The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 84

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

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JOHN O'FARRELL, M. D., Piqua. Among the leading men of Piqua, Dr. O'Farrell is prominent ; he is the son and successor of Dr. John O'Farrell, Sr., one of the first physicians of Piqua, having located here in 1819; the subject of our sketch was born in 1824, graduated from the Louisville Medical College in 1843, and began practice in Piqua the same year; in 1848, he went to California, whence he was summoned to return by the decease of his father, which occurred in 1850 ; from 1851 to 1862, he was engaged regularly in practice here; then entered the army, in which he served about two years, being Major of the 11th O. V. C., since which time he has been engaged in practice most of the time; his attention being diverted by the building of the woolen-mill in 1869, and of the Lock Flouring Mill in 1872, in each of which enterprises the Doctor was a leading partner ; also rebuilt the Car and Agricultural Works in the fall of 1872, the former buildings having been burned that summer. Dr. O'Farrell has been identi- filed with and a prime mover in securing several important industries in Piqua, and has been not only a leading physician, but also intimately identified with the manufacturing interest and measures of public benefit. He was married in 1843, to Miss Sarah, daughter of John McCorkle; her decease occurred in 1846; they had one child, who died in his youth ; in 1853, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Kirk ; her death occurred in 1869 ; they had four children, two of whom survive-Dr. Robert O'Farrell, of Denver, Colo., and John, now 12 years of age; His marriage with Mrs. Addie L. Thompson was celebrated in 1874; she is & daughter of James Edwards ; she had one child by her former marriage-Nelly M. Thompson ; from this latter union have been born two children-Kate and

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Mary. His residence and professional office is located at the corner of Main and North streets, and is an elegant property and pleasant home.

ANDREW PATTERSON, retired, Piqua ; is a son of William P. and Jane (Hamilton) Patterson, both natives of Pennsylvania; their marriage occurred about 1796 ; he died in 1831, and she in 1838. Their children were nine in num- ber, of whom three are now living, Andrew being the eldest; he was born in Fayette Co., Penn., June, 1806, where he grew to manhood ; in his boyhood days he obtained his education in the subscription schools, as the free-school system ' was not then known in Fayette Co .; his earlier life was that of a farmer's son ; in 1834, he came West, locating in Spring Creek Township, Miami Co., and Oct. 27, 1835, he married Rebecca Craig. In October, three years later, she died, leaving one son, William C. Andrew afterward married Mrs. Elizabeth (Stewart) Sayers ; in 1841, he located in Piqua, and not seeing fit to remain there he returned to Spring Creek Township, where he continued farming until the spring of 1854. Having had (shortly before) bestowed upon him by the citizens of Miami Co., the Treasurer's office, this necessitated him to locate in Troy. This office he duly and honorably filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to the county; in addition to this, he has held the most prominent offices of his township; in 1865, he returned to Piqua, opening out a hardware establishment, which he conducted until 1872, then retired from its duties, and now resides in his quiet home unmo- lested with business thoughts. The children, by his last companion, now living, are John S., engaged in the Piqua National Bank, and Andrew H., engaged in the Railroad office of the D. M., at the crossing of the C., C. & I. C.

JOHN PATTERSON, farmer ; P.O. Piqua ; born in Shelby Co., Ohio, in 1819 ; is the son of John and Elizabeth (Anderson) Patterson, who were both born in Ire- land ; he came to this country in 1810, and she in 1815 ; they were parents of eight children, viz., John, William, Martha, now deceased ; Jane, also deceased ; Robert, living in California ; Alexander, living in Shelby Co .; James, also living in Shelby Co., on the old farm, and Elizabeth, who is now dead ; John, the father, died in 1849 ; and Elizabeth, the mother, died in 1874. Mr. Patterson lived with his par- ents till his marriage, which occurred in 1846, when he was united to Mary Ann Hunter, daughter of Joseph and Jane Hunter ; by this union they had two children -William A. and Mary E., both living at home. After Mr. Patterson's marriage, he lived on a rented farm for three years, when he bought the farm where he now resides, having lived on it thirty-one years, during which time he has cleared up a great part of his farm and built all the buildings on the place, having a good brick house, fine barn, and other comfortable and convenient structures ; he has been, like most of his countrymen, a great worker, and his industry and economy have wrought out for him a good home and a sufficient competency. Since his first purchase of land, he has added more to his possessions, till now he owns a fine body of land com- prising 247 acres.

