USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 66
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Herman Voge was reared at his parental home, acquiring his education in the com- mon schools. At the early age of fourteen he began earning his own livelihood, work- ing as a farm hand. Some three years prior to his marriage he began farming on his own account on rented land, and on the 23d of June, 1864, he chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Sarah A. Sauer, a native of Preble county and a daughter of George and Anna M. (Kiss- ling) Sauer. Her father was a native of Germany, born in Weisenham on the Rhine, in 1801. When eighteen years of age he
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camo to the new world with his parents, the family locating in Butler county, Ohio, near Trenton, on the Hickory Flats. They were well-to-do German people, and after coming to America the grandfather Sauor extensively engaged in farming, becoming the possessor of valuable proporty. Heresided in Butler county until two years prior to his death, when he came to Preble county, making his home with his son George. He made three trips to Germany, visiting his native land. For three years George Sauer resided on his fathor's farm in Butler county, but after his marriage came to Preble county and purchased seventy-five acres, which joins the farm upon which our subject now resides. There he romained until his death and acquired extensive realty holdings. He married Anna Mary Kissling, whose fa- ther, Henry Kissling, was one of the early settlors in this section of Ohio. He and a Mr. Miller took up some six hundred acres of land, which they later divided into equal shares. Mr. Kissling built a log cabin and cleared a tract of land. In a hollowed-out stump they tramped the corn, sifting out the finer meal for johnnycakes, while the coarser was used for hominy. He and his wife were very active members of the Reformed church and often walked to Lewisburg to attend church services. He was noted for his charity and benevolence, the poor and needy always finding in him a friend. On one occasion he found a man stealing corn, and instead of seeing that he was punished he gave him an acre of land on which he might raise a crop for himself! He was very fond of hunting and fishing and obtained considerable skill in those directions.
After his marriage, Mr. Voge, of this re- view, followed agricultural pursuits on the place where he now makes his home. He 31
operated his father-in-law's land as well as his own, the latter being a tract of one hundred and fifty-five acres given him by his father-in-law. He added to that by pur- chase a tract of forty-three acres and six years later he removed to his own home, where he resided until 1890, when he pur- chased the old family homestead, erocting thereon a handsome residence and a large barn. He now owns two hundred and sev- enty acres of land and has one of the best improved farms in the county, everything about the place being neat and thrifty in appearance.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Voge have been born sevon children: Mary, now the wife of George Copp, a farmer of Twin township, Preble county; Lizzie, the wife of Daniel Coppas, a druggistof Tiptoncounty, Indiana; Charlie, who is engaged in farming a part of his father's land; Callie, the wife of Irvin Coffman, of Dayton, Ohio; and Laura, John and Ruth at home. Mr. Voge and his family are active members of the Lutheran church,. doing much to aid in its growth and up- building. The cause of education finds in our subject a warm friend, and he has efficiently served for many years as a mem- ber of the school board of Twin township. He exercises his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the De- mocracy, but has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to devote his energies to his business interests, in which he has met with creditable prosperity.
CAREY TONEY.
Carey Toney is one of the most highly esteemed and honored residents of Dixon township, Preble county. His life has been
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devoted to agricultural pursuits and to the work of the ministry. Ho was born upon the farm where his brother William now lives, April 29, 1842. His father, Harmon Toney was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia, and the grandfather, Carey Toney, was also born in the same locality, whence he emigratod to Ohio in 1810. He became a very prominent man in Dixon township and was recognized as a leader of public thought and movement. True to his duties of citizenship, he took an active interest in everything portaining to the welfare of the community. He was particularly prominent in church work and served as a deacon in the United Brethren church. Harmon Toney, the father of our subject, was reared in Preble county amid the wild scenes of frontier life, and having arrived at years of maturity he wedded Fannio Kinzey, a daugh- ter of Jacob Kinzey, who came from the Old Dominion to the Buckeye state. Her death occurred October 16, 1856, and the father of our subject died in 1895. They had six children, three of whom are now living, namely: William, a resident of Dixon township; Carey, of this review ; and James, who is also living in Dixon township.
