OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 516 Today's Topics: #1 HAMILTON COUNTY PART 44 [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] #2 ABRAHAM GRAFFIS FAMILY [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 15:09:39, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <199907191909.PAA07206@mime3.prodigy.com> Subject: HAMILTON COUNTY PART 44 Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset=US-ASCII HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF OHIO By Henry Howe, LL.D., 1898 HAMILTON COUNTY PART 44 CHARLES W. WEST, whose great benefaction for an Art Museum in Cincinnati is a lasting memorial of beauty and pleasure, was born in Montgomery county, Pa. In 1810 worked on a farm, until he was twenty-one years of age, and at thirty-one established himself in Cincinnati as a merchant and had great success. In September, 1880, he offered to contribute $150,000 toward the erection of an art museum building, provided that an equal amount was raised by subscription: on the condition being fulfilled he gave twice as much as he had promised. The building was begun in 1882 and finished in 1885; but Mr. West did no live to see it finished, he dying the year before aged seventy-four years. His portrait in the museum is in seeming that of a genial gentleman, full of sociality and good fellowship, which indeed were his characteristics. His offer came as a grand surprise. On the opening of the Exposition of 1880, its President, Hon. Melville E. Ingalls, the famed railroad manager, read a letter, later termed the "famous letter," from Mr. West, making his magnificent offer. When the Exposition closed "in glory," having been a great success financially and artistically, Mr. Ingalls gave a public dinner to its friends, whereupon fifty-three gentlemen obligated themselves to increase, the fund for the Art Museum $1,000 each, in all $53,000. This assured success. After the death of Mr. Joseph Longworth, the first President of the Museum, Mr. Ingalls was elected its president, and has since held the office by continuous elections, he managing things with the same vim as he has the "Big Four." Like Col. George W. Nichols already sketched in these pages, Mr. Ingalls is a native of Maine, born at Harrison, September 6, 1842. As a matter of honoring record, we annex the names of the fifty-three who each gave one thousand dollars for the Art Museum; and in this connection inquire what other city can produce such a fifty-three? F. Eckstein, M.M. White and wife, Richard B. Hopple, Morehead & Norton, C.H. and D.R.R. by John Carlisle, V.P., Peter Rudolph Neff, Alex. McDonald & Co., J.M. Nash, T.T. Gaff, for estate of J.W. Gaff, E.L. Harper & Co., Charles Fleischmann, Windisch Muhlhauser Bros. & Co., W.F. Thorne, Briggs Swift, Henry Lewis, Cincinnati Gas Light & Coke Co., Mrs. Larz Anderson, Cin. Street Ry. Co., by J.N. Kinney, A.S. Winslow, G.Y. Roots and wife, George Wilshire, Geo. Hoadly, Rev. Thomas H. Skinner, A. Gunnison, C.I. St. L. & C.R.R. by M.E. Ingalls, George W. McAlpin, E.W. Cunningham and wife, A.J. Mullane, Mrs. George Carlisle, Robert Mitchell, Chatfield & Woods, S.J. Broadwell, Wm. P. Hulbert, John Shillito, Walsh & Kellogg, Elliott H. Pendleton, Oliver Perin, B.S. Cunningham and wife, J.H. Rogers, George Hofer, Joseph Kinsey, J.N. Kinney, B.F. Evans, A.J. Hinkle, George H. Hill, Robert Clarke & Co., C.W. Short, George H. Pendleton, M.E. Ingalls. STANLEY MATTHEWS was born in Cincinnati, July 21, 1824, the son of a college professor. He graduated at Kenyon, where he was a classmate of R.B. Hayes, and lifelong friend. He adopted the profession of the law and at one time edited an anti-slavery newspaper, the Cincinnati Herald. He became judge of the Court of Common Pleas, held other offices, entered the army as Lieut. Col. of the 23d Ohio, W.S. Rosecrans being its Colonel, and R..B. Hayes, Major; remained in the army until April, 1863, when he was elected by the Republicans judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati; soon resigned and engaged in a large and lucrative law practice. On the Electoral Commission he rendered efficient service to the claims of Mr. Hayes. In 1877 he succeeded John Sherman in the Senate. In 1881 he was appointed associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. He died March 21, 1889, leaving the reputation of being a great lawyer and a most lovable