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     The following is an official list of Hamilton Postmasters from the postoffice department at Washington, with their date of appointment and time of service:

     The first postoffice was established in Hamilton in 1804, under Thomas Jefferson's administration.  John Reily was appointed Postmaster.  His commission dated Aug. 2, 1804. which was signed by Postmaster-General Gideon Granger.  For many succeeding years there was only one mail route through the Miami Valley; this was weekly, being carried on horse back.  It left Cincinnati and passed through Hamilton, Franklin, Dayton, Urbana, Yellow Springs, Lebanon, and thence back to the starting point.  This route was afterward reversed, start-

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ing by way of Lebanon, and returning by way of Hamilton. 
     It is a fact not generally known to our people that Hamilton's first Postoffice was located on Water street, immediately south of the United Presbyterian church.  The building has been remodeled and used as a dwelling house.
     It was two stories high with a porch fronting on the alley.  John Reily occupied this building as Clerk of the Courts, Recorder and Postmaster from 1804 until 1809.  Later the postoffice was removed to the corner of High and Second streets to a two story frame building erected specially for that purpose, the first permanent headquarters of the Postoffice.  This building was removed to Basin street, in April, 1853, where it still remains and is used as a justice's court.  The building was framed by Captain Samuel Johnson, of Black Bottom.
     The next site used for Postoffice purposes was the room now occupied by August Soehner, in the Miami building; thence it was removed to the Universalist church building; and from there to the room now occupied by The Hamilton Daily Republican; and from there to its present location, in the new Reily block, on the identical spot where the first permanent Postoffice stood.  Below we give a brief biographical sketch of the Hamilton Postmasters from 1804 to the present time.

John Reily

     JOHN REILY - First Postmaster of Hamilton, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, on April 10, 1763. In 1780, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Revolutionary army and served in the southern department under General Greene.  Mr. Reily participated in the battle of Guilford Court House, which took place on March 15, 1781.  His second engagement was that of Camden.  He also participated in the siege of the town of Ninety-Six which begun on May 22, and was raised, June 18.  The last engagement in which Mr. Reily took part was the memorable and hotly contested battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, on September 8, 1781.
     Mr. Reily received a certificate of honorable discharge at the expiration of his term of enlistment, under the hand and seal of General Washington. In 1783-84 he left his home in

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Virginia for the wilds of Kentucky, where he made agricultural implements for the settlers, and taught school during the last year of his residence in the state.  In 1789 he emigrated to the Northwest Territory, locating at Columbia.  Mr. Reily was a member of a company of volunteers that went to the rescue of Dunlap's station, on the Miami river, near the village of Venice.
     In 1790-91, John Reily and Francis Dunlevy opened a school in Columbia, the former taking the classical department, the latter the English. This was the first school taught in the Miami country.
     John Reily moved to Hamilton in 1803.  On March 24, of the same year, the legislature of Ohio, in session at Chillicothe, passed "An act for the division of the counties of Hamilton and Ross."  Immediately following the passage of this act Butler county was organized, and John Reily was appointed clerk of the supreme court of Butler county and retained the office until May 3, 1842.  He was the first Recorder of Butler, resigning in 1811, when he was succeeded by James Heaton.  He held the office of commissioner's clerk from 1803 to 1811. He watched the financial affairs of the county with such wisdom and caution, that he was styled the guardian of the people.
     John Reily died at Hamilton, June 7, 1850, aged 87 years.  His funeral took place on the 9th from the Presbyterian church, conducted by Dr. William Davidson, of the United Presbyterian church.
     Judge Elijah Vance, a member of the constitutional convention of Ohio, at that time in session at the capital, on May 11th, announced the death of John Reily and offered a series of resolutions extolling the character and virtues of the deceased, which were unanimously passed.  A copy of the resolutions was forwarded to the family of the deceased, accompanied by a letter from W. Medill, president of the body, to Mrs. Jane H. Campbell.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 119

James B. Thomas

     JAMES B. THOMAS was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, Sept. 8, 1792.  He was appointed Post-

