USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 77
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CARL CLIFFORD SLOAN.
The farm on which Carl Clifford Sloan resides and of which he is the pros- pective owner, has been in possession of the Sloan family for four generations and it was also the birthplace of our subject. The place comprises one hundred and fifteen acres, situated in Wayne township and is one of the neat and produc- tive properties of this section of Montgomery county.
As stated, Mr. Sloan was here born, February 1, 1876, a son of James S. Sloan, who was likewise born on this farm, April 21, 1838. His paternal grand- father was Alexander Sloan, who was born July 19, 1794, and died October IO, 1870. The latter was married April 15, 1830, to Elizabeth Crook, a native of Somersetshire, England, who came to America when only four years of age. She was born August 16, 1804, and died February 19, 1880.
James S. Sloan, our subject's father, acquired his education in the common schools and in the high school at New Carlisle, Ohio. He engaged in farming throughout his entire business career but is now living retired in Wayne town- ship. He is a member of the Osborn Methodist church. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lydia James, was born near Bellbrook, Greene county, Ohio, January 8, 1840, a daughter of David W. and Rebecca (Austin) James, the former a farmer and very influential citizen of Greene county. At the age of twenty-four years he was elected justice of the peace of Sugar Grove township, that county, which office his father, John James, had previously filled. David W. James died in July, 1875, his remains being interred in the Bellbrook cemetery, while his wife departed this life in July, 1850, and she is also buried at Bell- brook. It was on the 23d of May, 1871, that Lydia James gave her hand in marriage to James S. Sloan, subsequent to which time they made quite an ex- tensive trip down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. They then located in Wayne township, where they have lived to the present time. In the summer of 1909 Mrs. Sloan went to Seattle, Washington, making the journey alone, although she had passed the sixty-ninth milestone on the journey of life. Like her husband, she is a member of the Osborn Methodist church, and a woman who possesses many lovable and worthy traits of character. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Sloan was blessed with two children, the sister of our subject being Bertha Es- tella, who was born November 16, 1873. She began her education in the district
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schools and later completed the high-school course at Osborn, subsequent to which time she entered Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, in 1890, and there completed the two years' literary course, while for three years she studied piano in Dayton.
Carl C. Sloan, the only son of the father's family, completed the high-school course at Osborn in 1894. In the meantime he had been trained to the duties of the home farm and when starting out in life on his own account chose farming as his life work. He is now the prospective owner of the old home place, com- prising one hundred and fifteen acres, situated in Wayne township. It is im- proved with good and substantial buildings and he has all the modern machinery that is necessary for the successful conduct of the farm. In addition to carrying on general farming he also raises Duroc-Jersey hogs and both branches of his business are proving a profitable source of income to him.
Mr. Sloan was married August 21, 1901, to Miss Grace L. Nash, of New Baltimore, Stark county, Ohio, a daughter of William L. and Harriet (Bryan) Nash. Her father has engaged in farming for many years and is also a prom- inent member of the State Grange. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sloan were born two children, but Robert Nash, who was born August 21, 1902, died the following day. The daughter, Mary Elizabeth, born February 21, 1904, was left mother- less when only ten days old, as Mrs. Sloan passed away March 1, 1904. Thus ended the career of one whom the community had learned to love and the mem- bers of her household deeply feel her loss. Since her death, Mr. Sloan's sister has had the responsibility of rearing his little daughter.
Mr. Sloan gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for three years served as pike commissioner, while in 1907 he was elected justice of the peace for a term of four years. He is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as one of the stewards. Enterprising and pro- gressive in all that he does, he is ever alert to his advantages and opportunities and is thus working his way steadily to the front, being classed today among the representative young farmers of Wayne township.
ABEL HOOVER.
