USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > The first century of Piqua, Ohio > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
Their fine large church at the south-west corner of Miami and Down- ing streets was dedicated in Oct., 1865, and with several enlargements and remodelings, is their present place of worship. Rev. Geo. P. Stein- lage assumed charge of St. Boniface Feb. 14, 1881, and is still their re- vered pastor.
ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN
German services were held at various places by Rev. Hinsch as early as 1835. In 1840, the location of the present church was purchased for $400, and in 1845 the small frame church of the Cumberland Presbyter- ians was bought and removed to the lot. The first constitution was adopted Oct. 18, 1846, and an organ purchased in 1853.
The corner-stone of the present church was laid June 28, 1868, and the building dedicated in 1870. The first trustees were Jacob Holtzer- man, Christopher Laug, John Schneyer, John Simon, Jacob Graef, Jacob Schmidlapp, and Frederick Reiter. In 1842, Rev. Tauke was pastor, and was succeeded in 1845 by Rev. Leonhard. The different pastors since were: T. A. G. Doepkin, I. E. Freygang, K. Koeberlin, J. E. Atlard, A. Shroeder, Marcellus Herberg, Karl Aukermann, B. Keuchen, A. Klein,
of Da me ler
184
THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
Frederick Knapp, M. Krey, H. Huebshimann, F. W. Simon, and the pres- ent pastor, Paul J. Gehm.
The Ladies' Aid Society of this church was organized July 4, 1855.
OTHER CHURCHES
The Christian Church formerly occupied the little frame building between High and Ash streets, usually called the Broadway Chapel. Ir 1895 their present brick structure at the south-east corner of Greene street and Broadway was dedicated.
The United Brethren also used the same small building in the late seventies.
In 1901 they dedicated their frame church at the north-west corne of Wayne and Wood streets, and later built a brick church at the south east corner of Ash and College streets.
The Church of Christ were the last owners of the little "Broadway Chapel." They sold it in 1901 and built their new brick edifice at th south-west corner of Boone street and Broadway.
The German Methodist Church at the north-east corner of Wayn and Young streets was built about 1867.
The Zion Reformed Church at the north-west corner of Wayne an Miami streets was built prior to 1877.
The St. John's Evangelical Lutheran congregation bought a lot a the north-east corner of Wood and Downing streets in 1890. They soo built a small frame church, and later replaced it with a fine brick stru. ture.
The Campbellite Church which used to stand on the north side High street between Downing and Caldwell, was built about 1844.
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Delos C. Ball came to Piqua in 1855, and with his uncle purchase the oil-mill several miles below town. In 1858 he married Miss Jenn Shannon, a daughter of Col. Robert Shannon. In 1870 he sold the bus ness to Orr & Leonard, and moved back to New Hampshire, where ] died some years later.
In 1904, Mrs. Edward Thayer, a sister of Mr. Ball, presented Piqu the gift of a Memorial Hospital in remembrance of her brother. TI
185
SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, Y. M. C. A., PUBLIC LIBRARY AND HOSPITAL
gift was accepted and the fine large building occupies the grounds of the old Park avenue cemetery. Mrs. Thayer died at Keene, New Hamp- shire, May 25, 1905.
I
-
BALL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
In 1906 Miss Mary Melville was superintendent of the hospital, but ater Miss Elizabeth Hatfield has been in charge.
Pi
b
ere
e
le
a
t
[
186
THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
ORGANIZATIONS AND LODGES
Probably the oldest existing organization in Piqua, other than the churches and schools, is that of the Piqua Female Bible Society.
This was instituted March 5, 1818, and has been in continual active existence from that date.
The Women's Christian Temperance Union was cotemporaneous with the crusade movement. It was organized Feb. 18, 1874.
Alexander Post G. A. R. organized Nov. 9, 1881, and the Mitchell Post at about the same date. They consolidated in 1897.
The Women's Relief Corps, an auxiliary of the G. A. R., was organ- ized with 40 members on May 15, 1888.
A camp of the Sons of Veterans was organized in April, 1886.
