USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 44
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 44
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In the year 1900 Mr. Davy became a member of the law firm of Davy & Camp- bell, Mr. St. John becoming a third part- ner in the following year. On the subse- quent election of Mr. Campbell as prose- cuting attorney, that gentleman retired from the firm, which then became Davy & St. John. In 1907 Mr. St. John was ap- pointed assistant probate judge, and ac- cordingly severed his connection with the
firm; but on account of the old style be- ing well and favorably known to a large Eastern clientele, Mr. Davy has since re- tained it, though at the present time prac- ticing alone. He has lately organized the National Law Collecting Company, incor- porated with a capital stock of $10,000, of which he is president. Mr. Davy is an en- thusiastic Republican in politics, and has spent much time and effort in bringing about party success in the county. In 1892 he was chairman of the Republican Cen- tral Committee and his activity brought out the full party strength in support of President Harrison, while nearly every other county in the State fell below.
Mr. Davy was joined in marriage, Feb- ruary 4, 1886, with Gertrude Edith Mitch- ell, who was born near Fletcher, Miami County, Ohio, in 1864, the Mitchell family having long been one of prominence in the county. Her father, John Mitchell, was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, De- cember 25, 1822, and at an early date be- came a resident of Miami County. He was a man of unusual ability, and accumu- lated a handsome competency, including 329 acres of land in the county. He was married at Fletcher in 1855, to Miss Hen- rietta Simmons, a daughter of William T. and Margaret Simmons, and two children were the offspring of this union-Mrs. Mary E. Spencer, of Piqua ; and Gertrude E., wife of Jacob A. Davy. Mrs. Davy is a lady of educational attainments and musical accomplishments, being gifted with a soprano voice of good power and pleas- ing quality. She received voice culture under the instruction of Professor Blu- menschine, of Dayton, and other prom- inent teachers. The family home is at No. 6 South Plum Street, in Troy.
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GEORGE MUMFORD, one of Elizabeth Township's prosperous grain farmers, re- sides on his valuable farm of 140 acres, which is situated on the LeFever Turn- pike road, in Section 16, Elizabeth Town- ship, Miami County, Ohio, was born in Clark County, Ohio, March 31, 1852. His parents were George and Ruth Ann (Mar- tin) Mumford.
George Mumford and wife were born in Maryland and came from there to Ohio, locating first in Clark County but subse- quently removing to Miami County. He became the owner of a large amount of land, purchasing at different times tracts of 200 acres, of seventy-eight acres and of the 140 acres which is now owned by his son George. He was aged seventy years when he died. When he lived in Mary- land he was a Whig in politics but later became a member of the Republican party. For thirty-three years he served as a school director and in all matters of mo- ment in his neighborhood, his judgment was more or less consulted. He was con- sidered a poor man when he came first to Miami County but he was very enterpris- ing and possessed excellent business quali- fications. He cleared about one-half of his land, building a drain ditch in which he used 1,000 rods of tiling, and put up all the farm structures now standing, these serving during his lifetime, although they have all been remodeled and improved by the present owner. The children of George and Ruth Ann Mumford were: Martha Josephine, Elizabeth, Harrison, Isaac, Maria, George, Melissa and Belle. The mother of this family died in June, 1888, having survived her husband from September, 1882.
George Mumford, Jr., who has served
Elizabeth Township for fifteen years as a school director, obtained his own educa- tion in the Flinn school, near his home, after which he became his father's helper on the farm and remained at home with his parents and continues on the same farm on which he was reared from child- hood. It is well drained, the Miami Coun- ty ditch running north and south through it, and Mr. Mumford has so divided his land that each part of it returns a good in- come. He has an orchard of fifty trees, grows twenty-five acres of corn, the same of wheat and the same of oats each year, has fifteen acres in hay and the remainder of the land is in woods and pasture. He takes pride in the appearance of his build- ings and keeps them repaired and painted, making everything around his home very presentable. He has a fine family also to enjoy life with, consisting of wife and four children. He was married December 23, 1883, to Miss Ellen Boswell, who is a daughter of George and Lavina Boswell, of Casstown. Miami County, and their family consists of three daughters and one son, namely : Blanche. Nora, Vernon and Ruth. Mrs. Mumford is a member of the McKendree Methodist Church of Elizabeth Township. He does not lay claim to be- ing a politician but he is interested in all that concerns the welfare of his own neigh- borhood and of the country at large. He votes the Republican ticket.