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tmaster by President Jackson July 9, 1832, and so universal was the satisfaction he gave as a public official to the community and the government that no subsequent administration removed him.  He held the office until March 27, 1851, when he voluntarily resigned.
     In the early days Hamilton was the distributing point for Cincinnati mail matter going east and west, and the work now performed in the railway mail car was then done in the Hamilton postoffice.  At this time there were no express companies and all money had to be sent through the mail.  Jabez Fisher & Bros., of Boston, heavy pork packers, located in Hamilton at the head of the basin.  They received their money in currency from the East every few days in packages of $5,000, and so regular were the mails on arrival they knew exactly when to call for it.
     Mr. Thomas was a carpenter by trade.  During the war of 1812 between America and England he helped in the construction of the gallant Commodore Oliver Perry's fleet, which was erected from the forests on Lake Erie. Perry's noble victory of September 10, 1813, virtually ended the war, when he wrote to General Harrison: "We have met the enemy and they are ours."
     In the winter of 1814, Mr. Thomas built a flat boat in which he brought his mother's family from Waterford, Pennsylvania, via the Ohio river to Cincinnati, thence to Hamilton.  During the next few years he made a number of trips down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers from Cincinnati, when the valley of the Mississippi was comparatively a wilderness, encountering many dangers and hardships. The return trips were made on foot and on horseback, there being no steamboats in these early days.
     Many political discussions were held in the "Old Postoffice," participated in by Hon. Lewis D. Campbell, Hon John B. Weller, Frank Stokes, editor of the Telegraph and W. C. Howells, editor of the Intelligencer.  Mr. Howells was the father of W. D. Howells, the author, now editor of the Atlantic Monthly.

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     The charges for a limited number of postoffice boxes for newspapers, city and county officials paid the rent of the building. In early days the mail matter was distributed from Mr. Thomas' hat.  He would frequently call upon Henry S. Earhart and others to deliver a letter to immediate neighbors. 
     Stephen Easton was clerk in the "Old Postoffice" and many amusing incidents occurred during his term of service.

     JAMES LOWES was born in Franklin county, Indiana, January 19, 1819.  He married Miss Martha J. Elliott, daughter of James E. Elliott, in Hamilton, October 12, 1843, Rev. Ebenezer Thomas, performing the ceremony.  Mr. Lowes engaged in the dry goods business with David Taylor in Rossville in 1844. He was subsequently in the pork packing business with David Taylor and William J. Elliott, under the firm name of Taylor, Lowes & Elliott.  Mr. Lowes' brother-in-law was Sheriff of Butler county for two terms.  James Lowes was appointed postmaster March 27, 1851, by Nathan K. Hall, Postmaster-General of the United States.  He executed his bond and took the oath of office April 2, 1851.  His commission and appointment are among the many valuable and interesting papers still in possession of his family at Indianapolis.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 122

     JAMES K. THOMAS. - Our fourth Postmaster was born in Hamilton in 1831.  He received his education in the Hamilton public schools.  In 1852 he married Miss Harriet McMaken, the second daughter of M. C. McMaken, Esq., of our city.
     Mr. Thomas for a number of years was engaged in the milling business in the old Erwin mill at the east end of the suspension bridge. After severing connection with his brother Alfred, he and Charles Wardlow organized the Wardlow-Thomas Paper Co., of Middletown, for the manufacture of flour sacks and manilla papers. The company begun operation on a small scale, but by untiring industry, coupled with good bisiness methods, succeeded in making it a financial success.  The first mill was built in 1868, and burned down in September, 1872.  A new building was erected in 1880.  The

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main building is 460 feet long and 86 feet wide.  Its capacity is 20,000 pounds per day.
     In religion Mr. Thomas is a Presbyterian, and an elder of the First Presbyterian church of Middletown.  He is always ready to do a good act for his fellow man; is an enterprising citizen in every thing that appertains to the advancement
of Middletown.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 122

     LAWRENCE M. FARROW - Hamilton's fifth Postmaster, was born in St. Paris, Champaign county, Ohio, November 25, 1829.  He received an excellent education and at an early age entered the law office of Samuel Shellabarger and James M. Hunt, of Springfield, Ohio, as a student.  After completing his law course, he and Judge Hume removed to Hamilton in the fall of 1852 and opened a law office, known as Hume & Farrow, and continued his chosen profession until July 29, 1853, when he was appointed Postmaster by President Franklin Pierce, and served until March 13, 1857, when he was succeeded by Jacob Troutman.  Mr. Farrow was a man of delicate constitution.  The close confinement in the postoffice impaired his health, and he returned to St. Paris, where he resided with his father until his death, which occurred in 1859, from consumption.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 123

