USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 54
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OHN W. ROBY one of the leading at- torneys of Lima, and one of the city's educated and forceful men, was born at Delphos, Ohio, January 9, 1868, and is the only son of John and Linda ( Sear- ing) Roby.
John Roby was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 31, 1839, and was a son of John and Mary (Munger) Roby, both natives of Ger- many. When he was about six years old his parents emigrated to America, landing in. New York and proceeding from there to Perryville, Wood County, Ohio. The mother, worn out by the long journey, died at Buffalo, New York, before reaching their destination, leaving four children. Subsequently our subject's grand- father married again, and after the death of his second wife he went to live with his daughter Mary, at Maumee, and there he died in 1882.
John Roby, father of our subject, was seven years old when his mother died, and in those days it was no easier for a boy to grow up with- out a mother's love and tenderness than it is at present. When he was about 20 years old he began teaming, later bought a canal-boat which he operated three years, and then engaged for three years in a produce business, after which he opened a hotel at Delphos. He continued as manager of this until the completion of the new Phelan House, which hostelry he conducted un- til his death. He was a man of genial nature and was very popular with the traveling public. He died in 1898.
Our subject was reared in Allen County and was graduated from the public schools at Del- phos in 1884. He then entered the Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and after two years there spent two years at Yale College where the degrees of M. . L. and LL. B. were
conferred upon him. He was graduated from the law department in June, 1891 and was im- mediately admitted to the bar. He began at once to practice at Delphos, in partnership with H. A. Reeve, and in 1895 entered into a part- nership with Hon. John E. Richie, of Lima. This partnership was dissolved July 1, 1905. Mr. Roby is prominent in his profession all over the county, and is also known favorably in business circles, being president of the Town- send Grocery Company, of Lima.
Mr. Roby was married to Eveline Curren, a daughter of J. T. Curren, of Delaware, Ohio, and they have these children : Mary K., Martha A. and Annette. The family are members of Christ Protestant Episcopal Church. Their beautiful family home is at No. 121 South Bax- ter street, while Mr. Roby's well-appointed of- fices are at Nos. 409-411 Holland Block.
Politically Mr. Roby is a Democrat. He is. one of the valued members of the Allen County Bar Association and at present is president of that organization.
AMUEL J. DERBYSHIRE. M. D., one of the representative and experienced physicians and surgeons who give sci- entific prominence to the city of Lima, is a native of this State. He was born in Putnam County, September 28, 1860, and is. a son of Jesse C. and Lydia ( Pierce) Derby- shire.
Samuel J. Derbyshire was reared on his father's farm in Putnam County, where he re- mained during his minority, in the meantime securing a common-school education, which he supplemented by a year's study at Lebanon, Ohio. Later, in 1884, he was graduated at the Ohio Normal University at Ada. He then went to Indiana and studied medicine, and later en- tered the Medical College of Ohio, Cincinnati, where he was graduated in medicine and sur- gery. In 1900 he located at Lima. He has become very prominent in his profession through Allen County, successfully meeting close competition.
Dr. Derbyshire was united in marriage with Minnie C. Buck, who is a daughter of Philip.
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Buck, of Indianapolis, Indiana. By a former marriage he had two children, Weir J. and Vera L. Dr. Derbyshire has his office at his pleasant home, No. 241/2 Public Square. He is a mem- ber of. all the leading medical organizations of his school of practice.
Dr. Derbyshire is one of the city's good citi- zens, public-spirited and earnest. He is identi- fied with the Republican party. Fraternally he is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias.
5 ON. CHARLES H. ADKINS, one of the leading members of the bar of Al- len County, senior member of the well- known law firm of Adkins & Arm- strong, of Lima, and formerly Repre- sentative in the State Legislature from Allen County, was born July 29, 1867, in Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of Hon. Barzillai and Louise ( Fissell) Adkins, who had a fam- ily of 13 children.
The father of Mr. Adkins was born in Ross County, but when three years old was taken to Pickaway County, where he has since resided, and become one of the county's substantial men and prominent politicians. A rather unusual occurrence was that both he and his son, our subject, served in the same sessions of the Leg- islature, the father from Pickaway County and the son from Allen.
