The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 150

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 150

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Mr. Gephart has a well improved farm, and has been engaged in raising tobacco for thirty years, in which business he has been reasonably successful.

RICHARD M. GEBHART, farmer, P. O. Alexandersville, was born in Miami Township, September 22, 1846. His parents were John A. and Mary A. Gebhart, both natives of Miami Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Montgomery County, and the Normal School at Lebanon, War- ren Co., Ohio. He was married, December 21, 1869, to Miss Katie G. Lamme, daugh- ter of James and Susan Lamme, both natives of Miami Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio. Mr. Gebhart was elected Assessor of Van Buren Township, in the spring of 1879, and has held the office of Constable two years in Van Buren Township, and one year in Miami Township. Mr. Gebhart is a member of the Zion Reformed Church of the township.

DAVID HETZEL, retired manufacturer, Miamisburg. One by one those who saw this country as a wilderness, and have watched its transformation into the now well- improved farms, are passing away. Among the few who remain is our old and worthy citizen, David Hetzel, son of Peter and Catharine (Dumis) Hetzel, who was born in Berks County, Penn., May 4, 1806; came to Ohio with his parents in 1812, and settled on a farm in Miami Township. Peter Hetzel was a carpenter by trade, and after his settlement in Montgomery County, Ohio, carried on a manufactory of fanning mills, for cleaning wheat, etc. He also built hand-looms and furniture. He died about 1863. Catharine died a few years before. They were the parents of five children, viz .: Catharine (deceased), Elizabeth, Godfrey (deceased), David and Sarah. David learned the carpenter's trade with his father, and worked for him awhile in the shop, manufact- uring the fanning mills, and while at work in his shop invented a sausage cutter, which he afterward manufactured quite extensively. He also invented and built a velocipede for a crippled man, which enabled him to propel himself from place to place. Mr. David Hetzel was married April 29, 1830, to Miss Margaret Neibel, daughter of Jacob and Christina (Early) Neibel. They have had born unto them six children-Catherine (now Mrs. Jacob Wagoner), Jacob, Christina (now Mrs. Benjamin Fornshell), Louise (now Mrs. Samuel Hager), Sarah (now Mrs. George W. Hubler), and Jeremiah. After a happy married life of forty-eight years, Mr. Hetzel was ealled to mourn the death of his beloved wife September 18, 1878. Mr. Hetzel was one of the Trustees of Miami Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio, nine successive years. He retired from active labor in 1870, and since then has occupied his time in looking after his farm, conversing with old friends, and doing odd jobs, as best suits him. Since his retirement from business, his son, Jacob, and son-in-law, Mr. Hager, have carried on the saw-mill and the manu- facture of the sausage machines.

FISHER N. McCREIGHT, grocer, Miamisburg, son of William and Elizabeth (Patton) McCreight, was born in Adams County, Ohio, October 16, 1848. His father died in the fall of 1850, when the care of their five children devolved upon the mother. In 1865, she sold their farm in Adams County, and moved to Montgomery County and rented the farm which now forms a part of the " Soldiers' Home," then owned by Jolin C. Cole. In 1867, they removed to Miami Township, in this county, on a farm, and thence to Miamisburg, where she still resides ; she is now in her seventy-second year. In 1868, Fisher entered the store of Beachler & Werts as clerk, with whom he remained three years, and then with Hoff & Son two years. At this time, November 13, 1873, he married Miss Amanda Shupert, daughter of George and Mary Shupert. - Mr. Shu- pert is one of the leading capitalists of Miamisburg, also one of the leading grain mer- chants of the town, and whose parents were among the earliest settlers of Miami Township. In 1874, Mr. McCreight engaged in the grocery trade with Peter M. Gebhart, and in 1875 Mr. Gebhart sold his interest to Mr. Shupert. In 1879, Mr. McCreight took sole charge of the store, at which occupation he is still engaged, keeping a full line of first- class family groceries. He is a member in good standing and a Past Grand of Marion Lodge, No. 18, and a Patriarch of Miamisburg Encampment, No. 82, I. O. O. F. He was a member of the Town Council during the years 1879 and 1880. Although a young man, yet he is a thorough and reliable business man, being honorable and upright in all his transactions. Mr. and Mrs. McCreight have two children.

