USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 93
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On the 22d of November, 1852, at Emanuel church, Dayton, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Margreth Hilgefort, who had emigrated from Oldenberg, Ger- many, the wedding ceremony being performed by Rev. Junker. Of the five chil- dren born to them all are now deceased with the exception of one daughter, Kath- erine A., now the wife of William F. Breidenbach, who is associated in business with Mr. Thomas, and all reside at their present home at No. 2206, East Third street. Mrs. Thomas is now eighty-one years of age, while her husband is eighty-four years.
A life-long communicant of the Catholic church, Mr. Thomas was one of the founders of Holy Trinity, with which he still holds membership. He is also a charter member of the Knights of St. John and the Society of St. Lawrence, and is a retired member of the Uniform Rank, Knights of St. John. He is a life mem- ber of St. Joseph's Orphan Association and has ever been a liberal contributor to church and charitable work. Although he has passed the eighty-fourth mile- stone on life's journey, he is still actively engaged in business, his health being exceptionally good, and he is daily found at his office. It is a remarkable fact that Mr. Thomas was more than fifty-five years of age when he entered into busi- ness on his own account, an age when most men retire, and the wonderful success that he has achieved is due to his own unaided efforts, good business ability and sound judgment.
PHILIP JERGENS, JR.
One of the most comfortable and most modern homes in Mad River town- ship, is that of Philip Jergens, Jr., a wholesale and retail butcher, who has a stand at No. 17 Central Market, Dayton. He is also the owner of four acres of land on the Old Troy pike, which he uses in his business. He was born Sep- tember 22, 1855, in Montgomery county, at a place called Brushtown, which was the site of the old homestead, and is the son of Philip and Mary (Steffin) Jer- gens. His grandfather, William Jergens, a native of Baden, Germany, was a carpenter by trade and came to this country when a young man, becoming one of
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the early settlers of Cincinnati. Later, after he had retired from business, he came to Montgomery county, where he lived with his son Phillip, Sr., to an advanced age.
Philip Jergens, Sr., was born in Warsaw, near Cincinnati, and in his early manhood, he bought twenty acres of land in the vicinity of his home, upon which he engaged in truck gardening, finding a market for his produce in Cincinnati. After a few years, he removed to Montgomery county and bought the old home- stead, which is now valued at one thousand dollars an acre because of its prox- imity to Dayton. On this were all his family of nine children reared. Three of these, Margaret, Jacob and William, have died, while the others, Lena, Mary, Elizabeth, Philip, Jr., Peter and Joseph, are all living in Montgomery county. Mrs. Philip Jergens Sr., was the daughter of Peter Steffin, who had come to this country from Germany, when he was about forty years old. He purchased land in Campbell county, Kentucky and was one of the early settlers in that lo- cality. A long and useful life of ninety-seven years was allotted to him, and his death resulted from an accident-the kick of a colt. Philip Jergens, Sr., is a man of means and a citizen highly respected for the fine qualities of his charac- ter, which he has transmitted in no small degree to the son who bears his name.
Philip Jergens, Jr .. received his early training for life under the parental roof and in the schools of Dayton. During this period, he made good use of the op- portunities at hand and since has let no chance for self-improvement slip by him, so that he is a well educated man. In his youth, he combined school work with the duties of the home and farm, on which he worked until he was seventeen. He then started to learn the butcher's trade, which he followed for three years. The next period of an equal number of years, he spent at home, after which he en- tered the butcher business for himself, opening a shop at Bride and Monroe Avenue. A few years later, he removed to No. 17 Central Market, where he is now established.
On the 29th of April. 1879, Mr. Jergens married Miss Mary Abele, a daughter of John and Barbara (Finkmeyer) Abele, of Dayton. Her father was a cooper by trade and like his wife, was a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Jergens are the parents of a son and a daughter. Philip Peter Jergens married Miss Riola Blazer and is now the father of two children : Philip Andrew and Mary Catherine. He is in business with his father and lives in a very pretty home which the latter built for him in his own yard. Ida Mary Magdalen, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jergens, lives at home but has all her social interests in Dayton. She is a young woman of many attainments, for besides being a graduate of the high school, she holds a gold medal in music and was the recipient of honors when she completed her course at Notre Dame. She takes an active part in the work of the young people of the church of the Holy Rosary and is a charter member of the sodality of that body. Mrs. Jergens is also identified with the interests of the church, for she is a member of the Woman's Society, of the Orphans, and of the Tabernacler Society of Notre Dame.
