USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 55
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 55
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When John Lamka came to this country, in 1882, he was accompanied by his wife and children. He settled first near Pleas- ant Ilill, Miami County, Ohio, and worked by the day at farm labor, and then rented a farm in Newton Township from Dr. Keister. Ile rented his second farm from Levi Barnett, in Elizabeth Township, and after living there for eight years pur- chased the farm he now owns, on which he has lived since 1899. He bought forty acres of it from Mrs. Brier and fifteen
acres from the Harter estate. The purchase of this farm was the result of years of in- dustry and good management. He devotes all of his land to grain, except six acres, on which he grows tobacco. The only farm building he had to put up was his tobacco shed. He is a hard worker and takes a great deal of pride in keeping up the ap- pearance of his farm and in making every part of it a paying proposition.
In Germany Mr. Lamka was married to Marie Prolo, a daughter of Joseph H. and Louisa (Holtz) Prolo, and they have four children, all of whom have domestic ties of their own. William married Anna Lamka, a daughter of Henry Lamka, and they have four children, Edward, Carl, Herman and Charles. John married Marie Knoll, a daughter of Lawrence Knoll, and they have one child, Marie. Fred married Mary Smith, a daughter of Joseph Smith, and when she died she left two children, Leo and Grace. Charles married Maude Drury, a daughter of James Drury. Mr. Lamka and family are members of the German Lutheran Church at Troy. With his sons, Mr. Lamka votes with the Demo- cratie party.
ALBERT KINDER. general farmer and tobacco grower, owns eighty acres of farm land in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, which lies on the Addison and Casstown Turnpike and on the Springfield and and Troy Electric Railroad, about six miles west of the latter city. Mr. Kinder was born on a farm in Warren County, Ohio, April 3, 1848, and is a son of John and Sarah (Maxwell) Kinder, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Ohio. IIe is a grandson of Abraham Kinder, who settled in Warren
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County, Ohio, in 1800, and the farm is still in the Kinder name, belonging to a brother of Albert, named John.
Albert Kinder was left an orphan in boyhood, losing his mother when he was only five years old, and his father two years later. He was reared in Warren County and trained to be a farmer. He moved from there in February, 1872, and settled on a rented farm in Staunton Township, Miami County, and in 1886 he came to his present place, finding it in great need of improvement. Hle erected his residence, his substantial barns and his commodious tobacco sheds and now has a very valuable and desirable property. He gives considerable attention to producing tobacco.
In January, 1878, Mr. Kinder was mar- ried, in Miami County, to Miss Lettie Rusk, who died October 12, 1907. She was a daughter of William Rusk. Five chil- dren were born to this union, namely : William, who graduated in civil engineer- ing in the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, in 1904, and is engaged in profes- sional work in Montana ; Effie ; Albert, who is filling a position as bookkeeper in a business house in Texas; and John and Mary. Mr. Kinder takes no very active part in polities, although he is ever ready to perform every duty of good citizenship.
O. W. RICHARDSON, one of the lead- ing contraetors and builders of Piqua. Ohio, has been a resident of this eity since July, 1889, and has erected some of the prominent buildings here. Mr. Richard- son was born in Darke County, Ohio, An- gust 26, 1874, and there he attended the publie schools. After coming to Piqua, in 1889, he attended Piqua High School one
tem. Upon leaving that institution he learned the trade of a carpenter, serving a thorough apprenticeship, and followed that ovenpation continuonsly until 1897. Hle then engaged in general contracting in partnership with his father, but during the past seven years he has conducted opera- tions alone. He has erected many fine buildings, among which may be mentioned that of Piqua Central Fire Department, the Boal Flats and the United Brethren ('hurch. He added the third story to the Glencoe Hotel and remodeled the remain- der of the building. He has taken an active part in political affairs, being a Re- publican, and has served as central com- mitteeman and as delegate to congres- sional and county conventions.
June 20, 1900, Mr. Richardson was united in marriage with Miss Eleeta B. Davis, of Piqua. Both are members of the Church of Christ and are enthusiastic church workers. He has been superin- tendent of the Sunday School for seven years, and has seen its growth from ninety scholars, with an average attendance of sixty, to an enrollment of 240, with an av- erage attendance of 150. Mrs. Richard- son also has been an active Sunday School worker and teacher, and has seen many of her class of infants grow to be useful members of the church congregation. Mr. Richardson is a member of Warren Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M., of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the Piqua ('Inb.
