USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 68
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 68
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After his father died, Harry K. Kirk removed with his mother and two sisters to St. Paris, in Champaign County, where he attended school, taking a course of three years in the high school, after which he was employed for two years as a clerk by John Poorman in his dry goods store. Mr. Kirk then came to Miami County and bought the forty acres on which he has lived ever since, which is one-half of the old Moore farm, and to this he later added forty more acres, bought of the Fickes heirs, and fifty adjoining acres of the Weatherhead heirs. The Moore family came very early to Lost Creek Township, settling on the present farm when but five acres of the land had been partially cleared and when wild game still abounded in the forest. Philip Moore, the grandfather, was born and reared in Philadelphia County, Penna. His grandfather, Charles Moore, was killed at the battle of German- town, in the Revolutionary War, being an old man at that time. Philip Moore brought his family to Ohio in 1836 and died in 1879 in Lost Creek Township. His wife's name was Rebecca Shutt and she died in 1885. They had eight children, namely : Joseph ; William ; Susan, who was the wife of James Mitchell; Charles ; Ruth Ann, who was the mother of Mr. Kirk; George, who resides at St. Paris and served during the Civil War as a member of the 147th O. Vol. Inf .; John H., who was born January 30, 1840, on the Moore farm in Lost Creek Township, where he still resides, having never married; and Sarah, who also survives.
On December 28, 1892, Harry K. Kirk
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was married to Miss Emma Nesbett, a daughter of James and Margaret Nesbett, of Troy, Ohio, and they have had four children: Harry Leon, Mabel, Mary and George, the eldest of whom died when aged thirteen monthis. Both Mr. Kirk and Mr. Moore are stanch Republicans.
JOSEPH A. CASSEL, residing on a well improved farm of 140 acres, which be- longs jointly to himself and wife and is situated on the Covington-Polo turnpike road, and Piqua and Stillwater pike, two and one-half miles north of Covington, is one of the township's well known and re- spected citizens. He was born March 10, 1849, in Hancock County, Illinois, and is a son of John and Lydia (Hittle) Cassel.
The father of Mr. Cassel was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio. About 1848 John Cassel bought a farm in Han- cock County, Illinois, and died there, Jo- seph Cassel being then an infant. After this bereavement, the latter's mother re- turned to Ohio and settled near Greenville, in Darke County, where she lived until her deathı.
Joseph Cassel had few educational op- portunities in his boyhood. The death of his father left his mother with many cares and responsibilities and she was obliged to find homes for her children when she could no longer take care of them herself. Jo- seph was nine years old when he was taken into the family of his half-brother, Michael Cassel, with whom he remained until he was twelve years old, and being by that time able to be useful, found a home for some years with his other half-brothers. His boyhood and youth are recalled as sea- sons of much toil and few periods of
recreation. After starting out independ- ently, he worked for twenty-seven years as a farm hand and during this time he saved money and made many friends through the agricultural districts, friends he has kept to the present day.
On October 21, 1876, Mr. Cassel was married to Miss Nancy Mohler, who was born and reared one and one-half miles south of Greenville Falls, in Newton Township. Her parents were Henry and Hannah (Deeter) Mohler. Mr. and Mrs. Cassel have four children, namely : Han- nah May, who is the wife of Frank Eb- berts, residing in Newberry Township. has three children-Leroy, Raymond and Frank; Martha Aun, who is the wife of Theodore Drake, has one son, Robert ; and Mary Charlotte and John Henry, both of whom live at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Cassel moved on their present farm, which was formerly owned by Henry Mohler, on December 19, 1876, and they lived here for two years and then moved on a farm near Painter Creek. on which they resided for four years, when they returned to the home farm for sev- eral more years and then moved to Coving- ton, where they own a comfortable home. In a few years they again came back to the farm and now they occupy both homes as they feel inclined. They are valued members of the German Baptist Church.
JOHN A. WIRRIG. owner of ninety-one and one-half aeres of excellent land, situ- ated two miles east of Piqua, was born in Warren County, Ohio, October 28, 1850, but has lived in Spring Creek Township, Miami County, almost all his life.