Daughters of the American Revolution .- The initiative movement for forming this society was in Washington, D. C., in 1890. Chapters were soon formed in various cities of the U. S. The Piqua Chapter, No. 275, was organized June 14, 1896. The charter members were: Mrs. Martha Geyer, Mrs. Geo. W. Statler, Miss Martha Wood, Mrs. Nellic Wood Taylor, Miss Daisy Smith, Mrs. Frank P. Irvin, Mrs. W. P. Hall Miss Mary E. Hall, Mrs. Theodore Royer, Mrs. Rexford Slauson, Miss Adeline E. Gross, and Mrs. Louise W. McKinney.
Records of their activity in Piqua are shown in the markers and monuments erected by them at historical points in the vicinity.
The first of these was the monument at Upper Piqua, in memory o the traditional last battle of the French and Indian War in 1763. This was dedicated with interesting ceremonies on June 14, 1899.
In 1904, the Piqua and Troy Chapters together placed 21 marker; on the graves of soldiers of the Revolution in Miami county.
On June 14, 1906, a bronze tablet was placed on the historic hom of Col. John Johnston, at Upper Piqua. They have also done much im portant historical research work.
Of the secret orders in the city we have been unable to obtain muci history. There seems to be a reluctance on the part of some of thes lodges in allowing us access to their records, so we will give only wha we have been able to authenticate. The most complete is that of th Odd Fellows, for which we are indebted to Mr. Wm. C. Patterson.
Lodge No. 8, I. O. O. F., was instituted April 28, 1839. The incol porators were C. D. Wood, P. W. Morehead, John P. Whitman, and Ja:
187
ORGANIZATIONS, LODGES, SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES
Horton. No. S has owned and occupied the third story of the Town Hall ever since its erection.
Commercial Lodge, No. 180, I. O. O. F., withdrew from No. S, March 27, 1851, and Independent Lodge No. 828 withdrew April 29, 1897. These two consolidated Dec. 31, 1901.
Minerva Lodge, of the Rebecca Order, was instituted Dec. 10, 1869.
Masonic .- While there was no lodge at Piqua, there were a few mem- bers of eastern lodges in this vicinity as early as 1812, and some of these were with Harrison's army during our second war with England.
ERECTED 1898, BY THE PICUA CHAPTER OF THE "DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION" IN COMMEMORATION OF THE LAST BATTLE OF THE FRENCHANO INDIAN WAR. FOUGHT HEAR THIS SPOT 1763
D. A. R. MONUMENT AT UPPER PIQUA
Dispensation was granted to "Army Lodge No. 24, at Camp Meigs, or any other place where the casualities of war may direct" on Sept. 13, 1813, but after 1814 it was broken up, and after 1820 was dropped from the roll.
On Nov. 17, 1840, a dispensation was issued by G. M. Wm. J. Rees to Jas. M. Bristow, Caleb West and others of Piqua, Ohio, for a new lodge to be named Warren Lodge.
Its charter was dated Oct. 21, 1841, and its first officers were: Jonas Ward, Worshipful Master; J. H. Defrees, Senior Warden; and Geo. C. Johnston, Junior Warden. In 1842 Warren Lodge was given the old
T
h
i
1
188
THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
vacant army number 24, and at this date is in a very flourishing condi- tion.
Red Men .- The old Narragansett Tribe was instituted in Piqua about 1858, but the interest gradually abated and eventually died. On Dec. 2, 1893, Loramie Tribe was organized with Frank E. Hunter as Sachem.
At this date (1907) this lodge is in a flourishing condition.
The Elks instituted Lodge No. 523 in October, 1899.
FREE MAIL DELIVERY
This feature of the Piqua postoffice was inaugurated July 1, 1887, with twenty-five street letter boxes, three carriers, and a substitute.
The carriers were David Legg, Frank Mckinney, and John Daly; Substitute, Louis Simon. This branch of the service now reaches all parts of the city.
The first rural delivery started Oct. 3, 1898, with two routes, Frank B. Hamilton on No. 1, in Washington Township, and W. W. Peterson on No. 2, in Springcreek.
Three more routes were established July 1, 1903, and in 1907 there were six, with John P. Wood, Wm. F. Shipley, Harvey Anderson, Chas. Heitzman, Frank Croft, and Clyde Deweese as carriers, respectively.
STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES
Piqua men who have served in the State Senate were: Robert Young -1824-25, and 1831-32; Jas. Johnston-1833-34 ; John O'Ferrall-1844-45; Jas. M. Hart-1850-51; Rankin Walkup-1852-53; W. H. Lawder-1856- 57; J. M. Carson-1878-79; Jennison Hall-1882-83; McPherson Brown -1894-96.
Those who served as Representatives were: Jas. Blue-1812; John P. Finley-1820; John McCorkle-1824; David Alexander-1843; Ste- phen Johnston-1845; Wm. Johnston-1847-49; M. H. Jones-1858-59; Samuel E. Brown-1860-61; W. D. Alexander-1866-67; John P. William- son-1870.
We have never had a U. S. Senator from Piqua, and only two U. S. Representatives-Wm. McLean, 1823 to 1829; and J. F. Mckinney, 1863 to 1873.
WHY IS PIQUA CALLED THE "BORDER CITY ?"
It is impossible to tell what individual first called Piqua the Border City, but we can go back to a time when such a name was very appro- priate.
189
ORGANIZATIONS, LODGES, SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES
First :- Between the years 1782, when Clark destroyed the Indian villages here, and 1795, when the Greenville Treaty was signed, there were no regular Indian towns between this point and the Ohio river. Piqua was then the border town of these savage tribes, and it was from here that they started on their plundering expeditions, and here they returned with their pale-face scalps and prisoners.
Then in the war of 1812 Piqua was again the Border Town. Col. John Johnston here held his neutral Indians between the fierce tribes on the north and the peaceful settlers on the south, and here the com- missioners met the different chiefs in council. No doubt these influences prevented that war being fought farther south in Ohio.
After 1837, when the Miami canal had been opened to Piqua, this point was known as the Border Town, where all freight from the south was unloaded and carried to its destination by wagon, and all produce shipped south was brought into this town, causing an era of prosperity which made the residents have visions of a future vast metropolis.
Some years ago the late Capt. W. J. Downs stated that the rapid increase of population at this period, and the establishment of a line of "Rapid Transit" packets on the canal between Piqua and Cincinnati, made our people rather swell-headed, so that when traveling about the country they always spoke of Piqua as "Our City," and that the business firms of Cincinnati and Dayton shipping goods to Piqua often referred to it as the "Border City."
In a visit of the Lafayette Guards of Troy to the military companies of Piqua on Aug. 14, 1838, in one of their after-dinner toasts, Jas. H. Hart referred to Troy as the center, and to Piqua as the "Border Town" of the county. And in an old Piqua paper of 1840 a contributor, speak- ing of postage, says : The Troy postoffice did not pay as much postage in 1839 as your village "Bordering on the Wilderness" did.
After the incorporation of Piqua as a city in 1850, and the "Court House War" between Troy and Piqua had been reopened, the Trojans took up the slogan of "Border City," thereby insinuating that to be on the border of the county was a disgrace, and that the only place for the county seat was in the exact geographic and magnetic center of said county.
Troy succeeded in having her meteorological and other polar obser- vations accepted by the committee at Columbus, thereby curbing Piqua's aspirations in that direction.
190
THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
But in spite of Troy's sarcasm, Piqua thought enough of her early nick-name to call her first large place of assemblage "Border Hall," and several firms doing business use the name "Border City" as a prefix.
SHORT HISTORY OF HUNTERSVILLE
This village was just across the river south-east from Piqua. It was also sometimes called "Shawnee," a misnomer probably referring to the Shawanoes Indians. It was laid out and platted by J. Bellows in 1838.
Nearly all the land had at one time belonged to the Hilliards, who settled there in 1797. The first records we have of a town organized is in 1875, when L. C. Cron was elected mayor; R. B. Kills, clerk; August Gable, treasurer, and Paul Graef, J. Schoeps, H. Deitric, M. Dolan, and John Brooks as councilmen.
L. C. Cron continued as mayor until 1891, when John W. Eley was elected. The other officials of the village changed frequently, but were always of the leading citizens of the corporation.
