The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 119

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 119

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CITY OF DAYTON.

class brewers, increased his sales yearly, and thereby his finaneial standing, until to-day. he takes his place among the wealthy men of the Miami Valley, being worth over $75,000. all the legitimate result of his own indefatigable will to win suecess. His son, John L., is the book-keeper of the establishment, and Andrew attends to the outside busi- ness, it being the intention of Mr. Sehiml to retire from active life in a short time, leav- ing the management of his brewery to his sons, who are thoroughly competent of imi- tating their father's sueeess in life.

JOHN SCHOEN, Bailiff, Superior Court, Dayton. Mr. Sehoen was born in Hessen, Germany, April 3, 1825, emigrated to America in 1856. After sojourning some two years in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other eities in Pennsylvania, he came to Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1858, and settled in Dayton. He worked in breweries from the age of fourteen years until he came to Dayton, Ohio. After his location here, he followed freseoing and paper hanging until the fall of 1880, when he was appointed Bailiff of the Superior Court. He was elected a member of the City Council of Dayton in 1876. and served a term of two years. In 1878, he was elected for three years one of the Board of Infirmary Direetors. In 1861, in the first eall for troops, he enlisted in the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served two years and four months, when he was discharged on aeeount of wounds received in battle. In the second battle of Bull Run he lost one finger from his right hand, the rest of the hand being disabled as to almost destroy its use. He also received three other wounds in different parts of his body. It was his love for the country that gives him liberty that prompted him to enlist in its defense. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, Red Men, V. A. O. D., and A. O. W. W. Also a member of the Gymnasium Furness Association and the O. N, G. He was instrumental in starting the first beneficial association of this city, being one of the incorporators. He was married, September 7, 1858, to Catherine Faulstiek, to whom six children have been born, viz. : Conrad, Harmon, Johnie (de- ceased) Annie, Katie and William. Mr. Sehoen has always been a hard-working, in- dustrious man, true to his God and country.

FREDERICK SCHUTTE, County Auditor, Dayton, was born in Dayton, Mont- gomery County, Ohio, March 16, 1846. His parents were Frederiek Sehutte, a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, who came to this country about 1840, and Catharine C. ( Web- ber) Schutte, a native of Prussia, who came to America in 1838. They were married in Dayton, and had five children, three boys and two girls, of whom our subjeet and one girl are the only survivors. The father had his passage paid to this country by parties in Dayton, and after his arrival worked fifteen months in a stone quarry at $7 per month to repay it. His estate now owns the land on which this, the first work he performed in the new world, was done. He died February 7, 1871, after a life of honest toil, leaving his family in very good eireumstanees. His wife is still living and is enjoying very good health for one so advanced in years. Our subjeet, who was the oldest ehild, attended the common schools of Dayton until seventeen years old. At the age of twenty-one years, he became a Deputy in the Auditor's office, in which he remained four years and then became Steward of the Southern Ohio Insane Asylum, under the administration of Gov. Allen. He remained at the asylum from June 19, 1874, until July 17, 1876, and then accepted a position in the County Treasurer's office, where he served one year or until 1877, when he was elected to fill his present office. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Red Men and Druids. He is also a member in good standing of the German Lutheran Church. He esides with his mother and sister in Van Buren Township, just out of the eity. His official serviee has been attended with the best of sueeess and with eredit to himself and his party.

COLESTIN SCHWIND, brewer, Dayton, was born in Stadtprozelten, Bavaria, Germany, May 19, 1825, and is the son of Ignatz and Elizabeth Sehwind. He came o America in 1850, and settled in Dayton, where he started a brewery in 1854, on ogau street, which he carried on fourteen years. In 1865, he built his present brew- ry in Dayton View, where he does a business of $80,000 per year. He came to Day- on a poor man, but by dint of hard labor and striet economy he has succeeded in be-

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coming one of the wealthy men of the city. He was married, August 28, 1836, to Christine Latin, of Dayton, a native of Germany, to whom has been born eleven chil- dren, nine of whom survive. Mr. Sehwind is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Society of Druids. His family consists of his wife, seven girls and two boys, all cojoy- ing the prosperity that honest industry has brought the husband and father.