S. M. ALLISON, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Cron-Kills Company, manufacturers of wardrobes and ladies' desks, a very large business enterprise of Piqua, with the largest and
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best equipped plant of its kind in this see- bership are the United Commercial Trav- tion of the State. was born in 1863, in elers and the Piqua Club. Preble County, Ohio.
Mr. Allison has been a resident of Piqua since he was thirteen years of age, and received a publie school education here. He was nineteen years old when he en- tered the business with which he has been identified ever since. The Cron-Kills Company was established in 1881, by A. J. Cron, R. B. Kills, Samuel Zollinger and Henry Flesh, as Cron, Kills & Co .. which style was continued until 1904, when the business was incorporated with a capital stock of $250,000, and the present style adopted. The officers are: Henry Flesh, president ; Samuel Zollinger, vice-presi- dent; S. M. Allison, secretary, treasurer and general manager: and W. R. Bamber, superintendent. The plant includes tive large buildings, covering twenty-five acres of floor space, and employment is given to 200 men. Goods are shipped all over the United States and to some foreign coun- tries. Prosperous conditions exist and the business is on such a firm basis that no changes in the tariff system of the conn- try would canse any reduction in its out- put. Not only is a large amount of capital ยท behind it, but its officers are men of per- sonal as well as financial stability.
In 1892 Mr. Allison was married to Miss Frances Culbertson, of Piqua, and they occupy one of the fine homes of this bean- tiful city. Mr. Allison is an active and useful citizen and for a number of years served with public efficiency in the city council. He is a Mason of advanced de- gree and for a quarter of a century has been identified with the Odd Fellows. Other organizations in which he has mem-
JAMES DRURY, who devotes his farm of twelve and one-fourth acres to growing grain and tobacco and raising hogs for market, is a well known citizen of Eliza- beth Township, Miami County, having re- sided on his present place for a number of years. He was born October 8, 1849, in Perry County, Ohio, and is a son of Eli Harrison and Mary Ann (Stourtts) Drury.
The first member of the Drury family to establish himself in Miami County was John Drury, the grandfather, who came from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, locating first at Columbus, but later opened up a boarding house in Miami City, where he subsequently died. He married Anna Pinkerton, who also died at Miami City, and both of them were buried in the Me- Kendree Cemetery. They had the follow- ing children: James, Eli H., Harman, Elizabeth, Eliza Ann and Susanna.
Eli Harrison Drury is a retired farmer and makes his home with his son, George G. Drury. In his earlier years he was a dry goods merchant and later engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Mary Ann Stourtts, a daughter of John Stourtts, and they had the following children : James; John, deceased; Alice Ann, who was married (first) to Joseph MeGraft, and (second) to James Snyder; Thomas Jefferson ; George Grant ; and Mary Effie, who married William Beek. The mother of this family is deceased.
James Drury obtained his education in a country school not far from Miami City and then went to work on the farm and has followed farming ever since. After his marriage he rented a number of farms in
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Miami County, living on each one as long as he found it profitable. For fifteen years before coming to his present l'arm he oper- ated the Shellenbarger farm in Bothel Township. All the buildings now standing on his place he either remodeled or eu- tirely constructed. He has made many im- provements, one being the setting out of a fine orchard of some forty trees. Mr. Drury has had so long an experience as a farmer that all methods are known to him and his judgment enables him to get more substantial returns from his small farm 'than do many on much larger acreage. Ilis farm lies on the MeNeal Turnpike, southeast of Troy.
On October 3, 1871, Mr. Drury was mar- ried to Miss Margaret Nothstine, a daugh- ter of William H. and Mira (Swager) Nothstine, and they have had eleven chil- dren born to them, namely: Charles E .: Mary A., who is now deceased ; Nora Viola, who married John Williamson, and has had four children-Ruth, Andrew, Minnie and Edna, deceased ; Lydia Jane, who mar- ried Oscar J. Bowers, and has two chil- dren, Ralph M. and Carl F. (they live near Christianburg) ; William H .; Lulu, now deceased ; John JJ., who is a student in the class of 1909 in a commercial college at Dayton; Bessie Lavina, who married l'ir- man C. Jenkins, of Bethel Township, and has one child, Goldie Leona : Amanda May. who married Frank Zenz, and has two chil- dren. Carl E. and Mabel M .: Mando Effic. who married Carl M. Lamka, and Harry. who died in infancy.
