The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 107

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 107

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P. L. C. MUTZ, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; he is a son of George Mutz, & native of Germany, who was a soldier in the German army and deserted and came to America about the year 1816; he first located in Pennsylvania and remained there until 1830, when he moved to Ohio, and located in Montgomery Co., where he lived twenty-one years ; he then moved into Miami Co., and purchased a farm in Newberry Township, about three miles north of Covington ; the subject of this

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sketch was born in Montgomery Co., Sept. 13, 1831 ; he was raised and educated upon a farm and has always been engaged in that avocation. He married Miss Ann C. Senepp March 6, 1857; they had four children-Mary M., Huldah M., William E. and George W. ; Mr. Mutz has a number one farm of 160 acres, which was the first one entered in this part of the county.

JOHN NICHOLSON, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; he is a son of Samuel Nicholson, a native of Kentucky, who, in 1815, emigrated to Ohio, and located in Piqua ; he worked at the carpenter's trade, and helped build the first schoolhouse in the town ; about the year 1820, he entered a quarter-section of land in the north part of New- berry Township, and began the labor of opening a farm. The subject of this sketch was born in December, 1820, upon the Trotter farm ; his principal occupation has been farming. His marriage with Henrietta, a daughter of Harvey Buchanan, was celebrated April 1, 1851 ; they had three children, two of whom are living-William P. and Emma.

SAMUEL NIXON, retired, Covington. Among the industries of Covington and vicinity, which deserve mention, is the woolen mill of Nixon & Lewis, situated on Greenville Creek, about three-quarters of a mile west of town. Mr. Nixon, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Bucks Co. in 1805; came to Ohio in 1826, resided first in Warren Co., then in Preble, where his father owned and operated a carding machine. He removed to Richmond in 1833, where he remained until 1866, being engaged in a woolen mill ; owned and operated a saw-mill about eleven years, by which he lost the use of his limbs to some extent. He removed to Covington in 1866, at the solicitation of his step-son, Mr. Lewis. His present neat. and commodious residence, situated on High street, he erected in 1868, and it was, then the most elegant and modern in Covington. Mr. Nixon is the son of William and Martha (Roberts) Nixon, whose deaths occurred at Richmond, Ind., he being: 94 and she 85. They were married in 1801, and lived together sixty-six years ; had twelve children, seven of whom are now living, the youngest being 59 and the oldest 79; Samuel was the fourth child. He learned his trade while a boy, and has been an active, successful business man; is still vigorous in mind, although crippled in body. He was married in 1841 to Mrs. Barbara (Garber) Lewis, the mother of Alfred Lewis, who is the junior member of the firm of Nixon & Lewis. Her death occurred here in 1875; they had one child, a daughter-Mattie, who now presides at his home.

WILKINSON PEARSON, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; is a son of Benjamin Pearson, a native of South Carolina, who came to this county in 1805; entered land in Newton Township, and lived upon it until his death. The subject of this sketch was born in South Carolina June 30, 1803, and came to this county with his parents at 2 years of age, when it was quite in its infancy in respect to improve- ment. He was raised a farmer, and has followed that occupation all his life, until within two years, when he rented his farm, and now lives retired from business cares. Mr. P. has undergone all the hardships of early pioneer life, and has seen the full development of the county. In 1826, he was married to Eleanor, a daughter of Robert Leavell, a native of South Carolina ; they had eight children, three of whom are living. Mr. P. has given a farm to each of his children, and has a beautiful home east of Covington, where he now lives.

SILAS PERRY, farmer; P. O. Covington ; is a son of Amos Perry, a native of Newberry District, S. C., who came to Ohio and located in this county in 1814; he at first taught school several years, then entered land and began the laborious work of opening a farm ; he was the first Representative sent from this township, and is supposed to be the one that suggested the name given to the township; he also secured the charter of the Dayton & Covington pike. The subject of this sketch was born July 12, 1827, in this township; was raised a farmer, and has been always engaged in that occupation. He has been twice married; first, Nov. 24, 1857, with Miss Maria, a daughter of Fielding and Sarah Dye, natives of New Jersey ; Maria died June 15, 1868, leaving two children-Luella and Arthur; his-

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second marriage was celebrated Nov. 24, 1869, with Miss Jennie Deweese, a daughter of David D. ; they had three children-Chas. E., Oran L. and Wilson A.

W. L. PERRY, fruit culturist ; P. O. Covington. W. L. Perry is a son of J. W. Perry, a native of this township, born in the year 1817; he lived with his father until his majority, then taught school during winter seasons, and during the summer worked for his father ; he continued to do so for nine years, then bought land, and has been engaged in farming ever since ; he is a brother of Silas Perry, whose biography appears in this work. W. L. is an accomplished young man, is living with his parents, and is extensively engaged in raising small fruit, which is his chief delight.

