The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 114

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214

USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county > Part 114

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).

CHARLES T. FREEMAN, Sheriff of County, Dayton, was born July 31, 844, in Greene County. He came to Montgomery County with his parents during fancy, and settled in Van Buren Township. At the age of nine years, he removed to dayton, at which time his father died and he was placed in school by his mother, and eceived as good an education as the country at that time afforded. After leaving chool, he engaged in business with Nicholas Ohmer, Esq., with whom he remained pout three years, and then drove an express wagon for a number of years, after which e accepted a situation in the United States Express Office, in Dayton, where he re-

210

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

mained until promoted to messenger of the company, which position he held for abou a year. In February, 1866, he married Mary A., daughter of Joseph M. Turner, Esq , by whom he has had two children, both daughters. He was appointed treasurer of Turner' Opera House in September, 1866, and filled that position until the destruction of th Opera House by fire, on Sunday morning, May 16, 1869. In January, 1873, he wa appointed Deputy Sheriff, under William Patton, and held that office during the tw terms of Mr. Patton, and one term under Mr. Albert Bccbe, being a longer service, i that position, than any deputy has ever held in succession in the county. In Septem ber, 1880, he received the nomination for Sheriff of the county by acclamation, and was elected to that office at the ensuing October clection. Mr. Freeman is a polite accommodating gentleman, of considerable popularity throughout the county, and hi ability makes his election to the office of Sheriff one of the most satisfactory politica moves the eleetors of the county have made in many years.

JOSIAH GEBHART, white lead manufacturer, Dayton, was born Febr iar 13, 1835, in Somerset County, Penn., where he attended the common sehool until pre pared for college. He then attended the Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, Penn for two years. At the age of thirteen years, he came West with his parents, and er. tered the dry goods store of his father, as clerk. He engaged in the manufacture o linseed oil, with his father and Simon Gebhart, Esq., under the firm name of Gebhar & Co., in 1848, and remained until 1870. Then he commenced the manufacture c bailing goods, for packing cotton. He discontinued this business in 1879, and, i company with his son, Charles W. and D. C. Floyd, Esq., commenced the manufact ure of white lead. under the firm name of Josiah Gebhart & Co., as it now exists On the 3d of October, 1848, he married Miss Susan Wilson, daughter of Nathanic Wilson, and grand-daughter of George Newcom, an early settler of this eounty. B her he had two children, viz., Charles W. and Horatio L. The father of our subjec was born in Somerset, Penn., 1797, and was engaged in the dry goods business unt he came West. The mother, Catharine Walter, was born in the same place, in 1800 They were the parents of five sons and five daughters, of whom three sons and thre daughters survive. The grandparents of our subjeet, John G. and Catharine Lehma Gebhart, were natives of Berks County, Penn., and were the parents of five sons an three daughters. Of these, two daughters died in infancy. Mr. Gebhart, the subjec hereof, is a young man in the full prime of life, and fully merits the success that ha attended his efforts.

HENRY C. GRAVES, manufacturer, Dayton, and a member of the' firm ( Marshall, Graves & Co., was born near Elmira, Chemung County, N. Y., in May, 183( His father was Henry M. Graves, a prominent physician of Chemung County, wh died when the subject of this sketch was eleven years of age. A year later, M Graves accompanied his mother and family to Dayton, where he attended the distri and high school. When twenty years of age, he obtained a position as elcrk with ‹ B. Gilbert & Co., wholesale grocers and liquor dealers. He remained with this fir until 1868, when himself and brother, George M., purchased the stock and trade the firm, and continued the business with good success until 1880. In the latter yea in connection with Albert C. Marshall, Mr. Graves purchased the business of th Dayton Machine Company, and soon after removed it to the present location the firm. The firm subsequently bought out Riegel & Co., manufacturers engines. Mr. Graves was married in 1863, to Sally J., daughter of William Dicke a prominent eitizen of Dayton, now deceased. Two sons have been given bless this union, William D. and Challie. Mrs. Graves is a consistent member the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. Graves is Democratie, and has served h fellow-citizens as a member of the School Board and Police Commissioners. M Graves has been eminently successful as a business man, and has always evinced & active interest in the welfare of his adopted city. He is a Director in the Dayton G. Light and Coke Company, and Vice President of the company ; is also Vice Preside of the Ohio Insurance Company.

