USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 87
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 87
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William W. Wilson was born on the old homestead in Concord Township in 1828 and until he retired and moved to Troy, where he now lives, never lived out of the township. He helped clear the farm and did most of the teaming. Deer and other wild animals abounded during his boyhood and he derived much pleasure in hunting. He and his brother, Jolın, often hunted at night and many times they were chased home by panthers. He always farmed and bought and sold stock during his active career and met with more than average success. . After his marriage he left the home place and his first purchase was a tract of forty acres near the farm he now owns. This he sold and purchased eighty acres of his present farm, to which he added from time to time. His first
marriage was with Bathena Dilts, whose father, Francis Dilts, came from Pennsyl- vania to Montgomery County, Ohio, and later located in Concord Township, in Mi- ami County. Mr. Dilts was a timber man and a large land owner. William W. and Bathena Wilson had the following chil- dren : Susan, wife of John Shoupp of Troy, Ohio; Robert Francis, who was named in honor of both his grandfathers; Alfred of Troy ; Ella, wife of J. H. Brown of Troy; and Margaret, wife of J. T. Houser of Troy. Mr. Wilson's second marriage was with Mary Jane Dilts, half-sister of his first wife, and she died leaving one daugh- ter, Gertrude, who is the wife of Ellis Gillespie of Troy.
Robert F. Wilson has always lived in Concord Township; he helped clear the farm and when a young boy hauled wood to Troy, which was then a small place. He attended the public schools and lived at home until his marriage. His father then turned the farming operations over to him, but they continued the stock buying and selling in partnership. He later purchased thirty acres from his father and fifty acres of the old Jennings farm from E. Neves Weaver. He continued to make his home on that place until 1906, when he bought his present home on the McKaig Road. Ife has frequently been honored with vari- ous township offices, was land appraiser in 1900, and since that time has served capa- bly as township trustee.
In May, following his twenty-first birth- day anniversary, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Rosanna Brown, a daugh- ter of Andrew Brown, who is well known in Darke County, Ohio. Six children were born to them : Minnie (Favorite) ; Fred, a farmer residing on the Fenner Turnpike
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in Newton Township, who married Bessie Shuman and has a daughter, Reva. Ber- tha, who is the wife of Edward Sweitzer, and lives on Pleasant Hill in Concord Township; Emma, who is the wife of Adolphus Jones of Concord Township, and has a son, Robert; Effie, wife of Ira Hol- finger of Concord Township, who has a son, John; and Edward J., who married Marie Gillis and resides on his father's farm. Minnie Wilson first married Henry Kropp, by whom she has a daughter, Ha- zel Kropp. He died four years after mar- riage and she formed a second union with Charles Favorite and lives in Washington Township, Miami County.
Mr. Wilson is a Republican in politics, and takes an active interest in the success of that party. He is a progressive and public-spirited man and has always been among the foremost in the development and improvement of the township.
JOSEPH ZIMMERMAN is engaged in farming operations in Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is the owner of fifty-four acres located in Section 14 of that township. He was born in Montgom- ery County, Ohio, November 3, 1856, and is a son of Charles and Sophia (Trost) Zimmerman.
Charles Zimmerman was born in Ger- many, February 11, 1822, and after his marriage came to the United States. HIe located at Dayton, Ohio, and for some three years worked out by the day. Ile then bought a farm of thirty acres in Montgomery County but after a couple of years sold out and farmed on shares near Harrisburg for two years. At the end of that time he moved to Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, where he
purchased an eighty-acre farm. He was subsequently the owner of a forty-acre traet in that township, which he afterward sold. He continued to live on the former place until his death on January 23, 1896. lle was married in Germany to Sophia Trost, a daughter of John and Dora Trost, and they reared the following children: Charles, Fred and Henry (twins). Kather- ine, Joseph, John, Samuel, Margaret, Mary, and Emma. Religiously, they were members of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Zimmerman died in the fall of 1894, and both she and her husband were buried in Pleasant Ifill Cemetery.
