USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 86
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 86
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John; Caroline, deceased; Mary ; Charles ; William; George; and Joseph.
George Siegel spent his boyhood on the home farm and attended the nearby dis- trict school, which his two daughters also have attended, the eldest graduating in the spring of 1908. At an early age George began working upon the home farm and managed its affairs for some years before his father's demise. He then resided in Clark County for a period of three years, after which he again took up his residence at the old home. He has 150 acres of good land which he devotes to general farming and is meeting with good results. He has four acres devoted to tobacco culture, and has found it a remunerative crop.
February 28, 1892, Mr. Siegel was united in marriage with Miss Ella Martin, who was born in Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Levi and Catherine (Lewis) Martin. Her mother died at the age of fifty-six years, and her father still lives in the county at the advanced age of eighty-six. She is one of the following born to her parents : Mary, John, Marilda, George, Harrison (de- ceased), Ella, Barbara and David. Our subject and his wife have two daughters- Grace, who has been educated in the Troy High School; and May. Fraternally, Mr. Siegel is a member of the Odd Fellows. He is a Democrat in politics.
ISAAC N. HILL, one of Newton Town- ship's sterling citizens, a general farmer residing on his valuable property of nine- ty-four acres, ten of which are still cov- ered with timber, was born April 4, 1848, in Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio. His father was John William, his grand- father was Nathan and his great-grand-
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father was Thomas Hill. This is an old American family.
Nathan Hill was born March 15, 1788, near Ellicott Mills, Maryland, and from there in 1800, he came in company with Michal Williams (later his father-in-law), to Miami County, taking up a half section of land southwest of Pleasant Hill, in Newton Township. He was married to Francis Williams on June 29, 1809. On that farm was born his son, John William Hill. The latter spent his life in Newton Township and was a man who was well and favorably known. Although he seem- ingly enjoyed excellent health, being of robust appearance and weighing 317 pounds, he was a sufferer from Bright's disease of the kidneys and from a severe attack of this he died, after a sickness of a few days, on March 5, 1891, at the age of sixty-six years. He was twice married, (first) to Susan Weddle, a daughter of Isaac Weddle, who died January 4, 1874, and was buried in the Pleasant Hill Ceme- tery. The eight children of this marriage were: Henry H., Sarah, Isaac N., John Calvin, Madison J., Eunice, Mary Eliza- beth and John. He was married (second) to Miss Josie Banty, a daughter of Peter Banty. She survives and resides at Pleas- ant Hill.
Isaac N. Hill attended school at Pleas- ant Hill and spent one winter in an excel- lent seliool in Illinois. After he came back to Newton Township, he assisted his fath- er on the home farm until he married, then lived for a time on the homestead, moving from there to a farm situated on the oppo- site side of the river. He cultivated that land for nine years and then came to liis present farm, purchasing all but twenty- five aeres, which he has since added, from
the old Jacob Stichter estate. He has made many improvements here but had little clearing to do. He has two sets of buildings on the farm, some of which he has put up and all of which he has re- paired. In order to ensure good drainage, Mr. Hill put down 250 rods of tile.
On January 1, 1866, Mr. Hill was mar- ried to Miss Mary E. Stichter, a daughter of Jacob and Louisa Stichter, and they have three children : Cynthia, Charles and Isaac W. Cynthia married Arthur Teage and they have three children, I. J., Mary and Echo. Charles married Mary Bald- ridge and they have five children, Viola, Charles, Leo, Marie and Edward. Isaae W. married Myrtle Coate, a daughter of Dorsey and Ida Coate, and they have two children, Boyd and Verne. Mr. Hill and family are members of the Christian Church at Pleasant Hill. He is a Repub- lican in his political views but is in no sense a politician, only a good citizen.
A. H. KESSLER, a railway postal clerk running between Springfield, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana, on the Big Four Railroad, resides just south of Ludlow Falls, Miami County, Ohio. He was born in Miami County, July 2, 1861, and is a son of William B. Kessler, coming from an old and prominent family of the county.
Mr. Kessler received his early educa- tional training in the district schools, after which he attended Ohio Northern Univer- sity at Ada, Ohio. During his early days he engaged in teaching school and contin- ned for some eight years, at the end of which time he entered the Cincinnati Law School. Ile graduated from that institu- tion and practiced his profession in Troy. Ohio, for a period of ten years. He then
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
accepted appointment to the railway mail service at which he has since continued, being now clerk in charge of the car. His (Inties keep him on the road continuonsly for six days, and then he remains at home eight days. The latter time is spent on his tract of three and a half acres south of Ludlow Falls and is devoted to the raising of fancy poultry, at which he has met with much success. He erected the fine home which stands on the place, and also made the many other improvements.
