BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CITY OF DAYTON.

SAMUEL AUGUSTUS AMBROSE, plasterer, Dayton, was born near Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland Co., Penn., Nov. 23, 1838. His ancestry on his father's side was German and English, on his mother's English and German. Peter and Susanna Ambrose, his father and mother, were in humble circumstances, and having a large family of ten children to provide for, the services of all the children, as they became of sufficient age to render any assistance toward the support of the family, were required. Samuel, the fifth child born to them, was accordingly called upon to assist in the support of his younger brothers and sisters, while yet a mere boy, consequently his opportunities for study and education, as far as school education is concerned, was very limited and much neglected. Thus his early boyhood passed till 1854, when with his parents he emigrated to Ohio, then the far West, and in December of the same year landed with his father's family in the city of Dayton, Montgomery Co. The industrious habits formed (luring his boyhood, before he came to Dayton, still prompted him to an active life, and, looking around for something to do, he sought employment and was engaged as a clerk for Messrs. Fitton, Wilt & Filton, grain dealers and commission merchants, with whom he remained about one year, when a good opportunity offered for him to learn a trade. He left his employers and engaged to learn the plasterer's trade, at which he served his full time and then worked as a journeyman plasterer until by the most rigid economy he had saved enough to pay his way through a collegiate course of study, and for that purpose he entered the preparatory department of the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. In school, as at his trade, he was never satisfied unless he stood among the first in his class, and by his former habits of close application, industry, energy and natural ability, succeeded in keeping his name on the roll of honor during his school life at the university. He was one of the prominent members of the Zetagathean Literary Society of the above institution, and in the frequent discussions and debates in the society always took an active part, and was always selected to champion the cause of the weaker side, and generally proved a full match for his antagonist. Having entered the school with a fixed purpose he made rapid progress in his studies, when the war for the preservation of the Union" broke out and arrested him in his scholastic pursuits. He enlisted as a volunteer and served sixteen months, when he received an honorable discharge, and was mustered out of service at Todd Barracks. He returned to Dayton again, and while home married Miss Cornelia Anne Wolf youngest daughter of Dr. W. W. Wolf, May 15, 1865. He then began work for himself as a contractor and builder, and since that time has been one of the largest contractors in this city. As monuments of his ability, he points with pride to Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, the palatial residences of C. L. Hawes, Eugene Barney, T. T. Legler, and many others. The breaking out of the rebellion made him an outspoken and fearless Republican, and the same principles remain with him to this day. In 1872, he was elected member of the City Council by the Republicans of the Fifth Ward, and proved himself a valuable member of that body. Hardly a meeting passed that he did not get into an animated discussion with his colleagues upon some measure before the Council, and as he had a peculiar way of presenting his facts like so many points sticking out on every side, his-position was generally invulnerable, and he very rarely lost a cause whose interest he ea-


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poused while in his two years' term with the City Fathers. He was again elected a member for 1881-82 and is now an honored member of that body. He wields a caustic pen, and in writing for the press presents his thoughts in a very plain, forcible manner, and is regarded a writer of much ability by those who know his nom de plume. He is in the prime of life, and, as he comes from a long-lived race, has many years in store in which he can succeed in carving his name high upon the roll of honor, if he will use the same energy and talent which characterized his early life.

CHARLES H. ANDERTON, merchant, Dayton, was born in Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio, October 11, 1842. He is the son of James and Francis (Wilby) Anderton, who were married in England and emigrated to America soon after. The father died in 1850, but the mother still survives, having reached the age of four-score and one years. Charles, our subject, attended the public schools of Dayton until twelve years of age and then clerked for his brother in a fruit store until April, 1862, when he opened a fruit stand for himself, on the northeast corner of Third and Main streets, in Dayton, where he remained until August, 1862, and then enlisted in Company A, Ninety-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was in the engagements at Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge. where he was wounded in the wrist, and in many other minor engagements and skirmishes. At Danbridge, East Tenn., he was wounded in the right breast, in January, 1864, but served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge in May, 1865. He was married April 10, 1867, to Miss Lucy Henderson, daughter of Eben and Mary Henderson, of Minooka, Ill., by whom he has had three children, one girl and two boys, only one of the latter surviving. Mr. Anderton is a member of Wayne Lodge, No. 10. I. O. O. F.; Dayton Encampment, I. O. O. F.; Knights of Pythias, Legion of Honor, Grand Army of the Republic, Old Guards, and ex-member of the National Guards. He is also Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee. He served five years in and was the organizer of Company A, Fourth Ohio National Guards, which at that time was a Zouave company. He was a member of the old volunteer fire company for seven or eight years, and of the paid company from 1865 to 1880. No higher tribute can be paid to such a man than to thus show to the world his record.

JOHN C. BAIRD, of firm of Baird Bros., owners planing-mill, sash, door and blind factory, Dayton, was born at Somerset, Penn., April 30, 1819. His parents were Daniel and Annie M. (Kurtz) Baird, natives of the Keystone State. The former was a carpenter and builder and cabinet maker. He was a soldier in the American army during the war of 1812, and died September 15, 1876. aged eighty-three years and four months. He was a man of strong constitution, very vigorous, and up to the time of his death (caused by old age) never suffered a week's sickness. His amiable helpmeet followed him to the "shadowed land " December 16, 1879, aged eighty-one years and nine months. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom yet survive. The subject of this sketch was reared amid the rocky hills of Old Pennsylvania, and when sixteen years of age commenced to learn the trade of his father, continuing with him in business for some years. When twenty-five years of age, he came to Dayton, where he worked at his trade for quite a period. In the meantime, his brother, William F., had visited the Valley City, and located there. The two brothers decided to embark in the busy and tempestuous sea of life, and, as both were practical mechanics, decided to establish their present business. They did so, under the firm name of Baird Bros., and have continued the business to the present time. Since coming to Dayton, Mr. Baird was, for three years, engaged in the grocery business. He was married in an early day, and buried a wife and child in October, 1843. His second marriage was solemnized in 1847, the second party to the contract being Susan Olive, a native of Zanesville, Ohio. They have four children living--Charles H., William F., Florence and Arthur--the eldest son and daughter being married. Mr. Baird and wife are members of the First Lutheran Church, the former having officiated as Deacon for some years. Mr. Baird joined the I. O. O. F., in August, 1845, and since that period has given much of his time to the advancement of the order. He is a member of Wayne Lodge, No. 10, and Dayton Encampment, No. 2. During one State Encampment, at Portsmouth, Ohio, he was appointed and served as Grand Junior Warden. In the home lodge he


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has devoted some time to committee work, and ably assisted in preparing a forty years' history of the lodge for publication. In politics, Mr. Baird is a strong Republican. He served as Councilman from the Fifth Ward for two years, and was one of the committee appointed to visit the Eastern cities to examine the different systems of fire protection in use in each. He assisted in establishing the Holly system in Dayton, an act of which he justly feels proud.

ELIAM E BARNEY. &ceased, was born in Adams, Jefferson Co., N. Y., October 14, 1807. His parents were Benjamin Barney, a native of Guilford, Vt., and Nancy Potter, of Connecticut. His father was a warm and active friend to education, and one of the principal movers in founding Union Academy, at Bellville, Jefferson Co., N. Y., having contributed for this object very liberally, both time and money. For more than fifty years, this academy has been a vigorous and prosperous institution of learning. Both parents were earnest, active members of the Baptist Church, from early life till death. Having received a common-school education and acquired some experience as a teacher in winter schools, our subject was prepared for college at Lawville Academy, Lewis Co., N. Y., and at Union Academy, Bellville, in the same State. He then entered the sophomore class, at Union College, Schenectady. from which he graduated in 1831. After teaching for a brief period in a family boarding school at Sand Lake, N. Y., he became Principal of Lawville Academy, where he remained two years, meeting with great success. In the fall of 1833, he came to Ohio, and taught for six months in Granville College (now Dennison University), filling the place of Prof. Drury, who had been elected, but had not yet arrived In the spring of 1834, he came to Dayton and was Principal of the Dayton Academy from 1834 to 1838. The two succeeding years, he taught a private school for both sexes. His health failing, he relinquished teaching, and during tour years engaged in the lumber trade. In the meantime, the Cooper Female Academy had been established, and Mr. Barney was called to the charge of it as Principal, in 1845, and so continued until 1851. This closed his career as a teacher, and after that time he was engaged in widely different pursuits. His teaching, from first to last was attended with great success, and the occupation being one for which he seemed peculiarly fitted, in it he attained a high reputation. His education and the range of his information were ample, and he possessed the rare faculty of communicating knowledge to his pupils. He seemed without difficulty to reach the understanding and compel a ready apprehension of all he sought to teach. There are but few of his former pupils who will not say that he was the best of all their teachers. His discipline was strict, but his kindness at the same time so manifest that he secured alike their respect, affection and obedience. In the summer of 1850, in company with Mr. E. Thresher, he started the Dayton Car Works. Their capital was limited and the business was carried on upon a moderate scale and prudently, but successfully. in 1854, Mr. C. Parker succeeded Mr. Thresher in the firm, and from that time till 1864 the business, which had greatly increased, was conducted under the firm name of Barney, Parker & Co. Mr. Parker then sold out to Mr. Preserved Smith, the firm becoming Barney, Smith & Co., and the business was thus continued until 1867. when a joint stock company was formed under the name of " The Barney & Smith Manufacturing Company of Dayton," of which Mr. Barney was the President until his death. This company furnishes all kinds of cars for the railroads of the North, East, South and West. During nearly its entire history, Mr. Barney was the head of the establishment, and to him is due the great success of the enterprise. He was a man of great ability, bold but prudent, clear headed, far sighted, energetic, systematic, practical and thoroughly familiar with the business in general and in detail. Some years before his death, Mr. Barney, realizing the fact that our forests are rapidly disappearing and the whole country becoming denuded of its timber trees, and that the constant demand for timber would soon exhaust the present supply, and having his attention called to the valuable properties of the "catalpa," a tree of quick growth and furnishing timber of the most enduring quality, began the collection of information respecting the tree, and by correspondence, communications to the papers and the publication of pamphlets, he awakened a very wide-spread interest in the




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subject. He had at his office various specimens of the catalpa wood, one of which was from a post that stood in the ground for seventy-five years and which, with the exception of a very slight decay on the outside, was as perfect and sound as when sunk in the earth. He had, also, numerous letters from foreign countries as well as all parts of the United States, making inquiries respecting the catalpa, commending him in the most flattering terms for the interest he had taken in this important matter, and assuring him that his efforts in that connection could not fail to be crowned with the most valuable results, and be appreciated by future generations. If he who causes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before " is a benefactor to his race, in an equally important sense is this true of a man who was instrumental in arousing the attention of nurserymen and agriculturists in the liberal cultivation of this most valuable timber tree, calculated, as it is, to furnish excellent lumber for future use. Mr. Barney was never an aspirant for public office. He was, however, President of the Dayton Hydraulic Company from its organization, and was Vice President of the Second National Bank of Dayton, also a Director and the largest stockholder of the same. He was like-wise for many years prominently connected with the First Baptist Church of Dayton. and for some twenty years a member of the Board of Trustees of Dennison University. at Granville, Ohio (the Baptist college of the State), to which institution he has given $50,000, the same being to endow two memorial Professorships. He. also contributed very largely to various other enterprises connected with his denomination. On October 10, 1834, he married Julia, daughter of Dudley Smith, of Galway, Saratoga Co., N. Y, and six children, of whom five are living, were the issue of this marriage. Mr. Barney departed this life on the 17th of December, 1880, and was buried in the beautiful Woodland cemetery, with ceremonies befitting his rank in life.

ERHARD BAUMAN, baker, Dayton ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 31, 1831, and emigrated to America in 1848. In April, 1855, he married Mary Koch, by whom he has had three sons and two daughters--Rose, Emma, Louis, Adolph L. and Oscar. He was one of the first to strike his pick on the city gas works under old Mr. Wheelock. He worked at baking for W. W. Wold three years, and then commenced the baking business for himself, in which he continued one year, and then, with Mr. Wisemiller, started the brewery of Bauman & Wisemiller. He discontinued this in 1856, and commenced his present business at 437 West Third street, where he has since continued with marked success. His family are members of the Catholic Church.

ADOLPH L. BAUMAN, baker, Dayton ; was born in Dayton Nov. 29, 1855. He is the son of Erhard Bauman, a baker of Dayton. He was reared and educated in the Catholic schools of the city, and when thirteen years of age learned the baking business with his father. In 1877, he established his present business ; has succeeded in building up a trade second to only one in the city. He was married, May 27, 1879, to Caroline, a native of Dayton. They have no children. Mrs. Bauman is a member of Emanuel Catholic Church.

FRANK BAUMHECKEL, butcher, Dayton ; was born in Bavaria January 7, 1827. His father, John, was born in 1794, and his mother Katie in 1801. They were born under the French Government, and the father became a soldier under Napoleon. Frank, our subject, came to America in 1843, and landed in New Orleans, where he was during the Mexican war. In May, 1847, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and, in 1851, to Dayton, where he has since lived and plied his trade of butchering. He married, Feb. 7, 1857, Miss Elizabeth Mack, daughter of Gottlieb, and Dora Mack, of Dayton, by whom he has had the following nine children--Louisiana (since dead), Louis M. (dead), Franklin Benjamin, William Tecumseh, Charles L. E., George Alexander Lafayette, Katie Elizabeth Isabelle, Florence Augusta Eugene, Otto Edward Gambetta. Mr. Baumheckel was a member of the City Council for 1869 and 1870, and Meat, Inspector from 1868 to 1881. He is a member of Schiller Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F.; Dayton Encampment, No. I. O. O. F.; St. John's Lodge, No. 13, Masonic ; Unity Chapter, No. 16, Masonic ; Reese Council, No. 9, Masonic ; Ancient Order of Druids, Dayton Marrie, No. 14, Harugari, Shawnee Tribe Red Men, Butchers' Association, Dayton Turners' Society, and Miami Lodge, No. 6, A. O. U. W.


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DANIEL BECKEL was born Sept. 14, 1813, in Summerless, County Cornwall, Lanncell Parish, Eng. He was the son of Richard and Susan Beckel. While he was yet quite a youth, his father died, and his mother afterward married James Giddings. In 1829, when young Beckel was sixteen years of age, the family came to this country, settling first in the city of Baltimore. Mr. Giddings, being a civil engineer, soon became engaged in the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and, taking Beckel as assistant, they so continued until 1835 or 1836, when they came to Tuscarawas County, Ohio. While living in that county, they were engaged upon the public works, then in process of construction by the State. Afterward they became the con-tractors for, and constructed the great St. Mary's Reservoir, for the Miami Canal. After the completion of that work, Mr. Beckel came to Dayton, where he continued to reside until his death. He had already accumulated a handsome fortune for that day, but, being full of energy and enterprise, he was not content to let it, or himself, remain idle, but soon engaged in large and important undertakings, which proved profitable to himself, and greatly beneficial to the city. He was the projector of what is called the Upper Hydraulic Basin, organized a company, in which he was a principal. He was the builder of the Commercial Mill upon the basin, now owned by S. Gebhart & Sons, and in connection with William J. Lamme, operated it for several years. He also built the Ohio Block, Beckel Opera House, the Beckel House (hotel), and other valuable structures. He was at all times engaged in various business, in the manufacture of woolens and of flour, in the lumber trade, in the construction of railroads and turnpikes, and largely in banking. In connection with William Dickey and Joseph Clegg, he established a private bank, which for many years enjoyed unlimited credit, and was a favorite depository of money. Dickey and Clegg having withdrawn, a stringency in the money market in 1854 caused a run upon the bank, and his means being largely invested in real estate and inconvertible securities, Mr. Beckel was compelled to suspend payment for a time; but by his skillful management and great energy, he was enabled to pay all his liabilities, and save to himself a large property. He was almost the sole owner of the Miami Valley and Dayton Banks, and was Cashier of the latter, and at one time President of the Dayton Insurance Company, of which he was one of the original organizers. In 1851, Mr. Beckel was elected to the House of Representatives of the Ohio Legislature, in which he served through two sessions, with the same ability that he had exhibited in all his business enterprises, and was an active, useful and influential member of that body. On Sept. 2, 1845, Mr. Beckel was married to a most devoted and excellent woman, who still survives, Susan Harshman. They had twelve children, of whom six were living at the time of his death. His oldest son, Daniel, was killed by accident not long after. The others are still living. On the 26th day of February, 1862, Mr. Beckel died suddenly, from serous appoplexy, caused no doubt by overwork and over-tasking of the brain for years. Mr. Beckel had none of the advantages of early education or mental training, of study or extensive reading. Yet he was a man of remarkable intellectual force. His whole attention was given to practical business, and in that his intelligence, the clearness of his understanding, his sagacity and the soundness of his judgment, were recognized by all who came in contact with him. He was capable of great things, as well as small, and looked at every scheme or undertaking in all its bearings ; having a thorough knowledge of all the elements of business. His strong will, untiring energy and boldness of enterprise, under the favorable circumstances that existed in the years succeeding his death, would undoubtedly have added much to his fortune, and made him, had he lived, a very wealthy man. He was large minded enough to know that the interests of the city of his residence, and of' the public generally, were also his interests, and he was noted for h is public spirit, being always ready and anxious to promote any public improvement or useful enterprise. It is a common remark among those who knew Mr. Beckel that his death was a great loss and misfortune to the city of Dayton. Mr. Beckel's was a correct, sober, earnest life. He had not time for much social intercourse ; but was of a genial and kind disposition, a good and generous friend, and an excellent husband and father.


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HENRY BEST (deceased); was born in Cincinnati Nov. 21, 1804. and died in Dayton Jan. 26, 1873, in the 69th year of his age. His father, Thomas, and his uncles, Samuel and Robert, were early pioneers of the " Queen City." His parents, Thomas and Margaret, moved during his infancy to Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio, where Henry was reared and learned the jeweler's trade of his father. In 1828, he located in Dayton, where for forty-five years he plied his trade with that industry so characteristic of the early inhabitants of our land. He was of a quiet, unassuming disposition and very retiring in manners. With no aspirations for office, he seemed to shrink from publicity; but was a lover of nature and its solitude. He was a confirmed devotee of piscatorial amusement, and lost no opportunity for indulging his taste in that sport. He was always considered one of the most moral, upright, reliable and worthy citizens of Dayton. In the latter years of his life, the retired from active business, leaving the conduct of his affairs to his son Edwin. In religious belief he was a Free Thinker in the broadest sense of that term. In 1832. he married Ann S. Drill, daughter of Andrew Drill, of Dayton, formerly of Frederick City, Md. The fruits of this union were seven children, of whom three sons and two daughters survive. The sons are all jewelers by trade, and constitute the fourth generation of the family in the same business. His son Newton resides in Union City, Ind. Edwin has a jewelry store on Main street, near Second, being the old stand in which his father carried on for years before him, and in the house in which he, Edwin, was born ; William has a jewelry store on the corner of Main and Third streets. The daughters are Mrs. Emma Hilkey and Miss Carrie Best. Edwin was born in Dayton Sept. 10, 1839. and, after receiving a public school education, entered his father's store, where, at 21 years of age, he became a partner. On the death of his father, the old firm name was not changed, but went on in the same style, Edwin taking full charge as he did when his father was living, being the active partner. Since then he has made many changes for the better. On the 19th of September, 1861, he married Mary Cecelia, daughter of Gilbert Collins, by whom he has had three children.

WILLIAM H. BEST, jeweler; was born in Dayton Sept. 15, 1845. He is the son of Henry Best, deceased, whose biography appears in this work. He attended the common schools until the was 15 years old, when he studied designing and engraving under Emil Schmidt, of Dayton, for two years. He then attended the Miami Commercial College, of Dayton, for two years, after which he entered the store of his father, where he remained until 1875, when he commenced business for himself' on the corner of' Main and Third streets. On the 27th of May, 1869, he married Miss Eva Williams, daughter of J. Insco Williams, who is famous throughout the United States as an artist. The issue of this marriage was two daughters and one son. The lather, our subject, is neither a politician, member of' church or office-seeker. He has a large and successful business, to which he gives his whole and undivided attention, feeling that he has no time to dabble in outside matters. The large and profitable patronage he enjoys is sufficient proof of his desire and ability to please all to whom his goods are shown.

JOHN BETTELON, saloon and restaurant, Dayton, was born January 13, 1829, in the city of Dayton, where his father came directly from Germany. His grandparents both lived and died in Germany, which was also the birthplace of his father who came to this country and married Miss Barbara Nauerth of' Dayton, by whom he had six children, three boys and three girls. He departed this life in 1852, and was followed by his wife on Christmas Day, 1879. Our subject received a common-school education and then served a full term of apprenticeship to a baker, followed by a full term to a confectioner which occupied the time from 1841 to 1847. when he began to run on the river as a pastry cook. In 1852 he quit the river and, with J. V. Nauerth, opened a saloon and restaurant in the Cooper House, opposite the Market House on Main street, where he continued until 1858, when he went into the wholesale liquor business. He next, in 1871, engaged in the banking business in the People's and Savings Bank, where he remained for five years, or until 1876, when he again went into the wholesale liquor business, which he afterward changed into his present establishment. He now has a


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large and convenient saloon and restaurant where a man can have all or any of his wants supplied, and is meeting with the success his enterprise and industry merit. In 1858 he married Miss Mary Ann Mouter, of Dayton, and has had born to him seven children, four boys and three girls.

MAJ. WILLIAM DENISON BICKHAM, editor and proprietor of the Dayton Journal, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 30, 1827. He prepared for college in private and public schools, and was a student in Cincinnati, and Bethany (West Virginia) Colleges. After the death of his father, he entered the news room of the Cincinnati Gazette, and acquired a knowledge of type-setting during a two years' apprenticeship ; subsequently, at the age of twenty, was city and commercial editor of the Louisville (Ky.) Daily Courier, of which Walter N. Halderman, now in a similar capacity on the Louisville Courier-Journal, was general manager. Having business in New Orleans, in the settlement of his father's estate, he went there in the fall of 1848, going down the Ohio, as a regular flat-boat hand for the munificent wages of $15 per month. The trip to Cairo occupied twenty-nine days, during which the boat grounded on almost every bar in the river. The following year, Mr. Bickham was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Cincinnati, and early in 1850, he was seized with the gold fever and went to California, via the Isthmus. From thence he proceeded on a sailing vessel (the barque Anne, of Bristol, R. I.); from Panama to the coast of California, a voyage of sixty-three days, where he was washed ashore, from the wrecked launch of the ship, June 2, 1850. He spent over a year at hard labor in the Northern mines, on the North Fork and Middle Fork of the American Rivers, at Grass Valley, and in the vicinity of' Nevada, besides prospecting a large area of country. He dug considerable gold, but lost it in mining enterprises, trying to make more. In 1852, he represented El Dorado County as a delegate in the first Whig State Convention in California, held in San Francisco. Settling in the latter city, he obtained a place in the customs service, and was actively engaged in politics, being one of the Executive Committee of the First Young Men's Whig Club organized in California, then a Territory; subsequently he assisted in the organization of the Young Men's Mercantile Library Association, of San Francisco, was its first Librarian, and prepared the first catalogue of the library ; meantime, and afterward was employed at various times as city editor of the San Francisco Picayune, as editor and part proprietor of the San Francisco Evening Journal, and again as city editor of the San Francisco Evening Tunes and the Morning Ledger at the same time. Returning home in April, 1854, after four years' absence, without money, he accepted, for want of' a more congenial pursuit, a position as brakeman on the morning express train from Cincinnati to Dayton, on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway. Within a few weeks he was promoted to baggage master ; then accepted a position as traveling correspondent and agent of the Cincinnati Daily Columbian ; next, was engaged on the city staff of the Cincinnati Evening Times, C. W. Starbuck & Co., proprietors; a few months later, became traveling correspondent for that paper, and while correspondent in the Legislature early in 1856, accepted the position of city editor of the Cincinnati Commercial, remaining in that office as city editor, and Washington, Columbus, and general correspondent until the beginning of the rebellion, when he was assigned to duty as war correspondent of the Commercial, with the army of West Virginia, being also appointed volunteer aid-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Rosecrans, with the rank of Captain, in which capacity he discharged all the duties of an officer of his rank. After the battle of Carnifex Ferry, Maj. Bickham was transferred to other military fields, being war correspondent with the Army of the Potomac, until after the seven days' battles on the Chickahominy and at Malvern Hill ; then in Kentucky until the Cumberland Gap expedition, under Gen. George H. Thomas, afterward in Mississippi, with Gen. Rosecrans' command at Corinth, and finally, with the Army of the Cumberland, ending with the occupation of Murfreesboro, after the battle of Stone River, when Gen. Rosecrans conferred upon him the title of Major for services in that battle as volunteer aid-de-camp. In May, 1863, immediately after the destruction of the Journal office, Maj. Bickham was invited to take control of the newspaper field in Dayton, Ohio, and immediately repaired to that city, making it his


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home, on and after the 11th of that month. During these laborious nineteen years to date, the Journal has grown into a strong and influential paper, financially and politically. Maj. Bickham, although fifty-five years of age, is as vigorous as ordinary men ten years younger, and has a large capacity for hard work. He owes his vitality to a powerful constitution, and superior physical powers carefully cultivated in athletic exercises in his youth and earlier manhood. His habit now is to spend ten or twelve hours at work and walk six to eight miles daily for exercise. He has unshaken faith in the Republican party, believing that the best interests of the nation are involved in its prosperity. He is a blunt, plain man, yet kind and courteous to friend and stranger alike ; and, although his determined and vigorous, partisan journalistic career has created enemies among his political opponents, his friends stanch and true may be counted by the hundreds.

GEORGE N. BIERCE, manufacturer, Dayton. This highly respected citizen and business man of Dayton is a member of the firm of Stillwell & Bierce Manufacturing Co., manufacturers of steam heaters and turbine water wheels, and roller mills. He was born at Nelson, Portage Co., Ohio, October 20, 1812. His father, H. N. Bierce, was a native of Connecticut, and a pioneer farmer of that portion of the Buckeye State. When the subject of this sketch was four years of age, his mother was called to her final resting place, and four years later his father joined her " on the other side." Being left an orphan when very young, Mr. Bierce went to Canton, Ohio, where a kind uncle and aunt received him into their family fold, and where he was reared and educated. When the war of the rebellion commenced, Mr. Bierce became an ardent advocate of the principles of liberty, and in 1862, enlisted in Company K, Ninety-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving as a private for eighteen months. Disability necessitated his discharge, but after recovery he again enlisted, this time as Adjutant of the 131st Regiment, serving till the end of the fratricidal strife. After the close of the war, he came to Dayton, and in 1866 associated himself in business with E. R. Stillwell, in the manufacture of the Stillwell Heater. In 1870, the firm commenced making the celebrated " Eclipse " turbine water wheel, and in 1879 added the Victor " turbine to their list, the latter bearing the reputation of being the best one manufactured in the United States. Mr. Bierce has charge of the introduction of the goods of the firm, and their enormous and steadily increasing trade. He was married in September, 1865, to Marion L. Barkdull, a native of Saratoga Springs, N. Y. Of the three children sent to them two survive--Claude S. and Fred N. Elsie died, aged sixteen months. Mr. Bierce and wife are members of the first Baptist Church. He is Republican in politics, and by his integrity in business, and warm social qualities, has won the respect and esteem of the better class of citizens of Dayton and Montgomery County.



EZRA BIMM, wholesale and retail grocer and ice dealer, Dayton. The ancestors of this gentleman were all Germans. Three brothers--John, Adam and one whose name is now forgotten--coming from Hesse-Cassel, on the River Rhine, Germany (being the only children of their family), and settling in Pennsylvania. Adam was the first of the brothers to cross the Atlantic, John following him when but nineteen years old, but yellow fever was so bad in Philadelphia, that the vessel was not allowed to land there. but put its passengers ashore near that city. John began working for a Quaker family with whom he remained one and one-half years, being taught English by his benefactors, and in after years he always spoke highly of his Quaker mother " as he called the lady of the house. Learning the whereabouts of his brother Adam he left his Quaker home for Philadelphia, where both his brothers were living, and from there went to Woodbury, Gloucester Co., N. J., where he married Christina Dansenbaker, a native of that county, born near Deerfield. Here he followed farming until the spring of 1818, when he started with his family for Ohio, landing in Dayton on the 1st of June, after a six weeks' trip. His brother Adam and himself, previous to his coming to Ohio, visited their brother who was working in a glass factory in Philadelphia, and Adam was so much opposed to John going to Ohio, that he came one day's journey with him, trying to influence John to return, but without avail, as our subject's father kept on toward the setting sun. Five children were born in N. J., viz., Henry, Joseph. Jacob,


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Ann and Elizabeth, and five in Ohio, viz., John, Isaac, James, Mary and Ezra. John Bimm, with his wife and family. first stopped at the La Fayette House, on 3d street, where Mr. Huffman lived and kept store, and his first acquaintance was Col. George Newcom, who proved to be a warm and devoted friend, and who gave him the use of' his cabin until he could provide one for himself and family. His first work in Ohio was for Col. Grimes and D. C. Cooper, about which time Mr. Cooper offered him the let, upon which the jail now stands, for five days' work, but Mr. Bimm thought the lot was too dear, as it was then a frog pond. From Col. Newcom's he moved to Huffman's farm, thence to Cozard's, thence to near the Edgar farm on the Shaker pike, and from there to the farm of H. G. Phillips, on which the cabin stood to the right of the large brick now standing there. About this time he bought from Dr. John Steele thirty acres of land on the hill, by Hawes' Mill, upon which he erected a two-storied frame house, and here he died in 1847, his wife having died two years previous. The subject of this sketch was the youngest in a family of' ten children, and was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, May 3, 1829, his early youth being passed on the farm, which was his father's vocation. When but twelve years old he began clerking in Herman's grocery store, of Dayton, where he remained one year, when he returned to the farm, on which he worked about a year ; he then came to Dayton and began working at carpentering for Ware & Wareham, then for Mr. Smith, in what was at that time called Frenchtown, after which he returned home, spent one winter at Harshman's, going to school. and then entered his brother Joseph's store where he clerked for two or three years. About this time he formed a desire of going to California, which he relinquished when given an interest in his brother's store, which partnership existed for sixteen years when they divided it, each taking as a partner a son of Joseph's both of whom soon died, and then Ezra took the grocery and ice business and Joseph the pork business, and a farm. Two years ago Mr. Bimm gave two of his sons an interest in the business, the firm being now E. Bimm & Sons, which is recognized as one of the leading houses of' Dayton. Our subject built the first artificial ice lake in the county, which is located close to the Barney & Smith Car Works, and there erected buildings with a capacity of 50,000 tons of ice, in which line he does an immense business. Mr. Bimm was married October 19. 1852, to Miss Sarah Beardshear, daughter of Isaac and Sarah ( Booker) Beardshear, of Harrison Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio, to whom has been born three sons, viz„ Levi, Joseph and Herman H., all living and young men of bright promise. Politically Mr. Bimm is a Republican, has always taken a warm interest in the success of his party, was a member of the City Council from 1859 to 1864 inclusive and assisted in organizing the present fire department of Dayton. He has been a director of the Fireman's Insurance Company of Dayton for sixteen years; is a director of the Wayne St. R. R.; is a member of I. O. O. F. and he and family belong to the Lutheran Church. Mr. Bimm is a man of courteous, affable manners, possessing a warm and generous nature. Keen, shrewd and sagacious in business, his success has been marked by straightforward upright dealing with his fellowmen, and from a poor boy he has risen by his own efforts to a foremost place in the commercial arena of his native county.

WESLEY BOREN, brick manufacturer and contractor, Dayton. He is a son of Greenberry and Mary (Ruble) Boren, and was born in Tennessee, near Jonesboro, December 2, 1816, where he lived until 1836, when he removed to Dayton, Ohio, and began the trade of brick mason with Daniel Richmond. In 1843; began business for himself, manufacturing brick and contracting the erection of buildings and is still engaged in said business. His parents were both natives of Maryland, and moved to Tennessee in an early day, where they lived until the death of the father in 1874. He being ninety-two years old, when Wesley brought his mother to Dayton, where she died in 1880 in her ninety-first year. Wesley served two terms as Councilman in the city of Dayton from 1845 to 1849. He is a Master Mason of Dayton Lodge, No. 147, F. A. A. M. Also a member of Montgomery Lodge, No. 5, I. O. O. F. He was married, Nov. 2, 1842, to Lydia Coblentz, daughter of Peter and Barbary (Ruble) Coblentz. Of their eight children but four are now living, viz., Amanda A., Mary C., Alice J. and John W. Mrs. Boren was born in Frederick county, Md., November 6, 1814. She came to


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Montgomery County. Ohio, with her father in 1832. He died in 1851, her mother having died when Lydia was but nine years old. Mr. and Mrs. Boren have been members of the Raper M. E. Church of Dayton over fifty years. Mr. B.. was the contractor and builder of said church. He was a class leader twenty-five years. and has been trustee fifteen years. By his honesty and industry, he has accumulated quite a snug fortune. and has been much respected by all who knew him.

