USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 82
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On the 27th of June, 1894, Mr. Rumbarger was united in marriage in Dayton to Miss Emma B. Fricke. They are well known here, having many friends in this city, while their own home is most attractive by reason of its warm-hearted and cordial hospitality. They hold membership in the Lutheran church and Mr. Rum- barger belongs also to the Knights of Pythias lodge. He is independent in politics, nor does he seek office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. The smallest nor the strongest temptations have no effect on him and all who know him admire and love him for his rugged integrity and high sense of honor and fair play. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, of which his father was a member, and as a child attended both Sunday school and church. At the age of sixteen years he was confirmed and has since been a member of that denomination, regularly attending its services throughout his entire life. Like many men who have done that which was worthy of note he is extremely modest and shrinks from publicity. This produces a reserve that has caused him at times
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to be regarded as distant, but he is uniformly trusted as a man of high honor and those who come within the closer circle of his friendship find in him many admir- able and lovable qualities. He stands before the world, however, as one of the few successful inventors, his business ability forming a well balanced ratio to his skill as an inventor.
WARREN HALL.
Well known in local political circles and in business lines as well, Warren Hall, who has served as a member of the board of public safety of Dayton, is now acting as manager of the repair department of the Dayton Motor Car Company. These interests claim the greater part of his attention yet he is also known in other connections which go to produce a well rounded develop- ment.
He was born on a farm in Butler township, Montgomery county, Ohio, March 15, 1858, and his youthful days were devoted to the duties of the school- - room and the labors of the fields. Lessons of industry and perseverance were early impressed upon his mind. At the age of seventeen years he came to Dayton to enter the Miami Commercial College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1877. He then entered the employ of the Stoddard Manu- facturing Company, with which he has since been connected. The business has since been reorganized, however, and his official connection is that of manager of the repair department of the Dayton Car Company. Mr. Hall has also been well known for a number of years in political circles and once served on the city board of elections, while in March, 1906, he was appointed by Governor John M. Pattison on the board of public safety as a republican. He served until August 1, 1909, in this capacity, proving capable and efficient in the discharge of his duties. He is recognized as one of the strong and effec- tive workers in the ranks of the republican party in Dayton and stands for all that is progressive in citizenship.
On the 3d of October, 1888, Mr. Hall was married in Xenia, Ohio, to Miss Minnie F. Fleming, and they have three sons and one daughter: Herbert F., Gaines P., Kenneth A. and Margaret N. The parents belong to the First United Brethren church and are well known socially, the hospitality of many of the best homes of the city being freely accorded them.
JEFFERSON F. HERN.
Jefferson F. Hern, a prosperous farmer of Brookville, Ohio, was born in Madison township, Montgomery county, July 29, 1862, and is the son of Robert and Katie (Erskine) Hern. Although the father was born in Virginia, on the IIth of February, 1825, he was all but a native of this state, for he was only eight years of age when he came here in the custody of his sister, his own par-
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ents being dead. His wife, who was four years his junior, was born in Ran- dolph township in 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Hern reared a family of eight chil- dren : John, Jefferson, Abram, Elizabeth, Nancy, Sarah, Katie and Dora.
Jefferson F. Hern passed the days of his childhood and youth in the com- pany of his brothers and sisters and under the loving care and guidance of his parents. He early learned the ways of farmers and the secrets of the cultiva- tion of the soil, a practical education that amply supplemented the formal train- ing he received from the schools of the township during the months that they were in session. On the 7th of April, 1887, he married Miss Lizzie M. Shank, who was born on the 3Ist of May, 1866, a daughter of Henry and Susan (Mundhenk) Shank, of Perry township, of which the latter was a native. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hern, namely: Charlie, whe was born in 1888; Katie, in 1891; Dora, born in 1895; and Waldo, born in 1901. The parents are consistent members of the United Brethren church, of which Mr. Hern is both a trustee and steward, and both are regular in their attendance at its services and actively identified with its interests.
