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DR.ALLORY.Another Interestinu Article Upon the Early Citizens of Hamilton.11YE OLDEN DAYE.”Chnrncler ^hetchoi of a Look U*t‘ of Honorable CMlxeii', Who Have Left Their Imprint Upon Our jovial, IIuiIhom or Political Institution*.To the Editor of the Republican.That vu a rash statement 1 tn»de in my last contribution when I promised the readers of This Republican a weekly paper Riving sketches of the business men of Hamilton. The subject grow* in importance the farther I advance, for there is no end of material that would prove of great interest to your readers. I find on looking back a whole army of earth’s noblest men whose influence can be seen today m the lives and characters of their descendants.Of whom shall I first write or speak, for the subject is replete with them and 1 am bewildered in my choice.John Hall Falconer, brother of the late Dr. Falconer and proprietor of the Falconer house, in the building now occupied by Dr. W. C. Miller as a drug store, was a large portly man of jovial and genial disposition. He had a poetical nature, was a fine reader] could quote Shakespeare for hours and was eminently fitted for the stage in either tragedy or comedy. His hotel was a resort for both old and young. Emerson Sennet, the novelist, was a guest fat this popular hostlery in 1849 if I mistake not wrote ‘The Legions of the Miami” while in this house. I can call to mind but two men that are now living who were frequent callers at this house and at the risk of incurring their displeasure by referring to anything that might reflect on their probable ages, I will give.their initials IJJ. S.” and “J. C.J-,” and to further assist the reader I wilt say that these initials stand forjohn Sutherland and John C. Jones.Russel Potter, still living, is just as polite as at any time in his life. I never knew him before be entered the banking firm of Shaffer . Cnrti* who had already won th? goodwill and confidence of the business community. Bui there was just one part of the business that neither of the senior members had as yet, learned to do, and that was |a very important part namely, just how to decline an undesirable loan, and yet retain the good will of the applicant. They at once recognized in Mr. Potter the very qualities that fitted him for that special duty and when every one of those chronic borrowers entered the bank, Mr^Sfaafferand Mr. Curtis were sure to be busy at something else and it was left to Mr. Potter to settle the question,which he never failed to do in such a polite and graceful manner that would have challenged the admira-tion of Lord Chesterfield himself. This banking firm missed the opportunity of a life time when they overlooked the saying of Shakespeare that “There is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood leads on to fortune” for when they fclosed up the business of ihe bank had they merged their capital into a National bank, there is no telling how great a fortune would have been the result.What would Hamilton have been without I James B. Thomas, a man of such sterling qualities, steady habits and unimpeachable integrity. He never was known to deviate from any principle be had fixed in his own mind. He was Hamilton's postmaster for a number of vears on the comer of High and Second streets where the present postuffice is now located. His large farm three miles east of Hamilton bought in an early day is an evidence of his forethought as affording the very best security and a handsome ye arly income. By the way, this reminds me of an incident related to me by his frie nd Curtis Condon who was his trusted tenant for years. Mr. Condon said that when he paid his yearly rent that Mr. Thomas would insist upon his keeping back a portion to enable him to purchase stock or invest in any way he might be able to turn it to advantage. After Mr. Thomas's death, the two sons James and Alfred Thomas called on him for a settlement. Mr. Condon was frightened when told how much of their back rent was due but Mr. Thomas had kept the account so correct and had emphasized every item in the account with some incident which enabled him to recognize correctness at once as plain as if it had occurred the day before.I was the physician for the Butler County Infirmary for several years when Mr. Thomas was one of the directors) and secretary of the board and I will venture the assertion if the papers and transactions of the board were brought to light they would be as complete models of business transaction* of ibe institution as any bank can show.Wilkisoa Beatty in many respects was ihe most remarkable man that ever lived in Hamilton. He had not one particle of education but a great deal of natural sense, he was a man of means and owned one of the largest and best farms in Butler county and was an extensive stock raiser and perk packer for e?.rs. He was physically the best irademan lexer saw. weighed two hundred aad twenty-five pounds withoutcne ounce of surplus fat and measured six feet two inches. lie was fully conscious of bis own strength and yet not quarrelsome. But woe be to the man that tramped on his toes. ~ Hi? courage and bravery were so well-known that few ever antagonised him. Ht was a charitable man and i: i- *aid that he was ever ready to xisil the sick and to cany comforts into the lioii^s of those who were in need. During the prevalence f j of the cholera m I'rohc closed the eves of „'the most :f not every one who dud of that 3 ' fatal disease. When the war broke oni al-i though advanced in years he enlisted as a rj private soldier in the y*:h lt;lt;. V. J. cc-tu-_ jr.anded by the late General Van Dcr.eer. The coalman d was oideied to Cxntluana.J Kentucky, where it armed during the night and where it wa- brvped to -mjirise a .j1 rebel command that was understood to be - 1 at that place, The force, however, had loft^ 1.. 'ome hours 1 .