USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 70
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 70
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J. A. KERR, who is a leading member of the Miami County bar-senior member of the law firm of Kerr & Kerr-is one of the representative citizens of Tippecanoe City. He was born at Chambersburg, Montgomery County, Ohio, July 7, 1853. son of Jonathan T. and Matilda (West- lake) Kerr.
The Kerr family originated in Ireland. and the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch was George Kerr, who was born in County Kerry, near the famous Lakes of Killarney. Prior to crossing the Atlantic Ocean he married Martha Newel and they reached the American colonies just before the Revolutionary War. He joined the patriot army, and after peace was declared moved to the Western Re- serve, becoming one of the earliest settlers
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at Marietta. From there, in 1814, he moved to Lebanon, Ohio. Those were still dan- gerous times on the border for pioneers, and Mr. Kerr had to witness the cruel mas- sacre of his aged father, who had accom- panied him from Ireland.
Jonathan T. Kerr, father of J. A., was a son of James and a grandson of George Kerr. He was born in Miami County, Ohio, March 11, 1828, and in 1851 he mar- ried Matilda Westlake, who was a daugh- ter of Colonel Westlake, one of the early settlers in this section. J. A. Kerr was the second-born in their family of five sons and one daughter.
Mr. Kerr's boyhood was passed on the home farm and he grew up with all the advantages accruing from plenty of phys- ical exercise and strict parental discipline. When he was about sixteen years of age he entered the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, where he passed one win- ter, during this period learning the science of surveying and the art of stenography, which he put to practical use later on.
He first began the study of law in 1872 and in 1875 he was admitted to practice in the State of Ohio, and later to the United States courts. In that year also. he established his residence at Tippecanoe City, where he has since remained. The other member of the firm of Kerr & Kerr is his son Floyd, who was graduated from the United States University in 1904. Since its organization the firm has gained well deserved recognition, having success- fully handled some important litigation. Mr. Kerr's achievements along profes- sional lines are the more creditable as they are the result of hard work and persever- ance. Although since early manhood he has been in close sympathy with the pur-
poses and leading principles of the Demo- cratie party, he has taken an active part in politics but has never sought office.
In 1874 Mr. Kerr was married to Eliza- beth Jane Coats, a daughter of Lemuel and Rosa (Pearson) Coats, of an old pioneer family. In 1881 and 1882 he was owner of the Troy Democrat, a daily paper of Mi- ami County, and later was interested in the same and acted as editor for two years, with George Long, M. K. Gantz and C. M. Davis. He was also manager of the Piqua Daily Dispatch and Weekly Journal, and at one time owned and edited the Troy Chronicle and Daily, at Troy, Ohio.
J. C. WHITE, a general farmer and well known citizen of Spring Creek Town- ship, resides on his farm, which is situated three and one-half miles northeast of Pi- qua, and was born June 19, 1844, in Frank- lin County, Ohio, ten miles east of Colum- bus. His parents were Jeremiah and Eliz- abetlı (Childs) White.
Jeremiah White was a man of education and talent. He was born in Defiance Coun- ty, and after the death of his father, came to Franklin County, teaching school, farm- ing, studying and practicing law and serv- ing as justice of the peace. For fifteen years he was minister in the Christian Union Church. In 1855 he moved from Franklin to Auglaize County, and died there when aged seventy-five years. He married a daughter of John Childs, in Franklin County, and they had nine chil- dren, the survivors being: J. C., Mrs. Elizabetlı McAdams, Mrs. Hannah Arm- . strong, and George W.
J. C. White was eleven years old when his parents moved to Auglaize County, where he completed his school attendance,
E. E. PEARSON
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and he assisted on the home farm until he was twenty-five years of age. He then came to Spring Creek Township, and has been on his present farm for a quarter of a century. Mr. White was married first to a Miss Coon, who left six children. His second marriage was to Miss Elizabeth Denman, a daughter of Gilman and Re- becca Demnan, and six children were born to this union, the respective names of all the children being as follows: Gertrude, Stephen, Wilson, James, Jeremiah, Ferdi- nand, Goldie, Myrtle, William, Vernon, Charles and Forrest, all of whom survive except James and William. Mr. White and family are members of the United Presbyterian Church. In polities he is a Democrat.
