Waynesville, Ohio ~ Connections with the Past

Eldon C. "Tootie" Ellis ~ The Ellis, Curtis, Sellers, and Simpson Families

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September 14, 1917 ~ September 13, 2002

"Tootie" Ellis was the only son of Carrington (known as "Toot") and Ethel McKnight Ellis who lived first in Waynesville, Ohio and then in Crosswick. "Tootie" was a member of the 1935 graduating class of Waynesville High School. Tootie was a high school track star and he was the first inductee into the Waynesville High School Hall of Fame. He worked for the Fairley Hardware Store in Waynesville for about 32 years. He also worked for Don Ellis at the Ellis Super Value grocery store for many many years. Tootie founded "Ellis Fibre Glass Race Car Bodies and Specialities" that was located in Lebanon, Ohio. He specialized in midget, three-quarter and micro cars.

Tootie's great grandfather, Patrick Henry Ellis and his grandmother Adeline Henry were free African-American who lived near Lynchburg, Virginia.

Tootie's father Carrington Patrick was the son of Gladman Henry Ellis (1856-1934) and Martha Jane Sellers, a daughter of Jacob and Laura Williams Sellers. Gladman was born February 8, 1856 near Lynchburg, Va. He came to Ohio at the age of 18 months with his parents Patrick Henry Ellis and Adeline Henry Ellis in 1857. They came to Ohio via the train. Patrick Henry Ellis was a painter by trade. The Ellis' settled on a 63 acre farm in the Crosswick community one mile north of Waynesville on Bellbrook Road. In 1860, 45 African-Americans lived in Crosswick. The community was large enough at the end of 1859 to establish the "Crosswick Colored School".

Patrick and Adeline Ellis had three children: Anna (who married James Fletcher), Gladman, and Patrick. Anna and her husband James Fletcher and their two children Adaline and Almanza lived with Patrick and Adeline Ellis. See, Federal Census1880; Wayne, Warren, Ohio; Roll: T9_1075; Enumeration District: 79; Image: 0397.

Gladman Ellis went to the one-room school house for African-Americans in Crosswick. The Curtis family also went to school there:

"Simms" Curtis, who was married to Letitia Sellars, and,
Gladman Ellis, who was married to Martha Jane Sellers. Martha was born January 15, 1859 in Raleigh, North Carolina. When she was one year old she came with her parents to Ohio (1860) and settled near New Burlington. She is the daughter of Jacob Sellers (1817-1881) and Laura Williams Sellers (1831-1918), as are Letitia and Eunice.

lived in the Crosswick area.

Charles Curtis, who was married to Eunice Sellers

lived between Harveysburg and Wilmington.

Tootie's parents, Carrington and Ethel McKnight Ellis first lived on a farm that is now part of the village of Waynesville. The land they had was the block between North and Chapmans Streets and Fifth Street and Dayton Road. Then in the early 1920s, the Carrington Ellis family moved to Crosswick. Besides raising their son Tootie and their daughter Frieda M. Ellis Miller, Carrington and Ethel also raised three foster children from Shawen Acres orphanage in Dayton, Ohio.

An old tobacco barn which was located behind the Waynesville High School on Dayton Road (see picture above) was originally owned by "Simms" Curtis, a great uncle of Tootie. Patrick and Carrington Ellis raised tobacco and it was stored in this barn. The barn was sold and moved into town. It was first used to house the mules that drove the "school hacks". When buses replaced the hacks, the barn was once again moved, now behind the high school, and used as a garage. Eventually, the old barn was remodeled inside and became the gymnasium for the high school.

Ethel McKnight Ellis, Tootie's mother, was born at New Burlington, Ohio on April 4, 1895, the daughter of John McKnight and Melissa Simpson McKnight. Ethel's grandparents were Joseph McCoy Simpson (1840-1913) and Amanda Gilson Simpson (1845-1923) from Cumberland, Guernsey Co., Ohio. Joseph was a soldier with the 27th U. S. Colored Troops during the Civil War.

Joseph and Amanda Simpson moved to Warren County, Ohio from Guernsey Co. to a place named "Brimstone Hollow". It was known as Canbytown, too. It was a mill town on Caesar's Creek not far north of Harveysburg. The location is now underwater, under Caesar's Creek Lake. Crosswick, Canbytown, and Harveysburg were three African-American communities in the immediate area around Waynesville. They were within a few miles of each other (see map below).

Thank you to local historian Dorothy Carter for sharing her knowledge about Tootie and all the families mentioned in this article.

The Old Waynesville Union Schoolhouse

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The 1891 Union Schoolhouse
(The second Union Schoolhouse on this site.)
Corner of Miami and Fourth Streets

The Waynesville Brewery

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The Old Distillery ~ Brewery
Corner of Franklin and North Main Street

Underneath this exterior is a log house built about 1801.

Roadside Advertising Near Waynesville about 1910

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Near Waynesville ~ ca. 1905-1910

LOCAL BUSINESSES:

Roy Iron's Real Estate ~ The following is taken from the Souvenir and Home Coming Edition of the Miami Gazette dated December 1905, p. 2:

"LEROY IRONS, GENERAL INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND LOANS ~ Leroy Irons, with offices in the Stoops Building, carries on an extensive insurance business, in his special lines of fire and cyclone insurance. Mr. Irons represents some of the strongest insurance companies in the world, in fact he has made it a point to represent none but first class companies that will settle all losses promptly and satisfactorily. Mr. Irons gives personal attention to all business in this line that comes to him, and always makes the best possible rates to customers consistent with issuing to them insurance that will insure. He has given special attention to farm insurance, and has the exclusive agency for the largest company in the world, interested in insuring farm property, 'The Home Insurance Co., of New York.' Other companies represented, all of which are strong and thoroughly reliable, are: The Aetna, National of Hartford, Norwich Union, Fire Association of Philadelphia, North British and Merchantile and Queen.

Mr. Irons is a genial, pleasant gentleman and has a wide acquaintance, both of which facts have no doubt contributed largely to his success in business. Also real estate; and loans negotiated. Valley 'Phone 77."

The following obituary for Leroy Iron was found in a local scrapbook. Unfortunately, the hand written date on the obituary is not clear ~ 12-13- ?. The other surrounding obituaries in the scrapbook are dated in the 1950s. The obituary has probably been clipped from the Western Star newspaper of Lebanon:

"Funeral services for Leroy Irons, 80, who died Monday afternoon at his home in Clyde, will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Fiser Funeral Home in Clyde with burial in that city. Mr. Irons was a former resident of Lebanon. He is survived by his wife, Lena, a sister, Mrs. Ruth Brown of St. Louis, Mo., and a nephew, Albert Reed of Miamisburg."

Barnhart's for Shoes ~ The following is taken from the Souvenir and Home Coming Edition of the Miami Gazette dated October 1906, p. 46:

"An exclusive shoe store is something of a novelty in a town of less than a thousand inhabitants. Waynesville, however, can boast not only of an exclusive shoe store, but of a thoroughly up-to-date and successful line ~ Barnhart's Exclusive Shoe Store, located in the Aman Block. E. V. Barnhart (Ephraim V.), proprietor of the store, has been in the shoe business since he was a boy and understands the shoe trade form beginning to end. Like a number of other successful Waynesville boys, Mr. Barnhart gained his first knowledge of the shoe business back in the days when S. D. Everly kept a clothing and shoe store in Waynesville. After graduating at the local High School, Mr. Barnhart went to Dayton where he secured a through business training at the well known Miami Commercial College. From there he went into one of the leading shoe stores of Dayton and later on was connected with a prominent firm in the same line at Denver, Colorado. Afterwards Mr. Barnhart finished off his education in the shoe business by going on the road as a traveling salesman, giving up that position to open his store at Waynesville, five or six years ago. Mr. Barnhart handles everything in the way of footwear, but nothing else. At this store everything from an ordinary plow shoe to the highest quality of ladies' or gentleman's fine shoes may be had. His stock is very large and carefully selected, and in addition to the foregoing a full line of rubbers and rubber boots is carried . . . Mr. Barnhart takes foremost rank among the progressive business men of the community. He is a careful reader of the leading trade journals in his line, believes in modern methods of stock keeping and store arrangement, has attractive window displays, and fresh, crisp advertisements in the newspapers."

Ephraim V. Barnhart (February 27, 1873- December 6, 1946) was first married to Lou Marie Barnett Barnhart (1872-1929), the daughter of Charles Warren Barnett (1847-1920) and Emma Barnett (1849-1942) of Waynesville. According to the Federal Censuses of 1900, 1910, and 1920, the Barnharts lived with Lou Marie's parents. They are buried together in Section M of Miami Cemetery in Corwin.

E. V. Barnhart's obituary is in the Miami-Gazette dated December 12, 1846:

"E. V. Barnhart Called Friday ~ Ephraim V. Barnhart, aged 74, passed away at his home in Waynesville on Friday evening at 7:30 o'clock after an illness of about six months. More familiarly known as E. V., Mr. Barnhart had operated a shoe store here for many years prior to the 1920s in a location now occupied by Smith's Tea Room. He then went to Cincinnati where he was connected with the income tax department for several years as an accountant, later returning to Waynesville shere he has resided since. He was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal church, The Masonic Lodge, and Clerk of the Wayne Township School Board.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine, a brother Lyall of Oklahoma City, Okla., and a sister Mrs. R. W. Stultz of Winter Park, Fla. Funeral services were conducted at the McClure Funeral Home, Monday at 2:00 P.M. with Rev. Ralph Parks of Dayton and Samuel N. Keys, Lay reader-in-charge of St. Mary's Church officiating. Burial was made in Miami cemetery."

Madden's lumber Yard ~ The following is taken from the Souvenir and Home Coming Edition of the Miami Gazette dated October 1906, p. 69:

"W. H. MADDEN & CO., DEALERS IN LUMBER ~ During the year and a half in which the firm of W. H. Madden & Co. has been in business at Corwin they have built up a substantial trade in lumber and allied lines. The firm of Madden & Co. is not new to the lumber business as the gentlemen who compose the company have had a wide experience in all the various branches of the lumber industry. Madden & Co. have for a number of years been in business at Clarksville and the growth of their trade led them to establish a lumber yard and sales office at Corwin.

The advantages which come from buying in large quantities for two lumber yards are evident and the special low prices which they obtain in this way allows them to give their customers greater value for less money than would b e possible otherwise. The firm's headquarters in Corwin are located int he large building just north of the Post Office belonging to the H. Kilbon estate, and is in charge of W. H. Madden, who has proven himself a most capable and honorable business man. Pine lumber, lath, shingles, flooring, siding, doors, glazed sash, mouldings and the celebrated Napoleon elastic plaster are in stock at all times. A cordial invitation is extended to all who may be in need of anything in this line to call."

Rogers & Son ~

Clarence Bennett Bentley ~ Live Stock Dealer & Abraham Lincoln King ~ Farmer

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12 Hogs. Raised by A. L. King. Age 7 months. Average Weight 240.
Best ever bought by Clarence Bentley.
The postcard photo dates from around 1910.

The photograph above illustrates the importance of the very lucrative pork industry in this area even up into the early 20th century.

A. L. King in the photograph is Abraham Lincoln King (the man with the long coat on). He went by "Lincoln King". He was born on July 16, 1859 and died November 8, 1946. He was 87 years old, 3 months and 22 days when he died. His father was William King (1827-1898) and his mother was Sarah Sabin King (1832-1906). His mother was born near Center Monthly Meeting in Clinton co., Ohio and his grandfather, William Sabin (1803-1869), was a noted Hicksite preacher (1903 Centennial Atlas of Warren County, Ohio, p. 23). Sarah King (formerly Sabin) was disowned from Quaker meeting for her marriage contrary to discipline to William King on December 24, 1856 (Hinshaw's Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. V., Ohio, p. 116). The Kings were not Quakers.

Lincoln King was married to Izora Hawke. Her parents were Silas P. Hawke an Mary E. Thomas Hawke. Izora was born on September 3, 1862 in Harveysburg, Ohio and died on February 3, 1933 at the age of 70 year, 5 months and 28 days. They are both buried in Miami Cemetery. Izora Hawke King is buried in Hawke burial plot in Section K (End of Drive Turn-around). Abraham L. King is buried by himself in the inverted "V" at the entrance to Section K. Lincoln King was a farmer all his life.

Clarence Bennett Bentley (man leaning against the fence), who was a live stock dealer in Waynesville, died when he was only 46 years old. He died on September 3, 1921 in Blanchester, Clinton Co., Ohio. He died of cerebral embolisms due to an injury to the base of his skull. He was married to Nina Erma Smith Bentley who was almost half his age. She was 24 in 1920. Clarence is buried in Miami Cemetery, Section P. After Clarence's death, Nina married Will C. St. John and became Nina E. St. John. Will and Nina St. John are buried close to Clarence Bentley in the same section.

On his World War I Registration Card, Clarence is described as tall with a medium build with blue eyes and light hair. He was 44 years old when he registered.

If you know anything more about Abraham Lincoln King or Clarence Bennett Bentley, please email Karen at campbeka@oplin.org.

Andrew Powell ~ Help Us Find Out More About Him

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Jeremiah Powell, the father of Andrew Powell, pictured above, is mentioned in the 1840 Federal Census as living in Wayne Township of Warren County. Twelve year old Andrew and his fourteen year old sister Jane A. Powell are listed with their father in the 1850 Federal Census. Jeremiah and his children are listed as being born in New Jersey.

On March 29, 1857, the twenty-one year old Jane married Joseph Watkinson in Waynesville, Ohio. Joseph Watkinson had been born in Yorkshire, England. Jane and Joseph move out west to Iowa. By 1860, Andrew Powell is living with the Jonathan and Martha Haines family near Waynesville.

The 1880 Federal Census informs us that Andrew is now married and living in Waynesville. He married Mary A. White on November 28, 1880. He is listed as a laborer.

In the 1910 Federal Census he is listed as a widower.

If you have any further information about Andrew and Mary A. Powell, please contact Karen at campbeka@oplin.org. Thank you.

Jo Stump ~ Help Us Find Out More About Him

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"Jo Stump" is written on the reverse

We don't know much about this young man pictured above. He was born around 1841. We think he is one of the two sons of Horatio and Emily Stump of Warren County, Massie Township, Ohio; the other son being Wesley. "Jo" lived with his parents on the farm up at least till 1870. By 1880, however, Horatio and Emily are living by themsleves in Massie Township. It is most likely that this Stump family is related to the Jonas Stump and family of Harveysburg thorugh common grandparents
(see, http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohwarren/Beers/V/mst/1017stump.htm).

If you have any information about "Jo Stump" and his family please email Karen at campbeka@oplin.org. Thank you.

Alex Emley ~ Teamster ~ "he was quite a horse man"

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Alex Emley
B. January 1, 1848 ~ d. April 5, 1925

Alex, or Alexander, Emley was one of the sons of John and Clarinda McCollister Emley who lived in Corwin, Ohio. Alex's father John was born in New Jersey and he was a farm laborer. Alex was a teamster and had a good reputation for loving and understanding horses.

Alex was married to Mary L. Sidles Emley on October 9, 1872. They do not appear to have had any children. None are mentioned in his obituary, dated April 15, 1925 in the The Miami-Gazette Weekly Newspaper of Waynesville. After the death of his wife Mary on June 27, 1924, Alex had gone to live with one of his sisters in the county outside of Waynesville. According to his death notice which was published in the Miami-Gazette on April 8, 1925, he died at Blair's Hospital in Lebanon and the funeral was held in the Chapel in Miami Cemetery on the following Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. L. A Washburn officiated at both their funerals. Alex and Mary are both buried in Miami Cemetery.

If you have any further information about the Emley family of the Waynesville area, please email Karen at campbeka@oplin.org. Thank you.

The Wayne Novelty Works Co. ~ A Business that Failed in Waynesville

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A healthy economic indicator in the late 1870s for the northeast corner of Warren Co., Ohio was the planning for and establishment in Waynesville of The Wayne Novelty Works Company.

It was reported in the Miami-Gazette Weekly Newspaper on December 17th, 1879 that “The Wayne Novelty Works Co. will be in active operation by the first of January. They have a number of orders already on file. The engine and boilers are now being placed in position, with other machinery necessary to carry on the work. The foundry building is completed, as is also the cupola, and the prospects of the enterprise are very flattering."

It would open at the end of 1879 and would make cast iron novelties, e.g. dark green frog doorstops, until 1885. Although the prospects had looked good for this industry, it was closed by May 26th, 1880 with little prospect of re-opening. It did, but only survived until 1885.

The large frame building which housed the foundary was later bought by William H. Thorpe, the son of Andrew J. Thorpe and his wife Mirriam Fallis. On April 7, 1900 around 10:30 A.M., a fire broke out in the old foundary building. By the time it was over, all the buildings on the west side of North Main Street between North and Chapman Streets had been destroyed, all but two. Photographs of the destruction have surrived: The Great Fire of April 7th, 1900.

William "Henry" Heighway and Family ~ Connections with the Jacob Family

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William "Henry" Heighway

Charles and Charlotte "Eliza" Heighway Jacobs are living in Waynesville on Third Street in 1880 according to the Federal Census. They have two small children. Unfortunately, the Census does not list Charles' occupation. Charles E. Jacobs was the son of Enoch Jacobs ~ Business Man, Civil War Hero, Public Servant, and United States Consul to Montevideo, in the Republic of Uruguay, South America.

Charlotte "Eliza" Heighway Jacobs is one of the children of William "Henry" and Julia von Salis Heighway who lived in Waynesville. "Henry" was a horticulturalist (That is what he is listed as in the 1870 Census.). Henry was the grandson of Samuel Heighway of Shropshire, England who founded Waynesville in 1797. Henry was born Feb. 5, 1817 in Ohio and died 1893 in Cincinnati and is buried in Miami Cemetery across the The Little Miami River from Waynesville. He married Julia von Salis, daughter of Ulysses Salis who was born in Switzerland and Charlotte Enszline who was born in Stuttgart, Wittenberg, Germany. Julia was born in 1826 in Germany and died in 1903 and is buried beside her husband in Miami Cemetery. Ulysses Salis was a Methodist Episcopal traveling preacher who lived with his daughter's family. He is buried in Miami Cemetery, also.

Henry Heighway owned and operated a brass foundry and later grocery and rectifying business. He retired in 1866 and moved to Waynesville from the Cincinnati area. He was a horticulturist and one of the first to cultivate flowers in Cincinnati; and for a time was engaged as a florist. The India Crepe Myrtle that he had shipped from India to New York to Cincinnati can still be found in Cincinnati and his country home near Waynesville that he cultivated. His home near Waynesville was on Wilkerson Lane. See, http://www.mlcook.lib.oh.us/Map-south%20of%20village.pdf.
(This map is located on our website at:
http://www.mlcook.lib.oh.us/1870%20Maps%20of%20Waynesville,%20Ohio.htm). See on the map that the Henry Heighway farm just outside of town (southern edge) abuts the Jacob property.

Charlotte E. "Eliza" Heighway was born on January 30, 1854 and married on June 3, 1874 Charles E. Jacobs, born in 1845 and died in 1894. He is buried at Miami Cemetery. They had a daughter Lettie Jacobs who lived in Mt. Airy.

In the late 1870s the Jacobs and Heighway Cabinet Works Building, formerly the Keys Building on North Main Street, Waynesville (Lots 4 and 5 in Harrison Square), was purchased for $2700.00 by a group of stockholders and converted it into an Iron Foundry, The Wayne Novelty Works Company. Crews of men were brought from Pennsylvania to set up the equipment. Obviously, the Jacob and Heighway families were united by both marriage and business.

Dr. William H. Anderson ~ Physician & Patent Medicines

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Another one of the early physicians located in Waynesville was Dr. William H. Anderson (September 5, 1784~October 25, 1874) who was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. His parents were David W. and Esther Hollenshead Anderson. Dr. Anderson died in Waynesville, Ohio on October 25th, 1874 at his home on North Street five years before the triple murder in 1879, which may have involved both his son, Daniel R., and his grandson, Willie. See, Triple Murder in Waynesville ~ Willie Anderson.

Dr. Anderson was a physician and manufactured patent medicine and compounds in a small building he erected opposite his house. The Andersons moved from Pennsylvania through Warren County in 1829 and journeyed on into Miami County in 1830. Dr. Anderson and his family lived in Clear Creek Township for a while and then moved to Lytle, Ohio. According to Daniel R. Anderson, during the 1840s, his family lived on “the Ben Shinn farm” in Clear Creek Twp. According to Dan Anderson, they lived in Maineville, too, before moving to Waynesville. By the early 1850s Dr. Anderson was established in Waynesville. It is recorded in Quaker meeting minutes that his wife, Martha Anderson, moved her membership in Springboro Monthly Meeting in Clear Creek Twp. to Miami Monthly Meeting in Waynesville on 8th mo. 27th 1851. Many of Dr. Anderson’s siblings and his mother continued to live in Miami County.

Dr. Anderson was noted for his “Gastric Neutralizer”, cough syrup and liniment. He began to produce his “Neutralizer” in 1852. He was on the public school board in Waynesville, District #7, for many years and was instrumental in the establishment of Waynesville’s Union Schoolhouse. He also served Waynesville as a town trustee (see, Miami-Visitor, May 2, 1851). Sometime between 1867-1869 Dr. Wm. H. Anderson retired and his practice was taken over by Dr. L. S. Rice, M.D.

Dr. Anderson was married twice, to two Quaker sisters: Keziah Smith (m. September 10th, 1812 in Philadelphia) with whom he had 8 children and Martha Smith (m. July 4th, 1831) with whom he had 9 more children. Keziah (d. 1830) and Martha (b. 1806-d. 1895) came from a family of 10 children. Another one of their sisters was Fanny Smith who married Moorman Butterworth. Fanny Smith Butterworth was the mother of Paulina Butterworth. Paulina Butterworth is Daniel R. Anderson’s first cousin and Willie Anderson is her first cousin once removed.

The Smith family were Hicksite Quakers as were the Butterworths. However, Dr. William H. Anderson must not have been a Quaker because Martha Smith was disowned for marrying out of unity on 6 mo. 22nd 1833 by Miami Monthly Meeting of Friends. However, Dr. Anderson became an attender at Quaker meeting. In his reminiscences, Daniel R. Anderson does remember his mother and father hosted Friends in their home and attended Friends Quarterly Meeting in Waynesville. Dan Anderson also mentions events connected with the White Brick meetinghouse in Waynesville. Dan himself claims to have been a founding member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Waynesville even though his second divorce kept him from full communion.

