USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 72
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 72
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From 1865 until 1880. Captain Palmer resided at Gettysburg or on a farm of 120 aeres belonging to Andrew Weaver, in Adams Township, Darke County. His mil- itary duties frequently required his pres- enee at other points and much of his atten-
tion. The farm of twenty acres in Concord Township that he owns now he never lived on. He is a member of Langston Post, G. A. R., of which he has been adjutant for fourteen years and for several years was commander, and he was also on the staff of General Mumford, with the rank of colonel, when that officer was at the head of the Ohio organization. In 1880 he came to Covington and soon became a man to whom the citizens looked for advice and public help, electing him to the city council for two years and in 1894 making him mayor. Ile served in that responsible office for three full terms, up to 1900, and during that time Covington made many leaps for- ward, adding to her public utilities and her commercial importance.
C'apt. Palmer was married to Miss Belle Hill and they have two children: Mand, who is the wife of Samuel N. Arnie; and Loretta Pearl, who married Dr. W. B. Carey. Dr. Carey and wife have one son. Palmer Benord Carey, and they reside at Brooklyn, New York. Capt. Pahner and family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, in which he has been a stew- ard since 1880. In politics he is a Repub- lican. He is identified fraternally with the Masons and Knights of Pythias.
JOHN DUER, the owner of farming land in Shelby County, Ohio, and 145 acres of well improved land in Brown Township, Miami County, on which he resides, is a substantial and representative man of this section. He was born December 1. 1845. in Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of Joshua A. and Sarah ( Fryback) Duer.
John Duer can claim Revolutionary an- cestry, his great-grandfather, William An- derson, serving under General Washing-
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ton, with the rank of colonel. The paternal grandfather, William Duer, was born in Pennsylvania and died there, but his widow accompanied her son to Ohio and died in Fletcher, Miami County, when aged eighty- six years.
Joshua A. Dner was born in Bucks County, Penna., and came to Warren County, Ohio, in 1830, one year later mov- ing to Fletcher, Miami County, later to South Charleston, Ohio, after which he re- turned to Fletcher, and in 1837 bought the farm now owned by his son, John Duer. He was a blacksmith and followed this trade for some twenty-five years, and he was also a farmer and the remainder of his life was passed either on the farm or in Fletcher. He died on the farm at the age of eighty years and three months. He married Sarah Fryback, who lived to be eighty-four years old. They had ten chil- dren born to them, as follows: Samuel, who died at the age of thirteen years; George W., deceased; William A., who lives in Indiana; Susannah and Charlotte, both deceased; John; E. F., who lives in Cleveland; James T., who lives in Miami County ; Frank, and an infant, the former of whom died when aged nineteen years and the latter at birth.
Jolın Duer was four weeks old when his parents moved from Clark County to Fletcher, Miami County, and he was edu- cated in the Brown Township schools and at New Hope, up to the age of seventeen years, and then attended the Piqua High School for three months during the winters of 1863-4 and 1865. During the winters of 1865-6 and 1867 he taught school, but after that he devoted about all of his attention to agricultural pursuits, beginning on the old home farm, from which he moved later
just across the road, and two and one-half years afterward, to his farm in Shelby County, on which he resided for thirty- three years. On December 13, 1906, he came back to the homestead. He had im- proved his Shelby County property with excellent buildings and in 1906 erected a comfortable residence on his Brown Town- ship place and is making preparations to do more building. A part of Mr. Duer's farm possesses great historic interest. It was formerly owned by Colonel Munsel and county annals tell of the notable gath- ering of men, around the old spring, on this farm, to discuss the acquisition of the Northwest Territory, the final decision of which brought about such momentous re- sults. The old spring still bubbles up its clear, sweet cold water, never, in all these years, having failed.
On June 18, 1868, Mr. Duer was married to Miss Mary E. Worthington, a daughter of George M. Worthington, and they have two children: Walter and Clyde. The former resides at Troy, married Helen Cook, of Piqua, and they have two chil- dren : Elsie and John C. Clyde resides on his father's farm of eighty acres, in Shelby County. He married Sarah Wilgus, daugh- ter of E. J. Wilgus, and they have one daughter, Dorothy. Mr. and Mrs. Duer are members of the Christian Church, of which he has been clerk for twenty-three years. Politieally he is a Prohibitionist, and while living in Greene Township, Shelby County, served six years as clerk and one year as trustee.
