USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 89
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 89
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
sales people are also employed and more during the holiday seasons.
On March 4, 1883, Mr. Stahl was mar- ried to Miss Maria Tobias, and they have four children-Luther R., Harley T., Mar- gie Olive and Chalmer F. Miss Margie Olive is a graduate of the Bradford High School and is a successful teacher at Brad- ford. Mr. Stahl and family are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is iden- tified with the order of Odd Fellows.
CHARLES A. SCHNELL, one of the highly respected older citizens of Troy, now living retired in his pleasant home at No. 347 South Mulberry Street, is a native of Germany, having been born March 15, 1830, in Saxe Coburg. It will be remem- bered that the brother of Prince Albert, husband of the late Queen Victoria, of England, was Ernest the Second, Duke of Saxe Coburg, and Mr. Schnell remembers seeing that admirable sovereign in her girlhood.
In 1853, when twenty-three years of age, Mr. Schnell came to America and lived for a short time at Paterson, New Jersey, later making his home in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. There he learned photography and subsequently opened a photographic studio in Washington, D. C., which he con- ducted for one year, when he lost every- thing by fire. In 1858 he transferred his business interests to Troy, Ohio, and in May, 1860, he moved to Tippecanoe. In 1862 he enlisted in the Federal Army, be- coming a member of Company E. 106th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and during his three years of continuous service was at- tached to the Army of the Cumberland. He enlisted as a private and through sol- dierly qualities became first sergeant of
his company, being mustered out with that rank.
Upon his return from the army, Mr. Schnell again located at Tippecanoe City, where he carried on photography until 1871. He then returned to Troy, where he purchased a gallery on the Public Square and continued in the photographic business there for thirty years. His work was highly artistic in character and his patrons came from all over Miami County. In 1860 Mr. Schnell was married to Miss Bar- bara Eitel, and they have three children : Charles F., who is in the plumbing busi- ness at Troy; Mary, who is the wife of David Metz, of Norwalk, Ohio; and George V., who is also in the plumbing business at Troy. Mr. and Mrs. Schnell are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. He is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic.
E. W. YOUNT, who owns a good thirty- two-acre farm about four and a half miles northwest of Milton, was born in 1861, one mile west of Tippecanoe City. His father was a native of Montgomery County, where after a short life spent in agriculture, he died at the age of twenty-three years, at which time the subject of this sketch was eighteen months old.
E. W. Yount was reared in Miami County, and after his school days were over he took up farming for an occupation, at first renting a farm. In 1894 he bought his present place, on which he built a house and made other useful improve- ments. In addition to general farming, he raises tobacco, and also carries on a general blacksmith business. By dint of his own exertions he has become one of the prosperous citizens of Union Town-
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ship and is a man respected by his neigh- of Pythias and the Knights of Malta, and bors for his industry and character. In is a member of the Christian Church. Ile married Alice Palmer, a daughter of Frank Palmer, and has three children-Frank, Marion, and William, who bid fair to keep up the credit of the family name. politics he is a Republican and he was elected trustee of the township in 1905 and in 1907, being now an incumbent of that office. In the fall of 1908 he ran for the office of county commissioner but owing to adverse conditions was defeated. He is a member of the Friends' Church. Mr. Yount married Lauretta Coates of Union Township and they have three children- Harry, Frank, and Lena.
WILLIAM G. ELLIOTT, who is in partnership with Frank Palmer in the op- eration of a coal yard at Laura, Union Township, was born in Scotland, June 4, 1882, a son of Andrew and Marian (Gil- christ) Elliott. His father, also a native of Scotland, came to the United States in March, 1887, locating in Pennsylvania. He is now engaged in coal mining in Indiana County. He and his wife have been the parents of a large family, numbering sev- enteen children.
