USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 72
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Lewis M. Bailey received his early education in the common schools of Miami township and worked on the farm during the vacations and also through the year, so that by the time he was nineteen years old he was fully competent to manage a
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farm of his own. For a number of years, however, he operated the home place with his father, on shares. He has always known the value of hard and persistent toil, and the success that the years have brought him has been the result of his own efforts. Like the majority of the farmers of this section he is a tobacco man, but he also raises considerable stock for the market and does a little diversified farming besides.
On the 28th of November, 1897, Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Mary Matilda Reedy, the daughter of Andrew and Mary (Leis) Reedy, who were residents of this county. Andrew Reedy came to this county with his father and mother, Daniel and Mary Reedy, from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was the first of the family to locate in this state. He passed away May 3, 1897, and is buried in Miamisburg. In his family were the following children: Emanuel, a resident of Miamisburg ; Sarah L., the wife of Levi Weidner, of the same place ; Amanda, the wife of James Rear, of Dayton ; Andrew Y., of Dayton ; Louisa, the wife of Lee Greendish, of Miamisburg ; Henry, of Dayton; Adam, of Miamis- burg ; Amelia J., wife of Ed Benner, of Xenia ; Mary Matilda, the wife of our sub- ject ; Eliza A., the wife of Harley Paff, of Miamisburg ; Charles R. and George W., both of Dayton; Ludora and Daniel E., both deceased; Justina, wife of Arthur Miller, of Dayton ; and Dr. R. A. Reedy, of Dayton. But one son, Forest, who . was born March 24, 1900, in the old Bailey home, has been granted to Mr. and Mrs. Bailey. He is a fine bright boy of nine summers and is now in school.
The family are members of the Reformed church and have ever shown an active interest in its work. A member of that large class of men popularly called self- made, the record of his years shows that Mr. Bailey has used both his time and op- portunities to the best advantage. His fields always present the appearance of per- fect culture. His stock is ever carefully raised and well cared for, and there is every indication that the succeeding years will be more profitable than the past.
DANIEL VALENTINE YOST.
Daniel Valentine Yost, an energetic business man of New Lebanon, was born in Perry township, this county, January 5, 1862. He is the son of Robert and Rosanna (Hepner) Yost and comes of a family who for three generations has been identi- fied with the farming interests of this part of the state, for Charlie Yost, his grand- father, came to Ohio from Maryland in 1836. He was accompanied by his wife, who in the days of her maidenhood was Miss Catherine Swisher, and he laid the foundations upon which the succeeding generations have built.
Daniel Valentine Yost passed the years of his boyhood and youth at home under the care and guidance of his parents. About twenty-two years ago he opened up an establishment whereby he could satisfy the general needs of the farmers of the vicinity. In it he has a country mill and a feed store, where he manufactures flour and does grinding. His place also is equipped for the making of cigar boxes, and in other ways he accommodates his customers. The machinery that he has in- stalled is of the latest and most improved kind and his business has been more than ordinarily successful.
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Mr. Yost has been married twice. On the occasion of his first matrimonial union, which was effected on the 26th of October, 1882, Miss Susie Miller, the daughter of Martin and Susan (Flory) Miller, of Randolph township, was the bride. Mr. Yost had enjoyed but twelve years of her companionship, when she died, leaving a daughter, Mamie, who was born on the 8th of August, 1884. On the 14th of August, 1903, Mr. Yost married Miss Frances Manning, the daughter of George and Susan (Pote) Manning, residents of Clay township. No children have been born to this union.
In the score and more of years that Mr. Yost has been ministering to the needs of the farmers round-about he has created for himself a large and appreciative clientele, for in all his dealings he has been found to be honest and honorable, and to make every effort to satisfy those that come to him. In consequence of this policy he has been more than ordinarily successful, and looks forward to enjoying many years even more fruitful than the past.
WILLIAM A. PEFFLEY.