man. In person he was tall, manly and approachable to everybody. "If he had lived," said Senator Payne, "he would have been the foremost jurist in the land." Another said, "Few stronger men have been born: he embodied extraordinary powers," and with him "Religion was a worship and not a show." WILLIAM S. GROESBECK was born July 24, 1815, in New York city; was educated to the law and came to Cincinnati. In 1851 was a member of the State Constitutional Convention; in 1852 one of the commission to codify the State laws; in Congress 1857-1859, serving on the committee on foreign affairs; a member of the peace congress in 1861, and in 1862 of the Ohio Senate; a delegate to the National Union Convention in 1866; one of Presidents Johnson's counsel on his impeachment trial, 1868; was in 1872 the Presidential candidate of the Liberal Republicans in opposition to Horace Greeley and received one electoral vote for Vice-President, for which office he had not been nominated. In 1878 was delegate to the International Monetary Congress, held in Paris. His reputation for capacity is of the highest. And by his endowment of $50,000 for free open air concerts in Burnet Woods Park, strains of sweet music are to soothe the cares of multitudes long after he shall have passed away. ALFRED TRABER GOSHORN was born in Cincinnati, July 15, 1833; graduated at Marietta, and also at the Cincinnati law school. In the war period he was commissioned Major of the 137th O.V.I., and served until its close. He passed four memorable years in Philadelphia as Director General of the first National exhibition observed by the people of the United States, in commemoration of the Declaration of American Independence, a position to which he had been called by his extraordinary genius for organizing, illustrated by his experience in the Cincinnati expositions. He retired from that high place covered with honors, thanks, titles and decorations from the leading governments of Europe, in recognition of his services and courtesies to their representatives while occupied on this great occasion of peace and good will. The citizens of Philadelphia also expressed their gratitude by the present of an elegant library, while his own citizens on his return gave him a banquet. Naturally as a Cincinnati production they felt proud of him, and now having become known of all men and to many nations he is giving its Art Museum the benefit of his great experience, while snowing up for his patriarchal years. THE GERMAN ELEMENT IN CINCINNATI The German element comprises one-third of the population of Cincinnati. It has had a surprising influence upon its art development -as music, painting and sculpture -also upon its politics and business. It has given some highly prominent men to the community. The first mayor of Cincinnati was Major DAVID ZIEGLER, a German from Heidelburg, elsewhere noticed. Another eminent man was MARTIN BAUM. He was of high Dutch parentage; his father was from Strasburg, his mother of the Kershner family, but he was born at Hagerstown, Md., June 14, 1765. In 1795, at the age of thirty, he came to Cincinnati, engaged in merchandising, and became its most wealthy and influential business citizen. In 1804 he married Miss Anna Somerville Wallace. In 1803 he founded the first bank in the West, the Miami Exporting Company. This company at the same time carried on a great transportation business, and became one of the most important promoters and improvers of the navigation of the West. He called into life the first sugar-refinery, the first iron-foundry, the first steam flouring-mill, and started into the West the first stream of influential German emigrants from the ships at Philadelphia -as Zachariah Ernest, the Stablers, Schnetz, Simon Oehler, Schenebergers, Hoffner, etc. Moreover, had the first ornamental garden, the first vineyard, and was active in founding the first public library (1802); of the Western Museum (1817); of the literary society (1817); the first agricultural society (1818); etc., etc. He was a leader in establishing schools, markets and churches; personally was one of the main pillars of the first Presbyterian church. He eventually purchased that extensive tract from Pike street to the top of Mount Adams and bounded by Congress and Fifth streets. Here he built the elegant residence, later occupied by Nicholas Longworth, and now by David Sinton. His hospitable