Mr. Drury, like his father, is a stanch Republican. He has always taken a good citizen's interest in public matters and at different times has served as school director.
S. J. RUDY, proprietor of the Farmers' Complete Elevator, has been established in business at Covington, Ohio. for some ten year- and is one of the representative citi- zen -. Mr. Rudy was born in Newton Township. Miami County, Ohio, April 15. 156%, and is a son of William and Mary (Shaffer) Rudy.
Mr. Rudy was reared on a farm and fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until he em- barked in the elevator business, the family haivng been farmers away back to his grandfather. Samuel Rudy, who came in early manhood to Miami County and set- tled first in Newberry and later in Newton Township. William Rudy was a life-long resident of Miami County and during the whole of his aetive life engaged in farm- ing, retiring to Covington but shortly he- fore his death, which occurred on October S. 1904. His widow still survives. About 1599. Mr. Rudy came to Covington and be- gan his elevator business, in the mean- while purchasing his farm of 132 acres. in Newton Township, which he still retains. He met with misfortune after two years in Covington, his elevator near the hotel burning down. but he showed his business enterprise by building his present one, known as the Farmers' Complete Elevator. in 1901. He does a very satisfactory busi- ness and is one of the city's substantial business men.
Mr. Rudy married Miss Dora Kondell, a daughter of Ezekiel Kendell, and they have had twelve children, the survivors being Nellie. Ethel. William, James, Al- bert. Alvio and Alice (twins), and Dora. Those who died were Glenna, Bessie, Ezo- kiel, a twin of William. and an infant. Mr. Rudy and wife are members of the Breth- ren Church.
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AUGUST S. CLOUSE, a representative business man of Piqua, who is teller of the Piqua National Bank and secretary of the Stuart & Brown Underwear Company, was born in this city in 1876, and is a son of Joseph Clouse, a native of Somerset, Ohio, who for years was identified with the man- and also the substantial barns near the old nfacturing interests of Piqua.
Angust S. Clouse was reared and edu- cated in his native city, graduating from the Piqna High School in 1894. He imme- diately went to work in the Citizen's Na- tional Bank, where he continued for seven years. In December, 1901, he eame to the Piqua National Bank in the capacity of bookkeeper, afterward being made teller, and remains associated with this financial institution. He has other business inter- ests and an important one is his official connection with the Stuart & Brown Un- derwear Company.
Mr. Clonse is one of Piqua's most active and earnest citizens. He is serving as clerk of the Board of Public Safety and has been tireless in his efforts to promote the general welfare. In politics he is a leading Republican of this section, being treasurer of the Republican Central Com- mittee, of Miami County, and a member of the County Central Committee from the Third Ward of Piqua. He is a consistent member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus and is a past grand knight of that order. Socially he is iden- tified with the Piqua Club.
one-half miles north of Piqua, in Spring Creek Township, was born in Shelby Coun- ty, Ohio, not far from Newport, August 22, 1856, and is a son of Levi and Martha (Irwin) Penrod, and a grandson of Sam- uel Penrod.
Samuel Penrod was a pioneer settler and preacher in Shelby County. He was born in Pennsylvania, of German ances- try, and during the whole of his mature life he engaged in farming and in serv- ing as a minister in the Christian Church, and in the latter capacity he visited dif- ferent points in the county and was a re- vered and beloved man. The old church near Newport that he was instrumental in building still stands. His wife was a na- tive of New Jersey. They had six chil- dren, namely : Jacob and Mary Jane, both deceased; Phebe Ann; Levi; and William, who died from starvation and inhuman treatment while held a prisoner of war at Andersonville, during the Civil War. Samuel Penrod died in Shelby County, March 17, 1879, his wife having passed away June 22, 1864.
Levi Penrod, father of E. B., was born in Shelby County, Ohio, in the old log house that was built by his father, and in which his own sons were also born. He owned an adjoining farm to the home- stead and there his death ocenrred. He married Martha Irwin and they had seven children born to them, as follows: E. B .; Rachel Anna, who died when aged nine months; James S .; Emma Jane, who mar- ried James Caldwell and lives in Shelby County ; Lucy Ellen, who married Will- iam Peters and lives at Piqna, Ohio; Etta, who married Levi Border, lives in Shelby
E. B. PENROD, general farmer and dairyman, residing on his excellent farm of 10712 acres, which is situated one and County; Eliza, married, who lives at
MR. AND MRS. E. B. PENROD
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Cleveland ; and Justice, who works the home farm in Shelby County.
