USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 50
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On leaving that service Mr. Stroop removed to Miamisburg, Montgomery county, Ohio, where he became engaged in the leaf tobacco business in part- nership with John Weiser. This was in 1884 and the partnership continued until the death of Mr. Weiser in 1891. In that year Mr. Stroop removed to Dayton and continued the business already established in this city. He now handles a large amount of leaf tobacco each year, finding a ready sale for his product, and the business methods of the house have ever been of a most reliable character. winning for it an unsullied reputation.
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In 1888 in Miamisburg, Mr. Stroop was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Gwinner, the youngest daughter of Frederick and Hannah Gwinner. Their union has been blessed with one son, F. G., now fourteen years of age and living with his parents on their fine farm, Grand View Hills, about five miles south of Dayton. This is a most attractive place, equipped with all of the comforts and conveniences of a model country home, its proximity to the city making the advantages of urban life easily attainable, while those of a rural existence are also enjoyed. Mr. Stroop is a member of the First Lutheran church.
JOHN B. McNABB.
John B. McNabb, one of the leading grocers of West Carrollton, Ohio, was born in Bureau county, Illinois, on the 27th day of May, 1872, and is the son of William M. and Hester ( Motz) McNabb. His grandfather, Milton McNabb, whose wife was Miss Amanda Didie in her maidenhood, was of Scottish descent and his father, William McNabb, was the first of the family to settle in this coun- try. William M. McNabb, father of our subject, was born in Greene county, Ohio, and when he was twenty-six years of age removed to Illinois, where he en- gaged in farming, which pursuit he followed for a number of years. He then engaged in coal mining, in which he was very successful, and later he took up threshing, in which business he was actively engaged at the time of his death, which occurred January 14, 1884. He was buried in Illinois. Our subject's mother, Mrs. Hester Rouse, is now living in West Carrollton and is enjoying good health. John B. is the second in order of birth in a family of four children, the others being : Harry J., a resident of West Carrollton; William E., of Hamilton, Ohio; and Charles T., of Miamisburg.
John B. McNabb was but twelve years of age when his father died. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools near his birth place, but he had more than school work to employ his time and mind, for after lessons were over for the day he was employed on odd jobs, and in the vacation periods he worked at whatever came his way. A capacity for hard work has ever been one of his characteristics and is the one thing which has made possible his success in the several occupations in which he has engaged. After completing his school course he went to work in a general store in his home town, remaining there for about two years, when he came to Ohio, at first on a visit, and later, in September, 1891, to stay. Upon locating here he went to work in the paper mills, where he con- tinued for three years, and from this time dates his successful business career, for he worked diligently at the tasks assigned him, regarding his position merely as the first step on the ladder of advancement. So in fact it proved to be. He was promoted to clerk in the company's store and later was advanced to book- keeper and cashier. This was but just recognition of his services, however, for he was ever diligent in promoting the interests of his employers. Besides being a hard worker, he was also a good manager and in the years that he was serving others saved enough to enable him to purchase some real estate in West Car- rollton. This gave him his first financial start in life, when he sold it at a hand-
JOHN B. McNABB
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some increase. Again he bought real estate and in less than a month he had made a profit of one hundred per cent. He then had the neat little sum of five hundred dollars with which to start in business for himself. During the sum- mer of 1899 he worked for a wholesale house in Dayton, and on the 16th of Octo- ber, that year, he opened his present store. There was no partner to share the re- sponsibility and none was needed to put the business on a paying basis and bring success to the venture.
On the 19th of June, 1895, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. McNabb and Miss Lucy M. Butler, a daughter of Robert and Ida (Barber) Butler. Her father was a papermaker but is now living a life of retirement in West Car- rollton. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McNabb: Zola M., Olive V., John B., Jr., and Robert Milton. The two eldest are in school.
