USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 94
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CAPTAIN EPHRAIM MORGAN WOOD.
Few residents of Dayton are more prominent or widely known than Captain Ephraim Morgan Wood, because of his official relations with public affairs, his important business concerns and also by reason of his oratory which has brought him into prominence on many occasions as a public speaker. He has now passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten and yet is actively in- terested in the affairs of moment, keeping always well informed upon questions of general importance. Cincinnati numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in that city, January 24, 1838. His father, Dr. William Wood, was a distinguished representative of the medical profession and an educator of ability in that line. For a long period, he occupied a chair in the Cincinnati Medical College and was well known in the profession as a writer upon sub- jects of deep interest to the medical fraternity. His writings interested a still wider range and were characterized by clear cut thought and an interesting pre- sentation of the subject under discussion. He married a daughter of Ephraim Morgan, a well known citizen of Cincinnati and one of the founders of the Cincinnati Gazette. The ancestry on the maternal line can be traced back to Captain Miles Morgan, one of the founders of Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1636, and a brave officer in the Indian wars, in whose honor a statue has been erected in the most prominent square in Springfield.
Reared in a home atmosphere of intellectual culture and refinement, Captain Wood was stimulated in all of his school and college days by the interest that his parents took in his intellectual progress. He was graduated from Yale Univer- sity at the age of nineteen years and soon afterward took up the study of law with Justice Stanley Matthews, afterward of the United States supreme court, as his preceptor. Admitted to the bar, he was soon appointed by President Lincoln captain of the Fifteenth United States Infantry and he put aside all business and professional relations in order to loyally defend the interests of the Union in the south. He did active service along the Mississippi until failing health com- pelled him to resign, when he returned home.
On leaving the army, Captain Wood took up his abode in Dayton. He had married Miss Victoria H. Clegg of this city, and has since been a factor in its business activities and affairs. From time to time, he has made judicious in- vestments in different business concerns, becoming a director of several large manufacturing interests and also of the Winters National Bank. His judgment is sound in relation to the control of extensive and important commercial and industrial concerns, from which he derives a substantial annual income.
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For six years, Captain Wood was president of the board of education and for seven years was a member of the city council as its presiding officer, during which time he exercised his official prerogative and influence for public progress, reform and improvement. He was largely instrumental, while serving on the board of education, in establishing the office of superintendent of schools and also of the normal school. Public education has ever been to him a matter of deep in- terest and his efforts in its behalf have been far-reaching and beneficial. He is also widely known because of his activity in the church and has held a number of leading offices in the Episcopal diocese of southern Ohio. His membership re- lations extend to the Ohio Society of Colonial Wars, to the Sons of the American Revolution and to the Loyal Legion. Captain Wood is also widely known as an orator, having been called upon to address the public on many momentous occa- sions. Many of his speeches have been published and widely circulated and at all times he has the power of holding the audience by his attractive delivery as well as by the substratum of logical thought which ever underlies his words. He enjoys the honor and respect of all with whom he has come in contact, for though men may differ from him in opinion, they never question the sincerity of his con- victions.
CLEMENT LEARD WEAVER.
Clement Leard Weaver, a resident farmer of Jackson township, where he was born February 1, 1863, is now meeting with a gratifying measure of suc- cess in his chosen life work. He is a son of John Daniel and Elizabeth (Tibecap) Weaver, both natives of that township. He comes from a family that has long been represented in this section of the county, his grandfather, John J. Weaver, having come with his father, Jacob Weaver, to Jackson township, about 1809 or 1810, casting in his lot with the early settlers of this district. His son, John Daniel Weaver, the father of our subject, was the proprietor of a store here for about three years and then for a number of years operated a sawmill. His later years, however, have been devoted to agricultural pursuits, in which he has been very successful. In his family were six children, namely: Elmira, Alice, Theo- dore, Ervesta, Elmer and Clement.
