USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 34
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 34
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In 1888 Mr. McColloch was married to Miss Effie G. Wright, of Rushsylvania, Ohio, and they have two children, Frank J. and Gerald W. Mr. and Mrs. McCol- loch are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder for sixteen years. Ile is fraternally associat- ed with the Odd Fellows. the Royal Ar- ranum and the Maccabees.
NATHAN IDDINGS. familiarly known as Nate Iddings, president of the Bradford Bank. and a member of the grain firm of Arnokl & Iddings, of Bradford, may well be called one of the fathers of the town, of which he has been one of the most pron- inent and stirring citizens for a period of forty years, or since 1869.
Ile was born on a farm near Pleasant Hill. in Newton Township, this county, March 17, 1841, son of David and Sarah (Hill) Iddings. His paternal grandfather was Joseph Iddings, whose father (great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch) came to Ohio from South Carolina, settling on a large farm situated on the bonndary
line between Montgomery and Miami Coun- ties, a part of the farm lying in each county. This immigration occurred in 1796, at which time Joseph, grandfather of Nathan, was but a boy. He followed agri- culture, as did also his son, Davis Iddings, who was born in the locality southeast of Pleasant Hill, and who, as has already been seen, married Sarah Hill.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm and in his boyhood attended the country schools. He afterwards taught school for four years in Miami County, in the vicinity of Troy and Pleasant Hill, and proved a successful teacher. Subsequent- ly. in the furtherance of a landable ambi- tion, he took up the study of law, under the guidance of Alexander Long, and after thoroughly mastering the principles of the profession, was admitted to the bar at Cin- cinnati. in April, 1862. Instead of at once devoting himself to the practice of his pro- fession. he took up the business of court reporting, which he followed thereafter for thirty-five years, serving as court re- porter in ten different counties in the west- ern part of the state. He reported in shorthand the first trial in Miami County. at which Judge Williams presided. Dur- ing all this time he made his home in Brad- ford. taking an active part in the improve- ment and development of the town, and being generally recognized as one of its foremost citizens, as he was also one of its first comers. Indeed it is said that he had but one predecessor-John S. Moore -- who opened a grocery store in the place when there was scarcely anything here but a primitive railway station, consisting of a hox car set up at the side of the track, and a woodyard, where the locomotives were accustomed to replenish their stock of fuel.
NATE IDDINGS AND GRANDCHILD
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Mr. Iddings was right on the heels of Mr. Moore, opening a general store almost before the latter had had time to get his trade well started. From that day until the present he has been an active factor in the business life of the town; and not only in its business life, but in practically every part or phase of its development as a progressive community. In the early days, he, with Frank Gulich, organized the voting precincts, and in spite of opposi- tion from the towns of Covington and Get- tysburg, had the village incorporated, and the special school district of Bradford, Miami and Darke Counties established. He was one of the members of the first board of education, and was, more than any other member, responsible for the es- tablishment of the schoolhouse on its pres- ent site. which result was secured only after a long and determined tight on his part. the question being finally settled by an appeal to the popular vote. An inter- esting account of this contest may be found in the historical part of this volume -in the chapter devoted to Education.
For over thirty years Mr. Iddings has. been attorney for the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company. In 1893 he organized the Bradford Bank, of which he has since been the efficient president. He is the owner of a large amount of valuable agricultural property, including some ten farms in Mi- ami and Darke Counties, Ohio, aggregat- ing about 1.500 arres. He also owns about 400 acres south of Pleasant Hill-the old home place-on which farm stands the largest barn in the state, 100x50 feet in di- mensions and three stories in height, with mansard roof.
During his long and stremons career, Mr. Iddings has been able to devote a few
leisure moments to literary pursuits, and his interesting historical sketches, dealing with local subjects, and embodying for the most part his personal reminiscences of men and things, have appeared from time to time in the local journals to the inter- est and edification of our citizens. His own life is an integral part of the history of the town-and, it may be said, of the best part of it. He has never shirked his duty as a good citizen, but on more than one momentous occasion, has stood to his guns and maintained his positon in spite of the resolute efforts of those who were opposed to his ideas and who were in the majority; and this he has done, not from any unreasoning spirit of obstinacy, but from the fact that he had carefully studied the situation and knew that the plan he advocated wonkl in the long run be for the best interests of the conunity. He has always been a man of action, quick to seize the salient point of a position and profit by his advantage while others were still en- gaged in reconnoitreing. As General Grant said, when he saw his opportunity at Fort Donelson, "The one who attacks first will win, and the enemy will have to be quick if he gets ahead of me." so Mr. Iddings in every important turning-point of his career. has acted on the same prin- ciple,-with what snecess those who know him will be ready to testify.
