USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 79
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 79
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On December 25, 1889, Prof. Beery was married to Miss Meda Coppock, daughter
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of Hon. D. M. Coppock, mayor of Pleasant Hill, and they have four children, Ray, Ruth, Beecher and Lura. The two older children are students in the Pleasant Hill High School, Miss Ruth also having her musical talent developed. Prof. Beery is a deacon in the Pleasant Hill Christian Church. In politics he is a Republican and he has served in the Town Council and on the School Board.
CHARLES MORTON, who condnets a prosperous business at Fletcher in the farm implement line, owns a valuable farm of 108 acres, on which he resides, in Brown Township. He was born January 10, 1862, in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Samnel and Hannah N. (Bowne) Morton. The late Samuel Morton, whose sudden death from heart trouble occurred in 1897, was one of Miami County's most respected citizens. He was born in New Jersey, and came to this part of the country in his youth and spent his entire life here. He married Hannah N. Bowne, and they had three children-Ellen, William and Charles, the latter being the only survivor.
Charles Morton was educated in the public schools of Lost Creek Township and was a very apt pupil, graduating when six- teen years of age. He then became his father's helper on the home farm and lived there until his own marriage, when he pur- chased his present farm and in addition to cultivating it, carries on an excellent business in all kinds of farm implements. In 1886 Mr. Morton was married to Miss Irene Boyd, a daughter of J. A. Boyd, and they have three children, Eva Jane, Will- iam Edson and Hannah M. Mr. Morton takes a good citizen's interest in public
matters, but he has never consented to ac- cept township office, although particularly well qualified for the same. He casts his vote with the Republican party. Frater- nally he belongs to the Masons and the Knights of Pythias.
THOMAS M. LOUGHMAN, a repre- sentative farmer of Spring Creek Town- ship, residing 'on a well improved farm of thirty-nine acres, located about four and a half miles east of Piqua, was born January 28, 1536, on a farm in Brown Township, near Fletcher, Ohio, and is a son of Henry and Ruth (Martin) Lough- man.
Henry Longhman was a native of Vir- ginia, where he was reared and educated, later moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged for a time in teaming, after which he moved to Miami County, and here purchased a traet of land one and a half miles south of Fletcher. Here he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, due to accident, caused by a team of runaway horses. He married Ruth Martin, a native of Kentucky, and to them was born one son. Thomas M., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Louglan subse- quently married a Mr. Byers, by whom she became the mother of six children.
Thomas M. Loughman spent his boy- hood days on his father's farm in Brown Township and attended the local schools. after which, when about fourteen years old, he began learning the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for a number of years, building the first house in Con- over, and the first balloon frame in Fletcher. He later gave up carpentering. traded the home place for land in Iowa. and this he traded for his present farm of
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thirty-nine aeres in Spring Creek Town- ship. Here Mr. Loughman has since re- sided, and in 1865 entered the threshing business, which he followed for a period of thirty-eight years in connection with his farming interests. He is now living in retirement, in the enjoyment of a well- earned rest, after years of unceasing aetiv- ity, the farm being under the management of his son. About 1895 Mr. Longhman suffered a considerable loss by fire, after which he erected all the present build- ings on the farm, including the commodi- ons frame residence.
Mr. Longhman was first united in mar- riage with Elizabeth Hetzler, after whose death he married Elizabeth Baltzell. a daughter of Christopher and Mary Ann Baltzell, farmers, of Mercer County, Ohio. Eight children were born of this second union : Mina Belle, married John Man- son, of Tippecanoe, Ohio: Callie F .. mar- ried John Brose. of Sidney. Ohio: Daniel. a resident and smoke inspector of Dayton, Ohio. married Susan Ridenour : Rose, mar- ried J. Meacham, of Piqua; Jennie, re- sides at home; Omer T .. a resident of Fletcher, cultivates the home farm, and married Jennie Lane: Lula. married John Hance, of Louisville, Kentucky; and Bertha, who married M. Duer, lives three miles northeast of Fletcher.
Mr. Loughman and family attend the First Presbyterian Church. He is polit- ically identified with the Democratic party ; was for eight years township trus- tee and for the same period was a member of the Election Board. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows. ·
JACOB CASSEL. a highly respected retired farmer, residing in a comfortable
home at Bloomer, Miami County, was born in Concord Township, Miami County, Ohio, one and one-half miles west of Troy, No- vember 18, 1840, and is a son of John and Lydia (Hlittle) Cassel.
