BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio
edited by
Hon. Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater,
Frederick Schneider and Others To which is appended
A Comprehensive Compendium of Local Biography and Memoirs of Representative
Men and Women of the County.
Illustrated
Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers
1905
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JAMES EDWIN CAMPBELL |
JAMES
EDWIN CAMPBELL, lawyer, of this city, is a native of Middletown,
where he was born on the 7th of July, 1843. He is the son of Dr.
Andrew Campbell, of whom a full account will be found
elsewhere in this work, and Laura P. Reynolds, daughter of
John P. Reynolds, once a publisher in New York State, and afterwards
a leading and influential citizen of Middletown. Mr.
Campbell's father was of Scotch extraction, and his mother of
English. The family of Mr. Reynolds was originally settled in
Devonshire, Jonathan Reynolds emigrating from Plympton
Earl, in that county, in 1645, and on his arrival in America,
taking up his dwelling near Plympton, in the Plymouth colony, now a part
of Massachusetts. Mr. Campbell is sixth in descent from
Jonathan Reynolds. The family, after settling in
Massachusetts, extended to Rhode Island and New York, and are now
numerous in these two latter States, having many members who have filled
important positions in the State and national councils. By another
branch of his maternal family, he is descended from John
Parker, who commanded the American troops at the heroic struggle at
Lexington, which began the Revolutionary War. His paternal
great-grandfather, Andrew Small, at the age of eighteen,
went with Montgomery on the fatal expedition to Quebec, suffering untold
miseries on his return through Canada. Both of his grandfathers were
soldiers in the War of 1812.
James E. Campbell was educated in the free
schools of his native town, and in later years received instruction from
the Rev. John B. Morton, an early and successful teacher of that
place, and for many years the pastor of the Presbyterian Church. When
approaching maturity he began the reading of law, and taught school for
a short time.
In the Summer of 1863, after the navy had become
thoroughly organized in all its departments, and had won some of its
most glorious victories, he became a master's mate on the gunboats Elk
and Naiad, serving on the Mississippi and Red River flotillas, and
taking part in several engagements. But the unhealthiness of the climate
soon affected him, and after a year, being surveyed by a board of
surgeons, he was discharged, returning home a mere skeleton. As soon as
he had sufficiently recovered his health he resumed the study of law,
and during the Winter of 1864 and 1865 he became a student in the office
of Doty & Gunckel, Middletown, being admitted to
the bar in 1865.
In the Spring of 1867 he began the practice of his
profession in this city. During the interval he was bookkeeper of the
First National Bank at Middletown, and was also a deputy collector in
the Internal Revenue service of the Third District for about eight
months in Hamilton, under General Ferdinand Van Derveer,
Collector. He was elected prosecuting attorney of the county in 1875.
and 1877, holding that position for four years and filling the duties of
his office most acceptably. From 1867 to 1869 he was United States
commissioner. In 1879 he made a very close race for the Ohio State
Senate, being defeated by only twelve votes. During the war he was a
Republican, and remained so until the Greeley campaign, when, in
common with thousands of others, he cast off the party yoke, and voted
for Greeley and Brown. Since that time he has acted with
the Democrats.
In addition to his business as a lawyer, he has paid
much attention to insurance, and has gradually gained a large and
valuable business in this line, and has been charged with many important
receiverships and other trusts. Mr. Campbell is a Knight
Templar, a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Grand Army of the
Republic. He was married to Miss Libbie Owens, daughter of Job
E. Owens and Mary A. Price, on the 4th of January, 1870. Her
father was a native of Wales, and her mother of Welsh descent. They have
three children. Mr. Campbell is a hard worker, and can accomplish
more in one day in his business than the most of men. He attends the
Presbyterian Church, and contributes liberally to the support of all
benevolent and charitable enterprises.
He is systematic in all his efforts, and his offices
are models of neatness. Socially no man stands higher. He is courteous
in manner, thorough in his acquisition of detail, and of the highest
integrity of character. As a lawyer he has few superiors at his age,
possessing great skill in ascertaining the true points of a case. He is
a good, clear, logical speaker, and well informed on all questions of
law. No young man in Hamilton has a better or more honorable record, and
no one is deserving of greater credit than he.