DAVID K. BOYER, Justice of the Peace. Dayton. son of David and Elizabeth Baker Boyer, was born in Raphoe Township, Lancaster Co.. Penn. December 19, 1811. His paternal grandfather was born near Metz. Germany ; his maternal grandfather was born in Hesse-Cassel. His father was born in a section of country called Mulbach, in Lancaster County Penn., in 1770, and died in the same county August 8, 1822. His mother was born in Lancaster City, Lancaster Co.. Penn.. 1775, and died in Parke County, Ohio, in April. 1852. Our subject came to this county April 27, 1840. He had a very limited German and English education in his youth, and was consequently obliged to rely on his was for a means of obtaining a livelihood. H e first kept a tavern at the seven mile store on the Covington pike, after which the taught school in Butler Township, and, on the 28th of April. 1841. he moved to Dayton, where he entered the store of Henry Harman in the capacity of clerk. He next engaged in peddling goods from a budget under his arm. On the 38th of June, 1843, he moved to Union, Montgomery County, and opened a store, in which He continued until elected

Sheriff of' the county in 1856. He moved into the old jail November 3. 185G. His election being contested. the was ousted from office by political influence on the 15th of June, 1857. As an indication of the people's opinion of this unjust and unwarranted action, he was nominated and elected Clerk of the Court at the first election following (October 1857). To this office he was reelected in 1860. and after serving out his full term he entered the wholesale notion business, but with poor success. He then engaged in life and fire insurance, and continued in this until 1876, when he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, in which capacity he still continues. He was married on April 2, 1835, to Hannah Eby, of Manheim, Lancaster Co., Penn., by whom he had six children, three boys and three girls; of these, two boys and one girl now surviye. Mrs. Boyer died on the 21st of August, 1880. Mr. Boyer is a member of the Scottish and York Rites of Masons, and an Odd Fellow. He has been Grand Elector of the first Masonic District for the last six years. He left Pennsylvania with a one-horse wagon, $94 of money, and a family of two children. All that he has now, he has made by personal effort, and has no one to thank for his success but himself.

JOSIAH E. BOYER, iron and stove foundry, Dayton. This gentleman was born in Manheim, Lancaster Co., Penn. January 12, 1836. He is a son of D. K. Boyer, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work, and Hannah (Eby) Boyer. He came to Ohio with his father in 1840, and with him located in Union, Montgomery County in 1843. His education was obtained before his twelfth year of age, at which time he began clerking in the store his father then kept. When approaching his majority, he came to Dayton, and for six months acted as Deputy Sheri$. Shortly after this his father was elected Clerk of the Court and he entered upon the duties of' that office fur his father. He is said to have been the first man, not of the legal profession to successfully conduct the business of that office. This is rather remarkable when we remember that he took control of the office as a green country boy, knowing nothing of the legal formalities with which the duties of that office abound. But nevertheless he carried on the affairs of the office until 1864 with great credit to himself and father. In 1864, he commenced the business of stove manufacturing, and started an extensive iron foundry with John MacMaster under the firm name of Boyer & MacMaster as it now exists. He was married August 24, 1865, to Miss M. Lizzie Kneisley, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Koogler) Kneisley, who came to this county from Pennsylvania. By this marriage one child was born, November 30, 1869, and named David Kneisley Eby Boyer. April 22, 1877, Mr. Boyer was robbed of the comfort and companionship of his wife by death, and he has since remained single. He has never taken a very active part in politics, although twice elected Water-Works Commissioner, and for some years was President of that


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board, being its President during the centennial year. He was the originator of and prime mover in the Mutual and Home Savings Association organized in 1873, of which he was the first Secretary and its President since 1875. He is Past Grand of Wayne Lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F., and also President of the Dayton Life Insurance Association. In conclusion, he is a gentleman possessed of clear-headed business qualifications, which, aided by an active brain and a persistence of purpose characteristic of all successful financiers, has obtained for this firm and their goods a reputation as the leading stove house in the Miami Valley.

CHRISTIAN F. BREMER. retired, was born June 22, 1823, in Wulkow, close to Sandaw, Prussia, Germany. and is the son of Gottlieb and Mina (Detrick) Bremer, who lived and died in the Fatherland. The parents removed to Bredow, close to Nauen, when Christian F. was but five years old, and there he received his education and grew to manhood, learning the tailor's trade in the city of Berlin. In the spring of 1852, he was married, close to Frankfort-on-the-Main, to Sophia Voght, a native of Hesse-Cassel, and in June of the same year came to America, where he felt that freedom and prosperity went hand in hand, landing in New York with but 17 cents as the sole fortune of' himself and wife (and this small sum was given by the Captain of' the ship to their boy, while on the passage from Germany, he began working at his trade in that city. and soon afterward went to Baltimore, Md., where he worked four years on the bench. In 1856, he came West, remaining a short time in Parke County. Ohio; thence removed to Dayton, where he continued tailoring as a journeyman for about eight years. when he entered into a partnership with Edward McCann in a merchant tailoring establishment, which was soon dissolved, when his brother Charles took McCann's place. and they carried on a successful business for about three years, then sold out and our subject purchased 1521 acres of timber land in Parke County, Ohio, and went into the wood, fie and timber business, running a large gang of men, and working early and late in clearing up the land. Here he spent nine years, then sold his farm and returned to Dayton, remaining retired from active business about two years, when he went into the grocery business on the corner of First and Sears streets, which he ran about ten months, when he sold out and again retired. In May, 1881, he went on a trip to Germany for the purpose of visiting his friends and the scenes of his childhood days, returning to Dayton in September, 1881. Mr. Bremer began life in the New World a very poor man, but by constant toil and earnest effort, coupled with steady, saving habits, he has secured a comfortable competence, and with his wife can now enjoy peace, plenty and happiness, the legitimate heirloom of industrious, well-spent lives.

ANTHONY C. BROWN, hatter, Dayton, was born in Sussex County, N. J., September 15, 1816. He came to Ohio in 1817 with his parents and settled in Greene County and in 1825, they moved to Darke County. Anthony came to Dayton in 1851. His brother, Henry M., established the hat store in 1837, and was succeeded by Anthony in 1861. He is located on North Main street, where he keeps a full line of hafs of the very best quality and of the latest styles.

O. B. BROWN, attorney, Dayton, was born in Jeddo, Orleans Co., N. Y., June 22, 1853. His parents were Col. Edwin F. Brown, a native of New York, born April 23, 1823, and Elizabeth (Britt) Brown, a native of the same place, who was born May 24, 1824, and died June 21, 1878. They were married September 25, 1844, and had four children, all sons--Charles Lee, Will J., Oren B. and Edwin F., all surviving but Will J., who was lost in the West in 1874, and is supposed to be dead. Col. Brown, the father, is a farmer, merchant and soldier. He was Colonel of the 28th N. Y. V. I., having enlisted during the first year of the war and serving two years, that being the full time for which he enlisted. He lost his left arm at the battle of Cedar Mountain August 9, 1862. After the war, he was elected Clerk of the Courts for Orleans County. In 1868, he was appointed Governor of the National Soldiers' Home at Dayton, in which capacity he served until promoted to the office of Inspector General of National Homes for disabled volunteer soldiers in September, 1880. Our subject came to Dayton April 14, 1869. and attended a private school at the old military institute, and


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afterward at the city high school. He also attended Dennison University at Granville, Ohio, until January 1, 1874, when he left the Sophomore-class of that college and entered the same class in Princeton College, Princeton, N. J. From this latter he graduated June, 1876, and at once commenced reading law with Gunckle & Rowe, of Dayton. He was admitted to the bar September 1, 1878, and has since been in the practice of his profession. He was nominated for Clerk of the Court in September, 1881, and elected by 111 majority, being the only Republican county officer elected at that election. He will take his seat on the 9th of March. 1882, and we can safely predict that his constituents will never regret putting him into this responsible position, as he is in every way well qualified to fill it with credit to himself and party. Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic fraternity, including Knights Templar, of the Knights of Pythias and Royal Arcanum

ELIJAH H. BROWNELL, manufacturer, Dayton; of the firm of E. H. Brownell & Co., boiler makers, was born in Fulton County, N. Y., June 20, 1828. His parents were Frederick and Ann (Polley) Brownell, natives of New York, who located at Lower Sandusky in 1842. The former was a tanner and currier by trade, and the son early assisted his parent in the business. His early literary education was obtained in night-schools only. In 1844, the family removed to Green Springs. where Mr. Brownell became acquainted with Gen. James B. McPherson, who was then a clerk in a little country store owned by Robert Smith, Mr. Brownell learned buckskin tanning. and, after assisting his father for some time, engaged in the milling trade with Matthias Stem, now in the U. S. Treasurer's office, at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1848. Mr. B. commenced running an engine in about the first steam saw-mill put in operation near Clyde, in Northern Ohio. In 1849, he went to Sandusky, anticipating going on the lakes, as engineer. While sojourning in that city, he made the acquaintance of N. H. Moore, who gave him a job of work in a boiler shop, at 75 cents per day. He remained with him one year and then went to Cleveland, soon after returning to Mr. Moore with whom he finished his trade. During these few years of labor, by strict economy and perseverance, he had been able to save a small sum of money, sufficient to invest in business for himself'. He sought a point to locate, and, after visiting Toledo, came to Dayton. He was a perfect sfranger to all but one or two, in the Valley City, but the kindness of its inhabitants and the inducements held out, caused him to locate there, and to establish a business which now excels any of its kind in Montgomery County, and of which none are more proud than those who gave the stranger timely aid and assistance when he most needed it. Mr. Brownell was so pleased with the kindness shown him, that he will always remember with grateful heart the pioneers of early Dayton. He leased a little building on Foundry street, near the railroad track, where he first commenced business. As trade increased, his buildings had to be enlarged in proportion, and at present they occupy a large space of' ground, in which is transacted an immense amount of business, a sketch of which will be found in another chapter. Mr. Brownell has worked all his life, and given his entire time and attention to his business, the success of which proves this statement. Mr. Brownell also built and started the machine shop and foundry now owned and operated by John R. Brownell and Martin Schneible. Mr. Brownell was married, Nov. 10, 1859, to Sarah A. Warman, a native of New Jersey, who came to Montgomery County in 1854. Of their eleven children, ten are living--Phebe, Minnie, Jennie, Frederick, Addeson, Lincoln, Clara, Elijah J., Sarah, Nellie and Dollie. An infant is deceased. Mr. B. united with the Baptist Church, during the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Dickinson, and officiated as Trustee in the Union Avenue Church for some years. His father was a Whig in politics, and the son followed in his footsteps until the birth of the Republican party. He then enlisted under its banner, and during the dark "night of gloom" was an earnest advocate on the Union side, and a warm supporter of the doctrines and principles of the martyred Lincoln. Elijah H. Brownell is a man among many. Commencing life as a poor boy, he has risen, step by step, to a position where, by spotless integrity, true benevolence, and genial good nature, he has won the respect of all, and gained a host of warm personal friends. Mr. Brownell's father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was sta-


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tioned at Sackett's Harbor, under Gen. Brown; and six of his mother's uncles fought for liberty during the Revolutionary war.

STEPHEN THOMAS BRYCE, manufacturer of furnaces, Dayton, was born on the 29th day of September, 1840, in the town of Burchville, St. Clair Co., Mich. At the age of six years, his father died, leaving his widow with a family of six children, three boys and three girls, to support. In the year 1846, the family removed to the village of Kilworth in Canada, where they continued to reside until 1851, when they moved to Port Huron, Mich. It was during their residence in Canada, and the subsequent two years, that the subject of this sketch obtained what schooling he ever received. About this time. in the winter of 1853-54, his mother married again. The stepfather being a lumberman. during the following years.' until he was twenty-one, Mr. Bryce spent in that business. In winter he was occupied in the pineries, and in spring, summer and autumn he was engaged in rafting and carpentering and generally converting the logs into lumber. buildings, etc. October 4,1861. Mr. Bryce enlisted in the Third Michigan Cavalry, Company H, and was made First Sergeant, which position he held during the three years of his service in the army. Although in the summer of 1862, through the recommendation of his Captain --Highwood--his name had been sent in for promotion to a Lieutenancy. The recommendation was approved, and the commission forwarded, but, in the meantime, Capt. H. had resigned, and the First Lieutenant having become Captain before the commission was delivered. and Mr. B. being at that time confined to his tent by sickness, exerted such influence as caused it to be returned and conferred on another. Mr. B. served with his regiment, beginning with the siege and capture of New Madrid, Island No. 10 and Corinth, and all subsequent campaigns in Wrest Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama, up to the spring of 1864. The regiment then re-enlisted ; Mr. B.. declining to follow its example. was detailed by order of Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn, then commanding the Sixteenth Army Corps, to detached service in the transportation office in Memphis, in which position he remained until his term of seryice expired, October 4, 1864, when he went to Detroit and was mustered out. The following winter he spent in the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College, in Detroit. In fhe spring of 1805, he returned to Memphis. Tenn.; after remaining there two or three months, he changed base to New York City. He there became engaged with a firm, his field of work being principally the State of New Jersey. September 29. of that year, being his twenty-fifth birthday. he was married near Sharpstown, N. J.. to Miss Adelaide M. Webber, daughter of John Webber. of Dayton. who was at that time visiting her relatives in that State During the following winter and spring. they resided in New York City. The following April of 1866. they moved to Dayton, Mr. B. going into the stone business, which he has followed ever since. having been largely identified with the building interests throughout this section of the State, also in Chicago, and many other cities at a distance. In politics Mr. B. grew up a Democrat of the Douglas school, but since the war he has been actively in sympathy with the Republican party. In the spring of 1877 he was elected to the City Council from the Fifth Ward, in which position he continued until his term had nearly expired; i. e., two years, when he resigned. In the spring of 1880. he was again elected to the Council, this time to represent the Tenth Ward, upon the organization of Council he was elected President of that body, with what ability and satisfaction may be shown by his unanimous re-election to the Presidency the following year, every Republican and Democrat in Council voting for him, which, in these days of party strife. may be considered the highest of compliments. He is still occupying the chair as President of Council. Be has a family, consisting of five daughters and two sons, as follows. May Eloise, John Webber, Angie Helena, Ada Marietta, Daisy Florence. Stephen Dudley and Edna Annetta. In April, 1881, Mr. Bryce retired from the stone and contracting business, and is now in partnership with Mr. Walker, engaged in manufacturing the Fair Natural Draft Furnace, also the " Monarch '' Furnace. for heating public and private buildings, the latter of which Mr. Bryce is the inventor of, and which the manufacturers claim to be the best in the market.


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CHARLES BURROUGHS, retired, Dayton. He is an old, retired lumber merchant of the city of' Dayton. He is a son of Joseph and Mima (Hendrickson) Burroughs, and was born July 22, 1810, near Trenton, N. J.. where he lived until twenty-three years old ; and, in 1833, moved to Dayton, Ohio, and engaged with Mr. David Zigler Cooper to work on the saw-mill, and, at the death of' Mr. Cooper, rented the mill and ran it until 1846, when he gave it up and engaged in the lumber trade, which he carried on quite extensively until 1871, when he sold out and retired from business. He landed in Dayton with $2.50, with which he began business, and with willing hands, a good character, and an indomitable will, he pushed ahead until he acquired sufficient amount of wealth to meet his every want in his old age. His father died when Charles was but ten years old. After working some five years on a farm, he worked at shoemaking until he started for Ohio. He was Vice President of the Dayton Savings' Bank two years; is still one of the stockholders of said bank. Mr. B. is pleasantly located at No. 409 East Fifth street. He is the only one of his father's family that ever came West. except a brother that resided a short time in Dayton, Ohio, and then returned to New Jersey.

ROBERT YOUNG CHAMBERS, deceased, was born in Parish Kyle, Queens County, Ireland, May 8, 1808. At the age of twenty-two years, he left home via Dublin for Liverpool, from which point he sailed for America on May 14, 1830, in the ship William and John, of West Florida. He landed in New York July 7, 1830, and started at once for the West, stopping first at Braddock's Field, Penn., where he remained for a short time, but was induced to go on to Cincinnati, where he arrived December 2, 1830. He did not stop at Cincinnati, but pushed on by stage to Dayton. where he arrived on the 9th of December, 1830. He first obtained employment as foreman in the pork packing establishment of Davie. In this capacity he continued until he took command of' the canal boat Messenger for the same firm. which then occupied the southwest corner of the canal basin. He remained in their employ until their failure, when he obtained a similar position of one Ritchie. About this time, June 8, 1836, he was married in St. Peter's Church, Cincinnati, to Miss Eliza Mullin, of Cincinnati, formerly of County Antrim, Ireland. In 1838, he removed with his family to Dayton, where he accepted a position with the late Alexander Simms in the grocery firm of Simms & Sayres, in which he soon obtained an interest, and continued the business under the firm name of Chambers, Simms & Sayres. He afterward, by a succession of changes, became, in 1845, the senior member of the firm of Chambers & Harris, with Mr. John Harris. They purchased at the same time the competition business of Esterbrook & Phelps, who had purchased the established business of Reach, Emdie & Co. Chambers & Harris then controlled two of the largest commission houses in Dayton for eleven years, at the expiration of which time they dissolved their partnership relations, and Mr. Chambers built the building known to old residents as the factory," and established " Chambers' Line," an independent line of canal packets running from Cincinnati to Toledo. About this time, he suffered a loss by fire, which consumed his building, but he built again on the old site what is known as Chambers' Warehouse. Hit business began to assume large proportions, and his boats became such a source of anxiety to the Sandusky Railroad Company (the first road here), that they made repeated proposals to buy them, but their offers were refused, and he continued in his ever-increasing business until his retirement in 1873, after nearly half a century spent in the most active business. He left his business to his son, .John M., and Mr. M. W. Chambers, and paid a visit to the haunts of his childhood in his native land, only to find his friends and relatives gone. He died in May, 1876, aged just sixty-eight years, leaving a host of mourning friends behind. His life, spent in honest activity, was not sullied by a single stain. He was a consistent communicant of the Catholic Church, but his charities extended to all denominations. At his death, his family of nine children had dwindled to five--one son, who died in 1879, and four daughters. who still occupy the old homestead on East Second street.

CHARLES EDWIN CLARK, son of David and Hannah (Halderman) Clark, was born in the old county jail (Dayton), .July 31, 1850, during his father's second


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term of Sheriff of the county. His father was afterward County Treasurer for two terms and for five years just previous to the war the editor and proprietor of the Daily and Weekly Empire. The later years of David Clark's life were fraught with many sorrows and cares. Through misfortunes, which are familiar to the old friends of the family, he had been reduced from comparative affluence to the position of hard toil for the support of his family. To save those who had trusted him from financial loss, David Clark and his devoted wife gave up the snug fortune they possessed to the last dollar, and bravely began anew the struggle for means to educate their children.



Charles, though at that time but a mere boy, contributed not a little towards the family's support. He was always ready to turn an honest penny by work at anything. Each year his school vacation and oftentimes his spare evenings for study were spent at the hard work of a young clerk in an ice cream saloon and confectionery, toiling six-teen or seventeen hours a day during the hot months of the year, whilst his school-mates were enjoying their vacation as only school boys can enjoy such freedom. Young Clark never murmured--he was only too glad to be able to ease, though in a small degree, the burdens of the father he idolized.

Mr. Clark received a common school education. The death of his father compelled him to withdraw from the high school, where he had been a student for about one year, to aid his mother in the support of his brothers and sister. Mr. N. Ohmer gave him his first regular employment in his Union Depot Restaurant, where he remained some years. In May, 1871, he entered the employ of Maj. W. D. Bickham, editor and proprietor of the Daily Journal, as office-boy, where he soon worked his way up to bookkeeper. In the spring of 1873, he accepted the position of business manager of the Daily and Weekly Kentuckian, Paducah, Ky., in which city he resided for some months. Returning to Dayton he was married to Miss Maria Dee Truesdell, a teacher in the Dayton Public Schools, and a few weeks later again entered the employ of Maj. Bickham, as business manager of the Dayton Journal, a position he has uninterruptedly held to this day. Mr. Clark, though a stanch Republican, has not meddled much in politics. He has held but one political office, that of City Councilman, for one term. In April, 1879, he was the unanimous nominee of his party for Councilman from the old Fifth Ward. Although the ward was something like 100 votes politically opposed to Mr. Clark, he was elected after a short but hot contest by a majority of twenty-one votes over his Democratic opponent, Mr. T. C. Dobbins, a prominent hardware merchant. He made a faithful and a conscientious Councilman. During his entire term of two years he was absent from but one meeting of the Council, and that was occasioned by the death of a near and dear friend--a brother Councilman.

It was mainly through Mr. Clark's plucky efforts that the " Sunday ordinance" became a law of the city. He also energetically labored by arguments and all fair means to have the Ordinance to restrain animals from running at large within the city limits" adopted. These measures met with the vehement opposition of many citizens and dire were the threats of political annihilation to all who had a hand in making such laws. To such threats Mr. Clark once made answer : " I am sorry to have your ill will. I believe you are honest in your opposition to me, but your threats do not dismay me, nor shall they deter me from doing my duty as I conscientiously understand it." Mr. Clark's term of Councilman expired in the spring of 1881, and he peremptorily declined to be a candidate for re-election. Two brothers of Mr. Clark, Lieut. R. G. Clark, Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and William V. Clark, Eighty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, died the death of soldiers in the Union army, during the war. His mother still resides in the family residence, which has been her home for thirty years. He has three living brothers and two sisters, viz. : George R. Clark, proprietor of the Port Clinton (Ohio) News ; David P. Clark, of Miamisburg, Ohio ; Douglas Clark, of Pittsburgh, Penn.; Mrs. F. M. Althoff and Miss Lottie E. Clark, Dayton.

JOSEPH CLEGG. director in gas company, Dayton, was born in England April 8, 1814. His father, Thomas Clegg, was born in or near Manchester, Eng., in the year 1790, and after receiving, through his own exertions, a liberal education, engaged in the


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manufacture of cotton goods, having learned the weaving of silk when but a boy. He was married, in 1810, to Miss Ann Brierly, who died in 1817. In the year following the death of his wife, he, with four sons, of whom our subject was third in the order of birth, came to America, and in 1820 located in Montgomery County. Ohio. In 1824, he came to Dayton, which was then but a village of 1,100 inhabitants, where the remainder of his life was mostly spent. Here he started an establishment for the manufacture of cotton goods, which soon proved to be a prosperous and paying business. he keeping pace in success with the rapid growth of the village. Mr. Clegg continued an active, enterprising and substantial citizen of Dayton until 1850, when he made an overland trip to California, being one of the first to adopt that route. After a stay of ten years in the Golden State, he returned to Dayton, but in after years made repeated trips to the same State. The last twenty years of his life were spent in Dayton, his time being devoted mostly to intellectual pursuits, of which he was very fund. He died in 1879, having reached the ripe old age of fourscore and nine years, and leaving behind him a record of a life well spent and of' talents well employed. Of the four sons who accompanied him from England, only two survive, viz., James B. and Joseph, the latter being the subject of this sketch. He has been almost a life-long citizen of Montgomery County. His education was mainly obtained at night and Sunday schools, and entirely through his untiring zeal in the pursuit of knowledge. His early life was spent in the factories of' his father. Being of an enterprising spirit. he has risen to the rank of the most substantial citizens of Dayton. He has accumulated a large amount of property, which to-day dots the city in all directions, standing as monuments of his successful career and shrew business tact. One of his first enterprises was the erection of a cotton factory and linseed oil mill. About this time, he associated himself with the late Daniel Beckel and the late William Dickey in the organization of' the Farmers' Bank, which has long since ceased to exist. In 1851, these same gentlemen organized the Dayton Fire Insurance Company, which is now a well-known and successful corporation. They afterward organized the Mad River Valley Bank. Still later, Mr. Clegg became prominently associated with the Dayton Gaslight and Coke Company, in which he has since been an active and valuable member and for many years a Director. Among the edifices which decorate the city and are owned by him are the "Old Clegg Block," on East Third street, now known as the Superior Court Building; the Jefferson Street Block. fronting 100 feet on the street, after which it was named, and another on Fifth street; the last two named forming a part of what is to be known as " "Clegg's Opera Block," one of the finest and most prominent private enterprises of the city. In addition to these. Mr. Clegg owns Clegg's brown stone block on East Third street, and several fine residences, among them being his own handsome home and the residence of the late Daniel Beckel, both located on South Jefferson street. He also possesses many minor buildings, which, though of considerable value in themselves, are of too little importance to mention here. Mr. Clegg's identification with the enterprises of the city have tended to the elevation of its social standing and the education of the rising generation. His political affiliations have ever been with the Whig and Republican parties, and during the war of the rebellion his contributions, in aid of the Union cause, should alone warrant to him the high esteem of all. He has been for many years a member of' the Episcopal Church, and was a valuable and efficient worker in the Sabbath school at an early day, and during this time his benefices have been constant and generous. He was married, in 1835, to Miss Tirzah Bailey, daughter of John Bailey, one of the first settlers of Montgomery County. The issue of this marriage consisted of three children, two of whom survive, viz., Mrs. V. H. Wood, a lady of high culture and rare social attainments and wife of Capt. E. M. Wood, who is now largely engaged in manufacturing linseed oil, as the senior member of the firm of Wood, Archer & Co., of this city. The other surviving child is Charles B. Clegg, who, with Capt. Wood, was associated with his father in business; but upon the latter retiring, Charles and M. Wood continued the business, in connection with Messrs. W. S. and G. A. Archer, under the then firm title of Clegg, Wood & Co. Charles B. has recently withdrawn from his active position in the firm


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for recreation. He is President of and a large stockholder in the Oakwood Street Railway, to which enterprise he has devoted much of his time. He is also largely interested in and connected with the management of the other street railways of the city, being a Director of the Third Street route. He has not yet reached the meridian of be, but, though comparatively young, we may safely predict that his future will fully satisfy every reasonable hope of his many friends. His marriage was celebrated in 1861, with Miss Hattie, daughter of the late Horace Pease, who was a well-known and highly respected citizen of Dayton. Their united life existed throughout a period of five years, when death called her home, leaving a husband and two children--Helen W. and Harry P.

REV. H. F. COLBY, pastor first Baptist Church, Dayton. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Boston Highlands, Massachusetts, in 1842. He is the son of' Gardner Colby a merchant of Boston. Most of his early days were spent in Newton, Mass. He graduated from Brown University, Providence, R. I., in 1862. After studying law for some months and spending nearly a year in Europe, he took a full course of study in the Newton Theological Institution, from which he graduated in 1867. In the fall of the same year, he came to Dayton. Ohio, and was ordained to the ministry and became pastor of the First Baptist Church. In this position, be has continued fourteen years and has been settled longer in Dayton as a pastor than any other of the ministers in the city. In 1870, he was married to Miss M. L. Chamberlain, daughter of Edward Chamberlain, Esq., of Boston. He has four children, one daughter and three sons.

EDWARD CONWAY, dentist. Dayton. This gentleman was born in Annapolis, Md., in 1829, and came to Ohio with his parents three years later. While still in his youth, he took a position in one of the principal dry goods houses in St. Louis, Mo., as a salesman in the fancy goods department, where he proved himself highly competent, but. being desirous of acquiring a profession, he returned to this State, and at nineteen years of age placed himself under the instruction of an able dentist and physician. Having completed his studies, he again placed himself under the instruction of Dr. Jones, now deceased, who was one of Dayton's most skilled dentists and respected citizens. The sole object of Dr. Conway in this his second course of study, was to obtain a thorough knowledge of the various metals best adapted to the use of dentistry. Dr. Jones being an expert in that branch of business, having given it a life-long study. For two years, Dr. Conway pursued his studies without one cent of remuneration. He practiced with marked success in Bellefontaine two years ; during this time Dr. McCandes was his medical preceptor. Here he acquired a practical knowledge of medicine and became quite an expert as a practitioner. Being a skilled physician in all its branches, he has given many years of study to dentistry in all its details, making the analyzation of the various metals a special study in order to ascertain the kind of metals best adapted for his use. This is one of the great secrets of' dentistry, as many a patient's health is ruined on account of' injury from metals and other materials not adapted to the mouth or condition of the stoma ch. The Doctor never uses rubber on this account; nor does he use metals but that which the test of science and long practice has proved to be safe under every circumstance. Gold, silver and platina he recommends and uses in his practice daily. He also uses "virgin" metal--a combination of his own--which he considers equal if not superior to any in use. The doctor has made many improvements in connection with dentistry that are sanctioned and recognized by the leading dentists of the country.

WILLIAM E. CRUME, manufacturer, Dayton. This gentleman is a descendant of an old Welsh family that emigrated to America and located in Maryland about the year 1768. His paternal great-grandfathers, Jesse Crume and Matthew Richardson, came from Maryland to Butler County, Ohio, in 1802. Mr. Crume shortly afterward moved to Kentucky. Mr. Richardson served the terms of 1804 and 1806 in the Ohio Legislature. The great-grandfathers in the maternal line were James Martin, a native of Maryland, and David Steele, a native of Ireland. The paternal grandparents were John C. Crume, who came from Kentucky to Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, in 1810, and


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returning to Kentucky, died in 1815 ; and Sarah Richardson, of Maryland, who came to Butler County with her parents in 1803. The maternal grandparents were David Steele, a native of Scotland, and Nancy A. (Martin) Steele, a native of Ireland. The father was born in Butler County, Ohio, and in this State where he married Nancy Steele, he lived during the whole of his life. William E., the subject hereof; was born in Collinsville, Butler Co., Ohio, March 26, 1848, and remained there until 185S, when he moved with his father to Muscatine, Iowa, where they remained two years, and then removed to Somerville, Butler Co., Ohio. May 1, 1864, William enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being then but, sixteen years of age. He was mustered out in September, 1864, and, on the 2d of February following, he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from which he was mustered at Nashville, Tenn., October 3, 1865. After the war, he returned to Ohio, and, in September, 1866, came to Dayton, where he learned the trade of carpentering and building with Mr. Andrew Slertz. He worked at his trade until February, 1874 when he started a box-factory ; but, finding this only a local business. he, in 1877, originated his present business, which he conducted in connection with the box-manufacture. The new enterprise grew so rapidly that he was obliged to dispose of the box-factory and devote his entire attention and capital to the new departure. He soon associated with him the late Mr. P. M. Aulabaugh, and afterward Mr. J. W. Sefton, under the firm name of Aulabaugh, Crume & Co., but, on the death of Mr. Aulabaugh, the remaining partners purchased his interest, and now conduct their business under the name of " The Crume & Sefton Manufacturing Company." They supply a large portion of the country with their curious little paper and wood plates for grocers, oyster and berry pails, and folding ice cream and candy boxes. Their business, which is an extensive one, is treated of' properly in our industrial chapter of the city of Dayton. Mr. Crume was elected a member of the Council in April, 1877 ; was re-elected in April, 1880, and elected Vice President of the Board in April. 1881.

ISAAC DAVIS, coal dealer, Dayton, was born in Bellebrook, Greene Co., Ohio, September 15, 1839. His father; Jonathan Davis, who was an Elder in the Central Christian Church of Dayton, was born in Delaware State July 15, 1808, and settled in Bellebrook in 1830, where he started life as a poor farm boy. December 12, 1830, he married Anoxa Sivalla Silvers, who was born in Greene County, August 19, 1812, by whom he had four children, all girls. She died on April 15, 1838, and on July 25, 1838, he married Sarah Ann Darst, who was born in Greene County November 17, 1814, and who blest him with seven sons and one daughter. He died September 3, 1875, leaving his wife and ten children and twenty-two grandchildren. His wife died July 9, 1880. Isaac, our subject, who was of the issue of the second marriage, came to Dayton in 1864, and was followed by his father two years after. He was educated in the common schools, after which he attended the National Normal University of' Lebanon, Ohio, to prepare himself for teaching, and after teaching one year in Greene County, he went to Cincinnati, where he attended the Medical Institute of Cincinnati. He then read medicine with Dr. Curtis, of Cincinnati, for two years, after which he came to Dayton, and, giving up his profession, went into the tobacco business with Mr. Cotterill now of Cotterill, Fenner & Co. He afterward closed up his tobacco business and commenced dealing in coal, in which business he has since continued. He was married, December 24, 1867, to Miss Caroline E. Houghtelin of Dayton, who, after bearing him three sons, died August 25, 1879, with what the doctors pronounced yellow fever. Mr. Davis is a man of integrity and great business tact, is well known in the community and has the respect and esteem of all.

SOLOMON DAY, school teacher, Dayton. The subject of the following sketch was born November 24, 1841, near Janesfield, in Jefferson Township, Logan Co., Ohio. His father, after whom he was named, was born near Cross Keys, South Hampton Co., Va., about the year 1790. By the fortunate accident of having sprung--on his mother's side--from one of the F. F. V.'s-- though his father was a negro slave--he was "free born." Ann Barnell, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was born near Little York, Penn., in the year 1801, and was of Quaker origin, her mother Ann Packer, belonging to the numerous Packer family of Quakers which has fig-


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ured so largely in the past history of that State. "Young Solomon," at the age of nine, was crippled with white swelling. His father dying soon after, he was left to be reared by his mother, who, with a large family of children to support. and with but scanty means, could do but little to assist him in obtaining an education, though feeling deeply solicitous for him in that direction. For three years he was confined to the house by his lameness ; after that, until he was seventeen years old, his only educational advantages was attending an obscure country school daring the winter. By dint of hard study both in and out of school, he managed, at the age of seventeen, to obtain a certificate to teach school from the Board of Examiners of his native county, and after teaching a five months' term, obtained the money to pay his board and tuition at Oberlin College one quarter. He attended that college irregularly from 1859 to 1865, teaching a portion of the time in various parts of the State to procure the means to go to school. In 1870, he came to Dayton to take charge of the colored school, succeeding Mr. Samuel Peters, who had resigned his position to accept an appointment as cashier of the Freedman's Bank at Shreveport, La. He has had charge of that school for nearly ten years, and with excellent results, many of his pupils now occupying important positions as teachers, and some filling clerical positions in Government employ. Mr. Day has long been identified with the educational interests of his people, and for a number of years has taken an active part in politics, and is a firm believer in the possibilities of his race for achievements equal in every particular to the various races which go to make up the great American Nation.

