USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 92
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 92
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Mr. Mikesell was a school director in Newberry Township for many years, and was president of the School Board of Cov- ington at the time the new school building was erected. He is a member and a dea- con of the Brethren Church.
H. I. KELCH, a substantial citizen and prosperous farmer of Newberry Town- ship, who owns what was formerly the old Henry Finfrock farm, a valuable tract of eighty aeres, located just south of Bloomer, Miami County, was born on a farm in Shelby County, Ohio, June 14, 1861, and is a son of Frederick and Susanna (Swei- gart) Kelch.
John Nicholas Kelch, the grandfather, came to Ohio from Germany when his son Frederick was about three years of age, settling on a farm adjoining the one now owned by the subject of this sketch, Har- man Isaiah Kelch. He remained on that farm for only three weeks, moving then to Darke County, where he made his home until his son Frederick was a young man, when he purchased the farm on which Frederick resided at the time of Harman I. Kelch's birth. Frederick Kelch was a farmer during his earlier years. He was born in Germany, and now lives in Mercer County, Ohio. He married Susanna Swei- gart, who died in September, 1892.
Harman I. Kelch grew to manhood in Shelby County. and obtained his education in the township schools. When he started out for himself he purchased his father's farm, which had originally contained 140 acres, but then was 100 acres, and after operating the farm for some years he sold it to advantage, then spent one year in Darke County, and in 1906 bought his present farm in Newberry Township, on
which he has since carried on general farming and tobacco raising. He is a hard- working man, and his industry and good management have brought him a large measure of success in his undertakings.
Mr. Kelch married Miss Caroline Cromes, who was born in Pennsylvania but reared in Shelby County, Ohio, where her parents, Joseph and Elizabethi (Neis- wonger) C'romes, were substantial farming people. They both died in Shelby County. Mr. and Mrs. Kelch have had the following children born to them: Walter, Virgil, William, Elmer, Clara, Bertha, Pearl. Grace and Cora. With his family, Mr. Kelch belongs to the Lutheran Church.
WILLIAM HARSHBARGER, a repre- sentative of one of the oldest families of Union Township, Miami County, Ohio, is engaged in farming on a forty-acre tract located about three miles southwest of West Milton. He was born near Laura, in Union Township, June 30, 1872, and is a son of Lloyd and Electa (Sherer) Harsh- barger, and a grandson of George and Mary (Penny) Harshbarger.
William Harshbarger received his edu- cational training in the district schools of his native township, and at an early age began his business career. He worked for some years for his father, after which he farmed various places at different times until 1901, when he purchased thirty-two acres about three and one-half miles west of West Milton. He disposed of that place and purchased a tract near Laura, on which he lived until 1903, when he pur- chased his present farm. Always a hard worker and progressive in his methods, he has made steady progress in a business way, and enjoys high standing in the com-
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
munity. He has a well improved place, and follows general farming and tobacco growing. Mr. Harshbarger was united in marriage with Miss Clara Christian, a daughter of Aaron Christian, and they have a son and a daughter, namely, Lloyd A. and Margaret. Politically, he is a Re- publican.
ROBERT MORRIS DICKSON, owner of eighty acres of land in Spring Creek Township, about four and a half miles east of Piqua, comes of an old family of this section and was born on an adjoin- ing farm, March 15, 1860. He is a son of Samuel MeKnight and Jane (Patterson) Dickson, and a grandson of John Dickson, who was of Scotch-Irish descent.
John Dickson was born in Pennsylvania and early in life settled in Spring Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, where he was one of the pioneers and where the family name has since been a prominent one. He located on what is known as the old Dickson homestead and erected a brick house, of brick burned on the farm; this house is still standing. Politically he was a Democrat. He married Jane MeKnight, and they became parents of five children -Samuel MeKnight, Sarah Ann, James, Jane Eleanor, who died young, and Joseph.
Samuel MeKnight Dickson was born in Rossville, Spring Creek Township, Sep- tember 1, 1824, and received his education in the district schools of the township. He worked on the home place and engaged in teaching during his younger days, and was known to possess a mind of unusual brilliancy. After he gave up teaching he settled on the farm across the road from the place of the subject of this record, and
there farmed until his death, May 26, 1862. He was a Republican in politics, and served as township clerk, infirmary di- rector and in various township offices. He was joined in marriage with Jane Patter- son, who was born in Pennsylvania, Au- gust 31, 1832, and was six years of age when brought to the old Patterson home- stead in Spring Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, by her parents, Robert and Mary Patterson. They had two sons: John Charles, who was born December 29, 1857, and never married, his death oc- curring May 9, 1899; and Robert Morris, whose name heads this record.