E. E. PEARSON, auditor of Miami County, Ohio, and a representative citizen of Troy, which has been his home for a quarter of a century, was born in July, 1864, in Union Township, Miami County. Ohio, and is a son of Horatio Pearson. Few of the older citizens of Miami County are better known than is the venerable father of Mr. Pearson, who lives retired on his farm in Union Township, where he was born in 1836. For seven years he was auditor of Miami County and for many years was a successful teacher. In many sections he was the pioneer teacher and all over the county may be found those who, in their youth, were instructed by him and still recall him with feelings of respeet.
E. E. Pearson remained on the home farm until he was nineteen years of age and then came to Troy, becoming at that age deputy auditor and serving continu- ously in that capacity for nineteen years.
In November, 1901, he was first elceted county auditor; he was reëlected in 1904, and his present term expires in October, 1909. He is interested in various business enterprises in the county and ever since reaching manhood, has taken an active part in politics. He is one of the most popular officials that Miami County has ever had.
In March, 1885, Mr. Pearson was mar- ried to Miss Coquese Wilmington, of Terre Haute, Indiana, and they have one daugh- ter, Ruth, who resides at home. Mr. Pear- son is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and the Troy Chib.
CALVIN SHARP, a well known farmer and tobacco raiser of Union Township, Mi- ami County, Ohio, is the owner of a farm of forty-nine acres located on the corpora- tion line of Potsdam. He was born in Darke County, Ohio, January 25, 1853, and is a son of Levi and Elizabeth (Neighley) Sharp. His paternal grandfather moved from North Carolina to Darke County. Ohio, where he was among the pioneer set- tlers.
Levi Sharp was born near Gordon, in Darko County, Ohio, and was about four years of age when his parents moved to the vicinity of Arcanum, where he grew to maturity and lived the remainder of his life, dying at the age of seventy-two years. Ile always followed farming and was the owner of the farm which is now in the pos- session of his widow. His marriage with Elizabeth Neighley was blessed with ten children.
Calvin Sharp attended the public schools of Darke County, and after leaving school followed farming on the home place for a time. He continued to farm in Darke
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County until 1872, when he moved to Union Township, Miami County. For fifteen years he farmed the place opposite his present home, which he purchased in 1900 and moved upon in 1901. He has made many improvements on the place, includ- ing the erection of tobacco sheds. He has about eight acres in tobacco, and in addi- tion to raising that product, follows gen- eral farming.
Mr. Sharp was united in marriage with Miss Liza Jane Harshbarger, and they have three children, as follows: Ida May, married Parker Jolin, and has three chil- dren, Cletus, Edgar and John Dale; Oliver Oral, who resides on the farm across the road from his parents, married Bessie Warner, and has two children, Ruth and Delmar; Elizabeth Imo lives at home. Daniel B. Warner, a cousin of Mr. Sharp, lias lived with him since he was twelve years old. Politically the subject of this sketch is a Republican.
D. M. MILES, who carries on general farming on the Manson farm, which is lo- cated about four miles east of Piqua, is a native of Miami County and was born January 12, 1873, near Casstown, Ohio, and is a son of Morris and Sarah (Jones) Miles.
Morris Miles was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, and when quite small came to Ohio with his father, Jonathan Miles, a wagon maker by trade, who located at Tippecanoe City. Here he was reared and educated and subsequently engaged in the nursery business for several years. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted in Company E, Forty-fourth Ohio Vol. Inf., and after three years' service re- enlisted in the cavalry, serving in all a
period of four years. He participated in many of the leading battles and was for a time confined in Libby Prison. Upon re- turning home from the war he married Sarah Jones, a daughter of A. Jones, who was a well known farmer of this section of Miami County. He then located on a farm owned by his wife, about three miles from Casstown, where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits the remainder of his life. He died at the age of sixty-nine and his wife died at Troy, aged sixty-eight years. They were the parents of the following children : Julia A., married E. C. McMil- len and resides at Troy; Ella May, mar- ried W. Smithley, a farmer of Miami County; D. H., married Mildred Otoums, of Portland, Oregon ; D. M., subject of this record ; and Homer, who died in infancy.
D. M. Miles, our subject, obtained his educational training in the district schools of the county, afterwards working on the home place until the time of his marriage at the age of twenty-five years with Rillie M. Manson, when he removed to his pres- ent farm, where he has since carried on farming in a general way and makes a specialty of buying and shipping hay and straw. Mr. and Mrs. Miles are the par- ents of three children: Offa A., Leila B. and John A. Mr. Miles is politically iden- tified with the Republican party, and has served in various township offices. He is fraternally a member of the I. O. O. F.