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LEWIS MEASE, farmer, P. O. Miamisburg, was born April 18, 1822, in a log cabin which stood on the site of his present residence. His father, Lewis T., was a native of Dauphin County, Penn., and was raised upon a farm, but also learned the trade of a wagon-maker. He enlisted in the war of 1812, but the struggle closed soon after, and he was discharged. In 1817, he came on horseback to Ohio and purchased the farm where our subject now lives. He passed about two years in clearing and im- proving the same. . In the winter of 1818-19, he returned to Pennsylvania, where he married Mary Zehring, whom he brought West to his new home in Ohio. Three of their children are living, viz .: Lewis, Levi W. and Samuel, the latter being a minister of the Reformed Church, of which denomination his father was a leading member, dy- ing in that faith November 20, 1856, his wife surviving him many years and dying May 7, 1880. Our subject has always resided on the home farm, and was married September 27, 1849, to Sarah A. Dubbs, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Diel) Dubbs, who was born near Philadelphia, Penn., February 6, 1828. They have had seven chil- dren ; five living-Dora C., Florence E., Agucs V., Mary C. and Ira A. The deceased are Daniel N. and Cora C. Mr. Mease taught school from 1841 to 1849 ; served as Township Trustee some ten years; as School Director eighteen consecutive years, and served as Township Superintendent of Schools three years. He is one of the charter members of the Trinity Chapter, A., F & A. M., and he and wife have been incmbers of the Reformed Church since 1840, in which he has held offices since that date. He was also one of the organizers of the Miamisburg Cemetery Association. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Mease has ever taken an active interest in the progress and development of his native township, where his entire life has been passed.

ISAAC MOSES, farmer, P. O. Carlisle Station, Warren County, is the son of John B. and Catharine (Koontz) Moses, who were the parents of four children, viz .: Nancy, Levi, Robert and Isaac, of whom the latter is the only survivor. He was born in Augusta County, Va., February 27, 1802; worked at home until twenty-one years of age, and was married May 29, 1822, to Catherine Early, born in Augusta County, Va., November 25, 1803, and daughter of John and Christina Early. Isaac's mother was the widow of George Underwood, by whom she had one child, John C., when John B. Moses married her. In 1823, Robert Moses and John C. Underwood, with their families, came to Ohio and settled near Germantown, Montgomery County, the former on a farm and the latter erecting the mill now owned by James Hankinson. In 1825, our subject, with his wife, father, mother and grandfather, also came to German Township, where the mother died in 1830, and the grandfather in 1833. The father subsequently married Mrs. Nancy (Hall) Clark, and dying in Germantown in 1856. In the spring of 1826, Isaac returned with his wife to Virginia, remaining there until 1829, when he again came to Ohio and located in Warren County, where he lived until 1869, when he sold his farm and purchased his present home in Miami Township. They have had eight children-John C., Nancy J., Mary B. and Ellen S., living, and Hiram, Benjamin, Isaac R. and Catherine, deceased. In 1830, Mr. Moses brought his wife's parents to Ohio, who settled in Preble County, a few years afterward moving to Miami Township, where Mr. Early died in 1855, and his widow a few years subsequently. We might here say that she was not the mother of Mrs. Moses, her mother having died when she was but fifteen years old, and her father marrying Magdalena Birely, who came with him to this State. Mr. Moses has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1826, and his wife since 1840, and have ever tried to do unto others as they would wish that men should do unto them.

WILLIAM NEIBEL, farmer, P. O. Dayton, was born in Rockingham County, Va., May 17, 1805. His parents were John and Elizabeth Neibel. Mr. Neible was a native of Pennsylvania, and removed to Virginia when he was twenty-two years of age, where he was married the following year, and remained until 1810. In the spring of that year, he visited the State of Ohio, with a view to emigrate with his family, if he was pleased with the country. He made the trip on horseback, and in the fall started with his family, consisting of his wife and four children, in a wagon. When only two days' journey from their starting-place they met with a serious accident ; the wagon

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was overturned and one son was killed. The bereaved parents buried this child and continued their journey for their future home in Ohio, where they landed in Miami Township in October, 1810. He resided in this township until the death of his wife, which occurred May 27, 1847, when he removed to Indiana ; built and ran a saw-mill for several years, when he returned to his old home, in Miami Township, where he de- parted this life December 22, 1855. Our subject was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood. The first schoolhouse built in the district was in 1822, but school had been kept at different times in an old log cabin, and in a building formerly used as a tannery. He married Miss Susan Hamaker, daughter of Daniel and Frances Hamaker, natives of Pennsylvania (March 8, 1832). Their family con- sists of eight children as follows, viz .: John Elliot, born August 5, 1833, died May 10, 1863 ; Daniel W., June 12, 1836; David L., August 28, 1838; Susan E., May 19, 1840; Mary C., March 18, 1843; Joseph H. D., May 4, 1845, and. two died in infancy. Mr. Neibel and wife are members of the Zion Reformed Church, and he has been an elder in the church a number of years. Mr. Neibel was elected Justice of the Peace, and served one term of three years. He has always taken an interest in education, and held the office of School Director for many years. He has a fine farm of 172 aeres under a high state of cultivation, and grain and to- bacco are the principle crops raised.

