The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 86

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

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 86

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where the city of Piqua now stands, but which then consisted of two log cabins; he bought a quarter-section of land, with 3 acres cleared and a log cabin on it, and entered three quarter-sections adjoining, one for each of his three sons ; his uncle, John Johnston, then Government Agent for five or six of the Indian tribes, brought his family at the same time and settled within one mile of them; at that time, there were no settlers outside of their location, and, with the exception of three or four families, from two to four miles on the south of them, the Indians, for the first year, were their only neighbors, but they were not troublesome, with the exception of stealing two of their horses, one of which they never recovered, and, occasionally, their fat hogs, when running in the woods, although that was often done by others, on the Indians' credit; the first year, they raised potatoes sufficient for their own use ; the next year, nearly all their own provisions; and the third year, they had grain to sell to new settlers. They had nine children- three sons and six daughters ; their first cabin was about 20x24 feet, and, besides their own family occupying the beds, they often had eight or ten Indians to sleep on their blankets on the floor. During the war of 1812 to 1815, some of the set- tlers went into "block-houses ; " the country was patrolled by rangers, and, although the Government kept and fed from 2,000 to 3,000 Indians, in the imme- diate neighborhood, to keep them from joining the English in Canada (which many of them did), yet no serious depredations were committed in this vicinity, though some were in other parts of the county. In 1815, the first schoolhouse was built, a round log cabin about twenty-four feet square; the first teacher was a young Kentuckian, returning from the war, who fought his last battle with Harrison where Tecumseh was killed ; he taught one quarter, and wore out about one black-haw switch every day, often taking a whole bench-row at a time, in order, as he said, to make them mind their books ; in 1818, a number of the settlers joined together and built a brick schoolhouse, twenty-five feet square, with a good fireplace in each end, a jointed floor, benches and desks of slabs; a teacher was employed at $500 per year, paid by subscription, and taught most of the time for about seven years; and here Mr. Widney, the subject of our sketch, with a number of other boys, graduated as " Bachelors of General Knowledge," which consisted in being pretty well grounded in the three R's-honest reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic-and a smat- tering of English grammar ; this house was for years used as a church, on Sabbath Days, and here, on alternate Sabbaths, the Methodist circuit riders dispensed the Gospel with no uncertain sound ; most of them were "sons of thunder," and Mr. Widney, when a boy, has heard old Abbot Goddard, on a still evening, from the schoolhouse to his father's, a distance of three-fourths of a mile through the woods ; not many went to sleep under the Gospel ministry in those days. In 1818, Mr. Widney's father was elected, by the Legislature, one of the Associate Judges for the Court of Common Pleas, for the county, and served in that capacity for seven years ; the Court was held in a log building which would not now be thought good enough for a stable ; and many persons attending Court, for want of other accom- modations, had to stop at a private house ; yet the scales of justice were held with as even a balance as now, and not half the "red tape" to untie to come at & decision. After the peace with England in 1815, the county began to settle up rapidly, and, soon, to wear the aspect of civilization; everything was low-priced but dry goods and groceries ; wheat, 25 cents per bushel; corn, 10 cents ; oats, 6 cents ; but the people raised flax, dressed and manufactured it themselves, carded, spun and wove their own wool, made it up at home, and were generally prosperous and happy. In 1827, Mr. Widney cast his first vote for John Quincy Adams, and since voted with the Whig, and latterly with the Republican party, when he thought such vote would best subserve the public interest, but has always been an inde- pendent voter ; in 1836, Mr. Widney's father, after a life of honest enterprise, came to the close of his 71st year ; then death came, in a quiet hour, and found him at peace with his God and surrounded by friends ; his mother lived on for nine years, and then her vigorous frame and active spirit felt the weariness of age, and she, too, laid herself down to rest by the side of him with whom, for nearly fifty years,

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she had traveled life's dusty road; they sleep in Upper Piqua Cemetery, with many of their old pioneer associates, who, with them, helped to redeem the Upper Miami Valley from a savage wilderness, and make it the luxurious home of future generations ; may their sleep be sweet, and honored alike be the humble mound or statelier stone that marks their graves.

" When spring, with dewy fingers cold, Returns to deck their hallowed mold, She there shall dress a sweeter sod Than fancy's feet have ever trod."

