USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 48
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Benjamin D. Moses of this review is the youngest of the family of twelve chil- dren. He obtained a common school educa- tion, receiving his first instruction in a little log schoolhouse in German township. At
the age of sixteen he became an apprentice to the tinner's trade in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, and while so employed he was prompted by a spirit of patriotism, and though under the age of eighteen years and without the knowledge of his par- ents, he tendered his services in the defense of the Union, and on the 30th day of Sep- tember, 1863, he was mustered into the ser- vice as a private in Company B, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and continued at the front in active service until the close of the war without missing a single day's duty, and was honorably discharged July 15, 1865. He participated in the Atlanta campaign, includ- ing the raid under General Kirkpatrick en- tirely around the city of Atlanta before its capture. On this expodition the federal troops were entirely surrounded at Lovejoy Station and they cut their way out with a sabre. They were five days and nights on that expedition without stopping to cook anything or to sleep. They ate their hard- tack while riding along and fed their horses while on the march from nose-bags carried for the purpose. This was one of the most exciting campaigns of the war.
On the left flank of the army in front of Atlanta Mr. Moses was one of ten selected by Captain Cilley to make a reconnoisance into the enemy's country. After they had gone for several miles they suddenly came upon a detachment of mounted rebels, who
were seen only by the captain, because of the dense undergrowth of the timber through which they were traveling. The captain gave the command to halt and ordered his men to fire. They not seeing the enemy hesitated, and were urged by a second order to fire. Mr. Moses fired his revolver in the direction the captain was looking and then dashed the spurs into his horse's side and
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followed the bullet; and, hearing shuffling of horses' feet ahead of him, he fired again and continued in pursuit of some thirty or forty rebels, chasing them until recalled by his captain. There were but these two shots fired. It was all over in a minute, but that minute was a desperate one and gave evi- dence of Mr. Moses' presonce of mind and unfaltering courage under trying circum- stancos. Almost sooner than it takes to tell the story the sally was over and the rebols were on the dead run for safety.
One other incident of Mr. Moses' ser- vice may with intorest be here related. On one occasion he was sent out to carry dis- patches, and on his way during a dark night he came to a pond of water through which his road passed. The pond was covered with a thin crust of ice. Before crossing he haltod, and hearing from the other side the splashing of horses' hoofs in the water and the breaking of the ice, he feared the party „might be a bushwhacker, at least an enemy, and ho decided to await the approach of the rider and capture him. When the stranger had approached to within six feet Mr. Moses commanded him to halt and throw up his hands, which command was obeyed very promptly, with the assurance that he was "only a poo' old niggah." Mr. Moses then ordered him to come nearer, and as the stranger did so and the horses were side by side, Mr. Moses threw his arms around the man and found a wooly head and in conse- quence released the prisoner.
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In all the engagements of his regiment Mr. Moses participated, including the great Wilson raid from Gravelly Springs, Ala- bama, to Macon, Georgia, resulting in the capture of Selma, Alabama, where they charged the enemy's works. They dis- mounted and found well built and well
planned fortifications. This was an important military movement, and embraced a ride through the heart of the Confederacy, ending only with the close of the war. After the fall of the Confederacy. Mr. Moses was one of two men detailed from his company to go in pursuit of Jefferson Davis, and was prevented from doing so only by the en- treaties of a sick comrade who begged him to remain with him. The chief regret in all his army experience is that he was not permitted to be one of the party to pursue and capture the president of the Confeder- acy. He was always ready for scouting duty and was usually placed upon details where courage and coolness were required. He served as regimental postmaster, and, though for this reason was not required to go into battle, yet he took a carbine of a com- rade and went on the skirmish line and into the engagement at Selma, Alabama, and participated in all other engagements with his regiment.
The few incidents of the army service rendered by Mr. Moses aro related that the reader may gain an idea of some of the ex- periences which one in army service under- goes.
Returning home after the war, Mr. Moses located with his parents in Enter- prise, where he engaged with his father in merchandising. Later he purchased his father's interest and conducted a store alone for a few years, but sold out in 1869 and went to Dayton, where, in connection with his brother, C. C., he engaged in the whole- sale dry goods business. As that did not prove to his taste, however, he sold out to his partner and returned to Preble county. Here he purchased the old Shideler farm, in which his wife had an interest, and for four- teen years thereafter made his home on that
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place, devoting his energies to its cultiva- tion and improvement. In 1888 he sold that property and came to Eaton, where he has since been engaged in the insurance, loan and real estate business, meeting with creditable success.
