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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HOMER GARD,
editor and public official, is a native of Hamilton, born on the 9th of
January, 1866. He is a son of Hon. S. Z. Gard, whose sketch
appears more fully under the title of Warren Gard. The
subject of this sketch was graduated from the Hamilton high school in
the class of 1884, following which he took a three-years course at
Amherst College in Massachusetts. He began his independent career
in the field of journalism, being employed on the reportorial staff of
the Daily News in this city. In 1890 he accepted a position as
reporter on the Daily Democrat, and in January, 1891, he was advanced to
the position of editor and business manager. Mr. Gard was
entitled to great credit in bringing this paper up to a high standard in
the ranks of progressive journalism and in placing it upon a paying
basis as the leading organ of Butler county Democracy. He
instituted needed reforms in the management of the paper and assumed an
attitude of independence, advocating the rights of the people, as
against the influence of the party lash and the dictations of the
would-be office holders. Such an attitude was a new feature in
Democratic journalism in Butler county and naturally developed some
opposition among the disappointed aspirants, the effect of which are
apparent at this time. But Mr. Gard was equal to the
emergency and the Democrat improved in value as a fearless and
independent advocate of the party's principles. The value of the
plant was greatly enhanced and during his management the paper was sold
to a syndicate for thirty-eight thousand dollars, an increase of
twenty-four thousand dollars over the price originally paid for the
plant.
In January, 1895, Mr. Gard purchased the
controlling stock in the News-Democrat at Canton, Ohio, and was elected
president and managing editor. He sold his stock in that paper
after fifteen months to a syndicate of politicians, having more than
doubled the circulation and placed the plant on a paying basis.
Returning to Hamilton, he became managing editor of the Daily News in
June, 1896, continuing in that capacity until 1903, when, in company
with Clayton A. Leiter, George Holderfer and L. R. Hensley,
the Evening Democrat was purchased and Mr. Gard was elected
president of the corporation, which position he still efficiently fills.
In May, 1903, Mr. Gard was appointed city clerk
for the term of two years. He is a thoroughly competent and active
business man and has established for himself an enviable record as a
journalist. Mr. Gard was married, on the 1st of June, 1892,
to Miss Lutie Matthias, of Hamilton. The social relations
of the family are of the highest order.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County,
Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 655 |
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REV. STEPHEN GARD
was born in Essex county, New Jersey, Nov. 3, 1776. He received
his education in a common school, except a few months in a private
classical school in his native county. He was married
to Rachel Pearce in 1801. He emigrated to Ohio about the
end of the eighteenth century, making a temporary stay at Columbia, and
moving to Butler county and settling on the present site of Trenton the
same year. He came of Ohio in company with his father-in-law,
Michael Pearce and family, and Dr. Squire Littell, who headed
a colony of immigrants from New Jersey. Rev. Gard was the
first resident minister in Butler county, and in 1800 founded the first
church organization in the county - The Elk Creek Baptist church, of
which he became the pastor, and continued as such until his death, Aug.
14, 1839. He organized nearly all the Primitive or Old School
Baptist churches in the Miami valley.
To Rev. and Mrs. Gard were born several
children as follows: Eliza, who married William Wilson,
of Middletown; Phebe, who married Wilkeson Taylor; Isaac N.
became a physician and married Louisa Todd, of Newport,
Kentucky; Fairman, who also became a physician and married
Lucy Todd, a sister of Louisa Todd; Sarah married
John C. Potter; Mary L. married Ezra Potter and Rachel
died unmarried. Rev. Mr. Gard was twice married. His
second wife was Mary Van Horn. By her he had one child,
William B. Gard, who became a physician.
Source:
Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co.,
Publishers - 1905 - Page 987 |
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HON. WARREN GARD.
This distinguished attorney is a Butler county product, of whom the city
of Hamilton is justly proud. Seldom, indeed, does a professional
career, in any line of human effort, launch out into prominence and
distinction without a long and tedious period of probationary growth.
