USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
On the 6th of June, 1872, Dr. Landis was married in Dayton, Ohio, to Miss Addie Belle Kumler, a granddaughter of Bishop Henry Kumler, Jr., and a great- granddaughter of Bishop Henry Kumler, Sr. Their children are: Jessie, the wite of Fobert D. Funkhouser ; Lulu Effie, at home with her parents ; and Robert Kum- ler, a student of law at Harvard University.
While Dr. Landis has been connected with church interests of national prom- inence and is recognized as one of the ablest representatives of the ministry of the United Brethren church, he is not unmindful of his duties and obligations of citizenship and is interested in all that pertains to the substantial progress and im- provement of Dayton. He is a member of the Present Day Club of Dayton and has an extensive circle of warm friends in this city aside from the many promi- nent representatives of his denomination who are glad to claim him as a friend.
BENJAMIN B. BOOKWALTER.
Benjamin B. Bookwalter, owning and operating a farm on section 17, Jef- ferson township, was born on this place on the 11th of September, 1863, his parents being Joseph and Susan (Brumbaugh) Bookwalter. The father's birth occurred in September, 1833, while the mother first opened her eyes to the light
222
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
of day in October, 1833. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Samuel and Hannah Bookwalter.
Benjamin B. Bookwalter has always continued to reside on the farm where he was born and has been identified with general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. Energetic, industrious and enterprising, the fields annually yield golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them and he is numbered among the progressive and successful farmers of the community.
On the 15th of March, 1887, Mr. Bookwalter was united in marriage to Miss Dora Jane Cooper, a daughter of William and Lucinda (Harris) Cooper. They have one child, Carrie Frances, whose birth occurred on the IIth of Novem- ber, 1888.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Bookwalter has given his political allegiance to the men and measures of the republican party, while his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to various positions of public trust. For several terms he has served as treasurer of Jefferson township and is still the capable incumbent in that office. He has also been a school director in his native township, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. In this community he has spent his entire life and that his career has ever been an upright and honorable one is indicated by the fact that the associates of his boyhood and youth are still numbered among his best friends.
GEORGE G. G. PECKHAM.
The opportunity for successful accomplishment lies before every individual and the path leading to prosperity is that of unfaltering and indefatigable indus- try. Recognizing this fact, George G. G. Peckham has for seventeen years ap- plied himself closely to every task devolving upon him in the business world and along the line of gradual advancement has reached an important and respon- sible position in commercial circles as the president of the Peckham Carriage Company, which has been succeeded by The Peckham Motor Car Company, of Dayton.
He was born in Troy, Ohio, August 1, 1874, and his youthful days were there passed, his time being largely occupied with the acquirement of an educa- tion in the public schools. At the age of eighteen he came to Dayton and entered the Miami Commercial College for training that would equip him for a business career. He was graduated therefrom in 1892 and soon afterward accepted a position of bookkeeper with the Leidigh Carriage Company, his association with that house covering a period of six years. He then organized the Peckham Car- riage Company for he desired that his labors should more directly benefit himself and from the beginning occupied the presidency of this important industrial con- cern, the trade of which constantly increased in extent and importance. In 1903 he extended the scope of the business by dealing in automobiles and his patronage in that direction has grown to large proportions. The name of the company has since been changed to the Peckham Motor Car Company. Mr. Peckham's suc-
G. G. G. PECKHAM
225
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
cess in this line would entitle him to mention as one of the representative business men of Dayton, but in other fields he has also proved his capability and resource- fulness, being now vice president of the Peckham Coal & Ice Company, operating artificial ice plants at Piqua and Troy, Ohio.
In 1898 in Dayton, Mr. Peckham was united in marriage to Miss Bess May Finch, a daughter of the late Milton H. Finch, and they have one child, Phyllis, They hold membership in and support the First Baptist church. Mr. Peckham is also prominent in Masonry, holding membership in Dayton Lodge, No. 147, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past master ; Reese Council No. 9, R. & S. M., of which he is a past illustrious master ; and Reed Commandery, K. T., of which he is a past eminent commander. He has also taken the degrees of the Scottish Rite, and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. The craft finds in him a worthy exemplar, who is loyal to its beneficent spirit and its teachings concerning the brotherhood of mankind. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and though he does not seek nor desire political office he is never remiss in the duties of citi- zenship and gives loyal support to those movements and measures which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.
