USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 71
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 71
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Charles A. Fessler was reared on the
home farm where his parents still reside, and has always followed agricultural pur- suits. After his marriage in 1895, they set up housekeeping on the farm adjoin- ing his present place on the northeast, in Newberry Township. They rented that property until 1906, when he purchased what is known as the old Drake farm, on which he has since lived. There is a large brick house and a good set of farm build- ings on the place, and he has made many other important improvements, among other things fencing the entire place. He follows general farming and stock raising. October 6, 1895, Mr. Fessler was united in marriage with Miss Jennie A. Rhoades, a daughter of Uriah V. and Dorothy Ann (Routson) Rhoades, and they have two children, Treva Esther and Zelma Irene. Religiously, they are members of the Lu- theran Church at Bloomer.
MARTIN A. PETERSEIM, postmaster at Bloomer, Miami County, is one of the enterprising and representative busi- ness men of this section, being pro- prietor of a general store which sup- plies the needs of a large territory and with A. C. Rhoades, under the firm name of Peterseim & Rhoades, operates an ele- vator. Mr. Peterseim was born on a farm in Shelby County, Ohio, one-half mile dis- tant from Bloomer, September 8, 1844, and is a son of John Adam and Elizabeth (Fett) Peterseim. Both parents of Mr. Peterseim were born in Germany. They were married there and immediately aft- erward came to America and to Shelby County. When their son, Martin A., was six years old they moved on a farm of ninety aeres, which adjoins Bloomer on the north, and both died there.
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Martin A. Peterseim has lived on the above mentioned farm almost since he was an infant and he also owns a second farm, which is situated one-half mile south of Bloomer and contains twenty-five acres. For twenty-two years he has been a lead- ing factor in business at this point, being interested for that length of time in both store and elevator, and for the same length of time has been postmaster. He has served one term as township trustee, being elected on the Democratic ticket, but his business interests have been so many that he has never sought political favor to any great degree. Mr. Peterseim married Miss Mary Catherine Keiser, a daughter of William Keiser, and they have five chil- dren, namely: Ellen, who is the widow of Judson Sando; Edith, who is the wife of A. C. Rhoades; Walter, who is in the em- ploy of his father at Bloomer; and Stella and Florence. Mr. Peterseim is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in which he has been an official almost the entire period of his mature life.
SAMUEL HART, one of Bradford's most active business men, occupying quar- ters in the busiest part of the town, on the Darke County side of Main Street, deals extensively in flour, feed, grain, baled hay, straw, and coal. He was born in Wayne County, Indiana, January 17, 1866. and is a son of Isaae and Mary (Mohler) Hart. The late Isaae Hart was a well known farmer in Newton Township, Miami Coun- ty, Ohio, where he settled in 1873. He re- sided on that farm until the close of his life. His widow still survives.
Samuel Hart was reared on the home farm in Newton Township from the age of seven years and remained there until
he came to Bradford in 1904 and em- barked in his present business. Through energy and enterprise he has advanced himself to a leading position among the business men of this section of the county, and likewise in the eastern portion of Darke and the southern part of Shelby Counties. Mr. Hart was married to Miss Lizzie Caldwell, who is now deceased, and is survived by two children, Ethel and Charles. Mr. Hart is identified with both the Masons and Odd Fellows and is favor- ably known in fraternal circles, taking a hearty interest in lodge work. He has never taken a very active part in political life.
JOHN W. BROWN, a well known agri- culturist of Brown Township, Miami Coun- ty, Ohio, is engaged in farming the home place of fifty-five acres and an additional tract of fifty aeres, located about one mile west of his home, and he owns both farms. Ile was born in Shelby County, Ohio, and is a son of Augustus S. and Catherine C. (Wilson) Brown.
Augustus S. Brown was born in Ken- tucky, in 1814, and when young came to Miami County, Ohio. He lived with an uncle for a time and subsequently moved to Shelby County, where he lived until two years after the birth of the subject of this record. He then returned to Miami Conn- ty and located upon the farm in Brown Township, where he lived until his death in 1855. He married Catherine C. Wilson, whose father lived at Troy and served some years on the Bench. They had the following children : Letitia, deceased; Eliz- abeth; William Perry, deceased; Thomas, deceased; Martha, deceased; Lucinda ; Lydia; Caroline; Virginia; and John W.
