USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 41
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 41
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
and has one child, Roberta Viola ; Gny T .. who is in the employ of the Sidney Steel- scraper Company, of Sidney, Ohio; Doro- thy C., who resides at home; Grover C., who married Mande Bousman, daughter of Ehner and Myrtle Bonsman ; Earl, who resides at home; Susan, who is a member of the class of 1909 in the Bethel High School; Lloyd, who is a student in the class of 1912, in the Bethel High School; and Robert, who has not yet reached the High School, but, like the older members of the family, shows a quick intelligence and love of learning. Mr. Shroyer and family at- tend the Lutheran Church at Brandt. In politics he is a Democrat and has frequent- ly been tendered township offices, all of which he has refused except that of town- ship trustee, in which he has acceptably served a number of terms.
MAURICE E. STANFIELD, chief en- gineer of the City Water Works at Troy, Ohio, is one of those quiet, efficient, relia- ble men, on whose shoulders rest so much of the comfort and health, business pros- perity and even social pleasures of a com- mmmity. The chief engineer directing the utilities of a city is often one of its most necessary men. Mr. Stanfield was born September 10, 1856, at Fredericksburg, Ohio, and was one year old when his par- ents removed to Miami County.
Until he was about twenty-five years of age, Mr. Stanfield remained on the home farm and then went into railroad work, first as fireman on the Big Four Railroad between Indianapolis and Springfield. From there he was transferred to the Ohio Sonthern, and after a year there was just on the point of receiving well earned pro- motion, when the illness of his wife caused
him to give up that position and accept one that would enable him to have a sta- tionary home. This he found with the Troy Wagon Works and for twenty years he operated their engines and became known as so thoroughly responsible, that the city fathers offered him the position of chief engineer of the eity works. He accepted the offer and severed the pleasant rela- tions which had existed so long with the proprietors of the wagon works, the part- ing being one of respect and esteem on both sides. Mir. Stanfield has occupied his present position since 1902.
In 1878 Mr. Stanfield was married to Miss Clara McDonald, who died in 1893. He was married (second), in 1894, to Miss Laura Lewis, who was born near Coving- ton, Ohio. Her father was born in Marion, Ohio, and eame to Miami when a boy and became a substantial farmer. He was also a prominent Democrat and held eonnty offices. Mr. and Mrs. Stanfield are mem- bers of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Masons and Odd Fellows, and he and his wife are members of the Order of Rebekah. He was a charter member also of the Order of the Golden Eagles.
JOHN WILLIAM SHROYER, who owns one of the finest farms in Bethel Township, consisting of 212 acres, sitn- ated on the Tippecanoe and Carlisle Turn- pike Road, in Seetions 17 and 18, was born in Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio, November 3, 1845. His father was Jacob and his grandfather was Thomas Shrover.
Thomas Shrover was born in Maryland and was a carpenter by trade. He mar- ried Elizabeth Fry and when they came to Miami County they had a family of three
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sons and two daughters-Henry, John, Jacob, Polly and Elizabeth. Henry Shroy- er later was appointed constable in Bethel Township, and met death from an assault made on him while he was making an ar- rest. John married Eliza Rawl and both lived and died in Bethel Township. Polly married a Joseph Shroyer and Eliza- beth married Elias Stockstill, of Shelby County, Ohio. Thomas Shroyer acquired a farm of 160 acres in Bethel Township and cleared up almost all of it. He was one of the leading men of his section at that time. Both he and wife died on their pioneer farm and were buried in Bethel Cemetery. They were worthy members of the German Reformed Church.
Jacob Shroyer, father of John William, was a young man when he came to Miami County and when his father died he came into possession of a generous portion of the home estate and to this he subsequent- ly added until he owned 700 acres in Bethel Township. He was a leading Democratic politician and as a public man was held in the highest esteem. For forty years he was elected to the office of township treas- nrer, for ten years was a trustee and at one time his party put him forward as its candidate for county treasurer. He died in old age, in February, 1889, and was in- terred at New Carlisle. Bethel Township remembers him as one of her most honest and useful men.
