20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 23

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 23

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ing County. Penn., was the companion of David Lowry, and was a surveyor. He settled on Section 33. where Leander Baker now lives, in 1795. In 1797 he re- turned to Pennsylvania, brought out his brother James, who was then but eight years old, but was a great help to him in his cabin. Jonathan married and was the father of five children, of whom John moved to Oregon, where he died: Joua- than is living in Iowa; Elizabeth married George Layton; and Ineinda, who also married and moved to Michigan. Mr. Donnels' last years were embittered by family troubles, and, in a fit of temporary insanity he hung himself on the Holcomb limekiln (now Moores) farm in Spring- field Township, whither he had moved after selling his old home. He was a man of sterling traits of character, generous and whole-souled, and was very well read for those early days, and was indeed one of the noblest of Clark County's pioneers. His brother, James Donnels, who came in 1797, grew up under his care and married Mary Hopkins, settling where John Leffel formerly lived. He had eight children, among whom we may mention as the latest survivors-Susan, the wife of Jesse Boyd; Eliza, the wife of Lewis Hoffman; and Jonathan. Mr. Donnels moved to the northeast corner of Springfield Township; thence to the Jesse Boyd farm in Har- mony Township: and finally to the farm where his son Jounthan formerly resid- ed, and which is now owned by E. O. Bow- man, where he and his wife died.

Hugh Wallace was born in Kentucky Angust 14. 1778, came to Bethel Town- ship about 1798, and began working for David Lowry, with whom he stayed sev-

Jonathan Donnels, a native of Lycom- eral years. He was married to Margaret

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Smith, who died in 1814. and he then mar- house, stopping a week at a place, cob- ried Eleanor Richison, who was born in hling and making shoes.

the Northwest Territory in 1793, and had nine children, seven yet living. He was in the war of 1812, and died in 1864. His widow died in 1875.

Joseph Tatman was born in Virginia in 1770, and his wife Rebecca in North Carolina in 1772. They came to Brown County, Ohio, in 1798, and, in 1801, to this township. He was appointed Associate Jndge after the county was organized, and held that office several years. He was also a member of the Legislature. They had thirteen children. He died in 1827, and his wife in 1864.

Jacob Hoffman, a native of Pennsyl- vania, settled in the eastern corner of the township in 1802. He died December 1, 1842, aged seventy-two years, and his wife Catherine, died in Angust, 1866, aged eighty years. They had ten children who grew up-five yet living, viz., Henry, Reuben, Martha, Rachael and Samuel. He built a fine stone house which is yet stand- ing and is now the property of Mrs. J. A. Myers.

George Croft was born in Pennsylvania in 1771, and was married in Virginia, in 1799, to Mary Critz, of that State. In 1804 they came to Bethel Township with two children, and seven were born to them afterward. Mrs. Croft died in February, 1846, and her husband, after remarrying, died in October, 1855. George Croft and family, from Virginia, in 1808, settled near the valley pike. He began distilling, and kept it up for forty years. Two sons as- sisted the father at that business, and George, a cripple, picked up a knowledge of shoemaking and went from house to of his farm. He had eleven children,

Thomas Cory was born in Essex Coun- ty, N. J., in 1738. He came to Ohio in a very early day, and settled in Warren County, whenee he came to Bethel Town- ship, this county, in 1803, bringing his son Elnathan, with whom he lived until his death in 1813.

Elnathan Cory was born in Essex Coun- ty, N. J., January, 1776. He came to this township with his father in 1803, and en- tered the northwest quarter of Section 34. During the war of 1812, he was an extensive contractor for furnishing the Government with army supplies. He married Hannah Jennings in June, 1800, and by her had eleven children, of whom eight lived to adult age-Jndge David J. Cory, Eliza Miller, Rhoda W. Cross and Sarah Smith, and three died in infancy. Mrs. Cory died August 20, 1834, and her husband June 8, 1842.

