Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 581, Union Twp.

Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 556, St. Clair Twp.

Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 583, Union Twp.

Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 464, Ross Twp.

Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 556, St. Clair Twp

Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 464, Ross Twp.

NOTE:  The following followed the biography of James Brown however I am not sure it goes with it.
     The first duty of the settler in the wilderness was to provide a rude log cabin for his family, and this was quickly done.  In those days the pioneer settlements were few and far between.  Robert Lytle, afterward one of the associate judges of the county, Mathew Richardson, who was one of the county commissioners in 1805-6; Jesse Simpson, and the Scott brothers, James Robert, and John, were the nearest neighbors of the new settlers.
     Amidst this frontier life the boy was feared.  At the age of six years he was sent to the district school, then taught by an Irish teacher, William Hewett.  The discipline of the school was severe, and the use of the rod of daily occurrence.  the building in which the school was taught bore but a faint resemblance to the modern school-house.  It was a log cabin about twenty feet square, covered with clapboards and weight-poles.  Stoves were not in use, and the room was heated by a huge fire-place in the middle of the house.  On three sides a log had been removed and glass substituted, and by this means the room was lighted and ventilated.  The seats were of slabs from the nearest saw-mill; and the writing-desks were simply boards, placed along three sides of the building, resting on long pins set in the wall.  The course of instruction was about as imperfect as the house.  It consisted of spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic.  Geography and grammar were not much thought of.  The reading books were the New Testament and a few copies of the Introduction to the English Reader.  At the end of each week  the master assigned to each scholar a "task" for the following Monday morning.  This consisted, in most cases, in memorizing a certain number of questions from the Shorter Catechism of the Presbyterian Church.  And as the Presbyterian Church or meeting-house, as it was called, stood only a few rods from the school-house, the pupils from the school were, on the fast days which preceded the communion, marched in a body, under the leadership of the master, to the meeting-house to hear a long sermon from the minister.  The schools were taught by subscription, and a dollar and a quarter per scholar, for a term of three months, was the customary rate.
     In October, 1840, he obtained admission as a student in Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, graduating in the class of 1845.  His college education, however, like that of so many other young men, was obtained only by the greatest self-denial on his part, owing to his poverty.  On more than one occasion he was compelled to leave his place before the close of the college year, that he might be able to teach a term of school to raise the necessary means for the ensuing year.  One such term he taught in the Summer of 1844 for fourteen dollars per month, boarding himself.  Having, while still at the university, chosen the legal profession as the one he desired to follow, he devoted all his spare time in the senior year to the study of Kent's Commentaries, Walker's Introduction, and other elementary text-books.
     On leaving college he entered the law office of O. S. Witherby, of Hamilton.  He remained as a law student in the office of Mr. Witherby about six months, supporting himself, meantime, by writing in the office of Captain James George, then recorder of deeds of Butler County, and lately an attorney-at-law of Rochester, Minnesota, whose death occurred very recently.  On the 26th of March, 1846, he was admitted to practice before the circuit court of Union County, Indiana, his law license being signed by J. T. Elliott and Jeremiah Smith.
     After visiting many places, recommended as suitable  for a young lawyer, he finally selected Winchester, Indiana, as a location.  On the 26th of May, 1846, he took leave of his early home and youthful companions for his new home.  His outfit of books was exceedingly meager, consisting of Blackstone, Chitty's Pleadings, and Swan's Treatise; these, with a Bible, the gift of a mother's love, and a copy of Rollin's Ancient History, made up his whole stock of books.  With this library, thirty dollars in his pocket, and a single suit of clothes, the young lawyer settled in his new home.  It is needless to recount the embarrassments that met the young attorney, for they were infinite.  But his resolation was superior to all discouragements.  Applying himself diligently to his profession, he soon began to attract friends and business.  On the 14th of September, 1846, he married Miss Caroline Irwin, eldest daughter of the Rev. Robert Irwin, of Muncie, Indiana, a lady of accomplished manners and excellent education.  She was a granddaughter of Mr. Robert Irwin, who moved from Woodford County, Kentucky, to Butler County in 1809,and settled in Hanover Township, on the farm afterward known as the Col. Robinson farm.
     The new married pair, though rich in affection, were poor in purse; but with firm faith in God they boldly took their place in the struggle of life, resolved to succeed.  At the election in August, 1849,he was chosen to represent his county.  Randolph, in the State Legislature.  This was the more flattering from the fact that the county was politically opposed to him by several hundred majority.  He served his constituents with credit and ability, and, as a member of the Judiciary and Corporation Committees, took an active part in the legislation of the State.
     By close attention to the business of his profession he soon attained a leading position at the bar of his circuit, and in 1854 he was appointed by the governor of the State, Joseph A. Wright, judge of the Court of Common Pleas of his district.  He held this office but a single term, and was succeeded by William A. Peelle, afterward secretary of state.
     He took an active part in the educational interests of his county, and was for many years county examiner of schools, and secretary to the board of trustees of the county academy.  In 1848 he was ordained a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church of Winchester, and was chosen by the presbytery of Muncie commissioner to the General Assembly that met at Columbus, Ohio, in May, 1862, and served as a member of that body.
     In the dark days that preceded the civil war he took an active part in the Union meetings that were then being held in various parts of the State, as well as elsewhere, in the hope that something might still be done  to avert impending war, and restore fraternal feeling between the North and South.  But it was in vain!  War was the result.  When the conflict came, and conciliation was no longer possible, he took an active part in the support of the Union cause.  Realizing the peril of the hour, he sought to use his influence as a leader in the Democratic party only to allay partisan feeling, and to rally all to the support of the Union.  As evidence how effectually this was done is the fact that Company "E," of the Eight-fourth Regiment Infantry Volunteers, commanded by Captain M. B. Miller, which was raised chiefly by his exertions, was composed almost exclusively of Democrats, ninety-six of the company being of that political faith.
     At the Democratic State Convention of 1864, he was chosen presidential elector for the Fifth Congressional District; and about the same time he was nominated by the Democratic convention of his district candidate for Congress.  His opponent was George W. Julian.  The district was Republican by several thousand, and Mr. Julian was elected by about the usual majority.  The campaign of that year was an exceedingly bitter one.  Top be the Democratic standard-bearer at such a time was a position not to be coveted.  At New Castle, Henry County, Indiana, where he had an appointment to speak in connection with Garret Davis, of Kentucky, the speakers were interrupted by an armed mob of angry men, the meeting broken up, and they followed to the depot by a howling crowd.  Time and again he was threatened with mob violence and the destruction of his residence.
     The health of his wife having suffered severely for some years past, he resolved to remove to the State of Minnesota, on account of its superior climate; and leaving a home, consecrated by the memories of eighteen years of active life, he with his family, consisting of his wife and five children, M. Cornelia, Charles I., Marcella, Henry W., and Robert E., arrived in Mankato on the 19th of August, 1865.  Since going to Minnesota he has confined himself closely to the practice of his profession.  In January, 1866, he and the Hon. J. A. Wiswell, entered into partnership, and as such have continued in business up to the present time, with great success.