Joseph Zimmerman attended the Quaker School and the Inglewood School in Mont- gomery County, and the Fall Branch School in Miami County. He worked on his father's farm until he reached the age of twenty years, after which he worked ont by the month for four years. At the end of that "time he farmed the home place one year for one-third of the erop. After his marriage in 1881 he settled on a farm south of the home place and there rented and farmed for- a period of twenty-two years. He then purchased his present farm of fifty-four acres from John Cox. He has added to the house and barn and has made many desirable improvements throughout the place. He follows general farming and has abont two acres ont in to- bacco. He rents out seven aeres to others for tobacco raising. Mr. Zimmerman is a wide-awake and progressive citizen and takes a deep interest in public affairs. He is a Republican in politics, and has served twelve years as school director, supervisor one year and pike superintendent eight years. Ile also served two terms on the Petit Jury.
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
January 29, 1881, the subject of this provements of an important nature. Mr. sketeh was united in marriage with Miss Harshbarger was married to Electa Sherer, who was born in Montgomery County but lived in Miami County prior to her marriage. They have had eight ehil- dren, namely: Charles; Anna; William; John, deceased; Lorain; Howard, whose death resulted from drowning at the age of twenty-two years; Roy; and Russell. Religiously, they are members of the Friends' Church. Politieally, he is a Re- publiean. Annie E. Jay, a daughter of Jonathan M. and Mary Ann Jay, and they have been blessed with the following children : Edna, who married Frank Zumbrink and has two children, Glen and Herbert; Meda, who is the wife of Lewis Slegle and has a daugh- ter, Mildred; Jud C .; and Roxie. Relig- iously, the family attends the Christian Church at Pleasant Hill. Mr. Zimmer- man is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Pleasant Hill.
LLOYD HARSHBARGER is a promi- nent farmer of Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, and resides two and one-half miles west of West Milton, where he owns a farm of fifty-six acres. He is a native of the township in which he lives, having been born April 11, 1848, and is a son of George and Mary (Penny) Harshbarger.
George Harshbarger was born seven miles from Dayton, in Montgomery Coun- ty, Ohio, and was a young man when he moved to Miami County. He engaged in farming in Union township thereafter until his death at the age of sixty-four years. He was married after his removal to this county to Mary Penny and they had the following children: Mary Jane of Piqua; Samuel of Ludlow Falls; Lloyd; George of Bradford, Ohio; and Anna, who died young.
Lloyd Harshbarger received a good com- mon school education and in the meantime assisted his father in the work about the farm. He farmed various places in Union Township until 1895. when he purchased his present farm of fifty-six acres. He put up most of the buildings on the place, set out a good orchard and made various im-
WILLIAM WILGUS, SR., one of Lost Creek Township's most substantial farm- ers and business men, is the owner of 250 acres of well improved farm land, located about ten miles northeast of Troy, on the Lost Creek Extension Pike. He was born on this farm, June 20, 1837, and is a son of Thomas and Hannah (Robinson) Wilgus, and a grandson of William Wilgus. The members of the family were in early days Quakers and have long been established on American soil.
William Wilgus, the grandfather, was born in New Jersey and was a tailor by trade. At an early date he moved with his family to Cincinnati, Ohio, in wagons. Not liking that city, he started to make the return trip to New Jersey. About four miles east of Lebanon, in Warren county, Ohio, he encountered a Quaker settlement and one of his horses dying while there, it was necessary for him to remain for the winter. Being himself a Quaker and the surroundings and people congenial, he finally decided to make this his home. He purchased the farm of 120 acres on which ho first stopped, and for a period of eighty years this farm continued in the Wilgus name. He carried on Lis trade for a num-
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ber of years and engaged in raising horses extensively, meeting with very good sue- ress. Abont the year 1833 he came to Miami County, Ohio, and with his son, Thomas, purchased a farm of 320 aeres in Lost Creek Township, of which a part now forms the home place of the subject of this sketch. He also purchased three other quarter sections for his other sons in Miami County. However, he continued to make his home in Warren County until his death, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His wife, Elizabeth Wright in maiden life, died some years before. They had the following children: Thomas; William; Dr. Samuel; James: Daniel; Henrietta ; Angeline, wife of M. Mckinley; Mary, wife of Joseph Nedrey: Lydia, wife of William Dunan; and Harriett, wife of Arnold Sabin. All of this family are now deceased.
