USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 77
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 77
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JACOB WIDENER, deceased, formerly one of Covington's representative business men and highly esteemed citizens, was born at Covington, Ohio, September 22, 1845, and was a son of Jacob and Margaret (Fahnestock) Widener. Both the Widener and Fahnestock families came from Sax- ony, Germany, and a complete ancestral line, together with the old coat of arms, is
in the possession of the widow of the late Jacob Widener.
The first Jacob Widener, father of Jacob (2), was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1809, his father having come directly from Germany. In his earlier years, Jacob Widener worked as a tanner at Strasburg, Pennsylvania. In October, 1834, he was married at Lan- disburg, Pennsylvania, to Margaret Fah- nestock, and in the spring of 1836, with their oldest child, William Fahnestock, they made the journey to Ohio by wagon, and in the fall of that year settled near Covington, Miami County. Jacob Widener started into business first with a tin shop and later, after a period of official life, he embarked in a hardware business in which he continued until succeeded by his son. He was one of the charter members of the Christian Church which was organized at Covington in 1837. A Democrat, he was elected by that party first a justice of the peace and was later appointed postmaster of Covington under the administration of President Polk. Upon retiring from that office he was elected county recorder, and during that time lived at Troy, and in 1850 moved from there to Versailles, where he was a dry goods merchant and also conducted a tannery. In 1866 he re -- turned permanently to Covington, found- ing the hardware business at that time. His death occurred April 12, 1882, when aged seventy-three years.
Jacob Widener, the second, was reared in Miami County and attended school at Troy, Versailles and Piqua. He succeeded his father in the hardware business and conducted it until 1899, when he sold out and lived more or less retired from that time until his death on May 21, 1905, at
JACOB WIDENER
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the City Hospital, at Dayton, Ohio. He was a worthy and valued member of the Christian Church, in which he was a mem- ber of the choir for many years and he served for a like period as treasurer of the Sunday-school. Personally he was a man of many admirable and amiable quali- ties and he had a wide circle of friends. He was identified with the order of Odd Fellows.
On April 13, 1870, Mr. Widener was married to Miss Julia J. Birely, who was born at Lebanon, Ohio, and is a daughter of Joseph and Effie (Samson) Birely. To this marriage were born four children, namely: William B., born January 30, 1871, died in February, 1872; Manley B. and Stanley F., twins, born February 1,
1872, the latter living at Pomona, Cali- fornia, the former of whom lives at Chi- cago, Illinois; and Edna Lulu, born Sep- tember 24, 1879, who married William Conrad, a contracting and construction engineer. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad had one son, William Widener, who lived but six days. Manley B. Widener married Etoile Pat- terson. Stanley F. Widener married Min- nie Webb and they have one daughter, Catherine Lavinia.
ALBERT R. PATTY, junior member of the mercantile firm of Stahl & Patty, doing a large and satisfactory business at Brad- ford, was born on a farm in Adams Town- slip, Darke County, Ohio, February 22, 1877, and is a son of Finley H. and Lucinda (Jay) Patty. The former died in 1884, but the latter survives.
Albert R. Patty grew to manhood on the home farm, and attended the country schools. Later he spent several winters teaching school in Newton and Franklin
Townships, the former in Miami and the latter in Darke County, and then embarked in the mercantile business at Bradford, in partnership with J. W. Stahl. The firm began in rather a small way, but have grad- mally expanded until their stock includes dry goods, groceries, clothing and men's furnishings, and carpets, and they occupy a large amount of floor space and give em- ployment to a number of workers. Mr. Patty was married to Miss Essie Redinger, and they have one son, George Finley. Mr. and Mrs. Patty are members of the Pres- byterian Church, in which he is a deacon. In polities he is a Republican, and at pres- ent is serving in the office of city treasurer. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
W. A. MINTON, M. D., has been engaged in the practice of medicine at Bradford, Ohio, during the past twelve years, and lives on the Darke County side of the vil- lage. He is a son of Dr. W. II. II. Minton, who practiced medicine at this place for more than thirty-seven years.