Like the rest of his family, Mr. Jergens takes an active part in the affairs, both social and business, of the church of the Holy Rosary, of which he has for the past year been a trustee. The several organizations connected with this body, the Orphans, St. Joseph's Society and the Knights of St. Joseph, No. 115,
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have his name upon their roll-call. As a member of the Young Butchers Society, he keeps abreast with the interests of his fellows in that line of work. He is a man of wide experience ; his name is well known among those engaged in butcher- ing and those who have come in contact with him in a business way have never had reason to complain of his treatment of them, for he is a man who holds to a high code of honor in all his dealings.
SAMUEL MILLER.
Samuel Miller, successfully carrying on agricultural pursuits in Madison township, is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-six acres situated about one mile south of the Wolf Creek pike and three and a half miles south- west of Trotwood. It was on this place that his birth occurred on the 7th of July, 1853, his parents being David and Anna (Shock) Miller. The paternal grandparents were David and Hannah (Pfoutz) Miller, the former the first representative of the Miller family to come to this county, the date of his arrival being 1808. In 1812, he took up the tract of land which is now the property of our subject and there carried on general farming until the time of his demise, being buried by the side of his wife on the farm of John Garber in Perry town- ship, Montgomery county. His wife lived to be ninety-one years of age and was one of the oldest settlers in this part of the country.
David Miller, the father of our subject, was but a small child when he ac- companied his parents on their removal from Augusta county, Virginia, to this part of the state, which at that early day was still covered with timber. He was connected with agricultural interests throughout his active business career and was well known throughout the community as one of its most highly esteemed and enterprising citizens. He was twice married and by his first wife, Miss Liza Souders, had two children : Ephraim; and Mary, deceased. By his second wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna Shock, he had nine children, namely: John, Susanna, Hannah and David, all of whom have passed away; Amos; Rachel ; Samuel, of this review ; Aaron ; and Catharine.
Samuel Miller attended the schools of his home locality in the acquirement of an education and has always lived on the farm on which his birth occurred. When about thirteen years of age, he came into possession of the old homestead property and by capable management and indefatigable industry, has brought it to its present high state of development and improvement. In addition to culti- vating the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, he is also engaged in stock-raising to some extent and likewise devotes considerable attention to gard- ening, finding a ready market for his products in Dayton.
On the 26th of September, 1878, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Susan Arnold, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Andrews) Arnold. Her father made his way from Virginia to this county, settling near Phillipsburg, Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born the following children : Alice Victoria, the wife of Frank Shock, an agriculturist of Montgomery county, by whom she has two children, Muriel Corinne and Edna Elizabeth ; Susie Elizabeth,
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who is the wife of Homer Garber, a farmer of this county, and has four children, Chester L., Edna May, Virgil Roy and Ethel Marie; Cora May, the wife of Mil- ton Lentz, an agriculturist of this county, by whom she has one child, Herbert Le- Roy; Martha Lucretia, who has finished her education and is living at home ; Hettie Vietta, deceased; Harvey Calvin, who is a farmer by occupation and still resides under the parental roof; Mary Florence, who is attending school; Bessie Ann, who is likewise a school student; Chester Samuel, who is attending school and also assists his father in the cultivation of the home farm; and Emerson Ray.
Mr. Miller is a member of the old German Baptist church, in which he is serving as one of the trustees. Throughout his entire life, he has lived in Mont- gomery county, and great have been the changes that have occurred during this period. The splendidly cultivated farms with their fine homes and good buildings and the enterprising towns and cities, present a picture that bear little resem- blance to the county in which his grandfather took up his abode, for at that time the land was still covered with the native forest growth. The Miller family at once became active factors in bringing about the changes which have been wrought and Samuel Miller of this review has borne his full share in the work of general improvement.