WILLIAM H. THIES.
William H. Thies, a general farmer and stock raiser of Mad River township, is the owner of one hundred and. thirty acres of rich and productive land on the Troy pike, about three miles from the courthouse. His birth occurred on the old Thies homestead, which is located on the Brandt pike in Mad River town- ship, his natal day being August 17, 1856. His parents were Theodore and Elizabeth (Brandenburg) Thies. The paternal grandparents, John and Mary (Pfoutz) Thies, spent their entire lives in Germany. On attaining man's estate Theodore Thies, the father of our subject, emigrated from Germany to the United States and, making his way at once to Montgomery county, Ohio, became a prominent pioneer citizen of Dayton. He was a successful contractor, built most of the pikes in Mad River township and also assisted in the construction of the Erie canal, thus contributing in large measure to the early development and upbuilding of this section of the state.
In his youthful years William H. Thies attended the schools of this county in the acquirement of an education and also worked at farm labor, thus early becoming familiar with the varied duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. Since starting out in business life on his own account his time and energies have been devoted to farming and he is now the owner of a valuable tract of land in Mad River township, comprising one hundred and thirty acres. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is also engaged in stock raising to some extent and in all of his undertakings has met with that measure of success which is ever the reward of untiring, persistent and well directed labor.
On the 8th of October, 1885, Mr. Thies was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Kochler, a daughter of Fred and Tracy (Wasmnt ) Koehler, of Mad River town-
226
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ship. By this union there have been born six children, namely : Lewis, who is em- ployed in Dayton ; Clement, who has completed his education and now assists his father in the work of the home farm; Rosella, at home; Clara, who is attending school : Edward, who passed away in his nineteenth year, his remains being in- terred in Calvary cemetery ; and George, who dicd when five years of age and was likewise laid to rest in Calvary cemetery.
Mr. Thies is a member of lodge No. 225 of the Knights of St. John and also belongs to Holy Rosary church, in which he has served as a trustee. The other members of his family also take an active and helpful part in the work of the church, doing all in their power to promote its growth and extend its in- fluence. Throughout his entire life Mr. Thies has been a resident of Montgomery county and is well known and highly esteemed as one of its successful and rep- resentative agriculturists and public-spirited citizens.
FREDERICK P. BEAVER.
The history of Frederick P. Beaver is that of a man whose intelligent appre- ciation and utilization of opportunities carried him into important business rela- tions, while today as a retired capitalist he has a wide acquaintance among the leading business men and financiers of the city with whom his word carries weight in the consideration of business and financial problems. There were no unusual circumstances or esoteric chapters in the life record of Mr. Beaver, his success coming to him as the logical sequence of carefully directed labor, close applica- tion and unfaltering diligence, combined with the ability to coordinate forces into a unified and resultant whole.
His birth occurred in Dayton, November 29, 1845, his parents being J. N. F. and Caroline (Snyder) Beaver, natives of Pennsylvania and of French Hugue- not and Prussian ancestry respectively. The father was born near Chambers- burg and the mother near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but in their youthful days they came to Ohio, J. N. F. Beaver arriving in this state in 1835. Nine years later he was married in Dayton to Miss Caroline Snyder, who had been a resident of the state since 1819. They began their domestic life in this city and for a num- ber of years Mr. Beaver figured prominently in commercial and industrial circles and also as an advocate of those interests which uphold the legal, political and moral status of the community. He first engaged in the manufacture of candy and later turned his attention to the coal and coke business. Subsequently he en- tered the wholesale notion business as junior partner in the firm of Coffman & Beaver, the senior partner being Jacob Coffman. This relation was maintained uninterruptedly until the death of Mr. Beaver in August, 1856. He held mem- bership in the Baptist church in which he served as deacon, and his political views in the closing years of his life were in harmony with the principles of the newly organized republican party. His widow survived him five years and passed away in March, 1861. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Snyder who, coming to Ohio in pioneer times, remained residents of Dayton until called to the
-
227
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
home beyond. Her father was for a time proprietor of the hotel where the present Cooper House now stands.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. J. N. F. Beaver were five in number : Edward C., a resident of Frankfort, Indiana, who is in the insurance business; Hattie A., the widow of J. A. Crebs and a resident of Dayton; Charles H., who died in infancy ; Ida A., the wife of Edward Canby of Dayton; and Frederick P.