Dr. W. Il. II. Minton was born in Day- ton, Ohio, August 13, 1837, and was a son of .William Minton. He attended the pub- lie schools of that city, after which he com- pleted a course in Miami University at Ox- ford, Ohio. He studied medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Belleville at Dayton, and first engaged in practice at Laura, in Miami County, Ohio. After several years at that point he moved to Bradford, where he continued in active practice for thirty- seven years. He was a man of wide ac- quaintance and high standing, and his death, which occurred May 7, 1909, was mourned as an irreparable loss to the com- munity. He was first married to Elizabeth Shellenberger, by whom he had three chil-
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
dren : Ellis S., Kitty, deceased, and Harry. He formed a second union with Miss Mar- garet Faulkner, and they became parents of four, as follows: Dr. W. A. Minton; Myrtle May, deceased; Paul B. Minton, D. D. S., who is in practice at Bradford; and Ida Ruth, an instructor in the fourth grade of the Bradford schools.
Dr. W. A. Minton was born in Bradford February 26, 1873, and was there reared to maturity. He attended the Bradford grade and high schools, graduating from the latter in 1891, then completed a preparatory course at Lebanon Normal School. He received his professional train- ing in Starling Medical College at Colum- bus, Ohio, and Louisville Medical College, receiving the degree of M. D. from the last named on March 6, 1894. He embarked in practice at Union City, Indiana, where he remained but six months, then opened an office in Bradford. He enjoys great popu- larity among the people, and has a good practice. He is a member of the Miami County Medical Society. The Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Jessie Darner, and they have a comfortable home in the village.
JOHN WORLEY, who owns and culti- vates a very valuable farm of seventy-five acres, which is situated in Newberry Town- ship, four and one-half miles northwest of Covington, was born July 9, 1857, in New- berry Township, Miami County, Ohio, on a farm three miles north of the one he owns. His parents were Aiken and Lydia (Fulker) Worley.
Aiken Worley was born in Shelby Coun- ty, Ohio, just across the line from Miami, where his father, John Worley, settled when he came very early to this section,
from Pennsylvania. After he grew to man- hood and married he moved across the line and settled on a farm about one-half mile from his old home, and cleared that farm and spent the remainder of his life on it. He acquired other land, and for- merly owned the farm on which his son, John Worley, resides, but never lived on it. His death occurred in 1890. He mar- ried Lydia Fulker, who was born in New- berry Township, Miami County, and died here in 1903.
John Worley remained at home until he reached manhood, during these years working for his father, and then went to work for others and engaged by the month, continuing to work in that way for about twelve years. He took possession of his present farm in January, 1885, and has carried on general farming here ever since. He found the place needed considerable improving, and in 1905 he erected his sub- stantial barn and also remodeled the house, making it both attractive and com- fortable.
Mr. Worley was married (first) to Miss Catherine Fesler, who died in 1893. He was married (second) to Miss Mary Mow- ery, who was born in Illinois and was five years old when her parents moved to New- berry Township, Miami County. They were Martin and Elizabeth (Ullery) Mow- ery. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother on a farm situated one- half mile east of Covington. They lived in Miami County for several years after coming from Illinois, the father engaging in farming in Newberry Township. He died in 1897 and was survived by his widow until April, 1902. Mrs. Worley is a member of the Progressive Brethren Church.
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
ALLEN COPPOCK, a highly respected citizen of Pleasant Hill, where he now lives retired from active pursuits, still re- tains his Newton Township farm and is one of the stockholders of the Pleasant Hill Banking Company. He was born March 14, 1838, in Newton Township, Mi- ami County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph C. and a grandson of William Coppoek. The Coppoeks were among the earliest Quaker settlers in this section of Miami County, and they have always been num- bered with the reliable and substantial people. William Coppock engaged in teaming and his wagons were operated be- tween Cincinnati and the outlying settle- ments. His home was at Ludlow Falls. He married Eunice Cotchran, and they had three children: Joseph, Susan and May. William Coppock died about 1812 and his burial was one of the first in the East Union Cemetery, a Friends' burying ground. His widow survived for many years.
Joseph C. Coppock was born in a log cabin which still stands near Ludlow Falls, Miami County, Ohio. He engaged in farm- ing after his first marriage, later moved to the old mill property near Pleasant Hill, after his third marriage, but in the interim had resided for some years with his son Allen. He died in June, 1896, and was in- terred in the East Union Cemetery. For a number of years he was justice of the peace. Joseph C. Coppock was married (first) to Sarah Jay, daughter of William Jay. She died in 1841, the mother of three chil- dren: William, Allen and Henry. Mr. Coppock was married (second) to Sarah (Aldrich) Conway. a daughter of Varnum and Margaret Aldrich, and two children were born to this union: Amanda and
Frank M. His third marriage was to Bi- anca Barrett, a daughter of Thomas Barrett.
