USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 74
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 74
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He was the last one of a family of ten children. His long life had covered a very important period of history in this section and he could recall the time when the whole extent of fertile, improved farming land which makes this section one of the garden spots of the State, was covered by a dense forest growth. He could remember when his parents and the neighbors had to make the long trip to Cincinnati in order to oh- tain the provisions necessary for subsist-
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ence. On December 4, 1851, he married Anna Bashore, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah Bashore, and they had six dangh- ters and one son born to them. He is sur- vived by his widow, four daughters and one son, and twenty-eight grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren, and a large circle of friends who long had lived under the kindly influence of his beneficent life. He was spared pain and suffering and seemed simply to pass away in the fullness of years. In the spring of 1854, he and wife were baptized in the Church of the Brethren and the Christian profession he then made he faithfully lived up to. He will be sadly missed from his accustomed place in the church.
After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wise went to housekeeping on a farm of eighty acres, situated just across the road from Wise homestead, in Darke County, living there for four and one-half years and then moved to a farm in Newberry Township, residing there for five and one-half years, on March 8, 1894, settling on the present place. Mr. Wise here carries on a general farming line and devotes four aeres to to- baceo and a part of his acreage to pas- turage for his stock. In addition to enlti- vating his own land, he operates 13112 acres, which he rents from John Mummert. On June 2, 1897, Mr. Wise met with the misfortune of having his house burn down, but he immediately replaced it by the pres- ent large frame residence which has the appearance of comfort and stability. He also has improved his place by the erection of a substantial barn with dimensions of 36x76 feet and a tobacco shed, 24x50 feet in dimension. Mr. Wise is a man with very practical ideas and carries on his work systematically and snecessfully.
Mr. and Mrs. Wise have seven children, namely: Cora, Jesse, Joseph. Charles, Homer, Ella and Israel. Mr. Wise is a member of the Church of the Brethren. He takes no active part in politics, but he and family have always belonged to that class of citizens who uphold the law and through their quiet, exemplary lives, exert a strong influence for good in their com- mumity.
FRANK L. WHITMAN is a prosperous farmer of Newton Township, Miami Coun- ty, Ohio, and is the owner of a good farm of eighty acres in Section 22, range 5. Ile was born in Washington Township, Mont- gomery County, Ohio, October 31. 1859, and is a son of Edward and Mary ( Waltz) Whitman.
Edward Whitman, father of the subject of this sketeh, was born in Laneaster County, Pennsylvania, and was a small boy when he accompanied his parents to Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. There he attended the dis- triet schools and was reared to maturity, living on the home farm with his father for a period of twenty-eight years. Farm- ing has always been his principal occupa- tion and he still lives in Washington Town- ship at an advanced age. His wife died in 1887 and was buried near Miamisburg, Ohio. Her maiden name was Mary Waltz and she was a daughter of Jacob and Mary J. Waltz. The following children were born to them: G. A., Missouri, Frank 1 .. , Florence, Anna (deceased). Idella, George. Jacob, Lulu, Edna, Warren (de- ceased), Alvin, and Irwin. Religiously, Edward Whitman is a member of the Lu- theran Church. He is a Democrat in polities.
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Frank L. Whitman attended the district schools in his native township, but his schooling was very limited, he sometimes being able to attend but two weeks in a year. He was brought up to hard work and has always been industrions and en- terprising. He lived in Washington Town- ship until about a year after his marriage, then moved to Miami County, Ohio, where for a period of four years he engaged in farming and tobacco raising for Sammel Smith. He then began farming his pres- ent place of eighty acres in Newton Town- ship, which he purchased in July, 1899. He cleared eight acres of this tract, there being some timber still standing, has laid
considerable tile for drainage and has made other important improvements, in- cluding the erection of a fine tobacco shed. He has successfully engaged in general farming and tobacco raising, devoting about seven acres to the growing of that product each year.
December 20, 1883, Mr. Whitman was united in marriage with Miss Cora L. Smith, a daughter of Samuel and Kather- ine (Sherritt) Smith, and they became parents of the following children: Della, who married Jesse Shuman; Nora, who died at the age of two years; Homer and Minnie, twins, both now deceased; Ray- mond; John; and Carl. Religiously, they are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a Democrat in politics, but has no political aspirations.