The public schools of Dayton afforded Frederick P. Beaver his educational opportunities and when sixteen years of age he was earning his own livelihood as a paper carrier. Realizing the benefits that would come from special prepara- tion for the duties of a business career, he pursued a commercial course and in 1863 accepted a position as bookkeeper with the firm of Chamberlain & Parker. His business career was interrupted, however, by his service in the Civil war, for in response to the country's call for men he served for one hundred days, en- listing on the 12th of May, 1864, when a youth of but eighteen years. On the ex- piration of his term of enlistment he reentered the employ of Chamberlain & Parker in Dayton and continued with that house until 1869. He was then sent to Toledo and under his own name conducted their branch store in that place for two years. Each step in his business career was a forward one, marking his growing powers, and when he left the firm of Chamberlain & Parker it was to engage in business on his own account as a member of the firm of Brownell, Orr & Company at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where they operated a planing mill.
After spending a year in that city, however, Mr. Beaver returned to Day- ton and purchased the interest of Edward Sweet in the firm of Chadwick & Sweet, furniture dealers, remaining for five years as the junior partner in the firm of Chadwick & Beaver. Into other channels he then directed his ener- gies, organizing the Silver Star baking powder business, but that venture proved unprofitable and after a few months he closed out the business with considerable loss. With undaunted courage, however, he began in another direction, estab- lishing the Beaver Soap Company, which under his capable control was developed and extended until the business became one of the foremost productive industries in this city. It had its beginning in 1879 in a little one-story frame building on Commercial street near Fifth. The output for the initial year was small but the excellence of their product was demonstrated to the trade and from time to time the growth of the business demanded enlarged quarters, necessitating four dif- ferent removals. The plant in this way became an extensive one, scarcely ex- ceeded in size by any of the large manufacturing establishments of Dayton. Sev- eral different brands of soap were placed upon the market and in the course of time found a ready and continuous. sale. The growth of the business caused Mr. Beaver in 1883 to take Robert Marsh into partnership and in 1885 W. D. Chamberlain also became a member of the firm under the name of Beaver & Company. In September, 1893, the business was incorporated under the style of the Beaver Soap Company with F. P. Beaver as president ; W. D. Chamber- lin, vice president and C. F. Snyder, secretary and treasurer. Throughout his business life Mr. Beaver has displayed an aptitude for successful management, wisely discriminating between the essential and nonessential, knowing that at all times success may be obtained by persistent, earnest effort combined with an understanding of the conditions that bear upon the different lines of activity.
228
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
In the development of an extensive and important industry he closely studied the market, demanded that the product of the house should be a fair equivalent for the purchase money received and, moreover, surrounded himself by an able corps of assistants in the management of the office interests of the business. All of these features combined to gain for him the present position which he now occupies as a retired capitalist whose name is an honored one on commercial paper.
On the 29th of November, 1893, Mr. Beaver was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Thompson, a daughter of Ralph and Mary J. Thompson, of Terre Haute, Indiana. She died in January, 1900, and in February 1902, he mar- ried Miss Mary M. Fresher.
Mr. Beaver is a member of the First Baptist church and resides at the north- east corner of Second and Perry streets. Throughout the years of his residence in Dayton, covering almost his entire life, he has been deeply interested in every- thing pertaining to its welfare and has given the weight of his influence to every important and progressive measure. He stands today a strong man, strong in his honor and his good name, in his ability to plan and perform, and equally strong in his purposes and in his adherence to the rules which govern honorable, upright manhood.