In 1875, a water system on a small scale was laid. It consisted of 2- and 4-inch pine-wood pipes 1,900 feet long, with a fire-plug every 100 feet.
It was fed from Hilliard's six springs, and ran along East Main street to the river bridge, with a fall of 15 feet at that point.
In 1879, the village was connected with the Piqua Water Works System, and iron pipes and hydrants were put in at a cost of $1,700. In this year a fire department was organized and a hand hose-reel bought. A fire-station was also built near the Cron & Schneyer shop, and a fire- bell placed in the cupola.
In the winter of 1892-93 Huntersville was annexed to the city of Piqua, and is now known as East Piqua.
SKETCH OF ROSSVILLE
Rossville lies just across the river north east from Piqua. It was platted by Wm. Knowles in 1840. It was named after the man Ross who at one time owned the ground and had a carding mill on the race neal the river.
In 1846 quite a colony of the Randolph slaves settled just east o the village, and their decendants still own property there.
Efforts have at times been made to annex this village to Piqua, bu up to date it has not been accomplished.
CEMETERIES IN AND AROUND PIQUA
The oldest burying-grounds at Piqua are those of the Mound Build ers. All signs of them, however, are now defaced. The next people
191
ORGANIZATIONS, LODGES, SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES
were the Indians, and there are still many of their burial places to be found near the city, and frequently their graves are found in the city itself. The west bank of the canal below Sycamore street for several hundred feet was a favorite burying place of these people, and at Upper Piqua are several large areas of interment. The first grave-yard of the early settlers was that of the Hilliards in East Piqua. This is on the hill near the north line of the Chas. Hilliard farm. While this was con- sidered a private burying ground, permission was given to bury quite a number of the old settlers, and some of these old pioneers have never been removed.
Next we find a scant record of the Manning family plot. This was on the east side of Harrison street near Water, and very near the original Manning home. It was abandoned near the end of the century, and the spot is now unmarked. The first grounds to be set aside by the citizens of Piqua for a cemetery was the south half of that square bounded by Sycamore, Wayne, Wood, and Downing streets. This was given by Mathew Caldwell about 1809, with the provision that the ground should revert to his heirs should it cease to be used for burial purposes. It was abandoned in 1890 and the dead removed to other cemeteries. The 'Piqua Cemetery" on Park avenue, where the hospital now stands, was laid out about 1840, and abandoned in 1890.
The Forest Hill cemetery, containing 941/2 acres, was purchased by Washington Township and the City of Piqua from Jacob Schmidlapp in 1868, and with the addition of the Speelman property, recently acquired, s now the principal burying place of the community.
The Johnston cemetery at Upper Piqua was formerly of a semi- private nature, but of late years has been under the control of the town- hip.
The Mckinney cemetery near the State Dam was of early origin, nd contains the grave of at least one Revolutionary soldier, Mathias Scudder, who died Oct. 1, 1827.
The first Catholic cemetery in Piqua was at the west end of North treet, where the water house now stands. The lot was donated by Pat- ick Scully in 1843, but was abandoned in 1853, when the west three- ourths of the square bounded by Boone, Walker, North, and Virginia treets was bought by the church.
These grounds were in turn abandoned in 1873 when the present St. oseph's cemetery was purchased. After the purchase of the Speelman roperty, both cemeteries were joined, and are now under the control ¿ the cemetery trustees.
Bu
192
THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
The Jewish cemetery (Cedar Hill) is on the north side of the Urbana pike, east of town. This is a small plot and is used exclusively for per- sons of their own faith. Jackson cemetery is located in Rossville, and is used entirely by the colored people. It was bought and laid out in 1866.
COL. JOHNSON MONUMENT AT UPPER PIQUA CEMETERY
Other small grave-yards are scattered over the country, and muc information of our early settlers may be learned from the inscription on the old tomb-stones.
193
OLD-TIME ENTERTAINMENTS AND MINSTREL COMPANIES
CHAPTER XII
OLD-TIME ENTERTAINMENTS, MINSTREL COMPAN- IES, BILLY MANNING, BASE BALL, SHOOTING MATCHES, HAUNTED HOUSE, THE CRUSADE, UNDERGROUND RAILWAY, RANDOLPH SLAVES, AND ODD CHARACTERS:
OLD-TIME ENTERTAINMENT
0 NE of the most interesting entertainments in Piqua's history was that given in Conover's Opera House on the evening of Christ- mas, 1874.
