Dayton City (part 17 of 50)

Mr. Craighead continued practicing law in the firm of Craighead & Munger until 1876, when that firm was dissolved, and the firm of Conover & Craighead being dissolved at about the same time by the retirement of Mr. Conover on account of failing health, Samuel Craig- head and William Craighead became partners in the practice of law, and so continued until the death of Samuel Craighead. In 1891 Mr. Craighead was chosen, by the board of city affairs, city solicitor, which position he filled with marked ability until the spring of 1894. Since the death of Samuel Craighead, William and Charles A. Craighead, sons of Samuel, have constituted the law firm of Craighead & Craighead.

On December 27, 1865, Mr. Craighead was married to Margaret S. Wright, daughter of Francis M. and Sophia Corwin Wright, of Urbana, Ohio. They have but one child, a daughter, Sophia.

Mr. Craighead is one of the most successful practitioners at the Dayton bar. He is essentially and by personal preference an office lawyer, although he is also an able and aggressive trial advocate. Thorough and exhaustive research and examination regarding legal principles and judicial decisions characterize his treatment of every important question arising in his practice. The habit of painstaking investigation, aided by a tenacious memory, has made Mr. Craighead one of the best "case lawyers" ever at the local bar. His knowledge of the law of pleading is exact, his patience and persistence are a byword in the profession, and his opinions as a lawyer have the weight and respect to which these qualities justly entitle them.

HBRAM DARST WILT, one of the prominent and representative citizens of Dayton, Ohio, and principal and proprietor of the Miami Commercial college, the leading college of the kind in the city, was born in Dayton, on September 21, 1842. His parents were Jacob and Mary (Darst) Wilt, early citizens of Dayton. The father was a native of Chambersburg, Pa., and was a son of Jeremiah Wilt. The mother was born in Dayton, and was the daughter of Abram Darst, a pioneer citizen of Dayton. Jacob Wilt came to Dayton in 1832, and for many years was engaged in the manufacture of rifle barrels. He died in 1882, his wife's death having occurred in 1875.

Abram Wilt was educated in Dayton, and taught school for a time. Following this he engaged in merchandizing for several years. In 1861 he took charge of the Miami Commercial college, just established, of which he became the principal and proprietor in the following year. In 1863 he was connected with E. D. Babbitt, of Dayton, in the publication of the " Babbittonian System of Penmanship," and so continued for several years, during which time that system was introduced both in this country and in England. In 1882 Mr. Wilt was appointed postmaster at Dayton, which position he held from February 21 of that year until September 1, 1886. For five years he served as a member of the Dayton board of education, during which time he aided in the establishment of night drawing schools, and was also an active member of the library committee. He served as a member of the city board of school examiners for five years, at a time when Robert Steele and John Hancock were also members of that body. In 1883 he was president of the National Business Educators' association, which met that year in Washington city, and for several years was a member of the executive committee of that association. He has also served as a member of the city republican committee.

On March 19, 1872, Mr. Wilt was married to Miss Ella, daughter of William and Eliza Bickham, of Riverside, Cincinnati, and sister to the late Maj. William D. Bickham, proprietor of the Dayton Daily Journal. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilt the following children have been born: Mary Dennison, now the wife of Dr.

Mr. Wilt's name is prominently associated with the educational and moral interests of the city. He has been active in every movement aiming at the enlargement of the intellectual life of Dayton. A ready and versatile writer, his pen has contributed many articles, both through the press and otherwise, to the store of public knowledge.

OBERT CUMMING SCHENCK is president of the Dayton Malleable Iron company and one of the leading citizens of Dayton. He was born at Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, October 2, 1845, received his early education in the public schools of Franklin, and was graduated 'from Miami university in 1864. He served on a gunboat during the Kirby Smith raid and in the militia during the John Morgan raid, and in May, 1864, enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-sixth regiment, O. N. G., and served with that regiment through the campaign in the mountains of West Virginia.

In 1866-67, Mr. Schenck read law in the office of Davies & Lowe, Dayton, Ohio. In 1868 he formed a partnership with S. W. Davies in the lumber business, from which he retired in 1870. After spending a considerable time in Europe, Mr. Schenck, with a number of other gentlemen, established the American District Telegraph company, which company also put up the first telephones in Dayton. From 1880 until 1882, Mr. Schenck was in the U. S. government service, being chief deputy and cashier of the third internal revenue district of Ohio. In 1880, he formed a partnership with Charles Wuichet in the National Cornice-works, of which firm he is still a member. In August, 1882, he became, and has ever since been, the president of the Dayton Malleable Iron company, one of Dayton's largest and most important manufacturing concerns. He is also a director in the Dayton National bank, the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway company, the Columbia Insurance company, the Dayton Asphalt Paving and Roofing company, a trustee of the Woodland Cemetery association, and is identified with a number of other important enterprises in Dayton and elsewhere.

In 1868 Mr. Schenck was married to Julia Crane Davies, second daughter of Edward W. Davies, of Dayton. To this marriage four children have been born, as follows: Mary

D. , who married J. Sprigg McMahon, of the legal firm of McMahon & McMahon; Graham C., who died in 1874; Pierce D. and Rennelche W., all of Dayton.

Mr. Schenck is recognized as one of Dayton's most successful and representative citizens. His enterprise and progressive spirit are well known and fully appreciated by the public, while his many fine traits of character and social nature have won him a large circle of warm friends.

Hrthur Melville Kittredge

HRTHUR MELVILLE KITTREDGE, general superintendent of the Barney & Smith Car company and one of the representative citizens of Dayton, Ohio, was born in this city January 9, 1854. He is a son of Oliver and Julia (Estabrook) Kittredge, who came to Dayton from Massachusetts in 1838, and both of whom are still living, the father being in his eighty-first year and the mother in her seventy-sixth year. Oliver Kittredge was the first agent of the first express company in Dayton. He was also a clerk in the post-office at a very early date. In politics he was a whig.

in the Dayton city schools, leaving them at the age of sixteen years, after having passed successfully the high school entrance examination. He began life for himself by serving an apprenticeship at the galvanized iron and cornice-working trade, which trade he followed, having in time been made by promotion foreman of the shop, then superintendent, until 1877, and being out of the city from 1871 to 1877. Following this he was bookkeeper for a wholesale house, and subsequently was traveling salesman for four years for the H. W. Merriam Shoe company, of New Jersey. In January, 1884, he became connected with the Barney & Smith Car company, and was soon made general superintendent of the entire plant, which is the largest car-works in the west, and one of the largest manufacturing plants in the state of Ohio. Mr. Kittredge is a director in the Miami Building association of the East End, and is also director in the Y. M. C. A. and an active member of Memorial Presbyterian church. He was married in this city in 1875 to Mary J. Broadwell, of the old and well-known family of that name in Dayton. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kittredge, as follows: Harry G., Arthur L., Mary J. and

Mr. Kittredge, while closely devoted to the duties entailed upon him by a responsible position, is interested in public questions and movements, and especially in the educational and religious fields.

H. CARR, a prominent citizen and attorney of Dayton, Ohio, was born in central Ohio. He traces his paternal ancestry back to Welsh and Scotch-Irish descent, and his maternal ancestry back to the old families of Virginia. Mr. Carr was educated in the public schools of Ohio and Michigan, and graduated in the scientific course in the National university in 1874. He was for two years principal of the Germantown, Ohio, high school, and in 1876 came to Dayton and entered the law office of Boltin & Shauck as a student. He was admitted to the bar in 1878. While reading law Mr. Carr was for one year principal of the Vandalia, Ohio, schools, teaching as a means of livelihood. He began practicing soon after his admission to the bar, and soon took rank with the leading and successful attorneys of Dayton. In his practice he has' aimed at that character of business which is most remunerative, paying little or no attention to criminal cases. He is now the senior member of the legal firm of Carr, Allaman & Kennedy, one of the strongest in the city. Mr. Carr is also identified with several industrial and other enterprises in the city, being a director in the Third National bank, the Davis Sewing Machine company, the Stillwell-Bierce & Smith-Vaile company, the National Improvement company, the Cast Steel Plow company, Dayton Church & Opera Chair company, the National Plant company, and the Boda House company.

ARRY E. FEICHT, manager of the Grand opera house and Park theater, of Dayton, Ohio, was born in this city during the late war, and is the son of J. Fred and Eliza (Thomas) Feicht. The father is one of Dayton's oldest citizens, having resided here for over sixty-five years. He is a native of Germany, was a contractor and builder by vocation, and now lives a retired life in the city. His wife was born in this country, and is still living.

Harry E. Feicht was reared in Dayton and was educated in the public high school and the Miami Commercial college, graduating from the latter. His first business position was that of secretary of the Dayton Transportation com- pany, which he held for about two years. He next took a position with the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad company, he having charge of the through business. Later he was promoted to be agent of the Dayton, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad, and next was made contracting agent of the C. , H. & D. Railroad company, with headquarters at Dayton. This position he resigned in 1891 to take the management of the Grand opera house and Park theater. As a theatrical manager and promoter of amateur amusements Mr. Feicht has made a brilliant reputation. He put on the first "Wild West " show produced in America, eight years prior to Buffalo Bill's show. He was the originator of the "charity circus," which was produced for the first time in Dayton, and was one of the largest and most successful amateur amusement schemes ever attempted. The performances - two in number, afternoon and night - were given under a large tent, and were preceded by the usual parade of performers, animals, etc., etc. The receipts of the two performances amounted to $7,336.25. The circus was extensively written up by the leading papers and periodicals of the country, Harper's Weekly and Frank Leslie's devoting half a page each to the illustrations. During Dayton's centennial celebration in. 1 896, Mr. Feicht was the originator of the " Noise " committee, which inaugurated the centennial. He also had full charge of the preparation and production of the amateur play, " Daytonia, " which was one of the largest amateur performances, if not the largest, ever held in an opera house. The play ran a full week to crowded houses, and the receipts reached the amount of $6,300. On the two charity circuses and "Daytonia" Mr. Feicht cleared a total of nearly $9,000, all of which was equally divided between the Deaconess' and St. Elizabeth's hospitals, Dayton institutions. Mr. Feicht was also the originacor of

Mr. Feicht is a member of the K. of P. arid B. P. O. E. fraternities. On January 8, 1894, he was married to Miss Noree Leah Cory, of Fairfield, Ind.