WILLIAM DEIKLER, dealer in agricultural implements, Dayton, son of Sebastian and Mary Ann Deikler, was born February 9, 1835, in Navre, Germany. Emigrated to America, with his parents, in 1843, and located in Butler County, Ohio, where he remained until 1851, when he removed to Montgomery County, Ohio, and purchased a farm in Perry Township. His father was a shoemaker by trade, and carried on the same until his death. He died in May, 1866. His mother died in May, 1880. William served an apprenticeship with his father at the shoe trade, but has devoted the most of his time to farming. He was married October 22, 1867, to Miss Margaret Fisher, daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth M. Fisher. They have five children--Mary C., Annie. Joseph, Laura M. and Margaret E. In 1880, Mr. Deikler engaged in the agricultural implement trade, under the firm name of William Deikler & Co, at No. 210 East Third street, Dayton. where they keep a full line of all first class and the best improved farm machinery. Also a complete assortment of fresh seeds.

WILLIAM DICKEY, deceased. Among the successful self-made men of Dayton, few were better known or more thoroughly respected than the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this biography. His father, Adam Dickey, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in the year 1768, where he lived until seventeen years of age, when, with that love of freedom characteristic of his race, he emigrated to America, locating in Pennsylvania, where, about 1790, he was married to Mary McKee, and nine years later, with his wife and three children, he started for the West and settled at Fort Washington (now Cincinnati), where he was afterward joined by two of his brothers, who had also left their oppressed fatherland to seek a home in the New World. Here he began the manufacture of brick, making the brick for the first house of that kind erected at that point. He followed brick-making until about. 1804, when he removed to near Middletown, Butler County, Ohio, where he engaged largely in milling, farming and distilling, building his own flatboats and shipping the produce to New Orleans, following this business until 1828, in which year he died, his wife surviving him about fifteen years and dying in 1844. Adam Dickey was a very successful business man, but., owing to reverses by fire and otherwise, his affairs were crippled to such an extent as to render him a comparatively poor man previous to his death. The subject of this sketch was born near Middleton, Butler County, Ohio, August 10, 1805, and was the seventh in a family of eleven children, of whom only one survives. His facilities for obtaining book learning were exceedingly meager, but, reared upon the soil and inured to hard labor, he acquired, by contact with the world, that practical knowledge which is the indispensable condition of success. Having arrived at his majority,


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he took a contract for work on the Miami Canal, and of all the contractors on that public work he was the last survivor. He was subsequently engaged, for several years, in a similar capacity on the Ohio Canal. On April 19, 1832, he married Miss Sarah, daughter of Benjamin Van Cleave, of Butler County, and for some years was employed in farming, having a short time previous purchased, in connection with his brother, the homestead of his father. In April, 1839, he became a resident of Dayton, where he engaged respectively in the manufacture of brick, in contracts on the Miami &, Erie Canal, and, in connection with his brothers, in quarrying limestone in the vicinity of Dayton. This last industry has since attained great magnitude. For a number of years succeeding he conducted a line of canal packets between Cincinnati and Toledo and between the latter city and Terre Haute, Ind. During some twenty years of frugal industry, he saved up quite a respectable capital, and in 1850 became a private banker, in company with Joseph Clegg. Esq., and Daniel Heckle, Esq.. the latter since deceased. He was subsequently. in connection with the above named gentleman. one of the organizers of the Miami Valley Bank, of Dayton. He was one of the incorporators of the Dayton Gaslight and Coke Company and for some twenty years its President. He was also one of the organizers of the Ohio Insurance Company. in 1865, of which he was President until his death. In 1866, he had the misfortune to lose the sight of his right eye by cataract, and nine years afterward his left eye became similarly affected. so that he was entirely deprived of the power to read and could distinguish his friends only by their voices. Mr. Dickey was a man of sound judgment and thoroughly good sense. Though deprived of the polish that education gives. he was characterized by great kindness of heart, decidedly modest manners and a quiet benevolence that never publishes its deeds to the world. He was distinguished for sterling integrity from his youth to his death. His caution and prudence. combined with the industry of his business life, have rendered his career a gratifying success, so that he ranked among the wealthiest citizens of Dayton. He died July 15, 1880, leaving a wife, son and two daughters. The son, Samuel A.. who was President of the gas company and a prominent coal merchant, died in August following the death of his father. The daughters are Mrs. Henry C. Graves, of Dayton, and Mrs. Charles B. Oglesby, of Chicago.

SAMUEL A. DICKEY, deceased. The skill of the workman chisels the rough marble block into a shaft of beauty and fashions the letters that tell of the birth, age and death of the silent sleeper beneath, but age defaces the inscription. covering the monument with the mosses of decay, while history preserves in its pages a record of the departed one that time renders more prized and valuable. In the gentleman whose name heads this sketch we have a member of one of the leading families of Dayton, and although he had but reached the meridian of life when stricken down by disease and death, had yet attained, by his own exertions and business capacity, a commanding position in the commercial arena of the Miami Valley. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, March 16, 1840, and was the son of William and Sarah Dickey, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. His boyhood days were passed in attending the schools of his native city, going thence to Wittenberg and Oxford Colleges, receiving a thorough English education. He began his business career by starting a wholesale and retail coal and general fuel depot, which he operated successfully for about seventeen years, or until failing health compelled him to retire from active business. He was married, October 12, 1865, to Miss Sarah E. Hayner, the daughter of Lewis Hayner. of Troy. Ohio, to whom was born two children--Bessie H. and Arthur C. In business circles Samuel A. Dickey was always recognized as one of the most energetic, practical men of Dayton, and in August, 1866, he was elected a Director of the Dayton Gas Company, and President of the same May 10, 1876, which he held until his death. This sad event occurred August 9, 1880, from what is known as progressive locomotor attaxia, with which he had suffered for about two years. Mr. Dickey was a man of a quiet, unassuming disposition, kind and charitable, devoid of all ostentation, a man of actions rather than words, whom the poor and afflicted never sought help from in vain, and in his home he was ever the fond father and affectionate husband. As President of the Gas Company he was looked upon as a shrewd, efficient and capable


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official, firm and unyielding in what he believed to be just, and exhibiting a knowledge of men and affairs far beyond his years ; but the brightest page in his record was that his honesty and integrity were never doubted, his word always being considered as good as his bond.

R. R. DICKEY, President of the Gas Light and Coke Company, Dayton, was born near Middletown, Ohio, October 26, 1816, and is the son of Adam and Mary (McKee) Dickey who are spoken of in the sketch of William Dickey, deceased. Our subject was the youngest of a family of eleven children, and is to-day the only survivor. At the age of eleven years, through the death of his father, he was thrown upon his own resources, and at this tender age he became employed in a brick yard, working fourteen hours per day at $4.87 per month, and, afterward worked upon a farm at $5.00 per month, where he became imbued with that spirit of industry which has characterized him through life. Under those circumstances his advantages for an education were very limited, but by observation and rough contact with the world he acquired that knowledge of men and affairs that cannot be gained in the school room. When but a lad, he began working upon public works in Ohio and Indiana, for his elder brothers, who were prominent contractors, and at the age of seventeen he was made superintendent of a large gang of men, continuing for several years on the public works of those States. In 1842. he became a resident of Dayton, where he engaged with his brothers, John and William, in quarrying stone, which he followed until 1853. In 1847, he was connected with the firm of Dickey, Doyle & Dickey, in placing a line of packet boats on the Wabash and Erie Canal, and under the firm name of Doyle & Dickey built the reservoir lock at St. Mary's, and the locks at Delphos. In 1845, he was one of the organizers of the Dayton Bank, and for several years was one of its Directors. In 1852, he became a partner in the Exchange Bank with Messers. Jonathan Harshman, V. Winters and J. R. Young, and in 1853, became one of the largest stockholders in the Dayton Gas Light & Coke Company, of which he has ever since been a Director. Mr. Dickey served as President of the Gas Company from 1855 to 1858, retiring on account of ill health, but at the annual election in August 1880, he was again elected President, and is at present filling that position in such a manner, as to reflect much credit upon his business capacity and integrity. In 1852, he became identified with the Dayton Insurance Company, and also held an interest in the Dayton & Western R. R., being President of the latter company from 1854 to 1856, inclusive. In 1856, he went to Kansas and invested largely at the first sale of the Delaware Indian trust lands, and the following year put two hundred acres under cultivation, raising the largest crop of corn grown in the State up to that time. Mr. Dickey was one of the organizers of the Dayton National Bank in 1865, and, since 1868, one of its Directors. By this it will be seen that R. R. Dickey has been one of the most active and prominent business men of this city for nearly forty years, doing his full share toward building up its moral and material interests. He was married June 27, 1850, to Miss Martha J. Winters, daughter of V. Winters, Esq., of Dayton, of which union three sons have been born, the two eldest, William W. and Valentine B., being now extensive stock-growers in Colorado. From the rough experience of his early life Mr. Dickey learned the virtues of self-reliance, industry and frugality, clear-headed, shrewd and cautious in business affairs. He is, withal, a man of genial manners and generous impulses, one who is trusted and respected throughout the community of which he has been so long a leading citizen.

GEORGE B. EVANS, M. D., Dayton, was born in Franklin, Warren County, Ohio, April 1, 1855, where he received his primary education in the high school of his native village, which he attended until 1873. He then entered the Hanover College of Indiana, from which he graduated in 1875. Having some knowledge of medicine, he commenced reading it with Dr. O. Evans, Jr., of Franklin, in the summer of 1875, and afterward attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in March, 1878. For fwo years thereafter, he practiced his profession in Middletown, Ohio. On the 17th of June, 1880, the Trustees of Hanover College conferred upon Mr. Evans the degree of A. M., and in the following fall--September 15--he was elected Assistant Physician of the Dayton Asylum for the Insane, which posi-


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tion he now occupies. Mr. Evans has descended from a line of medical men, his father and grandfather both being physicians and men who have reflected honor to the profession, the former, Dr. O. Evans, Jr., now practicing in Franklin, Ohio, of which town he is a native and where his skill as a physician is duly recognized and appreciated. His wife, who was Jane Balentine, is also a native of Franklin. Our subject is a young man of promise, and we feel warranted in saving that in him will be sustained the reputation in the medical profession of the older Evans. He has recently been appointed to make the annual alumni address before the Alumni Association of the Medical College of Cincinnati, which meets in Music Hall, March 1, 1882.

HENRY C. EVERSOLE, merchant, Dayton. The subject of this sketch was born in Van Buren Township Montgomery County, Ohio. October 1842. His father, Abraham Eversole. one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Montgomery County, was born October 9, 1804, near Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, Va., where he spent his boyhood. During his minority, he was apprenticed as a weaver and worked at the loom ; but his inclination was for farming, and when he attained his majority he commenced this occupation, at which he worked during his whole life, until within three weeks of his death. When grown to manhood, he left that part of the beautiful Potomac Valley, the place of his birth, and located at Hagerstown, Md.. where he united in marriage with Mary Logue, with whom he removed to Ohio and who died shortly after their settlement in this State. leaving two children, of whom George, a prominent farmer living near Dodson. Ohio, is the only survivor. In 1834, Mr. Eversole was married to Margaret Folkerth. a lady of excellent worth whose amiable qualities and Christian virtues endeared her to all with whom she came in contact. By this marriage, Mr. Eversole had ten children. three sons. the youngest dying in infancy, and seven daughters. all 6f whom, with the exception of our subject, are residing on farms in Montgomery County. Mr. Eversole died March 20, 1878, after forty-five years' residence in Montgomery County. Our subject worked with his father on the farm until the age of twenty-one, dividing his time in tilling the soil, attending district school three to six months in the year, and acquiring what knowledge he could at odd times in reading and storing his mind with useful information, thus attaining a standing of literary culture seldom attained by young men under like disadvantages. Immediately after becoming of age, he enlisted in the war for the suppression of the rebellion at Cincinnati on the 4th of March, 1864, as seaman on board the receiving ship Grampus, and was afterward transferred to the United States steamer " Fairy, No. 51, of the Mississippi Squadron, under command of Commodore Porter, and, after serving his country faithfully, was discharged by reason of disability. His ship was engaged in piloting transports up and down the Mississippi to Red River and the Gulf. Though engaged in no great battle, he experienced some lively encounters with rebel bushwhackers along shore. Six hours after the terrible inhuman and bloody massacre of the Union troops at Fort Pillow, his ship ran up under a flag of truce, while Forrest and his murderers, calling themselves soldiers, were still in possession of the Fort, and aided in caring for the wounded and burying the mutilated and charred remains of the dead. During a part of his service on shipboard, Mr. Eversole commanded a 32-pound gun with ifs compliment of twelve men. In 1865, he came to Dayton and entered the clothing house of I. P. Straus & Bro., and, after a few years' service in that establishment, he entered into partnership with E. Ries, under the firm name of Eversole & Ries, and commenced the clothing business at the corner of Main and Fourth streets, giving to this establishment, the name of " Oak Hall " Clothing House. In 1879, the business was moved to more commodious quarters at No. 32 East Third street, and in the spring of' 1881 Mr. Eversole became the sole proprietor. Under his judicious management the business of tailoring and manufacturing ready-made clothing has made his house one of the most noted in the Miami Valley. He was married, October 1, 1868, to Miss Nora B. Fairchild, an esteemed young lady, the fourth of five children born to Este and Susannah (Carlisle) Fairchild, both natives of Ohio. Mr. Eversole is now serving his second term of two years on the Board of Education. where he is considered one of' the strongest members, thoroughly devoted to educational


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interests, and greatly esteemed by his colleagues. Mr. Eversole is the patentee of a valuable and ingenious invention for the use of invalids, known as the " Invalid Waiter or Extension Bracket," which is attached to a bedstead and forms a most convenient salver or stand upon which edibles, medicines, etc., may be placed within easy reach of the patient. It is adjustable by extension by vertricle movement, and has a free lateral movement by which it is carried out of the way, and serves the place of a flower stand when not in use. This gentleman is deservedly popular with all classes wherever known. His associations and acquaintance in this section of the State are large, having been with its people ever since boyhood to the present time, and like the popular and prosperous in all communities, is a self-made man, a graduate of the field and farm, and the possessor of an honorable record ; respected and conscientious in all his business transactions, he deserves the emulation of the young and aspiring for honors in the mercantile world.

ARNOLD C. FENNER, manufacturer, Dayton, was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1826. He is the son of Augustus Fenner. He worked on a farm until after his majority, except at intervals, when he attended school and college. He began teaching school in the fall of 1848, at the Ludlow Street Schoolhouse in Dayton. He taught at the Perry Street Schoolhouse in 1851, and in 1852 was engaged at Troy, Ohio, from where he returned to Dayton in 1853, and took the Principal's position in the Eastern District, since known as the Turner Hall School. Here he continued until the school removed to Fifth street in the fall of 1862, when he assisted in organizing a company for the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was afterward consolidated with the Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. From the time of the consolidation he served in the Army of the Tennessee. He was Acting Adjutant of the Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry during much of 1863, and Assistant Adjutant General on the staff of Gen. J. W. Sprague, commanding the brigade during the Atlanta campaign. He subsequently took command of a company and participated in all the marches of fhe Seventeenth Army Corps through Savannah, Columbia, Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Raleigh, Petersburg, Richmond and Washington, up to the muster-out at Louisville. In the fall of 1865, he was given the principalship of Ludlow Street School which he retained until February, 1867, having on the previous January entered into a partnership with S. T. Cotterill in the tobacco-cutting business, in which he has continued up to the present time. Theirs is the North Star brand of fine-cut tobacco, which is known by tobacco users all over the United States.

HENRY FERNEDING, maltster, Dayton, was born November 10, 1812, in Martinus, Dunglage, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. At the age of 20 years, he came to America, and arrived at Baltimore, Md., June 4, 1833. From there he traveled on foot to Pittsburgh, and thence by river to Cincinnati, where he arrived in the following month. For six months while in Cincinnati he drove a milk wagon, but being broken down in health he left and came to Dayton, where he was employed as jigger and water carrier to the men engaged in digging the Miami & Erie Canal; but being taken down by chills and fever he gave up his job and for six months lay upon a bed of sickness. His money being used during his sickness he sawed wood for a living, working every other day when the chills were off. He next engaged in the distillery of Messrs. Horace & Perry Pease, on Hole's Creek, where he remained until 1839. Part of this time he did the work and received the pay of one and a half men. He next went to Milford, Hamilton County, Ohio, where he worked four months in John Koogler's distillery. After a two months' illness in Milford he went to Hamilton and worked five months in the distillery of Huston & Harper, in which he was terribly scalded by the bursting of the slop pipe, and was confined to his bed for three months with his injuries. He afterward returned to Dayton and worked for Snyder & Dryden in their distillery on Hole's Creek. On May 6, 1840, he married Miss M. E. Saphon with whom he became acquainted while at Milford. The result of this marriage was nine children, three of whom grew up, viz.: James S., who was in business, but died at the age of twenty years ; M. Elizabeth, who died in her fourteenth year, and Clem. J., who still survives and is the business partner of his father. Mr. Ferneding then worked one year in


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James Riddle's brewery on St. Clair street for $18 per month, after which he worked it on the shares, until 1845, when in connection with his brother, John Casper, and Frank Otten, he purchased the site of his present malt-house on Kenton street, and carried on there the business of malting and brewing until the partnership was dissolved by the death of F. Often in 1847, after which the two brothers continued the business under the firm name of J. & H. Ferneding. In 1850, they purchased the old Riddle Brewery, and in 1851 built in its stead the present malt-house on St. Clair street. Before the completion of' the new building, Casper died, whereupon Henry bought his interest, August 29, 1851, and carried on the business alone until 1852, when Bernard Hollencamp became a partner and remained as such until 1857. During their partnership they purchased the brewery of James Kyle, at Xenia, and carried it on under the firm name of Hollencamp & Co., Mr. F. attending to the business of Dayton and Mr. II. at Xenia. In 1857, Mr. H. became sole owner of the Xenia brewery, and Mr. F. continued the business in Dayton. These men had also rented the malt-house of Henry Herman on Main street and carried on the grain trade for five years. In 1859, Mr. F. feeling the want of better facilities for brewing lager beer, built the City Brewery on South Warren street, now owned by Jacob Stickle. This branch of his business he closed out in March, 1865, to Sander & Stoppleman. In August 1861, he, in company with George and Andrew Mause, commenced the manufacture of flour under the firm name of Ferneding, Mause & Co. In September. 1864, Andrew Mause retiring, Mr. F. and George Mause purchased the Hydraulic Mills of' Eichelberger & Bro., and ran it until duly 1, 1867, when Clem J. Ferneding succeeded Mr. Mause. In 1871, they sold this mill to Simon Gebhart & Sons. In July, 1870, Mr. F. and his son purchased the Hydraulic Brewery, which they conducted until January 1, 1871. when they sold out to N. Metz & Co. In August, 1872, Mr. F. with Hamilton M. Turner, Thomas Heckathorn and James Niswonger purchased the Isaac Hay Distillery and warehouse at Brookville, Ohio, which they worked until August 1874, when Mr. F. exchanged his interest in the distillery for the warehouse. In this connection he became agent for the Dayton & Union and Pennsylvania Central & St. Louis Railroad Co s. In July, 1878, he was appointed one of' the assignees of Hollencamp Bros., brewers of Xenia, and by good management succeeded in again putting their affairs on a good footing. He is now sixty-nine years old, and possesses a strong and vigorous constitution and bids fair to yet remain for some years in the world where he has spent a life of honest activity.

LEO FLOTRON, deceased, was born August 12, 1846, in St. Imier, canton of' Bern, Switzerland. He learned the trade of jeweling and engraving in Chan-de-Fonds, France, at which he worked until he was nineteen years of age, a period of five years. He came to this country April 14, 1866, and arrived in New York City, where he worked at his trade for some time. He then came to Osborn, where Mr. Shepherd's family lived, they being related to him. He stayed with them nine months, after which he came to Dayton, and worked at his trade with Mr. Mosher, on Main street. and with Mr. Tyler. He commenced business for himself' October 19, 1870, on Main street, opposite the court house. On the 14th of April, he married Miss Kate Rouzer, who was a native of Dayton, born June 16, 1852, and daughter of John and Martha J. (Diehl) Rouzer, who were both natives of Ohio. By his marriage Mr. Flotron had one son, John R., named after his grandfather Rouzer. In May, 1875, Mr. Flotron embarked on the steamer Ville de Paris for Europe, where he remained three months. He returned August 10, 1875, on the steamer La France. He died June 19, 1876, about ten months after his return from Europe. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was baptized when three years of age. He took out his naturalization papers in 1866, in the Clerk of Court's office of this county. He was a kind and indulgent father and a most estimable citizen, having the respect of all who knew him and leaving behind him a record of untarnished purity. To such men as he a published record of their lives is but a poor tribute to their worth.

HON. JOHN L. H. FRANK, Judge of the Probate Court, Dayton. This well-known and trusted official of Montgomery County was born March 31, 1837, in Nord-


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hausen, county of Brackenheim, Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, and was the second in a family of five children, all of whom are now residents of this country. His parents were natives of Kaltenwesten, on the Neckar, in Wurtemburg, but at the time of their marriage, in 1835, moved to Nordhausen), in the same county, where the Judge's father became proprietor of the Waldhorn Hotel. Subsequently they moved to Heilbronn, on the Neckar. Young Frank had an uncle and aunt living in Leroy, Genesee County, N. Y., who requested him to come to America, and in March, 1852, when not yet fiftccn years old, he started by steamboat down the Neckar to the Rhine, thence through France by railroad to Havre de Grace, a seaport in France, alone and friendless, with not one soul on hoard whom he knew, or had ever seen before ; but he possessed a determination to fight his own way through life, and this, coupled with his constant industry and rigid integrity, helped him to win success. Upon reaching his uncle's house, he soon became employed in the cultivation of fruit trees in his uncle's nursery, where he worked faithfully until 1855, when he removed to Rochester, continuing the sante business at the Mount Hope Nursery; the following year a branch of the Mount Hope Nursery was established at Columbus, Ohio, and here he prosecuted his labors, attending at intervals Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, Ohio, until the summer of 1859. He being then in limited circumstances, a kind lady offered to loan him money to complete his studies, but declining the generous offer from motives of' economy, he went to Missouri to work in the Herman Nursery, and while quietly prosecuting his labors. in the spring of 1861, the tocsin of war sounded, and at the first call for volunteers he enlisted in Company B, Fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, in the three months' service. but severe service brought on an attack of typhoid fever, and he was discharged in the fall of the same year. He soon after re-enlisted in the Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and although not perfectly recuperated, he stood the hardships of one campaign until the fall of 1862, when he was again discharged on account of physical disability. He was soon after given a position in the Quartermaster's office in St. Louis, where he remained until 1864, using his spare moments in reading Blackstone and other elementary works furnished him by Judge Eaton. About a year after our subject left Germany, his father died, and in a few years he sent for his mother and the rest of the family, the former dying in Dayton, April 27, 1877 ; two of his brothers and one sister reside in Dayton and one sister in Mattoon, Ill. In 1864 Judge Frank came to Dayton, where he continued his law studies under the tutorship of Craighead & Munger, making rapid progress, and being admitted to the bar September 2, 1867. He at once opened an office and practiced his profession successfully for several years. He was married August 11, 1870, to Mary Lutz, a native of Germany, who came to this country in childhood with her parents, and grew to maturity in Dayton. Six children have been the fruits of this union, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. Politically, the Judge has always been a Republican, and in the fall of 1875, was nominated and elected to the office of Probate Judge. Commencing the duties of his office February 14, 1876, and in 1878 he was re-elected to the same position, which was one of the strongest indorsements of his official worth and integrity, when we consider that Montgomery County is largely Democratic. In all the relations of life, Judge Frank is trusted and respected because, whether in private or public life, the has always tried to do his whole duty. In the hour of the nation's peril, be stood by the flag of' his adopted country and, in this, as in every page of' his career, he was guided by conscience alone ; affable and courteous to every one, he has won hosts of friends throughout the country.

CHARLES T. FREEMAN, Sheriff of County, Dayton, was born July 31, 1844, in Greene County. He came to Montgomery County with his parents during infancy, and settled in Van Buren Township. At the age of nine years, he removed to Payton, at which time his father died and he was placed in school by his mother, and received as good an education as the country at that time afforded. After leaving school, he engaged in business with Nicholas Ohmer, Esq., with whom he remained about three years, and then drove an express wagon for a number of years, after which the accepted a situation in the United States Express Office, in Dayton, where he re-


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mained until promoted to messenger of the company, which position he held for about a year. In February, 1866, he married Mary A.. daughter of' Joseph M. Turner, Esq. by whom he has had two children, both daughters. He was appointed treasurer of Turner's Opera House in September, 1866, and filled that position until the destruction of the Opera House by fire, on Sunday morning, May 16, 1869. In January, 1873, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff, under William Patton, and held that office during the two terms of' Mr. Patton, and one term under Mr. Albert Beebe, being a longer service, in that position, than any deputy has ever held in succession in the county. In September, 1880, he received the nomination for Sheriff of the county by acclamation, and was elected to that office at the ensuing October election. Mr. Freeman is a polite. accommodating gentleman, of considerable popularity throughout the county, and his ability makes his election to the office of Sheriff one of the most satisfactory political moves the electors of' the county have made in many years.

JOSIAH GEBHART, white lead manufacturer, Dayton, was born February 13, 1835, in Somerset County, Penn., where he attended the common school until prepared for college. He then attended the Pennsylvania College. at Gettysburg, Penn., for two years. At the age of thirteen years, he came West with his parents, and entered the dry goods store of his father, as clerk. He engaged in the manufacture of linseed oil, with his father and Simon Gebhart, Esq., under the firm name of Gebhart & Co., in 1844, and remained until 1870. Then he commenced the manufacture of bailing goods, for packing cotton. He discontinued this business in 1879, and, in company with his son, Charles W. and D. C. Floyd, Esq., commenced the manufacture of white lead, under the firm name of Josiah Gebhart & Co., as it now exists. On the 3d of October, 1848, he married Miss Susan Wilson, daughter of Nathaniel Wilson, and granddaughter of George Newcom, an early settler of this county. By her he had two children, viz., Charles W. and Horatio L. The father of our subject was born in Somerset, Penn., 1797, and was engaged in the dry goods business until he came West. The mother, Catharine Walter, was born in the same place, in 1800. They were the parents of five sons and five daughters, of whom three sons and three daughters survive. The grandparents of our subject. John G. and Catharine Lehman Gebhart, were natives of Berks County, Penn., and were the parents of five sons and three daughters. Of these, two daughters died in infancy. Mr. Gebhart, the subject hereof, is a young man in the full prime of life, and fully merits the success that has attended his efforts.

HENRY C. GRAVES, manufacturer, Dayton, and a member of the firm of Marshall, Graves & Co., was born near Elmira, Chemung County, N. Y., in May, 1836. His father was Henry M. Graves, a prominent physician of Chemung County, who died when the subject of this sketch was eleven years of age. A year later, Mr. Graves accompanied his mother and family to Dayton, where he attended the district and high school. When twenty years of age, he obtained a position as clerk with J. B. Gilbert & Co., wholesale grocers and liquor dealers. He remained with this firm until 1868, when himself and brother, George M., purchased the stock and trade of the firm, and continued the business with good success until 1880. In the latter year, in connection with Albert C. Marshall. Mr. Graves purchased the business of the Dayton Machine Company, and soon after removed it to the present location of the firm. The firm subsequently bought out Riegel & Co., manufacturers of engines. Mr. Graves was married in 1863, to Sally J., daughter of William Dickey, a prominent citizen of Dayton, now deceased. Two sons have been given to bless this union, William D. and Challie. Mrs. Graves is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. Graves is Democratic, and has served his fellow-citizens as a member of' the School Board and Police Commissioners. Mr. Graves has been eminently successful as a business man, and has always evinced an active interest in the welfare of' his adopted city. He is a Director in the Dayton Gas Light and Coke Company, and Vice President of the company; is also Vice President of the Ohio Insurance Company.


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WILLLAM H. GRUNDY, physician. Dayton, was born in March, 1854, in Maysville. Ky. His father was the late Rev. Dr. R. C. Grundy, of Cincinnati, his mother being a daughter of Mr. James Kemper, of same city. To the latter belonged at one time nearly all that portion of Cincinnati now known as Walnut Hills. During the period from 1854 to 1865, the Rev. Dr. Grundy had charge of churches in Maysville, Ky., Memphis, Tenn. and Cincinnati, Ohio. On his death in 1865, his widow, Mrs. E. S. Grundy, moved to Dayton with her family. Subsequently she removed with her sons to Hanover, N. H. William here began his preparation for college under the tutor age of Prof John Lord, of Dartmouth College, and the Rev. Lemuel S. Hastings. After one year's study here he went to Princeton, N. J., and studied a year under the Rev. James O'Brien. He graduated with honor in class of 1875, from Princeton. Immediately afterward, he entered upon his medical studies in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. and Long Island Hospital College, Brooklyn. After practicing successfully medicine and surgery in Ellis County, Texas, Dr. Grundy removed to his former home in Dayton. He entered immediately into partnership with Dr. William Egry, of Dayton, and on the departure of Dr. Egry her Europe, in the summer of 1881, Dr. Grundy took charge of the entire practice. He is connected by family ties to most of the prominent families of Dayton, and in that way is identified with the history of the city and county.

CHARLES A. GUMP, manufacturer and merchant, Dayton, was born in Dayton. Ohio, September 2, 1839. His education was obtained in the common and high schools of his native city. He began his business life at fifteen years of age as a clerk in his father's store, where he remained until 1866, when, in company with E. S. Forgy, Esq., he opened his present mill-furnishing establishment under the firm name of Charles A. Gump & Co. Mr. Gump enlisted in the National Guards in 1862, and assisted in opposing Morgan in his raid through Kentucky and Southern Ohio. His people were among the early pioneers of this State. His father, Andrew Gump, was born in Frederick County, Md., November 17, 1807, and moved to Ohio with his father's family in 1812. They first landed in Miami County, near Tippecanoe, where they lived in a log cabin from which they could shoot deer at almost any time. The family consisted of the father, Jacob, mother and six children--Andrew, Israel, Jeremiah, Eli, Sarah Ann and Nelson. The mother died in 1823, and, as the father concluded it would be impossible to keep the family together, Andrew, the eldest, came to Dayton, where he arrived on the 1st of March, 1825, and commenced clerking in the store of William Eaker, with whom he remained three years and four months. He married Miss Ruth Crampton in October, 1829, after which he went to Little York, where he opened a general notion store, which he carried on for thirteen months. He then moved the stock to Dayton and rented an old frame building on Second street, between Main and Jefferson, of William Eaker, into which his stock was placed. Two years afterward, he increased his stock by buying the goods and building owned by William Broadwell. Three years afterward he sold his building to William Eaker, who moved it to Wilkinson street, between Water and First, where it now stands. He then bought ground near the site of the old building and built a three-story business room adjoining one built at the same time by Samuel McPherson. In 1839, he built his present handsome residence, No. 118 West Second street, at a cost of $13,000. It was the best house in the city at the time it was built. In 1858, he built the first stone front store room in the city. In 1853, he built four brick houses on Water Street next to Liberty Street. In 1859, he tore down the old McPherson store rooms and erected a new four-story building. In addition to these he built a brick house in Miami City and a double brick on West Second street. Surely this gentleman has done much toward the growth and improvement of his adopted city. He has retired from active business life, but still watches with interest the rapidly increasing business of his son, our subject, who is one of Dayton's many solid and enterprising business men.

HON. LEWIS B. GUNCKEL, lawyer and ex-Congressman, was born in Germantown, Ohio, October 15, 1826. His grandfather, Judge Philip Gunckel, and his father,


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Col. Michael Gunckel, were among the first settlers in Montgomery County, and besides other official positions, represented the county in the Legislature. Lewis B. Gunckel graduated at Farmers' College in 1848, and at the law school of the Cincinnati College in 1831. He was admitted to the bar the same year, and has been in the active practice in Dayton ever since, holding a leading position, and enjoying a large and lucrative business. But he has always taken an active part in politics. He was a firm and consistent Whig during the existence of that party. He refused to go into the Know-Nothing" movement, but was among the first in Ohio to take his stand as a Republican, and he has ever since remained a zealous and active member of that party. In 1836, he was a delegate to the Philadelphia National Convention. and afterward did efficient work for Fremont upon the stump in Southern Ohio. In 1862, he was elected to the Senate of Ohio, and continued a leading member during the memorable sessions of 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1865 ; for the last three years of which time, he was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He was an ardent Union man during the war, and was noted in the General Assembly as the friend of the common soldier ; one of his first bills being for relief' of soldiers' families. The constitutionality and expediency of the bill was then questioned, and, in his speech in reply to lion. W. S. Groesbeck, he closed by saying : " But we can economize elsewhere--retrench everywhere--and save enough to the State, in its local and general expenses, to make up the entire sum. But if not, we should bear it cheerfully, heroically. We must fight or pay. We ought to do both ; we must do one or the other." He was the author of the soldiers' voting law, and of various bills to send surgeons, nurses, medicines, etc.. to the soldiers in the front, and to care for the widows and children of those who were killed in the service. He also introduced a bill looking to the establishment of a State Soldiers' Home, and of a State Bureau for the collection and preservation of the name, family, enlistment, service and valor of every Ohio soldier, and for gratuitous aid in procuring bounties arid pensions. During the session of 1863, Mr. Gunckel made a speech in support of the war, which the Republican papers printed in full, and pronounced the ablest made during the debate. It was afterward printed and circulated as a campaign document. In 1864, Mr. Gunckel was a Presidential Elector and canvassed the State for Lincoln. During the same year, his favorite idea was adopted by Gov. Brough, and a State Soldiers' Home established near Columbus, with Mr. Gunckel as one of its Trustees. The next year, Congress enlarged upon the idea, and established the National Home for disabled volunteer soldiers," and by joint resolution appointed Mr. Gunckel as one of its twelve managers. After serving four years, Congress reappointed him for the six years' term, and during the entire ten years, he was the efficient Secretary of the Board. In 1871, Mr. Gunckel was appointed by the President of the United States, Special Commissioner to investigate frauds practiced upon the Cherokee, Creek and Chickasaw tribes of Indians, and his report assisted the Government in discovering and prosecuting the guilty parties, and also making important reforms in the Indian service. In 1872, Mr. Gunckel was elected to the Forty-third Congress from the Fourth District of Ohio. He served on the Committee on Military Affairs, and his first speech in the House was upon the army appropriation bill, and in favor of a reduction of the army and of the expenses of the war establishment. His speeches in favor of "cheap transportation," and the ' equalization of soldiers' bounties, " and against appropriating $3,000,000 for the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, attracted much attention, and were generally commended for their sound argument and strong practical common sense. His shorter speeches were generally against " jobs " and schemes of extravagance, and in favor of a more honest and economical administration of public affairs. He voted to repeal the act, passed by the preceding Congress and known as the " salary grab ;" and although entitled to the increased compensation, refused to draw the same. During his Congressional term, he continued to perform the arduous duties of a manager and Secretary of the Board of the Soldiers' Home, but refused the compensation tendered therefor, and paid for his clerical assistance out of his own pocket. In 1874, the Republicans nominated him for a second term, but it was the " off year," and hard times, want of employment, the temperance crusade, etc., caused his defeat and that of his party in Ohio. But the people of Dayton regard Mr.


