The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 117

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 117

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ANDREW C. NIXON, leaf-tobacco dealer, Dayton, was born in Carrollton, ontgomery County, Ohio, April 23. 1841. His grandparents were John and izabeth (Taylor) Nixon, natives of New Jersey, who came to this State at an early y. His father, A. H. Nixon, was born near Carthage, Hamilton County, Ohio, in 13, and was reared on a farm until fourteen years of age, when he learned the tter's trade ; but, being obliged by ill health to give that up, he in 1835 located in nterville, Montgomery County, and for three years engaged in the manufacture of bper-ware. In the spring of 1838, he removed to Carrollton, where he soon after mar- i'd Mary A. Cotterill, a native of Brown County, Ohio. Twelve years later, he en- ¿ged in the tobacco business, and in 1857 eame to Dayton, where he has since re. fed. He is the father of four children, viz. : Andrew C .; Mary, wife of A. G. meroy, of Hartford, Conn; Emma, wife of John Voorhees, manager of the western Union Telegraph Office at Dayton, and Miles. The subject of this sketch

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attended the common schools of his native village until about fourteen years of age when he became a student in the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. He after ward attended Stevenson's Miami College in Miami City, of which the late Rober Stevenson was Principal. In 1857, he came to Dayton with his family, and has since resided in the Valley City, being engaged with his father in the leaf-tobacco business At the breaking-out of the war, he joined the militia, and was sent to Kentucky dur ing the celebrated Kirby Smith raid. He also went to Hamilton with his company after John Morgan, the raider; and still later, his regiment, the One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio National Guards, was ordered to West Virginia and Baltimore. Th latter place they garrisoned for nearly three months, during two of which Mr. Nixon was detached on special duty, having command of the guards at Long Bridge. I 1876, he was elected Councilman from the First Ward, and in 1878 he was clecter Sheriff, on the Republican ticket, by a majority of 379, in the face of a large Dem ocratic majority in the county. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Laura Beck daughter of E. G. Beck, of Dayton, by whom he has two sons, aged, respectively eight and eleven years. Mr. Nixon is one of the prominent business men of his city who warmly supports any enterprise that is for the good of the community in which h lives. He is a genial, warm-hearted, whole-souled man, highly esteemed by all wh know him, and worthy of universal respeet. He is member of the Knights of Pythia and Old Guards of Dayton.

COL. MICHAEL P. NOLAN, attorney at law, Dayton. This well-known gen tleman was born in Dublin, Ireland, June 18, 1823, and the following year his parent emigrated to the United States, settling in Lancaster County, Penn., removing t Dayton, Ohio, in 1838, where our subjeet has since resided. The Colonel's early lil was one of toil and privation, and he has literally " fabricated his own fortune." With out the advantages of schooling in his youth, he learned the trade of carriage makin entered a debating society, with which there was connected a good library, for th; day, previous to the era of publie libraries. He read extensively the standard author devoted himself to study, and, possessing a good memory, retains the information thu early acquired, upon which he draws with facility. He commanded a canal boat f some time when a young man, and in early manhood cultivated habits of industr frugality and temperance, which have not deserted him in his more mature years. F was married December 30, 1847, to Miss Anna Schenek Clark, of Miamisburg, Ohi to whose good sense and guidance he attributes his success in life. There have bed born to them ten children, eight of whom are living. Industrious and energetic, aft marriage he worked at his trade during the day, spent his nights in reading law, al was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-eight. In the profession he soon becal distinguished as an advocate, and was considered a successful lawyer, especially wi juries, from whom he would secure verdicts quite unexpected, many of which were $ aside by the courts. He has had more verdicts thus set aside than any other pract ing attorney in this county. Upon the breaking-out of the rebellion, in April, 186 and the call was made by President Lincoln for troops, Col. Nolan raised Company Eleventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the railroad depot, just befd starting with his company for the rendezvous eamp, on being ealled out by the mu tude, made a short patriotie address, which created quite a furor, and was reported the Journal of April 23, 1861. He became Lieutenant Colonel of the Fiftieth Re ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and subsequently Colonel of the One Hundred a Ninth. During the war the Colonel was an active member of the Union League ; its President in the Third Congressional District of Ohio, and the delegate from ti body to the convention that renominated Lincoln at Baltimore, June 4, 1864. Ohio, during the summer of 1863, he assisted in organizing the "War Democrac with Col. S. J. MeGroarty and a few others, who drew up a declaration of princip together with an address to the patriotic Democrats of the State. The other gen men were inclined to make a ticket, but Col. Nolan strenuously insisted upon the indol ment of John Brough for Governor, a patriotic Democrat whom the Republicans 1 nominated a few weeks previous, and his counsel was finally taken. He entered 1