HENRY L. SHEPERD, farmer and dealer in agricultural implements, Dayton, was born in Laneaster County, Penn., October 5, 1824, and is a son of Henry Lewis Sheperd, a native of Switzerland ; emigrated to Ameriet in 1816, and landed in New York ; located in Lancaster County, Penn., where he lived until 1833, when he removed to Ohio, and in 1835 located in Wayne Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, where his death oeeurred January 4, 1861; Mrs. S. died February 4, 1864. The original way of spelling the name Sheperd was Chopord, but the family were called here by the name of Sheperd. After a few years Mr. Sheperd adopted the latter man- ner of spelling his name which has always been continued by the family. A full and complete genealogy of the Sheperd family may be found in the biography of R. Sloan, among the sketches of Wayne Township in another part of this work. Henry L., Jr., came to Ohio with his parents in 1833, being then nine years of age; he remained upon the farm and assisted his father in agricultural pursuits until 1846, when he and his brother, Jacob H., removed to Dayton and engaged in the foundry business ; they originated the Buckeye Foundry, which business they continued until 1850, when they disposed of their interest. H. L. returned to the old farm and followed farming until March, 1881, at which date he removed to Dayton and engaged in the above business which he now runs in connection with farming. August 10, 1851, he was united in marriage with Sarah E. Rubsam, also a native of Pennsylvania. They were the par- ents of six children, viz. : Francis M , Laura Z. (deceased), Mary E., Susan S. (de- ceased), Jacob L. and William B. Mr. S. has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church sinee 1843.

WILLIAM JOHN SHUEY, minister and editor, Dayton, was born in Miamis- burg, Montgomery County, February 9, 1827. His father, Adam Shucy, and his mother, Hannah (Aley) Shuey, emigrated to this country in 1805, he from Dauphin County, Penn., and she from Washington County, Md. At the age of nine years, our subject moved, with his parents, to the vicinity of Springfield, Ohio, where he as- sisted his parents in opening a farm out of a dense forest. His advantages for education were limited to the common country schools of that day, and four months in the high school of Springfield. On the 7th of March, 1848, he married Miss Sarah Berger, whose parents, natives of Berks County, Penn., settled near Lagonda, Ohio, in 1838. By this marriage he has been blessed by four sons, the eldest of whom, Albert L., died in childhood. Of the remaining three, Ewin L. is a professor in Otterbein University; William A. is a student in Union Biblieal Seminary, Dayton, and Lincoln is a student in the Sophomore year in " O. U." Mr. Shuey entered the active ministry of the Gospel in the United Brethren Church in 1849, and was appointed to his first charge at Lewisburg, Preble County, Ohio. In the autumn of 1851, he was transferred to Cincin- nati, where, at different times, he served the church seven years. He was twice elected Presiding Elder in the Miami Conference of his church, and two years pastor of the First United Brethren Church of Dayton. In 1855, he visited the west coast of Africa for the purpose of locating a mission among the heathen of that country. ID' 1864, he was elected one of the agents of the United Brethren publishing house, Dayton in which capacity he still continues. For fifteen ycars, he has had sole charge of the business management of the house. In May, 1881, conf rence elected him, for the fifth time, to this position, which will give him twenty-one years of continuous service When he began his work in the publishing house it was embarrassed with liabilities amounting to over $52,000. At the close of his fourth term (of four years each ) al its debts were paid and the net assets exceeded $160,000. This eircumstanee in itsel will prove whether or not Mr. Shuey is a successful financier and shrewd busines: manager.

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CITY OF DAYTON.

