USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 15
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On January 18, 1885, William J. Irwin was united in mar- riage with Miss Catherine Dwyer, a daughter of Martin and Mary Dwyer, and they have had five children : William Joseph, Mary Beatrice, Helen Celia, Catherine A. and Irene. William J., Jr., is in the employ of his father. He married Annie Maher and they have three children, Mary Catherine, Elizabeth Ann, and Jane Frances. The other children of William J. Irwin, Sr., are living with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin are consistent and devout members of the Roman Catholic Church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Columbus and Elks. Politically, he is a Democrat, but has never sought
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public notice, his time being fully occupied with his extensive operations.
Mrs. Irwin was born in Darke county, Ohio, but comes of Irish stock, as her parents were born in County Tipperary, Ire- land. Her mother died in 1896, and her father the following year, they having had the following family: Thomas, Daniel, William, Frank, Emma, and Catherine, the first three of whom are deceased.
Mr. Irwin built the first system of sewers ever built in the Republic of Mexico, while Don Ahuamada was Governor of the State of Chihauhau.
JOHN H. FELTMAN.
In reviewing the career of any successful man the biographer finds that each one has had some objective point towards which to work for human destiny, like a vessel, if left to float aimlessly, seldom arrives at any desirable harbor, but usually runs aground. With a definite object in view and the will power and ability to direct him, any man, no matter how dis- couraging his beginning, can achieve something in the world and make his name stand for a fulfilled purpose. John H. Felt- man, dealer in flour, feed, grain and agricultural implements at Ansonia, has proven the truth of the above statements in his life, and many times when circumstances have seemed dis- advantageous, has encouraged himself with the thought that eventually he would succeed because he was working along strictly honorable lines, owing no man and giving to each one a fair deal. His present prosperity does not come from any inherited wealth of fostering parental care, for he was left an orphan before he had passed his first milestone, but this lack of family influence has given him self-reliance, sturdiness of char- acter and a determination to win no matter what the odds against him.
John H. Feltman was born in Mississinawa township, Darke county, Ohio, June 6, 1866, a son of William Feltman, or as he spelled his name, "Feldermann" according to the German method for he was a native of Hamburg, Germany, where his wife was also born. Coming to the United States in young manhood, William Feltman located in Greenville, Ohio, taking unto himself a wife, and there became one of the prosperous
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early merchants of that place. Later he went on a farm in Mississinawa township, and was living there when he was drafted for service as a soldier during the Civil war. He reached Camp Chase but was there stricken with pneumonia, for he was not used to exposure, and died from it, aged about fifty-four years. His wife died about six weeks later, being then about forty-nine years of age. Both were German Luth- erans in religious faith. They had had six children, as follows: William, who resides in Wabash township, Darke county ; Amelia, deceased, who was the wife of Daniel Thompson; Fred, who resides at Springfield, Ill .; Mary, who is unmarried; Lena L., who married a Mr. Leeleg, now resides at San Fran- cisco, California ; and John H.
