The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 115

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 115

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WILLIAM HUFFMAN, stone dealer, Dayton. This gentleman, who is a son William P. Huffman, whose name appears elsewhere in this work, was born Septem- er 5, 1838, in Mad River Township, Montgomery County, on the hill where camp jorwin was located in 1862. He received his education in the private schools of Payton until he arrived at the age of sixteen ; he then went on his father's stock farm Greene County, where he remained until 1868, when he returned to Dayton and igaged as a contractor for cut-stone work. In 1875, he commenced quarrying stone, aving three large quarries in Van Buren Township, and in this business he still con- nues He was married, January, 3, 1862, to Miss Emily Huston, daughter of Israel ad Elizabeth Huston, of Montgomery County. They have had eleven children, six bys and five girls, of whom four boys and four girls still survive. Mr. Huffman was

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a member of the Council from 1871 to 1875, and President of the same body in 1874. He was a member of school board for 1878-79-80. He is a member of Dayton Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of the Masonic Order, being one of the first of the latter fraternity to take the Scottish Rite degree. He is an affable gentleman of easy man- ners, and is accounted one of Dayton's solid business men.

REV. JOHN R. HUGHES, minister, Dayton. More fortunate than many people of to-day, our subject is able to trace his ancestry back to his great-grandfather, Willian Hughes, who was born in Wales in 1723, and died at the advanced age of one hundred years. His son, Rowland, the grandfather of our subject, was also born in the old country, but came to America in early childhood, and took up his residence in York County, Penn., where he continued until his death, which occurred January 4, 1779 He was married twice, having by his first wife three children and by his second six Rev. Thomas Edgar Hughes, who was the sixth child by his second wife, was born in York County, Penn., April 7, 1769. He graduated from Princeton College, New Jer sey, in 1796, and was ordained to the work of the Gospel ministry in the Presbyterian Church in 1799. He died May 2, 1838, in the seventieth year of his life. H was the father of ten children-three daughters and seven sons. Four of th latter became ministers of the Gospel. The subject hereof is the youngest of th ten children. He was born in Beaver County, Penn., March 17, 1819. H graduated at Washington College, Penn., in 1845, and finished his Theological studie at the Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny City. Penn., in 1848. He was pasto of Rehoboth Church, Westmorland County, Penn , from November, 1849, until Decem ber, 1864, and Principal of Blairsville Ladies' Seminary from April 1, 1865, until Jul 24, 1867. He took pastoral charge of East (now Memorial) Presbyterian Church Dayton, Ohio, Nov. 24, 1879, in which capacity he still continues. He married Mis Ann Caroline Stewart, daughter of David Stewart, Esq., of Colerain, Huntingdon Co Penn., Oct. 16, 1851, and by her has had six children, two of whom died in earl childhood.

REV. JOHN KEMP, minister, Dayton, was born in Butler County, Ohio, At gust 29, 1813. His parents were John Kemp, a minister, who was born in Berk County, Penn., December 24, 1779, and died February, 1865, and Elizabeth (Zeller Kemp, also a native of Berks County, born August 24, 1781, and died in Butle County, in 1852. They were the descendants of an old German family that came t America some time between 1650 and 1655. Our subject's parents were married i Montgomery County where they both located about 1806. They afterward moved t. Butler County, where their first child was born. They had eight children, six gir and two boys. They alternated from Butler County to Montgomery County for a lor time, but made their permanent residence in the latter county about 1860. John, tl subject hereof, attended the subscription schools that existed in Ohio before the Sta adopted the present district school system. The higher branches and sciences 1 studied without a teacher, as he also did theology. He was married September 1 1823, to Martha Clawson, daughter of Andrew Clawson, of Butler County, who die in February, 1844, leaving four children, two boys and two girls. He was again ma ried iu September, 1852, to Ann Williamson, daughter of Peter Williamson, of Nej Jersey, by whom he has had three children, two boys and one girl. Mr. Komp e tered the ministry of the United Brethren Church in 1849, the time previous to th having been spent in farming and keeping a general store in Butler County. His fir charge was the Mount Pleasant Circuit, of Hamilton County. He has filled the off of Presiding Elder for many years while in Butler County. He was also Missiona Treasurer and Agent of the Missionary Society and is now a member of the board ar chairman of the executive committee of the Missionary Society. He is also a direct and the agent of the United Brethren Union Biblical Seminary, to which he made donation of $10,000 in land toward its organization. He is a hard-working and wortl minister of the church of his choice, having attended all the general conferene for thirty-five years, and all the meetings of the Missionary Board since its orga ization, with the exception of one meeting of each. Of his children by his secor

