Dayton City (part 20 of 50)

Charles F. Anderson passed his youthful years in Xenia, securing his education in the public schools of that city and remaining at the parental home until he had attained his majority. In the year 1878 he came to Dayton for the purpose of devoting himself to the study of crayon portraiture and photography, for which he had a natural inclination. He continued his technical study with interest and careful application for some three years, at the expiration of which time he had become a capable artist. He first went to Indianapolis, Ind., where he opened a studio for the execution of crayon work, continuing there for nearly two years, after which he returned to Dayton and entered the establishment of Appleton & Hollinger, photographers, where he acted in the capacity of crayon artist and finisher of photographic work. He remained in the employ of this firm for several years, and then engaged in business on his own responsibility by opening a studio on the corner of Fifth and Wayne streets, conducting the same successfully for a period of nearly two years. He was then offered such inducements that he entered the studio of Hollinger as crayon artist and finisher, also spending considerable time in outdoor photographic work. In February, 1894, he formed his present partnership with Mr. Hartshorn. The establishment has acquired particular prestige in the line of crayon and pastel portraits, this work being executed by Mr. Anderson, who has established an excellent reputation as a free-hand artist. Our subject is progressive in his methods and aims to take advantage of every new discovery and accessory which will facilitate the production of high-class work and insure satisfaction to patrons. He is a member of the State Photographer's association, in whose work he maintains much interest. In his political faith he renders allegiance to the republican party.

On the 14th of November, 1881, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Hamill, daughter of Capt. Joseph and Leah C. Hamill, honored residents of Dayton. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of one child, Gaylord. They are consistent members of the United Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Anderson is a member of the board of trustees, and also renders effective service as a member of the choir. At the attractive family home, 322 Jones street, a cordial welcome is always assured to the large coterie of friends whom Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have drawn about them, and both are held in the highest esteem in the community.

ILAS S. AUGHE (deceased), formerly the leading plow manufacturer of Dayton, was born in Miamisburg, Montgomery county, Ohio, November 1 7, 1831, a son of William and Catherine (Tafflemire) Aughe.

William Aughe, his father, was a native of Rockingham county, Va., born November 20, 1794, and at the age of two or three years was brought to Ohio by his parents, Jacob and Lydia (Jeffers) Aughe, who settled in Warren county. Jacob Aughe was a millwright in Virginia, and at one time owned a mill on the site of the famous battle field of Bull Run. The family was of combined German and English stock, and was one of the foremost in the Old Dominion. Jacob Aughe was the pioneer miller on the Hocking river, where he first built a small corn-cracker at the falls, near Logan, 1796, then moved to Springboro, near Clear Creek, in Warren county, later to the site of what is now known as Vandere's mill, where he erected the first mill between Cincinnati and Piqua, and finally returned to Springboro, where he ended his days, the father of eleven children, all of whom reached maturity. William Aughe was a brickmaker and followed this business chiefly in Warren and Montgomery counties. He was a man of domestic habits, was honest and industrious, and for some years lived in Miamisburg, but finally moved to Carrollton, where he died at the age of eighty-six years, in the faith of the Methodist church. To his marriage were born seven children, viz. : Hiram, an edge-tool maker, who died in Dayton at the age of forty-five years; Susannah, deceased wife of John Yeazell, a farmer; Jefferson, who died in 1871, aged forty-nine years; William, a blacksmith by trade and superintendent of a railroad shop in Logansport, Ind. ; Silas S. ; MaryJ., who died in infancy, and Samantha, deceased wife of Andrew Clark, a farmer of Darke county. Jefferson Aughe, mentioned above, was a blacksmith and general forger, and about 1852 or 1853 invented the Aughe plow, in the manufacture of which he was engaged at the time of his death.

Mrs. Catherine (Tafflemire) Aughe was a native of Canada, although her parents were born in Virginia, whence they moved to Kentucky and located near Boonsboro. There Mr and Mrs. Tafflemire were captured by Indians during a raid and carried off to Canada, where the husband and wife were separated. Some little while afterward the husband made his escape, and in revenge the wife was made to "run the gantlet," in which cruel proceeding she was unmercifully clubbed, had her collar-bone broken, and sustained other severe injuries. She recovered, however, and shortly afterward her husband, assisted by two others, effected her rescue. The couple then settled in Canada, where the husband worked as a miller and ship-carpenter until his death, the wife also dying in that country.