Abraham Brooks Rall was born in Es- sex County, N. J., September 9, 1776, and, at the age of eleven years, ran away from home with an expedition bound to West. ern Pennsylvania. In 1789, he went to Cincinnati, where he worked with his uncle in a mill for three years, when he commenced learning the brick-layer's trade. In 1798, he returned to his Eastern home, where he married Eliza- beth Lambert. In October, 1804, he again came to Cincinnati with his wife and one child, and, in the December following, came to this township, where he entered the northwest quarter of Section 33. He continued to work at his trade during the summer months nntil 1825, when he retired to the qniet

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nine of whom lived to be married. He Forgy and Presly Forgy came in 1806. died April 20, 1864, and his wife March 28, 1844. Their father, John Forgy, came much earlier and settled in Mad River Town- William Layton, with a large family of children-Joseph. Robert, Arthur, Jolin, William, Jr., Polly, Sally and Betsey- came to this township in 1803, settling in Section 2, on the Mad River, not far from the mouth of Dounels' Creek. He was a Pennsylvanian, and died on that farm. The descendants of this family are among the most prominent people of the county, Joseph having been judge of the court, John being one of the first clerks of the county and a county commissioner, and John F., the son of John, was sheriff from 1856 to 1860. ship. Samuel MeKinney came about the same time; he was a prominent music teacher in the early times. In about 1803 came John Wallace, Sr., from Kentucky; he was the father of James Wallace, many years a prominent merchant, and Dr. Joseph Wallace, late of Springfield. Leonard Hains, Reuben Wallace and John Crain, Sr., came first to the county in 1802, and settled in Bethel in 1806. George Lowman came in 1810; the next year he built the "stone house," which for many years was a wonder, and the only house other than wood in the west- Henry Williams and his wife, Elizabeth, came from Virginia with four children in 1805, and settled on the land formerly occupied by their son, Rev. Henry Wil- liams, the father of J. C. Williams. They had nine children, five of whom were born after they came to this county. Mr. Williams was a soldier in 1812, and died in 1845, his wife having died in 1820. ern part of the county. Joseph Reyburn, William Holmes, John Crue, Abraham Keever, Joseph Butler, Edward Riggs, Oliver Walker, William McCoy, Jacob Bingerman, Benjamin Pursell, Jolın Jack- son, Jacob Loofborow, John Whalen, Ezekiel Paramee, all came to Bethel prior to 1810. This list is doubtless incomplete, as at this late day it is impossible to get a full account of the early times.

George Keifer was born in Maryland in 1769, and was there married, in 1799, to Margaret Hivner, a native of that state, born in 1772. They came to this township in 1811 and bonght a large tract

Among the old settlers who came later than the above, mention might be made . of the following and their places of set- tlement : Jarob Funderburg, on Section of land, which was the birthplace of 9; John Richinson, on Section 9, and Tecumseh, the noted Indian chief. They Jacob Leffel, who settled on Section 17 had five children -- Mary, Sarah, John, about 1817. He was a native of Virginia, Catherine and Joseph (father of General J. Warren . Keifer), who all grew up on this farm, and here the parents died, leav- ing descendants who have since become prominent in county, state and national affairs.

John McPherson came about 1800, and settled on Section 21. John Forgy, James

and had a large family, two of whom, Jolin and Peter, now deceased, resided in Bethel Township, and James in Spring- field. Jacob had the following brothers: Samuel, Daniel, Anthony, John, James P. and Thomas, who have all left descend- ants in this county, who are well known and respected; in fact, Leffel is a name

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that is a household word throughout the in 1796, and entered on a hunter's life state, having gained a world-wide celeb- rity from the invention of the turbine water-wheel by James Leffel, who was long a resident of Springfield, and who died in 1865.