Clement Leard Weaver, whose name introduces this review, spent his boy- hood and youth under the parental roof, entering the common schools at the usual age, therein acquiring a good English education. When not busy with his text-books, he worked with his father and after leaving school, began learn- ing the carpenter's trade. He followed this pursuit for about four years and then for six seasons operated a thresher. During the intervening period he had been a hard worker and had carefully saved his earnings, so that eventually, he had accumulated sufficient means with which to purchase a farm of his own. This place is a finely improved property, the air of neatness and prosperity surrounding it bespeaking the care and attention bestowed upon it by its owner.
On the 2d of December, 1895, Mr. Weaver wedded Miss Alice Wegley, a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Heeter) Wegley, of Jackson township. This union was blessed with six children, namely: Sadie, born in 1896; Opal, born in
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1899; Ralph, born in 1901 ; John, born in 1904; Ida, born in 1906; and Orville, born in 1908. The parents are members of the Lutheran church, in the work of which they have always taken a deep interest. Mr. Weaver has never been an aspirant for public office, preferring to concentrate his undivided time and at- tention to the management of his personal interests. In his farm work, he has made steady advancement and has gained a reputation for business integrity and activity that is most commendable and therein lies the secret of his success.
JOHN MARION SHOUP.
John Marion Shoup, a well known citizen of Wayne township, is the owner of seventy-nine acres of fine farm land near the old Troy pike, on the Sulphur Grove road. He was born July 21, 1860, and is the son of Henry B. and Mary Ann (Lewis) Shoup. The birth of the father occurred in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, but he came here as a boy and has been prominent in all township affairs. He followed the vocation of a farmer and later became interested in lime kilns. For the past forty years, he has been engaged in this later work for himself and been more than ordinarily successful. He is still leading an active life, though he is one of the oldest men of the township. As a member of the school board for a number of years, he contributed his influence to improving the methods and means of education here, and in other matters of public concern, he evinced the same interest and generous spirit.
John Marion Shoup was reared at home and received the foundation of his preparation for life in the Union and Wayne schools. During all the years that he was a student, however, he worked with his father on the farm, in this way making double use of his time. General farming has been his principal concern, but of recent years, he has undertaken the raising of stock, and has engaged to some extent in the buying and selling of cattle. In Dayton, he finds his market, both for the products of the soil and the live stock.
On the 20th of November, 1884, Mr. Shoup was united in marriage to Miss Nettie M. Reel, a daughter of William and Caroline (Curtis) Reel. Her father, who was a butcher in Indiana, has passed away, and her mother has married a second time and is still living. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shoup : Myrtle M. M., the wife of William Smith and the mother of a daughter, Lucile ; Marion H. B., living in Illinois; Belle and Raymond, who both live at home ; Irene, who has passed away ; and Royal, Oram, Odella, Beulah, A. Jay and an infant, all of whom live under the parental roof. The family are members of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. Shoup is prominent as the incum- bent of several offices.
Though a successful farmer, it is for his public spirited work as a citizen of Wayne township that Mr. Shoup is best known. As township trustee, and as a member of the school board for twelve years, he has evinced that consideration for the public welfare and that determination to exert himself in its behalf that is the distinguishing mark of the highest citizenship. He also takes a prominent part in church work, for he is a trustee, steward and class leader in the United
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Brethren church. In short, he is a man in whom people are bound to place con- fidence and upon whose judgment they are accustomed to rely. In his case, this confidence and reliance is not misplaced, and those who have had business deal- ings with him, speak with commendation of his methods.
WILLIAM FREDERICK BREIDENBACH.
William Frederick Breidenbach, a prominent business man and leading citi- zen of Dayton, was born in that city on the Ist of January, 1869, his parents being Frederick and Marguerite (Weis) Breidenbach. His mother, was the only daughter of Reinhardt Weis, a pioneer merchant of Dayton. In early life Frederick Breidenbach worked as a mechanic but later entered mercantile busi- ness, which he continued to carry on for a number of years, but is now living re- tired, enjoying a well earned rest. Both he and his wife emigrated from Germany to this country with their respective parents when about four years of age.