W. W. BOSSERMAN, one of the leading business men of Bradford, Ohio, proprie- tor of a general store, is one of the town's best known citizens, having been a resident
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since he was sixteen years of age. Mr. Bosserman was born on a farm in New- berry Township, near Clayton, Miami County, Ohio, December 2, 1862, and is a son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Fink) Bos- serman, the former of whom died in 1868.
W. W. Bosserman grew to the age of sixteen years on the home farm and at- tended the country schools. He then came to Bradford and for twenty years was in the employ of his uncle, Philip Fink, who conducted a general store. In this connec- tion Mr. Bosserman had the very training essential to him in starting and maintain- ing a similar business of his own, which he embarked in in 1903. He has one of the largest general stores in Bradford and car- ries a carefully selected stock of groceries, dry goods, shoes, etc .. and has a trade that makes him need the services of three clerks. Mr. Bosserman is numbered with the most enterprising business men of the place.
Mr. Bosserman married Miss Almeda Zerbe, a daughter of Abraham Zerbe, and they have three children, Elsie, Mildred and Wilbur. Mr. Bosserman is not very active in politics, but is ever ready to sup- port movements for good government and to advance efforts to further the prosper- ity of his town. He is identified with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias.
HARRY M. WHITMORE, owner of seventy and one-half acres of the old Whit- more farm situated just north of Fletcher, in Brown Township, Miami County, was born June 5, 1861, in Lost Creek Town- ship, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of David J. and a grandson of Henry Whit- more.
Henry Whitmore was one of the pioneer
settlers in Miami County and owned 187 acres of land in the vieinity of Casstown, all of which he cleared with the exception of four acres. Ile was one of the sturdy men of early times and the founder of a family which has ever since been one of prominence in this section.
David J. Whitmore was born on his father's farm near Casstown and attended the district schools and was given advan- tages at Wittenberg. He returned to the homestead and cultivated it until he was about sixty years of age, when he moved from there to a farm of less dimensions, but failing health caused his retirement to C'asstown and there he died of paralysis, when sixty-eight years of age. lle married (first) Mary Odaffer, of Miami County, and they had two children, Harry M. and John, the mother dying when her sons were small. Mr. Whitmore was married (sec- ond) to Cassie Lewis, who died May 24, 1909, and three children were born to this union : Mary. Edmond and Estella, all of whom survive.
Harry M. Whitmore obtained his educa- tion in the schools of Lost Creek Township, after which he engaged in farming on the liome place until 1900, when he purchased his present property. He carries on a gen- eral agricultural line, making no specialty of any one product but making his land produce to its fullest capacity in every part. He grows grain, hay and stock and has productive orchards,
Mr. Whitmore married Miss Jonnie Smith, a daughter of Martin and Nancy .J. Smith, the former of whom died November 11. 1906. The mother of Mrs. Whitmore makes her home with Mr. Whitmore. The Smith family has been of Miami County since 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore have
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
one son, David Martin, who is a bright pupil in the publie school. Mr. Whitmore and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Fletcher. He is not identified politically with either of the great parties, but he is a good citizen, one who lives up to his responsibilities, but does his own thinking and votes as his judgment suggests.
WILLIAM E. SHELLABARGER, a venerable citizen of Covington, Miami County, Ohio, who is now living in retire- ment, was engaged in agricultural pur- suits throughout his active career. He was . born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, No- vember 30, 1827, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Randels) Shellabarger.
David Shellabarger, father of the sub- ject of this record, was a farmer in Juni- ata County and resided there until his death. His widow later moved to Miami County, Ohio, and there formed a second marital union with a man bearing the same name as her first husband. David Shella- barger. She continued to reside there un- til her deathı.
William E. Shellabarger preceded his mother to Miami County by several years, coming west in 1851. His first year here he worked in Covington at his trade as a millwright, then for three years worked at sawmilling. He continued this until his marriage, when he became a farmer. Two years later he purchased a farm of seventy-nine acres in Newton Township, which he improved and lived upon for a period of thirty years. He was a man of great energy and keen business judgment, and he added to his property until he was possessed of 172 acres. In the fall of 1886, he moved with his wife to Covington, and
there has a fine brick residence and three lots on South High Street. He retained his farm in Newton Township until April. 1909, when he sold out to good advantage.