Charles H. Adkins was educated in the schools of Pickaway County and studied law at the Ohio Normal University. He was admit- ted to the bar in 1892. Our subject has always been a prominent factor in Democratic politics. In 1897 he was first elected a member of the State Legislature and in 1899 he was reelected; at the end of his second term he was a candi- date for congress. He is looked upon as one of the able lawyers and astute politicians of the county, and has every reason to look forward to a long and successful public career.
Mr. Adkins was united in marriage with Lora G. Mathews, a daughter of Roland G. Mathews of Harding County, Ohio, and they have two children-Harold M. and Helen. Mr. Adkins and family attend the Methodist Epis-
copal Church. They have a pleasant home at No. 515 North Jameson avenue. Fraternally Mr. Adkins is an Elk.
LEN E. CHENOWETH, M. D., one of the younger physicians and surgeons of Lima, who in a short period of practice has gained the confidence of the public and the esteem of his pro- fessional associates, was born at London, Ohio, December 4, 1879, and is a son of James S. and Anna (Rowlen) Chenoweth.
The Chenoweth family is one of prominence in Madison County and Dr. Chenoweth's father was an influential man there, serving acceptably at one time as county treasurer. He reared a family of four children.
Dr. Chenoweth completed the common- school course at London, Ohio, and then enter- ed Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was graduated most creditably in 1900, receiving the degree of M. A. His medical education was secured in Starling Medical College at Colum- bus. He is a valued member of the leading medical societies including the Allen County and Ohio State medical societies and the Amer- ican Medical Association. He is a close stud- ent and is equipped with a thorough profes- sional training. Personally Dr. Chenoweth is popular and his field of practice is rapidly ex- tending. His offices are located in the Cincin- nati Block.
Politically Dr. Chenoweth is identified with the Republican party.
RANK FRAUNFELTER, superin- tendent of the Allen County Infirmary, which is situated in section 22, Bath township, was born July 28, 1856, near Stringtown, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of Israel and Sabra ( Pat- rick) Fraunfelter.
Mr. Fraunfelter comes of Pennsylvania- German stock. His grandfather, John Adam Fraunfelter, was born in Pennsylvania and was
GARRETT WYKOFF
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an early settler in Pickaway County, where he reared his family and died on his own farm. Israel Fraunfelter was born in Salt Creek town- ship, Pickaway County, Ohio, July 17, 1834. On November 4, 1855, he was married to Sabra Patrick, who was born in Pickaway County and died in 1859. Of the two children born to this union one died in infancy and the other is the subject of this sketch. On February 15, 1860, Israel Fraunfelter married as his second wife Laannah Goodman, a daughter of John and Sarah (Weaver) Goodman, of Hocking Coun- ty, Ohio. In the fall of 1865 Israel Fraunfelter and family came to Allen County, settling in German township, where he engaged in farm- ing. Through good management and industry he developed what was considered the best farm in the township. He was a prominent Demo- crat and was elected by that party as infirmary director. Israel Fraunfelter died at the age of 57 years. Three sons and one daughter were born to his second marriage. At one time Israel Fraunfelter was the candidate of his party for county commissioner; he served as township trustee for a long period. At death he left 220 acres of good land.
Our subject was in his Ioth year when he accompanied his parents to Allen County. His father settled on a farm three miles west of Lima in German township and our subject re- mained at home until he attained his majority, having obtained his education in the common schools of his district. In the fall of this year he married and settled on a farm he bought near Allentown, a fine tract of 95 acres. He resided there until 1903 when he gave up farming in order to accept his present responsible position. For 12 years Mr. Fraunfelter was a justice of the peace in German township and is a man noted for his many sterling traits of character and for the excellence of his judgment. These things were taken into consideration by the in- firmary directors in their choice of superin- tendent.
Mr. Fraunfelter was married in November, 1877, to Delilah Kesler, who was born in Ger- man township, Allen County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Abraham and Juliana ( Crites) Kesler, natives of Ohio. They have five chil- dren : Roe, wife of J. G. Baxter, Mount Ster-
ling, Ohio; James A., who operates his father's farm in German township; Jessie, wife of J. E. Miller, of Elida; and Walter and Grace, who live at home.
Mr. Fraunfelter has been a life-long Demo- crat and has been a very active party worker and on many occasions has been selected as a delegate to conventions. Since he was 16 years of age he has been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and has his membership at Elida.
