USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 78
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 78
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Jacob Reiber went to school in boyhood in Newton Township and then worked on the home farm until his marriage, in 1857, after which he settled on another farm in the same township, which he operated until he entered the army for service in the ter- rible Civil War. Mr. Reiber enlisted in 1863 in Company G, 110th Regt., O. Vol. Inf., in which he remained until he was honorably discharged in 1865. As evidence of the hard service he saw, Mr. Reiber has proofs on his own person. On May 5. 1864. when so many brave men fell at the battle of the Wilderness, five bullets left their cruel marks, four of these producing wounds which not only caused him months of intense suffering, but left him with a
disabled foot. Honorable as these injuries may be, gained as they were in loyal de- fense of his country, they were no less hard to endure, and make a claim on the sym- pathy and gratitude of his fellow citizens which should never be forgotten.
Upon his return home, Mr. Reiber was no longer physically able to engage in agri- cultural pursuits as formerly, and as his fellow citizens recognized this, they sought to find some mode of life for him in which, in his crippled condition, he could take his place in the world and in a measure enjoy the peace that he had fought and suffered to establish. He was appointed to fill out the latter part of the term of the first mayor of the town, a duty he efficiently performed, and then was twice elected township clerk, and in 1878 was made post- master at Pleasant Hill. This office he filled acceptably for six years. For the past twenty-seven years he has been a notary public, and has also been the local correspondent for a number of news- papers. Although debarred from much that would have been pleasant and profit- able to him, Mr. Reiber has led a most use- ful and exemplary life, and no one in Pleasant Hill is held in higher esteem.
On August 27, 1857, Mr. Reiber was mar- ried to Miss Maria C. Williams, who died September 24, 1905, and was laid to rest in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The five children born to this marriage were: Will- iam, who died May 6, 1864; Rosella J., who lives with her father; Arthur L., who is deceased; J. Warren, who lives in North Carolina; and Charles C., who resides at Marion, Indiana. He married Kittie E. Brandon, who is a daughter of Samuel H. Brandon, and they have one daughter, Treva Irene, Mr. Reiber's only grandehild.
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In his political sentiments he is a stanchi Republican, following in the footsteps of his father, and has never swerved in his allegiance. When seventeen years of age he united with the Christian Church, and lias remained a consistent member of this religions body.
CLOYD SMITH, a well known citizen of Piqua and county clerk-elect of Miami County, was born in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1872, and is a son of the late Dr. S. D. Smith.
Dr. S. D. Smith came to Piqna with his family in 1881, and was continuously en- gaged in the practice of medicine in this city until his death, in 1898. He had two sons, Ernest A. and Cloyd. The former is a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity and a Ph. D. of Johns Hopkins Uni- versity of Baltimore. He completed his studies at Oxford, England, and in Paris, and is an author of some note. He is a member of the faculty of Allegheny Col- lege, filling the chair of history and eco- nomies.
Cloyd Smith was nine years old when his parents came to Piqua, and he was edu- cated in the city schools. He first entered the local office of the Pennsylvania Rail- road, where he had four years of business training, after which he entered the em- ploy of the Favorite Stove and Range Company, being first in the office and later on the road, terminating a business conunce- tion of ten years' duration in 1906. Mr. Smith has been an active citizen, and in November, 1908, his party elected him county clerk, giving him a fine majority. Mr. Smith has a wide acquaintance, and possesses all the qualifications that will enable him to give acceptable service in
this position. In 1900 Mr. Smith was mar- ried to Miss Henrietta Brandriff, of Piqua, and they have two children, Augusta and Martha. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Green Street Methodist Episcopal Church, at Piqua.
SAMUEL YERTY, who resides on his well improved farm of twenty-eight acres, situated in Newberry Township. on the Stillwater turnpike road, about four miles northwest of Covington, orns a second farm. also located in section 12, which lies about one-quarter mile north, and is bor- dered by the Range Line road. Mr. Yerty was born February 26. 1835. in Newberry Township. Miami County. Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and Polly ( Ullery) Yerty.