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zife, one is a graduate of the Cincinnati Eclectic College of Medicine, and is now practicing in Dayton ; the other son, S. E. Kemp, is a graduate of Ottoman University, t Westerville, Ohio, and of the Ann Arbor (Mich.) Law School, and is now an attor- ey of Dayton. Of his children by his first wife, the eldest was kicked to death by a orse when eighteen years old; the next is a carpenter of Dayton; one daughter is Mrs. acob Walters, wife of the manager of the Globe Iron Works, of Cincinnati, and the ther is the wife of George Parks, a farmer of Illinois.

WILLIAM KIEFABER, merchant, Dayton, one of the active and enter- rising business men of Dayton, was born in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Penn., Iay 22, 1844. His parents were John and Josephine (Lipp) Kiefaber, natives of lermany. The family located at Dayton just prior to the late civil war. Our subject eceived the usual common school education, and on the breaking-out of the war, when ut a boy, enlisted, in October, 1861, as a private in Company E, First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in that organization for a period of three years, being ischarged with the company in October, 1864. He participated in many of the battles nd skirmishes in which the regiment was engaged, among which were Shiloh, Bridge Creek, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge and Buzzard's Roost. In February, 1866, Mr. Kiefaber opened a grocery on the southwest corner of d and St. Clair streets, on a borrowed capital of $300. His store was stocked meager- 7, but being endowed with business tact accompanied with other requisites for its prop- r use, he has from year to year increased his stock and added to its several departments. ntil to-day the business firm of William Kiefaber & Bro. is second to none of its kind the city. The firm is William and Harry C. Kiefaber, who are importers of fancy roceries, fruits, wines, brandies, etc., and shippers of vegetables, berries, fresh oysters, resh fish, etc. Their place of business is located at No. 118 East Third street. Our sub- ect is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Wayne odge No. 10. He is also a member of the society of Sharp Shooters of Dayton.

CHARLES F. KIMMEL, miller, Dayton, born in Dayton, Ohio, October 15, 843, and is a son of Augustus B. and Johanna L. Kimmel, who emigrated from Prus- a and settled in Dayton, in 1843. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the First Ohio Vol. ntecr Infantry and served in different regiments during the war of the rebellion, bring lustered out of service July 7, 1865, at Springfield, Ill. After the close of the war, he aveled extensively over the South as well as all the Western States and Territories, rossing the American plains, Great American Desert and Rocky Mountains six differ- at times. He has traveled upwards of 65,000 miles ; on water, 21,000; on foot, ,600 ; on cars, 38,000. Upon the 27th of November, 1870, he returned and located 1 Dayton. September 26, 1871, he was married to Miss Kate Ann Stephens, daugh- er of John G. Stephens, of Greenville, Ohio, by whom he had three children, viz. : Iattie P., Willomette - and Elmer Ellsworth.

