The Anderson Families of Butler County, Ohio

Who departed this life on the 18th December, A. D. 1839, aged eighty-one years, three months and two days.

The deceased was a native of Ireland, a soldier of the American Revolution and the Indian wars succeeding it, one of the early settlers of Cincinnati, and since A. D. 1812 a citizen of Butler county, Ohio.

Below is reproduced the journal kept by Lieutenant Isaac Anderson while a member of Colonel Archibald Lochry’s unfortunate expedition in 1781. The journal will be found interesting and useful to many readers; besides it settles beyond all controversy what is sometimes disputed, that the engagement between Colonel Lochry’s command with the Indians, with renegade whites as allies, took place on the Ohio river, ten miles below the mouth of the Great Miami river, August 24, 1781.

In July, 1781, General George Rogers Clark solicited Colonel Archibald Lochry and Captain Robert Orr, who held a captain’s commission in the militia of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, to raise a company of infantry and a troop of horse to join his expedition against the Indians of the Northwest. The request was complied with on August 1, 1781, at Colonel Carnahan’s block house, eleven miles west of Hannastown, the seat of justice of Westmoreland county, it having been established there in J773; the town was destroyed by the Indians in 1782.

Captains Thomas Stokey and Samuel Shannon each had command of a company of rangers, and Captain Campbell a company of horsemen. After arriving at Fort Henry (Wheeling) it was ascertained that Clark had gone twelve miles down the Ohio river. Colonel Lochry prepared a number of boats for his men and horses, which occupied about ten days, and then proceeded to join General Clark, who had in the meantime fell down the river to the mouth of the Kenawha, where he had promised to await the arrival of Colonel Lochry. At this time Colonel Lochry’s provisions and forage were nearly exhausted. Under these trying circumstances he detailed Captain Samuel Shannon and four men who with a small boat were instructed to overtake Clark's army, for the purpose of securing needed supplies. Lieutenant Isaac Anderson being left in command of Captain Shannon's company. Captain Shannon with his party had proceeded but a few miles down the river, when it was captured by the Indians, who thereby also obtained possession of a letter to General Clark giving the condition 0 Lochry’s troops.

Colonel Lochry, somewhat disheartened by the condition of affairs confronting him. proceeded down the river to a point now known as Lochry’s creek, ten miles below the mouth of the Great Miami river. Here, on August 24, 1781, the boats were ordered to land on the Indian side, to cook provisions and cut grass for the horses, when they were fired upon by a large body of Indians. The men took to their boats, expecting to cross the river, when they were again fired upon by another party of Indians in canoes, and in the fight that ensued Colonel Lochry’s entire force was captured. The Indians massacred Colonel Lochry and several others after they were made prisoners.

The journal comprises all the transactions of each day during the entire period covering his enlistment, captivity In the Indians, his treatment by the British commandant at Detroit and Montreal, Canada, his escape by scaling the pickets and making his way through many perils, back to Westmoreland county, from whence he had enlisted about a year before.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Fergus Anderson died early in April, 1880, at his residence in Venice, from general debility, aged eighty-three years. His death had been expected for some time, as he had gradually become very weak. The life of Fergus Anderson stands out prominently in Butler county history. His period of greatest activity in political affairs extended from 1828 to 1840.

Fergus Anderson came of good stock. His father was Isaac Anderson, mentioned elsewhere in this book. Fergus was the second oldest son, and was born in Cincinnati June 14, 1797. He was married to Miss Mary Dick, daughter of Samuel Dick, an old associate pioneer of Isaac Anderson. June 28, 1821. Fergus was brought up to the business of farming, and after he was married settled on a farm on Indian creek, near the residence of his father. In 1828 he was elected to the legislature. He served two years, and was then elected to the senate. where he remained the same length of time. In 1835 he was chosen a justice of the peace in Ross township, in which office he served until he was elected associate judge of Butler county by the legislature. This office he retained seven years. For many years he was also president of the board of trustees of Miami University, and a member of the county agricultural board.

In all these varied capacities he served the public faithfully and well.

In middle life Mr. Anderson was a wealthy man, but he gave considerable money to his married sons, and two of them dying, many thousands of dollars went out of the home estate, and he finally found himself in embarrassed circumstances.

In disposition his principal characteristics were his kindness of heart and gentleness. Enemies he had none, while his friends could be numbered by hundreds.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM E. ANDERSON.

William E. Anderson, a well-known farmer of Fairfield township, Butler county, Ohio, was born May 28, 1849? sou end of Bethany, on the old Cincinnati and Dayton pike, in Liberty township, Butler county, and is the son of William and Maria (Elliott) Anderson/ His grandfather was John Anderson, a native of Kent county, Delaware, who came to Butler county in 1809, settling in Liberty township when that section was practically a wilderness. In 18 1 1 he married Miss Maria Hagerman, a native of New Jersey, and to them were born nine children, one of whom died in infancy and two at the ages of seven and nine years respectively. Those reaching maturity were George, William (father of the subject), Adrian, Jane (married Daniel Brewer), Simon, Sarah A. (married David Staats). John Anderson was drafted in the war of 1812, but sent a substitute.