Thomas Wilgus, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in New Jersey and was a baby of about three years when he was brought by his parents to Warren County, Ohio. There he grew to manhood and was married, living there until he and his father purchased the half seetion of land in Lost Creek Township in 1834. He received a fair education in the district schools, and his son, William, now has in his possession a book his father used in fig- uring when in school. He became a sue- cessful farmer and affluent citizen in Miami County. His first marriage' was consummated October 28. 1830, and was with Miss Anna Hunt, who died October 29, 1834, about three weeks after their ar- rival in Miami County. They had two chil- dren : John, deceased ; and Mary, deceased wife of John Babb, who also is deceased. Mr. Wilgus formed a second union with
Hannah Robinson, who was one of four children brought from New Jersey by their widowed mother. Four children were born to them: William; Michael, who resides at Casstown; Thomas, of Fletcher, Miami County; and Anna, deceased wife of IL. Brecount. Mr. Wilgus died in March, 1885, having survived his wife about two years.
William Wilgus has always resided in Lost Creek Township. He attended the district schools and when young began helping his father on the home farm. After his marriage he started out for himself hy buying of his father 100 acres, which is now being farmed by his son, Carl. Later he and his brother, John. purchased the in- torests of the heirs to the home farm, and finally he bought out the latter. He has followed general farming and stock-raising and has been more than ordinarily sie- cessful. The house which stands on the farm, the largest on this road, was created by his father in 1862 to replace the one destroyed by fire. The other structures on the place are in keeping with it. and makes it one of the best improved farms in the township. He is a Republican in polities and has served several years on the school board. He was for twelve years a member of the Miami Agricultural Board.
September 6. 1864, Mr. Wilgus was united in marriage with Miss Mary Throckmorton, a daughter of George and Sarah (Lafferty) Throckmorton, who were of Quaker families and came west from New Jersey to Warren County. Ohio. The following children blessed this union: Tloward, of Clark County, Ohio, who mar- ried Della Jenkins and has two children, Horace and Lucile; Sallie, wife of Daniel
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Drake, of Lost Creek Township, by whom she has a son, Harry; Hannah, who mar- ried Frank Lane and lives in Fletcher; Lydia, who is teaching in the high school at Franklin, Ohio; Carl, a twin, who mar- ried Clara Pruden and has one child, Vir- ginia; Carrie, a twin to Carl, who lives at home; Ellen, wife of Lewis Roberts, of Michigan; and three who died in infancy. Religiously, the subject of this sketch is a Methodist and a member of Wesley Chapel, which was started by his father on the Wilgus estate.
ALBERT B. JONES, who is general manager for the firm of Henderson & Cop- pack, elevator operators of Laura, Union Township, was born in Franklin Town- ship, Darke County, Ohio, April 14, 1876, a son of H. H. and Jane (Graham) Jones. The father, H. H. Jones, was a native of Darke County and a carpenter by trade. He followed his trade most of his life but for the last few years of it was station agent for the Big Four Railroad at Laura, Miami County. His death took place in 1903-April 11th. He married Jane Gra- ham, of Missouri, and their family num- bered thirteen children.
Albert B. Jones was educated in the schools of Laura and eighteen years ago began industrial life in the employ of the firm with which he is now connected. He was then but fifteen years of age. Be- ginning in 'an humble station, he has worked his way up until he is now a part- ner in the company, and has full charge of the Laura branch of the business. The company's elevator at this point has a ca- pacity of 20,000 bushels and is located on the Big Four tracks. It is the only one in this section and does an excellent business.
Mr. Jones is a Republican in politics. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge in Laura and to the Masonic lodge at West Milton. He has taken a useful part in local affairs, has been councilman for six years and has served as town treasurer four years. Mr. Jones married Lauda Jones, a daughter of Albert Jones of this county. He and his wife reside in Union township. They have a daughter, Frieda, who is attending school.
JOHN MAURER, the genial proprietor of the Dewey Hotel, at Bradford, Ohio, is one of the town's prominent and substan- tial citizens. He was born in Germany, March 22, 1838, and is a son of Philip and Catherine Maurer.