Mr. Hern during all his life has devoted himself to the pursuit of farming. In this he has been more than ordinarily successful; his fields have produced for him of their most generous bounty, for he has cultivated them early and late, and with a skill that comes only from a joy in the work and a sympathy with the life of the great outdoors. Of recent years he has put up for the en- joyment of himself and family a fine house, equipped with all modern conven- iences and accounted one of the best in this community. In the course of years he has made many friends who are well pleased with his good fortune.
JOHN M. LEIS.
More than a century ago George Washington said: "Agriculture is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man." Moreover, it is well known that it is the basis of all prosperity, that upon the products of the soil must depend activity in commercial and industrial lines. Among those who are closely associated with farming interests in Montgomery county is John M. Leis, who resides in Jackson township. He was born October 21, 1857, in Heidelberg township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, a son of Jonathan and Justina (Myer) Leis, the former a farmer by occupation. They were worthy Christian people and on the minds of their children impressed lessons of industry and honesty. The grandfather, Henry Leis, lived and died in Berks county, Pennsylvania. He had two brothers, John Peter and John Adam Leis. The former came to Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1836, settling in Miami town- ship, in that section known as Gander Swamp, where he secured one hundred and sixty acres of land. He was accompanied by his family, consisting of his second wife, whose maiden name was Shell, and his children, Henry, John, John Adam, Peggy, Hannah, Leah, Kate and Salome. Of this family John Adam Leis became a minister of the Reformed church.
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The subject of this review acquired his education in the common schools of his native county but he was not satisfied with the east as he approached early manhood and desired to travel. However, the necessity of providing for his own support caused him to seek employment and after leaving school in the spring of 1875, he secured a clerkship in a village store, where he remained for a year. In 1876 he took up the trade of house-painting, which he followed continuously until 1893. On the 2d of November of the former year he went to Wells county, Indiana, but not liking that locality he retraced his steps as far as Dayton, Montgomery county, Ohio. From the city he made his way to Farmersville in the same county and there worked at painting. For a num- ber of years he continued to follow that pursuit and then turned his attention to general farming, renting a tract of land from Henry Gable in 1893. Three years later, in 1896, he removed to Preble county, Ohio, where he rented a large farm from C. H. Keener and made his home thereon for three years. He then returned to the farm on which he had previously made his home in Jack- son township, Montgomery county, and purchased the property which includes eighty acres of rich and productive land. He has erected modern buildings upon it and made many general improvements which have converted it into a fine farm, constituting one of the model properties of the township. He diligently and persistently carries on his work and his labors are bringing him success.
In 1878, in Germantown, Ohio, Mr. Leis was married to Miss Catharine E. Leis, a daughter of Israel Leis, a granddaughter of Henry Leis and a great- granddaughter of John Peter Leis, all of Montgomery county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Leis of this review have been born the following named: Monroe J., who married Clara Shank; Calvin J .; William H., who married Annie Writz; Ada N. ; Ruth E. ; John A .; and Roscoe O.
Mr. Leis has been active in community affairs. In the spring of 1880 he was elected a school director in Jackson township and served for twelve years. He was then reelected, in 1899, and served for four years, when he resigned. In 1893 he was chosen to the office of road supervisor in the same township and has ever discharged the duties of these positions in a prompt, capable and efficient manner. His political allegiance is given to the democracy. In 1892 he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and soon afterward passed through the chairs of the subordinate lodge. In 1897 he became a member of the encampment and later he and his wife joined the Daughters of Rebekah. In 1902 he became a member of the Masonic lodge at Farmersville and he is also a member of the Reformed church, in which he has served as an officer since 1899.
WILLIAM PFLUM.
Not by leaps and bounds but by the orderly progression that results from intel- ligently directed application and the wise use of every opportunity has William Pflum reached his present position as the vice-president and manager of the Nat- ional Cash Register Company. He was born in Dayton, September 30, 1869, his parents being Jacob and Louise (Nauerth) Pflum, both of whom were natives of
WILLIAM PFLUM
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Germany, the former having been born in Wurtemberg, while the latter was born in one of the towns that border the Rhine. The death of Jacob Pflum occurred in July, 1908.