In 1868 occurred the marriage of Mr. Moses and Miss Anna Shideler, a daughter of Judge Peter and Catharine Shideler, early residents of Preble county, who are now dceased. Mrs. Moses was educated in the common schools and in the Germantown College. Three children were born of the marriage, but only two are now living : Robert S., who is holding a responsible po- sition with the Flint & Walling Manufactur- ing Company, of Kendallville, Indiana; and Homer C., a graduate of the Bellevue Medi- cal College, of New York. He enlisted as a private soldier of the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Indiana Regiment for the Spanish war, and served as such for a few months and was then discharged to be ap- pointed as an assistant surgeon in the United States army. He is now serving as an as- sistant surgeon in the Philippines. The only daughter of the family, Grace Lucile, died at the age of two years and eight months.
Mr. and Mrs. Moses have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church for more than twenty years and he has long served as an official member and has taken a very ac- tive and creditable part in the church work. While living on the farm he served for nine years as a justice of the peace. In politics he is a Republican and is the present honored commander of Mulharen O'Kane Post, No. 3. G. A. R., of Eaton. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. His life has indeed been upright and honorable, characterized by fidelity to duty in every rolation. He is
a gentleman of high moral character, genial and affable in manner, his views of life be- ing broad and comprehensive, and he is in- dependent, genial and public-spirited, ad- miring all that is best and highest in life.
FRANK M. DAVISSON.
This influential citizen and enterprising agriculturist of Monroe township . is the owner of an excellent farm on section 14, and his management of the estate is marked by the scientific knowledge and skill which characterizes the modern farmer. He was born upon that farm, February 21, 1847, and is a worthy representative of an hon- ored pioneer family of this county.
Josiah Davisson, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Harrison county, Virginia, October 6, 1808, but was only eight years of age when brought to Preble county, Ohio, by his father, Josiah Davisson, Sr. The lat- ter was born either in Virginia or New Jer- sey, about 1743, and became one of the prom- inent men of Rockingham county, Virginia, where he served as sheriff for a time. In 1816 he came to this county, bringing with him his slaves, whom he set free. He en- tered land on section 14, Monroe township, where our subject now resides, and where he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life, dying there in 1825, at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. Much of the land which he secured from the government is still in the possession of his descendants, our subject owning two hun- dred and seventy-five acres of the tract. Upon that farm the father of our subject lived until he, too, was called to his final rest in 1863, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Han- nah Foos, was born in Warren county, Ohio,
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February 13, 1819, and came to this county when three years of age with her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Roberts) Foos, na- tives of Pennsylvania. When they located here there were only three houses on the road between Eaton and Greenville, and in one of these lived a horse thief! Mrs. Davis- son died July 15, 1896, at the age of sev- enty-seven years, five months and two days. Both she and her husband were of English descent. They were earnest members of the Baptist church, and in politics Mr. Davis- son was first a Whig and later a Republican. He was quite a prominent and influential man in his community, and was called upon to serve as justice of the peace for sixteen years, and township treasurer twenty-two years. He was the fourth in order of birth in a family of five children who lived to ma- turity. His brothers, Absalom and Jona- than, were born in Harrison county, West Virginia, the former in 1802, the latter in 1806. Jonathan was also one of the promi- nent men of this county, and served as a county commissioner and as assessor of Monroe township.
To Josiah and Hannah (Foos) Davis- son were born five children, of whom our subject is the oldest; Amelia Elizabeth lives with our subject upon the old homestead, they being the only representatives of the family now residents of Preble county ; Os- car Fulton is married and is now a promi- nent attorney of Dayton; Edward Clinton is a physician of that city; and Sarah Alice is a resident of Preble county.
