USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 46
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Mr. Sagebiel was married in Dayton in 1898 to Miss Frances Houck, a daugh- ter of Martin S. Houck of this city, and they have four children, Frederick Houck, James Lambert, Robert Martin and Elinor Ruth. The parents hold membership in the First English Lutheran church and Mr. Sagebiel belongs also to the Young Men's Christian Association. He is interested in all that pertains to the moral development of the community and to the uplifting of his fellow- men, realizing the importance of well formulated principles and habits as a basis of all that is valuable and permanent in life. His personal characteristics liave won him kindly regard and unqualified respect and he is justly accounted one of the representative residents of his adopted city.
ANTON MADLINGER.
Anton Madlinger, successfully engaged in truck farming in Mad River town- ship, has stand No. 50 in Central Market. His birth occurred on his father's farm on the Troy pike, January 6, 1855. his parents being Anton and Victoria (Striebel) Madlinger. The paternal grandfather spent his entire life in Ger- many. Subsequent to the demise of her husband, the grandmother crossed the Atlantic to the United States and spent her remaining days with hier children, liv-
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ing with her son Anton during the greater part of the time. Anton Madlinger, the father of our subject, obtained his education in Germany and in early manhood emigrated to America, establishing his home in Montgomery county, Ohio. He was a shoemaker by trade, following that pursuit to some extent in the winter seasons, and also carried on agricultural interests on his valuable farm of ten acres in the vicinity of Dayton. His family numbered seven children, namely : Mrs. Lena Ward: Mrs. Sophia Hambert; Mrs. Mary Walt; Mrs. Catharine Kohler : Anton, of this review ; Mrs. Josephine Knox : and Mrs. Pauline Glaser.
Anton Madlinger received his education in the schools of this county and when not busy with his text-books assisted in the work of the home farm. On starting out in business life for himself he took up truck farming on a small scale but as time passed and his financial resources increased he added to his holdings until he is now the owner of thirteen acres of fine truck land situated on the Valley pike, about three miles east of the courthouse, on the south side of the road. The success which has attended his efforts and which entitles him to recognition among the leading gardeners of his native county, is entirely the result of his own well directed labors and unremitting energy. His home is an attractive and commodious brick residence and in his gardening interests he is ably assisted by the other members of the family.
On the 30th of May, 1881, Mr. Madlinger was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Nock, a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Brett) Nock. The father, who was an agriculturist of Montgomery county, is now deceased but the mother still survives and yet makes her home in this county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mad- linger have been born eight children, as follows: Anton, Jr., who assists his father in the work of the home farm ; Charles, who has completed his education and is at home : Clara, Ida and Clarence, all of whom are still under the parental roof ; Edward and Ollie, who are attending school ; and William, who is deceased.
Politically Mr. Madlinger is a democrat and has capably served his fellow townsmen in the position of township trustee. He is a valued member of the Holy Rosary church, of which he has acted as trustee. Well known in the county where he has resided throughout his entire life, he has a wide acquaint- ance here and has won uniform trust and good will by reason of a career which in all of its phases has been straightforward and honorable.
J. T. BARLOW.
J. T. Barlow, who since the Civil war has been connected with commercial interests in Dayton, and is now at the head of the wholesale dry-goods house of the J. T. Barlow Company, has a business record of which any man might well be proud, for his success is the direct result of his well directed labors and through- out his entire career he has never made engagements that he has not filled nor incurred obligations that he has not met. He therefore enjoys the unqualified regard of his business associates and contemporaries.
A native of Dayton, Mr. Barlow was reared and educated in this city and was a young man of about twenty-one years when in response to the country's
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call for aid he enlisted as a private of Company I, Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving until May, 1865. He was frequently under fire in hotly con- tested engagements, first doing duty in West Virginia under General Crook, while later he was with the Fourteenth Army Corps in the Army of the Cum- berland under General "Pap" Thomas-the familiar address being indicative of the love which his soldiers bore for him. Mr. Barlow participated in the en- gagements at Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, the Atlantic campaign to Jonesboro and afterward returned to Chattanooga, there remaining until mustered out at the close of the war. He sustained a flesh wound at Mission Ridge and went through all of the hardships which con- stitute military experience.