JOSEPHUS THOMPSON, owner of one of the most valuable and best improved farms in Newberry Township, consisting of 280 acres of adjoining land, lying just south of Covington, on the Covington and Dayton turnpike road, was born on this
place on January 10, 1840, on the site of the modern brick residence which he erect- ed in 1888. His parents were Samuel and Hannah (Rench) Thompson.
Samuel Thompson was born in North Carolina and was a son of Sylvester Thompson, who settled near Pleasant Hill, in Miami County, when he came to Ohio, about 1804. Later he entered the land from the Government which his descend- ants own in Newberry Township and on Greenville Creek. He engaged in the cul- tivation of his land during his active years and in old age died in a comfortable home which he had built where he had found a dense forest. Samuel Thompson was two years old when his father came to Miami County and his whole mature life was spent in agricultural pursuits. He mar- ried Hannah Rench, who was born in Pennsylvania and was brought to Newton Township, Miami County, when a child of two years, by her father, Peter Rench. Samuel Thompson and wife had eleven children, six of whom survive.
Josephus Thompson has spent his whole life on the homestead farm and is sur- rounded with all the comforts that years of residence in one place make possible. For a long period he was the active culti- vator of his broad acres, but it is no longer necessary for him to bear heavy burdens, his capable sons having relieved him of re- sponsibility. They carry on general farm- ing along modern lines, making use of the best farming machinery and securing most satisfactory results.
Mr. Thompson was married Jannary 31, 1861, to Miss Amanda Rench, a daughter of Otho and Margaret (Elliott) Rench. She was born at Piqua, Ohio, and her mother also was born in Ohio, but her
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father came from Pennsylvania prior to his marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have had nine children, namely: Maggie, who married Isaac Bazill, a farmer of Newberry Township, has two children- Roscoe and Charles; Clement, who mar- ried Mina Ingle, has four children-Harry, Erla, James and Ruth, and they live on a part of the home farm; George, who re- sides with his parents, married Cora Brown, and they have had two children- Josephus, living, and Mellie, deceased; Dottie M., who married Levi Warner, of Covington, has two children-Clarence and Reva; William, who married Daisy Hill, resides on the home farm and they have two children-Judson and Leonard; Emma, who is the wife of E. A. Brant, of Covington, has three children-Hubert. Glenn and Helen; and Edwin, Minnie and an infant, all deceased. Mr. Thompson and family are leading members of the Christian Church. He is a good and will- ing citizen but has never cared for public office and has accepted none but that of school director.
CHARLES D. RHOADES, residing on his valuable farm of ninety acres, which is the old Rhoades homestead, situated about six miles northwest of Covington, on the Piqua-Versailles turnpike, in New- berry Township, is one of the representa- tive citizens of this seetion and a member of one of its finest old families. He was born on this farm, August 24. 1871, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Sneek) Rhoades.
The Rhoades family belonged in l'enn- sylvania prior to being established in Mi- ami County, Ohio. John Rhoades was born in that State but spent the greater
part of his life in Ohio. He died in 1887. His farm contained 180 acres and it was divided between Charles D. and his broth- er, George C. Rhoades, the former taking the old home place and the latter the ninety acres to the east. John Rhoades was mar- ried twice, (first) to Barbara Apple, and the children of this marriage were: Eliza- betb, who died in infancy; Uriah V., de- ceased : Noah, who was killed by lightning ; John, Matilda and Suvilla, all of whom died from typhoid fever: Jacob, who was accidentally killed on the home farm, by a threshing machine: Henry, who died dur- ing the Civil War, a victim of the cruel treatment received while he was a prisoner in Libby Prison; and Mrs. Amanda Hittle, the only survivor, who is a resident of An- derson. Indiana. John Rhoades was mar- ried (second) to Elizabeth Schneck, who was born in Pennsylvania and died in Mi- ami County, September 22, 1906. There were five children born to this marriage, as follows: Emma; W. Frank, who lives in Shelby County, Ohio; George C., who is a prominent farmer and citizen of New- berry Township: Allen Jefferson, who died when aged eight years ; and Charles D., the youngest of his father's fourteen children.
