John McClure 1821-1831 James O'Conner 1831-1832 James B. Cameron 1832-1843 James B. Cameron, Jr. 1843-1844 Ludwig Betz 1844-1847 Alfred Thomas 1847-1848 Franklin Stokes 1848-1850 Wilson H. Layman 1850-1852 William S. Phares 1852-1858 James Daugherty 1858-1860

Henry H. Wallace 1860-1862 William C. Hunter 1862-1866 S. A. Campbell 1866-1870 Adolph Schmidt 1870-1874 H. P. K. Peck part of 1874 Henry H. Wallace 1874-1876 S. B. Berry 1876-1881 Joseph B. Hughes 1881-1885 Richard Brown 1885-1892 S. A. Campbell 1889 Frank X. Duerr      1892-1898

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     JOHN McCLURE, was appointed Auditor in 1821, serving until Feb. 22, 1831, when he died.  James O'Conner was appointed to fill the vacancy.  James B. Cameron was elected Auditor in 1832, serving until his decease, Sept. 3, 1843, when James B. Cameron, Jr. became Auditor for one year.  Ludwig Betz was elected in 1844, and died in 1847.  Alfred Thomas was appointed Auditor to fill the vacancy, serving 1847-48.  On Feb. 23, 1824, the Legislature passed a law making the office of Auditor elective by the people.

     LUDWIG BETZ was born in Hamilton.   He received a liberal education and was a successful business man in this city for years.  He was Deputy Auditor under James B. Cameron, from 1832 to 1843, was afterward elected Auditor in 1844, and was re-elected in 1846.  He married Miss Jane Bell, of Morgan township.  Mr. Betz died Sept. 2, 1847.

     ALFRED THOMAS was born in Hamilton.  He was a son of James B. Thomas, who was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, Sept. 8, 1782, comingto Hamilton in 1814.  He was appointed Postmaster of this city by President Jackson, July 9, 1832, holding this official position until Mar. 27, 1851.  Alfred Thomas was educated in private schools; was an old time merchant, and afterward a grain dealer and commission merchant in Cincinnati; was a member of the Board of Education after the union of Hamilton and Rossville. He was a man of great energy; of high standing in business and social circles.

     FRANKLIN STOKES [See County Treasurers]

     WILSON H. LAYMAN was born in Rossville in 1822; was liberally educated in select schools; was editor and proprietor of the Miami Democrat, published on the West Side from 1850 to 1852. He was Auditor of Butler county from 1850 to 1852. In 1857, he moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he died five years ago.

     WILLIAM S. PHARES was born near Jacksonborough, Butler county, in 1823.  He received a thorough education in the schools of his day.

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popular school teacher.  He was auditor of this county for two terms, serving from 1852 to 1858; was a pronounced Democrat until the Civil War when he espoused the Union cause.  He was Deputy State Treasurer under John M. Millilkin.  He was a prominent and active member of high standing in the order of Free and Accepted Masons.  He followed Masonic insurance up to the time of his death, which occurred at Columbus, Ohio, in 1894.  He was a talented and expert accountant -  an accomplished and trustworthy business man.

     JAMES DAUGHERTY was born at Martinsburg, Berkley county, Virgina Virginia, Sept. 14, 1814.  He came with his parents to Ohio in 1871.  He received his education in the common schools, and was brought up at farming until he learned the cooper's trade.  In 1839 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Zina Doty, a former well known resident of Butler county.  She was born in this county in 1817.  Mr. and Mrs. Daugherty were the parents of eight children.  Aquilla J. was formerly a well known newspaper man.  He was connected with the Cincinnati Enquirer and Gazette, and was with the Louisville Courier Journal four years.  He was educated in the Hamilton public schools and at Miami university.  Miss Lissa Daugherty is now assistant teacher in the High school, and has been engaged in that calling since 1861.  Mr. James Daugherty came to Hamilton in 1847, conducting the coopering business for some years.  He was elected a justice of the peace in 1851, holding that position for seven years.  He was mayor in 1852, being re-elected for three terms.  In 1857 he was elected Auditor of Butler county.  He represented his ward in the school board in 1858, and was active in educational matters.

     HENRY H. WALLACE was born in Milford township, Butler county, Ohio, Dec. 30, 1824.  He is the youngest son of John and Priscilla Wallace, natives of Pennsylvania.  They were of Scotch extraction.  The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm, laboring in the summer and attending

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school during the winter.  At the age of eighteen years, he began teaching and followed the profession for a number of years.  He continued to attend school at intervals, until he received a good business education.  In 1853, he was elected County Recorder, serving for six years.  In 1859 he was elected County Auditor, which office he held for two years.
     In 1857 he was married to Sarah J. Bacon, a native of this county, and a most estimable lady, the daughter of Edmund and Jane Bacon, early settlers of Butler county.  In 1862, he raised Company C ofthe Ninety-third O. V. I., and as Captain of said company, was in active service for about one year, when, on account of impaired health and disability, he was compelled to resign. In 1865, he engaged in the carpet and wall paper business and continued therein until the fall of 1874, when he was again elected county Auditor, serving in said office until 1876.  From this date until 1883, he was engaged in sundry positions.  In 1883, he was appointed to a clerkship in the pension office at Washington, serving until July, 1884, when he was detailed therefrom and appointed a Special Examiner of Pension Claims, serving three years in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas.  From 1887 to the present date, 1896, he has been engaged in the real estate business exclusively.  He was recognized as an accomplished official and a reliable business man.