Jacob Shroyer was thrice married. llis first union was to a Miss Black, who, at death, left six children-Thomas, Matilda. Catherine, Annie Maria, Henry and Har- riet. Ilis second marriage was to Susan Stockstill, a daughter of Thomas Stock- still, and there were six children also born to this union- John William, Oscar, Sarah,
Rebecca, C'amelia and Jacob. This wife was buried at New Carlisle. His third marriage was to Priscilla Mann, who left no issue. All three were women of most estimable qualities. JJacob Shroyer was a member and liberal supporter of the Re- formed Church.
John William Shroyer was reared on the home farm and spent his school days in Bethel Township, where he secured what was considered a very fair education. He continued to assist his father until his mar- riage, when he settled on his present farm, one which was already cleared with the exception of a few acres and improved with substantial buildings. The county ditch runs through his property and thus ensures excellent drainage. As his land lies only four miles cast of Tippecanoe City, Mr. Shroyer and family are able to enjoy both rural and urban advantages and these are appreciated as he has a fam- ily that is more than usually intelligent. Mr. Shroyer devotes his large farm to gen- eral agriculture and to stock raising.
In 1868 he was married to Miss Mar- garet Anna Williams, who is a daughter of John and Anna Williams, and they have had the following children : Hershel, who married Clara Mumford. aud has six children-Marie, Hazel. Carl, Parker, William and Raymond; Ida, who married William Wray, and has two children -- La- verne and Maurice; Anna, who married Benjamin Kissinger: Glendora, who mar- ried Leroy Gross; Jacob, who married Ada Ledgeworth, daughter of James Ledgeworth ; Bessie, who resides at home : Irwin Franklin, who is a member of the class of 1910 in Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio; Marvin, who lives at home: Leroy, who is a student in the
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Bethel High School; and Margie, who at- tends Glenwood school in Bethel Town- ship. Mr. Shroyer and family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his po- litical views he is a Democrat but he takes no very active interest in public matters and the only office he was ever willing to accept was that of school director, in for- mer days. He is one of the township's most esteemed and respected citizens.
GEORGE W. CONRAD, a quarter-cen- tury resident of Troy, is one of the repre- sentative business men of this city and is extensively interested in real estate and fire insurance, with offices at No. 122 West Main Street. Mr. Conrad was born Febru- ary 22, 1851, at Columbus, Ohio.
In 1852 the parents of Mr. Conrad moved to a farm near Monroe, Michigan, from which they removed seven years later to Versailles, Missouri, the long journey being made in covered wagons. This was an unfortunate change of home, resulting in the death of the father, in the fall of 1861. He was a man of pronounced Union views and for the expression of these was killed by a band of Quantrell's guerillas. His distracted widow took her little sons and went back to Marysville, Ohio, and there George W. Conrad grew to manhood. His education was secured in the public schools and as soon as old enough he made himself useful in his brother's carriage blacksmith shop, subsequently learning the trade. In 1885 he came to Troy, accepting at that time the position of foreman of the blacksmith department of the Troy Buggy Works, and continued with that firm until 1892, when he went with the Troy Bend- ing Works, continuing there until that plant was sold out in 1902 to the Pioneer
Pole and Shaft Company, with which he remained two years longer. On account of ill health amounting to an attack of nervous prostration, Mr. Conrad was then forced to give up all business for three years, and when he resumed his activity in October, 1907, he bought out the fire in- surance business of A. R. Hawthorne, wid- ened its scope and has conducted it ever since. He represents the Home, of New York, the Aetna, of New York, the Spring- field Fire and Marine, the Pennsylvania of Philadelphia, the Newark of Newark, New Jersey, the Aachen Munich, of Aix- la-Chapelle, Germany, and the Fidelity and Casualty, with many others. He owns three farms in Miami County and handles much realty both in the country and city. He has been an active citizen and has served in the City Council.
In 1881 Mr. Conrad was married to Miss Mary Nichol, of Marysville, Ohio, and they have four sons: Herman W., who is in business in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a graduate engineer of the Ohio State Uni- versity; John Leonard, who is a student of music at the Conservatory at Oberlin College; George Edward, who is taking a course in architecture at the Ohio State University; and Albert C., who is a stu- dent in the Troy High School. Mr. Con- rad and wife are members of St. John's Evangelical Church at Troy, of which he is treasurer.
