The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 118

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 118

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For eighteen years he was a director and one of the largest shareholders of the Firemens Insurance Company of Dayton. Gaining a large and valued experience, he was known as one of the best underwriters in the State. One of its earliest inceptors, and perhaps the most efficient of its Board of Directors, the very prosperous history of this institution is due not a little to his active interest and wise oversight. In him the English characteristics of conservatism and decision and the American spirit of en- terprise were happily blended; and his counsel in financial affairs was wisely sought and generally profited by.

In politics, while never ambitious to act a conspicuous part in public life, he was a pronounced Union man and a firm adherent to the Republican party. Strong, un- flinching fidelity to principle and unwavering devotion, at whatever peril, to the right as he perceived it, formed a most marked trait of his character.

His was eminently a religious life, speaking daily to his family and the world more by acts than by professions. For many years he was a member and vestryman of Christ (Episcopal), and latterly a member of the Third Street Presbyterian Church, in which relation he carried the same spirit of activity, zcal and conscientiousness which charac- terized his business carcer. He was honored with the warin personal friendship of the Right Rev. Bishops MeIllvainc, Bedell and Jaggar, of the Episcopacy. But it was as an earnest, efficient organizer in the Bible Cause that he was best known among the chris- tian people of the county ; being identificd with the Montgomery County Bible Society as a director, dating from 1859, and for six years serving as Treasurer. The Bible work was especially dear to him, since in so vast a field his powers found scope for ex- ercise and expansion. His religious views were liberal as opposed to a spirit of sec- tarianism or churchly cxclusiveness ; all movements looking toward a union of effort in church or religious work by christians of whatever creed found in him a firm devotee.

Amid the distracting cares of a busy life, he ever evinced a lively interest in the welfare and prosperity of Dayton. He was passionately fond of horticultural pursuits ;

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the beautiful flowers and abundant fruits produced on his home premises on West First street attesting his zeal and success. Superior exhibits of fruits and flowers for many years at our local fairs would seem to place him among professional rather than amateur cultivators. An active member of the Montgomery County Horticultural Sociery, his addresses were listened to with interest to the profit and instruction of its membership. His " garden book" is an invaluable record of horticultural and meteoro- logical data for twenty-four years-from 1854.

Although possessing marked individuality and great decision of character, his was a warm heart, most strongly attached to his family and home interests. Of domestic traits, his love and affection as a husband and father were continually shown forth in the exercise of self-sacrifice and loving counsel and guidance.

John Powell died at his residence, November 7, 1878, aged sixty-seven, his last illness being of ten days' duration, although for many years he had been at times a great sufferer. A wife and ninc children survived him. The funeral service was held at the Third Street Presbyterian Church, conducted by Rev. J. H. Montgomery. pastor. His remains were laid to rest in his beautiful lot at Woodland Cemetery, Rev. E. H. Jewett, rector of Christ (Episcopal) Church, officiating. The following gentle- men served as pall-bearers : Alexander Gebhart and James Applegate, representing the Merchants' National Bank ; Preserved Smith and T. S. Babbitt, the Firemens In- surance Company ; Valentine Winters, the Third Street Presbyterian Church, and George A. Black, a warm personal friend.