Allen Coppock attended school until he was about twenty years old, first near the Quaker meeting-house and later the dis- trict schools, and completed his education at a well known educational institution on College Hill, Cincinnati. He assisted in operating the home farm after his return, until 1864, when he enlisted in Company A. 147th Regiment, Olio Volunteer Infan- try, and served four months as a soldier. He escaped all injury, and after his mar- riage, which took place in a short time, he settled down to farming one mile south of Pleasant Hill, in Newton Township, where he had 144 acres, which he operated until 1871. He then traded farms with his father, taking the old homestead, and there continued to live until 1898, when he re- tired to Pleasant Hill. Mr. Coppock is in the enjoyment of excellent health, and tak- ing advantage of his leisure, has done some traveling in recent years. On December 18, 1908, he made a very interesting and enjoyable visit to California, and during this trip spent two months at Santiago. two months at Los Angeles and also saw the sights of San Francisco, the city rising from its ruins, and on the way back home stopped over in Colorado and Salt Lake City. Such a trip is not only interesting but educational. He reached home April 16, 1909.
On June 21, 1865, Mr. Coppock was mar- ried to Miss Maria E. Furnas, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Furnas, and they have had the following children: Sarah. Joseph. Margaret, Fred D .. Jeddie Carl- ton, Mary Ethel, Allen B., Harry and Clarence C. Sarah married L. A. Kesler,
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
and has three children. Joseph married Ida Moler, a daughter of Ephraim Moler, and they have two children-Jay S. and Josie. Margaret married Omar Patty, and they have three children-Clarence, Jo- seph and William A. Fred D. married Mande Miles, a daughter of John and Susan Miles, and they have two children -Dorothy and Eugene. Jeddie Carlton married Zoe De Bra, a daughter of John and Mary Ann De Bra. She died October 29, 1905. He married (second) Bonnie Weaver, a daughter of John Weaver. Mary Ethel married Harry Brown, and they have one daughter, Margaret. Allen B. married Grace Dickey. Harry, born December 22, 1868, died August 10, 1870. Clarence C., born June 24, 1873, died March 15, 1879. Mr. Coppock joined the Masons in 1868 and has been identified with the Pleasant Hill lodge ever since. In political affiliation he is a Republican, but he takes no active part in campaign work. He is a member of Dan Williams Post, G. A. R., No. 369, Pleasant Hill.
JOHN CLARK HARSHBARGER, who comes of an old and respected family of Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, is engaged in general farming and lives upon and owns a farm of forty acres in Section 12. He will also be the owner of ninety- two acres at his mother's death, willed that way by his father. He pays his mother a dowry of one-third, which formed a part of the old homestead. He was born in this township, December 15, 1861, and is a son of George K. and Mary Ann (Sipes) Harshbarger.
George K. Harshbarger was born in Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, where his father was among the pioneer
settlers. He engaged in farming through- out his active life, and became the owner of a valuable property in Newton Town- ship. He died at Atwood, Illinois, in 1902, and is survived by his widow, who resides at Pleasant Hill. They were parents of two children : Mina, and John Clark Harshbarger.
John C. Harshbarger attended the pub- lic schools in Newton Township and as- sisted his father in the work on the farm, a part of which he helped to clear. After his marriage he set up housekeeping on the ninety-two acres of the home place his mother now owns and lived there for twen- ty-one years, at the end of which time he moved to his present farm. He is engaged in general farming and tobacco raising, having about three acres in the latter prod- net. He is a Republican in politics, and served one year as road supervisor. Feb- ruary 5, 1887, Mr. Harshbarger was united in marriage with Effie Carey, a daughter of Stewart Carey, of Newton Township, and they have two sons, Ira and Alonzo. Religiously they are members of the Christian Church of Pleasant Hill.
WILLIAM J. McKNIGHT, owner of eighty-six acres of valnable land in Miami County, Ohio, located about five miles northeast of Piqua, has been living on his present farm since 1872 and is well known in that vicinity. He was born in Shelby County, Ohio, August 18, 1837, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Wiley) Mc- Knight, and a grandson of Samuel Mc- Knight, who came from Ireland to the United States and settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was William Wiley, who was a native of
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County Firmanagh, Ireland, and came to Miami County, Ohio, from Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, where he had lived some years. Joseph MeKnight moved from Shelby County, Ohio, to Miami County, in 1867, and settled on a farm in Spring Creek Township, where he lived until his death.