MARTIN A. PETERSEINE, farmer, etc .; P. O. Bloomertown ; is a son of John A. Peterseine, a native of Prussia, who came to America about the year 1830 and located in Newberry Township upon the farm where Martin lives, and, with the help of his children, cleared and cultivated it. The subject of this sketch, born upon this farm Sept. 8, 1844, was reared and educated a farmer; he has a farm of 110 acres under good cultivation, with excellent buildings ; Mr. Peterseine has one of the largest cane-mills in this county, and is extensively engaged in the manu- facture of molasses, averaging about ten gallons per hour. His marriage with Miss Mary, a daughter of Wm. Keiser, of Darke Co., was celebrated Sept. 30, 1869 ; they had two children-Semantha and Edith May.

JAMES L. PURDY ; P O. Covington ; is one of the oldest residents of Mi- ami Co .; he was born in Perry Co. in 1816 ; his father removed to this county in 1825, located in Washington Township and remained a resident of that township all the remainder of his life. James L. began teaching in Washington Township when quite young, and taught more or less until after his marriage. Then he per- manently located in Covington, and was directly connected with the business of Covington for a period of twenty years, since which, on account of old age and deafness, he has retired from active business. From a mere financial point of view, Mr. Purdy's life has not been a great success, but, nevertheless, he has been a very useful citizen, and deserving of much more credit than is generally accorded him ; naturally modest, his claims upon the public were never pressed, but being pos- sessed of a philosophical mind and a philanthropic heart, his labors have been not so much for himself as for others. As a teacher, he was always in advance with text-books and improved methods ; was first to introduce McGuffey's readers into the schools of Newberry Township ; also first to introduce the blackboard, in which he was very strongly opposed by some of his patrons ; as a citizen of Covington, he has served in some capacity on the Board of Education almost continuously, until within a few years, and has always been the friend and advocate of the ad- vanced methods which have given us the present systematic and efficient schools. A Presbyterian in faith, his practice has done honor to his profession ; he has been a student all his life, and the friend and patron of standard historical works ; on account of deafness, an affliction which began troubling him when young, and which has grown upon him, interfering with his plans and prospects, books have been his chief companions, and the writers of this work are indebted to him for many facts connected with the early history of the county. He was married in 1843 to Prudence Billingsley ; they have had two children-Emma D. and Thomas L.

ELIAS RATCLIFF, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; is a son of Elias Ratcliff, Sr., a native of Surry Co., N. C., who, in 1816, came to Ohio and located in Montgom- ery Co. There the subject of this sketch was born March 12, 1824, and received his early education ; during early life, he learned the trade of a blacksmith, in which business he continued some seven years. He has been twice married ; first on Oct. 26, 1846, with Miss Mary Shaffer, a daughter of John Shaffer, a native of North Carolina ; Mary Ratcliff died, leaving five children-Davis, Alonzo, Eliza- beth S., Perry and Anna A. His second marriage was with Miss Susan, daughter of Joel Hutchens, a native of North Carolina ; they had two children-Etta B.

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and Willie A. W. Mr. Ratcliff has a beautiful farm, with good improvements, and takes a great interest in raising fruit, especially small fruit.

GEORGE W. RAUCH, tanner; P. O. Covington; was born in Fairfield Co. in 1831, and grew to manhood there; in 1850, he went to Montgomery Co., where he learned tanning and conducted business there until 1860, when he came to Cov- ington and purchased the Covington tannery, which was built by James Ross in 1832, but then owned by James Campbell; Mr. Rauch rebuilt it and has operated it ever since ; he came to Covington just before the C., C. & I. C. R. R. was put in operation, and there was even then but a small beginning of a town; in the im- provements which have followed, he has done his full share, having erected a fine residence, in which he now resides ; it is situated on an elevated ridge on the left bank of the Stillwater, opposite the mouth of Greenville Creek, and is divided from the remainder of the town by the Little Branch, which enters the Stillwater just be- low the house ; the residence has a suburban appearance, which is not only attract- ive to the eye, but a source of pleasure and comfort to the family. He was mar- ried in 1853, to Sarah J. Moss, whose death occurred in 1865 ; they had six chil- dren, four of whom are now living-John Wesley, now a respected resident of Dayton, W. T. ; James B., a resident of Cowley Co., Kan .; Urilla J. and Elsworth M .; the latter two are members of the family household. Mr. Rauch's second mar- riage was with Miss A. M. E. Beck, and was celebrated Feb. 6, 1867; she is a daughter of David Beck, of Darke Co .; by her he has had five children, three of whom are living-Nettie L., Osta A. and Carrie E.