Mr. Feicht's characteristics of originality, inventive and imaginative genius and abundant energy have given him a unique place in Dayton. No large amateur undertaking in any field of amusement is had without invoking his assistance, which is never refused. His most devoted labor is given to enterprises whose aim is to assist charitable and benevolent agencies. Mr. Feicht has the faculty of enlisting the hearty co-operation of others in his original plans, which he carries to success by his enthusiasm and the force of his executive ability.

AMUEL B. SMITH, president of the city council of Dayton, was born in Troy, Ohio, September 4, 1836, and is a son of Thomas J. S. and Jane (Bacon) Smith, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. His maternal grandfather, Henry Bacon, was one of the early settlers of Ohio, was a leading lawyer, and a man of great prominence in public affairs. Thomas J. S. Smith was for many years an eminent lawyer of Dayton, and died in 1868. He removed to Dayton from Troy when his son, Samuel B. , was quite young.

The greater part of the life of Samuel B. Smith has been spent in Dayton. He read law in the office of his father, and in i860 was admitted to the bar. At the beginning of the late war he entered the Federal service as first lieutenant of the Eleventh regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and later was promoted captain, and finally major, of the Ninety third Ohio, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. After being mustered out of service Mr. Smith returned to Dayton, and in 1866 entered regularly upon the practice of the law, in which he continued until he was appointed assistant adjutant-general of Ohio on January 12, 1880, a position he held until March 2, 1881, when he was promoted adjutant-general, and as such served until January, 1884. After retiring from the adjutant-general's office, Gen. Smith removed to Miami county, and there spent a number of years engaged in the stone-quarry business, returning to Dayton in 1892. For many years Gen. Smith was interested in the construction and extension of railroads. He was at different periods president and vice-president of the Dayton, Covington & Toledo Railroad company. A number of years ago he represented his ward in the Dayton city council, and in the spring of 1895 he was again elected to that body, and in the following year he was chosen president of the same. Mr. Smith is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the G. A. R. and of the Loyal Legion, being a charter member of the Ohio commandery of the latter. On June 13, 1871, he was married to Eliza J. Stoddard, only daughter of the late Henry Stoddard, of Dayton. To this union two sons have been born - J. McLain Smith and Fowler Stoddard Smith.

j'ILLIAM J. BLAKENEY. - Among Mm I the rePresentative business men and manufacturers of Dayton is William J. Blakeney, secretary and treasurer of the Crawford, McGregor & Canby company, manufacturers of lasts. Mr. Blakeney is a native of Canada, having been born in Toronto, Ontario, February 9, 1851, in which city his parents were temporarily residing, his father at that time being a member of the firm of Mason, Cook & Blakeney, iron founders, who had gone from Springfield, Ohio, to establish their business in Toronto. In 1853 or 1854 the parents returned to Springfield, Ohio, where the James Blakeney Foundry company was a well-known establishment, and it was in that city that William J. Blakeney was reared, and partially educated, he attending both private and public schools.

At the age of seventeen Mr. Blakeney left school and went to Rochester, N. Y. , joining an uncle in business in that city. Subsequently he became a partner in the business and finally purchased the interest of his uncle and' became sole proprietor. He met with success, and, but for a strong desire to be nearer his parents and his old home, that would probably have been his life work. Mr. Blakeney remained in business in Rochester until the fall of 1878, and then disposing of his interest he returned to Ohio. Locating in Columbus he embarked in business, but a year later left that city and went to Chicago, where he formed a partnership for the sale of church supplies. In 1886 he removed to Dayton and accepted a position with the company then doing business as Crawford, McGregor & Canby. Mr. Blakeney's first efforts with this company were devoted to the planning and putting into effect of an entirely new system of records. He shortly after became the financial and credit manager of this concern, and upon its incorporation, in 1884, was made a director and secretary and treasurer, which position he has since held. To Mr. Blakeney is due, in a great measure, the admirable system which is found in the numerous records and general methods in use by his company. The system of accounting, with its vast number of statistics ever ready at hand in the general offices at Dayton, is also the system in use at the mills of the company in Michigan, where there is a large interest, and is original. The entire business is made historical, and comparisons with former years, months or days, are easily effected. .

This concern is one of the principal industries of Dayton, and one of the largest of its line in the world, and Mr. Blakeney, as secretary and treasurer of the same, has demonstrated that he is possessed of more than ordinary administrative talent. He is progressive, energetic and enterprising, both as a business man and as a citizen, and in both capacities he takes rank with the influential and representative men of Dayton, where he has a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He is a member of the Present Day club, in the meetings of which he takes a deep interest.

Mr. Blakeney was married, in 1879, to Margaret A., the daughter of Virginia A. Sanford, of Dayton. To this marriage two children have been born - Virginia and Sanford.

aOL. JEROME B. THOMAS, who at present occupies the distinguished position of governor of the central branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Dayton, Ohio, was born in Luzerne county, Pa., March 26, 1835, and is a son of Isaac and Lydia A. (Beers) Thomas, the former of whom was born in Vermont in January, 1809, and the latter in Washington county, N. Y. , in 1816. * These parents, after a married life of over sixty years, died in Wyoming, Stark county, 111., in 1895, having removed there from the Keystone state in 1844. -

Isaac Thomas was of Welsh extraction and descended from a family who established a colony in New England in the early colonial days. His early life was passed on a farm, but his maturer years were devoted to merchandizing. To his marriage were born five sons and four daughters, the eldest of whom is our subject; Charles C. and Lewis W. were gallant soldiers in the late Civil war, and now

William D. is a resident of Missouri; Allen E. is president of the Ohio Rake company, with his home in Dayton, Ohio; Mary W. is the wife of Dr. A. M. Pierce, an ex-surgeon of the late war and a practicing physician of Wyoming, 111.; Fanny W. is married to Rev. W. W. Woolley, of the Methodist Episcopal church, Rock Island, 111., district; Olive E. resides in Boston, Mass., and Kate A. lives in Wyoming, 111. - the last two named being unmarried.

Col. Jerome B. Thomas is an educated physician, having first studied medicine in the office of Dr. William Chamberlain, of Toulon, 111. ; he afterward graduated from the Jefferson Medical college, of Philadelphia, Pa., and in the same year, 1858, entered upon the active practice of his profession in Wyoming, 111., where success attended him until, at the opening of the Civil war, he was, on the 3d of March, 1862, appointed assistant surgeon of the Twenty-fourth regiment, Illinois volunteer infantry, and served in the army of the Ohio and the army of the Cumberland throughout the war. After the first year he was detached from his regiment to serve in the responsible position of surgeon in charge of government hospitals in Bowling Green, Ky., and in Gallatin, Tenn., where he also served as acting medical director on the staff of Gen. Paine; later, he was appointed chief executive officer of the Cumberland United States army general hospital, at Nashville, Tenn. At the close of hostilities he engaged in the practice of his profession in Wyandotte, Kas., until the fall of 1867, when he was appointed treasurer of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, at Dayton, Ohio, which position he held until the death of Gen. M. R. Patrick, governor, in July, 1888, when he succeeded to his present important office of governor of that institution.

Illinois, in i860, to Miss Harriet N. R. Tasker, a native of New Bedford, Mass., and this union has been blessed with three children, viz: Jerome B., Jr., a physician of New York city; Alice and Carlotta W., both at home and both liberally educated. The son received his literary education in the university of Michigan, from which famous institution of learning he graduated with the degree of A. B. ; his professional education was acquired at Long Island (N. Y.) College hospital, where he became so proficient that he is still retained as an instructor therein.

Col. Thomas stands high in the Masonic fraternity, having attained the thirty-second degree, beyond which very few Masons advance; he is also a member of the military

States, and a charter member of post No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic, at the home. In this connection it may not be improper to add a brief historical sketch of this noble institution. The central branch national home for D. V. S. was first located at Columbus, Ohio, in March, 1867, and in the fall of the same year was removed to the present location near Dayton. It was the second home established under the provisions of the revised statutes, section 4830, approved March 21, 1866. Previous to its becoming a national home, it was operated for a short time at Columbus under the jurisdiction of the state of Ohio, as a state soldiers' home. We believe the only officer now connected with the home who assisted in the original organization and who was transferred to Dayton with it, is Mrs. E. L. Miller, the matron, who has spent the greater part of her life in ministering to the wants of the disabled soldiers, having been during the entire war, 1861-5, connected with hospital and sanitary commission work.

The citizens of Dayton contributed $20,000 as part payment for land, which money was applied to general purposes. The total cost to the United States, of 577.47 acres, was $85,- 445.30. The buildings are valued at $1,339,- 862.17. The average cost per capita, for maintenance in the various branches, for the year ending June 30, 1894, was $127.45.