The name of Abel Hoover has long been associated with manufacturing in- terests in Miamisburg and has ever stood as a synonym for commercial enter- prise, integrity and reliability. For a considerable period Abel Hoover has been a factor in connection with the productive industries of the city and is still financially interested therein although he is largely living retired in that he leaves the management of his manufacturing interests to others save for the general supervision which he gives to his business. He was born in Miamis- burg, September 5, 1832, and is descended in the paternal line from German an- cestry. His grandfather, Frederick Hoover, was a native of Pennsylvania and a farmer by occupation. Removing to Ohio he became one of the very early settlers of Montgomery county where he engaged in farming until old age in- capacitated him for further labor of that character. He then retired and re-
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moved to Miamisburg, where his last days were spent. He married a Miss Her- man who also died when well advanced in years. They were the parents of six sons and two daughters : David, Martin, Isaac, John, Simon, William, Catharine and Mrs. Isaac Treon.
Of this family David H. Hoover, father of Abel Hoover, was born in Penn- sylvania. but was reared to farm life in Montgomery county, Ohio, and when he became a man turned his attention to the manufacture of threshing machines in Miamisburg. He took up that work in the '40s and continued in the implement business for many years, becoming one of the well known and prominent rep- resentatives of that line of trade and manufacture in this part of the state. He married Miss Catharine Houtz, also a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of John Houtz. Her father lived in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he conducted a distillery, a flour mill, a cooper shop and a store. He was one of the most prominent business men of that part of the state and in addition to his com- mercial and industrial interests he was a very extensive landowner, his possessions aggregating about nineteen thousand acres. He was a pioneer of Montgomery county, Ohio, where he engaged in farming and here he also established a distillery, sending his products down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers on flat boats to New Orleans. He afterward removed to Miami county, discontinued manu- facturing because of a belief that the course was wrong and became a strict Presbyterian. He died at an old age. He and his wife reared a large family of children including: Nancy, Catharine, Eliza, Barbara, Mary, Christina, John, Samuel and Jeremiah. Among this number was Catharine who became Mrs. David H. Hoover. The death of Mr. Hoover occurred at Miamisburg when he was seventy years of age while his wife survived him for a number of years and passed away at the very venerable age of eighty-seven years. They were both consistent members of the Methodist church, their Christian faith being the guiding principle in their life. Unto them were born three children: Elizabeth, who is the widow of Charles Allen and is now residing in Miamisburg; Abel of this review ; and Samantha, the wife of William Gamble of Miamisburg.
Abel Hoover has spent his entire life in the city of his nativity. In his boy- hood days he pursued his education in the old-time subscription schools, in select schools and in the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was a student for a short time. He afterward went to work in his father's shop and later became interested in the business as a partner. Following his father's death he con- tinued the business and is still connected with manufacturing interests, the out- put of the factory at the present time being machinery for making twine. The business has long been a profitable venture, capably conducted along modern business lines and its manufactured product finds a ready and profitable sale on the market.
On the 7th of April, 1858, Mr. Hoover was united in marriage to Miss Clara E. Hoff, a daughter of William and Eliza (Leis) Hoff. Mrs. Hoover was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in the town of Wammelsdorf and her parents were also natives of the Keystone state. They arrived in Miamisburg in the '4os and the father here engaged in the dry-goods business. Unto them were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom three are now liv- ing : Mrs. Clara Hoover ; Mary C., who is the widow of George A. Black of
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Dayton ; and H. C. Hoff, of Miamisburg. The father lived in Miamisburg for many years and engaged in the dry-goods trade here, becoming recognized as one of the leading and representative merchants of the city. He died in 1876 at the age of sixty-seven years, while his wife survived him for eight years and was seventy-two years of age at the time of her demise. The paternal grand- father of Mrs. Hoover was George Hoff, a native of Pennsylvania, who served as a soldier in the War of 1812. His wife bore the maiden name of Margaret Nice. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Hoover was George Neis.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Abel Hoover has been blessed with six chil- dren, but Harry and Herbert died in early childhood. William D., who is now living in Denver, Colorado, married Miss Elizabeth Hunt and they have two chil- dren, Edward and Donald. Charles F., an eminent physician practicing in Cleveland, Ohio married Miss Catharine Frazier and they had one daughter, Catharine. George Albert, who married a Miss Taylor, is living in Detroit, Michigan. Esther Belle is the wife of Oscar E. Linderholm and they reside in Chester, Texas, with their one daughter, Clara Christine. Such in brief is the life history of Abel Hoover, a man whose record reflects credit upon Miamisburg, his native city, and throughout his life the place of his residence. Some years since he passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, and he remains a most respected resident here, honored by reason of what he has ac- complished and the straightforward business methods which he has ever pur- sued. In all relations he has measured up to the full standard of manhood.
