohio, he bought the old Salmon homestead of 160 acres, on which he made his home for twenty-three years, retiring in the spring of 1916, at which time he disposed of his interests in the land and moved to his present home at Seven Mile. During the active years of his life, Mr. Blacker was looked upon as a skilled and thoroughly learned agriculturist, and his operations in the various departments of farming met with marked success, his sound judgment in business matters and his well-directed efforts bringing to him a handsome competence. He may truly be said to be a self-made man, for success comes to the busy toilers of the world, of whom he is one, and in the acquirement of his property his methods were ever honorable and commendable, winning him the respect and confidence of all with whom he was brought into contact. During the time that he was engaged in teaching school he kept a private register of his scholars for many years, and can readily find where most of his old pupils now live, although his memory is so remarkable that he seldom has to use this volume for reference. He is a Democrat by political preference, but has not cared for the honors or contests of political or public life. He has been content to be a good citizen and a supporter of what he has considered good measures and movements. His religious belief is that of the Presbyterian church, in the faith of which Mrs. Blacker died March 23, 1918, interment being made at Riley.
James G. Blaine, the subject of this sketch, is a descendant from the same ancestral line as that to which the distinguished American statesman bearing the same name belonged, and is endowed with the sturdy, virile characteristics of his illustrious forefathers. He is the son of James P. and Nancy A. (Statts) Blaine, and was born near Parkersburg, W. Va., August 2, 1883. His parents died in that place - the father on August 28, 1898; the mother, July 28, 1913. There were seven children in the family, all of whom are living: George, at Youngstown, Ohio; Thomas and Frank, at Rochester,
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Pa.; Laura, Mrs. Victor Polsley, at Wellsville, Ohio; Sara, Mrs. E. W. Proffitt, in Bridgeport, Ohio; Bergen E., in Huntington, W. Va.; and James G., our subject, who for the past twenty-three years has worked in various mills as a roller and came from Wheeling, W. Va., to Middletown, September 9, 1911, to accept a similar position with the American Rolling Mill company. On December 24, 1912, he married Miss Ella Sims, daughter of the late Capt. and Mrs. Mary Sims, of Middletown. They have one child, a handsome and robust son, Richard Allen Blaine, the joy of the household, born December 5, 1918. Mrs. Blaine's father, Capt. Sims, and Mr. Blaine's grandfathers Blaine and Statts served in the Civil war with bravery and honor, and where grandfather Capt. Franklin Blaine lost one leg. Mr. and Mrs. Blaine are held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. They have a most elaborate home in Arlington square in which they find pleasure, contentment and happiness. In politics, Mr. Blaine is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also of the K. of P. and Elks orders.
John L. Blair, who is widely and favorably known in commercial circles of Middletown as the proprietor of a thriving grocery on South Clinton street, and who has also performed capably and conscientiously the duties pertaining to several public offices, belongs to a family which has been connected with the business history of this community for sixty-eight years. He was born at Middletown, June 22, 1864, a son of John and Barbara (McLean) Blair, and a grandson of John and Janet (Barr) Blair, who met and were married at Campbelltown, near Glasgow, Scotland. The Blair family is traced back to the old Romans in Britain. In the second century, history relates, the Romans in Perthshire, Scotland, according to their reckoning, gained a great victory over the Caledonians, the scene of the decisive battle being known as Blair's Hill, which would indicate that Blair was a familiar name even at that early date. Among ancient castles of Scottish chiefs was Blair Castle, the stronghold of the Montrose clan in 1644, which was stormed by Cromwell about ten years later. In 1690 it was practically a ruin, but 200 years later was restored, and at present is the seat of the Duke of Athole. The home of the Drummonds of Perthshire is called Blair-Drummond house. In the new world, a famous old Blair home is that of the late Judge John Blair of Williamsburg, Va., which is still one of the early colonial landmarks. American branches of the Blair family trace back to Scotland through John Blair, of Virginia, an early colonist, and one Alexander Blair was a forefather also in the Old Dominion. One of the New England forefathers was David Blair, of Massachusetts, whose son, Robert, married Hannah Thompson. James Blair of Virginia was the founder of William and Mary college and its first president, and too was a contemporary of three governors of Virginia, Spottiswood, Gooch and Dinwiddie. Like them, he was of Scotch birth. The statesmen of the Blair family have included Senator Henry Blair of the New England family and Judge Montgomery Blair, of Kentucky. Senator Francis Preston Blair of Kentucky, who was born in Virginia after the close of
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the Revolutionary war, was a son of James Blair, attorney general of Kentucky. Montgomery Blair and Francis Blair, sr., were brothers. The family of President James K. Polk was allied with the Blairs. "Like Angels' Visits, short and far between," is a line from one of the poems of Robert Blair, who was born in Edinburg, Scotland, and one of whose sons became lord president of the Court of Sessions. Hugh Blair, another relative, was born in Edinburg. His volume of sermons so pleased King George III that he granted him a pension, and the success of his lectures on literature led to the foundation of a chair of belles lettres at Edinburgh University. The Blair coat-of-arms is blazoned argent on a saltier sable nine, nine mascles voided sable. Crest: A stay lodged proper. Motto: "Amo probos (I love the virtuous)." This is the coat-of-arms of the Blairs of Scottish birth. There is a similar blazon of arms for the Blairs born in Ireland, only the number of mascles is five and there are crescents, mullets and garbs, symbolizing sincerity, loyalty and constancy. The parents of John L. Blair were young people when they came to the United States from their native land of Scotland, and were married at Middletown in 1854. They came to Middletown, where John Blair became one of this city's first paper manufacturers, being superintendent of the old Barnitz Paper company. Later he embarked in the grocery business, with which he was connected until the time of his retirement in 1900. His death occurred June 14, 1906, and that of his wife in 1908. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church for a period of forty years, and he and his wife were the parents of four children: John L.; Anna, the wife of W. H. Ely, of Middletown; Miss Isabel Edna, of this city; and Jennie, the wife of J. F. Winton, of Philadelphia. John L. Blair was educated in the public schools of Middletown, and when he was still a youth began to be associated with his father in the conduct of the grocery business. At the time of his father's retirement, in 1900, he assumed the management, and at the present time is sale owner of the business, which is located at 316 Clinton street and enjoys an excellent patronage. Recognized as one of Middletown's premier business men, progressive and enterprising, Mr. Blair has also served his community well and energetically in offices of public importance having been president of the school board for two years, a member of the city council one year and a member of the board of public service for six years and eight months, during two years of which time he was president of that body. As a fraternalist he belongs to the Masons and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian church. January 15, 1891, Mr. Blair married Bertha Rebecca Thompson, who came from Belfast, Ireland, and whose father died November 2, 1906, her mother passing away in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Blair are the parents of six children: Hugh Thompson, Charles, Agnes Lucile, John Milton, Vincent Paul and Eugene.
John Richard Blankenship, a heater in the employ of the American Rolling mill and a son of John Richard and Martha (Gannon) Blankenship, was born September 17, 1886, at Ashland, Ky. On completion of his education in the public schools of that place, he secured employment in a furniture factory, and later entered a steel
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plant; where he learned his trade. Mr. .Blankenship's parents are old settlers of Ashland, and still have their home there. In addition to the subject of this sketch, there were fourteen children in the family: Belle, Mrs. Alfred Dinsmore, of Ashland; Mollie, Mrs. Henry White; William and Mattie, Mrs. Elmer Brown; all of Ironton, Ohio; James Cummings and Joe, in Ashland; Charles, in Los Angeles, Calif.; Colonel and Lida, Mrs: Tom Ratliff, in Ashland; Gerald, in the United States Navy; Otis, in Ashland; Leona, in West Virginia; Jess, in Ashland; and one who died in infancy. The family is noted for its patriotism. The paternal grandfather served in the Mexican war and lost a leg in battle in the Civil war; William and Joe were in the Spanish-American war; James also was in the Spanish-American war and has been for the past twenty-eight years with the United States Army; Colonel is with the Army of Occupation in Germany; and Gerald is in the United States Navy. In 1911, Mr. Blankenship went to Middletown and took a position with the American Rolling Mill company as heater, and through the years of his service has been a faithful worker. His marriage to Eva Rosena Schmitt, daughter of Herman and Catherine (Conrad) Schmitt, took place in Middletown, May 7, 1914. Mrs. Blankenship was born in Middletown, September 16, 1891. Her two brothers, Herman and Arthur, and the parents also live there. Four children: Paul, Catharine, Edna May and Mary Margaret, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Blankenship. A few years ago a splendid new home was built on Grand avenue, in which the members of the family take much pleasure and delight. Mr. Blankenship is an industrious and thrifty man, and in political matters he is liberal.
John Block, who is one of the best known residents of Union township, Butler county, lives retired on his well improved farm which he cultivated with care and profit for many years. Mr. Block was born in 1832, in Holstein, Germany, attended school in boyhood and afterward assisted his father in tilling their small tract of land. Desiring better agricultural opportunity than was possible in Holstein at that time for young men without capital, when twenty years of age he came to the United States and as many of his countrymen had settled in Ohio, he naturally sought a home here also. He found immediate employment as a farmhand in Butler county, near Hughes station, and continued working on farms in the county until 1884 when he bought his present farm of 144 acres and has lived here ever since. Through industry he prospered and through economy he put aside for the time when he should retire, hence he is in very comfortable circumstances. He married Stephina Braun and they have the following children: Carrie Elizabeth, Henry, Masie M., John, Charles, Anna, George and Frank. Mr. Block reared his large family in comfort and gave them educational advantages. At one time he served in the office of road supervisor. He belongs to St. John's Lutheran church at Hamilton.