J. R. ECHELBARGER, M. D., a well- established physician in active practice at Fletcher, Ohio, was born near Jerry City, Wood County, Ohio, October 12, 1874, and is a son of John F. and Sarah Jane (Fred- erick) Echelbarger. The parents of Dr. Echelbarger were prominent farming peo-
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ple in Wood County for many years and the mother still occupies the old home- stead. The father was a highly respected citizen near Jerry City and the family received general sympathy when he was killed by a stroke of lightning on May 29, 1908. The family consists of six sons and two daughters, all of whom survive.
Dr. Echelbarger attended school in Wood County until he was eighteen years of age, after which he engaged there in teaching school for ten years, in the mean- while completing his own education at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, where he was gradnated in the literary course in 1897. He was also at times a student at Lebanon, Ohio, and Valparaiso, and while preparing for his medical course engaged in an insurance business and had other in- terests prior to entering Starling Medical College, where he was graduated in 1906. He located first at Jeffersonville, Ohio, where he practiced for five months and came to Fletcher on December 10, 1906, where he divides the practice with Dr. Kiser. He is identified with medical or- ganizations and keeps fully abreast of the times in the progress made by his science. Dr. Echelbarger was married to Miss Rae Bennett, of Noble County, Ohio, and they have one daughter, Pauline. In politics he is a Democrat. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Junior Order of American Mechanies.
W. W. SANDO, owner and proprietor of the W. W. Sando Tile Works and saw- mill, at Bloomer, enjoys the distinction of being the pioneer business man at this point and his was the first family to estab- lish a home in what is now a flourishing town. The Sando family has been identi-
fied with almost every enterprise and pub- lie movement that has been useful in the development of this section. W. W. Sando was born April 6, 1857. on a farm in Darke County, Ohio, and is a son of Sammel and Celia D. (Hill) Sando.
Samuel Sando was born in Darke Coun- ty. Ohio, on the small farm of his father, Joseph Sando, who had come from Lan- caster County, Pennsylvania, to Darke County in early manhood. Joseph Sando was a carpenter by trade. Samuel Sando began to operate a sawmill in Darke County in 1857, and continued in that busi- ness until his operations were transferred to Bloomer. Ile survived until April 18, 1909. at the age of seventy-five years. His widow and five of his ten children are liv- ing.
In November, 1880. several months after W. W. Sando moved to Bloomer, the C., H. & D. Railroad put in connection with the village. For a number of years there had been a country post-office established a lit- tle south of the present town and it was known as Bloomertown and for several years after it was transferred to the point around which the business of the place centered it was still called by the old name which later was lawfully shortened to Bloomer. In July. 1880. W. W. Sando moved his sawmill to this place and one week later his father followed and they conducted a partnership business until 1894, when the younger Sando bought the older's entire interest. In February, 1881, the partners opened up a store in a build- ing they had put up and conducted it un- til the latter part of 1882, when it was sold to Martin A. Peterseim, who continues in the business. In 1883 the two progressive Sandos began the manufacture of tile,
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which has been developed into one of the main enterprises of the place. In 1906 Mr. Sando remodeled his kiln and factory and gives constant employment to a con- siderable force. Mr. Sando has been very active in all public matters and on account of his enterprise and reliability has fre- quently been elected to local offices, serv- ing as the first postmaster of Bloomer, for four different times receiving the majority of votes as assessor of Newberry Town- ship, and since 1881 he has been superin- tendent of the turnpikes. His comfortable residence was built in 1884, it being the second house in the hamlet. Mr. Sando has little time to devote to agriculture, but he owns a farm of twenty-five acres ad- joining his tile works.
On December 31, 1877, Mr. Sando was married to Miss Lucinda Hebb, a dangh- ter of Jacob Hebb, of Darke County, and they have had three children : Orville, Iva and Maud. Orville died at the age of eighteen months. Iva married Frank R. Greer and they have two children: Zelma and Roswell. Maud was married (first) to Walter E. Heffner, who was accidental- ly killed in the railroad yards at Bradford, May 31, 1905. He left three children : Margaret, Ruth and Lawson. Her second marriage was to Judson Derr and they have one child, Una. Mr. Sando is a mem- ber of the Mennonite Church.