February 9, 1854, Mr. Shellabarger was united in marriage with Miss Susan Mol- ler, who was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, July 21, 1834, and is a daughter of Rudolph and Elizabeth (Mil- ler) Mohler. She was abont eight years of age when she accompanied her parents, on May 2, 1842, to Miami County, Ohio, settling on a farm at Sugar Grove which her father had previously bought. They moved in wagons, the trip taking nearly three weeks. They had three vehicles, a wagon pulled by four horses, a one-horse wagon and a carriage. Both her parents died on the farm in this county and were buried at Sugar Grove. The subject of this record and his wife became parents of the following children: Mary, wife of George Saylor; Reuben, who died at the age of five years ; Elias, who died at three years; Grace, who died when one month old ; Rudolph, who died at the age of forty- three years; Sarah, wife of Granvill Min- nich, who has charge of the Old Folks Home at Greenville, Ohio; Roland Ellis, who lives on a farm in Newton Township; Levi. a bookkeeper who was for eight years in the postoffice at Manila, P. I., but is now a resident of Washington, D. C .; and Anna, who is the wife of Jolin Good- enbarger, of Akron, Ohio. Reuben and Elias were stricken with diphtheria and died within one day of each other. Ru- dolph Shellabarger died in 1905 of lock- jaw, resulting from a fractured limb. Mr. Shellabarger has long been an active mem- ber of the Church of the Brethren, of which he is a deacon. He was for many
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years and until recently a member of the board of trustees of that church.
B. F. LOXLEY, SR., one of Newberry Township's most substantial citizens, who resides in a fine residence which he erect- ed on a well improved lot of two and one- fourth acres, just north of Bradford, still retains possession of one farm of 240 acres and has probably given away more land to his children than three-fourths of his fellow citizens ever owned. Mr. Loxley was born on Wolf Creek, near Dayton, in Montgomery County, Ohio, April 18, 1834, and is a son of Samuel and Magdalena (Keener) Loxley.
When Mr. Loxley was six weeks old his parents moved to Preble County, where they died and where he lived until ma- turity, in 1859 marrying, and continuing to engage in farming in Preble County un- til 1867. In that year he moved to Miami County and bought 120 acres on the Kling- er and Searer turnpike road, and to this land kept adding parcel after parcel until it aggregated 700 acres, making him one of the largest landowners in the county. He also bought land in Darke County, Ohio, and in Kansas and still retains an interest in a large plantation in New Mex- ico. Mr. Loxley has been exceedingly kind to his children, setting them up in life and not only advising them but giving practical help whenever needed. In addi- tion to the farms that he has distributed, he has given no less than $12,000 in money.
On December 8. 1859, Mr. Loxley was married (first) to Miss Phebe Ann Kaylor, who died after they moved to Miami Coun- ty. They had seven children, as follows: Mrs. Ida Martin: Charles E., who died from an accidental shooting; Mrs. Ella
Katherman; Mrs. Lucinda Rhoades; Mrs Amanda Apple; Mrs. Ermina Bosserman; and Benjamin F. Mr. Loxley was mar- ried (second) to Miss Sallie Miller, who was born at Bradford, Ohio, and when three months old was taken to Newberry Township, one mile north of Bradford, and was reared on the old homestead farm of her maternal grandfather, Jacob Wise, who had entered that land from the Gov- ernment. Her parents were Michael and Molly (Wise) Miller. Her father was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, a son of Jacob Miller. He died on the old Wise farm in 1884 and was survived by his widow until 1890. They were fervent members of the German Baptist Church, most worthy people in every way. To the second marriage of Mr. Loxley, nine chil- dren were born, one of whom died in in- fancy, the others being as follows: Sam- nel M., Mrs. Nora Kepner, Jesse Albert, Jacob Edward, Isaiah R., Jennie M .. Jonas M., and Jeremiah M. The second born, Aaron, died a habe. Mr. Loxley and wife are leading members of the Church of the Brethren.
WILLIAM B. MOON, a progressive and publie-spirited citizen of Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, is the owner of a fine farm of 125 acres, located about ten miles northeast of Piqua. Ile was born in Green Township, Shelby County, Ohio, April 14, 1862, and is a son of James and Harriet (Dorsey) Moon.