ALVAN A. SIMONDS, manufacturer of machine knives, Dayton, was born at Fitch- burg, Mass., Jan. 28, 1841. His father was Abel Simonds, a seythe manufacturer of that place. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his native State, and when six- teen years of age, learned his present trade. He worked at it four years, and then, in company with his brother, George F., opened a shop at home, remaining in business there for ten years. The firm was known as Simonds Brothers, and subsequently was organized into a joint-stock company, under the name of the Simonds Manufacturing Company. Mr. Simonds became its trusted and efficient Treasurer. The firm of Simonds Brothers commenced business with ten men in their employ, and in 1874, when Mr. Simonds resigned his position as Treasurer of the company, the foree had been inereased to 125 employes, and the amount of business to $200,000 annually. In 1874, Mr. Simonds eame West, secking a good location for his business. On his arrival at Dayton, he was so well pleased with the business outlook that he resolved to settle himself and trade in the Valley City. He ereeted his present shops in Dayton View, and his success has fully justified his decision. In 1861, Mr. Simonds enlisted in Company B, Fifteenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Second Corps, Army of the Potomae. After a term of three years in defense of the beloved Union, he was honorably discharged and returned home. Mr. Simonds was married, in 1865, to Marcella C. Willard, a native of Leominster, Mass. Of the five children given them, four are living-Caroline J., Cora B., Herbert R. and Ethel G. Bessie E. is deceased. Mrs. Simonds is a member of the Unitarian Church of Leominster, Mass., and our subjeet is connected with the Old Guard.

JOHN W. SOLLENBERGER, contractor and builder, Dayton, was born in Franklin County, Penn., May 30, 1820. His father, Daniel Sollenberger, was born in Franklin County, Penn., April 10, 1795. He was a weaver by trade, but worked at farm work. On the 12th of October, 1818, he married Esther Wenger, by whom he had the following children-John W., Christopher Columbus, Daniel J., Jacob, Elizabeth, Martin and Sarah. In 1824, he came to Montgomery County, and located on Wolf Creek, one mile from Dayton, where he died in January, 1871. His wife was born at Jones- town, Lebanon Co., Penn., June 3, 1800, and all his children are still living. They are descendants of an old family, who came from Berlin, Germany, at an early day. John W., our subjeet, stayed on his father's farm until seventeen years old, when he learned the carpenter trade with George Diee (above Dayton), with whom he stayed two years. He then worked as a journeyman until 1865, when, with J. N. Eyer, he commeneed business for himself. Mr. Eyer retired from the firm in 1876, and for two years afterward Mr. Mason Davis was a partner. Sinee then, Mr. Sollenberger has conducted his business alone. He has been married three times, first February 17, 1842, to Mary Wagner, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Wagner, of Little York, Montgomery Co., Ohio, by whom he had four children, one boy and three girls, all of whom are living exeept a babe, that died soon after its mother. who died June 6, 1854. His second marriage was celebrated November 3, 1856, to Mary A. Roney, daughter of Hercules and Susan Roney, of Little York, who, after hearing him three boys and three girls, died April 2, 1870. He afterward married, February 14. 1871, Barbara Schoch, daughter of Frederick and Saloma (Spielman) Schoch, of Baden Baden, Ger- many, who emigrated to America in the spring of 1860, and Montgomery County in 1861. By her he has had one daughter. Mr. Sollenberger, although over threeseore years of age, looks much younger. He is a steady, hard-working man, who tends to his own business and leaves others to do the same. His reputation throughout the city is most complimentary to himself and family.

JAMES STEELE was born in Roekbridge County, Va., October 28, 1778, and died in Dayton August 22, 1841. He was of Scotch-Irish aneestry, the family having emigrated from the North of Ireland to Virginia in 1737. His father, Robert Steelc, removed to Kentucky in 1788, and settled in Fayette County, near Lexington. James Steele was brought up amid the dangers and privations of pioneer life, and the founda- tions were thus laid for a manly, self-reliant character. When twenty-one years old, he loaded a flat-boat with produce, and deseending the Kentucky, Ohio and Mississippi