H. L. FERNEDING.
H. L. Ferneding, the well known attorney of Dayton, early in life chose the practice of law as his life work and has gained more than local prominence as a representative of his profession. Living in Dayton throughout his entire life, he is a son of Clement J. and Barbara (Barlow) Ferneding, the former now and for many years prominent as a manufacturer and street railroad man of Dayton. He acquired his early education at the parochial school and later was graduated from St. Mary's Institute, a college situated in the southern part of this city, where he remained for five years. He then had the benefit of further instruction at the University of Notre Dame, near South Bend, Indiana, where he completed a two years' course and then returned to Dayton to begin his legal studies.
Mr. Ferneding had the advantage of having as a preceptor in the law the distinguished attorney Hon. John A. McMahon, who has always proven his warm friend and benefactor and in whose office he remained for four years. During a portion of this time, in the fall of 1895, he entered the Cincinnati Law School and in the following spring was graduated and passed his examination for ad- mission to the bar. He then returned to the McMahon law office and a few months later formed a partnership with Hon. Charles W. Dale under the name of Dale & Ferneding, which partnership continued for a number of years, during a portion of which time Hon. D. B. Van Pelt, ex-judge of the court of common
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pleas of Clinton county, came to Dayton and became a member of the firm under the firm name of Van Pelt, Dale & Ferneding. In the summer of 1905, upon Judge Dale's elevation to the probate bench of this county, Mr. Ferneding formed a partnership with W. S. McConnaughey and John C. Shea under the firm name of Ferneding, McConnaughey & Shea, with offices in the Reibold build- ing. This firm has grown to be one of the strongest and most representative in the city and the success that has attended their efforts has been pronounced.
By reason of his professional connection, Mr. Ferneding became identified with several important business interests, being an officer and director of the Teutonia National Bank, the Dayton, Springfield & Xenia Southern Railway Company, the Ferneding-Heymann Company, the William Focke's Sons Com- pany, the Walker Lithographing & Printing Company, and the Columbia Land & Building Company, the last named having large real-estate holdings in this city, and of which company he is the president. Mr. Ferneding is also a member of and president of the board of managers of the Ohio State Reformatory at Mansfield and is now serving his second term. The management of this in- stitution is nonpartisan in character, being composed of three democrats and three republicans. He was first honored by appointment to this position by the late Governor George K. Nash, a republican, and at the expiration of his term was honored by reappointment from his own party, a democratic adminis- tration, in the person of Governor Harmon. Mr. Ferneding has always been a democrat and takes a lively interest in public matters and in anything that per- tains to the progress and welfare of the city. He is a member of the Dayton Club, the Knights of Columbus and the Country Club.
MRS. OMA APPLE.
One of the productive farms in Jackson township, Montgomery county, that in the excellent state of cultivation of its fields, the neat condition of all its ap- purtenances, such as fences, and the modern and substantial buildings, speaks of the good management of its owner, is that owned and worked by Mrs. Oma Apple. This enterprising and energetic woman was born in this township, Octo- ber 24, 1868, and is the daughter of Peter Lies, who claimed Pennsylvania as his native state, having been born there on the 24th of February, 1832, and of Mary (Fuls) Lies, who was born in Jackson township, January 1, 1834.
The daughter of a farmer, Mrs. Apple was early inured to the ways of that life, for from her girlhood she ever took an interest in the work about her, doing her share, and a woman's part is no small one on a farm. When she married Mr. Apple she was well prepared to be his helpmeet. Indeed, as time has proven, when opportunity demanded she brought to the fore all those latent qualities of character, good management, capacity for right judgment, and a thorough under- standing of the details of the farming business that had been growing and ripen- ing during the preceding years of her life.
