Table of Contents
Ruth DAVIS Obituary
Nora HINKLE Obituary
Clara WARRINGTON Obituary
Mrs. John PRITCHARD Obituary
Lizzie DENNY Obituary
Mary DENNY Obituary
Mary SCHUH Obituary
John E. RUSSELL Obituary
Frank RUSSELL Obituary
Oswald C. WARRINGTON Obituary
Rev. W. B. WARRINGTON Obituary
Martha N. LEFFERSON Obituary
Charles DELL, Sr., Obituary
Thomas J. GALEESE Obituary
Lydia VANNATTA Obituary
Julia A. BANKER Obituary
Martha J. WATSON Obituary
Mrs. Ruth Edna Davis, 81, of 207 Baltimore St., died at 11:15
yesterday at Middletown Hospital, where she had been a patient since
suffering a stroke last Wednesday.
Mrs. Nora Hinkle, 70, died at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the residence of
her sister, Mrs. Clinton Davis, 207 Baltimore Street, following a
lengthy illness with complications of the diseases held responsible for
her death.
The infant son of Edwin and Nora Denny Henkle died yesterday
morning. Interment was made in the Middletown Cemetery at 4 p.m.
The body of Mrs. Clara Warrington, who died Saturday night at the
home of her brother-in-law, John Pritchard, at Racine, Wis., arrived
Monday morning and was taken to the Wilson funeral parlors.
Relatives of Mrs. John Pritchard, former resident of Middletown,
yesterday received word of her death in Racine, Wisconsin, yesterday
morning.
Word was received here yesterday of the death of Miss Lizzie Denny,
sister of Charles E. Denny, of this city, at Savannah, Ga., where she had
been staying for her health. The body will be buried here.
Mrs. Mary Denny died at her home on Fourth Street last Monday
evening after a lingering illness. Mrs. Denny was one of the oldest
residents of Butler County. She had been a member of the Presbyterian
Church of this city for more than fifty years. She was born in Warren
County in 1808 and came to Middletown when a small girl. She lived a
long and useful life and was loved by all who knew her. Her dear old
face will be missed by the many who loved her on earth, but her spirit
has gone to a happier land. She has joined her husband and other loved
ones who have gone on before, and are praising their God in that
beautiful city beyond the clouds.
Mrs. Mary Schuh, 76, of 625 Hayes Avenue, Hamilton, sister of Mrs. Nellie Russell, of Middletown, was found dead at her home early Saturday morning. Acting Coroner Edward M. Cook said death was due to heart
disease.
John E. Russell, 68, an engineer at the Harding paper mill in
Excello, dropped dead at 7:30 this morning in the mill, a victim of
heart failure.
Frank Russell, the fifteen year old son of Mr. and Mrs John Russell,
was drowned Wednesday afternoon while swimming in the canal at the lock
near Tenth street.
Oswald C. Warrington, age 75, an employee of the Denny Lumber
Company for the last 20 years, passed away Friday afternoon at his home,
116 Clark St. He is survived by a widow and three daughters, Mrs.
Charles Donor, of Dayton, Mrs. Maude Hunter also of Dayton, and Mrs.
D. O. McGlaughlin, this city.
The sudden death of Rev. W. B. Warrington this morning at his home on
Holbrook Street was a severe shock to his many old friends and
acquaintances here.
One generation of a pioneer family of Middletown was entirely
removed Wednesday afternoon by the death of Mrs. Martha N. Lefferson,
88, of Christel Avenue.
Middletown suffered the loss of one of its oldest citizens today and
the announcement of the death of Charles Dell, Sr., at his home, 1024
East Third Street, at 6 a.m. was a distinct shock. He was 86 years
old. His family nor none of his friends were prepared for the sad news
as the venerable old man had been in unusually good health considering
his age. This morning he suffered a heart attack and death ensued in
less than half an hour. With his death a long and useful career is
ended.
Thomas J. Galeese, member of the firm of Galeese Bros. Grocery, and
one of the oldest at the business in Middletown, died Thursday at 9 p.m.
after an illness of several days.