Mr. Kessler was united in marriage with Miss Anna C. Fritz, a daughter of John Fritz of Miami County, and they have one daughter, Bertha K., who mar- ried Harvey B. Boyer, a painter residing in Piqua. Politically the subject of this record is a Republican and has frequently in the past served in official positions. He served as constable and also one term as justice of the peace at Laura, and when living at Pleasant Hill served two terms as clerk of Newton Township. He is a mem- ber of the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., at Pleasant Hill, and the Chapter at West Milton. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.
ANSON HILDEBRAN, a representa- tive citizen of Newton Township, Miami Connty, Ohio, has a farm of eighty acres in Section 26 of this township and a tract of twenty acres lying south of that loca- tion, but is now retired from business ac- tivity. Ile was born in Newton Township, August 16. 1848, and is a son of JJohn. Jr .. and Rachel (Tucker) Hildebran, and a grandson of John Hildebran. Sr.
gomery County, Ohio. Hle later located in Newton Township. Miami County, and many years later removed to White Coun- ty, Ohio, where he was living at the time of his death in 1881, at the age of eighty- four years. He was born in 1797. He was united in marriage with Esther Long, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1791, and they had the following children: Michael; Solomon, who died in infancy; Solomon (second) ; Labeman; John, Jr .; Mary; Anna ; Sarab; Ehnira; and Harriet. Mrs. Hildebran died in March. 1864, at the age of seventy-three years. Religiously they wore members of the Christian Church.
John Hildebran, Jr., was born in Miami County. Ohio, abont the year 1826, and always lived in Newton Township. He was a successful farmer and at the time of his death was the owner of 160 acres of good land. He was a man of high stand- ing in the community, and his death, which occurred March 5, 1909, was mourned as a loss to the community. He was buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Mr. Hilde- bran was mited in marriage with Miss Rachel Theker. a daughter of Nicholas and Charity Tucker, and they became parents of two children, Anson and Esther. Mrs. Hildebran is living and passes the time at the home of her son in Newton Township and that of her daughter at Laura. Re- ligionsly. she is a member of the Society of Friends, to which her husband also be- longed. He was a Republican in politics.
Anson Hildebran attended school at Possum Hollow and Pattytown, after which he assisted his father on the farm. After his marriage ho settled on a farm south of the home place, but JJater moved to the old homestead. where he has since
Jolm Hildebran. Sr .. was born in Penn- sylvania. where le livel until after his marriage. and then movel west to Mont- resided. He erected all the buildings now
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standing on the place and set out all the up a train and went with the army. le trees. Ile follows general farming and stock raising.
May 22, 1869, Mr. Hildebran married Amanda Jane Davis, a danghter of Jona- than and Nellie Davis, and they became parents of the following children : Charles E., who married Anna Street, a daughter of Joseph Street ; Lulo May, wife of Elzie Coppock, who is a son of Wesley and Jane Coppock; John Walter, who married Eliz- abeth Trost, danghter of Joseph Trost; Clara Belle, who is the wife of John Noll, son of P. S. Noll; William, who died at the age of four years; and Minnie, who died in infancy. Religiously, they are members of the Society of Friends and Mr. Hildebran has been an elder of the church for many years. He is a Republican in politics.
J. C. HENDERSON, who resides on a farm of eighty acres in Union Township, is a man of prominence and affluence and was at one time commissioner of Miami County. In addition to the farm named, he is the owner of three good farms in Darke County, Ohio, and of a half interest in a farm of 147 acres located near Lanra. He was born in Brown County, Ohio, July 22, 1837, and is a son of Jonathan and Nancy (Carl) Henderson.
Jonathan Henderson was born in ban- caster County, Pennsylvania, and was a young man when he moved west to Brown County, Ohio. He followed farming all his days and died in 1865, at the age of sixty-eight years. His marriage to Nauey Carl resulted in the birth of eight children.
