USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 6
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In political sentiment, Mr. Post has always been a supporter of the Republican party. He is public-spirited to an unusual degree and has taken a great deal of interest in improving Spencerville. All of his own property is kept in good condition and presents a more than creditable appearance. Some years ago he purchased considerable property in the city which he improved. He built the two-story brick block used by the Gamble Grocery Com- pany. He took much interest in building the new Spencerville Methodist Church, being a
member of the building committee. Since 1879 he has been an active worker in this religious body. He was a charter member of Fair Post, No. 322, G. A. R., and its first commander, serving for some time in that position. 1
e HARLES KRUSE, an implement dealer and hardware merchant of Elida, was born October 2, 1860, in Champaign County, Ohio, and is a son of Henry Kruse, whose biog- raphy will be found elsewhere in this work. Charles Kruse has been a resident of this vicin- ity since his sixth year, when his parents located on a farm near Elida where he was reared and educated. He engaged in farming and culti- vated the farm owned by his father in German township until 1903, when he moved to Elida and purchased the hardware and implement bus- iness of Mr. Mosier, which he has since con- ducted. Affable and courteous, he has always been popular throughout the county and has worked up an extensive business, putting out a large number of wagons, machinery and other farm implements.
Mr. Kruse was married to Minnie Coun- sellor, daughter of Rev. Elias Counsellor, who was for many years a traveling preacher of the United Brethren denomination, but who is now stationed at Burgoon, Ohio. Six children, all of whom are living, have been born to this worthy couple, viz : Dora, Carrie, Duane, Elias, Zilpha and Isabelle. They are affiliated with the Lutheran Church, of Elida.
S. VICARY, proprietor of the Star Iron Works, of Lima, where he is also identified with many other im- portant business interests, and is deservedly counted among the city's leading and most influential men, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1844.
Mr. Vicary was but a lad of 16 years when he left home; but he had learned the machinist trade in his father's shops and, being of an ambitious and energetic spirit, decided to cut loose from old ties and make his own way in the world. He went to British Columbia to
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put his plans into operation, and soon found employment in a sawmill on Puget Sound, where he remained engaged in machine work for some years. Later he had charge of a big mill at Fort Madison, where he remained for two years, going from there to the Oregon Iron Works at Portland, Oregon. After one year there he entered the Marysville foundry in California, where he worked by the side of Prescott, who later became a national charac- ter. After some two years there, Mr. Vicary accepted the position of gang foreman in the shops of the Central Pacific Railroad, which he held about four years. Mr. Vicary had all this experience while still a very young man, displaying even then the stability of character which has made him one of the leading men of Lima while still in the prime of life.
As master machanic he then went to Ne- vada for the Nevada Central Narrow Gauge Railroad for two years, going then to Vir- ginia City, where he assisted in setting up some of the largest machinery in the Comstock lode, some of the greatest pieces of machinery that were ever put up in the mines at Virginia City. He helped to put in the machinery in the Jus- tice mine, a 1,200-horsepower engine, with all the modern improvements including the Cat- aract valve motion and condensing machinery. Subsequently he went to Bodie, Mono County, California, where he had charge of the great machine shops for two years, and then came to Ottawa, Putnam County, Ohio. His intro- duction to Lima was quite accidental. While on a visit to his first wife's people in Putnam County, he came to Lima to see the place, and was persuaded to accept a position in the shops of the C., H. & D. Railway. Later he became assistant foreman of the Solar Refinery. Mr. Vicary has traveled extensively, having been in every State and Territory west of the Rocky Mountains. He is known from Sitka, Alaska to Salt Lake City. Those who have had the good fortune to meet Mr. Vicary have found him a courteous and pleasant gentleman. He has resided in Lima for the past 23 years.
In 1894 Mr. Vicary bought the Star Iron Works at Lima, which under his ownership have become one of the city's most important industries, being the largest repair works in
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this section of the State. Being a practical - machinist, he thoroughly comprehends every detail of the most intricate pieces of machinery, and his supervision covers every branch of the work done. When he took charge of these works, he had about absorbed his capital, but through his thorough knowledge and business capacity he has become a leading factor in bus- iness life here, has won honorable prominence in financial circles and enjoys also the esteem and approbation of his fellow-citizens. He is one of the stockholders in The First National Bank and also of The Lima Trust Company.
