AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 725 Minnie, who is the wife of Silas Silvers. Mr. Leonard and family attend the Dunkard Church. He is a valued member of the Dan W. Williams Post, G. A. R., No. 369, at Pleasant Hill, of which he has been vice-commander for several years. C. O. YOUNG, V. S., who conducts his veterinary hospital and boarding stables at No. 419 Caldwell Street, Piqua, is one of the leading men in his profession in this section of Miami County. Dr. Young was born in 1878, at Sidney, Ohio, and he was reared and educated in Shelby County. When sixteen years of age Dr. Young began to work in a drug store and during his three years in his first position he laid the foundation for his future professional career. He was connected with the wholesale drug business at Indianapolis, Indiana, for one year, going from Fletcher, Ohio, where he had been living, and then returning to the home farm for three years. He completed his knowledge of drugs during a subsequent period of five years in the business at Toledo, Ohio, and then prepared to make a practical use of it, and at the same time entered the Toronto Veterinary College, at Toronto, Canada, thereby entering into a profession for which he had a natural inclination from early youth. He was graduated in 1908, and on April 18th of that year located at Piqua. His hospital is scientifically fitted up and his success is assured, many of the owners of valuable horses and stock in this section gladly availing themselves of his knowledge and skill. In August, 1898, Dr. Young was married to Miss Edith L. Rhodecker, of Sidney, and they have one daughter, Mayme V. Dr. and Mrs. Young attend the Metho dist Episcopal Church. He is identifies with the Knights of Pythias. C. H. HAGEMAN, a representative citizen of Spring Creek Township, residing on a tract of thirty-five acres located about six miles southeast of Piqua, was born March 19, 1846, on a farm near Sharonville, Hamilton County, Ohio, and is a son of Christian and Eliza (McCollough) Hageman. Christian Hageman was born and reared in Hamilton County, Ohio, where during his early life he worked at the blacksmith trade, but spent his later years engaged in agricultural pursuits. Although his entire life was practically spent in Hamilton County, his death occurred in Troy, Miami County. He was first united in marriage with Eliza Mee̊Hough, who was born in Hamilton County, where she died aged forty-six years. They were the parents of the following children : Henrietta, who resides in Butler County, Ohio ; Melissa, deceased; C. H., the subject of this record; Levy, deceased ; Mary, deceased ; and Albert, who resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. His second marriage was with Deborah Hageman, of Warren, Ohio, and her death occurred in Miami County. C. H. Hageman received his education in the local schools of Hamilton County, after which he worked out until he became of age, and then took up carpentering, at which he worked for a period of twenty-two years. He then conducted a bakery at Piqua for three years, and in 1894 located on his present farm, where he has since practically lived a retired life, but it is his intention to cultivate his farm this season. Mr. Hageman was first joined in wedlock with Caroline Vance, and of their union was born one child, Francis, a resi- 726 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY dent of Lima, Ohio, who married Allie Craft and has three children, Charles, Ernest and Francis. Our subject's second marital union was with Helen Williams, of Dayton, and he subsequently married Laura Brandenburg, who was born in Miami County and is a daughter of Cornelius Brandenburg. who came to this county from Maryland. as did her mother also. Mr. Hageman is politically identified with the Democratic party ; he was for three years a member of the School Board. and served for a time as supervisor. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Troy. WILLIAM H. DRIVER, residing on his well-improved farm of eighty acres, situated on the Gettysburg turnpike road, in Newberry Township, two and one-half miles west of Covington and one and three-quarters miles east of Bradford, was born in York County. Pennsylvania, January 29, 1857. His parents were Moses and Angeline (Ginter) Driver. In 1862 the parents of Mr. Driver came to Miami County and stopped first at Covington and soon after the father bought what was known as the Two-Mile House, a popular public house at one time. Although he owned this property, he never conducted it, but devoted himself to farming, owning some sixty-five acres of land. He lived for about a year at the Two-Mile House, then bought a farm on the Iddings turnpike road, which became the family home. After some years he moved with his wife to Covington, where he lived retired until his death, October 31, 1898. His widow then went to live with a daughter, Mrs. Mina Dunham, at Greenville, Ohio, and died there in August, 1905. William H. Driver was reared to manhood in Newberry Township, being aged five and one-half years when his parents came here. For some fourteen years Mr. Driver engaged in a dairy business, but for the past seven years he has confined himself to general farming. For nine years after his marriage he operated his farm of eighty acres in Newton Township. It is a historic place, the old Dorman farm, east of Circle Hill, and Mr. Driver resided there for nine years, coming to his present place on April 9, 1891. The comfortable residence is a fine old brick mansion. Mr. Driver was married September 13, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Dohner, who was born and reared in Union Township. Her parents were Moses and Anna Dolmen Mr. and Mrs. Driver have seven children, namely : Harry, who resides at Bradford, where he is employed as inspector of repairs for the Pan Handle Railroad, married Hattie Thompson, and they have two children—Lawson and Robert ; Warren, who is employed in the Pan Handle shops at Bradford, married Mabel De Weese and they have one child, Grace ; Moses, who resides in the Dominion of Canada, married Letha Enyart ; Sylvia, who resides in Canada ; Ella, who is a graduate of the Covington High School; Bertie, who like her sister, is a graduate of the High School ; and Caris, who is still pursuing his studies in the Covington High School. Mr. Driver and family are members of the Brethren in Christ Church. T. B. WHEELER, one of Troy's leading business men—vice-president of The Allen & Wheeler Company, extensive dealers in grain and leaf tobacco—has been a resident of this city for the past forty-three AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 727 years. He was born in Massachusetts in 1836. Mr. Wheeler obtained his education and secured his first business experience in his native state, from which he came to Troy in 1866. immediately entering into partnership with H. W. Allen in the flour and grain line. under the firm name of Allen & Wheeler. The firm dealt only in these commodities until 1892. when leaf tobacco became an additional product handled, one which has assumed great importance in the present business. In 1904 incorporation papers were taken out, and the business has since been conducted as The Allen Wheeler Company. with H. W. Allen as president and T. B. Wheeler as vice-president. In 1867 Mr. Wheeler was married to Miss Mary E. Smith, who is a step-daughter of H. W. Allen, and they have three children, namely : Leonard A., who is a member of The Allen & Wheeler Company; Lucia M.. who is the wife of Dr. J. A. Hall. of Cincinnati, Ohio ; and Ellen Dean, residing at home. Mr. Wheeler is a member of the Troy Club. While not particularly active in politics, he is recognized as a good citizen, one whose efforts have always been directed to promoting movements for the common good. SAMUEL MURRAY. deceased, was once one of the prominent farmers of Newberry Township, and resided on a valuable property situated about one mile southeast of Covington. on the Troy turnpike road. He was born in Montgomery County, Ohio. and was a son of David and Elizabeth (Kimmel) Murray. When Samuel Murray was about seven years of age his parents moved from Mont- gomery County to Miami County, and settled on a farm in Newberry Township, adjoining the one later owned by Samuel Murray, and which is now the home of his widow. From boyhood he was trained in habits of industry and thrift, and he grew to manhood with all the knowledge necessary to make him an excellent farmer. He married Mary Shellebarger in 1851, and she still survives, having reached her eighty-third birthday, having been born January 24, 1826, in Pennsylvania. She