Charles D. Rhoades was reared on the home farm and attended the country schools. His business through life has been farming and this he has carried on in a systematic manner that has produced very practical results. He has made many improvements on his place. The barn, which was built by his father, in 1865, is yet a very substantial structure, and the brick house, when first built, was one of the most imposing in this section. In 1901, however, Mr. Rhoades renovated it entirely, making changes in its appearance
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and adding to its comforts and conven- iences.
On Thanksgiving Day, 1893, Mr. Rhoades was married to Miss Amanda Apple, a daughter of Solomon and a sister of Uriah S. Apple; prominent people in Newberry Township. They have three children : Firman Zeno, Viola and Irma. Mr. and Mrs. Rhoades are members of the Lutheran Church at Bloomer, in which he is a deacon.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SMITH is the owner of 237 acres of land in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, his home farm consisting of 157 acres located about seven miles northeast of Troy at the intersection of a mud road and the Lost Creek Extension Pike. He was born on his father's farm in Montgomery County, Ohio, April 5, 1853, and is a son of Alex- ander and Isabella (Waymeyer) Smith.
Alexander Smith was born in Roek Bridge County. Virginia, in 1820, and was one of a large family of children. Although the father of this family was poor, he reared his children in the proper way and they all grew to be useful men and women in the various communities in which they lived. Alexander was the youngest mem- ber of the family, but because of his great size was generally referred to as the "big brother." He became a skilled workman as a blacksmith, learning the trade in Vir- ginia in his youth. When a young man he left his native state because of his anti- slavery views, and later wanted the other members of the family to leave in order to afford their children better educational ad- vantages. He came to Ohio on horseback and while passing through the swamps of Indiana was mired, which necessitated his
walking the remainder of the way. He was about twenty years old when he ar- rived at Dayton, Ohio, and he soon erected a shop at Frederick, about twelve miles distant from that city. He later purchased a farm in Butler Township, Montgomery County, on which he erected a shop, and in addition to general farming he did many odd jobs of blacksmithing for his neigh- bors. He continued there until 1862, when he sold his farm and purchased the present home farm of the subject of this sketch, in Lost Creek Township, Miami County. Here he continued to live until his death in March, 1889. He married Isabella Way- meyer, in Montgomery County, she being a native of that county. Her death oe- curred about the year 1887. The following children were born to them: Sarah, wife of Joseph Ray; Jennie, wife of John To- bias; Benjamin Franklin; James; Wesley ; Harrison; and William, who died at the age of one year.
Benjamin Franklin Smith, familiarly known as Frank, was about nine years of age when his parents moved to Miami County, and located upon his present farm. His education was limited and when quite young he began work on the home farm, on which he has since continued. Upon the death of his father he bought out the other heirs in this property, on which he has made many important im- provements. The brick house in which he lives was erected in 1840. He has always been a hard and industrious worker, and all that he possesses has come through his individual efforts. He and his brother, James, purchased another tract of 160 acres in Lost Creek Township. Mr. Smith has traveled extensively through the South and West, and been pretty generally over
MR. AND. MRS. BENJAMIN F. SMITH
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the country, but he considers the Miami Valley the "garden spot of the universe." In addition to the property mentioned, he also is the owner of five good residence properties in Casstown, and a small farm on the Miami River in Staunton Town- ship.
June 6, 1889, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Anna Tobias, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Whip) Tobias, from near Dayton, both of her parents now being deceased. She was one of the following children born to them: Jonathan; Mary Elizabeth, wife of J. Jackson; Sarah, wife of John Barnett; Laura; Anna; Walter; and Daniel, who died young. Politically, Mr. Smith is a Republican.
CHARLES F. ANDERSON, who has been a life-long resident of Miami County, Ohio, is the owner of a good farm of eighty aeres, located just west of the corporation line of the city of Piqua, in Washington Township, on the Clayton pike. He was born in Spring Creek Township, two miles east of Piqua, November 16, 1856, and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Graham) Anderson.