GEORGE PEASE, deceased, was a native of Suffield, Conn., born November 25, 1798. He received a good education, and in his earlier years, followed the profession of a teacher, and in 1825, emigrated to Ohio, coming over the mountains in a stage to Pittsburgh, Penn., at which point he and a companion purchased a canoe and floated down the river to Cincinnati, arriving there late in October. When he got to Cincin- nati, his whole eapital was $5, and he there spent the winter with his brother Horace, who was engaged in business at that point. In the early spring of 1826, he came to Miami Township and stopped with his brother Perry, who was running a dis- tillery at a point called Lamme's Mills. He was married, August 23, 1831, to Ellen Wheatley, to whom were born four children, viz .: Mary D. (deceased), Mindwell (de- ceased), Gamaliel and Ellen. His wife died November 16, 1839, and he was again married, April 6, 1841, to Mary A. Lamme, daughter of David Lamme, one of the pioneers of the Miami Valley. Of this union three children were born, as follows : Horace L., David W. and Harriet. At the opening of the canal, Perry Pease moved to Carrollton and built a mill, George taking charge of the old distillery, but shortly after he also removed to Carrollton, where he engaged with his brothers, Horace and Perry, and took charge of the office, in which capacity he was employed until 1848, when he retired from the mills, purchased a comfortable home and engaged in outside business. He was for many years Treasurer and General Manager of the Great Miami Turnpike Company, but in 1868, retired from active business to live quietly at his com- fortable home, in the enjoyment and companionship of wife and family. Thus some seven years were passed when death again visited his happy fireside, taking from him his loving wife, who died August 30, 1875. He survived her until February 23, 1880, when he too passed away, leaving a name and record bright with good deeds. He be- · came a Mason in April, 1822, joining Appollo Lodge, of Suffield, Conn., in that year, and at the time of his death was an honored member of Minerva Lodge, No. 98, at Miamisburg, by which the funeral services were conducted. He was also one of the organizers of the Presbyterian Church of Carrollton, and at his deeease one of its oldest members. Politically, Mr. Pease was always a Whig and Republican, and, although interested in politics and in early life an earnest worker for his party, he never held nor desired official position. Mr. Pease, through all his years of business, was a man of sterling integrity, whose word was ever as good as his bond, and he died respected and honored by the entire community in which he spent such a long and useful life.

ALFRED PEASE, deceased, was born May 26, 1793. His parents were Seth and Bathsheba Pease. Seth Pease was a distinguished mathematician, and a man of prominence, having been Surveyor General. He surveyed the West- ern Reserve in Ohio, also did important work in the survey of the Mississippi

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River. He was born January 9, 1764, and died September 1, 1819. Alfred Pease re- moved from Suffield, Conn., where he was born, to Washington City, with his parents, in the year 1810, where he engaged in the business of steamboating until he came to Hole's Creek, Montgomery County, in the year 1831. He was one of the firm that built the flouring-mill now used as a paper-mill at Carrollton, in which he had an inter- est for several years. He married Amelia Lowry, daughter of Robert and Margaret Lowry, of Washington City, January 19, 1820. The family consists of seven children, as follows: Lucy, born October 14, 1820, died September 20, 1869 ; Hannah, born December 15, 1821 ; Seth, February 23, 1824, died, December 16, 1869; James Al- fred, born November 16, 1825, died September, 1828; Alfred, October 16, 1828, died August 30, 1838; Elizabeth, born June 8, 1832; and one son died in infancy un- named. Mr. Pease was widely and favorably known, and was highly esteemed for his many virtues and sterling worth. He died October 25, 1870, and thus a wife lost a devoted husband, and his children a kind and gentle father. His wife is still living at the advanced age of eighty-five years, being born March 3, 1796, and enjoys good health and is in possession of all her faculties.

