Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio, Part 32

Author: Harbaugh, T. C. (Thomas Chalmers), 1849-1924, ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 882

USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 32
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 32

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).

C. G. SNOOK, who is superintendent of the Troy Carriage Sunshade Company, one of Troy's important business enterprises, has been a resident of this city for a quar- ter of a century, but he was born in Knox County, Ohio. After completing his pub- lic school education, Mr. Snook learned the trade of carriage trimming, at Mt. Ver- non, Ohio, where he remained for four years, going from there to MeKeesport. Penna., for a year and a half and subse- quently to Henderson, Kentucky, for the same length of time. He then spent one year at his trade in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and one year again at Mt. Vernon, after which he came to Troy and for fifteen years thereafter was connected with the Troy Buggy Works Company, during a large part of this time being foreman of the trimming department. In 1900 he be-

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came identified with the Troy Carriage Sunshade Company, accepting the super- intendency of the plant and acquiring stock in the concern. In 1893 Mr. Snook was married to Miss Anna Counts, of Troy, and they have two children, Ade- laide Elizabeth and John Lloyd. Mr. Snook and family belong to the Episcopal Church, of which he is junior warden.

In polities a stanch Republican, Mr. Snook takes considerable interest in local matters of a publie nature and is serving as a member at large of the City Council of Troy. Fraternally, he is a Knight of Pythias and socially is a member of the Troy Club, of which he is a director.

SAMUEL HOEFLICH, one of Coving- ton's most substantial citizens and for a number of years a leading business man, has been engaged in the tobacco business here for the past seven years, his large warehouse standing on the corner of Bridge Street and the C. H. & D. railroad. He was born at Dayton, Ohio, December 31, 1857, and is a son of Charles and Cath- erine (Ramph) Hoeflich. The parents of Mr. Hoeflieh moved from Dayton to Piqua in 1858, and from there, about 1862, to a farm near Covington, on the Gettysburg Turnpike, where the father died. He op- erated a small distillery. In March, 1864, the mother of Mr. Hoeflich moved with her children to Covington and condneted a boarding house here. She was married (first) to John Andrew Kraus and had two children, John and C. G. Of her see- ond marriage, to Charles Hoeflich, was born one son, Samuel.

Samuel Hoeffich was educated in the Covington schools. For a number of years of business life he dealt in wines and

liquors, but later turned his attention to the tobacco business, in which he is largely interested. He erected his large ware- house and gives continuous employment to five experienced men and several girls. In 1886 he erected his handsome brick resi- dence. Mr. Hoeflich married Miss Lizzie Popp and they have three children, Carl, Lafayette, and Cleo Catharine. He is a man of pleasant, social qualities and be- longs to the Red Men and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Hoeflich is notably chari- table and has done a great deal in the way of benevolence in this section. He has also generously contributed to various public-spirited enterprises which have greatly furthered the prosperity of Cov- ington.

CHARLES LEONARD WOOD, pro- prietor of the Piqua Planing Mill and Lumber Company, of Piqua, is one of the eity's old and reliable business men, one whose activities have been almost alto- gether in the line of manufacturing. He was born June 28, 1841, in New Hamp- shire, and is a son of Charles A. Wood.

The late Charles A. Wood came with his family to Piqua, in 1843, and for about ten years conducted a cooperage business. He then resided on a farm for some years but later embarked in the manufacture of staves and heads, at Dunkirk, Indiana, where he lived for seven years. Upon his return to Miami County he engaged in the Inmber business at Piqua, in which he con- tinned until he retired. His death oc- curred March 17, 1906.

Charles Leonard Wood was two years old when his parents came to Piqua, in which city he was educated both in litera- ture and the law, and after studying under

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Attorney McKinney, he was admitted to the bar in 1865 and entered into practice with W. N. Foster, under the style of Foster & Wood. After one year of law practice, Mr. Wood turned his attention to manufacturing and has been concerned in manufacturing plants ever since. For seven years he was so connected at Dun- kirk, Indiana, and for thirty years he has been in the lumber business at Piqua, op- erating a planing mill and manufacturing doors, sash, blinds and all house wood- work. For twenty years he has been in- terested in the operation of a large paper mill at Kokomo, Indiana. While Mr. Wood's natural inclinations led him to adopt an industrial rather than a profes- sional life, he has never regretted his early training, realizing that all kinds of knowledge are useful to those who are at the head of enterprises which affect the in- terests of many employes.