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prously upon the canvass, was well received by large audiences, and on the 7th of October, 1863, spoke at Mozart Hall, Cincinnati, and was greeted with the largest audience of the season, his speech being partially reported and portions of it re- produced in the leading journals of the country. Among the people his speeches were well received, being original, independent, and noted for candor; always ex- empore, using no notes, but relying wholly upon his memory. A writer in he Dayton Journal a few years ago thus describes him: " Col. Michael P. Nolan is in some respects the most remarkable man at the bar. In person le is not above the medium height, slightly inclined to rotundity of figure, and in ap - pearance is quite distingue. He has all the native wit and readiness of repartee char- cteristic of his nationality, and endeavors in all instances to get his cases before the ury, where he has few peers, and still fewer superiors. At times he is truly eloquent, nd from any speech of his of an hour's duration, passages may be culled which in eauty of arrangement and effectiveness of delivery, will compare favorably with the tudied efforts of the best speakers of the day. His speeches are extemporaneous ; nything like a studied effort would be a failure with him. His oratory is not rude, et far from classic, being of the style which catches the popular ear and holds a crowd hat would grow weary under the voice of men of much greater pretensions. When e rises to speak, everybody in the court-room is delighted, except the opposing coun- el, who often writhe under his excoriations." For several years after the war closed Jol. Nolan was U. S. Commissioner in Dayton. At the Fourth of July celebration in Payton for 1876, Col. Nolan was the orator selected by the citizens' committee, and ccordingly delivered the Centennial oration. In August, 1877, he prepared a paper n the present condition of laboring men, which appeared in the Dayton Journal and hich excited much discussion, claiming as it did that most of the distress among the boring classes was the result of labor-saving machinery. The document was widely rculated, extensively read and translated into German. Our subject has led a steady, emperate life, drinking neither beer nor spirituous liquors, and has never even used. bacco. In 1877, when the temperance wave swept over the country, Col. Nolan as unanimously elected President of the first Murphy organization of Dayton. In 878, he was solicited by the Greenback Labor party to accept their nomination for ongress in this district, which he did without any prospect of election. He entered le field and earnestly advocated the principles of that party to large audiences, and nder the circumstances, obtained a liandsome vote. The Colonel is an affable, whole- buled gentleman, a hearty friend and boon companion, frank and outspoken at all mes. We trust he has many years of usefulness yet before him.

J. HUNTER ODLIN, dairyman, Dayton ; was born in Dayton, Ohio, August 1840, and, after receiving a common school education, entered Miami Univer- ty, at Oxford, Ohio, which he was obliged to leave on account of ill-health. In the mmencement of the war of the rebellion, he enlisted as a private in the Dayton ouaves, under Col. King, and was detailed to Columbus on police duty. He was af- rward promoted to a captaincy in the Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Gen. ill, in the West Virginia service. He was next appointed Major of the Sixty-first hio Volunteer Infantry, but when that regiment was consolidated with the Fifty-first, was ousted. He afterward became Assistant Adjutant General on Rosecrans' staff Corinth, Miss., but was relieved in order that he might take command of the One undred and Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, then forming at Dayton. With this giment he went to Cincinnati to repel Kirby Smith, and there was ordered to Mans- eld, Ohio, to fill his ranks. By the consolidation of his regiment with the Sixty-third hio Volunteer Infantry, he become Major of the Sixty-third, and afterward Lieuten- at Colonel of the same. He soon resigned his commission in the above, and reporting Maj. Gen. Canby for orders was sent, by Gen. Dennis, to Arkansas. He resigned s commission, and retired from the army in 1865, shortly before the fall of Rich- ond. He was married in Philadelphia, April 15, 1867, to Miss Josie W. Danah, of e Quaker City. They have had six children. five girls and one boy, viz .: Charley .. orence, Susan, Josie, Nellie and Edna.

