The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 97

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

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 97

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wood for 25 cents per cord, during the noon time, and corded it after night, when he had finished his work for other men.

MICHAEL FRONTZ, retired, farmer ; P. O. Troy. Mr. Michael Frontz is one of the prominent farmers, having lived forty-one years in the township. He was born in Germany, and came to Ohio in 1834, settling in Miamisburg. His earthly possessions consisted of only a few dollars, but fortune smiled on him from the first, and he has steadily prospered. He courted, and afterward married, Miss Mary Eberd, of Montgomery Co., May 4, 1836, Rev. Daniel Winters officiating. Their wedding tour was taken from Dayton to their home in a two-horse wagon. House- keeping was commenced on a farm owned by the father of the bride, where they lived very happily together. The second year Mr. Frontz purchased four acres of land and erected a weaving establishment. He made a specialty of coverlets, and to say that they were genuine would be only the truth. The children each have a specimen of his work, looking almost as good as new, that was woven in 1837. Seven children were born, and three are now living-Sarah J. is the wife of Rev. George Tenney ; William, the only son, married Miss Sarah J. Honeyman; Mary A. is the wife of William Sager, who now looks after the farming interests. Mr. Frontz had an attack of paralysis in October, 1879, since which time he has been confined to the house. His wife died April 12, 1868, since which time Mrs. Sager, his daughter, has superintended household matters, and is a splendid housekeeper. The orchard and buildings are all in good shape, and the farm is a nice one. They are comfortably situated and everything presents an appearance of neatness and prosperity. Mr. Frontz is 72 years old, and was born in Gutenberg, Germany, in 1807. He has witnessed much of the growth of this country, and his life has been a financial success. He views the situation politically from a Demo- oratio standpoint, and is the first Democratic supporter of the Miami Co. history in this township. For fifty-eight years he has been an active member in the Lutheran Church, and has lived strictly in accordance with its teachings.

W. H. H. GAHAGAN (deceased) ; born in Miami Co., Ohio, Nov. 14, 1835; was a son of W. H. Gahagan, a prominent agriculturist; he was the chief organizer of the Miami Co. Agricultural Society, and served as its Secretary for seventeen years ; died April 14, 1870; his wife, whose maiden name was Hester L. Culbertson, died Sept. 9, 1874; they were the parents of nine children, four daughters now living. William Gahagan, the grandfather of our subject, was among the early pioneers of Miami Co., and, in 1809, entered a part of the land now within the corporation limits of Troy ; a few years later, he purchased a large part of the land upon which the business portion of Troy now stands, donating to the city for a cemetery the lot where now stands the first school. Our subject being the only son, followed the occupation of his father, succeeded him on the farm, which he greatly improved, exhibiting taste in beautifying and tact in manag- ing the same ; he was a Republican in politics, and, while he had no aspirations for office, labored hard for the success of the party ; was patriotic and manifested great interest in military affairs ; on the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, enlisted in the three months' service, then re-enlisted for three years in the 11th O. V. I., and was appointed Second Lieutenant Co. D, which position he resigned on account of ill health ; in the fall of 1861, he returned home, and, never regain- ing his health, died Dec. 4, 1877. He was married to Hannah M. Smith April 2, 1863 ; who was born in Clark Co., Ohio, Nov. 20, 1838; they have three children, viz., Walter H., Mary E. and Bessie, all now residing with their mother, who is & daughter of David J. Smith, one of the early pioneers of Clark Co .; was a native of Scotland; came to America when an infant; died in Clark Co., Sept. 13, 1878.

ELBERT P. GALBRAITH, proprietor Riverside Hotel, Troy; was born in Jackson, Cape Girardeau Co., Mo., March 22, 1844, and is a son of Samuel Galbraith, born in February, 1808, now residing in Ashtabula Co., Ohio. When an infant, our subject was taken by his parents to the city of St. Louis, where he remained in school until he attained his 10th year, at which time his parents removed to Ashtabula Co., where they now reside, and where our subject gave his