The obituary of Dr. William H. Anderson is found in the Miami-Gazette, October 28th, 1874:

DEATH OF DR. WILLIAM H. ANDERSON. ~This gentleman, one of our oldest and most highly respected citizens, died very peacefully at his residence in this place, on Sunday morning, October 25, 1874, at 7 o’clock. This announcement, though not expected, perhaps to our readers at a distance, who were not aware of his long confinement, was not unexpected to our citizens, who knew that for several months the venerable doctor had been an invalid, much of the time continued to his bed. Without any particular disease, other than a gradual giving way of a strong and unusually vigorous constitution, he has passed away after having lived a long life of active usefulness. Dr. Anderson was born near Philadelphia September 5th, 1784 and removed with his family to this county in 1815. He was married twice and leaves a widow and a great number of descendents, children to great grandchildren, residents of many states. His children from New York, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio were nearly all with him in his last moments. Soon after his arrival in this state, he was stricken down with disease pronounced consumption and lay for many months with but slight hope of recovery. During his illness he studied medicine and became one of the most successful physicians in the State. During the cholera season he was called miles in all directions. He rode on horseback day and night for many months during the cholera siege, and lot but one patient. He was a man of iron nerve, indomitable will and remarkably strong constitution. He was a warm friend, and in return was beloved by all. So far as we know, he had not an enemy, or any that would speak of him otherwise than with the utmost kindness.

He abhorred debt, and during his entire life scarce ever allowed himself to owe any one a dollar. Still he never refused an applicant for medicine or advice on credit, and was never known to press any one for payment. He had not tasted spirituous or malt liquors since he was 21, and had the happiness of knowing that his descendants were without exception, strictly temperate. Three of his sons and many of his grandchildren served their country faithfully during the late war. ~~ Pecuniarily, he leaves his family in independent circumstances.

Dr. Anderson’s funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, service being held in the Hicksite Friends’ meetinghouse. The attendance of relatives, friends and neighbors was very large, a testimonial that was needed to prove the estimation in which our aged citizen was held. An address appreciative of the Doctor’s life and character was made by Friend James W. Haines, and when the large audience had taken their last look of the face which for so many years had been such a pleasant one to meet, beaming always as it was with the sunshine proceeding from a kindly heart, the coffin lid was closed, and the remains were borne silently and solemnly to their last resting place in Miami Cemetery.

And so, at the extreme age of 90 years, Doctor Anderson has gone from among us. Everyone who knew him will regret his loss; but none so much as his faithful wife, who has been a devoted companion and helpmate for many, many years. May Heaven comfort her in her bereavement, and console her for the loss of an affectionate husband, who could never do too much for her happiness.

The family of the late Dr. Anderson join in sincere thanks to Friend James W. Haines, for the charitable nature of his most beautiful and appropriate address.

Dr. William H. Anderson is buried in Miami Cemetery, Corwin, Ohio in Section D. Many of his children attended the funeral.

There is evidence that Martha Smith Anderson was also a physician. It was reported in the Miami-Visitor, April 27th, 1859 that “MRS. M. ANDERSON HOME AGAIN. Our readers and the public will be happy to learn that Mrs. M. Anderson has returned from her eastern visit and is ready at any time to give medical aid and resume her practice as Physician. Our citizens have known the eminent abilities of his lady too long to make any further remarks necessary; tho’ for the benefit of others, we will say she is every way competent.”

Also see:

Waynesville's First Fire Engine in the 1850s ~ "The Buckeye"

More Reminiscences of D. R. Anderson ~ Businesses in Waynesville

More Memories of Businesses in Waynesville by Daniel R. Anderson

Boyhood Memories of Daniel R. Anderson

A "Young American Guard" in Waynesville in the 1850s

Enoch Jacobs ~ Business Man, Civil War Hero, Public Servant, and United States Consul to Montevideo, in the Republic of Uruguay, South America

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Taken from History of Hamilton County, Ohio;
published in 1881 by Ford, pg 309

Enoch Jacobs (1809-1894) was born in the town of Marlborough, State of Vermont, June 30, 1809, and was married to Electa Whitney, of said town, June 22, 1831. His father, Nathan Jacobs, was born in Connecticut in 1762, and emigrated to Vermont in 1799. He was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. He married Sarah, the daughter of Captain John Clark, of revolutionary fame, about the year 1784. She was a native of Old Hadley, Massachusetts.

The subject of this sketch emigrated to Brooklyn, New York, in 1827, where he engaged in mechanical pursuits till 1843, when he removed with his family to Cincinnati. Between that time and the breaking out of the civil war in 1861, he was engaged in the manufacture of iron work, being junior partner in the firm of Vallean & Jacobs. The people of the south being their largest customers, financial ruin followed. His oldest son, Enoch George, enlisted in the Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, three months' service, and was in the battle of Bull Run. He afterwards enlisted in the Twelfth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, Federal Regiment, where he was commissioned First Lieutenant, and was in the battle at Mill Spring and the siege of Knoxville. He re-enlisted as a veteran and served till the army reached Jonesborough, when his health failed, and he resigned his commission. His second son, Henry C., enlisted in the Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till his death. His third son, Nathan, enlisted in the Twelfth Kentucky volunteer infantry, and was commissioned first lieutenant in company "I" of Third Regiment. He was a brave and gallant young officer. While temporarily absent from his regiment he was waylaid and murdered by a bushwhacker, near Somerset, Kentucky, about the twentieth of February, 1863.

The elder Jacobs was for a time with the First and Second Ohio infantry regiments, comprising Schenck's Brigade, and took part in the battle at Vienna, where occurred the first bloodshed in the war south of the Potomac. He afterwards identified himself with the Twelfth Kentucky, commanded by Colonel W. A. Hoskins, and recruited men for it, in which two of his sons hold commissions. He took part in the battle of Mill Spring, and wrote the first published account of that battle. It appeared in the Cincinnati Commercial, and was copied by papers all over the country, and in Europe.

A month later he took part in the battle at Fort Donelson, having obtained a position on the staff of Colonel Bausenwein, commanding the brigade on the left of the right wing under General Mc Clernand, and with a detail of twelve men Mr. Jacobs accepted the surrender of two rebel batteries. About a month later while on his way to join the Twelfth Kentucky en route from Nashville to Pittsburgh Landing, a railroad accident occurred at Green River Bridge, Kentucky, in which he permanently lost the use of his right arm. In 1863 he was elected Justice of the Peace in Mill Creek township, and served till he removed with what was left of his family to Waynesville, Warren County, in 1865.

He resided at Walnut Hills from 1847 till 1865, and took a leading part in organizing in that place the first free school in the State under the school law of 1849 and its amendment in 1850. He served nine years as trustee and secretary of the board with the late Dr. Alien of Lane Seminary as president. In the winter of 1870-71 he accompanied the Government Commission, on the United States steamer Tennessee, to Santo Domingo as the special correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial. He traveled extensively over the island, and no correspondent went where he did not. The following winter, 1871-72, he returned to Santo Domingo, in the interests of the Cincinnati Commercial and New York Tribune. During that winter he gathered much testimony as to the alleged complicity of high officials in a scheme of speculation in connection with a proposition of our Government to purchase the island. This has been hitherto withheld from the public.

In January, 1873, he was appointed United States Consul to Montevideo, in the republic of Uruguay, South America. The United States Minister, Mr. Stevens, being absent, the work of the legislation devolved upon him in addition to the duties of the consulate. As the country was cursed with constant revolutions, it required all his energies in extending protection to American citizens; but the work was faithfully done. In 1874 he came home for his family (wife and daughter) by way of Europe, and with them returned by the same route to his post of duty. His health failing he resigned his commission and came home by way of Europe in June, 1876. In October or that year he removed to Mount Airy, and finished his official life with six months' service as mayor of that village.

Enoch Jacobs, his wife Electa (1812-1887) and his daughter Electa (1833-1920) are buried in Miami Cemetery in Corwin, Ohio.

ITEMS RELATED TO THE JACOBS FAMILY
IN THE MARY L. COOK PUBLIC LIBARY:

Drawings by his daughter, Electa Jacobs (1833-1920):

State Department Certificate:

The family Name was originally "Jacob". The following is the story about how the name became changed to "Jacobs". Thank you to Sharon Jacobs for sharing this story:

"According to "Colonial Families of the United States" by Mackenzie, Nathaniel Jacob (b. 29 June 1683 in Hingham, Plymouth County, MA; d. 22 Feb 1772 in Thompson, Windham County, MA) was one of the first settlers of Thompson, Connecticut. In 1741 he purchased a part of the Saltonstall tract for 900 (pounds), and he and his five sons took possession of this wild tract; it afterwards became known as the "Jacobs District". The "s" seems to appear on the name after that. Thus Jacob(s)".

Moses Sisco ~ Waynesville Shoemaker & Methodist "Class Leader"

2006-05-12T16:25:00.000-04:00

Moses Sisco had a Boot and Shoe Shop in Waynesville for many years. We know that during the 1850s his son John, was also a shoemaker with his father. Moses' first wife, Olive, who was still living in 1850, had her own business. She was a mantua maker. During the 1850s he moved twice into different quarters on Main Street. His last shop during that decade was located in the Wright Building on Main Street:

"BACK AGAIN. The undersigned takes this method to inform his old patrons and the public generally that he has returned to Waynesville and opened a shop in Wright's building, on Main Street, where he is prepared to furnish and make to order boots and shoes of all kinds and at reasonable prices. A liberal share of patronage is solicited. M. Sisco, May 17, 1858" (Miami-Visitor, May 19, 1858).

There are hints that the family moved quite a bit (i.e. the advertisement above) and his first marriage in Gallia Co., Ohio, and the birth of his children in Butler and also Montgomery Counties, Ohio.

Moses Sisco was married three times in his life:

To Olive Sisson with whom he had two children: Sarah Jane Sisco and Francis Cisco.
To Mary Elizabeth Abbott with whom he had eight children: Laurah, Moses, Henrietta, Susan, John, Calvin C., Fanny and Charles W. Sisco.
To Sarah Neill with whom he had no children.

The following is the obituary of Moses Sisco, shoemaker of Waynesville (Miami-Gazette Newspaper, February 2, 1870):

Moses Sisco was born September 28, 1799, in Newark, New Jersey. Of his religious training we know nothing; but from the few scattered fragments that we can gather, we are led to believe that he had a praying mother. In the 18th year of his age, he was led by the providence of God to attend Methodist meetings, and under the influence of the Holy Spirit, united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was soundly and evangelically converted to God. Soon after his conversion, it was very evident to his brethren that he had gifts and grace for active labor in that Church, and he was solicited to receive license to exhort, but his mind was not fully satisfied in regard to this and he declined. Soon after this he was appointed Class-Leader, and in this position he served the Church for nearly forty years. He was often heard to say that in the capacity of a Class-Leader he had all the license that he desired, as it was the duty of a Leader "to comfort, reprove and exhort as occasion might require." And faithfully did he perform his duty. The Day was never too could, the night was never too dark and stormy to keep Brother Sisco from the classroom when he had strength to get there.

As a Leader, he was very successful. He possessed a wonderful power in exhortation, and always had a word of encouragement suited to each one's experience. When I came to the charge, a year ago last fall, I found Brother Sisco in charge of one of the classes, beloved by all of his brethren. He was feeble in body and said to me: "I shall be compelled to resign my Leadership. My strength is failing, and I feel that my work is about done." With great reluctance we yielded to his request, and he was compelled to tear himself away from his beloved work to suffer and die.

He was a constant attendant upon the preaching of the word. He loved to hear the old story of the cross; how often has he encouraged the heart of the writer by his cheerful smiles and his hearty approval of the truth during divine service. Brother Sisco was no bigot; it was enough for him that the Church to which he extended the hand of brotherhood cleaved to the cross with its vicarious sacrifice. Still he loved the Church of his choice, and was greatly interested in all her movements. His pathway through life was often dark and full of tears. Two of his companions and six of his children he has laid away in the grave. Ten years ago last October, he was married to Mrs. Sarah E. Neill, his now afflicted and bereaved widow.

The last few years of his life were years of great suffering; still, grace sustained him and no one ever heard him complain or murmur. The nature of his disease was such that for three or four days before his death he was unconscious, and but few expressions could be gathered from his dying lips; still he was heard to say, "Precious Jesus!" "Blessed hope!" The Lord has been so good to me!" When asked, "Do you think we shall know each other in heaven?" he seemed to rouse from his stupor and exclaimed, "O yes! Our knowledge in heaven will be wonderfully increased."

But why need I cite you to his dying words? You know what his life has been. "Hark, the perfect and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."

On last Monday afternoon, the 31st of January 1870, at 1 o'clock, the weary wheels of life stood still, and Moses Sisco ceased his labors and suffering, and entered upon the bliss and glory of the Heavenly land ~ leaving behind him the light of a good name and the fragrance of a holy example. To the church of which he was a member, I would say, we have lost one of our oldest members: for fifty-three years, he faithfully followed Jesus. To his bereaved widow I would say, you have lost a kind and affectionate husband. To the children, I would say, you have lost a good father. Still, we will not murmur: we will dry our tears and remember that our loss is his gain. Then let us, as we surround his coffin and look for the last time upon his pale face, remember, that his happy spirit, redeemed from earth and sin dwells with Jesus and the angels in the better land.

"Yet again we hope to meet him
When the day of life is fled,
Then in heaven with joy to greet him,
Where no farewell tears are shed."

E. McHugh."

Andrew J. Thorpe ~ Retired Merchant Living in Waynesville, Ohio

2006-03-27T12:41:00.000-05:00

The following is taken from Beer's 1882 Warren County, Ohio History, page 885-886:

"ANDREW J. THORPE, retired merchant, Waynesville; born in Kentucky December 7, 1814; is a son of John and Mary (Hall) Thorpe, he a native of Kentucky and she of New Jersey. The grandfather, Andrew Thorpe, was born in Virginia, and emigrated to Kentucky, where he lived and died. Mr. John Thorpe married his wife in this county about 1811, and located in Mason Co., Ky., where he resided till 1820; he located in Cincinnati and entered upon mercantile trade, which business he carried on for about thirteen years; he died in 1833, aged about 52 years; his wife died in December 1878, aged 81 years. They were parents of six children; three now survive ~ Ann, now Widow Jones, living in Indiana; Andrew J. and Thomas W.

Our subject ( Andrew J. Thorpe) remained with his father till his death, being then about 19 years of age, and brought up and educated to the mercantile trade, which business he followed and prosecuted with vigor at various points in Ohio and Indiana, until about 1850, when he entered upon trade in Cincinnati, where he continued an active successful business man till 1873, when he sold out and retired to his present place of residence in Waynesville.

Mr. Thorpe's life has been one of great activity, conducting business with energy, tact and ability, which has been crowned with financial success, and now is living at his fine residence in Waynesville in his advancing years, in the quiet enjoyment of the fruits of his past labors and industry. Mr. Thorpe was united in matrimony in 1836 with Mirriam Fallis, daughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth Fallis, natives of Pennsylvania; issue, two children ~ Mary Elizabeth, born August 26, 1838, and William H. H., born June 7, 1841.

Reeve Holland ~ Waynesville Carpenter & Builder ~ Sarah Bowman Holland ~ Devoted Methodist

2006-01-20T11:14:00.000-05:00

The Reeve Holland house is still standing at
38 North Main Street in Waynesville, Ohio.
It was built in 1836.

Reeve Holland (January 24, 1808~May 31, 1893) was a carpenter and builder in Waynesville starting in 1835. He was the builder of the first Waynesville Episcopal Church building located on the southeast corner of North & Third Streets in 1840 (no longer extant, see photo below, a new building replaced it in 1915). Reeve and Sarah, his wife, were devoted Methodists and well loved in Waynesville. He retired from active carpentry work in 1863. Reeve Holland was also one of the first subscribers to Miami Cemetery and on the first Board of Trustees holding the office of treasurer of the cemetery.

The 1840 Waynesville Episcopal Methodist Church

Reeve was also a great benefactor to Waynesville. It was reported in the Miami-Gazette on May 3, 1876:

Thanks to Mr. Reeve Holland, the work of completing the two rows of shade trees between the bridges is nearly or perhaps quite accomplished. Mr. Holland procured over 50 trees the other day ~ going 8 miles into the Swamp for them and pays for them and setting them out, out of his private purse.

The above refers to Corwin Avenue which crosses from Corwin to Waynesville over the Little Miami River and the mill race.

Reeve was married to Sarah Bowman Holland (February 10, 1812 ~ August 26, 1907) on January 21, 1835. Reeve was one of the six children of James (May 1, 1775 ~ April 20, 1858) and Hannah Reeve Holland (September 10, 1779 ~ December 24, 1863).

James Holland's obituary was published in the Miami-Visitor newspaper on April 28th, 1858:

"DIED. ~ Of brocheal (?) affliction, on the 20th inst., in this place, JAMES HOLLAND, in the eighty-third year of his age. He was born May 1, 1775 in Burlington County, New Jersey, and emigrated to Ohio in 1817. His sickness was of but short duration and he seemed to be sensible that it was his last. He told his son he should not get well, but expressed a willingness with patience and Christian fortitude. Not a murmur fell from his lips. A few hours before he stepped into the cold waters of the Jordan of death, he said,"I am almost home." He was a loving husband, an affectionate father, a kind neighbor, and a humble Christian. Among his numerous surviving relatives, both in the East and West, is his widow ~ the companion of his youth, and comrade for more than fifty years, and six children. May they all meet in Heaven:

Servant of God, well done;
Thy glorious warriors' past;
The battles fought, the race is won;
And thou are crowned at last.

There is a biography of Reeve Holland in the 1882 Warren County History, p. 858:

"REEVE HOLLAND, retired carpenter and builder. Waynesville, was born in New Jersey, Jan. 24, 1808; is a son of James and Hannah (Reeves) Holland, natives of New Jersey. The grandparents were John and Jane Holland, natives of New Jersey; the ancestors being of Scotch-Irish descent. James and family emigrated to Ohio, and located near Waynesville in 1817, being among the early settlers of this county. He was a weaver by trade, and soon after he came here located in Waynesville, where he followed his trade the most of his life; he died in Waynesville about 1857, age 85 years; his wife died about 1861, age 85 years. They had ten children, six now survive ~

Reeve
Franklin
Wesley
Maria (now Mrs. Parker, residing at Camp Dennison)
Ruth Ann (now Mrs. Bodine, residing at Madisonville)
Emiline (now Mrs. Leatcham, residing in Iowa).

The subject of this sketch was but 9 years of age when their family came to this new county, and here he was raised and grew to manhood, fully accustomed to all the rough scenes of those early days; was married January 21, 1835, to Sarah, daughter of Abraham and Ellen Bowman, natives of Virginia, but who emigrated to Kentucky, where they resided till 1817, when they removed to Warren County, and locate near Waynesville, where they lived and ided; they had eleven children, five now survive ~

John, living in Indiana
Didema, now Widow Carr, living in Iowa
Sarah
Mary Ann, now Mrs. Retallick.

Mr. (Reeve) Holland and wife have had four children, all deceased; the youngest Joel Marshall, grew to manhood and gave promise of becoming a prominent man. During the administration of President Lincoln, he was appointed United States Mail Agent, on the C.C.R.R., which office he filled about one year; thence assumed the duties of the Distributing Department in the Post Office at Cincinnati, where, after a few months' service was prostrated with sickness and returned home, where he died, Sept. 26, 1862, aged about 24 years; his young promising life being thus early cut off.

Mr. (Reeve) Holland when sixteen years of age learned the carpenter trade and became one of the best and most prominent builders of that day; erecting a large number of the buildings in Waynesville and vicinity. In 1863, Mr. Holland retired from all active business, having acquired a good competency. He has resided on the property where he now lives for forty-five years; has erected a good substantial frame house, and has everything comfortable and convenient around him; where he and his companion have lived for almost half a century, and can now enjoy the fruits of their labors under their 'own wine and fig-tree.'"

Two of their children are buried next to Reeve and Sarah Holland in Miami Cemetery, section H (see below). Sarah's obituary only mentions two children. Other references refer to four children.

L. B. Holland (Nov. 22, 1835 ~ June 28, 1837)
Marshal J. Holland (May 9, 1838 ~ Sept. 26, 1862)

James and Hannah Holland, Reeve's parents, are also buried in the same family plot.

In 1835, Reeve and Sarah Bowman Holland celebrated their Golden Wedding. A long article in the Miami-Gazette, tells the story of their marriage day. As they were returning from their wedding, which took place on the Thomas Smith farm on Caesar's Creek (Sarah had been adopted into the Smith family), to Waynesville, Reeve received bad news.

"~ during the night the cabinet shop of John Loyd had burned down, and contents destroyed, among which were the carpenter tools of Mr. Holland, which constituted his entire stock in trade. But Mr. Holland says the thought that he possessed a brand new wife inspired him with courage , and he called on friends for help and got it, and to this day remembers gratefully David Evans and Joseph Chapman for their generosity in enabling him to again procure tools, with which he went to work with a will and cheered by the brave spirit of his wife, and seconded in all his efforts by her energy and thrift, he succeeded . . .

Mr. and Mrs. Holland went to house-keeping the Spring following their marriage in a house which occupied the same ground where they now live, and from there they have never moved, but have built and improved until they have all the comforts and conveniences they desire. They have seen their surroundings change from a sugar grove to a well improved town from their front window they now see a block of buildings where they once saw only trees and grass. They have witnessed the transition of their surroundings while they have moved on in the own tenor of their ways, quietly and unobtrusively yet factors in the progress of events. Mr. Holland has been the practical architect of many of the buildings in the town and Corwin and the surrounding country while "Auntie Holland" has been a "ministering angel" at many a bed of sichness and in many scenes of sorrow. . ."

There is a death notice of Sarah Holland's death in the Miami-Gazette on August 28, 1907. A lengthy obituary for "Aunt" Sarah Bowman Holland is found in the Miami-Gazette, August 28, 1907. It includes Rev. Phillip Trout's sermon at her funeral:

DEATH CLAIMS WAYNESVILLE'S OLDEST CITIZEN
AND PERHAPS THE OLDEST PERSON IN
WARREN COUNTY

Sarah Bowman Holland was the daughter of Abram and Eleanor Bowman and was born at Flemingsburg, Kentucky, Feb. 10, 1812 and died at her home on Main Street, Aug. 26th, 1907 at the ripe old age of 95 years, 6 months and 16 days. When but a child she moved with her parents to Ohio and settled near Waynesville, on the Hall farm, now known as the O'Neall place. She was one of a family of ten children; all are now dead except one sister, Amelia Rogers, of Harveysburg, Ohio.

She was married to Reeve Holland, Jan. 21st, 1835 and went to housekeeping in a small house on Main Street, where they lived for a few weeks only, when Mr. Holland purchased the present home (in an unfinished condition.) They immediately moved into it and it has been her home from that day until the day of her death, a period of more than 72 years, and with her death the oldest home in Waynesville is broken up.

To Mr. & Mrs. Holland there were born two sons. "Together they mourned the loss of their first born Samuel Bowman, who died in 1837 a little less than 18 months old. Their second son Joel Marshall lived to comfort them and honor himself by an upright useful career of nearly 25 years, when he too passed to the great Beyond." The death of this son in the prime of his manhood was a great affliction but it was born with grace and patience.