Robert Morris Dickson attended the dis- trict schools of his home district, the normal school at Danville, Indiana, and Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio. He then engaged in teaching for a period of eigliteen years, being located succes- sively in various parts of Miami County, also one year in Iowa and two years in Kentucky. After giving up his profes- sional work he located on his present farm, where he has carried on general farming and stock raising. He has met with considerable success in raising pure blood Poland China hogs.
Mr. Dickson was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Himmelright, a daugh- ter of John II. and Mary Himmelright, her father being one of the leading contractors of Piqua. She was graduated from Piqua High School in 1883, being valedictorian of her class, and then attended Ohio North- ern University at Ada, Ohio. Upon leav- ing that institution she was engaged in teaching in Piqua until her marriage, and also taught a class in Sunday school for twelve years. She is a lady of refinement and the highest accomplishments, and is
MR. AND MRS. JOHN SCHRAM
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
president of the Domestic Science Club. Mr. Dickson is a prominent member of the Grange and is one of the subordinate officers. He served as delegate to the State Grange, and Mrs. Dickson read a paper on household matters before the State In- stitute at Columbus. Politically he is an active Republican and has been delegate to various county, congressional and sena- torial conventions. He has served as sec- retary of the township organization, and has also served nine years as township trustee, and six years as road supervisor, and was for a time a member of the School Board. He is a trustee of the United Presbyterian Church of Piqua, of which he and his wife have been members for many years.
OREL M. SUBER, general farmer and well known citizen of Brown Township, a member of one of the old and representa- tive families of this section, operates the farm owned by him and his brother (George W., of eighty-three aeres, which is situated one-half mile north of Fletcher. He was born July 21, 1877, on the old Suber homestead, situated northwest of C'onover, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of William D. Suber.
Orel M. Suber was reared in Brown Township and received his education in the schools near his home. Previous to moving on his mother's farm, he worked on the homestead, where he had a very thorough and practical agricultural train- ing. He raises grain, hay and stock, and is numbered with the wide awake farmers of the township. Mr. Suber married Miss Eva M. Furrow, a daughter of Frank Fur- row, and they have one little daughter, Mary E., aged five years, and lost another,
Cora F., when aged five months. Mr. and Mrs. Suber are members of the Presby- terian Church. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party. He belongs to the fraternal order of Golden Eagles.
JOHN SCHRAM, general farmer, who resides on his valuable farm of eighty-one acres, which is situated in Section 3, Range 5, Newton Township, was born April 12, 1873, in Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of George and Rachel (Schultz) Sehram.
George Sehram, father of John, was born in Leistdannenstock, Germany, May 1, 1829, and came to America in 1853, land- ing at Castle Garden, New York, with five cents in his pocket. He immediately se- cured work as a hostler and later worked on a railroad and in this way managed to get to Montgomery County, Ohio, where he engaged in a carpet weaving business, remaining there until 1873, when he moved to Miami County and continued carpet weaving, at Pleasant Hill. He was also a small farmer, having sixteen acres, in Newton Township. He was married in Montgomery County, to Rachel Schultz, a daughter of David Schultz, in February, 1865, and they had four children: David C., Lavina, Nellie and John.
John Schram attended school at Pleas- ant Hill, and then assisted his father on the farm and later worked for neighbor- ing farmers on his own account. After he married he resided at Pleasant Hill for two years, working by the day during the larger part of this time; he then rented his present farm for two years before he pur- chased it from S. Z. Williams. He now owns the old sheepskin deed for this land, which bears the signature of President An-
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IIISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
drew Jackson. After taking possession, Mr. Schram cleared off nine acres of tim- ber, leaving five acres yet standing, and put in 350 rods of tile. He also put up all the farm buildings now standing, including the fine home, and made many other im- provements. He raises some cattle, main- ly for dairy purposes, and devotes three to five acres of his land to tobacco and the remainder of it to corn, wheat, oats and hay. He is an enterprising young man and has his whole farm in such a condition that it gives him excellent returns on his investment.
