The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 154

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 154

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DAVID C. KEMP, farmer, P. O. Dayton, was born in this township on the 18th . day of September, 1837, and has made it his home all his life. In his twenty-first year his father moved to Dayton, leaving him in charge of the home place. Mr. Kemp was married on the 30th day of September, 1864, to Miss Gabriella Johnston, of Dayton, Ohio. In 1869, Mr. Kemp built the handsome brick residence which he calls " Spring Hill," from the many springs in the hill, requiring twenty-two drains to carry the water to the main drain. When Kirby Smith threatened to invade the State, Mr. Kemp promptly joined the Squirrel Hunters, and may justly be proud of his discharge from that organization. He has five children, viz .: Johnson, Ulysses Grant, David Frank- lin, Bertha and Norwal Duane. Mr. Kemp has ninety-four and a half acres of land in this township, and is one of our most enterprising citizens.

JACOB KEEFER, farmer, P. O. Harshmanville, born in Franklin County, Penn., October 22, 1830 ; is a son of David and Catharine (Beard) Keefer ; is a shoe- maker by trade; came to Ohio October 19, 1847 ; is farming there; his grandfather on father's side was a private in the war of 1812; his father was born in 1800; and his mother in 1809; they had three children. Subject had poor school advantages ; when his parents came to Ohio they leased a place in Mad River Township, 42 acres ;

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subject remained with his parents until twenty-seven years of age ; then married Ellen J. Coffman, daughter of John and Catherine Coffman, of Van Buren Township, old sct- tlers of Montgomery County, both dead ; he located on his present place of 175 acres, which he leases of George Harshman ; subject has three children living, all at home-James M., William H., Eliza A .; is School Director of District No. 4, Harsh- manville. The son James is Township Clerk, helps father on the farm, and was only twenty-two years of age when elected to the office of Township Clerk.

MARY KING, P. O. Dayton, was born in France on the 12th of November, 1823. Her parents were Joseph and Mary Schmerber, also natives of France; when she was three years old, the family moved to Baden, in Germany. She was married to Jo- seph King-a native of France, also-on the 10th of September, 1833, he having re- moved to Baden in his twelfth year. After living in Baden nine years, they traveled in Switzerland two years, and then returned to Baden. In 1848, Mr. King engaged in the Revolution, serving under Franz Sigel. To escape arrest, Mr. King smuggled him- self and family out of Germany, and came to the United States, landing at Baltimore. They traveled by easy stages, stopping in various places across the continent to San Francisco, remaining six months; then returned by the overland route to Chicago ; thence to Cumberland, Md., where Mr. King enlisted in the Second Maryland Volunteers ; served in that three years; thence to Chicago again, remaining one and one-half years ; thence to her present place in 1869, where Mrs. King has since resided. Mr. King died in March, 1879 ; Mrs. King has had ten children, of whom the following are now living: Matilda, married to Henry Scherber, living in Cincinnati, Ohio ; Ste- phanie, married to George Brown, of Dayton ; Gotfried, living in this township ; The- resa, married to Jacob Sobrecht, of Chicago; John, married and living in this town- ship ; Mary, Eliza and Joseph, at home with Mrs. King.

JOHN W. KNEISLY, farmer, P. O. Dayton, son of John and Susan (Whit- more) Kneisly, was born in Cumberland County, Penn., on the 16th day of June, 1826. Mr. Kneisly worked for his father, alternating between the farm, mill and distillery, until he was thirty years of age. Was married in the year 1856 to Harriet L. Kemp, daughter of David Kemp, Sr., of this, Mad River Township. Mr. and Mrs. Kneisly have four children, viz., Carry, Harry, Ida and Clarence. Mr. Kneisly lives in his beautiful brick residence on the Smithville Pike that leads into the Dayton & Xenia pike, where he owns sixty-four and one-half acres of land under a fine state of culti- vation.

RACHEL LEE was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 1st day of December, 1801. Her parents were Stephen and Mehitable Dye. When she was three weeks old, her father removed to Miami County, settling two and one-half miles south of Troy, the county seat, and made one of the first permanent settlements in that neighborhood, building a large stronghouse, to which the neighbors all flocked for protection when there was danger from hostile Indians. Mr. Dye converted this building into a tavern, and Mrs. Lee helped to cook for the soldiers passing and repassing during the war of 1812. She was married on the 29th day of March, 1821, to John W. Lee, of Vir- ginia, a cousin to Robert E. Lee, the famous leader of the Confederate forces in the late war. Mrs. Lee resided during her married life in and around Troy, Ohio, and since her children are married she has resided with them. Mrs. Lee has had thirteen children, and has buried seven of them and her husband ; is in her eighty-first year, and hale and hearty.

