AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 625 been very active in promoting all agricultural progress in Miami County and for ten years served as a member of the Fair Board, from 1898 until 1908, during all this period working hard to make the agricultural expositions successful. His acquaintances and friends are many at Troy, Piqua and other points. Mr. Katherman married Miss Ella Lox-ley, a daughter of B. F. and Phebe Ann (Kaylor) Loxley, and they have a family of seven children, namely : Ethel, who is the wife of Owen B. Smith; and Benjamin, Chloe. Jeremiah, Paul, Opal and Llora. Mr. Katherman was reared in the Dunkard Church, in which his father was a preacher. He is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows at Bradford. CHARLES P. HOOVER, who has been successfully operating a stone quarry in Newberry Township, south of Covington, at the bridge that crosses the Stillwater River, for the past six years, owns six acres of land in this township, of which he is a representative citizen. Mr. Hoover was born on a farm in Parke County, Ohio, just west of his present place, May 21, 1851, and is a son of Absolom and Sarah (Patty) Hoover, and a grandson of Noah Hoover, who came from South Carolina. The father of Mr. Hoover was a farmer and in clearing up his land was accidentally killed by the fall of a tree, May 28, 1836. His widow subsequently married N. W. Furnace, and is also deceased. When Charles P. Hoover was eleven years old he was taken to the home of Alfred Iddings, a farmer in Concord Township, Miami County, with whom he lived for two years, and later lived two years with Clark Adams. His mother then contracted her second marriage and moved to Newberry Township and then Charles returned to her and lived at home until 1870, assisting his stepfather, and under him learned the trade of stone-cutter. Mr. Hoover has worked at this trade ever since he was sixteen years of age and started out for himself at what is known as the Jackson quarries, in Newton Township. In large measure, Mr. Hoover is a self-made man and what he owns he has acquired through his own industry and good management. When eighteen years of age, Mr. Hoover was married to Miss Sarah Curtis, who was born and reared at West Milton, the same place in which Mr. Hoover's father was born. Mrs. Hoover also lost her father in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover have three children : Mary Belle, William C. and Forrest R. Mary Belle is the wife of H. M. Williams of Covington, and they have four children—Helen, Lucille, Charles and Dwight. W. C. is in the Government service, being a clerk in the post-office at Cincinnati. He married Edith Pifer of Gettysburg, Ohio, and they have one son, Farrin. Forrest R., residing at Covington, is agent and telegraph operator for the C., H. & D. Railroad. He married Tessie Wilson and they have one daughter, Mary Margaret. Mr. Hoover is an Odd Fellow. DARIUS WILLIAM WEDDLE, whose splendid farm of 240 acres is situated in Section 17, Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is known as the Plain View Farm, was born in Floyd County, Virginia, November 13, 1848. His parents were Rev. John B. and Louanna (Simmons) Weddle. Andrew Weddle, the grandfather, was 626 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY born in Germany and came to America with two brothers and settled in Floyd County, Virginia. He acquired some 1,500 acres and engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising. As was the German custom, his estate was so divided that his sons received the land and his daughters were given money. He married Nancy Boone, who was a daughter of the Indian fighter and Kentucky pioneer, Daniel Boone, and to this union were born eleven children, as follows : Samuel, Benjamin, Levi, John B., Sarah, Isaac, Joseph, Eliza, Josiah, and two of whom there is no record. John B. Weddle received 179 acres of his father's homestead and was an independent farmer in Floyd County but left the management of his property to others as his duties as a minister of the German Baptist or Brethren Church kept him away from home for long seasons. He visited the sparsely settled parts of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, making his pastoral visits on horseback. He married Louanna Simmons, a daughter of Kara and Elizabeth Simmons, the former, Kara Simmons, lived to the age of seventy-six years and the latter completing all but four years of a century. Their burial took place on their own land in Floyd County. The children born to John B. Weddle and wife were : Lorenzo D., Darius William, Callahill M., LaFayette, Jabez and Ellen Catherine. Darius William Weddle remembers the first school he attended, one of the subscription class, and the sessions were held in an old log building, in Floyd County, not far from his home. He was more ambitious than many of his schoolmates and prevailed upon his father to permit him to attend the graded school at Jacksonville for a year, after which he entered the Ashland Agricultural College, at Ashland, the old home of that great statesman, Henry Clay, and here he was instructed along the lines of scientific farming. Mr. Weddle completed his education in the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. Then followed his marriage and settlement on his father-in-law's farm for one year, when he located on his present farm in the northwestern corner of Elizabeth Township. Mr. Weddle contracted at first to rent the place, which he did for two years, furnishing all his own tools, machinery, stock and seed, and receiving one-third of the crop as his share. He soon discovered that with his superior knowledge of agriculture he could make a fine showing on this land and first bought 160 acres of his father-in-law, then bought the additional eighty acres, from Mr. Studebaker's heirs, and thus came into possession of the whole property. All the excellent buildings now standing have been erected by Mr. Weddle, including his handsome two-story pressed brick house, which contains fourteen large well lighted and thoroughly ventilated rooms, with the exception of an old house and barn. He has set out two orchards, one of apple and one of plum and has small fruits in abundance. During 1907 and 1908 he engaged in tobacco-growing, in the last year devoting fifteen acres to the leaf, at the same time building a fine tobacco house. Had Mr. Weddle followed the methods of some of his neighbors, his farm would probably never have been more productive than theirs, for the land is naturally not very fertile. He recognized that he would have to build it up and also to drain a part of it, putting in 2,000 rods of AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 627 tile. On his place he has proven the value of scientific farming and the benefits that accrue from systematic training. On January 24, 1878, Mr. Weddle was married to Miss Anna W. Studebaker, a daughter of Rev. Isaac S. and Anna (Warner) Studebaker, of Elizabeth Township, and they have had eight children, namely : Harvey William, Albert S., James Arthur, Carrie Estella, Dora Lee; Louanna ; Isaac S.; and Bessie Milicent. The following are deceased : Harvey William, James Arthur, Louanna. Mr. and Mrs. Weddle are members of the Brethren Church, in which he is a deacon and trustee. In his political views he is a Republican but has never consented to accept any public office. He is a shrewd, capable man of business, broad minded on almost every question and a citizen of whom his township has reason to be proud. B. F. SIMMONS, owner of a valuable farm of 240 acres in Brown Township, Miami County. Ohio, comes of one of the very earliest families of the county. He was born in Spring Creek Township July 24, 1848, and is a son of Peter Simmons. The family is of English origin and in America dates back to the coming of the Pilgrim Fathers in the Mayflower. It became established in Virginia, where it flourished many years, then migrated westward to Ohio, first locating in Cincinnati. The Simmonses came to Miami County when it was sparsely settled and almost wholly undeveloped, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch entering all the land from Urbana Pike south one and a half miles and east one mile, including the square upon which Fletcher is situated; at that point he erected three houses. The great-grandmother of B. F. Simmons died near Staunton and was buried in a walnut log which had been split open and hewn out. Peter Simmons was born in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, and there grew to manhood. He engaged in farming there until 1833, then moved with his family to Indiana, where he became owner of a forty-acre farm. After his death, his widow and her two sons returned to a farm in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio. B. F. Simmons, after his return from Indiana, lived with his uncle, L. R. Simmons, until his marriage, at which time he purchased a part of his present farm. He erected a house on the place and lived in it with his family until 1903, when he moved to his present place, on which he had erected a fine modern eight-room frame house. He also built a substantial bank barn, and made many other desirable improvements. He carries on general farming and makes a specialty of raising livestock, at which he has been very successful. Mr. Simmons was united in marriage with Rachel Jane Sanders, who was born and reared on the western part of what is now her husband's farm, and is a daughter of Elihue and Margaret Sanders of Spring Creek Township. The following children were born to them : Elmer E., who died at the age of fourteen years; Effie M., deceased wife of A. E. Wilson; J. W. Simmons who is in the elevator business in Shelby County and is the father of one child, Majorie Ailene ; Harry E., of Brown Township, who married Daisy Miller and has a daughter, Audrey Florence; F. W. Simmons, a resident of Dayton, has one 628 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY son, Kenneth and Charles L., who married Gertrude Motter. Religiously, the family belongs to the Christian Church. Mr. Simmons is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the School Board, and also of the County Agricultural Board. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Junior Order United American Mechanics. He belongs also to the National Horse-Thief Association. CHARLES BOEHRINGER, a representative and substantial citizen of Covington, residing in his handsome two-story brick residence, which he erected in 1885, on the northeast corner of High and Bridge Streets, was born in Germany, February 13, 1842, and is a son of Jacob and Katrina (Voght) Boehringer. After the death of the father of Mr. Boehringer, in Germany, the widow and ten children began to plan to emigrate to America. Several of the family came to the United States and settled at Philadelphia, where George engaged in work. as a bridge carpenter for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at first, but soon came to Covington. Charles remained in Germany with one sister and the mother until he was nineteen years old, and then they came together to America and joined those of the family then living at Philadelphia, each one, with German thrift, having found profitable employment. From Philadelphia, Charles came on to Covington to make a visit to his brother George, and after reaching here decided to remain. He learned the carpenter trade with his brother and worked with him for fifteen years. In 1878 he went back to Philadelphia, where he conducted a butcher busi ness for two years, after which he returned to Covington and bought out the Levering butcher shop, and continued in the meat business for some eighteen years, and during this time was also interested in a stone quarry. Mr. Boehringer still retains the quarry and he owns also eighteen acres of very valuable land that is included in the corporate limits of Covington. He has acquired an ample fortune and all through the legitimate channels of business. In 1865, Mr. Boehringer was married to Miss Margaret Wagner, who was born in Germany and was about eight years old when she was brought to America by her parents, Peter and Rosina (Buck) Wagner. Her parents both died in Covington. where her father conducted a shoe store for many year,. Mr. and Mrs. Boehringer have five children, namely : Peter. who is in the restaurant business at Covington Rosie. who is the wife of Charles Boon, of Covington ; Edward, who follows a blacksmith business; Harry, who engages in tobacco growing on his father's land, has a family of his own. Mr. and Mrs. Boehringer are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he has always been a strong Democrat and has served very acceptably as a member of the city council, for several terms. A. L. CODDINGTON is a prosperous farmer of Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, and resides on the old Coddington home place, which comprises 280 acres of valuable land. He was born on the place where he now lives, July 5, 1873, and is a son of James H. and Jane (Morris) Coddington. James H. Coddington was born on the south eighty acres of his present farm. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 629 which his father, David Coddington, purchased after his arrival in Miami County. He was but a child when the latter died. He attended the common schools of Brown Township and then went out to make his way in the world. He worked for a time for his uncle, John Hill. and some time later bought out the other heirs' interests in the eighty acres owned by his father. To this he added 200 acres which he purchased from Thornton and John Lucas, making a fine property acquired solely through his own industry and enterprise and also acquired a ninety-six-acre tract in Brown Township. He is retired from business activity, but continues to reside • on a part of the old place. He was married to Jane Morris of Champaign County, and they became parents of three children; as follows : Edward F.. who lives in Columbus and fills the chair of Mathematics in Ohio State University : A. L., whose name heads this sketch : and C. Harvey. who owns and conducts a farm in Champaign County, Ohio. A. L. Coddington attended the public schools of Brown Township, the village schools at Conover and the Lena High School, after which he pursued an agricultural course in the Ohio State University. This was supplemented by a commercial course at Sidney, Ohio, after which he was for seven years employed as bookkeeper at Cleveland, Ohio. In 1908, he returned to the home farm. of which he has since had charge. He farms along scientific lines with good' results and is also quite extensively engaged in stock raising. He is the owner of a well known stallion. Young Senator, and has other thoroughbred stock. Mr. Coddington was united in marriage with Miss Lillian A. Williams, a native of Shelby County, Ohio, and they have had two daughters : Elsa Modjeska, who died May 4, 1909, aged seven years and six months ; and Lillian Ethel, who was born October 11. 1902. Politically, Mr. Coddington is a Democrat and takes a deep interest in the successes of that party. LEWIS F. WOLCOTT, owner of 105 acres lying south of Conover, in Brown Township, has one of the best improved farms in that part of the county. He comes of an old and respected family of Miami County, and was born on the farm lying on the opposite side of the road from his present place, January 2, 1853. He is a son of Benjamin L. and Jane E. (Boyd) Wolcott, and a grandson of John H. and Sarah (James) Wolcott. John H. Wolcott came to Miami County, Ohio, from Warren County, Ohio, some years after his marriage, and became prominent among the early citizens and farmers of Brown Township. He was one of the county's early surveyors and served for a time as county surveyor; he also was among the first to conduct a nursery in the county. His death occurred here at the age of eighty-two years, and his wife, who was Sarah James in maiden life, died at the advanced age of ninety-three years. They were parents of seven children. Benjamin L. Wolcott was born in Warren County, Ohio, and was about two years old when brought by his parents to Miami County. He was reared in Brown Township, where he attended the public schools, and during his early business career engaged in carpentering. About 1861 or 1862, he turned his attention to farming on the old home place, and there continued 630 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY without interruption until his death at the age of eighty-two years. He was married to Jane E. Boyd, who was born in Champaign County, Ohio, and died at the early age of thirty-nine years. The following children were the offspring of their marriage : William, who died young; John G., who lives in Champaign County ; Lewis F.; Emily Jane, who is the wife of John Michael and lives in Shelby County, Ohio ; and Jerrod, who lives on the old home place in Brown Township. Benjamin L. Wolcott was the owner of eighty acres at the time of his death. Lewis F. Wolcott attended the public schools of his home community, after which he worked on his father's farm. In 1873 he purchased his present farm, but did not move on it until 1880, some two years after his marriage. He erected the splendid home which adorns the place, and the other substantial farm buildings, converting it into one of the best improved places in the community. He has followed general farming and stock raising along modern and approved lines, and has- been more than ordinarily successful. Mr. Wolcott was first married in 1878 to Miss Rachael Evans, who died without issue on October 20, 1880. In 1883 he formed a second union with Miss Susan Kinsey of Montgomery County, Ohio. Religiously they are members of the Baptist Church at Lena. Mr. Wolcott is a Republican in politics, and fraternally is affili- ated with the Masonic lodge at Lena. DAVID B. LANDIS, senior member of the firm of D. B. & W. M. Landis, funeral directors, established his present business in Covington, June 19, 1889, and has fol- lowed same continuously since that time He was born August 31, 1850, near West Milton, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Anna (Bashor) Landis. John Landis, father of our subject, was born on a farm in West Charleston, near Tippecanoe City, Ohio, a son of David Landis, who was a native of Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by occupation and died in 1866, being survived by his widow, who re- sides four miles west of Tippecanoe City, Miami County. She was born in Pennsyl- vania August 12, 1821, and when a girl came to this county with her parents. David B. Landis was reared to maturity on his father's farm, remaining at home until about eighteen years of age, and then learned the carpenter's trade at Bradford. After leaving the parental roof, he located for a time near Pleasant Hill, and for the past forty years has followed carpenter- ing and general contracting in connection with his undertaking establishment, tak- ing, in 1907, his cousin, W. M. Landis, as a partner in the undertaking business. David B. Landis was united in marriage, May 8, 1870, to Frances Kendig, who was born in Pennsylvania and at the age of four years came to Covington with her parents, Reuben and Mary (Lenhart) Ken- dig. Her father was a farmer and butcher by occupation and died on October 21, 1880, the mother's death occurring November 21, 1871. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Landis : Viola, married Oscar Johnson and has two children—Oscar M. and Ferrel Amanda ; and Anna Merle, who was first united in marriage with Charles F. Deeter, by whom she has one child, Frances. About two years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Deeter, while attending school at Huntington, Pennsylvania, met Samuel C. Gnagey, who came to Miami AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 631 County in 1906, from Maryland, and whom she later married. They reside at West Milton, Ohio, and have one child, Susan Ruth. Mr. Landis stands high in the estimation of his fellow citizens and is one of the leading business men of Covington. He is a member of the Church of the Brethren. SAMUEL D. FOYER, representative citizen and retired farmer of Newberry Township, residing on his farm of sixty-two acres, which lies just east of the Brethren Church, north of Bradford, was born on a farm in Union County, Pennsylvania, June 3, 1840, and is a son of Jacob and Susanna (Myers) Royer. both of whom died in Union County. Samuel D. Royer was reared in his native place and obtained a good common school education. Both he and his brother, J. G. Royer, a prominent retired citizen of Mt. Morris, Illinois, engaged in teaching school after their own school-days were over. Samuel D. taught only four months and then came to Darke County, reaching here in the spring of 1864, since which time until he retired he engaged in farming. J. G. Royer was a teacher for fifty years, following that profession in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and when he finally retired from the educational field he was president of Mt. Morris College at Mt. Morris, Illinois. Samuel D. Royer was married in the year following his settlement in Ohio and located first on the old Jerry Katherman farm in Darke County, which he operated for five years, when he moved on the Jacob Senseman farm, southwest of Bradford, and lived there for two and one-half years. In August, 1873, he moved to his farm in Newberry Township that is now owned by his daughter and husband, and came from there to his present place, January 31, 1907. This farm he has greatly improved, all the substantial buildings having been erected by himself. Mr. Royer was married in Darke County, Ohio, in 1865, to Miss Mary Mummert, a daughter of Joseph and sister of John Mummert, and they have one child, Catherine. She married D. I. Hoover and they have two children : Mary Etta and Harley, both of whom are graduates of Mt. Morris College of the class of 1909. Mr. Hoover was a native of Darke County. He is a man of considerable prominence in this section, being one of the directors of the Bradford Home Telephone Company, a director in the Bradford National Bank and one of the trustees of the Brethren Cemetery. For twenty-four years Mr. Royer has been a minister in the Brethren Church and few men are better known or more highly esteemed through Miami and Darke Counties. DANIEL BOYER, owner of 108 acres of very valuable farming land, which is divided into three tracts, all situated in Newberry Township, Miami County, lives on a five-acre lot which lies about four and one-half miles northwest of Covington. He was born in York County, Pennsylvania, June 11, 1857, and is a son of Mannasse and Lavina (Luckenbaugh) Boyer. When Mr. Boyer was about seven years of age, his parents moved to Ohio and settled in Darke County, and lived on different farms there. The father still resides in Darke County. The mother died in January, 1903. Daniel Boyer attended the country schools as opportunity offered and grew to manhood well acquainted with every detail of farming. After his marriage, in 1881, Mr. Boyer rented his 632 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY father's farm of 160 acres in Darke County, for six years. In 1887 he moved to Newberry Township, Miami County, and has resided here ever since. One of his farms, containing forty acres, is the old homestead farm of his wife and it is now operated by his son, Clarence. A second farm he has under rental, while, although practically retired, he manages the home place himself. Here he has done a large amount of improving. His fine frame residence he has equipped with a furnace and a light plant and it is one of the most modern rural residences in this section. In 1881 Mr. Boyer was married to Miss Mary Ellen Crowel. a daughter of John Crowel, a prominent farmer of Newberry Township. They have had six children, namely : Ira Olonzo, who is in the farm implement business at Gettysburg, Ohio, married Daisy Horner and they have one child, Gertrude: Clarence Homer, who operates the old Crowel farm, as mentioned above, married Florence Flory; Eva Venorah, who is the wife of Harry Christian, of Covington. has one child, Harry Gerald ; John Lowell and Linus Leonard, both of whom reside at home ; and Lova Catherine. who died at the age of one year, seven months and nine days. Mr. Boyer and family belong to the German Baptist Church. WILLIAM GAHAGAN, soldier hero and pioneer of Montgomery and Miami Counties. Of this historical character we have received the following account through one of his descendants : Of good Scotch-Irish stock he had been reared under Presbyterian influences in Western Pennsylvania, and when nineteen years old came down the river to join Wayne's army, in which he served with distinction through the war. In the spring of 1794 we find him with Benjamin Van Cleve in charge of a portion of a fleet of twelve boats under Captain Hugh Wilson, commissary of an expedition under escort of a detachment of troops carrying provisions and supplies from Cincinnati to Fort Massac. Young Gahagan, a dashing fellow, fearless and possessing a level head that carried him through every emergency, was bearer of duplicate despatches from General Wayne to Fort Washington to be forwarded to authorities in Washington City. While passing from Fort Loramie down the Miami, his horse was disabled by a shot from a lurking foe, who, seeing that he had not killed Gahagan, fled precipitately. Gahagan, mindful of his responsibility as a. messenger, made the rest of the journey on foot, eighty-five miles, to Cincinnati ; for which service he received the highest commendation his return to the army. With the same rifle that he carried on that lonely, perilous journey, he fought in the ranks to final victory under Wayne on the Maumee, and it ever rested in a conspicuous place in his cabin at Dayton, and for forty years was a war relic in his home near Troy. Upon honorable discharge from the army at the close of the war Mr. Gahagan took service with former comrades Van Cleve and Mercer, as hunter for the corps of surveyors under Captain John Dunlap, running township and range lines between the Miami and Mad Rivers, and later in the field work- west of the Miami, from Fort Hamilton to Fort Recovery. In the spring of 1796 he came with the Thompson, Van Cleve and McClure families, sharing privations and perils that bound them in close friendship for life. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 633 Mr. Gahagan was the jolly man of the party of first settlers and his popularity increased with the growth of the settlement, he being universally liked for his good natured ways and readiness to lend a helping hand whenever occasion offered in the ten years of his residence here and in the Mad River neighborhood. One of the conditions named to induce the State commissioner to make Dayton the county seat was that Main Street. from the river to Fifth Street, should be cleared of timber and graded. The trunks of trees hauled from clearing the street were rolled into the mud. then in places three logs high earth was filled in and the road graded. Mr. Gahagan became overseer of the work, at first free of charge, then under pay by contract. Finding that he could not push his contract to completion, Mr. Gahagan and family moved to Miami Countv, he having entered a section of prairie and timber land which came to be known as "Gahagan's Prairie." on the Miami across from the Dutch Station"—Staunton, and immediately east of the site of the present city of Troy. This was the ground where ten years before his faithful horse was shot and from whence he started on his journey to Cincinnati on foot. This prairie had been tilled by the Indians, then beginning with the spring of 1799, by John Knoop, Benjamin Knoop, Henry Gerard. Benjamin Hamlet and John Tilden for five years, when Mr. Gahagan and family took possession in 1805. The deed to the land was not issued to him until four years later and was signed December 1, 1809, by James Madison, president of the United States. A few years later he purchased a large tract of land upon which the business portion of Troy now stands. The Gahagan land, being so favorably located, no great effort was required to influence the commissioners to purchase thirty acres at nominal price to establish Troy, in the center of his heavy timber