Mr. Vicary was married in 1865 to Melvina Harden, in California. She was a daughter of Walker Harden of Putnam County. Her death occurred in 1878. In 1882 he was mar- ried to Anna Belle Melhorn, who is a daughter of John Melhorn, one of Lima's oldest pioneers, who still survives, aged 87 years.
Politically Mr. Vicary is a Republican. He is a Mason of the 32nd degree, a Knight Temp- lar and a Shriner.
ON. HENRY L. ROMEY, one of Bluffton's most prominent and es- teemed citizens, formerly mayor and postmaster, and closely identified with the city's varied interests, was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, October 19, 1843, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Conrad) Romey.
Mr. Romey is of French extraction. His father brought the family to America in 1854, the mother having died two years previously, and with his one daughter and three sons, came to Allen County, settling on a farm four miles south of Bluffton. On February 1, 1862, Henry Romey enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company H, 74th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Captain Ballard and Col. Gran- ville Moody, the "preacher colonel." He served through three years of the war, a soldier on the field until after the battle of Stone River, where he was disabled, and after, that a prison guard. His death took place May 3, 1904, at the age of 88 years. His children were: Henry L .; Julius, a resident of Columbia City, Indiana, a
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soldier in the Civil War with his father and brother Henry L .; Edward, of North Balti- more, Ohio; Rosetta, the only daughter, who met death in childhood, falling from a train while on her way from the old country.
Henry L. Romey remained with his father on the home farm until 1862. His father en- tered the army in February and our subject followed his example, enlisting on June 15th, in the same company and regiment. The 74th Ohio made a notable record as may be judged in recalling the long list of important battles in which it took so proud a part, viz .: Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Dug Gap, Chick- amauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Buzzards Roost, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee River, Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Averysboro and Bentonville, and the remnant of the regiment, with the tat- tered flags, was honored in the Grand Review at Washington. Mr. Romey did not escape in- jury in this long period of almost constant fighting, receiving a serious gunshot wound in his left foot at Jonesboro, September 1, 1864. This entailed four months of treatment in the hospital, but he rejoined his regiment in the fol- lowing January, and was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, July 10, 1865.
After his return from the army, Mr. Romey worked at the carpenter's trade for a number of years, and then gave attention to fine cabinet- making, conducting a furniture store and also manufacturing furniture. He sold out in 1889 and went into the fire insurance business, was made a notary and is now serving his second term as justice of the peace.
Mr. Romey has been a life-long Democrat. Personally he is a very popular citizen of Bluff- ton, and was twice elected mayor, serving as such for four years. He was postmaster dur- ing the second term of President Cleveland, and has acceptably filled other offices; has been township clerk for six years; was treasurer for seven years and for three terms was a member of the Board of Education.
On March 16, 1872, Mr. Romey was mar- ried to Rosa Kenie, who was also born in Can- ton Bern, Switzerland, in December, 1852, and came to America with her parents in 1854. She
is a daughter of John and Barbara Kenie. They have had these children : Elizabeth, wife of John T. Badertscher, of Hancock County; Carrie, wife of J. C. Welty, of Bluffton; Will- iam H., a furniture merchant, of Richmond, In- diana; Elmer C., assistant cashier of the First National Bank, of Bluffton; Samuel D., who is in the employ of his brother at Richmond, In- diana; Richard, a student in the Bluffton High School, class of 1906; and Fred, who is attend- ing school.
Mr. Romey is the Bluffton agent for the Trans-Atlantic French line, the Red Star line, the North German Lloyd and the Baltimore and American lines of steamships to Europe. He is a valued member of Robert Hamilton Post, No. 262, G. A. R., at Bluffton. For many years he has been a member of the Reformed Church and one of its trustees and liberal sup- porters.
5 ON. THEODORE D. ROBB, mayor of Lima and president of The First National Bank of this city, was born June 29, 1843, and is one of a family of eight children born to the late Hon. Thomas M. and Anna (Moore) Robb.
