USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 52
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On September 18, 1877, Mr. Brandon married Miss Josephine S., daughter of William Archard, who has been county com- missioner of Darke county. Her grandfather, David Mauzy, served as a member of the Ohio Legislature from Darke
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county and died at the Neill House, Columbus. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brandon : William T. is mar- ried and has two children, Margaret J. and William Webster; Harry P. and Mary Josephine, unmarried; Archard, who is married and has no issue.
In politics Mr. Brandon is independent, believing it right to elect the man to office who is best fitted to serve the interests of the people, regardless of politics. He is a member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, and also of the Masonic Order, having joined the latter at Greenville in 1886. The family have a pleasant home at 118 Miami avenue, Columbus. They are well remembered in Greenville, where they lived several years, and have many friends there.
IRA H. MARTIN.
Ira H. Martin is a representative citizen of Darke county and has a pleasant home in Greenville. He owns a fine eighty acre farm on Gettysburg pike, Adams township, about four miles from the city, but is employed as a railway mail clerk for the government. He is a native of the county, born on a farm in Washington township, March 12, 1871, son of Joseph and Jane (Van Fleet) Martin. The father, a native of the same township, was a son of Hugh and Eve (Cox) Mar- tin, and was born July 8, 1834. He was a man of education and enterprise. He spent several years in mercantile business, but later engaged in farming, where he was successful in a grati- fying degree.
Hugh Martin came to Ohio from Pennsylvania with his parents when a young man and with them lived for a time in Trumbull county and from there the family came to Darke county. Here he was married to Eve Cox October 2, 1823. She was born in Pennsylvania October 23, 1796, and came with her parents to Ohio in 1816. Her parents settled on West Branch in Darke county, where her father secured 1,600 acres of land from the United States government at $1.25 per acre. From that she inherited one hundred and sixty acres.
The mother was born on Broadway, New York City, daugh- ter of John D. and Eleanor N. (Doty) Van Fleet, her father being a blacksmith on Broadway at the time of her birth.
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From New York City her parents moved to some place in New Jersey, where her mother passed away. The father mar- rid again and later moved to Darke county, Ohio, where he bought a farm which he sold after a few years and moved to Wabash county, Indiana. In later years he came back to Darke county and lived near Coletown, surviving to the age of about eighty years. He and his second wife are buried at what is known as Sharpeye cemetery. He was son of Cornelius and Sophia (Cole) Van Fleet, the former of whom was born April 30, 1766, and the latter July 5, 1773.
Joseph Martin was married in Darke county about 1859 or 1860, and Ira H. is the youngest of their six children, and a twin. Ida M. is unmarried and lives on the Martin homestead in Washington township, making her home with a brother; Charles died in infancy ; Francis M. died at the age of eighteen years; John, who owns and lives on the old home place, mar- ried Elizabeth Landers and they have two sons, Ray and Charles ; Ora H. and Ira H. are twins. Ora H. married Jessie Kurts, lives in Richmond, Ind., and they have two daughters, Hildred and Rebecca. He is employed as a railway mail clerk. The mother of these children died in 1880 and the father April 2, 1907, and both are interred in Manuel cemetery near Cole- town. The father was a Democrat in political belief; he never took much active part in political affairs.
Mr. Martin received a good education and at the age of twenty years began teaching a country school, following the profession eleven years. He looked ahead during the time to the day when he could engage in something that would give him employment throughout the year and insure a good in- come, and in September, 1902, took examination for railway postal clerk, entering the service in April, 1903. He has been successful in making a good record and in March, 1912, bought his farm, on which he has made many improvements. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is pleasant and genial in manner and has made many firm friends. He is well known in the community as a man of upright habits and good principles, as well as for his enterprise and public spirit.
On August 25, 1897, Mr. Martin married Miss Ella Protz- man, a native of Franklin township, Darke county, and daugh- ter of William and Nancy (Marker) Protzman.
One child has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Martin,
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Eugene Lowell, born in Greenville, September 12, 1905. Mrs. Martin is a member of the Pythian Sisters and has filled the office of Senior and Most Excellent Chief. She is also a char- ter member of the Coterie club.
JOHN S. SIMON.