as the seat of justice for Miami County. Mr. and Mrs. Gahagan decided to unite with others in forming a Methodist class and building a meeting-house in Troy, and they donated a lot on the corner of Main and Clay Streets for the purpose. They donated to the village for burying grounds the four-acre lot on which now stands the Eastern Schoolhouse, the ground to revert to his heirs when abandoned as a place of burial. When the time came for establishing a larger cemetery, the heirs of William H., John Gahagan and Polly Clark decided that the old burying ground should remain public property as donated by their father. The friends of the deceased, who were living, removed all their own dead, and those unclaimed were removed by the city, so that the grounds were cleared ready for the new school building, and a playground for the children. The beautiful grove of forest trees was left undisturbed, a part of the grounds were filled, graded and other trees planted thereon. It is one of the attractive school grounds in the city and is known as the Forest School Building. He also assisted in establishing Rose Hill Cemetery, north of town, and in which he his remains. the grave being marked by a plain limestone slab which bears his name, William Gahagan. Although he had been a member of the Presbyterian congregation at Dayton, and of the Methodist 634 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY congregation at Troy, he did not become a member of either church. In the winter of 1803-04 he married Nancy Hamer, daughter of William Hamer, the first Methodist class leader in the Dayton settlement. His first child, William Hamer Gahagan, was born March 16, 1805, in Dayton, Montgomery County. Two other sons, John and Solomon, and one daughter, Polly, were born in Miami County. They lived and died on the land inherited from their father, who braved the perils of frontier life to make their home. William Hamer, the first born, married Hester Culbertson, whom he always called "Hetty Pet ;" to them were born five children : Anna, who married David Cory, of New Carlisle, has two sons living, Thomas Harrison, and Edward Everett. Two other daughters, Mary and Jane, married two Peterson brothers, Alexander, and William. Jane had three children, "Hetty Pet," Harry Gahagan and Clarence Wilson Peterson. Emma Gahagan married James Moorhead of New Carlisle in 1864, and died in Troy, 1908. The only son who lived to manhood was William Henry Harrison Gahagan, born November 14, 1835. He married Hannah Smith of New Carlisle. Of their three children, the oldest, Walter Hamer, is a civil engineer and contractor of New York City, and has twin sons, William Corthell and Frederick Mussen, and two daughters, Helen and Lillian. The oldest daughter, Mary Gahagan, married George Clyde, son of Judge W. J. Clyde of Troy, and Bessie Gahagan married C. W. Schaible, of Troy. The twin sons of Walter Hamer Gahagan are the only ones to perpetuate the name and memory of their great-great-grandfather, William Gahagan, pioneer, and one of the founders of the county seat of Miami County— honored hero of General Wayne's army. John Gahagan left one daughter, Clara Maria Gahagan, who was married to William Senour, of Kentucky, in 1853, and left one son, John Gahagan Senour, born July 4, 1854, died April 21, 1904. He was for many years a prominent physician in the city of Troy. He left one living child, Laura Beall Senour, direct descendant of William Gahagan, who died in 1845. Solomon, third son of William and Nancy Hamer Gahagan, went to New Orleans with a boatload of produce, loading the boat on the Great Miami River on their own ground. He never was heard from afterwards. A diligent search by William failed to find any trace of his movements after he pushed off from shore at their own landing. It was generally supposed he had been robbed and murdered by some of the numerous pirates who infested the rivers and preyed upon the shippers. THE PIQUA HANDLE & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, of Piqua, Ohio, manufacturers of all kinds of Farming Tool Handles, including Long and D Handles — Lawn Mower Handles — Carpet Sweeper Handles—Wood Turnings, etc., is one of the leading industries of Miami County and the largest manufactory of wood turnery and specialties in the world. It has three plants—at Piqua, Ohio, Thompsonville, Mich., and Osceola, Ark., and offices in New York City, the main plant and home office being at Piqua, Ohio. The business was established in 1880 in a small building on River Street. In 1886 the company removed to its present loca- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 635 tion, which has been greatly enlarged and improved since then, the buildings and yards covering an entire city block. In 1903 branch plants were established in Thompsonville, Mich., and Osceola, Ark., owing to the scarcity of raw material. Hence their raw material at the present time is drawn from Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Arkansas. In the three plants from 300 to 500 men are employed. Their product is shipped to all parts of the world. "Piqua" Handles are known everywhere ; excellent quality and high class workmanship have won for them a place on the market second to none. The expansion of the factories, the increased volume of business, and the results attained each year speak well for the strong and able management of the officers, who are as follows : William Cook Rogers, president and general manager; A. M. Leonard, vice-president ; J. F. Stewart, second vice-president ; C. H. Barnett, secretary ; and R. L. Douglas, treasurer. DAVID MANSON, an honored and highly esteemed citizen of Spring Creek Township, residing on a fine farm of eighty acres, located four miles east of Piqua, was born June 11, 1823, near Fletcher, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Martin and Catherine (Smith) Manson. Martin Manson was reared about one and a half miles east of Fletcher and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life. He married Catherine Smith and they reared a family of five sons and three daughters, of whom three sons and one daughter reside in Kansas. David Manson, the subject of this record, grew to maturity on his father's farm near Fletcher, and attended the district schools of the township, also assisting his father with the work on the farm. He then located for a period of five years on a farm in Spring Creek Township, returning to the home place after the death of his parents. Later he purchased his present farm of eighty acres in Spring Creek Township, where he has since continued to reside. He has always followed general farming and stock buying, and has one of the best improved farms in the township, his fine brick residence, and that of Mr. Millhouse, being the only two modern brick dwellings in this section of the county. Mr. Manson was united in marriage with Elizabeth Covault, a daughter of Thomas Covault, of Miami County, and to them were born the following children : James Lewis, deceased ; John H. ; Harley ; Memory ; Catherine ; Belle, deceased ; Isa ; and Rillie. Mrs. Manson died February 5, 1909. Mr. Manson is a Democrat in politics and served for thirteen years as trustee of Spring Creek Township. FRED B. MAGILL, proprietor of the Piqua Egg Farm, is conducting an enterprise which he has developed from a small beginning to one of very large proportions, and now owns the largest poultry plant in Miami County. He was born at Avondale, near Cincinnati. After graduating from Deveaux College, New York, in 1886, Mr. Magill returned to Cincinnati and became identified with a scientific body for which he traveled for some time, collecting specimens of insects and of large game. In 1890 he went west, living for some time at Omaha and later on a ranch, and for a year and a half lived in a house-boat. This he launched at Des 636 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Moines, Iowa, and in it traversed the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers and went as far south as Arkansas, making a great collection of insects, birds and Indian relics. He is a born naturalist and the years he has spent in scientific work have been delightful ones to him and have added very largely to the general knowledge of the country on these subjects. His travels have led him all over the United States, and there are few important scientific bodies in which his name is not held in high esteem. He has a remarkable collection and permits students to visit it. imparting information which is never found in text books. In 1901 Mr. Magill came to Piqua, buying five acres of land at that time, on which he started his poultry business. He breeds the White Wyandotte birds, having a building for the same which is 500 feet long, and here raises from 2,000 to 3,000 broods a year. Mr. Magill is a member of the Episcopal Church and was confirmed by Bishop Cox. of the Western Diocese of New York. JOHN H. COON, one of Newton Township's most prominent citizens, the owner of a valuable farm of sixty-eight acres situated in Sections 19 and 30,is also proprietor of the famous artesian well, which is on his farm and is located two and one-half miles south of Pleasant Hill and one mile west of the Dayton, Covington and Piqua traction line. Mr. Coon was born October 4, 1851, in Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of William Harrison and Elizabeth (Hawn) Coon. William Harrison Coon was born in Virginia. After marriage he moved to