In 1870 Mr. Wood married Miss Julia A. Miller, daughter of William Miller, and they have three children, namely : Martha ; Mrs. George H. Taylor, of Hartwell, Ohio; and William W., of Kokomo, Indiana. Mr. Wood and family are members of the Green Street Methodist Episcopal Church, of the board of trustees of which he has been a member for twenty years, and for eleven years he was superintendent of the Sunday school. He has been identified with many charitable and benevolent move- ments; at present he is one of the board of trustees of the Ball Memorial Hospital, and for twelve years he served on the board of directors of the Y. M. C. A. His interest in educational matters has always been marked and for fifteen years he served on the School Board and for ten years was president of that body. Coming

of Revolutionary stock, he is a member of the board of managers of the Ohio So- ciety of the Sons of the Revolution. For many years he has been a Mason and be- longs to Blue Lodge and Chapter at Dun- kirk, Indiana.

DANIEL LONGENDELPHER, whose fine farm of 168 acres lies in Concord Township, on both sides of the Covington Turnpike Road, about two and one-half miles northwest of Troy, carries on gen- eral farming and for many years has also engaged very successfullly in the horse business. He was born July 23, 1866, on the first farm on which his father settled, in Concord Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Casper and Eliza- beth (Favorite) Longendelpher.

Casper Longendelpher was born in Ger- many and was five years old when his widowed mother brought him to America. She came immediately to Miami County, where she later married a Mr. Rose but no children were born to that union. Cas- per was frequently called by his step- father's name. He remained at home until his marriage and then purchased a farm of forty acres, the same being now a part of the Robert McCurdy farm, which he later sold and bought 120 aeres from Sam- uel Oaks. This second farm was situated about five miles from Troy and there Mr. Longendelpher lived for a number of years. He subsequently acquired other farms and now owns 100 acres adjoining his old home farm, and also the old Scott farm of 143 acres and a comfortable home in Troy, where he now resides, at the age of sixty-nine years. He married Eliza- beth Favorite, who died in June, 1905. She was a daughter of Daniel Favorite,

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one of the pioneer settlers of Concord Township. They had seven children born to them, as follows: Daniel; Sallie; Ida, who married Joseph Sigel; Elizabeth, who married Elmer Fish; Ella, who married Jolin McCurdy; Lillian, who married Lee Thompson; and William, who married Mary Wilhelm.

Daniel Longendelpher was two years old when his parents moved to the farm on which they resided until they retired to Troy. As he was the eldest son much of the hard work of the farm fell to his lot, his only brother being the youngest of the family. During the winter seasons through boyhood, he attended the district schools but when he was fourteen years of age he did the work of a man. He re- mained at home and helped his father until he was twenty-one years of age and when he started out for himself it was entirely without capital. He went to work with a will and as he had been trained by a strict father, he knew everything necessary per- taining to the management and develop- ment of a farm and also, knowing the value of money, he was able to be careful in its expenditure, investing only when he foresaw adequate returns. This, in a measure, explains why Mr. Longendel- pher, although only a middle aged man, has been able to build up a comfortable fortune for himself, with not one dollar of initial help. He has given a great deal of attention to raising fine stock, particularly horses, and he has the right idea, that only the best is worth all the trouble, time and expense that has to be expended. He owns eighteen head of horses on his place and owns five registered mares and two imported mares. Two of his registered stallions are known all through this sec-

tion. One is "Bud," a four-year-old Percheron Gray, and the other is "Billie Taft," sold for $800 on May 14, to Andrew Dewese, also a Percheron Gray two-year- old, the former weighing 1,600 pounds and the latter 1,400. They are magnificent animals. Mr. Longendelpher bought his present farm in 1900, from Freeman Skin- ner, and moved on it two years later. In 1901 his buildings burned and he replaced them with the present substantial struc- tures, his comfortable residence being an eight-room house of large size.

In 1896 Mr. Longendelpher was married to Miss Emma F. Rosenberger, who was born in Virginia, a daughter of Abraham Rosenberger. Their family contains four children, all sons-George, Joseph, Dan- iel, and Raymond. In politics, Mr. Lon- gendelpher is a Republican and he has frequently been called upon to serve in township offices. At present he is a mem- ber of the Concord School Board. During the time he was in the office of road super- visor, the township highways were very carefully attended to. Whatever Mr. Longendelpher does at all he does well, and his thorough-going methods have con- tributed largely to his own material pros- perity.

