USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 38
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 38
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
JAMES SMITH, who comes of an old and respected family of Lost Creek Town- ship. Miami County, Ohio, is the owner of 180 acres of good land. He lives about six and one-half miles northeast of Troy. He is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, the date of his birth being January 27, 1856, and he is a son of Alexander and Isabella ( Waymeyer) Smith.
Alexander Smith was the youngest of a large family of children, but owing to his great size was known as the "big brother." He was born in Rock Bridge County, Vir- ginia. where he learned the trade of a blacksmith, but when about twenty years of age he moved from that state on account of his anti-slavery views, and first located at Dayton, Ohio. Through his influence the other members of the family later
347
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
moved to Ohio. Shortly after his arrival he built a shop at Frederick, about twelve miles from Dayton, and later he became the owner of a farm in Butler Township, Montgomery County, on which he built a blacksmith shop. He worked at his trade and farmed until 1862, when he sold out and moved to Lost Creek Township, Miami County. Here he purchased the farm now owned by his son, Benjamin Franklin Smith, and passed the remainder of his days. He was married in Montgomery County to Isabella Waymeyer, who was a native of that county and whose death oc- eurred two years prior to that of her hus- band. They were parents of the following children: Sarah, widow of Joseph Ray and a resident of Kansas; Jane, wife of Jonathan Tobias, of Staunton Township; Benjamin Franklin, of Lost Creek Town- ship; James; Wesley, who lives in Lost Creek Township; Harrison, of Nebraska; and William, who died young.
James Smith was a very small boy when his parents moved to Miami County, in 1862, and he received a limited educational training in the public schools. Ile spent his time at hard work angl lived on the home farm until the death of his father. as did the other sons. Alexander divided his property shortly before his death, and James received a good farm of 100 aeres, where he now lives. He and his brother, Frank, also purchased 160 acres, which they rent out. He has followed general farming and is one of the substantial citi- zens of the township. He has traveled quite extensively through the west and southwest parts of this country, and the more he travels the better is his opinion of the community in which he lives. Po- litically, he is a Republican.
J. M. SPENCER, a prominent young business man of Troy, Ohio, is secretary of the Hobart Electric Manufacturing Company, to which position he was elected in August, 1908. Ile was born in Piqua, Ohio, in 1883, and is a son of Moses G. Spencer, deceased. Moses G. Spencer was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and about the year 1862 became a resident of Piqua, Miami County, Ohio. He engaged in the dry goods business for a time and later operated a grain elevator as a mem- ber of the firm of Spencer & Miller. His death occurred at Piqua in 1900.
J. M. Spencer was reared in Piqua and received his preliminary education in the public schools. After graduating from the Piqua High School in 1901, he entered Wooster University, and in 1905 received the degree of Pl. B. from that institution. He then became identified with the Troy Umbrella and Canopy Company at Troy, and continued with that concern until he formed a connection with the Hobart Elec- trie Manufacturing Company. He is also identified with several other Troy enter- prises. In 1907 Mr. Spencer was united in marriage to Miss Caroline McCulloch, of Freeport, Pennsylvania. Religiously they are members of the Presbyterian Church. While in college Mr. Spencer became affili- ated with the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He also is a member of the Troy Club.
JOHN FRANKLIN McALPIN, whose productive farm of seventy-five aeres is situated in Staunton Township, on the Troy and Piqua Turnpike Road, three miles northwest of the former city, is one of the township's representative men. 1Ie was born May 12, 1863, at Little Rock,
34S
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Arkansas, and is a son of John Harvey and Rachel J. (Nash) McAlpin.
The father of Mr. McAlpin was born in Tennessee, in July, 1830, but has been a resident of Ohio for forty-five years. Al- though a southern man by birth and rear- ing, he was opposed to slavery and was not willing to serve in the Confederate army when his native State was in rebellion against the Union. He was drafted, how- ever, as a soldier and suffered hardship in making his escape. He came to Ohio with his family, from Arkansas, about 1864, settling four and one-half miles northeast of Piqua, where he lived for six years. He then moved on the Mitchell farm, one mile south of Pigna, where he remained for nineteen years. In 1890 he purchased his present farm, which lies three-fourths of a mile from his son's farm. He married Rachel J. Nash, who was born in a southern state, and still sur- vives. The following children were born to them : James M .; Cassandra C., who is the wife of Jotham De Weese; a babe that died; and John Franklin.
