USA > Ohio > Preble County > Clevenger's directory of farmers and breeders : Preble County, Ohio, 1919-1920 > Part 1
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Go 977.101 P91cl 1919/20 1470912
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
L
3 1833 02333 318 7
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/clevengersdirect00unse
Non- Burstible Lober Radiator
We Are Distributors
A Radiator That Will Not BURST from FREEZING
When the water freezes, the tubes expand and then are re- turned to normal position by wide brass springs placed be- tween each water tube section. This type of radiator insures to every car owner absolute free- dom from radiator trouble, freezing in winter and overheat- ing in hot weather. This non- burstible core installed in any make of radiator at about one- half the cost of a new radiator.
Auto Radiator Repairing
USL U. S LIGHT & HEAT CORPORATION
The Best Equipped Shop in Indiana
Rebuilt Ford radiators for any model Ford. We will trade a new or rebuilt radiator for your old radiator. Our recirculating method of radiator repairing does more than stop the leaks-It restores the circulation to your radiator.
We are also equipped to do all kinds of fender and tank repairing.
Storage Battery Service Station
The U. S. L. sign means competent advice and careful battery service.
Honest repairs at honest prices on an 8-month guaranteed adjustment basis, whatever the make of your battery
We sell the U. S. L. "Dry Charged" Battery, each one as fresh-as new-as powerful as if you obtained it at the U. S. L. factory door.
This is the home of the U. S. L. Bat- tery with machine-pasted plates, sold on a 15 months' guaranteed adjustment plan.
Bring Your Battery or Radiator Repairing to Us
SERVICE STATION
RICHMOND BATTERY and RADIATOR CO.
Twelfth and Main St. Richmond, Indiana
F. R. Christman
North Barron Street,
Eaton, Ohio.
Phones 304 and 93
Authorized Ford Sales and Service Genuine Ford Parts
Fordson Tractors
Most complete and up-to-date repair shop in Preble County. Automobiles, Batteries, Radiators, Electric Starters and Genera- tors of all kind repaired.
SOME OF OUR LEADERS
Kelly-Springfield Tires and Tubes. Veedol Oil.
Hassler Shock Absorbers.
Detroit Weather Proof Tops.
Splitdorf, Rex and Champion Spark Plugs. Norwalk Tubes. K. W. and Perry Locks. Burgess Shock Absorbers. Koupet and Ustus Tops.
Everything for Automobiles.
Use "Mo-Pep" in your Gasoline. It cleans carbon and gives 25 per cent. more efficiency.
The Hoosier Store
Sixth and Main, RICHMOND
A Complete Department Store
HOOSIER STORT
YOU ALWAYS SAVE
If You Buy At
THE HOOSIER
1
CLEVENGERS' DIRECTORY
Kepler Auto Company
FOR Dependable Cars
-EASY PAYMENT PLAN-
Pay while you ride; ride while you pay Used Cars and Supplies
Kepler Auto Company
Phone 195. Main and Maple Sts. Also Lewisburg, Ohio.
Eaton, Ohio.
You Believe in America
It's your home-the place where your children are grow- ing up. You are giving them every advantage possible. It's your privilege to do this and you rejoice in it. You cannot do this without a modern home. Let us look over your Plumbing and Heating problems and give you an estimate. Country work a specialty.
Yours for better sanitary conditions,
Eaton Plumbing Co.
216 East Main Street. Eaton, Ohio.
2
Clevenger's
Directory "
OF
Farmers and Breeders
Preble County
Ohio
1919-1920
Complete directory of the Farmers of Preble county, showing lo- cation, size and ownership of Farms.
Breeders' Directory with classified list of breeders of pure bred live stock and poultry.
A list of the automobile and tractor owners in the county.
Published and Copyright 1919 By CLEVENGER DIRECTORY CO. H. O. CLEVENGER, MGR. Indianapolis, Ind.
Sold and Distributed By THE RICHMOND ITEM Richmond, Indiana
3
CLEVENGERS' DIRECTORY
For Good Furniture -Built Right -Priced Right
COME TO REED'S
Reed's is the store where you are always welcome whether you intend to buy or are merely looking in order to acquaint yourself with our stock.
We are certain that a visit and comparison of our furniture and prices will cause you to immediately recognize Reed's as the "House of Quality and Value."