William A. Peffley, the popular mayor of West Carrollton, Ohio, was born June 17, 1878, in Ellerton, Montgomery county, and is the son of Henry and Eliza- beth (Sheritt) Peffley. His paternal grandfather, Henry Peffley, whose wife in her maidenhood was Miss Sarah Bowser, came from Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, to Ohio, at a time when the journey had to be made by wagon. He settled here and reared his family to become good citizens of the state and country. His son Henry was born in the same town which was the birthplace of William A. Peffley, the subject of this sketch. The latter years of his short life were passed in Miamisburg, however, whither he had moved his family. Death called him in the prime of life, and he left four young children: Howard, William A., Charles and Robert. The wife and mother is still living at the age of fifty-six years and makes her home in Miamisburg, with her parents, who are now in the eighties.
William A. Peffley went to Miamisburg with his parents when a small boy and at that place received his early education, for he attended all the schools there and was graduated from the Miamisburg high school. On account of the premature death of his father, he was reared by his uncle Jacob, who, when he had finished his early education, took him into his business, that of a grocer. The ins and outs of this calling he learned thoroughly, and when opportunity offered he engaged in the grocery business for himself, which has since demanded his time and atten- tion up to the present. In it he has been very successful and has made many friends, who realizing his ability and appreciating the public spirit he has evinced upon several occasions, chose him to guide the destinies of this little city. As the candidate for mayor on the citizens' ticket he was elected by a handsome majority over his two strong opponents. Those qualities that won for him popular regard have remained by him through his period of trial, and he is still looked upon as the people's choice, retaining the good-will of his constituents.
On the 24th of May, 1900, Mr. Peffley married Miss Charlotte Bailey, who is the daughter of William and Amanda (Pittinger) Bailey, residents of Warren
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county, Ohio, and is a woman whose graces well fit her to be the consort of the man to whom the citizens of West Carrollton look as their leader.
A man endowed with the power to lead others, of proved business acumen, and blessed with the ability to make and retain his friends, and by his own to strengthen their adherence to him, he continually demonstrates the wisdom of the people's choice of him as the head of their city. Those traits of character upon which they based their decision have not proved wanting; the city has prospered under his direction, and should be continue in office bids fair to advance to yet highter state of urban effectiveness.
OSCAR J. NEEDHAM.
It is a splendid thing when an individual can show a record of continuous service with one house from youth to old age and while Oscar J. Needham is hardly yet in the prime of life he has for a third of a century been a representa- tive of the Dayton Malleable Iron Company, of which he is now general super- intendent. In his entire life there is not a single esoteric phase. His accom- plishment represents the fit utilization of his innate powers and talents and the opportunities which have been presented. There was nothing unusual in these opportunities, they being such as come to every individual and in fact his start in business was much more humble and obscure than that in which many a youth finds himself on the outset of a business career.
Mr. Needham was born in Dayton in February, 1864, and at the usual age entered the public schools but put aside his text-books when a lad of twelve years to earn his own living. He sought and secured the position of office boy with the Dayton Malleable Iron Company, which at that time had less than one hun- dred names upon its pay roll. One of his early aims was to become an efficient stenographer and operator of the typewriter and through private instruction and wise use of all of his time, usually termed leisure, he soon became an ex- pert in this line of work.