Mr. Iddings was married in 1868 to Naney Patty, a daughter of Charles Patty. They have had one child, a son Frank, who married Lillian Miles, and has a daughter. Mildred.
In addition to the agricultural property owned by Mr. Iddings, which has been already referred to, he is also the owner of about sixty houses in Bradford, which
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he rents. He is a member of the Masonie Order, and is at once the guide, philoso- pher and friend of every interested en- quirer into the history of the town in which he has for so many years made his home.
JACOB P. DOLL. whose valuable farm of sixty acres is situated in Concord Town- ship, about two miles west of Troy. on the north side of the MeKaig road, was born at Troy, Ohio, March 26, 1861, and is a son of Frederick and Barbara (Frank) Doll.
Conrad Doll was the paternal grand- father and when his son Frederick was about five years old, he brought his family from Germany to America, coming direct- ly to Troy, Ohio, which was then a small village. His house stood on the present site of the big Haner warehonse, and from there he moved to the present farm of his son, Frederick, which is in Monroe Town- ship, six miles southwest of Troy. He started to elear his land but met with an accident, a tree falling on him, which eansed his death fifteen hours later, in . March, 1861. He had two children to sur- vive infancy, Frederick and Jacob, both natives of Germany and both living in Monroe Township, Miami County.
Frederick and Jacob Doll were both young when they were left fatherless but they had been thriftily taught to be indus- trious and each one did his share in elear- ing up the farm, attending school when they could spare the time. Frederick Doll married Barbara Frank, who had aeeom- panied her parents from Germany when seventeen years of age. They lived at Troy until after the birth of their oldest son, Jacob P., and then went back to the
farm, where they still reside. Their other children were: Samuel, now deceased; Catherine, wife of Newell Kerr; Mary, who married George Runnings and resides in Chicago: Elizabeth, wife of George Butts; George, Fred and Charles; and Dora, wife of Harry Fox.
Jacob P. Doll attended the distriet schools and lived at home until his mar- riage in 1884, when he went to housekeep- ing on the present Levi Switzer farm in Concord Township, which he rented for one and one-half years. He then rented the Henry Ever farm in Lost Creek Town- ship for four years, after which he bought his present farm from the Williams Brothers. A residence was in course of construction and Mr. Doll completed it and later, when the old barn burned down, he rebuilt it. He earries on a general line of farming, giving seven aeres to tobaceo, and is numbered with the prosperous farmers of the township.
On July 24, 1884, Mr. Doll was married to Miss Dora Kerr, a daughter of John C. Kerr, of Miami County, and to this mar- riage have been born six children, namely : John, who lives in Monroe Township, mar- ried Elizabeth Knife, and they have one son, Ralph; Nina; Clarence, who attends the Troy High School; Frank, who died when aged two years and eight months; and Mary and Stella. Since he was six- teen years of age, Mr. Doll has been a member of the German Lutheran Church. Mrs. Doll was reared in the Christian Church. In politics he is a Demoerat but no office-seeker.
CHARLES A. BILLETT, a progressive and substantial citizen of Brandt, where he conduets a general mercantile business, is
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also associated with his sister, Miss C'aro- line E. Billett, in a general store at Miami ('ity, of which he is half owner. Mr. Bil- lett was born September 17, 1866, a native of Miami City, Ohio, and is a son of Ru- dolph and Sarah (Doggett) Billett.