Jacob Yerty was born in Pennsylvania. and there attended school and was trained as a farmer, not coming to Miami County until after his marriage. He subsequently became the owner of a quarter section of land in Newberry Township. and lived here until his death. He was thrice mar- ried. his first wife being Polly l'Hery, who died when her son Samuel was nine years of age. She was a half sister of Col. Ullery. formerly county commissioner of Miami County. To this marriage were born four sons and two danghters, and there are three surviving sons : Jacob and Daniel, twins, who were born October 12, 1825, of whom Jacob is deceased and Daniel ro- sides with his brother Samuel; and David and Samuel, who are twins. Jacob Yerty and his second wife, Esther, lived for many years in Newberry Township.
Sammel Yerty went to school in the neighborhood of his home, in his boyhood, later learned the carpenter trade, and has worked at that and at farming all his life.
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After his marriage, in 1859, he and wife went to housekeeping on a farm of 100 aeres in Shelby County, Ohio, which they then owned, but sold, and in 1865 he bought his eighty-acre farm in Newberry Town- ship, and put up substantial buildings there. Ile continued to live on that farm until 1890, when he came to his present place, where he has put all the buildings in fine shape, and has a valuable property and comfortable and attractive home.
On April 3, 1859, Mr. Yerty was married to Miss Savilla Rontson, a daughter of George Routson and a sister of Reuben Routson. To this marriage were born three children, namely: Miranda, who married William Keiser, who resides on and operates the eighty-acre farm, has two children-Otto and Leo; Charles, who mar- ried Lydia Fink, resides sonth of Bradford and they have two children-Ruth and Mary ; and Dolly, who is the wife of George W. Kester, a resident of Marion, Indiana.
JOHN F. CAVEN, whose magnificent farm of 456 acres lies just one mile nortlı- west of Fletcher, in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, was born on a farm just across the highway from his own property, in 1855, and is a son of George B. and Catherine (Simmons) Caven.
The grandfather, John A. Caven, came to Brown Township as a pioneer, and he cleared off the land, eighty acres of which has never since been out of the possession of the family, and he built the log house which stood on the place for many years, and was the birthplace of his son, George B. The grandfather died on this farm.
George B. Caven grew to manhood in Brown Township, inherited a large part of the family estate, and erected the present
comfortable farm dwelling and other build- ings, and at the time of his death he owned 430 acres of land. He lived on the farm until within a short time of his demise, which occurred after he had retired to Fletcher. He was a Democrat in his politi- cal opinions, and acceptably served in nu- merous township offices, for twenty-one consecutive years, being a trustee of Brown Township. He lived into honored old age, dying February 9, 1909. within six weeks of his eighty-first birthday. Ile married Catherine Simmons, a daughter of Peter Simmons, and they had five children born to them, as follows: Alice A., who is the wife of Willis Hill; John F .; Jane, de- deased, who was the wife of R. C. Morrow; Mary E .. who is the wife of George W. Sanders, of Fletcher; and Ruth, who is now deceased.
John F. Caven secured his education in the schools of Brown Township and of Piqua, after which he remained on the home farm for over a quarter of a cen- tury. In 1902 he came to his own property, where for several years he has done noth- ing more than oversee the large agricul- tural operations he has carried on, resid- ing in a very fine modern residence which he erected, with other structures, about the time he came here. Mr. Caven is numbered with the township's representative and substantial men. He has taken a hearty interest in public matters ever since attain- ing his majority, and as his landed inter- ests have been so large, his judgment has been very often consulted concerning town- ship improvements and like affairs. Fol- lowing his father's example, he has been a stanch Democrat, and on that ticket has been elected township trustee for the past eleven years, has served usefully on the
F. C. GOODRICH
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School Board, and has filled other town- ship offices.
Mr. Caven was married (first) to Flor- ence Berryhill, and they had two children: Maud, who is the wife of R. O. Brown; and Carrie J., who married Charles Wiles, and lives in Shelby County. Mr. Caven was married (second) to Nellie B. Moore, who is a daughter of J. B. Moore, a retired farmer living at Piqua, and they have two children : Herbert Milton and Martha Blanche. Mr. and Mrs. Caven are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church at Fletcher. He is identified with the Odd Fellows.
1. C. KISER, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Fletcher, and is a representative citizen of the place, is a member of one of the oldest settled fam- ilies in Brown Township. Dr. Kiser was born in 1873, in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Benjamin and a grandson of Isaac Kiser.
Isaac Kiser was the first white child born in Brown Township, and the whole of his long and useful life was spent here. which was prolonged to eighty-seven years. He was a man of prominence in this sec- tion, a leader in all public movements, the owner of 600 acres of land, and one of the township's capitalists. For many years he was justice of the peace, dividing honors with the late Justice Duncan, and together they handled all the early litigation.
