USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 66
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 66
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Thomas Wilgus, the grandfather, was born in New Jersey, and was a mere child when the family moved to Warren County, Ohio. He began working on the home farm, and continued at home until his first mar- riage. In 1834 he moved with his wife and children to Miami County, Ohio, where he purchased a half section of land in Lost Creek Township, a part of which is now owned by William Wilgus. Mrs. Wilgus, who was in maiden life Anna Hunt, died three weeks after the arrival of the family in this county. They had two children : John; and Mary, who became the wife of Jolın Babb, both now deceased. Thomas Wilgus was later married to Hannah Rob- inson, and they had the following children : William, of Lost Creek Township; Mi- chael, of Casstown; Thomas, of Fletcher, and Anna, deceased wife of H. Brecount.
The mother of this family died in 1883, and her husband in March, 1885.
John Hunt Wilgns was born in Warren County, Ohio, October 5, 1831. and was three years old when his parents moved to Lost Creek Township, in Miami County. His mother dying soon after, he was taken to raise by her people in Warren County, with whom he lived until he was fifteen years of age. Having arrived at the age where he could be of assistance, he went to live with his father on the farm. Ile re- ceived a very meagre education, attending the district schools abont three months each winter. He remained with his father until his marriage, then purchased a farm of 100 acres in Lost Creek Township, on which they set up housekeeping. He later sold that property and purchased the pres- ent farm of our subject from the Frazee heirs. He followed farming throughout his entire life. Ile was united in marriage with Dulcina Frazee, who was reared on the farm now owned by her son. J. F. Wil- gus, and was a daughter of Lewis Frazee. Her grandfather, David Frazee, a Baptist minister. located in Lost Creek Township at an early date and became the owner of a vast tract of land. John II. Wilgus sur- vived his wife some years, dying May 15. 1908; her death ocenrred July 24, 1900. They were parents of the following chil- dren: Lewis F., of North Dakota; John Franklin; G. Rousseau; Thomas, of West Milton ; Ralph II., of West Milton; Will- iam W .; and three who died in infancy.
John Franklin Wilgus was reared on the farm and attended the district schools in the vicinity, and the business college at Lebanon, Ohio. Ile has devoted his activ- ity to farming throughout his career, and has been very successful. He has seventy-
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two acres in the farm on which he lives, and also has an interest in the old estate. He purchased his farm of Mrs. Mary Blackford. and in 1892 erected a substan- tial residence, which was destroyed by fire in 1908. Ile is a Republican in politics, and for sixteen years has served on the school board.
December 9, 1888. Mr. Wilgus was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ellen Bright, a daughter of Adam Bright, of Addison, Ohio. Two children were born to them, namely: Ellwood M. and J. Adam. Mrs. Wilgus died on April 3. 1905. Mr. Wilgus has a wide acquaintance throughout this section of the country, and enjoys the con- fidence and esteem of his fellow citizens to a marked degree.
MARTIN VALENTINE HOUSER, re- siding on a farm of eighty acres in Staun- ton Township, Miami County, Ohio, is also the owner of several other tracts of land in that and Spring Creek Townships, having 331 acres in all. He was born on St. Val- entine's Day, February 14. 1830, on the home farm in Spring Creek Township, Miami County, and is a son of John and Margaret (Booher) Houser, and a grand- son of Martin and Barbara (Neff) Houser
Martin Houser, the grandfather, was a farmer in the Shenandoah Valley, Vir- ginia, and some years after marriage moved to Montgomery County, Ohio, set- tling on the east side of the Miami River, about two and a half miles north of Day- ton. which was then a village consisting of but a few small houses. Hle later entered one-half a section of land in Spring Creek Township, Miami County, but continued to live at his old home near Dayton, where he died at the age of eighty-one years. Ile
and his wife were parents of the following children: Jacob, Daniel, Isaac, Henry, John, Martin, Barbara and Catherine.