ADAM KNECHT, superintendent of market, Dayton, was born in Dayton, Iarch 22, 1837. His parents, Adam Knecht, a native of Rhine Byrne, Germany, nd Rosina (Shiesley) Knecht, a native of Badisch, Germany, came to this country in 834, and were married in Philadelphia in the same year. The father died in '1873, aving his widow, who still survives, and a family of eight children-five boys and ree girls. Our subject attended the German common schools of Dayton until seven- en years of age, when he graduated, after which for five years he kept books for his ither, who then kept a hotel, and then clerked for Nauerth & Son until the breaking- ut of the war, when he received a commission of First Lieutenant in Company A, fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which hc recruited. He served three years, assing through the engagements of Perryville, Stone River, Mission Ridge, Chicka- auga, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. at le latter place having his right foot taken off by the explosion of a shell. He. ceived his discharge at Nashville, and after his return home was elected Superin- endent of the Markets, to serve eight years. At the expiration of this time, he com- :enced keeping a restaurant, after which he served two years as Deputy Sheriff, and 1881 was again elected Superintendent of the Markets, in which capacity he still

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continues. He was married, October 25, 1859, to Miss Nettie Ross, daughter of Robert Ross, of Dayton, who died in 1867 without issue. He again married October 25, 1878, Miss Fannie King, daughter of Stacey King, by whom he had two children. viz. : Nettie Rosina and Ella P. Mr. Kneeht is a member of the Red Men, Ancient Order United Workingmen, Grand Army and Old Guards. He served seven years in the old Independent Volunteer Fire Company. He is also a member in good stand. ing of the Lutheran Church.

JOSEPH KREBS, merchant, Dayton, was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 5, 1842, and emigrated to America, with his parents, at the age of four years. After receiving a limited education in the Catholic school of Dayton, he commenced market gardening, which he followed for ten years. In 1869, he came into Dayton and opened a grocery, flour and feed store, in which business he has sinee continued, with the ex eeption of two years, in which he kept a shoe store. He had built two storerooms and by his polite and affable treatment of patrons he has established a large and pros perous trade. He was married in 1869 to Elizabeth Hoehwalt, daughter of George Hochwalt, of Dayton, by whom he has had nine children, six of whom are living, viz. Clara, Josephine, Joseph, Bertha, Karl H. and Anna R., the latter being the surviving one of twins.

CAPT. JOHN ULRICH KREIDLER, Superintendent of Street Railroad, Day ton, was born October 31, 1832, in Greenmettstetten, O. A. Horb Wurtemberg, Ger many. His father, Joseph, was born in 1800, in the above place, where he plied li trade of blacksmithing until he came to America. His mother, Mary Ann Dettling was also born there in 1799. They had three children, John U., James S. and Mary born in the order named. The father, with his family, emigrated to America in 1847 and landed in New York on the 7th of June of that year. He went to the village o Charlton, Saratoga County, N. Y., where he remained until April, 1848, when h came to Dayton, where he died in June of the following year, with the eholera. Hi wife survived him until 1866, and his son James until 1867, all dying in Dayton His daughter Mary is the wife of ex-Street Commissioner Julius Wehner, of Dayton Our subject attended the public schools of his native country until thirteen years of age when he commenced working at blacksmithing with his father, and so continued unt he came to America. Arriving in Dayton, he quarried stone, drove a eanal boat froi Toledo to Cincinnati, and sawed wood for one year, and then learned shoemaking under McCutheon & Vogt, at which he worked as journeyman until 1857, when h became solicitor for the Fireman's Insurance Company, and continued until 1858. I 1858-59, he was on the police force and afterward solicitor for the Central Insurance Company, until the breaking-out of the war. At this time, he was a Lieutenant of th National Guards, but, finding that his company was not going to the war he resigr.ed li commission and enlisted as a private in Company C, First Ohio Volunteer Infintry April 16, 1861, and served four months. He then returned to Dayton and resume; his business, but in August, 1862, re-enlisted as Captain in Company E, One Huy dred and Eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, iu which he served until Decet ber 7, 1862, when his company was captured at Hartsville, Tenn. When he r enlisted, his company presented him with a handsome sword, which he promised the should never be taken ; when taken prisoner he broke this sword in the face of tl enemy, and for this offense he, of all his company, was the only man not paroled. F. endured all the horrors of the rebel prisons at Atlanta and Libby for four months, at then, April 17, 1863, was exchanged at Annapolis, Md. He continued in the servi until February 10, 1864, when he resigned his eommand, because the Colonel of h regiment, who had been tried, convicted and dismissed from the service as a horse-thi was re-instated. The Captain had ealled him and believed him to be a horse-thief, ar couldn t endure the idea of fighting beside such a man. On his return to Dayton, 1 studied book-keeping, and was elected City Clerk in April, 1864. He was re-elect three times, but resigned during his fourth term and engaged in the grocery busine: In May, 1868, he was elected First Lieutenant of Police, but was legislated out of offi in the winter following. In the spring of 1869 his successor was elected but nev