Mr. McNabb is a Mason and is also a member of the board of education which he served for some years as clerk. He is a man of considerable public spirit, which has been appreciated by the citizens of West Carrollton, who chose him for their clerk, a position which he has filled to their entire satisfaction for the space of three years. By both his life and the success he has achieved Mr. McNabb is an example to many another starting in the business world. He has known the full value of hard work and has made the most of any opportunity that presented itself.
EDWIN CRAWFORD BAIRD.
Edwin Crawford Baird, civil engineer and contractor of Dayton, his native city, was born on the 28th of May, 1856, and represents an old Pennsylvania family. His grandfather, Daniel Baird, was a native of Somerset, Pennsyl- vania, and the birth of his father, Josiah Baird, there occurred in 1831. The latter spent his boyhood and youth in the place of his nativity and on attaining his majority came to Dayton, in 1852. In this city he was married in 1854 to Miss Catharine Crawford, a daughter of Archibald Crawford, and they became the parents of a son and daughter, the latter being Anna Belle, who is with her mother, a resident of this city. The father was for many years a well known merchant here, conducting a growing and profitable business until 1894, when he retired to private life. He died July 14, 1909.
Under the parental roof Edwin C. Baird spent his youthful days, the public schools affording him his educational privileges until he had mastered the branches constituting their curriculum. Following his graduation from the Cen- tral high school in 1874, he went east to school, attending Union College, Schen- cctady, New York. There he made a special study of civil engineering and on putting aside his text-books entered upon the active practice of his profession in connection with the construction of railroads in the middle west. Some time later he located in Dayton and was elected city engineer here in 1875 and con- tinued to act in that capacity, or as assistant engineer, until 1901, when he was elected county engineer of Montgomery county, filling the office for six years. In May, 1908, he was appointed assistant state engineer in charge of the int- provements of the Miami & Eric canal.
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In 1885 Mr. Baird was married, in Tecumseh, Michigan, to Miss Mary L. Wood, and although they have no children of their own they are rearing an adopted son, Robert Edwin Baird. Mr. Baird belongs to the Bicycle Club and to several fraternal organizations, including all the Masonic bodies, Heptasophs, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to the First Lutheran church, and in politics is a republican. He has been called to several offices in the line of his profession, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity, commending him to the confidence and winning for him the approval of all who have been witnesses of his official career.
JOSEPH M. RATLIFF, M. D.
Dr. Joseph M. Ratliff, proprietor of one of the best equipped sanitariums of Dayton, in which connection he is doing excellent work as a progressive represent- ative of the medical fraternity, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1848. His youthful days were unmarked by any event of particular importance, being largely devoted to the attainment of a public-school education and the enjoyment of such pleasures as the youths of the period found attractive.
Determining upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he pursued a course in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery until he was graduated in 1878, after which he located for general practice in his native city, there re- maining for six months. At the end of that time he went to Long View Asylum as its physician and continued there for fourteen years, his experience and prac- tice bringing him comprehensive knowledge of mental and nervous diseases. In 1894 he came to Dayton and for nearly eight years was superintendent of the state hospital for the insane. His work here was of a most valuable character and when he resigned from that position he established the sanitarium which he has owned and conducted since 1902. It is most thoroughly equipped along the lines of modern science and his ability is enabling him to do excellent work for his patients in the restoration of health.
About the sanitarium buildings and grounds there is nothing to suggest the idea of an institution or insane asylum, so objectionable to persons suffering with nervous and mental diseases, but the entire place has a home-like appearance. The main buildings and grounds for many years formed the home of William P. Huffman on Huffman Hill. The grounds include about ten acres of beautiful lawn and wood land, formed of magnificent old forest trees, in the center of which is the main building. This is an elegantly constructed residence of twenty rooms, which with a few changes and alterations has become well adapted for sanitarium purposes. The bed rooms are large, bright and airy, and the numerous parlors and rest rooms are cheerful and attractive. In the furnishing of the rooms the home idea has been carried out. While there is every advantage and convenience of a hospital, there is the comfort, and cheer, and quiet of a home, so necessary to persons with diseased nerves and brains. Throughout the build- ing are numerous bath and toilet rooms. The house is heated with steam. The
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kitchen is equipped to prepare the foods needed by the different classes of pa- tients and the cuisine is excellent.
