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Captain, Company Commander - Ft. Amanda Age at time of service - 27 |
Daniel Hosbrook was born in Morris County, New Jersey on August 3, 1785 the son of John and Lydia (Kitchell) Hosbrook. Daniels father, an Irishman, came to the American colonies around 1775 and served as a sergeant in the First Regiment, New Jersey Continental Line during the American Revolution. After the war, Daniels family moved to Ohio and settled by a spring of clear water near present day Madeira, Ohio. Daniel was 8 years old at the time.
In 1798, his father set out for Columbia, 8 miles to the south to pick up a supply of salt. A sudden and brutal winter storm passed into the area and his father, greatly fatigued and overcome by the cold and wind, froze to death a short distance from his home. He was buried on a hillside near the family home.
On August 14, 1808. 23 year old Daniel married Eunice Bates and together they raised children, 4 daughters and 4 sons
Percy b. 1810 - Served as Trustee of Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Hannah b. ?
John L. b. 1817 served as Trustee of Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio. In 1841 he was married to Deborah FERRIS, daughter of Solomon FERRIS, one of the earliest settlers of this county. In 1842 he was elected county surveyor, which office he held for six years; and was also county engineer for several terms.
Mahlon b. 1828
Elizabeth b. 1831
Daniel S. b. 1835 studied at College Hill; was married in 1867 to Viola M. KARR, daughter of Harvey KARR, also of this county. Served in the capacity of county surveyor and county engineer from 1873 to 1879. Was on two other occasions a candidate on the Democratic ticket for county surveyor. Both of these occasions being "off" years for the Democrats he was "left" with the balance of the ticket. He is at present extensively engaged on private work, and is employed by the corporations of St. Bernard and Reading as their engineer.
John A. b. 1840 was educated at Delaware, Ohio. Was married in 1871 to Alice A. FOWLER, daughter of Leonard FOWLER, of Hamilton county. In 1872 he removed to Indianapolis, where he served as assistant county engineer for several years. In 1878 he returned to Madeira, to accept a position as a special engineer of this county, which appointment has since been renewed, and which he now holds. He has also the appointment of engineer for the village of Madisonville, and is a member of the Madeira board of education.
Eunice b. 1842
John A. Hosbrook, son of Daniel and Eunice
The War of 1812
Daniels company formed in Cincinnati the 5th of February 1813. He joined the others when the company passed through Lebanon on their way to Ft. Amanda. He may have waited to join them there otherwise he would have had to travel to Cincinnati only to turn around in a few days and practically pass by his house, so why make the trip?
This area at this intersection is site of Daniel Heatons Inn the "Sign of the Cross Keys" where Hosbrook met Schillinger and Davis for dinner Monday evening Feb. 15, 1813
Note: All indications are the Cross Keys tavern/inn was located at the intersection of E.Main and S. Broadway sts. in the small community park area adjoining the famous Golden Lamb restaurant.
Hosbrook had a couple bouts of illness during his tour of duty including a bad case of diahreah and measles while on active duty. Schillinger never spoke anything ill of his Captain and all indications are they had a very good working relationship.
A Multi-Talented Individual
After the war, Daniel went on to become a respected farmer, businessman and surveyor. He served as sheriff of Hamilton County in 1816; taking the first prisoners on horseback to the state prison in Columbus, Oh. He was elected Hamilton County surveyor for two terms, and was several times elected a member of the Ohio State legislature. Three of Hosbrook’s sons, John L, Daniel Jr., and John A, also served as surveyors for Hamilton County. Daniel Jr. was also a school teacher. The following story involves a time when pranksters locked him out of the schoolhouse.
Never Mess With a Hosbrook Boy
An incident in his history as a teacher is worth mentioning. Like many of his profession in those days, he was "barred out." Finding himself on the wrong side of the door one morning, at the time school should have been opened, he suspected mischief, and, after ineffectual attempts to gain an entrance, began to parley with the enemy. A council was proposed, but indignantly rejected by the occupants of the stronghold. Nothing short of an unconditional surrender and an indemnity of "apples and cider" would be accepted by the belligerents on the other side. Determined to regain possession, the governor issued a manifesto, which resulted in bringing over to his side one of the ringleaders, named HAYWOOD, and his ring. Encouraged by this success, he nailed down the windows securely, fastened the doors, and covered the chimneys. The result will be conjectured. The magnanimous victor stood the treat and cured the boys of a bad custom.
Blind
The 1850 census lists the sixty four year old Daniel Hosbrook as “blind.” and in the 1860 he's listed as "blind from excessive eye use." Daniel and Eunice lived out their lives on their original farm northwest of Madiera. Daniel died Nov. 22, 1868 at the age eighty four and his wife Eunice died 4 years later on Sept. 30, 1872. She was 85 years old. Both Daniel and Eunice were buried on the family farm but like is often the case, “urban sprawl” forced their bodies to be moved and they were finally laid to rest in a family plot in Laurel Cemetery in Madisonville, Ohio.
The cemetery is located at 5915 Roe St. Madisonville, OH.
GPS: N39°09'20.01”,W84°23'34.17”
Grave of Daniel and Eunie Hosbrook
Daniel Hosbrook was a military leader, farmer, surveyor, sheriff, business and patriot. While he never returned to his fort on the Auglaize, those who embrace the history of that fort will long remember his name.