JOHN THOMAS McKEE, a leading ag- riculturist of Bethel Township, residing on his rich farm of 105 acres, which is sit- uated in Sections 3 and 4, was born in Knox County, Ohio, April 25, 1848, and is a son of John and Catherine (Crawford) McKee, and a grandson of Robert MeKee.
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Robert McKee was born in the north of Ireland and when he came to America about 1814, he settled in Harrison County, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. He became a man of large landed estate, owning 280 acres, a large part of which still remains in possession of the McKee family. He died in 1855 and was buried at Cadiz, Ohio. He married Cathi- erine Miller, who died in 1852 and they had thirteen children, namely: James. Archibald, Robert, John, Thomas, George, Margaret, Hannah, Rachel, Eliza, Re- becca, Jane and Emma.
John McKee was born in Harrison County, Ohio, attended school at Cadiz and then assisted his father until his own marriage, after which, in 1832, he settled in Knox County, where he entered two tracts of land from the Government, one of 130 and another of 240 acres. He con- tinued to live on his land in Knox County until his death, which took place in 1861. His widow survived until 1889 and both were buried at Mt. Vernon. They were worthy members of the Mt. Vernon Methi- odist Episcopal Church. John McKee mar- ried Catherine Crawford, a daughter of George Crawford, and they had four chil- dren, namely : Robert, James, Emma and John Thomas, the last named being the only survivor. In politics the grandfather had been a Whig and the father was a Re- publican.
John Thomas McKee was educated in the public schools of Knox County and Martinsburg College, after which he as- sisted his father in his large agricultural operations. On April 20, 1889, he came to Miami County and settled on his present farm, which he has greatly improved, building his present handsome residence
and remodeling the other farm structures. He has laid some 400 rods of drain tile and carries on the cultivation of his land ac- cording to the best accepted methods.
Mr. McKee was married (first) in March, 1868, to Miss Mary Wallace, a daughter of David Wallace. She died June 14, 1900, and was interred at Utica. She was the mother of three children: Clyde D., who married Pearl Coults, and has one daughter, Lucile; Arthur Texas. associat- ed with his father; and an infant. de- ceased. Mr. McKee was married (second) December 26. 1901, to Mrs. Ida Jones, widow of James Jones and daughter of John and Sarah E. Keizer. Mr. and Mrs. McKee are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican.
CAPT. JOSHUA L. BABB, one of Troy's best citizens, now living retired, is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, having won distinction in the great Civil War. He was born July 22, 1833, at Babb's Mills, six miles east of Troy. Ohio.
Daniel Babb, father of Captain Babb, was born in Pennsylvania a short time after his parents landed in America from Germany. The family soon moved to Vir- ginia, where Daniel was married. After their second child was born they made the long overland journey from Virginia (now West Virginia), in pioneer style to Ohio, and before he settled permanently, he spent a year in Piqua. He then bought a mill in Bethel Township, which had been put up in 1818, and which he remodeled and operated until his death many years later, this mill giving the name to the little settlement around it-Babb's Mill. He
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also owned a large farm and was the lead- ing man of his section.
On his father's farm in Bethel Town- ship, J. L. Babb grew to manhood. The call to arms in 1861 aroused his feelings of loyalty and he resolved to offer his services in defense of the Union. He en- listed in Company C, Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and for four years bore the hardships and faced the dangers of a soldier's life. He participated in many of the most memorable battles of that great struggle and his valor was rec- ognized by frequent promotions. From a private in the ranks he climbed step by step until in 1863 he was commissioned captain of his company and served as such until he was mustered out. He took part in the battles of Shiloh and Stone River and was in the whole campaign in the Army of the Cumberland from Nashville to the fall of Atlanta, after the latter being sent to San Antonio. He was finally mus- tered out in the fall of 1865. He did not entirely escape injury, being wounded by a shell at Shiloh.
A short time after his return from the army, Captain Babb entered the manufac- turing firm of Warder, Bushnell & Gless- ner, at Springfield, Ohio, as general man- ager on the road, and continued his asso- ciation with this house for thirty-five years. After resigning his office he re- sided some six years in New Jersey, but, as he advanced in years early ties made themselves felt and three years since, he returned to this section which had been his childhood home and took up his residence among those who had been the friends of himself and family for a long period. He found a hearty welcome awaiting him.