211

CITY OF DAYTON.

WILLIAM H. GRUNDY, physician, Dayton, was born in March, 1854. in Maysville, Ky. His father was the late Rev. Dr. R. C. Grundy, of Cincinnati, his nother being a daughter of Mr. James Kemper, of same city. To the latter belonged it one time nearly all that portion of Cincinnati now known as Walnut Hills. During the period from 1854 to 1865. the Rev. Dr. Grundy had charge of churches in Mays- ville, Ky., Memphis, Tenn. and Cincinnati, Ohio. On his death in 1865, his widow, WIrs. E. S. Grundy, moved to Dayton with her family. Subsequently she removed vith her sons to Hanover, N. H. William here began his preparation for college under he tutorage of Prof. John Lord, of Dartmouth College, and the Rev. Lemuel S. Hastings. After one year's study here he went to Princeton, N. J., and studied a year inder the Rev. James O'Brien. He graduated with honor in class of 1875, from Princeton. Immediately afterward, he entered upon his medical studies in the College f Physicians and Surgeons, New York. and Long Island Hospital College, Brooklyn. After practicing successfully medicine and surgery in Ellis County, Texas, Dr. Grundy emoved to his former home in Dayton. Hc entered immediately into partnership with Dr. William Egry, of Dayton, and on the departure of Dr. Egry for Europe, in he summer of 1881, Dr. Grundy took charge of the entire practice. He is connected y family ties to most of the prominent families of Dayton, and in that way is identi- ed with the history of the city and county.

CHARLES A. GUMP, manufacturer and merchant, Dayton, was born in Day- on, Ohio, September 2, 1839. His education was obtained in the common and high chools of his native city. He began his business life at fifteen years of age as a clerk i his father's store, where he remained until 1866, when, in company with E. S. 'orgy, Esq., he opened his present mill furnishing establishment under the firm name f Charles A. Gump & Co. Mr. Gump enlisted in the National Guards in 1862, and ssisted in opposing Morgan in his raid through Kentucky and Southern Ohio. His pople were among the early pioneers of this State. His father, Andrew Gump, was orn in Frederick County, Md., November 17, 1807, and moved to Ohio with his ther's family in 1812. They first landed in Miami County, near Tippecanoe, where ley lived in a log cabin from which they could shoot deer at almost any time. The .mily consisted of the father, Jacob, mother and six children-Andrew, Israel, Jere- iah, Eli, Sarah Ann and Nelson. The mother died in 1823, and, as the father con- luded it would be impossible to keep the family together, Andrew, the eldest, came to layton, where he arrived on the 1st of March, 1825, and commenced clerking in the fore of William Eaker, with whom he remained three years and four months. He arried Miss Ruth Crampton in October, 1829, after which he went to Little York, here he opened a general notion store, which he carried on for thirteen months. He en moved the stock to Dayton and rented an old frame building on Second street, etween Main and Jefferson, of William Eaker, into which his stock was placed. Two ars afterward, he increased his stock by buying the goods and building owned by Tilliam Broadwell. Three years afterward he sold his building to William Eaker, ho moved it to Wilkinson street, between Water and First, where it now stands. He- en bought ground near the site of the old building and built a three-story business om adjoining one built at the same time by Samuel McPherson. In 1839, he built s present handsome residence, No. 118 West Second street, at a cost of $13,000. was the best house in the city at the time it was built. In 1858, he built the first. bne front store room in the city. In 1853, he built four brick houses on Water reet next to Liberty Strect. In 1859, he tore down the old McPherson store rooms id erected a new four-story building. In addition to these he built a brick house in iami City and a double brick on West Second street. Surely this gentleman has ne much toward the growth and improvement of his adopted city. He has retired om active business life, but still watches with interest the rapidly increasing business his son, our subject, who is one of Dayton's many solid and enterprising business en.