As he was only six months old when left an orphan, John H. Feltman was naturally thrown upon the world, but was fortunate for he was taken by Joseph Zerby, who with his ex- cellent wife, cared for the child as though he had been con- nected with them by ties of blood, and in time his pleasing characteristics won their love. These foster parents gave the lad educational advantages, sending him to the schools of Beamsville, where Joseph Zerby conducted a grocery store. As John H. Feltman grew old enough, he assisted in this store, but early developed business ability of no usual order. Recog- nizing this, Mr. Zerby soon called upon his young charge to make trades for him, and later he went out through the coun- try to buy furs, which were shipped to Fort Wayne and Green- castle. Later John H. Feltman drove a huckster's wagon and traveled about buying poultry. Seeing an opportunity for a good investment, he bought a vacant lot at Beamsville and there fed some stock and poultry to get them into a better shape for the market. He also raised several crops of tobacco upon his land, for this ambitious young fellow was experi- menting to find out which line he had better follow. Finally he decided to devote himself to stock buying, and carried on a heavy business in that line for a few years when he married and located on a farm owned by Enos Woods. Two years were spent upon this property, when he felt that he could do better in an urban community, and began shipping stock once more, although at the same time he attended to his father-in-law's farm in Jackson township. His business interests then becom- ing so heavy, he came to Ansonia, where he continued ship- ping stock from 1900 to 1901. In the latter year he built an elevator at St. Henry, and operated it for eight months. Re-
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ceiving an excellent offer for the property he disposed of it to Fox Hess of Cold Water, Ohio, and returning to Ansonia, Mr. Feltman bought a fourth interest in the elevator and mill owned by W. J. Ross & Company, in 1903. Later Mr. Feltman sold the elevator to C. E. Harmony and a Mr. Marshall, and in 1908, the partnership was dissolved. For the following year Mr. Feltman carried on the milling business, but then dis- continued manufacturing flour and embarked in the agricul- tural implement and grain business which he has since car- ried on so profitably, having now two places, and buying and selling hay and grain, and dealing in flour, feed, and agri- cultural implements, as well as gravel, sand, coal, sewer and flue lining, and manufacturing cement blocks. In these vari- ous changes it can be readily seen that John H. Feltman has accommodated himself and his business to the changes in pub- lic demand, and his far-sighted outlook has often enabled him to grasp opportunities other men have neglected to observe.
On October 18, 1893, John H. Feltman was married to Miss Alera B. Rahn, a daughter of George W. and Pauline (Bailey) Rahn. Mr. and Mrs. Feltman became the parents of three children : Lucile L., who was graduated from the Ansonia high schools, class of 1912; George R. and Charles E., who are both attending school at Ansonia. Mr. and Mrs. Feltman connected themselves with the Christian church of Teegarden, Brown township. He belongs to Ansonia Lodge No. 605, I. O. O. F., and also to the Encampment No. 285. Both he and his wife are members of the Rebekahs. Mr. Feltman also be- longs to Ansonia Lodge No. 356, K. P. Politically, Mr. Felt- man held to the principles of the Republican party until the candidacy of Mr. Mckinley, when he felt that those of the Democratic party more nearly represented his ideas and he has since held to the latter, and is now serving as corporation treasurer and treasurer of the school board, in both offices displaying the same faithful adherence to what he believes is right, as characterizes his private dealings. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Feltman has invested in Ansonia prop- erty, now owning three pieces of realty in that community, and his faith in its growth and development is being justified by their advance in value.
Mrs. Feltman was born in Brown township, Darke county, Ohio, as were her parents. The latter now reside at Green- ville, Ohio. The children born to George W. Rahn and wife were eight in number and as follows : Alera B., J. Clifford (de-
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ceased), Emma, Vermille, Harriet, Opal, Georgiana (de- ceased), Charles R. George W. Rahn was a son of Levi Rahn.
John H. Feltman is proud of the fact that he is essentially a self-made man, although he gives due credit to the training of his foster parents with whom he remained until he was twenty-seven years old, repaying them many times in affec- tion, as well as loyal assistance for their care of him in his helpless infancy. His success in life is not confined to his material prosperity, for he has laid up a richer treasure for himself and his children in the esteem and confidence he has awakened and maintains among those with whom he was brought into contact, both in a business and a social way. Mrs. Feltman is equally popular and through her the children trace back to two of the old families of Darke county, the Rahns and Baileys.
THOMAS A. LECKLIDER.
The really useful men of a community are those in whom their fellow citizens can rely in affairs of public importance ; to whom they can come for assistance in seasons of financial dis- tress; men who have won this confidence by the wisdom of their own investments and by the honorable lives they have led on every field of effort and as neighbors and as friends. Very often, in prosperous towns, these men are retired farmers, frequently they are bankers and in not a few cases it will be found that they are former officials of the county in which they reside. Such a one in every particular is Thomas A. Leck- lider, vice-president of the Greenville National Bank, a retired farmer, and a man possessed of a mind fertile in resources, means and expedients. He was born three miles north of Greenville, Ohio, April 14, 1838, and is a son of George C. and Sarah (Ader) Lecklider, and grandson of Daniel and Sarah Lecklider. Daniel Lecklider was born in Montgomery county, Ohio. He and his wife had the following children: Betsy, George C., Daniel, Louis, Samuel and Josiah. The maternal grandfather of Thomas A. Lecklider was born in Pennsylvania, and he had the following children: Samuel, Jacob, Louis, Thomas and Sarah.