Robert Anderson was born in Kentucky and was a son of Robert Anderson, who came from Kentucky to Miami County, Ohio. The latter settled on a farm in Spring Creek Township, about three miles east of Piqua, but later sold out and bought a farm on the St. Mary's pike, three miles north of Piqua. He lived there several years, then retired from business and spent the final years of his life in Piqua. Robert Anderson, Jr., was about twenty years of age when his parents moved to this county from Kentucky. He became a farmer of considerable importanee and
lived on a good farm in Spring Creek Township, on which he resided until his death in 1904. His widow makes her home in Piqua. She was born in that city and is a daughter of John Graham, who owned a grist mill south of Piqua. The marriage of Robert Anderson and Elizabeth Gra- ham resulted in the birth of four children, namely: John F., superintendent of the paper mills at Piqua; Margaret, wife of Louis Koester; Charles F .; and Harriet, who lives with her mother.
Charles F. Anderson was reared on the farm in Spring Creek Township, and re- eeived a good common school education. He has always engaged in agricultural pursuits, and for thirteen years rented the farm across the road from the property he now owns in Washington Township. He purchased his farm in 1906 and has eon- verted it into one of the best improved places in the vicinity. He erected a fine frame house, which he has equipped with a furnace and other modern improvements which tend to add comfort to rural life. Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Ella Blood, who was born and reared in Piqua and is a daughter of Jeremiah Blood. They have three children, namely : Carrie May, a graduate of Piqua High School and a teacher in the public schools of that city; Walter F .; and Frances L. Religionsly, they are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
UZAL E. HILL, owner of a well im- proved farm of 160 acres located about six miles northeast of Piqua, in Spring Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, has lived in that community nearly all his life and is widely known among its citizens. He was born on his present farm. December 16,
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1844, and is a son of Samuel and Eliza (Edwards) Hill.
Samuel Hill was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, where he was educated in the common schools and took up the occupa- tion of a farmer. In 1839, some time after his marriage, he moved to Miami County, Ohio, and settled in Spring Creek Town- ship, on the farm now owned by his son, Uzal E. He cleared all but ten acres of his farm and erected the residence which now stands on the property. He was mar- ried to Miss Eliza Edwards of Butler County, Ohio, where her father was a farmer, and they became parents of the following children: One who died in in- fancy; Mary J., who lives in Miami County ; Uzal E .; W. S., who lives one-half mile west of the old home, in Spring Creek Township; and Charles C., who resides in Dayton.
Uzal E. Hill was educated in the public schools of his home district and has always engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has lived all his life on the home place, except for a period of eleven years, five years of that time being located on an adjoining farm and six years on a farm in Shelby County. He follows general farming and has one of the best improved places in his vicinity. The farm is located on the Snod- grass Pike.
Mr. Hill was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Sanders, who died March 13, 1909, a danghter of Abraham and Eliz- abeth Sanders of Spring Creek Township, where her father followed carpentering and farming. Six children were born of their union, namely: George W., who died at the age of four years ; C. Frank, who oper- ates the liome farm; Farran B., who died at the age of seventeen years; Walter R.,
who lives on forty acres of the home farm in Spring Creek Township; Letha G., who died at the age of twenty years; and James B., who lives near Piqua. The last named married Oda Slack and they have a son, Harrold. C. Frank Hill married Clarinda A. Valentine, a daughter of Samuel and Nancy Valentine of Shelby County, Ohio, and they have a son, Lester. Walter R. Hill married Alma Duncan of Piqua, and they have three children-Uzal, Leona and Arthur. Politically, Uzal E. Hill is a Democrat and has taken a deep interest in the success of the principles of that party. Religiously he is a member of the Baptist Church. He was township trustee for three years and was also road supervisor for several terms.
ELI FLORY, a representative citizen of Newton Township, who resides on his val- nable farm of 110 acres, situated in sec- tion 31, range 5, was born September 4, 1860, in Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Brumbaugh) Flory. The parents of Mr. Flory came to Miami County from Mont- gomery County, Ohio, and lived in Newton Township until they retired to West Mil- ton, where the father died July 7, 1904. His burial was in the Pleasant Hill Ceme- tery. The family consisted of seven chil- dren-Emanuel, Eli, Davis and Emma (twins), Frank, Wesley and Charles. The mother survives and resides at Pleasant Hill.
Eli Flory obtained his education in the Pike and Ashland schools in Newton Township. From youth he has taken an interest in agricultural pursuits and be- fore purchasing his present farm, he rented farms for some years, in Newton
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Township, and is very familiar with the condition and natural fertility of different properties ; this knowledge he utilized when the time came for him to buy a farm of his own. He found about ten acres vet remain- ing to be cleared and this he soon had in a proper state for cultivation. The old build- ings were torn down and new ones, of a substantial character. took their places and he has now a finely improved property, the result of hard work and good manage- ment.