HON. LEWIS B. GUNCKEL, lawyer and ex-Congressman, was born in German- wn, Ohio, October 15, 1826. His grandfather, Judge Philip Gunckel, and his father,

212

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

Col. Michael Gunckel, were among the first settlers in Montgomery County, and besides other official positions, represented the county in the Legislature. Lewis B. Gunckel graduated at Farmers' College in 1848, and at the law school of the Cincinnati College in 1851. He was admitted to the bar the same year, and has been in the active prac- tice in Dayton ever since, holding a leading position, and enjoying a large and lucrative business. But he has always taken an active part in politics. He was a firm and con- sistent Whig during the existence of that party. He refused to go into the " Know Nothing" movement, but was among the first in Ohio to take his stand as a Republican. and he has ever since remained a zealous and active member of that party. In 1856, he was a delegate to the Philadelphia National Convention, and afterward did cfficient Work for Fremont upon the stump in Southern Ohio. In 1862, he was elected to the Senate of Ohio, and continued a leading member during the memorable sessions of 1862 1863, 1864 and 1865 ; for the last three years of which time, he was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He was an ardent Union man during the war, and was noted ir the General Assembly as the friend of the common soldier; one of his first bills being for relief of soldiers' families. The constitutionality and expediency of the bill was ther questioned, and, in his speech in reply to Hon. W. S. Groesbeck, he closed by saying " But we can economize elsewhere-retrench everywhere-and save enough to the State in its local and general expenses, to make up the entire sum. But if not, we should bear it cheerfully, heroically. We must fight or pay. We ought to do both ; we mus do one or the other !" He was the author of the soldiers' voting law, and of variou bills to send surgeons, nurses, medicincs, etc., to the soldiers in the front, and to car for the widows and children of those who were killed in the service. He also introduce a bill looking to the establishment of a State Soldiers' Home, and of a State Bureau fo the collection and preservation of the name, family, enlistment, service and valor of ever Ohio soldier, and for gratuitous aid in procuring bounties and pensions. During ih session of 1863, Mr. Gunckel made a speech in support of the war, which the Republ can papers printed in full, and pronounced the ablest made during the debate. It wa afterward printed and circulated as a campaign document. In 1864, Mr. Gunckel war a Presidential Elector and canvassed the State for Lincoln. During the same year, h favorite idea was adopted by Gov. Brough, and a State Soldiers' Home establishe near Columbus, with Mr. Gunckel as one of its Trustees. The next year, Congress er larged upon the idea, and established the " National Home for disabled volunteer sc diers," and by joint resolution appointed Mr. Gunckel as one of its twelve manager After serving four years, Congress re-appointed him for the six years' term, and duril the entire ten years, he was the efficient Secretary of the Board. In 1871, Mr. Gunck. was appointed by the President of the United States, Special Commissioner to investiga frauds practiced upon the Cherokee, Creek and Chickasaw tribes of Indians, and his r port assisted the Government in discovering and prosecuting the guilty parties, and al making important reforms in the Indian service. In 1872, Mr. Gunckel was elected the Forty-third Congress from the Fourth District of Ohio. He served on the Committ on Military Affairs, and his first speech in the House was upon the army appropriati, bill, and in favor of a reduction of the army and of the expenses of the war establis ment. His specches in favor of "cheap transportation," and the ' cqualization of s diers' bounties, " and against appropriating $3,000,000 for the Philadelphia Centenn! Exhibition, attracted much attention, and were generally commended for their sound . gument and strong practical common sense. His shorter speeches were generally agai; "jobs " and schemes of extravagance, and in favor of a more honest and economical : ministration of public affairs. He voted to repeal the act, passed by the preceding Co gress and known as the " salary grab ;" and although entitled to the increased comp: sation, refused to draw the same. During his Congressional term, he continued to p form the arduous duties of a manager and Secretary of the Board of the Soldiers' Hor but refused the compensation tendered therefor, and paid for his clerical assistance of his own pocket. In 1874, the Republicans nominated him for a second term, bu was the " off year," and hard times, want of employment, the temperance crusade, e caused his defeat and that of his party in Ohio. But the people of Dayton regard !

