USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 40
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 40
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Mr. Allen's first marriage was with Mrs. Mary D. Hastings Smith. in January, 1851.
She died in July of the same year and Mr. Allen subsequently married for his second wife, Pamela Hale, a daughter of Dr. Asa Coleman. Of this union there were ten children, seven of whom are now living. Mr. Allen has a commodious and tasteful residence at the corner of Simpson and Market Streets.
WARREN N. WINTERS, dealer in wire fence and representative of the American Steel Wire Fence Company of Chicago, has his residence and place of business in Staunton Township, on the Urbana Pike, about three-quarters of a mile from the publie square in Troy. He has been lo- rated at his present residence for ten years, and has been in the fence business for some twelve years, putting up many fences throughout the country surround- ing Troy. Ile is a capable business man and has met with a high degree of success. Mr. Winters was born in Elizabeth Town- ship, Miami County, Ohio, July 23, 1868, and comes of an old and respected family of that township, where both of his parents were born and died. He is a son of Oba- diah and Mary (Stevenson) Winters.
Warren N. Winters was born and lived until eight years old on the old home farm in Elizabeth Township, then with his par- ents came to Staunton Township for nine years, afterwards returning to Elizabeth Township. He received his education in the public schools. He followed farming until he engaged in his present business and about 1898 moved to Staunton Town- ship. He owns the home in which he lives, and a good residence property adjoining. Mr. Winters was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Hagen, who was born and reared in Champaign County, Ohio, and is
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a daughter of Augustus and Catherine (Smith) Hagen, her father a native of Ger- many and her mother of Darke County, Ohio. She was quite young when her par- ents moved to Miami County, Ohio. Fra- ternally, Mr. Winters is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Troy. Ile is a man of wide acquaintance in this vicinity and is held in high esteem.
JOHN W. BROWN, vice-president of The Miami Light, Heat and Power Com- pany, vice-president of The French Oil Mill Machinery Company and identified with numerous other successful enterprises of Miami County, is one of the most prom- inent business men of Piqua and is owner and proprietor of the largest general store between Dayton and Toledo, which has been recently completed at Piqua.
For the building of his immense business house, Mr. Brown secured the best site in Piqua and has given the city the finest structure of its kind in this section of Ohio. Its dimensions are 40 by 156 feet, with four stories and basement and fine stone front. The entire basement is devoted to house- hold goods and the stock is complete. The first floor is devoted to the display and sale of dress goods, silks, trimmings, laces, embroidery, linens, ginghams, underwear and hosiery. fine goods collected from the best mills in the country. The second floor's display includes millinery, muslin underwear, ladies' waists, silk and mer- cerized petticoats and ladies', children's and misses' cloaks and suits. On the third floor are found carpets, draperies and floor coverings, while the fourth floor is devoted to mattings, oil cloths, linoleums, trunks and suit-cases. The business is to be in- corporated under the style of The John
Brown Company, a close corporation, with a capital stock of $100,000. Mr. Brown is a director in the Piqua National Bank, the Piqua Savings Bank, the French Oil Mill Machinery Company, the Piqua Handle Company, the Piqua Furniture Company and the Miami Light, Heat and Power Company. In the developing of large en- terprises, Mr. Brown has shown remark- able business acumen, and his influence is very largely felt in the concentration of capital and the encouragement to trade, throughout city and county.
In 1888 Mr. Brown was married to Miss Nettie E. Brooks. of Piqua. They are members of St. James Episcopal Church, in which he is a vestryman. He belongs to the Piqua Business Men's Association and to the Piqua Club.
LEWIS D. VINNEDGE, superintendent of the Riverside Cemetery, which is owned by the city of Troy and is situated in Staunton Township, was born January 9, 1863, in Fairfield Township, Butler Coun- ty, Ohio, and is a son of Clinton and Sarah (Bitler) Vinnedge and a grandson of George Vinnedge.