Mr. Billett attended school at Alcony until he was fifteen years of age. He then went into the country and worked on a farm until he was twenty-two years old, after which he spent one year in the capa- city of salesman for a carriage and buggy firm, selling fruit trees as a side line. Again he turned his attention to farming, buying eighty acres of land in Hlinois, but four years later sold out, in the meanwhile acquiring a farm of fifty acres which is situated near Miami City. This he sold in 1898, and became an active partner with his sister in merchandizing, their combined enterprise resulting in the successful op- erating of two stores. Mr. Billett now is sole proprietor and owner of the Brandt store and he took up his residence at Brandt on March 12, 1900. He is an expe- rieneed merchant, having previously con- ducted a general store at Tippecanoe City and at Kessler Station, disposing of his interest at the latter point in 1899. He is a stoekholder in the City Bank of Tippe- canoe City and he owns a handsome resi- denee and valuable store property at Brandt.
Mr. Billett married Miss Wilda Fern Neal, a daughter of William and Martha Neal, and they have three children, Marie, Homer D. and Floyd E. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and like his late father, early identified himself with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Odd Fellow's lodge at Brandt.
REV. ANTHONY JJ. MENTINK, the esteemed pastor of St. Patrick Church, Troy, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, De- cember 11, 1877, being one of the six chil- dren of Anthony and Rosalie (Weiters- hagen) Mentink. His father, a native of Holland and a blacksmith, is now a resi- dent of Cincinnati, where he still follows his trade.
The subject of this sketch received his carlier educational training in St. Gregory Seminary and completed his theological studies at St. Mary's of the West. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1902 by the Most Rey. William H. Elder, then bishop of Cincinnati, but now deceased. His first charge was as assistant priest at St. An- thony's Church, Cincinnati, where he re- mained until 1906, when, on March 30th of that year, he was transferred to his present parish as pastor.
This parish, which has an interesting history, dates back to 1858, which year saw the erection of the first Catholic church edifice in this locality. Previous to that date, however, it had been customary for the few Catholics who lived in and near Troy to gather at the home of John Dana- her, now deceased, but who then resided on East Main Street. Here the first Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered in 1857, the congregation then numbering about twenty families. Divine service was held about once a month. Their increasing number soon made more commodious quar- ters a necessity, however, and accordingly when the Hon. J. E. Pearson, probate judge, offered them the use of his court room, which was located on the second floor of the building on West Main Street, east of the sheriff's present residence, they gratefully accepted the offer. But while
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making use of this room they looked for- ward to the day when they might have a House of Prayer which they might call their own and which they might enter at any moment to worship the one true God, and all worked with might and main to that end. As the result of their efforts the edifice to which reference has already been made, was erected on the southeast corner of Crawford and Water Streets and was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Rose- crans, brother of General Rosecrans of Civil War fame. Twenty-five years later, in 1883, the church was enlarged to its present dimensions by the Rev. J. M. Feld- mann and rededicated by the most Rev. Archbishop William Henry Elder.
The need of the growing parish now de- manded a parochial school for the proper education of its youth, and under the able direction of the Rev. F. H. Bene, the con- gregation worked unitedly and persistent- ly until the present school was erected, completely equipped and without the en- cumbrance of a debt. There are now sixty pupils in the school, which is in charge of two Sisters of the Precious Blood. The members of the Parish include about sev- enty families, including about 320 souls. In September, 1908, the congregation cele- brated the Golden Jubilee of the church- its fiftieth anniversary, upon which occa- sion suitable services were performed, among them a solemn requiem High Mass for the deceased founders and benefactors of St. Patrick Church .- The parish at the present time is gathering funds for the erection of a new church in the near future.
EDWARD L. SWITZER, who very sue- cessfully operates his father's farm of 166 acres, which is situated in Concord Town-
ship, about four and one-half miles west of Troy, on the Troy and Pleasant Hill Turnpike Road, eighty-three acres lying on each side, was. born December 11, 1873, on a farm in Newton Township, Miami Coun- ty, Ohio. His parents, now living retired in great comfort at No. 213 May Street, Troy, are Levi and Sarah (Zeigler) Switzer.
Levi Switzer was born in 1837, in Penn- sylvania, and was a boy of fourteen years when the long trip was made from there, in a great covered wagon, to a wilderness farm in Miami County. His father, Will- iam Switzer, settled about three miles northeast of Pleasant Hill, in Newton Township, and lived there for many sub- sequent years. William died at Pleasant Hill, to which he had retired, at the age of eighty-six years. Ile had accomplished the clearing of the farm, which he sold to his son, Jacob Switzer, who still owns it. He had four daughters and two sons, namely: Mary, who is the widow of Samuel Divens; C'assie, who is the widow of John Varner: Eliza and Sarah, both deceased; and Levi and Jacob.