The Robb family originated in Scotland but it has been settled on American soil for many generations. Thomas M. Robb was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1812. In 1815 his father, removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, and there Thomas M. Robb was reared until old enough to learn the printing business. The early part of his life was spent in newspaper work in various towns in Ohio. As late as 1854 he took upon him- self the editing of the Lima Argus and two years later he acquired control of the People's Press, which he conducted with marked suc- cess until the demands of other duties upon his time caused him to withdraw from journal- istic work. He was admitted to the bar in 1853 and what with legal contests, editorial work and political leadership, he became one of the noted men of this section of the State. In 1856 he was elected judge of the Probate Court. In 1873 he was elected to the State Legislature and continued as useful there as he
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had been in other positions of responsibility. His death took place in 1879.
Theodore D. Robb was only a lad in years when he came to Lima with his parents and the greater part of his education was secured in the Lima schools. He learned the carpenter trade in young manhood and followed it some four years and then began the study of the law under his distinguished father, and then entered the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated. He entered into practice with his father at Lima, the law firm of Robb, Hughes & Robb being formed. In 1874 the retirement of Judge Robb caused the firm name to be changed to Hughes & Robb, which con- tinued until the election of Judge Hughes to the bench. Our subject then went into part- nership with the late Judge James Mackenzie, the new firm being in business under the style of Mackenzie & Robb. This partnership was continued for five years, at the end of which period Judge Mackenzie retired from the prac- tice of the law. Mr. Robb practiced alone for one year and then became senior member of the firm of Robb & Leete, which continued until his election to the probate bench, in 1894, on the Democratic ticket. During the six years of his incumbency, Judge Robb distinguished himself as a jurist of great ability and retired with the respect and admiration of the bench and bar and the commendation of his fellow- citizens.
Mr. Robb is a stanch Democrat and his party has pressed upon him offices of honor and responsibility. In 1903 he was elected mayor of Lima and again in 1905, being one of the most popular city executives Lima has ever had. He was elected in 1903 by a majority of 123 ; in the election two years later his majority was 1,031. He has served as president of the Board of Trade and is president of the South Side Building & Loan Association and of The First National Bank.
Mr. Robb was married January 21, 1894, to Mary C. Owens, and they have two children, viz .: Theodore J., Jr., born June 21, 1895, and Inez A. They enjoy the comforts of a beautiful home at No. 637 West Market street. Fraternally Mr. Robb is a member of Lima
Lodge, No. 205, F. & A. M .; and Lima Lodge, No. 162, B. P. O. E. His portrait accom- panies this sketch.
SAAC JONES, who resides on a well- cultivated farm in German township, was born in 1841, in Carnovanshire, North Wales, and is a son of Isaac and Jane (Thomas) Jones.
The parents of Mr. Jones were also natives of North Wales, and there the father died. The venerable mother, now almost 95 years old, continued to make her home in her native neighborhood. The two survivors of their family are: Isaac and his sister, Mary. Mary married (first) John Jones, the name being a very common one in Wales, and married (second) John Williams. They reside in Wales.
In June, 1867, Isaac Jones emigrated to America and came to Lima, Ohio. He then settled on a farm in Sugar Creek township, from which he moved in 1882 to his present farm in German township. He has always lived in Allen County since coming to this part of the United States, and is one of the intelli- gent, good citizens of German township, where he has lived in harmony with his neighbors for 23 years. He is a Republican in his politi- cal convictions, and in 1904 was elected town- ship trustee, the first one of his party ever so honored in German township.
Mr. Jones was married February 27, 1871, at Gomer, Ohio, to Mary Jones, who is a daughter of Edward Jones, a native of Wales. who upon coming to Ohio settled first in But- ler County, removing to Allen County in 1861. Our subject and wife have three children, viz : Edward H., born at Gomer, July 21, 1872, who was married April 12, 1898, to Delia Wil- son and is connected with the Buckeye Pipe Line Company; Ellen, born June 19, 1874, residing at home; and Lewis Thomas, born October, 20, 1876. The last named resides at home engaged in farming. He was married July 27, 1904, to Lulu Patterson, a daughter of William H. Patterson, a farmer living near LaFayette.