When the war was over Mr. Barlow returned to Dayton and here engaged in the clothing business with T. A. Legler. Subsequently he became connected with the dry goods trade as a member of the firm of Legler, Barlow & Company, which relation was continued until 1904, when the J. T. Barlow Company was organized with the subject of this review as the president. In this position he displayed marked executive ability and capable management and is constantly alert, watching for opportunities for expanding his business in accordance with the progressive ideas of modern business life. The house now enjoys an exten- sive patronage and is recognized as one of the important commercial concerns of the city.
Mr. Barlow's political endorsement is given to the republican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. He prefers to give his un- divided attention to commercial interests and in that line has met with signal success.
W. L. ADAMSON.
It is a well known fact that industry constitutes the key that unlocks the portals of success and, realizing this fact early in life, W. L. Adamson has put forth persistent and well directed effort throughout his business career, wherein steady advancement has brought him to his present enviable position as presi- dent of the wholesale grocery house conducted under the name of the W. L. Adamson Company.
He was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1848 and his youthful days were there passed, while the public schools of the town afforded him his educational privileges. He was a youth of seventeen when in 1865 he entered business life as a book- keeper in a wholesale grocery house in Zanesville, there remaining for ten years, during which time he became somewhat familiar with the trade. On the ex- piration of that period he felt that his experience and earnings justified his em- barkation in business, on his own account and he became a partner in a whole- sale dry goods enterprise in Zanesville, the firm being known as Black & Com- pany.
A year later, however, Mr. Adamson sold out and sought the broader field offered in the larger city of Dayton, removing hithier in 1881. Here he entered
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into partnership with the late George W. Kneisley, under the firm style of G W. Kneisley & Company, in the conduct of a wholesale grocery house. This partnership was maintained for four years, at the end of which time Mr. Adam- son disposed of his interest and succeeded John Bright in the firm of Bright & Crosley, the name being then changed to Crosley & Adamson. When Mr. Crosley died in 1896 the business was incorporated under the name of the W. L. Adamson Company and has so continued to the present time. The volume of trade has constantly increased and the house enjoys an excellent reputation for dependable methods, for promptness in delivery and also for the excellent line of goods carried. The resourceful business ability of Mr. Adamson has led him into other commercial and industrial connections and he is now a director of the Western Ohio Creamery Company of Greenville, Ohio, a director in the Green & Green Company, cracker manufacturers of Dayton, and a stock- holder in the Fourth National Bank.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Adamson was married in 1871, in Zanesville, Ohio, to Miss Catharine E. Manley and they now have four daughters and two sons, the family occupying a prominent position in the social circles of the city. In politics Mr. Adamson is an independent republican, voting at na- tional elections for the candidates of the party but never considering himself bound by party ties at local elections. He belongs to the Grace Methodist Epis- copal church, is a director of the Young Men's Christian Association and is in- terested in all those lines of activity which tend to promote material, intellectual, social and moral progress in his adopted city. His life has at all times been ac- tuated by high and honorable principles and his sterling traits of character are the foundation upon which he has builded his success, his record being at all times such as will bear close investigation and scrutiny.
F. P. BROWN.
The growth and prosperity of a city does not depend upon a single enterprise but upon the aggregate effort of various business concerns capably managed and well directed. At the head of such a business is F. P. Brown of the firm of Brown Brothers Parcel Delivery. His labors are in accord with modern business ideas and what he has accomplished represents the fit utilization of his innate powers and talents. He was born at Sugar Grove, Ohio, December 5, 1861, a son of Peter Brown, who died in Dayton in 1894 at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. He was a valiant soldier of the Mexican war and when the country again became involved in warfare he joined an Ohio regiment of infantry, serving with the rank of captain. In days of peace he devoted his attention to farming and milling and was an industrious, energetic business man. His family num- bered four sons and two daughters, who yet survive.