James Moon was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and was four years of age when his parents moved to Ohio. His father, Mahlon Moon, was a Quaker, as was his wife, who in maiden life was Sarah Wharton. He moved west to Greene
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
County, Ohio, in 1829, and shortly after- ward moved to Shelby County, where he passed away. James Moon passed nearly all his life in Shelby County, Ohio, where he owned a farm of eighty acres ; his death occurred at the age of seventy-five years. He married Harriet Dorsey, who came of a Miami County family, and they became parents of the following children: Sarah E., wife of C. A. Mahan of Miami County ; Mary, wife of W. H. Anderson of Shelby County; Hannah A., wife of J. W. Apple- gate of Shelby County; William B., sub- ject of this sketch; Mattie J., deceased wife of Martin Bennett; Clara B., wife of E. M. Baker of Shelby County; and Lo- dema C., wife of F. I. Moore of Brown Township.
William B. Moon was reared in his na- tive county and there attended the public schools. He lived in Shelby County until his marriage in 1883, then moved to his present farm in Brown Township, Miami County. He has followed general farm- ing in a most successful manner. In 1906, he erected one of the best homes in the township, a modern structure with splen- did arrangement and equipment. His barn was built in 1890, but was later moved to its present location. Mr. Moon has been a member of the board of education almost continuously since his arrival in the township, has served twelve years as township trustee and was assessor two terms. He is a Democrat in politics. Mr. Moon was united in marriage with Miss Luella Mathers and they are parents of three children : J. Oscar, of Miami County, who married Jennie Wiley and has two sons, Harrold W. and Louis R .; A. Foster, who lives at home; and Elsie H. Reli- giously, they are members of the Chris-
tian Church, of which he has been a dea- con for a period of eighteen years.
HON. RICHARD M. ALBERY, for- merly mayor of Covington, Ohio, and pro- prietor of the Albery Sawmill Company, has his plant located about one mile south of Covington, on the Dayton turnpike, and is one of Miami County's most enterpris- ing and substantial citizens. He owns the Falls Electric Light Plant and the Cov- ington Electric Light plant, and the forty- four acres of valuable land in Newberry Township, on which he resides. He was born on a farm in Jefferson Township, Franklin County, Ohio, ten miles east of the city of Columbus, on August 26, 1840. His parents were John M. and Sarah (Baldwin) Albery, who were farming peo- ple in Franklin County.
Richard M. Albery was reared on the home farm and in early manhood learned the carpenter trade. He also worked in a sawmill and when he went to California, in 1863, it was with the intention of running a sawmill there. This industry he carried on in the far West for two years and has been identified with the sawmill business for forty years. In 1872 he came to Cov- ington and in November of that year start- ed the business which has developed into the Albery Sawmill Company, a very im- portant lumbering enterprise of this sec- tion, which has been located at the same point for thirty-seven years. His other interests have been equally well conducted.
Mr. Albery married Miss Hannal Isa- belle Fowler, a daughter of Ezekiel Fow- ler. She was reared near Union City, In- diana. They have had six children: Mar- tin S., Morris W., Richard F., Esther G., Mabel Ruth and Mamie.
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He has one surviving child, Richard. R. M. Albery has a handsome briek resi- dence on his place, which he ereeted in 1878. The name of Albery is well known all through this section, both father and son having been prominently identified with both business and political affairs, and they have done much to add to the good name and prosperity of Covington and vicinity.
WILLIAM JONES is a prominent farmer and dairyman of Spring Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, and con- duets a milk ronte in the city of Piqua. He resides on a farm of 126 aeres, owned by his father, which is considered one of the best improved farms in the township.
Mr. Jones was born in Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio, February 12, 1871, and is a son of John and Louisa (Wagner) Jones, and grandson of Josiah and Catherine (Olaman) Jones. His great-grandfather came to this country from Wales and settled in Delaware, where Josiah Jones was born. John Jones was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and after his marriage came to Miami County, Ohio, where he is well known and is an extensive property owner. He lives in Washington Township.
