USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 61
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 61
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Hon. Walter D. Jones, son of Hon. M. H. Jones, by the above mentioned union, was born in Piqua, Ohio, June 21, 1857. He was reared and educated in his native city, being graduated from the high school in 1872. After leaving school he entered the industrial ranks, learning the printers' trade and was for some time employed in the office of the Miami Helmet, of Piqua. He was also connected with newspapers in an industrial capacity for several years thereafter. While thus self-supporting, he had in the meanwhile entered upon the study of law under his father's direction, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court of the State at Colum- bus, Ohio. As already noted, his first professional experience was gained in partnership with his father, the firm being the leading law firm of its day in Piqna. Mr. Jones's appointment by Governor
RUFUS FISH
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Bushnell to the common pleas bench of the second judicial district of Ohio has been already noticed. In November, 1899, he was elected by the people to fill Judge Sullivan's unexpired term. He was also city solicitor of Piqna for some twelve years, being elected for six terms, and his administration of the affairs of that office gave excellent satisfaction to the people. He was a careful and methodical lawyer, always coming into court with papers well prepared. In his more elevated position on the bench he has won the character of an able and impartial jurist. Upright, hon- orable and painstaking, his decisions are the result of careful thought and a mind well stored and trained in all the funda- mental principles of the law. He is also a man of literary tastes and an able writer, though hitherto he has made no effort to gather literary laurels. A prominent Ma- son, he has served as worshipful master of Warren Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M., and as high priest of Piqua Chapter No. 31.
Hon. Walter D. Jones was married, in 1879, to Miss Laura Harlow of Piqua. Mrs. Jones was born in Tennessee and came to Miami County, Ohio, with her parents, Rev. William D. and Kate (Tuttle) Har- low, when in her eighteenth year. Of this union there has been one child-a daugli- ter, Laura C.
A. E. SINKS, who will enter upon the duties of the office of anditor of Miami County. Ohio, on the third Monday in Oc- tober, 1909, is a well known resident of Troy and has had a long experience in official life. He was horn August 28, 1860, in Montgomery County, Ohio, and is a son of D. W. Sinks, who was formerly treas- urer of Miami County.
Mr. Sinks came with his parents to Mi- ami County, when he was eight years old, and was reared and educated at West Mil- ton. When his father became county treas- urer and moved to Troy, A. E., then twenty years of age, became his deputy and served in that capacity from 1880 until September 1, 1884. Mr. Sinks then embarked in the clothing business, in which he continued for twelve years, withont, however, giving np his interest in politics and public af- fairs. In the spring of 1899 he was ap- pointed deputy county auditor and re- mained in the anditor's office in this posi- tion until his own election. His long period of service has made him well known all over the county, and those doing business with the auditor will feel that they are meeting with an old friend.
In 1885 Mr. Sinks was married to Miss Maggie B. Tullis, who was born and reared at Troy, and is a daughter of the late O. M. Tullis. Mr. and Mrs. Sinks have two chil- dren : R. W. and Helen A. The family belong to the Christian Church. Mr. Sinks is an Odd Fellow and a Knight Templar Mason.
RUFUS FISH, the efficient superin- tendent of The Knoop Children's Home, which is situated in Section 34, Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio, was born at Summer, Lawrence County, Illinois, No- vember 24, 1864. His parents were James and Mary (Denman) Fish.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Fish were Luke and Mary (Graham) Fish, and they had a family of twelve children, as follows: William, born November 24, 1814; Margaret, born November 11, 1816: Thomas, born December 2, 1818; Eliza- beth, born March 2, 1821; Lnke Sidney,
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born March 31, 1823; Edward, born Au- gust 7, 1825; Mary Jane, born August 15, 1827; James, born August 28, 1829; George Washington, born February 22, 1832; Hannah, born July 16, 1834; Henry, born August 24, 1836; and Sarah, born May 28, 1838.
The parents of Mr. Fish came to Miami County in his childhood. The father rent- ed farm land northwest of Troy, for twenty-seven years, and later bought forty-five acres near Casstown. James Fish married Mary Denman, a daughter of Richard Denman, and they had eight children, namely: Flora Agnes, born No- vember 23, 1855; Frank Leotus, born No- vember 12, 1858; John Clarence, born May 26, 1860; Charles Albert, born July 26, 1862; Rufus; William Ayers, born June 21, 1868; James Edwin, born Au- gust 12, 1870; and Elmer, born August 4, 1875. The parents of this family were members of the Baptist Church, in which James Fish was a deacon.