was five years old when her parents, Jacob and Hannah (Mohler) Shellebarger, brought her to Miami County. The Shellebargers settled on the farm on which Sebastian Holfinger now lives, and Jacob Shellebarger entered that land from the Government, cleared it up and erected there his log house. In that home Mrs. Murray grew to womanhood. After marriage, Samuel Murray and wife first went to housekeeping on a farm situated on the Piqua turnpike road, later removing from there to the farm on which Samuel Murray lived until the time of his death, which occurred on November 10, 1895, when he was aged sixty-seven years. He was a very industrious man; not only understood all kinds of agricultural labor, but he learned brickmaking, and made the brick that went into the construction of the present brick residence. Mr. Samuel Murray was a prominent man in the Dunkard Church, and was a minister for many years, and finally ordained as an elder. There were eight children born to Samuel Murray and his wife, three of whom—Amelia, Martha and Hannah—died in infancy. The survivors are: Owen, who resides on a part of the home farm; Mrs. Catherine Cover, who lives in Modesta 728 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY County, California ; Mrs. Emma Gibbon, whose home is in Artesia, California; Charles; and Mrs. Ella Colbert, who lives at Whittier, California. Charles Murray, the younger son of the late Samuel Murray, was born on the present farm March 22, 1869, and he has always been a farmer. He was married (first) to Hettie Warner, who died without issue. He was married (second) to Lydia Beaver, who was born and reared in Shelby County, a daughter of Grant and Alice (Smith) Beaver. They have one son, Samuel Lester. This family belongs to the old order of Dunkard, or German Baptists. This religious body dates back to 1708, and was founded in the United States in 1723-4. In the passage of years divisions have come into the original order, but the Murrays are still faithful to the old tenets requiring simplicity of life and deportment. ALVA. E. DICK, one of Elizabeth Township's representative business men and active citizens, who is serving in his fourth year as township assessor, was born March 24, 1871, at Miami City, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Robert and Susan (Drury) Dick. John Dick, the grandfather of Alva E., married and lived in Elizabeth Township, Miami County, for a number of years, and then purchased a farm of forty acres in Mercer County, Ohio, on which both he and wife subsequently died. They were worthy members of the Christian Church. They had seven children : John, Douglas Leroy, Marion, Arthur, Ferda, Robert, and an infant. Robert Dick was born in Miami County, Ohio, October 11, 1846, and spent his whole life in his native county, passing a part of it at Miami City, where he died May 21, 1906. His main business was threshing, and this he followed with profit during the whole of his active life. He was a highly respected citizen of Elizabeth Township. He married Susan Drury. who was born October 11, 1846, and died December 16, 1903. She was a daughter of John and Annie (Pinkerton) Drury. The children of Robert Dick and wife were: James, who married Hattie Widener, daughter of William Widener, has two children, Hazel and Harry ; Annie, who married George Staley, has had four children—Chalmer, Ava, Nellie and Ray, deceased ; Alva ; and Ethel, who married Adolphus Brown, has one child, Ruby. Alva E. Dick obtained his education in a school conducted not far from Alcony, and after he left his books he began to give his father assistance and continued until the latter retired, when be assumed all the old threshing contracts and accepted new ones. and during the season is constantly employed in this industry. He learned paper-hanging, and when not engaged in threshing, keeps busy at his other business. He is an active Republican, and he belongs to the Odd Fellows, being connected with the lodge at Casstown. HON. FRANK M. LONGNAKER, one of Pleasant Hill's most prominent citizens, who filled the mayor's chair for eight years and for eight years was postmaster, is identified with many of the important business concerns of this section. He was born at Pleasant Hill, Miami County, Ohio, May 8, 1869, and is a son of Ephraim and Eunice (Hill) Longnaker. Ephraim Longnaker was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, and he came to Ohio in 1859. He enlisted for service in the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 731 Civil War, early in the days of the Rebellion, and was a member of the Ninety-fourth Regiment, O. Vol. Inf., and was not mustered out until the close of hostilities sent the surviving soldiers back to their homes. At one time he was captured by the enemy, and was confined in Libby Prison. He is a highly respected resident of Pleasant Hill, where he has been employed as a carpenter, and also has conducted a boot and shoe store for a number of years. He is a Republican in politics, and one of the leading members of the Christian Church. He married Eunice Hill, a daughter of John W. Hill, and they have three children, Frank M., Jennie and Milton. Frank M. Longnaker spent all his school days at Pleasant Hill, and after completing the high school course learned telegraphing. Ile was then employed for five years as agent and operator for the C. H. & D. Railroad, settling at Celina after his marriage and spending four years as agent there. He then became interested in the handling of sand and gravel, and in September, 1894, went into the business in Newton Township with Martin Himes, under the firm name of the Longnaker Mines Company, of which is is president. After his long term as mayor terminated, he became manager of this company, and a large measure of his time is taken up in directing its affairs, the enterprise being one of considerable importance and giving -employment to a large number of workmen. He is also a stockholder and a director in the Pleasant Hill Banking Company. In politics he is an ardent Republican. He has served one term as justice of the peace, and at present is president of the School Board. Mr. Longnaker's business success has been phenomenal, and to his own industry, foresight and good judgment must a large part of it be attributed. When he went into business it was without one dollar of capital. With his partner he now owns a concrete manufacturing plant, and gives steady employment to twelve workmen, who handle from twenty-five to fifty cars of sand and gravel a day, shipments being made to all points on the C., H. & D. Railroad. Together with his other business interests, which have been acquired through the same channels of industry, Mr. Longnaker finds himself a very busy man, and in a fair way to become one of the most substantial men of this section. On August 13, 1891, Mr. Longnaker was married to Miss Avis Ely, a daughter of George W. and Annie Ely, and they have one daughter, Miriam, who is a student in the Pleasant Hill High School. The family are members of the Christian Church at Pleasant Hill, Mr. Longnaker .being one of the trustees. He is identified with the Masons, belonging to the Chapter at West Milton, and is also an Odd Fellow. JOHN JUDSON DRAKE, residing on his fine farm of 145 acres, which is situated in Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio, about two miles southwest of Piqua, was born on this farm, October 30, 1841, and is a son of Jonathan and Frances (Curry) Drake. The parents of Mr. Drake were born, reared and married in New Jersey. In 1831 they started over the mountains for Ohio, making the long journey by wagon and consuming six weeks on the way. They rested for a short time in Butler County, near Hamilton, and then came on into 732 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Miami County. Daniel Drake, a brother of Jonathan, came to this county in 1833 and they bought the land together which is now a part of where John J. Drake now lives. They found but eight acres cleared and pioneer conditions prevailing. Home ties were not forgotten and five years after the Drakes settled they longed to have the dear old mother, Mrs. Eleanor Curry, who had remained in New Jersey. At that time there was no way for her to reach what was then almost the frontier, except by making the same journey over the mountains and recognizing this, Mr. Drake drove the team back to New Jersey and the wagon that had first transported the family, brought Mrs. Curry to her daughter. V Four children were born to Jonathan Drake and wife, two sons and two daughters. The two oldest died when aged six years. The only survivor is John Judson. The one sister who grew to maturity, Mary Frances, is now deceased. She was the wife of Joseph Culbertson. Jonathan Drake died August 11, 1866, and his widow, November 8, 1868. John Judson Drake has passed almost the whole of his life on his present farm. Following his marriage he settled on the farm belonging to his father, adjoining his own, and for two years cultivated his own land and his father's 100 acres. He then purchased that place, after the latter's death, but subsequently sold it. He engages in general farming to some extent, renting out the larger part of his land but reserving enough to make berry raising and trucking profitable, finding a ready market at Piqua. On November 26, 1861, Mr. Drake married Miss Elma Irvin, who is a daughter of William and Adeline Irvin. She was born in Shelby County, Ohio, and lived there until she was six years old, when her parents moved on the farm in Washington Township, Miami County, which is owned by her brother, John Irvin. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have had six children, the survivors being: Addie Frances, who is the wife of James W. Curtis; Edgar Judson, residing at Coshocton, Ohio, who married Laura Holly, and has four children—Ernest, Irvin, Forrest and Myrle and Earl Leroy who is engaged in the farm implement business at Piqua he married Carrie Rees and they have two children—James Clinton and Robert Judson. The three children deceased were: Charles Oscar, who died when aged three months; Minnie Leola, who died aged three years; and Grace Inez, who passed away at the age of twenty-eight years. Mr. Drake and family are members of the Calvary Baptist Church at Piqua, of which he has been a trustee ever since it was organized, in 1871, and a deacon since 1881. He has been a member of the organization devoted to the interests of agriculturists, the Patrons of Husbandry, for a number of years. He is not an active politician but has always been numbered with the best and most reliable citizens of his township. CHARLES HILLIARD THOMAS, a representative citizen of Spring Creek Township, and a lifelong resident of Miami County, residing on a fine farm of 168 acres located east of Piqua. was born on his present farm April 5, 1857, and is a son of David E. and Maria (Hilliard) Thomas. David E. Thomas was born in Wales May 10, 1816, where he grew to maturity and became a Baptist minister. About AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 733 1854 he came to this country with his father, Eben Thomas, who was a medical practitioner, and who located in Licking County, Ohio, where he engaged in the practice of his profession until the time of his death. David E. Thomas resided for some years in Piqua, where he had charge of the Baptist Church during that time, and in 1852 located on the farm on which our subject was born and now resides, and four years later erected the present dwelling on the place. He was one of seven sons born to his parents, six of whom were ministers, one of whom, now in his eighty-ninth year, is a resident of Illinois. Rev. D. E. V Thomas never operated the farm himself, but employed others to run the place, he continuing with his work in the ministry. He was united in marriage with Maria Hilliard. who was born July 31. 1821, on the old Hilliard farm, and died November 25, 1900. Her father, Charles Hilliard. was one of the earliest settlers of Miami County. locating in Spring Creek Township in 1776, on the land now owned by our subject. He always followed farming, and owned a section of land where East Piqua is now situated, and the house in which he lived is still standing, just south of our subject's home. There were six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, namely : Sarah, who died young; Emma, deceased; Anna, deceased ; Eva, who resides in Piqua ; Ella, deceased; and Charles H., the subject of this record. David E. Thomas died in Spring Creek Township May 5, 1864. Charles H. Thomas was reared on his present farm, and received his educational training in the schools of the district and at Piqua, since then operating the home farm, where he carries on general farming and stockraising. He is one of the most successful and progressive farmers of the township ; is public spirited, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. Mr. Thomas married Ella Carr, a daughter of Millard and Sarah Carr, well known farmers residing east of Piqua. Mr. Thomas is politically identified with the Republican party; is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F., and is an active member of the Baptist Church. R. HAYES WIDENER comes of an old and respected family of Miami County, Ohio, and has been a resident of Troy for five years, being identified with the post-office here. He was born in Elizabeth Township, Miami County, in 1876, and is a son of William D. Widener. William D. Widener is well known to the people of the county, having been a lifelong resident of Miami. County, Ohio. In his younger days he was a carpenter, and later engaged in farming operations with much success. He has always taken an active interest in political affairs, and was called upon to fill various township offices and also that of infirmary director. He served two terms in that office, and proved a most efficient public official. He now resides at the home of his son in the city of Troy. R. Hayes Widener attended the public schools of the county, and his education was supplemented by a two-years course at Ohio Northern University, at Ada, Ohio. Upon leaving that institution he engaged in teaching school for seven years, and in 1904 he became a citizen of Troy. He at that time entered the postal service under Mr. W. M. Kyle, the postmaster, and has continued under the present postmaster, 734 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY E. A. Jackson. He is a prominent Odd Fellow, having been appointed Deputy Grand Master of this district for the term of 1908-1909. In 1899 Mr. Widener was united in marriage with Miss Maud Miller, of Champaign County, Ohio, and they have three children : Maurice M., Amy I. and Marjorie E. The family attends the Christian Church. FREDERICK W. JOHNSTON, owner of 140 acres of farm land located about three and a half miles north of Covington, has always been a resident of Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio, where he is well known and held in high esteem. He was born at Greenville Falls, in Newberry Township, October 4, 1849, and is a son of Andrew Jackson and Mary Ann (Thompson) Johnston, and a grandson of Frederick Johnston. Frederick Johnston was a native of Ireland, and some time after his marriage emigrated to the United States. He settled between Enon and Yellow Springs, in Greene County, Ohio, and the farm is still in the family name, being owned by two of his daughters, who have never married. Andrew Jackson Johnston was born on the ocean while his parents were en route from Ireland to this country, and was reared on the home farm in Greene County, Ohio. After his marriage he moved to Covington, where he conducted a tavern for a while, that establishment having previously been run by his wife's people. He was a cooper by trade, and also a wagon maker, and for a time operated a cooper shop at Greenville Falls, but farming was his principal occupation. About the year 1845 he purchased a farm about midway between Piqua and Covington, upon which he erected buildings and made other improvements, and moved on the farm in 1850, living there until 1864. In the fall of that year he purchased 160 acres where his son, Frederick W., now lives, and continued to live there and farm until his death in 1894. He was twice married, having by his first wife a daughter, Eliza, who died in Seattle, Washington. His second marriage was with Mary Ann Thompson, who was born and reared in Greene County, Ohio, to which her parents had come from the state of Maryland. Six children were the issue of this union, namely : James A., who lives in San Antonio, Texas ; Louisa, deceased, who was a twin to James A. and who married William Drake ; Frederick W.; John K., also of San Antonio, Texas ; Edward, who lives at Covington ; and Arthur, who died when young. The mother of this family died in 1900. Frederick W. Johnston was less than a year old when his parents moved from Greenville Falls to the farm between Piqua and Covington, and was about sixteen when they moved to where he now lives. He received a common school education and has always engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has made many important improvements on the home place, and in 1904 erected a fine frame house, in which he lives. Mr. Johnston was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Meenach, a daughter of Ezekiel Meenach, and they have two children Noel L., of 1)arke County, who married Minnie Lambert and has a daughter, Neva Arline; and Myrl C. Religiously they are members of the Covington Presbyterian Church, of which he is a deacon. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 735 HON. DAVID M. COPPOCK, one of Miami County's most prominent citizens, mayor of Pleasant Hill, president of the Pleasant Hill Banking Company, president of the Miami County Mutual Insurance Company, and identified with many of the movements which have resulted in advancing the various interests of this section, was born December 29, 1841, in Union Township, Miami County, Ohio. His parents were Benjamin and Esther (Miles) Coppock. Benjamin Coppock was a native of Miami County, where his life was spent in agricultural pursuits. He married Esther Miles, a daughter of William and Mary (Pearson) Miles, and they had three children: David M., Almeda and Elwood. David M. Coppock obtained his education in the Union Township schools, but his success in life has not been dependent upon the knowledge there gained, a natural inheritance of foresight, ability and good judgment doing much more. He remained with his parents through early manhood, including one year after his marriage, and then moved to the vicinity of Pleasant Hill. where he lived until 1905, when he came to Pleasant Hill, purchasing here a residence. He still retains his valuable farm of 150 acres, which is situated in Newton Township. Mr. Coppock was married (first) March 21, 1860, to Miss Jane Jay, who died January 17, 1879. She was a daughter of Joseph F. and Mary Jay. The following children were horn to that marriage : Anabel, Horace, Lambert, Almeda, Furnas ,T., Lura, Bertha, Fred and Charles B. In August, 1880, Mayor Coppock was married (second) to Miss Rachel Overman, a daughter of Silas and Hannah Overman. of Marion, Indiana, and they have four children : Clarence, Herbert, Chester J. and Esther J. Politically a Republican, Mayor Cop-pock has frequently been chosen by that organization in the township as standard-bearer, and prior to coming to Pleasant Hill served in local offices. As mayor of the town he has been a fearless official, and has brought about excellent local conditions. He still retains his membership in the Grange, and is also a Mason. For many years he has been a leading member of the Christian Church. MADISON MILLHOUSE, a veteran of the Civil War and a well known citizen of Spring Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, is the owner of a valuable farm of 257 acres, located four miles east of Piqua. He was born on this place August 14, 1843, and is of German descent. He is a son of Jacob and Frances Johnson Millhouse, and a grandson of John Millhouse. Mr. Millhouse has among his treasured possessions the honorable discharge, bearing the signature of George Washington, which his grandfather received at the close of that war. John Millhouse was one of the very early pioneers of Miami County, Ohio, and entered the home farm, for which he received a patent from the Government signed by President Madison. This farm has passed from father to son, and has always been in the Millhouse name, a record which doubtless cannot be equalled by any other family in the records of Miami County history. John and his wife, Margaret Millhouse, were parents of four children, of whom Jacob was the eldest. Jacob Millhouse was born on the home 736 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY farm in Spring Creek Township, and attended the primitive schools of that early period. Although his schooling was' limited, he developed unusual ability as a mathematician. He turned his attention to farming, and after the death of his father purchased the interests of the other heirs in the home farm. He was a man of prominence in the community, and lived a life of great usefulness ; his death occurred June 20, 1871. He was married to Frances Johnson, a daughter of Isaac Johnson, who was in early life a sailor, but later located on a farm in Spring Creek Township, about one mile west of the Millhouse farm. Two children blessed this marriage : Margaret, who died in 1861; and Madison. Mrs. Millhouse died about seven months after the latter's birth. Madison Millhouse was reared and educated in Spring Creek Township, and has always followed farming. His is one of the best improved farms in the township, the residence being a large twelve-room brick, which he built in 1877. The barn was erected by his father and grandfather in 1836, but he has a number of times remodeled and enlarged it. He is progressive and public spirited, and has always taken a deep interest in the progress and development of the township and county. During the Civil War he served as a member of Company E, 147th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Johnson, and although he saw considerable service, never met with injury. He suffered with fever for two years, however, after leaving the army. Mr. Millhouse was united in marriage with Miss Sarah U. Furrow, a daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah Furrow, of Spring Creek Township. Her father was a farmer, and for twenty-five years line master on the Miami and Erie Canal, which he helped to build. He was an early settler here, and lived to reach the age of eighty-six years. His wife died at the age of seventy-seven. They were parents of the following children Sylvanus ; Jane ; Martha, deceased ; Clarinda ; Angeline ; Alonzo, deceased ; Sarah U., wife of the subject of this sketch ; Charlotte ; Elizabeth ; and two who died in early life. Madison Millhouse and his estimable wife are parents of two children Murra J., who married Pearl Steward and has a daughter, Helen Frances ; and Alberta. wife of Chauncey Young, of Piqua, by whom she has two children, Ralph and Ruth. Politically, Mr. illhouse is an independent voter. He has served nineteen years on the School Board. G. E. McCULLOUGH, M. D., one of the leading professional men of the City of Troy, has been a resident of Miami County, Ohio, all his life. He was born near this city in 1872, and is a son of Charles McCullough, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Miami County. Dr. McCullough is a graduate of Troy High School and attended Wooster University, and after leaving the latter institution began preparation for his professional career. He was graduated from Cincinnati Medical College of Ohio (M. C. O.) in 1889, and soon after receiving his degree opened his office for practice at Troy, where he has met with success. He pursued a post-graduate course in New York Post Graduate College, in New York City, in 1905, and in 1907 completed a course in the Chicago Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat College. He is a member of the Miami County Medical Association, the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 737 Ohio State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. In 1904 Dr. McCullough was married to Miss Jessie Van Beseler, a native of Troy, Ohio. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Troy Club, and has a wide circle of acquaintances throughout this vicinity. JOHN W. IRVIN, president of the Washington Township School Board and one of the leading farmers of this section of Miami County, Ohio, was born on the farm on which he resides, June 14, 1851, and is a son of William and Adeline (Brown) Irvin. William Irvin was a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born about seven miles south of Dayton, where he lived until after his marriage, when he moved first to Shelby County and later to Miami County, and settled in Washington Township, where he acquired two farms, aggregating 125 acres. He died at Piqua, Ohio, in 1879, and was survived twenty years by his widow. Of their family of nine children, two were born in Shelby County. John W. Irvin was reared on the home farm, and was educated in the township schools. He has been a farmer all his mature life, and has interested himself in agricultural affairs generally, recognition of this fact being shown by his selection as one of the two members from Washington Township elected on the Miami County Agricultural Board. He has also been active in educational matters, and served several years as a school director prior to the passing of the new school law, which went into effect in 1904, since which time he has continuously held the office of president of the board. On February 4, 1873, Mr. Irvin was married to Miss Addie Morrow, a daughter of Hugh and Susan Fletcher (Morrison) Morrow. She was born at Piqua, but was reared on her father's