F. P. Brown was only about two years old when his parents removed to Canal Winchester, Ohio, where he remained for twenty-seven years, when he came to Dayton. At the usual age he had entered the public schools and had pursued his studies through consecutive grades until he was graduated from the high
F. P. BROWN
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school of Canal Winchester. Coming to Dayton in 1889, at the age of twenty- nine years, he secured a position as shipping clerk for the Farmer's Friend Manu- facturing Company, remaining in active connection with that house for five years. He then entered his present business and in fact had established it a short time previous to giving up his place as shipping clerk. Associated with F. P. Brown was his brother S. A. Brown who however withdrew two years later leaving F. P. Brown as sole proprietor although the old firm style has been retained. He is doing an extensive business in parcel delivery a constantly increasing patronage bringing to him a substantial financial return.
On the 20th of October 1885 Mr. Brown was married in Canal Winchester to Miss Mary Schrock and unto them have been born six children: Stanley W., Grace M., Hilda, Birch L., Frank E. and Carl H. The family are well known in Dayton, where they have many friends. Mr. Brown is a member of the Re- formed church and gives his political support to the republican party, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day and manifesting at all times a public-spirited citizenship.
CHRISTIAN F. ROHRER.
Christian F. Rohrer, a retired agriculturist of Mad River township, owns a farm of one hundred and twelve acres on the Valley pike, about four miles from the courthouse. He was born on the old Rohrer homestead, about one-halt mile north of his present home, on the 18th of October, 1840, his parents being Samuel and Rebecca (Wise) Rohrer. At an early day the father drove across the mountains from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, to Montgomery county, this state, taking up his abode on a tract of about two hundred and fifty acres, which he at once began to clear and improve. He became a substantial and re- spected citizen of the community and here reared his family of nine children, the record of whom is as follows: John and George, both of whom are deceased ; Mary; Susan; Christian F., of this review; Samuel H., who has also passed away; Adaline; Caroline; and Martin, who is deceased.
Christian F. Rohrer acquired his education in the district schools and when not busy with his text-books he assisted in the work of the home farm. In early manhood he studied veterinary surgery under the direction of his father, who was very proficient along that line. On the 5th of August, 1862, in Dayton, he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of the Ninety-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Burch. He did duty with the Army of the Cumberland and for three years loyally fought for the preservation of the Union, participating in a number of hotly contested engagements, including Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Orchard Knob and Kenesaw Mountain. When the country no longer needed his aid he returned home to once more become identi- fied with farming pursuits and as the years went by won the competence that now enables him to live retired without further recourse to labor. As stated above, he resides on his valuable and well improved farm of one hundred and
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twelve acres in Mad River township and is widely recognized as a substantial, progressive and representative citizen of his native county.
As a companion and helpmate on life's journey Mr. Rohrer chose Miss Irene D. Newcome, a daughter of Edward and Cynthia (Urbin) Newcome, and they were married in May, 1866. Unto them have been born eight children, namely : Webb E., who is married and has one child; Ella, the wife of Sanford Bradford, by whom she has one son, Warren; Adaline; Caroline, who is the wife of John Bayless and has a son, Robert; Frank; Bessie; Vernell; and Edward, who is deceased.
In his political views Mr. Rohrer is a stanch republican and has served as township trustee for a number of years, while for twenty years he has been a member of the school board, the cause of education ever finding in him a stal- wart champion. He and his family are valued members of the United Brethren church in Mad River township, which he was instrumental in erecting. His en- tire life has been passed in Montgomery county, where he has now lived for almost sixty-nine years. He has therefore witnessed many of the changes which have occurred and the advancement which has been wrought, bringing it to its present condition of growth and prosperity. At all times his life has been ac- tive, useful and honorable and it is his genuine personal worth that has gained for him. the favorable position which he occupies in the regard of those who know him.
JOHN JACOB FROMM.