CHARLES E. BUTTS.
Charles E. Butts, a market gardener of Mad River township, owns a fine truck farm of six acres on the old Troy pike, about three miles from the court- house. His birth occurred in Harshman, Ohio, on the 21st of May, 1860, his parents being Nelson and Mary (Broadstone) Butts. The paternal grandfather of our subject was William Butts. In early manhood Nelson Butts made his way from Virginia to Montgomery county, this state, becoming one of the pioneer settlers here, and as the years went by he became widely recognized as a suc- cessful and enterprising agriculturist.
Charles E. Butts spent his time in his youthful years as a student in the schools of his native village and as an assistant on his father's farm. After at- taining years of maturity he took up his abode in Dayton, where he was em- ployed by the National Cash Register Company for about eighteen years, his long retention in the position being ample proof of his capability and trustworthi- ness. He is now devoting his time and energies to market gardening on his farm of six acres in Mad River township and in this line of activity has met with gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity.
On the 9th of February, 1882, Mr. Butts was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Shoettledryer, a daughter of Fred and Henrietta (Hoffman) Shoettle- dryer. Her paternal grandparents were Fred and Sophia Shoettledryer and the grandfather was the first representative of the name in Montgomery county, becoming one of the early settlers here. Fred Shoettledryer, the father of Mrs. Butts, was about nineteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their emigration from Germany to the United States, the family home being es-
229
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
tablished on the Troy pike, near Chambersburg. There he owned a valuable farm and reared his family of four children, as follows: Fred, who is now de- ceased ; Sophia ; Gussie ; and Mrs. Butts. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Butts have been born four children, but the first two, William and Naomi, have passed away. Grace Irene is a graduate of the Dayton grammar schools and also attended the Steele high school for one year. Eva, like her sister Grace, has completed her education.
For three years Mr. Butts served as constable of Harrison township, proving a most efficient officer. Fraternally he is connected with Gem City Lodge, No. 3225, M. W. A., and in religious faith is a Lutheran, belonging to the church of that denomination in Dayton and taking an active and helpful part in its work. He is highly esteemed throughout the county in which his entire life has been spent, his many good qualities of heart and mind having won for him a large number of friends. In his business life he made good use of his opportunities, has utilized his possibilities to the best advantage and as the years have passed by he has gained a place among the honored self-made men who owe their pros- perity entirely to their energy, their integrity and their labors.
SOL FLATAU.
Sol Flatau, although practicing at the Dayton bar for only seven years, has already gained gratifying patronage and his alert and keen mental activity will insure continued progress in the path of his chosen profession. He was born at Filehne, Germany, April 21, 1865, and came to America in 1879 when a youth of fourteen years. The journey was made in company with his parents who located in Athens, Georgia, where he resided until 1901, and in that city com- pleted his education as a student in the University of Georgia.
Having largely mastered the principles of law and successfully passed the required examination, Mr. Flatau was admitted to the bar in 1892, after which ne located for practice in Athens, remaining a representative of the legal fra- ternity there for nine years. He met with good success, but wishing to enjoy the broader field of labor offered in the city he came to Dayton and has since practiced in the courts of this district. Ready at almost a moment's notice to quote a legal principle or precedent, readily seeing the related value of points in a case and at all times cognizant of the salient points upon which the decision of every case eventually turns, lawyers and judges listen to him with attention and respect and as the years pass he is gaining a growing practice. Mr. Flatau has made a specialty of commercial law and is considered an expert. having been called to take charge of some of the most important cases in the country. He has incorporated over forty firms in Montgomery county and it is unique inas- much as all of the businesses are still successful.
In Chicago, on the 20th of January, 1897, Mr. Flatau was married to Miss Henrietta Wolf and they have a daughter, Hortense, who was born in Athens, Georgia, January 29, 1899. Mr. Flatau was vice president of the Gar- field Club of Dayton for two years and still retains his membership, and belongs
230
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
to the city and county executive committee of the republican party. He puts forth every effort in his power to promote the growth and secure the adoption of republican principles and keeps well informed concerning the questions of the day. He holds membership with the Masonic lodge, the Knights of Pythias. the Royal Arcanum, and the Tribe of Ben Hur, and is a past president of the Inde- pendent Order of B'nai B'rith, which he has represented as a delegate to the grand lodge, and is a member of the constitution grand lodge. He is a member of the Standard Club and also the Dayton Bicycle Club.