The present official staff of the central branch is as follows: Governor, Col. J. B. Thomas; treasurer, Maj. Milton McCoy; quartermaster, Capt. James C. Michie; commissary of subsistence, Maj. Alvin S. Galbreath; assistant adjutant-general, Maj. Carl Berlin; inspector, Col. John W. Byron; surgeon, Dr. D. C. Huffman; matron, Mrs. E. L. Miller; Protestant chaplain, Rev. Ezekiel Light, D. D. ; Catholic chaplain, Rev. C. S. Kemper, D. D.

The former governors of the central branch were as follows: Maj. E. E. Tracy, first governor, appointed April 12, 1867; Gen. Timothy Ingraham, Appointed December 6, 1867; Col. E. F. Brown, appointed October 8, 1868, now inspector-general of the national homes for D. V. S.; Gen. M. R. Patrick, appointed September 23, 1880, and died in office, in 1888; Col. Jerome B. Thomas now being in command as his successor.

ERBERT A. CRANDALL, business manager of the Brownell & Company, and member of the board of education of the city of Dayton, was born in western New York., July 3, 1844. He is a son of Joseph and Marcella (Putnam) Crandall, the former of whom was a native of the state of New York and the latter of Vermont. The Crandall family were originally from England, the first of the name to come to America reaching here late in the seventeenth century and locating in Rhode Island. One branch of the family went from Rhode Island into New York and another into New Jersey. The branch to which Herbert A. belongs were manufacturers and merchants.

The early years of Joseph Crandall were spent in the woolen manufacturing business, but later in life he embarked in merchandizing, continuing to reside in the state of New York all his life, and dying in that state in 1872. His wife, Marcella Putnam, was a direct descendant of Gen. Putnam of Revolutionary fame. Her ancestors went from Vermont to New York. She is still living, and at this time, April, 1896, is visiting her son, Herbert, in Dayton.

Herbert A. Crandall first attended the public schools, and afterward received a collegiate education. At the age of twenty-two, in 1866, he left his home in the state of New York and went to Illinois, where he spent two years in the newspaper business. Returning to New York, he remained in that state for about four years, part of the time being employed in teaching school, and the remainder in mercantile pursuits. Locating in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872, he there engaged in railroading and continued thus engaged for five years, since which time he has been engaged in manufacturing. For fourteen years he was with the Stoddard Manufacturing company, and in October, 1895, became business manager of the Brownell & Co., and a stockholder and director of that corporation.

Mr. Crandall was appointed to the board of education in October, 1895, to fill a vacancy, and was elected to the same place in 1896. He is a member of the Present Day club and of the Garfield club, the latter an association of republicans. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Alice J. Phillips, of New York. To their marriage there have been born two daughters, Ella and Jessie. Mr. Crandall is interested with several other gentlemen in growing coffee in Mexico, they together owning a plantation of about 100,000 trees, which began bearing in « the season of 1896. Mr. Crandall and his family are members of the Third, formerly the Park, Presbyterian church, and stand high not only in religious but also in social circles.

Mr. Crandall is recognized as one of the most progressive and thoroughly qualified members of the board of education. His services on behalf of the Dayton schools have been laborious and fruitful of good results, and their value is appreciated by all citizens concerned in the advancement of the educational interests of the community.

OHN S. BECK, M. D. , one of the prominent physicians of Dayton, was born May 19, 1842, on a farm three miles west of Lancaster, Ohio, of German parentage. His father, Jacob Beck, was but eighteen months old when he was brought to this country by his parents. He was born in 1804, and is still living, at the great age of ninety-three. In his early life he was a blacksmith, and served two terms as treasurer of Fairfield county, Ohio. After retiring from this position he engaged in farming three miles west of Lancaster, where he has spent the rest of his life, and where he has become the owner of 700 acres of land in one body. He has always been regarded as one of the most honest and capable men of his county, and has been called on to act as administrator in the settlement of many estates.

Zebulon Peters, who lives two miles west of Lancaster; George W., farmer, living three miles west of Lancaster; Jacob K., a farmer, living three miles west of Lancaster; Henry S., president of Pierce National bank, of Pierce, -Neb.; Joseph, a Lutheran minister of Richmond, Ind. ; John S. ; and Clara, deceased wife of William Huges, who lives three miles west of Lancaster, Ohio.

John S. Beck, M. D., worked on his father's farm in the summer time until he was sixteen years of age, and parts of the fall and spring seasons, attending school in the winter months. When sixteen years of age his father sent him, with his brother, Joseph, now Rev. Joseph Beck, of Richmond, Ind., to the Capital university at Columbus, Ohio, where he became a member of the freshman class. Remaining in the university in regular attendance, in his classes, he was in the senior class in 1862, when the war fever so took possession of him that he left school, returned to his father's home at Lancaster, and there, on the 20th of August, enlisted in company D, Ninetieth Ohio volunteer infantry, then being organized at Circleville, Ohio. This regiment was assigned to the army of the Cumberland, and in this department of the service it remained throughout the war, participating in all the battles that were fought by that organization from August, 1862, to June, 1865, from Louisville, Ky. , to Atlanta, Ga. He was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., June 13, 1865, having in the meantime been promoted to the position of first lieutenant.

Returning to peaceful pursuits, he studied medicine, beginning in August, 1865, and graduating from the medical department of the university of Pennsylvania in the spring of 1868, and locating in Miamisburg, Montgomery county, in the spring of 1869. Not being satisfied with his location in Miamisburg, he removed to Dayton in December, 1870, and has now practiced his profession there for more than a quarter of a century, his office during all that period being on Fifth street, somewhere between Jefferson and Ludlow streets. For fourteen years he was a member of the board of United States pension surgeons, serving through President Cleveland's first term by the endorsement and courtesy of the influential democrats of the county. He has served a term as a member of the board of health, has twice been chosen physician to the county jail, is a member of the county Medical society, and has been twice elected to the presidency of that body. He is a member of the Ohio state Medical association, of the Mississippi valley Medical society, and was a delegate from Montgomery county to the ninth international medical convention, which met in Washington, D. C., in 1887. For five years he served as visiting physician to Saint Elizabeth hospital, but resigned this position on account of his own very large private practice. After this he was given a position on the consulting staff. Dr. Beck was one of the building committee in the erection of the Deaconess hospital of Dayton, and has put forth every energy in forwarding the success of the institution, which is one of the great benevolences of the city in which the entire community takes pride. To Dr. Beck much credit is due for its being now in existence. He is at present the chief of staff of this hospital, and is also supreme medical director of the supreme council of the Fraternal Censer of Dayton.

Dr. Beck was married to Miss Sarah A. Work, daughter of John and Mary (Webb) Work, of Lancaster, Ohio, she being of English and Irish descent. Dr. Beck and his wife are the parents of two daughters, Clara Lusetta and Mary. His family is one among the best in Dayton, its members moving in the refined and cultivated circles of society. They are highly esteemed and respected for their personal and social qualities, and have many warm friends among all classes of people.

ILLARD D. CHAMBERLIN, vicepresident of the Beaver Soap company, of Dayton, Ohio, was born at Ketchumville, Tioga county, N. Y., August 13, 1858. He is a son of Samuel and Caroline (Swan) Chamberlin, the former of whom was born in 1827, and lived at Vestal Center, Broome county, N. Y. , for some thirty years. He was an academic scholar, and taught school for twenty-one terms, two or three years of which time was in the Titus district at Middletown, Ohio, after which he returned to the east. He was otherwise a farmer by occupation, and in politics a prominent republican, especially in local affairs. He was asked to become a candidate for the general assembly of the state, but declined. For some thirty years he was a deacon in the Baptist church, and died in 1892.

The family, as the name may indicate, is of English origin, and is, beside, one of the oldest in this country, the great -great-grandfather, William Chamberlin, coming from England previous to and being a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The mother of Willard D. is now living in Waverly, Iowa, with a daughter. She and her husband were the parents of four children, as follows: Willard D., AlmaM., wife of Dr. Osment, of Waverly, Iowa; Samuel S., a manufacturer of table slides, of Dayton, Ohio; and Carrie L., the latter dying in early childhood.

Willard D. Chamberlin was educated in the district schools of the state of New York, and afterward attended the high schools of Binghamton, N. Y. , where he received a liberal education, being also assisted by his father, who was not only well educated himself, but strongly believed in educating the young. After his school days were over he removed west in 1877, and located in Dayton, taking a clerkship in the office of the Great Western Dispatch, where he remained until 1881, when he accepted a position as traveling salesman for Thresher & Co. This position he retained until 1 885, when he became associated with Mr. Beaver in the manufacture of soap, the name adopted by the company being Beaver & Co. Mr. Chamberlin took charge of the office business and also acted as traveling salesman. In 1893 this firm was incorporated under the name of the Beaver Soap company, and Mr. Chamberlin became the vice-president of the company, which position he still holds. He has shown himself to be one of the most progressive young business men of Dayton, and in politics is a stanch republican, though never a seeker after office.

Mr. Chamberlin was married September 5, 1888, to Miss Mary Hinkley Sumner, daughter of Dr. E. G. Sumner, of Mansfield Center, Tolland county, Conn., and to this. marriage there have been born two children, viz: Mary Louise, born September 14, 1889, and Edwin Sumner, born November 1, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin are members of the First Baptist church of Dayton, which was organized in 1829, and he is one of its deacons. Mr. Chamberlin's residence is at No. 110 Central avenue, Dayton, where he and his family are surrounded by a great number of friends, all of whom entertain for them the highest regard.