George C. Lecklider and his wife were born in Pennsylvania, but he moved from his native state to Dayton, Ohio, and for a time was engaged in agricultural pursuits, operating in the vi-
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cinity of that city. Later he moved to Darke county, arriving in this locality as early as 1825, at a time when very little of the land had been cleared, the major portion being covered with dense forests. He located three miles north of Green- ville, where he cleared off and developed a fine farm, and reared his family upon it. There he died in 1875, aged about eighty-one years. During the War of 1812, he served as a soldier. His wife died about 1852, firm in the faith of the Reformed Church, to which her husband also belonged. They had the following children: Louisa, deceased, who married Washington Ehrhart; William, deceased, who was a promi- nent man; Lydia Ann, deceased, who married Squire Passon ;. Eliza, who is deceased; Mary Jane, deceased, who married Jacob Schultz; and Thomas A., whose name heads this review.
Thomas A. Lecklider was reared upon his father's home- stead and learned farming in its every detail, being able to do a man's work while attending the schools of his district. Until he had passed his fiftieth milestone, he lived upon this homestead of 160 acres of as fine land as can be found in Green- ville township, and still owns it, it having come into his pos- session. To the original holdings, he added 100 acres, and so now has 260 acres. Upon this property he has made many important improvements, for he takes a pride in its condition, and seeks to keep it up and maintain the high standard he set long ago. However, he resides at Greenville, owning his comfortable residence at No. 303 Washington avenue, that city. A Democrat by conviction, he was on the school board for many years, and in 1884 was elected sheriff of Darke county, at which time he moved to Greenville, and held that office for four years. Another native of Ohio once held the same office, and was promoted to increase responsibilities until he not only reached the gubernatorial chair of Ohio, but that of the chief executive of the United States. Mr. Lecklider is now vice- president of the Greenville National Bank, and the oldest stock- holder of that institution.
On December 25, 1867, Mr. Lecklider married Miss Nancy Wright, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Price) Wright, and they became the parents of one son, Harry T., who is assistant cashier of the bank of which his father is vice-president. He was graduated from the Greenville High School and Jacobs Business College of Dayton, Ohio. Mrs. Lecklider is a mem- ber of the Reformed Church. Mr. Lecklider has belonged to the Odd Fellows for over forty-five years and is a member
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of Champion Lodge No. 742, of Greenville, of which he is a charter member. Although he is seventy-five years old, his clean, wholesome living, and vigorous constitution make him appear much younger. His association with the affairs of Darke county during all of his mature years, has made him conversant with existing conditions, and he is justly regarded as one of its best informed and responsible citizens, a man in - whom implicit trust can be placed on all occasions.
Mrs. Lecklider was born in Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, and resided there until 1865, when she was brought by her parents to Darke county, they passing away at Greenville, having had six children, as follows: Clinton, Theodore, George, Lee, Nancy and Mary Jane.
S. HOWARD SWOPE.
It is difficult to define genius or to circumscribe its direc- tion. In some the divine fire lights the way that leads to letters; in others it urges its possessor to become a disciple of the brush and palette, while again it makes of him a mu- sician. True art cannot be learned; genius is not taught but is a gift from on high. Study will enable a man to properly ex- press his genius, but the torch has to be lighted from within. Those who possess the temperament of a true artist experience many rebuffs, their spirits grow weary for lack of real apprecia- tion, but they are ever sustained by a realization of what their art means to them, and even if during life true recognition is denied them, posterity will acknowledge the debt owed to one who bore witness to the genius which inspired him. S. How- ard Swope is one of Greenville's talented musicians whose compositions prove his right to belong to those destined from the beginning to make sacrifices on the altar of harmony. He was born at Richmond, Ind., September 30, 1869, a son of Samuel and Lotta (Aichberg) Swope.