Sister Holland united with the Waynesville Methodist Episcopal Church in the year 1836 under the pastorate of Rev. Wm. Sutton, and has been one of its most faithful and honored members to the time of her death being the church's oldest member having a continued membership for more than 70 years. For many years the prayer meetings of the Society were held in her home; also the class meeting, and once the Quarterly Conference of the Circuit was held in her home. In those early days the Quarterly Meeting brought men and women by the score from a distance to be entertained for two days or more. Her home was open to all, her hospitality knew no bounds. Many were made welcome and there were many times when as many as 30 or 35 persons were kept overnight. In those early days of large Circuits, when the preacher was away from his home most of the time, he always found welcome at her home, and for many years her home was the home of her pastor. Many of the early preachers of Methodism who afterward famous for their ability and preaching power, were entertained by her.

She has held a large place in this community for many years. she was a neighbor of the old type, ever ready to help to visit and care for the sick and all who were in distress. She was good to the poor and gave much to their relief. A long and noble life has closed. Her faithfulness to the church, her care for the sick, and her love for her fellows is something to be remembered and cherished by all who knew her. She had outlived her generation and was ready and waiting the coming of God's Chariot to take her Spirit home, and now that she has gone from us we can but say, 'The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord'. 'We shall meet again in the morning'. ~ Phillip Trout, Pastor.

The funeral of Mrs. Holland was held from her later residence Thursday afternoon at 1 o'clock conducted by Phillip Trout, her pastor, and Rev. Wm. Coffman of Sabina, a former pastor, and was attended by a large number of friends and relatives. Mrs. Holland will be greatly missed and although, she had lived to be almost a centenarian, her faculties were unusually acute and she took pride in being 'up and doing' so long as strength was given her. The body was laid to rest in Miami Cemetery to await the call on the last great day.

Holland Grave Plot in Miami Cemetery ~ Corwin, Ohio
Foreground ~ graves of James and Hannah Reeve Holland
Holland Grave Plot ~
Foreground ~Reeve and Sarah Bowman Holland

Drs. Francis and Miriam Williamson ~ Physicians in Waynesville

2006-01-19T09:43:00.000-05:00

Dr. Francis Williamson (November 14, 1812 ~ July 15, 1878) was a physician and surgeon, a learned, liberal minded and kindhearted man whose sudden death on July 15th, 1878 surprised his family and saddened the community. He was the husband of Dr. Miriam Peirce Williamson (May 18, 1822 ~ October 15, 1888), ten years his junior, who was also a physician with a distinguished career of her own.

Francis Williamson was a highly respected physician, an influential educator and a veteran of the Civil War. He had been a surgeon on the staff of Major-General Rosecrans. In early 1850 the Doctors Williamsons were practicing and living in Harveysburg, Ohio. By 1856, the Williamsons were living in Waynesville. They had six children together: Virginia, Richard, Agnes E., Francis (Frank) Fallis, Charles G. and Mary E. Williamson Cadwallader. See detailed references below.

A lengthy obituary (partially edited here) was printed in the Miami-Gazette on July 17th, 1878:

DEATH OF DR. FRANCIS WILLIAMSON. ~ Dr. Williamson died of paralysis at his home in Waynesville on Monday forenoon, July 15, 1878 after a very short illness. This announcement will be a shock to many friends at a distance who have long been familiar with the apparently robust form of the Doctor, and who had supposed he almost had the power to regulate the time of his own decease. But no one can at all times successfully resist the in roads of the destroyer, and the strongest man is often the one who falls pierced by the arrow of death. Dr. Williamson had been enjoying his usual health until Thursday evening last, when he was attacked by cholera morbus, after having been exercising in the hot son. He recovered, apparently, from this, only to be clasped more relentlessly in the terrible embrace of paralysis. Saturday evening his condition was so alarming that his wife was telegraphed for at Bellefontaine, and she came Sunday morning at 10, to find her husband fast relapsing into a comatose condition, which it seemed he had made a powerful effort to keep at bay until her arrival. After expressing his pleasure at seeing her, and making a few other remarks, he gradually relapsed into a stupor which became more and more heavy from that time until his death. At times he would appear conscious of what was passing around him, and would try to answer questions addressed to him, but he never thoroughly roused from the stupor into which the paralysis had thrown him, and so he passed away from earth to the realities of an unknown world. In his last moments he was surrounded by his sorrowing wife and daughters and other friends, but his two sons could not be summoned from their home in the far west in time to bid their kind and affectionate parent farewell.

Dr. Williamson was born on the 14th of November 1812 at Manney’s Neck, North Carolina, directly on the Virginia line. Indeed, we believe part of his father’s estate crossed the Virginia boundary. Dr. Williamson was justly proud of his place of nativity, and he was enthusiastic in his appreciation of the glories of the Old Dominion ~~ her distinguished sons, their chivalric deeds, and her classic ground, fit soil for the scholar, the philosopher and the gentleman. He was proud to have been born if not directly upon the sacred soil, at least within range of its classic atmosphere. Dr. Williamson’s father, Francis Williamson, was an extensive slaveholder at one time, and for twenty years a clergyman of the Christian denomination, a liberal thinker, and a progressionist in advance of his immediate contemporaries, for he liberated his slaves, sending some to Liberia while others remained in this country. At an early age the son was sent to school, and received the major part of his education under competent masters in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. He early cultivated a taste for literature. In 1836 he taught a classical school in Hanover County, Virginia, after which he read medicine with Dr. Trezvant at Jerusalem, Va. He afterwards attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and took the degree of M.D. in 1845. In 1837-8 he traveled over the western states, lecturing on one of his favorite themes, Phrenology. He also visited jails, lunatic asylums, and penitentiaries, traveling over twenty states of the Union, and occasionally delivering lectures before literary institutes.

His union with Miss Miriam Peirce, of Wilmington, Ohio, resulted in the birth of six children, three sons and three daughters. One of the sons and one of the daughters preceded their father to the Silent land, while the faithful, devoted wife, upon whom he relied to a great extent for his impulse of strength in his later years, and his surviving daughters and sons, feel keenly enough the irreparable loss of a husband and father whose genial nature, kind heart and strong individuality went far to make up the magnetic atmosphere of home. For the last quarter of a century or more, Dr. Williamson has been a successful practitioner of medicine and surgery in Warren County, most of that time in and around Waynesville. He was passionately devoted to his profession, and to the very last was a close student, keeping pace with the onward march of science and the unrestrainable progress of events . . .

Dr. Williamson was not a member of any church, although his predilections and tastes naturally caused him to gravitate towards the Protestant Episcopal, for whose history and liturgy he entertained the highest regard. He was thoroughly conversant with theology, and his veneration for the Christian religion was a natural outgrowth of his organization as well as sequence of his researches and experiences. In 1862 he entered into the exiting arena of the war, in the capacity of surgeon, and was at once promoted by Major-General Rosecrans to a surgeon on his own staff. Since the war, he has practiced his profession in his chosen home; leading a scholastic and domestic life suited to his nature~ fond of home, family, friends and books; and in their enjoyment he passed the early evening of his life . . . Dr. Williamson’s funeral will take place tomorrow forenoon at 10, from the family residence.

A biography of Dr. Francis Williamson can also be found in the 1882 History of Warren County, Ohio, pp. 887-888.

A brother of Dr. F. Williamson was a minister, Rev. James Williamson. According to the Miami-Gazette, December 2nd, 1874, “The Rev. James Williamson, brother of Dr. F. Williamson, preached in the Christian Church last Sunday evening.” He was here in Waynesville visiting from Iowa (Miami-Gazette, November 4th, 1874).

Miriam Peirce Williamson was a member of Center Monthly Meeting of The Society of Friends in Clinton County, Ohio. She was disowned by the Quakers for her marriage contrary to discipline, out of unity. Francis was not a Quaker. On 7th mo. 18th day of 1850 she transferred her membership to Miami Monthly Meeting of The Society of Friends in Waynesville, Ohio. There she was disowned again on 9th mo 26th day 1855 (See, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Volume V, Ohio, pp. 142-143 and 543).

A "Miriam Wilkerson" is listed as a physician in Harveysburg on the 1856 Wall Map of Warren County. This is most likely Miriam Williamson.

The following comments about Miriam Williamson are taken from the biography of Dr. Francis Williamson in the 1882 Beer's History of Warren County, Ohio:

In December 1839 was celebrated his union with Miss Miriam Pierce, who was born in Wilmington, Ohio in 1822, she was a daughter of Richard and Mary (Fallis) Pierce, he a native of Wilmington, Del. and she of Virginia; the great-great-grandmother, Miriam Pierce, was a physican and nurse in the Revolutionary war, for which services she receive $700.00 per year. . .

His widow, Mrs. Williamson, is very pleasantly situated, having a beautiful home and residence, with the society of a loving daughter and son; she was a faithful and devoted wife, and upon whom the Doctor relied too a great extent for his impulses of strength in his later years; she is also a physican of thirty years' practice or more, and has a noted reputation over a large extent of country for her magnetic powers and skill in the treatment of disease, her field of practice reaching to the large cities of Dayton, Cincinnati, Richmond, Chicago and others."

Dr. Miriam Williamson is mentioned a number of times in the Miami-Gazette as traveling a great deal as a physican. For example:

It was reported in the Miami-Gazette, July 29th, 1874 that “Mrs. Dr. Williamson returned home last Wednesday from an extended professional tour.”
It was reported on December 9th, 1874 that, "Mrs. Dr. M. Williamson is visiting in Cleveland and Toledo."

In 1879 Miriam would be called to testify at the Willie Anderson triple murder inquest. She and her husband had dealt with a horrible tragedy of their own just six years earlier when their oldest son, Richard P. Williamson, 28 years of age, committed suicide on their farm by immolating himself. See, . People of Waynesville and Wayne Township considered this to be the most “sickening tragedy” ever to have happened in the area and the author of the obituary hoped that there would never be another horror “the like of which we hope it may never devolve upon us again to record.”

The Williamsons are listed in the following Federal Censuses:

1850 Federal Census, Harveysburg, Ohio, Warren County, M432_737, page 718, image 43.
1860 Federal Census, Waynesville, Ohio, Warren County, M653_1047, page 82.
On the 1870 Federal Census, both Francis and Miriam are listed as physicans (1870 Federal Census; Wayne, Warren, Ohio, Roll: M593_1277, page: 510.
Widowed 57 year old Miriam Williamson is listed as "Doctress" living with two children: Agnes (30) and Charles (23). Her brother, James Peirce, her brother (50), is also living with her (1880 Federal Census, Waynesville, Warren, Ohio, Roll: T9_1075; page 482.4000; Enumeration District: 79.

Their daughter, Agnes Williamson, married John S. Wright (b. July 15th, 1850 ~ d. July 31, 1903) on December 26th, 1887 (The Descendants of Irish John Wright: An Irish Quaker Who Came to America Cir 1740 by George F. Wright, M. D. (Published by Author, 2000), p. 118. According to the 1880 Federal Census, John S. Wright was living with his father Oscar J. Wright, a retired miller, and his profession is listed as “miller” (Wayne Township, Warren Co., Ohio, Family History Library Film #1255075, N.A. film #T9-1075, page 465A). John S. Wright bought the Waynesville Mill in 1888 (see, Waynesville’s First 200 Years [The Waynesville Historical Society, 1997], pp. 234 and 236).

The Miami-Gazette reported on June 23rd, 1875 “Dr. Williamson left here Monday for a visit to this son Frank in Ellinwood, Kansas.” On July 14th, 1875, the newspaper published a long and erudite letter from Dr. Francis Williams while he was out visiting his son Frank in Ellinwood. He described his son’s business as follows: "The firm of Landis & Williamson is doing more business as merchants than any store in Waynesville. They have an area of country in this rich valley, 20 miles in diameter, and have monopolized the business, having the only large store here. They commenced business here 3 years since, in a room 10 feet square; now they have rooms as large as A. D. Cadwallader’s~~They are doing a safe business, and receive from one to 400 dollars daily in their sales.”

According to Clarkson Butterworth in his Catalogue of the Members of Miami Monthly Meeting, 7th Month 1897: After the Friends of the late Cincinnati Monthly Meeting were attached to it, Mary E. Williamson (b. 1840.10.1) married Clarkson Cadwallader (b. 1833.1.1) and they had two daughters: Miriam Cadwallader (b. 1873.7.16) and Hallie A. Cadwallader (b. 1876.12.18). “Clarkson is brother of the afore mentioned Andrew W. Cadwallader, and his wife, Mary E. was the daughter of the late doctors, Francis and Miriam (Peirce) Williamson of Waynesville, Ohio . . . Clarkson and Mary live at his father’s (Jonah Cadwallader’s) old home on Todd’s Fork, two miles above Morrow.”

Francis and Miriam Williamson are buried in Miami Cemetery, Section G. Richard P. Williamson (June 25th, 1846 – April 26th, 1873) is buried next to his parents in Miami Cemetery. He had joined the Society of Friends, a member of Miami Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends in Waynesville, Ohio , but was disowned for a marriage contrary to Quaker discipline.

Horace P. Keys ~ The Last of the Keys in Waynesville

2006-01-17T13:10:00.000-05:00

Business Care of Horace P. Keys

This article is found in the Miami-Gazette, April 29, 1937:

KEYS FAMILY LIVED HERE LONG

~~
This the first of a series of articles
which is being written by Grace L. Smith,
dealing with life, places, and events in
the history of Waynesville.

Many Years ago, about 1819, a father and mother, with their three children, emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio and located in Waynesville, Ohio to make their future home. This man was the grandfather (Isaac Keys) of Horace P. Keys, the subject of this sketch. In this span of 118 years, Waynesville has continuously known the Keys family.

Horace P. Keys was born in 1852 on the lot where he now lives ~ a period of 85 years. He was the son of Judge John W. and Sarah French Keys, a native of New Jersey. Judge John Keys had a mother of rare executive ability (Sarah Keys) and when left a widow in her new home with limited means, proved herelf amply equal to the situation in which most women would have failed. This same self reliance and courage, she handed down to her son, Judge Keys and he, in turn to his son, Horace.

Mr. Keys' father (Judge John W. Keys) was a man of great influence in the community. In 1839 he was honored with the office of Mayor of Waynesville. In 1842 he became Justice of the Peace, which office he filled for 30 years. In the Fall of 1872, he was elected Probate Judge of the county. This position he held until the year 1879. Mr. (John W.) Keys was also a cabinet maker and when Horace was but 16 years of age he entered into business with his father. After the death of his father, he continued on with the business and was an active businessman in Waynesville until a few years ago.

Mr.(Horace P.) Keys obtained his education in the Waynesville schools. None of the boys are left who with him swam in the old swimmin' hole or skated on the mill-race in the winter but Mr. Keys lives so much in the past that, to him those days are most real.

His hobby was watches and clocks and one incident he particularly remembers when the old family clock refused to run, he told his father he could fix it. His father told him to let it alone but one day his father left home, he took the clock to pieces and repaired it. Fortunately the clock ran ~ and continued to run and give good time until a short while ago.

Horace P. Keys was for years a very enthusiastic worker in the Knights of Pythias lodge. Always a bachelor, Mr. Keys and his sister, Miss Addie, made their home together until a few years ago when Miss Key's death separated them.

The home was destroyed in the fire of 1900 but a new home was erected on the same lot where since his birth, Mr. Keys has lived in his quiet unassuming way.

He says he has outlived his generation but his interests are all for Waynesville. His life has been spent here and Horace P. Keys is the last of the once noted Keys family and Waynesville's oldest businessman.

John W. Keys (Aug. 28,1814 - Dec. 23, 1882), his wife Sarah B. French Keys (April 17, 1812 - Mar. 22, 1894), and his three children, Mary G. Keys Jacobs (d. Apr. 24, 1876), Adaline B. Keys (1849-1931) and Horace P. Keys (1853-1942) are all buried in Miami Cemetery, Section F.

Also see the following for more information about the Keys family:

The Keys Brother that Went to California ~ Thomas J. Keys

2006-01-17T11:53:00.000-05:00

This obituary of Thomas J. Keys, the brother of John W. Keys, Joseph G. Keys, and William Keys, was printed in the Miami-Gazette newspaper on January 30, 1895. It was first published in the Stockton (Cal.) Daily Independent:

Ex Senator Thomas J. Keys, died this morning at a little before 2 o'clock, after an illness of less than two days.

The deceased was born in Waynesville, Warren county, Ohio, January 16, 1823. He was reared amid the wild life of that region, then the far West, as a Quaker. His father died when the subject of this sketch was but 7 years of age, and at 15 the boy went to work as a blacksmith's apprentice. Six years later, having been an (apprentice) of the trade three or four years, he went to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he worked at his trade several months and then went to Louisville, Kentucky. He started for California in 1850 with a party made up in that city. They went in a boat to Weston, Missouri, commencing the overland journey from that point. Upon reaching this state Mr. Keys went to mining at Hangtown, but soon gave it up and went to Sacramento where, failing to find work at his trade, he went to San Francisco. Meeting with little success there he made up a party of twenty-three men all went to Chinese Camp in Tuolumme county. A few months later Mr. Keys was at Fine Gold Gulch acting as the Alcalde (mayor) and Recorder. Becoming afflicted with the scurvy he took a mule team and started for San Francisco again and stopped at Stockton, where he went to work at his trade. Saving his wages he started a shop where Wolf's building now stands on Main street. He continued in the blacksmithing business in the city for eighteen years being located at various places in the town.

Mr. Keys became ( ? ) interested in teaming to the southern mines being, in partnership with William Hughes. When the mining boom suddenly burst he was left with sixty-seven head of miles on his hands with hay at $90 a ton and barley correspondingly high. He went to the lowlands and cut tules for the animals and then going to Stanislaus county commenced farming. He made $17,000 the first two years and lost $30,000 during the next four. When he left the ranch he had just $10. He then became interested in the manufacure of headers and threshers and in 1884 became steward of the Stockton Insane Asylum.

The deceased had led an active political life. He represented this county in the Assembly in 1855 and again in 1863. In 1872 he was elected as Senator from the District then composed of Stanislaus, Merced and Mariposa counties and was re-elected to serve a second term in 1874.

Mr. Keys was member of Charity Lodge, No. 61, I.O.O.F., and also of the San Joaquin Society of California Pioneers. He leaves a widow and several children, namely, Mrs. Oscar Atwood, Mrs. Reuter of the asylum, James C. Keys, the agent of the Southern Pacific depot in this city, John Milton, Thomas J., Jr. and Mrs. Eliza Stowell.

For more about the Keys family of Waynesville, Ohio see:

Joseph Galloway Keys ~ Quaker Cabinet Maker, Justice of the Peace, and President of the Western Star Publishing Co.

2006-01-13T16:50:00.000-05:00

1903 Centennial Atlas of Warren County, Ohio

Joseph Galloway Keys was a brother of Judge John W. Keys and his partner in the cabinet ware business during the 1850s in Waynesville. The following biography is taken from the 1903 Centennial Atlas of Warren County, Ohio:

Joseph G. Keys, the subject of this sketch, was born in Waynesville, Warren County, Ohio on October 25, 1827. His father Isaac Keys, spent most of his life in Pennsylvania, but removed to this county in 1819, and settled in Waynesville. Squire Keys, as he is generally known, was one of the family of eight children. His brother, John, held the office of Probate Judge and other positions of trust in this county. His father died when he was but two and one-half years old, but from early boyhood he had displayed the characteristics that he still possesses, that of great energy coupled with strong will power. He secured only the limited education which the times afforded, but during his life has been a great reader, close observer and student, and in his early life, by close application and frugality, he laid the foundation, for his future success in life. He has always enjoyed the fullest confidence of his neighbors, and his mind being of a judicial turn, for twenty years, in an eminently satisfactory way, he acted as Justice of the Peace, and as a safe counsel in his neighborhood. He was married in 1857; two children, a son and a daughter, being born to the union, the son having died in early manhood. Squire Keys, at present, is the President of the Western Star Publishing Company, the oldest Republican paper in the county, and one of the oldest papers in the State. It has been his privilege and good fortune to travel considerably, and he has not only made visits to relatives in New Jersey, New York City and Philadelphia, but he has seen a goodly portion of the west, having spent considerable time in California and parts of the Southwest. Being an adept in the art of describing what he has seen, his friends are frequently entertained by accounts of his travels. In religious belief he is a Friend. He is one of Warren County's most substantial citizens, and, notwithstanding his years, is still active in affairs.

The father of Joseph G. Keys was Isaac Keys, b. June 16, 1787 ~ Jaunuary 25, 1830. His mother was Sarah Keys, b. June 4, 1788.

Joseph G. Keys (1827-1908) was married to Adeline Alice Crispin (1832-1917) on September 17, 1857 and they had two children, Charles L. (b. October 1, 1858 ~ d. June 14, 1864) and Clara E. (b. December 3,1865 ~ d. 1929). In the 1880 Federal Census Joseph G. Keys is listed as a Notary Public. In the 1850, 1860 and 1870 Census' he is listed as a merchant and cabinet maker. Joseph was in partnership with his brother John W. Keys in the Furniture Ware Room in Waynesville. For more information about this business during the 1850s see: WAYNESVILLE BUSINESSES & PROFESSIONS LISTED IN THE MIAMI VISITOR WEEKLY NEWSPAPER WITH FURTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED.

Adeline is listed as a seamstress in the 1860 Census.

Jospeh Galloway Keys departed this life on Monday April 27, 1908, aged 80 years, 6 months and 2 days. Adaline Alice Keys departed this life October 17 (Wed.) 1917, aged 85 years, 8 months and 27 days. This information is taken from the family Bible located in THE OHIOANA ROOM ~THE MARY L. COOK PUBLIC LIBRARY. Joseph, Adaline and their two children are buried in Section F of Miami Cemetery ~ Located in Corwin, Across the River from Waynesville .

I. H. Harris, Banker, Tells a Funny Story

2006-01-13T15:15:00.000-05:00

The Harris Home, Store and Bank Building in Waynesville
(no longer extant)
Below is photograph of the staircase in the I.H. Harris Home

The following story told by Israel Hopkins Harris, Waynesville banker, was published in the Miami-Gazette on November 17, 1869:

BOARDING IT OUT ~ Our Banker, Mr. I. H. Harris, who is as fond of a good thing as anybody else, is responsible for the following amusing incident in financial operations.

A number of years ago, an Irishman, apparently a stranger in the neighborhood, called at the bank and taking a parcel from his pocket, proceeded to untie string after string and unfold wrapper after wrapper ~ a string almost to every fold ~ until he finally produced one hundred dollars, which he remarked he wished to leave there.

"For how long?" asked the banker. "For a year," carelessly replied the stranger; and forthwith a certificate of deposit was made out in his name and he departed.

Mr. Harris saw or heard nothing more of his Hiberian depositor until perhaps four years afterwards, when one day the identical individual appeared, and walking up to the counter, accosted the banker with, "Still doing business here, I see," "Yes."