Mr. Schram was married January 18, 1894, to Miss Emma Wackler, a daughter of Ernest and Barbara (Steinhilber) Waekler (both parents now deceased), and they have two sons, George Ray, born Jan- mary 4, 1905; and Ohmer Melvin, born September 15, 1907, both of whom are bright students at the Rough and Ready School, in Newton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Schram are members of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Democrat. On June 9, 1909, at Mr. Schram's home will be held the seventh reunion of the Schultz family, at which 175 people are expected to be present. Mr. Schram is one of the following children: Catherine, who mar- ried David Myers; Ernest; Maggie, who married Mathew Link; Frederick; Bar- bara, who married Asa Kelly; Charles, and Emma, wife of the subject of this sketeh.
L. E. CONWAY, a representative cit- izen, farmer and stock raiser, of Newberry Township, owning 105 acres of good land, is a native of this township, having been born two miles northeast of Covington, October 14, 1857. His parents were John
and Mary (Tobias) Conway, and his ma- ternal grandfather was Michael Tobias. His father died in Iowa. His mother lives in Covington, Ohio.
In his youth the subject of this sketch attended the district schools near his grandfather's farm, and graduated from the Covington High School in the class of 1879. He taught several terms of school in Newberry Township, and it was here that he spent some of the happiest days of his life, and he looks back to this time as an oasis in life's journey. His chosen occupation through life has been farming, and his property gives evidence of his sound judgment and his practical methi- ods of work. With the assistance of his son he raises grain and hay and some of the best stock produced in Newberry Township, having raised as much as 1,800 bushels of wheat in one season on his ground and on Mr. Mummert's farm. He has always been a citizen of Newberry Township, although he has made one trip to California and one to Nebraska, having visited besides a number of other western States.
Mr. Conway was married first to Miss Catherine Seas, who died in 1893, leaving five children, namely: Arthur Scott, who resides on one of his father's farms and who married Myrtle Wise, by whom he has three children-Luther, Naomi and Law- son; and Clarence Minton, Edith Edel, Ruth Naomi and Frances May. Mr. Con- way was married (second) to Mrs. Mary Shomber Cassel, a widow, and one son was born to this union, Lee Edward, who died when four years old. Mrs. Conway has two daughters by her first marriage-Nora, who is the wife of Harman Miller, and Florence, who is the wife of Forrest
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Shellebarger. Mr. Conway has been able to give all his living children a good edu- cation, Clarence Minton, Edith Edel and Ruth Naomi having graduated from the Covington High School, while Frances May has just completed the first year in the high school. Clarence has taught school for several terms, and at present is completing a course in the commercial col- lege at Piqua. Mr. Conway, his wife and all his children are members of the Upper Stillwater Church of the Brethren, in which he is a deacon. Raised a Lutheran, he has never regretted identifying himself with the Church of the Brethren.
JAMES B. KINDELL, head of the firm of J. B. Kindell & Co., proprietors of the Sugar Grove Mills and Elevator, has met with almost phenomenal success with the enterprise mentioned. From an humble beginning he has built up a plant whose name is a household word through- out this section of the state. He was born in Johnston County, Arkansas, April 12, 1860, and is a son of Ezekiel and Nancy (Tate) Kindell.
Ezekiel Kindell was born in Shelby County, Ohio, May 25, 1835. and there passed his boyhood days. He emigrated with his uncle, Alden Boggs, in 1855, to Arkansas to become his head miller, hav- ing learned the miller's trade with his father, Benjamin Kindell, in a water- power mill on the Miami River between Piqua and Sidney, Ohio. During the Civil War he enlisted as a private in Company A, Second Regiment of Arkansas Volun- teer Infantry, with which he continued throughout the service. He was advanced to the rank of first lieutenant and later served as acting captain of his company.
He was discharged in August, 1865, after serving in the army four years. After the war he moved north to Miami County, Ohio, where he thereafter lived, following the carpenter's trade and millwrighting until 1882.
In partnership with his son, J. B. Kin- dell, he was engaged in milling at Sugar Grove for many years, then moved to Cov- ington and built an elevator, which busi- ness he conducted for five years, being succeeded by S. J. Rudy. He died in No- vember, 1907, and was buried in the Cov- . ington Cemetery.