H LINCOLN BOWERSOX, art photographer, of Dayton, Ohio, with his studio in the Canby building, was born in Snyder county, Pa., March 28, 1 8(5 1 . He is a son of Isaac and Mary

Anna (Yeisley) Bowersox, both of whom were of German descent. His great-grandfather, George Adam Bowersox, came from Saxony to this country, locating in Snyder county, Pa., where the family has since lived, following agriculture in the main, although some of them have adopted the learned professions, as the ministry, school-teaching and the law. Isaac and Mary A. Bowersox were the parents of seven children, as follows : Sabilla, wife of

William Knapp, of Centerville, Snyder county, Pa. ; Serenus, a merchant of Centerville ; A. Lincoln, the subject of this sketch ; Jennie, wife of Kiefer Trautman, of Mifflinburg, Union county, Pa. ; Henrietta, wife of James Spangler, a teacher, of New Berlin, Pa. ; Emma Charilla, wife of John Bolig, of Shamokin, Pa., and Clara Verdilla, wife of G. Edward Mohn, telegraph operator at Muncy Valley, Pa.

A. Lincoln Bowersox was reared to farm life until he was fifteen years of age. In the meantime he had attended the public schools. At fifteen he entered the boarding school at Selin's Grove, Pa., remained there one year, and then attended high school one year at Centerville. When seventeen years old he came to Ohio, locating at Fremont, and there learned photography. After thus spending some eighteen months, he visited various cities in Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as in the eastern states. He then spent some time in Europe, gaining knowledge pertaining to his profession, and in 1884 located in Dayton, Ohio, opening a studio at the corner of Main and Second streets, 'where he remained until 1894, when he removed to his present location. His studio occupies the entire sixth floor of the Canby building, and is one of the most complete anywhere to be found.

Mr. Bowersox was one of the organizers of the Ohio Fruit Land company, located in Ft. Valley, Ga. , the farm containing 1,850 acres and being the largest orchard in the country at the time the company was formed. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Dayton Canning and Packing company, having been one of the organizers of this concern. He is a director of the Dayton Building and Loan association. In 1894 Mr. Bowersox served as secretary of the Photographers' association of Ohio, in 1895 was its president, and is at present secretary of the Photographers' association of America. He is in possession of medals earned in competing with others in photography, one given in Germany in 1894, also one in 1896, and had medals awarded him at the semi-centennial of photography held in Boston in 1889. He also has a prize medal won at Columbus, Ohio, in 1894, and another awarded at Saint Louis, Mo., by the National association. He is recognized as among the leading artists of America, his work being reproduced in journals and periodicals throughout the United States and Europe, as specimens of master-pieces in the photographic art.

Since 1884 Mr. Bowersox has given much attention to music, both vocal and instrumental. He is a member of the Philharmonic society, and as such attended the world's fair at Chicago in 1893. Fraternally he is a past chancellor of Iola lodge No. 83, Knights of Pythias, and also belongs to the Royal Arcanum, of which he has lately been honored with the collectorship. He has served in the Fourth regiment, O. N. G., Hamilton light artillery. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and maintains himself in good standing in all the societies and organizations to which he belongs.

Mr. Bowersox was married April 19, 1893, to Miss Lizzie Gazell Stern, daughter of Sumner S. Stern, of Cleveland, Ohio. He and his wife are members of the First Baptist church, of Dayton. For a period of two years he was president of the Berean bible class, and has served as superintendent of the Browntown Sunday-school, and also of a Sunday-school in

ORACE A. IRVIN, secretary of the Lowe Bros, company, of Dayton, Ohio, was born in Morrow, Warren county, February 17, 1855, and is a son of James B. and Ellen (Monfort) Irvin.

Andrew Irvin, grandfather of Horace A., came from Londonderry, Ireland, and settled in the state of Pennsylvania, where he married a lady of German descent, and to this union were born thirteen children. By calling he was in his early years a farmer, but in later life established an inn, or hotel, in which enterprise he prospered. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, did good and faithful service, and eventually came to Ohio and settled in Ross county, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, his wife living to be over ninety years old.

James B. Irvin, father of Horace A., was born in Kingston, Ross county, Ohio, in April, 1827, and there grewTo manhood; but, as his earlier years were passed in hard toil on the home farm, his education was somewhat neglected until after he had reached his majority, when he attended subscription schools and academies, and qualified himself for schoolteaching, having earned the requisite means for the payment of his instruction fees through his daily labor. He began to follow this profession at Morrow, Ohio, and taught also at other points in the state until 1856, when he came to Dayton, and for six years was principal of one of the city schools. He then entered the employ of Winthrop B. Smith & Co., of Cincinnati, as general agent for the sale of their school books in Ohio, and with this firm he remained, throughout its various changes, until his death, which occurred in

February, 1885. Mr. Irvin had filled during his very useful life the office of county schoolexaminer of applicants for the position of school-teacher, having been appointed, year after year, by both the republican and democratic county officials. He was a knight templar in the Masonic order, was a member of Saint John's lodge (third degree), and also a member of the I. O. O. F. His wife, Ellen (Monfort) Irvin, died in 1875, at the age of forty-five years, in the faith of the Presbyterian church. To Mr. and Mrs. James B. Irvin were born four children, viz: Julia, wife of

William T. Wuichet, of Dayton; Horace A.; Obed W., probate judge of Montgomery, county, Ohio, and James M. , traveling salesman for the Lowe Bros, company.

Horace A. Irvin graduated from the Dayton high school at the age of sixteen years, and entered Miami university, at Oxford, Ohio, with the sophomore class; he then taught school for a short time, and in the fall of 1873 went to Chicago, where he was employed as bookkeeper for Charles A. Gump & Co.; in the spring of 1874 he returned to Dayton and entered the service of Lowe Bros, as assistant bookkeeper, passed through various stages of employment as general bookkeeper, traveling salesman, special partner, and, December 15, 1887, became a general partner, attending to the correspondence of the firm, its advertising, etc. On the incorporation of the company, in 1893, he was elected and has ever since been its secretary. In 1896 he was appointed by Gov. Bushnell as a trustee of Miami university.

In his fraternal relations, Mr. Irvin, in 1878, was made a member of Mystic lodge No. 405, F. & A. M., of Unity chapter No. 16, Reese council No. 9, and in January, 1879, he became a member of Reed commandery, K. T., No. 6; the same year he took all the Scottish rite degrees at Cincinnati, and is a charter member of all Scottish rite bodies in Dayton.

He is now thrice potent grand master of Gabriel lodge of Perfection, and at Buffalo, N. Y. , in September, 1895, was elected inspectorgeneral, thirty-third degree (the highest), by the supreme council of northern jurisdiction.

Mr. Irvin has been twice married, his first marriage having taken place, in 1878, to Miss Ella K. Jewell, who died in April, 1880, the mother of one child - Ella Marian. His second marriage, which occurred in 1883, was with Miss Carrie K. Ivneisley, and this union also has been blessed by the birth of one child - Martha Monfort. Mr. and Mrs. Irvin are members of the Third street Presbyterian church, of which he is a trustee, and have their home at No 213 North boulevard.

aHARLES EDWARD PEASE, president of the Buckeye Iron and Brass works, of Dayton, was born at Carrollton, Montgomery county, Ohio, on August 20, 1836, and is the son of the late Horace and Sarah L. (Belville) Pease. Horace Pease was born in Connecticut in 1791, and came to Ohio in 1816, locating first at Cincinnati. In 1823 he came to Montgomery county, locating on Hole's creek, where he established a fruit distillery, making peach and apple brandy. Subsequently he removed to Carrollton, where he carried on the distillery and milling business for a number of years, and in 1838 he came to Dayton. Upon locating in the city he built the Pease mill on the corner of Third and Canal streets, which is now owned by Joseph R. Gebhart, and for about thirty years the firm of H. & P. Pease, of which he was the head, conducted the largest distillery and milling business in Ohio. He was one of the prominent business men of Dayton during his time, and was connected with a number of enterprises, among them being the old State bank, of which he was a director from the time of its organization until it was merged into the Dayton National bank, and of the latter he was a director up to the time of his death. Horace Pease took an active interest in public affairs, both of the county and state, and represented Montgomery county in the Ohio legislature for a term of years. He also served on the board of county commissioners, and was a member of that board when the old stone court house was erected, the designs for which he milde, and in the building of which he took a deep interest. He was a member of the Old School Presbyterian church. He retired from active business in about 1854, and died at his residence in this city in 1875. His wife, who was born at St. George's, Del., in 1810, was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister. Her death occurred in 1862. Six children were born to the parents as follows: Walter B.

Pease, deceased, who served during the Civil war and was a captain in the regular army; Charles Edward; Frank, who died young; Josephine, who married James Stockstill, of Dayton; Nannie, who married Horace Phillips, of Dayton, and Hattie, deceased, who married Charles B. Clegg, of Dayton.