Rufus Fish attended what was known as the Favorite school in his boyhood, and remained assisting his father until he was about twenty-seven years of age. He then went to Troy and accepted the position of weighmaster with the firm of Allen & Wheeler, and remained in that city for twelve years, in the meanwhile, however, not entirely neglecting his agricultural in- terests. He owns one-half of a farm of 106 acres, situated in Elizabeth Township, not far from Casstown, and he has ac- quired realty in Troy.
In 1903 Mr. Fish became superintendent of The Knoop Children's Home, which in- eludes a farm of 165 acres, with nine build- ings and accommodations for 100 children. Its location is on a crossroad from the
Le Fever and Springfield Turnpike. The wisdom of selecting a man of Mr. Fish's business capacity and high personal char- acter has been demonstrated during the period of his superintendeney. He lias de- voted twelve acres to orchards, raises a large amount of wheat and enough grain to feed the stock grown on the place for the use of the Home. Employment is con- stantly given thirteen workmen. Mr. Fish gives his personal attention to everything and satisfactorily fills all the demands of the trustees.
In 1890 Mr. Fish married Miss Mary Jane Walker, a daughter of Daniel C. and Amanda Walker. of Piqua, Ohio. They have an adopted daughter, Bernice F. Mr. Fish is a deacon and also a trustee in the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Re- publican. He belongs to both the Masons and Odd Fellows, at Troy.
JACOB KENDELL, M. D., for many years a prominent medical practitioner of Covington, Miami County, Ohio, is now cashier of the Stillwater Valley Bank Com- pany at that place and devotes his entire time to the duties of that position. He has been identified with the institution ever since its inception, first as president and then as cashier, and is entitled to much credit for its great success.
Dr. Kendell was born on a farm in New- ton Township, Miami County, November 16, 1846, and is a son of Benjamin and Mary (Boggs) Kendell. Benjamin Ken- dell was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Miami County, Ohio, when a young man. He was a miller by trade and be- came the owner of what was known as the Sugar Grove Mill.
The subject of this sketch was five years
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old at his mother's death, and three years later, owing to the death of his father, he became an orphan. From that time until he was twelve years old he resided in Piqua and since then he has been almost con- stantly a resident of Covington. He began his education in the public schools and be- fore beginning his preparations for a med- ical career taught school for two years. He studied medicine under Dr. Weaver of Cov- ington and later attended Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, graduating from that institution with the degree of M. D., in 1869. In that year he entered into a part- nership with Dr. Weaver, which was con- timed for sixteen years. He then opened an office by himself and won high rank in his profession. He was one of the organ- izers of the Stillwater Valley Bank Com- pany, and served as first president from January 27, 1908, until November 1, 1908, when he was elected cashier to succeed Mr. A. C. Cable, deceased. He is a man of exceptional business qualifications and well fitted for the responsible position he fills.
Dr. Kendell was united in marriage with Sarah Jane Brump. a daughter of Joseph Brump of Tippecanoe City, and they have two sons-Dr. H. W. Kendell of Covington. and Dr. B. J. Kendell of Tippecanoe City. The subject of this sketch is a trustee of the Christian church, of which he has been a member many years and treasurer for thirty years. Fraternally he is a charter member of Covington Lodge, K. of P., of which he was also first chancellor com- mander. He was for fifteen years a mem- ber of the School Board of the city, and for ten years a member of the City Coun- eil, but does not now hold any political office.
Dr. H. W. Kendell, son of Dr. Jacob
Kendell, was born in Covington, Miami County, Ohio, January 4, 1876. He was reared in his native town and was gradu- ated from the Covington High School in 1894. He then entered the Medical Uni- versity of Columbus, Ohio, now known as the Starling, Ohio, Medical University, and after the usual course of instruction was there graduated in the class of 1898. He was resident physician at the Protes- tant Hospital of Columbus for a year and in 1899 located in Covington and entered into practice with his father. He married Llora Worley, a daughter of George Wor- ley, and has two children-Elizabeth and Herbert Worley. At the time of his mar- riage he and his wife took a trip to Eu- rope, the doctor spending several montlis in the leading hospitals of London and other large cities. He is a member of the Ohio State, the Miami County. and the American Medical societies. He is a stock- holder in the Stillwater Valley Bank Com- pany, first vice president of the Covington B. & L. Association, and a director in the Covington Home Telephone Company. The Doctor is also a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
ANGUS CAMERON CAMPBELL, de- ceased, was for many years identified with the dry goods trade in Piqua, Ohio, and other nearby cities and was a man of wide acquaintance, one who held the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens to a re- markable degree. He was a veteran of the Union Army, serving three years as a member of the Eleventh Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded at Chattanooga.