The Irishman produced the same parcel, with the same original strings, from which he drew his certificate, and expressed the desire that the interest thereon should be calculated, which was done. To Mr. H.'s remark that he supposed the money was wanted now, his visitor replying in the negative, and said that instead he had some more money to deposit, which, of course, was not refused. The stranger also, from the same marvelous package of paper and strings, produced some certificates of deposit received from some private banking houses in Cincinnati, which in the panic of 1855 or thereabouts had failed; one of these he offered to sell to Mr. Harris, but was informed that "This house is not dealing in that kind of paper."

Again the man took his departure, and again nothing more was seen or heard of him for several years. ~ Whether he was dead or alive, it was impossible for the Waynesville bank to determine. But one day, not very long ago, the same singular being again entered the bank, with the former nonchalant greeting, "Still doing business here, I see."

The same roll of valuables were produced, and the business transacted as before, with the exception that this time the money deposited was taken out. Then the stranger remarked: "You remember the certificate I showed you on that broken bank when I was here the last time." "Yes," was the reply.

"Well, I had some fun over that" and he proceeded to relate how he had found out that the broken banker was doing business in New York; he went there, found that the late banker's residence was up the Hudson, and at once departed for that romantic region in pursuit of his game. He found the villa to be a beautiful place, and the wife of his debtor at home. But her husband, doing business in the city, was only at home in the evenings and on Sundays. Our hero told the lady what his business was, that he was not very well, unable to work, had spent all his money, and that he had come to try to collect the debt from her husband. He had beforehand procured the worst possible suit of clothes, and these, added to his dilapidated boots, gave him a distressed appearance. Saying to the lady that he would loaf around the village until evening, when he would call again, he turned away from the charming retreat of his debtor.

Punctually at the time, he knocked for admittance in the evening, and saw the man he wished to see. But of course the recognition was not mutual; neither could the banker remember that his visitor had ever deposited any money with him. He could not, however, deny the genuineness of the certificate but they had failed, were not doing banking business now, and were not paying any of those old claims ~ could do nothing for him at all.

"Well", said the cunning Irishman, "you see my condition; I am not able to work, have spent all my money, and I thought if you could not pay me, I'd come and board it out with you".

The host was dumb with astonishment, but could not well refuse, so our stranger entered and lodged for the night. In the morning he expressed his extreme gratification with everything belonging to the place, and said he should be perfectly happy there, he had no doubt. Here was a dilemma. The man of business took the train for New York as usual, leaving the stoical Irishman apparently settled and contented in his new quarters. He returned at night, however, with cash enough to pay his visitor's claim off.

Stairway in the I. H. Harris House

Waynesville's First Fire Engine in the 1850s ~ "The Buckeye"

2006-01-11T15:31:00.000-05:00

In an article written for the Miami-Gazette newspaper, Daniel R. Anderson remembers the village's first fire engine (Miami-Gazette, July 18, 1906):

"Early in the fifties of 1800, Waynesville had outgrown a very able Hook and Ladder Fire Co. by the infusion of some young Americans into the sphere of usefulness who clamored for a real fire engine, and to satisfy said lads and at the same time gain a sense of security a committee was appointed and authorized to go to Cincinnati and purchase a suitable fire extinguisher, which they were not long in doing.

Coming home they announced that they had bought the powerful 8 break, 32-man fire engine, 'Buckeye,' and that it would come up the Little Miami Railroad the next day. A Fire Company was organized that night, and my recollection is that it took in about all the available young men living at that time in the town. Mart Holland was elected engineer; John P. Kinney and myself assistant engineers in charge of the suction hose, Will Henley, Dave Parshall, Hen, Tom and Luke Manington had the care of the hose and all took turns at directing the nozzle. Everybody was in a fever of excitement for the arrival, which came and found everybody there at Corwin to give it a most generous welcome. The Buckeye was speedily unloaded and the big rope with which it was propelled uncoiled and fastened in place. Kinney and I were the ones at the tongue to guide the machine and everyone present who could took a hand at the rope, while others as willingly 'boosted', and away across the river bottom, up North Street to Main, to the Hammell House horse trough where the Buckeye took her first baptism. Some thoughtful person had pumped the water into the long trough till it was full, and we were not long in getting the suction hose into position, and then, oh ecstasy moment, what a cheer rent the air when our chief engineer shouted, 'Down on the breaks!'

Then we began to show evidence of a hastily, well drilled and willing Fire Co. The water in the trough began to disappear, soon to reappear in a hundred or more little streams from cracks in the box of the machine occasioned by standing long in inactivity and I remember that the leakage, cooled somewhat the enthusiasm of the crowd that was present in honor of the occasion and some truthful remarks were made about the 'old water pot' but we persisted till we 'swelled' her up and she began to as Dick Morrow (owner of the "Morrow House") who was a spectator said: Sq Sq Sq Sq-Squirt! ha! ha! Some how or other the nozzle got inclined in the direction of the line of fire we were under and right then and there gained our first put out. Right there too was demonstrated the total uselessness of the costly Buckeye Engine. I might call it Waynesville's first 'Gold Brick.'

There were no cisterns then and it would have been a physical impossibility to get sufficient water elsewhere. We pulled up and went on down Main street to the bridge over Camp Run which at that time had a deep hole of water and we tried that and succeeded in throwing water, considerably less than a good many feet. After exhausting that body of water we sought other imaginary fires to conquer and to show to the admiring citizens that it would work. We came back up Main street as far as the well at the Leak residence when someone suggested a 'try'. We got the suction hose down in to the well and the order, 'Down on the brakes' was given. At that time there was a barber shop in old 'broad house' kept by a colored man, Mr. Sam G. Smothers, who at the time was standing on the platform in front of his shop with one Mr. Buck Lynch, and they little thought of the attraction they were making or of the eccentricity of the machine, but they were not left long in ignorance for some one said there was a fire at the barber shop, and that was all that was required and whoever handled the nozzle done to a turn, one black and one brownie.

After that we took the Buckeye into one of the open sheds back of the Hammell House, where it rested in peace and quiet its natural life; never, I believe, was it called up for the real thing ~ to put out a fire. Nevertheless, Waynesville always had a bucket brigade, and I remember when I was broken out with measles, a fire that burned the second story of the Heighway property ~ John E. Cline and his mother occupied it then ~ was put out by the bucket brigade, and snow balls. There was a deep soft snow, and I never missed going to a fire and I threw snow balls with others to beat the band, and went back home and to bed, for only ten weeks, so that was stamped in the goods and that was in '53 or '54."

The "Buckeye" was probably built at the newly formed A.B. & E. Latta "Buckeye Works" in Cincinnati.

Mart Holland is Joel Marshal Holland the son of Reeve Holland, a carpenter in Waynesville. The family is listed int eh 1850 Census.
According to the 1850 Census David Parshall was living with the Morris Cook household. Morris Cook was a tailor in Waynesville and owned a clothing shop.
Will Henley is one of the sons of Moses Henley, a tanner in Waynesville according to the 1850 Census.
Hen, Tom and Luke (Lewis) Manington were the sons of Joseph Manington, a shoemaker, of Corwin, according to the same census.

For more information about Daniel R. Anderson see, Triple Murder in Waynesville ~ Willie Anderson.

For more information about businesses and occupations in Waynesville see, WAYNESVILLE BUSINESSES & PROFESSIONS LISTED IN THE MIAMI VISITOR WEEKLY NEWSPAPER WITH FURTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED.

More Reminiscences of D. R. Anderson ~ Businesses in Waynesville

2006-01-06T09:31:00.000-05:00

The editor of the Miami~Gazette warns that Dan's memory had failed him a bit while writing these letters to the Editor. None-the-less, Dan's memories open a window onto the world of the 1850s in Waynesville, Ohio.

Miami-Gazette (June 2, 1915):

Now let us get back to Water Street and Main. The Macy livery stable was once an enterprising wagon and carriage making shop carried on by Dan Wharton, and was later a broom factory, which was moved to the house used as a currying establishment now owned by Park Leak. On up Water street to where you turn to go to the mill, was a little brick balcksmith shop run by a whole lot of Jones' many, many years ago (There is a Isaac Jones listed as a blacksmith in the 1850 Census). On the corner Main street and Mill road John A. Irwin built a brewery and also ran a broom making machine in a part of the building. I remember re-roofing the building for A. Aman, and in one afternoon drank thirty-two glasses og beer, and nailed on a whille lot of shingles and never feel off once. Am glad to say that since 1880, all intoxicants have been "but out" from my bill of fair.

And there was a cooper shop on the alley that is on the west side of the home of Geo. Mills, about the fifth lot, and was carried on by John Rhoades, a brother of the late Rebecca J. Sides. Down on the alley where the telephone exchange is, T. B. McComas had a blacksmith shop, which later on gave place to a cracker factory projected by one Lamar, who also at one time ran the Telegraph Mill. Job Rogers had a harness shop in the south room where Dr. Sherwood now lives. And Gideon and Alf Leak ran a wet and dry grocery, and ice cream parlor where Mrs. Beckett lives, and later they ran that bussiness in the property now owned by Park Leak and sister, Ella McKinsey (see, LEAK ~ McKINSEY Families of Waynesville, Ohio ).

Hats Made in Waynesville: Not many of the Gazette readers ever heard of hats being made in Waynesvile. Well, they were and embraced all kinds, from silk stove pipes to ones of fur or wool. Oscar J. Wright was the hatter, and the little shop became later the tailor shop of T. T. Dodson, and mayor's office. Then as a grocery and post office of Jonas Janney, Jr., next by Charles Clements and than by Geo W. Hawke. Where the Gazette holds forth, was a store owneed by S. S. Haines and Ben Evans, Brother of Joel and then by Thomas L. Allen, afterward by Jacob Randall.

Now up street again where Zimmerman's store is, was a meat market owned by Spence Borden, or Emmor Baily Sr., and upstairs was the tailor shop of Clayton Haynes, and was also mayor's office. And then came the store of Joseph Rogers & Son. Then it became a grocery by E. R. Printz, succeeded by Jas. Morgan, and then by Jas. Dinwiddie. Where Mahlon Ridge had his barber shop was a grocery, John Barnhart, proprietor. After which it became a "bum" old saloon, and then to where a man could get a decent shave. Where Mahlon Ridge now lives, lived the granfather of Mrs. Frank Gallaher and uncle of Horace and Addie Keys, and he was a tailor. On up the street where the residence of Chas. Cornell is, was the thtrailor shop of Morris Cook, father of Will Cook and step-grandfather of Frank Parshall. There is where Billy King learned the trade. Next door up street was a watch and clock estblishment carried on by Mr. Thomas. Across the street was the dental office of S. J. Way, and down street to the little brick building that was a jewelry store, and back of it Reeve Holland had a carpenter shop (Reeve Holland is listed in the 1850 Census as a carpenter).

On the Harris Corner (southeast corner of Main & North Streets) was a dry goods sotre kept by James Harris, the father of I. H. Harris, from that to a bank by Stokes & Harris. Jarvis Stokes, father of Frank Stokes, and I.H. Harris. Across the street on the corner was a drug store operated by Dr. Treahorn. Upstairs was the "Armory" of the old Continental Co., of Waynesville. The store became the property of A. E. Merritt and Henry W. Printz. Thent he two other Printz's, Edwin, Dock and E. R. Printz became possessors. While they held sway it was a "free and easy" ~ very wet!

Over at the old tavern stand of "Dick" Morrow was a well known hostelry (See, The Old Miami House in Waynesville, Ohio). The room on the corner where the bar was kept by ~~was turned into a store and owned by A. D. and Chas. Cadwallader, then by Chas. Cadwallader. After his death it became the private bank of S. S. Haines. There all of you fellows put your money where it would do the most good for that mythical farce of a railroad of narrow guage and an inclination to run into the ground as has most, if not all, of its projectors. Has everybody become reconciled to doing without a realroad since automobiles became the go ~ and a war yet in Europe?

Water Street no longer exists in Waynesville. It was the street closest to the Little Miami River, on the flood plain. Modern Rte 42 runs where Water Street once was.
Also see, WAYNESVILLE BUSINESSES & PROFESSIONS LISTED IN THE MIAMI VISITOR WEEKLY NEWSPAPER WITH FURTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED

More Memories of Businesses in Waynesville by Daniel R. Anderson

2006-01-05T16:39:00.000-05:00

Dan Anderson remember more businesses on Main Street in Waynesville:
Miami-Gazette (May 26, 1915):
Let us now get back to Main street. About where the residence of the late Is Wright stands, was a foundry and machine shop carried on by R. O. Crispin. Next to it was the steam saw mill of Press Ellis, and a little farther up the pike was a slaughter house built and run by John Barnhart; and I was a butcher with him tow or three years. Down on lower Third street, about where Lizzie Joy lives, was a shoe shop, and carpet loom of Old Jimmy Mills . . . On the corner of High and Third streets lived David Brown, a carpenter and builder. On Main street south of the old Henderson home was a livery stable owned by old Sammy Rogers, father of Job and "Bill" Rogers, and next to it was a little one story brick building. Right across the street from the little brick in the long frame building was one of the town halls. Exhibitions were given there, and the Cadets of Temperance used it for a hall and later they used a small room over the sales room of John W. Key's Firm, where also, the "Squire" dispensed mericful justice, and plenty of it . . .

On the corner where North street turns north, was a nursery owned by one Bobby Brainard, a bachelor, English or Scotch, who made his home with Robert Hurd, a tailor, who lived where Asher Brown lived, and carried on shop ther. Where Will White lives, there was a chiarmaker by name of Adams, grandfather of Marion Adams, who bottomed chairs with rushes from down where Oakdale Park is and his work was so well done that some of the chairs are good yet after sixty or more years.

Boyhood Memories of Daniel R. Anderson

2006-01-05T13:30:00.000-05:00

The editor of the Miami~Gazette warns that Dan's memory had failed him a bit while writing these letters to the Editor. None-the-less, Dan's memories open a window onto the world of the 1850s in Waynesville, Ohio.

Dan Anderson remembers the intersection of Main & Miami Streets and physicians in the village:

Miami-Gazette (April 14, 1915):

Boyhood Memories: It may be you remember the first glass of soda water that you ever drank, you bought with a "gitney" (5 cents) at the ice cream parlor of John Collins, on the corner next to the Hammell House (J. & S. Collins Grocery & Bakery). Collins ran a bakery, and had two children. Ask Mrs. Samuel Rogers. The girl married Si Roberts and now lives in St. Peter, Minn; has a daughter, Alice Stark. Si (Josiah?) Roberts, was a brother of J. W. Roberts , who at one time owner and publisher of the Miami-visitor, now the Miami-Gazette, and who married a daughter of Isaac Fairholm, who lived in the brick house opposite the Hammel House, and was a blacksmith. His shop was where is now the residence of my old friend and comrade M. T. Liddy.

Then there was the big, jolly old Sam Barnhart, who was stepfather to Eliza Bunting, and lived ont he corner where Wm. Phillips now lives and then the array of physicians let me name a few: Drs. Elias and Sylvanus Fisher (see, The Waynesville Academy) , whose house later occupied by Dr. Williamson (see, Suicide in Waynesville ~ Richard P. Williamson). A little farther up main street, Dr. McGuire, then where lives Mrs. Matthews, lived Dr. Robb and two Dr. Smizers and about where the Township House stands lived Dr. McReynolds and on North street where lives George Mills, lived the peer of them all, Dr. William H. Anderson, (Dan's father) who was generous with "tannin" and did not wait for us~thats me to get sick, either.

Dan remembers the "Public Square" and the pork houses in Waynesville and Corwin:

Miami-Gazette (May 12, 1915):

Waynesville had a public square, Main and High Streets. On the east side of Main Street was a hay scale, blacksmith shop and wagon making shop. They were all on the south east corner of the square. Now where A. B. Sides is located, was the pork house of James Harris, father of the late I. H. Harris. The slaughter house was up the first creek above Waynesville a hundred yards or so, and another slaughter house stood on the east side of the railroad above Corwin, and the packing was done in the old railroad freight house in Corwin. Caleb Small did the rendering at Corwin and there was no objection made, as to number of tenderloins us kids would have dangling at the end of any kind of an old string till they were done to a frazzle. There kids, is something you've missed! Wish I had a chance this minute ~ Um! Um!

Can well remember the coming to this country of that sturdy and hardy set of Englishmen: John Hawke, Thos. Hawke and Phillip Hawke. It is to Phillip that I now contribute a few reminiscences of him. He was about my size, and large for his age; and healthy, oh my! He took a job at the Corwin pork house as a cleaver hand. Up to that time, it had always required two for the work. I was there when trouble started, and to try him on, a hog that weighed 500 pounds was rolled on the block, and Phillip, now a full fledged yankee, was on his job, and ready. He had his steel cleaver heated to nearly a cherry red and with one mighty blow, bisected that 500 pound hog at the ears, and then one more blow, and the shoulders were ready to split apart. And all went well from that on with Phillip. Thos. Southern and Wm. Retallick did the salting in the cellar. Jerry Powell, Andy's daddy, did the brine work. Oscar Wright, A. D. Cadwallader, Jonas McKay, Emmor Bailey, and other bought the hogs.

Dan remembers some of the factories and William S. Keys, who was a brother of Judge John W. Keys and owner of the Waynesville Lumber Yard. William Keys served in the War of the Rebellion, and died at Chattanooga, Tenn., in January, 1864, leaving a wife and seven children.
Miami-Gazette (May 12, 1915):

Then getting back to shops and factories, saw mills and such, we go down the Lebanon pike to the three bridges, only two of which are left, and within a hundred yards of the bridge as you turn to go down the river road, was a saw mill, then turning up the creek towards Ridgeville we will find on the farm of the late E. A. Brown, a saw mill, that finished its career under the care of Wm. Keys, an uncle of Addie B. and Horace Keys (two children of John W. Keys), who then lived in the house he built for himself, now occupied by Ed Janney. I worked for "Bill" and we hauled the logs to the mill to be sawed by oxen. Bill was a soldier, and died in Chattanooga, Tenn. His captain mistreated him shamefully, and let me record a curse to that captain, dead or alive, to what he did to Bill. I saw him a very few days before he died, and he told me how sick he was, and that he wanted to go home. I told him that I would try and get him furloughed home. I was at that time commissary of the Gen. Field hospital, Army of the Cumberland, and on speaking terms with "Pap" Thomas, Commanding Army of the Cumberland, and he promised to sign a furlough, and I hurried to break the good news to Bill, at his company quarters, where I had first seen him (and he was on guard at that time) only to learn he had been taken to a hospital where I went on a gallop. I found him~ but he was dead. Bill was peculiar in some ways, and his own wost enemy, but a good soldier and he had the biggest heart in him any man could carry and here's to our everlasting friendship ~ Bill. 'Good bye!

Dan Anderson remembers Isaac E. Keys, John W. Keys and Joseph G. Keys:
Miami-Gazette (May 19th, 1915):
Back in town already, John W. and Jos. G. Keys carried on a furniture factory and made coffins in the midst of the square in a little brick building on the lot where now lives Horace and Addie B. Keys, which was later extended on the north side, from the alley running north and south to Main street, and was a good place to go to hear funny stories. Here's one, and if not funny, is peculiar and I was present when it all happened. Dave Lashley had just been married and was buying his furniture outfit of Squire John Key's and had a big wagon loaded and remarked that was all when John says,"You've got no cradle!" "No," says Dave, and said he "might as well take one now as any time," and it was put on top of the load and carried triumpantly up Main street in broad daylight.

Up on the alley was a hearse house, two stories high. I. E. Keys shoe making in the second story.

For more information about the businesses and professions in Waynesville see, WAYNESVILLE BUSINESSES & PROFESSIONS LISTED IN THE MIAMI VISITOR WEEKLY NEWSPAPER WITH FURTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED.

A "Young American Guard" in Waynesville in the 1850s

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In his old age, Daniel R. Anderson wrote a series of articles published in the Miami-Gazette newspaper of Waynesville which are his memories of old Waynesville from when he was a boy. One of his memories is about the "war spirit" in Waynesville in the early 1850s:

"There was a war spirit in Waynesville, early in the fifties. A company of young men 16 to 20 years of age, organized into a company of young American Guards and I remember only a few of the 50 in that company. Capt. J. M. Robb who had been in the Mexican War (1846-1848) was captain. Jos. G. Keys was first lieutenant and the rank and file was Dan R. Anderson, John P. Kinney, Will Henley, Geo. Phillips, Jasper McComas, Hen Spangler, Alf Hammell, Clarence McReynolds, and others."

Daniel Anderson continues telling a story about the Waynesville American Guards and Prof. William Henry Venable:

"Prof. Venable's Debut: About the year '53 or '54 a Sunday school picnic was held up the Xenia pike in the grove of David Chenoweth. The young American Guards were escort on that occasion and I have a fervid recollection of the debut of that Prince of all fellows of which Warren County has been embellished, Sir, Prof. W. H. H. Venable. I can see him now in my minds eye as his father assisted him onto one of the tables and that was perhaps his maiden effort, and it was well received and applauded." (Both quotes: Miami-Visitor, April 14, 1915.)

Captain J. M. Robb was a dentist in Waynesville famous for his "Hippodrome Liniment".
Joseph G. Keys was the brother of John W. Keys. They were business partners in the "Furniture Ware Rooms" located on the west side of Main Street.
Alfred Hammell was the son of Enoch Hammell, the owner of the Hammell House.
Clarence McReynolds was the son of Dr. John McReynolds of Waynesville.
Jasper McComas was a son of Waynesville blacksmith, Thomas M. Mc Comas. Thomas B. McComas was raised in Maryland. In 1827 he and his brother moved to Xenia, Greene County, Ohio where he was a blacksmith with Samuel Harry. Then he moved to Waynesville where he was a journeyman for a while before setting up his own successful business. He died December 27, 1878. Another one of his 15 children, Acquilla, will become a grocer in Waynesville.
Will Henley was the son of Moses Henley, a tanner in Waynesville, and brother to John Wesley Henley who published the Miami-Visitor newspaper for two years.
For more information about the Anderson family see, Triple Murder in Waynesville ~ Willie Anderson.

Power over the local state militias has traditionally been divided between the Federal government and the states. The state of Ohio had the right to appoint officers and supervise the training of the enrolled men. The Federal government reserved the right of imposing standards, although this could become rather lax on the local level. All males between 18 and 45 were required to enroll in the state militia. Another option was to form volunteer companies of men who would buy their own uniforms and equipment. The Federal government set the standard for these companies, too, and also provide a small amount of money for weapons and ammunition. Local companies, such as the "Young American Guard" in Waynesville, were usually urban or town oriented and could also be a group of men sharing the same ethnicity.