In the public schools of Dayton, William Frederick Breidenbach obtained a good practical education and later pursued a business course in the Miami Com- mercial College. On leaving that institution and finding no bookkeeping or cleri- cal position available, he entered the construction department of the Edison Light- ing Company of Dayton, his work consisting of the installation of lights and mo- tors, and he remained in their employ for about two years. Leaving home at the age of twenty, he went to New York city, where he accepted a position in the construction department of the Edison Lighting Company and was there in charge of the installation work for about six months. He then became traveling inspector for the old United Edison Manufacturing Company in the engineer- ing department, remaining in that capacity after they were merged into the Edi- son General Electric Company and later the General Electric Company, and his work in that position caused him to travel extensively throughout the United States and Canada. On leaving that company he traveled for a number of years as salesman for electric lighting and railway supplies, after which he took up the work of manufacturers agent, but being desirous of returning home and making Dayton his future residence, in 1889 he became associated with John F. Ohmer in the promotion and manufacture of a street car register, this resulting in the present Ohmer Fare Register Company of Dayton. For a few years he took an ac- tive part in the affairs of that company, being in charge of the contracting and installation department as manager, but this work caused him to be away from home much of the time and in 1903 he became associated with his father-in-law, Nicholas Thomas, in the brewery business of the N. Thomas Brewing Company. This company was later merged and is now a part of the Dayton Breweries Com- pany, Mr. Breidenbach being assistant manager of the N. Thomas plant. He is also identified with other business interests, being one of the promoters of the Dayton Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he is now vice-president and a director. He was also one of the promoters and builders of the Lawrence Rail- way & Light Company, of Lawrence, Kansas, and is a director and treasurer of that concern.
WILLIAM F. BREIDENBACH
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At Holy Trinity church of Dayton, on the 26th of June, 1901, Rev. Charles H. Hahne performed the ceremony which made Mr. Breidenbach and Miss Kath- erine A. Thomas man and wife, the latter being the only daughter of Nicholas Thomas, president of the N. Thomas Brewing Company. Both are active mem- bers of that church and Mr. Breidenbach is also a life member of the St. Joseph's Orphans Association and of the Elks Lodge, No. 58, of Dayton. In addition to these organizations he is connected with the Gem City Council, No. 3, United Com- mercial Travelers of America, and the Gem City Democratic Club, aside from several other social clubs. His political support is usually given to the democracy but he is liberal in his views and a stanch supporter of good government. For some time he was a member of the old Phoenix Light Infantry of the Ohio Na- tional Guard and during the Spanish-American war recruited a company of vol- unteers but was not called out for service, as the Ohio quota had been filled and was in no need of more troops. He is prominent in both business and social affairs and has a wide circle of friends in this city which he has always claimed as home.
GEORGE G. SHAW.
Executive force and keen discrimination are the salient elements in the busi- ness career of George G. Shaw, now the president of the Dayton Paper Novelty Company. He has thus attained to considerable prominence in the commercial circles of his native city. He was born in 1865 and here spent his youthful days in the home of his father, George Wilson Shaw, whose birth occurred in Ris- ing Sun, Indiana, in 1823. The ancestry of the family is traced back to John and Susanna Shaw. The family were originally English Friends or Quakers and their earliest American location was in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. By deed, dated July 7, 1697, John Shaw acquired title to three hundred acres of land in the lower part of what is now Northampton, Bucks county. In 1709, he is on rec- ord as a resident of Southampton and his name and that of his son, James, are among the petitioners, December 1I, 1722, for the separate township of North -- ampton. He and his wife were members of the Middletown monthly meeting of the Society of Friends. They had ten children.
The eldest, James Shaw, born January 9, 1694, died December 3, 1761, at Plumstead, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He was married September 24, 1718, at Abington meeting house, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, to Mary Brown, who died June 9, 1764. She was a daughter of Thomas and Mary Brown. Her father, born in 1666, emigrated from Barking, Essex county, England, and after living sometime in Philadelphia and Abington, Pennsylvania, located near Dyers- town, Bucks county, as early as 1712. By deed, dated June 18, 1724, he con- veyed to James Shaw two hundred acres of land in Plumstead. James and Mary Shaw had six children, including Alexander Shaw, the direct ancestor of our subject in the third generation.