Levi Switzer grew to manhood on the home farm and then married Sarah Zeig- ler, also a native of Pennsylvania. For some years after their marriage they lived on rented farms but later Levi Switzer bought the farm in Concord Township. from Nathan Frazier and resided on it un- til he retired from active life. His two sons are Jesse, who resides at Dayton, and Edward L.
Edward L. Switzer was twelve years old when his parents came to the farm under consideration and this place has al- ways been his home. He obtained his education in the distriet schools, after
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which he worked for his father until his marriage, when he took charge. Ile car- ries on a general farming line, growing ten acres of tobacco, and feeds considera- ble stock.
On November 12, 1896, Mr. Switzer was married to Miss Bertha M. Wilson, a daughter of R. F. Wilson, a leading citizen of this section. Mr. Switzer and wife have many friends. They are members of the Christian Church. In politics, he is a Republican.
JOSEPH E. WILKINSON, a respected resident of Piqua, was born in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1844, son of Isaac A. and Ruth R. (Persinger) Wilkinson. His pa- ternal grandfather came to America from near Antrim, in the north of Ireland. The subject of this sketch, who is the young- est of six brothers, was reared on a farm and remained with his parents until reach- ing the age of eighteen years. He then enlisted-ou August 1, 1862-in the Nine- ty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Com- pany C, the regiment being organized at Lima. He served with it in the Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia campaigns, and participated in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga, one of his brothers he- ing killed in the latter engagement.
On Sunday after this battle, while ren- dering assistance to a wounded comrade. he was captured by the rebels. After sery- ing a long period of imprisonment he was finally released and returned home in Oc- toher, 1865. He then attended school for a time and prepared himself for teaching, which profession he followed for about eight years. In 1875 he married Mary A. McKee, of Piqua, Ohio, a daughter of John and Catherine (Kerns) McKee, and soon
afterwards located at Sidney, where he engaged in the lumber and planing-mill business. In 1881 he sold his interest in this industry to accept the appointment of postmaster of Sidney. Mr. Wilkinson's family consists of three children, Kather- ine L., John A., and Thomas R. Mrs. Wil- kinson died January 4, 1909.
Having spoken of his long imprisonment during the war, it is fitting that we speak more fully on the subject, as illustrating some of the horrors and barbarities in- flieted by a people of pretended civiliza- tion and culture upon the helpless prison- ers of war. We will present a sketch of Mr. Wilkinson's life in southern prisons just as he narrated it to us.
"I was captured at Chickamauga, Sep- tember 20, 1863, and conveyed to Belle Island, Virginia, where I was confined a few days. 1 was then taken to the city of Richmond and confined there until in De- cember. at which time it became under- stood there would be no further exchange of prisoners, and about five thousand of us were transported to Danville, Virginia, and confined in tobacco-houses until the following April. During our confinement at this place smallpox broke out among the prisoners and proved very malignant in type. Unfortunately I was prostrated by the disease, but passed through it and acted as nurse for several weeks in what they called the "hospital." It did not de- serve the name, for we had no medicine whatever, except red pepper pods, which we boiled and administered the tea to the sick, with apparently beneficial results. as it seemed to hasten the striking out of the disease. At this time there were twenty- three of my regiment with me, but. alas, nineteen of the number died in the prison
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pen, and only four ever saw the old flag again.
" In April, 1864, we were moved to An- dersonville, Georgia, a distance of about seven hundred miles. We were transport- ed over this distance in close box cars, there being from sixty to ninety of us in each car. The trip occupied seven days, and during that time none of us were per- mitted to leave the cars for any purpose whatever. When we reached Anderson- ville a number of dead men were found in each car. The sight of this new prison made many of the boys look down-hearted, as they contemplated the evidences of hor- rid cruelty, and thought of the govern- mental policy which refused exchange of prisoners. The question. Can we endure another eight months of this torture? was staring us in the face and demanding an answer we could not give. Arriving April 19, 1864, we found but few prisoners on our arrival, but each day brought in old prisoners from other places of confine- ment. Andersonville is situated about one hundred and sixty miles south of Atlanta, and is quite an obscure place, scarcely worthy of a village name. The prison pen was out in the open field, in which a num- ber of trees and stumps were yet standing. We made good use of the time laying in a supply of wood, which we buried in the ground, and then slept over it to prevent it being stolen. All the time our number increased by the arrivals each week, until in August the number reached thirty-five thousand.
