USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 42
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being now sole proprietor of the Dayton Machine Works. He is conducting a profitable industry, his long practical experience in his youthful days having given him a wide knowledge that enables him to carefully manage the business and control the efforts of his employes. He understands the business in all of its details and capably superintends the manufacture of all kinds of special ma- chinery, which has gained a wide reputation, being sent to all parts of the United States.
In September, 1877, Mr. Euchenhofer was married to Miss Dora Makley, a daughter of Frank Makley, of New Carlisle, Ohio, and unto them have been born five children: Adolph F., Carl L., Walter I., Clara M. and Edna V. The parents are members of the German Lutheran church and Mr. Euchenhofer exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He has not sought prominence in political lines nor has he taken any very active part in public affairs, but he is, nevertheless, loyal at all times to his party and does all in his power to extend its influence in the community. He has won his success through close application to business com- bined with thorough and expert skill in the field of labor which he has chosen as his life work.
CHARLES WILLS KING, M. D.
Dr. Charles Wills King, who since 1884 has engaged in the general prac- tice of medicine in Dayton, was born in Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, Sep- tember 9, 1854, and in 1860 accompanied his parents on their removal to George- town, Brown county. His father was Frank Gibson King, who was born in Georgetown, Ohio, in 1829. The family is of English extraction and was founded in Pennsylvania at an early day. The grandfather, George W. King, was born in eastern Pennsylvania, became a lawyer by profession and located in Georgetown, Ohio, where he practiced law until his death. He was the first clerk of the courts and established the first newspaper in the county. With events that shaped the history of that locality at an early day he was prominently associated and his influence was ever on the side of progress and improvement. His son, Frank Gibson King, became a druggist and for many years was iden- tified with mercantile pursuits. He died in 1905, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Sallie McIntyre Crum, passed away in 1904. They had a family of three sons and four daughters.
Dr. King was in his sixth year when he accompanied his parents to George- town, Brown county, Ohio, where he was reared and attended the public schools, pursuing his studies to the age of seventeen. He then entered a drug store in Georgetown, where he remained until 1875, when he became a student in the office of Dr. Thomas W. Gordon, of Georgetown, who directed his preliminary reading in preparation for the medical profession. In the winter he attended lectures at the Medical College of Ohio, in Cincinnati, now known as the medi- cal department of the University of Cincinnati. Continuing his course there, he was graduated with the class of 1878 and in the fall of the same year accepted the position of resident physician in the Columbus State Hospital for the Insane,
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where he continued for three years. He was soon appointed assistant superin- tendent of the Cleveland (Ohio) Asylum for the Insane, remaining there for three years, his hospital practice bringing him wide experience and gradually aug- menting his knowledge and efficiency. In 1884 he was appointed superintendent of the Dayton (Ohio) Asylum for the Insane, filling that position for six years, his administration being highly satisfactory to the authorities, being characterized by the utmost spirit of humanitarianism, combined with broad scientific knowledge that enabled him to put forth efforts of the utmost value for the benefit of the un- fortunate ones in the institution. He was also for several years on the pension board at Dayton and served as health officer of Dayton from 1899 until 1905.
In his private practice, which is now extensive and of an important character, the Doctor has evidenced his comprehensive knowledge and ability as a general practitioner. He belongs to the American Medical Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Dayton Academy of Medicine and keeps in touch with the progress of the profession as investigation and research are continually bringing to light new truths bearing upon the successful treatment and elimination of diseases. In 1907 he served as president of the Montgomery County Medical Society and, through his close conformity to a high standard of professional ethics, has always enjoyed the highest regard of his fellow practitioners.
