USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 67
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 67
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On November 11, 1879, Dr. Hall located at Covington, and this city has been his chosen home ever since. In 1880 he estab- lished a dental office at Pleasant Hill, and for twenty years it was his custom to re- ceive patients at that point every Friday. About the same time, in order to accommo-
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date the people of Bradford, lie estab- lished an office there which for twenty-four years he visited every Tuesday. His sci- entific skill is appreciated all through this section and, although he is no longer quite so active in professional work, having dele- gated a considerable portion of it to his capable partner, Dr. George Y. Hall, he still enjoys perfecting some of the delicate and important bits of dentistry which much seientific study and long experience have so thoroughly qualified him for and which place him in the front rank of his profession in Eastern Ohio.
May 1, 1866, Dr. Hall was married to Miss Caroline Yount, a daughter of John and Nancy (Insco) Yount, natives of North Carolina. Two sons were born to this marriage, Ernest and George Y. Dr. Ernest Hall was graduated from the Ohio Dental College, after studying three years with his father. He remained with the lat- ter for a short time, and then opened an office first at Wapokoneta and later at Hamilton, where he is well established in practice. He married Miss Jessie Sort- man, of Hamilton, and they have one son, Dwight Elvin.
Dr. George Y. Hall, the second son, who is the present manager of the dental busi- ness both at Covington and Pleasant Hill, was born at Piqua, Ohio, September 2, 1877. and was a student in the Covington High School until in his senior year, when, on account of his older brother leaving home, he entered his father's office as stu- dent and assistant. After proper prepara- tion, he entered the Ohio Dental College at Cincinnati, and was graduated in the class of 1901, receiving honors. He continues to reside with his parents, and is one of the city's most enterprising young profes-
sional men. IIe is a Mason, and belongs to Covington's Ancient and Honored Or- der of Gobblers. The Hall family is affili- ated with the Christian Church.
HARRY LINCOLN SAYERS, a worthy representative of one of the oldest families in Miami County, is engaged in general farming on a tract of 125 acres belonging to his father, a part of the old Sayers farm, lying in Staunton, Elizabeth and Lost Creek Townships. He was born March 26, 1864, on his present farm, and in the house in which he resides. His par- ents are Ezekiel and Caroline (French) Sayers.
The Sayers family may be credited with being one of the very first to penetrate into the great forests of Miami County, when all this smiling and productive country was a wilderness. William Sayers, the great-grandfather of Harry L., was a contemporary settler with the Knoops, coming about the same time from Pennsyl- vania, or a very short period later. IIe en- tered a large tract of land in Elizabeth Township, and this land has descended from father to son until the present time. These carly settlers met many difficulties and faced innumerable dangers, and in overcoming them bred a race of hardy, courageous men and women, and these qualities are seen in the present genera- tion. William Sayers often shared his meals with the wandering Indians, and thus gained their good will, and in the rec- ords of his family are found no indications of their ingratitude.
Jefferson Sayers succeeded his father William, and took possession of the prop- erty when the latter passed away. He did a large amount of clearing, and made the
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first roads, in boyhood blazing his path through the thick woods. He was a man of enterprise, and later engaged in teaming between Cincinnati and Toledo, carrying freight before there was any transporta- tion line built between these important points. He lived to be seventy-four years of age, and died on the east half of the old farm. His wife, Margaret, survived him about ten years. They had seven children, namely: Ezekiel; John, who is deceased; Harrison; Enos, who served in the Civil War from 1861 until 1864; Sallie, who mar- ried Christopher Class; Judson, who served in the Civil War from 1861 until 1864; and Milton, now deceased, who also served three years in the Civil War.
Ezekiel Sayers, father of Harry L., was born on the eastern portion of the old Sayers farm, in September, 1832, and, being the eldest of the family, he assumed the responsibilities of a farmer almost in boyhood. When his father died he inher- ited the western half of the homestead, and to that property he subsequently added other land. He spent the greater portion of his life prior to 1885 engaged in culti- vating his farm and then retired, moving to Troy, where he occupies a pleasant and comfortable residence on Lincoln Avenue. He was married (first) to Caroline French, who died in 1878, when in middle age. She was born and reared in Indiana. There were five children born to this union, namely: Martha, who is the wife of R. Clyne; Carry, who is now deceased; Alta, who is the wife of T. L. Rogers; Harry Lincoln; and Maggie, who is the wife of Clinton Free. Mr. Sayers was married (second) to Catherine Knight, who sur- vives.