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Rivers to New Orleans disposed of his cargo, and returned on horseback to his home in Kentucky. In 1806, he came to Dayton and engaged in merchandising in connec- tion with Joseph Peirce, whose sister, Phobe Peirce, he afterward, in 1812, married. Isaac Peirce, the father of his wife, was a member of the Ohio Company, and came to Marietta, Ohio, in 1788, with the first colony which settled in the State, the same year in which the Steele family arrived in Kentucky. When he became a citizen of Day- ton, he at once identified himself with all efforts to promote the prosperity of the town. He took the liveliest interest in education, and served for many years as a Trustee of the old Dayton Academy. He was a member of the board when the old buildings on St. Clair street were sold, and a new one erected on the lot where the present high school building stands. He was instrumental in the employment of Mr. E. E. Barney as a teacher, and appreciating his admirable qualities, retired from the Trusteeship, when he retired from the Academy. Because of his well-known interest in education, he was appointed by the Governor of Ohio one of the carliest Trustees of Miami Uni- versity, and served for many years, manifesting the deepest interest in that institution until the time of his death. He was early clected a Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church. He was a member of that body when the first and second church buildings were erected on the lot where the present clegant stone structure stands. He was especially interested in the second building, which, when erected, was considered a model church, and gave to it much of his means and personal attention. The house was just completed when he died in 1841. An incident of the war of 1812 may serve to illustrate his promptness and decision of character. After the disgraceful sur- render of Gen. Hull, news came to Dayton that the Indians assembled in council near Piqua, emboldened by the success of the British, were dangerous and threatening to attack the inhabitants. The news came on Saturday, and, on Sunday morning at 7 o'clock, a company of seventy men was ready, and marched to the front, commanded by Capt. Steele. The alarm proved to be groundless, and, after a few days the company returned home. Capt. Stcele was retained longer in the service by order of Gen. Har- rison, to superintend the building of block-houses at St. Mary's for the protection of the people of that region. In 1824, he was chosen one of the electors for President and Vice President of the United States for the State of Ohio, and had the satisfaction of joining in casting the vote of the State for his friend and favorite statesman, Henry Clay. He was twice elected by the Legislature an Associate Judge for Montgomery County, and served in that capacity for fourteen years. In 1834, he was elected to represent Proble and Montgomery Counties in the Senate of the State, and, in 1836, re-elected, serving four years. He was one of the original stockholders in 1840 in the Woodland Cemetery Association, and presided at the meeting when the Association was organized by the election of the first Board of Trustees. He was elected a Director in the Dayton Bank in 1815, and, in 1822, was elected President and held the position up to the end of his life. The bank occupied the two-story stone building still standing on Main street, north of First. It was the aim of the bank to accommodate Dayton mechanics and business men with loans at a low rate of interest, and such customers were always preferred to foreign borrowers, even if more profitable. So prudently had the bank been managed that it did not seriously suffer from the great commercial reverse commencing in 1837, and continuing through several years. It was a matter of great pride to the officers of the bank that while the other banks of the State were compelled to suspend specie payments, its notes were redeemed in coin whenever pre- sented. The following extract of an obituary notice, written by the late Judge Crane and published in the Dayton Journal, will show the estimation in which he was held by his fellow citizens. " In all the relations of life, public and private, his character was irreproachable. On the bench he was distinguished for good sense, integrity and impartiality. As a legislator in a period of great public excitement, though firm and consistent in his political opinions, he won the esteem and respect of his opponents by his candor and moderation. His private life was not more marked by strict and un- yielding integrity than by the kindness and benignity of his nature to all his fellow- creatures. His death was sudden and unlooked-for, but he was a humble and devoted ('hristian, and his life had been in preparation for that awful event."

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CITY OF DAYTON.

DR. JOHN STEELE, Dayton. John Steele, M. D., the son of Robert and Agnes Conlter Steele, was born in Fayette County, Ky., April 1, 1791. He was educated at Tran- sylvania University, Lexington, Ky., and attended lectures in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, of which college the celebrated Dr. Ben- jamin Rush was at the time a Professor and lecturer.

Having completed his medical course, he was induced by the residence of his brother, James Steele, in Dayton, to choose that place to commence the practice of his profession. During the war of 1812. Dayton was a depot of supplies for the army, and a great thoroughfare. A large number of wounded from the army were brought to the town and a hospital established. Dr. Steele was employed as a physician and surgeon, and found ample opportunity to extend and perfect his knowledge of surgery. This was of the utmost value to a young surgeon just beginning practice, and gave him at once an established position in his profession. In his after life, he was called in consultation in difficult eases in all the surrounding country.