NICHOLAS OHMER, horticulturist, P. O. Dayton, is the eldest son of Fran- cis and Margaret Ohmer, who were born in France, and emigrated to this country in 1832, coming as emigrants in a sailing vessel, landing in New York in that year, bring- ing with them three sons and two daughters. After remaining a short time in New York, they moved westward, via the New York & Erie Canal, to Buffalo, thence by steamer to Sandusky, Ohio, thence by wagon to Cincinnati, Ohio. Francis Ohmer, Sr., being a tailor by trade, and finding no employment, went to Trenton, Butler County, Ohio, where a member of his own nationality had settled ; he remaining there until 1837, working at his trade. The subject of this sketch, evidently not being adapted

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for the business of his father, was sent to Hamilton, Ohio, and engaged to learn the confectionery business for one and one-half years. This convinced Mr. Ohmer, Sr., that there were other ways of gaining a livelihood besides the needle and yard-stick, and he accordingly removed to Dayton, Ohio, with his family, in March, 1837, and located on Second street, between Jefferson and Main, where he opened a confectionery and restaurant. The family of Francis Ohmer consisted of himself, wife and seven children, as follows : Nicholas, born April 17, 1823; Michael, Mary, Margaret and Peter, born in France, and Augustus and George, born in Trenton, Ohio, all living ex- cept Mary, who died about five years past as the wife of James Sage, and Rosella, born in Dayton and now married to Jacob Kemper, of Philadelphia, Penn. Mr. Ohmer worked with his father in the confectionery during the summer and in the win- ter in Richard's cotton factory, then at the head of the basin, and afterward in the Cooper cotton factory. In the year 1838, Francis Ohmer opened a branch confec- tionery in a one-story frame building, corner Main and Third streets, where the Phillips House now stands, and placed Nicholas in charge. He remained two years, after which the establishment was transferred one door south in a new building, erected by A. M. Clark, where he remained three years, during this time Mr. Ohmer was working for his father, who now opened a branch in the building then and now owned by J. Manning Smith (the only four-story building then in the city). Mr. Ohmer became a partner with his father, and to enable him to do so borrowed $100 of Valentine Winters. This partnership continued until the fall of the same year, when his father retired from the business, leaving our subject in full charge and ownership. This stimulated him to extra exertion to succeed, and he was, during the thirteen years he was in the busi- ness, the first in importance in the city in his line. When the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton depot building was put up Mr. Ohmer was awarded the eating department, and it has remained in his hands and that of his son, F. B. Ohmer, up to the present time, and is now managed by them. Since that time Mr. Ohmer has became associated with his brother George in this branch of his business under the name of N. & G. Ohmer. They had the eating house at Columbus for thirteen years, and are now the proprietors of the hotel and lunch rooms at Xenia, Ohio, at Indianapolis, Ind., at Terre Haute, Ind., at Lafayette, Ind., and at the Relay Depot, East St. Louis, all of which are justly popular. We now come to the most important epoch in the history of our sub- ject. Mr. Ohmer inherited from his mother and her father, who were horticulturists, a passionate fondness for growing fruits and flowers. To that end he purchased from different persons 104 acres of land, upon which he built the residence he now occupies, near the S. O. Insane Asylum and adjoining the city of Dayton, where he laid out and planted the entire tract in fruit, and the place is pronounced by practical men to be the finest fruit farm in the State. Mr. Ohmer gives his attention largely to the cultivation of fruit for the wholesale trade, and while he is not a nurseryman he sends small fruit plants to every State in the Union and also the Canadas. Mr. Ohmer was married in June, 1847, to Miss Susanna Sprat, of Greene County, Ohio. This union was blessed with twelve children, eleven of whom are now living-Francis B., Edward J.,. Laura M., Emma A., Mamie M., Charles T., Anna M., Harry S., Maggie U., Albert G. (deceased), Lillian R. and Louis A. Ohmer. Mr. and Mrs. Ohmer visited the East during the centennial year, and during that year Mrs. Ohmer died of paralysis in Washington City, which was her birthplace. Mr. Ohmer contracted his second mar- riage in December, 1880, with Miss Jennie E. Hassler, of Mercersburg, Penn. Mr. Ohmer's life has been a very busy one, and is still actively engaged at all times. He

is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and a member of the Church Committee ; is President of St. Joseph's Public School Association, Vice President of Calvary Cemetery Association ; a Director of the Merchant's National Bank of Dayton ; Presi- dent of the Montgomery County Horticultural Society ; President of the Montgomery County Farmer's Club and Vice President of the Ohio State Horticultural Society.