Baltzer Wirrig, father of John A., was born in France and was thirty-six years
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
of age when he came to America. For a time he worked as a wheelwright and car- penter in New York, coming then to Cin- cinnati, where he worked five years as miller and millwright for the Shakers, in Warren County, Ohio. He made a trip that covered two years to the mining regions of California, but in September, 1868, bought the farm now owned by his son, John A., and moved on it in March, 1869. He died on this farm June 12, 1872. He married Margaretha Graf, a native of Bavaria, Germany, who was living in Cin- cinnati at that time. They had nine chil- dren and the four survivors are: Mary, Mrs. Knopple, residing at Dayton; John A .; Casper, residing at New Albany, Indi- ana; and Anna, residing at Dayton.
John A. Wirrig was just two years old when his parents came to Spring Creek Township, and here he attended school through his boyhood. For about four years he worked on the Northwestern Railroad near Chicago and then returned to Miami County and followed farming at different points until 1893. He purchased the liomestead in 1898, and has been en- gaged in its enltivation and improvement ever since. He has greatly improved the place and has erected almost all of the sub- stantial buildings now standing.
Mr. Wirrig was married at Chicago, May 19, 1874, to Miss Agnes Heuring, a daughter of John Heuring, of German ex- traction. They have had the following children: Joseph, who married Minnie Weingart, has three children-Helen, Ralph and Hilda; George C., who lives in Iowa; Karl, who resides at home; Anna, who lives in a Western State ; Elward, who married Carlotta Hickey, lives in Pitts- burg; Minnie and Angust, both reside at
home; and William, who lives in Iowa. Mr. Wirrig and wife are members of the Cath- olie Church at Piqua. In his political views he is a Democrat.
JACOB C. KATHERMAN, one of New- berry Township's best known citizens and the owner of one of its finest farnis, is pro- prietor of the Pleasant Ridge Farm, which is situated on the turnpike road which separates Darke from Miami County, and one mile north of Bradford, in the latter county. He was born on a farm in Adams Township, Darke County, Ohio, three miles west of his present place, June 21, 1867, and is a son of Jeremiah and Anna (Chris- tian) Katherman.
Jacob C. Katherman was reared on his birthplace farm, on which his parents passed the whole period of their married life. In 1891 he moved to his farm in New- berry Township, making few improve- ments until 1903, when he started in to erect the substantial and appropriate farm buildings which do much to add to the value of this property and largely to its attractive appearance. His plans re- quired the expenditure of a large amount of money, but Mr. Katherman had full confidence in himself and inspired it in others, so that he had no difficulty in bor- rowing the necessary $5,000 with which he made the improvements that he had in mind. This indebtedness is all paid and other improvements have been made, and Mr. Katherman is considered one of the substantial as well as one of the most re- liable men of this section. In addition to carrying on a general agricultural line, since 1905 he has devoted a part of his eighty acres to pasturage, keeping twelve cows and carrying on dairying. He has
Photo by Matthews, Piqua.
DARIUS W. WEDDLE
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been very active in promoting all agricul- tural progress in Miami County and for ten years served as a member of the Fair Board, from 1898 until 1908, during all this period working hard to make the agri- enltural expositions snecessful. His ac- qnaintances and friends are many at Troy, Piqua and other points.
Mr. Katherman married Miss Ella Lox- ley, a daughter of B. F. and Phebe Ann (Kaylor) Loxley, and they have a family of seven children, namely: Ethel, who is the wife of Owen B. Smith ; and Benjamin, Chloe, Jeremiah, Paul, Opal and Llora. Mr. Katherman was reared in the Dunkard Church, in which his father was a preacher. He is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows at Bradford.
CHARLES P. HOOVER, who has been successfully operating.a stone quarry in Newberry Township, sonth of Covington, at the bridge that crosses the Stillwater River, for the past six years, owns six acres of land in this township, of which he is a representative citizen. Mr. Hoover was born on a farm in Darke County, Ohio, just west of his present place, May 21, 1851, and is a son of Absolom and Sarah (Patty) Hoover, and a grandson of Noah Hoover, who came from South Carolina.