Carey Toney pursued his education in the country schools near his home and worked upon the home farm, assisting in the labors of field and moadow from the time that the planting was begun in the early spring until crops were harvested in the late autumn. In 1863 he began farming on his own account. He purchased the Clingham- field farm and occupied it until 1889, then movod to the farm known as the Cunning- ham farm and lived there until the spring of 1891 ; next until the spring of 1896 he lived near Connersville, Indiana, and finally moved to his present place of residence, which he
purchasod of William C. Hart. He has aided both of his daughters by giving to them valuable tracts of land, and yet owns over six hundred acres, divided into several farms, which are carried on under his im- mediate supervision. His property has beon acquired entirely through his own well directed efforts. He has ever been an indus- trious and energetic man, to whom indolence and idleness are utterly foreign. His work has been carefully and diligently prosecuted, and as a return for his honest toil he has gained a comfortable competence.
Mr. Toney has been twice married. He first wedded Miss Sarah Moss, their union being celobrated on the 20th of October, 1863. The lady was a daughter of Edmund Moss, of Indiana, and her death occurred August 10, 1887. By her marriage she had become the mother of seven children, of whom three are living, namely : Almeda, the wif of Josiah Rhinehart, who is living near the old homestead; Emma, the wife of Cornelius Petry, a farmer of the same neigh- borhood; and John E., a resident agricultur- ist of Dixon township. On the 8th of Oc- tober, 1891, Mr. Toney again married, his second union being with Mrs. Hannah Riley, a daughter of John Petro, of Indiana. They had one son, Harmon. For thirty years Mr. Toney has been an active and con- sistent member of the German Baptist Brethren church, and for many years has been one of its ministers. His labors in be- half of the church have been very effective, and by precept and example he has influenced many to seek the better way of life. His labors in the church and on the farm have been most untiring, and his own honorable career has commended him to the confidence, respect and esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
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ELI OZIAS.
Eli Ozias, one of the venerable citizens of Preble county, has passed the ninetieth milestone of life's journey and in the eve- ning of life receives the respect which should ever be accorded to one of advanced years whose life has been upright and honorable. He is a native son of the county and probably is the oldest living person born in this lo- cality. His birth occurred in Twin town- ship, April 25, 1810, on the farm whore his son now resides. He is the only surviving member of a family of eleven children, whose parents were Jacob and Susan (Christman) Ozias. His father was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, and was a son of John and Elizabeth Ozias, who re- moved from the Keystone state to the old North state. In 1803 the grandfather emi- grated with his family to Ohio with a colony who were six weeks upon the journey over the mountains. The trip was a long and tedious one and they were very weary when they at length reached their destination. They made a settlement in Warren county, Ohio, near Springborough, but after a short time came to Preble county and the grandfather purchased three half-sections of land, giving each of his children a half-soction farm.
He devoted the winter of 1803-4 to seek- ing a location and then selected for the Ozias family eighteen hundred and eighty acres of land on the big bottom of Twin creek, directly south of Lewisburg. Upon his land Jacob Ozias located and began the development of a farm, clearing away the timber and transforming the wild tract into richly cultivated fields, which he continued to cultivato up to the time of his death. He was very prosperous and by his well directed and energetic efforts he acquired about eight
hundreds acres of land. The Ozias family were prominent in promoting the upbuilding and progress of the county and bore their share in all the hardships and trials of pio- neer life. On one occasion John Ozias and his wife, the former a brother of Jacob Ozias, were returning to their home, hav- ing that day aided Jacob in butchering. It was nearing night and they carried with them spare ribs and sausages given them by Jacob. Wolves, attracted by the smell of the fresh meat, started in pursuit and John Ozias and his wife were hardly able to reach their own cabin. The wolves were almost upon them when they closed the door of thoir little home. On another occasion, while her husband was away, Mrs. John Ozias, on looking up from her work, saw that a rattlesnake was coiled up in the middle of the floor. She was an inexperi- enced little woman and did not fight the snake as many a pioneer woman would have done, but, snatching her babe from the cradle, she ran to a neighbor's. Later the puncheon floor of the cabin was removed and a number of the poisonous reptiles were found under the house and killed! The Ozias family also experienced tho plague known as milk-sickness, from which not only the people but their stock suffered, occasion- ing heavy loss to the pioneers who were at- tempting to establish homes in the wilderness.