ARRETT WYKOFF. Among the early business men of Lima was the late Garrett Wykoff, who for many years before his death on May 21, 1893, was numbered with the retired capitalists of the city. Mr. Wykoff was born in Butler County, Ohio, July 21, 1831, and was a son of Rulef and Desire ( Marshall) Wykoff.
The father of our subject was born in 1796 in New Jersey, and was a young man who had just attained his majority when he came to Ohio, with the idea of founding a home. He entered land in Butler County and resided upon it the remainder of his life. He married a lady who was born in Virginia, and they reared nine children, some of whom still survive.
When Garrett Wykoff was a boy, he at- tended the schools of his native locality, grow- ing up to manhood on his father's farm. His inclinations were not in the direction of agri- culture, rather more in the line of mechanics. He learned the trade of blacksmith and became a first-class artisan, enjoying a very prosper- ous trade. After 12 years of work at black- smithing, he came to Lima, where he enlarged his business, entering also into wagon manu- facturing. While carrying on a good business in these lines, he wisely invested considerable capital in real estate and to the management of this he devoted the latter years of his life. He was a man of practical ideas, keen and quick in business dealings, an honest, outspoken defender of his political views and religious professions, and a man who enjoyed the re- spect and esteem of the community.
In 1854 Mr. Wykoff was united in mar- riage with Anna E. Straley, a daughter of
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Frederick and Elizabeth Straley. She still sur- vives and enjoys the many comforts of a pleas- ant home at No. 212 South McDonald street, Lima. Mr. Wykoff was laid at rest in Wood- lawn Cemetery. He was a prominent and in- fluential Mason, and Garret Wykoff Lodge, F. & A. M., was named after him. His por- trait acompanies this sketch.
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HANNONFRAUNFELTER wasborn in Green township, Ross County, Ohio, February 2, 1863, and when but a child removed with the family to Al- len County. They settled on the farm. of 100 acres, which is admirably situated on the Allentown road within two and a half miles of Lima in section 28, German township, where Shannon Fraunfelter is engaged in carrying on agricultural operations. He is meeting with much success in the management of the home- stead. He also makes a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cattle and at the present time is ac- knowledged to have the finest herd in Allen County. He is a son of the late Israel Fraun- felter, a member of a family that stands very high in the county.
Israel Fraunfelter was born July 17, 1834, in Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and was a son of John Adam and Saloma (Markel) Fraunfelter, natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared in Pickaway County and there he atended the district schools and grew to man- hood a well-informed farmer. On November 4, 1855, he was married to Sabra Patrick, of Pickaway County, Ohio, who died in 1859. To this marriage two children were born, one of whom died in infancy; the other is Frank Fraunfelter, the well-known superintendent of the Allen County Infirmary. On February 15, 1860, Mr. Fraunfelter was married to Laannah Goodman, a daughter of John and Sarah (Weaver) Goodman, of Hocking County, Ohio. To this marriage were born these chil- dren : Otis, residing in Allentown, who mar- ried Eliza Baxter ; Shannon, the subject of this sketch; Milton, deceased at the age of five months : James, who married Etta Crites and is engaged in farming in Amanda township; and
Mary Alpha, who is a graduate of Lima Col- lege and now a teacher of Latin and Greek in the same.
On September 1, 1865, Israel Fraunfelter and family settled on the farm now conducted by our subject. He died on this farm January 22, 1892, and was laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima. His widow and his son, Shannon and daughter, Mary Alpha, continue to reside on the old homestead. The family belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Elida.
RANK H. DOWNING, a member of the well-known law firm of Welty & Downing, of Lima, is the worthy rep- resentative of a name that has been in- dissolubly linked with the history of Allen County for nearly four-score years, his grandfather, Adam Downing, having come to Allen County in 1833 ; he took up a section and a half of land and erected the first house in Monroe township. It was on this farm that Frank H. Downing was born, July 27, 1870. His parents were Rev. Hugh and Mary (Hughes) Downing, whose family consisted of three children.
Hugh Downing was a child of two years when his father settled in Allen County, and the hardships and privations which were the lot of the early pioneers only accentuated the religious vein which the lad possessed, and he read mes- sages of love and warning from the grandeur of the forest with its wild solitude and the untamed creatures lurking within its sheltering depths. In his sermons he spoke from a heart full of love for his fellowmen. He made a wide repu- tation, and the good accomplished by him can never be told.