The father of Mr. Hoover was a farmer and in clearing up his land was accidental- ly killed by the fall of a tree, May 28, 1856. His widow subsequently married N. W. Furnace, and is also deceased. When Charles P. Hoover was eleven years old he was taken to the home of Alfred Iddings, a farmer in Concord Township, Miami County, with whom he lived for two years, and later lived two years with Clark Adams. His mother then contracted her
second marriage and moved to Newberry Township and then Charles returned to her and lived at home until 1870, assisting his stepfather, and under him learned the trade of stone-cutter. Mr. Hoover has worked at this trade ever since he was six- teen years of age and started out for him- self at what is known as the Jackson quar- ries, in Newton Township. In large meas- ure, Mr. Hoover is a self-made man and what he owns he has acquired through his own industry and good management.
When eighteen years of age, Mr. Hoover was married to Miss Sarah Curtis, who was born and reared at West Milton, the same place in which Mr. Hoover's father was born. Mrs. Hoover also lost her father in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover have three children : Mary Belle. William C. and Forrest R. Mary Belle is the wife of II. M. Williams of Covington, and they have four children-Helen, Lucille, Charles and Dwight. W. C. is in the Gov- erment service, being a clerk in the post- office at Cincinnati. He married Edith Pifer of Gettysburg, Ohio. and they have one son, Farrin. Forrest R .. residing at Covington, is agent and telegraph operator for the C., H. & D. Railroad. He married Tessie Wilson and they have one daughter, Mary Margaret. Mr. Hoover is an Odd Fellow.
DARIUS WILLIAM WEDDLE, whose splendid farm of 240 acres is situated in Section 17, Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is known as the Plain View Farm, was born in Floyd County, Virginia, November 13, 1848. His parents were Rev. John B. and Louanna (Sim- mons) Weddle.
Andrew Weddle, the grandfather, was
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
born in Germany and came to America with two brothers and settled in Floyd County, Virginia. He acquired some 1,500 acres and engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising. As was the German custom, his estate was so divided that his sons received the land and his daughters were given money. He married Nancy Boone, who was a daughter of the Indian fighter and Kentucky pioneer, Daniel Boone, and to this union were born eleven children, as follows: Samuel, Benjamin, Levi, John B., Sarah, Isaac, Joseph, Eliza, Josiah, and two of whom there is no record.
John B. Weddle received 179 acres of his father's homestead and was an inde- pendent farmer in Floyd County but left the management of his property to others as his duties as a minister of the German Baptist or Brethren Church kept him away from home for long seasons. He vis- ited the sparsely settled parts of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, making his pastoral visits on horseback. He married Louanna Simmons, a daughter of Kara and Elizabeth Simmons, the former, Kara Simmons, lived to the age of seventy-six years and the latter completing all but four years of a century. Their burial took place on their own land in Floyd County. The children born to John B. Weddle and wife were: Lorenzo D., Darius William, Callahill M., LaFayette, Jabez and Ellen Catherine.
Darius William Weddle remembers the first school he attended, one of the sub- scription class, and the sessions were held in an old log building, in Floyd County, not far from his home. He was more am- bitious than many of his schoolmates and prevailed upon his father to permit him
to attend the graded school at Jacksonville for a year, after which he entered the Ash- land Agricultural College, at Ashland, the old home of that great statesman, Henry Clay, and here he was instructed along the lines of scientific farming. Mr. Weddle completed his education in the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. Then followed his marriage and settlement on his father-in-law's farm for one year, when he located on his present farm in the northwestern corner of Elizabeth Town- ship. Mr. Weddle contracted at first to rent the place, which he did for two years, furnishing all his own tools, machinery, stock and seed, and receiving one-third of the crop as his share. He soon discovered that with his superior knowledge of agri- culture he could make a fine showing on this land and first bought 160 acres of his father-in-law, then bought the additional eighty acres, from Mr. Studebaker's heirs, and thus came into possession of the whole property. All the excellent buildings now standing have been erected by Mr. Weddle, including his handsome two-story pressed brick house, which contains fourteen large well lighted and thoroughly ventilated rooms, with the exception of an old house and barn. He has set ont two orchards, one of apple and one of plum and has small fruits in abundance. During 1907 and 1908 lie engaged in tobacco-growing, in the last year devoting fifteen acres to the leaf, at the same time building a fine tobacco house. Had Mr. Weddle followed the methods of some of his neighbors, his farm would probably never have been more productive than theirs, for the land is nat- urally not very fertile. He recognized that he would have to build it up and also to drain a part of it, putting in 2,000 rods of
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tile. On his place he has proven the value of scientific farming and the benefits that accrue from systematic training.