DAVID C. RENCH, farmer, P. O. Dayton, was born on the 12th day of De- cember, 1828, in Dayton, Ohio, and is the son of John and Mary (Croft) Rench. His father was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother in Maryland, and they came to this

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county in the year 1810. Mr. Rench remained with his parents until his twenty-first year. He was on a stock-farm in Madison County three years; was teller in the branch of the State Bank, at Eaton, Ohio, for eighteen months ; was teller for Harshman & Winters, Dayton, for four years; bought grain two years for Harshman & Bro .; was elected County Treasurer of Montgomery County in 1860; was re-elected in 1862; served six months and resigned. This is said to be the only instance on record of an important county office being vacated by resignation in Montgomery County. He was. then appointed cashier of the banking house of Harshman & Cc., Dayton, Ohio ;. was elected cashier of the Second National Bank, Dayton, Ohio, serving five years; then returned to Harshman & Co.'s private banking house, remaining five or six years, when he was compelled to resign on account of ill health, and has since been engaged in the cultivation of his farm. Mr. Rench was married on October 5, 1854, to Miss Mary C. Williams, who is the daughter of Lockhard and Charity Williams. They were born, the father in Ohio and the mother in New Jersey. Mrs. Rench was born on the 7th day of August, 1828, in the city of Dayton, and lived there until her marriage. They have five children, John Charles, living in Chattanooga, Tennessee; James W., living in Toledo, Ohio; David L., living in Atlanta, Georgia; Edwin, at home, and Katie at- tending the High School in Dayton, Ohio.

MRS. CAROLINE SCHAEFFER, retired, P. O. Dayton, was born in this township on the 3d day of September, 1824, at Harshmanville, the daughter of John and Mary (Croft) Rench. Her parents moved to Dayton when she was an infant, and where she lived until she was married to Thomas Schaeffer, on the 25th of July, 1844, Parson David Winters officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Schaeffer remained in Dayton after their marriage for fourteen years, where he was engaged in the dry goods business. At the beginning of the late war, Mr. Schaeffer sold out his business and engaged with the Fiftieth Ohio Volunteers as Sutler, remaining nearly to the end of the regiment's term of service ; then engaged with Chambers, Stevens & Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the wholesale dry goods business ; leaving that, opened a broker's office in Dayton, Ohio, in which he remained until his death, which sad event occurred on the 14th day of June, 1873. Mrs. Schaeffer and family moved to her present residence, called " Floral Hill," in 1859, where she has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Schaeffer had nine children, viz .: Charles R., born May 7, 1845. died at three years of age ; Mary J., born 13th of De- cember, 1846, married to W. H. Shearer; Emily H., born on the 14th day of Septem- ber, 1848, married to E. J. Ohmer and living in Fargo, Dakota Territory ; William T., born June 6, 1850, living in Nelsonville ; Ida B., born 21st January, 1852, married to E. J. Thomas, living in Indianapolis, Ind .; Fannie C., born February 11, 1856, married to W. H. Hoskott, living in Dayton ; Lillie B., September 6, 1858, married to Frank T. Ellis, of Springfield ; Minnie E., December 20, 1861, died August 12, 1872. Mrs. Schaeffer lives in a very beautiful residence adjoining the city of Dayton, and near the Southern Ohio Asylum for the Insane, and is justly proud of " Floral Hill."

WILLIAM STEEL, carpenter, Dayton, was born in the State of Maryland the 16th day of August, 1812, and came to Ohio with his parents, Ebenezer and Anna Steel, in 1814. Mr. Steel lived near what is called "Trebein's Mills," in Greene County, Ohio, at a time when there were only a few log cabins between there and Dayton. Mr. Steel was personally acquainted with the first officers who ever held court in Greene County, Ohio, and often saw the little log cabin in which sat the court, and the pole corn-cribs in which sat the jury. When he was thirty-two years old, he removed to Dayton, living there fourteen years, thence to the terminus of Huffman avenue for four years, when he removed to the place where he now resides. He was married on the 5th of October, 1837, to Miss Barbara Kemp, Parson Winters officiat- ing. Miss Kemp was born on the 23d of September, 1814, and was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Kemp, early pioneers of this township. She is now living almost on the spot where she was born. When Mrs. Steel was a girl, the only means of travel was on horseback, and she says the girls of that day were generally good riders. They have had no children of their own, but have raised three, viz .: James Duke, Elizabeth

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Valentine and Carry Woodward. Mr. and Mrs. Steel were brought up in the German Reformed Church, and were taken into the church by Parson David Winters. For many years the meetings were held in schoolhouses, barns and private houses. Mr. Steel was one of the founders of the old log church known as the "Beaver Church," whose first pastor was the Rev. Thomas Winters, and heard young David Winters (now called Parson Winters) preach his first sermon before the floor was all laid. The women wore sunbonnets and the men went in their shirt-sleeves.