AMANDA HEETER.
Harrison township can boast of at least one woman of undeniable energy and shrewdness in affairs beyond the home-Mrs. Amanda Heeter. Her natural capacity for business, which was evident in her youth, has been exercised and developed by the success of her wise operations. Yet her industries are those which have ever been regarded as particularly within a woman's province, even before the conditions of life were as complicated as at the present and woman had not entered the industrial world. But while all women connected with farm- ing take an especial pride in their dairy, few have the opportunity or the desire to build up from it an important commercial asset. The dairy which Mrs. Heeter started and of which she is the sole proprietor and manager is the most successful in the county, and the mill which she controls on the Cincinnati pike, about five miles south of Dayton, has a capacity of seventy-five barrels. In ad- dition to these enterprises she has a farm, a fine piece of land of twelve acres, which she refuses to sell despite the many offers which would be tempting to a less clever woman.
Darke county, Ohio, in which Mrs. Heeter acquired her early education and first displayed her business ability, was the place of her birth. She is a daughter of Peter and Margaret (Stricker) Black and is the eldest in their family of four children, the others being: Abraham, now deceased; Mrs. Sarah McMillan; and John. Her mother was only five years old when she came to this country, but the Black family were of Virginian origin.
At Lewisburg, Ohio, in 1870, Miss Amanda Black was united in marriage to Nelson Heeter, a son of Jacob and Susan (Kerner) Heeter. Although a car-
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penter by trade, Nelson Heeter now assists his wife in the management of the dairy and mill. Unto them were born four children, but the first two, who were twins, did not survive the period of infancy. Those living are Edward and Agnes. The son, who is now in the employ of the National Cash Register Com- pany of Dayton, married Miss Anna Seikmon and to them have been born three children, Edward Nelson, Frederick Jacob and Jefferson Hugo. The family are widely and favorably known and they have many friends in Dayton.
Enterprise, united with business acumen and industry, has gained for Mrs. Heeter well deserved success and an enviable position among the people of her vicinity. Her life is a fine example of how a woman can employ most profitably the opportunities that lie ready to her hand, enter the business world with all its competition and still remain true to her finest nature.
ALONZO MICHAEL.
Alonzo Michael, farmer and prominent citizen of Miami township, is the owner of one hundred and twelve acres of fine land on the Alexanderville and Belbrook roads, about a quarter of a mile from the former in an easterly direc- tion. He was born February 26, 1870, and is the son of Elias and Sarah ( Brun- ner) Michael, who are still living, making their home about a quarter of a mile east of our subject. The father came to this state from Maryland with his par- ents, Jacob and Catherine (Stine) Michael, who were the first of the family to locate here, and throughout life he has followed the occupation of farming. Our subject has one sister, Ada, the wife of D. W. Edy of Dayton.
Alonzo Michael was born on the Brunner farm, which lies not far outside the corporation limits of Germantown, and was but six years of age when the family removed to a farm in Miami township. At home and in the public schools, he received his early preparation for life and later attended a commercial college at Dayton, for he looked forward to a business career. He has, however, followed farming since attaining manhood, but his commercial training has aided him greatly in the management of his business affairs.
Mr. Michael was united in marriage to Miss Maud A. Weeks, a daughter of W. W. and Ruth (Creal) Weeks. She is a descendant of the Cranstons of Rhode Island, Governor Cranston being her great-great-great-grandfather, and she is eligible to membership in all of the colonial societies in this country as the family were prominent in Revolutionary times. Her father, W. W. Weeks, was born and reared in Warren county, Ohio, and her mother is a native of Tuscara- was county, this state. Some years ago, however, they became residents of Mont- gomery county and now make their home in the city of Dayton. Mrs. Michael has three brothers: W. Glen and Fred W., both residents of Lewis, Canada ; and Guy C., now attending the University at Columbus, Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Michael has been born one son, E. Lee. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church of Dayton.