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CHARLES PARROTT, proprietor Aughe Plow Works, Dayton, Ohio, has been a life resident of Dayton. He was born in 1834, and is a son of William Parrott, of the firm of T. & W. Parrott, a pioneer dry goods firm, which was one of the oldest wholesale houses in the city. His father retired from business in 1848 or 1850. His mother was Margaret A. Willis, both parents being natives of Maryland. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native place, and received his literary education at the Ohio Wesleyan University of Delaware, graduating from the classical department in 1856. He desired to enter the legal profession, and to that end commenced the study of law. He was admitted to the bar, and practiced his profession until 1866, when he engaged in his present business. He is proprietor of the pioneer plow factory of Mont. gomery county. In 1873, he was one of the lesses of the Public Works, of Ohio, and had charge of the business at ths State capital. He was subsequently engaged in con. structing railroads, at which business he remained till 1880. Mr. Parrott was inar ried, in 1866, to Lizzie Marlay, a native of Frankfort, Ross Co., Ohio. They have four children living-Bessie, Mabel, Nannie and Charlotte. Mr. Parrott was formerly a member of the School Board of Dayton, and at present is connected with Daytor Masonic Commandery, and is a member of the M. E. Church. He is well know! throughout Montgomery County for his warm social nature and excellent business qualifications. His factory is under the charge of his brother George, as he himself is residing in Columbus, Ohio.

EDWIN D. PAYNE, Dayton, proprietor of Dayton Flax, Corn and Feer Mill, was born at, Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., May 22, 1818. His father wa Elisha Payne, a native of Cornwall, Conn., who in an carly day left his native place and in company with his brother and some neighbors traveled by ox team via Alban and Rome, to the Chenango Valley, where he founded the village of Paynesville, no called Hamilton. Mr. Payne's mother was Esther Douglas, her father being a pionee Baptist minister of the Empire State. Our subject was raised a " farmer's boy," at tending the rude schoolhouse by the wayside, where his early literary education (and small amount, at that) was obtained. When twenty-two years of age, he went to War ren County, Ohio, for the purpose of accompanying a surveyor, named Woodruff, 1 Iowa, to make a general survey of the State. Through the death of President Harr son, Mr. Woodruff lost his position, and Mr. Payne then came to Dayton. Soon afte arrival, he secured employment in a book store owned by Ells, Claflin & Co. He sul sequently worked for Charles Ells, in the same business. His next occupation w: found in a wholesale grocery house, owned by John Sayres. In 1847, Mr. Payr established a book and stationery business, in an old-fashioned brick building, on tl present site of Rickey's book store. Soon after commeneing, the Phillips Block w: completed, and Mr. Payne removed his stock into that building (60 Main street). B subsequently took his nephew, Augustus Payne, into partnership, and after some year! sold his stock and trade to George Holden. When he started in business, he possesso less capital and experience than any of the six men then in business in Dayton. Whs he disposed of his business, his stoek and trade were the largest and best in Montgo ery County, a noted example of industry, perseverance and economy. In 1875, M. Payne engaged in his present business, to which he has given his entire time and atte

tion, with a few exceptions. Mr. Payne was induced to invest his capital and exper ence in the Woodsum Machine Co., in which he remained about two and a half year, Mr. Payne has always evinced an active interest in all matters pertaining to the grow and prosperity of his adopted city. In company with others, he assisted in starting t Second and Merchant National Banks. He was united in marriage, November 1, 184 to, Phebe M. Crawford, a native of New York. They have four children-Emma ( wife of Rev. F. Clatworthy, pastor of the Baptist Church at Norwalk, Ohio, and f merly pastor of the Linden Avenue Church of Dayton ; Edward D., book-keeper ; H. Hoefer & Co., and a student in the law office of A. A. Winters ; William, who : sists his father in the milling business, and Elizabeth. Mr. Payne was long a memt of the First Baptist Church, of Dayton, and assisted in building their present house worship. He was Trustee and Secretary of this organization for some time. He Ł

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een a sufferer from inflammatory rheumatism since boyhood, and although residing in je heart of the eity, his physician advised him to remove to Huffman Hill. He did , and ereeted a large and comfortable briek residence. Since then, he lias removed ek to his former residence. While residing at Huffman Hill, he suffered much an- byance from the long distance necessary in passing over to reach the church of his voice, his residenee being somewhat isolated from the heart of the city. He, there- re, in company with many others, assisted in organizing the Linden Avenue Baptist hurch, of which he served as Deaeon seven years. Mr. Payne was onee a member of e Union Insurance Company, officiating as President a portion of the time. He was e of the original " Washingtonians," of early temperance celebrity, an honored eitizen Montgomery County, and a Christian gentleman.