Charles E. Pease grew up in Dayton, his parents having removed here when he was but two years of age. His boyhood days were spent in a manner common to youths of his time and station of life. He attended the private schools of the late E. E. Barney and was also a pupil of the Second district public school, when that school was taught by Thomas Hood, and of the high school when James Campbell was principal and John W. Hall, assistant principal. During the years 1855 and 1856 he attended the university of Wisconsin at Madison, leaving college, however, in his senior year. During the years 1 8 5 3 - 54 and part of 1855, young Pease worked in the machine shops at the trade of a ma- chinist, leaving the shops for college. In 1857 he made his first venture in a business way by engaging in milling at Fulton, on Rock river, Wisconsin, where he continued with varying success for two years, coming thence to Dayton to pursue a similar business. In 1861 he entered the firm of W. B. Pease & Co. (of which the Buckeye Iron and Brass works are the successors), and took charge of the business of that firm when his brother, Walter B., reported with his company to Columbus at the beginning of the late Civil war. The following year, however, he himself entered the service of his country and was assigned to duty in the quartermaster department at Nashville, Tenn., under Capt. Charles T. Wing, with whom he remained until the close of the war. In 1865 Mr. Pease located in Memphis, Tenn., where he engaged in the wholesale grocery business, and so continued for three years. In 1868 he was appointed to a position as gauger in the United States revenue department, with headquarters at Cincinnati. He remained in the government service for about two years, and in 1870, returned to Dayton and purchased the interest of S. D. Grafflin in the firm of Hoglen & Grafflin, the firm becoming Hoglen & Pease, builders of machinery, especially of tobacco machinery. In June, 1876, Mr. Pease purchased the business interests of his partner and organized the Buckeye Iron and Brass works, which company was incorporated with himself as president. The other officers of the company at the present time are Edward G. Pease, vicepresident, and William B. Anderson, secretary. The business operations of the company are in the line of the manufacture of brass goods for engine builders and steam fitters, tobacco cutting machinery and linseed oil and cotton seed oil machinery, all of which are manufactured under patents controlled by the company. The Buckeye Iron and Brass works rank among the largest and most prosperous industries of Dayton, and of the enterprise Mr. Pease has become an important component part. Under his skillful management and guiding hand, the works have grown and expanded from year to year from a small and unpretentious machine shop into one of the largest and most successful manufacturing plants in a city noted for its manufacturing and industrial interests. Mr. Pease is also a director and stockholder in the Dayton Natural Gas company, and has other business interests of importance.

Mr. Pease was married in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 3, 1855, to Laura G., daughter of John Erwin, one of the pioneer citizens of the Forest city, and to this union two sons have been born - Calvin E. and Edward G.

In 1882 Mr. Pease was elected to the city council of Dayton, and was again elected to that body in 1896. Mr. Pease is a Mason and is quite prominent in Masonic circles. He is a Master Mason, a Knight Templar, a Scottish Rite and a Mystic Shriner.

The life of Mr. Pease has been an active one, and merited success has crowned his efforts. Early in life he manifested those traits of character which have colored his whole career - perseverance, sagacity, foresight and pluck - and he has steadily progressed along those lines of business which have not only brought to him success, but have also aided materially in advancing the interests of the community. His concern in the welfare, growth and prosperity of Dayton, his generous contributions of both time and money in behalf of all movements looking toward the benefit of the city, have placed him in the front rank of her representative and progressive citizens, while his liberal views, broad mindedness, genial personality and sterling characteristics have won for him a wide circle of warm and admiring friends.

Ev. James Rowland Hughes

EV. JAMES ROWLAND HUGHES, the venerable pastor of the Memorial Presbyterian church of Dayton, Ohio, is a native of Darlington, Beaver county, Pa., and was born March 17, 1819. His father, Rev. Thomas Edgar Hughes, was born in Washington county, Pa., April 7, 1769, and on May 2, 1799, married Mary Donahey, also a native of that county, born August 22, 1770, and of Scotch-Irish descent. The Hughes family was probably established in America by William Hughes, who was born in Wales in 1728, was an early settler in Pennsylvania, and died at the patriarchal age of 100 years. His son, Rowland, grandfather of Rev. James R. , was a tanner by occupation, and passed nearly his whole life in York county, Pa. The children born to Rev. Thomas E. Hughes and wife were ten in number, of whom a brief mention is made as follows: John D., the eldest, born July 27, 1800, was a minister of the Presbyterian church of northern Ohio, where he passed his life and died March 3, 1870; William, born May 28, 1802, was also a Presbyterian minister, and died July 1, 1880; Watson, born September 7,

1804, was likewise reared to the ministry of the Presbyterian church, and died March 25, 1870; Anne, born October 8, 1806, became the wife of Rev. Samuel A. McLean, a Presbyterian minister, and died near Chillicothe, Ohio, leaving a large family; Eliza was born September 16, 1808, was married to William McKee, a merchant, and died at mature years in Mount Pleasant, Jefferson county, Ohio; Joseph, born August 16, 1810, was called away at the early age of fifteen years; Mary Barr, born August 13, 1812, became the wife of Samuel Wells, and at her death left several children; Robert Smiley, born December 29, 1814, was a farmer of Iowa, in which state he died, after middle life; Thomas, born July 14, 1816, also a farmer, died in Fairfield, Iowa, June 28, 1879;

Rev. James R., the youngest, it will be perceived, being the only survivor of this large family. The father of these children was called to his final rest May 2, 1838, his widow surviving him until February 23, 1852.

Rev. James Rowland Hughes received his elementary education in his native town of Darlington, and later became a student in Washington (now Washington and Jefferson) college, at Washington, Pa., where he attended a full course in the classics. Having in the beginning determined to make the ministry his life work, he immediately after his graduation entered Western Theological seminary, at Allegheny City, Pa., completing the course in 1848, when he began his career as a minister of the gospel. The first eighteen months of his ministerial life he served as a representative of the Presbyterian board of education, and traveled in central and western Pennsylvania in the interest of the board; in 1850 he was installed pastor of the Rehobeth church near Belle Vernon, Pa., of which he had charge for fully fifteen years. Toward the end of his pastorate he became principal, in 1864, of a young ladies' seminary at Blairsville, Pa., where he taught the senior class, in conjunction with his ministerial duties, for nearly three years, when he was reluctantly compelled to sever his relations with the seminary by reason of the protracted illness and death of his wife. In 1869 Mr. Hughes came to Ohio, and was in the same year installed pastor of the East Presbyterian church of Dayton. The name of this church has since been changed to the Memorial, of which he is still the pastor; and that he has been a vigorous, capable and efficient pastor is evidenced by the fact that during this long period he has not lost more than seven weeks of service, through sickness or any other bodily or mental disability.

Ann Caroline Stewart, a native of Huntingdon county, Pa., born March 8, 1828, and whose death occurred at Blairsville, Pa., May 16, 1869. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hughes are Mary Wilson, who married James Caldwell, and now resides in Urbana, Ohio; Catherine Walker, who died in infancy; Elizabeth Walker, who is now the companion of her father; Sarah Stewart, who is the wife of Charles J. McKee, of Dayton; Fannie Speer, born April 6, 1863, and who died July 5, 1866; and James Rowland, who married Miss Eva Kenaga, of Urbana, where he now resides. These children were all born in the parsonage of the Rehobeth church, near Belle Vernon, Pa.

Rev. Thomas E. Hughes, father of James R., was the founder of Greersburg academy, one, of the earliest educational institutions of western Pennsylvania. In this academy some afterward very distinguished men received their early training, and among these may be noted the names of Rev. Robert Dilworih, D. D., the eminent minister and reformer; Gen. John W. Geary, ex-governor of Pennsylvania and renowned as a Union soldier; William H. Mc- Guffey, D. D., of school-book fame, and one of Ohio's most successful educators, and also John Brown (Ossawatomie), the anti-slavery agitator, of Harper's Ferry fame, who was a recognized member of the Hughes family for several years.

The long residence of Rev. J. R. Hughes in Dayton has made his name a household word, and he is thoroughly identified with the religious and educational interests of the city. In politics he was formerly a whig, as was his father, but since the organization of the republican party he has sustained it with unabated zeal. He is also a strong and earnest advocate of prohibition as the principal auxiliary of temperance, and has devoted all his long life to the promotion of morality by every means within his power.

ANIEL W. ALLAMAN, practicing attorney of Dayton, Ohio, was born in Butler township, Montgomery county, Ohio, August 3, 1861. He is a sonof David and Catherine (Zimmerman) Allaman, who removed from Franklin county, Pa., to Montgomery county, Ohio, in the early 'forties. They settled in the vicinity in which Daniel was born, where his mother died in January, 1863, when he was eighteen months old, and the father resided there until December, 1889, when he died at the age of seventyfive. David Allaman was a republican in politics, held many of the minor township offices, and was one of the oldest Masons in Montgomery county.

After his mother's death Daniel W. Allaman was taken into the home of an uncle who lived on a farm near Brookville, Montgomery county. He received his early education in the common schools and afterward attended the National normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, and still later the college at Oberlin, in the meantime teaching schools a number of terms, and being principal of the schools at Johnsville, and at Trotwood, Ohio. In 1886. he began reading law in the office of S. H. Carr, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1888, since which time he has practiced law with Mr. Carr, with the exception of one year, during which he was in partnership with F. M. Compton, under the firm name of Compton & Allaman. In 1892 he formed his present partnership with Mr. Carr and Mr. Kennedy, under the firm name of Carr, Allaman & Kennedy.

Mr. Allaman has always been a republican in politics, and was one of the incorporators of the Garfield club, in which he served as a director for a number of years. In 1S91 he was elected as a representative in the legislature of Ohio, being the first republican member of that body from Montgomery county in fifteen years, with one exception. In this office he served two years, was secretary of the committee on finance, and also served on the committee on public works.