J. C. Henderson attended the public schools of his native county and worked on the home place until 1862, when he got
was with Burnside at Knoxville at the time of the siege. Upon returning from the front, he located in Hamilton County, Ohio, and shortly afterward in Miami County, where he engaged in the sawmill business. While engaged in that business he lived for five years in Darke County, and during that time served a term as trustee of Twin Township. In 1875 he purchased the farm of eighty acres on which he now lives, and from time to time added other property until he now is the owner of several hundred acres. He erected all the buildings on his home farm and has followed general farming and to- bacco raising, having some fifty acres in the latter commodity. He is a man of great energy and oversees the work on his vari- ons properties, in addition to which he is with his son proprietor of a tobacco ware- house at West Milton. He has always been active in the affairs of the township, which he has served several terms as trustee. He was elected county commissioner on the Democratic tieket, receiving a majority of 310 votes in Union Township, notwith- standing the fact the township is normally Republican by from 500 to 700 votes. Ile also served in that office through appoint- ment to fill a vacancy, and during his in- emmbeney the present court house was erorted.
Mr. Henderson was first married to Miss Elizabeth Markley, who died in 1884. and they had three children: Caroline, de- ceased ; Emma ; and J. W. Henderson, who is in the elevator business at West Milton. He formed a second union with Miss Mary Harmon. They spend their winters in Florida, where he has a comfortable home. and thus they escape the rigors of the
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
northern climate. Religiously, they are members of the United Brethren Church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at West Milton.
JOSIAH W. RUHL, president of the Citizens' National Bank of Covington, is a man of large and varied interests in the business world and has been prominently identified with the growth and develop- ment of the village in which he lives. He is proprietor of the well known Rocky Branch Quarry at Covington, dealing in crushed stone, lime and ground limestone, and has large realty holdings. In addi- tion to the twelve acres in Covington, on which the quarries are located, he has a farm of 215 acres in Newberry Township, which he farmed until two years ago and on which are located three separate sets of farm dwellings. He and his wife also own another tract of sixty-five acres in New- berry Township, which is well improved.
Mr. Ruhl was born at Galion, in Craw- ford County, Ohio, February 18, 1837, and is a son of Levi and Mary (Folckemer) Ruhl, and a grandson of John Ruhl, who removed from York County, Pennsylvania, to Crawford County, Ohio, in 1828, and purchased 1,300 acres of land, on which the city of Galion now stands. The parents of the subject of this sketch in 1848 moved to Springfield, Ohio, where they died.
Josiah W. Ruhl was reared to maturity in Springfield, and in 1861 moved to Cov- ington, Miami County, Ohio, where for a few years he devoted his energies solely to farming. In 1869 he opened his quarries in Covington, and after a time operated them on an extensive scale, employing a force of forty men. He in 1871 erected his present home near the quarries. In
1876 Mr. Ruhl and his brother, Albertus M., opened a general store, which they op- erated about nine or ten years in Coving- ton. He was for ten years a member of the City Council, seven years trustee of Newberry Township, and for ten years a member of the School Board. He is at the present time president of the Board of Public Safety, and president of the High- land Cemetery Association.
Mr. Ruhl was first married to Zipporah Lindsey, and they became parents of two children: Dr. L. A. Ruhl, a successful physician and surgeon, of Covington, and vice-president of the Miami County Med- ical Association; and Eva M., wife of R. W. Shuman, secretary of the Y. M. C. A. at Camden, New Jersey. Mrs. Ruhl died in 1888, and Mr. Ruhl subsequently formed a second marital union with Miss Sarah Royer. Religiously they are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a deacon. He has been an officer and di- rector of the Citizens' National Bank ever since it was established in 1900, serving as vice-president until January 1, 1909, when he was elected president of the insti- tution. He is a man of sterling worth and integrity, and is most highly esteemed by his fellow men.
FRANK X. HEMM, who resides on a splendid farm of eighty-eight acres lying just south of the corporation line of Piqua, is a prominent citizen of Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio. He was born in Germany, February 12, 1845, and is a son of John and Catherine (Ott) Hemm, who farmed in their native land and conducted a country hotel. The moth- er died there on October 16, 1865, and the father on August 9, 1867.