Dr. Ratliff belongs to the Ohio State Medical Society, the Montgomery County Medical Society and the American Medical Psychological Association. His membership relations in fraternal lines include Scottish Rite Masonry and the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, being entitled to membership therein by reason of his service as a private in the One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which he joined in May, 1864, continuing at the front for four months, during which time the regiment was on duty in Virginia and West Virginia. He took part in sev- eral skirmishes and was also for a time in Maryland. He was only fifteen years of age when he joined the army, few men of his years having an active military record to their credit.
In 1871 Dr. Ratliff was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Miss Mary E. As- bury and they have three living children, as follows: Raymond, a practicing attorney of Cincinnati, Ohio; Joseph M., Jr., a resident of New York city; and Thomas Asbury Ratliff, who was graduated from the academic department of the University of Pennsylvania and is now in the medical department of the same school.
Such in brief is the history of one who, concentrating his energies along a special line of practice, has won superior skill and ability, which he is using for the benefit of his fellowmen as well as for individual success. The love of scientific research and a broad humanitarian spirit are both elements in his capa- ble service as a medical practitioner.
JOHN P. BREEN.
In the life of John P. Breen subjective and objective forces are well balanced, enabling him to correctly judge of his own capacities and powers and at the same time to place a just valuation upon advantages and opportunities. As the years have passed he has achieved well merited and gratifying success, placing him in a prominent position among the business men of Dayton.
He was born in Xenia, Ohio, April 21, 1860, and there resided to the age of twenty-two years, in the meantime attending the public schools. In 1882 he went to Morrow, Ohio, where for two years he occupied a position as manager in the depot restaurant. Subsequently he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, for the Ohmer Brothers, whom he represented in the Columbus, Hocking & Dayton and the Pennsylvania depot restaurant as manager. In 1888 he came to Dayton, where he took charge of the Union depot restaurant as manager for the Ohmer Brothers, continuing in control for them for several years, after which he pur- chased the business. His long experience in this line well qualified him for the work and brought him thorough understanding of the needs of the restaurant business in this connection.
In 1897 Mr. Breen was appointed receiver of the Phillips House and so acted for two years, since which timc he has been manager of that hostelry. From
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time to time he has extended the scope of his activities until he is now controlling an extensive business, which includes the conduct of the depot restaurants at Chattanooga, Tennessee ; Lexington, Kentucky ; Marion, Ohio, and Dayton, Ohio. He is widely recognized as a man of keen business discernment, readily deter- mining that which is essential as a factor in successful management and dis- carding all that is of little value. The recognition of his ability has led to his cooperation being sought in other connections, and he is now a director of the Dayton Savings & Trust Company and of the Dayton Street Railway Company. He is likewise a director in the Dayton Reduction Company and in the Dayton Lighting Company, all of which corporations have benefited by the impetus received from his indefatigable energy and intelligently directed activity.
In January, 1886, Mr. Breen was married in Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Cath- arine A. Beckman, and they have three children : John, Mary Louise and Edward Grimes. In his social relations Mr. Breen is connected with the Bicycle Club and he belongs to Sacred Heart chapel. In matters of citizenship he is public-spirited and yet has had little time to cooperate in matters of public moment, owing to the extent and importance of his business affairs, which have constantly increased in volume. Moreover, in all of his business connections he manifests the spirit of modern progress, meeting the demands of the public for attractive and pleas- ing service, and in the control of hotel and restaurant interests he, moreover, displayed much of the spirit of the pioneer in inaugurating new methods.
OLIVER J. SMITH.
A farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres in Madison township yields a substantial annual revenue to Oliver J. Smith in reward for the care and labor which he bestows on the fields as the ycars pass by. This place is pleasantly and conveniently located about six miles north of Dayton, so that the advantages of the city are easily obtainable. Mr. Smith was born September 23, 1861, in the county which is still his home, his father being the Rev. John Smith, a resident of Trotwood. The paternal grandfather, Abraham Smith, came from Pennsylvania only a few years after the admission of Ohio into the Union and about 1810 settled on what is now the old Smith homestead where his grandson, Oliver J. Smith, now resides. There he faced all the hardships, privations and dangers of pioneer life at a time when Indians still lived in the state and when the forests were frequented by various wild animals and much wild game. In many portions of the state there were no roads, only the light Indian trails, but one by one the early settlers came and reclaimed the region for the purpose of civilization. Abraham Smith bore his full share in the work of general progress and became a well known and prominent farmer.
His son, Rev. John Smith, was for many years active in the ministry of the Dunkard church. He is now one of the oldest native residents of the county, his birth having occurred on the farm which is occupied by his son Andrew W. In all of his business affairs he displayed keen judgment and careful management and became one of the largest landowners in the county. While he is now
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practically retired from business life, he is still active in the work of the church at the age of eighty-two years and yet preaches to some extent in different churches in this part of the county. His influence has long been a strong and potent element for good for he has spoken many words of truth and wisdom which have sunk deep in the hearts of his hearers and in time have brought forth the fruits of righteousness. He married Susan Wolfe, who shared with him in his interest in the church and did all in her power to assist him in its upbuilding.
In his youthful days Oliver J. Smith was sent to the district schools and when not busy with his text-books his time was occupied with the work of the fields. He has been very successful in farming, which he chose as a life work, and his persistent labor finds its manifestation in well tilled fields and bountiful harvests. His place comprises one hundred and thirty-five acres of fine farm land on the Dayton and Salem pike about six miles north of the courthouse in Dayton and bordering the main road and also the Dayton & Northern Traction line. His residence has been recently erected and is built in modern style of architecture, containing all the conveniences and improvements of the present age. There is a large barn upon the place and also substantial outbuildings so that his stock is well housed and his grain kept from the inclement weather. His residence sets some distance back from the roadway and is surrounded by a well kept lawn adorned by many fine trees. It is one of the pleasing features of the landscape and the entire place is pervaded by an air of neatness and thrift.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Smith was married May 23, 1886, to Miss Amelia Cart, a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Bosore) Cart. The father was a farmer by occupation and came to this part of the country from New York. He was a son of Philip and Louise (Kuntz) Cart, who were natives of Germany and became the founders of the family in the new world. The grand- mother became a resident of this county and died in Madison township. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Smith was blessed with seven children. Roger C., who was born June 7, 1888, has engaged in teaching but is now further pursuing his own education in Oxford, Ohio. Mabel S., born September 25, 1889, is at home. Homer C., born November 19, 1891, assists in the operation of the farm. Carrie I., born September 25, 1893, is attending high school. Walter W., born January 3, 1895, is a pupil in school. Florence M., born October 24, 1896, is pursuing her education. Grace E., born April 29, 1904, completes the family. The parents and children belong to the German Baptist church and take a most helpful interest in all of its activities. They are people of genuine personal worth, occupying an enviable position in the social circles in which they move, while the hospitality of the best homes of the township is freely accorded them.
GILBERT P. BURROWS.