Confining himself closely to his profession, and steadily refusing all offers of polit- ical preferment, his life, well rounded and filled with usefulness as it was, offers few salient points for the biographer. He was always ready to discharge the duties of a good citizen, and served for many years as a member and President of the City Council. His name is prominently connected with the benevolent and religious societies of his day ; he was a founder and liberal contributor of the Dayton Library Association ; was an original stockholder in the Woodland Cemetery Association, and a prominent member and President of the Montgomery County Medical Society. In 1829, he was elected an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church, and served in that capacity until 1837. In that year a colony, of which he was a leading member and Elder, left the First Church and established the Third Street Presbyterian Church. He was largely instrumental, at great self-sacrifice, in building a house of worship, which, at the time, was considered one of the finest church buildings in the West. This has been recently removed to give place to another and finer, but the present builders will not be called upon to bestow on the work a tithe of the anxious thought and self-denial required of the building commit- tee of the first house. Dr. Steele served the Third Street Church as a Ruling Elder from its origin to the time of his decease. Only members of that church can know the respect and love in which he was held.

In his extensive practice in Dayton and Montgomery County, he made a wide cir- cle of acquaintances and friends. Many families may yet be found, although twenty-seven years have elapsed since his death, who speak of him with reverence and warm affection. He was remarkable for his dry humor and wit, and his old patients recall and repeat his witty sayings with a relish, no doubt heightened by the memory of the relief they brought amid the despondency and pain of the sick room. After a protracted illness, which he bore with the greatest fortitude and patience, he died October 21, 1854.

Nothing better illustrates the deep impression he made on the community than the testimonials offered to his memory at the time of his death. The following is an extract of an editorial which appeared in the Dayton Journal:

" We seek not to write a formal obituary of the departed, nor yet to attempt a de- ail of his virtues or of the remarkable traits of character for which he was distinguished. His long residence in Dayton dating back to its early settlement, and his prominent po- ition as a practitioner of medicine, gave him an extensive acquaintance in the city and urrounding country, seeuring for him a name which is associated with all that is hon- rable, noble and elevated in human character. Few men go down to the grave leaving memory in which the fragrance of good deeds, the exaltation of true manhood, and the levation of Christian character, so happily combine to render it truly blessed."

The following are the proceedings of the Montgomery County Medieal Society :

" At a called meeting of the Montgomery County Medical Society, occasioned by he death of Dr. John Steele, the President (Dr. Haines) addressed the society in a very eling and appropriate manner. He was followed by Dr. Awl and others, after which he following resolutions were adopted :

" WHEREAS, the members of the Montgomery County Medical Society have received

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notice of the death of John Steele, M. D., a former President of this body, and a great and good man, always respected and beloved in the profession. And, WHEREAS, we with one accord have assembled to take suitable action on an occasion so appropriate for testimony to departed worth. Therefore, be it

" Resolved, That a public acknowledgment of the many virtues, and the noble bear- ing of our venerable and departed friend and co-laborer in medical practice, is not only honorable and due on the part of the living, but is eminently just and becoming to the memory and character of the departed dead.

" Resolved, That, as citizens and surviving members of a common profession, we deeply realize and every way deplore the loss which science and the community have this day sustained in the removal by death of this highly esteemed and useful man.

" Resolved, That we most truly sorrow and condole with the members of his family and relatives in this affliction and dispensation of Divine Providence.

" Resolved, That we attend his funereal in a body and as a society."

Dr. Steele was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Jane Boyd, lived but a short time after marriage. On the 30th of October, 1823, he married Miss Cornelia King, of Morristown, N. J., who, after a happy married life of thirty-one years, survived him twenty-five years, dying April 25, 1880.

His eldest son, Dr. Henry K. Steele, adopted his father's profession and succeeded to his practice. To benefit the health of his family, he removed, in 1871, to Denver, Colo., where he now resides, enjoying a large and lucrative practice.

ROBERT W STEELE, son of James Steele, whose biography appears in this work, was born in Dayton July 3, 1819. He was prepared for college in the Dayton Academy, at that time in charge of Mr. E. E. Barney, and was graduated at Miami University in 1840.

After leaving college, he entered the law office of Crane & Davies, but attacked with hemorrhage of the lungs, was prohibited by his physician from pursuing the study of the law. Unable to practice a profession, he heartily engaged in enterprises for the benefit of the community.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 119

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