WILLIAM PATTERSON, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; born in Shelby Co., Ohio, Feb. 11, 1821 ; is the son of John and Elizabeth (Anderson) Patterson, both born in Ireland; he emigrated to this country in 1816, and she came, in 1814, to Pennsylvania ; they left Pennsylvania and came to Shelby Co. in 1817 ; they were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living, viz., John, William, Robert, Alexander, James. The parents lived and died in Shelby. Mr. Patterson lived at home with his father till 1853, when he went to California, remained about three years, working in the mines, when, in 1857, he returned to Ohio, bought a farm in Washington Township and located. On Oct. 15, 1857, he was married to Margaret Crozier, daughter of John and Jane (Patterson) Crozier ; by this union they had six children, five of whom are living, viz., John, Emma, Anna, Cora and Lee. Mr. Patterson remained eight years on his farm, when he bought the farm where he now lives and moved to it with his family, where he still resides ; Mr. Patterson is a large land-holder, being owner of 360 acres, comprising two farms. Mrs. Patterson departed this life March 21, 1875.

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WILLIAM M. PURSELL, manufacturer, Piqua. Mr. Pursell is a native of Indiana, born in Dearborn Co. in 1840; his parents removed to Cincinnati when he was a boy, and he received the benefit of the city school privileges until about 15 years of age, when he became engaged in mercantile pursuits, in which he con- tinued about twelve years, then came to Piqua and became connected with the manufacturing establishment with which he is now connected, but then operated by a different firm ; he has continued with this establishment since, and is now the junior member of the firm of John O'Ferrall & Co., proprietors of the Piqua Car and Agricultural Works, and has charge of the details of the business. Mr. Pur- sell is an honored member of the Masonic Order, and is the High Priest of Piqua Chapter. also Regent of the Royal Arcanum ; he is one of those genial, good fel- lows who are selected to bear the honors and burdens of non-paying official posi- tions, and is withal a useful, respected citizen. He entered the U. S. Army in 1862; was a Lieutenant on Gen. Mitchell's staff, but rheumatism compelled him to resign. His residence is a handsome property on Wayne street, between Green and North streets. He married, in 1864, Miss Fannie E., youngest child of Dr. John O'Ferrall, Sr., who was one of the pioneer physicians of Piqua, and an esteemed citizen ; they have one child, Miss Clara.

FRANCIS RAIN, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; born in Philadelphia in 1802; is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Case) Rain, both of whom were born in Philadel- phia, their ancestors coming from England with William Penn ; they were parents of six children, all now deceased except two. Mr. Rain, our subject, was thrown upon the world by the death of his father when he was only 6 years of age; there were then five little children, and, their parents being without means, the children were placed out and scattered here and there, just as places could be found for them ; Francis was bound out by his mother to Isaac Hawkins, till 17 years of age ; when his time expired, Mr. Rain sought and obtained a situation to learn the blacksmithing trade, at which he served four years, when he arrived at his majority, and hired out at $9 per month ; he continued work at his trade till 1838, when he emigrated to Ohio, locating at Wapakoneta, but, not finding business to suit him there, came to Piqua and went to work at his trade, at which he con- tinued for six years ; then he bought out the shop and tools of his employer, and carried on the business till 1856, when he came and located on the farm where he now lives, having bought the farm about five years previous. Mr. Rain was united in marriage, in 1823, with Sarah Roney, daughter of Silas and Mary Roney, who were both natives of Pennsylvania ; by this union they had thirteen children, viz., Lewis, Elizabeth, Silas, William (deceased), Thomas (deceased), Deacon C., Mary, Sarah Ann, John H., James Phinley (deceased), Clara Jane, Harriet Eliza and Frances I. Mr. Rain, when locating upon his farm, opened out right in the woods, and had to clear up and erect his buildings and make all improvements, during which he had to endure the hardships and deprivations incident to pioneer life ; he now owns two good farms, consisting of 152 acres, most of which he has brought into good cultivation ; he has good buildings on both farms, and every- thing for comfort and convenience; this was all accomplished through his own industry and economy, being thrown upon the cold, unfeeling world when a mere child, having to work his way through without any means and a very limited edu- cation ; but now he has a competency, and can live in comfort the remainder of his days.

