USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 102
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In the meantime he had become interested in accounts from Ohio and was convinced that he could do more for his brothers and sisters as well as for himself if the family would move westward. The family acted on his advice and removed to Auburn, Geauga county, Ohio, while Eliam E. Barney remained at Lowville until he had earned enough to meet the indebtedness which his father had in- curred in sending him to college. The year 1833, however, witnessed his arrival in Ohio and for six months he engaged in teaching in Granville College, now Denison University. He was a most successful educator and as one of his pupils said in later years, his classes were always anxious to meet him in the recitation room for he took the utmost pains to make them understand the principles of what they were studying.
In seeking a permanent location he addressed letters to the postmasters of sev- eral Ohio towns, inquiring if there were any openings for a teacher and received response only from the Dayton postmaster. Accordingly in the spring of 1834 he arrived in this city, where he found that the employment of a principal for the Dayton Academy was under consideration by the trustees. There were two appli- cants but when each made a statement as to the methods in which the school should be conducted Mr. Barney was at once elected. He called to his assistance his brother Elijah and sister Sarah C., and the school that opened with only nine pupils had eighty-five at the end of the first term, while the beginning of the second term brought more than two hundred and thence forward the success of the school was assured. Later his other sisters, Mary G. and Harriet, became teachers in the Dayton Academy, while his younger brother, Benjamin, was en- rolled as a pupil there. After his children came to this city the father sold his farm at Auburn and purchased one near Dayton, including a portion of the land
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now known as Embury Park. There his wife died in 1845, while he survived for fourteen years, spending a part of the time with his youngest daughter in Iowa, although his last days were passed in Dayton. All through the old age of his parents Eliam E. Barney displayed the most beautiful filial affection and care, adding to their lives every comfort that was in his power.
For four years Mr. Barney remained principal of the Dayton Academy and from 1838 until 1840 conducted a private school along coeducational lines, but ill health forced his retirement from the field of education. He took the most lively interest in the establishment of the public schools of Dayton and was one of the most active factors in securing the levy of the tax to raise six thousand dollars that two school buildings, one in the eastern and one in the western part of the city, might be erected.
On his retirement from the educational field in 1840 Mr. Barney turned his attention to the lumber business, purchasing a sawmill which he operated for two years and a half. It was a remarkable feature of his history that one so emi- nently skillful and popular in literary pursuits could change to commercial employ- ment with no diminution of either earnestness, ability or achievement. He in- stalled new and improved machinery in the mill, took personal charge of the purchase of logs and the care and sale of lumber and was meeting with good success in his undertakings when in 1844, as the result of his strenuous application, he became ill and was obliged to go south to recuperate his health. He also spent some time in the east and was greatly benefited by the change.
It was in 1844 that several Dayton citizens subscribed money for the estab- lishment of a school for the thorough education of their daughters and Mr. Barney was proffered the principalship of what became known as the Cooper Female Academy. He took the greatest interest in equipping the school and carried into the enterprise all the enthusiasm and thoroughness which had before characterized him as a teacher. He became known as one of the most accom- plished educators in the west. The school opened in September, 1845, with one hundred and seventy-four pupils. As the five years for which he had agreed to remain as principal drew to a close his mind began again to turn toward business and he was offered a partnership by Ebenezer Thresher, who had been his successor as the owner of a sawmill formerly the property of Mr. Barney. When the partnership was formed they decided to build railroad cars as the chief product of their industry. This was the beginning of the extensive Barney Car Works, now one of the foremost industrial enterprises of Dayton and the state. Their first building was erected in 1850 and for a time they manufactured agri- cultural implements but soon afterward took up the building of railroad cars. Mr. Barney continued as principal of the Cooper Female Seminary for a year, after entering into partnership with Mr. Thresher, but in 1851 became an active instead of a silent partner in the manufacturing business. Both he and Mr. Thresher had invested five thousand dollars in the concern and from the begin- ning the enterprise proved a profitable one, their cars becoming known for the excellence of their material and workmanship. His withdrawal from the educa- tional field closed a distinct chapter in his life history. It was one of great use- fulness, for his ability as an educator and disciplinarian was continuously evi- denced and he never failed to leave his impress for good upon the lives of those
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who came under his instruction. He possessed the rare faculty of communicating knowledge clearly and concisely to his pupils and of compelling the ready appre- hension of all he sought to teach. While he maintained discipline he also dis- played ready sympathy with his pupils, encouraged them when good work was shown and at all times he commanded their fullest respect.
