Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio, Part 76

Author: Harbaugh, T. C. (Thomas Chalmers), 1849-1924, ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 882

USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 76
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 76

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ple in this section and they always have a hospitable welcome for their friends.

LOUIS LANDMAN, proprietor of the Loramie Mills, in Washington Township, which are situated three miles northeast of Piqua, is a native of Germany, where he was born November 30, 1841. His par- ents were Henry and Christina Landman.

Louis Landman learned the milling busi- ness with his father, in Germany, and he was twenty-four years of age when he came to America. Hle located first at Greenville, Ohno, then went to Mercer County, where he worked for three years in a mill, after which he worked for a short time at his trade in a mill situated between Piqua and Troy. He next went to Missouri and for one year was employed in a mill at Hamlin and then came to Mi- ami County and worked for a year in the very mill he now owns. He then went into the lumber business in Indiana and remained there for twelve years but re- turned to Miami County in 1886 and pur- chased his present mill property. Ile put the machinery in the best possible condi- tion, made many improvements and his patronage is large. He produces flour of both wheat and rye, corn meal and buek- wheat and also feed. His specialty, Gilt Edge flour, has a wide sale through the county.

Mr. Landman married Rachel Nusbaum, who was born and reared in Wayne Coun- ty, Ohio, and they have had fourteen ehil- dren, the seven survivors being : Jenette ; Reuben, married, who works for his father in the mill; Henry, who is a miller at Springfield, Ohio; George; Carrie; Will- iam, who is a miller at Dunkirk, Indiana; and Gladys, who is a student in the Piqua

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High School. Five children died in in- fancy; Emma died when aged fifteen years, and Frederick when aged eleven years. Mr. Landman and family are mem- bers of the German Methodist Episcopal Church of Piqua, of which he is one of the trustees. He is one of the reliable and re- spected citizens of Washington Township.

ALBERT WARNER, who owns 100 acres of the old Araon Warner homestead of 160 acres, lying on the Sears Turnpike Road, two miles northeast of Bradford, Ohio, was born on the farm which adjoins on the north, June 26, 1868, and is a son of Aaron and Charlotte (Bosserman) Warner.

The Warner family may be numbered with the pioneer ones of Newberry Town- ship, the grandfather of Albert, Henry Warner, coming at an early day and set- tling on the farm on which his grandson now lives. His son Aaron was a boy at the time, having been born in Montgomery County. For many years Henry Warner made this farm his home, and then moved to a farm south of Bradford, where he died in advanced age. Aaron Warner married Charlotte Bosserman, who was born in Darke County, Ohio, a daughter of Solomon Bosserman, an old and re- spected man there. To this marriage were born five children, namely : Lovina, who is the wife of Frank Martin, residing in Darke County; David, who lives near Pleasant Hill; Almira, who is the wife of Isaac Young, of Parke County; Alice. who is the wife of John Brumbaugh, re- siding in Darke County; and Albert, who is a twin brother of Alice. Aaron Warner died in the fall of 1907, surviving his wife for one year.

Albert Warner was three years old when his parents came to his present farm, and this has continued to be his home ever since. Only those who have grown up in one place and watched its development and had the secure home feeling that posses- sion gives can appreciate how much Mr. Warner, for many reasons, values this place, the home of his childhood, boyhood, youth and maturity. His residence is a comfortable brick house that was built by one of the early settlers, a Mr. Hoover. He carries on a general line of farming, raising wheat, oats, corn, hay and stock, also tobacco. Mr. Warner married Miss Ida Crowel, a daughter of Daniel and Matilda (Harmon) Crowel, an old New- berry Township family, and they have four children: Emery C., Mildred, Louis and Charles. Mr. Warner and family are members of the Church of the Brethren.

ELBERT M. BELL, attorney-at-law and city solicitor of Piqua, a practitioner in the State and Federal Courts, was born in 1870, in Logan County, Ohio, and from the local schools entered Findlay College at Findlay, Ohio, where he completed his literary education.

After leaving college. Mr. Bell entered upon the study of law with Marion G. Bell, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and received his degree of law at the Ohio Northern University in 1897. In the spring of 1898 Mr. Bell enlisted for service in the Span- ish-American War, entering Company F. Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, and remained with his regiment in camp at Chiekamagna. Macon and Knov- ville until December, 1898, when he was assigned to detached duty as clerk to Gen- eral Bates, who was then the military gov-

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ernor of Santa Clara Province, Cuba, and he remained in that capacity in Cuba un- til February, 1899. After he returned to the United States he was mustered out at Macon, Georgia, and shortly afterward lo- cated at Piqua. For four years he was as- sociated in law practice with L. R. Drake, and in December, 1906, he was appointed city solicitor, in the fall of the following year being elected to the same office. His service has been very satisfactory and the office has never been better administered.