ADAM PRITZ, manufacturer, Dayton; was born in Hanover, York County, Penn., September 9, 1808. He came to this city in 1841, and immediately associated with him Augustus Kuhns in a business extending from that time up to 1864. Mr. Pritz is a typical Pennsylvanian of the old school, whose life has been devoted to tireless labor with that intensity of purpose, which forms a prominent trait in thousands of rep- resentatives of that State scattered throughout the Union. In his early years and up to the time of leaving his native town, he was engaged in the manufacture of Coffee Mills, a mill invented by his father, and which at that time had a prominence over all mills made in this country. Mills of his manufacture made in 1828, in Han- over, are now in use in this city by old citizens, formerly from his native State. From 1841 to 1851, he specially engaged in the manufacture of an elliptic spring for carriages, horse-powers and threshing machines, discontinuing the mills after 1842. In 1851, he commenced the manufacture of the " Moore Grain Drill." This was the first drill made in this city, and Mr. Pritz is the pioneer drill manuafacturer of this valley. He continued the manufacture of this drill up to 1858, when with various additions and improvements, as the result of his inventive genius, he, with his associate, Mr. Kuhns, gave to the world Pritz & Kuhns' Improved Drill. In the same year, 1858, Mr. Pritz bought of Owen Dorsey, of Maryland, the right to manufacture the Dorsey Reaper for this valley, which Mr. Pritz continued to manufacture each year, adding im- provements up to 1876, when the present reaper that the firm now manufacture was patented by William Pritz, his son. Mr. Pritz has earned an honorable reputation among his cotemporaries, as one of the foremost of the manufacturers of this city, in his contribution of time and money in the early enterprises, asking help and patronage from the capitalists and prominent citizens of this valley. He was an enthusiastic advocate and subscriber to the Mad River Railroad, the first railroad seeking admission to this city. Afterward he liberally aided the Xenia and Belpre road, Dayton & Western, the original "Short Line," which was abandoned after absorbing the fortunes of many of our citizens. At a later day he was an active and earnest helper in se- curing the Dayton & Southeastern coal road. One of the principal movers in building the Dayton View Hydraulic, and is now one of its chief stockholders. In 1847, pending the completion of the canal through the city, it became apparent to the business and other interests that an extension running through the lower part of the city should be cons ructed. The State refused to assist in its construction, and hence itwas left to the public enterprise of the citizens. In this undertaking Mr. . Pritz was a liberal subscriber, and took an active interest in its accomplishment. The judgment of the people of that day was correct, as the subsequent abandon-

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! ment of the upper canal for boats, and its use for hydraulie purposes only, demonstrated. | In all these enterprises Mr. Pritz was a leading spirit, not prompted by a desire to reap ultimate gains, for in but few of these investments has he ever realized a dollar, but hav- ing, in broad view primarily, the welfare of the city, and always prompted by a progres- ive nature. In his younger years, his ambitions and inclinations centered in desires for soldiery and military honors, and in his native State is familiarly remembered as Maj. Pritz, and by other titles. He raised and comminded successively two military com- panics, the Warren Greys and Warren Riflemen, the pride amateur military companies in the State in its early history.

In connection with years of active association among the drills and reapers in this city, Mr. Pritz also has large interests in South Bend, Ind., being an equal partner in the firm of Jacob Strayer & Co , manufacturers of the Statesman Force Feed Grain Drill. Mr. Pritz is now seventy-three years of age, and has reached that point in life and age when most men quietly rest upon their carnings; but such a condition of things would be foreign to his naturc. His nervous and active temperament is not at ease unless he is surrounded by the busy hum of machinery, with which he has been asso- ciated with his daily efforts for nearly half a century. He is daily at a work bench, seeking to improve and add another contribution to future improvements in machinery. In politics Mr. Pritz consented on one occasion to accept a nomination for an unexpired term in the City Council. He served in this position for one year. This comprehends his political and office-holding experience. In religion Mr. Pritz was formerly a Lutheran, but about eight years ago, united with the Third street Presbyterian Church of this city. He has ever been willing to testify his zeal and liberality in the cause of Christianity by generous donations to the Young Men's Christian Association and kindred organ- izations, having in view the religious and moral advancement of his fellow-men. He was married June 14, 1832, to Mary Kuhns, daughter of Jacob and! Mary (Welsh) Kuhns. They are the parents of ten children, five of whom are alive. For the past twenty-five years his sons have been associated with him in business.

Mr. Pritz has not only been distinguished for his enterprise, industry, economy and indomitable energy, but his patriotism. Whatever he undertook to do he did with all his might. During the existence of the Whig party, he was a truly national con- servative. He viewed slavery as a local institution, but not national. Sincerely at- tached to the whole Union, he opposed sectionalism, and when the South endeavored to extend the institution of slavery into the new Territories and States, he opposed their policy. When the people of that section made war with the Union, Mr. P. was among the first to make any and every sacrifice in behalf of the Union. He urged all to volunteer, and when the first call was made for defenders of our beloved Union, his eldest sons, Jacob and William H. Pritz, were among the first to follow the advice of their father, and aided with their efforts until the rebellion was closed, their father doing all lic could during this fearful period to provide for the destitute wives and children of the patriots who had gone to the war. He entered into the work of crush- ing the rebellion with his characteristie cnergy, and finally, at its close, and when the caring of the crippled and destitute soldiers became a matter of coneeru to the patriotism and legislation of the country, gave of his time and generous contributions of money to secure the establishment of permanent homes and the location of a branch at Dayton.