     JACOB TROUTMAN - Was born July 22, 1824, on the homestead farm in St. Clair township, two miles south of Hamilton.  He attended school in the old Reiley district until he arrived at the age of seventeen years, when he moved to Rossville, now the First ward of the city of Hamilton, and entered the public schools of that village, where he continued his studies for four years and at the age of twenty-one years was elected city marshal of the town of Rossville.  Mr. Troutman was a brainy, intelligent, self-made man.  In his friendships he was ardent and unchangeable; in his dislikes he was very pronounced.  As a public official he performed his duty without fear and favor.  He stood for sheriff of Butler county on several occasions, but each time was defeated by the small fry professional politicians of his party, who feared him for his honesty as he could not be used by them.  Mr. Troutman

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was appointed Postmaster of Hamilton, Mar. 13, 1857, under President Buchanan's administration, and served until Apr. 23, 1861.  He gave good satisfaction to the patrons of the office.  He was a member of the city council from the First ward for a number of years and filled the position with honor to himself and credit to his constituents.  He died Nov.14, 1889, and was buried by the Masonic order of which he was a bright, advanced and honored member.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 123

     WILLIAM H. BLAIR - Was born in Hamilton, February 14, 1818.  His birth place was the Blair homestead, situated on Water, near Market street, on the site now occupied by the old Black & Clawson Co. building.  He was educated in our public schools.  He was commissioned Postmaster of Hamilton by President Lincoln April 23, 1861, and served continuously except a short interval, until 1873.  Mr. Blair was a genial, accommodating and popular official, and gave our citizens an excellent mail service.  His death occurred February 27, 1887. Charles Potter was Mr. Blair's efficient Assistant Postmaster.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 124

     W. C. ROSSMAN, was born in Eaton, Ohio, July 30, 1835. At an early age he entered the dry goods store of J. & T. E. Rossman - uncle and brother - in Rossville as salesman, and remained in the store until the Civil War begun when he organized the "Hamilton Guards."  This was one of the earliest companies raised. It was attached to the Third Ohio infantry, and known as Company "F."  Isaac Morrow was its colonel; John Beatty, lieutenant-colonel; J. Warren Keifer, major.  The regiment was assigned to the Eastern department, and participated in the fight at Elkwater Junction, Va., September 11, 1861, in which engagement the rebel, Col. John A. Washington, was killed. Gen. Lee was the commander of the Confederate forces in this battle.  On November 28th, the regiment was ordered to Kentucky, when Col. Morrow resigned and John Beatty, of Columbus, was promoted to the colonelcy.
     On April 7, 1863, the Third was detached from the army proper, and in company with the Fifty-first and Seventy-third Indiana, Eightieth Illinois and two companies of the First Hamilton and its Residents. 125

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Alabama.  This command was under Col. A. D. Streight, and immediately started out on what is familiarly known as "Streight's raid." The command was first dispatched to destroy the Rome Iron works, the foundries and arsenals.  Later on the entire brigade was captured by Gen. Forrest and sent to Belle Isle, and from there to Libby prison.  The officers were held, but the men were paroled.
     After eighteen months' confinement Capt. Rossman, with a number of other officers, made their escape from the prison through a tunnel. They were persued by rebel blood hounds, captured and returned to Libby, where they were kept until near the close of the rebellion. "Sparta knew the names of the men lost in the cause of Thermoplyae," but we will never know how many of our noble defenders perished in rebel prison pens.  After Capt. Rossman's release from Libby he returned to Hamilton, broken in health, and was appointed postmaster of Hamilton, July 23, 1866.  He was not an applicant for the position, but was held in high esteem by the late Col. L. D. Campbell, who recommended him to President Johnson, and his name was sent to the senate for confirmation, but was not acted upon for several months, owing to the fact that Andrew Johnson and the senate were antagonistic to each other. Capt. Rossman was finally confirmed, but alas, too late, for he was dead.
     Long confinement and cruel treatment had done the work, and on July 11, 1867, at the residence of Judge Gilmore, in Eaton, the spirit of Capt. Rossman returned to its maker.  He was a noble patriot and will long be remembered as one of "Our Honored Dead."
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 124

     JOHN McKEE - Was born in Kentucky, February 20, 1829.  His parents emigrated to Butler county in 1844.  He was married to Sarah J. Beckett, daughter of Mr. Robert Beckett, September 24, 1861. Three children were born from this union.
Mr. McKee was reared on a farm, but taught school for a period of six years, before entering the army. He graduated from Williams college in 1855.