Bending his energies toward the development of his industrial interests, Mr. Barney soon had the car works upon a paying basis. It was at first of small pro- portions but developed gradually along substantial lines as they reached out for trade and proved themselves worthy of a liberal patronage. The business had greatly increased when in 1854 Mr. Thresher sold out to Caleb Parker, at which time the firm style of Barney, Parker & Company was assumed, and when Mr. Parker disposed of his interests to Mr. Preserved Smith the firm became Barney, Smith & Company and so continued until 1867, when a joint stock company was formed under the style of the Barney & Smith Manufacturing Company. At that date Mr. Barney was elected to the presidency and continued at the head of the business until his demise. It was greatly developed, becoming a concern of large importance in industrial circles in Dayton, its manufactured output finding a ready sale because of thoroughness and durability in workmanship and reliability in business transactions. Every kind of car from the common platform to the most luxurious drawing-room or sleeping car was turned out by skillful workmen and the rapidity with which large contracts were filled often occasioned surprise. Mr. Barney was seldom, if ever, at fault in matters of business judgment and sought his success along the well defined lines of trade and commerce, displaying at all times a progressive spirit and yet never venturing upon ground where the issue seemed doubtful. Said one of his biographers : "He was conscientious, laborious, and watchful in the extreme. He not only superintended subordinates but seemed to keep his eye with wonderful particularity on the innumerable details of the work. His presence and impress were everywhere. In the factory his was the living spirit among the wheels. He had the decision, the power, the control of an imperial commander. Each employe must come promptly up to the terms of his engagement and fulfill it; for the last hour of his day's work was the com- pany's profit, the other hours were necessary to earn his wages. Any form of ill behavior was reprimanded no matter upon whom the censure might fall. No work must be turned out that was not the very best. Employes at first, like some other people, took his strongly marked visage, his strictness, his positive judgments and peremptory answers, for sternness. Sometimes his replies to those who ought his counsel would be brief, and he would seem to be absorbed in something else. He would even at times disregard those little courtesies which make men seem approachable. But if the matter was really one that required his help, the appli- cant would find in a day or two that Mr. Barney had thought it all over and had some plan to suggest or some relief to offer. He threw men upon their own re- sources to develop them', and then reached out his hand to keep them front falling. They who came to know his well found out that no one could have a kinder heart or be more ready to help those in trouble." As time passed Mr. Barney mani- fested intelligent activity in other lines, becoming president of the Dayton Hy- draulic Company on its organization and so continued until his death. He was also the vice-president and a director of the Second National Bank of Dayton,
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and was also a director of the Wisconsin Central Railroad. He learned to cor- rectly value life's contacts and experiences. His early labors in educational lines had taught him to understand men and their motives and, contrary to the general opinion that the educator is not a success in lines demanding alert thought, quick decision and prompt action, he proved his capability in industrial circles as he had done in the schoolroom.