In reviewing the history of this laborer in the fields of enterprise and mechanical improvements, we have thereby sought to bring from the baek-ground and place to the front the name of Adam Pritz, who, as one of the pioneer manufac urers in years of active efforts, has contributed from his wealth of brain and invention the genius which, applied in material forms, has gone out to the world, causing prosperity and consequent happiness to bis neighbor and employes, adding to the growth and wealth of his city, and contributing to the progress of civilization.

JOHN C. REEVE, physician and surgeon, Dayton, was born in England, June 5, 1826. In 1832, his father's family emigrated to this country, and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where our subject was reared. He enjoyed good school privileges up

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to the age of twelve, when by the loss of his mother and financial'reverses in the family' he was thrown entirely upon his own resources, became an apprentiee to the printer, and spent several years in the offices of the Cleveland Advertiser and Herald. While thus employed, by industrious personal application, and by an attendanee of several winters' upon common sehools, and one summer at the Academy, he fitted himself for teaching, which he followed for a time as the best means of improvement and education. He then read medieine with Dr. John Delamater, Professor of Obstetries in the Medi- eal Department of Western Reserve College, Cleveland, Ohio, from which institution he graduated. In 1849, he began practice in Dodge County, Wis. Some four years later, he visited Europe for the purpose of further study of his profession, and after passing the winter in London, and a summer at the University of Gottingen, Germany, returned to this country, and in the fall of 1854 settled in Dayton, which has since been his residenee, where he rapidly rose in the confidenee and esteem of the public generally, and now oeeupies a leading rank in the profession of that eity. He has per- formed most of the leading operations of surgery falling to the lot of one in general praetiee; among others a case of tracheotomy, by which was suecessfully removed from the throat of a little girl eight years old the largest body, with one exception, ever taken from the windpipe-a shawl-pin, three and one-fourth inches in length. The ease is alluded to, and a cut of the pin given, in " Gross' Surgery." He has performed ovariotomy five times, three of them being sueeessful, and which is about the usual number. He is a member of the Montgomery County Medieal Society, of which he has several times been President ; also of the Ohio State Medieal Society, the Ameri- ean Medieal Association, and the American Gynaecologieal Society, of which he was one of the founders. He has made numerous reports of important professional cases, and has been a frequent contributor to the leading medieal journals of the country, especially to the review department of the American Journal of Medical Sciences, Philadelphia, and to the American Journal of Obstetrics, New York. He occu- pies the rank of a leader in the profession in Ohio, and his personal standing is that of an affable, polished gentleman. On August 10, 1849, he married Emma G. Barlow, of Cleveland, Ohio, and has two sons and two daughters.

JACOB RICHMOND, retired earpenter, Dayton. Jacob Richmond was born in Frederick County, Md., July 5, 1809 ; when he was fifteen years old he began the cabinet trade, at which he worked three years, when he turned his attention to earpen- tering. After serving an apprenticeship of three years at this trade, he worked at the same as contractor until 1877, when he retired from business. He was married March 8, 1831, to Rebecea Coblentz. Of their ten children, but six are living. viz .: Morgan H., Caroline R., Edward C., Malinda C., Annie R. and John P. Franeis P. io 1862 enlisted in the Ninety third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in front of Atlanta June 23, 1864. Three children died in infancy. Mr. Richmond moved from Maryland (in a wagon, being twenty-one days on the road, to Montgomery County, Ohio, and located in Dayton in 1832. His wife died December 22, 1873. Mr. R. was a member of the City Council from 1848 to 1854, also Infirmary Director from 1876 to 1879. He has always lived an exemplary life; having started a poor boy, he has by economy and industry, accumulated quite a comfortable living for himself and family. He is now seventy-two years old, but still very active.

JOHN S. ROBERTSON, Clerk of Courts, Dayton, was born July 25, 1843, at Hanover, Columbiana Co., Ohio. His father, John Robertson, was the youngest son of Rev. James Robertson, a Seotch Presbyterian minister; his mother, née Margaret E. Vallandigham, was a daughter of Rev. Clement Vallandigham, and sister of the late Hon. C. L. Vallandigham. Our subjeet obtained his early education at the New Lis- bon High School, and, when eighteen years of age, commeneed teaching sehool, thereby obtaining the means to enable him to attend medical leetures at Ann Arbor, Mich. He commenced the practice of medieine in Columbiana County, but removed, in 1869, to Germantown, Montgomery County where he praetieed his profession until eleeted Clerk of the Courts of this eounty, in October, 1875. In 1878, he was re- eleeted for an additional term of three years He was married to Miss Elizabeth Rowe.