William Taylor and family, from Penn- sylvania, settled in Bethel in 1795. The family consisted of his wife, Susan, and eleven children-five boys and six girls. Taylor bought three or four sections of land, and gave each of his family a farm. Daniel, a son, was a noted hunter, and it is said that during their first winter, hin- self, father and oldest brother killed over four hundred deer. John Hnsted, a Virginian, arrived at Bethel about 1808. with a large family of boys and girls. The old man followed farming. Soloman Hasted, a son, was one of the most skill- ful gunsmiths in the country, and men came thirty to forty miles to have guns made for them. Moses, another son, was a chopper of cord-wood all his life, and it would have been in order to find that he died on a log. Michael Minnick located south of what is now Donnelsville; he bad three sons; one was a carpenter, and built, in 1825, the house in which Mrs. Minnick resides.

Henry Brandenburgh, a settler on Jackson Creek about 1812, was the second distiller in Bethel. He was a trader in flour and bacon, and made several trips to dispose of his wares in the New Orleans market. Joseph MeKinney and family located in 1804 or 1505 on the line of the National Road west of Donnelsville. Most of the families thus briefly noticed were more or less related. and formed a scattered colony.

Thomas Williams came to this region years.

He owned no land, and was regarded a- a Western Arab, spending his time in the forest and visiting the settlement to dis- pose of furs and obtaiu supplies of am. munition, John. James and William Lamme settled between Medway and Don- nelsville.

EARLY EVENTS.

As before stated, probably the first set- tlements in the county were made in this township, there being a probability of a French settlement at Pigna, but even confining our investigations to white set- tlers, we find that John Paul came to Honey Creek in 1790. He had the dis- tinetion of being the first white settler of this county, so far as is known. The probabilities are that the first mill on Mad River was built at Medway. The first schoolhonse was huilt as early as 1505. John Layton was the first Justice of the Peace, elected in 1804 and held office an- til 1830. Among the early marriages performed by him was that of Joseph Keifer to Mary Smith. This was the mar- riage of General J. Warren Keifer's parents.

Melyn Layton was born in 1906 and Elisha Layton in 1804.

The land of this township is all what is known as Congress lands.

MORE RECENT INHABITANTS.

Silas Trumbo was born in Virginia in 1812, came to this township in 1814 and lived bere until his death a few years ago. He was the father of J. B. Trombo and kept a store in lionnelsville for mans

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Findlay Shartle was born in Montgom- ery County in 1521, and came to Bethel Township in March 1831, settling in what is now known as Shartle's Hills, below Medway. He died a few years ago at an advanced age.

(Christian Brosey, who is still residing near Medway, was born in Germany in 1831 and came to Clark County in 1841. J. C. Williams, a prominent resident of this township, is the son of Henry and Ellen Williams and was born seventy years ago south of New Carlisle and has resided in the township all his life. The late Judge II. 11. Williams, of Troy, was his brother, as was also E. S. Wil- liams, who served as a member of Con- gress from the district in which Troy was at that time located. Mr. J. C. Wil- liams was recently mayor of New Car- lisle.

J. V. Forgy was horn in this township two miles south of New Carlisle and now resides in the village of New Carlisle, be- ing connected with the bank there. His date of birth is March 4. 1533.

Martin Snider was a long time resi- dent of this township, his farm being near Donnelsville station on the Big Four. He was born in York County in 1812, and died about the year 1903. His brother, Samuel, likewise a long time resident, died a few years later.

William Wise was born in Montgom- ery County in 1840. Was a son of Felix and Martha Wise. William lives near Medway, Ohio, and has been Justice of the Peace for thirty or more years.

fight with some burglars in 1867. Mr. Hertzler at the time of his death was prob- abiy the wealthiest man in the township.

COUNTY OFFICIALS,

Bethel Township has furnished a fair proportion of the public officials of this county in early times. Reuben Wallace was a member of the Ohio Legislature. William G. Serviss and Joseph Tatman were each associate judges. Dr. Benja- min Neff was a member of the legislature. John E. Layton, sheriff : Stephen B. Will- iams, treasurer, and William E. Lamme, county commissioner, At a later date D. G. Cory, J. J. Scarff. J. B. Trombo and J. B. Crain served in that capacity.

J. E. Lowry, who served one year by appointment, will take his position as a regularly elected official in the position of county commissioner this fall.