The Accommodation Stagecoach Line ~ Springfield to Cincinnati

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In 1827 William Werden (1785~1869) of Springfield and John Satterthwaite of Waynesville partnered to establish "The Accommodation Stagecoach Line". The National Road had reached Springfield from Columbus (and points further east all the way back to Baltimore). The "Accommodation Line" would then connect travelers from Springfield to Cincinnati. See, http://www.ohiobyways.com/Accommodation.htm.

William ("Billy") Werden was the owner of the National Hotel in Springfield, a huge inn located on the northwest corner of Main and Spring Streets. It also had a number of stables to house 400 to 500 horses. For approximately $5.00, a traveler could ride the stage to Cincinnati.

The route went from Springfield through Clifton to Old Town (Old Chilllicothe) to Xenia to Transylvania (located opposite of Spring Valley) to Mt. Holly to the North Toll Booth above Waynesville to John Satterthwaite's "Halfway House" in Waynesville. The teamsters stayed at the "Halfway House" and the travelers stayed at the "Holloway Inn" on Third Street.

The next morning the stagecoach would leave from the Satterthwaite's and pick up the travelers at the Holloway Inn. The stagecoach would then have to travel down into the valley of Camp Creek up the south side of the valley. At Newman's Run there was another Toll House. The stage then continued to Genntown, Lebanon, Lebanon south, Unity (Houston?), Mason, Pisgah, Sharon(ville), Reading and Cincinnati.

For more information see, "The Accommodation Line: Stagecoach Travel from Springfield to Cincinnati in the 1820's and 1830's" by Ed and Adah Andres of Waynesville (Published by Authors). This booklet gives more detail about the actual route of the Accommodation Line and tells where some of the old road can still be seen.

The Old Miami House in Waynesville, Ohio

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"The Old Miami House" ~
also known as the "Morrow House", the "Rogers House", and the
"Cornell House". Building is no longer extant.

There had been a tavern building on the northeast corner of Main and North Streets from 1827 on until 1955 when it was demolished to build a diner. Over the years it had many owners and business purposes. This tavern, the old 1808 Samuel Martin log cabin tavern at the north end of Main which survived until after the Civil War, and the Hammell House were the three primary tavern/inns in Waynesville after 1824. "The Old Penitentiary", a two story log tavern in Miami Square on the old public square, was not used as a tavern after 1824. According to Judge John W. Keys:

"In 1827, the tavern owned by Samuel Cornell & Son was built by Joshua Ward. Israel Woodruff first kept a tavern there and I think he only remained there one year when Ward took possession of it. Ward did not long remain in it, but traded it to Stephen Cook for the farm where Levi Cook lived in 1870. The house about 1828 and 1830 was kept by Brice Curran and in 1835 by S. M. Linton, in 1837 by Frederic Stanton, Stanton assigned it to David Evans and Mahlon Bateman, they conveyed it to James Harris: Harris sold to Richard Morrow, since which it has been owned and kept by Jerry Parkhill, Job Rogers, William Rogers, J. H. Weaver, and perhaps others. During the time it was owned by Harris, Benjamin Kemp and Alfred Lee were engaged in the business there."

"About 1839, Benjamin Barnhart fitted up the house, which was later purchased by John Thorn, and kept a public house there for several years after he closed the business in 1862. John L. Thorn, the new owner, also continued to keep a public house at that location" (Taken from a series of articles written by Judge Keys that were published in the Miami-Gazette and the Western Star).

Judge Keys also remarks that the accounts of travelers mentioned that three or four taverns or inns existed in Waynesville. Unfortunately they do not mention names.

The first meeting of the Little Miami Railroad Company was in the Linton's Hotel (owned by S. M. Linton from 1835-1837) in Waynesville on May 13, 1836.

Legend states that the building was used as a stop on the Underground Railroad. There was a hidden room in the attic. To gain entry to that room, a person needed to press on a board in the wall. There was said to be a hidden tunnel entrance into the building with the steps from the tunnel hidden between walls and tunnels leading to other buildings in Waynesville. Tunnels led from the town down to the Little Miami River.

The Old Miami House was also the first location of the Waynesville National Bank in 1875.

The old tavern building was also the home of the Wayne Township Library from 1917 to 1954. The first residence of the library was in the I. H. Harris Exchange Bank building across North Street on the southeast corner of Main and North (no longer extant). Shortly after its founding, the library moved into one of the back rooms of the old tavern on the northeast corner. For the history of the Waynesville Township Library (later known as The Mary L. Cook Public Library) and Dr. Mary L. Cook, its founder, see: Dr. Mary Leah Cook 1869-1964 .

For more information see:

1882 Beer's History of Warren County, Ohio (Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co, 1882), pp. 571-572.

Waynesville's First 200 Years, 1797-1997 (The Waynesville Historical Society, 1997, p. 39.

The Little Miami Railroad ~ One of Ohio's Earliest Railroads

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Looking east across the railroad tracks to Waynesville
on the west side of the Little Miami River.

In the 1830s and 1840s, the Ohio~Erie Canal, which ran from Cleveland to Portsmouth, and its parallel sister canal on the western side of the state, the Miami~Erie Canal, which ran from Toledo to Cincinnati, were finished. Fast on the heals of the canal boom came another faster and more efficient form of transportation, the railroads. Just as the two canal systems connected the Ohio River with Lake Erie and then points further east via the Erie Canal, Ohioans began to think about connecting the river and the lake via railroad lines passing between and parallel with these two canals. Discussion ensued in 1832, the same year that the Ohio-Erie Canal was completed. On March 11, 1836 the Ohio Legislature chartered:

Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad Co., which would run from Sandusky City to Springfield, and,
Little Miami Railroad Co., which would run from Springfield to Cincinnati

thus connecting the Ohio River with Lake Erie when the two lines were completed. Eventually the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railway would also be built which paralleled the Great Miami River which, like the Little Miami River, empties into the Ohio River.

The first meeting of the Little Miami Railroad Co. was in the Linton's Hotel (owned by S. M Linton from 1835-1837, also known as the Miami House) in Waynesville on May 13, 1836. The hotel was located on the northeast corner of Main and North Streets. The Little Miami Railroad had a rocky start. Many people did not believe in the project and the state withdrew promised assistance. However, the board of trustees persevered and constuction began in 1837. The rails were wood, at first poplar with strap iron laid on top, but, then it was found that white oak was a better wood for the job. The following is a timeline of the construction of the Little Miami Railroad:

1837 ~ Jeremiah Morrow is elected the first president of the company.
1840 ~ The first section of the railroad from Columbia (outside of Cincinnati) to Kugler's Mills is completed.
1841 ~ Iron rails are ordered from England to be nailed on top of the wooden rails. The first locomotive and passenger car are purchased. Grading is completed to Morrow's Mills and rails laid to Kugler's Mills.
December 14, 1841 ~ The first train runs from Fulton to Milford and back.
1842 ~ A bridge is built across the Little Miami River at Miamiville.
1843 ~ Trains run to Foster's Crossing.
1844 ~ The tracks are completed to Morrow.
August 1845 ~ The tracks are completed to Xenia.
August 1846 ~ The tracks are completed to Springfield
1847 ~ Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad and the Little Miami River Railroad united.
1850 ~ By this date there are 4 passenger trains, 3 freight trains and one local passenger train running each way. By 1850, all the old wooden-strap iron rails have been replace by iron T-rails.
1852 ~ The Hillsboro and Cincinnati Railroad connects with the Little Miami Railroad at Loveland.
1853 ~ The Cincinnati, Wilmington & Zanesville Railroad connects with the Little Miami Railroad at Morrow.
Early 1860s ~ A busy time for the Little Miami Railroad during the Civil War.
February 23, 1870 ~ The Little Miami Railroad is leased to the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad. Become part of their branch line from Columbus to Cincinnati. This lease was eventually acquired by Penn Central.
1970 ~ Penn Central Transportation Co. went into bankruptcy in an effort to reorganize.
1930s ~ This time was the peak of the old Little Miami Railroad line. In an 8 hour day 24 trains ran. Traffic was primarily freight but there was a train named the "accommodation" which ran in the early morning and late afternoon between Cincinnati and New York City.
After 1945 ~ Goes into a decline. Freight only travels on the Little Miami Rail line.
1973 ~ The Regional Rail Reorgainization Act was passed thus creating ConRail Corp. This was done to try to support local railways which were declining quickly. Unfortunately, the 52.2 miles from Clare Yards in Mariemont to Spring Valley were not included.
July 29, 1976 ~ Penn Central officially abandons the Little Miami Railroad line. The abandon line's right of way is now hike and hiking way along the Little Miami River which has been declared a Scenic River.

For more about the river and bike way, see: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/lilmiami.htm, http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/dnap/sr/lmiami.htm,
http://www.miamivalleytrails.org/miami.htm, and
http://www.littlemiami.com/.

For more information about the railroad see:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohwarren/Bogan/bogan414.htm
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohwarren/Bogan/bogan291.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Miami_Railroad

Below is a map showing the railroad lines from Cincinnati up through the Miami Valley and further north:

Also see the following books:

"The Little Miami Railroad" by Robert L. Black (Cincinnati: Published by Author). The map above is found in this book.

"The Early History of the Cincinnati Division fo the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway", a dissertation by Richard A. Thomas.

Dr. Isaac Fisher of Waynesville, Ohio & Oskaloosa, Iowa

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Mary Fisher,
daughter of Dr. Isaac Fisher, ca. 1860

Dr. Isaac Fisher (May 18, 1802 – April 13, 1888), the brother of Sylvanus, the founder of the Waynesville Academy, and Elias Fisher, lived in Warren Co., Ohio and practiced in Waynesville around 1830. Isaac is listed in the 1850 Census of Warren County at the age of 48 married to Eunice (42). They had five children: Cyrus (male, 15), Lydia A. (female, 12), Hannah (female, 9), Sina Ann (female, 6), Mary (4) and Harris (male, 1). In 1850 he is practicing medicine in Lebanon and then the family moved west.

In January of 1867 Eunice Fisher died in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Her death was reported in the Miami-Visitor (January 23, 1867):

We regret to learn of the death of Eunice Fisher, wife of Dr. Isaac Fisher, formerly of this place, but now of Oskaloosa, Iowa. The Herald of that place says: The death of Mrs. Eunice Fisher, noticed last week, demands more than a passing notice. She had spent long weary years in suffering, but instead of impatience, irritability, and complaint, she exhibited just the opposite virtues. From her letters we see proof of more extraordinary qualities of mind and heart. Account of her confinement at home, and family, few knew her real worth outside of her family circle. Her influence, counsel and prayer will long live. Her great comfort was her hope in her redeemer, and the consoling thought of John Milton, when he said that “ They also serve who only stand and wait”. Surely, suffering with Christ in the passion not only forms a well-balanced character but often brings out rare virtues. The deceased was such a mother and wife and is not easily replaced, but though dead she yet speaketh. C. H. G .

Dr. Isaac Fisher returned for a while to both Lebanon and Waynesville but moved again west to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he died. However, before moving west again, he married. It is reported in the Miami-Gazette (July 28th, 1869):

Dr. Isaac Fisher, a well known citizen of Warren County, now of Lebanon, was married on Thursday last to Miss Sarah Clark, near this place. We give them our best withes for long years of happiness.

At some point in his journeying he and his family became Presbyterians and so were disowned by Miami Monthly Meeting in 1848.

The Hammells of Waynesville & Cincinnati

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Enoch Hammell of New Jersey bought an old tavern in Waynesville, Ohio in 1841 from Nathaniel McLean, which became known as the "Hammell House". He was the owner up till 1863. Evidence indicates that Enoch was an enterprising person. As well as being a tavern owner he was a surveyor and a real estate agent. He is often mentioned in the business advertisement section of the Miami-Visitor weekly newspaper in his role as surveyor and real estate agent. For example, on March 31, 1852, E. Hammell placed an ad announcing that the Hammell House was for rent. The tavern was leased to a Mr. Yeoman by Enoch Hammell in 1852. His Real Estate Agency was first announced in the newspaper on January 29, 1853. He announced that he was offering services again in engineering and surveying on March 21, 1853. He also sold Warwick's Plows and he was the agent for the New York Reaper which was manufactured by Warder & Browkaw, Lagonda Mills, in Springfield, Ohio. He lists many properties for sale one of which is the Hammell House itself. After he sold the tavern in 1863, it became a private residence for quite some time.

He and his wife Eleanor had two artistic sons:

Abram (Abraham) Harris Hammell ~ was born in New Jersey on October 26, 1826. He died July 7, 1904. He was a portrait and landscape painter as well as a genre, animal, sign, ornamental and banner painter. He grew up in Waynesville living with his parents in the Hammell House. On January 9th, 1851, A. H. Hammell married Amelia Collett (May 27, 1830 ~ February 4, 1906) in Waynesville. They were married by her father, Elder Thomas Collett, Sr., in the Collett house on Third Street near the Methodist Episcopal Church. Amelia's sister Emma Collett married Phillip Hawke of Waynesville.

While living in Waynesville Abram Hammell advertised himself as a Portrait & Landscape Painter. He was a suppler of blank artist canvases. He was also an agent for the Western Farmers Mutual Insurance Co. A. H. Hammell announced his plans to move to Cincinnati and was requesting through the newspaper that his debtors to pay their debts to him. He resigned his position of Township Clerk before his move in 1851. Abram studied under Almon Baldwin and Worthington Whitredge and settled at No. 2, Clinton Count, in the West End.

Abram and his family live their lives in Cincinnati but would visit Waynesville occasionally. 44 year old Abram and 39 year old Amelia are listed in the 1870 Census with their children, George who is 17, Augusta (14), Ada (13), and Emma (11). 53 year old Abram and 49 year Amelia are listed in the 1880 Census with their two daughters, Augusta (25) and Emma (21), living in Cincinnati. His career was spent in Cincinnati. In his later years he focused exclusively on portraiture. He is listed in the Cincinnati, Ohio Directory, years 1890-91, as a portrait painter. His two addresses are given as 174 W. 4th and 263 Richmond. Amelia, the daughter of a Methodist minister was active in her church and the W.C.T.U. When their son George was a minister in Mount Lookout, they moved there in their old age. Eventually, Amelia rejoined the Waynesville Methodist Episcopal Church. Abram and Amelia are both buried in Miami Cemetery in Corwin, Ohio next to her parents (Section H).

Abram and Amelia's son, George Milton Hammell (1852-1916), was born in Cincinnati on July 29, 1852 and was also a landscape painter in watercolor but did not begin his career as a professional artist. He attended Woodward High School and the Ohio Mechanics' Institute and first worked in his father's studio. He was ordained a Methodist clergyman and was a teacher at Nelson Business College in Cincinnati teaching advanced and special courses and at University of Harriman, Tennessee, where he held the chair of Economics. He is best known as a Methodist Episcopal minister, teacher and social reformer.

George was an ardent Temperance man and was the Prohibition Candidate for Ohio governor in 1899. He is known for The Passing of the Saloon: An Authentic and Official Presentation of the Anti-Liquor Crusade in American which he edited. He was a contributor to many papers and magazines. For seven years he was the literary critic of the "Western Christian Advocate".

His liberal socialist thinking, however, eventually lead him to sever his relations with Methodism. He then devoted himself to painting and literature. An example of his poetry is in The Mary L. Cook Public Library. He wrote "In Days of Yore", which is a description of his uncle Phillip Hawke's farm near Waynesville. He and his wife Kathryn S. (1855-1942) traveled through out Europe where he studied in art schools. He died in Fort Scott, Kansas, February 28, 1916. He was teaching there in the "People's College", a working class institution. Ten months later, 92 of his paintings were displayed for the first time at the Cincinnati Art Museum. George and Kathryn are buried in Miami Cemetery in Corwin, Ohio (Section M).

Alfred Hammell, was the younger brother of Abram H. Hammell, and was a sign and ornamental painter in Waynesville (see 1860 Census).

Enoch and Eleanor Hammell also had a daughter, Rebecca. Three of their children had died before 1850:

Joseph H. Hammell d. March 8, 1847, age 10 years 2 months 29 days
William Henry Hammell d. April 11, 1847, age 5 year 11 months 23 days
Anna M. Hammell d. June 10, 1831 ~ d. April 7, 1850

See, Artists in Ohio, 1787-1900: A biographical Dictionary, compiled and edited by Mary Sayre Haverstock, Jeannette Mahoney Vance, and Brian L. Meggitt (Kent, Ohio & London: The Kent State University Press, 2000), pp.369-370.

Also see, WAYNESVILLE BUSINESSES & PROFESSIONS LISTED IN THE MIAMI VISITOR WEEKLY NEWSPAPER WITH FURTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED

Miami Cemetery, Volume #8 of Warren County Ohio Cemetery Records compiled by Chester Dunn (Warren County Genealogical Society, 1990).

Also see, the Hammell vertical file, in THE OHIOANA ROOM ~THE MARY L. COOK PUBLIC LIBRARY, Waynesville, Ohio.

Elias Fisher ~ Waynesville Physician (January 10th, 1808-August 25th, 1870)

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Dr. Elias Fisher was one of the brothers of Dr. Sylvanus Fisher, who founded the The Waynesville Academy. Dr. Elias Fisher was one of the founders of The Lebanon Medical Society that was established on October 28th, 1827. Other Quakers in the founding group were Dr. Aron Wright (who later founded Miami Valley Institute ~ A Hicksite Quaker College in Springboro, Ohio in 1870) and Dr. Jesse Harvey (the founder of the Harveysburg Academy). Dr. Elias Fisher was president of the Medical Society in 1852 (The History of Warren County, Ohio (Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1882), pp. 307-309). He also served on the Boards of the Waynesville Academy and The Harveysburg Academy.

Another Fisher brother, Dr. Isaac Fisher also practiced in Waynesville and in Lebanon.

Elias Fisher was married three times, first to Letitia Haines, the daughter of Noah Haines and Anna Silver Haines, a prominent Quaker family in Waynesville on June 25th, 1835. All their children were born in Warren Co., Ohio: Virginia, Joseph, James Haines, and Anna Charlotte. Letitia Haines Fisher was buried in the Friends Graveyard, Sixth Row #32 on April 13, 1845, the day after her death.

His daughter, Anna Charlotte Fisher, married Abijah Porter O’Neall, the grandson of Abijah, one of the first settlers of Waynesville, on January 4th, 1875. Abijah P. O’Neall died on August 12th, 1895 in Waynesville after being injured in a buggy accident a week earlier. He is buried next to his wife in Miami Cemetery (Section F). The burial was on August 14, 1895.

Elias' second marriage was to Eliza Halsey and his third marriage was to Sarah F. Steddom on June 14, 1857 in Waynesville. He practiced in Waynesville for 20 years.

The 1850 Federal Census of Warren County lists Elias at the age of 42 married to Eliza Halsey, a Baptist, with one child from his previous marriage, Anna who was six years old. Elias and Eliza had one son, Alonzo Bud Fisher who died as an infant. Eliza Fisher died on October 24th, 1853. Her death notice reads:

“Died on the 24th inst., Mrs. Eliza Fisher, of consumption, in the 34th year of her age. She was the wife of Dr. Elias Fisher, and was a devoted and consistent member of the Baptist church, a kind wife, good neighbor, and possessed of the amiable traits of character which distinguished the true lady.~Lebanon Star” (The Miami-Visitor, November 2nd, 1853).

Elias and Sarah Steddom had three children: Herschel, Alice Leatitia and Bruce Elias Fisher.

Elias moved to Lebanon for a while and then on to Marshalltown, Iowa. He was the first president of the Iowa Central Medical Society in 1856. He returned east and settled in Richmond, Indiana where he lived until his death on September 25, 1870 at the age of 62 (Waynesville’s First 200 Years: 1797-1997 (Copyright 1996 The Waynesville Historical Society, p. 110). He was buried on August 29, 1870 in Maple Grove Cemetery, Richmond, Indiana (http://homepages.rootsweb.com/
~joneall/stangene/jon00001.htm).

Rebecca Clark Jennings Harris ~ Mother of Israel Hopkins Harris

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Rebecca Clark Jennings Harris was the daughter of John and Sarah Jennings and was the niece of Waynesville founder, Samuel Heighway.

Although an Old School German Baptist, Mrs. Harris attended St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Waynesville. Her son Israel Hopkins Harris was one of its most prominent parishioners. She died at the home of her son in Waynesville on September 9, 1879.

Isaac E. Keys ~ "Sign of the Black Boot" ~ A Leather Merchant in Waynesville

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Isaac Evan Keys was a very successful business man in Waynesville. He was one of the brothers of John W. Keys. He was married to Rachel Elizabeth Cartwright. The following was written about him in the Souvenir and Homecoming Edition of The Miami Gazette published in October 1906:

"By his upright character and benevolence of spirit I. E. Keys enjoys the respect and love of the people among whom he has spent his entire life and he has always been interested in the welfare and best interests of the town and in many ways has been identified with the municipal affairs of the village. For more than twenty consecutive years he has had the office of Secretary of the Masonic Lodge.

No one in Waynesville has been so long continuously in the same business as I. E. Keys. The fire of 1900 destroyed the building in which he had conducted his business for almost forty years, and a new structure occupies the location with suitable rooms for his stock of robes, trunks, harness and other leather goods.

For many years he has been a commissioned Notary Public, and an official desk and safe also find a place for his business in that line."

For more information about the Keys family see:

Israel Hopkins Harris ~ Waynesville Banker, Businessman and Scholar

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Israel Hopkins Harris
b. in Centerville, Ohio, November 23rd, 1823
d. in Waynesville, Ohio, October 17th,1897

Israel Hopkins Harris was one of the five children of James and Rebecca Clark Jennings Harris.

His father, James Harris, had a farm south of Centerville and was a very successful dry goods businessman. He clerked first in the store of John Satterthwaite in Waynesville. After his marriage the Harris family moved to Centerville where he opened his own store. He later opened stores in both Waynesville and in Bellbrook. James Harris was also one of the first pork packers in the area as well as one of the first tobacco buyers. In 1844, the Harris family moved back to Waynesville.

Israel Hopkins Harris was schooled in Centerville by the noted teacher, David Burson, and in Franklin by W. C. Gould. He entered the Junior class at Yale in 1844. He graduated from Yale in 1846. When he returned to Waynesville after his graduation, he worked with his father in his dry goods business. After the death of James Harris, I. H. Harris partnered with his brother Joseph and continued in his father's business from 1849-1855. He consequently went into partnership with Jarvis Stokes of Lytle, Ohio to open a bank. I. H. Harris and Jarvis Stokes continued in the banking business until the death of Mr. Stokes in 1868. I. H. Harris continued the bank, the "I. H. Harris Exchange Bank" until his death.

I. H. Harris was married three times:

Esther Ann Stokes, the daughter of his partner Jarvis Stokes, who d. 1849. Their daughter Mary died shortly after her mother.
Carrie E. Bunnell, who died on January 15, 1873 in Jacksonville, Florida of T. B. They had three children: Emma who died when she was 8 years old, Jimmie who died at 16 months of cholera, and Laura who survived and married John Jacob Mosher.
Edith Mosher (February 28, 1853 ~ November 2, 1943), the daughter of Nathan and Sarah Mosher. Nathan was the landlord of the Hammell House and it was there that Edith and I. H. were married by Elder J. H. Dodds of the Christian Church. Edith and I. H. Harris had two children: one who died in infancy and Minnie Mildred.