Mrs. Apple has two daughters who are now able to assist her. Carrie, the elder, was born on the 12th of July, 1889; and Orpha was born May 1, 1891.
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Both girls have received a good education, for they are graduates of the Jackson township high school. They with their mother are members of the Reformed church, and frequently grace the social gatherings that are a part of the life of the congregation.
Farming is so almost exclusively the work of a man that when a woman as- sumes its burdens and bears them with something approaching a man's strength, it is a subject for remark and high commendation. Mrs. Apple has not only car- ried on her husband's farm and work, but she has so conducted the place that it has brought her generous returns. Her fields are among those that present the most prosperous appearance of any in the township, and it is needless to say that in her endeavors she has the good will and support of those who know her.
THE CITIZENS BANKING COMPANY.
The Citizens Bank was organized as a private institution in 1895 by Levi Baker and was capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars. It enjoyed a pros- perous existence until 1900, when it was reorganized, becoming the Farmers & Merchants Bank with Dr. W. S. Mundhenk as the president. In 1905 a re- organization was effected under the name of the Citizens Banking Company, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, at which time L. Baker was honored with the presidency. He still continues in that position, his assistant officers being : Dr. W. S. Mundhenk, vice president ; and O. E. Baker, cashier. They own the bank building, which is a two story brick structure, sixty-six by ninety-nine feet. It is thoroughly equipped with modern fixtures and every accessory to facilitate the work of the bank, and the institution would be a credit to a city of much larger size than Brookville. The second floor of the building is used as the opera house of the village. It is forty by ninety feet, has a complete stage equipment and will seat four hundred.
WILLARD D. CHAMBERLIN.
Among the productive industries of Dayton is the one which now owes in part its successful management and continued expansion to Willard D. Chamber- lin. Since 1906 he has been the president of the Beaver Soap Company, in which connection he is helping to conduct an enterprise of value in the industrial life of the community. His judgment is at all times sound and reliable, and his keen discernment constitutes a strong force in the able management of the house.
Tracing the ancestral line back through many generations it is found that Henry Chamberlin was the progenitor of the family in the new world. He came from Hingham, England, sailing July 26, 1638, on the ship Diligent, Henry Martin master, and landing at Boston on the 10th of August following. This was a comparatively short voyage for that time. He was accompanied by his wife, Mary Jane Chamberlin, by their two children and by his mother, Christina Cham-
W. D. CHAMBERLIN
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berlin. He was both a shoemaker and a blacksmith by trade. His son, William Chamberlin, born in Hingham, Massachusetts, was the next in line of direct de- scent to our subject. His son, John Chamberlin, was whipped nine times on Boston Commons on account of his association with the Society of Friends and was finally condenmed to death but was released on the order of the king, after which he removed to Newport, Rhode Island, where he ultimately passed away. Joseph Chamberlin, a son of William Chamberlin, was a farmer and cord- wainer. He was the father of another William Chamberlin, the great-great- great-grandfather of our subject, who was a native of Colchester, Connecticut, and devoted his life to farming and to the conduct of a hotel. His son, Peleg Chamberlin, followed agricultural pursuits and died in Kent, Connecticut. He was the father of William Chamberlin, the great-grandfather of W. D. Cham- berlin. Born in Kent, Connecticut, July 26, 1754, he, too, made farming his source of livelihood. He served as a soldier in the American army in the Revolutionary war, enlisting in 1776 for one year. He was on duty at Fort Stanwix, now Rome, New York, where the first American flag was unfurled in 1777. His death oc- curred at Bridgewater, Pennsylvania. Samuel Chamberlin, the grandfather, was born in Lexington, New York, and in 1810 removed to Bridgewater, Pennsyl- vania, where his death occurred. He, too, followed the occupation of farming and he was a minister of the Old School Baptist church.