Whether you need a single piece of furniture or a complete home outfit ; a suite of modest size or a pretentious suite of the finest mahogany, walnut or other wood in the newest period designs, you'll find it both pleasant and profitable to trade at
Eden Washers
Eureka Sweepers
Reed's®
Where Patrons aic Pleased
Sellers Kitchen Cabinets
Richmond Ind.
Globe Stoves and Ranges
4
FARMERS AND BREEDERS PREBLE COUNTY
1470912 To the Farmer:
In preparing and presenting this directory to the farmers and breeders of Preble County, The Clevenger Directory Co. is paying a tribute to the increased importance which the business of farming has taken in this community in very recent years.
With better roads, automobiles, interurban lines and telephones, farming no longer means an isolated life such as it implied when it required the best part of a day to go to town and get back home. After feeding stock and eating their evening meal, the farm family liv- ing in one part of the county can now get into their automobile and spend a social evening with friends in a distant part of the county and return home in time to be early to bed. In a business way as well as in a social way, life on the farm is today little different from life in town, except that the farmer surely gets better air and fresher food than his brother in town.
The ease of communication with other farmers has made it a ne- cessity that the farmer should have information regarding others in the same business as himself throughout the county. The Farmers and Breeders' Directory supplies this need. There are scores of ways in which this directory can be put to daily use by the progressive farmer.
It is only through the co-operation of the stockmen, merchants, manufacturers and others advertising in this directory that the pub- lishing of such a book at a price within the reach of the average home is made possible. The Clevenger Directory Co. recommends these ad- vertisers for your patronage.
The Clevenger Directory Co. believes that this directory will be of service to the farmers of Preble County and that it will contribute no small part toward making the farmers of the county better acquainted with each other and that through this book, farm life will be made not only more profitable but more enjoyable.
5
CLEVENGERS' DIRECTORY
Kollenberg's Store
We think we know the Dry Goods business. We think the public believes we do. Certainly fifty-four years of faithful effort should qualify us as competent Dry Goods merchants, and each succeeding year we have endeavored to do things a little better-to study more closely the taste and desires of our patrons-to supply wanted, styl- ish, worthy merchandise-to be first, always, whenever dry goods were concerned, and a large proportion of the buying public has learned to implicitly rely upon this store for authentic style in wearing apparel.
We want it known that this store caters to all the peo- ple and that whether you buy the most expensive class of dry goods, or must exercise economy you are always ac- corded the same consideration here. We have by far the largest and most attractive Dry Goods store in Richmond and we believe we can give you better value at whatever price than you can get elsewhere. This is largely because of our knowledge of the Dry Goods business, coupled with our large buying facilities. We want you to know this store-how complete it is and how well it is prepared to serve you.
Any dry goods need that you could possibly have can be promptly supplied here. When you think of Dry Goods you should think of
" Wollenberg's Store'
Richmond, Indiana
6
History of Preble County
On March 1, 1808, Preble County was formed by an Act of the Legislature. The county was named after Commodore Preble and the county seat was named after General William Eaton, the two great naval and land heroes of the United States war and the pirates of Algiers and Tripoli. William Bruce was the man who proposed naming the county, Preble and the county seat, Eaton. He also named the principal streets Barron, Somers, Wadsworth and Decatur after other heroes of that war.
The first election for county officers was held on the first Monday of April, 1808. George Shideler, Wm. Irvin and Samuel Hawkins presented their certificates of election as county commissioners to William Brown, who was then Court Clerk pro tempore and they were sworn into office. Their first acts were to appoint Alexandria Lanier, Clerk, and to appoint Wm. Bruce, Treasurer. The commissioners ordered a bounty of $1.00 paid for the scalp of every panther or "wild wolf" killed in the county and quite a number were killed and the bounty paid.
Then in 1812 the question of building a Court House came up which was a more serious affair. The building was to be of brick, two stories high and forty feet square, located 25 feet East of Barron street and 20 feet South of Main street, and to be parallel to said streets. An agreement was made with Andrew House to build the Court House in accordance with the plans as finally adopted for the sum of $1,000, to be completed on or before December 1, 1816, but was not com- pleted until three or four years later. John Spacht, Andrew McQuiston and James Crawford were the commissioners who built the first Court House.