ALEXANDER M. HEYWOOD, resid- ing in his pleasant home at No. 301 East Franklin Street, Troy, now retired from active participation in business, is one of the honored surviving veterans of the great Civil War. He was born October 17, 1840, in Staunton Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Nathaniel Heywood, who was a pioneer settler and farmer in Miami County, and died when his son was two months old.

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In 1853, when thirteen years of age, Mr. Heywood came to Troy and here attended school almost up to the time of entering the military service of his country, in 1861. He enlisted in Company H, Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months, be- ing the first youth to enlist from Troy. He passed safely through his first enlist- ment and returned home only to re-enlist in Company B, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. He was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and he partici- pated in the following engagements : Tate's Ford, Ky .; Perryville, Ky .; Stone River and Tullahoma, Tenn .;. Dng Gap, Chickamauga, Ga .; Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, Tenn .; Ringold, Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain and Marietta, Ga .; Chattahoochie River; Peach Tree Creek; Atlanta; Siege of Atlanta; Jonesboro; Siege of Savannah; Benton- ville; the Raleigh campaign; Johnson's surrender and then followed the Grand Review at Washington City.

Mr. Heywood went into the service with the rank of sergeant and was promoted to be second lieutenant, first lieutenant and acting adjutant for one year, and in Janu- ary, 1865, was commissioned captain. Aft- er he had reached home he was still further honored by being brevetted major. Dur- ing his long, arduous and dangerous serv- ice he was never seriously injured, al- though his place was many times where the battle raged thickest.

For about one year following his return from the army, Major Heywood engaged in a grocery business and then retired to his farm, on which he lived for the next twelve years. Upon his return to Troy he conducted an agricultural implement busi-

ness for six years and was then elected sheriff of Miami County and was reelected to a second term. He retains business in- terests but does not devote much personal attention to them. He is a director of the Troy National Bank. On October 17, 1865, Mr. Heywood was married to Miss Ade- laide Harker, who was born and reared at Troy. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church, Mr. Heywood be- ing one of the trustees. He is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic.

HON. THEODORE SULLIVAN, son of Samuel and Maria (Crook) Sullivan, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in March, 1843. His grandfather, James Sul- livan, emigrated from the South at an early day and settled in Clark County, this state, where the father of our subject was born. Samuel and Maria Sullivan were blessed with eleven children, of whom Theodore was the third. He attended the common schools of Montgomery County until sixteen years of age, after which he entered Linden Hill Academy, and later Antioch College, from which institution, however, he did not graduate.

Deciding to adopt the law as a profes- sion, he studied for the bar at Dayton, in 1864, where he practiced for a long time. In 1867 he moved to Miami County and took up his residence in Troy in 1871, in which year he was nominated and elected county treasurer on the Republican ticket. From 1876 to 1891 he practiced law con- tinuously and exclusively at Troy, where he was connected with some of the most important cases that came before the bar during this period. In 1891 he was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Miami County, which position he ably

HON. THEODORE SULLIVAN

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filled until his promotion to the Circuit Benchi, which event took place in 1899. Judge Sullivan is still occupying the posi- tion of judge of the Circuit Court, Second Circuit of the State of Ohio. Such in brief is the story of the life of the subject of this sketch.

Judge Sullivan in all the legal phases of his life has won the encomiums of all. Bred to the law in early life, by careful prepara- tion for its sterner duties, he has merited the several important positions which he has reached. A careful student, a good analytical lawyer and an impartial judge, he has served the people to the best of his ability. His experience at the bar and on the bench has given him a wide range of acquaintance, and his genial and courteons manners have surrounded him with a host of warm friends. He is accessible at all times, and when not engaged in the oner- ons duties of his position he turns to the best literature for recreation, finding it · sometimes an incentive to the more labori- ous work of the judge. Possessed of a keen legal mind which enables him to grasp the intricacies of the causes which beset judges of our higher courts, he is eminently fitted for the place which he holds today.

The laity know little of the real work of those who are called upon to fill the bench of Ohio. These men are too often under- rated, and only those who meet them in a legel capacity are fitted to estimate their true worth. Judge Sullivan has reached that period of life when the mind of the trained lawyer is at its best, when it is superiorly fitted to judge between man and man without fear or favor. The home of Judge Theodore Sullivan is always open to his friends. He knows no distinctions of humanity. Rising from the ranks of his

own exertions and the endorsements of the people, he is honored wherever he is known. In politics, as has been said, he is a Republican and has often been called into the councils of his party. But he pre- fers above all things the profession which he has followed so long. Judge and Mrs. Sullivan have one son, Walter, who resides in New York City.