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John W. Brown was two years of age when his parents moved from Shelby County to the farm on which he now lives, and with the exception of two years spent on a farm northeast of here, has since lived on this place. He attended the dis- triet schools and early in life turned his attention to farming. He bought ont the other heirs to the home place and in 1907 purchased his farm of fifty acres, located one mile west. He erected the residence in which he lives, and the good barn which was on the place, he later moved to its present location, and has made many other important improvements. He is a substantial and progressive citizen, and is held in high esteem by his fellow men. Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Mary S. Dner, a daughter of William H. Duer, of Miami County. Religiously, they are members of the Baptist Church at Lena. He is a Democrat in politics, and is deeply interested in the success of the principles of that party.
CHARLES B. MAIER, who is engaged in the carriage, buggy, harness and horse supply business at Covington, is a leading citizen of Newberry Township, of which he is one of the trustees. He was born on a farm in Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio, October 20, 1862, and is a son of Eherhart and Lonisa Maier.
The parents of Mr. Maier were both born in Germany but their marriage took place in America. In 1864 they moved from Newberry to Newton Township, where the father died four years later, leaving his widow with a family of little children. This devoted mother gave all her energies to the keeping of her family together and remained on the home farm
until each one was grown. This estima- ble woman, now in her eighty-third year, resides at Springfield, Ohio, where she has many friends.
Charles B. Maier was six years old when his father died. His capable mother reared him carefully, teaching him habits of thrift and encouraging him both at school and in the performance of his farm duties. For a number of years he followed farming, acquiring the home place of 129 acres, all but forty-five aeres in Newberry Township, lying in Newton Township. Ilis wife owns a farm of twenty acres adjoin- ing. His farm land is now rented, his business interests at Covington requiring his presence in the city, which has been his home since 1907. On January 5, 1904, Mr. Maier and family went to California and spent a whole year in that State but came back to Ohio better satisfied with their native place than ever. Mr. Maier has been engaged in his present business since October, 1906, having bought ont J. G. Wetzel. Mr. Maier married Miss Emma Price, a daughter of Isaac Price, and they have two children: Arthur .J. and Walter L.
Mr. Maier has always been an active citizen, taking an interest in both town- ship and city affairs. In the fall of 1907 he was elected on the Democratic ticket, a trustee of Newberry Township, with a majority of 214 votes, although it is nor- mally Republican. He assumed the duties of the office on January 1, 1908, the other members of the board being Harry Fox and John Weheman. Mr. Maier is identi -- fied with the order of Odd Fellows.
S. FRANK YATES, proprietor of one of the largest and best general stores in
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Miami County, located in the village of Lena, is a substantial and progressive citi- zen. He was born in Brown Township, Miami County, in 1864, and comes of an old family of the community. He is a son of Samuel and Phoebe (Shanks) Yates. and a grandson of Ebenezer Yates.
Ebenezer Yates came from New Jersey at an early date and located upon a farm - in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his days. Sammel Yates was born in Miami County and here passed a life of great usefulness. He was a prosperous farmer and was the owner of two good properties in Brown Township. He married Phoebe Shanks and they became parents of the following children : Alice J., wife of George W. Brecount: Florence, who died at the age of seventeen years; Mary Ann, wife of Joseph Wolcott : S. Frank, whose name heads this record; Clara B., who was first married to James Buckles, and after his demise to I. M. Wolcott; and Earl A., who married Mattie Denman, a daughter of Dr. Denman, of Lena.
S. Frank Yates was reared in Brown Township and received a good common school education. He engaged in farming on the home place and in 1893 embarked in the poultry business, in which he met with success, and was at that time a member of the firm of White & Yates and was en- gaged in the general mercantile business at Lena for many years. Upon selling out that business, Mr. Yates moved to Troy, where for fifteen months he engaged in clerking. At the end of that time, in 1908, he again purchased the store at Lena. where he now continues. He carries a com- prehensive line of general merchandise and groceries. and enjoys the liberal pat-
ronage of the community. In 1901, he erected one of the finest store buildings in Miami County, aside from those to be found in the two principal cities. He has taken an active interest in the affairs of the place, and for a period of sixteen years has served efficiently as a member of the Board of Education.
Mr. Yates was united in marriage with Miss Wilda M. White, a daughter of James White of Champaign County, Ohio, and they have two children : Ethel M. and Flor- ence A. Religiously, they are members of the Baptist Church. Politically. he is in- clined to be independent. casting his ballot always for the man best fitted for the of- fice. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masons, and the Knights of the Golden Eagle.
