Matthew Hueston
Matthew Hueston was a native of Pennsylvania, coming from what is now Franklin County, where he was born on the 1st of May 1771. His father's next neighbor was a Scotchman named Buchanan, who afterwards became better off in the world, and moved to Mercersburg, where he became a justice of the peace. His son, James was sent to Dickinson College, afterwards entering upon the practice of law. He was successively a member of the U. S. Senate, minister to England, and President of the United States. When Matthew Hueston was two years of age his father, William Hueston, removed to the backwoods, and settled on the Monongahela, in Ohio County, VA. The Indians becoming troublesome, Mr. Hueston removed his family to Taylor's Fort, 24 miles from the town of Wheeling. The family remained most of the time at the fort, but occasionally went to the farm when it was deemed safe. Mr. Hueston went back and forth to cultivate his place, but on one of these trips he was shot, killed and scalped by Indians, at the door of his own cabin. Mrs. Hueston was left a widow with six small children.
As soon as Matthew Hueston was able he began working around the farm, and at fifteen went as an apprentice to learn the trade of tanner and currier, continuing at that employment for several years. When he became a journeyman he saved up his money, and, in 1793, made a small venture of stock, with which he went down the Ohio River. On the 17th of April he landed at Cincinnati, but after a few days went down to the falls of the Ohio. He returned by way of Maysville, again floating down to Cincinnati, where General Wayne's army had arrived in the mean time. Soon after arriving he sold out his goods to a man named McCrea, who, however, decamped without paying him. He then went to work in a tannery, being the one afterwards owned by Jesse Hunt, and afterwards went with Robert and William McClellan, who were engaged in driving a brigade of pack-horses from Cincinnati to Fort Jefferson. Completing his first trip, he drove a number of beeves from Fort Washington to Fort Jefferson, and then super-intended the killing of the cattle and putting up the beef, which was designed to subsist the men the next Winter. There being no salt at the garrison, the meat had to be hung up in the open air around the fort to prevent it from spoiling, until salt could be procured. This caused a delay in the business for a time. Soon after Mr. Hueston was appointed commissary at this post, at the pay of $30.00 a month. The next Summer he returned to Fort Washington, and went out with Wayne on his expedition, being issuing commissary until the Summer of 1795, when he resigned.
He then furnished himself with a stock of groceries and other articles, and began as a sutler, following this up until the year 1796. He had one store at Greenville and another at Cincinnati, in the latter having a partner. The business was very profitable, and he soon accumulated twelve to fifteen thousand dollars. In the latter part of 1796 Mr. Hueston was taken sick, remaining in his bed for three or four weeks. When he had sufficiently recovered, he set out for Cincinnati, but found his affairs were in a wretched condition. His partner had become dissipated, had squandered most of the property by gambling, and had finally sold out the stock, going down the river, and leaving Mr. Hueston to pay the debts of the firm. This he did, and found that, after exhausting all his means, he stilled owed $400. Undiscouraged, he persevered in his industrious way, and again embarked as a drover. He drove a large number of cattle from Cincinnati to Detroit for $2.50 a head, and was successful in delivering them all, although the route was a complete wilderness. He returned in 40 days. This business he followed till the year 1800, when he had paid off all his old debts and had accumulated fourteen or fifteen hundred dollars in hard cash. This he laid out in land.
He brought a tract of 200 acres, four miles south of Hamilton. It was then altogether in the woods, but now the railroad, the canal, and the Cincinnati turnpike pass through it. In a few years he had a large farm under cultivation. He built a hewed log-house, in which he lived and kept entertainment for travelers a number of years. At the United States land sales in 1801 he purchased, or entered, three sections of land and two fractional sections, on the west side of the river, comprehending in all about 2,600 acres. To these purchased he added from time to time, so that he eventually became the largest owner of land in this county.
On his farm south of Hamilton he began to reside in the year 1802, and on the 15th of April married Miss Catherine Davis. He remained here till 1813, when he removed to his farm on Four-Mile Creek, in Hanover Township. Here he built a large stone mansion, and attended to his agricultural interests for many years. He then removed to Rossville, taking up his abode there in October, 1834. This is in the house now occupied by his son-in-law, Robert Harper.
At the beginning of the century the militia was better organized than it is now. Mr. Hueston became captain of a company of light-horse, from which he was afterwards advanced to the office of colonel of the 2nd Regiment. When Hull surrendered Col. Hueston volunteered his services, and went with a number of others to Ft. Wayne, which was then besieged by the enemy. After serving two or three months, he was made purchasing agent for the contractor of the Northwestern army, acting in that capacity until the conclusion of the war.
In 1808 he became a justice of the peace in Fairfield Township, remaining so till he removed to Hanover, where, after a few months, he was again elected. In this position he served until his removal to Rossville, holding this office for 23 years. In no case was his judgment reversed on appeal. He was commissioner of Butler County from 1826 to 1835. He died on the 16th of April, 1847, in the 76th year of his age, and was buried near the Presbyterian church in Collinsville. The services were conducted by the Masons.
He had four sons and five daughters. They were William, Eliza, Mary, Samuel, Thomas, Eleanor, Robert, Cynthia, and Catherine.
From A History and Biographical Cyclopædia of Butler County Ohio, With Illustrations and Sketches of its Representative Men and Pioneers, Western Biographical Publishing Company, Cincinnati Ohio, 1882.