William J. MeKnight received his educa- tional training in the public schools of Shelby County, and after leaving school helped in farming the home place. After a time he moved to Miami County, where he remained a couple of years, then re- turned to Shelby County, where he lived until 1872. He again returned to Miami County in that year and purchased his present farm of eighty-six acres in Spring Creek Township. He followed general farming until recent years. but is now liv- ing practically in retirement, renting his farm ont by fields.
Mr. MeKnight was first married to Eliz- abeth N. Bull, who died in 1869, and they had three sons: Joseph T., who married Mattie Whitlock and lives in Chicago; William R., who married Anna' Hutchin- son and lives in Columbus, Ohio; and Ed- win E., who first married a Mrs. Bradford, and second Miss Anna Dover. William J. McKnight formed a second marital union with Miss Mary Morrow, a daughter of James Morrow, of Shelby County, and they became parents of three daughters : Leota, who lives at home; Minnie, wife of Ward Simmons; and Mary Lilly, who also lives with her parents. Politically he is a Prohibitionist, and has served as road su- pervisor. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church and formerly served as one of its trustees. He is a progres-
sive citizen and is held in high esteem by his many acquaintances.
S. G. MCKNIGHT, a prosperous farmer, of Spring Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, owns and resides upon a splendid farm of eighty acres, and is also owner of another tract of 160 acres, lying about a fourth of a mile east of his home. He was born in Orange Township, Shelby County, Ohio, September 29, 1848, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Wiley) Me- Knight, and a grandson of Samnel Me- Knight, who came to this country from County Down, Ireland.
Joseph MeKnight was reared and edu- catel in Pennsylvania, and was young at the time of his father's death. After mar- riage he rented what is known as the Mil- ler farm in Miami County, Ohio, and worked it one year and then went to Shel- by County, Ohio, and settled on 160 acres which he secured from the Government. In October, 1867. he moved back to Miami County to take care of his brother John, who owned the eighty-acre farm which now belongs to the subject of this sketch in Spring Creek Township. At the time of his death, February 9, 1875, he still re- tained 120 acres of the farm in Shelby County which he had purchased from the Government. He married Mary Wiley, a daughter of William and Mary Wiley, who came to this country from County Firma- nagh, Ireland, and settled in Mifflin Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, where Mrs. McKnight was born. They later moved to near Pi- qua. Ohio. Seven children were the issue of this union, as follows: One who died in infancy ; Sarah Jane, who lives with her brother, S. G. MeKnight, and is the widow of D. K. Gillespie; W. J., who lives four
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
miles southeast of the subject of this rec- ord; Mary Ann, who died at the age of twelve years; Margaret B., deceased wife of Joseph Wead, of Shelby County, the year of her death being 1892; Maria L., who died in 1892; and S. G.
S. G. McKnight attended the district schools in Shelby County, after which he enrolled at the State Normal School at Leba on, Ohio. Upon leaving school he taught one term and then assisted his father in the work on the home farm. Since coming to Miami County he has al- ways resided in Spring Creek Township, where he is widely known. He bought his home farm of the Foreign Board of Mis- sions of the Presbyterian Church, and the 160 acres included in the other farm he purchased from his uncle's estate. Po- litically Mr. McKnight is a Prohibitionist, and was at one time township supervisor. He is a member of the local Grange, Pa- trons of Husbandry. Religiously he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
J. C. SUBER, who is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at Fletcher, has been interested in this line for a longer period than any other dealer in Brown Township, and controls the larger part of the trade in this section of Miami County. Mr. Suber was born in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, on a farm six miles northeast of Fletcher, No- vember 19, 1858, and is a son of William D. and Mary A. (Caven) Suber.
William D. Suber was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and was brought to Miami County when four years of age. He grew to manhood in Brown Township and acquired the farm which his widow still
owns. He died on that place in February, 1889. He married Mary A. Caven, a daughter of J. and Arsinath Caven, resi- dents of Spring Creek Township, and they had five children, namely: J. C., Ora, George, and two who died in infancy.
J. C. Suber attended the Lena and Con- over schools during six years of boyhood, and then took up hard work on the home farm and remained with his father until his marriage. In 1880 he rented a farm for himself and continued to reside in Miami County until he came to Fletcher, with the exception of a period of eighteen months, when he lived in Champaign County. Mr. Suber began business here in a modest way, starting in one room, the dimensions of which were 13x45 feet. He very soon found it necessary to increase his facilities and gradually to still further increase them until he now occupies the largest concrete block building in the county. This modern building he erected in 1908, taking possession in August of that year. Its dimensions are 321%x50 feet, with cellar underneath and three stories in height. He also utilizes a frame two-story building with dimensions of 33x45 feet, with cellar. He carries a full line of household furniture and he gives special attention to undertaking, having every equipment for the business, includ- ing caskets, car and ambulance. Mr. Suber received his license as an embalmer from the Board of Embalmers of Toledo in 1905. In addition to his other lines, he has dealt also in coal and cement for some fifteen years. He is one of the representative business men of this section.