On the 10th of October, 1834, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Barney to Miss Julia Smith, a daughter of Dudley Smith of Galway, Saratoga county, New York. They became parents of two daughters and three sons : Mrs. Agnes E. Platt, Eugene J., Mrs. Mary L. Platt, Albert C. and Edward E., the two last named now deceased. The parents were for many years prominent and influential members and liberal supporters of the First Baptist church in Dayton and Mr. Barney was interested in educational lines as well, acting for twenty years as a member of the board of trustees of Denison University to which institution he gave liberally and endowed two memorial professorships. He was never an aspirant for political office but was interested in everything that pertained to the welfare of his city or country. His thoughtful public spirit and disposition to pro- pose improvements were not limited to matters which he himself might live to see fulfilled. One incident of this was seen in his efforts to introduce the cultiva- tion of the catalpa tree for timber. He gathered testimony concerning the rapidity of its growth and its remarkable durability and wrote a series of articles to the Railroad Age and other papers advocating the cultivation of this tree. He also brought out a pamphlet, publishing facts which he had collected and the attention was awakened on this subject to such an extent that he received letters of inquiry from every state in the Union, from England, South Australia, New Zealand and Japan. He distributed seed to every quarter of the globe and the result was the planting of thousands of acres of catalpa trees with the benefit to future genera- tions that is incalculable. He was always interested in tree culture and when he took charge of the Dayton Academy one of his first efforts was to enlist the larger boys in planting the yard with shade trees, while flower beds were assigned to the girls who were expected to plant and cultivate them.
The death of Mr. Barney occurred December 17, 1880. Perhaps no better estimate of the man can be given than in quoting from one who for a long period was his pastor and who knew him well. Rev. H. F. Colby said: "In his relation to others he was generally a man of few words. The numerous cares which he was called to bear in early youth as well as through all his life seemed to have given to him an air of serious thoughtfulness which could sometimes be broken only by bold playfulness on the part of those who were intimate with him. He would become so absorbed in one train of thought that he would seem uncon- scious of everything about him. At such times he would pass friends on the street without recognizing them, but again, among business friends and especially in genial society, his natural social spirit would assert itself and his words would then pour out in warm pictures of his imagination or in enthusiastic exhortations which were like the rivers that flow down from the melting snows in spring. Those who were with him at such times learned to love him as a great and noble friend." One of the strongest and most pronounced characteristics of his entire life was his Chrstian faith which prompted him to acts of kindness, charity and
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benevolence. On coming to Dayton he cast in his lot with the little band of Bap- tist people, numerically very weak and without a pastor or place of worship. He was instrumental in arranging to hold prayer meetings in one of the unoccupied rooms of the Dayton Academy and continued an active worker of the church as it grew in strength and spirituality. He lived to see several other churches of the same denomination built and to all made generous contributions. For many years he was superintendent of the Sunday school; from 1842 was one of the deacons of the church; and for a long time the senior officer. Beginning to give money liberally out of his poverty when he was a young man, he continued to do so, in ever increasing sums, as he was prospered, even to the last. Not only were the Baptist churches in Dayton largely built up by his pecuniary help, but he gave also by hundreds and thousands to missionary work in the United States and in foreign lands. No persons presenting a real good cause ever found in him an uninterested listener and few such were obliged to leave him without generous subscriptions. He was the largest giver to Denison University where more than sixty thousand dollars were bestowed by him during his life time and through the terms of his will five thousand dollars were set aside as a permanent fund for the relief of poor students, while other great causes of benevolence were similarly remembered. No good work done in the name of charity or religion sought his aid in vain and he remained to the end of his life a broad-minded man of wide sympathy and kindly spirit in whom helpfulness was a marked characteristic.
EDWARD GEPHART.
Among the native sons of Montgomery county who are meeting success along agricultural lines is Edward Gephart, who was born on the 6th of May, 1860, on the old Gephart homestead, located near the farm upon which he now resides. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Weldey) Gephart, the former a son of Philip and Mary (Weldey) Gephart. The father was also born on the old homestead and followed the occupation of farming. He was very well known, being prominent and active in community affairs. In his family were three children: Edward, Cornelius and Mrs. Mary Clement Bechtel.