OSCAR FRANKLIN FURROW, whose fine farm containing 170 acres, is situated in the northeastern part of Lost Creek Township, was born on the old McNeal farm in Elizabeth Township, Miami Coun- ty, Ohio, August 6, 1854, and is a son of Captain John Kennedy and Margaret (Nickles) Furrow. The Furrow family is of Scotch-Irish extraction and was founded in Ohio by Tyson Furrow, the grandfather, who settled in the deep woods which in his day covered the country near what is now Miami City. His children hore the following names : Margaret, Elizabeth, Martha, Mary, Samuel, Elijah and John Kennedy.
John Kennedy Furrow was the eldest of the above family and he was born in the old log cabin standing on the Furrow place near Miami City, in August, 1831. His yonng strength was given in helping his father clear off the farm and he remained
OSCAR F. FURROW
MRS. MARY S. FURROW
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after the father's death and his own mar- riage, to care for his widowed mother and sisters. When the Civil War broke ont, John K. Furrow was one of the earn- est, thoughtful men who, from a sense of duty, put aside every personal considera- tion, and in 1861 hastened to enroll for the defense of the Union. He enlisted in Com- pany A, Forty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, contracting for three years and after serving through that pe- riod. reënlisted, with the rank of captain, to which he had been promoted, in the Eighth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and in this he served until almost the close of the war, when he was relieved on account of disability, having twice suffered the un- speakable hardships of incarceration in Libby Prison. He is one of the prominent members of the Grand Army Post at St. Paris. For twenty years after the close of his military service, he condneted a gro- cery business in that village and then re- tired to Conover, where both he and wife live, in great comfort. He is a Knight Templar Mason and a leading Republican in his section. Captain Furrow was mar- ried in 1853, to Miss Margaret Nickles and they have had the following children : Oscar Franklin; Laura, who is the wife of C. K. Heisey; Effie, who is the wife of Dr. C. F. Johnson; Edgar O., who is a physi- cian at Troy; Albert D .; John; and Jona- than, who died young.
Oscar Franklin Furrow, or Frank, as he is familiarly called by his many friends, spent his boyhood in Elizabeth Township, being seven years old when his father went into the army. After his long and honor- able service terminated, Captain Furrow moved his family to St. Paris, and there Frank Furrow became a bright student
and subsequently graduated from the High School. After that he became a clerk in his father's grocery store and remained until he reached his majority and then started out for himself. He served an ap- prenticeship of five years to the watch- making trade and followed it for twenty years, during this period traveling over a large part of the South and Indiana. When he returned he purchased a jewelry store at St. Paris and conducted it for ten years, when failing health made it necessary for him to enter into an ocenpation which would keep him more or less in the open air. This life he found in farming, in the far West, and he spent nine years in Wash- ington and six years in Oregon before com- ing back to Ohio. In December. 1900, he bought his present farm in Lost Creek Township, from Michael Wilgus. The place was in fair condition, the buildings all standing, but he has done considerable improving, nevertheless, and has a very fine place. He devotes his land to the growing of corn, wheat, oats and hay and raises enongh stock for his own use.
On November 8, 1879, Mr. Furrow was married (first) to Miss Lonisa M. Hill, a daughter of George Hill. She died May 7, 1888, leaving three children : Eva M., who is the wife of Ora Super and has one child, Mary E .; Rex F. : and John K., deceased. Mr. Furrow was married (second) March 10, 1889, to Miss Mary E. Sills, a daughter of Samuel Sills of Champaign County, Ohio. For twenty-eight years Mr. Furrow has been identified with the Masonie fra- ternity and belongs to the Commandery at Troy. He is a stanch Republican but has never accepted any office other than that of township trustee.
654
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
AUGUST PETERS, owner of a valu- able farm of fifty-three and one-half acres located about two miles west of Piqua on what is known as the Jimtown Pike, is a well-known and progressive citizen of Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 20, 1857, and is a son of John Henry and Catherine (Snyder) Peters.
The parents of August Peters were born in Germany, but were married at Cincin- nati in 1849. John Henry Peters learned the trade of a nailsmith in his native land and for a time followed it in Cincinnati ; about the year 1860 he moved to Shelby County, Ohio, and followed farming many years. Upon the death of his wife, Novem- ber 20, 1904, he came to Miami County and made his home with the subject of this sketch until his death on February 18, 1906. Both lie buried at Newport, Shelby County, Ohio.