At the Democratic Convention held at Lebanon, August
16, 1882, he was nominated unanimously for the position of Congressman,
and is now making a most gallant campaign in behalf of his party.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio -
Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers -
1905 - Page 847 |
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ALBERT
W. CLARK. Albert W. Clark, the popular jailer at the
Butler county bastile, is native of Venice, Ohio, and great-grandson of
Dr. Benjamin F. Clark, who laid out the village of Venus in 1816.
Dr. Clark was native of New York and came to this county in 1814.
He selected as home the present town site of Venice, and there
established hamlet in the wilderness which, because of the natural
beauty of the spot, he named “Venus." He was man of rare
professional skill and well educated. He is de scribed as tall,
sparely-built man, of much physical and mental force. His mission
to humanity on the western frontier was well performed, and during the
twelve years of his life he was tireless worker among the sick and
distressed. Dr. Clark was man of broad views and
liberal in his consideration of others rights. He donated one acre
of land to the town of “Venus” for burial purposes and was otherwise
public spirited and active in the interest of the town and
community. He continued in active practice until his death, June
22, 1826, at the age of fifty-seven years. His wife, Elizabeth
Clark. died February 5, 1861, at the age of seventy-seven years, and
both are interred in the cemetery which the Doctor founded. son of this
early pioneer was also named Benjamin F. and he was the paternal
grandfather of Albert W. Clark, of this sketch.
Grandfather Clark was twice married, his first wife, who was
Rhoda Fuller, being the mother of the subject’s father,
Benjamin Allen Clark. There were four children
in this family, Benjamin A. and Lavonia, now Mrs.
Burch, being the only survivors. The others were named
Permilla and Melvina. Benjamin Allen
Clark was born at Venice, October 13, 1834, married Miss
Elizabeth R. McFeeley, and both are living. Their home has
been for many years at the village of Shandon. formerly known as Paddy’s
Run, near which place they own valuable farm. They were the
parents of nine children, eight of whom are living. The eldest was
David Ozro, who died in childhood, in 1860. Frank
followed farming until recently, when he removed to Hamilton and engaged
in other pursuits, Mrs. Rhoda E. Henry lives on farm at St.
Charles, in this county. Albert W., of this sketch, was the
next in order of birth. Mrs. Lillian Bauer resides
on farm near Venice. Ralph W. has exiled himself from home
and friends since 1890, and his whereabouts is unknown to his family, an
unhappy marriage being the cause of this estrangement. Ernest
is operating the home farm. He married Miss Carrie Vogt,
and they have one child. Frances E. became the wife of
William Robinson, retired farmer, now operating hotel at
Shandon. Emmazetta G. is the wife of Roger Evans,
brother-of Mrs. Albert Clark. Mr. Evans is mechanic
at Shandon. The subject of this article received good practical
education in the public school at Shandon. and began his business career
as farmer. He followed the plow during most of his life and owned and
operated threshing outfit for seventeen seasons. He has been
hard-working, industrious man, seeing but little of the comforts of life
except as he took pleasure and comfort in his endless work. He was
born on the 2d of August, 1862, and, though yet young man, he is broken
down from the effects of lifetime of persistent toil, from early dawn
until late at night. Fortunately, change came in 1900, when he was
selected from numerous applicants as the jailer at the Butler county
prison. He served in this capacity during the four-years term of
Peter Bisdorf, as sheriff, and was re-appointed in I904 by
Sheriff Luke Brannon. Mr. Clark has official
charge of the jail, and inmates and appurtenances, under direction of
the sheriff. In his official capacity Mr. Clark has
witnessed some touching scenes and has had charge of some of the most
hardened criminals. Among these are murderers, thieves, burglars
and others. guilty of minor crimes. The notorious strangler,
Alfred Knapp, now awaiting electrocution for wife-murder, was
one of his most “distinguished” guests for many months. The Butler
county jail is massive stone structure, erected in 1848, with due
consideration for the character of its occupants. It is fitted
with twenty-four steel cells, which, with the impenetrable stone walls
and the watchful vigilance of the jailer, render escape impossible.
Mr. Clark was married on the 31st of January, 1884, when
he chose for his companion in life’s journey Miss Alice
Evans, who was born at Shandon, Butler county, and is representative
of numerous and prominent old family in the county. Her parents
were Robert N. and Margaret (Davis) Evans, both descendants of
Welsh ancestors. John Evans, the paternal grand
father, native of Wales, established home on Paddy’s Run in 1818.