Mr. Kindell was first married in Arkan- sas, to Miss Nancy Tate, a daughter of James M. and Anna (Mears) Tate. The Mears and Tate families were pioneer ones in Arkansas, removing there from Georgia at a very early period. This union was blessed with the following children : Nancy, deceased; Mary, Alice, Sarah, Dora, George Washington, and James Benjamin, whose name appears at the head of this record. Mrs. Kindell died in May, 1873, and was buried in the Coving- ton Cemetery. Mr. Kindell formed a sec- ond marriage in the spring of 1875 with Miss Sarah Jane Fine, a daughter of David M. and Rebecca Fine, and they had four children-Clifford, Ray, Bessie, and Lulu, of whom the three first mentioned are deceased. Mr. Kindell's second wife died in 1906 and also was buried in the Covington Cemetery. Religiously he was a member of the Church of the Brethren. He was a Democrat in politics.
James B. Kindell attended the public schools of Newton, Newberry and Wash- ington Townships, and in 1877 he went to Arkansas to reside with his grandfather, whom he assisted on the farm for three
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
years. When he returned to Miami Conn- ty he had $300, with which he started in the milling business in Newton Township, in partnership with his father, under the firm name of E. Kindell & Co. John Reid, Sr., was also interested in the business, which was conducted as a company. At the end of ten years it was reorganized as E. Kindell & Son, and the latest im- proved machinery for the milling of flour and meal was installed. In 1894, through his father's retirement from the firm, the subject of this sketch became sole owner and proprietor. He thereupon remodeled the mill to the latest sifter system, and built a new residence and the other build- ings on the place. He also bought a farm of 100 acres, lying directly across the river from the plant. On February 26, 1898, the mill was entirely destroyed by fire, and re- sulted in a serions loss to him, only abont one-half, or $3,700, being covered by in- surance. Phoenix-like he arose from the ashes and built the present mill. In order to clear his indebtedness, he sold his farm of 100 acres, and on October 14, 1898, he began operating his new plant. He in- stalled the very latest and most approved machinery known to produce the highest grade of flour from soft winter wheat. He installed the roller system, with corn scourers and steam dryers, and the very best equipment for the manufacture of corn meal. He again started np with an indebtedness of $12,000 hanging over him, but phenomenal success cleared this away in a few years. He prospered to such an extent that he again bought land, purchas- ing eighty-four acres near the mill, on which he has erected tobacco sheds. In 1907 he purchased sixty-four acres in Darke County, which he has since sold (in
1909). Prior to 1895 Mr. J. N. Arendall was connected with the plant as head mil- ler, and in recognition of his valued serv- ices he was at that time admitted to work- ing partnership in the enterprise. Mr. Kindell owns all the real estate.
The principal brands of this mill are Invincible Patent flonr, Pearl and Golden Dent corn meal, and Germ Graham flour, all of which are well known to the public. The methods of this firm in doing business are progressive and original and have brought gratifying results. Anyone wish- ing to call them up on business can do so at the firm's expense from the following towns: Laura, Potsdam, West Milton, Ludlow Falls, Pleasant Hill, Fidelity, Union, Englewood, Polo, Bloomer, and Covington, as the firm is flat-rated both ways with the Covington Home Telephone Company.
On September 22, 1889, Mr. Kindell was united in marriage with Miss Eva J. Graft, a danghter of David and Lavinda (Swi- hart) Graft. Her parents were formerly of Mexico, Indiana, and then settled at Peru, Indiana ; they were people that occu- pied a prominent position in that place. Mrs. Graft died in 1877 and was buried at Deedsville, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Kin- dell have a daughter, Alice Marie, who successfully passed the Boxwell examina- tion at thirteen years of age, and gradn- ated from the Newton Township schools in May, 1909, and will enter Covington High School in the fall of 1909. The family are members of the Church of the Brethren. Mr. Kindell is an independent Democrat in politics.
It is seen by the foregoing that Mr. Kindell is a born miller. His grandfather, Benjamin Kindell, was a miller before his
F
W. F. ROBBINS
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
father, and came from Scotland, where his father was a miller. Benjamin Kindell, the grandfather, built the original Sugar Grove Mills and improved the water- power in 1830, having built himself and installed the first undershot water-wheels here in western Ohio. The present owner has had set two large turbine water-wheels of the Victor pattern, which produce ample power to drive the 50-barrel flouring mill, all seourers, corn mill rollers, making fif- teen bushels of fine table meal per hour, together with the wagon dump and corn elevator taking care of a fifty-bushel load of corn every twenty minutes. Mr. Kin- dell is so infatuated with milling that he expects always to remain in the business at Sugar Grove, as he thoroughly believes in the community, from the support which he has received in the past.