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     At the breaking out of the Civil War Mr. McKee was commissioned captain of Company K, Thirty-seventh Indiana volunteers.  He was severely wounded at the battle of Stone River, December 31, 1862, and was sent home on a furlough.  Afterward, being unfit for active duty, he resigned, having served his country well for two years. Capt. McKee refused to accept pay from the time he was wounded until his resignation was accepted, claiming that he was not entitled to it, having rendered no actual service during the time. 
     Capt. McKee was appointed Postmaster September 8, 1873, and served for eight years.  At the time he was commissioned,
he was drawing a pension, and immediately asked for the cancellation of his certificate and turned the money that had accrued on same into the United States treasury.  Here we have a true illustration of John McKee's character, moral excellence and conscientiousness.
     John E. Heiser was Capt. McKee's able assistant, and rendered the community valuable service.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 125    

     CHARLES E. GIFFEN was born in Hamilton, Jan. 15, 1843.  He received a liberal education in our public schools and elsewhere.  After leaving school he was employed as book keeper in the office of J. S. & S. Giffen, lumber merchants on Basin street.
     The subject of this sketch married Miss Celia Robertson, eldest daughter of Isaac Robertson, Esq., Oct. 10, 1867. Two sons, Robert and Stanley, were born from this union. Early in the war Charles E. Giffen enlisted in Company I, Fifth Ohio cavalry.  He participated in the. battles of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, and was with the army of the Tennessee, in all of its engagements and marched with "Sherman to the Sea."  After the dismissal of Capt. Clem. Murphy from the service, Lieutenant Charles H. Murray was promoted to the office of Captain, and Charles E. Giffen became first lieutenant.  He was a strict disciplinarian, but was well liked by the boys under him.
     After his return from the scenes of war he embarked in the lumber business on North Front street, where he was quite

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 successful, and continued in the business until the time of his
appointment as Postmaster, Jan. 30, 1882.  In this position he gave universal satisfaction. Mr. Giffen died Oct. 29, 1889.
     James W. Moore was Mr. Giffen's valuable Assistant Postmaster.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 126

    
Ferd. Van Derveer

Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 127

John E. Lohman

     JOHN E. LOHMAN, was born in Hamilton, May 6, 1854.  He is the son of J. W. Lohman, who emigrated from Germany in 1830, and located in Hamilton, where he resided up to the time of his death.  John E. Lohman was educated in our public schools.  After leaving school he learned the carriage trade, which he followed until he took the road for a large well known and popular carriage manufactory of the Queen City.  Mr. Lohman was, for two terms, a member of the board of education, from the First ward.  He was appointed Postmaster of Hamilton, December 4, 1886, and held the office until March 20, 1890, when President Harrison appointed D. H. Hensley.  It was under Mr. Lohman's administration that the delivery system was instituted in Hamilton. Good organization and thorough discipline, made a success of the free delivery system, hence Mr. Lohman's popularity as a Postmaster.   Democrats, and Republicans alike pronounce his first administration a complete success.  Assistant Postmaster Fred. Schorr rendered valuable aid to his superior in the discharge of his duties.  Mr. Lohman was re-appointed Postmaster, June 13, 1893.  This fact demonstrates his popularity.
     He is Postmaster for the people; is always endeavoring to afford better mail facilities for the public. 
     Henry Hammerle, Assistant Postmaster, and Miss Beppa Caldwell are his able assistants.