John Cassel was born in Pounsylvania, but he married in Ohio. He was a farmer, and during the boyhood of his son Jacob moved to Ilinois and bought a farm in Sehuyler County. He died there three years later, and in 1850 his widow re- turned to Ohio with her children, settling near Greenville, in Parke County, where she passed the remainder of her life.
AA fatherless boy often has a youth filled with many hardships, and in this case Jacob Cassel was no exception. When thirteen years of age he was bound out to his half-brother, who was a farmer in Darko County, and Jacob worked there for seven years for the sum of $150. When his term of bondage was over he started out for himself and soon was independent. working for many different farmers all over the township and even in other coun- ties. On March 5. 1861, he was married to Miss Hester Moist, who was born in Montgomery County. Ohio, where she lived nutil she was twelve years old. At that time her parents. Abram and Rachel (Ziegler) Moist, moved on a farm situated southwest of Covington. and later retired to Pleasant Hill, where his death took place some years later. Mr. and Mrs. Cas- sel have two children : Angeline and Charles. Angeline married Charles Ilill, and they live in Washington Township, Miami County. They have two children : Edith and Sylvia. Charles is the overseer of 590 acres of farm land belonging to the Shaker settlement, east of Dayton. He married Martha Hile, now deceased, and
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their one daughter, Mabel, lives with her grandparents.
Formerly Mr. Cassel owned eighty acres of farm land on the separating line be- tween Shelby and Miami Counties, on which he lived for twenty years. He sold that farm in February, 1898, and then re- tired to Bloomer, purchasing the place there formerly owned by his son-in-law. Subsequently Mr. Cassel bought thirty acres, located north of Bloomer, and this he retains. He and his wife are members of the Progressive Brethren Church, a branch of the Dunkard body.
MORGAN LEONARD, a retired farmer living on his valuable farm of fifty acres, which is situated in Section 13, Range +, Newton Township, is one of the repre- sentative citizens of this section, having served in the most important township offices and for the last eight years been a member of the Board of Trustees. He is also an honored veteran of the Civil War. He was born March 30, 1845, in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Renben and Elizabeth (Airgood) Leonard.
The parents of Mr. Leonard spent their lives in Pennsylvania. They had ten chil- dren: Thomas, Milo, Morgan, Elizabeth, Scott, John, Samuel, Alva, Jersey and Jane. Reuben Leonard and wife attended the Dunkard Church. He was a strong Republican and his son remembers that he frequently sent his boys out on elec- tion day to remind voters of their duty to come to the polls.
Morgan Leonard attended school at Oakland Mills, Juniata County, and then went into the railroad shops. He later went out on the road as a brakeman, be- came a fireman and later was an engineer
and was serving in that capacity when he entered the army as a member of Com- pany A, Eighth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. He was in the service for eighteen months, and during this time was wounded seri- ously three times and was so incapacitated that he was obliged to retire from the service. It was a long time before he re- gained his health, and for three years he worked as a silversmith, with his father- in-law at Covington, where he continued to live after his marriage until he came to his present farm. Of this he cleared forty acres and drained 850 rods, putting down tile. He also put up all the substantial buildings and made all other improve- ments and carried on a general line of agricultural work until he retired. He is a leading Republican in this section and lias taken an active part in public mat- ters. For eight years he served as super- visor of Newton Township and has been a trustee for the same length of time. At times he has served in other capacities, always with good judgment and a fit rec- ognition of responsibility. On one occa- sion he was kept away from home for six weeks while serving on a United States jury, at Cincinnati, and on several other times has served on the grand jury at Troy.
Mr. Leonard was married March +, 1864, to Miss Matilda Varner, a daughter of Daniel G. and Mary Varner, and they have had eight children, namely: Daniel G., deceased; Reuben, who resides at home; Elizabeth, deceased; Alva, who married Jessie Hoffman; Belle, who mar- ried John Marshall, of Darke County, and has two children-Ray and Ira; Annie, who married Irwin Shell, and has one son, Harley; Irwin, who lives at home; and
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Minnie, who is the wife of Silas Silvers. Mr. Leonard and family attend the Dunk- ard Church. He is a valued member of the Dan W. Williams Post, G. A. R., No. 369, at Pleasant Hill, of which he has been vice-commander for several years.