farm, which adjoined the Irvin land, in Washington Township. In his early married life, Mr. Morrow engaged in clerking in Piqua, but later settled down to farming and died in Washington Township in 1875. His widow survived until 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Irvin have one son, Wilbur W., who resides on a farm but one mile distant from that of his father. He married Miss Olive Routledge. r. Irvin and family are members of the First Presbyterian Church at Piqua. FRANK GOODMAN DAVIS, merchant and manufacturer of Tippecanoe City, Ohio, was the youngest son, as well as the youngest child of Enoch and Barbara Davis, nee Goodman, and was born in Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio, May 5, 1855. He moved with his family to the then small village of Tippecanoe in the year 1862, where he entered the union or public schools, in which he continued until he had obtained a very fair common school educaton, through the use of which, together with his congeniality and his untiring application to his duties, he has gained the enviable and honorable position he now occupies. He is not only well known and popular in and about his immediate home town but throughout the entire county. Mr. Davis' first employment after leaving school was at telegraphy, working at the key until the death of his father in 1872, which compelled a thorough alteration of all his plans. From the key he went to a clerkship in the general store of Bowman & Lindsley, and from a clerkship with 738 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Bowman & Lindsley, later. J. W. Bowman he rose to be a partner, the firm being Bowman & Davis, which was for many years one of the best known concerns in Miami County in the mercantile business as well as one of the largest distributors of general merchandise in south Miami County. The present firm is Davis & Smith, which firm continues to handle a large part of the general merchandising business of this most prosperous little city and country surrounding. Mr. Davis was one of the very first promoters of the whip manufacturing industry in Tippecanoe City, and was one of the first incorporators of The Tipp Whip Company and the president of the company for nearly twenty years. He was also the promoter of The Davis Whip Company, which was incorporated eleven years ago, and his official relationship to the company is that of president and general manager. Both these concerns are prosperous and representative of the most modern ideas in whip manufacturing. Their output is marketed all over the United States. In 1882 Mr. Davis was married to Mary E. Harshbarger, daughter of Isaac D. and Hannah R. Harshbarger, nee Kable. They have three children, Margaret E., Loa L. and Robert G. Mr. Davis, as well as an active citizen, in nearly everything of good in the town, enjoys distinction in Democratic political circles also, and his strength has been recognize] by his party, it having nominated him, unsolicited and against his earnest protest. twice for important offices, his defeat in better instances being accomplished through the most untiring endeavor of his opponents and by a reduction of a big Republican majority to almost no majority at all. His party honored him by sending, him as a delegate to the National Democratic Convention that convened in Chicago in 1892 and which nominated Hon. Grover Cleveland for the presidency. He belongs to F. & A. M. Lodge No. 174, I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 247 and the Royal Arcanum Lodge, all of Tippecanoe City, Ohio. FRANK W. TENNEY, one of Concord Township's substantial citizens, resides on his farm of forty-six acres. which is situated one mile west of Troy, raises Jersey cattle and high grade horses, owning ''Mollie O.," "Mary B.," "Gertie" and "Renaud," all roadsters and registered. Mr. Tenney was born at West Milton, Miami County, Ohio, October 15, 1860, and is a son of W. I. and Jennie (Kelly) Tenney. The Tenney family is a very prominent one in Miami County and was established here by Dr. Eli Tenney, the grandfather. Bon. W. I. Tenney. whose farm of 167 acres adjoins that of his son Frank W., formerly taught school, probably for thirty years, later went into politics to some extent, was elected and served in the State Legislature, and after completing his father's unexpired term as county auditor, was twice elected to that office. v He married Jennie Kelly, who was reared at West Milton, and they had eight children born to them. Frank W. Tenney was partially educated by his father and attended school at West Milton, later the Troy High School, and spent one winter in college, at Ada. He was about fourteen years old when the family moved to Troy and lived there for nine years and accompanied the family when it took up its residence in Concord AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 739 Township, living at home until his marriage. For a number of years he rented different farms and for fifteen years operated a dairy, running a wagon to Troy, and during that time kept from fifty to sixty head of Jersey cattle. The first farm that Mr. Tenney purchased was 126 acres of the old Peckham place. on the Covington turnpike, one mile west of his present farm, and after living on that for six years, he sold it to John Hartstein & Sons. He then bought sixteen acres of his present farm from his father, completing the purchase in December, 1906, in the meanwhile having bought and sold another farm of eighty acres. In addition to his general farm interests, his cattle and horse-raising and the growing of tobacco, Mr. Tenney finds time to act as special agent for the Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Detroit. On October 26, 1882. Mr. Tenney was married to Miss Callie M. Tullis, a daughter of 0. M. and Sarah (Tullis) Tullis, and they have three children: Roy T., Leila E. and Arthur. Educational and social advantages have been afforded his children by Mr. Tenney and they have been appreciated. Roy T. Tenney is a graduate of the Troy High School and of Delaware College and at present is a teacher of languages in the High School of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a leader of the church choir and also a teacher of vocal music. Leila E. Tenney, who has made teaching music her profession, is a graduate of the Troy High School and was a student of the Conservatory of Music, at Indianapolis. Mr. Tenney and family are members of the Christian Church. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally a Mason. JOHN C. DRAKE, whose well cultivated farm of eighty-five acres lies in section 30, Washington Township, a little over two miles southwest of Piqua, was born on the old Drake homestead, which is situated almost directly across the road from his own land, February 17, 1838, and is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Curry) Drake. Both parents of Mr. Drake were born, reared and married in New Jersey. About 1833 Daniel Drake and his brother Jonathan, with their wives, who were sisters, left New Jersey and made the trip to Miami County, Ohio, in farm wagons, and the brothers bought adjoining farms in Washington Township. They had been preceded by an older brother, Jacob Drake, who had purchased land in the southwestern part of this township, which he later sold and invested east of Casstown, where he subsequently died. The parents of John C. Drake died on their farm in Washington Township. John C. Drake grew ro manhood on the home farm and has always devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, formerly carrying on general farming but latterly has given more attention to truck gardening, and as a specialty grows strawberries in great abundance. His present farm is one formerly owned by his father, but he has made the improvements here, building two substantial houses. One of these is a fine brick residence and the other a commodious frame one and he resides in the latter. Mr. Drake was married (first), to Miss Annie Ledman, who died without issue. His second marriage was to Miss Phebe E. Stewart, who left four children : Hannah, who married David Elliott, died December 740 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY 28, 1901, survived by four children—Mary, Susie, Charles and Perry; William, who resides in Michigan, married Jennie Marsh and they have two children—Elfleda and Corwin ; Daniel, who resides at Ellwood, Indiana, married Lena Behymer and they have one son, Oraville ; and Ora Pearl, who married Frank Garbry, has two children—Ralph and Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Garbry live on a farm one mile east of Piqua. Mr. Drake was married (third) to Miss