The subject of this sketch was a child less than five years old when he accom- panied his parents to America. He was educated in the schools of Pennsylvania and subsequently worked for three years in a glass factory and eight years in the coal mines of Pennsylvania, or until May 7, 1904, when the firm of which he is now a member was formed. In addition to coal. the business includes the handling of all kinds of tiling, cement, plaster, etc., be- sides farm implements, the office of the concern being located on the Big Four tracks. Mr. Elliott is doing a thriving business and is numbered among the rising citizens of the village. Politically he is a Republican. He belongs to the Knights
JOSEPH W. MEANS, M. D., a prom- inent citizen of Troy, who is well known for his professional ability throughout this section of Ohio, was born in Punxsutaw ney, Pennsylvania, in 1855, his parents, Joseph and Margaret Means, being both of German descent. Having completed his literary education in Pennsylvania Acad- emy, he came to Ohio and entered the sci- entific department of the National Normal University at Lebanon, from which he was graduated in 1877. The next seven years of his life were spent in teaching school, and he proved himself an able educator; but not caring to continue longer in that occupation, he took up the study of his present profession and was graduated from the Pulte School of Medicine in 1881. Wishing, however, to acquire a further theoretical knowledge of this most difficult science, he matriculated in the Chicago Homeopathie College, where he took a post-graduate course in 1898. In 1897 he was elected president of the American As- sociation of Orificial Surgery in Chicago and in 1900 he became president of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Ohio. The doctor has been a resident of Troy since 1881 and in that time has proved his value, not only as a professional man of high standing, but also as an intelligent citizen who keeps a close watch on public affairs. In 1899 he served as president of the City Council of Troy, being elected from the First Ward. He has made a close study
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
of economics and it was through his influ- ence that the city of Troy purchased the electric light plant and thereby reduced the price of current from twenty cents per thousand watts to eight cents. The Doctor is a stanch advocate of municipal owner- ship. In politics he is a Republican and he served for two years as coroner of Mi- ami County. His labors on behalf of the city have been markedly beneficial and have caused him to be regarded as one of Troy's most useful and representative citizens.
Dr. Means was married, in 1881, to Miss Eola F. Roberts, of Christiansburg, Ohio, a daughter of George W. and Diantha (Corbley) Roberts. Of this union there is one daughter, Myrtle, who was born July 27, 1883. She is the wife of Charles F. Bryant, a druggist of Cincinnati, Ohio. Fraternally, the Doctor is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
CHARLES C. SCHULTZ is a prosper- ous farmer of Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is the owner of a farm of eighty acres located in Section 3. He was born near Harrisburg, Montgomery County, Ohio, October 21, 1867, and is a son of William and Sophia (Trost) Schultz.
William Schultz lived in Montgomery County, Ohio, until some years after his marriage, then moved to Newton Town- ship, Miami County, where his death oc- curred in 1882, while he was still in middle life. He was buried at Pleasant Hill Ceme- tery. Religiously he was a member of the Lutheran Church. He was a Democrat in politics. He married Sophia Trost, by whom he had five children, but two of
whom grew up, namely, Charles C. and William J., who married Minnie Metzger. Mrs. Schultz formed a second union with Sebastian Holfinger, of Covington, and they have a son, Harry.
Charles C. Schultz first went to school near Vandalia, and after the removal of his parents to Miami County he attended school near Pleasant Hill, in Newton Township. He worked on the home farm until he reached his majority, then worked out by the month, his first summer being spent on a farm near Covington, and the second on one near Troy. After his mar- riage he conducted operations on his mother's farm for eleven years, then moved to his present farm, which his mother purchased for him and his brother. He later purchased his brother's interest. It was part of the R. M. Kaufman farm, and Mr. Schultz erected all of the build- ings now standing on the place. He cleared eight acres of the traet, laid about 350 rods of tile for drainage, and has made other important improvements. He fol- lows general farming, and is meeting with good success.
October 30, 1892, Mr. Schultz was joined in marriage with Miss Eva Reed, a daugh- ter of William and Lucinda Reed, and they have one son, Omer, who is attending the common schools. In religious attachment they are members of the Christian Church. Ile is a Democrat in politics, and served two years as church trustee.
JAMES W. STAUFFER, whose acci- dental death on June 20, 1902, caused great regret throughout this section, was born near Dayton, Ohio, December 28, 1850. His early industrial years were devoted to farming. On August 18, 1872, he married
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Abby Jones, who was a daughter of Will- iam and Elizabeth Jones, residents of this county. After his marriage he located on the old Asa Jones place, but later pur- chased thirty acres of land for himself. This he subsequently sold and moved on to the Georgetown Pike, in which location he engaged in the sawmill business and farming. He later bought a place there. and also built a house in Georgetown, where he resided for nine years, operating an elevator and sawmill in Laura at the same time. In 1894 he removed to the vil- lage of Laura as his place of residence. He also purchased a farm in the vicinity, which he operated, though he never re- sided on it. He was the employer of a large number of men, and was a thriving and prosperous citizen. In politics a Re- publican, he held at times a number of township offices. He was especially inter- ested in the cause of education, and built a number of schools in the township. \t one time he was a candidate for the office of county commissioner. He was a man who was always before the public, and was known far and wide as a public-spir- ited citizen. His death, which was due to his being run over by a train, was a great shock as well as grief to the community. His remains now repose in the old Lud- low Cemetery.