Benjamin Kiser, father of Dr. Kiser, was reared on his father's farm in Brown Township, and the larger part of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. During the Civil War he served honorably as a member of Company C, Seventy-first Regt., O. Vol. Inf. He married Mary A.
Hetzler, and they had four children, namely: Ehmer, who is engaged in the meat business at Sidney, Ohio; Minnie, who is married and resides in Miami County; I. C., of Fletcher; and Foster, who is a student of medicine.
Dr. I. C. Kiser was reared ou the old homestead in Brown Township, and from the country schools entered the Ohio Nor- mal University at Ada, where he completed a literary course and also graduated în pharmacy, and then entered the Ohio Medi- cal University of Columbus, where he re- ceived his degree in 1897. Dr. Kiser imme- diately located at Fletcher, fitting up a convenient office on Main Street, and has built up a very satisfactory practice. He keeps fully abreast of the times, and makes use of the scientific methods which modern investigation have made possible and ad- visable.
Dr. Kiser was married to Miss Rose Saunders. In his political views he is a Democrat. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and for the past eight years has been treasurer of the latter or- ganization at Fletcher.
F. C. GOODRICII, who has been a resi- dent of Troy for a period of twenty-five years, is engaged in the practice of law. He was born at Sharon, in Noble County, Ohio, July 25, 1874, and was nine years of age when his parents moved to Troy. Ilis father, P. J. Goodrich, entered the real estate and insurance business in this city, and also was made grand master of records of the Knights of the Golden Eagle.
F. C. Goodrich attended the common schools at Sharon aud Troy, and afterward the Troy High School, of which he is a
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
graduate. He took the degree of A. M. at Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, in 1898, after which he took up the study of law. He studied in the offices of Judge H. H. Williams and Robert J. Smith, at Troy, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1900. He spent six months on the Western Coast, after which, in February, 1902, he opened his office for practice in Troy. In May following, he was appointed by Mayor J. O. Davis as city solicitor, and was twice elected to that office, first in 1903, and again in 1905, dis- charging its duties with marked ability for six years. He practices in all the courts of the State and enjoys high standing in the profession.
In June, 1903, Mr. Goodrich was mar- ried to Miss Eva M. Elder, who was born and reared in Troy, and for five years was deputy clerk of Miami County. They have two children, Stanley Webb and Lucy. Mr. Goodrich is a member of the First M. E. Church. Mrs. Goodrich and the rest of the family belong to the First Baptist. Mr. Goodrich is a member and past officer of the following orders: Troy Lodge, No. 43, I. O. O. F .; Concord Encampment, No. 23, I. O. O. F .; Troy Lodge, No. 833, B. P. O. E .; Trojan Lodge, No. 110, K. P .; Con- cord Castle, No. 43, K. G. E .; and Camp No. 5381, M .W. A .; and Troy Council No. 191, Jr. O. U. A. M. He is representative to the Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F.
URIAH S. APPLE, one of Newberry Township's substantial and representative citizens, resides on a farm of 162 acres, which he owns in partnership with his mother, which is situated in Section 1, about four and one-half miles northwest of Covington, was born on this farm De-
cember 14, 1875, and is a son of Solomon and Eve (Gebhart) Apple.
Solomon Apple was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, on the old Apple homestead, which is situated one mile north of Farm- ersville. That land was entered from the Government by Henry Apple when he came to Ohio from Pennsylvania. He was the great-grandfather of Uriah S., and when lie settled there his son, also Henry Apple, the grandfather of Uriah S., was two years old. Both the older and younger Henry Apple lived and died on that farm, and there Solomon Apple grew to man- hood. He married Eve Gebhart, a daugh- ter of George and Margaret (Weaver) Gebhart. Mrs. Apple was born and reared on a farm two miles east of Farmersville, Montgomery County. After marriage they lived for a year and a half in Montgomery County. and then moved to a farm in Darke County, on which they resided for twelve years and then sold. They then came to the present farm in Newberry Township, Miami County, but at that time it did not present the fine appearance that it does now. Mr. Apple began improve- ments, and in 1873 put up the present fine residence. During all his active years he carried on agricultural pusuits and was a careful and successful farmer. He died here March 28, 1900, when aged seventy years. He was a valued member of the Lutheran Church. The children born to Solomon Apple and his wife were: Mar- garet, who is the wife of Thomas E. Rout- son; George S., who is a farmer in New- berry Township; Henry D., who is also a farmer in this township; Catherine and an infant are deceased, the former dying at the age of twelve years; Sarah, who is the wife of David J. Routson; Amanda, who
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is the wife of Charles D. Rhoades; and Uriah S.