Harry C. Blum. Energetic and successful in business life and prominent and public-spirited in civic affairs, for some years Harry C. Blum has been known as one of Hamilton's substantial citizens, a reliable and trustworthy man who has combined the qualities of
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marked business talents and constructive citizenship into a factor that has contributed to his community's well-being. H is a native son of Hamilton, his parents being Ernest F. and Salina (Garver) Blum. Ernest F. Blum was born in Germany and was a child when brought to the United States and settled in Texas. He was still a youth when he came to Cincinnati and enlisted in the Union army for service during the Civil war, joining the 9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Bob McCook, with which organization he took part in several hard-fought battles. When his first term of service expired, he re-enlisted, in the l67th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he fought bravely until the close of the struggle. Returning to civil life, he became a member of the furniture firm of Sortman & Blum which in the early days manufactured coffins and furniture by hand, and continued as a furniture manufacturer for many years, or until his retirement, which preceded his death by a short time. His first wife, Salina Garver, who died when her only son and child, Harry C., was an infant, was born at Hamilton, and was a member of the old and honored Garver family, which settled in America in Colonial times, contributed of its members to the ranks of the army during the Revolutionary war and the War of 1812, subsequently located in Pennsylvania, and from that state came as pioneers to Ohio. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Blum married Miss Emilie Beer, of Hamilton, of German ancestry, and they had four children: Mathilda, Anna, Jennie and Emma. Harry C. Blum was educated in the public schools of Hamilton, following which he took a course in a business college here, and then entered the factory of his father's business. Later he was taken into the office, as bookkeeper, and then filled a like position with the Gordon Steam Pump company, with which he remained for eight years. In 1895 he became selling agent for the Cincinnati Packing and Abattoir company, and after many years spent on the road was appointed distributing agent for this concern for Hamilton and the vicinity. He has a wide acquaintance in his line of business, as well as in commercial and industrial circles generally, and has the complete confidence and respect of those with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Blum is also an accomplished musician, a talent inherited from his father, and for several years was orchestra leader at the Hamilton opera house. He has been prominent and active in local politics, as a Republican, was for some time city treasurer, a position to which he was appointed, and is now a member of the county board of elections. His fraternal affiliations include membership in the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the United Commercial Travelers, and with his family he belongs to the Methodist church. In 1893 Mr. Blum married Rose, daughter of Booth F. Stead, a veteran of the Civil war. In 1898 Mrs. Blum died, and in 1905 Mr. Blum married May Oakes, of Crawford county, Pa., daughter of William Oakes, of Conneautville, Pa., who kept a tavern and was of old Revolutionary stock. Mr. Oakes' wife was born in Pennsylvania, a member of the DePue family, also of Revolutionary descent, and died at Conneaut, Ohio.
John D. Bobenmeyer. He is a son of John and Saloma (Dubbs)
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Bobenmeyer, both natives of Pennsylvania, where the former was born in Berks county and the latter in Lehigh county, the respective families having been early founded in the Old Keystone state. John Bobenmeyer was a son of John Frederick Bobenmeyer, who was of Holland Dutch descent, the original ancestors in America having here settled in the Colonial days. John Frederick Bobenmeyer was but six months old when Indians attacked the home at night and massacred all members of the family except John F. and his devoted mother, who fled with him into the forest depths and there remained in concealment until the Indians departed. The infant child thus saved from death by his mother, grew to manhood in the old Keystone state, whence he came to Ohio and numbered himself among the early settlers of Butler county. Here he first established his home and found employment in a distillery where he remained a number of years. He then removed to Darke county. John Bobenmeyer was a child at the time when the family home was established in Butler county, where he was reared under the conditions and influences that marked the pioneer period and here he devoted his entire active career to agriculture, his old homestead farm having been situated on the present Deerfield turnpike, where he lived and labored to goodly ends and where he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives, secure in the high regard of all who knew him. They became the parents of ten children, all of whom attained to maturity: Frances, Susan, Sarah, Henry, John D., Maggie, Mary, Elizabeth, Clara, and Charles. Susan became the wife of Mitchell Morris; Sarah's first husband was L. D. Norris, and after his death she became the wife of William Graham; Clara became the wife of Adrian Fox; Maggie married Andrew Schuler; Mary became the wife of Charles Riffel; and Elizabeth wedded Charles Smith. John D. Bobenmeyer passed the period of his childhood and youth upon the old family homestead, in Fairfield township, where his early educational advantages were those offered in the common schools of the period. He continued upon his father's farm until the time of his marriage, when he established a home of his own on the little farm which is his present place of residence and which comprises ninety-four and one-half acres, and the buildings and other permanent improvements that mark this property were installed by Mr. Bobenmeyer. He has been one of the world's workers and has won substantial prosperity through his own well ordered efforts. He has had no vestige of ambition for the activities of the political arena, but is found arrayed as a staunch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are earnest members of the Presbyterian church. The Centennial year, 1876, recorded the marriage of Mr. Bobenmeyer to Miss Emma Vinneage, who is a native of Fairfield township, as was also her father, the late Moore Vinneage, who had the distinction of being the .first white child born in this township, his entire active career having been marked by close association with agricultural industry in his native county, his wife, whose maiden name was Nancy H. Kirk, having been born in Pennsylvania. Of their ten children eight attained to maturity, namely: Rollin, John, William, Mary,
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Laura, Lawrence, Emma and Nancy. Mr. and Mrs. Bobenmeyer have three children: John Harlan; Frank Moore and Emma Gertrude. John H. Bobenmeyer wedded Miss Elizabeth Shepard and they have three children: Joseph Glenn, Lillian and Marion. Frank M. Bobenmeyer remains with his venerable parents and has active charge of the old homestead farm; he is a bachelor. Emma Gertrude is the wife of James Clawson, and they have no children.
Peter P. Boli. On the roster of Hamilton's able members of the profession of law is found the name of Peter P. Boli, who has gained distinctive preferment in his chosen calling. In the learned professions and particularly in that which pertains to the practice of law, advancement depends entirely upon merit, and the intellectual vigor, analytical power and argumentative ability of Mr. Boli have gained him a leading place among the attorneys of Butler county. Mr. Boli belongs to that class of men who gain success in the community of their nativity, and is thoroughly, by birth, training and predilection a product of Ohio, and of the Miami valley. He was born at Hamilton, March 31, 1885, a son of Louis A. and Caroline (Buckel) Boli, well known and highly-esteemed people of Hamilton, and is a member of one of the city's honored old families. After attending the graded and high schools of Hamilton, Mr. Boli entered upon his professional studies as a student at the Ohio State university, from the law department of which institution he was duly graduated with the class of 1908, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Law. He at once located at Hamilton, where his probationary period, through which practically every young lawyer must go, was passed in the office of and in association with W. C. Shepard. Subsequently he left Mr. Shepard, and since that time has been engaged in practice alone. Possessing the advantages of a collegiate education, having boundless energy and great ambition, with a studious nature and a keenly analytical mind, it is not strange that Mr. Boli soon won success at the bar. He demonstrated his ability in several well conducted litigated interests and from that time has enjoyed a liberal clientage. He prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care, and never loses sight of an available point that will enhance the interests of his clients. His arguments are forceful, clear and convincing, and his deductions follow in logical sequence. In his political associations, Mr. Boli is a Republican, but prefers the triumph of principle to the domination of party, and personally has not been an aspirant for public honors, his good citizenship being confined to a support of worthy measures designed for the betterment of the community and its people. Fraternally, he is a popular member of the local lodges of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. May 7, 1914, Mr. Boli married Sue, daughter of Isaac Whelan, of Hamilton, and they have one daughter: Betty C.
Llewellyn Bonham. In the career of Llewellyn Bonham, of Oxford, two industries, those of agriculture and manufacturing, have played an important part. For a number of years he has been classed with the substantial and successful farmers of Butler county, and as secretary of the Bonham Recorder company has attained a
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high position in the business world of his community. Mr. Bonham was born at St. Louis, Mo., a son of L. N. and Ellen M. (Gere) Bonham, the former a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, and the latter of Massachusetts. In his youth L. N. Bonham followed the vocation of teacher, and for many years was principal of a seminary at St. Louis but in 1872 changed his residence to Oxford, Ohio, and for fourteen years was secretary of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture. He was a man of superior educational attainments and a graduate of Miami university, of which in his later life he was a member of the board of trustees. After his marriage to Ellen M. Gere he resided for a time at Dayton, but later moved to St. Louis, where their two children, Nellie, deceased, and Llewellyn Bonham were born. The parents are both deceased. Llewellyn Bonham was educated in private schools and at Michigan Agricultural college, Lansing, Mich., after graduation from which, he .resided at Chicago, Ill., for two years, being identified with the big packing firm of Swift & company. In 1898 he was sent to New York by that company as manager of one of its departments, but subsequently resigned to take up his profession of civil engineering in connection with railroad construction work, in addition to which he did much experimental work in mechanics. While engaged in the latter pursuit, he conceived the idea of a traffic recorder, which he patented in 1914, this device being an intricate register for recording passenger traffic. By a simple mechanism it records the number of passengers carried between any two stations, the total passenger mileage of each trip, the number of cash and ticket passengers, the number of passengers carried from one point to another and a summary total of all financial and mileage statistics of each trip is recorded in total. By this simple mechanism may be determined by railroads, interurbans, etc., the business done each day, month or year between points, the comparative traffic of one point and another, and condenses in a very accurate and concise manner all the information needed in the auditing of passenger traffic. At the end of each trip the conductor is enabled by releasing the printed report to attach his signature, and this report is always accurate and complete, showing the stations at which passengers boarded trains, their respective points of destination and all other facts. This system has been adopted by many of the leading interurban roads of the country. Active manufacture of this device was commenced in November, 1914, at Hamilton, but when the United States entered the war, active production was curtailed because the factory was engaged in war work in the manufacture of Liberty motor parts. The corporation officers of the Bonham Recorder company are: E. E. Dwight, president; G. Y. Bast, vice-president; and Llewellyn Bonham, secretary. In addition to this large and important business, Mr. Bonham is largely interested in farming, and at the present time is the owner of much valuable property, including the farm purchased in 1840 in Butler county by his maternal grandfather, Isaac Gere. He was married to Frances S., daughter of R. W. McFarland, of Oxford, who for a number of years was president of Miami university.