The next important thing was to divide Preble county into four townships. First they ordered that the South ten mile of the third range of townships should be named Hardin township and the election to be held at the house of William Swisher; second that the North fourteen miles of the third range should be named Twin township and the election held at the house of William Nisbet; third that all of the second range of townships should be named Somers township and the election held at the house of Samuel Hawkins; fourth that the first range of townships should be named Israel township and the election held at the house of Benjamin Kercheval. On March 7, 1809, they decreed that the North sixteen miles of the second range of townships should be called Washington township and that the election should be held at the house of Samuel Hawkins. This left Somers township ten miles long. On the same day they decreed that Jefferson township should be the North sixteen miles of the first range, leaving Israel township ten miles long. Then came a little dispute and a contest that caused some bitterness for a time. Hardin township was the South ten miles of the third range. It had incurred a debt of $250 for some road work. The people of what is now Lanier township desired to have it created as a separate township, and to pay only its proportionate share of the debt, as it was a township debt, and the people of what is now Gratis township desired to have it erected into a separate township, and free of any part of the debt, because they argued that the north part, having received all the benefit of the money spent, ought to pay the debt. For over a year the question was bandied about, neither party succeeding, but finally, on March 4, 1811, the county commissioners decreed that the fifth con- gressional township of the third range should be a separate township, to be called Lanier, (after the clerk of the board), and that it should pay its proper pro rata share of the debt
This aroused the Quakers, and a body of them, headed by Samuel Stubbs, came to Eaton on March 7, 1811, to argue their cause. They were turned down by the commissioners, but, after awhile, Mr. Stubbs insisted on making another try. At last they consented and Mr. Stubbs made an argument for their side, pointing out very strongly that it worked no injustice if the people who received all the benefits were required to pay the debt, and that they had a strong and growing community
7
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of respectable people, who never shunned their duty. He was so earnest about it that he got a respectful hearing, finally winding up with the words, "Now, friends, we think thee ought to give us a township free gratis." When he closed Alex Lanier, the clerk of the board, exclaimed, "O, let him have his township and call it Gratis", and the commissioners then made the order "that all that part of the third range being within the bounds of the fourth original township be declared a new township by the name of Gratis".
This left Twin township twelve miles long, and entirely wiped out Hardin as a township.
On March 4, 1812, it was ordered that Dixon township, originally Dixon, should be the South half of Jefferson and that the election should be held at the house of Benjamin Kerchevel. It was named after Eli Dixson, President of the Board, and who lived in that township. On June 1, 1812, all that part of Israel township in township 7, range 1 East, was added to Dixon township, thus making Dixon ten miles long, Jefferson eight miles long, and leaving Israel township as now formed. Dixon township is township 7 of range 1 east. The western half and southern third of the township is very flat and level and was originally swamy and wet. The first settler was Eli Dixson as was stated above. Then in 1804- 1808 came the Kerchevels, Harrises, Larshes and Truazes. Kerchevel erected the first mill ever built in the township and it existed as a mill longer than any other here, being later known and now remembered as the Niccum mill or Stony Point, on Four Mile. The township settled up after 1810 very rapidly for the census report of 1830 gave the township one thousand three hundred and sixty-six inhabitants.
On June 5, 1815, it was ordered that Somers township be township 6, range 2, of the original survey and that all north thereof be added to and become part of Washington township, making it eighteen miles long. One of the first settlers was David Hendriz, who, in 1803, settled on the land where Camden is now located. Thomas Newton, William Irwin and Abram Irwin, Matthew McClung and Elisha Carter all came in 1803. The Christian church organized a society in the settlement of Somers township and about 1840 the organization was weakened and it passed into the hands of the Universalists. In 1816 a grist-mill was built by Major Robinson. In 1831 this mill passed into the hands of James Barnett and sons, who rebuilt it and put in three sets of burr-stones. In 1816 John Stubbs also rebuilt a mill about a half mile South of Camden on the East side of Seven- Mile creek.