Frank H. Downing was reared on his fath- er's farm and attended the common schools when a lad. Not caring to follow agri- cultural life, he determined to take up the study of the law, and to that end entered the Ohio Normal University at Ada. He was admitted to the bar in the au- tumn of 1899, and came to Lima the following spring. His partnership with Mr. Welty was
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formed soon after, and the volume of business conducted by them shows the confidence repos- ed in this firm by the public. Mr. Downing is a Republican. He is genial and affable and has met with quite as much success in a social as in a business way.
S. WHEELER, one of the eminent at- torneys of Lima, senior member of the law firm of Wheeler & Bentley and formerly president of the Ohio State Bar Association, was born in Bed- ford, Ohio, October 21, 1849, and is one of a family of five children born to Edwin and Sallie (Sanford) Wheeler.
Mr. Wheeler was reared on his father's farm. His early education was obtained in the district schools, where he prepared for Oberlin College, from which institution he was most creditably graduated in the class of 1876. He then prepared for the practice of the law under the supervision of Andrew Squire, a leading at- torney of Cleveland, and was admitted to the bar in 1878.
In November, 1881, Mr. Wheeler came to Lima and opened a law office. In 1884 he formed a partnership with W. E. Hackedorn, which connection lasted until 1887. In 1888 he formed a partnership with Herbert L. Brice, which continued until the death of Mr. Brice in 1902. Since that year Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Bentley have formed the present strong combi- nation, which handles a large part of the im- portant litigation of Lima and vicinity.
In 1900 Mr. Wheeler was elected president of the Ohio State Bar Association, a just trib- ute to one who has proven himself eminent in his profession. A notable paper on "Law" was read by President Wheeler before the Ohio State Bar Association at its annual meeting in 1902, which for beauty of diction, originality of thought and comprehension of the great sub- ject involved has scarcely been surpassed by any modern speaker. He is a valued member of the American Bar Association and of the county and city organizations. For two and a half years he was referee in bankruptcy, and per-
formed the duties of that responsible office ac- cording to the letter of the law and with the judgment which only years of legal training could have produced.
Mr. Wheeler has a beautiful home on the Spencerville road and a domestic circle made up of wife and two children. He married Laura E. Seaver, who is a daughter of Andrew Seav- er, a well known citizen. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
Politically Mr. Wheeler is a Republican. Fraternally he is a Mason. His conveniently. located offices are in the Holland Block.
OSEPH WARREN KILGORE, notary public and a leading attorney of Lima, is one of four children born to Samuel and Margaret (McFarren) Kilgore .. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 23, 1855. Samuel Kilgore was an ag- riculturist of considerable means who owned. a fine farm in Wayne County, whence he re- moved to Allen County in 1871. The greater part of our subject's youth was spent in Wayne County. He attended the common schools, aid- ed in the farm work, and later farmed for some years in Monroe township, Allen County. De- ciding to take up a profession, he entered the Ohio Normal University at Ada, August 10, 1897, and devoted his best efforts to mastering the intricacies of the profession of the law. He was graduated from that institution in 1898, and on June 1Ith of that year was admitted to the bar. He at once located in Lima and has been in active practice here since. He is a mem- ber of the Allen County Bar Association. In 1905 Mr. Kilgore was the Democratic nominee for probate judge.
Mr. Kilgore was married to Elizabeth Mil- ler, daughter of Marcus Miller, who resided in Allen County until 1869, and whose family tree was deep rooted in Virginian soil. He died in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Kilgore are the parents of five children. They are members and active workers of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and their pleasant home, at No. 980 West Wayne street is a center of open-handed hospi-
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tality. Mr. Kilgore at one time served as town. ship clerk, and for 12 years was a member of the School Board of Monroe township, the edu- cational question being one in which he takes an active and intelligent interest.
R EV. PHILIP LEMASTERS, one of Spencerville's most venerated citizens, whose ministerial life covered a most interesting period of the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ohio, is as well and widely known as any clergyman of that religious body. He is a native of Ohio, born June 10, 1836, in Shelby County, near Fort Jefferson, and is a son of Luman W. and Nancy (Young) Lemasters.