Frank J. Bov. The value of a useful trade and of centering one's activities in a given occupation is exemplified in the career of Frank J. Bov, proprietor of the Miami Pattern works, at Hamilton, Ohio. Concentration and industry have played an important part in Mr. Bov's rise from humble circumstances to prosperity, and his career is one which should prove encouraging to other youths placed in the same position as that which he occupied when he started to make his own way in life. Mr. Bov was born at Hamilton, February 17, 1868, a son of Jacob Bov. His father, a native of Ireland, left that country in young manhood and emigrated to America, where he arrived without capital and with nothing to assist him save his willingness to work, and his knowledge of the shoemaker's trade. He located at Hamilton in 1848 and for some years worked at his trade as a journeyman, but his industry and frugal habits enabled him to accumulate sufficient capital to invest in a business of his own, and for some years he was the proprietor of a shop and shoe store at Rossville, where his death occurred in 1868. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Magdalene Snyder and was a native of Germany, still survives him at the age of eighty-two years, and is a communicant of St. Stephen's Roman Catholic church. There were five children in the family, three of whom survive, as follows: John, who is a carriage painter of Cincinnati, O.; Mary, the widow of Mike Judge, of Hamilton; and Frank J. Frank J. Bov was still a child when his father died, and much of his boyhood was spent in hard work, but he nevertheless managed to secure a good common school education, attending the classes in Hamilton until he was twenty years of age. In the meantime he had remained with his mother, and had worked at such honorable employment as presented itself, but finally came to the conclusion that a useful trade was a valuable asset and accordingly set about to learn pattern making. He proved a skilled workman in this direction and had no trouble in finding remunerative employment, being connected with a New York firm for four years, and working also at Laporte, Ind., Dayton, O., and other large cities. In 1901 he returned to Hamilton, where he bought the business of Jacob School & Son, and in 1903 moved to his present location at No. 110 Monument avenue, where he now has a modern plant, finely equipped throughout. The extent of his business, which includes the work of all the large Hamilton manufacturers and a number from Cincinnati and other nearby cities, necessitates the employment of from ten to fifteen skilled mechanics. Mr. Bov has demonstrated what a man can accomplish by pursuing practical and straightforward methods and by exercising always in his associations with his fellow men the qualities of integrity, consideration and kindness. The subterfuge of misrepresentation is strictly tabooed from his plant, and in consequence he is thoroughly relied upon and trusted by business men here. That honesty and fair dealing combine to form the best policy is demonstrated anew in the career of Mr. Bov, for he receives high credit in Bradstreet, and exerts a strong influence upon many phases of municipal growth. Fraternally, Mr. Bov is affiliated with Father Butler Council, No. 968, K. C., and Hamilton Lodge, No. 93, B. &
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P. O. E. With his family he belongs to St. Peter's Catholic church. In 1906 Mr. Bov was married to Miss Clara Becker, of Hamilton, and four children have been born to this union: Raphael and Thomas, twins; Frances and Anna, all at home. Mrs. Becker's parents are deceased; her father, Frank J. Becker, was a moulder by trade.
John. C. Boyle. In the fertile agricultural regions of the Miami valley it is not unusual to find that several generations of a family have resided on the same farm, son succeeding father m the ownership of the property. This is the case in the property now owned and operated by John C. Boyle, a capable and highly respected agriculturist of Hanover township, whose farm has been in the family name for one hundred years and was formerly operated by his father and maternal grandfather, eighty acres of which was deeded to his maternal grandfather, Enos James, by John Rickey, December 12, 1817, for the sum of $560, as was also eighty acres deeded by John Sacket to Enos James, March 9, 1830, for $900. Mr. Boyle was born on this farm October 5, 1868, a son of John Boyle. The latter was born at Cookston, Ireland, November 14, 1822, and as a young man emigrated to the United States, without friends or finances, but with a strong determination to find his fortune in the land of his adoption. Locating at Cincinnati, for a time he was employed in that city making mill stones, but subsequently moved to near Darrtown, where for a time he was employed on the John Moore farm at a wage of $10 per month. He was married February 22, 1849, to Martha J. James, born July 6, 1826, a daughter of Enos and Martha (Chandler) James, natives of Bucks county, Pa., and early settlers of section 22, Hanover township. In that section Mr. James had secured land from the United States government at an early day, erected a log house thereon, cleared and cultivated his land and made a home thereon, in which he resided until his death, January 4, 1899. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, as was also Mrs. James. They had five children: James, who went to Carroll county, Ind.; Jason, who went to the same county; Abel, who lived at Bath, Ind.; Elias, who went to Carroll county; and Martha J., who became Mrs. Boyle. After his marriage, John Boyle settled on the James homestead, where he continued to be engaged in farming until his death, January 4, 1899, his wife surviving him until April 4, 1902. They were the parents of nine children: Enos James, born December 10, 1850, a farmer in Clinton county, Ind., who died January 22, 1918; William and Jason, twins, born March 25, 1853, the former of whom died July 30, 1853, and the latter also deceased; Henderson, born January 24, 1857, a resident of Columbus, Ind.; Elias, born April 18, 1857, a farmer in Hanover township, Butler county; Andrew J., born April 9, 1859, died November 10, 1865; George W., born June 13, 1861; Martha J., born September 3, 1865, married Jacob Nehl, of Butler county; and John C. John C. Boyle attended the public schools of his native community and grew up on the home farm. He was married June 22, 1892, to Dora, daughter of John Jacob and Dorothea (Ritteberger) Miller, who were born in
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Germany and as young people came to the United States and settled at Cincinnati where Mr. Miller followed his trade of cooper until his removal to Hamilton. There his death occurred in November, 1918, when he had reached the remarkable age of ninety-one years, while his widow still survives him and resides at Hamilton. Mr. Miller fought as a soldier of the Union during the Civil war. There were eight children in the Miller family, namely: Jacob, Lizzie, Dora, Henry C., George, Susie, Anna and Herman, all residents of Hamilton except Mrs. Dora Boyle, and Susie, the latter deceased. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Boyle: Clement M., born February 28, 1894, who married Hazel Ermston and farms a part of the home place; John Lee, born March 12 1896 who married Alma M. Green, and is a salesman of Franklin, Ind., with two children, - Bertha M. and John Lee, jr.; Fred H.; born April 7, 1898, residing at home; Martha D., born August 3, 1900, a graduate of the Hanover high school, class of 1918; Bertha, born July 24, 1903, at home; and Charles G., born September 26, 1907, also at home. Mr. Boyle has always lived on the old home place, where he has one of the fine country homes of Butler county. In addition to carrying on a general farming business, he raises pure-bred Polled Hereford cattle, Poland China hogs, draft horses and white rock chickens, and his modern methods and marked industry are assisting him to make a success of all his undertakings. As a citizen he is ranked high among the residents of his community, where he has discharged every duty faithfully, and for several years has served efficiently as a member of the school board. He votes the Democratic ticket, and he and the members of his family belong to the Hamilton United Presbyterian church.
Frank Bradley. The late Frank Bradley, who had earned widespread respect and which he held to the day of his death, had all the essential qualities for a useful and successful career; was one of the well-to-do agriculturists of Oxford township, Butler county. Mr. Bradley was born at Binghamton, N. Y., a son of John and Fidelia (Dean) Bradley. The only child of his parents, he accompanied them as a child to Cincinnati and after a few years to Bloomington, Ill., but subsequently returned to Cincinnati for his education, and then settled at Oxford. Here he was married, August 25, 1875, to Sarah J., daughter of John and Sarah Jane (Pickard) Preston, natives of Yorkshire, England, who were married in that country and on their arrival in the United States settled at Cincinnati. In 1867, they located in Butler county, Ohio, on the farm on which Mrs. Bradley now makes her home, and here the father died in 1872 and the mother in 1894, both being laid to rest in Oxford cemetery. They were the parents of six children: Sarah Jane, who became Mrs. Bradley; John T.; Charles W., of Oxford; Mary A., the wife of Joseph Bentley, of Connersville; Anna E., the wife of Al McDonald, of Indianapolis, Ind.; and George P., who resides with Mrs. Bradley. Following their marriage, Mr. And Mrs. Bradley lived for a time east of Oxford and then moved to Union county, Ind., but after five years settled on the old Preston
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homestead, where Frank Bradley continued to carry on agricultural operations until his death in 1914, and he was laid to rest in Oxford cemetery. He was a good citizen and greatly interested in the welfare of his community, never cared for public preferment, but preferred to devote himself to his home and his farm, where he found his chief interest and enjoyment. His widow resides on the old home place and is highly esteemed by her numerous friends. With her lives her brother, George Preston, a substantial, practical and capable farmer, who, with his sister, is a part owner of the farm, which he is operating with much success. He is unmarried, and a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 67, of the Masonic fraternity, and Hamilton chapter. During the recent war, both he and Mrs. Bradley were generous contributors to all war activities. To Mr. and Mrs. Bradley there were born the following children: Charles, who married Anna Kapp and has three children, - Clarence, Donald and Roy; Clara, deceased, who was the wife of William Garden; Mary, who married M. Kellar and has three children, - Wilbur, Stanley and Harold; Frank, deceased; Sarah, who married Lee Ferris and has three children, - Floyd, Robert and Maynard; William, who married Grace Smith, lives with his mother and assists his uncle in his farming activities; and Luther, who married Edith Woodruff and has one child, - Edna.
Maria Louisa Brady, who is counted as one of the estimable women of Riley township, Butler county, Ohio, is highly regarded, not only for her excellent traits of womanhood, but also for the kindly interests she manifests in the well-being of her neighbors, has been a resident of that section since 1867, is a woman of most pleasing personality and endowed with all the attributes of the ideal mother and neighbor. She is the widow of William Brady, who in his time was one of the most active agriculturists in Butler county and was known as a man of unimpeachable business integrity. He died February 22, 1916. Mrs. Brady was born in Franklin county, Ind., Bath township, November 20, 1843, the daughter of Oliver P. and Maria (Flint) Thurston, being one of eleven children. Her father was born in Northumberland county, Pa., and came to Franklin county with his parents in 1819. They settled on a farm in Bath township, Franklin county, where the parents died, the father being killed by a falling tree. The mother was born in Baltimore, Md., and was the daughter of William and Temperance Flint. Her father died in Norfolk, Va., and she came to Butler county from Baltimore with her mother. The family, which consisted of mother and six children, settled in Bath township. The brother of Mrs. Brady's mother was drafted in the War of 1812 and died in Detroit, Mich. The parents of Maria Louisa Brady were married in 1825 in Bath township and after their marriage settled and resided there until Oliver P. Thurston died in 1865. In June, 1870, the widow and daughter moved to the present homestead, where Mrs. Brady now lives. The eleven children were Sarah, John R., Elizabeth, Samuel, William, Dorcas, Joseph, Benjamin, Maria Louisa, of this sketch, George R. and Oliver P. Of these eight grew to maturity. Maria Louisa Brady was educated
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at Mixersville, Ind., and was united in marriage in 1862 to William Brady, who was the son of Samuel and Susan (Davis) Brady. The father was a native of Union county, Ind., and the mother was born in Butler county, Ohio. Samuel Brady came to Riley township in 1843 with his parents and settled on the farm on which Mary Louisa Brady now lives. There were three other children, Lucretia, Verlinda and one who died in infancy. The father�s second marriage was to Martha Barnum and his third marriage to Amanda Coverley. It was on August 3, 1867, that Mary Louisa Thurston and William Brady were united in marriage and they removed to the present homestead the same year. The tract consists of about 154 acres. To them were born these children: Joseph F., Oliver S., and Leola M. Joseph F. married Belle Smith of Franklin county. She died in 1887. They had one child, deceased. Joseph married a second time to Sarah Teetor and two children resulted from this union Melba W., and Elsie B. Joseph F. died in 1911. Melba served in France during the recent war, having enlisted as a sergeant in the Quartermaster's department in 1917. Elsie became the wife of Earl Carson, who served in the army at Camp McHenry, Baltimore. Oliver S. married Clara Zepp and the couple reside in Colorado. They have two children, Louisa Edith and Ellis E. Louisa is the wife of Earl Kimber of Yuma county, Col., and they are the parents of one child, Verna. Ellis E. and wife reside in Hastings, Neb., and have one child. Leola married Melby C. Abbot and they reside in Indianapolis and have four children - Leta, Lois, Loren and Laura. Leta is the wife of Dr. R. Riffle of Indianapolis and they have one child. Lois is the wife of Mr. Leary, of Greenfield, Ind., and have one son. Loren and Laura are unmarried. The family tree of Mrs. Brady is as sturdy and impregnable as the gnarled oaks of the forest and it may be truthfully said that she might well feel proud of her lineage. She has maintained the admirable traits of character of her ancestors and the purity and sweetness of her own life have added materially to her mental complacency. Since the passing of her husband Mrs. Brady has traveled much, finding time to visit frequently with her children and grandchildren.