John Houser was born in the Shenan- doah Valley, and was a small boy at the time the family moved from Virginia to the vicinity of Dayton, where he was reared to maturity. They lived in a rude log house, and he helped in clearing the timber from the farm. When a young man, during the War of 1812, he hauled grain to the soldiers in the army. He also in that period was one of a party which went to Indiana, it being a hard six weeks' trip at that time. They lost all of their horses but one on the journey, and upon their re- turn sold the remaining horse for the mu- nificent sum of $7.00, which was divided among the seven members of the party. After his marriage and the birth of two children, they moved to Miami County, lo- cating upon the north half of the half sec- tion of land entered by his father, his brother Henry locating upon the south half. He lived in a small log house on the place for many years, and cleared it of timber. The country was in a compara- tively wild and undeveloped state at that time, and he frequently supplied his table with wild game. Ile died at the age of eighty-one years, and Mrs. Houser died at the age of eighty-fonr. They were parents of the following: Samuel; John B .; Bar- bara, wife of Moses Denman; Martin Val- entine; Mary Ann, wife of Job Emmons; Bartholomew, who was a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War and died at Washington, D. C .; and Jacob, who lost his life in the Battle of the Wilderness. The subject of this sketch is the only one of his parents' family now living.
Martin V. Houser spent his boyhood
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days on the home farm in Spring Creek township, which he aided in elearing. He first attended school in the old church in that vicinity, also the old log schoolhouse, and the brick school which replaced it. He received a fair education, being ambitions and a good student, and was tendered a position as teacher at different times. His educational training was restricted by ill- ness, and in his youth he went on an ex- tended hunting trip in Indiana for the ben- efit of his health. He covered 231 miles on horseback in six weeks, and returned home in a much improved condition. He has al- ways followed farming, and what he owns he owes almost entirely to his individual efforts. His first purchase was the farm on which he now lives, and when the mort- gage was finally removed from the place he felt himself the happiest and richest man in the community. He has always in- vested his earnings to good advantage, and now has 331 aeres, in several traets, in Spring Creek and Staunton Townships.
In November, 1856, Mr. Houser was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Duncan, a daughter of Robert and Jane (MeClintock) Duncan, and her death oc- curred March 2, 1886. They became par- ents of two children, Ida and Flora. Ida Houser was married to Willis Peterson, of Staunton Township, and has two children -Roy, who married Elsie Clark; and Ralph. Flora Houser married J. Todd Small, by whom she has two children. Ray and Birdie, and they make their home with her father. Politically, Mr. Houser is a strong Prohibitionist, and a staunch sup- porter of Bryan, being the only member of the family to vote the Democratic ticket. Ile has been a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church for many years, and has filled various church offices.
FRANK EDWARD LEFEVRE, owner of 105 acres of farm land in Staunton Township, Miami County, Ohio, is one of the substantial and progressive men of that community. He was born on his pres- ent farm March 15, 1862, and is a son of Cyrus Haywood and Caroline (Babb) Le- Fevre, and a grandson of Christian Le- Fevre.
Christian LeFevre came to Miami County, Ohio, from Maryland, bringing his bride to this then new country in a wagon, and he helped to clear the road which the pioneers used in going to Cincinnati. IIe obtained a patent from the government for the LeFevre farm in Staunton Township, and there erected a log cabin in the woods. A box was used for a table and puncheons driven into the wall for use as a bed. They resided here the remainder of their lives, he dying February 26, 1871, and his wife about six months later. They were parents of the following children: Sarah, John, Elizabeth, Minor, Naomi, Amy, Reason, James, Alfred, Cyrus 11., Christian, Sol- omon, and Mary.
Cyrus H. LeFevre was born in the log cabin on the home farm, October 23, 1824, and spent all his life on this farm. In eom- pliance with his father's wish, he pur- chased the interests of the other heirs to the 262 acres which composed the home farm. In addition to farming, he dealt ex- tensively in live stock, and also was con- siderable of a capitalist. He died October 28, 1894, and his death was mourned as a loss to the community by his many life- long friends and acquaintances. He was married to Caroline Babb, a daughter of
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Daniel Babb, one of the pioneer settlers of Miami County, and they became parents of three children-Walter, of Troy, who owns part of the old home place; one who died in infancy, and Frank Edward. Mrs. Le- Fevre died January 7, 1875.
Frank E. LeFevre spent his boyhood days on the farm and attended school in this vicinity. With the exception of a short time following his marriage, he has always resided on this farm, and is engaged in general agriculture. His house was badly damaged by the cyclone of June 25, 1902, but was immediately remodeled and im- proved. He has met with much success in tobacco growing. He has in his possession the sheepskin deed to this farm, granted to his grandfather by the government and bearing the signature of President Andrew Jackson.