The career of this subject, however, was somewhat marked, even from his
schoolboy days. He was always a zealous student and early
manifested a disposition to "go to the bottom of things: in student
life. Mr. Gard was especially favored, also, in being a
descendant of an able lawyer, hence his early training was in keeping
with his chosen professional career. Endowed with a brilliant
mind, retentive memory, a magnificent voice and winning personality, it
is not strange that he early manifested those traits of character which
distinguished the successful lawyer.
Warren Gard is yet on the threshold of young
manhood, though he has mapped out a career for himself far in advance of
the mediocre. He was born in Hamilton on the 2d of July, 1873.
His early education was acquired in the city schools, and he was
graduated with the Hamilton high school with the class of 1890.
Hen then entered the Cincinnati University, where he pursued a special
course for three years, at the same time carrying the regular course in
law at the Law School of Cincinnati. He was graduated in 1894 and
in the spring of the same year he was admitted to practice in the courts
of the state.
Mr. Gard at once opened an office in his native
city and was engaged in general practice until January, 1898. In
the autumn of 1897 he was nominated by the county Democracy as the
party's candidate for the office of prosecuting attorney, and was
elected at the general election of that year. He entered upon the
duties of this onerous office on the first Monday in January, 1898.
Almost from the date of Mr. Gard's induction into office began a
career of crime in Butler county never before equalled under the
jurisdiction of any predecessor. It was no theoretical study with
him, - but an intensely practical career, covering his entire period of
incumbency, during which time a greater number of criminals were tried
than in any previous four years during the existence of Butler county.
Some of the defendants attained national notoriety, through the very
hideousness of their crime. The friends of the defendants made
every effort possible in their defense, and Mr. Gard was often
confronted by the most talented and successfu_ attorneys to be secured
from the bar of the state. He never asked assistance in the
prosecution of a criminal case, but, confronting his wily opponents, met
their motions and concentrated efforts with characteristic zeal and
tenacity. The notorious strangler, Alfred A. Knapp, was
tried and condemned to the electric chair during the last year.
The Keelor murder trial resulted in conviction, but the verdict
was set aside because of faulty instructions to the jury, after which
the defendant plead guilty to murder in the first degree, and received a
life sentence in the penitentiary. The Thomas case was
tried on an indictment for first degree murder, the jury returning a
verdict of second-degree murder, and the defendant was sentenced to life
imprisonment. The Welner case, indictment for first-degree
murder, resulted in acquittal. In the Spivey riot cases,
one of the two defendants was convicted and sentenced to twenty-five
years in the penitentiary, and the other died before trial.
The Bishop "faith cure" case was one involving
somewhat peculiar conditions, upon which the higher court was asked to
establish a ruling, or precedent. The parties were indicted for
manslaughter, on the charge of criminal negligence on the part of the
parents of a child seriously burned. They relied upon prayer as a
curative agent, and refused to call medical aid, or to administer
medicines. The supreme court established a ruling that "No
conviction could follow, in the absence of a positive and direct statute
covering such a case."
In the Barret and Willard grand larceny
cases, wherein the defendants were indicted for stealing diamond rings,
of the value of twenty-five hundred dollars, Barrett was
convicted and sent to the penitentiary for a term of years.
Willard was twice tried as an accessory and was finally acquitted.
Besides these, there were many minor criminal cases brought to trial by
Mr. Gard in his official capacity, in all of which he
demonstrated his ability as a lawyer, and entire fairness and honesty as
a mediator between crime and justice.
Mr. Gard was his own successor in 1900,
receiving at the polls a very strong endorsement of his services, from
the people of the county. No man ever retired from a public
office in Butler county with a more general recognition of his ability
and special fitness, than Warren Gard.
Not alone in legal lore is Mr. Gard a
leader, but in the social and political world he is recognized as a
moulder of public thought and sentiment. As an orator, it is said
that his equal does not exist in Butler county, and, whatever the topic
chosen, his well-stored mind and ready use of language enable him to
speak with fluency and readiness. He was one of the principal
speakers at the memorial services in Hamilton, on the death of
President McKinley, his associate being Hon. H. L. Morey,
now de ceased. It is said by those who heard this address that it
was a masterpiece of eloquence, pathos and oratorical sublimity.
