The history of the Hamilton fire department is coincident with the history of the city itself. The chiefs of the department have been brave and intrepid men and men of executive ability. The following sketches comprise an outline of their careers since the department became a paid one. John M. Long was the last chief who served under the old regime:

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JOB E. OWENS

     JOB E. OWENS was born in Wales, Feb. 9, 1819, and while yet a lad he was adopted by an aunt and with her left his parents and his home in the Welsh valley to come to America, she having promised to leave him a part of her fortune.  This promise she redeemed by willing him, in 1877, about eighteen or twenty thousand dollars in property.  When he got to beaboy of school age he found himself in Columbus, Ohio, an Adams boy in politics, fighting the rubs with the Jackson boys.  He learned the molder's trade, migrated to Cincinnati, came to Hamilton in 1846, worked for John L. Martin and others about a year, bought an interest in the firm of Owens, Ebert & Dyer, and carried on the foundry, stove, and tinsmith business.  He rode through rain and storm to Middletown, about the first of one November to collect money with which to pay his first note in bank.  Upon his approach to the aqueduct on the canal, the people were gathered to see that structure go down in the great flood of that year. In his great anxiety to pay that note he hurried over and when about two hundred yards beyond saw the aqueduct go down.  He collected the money, swam Gregory's creek, on his return, and the note was paid on time.  Soon after Mr. Ebert died and the firm of Owens, Lane & Dyer was formed by Mr. Lane buying the interest of Mr. Ebert.  Shortly they branched out into broader fields and richer pastures and succeeded in building up the present shops of the Hooven, Owens & Rentschler company.  Mr. Owens died Apr. 27, 1881.  The funeral took place from his late residence on the afternoon of Apr. 29, Rev. E. W. Abbey officiating.  The services were very impressive as were also the Masonic rites and ceremonies at the grave, the interment taking place under the auspices of that order.  A great number of citizens attended among them being the fraternities, the manufacturers and the Old Citizens' Anniversary society.  Mr. Owens was a kind and liberal hearted man; contributed largely to all charitable purposes and to each and every measure that advanced and improved the interests of Hamilton.  He was chief of the Fire Department from 1865 to 1873.

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     MANDES SHULER was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1823.  He learned the carpenter's trade, on coming to Hamilton in 1835.  At the time gold was discovered in California, he went to the Pacific coast, where he remained until 1852, when he returned to Hamilton.  He was Chief of the Fire Department for four years, 1873-76.  He is now located in Wichita, Kansas.

     HENRY FREY was born in this city.  He learned the machinist's trade with Owens, Lane & Dyer; was Chief of the Fire Department from 1876 to 1879.  He made an excellent official; is now engaged at his trade with the Hooven, Owens & Rentschler company.

     WILLIAM RITCHIE was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 26, 1839.  He was educated in the public schools.  When four teen years old he came to Hamilton and began learning the machinist's trade in the employment of Owens, Lane & Dyer.  After finishing his trade he was made superintendent of their works.  He was a member of the Sixty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.   After the battle of Murfreesboro, he was transferred to the engineer corps.  He marched with Sherman to the sea; was mustered out at Savannah, Georgia, in January, 1865.  He was elected Chief of the Fire Department in 1879, serving two years.  Mr. Ritchie was married to Miss Pattie Nifong, in 1870.  He is a self-made man, prosperous and energetic; is an active member of the Masonic bodies, and of the Grand Army of the Republic.
 

JOHN BOOSE

     JOHN BOOSE was born in Rossville, now First ward of Hamilton, Mar. 16, 1831.  His youthful days were spent in his native village, where he attended district school until he was eighteen years old, when he began work as a brick molder, which occupation he followed for years.  On Sept. 26, 1861, he boarded the train as the gallant Thirty fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was leaving for the front and cast his lot with that regiment.  At Cynthiana, Kentucky, he became a member of Captain Henry Mallory's company.  He remained with the regiment until the latter

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part of 1863, when he was detailed for special service, and assigned to the Seventh Invalid Corps at Washington D. C.  After his term of enlistment expired, he returned to Hamilton and followed boss painting and paper hanging.  In 1881, he was elected Chief of the Hamilton Fire Department, serving until 1883, when he was appointed to the same position by Mayor Getz; was re-appointed by the Board of Public Affairs, and retained by Mayor Dirk. In the spring of 1893, he was appointed stationary hoseman of the Neptune Fire company, of the city Fire Department, which position he still retains.  As a citizen, a soldier and public official, Mr. Boose has always been prompt and reliable in the discharge of his duties

DAVID LINGLER

     DAVID LINGLER, Chief of Hamilton Fire Department, was born in this city, Nov. 13, 1854.  He was educated in the Hamilton public schools, which he discontinued at the age of fourteen, when he began to learn the molder's trade.  In April, 1883, he was first elected Chief of the Fire Department, and by subsequent elections and appointments, he served five years in that capacity.  After retiring from office, he resumed work at his trade.  In the spring of 1892, he purchased a grocery at the corner of Central avenue and Chestnut street, of which he is still owner.  In July, 1893, he was again appointed Chief of the Fire Department, by Mayor Bosch, and is the present incumbent of that office, for the duties of which he is admirably qualified.  He is a strict disciplinarian exacting from the members of the department a rigid observance of the rules.  A man of keen sagacity and shrewd discrimination, he is regarded as one of the public spirited citizens of Hamilton, and the fact that he has filled the position so often is sufficient evidence of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens, and the confidence they repose in him as a man of ability.
     Mr. Lingler was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Brooks, Oct. 10, 1877.  Six children have resulted from this union.  Four are living, namely, Mary, Alma, David and Edna.

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     Mr. Lingler is a public-spirited citizen and gives every thing tending to the developement of his native city a hearty co-operation.