Mr. Allaman is a Mason and still a member of the Garfield club. He was married, in 1 885, to Miss Iva Cupp, a daughter of Louis and Kate H. Cupp, the former of whom is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Allaman have two children, Mary Katherine, aged eleven years, and Mildred Louise, aged three years.

OSCAR M. GOTTSCHALL is head of the firm of Gottschall, Brown & Crawford. He was born at Newark, Ohio, on the 14th day of August, 1843, but was brought up in Dayton, to which city his parents removed when he was but two years old. His parents were John and Abigail Jane (Conklin) Gottschall, the former of German and the latter of Dutch descent. His paternal grandfather was a native of Germany, who came to America in the early part of this century and settled in Pennsylvania. His father removed in early manhood to Ohio, and has since continued to live in that state. Mr. Gottschall's mother is descended from Dutch stock which settled in New York state in colonial times. Her grandfather took an honorable part in the war for independence, fighting in the continental army during that memorable struggle.

Oscar M. Gottschall's early education was obtained in the public schools of Dayton, where he graduated from the high school in the class of 1861. He at once commenced the study of law in the office of the late Edmond S. Young, one of the most conspicuous members of the Dayton bar, with whom he continued for about one year. In August, 1862, he laid aside his text-books and his personal aspirations to take up arms in the defense of his country.

He enlisted in company K, Ninety-third Ohio volunteer infantry. Shortly afterward he was promoted to quartermaster-sergeant of his company. In January, 1863, he was made sergeant-major of his regiment, and in 1864 was raised to the position of adjutant, which place he held until his muster-out, June 25, 1865. His regiment was first attached to Gen. Gilbert's brigade in Kentucky, and later to McCook's corps in the army of the Cumberland. He participated with his regiment in all the hard fighting of that army, from Stone river to Atlanta, and later, under Gen. Thomas, in the final defeat of Hood in Tennessee. He was twice wounded, first at the battle of Chickamauga, and again at the battle of Mission Ridge. His promotion to the adjutancy of his regiment was the result of the recommendation of his superior officer for gallantry and meritorious conduct on the battlefield of Chickamauga.

After the close of the war Mr. Gottschall resumed his studies in the office of Mr. Young at Dayton, and was admitted to the bar on May 12, 1866. He at once entered upon the practice of law in partnership with his preceptor, under the firm name of Young & Gottschall. In the year 1878 George R. Young was admitted into the firm, which became Young, Gottschall & Young, and continued until 1879, when Mr. Gottschall withdrew. He then formed a partnership with R. D. Marshall, the firm being Marshall & Gottschall. This association continued until September, 1883, when the firm was dissolved, Mr. Gottschall continuing in practice alone until February, 1885, when the firm of Gottschall & Brown was formed by the admission of O. B. Brown. In 1893 Ira Crawford was admitted to the firm, which became and is now Gottschall, Brown & Crawford.

fession, has become one of the most prominent and widely-known members of the Dayton bar. His special field of work embraces commercial and corporation law, and in these he has gained a large and important clientage. His success has been achieved through eminent personal fitness for the exacting duties of his profession, and he has brought to t,he care of the weighty and varied interests entrusted to him the qualities of clear judgment and practical common sense as well as strong intellectual endowment.

HLVIN W. KUMLER, judge of the court of common pleas of Montgomery county, and one of the leading members of the Dayton bar, was born near Trenton, Butler county, Ohio, on January 20, 1851, and is the son of John and Sarah Kumler. The early education of Judge Kumler was obtained in the common schools of his native county. In 1870, he entered the Antioch college, at Yellow Springs, where he was a student for two years. His general education was completed by one year's attendence at Ohio Wesleyan university, at Delaware. Following this, he entered the law department of the university of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in the class of 1875. The same year he located in Dayton and entered upon the practice of his profession, and in 1877 he formed a partnership with R. M. Nevin, which association continued until the election of Mr. Kumler to the bench of the common pleas court in 1896, the firm at that time being the oldest legal firm in the city in point of years of partnership. In 1879, Judge Kumler was elected city solicitor of Dayton, at a time when the political complexion of the city was strongly democratic, and in 1881 was re-elected. In the spring of 1896 he was nominated by the republican party for the office of judge of the common pleas court for the third sub-division of the second judicial district of Ohio, and in November following was elected by a large majority, taking his seat on the bench in the same month. As a lawyer Judge Kumler took rank among the leading and successful members of the Dayton bar, and as a judge, while having been on the bench but a short time, has given evidence of ability and promise of a useful career.

OSEPH W. KENNEDY, secretary and treasurer of the Dayton Cast Steel Plow company, is a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, and was born on a farm four miles north of Dayton, September 22, 1869, a son of John and Martha (Dorst) Kennedy. The excellently equipped plant of the Cast Steel Plow company is located at 122 North Front street. The business dates its inception back to 1885, when it was founded with the following named gentlemen as interested principals: Stephen J. Allen, John Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy, L. S. Aughe, Joseph W. Kennedy, and Grafton C. Kennedy. The enterprise was established for the purpose of manufacturing cast-steel plows of special design and of many points of recognized superiority, and the success of the venture is the best evidence of the character of the products turned out. The original executive corps of the company comprised Mr. Allen as president, Mr. Aughe as superintendent, and Joseph W. Kennedy as secretary and treasurer. The capital stock is $18,000, while the surplus has now reached an aggregate of about $9,000. The works afford employment to a body of from twenty to twenty-five skilled operatives, and the most punctilious care is accorded to every detail of manufacture. The present members of the company areS. H. Carr, president; J. F. Allen, vice-president; Joseph W. Kennedy, sec- retary and treasurer; and L. S. Aughe, superintendent. Joseph Kennedy, Sr., and Grafton C. Kennedy have retired from the concern, and S. J. Allen is now deceased. The principal trade territory covered by the company comprises Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, and the business is gradually extending its range of operations as the merits of its products become known.

Joseph W. Kennedy received his educational discipline in the public schools of Dayton, though he continued to reside on the old homestead until 1883, when he came to Dayton and accepted a position as clerk in the establishment of C. Wight & Son, with whom he remained a few weeks, after which he became bookkeeper for the Parrott Manufacturing company, manufacturers of plows, continuing in their employ for two years. He then became personally interested in the enterprise with which he is at present identified, and has done much to insure the marked success which has attended the prosecution of the business. He is recognized as a representative of that progressive young element in the business circles of Dayton which is carrying the city forward to an even more conspicuous place in the industrial world than she has yet attained.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Kennedy is a member of Miami lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and he is also identified with the Garfield club, a republican organization. His marriage was solemnized in July, 1887, when he wedded Miss Dai§y A. Macy, a daughter of Davis Macy, a prominent farmer of Harrison township, Montgomery county. Two children were born of this union, but the parents were called upon to bear a double bereavement in the death of both in the month of January, 1896 - Lawrence being seven years of age and Howard M. five. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are members of the Presbyterian church, in whose affairs they maintain an active interest.

many years in Pittsburg, Pa., but has been a Buckeye resident since the fall of 1876. Portsmouth, Ohio, was his first point of operations, whither he was called to direct the Harmonic society. The Ironton choral union was also under his direction for a season. In the summer of 1878 the Dayton, Ohio, Philharmonic society extended a call to him, which was accepted, Otto Singer, so recently deceased, being his predecessor. Since then the Philharmonic society has been continuously under his direction, and has won for itself and director a far more than local reputation. Indeed, the repertory of choral works performed in Dayton will compare favorably with that of any of the prominent choral organizations of the country.

The directorship of the Indianapolis, Ind., Lyra society (male chorus and orchestra) was intrusted to him for a season, also the Springfield Orpheus mixed chorus, and, incidentally, two Ohio saengerfests in Dayton and Springfield, respectively. The Cincinnati May festival chorus was given under his direction, superintended by Theodore Thomas, from 1891 to 1895.

Dayton's present musical status is largely to be attributed to Mr. Blumenschein's persistent efforts in the direction of classical culture. His pupils in piano-playing and singing have won for him a standing as teacher such as any musician and artist may be proud of. The surrounding towns have also contributed much of their best talent to his tutorship. The Third street Presbyterian church has claimed his services as organist and choir-director since October, 1878.

inent musical journals ot the country. Several of his anthems have been reprinted in England, and quite recently a Leipsic, Germany, musical journal has published a sketch of his life and work, illustrated by his portrait. Considering that his residence has mostly been confined to an inland town, it is surely a credit to his ability thus to be a subject of consideration in other countries.

What the future may bring to Mr. Blumenschein is a matter of conjecture, of course, but as he is just in the prime of life and activity, it is reasonable to predict a continuance of the good work of the past, coupled with a fair measure of success.

EV. GEORGE M. MATHEWS, D. D. , pastor of the First United Brethren church of Dayton, was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, August 22, 1848, and is a son of John and Milchi Ann (Maddux) Mathews.

John Mathews, a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., of German descent, was born in 1805 and in 1811 came to Ohio, coming down the Ohio river from Pittsburg, Pa., and landing in Cincinnati. He later bought from Gen. Taylor a farm which was a portion of the tract granted to the latter in recognition of earlier military service, and died on this farm, in Hamilton county, at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Milchi Ann Mathews, of English descent, was born near Frederick, Md., in 1810, and was a daughter of a slave-holding father, who, however, liberated his living chattels before coming to Ohio for his place of residence. John Mathews and wife were the parents of nine children: James, a farmer,

Ayer, and Joseph is a farmer, both being residents of Hamilton county; William H. is a lawyer of Cincinnati; Charles is a farmer of Hamilton county; Martha is the wife of F. M. Prickett, a contractor at Bethel, Ohio; George M. is next in order of birth, and Elizabeth is married to P. McQuain, a contractor of Cincinnati.