Harry Lincoln Sayers has spent almost
the whole of his life in Staunton Township. During some years of his infancy the fam- ily lived in Miami City, but here he ob- tained his education and his training as a farmer. He remained assisting his father until he was twenty-four years of age, and then started ont for himself, renting the land from his father. He carries on a gen- eral line of farming, and makes it pay. His crops are the usnal ones of this section, and he grows stock for his own use.
On October 14, 1886, Mr. Sayers was married to Miss Ida Scott, who is a daugh- ter of James and Frances (Scott) Scott, and they have two children, a daughter and son: Nona, who was born March 9, 1892, and Scott, who was born June 3, 1898. Mr. Sayers is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mrs. Sayers belongs to the First Presbyterian Church of Troy. In his political views he is a Republican.
R. N. BURWELL, county treasurer- eleet of Miami County, Ohio, is a native of this State, and the son of the late William P. Burwell. Born in Buena Vista, Scioto Connty, Ohio, April 15, 1869, Mr. Burwell received his education in the public schools at Buena Vista, later locating in Troy. His first business experience was gained as a clerk in a hardware store, he resigning this position after eight years' service to take a commercial course in a business college. His interests broadened as he grew older and he began to be active in polities. His first official position in publie life was he- ing appointed deputy county auditor, he later accepting the position of deputy treasurer. Mr. Burwell's large aeqnain- tance throughout the county and his ex- perience in county affairs made him a formidable candidate for the nomination for county treasurer, which he received
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May 23, 1908, and was elected county treasurer in November, 1908, the responsi- ble duties of which office he will assine in September, 1909.
Mr. Burwell takes a great interest in lodge affairs and is past chancellor com- mander of the Knights of Pythias and also belongs to the Junior Order of American Meehanies and is a member of the Troy Club.
CLIFFORD D. McCOY, traveling repre- sentative of the Allen & Wheeler Company of Troy, Ohio, in the states of Ohio and Kentucky, has been a resident of Piqua for the past twenty years. He was born in Casstown, Ohio, in 1869, and is a son of William and Paulina (Frazier) McCoy.
William McCoy was born in New Jersey, where he learned the trade of a carpenter. He moved to Indiana, and while there en- listed in Company I, Twenty-seventh Bat- talion Indiana Volunteers, and served un- til the close of the Civil War. He then moved to Miami County, Ohio, where he continued at his trade during his active eareer and resided until his death in 1905.
Clifford D. McCoy was reared in Class- town and was educated in the public schools there and in Piqua High School. Upon leaving school he was clerk in a grocery some fifteen years, at the end of which time he accepted his present posi- tion as traveling salesman for the Aleen & Wheeler Company of Troy. He is a man of wide acquaintance in Piqua and vicinity, and has many personal friends.
In 1893 Mr. McCoy married Miss Mat- tie B. Alexander, a daughter of M. W. Alexander, who is a highly esteemed ro- tired citizen of Piqua. Two children. Frances Pauline and Clifford D. McCoy,
Jr., were born of this union. Religiously, they are members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. McCoy is a member of the official church board. In polities he is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he has been quite prominent and has held all the offices and been master of exchequer for the past six years; and to the Union Commercial Travelers.
DAVID W. ORBISON, who with his brother, Ora D. Orbison, is the owner of eighty-six acres of valuable land in Staun- ton Township. Miami County, Ohio, comes of one of the old and prominent families of the community. He was born October 29, 1856, about eight months after his father's death, and is a son of David, Sr., and Hannah D. (Jones) Orbison, and a grandson of Henry Orbison.