In more strictly social relations Dr. King is a member of the Dayton City Club, of which he is now the vice president, the Dayton Golf Club and the Ma- sonic fraternity. He also belongs to the First Presbyterian church. He was married in 1885 in Portsmouth, Ohio, to Miss Louise Robinson and they have one son, Clive W. King, now twenty-one years of age. Mrs. King's father was a descendant of Sir Phillipse Robinson, and her paternal grandmother was a descendant of Sir Astley Cooper, and a first cousin of James Fenimore Cooper. Prompted in all of his professional service by high ideals and by a sense of con- scientious obligation, his labors have been of great benefit to his fellowmen.
EDWARD A. FRY.
Edward A. Fry, who with a handsome competence has retired from busi- ness life, started out in life at the age of fourteen years in the humble capacity of a clerk in a small store. His rise has been gradual and as a logical sequence has come as the result of his close application, persistent effort and ready adap- tability. He represents one of the old and well known families of Dayton, his birth having here occurred March 23, 1842. His father, Henry A. Fry, was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in 1807, and came to Dayton in 1833. He was here married to Miss Sarah M. Snyder and they became the parents of three children : Charles H., who died in Phoenix, Arizona, in May, 1909; Clara L., the deceased wife of J. M. Phelps; and E. A., of this review. The father was a cabinet maker by trade, identified with the business circles of the city during the first half of the nineteenth century. His death, however, occurred in Dayton in 1847.
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Edward A. Fry was but five years of age at the time of his father's demise. He was reared in this city and acquired his education as a public-school student but at the age of fourteen sought the opportunities offered by the business world for earning a livelihood, his first employment being that of clerk in a small store. Later he remained for a time in another store and then entered the old Harmony grist and saw mill at the foot of Ludlow street, where he worked for four dollars and a half per week. He remained in that establishment for two years, his fidelity and industry winning his promotion and when he left that employ entered the Dayton & Western Railroad shops at Fifth and Perry streets. He remained there for a year, after which he again spent two years in the first store in which he was ever employed. He was next in the service of the Columbus, Hocking & Dayton Railroad Company for a time and at the age of twenty-four years turned his attention to the livery business, which he carried on near the corner of Fourth and Main streets. This was in 1865 and he continued the business until 1878, when he turned his attention to the undertaking business, from which he retired in 1905. As the years passed he made good use of his opportunities, at- taining success that brought to him a comfortable competence, now enabling him to live retired.
On the 3d of December, 1868, Mr. Fry was married to Miss Sarah F. Warble, a daughter of Samuel and Caroline (Heckler) Warble. Her father was a na- tive of Maryland, whence he came to Dayton and here spent his remaining days. He was married in this city, in 1840, to Miss Caroline Heckler and they be- came the parents of five children, one of whom, Mary Belle, died unmarried at the age of twenty-three years. The other four are still living, namely: Elvina, the widow of Nick Gough ; Mrs. Fry; James M .; and John C. The mother of Mrs. Fry still survives and yet makes her home in Dayton.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fry was blessed with two children. The daughter, Fannie B., became the wife of John E. Weiffenbach and they have two daughters, Helen Louise and Harriet. Charles E. Fry, the son, is now a resident of Nevada. The family attend the First Lutheran church, to the support of which Mr. Fry contributes liberally. His study of the questions and issues of the day has led him to give his political support to the republican party but he never seeks nor desires office. He is a self-made man, owing his advancement entirely to his earnest and indefatigable efforts and now he is enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned rest.
JACOB A. OSWALD.
There are certain business concerns which are recognized as the leaders in their line of trade and are perhaps widely known in that special field, setting the standard for activity of that character. It is seldom, however, that a single business enterprise is so widely known as the National Cash Register Com- pany of Dayton and yet there is scarcely a village or hamlet in the entire country so unimportant that the product of this house is not known there. The Day- ton enterprise has developed into one of the most important industrial interests
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in the entire country and Jacob A. Oswald is prominently connected therewith as its superintendent.
