Hamilton County Biographies

Hamilton County Biographies Project

Reese P. Kendall, MD, San Jose, California, 1905, Pioneer Annals of Green Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, (San Jose, California, Geo. F. Degelman, Printer, 1905), publication in Patti Graman’s personal collection. Extracted from page 8.

         "Alter, Fredrick-wife Mary Moore, sister of Adam Moore. About 1818, settled. Both from Baltimore. She was German and gave the writer his first lessons in that tongue. Settled near Ebenezer and sold to Richardson. Their dwelling was a log cabin, which she often visited, from Cheviot, up to 1844; death.
        Children: Catharine, married Jacob Clark; William, married Mary Orr; Charles married Miss Reddish; John; Charlotte married James Clark; Susan married Smith Fawcett; Harriet married David O. Brown.
        William and John boated to Orleans and lost two vessels, Ben Sherrod and Samson. In one, John was lost. Charlotte had twin girls whom none but the mother could distinguish. In 1842 they visited their grandmother. Frederick died on the farm. She died at Cheviot in 1844. An affectionate old lady; a favorite with us children. Very devout, but said her grace and prayers in German; still, she had little brogue. She said turkey, deer, etc. were plenty when they settled. Her love was deep and enduring; when revisiting the pioneer cabin she ever pressed her cheek to the doorsill, where Frederick last set his foot. The two Clarks were brothers.".

Submitted by Patti Graman January 9, 2000

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana page 482

BURTON STEEL, son of BASIL and MARTHA A.( McALLISTER) STEEL, is one of the leading citizens of Sheffield Township. He was born in Ross County,
Ohio, August 6, 1842, and was about four years of age when brought to this county. He was reared on the old homestead in Sheffield Township, and was educated in the schools at Wyandotte and the Stockwell High School. He was married March 6, 1866, to MIss SARAH E. MICHAELS, a native of La Fayette Indiana, and daughter JOHN B. and SARAH (LEE) MICHAELS. Her father was an active and influential man in the early history of the county, and for some time was connected with the press of La Fayette. JOHN B. MICHAELS was a son of MOSES and SARAH MICHAELS, and was born at Albany, Edwards County, Illinois, in 1818. Mrs. MICHAELS was a daughter of WILLIAM and HANNAH LEE, and was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1819. They were untied in marriage May 26, 1840. Mr. and Mrs. LEE were among the earliest settlers of Sheffield Township, and one of their sons, SMITH LEE, was at one time auditor of the county. He was a Mason of high standing, and also an Odd Fellow, and was one of
LaFayette's most esteemed citizens. He was holding the office of county
sheriff at the time of his death, which occurred December 8, 1847. To
BURTON STEEL and his wife were born two children--MAY, born February 2,
1869, and FRANK, born October 15, 1870. Mr. STEEL has lived on his present farm since his marriage, with the exception of ten months spent in Texas, and in 1880 he erected his present substantial residence, and the same year built a fine barn. His farm consists of eighty-three acres of choice land, and everything about the place indicates care and thrift. In politics, Mr. STEEL is a Republican. He was elected township trustee in April, 1886, which office he still holds with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He has always taken an
active interest in the advancement of religion, education and temperance, and every enterprise for the advancement of the same has his encouragement and support. Both he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Dayton, and he is Superintendent of the Sabbath School.

Submitted by Adina Dyer January 6, 2000

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 588-589 GUILFORD A. WRIGHT, the present trustee of Lauramie Township, is a son of the late CHARLES WRIGHT, who was one of the early pioneers of Tippecanoe County. CHARLES WRIGHT was a native of London, England, coming to the United States a half century ago. His first two years in this country were spent in Rochester, New York, and from there he came to LaFayette, Indiana, where he followed the butcher's trade for two years. He was united in marriage to Miss ELIZABETH OYLER, and of the seven children born to this union, four are yet living--Mrs.. EMMA LUCAS, residing in Sheffield Township, this county-GUILFORD A., the subject of this sketch Mrs. MARY FULLER, living in Frankfort, Clinton County, and Mrs. CLARA CHENOWETH of Caldwell, Kansas. The parents removed from La Fayette to section 28, Lauramie Township. GUILFORD A. WRIGHT was born on the homestead farm on section 23, November 26, 1848, and here he was reared to agricultural pursuits and his education was received in the common district schools of the neighborhood. He was married April 4, 1871, to Miss HARRIET McKEE, the youngest daughter of
the late ELI and NANCY (GRILLING) McKEE, who were among the early
settlers of Lauramie Township, coming here from Hamilton County, Ohio, in September, 1833. Mr. and Mrs. WRIGHT are the parents of four sons--FRED, CHARLES, HENRY, and THOMAS EARL. Mr. WRIGHT is the owner of a fine farm of 100 acres on section 24, Lauramie Township, and he is numbered among the prominent farmers of the community. In politics he is a strong supporter of the Republican party. In 1886 he was elected township trustee, the duties of which position he performs with credit to himself, and satisfaction to his constituents. He is a prominent member of Miller Lodge, No. 268, A.F. & A.M. In theology he is very liberal, adhering principally to the doctrines of the Universalist Church. He takes an active interest in public affairs, is a friend of
education, and a supporter of everything pertaining to the general welfare of the public. A brother of our subject GEORGE W. WRIGHT, enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in 1861, in Company G, Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry, and served three years, but died of disease contracted in the service of his country. Submitted by Adina Dyer January 6, 2000

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, 1888, pp. 547-548 MRS. HATTIE WASHBURN, teacher of the primary school at Clark's Hill, is a native of Ohio, born in Hamilton County, February 12, 1844, a daughter of WILLIAM G. and REBECCA (PHELLIS) OYLER, both of whom are deceased.
Her father was an Englishman by birth, being a native of Kent County, England. MRS. WASHBURN was reared in her native county, receiving good educational advantages. She attended the high school at Harrison, Hamilton County, and also at College Hill, near Cincinnati, and graduated from the latter in the year 1859. She began her career as a teacher in September of the same year, which she followed until 1863. October 5, 1863, she was married to BENJAMIN F. WASHBURN, who was born in La Fayette, Indiana, September 11, 1844, and here he was reared and educated. In December 1863, MRS. WASHBURN came with her husband to La Fayette, and in 1866 she again engaged in teaching school, which she has followed every succeeding winter in Lauramie Township, and during this time has taught seven terms in the Pierce district, and is now teaching
her fifth term in Clark's Hill. She is the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres. MR. and MRS. WASHBURN have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter named ORA POE. MR. WASHBURN travels for the Champion Reaper Works.
Submitted by Adina Dyer January 6, 2000