USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part Two > Part 5
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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. 2021/2 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.
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 ( Bcose), deceased ; Emma ( Roberts), of Bath township ; and Ephraim, of Bath township.
Franklin Roush remained in Pennsylvania until his father moved to a farm in Bath town-
ship, about 1851. Being 13 years old at that time, he was able to give considerable assis- tance about the farm, where he remained until he was 17 years old. He then went to Iowa where he stayed one year. At that time a large part of the present populous State was noth- ing but a wilderness and where he stayed while in Iowa was so secluded that it could only be reached by ox teams. It took him a month to make the trip over the 1,000 miles of road. He worked in the wilderness for one year and then turned eastward and proceeded as far as Illi- nois, where he took the cars and came home. Two years he spent here and then went back to Illinois and spent a summer, and in the fol- lowing spring, when the Civil War broke out, he was one of the first in his neighborhood to offer his services to his country.
Mr. Roush enlisted in April, 1861, from Greenville, Darke County, Ohio, entering Com- pany K, 11th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Cap- tain Newkirk. During his four months of ser- vice he was not out of the State, but before he was discharged he assisted in the building of Camp Dennison. He was then taken sick and for a whole year he was in poor health, or he would have immediately re-entered the army. He farmed for a time but in the spring of 1865 he again enlisted, this time in Company D, 192nd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Captain Lybrand, and was sent with his regiment to guard Harper's Ferry. He was mustered out on September 1, 1865. For the following 12 years Mr. Roush lived at Lima, working at first for others; but later establishing a busi- ness of his own in the manufacture of wood stirrups and saddle trees. For three years he was in partnership with Messrs. King and Day, and the business was prosperous, furnishing employment for 29 hands, 1876 being the ban- ner year. Subsequently Mr. Roush bought out his partners and continued the business alone for a number of years.
After disposing of his interests at Lima. he removed to the homestead farm which he oper- ated for two and a half years. In ISSo he bought his present farm of 1421/2 acres in sec- tion 28, Bath township. He named his farm "Clover Leaf" and for six years he ran the "Clover Leaf Dairy." building up a great repu-
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tation for his products. His land is very valu- able for all purposes. Oil has been found here, and of the 10 wells that have been sunk six are in active operation. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, but also enjoys an income from a fine stone quarry on the place and runs a crusher to prepare stone for road purposes. He is a man of a great deal of en- ergy and understands how to turn all his ad- vantages to excellent account.
In 1862 Mr. Roush was married to Mahala Harvey, of Allen County, who is a daughter of George and Nancy Harvey, and they have a fine family of children, named as follows : Willis, living at home; John F., of California, who has one son; Bertha Ellen, who married Charles Mumaugh, of Bath township and has six children; Araminta, living at home; Will- iam, a traveling salesman, who has one child; Mary, living at home; Alanson George, of Cleveland; Oliver S., of Lima, who has one child; James Delbert, of Cleveland, who has two children; Ina Pearl, who married Harry Lewis and has one son; and Grace May, living at home. The last named, the IIth member. of the family, shares this distinction with both her mother and grandmother.
Mr. Roush has always been a Democrat, and on numerous occasions he has been elected to office. He has been township trustee for six years and has been assessor, councilman and a school official in Lima and in Bath township. He is one of the comrades of Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R., at Lima. For a num- ber of years he has been a member of the Christian Church, of which he is one of the deacons.
Mr. Roush is a man of sterling character and is truly representative of the best type of Allen County farmers and first-class citizens.
HILLIP KEIL one of the highly re- spected retired business nien of Lima, and one of the city's capitalists, was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, July 26, 1842. His parents were Se- bastian and Josephine ( Miller) Keil.
The parents of Mr. Keil remained through- out their lives in Germany where they were re-
spected residents of Hessen-Darmstadt. They had a family of II children, seven of whom came to America.
When Phillip Keil came to the United States in 1860, he was a well-informed, well- educated young man of 18 years, equipped with a knowledge of the cabinet-maker's trade. He followed this trade first in Marion County, Ohio. He located in Lima in 1861 and fol- lowed his trade until he retired from active work. He was a man skilled in his trade and prospered exceedingly. Wise investments brought him large returns and he became known as an extensive manufacturer and as a large property owner. He erected a number of buildings, notably a substantial business- block on Main street. A large portion of his time for the past few years has been taken up with looking after his various holdings and in- vestments.
On January 30, 1866, Mr. Keil was united in marriage with Elizabeth Amelung, who was born in Germany and is a daughter of Charles and Mary Amelung, who came to America and settled in Allen County in 1854 .. Mr. and Mrs. Keil have had these children : Josephine, wife of Charles Schrader, of Lima; Mary, wife of Lawrence Townsend, of Lima; Mildred, wife of Stephen Churchill, of Lima; Clara, wife of P. M. Magley, of Kenton, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of .Dr. Frank Steiner, of Lima; and a babe which died in infancy.
Mr. Keil has always been considered a man of sound business judgment. He has been a good citizen and enjoys the respect and friendly regard of his neighbors and fellow-citizens.
EMUEL EVERSOLE, a prominent agriculturist of Jackson township, re- siding on his farm in section 28. rep- resents the sturdy, independent spirit of our American manhood which has overcome all obstacles encountered in the high- ways of life and has made our people honored and respected among the nations of the world. Left an orphan in early childhood. he has worked his way, unaided, to an independent position. He is one of the large land-owners of Allen County, having 360 acres of well-im-
GEORGE HALL, D. D. S.