In the country schools Edward Gephart pursued his education and proved himself a very apt scolar. He did not cease to be a student when he laid aside his text-books but throughout his entire life has been a great reader. Throughout his boyhood days, when not engaged in the work of the schoolroom, he assisted his father in the labors of the farm and early became familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the country lad. He learned many valuable lessons in the broader school of experience, and that his early training in practical labor was thorough is evidenced in the well improved condition of his present farm. After attaining his majority and deciding to enter business life on his own account, he wisely chose as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared, and he has since been connected with agricultural pursuits in the county of his nativity. He now owns a fine farm of forty-two acres in Miami township, located between Bear creek and Union. Since the property came into his possession he has placed
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many substantial improvements upon it, including all modern equipments and accessories for facilitating farm labor, and the place is lacking in nothing that goes to make up a model farm of the nineteenth century.
It was in November, 1879, that Mr. Gephart was united in marriage to Miss Mary Eppert, a daughter of John and Mary (Stetler) Eppert, and unto this union have been born five children, namely: Edith, deceased; Katie, now the wife of Robert Myers ; Vernon, who married Mabel Templer, and has one daugh- ter, Mary Helen ; Adam, who assists his father on the home farm; and Forrest, also at home.
Mr. Gephart holds membership in the Lutheran church and is very promi- nent and active in church work. In politics he is a democrat and is at all times interested in the progress of the party. He was supervisor of the township for seven years and has also served as a member of the school board for two terms. Public-spirited to a great degree. he is interested in all matters that pertain to the public welfare and freely lends his aid to all measures which have for their object the material, social, political, intellectual and moral growth of the com- munity. Having remained a student throughout his entire life, his extensive reading has kept him well informed on all of the important questions and issues of the day, and has served, in connection with his other interests, to make his a well rounded character. Having spent his entire life in Montgomery county, he has gained a large circle of friends who honor and respect him for his upright manhood and high ideals.
JOSIAH CATROW.
Prosperous and growing business interests are conducted by Josiah Catrow of Germantown, who is connected with general insurance and leaf tobacco interests. He was born in Madison township, Butler county, Ohio, on the old Catrow home- stead, August 11, 1835, first opening his eyes to the light of day in a little log cabin. A part of the farm lay across the boundary line of Montgomery county, and the family was established there in pioneer times. His grandparents were Peter and Christiana (Lay) Catrow. The former came from Carl's Manor, Maryland, and was the first representative of the name in Montgomery county. He drove across the country to Franklin, Ohio, and thence made his way to this section of the state, at once taking up his abode upon the farm which has since been known as the Catrow homestead. His mother, the grandmother of our sub- ject, rode all of the way from Maryland to Ohio on horseback in the year 1803. This was long prior to the era of railroad building and the thoroughfares, which were traversed, were at times little more than an Indian trail. The death of Peter Catrow occurred in 1852, when he was seventy-two years of age, his birth having occurred July 4, 1780. On coming to Montgomery county he took up land from the government and was the first to locate in that district, which has since been known as the Catrow settlement. He was the father of Zephaniah Catrow.
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The parents of our subject were Zephaniah and Mary Ann ( Morningstar) Catrow. The father was also born on the old Catrow homestead and in the same cabin where the birth of his son Josiah occurred. His natal day was Decem- ber 7, 1806, and his wife was born in Warren county, Ohio, March 15, 1809. By occupation he was a farmer and remained upon the old home place in Madison township until 1837, when he removed to Sunbury, Ohio, where he became pro- prietor of a hotel, remaining there for two years. On the expiration of that period he began business as a cooper, owning and conducting a factory of his own. In 1850 he removed to Germantown, where he purchased the German- town (now the Florentine) Hotel, of which he was proprietor for nine years. On the expiration of that period he retired to private life, having for a long period been closely associated with business affairs, which brought him success of a most creditable character and made him widely and favorably known. He died April 3, 1890, and his wife has also passed away. She was a daughter of John George Michael Morningstar, who was a farmer by occupation and came to America from Germany with his father, John Englebrecht Morningstar. The family set- tled first in Maryland. By the laws of Maryland at that time the estates were divided up as the children became of age and because of this John G. Michael Morningstar came to Ohio.