A man of simple, unaffected dignity, kind-hearted and re- markably industrious, John S. Simon has always held the high respect of his kindred and business associates, and won a suc- cess which is well deserved. In his business relations he was sagacious, but never was too much occupied with them to neglect his duties as a citizen or his responsibilities to his family. He was born at Versailles, Ohio, where he now lives retired, July 27, 1847, a son of George S. and Frances (Begin) Simon, and grandson of John N. and Jane Simon, and John Joseph Begin. John N. Simon and his wife located about two and one-half miles northeast of Versailles upon their immigra- tion from France to America. There they became the owners of one hundred and sixty acres of land and reared their family. They died upon that property which is still in the family, when he was eighty-seven years old, and she eighty years old. They had four children, namely : Sebastian, who was in the French army and came here two years after his father; George S .; John N., Jr .; and Matilda, who married John N. Gasson and is now deceased as is her husband. John Begin, the maternal grandfather of John S. Simon came to America with his wife and family on the same boat with the Simon family, they too, being natives of France. Mrs. Begin died when still com- paratively a young woman, but he lived to be eighty-seven years old. They had four children : Frances, Mary, Celestine and Joseph.
George S. Simon was only nineteen years old when the final severing of native ties took place and the family came to America. The sailing vessel upon which they embarked in 1839, consumed sixty-three days on the voyage, and the little party landed at Versailles, Ohio, June 20 of that year. For the following forty years George S. Simon was a merchant at Versailles, and was a man of more than ordinary attainments, having been well educated in his native land, and spoke both French and English fluently. A brother of his served for seven
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years in the French army, but he escaped service by coming to America. He and his wife were schoolmates and knew each other all their lives. The death of this excellent man occurred in 1901 when he was eighty-one years old, he having been born in 1821. His wife, who was born in 1819, died in 1896, aged seventy-seven years. Originally Catholics, they departed from that creed to become members of the Christian (Disciple) church. For several terms, George S. Simon served his town- ship as treasurer. He and his wife had four children, namely: John S .; George, who died unmarried when thirty years old, Mary M., who married J. C. Turpin of Red Key, Ind., and Catherine, deceased, who was the wife of Valentine Arbaugh.
John S. Simon has spent his life at Versailles and has passed through many changes, for he remembers the time when he and his mother gathered wild blackberries on the sites of the Christian and Methodist churches and the school house. He used to shoot ducks that frequented a pond then occupying the lot on which the Cashman residence now stands. During his boyhood he attended the Versailles school, and when only thirteen years old began to make himself useful in his father's store, later becoming the buyer for the clothing and boot and shoe departments. Subsequently he conducted a business of his own on the corner now occupied by Leonard Marker, con- tinuing in this line until he was elected county treasurer in 1884, and in order to attend to the duties, moved to the county seat and resided there for four years. Returning to Versailles he conducted a "racket store" until his retirement in 1909, since which time he has not been engaged in an acive participa- tion in business affairs. Until four years ago, Mr. Simon en- joyed almost perfect health, but at that time had the mis- fortune to be stricken down with sciatic rheumatism, from which he has never fully recovered, and compelled to enter into retirement.
On April 15, 1868, John S. Simon married Amanda Brush, a daughter of William Brush. Mr. and Mrs. Simon became the parents of two children : Harry, who is clerking at Cincinnati, Ohio, and Margaret, who married a Mr. Gutheil and he died at Greenville, where he was buried. Mr. and Mrs. Gutheil had three sons, Cecil, Harry and Charles. After the death of her first husband, Margaret married (second) a Mr. Chubb and has one daughter, Margaret Chubb. John S. Simon lost his first wife, and he married (second) Maggie M. Seibert, a daughter of John and Eusebia (Fitts) Seibert, and they have
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one son, George M. Simon, who is clerking at Zanesville, Ohio. Mrs. Maggie M. Simon was born at Greenville, Ohio, but her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The former died some years ago, but his wife is still living. They had five children : Hattie, Daisy, Maggie M., Harry and Charles Seibert. Mrs. Simon and her son belong to the Chris- tian church. Fraternally, Mr. Simon belongs to Versailles Lodge No. 290, F. & A. M., and is also a Chapter and Com- mandery Mason. Politically, he has always supported the doc- trines of the Democratic party, and has given expression to his views when he thought his action would produce the most good. For several years he was township clerk, and for the same length of time served on the school board, while for nine years he was a justice of the peace. In every line of endeavor he has proven himself a man of character and no one ever had cause to regret placing implicit confidence in him or his judgment.