Samuel Chamberlin, father of W. D. Chamberlin, was born in Bridgewater, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1827. In early manhood he took up the profession of teaching. He had been educated in an academy and for twenty- one terms followed teaching, spending two or three years of this time in the Titus district of Middletown, Ohio, after which he returned to the east. For over thirty years he resided at Vestal Center, Broome county, New York, and gave his attention to the occupation of farming. In politics he was a prominent re- publican in his community, especially active in local affairs. He served as su- pervisor, justice of the peace and in other local offices and declined a proffered candidacy for the general assembly. His life was ever honorable and upright, in consistent harmony with his principles as a member of the Baptist church, in which he served as deacon for more than three decades. He died at Vestal Cen- ter, New York, February 18, 1893. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Caroline Swan, removed to Waverly, Iowa, after her husband's death to make her home with a daughter there, but died at Oxford, New York, October 13, 1908. Her family numbered four children : Willard D .; Alma M., the wife of Dr. Osin- cup, of Waverly, Towa ; Samuel S., a manufacturer of table slides in Dayton ; and Carrie L., who died in early childhood.
Willard D. Chamberlin, born in Ketchumville, Tioga county, New York, August 13, 1858, began his education in the district schools near his boyhood home and was afterward a high school student in Binghampton, New York. When he put aside his text-books he sought a home in the west, starting in 1877 for Ohio with Dayton as his destination. Here he secured a clerical position in the office of his cousin, Charles Chamberlin, agent for the Great Western Dispatch, where he remained until 1881, when he went upon the road as traveling salesman for Thresher & Company. In 1885 he became associated with Mr. Beaver in the man- ufacture of soap under the firm style of Beaver & Company, Mr. Chamberlin as-
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suming the management of the office and also attending to the sales by introduc- ing their product upon the road. In 1893 the business, which had enjoyed con- tinuous growth, was incorporated under the name of the Beaver Soap Company, with Mr. Chamberlin as vice president, in which position he continued until 1906, when he was elected to the presidency, the company being at that time reorganized. Prior to this he had for ten years been a director but took no active part in the management. He is today, however, bringing his executive force and keen dis- crimination to the solution of business problems, and his sound judgment is an element in the continued success of this productive industry.
On the 5th of September, 1888, Mr. Chamberlin was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hinkley Sumner, a daughter of Dr. E. J. Sumner, of Mansfield Cen- ter, Tolland county, Connecticut. Their children are: Mary Louise, born Sep- tember 14, 1889; and Edwin Sumner, born November 1, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin hold membership in the First Baptist church, with which he has been identified since 1870 and in which he is serving as a trustee. In politics he is a republican, unfaltering in his allegiance to the party but without ambition for office. He has many good qualities which have won him the regard of his fellow- men.
HENRY C. RYDER.
Careful analyzation into the life history of the great majority of men gives incontrovertible proof of the fact that success is won by earnest, persistent and unfaltering effort. It is in this way that Henry C. Ryder has worked his way upward, for although he started out in life without any specially favorable ad- vantages, he has made steady progress in the business world until today lie ranks among the successful farmers and stock-raisers and extensive landowners in Butler township. A native son of Montgomery county, he was born in Butler township upon the old home farm upon which he now resides, his birth occurring on the 28th of December, 1852. He is a son of David C. and Catherine (Keener) Ryder, the former a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, born in Novem- ber, 1809. He came to Montgomery county at an early age and at once became identified with the occupation of farming, continuing to engage in that line of activity until his retirement from business several years prior to his death. He became a successful, substantial and influential man whose high moral worth was recognized throughout the community and gained him the honor and respect of his fellowmen. His death occurred on the 5th of August, 1891, and his remains were interred at Vandalia, Ohio. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Cather- ine Keener, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in November, 1815, and came to Ohio at an early age. Her father, who followed general farming and was a member of the Lutheran church, died several years ago, while Mrs. Ryder passed away in May. 1902, her remains being laid to rest beside her hus- band at Vandalia, Ohio. In their family were nine children. Nancy, the eldest, married I. A. Brankenburg and has five children, namely: Frank; Ella; Ida ; Emma, deceased ; and Dora. Mary became the wife of William Rahn and re- sided in Washington township for a number of years. She and her husband are
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