On January 24, 1878, Mr. Weddle was married to Miss Anna W. Studebaker, a daughter of Rev. Isaac S. and Anna (War- ner) Studebaker, of Elizabeth Township, and they have had eight children, namely : Harvey William, Albert S., James Arthur, Carrie Estella, Dora Lee; Louanna; Isaac S .; and Bessie Milicent. The following are deceased : Harvey William, James Arthur, Louanna.
Mr. and Mrs. Weddle are members of the Brethren Church, in which he is a dea- con and trustee. In his political views he is a Republican but has never consented to accept any public office. He is a shrewd, capable man of business, broad minded on almost every question and a citizen of whom his township has reason to be proud.
B. F. SIMMONS, owner of a valuable farm of 240 acres in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, comes of one of the very earliest families of the county. He was born in Spring Creek Township July 24, 1848, and is a son of Peter Simmons. The family is of English origin and in America dates back to the coming of the Pilgrim Fathers in the Mayflower. It be- came established in Virginia, where it flourished many years, then migrated westward to Ohio, first locating in Cincin- nati. The Simmonses came to Miami County when it was sparsely settled and almost wholly undeveloped, the great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch entering all the land from Urbana Pike south one and a half miles and east one mile, including the square upon which Fletcher is situated; at that point lie
erected three houses. The great-grand- mother of B. F. Simmons died near Staun- ton and was buried in a walnut log which had been split open and hewn out.
Peter Simmons was born in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, and there grew to manhood. He engaged in farm- ing there until 1853, then moved with his family to Indiana, where he became owner of a forty-acre farm. After his death, his widow and her two sons returned to a farm in Brown Township. Miami County, Ohio.
B. F. Simmons, after his return from Indiana, lived with his uncle, L. R. Sim- mons, until his marriage, at which time he purchased a part of his present farm. He erected a house on the place and lived in it with his family until 1903, when he moved to his present place, on which he had erected a fine modern eight-room frame house. He also built a substantial bank barn, and made many other desirable improvements. He carries on general farming and makes a specialty of raising livestock, at which he has been very suc- cessful.
Mr. Simmons was united in marriage with Rachel Jane Sanders, who was born and reared on the western part of what is now her husband's farm, and is a daughter of Elihue and Margaret Sanders of Spring Creek Township. The following children were born to them: Elmer E., who died at the age of fourteen years: Effie M., de- ceased wife of A. E. Wilson; J. W. Sim- mons who is in the elevator business in Shelby County and is the father of one child, Majorie Ailene ; Harry E., of Brown Township, who married Daisy Miller and has a daughter, Audrey Florence; F. W. Simmons, a resident of Dayton, has one
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
son, Kenneth; and Charles L., who mar- ness for two years, after which he returned ried Gertrude Motter. Religiously, the family belongs to the Christian Church. Mr. Simmons is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the School Board, and also of the County Agricultural Board. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Junior Order United American Mechanics. He belongs also to the National Horse-Thief Association.
CHARLES BOEHRINGER, a repre- sentative and substantial citizen of Cov- ington, residing in his handsome two-story brick residence, which he erected in 1885, on the northeast corner of High and Bridge Streets, was born in Germany, Feb- ruary 13, 1842, and is a son of Jacob and Katrina (Voght) Boehringer.
After the death of the father of Mr. Boehringer, in Germany, the widow and ten children began to plan to emigrate to America. Several of the family came to the United States and settled at Philadel- phia, where George engaged in work as a bridge carpenter for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at first, but soon came to Covington. Charles remained in Ger- many with one sister and the mother un- til he was nineteen years old, and then they came together to America and joined those of the family then living at Philadelphia, each one, with German thrift, having found profitable employment. From Phila- delphia, Charles came on to Covington to make a visit to his brother George, and after reaching here decided to remain. He learned the carpenter trade with his brother and worked with him for fifteen years. In 1878 he went back to Philadel- phia, where he conducted a butcher busi-
to Covington and bought out the Levering butcher shop, and continued in the meat business for some eighteen years, and dur- ing this time was also interested in a stone quarry. Mr. Boehringer still retains the quarry and he owns also eighteen acres of very valuable land that is included in the corporate limits of Covington. He has ac- quired an ample fortune and all through the legitimate channels of business.