Mr. Simon has the Bible, in three volumes, published in 1702, left him by his father and formerly his grandfather's. It is now the property of his son, George M. Simon, having been in four Simon generations.
WILLIAM V. KELLEY.
William V. Kelley, a prominent business man of Chicago. Ill., is a member of one of Darke, county's pioncer families His father took an active part in public affairs in Greenville and vicinity and was one of the leading merchants of Green- ville. Mr. Kelley was born at Gratis, Ohio, February 13, 1861. son of William J. and Susan E. (Taylor) Kelley, both natives of Ohio. William J. Kelley located on a farm near Greenville in 1865 and was one of the more successful and substantial farmers of the region. In later life he located in Greenville. where he operated the leading dry goods and hardware store. He was widely known and served for a time as cor nty auditor. He was a man of great public spirit and interested himself in various local enterprises. He was a prominent member of the Odd Fellows' organization and largely instrumental in the project of the erection of the Greenville opera house. His death occurred in 1889 and he was buried in Greenville cemetery. His widow survived until November 29, 1912, passing away in Chi-
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cago, and her remains were brought to Greenville and laid to rest beside those of her husband.
When about eight years old William V. Kelley began at- tendance at Greenville public schools, at the age of eighteen graduating from the high school.
He subsequently took a commercial course in Cincinnati, remaining one year in that city. Upon returning to Greenville he was employed as bookkeeper in his father's store, and in 1883 accepted a position as bookkeeper and salesman with W. W. Diehl Hardware Company, of Springfield, Ohio, with whom he remained about two years, leaving to become asso- ciated with Springfield Malleable Iron Company, with whom he remained until January 1, 1888. At that time he entered the employ of Charles Scott Spring Company, of Philadelphia, manufacturers of railway car and locomotive springs, remain- ing with that company until August, 1897.
In 1897 Mr. Kelley organized the Simplex Railway Appli- ance Company, in Chicago. Their plant was located in Ham- mond, Ind., where they manufactured car bolsters, brake beams and car and locomotive springs. On January 1, 1905, this business was sold to the American Steel Foundries, and in August of the same year Mr. Kelley was elected president of the concern, which post he retained until 1912, when he re- signed to take the position of chairman of the company, which office he resigned in March, 1914, although he is still a director of the company. In 1902 Mr. Kelley broadened the field of op- erations of the concern and organized the Simplex Railway Appliance Company of Canada, with headquarters at Mont- real. This concern engaged in the manufacture of bolsters, brake beams and similar goods. The name of this concern was subsequently changed to Dominion Car & Foundry Company, the capital stock increased and a new plant built, where they manufactured their former line of goods and in addition steel freight cars. In consolidation operations this company in 1912 was sold to the Canadian Car & Foundry Company and Mr. Kelley's connection with it ceased from that date, as he re- ceived cash for his share in the enterprise.
In 1910 Mr. Kelley bought a controlling interest in the Miehle Printing Press and Manufacturing Company, of Chi- cago, without doubt at the present time the largest concern of its kind in the world. He has become associated with vari- ous other business enterprises and among his other interests is a stockholder and director in the Continental & Commercial
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National Bank, the second largest bank in the United States. He is also a stockholder and director in the Union Trust Com- pany of Chicago; stockholder and director with the Phoenix Horse Shoe Company, and holds similar posts with the Wahl Adding Machine Company. Mr. Kelley stands high in business circles, not only in Chicago, but also wherever he is known. His ability in the financial world is of a high order and it is such men who help produce the prosperity of a community and State.
Mr. Kelley was married, November 14, 1894, to Miss Lillian Phelps, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Orson Phelps, of Spring Green, Wisconsin, and later of Chicago. Four sons have blessed this union, all students in the Chicago schools: William V., Jr., Russell Phelps, Phelps and Gordon Phelps. The family reside at 1550 North State Parkway, and the of- fices of the Miehle Printing Press & Manufacturing Company are located at 1216-1218 Monadnock block, in the heart of the business district of Chicago. Although much engrossed in business Mr. Kelley and his wife are popular in club and social life, in which both are well known and prominent. He is a member of the following clubs: Chicago, Union League, Mid- Day, Chicago Athletic, Chicago Golf, Onwentsia, Glenview Golf, Exmoor Country, Old Elm Golf, South Shore Country and National Golf Links of America, as well as Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, near South Hampton, Long Island. Mr. Kelley is very popular in the various circles where his activi- ties lead him and his sterling qualities of mind and heart have won him a multitude of friends. He has identified himself with the city where he has his chief business interests, but has a. warm spot in his heart for the place of his birth and is held in high esteem by the citizens of his native county.