A native of Cincinnati, he was born on the 7th of December, 1866, and there lived to the age of fifteen years when necessity and ambition prompted him to seek the business opportunities offered in Dayton, coming alone to this city in 1881. He had in previous years been left an orphan and his guardian, William C. Oswald, a Dayton man and distant relative, placed him in a general jobbing and repairing machine shop where he entered upon a four years' apprenticeship. He applied himself diligently to the mastery of the tasks assigned him, display- ing the qualities of close application, thoroughness and systematic activity which have characterized his entire business career.
On the completion of his term of indenture Mr. Oswald worked for various firms in Dayton, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Miamisburg, being thus employed for several years, after which he returned to Dayton in 1891 and entered the employ of the National Cash Register Company as assembler at the bench. The demand of the business world is capability and invariably it wins advance in course of time. Promotion came to Mr. Oswald when he was assigned to the position of inspector and successively he became job foreman, later assistant fore- man of a larger department, afterward head of the repair department, then fore- man of the assembling department, head of the final inspection department, super- visor of all the assembling department and eventually was made superintendent on the 28th of May, 1908, which position he is now filling, his promotions coming to him in merited recognition of his worth, his fidelity and his enterprise.
In November, 1892, Mr. Oswald was married to Miss Theresa M. Dieker, a daughter of Herman Dieker, and unto them have been born two daughters and a son, Florence C., Helen C. and Joseph A. He holds membership in St. An- drew's Episcopal church, is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, hold- ing membership in the lodge, chapter and council, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Oakwood Twenty-Five Club. He is appreciative of the social amenities of life and the value of comradeship, but allows no outside in- terests to interfere with his business duties and obligations, which are now of a most onerous and responsible character. Dependent upon his own resources from an early age, and without influence to assist in his promotion, he has worked his way steadily upward through his unfaltering determination and unwearied dil- igence, his ability increasing with the exercise of his powers until his position from both a business and financial standpoint is an enviable one.
JOHN D. STEIGER.
John D. Steiger, who is the head of the Steiger family, is the owner of twenty- five acres of fine farm land on the east side of the Brandt pike, about three miles from the center of Dayton. He and his sister Annie and brother Adam are the members of a rather large and happy family who live on the farm and cultivate it to a high degree of productiveness. The father and mother, Peter and Eva (Schantz) Steiger, came to this country with their ten children and located in
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Dayton. Peter Steiger had been a successful farmer in the land of his birth, so that it was but natural that some members of his family should follow the same pursuit. Both the parents and three of the children, two of whom bore the name of Jacob, and a daughter Katie, have passed away ; Maggie, now Mrs. Bolk, John, Peter, of Dayton, George, Adam, Annie and Catherine are still living.
Though he did not come to this country until in early manhood John D. Steiger is one of the best known gardeners of this county and in Dayton, where he has a stand in the market on Jefferson street, at which he displays the results of his excellent culture of the soil. It is by his own efforts that he has attained this position, efforts that have been directed to producing the very best that any farm could bring forth, even those eight acres just outside of the city, which are accounted some of the arable land in this part of the county. His vegetables are always among the first offered to the purchaser of the town and among the latest of good quality to be seen in any markets, while during the heart of the summer season his wagons are piled high with delectable green things.
Mr. Steiger has not given all his time to the cultivation of succulent vegetables to the exclusion of other interests, for he is a man who enjoys the wholesome companionship of his kind. Many of his hours of relaxation are passed in the congenial gatherings of his Harugari brethren, among whom he is deservedly popular. In St. John's Lutheran church he finds the spiritual nourishment which has its growth in his daily life, for he is a man who is a Christian in every sense of the word, who in all his business dealings holds to a high code of honor. This quality of his character united with his industry and good management has made possible his achievements in the occupation he has chosen for his life work, and has won for him the high esteem in which he is held by all those who know him or have had business dealings with him.
HAMILTON KERR.