S. W. REIN, teacher ; P. O. Bloomertown ; is a son of Nicholas Rein, a native of Germany. S. W. was born in Darke Co., Ohio, Nov. 13, 1859, and is a young man of talent, promising something honorable for the future ; he is now pre- pairing himself for a schoolteacher.

SAMUEL REISH, retired farmer ; P. O. Covington ; a native of Pennsylvania was born in Berks Co. in 1785; married Rachel Coppas and came to this county from Union Co., Penn., in 1834; he purchased the southeast quarter of Sec. 33, which was then a wild, heavily timbered tract ; after building a cabin, he removed his family into it, and has resided on this place ever since ; having witnessed the work of clearing and improving, in which he took an active part, he is one of the few early settlers left living to tell the history of their toils, privations and difficulties ; he has raised a family of seven sons and two daughters, all of whom are married ; for the past twenty years or more, he has not attempted to farm himself, but has remained on the place, and although now past four score (85), is still in possession of all his faculties.

JOHN RHOADES, farmer ; P. O. Bloomertown; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, June 24, 1820; was reared upon a farm near Farmersville; when 20 years old, he came to Miami Co. and located in the northern part of Newberry Town- ship, where he is living at the present time. He has twice been married ; first, on Dec. 26, 1840, with Miss Barbara Apple, of his native place; she died June 1, 1860, leaving three children-Uriah V., Noah and Amanda; by his second mar- riage, which occurred Dec. 15, 1861, he has had five children, four living-William F., George C., Emma J. and Charles D. By industry and economy, Mr. Rhoades has accumulated a respectable fortune; he has 352 acres, all in one tract, with three sets of farm buildings upon it.

NOAH RHOADES, farmer ; P. O. Covington ; was born Nov. 29, 1851, upon his father's farm in this township ; he was educated a farmer, and is engaged in tilling his farm, which lies in Sec. 31. His marriage with Miss Elizabeth, a daugh- ter of Emmanuel Sherrer, a native of Shelby Co., Ohio, was celebrated Oct. 7, 1876 ; they had three children, two living-Clement Orness and Bessie Florence.

A. S. ROSENBERGER, physician, Covington ; is the only "straight-out" homeopathist practicing in Covington ; he was born in Hancock Co., Ohio, in 1848 ; his father being a farmer, his early youth was spent on a farm, attending school during the winter ; when about 5 years of age, he was the victim of paralysis, his whole left side being affected, but he afterward partially recovered from its effects,

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and his father determined on giving him an education ; accordingly, when 15 years of age, he was sent to the Academy at Berea ; afterward attended the Findlay High School, and took a regular scientific course at Oberlin College ; commenced the study of medicine in Findlay in 1846-47, reading under the direction and tutor- ship of Drs. Austin and Detwiler, graduated at the Homoeopathic College at Cleve- land in 1870, and commenced practice the same year in Carey, Ohio, afterward practiced several years in Leipsic, and came to this county in 1878. During the past winter, he attended a course of lectures at New York. His increasing practice shows his value as a physician, while the general high esteem in which he is held by the citizens of this vicinity indicates his character as a citizen. He has recently been chosen minister in the German Baptist Church, of which he is & member, and is universally esteemed by the people of his acquaintance. He was married in 1871 to Miss Sabina E. Workman, of Holmes Co. ; they have two children. A. ROUTSON, merchant ; P. O. and residence, Covington. Among the old reliable business enterprises of Covington is that known as "Routson's Store." Mr. Routson is a native of Maryland, was born in 1825 ; his youth was spent on a farm ; his parents resided in Pennsylvania, and later, in Shelby Co., Ohio. When 15 years of age he came to Covington, first learned the tailor's trade, then carried on a tailoring establishment, gradually accumulating a little stock. In 1844, Dr. Harrison became a partner, and they added a stock of dry goods, groceries, etc., thus establishing a store of general merchandise, which Mr. R. has continued to operate ever since. Mr. Routson came to Covington in 1840, & poor boy, learned a trade and gradually worked his way up, until the firm, now consisting of A. Rout- son and W. O. Routson, under the style of A. Routson & Son, are doing the largest business in Covington, aggregating about $60,000 per annum, which speaks more praise for his enterprise and business ability than pen can express. He has also been identified with other business enterprises, having been connected with a ware- house for a time, and was one of the new company which re-organized the Still- water Valley Bank in 1879; is now one of its Board of Directors, and also Vice President. Nor is the business of Covington the only matter of public importance in which he has taken interest, and with which he has been identified; he has united the qualities of a business man and those of a Christian citizen ; has been connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church here for upward of twenty years, and is now one of its main supporters. His residence, situated on High street, is a large two-story brick, elegantly furnished and pleasantly located. He was married in 1846 to Miss Martha Clarke, a native of Virginia, but at that time a resident of Covington ; her death occurred June 2, 1868 ; they had seven chil- dren, four of whom are now living-Mary Bell (now the wife of J. T. Bartmass, Super- intendent of the Tippecanoe High School), William O. (now associated with his father), H. W. B. (now assisting in the store), and Miss Mattie E. Mr. Routson's second marriage was with Miss S. M. Bierly, daughter of Joseph Bierly, who is also a resident of Covington.