While attending Yale University, I. H. developed a deep interest in geology and became an avid collector of geological and archaeological specimens. His private collections of artifacts was world famous. He also collected fresh water pearls found in the mussels in the Little and Great Miami Rivers. He owned and operated the "Little Miami River Pearl Fisheries". He left his prestigious collection of geological and archaeological specimens to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. C. In 1888 he sold over 2,000 fresh water pearls to Tiffany & Co.

The following is taken from the
"Memoir of Israel Hopkins Harris" by Charles F. Mosher
"The Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly", April 1898

"In person Mr. Harris was slender and rather below medium height. He had the eagle nose and eye which are the marks of great power and force of character. In later years an iron gray mustache slightly veiled his firm, yet sympathetic mouth. A high forehead indexed the keen intellect behind it. He inherited intense vitality, and all his life long was much in the open air. Even at an age when most men begin to seek easy chairs and dread exertion, his energy led him to continue his outdoor exercise, and the last letter the writer ever received from him was in reference to a contemplated fishing excursion of some days' duration ~~preparations for which were interrupted by the short illness preceding his death.

Mr. Harris was a great believer in the benefits of pedestrianism, and no one ever visited Waynesville without carrying away a memory picture of him taking his daily walk over to the railroad station (Waynesville Depot in Corwin, Ohio) to meet the evening train, sometimes accompanied by his younger daughter or one of his grandchildren, but more often alone. His erect form, alert air, quick, nervous step and cheery greeting of friends~~for all who knew him were his friends ~~made an impression never to be forgotten.

Learned as few men are today, an ardent student to the last, a successful man of business, a loved and honored husband and father, an ideal gentleman~~he was all these things and more. Culture did not make him careless of the feelings of others less gifted than himself, and some of his warmest friedns were men who stumbled at the very names of the studies he so loved. The keen intellect which trcced the workings of Supreme Intelligence through countless ages without bewilderment or faltering, was no more marked in him than the great heart which beat in sympathy with every noble aim and action. The relentless critic of all shams, he was the friend of every one whose sincere desire it was to develop to the full those qualities which raise mankind above the brutes. Many who could not define the method, appreciated the result in themselves; and when the long, as that of one great household for the departure of its counselor, busy, fruitful life drew to a close, Waynesville's mourning was leader and friend.

Also see, "The Harris Guards" ~ Ohio National Guard in Waynesville (more family photos)

Also see, I. H. Harris, Banker, Tells a F unny Story

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE HARRIS FAMILY:
Israel Hopkins Harris (first three photos)

Minnie Mildred Harris ~
I.H. Harris' daughter by third wife ~ Edith Mosher

"The Harris Guards" ~ Ohio National Guard in Waynesville

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Co. F, 13th Infantry Regiment, ONG
Waynesville, Ohio ~ June 1879
(Original photograph is in
The Mary L. Cook Public Library
Waynesville, Ohio)

Co. F of the 13th Infantry Regiment, Ohio National Guard , known as the "Harris Guards" was established in Waynesville, Ohio more than a decade after the Civil War. It was organized September 25th, 1878 and were disbanded on May 23rd, 1885.

James A. Kerney of Waynesville received his commission as Captain of Co. F. for five years on September 30th, 1878 and again on October 21, 1882 for 5 years.
Charles E. Jacobs of Waynesville was the first First Lieutenant but resigned on January 22, 1879.
John J. Mosher of Waynesville was commissioned First Lieutenant on Februrary 14th, 1879.
John Miller of Waynesville was commissioned Second Lieutenant on September 30th, 1878.
William O'Neall of Waynesville was commissioned Second Lieuitenant on October 21st, 1882.
William Rogers was commissioned a Second Lieuitenant on February 6th, 1884.

The "Harris Guards" was named in honor of local Waynesville resident, Israel Hopkins Harris (see below). In the 1882 History of Warren County, p 851 it states:

"Mr. Harris is the 'patron saint' of Harris Guards, Co. F. O.N.G., one of the finest compainies of the 13th Regiment; the company having been named for him voluntarily, as a tribute to his worth and popularity."

In 1879, the Harris Guards are mention twice in the Miami-Gazette newspaper:

“HARRIS GUARDS made a fine display at their dress-parade last Saturday. Thy moved beautifully, showing the efficiency of their officers and the aptitude of themselves; and their parade last Saturday was made additionally attractive by the Band, which marched at the head of the Company in fine style. But the Guards lack a stand of colors and they ought to have one” (February 26th, 1879), and

“A Card of Thanks. ~ In behalf of the members of Harris Guards, Co. F, we, the undersigned, desire to return thanks to the people of Waynesville and vicinity for their generous contributions to the fund for the purchase of a flag for the company and especially to Messrs. Cyrus Smith and L. H. Kelly, whose efforts contributed so largely to the success of the undertaking. Respectfully, J. A. Kearney, Capt. Com’d’g. and J. J. Mosher, First Lieut. (April 23rd, 1879).

This military unit performed at various functions in the community. For example, this story of their visit to Springboro found in the Wester Star newspaper of Lebanon, Ohio on June 26, 1879:

SPRINGBORO: The visit of the military company and band from Waynesville on Saturday evening, was greeted by our citizens with pleasure. The drill and music were excellent. But after partaking of an excellent supper, provided by the ladies, the music failed, only playing one tune after supper. Whether from eating too hearily or drinking too freely, or from sheer cussedness we cannot say. A few of the band tried to prevail on the others to redeem their credit, but failed. The officers of the military company were greatly mortified at the conduct of the band. May people who came in from the country were disappointed. We do not think our people will invite the band to visit us soon again. The conduct of the millitary was quite different. They were willing and cheerful and pleasant and sober. They used a drill new to most of our soldiers. They were highly complimented all around. Come again, boys.

The "Harris Guards" of the Ohio National Guards stationed in Waynesville did see some action in 1884 during the Courthouse Riots in Cincinnati. These riots were the worst riots ever experienced in Ohio. There had been a spree of violence and murder in Cincinnati. When two Cincinnati men murdered their employer but received a lenient sentence, 8,000 Cincinnati citizens angered at the corruption in the local court system, stormed the Hamilton County prison and the courthouse. In a fury at the increasing murder rate, the courthouse was burned to the ground. The riot lasted three days and 50 people were killed and 250 people were injured. ONG units from Dayton, Columbus, Cleveland as well as Waynesville were called up to service.

OFFICERS:

Captain James A. Kearney

Captain James A. Kearney, druggist and Postmaster, Waynesville; born in the county of Kerry, Ireland, January 24th, 1846. He was a son of Patrick and Sophia (Apjohn) Kearney, natives of Ireland. Our subject as three years of age when brought to this country. . . In 1865, Patrick Kearney came to this county and located on a farm near Waynesville. . . At the trial of our Government’s strength in the war of the rebellion he (Captain James A. Kearney) came forward to her support by enlisting Aug. 8th, 1861, in the naval service, being at the time of his 16th year of age. He served about two and one-half years and resigned, turning to Cincinnati and engaged in various capacities in the employ of the government till the close of the war, after which Mr. Kearney engaged in mercantile trade at sundry places in the States of Alabama and Arkansas; thence for a time engaged in the employ of railroad companies in the South. In the fall of 1877 Mr. Kearney returned to Waynesville and engaged as a clerk in the drug business and in the Spring of 1880 he purchased a new stock of drugs and entered upon trade on his own account; and April 22nd, 1881, received the appointment as Postmaster of Waynesville (The History of Warren County,Ohio [Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co.], p. 862.)

John Jacob Mosher, First Lieutenant
January 8th, 1857 ~ June 9th, 1894

John Jacob Mosher (known as "Jake") was one of the ten children of Nathan Nicholas and Sarah Ann Bovy Mosher. He was married to Laura Henrietta Harris, the daughter of Israel Hopkins Harris, a highly successful businessman and banker in Waynesville, and his second wife. From 1872 to 1878, John Jacob's father Nathan was the innkeeper of the Hammell House in Waynesville. Nathan Nicholas Mosher had fought in the Civil War, was disowned by the Quakers, had a farm in Morrow County, Ohio, after the Civil War lived in Kansas and Iowa, came then to Waynesville and eventually moved to Cincinnati where he worked on the Cincinnati Times, returning to Mount Gilead in Morrow County in 1895. Nathan died there in 1916. When Nathan moved to Cincinnati, two of his children stayed in Waynseville: Edith Mosher and John Jacob Mosher. Edith Mosher married Israel Hopkins Harris (his third wife). Her younger brother, John Jacob then married her step-daughter, Laura Henrietta Harris on June 6, 1883. "Jake" Mosher worked for his father-in-law, Israel Hopkins Harris in the Harris Exchange Bank. "Jake" died eleven years later at the age of 37 of pneumonia. Three years later Israel Hopkins Harris died and Edith Mosher Harris (his thrid wife) and her step-daughter Laura Henrietta Harris Mosher moved in together. They were both active in St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Waynesville.

John Jacob and Laura Henrietta Harris Mosher had three children: Carrie (Carolyn), Edith and Harris (Information taken from: Descendants of Hugh Mosher and Rebecca Maxson Through Seven Generations, Rev. Ed., compiled by Mildred (Mosher) Chamberlain and Laura (McGaffey) ClareAuthor: Mildred (Mosher) Chamberlain and Laura (McGaffey) Clarenbach Publication: Laura M. Clarenbach, Madison, Wisconsin, 1990, and, Waynesville's First 200 Years, 1797-1997 (The Waynesville Historical Society), 1997, p. 73-75.)

John L. Miller, Second Lieutenant

John L. Miller was a stone mason in Waynesville. He was married to Louisa A. Miller and they had three children in 1870: Bertie C. Miller, Naomi P. Miller, and Frank G. Miller.

Records of the "Harris Guard" can be found in the Archive/Library of the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, Ohio: Muster, Payrolls and Inspection Reports and Adjutant General Records.

Also see, THE "HARRIS GUARD", Co. F, 13th INFANTRY DIVISION, OHIO NATIONAL GUARD, WAYNESVILLE, OHIO, MUSTER LISTS.

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS:

Children of John Jacob and Laura Henrietta Harris Mosher. Laura is the daughter of I.H. Harris by his second marriage to Carrie E. Bunnell.

The Hammell House & Other Early Taverns/Inns in Waynesville

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TIMELINE OF THE TAVERN

Early 1800s~log tavern on site of present day Hammel House owned by James Corey.
1807 ~ James Jennings, the brother of John Jennings who owned the grist mill (the "Upper Mill") in Waynesville, becomes the owner. In June 1807, David Faulkner deeded to James Jennings Wabash Square, lots No. 7, 8, 4, and the N. half of lot No. 6 for $350. Jennings built a frame house now there, about 1807 and opened a tavern in it. The house was run by Samuel Beck, Robert Way, Richard Cunningham.
1817 ~ James Jennings deeded the property, including lots No. 4, 7, 8, and parts of 3 and 6 to John Warrell for $600.
1822 ~ John Warrell built the brick part of the building, two stories high.
1831 ~ John Warrell sold the property and moved away.
1831~1837 ~ Innkeepers are men by the name of Keen, Barnhart & Durand. When John M. Keen bought the hotel in 1831 it was known as the "Union Hotel".
1837 ~ 1841 ~ The tavern was owned by Nathaniel McLean. Nathaniel was born in Morris Co., NJ, in 1787, and was a brother of the Hon. John McLean of the U.S. Supreme Court. Nathaniel had learned the printing business in Cincinnati. In 1810, he was elected a member of the Ohio Legislature, serving two or three sessions, and was an officer in the War of 1812. In the Spring of 1849, he move to St. Paul and embark on the newspaper business at the age of 60, although remarkably strong and active. Also, in 1849, he was appointed Sioux Agent at Fort Snelling, and in the fall of 1855, he was elected a Ramsey County Commissioner. He died of cancer in 1872.
1841 ~ The tavern is sold to Enoch Hammell in 1841. He kept a public house there from that date until about 1863, when it was sold and has since been used as a private dwelling. During the time Hammell owned it, he built the brick up to three stories.
1850 ~ Hammell looking for a buyer (see ads below)
1852 ~ Tavern leased to a Mr. Yeoman by Enoch Hammell.
1863 ~ The tavern becomes a private residence.
1901 ~ The tavern is bought by William O. & Ollie Casey Gustin, re-opened as the "Hotel Gustin"
Sometime before 1934 ~ The building became a boarding house and then was converted into appartments. Sometime during the early 20th century, the third floor which had been added by Mr. Hammell.
1987 ~ The building was restored and re-established itself as a the Hammel House Inn and Bed & Breakfast.

There was always more than one tavern in the village of Waynesville. Another very early tavern was the "Holloway Tavern" on Third Street (1807). In 1810, David Hammell bought a lot in Miami Square he established a tavern. This tavern did not survive past 1824. The building later became known as the "Old Penitentiary." Another tavern was built on the northeast corner of North and North Main Street, known as the Miami House (also known as the Morrow House and the Cornell House), in 1826. In the 1880s it was named the Cornell House, owned by Samuel Cornell & Son. There was another tavern, a two story log building, located on the far north end of Main Street that continued until after the Civil War. It was built by Samuel Martin.

Consequently, there were originally three taverns/inns on the old Accommodation Stagecoach Line (Third Street):

John Satterthwaite's home ~ The Half-Way House
Emmor Baily's home
"Holloway Tavern"

On Main Street were four taverns/inns:

The tavern built by David Hammell later known as the "Old Penitentiary" in Miami Square.
The tavern on the Hammell House property
The Old Miami House at the intersection of Main and North Streets
Tavern built by Samuel Martin on North Main Street.

Also see, SOME HISTORICAL HOMES IN WAYNESVILLE for more information and pictures of the John Satterthwaite home, the Baily home and the Holloway Tavern.

Ad from the Miami-Visitor weekly newspaper, February 9, 1850

The Waynesville Mill ~ The "Upper Mill"

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The Grist Mill at Waynesville ~ ca. 1900 ~ The "Upper Mill"

Dam on the Little Miami River (still extant)

Charles M. Robitzer's team of iron grey horses
and his delivery wagon.

Men cutting ice on the mill pond and storing in mill.

The "Upper Mill" area along the mill race used as a recreational area
"Old Mill Stream" and then "Three Centuries Park".

The old Mill and Mill Race in the mid 1970s
shortly before its demolition.
Gift Shop ~ "H. B. & Me"

TIMELINE:
From working mill to recreational park to tourist shops

1806 ~ Quaker John Haines of Virginia moves to Ohio and builds a grist mill on the Little Miami River at Waynesville. He also builds a dam which overflows onto the land of Abel Satterthwaite. Mr. Satterthwaite begins a law suit and the dam is destroyed. Shortly thereafter the mill itself is destroyed by fire. John Haines built his home on North Main Street (see photograph below).
1810 ~ John Jennings buys the Haines mill property.
1825 ~ John Jennings builds a three story brick mill on the mill race.
1832 ~ The Jennings mill is sold to Stephen Cook and Jason Evans.
1835 ~ A log dam is replaced by a stone dam.
1840 ~ Jason Evans, now the sole owner, sells all his mill property to William Oliphant. Jason Evans and family moves to Cincinnati and persues a successful career in pork packing.
1850 ~ The mill is sold to Oscar J. Wright.
1888 ~ John S. Wright buys mill from O. J. Wright's daughters.
1904 ~ The mill is bought by Charles M. Robitzer who does major repairs and names the mill, the "Waynesville Flouring Mills". The mill is run by natural gas from a well that was drilled along the mill race. The mill is noted for his fine Albino flour. Robitzer's mill also grinds graham and buckwheat flour, white and yellow meal, chops, feed chops, and has a separate mill for hog feed and four different grades of crushed corn. His splendid team of iron grey horses is seen all the time making deliveries in the Waynesville area (see above).
1911 ~ The mill stops operating as a mill. It housed an ice plant until the 1950s.
1931 ~ Charles M. Robitzer builds "Wayne Park" around the old mill which includes a swiming pool and picnic grounds.
1942 ~ The property is bought by Henry Geiger and renamed "Old Mill Stream".
1951 ~ L. D. Baker and Tom Norris open a mill race fishing concession, a live fish hauling service and develop other amusements. For more information see, Waynesville in 1957.
1969 ~ A country store is incorporated into the main level of the mill.
1973 ~ An Olympic size pool, children pool and buildings are added. It is renamed "Three Centuries Park".
1974 ~ The old mill is demolished and the "1776 Inn" opens.
Today the Der Dutchman Restaurant and Carlisle Gifts stand where once the mill stood.

Below: Miller's House (yellow)
next to the Funkey-Evans House on North Main Street
Photographs of the Swiming Pool at
Mill Park in 1962.

The Little Miami River and local creeks were potent sources of water power and Waynesville was blessed with many mills ~ grist, saw and oil. Waynesville had a number of mills along the river, the "upper mills" (the Jennings mill property discussed above on the north end of town) and the "lower mills" (Elliott mill property on the south). Both the "upper" and "lower mills" consisted of a saw mill and a flour mill. Just a few miles further south of town were "Telegraph Mills" run by G. Hinchmann. Many more mills and factories could be found in all the villages and hamlets along the Little Miami River and its tributaries.

Ethan Allen Brown ~ An Attender at Quaker Meeting

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Ethan Allen Brown (b. December 23, 1818 ~ d. January 25, 1901), a local farmer near Waynesville, would become one of the first Directors of the Waynesville National Bank in 1875. He held that position until his death in 1901. He had also been a teacher and director of Wayne School District No. 2 from 1850 on for approximately 13 years. For many years he was a Wayne Township Trustee and was a Justice of the Peace. He was widely respected for his fairness and good judgment. He was a non-Quaker married to Hannah Ann Chandler Brown, a Quaker who was the aunt of Aaron B. Chandler. Ethan A. Brown and Hannah Ann Chandler were married on October 11th, 1860.

The Waynesville Area Heritage and Cultural Center at The Friends Home, Inc. is in possession of one of Aaron B. Chandler’s Law books, A Guide to Executors and Administrators in the Settlement of the Estates of Deceased Persons within the State of Ohio; to which is prefixed A Brief Comment Upon the Statute of Wills by George W. Raff (Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co., Law Publishes, 1860). A. B. Chandler’s signature is on the first page above the signature of E. A. Brown who bought the book January 30th, 1863. Aaron's uncle Ethan, a Justice of the Peace, may have encouraged Aaron to study the law.

E. A. and Hannah Ann Brown were also on the Board of Trustees of Miami Valley Institute ~ A Hicksite Quaker College in Springboro, Ohio.

E. A. Brown's farm was located on the north side of Lower Springboro Road east of Waynesville (across from the Cook farm, now Milton Cook’s Organic Farm).

Obituary in the Friends’ Intelligencer, 2nd mo. 16, 1901:

BROWN.~ Near Waynesville, O., First month 26, 1901, Ethan Allen Brown, In the 83rd year of his age. This dear brother was one of whom we could truly say, he had not lived in vain, his life seemed to combine so many of those attributes which make heaven on earth. It fell to his lot to a peacemaker, an arbitrator, and general counselor among his neighbors and friends. It was said at his funeral that if Ethan A. Brown excelled in any one thing it was that of justice. He was not a member of Friends’ Meeting but frequently attended with his wife, who is a member. He held to the principles of Friends in preference to those, of any other, denomination. O, that this world might be filled with such characters. F. P.

Ethan, the son of Joseph and Dinah (Cook) Brown, and his wife, Hannah Ann Chandler Brown, are buried in Miami Cemetery in Corwin, Ohio, Section G.

Funkey & Missildine ~ Merchants in Waynesville

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Funkey & Missildine’s Cash Trade Palace,
Miami-Gazette, August 27th, 1879

Below: Cadwallader Hall

John A. Funkey was a dry goods merchant in partnership with John F. Missildine. They bought out the stock of John M. Hadden, a long established merchant in Waynesville. Funkey and Missildine opened the “Cincinnati Cash Store” (also known as the "Trade Cash Palace") in February of 1873 in Cadwallader Hall on the ground floor at Main & Miami Streets in Waynesville. They dissolved their partnership in March of 1881. Both men continued in the trade with separate stores.

In 1881 Funkey opened another store where the Waynesville Antique Mall is located today on Main Street (see photo below dating from 1905).

John's wife Clara was 31 in 1879. They had two children: Pearl, a son(5) and Mabel P. (1). See, 1880 Census Place: Waynesville, Warren, Ohio; Roll: T9_1075; Family History Film: 1255075; Page: 473B; Enumeration District: 79; Image: 0360. John and Clara have two other children listed in the 1900 Census: George A. (18) and Eva M. (16) (see George and Eva's photographs below). See, 1900 Census Place: Waynesville, Warren, Ohio; Roll: T623 1330; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 154. Also see, Waynesville’s First 200 Years, 1797-1997 (The Waynesville Historical Society, 1996), pp. 184-186.

In 1879 John Funkey and his wife Clara bought a lot on North Main Street. Their Italianate Victorian home, the Funkey-Evans House (see photo below), was built in 1880 and still stands at the foot of Chapman Street. The Funkey House was bought by Joel Evans for his wife Cynthia in 1894.

According to Dennis Dalton (January 1982 from his 1970 notebook), John Funkey went on periodical drunken binges and the family would lock him upstairs in his room ~ once John jumped out the window and “nearly killed himself” to go drinking ~ one of his drinking friends was Perry Pence and John would “hunt all over town” for him and eventually “terrorized the village” with his drunken antics.

John F. Missildine was a dry goods merchant who had grown up in Waynesville. As a young man he labored on the farm and also taught school in the winter. In June 1865 he married Jemima Burnet who died in September 1868. He married to Druscilla McLary, age 30. They had five children by 1880: Oliver Oscar, 8, Ella J. ,7, Wilbur Howard, 5, Mary Etta, 4, and Cecilia, 2 (see, 1880 Census Place: Waynesville, Warren, Ohio; Roll: T9_1075; Family History Film: 1255075; Page: 489A; Enumeration District: 79; Image: 0390.). In 1895 John F. Missildine was the mayor of Waynesville from 1895-1900. Their sixth child was John Henry.

John F. and his family were some of the original communicants of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Waynesville (Waynesville’s First 200 Years, 1797-1997 [The Waynesville Historical Society, 1997], pp. 283 and 159). John F. Missildine was one of the Trustees on the board of the ill-fated Wayne Novelty Works Company in Waynesville. Below is a photograph of their home in Waynesville (white house):

John F. Missildine was a Quaker for a short period of time. According to the Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. 5, Ohio by Hinshaw, p. 101, he became a member on 9th mo. 26th day 1866 but was disowned for entering a marriage out of unity 8th mo. 26th day 1871.