Allen County, Ohio, where he worked as a blacksmith until he enlisted for service in the Civil War, going out as a member of Company E, Thirteenth O. Vol. Inf., and continued in the service for four years. He survived all the dangers and hardships of war, meeting with but one injury, in one battle having the point of his ear shot off. He returned to Ohio and settled in Bethel Township, Miami Comity, near New Carlisle, following farming to some extent and also working at his trade. He then moved to a place southwest of Troy, where he worked as a blacksmith for three years. moving then to within one mile west of Troy, remaining there for three years. when he sold out and bought the farm located one and one-half miles east of his son's farm, on which he lived for the seven years preceding his death. In politics he was a Democrat, and fraternally he was a Mason. He belonged also to the local Grange and was a consistent member of the Christian Church. He married Elizabeth Hawn, a daughter of Jonathan Hawn, and they had five children, John H.. Mary, George, William and Rebecca. Both parents were buried in the Riverside Cemetery at Troy. John H. Coon was educated in the country schools, after which, with the help of his brothers, he did a large part of the work on his father's farm, the latter being engaged at his trade. In farming. hauling wood and attending to stock, Mr. Coon worked at home until he was twenty-two years of age, after which he worked as a farm hand for about four years. After his marriage he resided for one year on his father-in-law's farm, three miles west of Troy, moving from there to a rented farm on the edge of Bradford, and one year later moved to a farm in Union Township. Two years afterward he moved on the Harter AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 637 farm, situated one and one-half miles west of Troy, and in 1907 he purchased a sixty-acre farm in Newton Township and operated it for two years. Mr. Coon then moved to Pleasant Hill, and during the two years he lived there was engaged in a plumbing business, and then moved back to his present farm. He cleared about twenty acres and put in 300 rods of tile, which gives the land excellent drainage. Later he purchased eight acres additional, and on this tract is situated the notable artesian spring mentioned above. The improvements on the farm Mr. Coon has placed here. He is not actively interested in farming, having a tenant who is a practical agriculturist, thus relieving Mr. Coon and giving him time to perfect his plans in connection with the artesian well. Two miles southwest of Pleasant Hill was once located an Indian fort, and the almost perpendicular bank of the Stillwater River on the east and the deep, narrow gully on the north, made it an ideal spot for such a structure. A few rods above the fort, in the bottom of the gully is a small island, and in the center of this little tract is the medicated spring, now the property of Mr. Coon. The curative effects of this water have long been known in this section, but its value has not been exploited to any extent until recently. In November, 1907, Mr. Coon, with commendable business enterprise, drilled a well near the spring and later had the water analyzed by a leading chemist. The value of this water in the cure, of many of the most distressing diseases was proved by this anaylsis. With this encouragement, Mr. Coon is making preparations to make heavy investments, and if his plans are perfected, all this section will profit by the presence of visitors who will come from every point. It is confidently believed that those who come sick will return home well, and Mr. Coon intends to provide comfortable accommodations for these guests. Nature has done much to make such an enterprise here successful, the well being situated in the picturesque Miami Valley, famed in song and story. Mr. Coon was married to Miss Rachel Correy, a daughter of Robert and Rebecca Correy, and they have five children : Robert, who is engaged in business at Chicago, Illinois ; Jennie, who resides at Piqua ; Mary and Goldie, both of whom reside at home ; and Lillie, who is a member of the class of 1913, in the High School at Pleasant Hill. Mr. Coon and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Pleasant Hill, of which he has been a trustee for a number of years. He is a Democrat in politics. J. A. KERR, who is a leading member of the Miami County bar—senior member of the law firm of Kerr & Kerr—is one of the representative citizens of Tippecanoe City. He was born at Chambersburg, Montgomery County, Ohio, July 7, 1853, son of Jonathan T. and Matilda (Westlake) Kerr. The Kerr family originated in Ireland, and the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch was George Kerr, who was born in County Kerry, near the famous Lakes of Killarney. Prior to crossing the Atlantic Ocean he married Martha Newel and they reached the American colonies just before the Revolutionary War. He joined the patriot army, and after peace was declared moved to the Western Reserve, becoming one of the earliest settlers 638 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY at Marietta. From there, in 1814, he moved to Lebanon, Ohio. Those were still dangerous times on the border for pioneers, and Mr. Kerr had to witness the cruel massacre of his aged father, who had accompanied him from Ireland. Jonathan T. Kerr, father of J. A., was a son of James and a grandson of George Kerr. He was born in Miami County, Ohio, March 11, 1828, and in 1851 he married Matilda Westlake, who was a daughter of Colonel Westlake, one of the early settlers in this section. J. A. Kerr was the second-born in their family of five sons and one daughter. Mr. Kerr's boyhood was passed on the home farm and he grew up with all the advantages accruing from plenty of physical exercise and strict parental discipline. When he was about sixteen years of age he entered the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, where he passed one winter, during this period learning the science of surveying and the art of stenography, which he put to practical use later on. He first began the study of law in 1872 and in 1875 he was admitted to practice in the State of Ohio, and later to the United States courts. In that year also he established his residence at Tippecanoe City, where he has since remained. The other member of the firm of Kerr & Kerr is his son Floyd, who was graduated from the United States University in 1904. Since its organization the firm has gained well deserved recognition, having successfully handled some important litigation. Mr. Kerr's achievements along professional lines are the more creditable as they are the result of hard work and perseverance. Although since early manhood he has been in close sympathy with the pur poses and leading principles of the Democratic party, he has taken an active part in politics but has never sought office. In 1874 Mr. Kerr was married to Elizabeth Jane Coats, a daughter of Lemuel and Rosa (Pearson) Coats, of an old pioneer family. In 1881 and 1882 he was owner of the Troy Democrat, a daily paper of Miami County, and later was interested in the same and acted as editor for two years, with George Long, M. K. Gantz and C. M. Davis. He was also manager of the Piqua Daily Dispatch and Weekly Journal, and at one time owned and edited the Troy Chronicle and Daily, at Troy, Ohio. J. C. WHITE, a general farmer and well known citizen of Spring Creek Township, resides on his farm, which is situated three and one-half miles northeast of Piqua, and was born June 19, 1844, in Franklin County, Ohio, ten miles east of Columbus. His parents were Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Childs) White. Jeremiah White was a man of education and talent. He was born in Defiance County, and after the death of his father, came to Franklin County, teaching school, farming, studying and practicing law and serving as justice of the peace. For fifteen years he was minister in the Christian Union Church. Iii 1855 be moved from Franklin to Auglaize County, and died there when aged seventy-five years. He married a daughter of John Childs, in Franklin County, and they had nine children, the survivors being: J. C., Mrs. Elizabeth McAdams, Mrs. Hannah Armstrong, and George W. J. C. White was eleven years old when his parents moved to Auglaize County, where he completed his school attendance, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 641 and he assisted on the home farm until he was twenty-five years of age. He then came to Spring Creek Township, and has been on his present farm for a quarter of a century. Mr. White was married first to a Miss Coon, who left six children. His second marriage was to Miss Elizabeth Denman, a daughter of Gilman and Rebecca Penman, and six children were born to this union, the respective names of all the children being as follows : Gertrude, Stephen, Wilson, James, Jeremiah, Ferdinand, Goldie, Myrtle, William, Vernon, Charles and Forrest, all of whom survive except James and William. Mr. White and family are members of the United Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Democrat. E. E. PEARSON, auditor of Miami County, Ohio, and a representative citizen of Troy, which has been his home for a quarter of a century, was born in July, 1864, in Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Horatio Pearson. Few of the older citizens of Miami County are better known than is the venerable father of Mr. Pearson, who