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alificd, and he was ordered to remain on duty, notwithstanding a number of lawsuits lainst him and a conviction for usurpation of office. He continued to draw his pay der the orders of the Superior Court until 1870, when he was fully vindicated by a cision of the Supreme Court of the State. In the spring of 1870, he was appointed perintendent of the Dayton Street Railroad, Route No. 1, and has since continued valuable and efficient officer of that serviee. He was married, November 28, 1854, Miss Rosa Bobe, daughter of John Bobe, a well-known stoue-mason of Dayton, and na (Hengstler) Bobe, who are still living. By this marriage he was blest with three ys and two girls, viz. : Edward (who died in 1857), John E., William A., Rosa C. :d Caroline C. Mr. Kreidler was a Captain two years, and Secretary five years, of the 1 Deluge Volunteer Fire Company, No. 4. He was also Captain of the Knights of :. George, the first company of uniformed Catholics in the United States. His teckered career has given him a knowledge of men that well fits him for the office he w oceupies, where he has a great many men under him. In the above, we have glected to say that from 1857 to 1860, he studied law with D. W. Iddings, and be- ne an active: Notary, but never applied for admission to the bar.

JACOB KUNZ, SR., barber, Dayton, is the son of Phillip and Catharine Mar- .ret (King) Kunz, natives of Bozen Bark, province of Rhine Byrne, Bavaria. They re the parents of six children, three girls and three boys. The father, who was born i1800, died at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother died in 1863, aged sixty- ir years. Jacob, our subject, came to America with one brother, in 1845, and Ided in New York, from whence he went to New Orleans, but shortly afterward re- Ined to NNew York. He soon after located in Sandusky, Ohio, and in 1848 came to yton, where he worked in a barber shop for two and a half years, after which he ened a shop of his own. He was married January 18, 1852, to Louisa Catharine Icht, daughter of Frederick Fieht, of Dayton, by whom he had ten ehildren, six lys and four girls, of whom five boys and three girls now survive. Mr. Kunz has ben a great traveler in his time, having in his youth traversed the whole of Franee al Switzerland, and in his riper years a large portion of the United States. He was tę Coroner of Montgomery County from 1872 to 1876 inclusive. He is a member of "hiller Lodge, I. O. O. F., that being the only seeret organization to which he now Vongs.

DANIEL C. LARKIN, City Fire Department, Dayton. Among the many im- 1;tant positions in the city of Dayton, none is more responsible than the one held by c' subject. As a General in war guards our lives and property from the hands of the emy, so he in peace guards lives, property, and loved ones from the ravages of that destroyer, fire. Daniel was born in the city of Sandusky, Ohio, July 29, 1849. He son of Thomas and Ann ( Ryan) Larkin; he is a native of Connecticut, and she Ireland. Thomas was killed by the explosion of a locomotive, near Sandusky, Ohio, ne 4, 1875. He had been an engineer on the C. S. & C. R. R. some thirty years. J's regular engine was in the shop for repairs. He was sent out with an old, inferior egine, and when about two miles from home it exploded, killing Mr. Larkin instantly. niel attended school until fourteen years old, when he entered the ear shops of the C. S. {C. R. R., where he worked two years as an apprentice, and then went on the road afireman. When he was eighteen years old he was promoted to engineer, and given dirge of the construction train and some thirty men, over which he had entire control. her running said triin quite a while he was promoted to an engine on the road run- rg regular trips. In August, 1872, he resigned his position on the C., S. & C. and septed one on the C., C., C. & [., and continued with the same, running the Dayton .commodation between Dayton and Cineinnati, until 1875, when he quit railroad- ( on account of the death of his father), and accepted a position with Kneisley & " Intire, of Dayton, taking charge of their line of drays, and at the dissolution of si firm, continued with Mr. Kneisley, and when Mr. MeIntire opened his store took erge of the draying for both firms. In July, 1880, he was appointed Chief Engineer ojhe Dayton Fire Department. He was married, May 26, 1875, to Miss Anna Hart- rt, daughter of Moses and Julia Hartnett. They have three children, viz .: Morris,