August Peters was abont three years of age when his parents moved to Shelby County, Ohio, and there he was reared and educated. He was there married and con- tinued to reside until 1891, when they moved to Miami County. He located on the Freeman Skinner farm at Eldean and lived there ten years, at the end of which time he purchased a farm of eighty-one acres in Shelby County, Ohio, but decided not to move there, instead locating on the old Dr. Coleman farm in Staunton Town- ship, where they lived four years. In the spring of 1905 they sold the Shelby County farm and purchased what is known as the old Hattie Grey farm in Washington Township, where they now live. Mr. Pe- ters has always followed general farming and has achieved a high degree of success. All that he has was earned by his own ef-
forts, with the assistance of his wife, and he can look with pride upon the advance- ment he has made.
September 8, 1885, Mr. Peters was mar- ried in Turtle Creek Township, Shelby County, Ohio, to Miss Sarah J. Ike, who was born and reared in that township. She is a daughter of John and Esther (Kruse) Ike, both now deceased. Her father died in Shelby County, July 22, 1893, and her mother on March 28, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Peters became parents of four children, as follows: Leota May, who was gradu- ated from Piqua High School in June, 1908, and is now a teacher at the Chil- dren's Home in Miami County ; Harry Clif- ford; William Warren and Mary Esther. Religiously the family belongs to the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church at Piqua.
GEORGE W. HOOPES, who has at- tained a high degree of success in farming and dairying, resides on a farm of 157 aeres which he owns, located about one mile north of Covington, in Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio. He also owns a farm of seventy-eight acres in the same township, located north of Polo, on the Miami and Shelby County line, which is farmed by his son, Harley.
Mr. Hoopes was born in Chester County, Penn., August 14, 1861, and was about twelve years old when his parents moved to Shelby County, Ohio. About one year later, in 1874, he accompanied them to Miami County, where they purchased a farm of forty acres. The father, Elwood Hoopes, died on that place in July, 1907, and his widow, who in maiden life was Mary Ann Carpenter, still lives at Clayton with a daughter, Cordelia Hoopes.
George W. Hoopes was reared on the
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farm and received a common school educa- tion. Ile continued to live at Clayton for one year after his marriage, then moved to Shelby County, where he rented a farm for three years. At the end of that time he moved to the farm adjoining his present one on the east, and farmed it as a renter for six years. Ile then purchased the tract of seventy-eight acres located north of Polo, which he farmed and resided upon for twelve years. At the end of that time, or on March 4, 1907, he rented his present home place of A. F. Mikesell, and in the fall of 1908 purchased it. Ile is engaged in general farming and dairying, and runs a milk wagon. Mrs. Hoopes for a period of twenty-two years has attended the Piqua Market, where she has a stall. They have one of the best improved farms in the township and reside in a large yellow brick house which sets about 100 yards back from the road. Between the house and the road is a well-kept lawn, beautifully shaded by trees. A round barn, large in size and of good arrangement, and other substan- tial buildings, are in keeping with the gen- eral fine appearance of the farm.
Mr. Hoopes was united in marriage with Miss Annoh Hlay, who was born and reared in Newberry township, and is a daughter of Daniel and Sarah Jane Hay. both of whom are deceased. Three children were born to them, namely: Harley, who mar- ried Delmar Fulker and lives on the farm north of Polo; Roy, who lives with his par- ents; and Mearl, who is also at home. Harley Hoopes and his wife are parents of two children, Ilene and Imo.
WILLIAM T. SHANKS, residing on a farm one and a half miles east of Fletcher, in Brown Township, comes of an old and
respected family of Miami County. HIG was born in the southern part of Brown Township, September 16, 1849, and is a son of Daniel and Jane ( Yates) Shanks.
Peter Shanks, grandfather of William T., was the first of the family to come to Miami County; he came from Pennsylva- nia and entered the traet in the southern part of Brown Township which has since been known as the old Shanks homestead. He also entered the eighty acres to the west of it, but was obliged to give it up. He continued to live on that farm until his death at the advanced age of ninety-three years. His trade was that of a cooper. His wife died on that place at an early age.
Daniel Shanks, father of the subject of this record, was born on the home place in Brown Township, and continued to reside there throughout life, dying at the age of sixty-two years. His first marriage was with Jane Yates, who died at the age of forty-five years. They were parents of the following children: Lear, who died at the age of five years; William T .; Seymour. who lives in South Dakota ; Josephine, who lives on the home place and is the wife of George Pence; Sarah Jane, deceased wife of 11. Lane: and one who did not survive birth. Mr. Shanks formed a second mari- tal union with Miss Charlotte Gaskell, by whom he had the following issue: Clara. Frank, Effie, Mande, Blanche, George, and Lilly.