WILLIAM F. ROBBINS has for many years been prominently identified with the affairs of Piqua and Miami County, Ohio, both in public and private capacities, and takes rank among the foremost citizens of the county-those who have given freely of their time and energy to the promotion of publie enterprises and the improve- ment of public institutions. As head of the Piqua waterworks for many years he wrought a great and beneficial change, giv- ing the city pure water and a new plant, in which the people take a justifiable pride, and making the department self-sustain- ing. He has also rendered valuable serv- ices as president of the county board of agriculture : during his incumbeney of that office the annual fairs were elevated to a higher plane than they had previously reached, and all departments of agricul- ture were stimulated in such a manner as
to bring real and lasting benefit to the peo- ple. In business life Mr. Robbins has been closely identified with various im- portant interests; he has been actively and successfully engaged in the livery business for many years, being at the pres- ent time a member of the firm of Robbins & Moore.
William F. Robbins was born on a farm in Brown Township, Miami County, Ohio, March 25, 1854, is a son of Alvernas and Sarah Ellen (Gearhart) Robbins, a grand- son of Benjamin and Pamilla (Covault) Robbins, and a great-grandson of Richard Robbins, who was the pioneer of the fall- ily in Miami County, Ohio. The Robbins family is of Welsh origin, and was trans- planted to American soil in the Colonial Days, being located in New Jersey. The Gearharts came to this country from Ger- . many and were first residents of Virginia.
Richard Robbins, great-grandfather of William F., came to Miami County, from Centerville, Montgomery County, Ohio, at a time when Indians were numerons and still hostile. and the pioneer families in constant jeopardy of massacre. The country was wild and uncleared. and was sparsely settled.
Benjamin and Pamilla (Covault) Rob- bins were the parents of eleven children. of whom five grew to advanced years, namely : Sarah, Alvernas, Madison, Eras- tus, and Benjamin M. The father of this family was a farmer by occupation, and was located in Lost Creek Township, Mi- ami Connty.
Alvernas Robbins was born in Lost Creek Township, December 14, 1832, and was reared on the home place. He followed the oeenpation of a farmer and hired ont in his younger days, in that way earning
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
and saving enough to enable him in time to purchase a place of his own. A man of keen perception and foresight, lie bought and sold different properties to good advantage, thereby adding more rap- idly to his means. He continued his farming operations until about the year 1888, when he moved to Piqua, where he now lives in practical retirement. He was united in marriage with Sarah Ellen Gearhart, who was born in Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio, Septem- ber 12, 1829, and is a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Beaty) Gearhart. Her father was six years of age when he came from Virginia to Ohio with his father, John Gearhart, who was a native of Germany. The Beaty family is of Irish extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins were married May 12, 1853, and became parents of seven children, as follows: William F., Mary, Lena, Erastus, Bert, James, and Charles.
William F. Robbins was reared on the old homestead and received his educa- tional training in the common schools. He worked on the home place and lived with his parents until he was twenty-six years of age, then in 1880 moved to Piqua. He was for two years connected with the Strawboard Company, after which he em- barked in the livery business, in which he lias continued with uninterrupted success since. About the year of 1890 he formed a partnership with Mr. Moore, and the firm of Robbins & Moore became one of prominence in that field of business, enjoy- ing the public patronage to a remarkable extent.
In April, 1890, Mr. Robbins was elected to the City Council of Piqua, represent- ing the Second Ward, being the first Re- publican ever elceted from that ward,
which had a natural Democratic majority of 300; his majority was thirty-seven. In 1894, he was elected to the Board of Trus- tees of the Piqua waterworks, and upou being sworn into office was chosen as presi- dent of the board. He served with marked efficiency, and in 1897 was honored with re-election as a member and president of the board, and was made superintendent of waterworks. The satisfactory discharge of his duties and his activity in behalf of a new plant resulted in his retention in office for a third term. With a capacity for work and possessed of keen business acumen, progressive and public spirited, his aim to place the waterworks on a pay- ing basis was realized and the saving to the city duly appreciated by the people.
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