Alfred Bramble, farmer of Union township, was born in Fairfield township, Butler county, Ohio, July 5, 1891, son of A. L. and Margaret (Beatty) Bramble.
Luke Brannon, now deceased, was formerly sheriff of Butler county, and at the time of his death held the office of county commissioner. It is doubtful if any other man in this county was more respected than he, for he proved upon many occasions that he was utterly fearless in the discharge of his duty, and that he was scrupulously upright in all of his official dealing. He was born at Hamilton, December 9, 1859, and he died in the city of his nativity, December 2, 1918, from pneumonia, at his beautiful home on Central avenue and Chestnut street. He was a son of Roger Brannon, who, with his wife, was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, but came to the United States, and located at Hamilton, Ohio, at an early date in its history. Luke Brannon was reared at
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Hamilton, and attended its schools, and his useful life was spent in Butler county. Early displaying qualities which fitted him for the work of protecting society against the depredations of the criminal classes, he was elected constable of Hamilton, and held that office until 1900, when he was selected by Sheriff Peter Bisdorf as has first deputy. The record made by Mr. Brannon as a deputy resulted in his election to the office of sheriff, and he assumed the duties of that office January 4, 1904, and he was re-elected to that same office, and Butler county never had a better or more conscientious official. Perhaps the most notable event during his tenure of office was that of the Oxford riots, occasioned by the endeavor of a mob to lynch a man by the name of Spivey. Being notified of the gathering of the mob, Sheriff Brannon drove to Oxford, arriving just in time to spare the community the disgrace of a lynching, for the rope was already around the neck of the prisoner, and over a branch of one of the village trees. The dauntless sheriff forced his way to the prisoner's side, undeterred by the threats of the mob, forced back the ringleaders, and taking the rope from Spivey�s neck, took him away single-handed, and lodged him safely in the village jail. A little later, the prisoner was removed to Hamilton, where he was tried and convicted. Such action on the part of Sheriff Brannon showed his regard for his oath of office, and his determination to uphold the laws of the county he represented, no matter what the personal peril. His coolness and quiet assertion of his right to the prisoner had the proper effect on the mob, and probably the majority were very grateful to him for saving them from the commission of a serious crime. During the time he was sheriff, Mr. Brannon did not permit any congregation of gamblers and confidence men either inside or out of the Butler County Fair Grounds, and he was very successful in reducing the percentage of crime in the territory over which he had jurisdiction. While he was unflinching in his enforcement of the law, Mr. Brannon was kind and considerate in his treatment of the prisoners commited to his care, and won many of them to adopt a better mode of life. The people of Butler county were not willing to resign their claims upon Mr. Brannon, and in 1911 he was appointed juvenile officer by Judge Warren Gard, but later left this office to run for county commissioner, and was elected by a very large majority in 1913, giving to the duties of this last named office the same conscientious attention which had characterized his former career. From early youth Mr. Brannon was allied with the Democratic party, and was very active in politics, and a leader locally in his party. He held membership in the Elks, Eagles and Red Men. January 6, 1896, Mr. Brannon was married to Emma K. Yarick, and they lived together happily until her death, March 27, 1901, she having borne him two children, namely: Marie, who was born January 2, 1898, attended the Hamilton schools and the Notre Dame convent at Hamilton, from which she was graduated, marrying, in 1916, Clarence Walsh of Hamilton, and they have two children; and Luke Brannon, jr., who was born December 29, 1899, attended St. Stephen's school, and later St. Mary's high school. December
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29, 1903. Mr. Brannon was married (second) to Miss Catherine Hoderlene, of Hamilton, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Brannon had one son, Roger, who was born February 19, 1905 and he is now attending St. Mary�s high school. Mr. Brannon was a consistent member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church of Hamilton, while Mrs. Brannon is a member of St. Stephen�s. A tender husband, watchful father, kindly neighbor, and stainless public official, Mr. Brannon will long live in the memory of his fellow citizens, who are still benefiting from his official capability, and his alert vigilence in maintaining law and order.
James Aaron Bray, whose connection with the American Rolling mill at Middletown dates back for a number of years, has become widely and favorably known in his community, not only in circles where the employees of the great plant congregate, but as a fraternalist as well. He is one of his community�s self-made men, having been thrown upon his own resources at a tender age, and the success that he has attained in life is purely the result of individual effort. Mr. Bray was born September 26, 1854, in Finger Lane, England, a son of James and Mary Bray. His mother died when he was two years of age, and he was reared by his stepmother, who, after the death of his father, bound the twelve-year-old lad out to learn his trade. He remained in his native land until he was seventeen years of age, at which time he decided to seek his fortune in America, and accordingly made his way to Quebec, Canada, where he arrived July 3, 1871. From that city he went to Pittsburg, Pa., and was there employed in various capacities until coming to Middletown in 1909. Since that time he has been identified with the American Rolling mill, where he is accounted a superior workman, accurate and painstaking in the performance of his duties and faithful to the interests of his employers. Mr. Bray had the following brothers and sisters: George, William and Martha, who are deceased; Moses, a traveling salesman for the London Tea company, with headquarters at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England; Fannie, widow of George Iler, Brayville, Ky.; and Anna, deceased. August 5, 1884, Mr. Bray was united in marriage with Henrietta, daughter of George and Mary (Shives) Schwartz, the former of whom was born on a sailing vessel on the Atlantic, coming from Germany to the United States, and the latter a native of the North of Ireland. To this union there have been born three children: Nathaniel Harrison who married Carrie Michael and has one son, James A. Bray, jr., who is a gifted young vocalist now appearing in public; James Morton, who married Henrietta Mason, of Pittsburg, Pa., and they have one son, James Henry; and Jennie, the wife of William Randolph Sefton, of Tarentum, Pa. To this union was born one daughter, Elizabeth Jane. The entire family is musical, several members being particularly gifted in this direction, and as a natural result their home located on Garfield avenue is one at which numerous gatherings are held of a social and musical nature. Mr. Bray possesses the sterling qualities of the race from which he springs, and has made hosts of friends since coming to Middletown. He is particularly prominent among fraternalists,
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having been a Mason for many years, and during the past six years has held high office in the grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Bray is also active in lodge matters and is past worthy matroll of Prosser chapter, No. 367, O. E. S., and is a lady whose generous impulses have won her numerous friendships. She and her husband are members of the Presbyterian church.
David R. Breitenbecher. For a number of years combining farming and school teaching and achieving success in both industry and profession, David R. Breitenbecher, a very substantial resident of Butler county, may justly be numbered with its representative men. He is a native of Butler county, Ohio, born near Jacksonboro, son of George C. and Catherine (Gingerich) Breitenbecher, who had other children, as follows: Ella, Margaret, Anna, Christian, William, Christiana, Rudolph, Bertha and Henry. As the name indicates, the family originated in Germany, but for many years it has been American and the father of Mr. Breitenbecher came from the city of Cincinnati when he located as a farmer near Seven Mile, in Butler county. The large family was comfortably reared and David R. with his brothers and sisters had public school advantages, at one time being a classmate of Governor James M. Cox. Naturally studious, Mr. Breitenbecher early chose a career in the educational field, in which he has continued for twenty-nine years, and during this time he has taught one year in the Jacksonboro district; sixteen years in the Shiloh school; four years in the Fall; four years in the Elk Creek and has completed his fourth year in the Kumler school, where he is still engaged. He has a teacher's life certificate and is well known in educational circles all through this section, his success as an instructor justifying the high value placed on his ability by his fellow citizens. Not alone, however, is he devoting himself to educational problems, for he is operating the old home farm of 135 acres, keeping up its old-time reputation for grain and stock. In his political views he is a Democrat. He was reared in the United Brethren religious body and has always been conscientious in church observances.
