|
BIOGRAPHIES
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
John Reily |
JOHN
REILY - First Postmaster of Hamilton, was born in
Chester county, Pennsylvania, on April 10, 1763. In 1780, at
the age of 17, he enlisted in the Revolutionary army and
served in the southern department under General
Greene. Mr. Reily participated in
the battle of Guilford Court House, which took place on
March 15, 1781. His second engagement was that of
Camden. He also participated in the siege of the town
of Ninty-Six which begun on May 22, and was raised,
June 18. The last engagement in which Mr.
Reily took part was the memorable and hotly contested
battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, on September 8,
1781.
Mr. Reily received a certificate of
honorable discharge at the expiration of his term of
enlistment, under the hand and seal of General
Washington. In 1783-84 he left his home in Virginia for
the wilds of Kentucky, where he made agricultural implements
for the settlers, and taught school during the last year of
his residence in the state. In 1789 he emigrated to
the Northwest Territory, locating at Columbia. Mr.
Reily was a member of a company of volunteers that
went to the rescue of Dunlap's station, on the Miami river,
near the village of Venice.
In 1790-91, John Reily and Francis
Dunlevy opened a school in Columbia, the former
taking the classical department, the latter the English.
This was the first school taught in the Miami country.
John Reily moved to Hamilton in 1803.
On March 24, of the same year, the legislature of Ohio, in
session at Chillicothe, passed "An act for the division of
the counties of Hamilton and Ross." Immediately
following the passage of this act Butler county was
organized, and John Reily was appointed clerk
of the supreme court of Butler county and retained the
office until May 3, 1842. He was the first Recorder of
Butler, resigning in 1811, when he was succeeded by James
Heaton. He held the office of commissioner's
clerk from 1803 to 1811. He watched the financial affairs of
the county with such wisdom and caution, that he was styled
the guardian of the people.
John Reily died at
Hamilton, June 7, 1850, aged 87 years. His funeral
took place on the 9th from the Presbyterian church,
conducted by Dr. William Davidson, of
the United Presbyterian church.
Judge Elijah Vance, a member of
the constitutional convention of Ohio, at that time in
session at the capital, on May 11th, announced the death of
John Reily and offered a series of resolutions
extolling the character and virtues of the deceased, which
were unanimously passed. A copy of the resolutions was
forwarded to the family of the deceased, accompanied by a
letter from W. Medill, president of the body, to
Mrs. Jane H. Campbell.
Source: Biographical & Historical Sketches - A
Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 -
Publ. 1896 - Page 119 |
|
|
LEVI P. RICHMOND
was born January 29, 1805, in Ross township, this county,
and was in his forty-fifth year when he died. On
December 4, 1823, he married Martha Powers
Akers. Six children resulted from this union.
Nearly all his life was spent where he was born. From
April 1835, until October, 1841, he resided in Millville,
when he removed to Rossville where he continued to reside up
to the time of his death.
Source: Biographical & Historical Sketches - A
Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 -
Publ. 1896 - Page 131 |
S. L. Rose |
S. L. ROSE - The
subject of this sketch was born in Union township, Butler
county, Ohio, November 20, 1865. When he arrived at
the age of five years his father removed to the old
homestead where Hon. Daniel W. Voorhees was born.
Mr. Rose attended school taught by John C.
Slayback until he was seventeen years old; entered
Lebanon Normal University September 5, 1882, and graduated
from the business and scientific departments; taught the Oak
Hill school, one mile from his home; resigned this position
November 20, 1886, when he was appointed Deputy Treasurer by
F. W. Whitaker. Subsequently he was employed in
the office of the Clerk of Courts; was elected in 1888
principal of the Venice schools; and was forced to resign
the following year on account of failing health. He
was a candidate for Recorder in 1886 in opposition to
Henry C. Gray. In a vote of 5,100 Mr.
Rose received 2,300; was private secretary to James
R. Smedburg, during the construction of the Hamilton gas
works. Afterward he was employed by the B. F. Wade
Company, of Toledo, manufacturers of blank books and county
stationary. His territory comprised thirty-five
counties in the state. In 1889, he was elected
principal of the Fourth ward schools at a salary of $900.60
per annum, serving in this capacity until January, 1895,
when he became editor and business manager of the Hamilton
Daily Democrat, at an annual salary of $1,500. He made
the Democrat a newsy, bright and spicy paper up-to-date in
every particular; was president of the city Board of
Elections. In the summer of 1895, ^e was elected
Superintendent of the Hamilton Public Schools at a salary of
$2,300 per year. Mr. Rose is an able educator,
ranks high in his profession and has succeeded in keeping
our schools abreast of the times.
On December 28, 1894, Mr. Rose was married to Mrs.
Ida Wurterman. Two children grace and enliven a
happy home.
Source: Biographical & Historical Sketches - A
Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 -
Publ. 1896 - Page 117 |
|
|
W. C. ROSSMAN,
was born in Eaton, Ohio, July 30, 1835. At an early age he
entered the dry goods store of J. & T. E. Rossman -
uncle and brother - in Rossville as salesman, and remained
in the store until the Civil War begun when he organized the
"Hamilton Guards." This was one of the earliest
companies raised. It was attached to the Third Ohio
infantry, and known as Company "F." Isaac Morrow
was its colonel; John Beatty,
lieutenant-colonel; J. Warren Keifer, major.
The regiment was assigned to the Eastern department, and
participated in the fight at Elkwater Junction, Va.,
September 11, 1861, in which engagement the rebel, Col.
John A. Washington, was killed. Gen. Lee
was the commander of the Confederate forces in this battle.
On November 28th, the regiment was ordered to Kentucky, when
Col. Morrow resigned and John Beatty,
of Columbus, was promoted to the colonelcy.
On April 7, 1863, the Third was detached from the army
proper, and in company with the Fifty-first and
Seventy-third Indiana, Eightieth Illinois and two companies
of the First Hamilton and its Residents. 125
Alabama. This command was under Col. A. D. Streight,
and immediately started out on what is familiarly known as
"Streight's raid." The command was first dispatched to
destroy the Rome Iron works, the foundries and arsenals.
Later on the entire brigade was captured by Gen.
Forrest and sent to Belle Isle, and from there to Libby
prison. The officers were held, but the men were
paroled.
After eighteen months' confinement Capt.
Rossman, with a number of other officers, made their
escape from the prison through a tunnel. They were persued
by rebel blood hounds, captured and returned to Libby, where
they were kept until near the close of the rebellion.
"Sparta knew the names of the men lost in the cause of
Thermoplyae," but we will never know how many of our noble
defenders perished in rebel prison pens. After Capt.
Rossman's release from Libby he returned to Hamilton,
broken in health, and was appointed postmaster of Hamilton,
July 23, 1866. He was not an applicant for the
position, but was held in high esteem by the late Col. L.
D. Campbell, who recommended him to President
Johnson, and his name was sent to the senate for
confirmation, but was not acted upon for several months,
owing to the fact that Andrew Johnson and the
senate were antagonistic to each other. Capt.
Rossman was finally confirmed, but alas, too late, for
he was dead.
Long confinement and cruel treatment had done the work,
and on July 11, 1867, at the residence of Judge
Gilmore, in Eaton, the spirit of Capt. Rossman
returned to its maker. He was a noble patriot and will
long be remembered as one of "Our Honored Dead."
Source: Biographical & Historical Sketches - A
Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 -
Publ. 1896 - Page 124 |
|