Samuel Swope and his wife were born in Bavaria, Germany, and became the parents of two sons, namely: James, who died October 23, 1904, aged thirty-nine years; and S. Howard, whose name heads this sketch. James was in the theatrical business for some years, the brothers being in partnership, operating under the stage name of the Whitney Brothers, and he, like S. Howard, composed music. Growing up in his native land,
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Samuel Swope was engaged in manufacturing and wholesaling silk fabrics at Munich. Coming to America at the age of twenty-five years, he located for a time in Tennessee, where he became interested in handling cotton, but with the outbreak of the Civil war, his business relations were interrupted, and because he would not throw his influence with the Confederacy, he lost all he possessed. Refusing to join his neighbors, he enlisted in the Union army and was made a quartermaster, but when he was taken sick within a few months he was dis- charged on account of disability. Subsequently he established himself at Cincinnati, Ohio, as a manufacturer of boys cloth- ing, and there he married and moved to Richmond, Ind., to become a merchant tailor, continuing as such for a long period. When his health failed, necessitating a change, he went into a millinery business at Camden, Ohio, operating it with the as- sistance of his wife. They came to Greenville, Ohio, in 1885, continuing their millinery business in this city, where Mrs. Swope died in 1897, being then sixty-seven years old. Mr. Swope survived her until 1906, when he passed away in May of that year, aged eighty years, lacking twenty days.
S. Howard Swope was eleven years old when the family moved from Richmond, Ind., and he began his educational training in that city, continuing it at Camden, where he went to the public schools. Before leaving Richmond he commenced studying music under Prof. NaVere when he was only seven years old, and for two years, between the ages of twelve and fourteen years, he attended the Cincinnati College of Music, being graduated therefrom under Prof. Schmidt. Alhough he never relinquished his ambitious desire to devote himself ex- clusively to music, Mr. Swope, like many another genius, was forced to allow his talent to lie dormant while for a period he gave attention to the practical things of life, going into a mer- cantile business at Portsmouth, Ohio, where he handled gent's furnishing goods and clothing for a year. In 1886 he came to Greenville and learned the photographing business under the instruction of Mader Brothers and R. D. Been. Although then only seventeen years old, Mr. Swope was made a traveling salesman for Lyon & Healy of Chicago, and represented that firm on the road for several months, when he resigned to ac- cept the management of the Academy of Music and director- ship of the Concordia Orchestra and Choral Society of Lynch- burg, Va. For the following two years he filled these posi- tions, discharging the onerous duties with distinction, notwith-
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standing his youth, and could have remained there as long as he liked, but he then organized the first musician's organi- zation in the South, with headquarters at Birmingham, Ala., and at the age of twenty-one years was made musical director of Henderson's production of the "Crystal Slipper," which com- pany opened the new Duquesne Theatre at Pittsburg, Pa. Mr. Swope was never a man to rest upon laurels already gained, and in 1903 he formed a partnership with his brother, James, and they played in all the principal cities of the country, being billed as the Whitney Brothers, and, completing their tour of the United States went to Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France and Austria, their successful career as entertainers be- ing only terminated by the death of James Swope. In the meanwhile the brothers had opened a musical house at Green- ville, Ohio, under their own name, and published musical pro- ductions and sold musical instruments, in their absence the affairs being under the direction of R. W. Mann. Mr. Swope is also an artist with the violin and taught it during his earlier years. With the death of his brother, he formed a partnership in the musical business with E. C. Jobes and they continued together for two years, but since then Mr. Swope has been alone. His energies were directed for four years, from 1909 to July 15, 1913, toward selling automobiles, he doing a flourish- ing business along that line in addition to his other affairs, but on the latter date he disposed of his automobile business to E. R. Swenger. This remarkable young man has accomplished still more, for he is a successful composer and producer of mus- ical productions, among them being a musical comedy, '(Flo Flo," "Lower Berth 13," which he has played in the leading cities of the country, and at present he is at work on a musical comedy entitled "The Bewitching Maid." Mr. Swope is also the composer of several pretentious instrumental sketches, among which may be mentioned "Mosquito Parade," of which over 1,000,000 copies have already been sold; "The Mouse in the Clock," "Frog Puddles," "Sunman," and others. His latest composition is "The Frolic of the Sheets." Mr. Swope is proud of the fact that he and his brother were commanded to play before the Queen of England and Edward, the Prince of Wales, who was later King Edward, in 1900, for none Dut those of highest merit are so honored.