In 1865, Mr. Boehringer was married to Miss Margaret Wagner, who was born in Germany and was about eight years old when she was brought to America by her parents, Peter and Rosina (Buck) Wag- ner. Her parents both died in Covington, where her father conducted a shoe store for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Boeh- ringer have five children, namely: Peter, who is in the restaurant business at Cov- ington; Rosie, who is the wife of Charles Koon, of Covington; Edward, who follows a blacksmith business; Harry, who en- gages in tobacco growing on his father's land, has a family of his own. Mr. and Mrs. Boehringer are members of the Lu- theran Church. In politics he has always been a strong Democrat and has served very acceptably as a member of the city council, for several terms.
A. L. CODDINGTON is a prosperous farmer of Brown Township, Miami Coun- ty, Ohio, and resides on the old Coddington home place, which comprises 280 acres of valuable land. He was born on the place where he now lives, July 5, 1873, and is a son of James H. and Jane (Morris) Cod- dington.
James H. Coddington was born on the south eighty acres of his present farm,
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which his father, David Coddington, pur- chased after his arrival in Miami County. He was but a child when the latter died. He attended the common schools of Brown Township and then went out to make his way in the world. He worked for a time for his uncle, John Hill. and some time later bought out the other heirs' interests in the eighty acres owned by his father. To this he added 200 acres which he pur- chased from Thornton and John Lucas, making a fine property acquired solely through his own industry and enterprise and also acquired a ninety-six-acre tract in Brown Township. He is retired from business activity, but continues to reside on a part of the old place. He was mar- ried to Jane Morris of Champaign County, and they became parents of three children, as follows: Edward F., who lives in Co- lumbus and fills the chair of Mathematics in Ohio State University: A. L., whose name heads this sketch; and C. Harvey, who owns and conducts a farm in Cham- paign County, Ohio.
A. L. Coddington attended the public schools of Brown Township, the village schools at Conover and the Lena High School, after which he pursued an agri- cultural course in the Ohio State Uni- versity. This was supplemented by a com- mercial course at Sidney, Ohio, after which he was for seven years employed as book- keeper at Cleveland, Ohio. In 1908, lie re- turned to the home farm, of which he has since had charge. He farms along sci- entific lines with good results and is also quite extensively engaged in stock rais- ing. He is the owner of a well known stal- lion, Young Senator, and has other thor- oughbred stock.
Mr. Coddington was united in marriage
with Miss Lillian A. Williams, a native of Shelby County, Ohio, and they have had two daughters: Elsa Modjeska, who died May 4. 1909, aged seven years and six months: and Lillian Ethel, who was born October 11. 1902. Politically, Mr. Codding- ton is a Democrat and takes a deep interest in the successes of that party.
LEWIS F. WOLCOTT, owner of 105 acres lying south of Conover, in Brown Township, has one of the best improved farms in that part of the county. He comes of an old and respected family of Miami County, and was born on the farm lying on the opposite side of the road from his present place, January 2, 1853. He is a son of Benjamin L. and Jane E. (Boyd) Wolcott, and a grandson of John II. and Sarah (James) Wolcott.
John H. Wolcott came to Miami County, Ohio, from Warren County, Ohio, some years after his marriage, and became prominent among the early citizens and farmers of Brown Township. He was one of the county's early surveyors and served for a time as county surveyor ; he also was among the first to condnet a nursery in the county. His death occurred here at the age of eighty-two years, and his wife, who was Sarah James in maiden life, died at the advanced age of ninety-three years. They were parents of seven children.
Benjamin L. Wolcott was born in War- ren County, Ohio, and was about two years old when brought by his parents to Miami County. He was reared in Brown Town- ship, where he attended the public schools, and during his carly business career en- gaged in earpentering. About 1861 or 1862, he turned his attention to farming on the old home place, and there continned
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
without interruption until his death at the age of eighty-two years. He was married to Jane E. Boyd, who was born in Cham- paign County, Ohio, and died at the early age of thirty-nine years. The following children were the offspring of their mar- riage: William, who died young; John G., who lives in Champaign County ; Lewis F .; Emily Jane, who is the wife of John Michael and lives in Shelby County, Ohio; and Jerrod, who lives on the old home place in Brown Township. Benjamin L. Wolcott was the owner of eighty aeres at the time of his death.
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