Hamilton Kerr, who is engaged in the life insurance business in Dayton, with a large clientele, was born on a farm in Miami county, Ohio, on the IIth of June, 1858. Quiet and uneventful as the lives of most farm boys, the years of his youth passed in the attainment of an education in the country schools, supple- mented by a course of study in Tippecanoe City, Ohio, and in Smith's seminary in Xenia, Ohio. He remained upon the home farm until 1883 and was not only provided with good educational privileges but was also trained in the work of the fields and gained something in the freedom and experiences of outdoor life that have constituted a substantial foundation on which to build his later success.
At the age of seventeen years he began teaching school in Miami county and followed the profession for seven years, including one year spent as a teacher at Oldtown, Greene county, Ohio. He divided his time between the work of the school room and of the fields in Miami county until 1883 when, thinking to estab- lish his home in the northwest he removed to Huron, South Dakota, where he conducted a law and collection agency. There he carried on business in that line until 1894, when he removed to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he remained for
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HAMILTON KERR
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four years, acting as immigration agent for various railroad companies. In 1898 he came to Dayton and established an insurance office, since which time he has conducted business along this line. He was also engaged in the life insurance business while in Huron, South Dakota. He represents a number of the old line companies, is thoroughly familiar with insurance and the advantages offered in every department, while his ability in business lines is evidenced in the large clientage which he has secured.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Kerr was married on the 24th of De- cember, 1879, in Dayton, to Miss Harriet E. Martin, of Xenia, Ohio, a daughter of Isaac and Laura Martin, both deceased. They have four children: Earl R., located at Phoenix, Arizona ; Eva Leola, the wife of W. C. Wilhelm, of Dayton, Ohio; Edna Lorena, the wife of Lieutenant Sidney H. Guthrie, of the United States Coast Artillery, located at Fortress Monroe, Virginia ; and Newell H., who was graduated at Staunton Military Academy and is now at home.
Mr. Kerr belongs to the Masonic fraternity, to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Knights of Pythias. He is a republican in his political views but not an active partisan. His church relationship is with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. His salient characteristics are such as command trust and confidence, while his per- sistency of purpose and adaptability in business have brought to him the success which is now his.
JAMES C. REBER.
Not the good that comes to us, but the good that comes to the world through us, is the measure of our success, and judged by this standard as well as the standards of business life, James C. Reber was a most successful man. He wrote his history in charity and philanthropy, and while none but himself knew of the full extent of his benefactions, thousands of acts of kindness and helpfulness which he performed have been stated by those who were benefited thereby. That man may well be said to have lived whose passing leaves deep sorrow in the hearts of his friends. The memory of Mr. Reber is cherished by all who knew him and will be for years to come.
He was a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Lewisburg, Union county, on the 13th of May, 1847. In the family of fifteen children he was the youngest and was but a youth when he accompanied his parents on their removal westward to Freeport, Illinois. At the age of thirteen, being too young to regularly enlist in the Civil war, he accompanied his brothers, Samuel and Levi, to the front and became an orderly in the Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, of which his brothers were members. Later he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio and participated in a number of hotly contested engagements, serving at Fort Donelson, in 1862, and at Shiloh on the 7th of April of the same year. ITe was with Sherman during the first two days of the siege of Vicksburg and was on active duty in other places, his military record being a most creditable one, equal in its display of valor and loyalty to that of many a one twice or thrice his years.
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After the close of the war Mr. Reber came to Dayton and from a humble clerkship worked his way steadily upward. He did not advance by leaps and bounds but by that steady progress which marks the successful accomplishment of every task undertaken. Each forward step brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities and he never failed to utilize the legitimate advantages which came to hand. His discernment was keen, his business judgment sound and reliable, and his energy was unfaltering. After his marriage he entered the Winters National Bank, in which he was readily promoted until he held the high position of vice president. He was associated with many business enterprises, which felt the stimulus of his activity and indefatigable energy. He was also identified with the J. W. Sefton Company, of Chicago, and Anderson, Indiana, held a large amount of stock in the Home Telephone Company, and was pres- ident of the company until the last election preceding his death. He was also a heavy stockholder in the Dayton Lighting Company, in the Dayton Northern Traction Company, the Wagner Fresh Water Supply, and other business enter- prises which have been important elements in the growth and upbuilding of the city. In his business transactions he was notably prompt and reliable, never in- curring obligations that he did not meet, nor making engagements that he did not fill. Among his associates and colleagues he was regarded as the soul of commercial integrity.