September 20, 1892, Mr. LeFevre was united in marriage with Miss Vina Schramm, a daughter of George and Rachel (Schultz) Schramm, both of whom came from Germany and are now living at advanced ages, in Newton township, Miami County. A daughter, Helen May, was born to bless this union. Politically Mr. Le- Fevre is a Republican, as have been the other members of the family since the or- ganization of the party. They belong to the Presbyterian Church.
HON. HARRY J. RITTER, Tippecanoe City, Ohio, serving in the seventy-seventh and seventy-eighth General Assemblies. for many years has been one of the fore- most citizens and business men of Miami County. He is general manager, sec- retary, and treasurer of the Tippecanoe Building and Manufacturing Company, a large concern with extensive interests, and
is also identified with various enterprises in different parts of the county. Mr. Rit- ter was born near Reading, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1848, and is a son of Israel Ritter, his ancestors being of German na- tionality.
He was seven years old when his par- ents moved to the city of Reading, where he lived until he entered Pennsylvania State College at Gettysburg, Pennsyl- vania. He attended that institution until he was sixteen years old, when, in March, 1864, he entered the service of the Union army, joining the signal corps. He thus served until August 5, 1865, his duties calling him to Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. He was honorably dis- charged at Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and at once returned to Reading, where he pur- sued a course in the business college. After graduating therefrom in 1866, he accepted a clerkship in a hardware store and continued thus occupied for a year. At the end of that time he went to Carroll County, Missouri, and, in company with a brother-in-law, was engaged in the stock business there for a year and a half. He then returned to Pennsylvania, and with headquarters at Reading, dealt extensively in horses, making a specialty of fast trot- ting stock.
In 1871 Mr. Ritter became identified with the development of oil fields near Titusville, and in the meantime continued dealing in horses. In 1874 he moved west * to Miami County, Ohio, and took charge of Col. John R. Woodward's stock farm in Bethel Township, which he managed un- til the Colonel's death in 1876. He then conducted the farm himself, breeding and developing trotting horses until 1881. He then moved to Tippecanoe City, and in the
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following year went to Europe as purehas- ing agent for the prominent firm of Powell Brothers, of Shadeland, Pennsylvania. He continned in that capacity eight years, dur- ing which period he crossed the ocean six- teen times, traveling through England, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, France, Ger- many, and the Shetland Islands, purchas- ing horses for export to the United States, about eight years of his life being thus spent in Europe.
In the spring of 1890 Mr. Ritter re- turned to Tippecanoe City, and four years later purchased the business of C. Trupp & Co., which he reorganized under the name of the Tippecanoe Building and Manufacturing Company, becoming its principal stockholder, as well as general manager and treasurer. This company does a large business in contracting and building, also operating lumber yards, a planing-mill and sawmill, and manufac- turing furniture. Employment is given to a large force of men, and for years the plant has been kept running at its full ca- paeity, its products being sold in many parts of the country. Mr. Ritter has served many years as president and man- ager of the Tippecanoe City Interurban Telephone Company. He is also president of the Tippecanoe Business Men's Club. He served twelve years on the Board of Education, most of the time as elerk and president. He is a man of keen business perception and through his own industry has won his own way to the front rank among the business men of the county.
Mr. Ritter was married October 14, 1879, to Miss Ada L. Woodward, a dangh- ter of Col. John R. and Marcella (Bell) Woodward. The Colonel was born in Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio,
December 5, 1835, and was a son of Will- iam Woodward, who was a native of Will- iamsport, Pennsylvania, and became a pioneer settler of Miami County.
In September, 1861, Col. John R. Wood- ward enlisted in military service and was made captain of Company C, Seventy-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until August, 1862, participating in a number of engagements, among them the battle of Shiloh. In 1864 he aided in or- ganizing and raising the 147th Ohio Regi- ment for 100 days' service, and was chosen lieutenant colonel. Upon receiving an hon- orable discharge in 1865, he returned to the farm in Bethel Township, where he subsequently resided until his death in 1876. He and his wife had two children -William B., of Washington Court House, and Ada L.