George M. Mathews was primarily educated in the public schools, and at the age of sixteen years entered Otterbein university, from the scientific department of which famous institution of learning he graduated in 1870. He then was employed for several years as principal of the graded schools in Hamilton county, and also studied law, but never practiced. In 1878 he entered Lane Theological seminary, studied two years, and next entered Union Biblical seminary of Dayton, from which he graduated in 1881. At this time he began his ministerial labors and organized the High street United Brethren church of Dayton, Ohio, and served as its pastor for three years; for the next five years he had charge of the Summit street church of this city, and was then elected presiding elder of the Miami conference, in which capacity he served for five years. On retiring from the eldership he was appointed pastor of the First United Brethren church, of this city, and in this capacity is now serving his third year. In 1894 he also became editor of the Quarterly Review of the United Brethren in Christ, a religious organ of high standard.

Dr. Mathews is president of the board of trustees of the United Brethren Publishing house; he is also a member of the board of trustees of the Union Biblical seminary and a member of its executive committee; he is likewise an alumnal trustee of Otterbein university. He has twice been a member of the general conference of his church, and was secretary of the committee that made the report which re-

Dr. Mathews was united in marriage with Miss Clara Belle Hopper, a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, and a daughter of Abram Hopper. One son, Milton H., the offspring of this union, is now twenty-two years of age, and is a student in the senior class at Otterbein university. In his politics Dr. Mathews is a prohibitionist, but usually affiliates with the republican party on national questions. Socially he is a member of the Present Day club of Dayton, which is composed of the leading professional and business men of the city.

OHN HENRY VAILE, manufacturer and inventor, of Dayton, Ohio, was born in Piqua, Miami county, Ohio, on March 31, 1844. He is the son of John and Lucy (Sherman) Vaile, deceased, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts respectively. John Vaile came from Vermont to Ohio and for some time was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Piqua, subsequently becoming principal of the Piqua high school, a position he was holding at the time of his death, in September, 1844. After the death of her husband, the widow returned to her former home in Lowell, Mass., where she died in 1873.

J. H. Vaile was reared in Lowell, and was educated in the public schools. After passing through the high school he learned the trade of machinist and engineer. In 1862 he received an appointment as engineer in the United States navy. He served in the navy three years, a portion of which time was spent in the Monitor service and the remainder on vessels in different squadrons. He was probably the youngest engineer in the United States navy, having received his appointment before he was eighteen years of age. He was second assistant engineer when he left the service. After leaving the navy Mr. Vaile became associated with a glass manufacturer of Philadelphia, and gained his mercantile experience while thus associated by selling and contracting on the road. In 1868 Mr. Vaile came to Dayton and entered the Barney-Smith Car works as a mechanical engineer. While thus engaged he came in contact with Mr. Holly, of the noted Holly Manufacturing company, and by that gentleman was employed as a mechanical engineer in Columbus, Covington and Indianapolis. At the latter city he was retained as mechanical engineer and later as mechanical engineer and superintendent of streets for the Indianapolis Water Works company. In September, 1874, Mr. Vaile returned to Dayton, and in connection with the late Preserved Smith and Walter W. Smith established the Smith-Vaile Pump manufactory, under the firm narne of Smith, Vaile & Co., with which he has since been identified. This enterprise was begun on a very small scale, only six men being employed at the start. The business grew from year to year until, in 1893, the works employed 450 men. During this time Mr. Vaile took out fifteen patents, upon which the business of Smith, Vaile & Co. has been developed. In 1893 Smith, Vaile & Co. and the Stillwell & Bierce Manufacturing company were consolidated under the name of the Stillwell-Bierce & Smith-Vaile Manufacturing company, of which Mr. Vaile is a director, and is also manager of the east shops of the company. The Stillwell-Bierce & Smith-Vaile company is now one of the largest and most important manufacturing corporations in the west, its business extending all over the United States and Canada, and having an established agency in London and a growing trade in all foreign countries. Mr. Vaile is also identified with other enterprises. He is president of the American Carbon company, which has its factories at Noblesville, Ind., and in which com- pany are interested such leading Dayton citizens as John W. Stoddard, E. Morgan Wood, Sylvester H. Carr, George W. Shaw and Walter W. Smith.

He is a director in the Merchants' National bank of Dayton, a stockholder in the Dayton street railway, is a member and stockholder in the Dayton club and a stockholder in the Miami club. He a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a knight templar in that order.

Mr. Vaile was married in 1878 to Miss Alvina, daughter of HughWiggim, of Dayton. He is considered one of Dayton's representative citizens and successful manufacturers. He has established a reputation as a careful, conservative and thoroughly reliable business man, yet aggressive and enterprising to a marked degree. As a citizen he has always exhibited a commendable public spirit in matters pertaining to the growth and development of the city and its enterprises.

ELLIOT PEIRCE, president of the Peirce & Coleman company, of Dayton, Ohio, is a native of this city, was born April 1 7, 1861, the son of Jeremiah H. and Elizabeth (Forrer) Peirce, and was educated in the late Cooper academy.

Jeremiah H. Peirce, father of J. Elliot Peirce, and his wife were also born in Dayton - the father in September, 1818. His father, Joseph Peirce, with his wife, was of the Marietta party, who effected the first settlement in the Buckeye state, the Peirce family settling in Dayton near the beginning of the present century. The grandfather of J. Elliot Peirce was a banker in the early days of this city, in which he passed his later years as one of its most prominent and influential citizens. Jeremiah H. was early connected with the Miami Lard Oil company and maintained this connection until 1876, when he became interested

The Peirce & Coleman company was incorporated in 1891, Mr. Peirce being then elected to his present office, which he has since so capably filled, adding each year, through his business talent, to the prosperity and progressiveness of the concern. The company does a general contracting and building business, including mill work and dealing extensively in hardwood lumber and finishings, and usually employing 150 men, although for the past two years the number has been somewhat less.

Mr. Peirce was married, in 1885, to Miss Fannie Harsh, a native of Findlay, Ohio, where her parents passed the greater part of their lives, but are now deceased, leaving Mrs, Peirce the sole survivor of the Harsh family. She is now the mother of three daughters, named, in the order of birth, Elizabeth Forrer, Virginia O'Neil and Mary Frances. In politics Mr. Peirce is a republican. He is a scholarly gentleman and a business man of the strictest integrity; is public-spirited and ever ready to aid all undertakings designed for the public good, or calculated to advance the progress of his native city and county.

APT. JOHN A. MILLER, cashier of the Pasteur Chamberland Filter company, of Dayton, Ohio, was born at Annville, Lebanon county,' Pa., November 4, 1839. His parents were Jacob and Lydia (Hershey) Miller, both natives of Lebanon county. The husband and father was an elder in the Church of God, and spent his life largely in doing missionary work for that religious body. He was venerated by those best acquainted with him for his genuinely religious feeling, and much regarded for his

Capt. Miller was the second child in a family of seven sons and three daughters, of whom seven are now living. His boyhood was spent in Lancaster county, Pa., where he secured a very good common-school education. While still a lad, he came to Dayton, in 1856, but remained here only a brief time, accepting a good position in a store at Miamisburg, where he worked as a clerk until 1862. He found himself by that time both unable and unwilling to resist any longer the flood of patriotic devotion that was sweeping Ohio's best and bravest young men into the great crusade for union and freedom, and he enlisted on the 9th day of October in that year, and was assigned for duty to company E, First Ohio volunteer infantry. The gallant First was a fighting regiment, and made itself felt on many a desperate and bloody field of battle. It was attached to the command of Gen. Rosecrans, and its history is part of that of the army of the Cumberland. At the battle of Chickamauga Capt. Miller was taken prisoner on the evening of September 19, 1863, and was held by the enemy for fourteen months. He was in the rebel prisons at Belle Isle, Danville, Andersonville, Savannah and Millen, Ga., and suffered during these long and dreary months untold hardships. Even though offered several details for duty outside, he persistently refused to accept, believing that such service was inconsistent with the duty he owed to the Union. But all things end, and his release from suffering and destitution came at last in the form of a parole. He was given a furlough, but soon returned to the front, and, his regiment having been mustered out, he was transferred to the Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry. He was with this regiment when his discharge from the service occurred, October 9, 1865. He was an efficient and capable soldier, and had already won promotion when the regiment was retired to civil life. He was appointed sergeant-major of the regiment, and had received his commission as second lieutenant of company E.

His active military experiences in actual war at an end, Capt. Miller made his way back to Dayton, and took a position as salesman in a wholesale queensware establishment, and in 1867 was appointed deputy county clerk under Fred Fox. This position he held for only four months, when he resigned it to return to the office of his former employers, in the capacity of bookkeeper, and continued with them for more than ten years. The Ohio Fair association called for his services as secretary, and offered him such inducements that he' did not think it wise to remain longer at the bookkeeper's desk. At this time he was also secretary of the Home Avenue railroad, and secretary of the Southern Ohio stock yards, and, though a busy man, he found it possible to take on a little more work. He was active in the organization of the Dayton zouaves, the first military company organized in Dayton since the war. In recognition of his valuable services in its behalf, as well as in acknowledgment of his executive ability, he was made its captain in May, 1873. Later this organization was designated as company A, Fourth regiment, O. N. G. This office he resigned in 1881, and seven years later recruited company C, Thirteenth O. N. G., of which he was also elected captain. His first company was called out to avert a threatened lynching, by guarding the Dayton jail. It was also out two weeks during the great railroad strikes in 1877, and guarded the first freight train out when the strikes were declared at an end. He commanded this company during a competitive drill in Saint Louis in 1879, when its perfect drill and soldierly appearance attracted gen- eral admiration. With his present company Capt. Miller was called again to guard the jail at Dayton to prevent another lynching; and in 1892, during the great coal strikes, was on duty eleven days.