On Feb. 12, 1839, Mr. Widney was married to Eleanor Hunter, daughter of Joseph and Jane (Eaton) Hunter, who came from Franklin Co., Penn., in 1812, and settled within one mile of his father's ; by her he had one son-John W., now living on a farm two miles north of Piqua; Aug. 12, 1842, his first wife died; Jan. 1, 1845, he married Eliza J. Williams, daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Armstrong) Williams, of Mt. Auburn, Cincinnati; by her he had four children, three now living-Samuel W., Eliza J. and Mary J. Mr. Widney has always been engaged in agriculture, principally in stock farming, grazing of cattle and feeding hogs, and has succeeded in most of his enterprises ; in 1865, having acquired what he considered a compe- tence, he sold most of his landed property and bought a suburban residence adjoining Piqua, with seven acres of ground attached ; here, with a farm one mile from town which he retained to himself, and which he superintends, he finds ample exercise for his age and capabilities ; having been always accustomed to an active out-door life, he feels that, while health and strength permit, he can enjoy no other ; with one of the largest private libraries in the county, he finds that rainy days are not necessarily gloomy, and that, while youth has its hilarious mirth, age may have its calm enjoyments.

THOMAS J. WILEY, tanner and currier, Piqua. He was born in Piqua, 1835, and is the son of Thomas and Hannah Wiley, who were early residents of Piqua ; Thomas J., has always resided here ; he began working at the tanner's trade when a young man, and has since followed the business ; in 1868, his step-father, Joshua Worley, who established the tannery in the south part of the town, being deceased, Mr. Wiley took it in charge and has been the principal manager since ; the firm, T. J. Wiley & Co., are now carrying on the tannery and are also dealers in leather and shoe findings of all kinds ; their store, over which Mr. Wiley presides, is located on High street, fronting Market space ; Mr. Wiley is one of the present old resi- dents ; he is a leading member of the Green street Methodist Episcopal Church, and a useful, respected citizen. He married, in 1864, Miss Tillie, daughter of Josiah Finfrock, who was also an early resident of Piqua.

ISAAC H. WILT, grocer, Piqua. He is the son of Isaac, Sr., and Elizabeth Wilt, who were both natives of Pennsylvania, where she died in 1868; Isaac now survives in his native State. Their children were nine in number, Isaac H., being the second youngest ; he was born in Adams Co., Penn., in 1846, and was raised to the life of a farmer's son ; his education was obtained in the commor. schools of his native State ; at the age of 20 he engaged in a grist-mill, which he followed three years in Pennsylvania ; at this time he came West, engaging in a mill at Dayton, Ohio, where he was under the employ of a good milling firm & period of seven years; owing to his ill health, which had been brought on by ex- posure in the mill, he was necessitated to flee from its duties; this being in 1877; he came to Piqua and opened out his present business on south Main street, he carries a full line of groceries and notions, and has built up a healthy trade. In 1872, his marriage was celebrated with Flora A. Melhorn, who was born in Adams Co., Penn., in 1844 ; two daughters are the fruits of their union, Maggie M., and Imogene E.

CHARLES T. WILTHEISS, tobacconist, Piqua. Mr. Wiltheiss, a native of Germany, born in 1844, came to the United States in 1855, and to Piqua in the fol- lowing year ; he has been engaged in the manufacture of cigars from a boy, and commenced business for himself in 1861 ; he is now senior member of the firm of

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Wiltheiss & Chryst, manufacturers of cigars and dealers in tobacco ; in addition to their city retail trade, they do a jobbing business, keeping a team on the road con- stantly ; Mr. Waltheiss takes a great interest in archeology, and his collection of antiquarian specimens is extensive, and includes some very ancient and rare sam- ples ; his contributions to the archaeological department of the Smithsonian Insti- tution are valuable. He married, in 1866, Miss Rosa, daughter of Daniel Schnell; they have four children.

K. L. WOOD, dealer in and breeder of French and Clyde horses, Piqua. K. L. Wood takes special pride in breeding and raising fine horses, which are second to none in the county ; a portion of his stock was exhibited at the World's Fair in England (being their native country), where they were awarded the highest honors. He was born in Union Co., Ohio, in 1824, and raised on the farm, where his educa- tion was advanced to a limited degree ; he being brought up on the farm, gave him access to the handling of stock from childhood, in which his utmost delight was placed ; he remained in his native county until coming to Piqua in 1870, during which time he bred and raised stock; his investment in horses is perhaps more than any other in Miami Co. ; he is now located in Third Ward of Piqua, one of the finest locations to be found ; it affords a grand view of the town, and is but little disturbed by the unpleasantness of dust and noise. Mr. Wood is Guardian of the H. E. Loomis Paper Manufacturing Co., one of the leading enterprises of that place. In October, 1848, he married Hannah Coe, a native of Union Co., Ohio; three years later she passed away ; two children were born to them, now both deceased. He married, for his second wife, Mary M. Smith, of Union Co., also; their companionship continued for a period of fourteen years, when death seized her and she was consigned to the silent tomb, April 16, 1872; by this union five children were born to them, of whom two are now living-Lewis H., and Rosa. Oct. 10, 1876, he married Lizzie Spencer; one child, Mattie, was born to them, now deceased. Mrs. Wood is a native of Belfast, Ireland, but has been a resident of Miami Co., since 1863.