Mr. Campbell was born in Piqua, Febru- ary 14, 1842, and was a son of Robert and
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Jane Campbell. He was of Scotch an- cestry. He was possessed of many manly attributes which endeared him to the peo- ple with whom he was brought in contact, and was well educated and refined. He was a successful dry goods man and held positions with the Rike Dry Goods Com- pany, Dayton, and for many years in Piqua with C. S. Parker & Company, J. W. Brown, the Feible Bros. at Hillsboro, and also in Columbus, where the last named concern had a branch store.
Mr. Campbell was first married July 10, 1872, to Cornelia A. Kitchen, daughter of John and Eliza Kitchen, and they had two children: Wirt Campbell of Tacoma, Washington, and a daughter who died in infancy. The mother of these children died in 1875. November 17, 1887, Mr. Camp- bell formed a second marital union with Miss Sarah Ellen Jarvis, who was born in Piqua and is a daughter of the late Fran- cis and Mary J. (Johnston) Jarvis. One - son, Malcolm Campbell, was born to them.
Francis Jarvis, father of Mrs. Camp- in which he attained the first rank in the business world, as well as the seat of his many benefactions. He was born May 19, 1821, at Downpatrick, County Down, Ire- land. At the age of twenty-two, thinking to better his fortunes in the country across the sea, he came to America and endeav- ored to make his start in the city of To- ronto. Being ambitious and becoming dis- satisfied with the progress he was making. after a year's residence there, he deter- mined to locate at Piqua, Ohio. From that time until his death he was an active fig- ure in the history of the city and county, a period of fifty-five years. On August 1, 1887, he was chosen to fill the responsible
position of president of the Piqua National Bank, succeeding the late J. M. Scott, and lie continued actively to direct the affairs of this institution until within a few days of his death, which occurred August 25, 1900.
Mr. Jarvis was married March 2, 1847, to Miss Mary J. Johnston, and they reared the following children: J. J. Jarvis, a wool manufacturer who died at Defiance, Ohio, in June, 1903; Mary A., who is the wife of Wallace Alexander, a banker of St. Louis, Missouri; Frank, who is in the real estate business in Kansas City, Mis- souri ; Sarah E. (Campbell) ; Elizabeth J., wife of Dr. W. S. Powell of Defiance, Ohio; and W. G. Jarvis, who is engaged in the manufacturing business at Defiance, Ohio. Mrs. Jarvis preceded her husband to the grave, dying July 28, 1895, her death hav- ing a saddening influence on the remaining years of his life.
The high estimate placed upon Mr. Jar- vis as a man is revealed in an article which appeared in the local press at the time of bell, is well remembered in Piqua, the city . his demise. From it we quote: "Not only does Piqua mourn the loss of a good man, a loyal citizen and a cherished friend, but all through Western Ohio, his great worth will be missed and business men realize that one of their noblest is gone."
"Old citizens remember him in his early struggles, and saw him steadily, surely building up that deep character that will live long after his face is forgotten, and that knowledge of business and affairs that has made his opinion carry great weight when a crisis was at hand. Later, in the prime of life, when his own success was assured, he took a deep interest in the growth of his chosen city, and has watched its progress from year to year
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until the present prosperous condition that it enjoys."
"There is little need to reeite the many deeds of charity, for they are many, that have come from his hand. Generous, open- hearted, philanthropie he was, and none in suffering who came to him for relief were turned away. Many of his acts of kindness were never known to others than himself, but sometime, somewhere, they will receive a rich reward. His biography shows that he lived for those who loved him and that no service done him was ever forgotten."
RAYMOND A. KERR, a prominent at- torney of the Miami County bar and a member of the firm of E. H. & R. A. Kerr, of Tippecanoe City, was born November 10, 1880, at Tippecanoe City, Miami Coun- ty, Ohio, and is a son of E. II. and Etta (Tenney) Kerr.