One of the strong characteristics of Mr. Needham is that he has regarded no situation or position as final but rather as a stepping-stone to something higher and when he had become an expert stenographer and typewriter he be- gan studying bookkeeping, pursuing a thorough course in a commercial college. His willingness, thoroughness and adaptability naturally won to him the at- tention of those whom he served and about this time the president of the com- pany, Robert C. Schenck, became greatly interested in Mr. Needham, seeing in him splendid aptitude for development in mechanical skill as well as wonderful executive ability in the handling of men. He, therefore, gave to Mr. Need- ham the chance to win for himself a place in the industrial world such as few men of his age occupy but the fact that success lies in the individual is again demonstrated in his career for though opportunity was offered he must him- self possess the ability to use it. Further qualifying himself for responsibilities he pursued a course in architectural and free hand drawing and with character- istic zeal soon became master of the subject. Then followed an exhaustive
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OSCAR J. NEEDHAM
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course in mechanical engineering and, recognizing the fact that malleable iron was not a science without the aid of chemistry, he took a course in this branch of learning under most competent instructors. While thus engaged he gained the possession of a private laboratory worth several thousand dollars and it has been of immense assistance to him as he has carried on experimental work in connection with his business interests. Thus with knowledge of stenography, typewriting, bookkeeping, of architectural and free hand drawing, of mechani- cal engineering and chemistry Mr. Needham was splendidly equipped to master every detail of the great and growing industry with which he is associated and to direct the labors of others. Today he is uniformly recognized by experts as a metallurgist of the highest rank. There is no department of the business of the Malleable Iron Company with which he is not familiar in principle and detail. After Mr. Necdham had finished his technical education in 1901 he was called upon to participate in an examination in metallurgy where there were one hundred and sixty-nine who took part in the test, being representatives from Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Australia, Canada and the United States. The board of examiners consisted of one representative from each country and there were four hundred questions to be answered covering all the commercial metals. The result of the examination was from twenty-one to one hundred and sixty-eight correct answers from all the other one hundred and sixty- eight contestants, but Mr. Needham answered correctly three hundred and ninety-nine out of the four hundred. The four hundredth question he refused to answer as it involved one of the vital secrets in his business. For this he holds a bronze medal-the only one ever issued. Mr. Needham took up the study of Polish, Hungarian, Macedonian and other foreign languages so that he might be able to converse in their own tongue with the many foreigners who seek employment in the great institution of which he is general superintendent. His linguistic powers undoubtedly explain in part the excellent discipline which he is enabled to maintain throughout the entire plant and it also makes plain in a measure the high esteem and respect entertained for Mr. Needham by all, from the humblest laborer to the president of the company.
In 1888 Mr. Needham was married to Miss Ida Poole and unto them has been born a son, Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Needham hold membership in the Summit Street United Brethren church, with which he has long been identified, serving today as a member of its board of trustees. When the church had struggled along for years under a burden of heavy indebtedness Mr. Needham was persuaded to accept the position of treasurer and with characteristic zeal he attempted the management of its finances with the result that after two years the church was freed from its financial obligations for the first time in its history. Unlike many active and successful business men Mr. Needham does not regard practical politics as something beyond the pale of his efforts. In- deed he believes it to be the duty of every true American citizen to labor for and support the principles which he deems most efficient as factors in good government. He is himself a stalwart republican and for several years was a member of the county central committee while when occasion has demanded he has supported his position by intelligent argument in the campaigns. In the spring of 1886 he was elected a member of the board of education, having the
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distinction of being the youngest man ever chosen for any office in this city. His ability manifested in connection therewith has led to his retention in the office for a long period. He had military service as a member of the National Guard in early life, joining the Guard as a private but winning promotion to official rank during his seven years connection therewith. Fraternally he is a Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Dayton Chamber of Com- merce. Socially Mr. Needham is a delightful man to know. Quiet and un- assuming in demeanor with the desire to do justice to all men, his many ster- ling traits of character have won for him a large circle of friends. Beginning life's battle at the age of twelve years with no capital save courage, energy and determination, he has succeeded in gaining a place in the front rank among the leading and successful residents of his native city while his record is an indica- tion of the fact, which many seem to doubt, that prosperity and an honored name may be won simultaneously.
LEIGH H. SPOHN.