On August 23, Mrs. Lydia Vannatta, died at her home in Bloomington,
Illinois. She was a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Hinkle and was
born in Madison Township, Butler County, Ohio on March 19, 1816. Her
parental grandfather was one of the earliest settlers at Cincinnati and
was killed by the Indians while at work on his farm near where Camp
Denniston was located during the civil war. Her father and one of her
uncles narrowly escaped the fate of their father. Her maternal
grandmother accompanied St. Clair's army in its campaign against the
Indians in 1791, but she died on the march and was buried near where Elk
Creek church and school house now stand three miles north of Miltonville
and three miles west of Middletown, and from the time of her burial unto
this day no man knoweth her sepulcher. Her uncle, Benjamin DeBolt, was
the first white child born in Madison Township. In 1836 she was married
to Samuel Vannatta, a potter. They took up their residence in
Miltonville and remained there until 1873, when they moved to
Bloomington, Illinois, where her husband died in 1880. Her family of
eight children were all born in Miltonville. Her husband was a member
of the Fifth O.V.I., her sons, Squire and Joseph of Co. C , 85th O.V.I.
and Sanford of Co E, 167 th O.V.I. in the Civil War. Joseph gave up his
life and found a resting place on the bloody field of Chickamauga, and
Squire who endured the horrors of Libby and Andersonville fought fifteen
months, fills an honored grave in our village cemetery. During the last
five years of her life she was nearly blind and her mind was seriously
impaired.
Early Sunday morning ere the dawn had lightened the east, Mrs. Julia
A. Banker, the aged mother of Harvey Banker, slept away out of
life -- "she had another morn than ours."
Mrs. Martha J. Watson, widow of the late John Watson, passed from
this life at 11:40 a.m. Sunday. She has been ill for a number of
years. She fell asleep Saturday about noon and never regained
consciousness, when she died yesterday noon. She was 63 years, 11
months and 18 days old at the time of her death. She leaves to mourn
the loss a loving daughter, sister and mother, her mother who is past
eighty years of age, and with whom she made her home, two sisters, Mrs.
J. Haigh, of this city and Mrs. Phares of Potsdam, Ohio, one brother
William Owens of this city, one son, Ed Watson, the local photographer,
four daughters, Miss Eva Watson residing at home, Mrs. Beulah Bullock,
of Louisville, Ky.; Mrs. Anna Long, and Mrs. Bertha Moser of this city.
Mrs. Watson has been a member of the First Baptist church for a number
of years and was a good Christian woman.
� 1998, 1999, 2000 by David J. Endres
This site was updated 15 May 2000.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
A native Middletonian, she was the widow of Clinton W. Davis, former
treasurer of Armco Steel Corp., who died in 1953.
She was a member of Lafayette Lodge 379 of the Pythian Sisters,
former member of the Eastern Star and attended the United Presbyterian
Church.
There are no immediate survivors.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Joseph R. Baker and
Sons Funeral Home, with the Rev. Jerome C. Schulz officiating. Burial
will be in Woodside Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home tomorrow from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9
p.m.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Made Home with Sister, Mrs. Clinton Davis
Funeral services will be conducted at the Davis residence at 2 P.M.
Saturday with Christian Science services. Burial will follow in Elk
Creek Cemetery.
Mrs. Hinkle, who had been a semi-invalid for the last 10 years, had
been bedfast since last November. Her condition had grown serious in
recent weeks and her death was not unexpected.
Since the death of her husband 35 years ago, Mrs. Hinkle had made
her home with Mr. and Mrs. Davis. She was the daughter of the late Mr.
and Mrs. R.V. Denny, the former having been familiarly known as "Vic"
Denny, who constructed a number of locks in the Miami-Erie canal.
She was a lifelong resident of Middletown and had a large circle of
friends who cheered her with kindness during her period of invalidism.
In addition to the local Christ Scientist Church, she was a member of
the Mother Church at Boston, Mass.
Her survivors are her sister, Mrs. Davis; two nieces, Mrs. D. O.
McLaughlin, of Manchester Avenue and Mrs. Ariel Olson, of Racine, Wis.,
and a nephew, Edward Pritchard of Bellefontaine, O.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Friends may call there or at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Denny
McLaughlin, 1336 Manchester Avenue, where the body will be taken late
Tuesday for funeral service Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock.
Rev. I. M. McVey, pastor of Methodist Protestant Church, will officiate and burial will be made in Middletown Cemetery.