REUBEN ROUTSON, farmer ; P. O. Bloomertown; is a son of George Routson, a native of Maryland, who came to Ohio in the year 1832, and entered the farm upon which Reuben now resides. The subject of this sketch was born upon the farm entered by his father, Aug. 5, 1833; was educated a farmer, and, when young, learned the trade of a carpenter, which he worked at eleven years; since has been engaged in farming. He has held the office of Trustee three terms. He married Miss Catharine, a daughter of David Rodehaffer, deceased ; they had ten children, nine living-George W., Margaret A., David J., Angeline B., Mary J., Sarah A., Ida May, Wesley S. and Suvilla J.

DAVID ROUTSON, retired farmer; P. O. Covington ; is a native of Mary- land, born in Carroll Co. in 1816 ; came with his parents to Shelby Co., Ohio, in 1833, where he grew to manhood, and was married, March 9, 1841, to Catharine, daughter of George Snow, deceased, who then resided about one mile west of Covington ; Mr. Routson was raised a farmer, and followed that occupation until failing health compelled him to relinquish it ; for a number of years, the farming

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was done by his sons, under his supervision, but, in the fall of 1878, he rented the farm to two sons, and removed to Covington, hoping to better his health by releasing himself entirely from care ; he now has, besides his residence on High street, the old farm in Shelby Co., containing 130 acres, which is well improved, and 126 acres in Montgomery Co., also in a good state of cultivation with good buildings; he has been a useful, industrious citizen, and it is hoped he may be spared to reside in Covington many years ; Mr. and Mrs. Routson are the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living-Elias W., Henry A., George W., Dor- othea Ann (now Mrs. Uriah Rhoades, of this township), John G., Sarah M. and Albert L. ; Elias W. was a member of the 110th O. V. I., and one of the two who returned, of seven that went out together ; he is now a resident of Montgomery Co.

HENRY A. ROUTSON, farmer ; P. O. Bloomertown ; a son of David Rout- son ; was born Dec. 13, 1844, in Shelby Co., Ohio, and lived with his parents until he attained his manhood. He married Miss Susan, a daughter of George Schaefer ; they had six children, five of whom are living, viz., Mary A., Fernandez O., Laura D., Catharine E. and Olive R. Mr. Routson has a beautiful farm, with good buildings ; he is a prosperous farmer and respected citizen.

WILLIAM ROUTSON, farmer ; P. O. Bloomertown. William Routson, born Dec. 29, 1853, in Shelby Co., Ohio, is a son of Jacob E. Routson, a native of Pennsylvania, living now in Shelby Co. ; William moved into this county in the year 1874, and located on the farm where he now lives. He married, March 22, 1873, Miss Sarah E., a daughter of George Shaefer, and sister of J. G., whose biography appears in this work ; they have four children, viz., Lartha Eldora, Jacob E. M., Maria E. A. and Harry W.