HUGH M. WILSON.
Dayton recently received an addition to her business circles when Hugh M. Wilson entered upon active association with the Barney & Smith Car Company as vice president and director. For a considerable period he was president of The Wilson Company, Chicago, publishers of The Railway Age and the Electric Railway Review, and he is especially fitted for the duties of his present position because of his wide acquaintance with railroad men and his understanding of matters pertaining to railway administration and operation.
Mr. Wilson was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, June 29, 1866, and is a son of Hugh and Isabella (Smith) Wilson, both of whom were natives of Scotland. He attended the public schools of Jacksonville and in 1882 he entered Illinois College, located in his native town, from which he was graduated in 1887 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He was active in the student life of his college, was as- sociate editor and business manager of the college paper and was orator of his class. He is a trustee of his alma mater and in 1904 on the occasion of the cele- bration of its seventy-fifth anniversary the college conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts.
Hugh M. Wilson received his early business training under the direction of his father, who was an architect, contractor and builder and also conducted a planing mill, door, sash and blind factory. The son gained varied experience by doing many kinds of work about the factory and the office, acting for a time as bookkeeper, and he also attended a business college, so that he received the train- ing in fundamentals which qualified him for business life. He spent a year in his father's business between his sophomore and junior years in college. It was his intention at that time to study law but a disastrous fire, which destroyed his father's business, so limited the financial resources of the family that it was nec- essary for him to provide for his own support. He secured the position of city editor of the Jacksonville Daily Journal.
In March, 1888, Mr. Wilson went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and became a reporter on the Minneapolis Evening Star. A year later he became associated with the Mississippi Valley Lumberman, a weekly commercial journal, at Min- neapolis. It was during his residence there that Mr. Wilson was married on the 9th of October, 1890, to Miss Olive Mary Williams, of Red Wing, Minnesota. In May, 1891, he became associate editor on the Northwestern Railroader at Minneapolis. During his business career up to this time his energies were divided
HUGHI M. WILSON
233
DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
between editorial work and business management. Even in his college days he was both associate editor and business manager of the college paper. The tend- ency he early manifested to gravitate from editorial to business life has continued up to the present. Within two weeks after he went to the Northwestern Rail- roader as associate editor he was in the business department straightening out the company's books.
Although Mr. Wilson spent a good many years in successful editorial work he has always been more of a business man than an editor. He attended the conventions of the Master Car Builders' and Master Mechanics' Associations for the first time at Cape May, New Jersey, in June, 1891. On the 15th of Septem- ber of that year he moved to Chicago, for at that time the Northwestern Rail- roader was consolidated with the Railway Age, and he continued with the con- solidated company as secretary-treasurer. He handled not only the office work of the business department but also a great deal of the news of the paper, es- pecially that relating to equipment and supplies. He subsequently became man- ager and associate editor, still retaining the title and duties of secretary-treasurer. He was elected president of the Railway Age Company in 1899. In 1905 that company published a daily at the International Railway Congress in Washington, which was the official journal of the congress. This daily was printed in both French and English and was considered by railway officials of many nations to be a considerable undertaking. For the successful issuance of this journal, Mr. Wilson was decorated Chevalier of the Order of Leopold by the King of Belgium. In May, 1906, The Wilson Company was organized with Mr. Wilson as presi- dent. This company continued to publish The Railway Age and also bought the Electric Railway Review, which it changed from a monthly to a weekly. Mr. Wilson's active and energetic work for years in behalf of the railway supply interests is well known. He was secretary of the Railway Supply Manufactur- ers' Association from 1893 until 1897, inclusive, and thus the greater part of his experiences up to the present time was such as to qualify him for the duties of the position which he has recently assumed-that of vice president of the Barney & Smith Car Company.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.