     WILLIAM C. HUNTER, was born in Hamilton, Dec. 16, 1831.  He was liberally educated in the schools of his day.  In 1857 he engaged in the grocery business at the southeast corner of Second and Court streets, retiring in 1862.  Afterward W. C. Hunter & Co., operated a distillery in South Hamilton.  In 1864, he sold out the business to Peter Murphy, John Stillwaugh, and Chris. Ruoff.  He was elected Auditor of Butler county in the fall of 1861, serving from 1862-1866; was a part owner of the Hydraulic mills, for a number of years.  He purchased a farm of one hundred and forty acres, two miles south of Hamilton, on the Cincinnati and Mt. Healthy pike, and built a fine residence thereon.  He was a gentleman of fine business

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attainments and an accomplished official.  Mr. Hunter died June 29, 1870.

     S. A. CAMPBELL was born in Putney, Vermont, May 3, 1822.  In early manhood he taught school in his native State and in Massachusetts.  He came west in 1848, and followed teaching.  On February, 1854, he married Miss Ruth Riley, daughter of James Riley of St. Clairtownship.  He was elected Auditor of Butler county in October 1865, and served from March 1866 to March 1870, two terms.  He was appointed treasurer in March 1870, and served until September 1870.  He filled an interim in the Auditor's office of ten months in 1888 and 1889.  Mr. Campbell is an expert book keeper and accountant and his services are frequently sought.  He is held in the highest estimation by the community for his ability and integrity and the success he has achieved in business and political circles is as substantial as it is well deserved.

     ADOLPH SCHMIDT was born in Germany, where he received a liberal education.   He was associated with William A. Lohman, in the leather and findings business at No. 108 Front street in 1865-1866; carried on the West side tanning on South Boudinot street for years.  He was elected Auditor of Butler county in 1869, and re-elected in 1872, serving from 1870 to 1874.  After retiring from office he removed to Cincinnati, where he is employed as collector and solicitor for the Jung Brewing Co.  He has excellent business qualifications, and is a social whole-souled, genial gentleman.  He married Mary Morganthaler, a daughter of the late Christian Morganthaler, one of Hamilton's successful pioneer business men.

     H. P. K. PECK was born in Richmond, Ontario county, New York, in 1824.  His parents were David H and Hannah S. Peck, natives of New London, Connecticut.  The great grandfather on the mother's side was Gabriel Sistare, a native of Barcelona, Spain, and the maternal great-grandmother was an American lady of Scotch and Irish parentage.  The ancestors on the father's side were English with a mixture of French blood, the first, William Peck, emigrating to this country in

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1635, and being one of the founders of Norwich, in that colony.  Mr. Peck received a classical education; studied law and was admitted to the bar.  He practiced in New York City, Washington, D. C., and Cincinnati, Ohio.  He was editor of the Hamilton Telegraph in 1865; was appointed Auditor of Butler county, in 1874, to fill a vacancy.

     S. B. BERRY was born in Madison township, Butler county Ohio, Nov. 18, 1838; was educated in the district schools of his native township.  He learned the smith trade under Jacob Simpson, a master mechanic of LeSourdsville.  Mr. Berry represented Butler county in the Legislature in 1871-72; came to Hamilton in 1873, and began the manufacture of his patent plows, and followed the business successfully until he was elected Auditor of Butler county in 1876, serving until 1881.  He was a popular and efficient public official, retiring with an excellent record.  In 1878 he was Grand Master Workman of the A. O. U. W. of Ohio.  His administration was a beneficial one to the order.  Mr. Berry was twice married, his first wife being Miss Mary Castor of LeSourdsville.  He was united in marriage to Miss Ada Millikin, daughter of John Millikin, in May, 1873.  He moved to Beattie, Kansas, in 1885, and for nine years he has been police judge of the town of his adoption.