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Gunckel's best work, the establishment and successful management of the Dayton Soldiers' Home. Since the war, it has been his '' pet idea," and, seemingly, the ambition of his life. For twelve years, he worked quietly, unobtrusively, without pretension or boasting, but with wonderful patience and industry, under many discouragements, and with the burden of many other duties, public and private, until he succeeded in making the Dayton Home, not only one of the most beautiful and attractive places in the United States, but, confessedly, the largest and best institution of its kind in the world. When his long term as manager ended, the Board of Managers, including the President, Chief .Justice, and Secretary of War, unanimously adopted resolutions expressing in most complimentary terms their regard for Mr. Gunckel. and returning to him their thanks for the ability, energy and industry, with which he had performed his duties as manager and Secretary. And at a banquet. subsequently given by the citizens of Dayton ti the Beard of Managers, Hon. George W. Houk, a prominent Democrat, complimented Mr. Gunckel for his efficient services in promoting the success and prosperity of the institution, and Maj. Gen. J. H. Martindale, speaking for the board, and detailing its work, said: I recollect after the passage of the act, when we met together in the office of the Surgcon General, in the city of Washington. Gentlemen, Ohio was ably represented in that board. Salmon P. Chase, the great Chief Justice ; the gallant. bold, defiant War Secretary, Edwin M. Stanton ; and I think it fair to say in this presence--I will nof hesitate to speak of it--that if in this broad land of ours the very eye of inspiration had looked out for pure intelligence and ardent heart and generous enthusiasm to cooperate with that board, they could not have chosen better than the then local manager --Lewis B. Gunckel." For several years past. Mr. Gunckel has devoted himself to the practice of his profession making occasional addresses on public occasions. Although regarded as one of the ablest and most successful jury lawyers in Southern Ohio. it is known that he habitually uses his influence to prevent litigation, and settle cases already commenced; and has earned (if ever lawyer did) the blessings promised to peacemakers. Mr. Gunckel was married in 1860, to Kate, daughter of V. Winters, and has two children living. His home is not only one of the happiest in Dayton, but, as many besides the writer knows, is " given to hospitality."

THOMAS D. HALE, painter, Dayton. is the son of William Hale, of Hagerstown, Md., and Mariah (Shaffer) Hale, of Nashville, Tenn. His father was a steamboat pilot, and moved his family from Nashville, Tenn., where our subject was born, to Louisville, Ky., in 1837. Our subject was born in Nashville March 29, 1835, and was therefore only two years old when his father moved to Louisville. He attended the common schools of Louisville until 1848, when he commenced learning the trade of house and sign painting, which he finished in Cincinnati in 1852. In 1854. he came to Dayton to work at his trade, and in 1860 opened a shop of his own, where he has since continued. He was married March 28, 1855. to Miss Katie E. Swain, daughter of Josiah and Mary ( Bateman) Swain, of Dayton. By her he has had nine children, five boys and four girls, of whom three boys and four girls survive. Mr. Hale is a quiet, social gentleman, who has, by close application to business, built up for himself a large and paying trade. He employs a number of hands, and keeps them constantly at work. Yet, few people know the extent of his business because he does not make a great "blow " about it.

N. B. HOLDER, biographical historian, Greenville, Ohio, was born in Bolton, Mass., October 24, 1833; is a son of David and Ruth (Babcock) Holder; natives of' same place. The paternal grandfather Joseph Holder, was a boot and shoe in maker by trade, which business he followed till his death. The maternal grandfather, Josiah Babcock, was a tanner by trade, which business, in connection with farming, he followed till his death. The ancestors of our subject were all Quakers. David grew to manhood, brought up to the same trade of his father ; was married, and became the father of three children--Nathan B , Josiah B. and Charles A. He lost his wife by death in December, 1844, aged thirty-five years. Our subject, when three years of age, was taken by his mother's sister Mary, and her husband, Jarvis Wheeler, and raised to farm labor, receiving a good education in the common schools and high school


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of Berlin, Mass., and at nineteen years of age commenced teaching school, by which he obtained some means, and in the spring of 1853, entered the State Normal School at Westfield, Mass. He continued his course of study here, by teaching winters to obtain means, till in the fall of 1855 he graduated and received his diploma. The following winter he taught school in Gloucester, Mass., and in the spring of 1856 emigrated to Minnesota, where he remained four months ; thence came to Dayton, Ohio, and in this vicinity taught two terms in a district school, and four terms in a select school, since which he has been engaged as a traveling salesman, and as a druggist, having been in the latter business about ten years. In January, 1880, he entered into the employ of' W. H. Beers &t Co., of Chicago, Ill., as biographical historian, with whom he still remains. He was married, May 26, 1859, to Miss Maggie, second daughter of James and Nancy (Ainsworth) Lucas, he a native of Virginia, she of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandparents, James and Mary Lucas, were natives of' Virginia, but who emigrated to Ohio and located at or near Chillicothe just before or about the time of the war of 1812. and here they resided till their death. They were parents of eight children, all now deceased, James being the last one of the family to pass from the stage of action. He was born July 4, 1799. and when fourteen years of age was a teamster in the war of 1812 ; engaged in hauling provisions for the army, for which service in after years he obtained a land warrant for 160 acres of' land. He grew up to manhood, inured to the scenes and hardships of' those early days ; was carried in the fill of' 1825 to Nancy, daughter of James and Lydia ( Crain) Ainsworth, natives of Pennsylvania. but who emigrated to Ohio about 1804, and here they lived for many years. being among the early pioneers, and partaking of the log-cabin life with all its roughness and many hardships. In after years, they became residents of Indiana, where they lived till their death. They were parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters. two only now surviving--Nancy and Margaret, now Widow Anderson. Nancy was born November 11, 1803, being about one year old when brought to this State ; was raised and grew to womanhood under the sturdy influences of pioneer life. Mr. Lucas and wife by their union had five children --Mary Jane, born June 4, 1826 ; Lydia Ann. born March 20, 1828, and died June 20, 1828 ; Margaret. born August 1, 1829 ; Caroline, born June 22, 1834 ; and Maranda, born January 20, 1838. Mr. Lucas started in life a poor boy, and with a very limited education, but with an energy and a will, determined to overcome all obstacle.. He learned the millwright trade, which business he followed for several years in the vicinity of Dayton, along Mad River; thence he entered upon the milling business in partnership with Mr. George S. Smith, with whom he continued several years ; thence he entered upon farming. purchasing 122 acres of' land in the Mad River Valley, in Clark County, about two miles from Osborn. Here he lived until he retired from the more active labors of' life by purchasing a fine property in Osborn. where in the fall of' 1805, he located with his family, where he resided until his death, which occurred May 30, 1874, aged about seventy-five years. Mr. Lucas was a man of great energy and determination of' character, who knew no such word as and from a poor man became, by his own industry and economy, possessed of an ample competency, so that in his latter years he lived in comfort and plenty. He was a man of undoubted integrity, possessing the entire confidence of this community ; a man of' great heart, a kind and loving husband and father, and his memory will be fondly cherished by his family and many friends for ages to come. Mr. Holder and wife by their union have had three children--James L., born April 16, 1860 ; Roscoe W., born November 20, 1866 ; and Lee Everett, born May 20, 1871, and died January 30, 1872.

JAMES W. HOTT, clergyman and editor, Dayton, was born near Winchester, Frederick Co., Va., November 15, 1844. He is the eldest child of a family of eight boys and two girls, children of Jacob F. Hott, who was a minister and a man prominent among the citizens of his native county. Of his eight children, three boys entered the ministry and one girl became the wife of a minister. Our subject, one of the above three, was received into the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Brethren in Christ, at Edenburg, Va.. February 16. 1862, and was appointed to a charge in Frederick County. He was ordained at Boonsboro. Md.. February 22,


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1864, and stationed at Martinsburg, W. Va., after which he served the following charges: Edenburg, Va., from 1866 to 1868; Churchville. Augusta Co., Va., 1868 to 1871; Boonsboro, Md., 1871 to 1873, and Hagerstown, Md., in 1873, when he was elected, by the General Assembly of his church, Treasurer of the Home, Frontier and Foreign Missionary Society of the Church. He was chosen a member of the General Conference in 1869, and also to the succeeding ones in 1873, 1877 and 1881. He married Miss Martha A. Ramey, eldest daughter of Presley Ramey, of Hayfield, Frederick Co., Va., May 31. 1864, and by her has had born to him four daughters, three now living, and one dead and buried in Dayton, where Mr. Hott has resided since July, 1873. After serving in the missionary work four years, he was elected editor of The Religious Telescope, the chief organ of the United Brethren in Christ, by the General Conference in 1877. To this responsible position he was re-elected in May, 1881. I n appearance, Mr. Hott is a slender, delicate looking man, with a very wirey frame, and weighs 120 pounds.

WILLIAM P. HUFFMAN, banker, Dayton, was born in Dayton, October 18, 1813. His grandfather, William, who was of German descent, and grandmother, of English descent, emigrated to this country from Holland, some time in the decade following 1730 and settled in Monmouth County, N. J., where their son William, the father of our subject, was born May 24, 1769. The latter was married June 14, 1801, to Lydia Knott, who was born in Monmouth County January 19, 1779. By this union they were blessed with five children, one sun and four daugnters. The father died on the 23d of January, 1866, and the mother on the 21st of March, 1865. They came West and settled in Dayton, where their only son, William P., was born. He received a fair English education and read law under Warren Munger, Esq., not with the intention of adopting that profession, but solely as a means of acquiring a more thorough business education. Early in 1837, he left the city and for ten years engaged in farming. October 18, 1837, he married Anna M., daughter of Samuel Tate, of Montgomery County, by whom he had ten children, nine of whom are still living ; of' these, William, the oldest, is a stone dealer; the oldest daughter is the wife of E. J. Barney. the second daughter, Mrs. James R. Hedges, of New York City, and the third is the wife of Mr. Charles E. Drury, cashier of the Second National Bank of Dayton. In the spring of 1848, he retired from the farm and has since been engaged in real estate dealing and extensive building operations. He has been prominently identified with a number of local enterprises, among which are the " Third Street B. dl way. Dayton & Springfield Turnpike, Cooper Hydraulic Company, and the Second National Bank, of which he was an organizer and is now President. He was a War Democrat, but is not a strong partisan, looking to principles rather than parties. He was formerly connected with the Second Baptist Church, but in 1878 became one of the constituting members of the Linden Avenue Baptist Church. For fifteen years he has been a member of' the Board of' Trustees of Dennison University, at Granville, Ohio. He is a man of clear, sound, practical judgment, and is exceedingly careful and reliable in all business transactions, as his success in life will attest. As a man of integrity and moral worth, he has been recognized as a strong factor in molding the Christian sentiment of the community of which he has been so long a worthy and respected citizen.

WILLIAM HUFFMAN, stone dealer, Dayton. This gentleman, who is a son of William P. Huffman, whose name appears elsewhere in this work, was born September 5, 1838, in Mad River Township. Montgomery County, on the hill where camp Corwin was located in 1862. He received his education in the private schools of Dayton until he arrived at the age of sixteen ; he then went on his father's stock farm in Greene County, where he remained until 1868, when he returned to Dayton and engaged as a contractor for cut-stone work. In 1875, he commenced quarrying stone, having three large quarries in Van Buren Township, and in this business he still continues He was married, .January, 3, 1862, to Miss Emily Huston, daughter or Israel and Elizabeth Huston, of Montgomery County. They have had eleven children, six boys arid five girls, of whom four boys and four girls still survive. Mr. Huffman was


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a member of the Council from 1871 to 1875, and President of the same body in 1874. He was a member of school board for 1878-79-80. He is a member of Dayton Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of the Masonic Order, being one of the first of the latter fraternity to take the Scottish Rite degree. He is an affable gentleman of easy manners, and is accounted one of Dayton's solid business men.

REV. JOHN R. HUGHES, minister, Dayton. More fortunate than many people of to-day, our subject is able to trace his ancestry back to his great-grandfather. William Hughes, who was born in Wales in 1723, and died at the advanced ate of one hundred years. His son, Rowland, the grandfather of our subject, was also born in the old country, but came to America in early childhood, and took up his residence in York County. Penn., where he continued until his death. which occurred January 4, 1779. He was married twice. having by his first wife three children and by his second six. Rev. Thomas Edgar Hughes, who was the sixth child by his second wife, was born in York County, Penn., April 7, 1769. He graduated from Princeton College, New Jersey, in 1796, and was ordained to the work of the Gospel ministry in the Preshyterian Church in 1799. He died May 2, 1838, in the seventieth year of his life. He was the father of ten children--three daughters and seven sons. Four of the latter became ministers of the Gospel. The subject hereof is the youngest of the ten children. He was born in Beaver County, Penn.. March 17, 1819. He graduated at Washington College. Penn.. in 1845. and finished his Theological studies at the Western Theological Seminary. Allegheny City Penn., in 1848. He was pastor of Behoboth Church, Westmorland County, Penn . from November, 1849, until December 1864, and Principal of Blairsville Ladies' Seminary from April 1, 1865, until .July 24, 1867. He took pastoral charge of East (now Memorial Presbyterian Church, Dayton, Ohio. Nov. 24, 1879, in which capacity he still continues. He married Miss Ann Caroline Stewart. daughter of David Stewart, Esq., of Colerain, Huntingdon Co., Penn., Oct. 16, 1851, and by her has had six children. two of whom died in early childhood.

REV. JOHN KEMP, minister. Dayton. was born in Butler County. Ohio. August 29, 1813. His parents were John Kemp, a minister. who was born in Burks County. Penn.. December 24, 1779, and died February, 1865, and Elizabeth Zeller) Kemp, also a native of Berks County. born August 24, 1781. and died in Butler County, in 1852. They were the descendants of an old German family that came to America some time between 1650 and 1655. Our subject's parents were married in Montgomery County where they both located about 1806. They afterward moved to Butler County, where their first child was born. They had eight children, six girls and two boys. They alternated from Butler County to Montgomery County for a Iong time, but made their permanent residence in the latter county about 1860. John, the subject hereof, attended the subscription schools that existed in Ohio before the gate adopted the present district school system. The higher branches and sciences he studied without a teacher, as he also did theology. He was married September 18, 1823, to Martha Clawson. daughter of' Andrew Clawson, of Butler County, who died in February, 1844, leaving four children, two boys and two girls. He was again married in September, 1852, to Ann Williamson, daughter of Peter Williamson, of New Jersey, by whom he has had three children, two boys and one girl. Mr. Kemp entered the ministry of the United Brethren Church in 1849, the time previous to that having been spent in farming and keeping a general store in Butler County. His first charge was the Mount Pleasant Circuit, of Hamilton County. He has filled the office of Presiding Elder for many years while in Butler County. H was also Missionary Treasurer and Agent of the Missionary Society and is now a member of the board and chairman of the executive committee of the Missionary Society. He is also a director and the agent of the United Brethren Union Biblical Seminary, to which he made a donation of $10,000 in land toward ifs organization. He is a hard-working and worthy minister of the church of his choice, having attended all the general conferences for thirty-five years. and all the meetings of' the Missionary Board since its organization, with the exception of one meeting of each. Of' his children by his second


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wife, one is a graduate of the Cincinnati Eclectic College of Medicine, and is now practicing in Dayton ; the other son, S. E. Kemp, is a graduate of Ottoman University, at Westerville; Ohio, and of the Ann Arbor (Mich.) Law School, and is now an attorney of Dayton. Of his children by his first wife, the eldest was kicked to death by a horse when eighteen years old; the next is a carpenter of Dayton; one daughter is Mrs. Jacob Walters, wife of the manager of' the Globe Iron Works, of Cincinnati, and the other is the wife of George Parks, a farmer of Illinois.

WILLIAM KIEFABER, merchant, Dayton. one of the active and enterprising business men of Dayton, was born in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Penn., May 22, 1844. His parents were John and Josephine (Lipp) Kiefaber, natives of Germany. The family located at Dayton just prior to the late civil war. Our subject received the usual common school education, and on the breaking-out of the war, when but a boy, enlisted, in October, 1861, as a private in Company E, First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in that organization for a period of three years, being discharged with the company in October, 1864. He participated in many of the battles and skirmishes in which the regiment was engaged, among which were Shiloh, Bridge Creek, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge and Buzzard's Roost. In February, 1866, Mr. Kiefaber opened a grocery on the southwest corner of 2d and St. Clair streets, on a borrowed capital of $300. His store was stocked meagerly, but being endowed with business tact accompanied with other requisites for its proper use, he has from year to year increased his stock and added to its several departments. until to-day the business firm of William Kiefaber & Bro. is second to none of its kind in the city. The firm is William and Harry C. Kiefaber, who are importers of fancy groceries, fruits, wines, brandies, etc., and shippers of vegetables, berries, fresh oysters, fresh fish, etc. Their place of business is located at No. 118 East Third street. Our subject is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Wayne Lodge No. 10. He is also a member of the society of Sharp Shooters of' Dayton.

CHARLES F. KIMMEL, miller, Dayton, born in Dayton, Ohio, October 15, 1843, and is a son of Augustus B. and Johanna L. Kimmel, who emigrated from Prussia and settled in Dayton, in 1843. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the First Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served in different regiments during the war of the rebellion, being mustered out of service July 7, 1865, at Springfield, Ill. After the close of the war, he traveled extensively over the South as well as all the Western States and Territories, crossing the American plains, Great American Desert and Rocky Mountains six different times. He has traveled upwards of 65,000 miles ; on water, 21,000 ; on foot, 1,600: on cars, 38,000. Upon the 27th of November, 1870, he returned and located in Dayton. September 26, 1871, he was married to Miss Kate Ann Stephens, daughter of .John G. Stephens, of Greenville, Ohio, by whom he had three children, viz. : Hattie P., Willomette -- and Elmer Ellsworth.

ADAM KNECHT, superintendent of market, Dayton, was born in Dayton, March 22, 1837. His parents, Adam Knecht, a native of Rhine Byrne, Germany, and Rosina (Shiesley) Knecht, a native of Badisch, Germany, came to this country in 1834, and were married in Philadelphia in the same year. The father died in 1873, leaving his widow, who still survives, and a family of eight children--five boys and three girls. Our subject attended the German common schools of Dayton until seventeen years of age, when he graduated, after which for five years he kept books for his father, who then kept a hotel, and then clerked for Nauerth & Son until the breaking-out of the war, when he received a commission of First Lieutenant in Company A, Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which he recruited. He served three years, passing through the engagements of Perryville, Stone River, Mission Ridge, Chickamauga, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. at the latter place having his right foot taken off by the explosion of a shell. He received his discharge at Nashville, and after his return home was elected Superintendent of' the Markets, to serve eight years. At the expiration of this time, he commenced keeping a restaurant, after which he served two years as Deputy Sheriff, and in 1881 was again elected Superintendent of the Markets, in which capacity he still


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continues. He was married, October 25, 1859, to Miss Nettie Ross, daughter of Robert Ross, of Dayton, who died in 1867 without issue. He again married October 25, 1878, Miss Fannie King, daughter of Stacey King, by whom he had two children, viz.: Nettie Rosina and Ella P. Mr. Knecht is a member of the Red Men, Ancient Order United Workingmen, Grand Army and Old Guards. He served seven years in the old Independent Volunteer Fire Company. He is also a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church.

JOSEPH KREBS, merchant, Dayton, was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 5, 1842, and emigrated to America, with his parents, at the age of four years. After receiving a limited education in the Catholic school of Dayton, he commenced market gardening, which he followed for ten years. In 1869, he came into Dayton and opened a grocery, flour and feed store, in which business he has since continued, with the exception of two years, in which he kept a shoe store. He had built two storerooms, and by his polite and affable treatment of patrons he has established a large and prosperous trade. He was married in 1869 to Elizabeth Hochwalt, daughter of George Hochwalt, of Dayton, by whom he has had nine children, six of whom are living, viz. Clara, Josephine, Joseph, Bertha, Karl H. and Anna R., the latter being the surviving one of twins.

CAPT. JOHN ULRICH KREIDLER, Superintendent of Street Railroad, Dayton, was born October 31, 1832, in Greenmettstetten, O. A. Herb Wurtemburg, Germany. His father, Joseph, was born in 1800, in the above place, where he plied his trade of blacksmithing until he came to America. His mother, Mary Ann Dettling, was also born there in 1799. They had three children, John U., James S. and Mary, born in the order named. The father, with his family, emigrated to America in 1847. and landed in New York on the 7th of June of that year. He went to the village of Charlton, Saratoga County, N. Y., where he remained until April, 1848, when he came to Dayton, where he died in June of the following year, with the cholera. His wife survived him until 1866, and his son James until 1867, all dying in Dayton. His daughter Mary is the wife of ex-Street Commissioner Julius Wehner, of Dayton. Our subject attended the public schools of his native country until thirteen years of age, when he commenced working at blacksmithing with his father, and so continued until he came to America. Arriving in Dayton, he quarried stone, drove a canal boat from Toledo to Cincinnati, and sawed wood for one year, and then learned shoemaking. under McCutheon & Vogt, at which he worked as journeyman until 1857, when he became solicitor for the Fireman's Insurance Company, and continued until 1858. In 1858-59, he was on the police force and afterward solicitor for the Central Insurance Company, until the breaking-out of the war. At this time, he was a Lieutenant of the National Guards. but, finding that his company was not going to the war he resigned his commission and enlisted as a private in Company C, First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 16, 1861, and served four months. He then returned to Dayton and resumed his business, but in August, 1862, re-enlisted as Captain in Company E, One Hundred and Eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until December 7, 1862, when his company was captured at Hartsville, Tenn. When he reenlisted, his company presented him with a handsome sword, which he promised them should never be taken ; when taken prisoner he broke this sword in the face of the enemy, and for this offense he, of all his company, was the only man not paroled. He endured all the horrors of the rebel prisons at Atlanta and Libby for four months, and then, April 17, 1863, was exchanged at Annapolis, Md. He continued in the service until February 10, 1864, when he resigned his command, because the Colonel of his regiment, who had been tried, convicted and dismissed from the service as a horse-thief, was re-instated. The Captain had called him and believed him to be a horse-thief, and couldn'tt endure the idea of fighting beside such a man. On his return to Dayton, he studied bookkeeping, and was elected City Clerk in April, 1864. He was re-elected three times, but resigned during his fourth term and engaged in the grocery business. In May, 1868, he was elected First Lieutenant of Police, but was legislated out of office in the winter following. In the spring of 1869 his successor was elected but never


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qualified, and he was ordered to remain on duty, notwithstanding a number of lawsuits against him and a conviction for usurpation of office. He continued to draw his pay under the orders of the Superior Court until 1870, when he was fully vindicated by a decision of the Supreme Court of the State. In the spring of 1870. he was appointed Superintendent of the Dayton Street Railroad, Route No. 1, and has since continued a valuable and efficient officer of that service. He was married, November 28, 1854, to Miss Rosa Bobe, daughter of' John Bobe, a well-known stone-mason of Dayton, and Anna (Hengstler) Bobe, who are still living. By this marriage he was blest with three boys and two girls. viz.: Edward (who died in 1857), John E., William A., Rosa C. and Caroline C. Mr. Kreidler was a Captain two years, and Secretary five years, of the old Deluge Volunteer Fire Company, No. 4. He was also Captain of the Knights of St. George, the first company of uniformed Catholics in the United States. His checkered career has given him a knowledge of men that well fits him for the office he now occupies, where he has a great many men under him. In the above, we have neglected to say that from 1857 to 18(30, he studied law with D. W. Iddings, and became an active Notary, but never applied for admission to the bar.

JACOB KUNZ, SR., barber, Dayton, is the son of Phillip and Catharine Margaret (King) Kunz. natives of Bozen Bark, province of Rhine Byrne, Bavaria. They were the parents of six children, three girls and three boys. The father, who was born in 1800, died at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother died in 1863, aged sixty-four years. Jacob, our subject, came to America with one brother, in 1845, and landed in New York, from whence he went to New Orleans, but shortly afterward returned to New York. He soon after located in Sandusky, Ohio, and in 1848 came to Dayton, where he worked in a barber shop for two and a half years, after which he opened a shop of his own. He was married January 18, 1852, to Louisa Catharine Ficht, daughter of Frederick Ficht, of Dayton, by whom he had ten children, six boys and four girls, of whom five boys and three girls now survive. Mr. Kunz has been a great traveler in his time, having in his youth traversed the whole of France and Switzerland, and in his riper years a large portion of the United States. He was the Coroner of Montgomery County from 1872 to 1876 inclusive. He is a member of Schiller Lodge, I. O. O. F., that being the only secret organization to which he now belongs

DANIEL C. LARKIN, City Fire Department. Dayton. Among the many important positions in the city of Dayton, none is more responsible than the one held by our subject. Asa General in war guards our lives and property from the hands of the enemy. so he in peace guards lives, property, and loved ones from the ravages of that fell destroyer, fire. Daniel was born in the city of Sandusky, Ohio, July 29, 1849. He is a son of Thomas and Ann ( Ryan ) Larkin ; he is a native of Connecticut, and she of Ireland. Thomas was killed by the explosion of a locomotive, near Sandusky, Ohio, June 4, 1875. He had been an engineer on the C. S. & C. R. R. some thirty years. His regular engine was in the shop for repairs. He was sent out with an old, inferior engine, and when about two miles from home it exploded, killing Mr. Larkin instantly. Daniel attended school until fourteen years old, when he entered the car shops of the C. S. & C. R. R., where he worked two years as an apprentice, and then went on the road as fireman. When he was eighteen years old he was promoted to engineer, and given charge of the construction train and some thirty men, over which he had entire control. After running said train quite a while he was promoted to an engine on the road running regular trips. In August. 1872, he resigned his position on the C., S. & C. and accepted one on the C., C., C. & I, and continued with the same, running the Dayton Accommodation between Dayton and Cincinnati, until 1875, when he quit railroading ( on account of the death of his father), and accepted a position with Kneisley & McIntire, of Dayton, taking charge of their line of drays, and at the dissolution of said firm, continued with Mr. Kneisley, and when Mr. McIntire opened his store. took charge of the draying for both firms. f n July, 1880, he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Dayton Fire Department. He was married, May 26, 1875, to Miss Anna Hartnett, daughter of Moses and Julia Hartnett. They have three children, viz.: Morris,


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May A. and Thomas. Mrs. Larkin was born in Dayton, January H. 185th During Mr. Larkin's service on the railroad he never had an accident to his train on account of neglect on his part.

DR. CHARLES H. LEAMAN. dentist, Dayton. is the sixth child of Nathaniel and Clarissa H. W. Leaman. He was born in Cincinnati. Ohio, June 24, 1845, on the north side of Fifth street, between Walnut and Main, where the new custom house is being erected. At the age of fourteen years, he left school and went to work in Meader & Co.'s furniture warerooms, where he remained six months. after which his father obtained for him a situation in J. W. Gordon's drug store, corner of Eighth and Central avenue, where he clerked until June 24, 1861. whin he received the appointment of Surgeon's Steward in the U. S. gunboat " Pittsburgh," a heavy iron-clad carring a 100-pound Dahlgrene. three bow guns, four 61-pounders and two 32-pounders on the broadside, and two 32-pounder stern guns. His vessel, with Commodore Foote's and others, proceeded under orders up the Cumberland River to attack Fort Donelson. In the engagement that followed the " Pittsburgh " had two men mortally wounded. and received several shots, one of which, a 128-pound solid iron ball. penetrated the how. causing the vessel to sink just outside the range of the enemy's guns. Here, with three feet of water on the gundeck, Dr. Leaman stayed all night attending the wounded. until he almost perished with cold. They were raised next day and the crew transferred to the " Mound City," while the " Pittsburgh " was being repaired. The Doctor served as Surgeon's Steward until 1863, when he came home and stayed seven days, but receiving the appointment of Master's Mate again entered the navy. He left Cincinnati on the gunboat Glyde" to New Orleans, where he received orders to report to Rear Admiral Porter, and afterward to Rear Admirals Davis and Lee. He was in nineteen heavy engagements and received one wound in the head. While in the navy, he conceived a liking for dentistry and studied it during that time. He received his final discharge in 1865 and came to Dayton to study dentistry with Dr. L. Hubbard. with whom he stayed until 1867, when he commenced traveling for " Crook's Wine of Tar," but returned to his profession. and March 1, 1868, entered into partnership with Dr. A. Sheets. January 1, 1869, this partnership was dissolved by mutual consent. and he began practicing for himself on Third street. east of the canal, where he, continued until 1878. when he removed to his present handsome and commodious rooms on the southwest corner of Third and St. Clair streets. May 23, 1867, he was united in marriage to the eldest daughter of Dr. O. Crooks

LYMAN W. LELAND, of the firm of Leland & Dougherty, boiler-makers, Dayton, was born at East Douglass, Worcester County, Mass., in June, 1817. His father. Oliver Leland, was a millwright by trade, and a general mechanic of undisputed ability. He built large grist-mills at Oxford, and for many years was prominently identified with the milling interests of the Bay State. Mr. Leland spent the first seven years of his life at Uxbridge. His parents then removed to a firm near Sutton, where our subject remained till eighteen years of' age, receiving but a limited education. In the latter year he went to Worcester. Mass., and learned the trade of' a general machinist. In 1840 he entered the employ of Bradley & Rice. the employers of probably the second largest car works in the Union. After remaining with this firm nearly five years, Mr. Leland went to Springfield, Mass., and accepted a similar position with Dean, Packard & Mills, in the seine business. A year later the firm made en assignment and closed up business. Mr. P. came to Dayton to engage with E. Thresher. now retired, who, with E. E. Barney, established the present Barney & Smith ear works. and sent for machinery formerly used by Dean, Packard & Mills, at Springfield, Mass. About a year after the commencement of' the new car works, Mr. Packard needed a trusty and competent man in his machine shop. He sent for Mr. Leland, who accepted the position, and in September, 1852, took charge of the entire machinery department of the now famous car works. He remained in that important position until 1871, faithfully and honestly discharging the manifold duties resting upon him with ability and dispatch during the long term of twenty-one years, nearly a quarter of a century. To Mr. Leland may be attributed the model of neatness and good working order of the machinery in that de-


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partment at the present time. Mr. Leland's long term of hard service had seriously impaired his health, and one year was spent in traveling over the West, seeking recreation and health, away from the dull routine of business life. In 1873, he became connected with James Dougherty in his present business, a history of which will be found in the chapter of manufacturing industries. In early life, Mr. Leland was a music teacher, and, upon coming to Dayton was solicited by the Wayne Street Church to take possession of its school. He led the singing two winters, and then organized the choir of the First Baptist Church, which he led for fifteen years. For his generous services the choir presented him with a gold-headed cane as a token of their friendship and esteem. Mr. Leland and family are members of this latter denomination.

JACOB F. LENTZ, retired farmer, Dayton. Jacob F. Lentz was born in the Kingdom of Wirtenberg, Germany, November 38, 1806. He is a son of Jacob and Fredericka Lentz, both natives of Germany. In 1816, the father, mother and four children, viz., Jacob F., Fredericka, Elizabeth and Barbary, set sail for America. After being taken hither and thither on the ocean at the mercy of the officers, instead of landed in America. They were shipwrecked on the west coast of Norway, nine months from the time they started from Germany. They were kindly taken care of by the citizens of Bergen, and lay in the hospital there one year and ten days, when they again took passage for America, and at the end of two months landed at Baltimore, Md., where the father, mother, Jacob F. and Fredericka, were apprenticed sufficient time to pay their passage, which was $30 each for father and mother, and $15 each for Jacob and Fredericka. Elizabeth died on the ocean, and Barbary was a babe. Jacob and Fredericka not only worked long enough to pay their own passage, but took one-half from both father and mother's share of their passage. Jacob worked eight years at the potter trade, and Fredericka six years at house work. The father and mother after having served their time, being about six months, were released, when they moved to Cumberland County, Penn., where they lived about eight years, and then removed to Montgomery County, Ohio, where they lived the remainder of their natural lives. The father died at the age of eighty-seven years, and the mother at the age of eighty-two years. After Jacob ( the subject of this sketch), served his eight years, and completed his trade, he also came to Montgomery County, Ohio, to his parents, in 1830. After stopping a short time in Dayton, he went to Germantown, where he remained a short time, and then to Warren County, Ohio, where he entered into partnership with Isaac Benner in the potter trade. After remaining here a short time, he sold out, and removed to Preble County, Ohio, and then to Montgomery in 1832, where he purchased a farm, carrying on the pottery in connection with farming. In 1858, he sold his farm (what is now the Soldier's Home), and moved into Dayton, and engaged in the real estate business, in connection with Mr. Applegate. He was one of the incorporators of' the Home Avenue Railroad, was also one of its directors five years, and Secretary and Treasurer of the same four years, of the five he was Director. He was married May, 6, 1830, to Sophia Schweitzer. They have five children, viz., Cyrus, Charlotte (now Mrs. Daniel Johnson), Harriet (now Mrs. Jacob Shoemaker). Margaret (now Mrs. C. Stimson), and Jacob F., Jr. Mr. Lentz has been a faithful member of the Lutheran Church since his seventeenth year ; was an elder of the church in Dayton for quite a number of years. His school days were altogether sixteen months, two months each year while he was an apprentice. But by improving his leisure moments by reading good books, he has gained a very fair education, and is well informed on all leading topics. The present site of the Soldiers' Home is due mainly to his recommendation of the place. He has now retired from active business, having been a hard-working, industrious man. He has also taken pride in sustaining his character, which has always been above reproach.