GEORGE OWEN MURPHY, a repre- sentative farmer of Brown Township, Miami County, residing on a valuable property consisting of eighty acres of well improved land, situated one and one-half miles northeast of Fletcher, owns a second farm, of fifty-five acres, located north of Fletcher. He was born in Greene County,
Ohio, May 5, 1858, and is a son of J. C. and Mercy Murphy. The father of Mr. Mur- phy was born in New Jersey and came early to Ohio, settling in Greene County, where he married Mercy Sackett. They had two sons and three daughters. Mr. Murphy followed farming all his active life, for many years in Greene County and later in Miami County, near Fletcher. There he died when aged eighty-six years.
George Owen Murphy has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since he left school. He assisted his father, being the youngest of the sons, and remained at home until his marriage and then came to his present place, on which he has made all the excellent improvements. He car- ries on a general farming line, raising grain, potatoes, hay and stock. Mr. Mur- phy married Miss Sarah Serrilda Berry- hill, a daughter of Aaron Berryhill, of Miami County, and they have one daugh- ter, Ferna May, who resides at home. Mr. Murphy is a Democrat in his political views. He is a member of the Odd Fel- lows, at Fletcher.
WILLIAM M. DE BRA, one of New- berry Township's best known educators, residing on his improved farm of eighteen acres, which is situated on the Covington- Polo turnpike road, about one and one-half miles north of Covington, was born on a farm near Pleasant Hill, Miami County, Ohio, September 30, 1859, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Burns) De Bra.
The De Bra family is of French extrac- tion. The great-grandfather, Jacob De Bra, was born in Alsace-Lorraine, came to America, located in Maryland, where he died. He had married a thrifty German and when she was left a widow she came
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to Miami County with her children and entered a large tract of land in the vicin- ity of Pleasant Hill. Samuel De Bra, the grandfather, was born in Maryland, and after coming to Miami County lived in Newton Township. He was a carpenter by trade and his son David, father of Will- iam M. De Bra, learned the same trade. David De Bra married Elizabeth Burns, who was born near Pleasant Hill, Miami County, and was a daughter of William Burns, a native of Wales. William Burns was a sailor in his early life, but later be- eame a farmer in Miami County. David De Bra and his wife had four children : Margaret, who is the wife of Stephen Ben- ning, of Piqua, Ohio; Angeline, who is the wife of James Shoe, of Piqua; Ina, and William M., the last named being the eld- est. David De Bra and wife are among the venerable residents of Newberry Township, to which they moved in 1866.
William M. De Bra attended the New- berry Township schools, the Covington High School and the Ohio Normal Uni- versity, at Ada, attending the latter insti- tution's suminer terms. In 1883 Mr. De Bra began to teach sehool and he has taught continuously in Newberry Town- ship up to the present time, with the ex- ception of the year 1901, when he taught in Staunton Township. He now has charge of District School No. 13, at Polo. In de- voting himself to this work for so many years, Mr. De Bra has done a great serv- ice to his section, raising the standard of education and inspiring a feeling of emu- lation among his pupils that has horne rich fruit. Many of the young people who have been under his care during the past quar- ter of a century are proving, in responsi- ble positions, that the instruction he has
imparted has been thoroughly practical. It is said of Mr. De Bra that he takes an in- dividual interest in every pupil and under- stands each so well that he is thus able to aronse each mind to its fullest capacity. Many teachers are never able to do this.
On July 4, 1887, Mr. De Bra was mar- ried to Miss Nellie Printz, a daughter of James K. Polk and Lavina (Babylon) Printz. Mrs. De Bra was born in Darke County, Ohio, but was reared in Miami County. Her parents now reside in Shelby County. Mr. and Mrs. De Bra have three children: Dorothy, Ruth and Paul. The family belong to the Christian Church. Fraternally, he is identified with the Odd Fellows. He has never been active in poli- ties, but has always been ready to perform his whole duty as a public-spirited citizen.
JAMES MOTT, deceased, formerly one of Newberry Township's prominent citi- zens and highly respected men, was born on a farm in Darke County, Ohio, and died on his farm in Newberry Township, Miami County, in 1895. His parents were Zacha- riah and Mary Mott.