Ada Young, a daughter of David D. Young, and they have one son, John C., born January 20, 1908. Mr. Drake is a member of the official board of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church at Piqua. He is one of the township's representative citizens. In his political views he is a Prohibitionist. MRS. ABIGAIL W. BOUSMAN, widow of .John Bousman, is one of Elizabeth Township's much esteemed, well known and really remarkable women, for in these days there are few indeed, who, at the age of eighty-five years could so capably and thriftily manage a large farm of 113 acres as does Mrs. Bousman. She was born in Piles Grove Township, Salem County, New Jersey, and on February 28, 1909, she celebrated her eighty-fifth birthday. She is a daughter of Peter and Rebecca Hampton. Mrs. Bousman has been a continuous resident of Elizabeth Township, Miami County, ever since her marriage, with the exception of a short time spent in making a visit to New Jersey, and for the past sixty years has resided on her present farm, where she either erected or remodeled all the buildings. Her husband, John Bousman, was a son of William Bousman, and a grandson of Lawrence Bousman, who came to Elizabeth Township from Vir ginia and entered Section 26 on November 18, 1813, receiving a sheepskin deed from the Government bearing the date of February 6, 1817. The family has always taken pride in the fact that there has never been a claim or mortgage on this farm. Lawrence Bousman married Sarah Gearheart and they had seven children—Mary, Elizabeth, Phebe, Catherine, William. Leonard, and Samuel. William Bousman lived on a part of the father's farm in Elizabeth Township all his life. He married Nancy Shell. a daughter of John Shell and they had five children—John, Margaret, James, Sarah, and William. John Bousman remained at home with his father and helped him take care of the farm. which he inherited on the father's death, and this is the property now owned by Mrs. Bousman and on which she resides. He was a quiet, home-loving man, and was much respected by his neighbors. He died April 13, 1881, aged sixty years, eight months and thirteen days. To Mr. and Mrs. Bousman were born ten children, five of whom died in infancy. Those who survived childhood were the following: Sabin, who married Jennie Rollins. daughter of Joseph Rollins ; Mary, who married William M. Wise, son of Joseph, and Allen Wise, and has two children, Elizabeth and Clara, of whom the former, Elizabeth, married George Lorton, son of William and Elizabeth Lorton; Ellen, who is now deceased ; Elizabeth Rebecca, single, who resides with her aged mother ; William, who is single and resides with his mother ; and John Perry, who is now deceased. Mrs. Bousman has three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and is proud of them all, as she has reason AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 741 to be, and in turn they are devoted to her. Mrs. Bousman engaged in general farming, making a specialty of raising grain, and the success which follows her oversight demonstrates the strength both of her body and of her mind. She enjoys good health and keeps up her interest in her family, her work, and her neighborhood as easily as she did years ago. She is a member of the Christian Church. VALENTINE DECKER, pork packer, with extensive facilities for carrying on a business in the necessities of life, dealing in commodities which neither individuals nor nations can do without, has largely been the builder of his own fortunes and has been a resident of Piqua since 1873. He was born in Germany in 1847 and came to America when aged twenty-one years. Mr. Decker went into the butcher business first at Troy, six months later coming to Piqua and working as a butcher in this city from 1869 until 1871, when he went to Union City, Indiana. He continued to work as a butcher there until 1873, when he returned to Piqua and conducted a retail meat market for twenty-five years, in 1878 erecting a slaughter house, and butchering on a small scale. In 1891 he began the building of his present commodious quarters and they have been added to until he occupies a leading place in the packing industry and has an establishment which compares favorably with any other in this section of the State. For the last ten years he has also conducted a wholesale business in fresh, smoked and salted meats. He slaughters from 150 to 200 hogs a week, thirty-five head of cattle and from twenty to thirty calves, giving employment to twenty workmen and keeping two salesmen on the road. This business is a monument to Mr. Decker's unflagging industry, his prudence, ability and foresight. In 1873 Mr. Decker was married to Miss Hannah Schafer and they have had the following children : Louis F., George H., Carl J., Walter J., Callie M., Hannah E., and William J. George, Walter, Louis F. and William J. are associated with their father. Louis F. married Minnie Wiltheiss and they live in Piqua. G. H., married Clara Kleiber. Carl J. married Mary Price, and they live in Dayton. Walter J. married Clara M. Prather. Mr. Decker and family are members of St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church, and he has membership with the Knights of Columbus. GEORGE W. PENCE, who with his son, Harry Pence, owns a fine farm of eighty-eight acres in Brown Township, Miami County, on which he resides, owns also the old homestead farm of 109 acres, in Lost Creek Township, on which he was born in September, 1852. His parents were John N. and Susannah (Shidler) Pence. Paul Pence, the grandfather of George W., was a very early settler in Lost Creek Township, coming to this section immediately following his marriage and passing the whole of his subsequent life here, dying at the age of seventy-five years. He was also a native of Miami County. John N. Pence was born on the home farm in Lost Creek Township, a son of Paul and Mary (Newport) Pence. After his marriage he purchased the farm of 109 acres now owned by his son, George W., and died there in 1864, a victim of typhoid fever, when but thirty-three years of age. He married Susannah Shidler and 742 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY they had three children: George W., the only survivor William, who was accidentally killed by a falling tree and Elmira Jane, who died when aged three years. George W. Pence obtained his education in the schools of Lost Creek Township, after which he went to live with his uncle, on his grandfather's farm, and remained there until his marriage, when he took up his residence on the home place in Lost Creek Township and lived there until a fire destroyed the house on January 1, 1896. For the next seven years, Mr. Pence and family lived on the Morton farm. In the spring of 1904 he came to his present place in Brown Township and after settling here commenced quite a large amount of improving. The brick residence then standing had been built in 1838 and was still in a good state of preservation, but Mr. Pence had it thoroughly renovated and built a frame addition which has added to its comfort quite considerably. He devotes all his land to general farming and is numbered with the township's prosperous agriculturists. Mr. Pence married Miss Josephine Shanks, who was born and reared on the present home farm. Her father was Daniel Shanks and her grandfather was Peter Shanks, the latter of whom entered this land from the Government. For years he was a prominent pioneer of this part of Miami County and he lived until 1887, dying when aged ninety-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Pence have three children, namely : Harry, who resides at home Myrtle, who is the wife of Walter Reed, a farmer of Miami County, has three children ; and Ivy, who married William Mitchell, of Champaign County, has one son, Harry. Mr. Pence and family belong to the Chris tian Church. In politics he is a Democrat. The only office he has ever accepted has been that of school director, in which he has served for twenty-one years. He is identified with the fraternal order of Odd Fellows. L. H. McCONNELL, president of the Board of Public Safety of Troy, Ohio, is superintendent of the McKinnon Dash Company and one of the substantial business men of the city. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1859, and has been a resident of Troy since 1895. Mr. McConnell was reared and educated in his native city, but after leaving school moved from St. Louis to Menominee, Wisconsin, where he engaged in general merchandizing for a period of three years. He then returned to St. Louis and for a time dealt in heavy hardware and wagon and carriage materials. He next engaged in the manufacture of carriages for eight years, at the end of which time he moved to Columbus, Ohio, and formed .a connection with the McKinnon Dash Company. He remained there three years and in 1895 came to Troy and superintended the construction of the plant of the McKinnon Dash Company at this place. He has been in charge of this concern ever since and has won high rank among the business men of the city. He served several terms as a member of the City Council and is at present president of the Board of Public Safety. In 1893 Mr. McConnell was married at Columbus, Ohio, to Miss Josephine V. Doherty, of St. Louis. He is a prominent member of the Masonic Order, and belongs to the Knights Templar. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. McConnell are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she is a member. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 745 JOHN A. WEHNEMAN, one of the trustees of Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio, is a prosperous farmer and owns and resides upon a farm of 140 acres lying in Section 35, about seven miles northwest of Covington. He was born on a farm in Shelby County, Ohio, October 22, 1859, and is a son of John Henry and Annie Elizabeth (Fichen) Wehneman, both natives of Germany. John Andrew Wehneman, grandfather of the subject of this record, was born in Germany and lived in that country until 1835, when he came to the United States. He in that year settled in Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio, on the farm now owned by his grandson, John A. Wehneman, and lived there until his death. After his marriage, John Henry Wehneman moved to Shelby County, to his farm near where his wife's people had located upon their arrival from Germany. There John A. Wehneman was born and reared, and received his educational training in the common schools. He early turned his attention to farming, and for a period of eleven years before his marriage also operated a threshing outfit. He and his wife lived in Shelby County until 1891, when they moved to a farm in Darke County, Ohio. In 1896, they took up their residence in Newberry Township, Miami County, where for three years he rented a farm, but December 5, 1899, he moved to his present farm, which he had purchased earlier in that year. He is engaged in general farming and in partnership with his sons owns a threshing machine which they operate. He also raises and fattens from 100 to 125 hogs each year, making that a specialty. He is a Democrat in politics, and since January 1, 1907, has served with marked ability as township trustee. Before the law was changed he was for seven years a member of the School Board, and at the present time is local director for his school district. He is a man who takes a deep interest in matters relating to the welfare of the community, and stands high among the enterprising and public spirited citizens. Mr. Wehneman was united in marriage with Elizabeth Stein, a daughter of Christopher Stein of Shelby County, and they have had the following children : Walter Frederick, who married Lorena Brill, and they have one daughter, Helen and John William, Ida, Leonard, Lottie Ann, Minnie, Forrest, and Oscar Andrew. Religiously, they are members of the Lutheran Church, of which he served as deacon and also as trustee. OWEN MURRAY, who resides on his valuable farm of forty-three acres, which is situated in Newberry Township, on the Troy Turnpike Road, about one mile southeast of Covington, Ohio, was born November 17, 1858, on an adjoining farm, which is still occupied by his mother. His parents were Samuel and Mary (Shellebarger) Murray. Samuel Murray was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, a son of David and Elizabeth (Kimmel) Murray. When he was seven years old his parents moved to Miami County and settled in Newberry Township. When he reached manhood he married Mary Shellebarger, a daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Mohler) Shellebarger. She was born in Pennsylvania and was five years old when her parents came to Miami County. Her father, Jacob Shellebarger, entered land in Newberry Town- 746 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY ship, which he cleared and developed into a good farm. For some time after their marriage Samuel Murray and wife lived on a farm situated on the Piqua Turnpike Road, after which they moved to the farm on which Owen Murray was born. On that farm Samuel Murray spent the remainder of his useful and exemplary life, his death occurring on November 10, 1895, when he was sixty-seven years of age. He was a member of the old order of the Dunkard or German Baptist Church, a people noted for their simplicity of life and their high moral standards. In this same simple faith he reared his family. Eight children were born to Samuel Murray and wife, the five survivors being Owen, Catherine, Emma and Ella (all married and living in California), and Charles, who resides on the homestead with the venerable mother. Owen Murray has devoted himself to farming and his land in its fine state of cultivation shows that he has given it a great deal of attention. His crops are the usual ones of this section—wheat, oath, corn, hay and tobacco—all doing well. He married Sarah E. Shaw, a daughter of Samuel M. and Catherine Shaw. She was reared in Shelby County. After they were married they went to housekeeping on the present farm, and the substantial buildings were put up by Mr. Murray. They have no children. They are members of the old order Dunkard Church. GEORGE W. SUBER, who comes of an old and well known family of Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, operates eighty acres of the old Suber estate, forty acres now owned by his mother, and twenty acres owned by himself. He was born September 13, 1870, in the house which stands on the old place, and is a son of William D. and Mary A. Suber, the former of whom was for many years before his death recognized as one of the foremost citizens of the community. George W. Suber attended the district schools of the township, also at Lena and in the Conover Special District. He left school at the time of his father's death in order to do farm work, fully expecting to resume his schooling the following fall, but was unable to do so. He has ever since had charge of the home farm and of the tract of twenty acres which he purchased. In July, 1905, he erected the substantial home .on the latter which he now occupies. Mr. Suber was united in marriage with Miss Kitty C. Huddleston, a daughter of Thomas and Clara Huddleston, of Champaign County, Ohio. The Huddleston family is an old one of that county and is well known. One daughter, Clara Marie, has been born to them, the date of her birth being August 16, 1905. Religiously they are members of the Presbyterian Church of Fletcher. Mr. Suber is a Democrat in politics and is a member of the School Board, of which he was clerk for six years. HON. WALTER D. JONES, common pleas judge for the Second Judicial District of Ohio, and one of the best known and most highly esteemed residents of Piqua, was born in this city, June 21, 1857, son of Hon. M. H. and Jane (Wood) Jones. His father, who resides in Piqua, and who is one of the best lawyers in Miami County, was born in the District of Columbia in 1825, and became a resident of Piqua, Ohio, at a comparatively early date. For a number of years he was associated with AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 747 his son, the subject of this sketch, in a law partnership in this city, the firm commanding the leading practice here, and he might almost be called the Nestor of the bar, having been engaged in legal practice here for a period of sixty years. Walter D. Jones was reared and educated in Piqua, being graduated from the high school here in 1872. He then began industrial life, learning the printer's trade. at which he worked in the office of the Miami Helmet and in other newspaper offices for several years. In the meanwhile, under his father's direction, he was acquiring a stock of legal learning, and having successfully mastered the principles of his profession, was admitted to the bar at Columbus, Ohio, before the Supreme Court of the State. in 1878. His first practice was in partnership with his father, with whom he continued for a number of years, or until his appointment by Gov. Bushnell as common pleas judge, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Judge Theodore Sullivan to the Circuit Court bench. In the November election of 1899 he was elected by the people to fill the unexpired term of Judge Sullivan ; he was re-elected for a full term in 1902, and again re-elected in 1907. In this position, which he holds at present, he has shown all the capabilities of an upright and learned jurist, taking a comprehensive view of every ease, and impartial in his decisions, which are based upon a sound knowledge of the principles of law and a careful consideration of the evidence in every case which comes before him. His uniform courtesy, as well to the younger as to the older members of the profession, has made him popular with all, and be is much esteemed by his legal confreres, as he is respected by the citizens generally throughout the district, who see in him a faithful and capable public servant. Before his elevation to the bench he served for twelve years as city solicitor of Piqua, being elected for six terms, a record which shows the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens. In his political principles Judge Jones is a stanch Republican, but has not been an active member in the ranks of his party, preferring to devote his best energies to the creditable performance of the duties pertaining to his judicial office. Of decided literary tastes, he is an able writer, but hitherto has not sought to gain a reputation with his pen. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, has served as worshipful master of Warren Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M., and as high priest of Piqua Chapter, No. 31. In 1879 Hon. Walter D. Jones was united in marriage with Miss Laura Harlow, then and now a resident of Piqua, but who was born in Tennessee, and who in her eighteenth year accompanied her parents, Rev. William D. and Kate (Tuttle) Harlow, to Miami County, Ohio. Their union has been blessed by the birth of one child, a daughter—Laura C. It is a matter of pride to Judge Jones that he has not had to go to some distant State to achieve success, but has carved out for himself an honorable career in the city of his birth and among those who know him best—the friends of his early years, and those of his own name and blood. L. C. NEWBY, a prosperous merchant of West Milton, Miami County, Ohio, is proprietor of a grocery in partnership with Mr. P. A. Yount. He is a man of 748 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY varied experience in the business world, and has at times been located in various parts of the United States. He was born in Indiana, in 1860, and is a son of A. Newby, who engaged in farming in that State and later in Kansas. L. C. Newby attended the common schools in Indiana, and later in Kansas, whither his parents moved in 1872, when he was twelve years old.. In 1880 he went west to Colorado, where he engaged in mining for twenty years, then followed the same business in California. He then returned east to Ohio, and January 1, 1906. entered partnership with P. A. Yount in the groceries and hardware business, having a double store, groceries in one room and hardware in the other. In January, 1909, they sold the hardware department to Mr. E. T. Wenger, its present proprietor, and the firm of Yount & Newby has since continued in the grocery business. They carry a complete line of groceries and the usual side lines, and the patronage accorded them by the people has been indeed flattering. Mr. Newby was first married to Miss Minnie Kennedy, by whom he had two sons, Lawrence E. and Raymond W. He formed a second union with Miss Belle Yount. Religiously he and his wife are members of the Christian Church, but he is of Quaker ancestry. He is a Republican in politics, whilst fraternally he has been affiliated with the Knights of Pythias for twelve years. WILLIAM F. DEETER, superintendent of schools for Newton Township, is a well-to-do farmer and has a fine farm of eighty acres located in Section 2 of that township. He was born in Pleasant Hill, January 30, 1863, and is a son of Samuel R. and Susan (Freshour) Deeter, and a grandson of Jacob Deeter. Jacob Deeter was born in Pennsylvania, and at an early age settled at Pleasant Hill, in Miami County, Ohio, where he farmed until his death in 1865. He and his wife were buried at Sugar Grove Cemetery. Her maiden name was Reed. Religiously they were members of the German Baptist Church. Samuel R. Deeter, father of the subject of this record, was born in Pleasant Hill, Miami County, Ohio, December 28, 1829, and is now a venerated and respected citizen of Covington. He is living in retirement after a long and useful business career. He was a carpenter and cabinet maker by trade, and in addition followed house moving and undertaking for many years. Religiously he is a member of the Brethren Church, as is his wife. He was married to Susan Freshour, a daughter of George Freshour, and they became parents of the following: Elizabeth, wife of George Mohler, of Circle Hill ; Ella, wife of J. W. Pearson, of Covington; Malinda, deceased wife of Samuel McBride ; William F.; Jacob E., who married Mary Patty, a daughter of Finley and Lucinda Patty; Callie, wife of W. H. Cassell, of Dayton; Charles S., who married Alice Thayer and resides in Indianapolis, Indiana ; Lillian, wife of M. B. Ullery, of Covington one who died in infancy ; and Emma, who died young. William F. Deeter attended the schools of Newton Township, and then taught for seven years. In 1889 he rented a farm of his father and followed farming for five years. He then took up teaching for eight years, six years of which were spent in AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 749 the Covington schools. In 1903 he went to farming for himself, locating on his present farm of eighty acres, where he has continued with unvarying success. The buildings were all standing at the time of its purchase by him, but he has made many other important improvements. He was elected superintendent of the township schools in September, 1903, and in that capacity has done much to bring the schools to a higher plane of efficiency. He also served for a time as a member of the Board of Education. September 18, 1887, Mr. Deeter was united in marriage with Miss Emma Fox, a daughter of John and Hannah (Mohler) Fox, and the following was the offspring of their union: One who died in infancy ; Calla, who is a teacher in the schools ; Pearl, who is in attendance at Covington High School ; and Clarence, who attends the public schools. Religiously they are members of the Brethren Church at Pleasant Hill. Politically Mr. Deeter is a Re- publican, as have been his father and grandfather before him. MYRON IDDINGS comes of an old and prominent family of Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, where he is the owner of a fine farm of 183 acres; located in Sections 33 and 34. He was born on the home place in Newton Township, June 20, 1865, and is a son of Benjamin and Sarah (McDowell) Iddings, and a grandson of Joseph Iddings. Joseph Iddings, the grandfather, was born in Tennessee, and in 1802 moved north to Miami County, Ohio, where he was among the early settlers. He settled in Section 34 in Newton Township, where Myron now lives, and there passed the re- mainder of his days. He married a Miss Davis and they had the following children: William, John, Davis and Benjamin. Benjamin Iddings was born in Newton Township, July 31, 1815, and always followed farming. He owned the 183-acre farm in Sections 33 and 34 now owned by his son, and made many of the improvements on the place. He was first married to Barbara Hill, a daughter of Nathan Hill, and the following were their offspring: Delany, A. J., Elizabeth. Mary, William, Henry, Jasper, Belle and James. Mrs. Iddings died and was buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. He formed a second union with Sarah McDowell, a daughter of Samuel McDowell, and she survives him and resides at Covington. Two children blessed this union, Seymour and Myron. Mr. Iddings lived on the home farm until his death, November, 1901, and was buried at Pleasant. Hill. He was a member of the Shiloh Christian Church, and in politics was a Democrat. Myron Iddings attended school in Union Township, after which he aided his father on the farm. At the time of his marriage, in 1890, he moved upon a twenty-three-acre tract, where he lived for about ten years, during that time farming the home place for his father. Upon the latter's death he purchased the interests of the other heirs in the farm and moved into the old home. In 1902 he erected a fine new frame house, in which he now lives. He has made extensive improvements on the place, including the erection of a substantial tobacco shed and the laying of 1,200 rods of tile for drainage. His father had previously laid some 1,000 feet of tile. He raises the various small grains, hay, potatoes and tobacco, having an average of