JOSEPH LIGHT, Superintendent Gas Works, Dayton, is a son of George Light, a native of the South of England, and Ann (Rutherford) Light, a native of the north of England, who were married in London, and had twelve children, seven girls and five boys, of which Joseph was the youngest. He was born in London June 16, 1833, and until thirteen years of age attended the pay schools in his native city. He afterward


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worked in a factory, where gas machinery was made, until nineteen years of age, when he emigrated to America, and after landing in New York, came straight to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained three years. In 1855, he was engaged as Superintendent of the Dayton Gas Works, and in that capacity, came to this city where he has since superintended the works of the above-named company. In 1855, he married Catharine Lee, daughter of Richard Lee, of Cincinnati. and by her has had six children. three girls and three boys. Mr. Light is a man of thorough business qualities, understands his work perfectly, and during his twenty-seven years of service here, has given the best possible satisfaction. He is a member of the Park Presbyterian Church, and of the following societies: I. O. O. F., Masonic, Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor.

JOSEPH E. LOWES, physician. Dayton, Ohio. Among the men who merit a place in the history of this county, none are more worthy than Dr. Lowes, who came among us fresh from the lecture room, and by close attention to business and professional worth, has established a practice second to none of his school in the city. His father, John, called by the Indians " Honest John." was born in Cumberland County, Eng., in 1811, and came to Canada a short time before the " Six Nation " war. After remaining here six years, he returned to England, where he married Miss Isabella Bateman, of' Cumberland County, and with her again came to America, settling in Brantford, Brant County, Ont., where he still resides. He was the father of five boys and seven girls, of whom our subject was born July 25, 1848, in Onondaga. an Indian valley close to Brantford, where his father was at that time engaged in farming. He was educated in the common and high schools of Brantford, and then took a years' private instruction under an eminent Irish teacher. named Moore. He was only twelve years old when he entered high school, and commenced the study of the higher branches of literature and the sciences, and at fifteen he graduated therefrom with the highest honors. At sixteen years of age, he commenced reading medicine in Brantford with Prof. Allen, and afterward attended lectures in Cleveland Homoeopathic Medical College, where Prof. Allen was Professor of Anatomy. At twenty, he completed his medical course and graduated, but could not get his certificate, which was withheld until he arrived at age. During the year intervening, he entered the office of Dr. S. A. Boynton as partner. In 1868, he came to Dayton, where he entered into a partnership with Dr. Bosler, who died five months thereafter, leaving his practice to our subject, who has ably conducted it since with the best success. In the fall of 1868, he was married to Dr. Bosler's daughter, Meloezene, by whom he had one child--a daughter. His wife died in 1870, and in 1879 he was again married to Emma Jane Robbins, daughter of Ira Robbins, of Union County, Ohio. By her he also had a daughter born December 1, 1879. Dr. Lowes has the reputation of being the best Homeopathic physician in the county, and the best surgeon in the county, with a single exception. He is a Republican, and has always taken an active part in politics. He was Vice President of the School Board for five years ; was a member of the County and City Republican Central Committees, and Surgeon of the Fourth Regiment. He has always been an active, influential and energetic partisan leader.

THOMAS O. LOWE, Dayton, lawyer and ex-Judge of the Superior Court of Montgomery County, was born in Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio. February 11, 1838 ; is a son of Col. John W. Lowe, of the Twelfth Ohio Infantry, who was killed at the battle of Carnifex, W. Va., September 10, 1861. Judge Lowe is a grandson of Judge Owen Fishback, of Clermont County, Ohio, and great-grandson of John Fishback, who fought under Morgan at the battle of the Cowpens, South Carolina, in the war which resulted in the independence of' the colonies. The boyhood days of our subject were spent in Batavia, Ohio, where he acquired his primary education to such a degree, as to fit him for' Farmers College," near Cincinnati, at the age of fourteen. From the year 1852 to 1854, he diligently and judiciously applied himself in that institution of learning, when it was under the Presidency of Freeman Cary and the venerable Dr. Bishop who was professor of Political Economy and History. In May, 1855, he came to Dayton, and entered the banking house of Ellis & Sturge, of Cincinnati, with


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whom he remained until their failure in November of the same year. The study of law was then taken up under the direction of his father, Col. John W. Lowe, and the summer of 1856 accepted a position in the bank of W. B. Shepard & Co., of Nashville, Tenn., and January 1. 18-, took a better and more lucrative position in the bank of Middle Tennessee, at Lebanon. He adhered to the study of law while supporting himself in the employment of the above-named banks ; returned to Dayton in July, 1857. and on November, 11, of the same year, his nuptial was celebrated with Miss Martha, eldest daughter of the late -- --Harshman, Esq., of Dayton. The issue of this union is four children, of' whom two survive, one son in his twentieth year and a daughter in her twelfth year. The Judge has continuously resided in Dayton since his marriage. He was admitted to the bar on Gen. Washington's birthday, 1859, but continued in the banking business until May, 1862, when he first began the practice of his profession. On January 1, 1864, he was appointed by the County Commissioners as County Auditor, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of B. M. Ayres. This office he filled until March 1. 1865, when he resumed the practice of law, to which he was devoted until the October election of 1870, when he was elected Judge of' the Superior Court of Montgomery County, which position he filled with undoubted ability for the full term of five years. At the expiration of his term in July, 1876, he the second time resumed the practice of law, and is located on the northeast corner of Third and Jefferson streets. During his residence in Tennessee. he was kindly treated by prominent gentlemen of' political standing, such as John Bell, ex-Gov. William B. Campbell, Robert Hatton and others, and became a very enthusiastic member of' the " Crittenden and Bell" party that endeavored in the border States to avert the inevitable conflict between the North and South. After the outbreak of the war, he became a member of the Democratic party, and received from it the official honors above mentioned. In March, 1855, he joined the Third Street Presbyterian Church. but on his return from Tennessee connected himself with the First Presbyterian Church, and in 1872 went with others to the assistance of Park Street Presbyterian Church, which was then in difficulty, and to which church he still adheres. He was one of' the organizing members of the Young Men's Christian Association, and has ever been an active and valuable member in all enterprises tending to the elevation and progress of the rising generation.

E. B. LYON. manufacturer, Dayton, is a descendant of one of the old Puritan families of Massachusetts. His grandfather, Peter Lyon, was born and raised in Massachusetts, and was there twice married, once to a Miss Severn, a daughter of one of the first families, and the second time to Miss. By these two marriages he had ten children. The father of our subject was of the issue by the second wife, and was born in Massachusetts in 1813. He was a paper maker by trade, and followed this business until his death, being the third generation of his family in the same trade. He was married in Newton, Mass., to Sarah Hager, by whom he had born to him one daughter and four sons. He came West with his family during the war of the rebellion and settled in Middletown, Ohio, to work at his trade, but left there in a short time and went to Indianapolis, Ind., where he died in October, 1864. Our subject was born in Chaplin, Windham Co., Conn., December 17, 1840, and spent his youth in the common school of his county. At sixteen years of age, he began clerking in a store, where he remained until November, 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. He was in the engagements at Roanoke Island, New Berne, N. C., and all through Burnside's expedition and the South Carolina campaign. His regiment was also in the Forlorn Hope charge on Morris Island, and at the capture of the works in front of Fort Wagner, where each man in Companies K and F had to carry two shovels and a pick in addition to their arms. Mr. Lyon was also on provost duty at St. Augustine and Jacksonville, Fla., and in the campaign of the Army of the James, through all their hard fighting. He was discharged November 8, 1864, the day after the battle of Chapin's Farm, and, after spending a month in Boston, came to Dayton, where his brother was living, and where his father was buried. He was married in April, 1866, to Ella Maria Broadwell, of Dayton, who bore him three daughters, two now living. When he came to


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Dayton in 1864, he worked in a paper-mill for a time and then became receiving clerk in a freight depot, after which he commenced the manufacture of slats and trunk material, in which he is still engaged. He is a member of the Knights of Honor and Old Guards. Before the redistricting of the city, he was elected Councilman from the Fourteenth Ward, he being a stanch Republican and the ward being strongly Democratic. He was ousted from office by the abolishment of his ward.

GEORGE W. MALAMBRE, Dayton, was born in Baltimore, Md.. May 20, 1827. His father removed with his family to Dayton in April. 1836, in a one-horse wagon, being four weeks on the journey ; has lived in Dayton ever since with the exception of a short residence in Maryland from July, 1865, to October, 1868 : in boyhood attended the common schools of the city and then at the old Dayton Academy preparing for college ; entered the Junior class at Miami University in October, 1846, where he remained till the latter part of January, 1848, and February of the same year entered the senior class at Center College, Danville, Ky., and graduated there in June, 1848 ; immediately came home and entered upon the study of law with the late W. J. McKinney, who was then Clerk of the Courts of Montgomery County ; in July, 1850, was admitted to the bar by the old Supreme Court on the circuit at Maumee City, then the county seat of Lucas County--the present Chief' Justice of the United States and the distinguished and eccentric Spink, of Perrysburg, being on the Committee of Examination ; commenced the practice of law in Dayton, and has ever since continued in the practice ; was chosen City Clerk of the city of Dayton in 1851, and was continued in that office till April, 1855, when he declined a reappointment ; June 2, 1856, was elected to fill a vacancy in the Council from the Fourth Ward ; since then has held no office of any kind ; on the breaking-out of the civil war he, for about a year, edited the Union Democrat.



ALBERT C. MARSHALL, manufacturer, Dayton. The subject of this sketch is a member of three large business firms of Dayton--senior member of Marshall, Graves & Co., manufacturers, Marshall & Baker, hardware merchants, and Cotterill, Fenner & Co., manufacturers of tobacco. He was born at Connellsville, Penn., in 1841. His father was Samuel Marshall, who came to Dayton in 1842, and became a member of the firm of Gebhart & Marshall, stone manufacturers, and pioneers among the manufacturers of the Valley City. Mr. Marshall quit school at the age of sixteen years, after having spent three years as a clerk. At the age of' seventeen he purchased a stock of hardware, and located in business in that part of Dayton called " Oregon," being a pioneer merchant in that part of the city. Although a young man, his natural business traits and energetic nature soon placed him among the solid business men of that day, and his business has steadily increased to the present time. In 1875, John F. Baker was admitted as a partner, and the firm became Marshall & Baker, under which name it has since done business. Mr. Marshall became interested in the firm of Cotterill & Fenner, and soon after the firm name was changed to Cotterill, Fenner & Co. He has since devoted almost his entire time and attention to this branch of business. In 1879, he purchased the stock and trade of the Dayton Machine Co., and in 1880 Henry C. Graves bought a half-interest, changing the firm name to Marshall, Graves & Co. This firm ranks among the prominent manufacturing industries of Dayton. Mr. Marshall was united in marriage in 1864, to Laura Zeller, a native of Cincinnati. They have two children--Bessie and Harry. Mr. Marshall and wife are members of the Third Street Presbyterian Church. Having been identified with the early growth of the eastern part of the city, Mr. Marshall's real estate operations have proven very profitable. He has toiled early and late since commencing a mercantile career, and by his own individual efforts has succeeded in winning a place among the solid and substantial business men of the " Rochester of Ohio." The houses with which he is connected occupy the front rank in business circles. A detailed history of Mr. Marshall's business career might justly be termed "a record of a busy life."

FRANCIS J. McCORMICK, merchant, Dayton, was born in Ross common, Ireland, November 25, 1843. His father, Frank McCormick, was born in the above place in 1798, and died there March, 1848. His mother, Elizabeth (Cox) Mc-


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Cormick, was born in the same place in 1803. Francis J., our subject, came to America with his mother in 1848, and after a two years' residence in Boston, moved to Sandusky, Ohio, where they lived until January 9, 1833, when they came to Dayton. Francis attended the common schools of the city for three years, after which he served as railroad fireman and engineer twenty years. At the expiration of this time, he opened his present store on Jefferson street, where he keeps a very large and hand-some stock of all kinds of gas and lamp fixtures, and plumbing material. He was married, January 31, 1870, to Miss Bridget Gibbons, daughter of Martin and Ellen Gibbons, natives of Ireland, but now residing in Northern Ohio. As a result of this union they have had the following children : Frank, Elizabeth, William (since deceased), and Martin. Mr. McCormick was a member of the City Council from 1878 to 1882, and is a consistent member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

JOHN J. McILHENNEY, physician, Dayton, was born in Adams County, Peon., Sept. 24, 1813. His parents, Samuel McIlhenney and Sarah Hunter, became pioneers of Brown County. Ohio, in 1814. Of a family of eleven children, our subject is the only surviving son. At the age of fifteen, he was left fatherless, and thrown entirely upon his own resources. He at once entered a printing office. and followed that trade for about four years, during which time he acquired more valuable practical knowledge than at any other period of his life. He then spent a short time at a manual labor school in Hanover, Ind., where he earned his way by chopping wood. Having chosen medicine as his profession, he commenced study at the age of twenty, in Georgetown, Brown Co., Ohio ; attended medical lectures in Cincinnati, and began practice in Brown County in the spring of 1836. In the following year, he moved to Fairfield, Greene Co., Ohio, where he remained eighteen years. In 1843, he became an alumnus of' the Willoughby University, near Cleveland. Ohio, now the Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio. In May, 1855, he located in Dayton, which has since been his residence. May, 1836, he was appointed Superintendent and Physician of the Dayton Insane Asylum, and so remained for six years, (luring which time the duties which devolved upon him were discharged with remarkable precision and success. No man ever left an institution with a better record. His patients were much attached to him, and his employes, to this day. regard him with a degree of kindness seldom equaled. For three years subsequently, he was in professional service in the United States Navy, acting as surgeon in the Mississippi Squadron. He then returned to Dayton, and has since been in active practice, and occupies a leading rank in the medical profession of his adopted city. He was, in connection with a few others, one of the originators of the Ohio State Medical Society, and has continued a member of the same. In politics, formerly a Whig, upon the organization of the Republican party he espoused its principles, and subsequently became a liberal Republican, being a great friend to Horace Greeley, but now votes Independently. Religiously, he is a Free Thinker. Personally, he is a man of' strong, independent feelings, very decided in his connections, and plain and positive in the expression of his views. Though in his sixty-eighth year, he possesses the activity and vigor of a man much younger, and still commands a very extensive, successful and lucrative practice. He has ever been noted for great conscientiousness and signal promptness and fidelity in the discharge of his professional duties, without regard to their recompense. No worthy poor ever left his office without some professional assistance, while his disinterested benevolence, genial manners, and kindness of heart, have won for him the highest esteem of his numerous patrons. On April 26, 1837, he married Pauline J., daughter of Rev. Robert and Rowena (Polsley) Graham, and has had four sons, the youngest of whom was drowned in a cistern while an infant. The others received a good English education, graduated from the Cleveland Medical College, and are now practicing physicians--Scipio Solon, at Helena, Montana Territory ; Julius Leonidas is associated with his father in Dayton. Ohio, and Cassius Adams McIlhenney, is located at Zimmermanville, Greene Co., Ohio,

PATTERSON MITCHELL, Dayton, President of the Dayton Leather and Collar Co. The grandfather of this well-known and respected citizen of Dayton was William Mitchell, a native of Pennsylvania, who there married a Miss Patterson, and


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at an early day with his wife and ten children left the Keystone State for Ohio, floating down the river on a fiat-boat and landing near the mouth of the Little Miami--afterwards, Columbia--which was a few miles above Cincinnati, then only a village. He purchased land from Gen. Spumes, upon which he settled, but subsequently removed to a farm on Sycamore Creek, near the Little Miami River. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and his pension papers, signed by James Robb, Secretary of War, under President James Madison, are yet in the possession of his descendants. Of his family of ten children, William, the father of Patterson, was born in Pennsylvania. September 9, 1784; came, as stated, to Ohio with his parents, and here married Mary Crane, who was born in Hamilton County December 26, 1793, and settled on land adjoining his father's. Imbued with the same love of country and spirit of patriot-ism which his Revolutionary sire had exhibited on the battlefield thirty-six years before. he shouldered his musket in 1812, and went out to fight the same old foe of freedom and liberty. He served as a non-commissioned officer, in Capt. Robinson's company from Cincinnati., who, while under marching orders, with knapsacks on their backs. were addressed by the Rev. Joshua L. Wilson, D. D., the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, who encouraged them to always do their duty. To William and Mary Mitchell were born four sons and two daughters, Patterson being the eldest in the family. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, April 21, 1812. and when but twelve years of age his father died, this event occurring June 21, 1824, leaving the widowed mother with six small children in charge of the farm, the former dying August 22, 1859. At the age of seventeen, our subject went to learn a trade with John M. Barnett, of Middletown, Ohio, whose brother Joseph was for many years one of the prominent citizens of Dayton. Having learned his trade, William Mitchell was soon after married to Louisa Barnett, daughter of John M. Barnett, the marriage being consummated October 2, 1834. Of this union three sons and three daughters were born, viz., William H., Joseph B. (deceased), Mary E., Claude N., Louisa A. and Belle J. By the advice of' his father-in-law, he commenced in business for himself soon after marriage, upon a capital of $30, which he continued in Middletown until the spring of 1853, when he came to Dayton and entered into a copartnership with Isaac Haas in the leather and collar manufacturing business, but in the year 1870, he purchased Mr. Haas' interest, subsequently forming a joint-stock company with some of the principal operators as stockholders, he being President, and his son, C. N. Mitchell, Secretary and Treasurer, which organization continues up to the present. Politically, Mr. Mitchell was an Old-Line Whig, and afterward a Republican, and his two eons, William H. and Claude N., went out in the defense of the Union, proving that the patriotism of the sire of 1776, had descended to his great-grandchildren. The whole family are members of the Third Street Presbyterian Church, to which faith the parents and grandparents of our subject also adhered. Mr. Mitchell has been the architect of his own good fortune, having risen step by step, through constant. unremitting industry, until he stands in the foremost rank in the manufacturing arena of' the Miami Valley. Courteous, affable and kind-hearted, he has won and retained the friendship of a large circle of citizens, who respect his sterling integrity and admire his shrewd business sagacity.

T. COKE MITCHELL, railroad man, Dayton, was born in Greene County, Ohio, December 31, 1822. In the early part of his life, he was engaged in farming and in mercantile pursuits, but has for many years been a railroader. He was married to Miss Jane E. Miller in 1844, and has had by her four children, of' whom three are married.

W. MITTENDORF, minister and editor, Dayton. This gentleman was born in Oldendorf, in the Kingdom of Hanover, December 30, 1830, to Adam and Elizabeth (Obermiller) Mittendorf. He was married in 1850 to Louise Remmert, a native of the same place. In 1853, he and his wife accompanied his father's family to America. The family consisted of' the parents, three sons and five daughters. They settled in the iron region near Portsmouth, Ohio, where the father died January 22, 1869, and the mother six years afterward. In 1862, while among the iron furnaces, our subject began preaching, and was soon sent to a charge at Pomeroy. He was raised in the Old Lu-


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theran " faith, but afterward joined the United Brethren Church with twenty-six others. From Pomeroy he was sent to a circuit in Hamilton County, Ohio, and from there to Shelby County, Ohio. While here in 1865, he was regularly ordained by the Conference of his church, which was held at Dayton. He was then sent to Danville, Ill., where he was appointed to translate the church history from English to German. June 22, 1869, he came to Dayton and was elected editor of German literature in the U. B. Church, by the General Conference held that year in Lebanon, Penn. This position he has since continued to fill. He has seven children--four boys and three girls--now living, and four boys dead. His wife died January 17, 1879. He has written a work in German entitled " Spiritualism in the Light of the Word of God," and other smaller books. In 1881, he was appointed by the Church Executive Committee to go to Germany to inspect the mission fields of the church, and to hold an annual district conference.

OTTO MOOSBRUGGER., editor, Dayton, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1839. He is the son of Dr. Sled. Alvis Moosbrugger, who was born in Wurtemberg (where he still lives) in 1812, and Josephine J. (Ledaire) Moosbrugger. who was born in Germany in 1808, and died in 1856. They had twelve children, four of whom came to America, and three to Dayton. Our subject was among the latter number. He was educated at High School, Tuebingen, Wurtemberg ; emigrated and settled in Dayton in 1867, where he has since been engaged in various branches of business. He established the first daily German paper in Dayton, September 1, 1876, in company with his brother, and is still engaged in its publication. He was married to Miss Wilhelmina Foehrenbach, of Madison, Ind., in 1869. His paper is looked upon as one of the leading enterprises of the city, and, with its present management, it promises to become still better if it meets with the encouragement it merits.

GEORGE NEDER, Dayton. George Neder, Esq., editor and publisher of the Dayton Daily and Weekly Volkszeitung and Sunday Amanda, emigrated to America from Germany, landing at New York May 29, 1862. He soon afterward located in Buffalo, N. Y., where he was for some years, employed as local and political editor on the German newspapers of that city. In the spring of 1866, he removed with his family to Dayton, where he has since resided. Upon arrival in Dayton, he purchased the Dayton Volkszeitung, which a few weeks before had been commenced as a weekly paper. but for lack of enterprise and patronage had suspended a few days before his arrival. Mr. Neder at once infused new life into the concern, and at once revived the weekly issue, and met with such encouraging success that, within two weeks. he Megan the publication of a semi-weekly, and soon afterward a triweekly. In 1876, he ventured upon the publication of the Dayton Daily Volleszeitung, and both daily and weekly have grown to such size and importance at present, as to be the recognized official German organ of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, and is classed among the leading German papers of Ohio. Printed from clear-cut, new type, and with a large daily and weekly circulation, not only in Dayton and Montgomery County, but throughout southwestern Ohio, they have grown to be very valuable as advertising mediums. The Amanda, the only Sunday German newspaper in this part of Ohio, was begun January 1, 1881 and has already grown greatly in popularity and circulation.

ANDREW C. NIXON, leaf tobacco dealer, Dayton, was born in Carrollton, Montgomery County, Ohio, April 23, 1811. His grandparents were John and Elizabeth (Taylor) Nixon. natives of New Jersey, who came to this State at an early day. His father, A. H. Nixon, was born near Carthage, Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1813, and was reared on a farm until fourteen years of age, when he learned the hatter's trade ; but, being obliged by ill health to give that up, he in 1835 located in Centerville, Montgomery County, and for three years engaged in the manufacture of cooper-ware. In the spring of 1838, he removed to Carrollton, where he soon after married Mary A. Cotterill, a native of Brown County, Ohio. Twelve years later, he engaged in the tobacco business, and in 1857 came to Dayton, where he has since re sided. He is the Either of four children, viz. Andrew C. ; Mary, wife of A. G. Pomeroy, of Hartford, Conn ; Emma, wife of John Voorhees, manager of the Western Union Telegraph Office at Dayton, and Miles. The subject of this sketch


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attended the common schools of his native village until about fourteen years of age, when he became a student in the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. He afterward attended Stevenson's Miami College in Miami City, of which the late Robert Stevenson was Principal. In 1857, he came to Dayton with his family, and has since resided in the Valley City, being engaged with his father in the leaf-tobacco business. At the breaking-out of the war, he joined the militia, and was sent to Kentucky during, the celebrated Kirby Smith raid. He also went to Hamilton with his company after John Morgan, the raider: and still later. his regiment, the One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio National Guards, was ordered to West Virginia and Baltimore. The latter place they garrisoned for nearly three months, during two of which Mr. Nixon was detached on special duty, having command of the guards at Long Bridge. In 1876, he was elected Councilman from the First Ward, and in 1878 he was elected Sheriff, on the Republican ticket, by a majority of 379, in the face of a large Democratic majority in the county. He was married. in 1868, to Miss Laura Beck, daughter of E. G. Beck, of' Dayton, by whom he has two sons, aged, respectively, eight and eleven years. Mr. Nixon is one of die prominent business men of' his city, who warmly supports any enterprise that is for the good of the community in which he lives. He is a genial, warm-hearted, whole-souled man, highly esteemed by all who know him, and worthy of universal respect. He is member of the Knights of Pythias and Old Guards of Dayton.

COL. MICHAEL P. NOLAN, attorney at law, Dayton. This well-known gentleman was born in Dublin, Ireland, June 18, 1823, and the following year his parents emigrated to the United States, settling in Lancaster County, Penn.. removing to Dayton, Ohio, in 1838, where our subject has since resided. The Colonel's early life was one of toil and privation, and he has literally " fabricated his own fortune." Without the advantages of schooling in his youth, he learned the trade of' carriage making, entered a debating society, with which there was connected a god library, for that day, previous to the era of public libraries. He read extensively the standard authors, devoted himself to study, and. possessing a good memory, retains the information thus early acquired, upon which he draws with facility. He commanded a canal boat for some time when a young man, and in early manhood cultivated habits of industry, frugality and temperance. which have not deserted him in his more mature years. He was married December 30, 1847, to Miss Anna Schenck Clark. of' Miamisburg, Ohio, to whose good sense and guidance he attributes his success in life. There have been born to them ten children. eight of whom are living. Industrious and energetic, after marriage he worked at his trade during the day, spent his nights in reading law, and was admitted to the bar at the age of' twenty-eight. In the profession he soon became distinguished as an advocate, and was considered a successful lawyer, especially with juries, from whom he would secure verdicts quite unexpected, many of which were set aside by the courts. He has had more verdicts thus set aside than any other practicing attorney in this county. Upon the breaking-out of the rebellion, in April, 1861, and the call was made by President Lincoln for troops. Col. Nolan raised Company G, Eleventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the railroad depot, just before starting with his company for the rendezvous camp, on being called out by the multitude, made a short patriotic address, which created quite a furor, and was reported in the, Journal of April 23, 1861. He became Lieutenant Colonel of the Fiftieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and subsequently Colonel of the One Hundred and Ninth. During the war the Colonel was an active member of the Union League ; was its President in the Third Congressional District of Ohio, and the delegate from that body to the convention that renominated Lincoln at Baltimore, June 4, 1864. In Ohio, during the summer of 1863, he assisted in organizing the "War Democracy," with Col. S. J. McGroarty and a few others, who drew up a declaration of principles, together with an address to the patriotic Democrats of the State. The other gentlemen were inclined to make a ticket, but Col. Nolan strenuously insisted upon the indorsement of John Brough for Governor, a patriotic Democrat whom the Republicans had nominated a few weeks previous, and his counsel was finally taken. He entered vig-


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orously upon the canvass, was well received by large audiences, and on the 7th of October, 1863, spoke at Mozart Hall, Cincinnati, and was greeted with the largest audience of the season, his speech being partially reported and portions of it reproduced in the leading journals of the country. Among the people his speeches were well received, being original, independent, and noted for candor ; always extempore, using no notes, but relying wholly upon his memory. A writer in the Dayton Journal a few years ago thus describes him: Col. Michael P. Nolan is in some respects the most remarkable man at the bar. In person he is not above the medium height, slightly inclined to rotundity of figure, and in appearance is quite distingue. He has all the native wit and readiness of repartee characteristic of his nationality, and endeavors in all instances to get his cases, before the jury, where he has few peers, and still fewer superiors. At times he is truly eloquent, and from any speech of his of an hour's duration, passages may be culled which in beauty of arrangement and effectiveness of delivery, will compare favorably with the studied efforts of the best speakers of the day. His speeches are extemporaneous; anything like a studied effort would be a failure with him. His oratory is not rude, yet far from classic, being of the style which catches the popular ear and holds a crowd that would grow weary under the voice of men of much greater pretensions. When he rises to speak, everybody in the courtroom is delighted, except the opposing counsel, who often writhe under his excoriations." For several years after the war closed Col. Nolan was U. S. Commissioner in Dayton. At the Fourth of' July celebration in Dayton for 1876, Col. Nolan was the orator selected by the citizens' committee, and accordingly delivered the Centennial oration. In August, 1877, he prepared a paper en the present condition of laboring men, which appeared in the Dayton Journal and which excited much discussion, claiming as it did that most of the distress among the laboring classes was the result of labor-saving machinery. The document was widely circulated, extensively read and translated into German. Our subject has led a steady, temperate life, drinking neither beer nor spirituous liquors, and has never even used tobacco. In 1877. when the temperance wave swept over the country, Col. Nolan was unanimously elected President of the first Murphy organization of Dayton. In 1878, he was solicited by the Greenback Labor party to accept their nomination for Congress in this district, which he did without any prospect of election. He entered the field and earnestly advocated the principles of that party to large audiences, and under the circumstances, obtained a handsome vote. The Colonel is an affable, whole-souled gentleman. a hearty friend and boon companion, frank and outspoken at, all times. We trust he has many veal's of' usefulness yet before him.

J. HUNTER ODLIN, dairyman, Dayton; was burn in Dayton, Ohio, August 3, 1840, and, after receiving a common school education, entered Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, which the was obliged to leave on account of ill-health. In the commencement of the war of' the rebellion, he enlisted as a private in the Dayton Zouaves, under Col King and was detailed to Columbus on police duty. He was afterward promoted to a captaincy in the Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Gen. Hill, in the West Virginia service. He was next appointed Major of the Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but when that regiment was consolidated with the Fifty-first. he was ousted. He afterward became Assistant Adjutant General on Rosecrans' staff at Corinth, Miss., but was relieved in order that he might take command of the One Hundred and Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, then forming at Dayton. With this regiment he went to Cincinnati to repel Kirby Smith, and there was ordered to Mansfield, Ohio, to fill his ranks. By the consolidation of his regiment with the Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he become Major of the Sixty-third, and afterward Lieutenant Colonel of the same. He soon resigned his commission in the above, and reporting to Maj. Gen. Canby for orders was sent, by Gen. Dennis, to Arkansas. He resigned his commission, and retired from the army in 1865, shortly before the fall of Richmond. He was married in Philadelphia, April 15, 1867, to Miss Josie W. Danah, of the Quaker City. They have had six children, five girls and one boy, viz.: Charley, Florence, Susan, Josie, Nellie and Edna.


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CHARLES PARROTT, proprietor Aughe Plow Works, Dayton, Ohio, has been a life resident of Dayton. He was born in 1834, and is a son of William Parrott, of the firm of T. & W. Parrott. a pioneer dry goads firm, which was one of the oldest wholesale houses in the city. His father retired from business in 1848 or 1850. His mother was Margaret A. Willis, both parents being natives of Maryland. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native place, and received his literary education at the Ohio Wesleyan University of Delaware, graduating from the classical department in 1856. He desired to enter the legal profession, and to that end commenced the study of law. He was admitted to the bar, and practiced his profession until 1866, when he engaged in his present business. He is proprietor of the pioneer plow factory of Montgomery county. In 1873, he was one of the lesses of the Public Works, of Ohio, and had charge of the business at the State capital. He was subsequently engaged in constructing railroads, at which business he remained till 1880. Mr. Parrott was married, in 1866. to Lizzie Marlay, a native of Frankfort, Ross Co., Ohio They have four children living--Bessie, Mabel, Nannie and Charlotte. Mr. Parrott was formerly a member of the School Board of Dayton, and at present is connected with Dayton Masonic Commandery, and is a member of the M. E. Church. He is well known throughout Montgomery County for his warm social nature and excellent business qualifications His factory is under the charge of his brother George, as he himself is residing in Columbus, Ohio.