Eli Ozias was reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life, and his educational privileges were very limited, for the schools of these days wore inadequate. The lessons were taught by incompetent teachers, who ruled in little log cabins and maintained dis- cipline by the aid of the birchen rod. Hav- ing arrived at the ago of maturity Mr. Ozias was married, on the 6th of April, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth A. Wikle, a native of Twin
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township, who was born January 29, 1828, a daughter of Frederick Wikle and a grand- daughter of Philip Wikle. The latter came to Ohio at a very early day from Virginia and cast in his lot with the pioneers of Preble county. After his marriage Mr. Ozias and his bride located on the farm which is still his home. He purchased one hundred and ninety acres of the old home place and through many years was actively identified with the agricultural interests of the com- munity. His home was blessed with the presence of eight children : Parthena D., now deceased; Leonidas, who is operating the home farm and married Melissa Hamilton, by whom he has four children-Raymond R., Jesse G., Frederick E. and James H .; Mary S., Thomas M., Van Rensselear and Benjamin S., all now deceased; Frederick Elbert, who resides on the old Ozias place where our subject was born, and Jacob P., a farmer of Harrison township, Preble county.
In his political views Eli Ozias has long been a stanch Republican, but has never been an office seeker, although he served for several years on the school board. He has done much toward the building of good roads in the county, and was road commis- sioner for about sixteen years. He believes in progress and improvement and has withheld his support from no movement calculated to advance the general welfare. He is fa- miliar with the history of the county from its pioneer days, has seen its wonderful growth and development and has ever borne his share in the work of improvement. His has been a long, useful and active career, and he continued to engage in the work of his farm until about two years ago. He is now enjoying a well earned rest, and though he has reached the age of ninety he appears
a good many years younger and it is the earnest wish of his many friends that he will be spared for many years to come.
LEVIN T. M'CABE.
Levin T. McCabe, deceased, one of the most active merchants of Eaton, and a prom- inent promoter of public improvements, was a native of Worcester county, Maryland, born December 23, 1807. His parents were Amos and Zipporah (Jones) McCabe, natives of Delaware and Maryland, respectively, and he was the elder son in their family of two sons and four daughters. The first eighteen years of his life were spent on his father's. farm, and his education was a limited one.
Walking nearly all the way from Mary- land, young McCabe landed in Eaton, Ohio, May 10, 1826, and here became a farm labor- er in the employ of William Bruce, with whose sons, Charles and George, he en- gaged in the business of buying and fatten- ing cattle for the eastern market. It was in 1829, three years after his arrival in the county, that he was engaged in this latter business. In 1835, in company with Henry Montfort, he opened a general store in Eaton and from that time until 1860, when he re- tired to private life, Mr. McCabe was act- ively engaged in mercantile lines; and for a greater part of the time he was engaged in the grocery business, and was also a grain dealer for a short time.
Original and enterprising, he progressed. He was one of the most useful men and highly esteemed merchants who ever lived in Preble county.
In early life he was an ardent Whig, and from the organization of the Republican party he gave his unqualified support to it.
In 1832 Mrs. Polly Holliday, the wid-
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owed daughter of William Bruce, became his wife. She preceded him in death, passing away in 1873. He died April 1, 1892, aged eighty-four years, three months and nine days.
HERMAN STEINMEYER.
Herman Steinmeyer is one of the promi- nent farmers of Twin township. He de- serves great credit for his success in life, and that he now occupies a position among the substantial residents of his community is due entirely to his own efforts. Gradu- ally he worked his way upward, overcoming all difficulties and obstacles in his path by determined purpose and wresting fortune from the hands of an adverse fate. Indus- try, perseverance and good managemont have formed the elements of his success and his life illustrates what may be accomplished by one who has the will to dare and to do.