C. O. YOUNG, V. S., who conduets his veterinary hospital and boarding stables at No. 419 Caldwell Street, Piqua, is one of the leading men in his profession in this seetion of Miami County. Dr. Young was born in 1878, at Sidney, Ohio, and he was reared and educated in Shelby County. When sixteen years of age Dr. Young be- gan to work in a drug store and during his three years in his first position he laid the foundation for his future professional ca- reer. He was connected with the whole- sale drug business at Indianapolis, Indi- ana, for one year, going from Fletcher, Ohio, where he had been living, and then returning to the home farm for three years. He completed his knowledge of drugs during a subsequent period of five years in the business at Toledo, Ohio, and then prepared to make a practical use of it, and at the same time entered the To- ronto Veterinary College, at Toronto, Can- ada, thereby entering into a profession for which he had a natural inclination from early youth. He was graduated in 1908, and on April 18th of that year lo- cated at Piqua. His hospital is scientific- ally fitted up and his success is assured, many of the owners of valuable horses and stock in this section gladly availing them- selves of his knowledge and skill.
In August, 1898, Dr. Young was mar- ried to Miss Edith L. Rhodecker, of Sid- ney, and they have one daughter, Mayme V. Dr. and Mrs. Young attend the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias.
C. II. DAGEMAN. a representative citi- zen of Spring Creek Township. residing on a tract of thirty-five acres located about six miles southeast of Piqua, was born March 19, 1846, on a farm near Sharonville, Ilam- ilton County, Ohio, and is a son of Chris- tian and Eliza (MeCollough) Hageman.
Christian Hageman was born and reared in Hamilton County, Ohio, where during his early life he worked at the blacksmith trade, but spent his later years engaged in agricultural pursuits. Although his entire life was practically spent in Hamilton County, his death occurred in Troy, Miami County. He was first united in marriage with Eliza MeCollough, who was born in Hamilton County, where she died aged forty-six years. They were the parents of the following children: Henrietta, who resides in Butler County, Ohio: Melissa, deceased ; (. Il., the subject of this record ; Levy, deceased; Mary. deceased; and Al- bert. who resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. His second marriage was with Deborah Hage- man, of Warren, Ohio, and her death of- ourred in Miami County.
C. H. Hageman received his education in the local schools of Hamilton County. after which he worked out until he became of age, and then took up carpentering, at which he worked for a period of twenty- two years. He then conducted a bakery at Piqua for three years, and in 1894 located on his present farm, where he has since practically lived a retired life, but it is his intention to cultivate his farm this season.
Mr. Hageman was first joined in wed- lock with Caroline Vance, and of their union was born one child, Francis, a resi-
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dent of Lima. Ohio, who married Allie Craft and has three children, Charles, Ernest and Francis. Our subject's second marital union was with Helen Williams, of Dayton, and he subsequently married Lanra Brandenburg, who was born in Miami County and is a daughter of Cor- nelius Brandenburg, who came to this county from Maryland, as did her mother also. Mr. Hageman is politically identified with the Democratic party; he was for three years a member of the School Board. and served for a time as supervisor. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Troy.
WILLIAM II. DRIVER. residing on his well-improved farm of eighty acres, situ- ated on the Gettysburg turnpike road, in Newberry Township, two and one-half miles west of Covington and one and three- quarters miles east of Bradford, was born in York County, Pennsylvania, January 29, 1857. Ilis parents were Moses and Angeline (Ginter) Driver.
In 1862 the parents of Mr. Driver came to Miami County and stopped first at Cov- ington and soon after the father bought what was known as the Two-Mile House, a popular public house at one time. Although lie owned this property, he never conducted it, but devoted himself to farming, owning some sixty-five acres of land. He lived for about a year at the Two-Mile House. then bought a farm on the Iddings turnpike road, which became the family home. After some years he moved with his wife to Cov- ington, where he lived retired until his death, October 31, 1898. His widow then went to live with a daughter, Mrs. Mina Dunham, at Greenville, Ohio, and died there in Angust. 1905.
William II. Driver was reared to man- hood in Newberry Township, being aged five and one-half years when his parents came here. For some fourteen years Mr. Driver engaged in a dairy business, but for the past seven years he has confined himself to general farming. For nine years after his marriage he operated his farm of eighty acres in Newton Township. It is a historie place, the old Dorman farm, east of Circle Hill, and Mr. Driver resided there for nine years, coming to his present place on April 9, 1891. The comfortable residence is a fine old brick mansion.