Reared on the home farm Frank M. Da- visson acquired his primary education in the district schools. For two years he was a student at the Northwestern Christian Uni- versity at Indianapolis, now Butler Univer- sity, of Irvington, Indiana, and for about
three years attended the Michigan Univer- sity at Ann Arbor, taking a special course in civil engineering. He successfully fol- lowed that profession for ten years and for six years served as the surveyor of Preble county-from 1879 to 1885. Since then he has devoted his time and energies to agri- cultural pursuits. He owns the old home- stead of two hundred and seventy-five acres, on section 14, Monroe township, and also fifty-four acres on section II. His resi- dence, which is one of the finest country homes in the county, was erected by him in 1886, at a cost of six thousand dollars. Upon this place are good and substantial barns and outbuildings, and everything about the farm testifies to the skill and ability of the owner in his chosen calling. He is en- gaged in general farming, but makes a spe- cialty of stock raising, having upon his place a high grade of Oxford sheep, Poland China hogs and shorthorn cattle. As a progres- sive and public-spirited citizen he takes an active interest in public affairs and votes the straight Republican ticket. Socially he is a member of Libanus Lodge, No. 80, F. & A. M., of Lewisburg, one of the oldest lodges in the state.
JOHN MEYER.
Among the enterprising and valued cit- izens which the German empire has contrib- uted to our republic may be mentioned the subject of this sketch, who is one of the prosperous and influential agriculturists of Preble county, being located on section 13, Lanier township. He was born near the city of Bremen, dukedom of Brunswick, Germany, on the 4th of June, 1840, being the son of Garrard and Margaret (Voge) Meyer, who were the parents of ten chil-
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dren, four of whom are living at the present time, namely : Annie C., wife of John Heis- man, of this county; Henry, who is a car- penter by trade and is a resident of Lex- ington, Ohio; John, the immediate subject of this review; and Margaret, wife of Detrick Voge, a farmer of Twin township, this county.
The father of our subject was born in Emptinghausen, Germany, in 1811, and grew to maturity in the fatherland, where he learned the trade of cabinetmaker, which he followed prior to his removal to the United States. In 1860 he emigrated to America, in company with three of his chil- dren-Alice, now deceased; Margaret; and John, our subject-three others of his chil- dren having preceded him, namely : Detrick, now deceased, Anna and Henry.
On his arrival in Preble county Garrard Meyer settled in Lanier township, making his home with his children from this time on- ward to the hour of his death, which oc- curred in December, 1870. He was a zeal- ous and devoted member of the Lutheran church and was a man of sterling Chris- tian character, having the esteem and high regard of all who knew him. Margaret (Voge) Meyer, the mother of our subject, was born in Emptinghausen, dukedom of Brunswick, Germany, about the year 1820, being the daughter of John Voge, who was a well-to-do farmer of Germany, where he passed his entire life. The mother of our subject died in her native land in 1856.
John Meyer, to whom this review is dedicated, grew to maturity in his native land, in whose excellent schools he received his educational training. Upon his arrival in Preble county, in September, 1860, he en- tered the employ of his brother, Detrick, continuing this association until the follow-
ing April, when he was employed as a farm hand by Dr. Nesbit, of West Alexandria, Ohio, for a period of one year ; then worked ten months for Jacob Deardoff, of Lanier township; was then employed about three years as a farm hand by a Mr. Halderman; and following this he entered the employ of Detrick Glander, who operated a distillery, remaining thus engaged for three years, when he associated himself with Detrick S. Glander, his brother-in-law, in the purchase of the old home place, where they continued partnership farming operations for three years, when Mr. Glander married and our subject purchased his interest in the farm, where he has ever since continued to reside, bringing to bear much discrimination and most progressive methods in handling the various details of the farm work, and hav- ing met with most marked success in his efforts. Since 1891 he has been engaged in buying and shipping tobacco, the raising of which has become quite an important in- dustry in this section, and in this branch of his business he has been successful. To his original purchase Mr. Meyer has added twelve and one-half acres, so that his farm now comprises ninety-four acres, the entire tract boing under a high state of cultivation and well improved in every particular. In 1899 Mr. Meyer erected one of the handsome and substantial farm residences of the coun- ty, the same being of modern architectural design and of distinctly attractive appear- ance.
Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Anna Glander, a daughter of Ludeke Glander, and a sister of John B. Glander, of whom mention is made on another page of this work, and of this union two children have been born-Mary A., who is at the parental home; and Charles, who married
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Miss Mary B. Claus, by whom he has one child, Forrest. Charles is a dealer in ag- ricultural implements, and is a young man of marked business ability. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are active and devoted members of the Lutheran church, in which our subject has served as deacon or elder for a period of about fourteen years. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party.