JOSEPH HUGHES

     JOSEPH B. HUGHES was born in Liberty township, Butler county, Ohio, Nov. 14, 1848.  He attended the district school when a boy; and at the age of eighteen he entered the Ohio Wesleyan university at Delaware, Ohio; afterward he attended a Commercial college at Dayton, Ohio, from which he graduated.  He engaged in the carpet business from 1875 to 1881.  He helped to organize the Royal Potter company, of which he was elected president.  In 1882 he was elected Auditor of Butler county, a position which he filled with signal ability.  From his earliest youth, Mr. Hughes has taken an active interest in politics, has always been true to the principles and traditions of his party.  For years Mr. Hughes was a hard worker in the ranks of the Democracy.  At the Morrow con-

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vention of that year he was selected by the Butler county delegation to second the nomination of General Durbin Ward for congress, a task which he performed most creditably it being the first time he ever spoke in public.  During that memorable campaign he spoke at various points in Butler county and demonstrated that he was thoroughly informed on the political issues of the day.  He has served as chairman of the Democratic County Central committee and his ability as a political strategist has always been recognized by the people.
     After his first term as auditor of Butler county, Mr. Hughes was re-nominated and re-elected but did not serve, as in 1885 he was appointed consul to Birmingham, England by President Cleveland.  While filling this honorable station, Mr. Hughes was paid the high, as well as the unusual compliment of being elected president of the Consular Association, being the first American to hold that position.  After his service as consul Mr. Hughes went to London, England and opened an office at number four Moorgate street, where for four years he conducted a brokerage business.  Returning to this county, Mr. Hughes re-entered politics although not as a candidate for office.   When Hon. Paul J. Sorg of Middletown, congressman from this district, made his first campaign, Mr. Hughes was the chairman of the general congressional committee which was composed of active Democrats from Butler, Montgomery and Preble counties.  Mr. Hughes brought this campaign to a successful termination working unceasingly in Mr. Sorg's interest.  The people of Hamilton who are enjoying the benefits of the city's water works system owe more to Mr. Hughes than to any other person.  He drafted the bill providing for the water works election and succeeded in getting it passed by the Ohio Legislature.  He was elected a member of the first board of water works trustees, the board which was entrusted with the erection of the plant.  Mr. Hughes has also served as a member of the Board of Education from the Second ward.
     At present Mr. Hughes has an office at No. 66 Broadway

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New York, where he is successfully engaged in the promotion of mining and industrial euterprises enterprises.
     Mr. Hughes is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Royal Arcanum, Hamilton Commandery Number 41, Knight Templars.
     Joseph B. Hughes is a man of a most generous disposition, who has during his lifetime dispensed a vast amount of charity without ostentation.  He is especially noted for his unswerving fidelity to his friends whom he has never been known to desert.  Through sunlight and shadow he is true to them, and he has helped many men to good positions, political and other wise.
     Mr. Hughes was united in marriage to Miss Mary Davis, Nov. 12, 1868.  One child was born of this union, Gordon Taylor Hughes, who is now a prominent and distinguished practicing attorney of New York City.

RICHARD BROWN

     RICHARD BROWN was born near Venice, Ross township, Butler county, Ohio, Nov. 11, 1838.  He received a thorough business education, and is by occupation a Civil Engineer.  During his practice of this profession he attained considerable note, but his public spirit and popularity soon made him a prominent figure in Democratic politics.  He was for many years connected with the auditor's office, having held that responsible office for six years, and for twelve years an efficient and faithful deputy.  He has the rare faculty for making friends and keeping them.  In 1870, there was an interim of ten months in the Auditor's office, made so by an act of the Legislature.  The Commissioners tendered Mr. Brown the appointment, for the interim, provided he would depose the late Christian Rothenbush, who was his able, honest and efficient deputy.  The offer was spurned with contempt, although it entailed a loss, in salary, to Mr. Brown of $2,500.  He gracefully retired from the office for ten months, after which he entered upon his second term with Christian Rothenbush as his chief deputy.  As a public official, Mr. Brown

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combined ability and a thorough business training with industry and close application to his duties.  Today he enjoys esteem as a scholarly gentleman, a valued, useful and influential citizen.

FRANK X. DUERR

     FRANK X. DUERR was born at White Oak, Hamilton county, Ohio, Dec. 13, 1859.  When he was seven years old his parents came to Hamilton.  He was then placed in the public school and his education continued in them and in the parochial schools until he was thirteen years old when through necessity he was forced to leave school and go to work.  Learning the printer's trade he worked at it during the day for four years. He received his business education in Beck's Commercial college at night time.  In 1877, he accepted the position of shipping clerk with the H. P. Deuscher Co.  In this capacity his energy and business ability soon asserted itself, he being promoted from time to time, until, at the time of severing his connection with them, in September, 1892, he had become general manager and the business head of the concern.  When Mr. Duerr gave up this position it was at the call of the people of Butler county, who, in November, 1891, expressed their appreciation of his abilities by electing him to the office of county Auditor, which position he has since filled with credit to himself and to those who placed him where he is.  Mr. Duerr is a director of the Miami Valley National bank, and stands high in business circles.  He is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, and was President of the local branch of the former body for two years.  In 1881, Mr. Duerr was married to Lizzie Hoffman and of the union, seven children were born, six of whom, three boys and three girls still survive.   From a small beginning Mr. Duerr has worked his way to positions of responsibility, honor and trust.  Such success as he has won comes not by waiting, but by pushing persistently onward, no matter how black or uncertain is the future.  Mr. Duerr has done for himself what no one could do for him, and he stands among the most respected and honored of our citizens.