Mr. Maurer was reared on a small farm and remained there until he was twenty- seven years of age. Finding it impossible to accumulate any considerable fortune in that place and condition, he decided to cross the Atlantic Ocean and find out if his industry could not advance him faster in America. He landed at the port of New York almost without capital, August 14, 1865, and from there went to Philadelphia for two months. He then found farm work near Piqua, Ohio, and when the season was over, secured work in a livery stable. On March 16, 1867, he entered the employ of the Pan Handle Railroad, and in this con- nection found that his qualities of honesty and industry were recognized and for over thirty-one years he remained with that road, becoming a well paid and thoroughly trusted employe. He retired from rail- road work on March 23, 1898. In 1873 he established his home at Bradford and for twenty-six years was car inspector for the Pennsylvania system. Mr. Maurer at
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different times invested in property and besides owning his hotel, a first class house containing sixteen rooms, which he has been operating since February, 1899, he has six valuable town lots and a substan- tial ten-room house which brings him a good rental. Mr. Maurer is an entirely. self-made man and through his own per- sonal effort has accumulated enough to make him an independent capitalist.
Mr. Maurer was married (first) at Piqua, Ohio, to Catherine Billiger, who, at death, left three children, George, Charles and Mrs. Catherine Weldy. His second wife, now deceased, was Catherine Hoover. His third marriage was to the estimable lady who assists in the management of the hotel, Mrs. Barbara Staub. As an indica- tion of the confidence felt in him by his fellow citizens. Mr. Maurer has served three terms in the Town Council. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and of the Odd Fellows.
O. C. MOTE, who for many years was engaged as an instructor in the schools of Miami County, is at the present time en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in Union Township, where he owns a farm of forty- eight acres about two miles from West Milton. He was born near Laura, in Union Township, in 1870, and is a son of Daniel and Lavina (Glunt) Mote.
Daniel Mote, who has been a resident of Union Township for many years and is now past sixty-five years of age, is a vet- eran of the Civil War. He enlisted in 1862 as a member of the 110th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with credit until the close of the war, partici- pating in many of the important engage- ments. Upon his return from the front
he took up farming, which he has always followed. He was united in marriage with Lavina Glunt, also of Miami County, and they became parents of the following chil- dren: Cora, who died young; Clara; O. C. Mote, whose name heads this record; Edith; Jasper, deceased; Elizabeth; Jen- nie; William, deceased; and Minnie.
O. C. Mote received a good educational training in the public schools of Union Township, and Darke County, and at Pleasant Hill, after which he engaged in teaching. He taught school for a period of seventeen years and with marked abil- ity. In 1905 he began devoting his entire time to farming, and by following modern and approved methods has been more than ordinarily successful. He follows general farming and tobacco growing.
Mr. Mote was joined in marriage with Miss Emily Pearson and they have had six children, namely : Harry; Rollie; Nel- lie; Della, deceased; Portia; and Donna. Religiously, they are members of the Church of Christ. He is an independent in politics, exercising his franchise in favor of the man lie deems best fitted for the office in issue.
FRED ZIMMERMAN is a prosperous farmer and tobacco grower of Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is the owner of a tract of forty acres located in Section 23. He was born at Dayton, Ohio, December 12, 1853, and is a son of Charles and Sophia (Trost) Zimmerman.
Charles Zimmerman was born in Ger- many and lived in that country until after his marriage. Upon coming to the United States he located at Dayton, Ohio, where his first work was in helping to clean the canal and build the railroad. He worked
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
by the day in the vicinity of that city for three years, then bought thirty acres of land east of Little York, which he farmed some years. He sold that place and then for two years farmed near Harrisburg, at the end of which time he purchased eighty aeres in Newton Township, Miami Conn- ty, of which one-half is the forty acres now owned by the subject of this sketch. He cleared some twelve acres of the land and made various improvements. He also was the owner of the Trost farm, which he later sold to Z. Pierce. He was a hard worker and prospered. His wife, who also was born in Germany, died in August, 1894, and he survived her about seven- teen months. He died January 23, 1896, and both were buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. They were parents of the fol- lowing children : Charles, Fred, Henry, Katherine, Joseph, John, Samuel, Mar- garet, Mary and Emma. In religions at- tachment they were members of the Lu- theran Church. Mr. Zimmerman was a Democrat in politics.
Fred Zimmerman first attended the Quaker school near Chambersburg, and afterward the Harrisburg and Fall Branch schools. Upon leaving school, he worked at farming by the month, being in the employ of one man for nine years. After his marriage he settled on his fathi- er's farm in Newton Township, where he has resided continnonsly since. He has remodeled the buildings and in addition erected a good tobacco shed. In addition to general farming, he has in from three to five acres of tobacco each year, and has been very successful with that erop. He has put in about 800 rods of tile for drain- age purposes and has a well improved place throughout.