John Franklin MeAlpin, known to his friends as Frank, was one year old when his parents came to Miami County. He remembers the first school he ever at- tended, this being held in a little briek building near Piqua. He began work on the farm before he was out of boyhood, always living at home until his marriage, with the exception of one year, which he spent in the wilderness of southwestern Kansas. After he returned he was mar- ried on January 7, 1886, to Miss Elizabeth J. Maxwell, a daughter of Jonas Maxwell, and they have one son, Earl M. The latter is an expert stenographer, being a graduate of a commercial school at Piqua.
After his marriage, Mr. MeAlpin rented a farm east of Miami City and resided on it for three years, later rented the home farm for one year, and in 1898 bought his present excellent property from George Edge. He has made many substantial' improvements, but the farm residence was already on the place.
Mr. McAlpin is a strong Republican in his political principles. At present he is filling the office of turnpike superintend- ent. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Troy. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church at Piqua.
WILLIAM E. HENDERSON, proprie- tor of the Piqua Creamery, at Piqua, has been a resident of this city for the past eleven years and during this period he has thoroughly identified himself with her best interests. Mr. Henderson was born Sep- tember 26, 1854, near De Graff, Logan County, Ohio, where he was reared and at- tended school.
Mr. Henderson's first business connec- tion was in the mercantile line, he begin- ning as a clerk in the drug store of M. D. Brown, at St. Paris, and later becoming a member of the firm, which became Brown & Henderson. After selling his interest there, he became manager of a grain ele- vator at De Graff, which he operated for three years, and after retiring from that connection he was engaged in farming and stockraising for several years. During five years of this period he was manager of a creamery at De Graff. In 1898, with the experience thus gained, lie came to this city and established the Pigna Cream- ery, one of the largest and best equipped creameries in this section. It has a ea- pacity of 20,000 pounds of butter per week
3.19
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
and he receives his eream from Miami. Shelby, and Champaign County farmers and produces a quality of hutter that is in constant and increasing demand. He gives employment to some twenty men, who are subjected to the strictest sanitary super- vision. He is a stockholder also in the Troy Creamery.
Mr. Henderson was married in 1878, to Miss Clara A. Riker, of St. Paris, Ohio, and they have two children-Paul A., who is engaged in engineering work in Idaho; and Homer R., who is associated in busi- ness with his father. Mr. Henderson and family are members of the Green Street Methodist Episcopal Church and he is a member of its board of trustees.
JOHN E. HENNE, one of Troy's most highly respected retired eitizens, who was active in business in this eity for a num- ber of years and identified with the growth and development of this section to a large extent, was born in 1846, in Germany, and when fourteen years of age emigrated to Ameriea and located at Troy, Ohio.
Mr. Henne worked at the shoemaking trade for two years after reaching Troy. and then attempted to enter the army, but was refused on aceount of his youth. He then became a shoe clerk and worked in a store until 1865, when, in partnership with his brother, Charles Henne, he estab- lished a shoe store, which they conducted for fourteen years. Mr. Henne then built on South Main Street and engaged in a restaurant business there until 1902, after which he carried on an insurance business until 1909, when he retired from all busi- ness activity. In addition to his comfort- able residence at No. 652 South Market Street, he has other residence and two
business properties in Troy and a farm of 117 aeres which is well improved, situ- ated on the Pleasant Hill Road, three miles from the city. Mr. Henne has been a very active citizen and at present is serv- ing on the Board of Review. Formerly he was a member of the Trojan Battery and served as first lieutenant and also as treas- urer of the organization. Mr. Henne was one of the organizers of the People's Building and Savings Association Com- pany of Troy, Ohio-capital stock $1,000,- 000-of which he was one of the first di- rectors and is now vice-president.
In 1865 Mr. Henne was married to Miss Margaret Anna Eitel, who died September 10, 1908, leaving five children, namely : Anna, who is the wife of Judge E. W. Maier; Lillian, who is the wife of George Daugherty, agent for the American Ex- press Company at Troy; Harry and Frank, both of whom are in the jewelry business; and Lafayette. For many years Mr. Henne has been identified with the or- der of Odd Fellows.
CHARLES CHAFFEE, one of Eliza- beth Township's most respected citizens, who resides on his well improved farm of twelve acres, situated in Section 35, one mile south of Casstown, was born in Mid- dlesex County, New Jersey, February 10, 1833. His parents were Charles and Mary Ann (MeCullough) Chaffee. The Chaffee ancestors came originally from France and settled in New Jersey, and there the grandfather, Thomas Chaffee, spent his whole life. All his ten children settled in the same State.