An O. Missildine is listed as a worker during the building of the 1905 Friends Boarding Home. This is probably Oliver O. Missidline, John's son.

The Funkey-Evans house located at the
bottom of Chapman Street.
On the left is the "Old Lock Up".

Below: Eva & George Funkey
Children of John A. & Clara Funkey

William Manington & Lewis F. Manington ~ Justice of the Peace & Constable of Waynesville in 1879

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Two brothers involved in law enforcement had their hands full in Waynesville in 1879! William and Lewis F. Manington were two of the sons of Joseph and Lydia Lynch Manington. Joseph and Lydia were married October 1, 1818 in Wayne Township, Warren Co., Ohio. They had seven children. The name is often spelled as "Mannington", in various documents.

William Manington was 53 in 1879, the year of the apparently accidental killing of Captain William Rion Hoel and the Anderson triple murder in Waynesville. He presided during the inquest concerning the death of Captain Hoel. He also took part in the inquest concerning the Anderson trip murder. He was a retired shoemaker and a Justice of the Peace. At the time of these events, the Mannington household also included his niece, Clementine, and his mother, Lydia Manington.

His wife was Elmina R. Lickins who was 43 in 1879 and they had four children living at home: Anna (18), Isaiah (14), Fanny M. (9) and Ella (2). See, 1880 Census, Place: Waynesville, Warren, Ohio; Roll: T9_1075; Family History Film: 1255075; Page: 473B; Enumeration District: 79; Image: 0360. William and Elmina Lickins Manington were married on December 15th, 1836 in Butler Co., Ohio.

William was also a Trustee and the clerk of the Board of Trustees of Miami Cemetery.

One of William's brothers, Lewis F. Manington was Constable of Waynesville and a farmer in 1879. Lewis F. Manington fought in the Civil War in the 79th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In the 1870s Lewis F. Manington and his family had moved to Spring Valley where they were employed in the bagging factory of the Messrs. Walton. It was there in 1871 that Lewis Manington lost one of his arms in a factory accident. It was reported in the Miami-Gazette, January 18th, 1871:

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT SPRING VALLEY: Last Wednesday morning while Mr. Lewis F. Manington, who for some time has been in the employ of the Messrs. Walton at Spring Valley, was engaged in feeding the carding machine in the bagging factory, his right arm became caught in the works from which he was unable to extricate it until so mangled that it had to be amputated just below the elbow joint. Mr. Manington’s sufferings must have been intense; yet he bore them manfully, and during the amputation was not put under any soporific influence. The surgical operation was performed by Drs. Carey and Elgin of the village, who deserve credit for the skillful manner in which it was done. Mr. Manington is, we are glad to say, doing well, and will in a short time, it is hoped, be about again. We tender him our sympathy in his sad affliction ~ the more so as he had after repeated misfortune, begun to recruit when again afflicted by this sudden casualty.

Lewis Manington had a prosthetic arm. It was reported in the Miami-Gazette on August 2nd, 1871 that “Lewis F. Manington has obtained a new arm instead of the one he lost some months since.”

In April 1879 Lewis F. Manington, 46 years of age, was elected Assessor and Constable of Waynesville (Miami-Gazette, April 9th, 1879). Besides having to deal with four murders, it would also be a year of personal tragedy for Mr. Manington. It was reported in the Miami-Gazette on December 31st, 1879 that his daughter Beulah fell and severely injured her spine. It was not a mortal accident, although that was at first feared. Shortly after the turn of the new Year it was reported in the same paper that his sister, Mrs. M. A. Appleton of Springfield, died of consumption (January 14th, 1880). In mid-August of 1880, the Lewis Manington family moved away from Waynesville to Jamestown in Greene County where he commenced a career in hotel keeping (Miami-Gazette, August 25th, 1880).

Lewis (36) and his first wife, Sarah Jane Van Camp (35), in 1870 were living in Wayne Township with their eight children: Emma (18), Robert (17), Joseph (15), Florence (14), Beulah (12), Eliza (10), Walter S. (5) and Howard (3) [1870 Federal Census, Roll, M593_1277, page 115, Image 636]. Sarah was reported to have been suffering from cancer so bad that she was confined to bed and unable to care for herself in the Miami-Gazette, February 2nd, 1870. Lewis Manington remarried on October 12, 1871 to Mary Ellen Smith. It was reported in the Miami-Gazette, October 18th, 1871:

MANINGTON~SMITH~At the home of Mr. Shaffer, near this place, October 12, 1871, by Elder C. M. Robertson, Mr. Lewis F. Manington and Miss Mary Ellen Smith. Lewis remembered the printers in his joy, and receives in return their best wishes for his happiness.

At the time of the 1880 Census, the Maningtons were still living in Corwin, across the river from Waynesville. Lewis was 47 and his second wife, Mary, was 26. His daughter Beulah who worked as a domestic servant was 18. His grandson, Harry, was living with them (Year: 1880; Census Place: Corwin, Warren, Ohio; Roll: T9_1075; Family History Film: 1255075; Page: 472D; Enumeration District: 79; Image: 0358.).

Lewis F. Manington requested membership in the Society of Friends (Miami Monthly Meeting) 5th mo. 28th day 1884. However, he requested to leave membership on 7th mo. 22nd 1885. See, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Volume V, Ohio by Hinshaw (Baltimore, MD.: Genealogical Publishing co., Inc., 1994), p. 96.

The following obituary for Lewis F. Manington is in the possession of local historian Dorothy Carter. Unfortunately, it is undated although most likely from the Miami-Gazette:

The funeral of ex-constable L. F. Manington which took place according to announcement, in the G. A. R. hall last Wednesday afternoon, was largely attended. The W. R. Hoel Post in full force escorted the remains to the hall; the pallbearers were Wm. Cook, F. W. Hathaway, D. R. Anderson, H. Kilbon, D. A. Brown and John Biggs. The music by the M. E. church choir was solemn and appropriate. Rev. R. K. Deem offered a feeling and beautiful prayer and also read several selections of scripture. Comrade Cartwright announced that by request of the deceased, his old commander, Col. Doan, of Wilmington, would speak upon this solemn occasion. Col. Doan responded by saying wealth could not have procured his services or presence at that time, but he was there because the sleeper was his comrade. He based his remarks upon the works, “If a man die, shall he live again?” His discourse was touching and pathetic, and he accorded to his dead comrade the praise of being a brave soldier, and a kind comrade, who on one occasion when the “boys” were on half rations, shared his last “hard tack” with his hungry colonel. The speaker cheered the mourning friends with the assurance that in the last few months of Mr. Manington’s life he had given evidence that he was a child of God, and that there was a hope of life beyond the grave for him.

The Brown Family ~ Publishers of the Miami~Gazette

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Thomas J. Brown

Sophia Annie Stinchcomb Brown

Thomas J. Brown was born near the village of Bellbrook, Greene County, Ohio, August 16th, 1833 and died on April 2nd, 1913 in his home in Waynesville, Warren County, Ohio at the age of 79. He was the son of David W. and Lydia Bowser Brown who emigrated from Bedford County, Pennsylvania and settled in Greene County at a very early period and reared ten children.

When he was 14 years old, Mr. Brown suffered the loss of his hearing, but he adjusted to his affliction and did not let the handicap diminish his accomplishments in life. He became especially interested and well versed in science and journalism. He recieved his education at Wittenberg College in Springfield, Ohio where he delved into scientific works and literature. He developed an interest in geology in which he became recognized scholar. He was associated with the noted Professor Edward Orton of Ohio State University, and took part in his geological survey of Warren and Greene Counties.

Mr. Brown also developed a great interest in archaeology and loved to particularly study the ancient moundbuilders, especially at Fort Ancient, south of Wayensville. Over the years he gathered a large collection of geological and archaelogical specimens.

On May 23, 1861 in St. Barnabas Church, Baltimore, he married Sophia Annie Stinchcomb (d. March 13, 1911). The couple lived on"Cottonwood Farm" near Ferry, Greene County, Ohio and there their two daughters were born: Annie Urith and Mary Thomas. In 1878 the family moved to Waynesville. For more than a quarter of a century Mr. Brown was the editor and publisher of Waynesville's Miami-Gazette weekly newspaper. His wife Sophia was the Associate Editor of the paper. She was the cultural and literary writer for the paper. The family were members of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Waynesville, see St. Mary's Episcopal Church.

Their two daughters: Annie U. and Mary T. never married. In their retirement they lived at the Friends Boarding Home. Both sisters were teachers of disabled children. They both taught at the Ohio State Institute for Feeble Minded in Columbus. Previous to her employment at the Ohio State Insititute for the Feeble Minded, Annie U. taught at the old OSSO (The Ohio Soldier's and Sailor's Orphans Home) in Xenia, Ohio. Annie U.'s interest in helping the disabled continued into her retirement. She became an accredited Braille transciber. She herself had become disabled due to an accident and was confined to the Friends Home, but this was work that she could do and was glad to do.

Mary T. Brown leased the Miami-Gazette from her parents and was the publisher for a while in partnership with Adelbert M. McKay.

Below are a photograph of Annie U. (left) and Mary T. Brown (right) in their youth:

The Brown family home:

The Miami-Gazette Weekly Newspaper of Waynesville

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The Miami-Gazette weekly newspaper is a remarkable document of the life of a small village. It is a well-spring of social and historical information. It fleshes out the lives of the people of the past and presents them in the full color of local, state, national and international events. Any genealogical study is advanced far beyond the bare vital statistics by reading though its columns full of chatty detail. It is a window onto a world long gone.

The first major paper in Waynesville was the Miami~Visitor weekly owned by J. W. Elliott. It was a six column, four-page paper that concentrated on national and international news with a little spattering of local news. It included local poetry and serialized stories. Shortly after its first publication in 1850, it was purchased by the energetic John Wesley Roberts who emphasized that the newspaper was an organ of literature and increased the local news accounts. He was a great editorialist and wrote and responded to the big issues of the day in his own firery style. Two literary magazines were published in Waynesville during the 1850s: the "Little Traveler" and the "Message Bird".

After he moved to Kansas, J. W. Henley, then J. Drew Sweet and Joseph Collett acquired the newspaper. During the Civil War it was discontinued. It came back to life under the editorship of Misters Sands and Sweet at the conclusion of the war and would continue on for ninety more years. From 1875 till 1880 the paper was called the Miami Gazette & Harveysburg Reporter.

The glory days of the Miami~Gazette began in October 1881 when Thomas J. Brown and his wife Sophia Annie Stinchcomb Brown acquired the newspaper. In 1896 the Browns bought out The Waynesville News paper and the Miami~Gazette became known as the Miami~Gazette & Waynesville News. From 1898 on it reverted back to its original shorter title, the Miami-Gazette.

The Miami-Gazette was the weekly diary of Waynesville, Ohio. In it can be found the weekly events of Waynesvillians near and far. The grandchildren of the old pioneers who had traveled far beyond southwestern Ohio subscribed to the newspaper so they could maintain their roots in their home community. They would write to the editor and their adventures and comments were printed in the paper. One of those Waynesvillians who went west was Mariana Chandler, the daughter of Aaron B. Chandler and older cousin to Elizabeth, Ruth and Lewis Chandler. Mariana had moved to Denver, Colorado to pursue her teaching career.

She and other Waynesville expatriates appreciated the Miami-Gazette. After receiving the Special Homecoming Edition of the Miami-Gazette Mariana wrote to the editor (December 27, 1905):

Dear Gazette: The Home Coming Edition received and enjoyed. Congratulations upon your success. It is a worthy magazine and will warm the hearts of all "far away Waynesvillians" and bring them Home. Yours, Mariana Chandler.

In an age where people have forgotten the art of letter writing and the joy of newspaper reading, the letters from Waynesvillians who lived away from their home town to the Miami-Gazette reminds us of the importance of newspapers for maintaining relationships especially during the Gilded Age, which was such a time of expansion and growth. Most families were divided by distance. It was the time of the settlement of the far west and those who risked going west were still interested in their old homes. Another subscriber to the Miami-Gazette, as well as many other local newspapers, was Friend Clarkson Butterworth especially after he moved to Michigan. He often quotes from these newspapers in his personal Diaries. Unfortunately today, newspapers are often ignored in genealogical research because most newspapers are not indexed for names or events. However, much is lost if the researcher ignores this potent source of information. The plain truth of the matter is that much of the social life of the early Chandlers and other families would have been lost if not for the Miami-Gazette.

Since it was a great tool for communication near and far, the newspaper today is a marvelous genealogical tool. Microfilm copies of the Miami-Visitor and the Miami-Gazette are in the Ohioana Room of the Mary L. Cook Public Library as well as at: the Ohio Historical Society Archive/Library, the Warren County Historical Society, and the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Also see, Mariana (Mamie) Chandler

George Pliny Brown ~ Educator, Administrator, Publisher, and Author

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Photo and information taken from the
Souvenir & Homecoming Edition of The Miami~Gazette
October, 1906

George P(liny) Brown became a distinguished teacher and publisher. He was born on November 10th, 1836 in Lenox, Ohio (Ashtabula County). He was a graduate of Grand River Institute in Austinburg, Ohio. He started teaching when he was 16 years old. He taught in the schools of Waynesville, Ohio from 1854 to 1860. He was the superintendent of the new Union School in Waynesville from 1858 to 1860.

In 1885, the students of Jesse T. Butterworth, Samuel Scott and George P. Brown established the “Old School Association”, an alumni association that met annually in Waynesville. The association commemorated the early pioneer teachers of Waynesville who taught in the pre-1858 public schools in Waynesville and for a short time in the new Union School a decade before the Civil War. It was dedicated to preserving the memory of those times. In 1887 they added the name of teacher Thomas Collett to the list. During the great Home-Coming of the Waynesville School in 1906, both George P. Brown and Rev. Samuel Scott were present.

In 1855, George P. Brown had married Mary Louise Seymour and they had four sons: C. C., F. S., Ralph and Walter.

In 1860 the Brown family moved to Richmond, Indiana where he became superintendent of schools for seven years and of New Albany schools for one year. In 1869 he tried his hand at publishing. During his life, George P. Brown wrote many articles for a variety of educational journals and books on education. Also in 1870, he became the first mathematics instructor at the newly founded Indiana State Normal School in Terre Haute. Also around this time he practiced Law for a while. For the next two years he was the principal of Indianapolis High School and then he was appointed superintendent for four years. He then became a representative of the D. Appleton Company publishing house for a few years.

In 1879 he became the second president of the Indian State Normal School, which later became Indiana State University. He resigned in 1885. He moved to Topeka, Kansas for a short time and was an agent for A. S. Barnes and Company. He moved to Bloomington, Illinois where he bought and edited the “Illinois School Journal” and he organized and was president of the Public School Publishing Company of Bloomington, Ill. George P. Brown wrote six books one of which, not surprisingly, is entitled, Religious Instruction in State Schools (1891). He died February 1st, 1910 in Bloomington.

For more information see website:
http://www.indstate.edu/aboutisu/brown.html.

Reverend Samuel Scott ~ Methodist Minister and Teacher

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The above photo and information taken from the
Souvenir & Home-Coming Edition of The Miami-Gazette
October, 1906

Samuel Scott arrived in Waynesville from Philadelphia in the spring of 1840. He was a brick maker, a gardener and a schoolteacher up until 1850 when he devoted all his time to teaching. He tells the following story about his early experience as a teacher in 1840:

“About this time the public school system in Ohio was introduced. I went to Lebanon, the county seat of Warren County, to be examined as a teacher. Milton Williams, one of the prominent lawyers of that place, had been appointed county examiner. He invited me into a small back room, connected with his office, where I passed through the ordeal of my first examination. He asked me to read a few paragraphs from some book he bought from his office, propounded two or three questions in Geography, and closed up by having me solve a simple problem in proportions, or ‘single rule of three’, as it was termed in those days. He then said, ‘I guess you will pass’ and wrote me out a teacher’s certificate. In the winter of 1840-1841, I taught my first school in this state in what was then called ‘Crosswicks’ district about two miles from Waynesville. The term, or ‘quarter’ as it was then called, consisted of thirteen weeks, or sixty-five days, for which I received $65.00."

In the 1850 Census of Warren County (Wayne Township) Samuel Scott is listed as a 30-year-old Brick Maker married to Rebecca who was 25 years old. In 1850 they had three children: Susan R. (5 years old), Francis (4 years old), and William (1 year old).

In 1841-1842 both Rev. Thomas Collett and he were converted during a revival in Waynesville. He was licensed to exhort in 1843. He was licensed to preach in 1850. He was ordained a Deacon by Bishop Thomas Morris in 1855.

Samuel Scott taught at the Crosswick District School north of Waynesville in the winter of 1840-41 and the fall term of 1856. He taught in the Waynesville Schools from 1850 to 1856. In the fall of 1850 he began teaching in the “Upper School” in Waynesville for four years. The next two years he taught his “Select School” in the old Academy Building.

In November 1856 he began his work with the American Bible Society, as a county agent. He organized township level Bible Societies that were affiliated with the county level Bible Societies. He appointed local agents, usually women, who would canvass school districts, supply Bible to the poor and solicit fund for the larger Society. He would travel to visit all his local agents and on Sundays preach. In November of 1861 he moved from Waynesville to Dayton to put his children in better schools and be more available for his work for the American Bible Society. He lived the last 45 years of his life in Dayton. He rented a room on North Main Street in Dayton for a reading and social room for men. Out of it evolved Dayton’s Young Men's Christian Association.

Rev. Scott as a strong Temperance man. He was involved in the Washingtonian Movement, the Sons of Temperance and The Good Templars. He became involved with the Prohibition Party in 1869 and was a candidate for the governor of Ohio on the Prohibition ticket. He received 700 votes.

He also took an interest in organizing circulating library associations based on the co-operative principal. He did this in an effort to stem the tide of the pernicious literature he felt was flooding the country. He established 319 libraries in Ohio, 6 in Indiana and 3 in Pennsylvania. One of the places in Ohio was Waynesville. Rev. Scott was in Waynesville in the summer and fall of 1879 soliciting funds for a circulating subscription library (Miami-Gazette, August 27th and October 15, 1879). For more information about Samuel Scott see, Rev. Samuel Scott’s Ancestry, A Brief Autobiography of His Life, and Antiquity of the Name of Scott (published in Dayton, Ohio 1902). There is a copy of this work in The Mary L. Cook Public Library in Waynesville.

A. E. Merritt ~ Contractor and Builder

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Ad in the Miami ~Visitor newspaper, March 23rd, 1850

A(bsolem). E. Merritt (1809-1874) was a contractor, a carpenter and builder. He was also referred to as an architect. His home was located on the northwest corner of Third and North Streets, cattycorner from the Waynesville Methodist Episcopal Church. He bought this property, Lot #1 of the Joseph B. Chapman Addition to Waynesville on June 13th, 1845 for $138.00, Warren Co. Deed Book #26, pp. 601-602 (The handwritten deed is housed in The Mary L. Cook Public Library). In 1847 he took out a $300.00 mortgage on this property from David Evans. The mortgage was paid off on June 11th, 1853 (The mortgage paper is housed in The Mary L. Cook Public Library). He and his wife Esther Kindle (1809-1892) took out another mortgage for $500.00 in 1861 (This mortgage paper is housed in The Mary L. Cook Public Library). His carpentry shop was on North Street.

Mr. Merritt was very active in the social and political life of Waynesville. He was a large subscriber to the building fund for the new 1840 Methodist Episcopal Church. He was the main contractor for St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Also see, History of St. Mary's Episcopal Church). He donated $50.00. In 1854 he was elected mayor of Waynesville and the town council members were Dr. W. H. Anderson, Wesley Haines, Emmor Baily, Levi Hartsock and Daniel Jones. He was associated with E. R. Printz from 1857-1865 in the drug and grocery business (“Early Waynesville” by Judge John W. Keys ).

As a prominent man and leader in Waynesville, his lengthy description of a journey to Mt. Holly, New Jersey was published in the Miami-Visitor on April 5, 1854.

It is not surprising that A. E. Merritt was interested in improving the schools. In the 1850 Federal Census of Warren County, Ohio (Waynesville), he is listed as a 40 year old father, married to Esther P. Merritt who was 41, with five children: Elizabeth R. (11), Keziah (9), Charles E. (7), Esther (4) and Emma (2). Mr. Merritt was listed as a trustee in The Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Waynesville Academy, For the Year Ending Ninth Month, (September) 1846. A. E. Merritt continued his interest in education by serving on the new Union Schoolhouse board when it was contracted to be built in 1855 and he was involved in all the political controversy in the village that finally led to the building of the new school. He and Joel Evans were two of the contractors for the building. The first Union Schoolhouse stood from 1857-1891 and was then replaced by the present structure. A. E. Merritt served as the District Clerk of School District #7 (Waynesville) for many years.

In 1856, A. E. Merritt belonged to the Waynesville Teachers’ Association along with G. M. Zell, D. C. Halsey, George Pliny Brown, Samuel Scott, Miss A. Brown, Miss E. Brown, Coates Kinney, William Henry Venable, Jesse T. Butterworth, John C. Kinney, A. Sellers, Mrs. M. L. Brown (Mary Louise Seymour Brown, wife of Geo. P. Brown), Mr. Hart and Jason Evans (Miami-Visitor, Jan. 30, 1856, February 27th, 1856 & May 7th, 1856).

A. E. Merritt was also highly involved in the Wayne Township Bible Society. According to the Miami-Visitor dated Augut 3, 1859, he was the vice-president of this Bible Society. It is evident that Mr. Merritt was also a Temperance man by the lengthy article he wrote against the evils of alcohol, which was published in the Miami-Gazette on October 18, 1865.

He was the Postmaster of Waynesville for a number of years. Housed in The Mary L. Cook Public Library are two of his Postmaster certificates: one dated April 29th, 1861 and the other June 9th, 1873.

A. E. Merritt was also involved in the establishment of the Waynesville Literary Society and the Waynesville subscription library during the 1850s, both of which were begun by John Wesley Roberts, the publisher of the Miami-Visitor newspaper. Mr. Merritt was on the Board of Trustees for the Waynesville Library Association in 1855.

On August 3rd, 1867, A. E. Merritt bought lot 51 in section H in Miami Cemetery for $22.00. The Miami Cemetery Association deed is housed in The Mary L. Cook Public Library.

The Merritt house ~ Waynesville

The Reverend John F. Cadwallader of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Waynesville, Ohio

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In 1898 John Fallis Cadwallader was ordained a priest in St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Waynesville. As a young man he had contemplated and started a career in entertainment and the theatre in 1879. His father, Achilles D. Cadwallader had built Cadwallader Hall located on the northwest corner of Main and Miami Streets in Waynesville which John rented for his entertainment company, John F. Cadwallader & Co. John had a religious experience that pointed him to his true vocation as a minister.