Mr. Steinmeyer was born November 27, 1840, on the farm where he now resides, his parents being Froderick and Caroline (Schreel) Steinmeyer. The father was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1802, was there reared to manhood and was employed as a cook. In the fall of 1839, in company with his wife, her parents, her brother Charles and her sister Alvina, he crossed the Atlantic to America, landing at New Orleans, whence he made his way up the Mississippi river to St. Louis. There he spent the winter and the following spring proceeded by boat to Cincinnati, thence by canal to Dayton and by wagon across the country to Pyrmont, where his wife had two brothers living, Frederick and George Schreol. A short time afterward Mr. Steinmeyer, his father- in-law and two brothers-in-law purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in part-
nership, a portion of which is now included within the home farm of our subject. There Mr. Steinmeyer and his wife's parents, Christopher and Catherine Schroel, took up their abode. The latter, with their son Charles and daughter Alvina, came to Amer- ica at the same time Frederick Steinmeyer sought a home in the new world. Mr. Schreel was a cooper and wagon-maker by trade and after coming to the United States followod coopering and farming. He passed away in 1854, and his wife died in 1857. Frederick Steinmeyer continued the opera- tion of his land and became a prosperous ag. riculturist. He lived to a ripe old age, passing away in 1887, at the age of eighty- five. His wife, who was born in 1808, died in 1862, at the age of fifty-four years. They were both active members of the Lutheran church and were people of the highest re- spectability, enjoying the warm regard of friends and neighbors. He and his wife had four children : Frederick, who died at the age of twenty-three years; Edward, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Herman, our subject ; and Caroline, the wife of J. P. Sauer, of Preble county.
Herman Steinmeyor was reared under the parental roof amid the influences of a good home and to the common-school system of the neighborhood is indebted for the edu- cational privileges he enjoyed. As he neared manhood ho assumed the burdens of the farm, being the only son, and at the age of twenty-four took entire charge. In 1875 he purchased eighty acres adjoining the home place and in the fall of 1880 purchased seventy-two acres of land, a portion of which was a part of the original quarter section of land purchased by his father and his uncles. In that year ho built a barn on the place and in 1885 erected his prosent commodious brick
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residence. In later years he has purchased additional land until his farm property now aggregates four hundred and fifty acres, in- cluding a quarter section in Somers town- ship, sixty-two acres across the line in Mont- gomery county and two hundred and twenty- eight acres in Twin township. He has been very successful in the operation of his land and golden harvests have rewarded the care and cultivation which he bestowed upon the fields. He has always given considerable attention to stock-raising, making a spe- cialty of the raising of cattle, and this has been to him a profitable source of income. In 1890 he purchased a half interest in a saw- mill and tile factory near his residence, and about five years later became the sole propri- etor. He is still the owner of the enterprise, which is operated by a foreman whom he employs.
On the 4th of August, 1864, Mr. Stein- meyer was united in marriage to Miss Chris- tina Sauer, a native of Butler county, Ohio, and a daughter of William and Sarah ( Pot- terf) Sauer. Her father was a native of Germany who with his parents came to America when a lad of fifteen years, the family locating in Butler county, Ohio. In 1846 he came to Preble county, settling near West Alexandria. Mr. and Mrs. Steinmeyer have had two children; Ida M., who was born March 23, 1867, and died June 9, 1885; and Sarah Caroline, wife of J. B. Unger, who is now operating her father's farm.
Mr. Steinmeyer has served as school di- rector for many years and has done all in his power to promote the cause of education. He is a member of the Lutheran church and for the past six years has served as its elder. In politics he is a Democrat and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, yet has nevor been an aspirant for office, preferring
to devote his energies to his business inter- ests, in which he has met with excellent suc- cess. His life has been one of marked in- dustry and enterprise, in which a resolute spirit and untiring labor have enabled him to advance steadily step by step until he oc- cupies an onviable position on the plane of affluence.
RICHARD T. ACTON.