Mrs. Warrington had gone to Racine for a visit with her brother-in-law, suffering a stroke of paralysis while there.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Mrs. John Pritchard, Former resident, Dies in West
Though Mrs. Pritchard had been in rapidly declining health for
several years, the information of her passing was somewhat of a surprise
to members of her family here. Three weeks ago her brother-in-law and
sister Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Davis visited her noticing then that she was
failing but not anticipating that death woud occur so soon.
Mrs. Pritchard was born and reared in Middletown. She was the
daughter of R. B. V. Denny. She was married more than fifty years ago to
Mr. Pritchard, who was bookkeeper for the Journal at one time and
managed by Colonel William Sullivan.
More than twenty years ago the family moved to Racine, Wisconsin,
where they resided at the time of her death. Surviving Mrs. Pritchard
are her husband and two children, Mrs. Ariel Olson, Racine, Wisconsin.
Edward Pritchard, Bellfontaine, Ohio, one grandchild , Jerry Olson,
three sisters, Mrs. C.W. Davis, Mrs. Nora Hinkle, and Mrs. Clara
Warrington, this city, and a host of other relatives here.
Mr. and Mrs Davis and Mrs. Warrington will leave tonight to attend
the funeral on Saturday.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Surviving are her two daughters, Mrs. Robert Downie and Mrs. William
Schramm, Jr., both of Hamilton; a son, John, of Hamilton; her sister and
six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at the residence at 8:30 A.M.
Wednesday and at St. Ann's Church at 9 A.M. Burial will be in St.
Stephen's cemetery.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Mr. Russell did not complain of illness when he went to work this
morning, though he had been failing in recent months. He was seized
with illness shortly after arriving at the mill and died a few minutes
after the attack.
Surviving Mr. Russell are his widow, one daughter and two
grandchildren. He was born in Montgomery County and had lived in this
vicinity more than 50 years.
To his associate workmen in the Harding mill where he had been
employed many years, his sudden death was a complete shock.
Funeral arrangements will be made later in charge of Undertaker
Howard A. Wilson.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Frank Russell Drowned at the Lock, Near Tenth Street while Swimming
Yesterday Afternoon
The boy with a number of his companions were about to leave the
water and dress when young Russell said he would swim across the canal
and back before he dressed. When near the berm bank he suddenly sank under the water and did not
come up.
His companions fearing something was wrong gave the alarm and soon
men were on the scene searching for the body. Within fifteen minutes from the time the boy was last seen above the water his body was recovered and the work of resusitation began on the
bank. Drs. Lummis and Bundy were called and for over an hour the work was
continued, but without avail and the boy was pronounced dead at about
five o'clock.
Undertaker Wilson took the body to his establishment where it was
viewed by Coroner Schumacher. It is believed that the boy was seized
with cramps and was not able to give his companions warning of his
danger.
He was ill in the morning and did not attend school and it is
thought his physical condition together with the cold water brought on
the cramps.
The body was prepared for burial and taken to his late home on
Yankee Road where the anquish of his parents and sister was intensified
by its presence to the extent that they were almost prostrated.
The boy's father, is engineer at the American Cigar Plant and was
called to the scene of the drowning yesterday where he watched the
doctor's efforts at resuitation.
The funeral will be held at Holy Trinity Church Friday morning at
eight o'clock. Burial at Woodside.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the
residence. Rev. Beck officiating. Interment will take place in
Middletown Cemetery. Undertaker Howard A. Wilson is in charge.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Rev. W. B. Warrington After a Useful Life Passes to That Home Whence None
Return
Mr. Warrington was one of the oldest residents in the city and a
respected citizen whose hand has had a great influence in the religious
growth of Middletown.
He came here from Cincinnati in the spring of 1855 and organized the
Methodist Protestant Church here. In 1856 he received a call from the
congregation he had organized and took up residence here as pastor of
the new church. During the first year of his pastorate here, the church
edifice on Broadway still stands a monument to his endeavors, was built
and he remained in charge nearly ten years.
He has been pastor all over the Ohio Conference and in 1872 was
called to Lincoln, Nebraska, to take charge of the large mission work
there. He afterwards returned to this city to make his home with his
only son Oswald Warrington.
Rev. Warrington had been quite sick for the past week, but he arose this
morning and after eating breakfast seemed to feel a great deal better.
He stepped out into the yard and a few moments later was found by his
son lying upon the ground. He was carried into the house and a
physician called who found his life extinct.