*■//.re we reached there- As .. i ibis was the first union command that bad A ' gone into 'Kentucky the citi/in* in targe 1 nr. rubers xirited the earup to *«• what a , Yankee regiment looked like, and among 1 them was rht mayor of the town, who sard r „ to Beatty, there were three- hundred south-t ] ern soldiers here yesterday and they could have whipped this whole regiment to whkh Beatty replied, you’re a The■i|*r nM Mty if he wm respanssMe MitH s*a4 tk m M »plied at once that, he would accept, aad while he knew nothing about the code of duelling he believed that the challeflged party bad the right to choose the weapon* and *0 they would select butcher knives, adding, that be followed gutting bogs for a liviug when at home and that he considered it slow work when he could not gut three a minute. That settled the mayor and Beatty heard no more of him after that. It is said that at the close of one of the old time musters at Millville,Beatty got on top of the fence and criedout. ‘‘Oh yes, oh yes take notice” there will be a fight at Rossville on next Saturday after noon if God is willing.”David Conner commenced life as a cabinet maker. In latter years he was a butcher and tallow chandler. He was a equate, compact, solid built man and just as square and solid in character. He washonest and upright in all his business transactions; you could rely on his word and every thing he offered for sale was first class. He bad for his customers |the very best element in the city and by his square dealing he always retained them. He naturally despised crookedness in any shape and when it was attempted to be played on him lie was not slow to resent it.He lived well and had a happy familyand not only left a good round sum for each of his children but that which was infinitely more valuable, a name.Moses Conner was a carpenter and builder. Hewasalarge.portly man and had a striking countenance, that was full of wit and humor, it was continually boiling over. I don’t believe he ever had the blues in his life, certainly not during my acquaintance with him and from what the late Dr. Falconer told me about his boyhood his happy disposition was born with him. Dr. Falconer told me that Moses Conner was bis ideal of a boy and that he was the recognized leader of his set in his day. He also said that Moee when a boy could outrun, outjump, outswitu, outdive and stay nnder water longer and come up dryer than any boy in Hamilton, and! that be knew where every water melon patch was within five miles of the town but he never would destroy the vines or permit any one else to do so. The last time I saw him, which was only two or three years ago, his face was still beamingwith good humor and showed no traces of age.John A. Whitaker, was an old time saddler and harness maker a way back in the forties, but in later years he was an upholster. John Whitaker and Samuel Milli-kin, who is now living in Missouri, are the only two remaining members of the old Butler guards, an organization that was once the pride of every citizen of Hamilton. He also served as a faithful soldier in the war of the Rebellion. He has lived a life of industry earned his living by the sweat of bis brew-—a good citizen and an honest man.The late John Longfellow was born poor and never went to school a day in his life. Heworked hard from childhood and when he grew to manhood,with one horse and a few rude farming implements he commenced life as a tenant on the old Eaton road on the farm that he afterwards purchased and now known as the Longfellow homestead. He was one of the most successful fanners in Butler county. He dealt extensively in stock principally in hogs and in all the ups and downs of the market he was never known to lose anything. In the lattar years of bis life he lived off his income which was amply sufficient for every want. He died at the age of eighty-eight leaving a large sum to be divided among bis children.Charles R. Kennedy has lived in Ham ilton over fifty vears and in all that time on Main street and now is the only citizen remaining on Main street, who lived here in 1849 He wasa tailor by trade and continued to work as such until he lost his sight fifty years ago. and since that lime he has been engaged in the drug and grocery business and was the Hamilton agent for nearly all the Cincinnati daily papers. He was always prompt in meeting his obligations and when the weight of years compelled .him to retire from business he had acquired enough means to make him comfortable the rest of bis days.Daniel Beaver was carpenter, builder and old-time tavern keeper at what is now Park and D streets. The Beaver tavern was a great stopping place for the teamsters who nsed to haul all the farm products from away back in the West to the Cincinnati markets and on their return were loaded with dry goods and groceries for the merchants of the country towns. It was no uncommon sight to see « hundred wagons in the Beaver House wagon yard for the night for they would travel until late in order to reach this popular place. As carpenter and builder, Daniel Beaver earned the reputation of doing honest work and never was known to slight a job. Honesty was so firmly fixed in his nature that trickery never entered his mind. During the California gold excitement, he. like many others, went in search of gold and by industry and perseverance was rewarded but on his return home he was lost together with his treasurer on the ill fated shin. Central America. His brave wifeleft alone, battled with life's trials until , she had raised her young children to a j life of honest industry and respectability. Evan Davis* Who will ever forget that honest Welshman? lie was an old time school teacher—was there ever a time when he was not a school teacher. A gentleman who is now seventy years old said that uc went to Crawford s school j house when he was a boy and that Evan 1 Davis was bis teacher. Although bora in Wales he was as thorough an American as though be had been a native bora citizen He was a social man. would stop on the street and talk to children and ! n-hen he would meet aav of his ' scholars his countenance would beam with pleasure and nothing pleased him so well as for one cf bis nupils to call at bis house seeking his counsel and advice which bt never failed to give in a way that marie them happv. Ht considered it a compliment when be was asked to solve a problem for someone whose mind nas tangled up in thr attempt at solving a mathematical problem. 1 wonder if there a:c many such teachers today.RELIEF IN hIX HOURS.Distressing Kidney and Bladder diseases relieved in six hours' by the ■‘'‘New Great fvontb American Kidney Cure.'’ This new remedy is a great surprise on account of it* exceeding promptness in relieving j*ia in the bladder, kidney, bnck and every part of the urinury pnatngej in Mil or female. U temreu rescnHua of water and Mia h • it slnsHMMIpit
Newspaper Details
Hamilton Daily Republican
Hamilton, Ohio, US
Sat, Apr 27, 1895
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Patrick M.
USA 17 Feb 2021
Other Publications Near Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton Evening Democrat
Hamilton Daily Democrat
Hamilton Weekly Hamilton Telegraph
Daily Telegraph
Hamilton Guidon