In October, 1899, Mr. Bell was married to Miss Martha E. Rosebrook, of Big Springs, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Bell are members of the Green Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Piqua. He takes a hearty interest in politics, especially in the public affairs of city and county, and has proved himself an effective party worker. Mr. Bell is identified with the Piqua Busi- ness Men's Club, is treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association and belongs to the Spanish-American War Veterans, the Home Guards of America, the Golden Eagles and the Knights of Pythias.

C. ROY COPPOCK is a well known cit- izen of Pleasant Hill, Miami County, Ohio, and has charge of the correspondence of the Jesse Beery Company, of that place. He was born in Bradford, Newberry Town- ship, Miami County, Ohio, September 4, 1874, and is a son of Elwood and Sarah (Younce) Coppock, and a grandson of Benjamin Coppock.

Benjamin Coppock, the grandfather, was one of the early settlers of Miami County, and was located on a farm east of Ludlow Falls, in Union Township. He lived there until his death in 1890, and was buried at Union Cemetery, as was his

wife, who survived him some years. Her maiden name was Ester Mills and they had three children, two of whom are liv- ing, David M. and Elwood. Religiously they were members of the Society of Friends. He was a Whig in politics.

Elwood Coppoek was born at Ludlow Falls, Miami County, where he lived until after his marriage, when he moved to Bradford and conducted a shoe store. He remained there four years and then car- ried on the same business in the state of Arkansas. Returning north, he became a traveling salesman, at which he has since continued, being first located at Goshen, Indiana, and then at Logansport, Indiana, where he now lives. He is a Republican in politics. He was married to Sarah Younce, a daughter of David Younce, and they became parents of six children, as follows: Minnie, Lulu, C. Roy, Frank (de- ceased), Cado (deceased), and Ester (de- ceased).

C. Roy Coppock first attended school in Arkansas, then at Goshen, Indiana; Web- ster, Indiana; Fountain City, Indiana; Pleasant Hill, Ohio; Richmond, Indiana. In the meanwhile he learned sign painting, and the trade of a baker, which he followed for a time, and he also followed the insur- ance business. He engaged in selling sew- ing machines prior to accepting his pres- ent position with the Jesse Beery Com- pany, of Pleasant Hill. He served four years as city clerk at Pleasant Hill and proved a most efficient officer. He is a Republican in politics. October 29, 1903, Mr. Coppock was united in marriage with Miss Effie Whitmer, a daughter of John W. and Frances Bell Whitmer, and they have a pleasant home in Pleasant Hill. Fraternally he is a member of the Ma-

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sonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Junior Order United American Mechanics.

WILLIAM J. RAKE is a prominent farmer of Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio, residing just west of the cor- poration line of Piqua, on the Clayton pike. He was born almost directly across the road from his present farm, September 10, 1862, and is a son of Amos and Sarah (Keyt) Rake.

Amos Rake was born in Clinton, New Jersey, and was a son of William Rake, whose occupation was that of a farmer but who was sheriff and jailer in Clinton, New Jersey, for a period of thirty years. Amos was reared in his native community, and was there married to Miss Elizabeth Smith. Six children were the offspring of this union, of whom two are now living: Mary, wife of Jacob Gertner, of Piqua; and Nancy, wife of A. J. Brotherton, of Delphios, Ohio. With his family, Amos Rake moved to Miami County, Ohio, some time between 1850 and 1855, settling on a farm on the Washington pike in Washing- ton Township. His first wife died within a few years after their coming, and on March 7, 1870, he formed a second union with Miss Sarah Keyt, mother of the sub- ject of this sketch.

The Keyt family is an old and prom- inent one in Washington Township, and in Piqua. James Keyt, father of the wife of Amos Rake, and his brother, John Keyt, were masons here in the pioneer day's, and built many of the early brick houses. James Keyt was born in Elizabethtown, Essex County, New Jersey, and was a son of James Keyt, who was a carpenter and con- tractor in New Jersey, and met his death

by falling from a scaffold. The father of the latter was also named James, and was of English birth; he too met a violent death, being thrown from a horse and killed. James Keyt. father of Mrs. Rake, was married to Elizabeth Widney, Janu- ary 23, 1820, and his brother Jolm was married to her sister. Nine children were born to them, of whom two are now living: Mrs. Margaret Jane Lines, of Piqua ; and Mary Widney Keyt, who owns fifty-three acres of the old home place and lives with her nephew, William .J. Rake. Mrs. Keyt died in September, 1848, and James Keyt died in January, 1849.