Henry Orbison was born in Virginia and at an early age accompanied his parents to Miami County, Ohio, which was then in practically a wild and undeveloped state. Hle first located at Piqna, the old fort still standing at that time, and later settled one-half mile south of our subject's pres- ent farm in Staunton Township. He also came into possession of the present farm, which then consisted of 160 acres of tim- berland and was acquired from General Harrison. He continued to live on the south farm the most of his days, but died at the home of a son in Troy at a ripe old age. He and his wife were parents of the fol- lowing children: David; William, who was a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War: Alexander: Thomas; James: Martha: Gilmore: Nancy and Julia. All are now deceased.
David Orbison, Sr., was born on the old
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home farm, now known as the Peterson farm, in Staunton Township, Miami County, Ohio, in 1818, and helped to clear the place. He was a man of superior edu- cation for those days, and as a young man held a position in the county court house. He died in the prime of life, in March, 1856. He was married to Hannah D. Jones, who survived him many years. She was a native of New Hampshire, and was among the first to make the trip over the new Miami Canal from Toledo to Troy. The village at the time of her arrival was very small; but four houses could boast of having a lawn. She engaged in teaching in the village prior to her marriage. They set up housekeeping in a rented house on the Troy pike, while their new brick home was being erected on the eighty acres which David purchased from his father for three hundred dollars. The place was almost wholly uncleared at the time. Five chil- dren were born of this union, three of whom died young. Those living are Ora Danforth Orbison, who lives with his brother and is part owner of the home farm, and David Wilber, whose name heads this record.
David W. Orbison attended the old Peterson school in his home district and has lived nearly all his life in this vicinity. He follows general farming and each year has about four acres in sugar cane, operat- ing a sugar-mill on the farm. December 6, 1881, Mr. Orbison was united in mar- riage with Miss Amanda Stith, a daughter of William Stith of Miami County, and they have two children: Ray, who married Elizabeth Ralston and has a daughter, Helen; and Walter J., who lives at home. Politically, he is a stalwart Republican and his brother also is a supporter of the
principles of that party. They are sub- stantial men of the township and are well known.
R. F. BENNETT, A. M., who has been prominently identified with the educational interests of Miami County for more than fifty years, and at present is superintend- ent of the public schools of Newberry Township, was born January 15, 1836, at Piqua, Ohio, and is a son of Enoch and Margaret (Withcott) Bennett.
The parents of Professor Bennett moved to a farm in Washington Township, Miami County, when he was four years old, and there he grew to manhood. He secured his education in the country schools and in a select school at Piqua, which he attended for two years, and when twenty years of age taught his first term of school, that being in Newberry Township. He continued to teach, and after four years in Washington Township he took a course at the Ohio Wesleyan Col- lege at Delaware. In 1863 he came to Cov- ington, and has been continuously con- nected with the educational affairs of this city and neighborhood ever since. For a period of thirty-two years he served as superintendent of the Covington schools and for the past ten years has been superintendent of the schools of Newberry Township. He owns a valuable farm of 240 acres, situated in Washington Town- ship, a part of it being the Bennett home- stead, formerly owned by his father.
In 1867 Professor Bennett was married to Miss Frances Jordan, who died in 1900. One son was born to this marriage, Profes- sor L. J. Bennett, who has been superin- tendent of the Covington schools for the past five years, filling the same office in
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which his father had made so honorable a record for so long a period.
Professor L. J. Bennett was born Feb- ruary 28, 1878, at Covington, and from boyhood displayed evidences of a quick and receptive mind. With credit he gradu- ated from the Covington and the Piqua schools, and subsequently the Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware. Flattering offers were made to him from educational institutions upon his return, and he taught one year in the Bethel Township High School and one year in the Covington High School and then returned to Bethel Town- ship for one year as superintendent. Al- though he was re-elected to the same office for the following year, he decided to accept the similar position at Covington, two other superintendents, in the meanwhile, separating his incumbency from that of his honored father. He is one of the board of three school examiners in Miami County. He married Miss Addie Har- wood. and they have one daughter, Frances.
Professor R. F. Bennett is a member and one of the trustees of the Covington Methodist Episcopal Church. His frater- nal affiliation is with the Odd Fellows. He has been honored on many occasions by educational bodies, and positions of polit- ical importance have been offered him, but he has had no leaning toward public life. He is one of the trustees of the Miami County Children's Home. He has wit- nessed a wonderful change in the attitude of the people and in educational methods since he first entered the field, and it has been his pleasant task to contribute much to the high standard which is maintained in the schools of Miami County at the pres- ent day.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KEMP, own- er of eighty acres of well improved farm land in Lost Creek Township, is one of the representative men of this section of Miami County. He was born July 1, 1847, on the old Kemp homestead farm situated just across the road from his own prop- erty, in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Hiram and Margaret (Moore) Kemp.