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whole attention to his education, receiving instruction in the academy ; when the war of the rebellion broke out, he was a student in the Normal School at West Kingsville ; leaving school, he enlisted Aug. 8, 1861, in the three months' service, 19th O. V. I., in which organization he served out his time, and, in the following August, 1862, re-enlisted in the 105th O. V. I., and was at once sent to the front ; he participated in several engagements prior to Oct. 8, 1862, at which date he was severely wounded, having two balls pass through his left arm, disabling him so that he was unfit for further service; and on the 13th day of December, was mus- tered out of service ; he again entered the Normal School to finish his education ; commenced teaching school in 1865, and while teaching read medicine ; then he went to Kentucky, and was engaged for several years in dealing in stock, after which he was in mercantile business in Scioto Co. ; in 1876 he located in Miami Co., and has since been occupied as hotel keeper; in 1878, he opened the Riverside House in Troy, of which he is now the proprietor. and has built up a business to the fullest capacity of the house. The writer of this article having been a guest of the hotel in question for several months, does not hesitate to state that during his travels of fifteen years, he has never found a better home nor a place where the comforts of travelers are more carefully cared for. Mr. Galbraith was married to Sarah A. Pierce Feb. 16, 1870 ; she was born in Greene Co., Ohio, in 1843; the result of this union are four children, viz., Elbert, Harry, Jessie and an infant ; Mrs. Pierce had been previously married to William E. Stubbs, a Methodist min- ister, who was born in Delaware, and died in October, 1863, by which union were two children-Charles E. and Rosa Bell ; her second husband, Wiley T. Pierce, was also a Methodist minister, a native of Tennessee ; died in Adams Co., Ohio, in 1869.

HARRISON GALE, restaurant and saloon keeper, Troy. Harrison Gale was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Dec. 4, 1822 ; his boyhood was spent on the farm, and his education received in the common schools ; at the age of 15, he engaged on the Ohio Canal, with a half-brother, working for the State; when about 18, he started for himself, running a boat on the same canal, which he continued to do till 1849, at which time he brought his boat down the Ohio through the locks at Cincinnati into the Miami Canal, where he continued the boating business for a period of seven years, running on that and the Wabash Canal ; afterward he located in Troy and was elected Constable and Marshal for four successive years, performing his duties in a business-like and satisfactory manner ; in 1860, he opened a restaurant in Troy (see directory), where he continues business, keeping everything in the line of eatables, and a supply of billiard tables, where his many friends can while away a pleasant hour. He has a wife and four children-Laura, Belle, William H. Courtney, and Harrison (deceased); he is surrounded by his children, and spending his mature years quietly and pleasantly ; his marriage occurred in 1863 with Miss Emily Ravenscraft.

D. C. GIDEON, physician and surgeon, Troy. A short genealogy will be first in order. Alfred L. Gideon was born in 1826 ; Elizabeth Clark Gideon, Dec. 15, 1820; their only child, David C. Gideon, Nov. 27, 1848; Jacob Row was born in 1810, and his wife, Sarah Bost, in 1811; they were parents of John, George, Jacob, Mary, Carrie, Lydia and Sarah; D. C. Gideon and Sarah Row were married in 1868; their sons were born-Alfred L., June 4, 1868, and Clark Mckenzie, April 6, 1873 ; Dr. Gideon's grandfather, Rev. David Clark, married Miss Sally Winans, daughter of Samuel and Sally Winans, in 1806 ; they emigrated to Miami Co., from New Jersey, in 1809; he had previously been here and purchased land, coming from Kentucky, in 1804; in 1805, he burned and delivered brick for the first brick house built in Cincinnati ; he was one of the pioneer Methodist minis- ters in this county ; they were parents of Winans, John, Carman, Sally H. and Elizabeth Clark ; his father, David Clark, Sr., was a native of Scotland; Rev. David Clark was originally owner of the land Tippecanoe is now built upon, donat- ing the lot for the Hyattsville M. E. Church; he sold his possessions to Robert Evans, in 1830, and emigrated to Sangamon Co., Ill. ; for forty years he was an

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ordained minister; D. C. Gideon began the study of medicine in 1865, and grad- uated at the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, in February, 1873 ; he formed a partnership with his preceptor, Dr. John Clark; during his stay in Danvers, McLean Co., Ill., Dr. Gideon was editor and proprietor of the Danvers Independent, one of the spiciest local papers in the State; he emigrated East instead of West, March 1, 1880, and settled in Troy, the home of his ancestry.