JOSEPH PETERS, builder, Dayton, was born January 28, 1820, at Potter's ort, Center County, Penn., of parents in limited circumstances, but of sound moral orth. At the age of fifteen years, our subject was apprentieed to the carpenter's trade, d served a term of three years' faithful labor, working from twelve to sixteen hours r day, but he thus acquired a thorough knowledge of his business, which the aver- e apprentice of to-day never attains. On the 10th of April, 1840, Mr. Peters was irried to Catherine States, in Hollidaysburg, Penn., she being a daughter of Col. illiam States, of Huntingdon County, in that State. In those days the main, if not only line of commerce between the East and West was the Pennsylvania Canal, by ich the Eastern eities were connected with the Ohio River at Pittsburgh, Penn., the stern and western divisions being connected by the Portage R. R., which ran from hollidaysburg to Johnstown. This road climbed the mountain sides by inclined lunes, operated by s'ationary engines at the top. This line of commerce was owned 1 the State, which made it interesting all along the line whenever a State election uk place, it being the prerogative of the Governor to fill all appointments, and it was ts seramble for place and the seandal arising from it that caused Mr. Peters to with- aw from the Democratic party, since which time he has voted with the Whig and publiean parties. In the summer of 1844, Mr. Peters concluded to go West, and in (tober of that year he loaded his effects upon a section boat, and, with his family, I'ded at Dayton, in November, making the whole distanee in a boat. He soon be- (ne one of the principal builders of the city, and many of the buildings and fine cirches of Dayton have been erected under his supervision, four of the latter standing chin a radius of three squares. To Joseph and Catherine Peters have been born s'en sons and one daughter, of whom five sons and the daughter survive. His son I thier is now one of the foremost architects of Dayton, many of the private and public lildings having been the result of his fertile brain, notably the new Fireman's In- sauce building, on the corner of Main and Second streets, which is a gem in archi- tture, and one of the handsomest buildings in the Miami Valley. He was also clected i1881 as one of the Water Works Commissioners, which position he now holds.

WINSLOW S PHELPS, Dayton, was born in Woodstock, Vt., May 12, 1815. Is grandfather, Winslow Phelps, was a Captain in the Revolutionary war. His fher, Henry Phelps, was a merchant in Woodstock, but becoming embarrassed by the vr of 1812-15, he started with his family, in 1821, with the intention, of removing to Inois, where he owned land, but on hearing unfavorable reports of the newness and wealthiness of that part of the country, he left his family at Cincinnati and went Laself to see the land, but died on his return at Henderson, Ky. His widow was tis left in a strange city, with but little money and three small children, one son and t) daughters. Her energy, however, was equal to the emergency. The subject of ta sketeh being but six years old, was sent to such private schools as were to be had, t public schools not then being in existence. At the age of thirteen, he was put into a'ore, and from errand boy he became clerk, and at last book-keeper. His business nde him acquainted with many Dayton men, and in 1835 he removed here with his nther and sisters, to take a partnership with Samuel T. Harker. At the end of one yr Mr. Harker sold his interest to Joel Estabrook, and the firm of Estabrook & Eelps continued until the close of the year 1865. In 1837, Mr. Phelps married

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Susan, daughter of Squire James Foster, of Cincinnati. She and three sons and two daughters are still living. The store was at the head of the basin until Mr. Phelps bought the ground and built the store No. 25 East Second street, in 1857. The firm occupied the new store until Mr. Phelps bought out his partner. He continucd the wholesale grocery business in his own name for a year, when he took in his sons, Wins- low and William A., under the firm name of W. S. Phelps & Sons. He subsequently took in his third son, Samuel F. In January, 1869, at the solicitation of his friend. John W. Achey, then a director, and now President of the Dayton National Bank, he became its cashier, which position he now holds, leaving the charge of the firm business to his sons. Being one of the original stockholders in the Fireman's Insurance Com - pany of Dayton, he was elected a director in 1862, and still holds the office. His principal investments, outside of his business, have been in real estate. The only pah- lic office which he has held was four years' membership in the Board of Education. He became a member of the Third Street Presbyterian Church in 1843; was made a Deacon in 1854 and an elder for life in 1860; was connected with the Sunday School over thirty years, and was its Superintendent thirteen years. In the forty-sixth year of his life in Dayton, he has seen it grow from a country village to a city of fine halls, churches, residences, stores, schools and manufactories, with railroads and telegraph, and all that goes to make it a desirable place for business or residence.

