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BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO
History & Genealogy

Source: 
Biographical
and
Historical Sketches

A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents
From 1792 to 1896
by Stephen D. Cone
Illustrated
Hamilton, Ohio
Republican Publishing Company
1896

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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  HENRY S. EARHEART was born three miles east of Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, Feb. 17, 1800.  He first came to Hamilton on a visit, about 1815, but did not reside in the county until the year 1822, when, in conjunction with his uncle, John L. C. Schenck, of Franklin, the leading merchant of this section at that time, he established a store at Jacksonsburg.  After remaining there a few years, he came to this city.   He was in partnership with George W. Tapscott for a number of years, finally, however, discontinuing business.  Possessed from youth with a love of mathematics, he next took up civil engineering, and projected the hydraulic works and the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton railroad.  He was married Mar. 10, 1823, in Franklin, to Elizabeth Tapscott, daughter of James Tapscott and Mary Hendrickson.  They came from New Jersey in 1814.  Mr. Earheart was for many years one of the leading citizens of Hamilton.  He was councilman from 1854 to 1859; was Civil Engineer of the city and identified with all its improvements.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 403
  JOHN S. EARHEART was born in Jacksonburg, Butler county, Ohio, Mar. 10, 1824.  His parents moved to Hamilton when the subject of this sketch was only two years of age.  At this place he attended the Hamilton Academy, and later he entered the Ohio Farmer's college, then under the management of Freeman Carey.  Capt. Earheart studied civil engineering.  He assisted his father in building a number of turnpikes in southern Ohio, in the Hamilton hydraulic and surveying lands, as well as work connected with railways.  The Ohio division of the Junction Railway was under Captain Earhart's management.  The first viaduct through the First ward of this city, a masterpiece of engineering skill, was on the middle section of the Miami and Erie canal, and when the Civil War began, he resigned and assisted in recruiting the Thirty-fifth.  He commanded Company C of the regiment until the spring of 1863, when he was appointed topographical engineer and assigned on Gen. Steedman's staff.  Afterward he was advanced to the same position on Gen. Brannan's staff.  He served in that place until his death, Aug. 10, 1863.  His death was notice in general orders, as follows:
     "His zeal and undoubted ability in the discharge of his arduous duties insured him the confidence of his superiors, and his high moral character and gentlemanly deportment won the respect and admiration of all.  In the death of Captain Earheart, the service loses a faithful and efficient staff officer; society a worthy and respected member, and while we, his associates in life, can but mourn his loss, let us humbly hope that in his exemplary life and character, death has gained for him peace above.  By command of
                              "BRIG. GEN. JOHN M. BRANNAN."
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 347
  JOHN EDWARDS was a graduate from Miami University in 1862.  His career as a teacher began immediately afterward.  He was Superintendent of the Hillsboro, Ohio, schools from 1862 to 1864.  In 1864 he was elected Superintendent of the Hamilton schools, serving until 1857.  He was a man of great force of character and commanding a wide influence, was a logical reasoner and possessed a firey eloquence.  He was a man of rare literary attainments.
     He was president of the Thespian Literary society that met in the Smyers' building on the West Side.  Rev. Jacob Steck, Dr. W. H. Scobey, Dr. Joseph W. Harris, Eugene A. Weiler and Dr. J. L. Kirkpatrick were members of the society.
     After severing his connection with the schools he studied law and was admitted to the bar, and immediately thereafter immigrated to Maryville, Mo., where he began practicing his chosen profession.  He was careful in preparing his cases and possessed the ability to present them in a concise and forcible manner.  His success as an attorney was acheived by untiring diligence. He was a good judge of men and motives.  Mr. Edwards was elected district attorney for Nordaway county and convicted the Talbott brothers for the murder of their father. This criminal trial was the most noted in the annals of Missouri and attracted wide-spread interest.
     The Talbott brothers employed the best legal talent in the State to defend them, but went to the gallows through the masterly prosecution of John Edwards.  During this trial he earned the reputation of being one of the ablest criminal lawyers in Missouri.
     In politics Mr. Edwards was a Democrat of the Radical school.  He was a candidate for Attorney-General before his party convention that convened at Jefferson City, but unfortunately was defeated.
     With hope deferred and ambition blasted, he brooded over his defeat until his mind became temporarily unbalanced, and while in this condition he suicided, Sept. 13, 18S8.

Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 110
  FREDERICK EGRY was born in Germany, Nov. 14, 1840. In 1852, he emigrated to America, locating at Dayton, Ohio.  He learned the art of printing in the Journal office, then edited and owned by Richard and William Comley.  In 1857, he edited, and, as a printer, did the composition on the first German daily newspaper published in the Gem City.  In 1859, he came to Hamilton and purchased an interest in the Shildwache.  On Oct. 24, 1861, Egry & Williams purchased the Hamilton Telegraph from Dr. John P. P. Peck.  This paper espoused the Union cause and refused to publish Maginnis' secession resolutions.  The Telegraph subsequently absorbed the Hamilton Intelligencer.  The larger portion of the Butler county Democracy were of the Calhoun stripe; opposed the war and set up a new journal, the Hamilton True Telegraph, Sept. 26, 1861.  Mr. Egry was owner of the Telegraph until Dec. 17, 1879, when he sold out to C. M. Campbell.  He was elected Mayor in 1879, and his administration was one of good order.  He has been elected councilman from the Second ward for a number of terms.  He is engaged in the insurance business which is large and profitable.  He is a Democrat in politics.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 139

George F. Elliott
COLONEL GEORGE F. ELLIOTT was born Apr. 8, 1826, near the famous old Spring Meeting house in Liberty township, which has often resounded with the pious eloquence of his father.  He was the youngest of seven sons of Rev. Arthur Elliott, who came out to this county from Maryland to fill the manly part of a pioneer exhorter.  At the age of fourteen, George was sent to St. Clair township where he spent several of the following years in farm work, attending such schools as circumstances permitted.  The greater part of his educational training was acquired in a school conducted by a Mr. Wade in the basement of the old Episcopal church in this city.  At the outbreak of the Civil War, Colonel Elliott of his own accord and almost entirely by his own exertions recruited Company C, of the Sixty-ninth O. V. I.  His record as a soldier shines pre-eminent in the annals of Butler county's achievements in the great struggle.  He was appointed Major on Aug. 9, 1862, and Lieutenant Colonel in October, 1862.  The crowning event of his military record was his brilliant performance on the bloody field of Stone River.  Through those six hideous days he led his regiment with courage and ability.  The serious sickness of his wife called him to his home shortly before the final declaration of peace, and he continued in the pursuit of agriculture on his homestead farm, until 1866, when he embarked into wider fields of industry.
     During the three following years he engaged in the distilling business in his city.  He operated two distilleries which in the short course of their existence, paid into the Government exchequer upwards of $2,000,000.  In 1873, Colonel Elliott family retired from business life, and then began his career of eminent public service.  His first public office was that of member of the Decennial State board of Equalization.  His excellent services in this capacity secured him the Democratic nomination for State Senator in 1881.  Although his nomination for State Senator in 1881.  Although his nomination was unanimous he was defeated by the small margin of twenty-seven votes.  In 1883, he was again nominated and elected to the senate, where he left a long record of distinguished services in behalf of the district which he represented.  Not the least of Colonel Elliott's claims to public gratitude is the fact that he fathered the first appropriation bill which was ever passed in behalf of Miami University.  In November, 1889, he as appointed to a place on the Soldier's Relief Commission to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Charles E. Giffen.  He was also a member of the United States Land Commission, whose function it is to recover abandoned or swamp lands, and until 1888 he had entire jurisdiction over the states of Oregon and Washington.  He was also a director of the Second National bank in the years of 1868-9 and has always been an active and useful member of the Grand Army of the Republic.  In 1854, Colonel Elliott was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Hueston, whose father had served as captain of pack horses in the famous expedition of Mad Anthony Wayne, which forever broke the hold of the Indians in the valley of the Miami.  Upon his marriage he received from his father a grant of 200 acres of farm land.  He had been a strong and useful man, and the abundant energies of his life were directly applied to the interests and improvements of his native city, county and state.  Colonel Elliott died Wednesday evening, May 13, 1896.  The funeral was held from the home on North B street at 2:30 o'clock Friday afternoon, May 15, and was conducted by Rev. J. W. Peters in conjunction with  the Rev. W. I. Fee, a life-long friend of the deceased.  The pall bearers were: E. G. Rathbone, F. W. Whitaker, Dr. S. L. Beeler, Dr. W. C. Miller, Dr. James W. Roll and G. K. Shaffer.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 357