JAMES OSCAR STARR, M. D.
Dr. James (). Starr, leading physician and surgeon of Pits- burg, Ohio, has been located there since June, 1901, and has built up a large practice. He was born near Xenia, Ohio, No- vember 16, 1869, eldest child of John W. and Emily J. (Bond) Starr, both natives of Virginia and both now deceased. The father was born December 11, 1841, and the mother in 1846, and died January 16, 1913. They were the parents of five chil-
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dren, viz .: Dr. James Oscar, of this sketch ; Nettie, wife of Ira W. Reck of Gettysburg, Ohio; George W., an attorney resid- ing at Coquelle, southern Oregon; Maude, wife of Charles Wagamon of Bradford, Ohio; and Thomas L. of Toledo, Ohio. The Starr family came originally from England and settled in Virginia in an early day and from Virginia to Ohio when he was a young man and the mother a young woman. John W. Starr served in many of the important battles in the Civil war, being in Company B, Seventy-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, being in the service four years. He served at Shiloh and in most of the engagements where General Sherman commanded, going with him on the famous march from Atlanta to the sea, and was in the grand review at Washington. In early life he was a successful farmer, but in the latter part of his life he was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to take care of the flowers and grounds from Chicago eastward on that line from Bradford to Logansport, Ind., making his home at Ho- ratio, Ohio. While thus employed he was struck and killed by a train. He was an upright, industrious man, a patriotic citizen and well respected by all.
At the age of seven years Dr. Starr began attending the country school, four miles from home, walking most of the time to and fro. When he was about seventeen years old his parents moved to Darke county and for two years he attended school at Gettysburg. He then taught school seven years, thus earning and saving the money for his medical education, for he had that object in mind from early manhood. In 1895 he entered Starling Medical College at Columbus, and was gradu- ated in 1901 with honor in the class which was the first of the four-year medical course with the degree of M. D. During the last two years he spent there he was assistant clinical surgeon of St. Francis Hospital, Columbus, thus gaining valuable ex- perience and training in surgery and fitting himself for inde- pendent practice of his profession. He has a natural gift and liking for his life work and has gained the confidence of those with whom he.has been associated professionally. He stands well in his profession, is a member of the American Medical Association ; was the fourth vice-president of the Ohio State Medical Association (1910-1911) and in 1913 was president of the Darke County Medical Society. He is a stockholder and Manager of the Pitsburgh Cement Post Company, and is exam- iner for the New York Life, Northwestern and many other in- surance companies. Politically, he is a Republican and in relig-
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ion a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee. His wife is a member of the Sunday school. and is also superintendent of Junior Epworth League.
On June 25, 1899, Doctor Starr was united in marriage with Maude B. Thomas, daughter of Noah and Susan (Hooven) Thomas, of Horatio, Ohio, and two children have blessed their union : Suzanne, born June 25, 1902, and Robert J., born July 9, 1907. both students in the public schools of Pitsburg. Doctor Starr is prominent in Masonic circles and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order of American Mechanics. He has served as vice-councilor and as councilor. The family's beautiful home on Jefferson street was built in 1905. It is 40x46, including two rooms for office. It is two stories, basement and all modern improvements.
THOMAS C. MILLER.
The records of Darke county show that never before have there been so many able members of the bar within its con- fines. With innumerable important matters before the people which involve serious problems of jurisprudence, it is exceed- ingly necessary for the lawyer of today to be able to cope with them and lend his aid in obtaining justice. Because of the necessary qualifications for success, the modern attorney is being asked to occupy positions of trust and responsibility and his advice and co-operation are wanted in the handling of civic matters. Thomas C. Miller of Greenville, Ohio, is a lawyer who rightly belongs to the class defined above, while as a man he has justified the confidence felt in him by those who know his capabilities and recognize his merit. Mr. Miller was born at West Milton, Miami county, Ohio, February 25, 1841, a son of Samuel and Margaret (Bowman) Miller, natives of Charleston, Va., and Ohio, respectively. Thomas C. Miller is the only child born of their marriage. Samuel Miller was reared in Virginia, but came to Ohio about 1835, and locating in Miami county, operated a mill on Stillwater near Milton for a number of years. His death occurred in that locality when he was sixty-seven years old. His wife passed away at Greenville, when about the same age. They were earnest members of the Methodist church and good, Christian people.