JUSTUS DIEHL, for many years one of the substantial business men and a pub- lie-spirited citizen of Troy, Ohio, is now living in retirement in that city. He was prominently identified with the wagon- making industry as a member of the firm of Repholz and Diehl, and now rents the
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plant conducted by them to the son of his deceased partner.
Mr. Diehl was born in Germany October 1, 1839, and was about seventeen years of age when he came to the United States in 1857, locating in the city of Dayton. There he worked as a cabinet maker one year for a Mr. Boyer, but not liking the work he hired out for a year as a gardener. In 1859 he went to Sydney, Ohio, where he learned the trade of wagon maker with Jacob Piper, in whose employ he contin- ued for eighteen months. In 1861 he went to Greenville, Ohio, and in February, 1864, enlisted for three years' service as a mem- ber of the Eighth Ohio Battery Light Ar- tillery, and was later assigned with his battery to the Army of the Mississippi. He contracted the typhoid fever but re- mained in the service until August, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. Upon his return from the front, he worked at wagon making for a Mr. Miller, in the same shop in which he learned his trade in Sydney. In the spring of 1866, he moved to Troy, Ohio, and formed a part- nership with Frank Emerett in the wagon making business. They established their business on West Main Street, and in a short time Mr. Diehl purchased the inter- est of his partner and continued the busi- ness there alone for several years. In 1879 he entered partnership with Mr. Repholz and started a shop at No. 401 East Main Street. Their business asso- ciation continued with uninterrupted sue- cess until Mr. Repholz died. Mr. Diehl then, on account of failing health rented the plant to a son of his former partner, who has since continued it.
In 1867 Justus Diehl was married to Miss Mary Dunlap, who died in 1888, leav-
ing five children: Charles Diehl, an elec- trieian of ability, at Tippecanoe City ; Will- iam Diehl, head engineer of the electric light plant of Lima, Ohio, with which he has been identified for a score of years; George Diehl, who also has been identified with the Lima Electric Light Plant for some twenty years, he and his brother be- ginning at that time as boys and working up to good and responsible positions; M. Lida Diehl, who lives in Tippecanoe City; and Elizabeth, wife of Henry Heiser, of Piqua, Ohio. Mr. Diehl, in 1891, formed a second marriage with Mrs. Catherine Shell, of Miami County. Religiously, he attends the Baptist Church in Troy, of which his wife is a member. Fraternally, he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
PERRY H. MOYER, deputy sheriff of Miami County and county recorder elect, has been a resident of Troy for the past thirty years. He was born in Montgom- ery County, Ohio, November 20, 1843. Mr. Moyer was reared on a farm and obtained his education in the public schools of Mont- gomery County. He enlisted for service in the Civil War, in February, 1864, enter- ing Company E, Ninety-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he con- tinned until his honorable discharge on December 5, 1865. At the battle of New Hope Church, Georgia, during the Atlanta campaign, Mr. Moyer was so seriously wounded that he could no longer serve on the field, and he was then attached to the mustering-out office, with headquarters at Detroit, Michigan. For about four years after the close of the war, he followed farming and then engaged for some three years in the grocery business. Since com-
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ing to Troy he has been identified with various interests here, and on February 1, 1892, he was appointed deputy sheriff of Miami County. Mr. Moyer has proven himself an efficient publie officer and his election, in November, 1908, as county re- corder, is a signal mark of appreciation. He will assume the duties of the new office in September, 1909.
On April 30, 1868, Mr. Moyer was mar- ried to Miss Mary Jane Hniet, of Mont- gomery County, Ohio, and they have one danghter, Irma May, who, for seventeen years has been a valued teacher in the publie schools of Troy. Mr. P. H. Moyer, with his wife and daughter, belongs to the Presbyterian Church. He is affiliated with the Odd Fellows and belongs to A. H. Cole- man Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Troy, of which he is now commander.
FRANK E. FREEMAN, nurseryman and farmer, residing on the valuable prop- erty of the Geo. Freeman heirs, consist- ing of 115 acres, which is situated in See- tion 25, on the National Turnpike Road, near Phoneton, Ohio, was born in Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio, June 28, 1862, and is a son of George Freeman and a grandson of Robert M. Freeman.