Hiram Kemp was born near Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Ralph and Elizabeth (Probst) Kemp. Ralph Kemp was born near Hol- lis, New Hampshire, and went to Pennsyl- vania in early manhood and taught school at Allentown. He married in Lehigh County and later brought his family to Ohio and settled in Lost Creek Township on a farm west of the one owned by lis grandson. It was then an undeveloped region and the family endured many pioneer privations, but nevertheless the parents lived into old age. In 1847 Ralph Kemp built the brick house still standing. His three children were: Hiram, Edwin and Hannah, the latter of whom married James Long ; all are now deceased.
Hiram Kemp came to Ohio in early manhood as his father had gone to Penn- sylvania, and married Jane Margaret Moore, who was born near Franklin, War- ren County, Ohio. Her parents were James and Agnes (Small) Moore and her maternal grandfather was Andrew Small, a Revolutionary hero, who was with Gen- eral Montgomery when the Heights of Abraham were scaled at Quebec. Mrs. Kemp, in her girlhood, accompanied her parents on horseback to Spring Creek Township, where she subsequently married Hiram Kemp. The latter died in 1851,
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when aged twenty-seven years. Five years later she married Jacob Yontsey and both died on the farm on which Mr. Kemp lives. There was no issue to the second union, but two sons were born to the first: Ben- jamin Franklin and Francis Marion, the latter of whom lives in Kansas.
Benjamin F. Kemp attended the district schools in his youth and later enjoyed one term at Antioch College and one year in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela- ware, Ohio. These educational advantages placed him far ahead of the larger num- ber of his companions and he put his knowledge to the practical test of impart- ing it to others and for sixteen years taught school most acceptably through Miami County. He then purchased twenty acres of his present farm and when his mother died he inherited sixty acres, all of which he devotes to general farming and stock raising. The present comfortable residence was built during his mother's -lifetime. On July 28, 1875, Mr. Kemp was married to Miss Wihnina Search, a dangh- ter of Charles and Sarah J. Search, and they have one child, Warren B. The lat- ter married Grace Buchanan and they have two children, Margaret B. and Carl- ton F.
In his political sentiments, Mr. Kemp has always been identified with Democratic policies and he has frequently been elected to public office. He is a member of the present township School Board and has served with efficiency as trustee and as justice of the peace. Since July, 1871, Mr. Kemp has been a member of the order of Odd Fellows at Fletcher, in which he has hield all the offices, including that of dis- triet deputy grand master and at present being past grand master. Ever since unit-
ing with this organization he has worked earnestly for the principles which it incul- cates.
WILLIAM HENRY SMITH, whose ex- cellent farm of 105 acres lies in Lost Creek Township, one mile from the eastern line of Miami County, has been a quiet, general farmer for many years, but for a long period led a more active and adventurous life than falls to the lot of people gener- ally. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, on the old Croft farm, October 11, 1848, and is a son of Enoch and Catherine (Rockey) Smith.
Enoch Smith was born on a farm near Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1801. His father died when he was quite young and the mother moved first to Virginia, with her children, and then brought the family to Ohio and settled on a small place in Clark County, not far from Boston, where she died. Enoch had two brothers and two sisters, and as his mother's resources were small he started ont for himself while still yonng, beginning to work as a teamster. Later he entered the employ of George Croft and shortly afterward was married to Catherine Rockey, a native of Lancas- ter, Ohio. Enoch Smith and wife remained with the ('roft family for thirty years, giv- ing faithful service and receiving just re- muneration and high regard. In 1876 he bought a tract of sixty acres of land one mile north of the present farm of William H. Smith, and there he and wife passed the remaining years of their lives, respected and esteemed by all who knew them. The death of Enoch Smith took place when within sixteen days of his ninetieth year, and his widow died in 1893, two years later, at the home of her son, William
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Henry, when aged eighty years. They had eight children, namely: Jonathan, who is deceased; Elizabeth, now deceased, who was the wife of Vincent Yinks; Daniel, who is deceased; Martha, deceased, who was the wife of Levi Kirby, also deceased ; Catherine, who is the wife of Augustus Hagan, also deceased; William Henry; and Jacob and James, both of whom live in Clark County, Ohio.