CHARLES A. PHILLIPS, manufacturer of cotton goods, Dayton, was born in this city, June 14, 1852. His father, Thomas A. Phillips, was a native of Maryland, who came to Dayton in May, 1844, and there established the business now carried on by the subject of this sketch. He departed this life, November 27, 1877. His mother was Margaret J. George, a native of Dayton, who is yet living and resides with our subject. Mr. Phillips grew to manhood in his native city, and when of age, entered the Department of Science of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, but a year and a half later, left school to assist his father in his rapidly increasing business. From that time to the present, Mr. Phillips has devoted his entire time and attention to the business of the firm. After his father's demise, himself and brother, George L ... operated the business till May, 1880, when our subject purchased his brother's interest. and has since continued the business, asketch of which will be found in the chapter on the industrial interests of Dayton. Mr. Phillips is a man of a warm, social nature. affable in manner ; truly benevolent; and by his integrity in business affairs, and ah sorbing interest manifested in all matters pertaining to the growth of his native place has made hosts of friends throughout the county and State. He is connected by membership with the following organizations ; Board of Police Commissioners (from April, 1879, to April, 1883) ; Mystic Lodge, No. 405 (Masonic), Reid's Commandery No. 6, and the Consistory of Southern Ohio, (Scottish Rites). He is a director of the Dayton Gas Light & Coke Company, Dayton Insurance Company, and the Daytor Club Company. Politically, he is an ardent advocate of the principles set forth by the Republican party. Mr. Phillips was married at Covington, Ky., Jan. 21, 1879, to Susie H. O'Hara, a native of Crittenden, Ky. They have one son -- Thomas A. Mr Phillips resides in a substantial brick residence, at No. 24 West Fourth street.

WARREN W. PHILLIPS, carriage-maker, Dayton. This gentleman was bort near Middletown, Frederick County, Md., November 15, 1808. He is descender from an old Scotch-Irish family who came to America at a very early day and settled in the State where he was born. His father, Samuel, was born in Frederick County in 1736, and followed farming till his death, which occurred in 1820, when our subje c was only twelve years of age. His mother, nee Mrs. Rebecca Lyles, also lived to be a ver old lady, and died in 1838, near Indianapolis, where she had gone to live with tw. married daughters who had moved to the West. By her Mr. Phillips, Sr., had thre boys and she had six daughters when he married her. Our subject received a ver limited education in the common school of Middletown, and there served an apprentice ship in carriage-making with Jacob Young and Peter Beeter, of Sharpsburg and Mid dletown. He afterward clerked in a drug store in Fredericktown, Md., for one year He came to Zanesville early in 1832, and to Dayton in April of the following year

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He started a carriage shop on East Fourth street, where he is still located. In April, 1827, he married Miss Catharine Creager, daughter of George Creager, the then Sheriff of Frederick County. By her he had three boys and three girls, all of whom are now dead. His son, Henry Lec, was in the Second Regiment, Ohio Cavalry, during the rebellion; and his son Willie W., was in the service during the Morgan raid, but both returned to their home unhurt. Mr. Phillips is the oldest carriage builder of Dayton, and has always been considered one of the most worthy business men of the city.

JOHN POWELL, deceased, was born August 2, 1811, in the village of Culm, near Presteign, Herefordshire, England. With naught elsc than a good education and a strong, earnest purpose, he entered alone upon the struggle of life at the early age of eleven as an apprentice to a linen draper-or haberdasher-in London. Securing a fair com- petency, he emigrated in 1835 to America and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where, with varying success, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, notably the leather, wool and hide trade. In 1837, he re-visited England, witnessing the coronation of Queen Victoria. In 1845, he moved to Dayton, and for twenty-four years carried on the wholesale boot and shoe trade with marked success, gaining a fortune and an enviable rank among the substantial business men of the city. He was one of the projectors of the First Na- tional Bank, organized in 1863, remaining a large stockholder and director until it was merged into the private banking house of Gebhart, Harman & Co. He retired from active business pursuits in 1869, but was of too active a temperament to long remain idle. From merchandising he turned his attention to banking, in which he so evinced his capability of organization and management as to be readily seconded by prominent busi- ness interests throughout the county. He was the founder in 1871, and for two years the President of the Merchants' National Bank, which, owing largely to his personal direction and shrewd financiering, took from its organization high rank among the solid institutions of the city. A director of the bank until his death, its financial policy was almost invariably shaped in accordance with his views.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 117

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