Alexander Shaw, the direct ancestor of George G. Shaw, in the third genera- tion, was born November 4, 1734, and his life record covered the intervening years to the IIth of January, 1790. He married Sarah Brown, widow of Moses
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Brown, and, surviving her husband for twenty-two years, she passed away about 1812. All of their children were born on the Shaw homestead which Alexander inherited from his father and which was situated about three miles northeast of Doylestown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. The family numbered eight children.
The eldest was George Shaw, who was born April 2, 1760, and died on the 2Ist of August, 1801, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Wilson, died at Evansville, Indiana, about 1828. After losing her first husband, she be- came the wife of Johnson Watson, by whom she had a daughter, Elizabeth, who was married twice. A deed, dated April 1, 1797, recorded in Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, shows that Thomas Brown conveyed land in Plumstead, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, to his son-in-law, James Shaw, on June 18, 1784, and on the 14th of December, 1759, James Shaw deeded part of this to his son Alexander Shaw, who died intestate and the orphans court adjusted this land to his eldest son, George Shaw. On the Ist of April, 1797, George Shaw and his wife Mary, of Plumstead, deeded this land to John Fell. Mrs. George Shaw was born in 1763. Her parents were John and Elizabeth Wilson, of Nockamixon, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. The father died in December, 1773, leaving two children, John and Mary. The mother afterward became the wife of William Keith, of Wake- field, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, who died in 1781. Her third husband was Robert Gibson, who was appointed guardian of David Shaw, minor son of George and Mary (Wilson) Shaw. George and Mary Shaw had three children.
David Shaw, their youngest son, was born in Plumstead, Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, February 26, 1796, and died at Madison, Indiana, December 24, 1860. About 1818, he removed west with his mother, two brothers and a half-sister, Elizabeth Watson. He was married July 29, 1819, to Nancy Speer Andrews and they resided near Dayton, Ohio, where his sons, Charles G. and George W., were born. He then removed with his family to Rising Sun, Indiana, where his children Theodore, Edward C., Hugh, John, James, Elizabeth and Eleanora, were born. About 1836, he became a resident of Madison, Indiana, where he pur- chased the dry-goods store of John Lodge, continuing in business there until he retired a few years prior to his death. Unto him and his wife were born ten children. Of that family, George Wilson Shaw became the father of our subject. He is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
George Guilford Shaw, the youngest son of George Wilson and Mary ( Per- rine) Shaw, was born in Dayton, Ohio, August 20, 1865, and was educated in the Dayton schools until he was qualified for entrance in Wollaston Seminary at East Hampton, Massachusetts, where he remained as a pupil until 1887. He then left school to travel in Europe. A distinguished writer and scholar has said that a year's travel abroad is equivalent to a four years' college course and at least Mr. Shaw returned with a mind enriched with the experiences of his so- journ in the old world. Taking up his abode in Chicago, he there engaged in a merchandise brokerage business, continuing in the western metropolis for three years. He next became secretary and treasurer of the Dayton Paper Novelty Company and was elected its president in 1900. This is a growing and impor- tant productive industry of the city, making many interesting and attractive novelties in the paper line and having a ready sale for its output. Mr. Shaw is also treasurer of the Pioneer Tar Soap Company and the value of his business
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discernment and unfaltering enterprise, are further manifest in the fact that he has been elected to the directorate of the National Cash Register Company and of the Third National Bank of Dayton.
In 1900, in his native city, Mr. Shaw was married to Miss Sophie Craighead, only daughter of the late William and Margaret (Wright) Craighead, and their children are George Wilson and Margaret Craighead. The parents hold member- ship in the First Presbyterian church and are much interested in its various activi- ties and the extension of its influence. Mr. Shaw is a republican in his political connections, while socially, he is connected with the Dayton City Club, the Coun- try Club and Buzfuz. His social qualities render him popular and his business ability places him in the front rank among the enterprising young men of the city who are making each day's labor count for the advancement of their own interests and for the development of commercial and industrial growth in Dayton.
ALEXANDER MACK.