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May A. and Thomas. Mrs. Larkin was born in Dayton, January 10, 1856. Duri Mr. Larkin's service on the railroad he never had an aeeident to his train on account negleet on his part.

DR. CHARLES H. LEAMAN, dentist, Dayton, is the sixth child of Nathan and Clarissa H. W. Leaman. He was born in Cineinnati, Ohio, June 24, 1845, the north side of Fifth street, between Walnut and Main, where the new custom hou is being ereeted. At the age of fourteen years, he left sehool and went to work Meader & Co.'s furniture warerooms, where he remained six months, after which father obtained for him a situation in J. W. Gordon's drug store, corner of Eighth a Central avenue, where he elerked until June 24, 1861, when he received the appois ment of Surgeon's Steward in the U. S. gunboat " Pittsburgh," a heavy iron-elad. car ing a 100-pound Dahlgrene, three bow guns, four 64-pounders and two 32-pounders the broadside, and two 32-pounder stern guns. His vessel, with Commodore Foot and others, proceeded under orders up the Cumberland River to attack Fort Dovels In the engagement that followed the " Pittsburgh " had two men mortally wounded, a received several shots, one of which, a 128-pound solid iron ball, penetrated the bo eausing the vessel to sink just outside the range of the enemy's guns. Here, with th feet of water on the gundeck, Dr. Leaman stayed all night attending the wound until he almost perished with eold. They were raised next day and the erew tra ferred to the " Mound City," while the " Pittsburgh " was being repaired. The Doc served as Surgeon's Steward until 1863, when he eame home and stayed seven da but receiving the appointment of Master's Mate again entered the navy. He left C einnati on the gunboat " Glyde " to New Orleans, where he received orders to report Rear Admiral Porter, and afterward to Rear Admirals Davis and Lee. He was nineteen heavy engagements and received one wound in the head. While in the na he conceived a liking for dentistry and studied it during that time. He received final discharge in 1865 and came to Dayton to study dentistry with Dr. L. Hubba with whom he stayed until 1867, when he eommeneed traveling for " Crook's Wine Tar," but returned to his profession, and March 1, 1868, entered into partnership v Dr. A. Sheets. January 1, 1869, this partnership was dissolved by mutual conso and he began practieing for himself on Third street, east of the eanal, where he c tinued until 1878, when he removed to his present handsome and commodious roc on the southwest corner of Third and St. Clair streets. May 23, 1867, he was un in marriage to the eldest daughter of Dr. O. Crooks.

LYMAN W. LELAND, of the firm of Leland & Dougherty, boiler-makers, I ton. was born at East Douglass, Woreester County, Mass., in June, 1817. His fat Oliver Leland, was a millwright by trade, and a general mechanic of undisputed abi He built large grist-mills at Oxford, and for many years was prominently ilent; with the milling interests of the Bay State. Mr. Leland spent the first seven year his life at Uxbridge. His parents then removed to a farm near Sutton, where our jeet remained till eighteen years of age, receiving but a limited edueation. In the le year he went to Worcester, Mass., and learned the trade of a general machinist. 1840 he entered the employ of Bradley & Riee, the employers of probably the 800 largest ear works in the Union. After remaining with this firm nearly five years, Leland went to Springfield, Mass., and aeeepted a similar position with Dean, Pach & Mills, in the same business. A year later the firm made an assignment and close business. Mr. P. eame to Dayton to engage with E. Thresher, now retired, who, E. E. Barney, established the present Barney & Smith ear works, and sent for mac ery formerly used by Dean, Packard & Mills, at Springfield, Mass. About a year afte commencement of the new ear works, Mr. Packard needed a trusty and competent in his, machine shop. He sent for Mr. Leland, who accepted the position, and in tember, 1852, took charge of the entire machinery department of the now famou works. He remained in that important position until 1871, faithfully and hon discharging the manifold duties resting upon him with ability and dispateh during long term of twenty-one years, nearly a quarter of a century. To Mr. Leland ma attributed the model of neatness and good working order of the machinery in tha!