ORA REAVER, general farmer, resid- ing on a valuable property containing ninety-nine acres of excellent land, which is situated in Section 30, Bethel Township, was born July 21, 1875, in Monroe Town- ship, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob Reaver.
Jacob Reaver, father of Ora, was born in Pennsylvania and after he came to Ohio he settled on a rented farm in Montgom- ery County and moved from that to one in Bethel Township, Miami County, where he yet resides. He married Sarah Nolen and they have had the following children: Ol- iver, who married Winnie Priest, daughter of William Priest, and has three children -William, Charles and Harry; William, who married Bertha Widener, daughter of Miller Widener, and they have two chil- dren-Elmer and Donath, the latter an adopted child; Ora, subject of this sketch; Jacob, who married Della Horneback, daughter of James Horneback, and they have one son, Ernest; Mary, who married George Flick, and has two sons, Francis and Jacob; Stella, who married Lyle Sni- der, now deceased, and she survives him and has one child, Margie Ellen; Walter, who lives at home; and Ida and Annie, both deceased.
Ora Reaver obtained a good public school education, attending the Shilo school in Montgomery County and later the Antioch school, and the Frog Pond and Oak Grove schools. He then gave help to his father on the farm and later worked for three years for A. L. & M. Jackson. He then served an apprenticeship of three years to the carpenters' trade at Phoneton, after which he visited the West, being in- duced to go so far from home on account of the call of the western farmers for work-
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ers in their harvest fields. In this capacity he visited North Dakota, Missouri and Kansas for four seasons and knows all that country well. When he returned to Phoneton he resumed carpenter work and for two years was foreman for the Dayton & Toledo House Wrecking Company, of Dayton, Ohio. After his marriage he took up his residence on his wife's farm and here he has made a number of improve- ments, remodeling, building and painting. This property is admirably located, being within two and one-half miles of Tippe- canoe City.
On December 15, 1908, Mr. Reaver was married to Miss Bertha Brown, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, and is a daughter of William and Hannah Brown, the latter of whom died October 14, 1879, and was buried at Maple Hill. William Brown resides at Yellow Springs, in Greene County, where he conducts an ex- tensive nursery. Mrs. Reaver owns the farm of ninety-nine aeres on which she and husband reside and also owns a farm of 145 acres which is situated in Section 31, Bethel Township. Mr. Reaver is identi- fied with the Democratic party.
A. B. CAMPBELL, a leading attorney of Troy, Ohio, has been a resident of this city for the past fourteen years. He was born in 1876, on a farm one mile south of Troy, and is a son of William Campbell. The father of Mr. Campbell was born in Pennsylvania. From that state he came to Ohio and in 1860 he settled in Miami County, where he continues to carry on his farm enterprise.
A. B. Campbell was reared on the home farm and obtained his early educational training in the country schools and at
Troy. He then entered the Ohio Northern University, where he was graduated from the law department, May 30, 1900. He had secured his higher teacher's certifi- cate, prior to this and taught school for three years. After his admission to the bar he located for practice in Troy and has been prominent here both profession- ally and politically. In 1902 he was eleet- ed prosecuting attorney and was re-elected in 1905, resigning the office of justice of the peace in order to accept the later honor. He has been a successful attorney in many important eases before the courts, while, in his publie capacity, he has been a faithful official. On April 10, 1901, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Anna M. Heist, and they have one daughter, Phyllis Louise. Mr. Campbell is a member of the Elks and the Knights of Pythias, and also of the Elk Club.
W. A. HAINES, a representative mem- ber of the Miami County bar, enjoying a substantial practice at Troy, has been a resident of this city for about seventeen years. He was born February 28, 1869, on his grandfather's farm in Concord Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Theodore Haines, who was born in Kentucky and died in Miami County in 1874.
W. A. Haines completed his literary course at the Southern Illinois State Uni- versity at Carbonville, in the early eight- ies, graduating in the high school teachers' course. For seven years and three months he then devoted himself to teaching school and then turned his attention to the study of law, preparing with Attorney W. S. Thomas, of Troy and being admitted to the bar in 1895. Mr. Haines returned to teach-
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ing for one year longer, having been ex- ceedingly successful in that profession, and then spent one year in Judge Will- iams' law office. In 1897 he was elected city solicitor and after serving one term he found his time sufficiently occupied with private business and has closely applied himself to his professional work ever since. He is a member of the Miami County Bar Association and practices in all the State and in the Federal Courts.