MRS. MARY J. WRIGHT is a member of the McCorkle farmily, whose settle- ment in Miami Co. dates back to Indian days. Her grandfather, Joseph McCorkle, came from Tennessee at a very early day, John, the father of Mary, being at that time a boy of 15 years. John married a Miss Margaret Walker, formerly of Baltimore, Md .; they had. seven children, of whom Mrs. Wright was the eldest. Mr. John McCorkle died about 1830, his wife surviving him many years, dying about 1860. Mrs. Wright was first married to Rev. David McDonald, and they had five chil- dren-Bessie, Sarah (deceased), John, Margaret and Robert. Mr. Wright, her second husband, was from Urbana, and belonged to an old family of Champaign Co. ; he too, is now dead, and Mrs. Wright makes her home in Piqua.

YAGER & CRONER, proprietors of the omnibus, baggage, mail and express line of Piqua. This is perhaps the most important enterprise of this city, a con- venience and interest to many persons in various ways; they, as a firm, have been known since February, 1875, at which time Croner purchased the interest pre- viously owned by C. Humes. W. F. Croner was born in Germany, in November, 1828, and is a son of Christopher and Caroline Croner, who, four years later, emi- grated from Germany and located in Piqua, where he continued his original trade of baker ; his death occurred about 1838, and Caroline's in 1865. Four children were born to them, of whom our subject is the second ; he has resided in this city and watched its progress for the past forty-eight years, and is said now to be the oldest German resident living in Piqua ; here he was raised, and obtained his edu- cation in the city schools ; when young, he learned the harness trade, which he necessarily had to quit to regain his health ; he then engaged in driving stage from Piqua to Dayton, Ohio; this was continued until 1850, when he changed occupations, engaging in a dray line in Piqua until the present partnership was formed. Upon June 19, 1851, he married Hannah Almarea, born in Germany in July, 1830; she came to America with her parents when 6 years old ; the chil-

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dren of Mr. and Mrs. Croner are Minnie, Caroline, Charles E., Amelia, Lewis G. (deceased), Henrietta, William H., Anna M., Clara A., John O. and Alma J.

JOSEPH G. YOUNG, deceased ; among the prominent men whose homes have been in Piqua, none perhaps have been more thoroughly identified with the local interests than was Mr. Young ; he was a native of Warren Co., a son of Col. Robert Young, who removed to Piqua at an early date, and was a leading and influ- ential citizen during the early days of its history. The subject of this sketch was a schoolboy with Col. Schenck and Ben Wade, but, unlike them, turned his atten- tion entirely to business, and his house was a home to all celebrities when visiting Piqua ; in fact, his house was the place of entertainment for worthy strangers of all classes, and the citizens of Piqua knew no more welcome place for social enjoy- ment. Mr. Young's first business venture of public importance was the establish- ment of a bank here, which he accomplished in 1847, Wm. Scott being President and Mr. Young, Cashier ; that bank, though changed in name, has maintained an existence from the date of its opening to the present time, now being known as the Piqua National Bank ; Mr. Young was also a leader in establishing the Piqua Gas Works, of which company he remained a member until his decease, in 1875, which oc- curred at the works, and was a very sudden and unexpected misfortune ; his energy and enterprise as a business man, and his genial sociability, made his loss generally felt. Mrs. Young is a daughter of John W. and Delilah (Cullun) Langdon ; her parents were pioneers of Cincinnati, and reared a large family, of which Mrs. Young is the only surviving member ; she was born in Cincinnati ; married Mr. Young when but 16 years of age, and, previous to his decease, enjoyed life remark- ably well ; she has her home at the family residence, corner of Main and Green streets, but much of her time is spent visiting friends in the different cities.