He reached Cincinnati with the modest sum of twenty nine cents as the
nucleus, to which he in later years added large fortune. He was
reputed to be very wealthy and made liberal provisions for all of his
children. But as he neared the end of life’s journey, trusted
friend who handled large part of his for tune proved unfaithful and the
doting old man was defrauded in the sum of several thousand dollars.
He died possessed of about hundred thousand dollars, mostly in real
estate and stock. The happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Clark has
been blessed with eleven children, nine of whom are now living.
The eldest of these was Wayne Ozra, promising youth who
met tragic death at the dawn of bright young manhood. On the 5th
of July, 1904, while bathing in the reservoir near Hamilton, he was
drowned. This calamity was severe blow to the family and elicited
the sympathy of the entire city, where the young man was well and favor
ably known. At the time of his death Wayne was trusted
employe of the T. V. Howell Son Dry Goods Company, where he was
held in high esteem by his employers and associates. He was most
exemplary young man, whose correct habits of life and conduct never gave
his loving parents moment’s trouble. The body was buried in the
family lot at Venice, where four generations of the name are
represented. Wayne was but two months past his twentieth
year. The other children, with the exception of Albert A.,
who died in early infancy in August, 1900, are still under the parental
roof. They are Arline, Keith, Bryce, Ruth,
Virginia. Rowland, Miriam, Rowena and
Robert Chetwyn. Albert was next to the youngest.
Mr. Clark is prominently identified with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. He is past grand of Ross Lodge, No. 482, and
member of Butler Encampment, No. 7. He also holds membership in
Butler Court, Tribe of Ben Hur. In political affiliations Mr.
Clark has been lifelong Democrat, and has always taken an active
interest in the success of his party. He never aspired to public
office other than his present position. The family is well known and
highly esteemed in the county with which both the Clark and
Evans families have been identified for nearly century.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen
& Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 409 |
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HIRAM
CLARK, dealer in horses, of Middletown, is native of Butler
county, Ohio, born in the township of Madison on the 20th day of
December, 1858. His parents, Martin and Elizabeth
Clark, were natives of New Jersey and Ohio respectively, the
mother belonging to one of the old and well known families of Madison
township. The father came to Butler county in his boyhood, was
reared to agricultural pursuits and when young man married Miss
Elizabeth Deem, by whom he had ten children, the subject
of this review being the second of the family. From moderate
beginning Martin Clark gradually became one of the leading
farmers and stock raisers of this county and also achieved enviable
repute as fruit grower, his orchards being among the largest and most
valuable in the southern part of the state. He was an enthusiast
in the latter industry, as well as an expert, and to him belongs the
credit of developing several new varieties of fruits which have since
been handled quite extensively by the leading nurseries throughout the
Union. In his business affairs Mr. Clark was
uniformly successful and at one time he owned beautiful farm of two
hundred and forty acres of as fine land as the township of Madison could
produce, besides other valuable property, and for number of years he was
accounted one of the representative agriculturists of Butler county,
also one of its wealthy men and public-spirited citizens. In
politics he wielded strong influence for the Republican party and in all
that made for material advancement and honorable citizenship of the
community he was leader, having been liberal supporter of churches and
generous in his benefactions to benevolent and charitable enterprises.
His life was characterized by good works and noble deeds, his influence
was ever on the side of right and all who knew him were profuse in
landing his upright conduct and many estimable qualities. The
death of this excellent citizen occurred in Madison township in 1863 and
was much regretted by the large circle of friends and admirers who held
him in such high esteem.
Hiram Clark was reared under the
beneficial influence of farm life and received good education in the
public schools. He early became valuable helper on the home place
and assisted in its cultivation until his twenty-fourth year, when he
was united in marriage with Miss Ella Weikel, an
accomplished young lady of Lemon township and member of one of the
prominent families of that part of the county, the union resulting in
the birth of two daughters, Edna and Elsie. From his
marriage until the year 1885 Mr. Clark carried on farming
in Madison township, but at the latter date disposed of his agricultural
interests and engaged in the livery business at Middletown, which
vocation he followed until November, 1903, when he disposed of his
business. He is essentially business man, possessing first class
qualifications, enjoys in marked degree the confidence of the people
with whom he comes in contact and as citizen keeps in touch with all
public measures and enterprises calculated to promote or in any way
enhance the welfare of the city of his residence. Mr.