WILLIAM RAYNER, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; born in Sheffield, Eng., in 1817 ; is son of John and Elizabeth Rayner, who were born in England, but emigrated to this country in 1830, and located in Piqua ; he (the father) was a minister in the M. E. Church before coming to this country, remained such during his life, and as a minister was very well known in Piqua and the surrounding neighborhood ; he departed this life in 1871, being about 76 years of age, and his wife died in 1872. Mr Rayner, our subject, came to this county and located in Piqua about half a century ago, where he lived and followed his trade-that of a carpenter-till about twenty-eight years since, when he moved on to a farm, and has since followed farming ; in 1864,

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he located upon the farm where he now resides ; he has 60 acres of good land, 50 of which are in cultivation, with a good house, barn, and other buildings, compris- ing a very pleasant home, situated about two miles from Piqua. Mr. Rayner was united in marriage in 1843, with Rachel Scudder Valentine, daughter of Richard Valentine ; by this union they had two children, viz., James B. and Anna E .; he lost his wife by death, in 1849. In 1850, married Catherine J. Barret, daugh- ter of William and Maria Barret, both being born in Connecticut ; by this union they had seven children, of whom five are living, viz., Maria (deceased), Mary, Emma (deceased), Luella D., Edwin B. and John A. Mr. Rayner has, since his marriage, located on and opened out three different farms right in the woods, doing most of the carpenter work in building on each of the three farms ; he has been a constant worker, and by his industry and economy has made sufficient to live in comfort the rest of his life. He was formerly a Whig, politically, and then Free-Soil, and since, a stanch Republican, combined with Prohibition. Mr. Rayner is an active member of the M. E. Church, his membership dating back for nearly half a cen- tury ; has been class-leader for many years, and local preacher for about thirty years.

JOSEPH SAWYER, of the firm of Sawyer & Martin, paper manufacturers, a native of Piqua, is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Campbell) Sawyer, and grand- son of John and Mary Campbell ; John was born in Ireland and Mary was a native of Scotland ; they came to Piqua about 1810, and bought a large tract of land, comprising more than half of the principal portion of the present city of Piqua; Elizabeth was born here in 1818, near where she lived, raised a family and died, when 59 years of age ; she was one of the leading women of her day, an earnest Christian, a wise and affectionate mother and an estimable worker in all the departments of church and charitable work ; Joseph Sawyer, Sr., was a native of War- ren Co., and came to Piqua in 1831, and married Elizabeth Campbell in 1840, and died here in 1859 ; he was a wool-carder by trade, but, was possessed of more than ordinary education, having been a school teacher in his younger days ; after coming to Piqua, he became a land speculator, and bought and sold many tracts of land in the Miami Valley, and was quite successful, and became quite well off ; he was identified with the interests of Piqua, being a member of the Council a number of years and was President of the Council when he died. The subject of this sketch was one of twin boys, born Oct. 8, 1851; he received a liberal education and was a member of the senior class of the city High School, in 1869 ; he spent three years at the carriage and blacksmith trades, and in 1874, on account of ill health, went to California, and after a stay of about six months returned very much im- proved ; he subsequently established a collection agency in Piqua, which he prose- cuted until Jan. 1, 1880, when he closed up all accounts, with a view of engaging in some business enterprise ; the death of H. E. Loomis, who had just got the manufacture of paper bags under way, presented an opportunity which he secured, and in March, the firm of Sawyer & Martin was formed, and at this time arrange- ments are being perfected for the manufacture of flour sacks and grocer's bags,. in which they will employ from twenty to thirty hands ; the firm are also general dealers in paper, twines, etc. ; this firm is composed of young men, but they are not without experience, and their business promises to become an established industry in Piqua. Mr. Sawyer was married Oct. 12, 1876, to Miss Rose L., daughter of Dr. G. S. Hyde, whose biography also appears in this work.

JAMES E. SHELLENBERGER, M. D., Piqua ; was born in Covington, Miami Co., in 1846; his education was acquired in the schools of that place. In August, 1862, he enlisted as drummer boy in Co. B., 94th O. V. I., under Capt. John Drury, of Troy ; he was mustered out of service in June, 1865, and returned home ; soon after, he took up the study of medicine under Dr. John Sensman, of Tippecanoe City ; this study he industriously pursued until the winter of 1867 and 1868, when he attended the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, from which he grad- uated in March, 1869 ; he has since practiced six years in Covington, two years in Tippecanoe. City, and since 1877, has been favorably known as a physician in

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Piqua ; he is a promising young man. His marriage with Emma Chaffee was cel- ebrated Nov. 24, 1875 ; she is a daughter of S. L. Chaffee, of Tippecanoe City. JOSEPH SCHLOSSER & CO., tobacconists, Piqua. Joseph Schlosser was born in Prussia, in 1849, where he enjoyed the schools of his native country until 1868, when he, with his parents, embarked for America ; they first settled in Cincinnati, and two years later they located in Piqua. In September, 1874, Joseph married Caroline Stelzer, who was born in Piqua in 1853; three children are the fruits of this union, viz., Joseph, Jr., Clara E., and George J. Mr. Schlosser is head of the firm known as Joseph Schlosser & Co., tobacconists ; they have been liberally patronized by country retailers, and fill large orders in their own city.