John Jacob Fromm, a fruit grower and gardener of Harrison township and the owner of eleven acres of land on the Covington pike just at the edge of Day- ton, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, September 28, 1851, the son of Michael and Frederica (Muller) Fromm. Michael Fromm came to this county when fifty-six years of age and was well known in Dayton as a stone mason. He was a hard-working man and at the time of his death was worth considerable money. Our subject and two sisters, Mary and Katie, are the only surviving children of a family of seven, the eldest son David, Katie, Lewis and an infant having died.
John Jacob Fromm, after the education received in the schools of Dayton, wandered somewhat until he reached man's estate and came to Dayton to remain permanently. He went first to Preble county, Ohio, where he lived two years, leaving there to go to Indiana, but after two years he returned to Preble county, where he remained until he removed to Dayton. In 1874 he started in the nursery business in this city and shortly after purchased the piece of land on which he now lives. Upon his place he has all kinds of fruit and shade trees, ornamental shrubs, currants and grapes. At first he put up a little two story house, but this he has replaced with one thoroughly modern, it being one of the most attractive in this part of the county.
Mr. Fromm is devoted to his garden and fruit farm, perhaps inheriting his love of the outdoors and growing things from his paternal grandfather, Peter Fromm, who was a gardener in Germany and could never be induced to leave his home to come to this country, where his son had located. But whether his at-
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tachment is inherited or not, Mr. Fromm was glad to return to his farm after his one important absence, when he considered going into the hotel business in Hamilton, Ohio. He had made all his arrangements and had even engaged the man to assist him in running the hotel, but the call of the country was too great and he returned to his old home and his friends. For his long residence in this county has gained for him a host of friends, and his membership in the Lutheran church, of Dayton, and in the Iola lodge, of the Knights of Pythias, No. 83, of Dayton, and the Montgomery County Horticultural Society has surrounded him with associates he would be reluctant to leave. Of the Horticultural Society Mr. Fromm is president, and but few meetings have been called to order without his presence.
On the 22d of December, 1874, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fromm and Miss Catharine Uhrig, daughter of Peter and Margaret (Marquardt) Uhrig. Peter Uhrig was of German birth and a farmer prominent in this county. Eight children were born to him: Philip, Leonard, John, Peter, Jr., Catharine, Mary and two who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Fromm have also been blessed with a large family: John P., deceased; Edith, wife of David Davis, and the mother of three children-Harold, Alice and Robert ; John P., who married Miss Minnie Hawk and is the father of one child, Catharine; Jennie, Harry and Nettie, who live at home; and Marie, deceased.
WILLIAM R. CRAVEN.
The progressive steps in the business career of William R. Craven are easily discernable and have brought him to his present position of responsibility as secretary of the Dayton Savings Bank & Trust Company. He thus figures promi- nently in the financial circles of the city and few, if any, are more thoroughly informed concerning important questions of finance.
A native of Butler county, Ohio, Mr. Craven was born in the town of Monroe in 1862 and the following year his parents removed to Middletown, Ohio, coming thence to Dayton in 1869. He was thus largely reared in this city and its public- school system afforded him his educational privileges. He made good use of his opportunities in that direction until he reached the age of eighteen years, when in 1880 he entered business life, securing a clerkship in the office of the American Express Company. There his close application, industry and reliability won him promotion from time to time until he became cashier and in 1891 he was appointed agent in Dayton for the Adams Express Company, in which connection he controlled an extensive business for the corporation. For three years he thus served and in 1894 entered into active relations with the financial interests of the city as teller in the Third National Bank. Nine years were devoted to that work and in 1903 he accepted his present position as secretary of the Dayton Savings Bank & Trust Company, for which his previous experience well qualified him. As the years have gone by his activities have reached out into other fields and have brought him substantial results. He is now the vice president of the
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Enterprise Building & Loan Assoiciation and is one of the directors of the Home Telephone Company.
In 1892, in Union City, Indiana, Mr. Craven was married to Miss Mary Pierce and they have one daughter, Dorothy. Mr. Craven has become prominent in Masonry as he has advanced through the different degrees and is now a repre- sentative of the Commandery, the Consistory and the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Royal Arcanum, while religiously he is connected with the Grace Methodist Episcopal church. He votes with the republican party but otherwise is not active in politics.