In the public schools of Dayton William Pflum pursued his education and af- terward attended the Miami Business College. His vacations were largely devoted to work and in September, 1886, just after finishing his commercial course, he en- tered the service of the National Cash Register Company as an office boy. He made application for the position in response to an advertisement in a Dayton newspaper, which he chanced to see while out camping. He at first was paid three dollars per week, but while working in that humble capacity he gave proof of his capability, willingness and diligence and promotions followed. He was made as- sistant on the books at a salary of four dollars per week, since which time he has filled every intermediate position in the treasurer's office until his advancement has brought him to the present place of administrative direction and executive control which he now occupies. His work continued in the treasurer's office from the be- ginning until April, 1895, when he left his position of assistant treasurer to be- come traveling auditor for the company, a position which it was found necessary to create at that time. He served for a year in that capacity, traveling through the east, south, middle west and northwest states, doing excellent service. Having successfully discharged the duties of his outside position he was then called back to the factory in 1896 and again became assistant treasurer, in which capacity he served with pronounced ability and gratifying success. Upon Mr. Shepherd's resignation from the position of treasurer Mr. Pflum was appointed to succeed him. In January, 1902, he was promoted to the position of general auditor of the company and when the work of the treasurer's department and the general audi- tor's department was consolidated April 1, 1903, William Pflum became the treas- urer of the company. On the 29th of June, 1906, he was elected by the board of directors to the office of acting general manager, which position was created owing to the absence of the president and general manager abroad. On the IIth of De- cember, of the same year, the office of second vice-president was created and Mr. Pflum was elected to serve in that capacity in addition to performing his duties as treasurer. He continued in the office of second vice-president and treasurer until July 16, 1907, when he became general manager of the company. A few months later several of the office departments, constituting the executive branch, were re- moved to New York city. Mr. Pflum was transferred at that time with the title of first vice-president and manager, in which position he is still representing the company. This is today one of America's most important productive industries and in connection with its management Mr. Pflum has formulated various new and practical plans for the enlargement of the business and the conduct of the in- terests of the corporation.
. p.r. Sthe April, 1896, occurred the marriage of Mr. Pflum and Miss Katie E. Smyth, a daughter of Sidney B. Smyth, a contractor of Dayton. They have three children : Catharine, William G. and Sidney S., all in school.
In his political views Mr. Pflum is an independent republican but without am- bition for office. He usually gives his support to the men and measures of the re- publican party, but where the interests of city government are involved he casts an independent ballot, desiring only a businesslike administration of municipal af-
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fairs. He holds membership in Christ's Episcopal church of Dayton, is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Dayton Club, and also belongs to the Sphinx Club of New York. He owns a residence at Fourth street and the Boule- vard in Dayton, one of the beautiful and attractive homes of the city, but, as the chief offices of the National Cash Register have been removed to New York, he, in consequence, maintains a home there. He is fond of all outdoor sports and athletics. He also delights in the ownership of fine horses and has ever owned horses since old enough to manage them. His own career has made him apprecia- tive of true worth in others and as the years have gone on he has stood for all those things which make for progress and improvement in the complexity of life. His own career illustrates forcibly the value and worth of enterprise and unfaltering effort for it has been alone through those agencies that he has won his advance- ment, reaching a foremost place in connection with the management of one of the most important industries of the country.
SAMUEL YOUNG.
Samuel Young, an industrious and enterprising agriculturist of Montgomery county, is entitled to be classed among the self-made men of this vicinity. A native of Ohio, he was born in Jefferson township, this county, January 27, 1845, a son of Thomas and Susan (Dull) Young. The parents were natives of Maryland who came to Ohio about 1837, settling in Jefferson township, where the father became identified with farming. In 1847, they removed to Jackson township. In their family were the following children: Mary Catherine, John Thomas, Sarah Ann, Henry, Samuel and Susan. The last named was reared on his father's farm and soon became familiar with the work that falls to the lot of the country lad. At an early age he undertook the task of providing for his own livelihood and throughout the intervening years has been identified with the agricultural interests of this community. Energetic, industrious and persevering, he has also been most careful in the management of his business interests until today he ranks among the progressive and prosperous farmers of this district.