Clark is not politician, al though zealous supporter of the
Republican party, and it has never occurred to him to ask for office, or
to seek public honors at the hands of his fellow citizens. He
holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and, with his wife, be longs to
the Methodist Episcopal church of Middletown, both being earnest workers
in the congregation and greatly respected for their activity and
efficiency in the various departments of religious endeavor under the
auspices of the same.
Mr. Clark's daughters are intelligent,
well educated young women of high social standing, both being graduates
of the Middletown high school. Edna is the wife of Frank
Gillman, well-known and popular citizen of this city, while
Elsie is unmarried and still member of the home circle.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen &
Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 795 |
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J.
MARTIN CLARK, M. D. Successfully established in the practice of
his profession in the city of Hamilton, Dr. Clark is one
of the representative physicians and surgeons of this section and is
also scion of honored pioneer families of Butler county. The
Doctor was born in the village of Seven Mile, St. Clair township, on the
2d of November, 1869, being son of Wilson S. and Hannah (Pottinger)
Clark, both of whom were likewise natives of Butler county and both
of whom are now deceased, the father having been merchant, broker and
commercial traveler at different periods. He died in 1895, as the
result of an accident, being in his fifty-fifth year at the time.
The mother of Dr. Clark passed away when he was an infant, and
his father later consummated second marriage, of which two children were
born. One is living, Bert, who is an expert bond man,
located in Chicago, Illinois, as the western representative of the
National City Bank of New York. He was educated in Chicago and his
initial business experience was in connection with insurance lines, in
which he was very successful. When Dr. Clark was lad
his parents removed to the West, In the year 1890 he began the study of
medicine and later was matriculated in Hahnemann Medical College
of Chicago, where he was graduated as member of the class of 1894.
Thereafter he served for time as house physician and surgeon in the
Hahnemann Hospital, with which the college is connected, and he
continued to be member of the hospital staff until 1899, when he came to
Hamilton and established himself in the active practice of his
profession, while he has gained precedence and success in his chosen
work and is recognized as one of the able and discriminating
practitioners of the county. The Doctor defrayed the expenses of
his collegiate education through his own efforts. He taught school
in the west for number of years before taking up the study of medicine.
He is held in high regard in professional, business and social circles
and is still bachelor. Reverting to the genealogy of the subject,
we may say that the Clark family has been identified with
the annals of American history from the colonial epoch, and the paternal
grandparents of the Doctor came to Ohio and settled in Wayne township,
this county, in the early part of the last century, being numbered among
the sterling pioneers of this section, which was then practically forest
wild. Representatives of the family were participants in the war
of the Revolution, and the grandfather of our subject took part in the
war of 1812. The maternal grandparents came to this county from
Kentucky, about the same time as did the Clarks. Samuel
Pottinger, great-grand father of the Doctor, died here in 1820,
at the patriarchal age of one hundred and two years. Both families
were numbered among the first settlers in the county and their
descendants are numerous in southern Ohio, while many members of later
generations have been identified with various professions. The
Pottinger family traces its line age back to stanch English
origin, and the first representatives in America settled in Maryland,
probably at the time when Lord Baltimore was at the head
of its government.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen &
Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 792 |
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JOHN
B. CORNELL was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, Feb. 1, 1833, and
was educated in typical log school house of the 'period and later at
college in Cincinnati. He taught school year and half and then
entered Doctor Peck’s private bank in Hamilton as book
'keeper, remaining there until 1861, when the bank suspended. In
1862 he engaged as bookkeeper with Gwyn Campbell's gun
shop. In August, I863. he was made cashier of the newly organized
First National Bank, holding this position until his death. In
1878 he engaged in the ice business, becoming president of the Lake Erie
Ice Company. He was an abolitionist and Republican all his life
and was active in politics. His fraternal affiliations were with the
Masonic order. Mr. Cornell was married April 9,
I857, to Miss Phebe F. Hageman, who died May 24, 1864, leaving
two children, Carrie and Charles. On April 18, 1866, Mr.
Cornell was again married, one child, John, being the fruit
of this union. His death occurred on the 2d of August, 1894.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen
& Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 875 |
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