Twin township was first organized by the decree of the three associate judges, on the 15th of March, 1808, out of the original township of Hardin, comprising all of the third range of townships. They decreed that Twin should be the North fourteen miles of the third range, which extended from the Darke county line to the confluence of Banta's fork and Twin creek, and it remained thus until the commissioners in 1815, changed it by their order that Twin township should be the sixth original surveyed township of the third range. It takes its name from the principal stream (named by the Indians long before the coming of the white man) which flows through this township from north to south, the Indian's Nile. Among the earliest settlers were some of the most prominent farmers of that day, the Van Winkel, Keislings, Millers, Robbertsons, Dickeys, Nisbets, Ozias, Bantas, Rapes, Whitesells and others, and it has maintained its position as an agricultural township from that day to the present. The mill so long and favorably known as the Stotler mill, is about the only one of its kind that is in operation today in this township. The government owned the land in the early days of its settlement and sold it at two dollars per acre, in parcels of not less than a section. This necessitated the clubbing together of those prospective settlers who were unable to purchase so much land, and the subsequent division of it amongst themselves, by lot or otherwise, to suit its members.
On June 5, 1815, an order was made that Twin township be divided and that the North part, or the seventh-surveyed township be called Harrison. The first settler in the township was George Leas, who arrived about 1815 and settled near Twin creek in section 21. In 1816 the Tillmans located on Swamp creek. In 1804 John Singer, John Locke, John Aikman, and Patrick McGriff came. In 1812 the Indians began being troublesome and a block house was built on the northwest quarter of section 11, and a greater or less force was stationed there for about two years, among which were companies from the central and southern parts of the county, as well as nearly every able-bodied man in the township. At different times an Indian sneaking through the woods, tried to shoot William Myers, and John Aikman, but in each instance the flint failed to ignite the powder and the snap
8
caused the white man to seek cover before a second effort could be made. In 1812 Rebecca Shart, a girl, was captured by the Indians and taken into Darke county where she was kept about a year and then brought back and released.
On June, 1815 it was ordered that Somers township be township 6, range 2, of the original survey, and that all north thereof be added to and become part of Washington township, making it eighteen miles long. In 1817 it was ordered that township 9, range 2 east be a new township and called Monroe. This left Wash- ington twelve miles long. A few years later the people of the south part of Washington township started an agitation for the creation of a new township out of the south half. They met with much opposition, because it would place Eaton into two townships, but finally on December 7, 1824 a delegation came to the county seat to argue for a township. It was headed by Gasper Potterf, a German, who had been a soldier in the Revolution, and lived on the banks of Seven-Mile creek of this township. He got a hearing and he argued that Eaton was likely to grow to be a big city and that it would contain many people who would be great sinners and law breakers. The plea caught the fancy of the county commissioners and they ordered that the south four miles of Washington township should be a new township, named Gasper, after the old German. He now lies in Mound Hill cemetery. This left Washington township eight miles long. William Bruce is believed to have been the first settler to build a house in Washington township, 1805. In the same year John Goldsmith came to the northwest quarter. In 1806 there seems to have been a number of settlers crowding into the town- ship, among them John Merony, George Dooley, Andrew Dooley, Joseph and Nathan Sellers, John Ward and Samuel Ward, John Aukerman, John Sherer, David Bloomfield and others. The first manufacturing establishment was the mill of William Bruce built in 1806 and rebuilt in 1810. Bruce later added a woolen-mill for carding wool, which the women of the county spun into yarn and then wove it into cloth for family use. The next was a wagon-maker's shop, built by John Harbison in 1811, at the northwest corner of Main and Maple streets of the county seat, Eaton. Richard Leeson started a tannery soon after the War of 1812 which continued in operation until a few years ago. A plow factory was started during the Civil War and carriage making was carried on by two or three firms until about thirty years ago. A flax-mill was started in 1856 and continued for some years. The bedstead factory for the manufacture of brass and iron bedsteads was started by D. J. Miller.
Gasper township received its name from an old German, Gasper Potterf as was stated above. The first settler of the township was Silas Dooley, and Moses Dooley. In 1818 Gasper Potterf built a mill on Seven-Mile creek, and for some years the bolting was done by hand. He soon erected a distillery in connection with the mill and the War of 1812 made the demand for both mill products and whisky very considerable.
On September 29, 1817, it was ordered that township 9, range 2 east, be a new township and be called Monroe. Charles Armantrout, near Hamburg; William Brown, in section 29; John Jellison, in section 23; Isaiah Adams, near Hamburg; Jacob Baker, in section 16, were the first settlers in this township. The first school house was built about 1825 with Jerry Pence as teacher. The first church was the United Brethren church.