Daniel H. Hensley

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spring of 1863, during the darkest hours of the rebellion, this regiment was one of four picked regiments, composing the "Independent Provisional Brigade," under the command of the famous Col. A. D. Streight. On April 7, 1863, this brigade left Murfreesboro, Tennessee, under sealed orders for the interior of the Confederacy.  After a month's hard riding, much of the time day and night, with frequent severe fighting the brigade was compelled to surrender to Major-General Forrest May 3, 1863, near Rome, Ga.  After a short confinement on Belle Isle the rank and file were exchanged and sent North.  The officers were confined in Libby Prison, and the brigade was without a commander.  The privates were assigned to other organizations.  Sergeant Hensley was placed in the Twelfth Indiana battery, serving until the spring of 1864, when he was detached for special service at Gen. Hooker's headquarters, then in the Lookout valley.  A few of the regimental officers having escaped from Libby through the famous tunnel, the regiment was reorganized in the summer of 1864, and Sergeant Hensley rejoined his old command.
     He located in Hamilton in 1866, where he taught school for about one year.   Afterward he removed to New Albany, Ind., and followed the profession of teaching for a short time.  He returned to Hamilton in 1867, where he was married.  He was Secretary and Collector for the Hamilton Gas Light and Coke Co., for a period of twenty years.  Mr. Hensley was appointed Postmaster March 20, 1890, and served until June 13, 1893, when he was removed by President Cleveland and John E. Lohman appointed.  As an official Mr. Hensley was always painstaking, courteous and accommodating, thereby giving the public excellent service.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 127
Portrait between pps. 120 & 121

POSTMASTERS OF ROSSVILLE.

-------------------------
     * Postoffice discontinued Apr. 19, 1855.

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     JOSEPH WILSON, came West from Newark, New Jersey, in 1811, and located in Rossville.  He carried on a general merchandise store.  The record of this house, covering a period embracing twenty- five years, comprising a part of the history of Rossville, was one of uniform reliability and fairness of dealing, and it enjoyed a steady and prosperous trade and a deservedly high place in public confidence.
     Mr. Wilson's store was an old frame building on the northwest corner of Main and B streets, where the Rumple building now stands. In 18 17 he married a daughter of Samuel Dick, of Ross township, who died in 1846. 
     In 1819 he was appointed Postmaster, serving until 1824.  After the death of his wife, in 1829, he returned to the East where he died in 1859.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 129,

     DR. ROBERT B. MILLIKIN, was born, on December 9, 1793.  At the time of the exodus of his three brothers from their home in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1807, he was only in his fourteenth year. He remained with his parents till the spring of 1813, when the spirit of emigration got the mastery, and constrained him to follow the examples of his brothers.  Upon his arrival in Hamilton he became a member of his brother's family, where he resided until his marriage.
     A short time after his arrival in Rossville, he began to study such branches of education as would fit him for the practice of medicine.  The facilities for acquiring a good education were very few.  He availed himself of such as existed and, after a year's time, began the study of medicine.  The year of 1817 was full of interesting events for Robert B. Millikin.  He was licensed to practice his profession, likewise he had taken unto himself a wife, commenced housekeeping and opened an office.
     Dr. Millikin was married December 16, 1816, to Sarah Gray, who was related to many pioneer families.  They had three children. Samuel Millikin, the first son, was born in 1817.  Thomas Millikin, a noted lawyer of this city, was born September 28, 1819.  He married Mary VanHook. Elizabeth

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Millikin married William A. Elliott, son of Arthur W. Elliott, who died in 1881.
     After Dr. Robert B. Millikin began the practice of medicine he devoted himself earnestly to his work.  After many years practice, strict attention to all his interests and the acquisition of property gave him a comparatively independent position.  He conducted a drug store in Rossville, now the
First ward of Hamilton.  He was general of militia, a trustee of Miami university and a member of the legislature of Ohio.
     He was appointed Treasurer of the county to fill the vacancy in that office caused by the defalcation of an ex-treasurer.  Dr. Millikin died June 28, 1860.

     JACOB MATTHIAS was born October 21, 1802, at Winchester, Virginia.  While young he learned the trade of a coppersmith and in the fall of 1827 emigrated to Cincinnati, remaining there a year.  He was married March 27, 1820, to Emily W. Grooms.  Eight children resulted from this union.  When he first came to Ohio he made a journey to Rossville on foot, returning in the same manner.
     He and his brother Isaac came to Rossville in 1828 and organized the firm of I. and J. Matthias, engaging in the coppersmith business, later adding the stove and tinware trade.
     Jacob Matthias was a member of the firm of Matthias, Kline & Resor, conducting a general store in Rossville.
     Mrs. Matthias died in 1845, and on April 23, he married Ann M. James, daughter of Barton James, one of the pioneers of Hanover township, where he settled in 1817.  Jacob Matthias was in the state legislature in 1837- 1838; was a member of City Council, School Board and also an Infirmary Director.  He was an influential citizen and a consistent member of the Universalist church.  He died August 21, 1877, at New Paris, Preble county.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 130