Mr. Jas. Edmonds, as Father Jeremiah Edwards, with his well- trained troupe of "Men and Women Singers," will long be remembered is they appeared that night. The ladies were tastily dressed in the style of "Ye Olden Time," with their high combs, their neat fitting dresses vithout flounce or furbelow, their aprons, puffed sleeves, the indispen- jable reticule with knitting work in it, and with neck and head-dress of i hundred years ago. The men, too, had their well-powdered wigs, their ong stockings, shoe buckles, shirt frills, and elaborate coats.
The entire party with their old arm-chairs, carrying the audience ack to the old oak-finished, wainscoated drawing rooms of a century go, some of the chairs and a pair of velvet breeches worn by Mr. Hunter eing in fact that old. The songs were in fine keeping with the costumes.
The leader would say, "All Rise," "Step Forward," and then "All 'lease Sound ;" and at once some old song would delight the crowd, trying the older ones back to the singing schools of fifty years ago, hen a school was no school at all without such standard pieces as David's Lamentation," "Strike the Cymbals," "Easter Anthems," "Mount ion," "Russia," etc.
Added to those fine old songs were a few "Worldlye Tunes," such as John Anderson, My Joe, John," "Only Fourty-Two," "Between You and e and the Gate Post, Kate," as sung by Miss Garvey, Mrs. Bennett, and iss Harthan respectively, that were received with rapturous applause, id called out on the encore such sweet waifs as "Annie Laurie," "I Can- t Leave the Old Folks Now," and others. Then there was "Basso 'ofundo," and another laughing song which brought down the house. d probably no songs were better received than were "Yankee Doodle," uld Lang Syne," and the stirring solo by Mr. Edmonds, "The Sword of unker Hill." Including the very appropriate piano music by Miss
iti
194
THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
Harthan, the entertainment was a most gratifying treat to all who heard.
Mr. Edmonds, who was leader in this, as in other interesting enter- tainments in Piqua, died June 12, 1875.
MARTHA WASHINGTON RECEPTION AND CENTENNIAL FAIR
This was another very interesting entertainment given at Border Hall by the Greene street church on April 13-14, 1876. The exercises opened by the singing of "Yankee Doodle," "Hail Columbia," and the "Red, White and Blue," by the little folks. Next came Old Songs by the Old Folks in costume.
These singers were J. W. Shipley, Dr. G. W. Prugh, Ed. Butterfield, W. W. Wood, Mrs. S. J. Leavell, Mrs. W. W. Wood, Mrs. R. Slauson, and W. B. Hunter.
The songs were the grand old tunes of half a century ago. "Aulo Lang Syne," "Russia," "New Jerusalem," and closing with the laughable family song, "Cousin Zedakiah, We'll All Take Tea." After the singing came the reception, in which the following historical characters werd represented by the persons named, all being in court dress: Georg Washington, B. F. Rhodhamel; Martha Washington, Hattie Martin Mrs. Washington, Mary E. Hall; Miss Curtis, Ella McCurdy; Willian Penn, Jas. Raymond ; Mrs. Penn, Mrs. Will Crozier; Thomas Jefferson Jas. George; Mrs. Jefferson, Allie Holcomb; John Adams, Pearl Hedges Mrs. Adams, Lucy Shipley ; Gen. Lafayette, Geo. Brooks; Brother Jona than, George Rhodhamel; Mrs. Jonathan, Mrs. Pearl Hedges; Frenc Ambassador, S. N. Croy ; Ambassador's Wife, Mary Hall ; Patrick Henry John Widney ; James Monroe, Will Crozier; Mrs. Monroe, Ella Spiker Gen. Putnam, John Stafford; Mrs. Putnam, Miss Cushing; John Har cock, Ed. M. Wilbee; Benjamin Franklin, Dr. W. P. Hall; Mrs. Franl lin, Mrs. Stafford; Alexander Hamilton, W. W. Wood; Mrs. Hamilton Mrs. T. J. Wiley ; Gen. Jackson, D. E. Licklider; Mrs. Jackson, Clai Wood; Gen. Scott, Dr. S. S. Gray ; Capt. John Smith, Geo. Prugh; Poc: hontas, Allie Shepard; Indian Princess, Carrie Jacobs, Annie Finfroc Mrs. H. Clay Worley, and Libbie Spiker; Powhattan, Raper Keeves; I dian Chiefs, Frank Rhodhamel, Frank Marley, and Will Clark.