E. B. Penrod obtained his education in the schools of Shelby County and re- mained at home with his father until his marriage, after which he moved to Miami County and rented land until April 11. 1904, when he settled on his present farm. Ile here carries on a general agricultural line and gives considerable attention to the milk industry, operating a route to Piqua.
Mr. Penrod was married (first) April 29, 1877, to Miss Rosella Kuhn, who died October 20. 1888, a daughter of Gabriel Kuhn. She was survived by three chil- dren : Maud, Myrtle and William Arthur. Maud married Charles Rummel and they live in Shelby County and have two chil- dren-Walter and Opal. Myrtle adopted the noble profession of trained nurse and resides at Brooklyn, New York. William Arthur assists his father at home. Mr. Penrod was married (second) August 22, 1890, to Miss Sarah Ellen Furman, who was born July 10, 1856, a daughter of William and Tacy (Stoker) Furman, who came from the State of New York to Shelby County and went from there to Iowa, where he was accidentally killed while operating a saw-mill, when Mrs. Penrod was only nine months old. His widow returned to Ohio, settling at Hous- ton, later removing to Piqua, Miami Conn- ty, where she died January 20. 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Furman had six children, all of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. Penrod have two children : Elva and Opal, both attend- ing school. In politics Mr. Penrod is a Republican, all members of the family be- ing of that political faith. With his fam- ily he belongs to the Christian Church.
JESSE FUNDERBURG, M. D., physi- cian and surgeon, maintaining his summer office at No. 212 West High Street. Piqua, Ohio, and a winter office in Florida, is one of the best known specialists in the dis- eases of women, in this section of the state. He was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1862.
Dr. Funderburg attended the Greene County public schools and Antioch College and then entered Columbus Medical Col- lege, where he was graduated March 4, 1886. He practiced for a short time at Houston and at Fletcher and then came to Piqua. On December 9, 1893, he was com- missioned county coroner by Governor Me- Kinley and served in this office for four years. When the board of pension exam- iners was reorganized, Dr. Fimderburg was appointed a member and during the eight years that he served on this board he gained the appreciation and esteem of the old soldiers, to whose interests he gave close and careful attention. For the past four years Dr. Funderburg has spent his winters as a practitioner in Florida, where his medical and surgical skill are valued as they are at Piqua. He keeps fully abreast of the times, taking post-graduate work at intervals in the great colleges of Columbus and Chicago, and closely investigating for himself many of the new scientific theories of his profession. He is a valued member of the Miami and Shelby County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society and the International Congress of Medi- eine.
Dr. Funderburg was married (first) May 20, 1886. to Miss EHla Doup. of Fletch- er, who died May 22, 1900, leaving two children. William Roscoe and Cloyd. Ile was married ( second ) to Miss Lillian Myr-
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tle Tyson, of Fletcher, Ohio. Dr. Funder- burg is a member of the Odd Fellows. the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Knights of Pythias of Piqua.
ALBERT KNOOP. a representative of one of the oldest and most substantial fam- ilies of Miami County, owns 216 acres of land in one hody, fifty-five of which lies in Elizabeth Township and the remainder in Lost Creek Township. Mr. Knoop was born on this farm, in December, 1849, and is a son of Daniel H. and Cassie (Jackson) Knoop.
Daniel Knoop was born in Pennsylvania and was a son of Jacob Knoop, the latter of whom died in that state. Daniel came to Ohio prior to his marriage, in company with his mother, and they settled on the farm which is now owned by Albert Knoop. The mother of the latter was born on the old Jackson farm in Elizabeth Township. one which has been in the family for over 100 years and on which the Jacksons cele- brated recently a centennial anniversary. Daniel and Cassie Knoop had five chil- dren, namely: Henry, residing at Cass- town: Josiah, who died in 1904; George. who died in 1862; William, who died in 1901; and Albert.
Albert Knoop has spent his whole life on the old home farm, which is endeared to him as no other place over could be. He has taken pleasure in developing the dif- ferent resources of the property and in adding to its comforts and conveniences. In 1902 he erected his large frame resi- dence, standing in the limits of Casstown. honse about one-eighth of a mile south of Casstown. He engages in general farming and stockraising.
On February 18. 1890. Mr. Knoop was
married to Miss Mary Jane Stewart, a daughter of William Stewart, and they have had four children, namely : Wilbur, who died aged four years; and Walter, Lauren and Albert K.