Mr. Driver was married September 13. 1877. to Miss Mary E. Dohner, who was born and reared in Union Township. Her parents were Moses and Anna Doher. Mr. and Mrs. Driver have seven children. namely: Harry, who resides at Bradford, where he is employed as inspector of re- pairs for the Pan Handle Railroad, mar- ried Hattie Thompson, and they have two children-Lawson and Robert; Warren, who is employed in the Pan Ilandle shops at Bradford. married Mabel De Weese and they have one child, Grace: Moses, who resides in the Dominion of Canada, mar- ried Letha Enyart: Sylvia, who resides in Canada: Ella, who is a graduate of the Covington High School: Bertie, who like her sister, is a graduate of the High School; and Caris, who is still pursuing his studies in the Covington High School. Mr. Driver and family are members of the Brethren iu Christ Church.
T. B. WHEELER, one of Troy's leading- business men-vice-president of The Allen & Wheeler Company, extensive dealers in grain and leaf tobacco-has been a resi- dent of this city for the past forty-three
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years. He was born in Massachusetts in 1536.
Vir. Wheeler obtained his education and secured his first business experience in his native state. from which he came to Troy in 1866. immediately entering into partner- ship with H. W. Allen in the flour and grain line, under the firm name of Allen & Wheeler. The firm dealt only in these com- modities until 1892, when leaf tobacco be- rame an additional produet handled, one which has assumed great importance in the present business. In 1904 incorporation papers were taken out, and the business has since been conducted as The Allen & Wheeler Company, with H. W. Allen as president and T. B. Wheeler as vice-presi- dent.
In 1867 Mr. Wheeler was married to Miss Mary R. Smith, who is a step-daugh- ter of HI. W. Allen, and they have three children. namely: Leonard A., who is a member of The Allen & Wheeler Com- pany; Lneia M., who is the wife of Dr. J. A. Hall, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Ellen Dean, residing at home. Mr. Wheeler is a member of the Troy Club. While not particularly active in polities, he is recog- mized as a good citizen. one whose efforts have always been directed to promoting movements for the common good.
SAMUEL MURRAY, deceased, was once one of the prominent farmers of New- berry Township, and resided on a valiable property situated about one mile southeast of Covington. on the Troy turnpike road. Ile was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, and was a son of David and Elizabeth (Kimmel) Murray.
When Sammel Murray was about seven years of age his parents moved from Mont-
gomery County to Miami County, and set- tled on a tarm in Newberry Township, ad- joining the one later owned by Samuel Murray, and which is now the home of his widow. From boyhood he was trained in habits of industry and thrift, and he grew to manhood with all the knowledge neces- sary to make him an excellent farmer. Hle married Mary Shellebarger in 1551, and she still survives, having reached her eighty-third birthday, having been born January 24, 1826, in Pennsylvania. She was five years old when her parents, Ja- cob and Hannah (Mohler) Shellebarger, brought her to Miami County. The Shelle- bargers settled on the farm on which Se- bastian Holfinger now lives, and Jacob Shellebarger entered that land from the Goverment. cleared it up and erected there his log House. In that home Mrs. Murray grew to womanhood. After mar- riage, Samuel Murray and wife first went to housekeeping on a farm situated on the Piqua turnpike road, later removing from there to the farm on which Samuel Murray lived until the time of his death. which ovenrred on November 10. 1595, when he was aged sixty-seven years. Ilo was a very industrions man ; not only understood all kinds of agricultural labor, but he learned brickmaking, and made the briek that went into the construction of the pres- ent brick residence. Mr. Sammel Murray was a prominent man in the Dunkard Church, and was a minister for many years, and finally ordained as an elder.
There were eight children born to Sam- nel Murray and his wife, three of whom- Amelia, Martha and Hannah-died in in- laney. The survivors are: Owen, who ro- sides on a part of the home farm; Mrs. Catherine Cover, who lives in Modesta
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County, California; Mrs. Emma Gibbon, whose home is in Artesia, California; Charles; and Mrs. Ella Colbert, who lives at Whittier, California.
Charles Murray, the younger son of the late Samuel Murray, was born on the pres- ent farm March 22, 1869, and he has al- ways been a farmer. He was married (first) to IIettie Warner, who died without issue. He was married (second) to Lydia Beaver, who was born and reared in Shelby County, a daughter of Grant and Alice (Smith) Beaver. They have one son, Sam- uel Lester. This family belongs to the old order of Dunkard, or German Baptists. This religious body dates back to 1708, and was founded in the United States in 1723-4. In the passage of years divisions have come into the original order, but the Mur- rays are still faithful to the old tenets re- quiring simplicity of life and deportment.