George Vinnedge was born November 30, 1809, and was a son of John and Ro- sanna (Moore) Vinnedge, and a grandson of early settlers in Pennsylvania, who, on the paternal side, came from Germany and on the maternal side from Ireland. John Vinnedge came to Ohio as a soldier under Gen. Anthony Wayne and not only helped to send the Indians still farther from the frontier but later did a brave man's part in the War of 1812. When he came to Ohio and saw the rich land awaiting settle- ment, he secured 100 acres of the Symmes Purchase, which was located three miles
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east of Hamilton, on the present Middle- town Turnpike, and later purchased thirty aeres more. While serving under General Wayne he held the office of pack-horse master. Both he and wife were great ad- herents of Methodism and their dwelling was often a place of worship and their table and fireside were hospitably offered to the pioneer cirenit-rider. John Vin- nedge lived to the age of ninety-five years, dying at the home of his son George Vin- nedge, in August, 1868. He married Ro- sanna Moore, who was born in Ireland and was brought to America by her father, Patrick Moore, who came to Ohio in 1779 and was known as a gentleman farmer.
George Vinnedge was one of a family of nine children and his rearing was that of the pioneer youth of his time. When abont twenty-six years of age he bought a farm in Fairfield Township, Butler County, Ohio, which he later sold and pur- chased one of 200 acres in Union Town- ship and later added other properties until he owned 337 acres. He was married De- cember 23, 1831, to Malinda Robbins, and they had five children, two sons and three daughters.
Clinton Vinnedge, father of Lewis D., was born in Butler County, Ohio, where he was reared, educated and spent his life, his death taking place in 1865. In 1860 lie married Miss Sarah Bitler, who died April 28, 1896. She was a daughter of Rev. Michael Bitler, a minister of the Methodist Church. One child was born to that union, Lewis D. Mrs. Vinnedge contracted a second marriage, with H. D. Dełap, who died in 1906. All their six children sur- vive, namely : Harry ; Delia, who is the wife of J. F. Ingle ; Daisy, who is the wife of J. G. Slemmons; Mande, who is the wife of
Harry Rocks ; George ; and Queenie, who is the wife of John Ainsworth.
Lewis D. Vinnedge spent his boyhood on the home farm and completed his educa- tion in the High School at Hamilton, Ohio. When eighteen years of age he came to Troy and entered the business house of Weatherhead, Norris & Howland, as a clerk, continning there for fourteen years. Following that long term he was in the employ of Gross Bros. for eight years. Mr. Vinnedge then bought a small farm ad- joining the cemetery part of the old Henry Kephart farm and there engaged in grow- ing tobacco. On June 1, 1907, he was ap- pointed superintendent of the Riverside cemetery, a position he has efficiently filled ever since. Mr. Vinnedge was married February 18, 1885, to Miss Edith Weath- erhead, daughter of J. D. and Jane (How- land) Weatherhead. He is a Republican in his political views, and he is a member of Franklin Lodge, F. & A. M., at Troy.
WILL J. PRINCE, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Piqua and one of the city's most active and public-spir- ited citizens, was born in 1861, at New Bremen, Auglaize County, Ohio, and is a son of the late Dr. William Prince.
In 1864 Dr. William Prince moved with his family, to Piqna, and he continned from then until his death in 1877, in the active practice of his profession. He was a graduate of the Eclectie Medical Insti- tute of C'ineinnati.
Dr. W. J. Prince attended the Piqua schools and Chickering Institute, and after completing special courses at Wittenberg College, entered the Eclectie Medieal In- stitute of Cincinnati, in 1883, and was graduated there with his degree in 1887.
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He came back to Piqna and here has found a satisfactory field of work, and congenial surroundings for his life outside his pro- fession. In addition to a large general practice, he is retained by a number of the local manufacturing plants as surgeon. IIe is a member of the Miami County and the Ohio State Medical Societies, the Ameri- can Medical Association, the National Medical Association and the Eclectic State Medical Society. From early manhood he has taken an interest in public affairs and in the welfare of the city and has given much professional service to aid in estab- lishing its sanitary condition and for four years was most useful in the position of health officer. For nineteen years he has been a member of the School Board, has been president of the Board of Public Safety and served one term as president of the Ohio Board of Education. Dr. Prince was the first to encourage athletics in the public schools in Piqua, and their cultivation in the schools has spread throughout the state and given rise to an organized body known as the Ohio State School Athletic Association, divided into four districts. During one administration of the late ex-President Cleveland, he was pension examiner.