On September 3, 1906, Mr. Swope was married to Miss Lucy E. Payne, a daughter of Henry H. and Lucy E. (Eidson) Payne, and they have one child, who is named Lotta Eleanor.
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Mr. Swope belongs to the Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the U. C. T. and the Junior Order of the United American Me- chanics, the Lambs and the Anchor Society. He is also one of the charter members of the White Rats. In politics he is a Republican.
Mrs. Swope was born at Somerville, Ohio, and her parents were born in the same State as she. On March 12, 1913, her father passed away, dying at Camden, Ohio, but her mother survives, making her home at Camden. They had two chil- dren, Lucy E. and Cora G.
Mr. Swope is a musician with great gifts which he has never degraded, although he believes in turning them to ac- count so as to afford high-grade amusement for the masses. For the work which he is still laboring to accomplish, he is ad- mirably fitted and well equipped, bringing to it profound mus- ical scholarship, exceptional technical skill and inherent quali- ties of leadership, and although he has already added much to the music of his country, there is every probability, if not certainty, that what has gone before is but faint indication of what the future holds for him and his followers.
THOMAS A. BILLINGSLEY.
To properly interpret the law in all its complexities and un- erringly apply its provisions to establish human rights and de- feat injustice, demands such a comprehensive knowledge not only of books but of life itself, that he who reaches a high plane in this profession must command more than negative con- sideration in the minds of his fellow .men. . It is told in both history and romance that a kind of law is upheld among sav- ages, but when explained it resolves itself into the old axiom that "might makes right," and in modern, civilized life it be- comes the task of the exponent of the law to overcome this only too prevalent idea. Hence, on a solid educational founda- tion must be built up a thorough knowledge of what law means to the present day man and how it can be applied to circumvent evil, protect the helpless and bring happiness and safety to the deserving. Holding as he does such high princi- ples as embodied in the above, it is no wonder that Thomas A. Billingsley, attorney-at-law, of Greenville, Ohio, has risen so high in his profession, for contrary to the opinion which pre-
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vails among some, right thinking and high living do advance a man, while chicanery of any kind will in the end pull him down to the level of unwholesome thoughts and deeds. Mr. Billingsley was born in Miami county, Ohio, in the vicinity of Covington, April 4, 1880, a son of John E. and Emma (Har- wood) Billingsley, and grandson of Thomas and Mary (Lucky) Billingsley, and John and Frances Harwood.
The paternal grandfather of Thomas A. Billingsley, Thomas Billingsley, and his wife were born in Ohio, and were farming people who died on the homestead in Miami county, he at the age of sixty-three years, and she when eighty-six years old. Their only child was John E. John Harwood and his wife were natives of Nottinghamshire, England, but came to the United States, first settling in New York State, and later came to southern Ohio and lived at various places, he being an old circuit rider of the Methodist Church. His wife died in middle life, having borne him seven children: John, Thomas, Kate, Hattie, Mary, Emma and Robert.
John E. Billingsley was born in Miami county, Ohio, while his wife was born in New York State. He spent his life upon the farm still his home, which was taken from the government by his grandfather. This property contains eighty acres, all finely improved, and upon it his children were reared. His wife passed away in 1909, aged fifty-eight years, firm in the faith of the Methodist Church, of which she was a conscien- tious member. Their children were as follows: Thomas A., whose name heads this review; Roy, who resides in Miami county, Ohio; and Albert, who also resides in Miami county.
Thomas A. Billingsley spent his boyhood as any normal farmer's son, assisting his parents. with the farm work and attending the district schools, but within his breast glowed a spark of ambition, which he fanned into a flame by taking pri- vate instruction and then entering the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity spent two years in that institution. In pursuance of his plans, he then began to study law, and completed his legal course in the Ohio State University, being admitted to the bar in June, 1902, following which he practiced his profession at Versailles, Ohio, until 1910, when he located at Greenville and now has offices in the Allen building on West Fourth street, while his residence is at No. 408 North Broadway.
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