Mr. and Mrs. Ritter have a son, Harry Woodward, who was born February 19, 1886, is a graduate of Yale College, ad- mitted to the bar December, 1908. Relig- iously they are active members of the Lutheran Church. Politically Mr. Ritter has always taken an earnest interest in the sueeess of the Republican party and the supremaey of its principles and as already partially intimated. has been frequently called upon to fill positions of honor and public trust. As representative in the State Legislature he has served his con- stituents in an intelligent and conseien- tious manner and has gained the friend- ship of his former political opponents. At the first session of the seventy-seventh General Assembly he was appointed a member of a joint committee to investi- gate penitentiaries with a view of remodel- ing the Ohio penitentiary. He was also a member of the standing committees on
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Taxation, Insurance, Soldiers' and Sail- ors' Orphans' Home, and Fish and Game.
During the seventy-eighth General As- sembly he was a member of the standing committees on Finance, Taxation, Public Works, and Soldiers' and Sailors' Or- phans' Home. He was chairman of the Finance Committee, the most important in the House. He succeeded in getting out the General Appropriation Bill carrying $7,607,927 with it, in less than three weeks, and introduced it one day and the House passed it the next day without a single change. He was appointed and made chairman of a special Advisory Commit- tee to the Board of Managers of the Ohio penitentiary.
Fraternally he is a member of Tippeca- noe Lodge, No. 174, F. & A. M .; Franklin Chapter, R. A. M .; Coleman Commandery, K. T., of Troy ; and of the Royal Arcanum, of which he is a past regent. He is also a member of D. M. Ronzer Post, G. A. R., of Tippecanoe City; Antioch Temple and Thirty-second Degree Scottish Rite.
LEVI SWITZER, a prominent retired farmer residing in his comfortable home at No. 213 South May Street, Troy, Ohio, for many years was one of Miami County's leading agriculturists. He was born in October, 1837, in York County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of William and Eliza- beth Switzer.
The parents of Mr. Switzer came to Ohio abont 1852, settling at what is now Dial- ton, in Clark County, but not finding con- ditions to suit them there, soon came into Miami County, where the balance of their lives were spent. Of their family of chil- dren there are four survivors, namely : Levi; Jacob, who also resides at Coving-
ton; Mary, who is the wife of Samuel Di- ven, and lives near the old home at Pleas- ant Hill ; and Catherine, who is the widow of John Varner, and lives with her son George at Covington.
Levi Switzer obtained his education in his native state and after accompanying his parents to Ohio, eontinned to follow agricultural pursuits almost continuously, until he retired to Troy. He served dur- ing a period of 100 days in the Civil War, a member of Company A, 147th Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and while receiving no permanent injury during this time, he ex- perienced enough hardship to understand what a soldier's life means. His service was faithfully performed, he being sta- tioned near Arlington Heights.
On January 29, 1869, Mr. Switzer was married in Cumberland County, Pennsyl- vania, to Miss Sallie E. Zeigler, who was born there in 1840. She is a daughter of the late Jesse and Mary Ann (Peffer) Zeigler. Her father died in 1881 and her mother in 1895. Of their eight children six survive, namely : Sophia E., who resides in New Jersey ; Mrs. Switzer ; John H., Jesse P. and William A., all three of Cumber- land County, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. P. C. Rateliff, of Troy. To Mr. and Mrs. Swit- zer were born two sons, Jesse and Edward, the former of whom is one of the officials of the Cash Register Company of Dayton, the latter being a substantial farmer in Miami County.
For many years Mr. Switzer was active in all that concerned the public affairs of his township, serving in local offices and lending his influence to all that advanced the community's best interests. He is one of the older members of the Lutheran Church at Troy, in which he has long
LEVI SWITZER
MRS. SALLIE Z. SWITZER
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served as an elder. For over fifty years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity and is known well in that or- ganization all through this section. Mr. Switzer has witnessed many changes since he came to Miami County and has done his full share in making these of practical im- portance.
J. B. BARKER M. D., one of Piqua's reputable physicians and surgeons, was born in Campbell County, Kentucky, March 20, 1856, and when twelve years of age accompanied his parents to Clermont County, Ohio. Dr. Barker attended the schools of Moscow, Ohio, and after gradu- ating from the high school, entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in 1881. He be- gan practice at Blue Creek, in Adams County, where he remained for three and a half years. In September, 1885, he lo- cated at Fletcher, in Miami County, where, for twenty-two years, he carried on the active practice of his profession, with re- gret severing very many pleasant ties when his business interests led him to set- tle in Piqua in 1907. He is a medieal man of superior qualifications and is a member of the Miami County Medical Society, the Union Clinical Society of Western Ohio, the Western Ohio Eclectic Medical So- eiety, of which he is president, and the Ohio State Eclectic Medical Association, and the National Eclectic Medical Associa- tion. Under the late ex-President Cleve- land he served as a member of the United States Board of Pension Examiners.