The only child of Zephaniah and Mary Ann (Morningstar) Catrow was "Uncle Joe," by which name he is familiarly and affectionately known. He ac- quired his early education in the schools of Sunbury, Ohio, and further continued his studies in Germantown. He also pursued a course of bookkeeping in Cincin- nati, Ohio. His first commercial venture was in the hotel business and he also had the contract for carrying the mail to Carlisle, making two trips a day until 1862. In that year he turned his attention to the leaf tobacco business, in which he remained continuously until 1900. In 1866 he purchased an interest in a grocery store, but sold out within a year. During the period of the Civil war he engaged in buying horses, which were used by the United States government. In all of his business dealings he has displayed keen discernment and unfaltering energy, and his diligence and perseverance have brought him substantial success.
On the 28th of February, 1860, Mr. Catrow was united in marriage to Miss Catharine E. Schaeffer, who was born March 18, 1840, and was a daughter of George C. and Frances A. (McClure) Schaeffer. Mrs. Catrow died and their only child, a son. died in infancy March 23, 1878. After losing his first wife Mr. Catrow wedded Mrs. Hester E. Dumm, who was known as "Aunt Hetty" through- out all their part of the county. She was a lady of many excellent traits of heart and mind and her gentle manner and kindly deeds won her the love of all. She died August 2, 1899, and her death was the occasion of deep and wide-spread regret. For his third wife Mr. Catrow chose Louie L. Maskv, nee Smythe, a daughter of Marcus Smythe. This marriage was celebrated July 29. 1902.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Catrow is a Mason and has attained the thirty- second degree of the Scottish Rite. In 1856 he was elected to membership, sign- ing his petition on a stump in the woods. He has filled all of the chairs in the local lodge, is now a member of Germantown Lodge, No. 257, A. F. & A. M., and is still actively connected with the society. Hc also joined the Minerva Chapter. R. A. M., and on the Ist of January. 1869, became a member of Reed Com-
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mandery. He was made a thirty-second degree Mason at the annual revision in 1875. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and at Germantown was its first chancellor commander and was lodge deputy and county deputy. In De- cember, 1899, he was elected grand chancellor of the state of Ohio, which position indicates his high standing in the order. He closed the last session of the nine- teenth century of the grand lodge at Sandusky, Ohio, and opened the first of the twentieth century in Springfield, Ohio. In December, 1901, he was elected supreme representative at large from Ohio to the national convention which was held in San Francisco in 1902. He also attended the supreme lodge at Louis- ville, Kentucky, in August, 1904, and afterward declined nomination for further office in the organization. His life has been an active one and the years have witnessed successful accomplishments of work he has undertaken. In business he has met with a creditable measure of success, while in fraternal circles he has gained notable distinction through his fidelity to the principles of the orders and his exemplification of the beneficent spirit which underlies them.
CHARLES A. CRAIGHEAD.
The name of Craighead has figured in connection with the history of the bar of Dayton for more than six decades, and he whose name introduces this review is now numbered among the prominent lawyers of this city, having a large and distinctly representative clientage, and serving as president of the Montgomery County Bar Association. He has spent his entire life in this city, his birth here occurring on the 12th of August, 1857. His parents were Samuel and Jeannette (Miller) Craighead, of whom extended mention is given on another page of this work. In the public schools of Dayton he acquired his preliminary education and later entered the Lafayette College at Easton, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1879. Deciding to enter the legal profession he studied law in the office of his father, who was then a member of the well known firm of Conover & Craighead, and was admitted to the bar in 1881. He then formed a partnership with his father and his cousin, William Craighead, under the name of Craighead & Craighead, and after the death of the father he continued with his cousin under the same firm style. The latter has since died and he is alone in the prac- tice of his profession under his own name. He is successfully engaged in general practice of law and also makes a specialty of corporation law. He stands high in the estimation of his professional brethren and is regarded as one of the promi- nent and successful lawyers in this part of the state.
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