lives retired on his farm in Union Township, where he was born in 1836. For seven years he was auditor of Miami County and for many years was a successful teacher. In many sections he was the pioneer teacher and all over the county may be found those who, in their youth, were instructed by him and still recall him with feelings of respect. E. E. Pearson remained on the home farm until he was nineteen years of age and then came to Troy, becoming at that age deputy auditor and serving continuously in that capacity for nineteen years. In November, 1901, he was first elected county auditor ; he was reelected in 1904, and his present term expires in October, 1909. He is interested in various business enterprises in the county and ever since reaching manhood, has taken an active part in politics. He is one of the most popular officials that Miami County has ever had. In March, 1885, Mr. Pearson was married to Miss Coquese Wilmington, of Terre Haute, Indiana, and they have one daughter, Ruth, who resides at home. Mr. Pearson is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and the Troy Club. CALVIN SHARP, a well known farmer and tobacco raiser of Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, is the owner of a farm of forty-nine acres located on the corporation line of Potsdam. He was born in Parke County, Ohio, January 25, 1853, and is a son of Levi and Elizabeth (Neighley) Sharp. His paternal grandfather moved from North Carolina to Parke County, Ohio, where he was among the pioneer settlers. Levi Sharp was born near Gordon, in Parke County, Ohio, and was about four years of age when his parents moved to the vicinity of Arcanum, where he grew to maturity and lived the remainder of his life, dying at the age of seventy-two years. He always followed farming and was the owner of the farm which is now in the possession of his widow. His marriage with Elizabeth Neighley was blessed with ten children. Calvin Sharp attended the public schools of Darke County, and after leaving school followed farming on the home place for a time. He continued to farm in Darke 542 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY County until 1872, when he moved to Union Township, Miami County. For fifteen years he farmed the place opposite his present home, which he purchased in 1900 and moved upon in 1901. He has made many improvements on the place, including the erection of tobacco sheds. He has about eight acres in tobacco, and in addition to raising that product, follows general farming. Mr. Sharp was united in marriage with Miss Liza Jane Harshbarger, and they have three children, as follows: Ida May, married Parker John, and has three children, Cletus, Edgar and John Dale ; Oliver Oral, who resides on the farm across the road from his parents, married Bessie Warner, and has two children, Ruth and Delmar; Elizabeth Imo lives at home. Daniel B. Warner, a cousin of Mr. Sharp, has lived with him since he was twelve years old. Politically the subject of this sketch is a Republican. D. M. MILES, who carries on general farming on the Manson farm, which is located about four miles east of Piqua, is a native of Miami County and was born January 12, 1873, near Casstown, Ohio, and is a son of Morris and Sarah (Jones) Miles. Morris Miles was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, and when quite small came to Ohio with his father, Jonathan Miles, a wagon maker by trade, who located at Tippecanoe City. Here he was reared and educated and subsequently engaged in the nursery business for several years. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted in Company E, Forty-fourth Ohio Vol. Inf., and after three years' service re-enlisted in the cavalry, serving in all a period of four years. He participated in many of the leading battles and was for a time confined in Libby Prison. Upon returning home from the war he married Sarah Jones, a daughter of A. Jones, who was a well known farmer of this section of Miami County. He then located 011 a farm owned by his wife, about three miles from Casstown, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits the remainder of his life. He died at the age of sixty-nine and his wife died at Troy, aged sixty-eight years. They were the parents of the following children : Julia A., married E. C. McMillen and resides at Troy; Ella May. married W. Smithley, a farmer of Miami County; D. H., married Mildred Otoums, of Portland, Oregon; D. M., subject of this record; and Homer, who died in infancy. D. M. Miles, our subject. obtained his educational training in the district schools of the county, afterwards working on the home place until the time of his marriage at the age of twenty-five years with Billie M. Manson, when he removed to his present farm, where he has since carried on farming in a general way and makes a specialty of buying and shipping hay and straw. Mr. and Mrs. Miles are the parents of three children : Offa A., Leila B. and John A. Mr. Miles is politically ideatified with the Republican party. and has served in various township offices. He is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F. J. R. ECHELBARGER, M. D. a well-established physician in active practice at Fletcher, Ohio, was born near Jerry City. Wood County, Ohio, October 12. 1874, and is a son of John F. and Sarah Jane (Frederick) Echelbarger. The parents of Dr. Echelbarger were prominent farming peo- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 643 ple in Wood County for many years and the mother still occupies the old homestead. The father was a highly respected citizen near Jerry City and the family received general sympathy when he was killed by a stroke of lightning on May 29, 1908. The family consists of six sons and two daughters, all of whom survive. Dr. Echelbarger attended school in Wood County until he was eighteen years of age, after which he engaged there in teaching school for ten years, in the meanwhile completing his own education at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, where he was graduated in the literary course in 1897. He was also at times a student at Lebanon, Ohio, and Valparaiso, and while preparing for his medical course engaged in an insurance business and had other interests prior to entering Starling Medical College, where he was graduated in 1906. He located first at Jeffersonville, Ohio, where he practiced for five months and came to Fletcher on December 10, 1906, where he divides the practice with Dr. Kiser. He is identified with medical organizations and keeps fully abreast of the times in the progress made by his science. Dr. Echelbarger was married to Miss Rae Bennett, of Noble County, Ohio, and they have one daughter, Pauline. In politics he is a Democrat. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Junior Order of American Mechanics. W. W. SANDO, owner and proprietor of the W. W. Sando Tile Works and sawmill, at Bloomer, enjoys the distinction of being the pioneer business man at this point and his was the first family to establish a home in what is now a flourishing town. The Sando family has been identi fled with almost every enterprise and public movement that has been useful in the development of this section. W. W. Sando was born April 6, 1857, on a farm in Darke County, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Celia 1). (Hill) Sando. Samuel Sando was born in Darke County, Ohio, on the small farm of his father, Joseph Sando, who had come from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Darke County in early manhood. Joseph Sando was a carpenter by trade. Samuel Sando began to operate a sawmill in Darke County in 1857, and continued in that business until his operations were transferred to Bloomer. He survived until April 18, 1909, at the age of seventy-five years. His widow and five of his ten children are living. In November, 1880, several months after W. W. Sando moved to Bloomer, the C., H. & D. Railroad put in connection with the village. For a number of years there had been a country post-office established a little south of the present town and it was known as Bloomertown and for several years after it was transferred to the point around which the business of the place centered it was still called by the old name which later was lawfully shortened to Bloomer. In July, 1880, W. W. Sando moved his sawmill to this place and one week later his father followed and they conducted a partnership business until 1894, when the younger Sando bought the older's entire interest. In February, 1881, the partners opened up a store in a building they had put up and conducted it until the latter part of 1882, when it was sold to Martin A. Peterseim, who continues in the business. In 1883 the two progressive Sandos began the manufacture of tile, 644 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY which has been developed into one of the main enterprises of the place. In 1906 Mr. Sando remodeled his kiln and factory and gives constant employment to a considerable force. Mr. Sando has been very active in all public matters and on account of his enterprise and reliability has frequently been elected to local offices, serving as the first postmaster of Bloomer, for four different times receiving the majority of votes as assessor of Newberry Township, and since 1881 he has been superintendent of the turnpikes. His comfortable residence was built in 1884, it being the second house in the hamlet. Mr. Sando has little time to devote to agriculture, but he