People of this township pride them- selves a good deal upon the fact that General Keifer is a native, and rerently they have felt proud of the distinction and honors conferred upon General Fred 11. Funston, who was born in the village of New Carlisle. Ed. H. Funston, his father, was a member of the legislature of Kansas, having been a former resident of that place.

John S. Rayhonrn, a former member of Congress of Pennsylvanin and now mayor of Philadelphia, is a native of New Car- lisle, and, as before mentioned, Judge Williams, of Miami County, and his brother, E. S. Williams, were also natives,

OLD PERSONS.

Daniel Hertzler was formerly a well- known citizen of this township, residing At the pioneer meeting held in New on a farm Intely ovenpied by L. J. M. Carlisle on the 18th of Angust, 1907, the Baker. He was murdered there in the following pioneers were present :

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J. J. Scarff, 84; G. W. Gantz, 80; Mrs. Dr. Miranda, 86; Daniel Harnish, 84; Amos Aley, 74; Robert Black, 85; Samuel Brown, 72: Irvin Stockstill, 88; Mrs. S. S. Stockstill, 85; C. M. Maguire, 84; Peter Syler, 89; Jacob Kissinger, 74; Mrs. D. G. Cory, 78; B. B. Scarff, 71 ; J. C. Kester, 76; Mrs. Chas. Black, 80; Mrs. Sarah Wolf, 78; J. V. Forgy, 74; Jacob E. John- ston, 75; Mrs. C. M. Maguire, 84; J. G. Black, 87; Mrs. Newson, 88; Mrs. Annett Kestor, 77; John Sibert, 72; Jacob Rall, 78; John A. Collins, 80; J. I. Stafford, 76; Dr. R. C. Hanover, 87; Andrew Mouk, 76; Walter Chamberlain, 86.

TRUSTEES OF BETHEL TOWNSHIP.

J. I. Stafford, 1882-1890; J. B. Trumho, 1882-1891; Henry Harnish, 1882-1890; I. K. Funderburg, 1890-1893; T. O. Quick, 1890-1896; Thos. Swanger, 1893-1902; G. K. Schower, 1896-1902; W. S. Vale, 1902 to present time; J. D. Neff, 1902 to present time; C. W. Minnich, 1892 to pres- ent time; Jacob Mess (elect).

TREASURER.

B. Neff, 1882-1892; C. H. Neff, 1892- 1894; H. S. Forgy, 1894 to present time.

CLERKS.

H. N. Taylor, 1882-1890: B. M. Low- man, 1890-1892; A. R. Eshelman, 1892- 1896; J. M. Pierce, 1896-1900; J. E. John- son, 1900 to the present time.

MEMBERS OF SCHOOL. BOARD.

C. B. Wallace, J. B. Trumho, Albert Koontz, Arthur Gerlough, W. N. Scarff.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE SINCE 1871.

Silas Trumbo, 1871-1889; T. Wones, 1872; William Wise, 1872-1899, 1902, 1904: T. B. MeNeal, 1873; Cyrus Lowman, 1876- 1879, 1885-1888, 1894; Charles Foster, 1882; Thomas McKee, 1897; W. D. Lowry, 1892; George W. Brown, 1895; Adam Frantz, 1895; George W. Pierce, 1898; George Patterson, 1898-1904; H. N. Taylor, 1901; A. P. Mitchell, 1904; T. J. Miranda, 1904.

CHURCHES.

Dr. Young, in Beers' History, has given very extended notice of the churches of this township, to which I am indebted for much that is herein given.

The Christian Church at New Carlisle was probably the first of its kind that was established north of Dayton. The time of its formation is not known exactly, but it was probably as early as 1800. The building in the village was erected about 1827. Among the early pastors were Revs. Stackhouse, Worley, Purveyance, McCoy, Potter, Symonton, Baker, Reeder and latterly Isaac N. Walker, William H. Daugherty, MeClain, Curley, T. W. Me- Kinney, Prof. A. L. Mckinney, J. G. Bishop and present pastor Rev. Thomas Week. This church has a long and in- teresting history.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEW CARLISLE.