Mr. Michael takes an active interest in public affairs and exerts his influence in support of those measures, which he believes will benefit his county, state and
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nation. At present, he is serving as treasurer of the Montgomery County Fair Association and is also secretary and treasurer of the State Association of the Farmers National Congress. For a period of six years, he has served as justice of the peace and he has always been found true to every trust reposed in him, whether of a public or private nature, so that he has gained the confidence and respect of those with whom he has come in contact.
ALBERT PRETZINGER.
Albert Pretzinger, an architect of Dayton, whose skill and ability are evi- denced in a number of fine structures of this and surrounding cities, was born in Dayton, February 28, 1863. As the name indicates he is of German lineage. His father, John Jacob Pretzinger, was born in Reutlingen, Wertumberg, Ger- many, December 16, 1823, and as a young man came to America, August 17, 1852. He was educated for the ministry in the institute at Cornthal, Wertum- berg, Germany, his father being a Lutheran minister. After his arrival in the United States he remained three months in New York, when, at the instigation of his uncle, he located in Greenville, Ohio, where he engaged in the mercantile business, which was continued for a period of two years. On November I, 1854, he came to Dayton and became interested in the wholesale liquor busi- ness and in 1856 launched in the wholesale liquor business with Dr. Jefferson Walters. He remained in this business until he was compelled to retire by failing health. He was a broad-minded man in whom Dayton found a progres- sive citizen, largely interested in her welfare. He was married in Germany to Miss Lena Schauwecker and unto them were born the following children : Rudolph and Louise, deceased; Emelie; Herman; Otto, who has also passed away ; and Albert. The father died in Dayton in 1863 but the mother is still living in this city at the age of eighty-three years.
Albert Pretzinger spent his youthful days in Dayton, his time occupied by the duties of the schoolroom and the sports in which most boys indulge. He put aside his text-books in 1882 and started in business life in the office of Leon Beaver, an architect of Dayton, who instructed him in the scientific and prac- tical work of the profession for four years.
Because of his health Mr. Pretzinger went to California in 1886 and re- mained on the Pacific coast until 1889 through the winter months, while the summer seasons were passed in Dayton in the office of Peters & Burns, well known architects of this city. Since 1889 he has been closely associated with his profession in Dayton. In that year he took charge of the office of Peters & Burns, continuing there in a responsible position until 1893, when he was admitted to a partnership under the firm style of Peters, Burns & Pretzinger. This relation was maintained until the Ist of January, 1907, when the partner- ship was dissolved and Mr. Pretzinger has since been alone in practice. He now has a large clientage and his business is of an important character, his ability being shown in a number of the attractive buildings of the city. He was the architect of the Reibold building and Commercial building ; was in charge of
ALBERT PRETZINGER
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the construction of the Steele high school building while with Peters & Burns; and was also the architect of the Rentschler building and the Odd Fellows' Temple at Hamilton. He has made designs for and superintended the con- struction of a number of prominent buildings, including the new technical high school at Springfield, Ohio, the new building for The Dayton Daily News, the First Reformed church, Xenia, Ohio, and many fine residences throughout the west. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and his ability has won him classification with the prominent representatives of the profession throughout the west.
Mr. Pretzinger has three children: Florence Louise, Freeman Albert and Mary Ellen. Freeman, the son, is now studying architecture at the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology, where he will finish his course in 1911. After this he will continue his studies in the Ecole Des Beaux Arts, Paris, where his education will be finally completed.
Mr. Pretzinger's political allegiance is given to the republican party where national questions are involved but in municipal elections he casts an indepen- dent ballot, regarding only the capability of the candidate for the position he seeks. Fraternally Mr. Pretzinger is connected with the Dayton lodge of Elks and the Masonic lodge and his social nature further finds expression in his membership in the Smizer Family, the Dayton City Club and the Dayton Bi- cycle Club.
FREDERICK J. CELLARIUS.
Frederick J. Cellarius, city civil engineer of Dayton, was born July 31, 1865, in the city where he makes his home. His father was Henry Cellarius, who was born in Schwartzburg, Rhudelstadt, Germany, in 1831 and as a young man of twenty-one years, came to Dayton, where he established his home in 1858. Fred- erick's grandfather was the Rev. H. F. E. Cellarius, a distinguished representa- tive of the Lutheran church, who was clergyman to the reigning prince of Schwartzburg.