Alston Ellis
ALSTON ELLIS - The subject of this sketch was born January 26, 1847, near Covington, Kentucky. In the common schools of that day he acquired the rudiments of an education.
     When he arrived at the age of 16 his parents moved to Covington, where lie entered a private school. It was here that he made preparation for entering upon a collegiate course.  During the winter and spring months of 1864, he taught school
near Carrollton, Kentucky. In September of the same year he matriculated as a Sophomore at Miami university, Oxford, Ohio.  He was graduated from this famous institution of learning in 1867.  His studious habits, while at Miami university,
won him a recognized place in the field of scholarship.  His frank manners and gentlemanly qualities placed him high in the esteem of the students and faculty.  He was remarkably proficient in mathematics and ancient languages; and in all
branches of the college course he was at the head of his class.  He was not eligible for any class honors by reason of his not having taken all the branches of the prescribed course in their regular order.  In the literary society and recitation room, his leadership was unquestioned.  He possessed a lively interest in every day affairs; was fired with an ambition to express well that which he knew, and balanced by his scholarly achievements, he was a fluent speaker, a ready debater and possessed
of the powers that make natural oratory.  He had a large share of college honors, held high offices in the Krodelphian Literary society, and was college orator in the annual celebration of Washington's birthday.  A month after graduation Alston Ellis found the woman of his choice in Oxford college, then under the charge of Rev. Robert D. Morris. On July 23, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Katie Cox.  Not a little of President Ellis's success in life has been due to the influence of his cultured wife who has infused into their home life and to their large circle of acquaintances only those qualities which stimulate the best that is in name.  He returned to his home
in Covington, where he did effective work as principal of the Third district and Intermediate schools of that city.  The thoroughness of his work brought to him, then the more responsible position of assistant superintendent of the Newport, Kentucky schools, which position he held for nearly three years.  In 1871, he was called to the Superintendency of our schools, which position he held for eight years.  At the time of his call the schools were not doing as satisfactory work as parents and tax-payers had a right to expect.  They had dropped to a low grade.  To place them on an excellent footing was a work not to be done in a day, but within a short time our
schools had no superiors in the state, and few equals.  It was here that he displayed rare ability as a scholar and executive officer.
     Today, the high reputation of the schools our city, through the state, is largely the result of the work of President Ellis, and his name is indelibly associated with the knowledge of this excellence.  In 1879, he abandoned teaching and engaged with the well known firm of Harper & Brothers, of New York, with headquarters at Columbus, Ohio.  During this year much of his time was given to addressing college societies, teachers' associations, and contributing to educational journals.
     In May, 1887, he was elected Superintendent of the Sandusky, Ohio, schools, in which position he achieved the same enviable record that had been made in our schools.
    Again our schools had deteriorated, and in 1887, in response to urgent calls to resume his old field work, he returned to Hamilton and continued at the head of the schools until called to the Presidency of the Colorado State college, at Fort Collins.
     In 1891, the trustees of that institution extended him a unanimous call to become its President.  He at first declined, but later on in response to an urgent personal appeal, Dr. Ellis went to Fort Collins to confer with the Board of Directors and take a survey of the field.  Here he found large, handsome buildings, excellently equipped, an able faculty, specialists in their chosen lines.  As a result Dr. Ellis accepted the position at a salary of $6,000 per annum.
     Fort Collins is a progressive and prosperous town of 3,000 inhabitants, in Larimer county, situated seventy-five miles north of Denver and four miles from the foot hills.  It is in full view of Long's Peak and many miles of the Snowy Range.  From the melting snow of the mountains is derived its water supply.  Here is located the Colorado Agricultural college, which had its origin in the act of congress, July 2, 1862, which granted the institution 90,000 acres of land.  In 1883, the state levied for its support an annual tax of one-fifth of a mill on all taxable property, which in 1891 was reduced to one-sixth of a mill, owing to an increased duplicate.  The college
was incorporated in 1870, but no buildings were erected until 1878, when Fort Collins was selected as a site.  In September, 1879, it was first opened for the reception of students; a dormitory was erected in 1881, and the chemical laboratory a year later. Horicultural hall, Mechanical Art hall and Agricultural hall, all with well equipped laboratories have since been added.  At first the number of students was limited, but has increased until the session of 1895-96 shows a register of over 300
students.  The highest enrollment of students prior to Dr. Ellis' presidency was 109.
     The college buildings, grounds, etc., are worth not less than $250,000.00.  In addition to this the college has four experimental farms in other portions of the state, whose estimated value is $50,000.00.  The institution is not a university, but is a through-going, well-equipped scientific and technical institution. It has five courses of study, each complete in itself.  In addition to these regular courses, postgraduate
work in engineering, chemistry, mechanics, agriculture zoology, and irrigation engineering are provided for. 
     Hamilton was loath to lose Dr. Ellis as an educator and citizen, "Yet is proud to have given Colorado a man who is such a power for the advancement of the cause of education within her borders."  In the short time he has been president of the Colorado college, he has taken his place on the top rung of the ladder as the most successful educator and lecturer in the state.  In fact, his reputation is not confined in any single state - it is national.
     As early as 1872, we find his Alma Mater, Miami University, confering upon him the degree of Master of Arts.  In 1879, the University of Wooster gave him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, the Ohio State University gave him the same degree
in 1888.  A still greater recognition of his attainments was made when he was given the degree of LL. D. from the Ohio State University in 1890.
     He was elected a life member of the Victoria Institute - the Philosophical Society of Great Britain—of which the Queen of England is a patron.  The membership is classified under three ranks in the society—ordinary, associate, and life members.  He was enrolled in the latter class in 1890.  Some of the most famous men in the world are members of this Institute.  Only four from America have been recognized, Dr. Ellis being one.
     He was a member of the state board of school examiners for a term of ten years, during which period he was clerk.  In 1891, he was re-appointed for a term of five years.
     In religion Dr. Ellis is a Congregationalist or Presbyterian, according to where he is located. In politics he is a Democrat.  He possesses all the qualifications for a successful politician, is social, easily approached, an able writer, a polished orator and well informed on the questions of the day.
     In 1895, Dr. Ellis was unanimously elected Superintendent of the Hamilton schools at a salary of $3,000 per annum.  After considering the subject he declined. He is an honorable and talented gentleman, capable of filling any position in school work.

Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 111    Portrait between Pps. 110-111
NOTES:

 

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