In 1887, Dr. Prince was married to Miss Jeanette Snyder, of Washington City, D. C., and they have one son, Will J. Jr., who is a member of the graduating class of 1909 at the Piqua High School.
Dr. Prince is a Royal Arch Mason, has filled the office of exalted ruler in the Elks, and has several times been sent as a repre- sentative to the Grand Council of the Red Men, and is also examining physician for several beneficiary orders. His life has
been one of more than ordinary activity and usefulness.
FREDERICK STEIL, late a leading merchant of Troy, and for years one of the foremost business citizens of Miami County, was born in Bavaria, Germany, November 15, 1850. His father was John Steil, a teacher for many years in the pub- lic schools of Bavaria, carrying on his pro- fessional duties in one schoolroom for thirty-seven years-from 1860 to 1897. He died in the year last mentioned, honored and respected by all in the community in which he had labored so long and faith- fully. He was a successful and typical product of the thorough educational sys- tem which prevails in Germany, having advanced from one grade and from one school to another until he was graduated from the University of Kaisers Lantern, the normal school for the training of teach- ers in Bavaria.
Frederick Steil began his education in the public schools of his native town, grad- uating to the Latin school at the age of fourteen years, where, besides Latin, French and English were taught. He had in America an unele, Adam Steil, who was then a prosperous merchant of Troy, this county, having founded in 1859 the dry goods business that is now carried on by the subject of this sketch. In 1865, at his unele's invitation, young Steil, then only fifteen years old, came to the United States and entered his uncle's store as a clerk. He thus continued until Adam Steil's death, which took place in December. 1876, when he succeeded to the ownership of the business. While in his unele's employ he gave close attention to all the details of the business until he thoroughly under-
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stood every part of it, and also spent his spare time in the earlier years in careful study of the English language, which he soon mastered. After succeeding to the business he developed it into one of large proportions and it is now one of the most substantial, complete and prosperous en- terprises of the kind in Miami County, or indeed, throughout this section of the state. In the line of dry goods, carpets and cloaks it is the largest establishment of its kind in Troy and the stock handled by the firm is of the best and finest quality. Mr. Steil's son, William, was admitted as a partner in the business, which has been subsequently carried on under the style of Fred Steil & Son. The firm obtained an enviable reputation for fair and honest dealing and this policy had its natural re- sults, as none occupied more enviable position than Mr. Steil among the pros- perous merchants of the city. His death occurred October 8. 1908, and caused great regret among the business citizens of Troy generally.
While maintaining his old love for the Fatherland, Mr. Steil closely identified himself with American ideas and institu- tions, both moral and political. A mem- ber of the Republican party, he claimed, however, the right to do his own thinking, and no politician or set of politicians could deliver his vote for him. Like most of lis fellow countrymen he was a good citizen of the American republic, and in local af- fairs was always found on the side of progress and good government.
He was married, October 28, 1875, to Miss Christina Ziegenfelder, a daughter of George Ziegenfelder, of Troy. Of this union there is the son, William, already mentioned, who was graduated from the
Troy High School in 1899. He is a young man of good business ability and his pros- pects are bright for a successful career.
Mr. Steil was an active member of the German Lutheran church, which he served for twenty-five years as treasurer, being also a member of the official board. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, in which he had advanced as far as the com- mandery. Ifis home-in a fine and taste- ful residence-was on fitting occasions the scene of a warm and bounteous hospital- ity. Mrs. Steil is also a member of the German Lutheran Church.
JAMES McCLARY, deceased, formerly one of Newberry Township's most re- spected citizens and prominent and useful men, was a worthy representative of one of the sturdy old pioneer families of Miami County. He was born on the old MeClary homestead farm, about two miles north of Covington, Miami County, Ohio, February 18, 1821, and died at Covington, April 15, 1906. His parents were John and Eliza (Brandon) MeClary.
The father of the late James McClary was born in Kentucky and came to Miami County, Ohio, in 1812. He brought with him his wife, Eliza Brandon, who was born in South Carolina, a daughter of Benja- min Brandon, a Revolutionary soldier, who settled in Miami County about the same time, locating near Piqua. Shortly after marriage, John and Eliza MeClary estab- lished the home ever since known as the MeClary homestead, not far from Coving- ton, Miami County.