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Mr. Jones is a deacon in the Welsh Con- gregational Church, of Gomer. In 1904 he gave himself the pleasure of a trip to his native land to visit his aged mother. It was a delight- ful renewing of old ties and recalling of old associations.
ILLIAM McCOMB, JR., formerly mayor of the city of Lima for a period covering 10 years, and now the local representative of some of the leading insurance companies, was born in Rockland County, New York, Jan- uary 29, 1851, and was one of two children born to his parents, William and Sarah (Sands) McComb.
The father of Mr. McComb was born in Ireland, where he was trained to be a weaver of linen goods. In young manhood he came to the United States and at the time of the birth of our subject was a resident of Rock- land County, New York. In 1862 he came to Allen County and settled at Lima, where he lived the remainder of his life, his death oc- curring in 1900.
William McComb, Jr., was educated in the common schools and his attainment of promi- nent position has been the result of his own efforts. In young manhood he learned the molder's trade and worked in an iron foundry for a number of years. He had always been rather active in politics, being a young man of wide-awake intelligence, and thus he attracted the attention of Postmaster Parmenter, in 1873, and was chosen by him as his assistant. He served in this capacity until 1876, when a change in the administration caused his re- moval. Mr. McComb then engaged in the grocery business at Lima for several years, but subsequently returned to his trade as an iron worker.
About this time he was elected as the rep- resentative of the Cincinnati Gasette at Lima, and he continued to further the interests of this jounral until 1884, when he was chosen as mayor of Lima. Although he took up the reins of office with little previous preparation in the way of public service. he pleased the people
and they re-elected him in 1886, again in 1888, in 1892 and finally in 1900, at the expiration of his last term, he retired from the municipal. chair in order to give more attention to his in- surance business, which he had established in 1890. This he has continued to develop until he represents many of the old, sound and re- liable companies of the country among which. may be mentioned : the American, of Newark, New Jersey; Reliance, of Philadelphia; Nat- ional Union, of Pittsburg; United States Fire, of New York; Columbia, of Dayton, Ohio; Phoenix, of Brooklyn; Glens Falls, of New York; New Hampshire, of Manchester, New Hampshire; Security, of New Haven, Connec- ticut; Anchor, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Ger- man, of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mr. McComb was united in marriage with Francis E. Bitner. Both he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have a pleasant home at No. 213 North Elizabeth street, while his office is. at No. 20212 North Main street.
Politically Mr. McComb is a Republican. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows.
Personally Mr. McComb is held in very high regard at Lima. During 10 very impor- tant years of the city's life he held the control- ling power, and during this period many of the. city's most important improvements were made and her leading utilities furthered. While the dominating factor, he was always noted for his open mind, and between him and the other members of the city government there was ac- cord which resulted in general welfare for the- public.
OHN ELSWORTH EVERSOLE, a director of the Allen County Infirm- ary, is a resident of section 28, Jack- son township, where he owns and cul- tivates 80 acres of land. He was born on this farm June 2, 1862, and is a son of Lemuel and Sarah (Nash) Eversole, who re- side on the adjoining farm. He is the fourth in a family of 12 children, eight of whom are living.
Mr. Eversole was brought up on the farm,
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and at the age of 18 learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until about 12 years ago, when he went to Dinwiddie County, Vir- ginia. While there he worked at his trade the first year and spent the second in farming. He then returned to Allen County and pur- chased from his father the 80 acre tract upon which he now resides and which is a well-im- proved farm. Mr. Eversole was married in 1883 to Jennie Hefner, daughter of Jacob and Christina (Holman) Hefner, whose sketch and portraits appear elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Eversole have six children, namely : Carrie Ethel; Mary Gertrude; Hazel Florence; Donald Virginia; John Wesley; and Arvard Carl. Donald Virginia was born in the State of Virginia. Mr. Eversole is a member of the Christian Church of LaFayette; and of Jack- son Lodge, No. 846, I. O. O. F. and Lima En- campment. He is a Republican in politics. Since his election as a director of the County Infirmary, he has devoted the greater part of his time to his official duties, as he believes in doing thoroughly whatever work he under- takes.