MRS. E. M. STONER, retired, Dayton, was born in Wayne Township, Mont- gomery Co., Ohio, on the 30th day of November, 1842. Her parents were Samuel and Mary Strausburg. Mr. Strausburg was born in Maryland, and Mrs. Strausburg in Ohio. Mrs. Stoner's grandfather, on her father's side, was born in Germany, and on coming to this country first settled in the State of Maryland. Her grandfather, on her mother's side, was born in Maryland, and his father before him in Brandenburg, in Germany. Mrs. Stoner lived with her parents until her marriage with Mr. John S. Stoner, which occurred on the 29th day of August, 1861. Mr. Stoner was born in Wayne Township on the 3d day of December, 1833. His father was born in Mary- land, and his mother in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Stoner, after their marriage, lived on their farm, in Wayne Township, until 1866, when they sold it and bought the present place where Mrs. Stoner lives, consisting of fifty-seven acres of land. Mrs. Stoner has two children, both living with her-Gates E., born June 6, 1862; Warren V., October 11, 1866. Mrs. Stoner's place is situated on the North Miami pike, run- ning back to the Brant pike, two and a half miles from Dayton.

ISAAC WEINREICH, butcher and cattle-dealer, Dayton, was born June 7, 1840, in Bavaria, Germany. His parents were David and Matilda (Katz) Weinreich, both born in Bavaria. Mr. W.'s father was born of poor parents, and was only five years old when his father died. Mr. W., Sr.'s mother followed knitting to support her children, often working by moonlight to economize. Mr. W.'s grandfather, on his father's side, died at the advanced age of 101 years. His great grandfather died at 103 years of age. Mr. W.'s father commenced his business life as a butcher in Ba- varia in 1830. Mr. Weinreich is one of twelve children, six boys and six girls. The eldest, a girl, came to this country in 1853. Mr. Weinreich followed with another sis- ter in 1857, arrived at Castle Garden without money enough for both to come farther ; he left his sister in New York and came to Cincinnati, Ohio, where the first who came resided, sought work at his trade of butcher without success, even though he should work for nothing ; was then advised to get goods and peddle ; tried it and failed ; then went to work at his trade in Carthage, Ohio, but as there was not enough work to do, cut wood all winter at $5 per month, then went to Cincinnati and served an apprentice- ship at the confectionery business at $2 per week. At the end of nineteen wecks, sent $20 to Europe, keeping the balance for clothing. At the end of one year went back to Cincinnati at his old trade of butcher; hired to a man at Cheviot, Ohio, eight months for$100; then sent money to Europe to bring his next oldest brother to Dayton ; then got $18 per month, working in Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio, until 1861, when his wages were reduced to $12 per month again until August, 1862 ; then went to Mem- phis in a leather and finding store at $25 per month for two months, and then $50 per month until April, 1863; then back to Dayton, and entered the firm of Henry Strick- ler & Co. for nine months. Mr. W. was married to Miss Ernestine Kauffmann. She was the daughter of Hersh Kauffmann, of Connern by Leipzig, in Saxony. She came to this country in September, 1857, and worked at her trade, seamstress, until her marriage in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. W. severed his connection with H. Strickler & Co., and engaged with Charles Jacobs, moving to his present place and remaining until April, 1864, not being successful. Mr. W. then engaged in business with his brother at Harbine's Station, Greene County, in 1865. Mr. W. sent money to Europe for another sister. After four years at Harbine's, his health suffering, he returned to Day- ton to his old stock yard and commenced dealing in live stock; continued this until 1875. Those yards not being sufficient, Mr. W. was one of the first movers and incor- porators of the new stock yards, located in West Dayton. Mr. W. at this time joined

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the firm of N. & C. Jacobs & Co., of Dayton-previous to this time, preferring to live in the country, he purchased the place where he now resides. Then there were no buildings except the house and stable and a shed slaughter-house. Mr. W. has added a two-story slaughter-house, three ice-houses and a number of outbuildings, together with stock yard and scales, where he is now carrying on a regular line of butcher business in all departments unequaled by any in the city, either private or incorporated. The firm is now N. Jacobs & Co., Charles Jacobs having retired from the firm. In 1867, Mr. W. sent money to Europe for another brother, Mr. Jacob Weinreich, now engaged in the hide business and a member of the City Council. In April, 1870, his father and mother arrived in this country, bringing the rest of the family with them and located in Dayton, and, in 1876, they for the first time in their lives saw all their children together, and it was the only time, for one week later the only one of the family deceased died in Denver, Colo. All the residue of the family, father, mother and eleven children, are now living in Dayton, and all in good circum- stances.