GAMALIEL PEASE, farmer, P. O. West Carrollton, was born in Miami Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio, May 31, 1837. His parents were George and Ellen, Pease. He was educated in the public schools of this county and the "Miami Valley Institute," located in Miami City. In the year 1850, he went to Dayton and learned. the trade of iron molder, at which business he continued till 1857. From that time to 1861, he was employed farming and working in the distillery of his uncle, Perry Pease. In 1861, December 14, he enlisted in the Sixty-ninth Regiment Ohio In- fantry, participating in the battles at Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. In 1864, he was transferred to the recruiting service, in which service he re- mained till the close of the war. While in this service, he visited nearly all the principal cities of the United States, both East and West. He was discharged February 14, 1865, having been in continuous service over three years. In 1869, March 18, he- married Miss Mary Leisz, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Leisz, the father being a native of Germany and the mother of Pennsylvania. Their family consists of three children, as follows, viz .: Oscar M., born April 16, 1870; Jennie G., August 31, 1871 ; George, September 27, 1876. Mr. Pease has made the cultivation of tobacco- his principal business for several years.

DAVID W. PEASE, station agent and operator, West Carrollton, was born September 22, 1846. His parents were George and Mary A. Pease. He was educated in the public schools of Montgomery County, and also a graduate of the Mi- ami Commercial College of Dayton, Ohio. He married, July 28, 1870, Miss Annic E. Lecompte, and their family consists of four children, viz .: Harry L., born July 13, 1871 ; George S., March 13, 1873; Louis D., December 6, 1875, and William B., July 7, 1880. Mr. Pease is employed by the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indi- anapolis Railroad Co., as station agent and operator at Carrollton, Montgomery County, Ohio, where he has been since the road was built in 1872. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, also Trustee of the same. He also was Postmaster four years at Carrollton during the first administration of President Grant, which office he resigned to accept the position he now holds. He is a member of Minerva Lodge, No. 98, A., F. & A. M., at Miamisburg, having been made a Mason October 16, 1867. He is also a member of Trinity Chapter No. 44, since 1868. Also a member of Reed Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 6, of Dayton, since September 6, 1869, at which time he was the youngest member of nearly three hundred members. He is also a member of Mar- ion Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 18, since September 19, 1869.

OLIVER W. PEASE (deceased) was born in Henry County, Va., November 4, 1824, and emigrated to Ohio with his parents in 1832, locating in Montgomery County, where they lived continuously until the time of their decease. Our subject was educated in the common schools of the county, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. Mr. Pease was married, October 26, 1852, to Isabella Dodds, daughter of James and Mary Dodds. Mr. Dodds was a native of Ohio, and his wife

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a native of Virginia. Mrs. Pease was born November 8, 1825; Mr. Pease dicd Sep- tember 24, 1878. He was a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio National Guards, serving four months. Their family consists of three children, two sons and a daughter ; J. Edward, the eldest, was born August 31, 1853 ; Fannie E. was born October 6, 1857; and Harry D., who was born July 6, 1859. Mrs. Pease resides on the old homestead with her children.

HENRY C. SCHUBERTH, dealer in leaf tobacco, Miamisburg, was born June 7, 1848, in Wandsbeck, near Hamburg, Germany, Emigrated to America with his parents in 1852. He came to Miamisburg, Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1865, and began work at $5 per month for his cousin, C. H. Spitzner, who was connected with the firm of Bunzł & Dormitzer, of New York City, who are extensive tobacco dealers. By a close application to business, and his honorable and upright manner, won for Henry the confidence of the above-named firm ; hence, in 1873, when Mr. Spitzner removed to New York, Mr. Schuberth was given charge of the business at Miamisburg, Ohio, that of purchasing tobacco on joint account with said firm. Their trade at this place amounts to several millions of pounds yearly. Mr. Henry C. Schuberth was married, September 29, 1870, to Miss Sarah O. Shultz, daughter of the Hon. Emanuel and Sarah Shultz They have three children-Clifford M., Mary and Shultz Schuberth. After landing in America, and before coming to Miamisburg, Mr. Schuberth spent his time in Allegheny City, Penn., and Cincinnati, Ohio, clerking. In Masonry, he ranks as a Master Mason, He is a member of Marion Lodge, No. 18, also a Patriarch of Miamsburg Encamp- ment, No. 82, I. O. O. F. Since his sojourn in Miamisburg, he has won many friends both in business and social circles.