On March 27, 1884, Dr. Barker was mar- ried to Miss Jennie Christina Franz, of Adams County, Ohio, and they have three children, Mattie Estella, Ella Christina
and Joseph Hamilton. Dr. Barker and family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias.
WALTER E. BOWYER, cashier of the Troy National Bank, with which financial institution he has been identified since Au- gust, 1894, was born at Foster, Warren County, Ohio, in March, 1873.
Mr. Bowyer was educated in his native section and in the high school at Arcanum, Darke County, and for several years there- after he taught school, and then entered the employ of Joseph Mayer & Sons, deal- ers in leaf tobaceo, where he continued for two years. From there he entered the employ of the Farmers and Merchants Banking Company, at Areanum, where he remained until he accepted the office of bookkeeper in the Troy National Bank, in Angust, 1894. Step by step he advanced until in June, 1902, he was made cashier of this bank, a position of responsibility he has held ever since. He is interested in other successful business enterprises of this city, being a stockholder and a mem- ber of the board of directors of the Hobart Electric Manufacturing Company, the Troy Buggy Works Company, the Troy Carriage Sunshade Company, and others.
In February, 1896, Mr. Bowyer was married to Miss Charlotte Thompson, who is a daughter of Dr. W. R. Thompson, of Troy. and they have one daughter, Laura Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Bowyer are members of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he is treasurer. Mr. Bowyer is an active and useful citizen and is serving as a member of the School Board at Troy. Socially he is identified
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with the Troy Club; fraternally is a Knights Templar Mason, and Knight of Pythias, belonging also to the Junior Or- der of American Mechanics.
AUGUSTUS C. HALL, D. D. S., one of Covington's best known and esteemed citizens, who for thirty years has been en- gaged in the practice of dental surgery at this place, is also an honored veteran of the great Civil War. Dr. Hall was born on a farm in Butler Township, Montgom- ery County, Ohio, July 1, 1834, and is a son of James and Henrietta (Sidden) Hall.
James Hall was born in South Carolina and was a son of William Hall, who was a Quaker in religious faith, and it is prob- able that he came to Ohio in 1808 in order to rear his family in a free State, the Quakers being notably opposed to slavery. He lived at first at Dayton, but later set- tled on a farm in Montgomery County, on which he resided until his death, when aged eighty-six years three months and twenty- one days. When the family came to Ohio James Hall was small. He was reared on the home farm and devoted himself to ag- ricultural pursuits. His death took place December 14, 1854. He married Henrietta Sidden, who was born in North Carolina and died in Ohio, April 24, 1850. A nu- merous family was born to James Hall and wife, and four of the sons adopted dentistry as their profession. These were: William P., who practiced at Piqua for many years and resides in that city, aged eighty-six years; Horatio G., who died at Piqua, in May, 1901; Samuel T., a twin brother of Dr. Augustus C., who is still in active practice at Coffeyville, Kansas ; and Augustus C., of Covington. The pro-
fession has claimed practitioners from the next generation. Dr. Ward Hall, son of Dr. W. P., died at Shanghai, China, of hydrophobia, September 29, 1908. Dr. Ed- ward and Dr. Eugene Hall, sons of Dr. H. G. Hall, are practitioners in Columbus, Ohio. The two sons of Dr. Augustus C. Hall have both become prominent in the same profession.
Dr. Augustus C. Hall began the study of dentistry with his eldest brother, in April, 1855, and after completing his course of study he opened and conducted an office at Piqua for four years. His prac- tice was interrupted when he enlisted for service in the Civil War. On September 22, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Sixty- third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a pri- vate, serving through his first period and re-enlisting at Prospect, Tennessee, as a veteran. Although he participated in all the dangers in which his company and regiment took part, including the march to the sea with General Sherman, the At- lanta campaign, the battle of Kenesaw Mountain and many others, and was so valiant a soldier as to gain promotion to the first lieutenancy of Company H, Sixty- third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he was never either wounded or taken prisoner. He was honorably discharged and was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 8, 1865. He is a valued member of Langston Post, No. 299, Grand Army of the Republic.
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