Uriah S. Apple has always lived on the home farm, and has never engaged in any line of business except farming. He was educated in the public schools, and is one of the township's intelligent and well in- formed men. He is a stockholder in the Stillwater Valley Bank. Mr. Apple mar- ried Miss Sevilla Routson, a daughter of Reuben Rontson and a sister of George W. and D. J. Rontson, representative citizens of this part of Miami County. Mr. and Mrs. Apple have had four children. the two survivors being Etoile and Neva. Leonard died when aged one year and one month, and the second born died in in- fancy. Mr. Apple and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
JOHN M. CAVEN, a representative of one of the oldest families of Miami County. resides on his valuable farm of 120 acres, which is situated about five miles east of Piqua. He was born on this farm in Spring Creek Township, Miami County. Ohio. December 9, 1848, and is a son of John and Casenath (Ross) Caven.
The founder of the Caven family in Miami County was the grandfather, George M. Caven, who came from Rocking- ham County. Virginia, and settled in Spring Creek Township, and the southern part of the tract that he secured over 100 Years ago has never been out of the C'aven name. This heritage has proven a rich one. and each successive Caven has in- creased the value of it. "The present owner of all but forty acres of the original farm prizes very highly the early documents concerning it, and has in his possession the old land warrant and the tax receipts bear-
ing the date of 1811. The name of George M. Caven appears in the carly county rep- ords of this section, proving that he was a man of considerable importance in his day. Ilis death occurred on this farm when he was in advanced age. Here his son, John C'aven, was born and died. He married C'asenath Ross, a daughter of one of the old settlers, and they had the following children born to them: G. Ross, Mary AAm, Sally, Margaret. John M. and Tensie, all of whom survive.
John M. Caven obtained his education in the common schools near his home, and all his interests have been centered in this see- tion. In addition to farming he has de- veloped a maple sugar industry, having a maple camp of 150 trees, which produce sap abundantly. Mr. Caven mannfactures his sugar in the old way, one that ensures it> purity, and he finds ready sale for all he can produce. The location of his farm is a very favorable one, and his land would bring as high a price, if offered for sale, as any in this section of Miami County. flo has never married. In his political attach ment he is a Republican. He is numbered with the township's substantial and repre- sentativo men.
JACOB MUSSELMAN. township trus- tee of Newton Township, and a stock- holder in the Pleasant Hill Banking Com- pany and the Stillwater Bank of Coving- ton, now lives retired on his excellent farm of eighty acres, which is situated in See- tion 22. Range 5, near the Troy and Pleas- ant Hill Turnpike Road. Ile was born in Washington Township. Montgomery County. Ohio, December 3, 1852. and is a son of John and Sarah (Smith) Mussel- man.
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
John Musselman was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and came from there to Ohio in early manhood. He set- tled nine miles south of Dayton, in Mont- gomery County, and from there came to Miami County in 1871, buying a farm of 142 acres on the Troy and Covington Turnpike, of the Williams heirs. He cleared a part of this farm and repaired the buildings and did a large amount of draining, putting his land in good condi- tion, and with other products, grew about four acres of tobacco a year. He was a large, robust man, weighing about 250 pounds, and for years prior to his death had been more of less afflicted with heart trouble. His death occurred December 21, 1907, and his burial was in the Covington Cemetery. He was a member of the Ger- man Reformed Church. In Montgomery County he married Sarah Smith, a daugh- ter of Philip Smith, and they had five ehil- dren : Jacob, Eliza Ann, Ellen, Emma Idella, and John F. Of these, Ellen is de- ceased. The mother of these children still resides on the old homestead.
Jacob Musselman attended school near Woodburn, in Montgomery County. He helped his father after coming to Miami County and remained at home for about seven years after his own marriage. He then came to his present farm, erecting a new house, a number of other buildings, including tobacco and cattle sheds, and repaired the barn, putting everything into fine condition. He cleared about six acres of the place, and' now and then has done a little draining, but his land has required a very small amount of special attention. Mr. Musselman now lives retired, having turned the active operation of the farm over to his capable son-in-law.