On the 28th of October, 1873, occurred the marriage of Mr. Young and Miss Sarah Catherine Weaver, a daughter of George W. and Eliza (Patterson) Weaver, and as the years have gone by their home has been blessed with two children, Izore Ellen and Florence Elsie, both of whom are now married and have families of their own. The parents are members of the United Brethren church and have always been deeply interested in its various phases of work, doing all in their power to further its influence in the community. Mr. Young has never allied himself with any fraternal organization, seeking his happiness in the companionship of his own home, to which he is most devoted. Politically he supports the republican party at the polls but has never sought nor desired public office as a reward for party fealty. Depending upon his own resources from an early age, with no special advantages at the outset of his career, he has, through indefatigable energy and undaunted perseverance, made his way
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upward in the business world until he is today recognized as a substantial and prosperous representative of agricultural interests. His life has been one of continuous activity in which has been accorded due recognition of honest labor. while his sterling characteristics make him an honored and respected citizen of Jackson township.
THEODORE C. LINDSEY, SR.
Theodore C. Lindsey, Sr., prominent among the representative business men of Dayton, Ohio, is conducting a well appointed jewelry and general mer- chandise establishment. He was born upon a farm in Franklin county, four miles south of Columbus, Ohio, November 1, 1844, and was there reared amid rural surroundings to the age of ten years. The family then resided in Cambridge, Ohio, for a short time and in 1855 removed to Dayton. He soon afterward entered the office of what is now known as The Dayton Journal, where he learned the printer's trade. Following the outbreak of the Civil war, he put aside all business and personal considerations and with a number of boy friends responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting on the IIth of September, 1861, at Dayton as a private of Company H, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. He served with that command until mustered out October 19, 1864, at Columbia, Tennessee, having in the meantime participated in a number of hotly contested engagements which contributed to the sum total of the Union victories that led up to the final close of the war. He was under fire at Chickamauga, again at Stone River and in front of Murfreesboro. He was never wounded but was captured at Huntsville, Alabama, in September, 1862, and sent as a prisoner of war to Macon, Georgia, and there remained for six or eight weeks; afterward was incarcerated in Libby prison for three or four weeks; and then paroled, while some time afterward he was exchanged and rejoined his command at Nashville, Tennessee. He was again captured about the Ist of October, 1863, near Nashville, and sent to McMinnville, Tennessee, where he was paroled and then marched two hundred miles to Mumfordsville, Kentucky. From that point he proceeded to Nashville, where he again rejoined his command. He was captured the third time in June, 1864, again sent to Libby prison for three weeks and while being transferred to Andersonville, Georgia, a halt was made at Salisbury, North Carolina, where the prisoners were placed on flat cars for transportation. A guard upon the train became friendly to some of the prisoners and told Mr. Lindsey and two of his comrades that it would mean starvation at Andersonville prison for them, that if they cared to escape while the train was under good speed he would see that the guards would not shoot. Mr. Lindsey and the two comrades accordingly jumped at the same time, being badly bruised and stunned but soon recovered. This was July 22, 1864. They found friends through the colored people whom they aroused the same night and were then directed to a white man named Jesse Goodnight about ten miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. Through the kindness of this man they were provided with shelter for four days and then left on a hike through the Smoky
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mountains and the Blue Ridge mountains to eastern Tennessee, where the subject of this sketch was taken sick in the home of a Union man, Mr. William Cable, prior to that a resident of Ironton, Ohio. The help and kindness of Mr. Cable soon enabled Mr. Lindsey to recover and he then proceeded on to join the company at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, September 4, 1864. Mr. Lindsey's readiness to join in scouting expeditions led to some of the personal risks in which he was involved, which have been related, and he met all the hardships and privations of military life, during more than three years in which he faithfully defended the interests of the Union.