J. CLINTON WILSON, farmer, P. O. Dayton, was born on the 13th day of May, 1826, on the corner of Fifth and Main streets, Dayton. His parents were Samuel and Jane (Newcom) Wilson. His father was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother was the first female child born in Dayton, Ohio, and was the daughter of Col. George Newcom, so well known to the first settlers. Our subject was with Brown & Wilson in the dry goods business until 1855, when he was married to Miss Elizabeth Young, of Dayton, Ohio. Mr. W. moved to Van Buren Township, in this county, remaining one year ; thence to Dayton, for one year ; thence to Van Buren Township again, for three years, and then to his present home, where he has since resided, and where Mrs. Wilson died on the 12th of April, 1872. They had ten children, viz .: Hugh M., Nathaniel, Malinda, Elwood C. and Jane E., living at home, and five chil- dren deceased.

WILLIAM ZEIGLER, brickmaker, P. O. Dayton, born in Germany, January 11, 1830, and is a son of William and Wilhelmina Zeigler, the latter of whom is dead. He remained with his parents until his eighteenth year, receiving a good common school education. In 1847, he came to America, landing at New York on the 8th of January, 1848. He came directly to Dayton and began work on the farm of John Kennedy with whom he remained six months, spending the next six months making shingles at Vandalia, Ohio. The following ten months he worked for James Sunder- land, and then returned to Dayton and was engaged'as hostler for P. P. Lowe for four- teen months. From that time until the latter part of 1867, he worked at brickmaking for different parties, and in 1868 started a brickyard in Miami City, where he manu- factured brick three years. For the next three years, he worked on Harries' Plat on the hydraulic and then came to his present location, where he owns eight and a half acres of good brick land. In 1853, he was married to Frederica Klus, who was a native of Germany, whose parents are both dead. They have six children, and the family belong to the Lutheran Church. Mr. Zeigler has served as Trustee and School Director in his township; was Second Lieutenant of Company K, Ohio National Guard, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Order of Red Men.

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.

THOMAS BRADFORD, farmer, P. O. Dayton, was born in Washington Township, Montgomery County, January 27, 1819. His father, Robert Bradford, was a native of Ireland, born August 22, 1788. He was raised on a small farm and learned wea ving. In 1812, he emigrated to America, starting in March and landing in Philadelphia in April. His mother, four brothers and his sister started to this county in June of the same year, his father having died in Ireland. Of the children who

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accompanied their mother, James died soon after landing at Philadelphia. William and David learned the trade of earder and fuller and followed their trade at Cineinnati. The former died near Terra Haute, Ind., and the latter at Xenia, Ohio. Thomas was a laborer in a foundry in Philadelphia, where he died. Margaret was a teacher ; taught at Cincinnati forty years, thirty-eight years in one sehool. Her husband, Edward Wing, was also a teacher. Robert was the oldest of the family. He settled at Cinein - nati and for three years worked in a flouring mill. In 1817, he settled on a farm in Washington Township, Montgomery County, on which he lived for over sixty years. His marriage with Elizabeth Myers was solemnized in April of 1817. Ten children were the issue, viz. : Nancy, Thomas, Eliza Jane, Martha, Mary, Margaret, Sarah, Ann Maria, John Mitchel and James. The first born died in infaney, the rest are all living and, with one exeeption, are residents of Ohio. John M. is a physician in Kansas. Mrs. Elizabeth Bradford was a native of Virginia, born in 1797 and died in 1844. Mr. Bradford survived till December 11, 1877. The subject of this sketch was reared a farmer, and for the last twenty-nine years has resided in Van Buren Township, where he owns ninety-five acres of land, which is well improved and under good eultivation. He married Abigail Jane Cavender, August 10, 1854. She was born in Greene County October 10, 1838. The fruits of this union are five ehildren- Lizzie, Dellsena, Mary M., Abby Luetta and Thomas Chalmers. Mr. Bradford and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church. Lizzie is identified with the German Reformed Church.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 154

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