213

CITY OF DAYTON.

Gunckel's best work, the establishment and successful management of the Dayton Sol- diers' Home. Since the war, it has been his " pet idea," and, seemingly, the ambition of his life. For twelve years, he worked quietly, unobtrusively, without pretension or boasting, but with wonderful patience and industry, under many discouragements, and with the burden of many other duties, public and private, until he succeeded in making the Dayton Home, not only one of the most beautiful and attractive places in the United States, but, confessedly, the largest and best institution of its kind in the world. When his long term as manager ended, the Board of Managers, including the President, Chief Justice, and Secretary of War, unanimously adopted resolutions expressing in most com- plimentary terms their regard for Mr. Gunckel, and returning to him their thanks for the ability, energy and industry, with which he had performed his duties as manager and Secretary. And at a banquet, subsequently given by the citizens of Dayton to the Board of Managers, Hon. George W. Houk, a prominent Democrat, complimented Mr. Gunckel for his efficient services in promoting the success and prosperity of the institu- tion, and Maj. Gen. J. H. Martindale, speaking for the board, and detailing its work, said: " I recollect after the passage of the act, when we met together in the office of the Surgeon General, in the city of Washington. Gentlemen, Ohio was ably represented in that board. Salmon P. Chase, the great Chief Justice ; the gallant, bold, defiant War Secretary, Edwin M. Stanton ; and I think it fair to say in this presence-I will not hesitate to speak of it -- that if in this broad land of ours the very eye of inspiration had looked out for pure intelligence and ardent heart and generous enthusiasm to co- operate with that board, they could not have chosen better than the then local manager -Lewis B. Gunckel." For several years past, Mr. Gunckel has devoted himself to the practice of his profession, making occasional addresses on public occasions. Although regarded as one of the ablest and most successful jury lawyers in Southern Ohio, it is known that he habitually uses his influence to prevent litigation, and settle cases already Icommenced; and has earned (if ever lawyer did) the blessings promised to peacemakers. Mr. Gunckel was married in 1860, to Kate, daughter of V. Winters, and has two chil- dren living. His home is not only one of the happiest in Dayton, but, as many besides the writer knows, is " given to hospitality."

THOMAS D. HALE, painter, Dayton, is the son of William Hale, of Hagers- town, Md., and Mariah (Shaffer) Hale, of Nashville, Tenn. His father was a steam- boat pilot, and moved his family from Nashville, Tenn., where our subject was born, to Louisville, Ky., in 1837. Our subject was born in Nashville March 29, 1835, and 'was therefore only two years old when his father moved to Louisville. He attended the common schools of Louisville until 1848, when he commenced learning the trade of house and sign painting, which he finished in Cincinnati in 1852. In 1854, he came to Dayton to work at his trade, and in 1860 opened a shop of his own, where he has since continued. He was married March 28, 1855, to Miss Katie E. Swain, daughter of Josiah and Mary (Bateman ) Swain, of Dayton. By her he has had nine children, five boys and four girls, of whom three boys and four girls survive. Mr. Hale is a quiet, social gentleman, who has, by close application to business, built up for himself a large and paying trade. He employs a number of hands, and keeps them constantly at work. Yet, few people know the extent of his business because he does not make a great " blow " about it.