Charles Chaffee, father of Charles Chaf- fee of Miami County, was married in early manhood to Mary Ann MeCollough, who
350
HISTORY OF MIAMII COUNTY
Was also born in New Jersey, and they had the following children: Thomas, who served as a soldier in the Civil War, later moved to Sandusky. Ohio, and subsequent- ly met death at the hands of an unknown robber : Samuel. who resides at Nickerson, Reno County. Kansas, married (first) to Katherine Bine, of New Jersey, who left three children-Melvinia, Calvin and Charles-and (second) to a lady from Illi- nois, who left no issue, and (third) to a lady from Kansas, who left one child, Wannetto; Charles, subject of this sketch; and William, who married Maria Wallace, both now deceased, survived by Ocia Belle and Frank.
Charles Chaffee spent his carlier life near Princeton, New Jersey, and then came to Ohio with his brother, locating on the A. R. Barnes farm in Elizabeth Township. He made his home there and secured work by the month on neighboring farms, later worked for John Dye, of Elizabeth Town- ship, after which he went to White County, Indiana, for a season. He later returned to Elizabeth Township and continued to work by the day or month, on different farms up to the time of his marriage, in 1858, after which he settled on a rented farm, the same on which the Knoop home now stands. From there he moved to Shel- by County and operated a farm for his wife's uncle for four years, after which he returned to Elizabeth Township and bonght his present farm of twelve acres. There were some buildings on the place at that time, but Mr. Chaffee later remodeled the house and erected other buildings and made the improvements which have added much to the value of the place. Here Mr. Chaffee lived for three years and then
moved to the Cecil farm and rented it for three years, after which he went back to his own farm for the same length of time, and then moved to a farm near Troy, which is now owned by Frank Knick. Mr. Chaffee then rented his wife's unele's farm of 200 acres, which he managed for seven years, and moved back then to his own place, which he had increased to forty- seven acres, where he has lived ever since. Mr. Chaffee carries on general farming and raises stock for his own use.
Mr. Chaffee was married July 28, 1858, to Miss Sarah Hale, a daughter of Sam- nel and Frances (Kissinger) Hale, of West Virginia, and they have had the following children : Roverda Belle, who married S. R. Cashner, of West Milton, and has one danghter; Mayme, who married Lester Miller and has one son, Marvin Hewitt, and a son (of Roverda Belle), Herbert Eugene: Andrew, who married Mattie Johnson, daughter of John and Belle (Long) Johnson, and has had five children -Wilbur, Harold, Sadie Belle, deceased, Bernice and Robert E .; Alice Lovelia, de- ceased, who was the wife of Harry Knoop; Charles Ellis, now deceased; and Carl C., who lives at Troy, Ohio. Mr. Chaffee is a member of the Baptist Church at Cass- town. He is a Democrat in polities but he has never been willing to accept office. At one time he was a member of the Grange, at C'asstown, and took an active part in its proceedings.
R. M. O'FERRALL, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Piqna, comes of a medical family, inheriting his profes- sional inclinations from an eminent father and grandfather. He was born in Decem- ber, 1855, at Piqua, Ohio, and is a son of
351
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Dr. John and a grandson of Dr. John O'Forrall.
The late Dr. John O'Ferrall, father of Dr. R. M., was born at Piqua, Ohio. in 1524. a son of Dr. John O'Ferrall, who was a pioneer physician who settled here in 1819. In 1843, Dr. John O'Ferrall was graduated from Louisville Medical Ccl- lego and located at Pigna, but resided in California from 1848 until 1850, when he returned to Ohio, called to Piqna by the death of his father. He engaged in prae- tice until the second year of the Civil War, when he entered the army, becoming major of the Eleventh Regiment O. Vol. Cav., and served two years. He resumed practice after his return and also took a public spirited interest in the development of this section. In 1869 he built a woolen mill and in 1872 was one of the leading organizers of the Lock flonring mill. He was also in- strumental in the rebuilding of the car and agricultural works at Piqua, about the same time. Ilis eminence as a physician was recognized, but he was a man of so active a brain and so possessed of fore- sight that enterprises outside his profes- sion continually appealed to him, with con- segment beneficial results to the commu- nity.