JOHN ZOLLINGER, grocer, Piqua. Mr. Zollinger, a native of Ohio, was born in Perry Co. in 1811 ; his youth was spent on a farm. He married, in 1836, Miss Susan Whitmore, who was also a native and resident of the same vicinity in Perry Co. Mr. Zollinger continued farming about one year after his marriage, then removed to Licking Co., with a view of conducting a tannery ; not finding that business agreeable to him, he sold his interest and engaged in the grocery trade; he came to Piqua in 1848, and the grocery house of John Zollinger has been a leading and reliable house ever since; he has had in the meantime sev- eral partners ; Samuel Zollinger, his oldest son, is now a partner, the style of the firm being J. Zollinger & Son ; they are located at the southeast corner of Main and Green streets, where they carry a full stock, and are doing a successful busi- ness; Mr. Zollinger has now been identified with the business of Piqua thirty-two years, and is one of the most substantial and respected of its citizens; his resi- dence is a fine property, located at the northwest corner of Ash and Broadway streets ; he has a family of four children-two sons and two daughters ; Samuel, & partner, and William, an assistant, in the store ; Mary, now Mrs. Dr. Noup, of Dallas, Darke Co., and Matilda.

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L. W. AGENBROOD, farmer ; P. O. West Charleston ; born in Bethel Town- ship, Miami Co., Ohio, Feb. 16, 1842 ; is a son of Daniel and Rachel (Williams) Agenbrood ; she is a native of Ohio, and he of Frederick Co., Md. ; he was born Sept. 9, 1801, and was brought to this State in the same year by his parents ; they stopped for one year at Cincinnati, and came to Dayton, where they remained about the same length of time, when they bought 170 acres of land in Bethel Town- ship, Miami Co., on which they located ; he followed farming and for many years kept a country hotel; his son, Daniel, bought 834 acres in Sec. 15, of the above- named township, where he resided for a number of years, but now lives in Monroe

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Township, of this county ; L. W. worked on the farm till the time of his majority, when he commenced the fruit-tree business ; he also engaged in teaching a portion of each year ; in 1870, he quit the tree business and followed teaching altogether, till 1877, when he bought the old farm of his father in Bethel Township, where he lives, teaching during the winter ; his education was obtained principally in the common school. His marriage with Hannah Puterbaugh was celebrated March 5, 1871 ; she was born May 6, 1848 ; the fruits of this union are two children-Albert A., born Aug. 23, 1873, and Guy E., June 27, 1878.

N. H. ALBAUGH, nurseryman ; P. O. Tadmor, Montgomery Co. ; senior member of the firm of N. H. Albaugh & Son, proprietors of the Hill Home Nurseries ; born in Union Township, Miami Co., May 22, 1834 ; is a son of Samuel and Anna (Rodkey) Albaugh, who came here in 1828, and entered 80 acres of land in the above named township ; this he cleared and improved, building a log cabin, in which our subject was born and partially raised ; he received a good education, mainly by the aid of his father ; in the fall of 1851, he commenced teaching, which continued to be his occupation till 1854, with the exception of one summer, when he edited a daily paper in Dayton, entitled the Dayton Daily City Item ; he bought his present home of 30 acres in Sec. 31, and continued to teach during the winter for several years ; in 1858, he engaged in the nursery business, which has gradually increased till he has between 80 and 100 acres planted, and fills orders to the amount of about $100,000 annually at retail ; in 1870, he established a branch nursery at Carmi, Ill., and one at Burlington, Kan., this spring ; since June, 1875, the firm has been styled N. H. Albaugh & Son ; their office is connected by telephone with Dayton ; he now owns 160 acres of land in this township, and 200 acres in other States ; Mr. Albaugh is a live man, awake to the interests of every branch of industry, and that his sterling worth is appreciated by the people, is shown by what follows ; he has been a member of the Board of Education for seventeen years, and President of the board more than half the time; has been School Examiner for ten years, and Jus- tice of the Peace for nine years ; he is also President of the American Association of Florists, Nurserymen, etc. ; was in the 100-day service, Orderly Sergeant in Co. B, 147th O. V. I. In 1854, May 11, he married Lucinda Beeson, who was born in Montgomery Co., May 21, 1835 ; by this union they have had three children-Clifford L., born June 16, 1855 ; Ida May, Feb. 27, 1857; Jesse E., June 1, 1861, who was thrown from a load of trees and instantly killed March 18, 1879. Clifford L., was united in marriage with O. C. Williamson Jan. 1, 1880.

MARQUIS L. ALLEN, farmer and tile-manufacturer ; P. O. Tadmor, Mont- gomery Co .; born in Bethel Township, Miami Co., May 29, 1829; is a son of Stephen and Anna (Lindsley) Allen ; they were natives of New Jersey, but settled here in 1815, on 160 acres in the above-named township, for which they traded 50 acres near Cincinnati. Our subject now owns 51 acres of the old farm, which is well improved ; in 1869, he built a tile-factory, which gives employment for from three to five hands from early spring till late in the fall ; his sales amount to some- thing over $3,000 per annum ; he is an energetic man, running his farm in connec- tion with the tile works ; his mind is engaged in his own individual affairs, and aspires to no office, but he has been Constable and Township Trustee. Jan. 22, 1862, he married Eliza J. McFadden, of Montgomery Co., Ohio, born Dec. 5, 1834; the fruits of this marriage are three children-Edward E., born Feb. 12, 1863; Orville L., Oct. 9, 1866; Herbert C., Oct. 10, 1872.