JOSIAH W. RUHL
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Frank X. Hemm was reared in Ger- many and was twenty-four years of age when, in 1869, he came to the United States. He located at Sidney, Ohio, and was employed by his brother, George Hemm, who was engaged in the nursery business there. He remained in Sidney twelve years and then came to Miami County and engaged in the nursery busi- ness. He purchased his present farm, which then consisted of 121 acres, from Dr. Warren Dorsey. He built an addition to the fine old historie house which adorned the place, and has resided on this farm since March 9, 1889. He sold off a portion of his property to the Statler Stone Quar- ries, and retains eighty-eight acres. He engaged in the nursery business with a high degree of success until 1896, since which time he has followed general farm- ing. On two different occasions he made pleasure trips to Germany, visiting mem- bers of the family who remain in that coun- try. After coming to Miami County, Mr. Hemm was joined in marriage with Miss Barbara Butz, also a native of Germany, and seven children were born to them: Anthony; Mary, wife of Stephen Me- Carty; Philip; John; Frank; Valentine; and Nettie, who is Sister in a convent at Cincinnati. Religiously, the family be- longs to the German Catholic Church at Piqua.
CLARINDON A. HAWORTH, residing on a farm of ninety-two acres located two and one-half miles southwest of West Mil- ton, has been a resident of Union Town- ship, Miami County, Ohio, all his life ex- cept for a period of three years spent in Indiana. He was born in that township September 27, 1868, and is a son of Harvey
and Marietta (Albaugh) Haworth. His grandparents came from the east and lo- cated near Georgetown at a very early period.
Harvey Haworth was born in Miami County, Ohio, and has farmed all his life except the last five years, during which time he has been living in retirement at Georgetown. He still owns a fine farm of eighty acres. He was married to Marietta Albaugh and they became parents of the following children: Clarindon A .; Dr. Albert H., who is in practice at West Mil- ton; Preston, who resides near Bradford; Zerelda, who lives near Pittsburg, Ohio; Nora, who lives near Potsdam; and Ellis, who lives on the old home place.
Clarindon A. Haworth attended the pub- lie schools of his native township and con- tinued to live on the home place until after his marriage. He then began farming the property owned by his wife's mother in Union Township, but after a time moved to Indiana, where he remained three years. At the end of that time he returned to Union Township and in 1905 rented his father's farm. Two years later he pur- chased ninety-two acres of Mr. M. Dohner, and he has since lived upon this place. He follows general farming and tobacco rais- ing and is meeting with considerable suc- cess. He is a Republican in politics, and served some time as constable and truant officer. Mr. Haworth was united in mar- riage with Miss Ida Wellbaum of Miami County and they have a son and a daugh- ter, namely, Lee and Mabel.
JEFFERSON S. COMBS, vice-presi- dent of the Hobart Electric Manufactur- ing Company, and a highly estecmed busi- ness man of Troy, Ohio, has been a resi-
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
dent of this city several years. He was born at Leonardtown, St. Mary's Connty, Maryland, in 1870, and received his edu- cational training in the public schools.
At the age of twenty years, Mr. Combs moved to Washington, D. C., where he was engaged in the dry goods business some eight years, and at the end of that time moved west to Dayton, Ohio. He was iden- tified with the Hayner Distilling Company for five years. and then for three years represented the Burroughs Adding Ma- chine Company in New York City. At the solicitation of several friends, he came to Troy, Ohio, and began his connection with the Hobart Electric Company as sec- retary. At the election of officers for this company in September, 1908, Mr. Combs was made vice-president, which office he now fills. He is a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Troy, and was a member of the building committee when that institution erected one of the finest bank buildings in the state of Ohio. He also is a stockholder and director in the Troy Carriage Sunshade Company.
November 22, 1905, Jefferson S. Combs was intermarried with Miss Sybil Harter Coleman, who comes of one of the oldest and most respected families. Her maternal grandfather, S. K. Harter, was one of the most prominent and influential men of Miami County, and resided in Troy. Mr. Combs is a member of the order of Elks, and the Troy Club.
DAVID C. FALKNOR is a progressive citizen and prosperous farmer of Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is lo- cated on a farm of fifty acres two and one- half miles southwest of West Milton. He was born in Clay Township, Montgomery
County, Ohio, October 12, 1850, his pater- nal grandparents having moved there at an early date from Pennsylvania.
Levi Falknor, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, and lived there all his life, dying at the age of eighty-two years. He always followed farming. He married Nancy Herr, also a native of Montgomery County, and the following were the off- spring of their union: One who died in in- fancy; Carris, who lives in Montgomery County, Ohio; David C .; Frances (Good) ; Loren E., who lives at West Milton ; Mary A. (Martindale) ; Theodore, who is en- gaged in farming; and Jerome, who lives in Dayton, Ohio.