WILLIAM H. SOWERS, a highly es- teemed citizen of Covington, Ohio, where he has been living a retired life for the past few years, is a veteran of the great Civil War, and was born Jannary 9, 1842, in Covington, Miami County, Ohio, a son of John and Mary (Thompson) Sowers.

John Sowers was born in Berks County, Penna., where he was reared, and as a young man came to Covington, Ohio, where he was married to Mary Thompson, who was born in Newberry Township, the daughter of John Thompson. Sylvester Thompson, the grandfather of Mrs. Sow- ers, came from North Carolina in 1808, and for many years ran a still house on the home farm in Ohio. His son John, who was born in 1798, in North Carolina, ac- companied the family to Ohio, and grew up on the farm in Newberry Township, south of Covington, which adjoined that of the Sowers. John Thompson married Katha- rine Rench, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, and they became the parents of twelve children, of whom Mrs. Sowers was the eldest ; three died in infancy, and but two are now living-Mrs. Catherine Falk- ner and Mrs. Lavina Marlin of Covington. John Sowers died in 1898, and his widow survived him until 1902, at which time she was the oldest native-born woman in Miami County.

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William H. Sowers was reared in Cov- ington, where on April 19, 1861, he enlisted for three months' service in the Eleventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On October 11th of the same year he became a member of the Sixty-fourth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and with that regiment he served until being mustered out of the service October 12, 1864, at Columbus, Ohio, he being stationed for nearly all of that period at Louisville, Ky. After his service, Mr. Sowers returned to Coving- ton, but later went to Bradford, where for some time he was engaged in the mill and grain business, also operating a general store with his father and brothers, the warehouse and store being in one build- ing. In addition to this, Mr. Sowers was agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad at that time. In 1883 he removed with his family to Chicago, where for seven years he was in the employ of the Adams Ex- press Company, and he then took charge of the parcel room and bureau of informa- tion at the Union Depot, Chicago, con- tinning in that capacity until 1905. At this time Mr. Sowers returned to Covington, where he has since lived a retired life. Mr. Sowers has not been in the best of health for the past few years, due, no doubt, to his army service, and he spends his winters at Hot Springs, Ark.

In 1862, while at Louisville, Mr. Sowers was united in marriage with Luella Dun- ning, who is a daughter of James Barry and Sarah (Porter) Dunning, the former a native of Virginia and one of the early grocers of Covington, and the latter a na- tive of Kentucky. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sowers, namely: Ed- ward, who died at the age of thirteen months; and Nettie, who married Winfield

Freeman, and died after a married life of one year.

W. S. EBY, secretary of the Piqua Granite & Marble Company, doing busi- ness at No. 521 West Wood Street, Piqua, was born at Piqua, Ohio, in 1858, and is a son of the venerable William Eby.

William Eby was born at Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1825. He learned the car- penter trade and after coming to Piqua, in 1852, did a large amount of work in his line in this city, much of which endures. He has reached the age of eighty-four years and still resides here, one of the oldest and most esteemed citizens.

W. S. Eby grew to manhood in his na- tive place and obtained his education in her schools. For about three years in his early business life he was interested in broom making and then went into the mar- ble and granite business with J. F. Hum- mel, with whom he continued for nine years. Following this, Mr. Eby carried on a stone contracting business for ten years, after which he formed a partnership with J. A. Flatz, under the style of Flatz & Eby. This partnership existed for six years, when Mr. Flatz was succeeded by Mr. Hauk, and the style became Eby & Hank, which continued for four years, when the present organization was effect- ed. The Piqua Granite & Marble Company was formed, with a capital stock of $25,- 000, and the success of the concern is in- dicated by the almost immediate intention of advancing the capital stock to $35,000, and the erection of a plant, which in con- struction and equipment, will be one of the most complete in the State. The new plant is to be located on the corner of Col- lege and Water Streets, one of the best

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sites for the purpose that could be se- cured. The officers of the company are all men of substance and reliability: C. N. Adlard, president ; P. Hauk, manager and treasurer; and W. S. Eby, secretary. The board of directors is made up of the following capitalists : C. N. Adlard, J. H. Clark, Paul Hauk, J. A. Flatz and W. S. Eby. The products manufactured by this concern inelnde everything from the mar- ble plaything to the most expensive man- soleum. They give constant employment to twelve men and this force will be greatly increased when their new quarters are completed. Mr. Eby has additional busi- ness interests, one of these being the Piqua Furniture Company.