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of Germantown, June 19, 1872. As an accommodating and efficient officer, an honest and reliable citizen, and a gentleman in all respects, Mr. Robertson has gained the respect and esteem of all who meet him.

JOHN ROUZER, contractor, Dayton. Mr. Rouzer, now one of the foremost contractors and builders of Dayton, was born on the 29th of June, 1822, in Clark County, Ohio, near the (now) city of Springfield. He is one of the most conspicuous of the many illustrations afforded by our American life, of the success achieved by intelligent industry and personal integrity. Mr. Ronzer s father was a native of Fred- erick County, Md., of German descent, and lived to the age of cighty-four years. His mother was a native of Virginia, of Scotch parentage, and survived to be eighty years of age. Both of robust constitutions, and of simple and industrions habits, they raised a family of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom they lived to see established in life. John came to Dayton, as a boy, with his father's family, about 1832, when the town was scarcely more than a village. His education was only such as the limited facilities of so small a town could afford, before the school system, now developed into a chief source of pride of our community, was originated, but he has the satisfaction to know that it is to his skill and taste as a mechanic, that the city is, in a large part, indebted for some of the handsomest school edifices that are one of its prin- cipal ornaments. Mr. Ronzer commenced in Dayton as a practical builder and con- tractor in 1861. His close attention to the details of his business, and to the complete- ness and honesty of his work, soon established for him an enviable reputation as a faith- ful mechanic and honest contractor. His chief object was to give satisfaction to his patrons by the excellence of his work. His business rapidly grew to large proportions, and, keeping abreast with the rapid improvement in mechanical machinery, he has now one of the most complete and extensive establishments in his line of work anywhere to be found, and is able to execute the largest contracts for the carpenter work of public buildings in Ohio and the adjoining States. He has been able to accumulate a respectable property, and can exhibit in the elegance and perfect finish of his own resi- dence a specimen of his skill and taste that was pronounced, by one of the most accom- plished architects in the United States ( William Myers, of Detroit), unexcelled by any similar work he had ever in pected. Mr. Rouzer married Martha J. Deihl, the daugh- ter of Mr. Henry Deihl, of Dayton, on New Year's Day, 1850; but two daughters of a family of seven children survive. It may be said, without any fulsome praise, that Mr. Rouzer has a reputation as a business man, as well as a citizen, in all the relations of social and domestic life that is without blemish, and that he has honestly earned it by his industry, his intelligence, his enterprise and his personal integrity. It is such men as he and his class who give dignity, respect, ability and success to American labor.

JOHN RUNCK, JR., butcher, Dayton, was born in Dayton, Ohio, September 6, 1855. His grandfather, Philip, and his grandmother, Elizabeth (Runck ) Runck, were both natives of Rhine Byrne, Germany, where our subject's father, John Sr., was born on the 10th of May, 1830. The latter came to America in 1848, and, after a few months' residence in Cincinnati, came to Montgomery County and commenced butcher- ing in Dayton, where he learned his trade, and where he has since continued to follow it. He married, December 20, 1854, Miss Louisa Steiner, daughter of Henry and Oppolina (Wenst) Steiner, of Dayton, both natives of Germany. By this union they had thirteen children-Anna Mary, John, our subject, Charlie, Kate, Caroline, Mar- garet, Frank, Julia, Michael L, Hattie, Florence, Clara and Oppolina; of these one girl and two boys have since died. John, Jr., attended the schools of Harrison Township, where they lived and then took a course in the Commercial College, of Dayton, work- ing at his trade of butchering at the same time. He married January 6, 1880, Miss Julia A. Klaner, daughter of William and Barbara Klaner, of Dayton, by whom he has had one child, a daughter, born November 10, 1880. He is a young man of much business ability, a good financier, and an industrious and obedient son.