The Presbyterian Church, or Honey Creek Church, as it was called at an early date, was also one of the land-marks of the early times. There was occasional preaching here prior to the time the church was erected. The first meeting-

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house was built of logs in the cemetery south of New Carlisle about 1815. There the congregation continued to worship until 1828, when the present building was erected in the village. This building was remodeled in 1866. Rev. A. Steele was pastor until 1831; Rev. William Gray un- til 1841; Rev. E. R. Johnson until 1862; then came Rev. Lusk, Rev. G. Beatty, Rev. B. Graves, Rev. Thomas, Rev. G. M. Haerr, Rev. H. P. Corry. The present pastor is Rev. Dr. Wood.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NEW CARLISLE.

The best information at hand is to the effect that the Methodists began to have meetings in this neighborhood at the house of Giles Thomas as early as 1812. A small church was built on the south- west corner of Pike and Jackson Streets, and the present meeting-house was erect- ed in 1853, and improved in 1869.

Among the early pastors may be men- tioned William Rapper, James Findlay, George Maley, Joshua Boucher, William Simons, Joseph Lawes. At one time it is said that Lorenzo Dow preached a ser- mon here. Among other persons who have served as pastors may be mentioned N. W. Newson, Rev. J. Mckay Shultz, MeDonald, MeDowell, Elsworth, Tuff and the present pastor, Rev. J. W. Patton.

BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW CARLISLE.

The Baptist Church was organized sometime prior to 1834. In 1850 a com- fortable brick church was erected. In 1864 they purchased the old Presbyterian Church and refitted it for their own wor- ship.

The pastors at this church have been the Revs. David Leatherman, David Filburn and Henry Frantz.

MENNONITE BRETHREN IN CHRIST CHURCH, NEW CARLISLE.

Since 1898 or '99 a sect calling them- selves Saints or Mennonite Brethren in Christ, have built and sustained a church in this village. The pastors have been Rev. Andrew Good, Rev. Jasper Huffman, Rev. G. W. Grimes and Rev. T. A. Scott.

BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH.

This church was located near the branch of Donnels' Creek, north of Don- nelsville. The elders of this denomina- tion convened on April 20, 1822. The first meetings of the church were held in the cabins of the members. In 1836 the question of building a church began to be agitated, and the building was completed in 1837, costing $700. In 1879 it was de- termined to build a new house, and the present structure was dedicated January 25, 1880. Elder William Sutton was the first pastor. Hezekiah Smith became pastor in 1824. In 1826 John Guthrie was pastor. He was succeeded by Wil- liam Tuttle, T. J. Price, Abram Buckles and Willis Hance, who continued until 1843. In 1844 T. J. Price again became pastor and so continued until 1876. He was succeeded by W. R. Thomas.

OLD SCHOOL MENNONITE CHURCH.

This church began to be formed iu the spring of 1858. David and John Neff be- ing particularly prominent in its organ- ization. In 1862 John M. Kreider was

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the regularly ordained minister. The Superintendent, Il. H. Howet : mu-ir supervisor, G. W. Warner; high school principal, Alice L. Tate; No. 1. Medway. principal, JJ. E. Barnhart; primary, Nellie Stafford; No. 2, Helmer, principal, Madge members worshiped in schoolhouses un- til 1867, when they built their church, which is located on the New Carlisle and Dayton Pike, three miles south of New Carlisle. Revs. Christ. Herr, John Crane; primary, Bessie Fross; No. 3. Mouck and Christ. Brenner officinted at this church.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL, CHERen, DON SELSVILLE.

This organization was first formed at Donnelsville in 1815 hy a meeting at the house of the father of Jeremiah Leffel, who lived abont two miles north of the vil- lage. Shortly after the village was laid ont the congregation erected their church in the village of Donnelsville.

LUTHERAN CHURCH, DONNELSVILLE.