David C. Falknor attended the district schools of Clay Township, after which he learned the trade of a painter. He fol- lowed that trade in the vicinity of Dayton for eight years, after which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He rented property in Montgomery County some fourteen years, and in 1891 moved to Union Township, Miami County, where he purchased his present farm from Dan- iel Wheelock. He has made most of the improvements on the place, set out all of the trees, erected tobacco sheds, and built the first silo in this part of the country. He follows general farming and tobacco raising, and by his untiring industry and progressive methods has met with de- served success.
Mr. Falknor was united in marriage with Miss Clara Morse, who was born in Darke County, Ohio, but was reared on the farm west of where she now lives. Po- litically, he is a Democrat and takes a deep interest in the snecess of that party.
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
D. B. MAURER, a leading business citi- zen of Bradford, dealing in dry goods, no- tions and groeeries, and carrying a com- plete stoek in each line, has been estab- lished here since June, 1882. He was born on a farm in Darke County, Ohio, three miles from Bradford, May 3, 1857, and is a son of Henry and Julia Ann (Bigler) Maurer.
D. B. Maurer was reared on the home farm and trained in agricultural pursuits by his father, who was one of the substan- tial farmers of Darke County. When he left the farm he learned the carpenters' trade and worked at that for five years, after which he came to Bradford. His older brother, A. B. Maurer, had been en- gaged in a mercantile line at this place for twelve years and sold out to D. B. Maurer, in 1882, who continued at the same loca- tion, and for forty years the Maurer store has been one of the principal ones in Brad- ford. Their town patronage is satisfactory and they do an immense country business. Their honorable methods have always commanded the confidence of the public and their stoek is bought with partieular attention to the demands of their trade. Families have dealt with the Maurers from the time when the store was a small one. with a stock representing the outlay of a few hundred dollars, up to the present, when thousands have been expended. Mr. Maurer was married in Miami County to Miss Lavina Hartle, a daughter of James Hartle and a sister of O. L. Hartle, a prominent lumber merchant of Covington.
In polities, Mr. Maurer is a Democrat. He has-served two terms as treasurer of Bradford and one term as mayor, and at present is deputy tax collector. a position he has held for two years. Ile is always
more or less interested in publie matters when the welfare of the community is at stake and in all that is of importance he is sure to make his influenee felt. Ile has held many offices of trust, having settled several estates and acted as guardian for a number of wards.
Since the above was written Mr. J. B. Walker has purchased a half interest in the business and the firm name now is Maurer & Walker; the firm will carry on the business in the same agreeable man- ner as formerly, with Mr. Maurer as gen- eral manager.
ROBERT F. WILSON, a trustee of Concord Township and a representative citizen of Miami County, Ohio, resides on the MeKaig Road, where he has a fine home and ten acres of land. He owns a farm of eighty aeres located on the Wilson Pike in Concord Township, and also farms the one hundred aere farm of his father's, which adjoins. He was born in that town- ship. April 4, 1852, and is a son of William W. and Bathena (Dilts) Wilson.
The Wilson family is an old one in Mi- ami County. Robert Wilson, grandfather of the subject of this record, was born and reared in England, where in early life he followed the trade of a weaver. Upon coming to the United States, he first lo- cated in Maryland, where he entered the employ of a man who bore the name of Wilson, but who was not related to him. lle subsequently married Susan Wilson, daughter of his employer, and continued to live there for some years. He left be- cause of his antipathy to slavery, although his father-in-law, who was a prosperous man and slave owner, urged him to re- main. lle first located in Montgomery
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
County, Ohio, but shortly after became es- tablished in Miami County, settling on what is now the Troy and West Milton Turnpike, on the farm now owned by An- son Williams, in Concord Township. It was a heavily timbered tract which was cleared by his boys, while he followed his trade as weaver. He knew nothing of farming, in fact could scarcely hitch a horse. He later disposed of the farm and purchased one in Shelby County, south of Sidney, Ohio. Upon retiring from busi- ness activity he moved to Sidney, where he passed away at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. His widow died at the same age, but survived him about eight years. They had ten children, all born in Ohio except the eldest; their names were as follows: John, deceased ; William W .; Martha; Robert, deceased ; Christopher; James; Richard; and three daughters who died within one week of each other.
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