Mrs. Sarah (Keyt) Rake, mother of the subject of this record, died in 1892, and was survived many years by her husband, who passed away in 1905. William J. Rake was reared in his native township, and has always followed farming. He is unmarried and resides with his annt. Mary Widney Keyt, whose place he also farms. He has in his possession a Bible bought by his grandfather. James Keyt, which is said to have been the first Bible bought in Miami County. He is a man of business ability and integrity, and is most highly estecmed by his many friends in the com- munity.

DAVID J. ROUTSON, a member of the Newberry Township School Board and a representative of a prominent old family of that township, is the owner of a fine farm of eighty-one acres, located where the C., H. & D. Railroad crosses the Piqua and Versailles pike. He was born on a farm across the road from his present home, February 13, 1867, and is a son of Renben and Catherine (Rhoadeheffer) Rontson.

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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY

Reuben Routson, who has never lived for a day off the farm across the road from that of the subject of this sketch, was born August 5, 1833, and is a son of George and Nancy (Able) Routson, both natives of Maryland. George Routson was married in Maryland in the spring of 1831, and immediately thereafter moved with his wife to Newberry Township, Miami Coun- ty, Ohio, where they settled on what has since been known as the Routson home place, located on the Piqua and Versailles pike, about six miles northwest of Cov- ington. Reuben Routson was the second of eight children born to his parents, of whom but four are now living. His father died at the age of fifty-two years, and his mother at eighty-eight. He was reared on the farm and learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed steadily for twelve years. He has since followed farm- ing on the home place, on which he built all the buildings now standing. He has seventy-four acres in this place, and is also the owner of a farm of 110 acres about three miles southeast of his home. He is a Democrat in politics, and served his township as trustee and assessor.

February 28, 1861, Reuben Routson was married to Kate Rhoadeheffer, who was born and reared in Montgomery County, Ohio, and when eighteen years of age ac- companied her parents, David and Mar- garet ( Apple) Rhoadeheffer, to Newberry Township. Ten children were born to them, namely: George W., who is county school examiner and lives at Troy; Mar- garet, wife of John Christian, a farmer of Darke County; Elizabeth, who died at the age of two years; David J .; Angeline Belle, wife of Henry Ballinger, a farmer of Darke County; Mary Jane, wife of

Amos Fessler; Sarah Ann, wife of Charles H. Miller, of Piqua; Ida May, wife of I. M. Apple, a saw-mill operator, of New- berry Township; Wesley S., who farms his father's farm north of Covington; and Suvilla Josephine, wife of Uriah Apple, a farmer of Newberry Township.

David J. Routson was reared on the farm on which his father still lives, and received a good public school education. He has always followed farming, and when he was married, set up housekeeping on the farm of 110 acres owned by his father and located three miles north of Coving- ton. He lived there ten years, then came to his present farm of eighty-one acres. He has a large brick house, which was erected by a Mr. Shafer as early as 1864. He is a Democrat in politics and is now serving his second year as a member of the School Board. He has always fol- lowed general farming and has been uni- formly successful. He is vice-president and treasurer of the Bloomer Telephone Company, and is a stockholder of the Still- water Valley Banking Company, and also a stockholder in the Piqua furniture factory.

Mr. Routson was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Apple, a daughter of Solomon Apple, who was a prominent farmer of the township and who died in 1900. Four children were born to this union : Meda, Inez M., Norma I., and Vesta E. Religiously they are members of the Lutheran Church, of which he lias been secretary for twelve years.

JOSHUA GRUBB, who resides on his well improved farm of 120 acres, which lies in Section 31, Newberry Township, one and one-half miles southwest of Covington, is

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one of the leading citizens of this part of Miami County. He was born October 23, 1844, on a farm in Newberry Township, one mile west of Covington, and is a son of John and Catherine (Walmer) Grubb, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, but were married in Miami County.

Joshua Grubb went to school and grew to manhood in Newberry Township. He was nineteen years old when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Com- pany F, 147th Regt., O. Vol. Inf., on May 1, 1864, and was stationed in West Vir- ginia and at Washington, D. C., until his term of enlistment was over, September 15th of the same year. He saw a large amount of the suffering caused by war, but escaped any personal injury, and after he returned home he resumed farming, which has been his main occupation. For seven years he was also interested in contracting, and built many pikes and house founda- tions in the county, living then at Brad- ford. In 1880 he bought his farm, on which he has resided ever since. It is excellent land, and is well improved and carefully cultivated.