In 1881 Mr. Eby was married to Miss Rose C. Duncan, a daughter of George Duncan, of Piqua, and they have four children: Grace D., who is the wife of Paul B. Flack, who is in the coal business in this city; and Edna, Florence and Car- roll. Mr. Eby is a Mason and an Odd Fel- low, belonging to the higher branches in both organizations.

JOHN H. RACER, dealer in real estate and breeder of fancy poultry, at Troy, formerly was very prominently identified with the construction of the leading in- terurban railroad lines in this section of the State. He was born in 1858, near Lit- tle Washington, in Rappahannock County, Virginia, and when sixteen years of age accompanied his parents to Greene Coun- ty, Ohio, where he lived until grown to manhood.

After completing his education, Mr. Racer entered into newspaper work, be- coming editor of the Bellbrook Moon, of Bellbrook, Ohio, where he resided for

eleven years, identifying himself with the town's various interests, including the building of the Magnetic Hotel. Later he became interested in interurban traction and was the first secretary of the Dayton & Xenia and the Dayton & Spring Valley railroads. There was much opposition to the building of these lines and in all the complications which arose during their construction, Mr. Racer was prominent, the final success of the enterprise being largely due to his taet, judgment and ex- ecutive ability. He then removed to Day- ton and was associated there with Winters & Clegg. in the construction of the Dayton & Troy Railroad, having charge of the se- curing of the private rights and the fran- chises through the incorporated towns. He was identified with this road for three years, going then to the Cincinnati & Love- land Railroad in the same capacity. His health becoming impaired, he retired from railroad activity one year later and set- tled at Troy. Here he embarked in the business of raising thoroughbred poultry, and his yards contain many exceedingly valuable specimens. He breeds the White Plymouth Rock, the single comb White Leghorns, the White Wyandottes, the Barred Roek, the Silver Spangled Ham- burgs and others, with the English Ring- neek and Golden pheasants. One speci- men of the latter is of such beauty and value that Mr. Racer has refused $100 for it. His fowls have frequently been on ex- hibition and he has the world record of 96 3-4 White Leghorns and 95 1-2 White Plymouth Rocks. During the past year Mr. Racer has done a large business in handling Canadian land, in addition to his other activities. He owns 160 acres of

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land adjoining New Dayton, Alberta Prov- ince, Canada.

In 1901 Mr. Racer was married to Miss Mary E. Enyeart, who was born and reared at Troy. She is a daughter of John L. and Lydia (Martendale) Enyeart, na- tives of Bedford County, Pa., and Mont- gomery County, Ohio, respectively. Mr. Racer's fraternal interests include mem- bership in the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows.

ENYEARTS-The latter part of the Sixteenth Century, two brothers, younger sons of the Prince of Holland, of noble birth and great wealth, emigrated to Amer- ica. The elder went to Pennsylvania and settled, the younger to New Jersey. About the year 1816, a descendant of the elder came west to Ohio and settled in Butler County. A few years later several fam- ilies of Enyearts settled in Ohio, Warren, Butler, Montgomery and Miami Counties and some going to Indiana and Illinois.

The Enyearts are lineal descendants of the Black Prince, famous in English His- tory, and of Louis XIV. of France, who, although perhaps very wicked and proud, well deserved the title of "Louis Le Grand" as he was called by the French people. With two such ancestors the Enyearts have every reason to keep a family record. William Enyeart, one of the descendants, married Jane Vorres. William was the father of twenty-one chil- dren; his descendants are James, Joseph, Silas, Benjamin, Thomas, Levi, Abraham, (sisters) Jane, Elenor, Margaret, (half brothers and sister), David, John, William and Jacob, Rebecca. A number did not come west; the writer cannot give thie names of those. James Enyeart, son of

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Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio, Part 32

Author: Harbaugh, T. C. (Thomas Chalmers), 1849-1924, ed. and comp Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co Number of Pages: 882

Author: Harbaugh, T. C. (Thomas Chalmers), 1849-1924, ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 882