William Anderson, father of the subject, was born in Liberty township, Butler county, Ohio, February 10, 1816, and on February. 6, 1839, married Maria Elliott, who was born in Liberty township, Butler county, November 15, 1817. He learned the carpenter’s trade at Bethany as an apprentice bound out to Charles C. Legg. He subsequently carried on carpentering for many years, then bought a farm and carried on farming and carpentering together. He was a township trustee for twenty-five years and also served on the school board. He died May 27, 1891, his widow surviving until July 11, 1896. Their children were as follows: Elmore T., born October 4,

1841: John E., bom June 27, 1845 5 William E., the subject; Caroline, born July 21, 1855, married Lew McLain, a pioneer of Liberty township.

The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm and secured a common-school education. He remained with his parents until 1887, when he married and moved into Hanover township. A few years later, however, he returned to Fairfield township, where he has since resided. In about 1892 he engaged in the dairy business, in connection with farming, and has continued the two successfully to the present time. Mr. Anderson married, on February 2, 1888, Miss Mary Addie, the daughter of Michael W. and Matilda (Bell) Emerick (see sketch of B. E. Urmston). Mrs. Anderson was born in Hanover township, Butler county, November 10, 1861. To Mi*, and Mrs.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES M. ANDERSON.

The Columbia Carriage Company is one of the most extensive manufacturing industries in Hamilton. It was incorporated in 1898, with a capitalization of two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. Mr. Anderson of this sketch was elected secretary and treasurer at the time of incorporation, bringing to the business the experience of years in the handling of extensive and complex clerical affairs. His long continuance in the position he occupies is the best evidence of his special qualifications. The Columbia Carriage Company gives steady employment to about three hundred and fifty mechanics in the various lines and the products of the plant are sold by eight traveling salesmen, and more than fifty jobbers throughout the United States and European countries. The annual average value of the finished output will reach three quarters of a million dollars. The officers of the company are Thomas L. Curley, president; J. E. Wright, vice-president, and C. M. Anderson, secretary and treasurer. All of these gentlemen are actively employed in. the work, and each has a personal sketch in this volume.

Charles M. Anderson is a native of Butler county, born at Bethany, Liberty township, on the 15th of February, 1869. He is tine eldest of three children born to John Elliott and Sarah E. (Murphy) Anderson, both of whom are natives of this county and representatives of prominent early families. The subject is a grandson, on the material side, of the late Hon. Peter Murphy, whose life career was essentially a part of the history of Butler county in his day. His numerous descendants occupy positions of honor in the professional and business world. These ancestors are all of Scotch- Irish antecedents. William Anderson was the paternal grandfather, and was one of the pioneers of Liberty township, where he spent a long and useful life. Both of these ancestors achieved more than ordinary success in the social and business affairs of their day, and their memories will long be revered by those who have taken up the burden of life where they left it.

The father of C. M. Anderson spent his productive years in agricultural pursuits, but is spending the sunset of life in the retirement of a handsome suburban home and farm near Camden, in Preble county, where he and his estimable wife now reside. None of their three children are near them, the two daughters, Mrs. George H. Harkrader and Mrs. Chelsea C. Aydelatt, living in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Anderson, of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Camden, Ohio. He began his business career as assistant purchasing agent for the Mc- Neal & Urban Safe and Lock Company, in Hamilton. He also had an experience of two years as bookkeeper and day clerk at the St. Charles Hotel, the principal hostelry in this city. He next accepted a position as bookkeeper and assistant business manager of the Republican News, resigning that office after nine months' service, to accept a more lucrative position with Thomas M. Boyd, who was then the trustee of the Louis Snider Sons Paper Company. He continued under this engagement some three years, during which time several changes were made in the office of trustee, himself and George P. Sohngen finally becoming the trustee who closed up the business to the satisfaction of all concerned. During the last eight or nine months of this service Mr. Anderson occupied his present position with the Columbia Carriage Company.

The marriage of Mr. Anderson occurred on the 6th of June, 1903, when he led to the altar Miss Ada E. Marsh, a native of Leavenworth, Kansas. She is a daughter of Hon. William B. Marsh, a prominent attorney and now a resident of Eaton, Ohio. Mrs. Anderson was reared and educated in her native city and is a lady of high social standing in Hamilton. The domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson is most congenial and happy, and, though on the threshold of life’s young morning, bids fair to grow in interest and beauty as domestic cares accumulate and the silver threads of full maturity give evidence of passing years.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM ANDERSON, Vice-President of the Second National Bank of Hamilton, was born in Winchester, Va., January 6, 1812, being a son of Jacob and Jane (Summerville) Anderson, also natives of the Old Dominion. His paternal grandfather, Adam Anderson, was a native of Sweden, but emigrated thence to America in early manhood and served as a soldier during the Revolution. At the close of the war he settled in Virginia, where he and his wife reared a family of five children, viz.: Jacob, John, Adam, Peter and Hannah, the latter being the wife of Alfred Windel.