Edward Brelsford. The position occupied by Edward Brelsford among the substantial agriculturists of Butler county is the result of long years of honorable dealing and unremitting industry. While he has followed other vocations at times, farming has been his chief vocation and in it he has found prosperity and the means of making a place for himself among the men whose life works have not been wasted. Mr. Brelsford was born in his present township, that of Wayne, Butler county, Ohio, October 30, 1866, his parents being Pierson and Sarah (Anspach) Brelsford. His father was born on the same farm, while his mother was a native of the Keystone state. On the paternal side he belongs to one of the old families of Butler county, which was founded here by his grandparents, who, as young married people, came to this locality and secured 160 acres of unimproved land from the United States Government. They won the respect of the community by the industrious manner in which they did the preliminary work of clearing and cultivating the land, and their many excellencies of mind and heart placed them
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in the confidence of their fellow-pioneers. They were the parents of the following children: Pierson the father of Edward; Laura; and William. H., who served as a private in an Ohio Volunteer Infantry regiment during the Civil war. The Anspach family, which originated in this country in Pennsylvania, moved at an early date from that state to Indiana and then came to Ohio, locating in Madison township, Butler county, where the maternal grandparents of Edward Brelsford continued to live and to follow agricultural pursuits during the remainder of long and honorable lives. Among their children were two sons, Marion and Michael, who served as Union soldiers during the Civil war. Pierson Brelsford grew up in Wayne township, and after his marriage settled near the village of Jacksonboro, on the old home farm, where the mother died after bearing her husband eight children: Samuel, William and James, who are deceased; Edward, of this review; John H., who makes his home on the old place of which he is the owner; Frank M., a member of the board of commissioners of Butler county and a prominent and leading business man of Trenton; and Clara and Ida, both of whom are deceased. After the death of the mother of these children, Pierson Brelsford moved to Middletown. He was united in marriage with Miss Ida Taylor, by whom he had one son: Hubert. His second wife also passing away, he married for his third wife Miss Anspach, and they spent the balance of their lives at Middletown. Mr. Brelsford was one of the universally esteemed men of his day and locality, and at various times was called upon by his fellow-citizens to perform public service. In addition to acting as township trustee he was township treasurer of Wayne township for a period of fourteen years, and his public record was an excellent one. Edward Brelsford was given his educational training in the public school at Shiloh and immediately after completing his education applied himself vigorously to the serious business of earning a living. For a time he divided his energies between farming and operating a sawmill in his home locality, but eventually disposed of his interests and went to Colorado, where for five years he was identified with an agricultural venture. Not caring for that state, he returned to Ohio and was engaged again in running a sawmill and farming, also threshing, and in 1907 bought his present farm, the old homestead, where he has since resided. He now has 204 acres of land in a good state of cultivation, and his farm has been increased in valuation by the erection of a number of substantial buildings, including a modern home, and the installment of modern facilities, machinery and improvements. He is also the owner of forty-three acres in another part of the county, and is rightly accounted one of the locality's substantial men. His civic interests are centered in all that relates to education, he serving most efficiently as school director for eighteen years. He is interested in fraternalism to the extent of taking an active interest in the lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, to all of which he belongs, and his religious faith is that of the United Brethren church. During the war period he showed his patriotism by generously
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supporting the Red Cross, Liberty Loan and other activities. November 15, 1888, Mr. Brelsford married Catherine Jacquart, of Greenbush, Preble county, Ohio, and they have five children: Clara, who married Charles Walters of Madison township and has one child, - Merle; Rufus, who married Mary Wagner, and has two children, - Walter and Clayton; and Misses Irma and Zelma, who reside on the farm with their parents; and Aletha who is also at home. Irma is a graduate of the high school and now holds a very important position in an office in the Porter building at Middletown.
Frank M. Brelsford. Equally as a business man, a public official and a thoroughgoing, constructive citizen, Frank M. Brelsford has impressed himself upon the people of Trenton, where he is engaged in several lines of commercial endeavor and is also acting capably in the capacity of county commissioner. Mr. Brelsford was born in Wayne township, Butler county, Ohio, March 21, 1873, a son of Pierson and Sarah (Anspach) Brelsford, the former born on the Brelsford homestead and the latter in Pennsylvania. The Brelsford family was founded in Butler county by the grandparents of Mr. Brelsford who, as young people, came here and took up 160 acres of land from the United States Government. Their children were: Pierson; Laura; and William, who served in an Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil war. The Anspachs, originating in Pennsylvania, moved therefrom to Indiana, and then transferred their place of residence to Madison township, Butler county, where they resided for many years until their deaths. Among their children were two sons, Marion and Michael, who served as Union soldiers during the Civil war. Following their marriage, Pierson and Sarah Brelsford settled near Jacksonboro, on an old farm, where the mother passed away after having borne her husband eight children: Samuel, William and James, who are deceased; Edward, a resident of Jacksonboro; John, who lives on the old home place; Frank M., of this review; and Clara and Ida, who are deceased. After the death of his first wife the father moved to Middletown, where he lived the rest of his life and where he was married to Ida Taylor, by whom he had one son: Hubert. Mr. Brelsford was one of the highly esteemed men of his day and locality, and in addition to acting as township trustee was township treasurer for a period of fourteen years. Frank M. Brelsford attended the rural schools of Wayne township and the high school at Jacksonboro, and when he left school settled down to the vocation of farming. He was married August 10, 1897, to Anna Pfalzgraf, of Trenton, daughter of John Pfalzgraf, and following his marriage removed to a farm near Jacksonboro. This he operated for some twenty years when he disposed of his interests therein and moved to Trenton, here engaging successfully in the butcher business. As time passed he became interested in real estate matters, and eventually became one of the organizers of the Butler County Real Estate company, his partners in this concern being A. L. Skank, Thomas Bell and A. K. Augsperger. In addition to being one of the leading and successful business men of his city, Mr. Brelsford has taken an
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active and helpful part in civic affairs, and has served eight years as trustee in his home township. In November, 1918, he was elected for his first term as a member of the board of commissioners of Butler county, and is capably discharging the duties attending such membership. He has the confidence of all who have had dealings with him, as a man of integrity, business honor and. personal probity. During the war period he took an active part in all war activities, particularly those of the Red Cross. He is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership in the local lodges of the Masons, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. With his family, he belongs to the Presbyterian church. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brelsford: Carrie, a graduate of Oxford university, who has been a teacher for three years; Helen, a graduate of the same institution, who has taught in the public schools for one year; May, who is engaged in taking a business course; and Pierson and Francis, who are attending the public schools.
John H. Brelsford. The progressive and enterprising exponents of agriculture found in Wayne township include no more industrious farmer than John H. Brelsford, the owner of a 200-acre tract, and a citizen of standing and public spirit. Mr. Brelsford has resided in this community all of his life and has won prosperity through his industry and good management, and at the same time has attained public confidence and esteem. He was born on the old farm which he now owns, in Wayne township, Butler county, Ohio, January 25, 1871, a son of Pierson and Sarah (Anspach) Brelsford, the former also born on the old Brelsford place and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. The Brelsford family is one of the old ones of this locality, having been founded by the grandparents of Mr. Brelsford who, as a young married couple, came to Butler county and took up 160 acres of land from the United States Government. They were highly respected people who worked industriously, and who reared the following family to honorable lives: Pierson, the father of John H.; Laura; and William, who served in an Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil war. The Anspach family, originating in Pennsylvania, moved from that state to Indiana, and then transferred their place of residence to Madison township, Butler county, where the maternal grandparents of Mr. Brelsford resided for many years and where their deaths occurred. Among their children were two sons, Marion and Michael, who served as Union soldiers during the war between the states. Following their marriage, Pierson and Sarah (Anspach) Brelsford settled near Jacksonboro, on the old home farm, where the mother passed away after bearing her husband eight children: Samuel, William and James, who are deceased; Edward, a resident of Wayne township; John H., of this review; Frank M., a member of the board of Butler county commissioners and a leading business man of Trenton; and Clara and Ida, both deceased. After the death of his first wife Pierson Brelsford moved to Middletown, where he married Ida Taylor, by whom he had one son: Hubert L. Pierson Brelsford was one of the highly esteemed men of his day
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and locality and in addition to acting as township trustee was township treasurer for a period of fourteen years. To the public school at Shiloh, Ohio, John H. Brelsford is indebted for his educational training, and when he laid aside his studies he adopted as his life work the vocation of farming, an occupation in which he has since been engaged with constantly increasing success. He is now the owner of a property approximating 200 acres, upon which he carries on extensive operations in a progressive and practical manner, and through his good management and intelligent use of modern facilities, is making his land pay him handsomely for the work which he expends upon it. He has always lived on the old home place, where his chief interests lie, and public affairs have held out no appeal to him save as they have affected his spirit of good citizenship. He has supported good movements and is an advocate of good roads and other measures fostered by men of public spirit and advanced and enlightened views. Mr. Brelsford holds membership in the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in which he has numerous friends, as he has also in the various circles in which he moves, and he is also a thirty-second degree Mason. He was married December 19, 1900, to Abbie J. Jacquart, of Greenbush, Preble county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Brelsford are the parents of no children of their own, but out of the goodness of their hearts are rearing an adopted son, Edward Summers.
Hiram Brewer, son of George R. and Mary (Dumford) Brewer, was born in Brown county, Ohio, March 23,1887. The parents moved to Williamsburg, Ohio, where Hiram was educated in the public schools. Upon leaving school, he went west, where he lived for many years. Six years ago he returned to Middletown, Ohio, and secured employment with the Gardner-Harvey Paper company. Here he remained four years, when he took a position with the American Rolling Mill company. He enlisted for service in the late war and went to France, where he remained one year, six months of which were spent in a cook camp at Gondrecourt. He received his discharge early in 1919, and returned to Middletown to become a fireman at the plant of the American Rolling Mill company. Mr. Brewer had seven brothers and sisters: Earl, now in Washington; Laura, Mrs. Doyle Malott, of Williamsburg, Ohio; Albert, in the west; John, in Adams county, Ohio; Ida, Mrs. James Malott, of Hartwell, Ohio; Ellen, Mrs. Sam. Malott, of Williamsburg; Arthur, deceased. Mr. Brewer's father served in the Civil war as a member of the 89th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; has parents still live at Williamsburg. Mr. Brewer is a member of the order of Moose; and is liberal in his political views.