Mr. Grubb married Miss Frances E. Cable, and they had two children, Bertha, who is the widow of Harry Bowers; and Audrey, who lives at home. Mr. Grubb was bereaved of his wife on July 24, 1908. She was a most estimable woman in every rela- tion of life. In politics Mr. Grubb is a Re- publican, and he has acceptably served as township trustee. He is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Masons.

DAVID ARNOLD, senior member of the well known business firm of D. Arnold & Son, dealers in lumber, cement, coal and

builders' supplies, at Bradford, Ohio, and also vice-president of the Bradford Bank, is a prominent citizen of this section, and is identified with its best interests of every kind. He was born on a farm located along Greenville Creek, in Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio, May 8, 1840, and is a son of John and Mary (Thompson) Arnold.

John Arnold was also born in Miami County, and was a son of David Arnold, who came to this section from South Caro- lina and obtained a deed to the Arnold homestead farm in Newberry Township, which bears the date of 1520. His grand- son and namesake possesses the deed, and also owns ninety-six acres of the farm. On this same farm the second David Arnold grew to manhood, leaving it for the first time when he enlisted in the service of his country on AAngust 12, 1861. He was a member of Company B, Forty-fourth O. Vol. Inf., during the whole of the war until January 5, 1865, when he re-enlisted at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. The in- fantry regiment was disbanded on account of having served its time out, and when it was reorganized it was as the Eighth Ohio Cavalry. He served in it until the close of all hostilities, and was mistered out with the rank of quartermaster sergeant, at Clarksburg. West Virginia, in August, 1865. During this long period Mr. Arnold performed every duty required like a good soldier, and his military record is one of which he may be proud.

When his military life was over, Mr. Arnold returned to the home farm and con- tinued agricultural pursuits until 1872, when he came to Bradford and entered into the lumber business. In succeeding years he enlarged the scope of his original inter-

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ests to inchide other commodities. and ad- his college course he became bookkeeper mitted his son to partnership, and has a very large plant at present, and gives em- ployment to a number of men. Since 1892 he has also been in partnership with Na- than Iddings in the grain business, and with Mr. Iddings organized the Bradford Bank, which they own.

In 1865 Mr. Arnold was married to Miss Mary Ross, a daughter of Samuel Ross, and they have had seven children, the three survivors being: Armina, who married Charles Weaver and has two children, Myrtle and Gertrude, the former being her grandfather's bookkeeper; John T., junior member of the firm of D. Arnold & Son, who married Ida V. Brant and has one son, Lawson; and Mary Gertrude, who married R. D. Hoover, a resident of Carnegie, Pennsylvania.

CHARLES F. PERKINS, one of the prominent young business men of Pleasant Hill, cashier of the Pleasant Hill Banking Company, of which he is one of the heav- iest stockholders, was born July 5, 1882, in Owen County, Kentucky, and is a son of George and Martha Ellen (Payne) Per- kins. The parents of Mr. Perkins were na- tives of Kentucky. and his mother still sur- vives and resides at Covington. His father died April 20, 1891. He was a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. To George Per- kins and wife three children were born: Walter, who died when aged eighteen months; Charles F .; and Elzie, who mar- ried Gertrude Smith, daughter of George Smith, of McHenry, Kentucky, and has one child, Iola.

Charles F. Perkins was educated in Owen County and the State University at Lexington. Immediately after completing

for a banking institution at Wheatley, Ken- tucky, where he remained for two years. From there he went into a bank at. Ghent, Kentucky, and was assistant cashier for two years, and then came to Pleasant Hill, in March, 1907. Mr. Perkins came here a stranger, and opened up his bank when al- most unknown, but he did not long remain so, for his square dealing and careful, con- servative methods soon appealed to both capitalists and the people at large, and a hearty support soon placed this financial institution among the leading ones of Miami County. He invested in property, showing his intention to make this town of pleasant name and environment his per- manent home, and now owns his own hand- some residence, together with three town lots. He has shown a hearty interest in public affairs, and during the recent local option campaign against liquor gave three weeks of his valuable time to presenting this issue to the people. In politics he is a Democrat.

Mr. Perkins was married November 27, 1907, to Miss Effie Roberts, a daughter of WV. A. Roberts, of Ghent, Kentucky. They are members of the Baptist Church. He is a member of Pleasant Hill Lodge, F. & A. M., of Pleasant Hill.