As a financier Mr. Craven ranks among the ablest and in business affairs is prompt, energetic and notably reliable. He is watchful of all details and of all indications pointing to success and the prosperity that has crowned his efforts is the merited reward of a life of industry. He started out when a young man of eighteen years without capital or influential friends to aid him, but, brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by honest effort, he has worked his way steadily upward until he has left the ranks of the many and stands among the successful few-a man honored and esteemed wherever known and most of all where he is best known.
JACOB F. SEYBOLD.
Jacob F. Seybold is actively engaged in farming and stock-raising on his farm of eighty acres in Madison township, situated on the Shiloh Springs road, about two and a half miles north of Trotwood. His birth occurred in Madison township, this county, on the 20th of May, 1867, his parents being David and Rebecca (Wolf) Seybold. The paternal grandfather, who came to this coun- try from Germany, took up his abode on what is now the old homestead farm of the family, cleared the land and developed and improved the property until it became one of the finest farms in this part of the state. David Seybold, the father of our subject, always resided on this place, which is located on the Salem ·pike, and became widely recognized as a most prominent and successful agricul- turist. He and his wife reared a family of nine children and his demise occurred when our subject was still quite young. The names of the children are as follows : Martha, Ella, Sarah, Mary, Amanda, Jacob F., Thomas, John and Isidor. Ella, who married a Mr. Crow, makes her home in Canada but nearly all of the re- maining members of the family reside in this county.
In the acquirement of an education Jacob F. Seybold attended the schools of his native township and when not busy with the mastery of the lessons assigned him, he aided in the work of the home farm, thus early becoming familiar with the occupation which has claimed his time and energies throughout his active business career. In addition to general farming he is also engaged in stock- raising and, owing to his well directed and untiring labor as well as capable busi- ness management, has met with a merited and gratifying measure of prosperity in his undertakings. He built a commodious and modern residence and large barns and in fact his place is lacking in none of the equipments and accessories
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of a model farming property of the twentieth century. He is a lover of fast horses and keeps a few for his own use. For the past four years he has been a member of the Montgomery county fair board and is also one of the directors of the Trotwood Bank, being well known and widely recognized as a most sub- stantial and public-spirited citizen of his native county.
On the 29th of September, 1894, Mr. Seybold was united in marriage to Miss Anna Etherington, a daughter of Lewis and Rebecca (Bryan) Etherington, the latter being a relative of the famous Nebraska statesman. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seybold have been born two children, namely: Amy Irene, who is in her thir- teenth year and is a high school student; and Susan Almedia, attending the dis- trict school. Mr. Seybold is a prominent member of the Christian church and is an honored representative of one of the old pioneer families of the county, the name of Seybold having long figured creditably in connection with the agri- cultural development of this section of the state.
ADAM BALLMANN.
Adam Ballmann is a man of considerable prominence in Mad River township, Montgomery county, Ohio. As a means of livelihood he follows gardening on a farm on the north side of the Valley pike, about three miles from the court- house in an easterly direction from Dayton. He was the only son of Gabriel and Sophia (Ruhsam) Ballmann. The grandfather, Andrew Ballmann, was a butcher by trade and a man of not a little influence in the German town which was his home, for he was accounted a good workman and a person of sterling qual- ities of character. He could never be persuaded, however, to leave the land of his birth, preferring to die and be buried where he had passed the greater part of his life. Following in his father's footsteps, Gabriel Ballmann learned the butcher's trade, but after attaining some proficiency in the work he came to America, Dayton becoming his first home. Here he followed his trade inter- mittently along with various other pursuits for a few years, and then when an opportunity offered went into the butcher business for himself. In this he was very successful until he forsook it to go into the truck gardening business. He purchased his farm of thirty acres, and since that time he has devoted all his time and energy to raising a fine quality of vegetables.
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