J. W. RUHL, dealer in stone and lime, Covington. Among the business en- terprises of Covington, the quarrying of stone is the most extensive, and Mr. Ruhl is one of the leading men in this line ; he was born at Galion, Ohio, in 1837; his parents removed to Springfield in 1848, his father having purchased a tract of land which then adjoined the corporation, but which was soon after taken into the corporation ; here J. W. grew to manhood ; in 1861, he came to Covington, and engaged at farming until the fall of 1868, when he purchased the stone quarry which he is now operating ; his quarry is at the south end of town, along the bluff of the left bank of Stillwater, and has a perpendicular wall of twenty to thirty- five feet solid stone, the upper half being porous limestone, from which a very good article of white lime is made; the lower half is solid stone, in layers from four to thirty inches in thickness, from which all kinds of building stone, from common wall to the neatest caps and sills, are procured; Mr. Ruhl has erected a Pelton patent kiln, with a capacity of 300 bushels per day of twenty-four hours ; to quarry, dress and shape the different kinds of stone and burn the lime requires, in the season, from ten to twenty-five workmen, according to the demands of his trade; it will thus be seen that Mr. Ruhl has been identified with one of the im- portant industries of Covington for the past eleven years, and is now prepared, by reason of his experience and improved facilities, to do a still larger business when the new railroad, now being constructed, shall give a new outlet for the riches that here lie in mother earth ; Mr. Ruhl's residence is a neat, commodious frame, situ- ated at the extreme south end of High street, in the rear of which is his quarry and limekiln. He was married, in 1876, to Mrs. Zipporah De Vault, daughter of Charles Lindsay, one of the early settlers of Newberry Township.

JOHN G. SCHAEFER, minister, Piqua ; born in Maryland; is a son of George Schaefer, deceased. J. G. was raised upon a farm, and when 19 years of age went to attend the Capitol University at Columbus, to prepare for the ministry ; he received a thorough course and mastered all the principal languages except Hebrew. Immediately after he received his degree, he was ordained minister of the Lutheran Church, and has always been engaged in the cause. He has had charge of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, near Webster, for the last twenty years. He married Miss Eliza- beth Shick, of Logan . Co., Ohio.' They had six children-Mary C., living in Toledo, Ohio ; H. N., living in Shelby Co .; John W., Martin L., Matilda and Maria L. .

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MRS. L. SCHNEPP, farming ; P. O. Covington. William Schnepp, deceased, was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Aug. 21, 1830; in 1852, he came to this county and purchased the farm now occupied by his widow. He was murdered by John Riddle and Frank Stover, now in the State Prison. Mr. Schnepp was a man of excellent character, a prosperous farmer, and in every respect was highly esteemed by his neighbors. Louisa Maggart (Schnepp) was born in Champaign Co. April 14, 1836. They were married Oct. 24, 1852. They had three children, but all died in 1860.

SAMUEL SEARER, farmer ; P. O. Bradford ; born in Juniata Co., Penn., May 19, 1837 ; is a son of Christian Searer, a native of Berks Co., Penn., who came to Ohio in 1845, and located in Newberry Township, Miami Co. He purchased eighty acres of land now within the corporation of Bradford, where he is living at present. The subject of this sketch was raised and educated upon a farm, and was 7 years old when his parents came to Ohio. After he attained his manhood, he taught school for several terms, and since has been engaged in farming. He married Miss Hannah, a daughter of John J. Harrison, of Newton Township, Feb- ruary, 1868 ; they had one child-Rosa Annie. He has a beautiful farm of 60 acres within the corporation of Bradford, with good farm buildings, and everything in good order.

D. C. SHELLABERGER, merchant, Covington ; is the present representa- tive of a pioneer family, being the son of Dr. M. R. Shellaberger, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and an early resident of Miami Co. D. C. was born in Covington in 1841 ; his early youth was spent there, during which he received the benefit of such educational advantages as the home school afforded ; when 16 years of age, he took a two years' course of instruction at the Piqua High School. When the first call was made for three years' troops, he was the second one to volunteer at Covington, and was assigned to the 44th O. V. I., which he entered as a private, but was immediately appointed First Sergeant of Co. B. In the spring of 1862, having passed a rigid examination (one peculiar to the command of Col. Cook, who was a regular), was commissioned Second Lieutenant, in which capacity he served until the latter part of the winter of 1864, when by reason of injury incapacitating him for duty, he resigned, after which, on account of ill health, he spent the spring and summer in New York under medical treatment, then returned to Covington and engaged in general merchandising in company with a brother who is now deceased. After about three years, he sold out and opened a hardware store, in which his father, in the spring of 1871, became a partner. In June, 1879, the father died, and D. C. again became sole proprietor, and is now doing a very satis- factory business, being the leading house in Covington in the hardware line. His store building, the property of his father's estate, of which he has the charge, is conveniently located on High street, and is well calcu- lated for the extensive stock which he now carries. Mr. Shellaberger 18 & life-resident of Miami Co., and, although a young man, is already regarded among the most substantial business men of the place ; has been Town- ship Treasurer ; is now a member of the Council, and Secretary of the District School Board. He was married in 1864 to Miss Rose . Shellenberger, daughter of Jacob E. Shellenberger, who was an early resident of Miami Co. Mr. and Mrs. Shellaberger are respected, useful members of society. They have three children, one son and two daughters.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 107

Author: W. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051