On the above farm James McClary grew from childhood to manhood. Pioneer con- ditions prevailed, great expanses of un- cleared land and forest stretching between
JAMES McCLARY
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the different civilized points, a trip to the mill, in his boyhood, involving as much preparation and loss of time as now is re- quired to cover hundreds of miles by train or automobile, and the performance of many errands, except the one of carrying the grist and waiting for it to be ground by means of the old-time water wheel, and the returning home with the bag of flour on the back of his pony in front of him. Ile was quite small when he first began to be en- trusted with this very important mission and when he was permitted to spend the first night, when part way home, at Grand- father Brandon's, he thoroughly enjoyed the unusual relaxation. In his boyhood, work instead of play, came first, not a great deal of time being given, either, to the ac- quiring of knowledge. He was wont to tell his children of his first primer, which was made ont of a paddle, on which his alpha- bet was printed and which served the pur- pose very well. Many ingenious and thrifty methods were made use of in the early days, when books were searce and money was little in circulation. Life had many hardships for both youth and age, in those days, but, on the other hand, more simple pleasures pleased than satisfy the present generation, and there are few of the old remaining pioneers who will not fondly recall the early times. Work, ont- door life. sufficient recreation, all contrib- uted to James McClary growing into strong and sturdy manhood, while a nat- urally quick understanding and generous disposition, brought him the confidence and esteem of those with whom he was asso- ciated.
In 1842 James McClary was married to Nancy Buchanan, who was a daughter of Col. George Buchanan. The latter was a
native of Rockingham County, Virginia, where he married Nancy Cassiday, and to- gether they came to Ohio, in 1803, locating first at Deerfield, Warren County. Prob- ably in the spring of 1808 the Buchanans moved to what is now West Milton, Mi- ami County, where the father engaged in farming until the opening of the War of 1812. He then became captain of an or- ganization known as the Frontier Guards and was placed in charge of the supply depot at the junction of Greenville Creek and the Stillwater, the names designating these points at that time being Fort Bu- chanan and Fort Rowdy-now Covington, a quiet little city far removed from any indication of military disturbance. At the beginning of the war, Colonel Buchanan removed his family to the east side of the Stillwater, in Montgomery County, just over the county line, and there the Bu- chanans lived until 1830, when Colonel Bu- chanan settled on a farm in Section 6, Newberry Township, Miami County, which remained the permanent home. By trade he was a carpenter and cabinetmaker but he never lost interest in military affairs and following the close of the War of 1812, remained active in the militia. Both he and wife were members of the Christian Church. He lived to the age of eight-three years, dying in 1862, and was survived for nine years by his widow.
Following his marriage, the late James MeClary built a house on a small tract of land which his father had given him off the old homestead, in recognition of his cheer- ful assistance given all through his youth, and on that place he lived until his par- ents died, a few years later. He then sold ont and went to Piqua and during the eighteen months of his residence there he
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began to acquire shares in the old home- stead and subsequently purchased the in- terests of all the heirs and became sole owner of the property. During the years of subsequent residence on the farm, he assumed all the duties of a citizen of his township and frequently was tendered pub- lie office and at times served as assessor and as a member of the Board of Trustees. Later, when he retired to Covington, he was elected a justice of the peace, serving most acceptably in that position for a num- ber of terms, and for years was occupied in settling up estates and administering upon them. He was a man of such un- doubted and unimpeachable integrity, that his fellow citizens entrusted to his judg- ment their most important business con- cerns.
Mr. MeClary was married (first) to Nancy Buchanan, who died in 1888, and several years later he was married (sec- ond) to Susan Trout. His four children were born to his first union, namely : Eliza Evaline, deceased, who was the wife of John West; George D., who lives in West Covington ; Winfield Wesley, who lives at Butler, Pennsylvania ; and Laura, who re- sides on North High Street, Covington. Miss MeClary is one of Covington's best known and most highly esteemed ladies and probably one of the most substantial. owning various residence and business properties in this city. She takes a natural pride in her ancestry and justly cherishes and reveres the memory of her father.