GEORGE H. KELLY.
A real estate, loan and insurance agent of Eaton, Ohio, George H. Kelly was born on a farm two miles west of the city, July 2, 1848, his parents being Matthew B. and Nancy Stevens (White) Kelly. His father was a native of Butler county, Ohio, born February 21, 1810, and the mother was born in Alexandria, Campbell county, Kentucky, March 4, 1812. They were married at Alexandria, Kentucky, in June of 1829, moved to Preble county, Ohio, in 1830, and took up a government claim on section 3, Dixon township. They remained on this claim several years, and then purchased a farm on section 32, Washington township, where they remained until death claimed both of them. He died August 25, 1869, and she passed to her reward September. 15, 1875. Matthew B. Kelly, during his early residence in Preble county, did much teaming, hauling produce from Eaton to Cincinnati and re- turning with merchandise from that city for the Eaton merchants. Most of his life, how- ever, was spent in farming, in which he was successful. In their family were seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters, namely : Nancy M., now the wife of John D. Camp- bell, of Eaton; J. Clinton, who is now living on the home farm ; Francis Marion, a farmer of Sugar Valley, Dixon township; George
H .; and Mary Amanda, now the wife of Robert White, of Eaton.
George H. Kelly pursued his education in the public schools of Washington town- ship, and was reared upon the home farm un- til twenty years of age, when he abandoned the labor of field and meadow to engage in merchandising. He was for ten years con- nected with the grocery trade in Eaton, and from 1880 until 1884 he was employed in the internal revenue department of the United States government, with headquar- ters at Dayton, Ohio. In 1885 he began business in his present line as a real estate, loan and insurance agent. He is a man of strong determination, and has carried for- ward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken. He is widely and favora- bly known as a reliable business man in Preble county, and since December, 1886, he has been in partnership with Benjamin D. Moses. The firm makes a specialty of fire and cyclone insurance. In the loan depart- ment they handle local funds mostly. The business has developed rapidly, and the growth has been a healthful one. They now have a large clientage and their efforts are attended with prosperity. Mr. Kelly is also financially interested in the Electric Light & Ice Manufacturing Company, of Eaton, and for many years has been a director of the Preble County National Bank. His wise counsel has proved an important factor in the successful management of those enter- prises and his opinions carry weight in busi- ness circles.
On the 20th of December, 1870, Mr. Kelly was married to Miss Alice Emma Rhea, a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, and a daughter of John and Mary Rhea. Her father was a mechanic in early life and later engaged in merchandising, but is now living
1
Gensafely
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retired in Eaton. Mrs. Kelly was educated in Richmond, Indiana, and is a lady of su- perior education, being highly accomplished in music. She is descended from good old Revolutionary stock, and holds membership in the society known as the Daughters of the American Revolution, at Washington. Her great-grandfather, Major William Gray, served as captain of a cavalry company under General Francis Marion, and later was a major on the staff of General Washington. Her ancestors were of German, French and Welsh blood and belonged to early families of America.
In his political views Mr. Kelly has al- ways been a stalwart Republican, although he was reared in the Democratic faith. He has served as a member of the board of city water commissioners since 1898, yet has never been a politician in the sense of office- seeking, preferring to give his time and ener- gies to his business affairs. During his con- nection with the revenue department of the government, he traveled throughout the third congressional district of Ohio. So- cially he is connected with the Masonic fra- ternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been recording secretary of his lodge in the latter for a quarter of a century. He is also a member of the en- campment and Patriarchs Militant, ranking as first lieutenant in the latter, his member- ship in those being at Camden. He was reared in the Baptist church, but both he and his wife are leading members of the Presby- terian church of Eaton, in which he is serv- ing as a member of the board of deacons. He is a liberal contributor to charities and benevolent institutions and has been a promi- nent factor in the prosperity of Eaton through a long period. Educational, relig- ious and social interests owe their promo- 23
tion in a considerable degree to him. Thirty years has this city been his home and he is loyally devoted to the public good.
WILSON ROYER.