Capt. Miller continued as secretary of the Ohio Fair association for about four years, when he resigned this as well as other positions, to return for the third time to the employment of the old firm, George A. Black being now the principal member of it. Here he was busy at the bookkeeper's desk for a year or more, when he setup business for himself and so continued for a year. He then entered into partnership with Mr. Barger, and the- two carried on a very successful wholesale queensware business for seven years. In 1890 he secured his present position, where his faithful services are thoroughly appreciated by the corporation.

Capt. Miller married Miss Amanda E. Chambers, a native of Dayton, whose father, R. M. Chambers, is a prominent contractor, and is .widely known among the city's representative business men. They have one child, a daughter, now Mrs. Frank A. Groves, of this city. Capt. Miller is prominent in Masonic circles, having received the thirty-second degree in the A. A. S. R. of that order. The various Masonic bodies with which he is connected are all in Dayton, except the consistory, which is in Cincinnati. He is past master of Mystic lodge No. 405, Dayton ; past high priest, Unity chapter No. 16, R. A. M., and past thrice illustrious master of Reese council No. 9, R. & S. M. He has served several years as captain-general of Reed commandery No. 6, and commanded this organization at the prize drill of the triennial encampment at the grand commandery in Chicago in r 8 8 1 . He was grand master of ceremonies in the lodge of Perfection, Scottish rite, for a number of years, and has also taken a deep interest in kindred societies, such as the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of Iola lodge No. 83 of this order, and was captain of Iola division when it was instituted, serving about four years. As might well be imagined, the Grand Army has received from him a service of love. He is a member of Old Guard post No. 23, of this city, and holds the position of P. P. C. He served a term as assistant inspector-general, department of Ohio, and a term as aid-de-camp on the staff of the department commander. He is a member of the military service institution of the United States, an organization composed of officers of the United States army and officers of the national guard. In his political relations, Capt. Miller affiliates actively and earnestly with the republican party. While at Miamisburg he was a member of the German Reformed church, but since his residence in this city he has becbme a member of the First English Lutheran church.

HNDREW FERRIS SMART, a successful business man of Dayton, dealing in fuel, lime, cement, etc., is a native of Ohio, born within a short distance of his present location, on the 14th of July, 1853. His father was Alexander M. Smart, a ship builder of .Connecticut, where his birth occurred May 10, 1807. Alexander M. Smart married Mary J. Slaght, came to Dayton about the year 1835, and remained in this city until his death, January 25, 1881; Mrs. Smart died November 21, 1875. Alexander and Mary J. Smart were both of Scotch- Irish descent; they reared a family of five children, viz: Maggie, who died September 6,

Andrew Ferris Smart graduated from the Central high school of Dayton in the class of 1871, and commenced business in partnership with C. A. Starr, Esq., handling fuel, lime and cement, in which branch of trade he has since continued. The firm of C. A. Starr & Co. existed for a period of ten years, at the end of which time, in 1885, Mr. Smart withdrew and engaged in business upon his own responsibility at his present location. Nos. 524-6 South Wayne avenue, where he now deals in all kinds of coal and wood, cement, sewer pipe, lime, etc. He has a well-established business, and his trade, profitable from the beginning, has constantly increased until, at this time, his establishment is one of the best known and most successful of the kind in the city.

Mr. Smart and Miss Harriet S. Jones, of Dayton, were united in marriage December 15, 1881 ; they have had three children- - Alexander, Emma E. and Roy A. The last named died at the age of five months. Mrs. Smart was born at Fair Haven, Butler county, Ohio, and received a liberal education in the city schools of Hamilton. Mr. Smart is prominently connected with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Saint John's lodge No. 13; Unity chapter No. 16, R. A. M. ; Reese council No. 9, R. & S. M. ; Reed commandery No. 6, K. T. ; Gabriel lodge of Perfection, Scottish rite; Miami council, P. of J. ; Dayton chapter of Rose Croix; Ohio consistory, S. P. S. He is also identified with the I. O. O. F. , being a member of the encampment branch of the order; the subordinate lodge to which he belongs is Wayne No. 10, and his name appears upon the rolls of Dayton encampment No. 2. In addition to the above orders Mr. Smart belongs to lodge No. 32, K. of P., which he has represented for the past five years in the grand lodge of the state. He is a member of the Dayton division No. 5, uniform rank, K. of P. , is identified with the American Legion of Honor, and belongs to May Flower council, O. U. A. M., No. 33. In state and national affairs Mr. Smart is a democrat, but in local matters he refuses to be bound by party ties, casting his ballot for the person whom he thinks best qualified for official position.

aHARLES J. McKEE, a prominent and active member of the Montgomery county bar, was born at Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, January 23, 1856, and is a son of Samuel and Rebecca Crawford (Cox) McKee. In April, 1861, the family moved to Dayton, and in September of the following year Charles J. entered the Perry street district school. . For thirteen years he successfully pursued his studies in the Dayton schools, graduating from the Central high school June 16, 1875.

His early inclinations led him to choose the legal profession for his life work, and in July, 1875, he began the study of law with the firm of Young & Gottschall, teaching a country school at Liberty, Ohio, during the winter of r877-78. April 23, 1878, he was admitted to the Montgomery county bar, but feeling in need of further preparation before beginning practice, continued the study of law for a year and a half longer, at the same time teaching in the Mumma district in Harrison township. He opened an office in Dayton September 1 1, 1879, and on November 1, 1881, formed a law partnership with Walter D. Jones, a member of the Dayton bar. The partnership continued up to January 1, 1888, since which time Mr. McKee has pursued his legal practice alone, confining himself almost exclusively to civil practice.

his constant attention, he has given some consideration to other business matters, having to a considerable extent been identified with building association interests, and is at present secretary and attorney for one of the leading associations of the city. He was attorney for the board of education in 1888-89-90, this being the only public office he has ever held.

On April 23, 1889, Mr. McKee was married to Miss Sarah Stewart Hughes, daughter of Rev. J. R. Hughes, and three children have been born to them. As a lawyer Mr. McKee holds a high rank at the Montgomery county bar, with a reputation for ability, learning and successful management of legal business. As a citizen he is interested in public affairs, and especially in the advancement of the cause of good government and municipal progress.

OWARD F. PEIRCE, a native of Dayton, Ohio, and one of the most popular musicians of the city, deserves especial mention in this work, and before tracing his genealogy, mention will here be made of his career as an artist in music, preceded by a brief sketch touching his early training.

Howard F. Peirce was endowed by nature with large musical gifts and this inborn faculty has been carefully cultivated since his childhood days. His studies of the piano and harmony under his earliest teachers (notably, Prof. Huesman, of Dayton) developed so great a genius for the art that he was placed under the guidance of the accomplished Prof. Blumenschein, also of Dayton, and in 1886, when twenty-one years of age, was sent to Europe, that he might improve his already excellent practice as a pianist. He spent about three years in Munich, under the tuition of Giehrl on the piano, and that of Rheinberger in theory. At Florence, Italy, he passed eight months under the culminating instruction of the great pianist, Giuseppe Buonamici, and on his return to Dayton his proficiency was at once recognized and he was awarded a high rank among musical artists. Since then, his work as a pianist has been made a prominent feature, at various times, in leading concerts in Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Cleveland, and other of the principal cities of the United States, and has always secured the highest praise from musical critics, the press and the public.

Mr. Peirce has the happy faculty of being able always to fall into sympathy with the score set before him, and, with a vigorous or delicate touch, give forth all the fine shades of meanings indicated by the composition. He is ever conscientious and true to the author, and never seeks, by a meretricious display of his own power and skill, to substitute himself for the maestro; he is content with a correct interpretation of the composer's thought, and this quality has, no doubt, won for him his fame with true lovers of music.

Mr. Peirce, for the past ten years, has been organist of Grace Methodist Episcopal church of Dayton, and also has regular engagements as an accompanist to noted singers, who make stated tours.

Howard F. Peirce was born May 4, 1865, the son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Forrer) Peirce, whose parents were early settlers of Dayton. Isaac Peirce, father of Jeremiah, was a banker and a prominent leader in public affairs from the time of his coming to this place until his demise. Jeremiah Peirce was born in Dayton, was a solid business man and a substantial citizen, did a great deal of work towards advancing the material and moral welfare of the community, and died in his native city in 1 889, honored and beloved by all who knew him. Mrs. Peirce died in 1874.

earliest settlers, was a civil engineer, and the superintendent of the construction of the Miami canal. To the marriage of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Peirce there were born, beside Howard F. , three sons and four daughters, of whom Samuel, the eldest, died when about seven years of age; Henrietta, the wife of Eugene Parrott, resides in Dayton; Edward died when he was about seventeen years old; Sarah H., who organized the first kindergarten in Dayton, is now conducting the principal school of that character in the city; Mary died in young womanhood; Elizabeth, a trained nurse, was educated in this profession in the Massachusetts general hospital of Boston; J. Elliot is successor to the business of his father.