The late James Mott was left mother- less when he was but a babe and he was cared for a short time in the home of Samuel Wise, near Bradford, Miami County, after which he made his home un- til manhood with his brother Abraham. He learned to work hard in boyhood and was always a busy man, following farm- ing as his main occupation, coming into possession of the fine old Elmore farm of 160 acres. He was a good farmer and took pride in this property and the splendid residence, now occupied by his only daugh- ter and husband, he put up during his ac- tive years. He was a stanch Democrat in his political views, but when he was elected
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to township offices he served entirely with- out bias and there are those who assert that no more able or honest trustee ever was elected in Newberry Township than was James Mott. He married Anna El- more, who survived him but two years. She was a daughter of Joseph Elmore and was born on the farm on which she and husband lived and which is now the prop- erty of J. F. Etter and wife. Two chil- dren only were born to them, the one sur- vivor being Nannie, who is the wife of J. F. Etter.
Mr. Etter was born at Dayton, Mont- gomery County, Ohio, and came to Miami County when eleven years old, with his parents, James and Susanna Etter. Mr. Etter manages the farm on which he and wife reside, but does not cultivate it, hav- ing it rented. Mr. and Mrs. Etter have two children: Mae, who is the wife of Ed- win Grove; and James, who is in the em- ploy of the Government as railway clerk running between Indianapolis and Pitts- burg. He married Lo Dollinger and has four children-Francis, Lois, Robert and Ruth. Mrs. Etter was reared in the Christian Church, her father being a con- sistent member and for years a trustee of the Greenville Creek Church.
J. CLYDE HILLIARD, residing on the old Hilliard farm of 170 acres in Spring Creek Township, comes of one of the most prominent and oldest established families in Miami County. He was born January 31, 1870, on his present farm and is a son of James and Adelaide (Gill) Hilliard, and a grandson of Joseph and Sarah (Reid) Hilliard.
John and Elizabeth Hilliard, the great- grandparents of our subject, were one of
the first families to locate in Miami County, coming here in 1797 under the di- rection of Col. Simms. They entered the land on which our subject lives, and it is the oldest tract of land in the county which has been continuously in the name of one family. In about 1816 the house in which J. Clyde Hilliard was born was erected, it being considered quite a mansion at that time, and with the exception of one cabin, which was a trading post, was the only house between here and Dayton. Here Jo- seph Hilliard engaged in agricultural pur- suits and he reared a family of seven chil- dren : Nancy, Mary, Susan, Jerusha, John R., Amanda, and James G., father of our subject, all of whom are now deceased.
James G. Hilliard was reared on the home farm, obtained his educational train- ing in the district schools and at Me- Murdy's Academy, after which he en- gaged in farming on the home place, where he died July 14, 1906, at the age of eighty- three years. After losing his sight, in 1852, he dealt extensively in horses and cattle, and became one of the best known stockmen in this section of the county. He was united in marriage with Adelaide Gill, who was born near Milford Center. Union County, Ohio, a daughter of David and Eleanor Gill, residents and farmers of Union County. Mrs. Hilliard was one of a family of six children, the others being as follows: William, Maskel, Reuben, Robert, and Jennie. She was seventy-six years of age on May 30, 1909, and makes her home with her son, the subject of this record. James G. Hilliard was identified with the Republican party in politics. For fifty-four years he was a member of the order of Odd Fellows and his religious membership was with the Baptist Church.
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J. Clyde IIilliard was reared and has always lived on his present farm. He at- tended the schools of this district and at Piqua, subsequently going to the West for some time, and upon his return home as- sumed the management of the home place, where he carries on farming in a general way, but owing to ill health rents out a portion of the land. He was united in marriage with Josephine Lawrence, who is a daughter of Col. Lawrence, who was a prominent attorney of Marysville and a veteran of the Civil War, who entered the army as captain of Company A., 121st Regiment, and returned as its colonel.
In politics, Mr. Hilliard is an adherent of the Republican party. Fraternally, he is a member of the J. O. A. M. and the Elks.
CHARLES A. FESSLER, of Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio, with his wife, is the owner of 100 aeres of land lo- cated two and one-half miles north of Cov- ington, on the northeast corner of the in- tersection of the Covington and Stillwater Pikes. He was born on a farm in Shelby County, Ohio, July 26, 1868, and is a son of John Martin and Catherine Elizabeth (Peterseim) Fessler.
John M. Fessler was born in Germany and was about eleven years of age when he accompanied his mother to the United States, his father having died previous to that time. They located on a farm in Shelby County, where the father of the subject of this record has since lived. He married Catherine Elizabeth Petersein, who was born in Shelby County, but was reared in Newberry Township, Miami County, just north of Bloomer.
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