     SAMUEL G. SWEENEY clerked in the iron store of John Winton, situated on the north side of Main street, between A and B streets.  Subsequently he purchased the store and was appointed Postmaster, serving from March 2, 1837, until March 29, 1839.  He was a member of the "Butler Guards," a

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crack military company commanded by the late Col. L. D. Campbell.  Mr. Sweeney remained a bachelor during his life time.  His business was conducted upon thorough and accurate methods, and the knowledge of the business possessed by him in dealing, and his fairness in all transactions commended him in an eminent degree to the favor and confidence of the trade.  No one knows where he removed to, or the date of his death.
Source:  Biographical & Historical Sketches - A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896 - Publ. 1896 - Page 130

     SAMUEL MILLIKIN was born in 1817.  He received his education in the private schools of Hamilton and Rossville.  At the age of 25 years he married Miss Mary Halsted.  Three children resulted from this union; Miss Helen married Charles M. Miller and Miss Lizzie married a man by the name of Raynor.  Both of his daughters, with their husbands, reside in Chicago.  William H. Millikin, his only son, resides on South Eighth street in this city.  For years Samuel Millikin, from his quarry at the south end of C street, furnished all the building stone used in Hamilton and Rossville.  He was appointed Postmaster in 1839.  At the breaking out of the late Civil War, he enlisted in Company A, 26th O. V. I. and served until the close of the war.  He had a good record as a soldier.  After his return from the scenes of carnage, he immigrated to Missouri, and settled on a farm about seventy miles west of St. Joseph.  He was Postmaster from May 1, 1844, until May 29, 1849.  He died in 1895.

     LEVI P. RICHMOND was born January 29, 1805, in Ross township, this county, and was in his forty-fifth year when he died.  On December 4, 1823, he married Martha Powers Akers.  Six children resulted from this union.  Nearly all his life was spent where he was born.  From April 1835, until October, 1841, he resided in Millville, when he removed to Rossville where he continued to reside up to the time of his death.

     JOSEPH CURTIS was born in Liberty township in 1819, on the farm afterward owned by the late Hon. Christopher Hughes.  He attended the country schools of his day and received as liberal an education as was obtainable at that time. 

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For several years he and his brother, the late Stephen V. Curtis, were employed at their father's distillery.  Subsequently he opened a general merchandise store in the township of his nativity.  He carried an immense and diversified stock and sold largely to the surrounding country.  His ample means and well known business capacity made success sure in his new venture.  In 1846, he came to Rossville and opened a large dry goods store on Main street.  Later he sold out to N. G. Curtis.  In 1850, he and Jacob Shaffer organized a private bank in the room now occupied by Charles Diefenbach, as a jewelry store, on High street, opposite the court house.  Russel Potter, of Memphis, Tenn. , was admitted to the firm in 1857.  Fine, commodious quarters were fitted up for the new banking firm of Shaffer, Curtis & Potter in the Beckett building.  Success crowned their efforts until the national banking system superceded the private banks. Joseph Curtis was Postmaster from May 29, 1849, to April 14, 1853.  He died September 27, 1885.

     GEORGE LONGFELLOW - The oldest son of Badgar Longfellow, was born in St. Clair township on the Four Mile creek, September 12, 1833.  The farm is now owned by John Betz.  He was educated in the country schools and served, as constable of St. Clair township several terms.
     When war was declared between the United States and Mexico he enlisted in John B. Weller's company and served until its close.  After his return he conducted a grocery in the Odd Fellow building, corner of Main and B streets.  On April 14, 1853, he was appointed Postmaster of Rossville.  In 1858 he removed to Kokomo, Indiana, and engaged in a general merchandise store. He died about two years ago.  Gary Longfellow was the Assistant Postmaster.

     ROBERT HARGITT was a native of Yorkshire, England, and came to this country, when a boy, with his parents.  They settled in Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, Indiana.
     In 1851 he came to Ohio and established the first news depot in Hamilton.  He was the first mayor of the consoli-

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dated villages of Hamilton and Rossville.  He was justice of the peace for several years.
     Of his family of eight children only two survive.  A few years ago he was killed by being run down by a passenger train at Cumminsville.  He was Mayor of the village of Rossville from December 10, 1853 to April 19, 1854, when the villages of Rossville and Hamilton were united.