Mr. Musselman was married January 25, 1877, to Miss Missouri F. Whitman, a daughter of Edward and Mary Whit- man, and they have one daughter, Emma Idella, who married Mack Hawn. Mr. and Mrs. Hawn have two sons, Ralph E. and Paul M. Although no longer actively working his farm, Mr. Musselman finds plenty of occupation. His fellow citizens have frequently elected him to township offices, and he gives elose and careful at- tention to his official duties. Since 1908 he has been a trustee of the township, and formerly served with the greatest effi- ciency as superintendent of the turnpike. A long life spent mainly in the open air, has given him health and vigor, and Mr. Musselman could easily pass for a man many years younger than the age lie ae- knowledges.
PROF. JESSE BEERY, whose skill and reputation as a horse breaker and trainer is recognized all over this and many other counties, and whose School of Correspondence in Horsemanship, together with a number of appliances of his own in- vention, have made his name familiar all over the United States, was born June 13, 1861, at Pleasant Hill, Miami County, Ohio. His parents were Enoch and Mary (Hatfield) Beery, and his maternal grand- parents were George and Mary (Kneigh- ley) Hatfield.
The father of Prof. Beery was a sub- stantial farmer and resided on a farm east of Pleasant Hill, where he died in 1905, at the age of eighty-two years, and his burial was in the Pleasant Hill Ceme- tery. His wife had passed away in 1868, and she was laid to rest in the Sugar Grove Cemetery. They had six children: Min-
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nie, Lelene, Levi, Cassie, Jesse and Martha. Enoch Beery was a deacon in the German Baptist Church for fifty years.
Jesse Beery attended school at Pleasant Hill and Covington. He assisted his father on the home farm, but from boyhood took a greater amount of interest in the horses on the place than in the work of cultivat- ing the land, seeming to have a natural gift for controlling animals. This gift he recognized, and by exercising it, in- creased his power, and when little more than a boy, commenced to travel, exhibit- ing his powers as a trainer at fairs and expositions all over the country. For six- teen years he was on the road, visiting cities, towns and private grounds, and at all these places he found people who not only acknowledged and `admired his re- markable powers, but were anxions to learn his methods, and it was abont 1905 when he had more business than he could handle, wherever he went, that he decided to return to Pleasant Hill and found a school to teach others the art which came to him naturally. His course of instruc- tion covers every point of this great sub- ject, and he has satisfied students all over the country. In fact, Professor Beery is one of the few men who have presented the art and science of horse training to pupils in a practical manner, and this su- periority has been recognized.
Not only has Professor Beery given men and women the opportunity of learning how to train, rear and manage their own horses, but he has invented a number of appliances which he makes use of himself and offers to the publie, at most reason- able rates, which are almost a necessity for perfect success in controlling the spir- ited animals and desirable to use with the
most gentle. These appliances have cost Professor Beery much capital and years of experimenting, but they have reached perfection, and as they are protected by patents, they can only be procured from him. Among these may be mentioned : The sureingle, the knee pads, the foot straps, the safety rope, the throwing hal- ter, the double backband and crupper, the guy line and throwing strap, the free shaft carriers, the bellyband, the breeching and hip straps, all of these being arranged in groups numbered Nos. 1, 2 and 3, at prices most reasonable, while the whole set of appliances can be procured together for the very small sum of eighteen dollars. In addition to the appliances mentioned, sev- eral others have later been put on the market, which have met with ready sale, being recognized as almost indispensable to those who desire perfect safety with horses and at the same time do not wish to cause discomfort to spirited animals. These are the Four-in-one Beery Bit and the Pulley Breaking Bridle. Should Prof. Beery preserve all the letters he receives in praise of his inventions and system of teaching, he would be compelled to erect a warehouse to contain them. He is presi- dent of the Jesse Beery Company, of Pleasant Hill, a co-operative organization, the other officers of which are: A. J. Lan- ver, of Detroit, Michigan, vice-president : Charles F. Perkins, treasurer: C. Roy Coppock, secretary, and Prof. S. C. Mor- ton. He is also president of the Dayton Ageney Supply Company, of Dayton, in which he is a stockholder, and also owns stock in the Pleasant Hill Banking Com- pany.
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