owns a farm of twenty-five acres adjoining his tile works. On December 31, 1877, Mr. Sando was married to Miss Lucinda Hebb, a daughter of Jacob Hebb, of Darke County, and they have had three children: Orville, Iva and Maud. Orville died at the age of eighteen months. Iva married Frank R. Greer and they have two children: Zelma and Roswell. Maud was married (first) to Walter E. Heffner, who was accidentally killed in the railroad yards at Bradford, May 31, 1905. He left three children: Margaret, Ruth and Lawson. Her second marriage was to Judson Derr and they have one child, Una. Mr. Sando is a member of the Mennonite Church. GEORGE OWEN MURPHY, a representative farmer of Brown Township, Miami County, residing on a valuable property consisting of eighty acres of well improved land, situated one and one-half miles northeast of Fletcher, owns a second farm, of fifty-five acres, located north of Fletcher. He was born in Greene County, Ohio, May 5, 1858, and is a son of J. C. and Mercy Murphy. The father of Mr. Murphy was born in New Jersey and came early to Ohio, settling in Greene County, where he married Mercy Sackett. They had two sons and three daughters. Mr. Murphy followed farming all his active life, for many years in Greene County and later in Miami County, near Fletcher. There he died when aged eighty-six years. George Owen Murphy has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since he left school. He assisted his father, being the youngest of the sons, and remained at home until his marriage and then came to his present place, on which he has made all the excellent improvements. He carries on a general farming line, raising grain, potatoes, hay and stock. Mr. Murphy married Miss Sarah Serrilda Berry-hill, a daughter of Aaron Berryhill, of Miami County, and they have one daughter, Ferna May, who resides at home. Mr. Murphy is a Democrat in his political views. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, at Fletcher. WILLIAM M. DE BRA, one of Newberry Township's best known educators, residing on his improved farm of eighteen acres, which is situated on the Covington-Polo turnpike road, about one and one-half miles north of Covington, was born on a farm near Pleasant Hill, Miami County, Ohio, September 30, 1859, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Burns) De Bra. The De Bra family is of French extraction. The great-grandfather, Jacob De Bra, was born in Alsace-Lorraine, came to America, located in Maryland, where he died. He had married a thrifty German and when she was left a widow she came AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 645 to Miami County with her children and entered a large tract of land in the vicinity of Pleasant Hill. Samuel De Bra, the grandfather, was born in Maryland, and after coming to Miami County lived in Newton Township. He was a carpenter by trade and his son David, father of William M. De Bra, learned the same trade. David De Bra married Elizabeth Burns, who was born near Pleasant Hill, Miami County, and was a daughter of William Burns, a native of Wales. William Burns was a sailor in his early life, but later became a farmer in Miami County. David De Bra and his wife had four children : Margaret, who is the wife of Stephen Benning, of Piqua, Ohio Angeline, who is the wife of James Shoe, of Piqua; Ina, and William M., the last named being the eldest. David De Bra and wife are among the venerable residents of Newberry Township, to which they moved in 1866. William M. De Bra attended the Newberry Township schools, the Covington High School and the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, attending the latter institution's summer terms. In 1883 Mr. De Bra began to teach school and he has taught continuously in Newberry Township up to the present time, with the exception of the year 1901, when he taught in Staunton Township. He now has charge of District School No. 13, at Polo. In devoting himself to this work for so many years, Mr. De Bra has done a great service to his section, raising the standard of education and inspiring a feeling of emulation among his pupils that has borne rich fruit. Many of the young people who have been under his care during the past quarter of a century are proving, in responsible positions, that the instruction he has imparted has been thoroughly practical. It is said of Mr. De Bra that he takes an individual interest in every pupil and understands each so well that he is thus able to arouse each mind to its fullest capacity. Many teachers are never able to do this. On July 4, 1887, Mr. De Bra was married to Miss Nellie Printz, a daughter of James K. Polk and Lavina (Babylon) Printz. Mrs. De Bra was born in Darke County, Ohio, but was reared in Miami County. Her parents now reside in Shelby County. Mr. and Mrs. De Bra have three children : Dorothy, Ruth and Paul. The family belong to the Christian Church. Fraternally, he is identified with the Odd Fellows. He has never been active in politics, but has always been ready to perform his whole duty as a public-spirited citizen. JAMES MOTT, deceased, formerly one of Newberry Township's prominent citizens and highly respected men, was born on a farm in Darke County, Ohio, and died on his farm in Newberry Township, Miami County, in 1895. His parents were Zachariah and Mary Mott. The late James Mott was left motherless when he was but a babe and he was cared for a short time in the home of Samuel Wise, near Bradford, Miami County, after which he made his home until manhood with his brother Abraham. He learned to work hard in boyhood and was always a busy man, following farming as his main occupation, coming into possession of the fine old Elmore farm of 160 acres. He was a good farmer and took pride in this property and the splendid residence, now occupied by his only daughter and husband, he put up during his active years. He was a stanch Democrat in his political views, but when he was elected 646 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY to township offices he served entirely without bias and there are those who assert that no more able or honest trustee ever was elected in Newberry Township than was James Mott. He married Anna Elmore, who survived him but two years. She was a daughter of Joseph Elmore and was born on the farm on which she and husband lived and which is now the property of J. F. Etter and wife. Two children only were born to them, the one survivor being Nannie, who is the wife of J. F. Etter. Mr. Etter was born at Davton, Montgomery County, Ohio, and came to Miami County when eleven years old, with his parents, James and Susanna Etter. Mr. Etter manages the farm on which he and wife reside, but does not cultivate it, having it rented. Mr. and Mrs. Etter have two children : Mae, who is the wife of Edwin Grove; and James, who is in the employ of the Government as railway clerk running between Indianapolis and Pittsburg. He married Lo Dollinger and has four children—Francis, Lois. Robert and Ruth. Mrs. Etter was reared in the Christian Church, her father being a consistent member and for years a trustee of the Greenville Creek Church. J. CLYDE HILLIARD, residing on the old Hilliard farm of 170 acres in Spring Creek Township, comes of one of the most prominent and oldest established families in Miami County. He was born January 31, 1870, on his present farm and is a son of James and Adelaide (Gill) Hilliard, and a grandson of Joseph and Sarah (Reid) Hilliard. John and Elizabeth Hilliard. the great-grandparents of our subject, were one of the first families to locate in Miami County, coming here in 1797 under the direction of Col. Simms. They entered the land on which our subject lives, and it is the oldest tract of land in the county which has been continuously in the name of one family. In about 1816 the house in which J. Clyde Hilliard was born was erected, it being considered quite a mansion at that time, and with the exception of one cabin, which was a trading post, was the only house between here and Dayton. Here Joseph Hilliard engaged in agricultural pursuits and he reared a family of seven children : Nancy, Mary, Susan, Jerusha, John R., Amanda. and James G., father of our subject, all of whom are now deceased. James G. Hilliard was reared on the home farm, obtained his educational training in the district schools and at McMurdy's Academy, after which he engaged in farming on the home place, where he died July 14. 1906. at the age of eighty-three years. After losing his sight, in 1852, he dealt extensively in horses and cattle, and became one of the best known stockmen in this section of the county. He was united in marriage with Adelaide Gill, who was born near Milford Center. Union County, Ohio. a daughter of David and Eleanor Gill, residents and farmers of Union County. Mrs. Hilliard was one of a family of six children, the others being as follows : William, Maskel, Reuben, Robert, and Jennie. She was seventy-six years of age on May 30, 1909, and makes her home with her son, the subject of this record. James G. Hilliard was identified with the Republican party in politics. For fifty-four years he was a member of the order of Odd Fellows and his religious membership was with the Baptist Church. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 647 J. Clyde Hilliard was reared and has always lived on his present farm. He attended the schools of this district and at Piqua, subsequently going to the West for some time, and upon his return home assumed the management of the home place, where he carries on farming in a general way, but owing to ill health rents out a portion of the land. He was united in marriage with Josephine Lawrence, who is a daughter of Col. Lawrence, who was a prominent attorney of Marysville and a veteran of the Civil War. who entered the army as captain of Company A., 121st Regiment, and returned as its colonel. In politics, Mr. Hilliard is an adherent of the Republican party. Fraternally, he is a member of the J. O. A. M. and the Elks. CHARLES A. FESSLER, of Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio, with his wife, is the owner of 100 acres of land located two and one-half miles north of Covington, on the northeast corner of the intersection of the Covington and Stillwater Pikes. He was born on a farm in Shelby County, Ohio, July 26, 1868, and is a son of John Martin and Catherine Elizabeth (Peterseim) Fessler. John M. Fessler was born in Germany and was about eleven years of age when he accompanied his mother to the United States, his father having died previous to that time. They located on a farm in Shelby County, where the father of the subject of this record has since lived. He married Catherine Elizabeth Peterseim, who was born in Shelby County, but was reared in Newberry Township, Miami County, just north of Bloomer. Charles A. Fessler was reared on the home farm where his parents still reside, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. After his marriage in 1895, they set up housekeeping on the farm adjoining his present place on the northeast, in Newberry Township. They rented that property until 1906, when he purchased what is known as the old Drake farm, on which he has since lived. There is a large brick house and a good set of farm buildings on the place, and he has made many other important improvements, among other things fencing the entire place. He follows general farming and stock raising. October 6, 1895, Mr. Fessler was united in marriage with Miss Jennie A. Rhoades, a daughter of Uriah V. and Dorothy Ann (Routson) Rhoades, and they have two children, Treva Esther and Zelma Irene. Religiously, they are members of the Lutheran Church at Bloomer. MARTIN A. PETERSEIM, postmaster at Bloomer, Miami County, is one of the enterprising and representative business men of this section, being proprietor of a general store which supplies the needs of a large territory and with A. C. Rhoades, under the firm name of Peterseim & Rhoades, operates an elevator. Mr. Peterseim was born on a farm in Shelby County, Ohio, one-half mile distant from Bloomer, September 8, 1844, and is a son of John Adam and Elizabeth (Fett) Peterseim. Both parents of Mr. Peterseim were born in Germany. They were married there and immediately afterward came to America and to Shelby County. When their son, Martin A., was six years old they moved on a farm of ninety acres, which adjoins Bloomer on the north, and both died there. 648 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Martin A. Peterseim has lived on the above mentioned farm almost since he was an infant and he also owns a second farm, which is situated one-half mile south of Bloomer and contains twenty-five acres. For twenty-two years he has been a leading factor in business at this point, being interested for that length of time in both store and elevator, and for the same length of time has been postmaster. He has served one term as township trustee, being elected on the Democratic ticket, but his business interests have been so many that he has never sought political favor to any great degree. Mr. Peterseim married Miss Mary Catherine Keiser, a daughter of William Keiser, and they have five children, namely : Ellen, who is the widow of Judson Sando ; Edith, who is the wife of A. C. Rhoades ; Walter, who is in the employ of his father at Bloomer; and Stella and Florence. Mr. Peterseim is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in which he has been an official almost the entire period of his mature life. SAMUEL HART, one of Bradford's most active business men, occupying quarters in the busiest part of the town, on the Darke County side of Main Street, deals extensively in flour, feed, grain, baled hay, straw, and coal. He was born in Wayne County, Indiana, January 17, 1866. and is a son of Isaac and Mary (Mohler) Hart. The late Isaac Hart was a well known farmer in Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, where he settled in 1873. He resided on that farm until the close of his life. His widow still survives. Samuel Hart was reared on the home farm in Newton Township from the age of seven years and remained there until he came to Bradford in 1904 and embarked in his present business. Through energy and enterprise he has advanced himself to a leading position among the business men of this section of the county, and likewise in the eastern portion of Darke and the southern part of Shelby Counties. Mr. Hart was married to Miss Lizzie Caldwell, who is now deceased, and is survived by two children, Ethel and Charles. Mr. Hart is identified with both the Masons and Odd Fellows and is favorably known in fraternal circles, taking a hearty interest in lodge work. He has never taken a very active part in political life. JOHN W. BROWN, a well known agriculturist of Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, is engaged in farming the home place of fifty-five acres and an additional tract of fifty acres, located about one mile west of his home, and he owns both farms. He was born in Shelby County, Ohio, and is a son of Augustus S. and Catherine C. (Wilson) Brown. Augustus S. Brown was born in Kentucky, in 1814, and when young came to Miami County, Ohio. He lived with an uncle for a time and subsequently moved to Shelby County, where he lived until two years after the birth of the subject of this record. He then returned to Miami County and located upon the farm in Brown Township, where he lived until his death in 1855. He married Catherine C. Wilson, whose father lived at Troy and served some years on the Bench. They had the following children: Letitia, deceased ; Elizabeth; William Perry, deceased; Thomas, deceased; Martha, deceased; Lucinda; Lydia; Caroline; Virginia; and John W. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 649 John W. Brown was two years of age when his parents moved from Shelby County to the farm on which he now lives, and with the exception of two years spent on a farm northeast of here, has since lived on this place. He attended the district schools and early in life turned his attention to farming. He bought out the other heirs to the home place and in 1907 purchased his farm of fifty acres, located one mile west. He erected the residence in which he lives, and the good barn which was on the place, he later moved to its present location, and has made many other important improvements. He is a substantial and progressive citizen, and is held in high esteem by his fellow men. Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Mary S. Duer, a daughter of William H. Duer, of Miami County. Religiously, they are members of the Baptist Church at Lena. He is a Democrat in politics, and is deeply interested in the success of the principles of that party. CHARLES B. MAIER, who is engaged in the carriage, buggy, harness and horse supply business at Covington, is a leading citizen of Newberry Township, of which he is one of the trustees. He was born on a farm in Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio, October 20, 1862, and is a son of Eberhart and Louisa Maier. The parents of Mr. Maier were both born in Germany but their marriage took place in America. In 1864 they moved from Newberry to Newton Township, where the father died four years later, leaving his widow with a family of little children. This devoted mother gave all her energies to the keeping of her family together and remained on the home farm until each one was grown. This estimable woman, now in her eighty-third year, resides at Springfield, Ohio, where she has many friends. Charles B. Maier was six years old when his father died. His capable mother reared him carefully, teaching him habits of thrift and encouraging him both at school and in the performance of his farm duties. For a number of years he followed farming, acquiring the home place of 129 acres, all but forty-five acres in Newberry Township, lying in Newton Township. His wife owns a farm of twenty acres adjoining. His farm land is now rented, his business interests at Covington requiring his presence in the city, which has been his home since 1907. On January 5, 1904, Mr. Maier and family went to California and spent a whole year in that State but came back to Ohio better satisfied with their native place than ever. Mr. Maier has been engaged in his present .business since October, 1906, having bought out J. G. Wetzel. Mr. Maier married Miss Emma Price, a daughter of Isaac Price, and they have two children: Arthur J. and Walter L. Mr. Maier has always been an active citizen, taking an interest in both township and city affairs. In the fall of 1907 he was elected on the Democratic ticket, a trustee of Newberry Township, with a majority of 214 votes, although it is normally Republican. He assumed the duties of the office on January 1, 1908, the other members of the board being Harry Fox and John Weheman. Mr. Maier is identified with the order of Odd Fellows. S. FRANK YATES, proprietor of one of the largest and best general stores in