Sebastian Royer was the progenitor of the Royer family in America. About 1718 he emigrated from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania. The name Royer was orig- inally spelled Reyer or Reier. This an- cestor of the Royers settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and here lived and died, his death occurring about 1758 or 1759. He had four sons, the youngest of whom was Amos Royer, who separated him- self from his father's church, the Lutheran, and attached himself to the German Bap- tists or Brethren. He left seven children, viz. : Philip, Christopher, Peter, John, Dan- iel, Elizabeth and Catherine. Peter Royer, a son of Amos Royer, had two sons-Ben- jamin and Peter; and five daughters- Catherine, Mary, Martha, Susanna and Elizabeth.
Benjamin Royer lived and died in Penn- sylvania, but his brother, Peter Royer, mar- ried Anna Roop (also of German lineage) and about 1800 removed to Frederick, now Carroll, county, Maryland; however, he did not remove to Maryland until several years after his marriage. He had a large family. His two oldest children-Catherine and Christian-were born in Pennsylvania. In Maryland there were born the following chil- dren : Jesse, Anna, Mary, Peter, Louisa, Lydia, Jehu and Lucinda. Peter died be- fore he was two years of age; Lydia, also, died in her.infancy; and Lucinda, also, died young, but not until she was grown. Cath- erine married Philip Wampler; Christian married Mary Geiman; Jesse married Su-
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sanna Eby; and Anna first married John Isett, after whose death she married John Weybright; Mary married Jacob Maring, after whose death she married John Bur- gard; Louisa married David Englar; and Jehu married Margaret Troxel. All the children have passed away in death. The last survivor was Jesse, who died February 23, 1885, in his eighty-fourth year. He was born in Carroll county, Maryland, in 1801. As a companion and helpmate he chose and married Susanna Eby, a daughter of Christian Eby, of Baltimore, Maryland. Her father belonged to a very old and high- ly respected family of Maryland, and was a prosperous farmer, who capably managed his business affairs and won thereby a very desirable competence.
In the year 1854 Jesse Royer removed from Maryland to Preble county, Ohio, and took up his abode in Twin township. He was a minister in the German Baptist church and one of the leading representatives of that denomination. He was also an enter- prising and progressive farmer and in his business affairs met with gratifying success. His wife preceded him in death, passing away in September of 1878. Unto them were born nine children, and besides rear- ing their own children they reared two or- phan children. Their own children were as follows: Anna Louisa, the wife of John H. Markey, of New Lexington, Preble county ; Jane, the wife of E. Roop, of John- son county, Missouri; Susanna, whose first husband was Abram Stoner, now deceased, and whose present husband is Daniel Houser, with whom she resides in Lordsburg, Cali- fornia; Lavina, the wife of J. A. Ozias, of Johnson county, Missouri; Catherine (de- ceased) married Peter Ozias; Elizabeth, the wife of Jonas Leedy, of Johnson county,
Missouri; Agnes died aged about thirty- one, unmarried; Jesse married Katie Elliott and resides in Monroe county, Missouri ; and Wilson Royer, of whom we now write as the subject of this review.
Wilson Royer was born in Carroll coun- ty, Maryland, June 15, 1849, spent the first five years of his life in the state of his na- tivity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Preble county. He pur- sued his education in the common schools and aided in the work of the home farm, and reaching mature years engaged in farm- ing on his own account. He continued in agricultural pursuits until 1891, in which year he came to Eaton, purchased the hard- ware stock of G. H. Eidson, and embarked in mercantile pursuits. In 1893 Mr. Royer erected what is known as the Eagle block, a substantial two-story brick building, hav- ing two fine store rooms on the ground floor. One of these rooms Mr. Royer oc- cupies. He. carries a large stock of hard- ware, seeds and fertilizers, and does a large volume of business. He has never partici- pated to any extent in politics, for he has given his time exclusively to business af- fairs, and has met with creditable success. He had no special advantages in youth, nor. has his success been accomplished by means of extraordinary talent or genius, but by means of industry, frugality, enterprise and keen discrimination. By means of cease- less toil and earnest endeavor has he at- tained a marked degree of success in business affairs. Mr. Royer has gained the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, and his worth as a. man and citizen is widely acknowledged. He belongs to that class of men who look beyond the exigencies of the moment to the future and give their sup- port to those measures tending to the im-
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