D. (. MEEKS, president of the School Board of Lost Creek Township, is a prom- inent farmer and the owner of eighty-two acres of land which has been in the family name since title was acquired from the Government in pioneer days. He was born in this township January 13. 1851. and is a son of David and Eliza (Knight) Meek, his father not using an "s" in the spell- ing of his name. Bazel Meeks. the grand- father, was born and reared in Pennsyl- vania and came to Ohio in the pioneer days. He acquired of the Government a large tract of land in Miami County, some 800 or 900 acres in all, for which he paid $1.25 per acre. He was blind during the last forty years of his life. and died at the home of his son, David, at the age of ninety years.
David Meek was born near New Lan- raster. Ohio, and came with his father to Miami County. when qnite young. He lived at home until his marriage, then pur- chased 213 acres in Lost Creek Township, where they began housekeeping. He finally had 427 acres in one block. a tract of 186 acres north of Addison. and a quarter sec- tion of coal land in Perry County, Ohio. The last nine years of his life were sad- dened by the same affliction which had af- ferted his father, that of blindness, and his death occurred in a little house which the subject of this sketch built for him on the home farm. He died January 5. 1896, aged eighty-nine years, and his widow survived him about fifteen months, dying at the age
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of eighty-five years. She was Eliza Knight in maiden life and was born on what is known as the Theodore Rogers farm in Lost Creek Township. Her father, David Knight, was one of the pioneers of this community. Mr. and Mrs. Meek be- came parents of the following children : Martha, Isaac, Louisa, and Diana, all de- ceased; Watson; Johnson K., who was drowned near Troy, at the age of forty- seven years; Emma, wife of R. D. Evans of Columbus, Ohio; David Corbly, whose name heads this record; Washington Riley of Columbus, Ohio; and Louisa. Isaac, Martha and Watson died of diphtheria about four days apart.
David C. Meeks attended the school in the home distriet, which was badly crowd- ed with its eighty pupils. Later the fam- ily moved to Troy in order to afford the children better educational advantages, and Diana Meeks was one of the four who formed the first graduating class of the Troy High School. David C. also attended the high school, and later the Nelson Busi- ness College at Cincinnati, Ohio. He con- tinued to live with his parents until his marriage, then for a period of ten years rented and farmed land. Then he pur- chased of his father 213 acres, on time payments, and as the tract was heavily timbered it was necessary to make a clear- ing before he could ereet a home. He sold off 130 acres, of which he had cleared all but sixteen acres. He has always followed general farming and has been very sue- cessful ; he is progressive and public spir- ited, and by employing modern and ap- proved methods in his work has met with exceptional results. In politics, he is a Republican and for fifteen years served as township trustee. He has been presi-
dent of the school board for the past five years.
October 10, 1575, Mr. Meeks was united in marriage with Miss Lydia MeGalliard, a daughter of Isaac and Merey ( Fuller) MeGalliard, and their children are as l'ol- lows: Cora F., who died at three years; Earl A., who married Orma Haulman and has a son, Lloyd; Venna Pearl, wife of II. A. Smith, by whom she has a daughter, Madge Aileen; Riley O., a landscape gardener at Columbus; Forrest D .; and Rnby (. Religiously, the family belongs to the Baptist Church.
CONRAD WILLIAM BREIDEN- BACH, a prosperous business man and well known citizen of Piqna, Ohio, is a practical piano-forte, pipe and reed organ builder, which business he has followed in that city continuously since his removal there, September 3, 1877.
Mr. Breidenbach was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1853, and was reared and edu- cated in that city. In early life he worked at carriage making for a time, then for three years was employed in an organ fac- tory. In 1877 he came to Piqua and began work as a practical piano-forte, pipe and reed organ builder, also tuning and re- pairing instruments. He also makes and remodels violins to order, and has been highly successful in all branches of his business. He has real estate interests in Dayton, where he is also stockholder in a bank.
July 6, 1880, Mr. Breidenbach was united in marriage with Miss Louise Bertling, who died in 1883 and left a daughter, Helen Louise. In 1891 he formed a second union at Philadelphia with Miss Eliza C. Steller and they have a son, Warren C.,
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who is a student in Piqua High School. Fraternally Mr. Breidenbach is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Chapter; also a member of the Order of Elks; the Knights of Pythias, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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