In 1900, Mr. Haines was married to Miss Blanche Bousman, of Miami Connty, and they have two daughters, Mildred and Helen. Mr. Haines is identified with the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, and the Troy Club.
JOSEPH J. SCHMIDT, general farmer and dealer in hard wood lumber, resides on a small farm in Bethel Township, near Brandt, but owns a second farm which contains 144 acres. He was born in Mont- gomery County, Ohio, June 12, 1856, and is a son of Henry and Christina (Miller) Schmidt.
Henry Schmidt was born in Germany, where his father, George Schmidt, owned considerable of an estate and operated a large flour mill. The great-grandfather was a merchant and ship owner and, with a brother, helped to supply the vessels that brought the Hessian soldiers to Amer- ica during the Revolutionary War. George Schmidt never came to the United States; six of his children found homes here: Adam, Justice, John, Lewis, George and Henry. The latter was twenty-three years of age when he reached Baltimore, Mary- land, where he first secured work by the day. He married and later bought a gro- cery store at Dayton, which he conducted
for a few years, coming to Brandt in 1859. He operated a hotel and grocery at Brandt until 1880, and then sold out to William Serell. He died at Dayton and was buried there. He was a worthy member of the German Lutheran Church. While he al- ways voted with the Democratic party, he never sought office nor took any active part in public movements. He married Chris- tina Miller, who survives and resides at Dayton, but still owns a farm in Bethel Township. They had four children, namely: Joseph J .; Elizabeth, who mar- ried Charles Bond, of Dayton; Minnie, who married Charles A. Snyder, of Brown Station; and George M., who married Lillian Kaufman.
Joseph J. Schmidt attended his first school at Brandt, second and later at Day- ton, where he was a student for one and a half years. He then began to take a set- tled interest in farming. After his mar- riage he moved to Brandt for a year and then returned to the homestead, on which he has made all the improvements. In ad- dition to tilling his land he deals in lum- ber, timber and land, being one of the township's most active business men.
Mr. Schmidt was married to Miss Anna E. Black, a daughter of Adam and Julia (McEfee) Black, and they have four chil- dren-George Harold, who married Dora Mumford; Raymond, who married Lena Gantz; Carrie M., and Joseph G., living at home. Mr. Schmidt and family are leading members of the Lutheran Church at Brandt, with which he united when he was sixteen years of age. He is an elder and has always taken a deep interest in the Sunday-school, teaching a class, and for eighteen years served as superintend- ent. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at
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New Carlisle. In politics a stanch Demo- crat, he has frequently been elected to pub- lic office, has served as treasurer of Bethel Township and for eight years was a mem- ber of the Board of Education.
CHARLES W. TOBEY, proprietor of the Tobey Drug Store at Troy, Ohio, is a man of state-wide reputation in his profes- sion and has long been prominent in con- neetion with the affairs and interests of his home city. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1855, and is a son of Nathaniel Tobey, who is well remembered as one of the foremost men of Troy.
Nathaniel Tobey was for many years head of the drug firm of N. Tobey & Son, and was financially interested in various enterprises and manufacturing plants of the city. He was one time president of the Troy Business Men's Association, and also served in the City Council. His death oc- curred in 1903.
Charles W. Tobey received his early education in the public schools of Dayton and Troy, his parents moving to the latter place when he was ten years of age. He received a careful education as an analyt- ical chemist, being graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1876. He immediately thereafter embarked in the drug business in partnership with his father, they at that time purchasing the store of E. F. Rinehart, in Troy. The firm of N. Tobey & Son continned with un- interrupted success until the death of Na- thaniel Tobey in 1903, since which time the name of the establishment has been the Tobey Drug Store. Mr. Tobey has always identified himself with the leading inter- ests of the city and county. He was one of the founders of the Ohio Pharma-
ceutical Association, of which he was chairman of the first executive committee; he was the first delegate of that body to the American Pharmaceutical Association, and was at one time president of the or- ganization. He also was the first delegate to the National Retail Druggists' Associa- tion. He was twice appointed to the Ohio State board of examiners for pharmacists, and is serving his second term as president of same. He was one of the original pro- moters of the Island Outing Club.
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