The Lemasters family is of French extrac- tion. The father of our subject died in 1888. The mother was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, and at her death, in 1904, was in her 92nd year. Their nine children all survive and are as follows : Philip, of Spencerville; Mrs. Rachel Cunningham, of Salamonia, Indiana ; Mrs. Catherine Wehrley, of Portland, Indiana ; L. W., of Salamonia, Indiana; Jacob, of Ne- braska ; Mrs. Phoebe Wilson of Fort Recovery, Ohio; Mrs. Mary Petrie, of Salamonia, Indi- ana; Mrs. Martha Loofborrow, of Ord, Nebraska ; and John, of St. Paul, Nebraska.
Philip Lemasters attended the public schools of Shelby County and later enjoyed academic and collegiate training at Liber Col- lege, in Indiana. He taught school in Butler and other counties in Ohio, in the meantime preparing himself, by special study, for entrance into the Methodist Episcopal Conference of Central Ohio. This had been his ambition al- most from the age of 16 years, when he joined the church, and the desire to devote the ener- gies of his body and the powers of his mind to spreading the Gospel grew with his growth and increased with unfolding opportunity. In 1870 he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Clark, and in 1872, an elder, by Bishop Harris.
The first charge to which the young minis- ter was sent was that of Columbus Grove, and his subsequent charges. in order of incumbency, were: Spencerville. Salina, St. Johns. West Cairo Mount Victory, Quincy, Ansonia, Hunts-
ville, Bettsville, Weston, Mendon and then back to Spencerville among old friends and esteemed members of his former congregation. He located at this point in 1891, and after a service of three years preached one year at Al- lentown. In 1895 he was placed on the super- numerary list, after almost a quarter of a cen- tury of faithful and consistent work in the min- istry. In the early days his charge, included a number of preaching appointments, miles apart, sometimes as many as eight, and every day of the week would be filled, with three services every Sunday. This entailed much riding, often over rough country and the acceptance of hospitality in many different homes. He preached his last sermon at Spencerville on No- vember 12, 1905, in the absence of the regular pastor, with much of his old-time fire and con- viction.
At the close of his second year in the min- istry, on September 1, 1870, Mr. Lemasters was married by Presiding Elder Roberts to Elizabeth Hover, who was born at Lima, Ohio, in 1846. At the age of 17 she joined the church of which she has been a faithful member ever since. Her parents were Cyrus and Mar- tha ( Post) Hover, the former of whom is de- ceased, his death taking place March 8, 1896, at the age of 74 years and three days. He was the second of four brothers who located in the vicinity of Lima, coming in 1833 from Trum- bull County, Ohio. On August 4, 1847, Cyrus Hover married Martha Post, who still survives and lives with her daughter, Mrs. Hitchcock, at Lima. Her parents were C. C. and Eliza- beth ( Bryant) Post, a well-known family of this section. Mrs. Hover is the oldest sur- viving member of this branch of the Post fam- ily. She was born in Knox County, Ohio, Au- gust 7, 1827. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hover were: Elizabeth, wife of our subject; Mary, wife of R. H. Gamble, of Lima : C. A., who is in the loan and real estate business at Lima; Kate, wife of D. H. Crites, of Elida : B. G., of Lima : Minnie, wife of James Cochrun ; Florence, wife of F. W. Newell. of Hammond, Indiana; and Martha (Mrs. Hitchcock), of Lima. Mr. and Mrs. James Cochrun reside in the old Hover home in Spencerville.
Mr. and Mrs. Lemasters have but one child,
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a daughter, Bessie, who in 1903 was married to A. E. Henry. They have one daughter, Nel- lie Elizabeth, born January 4, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Henry reside in the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Lemasters in Spencerville.
W. SMITH, a member of the older body of professional men of Lima, who has been engaged in the practice of the law in this city since November 20, 1868, was born in Marion County, Ohio, March 7, 1832. His parents were John H. and Elizabeth ( McNeal) Smith.
Mr. Smith comes of Scotch-English ances- try, although the family has been established in America for several generations. His parents were born in Pennsylvania; they removed to Marion County, Ohio, in 1831, since which time the family has been identified with the af- fairs of one of the most important States in the Union. The father settled in a rich farming and grazing section and lived there for many years, a successful agriculturist and stock-deal- er. In 1845 he moved to Hardin County. Sur- rounded by good influences and in the midst of plenty produced by industry and frugality, a family of 15 children were born, all of whom reached maturity and the four who died first came to their deaths by accident. The parents of this virile family lived to a vigorous old age.
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