PETER GRAY, farmer ; P. O. Troy. This gentleman deserves a place in history, as he is a prominent farmer, and his influence in his neighborhood is considerable ; he is a native of Virginia, and was born in Morgan Co. in 1837; when he came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1858, his worldly possessions amounted to $50 ; he stopped among strangers, and commenced work at $13 per month ; the next year, he was employed in farming the land of his former employer, and for his share received one-third of all he raised ; he continued on this farm for nine years, and by economy had managed to lay by a nice little sum ; he then came to Troy and commenced work for Reuben Michaels, receiving 80 cents per day when he worked, and his board when he did nothing ; during this time, he formed an acquaintance with, and afterward married, Miss Josephine Byrkett, daughter of Solomon and Catharine Byrkett ; in January following, they commenced house- keeping in an old washhouse on the Favorite farm ; in March, he rented and moved upon a farm in the immediate vicinity ; after working this place one year, he pur- chased the farm where he now resides, paying for the same $75 per acre; he now owns 100 acres of nice land, of which 90 acres are in cultivation ; all this was accumulated by his own hard labor. Their children are named respectively James P., John H. and Maggie E .; James P. was born March 19, 1871 ; John H. April 11, 1873, and Maggie H. Sept. 15, 1877 ; the schoolhouse across the way affords them an excellent opportunity for obtaining an education. Mrs. G. is a member of the Christian Church, and will surely rear her children in accordance with its teachings. Politically, Mr. Gray is a Republican, and his business integrity has made him one of our solid men ; from $50 in 1858, to $10,000 in 1880, is a fitting exhibit of his industry.

DANIEL GROSVENOR (deceased). Daniel Grosvenor, who was ranked among the earliest inhabitants of Troy, was born in Fairfax Vt., May 8, 1795, and was directly descended from an old English family of that name; his boyhood was spent on a farm, where he acquired his education mainly by his own exertions, studying such books as he could procure, by the light of a pine knot or the brush-heap fires. When 19 years of age, he belonged to a militia company of Green Mountain Boys, and went, with his squirrel rifle over his shoul- der, to join the army and assist in repelling the British attack on Plattsburg, N. Y .; he here participated in the battle of Plattsburg, lasting about three days, in September, 1814, and was a witness to Commodore McDonough's victory over the British fleet on Lake Champlain. He came to Ohio in 1819, settling at Troy, where he supported himself by teaching school while pursuing his legal studies ; he was daly admitted to practice April 12, 1822, and served as Auditor of Miami Co. from 1822 to 1829. Dec. 1, 1829, he married Frances Barber ; she was born at Colerain, Mass., July 29, 1804, and, while yet a child, removed to Truxton, Cort- land Co., N. Y .; in 1821, she came to Ohio with her relatives and settled in Troy ; they had seven children, all but one of whom arrived at mature age ; three were boys and four girls, and of these the eldest son and two daughters are deceased, and two sons and two daughters are yet living. The subject of our sketch con- tinued in the practice of his profession at Troy many years, and also engaged in mercantile pursuits, until failing health compelled him to quit the law office ; he was prominent in political life as an original and out-spoken Abolitionist in the times when danger attended such an avowal, but he lived to see the fulfillment of his prophecies and hopes during the late civil war. He was long connected with the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Troy until the time of his death, which event occurred in the month of August, 1867, at the advanced age of 72 years ; his aged widow survives, and still resides at the old family place in Troy.

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WILLIAM B. HAMMOND, farmer ; P. O. Troy. W. B. Hammond has lived in Miami Co. since 1844, and is therefore entitled to representation ; his education has been of a practical sort, and previous to his marriage to Miss Amanda Miller, which was celebrated Jan. 3, 1869, he was engaged in teaching in Allen Co., since which he has devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond are the parents of three children-John, George and Orpha; John, the eldest, was borp Nov. 5, 1869 ; George Jan. 3, 1873, and Orpha June 22, 1876; they are all attending school, and are children of much promise. Mr. Hammond was for a number of years connected with the Board of Education ; he is a prominent mem- ber of Franklin Lodge, No. 14, A., F. & A. M .. and also of Monroe Grange, No. 132; politically, he is a " straight Democrat." His wife's parents, Cornelius and Rosena Miller, were pioneers, and their biographies appear in this work.

CHARLES J. HARR, dealer in groceries, queensware, etc., Troy. Chas. J. Harr is junior member of the firm of Weatherhead & Co., the leading grocery establishment in Troy, Ohio ; Mr. Harr was born in Clark Co., Ohio, in 1845; his parents immigrated to Ohio probably in 1830; they were natives of Virginia ; they reared a family of six children ; two only are living, Charles and Julius ; the father and youngest son are now doing business in Troy. Charles learned the tinner's trade with Young & Smithers, commencing in 1861 ; he continued at that business for fourteen years ; in 1875, he formed a partnership with Henry P. Weatherhead, in the business in which he is now engaged ; their trade is large and rapidly increasing, and the reputation of the firm is beyond question. Mr. Harr was wedded to Miss Martha Worthington September, 1869; they are the parents of two children -Willie D. and Gracie ; Willie was born May 12, 1874, and Gracie Oct. 14, 1876. Mr. Harr owns a nice residence on Plum street, and is one of our most enterprising young men ; he is a charter member of Trojan Lodge, No. 100, K. P., and is also a member of the Brass Band of Troy, of which he is Treasurer ; he is a self-made man, having accumulated what he has by his own industry and fair dealing.