John Brosius. One of the leading agriculturists of his locality, it has been the fortune of John Brosius to have realized many of his worthy ambitions and through the exercise of good judgment and business sagacity to have wrested from his opportunities financial and general success. This worthy citizen and highly respected farmer of Hanover township, Butler county, was born January 19, 1861, in Ross township, this county, a son of John Brosius, and
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a grandson of Daniel Brosius. Daniel Brosius was born October 7, 1806, in Pennsylvania, and as a young man came to Ross township, Butler county, Ohio, where he cleared a tract of land, made a home, and was married January 5, 1823, to Rebecca Parks, who was born June 24, 1801. They passed the rest of their lives as agriculturists in Ross township, where the following children were born to them: Elizabeth, born June 15, 1824, married Robert Lewis and died December 30, 1904; William, born June 13, 1827, lived in Indiana and later in Butler county, Ohio, and died April 8, 1908; James, born September 26, 1828, died March 27, 1853; John, born July 9, 1830, died January 20, 1861; Margaret, born February 18, 1832, died October 27, 1914; Isabelle, born December 12, 1834, died July 19, 1914; Daniel, born November 21, 1838, lived with his sisters Margaret and Isabelle at Millville, and died November 21, 1916; Rebecca, born December 17, 1842, married Thomas Flynn, went to Indiana and died March 29, 1881; Eliza Ann, born January 16, 1845, died March 10, 1854; Janet, born July 3, 1848, married Frank Gordon, lived in Hanover township, and died September 29, 1888; Alice, born April 13, 1850, died July 8, 1851. John Brosius was born in Ross township, where he received only an ordinary educational training in the public school in the vicinity of his father's farm, on which he resided until his marriage to Amanda Timbreman, who was born November 6, 1840, in Ross township, and died January 24, 1894, as a Universalist. John Brosius was always a farmer and was a man well known and highly esteemed in his community. The only child of his parents to grow to maturity, John Brosius of this review received a common school education, and after the death of his father he and his widowed mother went to make their home with his maternal grandfather, David Timbreman. There he resided until his marriage, April 5, 1885, to Mary Jane Pocock, who was born in Hanover township, on the present Brosius farm, and a daughter of Salem and Deziah (Clawson) Pocock. Mr. Pocock was born in Liberty township, Butler county, July 19, 1823, and was an invalid for seventeen years prior to his death, July 22, 1908, while his wife was born April 13, 1834, and died July 24, 1908. He was always a farmer and highly respected in his community, voted the Democratic ticket, and he and his faithful wife were members of the Baptist church. They had three children: Annetta, born December 25, 1861, who married John A. Kumler, a retired farmer of Dennison, Tex., with three children, - Elizabeth, who married Burton Baldwin of Texas, Alvin P., who lives in Colorado, and Salem G., a surveyor of western Texas; Mary Jane, born November 26, 1834, who became Mrs. Brosius; and Lizzie, born March 31, 1867, who died at the age of twelve years. Salem Pocock was a son of James and Harriet Pocock, who were married August 22, 1822, the former having been born July 27, 1791, and the latter March 28, 1802. Their children were: Salem, born July 14, 1823; David, born June 28, 1826; William, born October 12, 1826; Joseph, born February 9,1828; Margaret, born October 10, 1829; Martha Jane, born February 21, 1831; Reuben, born January 27, 1833; Elizabeth, born December 7, 1835; John, born September 6, 1837;
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Martha and Lucy, twins, born September 22, 1839; Daniel, born September 14, 1841; and Rachael Ann, born September 5, 1844. Deziah (Clawson) Pocock was a daughter of James and Rebecca (Vail) Clawson, who were married January 2, 1816, and whose children were: John R., who married Ann Bloomfield, January 15, 1839; Stephen V., who married Rebecca Pocock, February 24, 1841; Jeptha who married Susan Dubolt, February 1, 1846; Hezekiah Scudder, who married Mary Clawson, December 22, 1853; Wilson T. who married Harriett Fulkerson, April 12, 1854; William B., who married Lydia Ligett, January 4, 1855; Rebecca E., who married William Clawson, February 5, 1857; Salem D., who married Deziah Clawson, December 25, 1860; Elizabeth, who married Charles S. Drake, January 19, 1862. James Clawson married a second time, Elizabeth Weaver, August 2, 1870, and for his third wife married Mary A. Louthan, October 1, 1871. The deaths of the foregoing were: Samuel, July 29, 1828; Asa, August 11, 1829; Louis P., April 5, 1844; James R., June 21, 1861; Mary, August 10, 1864; Rebecca, March 29, 1870; Elizabeth, March 29, 1870; William, December 23, 1872; James, April 28, 1885; Stephen, September 27, 1891; and Jeptha, December 10, 1897. The birth record of the foregoing was: Joseph, May 31, 1795; Rebecca, November 12, 1798; James R., January 7, 1818; Jeptha, June 3, 1823; Asa, December 1824; Samuel B., May 7,1827; Wilson T., January 1, 1832; Mary, August 28, 1834; Deziah, April 13, 1837; Elizabeth, January 3, 1840; and Lewis, March 4, 1843. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brosius located on the old place for four years and since then have made their home on their present property. They have in all 237 acres of well-improved land, on which Mr. Brosius carries on farming in a manner that shows he is thoroughly conversant with modern methods. In addition to conducting a general farming business, he has been successful as a raiser of Poland-China hogs. In his work he is ably assisted by his only son, Corwin Brosius, who was born December 15, 1895, a graduate of the Hamilton high school, and a progressive and enterprising young agriculturist who has many friends throughout the vicinity of the home farm. He, like his father, is a Republican, and the elder man has taken an active and intelligent interest in township affairs for many years, though rather as a good citizen and a supporter of worth-while and beneficial movements than as a seeker for personal preferment at the hands of his party or his fellow-citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Brosius and their son are members of the United Brethren church.
Benjamin Haywood Brown. The skillful and energetic farmer of Butler county, especially if possessed of fertile and productive land, can always be sure of a substantial return for his labor, but many of the enterprising men of this section have not confined their attention to general agricultural activities, but have combined with farming certain special lines of endeavor. Benjamin Haywood Brown, the owner of a splendid property in Oxford township, is known as a thorough and practical farmer, and is also an authority on fruit raising, having for the past twenty years been a judge of fruit, vegetables and grain at county and state fairs, and also
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has the distinction of being the only living charter-member of the Oxford Farmers club. Mr. Brown was born in Union county, Ind., September 6, 1846, a son of Lewis and Mary Eleanor (Knowlton) Brown natives of Massachusetts the former born in 1900, the latter in 1906. They grew up and were married at Wooster, Mass., whence they went to Buffalo, N. Y., and came west to Hamilton, Ohio, by boat, then traveling overland to Union county, Ind., where they settled in the vicinity of Yankeetown, a community which they assisted in building up. Mr. Brown had a saw and grist mill in Indiana as well as land, but in 1848 disposed of his interests there and came to Oxford township, and in 1852 bought the land on which his son, Benjamin H., now resides, on Brown's road, two miles north of Oxford, which road was named in honor of Lewis Brown. He had 160 acres of land, on which he set out the trees around the buildings, later remodeled the house, and built the barn. Mr. Brown was a very progressive man, a firm believer in good roads and a supporter of free pikes, and put in the first pike in his neighborhood. He died on this place at an advanced age, in the faith of the Presbyterian church, to which belonged also his wife, who passed away at the age of sixty-five years. They were the parents of these children: Henry, Waldo, Ed, Emma, Myra and Benjamin H. Henry Brown of this family was a teacher at Hamilton for ten years and principal of the public school at Oxford. In 1864 he enlisted in the 100-day service and after the close of the Civil war went to Lane seminary and graduated. After thirty years of preaching in Wisconsin he went to Kansas City, where his death occurred in 1897. He married Mary, a daughter of Prof. William Ballentine, of Lane seminary. Waldo Brown was also a teacher for many years, later became agricultural editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, was on the staff of the Ohio Farmer for ten years, and was state lecturer of farmers' institutes in every county of Ohio, for a period of thirty years. He was first married to Hyla Sample and after her death to Miss Laura Cross. He was also in the 100-day service during the Civil war, and died in 1906. Ed, who was a carpenter by trade, enlisted in the Union army in 1861 and served three years during the Civil war in West Virginia and Missouri, subsequently being with General Sherman in his famous march to the sea. In 1870 he went to Kansas and secured a farm, which he sold and went to California, settling in Sawtelle, where he now resides. He married Hattie Ross. Emma married Ezra Peabody and in 1874 went to Indiana, where her husband was in the drug business, from where they moved to Minneapolis, Minn., in 1888. He died in 1916. Myra, who was unmarried, died in 1918 in Oxford township. Benjamin Haywood Brown was educated in the Oxford schools and Miami university, from which latter he was graduated in 1868. He then taught school for a time, but eventually settled down to farming and raising fruit of all kinds. He also raises Polled Durham cattle and Shropshire sheep. As noted before, for the past two decades his services have been much in demand as a judge of fruits, vegetables and grain at state and county fairs. He became a charter member at the organization of the Oxford
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Farmers club, at Oxford, of which city he was a resident for eight years, and still belongs to this organization, which is limited to a membership of twelve persons, meeting at the homes of the different members. He has always taken a great deal of interest in this club, of which he is the sole living charter member, as he was also in all movements for the betterment of the community and the county. Like his father, he has been a progressive man, and he and his brother Waldo fathered the movement which built the first telephone line out of Oxford. A devout member of the Presbyterian church, he was superintendent of the Sunday school for over ten years. Although a stalwart Republican in his political views, he has never been an office seeker. Mr. Brown was married in 1871 to Mary Sawyer, of Cincinnati, a daughter of Milo Sawyer, of Virginia, an early settler of Cincinnati and a carriage maker by trade, who went to Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1874, and died there in 1875. Mrs. Brown died in 1875, leaving two children. Fannie, the elder, is a graduate of Oxford Female college and the wife of Joseph Cramer, a banker and druggist of Covington, Ohio. They have one son, Hugh. Harry, the younger of the two children of Benjamin H. and Mary (Sawyer) Brown, is a graduate of Miami university and a farmer of Oxford township. He married Eva Brinkman, a teacher in the Cincinnati public schools, and they have one son, Harold. Benjamin H. Brown married for his second wife Virginia C. Dare, of Cincinnati, Ohio, with whom he was united in 1882. She is a daughter of Clement Dare, who was chief engineer of Cincinnati for many years, for some time a railroad man, and later a farmer in Oxford township, where he died in 1882. His widow was Rebecca, who died in 1913. Mr. Brown has four sons by his second union. Ralph Dare, who after graduating from Miami university, took a course at Columbus in engineering, and then taught school for two years. He was with the Baltimore & Ohio railroad for two years as a civil engineer, but for the past ten years has been with the O'Gara Coal company, of Illinois. He married Ruth Hines, of Harrisburg, Ill., and they have two sons, - Ralph Dare, jr., and Robert Roy. Clifford Knowlton, the next son of Benjamin H. Brown, graduated from Miami university, following which he took a course in school work at the Springfield (Mass.) Y. M. C. A. He was located at Cincinnati for two years, in the State University of New York three years, and at Columbia university for a like period, and is now state secretary of the Y. M. C. A. at Columbus, Ohio. He married Marion McAllister of Watertown, N. Y., and they have one son, Knowlton. Roy Brown, the next son, met a tragic death, when twenty-one years of age, being killed by a railroad train. The youngest son, Raymond T., attended Miami university, and is now associated in farming with his father, is single, and resides at home.