Dr. R. M. O'Ferrall was graduated from Kenyon College in 1875, then spent a year in Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia. In 1880 he was graduated from the Med- ical College of Ohio, and was interne in the Cincinnati Hospital for one year. After a short season of relaxation in the West, he located permanently at Pigna, and here he has sustained the medical reputation the name of O'Ferrall has so long enjoyed. He has always shown enthusiasm for his profession and is a valued member of the
Miami County, the Ohio State, and Ameri- can Medical Associations and belongs also to the Association of Surgeons of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He is a surgeon for the Pennsylvania & C. H. & 1). Railroad.
In 1886 Dr. O'Ferrall was married to Miss Pauline Bassett, who was born in the State of New York, and they have two sons: Kirk Bassett, who is a student at Kenyon College; and John Dwight, who is a student in the Piqua High School. Dr. ()'Ferrall is junior warden of St. James' Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Piqua Club and of the Loyal Legion mili- tary order.
OSCAR VAN HORN, a resident of Cov- ington for almost half a century, is a well known citizen and is elerk in charge of the railway mail service on what is known as the Pittsburg-St. Louis Railway Postoffice, being first appointed by President Gar- field, in 1882. He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, January 27, 1857, and is a son of William and Rebecca Ann (Mathews) Van Horn.
The father of Mr. Van Horn resided on a farm at the time of the latter's birth, but he was a stone-entter by trade and mainly worked as such, and as early as 1838 he assisted in building the old court honse at Dayton. In 1860 Mr. Van Horn's parents started for Missouri and on their way reached Covington just at the time that Fort Sumter was fired on by the Con- federates. William Van Horn decided, on account of the disturbed condition of the country, to move no farther west and then settled on the lot of ground in this city on which their son Oscar now lives. The eldest son, Robert E., although only four-
35:
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
teen years of age, ran away from home to enter the army, and enlisted in the Sixty- first O. Vol. Inf., and served through the Civil War, being injured in the last bat- tle, that of Bentonville, North Carolina. Although he still survives and is a resi- dent of the State of Indiana, he suffered for a long time in a hospital from his wound, having been shot entirely through his body.
William Van Horn started up in the stone business at Covington, where he ac- quired a stone quarry, and he continued to work as a stone-cutter up to the time of his death, in 1895, when he had the ree- ord of being the oldest worker in that in- dustry in the State of Ohio. His death was unexpected, taking place while he was on a visit to his son, Warren S., at Detroit, Michigan. He married Rebecca Ann Mathews, who died in 1893. They had five children, namely: Robert E .; Margaret A., who is the wife of Andrew Cruzen, liv- ing in Michigan; Oscar; Edward, a twin' brother of Oscar, residing at Piqua; and Warren, who is a railway clerk on the Michigan Central Railroad between De- troit and Chicago.
Oscar Van Horn was reared and edu- cated at Covington. Under his father he learned the stone-cutting trade, at which he worked until he entered the railway mail service. He is one of the oldest rail- .way mail clerks in the United States, in point of years of service, and he has seen this branch developed to its present per- fection. During the first administration of the late President Cleveland, he was out for three years, but was returned under President Harrison and was promoted to he clerk in charge under the second Cleve- land administration, this being on account
of his proficiency and not for political rea- sons. The position is one of great respons- ibility, requiring the utmost accuracy and careful attention. Of the fourteen men in Clerk Van Horn's crew, three are from Covington.
Mr. Van Horn was married to Miss Ella E. Medford, a native of Kentucky, and they have one daughter, Ada (. The lat- ter married Dr. L. A. Ruhl, of Covington, and they have one son, Joseph W. Mr. Van Horn is a member of the leading fra- ternal organizations and an official in a number of them. He is a Thirty-second degree Mason and is past master of Cov- ington Lodge, No. 168. He is a past grand of Covington Lodge, No. 383, Odd Fel- lows, and is past chancellor of Stillwater Lodge, No. 233, Knights of Pythias.
(. W. MONTGOMERY, head of the Montgomery Printing Company, has been a resident of Troy, Ohio, for nearly twen- ty years and is one of the most active of the younger generation of business men. He was born at West Milton, in Miami County, Ohio, in May, 1865, and is a son of Stephen and Sarah (Randall) Mont- gomery.