Gilbert P. Burrows is manager of the National Theater of Dayton and throughout his business career has been connected with this field of activity. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 12th of October, 1868, and in 1870 was brought by his parents to Ohio, the family home being established in Cin-
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cinnati, where he attended the public schools. In 1883 he put aside his text- books and began providing for his own maintenance by entering business life as assistant treasurer in the employ of John H. Havlin, owner of the Havlin Theater of Cincinnati. For five years he there remained, on the expiration of which period he removed to Dayton and was made manager of the old Park Theater, his previous experience having brought him broad knowledge con- cerning theatrical management. In 1904 he took his present position as mana- ger of the National Theater and has made this an attractive play house, giving to the public a class of plays that win a large following. He is a man of excel- lent business ability, keen discernment and undaunted enterprise, who closely studies the popular taste and brings to the National such productions as are de- sired by the theater-going public.
In 1887 in Covington, Kentucky, Mr. Burrows was married to Miss Nellie Thomas, a granddaughter of Charles Thomas, the noted philanthropist of Cin- cinnati, whose generosity made possible the work of various charitable and be- nevolent institutions. Mr. and Mrs. Burrows have two sons, Harry Gilbert and Dickson Talbott.
In his fraternal relations. Mr. Burrows is well known, for he belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Ma- sonic order, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. He votes with the republican party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but has never been an active partisan in the sense of office seeking for his time and attention are fully occupied with his business duties. He is a man of social, genial nature, popular with a host of warm friends.
GEORGE W. MILLER, M. D.
Dr. George W. Miller, practicing medicine with ability that has brought him prominently into public notice, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 18, 1870, his parents being Charles H. and Hannah C. (Combs) Miller, representa- tives of old families of Cincinnati. The former was a son of George C. Miller, who established his home in Cincinnati when it contained only about three thou- sand population. He had previously been a resident of New Jersey and came of Revolutionary stock. He established the first carriage factory west of the Alle- gheny mountains and his output included the first iron-tired buggy manufactured in this section of the country, the tires being forged by hand from scraps of iron. On his retirement from business at an advanced age he was succeeded by his two sons. His labors, however, were an indispensable factor in the early growth and progress of the city. He not only contributed to its industrial development but was also one of the founders of the Commercial Bank of Cincinnati and as one of the founders of the Seventh Presbyterian church was a factor in moral ad- vancement there. His son, Charles H. Miller, father of Dr. Miller, was for some time engaged in the manufacture of plows and carriages in Cincinnati, so that the
DR. GEORGE W. MILLER
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family was long associated with industrial life. He was the father of five chil- dren.
Pursuing his education in the public schools, Dr. Miller eventually became a high school student and thus completed his literary course. Later he pursued a commercial course and in 1887 entered Pulte Medical College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1891. Dr. Miller began practice in Cincinnati and a year later was called to the chair of anatomy in Pulte Medical College, being thus identified with educational interests for two years. He has practiced continuously in Dayton since 1893, in which year he became a partner of Dr. Joseph E. Lowes. His practice has constantly increased, for he has given proof of his ability to cope with intricate problems of the profession. He is now a member of the Miami Valley Homeopathic Medical Society, the Montgomery County Homeopathic Medical Society and the Ohio State Homeopathic Medical Society.
In November, 1897, Dr. Miller was joined in wedlock, in Boston, Massa- chusetts, to Miss Jennie D. Tuttle, a daughter of Lucius Tuttle, president of the Boston & Maine and the Maine Central Railroads. They have two children, Mary and Ruth. In his political views Dr. Miller is a republican but not an active worker in the party ranks. He belongs to the Dayton Bicycle Club and is a mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church, in the work of which he is helpfully inter- ested. He is also a representative of the Masonic Lodge, the Knights of Py- thias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is a most genial gentleman, whose good will is manifest in deference for the opinions of others, kindliness and unfailing courtesy.
JOHN BAPTISTE FORSTER.
John Baptiste Forster, successfully conducting business interests as senior partner of the firm of Forster, Hegman & Company, is now engaged in dealing in carpets with an extensive and growing trade. Dayton classes him with her representative business men and he is also numbered among those who have sought the opportunities of America, realizing that success in business is more rapidly achieved in the new world than in the old. He therefore came to the United States on attaining his majority.
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