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urtment at the present time. Mr. Leland's long term of hard service had seriously unpaired his health, and one year was spent in traveling over the West, sceking re- 'eation and health, away from the dull routine of business life. In 1873, he became onnected with James Dougherty in his present business, a history of which will be und in the chapter of manufacturing industries. In early life, Mr. Leland was a usic teacher, and, upon coming to Dayton was solicited by the Wayne Street Church » take possession of its school. He led the singing two winters, and then organized le choir of the First Baptist Church, which he led for fifteen years. For bis generous rvices the choir presented him with a gold-headed cane as a token of their friendship od esteem. Mr. Leland and family are members of this latter denomination.

JACOB F. LENTZ, retired farmer, Dayton. Jacob F. Lentz was born in the ingdom of Wirtenberg, Germany, November 28, 1806. He is a son of Jacob and redericka Lentz, both natives of Germany. In 1816, the father, mother and four iildren, viz., Jacob F., Fredericka, Elizabeth and Barbary, set sail for America. After being taken hither and thither on the ocean at the mercy of the officers, instead of nded in America. They were shipwrecked on the west coast of Norway, nine months om the time they started from Germany. They were kindly taken care of by the tizens of Bergen, and lay in the hospital there one year and ten days, when they again ok passage for America, and at the end of two months landed at Baltimore, Md., here the father, mother, Jacob F. and Fredericka, were apprenticed sufficient time to ay their passage, which was $30 each for father and mother, and $15 each for Jacob id Fredericka. Elizabeth died on the ocean, and Barbary was a babe. Jacob and redericka not only worked long enough to pay their own passage, but took one-half om both father and mother's share of their passage. Jacob worked eight years at the otter trade, and Fredericka six years at house work. The father and mother after aving served their time, being about six months, were released, when they moved to umberland County, Penn., where they lived about eight years, and then removed to Montgomery County, Ohio, where they lived the remainder of their natural lives. The ther died at the age of eighty-seven years, and the mother at the age of eighty-two ears. After Jacob (the subject of this sketch), served his eight years, and completed is trade, he also came to Montgomery County, Ohio, to his parents, in 1830. After opping a short time in Dayton, he went to Germantown, where he remained a short me, and then to Warren County, Ohio, where he entered into partnership with Isaac jenner in the potter trade. After remaining here a short time, he sold out, and re- toved to Preble County, Ohio, and then to Montgomery in 1832, where he purchased farm, carrying on the pottery in connection with farming. In 1858, he sold his farm what is now the Soldier's Home), and moved into Dayton, and engaged in the real state business, in connection with Mr. Applegate. He was one of the incorporators f the Home Avenue Railroad, was also one of its directors five years, and Secretary ad Treasurer of the same four years, of the five he was Director. He was married lay, 6, 1830, to Sophia Schweitzer. They have five children, viz., Cyrus, Charlotte cow Mrs. Daniel Johnson), Harriet (now Mrs. Jacob Shoemaker), Margaret (now Irs. C. Stimson), and Jacob F., Jr. Mr. Lentz has been a faithful member of the lutheran Church since his seventeenth year ; was an elder of the church in Dayton for uite a number of years. His school days were altogether sixteen months, two months ach year while he was an apprentice. But by improving his leisure moments by reading cod books, he has gained a very fair education, and is well informed on all leading topics. 'he present site of the Soldiers' Home is due mainly to his recommendation of the lace. He has now retired from active business, having been a hard-working, indus- rious man. He has also taken pride in sustaining his character, which has always been bove reproach.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 115

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