m ORGAN THOMAS, president of The Lima Creamery and Cold Storage Company, has been a resi- dent of Lima, for a period of 23 years and is one of those hustling energetic citizens who form the backbone of commerce and incite others to a spirit of pro- gressive emulation. He was born in New York City, September 19, 1839, and was there reared and educated. For 18 years he was en- gaged in the shoe business in his native city, but in 1871 removed to Sidney, Ohio, where he embarked in the butter and egg business. Meeting with success there, he extended the business to Lima, to which city he moved in 1882. Here the company was M. Thomas & Son and they added dealing in poultry to their operations. The business is conducted on an extensive scale and is exclusively wholesale. with branch stores at Sidney, Bluffton, and Leipsic, Ohio. The amount of butter. eggs. dressed and live poultry that pass through
their hands amounts to from $250,000 to $300,- 000 annually, and requires from 60 to 75 em- ployees during the winter and from 25 to 35 in summer. Mr. Thomas is also interested in the produce business in Boston, Massachusetts, being a member of the wholesale commission house of Griffin, Thomas, Paine & Company.
Morgan Thomas was a member of the New York militia during the Civil War, and was called out with his command to quell the riots in New York City, and also when Lee invaded Pennsylvania. He is a member of the G. A. R. He was a member of the School Board of Sidney during his residence there, and was in the City Council of Lima for two years. He is a deacon of the First Baptist Church. He has been twice married-first to Diana Un- kenholz, who died in 1866, leaving two sons, Charles E. and Joseph M., the latter of whom is engaged in the wholesale commission busi- ness in Boston. His second union was with a sister of his first wife-Joanna Unkenholz, who died in July, 1905, leaving three children, namely : Benjamin F., president of the Lima Pork Packing Company ; Frank A., who travels for the same company; and Elizabeth E., wife of Rev. William J. Fitzgerald, of Philadelphia.
CHARLES E. THOMAS, treasurer and gen- eral manager of The Lima Creamery & Cold Storage Company is the eldest son of Morgan and Diana (Unkenholz) Thomas, and was born in the city of New York in 1863. He was a lad of eight years when his parents located in Sidney, and there he received his education, after which he entered his father's commission house as a clerk. Two or three years later he was made manager of the business, and remained in this capacity four years. When the family removed to Lima, he became bookkeeper in the business which his father had established here the year previous. In 1885 or 1886 he was again sent to Sidney to take charge of the branch office as general manager, remaining here three years, when he returned to Lima where he has since resided. In 1901 The Lima Creamery & Cold Storage Company was incor- porated, with a capital stock of $60,000, and the following officers elected : President, Mor-
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gan Thomas; vice-president and secretary, S. Miller ; treasurer and general manager, Char- les E. Thomas.
Charles E. Thomas was married in 1885 to Harriett G. Dann, daughter of Jonathan Dann, now deceased, who was for many years prominently identified with the manufactur- ing interests of Sidney. Their children are: Paul M., attending school at Mount Hermon, Massachusetts; Mary D., and Lois. Mr. Thomas is a member of the First Baptist Church, of Lima, and is serving on its official board.
RANKLIN ROUSH, owner and pro- prietor of the "Clover Leaf Farm," which is situated in section 28, Bath township, was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, October 1, 1838, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Morehead) Roush. .
The Roush family originated in Germany. George Roush, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Union County, Pennsylvania. There his son Henry was born, December 25, 1803. He died here at the age of 78 years. During a few years of his early manhood he followed the trade of blacksmith, but the re- mainder of his life was spent in agricultural pursuits. He was at one time captain of a company of State militia. Politically he was a Democrat; in religion, a Lutheran. He was a hard-working man, honest and upright, and left 100 acres of good land to his family. He married Elizabeth Morehead, who belongs to a Pennsylvania-Dutch community. She died when our subject was only four years old, the mother of these children: George, of Michi- gan; John, of Lima; Joseph, of Macon, Georgia; Katherine (Copeland) of Lima; Wil- liam, who died in Kansas; Henry, of Iowa; Franklin, of this sketch; Philip, of Allen County; and Jacob, of Illinois. The father married again and the children of his second union were : Theodore, of Lima; Jane ( Boose), deceased; Emma (Roberts), of Bath township; and Ephraim, of Bath township.
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