As a campaign speaker, Mr. Gard is instructive and
inspiring; his arguments are forceful, his similes pleasing, his
comparisons rich and fertile in advanced thought. As a leader in
the political affairs of Butler county, Mr. Gard has a
future bright with party honors, should he decide to claim them, and as
an attorney in private practice, should he thus decide, his future
career will be crowned with deserved success.
Warren Gard is the youngest of two living
sons and one daughter, deceased, born to Hon. Samuel Z. and Mary
(Duke) Gard. Both parents were natives of Butler county, the
father born in 1832 and the mother in 1840. Samuel Z. Gard
has spent his life in the legal profession, and, when in active
practice, was considered one of the ablest attorneys at the Butler
county bar. He was prosecuting attorney of the county from
January, 1862, until January, 1866, and also served a year by
appointment in 1871, in the same office. He was educated at
Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, Ohio, then under the jurisdiction of
the renowned educator, Horace Mann. He read law
under the tutelage of Hon. Alex F. Hume, of Hamilton, and was
admitted to the bar in 1859. Owing to delicate health, he has not
been in active practice in recent years. He has been a lifelong
Democrat and an able and influential advocate of the doctrines of his
party.
Homer Gard, the eldest son of S. Z.
Gard, is managing editor and principal stockholder of the Hamilton
Evening Democrat, the oldest paper in Butler county. He is also
the present city clerk. The daughter, Nora, died in
infancy.
The subject of this review retired from the office of
prosecuting attorney on the first Monday in January, 1904, and is now
established in pleasant offices in the Reily block, engaged in private
practice. He is an affable, companionable gentleman, devoted to
his friends, and zealous and ambitious in his profession. His
official career, and the prophecy of future honors, are very properly a
part of the history of Butler county.
Source:
Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co.,
Publishers - 1905 - Page 35245 |
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CHARLES W. GATH Source: Centennial History of Butler
County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 610 |
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CHARLES E. GAUMER Source: Centennial History of
Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page
588 |
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HERMAN
GOEBEL, a prominent business man of Trenton, Ohio,
was born in Madison township, within three miles of his present
location, on the 13th of August, 1866. He is a son of Leonard
and Dorothy (Kennell) Goebel, natives of Germany. They
accompanied their parental families to this country in early life, and
were married in Butler county, Ohio, where they have always lived.
The father spent his productive years in agricultural pursuits, and
became well-to-do. He and his estimable wife are now retired from
active farm labor, and living in Trenton. They reared a family of
two sons and two daughters, of whom John W. is the eldest.
He is a prosperous farmer and merchant in Oklahoma territory. He
was among the "boomers" of 1891 and secured a very desirable quarter
section of land at the opening of that country to settlement.
After securing his homestead rights, he located in town and engaged in
merchandising, in which pursuit he has been very successful.
Herman, of this sketch, is the second in order of birth.
Mary is the wife of Emil Scheibert, who is cultivating the
home farm in Madison township. Louesa married Jacob Ulm,
and resides in Trenton.
Herman Goebel, of this article, received his
education in the public schools of Trenton. Being inclined to
mechanical pursuits, he learned the carpenter's trade with Bender
Brothers, a well-known and extensive contracting firm in Hamilton,
and remained in their employ for ten years, during which time he
mastered all the details of his profession and left their employ a
master mechanic in his line. On the 4th of June, 1902, he
established his present business in Trenton, erecting a large and
commodious shop and office building, lumber sheds, etc. There was
an opening for just such a plant in Trenton and Mr. Goebel met
with success from the start. He carried a large stock of lumber
and builder's materials, supplying the trade with these commodities, as
desired. He gives employment in season to a large force of skilled
workmen and averages a complete structure each month of the building
season. He prepares his own draughts, specifications and
estimates, his long experience under the most capable instructors
enabling him to secure profitable contracts at figures below those of
the village carpenters, whose facilities are limited. Mr.
Goebel was the successful bidder on the construction of the First
Presbyterian church, now in course of building at Trenton. This is
quite an imposing edifice, modern in all features, and is a credit to
the skill and architectural design of the builder.