N. B. HOLDER, biographical historian, Greenville, Ohio, was born in Bolton, Mass., October 24, 1833; is a son of David aud Ruth (Babcock) Holder, natives of same place. The paternal grandfather. Joseph Holder, was a boot and shoe maker by trade, which business he followed till his death. The maternal grandfather, Josiah Babcock, was a tanner by trade, which business, in connection with farming. he fol- lowed till his death. The ancestors of our subject were all Quakers. David grew to manhood, brought up to the same trade of his father ; was married, and became the father of three children-Nathan B, Josiah B. and Charles A. He lost his wife by death in December, 1844, aged thirty-five years. Our subject, when three years of age, was taken by his mother's sister Mary, and her husband, Jarvis Wheeler, and raised to farm labor, receiving a good education in the common schools and high school

214

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

of Berlin, Mass., and at nineteen years of age commenced teaching school, by which he obtained some means, and in the spring of 1853, entered the Sate Normal School at Westfield, Mass. He continued his course of study here, by teaching winters to obtain means, till in the fall of 1855 he graduated and received his diploma. The following winter he taught school in Gloucester, Mass., and in the spring of 1856 emigrated to Minnesota, where he remained four months ; thence came to Dayton, Ohio, and in this vicinity taught two terms in a district school, and four terms in a select school, since which he has been engaged as a traveling salesman, and as a druggist, having been in the latter business about ten years. In January, 1880, he entered into the employ of W. H. Beers & Co., of Chicago, Ill., as biographical historian, with whom he still re- mains. He was married, May 26, 1859, to Miss Maggie, second daughter of James and Nancy (Ainsworth) Lucas, he a native of Virginia, she of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandparents, James and Mary Lucas, were natives of Virginia, but who emi- grated to Ohio and located at or near Chillicothe just before or about the time of the war of 1812, and here they resided till their death. They were parents of eight children, all now deceased, James being the last one of the family to pass from the stage of action. He was born July 4, 1799, and when fourteen years of age was a teamster in the war of 1812; engaged in hauling provisions for the army, for which service in after years he obtained a land warrant for 160 acres of land. He grew up to manhood, in - ured to the scenes and hardships of those early days ; was married in the fall of 1825 to Nancy, daughter of James and Lydia (Crain) Ainsworth, natives of Pennsylvania, but who emigrated to Ohio about 1804, and here they lived for many years, being among the early pioneers, and partaking of the log-cabin life with all its roughness and many hard- ships. In after years, they became residents of Indiana, where they lived till their death. They were parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters, two only now surviving- Nancy and Margaret, now Widow Anderson. Nancy was born November 11, 1803, being about one year old when brought to this State ; was raised and grew to womanhood under the sturdy influences of pioneer life. Mr. Lucas and wife by their union had five children -Mary Jane, born June 4, 1826; Lydia Ann, born March 20, 1828, and died June 20, 1828; Margaret, born August 1, 1829; Caroline, born June 22, 1834; and Maranda, born January 20, 1838. Mr. Lucas started in life a poor boy, and with a! very limited education, but with an energy and a will, determined to overcome all ob- stacles. He learned the millwright trade, which business he followed for several years in the vicinity of Dayton, along Mad River; thence he entered upon the milling busi- ness in partnership with Mr. George S. Smith, with whom he continued several years thence he entered upon farming, purchasing 122 acres of land in the Mad River Valley, in Clark County, about two miles from Osborn. Here he lived until he retired from the more active labors of life by purchasing a fine property in Osborn, where iu the fall of 1855, he located with his family, where he resided until his death, which occurred May

30, 1874, aged about seventy-five years. Mr. Lucas was a man of great energy and determination of character, who knew no such word as fail, and from a poor man be- came, by his own industry and economy, possessed of an ample competency, so that in his latter years he lived in comfort and plenty. He was a man of undoubted integrity, possessing the entire confidence of this community ; a man of great heart, a kind and loving husband and father, and his memory will be fondly cherished by his family and many friends for ages to come. Mr. Holder and wife by their union have had three children-James L., born April 16, 1860; Roscoe W., born November 20, 1866; and Lee Everett, born May 20, 1871, and died January 30, 1872.