Coroner McHenry arrived this morning and viewed the remains and
pronounced death due to heart failure. Mr. Warrington was in his 80th
year and leaves an aged wife and one son, Oswald, besides a host of
friends to mourn his death.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Descendant Was Lifelong Resident Of Middletown And Vicinity; Active Church Member
Mrs. Lefferson, ill for the last three weeks, died quietly and not
unexpectedly at 4:15 o'clock at her home. She had been failing more
than a year and during her critical illness of the last three weeks her
family has been gathered at her bedside awaiting the end.
Born in Blue Ball on what was known as the Piper farm, just south of
the little village, Mrs. Lefferson had spent her entire life in or near
Middletown. She was the daughter of Andrew and Eliza Piper whose
families came to this locality from Pennsylvania and settled this part
of Ohio. She was the last of 11 children of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Piper.
Martha Piper was married to William Bascum Lefferson, May 24, 1866,
at the Piper home. To that union was born four children, Mrs Nettie
Bailey, Mrs. Lou Whiteman, Earl Lefferson and Homer Lefferson, all of
whom reside in Middletown. Besides these four surviving children are 11
grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild to
mourn the loss of a devoted and loving mother and grandmother. Her
husband died three years ago.
Mrs. Lefferson was a lifelong member of the Blue Ball Presbyterian
Church and was active in the work of that congregation as long as her
health permitted.
Funeral services will be held at the residence Saturday afternoon at
2:30 o'clock. Rev. S. I. Gear of the Blue Ball Presbyterian Church will
officiate. Burial will be made at Woodside Cemetery.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
While Mr. Dell was well known for the mark he made in his own life,
he was frequently referred to as the father of some of the most
prominent citizens in Middletown's civic and professional circles. The
following eight of his children survive him: Anna, Mrs. E.L. Frisch,
Mrs. James Kimball, Harry L., city commissioner, Dr. A. J., and Frank,
all of Middletown, and Charles and Otto, of Los Angeles. He also leaves
16 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Mrs. Dell, who was Margaret
Yager, of Trenton, before her marriage in 1860, passed away three years
ago.
Mr. Dell's career emphasizes the worth of perseverance, good
judgement, wise investment and economy, careful of children in ways
of painstaking methods, combined with looking on the bright side of
things and expecting the best that time and occupation affords. His
life is an instance of a man starting out with few visible assets and
through wise disposal of his opportunities made his conditions of more
than ordinary prosperity and himself one of the most conscientious
citizens of the city. He was a man of wide interest in the subjects
which concerned his family and community.
Mr. Dell was born in Bad Wildungen, Germany, May 25, 1835, and came
to the United States when seventeen years old to seek his fortune.
After a short residence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he went to Dayton, Ohio,
later going to Franklin, where he worked for some time as a shoemaker.
In 1886 he came to Middletown and was variously employed. In all this
time his industry and thrift enabled him to accumulate some capital,
which he invested in the hotel business, his first stand being known as
the Union House, where Morris the tailor is presently located. He then
built the City Hotel, which he conducted for 22 years. Mr. Dell had
been retired from active work for several years, turning the management
of the hotel over to his son, Frank, who conducted it until 1916. Since
his retirement he had enjoyed the fruits of his many years of earnest
and unremitting labor. He gained the highest public esteem and at one
time held the office of city councilman. Everyone who knew the aged
man considered him a man it was a pleasure to know and general regret
is expressed over his passing.
Arrangements for the funeral will be made later. Friends are asked
to omit flowers.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
The 77-year old grocer who started in business as a young man with
his brother, John Galeese, more than 51 years ago, was a familiar figure
to the Manchester Ave. trading area where their store was a service to
that section of the city.
Strong attachment for the business and the patrons it served with
individual solicitude caused Mr. Galeese to remain at the store though
recent weeks of impaired health. He was on the job as late as Tuesday
and only was removed to the hospital Wednesday noon.
For 51 years the grocery had been a regular habit with him and a
definite part of his life. In return, he became the friend of every
customer in all parts of the city -- customers who may have once lived in
the neighborhood of the grocery but continued to deal there after they
moved away. This was as much because of the personalities of the
Galeese brothers as their products.