Thomas C. Miller grew up at West Milton, where he was
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given but a limited education. From childhood, however, he was an omnivorous reader and by close personal application made himself a well-informed person long before he began the study of law, and this general information has proved of in- estimable value to him in his practice. While still a lad he began trading horses and was thus engaged when the Civil war broke out. The patriotic young man did not hesitate but enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Tenth Ohio vol- unteer infantry and served for two years as a private, par- ticipating in a number of important engagements, escaping without serious injury. Returning home, after the close of his period of service, Mr. Miller began studying law, and in 1874 was admitted to the bar, and immediately thereafter entered upon a general practice at Troy, Ohio, from whence he came to Greenville in 1892, and has since continued here, being as- sociated with some of the most important jurisprudence of the county. Prior to his admission to the bar, he represented several of his friends in suits, winning the first two. His suc- cess attracted the attention of E. P. Kellogg, an attorney of Milton, who induced Mr. Miller to study under him, and en- couraged him in every way. The success which Mr. Miller has experienced is all the more remarkable in that he is almost entirely self-taught, and indicates that he had much natural ability and a keen insight into human nature which have been valuable aids to him.
Thomas C. Miller was married to Miss Louisa M. Thomp- son, a daughter of Augustus and Sarah (Mote) Thompson, and they became the parents of three children : Perry E., who is a traveling salesman, married and has two children, Vir- ginia and Louisa, and lives in Greenville township; William E., who operates a roofing and tinsmith business at Dayton, Ohio, married Emma Miller and Lemuel E., who is in a life insurance business at Dayton, Ohio, married and has a daugh- ter, Dorothy. Mrs. Miller was born in Miami county, Ohio, but her father was a native of Maryland, who came to Miami county at an early day. Both he and his wife passed away in that county. For his second marriage he was united to Mrs. Anna D. Bear (nee Grindle). and by this union there are no children. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are consistent members of the United Brethren church. He is a Republican in political faith. For some years he has been serving as a pension attorney, and has rendered valuable assistance to his old comrades in secur- ing their right from the government for past services. His
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connections with Jobes Post, G. A. R., are very pleasant, and he enjoys attending encampments, for like other veterans, he does not forget the days when the Boys in Blue were the saviors of the nation.
EZRA BAKER.
Ezra Baker, general contractor and prominent citizen of Arcanum, is one of the most successful business men of the county. He has various business interests in the vicinity and is always ready to interest himself in any movement for the benefit of his community. He began life on his own ac- count in a very modest way and through his sturdy industry and enterprise was able to get a good start in the business world. His good judgment and honesty in all his dealings have gone far to help him in his progress. He is broad- minded, liberal and progressive in his ideas and principles, and numbers his friends by the score. Mr. Baker was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, February 23, 1859, son of Samuel M. and Mary (Niswonger) Baker. The father, who carried on farming for some time in Montgomery county, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1829, and now resides with a daughter at Rossburg, Ohio. He brought his family to Darke county when the subject of this sketch was one year old, to a day, and became a general farmer and stock-raiser in Monroe township, two miles east of Arcanum, remaining there until he retired from active life. He was a Republican in pol- itical views. The mother, who was also a native of Pennsyl- vania, was born in 1823 and died in March, 1909, being buried in a cemetery just east of Pitsburg. Of their nine children, six were born in Montgomery county and three in Darke county, and all of them survive. They are; Horlos, of Monroe township; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel J. Baker, of Van Buren township; Hamilton, of Monroe township; Franklin Pierce lives in Monroe township; Mary Katherine is the wife of Amzie Reicherd, of Monroe township; Ezra; Susanna. wife of Henry Lutz, of Michigan; Anna, wife of J. W. Ross, of Allen township, near Rossburg, Ohio; Alda, wife of Charles Lutz, of Tremont county, Ohio.
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