JAMES ARMSTRONG, farmer ; P. O. New Carlisle, Clark Co .; was born in Bethel Township, Miami Co., Ohio, Sept. 12, 1839; his father, James Armstrong, was a native of Virginia, but came to Ohio at a very early day, traveling in wagons ; he stopped for awhile on Mad River and worked on a farm ; in those days, when men had but a small patch of cleared land, they were unable to provide provender for their horses and cattle, and, early in the spring, they would cut elm and linn saplings for the cattle to browse ; while working at this place, he tended 28 acres of corn, without any grain to feed, after the breaking was done; by some means, he managed to get 80 acres of land in Lost Creek Township, which was subse-

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quently disposed of, and he purchased 360 acres in Elizabeth Township, north- east of Miami City, and, in about three years, 151 acres more, southwest of Miami City ; some time afterward, he bought his father-in-law's farm; he was a brickmason by trade, and, shortly after coming to this county, built a brick house for Philip Saylor, whose daughter, Hannah, he married ; at the time of his death, he owned 1,300 acres of land. Philip Saylor was one of the very early set- tlers; before the war of 1812, he had erected a two-story hewed-log house, in which he kept a tavern ; it also served as a retreat for the women and children of the neighborhood in times of trouble; in this house our subject was born ; his occu- pation has always been tilling the soil, and he now owns 174 acres of good land, on which he has erected good buildings and is doing a thriving business. Feb. 7, 1856, he married Frances Edmonds, a native of Maryland, born July 20, 1838; the fruits of this marriage are eight children-Jennie, William Martin, Noah B., Ida May, Aurie E., Esom E., Albertus C. and Horace L. (deceased).

JOSEPH ARNOLD, farmer and minister ; P. O. Dayton ; born in Virginia Oct. 27, 1818 ; is a son of Daniel and Catharine Arnold, who came to Ohio in 1830, and settled in Montgomery Co., purchasing 160 acres of land, on which they com- pleted the improvements and spent the remainder of their days. She died in 1852, in the 59th year of her age, and he in 1864, at the age of 73. The subject of this sketch has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in 1840 located in Sec. 18, of Wayne Township, Montgomery Co., where he now resides ; in 1842, he bought the farm and improved it. He has a very desirable farm, under good cul- tivation, and one of the best houses in the township. In 1840, May 19, he married Elizabeth Frantz, of Clark Co., born Jan. 30, 1821 ; they have never been blessed with children of their own, but have cared for three orphans, two of whom are still with them. Since 1856, Mr. Arnold has been a minister in the German Baptist Church, officiating in Montgomery and Miami Cos. He has recently been ordained Elder, and has charge of the Grove District in Miami Co. He is an earnest worker in the cause of religion and is universally respected.

DANIEL BABB, farmer ; P.O. Tippecanoe City ; was born in Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River, near Philadelphia, Dec. 10, 1799. In 1820, he removed to Virginia, where he remained ten years, and then emigrated to Ohio. He stopped near Greenville, intending to go on to Indiana, to some of his relatives ; but, becom- ing discouraged with the appearance of the country, having met some parties from Miami Co., who had been in Indiana, and who advised him to turn back and locate in Miami Co., he did so, stopping a short time in Troy; he then went to Piqua, where he found a man who took him and his family in till he could find a place to live; he finally rented a place north of Piqua, and stayed about one year; then came to Bethel Township and rented the mill on Honey Creek, known as Staley's mill ; this, and the farm of 143 acres on which it stood, he bought four years later ; he run the mill for about twenty-five years, and did a flourishing trade for those times. Owing to ill health in his family he quit the milling business, and his mill has not been in operation for several years. He now owns about 310 acres of land, upon which he has made considerable improvement, and which he still oversees, but, being past 80 years, is not able to do much work himself. In 1823, Nov. 16, he married Leah Littler, a native of Virginia, born March 29, 1804. They have eight children-Almira, Eliza C. and Caroline M., the three eldest, deceased; Mary Ann, now the Widow Reed, living in Troy ; Joshua L., living in New Jersey ; Minerva, living with her father (is the only child yet unmarried), and Emma A., now Mrs. William Dimmit. Mrs. Babb departed this life Aug. 1, 1872.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 86

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