The only store in Mad River township is that which was opened fifteen years ago in Harshman by Leigh H. Spohn, the assistant postmaster of this town. July 23, 1864, was the date of Mr. Spohn's birth and his parents, Joshua and Margaret (Broadstone) Spohn were living in Xenia, Ohio, when this son was born to them. Joshua Spohn came from Maryland, the home of his parents, Joshua and Maggie (Kellar) Spohn. The Kellars were an old Maryland family, though some of them came to Ohio. They are all people of considerable education and local prominence, one of Mrs. Spohn's brothers having been the first president of Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio. Members of this branch of the family are still living in that town, where they are well known for the part they play in local affairs. When Joshua Spohn, Sr., came to Ohio the first time he was alone. After a year's stay here returned to his home, making the whole journey on horseback. With the gold on his person to pay for the farm he had selected he again came to Ohio, where for two years he battled with the hardships of a new country. At the end of this period he had so conquered his environment that a home, rude though it must have been, was ready for the reception of his family. So he made the journey to Maryland once more, on the same old gray mare he had used on the previous trip and brought his wife and children to his new home. He was the first of the Spohn family to come to this part of the country, and the little farm on which he first located is still known as the old Spohn homestead. His son, Joshua Spohn, the father of Leigh H. Spohn, was born in Middletown City, Maryland, May 15, 1820. He was but a small boy when his parents came to this state and might be said to have grown up with the country. He early turned his attention to farming and in 1860 came to Montgomery county and settled on a farm on the Brandt pike, which is known as the Spohn farm in this locality. He died September 20, 1870, leaving his widow with six small children to provide for and rear. Mrs.
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Spohn survived her husband by nearly thirty years, her death not occurring until February 8, 1900.
Leigh H. Spohn was the youngest of this family left fatherless, John, William, Charles, Susan and James being those who had preceded his entrance into the. world. During the years that he attended school he also worked on the farm, learning in this way the great value of the thrift and industry and to make the best use of the opportunities that presented themselves. In his early manhood he worked in Dayton, where he started to learn the machinist's trade. This, however, did not prove to his liking and he forsook it to go into the flour business. After three years he decided to make another change and opened his present general store. This is a very complete one of its kind; for in connection with it Mr. Spohn has a meat market and a refrigerating plant, in which he makes all his own ice. A good gasoline engine is also one of his assets.
On the Ist of May, 1890, Mr. Spohn was united in marriage to Miss Emriette Meyer, the postmistress of Harshman and the daughter of Carl Frederick and Dorathea Augusta (Reinhold) Meyer, both natives of Germany. The father was born in Grimmitzschan, Saxony, September 7, 1843, and the mother in Gustrow, Schwerin, Mecklenburg, January 16, 1841. Mr. Meyer is now living in Canada, but spent many years of his life in Ohio, where he was a cigar manufacturer. He was likewise the owner of a three hundred and twenty-acre farm, but has now turned over the management of it to his son. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Spohn: Victor K., who graduated from the Steele high school of Dayton in the spring of 1909; Paul O., who has just completed his second year at that school; Ruth, deceased ; and Ethel, who is attending the school in Harsh- man but looks forward to finishing his education in Dayton. The family belong to the Lutheran church and are prominent in all church affairs.
That another store has not been opened up in Mad River township bespeaks the satisfaction with which the people of this locality regard Mr. Spohn's efforts to gratify all their wants. He keeps an up-to-date, fresh stock, as complete as can be, always on hand ; is most courteous in his reception of visitors and assidious in procuring for them, at whatever inconvenience to himself, that which they may desire. In all his transactions he has been found honorable and generous, so that there is every reason why he should retain the confidence and good-will of the com- munity, that has been his for so many years.
ADAM GILBERT.
Adam Gilbert, president of the Farmers & Citizens Savings Bank at German- town, Ohio, was born on the old Gilbert homestead, in Jackson township, Mont- gomery county, July 18, 1854, and is the son of Jesse and Hannah (Swinehart) Gilbert. The family is of remotely German origin, and the first of those to come to this country made their home in the wilderness of Frederick county, Maryland, where many of the name attained distinction. The Ohio family may be traced back to George Gilbert, whose children, Adam, David, James and Isaac, were all born in
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Maryland, where George himself lived and died. Adam Gilbert, son of George Gilbert and the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, February 5, 1800. He was reared a farmer and married Cath- erine Diffenbaugh, a native of the same county and the daughter of Henry and Catherine Diffenbaugh, also of German origin. To Adam Gilbert and wife were born ten children: Jesse, Eleanor, John, Jane, Nelson, Mary, Joshua, Julia A., Louisa and Rebecca. The farm of Adam Gilbert was situated in Carroll county, Maryland, which county was cut off from Frederick and Baltimore counties after the birth of Jesse Gilbert, and embraced some two hundred acres, lying near West- minster, which was Adam Gilbert's home until his death in 1865. He had been a member of the Reformed church and during the later years of his life was a strong republican and a stanch supporter of the Union during the Civil war.