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proved land, upon which he makes his home. Mr. Eversole was born October 30, 1829, in Perry County, Ohio, and is a son of Peter and Rebecca (Snyder) Eversole, being one of seven children that grew to adult years, viz: Eliza, Catherine, Francis, Nancy, Lemuel, Rebecca and Daniel.
When our subject was a child of two years, his parents moved to Sandusky County where they died four years later, in 1835, within a month of each other. Left alone in the world, Lemuel was taken into the home of his uncle, John Eversole, of Perry County, where he re- mained until he was 17. Educational oppor- tunities were meagre and consisted of a short term of schooling each winter. He was appren- ticed to learn the carpenter's trade, and for the three years thus engaged was given his clothes and $30. Within three months after his time had expired, he was on his way to California to seek his fortune in the gold fields, During the two years spent in mining and gold- washing, he did not make a fortune and decided to return to his native State. In the spring of 1852 he came to Allen County where he pur- chased a tract of wild land and secured work for the winter in the cabinet-shop of Musser & Winn, of Lima. For another six years he worked at his trade in the eastern part of the county, living frugally and saving his earnings so that he was able, by selling his first purchase, to buy his present property. In 1872 he built a large, substantial bank barn, and three years later his pleasant brick home, one of the most attractive in the county.
He was married July 8, 1855, to Sarah Nash, who was born
July II, 1837, and was a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Akins) Nash, early set- tlers of this county. They were the parents of 12 children, viz: George W., Eliza J., wife of L. B. Harrod: Frank J., John E., Charles A., Elva C., Daniel B., Nettie B., Lemuel N., Aura D., Ralph and a child that died in infancy. Mr. Eversole is a member of the Christian Church. He is a Republican and a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted as a 100 day man in May, 1864. in Company A, 15Ist Reg .. Ohio Vol. Inf., under Captain King, of Del-
phos, with the rank of 2nd corporal. Mr. Ever- sole is a prominent Odd Fellow. He has served as township trustee and on the School Board and has never failed to put his shoulder to the wheel when the voice of duty called him.
EORGE HALL, D. D. S., one of Lima's leading professional men and formerly postmaster of this city for a period of nine years, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, was born in 1842 in Iowa, and is a son of the late Harrison Hall, who was once the leading contractor in this city, dying here in 1902 at the age of 88 years.
George Hall was educated at Cornell Col- lege, Mount Vernon, Iowa, and began the study of medicine and dentistry with Dr. Car- hart, of that city. At the outbreak of the Civil War, although but 18 years of age and with a promising career before him in professional life, he enlisted in the three months' service but was not mustered in the United States service because the Iowa quota was filled. The Doctor then re-enlisted in the three years' service on the call for 300,000 men. Dr. Hall's entire term of service covered four years and four months, at the close of the first three years re-enlisting as a veteran. The young soldier participated in all the battles in which his command was engaged until July 22, 1864, when in front of Atlanta, he was made a prisoner of war, the entire com- mand being captured at the same time. As a prisoner he was remanded to Andersonville where three wretched months were spent ; three of almost equal misery were passed at Flor- ence, South Carolina, and one month at Char- leston, where on the third attempt he accom- plished his escape. This was done by jumping from a moving train near Wilmington, North Carolina.
Dr. Hall had then been imprisoned just seven months to a day, and did not purpose be- ing again subjected to the horrors from which he had escaped. Cautiously he made his way to Wilmington, then occupied by the Confeder- ates, and fortunately found a Union family
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willing to secrete him and give him necessary food and raiment. After remaining with these good Samaritans for six days, the city was taken by the Federal forces, and as soon as pos- sible he reported to the commander, General Perry. The exposure brought on a violent ill- ness and he was sent to the hospital at Annapo- lis, where he spent 2 months. His honorable discharge was received on July 21, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky.
Dr. Hall then joined his parents at Lima, whither they had removed during the war, and as soon as he was fully restored to health he es- tablished a dental practice in which he has vir- tually been engaged since 1867, although much of his time has been occupied in the dis- charge of duties of a public nature. President Harrison appointed him postmaster at Lima and he served also under Presidents Mckinley and Roosevelt, having always been more or less prominent in political matters in this section of the State. The affairs of his city have also claimed his interest. He has frequently been elected a member of the City Council and has been president of that body. He served two terms on the Board of Education of Lima, and among thoughtful citizens he is recognized as one of the strong men of the community.
In 1875 Dr. Hall was married to E. Vir- ginia Hackedorn, who is a daughter of George G. Hackedorn, long engaged in a banking bus- iness here. Fraternally, Dr. Hall is prominent in Masonry, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Council, Chapter and Commandery at Lima. He is also an Odd Fellow. He has been one of the moving spirits in Grand Army circles here; has been commander of Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, and has served as a member of the ad- ministrative committee of the Department of Ohio, G. A. R.
R. MORRIS, who was recently elected mayor of Elida, is a member of the firm of Morris Brothers, dealers in general merchandise and in staple and fancy groceries, and was born in Elida June 17, 1875, and is a son of the late J. N. Morris.
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