In Winchester, the town where he was born, Jacob Anderson learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed for a time. Later he settled on a farm near that city, and there he continued to reside until his death, which occurred at the age of eighty-five years. His wife departed this life when seventy-five years old. They were the parents of ten children, the eldest of whom died in childhood. Nine attained years of maturity, as follows: John, who died at the age of thirty-one; Jacob, James, Henry and George, who died in Virginia; Eliza Jane, who married Barnett Van Horn and died in the Old Dominion; William, of this sketch; Mary Ann, Mrs. Isaac Dick, who died in Virginia; and Isaac, who passed away at the age of twenty-one. The mother of this family was a devoted Christian and a sincere member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the long period of fifty-two years. The father, while not a church member, was a man of exemplary character, thoughtful and considerate in his family, and generous to those in need.

The subject of this sketch was reared in Winchester, and during his boyhood days worked on a farm. He was the recipient of meager educational advantages, owing to the comparatively low and defective system of education that then prevailed, and did not have the facilities afforded him that the children of the present day enjoy. Nevertheless, possessing an active and inquiring turn of mind and a taste for reading, he has in a great measure remedied the defect in his early training and is therefore a well informed man, who converse fluently and intelligently upon the current topics of the day.

Early in life Mr. Anderson learned the trade of a saddler. March 29, 1836, he married Miss Rachel, daughter of James Carter, proprietor of the Red Bud Paper Mill. In June, 1836, he went to Marysville, Ky., and in November of the same year removed thence to Butler County, Ohio, where he was employed at his trade for the ensuing five years. Some time afterward he engaged in the dry-goods and grocery business at Hamilton, first alone, and later in partnership with Samuel Snively, the firm name being Anderson & Snively. The junior member being a tanner by trade, the firm erected and carried on a tanyard. They also engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, operating the first wholesale factory of that kind in Hamilton, and giving employment to thirty hands. Some time later they sold out the store, then disposed of the factory, and afterward retired from the tannery business and dissolved the partnership. Mr. Anderson then became interested in milling, being a member of the firm of Tanquary & Anderson. In 1864 the mill was destroyed by fire, entailing a gross loss of $31,000 and a net loss of $20,000, but, undaunted by the misfortune, the firm at once purchased another mill and continued business. A few years ago Mr. Anderson gave his interest in the mill to his son-in-law and withdrew from all active connection with the enterprise.

Of the Second National Bank Mr. Anderson was one of the original stockholders, also became a Director early in its history, and in 1872 was chosen Vice-President, which position he has since occupied. In politics he is a Republican, but takes no more active interest in party matters than to cast his ballot at local and national elections. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and for eighteen years has been an Elder. His residence is pleasantly located on the northwest corner of Ross and E Streets. It is tastefully furnished, one of its principal attractions being a large and choice library of carefully selected books.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have had two children, but have been bereaved by the death of both. Alberta J. married Rev. Henry M. Richardson and died in Oswego, N. Y. Virginia C., who became the wife of George K. Shaffer, died m Hamilton in October, 1888, after having had four children, namely: Bertie E., Lee A., Rachael C. (who died in October, 1888), and Virginia M. Mr. Anderson has now reached a time of life when he can reflect with pleasure upon the events of his active and useful career; when, in the twilight of existence, he can mediate upon the past without remorse, but with the feeling° that he has done his duty to his fellow-men and his God. He is highly esteemed by the people among whom so many years of his life has been passed, and is deserving of his wide popularity.

HENRY STAMY EARIIART derives both pleasure and profit from the management of his estate, located about one mile and a quarter from College Corner, in Oxford Township. He manifests much energy and good judgment in business matters, together with the kindliness and general intelligence which command the respect and honor of all with whom he comes in contact.

The date of our subject’s birth in Preble County, this state, was February 15, 1847. His parents were Benjamin and Elizabetli (Search) Earhart, the former having been born January 31, 1821, in Lancaster County, Pa., and the mother in Somerville, this state, in 1829. They were married in the above place on Christmas Day, 1845. There Benjamin Earhart engaged in the mercantile business, carrying on a very profitable trade until about thirty years of age. He then disposed of his interest in the business, and decided to devote his time and attention to farm* pursuits. His first and second experiences in this line were not successful, and each time he returned to his mercantile business, recuperated himself financially, and again tried his fortune as a farmer. His last venture, however, was an eminently successful one, and he is to-day one of the wealthy agriculturists of this section.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.