We remained until September, 1864, when the advance of Sherman after the capture of Atlanta alarmed the Rebel Gov- ernment touching our safety, and it was determined to remove us. We were then
transported to various points in the south, about one-third being sent to Florence, South Carolina, a similar prison, but one which proved even more destructive to life than Andersonville. With many others I was sent to Charleston, South Carolina, and put in such a position as to defy our government and prevent our army from further shelling the city. After being kept in this position about thirty days, we, too, were sent to Florence. My experience at Andersonville is too horrid to relate, and almost beyond belief. It is sufficient to say the rebel history makes this statement touching the fatality in the prison: April, 1864, one in every seventeen died; May, one in every twenty-six ; June, one in every twenty-two; July, one in every eighteen ; August, one in every eleven; September, one in three; October, one in two; and November, one in every three.
Think of it for a moment. To realize it fully put yourself in our position and see the increase of the death-rate, until after risking a thousand chances you find in No- vember that the chances are even, and then think of that mortality which carried off thirteen thousand of our boys, actually starved to death in a land of civilization and plenty. To add one more horror to the picture, recall the infamous and dia- bolical order of John H. Winder, com- mander of prisons, who, hearing of the capture of Atlanta, and fearing for our safety, issued the following notice, which he posted prominently before the pris- oners :
" 'Order No. 13.
" . The officers on duty and in charge of the Battery of Florida Artillery at the time, will, upon receiving notice that the enemy has approached within seven miles
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of this post, open upon the stockade with grapeshot, without reference to the situa- tion beyond these lines of defense.
* * (Signed.) JOHN H. WINDER, " 'Brig .- Gen'l Com'g.'
"Think of a man issuing an order for forty guns to open a deadly fire upon thir- ty-five thousand unarmed, sick and help- less prisoners. It is an infamy so dia- holical that history need not be asked for a parallel. It has been said that this man Winder 'died a peaceful death.' Perhaps so; in such ease justice had not yet been meted out to him, and stern must that jus- tiee be which will ever pay him back in currency of his own eoinage.
"At Florence the prisoners numbered about eleven thousand. Most of us had already been imprisoned about twelve months, and were wearing the same cloth- ing in which we had been captured. That clothing had become so ragged and tat- tered that it scarcely covered our naked- ness. Winter was approaching and no prospeets of release further than the ad- vance of Sherman. Mortality was thin- ning our ranks and our prison was a char- nal house. Rations were reduced. For four months one pint of coarse corn meal was a daily ration, no salt or meat of any kind, and half the time no wood to cook it. All we could do was to mix our meal in water and drink it without boiling or oth- erwise cooking it. Such surroundings, such starvation and exposure told terribly against us, and the monthly mortality foot- ed np forty per cent. In my eighteen months' prison life none was more severe than that at Florenee.
" From Florence I arrived at Richmond, March 10, 1865, about one year after leav- ing it. We were sworn not to take up
arms against the Confederate Govern- ment until duly exchanged. Six hundred of us were then taken down the James River and turned over to United States officers. Quite a number of these were old prisoners. For myself, it had been eight- een months since I had seen the old flag beneath which I had marched and fought. We were all sick and weak, but as we came in sight of the starry banner we yelled wildly and crazily at the top of our voices. The rebel authorities threatened to pre- vent om ontbursts of cheers, but we were in sight of our men and could not be re- strained. We told them we would yell and every one of us kept our word. The happi- est moment of my life was when I stepped ashore. Stepping from the boat we were met by Northern ladies, who had provided sandwiches and coffee for our reception. One of them-she seemed an angel-hand- ed me a cup of coffee, which 1 gladly ae- cepted and drank, but my stomach revolt- ed at an article it had not known for a year and a half. The lady saw and appre- ciated my difficulty, and, as if I were her own child, she uttered the words 'Poor fellow' so sympathetically that they almost overcame me. Those words were the first I had heard uttered by a woman from the time of my captivity, and they came like an angel's benediction.
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