December 20, 1885, Mr. Zimmerman married Miss Mollie Jennings, a daughter of William and Sarah (Karns) Jennings, and they have one son, William, who is unmarried and lives at the home place. Religiously, they are members of the Christian Church. He is a Democrat in politics and is a member of the Fair Board.
ROLLAND R. DU BOIS, one of Brad- ford's enterprising young business men, dealing in notions and groceries and carry- ing a full and well selected stock, was born at Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio, in 1881, and is a son of L. T. and Mary Ellen (Brown) Du Bois.
L. T. Du Bois, one of Bradford's lead- ing citizens, a member of the Town Coun- vil and president of the Bradford Build- ing & Loan Association, was born in War- ren County, Ohio, May 16, 1849, and is a son of Tunis and Elizabeth Du Bois. In his boyhood his parents moved on a farm in Darke County and lived there until he was a young man. They then retired to Wapakoneta, where Mr. Du Bois lived for eight years and then, having married in Darke County, he shortly afterward set- tled on his farm there and remained until 1907, when he came to Bradford. At Greenville, Ohio, he married Mary Ellen Brown and they have had seven children, namely: Lanra, who is the wife of Ed- ward Moore and has one child, Rachel; Benjamin, the only member of the family who died: Elizabeth, who is the wife of Guy Weybright; Rolland R., of Bradford; Carrie, who is the wife of Alton Camp- bell; Lottie, who is a teacher in the public schools of New Harrison, Darke County; and Harry, who makes his home in Colo-
T. C. SHILLING
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rado. Mr. Du Bois still retains his farm of eighty acres in Darke County. Both he and wife are members of the Presby- terian Church.
Rolland R. Du Bois was seven years old when his parents took possession of their farm in Adams Township, Parke County, and there he was reared. He attended the country schools and tanght school through one winter in Adams Township. In 1907 he established his business at Bradford and to this he has given the larger part of his attention ever since, displaying a large amount of business capacity in its man- agement. There are other concerns in his line but he has demonstrated that there is always room for one more if that one is superior, in any branch of trade. Mr. Du Bois married Miss Cora Ullery, a dangh- ter of David Ullery, and they have one son, Myron. Mr. and Mrs. Du Bois are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a deacon. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity.
J. M. SWITZER, who conducts the only establishment in West Milton devoted ex- clusively to the sale of agricultural imple- ments, is located on Hayes Street. He was born near Pleasant Hill, in Miami County, Ohio, May 26, 1874, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Kunkle) Switzer.
Jacob Switzer, father of the subject of this record, was eight years old when he accompanied his parents from Pennsyl- vania, to Miami County, locating on the farm he now owns. He engaged in farm- ing throughout his active career and is now living in retirement at Covington. As a result of his marriage to Mary Kunkle, they became parents of seven children.
J. M. Switzer received his educational
training in the district schools of the coun- ty, and upon leaving school took up farm- ing, which he followed successfully for eleven years. November 3, 1906, he moved to West Milton and purchased the imple- ment store of Minnick & Miller, located on Hayes Street. He carries a full line of agricultural implements and farm tools, and the volume of business transacted is exceeding his expectations and is con- stantly increasing. Mr. Switzer was united in marriage with Miss Vinnie Black and they have three sons, namely: Harry, who is attending school ; Wilbur ; and Har- rold. Politically, he is a Republican. In fraternal affiliation he is an Odd Fellow.
T. C. SHILLING, of the firm of Shill- ing & Roberts, leading furniture dealers and undertakers of Troy, Ohio, has been engaged in the mercantile business in this city for a period of over forty years. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1845, and is a son of Jesse Shilling, who prior to his death was one of the prominent and active citizens of Troy.
Jesse Shilling, a son of William and Hannah Shilling, was born in Maryland, in 1825, and was about two years of age when his parents removed to Columbus, Ohio. There he was reared and educated, and when twenty-one years old was foreman of the Hayden Foundry, at Columbus, Ohio. He acquired considerable skill as an engineer and followed that occupation for years. In 1854 he moved to Troy and soon afterward agitated the establishment of a fire department here. Largely through his activity the project was favorably act- ed upon and he was installed as the first engineer of the department. He was al- ways among the foremost in furthering
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