LEWIS HAYNER, manufacturer of fine whiskies, proprietary medicines, etc., Troy. Lewis Hayner is one of Troy's most enterprising men, and has probably done more to advance its business interests than any man who ever lived in the city ; he was born in Warren Co., Ohio, in 1822; his parents, John and Sarah (Meeker) Hayner, were the parents of ten children-William, Henry, Lewis, Clark, John M., Enoch, Nicholas, Maria, Sarah and Jane. The father was born in New York and the mother in New Jersey. Lewis Hayner has been principally engaged during his business life in the manufacture of liquors ; he built the distillery now owned by E. Farrington in 1856 ; he erected his present distillery in 1866, the capacity of which is 100 bushels of grain per day ; he purchased the Troy Hy- draulic of Knoop's heirs in 1879 ; it was built by a company, but until this time it had profited nothing ; Mr. Hayner proposes now to erect a paper-mill and turn this fine water-power to a good use ; he has, by a long series of experiments, perfected a "Lung Medicine," and " Catarrh Specific," from pure pine tar, and this promises to be a boon, not only to sufferers from disease, but, also, to the manu- facturer ; he has made arrangements to manufacture these medicines on a large scale, and it will be a source of pride to the people of Troy to know that so val- uable a remedy had its origin in their city. His marriage to Miss Eliza J. Leland was celebrated in 1848 ; they were parents of Sarah, Elizabeth, Jane and Clark Hayner ; Mrs. Hayner died in 1860, and his second marriage, to Miss Jane Dye, was consummated in 1862 ; they have no children; their residence, on West Frank- lin street, is tastily furnished, and, with Mrs. Hayner as matron, is well presided over; in spite of his many losses, Mr. Hayner is one of our wealthiest men, and has more enterprise, perhaps, than any other of our citizens. The principle he has solved in relation to his preparations of tar, has been vainly sought after for more than a century ; his simple appliances for the treatment of nasal catarrh and lung diseases are perfected, and will prove of much benefit to those afflicted with such diseases.

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HON. M. W. HAYS, physician and statesman, Troy. We take great pride in writing the biography of Hon. M. W. Hays, whose portrait appears in this work ; he is, in every way, worthy of the position he now occupies, and does, not only himself but the county, honor ; he was born in Brown Co., Ohio, in 1840, and his parents were Gabriel and Elizabeth Hays; they were the parents of the following named children : William, Thirza, Hamer R., Martin L., James, M. W., Thenia, Ells- berry, Mary P., and Eli M. To the sons we shall have occasion to again refer. The par- ents were natives of Virginia, but emigrated to Ohio at an early date. M. W. Hays did good service during his boyhood on the farm, driving an ox team, and doing heavy work ; his leisure hours were few, but these were highly improved ; his mind received impressions easily, and ere his parents were aware of the change of their boy from a lad, to the stature of a man, he stood before them, possessed of a splen- did education, bearing in his hand a diploma honestly earned from one of the best col- leges in the State of Ohio. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Foster's Company of Indepen- dent Cavalry, who, during the war, were assigned to duty at the headquarters of Gens. Fremont, McKinstrey, Halleck and McPherson, and were afterward with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. In December, 1861, he, together with ten others, was captured by a detachment of Gen. Poindexter's men, under command of Capt Walker. The Doctor had made the assertion that he would never be put inside & rebel prison, and in this case it seemed as if his resolve would not hold good. With one of his comrades, he managed to escape the first night, owing to the extreme darkness, and reached the Union lines in safety the next afternoon. In June, 1863, on account of disability, he was discharged and returned home ; care- ful nursing soon effected a radical cure, and, full of patriotism for the cause which he espoused, he again enlisted, in the United States Navy, under Capt. Charles Litherberry, on board the United States receiving ship, "Grampus." He was at once detailed as Assistant Surgeon, by J. J. McElhenny, Surgeon in charge. In this capacity, he served with distinction during the remainder of the war. Return- ing to Russellville, Brown Co., he commenced the practice of his chosen profession in the fall of 1865. In 1869, he was wedded to Miss Sarah S., daughter of Joseph H. and Jane A. Stafford, since which time the beautiful city of Troy has been their home ; they are the parents of two children-William S. and Ollie E. In the spring of 1878, without opposition, Dr. Hays was elected Mayor of Troy, and, in the fall of the same year, President of the Miami County Agricultural Board; re-elected in 1879, again in 1880, and is still a member of the board. In 1879, he was elected a member of the Sixty-fourth General Assembly, by the Republican Party, whose cause he has espoused from its beginning, and has never swerved from its solid principles. He resigned his official position as Mayor, and entered upon his duties as Representative of this district. To his honor be it said, that he was the author of the bill providing for the maintenance of the soldiers' and sailors' orphans, by the State instead of the county, which bill successfully passed both Houses. This law had previously been in force, but had been repealed by the Sixty-third General Assembly. As a citizen, a soldier, and a statesman, his record is without a stain. His brother William was the second man in Brown Co. to enlist under the Union banner during the war of the rebellion, and was elected Captain of Co. I, 12th 0. V. L. ; re-enlisting at the expiration of his term of service, he was commissioned Major of the 89th O. V. I. Hamer was elected Captain of Co. B, 8th Cavalry, and served during the war in the Rocky Mountains. Gabriel and Elizabeth Hays reared six stalwart sons, who did battle for the Union, and all were noble soldiers. Two of their children, William and Mary, are not living ; the mother of these gallant sons is also deceased ; the father still survives, is straight as an arrow, full of energy and pluck. Dr. M. W. Hays has a nice residence in Troy, furnished in s style commensurate with his means, which are ample. His wife's mother, Mrs. Stafford, and her daughter Agnes, find a pleasant home beneath his roof. His courteous demeanor has made him our most popular man, and he never fails as s candidate to run far ahead of his ticket.