Robert M. Freeman came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, settling in Bethel Township, where he was a farmer all his life. He married Hannah Puterbangh, a daughter of David and Mary Puterbangh, and they reared ten children: David, Isaac, George, John, Daniel, Hannah, Elizabeth, Minnie, Henrietta and Priscilla.
George Freeman sneceeded his father as a farmer and nurseryman in Bethel Town- ship. He married Araminta D. Swindle, a daughter of John and Rebecca Swindle,
and they have had the following children : Laura, who married R. W. Mitchell, who is principal of a High School in North Carolina ; Frank E .; Harry W., deceased, who was formerly in the nursery business at Tadmor, Ohio, and married a danghter of John Benham; and Arthur H., who is connected with a lime and cement company at Chicago, Illinois, and who married Lanra Emerson.
Frank E. Freeman first attended sehool in Bethel Township, later enjoyed four terms in the Normal School at Ada, Ohio, and still later took a commercial course in a business college in the State of New . York. He then returned to the home farm, where he has continued in business ever since. He has cleared about four acres of land and devotes the larger part of the acreage to nursery plants, also raising some grain and hay. Ile is mueh inter- ested in raising throughbred stock and the four colts that he raises annnally might easily be registered for the race track, so excellent are their qualities. He has erected all the stock stables on the place and these are of modern construc- tion, due regard having been paid to their sanitary conveniences, this being along modern lines of building. Mr. Freeman has additional business interests, being a stockholder of the Dye Fruit Company, which has its home office at Tippecanoe City, and a member of the board of directors.
On March 10, 1887, Mr. Freeman was married to Miss Margaret G. Belleman, a daughter of Henry and Eliza Belleman, and they have six children, namely : Charles H., who is a lieutenant in the Phi- lippine Constabulary and at present is sta- tioned at Manila, Philippine Islands ; and
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Roy W., Ralph Egbert, Lillian May, George Henry and Ruth Mahala. Mr. Freeman is a member of the Reformed Church, in which he is a deacon. In poli- ties lie is a Republican and formerly served as a member of the Miami County Agricultural Society. Formerly he was also identified with the local Grange. He is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the Commandery at Troy, where he also belongs to the Elks.
W. E. LYTLE, a leading member of the Miami County bar and prosecuting attor- ney elect, was born in 1871, near Lancas- ter, Ohio.
Mr. Lytle passed his early life on a farm but his inclination lay more in the direc- tion of a professional life. Like many other youths he found himself entirely de- pendant on his own efforts to secure the education he craved and, through many sacrifices, prepared himself for teaching and thus was enabled to spend three and a half years in the Ohio Normal Univer- sity at Ada, in the literary and law de- partments of that institution. In June, 1900, Mr. Lytle received his degree from the university and was admitted to the bar and in September, 1901, he located for practice at Tippecanoe City, Miami Coun- ty, since then earning his permit to prac- tice in the Federal Courts and all the courts in the State. He was elected city solicitor in 1906, elected again in 1907. and served two and one-half years, resign- ing the office when he was elected to the still more responsible one of prosecuting attorney of Miami County, in November, 1908, the duties of which he will assume on January 4, 1909. In addition to paying attention to his large private practice, as
well as his official duties, Mr. Lytle has interested himself in several business en- terprises. He promoted and organized the Citizens' National Bank of Tippecanoe City, of which he is a director and attor- ney, and he was the chief promoter of the Tippecanoe Underwear Company, which is incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000. Of this company he is attorney and a member of the board of directors. Mr. Lytle is also concerned in valuable real estate lying in both Miami and Darke counties. He is a man of more than usual energy and enterprise and lie possesses also the judgment which brings him suc- cess in his undertakings. This foresight and judgment will be valuable assets in the conduct of the office of prosecuting at- torney, an office which no feebly endowed man could ever hope to satisfactorily fill at this day.