Henry Cellarius, father of our subject, while a resident of Cincinnati, in July, 1858, wedded Miss Mary C. Haessig, a native of Switzerland, who came to America with her father, Dr. Frederick Haessig, about 1852. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cellarius were born seven children, of whom five are living: Herman F., Frederick J., Gustave A., Lydia and Edith P. The family adhere to the Luth- eran church, of which Mr. Cellarius was a member.
Frederick J. Cellarius was reared in Dayton and in the public schools passed through consecutive grades, until he was graduated from the Central high school with the class of 1884. Four years later, he completed a course in the Ohio State University, at Columbus, graduating with the degree of civil engineer. Returning to his native city, he entered upon the practice of his profession and in 1890, was appointed assistant city civil engineer, serving as such until 1905 with the exception of one year. In January, 1908, he was appointed to his pres- ent position as city civil engineer, in which capacity, he is giving excellent service, owing to his thorough training and experience in the line of his profession. He
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is a member of the Ohio Engineering Society and that he stands high with the representatives of the profession, is indicated by the fact that he served as sec- retary and treasurer of the society for a number of years and at the present time is a member of the board of trustees. In 1907, he published an exhaustive atlas, showing in detail all lots, city lands, rivers, railroads, etc., in the city, a work valuable to all engaged in civil engineering or who seek accurate knowledge concerning locations in Dayton. While practicing his profession, Mr. Cellarius has engaged extensively in the development of suburban real estate and in that connection has erected a large number of residence properties.
Mr. Cellarius was married in October, 1904, to Miss Edith Garber, of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and they are well known in social circles of Dayton. Mr. Cellarius gives stalwart allegience to the democratic party. He is a member of the Chi Phi college fraternity and is a Scottish Rite Mason, having attained the thirty- second degree. He is also a Knight Templar and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise has membership relations with the Elks and with the Dayton Bicycle Club. His friends, and they are many, find him a social, genial gentleman, whose substantial qualities well merit their regard and esteem.
PAUL D. HALE, M. D.
Although one of the younger representatives of the medical fraternity in Day- ton, Dr. Paul D. Hale is making substantial advance in his profession. He was born in Lisbon, Ohio, April 10, 1878, a son of James T. Hale, who is now living on Cottage Grove avenue in Dayton. During the Civil war the father enlisted at the age of fourteen in an Ohio regiment from Cincinnati and remained in the ser- vice for about two years. The doctor has one brother, William J. Hale, who is professor of chemistry in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and also a sister, Ilo, the wife of J. B. Anderson of Key West, Florida. Dr. Hale is a nephew of Dr. W. A. Hale, pastor of the First Reformed church of Dayton, whose sketch appears on another page of this work.
In his youthful days Dr. Hale accompanied his parents on their removal to Fairfield, Ohio, where his father, who was a minister, accepted a pastorate. Ow- ing to the fact that his father was called to various charges Dr. Hale pursued his education in different public schools of Ohio prior to receiving a collegiate training at Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, where he was graduated with the degree of B. S. in the class of 1898. His professional training was received in the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, his name being on the roll of the alumni of 1901.
Dr. Hale located for practice in Dayton the same year and has since given his attention to the general work of the profession. He is careful in the diagnosis of his cases, is systematic and thorough and, in the faithful discharge of each day's duty in his professional round of calls, finds courage and inspiration for the labors of the succeeding day. He has now practiced for eight years in Dayton with con- stantly increasing success, and makes a specialty of genito-urinary and skin dis- eases. He remains a student of his profession and adds to his knowledge through his membership in the Montgomery County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medi-
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cal Association and the American Medical Association, in the meetings of which topics of vital interest to the profession are discussed. His political support is given of the republican party and his fraternal relations are with the Knights of Pythias and the Foresters. He belongs to the Presbyterian church and is popular in the different organizations with which he is connected. The Doctor's favorite pastime is hunting in the west and his office is profusely decorated with many trophies of these expeditions.
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