EDWIN D. PAYNE. Dayton. proprietor of Dayton Fax Corn and Feed Mill, was born at Hamilton, Madison Co , N. Y.. May 22. 1818. His father was Elisha Payne, a native of Cornwall, Conn., who in an early day left his native place, and in company with his brother and some neighbors traveled by ox team via Albany and Rome, to the Chenango Valley, where he founded the village of Paynesville, now called Hamilton. Mr. Payne', mother was Esther Douglas. her father being a pioneer Baptist minister of die Empire State. Our subject was raised a farmer's boy." attending the rude schoolhouse by the wayside, where his early literary education and a small amount. at that) was obtained. When twenty-two years of age, he went. to Warren County, Ohio, for the purpose of accompanying a surveyor. named Woodruff, to Iowa. to make a general survey of the State. Through the death of President Harrison. Mr. Woodruff lost his position. and Mr. Payne then came to Dayton. Soon after arrival, he secured employment in a hook store, owned by Ells, Claflin & Co. He subsequently worked for Charles Ells, in the same business. His next occupation was found in a wholesale grocery house owned by John Sayres. In 1847, Mr. Payne established a book k and stationery business. in an old-fashioned brick building, on the present site of Rickey 's book store. Soon after commencing. the Phillips Block was completed, and Mr. Payne removed his stock into that building (60 Main street). He subsequently took his nephew, Augustus Payne. into partnership, and after some years. sold his stock and trade to George Holden. When he started in business. he possessed less capital and experience than any of the six men then in business in Dayton. When he disposed of his business, his stock and trade were die largest and best in Montgomery County, a noted example of industry, perseverance and economy. In 1875, Mr. Payne engaged in his present business; to which he has given his entire time and attention, with a few exceptions. Mr. Payne was induced to invest his capital and experience in the Woodrum Machine Co., in which he remained about two and a half years. Mr. Payne has always evinced an active interest in all matters pertaining to the growth and prosperity of his adopted city. In company with others, he assisted in starting the Second and Merchant National Banks. He was united in marriage, November 1, 1849, to Phebe M. Crawford, a native of New York. They have four children--Emma C., wife of Rev. F. Clatworthy, pastor of the Baptist Church at Norwalk, Ohio, and formerly pastor of the Linden Avenue Church of Dayton ; Edward D., bookkeeper for H. Hoefer & Co.. and a student in the law office of A. A. Winters: William, who assists his father in the milling business, and Elizabeth. Mr. Payne was long a member of the First Baptist Church, of Dayton, and assisted in building their present h ruse of worship. He was Trustee and Secretary of this organization for some time. He has


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been a sufferer from inflammatory rheumatism since boyhood, and although residing in the heart of the city, his physician advised him to remove to Huffman Hill. He did so, and erected a large and comfortable brick residence Since then, he has removed back to his former residence. While residing at Huffman Hill, he suffered much annoyance from the long distance necessary in passing over to reach the church of his choice, his residence being somewhat isolated from the heart of the city. He, therefore, in company with many others, assisted in organizing the Linden Avenue Baptist Church, of which he served as Deacon seven years. Mr. Payne was once a member of the Union Insurance Company, officiating as President a portion of' the time. He was one of the original Washingtonians," of early temperance celebrity, an honored citizen of Montgomery County. and a Christian gentleman.

JOSEPH PETERS, builder, Dayton. was born January 28, 1820, at Potter's Fort, Center County, Penn., of parents in limited circumstances, but of sound moral worth. At the age of fifteen years, our subject was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, and served a term of three years' faithful labor, working from twelve to sixteen hours per day, but he thus acquired a thorough knowledge of his business, which the average apprentice of to-day never attains. On the 10th of April, 1840, Mr. Peters was married to Catherine States, in Hollidaysburg, Penn., she being a daughter of Col. William States, of Huntingdon County, in that State. In those days the main, if not the only line of commerce between the East and West was the Pennsylvania Canal, by which the Eastern cities were connected with the Ohio River at Pittsburgh, Penn., the eastern and western divisions being connected by the Portage R. R., which ran from Hollidaysburg to Johnstown. This road climbed the mountain sides by inclined planes, operated by stationary engines at the top. This line of commerce was owned by the State, which made it interesting all along the line whenever a State election took place, it being the prerogative of the Governor to fill all appointments, and it was this scramble for place and the scandal arising from it that caused Mr. Peters to withdraw from the Democratic party. since which time he has voted with the Whig and Republican parties. In the summer of 1844, Mr. Peters concluded to go West, and in October of that year he loaded his effects upon a section boat, and, with his family, landed at Dayton, in November, making the whole distance in a boat. He soon became one of the principal builders of the city, and many of the buildings and fine churches of Dayton have been erected under his supervision, four of the latter standing within a radius of three squares. To Joseph and Catherine Peters have been born seven sins and one daughter, of whom five sons and the daughter survive. His son Luther is now one of' the foremost architects of Dayton, many of the private and public buildings having been the result of his fertile brain, notably the new Fireman's Insurance building, on the corner of Main and Second streets, which is a gem in architecture, and one of the handsomest buildings in the Miami Valley. He was also elected in 1881 as one of' the Water Works Commissioners, which position he now holds.

WINSLOW S PHELPS, Dayton, was born in Woodstock, Vt., May 12, 1815. His grandfather, Winslow Phelps. was a Captain in the Revolutionary war. His father, Henry Phelps, was a merchant in Woodstock, but becoming embarrassed by the war of 1812-15, he started with his family, in 1821, with the intention, of removing to Illinois, where he owned land, but on hearing unfavorable reports of' the newness and unhealthiness of that part of' the country, he left his family at Cincinnati and went himself to see the land, but died on his return at Henderson, Ky. His widow was thus left in a strange city, with but little money and three small children, one son and two daughters. Her energy, however, was equal to the emergency. The subject of this sketch being but six years old, was sent to such private schools as were to be had, the public schools not then being in existence. At the age of thirteen, he was put into a store, and from errand boy he became clerk, and at last book-keeper. His business made him acquainted with many Dayton men, and in 1835 he removed here with his mother and sisters, to take a partnership with Samuel T. Harker. At the end of one year Mr. Harker sold his interest to Joel Estabrook. and the firm of Estabrook & Phelps continued until the close of the year 1865. In 1837, Mr. Phelps married


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Susan, daughter of Squire James Foster. of Cincinnati. She and three sons and two daughters are still living. The store was at the head of the basin until Mr. Phelps bought the ground and built the store No. 25 East Second street, in 1857. The firm occupied the new store until Mr. Phelps bought out his partner. He continued the wholesale grocery business in his own name for a year, when he took in his sons, Winslow and William A., under the firm name of W. S. Phelps & Sons. He subsequently took in his third son, Samuel F. In January, 1869, at the solicitation of his friend, John W. Achey, then a director, and now President of the Dayton National Bank, he became its cashier, which position he now holds, leaving the charge of the firm business to his sons. Being one of the original stockholders in the Fireman's Insurance Company of Dayton, he was elected a director in 1862, and still holds the office. His principal investments, outside of his business, have been in real estate. The only public office which he has held was four years' membership in the Board of' Education. He became a member of the Third Street Presbyterian Church in 1813 ; was made a Deacon in 1854 and an elder for life in 1860 was connected with the Sunday School over thirty years, and was its Superintendent thirteen years. In the forty-sixth year of his life in Dayton, he has seen it grow from a country village to a city of fine halls. churches, residences, stores, schools and manufactories, with railroads and telegraph, and all that goes to make it a desirable place for business or residence.

CHARLES A. PHILLIPS, manufacturer of cotton goods. Dayton, was born in this city, June 14, 1852. His father, Thomas A. Phillips, was a native of Maryland, who came to Dayton in May, 1844, and there established the business now carried on by the subject of this sketch. He departed this life November 27, 1877. His mother was Margaret J. George, a native of Dayton, who is yet living and resides with our subject. Mr. Phillips grew to manhood in his native city, and when of age, entered the Department of Science of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, but a year and a half later, left school to assist his flat her in his rapidly increasing business. From that time to the present, Mr. Phillips has devoted his entire time and attention to the business of the firm. After his father's demise. himself and brother, George L.. operated the business till May, 1880, when our subject purchased his brother's into rest. and has since continued the business, a sketch of which will be found in the chapter on the industrial interests of Dayton. Mr. Phillips is a man of a warm, social nature. affable in manner; truly benevolent; and by his integrity in business affairs, and absorbing interest manifested in all matters pertaining to the growth of his native place has made hosts of friends throughout the county and State. He is connected by membership with the following organizations ; Board of Police Commissioners ( from April, 1879, to April, 1883) ; Mystic Lodge. No. 405 ( Masonic), Reid s Commandery, No. 6, and the Consistory of Southern Ohio (Scottish Rites). He is a director of the Dayton Gas Light & Coke Company, Dayton Insurance Company, and the Dayton Club Company. Politically, he is an ardent advocate of the principles set forth by the Republican party. Mr. Phillips was married at Covington, Ky., Jan. 21. 1879, to Susie H. O'Hara, a native of' Crittenden, Ky. They have one son--Thomas A. Mr. Phillips resides in a substantial brick residence, at No. 24 West Fourth street.

WARREN W. PHILLIPS, carriage-maker. Dayton. This gentleman was born near Middletown, Frederick County, Md., November 15, 1808. He is descended from an old Scotch-Irish family who came to America at a very early day and settled in the State where he was born. His father, Samuel, was born in Frederick County in 1736, and followed farming till his death, which occurred in 1820, when our subject was only twelve years of age. His mother, nee Mrs. Rebecca Lyles, also lived to be a very old lady, and died in 1838, near Indianapolis, where she had gone to live with two married daughters who had moved to the West. By her Mr. Phillips, Sr., had three boys and she had six daughters when he married her. Our subject received a very limited education in the common school of' Middletown, and there served an apprenticeship in carriage-making with Jacob Young and Peter Beeter, of Sharpsburg and Middletown. He afterward clerked in a drug store in Fredericktown, Md., for one year. He came to Zanesville early in 1832, and to Dayton in April of the following year.


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He started a carriage shop on East. Fourth street, where he is still located. In April, 1827, he married Miss Catharine Creager, daughter of George Creager, the then Sheriff of Frederick County. By her he had three boys and three girls, all of whom are now dead. H is son, Henry Lee, was in the Second Regiment, Ohio Cavalry, during the rebel] ion; and his son Willie W., was in the service during the Morgan raid, but both ret urned to their home unhurt. Mr. Phillips is the oldest carriage builder of Dayton, and has always been considered one of the most worthy business men of the city.

JOHN POWELL, deceased, was born August 1811, in the village of Culm, near Presteign, Herefordshire, England. With naught. else than a good education and a strong, earnest purpose, he entered alone upon the struggle of' life at the early age of eleven as an apprentice to a linen draper--or haberdasher--in London. Securing a fair competency, he emigrated in 1835 to America and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where, with varying success, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, notably the leather. wool and hide trade. In 1817, he revisited England, witnessing the coronation of Queen Victoria. In 1845, he moved to Dayton, and for twenty-four years carried on the wholesale boot and shoe trade with marked success, gaining a fortune and an enviable rank among the substantial business men of the city. He was one of the projectors of the First National Bank, organized in 1863, remaining a large stockholder and director until it was merged into the private banking house of Gebhart, Harman & Co. He retired from active business pursuits in 1869, but was of too active a temperament to long remain idle. From merchandising he turned his attention to banking, in which he so evinced his capability of organization and management as to be readily seconded by prominent business interests throughout the county. e was the founder in 1871, and for two years the President of the Merchants' National Bank, which, owing largely to his personal direction and shrewd financiering, took from its organization high rank among the solid institutions of the city. A director of the bank until his death, its financial policy was almost invariably shaped in accordance with his views.

For eighteen years he was a director and one of the largest shareholders of the Firemens Insurance Company of Dayton. Gaining a large and valued experience, he was known as one of the best underwriters in the State. One of its earliest inceptors, and perhaps the most efficient of its Board of Directors, the very prosperous history of this institution is due not a little to his active interest and wise oversight. In him the English characteristics of' conservatism and decision and the American spirit of enterprise were happily blended; and his counsel in financial affairs was wisely sought and generally profited by.

In politics, while never ambitious to act a conspicuous part in public life, he was a pronounced Union man and a firm adherent to the Republican party. Strong, unflinching fidelity to principle and unwavering devotion, at whatever peril, to the right as he perceived it, formed a most marked trait of' his character.

His was eminently a religious life, speaking daily to his family and the world more by acts than by professions. For many years he was a member and vestryman of Christ (Episcopal), and latterly a member of the Third Street Presbyterian Church, in which relation he carried the same spirit of' activity, zeal and conscientiousness which characterized his business career. He was honored with the warm personal friendship of the Right Rev. Bishops Mclllvaine, Bedell and Jaggar, of the Episcopacy. But it was as an earnest, efficient organizer in the Bible Cause that he was best known among the christian people of the county : being identified with the Montgomery County Bible Society as a director, dating from 1859, and for six years serving as Treasurer. The Bible work was especially dear to him, since in so vast a field his powers found scope for exercise and expansion. His religious views were liberal as opposed to a spirit of sectarianism or churchly exclusiveness ; all movements looking toward a union of' effort in church or religious work by christians of whatever creed found in him a firm devotee.

Amid the distracting cares of a busy life, be ever evinced a lively interest in the welfare and prosperity of Dayton. He was passionately fond of horticultural pursuits ;


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the beautiful flowers and abundant fruits produced on his home premises on West First street attesting his zeal and success. Superior exhibits of fruits and flowers for many years at our local fairs would seem to place him among professional rather than amateur cultivators. An active member of the Montgomery County Horticultural Society, his addresses were listened to with interest to the profit and instruction of its membership. His " garden book" is an invaluable record of horticultural and meteorological data for twenty-four years--from 1854.

Although possessing marked individuality and great decision of character. his was a warm heart, most strongly attached to his family and home interests. Of domestic traits, his love and affection as a husband and father were continually shown forth in the exercise of self-sacrifice and loving counsel and guidance.

John Powell died at his residence, November 7, 1878, aged sixty-seven, his last illness being of ten days' duration. although for many years he had been at times a great sufferer. A wife and nine children survived him. The funeral service was held at the Third Street Presbyterian Church, conducted by Rev. J. H. Montgomery, pastor. His remains were laid to rest in his beautiful lot at Woodland Cemetery, Rev. E. H. Jewett, rector of Christ (Episcopal) Church, officiating. The following gentlemen served as pallbearers : Alexander Gebhart and James Applegate, representing the Merchants' National Bank ; Preserved Smith and T. S. Babbitt, the Firemens Insurance Company ; Valentine Winters, the Third Street Presbyterian Church, and George A. Black, a warm personal friend.

ADAM PRITZ, manufacturer, Dayton ; was born in Hanover, York County, Penn., September 9, 1808. He came to this city in 1841, and immediately associated with him Augustus Kuhns in a business extending from that time up to 1864. Mr. Pritz is a typical Pennsylvanian of the old school, whose life has been devoted to tireless labor with that intensity of' purpose, which forms a prominent trait in thousands of representatives of that State scattered throughout the Union. In his early years and up to the time of leaving his native town. he was engaged in the manufacture of Coffee Mills, a mill invented by his father, and which at that time had a prominence over all mills made in this country. Mills of his manufacture made in 1828. in Hanover, are now in use in this city by old citizens. formerly from his native State From 1841 to 1851, he specially engaged in the manufacture of an elliptic spring for carriages, horse-powers and threshing machines. discontinuing the mills after 1842. In 1861, he commenced the manufacture of the "Moore Grain Drill." This was the first drill made in this city, and Mr. Pritz is the pioneer drill manufacturer of this valley. He continued the manufacture of this drill up to 1858, when with various additions and improvements, as the result of has inventive genius, he, with his associate, Mr. Kuhns, gave to the world Pritz & Kuhns' Improved Drill. In the same year. 1858, Mr. Pritz bought of Owen Dorsey, of Maryland. the right to manufacture the Dorsey Reaper for this valley, which Mr. Pritz continued to manufacture each year, adding improvements up to 1876, when the present reaper that the firm now manufacture was patented by William Pritz, his son. Mr. Pritz has earned an honorable reputation among his contemporaries, as one of the foremost of the manufacturers of this city, in his contribution of time and money in the early enterprises, asking help and patronage from the capitalists and prominent citizens of' this valley. He was an enthusiastic advocate and subscriber to the Mad River Railroad, the first railroad seeking admission to this city. Afterward he liberally aided the Xenia and Belpre road, Dayton & Western, the original "Short Line," which was abandoned after absorbing the fortunes of many of our citizens. At a later day he was an active and earnest helper in securing the Dayton & Southeastern coal road. One of the principal movers in building the Dayton View Hydraulic, and is now one of its chief stockholders. In 1817, pending the completion of the canal through the city. it became apparent to the business and other interests that an extension running through the lower part of the city should be cons constructed. The State refused to assist in its construction, and hence it was left to the public enterprise of the citizens. In this undertaking Mr. Pritz was a liberal subscriber, and took an active interest in its accomplishment. The judgment of the people of that day was correct, as the subsequent abandon-


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ment of the upper canal for boats, and its use for hydraulic purposes only, demonstrated. In all these enterprises Mr. Pritz was a leading spirit, not prompted by a desire to reap ultimate gains, for in but few of these investments has he ever realized a dollar, but having, in broad view primarily, the welfare of the city, and always prompted by a progressive nature. In his younger years, his ambitions and inclinations centered in desires for soldiery and military honors, and in his native State is familiarly remembered as Maj. Pritz, and by other titles. He raised and commanded successively two military companies, the Warren Greys and Warren Riflemen, the pride amateur military companies in the State in its early history.

In connection with years of active association among the drills and reapers in this city, fr. Pritz also has large interests in South Bend, Ind., being an equal partner in the firm of Jacob Strayer & Co , manufacturers of the Statesman Force Feed Grain Drill. Mr. Fritz is now seventy-three years of age, and has reached that point in life and age when most men quietly rest upon their earnings; but such a condition of things would be foreign to his nature. His nervous and active temperament is not at ease unless he is surrounded by the busy hum of' machinery, with which he has been associated with his daily efforts for nearly half a century. He is daily at a work bench, seeking to improve and add another contribution to future improvements in machinery. In politics Mr. Fritz consented on one occasion to accept a nomination for an unexpired term in the City Council. He served in this position for one year. This comprehends his political and office-holding experience. In religion Mr. Pritz was formerly a Lutheran, but about eight years ago, united with the Third street Presbyterian Church of this city. He has over been willing to testify his zeal and liberality in the cause of Christianity by generous donations to the Young Men's Christian Association and kindred organizations, having in view the religious and moral advancement of his fellow-men, He was married June ]4, 1832, to Mary Kuhns, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Welsh) Kuhns. They are the parents of ten children, five of whom are alive. For the past twenty-five years his sons have been associated with him in business.

Mr. Peitz has not only been distinguished for his enterprise, industry, economy and indomitable energy, but his patriotism. Whatever he undertook to do he did with all his might. During the existence of the Whig party, he was a truly national conservative. He viewed slavery as a local institution, but not national. Sincerely attached to the whole Union. he opposed sectionalism. and when the South endeavored to extend the institution of slavery into the new Territories and States, he opposed their policy. When the people of that section made war with the Union, Mr. P. was among the first to make any and every sacrifice in behalf of the Union. He urged all to volunteer, and when the first call was made for defenders of' our beloved Union, his oldest sons, Jacob and William H. Fritz, were among the first to follow the advice of their father. and aided with their efforts until the rebellion was closed, their father doing all he could during this fearful period to provide for the destitute wives and children of' the patriots who had gone to the war. He entered into the work of crushing the rebellion with his characteristic energy, and finally, at its close, and when the oaring of the crippled and destitute soldiers became a matter of concern to the patriotism and legislation of' the country, gave of his time and generous contributions of money to secure the establishment of permanent homes and the location of a branch at Dayton.

In reviewing the history of this laborer in the fields of enterprise and mechanical improvements, we have thereby sought to bring from the background and place to the front the name of Adam Fritz, who, as one of the pioneer manufacturers in years of active efforts, has contributed from his wealth of brain and invention the genius which, applied in material forms, has gone out to the world, causing prosperity and consequent happiness to his neighbor and employes, adding to the growth and wealth of his city, and contributing to the progress of' civilization.

JOHN C. REEVE. physician and surgeon. Dayton, was born in England, June 5, 1826. In 1832, his father's family emigrated to this country, and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. where our subject was reared. He enjoyed good school privileges up


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to the age of twelve, when by the loss of his mother and financial reverses in the family' he was thrown entirely upon his own resources, became an apprentice to the printer, and spent several years in the offices of the Cleveland Advertiser and Herald. While thus employed, by industrious personal application, and by an attendance of several winters' upon common schools, and one summer at the Academy, he fitted himself' for teaching, which he followed for a time as the best means of improvement and education. He then read medicine with Dr. John Delamater, Professor of Obstetrics in the Medical Department of Western Reserve College, Cleveland, Ohio, from which institution he graduated. In 1849, he began practice in Dodge County, Wis. Some four years later, he visited Europe for the purpose of further study of his profession, and after passing, the winter in London, and a summer at the University of Gottingen, Germany, returned to this country, and in the fall of 1854 settled in Dayton, which has since been his residence, where he rapidly rose in the confidence and esteem of the public generally, and now occupies a leading rank in the profession of that city. He has performed most of the leading operations of surgery falling to the lot of one in general practice; among others a case of tracheotomy, by which was successfully removed from the throat of a little girl eight years old the largest body, with one exception, ever taken from the windpipe--a shawl-pin, three and one-fourth inches in length. The case is alluded to, and a cut of the pin given, in Gross' Surgery." He has performed ovariotomy five times, three of them being successful, and which is about the usual number. He is a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society, of which he has several times been President ; also of the Ohio State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the American Gynaecological Society, of which he was one of the founders. He has made numerous reports of' important professional cases. and has been a frequent contributor to the leading medical journals of the country, especially to the review department of' the American .Journal of Medical Sciences, Philadelphia. and to the American Journal of Obstetrics. New York. He occupies the rank of a leader in the profession in Ohio, and his personal standing is that of' an affable, polished gentleman. On August 10, 1849. he married Emma G. Barlow of Cleveland. Ohio. and has two sons and two daughters.

JACOB RICHMOND, retired carpenter. Dayton. .Jacob Richmond was born in Frederick County, Md., July 5, 1809 ; when he was fifteen years elf he began the cabinet trade, at which he worked three years. when he turned his attention to carpentering. After serving an apprenticeship of' three years at this trade. he worked at the same as contractor until 1877, when he retired from business. He was married March 8, 1831, to Rebecca Coblentz. Of their ten children, but six are living viz.: Morgan H., Caroline R., Edward C., Malinda C., Annie R. and John P. Francis P. in 1862 enlisted in the Ninety third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in front of Atlanta June 23, 1864. Three children died in infaney. Mr. Richmond moved from Maryland ( in a wagon, being twenty-one days on the road, to Montgomery County, Ohio, and located in Dayton in 1832. His wife died December 22, 1873. Mr. R. was a member of the City Council from 1848 to 1854, also Infirmary Director from 1876 to 1879. He has always lived an exemplary life; having started a poor boy, he has by economy and industry, accumulated quite a comfortable living for himself and family. He is now seventy-two years old, but still very active.

JOHN S. ROBERTSON, Clerk of Courts, Dayton, was born July 25, 1843, at Hanover, Columbiana Co., Ohio. His father, John Robertson, was the youngest son of Rev. James Robertson, a Scotch Presbyterian minister; his mother, nee Margaret k. Vallandigham, was a daughter of Rev. Clement Vallandigham, and sister of the late Hon. C. L. Vallandigham. Our subject obtained his early education at the New Lisbon High School, and, when eighteen years of age, commenced teaching school, thereby obtaining the means to enable him to attend medical lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich. He commenced the practice of medicine in Columbiana County, but removed, in 1869, to Germantown, Montgomery County where he practiced his profession until elected Clerk of the Courts of this county, in October, 1875. In 1878, he was re-elected for an additional term of three years He was married to Miss Elizabeth Rowe,


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of Germantown, June 19, 1872. As an accommodating and efficient officer, an honest and reliable citizen, and a gentleman in all respects, Mr. Robertson has gained the respect and esteem of all who meet him.

JOHN ROUZER, contractor, Dayton. Mr. Rouzer, now one of the foremost contractors and builders of Dayton, was born on the 29th of June, 1822, in Clark County, Ohio, near the (now) city of Springfield. He is one of the most conspicuous of the many illustrations afforded by our American life, of the success achieved by intelligent industry and personal integrity. Mr. Rouzer s father was a native of Frederick County, Md., of German descent, and lived to the age of eighty-four years. His mother was a native of Virginia. of Scotch parentage, and survived to be eighty years of age. Both of robust constitutions, and of simple and industrious habits, they raised a family of' twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom they lived to see established in life. John came to Dayton, as a boy, with his father's family, about 1832, when the town was scarcely more than a village. His education was only such as the limited facilities of so small a town could afford, before the school system, now developed into a chief source of pride of our community, was originated, but he has the satisfaction to know that it is to his skill and taste as a mechanic, that the city is, in a large part, indebted for some of the handsomest school edifices that are one of its principal ornaments. Mr. Rouzer commenced in Dayton as a practical builder and contractor in 1861. His close attention to the details of his business, and to the completeness and honesty of his work, soon established for him an enviable reputation as a faithful mechanic and honest contractor. His chief object was to give satisfaction to his patrons by the excellence of his work. His business rapidly grew to large proportions, and, keeping abreast with the rapid improvement in mechanical machinery, he has now one of the most complete and extensive establishments in his line of work anywhere to be found, and is able to execute the largest contracts for the carpenter work of public buildings in Ohio and the adjoining States. He has been able to accumulate a respectable property, and can exhibit in the elegance and perfect finish of his own residence a specimen of his skill and taste that was pronounced, by one of the most accomplished architects in the United States ( William Myers, of Detroit), unexcelled by any similar work he had ever inspected. Mr. Rouzer married Martha J. Deihl, the daughter of Mr. Henry Deihl, of Dayton, on New Year's Day, 1850 ; but two daughters of a family of seven children survive. It may be said, without any fulsome praise, that Mr. Rouzer has a reputation as a business man, as well as a citizen, in all the relations of social and domestic life that is without blemish, and that he has honestly earned it by his industry, his intelligence, his enterprise and his personal integrity. It is such men as he and his class who give dignity, respect, ability and success to American labor.

JOHN RUNCK, JR., butcher, Dayton, was born in Dayton, Ohio, September 6, 1855. His grandfather. Philip, and his grandmother, Elizabeth (Runck) Runck, were both natives of Rhine Byrne, Germany, where our subject's father, John Sr., was born on the 10th of May, 1830. The latter came to America in 1848, and, after a few months' residence in Cincinnati, came to Montgomery County and commenced butchering in Dayton, where he learned his trade, and where he has since continued to follow it. He married, December 20, 1854, Miss Louisa Steiner, daughter of Henry and Oppolina (Wenst) Steiner, of Dayton, both natives of Germany. By this union they had thirteen children--Anna Mary, John, our subject, Charlie, Kate, Caroline, Margaret, Frank, Julia, Michael L, Hattie, Florence, Clara and Oppolina ; of these one girl and two boys have since died. John, Jr., attended the schools of Harrison Township, where they lived and then took a course in the Commercial College, of Dayton, working at his trade of butchering at the same time. He married January 6, 1880, Miss Julia A. Klaner, daughter of William and Barbara Klaner, of Dayton, by whom he has had one child, a daughter, born November 10, 1880. He is a young man of much business ability, a good financier, and an industrious and obedient son.

MARK RUTLEDGE. of firm of Rutledge & Co., paper manufacturers, Dayton, was born in Kirkoswald, England, March 13, 1812. His parents were George and Mary (Archer) Rutledge, the former of whom was a manufacturer of linen goods, and


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never wore any garment made of cotton until after coming to America. Our subject was reared to maturity in England, and upon arriving at his twenty-first mile-stone in life, came to America, locating at Worcester, Mass., and engaging in his present business ; he had previously learned his trade in his native land, and remained at. Worcester eight years. During the forepart of this period, he attended night schools, where he obtained his literary education. He removed his business to Norwich, Conn., and eight years later went to Andover, where his will was subsequently destroyed by fire. Two years later he went to Lowell, Mass., and six years later to Dayton (in 1854). For a time he was foreman for L. F. Claffin & Co., and was afterward a member of the firm. He subsequently engaged his services, as foreman for Mead & Weston, and in 1867 established his present business. Mr. Rutledge was married, in 1837, to Augusta Livermore, a native of' Massachusetts. They have three children--George, Janie (wife of Luther Peters, an architect of Dayton), and Ellen. Mr. Rutledge was formerly a Democrat, but is now " a pure Republican." He is a member of' Montgomery Lodge, No. 5, I. O. O. F., and of Dayton Lodge, Masonic. Himself, wife and children are members of the Universalist Society. George Rutledge, the eldest child, and junior member of the firm of' Rutledge & Co., was married, January 1, 1863, to Virginia Simmons, a native of Yazoo City, Miss. They have three children--Walter, Virginia and Mary. Mrs. Rutledge is a regular attendant on the religious services held in Raper chapel. Mr. Rutledge has full charge of the business of the firm.

ADAM SCHANTZ, butcher, Dayton, was born in Mittilkinsig, Hesse-Darmstadt., Germany, September 7, 1839. He was the second son of' Frederick and Marie Elizabeth (Scheeler) Schantz, who were natives of Germany and parents of eight children six boys and two girls. Adam, our subject, emigrated to America on the 11 th of April, 1855, and on the 1st of September following came to Dayton, where he, engaged in butchering for Michael Oldt, with whom he worked one year. He then left Dayton for several years, during which he visited and worked in Iowa two years. Chicago six months, St. Louis four months, New Orleans five months, across to Germany, where he stayed with his folks four months, then to Hamburg and London, and on the 10th of June, 1862, back to Dayton, where he has since been in the butchering business. He was married March 29. 1863. to Saloma Latin. daughter of Falteen Latin, of Dayton. by whom he had nine children, five boys and four girls, of whom three boys and four girls survive. Mr. Schantz was a member of the City Council in 1877-78. He was also President of Southern Ohio Stock Yards and a Director of the Southern Ohio Fair Association. He is a member of Steuben Lodge, I. O O. F.. and of the German Lutheran Church.

MICHAEL SCHIML. brewer, Dayton, was born in Beglasreuth, near Baireuth, Bavaria, Germany, August 4,1825, and is the son of Christopher and Mary (Kramer) Schiml, natives of the same place. His father was a prominent mill owner. a man of means and commercial standing who died about 1842. Michael was the youngest in a family of eight children, five of whom died previous to his coming to America, whither his brother John had preceded him in 1845, Michael, with his mother and one sister, following in 1848, all settling in Montgomery County, Ohio, where the aged mother died soon after reaching this county. Mr. Schiml was married, September 12, 1848, to Miss Annie M. Heindl, a native of Bavaria, and daughter of John and Frederica Heindl, who remained in the fatherland. Of this union eight children are the fruits, as follows : Teresa, John L., Joseph (deceased), Susan. Andrew, Cidonia (deceased), Aloys C. and one died in infancy. Mr. Schiml worked at coopering in this county until 1852. when, in partnership with his brother John, they started a brewery on the corner of' Wayne and Hickory streets, making their first lager beer on December 13 of that year. from stock brought from Boston, by a cousin of the Schiml's who was a brewer, this being the first lager beer made in Montgomery County, Ohio. His brother, John, died September 5, 1858, since which time the business has been owned and operated by our subject, who ranks as the pioneer brewer of' Dayton, and whose success in his line has been second to none. Beginning upon a capital of $1,800, he has by constant attention to his business, and the manufacture of' as good au article of beer as other first-


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class brewers, increased his sales yearly, and thereby his financial standing, until to-day. he takes his place among the wealthy men of the Miami Valley, being worth over $75,000. all the legitimate result of his own indefatigable will to win success. His son, John L., is the book-keeper of the establishment, and Andrew attends to the outside business, it being the intention of Mr. Schiml to retire from active life in a short time, leaving the management of his brewery to his sons, who are thoroughly competent of imitating their father's success in life.

JOHN SCHOEN, Bailiff, Superior Court, Dayton. Mr. Schoen was born in Hessen, Germany, April 3, 1825, emigrated to America in 1856. After sojourning some two years in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other cities in Pennsylvania, he came to Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1858, and settled in Dayton. He worked in breweries from the age of fourteen years until he came to Dayton, Ohio. After his location here. he followed frescoing and paper hanging until the fall of 1880, when he was appointed Bailiff of the Superior Court. He was elected a member of the City Council of Dayton in 1876, and served a term of two years. In 1878, he was elected for three years one of the Board of Infirmary Directors. In 1861, in the first call for troops, he enlisted in the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served two years and four months, when he was discharged on account of wounds received in battle. In the second battle of Bull Run he lost one finger from his right hand, the rest of the hand being disabled as to almost destroy its use. He also received three other wounds in different parts of his body. It was his love for the country that gives him liberty that prompted him to enlist in its defense. He is a member of' the Odd Fellows, Red Men, V. A. O. D., and A. O. W. W. Also a member of' the Gymnasium Furness Association and the O. N. G. He was instrumental in starting the first beneficial association of this city, being one of the incorporators. He was married, September 7, 1858, to Catherine Faulstick, to whom six children have been born, viz.: Conrad, Harmon, Johnie (deceased) Annie, Katie and William. Mr. Schoen has always been a hard-working, industrious man, true to his God and country.

FREDERICK SCHUTTE, County Auditor, Dayton, was born in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, March 16, 1846. His parents were Frederick Schutte, a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, who came to this country about 1840, and Catharine C. (Webber) Schutte, a native of Prussia, who came to America in 1838. They were married in Dayton, and had five children. three boys and two girls, of whom our subject and one girl are the only survivors. The father had his passage paid to this country by parties in Dayton, and after his arrival worked fifteen months in a stone quarry at $7 per month to repay it. His estate now owns the land on which this, the first work he performed in the new world, was done. He died February 7, 1871, after a life of honest toil, leaving his family in very good circumstances. His wife is still living and is enjoying very good health for one so advanced in years. Our subject, who was the oldest child, attended the common schools of Dayton until seventeen years old. At the age of twenty-one years, he became a Deputy in the Auditor's office, in which he remained four years and then became Steward of the Southern Ohio Insane Asylum, under the administration of Gov. Allen. e remained at the asylum from June 19, 1874, until July 17, 1876, and then accepted a position in the County Treasurer's office, where he served one year or until 1877, when he was elected to fill his present office. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Red Men and Druids. He is also a member in good standing of the German Lutheran Church. He resides with his mother and sister in Van Buren Township, just out of the city. His official service has been attended with the best of success and with credit to himself and his party.

COLESTIN SCHWIND, brewer, Dayton, was born in Stadtprozelten, Bavaria, Germany, May 19, 1825, and is the son of Ignatz and Elizabeth Schwind. He came to America in 1850, and settled in Dayton, where he started a brewery in 1854, on Logan street, which he carried on fourteen years. In 1865, he built his present brewery in Dayton View, where he does a business of $80,000 per year. He came to Dayton a poor man, but by dint of hard labor and strict economy he has succeeded in be-


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coming one of the wealthy men of the city. He was married, August 28, 1856, to Christine Latin, of Dayton, a native of Germany, to whom has been born eleven children, nine of whom survive. Mr. Schwind is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Society of Druids. His family consists of his wife, seven girls and two boys, all enjoying the prosperity that honest industry has brought the husband and father.



