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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AARON
L. SCHENCK was native of Butler county, Ohio, having been born in
Fairfield township in 1804, and here received his education in the
common schools. He followed farming as his vocation all through
his life and accumulated large estate. He early evinced deep
interest in public affairs and in 1849 was elect ed sheriff, serving one
term, his election being the result of fusion between bolting faction of
the Democratic party and-the Whigs. He was man of great force of
character and was considered as one who would scorn to do wrong to his
fellow men. His death occurred in March, I856.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen
& Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 876 |
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SAMUEL
SHAFFER was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1816, his
parents being of Pennsylvania German stock. He received
common-school education and in youth was apprenticed to the trade of
chair-maker, at which he served three years. At the age of
nineteen years he started in life for him self, going to Pittsburg.
where he worked for time, then coming by boat to Cincinnati. In 1835 he
located in the village of Rossville. where he worked at his trade and
subsequently was employed in Dayton and Columbus. Subsequently he
started the chairmaking business for himself in Hamilton, his shop being
located in little building in the rear of the Rumple block on street. He
followed his trade several years and was then employed as clerk in the
hardware and gun store of R. L. Howard, where he remained several
years. He served two years as infirmary director and as member of
the Rossville fire department and was also member of the village council
from 1848 to 1852 and clerk of Rossville in 1854. Among other
public capacities in which he served was that of marshal of Rossville,
trustee of St. Clair township, the first real estate assessor of
Hamilton and collector of income tax for Hamilton and Fairfield
townships, continuing in the latter service until the office was
abolished. During the Civil war he was one of the commissioners
sent by Hamilton to Pittsburg Landing with supplies for the
relief of the Union soldiers. He was the oldest Odd Fellow in
Hamilton and one of the oldest in the United States. His death
occurred in October, 1896. He was twice married, first to Miss
Sarah Jane Mills, who survived the union but brief time, and later
he was married to Miss Mary Laird, several children being born to
the union.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen
& Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 875 |
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CHARLES
K. SMITH was born February 15, 1799, in Cincinnati Ohio, and
after receiving preliminary common-school education he was sent in 1812
to grammar school in Oxford, where he remained for three years. He
then came to Hamilton to live and was employed by John Reily,
postmaster and clerk of the courts, and for two years the subject was
employed as deputy postmaster and clerk. In 1821 he was chosen as
recorder of Butler county and served in this capacity until I835.
During this interim, in 1827, he was also chosen treasurer of the
county. He later became cashier of the Bank of Hamilton and after
his retirement from the bank, upon its suspension in 1842, he entered
upon the practice of law, having been admitted to the bar in 1840 after
legal study under the preceptorship of John Woods.
In 1848 he was elected associate judge by the general assembly and
shortly afterwards, when the act creating the territory of Minnesota was
passed by congress, Mr. Smith was made secretary of the
territory, assuming his duties in May, 1849. He entered upon
his duties with energy and became one of the most prominent founders of
the empire of the Northwest. Upon his return from Minnesota he
bought his father's farm in St. Clair township, where he remained until
his death, which occurred in September, 1866. He was regular
attendant of the United Presbyterian church and donated the lot on which
the First Presbyterian church now stands. He was married November
21, 1827, to Miss Eleanor A. McMechan.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen &
Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 876 |
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JOHN
W. SOHN was born in Windesheim, Germany, May 23, 18I5, the son of
Wilhelm Ludwig Sohn and Catherine
Daehmer Sohn. He received good education in Latin
school and gymnasium in his native land and at the age of seventeen
years became apprenticed to his father as cooper and brewer. When
nine teen years old he embarked for America, landing at Baltimore, from
whence he came west on foot, reaching Hamilton in November, 1834.
He assisted first in chopping wood at twenty-five cents cord, but later
went to work in a brewery and later in pork house. About year
later he went to Cincinnati and for three years was employed as brewer.
Returning to Hamilton in 1839, he bought brewery and through his
energetic efforts greatly extended the business until in 1846 he was
enabled also to embark in tanning. These enterprises were also
successful and he became owner of two large tanneries, one at Hamilton
and one at Waverly, in Pike county. In connection with these
businesses, he also opened a leather findings store, and was successful
in all his enterprises. He had the largest vine yard in Butler
county and had great success in the growing of native wines. He added
the packing of pork to his other enterprises and was also interested in
the manufacture of a wood working machine. Not satisfied with
these businesses, he engaged in farming quite extensively, owning large
tracts of land, and was also a member of the board of directors of the
First National Bank. Originally Mr. Sohn was stanch
Democrat until the time of the Civil war. when he transferred his
allegiance to the Republican party. His first public office was
that of member of the city council and he was also a member of the
school board that introduced the union-school sys tem in Hamilton.
In 1849 he was elected county commissioner and in 1872 was the nominee
of the Democratic party for congress, but was defeated. He was a
leader among his countrymen in Butler county and was instrumental in
organizing the first benevolent society of Germans in Cincinnati in
1836, which is still in existence. He was also president of the
United German Society. In 1840 Mr. Sohn was united
in marriage to Miss Catherine Rosenfeld, a native of Saxony,
Germany, and to them were born nine children.
Source: Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio - Publ. B. F. Bowen
& Co., Publishers - 1905 - Page 876 |
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