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A. P. IDDINGS, farmer and stock-breeder ; P. O. Troy. Mr. Alfred P. Iddings, one of the prosperous farmers of Concord Township, is the eldest son of Harrison and Eunice Iddings, who were among the early settlers of Union Township. They were married forty-six years ago ; Harrison, the father of Alfred, has been princi- pally engaged in the mercantile business during his life, and now resides at Indian- apolis, Ind. His son Alfred, the subject of this sketch, was born in March, 1835, in Unjon Township, Miami Co., Ohio ; when he was 4 years of age, his parents moved to Peru, Ind .; Alfred still remembers the journey, and the large bands of Indians they passed ; when he was 7 years old, his mother died, and he, together with his younger brother, John, came back to Miami Co., and made their homes, John with his uncle, and Alfred with his grandmother ; at the expiration of a year, Alfred, also, went to his Uncle David Patty's to live. The boys were hard-worked, and but little attention was paid to their education. On the 27th day of March, 1855, Alfred was married to Miss Sarah A. Johnson, eldest daughter of John C. and Julia A. Johnson, of this township, Rev. T. P. Childs, of Troy, Ohio, con- ducting the ceremonies. They have resided in this township ever since; com- menced at the bottom of the financial ladder, but are now numbered with those at the top ; Mr. Iddings owning 220 acres of excellent land, of which he has 190 acres under cultivation, the other 40 being heavy timber. He pays especial atten- tion to breeding fine horses, and has some of the best Clydesdale colts in the town- ship ; the other stock-hogs, sheep and cattle-bear evidence of good care. Their children are five in number, three sons and two daughters ; the first child, John H., was born November 10, 1858, but died in infancy ; Joseph H. was born Jan. 9, 1860 ; Samuel P., Dec. 7, 1862 ; Rosa B., Aug. 28, 1865 ; Sarah A., March 31, 1870. Joseph H. will continue his studies until graduation, as, by an accident, he is incapacitated from farm work. The children are all lovers of literature, and the girls are especially interested in music. Mr. and Mrs. Iddings belong to the Christian Church, and are exemplary members. Politically, Mr. Iddings is a Conservative Republican, but in national affairs votes the sentiments of his party. His income is sufficient to supply every need ; he is a generous liver, and friends are always welcome.

MARVIN B. JAMES, photographer, Troy ; was born in Troy Dec. 11, 1855, and is a son of Benjamin and Ann E. James ; his father was born in Maryland in 1819, and his mother in Michigan in 1835 ; both are living, and have been residents of Troy for many years; they have three children-Marvin B., Franklin R. and Lotta. Our subject was reared in Troy, and received his education in the village schools ; at the age of 16, he entered the photograph gallery, and, with A. C. Miller, made himself a proficient in the art; he afterward contracted a partnership with a gentleman with whom he remained but a short time, when he assumed full pro- prietorship ; his pleasant rooms are located in Kessler's Block, in the southeast corner of the public square ; the walls are adorned with the finest works of art, and furnished in a neat and artistic manner. In 1878, he consummated a matri- monial alliance with Alice Looney, who has borne him one child, viz., Eugene,. de- ceased. (See card in Directory.)

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 97

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