Alexander Mack, superintendent of the House of Detention at No. 442 North Main street in Dayton, was born on the 2d of November, 1842, in the city which is still his place of residence. His parents were Gottlieb and Dorothy (Naley) Mack. His grandfather, Emanuel Mack, was the founder of the family in the new world. By trade, he was a baker and became one of the early settlers of Montgomery county. Gottlieb Mack was born in Germany, where he was reared to early manhood, acquiring his education in the schools of that land and also learning his trade in Germany. On coming to America, he first located at Phila- delphia, where he married and later he removed to Dayton, establishing the butch- ering business at that time, delivering his meat to his customers from a wheel- barrow. In the course of time, he built up a good business and employed several assistants. Subsequently, he conducted a hotel and in later years went to Indiana, where he was engaged in the packing business, spending his remaining days in that state.
Alexander Mack, whose name introduces this review, was educated in the schools of Dayton and worked with his father to the age of thirteen years, when the parent died. He then started out to earn his own living and selected as an occupation the trade which his father had previously followed-that of butcher- ing. He went to work when about fourteen years of age and remained in the employ of others until he had attained his majority, when he began business for himself, establishing a butcher shop on Valley street in North Dayton, which he successfully conducted for four years. Subsequently he was superintendent of the stockyards for two years and also superintendent of the market for a similar period. During this time the old market was replaced with a new one and Mr. Mack had charge of the renting of all curbstone spaces, which was the first time in the history of Dayton, that the city received any revenue from this source. After again becoming connected with the butchering trade, he conducted busi- ness along that line for fifteen years, winning a most gratifying measure of suc- cess and becoming one of the best known butchers in the state of Ohio. Few men
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have been better informed concerning the quality of meats and the market prices, and the capable management of his business affairs brought to him a commend- able and well merited degree of prosperity. At length he retired from active connection with the butchering business and later accepted the position of super- intendent of the Dayton workhouse, which is one of the highest honors that the democratic party can confer. On retiring from that position, he again became connected with the meat trade and was thus occupied until asked by the probate judge to accept his present position as superintendent of the House of Detention.
Mr. Mack was married to Miss Elizabeth Engellauf, a daughter of John and Christine (Myers) Engellauf. Unto them were born four children: Charles W., who married Jennie Goehring and has two children, Edward and Catharine ; Dorothy, who is the widow of Harvey Weifenbaugh and has four children, Flor- ence, Russell A., Ruth and Pearl; Arizona, the wife of Jesse Lescher, by whom she has three children, Ralph, Dorothy and Herbert ; and Alexander, who is one of the best known young butchers of Dayton and is also prominent in the Frater- nal Order of Eagles. While occupying the position of superintendent of the work- house Mr. Mack was very unfortunate in losing his wife. She was one of the city's best known and generous women and such was her popularity that her fun- eral was the largest ever seen in Dayton. Their daughter Dorothy, now Mrs. Weifenbaugh, is now acting as matron of the House of Detention and is proving most capable in that connection.
Mr. Mack belongs to the Old Butchers' Association. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Druids, the Ancient Workmen and the Harugari lodge. He was twice defeated as the democratic candidate for sheriff, but in the second campaign was the only one on the entire ticket who carried the city. He has an extensive circle of friends and his substantial qualities are indicated in the high regard and good will which are uniformly accorded him.
LEWIS ARTHUR CLEMMER.
Lewis Arthur Clemmer, proprietor of a grocery store at Third and Abby streets, Dayton, Ohio, was born July 22, 1864, in Johnsville, Perry township, of a family which came to this country when the colonies were on the verge of throw- ing off the yoke of England. His great-grandfather was the first of the family to settle in this county, and his son George L'. was born in the old Clemmer home- stead, near Johnsville. The family were among the first settlers and theirs was the life of the average pioneer and frontiersman, who is dependent upon him- self alone for the means of sustaining life and for the few comforts with which he tried to alleviate the rigors of a hard existence. The Clemmer family, like many another of the time, cleared their own land-the place where the old home- stead now stands and where productive fields now yield their crops. In due time George L. Clemmer married Miss Susan Droyer, and of this union was born David Clemmer, the father of the subject of this sketch. David Clemmer sought in the cultivation of the fields his means of livelihood and was successful beyond the average in winning rich harvests from his lands. Twenty years ago, he
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