home was open to all intellectually great men who visited Cincinnati, and German literary men were especially welcome. This great and useful man died December 14, 1831, of epidemic influenza, now known as "La Grippe." CHRISTIAN BURKHALTER, formerly secretary to Prince Blucher, in 1837 founded a German Whig newspaper, the Westlicher Merkur. In 1836 he had joined James G. Birney in the publication of the Philanthropist, an Abolition newspaper, which was destroyed by a mob. ALBERT VON STEIN came to Cincinnati in 1817, and gained eminence as a civil engineer. He was builder of the Cincinnati water-works, the first in the country to be worked by pumps; made drawings for "Wilson's Ornithology;" built the Appomatox canal, and water works for Richmond, Lynchburg, Petersburg, New Orleans, Nashville and Mobile. He died in 1876, aged 84 years. DR. FRIEDRICH REESE, a very learned man (in 1825) was the first German Catholic priest in Cincinnati later was bishop of Detroit; he was the founder of the Scientific School and of the Athenaeum -the nucleus from which sprang St. Xavier College. DR. WILHELM NAST, born in 1807, studied theology and philosophy with David Strauss in the celebrated Turbingen Institute; emigrated in 1828; in 1831 and 1832 went over to the Methodist church, and is considered as the father of German Methodism in America. He founded here two German Methodist newspapers. His theological works are very numerous, and he "has persuaded many to study in German universities, although he must have been aware that they would change their narrow religious views for wider and riper ones." In 1826 appeared the first German newspaper, Die Ohio Chronik. In 1834 the Germans formed a German society, that they might aid each other to assure a better future, and to secure generally those charitable aims which are "impossible to the single individual." Among those who formed this was HEINRICH RODTER journalist and lawyer. He was editor of the Volksblatt, founded in 1836 as the organ of the Democrats. In 1847-48, as a member of the Ohio Legislature, he had passed the law which secures workingmen a lien on houses built by them, and also a law reducing the cost of naturalization to foreigners. Although a Democrat, he voted against the black laws and was anti-slavery in his sentiments; at one time was a law partner with the eminent J.B. Stallo. He died in 1857. KARL GUSTAVE REEMELIN was born in Wurtemburg in 1814, and at the age of 18 years arrived in this country. This was on the eve of the election of Andrew Jackson, when he became attached to the Democratic party, to which he has always adhered. "His studies and experience at home had already given him an enthusiasm for free trade and a prejudice against paper money and a banking system; and he thought he saw in the Whig party an inclination toward puritanism which was naturally repugnant to the genuine German nature. The name Democracy had a certain charm for the Germans; and as the wealthy classes mostly belonged to the Whig party they classed them with the European aristocracy. Reemelin became one of the founders of the Volksblatt, studied law but never practiced, and entered into politics. As a member of the Ohio Legislature he criticized very sharply the then defective method of taxation, and evinced a thorough study of political economy." He was a leading member of the Constitutional Convention in 1850-51; the article in the constitution is due to his exertions which prevents the legislature, from making arbitrary divisions in the electoral districts. Through this great abuses had arisen, minorities at times having gained a majority in the legislature. He visited the reform schools in Europe, and guided by his report the legislature established the Reform School at Lancaster. Becoming tired of politics he eventually retired to his beautiful farm and vineyard near Cincinnati, where he has written much for agricultural journals -one upon "The Climate of Ohio." He has published "The Vine Dresser's manual," "The Wine Maker's Manual," and "Politics as a Science." The fact that Cincinnati owns the finest zoological garden in the country is due to another German gentleman, MR. ANDREW ERKENBRECHER, lately deceased. It was his original conception and was pushed to consummation with characteristic energy. He was born in Bavaria in 1822, and came to this county in his fourteenth year. -continued in