Mr. Goebel was married Mar. 3, 1891, to Miss
Mary Imhoff, a native of Butler county and a daughter of Jacob
and Lena Imhoff, of LeSourdsville, in this county. Four
children have been born to this union, Clayton, Arthur, Stabley
and Gordon. In political affiliations the subject is an
active Democrat and wields a potent influence in the counsels of
Democracy. He is president of the town council of Trenton.
He is a member of Aerie No. 407, Fraternal Order of Eagles at Hamilton.
In religious affiliations he is a member of the German Lutheran church
and his wife is a Mennonite. Mr. Goebel is an active,
energetic business man who has made a success of life, though yet in the
prime of his manhood.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County,
Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 473 |
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SLOANE GORDON Source: Centennial History of Butler
County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 828 |
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WILLIAM C. GOSHORN Source: Centennial History of
Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page
483 |
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FREDERICK W. GRADOLPH Source: Centennial History of
Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page
576 |
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JAMES G. GRAFFT, M. D. Source: Centennial History of
Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page
714 |
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JOHN A. GRAFFT, M. D. Source: Centennial History of
Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page
651 |
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JAMES GRAY Source: Centennial History of Butler
County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 478 |
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CAPTAIN
ISRAEL GREGG, for many years a prominent steamboat man, was for a
long time a resident of Hamilton. He was born on the 20th of February,
1775, in Virginia, but .his parents, who were adventurous pioneers,
removed to Brownsville, Pennsylvania, shortly after, where, on attaining
a sufficient age, he was taught the art of a silversmith, and on
reaching his majority set up for himself. Two years after, or on the
12th of July, 1798, he married Elizabeth Hough, one of the
younger children of a Quaker family, and sister of Joseph
Hough, for twenty years the leading merchant of Hamilton. Another
brother, Benjamin, was auditor of the State of Ohio from 1808 to
1815.
Mr. Gregg afterwards became interested in
steamboating, and in 1814 was in command of the steamboat Enterprise,
built at Brownsville by Daniel French, on his patent, and
owned by a company at that place. It was a boat of forty-five tons. It
made two voyages to Louisville in the Summer of 1814. In December she
took in a cargo of ordnance stores at. Pittsburgh, and sailed for New
Orleans, arriving at that port on the 14th of the same month. She was
then dispatched up the river in search of two keelboats, laden with
small arms, which had been delayed on the river. She had reached twelve
miles above Natchez when she met the boats, took their masters and
cargoes on board, and returned to New Orleans, having been out six and a
half days, in which time she ran two hundred and sixty-four miles. She
was then for some time actively employed in transporting troops, etc.
She made one voyage to the Gulf of Mexico, as a cartel, and one voyage
to the rapids of Red River with troops, and nine voyages to Natchez. She
set out for Pittsburg on the 6th of May, and arrived at Shipping port on
the 30th, twenty-four days out, being the first steamboat that ever
arrived at that port from New Orleans. She then proceeded to Pittsburg,
where her arrival was warmly greeted, as the passage from the sea by the
means of steam had been successfully accomplished for the first time.
Captain Gregg afterwards commanded the Dispatch, a small boat
of twenty-five tons, built at Brownsville, which was wrecked near New
Orleans in 1819, and he continued as a commander in the river service
for several years after.
He then became an inhabitant of Hamilton, where he
dwelt the remainder of his days. He was elected sheriff of Butler County
in 1835, and served four years, also holding other orifices of trust and
responsibility. By his first wife he had eleven children, who are now
all dead. Upon her decease he married Mrs. Phebe Kelley, of
Rossville, an aunt of William D. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, on
Thursday, the 5th of December, 1822, the ceremony being performed by the
Rev. H. Baker. By this marriage he had two children:
Jane H, now the wife of J. C. Skinner, and Sarah,
widow of Samuel Cary. He died on the 20th of June, 1847,
aged seventy-three years. He was a man of great uprightness and
benevolence, and his memory is still cherished by those who knew him.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio -
Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers -
1905 - Page 922 |
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LAWRENCE E. GRENNAN Source: Centennial History of
Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen & Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page
549 |
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