MAX SCHROEDER, florist and gardener, Piqua. Another of the enter- prises of Piqua that deserves more than a passing notice is the floral and vegeta- ble garden of Max Schroeder ; it is located in the northeast part of the city, where he takes particular pride in raising and producing fine flowers, in which his expe- rience here and at other places has enabled him to make it a success ; his garden affords a place of pleasure for many of the citizens of Piqua in leisure hours ; Max was born close to Berlin, Germany, Aug. 6, 1855, where he grew to the age of 15 years, when he, with his parents, immigrated to America, locating in Cincinnati ; about 1874, he went to St. Louis, engaged in his present business, and remained until the opening of his garden in Piqua. May 25, 1880, he married Helen Holtz- ermann, a native of Piqua, a daughter of J. D. Holtzermann, whose biography appears in this work.

CHARLES SCHROEDER, hardware merchant, Piqua. Mr. Schroeder is one of the young and promising business men of Piqua ; he is a a native of Prussia, born near Berlin in 1856 ; came to the United States in 1870, and to Piqua in 1875, where he was employed as salesman in the hardware store then operated by Shannon & Davis, later by Shannon & Wall, and still later by Wall, of whom Mr. Schroeder purchased it Jan. 1, 1880, and, having added largely to the stock, is now carrying a full line of heavy and shelf hardware at the old stand, 118 Main street; Mr. Schroeder speaks both German and English, and is a wide-awake busi- ness man ; his success thus far promises increased prosperity in the future ; should he continue, as he expects to, his experience as a salesman and thorough business habits, will enable him to advance the reputation of this old, well-known estab- lishment. He was married, Jan. 1, 1880, to Miss Amelia, daughter of W. F. Croner.

WILLIAM SCOTT, merchant and banker, Piqua; was born in Jessamine Co., Ky., Sept. 25, 1801 ; a brother and himself are all that survive of the family of seven children of Hugh Scott and Mary Moffatt; his father came from North Carolina to Kentucky in 1784, and, in 1808, became a pioneer of Piqua, Ohio, where, for many years, he filled the office of Justice of the Peace, his jurisdiction embracing a circuit of thirty to forty miles, extending from Ft. Wayne to Dayton; he died in 1850, aged about 80 years. William Scott received his early education in the old pioneer log schoolhouse, where, in those early days, the facilities were very limited. Feb. 14, 1823, he embarked in business as a merchant, with a cap- ital of $120, without friends or credit, and in competition with a firm with a cap- ital of $10,000, in a small town of about 200 inhabitants; by economy, industry and close application, he was soon able to extend his business, including within his scope all that pertained to a complete frontier trading-store ; at this time, there were no railroads here, or even pikes, and his goods were hauled in wagons from Cin- cinnati, the wagons being first loaded, at his store, with produce of various kinds taken in exchange from the surrounding country, for goods, and hauled over the muddy roads to Cincinnati, there sold or exchanged for such merchandise as he needed for his trade, the wagons reloaded and started for home, where they would arrive after a tedious journey of several days; for twelve years he bought and sold all the pork raised in the county, making large shipments to the best markets; in 1829, he found it advisable to buy the property upon which he is now located, and built a business house, into which he- moved his stock ; here he continued his