part 45 ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 15:09:45, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <199907191909.PAA06974@mime3.prodigy.com> Subject: ABRAHAM GRAFFIS FAMILY Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset=US-ASCII Ohio The cross road of our nation Records & Pioneer Families July-September 1964 Vol. V No. III Published by Esther Weygandt Powell - NO COPYRIGHT THE ABRAHAM GRAFFIS FAMILY RECORD Pennsylvania, Fairfield and Hocking Counties, Ohio Contributed by Mrs. L.T. Francis, Fort Worth, TX Abraham Graffis Sr. was the son of Nicholas Graffis, who took French leave from his home in Pennsylvania, coming down the Ohio River in a flat boat to Maysville, Ky., from whence he made his way on foot to Fairfield County, Ohio about 1804. He returned to Pennsylvania and married Frances Gray and again emigrated to Ohio arriving in 1811 and settled near Rush Creek Township, Fairfield County, Ohio. He was unable to make the payments on this land and sold his improvements for enough to buy another quarter section, which he did in 1812. Afterwards he rented his land and returned to Pennsylvania and in 1822, a third time he turned his face Ohioward. This time his ventures proved successful and he acquired land in both Fairfield and Hocking Counties, giving to each of his six children farm lands in Hocking County with the exception of his son Abraham Graffis Jr., who inherited the family homestead in Fairfield County. (From Biographical Souvenirs of Bremen, Ohio. Published in 1933.) I. NICHOLAS GRAFFIS b. April 12, 1746 Saxony, Germany d. July 22, 1822. Buried Union Graveyard, Manor Hill Pa. 11 children. II. ABRAHAM GRAFFIS d. 1864 at age 80. Bremen, Ohio m. Fanny Gray April 10, 1809, Huntington, PA 10 children. 1. Rebecca b. 1817 d. 1833 2. Elizabeth d. 1833 age 22 years 3. John 4. Josiah died young 5. Margaret b. 1810 d. 1869. Buried Bremen Cemetery, Bremen, OH m. John Poling (b. 1805 d. June 26, 1875) also buried Bremen, Ohio. John Poling b. in Ohio. 10 children: a. Abraham b. 1832 m. Sarah Jane Moffitt, Nov. 27, 1856 b. Elizabeth b. 1833 m. _____ Redd c. Sarah b. 1835 m. _____ Mohler d. Francis b. 1839 m. _____ Bone e. William b. 1837 m. Caroline Schliesher, d. June 18, 1912 Emporia, KS (Caroline b. Perry Co.) f. Alexander b. 1841 m. Mary Schliesher (Mary b. Perry Co.) g. Levi b. 1844 h. Caroline b. 1846 m. _____ LeCrone i. Adam b. 1849 (twin) j. Miriam b. 1849 (twin) m. _____ DeLong (Caroline and Mary Schliescher were sisters.) 6. Mary m. Joshua Standiford and had: a. John b. Elisha c. Abraham d. Vincent e. Isaac f. Fannie g. Martin H. Sarah m. Jacobs 7. Rachel m. Adam Look and had: a. John C. b. Luther c. Dalton Z. d. Halleck e. Rebecca m. ____ Zerak Bunnell f. Hattie m. _____ Flattery g. Louisa m. _____ Geiger 8. Julianna m. Jacob Angle and had: a. James b. Tillman c. Ira d. Mary E. m. ____ Tom e. Fannie m. _____ Mowery f. Julia m. ______ Mowery g. Apolonia m. ___ Westenhaver 9. Mirium m. Abraham Blosser and had: a. Martha b. Francis 10. Abraham Jr. b. 1825 m. 1st Anna Welty in 1848, 2nd Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart and had: a. Alonzo b. John A. m. Dorna Furry c. Clara E. m. Isiah Grove d. Sarah m. James Voris e. Mary m. Alfred McVeigh d. Ira It is believed that all of the above, with the exception of Abraham Graffis and his wife Fannie, were born in Fairfield and Hocking Counties, Ohio. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied from a small piece of paper about 3 x 5 inches and writing is quite worn and faded. The spelling is exact. -Elizabeth Graffus died 1833 age 22 years -Rebeccy Graffis born 1817 died 1833 -John Poling died June 26, 1875 age 71 years, 3 months and 26 days. -Margaret Poling died Jan. 7, 1869. Age 58y, 9m, 12d. -Emeline Poling died Dec. 12, 1841 age 1 year -Abraham Graffice died Sept. 14, 1864, age 80y and 15d -Fancie Graffice died April 4, 1856, age 68y 11m 8d (The above all probably from fAirfield and Hocking Counties, OH) -George Slisher died Sept. 2, 1875 age 80 years -Phillipina Slisher died July 13, 1880, age 79y 5m 5d -Jacob Slisher died March 27, 1864, age 36 years -Daniel Slisher October 6, 1864. age 22y 1m 21d (The above from Bavaria Germany about 1830 to Perry Co., Ohio. All probably buried Webbs Summit, Hocking Co., Ohio.) -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #516 *******************************************