In 1809 it was decreed that the north sixteen miles of the first range of townships should be called Jefferson township. The first settlers came from Kentucky. Most prominent among them were the Flemings, Irelands, Purviances, Morrisons, and Mitchells. Among the very earliest settlers of Jefferson township and one of the most prominent and influential in shaping the affairs of the new country, was David Purviance. In 1791 he was selected as a representative to the State Legislature. One of the best remembered of the early citizens of Jefferson township was Thomas Barber, who became a martyr to his anti-slavery principles in 1858. He emigrated to Kansas about the time, just at the breaking out of the "Kansas troubles" over the question of the extension of slavery. He remained true to his principles and soon became known as one of the liated "abolitionists". He was shot by an assassin. The first school house in Jefferson township was built on the McGrew farm, two miles north of New Paris. It was a log structure of the
9
characteristic type of the rude architecture of that day. John Ireland was the first teacher. The water power afforded by Whitewater creek was liberaly utilized at an early day. And in 1814 John Ireland erected the first grist-mill in the township on the creek below the town and near the State line. The remains of the foundation of this old mill are yet to be seen. In 1851 the Dayton & Western railroad was built and New Paris found itself on this new line of transportation. This was hailed with joy by the business men of the town at the time.
The history of Jackson township begins with the coming of the white man. The Indian occupied the land before the white man came. The first settlement in Jackson township was made in the year of 1805 by Ayres Taylor, near Four-Mile creek. In the same year John McCormick settled here. Jackson township became a separate township by act of the county commissioners on December 18, 1816, being formed out of portions of Jefferson and Dixon townships. The first election was held at the house of Adam Starr. In the first years of the settlement of Jackson township the population was too sparse and the families too far apart to make it possible to establish or keep up schools. There was little or nothing in the way of school system. The first school house in the township, was built on the present site of West Florence in the year of 1814 and the first teacher was John Taylor. But at present they have a wonderful school in a beautiful building.
At first Israel township included the four congressional townships in the west range of the county. But, one year later, in 1809 the county commissioners cut off the north sixteen miles and called it Jefferson, while still later the land was still reduced to its present proportions. In the early days of the villages of Israel township, merchants, weavers, saddlers, cabinet makers, tinners, blacksmiths, all plied their trades to supply the necessities of the citizens. Farm products were carried to the Cincinnati market in wagons, drawn by from four to ten horses, bearing their fur collars and arches of bells. Live stock was driven to market. The log tavern at Fair Haven furnished entertainment for the drivers. When the war between the North and South was declared Israel township gave quite a number of men for the cause. She also gave forty to the gospel ministry.
OPTOMETRY
is the science of accurately fitting glasses to the human eye, or the exercising of the muscles of the eyes following a careful and painstaking examination of the range of vision and other func- tions pertaining to eye sight.
LOLG COCCO COOL O o c c C
This is the way I do it.
Positively the highest class of optical service in Preble County.
H. RILEY SPITLER, N. D.
Neuropathic Physician
Stotler Building,
Eaton, Ohio.
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State, County and Township Officers
STATE OFFICIALS
Governor
James M. Cox
Secretary to Governor
Charles E. Morris
Adjutant General.
. Roy E. Layton
Lieutenant Governor
.. C. J. Brown
Speaker of the House.
. Carl Kimball
Clerk of the Senate
. Wm. E. Halley
Clerk of the House
John P. Maynard
Secretary of State.
.Harvey C. Smith
Assistant Secretary of State.
Jos. W. Horner
State Purchasing Agent.
.C. A. Walker
Registrar Automobiles.
.A. G. Snow
Registrar Vital Statistics
J. E. Monger
State Auditor.
A. V. Donahey
Deputy Auditor
W. E. Baker
Chief Clerk.
V. H. Mowls
Bureau of Inspection and Supervision of Public Offices
Deputy, Counties.
E. N. Halbedel
Deputy, Cities and Villages
. Moses Blau
Treasurer of State.
R. W. Archer
Cashier .O. E. Baker .
Attorney General.
John G. Price
First Assistant.
J. I. Eagleson
Second Assistant.
Donald F. Melhorn
Superintendent of Banks.
Philip C. Berg
Assistant Superintendent. Elmer J. Obendorfer
Commissioner of Securities
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