W. J. SMITHI, proprietor of the Enter- prise Foundry Company of Troy, Ohio, with plant situated on West Main Street and the city limits, is an enterprising and representative business man of Troy. Mr.
Smith was born in the great city of Lon- don, England, in 1866, and he came to America when a youth of seventeen years.
During a residence of some five years at Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Smith learned the foundry business in every detail and went from there to Chicago, Illinois, where he was engaged in the business for one and a half years. He then returned to Detroit and went from there to Toronto, Canada. Hle then visited his native land but his years of absence had changed his views in many ways and he decided to again make the United States his home. He again worked at Detroit, then at Chicago and from there went to Moline, Illinois. After spending a considerable period of time there, he went back to Detroit and then visited Piqna, Ohio. For three years he was with the Favorite Stove and Range Company, after which he organized the Ideal Stove and Foundry Company, and after buying out the Girard Stove and Foundry Company at Youngstown, Ohio, located at Daleville, Indiana. He only re- mained at that point for seven months, finding better business opportunities as superintendent of the Chicago Stove Com- pany, a position he filled for four years, after which he returned to Piqua and then organized the Enterprise Foundry Com- pany, as sole proprietor. He continued there six years when, on February 1, 1900, he leased the Troy Foundry & Machine Company and he now operates his entire business under the style of the Enterprise Foundry Company. He is interested in other enterprises and is a man of ample fortune, all of which he has made for him- self in legitimate business.
In 1895 Mr. Smith was married to Miss Ida M. Tietje, whose father, Henry A.
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Tietje, is a prominent contractor at Day- ton, and whose grandfather was a pioneer manufacturer there. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one son, JJames Henry. Mr. Smith is a member of the Episcopal Church. Fra- ternally he is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge Chapter, and Council. He is also an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, an Elk, and a member of the Order of For- esters, and is an honorary member also of the Iron Moulder's Union of North America, and of the Past Chancellor's As- sociation of Miami County. He is more or less active in politics and served as cen- tral committeeman of his ward in Piqua.
OSCAR SHROYER, a representative general farmer and well known cifizen, re- sides on his valuable farm of ninety-five acres, which is situated five miles east of Tippecanoe City, in Section 10, Bethel Township. He was born March 8, 1848, in Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and a grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth (Fry) Shroyer.
The grandparents of Mr. Shroyer came from Maryland and settled in Bethel Township, Miami County, where the grandfather acquired a quarter section of land, which he cleared up and made into a fine farm. He was one of the founders of the German Reformed Church in this sec- tion.
Jacob Shroyer, father of Oscar, was born in Maryland in 1807. He died in Bethel Township, February 19, 1889, and was laid to rest by the side of his second wife in the New Carlisle Cemetery. He was a farmer all his life and at the time of death owned a large body of land in Bethel Township and a farm of 134 aeres in Clark County. He was a member of the German
Reformed Church. For many years he was a prominent factor in politics and held responsible local offices for a pro- tracted period, performing the duties of the same honestly and efficiently. He was thrice married, his first wife being Mar- garet Black, who at death left the follow- ing children: Thomas, Matilda, Cather- ine, Anna, Harriet and Henry. His sec- ond wife was Susan Stockstill, a daughter of Thomas Stockstill. She died in 1864 and was buried at New Carlisle. The chil- dren born to this union were as follows: John, Oscar, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel C. and Jacob. His third marriage was to Priscilla Mann Mendenhall, to which no children were born.
Oscar Shroyer was reared in Bethel Township and attended the district schools and afterward assisted his father on the home farm until the time of his own mar- riage, in 1875, when he settled on a farm in Section 10, which he rented from his father. Later he moved to Clark County and lived on his father's farm of 134 acres until it was deeded to his sister, when he returned to the old homestead, and when his father died he received his present farm of ninety-five aeres. All the build- ings were standing and he has had to do little improving, the land being well drained and in fine workable condition. Here he raises the bounteous erops which Bethel Township soil gives to the careful and intelligent farmer, and here has reared a large and interesting family.
Mr. Shroyer was married in 1875 to Miss Viola Mouk, a daughter of Andrew and Susan Mouk, of Clark County, and they have had the following children : Harry Walter, who married Stella Snyder, daughter of Thomas and Ruberta Snyder,
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