MARK RUTLEDGE, of firm of Rutledge & Co., paper manufacturers, Dayton, was born in Kirkoswald, England, March 13, 1812. His parents were George and Mary (Archer) Rutledge, the former of whom was a manufacturer of linen goods, and

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never wore any garment made of cotton until after coming to America. Our subject was reared to maturity in England, and upon arriving at his twenty-first mile-stone in life, came to America, locating at Worcester, Mass., and engaging in his present busi- ness ; he had previously learned his trade in his native land, and remained at Worcester eight years. During the forepart of this period, he attended night schools, where he obtained his literary education. He removed his business to Norwich, Conn., and eight years later went to Andover, where his mill was subsequently destroyed by fire. Two years later he went to Lowell, Mass., and six years later to Dayton (in 1854). For a time he was foreman for L. F. Claffin & Co., and was afterward a member of the firm. He subsequently engaged his services, as foreman for Mead & Weston, and in 1867 established his present business. Mr. Rutledge was married, in 1837, to Augusta Liv- ermore, a native of Massachusetts. They have three children-George, Janie ( wife of Luther Peters, an architect of Dayton), and Ellen. Mr. Rutledge was formerly a Den)- ocrat, but is now " a pure Republican." He is a member of Montgomery Lodge, No. 5, I. O. O. F., and of Dayton Lodge, Masonic. Himself, wife and children are mem- bers of the Universalist Society. George Rutledge, the eldest ehild, and junior mem. ber of the firm of Rutledge & Co., was married, January 1, 1863, to Virginia Simmons, a native of Yazoo City, Miss. They have three children-Walter, Virginia and Mary. Mrs. Rutledge is a regular attendant on the religious services held in Raper chapel. Mr. Rutledge has full charge of the business of the firmn.

ADAM SCHANTZ, buteher, Dayton, was born in Mittilkinsig, Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, September 7, 1839. He was the second son of Frederick and Marie Elizabeth (Seheeler) Sehantz, who were natives of Germany and parents of eight chil- dren, six boys and two girls. Adam, our subject, emigrated to America on the 11th of April, 1855, and on the 1st of September following eame to Dayton, where he engaged in butchering for Michael Oldt, with whom he worked one year. He then left. Dayton for several years, during which he visited and worked in Iowa two years, Chieago six months, St. Louis four months, New Orleans five months, across to Ger- many, where he stayed with his folks four months, then to Hamburg and London, and on the 10th of June, 1862, baek to Dayton, where he has since been in the butchering business. He was married March 29, 1863, to Saloma Latin, daughter of Falteen Latin, of Dayton, by whom he had nine children, five boys and four girls, of whom three boys and four girls survive. Mr. Schantz was a member of the City Council in 1877-78. He was also President of Southern Ohio Stoek Yards and a Director of the Southern Ohio Fair Association. He is a member of Steuben Lodge, I. O O. F., and of the German Lutheran Church.

MICHAEL SCHIML, brewer, Dayton, was born in Reglasreuth, near Baireuth, Ba- varia, Germany, August 4, 1825, and is the son of Christopher and Mary (Kramer) Schi'ul, natives of the same place. His father was a prominent mill owner, a man of means and commercial standing, who died about 1842. Michael was the youngest in a family of eight children, five of whom died previous to his eoming to America, whither his brother John had preceded him in 1845. Michael, with his mother and one sister, following in 1848, all settling in Montgomery County, Ohio, where the aged mother died soon after reaching this eounty. Mr. Schiml was married, September 12, 1848, to Miss Annie M. Heindl, a native of Bavaria, and daughter of John and Frederica Heindi, who re- mained in the fatherland. Of this union eight children are the fruits, as follows : Teresa, John L., Joseph (deceased), Susan. Andrew, Cidonia (deceased), Aloys C. and one died in infaney. Mr. Schiml worked at coopering in this county until 1852, when, in partnership with his brother John, they started a brewery on the corner of Wayne and Hickory streets, making their first lager beer on December 13 of that year, from stock brought from Boston, by a cousin of the Schiml's who was a brewer, this being the first lager beer made in Montgomery County, Ohio. His brother, John, died September 5, 1858, since which time the business has been owned and operated by our subject, who ranks as the pioneer brewer of Dayton, and whose success in his line has been second to none. Beginning upon a capital of $1,800, he has by constant at- tention to his business, and the manufacture of as good an artiele of beer as other first-

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 118

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