C. W. Montgomery was reared in his tative village, and attended school there and one year in Dayton. When about fif- teen years of age he began learning the printing business in West Milton, where he continued for three years and then moved to Indianapolis. He was employed by the job printing establishment of Car- lon & Hollenbeck for a number of years. In 1890 he located at Troy and for some years was foreman of the printing plant of the Buckeye Company; he was part owner of that concern nine years, after
353
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
which he sold out, and in November, 1903, lie established the Montgomery Printing Company. Ile does general job printing and has built up a large and well paying patronage. In 1894 C. W. Montgomery was united in marriage with Miss Martha Landrey, who was born and reared in Troy. He has taken a more or less active interest in politics, and has served on the Democratie County Central Committee and the executive committee, being secretary of the latter for four or five years. Fra- ternally he is affiliated with the Masons.
HARRY JJAMES HARSHBARGER, a representative business man of Tippeca- noe City, assistant manager of the Tipp Whip Company, was born in this city, Jan- mary 17, 1870, and is a son of Isaac and Anna (Kable) Harshbarger.
Isaac Harshbarger was born in Miami County, Ohio, and was a son of Henry Harshbarger, who came to this section from Virginia. Abont 1867 Isaac Harsh- barger moved to Illinois, but returned to Tippecanoe City, where he died when aged about thirty-eight years. He married Anna Kable, a daughter of James Kable, who also moved to Illinois, but died at Tip- peeanoe City. Mrs. Harshbarger still sur- vives. The family consisted of two sons and three daughters, namely: A. L., who is a member of the Tipp Whip Company, and married Kittie Staley; Mary, who is the wife of F. G. Davis, of Tippecanoe City; Bertha, who is the wife of Prof. II. Hutchins, principal of the public schools of Toledo; Harry James; and Mabel, who is the wife of Rev. II. J. Collins.
Harry J. Harshbarger attended the pub- lie schools of his native city and took a commercial course in the Wilt Business
College, at Dayton, and for two years officiated as bookkeeper and stenographer for the Dayton Dry Goods Company, and for nine years more was with the Ware Coffee Company, of that city. Since 1900 he has been identified with the Tipp Whip Company.
In June, 1895, Mr. Harshbarger was married to Miss Mary Hogendobler, a daughter of Frederick Hogendobler. She was reared at Springfield. They have three children, Frederick, Mary and Ben- jamin. Mr. Harshbarger is a member of Tippecanoe Lodge, No. 174, F. & A. M., and Chapter and Council at Troy, and be- longs also to the Modern Woodmen and Royal Arcanum. In polities he is a Re- publican.
JOHN H. FECKER, superintendent of the plant of The Favorite Stove and Range Company, at Piqua, and identified with other business enterprises, has been a resident of this city for some twenty years. He was born at Covington, Ken- tueky, where he completed his school at- tendance in boyhood. Mr. Fecker began work for the Favorite Stove people many years ago, first operating a drill and later learning stove plate moulding in their foundries. Through his own industry and enterprise he has worked his way up to his present position, one of great responsi- bility, which he has filled since January 1, 1907. Not only is he a thorough master of detail and skilled in all the branches of the work which he must, in a manner, oversee, but he possesses the qualities of a good executive officer and finds little trouble in managing the large foree of employes. Mr. Fecker is identified with a number of fraternal organizations, be-
354
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
longing to the Eagles, the Red Men, the American Mechanics and the Iron Mould- ers' Union, at the present time being an honorary member of the latter. He served one term as a member of the city council, 1906-07.
HENRY DAVIS, general farmer and owner of eighty acres of valuable land situated in Section 4, Elizabeth Township, was born in Perry County, Ohio, October 16, 1864, and is a son of Casper and Rachel (Plummer) Davis.
The parents of Mr. Davis were farming people and he lived at home until his mar- riage, and then came to his present farm on which he has lived ever since. He has two sisters: Sarah, who is the wife of McClain Kennedy; and Nancy, who is the widow of William Lestley. Mr. Davis helped to build all the farm structures. He has a fine orchard and raises the usual crops of this section, but has given but little attention to growing tobacco. All lis surroundings indicate a large amount of comfort.
Mr. Davis married Miss Effie May War- ner, who is a daughter of John and Mi- nerva Warner, and they have three chil- dren, all making good progress at school -Bertha, Earl and Edith. Mr. Davis and family attend the Christian Church at Ad- dison.
JOHN II. BAKER, M. D., who is recog- nized as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Piqua, has been a resident of this city for the past fourteen years and is identified with all that is best in its life. He was born in Perry County. Ohio, in 1870, and there grew to manhood.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.