Mr. Stauffer was fraternally connected with the Knights of Pythias. He belonged to the Christian Church, and was much interested in church work. By his mar- riage with Abby Jones he had one child. Cora May, who married Newton Norris and resides in this township. Her husband is a farmer; they have no children. In addition to the above mentioned child, Mr. Stauffer and his wife adopted a boy
-Edward M. Stauffer-who was born August 18, 1882, and whom they took to rear in 1884. He is now residing on a farm which the subject of this sketch gave him, and he also looks after the latter's estate. He married Edna Overcash, of Muncie, Indiana, and has one son, Glenn, who was born June 12, 1903.
ISAAC J. ROSENBERGER, a retired farmer, and a well known minister in the Church of the Brethren, is a man of con- siderable literary ability, and was for a period of twenty-eight years a traveling evangelist. He was born April 20, 1842, near Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Hartsongh) Rosenberger.
Isaac J. Rosenberger was six years old when his parents removed to Hancock County, where his mother died four years later, and here his education was obtained in the district schools near his home. He taught in the district schools of that local- ity for about ten years, and during the war taught near Dayton, Ohio, for a period of three years. Subsequent to his mar- riage with Mary Ann Workinan, a daugh- ter of Morgan Workman, who was a re- tired farmer and stock dealer residing in Wooster, Ohio, he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Hancock County for one year. lle then engaged in farming on a tract of land near Londenville. Ashland County, Ohio, for four years, after which he re- turned to Hancock County, where he con- tinned his residence for eleven years. In the spring of 1883 Mr. Rosenberger came to Covington. Ohio, where he and his esti- mable wife still reside in a comfortable home on North High Street. Here he pur- chased a tract of 260 acres in Newton
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Township, on which he has never lived. After coming to Covington, Mr. Rosen- berger took up church work and became an evangelist in the Church of the Breth- ren, otherwise known as the Dunkards, and for a period of twenty-eight years traveled throughout this section of the country, holding many successful meetings, liis con- verts numbering about two thousand. Mr. Rosenberger has not devoted his en- tire attention to his church work, but also has literary tastes and leanings, having compiled and published a book entitled "Bible Readings and Bible Studies," and lis vole on "Modern Spiritualism" is now in the hands of the publishers. He has also contributed largely to tract work, has written a number of articles on divorce and remarriage, among them being a treat- ise against divorce and remarriage. Mr. Rosenberger is still a minister of the local Church of the Brethren, of Covington, Ohio.
DAVID B. PENNY, who conducts the largest general store in Laura, Union Township, his place of business being located on Main Street, was born one mile west of the town, and has resided in this vicinity all his life. He is a son of D. W. Penny, who was a farmer and early settler in this section. The great grandfather of the subject of this sketch was the first set- tler in this locality, and the house in which he lived is still standing. The family has since remained here, and its members in general have been numbered among the enterprising and prosperous agriculturists of the county.
D. W. Penny, father of David B., farmed all his life, his place being located west of the town. He subsequently sold his farm,
and is now residing in another part of the township. He married Mary Byerly, and their children are Mary, David, Minerva, Minnie and Harley, all of whom are now living.
David B. Penny, after completing his studies, engaged in agriculture on the home farm, which he subsequently pur- chased. He continued to operate it on his own account until he bought his present store, when he sold it and bought forty acres elsewhere located, which he still owns, and a part of which he devotes to the raising of tobacco. He has some twenty- eight acres now planted with that crop. He is also doing a thriving business in his store, carrying some $6,000 worth of stock. including hardware, dry goods, general merchandise, etc. He has an up-to-date establishment, and has acquired an excel- lent reputation throughout this section as a business man of honorable methods. He served the township as justice of the peace for two terms-a period of six years- showing excellent capacity in his adminis- tration of the office. His first election was in 1901, and naturally resulted in his re- election for another term. Mr. Penny mar- ried Dona Noll and has two children, Edna, now seventeen years old, and Isabel, aged five. Mr. Penny is a Republican in poli- tics.