E. 11. Kerr, father of Raymond A., was born near Casstown, in Miami County. Ilis school attendance covered his youth up to fifteen years and later he turned his atten- tion to the law, graduating from the Cin- cinnati Law School. He began to practice before his graduation, in 1885, and is num- bered among the snecessful members of the Miami County bar. He has been a resident of Tippecanoe City since 1878. He is a son of the late Thompson Kerr. who was a prosperous farmer and popular teacher for a number of years. Thompson Kerr died in 1887, aged fifty-six years. Of his four sons, the youngest. Owen, is de- ceased, and the other three are all attor- neys, namely : Manford; Asbury, residing at Tippecanoe City; and Ellis H., who is the senior member of the law firm of E. H. and R. A. Kerr. Ellis H. Kerr married
Etta Tenney, who is a daughter of the late Peter Tenney, a farmer, who died in Mont- gomery County, Ohio. To this marriage the following children were born: Loran, who is a railroad man, residing in South C'arolina; Vera, who is the wife of Lieut. R. W. Kessler, of the United States Navy, who is stationed at Cincinnati; and Ray- mond A.
Raymond A. Kerr attended the public schools of his native city and the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, graduat- ing in the class of 1902. He then entered the University of Michigan, graduating from the law department of that institu- tion in the class of 1905. He immediately became his father's associate and the law business of the firm is very heavy, almost all branches of the law being covered by one or other of the partners. Mr. Kerr is a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fra- ternity, and belongs also to Lodge No. 174, F. & A. M., Tippecanoe City, and to Cole- man Commandery at Troy, Ohio. On April 18, 1906, Mr. Kerr was married to Miss Myra Wehrly, who is a daughter of Rev. W. H. Wehrly, of Troy, Ohio,. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is in sympathy with the Democratic party.
WILLIAM ALONZO COVAULT, whose valuable farm of seventy-five acres lies in Staunton Township, belongs to one of the old families of Miami County, his grandfather, Abraham Covault, being a pioneer settler in Lost Creek Township. William Alonzo Covault was born on his father's farm in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, July 1, 1850, and is a son of Erastus and Frances (Shell) Co- vault.
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Grandfather Abraham Covault was born in the old block-house. at Cincinnati. In early manhood he started out for himself and came to Lost ('reek Township when the whole surrounding country was one vast wilderness. He cleared up a farm and lived on it until he reached old age, when he moved to Mercer County. where his death took place. He had the follow- ing children: William, Sarah, Erastus, Timothy and John.
Erastus Covault was born in Lost Creek Township and there passed the whole of his life. making farming his chief pursuit. After he married he purchased a tract of fifty-two and one-half aeres of land and on that farm he died April 20, 1861, when in middle age. He married Frances Shell, who was born near Casstown, Miami Coun- ty, Ohio. She survived until 1896. She con- ยท tracted a second marriage with Carter D. Hathaway. There were four children born to Erastus Covault and wife, namely : Viola. who married John Smith: Preston; William Alonzo and Horace P.
William Alonzo Covanlt grew up on the home farm and lived with his parents and attended the district school. Following the death of his father he purchased the home farm, which later he sold and then bought his present farm, which formerly belonged to his mother. He carries on general farming and understands how to make an agricultural life one of prosperity and contentment. His home and sur- roundings indicate much comfort.
On November 3, 1869, Mr. Covault was married to Mrs. Mary Yates, widow of Edmund Yates and daughter of Samuel and Mary (Chambers) Miller. Mrs. Yates had one daughter born to her first mar- riage, Sylvia Ellen, who is the wife of
William Edward Gillespie, and has two children. To Mr. and Mrs. Covault there have been nine children born, as follows: Ottie, who married F. Drake; Mirtie, who married Charles Campbell; Flossie, who married Charles Derr; Fleetie, who died aged two years : Harry, who married Rose Trabert; Harriet Frances; Orval, who married Jessie Howard; and Clarence and Clifford. Mr. Covault and family are mem- bers of the Union Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat.
. HENRY FLESH, who has attained prominence as a merchant and financier, has been a resident of Piqua, Ohio, for more than half a century, during which time he has identified himself with the de- velopment of the city and its resources in a patriotic and public-spirited manner. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1837, in which province his father was a prosper- ous country merchant.