William Henry Smith is a very well in- formed man, but he secured but little school training in his youth, his serviees being required on the farm as soon as he was old enough to wield a hoe or hold a plough handle. He remembers the old log district schoolhouse where he was taught the rudiments by a young man who later became the distinguished soldier and statesman, Gen. O. W. Keiffer. In 1868 he left home, being then a vonth of abont twenty years, and, in company with his cousin, Jesse Benson, started for that land of adventure-the West. The boys utilized the railroad as far as the iron rail would transport them, which was to Laramie, Wyoming. They then started teaming to Helena, Montana, which, at that time was an inconceivably rough mining town and to reach it they had to travel through wild sections beset by savage Indian warriors. They reached Montana safely, however, al- though parties just before and after, on the same trail, were cruelly massacred. The boys fell in with the ways of the peo- ple to some extent, built a cabin on the creek in which they washed out their gold, sometimes digging up $1,000 in a single day for a week at a time, and remained there, with varying Inek, for four years. They then returned to Clark County. where they remained for nine months, and
then went back to the same region, arcom- panied by Henry Croft, Jr., and stayed there for seven years.
Mr. Smith then came back to the East and in 1883 he bought his present farm from George Sprinkle, after which he made his third trip to the gold fields, previously renting his farm, on which he had lived for seventeen years, and selling his stock. On this occasion he remained in the far West only two years. His ser- ond trip would have proved his most profitable one had it not been undertaken about the time of the Cluster massacre, when the Indians were 'on the war path. At that time, to save themselves from a like fate, the miners had to lay down their tools and waste their time pursuing the savages, and right near the camp where Mr. Smith was interested several of the miners were killed and scalped. On one occasion, just at that time, Mr. Smith says that the water had suddenly gone out of the ditch which supplied the camp. and the supposition was that the Indians had cut off the supply. Mr. Smith was given the doubtful honor of being appointed to go and find out and he took the precaution to carry his loaded gun with him when he started to investigate. Fortunately he met no Indians in his ride of ten miles, but dis- covered that the trouble had been caused by a bear stepping on a hand spike that controlled the flow of water and thus shut it off.
Mr. Smith formally engaged in thresh- ing after he settled on his farm, but when his outfit wore ont he decided to follow that industry no longer. He has never married, but his long camping experience has made him more independent of a good cook's help than many who have not had
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it, and there are those of his friends who - survived by one child, Ralph K. Eli Kirk have sampled his dinners and declare they died in 1870, but his widow survived to be seventy years of age, dying in 1906. could not be improved on. The original writer of this sketch, however, regrets that it was necessary to decline with thanks the kind invitation extended to him to partici- pate in one of these repasts which was be- ing served at the time of the interview. Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics and has served as supervisor of the township. He belongs to the Odd Fellows' lodge at Addison.
HARRY KINGSLEY KIRK, a general farmer and stock raiser in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, residing on his farm of forty acres, owns several other adjoining properties and is one of the sub- stantial men of this section. He was born May 28, 1868, at Catawba, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of Rev. Eli and Rutlı Ann (Moore) Kirk.
The Kirk family is of Scotch ancestry and possibly the grandfather, William Kirk, was born in Scotland. He was a resident of Brown County, Ohio, when his son Eli was born, and there the latter grew to manhood. He united early with the Methodist Episcopal Church and later be- came a minister in the Cincinnati Confer- ence and preached at different points for a period covered by twelve years. He died when his son, Harry K., was a child a comparatively young man. He married Ruth Ann Moore, who was a daughter of Philip and Rebecca Moore, who came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1836 and set- tled in Lost Creek Township, Miami County. They had three children: Harry Kingsley; Dora, who died in 1890; and Mary, who died in 1903. She was the wife of John Marshall of Addison, Ohio, and is
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