SIMON CLATE MORTON, superin- tendent of the public schools of Pleasant Hill, is well known in this community both as an educator and also as a minister, having served as pastor of the Ludlow Christian Church from 1904 to 1908. His activities at present, however, are entirely centered in his educational work, for which he is well qualified, being a college
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graduate and holder of several degrees. He was born November 22, 1874, at Spen- cerville, Ohio, and is a son of William C. and Mary Ann (Evans) Morton.
The grandfather of Mr. Morton, Thomas Morton, was a resident of Allen County, Ohio, where he died in 1884, aged seventy- nine years. He married Mary Miller and they had three children, William C., Nancy and Simon.
William C. Morton was born near Spen- cerville. Allen County, Ohio, October 19, 1849. He was a blacksmith at Spencer- ville for some years, later moved to Mi- ami County, near Tippecanoe City, later bought forty acres of land on which he yet resides, in Staunton Township. He " followed blacksmithing during the larger part of his active life, but now lives re- tired. In 1873 he was married to Mary Ann Evans, a daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Harter) Evans, and they had four children, Simon Clate. Frank, Alma and John. For a number of years Mr. Morton has been a deacon in the West Union Christian Church. He votes with the Republican party, but has never either songht nor accepted a political office.
Simon Clate Morton enjoyed the distinc- tion of earning the first diploma ever is- sned in the public schools of Monroe Township, Miami County, after which he entered the High School at Tippecanoe City, Miami County, and following this course he taught school for two years in Union Township and then for six years was in the public schools of Monroe Town- ship, three years of which he was super- intendent of the township. During this period, on August 5, 1896, he was mar- ried to Miss Clara Bowman, a daughter of John and Amelia Bowman. To this mar-
riage have been born eight children, name- ly: Edith, who is a student at Pleasant Hill; Miriam and Lorna, both of whom at- tend school: Amelia, Byron and Dehar, all at home; an infant son and an infant danghter, both of whom died at birth.
For five years following his marriage Mr. Morton resided on a small farm con- taining ten acres and then moved to Rich- mond, Indiana, in order to take a collegi- ate course at Earlham College, graduat- ing in the class of 1903, with the degree of B. A. Ile then came to Pleasant Hill and took charge of the public schools at this place, finding his efforts highly ap- preciated. He is an earnest, thoughtful man, devoted to the work which he has made his life career, and the results of his care. management and influence can easily be seen in the high standard to which he has brought the schools of this place. In 1908 he received the Master's degree from his college, and a life certificate from the State Board of Examiners. Mr. Morton is widely known and his personal friends are numbered by the score.
TIARRY IRVIN MORROW, a promi- nent farmer of Washington Township, who, with his two sisters, owns the old Milton Morrow farm of 200 acres, which lies along the Washington Turnpike, abont two and one-half miles southwest of Pi- qua, was born and reared on this fine prop- erty. Ilis parents were Milton and Clar- issa (Irvin) Morrow.
The father of Mr. Morrow was also a native of Miami County, Ohio, and was born in Washington Township, on the farm which adjoins the one under con- sideration, on the south. During the whole of a long and exemplary life he resided in
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
this township, where he died in 1889. He was numbered with the most highly re- speeted citizens and successful farmers. His father, Richard Morrow, had come to Washington Township, from Pennsyl- vama, among the earliest settlers. Mil- ton married Clarissa Irvin, who was born and reared about seven miles distant from Dayton. She was a widow at the time, with one son, A. W. Prugh, who is a resi- dent of Piqua. To Milton Morrow and his wife were born three children: Emma, who married William Elliott, and resides at Piqua; and Luella and Harry Irvin. The mother of these children died in 1898.
Harry Irvin Morrow was trained in ag- ricultural pursuits from his youth up, and is considered one of the township's most capable farmers. The family home is a commodious brick residence, which was built in 1876 and was then probably the finest country home in the township. Mr. Morrow is unmarried.