In 1893 Mr. Lytle was married to Miss Zella Rank, of Darke County. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is an official of the same and also of the Sunday School, having been a teacher for over twenty years. Politically he is a strong factor in the Re- publican party in this section and a hearty supporter of Republican policies. For . the past fifteen years he has been an active member of the Order of Knights of Pyth- ias and belongs also to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
H. J. WALKER, county surveyor of Miami County, Ohio, is one of the most capable and popular public officials of the county. He has been a resident of Troy for some nineteen years but he was born in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio. Josiah Walker, father of H. J. Walker,
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was brought to Troy from Pennsylvania, when small, and a large part of his life was spent on his farm in Brown Town- ship, which he left in 1889 and has resided at Troy ever since, where he is one of the respected and substantial citizens.
H. J. Walker was educated in the public schools of Troy and took special course of three years in the Ohio State University at Columbus, graduating as a civil engi- neer, and then took up railroad work in the Northwest, after which he came to Troy. He is interested in a number of local en- terprises and has served as city engineer for about twelve years. In November, 1901, he was first elected county surveyor, was re-elected in November, 1904, and his term will not expire until September, 1909, when he will have served continuously in this office about eight years.
Mr. Walker is an active member of the Elks and the Knights of Pythias, and he also retains his connection with the Sigma Nu fraternity of the Columbus University and is a charter member of the alumni chapel of the society. He belongs also to the Troy Club. Mr. Walker was reared in the Presbyterian faith.
JOHN K. DE FREES, assistant cashier of the Troy National Bank and city treas- urer of Troy, Ohio, was born in this city in 1878, and is a son of L. L. and a grand- son of John W. De Frees. Both father and grandfather of Mr. De Frees were well known journalists. The grandfather, John W. De Frees, was the founder, pro- prietor and editor of the Miami Union, which he conducted for many years, and for a time he served as county anditor of Miami County. The father of Mr. De Frees early became associated with his
father in newspaper work and on the death of John W. De Frees succeeded to the pro- prietorship of the Miami Union, which he successfully conducted until ill health compelled him to dispose of his interests.
John K. De Frees was reared and edu- cated at Troy, and after graduating from the Troy High School he spent two years in the Ohio State University. Shortly
after his return to Troy he entered the Troy National Bank as bookkeeper, served later four years as teller and since then has filled the office of assistant cashier. He has ever been an active and earnest citizen and in November, 1907, he was elected city treasurer, the duties of which office he fills with the same carefulness and conservatism that has made him val- ned in the financial institution with which he has so long been connected.
In June, 1903. Mr. De Frees was mar- ried to Miss Frances P. Brechhill, of Troy, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth. Mr. De Frees and wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Troy. He is a Royal Arch Mason and belongs also to the Troy and the Island Outing clubs.
CHARLES F. RANNELLS, city au- ditor of Troy, Ohio, of which place he has been a resident since 1885, was born at New Antioch. Clinton County, Ohio, in 1852. Mr. Rannells was educated in the public schools of his native place, later at- tended the Holbrooks School at Lebanon, Ohio, and still later took a commercial course at the Bryant & Stratton Business College, at Cincinnati. For some twelve years thereafter, Mr. Rannells taught school and after leaving the educational field he was bookkeeper for the firm of
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IIISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Allen & Wheeler for a number of years and then embarked in a nursery business, conducting this enterprise until 1903, when he was first elected city auditor of Troy. Mr. Rannells is serving in his second term in this office, his re-election in 1907 indicat- ing the confidence he enjoys among his fellow citizens. In the promotion of good government, Mr. Rannells has been an ac- tive citizen and has taken a hearty interest in public affairs.
In 1881 Mr. Rannells was married to Miss Nannie Cleland, of Martinsville, Ohio, and they have two sons, E. B. and C. W., both of whom are in the employ of the Edison Electrical Company, of Brook- lyn, New York. Mr. Rannells is a thirty- second degree Mason and is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery, at Troy, and of the Con- sistory and Shrine, at Dayton, Ohio.
HON. THOMAS M. CAMPBELL, for- merly mayor of Troy, Ohio, of which city he has been a resident for some thirty years, is a leading member of the Miami County bar and is city solicitor, an office he has most acceptably filled on several occasions. He was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1840.
Mr. Campbell attended the law school of the University of Michigan. at Ann Ar- bor, but otherwise he seenred his educa- tion in the schools of Montgomery and Preble counties, Ohio. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company B, Seventy-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for over three years of the great Civil War, receiving his honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, Decem- ber 3, 1864, having been promoted to first sergeant. Mr. Campbell survived all the
usual dangers of army life and his record shows that he was never wounded, never sent to a hospital, and, what lie is justly prond of, that he was never excused from duty. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Geor- gia, and Franklin, Tennessee, together with many less important engagements.