LEROY D. BROWN, superintendent of the schools of Hamilton, was born Nov. 3, 1848, in what is now Noble County, Ohio.  He is the son of Jeremiah B. and Isabella (Harris) Brown.  He attended district school until the age of fifteen, from three to six months each year.  Each school was provided, by legislature enactment with a library, and during his boyish days, Brown read every volume in the list.  His choice was for biography, history, and travels.  He was obliged to labor the rest of the year.  When fifteen, having been unable to obtain the consent of his father to enlist, he ran away, and entered Company H, One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio.  This was in January, 1864.  He remained in the service until the close of the war.  He was in the Shenandoah Valley, and saw service under Siegle, Hunter, Crook, and Sheridan in this department, and afterward was in the Army of the James, near Richmond.  When discharged he was the general's orderly.
     After returning home he was in the district school, and afterward in a high school at Seneca, Ohio.  He began his career as a teacher on Dec. 3, 1866, in a district adjoining the one in which he had lived in boyhood.  In April, 1867, he entered Mount Auburn Academy, where he in part fitted for college, and in 1869 joined the preparatory department of the Ohio Wesleyan University, from which he was afterward graduated.  He taught in Noble County during the greater part of 1872 and 1873, and was also county examiner.  In 1873 he took charge of a graded school at Newport, and was afterward made superintendent.  In 1874 he was in charge of the public schools at Belpre, and in 1875 he was made superintendent of the schools of Eaton, Preble County.  This position he filled until 1879, when he was elected superintendent of the schools of Hamilton and has since been re-elected.  He is the secretary of the State Association, and a writer in educational periodicals.  He served a term as trustee of the Lane Free Library, and is a post graduate student of the Cincinnati University.  He was admitted to the bar in 1878.  He married Nov. 28, 1878, Esther Emma Gabel, daughter of Lucian and Mary A. Gabel.  The father is an architect and builder, and now resides in Hamilton.  Mr. and Mrs. Brown have one boy, Thomas Brown is a Mason, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 366g - Hamilton Twp.

WILLIAM E. BROWN was born in Xenia, Ohio, on the 13th of November, 1825.  His father was a mechanic of moderate means, and his son was obliged to obtain an education by his own exertions.  He was early taught to labor, and at the age of seventeen was in Northern Mississippi as a tramping journeyman shoemaker.  HE subsequently passed eighteen months in New York City.  At the age of twenty-one he commenced the study of law in Xenia.  He completed his preparatory legal studies in Dayton, and was admitted to the bar on the 29th of March, 1849.  The following Spring he settled in Hamilton, with very little money.  Up to this time he had worked at his trade to pay expenses.  Before the expiration of his first year's practice in Hamilton, he had business enough to support himself.  He married the daughter of Robert Beckett in 1852.  In 1855 he was elected an elder in the United Presbyterian Church of Hamilton.  He gave up the practice  of law for a while on account of impaired health, but afterwards resumed it.  He was elected president of the Second National Bank of Hamilton in 1870.  Under his able management this institution has nearly trebled its business.  It was, in a great measure, through his advice and direction that the handsome building of this bank was built.  The Second National Bank of Hamilton is one of the safest and most conservative banks in the country.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 366e - Hamilton Twp.