William T. Shanks was educated in the common schools of Brown Township and worked on the home farm until his mar- riage in 1872. Hle then reuted various places in the township until 1891, when he purchased his present farm of fifty-five and one-half acres. In 1901, he erected a modern residence, which is complete in all
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
its appointments and is finished in five kinds of natural wood. It is one of the best houses in this section. He carries on gen- eral farming and tobacco raising. and is rated among the well-to-do and progres- sive citizens of the township.
November 14, 1872, Mr. Shanks was mar- ried to Miss Elizabethi Lane, a danghter of Isaac Lane of Brown Township, and they have one son, Lawrence Earl, who attended business college at Piqua and is at present bookkeeper for the Stewart & Brown Com- pany of that city. Politically, Mr. Shanks is a Democrat and has served six years as township treasurer and ten years as mem- ber of the School Board. He is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, its auxiliary lodge, the Rebeccas, the Encampment, I. O. O. F .; and the Knights of Pythias. Religiously, lie is a member of the Bap- tist Church at Fletcher.
GEORGE C. RHOADES comes of an old and respected family of Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio, and lives on the farm on which he was born, located about six miles northwest of Covington, on the Piqua and Versailles pike. He was born May 15, 1867, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Schneck) Rhoades.
Joli Rhoades was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, and lived there until after his first marriage; he then came to New- berry Township, Miami County, and en- tered 180 acres of land, of which the farm of George C. Rhoades was a part. He was twice married, the mother of the subject of this sketch being his second wife. As a result of these unions, he became the father of fourteen children, of whom but five are now living. He died on the liome farm in November, 1889, and was survived
by his widow, whose death occurred Sep- tember 22, 1906.
George C. Rhoades was reared on the farm and attended the district schools. He has always followed farming and is the owner of ninety acres of the old home place, which formerly consisted of about 170 acres, the remainder being owned by his brother, Charles D. Rhoades. In 1892 he built a large and commodious frame house, in which he now lives, and in 1893. completed the big barn. The other build- ings and most of the improvements have been made by him, and his place is one of the best kept in this section of the county.
Mr. Rhoades was united in marriage with Laura P. Grunert, who was born in Fletcher, Miami County, Ohio, but was reared in Shelby County, and is a daughter of Frederick Grunert. They have two chil- dren: Emory A., who married Glenna Rontson; and O. Fern, who teaches school in District No. 15, Newberry Township. Religiously, they are members of the Lu- theran Church, of which he is a trustee.
CAPT. SAMUEL D. PALMER, for- merly mayor of Covington, Ohio, and since 1904 in the Government service in connec- tion with the Rural Free Delivery system here, is a veteran of the Civil War and since boyhood has been identified with mili- tary affairs. He was born April 19, 1848, in Franklin County, Penna., a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Rowe) Palmer. The parents of Capt. Palmer were born, reared and married in Maryland. They later settled on a farm in Franklin County, Penna., and their subsequent life passed there.
Sammel D. Palmer attended the public schools in Franklin County until he was
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thirteen years of age, when he joined two brothers, Daniel and George, at Gettys- burg. Darke County, Ohio. From there, February 18, 1864, he entered the Federal Army, although he was only fourteen years of age, enlisting in Company K, Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war, being mustered out July 26, 1865. On February 14, 1865, his regiment was consolidated with the Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the two regi- ments being consolidated while he was a prisoner. Although a boy in years, the young soldier displayed the courage of a man, participating in thirty-four battles and skirmishes and often for weeks being in hourly danger of death. Only on one occasion was he injured and that not very seriously, being felled by an exploding shell, but on January 11. 1865. he was cap- tured by the Confederates, at Beverly, Vir- ginia, and he was confined in the terrible Libby Prison until April, 1865, rejoining his regiment as soon as exchanged. His record is one of which he is justly proud. After he returned to Gettysburg, his in- terest in military matters continued and for twenty-seven years he was an officer in the Ohio National Guards, now being on the retired list, with the rank of captain. For five years he served as second lieu- tenant of Company G, Third Regiment, for one year as lieutenant, for eleven years as captain and for ten years was captain of Company A.
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