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occupation, which, through his industry, good management and honorable dealing, had won him many friends and a great increase of trade, which, together with the growth and improvements of the town, demanded that he should build larger and more commodious rooms for the convenience of his growing and extensive busi- ness ; in 1855, he built the large brick block known as "Scott's Block," which is three stories high, and where he has very pleasant and commodious rooms, into which he moved his stock, and has since dealt chiefly in dry goods ; in 1847, he was made President of the Piqua Branch of the State Bank of Ohio, and remained such till the State Bank was merged into the Piqua National Bank in the spring of 1865, of which he was elected President, and has so continued to the present time ; in 1872, Mr. Scott built a large extension to the building put up in 1855, being two stories high, all brick, with five business rooms on the ground floor, so that the whole " Scott's Block " now consists of six business rooms on the first floor ; in addition to his regular business, Mr. Scott has also dealt largely in real estate. Here we have recorded an uninterrupted mercantile career of fifty-seven years, extending over a period of time during which several financial panics occurred, sweeping away the property of scores of old and prominent business men, and yet Mr. Scott never experienced a failure in business ; and, during a third of a century in which he has been a Bank President, his name has never been on any of its discounted paper, either as indorser or principal ; it is questionable whether such a record can be found in the history of any business man in the country ; he was formerly connected, as Director and Treasurer, with the Piqua & Columbus Section of the Pan Handle Railroad, and was also a stockholder in the Dayton & Michigan road ; he was formerly a member of the Whig party, but, latterly, a Republican of stanchest cast ; public-spirited and enterprising, he has been a very liberal supporter of local enterprises of merit, and has always con- tributed freely to the public improvements of the place; he has ever been a warm friend to educational progress ; was for about twelve years a member of the Piqua Board of Education, and, while serving in that capacity, took a very prominent part in securing the erection of the union school building of that city, furnishing the money for that purpose, and thus most effectually assisting in the success of the enterprise; he holds his religious connection with the Episcopal Church of Piqua, having been a leading member of that denomination for many years; he has been specially distinguished for his inflexible integrity and promptness in all his dealings, coupled with great caution and more than ordinary shrewdness in business; the quiet and unostentatious manner in which he has contributed to worthy objects of charity has also been very marked. On Oct. 4, 1826, he was united in marriage with Jane, daughter of John and Catherine Morrow, who came from Baltimore, Md., and settled in the neighborhood of Piqua at an early day ; this union resulted in the birth of seven children, two of whom died in infancy ; the oldest surviving son, John Morrow Scott, is a partner with his father in the dry-goods house of John M. Scott & Co .; he married Helen Talmadge in 1858; James Scott is a hardware dealer in Piqua, and is unmarried ; Mary L., the oldest daughter, is the wife of Collins H. Jordan, formerly of Piqua, now a resident of Chicago ; Jane, the second daughter, married James Johnston, of Piqua, in 1857; she died in 1864; the other daughter, Sarah Matilda, still resides at home. Mrs. Scott died Feb. 21, 1876, respected and beloved by all who knew her. We here have chronicled, upon the pages of this history, a life remarkable for all those sterling qualities which insure success, and which will stand forth as a bright and shining example, to be seen and read by future generations for all time to come.

Since writing the above, Mr. William Scott has passed away ; having been stricken with paralysis, he died June 1, 1880, after an illness of but two days. John M. Scott has been chosen to fill the positions of President and Director of the Bank, made vacant by his father's death.

ROBERT SHANNON, retired, Piqua ; born in Northumberland Co., Penn., April 18, 1805 ; is the son of David and Jane (Sample) Shannon, who were born in Pennsylvania and were parents of eight children ; all grew up to manhood, but

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three only are now living, viz., Samuel, Elizabeth Scott and Robert, who is the subject of our sketch. He was united in marriage, in 1829, with Mary Defrees, daughter of Joseph Defrees ; they had seven children, of whom three are now living, viz., Elizabeth D., John D. and Mary ; Elizabeth D. is married to George W. Young, and resides in Piqua ; John D. is married to Bessie McDonald, and also resides in Piqua, and Mary is married to Robert Lamb, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, where they reside; Jane S., who is now deceased, was married to D. L. C. Ball, of Piqua. Mr. Shannon, in 1827, left his native State for Ohio, starting on foot, and walked till he reached Pittsburgh, where he took "deck passage" on a steamer for Cincinnati, and from there he walked through to Piqua, being at this time 22 years of age ; he located here and went to work at his trade (the cabinet trade), which he followed about seven years, when he entered into the mercantile trade, which he followed many years, some of the time in Piqua and a part of the time in Coving- ton ; during his business connections in Covington, his residence was still in Piqua, his brother-in-law having charge of the business at Covington; for seven years, Mr. Shannon held the office of Constable and also Marshal of Piqua; after the war, Mr. Shannon engaged in the hardware trade for about three years, when he retired from active business, as his failing health warned him that he needed quiet and rest; he owns a nice residence, retired from the more active business portion of the city, where he prefers to live in quiet enjoyment the rest of his life.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 84

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