JAMES W. HOTT, clergyman and editor, Dayton, was born near Winchester, Frederick Co., Va., November 15, 1844. He is the eldest child of a family of eight boys and two girls, children of Jacob F. Hott, who was a minister and a man promi- nent among the citizens of his native county. Of his eight children, three boys entered the ministry and one girl became the wife of a minister. Our subject, one of the above three, was received into the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Brethren in Christ, at Edenburg, Va., February 16, 1862, and was appointed to a charge in Frederick County. He was ordained at Boonsboro, Md., February 22,

215

CITY OF DAYTON.

364, and stationed at Martinsburg, W. Va., after which he served the following larges: Edenburg, Va., from 1866 to 1868; Churchville, Augusta Co., Va., 1868 , 1871; Boonsboro, Md., 1871 to 1873, and Hagerstown, Md., in 1873, when he as elected, by the General Assembly of his church, Treasurer of the Home, Frontier ad Foreign Missionary Society of the Church. He was chosen a member of the eneral Conference in 1869, and also to the succeeding ones in 1873, 1877 and 1881. Le married Miss Martha A. Ramey, eldest daughter of Presley Ramey, of Hayfield, rederick Co., Va., May 31, 1864, and by her has had born to him four daughters, tree now living, and one dead and buried in Dayton, where Mr. Hott has resided nce July, 1873. After serving in the missionary work four years, he was elected litor of The Religious Telescope, the chief organ of the United Brethren in Christ, y the General Conference in 1877. To this responsible position he was re-elected in [ay, 1881. In appearance, Mr. Hott is a slender, delicate looking man, with a very irey frame, and weighs 120 pounds.

WILLIAM P. HUFFMAN, banker, Dayton, was born in Dayton, October 18, 313. His grandfather, William, who was of German descent, and grandmother, of nglish descent, emigrated to this country from Holland, some time in the decade llowing 1730, and settled in Monmouth County, N. J., where their son William, the ther of our subject, was born May 24, 1769. The latter was married June 14, 301, to Lydia Knott, who was born in Monmouth County January 19, 1779. By his union they were blessed with five children, one son and four daughters. The ther died on the 23d of January, 1866, and the mother on the 21st of March, 365. They came West and settled in Dayton, where their only son, William P., was rn. He received a fair English education and read law under Warren Munger, sq., not with the intention of adopting that profession, but solely as a means of quiring a more thorough business education. Early in 1837, he left the city and r ten years engaged in farming. October 18, 1837, he married Anna M., daughter Samuel Tate, of Montgomery County, by whom he had ten children, nine of who m e still living ; of these, William, the oldest, is a stone dealer ; the oldest daughter is the ife of E. J. Barney. the second daughter, Mrs. James R. Hedges, of New York ity, and the third is the wife of Mr. Charles E. Drury, cashier of the Second National ank of Dayton. In the spring of 1848, he retired from the farm and has since been igaged in real estate dealing and extensive building operations. He has been promi- ently identified with a number of local enterprises, among which are the " Third Greet Railway," Dayton & Springfield Turnpike, Cooper Hydraulic Company, and the econd National Bank, of which he was an organizer and is now President. He was a Tar Democrat, but is not a strong partisan, looking to principles rather than parties. e was formerly connected with the Second Baptist Church, but in 1878 became one the constituting members of the Linden Avenue Baptist Church. For fifteen years e has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Dennison University, at Granville, hio. He is a man of clear, sound, practical judgment, and is exceedingly careful and liable in all business transactions, as his success in life will attest. As a man of integrity and moral worth, he has been recognized as a strong factor in molding the hristian sentiment of the community of which he has been so long a worthy and spected citizen.

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.

The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 114

Author: W.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214