HON. EMANUEL SHULTZ, manufacturer and member of Congress, Miamis- burg, was born in Berkshire County, Penn., July 25, 1819. His parents, George and Mary (Vinyard) Shultz, were also natives of that State, and his grandfather, Frederick Shultz, was from Hesse-Cassel, Germany, coming to America some-time in the last cent- ury. Emanuel received a common-school education up to the age of eleven years, when, in consequence of his father's death, he was compelled to leave school and depend on diligent study and self-teaching. In boyhood, he learned the trade of shocmaking, and in 1838 came to Ohio, settling at Miamisburg, Montgomery County, where he estab- lished and for about eight years was engaged in the boot and shoe business. At the end of this period he changed his vocation to that of a trader in general produce, and continued to be one of the largest and most successful operators in that branch of com- merce in the Miami Valley. He soon took a leading place in the establishment, organ- ization and development of all the prominent enterprises of Miamisburg. In 1865, he was one of the originators of the private bank of H. Groby & Co., and the prin- cipal projector of the Miami Valley Paper Company, which, in connection with Dr. William H. Manning, he organized in 1871, and in which he is a stockholder and Director, Both of these institutions are largely indebted to Mr. Shultz for their sue- cess and present strong financial position, his sound, shrewd, business judgment having rendered them panic proof, and above the consequences of business depression. Mr. Shultz has also been an extensive tobacco dealer since 1853, and has, therefore, done much toward encouraging the growth of this important staple of the commercial world. He was married, July 23, 1840, to Miss Sarah Beck, of Miamisburg, of which union three daughters were born, viz., Mary A., the wife of Dr. William H. Manning; Amanda M., wife of A. T. Whittich ; and Sarah O. Letta, wife of H. C. Schuberth, all af Miamisburg. Mr. Shultz is a member of the Lutheran Church, and has been a Mason since 1844, in which fraternity he takes a deep and active interest. He has held many minor offices in Montgomery County, and in 1875 was elected to the Legis- lature, but was not a candidate for re-election. In 1873, he was a member of the con- vention that revised the State Constitution. In October, 1880, he was elected to Congress, from the Fourth District of Ohio, which position of trust and honor he is now filling. He was one of the organizers of the Lima Car Works, in which he is a stockholder, and also Vice President of the company. Few men are possessed of a more genial temperament, or endowed with such a faculty of winning friends as Capt.

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Shultz. Of quick perception, he reads at a glance the character of those with whom he comes in contact ; a ready conversationalist, he is never at a loss for a fitting subject to suit the occasion ; free, off-handed and courteous, he is withal dignified and earnest ; a representative man in the practical affairs of every-day life and business, of excellent judgment and clear discrimination, he is altogether one of the most useful members in the present House of Congress.

JOHN H. THOMPSON, farmer, P. O. Carlisle Station, Warren County, was born in Monmouth County, N. J., September 3, 1831; is a son of Samuel A. and Jane (Smock) Thompson. They came to Ohio in 1835, and settled in Butler County, where they lived two years, when they removed to Montgomery County, and located on the farm where our subject now resides. His father enlisted in 1862, in the Eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served three years, when he re-enlisted and served to the end of the war. He died in 1865. The mother still survives. Their family consisted of nine children, viz. : Margaret (now deceased), John H., George S., Samuel L., Isaac S., Jacob, Joseph, Theodore F. and Sarah Jane (now deceased). Samuel and Jacob served in the first three months' service during the late rebellion, in the First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the end of said term Jacob re-enlisted and Joseph en- listed for three years, both in the Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Jacob rose from the rank of private to that of First Lieutenant and was brevetted Sergeant Major for bravery. He was wounded at the battle of Chattanooga, Tenn., and died from the effects of said wounds in 1863. In 1862, Isaac enlisted in the Ninty-third Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and served three years ; was wounded three different times. Nobly did this family answer their country's call for men to preserve the Union. John H. was married December 27, 1854, to Mary Ann Craig, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Schenk) Craig. She was born in Monmouth County, N. J., March 5, 1831, came to Ohio with her parents in 1839, and settled some thirty miles north of Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Thompson have one child-Rulef C. Thompson. Mr. T. has always followed farming, preferring that to any other occupation in life. He is one of the leading farmers of Miami Township. Isaac resides at present in New Jersey ; George, in Missouri ; Joseph, in Bloomington, Ill .; Samuel, in Darke County, Ohio, and Theo- dore in Montgomery County, Ohio.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 150

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