William Jones was reared in Washing- ton Township and received his educa- tional training in the public schools. He worked on the home place some fifteen years, and after his marriage moved to his present farm in Spring Creek Township. This property consisting of 206 acres was purchased by his father for $18,564 in cash, and soon after he erected the fine home on it at a cost of $2,500. William Jones follows general farming and dairy-
ing, keeping an average of twenty head of mileh cows, and is meeting with much sue- cess in his business. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Maud Mellinger, a daughter of William Mellinger of Shelby County, and they are parents of the following children : Guy B., who assists his father on the farm; Hazel M., who is attending High School in Piqua ; Margaret M .: Forrest F .; and Ralph W. Politically, he is a Republican. In re- ligious attachment, he and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN MATHEWS, residing on a farm of fifty-five acres located one and a half miles east of Fletcher, was born in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, June 3, 1854. He is a son of William and Frances S. (Yates) Mathews, both natives of Miami County.
William Mathews was a lifelong resident of Miami County. After a public school course, he prepared himself for the minis- try and throughout nearly his entire active career filled the pulpit in the Baptist Church at Lena. Ile has a farm of sixty aeres south of Lena, where he was living at his death, which occurred at the early age of thirty- four years. He married Frances S. Yates of Miami County, and the following chil- dren were born to them: John; Nezer Y., a Baptist minister at St. Paris, Ohio; William C., who was adopted by an uncle named Moore and lives in Shelby County ; and Ora Alice, who died at the age of twenty-one years.
John Mathews attended the public schools of Brown Township and has al- ways followed farming. After his mar- riage he rented and farmed until 1894,
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
when he purchased the old Duncan farm, and in the Normal School at Tremont on which his wife was born and reared. In 1899, he traded that property to George W. Brecount for the one he now owns; he has made many improvements on the place and carries on general farming in a successful manner.
Mr. Mathews was united in marriage with Rebecca Jane Duncan, a daughter of Thomas P. Duncan, who was at one time superintendent of the infirmary of Miami County. The latter died in March, 1893. Two children have blessed this union : Mande and William Thomas. Maude Mathews was married in September, 1902, to C. Earl McMillen, a Baptist minister, who was born in Miami County but was reared at Jackson Center. They formerly resided at Rochester, New York, but now live at Cincinnati, Ohio. William Thomas Mathews, who lives south of Conover, was married to Grace M. Howell on Jannary 28, 1909. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Baptist Church at Fletcher.
John Mathews is a Democrat in his po- litical affiliations, and has served eight years as a member of the School Board. He has been a member of the Baptist Church at Fletcher for thirty-five years, for many years a deacon, and he is a mem- ber of the board of education in Brown Township. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He also is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association.
E. B. DAVIS, M. D., one of the leading professional men and representative citi- zens of Troy, was born in 1858, in Clark County, Ohio, and obtained his literary training in the public schools near his home
City. While doing his preliminary med- ical reading, Dr. Davis engaged in teach- ing school and for two years taught through the country and at the Normal School. He then entered the Columbus Medical College, where he was graduated in 1886 and later also received a diploma from Starling Medical College. He located for practice at North Hampton, Clark County, and remained there for fourteen years. After taking a thorough post-grad- mate course in New York, Dr. Davis then moved to Covington and subsequently to Troy and here he has been in active prac- tice for some six years. His standing in the profession is evidenced by his being a valued member of the Miami County and the Ohio State Medical Societies.
In 1888 Dr. Davis was married to Miss Anna Martha Arnett, of Dialton, Clark County, Ohio, who died in October, 1907, leaving three children, Florence Ethel, Elwood and Lillian Gertrude. With his children, Dr. Davis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and belongs to the official board, at Troy, while at North Hampton he was an active worker in the Sunday-school and in general church work. He is identified with a number of fraternal organizations, belonging to the Odd Fellows, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Knights of the Modern Brotherhood of America and the Junior Order of Amer- ican Mechanics.
OLIVER H. SNOWBERGER, who snc- cessfully carries on general farming in Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio, resides on the old Snowberger homestead, a valuable tract of 160 acres, which is situ- ated on the Klinger turnpike road, one and
MRS. ANNA A. DAVIS
E. B. DAVIS, M. D.
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
one-half miles north of Covington. He was born on this farm, October 7, 1873, and is a son of David R. and Lydia E. (Casse]) Snowberger. The first member of the Snowberger family to come from Penn- sylvania to Ohio, was Andrew Snowber- ger, grandfather of Oliver II. He came to Shelby and Darke Counties and after living in both, decided to return to Penn- sylvania, where he subsequently died.
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