About 1830 members of this denomina- tion first met at the house of Jacob Snyder. Later a house was built on the Valley Pike and was known as Croft's Church, because it was on the farm of Geo. Croft, who was instrumental in its creetion and support. Sometime in the seventies this congregation erected a sub- stantial and commodious house in the village of Donnelsville.

Senoons.

The schools of this township are among the best in the county, New Car- lisle having had a very, very select school for a number of years

The township has a high school at Olive Branch and is now erecting a fine new building.

The following is a list of the teachers for the coming year:

Olive Branch, principal, Cora Sonders: primary. Berdella Farray; No. 4. Valley. Inlia Fairchild: No. 5, Tecumseh, Edith Brodbreck : No. 6, Bethel, Walter Funder- burg: No. 7. Advance, Ida Frantz. No. .. Mt. Pleasant, principal, E. C. Lofines: primary, Ethel Horn; No. 9. Donnelsville. principal, G. W. Mumford: primary. Bertha Kuott; No. 10, Centennial, yet to elect ; No. 11, I'nion, W. K. Mumford.

One room is dropped at Bethel and Walter Funderburg will take the pupils of both.

The primary room at Helmer was re- opened after several years, with all pupils in one room.

NEW CARLISLE.

Superintendent, Alfred Ross; music, Mrs. Viola Dadon ; principal, Ada Koontz; eighth and ninth grades, Miss Sylvia Timmins; sixth and seventh. Miss Carrie Fissel; fourth and fifth, Miss Stella Soward; second and third, Miss Mary Morris; first grade, Miss Ella Gilbert.

Emmeration of pupils for 1907: Males, 348; females, 312: total, G60.

New Carlisle District: Males. 126; females, 127: total, 253.

GERMAN TOWNSHIP.

BOUNDARIES.

German Township is located in the northern tier of townships of Clark Coun-

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ty, having Pike Township on the west and This was likewise for a time a toll-pike. Moorefield Township on the east, Cham- paign County on the north and Spring- field and Bethel Townships on the south.

Mad River forms a part of its castero boundary line. It is not known how it re- ceived the name of "German." It is sup- posed, however, that at an early time there was a considerable German popula- tion in the township and that this result- ed in the name of German. We know that at a comparatively early date there was quite a German settlement in and around Lawrenceville, and almost all the Virginians were of German descent.

SURFACE.

A strip of a few miles in width at places along the eastern part is in the Mad River Valley. The remainder of the township is npland, covered originally largely with beech and poplar timber. A ridge of hills leads along the Mad River Valley to these uplands, and after the sinnmit is reached the land is again com- paratively level. Some of the most fertile land in the county is found in the Mad River hottom, in and around Tremont

and on the uplands west of Lawrenceville. cipal settlers of this township were Vir-

ROADS.

The Mad River Valley Turnpike was constructed in 1843-7 and goes through POPULATION. the entire township, following the course of Mad River. It was constructed from Dayton to Westville and for a long time was a toll-pike; afterwards the pike lead- ing from Springfield to Lawrenceville and known as the St. Paris Pike was built. 2,100: 1890. 2.058; 1900, 1,995.

It leads across the long bridge south of Eagle City. Other roads were after- wards constructed under the free turn- pike law. All told there are thirty-three miles of roads in the township.

The only railroad is the D. T. & I., which follows the Mad River Valley to Tremont City and then goes up along Chapman's Creek, The S. T. & P. trac- tion runs through Lawrenceville and west to Northampton.

POLITICS.

The township is divided into two voting precinets, Lawrenceville and Tremont City. The political complexion of the township is Democratie, and, generally speaking, has been so since the birth of the party. Paring and immediately after the Civil War of 1861-5 it was largely so. The year 1548, when General Taylor, Whig, was elected, is the only time that its majority vote was not for the Democratic candidate.

While some of the carly settlers came from Kentucky, such as the Chapmans, Rosses, Rectors and MeKinleys, the prin-

ginians of German descent, with some Pennsylvanians. The township had an existenee as a part of Champaign County.

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 23

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993