Jesse Gilbert, the father of the Adam Gilbert of this sketch, received a fair common-school education and was a strong and rugged boy who did a great deal of useful work on the home farm. At about twenty-two years of age he came to Ohio, in 1848, locating in Jackson township, Montgomery county. Here he mar- ried Mrs. Hannah Mullendore, the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Swinehart and the widow of Daniel Mullendore. Peter Swinehart was of German descent and a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, though he was one of the early pioneers of Jackson township, having entered a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres, on which Jesse Gilbert lived. Mr. and Mrs. Swinehart were the parents of eight children. They were strict members of the Dunkard or German Baptist church and were highly respected in the community where they lived. Mrs. Hannah Mullendore Gilbert by her previous marriage was the mother of five children : Anna Maria ; Josiah, who died young ; Leona ; and two others who died in early youth. Upon their marriage Jesse Gilbert and his wife settled upon the Swinehart homestead, which they did much to clear and improve, bringing it to its present state of fertility and productiveness. He prospered in his undertakings and at the time of his death was possessed of three hundred acres of land excel- lently adapted to the varied farming he conducted. In politics he was formerly an old line whig, but in his later years affiliated with the democratic party. He was distinguished for his public spirit and the aid he gave to all movements designed for the public good. Mrs. Gilbert was called away February 13, 1880, and her husband was laid by her side in the Twin Valley cemetery twenty-three years later. Both were consistent members of the Dunkard church and died within its folds, deeply mourned by a large number of people who respected them for their fine traits of character.
Adam Gilbert received his early education in Jackson township, but was com- pelled to change his school on account of there not being a bridge over Big Twin creek and was transferred to the school of German township, in which he com- pleted his education. He was a diligent student and a great reader and his library is remarkable both for its size and the careful selection of the books which it con- tains. Up to within the past few years he has always been a farmer, working for his father during his youth, and at the age of twenty-four starting out for himself, assuming the charge of the home place at the time of his mother's death. When Mr. Gilbert came to Germantown in 1904, he took an active part in the reorgani- zation of the bank here and was elected its president. To it he devoted the most
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of his time and the flourishing condition in which it is at present is largely due to his exertions.
On the 9th of December, 1879, Mr. Gilbert was married to Miss Elizabeth Moyer, the daughter of Peter and Keziah (Eslinger) Moyer. The father was a farmer in Preble county, Ohio, and the mother is still living at the advanced age of ninety-three on the old home place. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert were born two children: Jesse ; and Pearl, the wife of Herbert A. Shank.
A man of sterling integrity, Mr. Gilbert has made a place for himself in business circles of Germantown that might be envied by anyone. The bank whose des- tinies he guides is one of the concerns that make for the stability of the city and its fair name. In the social life also he is known, and the Gilbert home on Cherry street is one of the very prettiest homes of the city, in which a gracious hospitality is ever extended.
A. M. DODDS.
The life history of A. M. Dodds is another illustration of the fact that it is the young men who are today controlling the veins and arteries of trade and traffic. His connection with commercial circles is that of president of the Dayton Automo- bile Company. He was born in this city, August 16, 1881, and is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this portion of the state, his great-grand- father having come from Pennsylvania when Montgomery county was still a fron- tier district, sparsely inhabited and giving little promise of rapid future develop- ment. His son, John Dodds, was born in Montgomery county, February 13, 1822, was reared in Germantown and in the course of years became an active and valued representative of business interests in Dayton, serving for many years as president of the John Dodds Manufacturing Company. His son Orion Dodds was born in Dayton, June 10, 1850, and, becoming connected with the John Dodds Manufacturing Company, was for a long period general manager of the business. He was also president of the Dayton board of police commissioners for three years and was actively connected with various movements looking to the benefit and progress of the city. His death occurred September 14, 1904, and was the occasion of deep and widespread regret.
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