Henry Brown, the proprietor of a popular and successful grocery at Venice, where he was formerly engaged in the hardware trade, was born in Ross township, Butler county, Ohio, December 25, 1870, a son of James and Amanda (Hungerford) Brown, and a grandson of Daniel Brown, of the same township, and Richard
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Hungerford, of Indiana. The parents of Mr. Brown passed their entire existences as tillers of the soil in Ross township, and there passed away with the respect of the people of their community after long, useful and God-fearing lives. They were the parents of the following children: Richard; Albridge; Daniel; William;. Henry, of this review; Sarah who married John Butterfield; Mildred, deceased, who married J. R. Bevis; Rhoda, who became the second wife of J. R. Bevis; and Elizabeth, who married R. L. Cone. The boyhood and youth of Henry Brown were passed in farming and attending the public schools,. and the former constituted his chief occupation until 1904, in which year he embarked in business at Venice as the proprietor of a hardware store. For a time he devoted himself exclusively to the handling of light, shelf and heavy hardware, paints, oils, glass, etc., but later added a grocery line to his stock. This venture turned out so satisfactorily that eventually he gave up his hardware business and now devotes himself entirely to his grocery line, in which he has built up an excellent trade. One of his specialties is the handling of the Kroger products, of which he is the distributor in his community. Mr. Brown is a Democrat in his political tendencies. He is a past master of the local Masonic lodge and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His support of all war activities was loyal and reflective of his worth as a public-spirited citizen. Mr. Brown was married in 1905 to Ida, daughter of Rile and Rilly Burke, of Ross township, and to this union there has been born one child: Helen, a graduate of the Venice High school and of business college. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Brown married a sister of hers, Mildred Burke. John Burke, a brother of Mrs. Brown, fought as a volunteer soldier in the American army during the war with the Philippines and saw active service on those islands.
Howard Brown. Through unceasing labor and persistent application, Howard Brown has won his way to a position of comfortable independence in his community and to a place in the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens at Middletown, where he is now employed as a roller in the plant of the American Rolling Mill company. Mr. Brown was born in Indiana, across the state line about ten miles from College Corner, Ohio, August 19, 1884, a son of William H- and Sarah (Brauchla) Brown, the former of whom is still living. Sarah Elizabeth Brown, wife of Wm. H. Brown and eldest daughter of George and Susan Brauchla, was born September 1, 1857, and died July 10, 1892, aged thirty-four years, ten months and nine days. She was united in marriage to Wm. H. Brown March 6, 1882. To this union were born two sons and one daughter. With these she leaves father, mother, four brothers and one sister to mourn her departure. Her death occurred at her home near Fairhaven, Ohio. She was a loving wife, a kind Christian mother and though it is hard to give her up, we find comfort in the words: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." She united with the church and was baptized under the labors of Rev. Elliot Evans in the eighteenth year of her age and during this time grew in respect and esteem with those who knew her best. She often talked of
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death to her husband and mother and often repeated the words �Lord have mercy on me.� On the day of her death she said, �Mother, I'll die, I'll die.� Her mother said, �If you are only prepared to die.� �Oh! Mother, I am, I am!� Rev. Jones delivered an eloquent tribute to her noble life from the following beautiful text, found in the twenty-fifth verse of the eleventh chapter of St. John: �Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life; He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.� His brother, George, married Hattie Sims, and is engaged in the dairy business; and his sister, Lucy, is the wife of John Busseer, superintendent of the city water works of Middletown. Mr. Brown received a common school education and then went to work in a mill in his home community, following which for some years he was employed in various communities. About 1905 he came to Middletown, where he became identified with the American Rolling mill, and has since become one of his company's valued and trusted employees. For the past several years he has acted in the capacity of a roller, and has evidenced the possession of abilities which make him a reliable and expert cog in the machinery which operates the mill. Mr. Brown was married April 29, 1904, to Catherine, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Healy) Byron, whose other children are: Thomas; Nellie, who is now Mrs. Chris Pollis, of Middletown; and Ada, the wife of Edward Castel, of Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown there have been born three children: Margaret May, Melva Marie and Howard William. Mr. Brown is a Democrat in his political adherence, but has never sought public office. He belongs to the fraternal order of Eagles, and he and Mrs. Brown are consistent and generous members of the Christian church. Mr. Brown is a man of fine appearance and presence and affable manner, and is extremely popular with a wide circle of friends. His home, erected in 1912, at 924 Wilson street, bears eloquent testimony to the taste and refinement of Mr. and Mrs. Brown and those practical traits of character and thrift which avoid the superfluous and ornate. Milton B. Brown. The monotony which often ensues from the continuous following of a certain line of work has never been a feature of the career of Milton B. Brown. Gifted with diversified talents this industrious citizen of College Corner has followed the vocations of farmer and grocer, and in both capacities has attained a due measure of success. At the present time he is the owner of a thriving grocery, and at the same time is taking an active part in civic affairs, at various times having ably and conscientiously discharged the duties pertaining to various offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Brown was born in Clermont county, Ohio, September 12, 1860, a son of William and Anna (Shannon) Brown. William Brown was born in New Jersey and as a young man moved to Brown county, Ohio, where he met and married Miss Shannon, who was a native of Virginia. Following their marriage they settled near Batavia in Clermont county, but eventually the father located in Preble county, where he completed his career as a farmer near .College Corner, and there died in 1887, Mrs. Brown having died in Clermont county when her son Milton was eight years old.
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There were four children in the family: Samuel M., of Butler county; Sarah (Brown) Warner, of Panora, Iowa, who died at the age of thirty-eight years; Milton B.; and Mrs. L. A. Pentecost, of Cicero, Ind. Milton B. Brown was educated m the public schools and as a youth began farming, a vocation which he carried on for some years. Later he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, as a clerk in the store of H. L. Bake & Son, and in 1914 embarked in the grocery business on his own account and has continued therein to the present time. He carries a large and well-selected stock of staple and fancy groceries and enjoys an excellent trade, which has been built up through his industry, courtesy and fair dealing. He has made numerous friends among his customers and has established a reputation for integrity in his business operations, so that his standing is high in commercial circles. As a good citizen with the interests of his community at heart, Mr. Brown has identified himself with public affairs, and has served efficiently as a member of the town council, as town clerk and as president of the board of education on which board he served for fourteen years. He has always supported beneficial movements and is accounted an .influential and helpful resident of his locality. He married Jessie Graham, of Hopewell, Ohio, and they have an adopted child, Sarah Dales, a niece of Mr. Brown. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
Orin Brown. One of the oldest native-born residents of Ross township, Butler county, is Orin Brown, whose entire life has been passed on the property which he now occupies. Here he was born and here he has labored, and while for some years ill health has incapacitated him from active labor, he still makes his influence felt in the farm's management and operation and continues to occupy a place as one of his township's prominent and highly esteemed citizens. Mr. Brown was born February 27, 1836, a son of Daniel and Catherine (Harshey) (Smith) Brown, the former a native of Berkeley county, W. Va., and the latter of Pennsylvania. The eldest child by his father's second marriage, he secured his educational training in the public school at College Hill, and when he was ready to enter upon an independent career it was upon the property that has always been his home. He was married April 7, 1874, to Caroline Stephan, daughter of Helena and Charles Stephan, a sketch of whose career will be found elsewhere in this work in the review of Charles Stephan, brother of Mrs. Brown. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brown settled down to housekeeping in their present home, which was remodeled in 1917, and which is now one of the most beautiful in this section of the county. The home property of 150 acres is worked on shares, under the supervision of Mr. Brown, who despite his advanced years and the poor state of his health, still retains the excellent business judgment that assisted him to success in the days of his active labor. He is a Democrat in politics and continues to take an interest in township affairs, and to lend his assistance and influence to measures which promise to benefit his community. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown there have been born the following children: Helen, the wife of Dr. O. J. Smith of Venice; Agnes, who has
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remained with the home folks; Lulu, who has been teaching school at Venice for a number of years; Florence, who also taught school and is now the wife of Paul Weissinger of Fairfield township. Ora, who taught school four years in Ross township; and Carol, the widow of Dr. F. I. Hage. There are two grandchildren, Paul and Bernadine Smith.
Philip Brown. High upon the list of the well-to-do self-made men of Butler county who, from small beginnings have advanced themselves to positions of independence and recognized prestige in their communities, stands the name of Philip Brown. When he entered upon his career, Mr. Brown was possessed of no advantages save those to be found in connection with his earnest ambition, his determination to succeed and his willingness and ability to do well whatever he undertook, but these qualities have proven sufficient to gain him success in his chosen vocation of agriculture and to make him one of the substantial men of Hanover township. Mr. Brown was born in Germany and was a small child when brought to the United States by his father, George Brown, his mother having died in Cincinnati. He was given only such educational advantages as he could secure through irregular attendance at the public school, and for the most part his education came from the school of hard work and experience, but he was an ambitious youth who made the most of his opportunities and assimilated whatever knowledge came his way, so that he grew up with an education that served his purpose. For a time he worked at various occupations at Port Royal and in Indiana, and then located at Glendale, Ohio, where he was married in 1873 to Anna, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Pepper, her father being a stone mason and highly respected citizen of that community. Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Brown settled down to farming in the vicinity of Glendale, where they made their home for about a quarter of a century, working industriously and conserving a goodly share of their earnings. In 1900 they changed their residence to Hanover township, Butler county, where Mr. Brown bought a farm of fifty acres, and here he has since continued to carryon his operations, in a progressive, modern manner. From time to time he has added to the improvements on his property, which now presents a prosperous appearance, and his buildings are in an excellent state of repair and his equipment modern and effective. His farm has proved of sufficient interest to him so that he has not entered into other lines of business, nor has he cared for the doubtful honors of public life or office holding, although he takes an interest in enterprises which have been promulgated for the betterment of the community, and is a staunch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. During the period that he and Mrs. Brown have resided in Butler county, they have formed numerous lasting friendships, and the manner in which Mr. Brown has carried on his transactions has served to gain him the reputation of being a man of sound principle and good business ethics. During the war period he was a generous supporter of all worthy causes. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of four children: Clara, who was first married to Frank Luegens, by whom she had two children,
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Luella and Gertrude, and after his death married David Oyler, a farmer of Hanover township, and they have one child, Evelyn Ann; Frank, a farmer who is operating in Hanover township, married Mary Conrad, and has three children, John, Clarence and Philip; Wilhelmina, who married John Stumpf, a farmer of Hanover township, and has six children, John, Carl, Clara C., Robert P., Carl and Elizabeth A.; William, lives in Hamilton and has nine children as follows: Eleanor. Walter, Helen, John, Mabel Luella, Hazel, deceased; Frank and Lloyd. All the children were given good educational advantages and reared to lives of industry and honesty so that they have been credits to their communities and to the worthy name which they bear.