ZEBEDEE BROWN was born in Virginia, Jan. 23, 1808, being brought hither in 1811 by his parents, Benjamin and Phebe Brown.  Mr. Benjamin Brown settled close to the Fair-Play Mills, then taking a lease on some land at Black Bottom.  He stayed there seven years, and then moved on what is called the Springdale Pike, on the Enoch Chambers farm.  On this he lived two years, then buying seventy acres of ground, now owned by Mr. Springer.  He died of the cholera in 1838, his wife, surviving, and living to the great age of eighty-eight.  Zebedee Brown was married to Margaret Vinnedge, daughter of David and Elizabeth Vinnedge Aug. 11, 1833.  His wife was born in the county Apr. 5, 1815.  They had nine children.  David V. Brown was born June 23, 1834; Mary Teigue, Aug. 16, 1836; Catherine Scott, May 31, 1838; Benjamin Brown, June 22, 1840; Wilkinson Brown, Sept. 9, 1842; William Brown, Mar. 24, 1844; Jeremiah Brown, Aug. 24, 1847; Sarah E. Bradbury, Nov. 24, 1849, and James R. Brown, Sept. 24, 1856.  Upon Mrs. Brown's death he married Rebecca Spivey, daughter of James C. Spivey and Catherine Spivey, who was born in this county in 1827.  She has had two children, Charles and Russesll.  The former was born Jan. 29, 1868, and the latter, May 11, 1870.  Wilkinson Brown was in the late war.  David Vinnedge served in the Revolution, and Mrs. Rebecca Brown's grandfather, John Walker, was in the battle of Tippecanoe.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 570 - Milford Twp.

WILLIAM BRUCK was born in Hamilton, November 14, 1848, and is the son of J. P. and Mona (Kline) Bruck. He received a fair education in private schools in Hamilton, and when thirteen began learning the trade of printer, in an office conducted by his father. He worked as a journeyman in Cincinnati and Indianapolis until 1876. He was chosen as policeman that year, and served for four years. In the Spring of 1881 he was elected city marshal, a position that he still occupies. Mr. Bruck was married in July, 1869, to Miss Barbara K., daughter of John Musch. They are parents of two sons, William L. and Edward. They are members of St. John's Lutheran Church. He is a member of the Knights of Honor.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 366d - Hamilton Twp.

JOHN M. BUHL was born in this county, in the township he now lives in, on the 4th of September, 1852. He was married in Hamilton on the 23d of October, 1877, to Anna B. Sutler daughter of Conrad and Catherine Sutler, who became residents of Butler County in 1839.  They have one child, Elizabeth, born Oct. 4, 1878.  The parents of Mr. Buhl are Elias and Sarah Buhl, the maiden name of the latter being Houseleth.  Elias Buhl was out in the war of the Rebellion for two and a half years.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 556, St. Clair Twp.

C. H. BUNDY, attorney and proprietor of the Middletown Telephone Exchange, was born in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, June 11, 1852.  His parents were George J. Bundy and Rebecca Hoover.  His mother died when he was six years old, and then he lived with his father and grandfather until he was thirteen years old.  AT that time his father hired him to a man named Samuel Wolwages, where he stayed four years at ten dollars per month, his wages being taken by his guardian.  He also worked for several other men in the vicinity of Red Lion.  He went to school at intervals during his minority, and saved seventy-five dollars between seventeen and twenty-one.  With his money, and what else he earned, he went to school for two years, finally obtaining a certificate authorizing him to teach.  He taught for two years in the Jersey settlement, near Carlisle.  With the money thus obtained he went to Montgomery County, where he studied law, being admitted to practice in 1878.  On the 9th of April he was sworn in at the district court in Hamilton, and on June 1st removed to Middletown, where he opened an office in the Leibee building.  He has been very successful in his practice.  In the Spring of 1879 he moved into the Merchants' National Bank Building, which he is now occupying.  Mr. Bundy was the originator of the telephone exchange in this neighborhood.  He opened an exchange in Middletown, and next began exchanges at Lebanon and Franklin.  He owns all those in Warren County and a part of Butler County.  This method of communicating ideas has proved very popular here.  He was married Sept. 1, 1881, to Emma A. Jones, daughter of Edward and Emma Jones.
Source: A History & Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio - Cincinnati, O. - 1882 - Page 645 - Lemon Twp.