John F. Cadwallader was Rector of St. Mary’s for thirty years. He built the Rectory and willed it to the church at the time of his death. The old Rectory still sits on the northeast corner of Fourth and Miami Streets, cattycorner from the Friends Boarding Home. He also gave his church a farm, which was located north of Waynesville. John F. Cadwallader died suddenly on April 13, 1922 of a heart attack.

There is a biography of Rev. John Fallis Cadwallader and a history of the founding of St. Mary's Church in Memoirs of the Miami Valley, Volume III (Chicago: Robert O. Law Company, 1919), pp. 50-52:

John Fallis Cadwallader: rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church at Waynesville, is one of the scholarly men of his profession in the Miami Valley, and deeply beloved by his parishioners. He was born at Waynesville in 1857, a son of A. D. and Jane N. Cadwallader (Jane Nancy Fallis), natives of Lynchburg, Va., who migrated to Warren County, O., in 1832. For some years, A.(Achilles) D. (Douglas) Cadwallader was a grain merchant, later an agent, and finally conducted a dry goods store at Waynesville, retiring in 1879 from the responsibilites of business life. His death occurred in 1895, at the age of seventy-three years, as he was born August 14, 1822. Mrs. Cadwallader, who was born March 8, 1820, died in 1870, aged fifty years. The Cadwallader family originated in Wales. Growing up at Waynesville, John F. Cadwallader received his preliminary education training in its public schools, and then took a theological course at Kenyon College, Gambier, O., from which he was graduated. He was married January 10, 1889, to Miss Anna C. Lile, a daughter of Joseph and Jane Lile, natives of Greene and Warren counties., O., respectively, and their parents were born in Virginia. Mr. Cadwallader is a Republican in his political sentiiments. St. Mary's Episcopal Church is the outgrowth of an earnest desire on the part of a few churchmen at Wayensville to provide for themselves and their families a proper church home, and the results of the piety and efficiency of these founders of the church are gratifying in the extreme.

In April, 1869, Rev. W. T. Helms, of Nashville, Tenn., held the first services of the Episcopal church at Waynesville, appearing on the platform of the old town hall ("Cadwallader Hall"), coming here at the earnest solicitation of J. D. Sweet (see, J. Drew Sweet (1839-1893) ~ Publisher of the Miami-Gazette) and Mrs. T. J. Brown, the two comunicants in Waynesville and its vicinity. Following this initial sercvice, lay readings were held for some months thereafter in the town hall, and then Achilles Pugh (see, Achilles Pugh, Publisher of "The Philanthropist" and Anti-Slavery Activist (1805-1876)), although a Quaker by faith, fitted up a room with a stove and seats, and rented it at a nominal figure to be used for worship and Sunday school purposes. In the meanwhile strenuous efforts were made to get a definite start in securing a permanent home for the church, and a lot was bought in the summer of 1870, on the southwest corner of Third and Miami Streets, for which $300.00 was paid, and on it St. Mary's Church edifice now stands, it being one of the mot beautiful locations in the city. August 4 of that same year, the cornerstone of the church was laid by Rev. Mr. Helms, and the foundation was completed. By this time the funds were exhaused and further operations were suspended until $600.00 were raised, and the building enclosed. Strict orders were given to the builder, A. E. Merritt, to go no further with the work than the funds would permit, so that the faithful church laborers were forced to raise more money to procure window casings. They were put in, and boarded up, and temporary doors hung, when once more there was a suspension until financial conditions improved. Never discouraged, the faithful few worked on, and were rewared by having the church open for Sunday school services on Easter Sunday, 1875. While the work of completing the little church went on, the people were ministerd to by serveral most excellent men. Rev. Mr. Helms was succeeded by Rev. H. C. M. Dudley, and he by Rev. Richard Wainswright. Bishop Bedell then appointed Charles E. Merritt lay reader, and lay services were held every Sunday afternoon during the summer of 1874 before any plastering had been done, the congregation sitting on castoff school benches and boards laid on boxes. Mr. Merritt left Waynesville for other fields of labor, and the services were conducted occasionally by such earnest lay readers as could spare the time form their other engagements. Finally Rev. John H. Ely was sent to take charge of the mission, he being succeeded by the following in the order names: Rev. Louis S. Osborn, Rev. Langdon C. Stewartson, Rev. Charles L. Pinder and Rev. Charles H. Hayden. During the ministry of these clergymen the church as consecrated on April 21, 1881 by Bishop Jagger, as St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church, and the rectors of this parish since then have been: Revs. Boyer, Walkley, Gibbs and Jones, regular ordained ministers of the church; John F. Cadwallader as lay reader in 1889; Rev. John F. Cadwallader as deascon in March 1892, and as Rector, March 9, 1898. One of the most impressive services ever held in St. Mary's Church was the ordination of Mr. Cadwallader as priest. The candidate was presented ot the bishop by Rev. Charles Fisher, of Gambier, O., who preached the sermon, Archdeacon Edwards, Rev. Dr. McCabe, Rev. A. J. Wildler, Rev. W. E. Dakon (This is probably a typo and should read "W. E. Dakin"), Rev. Mr. Garrett, Rev. E. L. Norton, assisting the bishop. Since 1898 Rev. Cadwallader has been in charge of St. Mary's, and under his wise administation the material affairs of the parish are in excellent condition, and his spiritual care of his peole is devout and effective. Many of the young men who went from the Miami Valley to France during the late war carried with them the memory of the sincere admonitions of their spiritual guide at St. Mary's. while few if any who have left the parish since he took hold of it have forgotten his lessons of church history, and his example toward godly living and good citizenship. The debt St. Mary's owes Mr. Cadwallader is not a small one, and the outside would owes an equally heavy one to St. Mary's for the influence it has had upon the morale of the community at large.

Rev. John F. Cadwallader came from a Quaker background. His father was Achilles Douglas Cadwallader who was born 14 AUG 1822 and died on 19 JUN 1895. Achilles was the son of Mahlon Cadwallader and Elizabeth Douglas. Achilles was married twice to Jane Nancy Fallis on 3 OCT 1844. and to Elizabeth Stiles on 4 JUN 1872.

Mahlon and his son Achilles Douglas Cadwallader seem to have had a checkered relationship with Miami Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends in Waynesville. Mahlon and Elizabeth were members of the meeting, but for a time in the early 1830s they belonged to Springboro Monthly Meeting. However, when Elizabeth and the children moved back to Miami Monthly Meeting, Mahlon is not mentioned in the minutes. It is also recorded that Mahlon was restored to Quaker membership in 1845. Achilles D. Cadwallader was also disowned by the Quaker for both of his marriages "outside of unity". He was disowned for something that caused "disunity" in 1858 but then was "received by request" back into Miami Monthly Meeting in 1872. Achilles' son, John F. Cadwallader, was "released by request" from Miami Monthly Meeting on 1 mo. 26, 1881 when he started attending First Communion classes at the new St. Mary's Episcopal Church (See, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. V, Ohio (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1994), pp. 33-34.

The Cadwallader Rectory catty-corner from the
Friends Boarding Home
The shadow of the Friends Home can be seen in the foreground.
People are sitting on the front steps watching
the 1906 Homecoming Parade.

St. Mary's sanctuary

For more information about St. Mary's Episcopal Church:
http://www.mlcook.lib.oh.us/
St.%20Marys%20Episcopal%20Church-Waynesville.htm

Cadwallader Hall on Main Street before the fire in 1921
that destroyed the second level, the theatre.
(Building on the far left)

Dr. Mary L. Cook Day ~ October 1st, 2005

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Dr. Mary L. Cook Day in Waynesville is declared
by Mayor Ernie Lawson on October 1, 2005 .
The proclamation is accepted by Dr. Mary's niece, Mildred Cook Powell.

Dr. Mary's family

Dr. Mary L. Cook (Linda Swartzel~Library Director)
with Mildred Cook Powell.

Dr. Mary L. Cook Day at the Library Named after Her

Dr. Mary L. Cook's 136th birthday was celebrated at the library named after her last Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Members of Dr. Mary's family attended:

Mildred C. Powell ~ Dr. Mary's adopted daughter (niece)
Milly Powell ~ Dr. Mary's great niece
Esther Powell ~ Dr. Mary's great niece
Leah Ruth Powell Marcus ~ Dr. Mary's great niece
David Marcus ~ husband of Leah Marcus
Erica Kretzmann ~ Great grand niece
Emily Marcus ~ Great grand niece

Family and friends of Dr. Mary shared stories about her while watching a presentation about her life. Linda Swartzel, director of the library, portrayed Dr. Cook and gave a presentation about medicine in 1908 when Dr. Mary graduated from medical school.

Other activities for children included a display of items dating from the turn of the 20th century. The children had to guess what the item was used for! They also had an opportunity to make old fashion toys.

See a story inspired by Dr. Mary's life, "The Restless Teacup" at:
http://www.mlcook.lib.oh.us/The%20Restless%20Cup-v31.htm

Also see:
Dr. MARY L. COOK DAY ~October 1st, 2005
The Mary L. Cook Public Library
Dr. Mary Leah Cook
The Mary L. Cook Public Library ~ 88 Years of Responsible Growth and Community Service
THE OHIOANA ROOM ~THE MARY L. COOK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Waynesville in the 1950s

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Waynesville before the Re-routing of Routes 73 and 42.

Waynesville in 1957
http://www.mlcook.lib.oh.us/old_pictures_of_waynesville.htm

Farr & White: Waynesville Businessmen

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Frank H. Farr, the son of Atkinson Farr, was a businessman in Waynesville, Farr’s 5 & 10 Cent Store (located in Cadwallader Hall, northwest corner of Miami and Main Streets) and a newspaper publisher. Above is a copy of the “Waynesville Hustler” dated December 1891 that has an ad for “Farr & White, Groceries, Hardware and Qweensware”. The "Waynesville Hustler" was a monthly paper edited and published by Frank H. Farr. Another paper started by Frank was "The Waynesville Enterprise" in 1902. His partner in this endeavor was Newton L. Bunnell.

Photograph taken from the
1903 Centennial Atlas of Warren County, Ohio, p. 64

J. William White, 1855-1941, (know as Will White) was a son of a clergyman who grew up in Waynesville. The history of the Farr business is detailed in the article below beginning with Frank's father, Atkinson L. Farr (1829-1907). Mr. White had worked for Atkinson Farr and then became a partner with him (see obituary below). J. Will White built a beautiful Queen Anne style home in 1901 in Waynesville located on Fourth Street, which still stands see photographs below.

The following is an article found in the Special Homecoming Edition of the Miami Gazette dated December 1905:

FARR AND WHITE, GROCERS. “Industries come and go,” and a gentleman recently, “but the firm of Farr & White moves along as surely and steadfastly as ever.” The business of this old and successful house was established by Mr. A. L. Farr in the year 1868. With a small stock of groceries, and a good large capital, not of cash, but of American energy, he laid the foundation for the splendid business enjoyed by this firm.

In the year 1878 Mr. J. W. White, who had held the position of salesman, became a partner and during all the years that followed, the firm of Farr & White has maintained its reputation for first class goods and honest prices and have been enabled to always retain a large patronage.

Their storeroom built in the year 1886, is one of the largest in the County devoted to the business of retailing groceries, hardware, Queensware and notions. Some very kindly suggestions were made by good friends when the location was chosen for this establishment. “A Little too far from the business center,” some said then, but twenty years has brought the center of business very much nearer this firm. “Too large a building for the size of the town,” others said ~ but the best investment they ever made was in the new storeroom.

It contains over 6,000 square feet of floor space devoted to merchandise, and their large and comprehensive stock comprises a fine line of the best brands of teas, coffees, spices, flour, canned goods, vegetables, fruits and oysters in season. Also, a line of shelf hardware, nails, steel goods; as well as English and American china and glassware. Portland cement, lime and salt are also on their list of specialties.

A blind business man once entered this store and after spending a little time caught the spirit of activity and industry, so easily recognized by those who even pass that way, said, “You have a fine stock of goods and certainly enjoy a fine business.”

Mr. White who has had charge of the business since Mr. Farr’s retirement from active business life is thoroughly posted in theis line of trade and by giving his personal attention to the business insures the utmost reliability and satisfaction.

The Farr & White store is now
My Wife's Antiques on Main Street

Frank Farr's sister Amelia married his father's business partner J. William White. Their son Horace Fred White married Bessie A. Cook (1880-1944), the sister of Dr. Mary L. Cook of Waynesville, a physican and founder of The Mary L. Cook Public Library. Bessie and Horace had two children: Geraldine (March 29th, 1905-June 12th, 1968) and Horace (b. December 8th, 1908).

Old Postcard of the Will White home on the northwest
corner of North and Fourth Streets.
The house was built in 1901.

The interior of the Will White home.
From left to right: Amelia White, 1857-1944 (mother),
Horace "Fred" White, 1880-1962 (son),
and J. William "Will" White, 1855-1941 (father).

Obiturary of J. Will White
(Western Star, January 30th, 1941)

Frank Farr

Frank Farr home on Third Street
Frank Farr (rocking chair)
Mabel P. Farr, his wife (on his right)

Thomas L. Pierce, his brother-in-law (sitting on steps)

Patsey Baird Creech remembered Frank and Mabel Farr. this is what she wrote in Waynesville's First 200 Years (Published by the Waynesville Historical Society, 1997), p. 221:

For some reason, I distinctly remember Frank Farr, who lived on Third Street, playing a musical insturment while sitting on the concrete retaining wall at the station (now Pat's Gas). Often, other gentlemen would join him in a serenade.

Frank Farr's wife, Mabel, taught Sunday School at the Methodist Church. Mabel was a dear lady, short in stature and always dressed complegely in black ~ hat, dress, shoes, stockings and purse.

We also know that Frank Farr was the postmaster of Waynesville, see photograph below in front of the post office. Frank was the postmaster from 1906 till 1914. His father, Atkinson, had been the postmaster from 1874-1881. Frank was also a member of the Waynesville Lodge, No. 163, Free & Accepted Masons.

From left to right: Frank Farr, George Mills, Jesse Molatt Robitzer,
Up White, Curt Hisey, Joe Mendenhall and Fred Henderson.

The Old Lock Up

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The "Lock Up" before renovation.

Above: The Second "Lock-Up" in Waynesville
on Chapman Street

The "Old Lock Up" pictured above was a combination of firehouse and jail for the village of Waynesville. The date of its construction is not known. It is, however, fairly clear that the building was built after 1879.

During the notorious triple murder in Waynesville in 1879, the jail-"lock up" that held Daniel R. Anderson was a single iron cell in a brick building rented by the village located behind the old Waynesville House (The Cornell House, also known as the Miami House, and various other names), which was located on the northeast corner of North Main and North Streets. The village leased the building and adjoining land of David Mason for $60.00 per year (Miami-Gazette, July 11, 1871). On the next day the following was published:

Lock Up: The lockup so long talked of has at length been purchased at a cost of something over $200.00. It is to be here within ten days, and placed in the little brick house back of the late Waynesville hotel. Who will be the first to honor it with their incarceration remains to be seen. We wish nobody, but there is too much probability that the iron cage will contain many an unruly devotee of Bacchus (Miami-Gazette, July 12, 1871).

A similar style movable single jail cell can still be seen today in Corwin, Ohio in the council house in the back room.

It was later reported, with tongue firmly inserted in cheek, in the Miami-Gazette, August 9th, 1871:

THE LOCK UP: This long expected institution has at last arrived. Its anticipation and its ultimate appearance have created a first class sensation. Men and boys have been in a state of excitement bordering on frenzy; and no one will deny that it is a matter of the gravest importance, indeed it would be very irreverent in our people not to regard the establishment of this thing among us as one of the grandest occurrences of the nineteenth century. So let us be thankful that we have been afforded a temporary escape valve for our pent up emotions. Seriously, the village prison is a good thing. The cage occupies one room, while the other room in the house is fitted up conveniently for the Mayor's court, council room, and whatever else may be desired. Iron gratings are put on the outside of each window and the doors are nailed and crossed until the whole thing has a formable and prison like appearance, terrible to behold. May it awe all evildoers into good behavior.

The village of Waynesville, as early as 1866, felt the need for a jail and passed an ordinance to provide for the borrowing of money for a jail, $400.00 (Miami-Gazette, July 17th, 1866). Apparently, the issue wasn't resolved until 1871 when the Mason building was rented and an iron cell ordered. The present standing Waynesville Lock-Up (see photographs), which has been restored and is located on Chapman Street, was built sometime after the triple murder around 1881.

There possibly was another old log tavern building that faced the old "Public Square", which served as a "lock up" before the Civil War. Judge John W. Keys recalls that, "In 1810, Samuel Test sold to Daniel Hammell lots 5 and 6 in Miami Square (where the livery stable was in 1870), for $50. Hammell built a large log house of two stories there, plastered outside with a walk round front to the second story, it was peculiar in its structure, facing three points to the street. I do not know how long Hammell remained there, but the house was afterwards owned by Richard Cunningham. In 1820 it was occupied by Levy Johnson and shortly after that by Brady. No tavern was kept there after about 1824. The building was remembered by the older citizens here as the 'Old Penitentiary'."

The "Lock Up" building today serves as an interpretive center for the Accommodation Line Scenic Byway, a 10.4 mile route running from Spring Valley to Waynesville, part of the historic Accommodation Stagecoach Line (also see John Satterthwaite).

Also see,

http://www.ohiobyways.com/Accommodation.htm

The Waynesville Academy

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The Old Academy building is now the Stubbs Funeral Home

The Waynesville Academy was incorporated in 1844 by Friend Dr. Sylvanus Fisher and the stockholders of the Waynesville Academy Company. The land was owned by Friend David Evans (The Evans Family of Waynesville).

Sylvanus Fisher was born in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1797 but moved with his parents and siblings to Columbiana County, Ohio in 1807. He attended medical school in Lexington, Kentucky and began his practice in 1828. He was also a noted teacher in Columbiana County. In 1843 his first wife, Ann Wallahan, died. Dr. Sylvanus Fisher and many of his siblings moved to southwest Ohio two of whom also practiced for a while in Waynesville and Lebanon. Sylvanus had married again to Mary E. Hartman on October 24th, 1844 in Columbiana County. The 1850 Census of Waynesville in Warren County (Microfilm roll 266, page 346) mentions Sylvanus and Mary living in Waynesville, most likely in The Waynesville Academy building itself. Dr. Fisher was the designer, builder and principle stockholder of The Waynesville Academy. Eventually the Sylvanus Fisher family moved to Lebanon, Ohio in 1850. They would later move to Center Township, Rock County, Wisconsin where it is know that he was practicing in 1856. Sylvanus Fisher died in Wisconsin on April 2nd, 1860.

Even though distance divided the family, Sylvanus still had a connection to Waynesville through his brothers, Drs. Isaac and Elias Fisher. Sylvanus’ sister Ruth Fisher was married to Eli Harvey and lived in Clinton Co., Ohio (See,The Eli Harvey Homestead, article by Christine Hadley Snyder). His sister Sina Fisher married John Stichel of Clark County, Ohio.

Long after it closed due to the establishment of the public school system in Waynesville in the late 1850s, many people had affectionate memories of the old Waynesville Academy. In his address at the Waynesville Homecoming in 1906, Charles E. Merritt had this to say about the Waynesville Academy and gives a short summary of the early public schools, too:

And Waynesville, according to its means, its facilities and the state of pedagogy at that time, had good schools. There was the Academy, presided over at the earlier part of these recollections by David S. Burson, which so many of the “big boys,” Joe and Charlie Chapman, Mart Holland, Jason Evans and many others attended. The common Schools or Public Schools, on the closing of the Academy, came to be about all we had, unless we may except Miss Sarah Taylor’s School for young ladies, and some private schools at different times for younger children. The teachers remembered are Thomas Collett, Jason S. Evans, Joseph R. White, Samuel Scott, Jesse T. Butterworth, George P. Brown and Dr. William Meigs. It is far away from the little houses on the hills, where Thomas Collett and Jesse T. Butterworth taught the “young idea how to shoot,” to the present fine structure (He is referring to the new 1891 Union School.). It is far away from the school, which taught, or assumes to teach, all grades, to the present division into years and grades, but if experience is any guide, those who learn now, would have learned then, and those who will not learn now, would have failed then (Souvenir and Homecoming Edition of The Miami Gazette [Waynesville, Ohio: Miami Gazette, October 1906], p. 32).

The appearance of the old Academy was changed in 1867. According to the Miami-Gazette (April 17th, 1867): Among the improvements at present going on in town, we notice as one of the most prominent those in operation on the Academy building by its present owner, Mr. Fetters. This gentleman has entirely changed the appearance of the building and by neat fencing, ornamental trees, etc., will in time have one of the nicest residences on the street.

For more detailed information about the Waynesville Academy see: Quaker Education and Miami Valley Institute: A Hicksite Quaker College by Karen S. Campbell (Published by Author, 2004).

Seth Hocket Ellis ~ Founder of the Ohio Grange

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Seth Hocket Ellis (1830-1904) was born at Martinsville in Clinton County, Ohio on January 3rd, 1830 and in 1847 came to Springboro, Ohio and then married on August 21, 1851, Miss Rebecca Tressler (1833-1908). From 1851-1852 he was a schoolteacher. He began farming in 1865 at Salem Farm, just a few miles southeast of Springboro.

In 1899 S. H. Ellis was a candidate for governor of Ohio by the Union Reform Party and he ran as their candidate for President of the United States in 1900. He was also on the Managing Board of Trustees of the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station at Wooster, Ohio, a member of the State Board of Agriculture and Vice-President of the Farmers’ Cooperative Harvesting Machine Co. in Springfield.

The Ellis’ rented their farm outside of Springboro and moved to a house in Waynesville in February of 1899 (Miami- Gazette, February 15, 1899). Seth H. Ellis was an Orthodox Quaker minister, but when residing in Waynesville he also attended the Waynesville Methodist Episcopal Church. Even so, he was co-presider at the 1903 Centennial Celebration of the founding of Miami Monthly Meeting. He died on June 23rd, 1904 from a fall from a cherry tree. Seth H. Ellis, Rebecca Jane T. Ellis and Isadora are buried in Miami Cemetery, Corwin, Ohio (Section M).

Seth H. Ellis was also the first Ohio State Grange Master and was the founder of the Grange (The Patrons of Husbandry) in Ohio (see Miami-Gazette, June 29th, 1904 for an extensive obituary). He and his wife, Rebecca Jane Tressler, the daughter of Jacob Tressler and Sarah Null, had eight children:

one that died in infancy
Mrs. Evangeline Sumers of Lawrence, TX.
Charles Ellis, V. S.
Idella (Della) Foster (wife of Eugene H. Foster), Glendale, Ohio
Luella McClure of Springboro
J. Tressler Ellis, M.D. of Waynesville
Ruth Anna Janney of Waynesville
Dora Ellis (Isadora).

Four of his children attended Miami Valley College: Isadora, J. Tressler, Idella and Ruth Anna.