On leaving the army Mr. Lindsey returned to Dayton, Ohio, where on May 30, 1865, he married Martha Seitters, there being born to them five children, of whom two are deceased: Daisy May died in infancy ; and Anna F., the wife of Harry E. Dill, died in 1902, leaving two daughters, Hazel and Martha Dill. The three living children are: Harry W., a merchant ; Theodore C., Jr., an at- torney at law ; and Elsie C., wife of Clarence P. Osborn. Mr. Lindsey's home life has been exceedingly pleasant and he has been an honored and respected head of the family at his present residence, built by him over forty years ago.
In the commercial interests of the city Mr. Lindsey is well known, having entered business soon after the close of the Civil war. He has been one of the energetic and enterprising commercial workers here, having long been con- nected with the jewelry and general merchandise. lines and his store enjoys a large and valuable patronage due to courteous management and the excellent and large line of goods carried.
Mr. Lindsey has never held nor desired political office but is well known in fraternal organizations. He is particularly prominent in Old Guard Post, No. 23, Grand Army of the Republic ; and in 1907 was elected senior vice commander of the Department of Ohio, has been on the staff of the national commander and is a past commander of Old Guard Post. He is one of the oldest members of Iola Lodge, Knights of Pythias. His religious faith is manifest by membership in the First Reformed church. Loyalty has always been one of his marked characteristics, manifested no more strongly in his military services than in the relations of citizenship and of friendship.
ELWOOD E. RICE.
There are men whose place of residence is but a feature of their life records, while the place of their business activity does not even localize them. They are men of the world in the broadest sense of the term in that their interests have con- stituted important elements in the world's work and progress. A splendid example of the spirit of the times is found in Elwood E. Rice, alert and enterprising, rec- ognizing every opportunity and with marked initiative force, which he has displayed by the development of the business interests which he manages in the office of pres- ident of the Rice Electric Display Company and the R. R. Sign Company. He was born October II, 1879, in Montgomery county, a son of Franklin and Mary Vic- toria (Dryden) Rice. His grandfather was Fleming Rice, his great-grandfather,
ELWOOD E. RICE
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James Rice. The latter was born in Maryland, October 5, 1786, was reared to farm life, and on the 21st of June, 1821, was married to Rebecca Drill, who was born in Maryland, March 5, 1797. They came to Ohio in 1826 and for six years were resi- dents of Ross county, after which they established their home north of Dayton, in Montgomery county. In 1838 they rented one of the Compton farms on the Cin- cinnati pike, in Van Buren township, and there the death of James Rice occurred September 25, 1842, while his wife passed away five years before. They were both lifelong members of the Episcopal church.
Fleming Rice, the eldest of their six children, was born in Maryland, September 26, 1822, and was therefore less than four years of age when the family came to Ohio. In his youth he assisted in the operation of the home farm and when his father died assumed its management, keeping the younger children together and providing for their support. He remained on the farm about nineteen years and in the fall of 1858 purchased two hundred and twenty-eight acres adjoining the place upon which he previously made his home. He located on the latter property in 1861 and in 1872 sold sixty-eight acres of it for the Catholic cemetery, leaving him one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land. He also owned two other quarter section tracts in Van Buren township and a farm of one hundred and twenty-two acres in Harrison township and engaged extensively in the cultivation of tobacco. He was prominent in community affairs. On the 24th of February, 1843, he wedded Catherine Fenstemacher, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1824 and died in January, 1864, leaving four children : Hester Jane, who became Mrs. Daniel Peters ; John W .; Mary, the wife of Jacob Sheets; and Franklin. On the 13th of November, 1866, Fleming Rice wedded Mary E. Miller, who was born in Pennsylvania, April 2, 1834, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Miller. They had three children, Charles D., Mrs. Annie E. Bradford and Olive L. The death of Fleming Rice occurred in September, 1907, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-five years.
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