HENRY L. SHEPERD, farmer and dealer in agricultural implements Dayton, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., October 5, 1824, and is a son of Henry Lewis Sheperd, a native of Switzerland; emigrated to America in 1816, and landed in New York ; located in Lancaster County, Penn., where he lived until 1833, when he removed to Ohio, and in 1835 located in Wayne Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, where his death occurred January 4, 1861 ; Mrs. S. died February 1, 1861. The original way of spelling the name Sheperd was Chopord, but the family were called here by the name of Sheperd. After a few years Mr. Shepard adopted the latter manner of spelling his name which has always been continued by the family. A full and complete genealogy of the Sheperd family may be found in the biography of R. Sloan, among the sketches of Wayne Township in another part of this work. Henry L., Jr., came to Ohio with his parents in 1833, being then nine years of age ; he remained upon the farm and assisted his father in agricultural pursuits until 1816, when he and his brother, Jacob H., removed to Dayton and engaged in the foundry business ; they originated the Buckeye Foundry. which business they continued until 1850, when they disposed of their interest. H. L. returned to the old farm and followed farming until March, 1881, at which date he removed to Dayton and engaged in the above business which he now runs in connection with farming. August. 10, 1851. he was united in marriage with Sarah E. Rubsam, also a native of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of six children, viz.: Francis M , Laura Z. deceased), Mary E., Susan S. (deceased), Jacob L. and William B. Mr. S. has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1843.

WILLIAM JOHN SHUEY, minister and editor, Dayton, was born in Miamisburg, Montgomery County, February 9, 1827. His father, Adam Shuey, and his mother, Hannah (Aley) Shuey, emigrated to this country in 1805, he from Dauphin County, Penn., and she from Washington County, Md. At the age of' nine years, our subject moved, with his parents, to the vicinity of' Springfield. Ohio, where he assisted his parents in opening a farm out of a dense forest. His advantages for education were limited to the common country schools of that day, and four months in the high school of Springfield. On the 7th of March, 1848, he married Miss Sarah Berger, whose parents, natives of Berks County, Penn., settled near Lagonda, Ohio, in 1838. By this marriage he has been blessed by four sons, the eldest of whom, Albert L., died in childhood. Of the remaining three, Ewin L. is a professor in Otterbein University; William A. is a student in Union Biblical Seminary, Dayton. and Lincoln is a student in the Sophomore year in " O. U." Mr. Shuey entered the active ministry of the Gospel in the United Brethren Church in 1849, and was appointed to his first charge at Lewisburg, Preble County, Ohio. In the autumn of 1851, he was transferred to Cincinnati, where, at different times, he served the church seven years. He was twice elected Presiding Elder in the Miami Conference of his church, and two years pastor of the First United Brethren Church of Dayton. In 1855, he visited the west coast of Africa for the purpose of locating a mission among the heathen of' that country. In 1864, he was elected one of the agents of' the United Brethren publishing house, Dayton, in which capacity he still continues. For fifteen years, he has had sole charge of the business management of the house. In May, 1831, conference elected him, for the fifth time, to this position, which will give him twenty-one years of continuous service. When he began his work in the publishing house it was embarrassed with liabilities amounting to over $52,000. At the close of his fourth term (of four years each) all its debts were paid and the net assets exceeded $160,000. This circumstance in itself will prove whether or not Mr. Shuey is a successful financier and shrewd business manager.


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ALVAN A. SIMONDS, manufacturer of machine knives, Dayton, was born at Fitchburg, Mass., Jan. 28, 1841. His father was Abel Simonds, a scythe manufacturer of that place. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his native State, and when sixteen years of age, learned his present trade. He worked at it four years, and then, in company with his brother, George F., opened a shop at home, remaining in business there for ten years. The firm was known as Simonds Brothers, and subsequently was organized into a joint-stock company, under the name of the Simonds Manufacturing Company. Mr. Simonds became its trusted and efficient Treasurer. The firm of Simonds Brothers commenced business with ten men in their employ, and in 1874, when Mr. Simonds resigned his position as Treasurer of the company, the force had been increased to 125 employes, and the amount of business to $200,000 annually. In 1874, Mr. Simonds came West, seeking a good location for his business. On his arrival at Dayton, he was so well pleased with the business outlook that he resolved to settle himself and trade in the Valley City. He erected his present shops in Dayton View, and his success has fully justified his decision. In 1861, Mr. Simonds enlisted in Company B, Fifteenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. After a term of three years in defense of the beloved Union, he was honorably discharged and returned home. Mr. Simonds was married, in 1865, to Marcella C. Willard, a native of Leominster, Mass. Of the five children given them, four are living--Caroline J., Cora B., Herbert R. and Ethel G. Bessie E. is deceased. Mrs. Simonds is a member of the Unitarian Church of Leominster, Mass., and our subject is connected with the Old Guard.

JOHN W. SOLLENBERGER, contractor and builder, Dayton, was born in Franklin County, Penn., May 30, 1820. His father, Daniel Sollenberger, was born in Franklin County, Penn., April 10, 1795. He was a weaver by trade, but worked at farm work. On the 12th of October, 1818, he married Esther Wenger, by whom he had the following children--John W., Christopher Columbus, Daniel J., Jacob, Elizabeth, Martin and Sarah. In 1824, he came to Montgomery County, and located on Wolf Creek, one mile from Dayton, where he died in January, 1871. His wife was born at Jonestown, Lebanon Co., Penn., June 3, 1800, and all his children are still living. They are descendants of an old family, who came from Berlin, Germany, at an early day. John W., our subject, stayed on his father's farm until seventeen years old, when he learned the carpenter trade with George Dice (above Dayton), with whom he stayed two years. He then worked as a journeyman until 1865, when, with J. N. Eyer, he commenced business for himself. Mr. Eyer retired from the firm in 1876, and for two years afterward Mr. Mason Davis was a partner. Since then, Mr. Sollenberger has conducted his business alone. He has been married three times, first February 17, 1842, to Mary Wagner, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Wagner, of Little York, Montgomery Co., Ohio, by whom he had four children, one boy and three girls, all of whom are living except a babe, that died soon after its mother. who died June 6, 1854. His second marriage was celebrated November 3, 1856, to Mary A. Roney, daughter of Hercules and Susan Roney, of Little York, who, after hearing him three boys and three girls, died April 2, 1870. He afterward married, February 14. 1871, Barbara Schoch, daughter of' Frederick and Saloma (Spielman) Schoch, of Baden Baden, Germany, who emigrated to America in the spring of 1860, and Montgomery County in 1861. By her he has had one daughter. Mr. Sollenberger, although over threescore years of age, looks much younger. He is a steady, hard-working man, who tends to his own business and leaves others to do the same. His reputation throughout the city is most complimentary to himself and family.

JAMES STEELE was born in Rockbridge County, Va., October 28, 1778, and died in Dayton August 22, 1841. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the family having emigrated from the North of Ireland to Virginia in 1737. His father, Robert Steele, removed to Kentucky in 1788, and settled in Fayette County, near Lexington. James Steele was brought up amid the dangers and privations of pioneer life, and the foundations were thus laid for a manly, self-reliant character. When twenty-one years old, he loaded a flat-boat with produce, and descending the Kentucky. Ohio and Mississippi


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Rivers to New Orleans disposed of his cargo, and returned on horseback to his home in Kentucky. In 1806, he came to Dayton and engaged in merchandising in connection with Joseph Peirce, whose sister, Phebe Peirce, he afterward, in 1812, married. Isaac Peirce, the father of his wife, was a member of the Ohio Company, and came to Marietta, Ohio, in 1788, with the first colony which settled in the State, the same year in which the Steele family arrived in Kentucky. When he became a citizen of Dayton, he at once identified himself with all efforts to promote the prosperity of the town. He took the liveliest interest in education, and served for many years as a Trustee of the old Dayton Academy. He was a member of the board when the old buildings on St. Clair street were sold, and a new one erected on the lot where the present high school building stands. He was instrumental in the employment of' Mr. E. E. Barney as a teacher, and appreciating his admirable qualities, retired from the Trusteeship, when he retired from the Academy. Because of his well-known interest in education, he was appointed by the Governor of Ohio one of the earliest Trustees of Miami University, and served fur many years, manifesting the deepest interest in that institution until the time of' his death. He was early elected a Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church. He was a member of that body when the first and second church buildings were erected on the lot where the present elegant stone structure stands. He was especially interested in the second building, which, when erected, was considered a model church, and gave to it much of his means and personal attention. The house was just completed when he died in 1841. An incident of the war of 1812 may serve to illustrate his promptness and decision of character. After the disgraceful surrender of Gen. Hull, news came to Dayton that. the Indians assembled in council near Piqua, emboldened by the success of the British, were dangerous and threatening to attack the inhabitants. The news came on Saturday, and, on Sunday morning at 7 o'clock, a company of seventy men was ready, and marched to the front, commanded by Capt. Steele. The alarm proved to be groundless. and, after a few days the company returned home. Capt. Steele was retained longer in the service by order of' Gen. Harrison. to superintend the building of block-houses at St. Mary's for the protection of the people of that region. In 1824, he was chosen one of the electors for President and Vice President of the United States for the State of' Ohio, and had the satisfaction of joining in casting the vote of the State for his friend and favorite statesman, Henry Clay. He was twice elected by the Legislature an Associate Judge for Montgomery County, and served in that capacity for fourteen years. In 1834, he was elected to represent Preble and Montgomery Counties in the Senate of the State, and, in 1836, re-elected, serving four years. He was one of the original stockholders in 1840 in the Woodland Cemetery Association, and presided at the meeting when the Association was organized by the election of the first Board of Trustees. He was elected a Director in the Dayton Bank in 1815, and, in 1822, was elected President and held the position up to the end of' his life. The bank occupied the two-story stone building still standing on Main street. north of First. It was the aim of the bank to accommodate Dayton mechanics and business men with loans at a low rate of interest, and such customers were always preferred to foreign borrowers, even if' more profitable. So prudently had the bank been managed that it did not seriously suffer from the great commercial reverse commencing in 1837, and continuing through several years. It was a matter of great pride to the officers of the bank that while the other banks of the State were compelled to suspend specie payments, its notes were redeemed in coin whenever presented. The following extract of an obituary notice, written by the late Judge Crane and published in the Dayton Journal, will show the estimation in which he was held by his fellow citizens. " In all the relations of life. public and private, his character was irreproachable. On the bench he was distinguished for good sense, integrity and impartiality. As a legislator in a period of great public excitement, though firm and consistent in his political opinions, he won the esteem and respect of' his opponents by his candor and moderation. His private life was not more marked by strict and unyielding integrity than by the kindness and benignity of his nature to all his fellow-creatures. His death was sudden and unlooked-for, but he was a humble and devoted Christian, and his life had been in preparation for that awful event."


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DR. JOHN STEELE, Dayton. John Steele, M. D., the son of Robert and Agnes Coulter Steele, was born in Fayette County, Ky., April 1, 1791. He was educated at Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., and attended lectures in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, of which college the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Rush was at the time a Professor and lecturer.

Having completed his medical course, he was induced by the residence of his brother, James Steele, in Dayton, to choose that place to commence the practice of his profession. During the war of 1812. Dayton was a depot of supplies for the army, and a great thoroughfare. A large number of wounded from the army were brought to the town and a hospital established. Dr. Steele was employed as a physician and surgeon, and found ample opportunity to extend and perfect his knowledge of surgery. This was of the utmost value to a young surgeon just beginning practice, and gave him at once an established position in his profession. In his after life, he was called in consultation in difficult cases in all the surrounding country.

Confining himself closely to his profession, and steadily refusing all offers of political preferment, his life; well rounded and filled with usefulness as it was, offers few salient points for the biographer. He was always ready to discharge the duties of a good citizen, and served for many years as a member and President of the City Council. His name is prominently connected with the benevolent and religious societies of his day ; he was a founder and liberal contributor of the Dayton Libra & Association ; was an original stockholder in the Woodland Cemetery Association, and a prominent member and President of the Montgomery County Medical Society. In 1829, he was elected an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church, and served in that capacity until 1837. In that year a colony, of' which he was a leading member and Elder, left the First Church and established the Third Street Presbyterian Church. He was largely instrumental, at great self-sacrifice, in building a house of worship, which, at the time, was considered one of the finest church buildings in the West. This has been recently removed to give place to another and finer, but the present builders will not be called upon to bestow on the work a tithe of the anxious thought and self-denial required of the building commit-tee of the first house. Dr. Steele served the Third Street Church as a Ruling Elder from its origin to the time of his decease. Only members of that church can knew the respect and love in which he was held.

In his extensive practice in Dayton and Montgomery County, he made a wide circle of acquaintances and friends. Many families may yet be found, although twenty-seven years have elapsed since his death, who speak of him with reverence and warm affection. He was remarkable for his dry humor and wit, and his old patients recall and repeat his witty sayings with a relish, no doubt heightened by the memory of the relief they brought amid the despondency and pain of the sick room. After a protracted illness, which he bore with the greatest fortitude and patience, he died October 21, 1854.

Nothing better illustrates the deep impression he made on the community than the testimonials offered to his memory at the time of his death. The following is an extract of an editorial which appeared in the Dayton Journal:

"We seek not to write a formal obituary of the departed, nor yet to attempt a detail of his virtues or of the remarkable traits of character for which tie was distinguished. His long residence in Dayton dating back to its early settlement, and his prominent position as a practitioner of' medicine, gave him an extensive acquaintance in the city and surrounding country, securing for him a name which is associated with all that is honorable, noble and elevated in human character. Few men go down to the grave leaving a memory in which the fragrance of good deeds, the exaltation of true manhood, and the elevation of Christian character, so happily combine to render it truly blessed."



The following are the proceedings of the Montgomery County Medical Society:

"At a called meeting of the Montgomery County Medical Society, occasioned by the death of Dr. John Steele, the President (Dr. Haines) addressed the society in a very feeling and appropriate manner. He was followed by Dr. Awl and others, after which the following resolutions were adopted :

"WHEREAS, the members of the Montgomery County Medical Society have received


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notice of the death of John Steele, M. D., a former President of this body, and a great and good man, always respected and beloved in the profession. And, WHEREAS, we with one accord have assembled to take suitable action on an occasion so appropriate for testimony to departed worth. Therefore, be it

" Resolved, That a public acknowledgment of the many virtues, and the noble bearing of our venerable and departed friend and co-laborer in medical practice, is not only honorable and due on the part of the living, but is eminently just and becoming to the memory and character of the departed dead.

"Resolved, That, as citizens and surviving members of a common profession, we deeply realize and every way deplore the loss which science and the community have this day sustained in the removal by death of this highly esteemed and useful man.

" Resolved, That we most truly sorrow and condole with the members of his family and relatives in this affliction and dispensation of Divine Providence.

" Resolved, That we attend his funereal in a body and as a society."

Dr. Steele was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Jane Boyd, lived but a short time after marriage. On the 30th of October, 1823, he married Miss Cornelia King, of Morristown, N. J., who, after a happy married life of thirty-one years. survived him twenty-five years, dying April 25, 1880.

His eldest son, Dr. Henry K. Steele, adopted his father's profession and succeeded to his practice. To benefit the health of his family, he removed, in 1871, to Denver, Colo., where he now resides, enjoying a large and lucrative practice.

ROBERT W STEELE, son of James Steele, whose biography appears in this work, was born in Dayton July 3, 1819. He was prepared for college in the Dayton Academy, at that time in charge of Mr. E. E. Barney, and was graduated at Miami University in 1840.

After leaving college, he entered the law office of Crane & Davies, but attacked with hemorrhage of the lungs, was prohibited by his physician from pursuing the study of the law. Unable to practice a profession, he heartily engaged in enterprises for the benefit of the community.

In 1842, when a city charter was granted to Dayton, and the public schools organized under it, he was appointed by the City Council a member of the Board of Education. This position he filled by repeated re-elections for thirty years. and served for twelve years as President of the board. In 1847, he was one of the founders of the Dayton Library Association, and for many years a Director and President. When, in 1860, the Library Association was united with the Public Library, he was appointed by the Board of Education Chairman of the library committee and served in that capacity until 1875, when he retired from the Board of Education.

On his retirement from the board the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :

WHEREAS, Mr. Robert W. Steele retires from this board after a continuous service of more than thirty years; Therefore be it

Resolved, That we desire in the name of the people of Dayton, whom we represent, to thank him for his faithful and efficient service as a member of this board, for the interest he has always manifested in the cause of popular education and for his untiring efforts to increase the efficiency of our common school system.

Resolved, That for his constant, able and unremitting attention to the Public Library is in a great measure due the establishment and growth of an institution which is a just source of pride to the people of Dayton ; and that we sincerely regret the decision which deprives the schools and library of the benefit of his judgment and experience.

Resolved, That these resolutions be enrolled upon the minutes of this board, and that a copy of the same be furnished Mr. Steele by the Clerk.

In 1844, he was one of the incorporators of Cooper Female Seminary, and served as a member of the Board of Trustees until the institution passed into private hands. In 1857, he was appointed by Gov. Chase a Trustee of Miami University and served nine years.

He was one of the earliest members of the Montgomery County Agricultural Society and served as its President. He has also been an active member of the several Horticultural Societies which have been established, and has been Treasurer from the


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beginning of the present successful one. In 1852, he was elected a member of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture and had charge, in 1853, of the first State Fair held in Dayton. At that time the labor of preparing for the fair, now performed by a salaried officer, was largely thrown on the member resident where the fair was held.

In the early history of the railroads centering in Dayton, he was active in promoting that interest. He has been a subscriber to the stock of all the railroads, except three, entering Dayton. He served as a Director in the Dayton & Western and Dayton, Xenia & Belpre roads.

The war of the rebellion warmly enlisted his sympathies for the cause of the Union, and he took an active part in all measures to promote enlistments and to provide for the comfort of the soldiers and their families. He was appointed by the Governor of Ohio and served as a member of the Military Committee for Montgomery County ; was a member of the Sanitary Commission and Chairman of the Citizens Committee to assist in raising the Ninety-third Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

In 1853, he was elected Secretary of Woodland Cemetery Association to succeed Robert C. Schenck, who had been sent Minister to Brazil. On the death of John W. Van Cleve in 1858, he was elected President, and has filled the position to the present time, a period of twenty-three years.



In 1866, he was appointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church ( New School) a member of a committee to meet a similar committee on the part of the Old School branch of the church to devise measures for the reunion of the two churches. This committee did much of the preparatory work which resulted in the cordial and happy reunion of the churches.

When the Montgomery County Children's Home was established in 1867, he was appointed a Trustee by the County Commissioners and served nine years. During his trusteeship the grounds for the Home were purchased and the present building erected.

In 1867, he was appointed by Gov. Cox, a member of the Ohio State Board of Charities and served five years. The duty of this board is " to investigate the whole system of' the public charities and correctional institutions of the State, and recommend such changes and additional provisions as they may deem necessary for their economical and efficient administration."

Mr. Steele has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1841, and has served as an Elder in the Third Street Church since 1854.

JACOB STICKLE. brewer, Dayton, was born in Neckar-Thailfingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, February 26, 1825, and emigrated to America in 1849, landing in New Orleans, La., on the 1st of May in that year. His father, John Jacob, and mother, Katerina, were natives of the above place in Germany, the former having been born there October 22, 1798. Our subject on his arrival in this country came straight to Dayton, where he arrived on June 1, 1849, and, for two years thereafter, he butchered, that being his trade, for Adam Hopple. He afterward opened a stall in market, which he attended for seventeen years, or until 1868, when he purchased the brewery of Saunders & Stopplemann, in which he now does about $50,000 worth of business annually. He was married, August 31, 1851, to Barbara Drecksel, by whom he had two children--Katerina and William, the former dying in early childhood. William grew to manhood, and is now assisting his father in his business, to which he will eventually succeed. On arriving in Dayton, Mr. Stickle had but little money and no friends; to-day he is considered one of the wealthy men of the city, which standing he has obtained by honest dealing with his fellow-men, shrewd business sagacity and close economy.

HENRY STODDARD (deceased) was born in Woodbury, Conn., March 1S, 1788. and died in Dayton, Ohio, November 1, 1869. He was a son of Asa Stoddard, a descendant of the Rev. Anthony Stoddard, of London, Eng., who settled in Boston in 1670, and whose numerous descendants have, for more than two centuries, occupied honorable positions in several States of' the Union. Senator Sherman and also Gen. Sherman are descendants from the Stoddard family. Having received such education as the common schools of this day afforded, our subject spent the last five years


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of his minority in the capacity of store clerk. He then read law and was admitted to the bar in 1812. Four years later, he came West on horseback in company with the late Hon. George B. Holt, of Dayton, and, in 1817, permanently located in that city. At that time, Dayton was a village of some 600 inhabitants in the center of a vast unbroken wilderness, and for many years, Mr. Stoddard made the circuit of the courts in the different counties on horseback, riding for days through the storms of winter, and at night often sleeping in the bush. Of the early lawyers of Dayton, Mr. Stoddard was one of the most prominent and successful. From 1840 to 1844, he was in partnership with Judge D. A. Haynes. Having by the latter year acquired a handsome competency, he retired from regular practice and devoted himself to the management of .his private affairs. He was one of' the constituent members of the First Presbyterian Church of Dayton, in which body he was, for many years, a ruling deacon. He also held the office of Vice President and Life Director of the American Colonization Society. For many years previous to his death, he was an invalid. His first wife was Harriet L. Patterson who died October 1, 1822, leaving one son, Asa P., now a resident of St. Louis, Mo. His second wife was Susan Williams, the daughter of' an early pioneer of Dayton. She died April 5, 1861, leaving three sons and one daughter to honor her memory. The daughter is Mrs. Col. S. B. Smith, of Dayton. The oldest son is a resident of California. The two youngest. John W. and Ebenezer F., constitute the manufacturing firm of John W. Stoddard & Co., one of the most extensive of its kind in the country. In 1861, Mr. John W. married Miss Susan, daughter of Daniel Kiefer. a retired business man of Dayton, and has had five children born him, three living. He is a man of modest manners and great kindness of' heart. He graduated from Princeton College, N. J., in 1858; studied law with his father and was admitted to practice in 1860. He continued, however, but a short time in the profession and then turned his attention to manufacturing business. Ebenezer F., the youngest son of our subject, graduated at Yale College in 1867, and in the autumn following engaged with his brother in the manufacture of linseed oil, in which business they continued five years. In 1872, he was made Superintendent and Secretary of' the Dayton Steam Gauge Company, and, in 1875, became a member of the firm of John W. Stoddard & Co.. and has since been Superintendent of their manufactory. On November 10, 1868, he married Miss Bessie W., daughter of Col. John G. Lowe, of Dayton, and has had four children, two deceased. He is a gentleman of a genial. accommodating spirit, and is very systematic, prompt and energetic.

HENRY W. STOUT. printer, Dayton. The history of' this county would be incomplete without a brief sketch of Henry W. Stout, the veteran printer and publisher of Ohio. He was born in Somerset County, N. J., November 7, 1807, and in 1811 came with his parents to Warren County, Ohio. His father, George W. Stout, went out in the war of 1812, and died during that struggle. Henry was the eldest in a family of' three children, and is to-day the only survivor. He began to learn the printer's trade May 11, 1822, in the office of the Western Star, Lebanon, Ohio, where he remained four years, then went to Cincinnati and worked eight months, during which time he made up the forms and worked off the first large-sized daily sheet published in that city. In the fall of' 1826, he went to New York, and worked for nearly six years in Harper's Publishing House, four of which he was Superintendent of the composing room. In the spring of' 1833, he was engaged as editor on the Wooster Journal, of Wayne County, Ohio; in the fall of' the same year became editor and proprietor of the Ohio Argus, of Lebanon, Ohio ; and the following spring moved his paper to Franklin, where he issued it under the name of the Ohio Argus and Franklin Gazette. This was the first printing establishment in Franklin. In 1839, he removed to Sidney, Ohio, and there published his paper under the title of the Ohio Argus and Sidney Aurora. In 1841, he purchased the Troy Times, of Troy, Ohio, which he sold in 1847, and bought the Dayton Transcript, which he disposed of in 1850 to William C. Howells & Co. The same year he took back the Transcript, and its name was changed to the Dayton Gazette, with which he was connected until 1858. Since that time, he has been connected with various papers of Dayton in different ca-


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pacities. In 1872, he established the Franklin Advertiser, which he sold in 1876, and since then has run a job office in which several papers have been printed. In September, 1837, Mr. Stout was married to Caroline A. McClisty, who bore him one son, George K., who died as a veteran of the rebellion in 1864. Mrs. Stout died in 1843, and in 1815 he married Elizabeth Kennedy, to whom has been born one daughter, Esther Anna, who died in 1878. Although Mr. Stout is nearly seventy-five years of age, he is still able to look after his office and business, in which he has been engaged more than sixty years, a period unparalleled in the history of the Ohio press.

JOHN TEMPLE, deceased, was born February 3, 1821, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and was a son of Robert and Christina (Allen) Temple, people in moderate circumstances, who followed the quiet occupation of farming. His father was a Captain in the militia, and his mother a daughter of Capt. Robert Allen of the Royal Navy. John enjoyed the advantages of the parochial schools of his native country until seventeen years old, when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of machinist and mechanical engineer at the town of Cubadona. He served five years at his trade, and after attaining his majority was employed for one year as a journeyman in Scotland. In April, 1843, he left home to seek his fortune in America, and having a natural proclivity for general mechanics, he soon became familiar with the details of mill building, which he carried on in Canada until the year 1848, when he entered the " States," first at Buffalo, and afterward residing at Sandusky, Ohio. In July, 1851, he arrived at Dayton, where he followed mill building along the valley of the Miami, and in 1854 became associated with two partners under the firm name of Stout, Mills & Temple, in the manufacture of mill machinery, which firm has long been widely known as being the most extensive and enterprising manufacturers of mill machinery in the West. In 1859, he obtained a patent for the American turbine wheel, an invention whose importance may be inferred from the fact that although it was followed by a great number of imitations as close as the law would permit, it continued for more than a decade to almost monopolize the market, and of which more than 5,000 have been manufactured at the shops of the firm. The case, as well as the wheel, is his invention, and the subject of a patent. In 1873, both of these patents were renewed by the Government. Mr. Temple was also the author or projector of several other inventions of importance, but on which he neglected to secure patents. Prominent among these are the universal feed for boring mills and drill presses, also an engine for the cutting and automatic counting of the teeth of wheels. The drill feed has come into general use, and would have been the source of a handsome income if he had secured the patent on it. From the above recital of the principal events of his career, it is not necessary to say he was a self-made man. He was married April 6, 1853, to Sarah Ann, daughter of Henry Riddick, of Preble County, Ohio, by whom he had five children, of whom only one survives, viz., John C., who now occupies his father's place in the firm. Mr. Temple died February 7, 1879, leaving a host of friends to mourn his loss. To the mechanical world his death was a calamity, as his fertile brain was continually devising new and important pieces of mechanism. He was a life-long Mason of the highest standing, and was buried with the ceremonies of the Scottish Rite degree. He was also an able and consistent member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and of the First Baptist Church of Dayton. In conclusion we would say the immense success of the firm with which he was connected, is largely due to his untiring energy, inventive genius and mechanical skill, in fact, we have been told by manufacturers and others who knew him throughout his business career, that John Temple was " the brains " of' the Globe Iron Works.

ELIHU THOMPSON. The subject of this sketch was born on the 13th day of October, 1837, in Randolph Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. His parents both emigrated from the State of Pennsylvania, his father, James F. Thompson, from Fayette County, in the year 1818, and his mother, Mary Ann Riley, in the year 1820, from Bedford County, in that State. The father came with his parents, by means of flat-boat, from above Pittsburgh on the Allegheny, to Cincinnati, while the mother came with her family by means employed on the overland routes in that day. The lands at that time in Randolph Township, were heavily timbered, and a great measure


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swampy in their character, and required a vast amount of labor bestowed on them before they could be fitted for cultivation. There was at that time considerable land held by the Government, which was taken up by these early settlers, and is now among the best farms in that part of the county. The first schoolhouse in that district was built about a half mile from where Mr. E. Thompson was born, and at which, for several years, he attended school, and acquired his rudimental education. He excelled especially in spelling, it being said of him at one time, by an admiring teacher, that he could spell everything in Webster's spelling book, without missing a single word. In the year 1848, his parents removed to Jackson Township, near Farmersville of' the same county, where until the year 1854 he remained with them upon the farm, engaged with them in its ordinary employment, and attending the common schools during the winter months. In 1855, he attended the southwestern Ohio Normal School at Lebanon, Warren County, and in September of that year, commenced teaching one of the schools in the immediate neighborhood of Farmersville, which he continued in for several months, and again returned to the normal school at Lebanon, and engaged in the study of the higher branches of mathematics and the natural sciences. After becoming proficient in all the branches necessary to be taught in those schools of the country, in which he continued to teach for several years, he determined to adopt the practice of the law as his permanent profession in life, and to this end provided himself with copies of Blackstone, Kent and Walker's Commentaries on the Law, along with Parsons on Contracts and Greenleaf on Evidence, and Bouvier's Law Dictionary, and while engaged in his ordinary occupation of teaching, gave all the time to reading these books of the law that he could command; and in the year 1862, attended one term of the law school at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated with some thirty others, and was admitted to the bar of the State, and upon the recommendation of the professors of the college, also to practice in the District Court of Northern Ohio. At that time the war was in progress, and after the close of the law school, upon returning to Dayton on the 6th of August, with a number of the young men of the neighborhood, he enlisted in the Ninety-third Ohio Regiment, under Capt. Allen, Company E, and in the latter part of the month went with his regiment into Kentucky, as far as Lexington, where he was taken sick and ordered to the hospital, while the regiment itself was sent on that precipitate march to Richmond, Ky., to engage Kirby Smith, who was then advancing northward with a view of attacking the city of Cincinnati. The Union forces were driven back upon Lexington in the wildest disorder and confusion, and the town on the next week was captured by the forces under Gen. Morgan and Kirby Smith, and all who were then in the hospital declared to be prisoners of war, and as soon as they were able to march were paroled. About the middle of September, Mr. Thompson reported at Camp Chase, Columbus, and again in October, when upon being subjected to a medical examination, he was declared physically unable to discharge the duties of a private soldier and was honorably discharged, and entirely satisfied with all that is not derived from the pride and pomp and circumstance of war. He again returned to his profession, teaching, in which he continued until March, 1864, when he came to Dayton and opened a law office, since which time he has closely devoted himself almost exclusively to the business and duties of that profession. In the year 1869, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of' Montgomery County, ant re-elected in 1871, serving in this capacity for a period of' four successive years, with a measure of success both gratifying to himself and the members of his profession. Mr. Thompson's parents are both now living at Johnsville, in this county, his father, at the age of seventy, and his mother at the age of sixty-eight years. The father served as a member of' the Ohio Legislature for one term. in the years 1874-75. His father's family consists of the subject of our sketch ; L. H. Thompson, engaged in merchandising, at Troy, Ohio; Franklin Thompson, farmer, and W. R. Thompson a physician, and one daughter, Eliza Jane Lukens, all of whom are living, no deaths having as yet occurred in the immediate family of' the parents. In 1865, Mr. E. Thompson was married to Elina Jane Gregg, of Springboro, Warren County, Ohio, who died at Dayton on the 11th of September, A. D. 1865. In 1868, he was again married, to Miss Belle Whitmore, of Dayton, Ohio, who is the daughter of Jacob Whitmore, deceased,


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formerly a resident of Madison Township, adjoining the Soldiers' Home. In his political faith, Mr. Thompson is a Democrat, but independent in his judgment upon all political subjects, believing in gold and silver as the only true theory of a currency, an ardent advocate of free trade, believing that in the end the protection system will prove itself to be founded in the worst character of sophistry and selfishness, and be the means of enforcing the oppression of many to enrich the comparatively few in number. In matters of religion, he may be said to be Unitarian, giving all religious discussion a fair hearing, but reserving all matters of faith to his private judgment. He is not a believer in the popular creeds of the day, but yields a hearty assent to the faith and doctrines of immortality. He has devoted much time and attention to writing upon these subjects, associating them with the scientific discussions of the day, and while having never appeared in public, has given several interesting lectures to select and private assemblies upon subjects of this character, and for his amusement, as well as culture, has indulged in writing poems, most of which however, are of a humorous nature.

ISAAC N. THORNE, merchant, Dayton, was born in Waterloo, Seneca Co., N. Y., October 25, 1842. He is the son of Isaac and Eliza (Buddell) Thorne, of New York. Our subject is one of a family of two sons and two daughters. He attended the public schools of his native city until he was fourteen years of age, when he was obliged, on account of diseased eyes, to give up his schooling. He afterward clerked in a grocery, worked on his father's farm, learned tinning, and in 1863 enlisted in Battery L, Sixteenth New York Heavy Artillery, from which he was discharged at the close of the war. After the war, he returned to Waterloo, where he remained until 1870, when he came to Dayton and started a junk shop. He is still in that business, and has sixteen wagons constantly on the road. In 1867, he married Elizabeth Close, daughter of William and Mary Close, of Waterloo, by whom he has had three boys and one girl, the latter having since died. Mr. Thorne is a member of the Board of Education and Chairman of the High School Committee. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor, and Grace Methodist Church. He takes a good deal of interest in educational matters, and is a valuable auxiliary to that board.