Each of the original thirteen states was represented by a booth, use as a sales stand for ice cream, cake, candy, and flowers.
In the Connecticut booth was represented the pioneer kitchen, wi all the culinary utensils in place, and on Friday the ladies in charge ga an old-fashioned New England dinner.
The Art Gallery was under the charge of W. R. Keyt, and contain many relics of old times.
195
OLD-TIME ENTERTAINMENTS AND MINSTREL COMPANIES
SPELLING SCHOOLS
In the summer and fall of 1874 the terrible "Grasshopper Plague" visited Kansas and Nebraska, and by winter the people of that region were nearly destitute. Relief funds and car-loads of provisions were subscribed and sent from many parts of the country. Piqua and sur- rounding territory sent their quota in grain and money. One of the means for raising money for this purpose was the holding of an old- fashioned "Spelling School" in Conover's Opera House, Feb. 18, 1875. The use of the house was donated by Mr. Conover, and the gas paid for by Mr. Jos. G. Young. The prize was a large unabridged dictionary. The preliminary match was opened with twenty spellers on each side, chosen by their respective captains, Dr. W. S. Parker and A. M. Bowdle, who used the old-fashioned broom-stick method to decide which should have first choice of spellers; the lot falling to Capt. Bowdle.
At first the words were taken from the McGuffy Speller and pro- nounced by Dr. Dorsey, but for a long time very few dropped out, but after J. F. Mckinney relieved Mr. Dorsey and drew a small book from his pocket, gave them such jaw-breakers that soon the contest stood one to three-Miss Nellie Johnston on Capt. Bowdle's side, and Mrs. M. H. Jones, Mr. J. O. Neer, and the Doctor, on Dr. Parker's side. After a long tilt at the crookedest words Mr. Mckinney could find, Dr. Parker pro- posed to call it a draw, which decision was accepted by Capt. Bowdle, and the first contest was ended.
Now came the contest for the dictionary. This was to be in writing, and any one in the house could compete. Those wishing to participate were furnished with card and pencil, and Prof. Bennett pronounced the words that had been selected by the committee. The cards were soon handed in, and among the thirty-three contestants only Mr. I. S. Morris had spelled them all correctly.
Mr. Morris won the prize, but claiming that it was entirely acci- dental on his part, and with the consent of Dr. Parker, graciously tend- ered the book to Miss Bertha Wendel, she and Dr. Parker having only missed one word each.
At an intermission in the spelling match, Mr. Geo. C. Johnston, our old Indian trader, delighted the audience by singing the "Shawanoe Bean Dance Song," as sung by the Indians.
Near the close of the entertainment a dispatch was received from Troy challenging Piqua to a spelling match for charitable purposes, which was promptly accepted, and arrangements were made to have two matches, one at Troy and one at Piqua. These matches were soon held,
196
THE FIRST CENTURY OF PIQUA
and resulted in each city winning on their own grounds, the funds thus raised being turned over to charity. At this period the habit became prevalent over the whole country, and many spelling matches were an- nounced through the papers.
MINSTREL COMPANIES
The Piqua Amateur Minstrel Company gave quite a number of en- tertainments in the late seventies and early eighties. They became so proficient in this line that they at one time started out on the road, giv- ing shows at numerous towns in Ohio, but from some cause soon dis- banded and returned home.
As we remember, the company consisted of Ed. Wilbur, Charley Car- vin, Ed. Munger, Harley Redman, Herb. Butcher, Jim Baldock, and J. W. Norris, and for musical comedy they have never since been equaled in Piqua. These same boys, with other local talent, also at one time played under the name of "The California Minstrels."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.