ALVA E. DICK, one of Elizabeth Township's representative business men and active citizens, who is serving in his fourth year as township assessor. was born March 24, 1871, at Miami City, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Robert and Snsan (Drury) Dick.
John Diek, the grandfather of Alva E., married and lived in Elizabeth Township, Miami County, for a number of years, and then purchased a farm of forty acres in Mercer County, Ohio, on which both he and wife subsequently died. They were worthy members of the Christian Church. They had seven children : John, Douglas Leroy, Marion, Arthur, Ferda, Robert, and an infant.
Robert Diek was born in Miami County, Ohio, October 11, 1846, and spent his whole life in his native county, passing a
part of it at Miami City, where he died May 21, 1906. His main business was threshing, and this he followed with profit during the whole of his active life. He was a highly respected citizen of Elizabetlı Township. He married Susan Drury, who was born October 11, 1846, and died De- cember 16, 1903. She was a dangliter of Jolm and Annie (Pinkerton) Drury. The children of Robert Dick and wife were: James, who married Hattie Widener, daughter of William Widener, has two children, Hazel and Harry; Annie, who married George Staley, has had four chil- dren-Chalmer, Ava, Nellie and Ray, de- ceased ; Alva; and Ethel, who married Adolphus Brown, has one child, Ruby.
Alva E. Dick obtained his education in a school conducted not far from Alcony, and after he left his books he began to give his father assistance and continued until the latter retired. when he assumed all the old threshing contracts and accepted new ones, and during the season is constantly employed in this industry. He learned paper-hanging, and when not engaged in threshing, keeps busy at his other busi- ness. Ile is an active Republican, and he belongs to the Odd Fellows, being con- nected with the lodge at Casstown.
HION. FRANK M. LONGNAKER, one of Pleasant Hill's most prominent citizens, who filled the mayor's chair for eight years and for eight years was postmaster, is identified with many of the important busi- ness concerns of this section. He was born at Pleasant Hill, Miami County, Ohio, May 8, 1869, and is a son of Ephraim and Eu- nice (Hill) Longnaker.
Ephraim Longnaker was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, and he came to Ohio in 1859. He enlisted for service in the
MR. AND MRS. JOHN JUDSON DRAKE
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Civil War, early in the days of the Rebel- lion, and was a member of the Ninety- fourth Regiment, O. Vol. Inf., and was not mustered out until the close of hostilities sent the surviving soldiers back to their homes. At one time he was captured by the enemy, and was confined in Libby Prison. He is a highly respected resident of Pleasant Hill, where he has been em- ployed as a carpenter, and also has con- ducted a boot and shoe store for a number of years. He is a Republican in polities, and one of the leading members of the Christian Church. He married Eunice Hill, a daughter of John W. Hill, and they have three children, Frank M., Jennie and Mil- ton.
Frank M. Longnaker spent all his school days at Pleasant Hill, and after complet- ing the high school course learned tele- graphing. He was then employed for five years as agent and operator for the C. HI. & D). Railroad, settling at Celina after his marriage and spending four years as agent there. He then became interested in the handling of sand and gravel, and in Sep- tember, 1894, went into the business in Newton Township with Martin Himes, nn- der the firm name of the Longnaker & Himes Company, of which is is president. After his long term as mayor terminated. he became manager of this company, and a large measure of his time is taken up in directing its affairs, the enterprise being one of considerable importance and giving employment to a large number of work- men. He is also a stockholder and a di- rector in the Pleasant Hill Banking Com- pany. In politics he is an ardent Republi- can. He has served one term as justice of the peace, and at present is president of the School Board.
Mr. Longnaker's business success has been phenomenal, and to his own industry, foresight and good judgment must a large part of it be attributed. When he went into business it was without one dollar of capi- tal. With his partner he now owns a con- prete manufacturing plant, and gives steady employment to twelve workmen, who handle from twenty-five to fifty cars of sand and gravel a day, shipments being made to all points on the C., II. & D. Rail- road. Together with his other business in- terests, which have been acquired through the same channels of industry, Mr. Long- naker finds himself a very busy man, and in a fair way to become one of the most substantial men of this section.
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