DR. H. A. TOBEY, Superintendent of the Dayton Asylum for the Insane, Dayton, was born in the northern part of Union County, Ohio, April 6, 1852, where his early boyhood life was spent. In 1864, his parents located in Mt. Victory, Hardin Co., Ohio, where he acquired his primary education. During the years 1870-71, his time was devoted in Wesleyan University at Delaware.

At the age of twenty, he commenced the study of medicine under the tutorship of Drs. Watt and Snodgras, of Kenton, Ohio, and graduated at the age of twenty-three, at the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio. He soon after located in Sidney, Ohio, where he practiced two years, the latter one in partnership with the able and established Dr. H. S. Conklin, the father of Dr. Conklin, of Dayton. While in Sidney, he received and accepted an appointment to the Columbus Insane Asylum, as Assistant Physician under the well-known Dr. Richard Gundry, who was for sixteen years the Superintendent of the Insane Asylum at Dayton, Ohio, and one to whom much is due for the present standing of the institution. In May, 1877, a political re-organization of the Columbus Asylum took place, at which time some of the officials were removed, but Dr. Tobey was then promoted to First Assistant Physician, which position he held until May, 1880, when he was elected to his present position, of which he took charge July 15 following. To undertake to estimate the life and career of one so young as he, would be a premature proceeding ; but, marked as it has been by integrity and profitable exercise of sound abilities, there can be no danger in predicting that his future will satisfy every reasonable hope of his many friends.



CHARLES F. TOWER, manufacturer, Dayton. This gentleman is a member of the Tower Varnish Company, and was born in Hingham, Mass., twelve miles from Boston, April 19, 1823. His father was Isaiah Tower, a farmer of that county. When old enough, Mr. Tower served as an apprentice at the painting trade at Roxbury, now a portion of the city of Boston. He then attended school two years at Worcester, Mass., and subsequently engaged to do ornamental painting for Downing & Son, man-


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ufacturers of busses, coaches, etc., Concord, N. H. He remained at that business four years, and for one year after contracted for the painting in the car shops established at Hartford. In March, 1852, Mr. Tower came to Dayton, and soon after took the contract for painting in the car works then owned by E. Thresher & Co. Mr. Tower manufactured all the varnishes and Japan used by that establishment, and after a period of six years, engaged with E. & J. B. Thresher in the manufacture of varnishes. He remained in this connection eight and a half years. He then sold out his interest, and in connection with Chicago parties, formed the stock company, for the manufacture of varnish, etc , under the name of the Tower Varnish Co., Mr. Tower becoming its President. This office he has satisfactorily filled to the present time. Mr. Tower became a member of the Baptist denomination while a resident of Roxbury, and upon coming to Dayton, united with the First Church. When a portion of the society, residing in the eastern part of the city desired a place of worship nearer home, Mr. Tower became one of the organizers of the Linden Avenue Church, and, with his wife, has continued a faithful member to the present time. He was married, in 1852, to Annie J. Bisbee, a native of Waterville, Me. They have one son--Carl V. Mr. Tower was formerly a member of the Free Soil and Liberty parties, but since the organization of the Republican party, has been a quiet, but earnest advocate of its principles.

JAMES TURNER, retired, Dayton, was born on the 8th of June, 1812, at Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England, and at the age of nine years was put to learu the trade of a Brussells carpet weaver, and was considered an adept in the business upon reaching his majority. From fourteen to twenty-three, Mr. Turner devoted all his spare moments through the day time, as well as every night, to study, having had no chance of attending school after his ninth year, and thus he laid the foundation for that wider sphere of knowledge, which he afterward acquired by contact with men and books. At the age of eighteen, he joined the I. O. O. F., and is yet an active member of the order, having devoted much of his time to the advancement of friendship, love and truth. He was married, June 21, 1835, to Miss Mary Brooks, of Stone Parish, near Kidderminster, England, and on the 12th of May, 1840, left his native land with his wife and three children, landing in New York on the 4th day of June following. In 1842, he came with his family to Dayton, Ohio, arriving here on the 12th of July, having traveled by water and wagon from Tariffville, Conn., spending fourteen days on the road. Soon after coming to Dayton, he began working at coverlet and carpet weaving, on the corner of Fifth and Stone streets, continuing in that line until March, 1858, when he formed a partnership with Robert Mercer, and engaged in the wood-turning business. In 1852, Mr. Turner was elected a member of the City Council, and continued therein most of the time until 1880. In 1857, he was elected a County Commissioner of this county, and in 1859 was elected Magistrate, which position be filled until 1868, with credit to himself and satisfaction to the community at large. In the fall of 1862, Mr. Turner was appointed by the Governor a member of the Military Committee of Montgomery County, and May 23, 1863, was requested to raise a company of Ohio National Guards, which he did, reporting to the Adjutant General on June 28, that he had enlisted eighty-seven men, which company was accepted and designated as Company B, Second Regiment Ohio National Guards, of which Mr. Turner was immediately elected Captain. On the 2d day of May, 1864, under the call of Gov. Brough for one-hundred-day men, he reported with his company for duty, was accepted, and mustered into the United States service as Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, did duty at Baltimore, Md., and was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, August 25, 1864. In 1868, Mr. Turner retired to private life, but in 1878 he was elected to the State Legislature to fill a vacancy therein. At this time our subject is a well preserved man of nearly seventy years of age, forty of which has been spent in Dayton, and we can truly say that few men have won and retained to a greater degree the respect and confidence of its citizens.

JEFFERSON A. WALTERS, physician, Dayton, was born in Fayette County, Penn., October 19, 1810. His father, Ephraim Walters, was born in the same


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county in 1776, and, in 1800, boated flour to New Orleans in a keelboat. In 1803, he married Elizabeth Ache, daughter of a Dunkard preacher, and passed his life in farming and stock-raising, and died at the ripe old age of ninety years. Ephraim, the grandfather of our subject, was captured at the age of fourteen by the Shawnee Indians on the South Branch of the Potomac, in Virginia, in 1851, together with his mother and six other children, her husband being shot dead at the same time. On crossing the mountains westward, her nursing babe was toru from her breast and its brains dashed out against a tree, and she herself was tied to a tree and tortured to death in the most horrid manner. Young Walters and the other prisoners were taken to an Indian village on the Monongahela, near Pittsburgh, and was adopted by the chief, Youghashaw, kindly treated, and became an expert hunter. He was a witness of Braddock's defeat, and the bill of Fort Du Quesne in 1758. He was exchanged in 1759, but becoming offended at the overbearing disposition of some British officers, he soon followed his Indian associates to Ohio and spent two years on the Muskingum River and its branches. In 1761, he returned to the Monongahela, and made his headquarters at the village of the celebrated Indian chief, Cornstalk, in what is now Fayette County. In 1770, he located, by " tomahawk title," about seven hundred acres of land in that county, which is to-day among the finest and most valuable land of any in Western Pennsylvania. In the same year, he married a Miss De Bolt, of French descent, and from this union there were reared seven sons and three daughters. Three lived to the age of ninety; six to over seventy-five, and one to fifty-five. During the Revolution, Mr. W. raised a company for the defense of the settlement. During the war of 1812, his youngest son being drafted, Mr. Walters, though over seventy-five years of' age, offered himself as a substitute, and was accepted. For a number of' years he filled the office of Justice of the Peace. Most of the land which he located is still in possession of his descendants. He died in 1835, aged ninety-six years, and his wife followed him seven years later at the age of ninety-four years. Dr. W., our subject, came to Ohio in the fall of 1830, and entered as the first student at the Eclectic Medical College, then just organized at Worthington, Ohio, where he graduated in 1834. He began practice in Perry County, where he remained some three years. In June, 1837, he located as a practicing physician in Dayton, Ohio. On December 24, 1840, he married Lucetta E., only daughter of James Brooks, by whom he has had one son and one daughter. In the summer of 1841, he engaged in the drug trade, which he carried on very successfully for twenty-five years. In January, 1866, he had the misfortune to be throwu from a buggy, receiving a very serious injury to his spine. He was almost disabled for six years afterward, and was a great sufferer, but finally found relief, and has since enjoyed tolerable health. His only son, James B., is a prominent, druggist of Dayton. In politics, Dr. W. has always been a stanch Democrat. He now devotes most of his time to intellectual pursuits, of which he is specially fond. He is particularly fond of historical and philosophical subjects, and his reading in this direction has made him quite an antiquarian. He is well preserved for his age, and looks much younger than he is. He possesses a very genial nature and unusually fine social qualities.



JOHN A. WEAVER, tobacconist, Dayton, was born in Ohio October 9, 1819. His father was Adam Weaver, a Revolutionary soldier, a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother a native of Ohio. Our subject, who was their oldest son, was married, in 1840, to Miss Rachael Shade, who was born in 1822, and by whom he has had four children, two boys and two girls--John Alfred, James M., Elvina and Milla. Of these, Elvina is married to J. T. Gassett, two others are in New York, and John Alfred is at home, being the only one the old folks have with them. Mr. Weaver was a farmer until 1878, when he engaged in the tobacco business, in which he has since continued.

LEWIS H. WEBBER, manufacturer and dealer in cut stone, Dayton, was born at Salem, N. J., in 1845. His father was Thomas Webber, a merchant of that city. Mr. Webber was reared in his native State and Delaware. He received his educational training in the Newark Academy, where he prepared for college. In 1869, Mr. Webber came to Dayton through the influence of his uncle, who was engaged in the stone


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business. He obtained employment with the firm as bookkeeper, and remained in that position five years. He then formed a partnership with S. T. Bryce in the stone business. They erected a mill near the Union depot, where operations were commenced. Mr. Webber's business increased with time, and at present he is one of the largest contractors of stone in the State. A sketch of his business will be found in the chapter on the industrial interests of Dayton. Mr. Webber was united in marriage, in 1875, to Florence Southgate, a native of Delaware. Two children have been sent to bless this union--Emma E. and Florrie. Mr. Webber and wife are faithful and consistent members of the Third Street Presbyterian Church. Mr. Webber's father and grand-father were " Old Line Whigs," but the subject of this sketch has been a Republican " all the days of my life." He is a man of strict business integrity, and since coming to Dayton has made many warm personal friends.

REV. J. T. WEBSTER, minister, Dayton. This gentleman was born in Bensalem, Penn., May 26, 1846. His early days were spent on a farm. He graduated at Andalusia College, Philadelphia, and Racine College, Wisconsin. He taught school for two years in New Jersey, and subseqently was Adjunct Professor of Mathematics in Racine College. He graduated in theology from Nashotah Theological Seminary, Wisconsin ; was ordained Deacon in New Jersey, in May. 1869, and priested in Detroit, Mich., in October, 1871. He was pastor of' Trinity Church, Hudson, Mich., five years, and of Emanuel Church, Detroit, Midi., five years. During six years of his Michigan pastorate he was editor of the Michigan Diocesan paper. He became pastor of Christ's Church, Dayton, Ohio, January 1, 1880, over which he has continued to preside. e was married, June 1870, to a sister of Judge Barrett, of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, by whom he has had two children--a daughter aged ten, and a son aged seven. He is a man of sterling qualities, fully appreciated by the congregation to which he administers. Though comparatively a young man, his ability, manifested by the evident deep thought and logical tenets of his sermons, would do credit to a much older and more experienced head.

J. H. WILD, manufacturer, Dayton, of the firm of J. H. Wild & Co., proprietors Dayton Woolen Mills, was born in Delaware, July 9, 1845, His father, John B. Wild, was engaged in operating a woolen mill in that State. When twelve years of age, Mr. Wild accompanied his parents to Ohio, locating at Spring Valley, where they remained nine years, and where the subject of this sketch was reared and educated. He learned the woolen trade with his father, and has been engaged at that business all his life. For a short time he was engaged with Charles Rabbitt, at Springfield, and operated a mill for seven years at Spring Valley. He came to Dayton, and purchased his present mills of Ritter & Aiken, and from his life experience in the business, has been enabled to build up a large and profitable trade. A sketch of this business will be found in the chapter on manufacturing industries.

REV. DAVID WINTERS, D. D., minister of the Reformed Church, Dayton, was born in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Va., December 24, 1801, and is a son of Rev. Thomas Winters, a pioneer minister of illustrious fame. In 1809, he and family emigrated to Ohio and located near the (then) village of Dayton. In 1815, they removed to Germantown, Montgomery County, where Thomas continued his ministerial labors in behalf of the Reformed Church. He was one of the first of his denomination in the West, and in fact the first and only one to spread the doctrines of their church abroad in the Miami Valley, out of whose labors evidently much good has resulted. About the year 1819, there was a synodical meeting of the Reformed denomination convened at Germantown, Ohio. At this meeting were present three ministers and two Elders. At the opening of this meeting, each of the former, who were respectively Rev. Thomas Winters, Rev. George Weisz and Rev. ____ Riderof, these each were elected to the respective offices, viz. : President, Secretary and Treasurer, trans-acted their business and adjourned. From this small body has by careful nursing and the fostering care of those early pioneer ministers, grown to a body of over 500 ministers west of the Alleghany Mountains, with charges for each to fill. We might speak further of the above meeting, but deem it best for it to occupy a space in the general


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body of this work under the head of German Township. Rev. Thomas Winters continued his pastoral labors in the Miami Valley for many years, but at last laid down the shield of labor in West Alexandria, Preble County, Ohio, in 1863, and was interred on V. Winter's lot, in the Woodland Cemetery, at Dayton, Ohio. Thus ended the earthly career of one of the noble pioneer ministers, at the age of eighty-seven. In the brief foregoing sketch of Rev. David Winters, D. D., it is impossible to do justice to one so noble as he, and to one who has led so many souls from their sinful paths to the way of righteousness. He is the second of a family of twelve children, of whom eight are now living. Of the eight survivors two are ministers, viz., the subject of this memoir and Rev. Thomas H., the latter one having been in active services in the Reformed Church for many years, but now lives retired at Xenia, Ohio. The former received his education mainly from his father, and entered the ministry in 1824; was ordained at New Philadelphia, Ohio. Immediately after the ordination, he removed from Germantowu to Dayton, where he has ever since resided. In January, 1825, his nuptials was solemnized with Mary A., eldest daughter of William Huffman, Esq., of the city of Dayton. In his early pastoral career, it was a common thing for him to travel on horseback from 2,000 to 3,000 miles per year, organizing congregations. preaching under the tall and stately forest trees, in log huts and barns ; often administering the Lord's Supper to his people where nothing but the canopy of Heaven overspread them. Thus he labored for many years, having in his field of labor so large an area that of more recent date it has been divided and subdivided until now there are seven self-supporting charges that was his original one, and of which he virtually was the organizer. In the field during his ministerial labors there have been thirteen church edifices erected, with which he was either directly or indirectly associated. And the charge he now serves, being known as the Mount Zion, a part of the original field which he occupied, upon whose call he was ordained, he has served during his entire ministry, being a period of over half a century. The gentleman is now within a few months of the allotted period of life, fourscore years, and has been in the ministry fifty-seven years, the oldest active minister of his denomination in the city or State, and feel safe in saying in the United States. We here, by permission, place upon record a few of his correctly-kept records : He has attended 1,255 funerals, confirmed 1,793 persons, baptized 2,569 persons and married 4,564 couples. Rev. Winters has been for many years prominently identified or connected with the Heidleburg College and Seminary College at Tiffin, Ohio, of which institution the trustees of the former several years since conferred upon him the honor of D. D.

VALENTINE WINTERS, Dayton, was born in Clearfield County, Penn., July 8, 1807, and came to Ohio with his parents in 1809. His father, Rev. Thomas Winters, was one of the pioneers in the Miami Valley, and a sketch of his life appears elsewhere in this volume. Two of his brothers, David and Thomas, went into the ministry of the Reformed Church, and have labored successfully in Southern Ohio for fifty or more years past. Valentine, at an early age, showed an aptitude for business, and as Germantown was too small a field, he left his father's family at the age of eighteen and sought employment in Dayton. He obtained a situation in the dry goods store of Andrew Irwin, and subsequently in that of Harshman & Rench, in the first case at only $50 per year. But he showed so much capacity and industry in the business that, united to his pleasant manners, strict integrity and steady habits, he soon earned promotion, and gained not only the confidence of his employers, but also the hand of the daughter of the head of the firm, Jonathan Harshman. He was married January 1, 1829. The next year, he became a member of the firm, which was, for awhile, Harshman, Rench & Co., and subsequently Rench & Winters, but all the time one of the leading dry goods establishments of Dayton. In 1845, he became cashier of the Dayton Bank, which was what was then known in Ohio as an Ihdependent Bank. In 1851, the private banking house of Harshman, Winters & Co. was formed, of which Mr. Winters was the active and controlling member.

After two years, it gave way to that of Harshman & Winters, and that again,


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after some four years, to V. Winters & Son, composed of the subject of this sketch and his son, Jonathan H. Winters. This firm continued in the same place for twenty-five years, enjoying a universal reputation for safety and square dealing. On January 1, 1882, it was merged in the " Winters' National Band," named after Valentine Winters. and established with a capital of $300,000, and already regarded as one of the most substantial banking institutions in the State.

Valentine Winters, although its largest stockholder, and still one of its directors, has given over its active control to his son, Jonathan H. Winters, President of the hank. Mr. Winters was also President of the Preble County Branch of the State Bank of' Ohio from 1857 to 1866, the close of its charter, and from 1853 to 1866 a member of the Board of' Control of the State Bank of Ohio, and, as such, was with a few friends successful in organizing the Ohio Valley Bank in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a view of taking up State bank paper of the different branches for exchange, to keep it out of the hands of brokers, who would return it to the bank for specie. He continued one of the directors of this bank until it closed its business.

Mr. Winters took a deep interest in all public enterprises that were calculated to improve Dayton ; he spent a good deal of time in soliciting stock for the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad, and subscribed for ten shares when he had nothing to pay it with ; he was one of the organizers of the Dayton & Western Railroad ; spent much time in soliciting stock and getting right of' way ; he was a Director from its organization. and Treasurer and President for many years. He also built and equipped the first railroad in Minnesota, being the road between St. Paul and St. Anthony.

He also assisted in forming the Firemans Insurance Company of Dayton, and has been one of its Directors ever since, and Treasurer most, if' not all, the time. He was one of the building committee in the erection of their new building on the corner of Main and Second streets and is a large stockholder in all but one of the insurance companies of Dayton.



Some three years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Winters celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of' their wedding, and the Dayton Journal gave a description of the exercises, and made it the occasion of an article upon the life and character of Mr. Winters, from which we make some extracts. After describing the company present, the presentation of a golden memorial plate, the speeches, music, etc., it added : " One of the pleasant incidents of' the evening was the production by Mr. Winters of his cash-book, commencing January 1. 1829. fifty years ago. It contained many amusing items, which space will not permit us to copy, but we may state, for the benefit, of' our young men, that Mr. Winters commenced his married life $46.75 in debt. His first year's salary, as a clerk in the dry goods store of Harshman & Rench, was $285, and yet, upon this small sum, after paying all the expenses of both himself and wife, including their clothing, he managed to pay the $46.75 he owed, and at the end of' the year to have 838.77 to his credit. The next year his salary was increased to $300, and the total expenses of himself, wife and child, were $191.18, and with the savings of' himself and wife he was able, at the end of the year, to devote $251.65 to the building of' his first house. It was on Jefferson street, on the site now occupied by the Beckel Hall. At the commencement of the third year, he was taken in as a partner, and the firm became Harshman, Rench & Co., but, although his family had increased to two children, his expenses for the year were only $372.

"Thus he continued from year to year, working and saving until, at the end of the first ten years, he found himself worth over and above all debts, $9,490.60, the foundation of his present fortune. What a lesson is here presented of the results of probity, industry, economy and good habits.

"All golden weddings are interesting on account of their rarity, but this of Mr. Winters and his wife possesses some extraordinary features, which entitle it to a special celebration. One remarkable feature is the almost uninterrupted good health of the parties. Both have attained the age of' threescore and ten, without any visible or conscious sign that they were nearing the limit allotted to human life. As was stated by one of the speakers last evening, Mr. Winters is not only the youngest-looking man of his years in Dayton, but the best-looking gentleman in Ohio.


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"Another extraordinary feature in the life of this couple is their uninterrupted prosperity. Mr. Winters commenced life as a boy, working in a brickyard near Germantown, at 10 cents per day. He then went into a store in Dayton, and commenced clerking at $50 per year, and rose year after year, as already shown by his cash-book, first to a partner in the store, then sole proprietor, and finally a banker, in which capacity he is best known to the present generation. As a banker, he has conducted his business with the same energy, caution and probity that insured success in his previous mercantile operations. He has confined himself strictly to legitimate banking, resisting the temptation to embark on the glittering sea of speculation, which has lured so many others to shipwreck and ruin. During the many financial panics that passed over the country in the past thirty years, the banking house of which Mr. Winters is the head, has never suffered in public confidence. The storms of financial distress descended, and the floods came and beat upon that house, and it fell not, because it was founded on a rock. Another feature that will be generally recognized is the liberality and generosity of both Mr. and Mrs. Winters in all public, religious and charitable enterprises, refusing no applications, but generally responding to all." Mr. Winters has long been an active and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and has contributed largely, both in time and money, to the construction of the new church and chapel on Third street. His wife, Catharine Harshman Winters, died April 14, 1882, leaving eight children and twenty-three grandchildren. The former are--Mrs. N. B. Darst, Mrs. R. R. Dickey, Mrs. C. McDermont, Jonathan H. Winters, Mrs. L. B. Gunckel, Mrs. L. B. Eaton, Mrs. R. McGregor and Mrs. E. C. Shaw, all but two of whom reside in Dayton. In speaking of her death, the Dayton Journal said : Mrs. Winters' life was thoroughly a home life, but many gracious and kindly influences went out from her life that were never connected with her name. The writer has knowledge of charitable streams that flowed the fuller because fed from her hand. And now her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her.' " Mr. Winters, although well advanced in years, enjoys excellent health, and gives promise of many years of usefulness to the family, church and community, which have been so long blessed with his kindly aid and fellowship.

W. W. WOLF. physician, Dayton, was born in New Haven, Conn., September 3, 1810. He is the son of James and Betsey Wolf, the former of German descent and the latter a pure Yankee. They had fifteen children, eight boys and seven girls, of whom our subject was next to the oldest. They moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, from Connecticut, and our subject here served an apprenticeship to a druggist from 1822 to 1826. He then commenced learning the baking business. In 1841, he located in Dayton and commenced reading medicine with Dr. Widard, of that city, at the same time keeping a bakery, which he still operates. On the 5th of November, 1868, he received a complimentary certificate from the Homoeopathic Medical Society of Montgomery County, under which he has since been practicing with deserving success. He was married July 11, 1830, to Miss C. Richardson, of Cincinnati, daughter of James Richardson, who was Drum Major in Gen. Wayne's army. The issue of this marriage was ten children, four boys and six girls, of whom two boys and two girls survive. One of his daughters married Samuel Ambrose, of Dayton, and the other is the wife of James C. Hill, of Canada. The Doctor is still in the prime of life and takes great delight in using the talents intrusted to him for the benefit of sick and suffering humanity.

HIRAM WYATT, baker, Dayton, was borh in Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, August 11, 1810. In 1812, he was taken with his father's family to Pennsylvania, where they moved from fear of the Indians. In 1816, they returned to Ohio and settled in Zanesville; from there they went to a farm on Meigs' Creek, thence to Cambridge, Ohio, thence back to Zanesville, and from there to Gallipolis, Ohio, then to Dresden, where they farmed for several years on land belonging to a brother of General and son of Maj. Cass, of 1812 fame. They next returned to Zanesville, where Hiram was apprenticed to a tobacconist, while the family went to Cincinnati. After serving out three years of his apprenticeship, Hiram ran off on account of his master's cruelty, and joined his folk in the Queen City, where he served three years and six months as


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an apprentice in the baking business. In 1830, having acquired his trade, he commenced working as a journeyman in Cincinnati and afterward in Marietta. From the latter place, he returned to Cincinnati to pay the expenses attending the burial of his father and mother, which left him penniless. On the 29th of April, 1834, he came to Dayton to work during the races, and, two months later, he and Walter Smith, Esq., bought the bakery of Tilden & Smith, of which Mr. Wyatt became sole proprietor one year thereafter. In 1859, he took his son-in-law into partnership under the firm name of H. & T. Wyatt, as it now exists. On January 22, 1835, he married Elizabeth Elder, daughter of Jonathan Elder, of Honey Creek, by whom he had a son and a daughter. His wife died April 22, 1838, and he was again married, February 21, 1839, to Mary C. Davis, daughter of John Davis, of Zanesville, and had by her four daughters and one son. The father of our subject was born in Providence, R. I., where he married a Miss Blake, and reared a family of six boys and six girls, of whom our subject was the youngest. The father died in 1833, and the mother one week after him. Of the family of twelve children our subject is the only one now living. He is in his seventy-second year, but is yet full of life and vigor. He possesses a strong constitution and looks much younger than he really is; a man of affable, courteous manners, and of the strictest integrity and moral worth, he has won hosts of friends, who look upon him as a fitting representative of the business growth and prosperity of the Miami Valley. Politically a Republican, he was in an early day a member of the City Council, and has ever taken a deep interest in the development of his adopted county.

E. S. YOUNG, attorney, Dayton, was born in Lyme, N. H., February 28, 1827. He is the grandson of Dr. Hugh Murray Young, an early Irish emigrant to Connecticut, who was born in 1742 and died in 1815. The father of our subject, George Murray Young, was born in Litchfield County, Conn., April 1, 1802, and died in Dayton, Ohio, August 30, 1878. He was educated at Exeter and Poughkeepsie Acadamies. He learned printing, and married, in 1826, Sibel Green, of Lyme, N. H.; she died in Dayton, Ohio, in 1865. In 1835, he located in Newark, Ohio, where for ten years he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1840, he was Whig candidate for Senator from Licking County, but was defeated in the face of a strong Democractic vote, by only forty-five majority. For six years succeeding 1845, he was in business in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1851, he moved to Dayton, and was Justice of the Peace and Mayor, and at the time of his death was United States Commissioner. He was Grand Worthy Patriarch of the Sons of Temperance when that society numbered 30,000 in Ohio and one of the editors and publishers of the Ohio Organ and Messenger, the organ of the Sons of Temperance of Ohio and Kentucky, published in Cincinnati. His oldest son. our subject, completed his Sophomore year at Granville College in 1845, and graduated at Farmers' College, near Cincinnati, in 1847. He read law with W. J. McKinney, of Dayton, and in 1853 graduated from the Cincinnati Law School. During a professional practice of twenty-five years, he has been associated, first with George W. Brown, then A. Houk, and from 1866 to 1878, Oscar M. Gottschall. In June, 1878, Mr. Young's eldest son, George R., became a partner. Mr. Young married in September, 1856, in Philadelphia, Sarah B. Dechert, daughter of Elijah P. Dechert, and grand-daughter of Judge Robert Porter. He was a strong Union man and an earnest supporter of Lincoln's administration. He was Commissioner of the Draft in Montgomery County, and made the largest draft of any in the State. He was also largely instrumental in the organization of all the companies that left Dayton for the war.

MAXIMIN ZEHLER, Dayton. Brother Maximin Zehler was born in Bergheim, Alsace, August 19, 1826. From the age of six to fourteen, he received instruction in the parochial schools, and from fourteen to sixteen went to a private or select school. He left his home December 27, 1842, to join the Brothers of the Society of Mary, whose mother house for Alsace was Ebersminster, where he studied and prepared himself for teaching and began his career as a teacher November 1, 1844. He presented himself for and obtained the teacher's diploma for life, March 3, 1845, at Colma, capital of the Department of the Upper Rhine. He taught at Ammerschivir from 1844 to 1847, and at St. Marie and Mines from 1847 to 1849. In 1849, the Society


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of Mary sent the first colony of Brothers (four) to the United States to take charge of some schools in Cincinnati, Ohio ; Brother Maximin Zehler was of the number. Arrangements were not quite ready to take charge of the intended school, so he assisted his fellow-brothers to teach. Meanwhile, Rev. A. Meyer bought the Dewberry farm near Dayton, which was formerly the property of Hon. Charles Anderson, who sold it to John Stuart. Brother Maximin Zehler arrived by stage (there was no railroad yet from Cincinnati to Dayton) March 10, 1850 ; two brothers had arrived two days before him. They lived together in a small cottage built by Mr. Stuart for a tenant. Maximin Zehler was neither afraid nor ashamed to put his arms to the plow and to other works. The brothers being too poor to keep a hired man, they performed all the agricultural labor themselves, of course, sometimes in a very awkward manner. Col. Jefferson Paterson, their next neighbor, spent many an hour with them to show them how to perform the work on the farm, and his memory is still held in grateful remembrance by the first inmates of the Dewberry place, now called Nazareth. Mr. Stewart having left the premises May 1, 1850, Brother Maximin Zehler opened the school in June, 1850, in the house built by Hon. Charles Anderson. He had a few pupils from Dayton, and some from Van Buren Township. Everything was very imperfect, all was in harmony with the great poverty of the brothers. He taught school for six hours daily ; the rest of the time he was employed in working on the farm. During August, 1850, some candidates for the brotherhood arrived, who took charge of the farm work, and Brother Maximin Zehler could then devote more time to his school and to the study of the adopted mother tongue. In September, 1850, the boarding school opened. The first boarder was Joseph Grenlich, of Dayton ; he was afterward joined by some more pupils from Dayton, viz., Lawrence Butz, Jr., C. Baumann, Joseph and Charles Murray, Salvator Schafer, etc., and some from Cincinnati and other towns of the vicinity. The number of boarders and day scholars increased, so that in 1852, at the end of the scholastic year, they numbered some seventy. In 1852, Mr. Maximin Zehler was sent by his superiors to Cincinnati to take charge of the St. Mary's school on Thirteenth street, where he found about 140 pupils for two teachers. He remained there until 1860, when the number of his pupils approached 300, and he was recalled to Nazareth again to take charge of the boarding school, numbering some forty pupils. When he returned he found some buildings erected but not finished. The lower story of the south wing was not even excavated ; there was again room to practice patience and resignation. By and by the buildings were finished, accommodations for more pupils was gained ; the number increased so that it became a necessity to build an addition of 40x80, three stories high, in 1865. Shortly after, a house 40x60 was erected as a dwelling house for the Brothers and candidates. In 1867 and 1868, the church was erected, and, as soon as finished, was paid for, so that the most Rev. Arch-Bishop John B. Purcell could consecrate it on the 24th of June, 1868. The number of pupils had now reached 170 to 180, and many were refused admittance for want of room, so that Brother Zehler, with the advice of his superiors, began the construction of the actual St. Mary's Institute. The funds were very limited, but trusting in Gods providence, the plans were made and approved. The work began in 1870, and was brought to such a completion that, in May, 1871, the pupils could occupy the upper story of the building as a dormitory. The course of studies opened September , 1871, in the new building of four stories and a mansard roof. The number of boarders was now 227, and about from eighty to ninety day scholars from Dayton. After Brother Zehler had liquidated the debt of the construction of the institute, he conceived the plan of a playhouse or amusement hall, to provide a place for the pupils in bad weather for their recreation. The building is 180x60, with an entertainment hall of 40x110, and twelve small bath rooms provided with warm and cold water attached to the east side. Mr. Zehler, after having seen the institute in a flourishing condition, the necessary buildings erected and paid for, obtained from his first superior the favor he was asking for several years, viz., to lay down his charge of great responsibility, to withdraw from the directorship and to spend the remainder of his life in another line of usefulness, for the society to which he belonged since 1842, having spent thirty-two years in


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the education of children. He has charge of the temporal affairs and directs the manual labors at Nazareth.

ABIA ZELLER, druggist, Dayton. Abia Zeller was born June 1819, near Germantown, Montgomery County, Ohio. He is a son of Michael and Maria ( Brauer) Zeller, and a grandson of Andrew Zeller. Andrew entered into the service of God about the year 1790. In 1805, he settled near Germantown, Montgomery County, Ohio, where he immediately began to build up the kingdom of Christ. He assisted in organizing the first conference in Ohio (of the United Brethren denomination) ; was a delegate to the first general conference in 1815, where he was elected bishop, which office he filled with entire acceptability for a period of six years. His good sense, deep piety and liberality contributed greatly to the prosperity of the cause of Christ, especially in the Miami Valley, where his influence will be perpetuated to the end of time. This venerable bishop and pioneer evangelist died on the 25th of May, 1839, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. Michael was born in Pennsylvania August 13, 1788, and Maria, his wife, was born in Virginia, October 3, 1794. f hey were married in Montgomery County. Ohio, in 1811. They each came with their parents to Ohio about the same year and settled near each other, where they became acquainted. In 1825, Michael opened a drug store in Germantown, which was the first drug store of that place, and among the first in the county. Michael continued in the drug trade until his death. He died in 1838, a highly respected Christian man. His good wife followed him the next year, 1839. But before their death they had instilled into the minds of their children (of whom there are five still living) such true Christian principles that have enabled them to be not only an honor to their parents but useful citizens in the communities in which they live. At the death of Michael, Abia, who had learned the drug business of his father, took charge of the store, and in 1860 moved to Dayton, where he still continues the same. Abia was married September 15, 1839, to Caroline Negley, daughter of John C. and Mary (Shiley ) Negley. They are the parents of five children--Martha E. (now Mrs. John H. Reed), Laura V. (now Mrs. A. C. Marshall), Anna V., Carrie N. (now Mrs. Joseph Udell) and Willie A. Mr. and Mrs. Zeller have been consistent and worthy members of the United Brethren Church for forty-three years. Abia was one of the first pupils of the Sunday school in Germantown, and after he grew to manhood became its Superintendent. He is one of the trustees of the First United Brethren Church of Dayton, Ohio, which position he has held for the past six years.


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