On March 9, 1SSO, Mr. Flory was mar- ried to Miss Margaret Stichter, a daughter of Jacob and Louisa Stichter, and they have four children, namely: Frank, who married Lulu Harshbarger, and has one child, Elizabeth; and Joseph, Truda, and Louisa, all residing at home. Mr. Flory and family attend the Dunkard Church. In politics he is a Republican and has served most acceptably in several township offices. particularly as road supervisor and as turnpike superintendent.
CHARLES S. McMACKEN, one of Covington's representative citizens, resid- ing on North High Street, a member of the Town Couneil and engaged in a dairy busi- ness, was born March 27, 1871, on a farm in Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio. His parents were John and Martha (Ullery) MeMacken.
The grandfather, also John McMacken, removed from Pennsylvania to Butler County, Ohio, residing there for a number of years. lle came to Miami County, Ohio, when his son Jolin, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, was fifteen years old, set- tling on a farm three miles northeast of Covington. There the latter grew to man- hood. His first marriage was to Margaret
Rike and to which were born three chil- dren, namely : Jennie, who is the widow of William Hackendorn and resides in Piqua ; James H., who lives in Logansport, In- diana; and John Lewis, also a resident of Logansport. Jolin Jr.'s second marriage was to Martha Ullery, who was born in Newberry Township, a daughter of Jolin Ullery, and three children were born to this union: Forrest Lee, residing at Piqua; Charles S .; and Emma, wife of D. R. Longanecker. John MeMacken, Jr., died April G. 1905, his wife having passed away July 3, 1898.
Charles S. MeMacken was born and reared on the farm. Ile attended the pub- lie sehools in his home neighborhood and later graduated at the Covington High School in 1890, following which he gradu- ated at C. E. Beck's Business College, at Piqua, Ohio. For a year he was a rural mail carrier and for six months was en- gaged as a railway mail clerk, between Pittsburg and Indianapolis. but failing health caused him to resign the latter posi- tion, and in February, 1903, he came to Covington, where he has since carried on a dairy business, as already mentioned.
Mr. McMacken married Miss Minnie Boggs, who was born at Nevada City, Mis- souri, and brought to Newberry Township, Miami County, in infancy, by her parents, Alden and Margaret (AAtchison) Boggs. Mr. and Mrs. MeMacken have six children, namely : Chalmer Lynn. Tracy B., Martha Margaret, Lucile Irene, John Alden and Hubert Lamar. Mr. MeMacken is a mem= ber of the Presbyterian Church, where he is an usher, while his wife belongs to the Christian Church. Fraternally, he is asso- ciated with the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, and is also a member of the
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Dramatic Order of Knights of Khorasan. He has been an active citizen and served as a school director in Newberry Township for two years and for the past two years has been a member of the Covington Council.
WILL H. HOLFINGER, who has been in the railway mail service for the past five years and now is connected with the Pan- handle Railroad branch between Indianap- olis and Pittsburg, was born on a farm near Covington, Ohio, July 15, 1877, and is a son of George and Christina (Flam- mer) Holfinger. George Holfinger was born in Germany and came to America with his father, Barnhart, when five years old. He married Christina Flammer, who was also born in Germany, and they be- came farming people in Miami County.
Will H. Holfinger grew up on the home farm and attended the country schools, graduating from the Bradford High School in 1896. The following four years were spent teaching in the country schools of Newberry and Newton Townships. In 1901 he completed the scientific course in the Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio. He then became principal of the Bradford High School, a position he filled for two years prior to successfully taking the civil service examinations. The railway mail service entails many hardships and the position of a mail clerk is an exacting one and can only be efficiently filled by a man of trained faculties and comprehensive education.
In 1905 Mr. Holfinger was married to Miss Alma Catherine Roeth, a daughter of Carl and Catherine (Wagner) Roeth, and they have two children, Carroll De Witt and Kathryn Christina. Mr. Holfinger and
wife are members of the Lutheran Church. The family home is a fine brick residence which Mr. Holfinger erected at Covington in 1907.
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