G. C. ULLERY, M. D., who is success- fully engaged in the practice of medicine at West Milton, Miami County, Ohio, was born on a farm near Covington, this coun- ty, in 1880, a son of David E. and Rachel C. (Passage) Ullery. He is a grandson of David and a great-grandson of Jacob Ullery, the latter of whom was born on Chincoteague Island, off the eastern coast of Maryland, Marchi 5, 1772, and who came to Ohio about 1810. Jacob died in Newberry Township, Miami County, Ohio, Angust 7, 1847. He was of Ger- man descent and a member of the Dunk- ard, or German Baptist, Church.
David Ullery, grandfather of the sub- jeet of this sketch, was born in Montgom- ery County, Ohio, February 28, 1809, and
was a boy when he accompanied his par- ents to Miami County. He became a prosperous agriculturist of Newberry Township and was a man widely respect- ed. He was married, March 8, 1836, to Alsey Gibbons, who was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, March 20, 1818, a daughter of James and Mary Gibbons, who were na- tives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. David Ul- lery were the parents of three children- Jacob, who was killed in the Battle of At- lanta, Georgia, July 21, 1864; James G., who died in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and whose wife was Nellie Surratt, a na- tive of Tennessee; and Mary E., who died April 8, 1873. David Ullery died June 5, 1842. His wife survived him until April 8, 1856.
David E. Ullery, father of Dr. G. C. Ullery, was born on the parental home- stead in Newberry Township, October 25, 1839. He was reared in the usual man- ner of farmer lads, attending the district schools, and receiving a good home train- ing. While he was still a boy, his father died, and the management of the farm, comprising a quarter-section of land, passed into the hands of David's elder brother. David began work in the fields at a very early age. When the homestead was subsequently sold, disliking to see it pass wholly into the hands of strangers, he purchased 100 acres of it. In the spring of 1872 he began the operation of a saw- mill, which business he followed in con- nection with farming for twenty-eight years. His enterprise was successfully conducted and his marked energy, perse- verance and business ability enabled him to acquire a comfortable competence.
In the spring of 1861, in company with Hugh Hart, an old school friend, he
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started on horseback for Illinois to visit his brother, Jacob Ullery, but before they reached their destination Fort Sumter had been fired on. This news stirred the pa- triotie blood of these two travelers, and before reaching their journey's end they had determined to enlist. When they ar- rived in Illinois they found that Mr. Ul- lery's brother, Jacob, had already joined the army, and David became a member of the same company for three months' serv- ice. Enlisting April 22, 1861, he was as- signed to Company D, Twentieth Illinois Volunteers, under Captain C. L. Paige, and afterwards re-enlisting as a veteran, served until the close of the war. He aud his brother fought side by side until the Battle of Atlanta, where the brother was killed, dying on the field. The Twentieth Illinois was assigned to Gen. John A. Me- Clernand's Division, and after the Battle of Shiloh was in the First Brigade, Third Division, under command of Gen. John A. Logan, in the Seventeenth Army Corps, under the command of Gen. MePherson. Mr. Ullery participated in the Battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, where he was wounded by a piece of shell, and in many smaller engagements in the Corinth Campaign and around Vicksburg. He took part in the Battles of Fort Gibson and Raymond, in the latter of which he re- ceived a wound affecting the right lung, from which he never fully recovered. His subsequent time was spent in the hospital until October, 1863, when he returned to his regiment. Promoted to the rank of sergeant, he accompanied Sherman's com- mand on the march to Meridian. In the spring of 1864 he re-enlisted and was granted a thirty-day furlough, at the end of which he joined his regiment at Spring-
field, Illinois. Soon after he joined Sher- man's army at Aekworth, Georgia, when he took part in the Battles of Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta, in the latter of which his regiment suffered heavy loss, Mr. Ullery's brother, Jacob, as already mentioned, being among the slain.
On July 22d. after some desperate fight- ing and when the Twentieth Illinois was reduced to a remuant, Mr. Ullery was cap- tured by the enemy. He spent the time from that date until February 27, 1865, in Southern prisons, first in Anderson- ville, then at Savannah, Georgia; Charles- ton, South Carolina, and Florence, South Carolina. He was then paroled at Wil- mington, North Carolina, and sent to St. Louis, subsequently going to Springfield, Illinois, where he was discharged July 13, 1865. He came home shattered in health. and weighing only seventy pounds, as a result of the hardships he had experienced.
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