In 1877 Mr. Campbell was admitted to the bar, and in the following year settled at Troy, subsequently being admitted to practice in the United States Courts. He is a member of the Miami County Bar Association. He has long been interested in local politics and in 1885 was elected city solicitor, serving in that capacity for two terms, and from 1892 to 1894, he was mayor of the city, and after the close of an excellent administration, he returned to private practice. In November, 1907, he was again brought forward by his party for the office of city solicitor, and was elected without opposition and is serving in that office at the present time.
In 1889 Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Clara E. Shilling, who died May 23, 1907, leaving one son, Carlton W., who is a student in Dennison University. Mr. Campbell is a member of the First Baptist Church of Troy, and one of its deacons. He is prominent in Masonry, being past master of Franklin Lodge, No. 14, F. & A. M .; past high priest of Franklin Chapter, and past eminent commander of Coleman Commandery, Knights Templar.
JOHN FISH, president of the Troy Tile and Brick Company, a successful manufacturing enterprise of Troy, was born in 1860, in Illinois, and in infancy was brought to Shelby County, Ohio, and when four years of age to Miami County,
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where he was reared and educated. Mr. Fish's boyhood was spent on a farm and he continued to engage in agricultural pur- suits until 1900, when he came to Troy, where for two years he conducted the sprinkling business for the city and then purchased a feed mill, which he operated for four years, in the meanwhile prepar- ing for his present enterprise. The Troy Tile and Brick Company was incorporated in 1894, by R. W. Crofoot and Mr. Fish owns a one-half interest and since his pur- chase has been president of the company, with his brother, Charles Fish, as secre- tary. The business is the manufacturing of tile and brick and they deal also in eement, coal and grain.
In 1885 Mr. Fish was married to Miss Jennie Hetzler and they have two children living: Roy, who is bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Troy; and Earl, who is a High School student. One child, Freddie, died at the age of five years. Mr. Fish and family belong to the Baptist Church. «In politics Mr. Fish is a Repub- lican and he has served four years as a member of the City Council, taking an active interest in promoting the welfare of this community. He has long been identi- fied with the Odd Fellows and is filling the office of noble grand in the Troy lodge. He is one of the city's reputable and repre- sentative business men.
JAMES R. MeCANDLISS, general farmer and tobacco grower, residing on his valuable estate of thirty-seven acres, which is situated in Section 29, Elizabeth Township, one mile southeast of Cass- town, is a representative citizen of this section. He was born July 29, 1850, at Young's Mill, near Piqua, Miami County,
Ohio, and is a son of James and Mary (Abbott) McCandliss.
The MeCandliss family is of Irish de- scent, but the grandfather, James McCand- liss, was born in Pennsylvania. When he came to Ohio he brought his family over the Allegheny Mountains by wagon and settled first near Dayton and later near Piqna. He worked as a carpenter and also engaged in farming. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian and in his political sympathy a Whig. He died in 1878 and his burial was at Piqua. He married Nancy Hilands and they had the following children: John. Sarah, James, Mary, Nancy, Annie and Amos.
James MeCandliss, Jr., father of James R., was born in Pennsylvania and accom- panied his parents to Ohio in his child- hood. He assisted his father on the home farm near Piqua until his own marriage and then engaged in milling, in 1859 mov- ing to the old Sheets mill in Elizabeth Township and from there to Coalville, where he died September 25, 1897. His re- mains rest in the Casstown Cemetery. He married Mary Abbott, who still survives and resides with her daughter. Mrs. Ros- ser, at Troy. The following children were born to James and Mary MeCandliss: John F., who lives in Staunton Township: James R .; Laura L., who is deceased ; Nancy, who married Charles Rosser : Nel- lie, who married George Wolfe, and re- sides at New Carlisle; William ; who mar- ried Mollie West, and is now deceased ; Joseph, who is deceased; Isaac, who mar- ried Mattie. daughter of Jolm Ross; Charles, who married Amy Emory; Cro- zier, who is unmarried and resides in ('ali- fornia; Mabelle, who married Albert Carns; and an infant, deceased.
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