Mr. Flesh received a common school and commercial education in his native land, and was fifteen years of age when he emi- grated to America in 1852. Soon after his arrival in the United States, he located at Dayton, Ohio, and for a period of five years clerked in a clothing establishment in that city. He was then for a short time employed in a similar establishment at Troy, Ohio, after which he moved to Piqua in 1858. He accepted the position of book- keeper and salesman in the elothing house of A. Friedlich, one of the best known mereliants of the city at that time, and con- tinned in that capacity until the latter part of the year 1862, when he embarked in business for himself. He began a mer- chant tailoring business, but as his means were very limited, it was some time before
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he had a store of any great pretensions. He had the ability and the energy neces- sary to make a success of the venture and the personality to retain the friendships he had formed. As his trade inereased his stock was enlarged, and he continued the business without change until 1878. He then disposed of the merchant tailoring branch of the business and confined him- self exclusively to ready-made clothing and gentlemen's furnishing goods. "Qual- ity" has ever been his watchword and his establishment, which is now probably the largest in Miami County, receives its pat- ronage from the leading class of people in the community.
Mr. Flesh's success in this enterprise attracted attention to his ability and in January. 1878, he was elected cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, which posi- tion he still retains. He is also president of the Border City Building and Loan Association of Piqua, one of the safest and most prosperous institutions of the kind in this part of the state, and president of the Cron-Kills Company, manufacturers of furniture at Piqua. He served for some time as president of the Board of Trade at Piqua, during which time that body was kept at its highest state of efficiency and accomplished much that has been of last- ing benefit to the city. With a view to giving Piqua an honest business adminis- tration it has been the policy of the ward in which he lives to have as its representa- tive in the city council a man of proven worth and ability. Mr. Flesh has been honored with that office many years-a part of the time as president of the council -and at a personal sacrifice has given his time and energy to the faithful discharge of his duties.
In 1862 Henry Flesh was united in mar- riage with the eldest daughter of Moses Friedlich, a representative citizen and business man of Piqua at an early day. Fraternally Mr. Flesh has been very active in the Masonic Lodge, of which he is past master.
JOIN DANIEL MILLER, A. M., M. D., a leading physician of Tippecanoe City, was born in Marion County, Ohio, June 18, 1878, and is a son of Lucius O. and Lydia (Haywood) Miller.
The parents of Dr. Miller have been resi- dents of Dayton for the past twenty-seven years. The paternal grandfather, Rev. D. R. Miller, is a venerable minister of the United Brethren Church and at one time was chaplain of the Ohio State Peniten- tiary. The maternal grandfather, Dr. John Haywood, formerly was a member of the faculty of Otterbein College, filling the chair of mathematics. Dr. John D. Miller has two brothers and three sisters, namely: Winton, who is engaged in news- paper work in connection with the Dayton Herald; Haywood, who is in the employ of the Dayton Manufacturing Company ; and Grace, Edna and Marjorie.
From the Dayton public schools, Dr. Miller entered Otterbein College, where he was graduated in 1900, and completed his medical preparation in the Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in the class of 1903. He served for a period of fifteen months as a physician at the New York Metropolitan Hospital, after which he engaged in prac- tice at Dayton until August, 1907, when he located in Tippecanoe City, where his med- ical skill has brought about his profes- sional independence., He is a student yet
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and a close observer of all scientific devel- opments in medicine and surgery, and en- joys his membership in the Dayton and the Miami Valley and Ohio State Homeo- pathic Societies and Union Clinical Society of Miami and Shelby Counties.
Dr. Miller was married (first) to Miss Honori Cornell, a daughter of John B. and Lucinda Cornell. In 1905 he was married (second) to Miss Julia Kelly. Mrs. Miller is a native of New York and prior to her marriage was a trained nurse by profes- sion. Dr. and Mrs. Miller have two chil- dren : Helen Ahydell and John Haywood. Dr. Miller is not a politician but he is an active citizen and he votes on public ques- tions with the Republican party.
SHERMAN D. CROFT, a prominent lawyer and real estate dealer of Coving- ton, Miami County, Ohio, has been a resi- dent of this village since 1901 and is num- bered among its most progressive citizens. He was born on a farm in Newberry Town- ship, Miami County, January 12, 1866, and is a son of David and Catherine (Whit- mer) Croft.
David Croft, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Maryland, where he grew to maturity, and when a young man came west to Dayton, Ohio. He clerked in a store for a time and then moved from that city to Newberry Township, Miami County, where he was married. He be- came proprietor of a mill and grew to be a man of considerable importance in the community, in which he continued to live until his death in 1881.
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