Mr. Reber was married twice. In the early 'jos he wedded Miss Kate Sny- der, who was the mother of his three children: John G., who passed away a short time prior to his father's death; Russell, who died in infancy; and Maude, who survives the father and was with him at the time of his demise. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Reber afterward wedded Mrs. Laura Winters Macgregor, who passed away three months prior to the death of her husband. Mr. Reber was devoted to the welfare of his family and the members of his own household were ever first in his love and affections. He manifested a most fraternal spirit in his membership in the Old Guard Post, G. A. R., and in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religious work he took a most deep and helpful interest. He was long a leading member of the First Reformed church and served as one of its elders, while in all branches of the church activity he was deeply and help- fully interested. He also held membership in the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, was chairman of the Memorial Hall building committee and one of the trustees at the time of his death. No man in Dayton manifested a more philan- thropic spirit. He gave widely, but wisely, to many enterprises and organi- zations that had for their object the betterment of mankind or the uplifting of the masses. While preeminently a successful business man, he regarded himself as but the custodian of a trust and generously gave of his means to assist others. His nature was social, his manner genial and kindly, and his circle of friends was only limited by the circle of his acquaintance. He was a Christian man in the broadest sense of the term, which accurately describes his disposition and its trib- utes. He passed away March 27, 1909. He had previously been in ill health for a time but went south to Florida and was greatly benefited by the change, in fact, so much so that he was making preparations to return home when death claimed him.
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Perhaps no better estimate of the life and character of Mr. Reber can be given than quoting from Dr. W. A. Hale, his pastor, and for many years one of his warmest personal friends: "His career is a revelation of what God is to men. He came home from the army to unite with the church. I know I am not partial when I say few men have been so universally accepted as genuinely friends of God. A scriptural commandment was the end of all argument with him. I have been a long time a resident of this city and never have I seen so many of our citizens feel as in this instance they were personally bereft. His religious activities were as wide as the city, as wide as the state, as wide as his country and as wide as the world. A beautiful trait of his character was exemplified some years since on a little vacation. He was one of a small party of capitalists taking an outing in the northwest. Sunday came and he went to worship in a hall, the only place for holding public worship in the frontier town. . They had no pastor, and ascertaining who he was (and you could not know him without discovering he was a Christian), they asked him to take part in the service. He did, and his practical mind saw at once what the people needed. He proposed building a church, took up a subscription, in which the people responded liber- ally, and took the subscription paper and presented it to his companions, return- ing it to his new friends with checks and money enough to build a new church. He was in this town once afterward and worshiped in the new church. I asked what denomination was it. He answered, 'I don't know. They used Gospel hymns : but it was a church and place for the children.' Oh, how he loved chil- dren! What delight our children found in waiting in the hall to shake his hand and be gathered in his arms. He had his sorrows, trials and disappointments as we all have, but he kept sweet, grew gentler, more sympathetic, more chari- table, more hopeful, more self sacrificing as the years passed. The supreme ex- cellencies of noble character-love of the family, love of the church, and love of country-were more dominant, purer and more beautifully manifest in the later years of his life. How often have I heard him talk of his home, saying: 'My blessed home!' Not long since he remarked: 'There are two things I enjoy to the fullest degree-my family and my church.' No wonder he called these heaven on earth. He loved with an unselfish devotion and with a divine mag- netism drew the objects of his love to his own great heart. In the light of God's word he rejoiced in the assurance that these were the pleasures of heaven."
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