Coming here as a boy from Brookline, Mass., Mr. Galeese attended Holy
Trinity school and was a faithful member of Holy Trinity Parish. He was
affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society and the
Ancient Order of Hibernians. Holy Name will meet at 8 p.m. Sunday for
its service.
Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Mary Walburg, who had made her
home with her father since the tragic death of her mother in an
automobile wreck 30 years ago, Mrs. Irene Miller, this city; three
grandchildren, Mary Frances Walburg, Thomas Walburg and Patty Miller,
this city; one brother, John, and three sisters, Mrs. William Moran and
Mrs. Catherine Halloran, this city, and Mrs. George Daley, Dayton.
Solemn requiem mass will be sung at Holy Trinity Church Monday at 9
a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Some Interesting References To One of The Oldest Families in the Valley
By J. W. Reppeto
Her daughter, Lizzie, her only living child, and whose whole life
had been spent with her, tenderly cared for her in her declining years.
Other members of the Hinkle family have lived far beyond their three
score and ten, and her father passed away at the great age of 96 years.
Her brothers, Joseph Benjamin and William Hinkle, of Madison Township,
are the surviving members of a family of seventeen children. Her
living descendants are one daughter and three grandchildren. Mrs. Sarah
Reppeto, of Miltonville, is her sister-in-law. The interment was in the
Bloomington cemetery where rest her husband, her son Sanford and one
grandson.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Dies on Farm She was Born on 87 Years Ago Just North of Poastown -- Mother
of Harvey Banker
On the place she died on, the old Lucas farm north of Poastown, Mrs.
Banker was born 87 years ago. She was born Julia A. Lucas and there
was joy in that house on February 3, 1821, the day on which she came
into this world of ours, which she brightened for all who knew her
during the years of her long life. She has passed full of years and
honor. In the natural course of life, she is dead. Her only surviving
child, Harry, the well known farmer and good citizen of this county, has
the great satisfaction of knowing that he did his full filial duty by
the mother who bore him and loved him and watched tenderly his earlier
and his later years. He has done his part nobly, and it were but
fitting to praise a son for keeping so admirably the great Fifth
commandment that is so often forgotten by the men of the younger
generation in this land of ours. His days should be "long in the land."
For the past five years, or since a year after her husband, D.W.
Banker, entered into his rest, Mrs. Banker had been practically helpless
from the infirmities, physical and mental, of old age, and all through
these years she had been carefully watched and tended by her son and his
good wife.
For only one short week were the shadows of death close about her.
Even in this country of easy deaths of old people, there have been few
such beautiful cases of enthanasia as this. For a week or two she had
been merely "wearing awa like snow when it's thaw, wearing awa to the
land of leal." Two of her three children were there to greet and
welcome her. Such life as Julia Banker's and such an end to it form the
materials for a beautiful poem.
The funeral will be tomorrow afternoon, with the last earthly service in
the old home of her birth and her death at 2 o'clock conducted by Rev.
Mr. Williams of Urbana, Ohio, an old time pastor of Mrs. Banker when he
ministered to the church near her home. The burial will be in Mount
Pleasant cemetery at Poastown, the "God's Acre" she knew so well where
her husband and children have rested.
As said, Julia A. Banker was born on February 3, 1821, on the farm
of her father, Samuel L. Lucas, just north of Poastown, where she lived
all her life as maiden and wife and mother. Sixty-six years ago she and
D. W. Banker were married. Three children were born to them, and of these
Harvey alone survives the fond mother. By him and his wife and their
young children the memory of his mother will be long green. She did her
full duty in life, and none can do more. To the friends not of her
immediate family who knew and loved her she was loyal and ever helpful.
She is at peace, well won, and the memory of her gentle life will be a
benediction to her son and his children.
Submitted by Carolyn Lacey
Of Ed Watson Local Photographer Answers Death Summons At Noon Sunday
The funeral will take place Tuesday at 2 P.M., from the residence,
617 East Second Street. Rev. D.F. Rittenhouse will officiate.
Interment in charge of A.T. Wilson and son will be made in Middletown
cemetery.
Those who wish to contribute an obituary, death card, or newspaper article
to this page are encouraged to e-mail it to David J. Endres.*Go Back to the Southwest Butler County Genealogical Society Main Page*
This site was created by David J. Endres. Those with questions, comments, or additional information are encouraged to contact the compiler.
This site was created on August 12, 1998.