Isaiah Bryant, implement dealer of Oxford, Ohio, was born in Oxford township. He is a son of James C. and Nancy A. (Little) Bryant. He received his education in the local common schools, and after finishing his courses, turned to farming, which he enjoyed and of which he made a success. In the year 1904, he entered the business of selling farm implements, and at the time was also engaged in stock raising, his particular work lying in the field of raising purebred Poland China hogs. In this he was active with W. B. Wallace. In the implement business, he carries the finest line of merchandise, including the International Harvester company's, the John Deere company's, and the Oliver Plow company's products. His business has expanded greatly in the past few years, and the store is famous as an institution of that type of trade in this entire section. In 1884 he was married to Anna D. Ringwood, daughter of George and Frances (Martindale) Ringwood of Oxford township. A brother, Eugene, of Mr. Bryant's wife, married Stella Piper, of Oxford township. To Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have been born the following children: Howard R., who married Clara Ault, and is in business in Oxford; Bertha B., who was married to Leonard Osborn, now living .in Indianapolis; Della C., who married Jack Stevenson, now in Indianapolis; Estella, who became the wife of Ed Kealing, now living in Indianapolis; George, who is in business with his father, and who recently returned from service in the World war in which service he ranked a corporal. He was discharged honorably from the army April 4, 1919. Mr. Bryant is a member of the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Democrat. In war work he was especially active, accomplishing signally splendid patriotic work.
James A. Bryant. In the selection of Mr. James A. Bryant for township school trustee not only was enviable testimonial given of the high esteem in which he is held by the community as a citizen, but his well known executive ability and keen business judgment was taken into consideration. Those who know him best assert that .from the beginning of his term as school trustee Mr. Bryant manifested a keen solicitude for the welfare of the school children and has given every evidence that he is the right man in the right place. The fact that he was born in Butler county having first seen the light of day in the old homestead on the Thomas farm in Milford township, July 3, 1853, may to a degree reveal the reason why he manifests such concern in bettering school conditions in this county.
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Incidentally, it might be stated that both his parents and grandparents on both sides were born in Butler county, which is a distinction of which one might well feel proud. He attended school at Oakland and later was a student at the university at Oxford one and one-half years. After leaving the university he engaged in farming and has proved a decided success in this field of endeavor. His training at the university was such that he made good use of it in getting the most out of his land. In addition to his school work and farming he manifests much interest in fraternal and social affairs of the community. He is a Mason and is a Democrat in politics. Also it might be stated that he was one of the most energetic workers of Oxford township in the World war activities. His parents, James C. and Nancy (Little) Bryant, are among the oldest and most highly respected people of the county. They were the parents of six children, four of whom grew to maturity: James A.; John, who died in infancy; Daniel, Mirandy, and Isaiah. The parents of James C. Bryant and wife, deceased, were also old settlers of Butler county, and were buried in Oxford cemetery. The grandfather of James A. Bryant erected the first grist mill in Oxford township and also was a pioneer cloth weaver. Considering the fact that Mr. Bryant, who married Miss A. A. Flinn, daughter of Milton and Margaret Flinn of Butler county, is the father of two children, Florence and James, both married, it is likely that the name of Bryant will be perpetuated in Butler county in a material way. Miss Florence married Clayton Miller and James married Inez Cramer, the latter couple having two children.
William Truman Buehl. An employee of the American Rolling mills for the past sixteen years and one who has "made good" in whatever position he has been placed, William Truman Buehl is representative of the best type of artisans produced by Middletown, for he is essentially a product of this thriving city of the Miami valley. He was born here August 29, 1882, a son of William and Emma (Rue) Buehl, and a grandson of William and Rebecca Jane (Sawyer) Buehl of Trenton, Ohio, and William and Harriet (Cortwright) Rue, of near Hamilton, Ohio. At the time that his father died, March 28, 1900, Mr. Buehl was but eighteen years of age, but nevertheless accepted the duties devolving upon his shoulders as the head of the family, and ably assisted in the rearing of the younger children, a brother, Clayton, and two sisters, May, who is now Mrs. W. J. White, of Middletown, and Edna, now Mrs. Elmer Gravenstein, of Dayton. William Truman Buehl received his education in the public schools of Middletown, and as before noted was called upon at an early age to assist in the family support. He was ambitious, industrious and enterprising, and accepted such opportunities as presented themselves for the accumulation of an income, and was variously employed until 1903, when he entered the employ of the American Rolling mills, with which concern he has been identified ever since. His advancement with this concern has been consistent and steady, as his industry and fidelity have been rewarded from time to time, and he now occupies a position of some importance. He is a general favorite at the plant, both with his superiors and those
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under his charge, and is accounted a skilled, reliable and conscientious workman, who takes a pride in his labor and who faithfully discharges his duties. Mr. Buehl was married February 21, 1906, to Miss Myrtle Mount, of Middletown, daughter of Edward and Mary (Ingle) Mount, she having been born at Middletown, February 27, 1886. Mrs. Buehl's great-grandfather was Thomas Gregory who was born at Dublin, Ireland, in 1805, and died in 1881. Her maternal grandparents were of English birth, and owned a large lace factory at Shianigham. After the death of her mother, which occurred June 17, 1898, Mrs. Buehl became a "little mother" to her brother and sisters, and took charge of the housekeeping duties in her father's home, over which she presided until her marriage. She has a sister, Bessie, who is now Mrs. Clinton Julian; and a brother, Homer who married Miss Florence Zartman, the accomplished daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Pressley Zartman of Dayton; and another sister, Huldah, died February 28, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Buehl are the parents of two children: Paul and Mary, who are exceptionally gifted in music and have displayed their talents before, large audiences in public on a number of occasions. Both Mr. and Mrs. Buehl have numerous friends at Middletown, Mr. Buehl being liked for his genial personality, while Mrs. Buehl is admired for her splendid mind, as well as being an ideal mother. They have a pleasant and attractive home on Harrison avenue, where their friends are always made welcome. In his political views, Mr. Buehl is not inclined to be bound down by party ties, basing his beliefs on principle and casting his ballot according to these views. He and Mrs. Buehl are consistent members of the United Brethren church, in which Mrs. Buehl is the teacher of a class in the Sunday school.
H. L. Burdsall, M. D., of Lindenwald, Hamilton, Ohio, is a physician of pronounced character, whether considered from the standpoint of his professional attainments or from the viewpoint of progressive citizenship. He has been engaged in the practice of his calling at this place for fifteen years, and the various honors which have come to him are substantial tributes to his standing as a man and in his profession. Doctor Burdsall was born at Williamsburg, Ohio, in 1878, a son of Rev. John and Martha Burdsall. He received his early education in the country schools and after his graduation from the Williamsburg High school, in the class of 1897, became a school teacher in Clermont county, where for four years he was engaged in instructing the youthful mind in country districts. Next, Mr. Burdsall attended Valparaiso university, and then began the prosecution of his medical studies at The Ohio Medical college, at Cincinnati, where he received the degree of M. D. in .905, the year which he commenced practice at Lindenwald. There is no profession in which the admonition to "make haste slowly" can be more advantageously followed than in that of medicine. However great their native talents, the unformed fledglings do not reach the heights, but those whose education and training have enabled them to survey a broad field of knowledge before they fairly entered the activities of their career. In these days a thorough and broad education is largely taking the place of the long, and ofttimes wearing experience,
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ence, which in the earlier periods was considered essential to honorable elevation in any of the professions or walks of life. Doctor Burdsall is a typical, modern physician, who has laid a broad foundation for continuous personal development and professional progress. Since he has located at Lindenwald he has engaged in progressive professional work, his practice being general in character, and has won a place in the ranks of his calling which is a full justification of his faithful and careful preparation for his professional career. He has held all offices in the Butler County Medical society, of which he is still a member as he is also of the Ohio State Medical society, the Union District Medical society and the American Medical association. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows, and an independent voter, but takes only that interest in political matters that is displayed by every good and public-spirited citizen. In October, 1918, he was commissioned a captain in the United States Medical Corps, and rendered three months of service at Camp Greenleaf, Fort Oglethorpe. Doctor Burdsall married Miss Myrtle Conner, of Williamsburg, Ohio, and they have one daughter: Marjorie. The Doctor and his family reside in a beautiful home at Lindenwald.
Samuel Bell. Although the memory of the roar of cannon, of the glitter of bayonets and the depressing conditions of an army hospital has been drowned somewhat in the later peace of agricultural pursuits, the service of Samuel Bell in the Civil war remains the paramount and most absorbing experience in the life of this honored soldier and farmer of Madison township, Butler county. At the time of his enlistment he was just entering upon man's estate, and the discipline and hardships of the army broadened his outlook and gave him an increased understanding of the responsibilities of life that later were to prove of incalculable value to him. Mr. Bell was born near Piqua, O., October 14, 1843, a son of John and Elizabeth (Riggle) Bell, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio as a young married couple and bought land near Piqua. This property was nearly all covered with heavy timber, but was eventually cleared and cultivated, and upon it the father passed the rest of his life in agricultural pursuits and died at the age of eighty-one years. His first wife died in 1849, having been the mother of nine children: Henry, who died in 1913 after many years of residence in Darke county, Ohio; David, who served in the 100-day service during the Civil war, and later died in Ross county, O.; Mary, Catherine and Betsy, who are deceased; Samuel; Susan, who is deceased; Hannah, who married William Schlobiz, of Madison township; and John, deceased. Mr. Bell's second marriage was to Rachael Cummings, and they had four children: Amos, a ranchman of California; Ida, who lives in Darke county, O.; and Orlin and Artie, residents of Richmond, Ind. The family belongs to the United Brethren church. Samuel Bell grew up amid pioneer surroundings, and still has a vivid recollection of the heavy timber that stood on the homestead. His education was confined to attendance at the old log district schoolhouse, to reach which he was compelled to walk three miles, and upon his arrival he would sit on a puncheon bench