GEORGE E. KINNISON. a well known farmer and representative citizen of New- ton Township. Miami County. Ohio, is the owner of sixty acres of land in Section 26, Range 4, of that township. He was born in Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio, April 5, 1864, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Halderman) Kinnison.

George Kinnison was born in Virginia December 9, 1831, and was five years of

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age when he moved with his parents to Jackson County, Ohio. There he grew to maturity and lived until he was twenty- eight years of age, thien moved to the vicinity of Covington, in Miami County, Olio. Ile had a farm lying partly in New- berry and partly in Washington township, on which he lived until 1877, when he bought a sixty-acre tract in Newton Town- ship. Ile continued on the latter until 1900, then moved to the place where his widow now lives, about one-half mile south of Covington. Hle died there on May 9, 1909, and was buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Religiously, he was a member of the Christian Church. Ile was a Democrat in politics, and took an earnest interest in public affairs, but never dab- bled in politics. Mr. Kinnison was mar- ried in Jackson County, Ohio, to Miss Eliz- abeth Ilalderman, and they were parents of the following children : Clara, Mary F., Laura, George E., Emma, Rosa, Wesley, Myrtle, Ella, and one who died unnamed.

George E. Kinnison first attended what was known as White's schoolhouse, one mile cast of Covington; after six terms in that school, his parents having moved to Newton Township, he attended the Buck- cye school in that township. He next en- gaged in farming, working out by the month, until his marriage in 1884. when he moved onto a twenty-acre farm in Newton Township. Ile moved from that place in 1895 to the sixty acres on which he now lives, in the same township. He first lived in the old log house, which was built on the place by John Sloan at an early date, but more recently has occupied a fine new frame house which he erected. He also put up the other buildings on the place, and has made many other important improvements,

including the laying of 1,000 rods of tile for drainage. Ile is a Prohibitionist in poli- ties, and served three years as township trustee, as well as member of the school board at different times.

In February, 1884. George E. Kinnison was married to Mary J. Awker, a daughter of .. James and Malvina Awker. and they be- came parents of five childr. namely: El- mer, who married Blanche Niswonger, daughter of David and Nellie Niswonger, and has a daughter named Ruth; James; Clyde F .: Wilbert D., and Stephen. Relig- iously, they are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Kinison serves as finan- cial secretary of the church organization.

M. D. MYERS. who has been identified with the business interests of Bradford, Ohio, for almost forty years, is proprietor of a prosperous boot and shoe house enter- prise here, and has been connected with this line of industry ever since boyhood. Ile is one of the pioneer business men of the place. He was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. July 19, 1838, and is a son of Michael and Feronica (Deppler) Myers.

When Mr. Myers was two years old his parents moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where the father followed his trade of weaving. M. D. Myers did not adopt this trade, but before he was twelve years of age was learning the trade of shoemaking, and before he was eighteen years old ran a shop of his own. Hle then moved to Pleasant Hill, Miami County, Ohio. in the spring of 1856, where he worked at first for a shoemaker and then opened a shop of his own. One year later his parents joined lim, and it was in his home that his father died when aged ninety-four years. In the spring of 1870 Mr. Myers came to

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Bradford, and immediately started to erect the building in which he has carried on his business ever since. He has always been an active and public-spirited citizen, and ever ready to do his full share in advanc- ing the interests of Bradford, serving faithfully through a number of terms in the Town Council, and also on the School Board.

Mr. Myers first firmly established him- self in business before returning to Leb- anon County, Pennsylvania, to marry Miss Hannah L. Gingrich, a most estimable lady who had a wide circle of warm friends in Bradford. She died in February, 1908. There were seven children born to them, as follows: Ellen Catherine, who married Henry Miller, residing near Oakland. Darke County ; Matilda Alice, who married John R. Shaffer, residing at Olney, Illi- nois; Ulysses Grant, who resides in Iowa and is a shoemaker; George, a cabinet maker who resides at Bradford; Mary Olive, now deceased, who was the wife of Albert Klinger; Nora May, who is de- ceased; and Harry, who resides at Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Myers is an elder in the Pres- byterian Church, and in this religious body he has reared his children and hopes to see his thirty-three grandchildren united in the same faith. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

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Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio, Part 76

Author: Harbaugh, T. C. (Thomas Chalmers), 1849-1924, ed. and comp Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co Number of Pages: 882

Author: Harbaugh, T. C. (Thomas Chalmers), 1849-1924, ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 882