Richard T. Acton is now serving for the third term as the mayor of Camden, and no higher testimonial of his faithfulness can be given than the fact that he has twice been re- elected. His administration has beon marked by progressiveness, and under his guidance the city has made marked improvemont and advancement along many lines. A prac- tical business man, he understands thor- oughly the needs of the municipality and conducts his affairs along straightforward business principles. His marked loyalty and devotion to public good have won the recog- nition and commendation of even his polit- ical opponents, and he is regarded to-day as one of the most honored and esteemod cit- izens of Camden.
A native of Preble county, Mr. Acton was born in Eaton, on the 16th of October, 1851. His father, Joseph P. Acton, now liv- ing in Camden, is a native of Rockingham county, Virginia. The grandfather, Josoph Acton, was also born in the Old Dominion and on leaving that state took up his abode in Eaton, Ohio, in 1834. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Cobb. Both died in Eaton of cholera in 1849, leaving a family of four sons and five daughters. With one exception all are yet living, William having passed away in the prime of life, leaving one son. Of the eight who yet survive the
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youngest is now seventy years of age. The grandfather of our subject was a wagon- maker and trained his children to habits of industry and economy. Joseph P. Acton became a cooper and for many years fol- lowed that pursuit, but is now living retired in Camden. He has been a resident of Camden since 1859, and during the poriod of the civil war he joined the Union army, en- listing at Camden in the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry, with which he sorved for a short time as a non-commis- sioned officer. He wedded Martha J. Black, who was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1827, and they became the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom the following are yet living : Richard T., of this review; W. P., who is a super- intendent of one of the departments in the American Tin-Plate Works at Elwood, In- diana; Catherine, the wife of F. A. Wysong, a farmer of Preble county, by whom she has four children; and Elizabeth, the wife of Charles Ecker, of Hamilton, Ohio, by whom she has three childron.
Richard T. Acton, whose name intro- duces this record, pursued his education in the common schools, but attended only about five years. Ho entered school at the regular age, and when a youth of eleven years began working at the cooper's trade in his father's shop. When thirteen years of age he had the care of the family, during his father's service in the war. He lived at home until he had attained the age of sixteen years, when he started out to work at the cooper's trade on his own account, but after a short time he returned to his old home. Not a week has passed since that time in which he has not visited his parents, the family ties having been strengthened with the passing years. Although he followed his trade in his earlier
life, he had both the taste and talent of a musician, and this love of music was in his mind and heart as he worked with the cooper's mallet. He has ombraced every opportunity to advance his musical knowl- edge, and for four consecutive years he was employed as the leader of a circus band. For the past eleven years he has served as super- intendent of music in the public schools of Camden, and under his guidance great progress has been made in his particular line by the students of the city. It is believed that no art has a more ennobling influence upon men than that of music, and it is a lan- guage which is understood by all nations. In this regard Mr. Acton has certainly done a groat work for his fellow townsmen by in- culcating a love and knowledge of music among the younger generation. He is a valued addition to all musical circles and his performances have contributed much to the enjoyment of many public entertainments in the city.
On the IIth of December, 1877, Mr. Acton was united in marriage to Miss Laura Barnet, of Camden, a daughter of Alexander and Sarah Ann ( Wesco) Barnet. Her fa- thor died October 22, 1859, at the age of thirty-five years, his birth having occurred on the 4th of June, 1824. He left a widow and five small children. Mrs. Barnet afterward became the wife of John Bryant, their mar- riage being celebrated in 1892. Mrs. Acton has a brother in Washington, Charles C. Barnet, who is engaged in the salmon-can- ning business. Mr. Acton is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, be- longing to both tho subordinate lodge and the encampment, and has been elected as a representative to the grand encampment at Lancaster, Ohio, in 1900. In politics he is a stalwart Republican and is a recognized
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leader in the ranks of the party. He has served as a member of the city council, and, as before stated, is for the third term filling the office of mayor. His duties of citizen- ship are ever faithfully performed and no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed. Both he and his wife are members of the Universalist church. His success in life may be attributed to his strong principles of honor and integrity, his indomitable energy, and his close and assiduous attention to both the principles and details of his business. In manner he is courteous and genial, and his kindliness, worth and fidelity have gained him a very large circle of friends. .
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