In 1879 Mr. Suber was married to Miss Sarah P. Carmony, who died May 16, 1896. Two children were born, one of whom died
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in infancy, a daughter, Bertha, surviving. Mr. Suber was married (second) October 25, 1898, to Miss Margaret Thompson, who died May 10, 1906, survived by one son, William. Mr. Suber's third marriage was on July 31, 1907, to Mrs. Ella Robi- son. Since he was fourteen years of age Mr. Suber has been a member of the Pres- byterian Church and has lived consistently with his profession, since 1883 being one of the elders. In polities Mr. Suber is a Demoerat and has served several years as elerk of Brown Township. In 1884 he ยท identified himself with the Odd Fellows, and in 1887 with the Knights of Pythias, being a charter member of the latter lodge at Fletcher.
GEORGE S. APPLE, owner of two fine farms in Newberry Township, Miami County, one of sixty-seven aeres, on which he lives, and the other containing 105 acres, situated one-quarter mile west, both being in Section 11 and about four and one-half miles northwest of Covington, is one of the substantial and representative men of this township. He was born Sep- tember 27, 1857, on a farm in Darke Conn- ty, Ohio, and is a son of Solomon and Eve (Gephart) Apple.
The Apple family was established in Montgomery County, Ohio, by the great- grandfather, Henry Apple, who came from Pennsylvania at a very early date. At that time the grandfather. also Henry Ap- ple, was a child. He spent his life in Mont- gomery County, and there his son, Solo- mon Apple, was born and lived until after his marriage to Eve Gebhart. She was reared in the same vieinity. Abont one year after marriage they moved to Darke County, where they lived for twelve years.
and then came to Newberry Township, Mi- ami County, settling on the farm now jointly owned by the mother and youngest brother of George S. Apple, in March, 1865. Solomon Apple died March 28, 1900, aged seventy years.
George S. Apple was about eight years old when his parents brought him to New- berry Township, and he has continued to live here ever since. His life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits. Just after he married he settled on his farm of 105 acres, which he cultivated and lived on until July 31, 1907, when he moved to his smaller farm. In that summer he built his present fine frame residence and made many other substantial improvements.
On September 25, 1881, Mr. Apple was married to Miss Amanda Johnson, who was born in Champaign County, Ohio, a daughter of Wilson and Nancy (De Camp) Johnson. Her father was a farmer and died on his farm in Champaign County when she was young, her mother having died when she was only seven years of age. When twelve years old she came to Newberry Township and lived with her sister, Mrs. Hester Hartle, until her mar- riage. Mr. and Mrs. Apple have two chil- dren: Perry, who lives on his father's larger farm, married Maud Ollinger; and Bertha, who remains at home with her parents. Mr. Apple and family belong to the Lutheran Church.
JACOB REIBER, notary public and newspaper correspondent, residing at Pleasant Hill, has acceptably filled a non- ber of the public offices in this section, and is an honored veteran of the Civil War and a member of the Dan W. Williams Post No. 369, G. A. R., at Pleasant Hill. Mr. Reiber
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
was born in Perry County. Pennsylvania, September 1, 1836, and is a son of John and Mary (Fenical) Reiber.
John Reiber was born May 26, 1811, in Perry County, Pennsylvania, and in April, 1837, came to Newton Township, Miami County, where he worked at the blacksmith trade until 1849, after which he engaged in "arming until the time of his death, April 18, 1872. His place of burial was the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. He was married (first) to Max: Fenical, June 4, 1835. a daughter of John and Susan Fenical. and there were four sons and three daughters born to this union, namely : Jacob, the only survivor; and Peter, William F., .Joseph, Susanna, Margaret I. and Sarah J. The mother of these children died February 23. 1865, and her burial was in the Sugar Grove Cemetery. John Reiber was mar- ried (second) to Sarah Katherine Cathron, a daughter of George and Julia Inman. She died in 1889, without issne. For thirty- five years John Reiber was a deacon in the Christian Church.
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