Silas S. Aughe, after receiving a good public-school education, learned the trade of blacksmithing and plowshare forging under his brother Jefferson, and, about 1866, was made foreman of his brother's works. He was later made a sharer in the profits of the business and given the superintendency, and this position he held until his brother's death (in 1871), when a Mr. Parrott bought the plant, retaining Silas S. Aughe in his former capacity and on the same terms. This arrangement continued until 1885, when the Cast Steel Plow company was organized, in which company Mr. Aughe held a controlling interest. Upon the original plow Mr. Aughe made a number of improvements and secured patents for attachments not only to this particular plow, but to plows of other makes, to which these attachments are valuable adjuncts.

Kittinger, a native of Lancaster, Pa. , and a daughter of Samuel and Lucy Kittinger. To this union were born two children, ziz: John, who is in the employ of the Dayton Fan & Motor company, and Laurina, deceased. Mr. Aughe possessed a deep and reflective mind, and was an active and energetic business man. He was thoroughly practical in all things, and as a business man had but few superiors in the city of Dayton. His death occurred February 8, 1897.

ENJAMIN F. ARNOLD, contractor, builder and manufacturer, of Dayton, Ohio, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, November 14, 1 842. Heisason of John W. and Eliza J. (Kelly) Arnold, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. They were the parents of seven children, all still living, as follows: Mary, widow of Jacob Arnold; Lizzie; Benjamin F. ; Sarah, widow of John Frederick; Rebecca, wife of Alsup Dann; John D., and Clara, wife of Edwin Fair.

John W. Arnold, the father of this family, was a farmer by occupation, and came to Ohio in 1833, locating in Dayton. He followed farming near Dayton until 1865, in the meantime serving as the first superintendent of the poor house, when its only building was constructed of logs. His death occurred when he was fifty-nine years of age. Two years later his wife died. Both were members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Arnold was a soldier in the late Civil war, as a member of company G, Sixty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry. The father of John W. Arnold was a native of Pennsylvania, but was of English and Welsh descent. He was married twice and was the father of thirteen children, was a farmer by occupation and lived to be a very

Benjamin F. Arnold was reared on the farm near Dayton until he was fourteen years of age, receiving his early education in the public schools. At that time his parents removed to Dayton, and he then began learning the carpenter's trade, and for some time was a journeyman carpenter, until 1868. During the late Civil war he enlisted in company C, Thirty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, at Hamilton, Ohio, and served eighteen months. Returning to Dayton he enlisted in the Fourth Ohio cavalry, in which he served nearly nine months. The battles in which he took part were those of Mill Springs, Ky. ; Pittsburg Landing, and Perryville, and a number of minor engagements and skirmishes. After the war he returned to Dayton and worked at his trade until 1868, when he began to do contract work on his own account, and has continued thus engaged ever since. He erected several of the buildings at the soldiers' home, the Western engine house, and also a large number of residences in Dayton. For the last ten years he has manufactured the Ladies' Friend washing machine, and in the busy season gives employment to quite a number of men.

On January 6, 1869, Mr. Arnold was married to Miss Julia A. Powell, daughter of Joseph and Mary E. (May) Powell. To this marriage have been born eight children, five sons and three daughters. Those living are as follows: Stella M., Irving P. , Joseph J., Jessie,

Clayton, Carroll and Lula. Stella M. married Luther Rumbarger, by whom she has one child, Arnold Rumbarger. Irving P. married Lulu Hines, by whom he has two children; Joseph J. married Josie Belle Fisher.

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are members of the Baptist church, Mr. Arnold having been a deacon in his church for several years. He is a member of Armstrong post, No. 79, G. A. R. , and of the J unior Order of American Mechanics. As a republican he was elected to the Dayton board of education, and served one term. Having lived in Montgomery county and Dayton for more than half a century, he is wellknown throughout the country as a good workman, as a capable and successful business man, and as a useful citizen.

He Aull Brothers Paper &

HE AULL BROTHERS PAPER & BOX COMPANY, whose thoroughly equipped establishment is located at Nos. 220 to 224 West Fifth street, Dayton, Ohio, is to be numbered among the progressive and important manufacturing concerns of the city. In the year 1882 the business had its inception, F. N. Aull having at that time begun operations upon a very small scale, buying his stock in limited quantities and selling the goods from a wagon. This he he continued for one year, after which the business was conducted under the firm title of W. J. Aull & Brother. They secured a small stock of goods, and their method of working was to go out and personally secure orders and then return to their headquarters and fill the same. Their establishment was located on Hanna's alley, between Jefferson and St. Clair streets, and these quarters were retained for about four years, when the growing demands made upon the firm rendered it essential that they secure accommodations of a better order. Accordingly they removed to No. 39 East Second street, and eventually found use for the adjoining store, No. 37. Upon the erection of the M. J. Gibbons building, 136 East Second street, they took possession of it, the building having been designed and built particularly for their use. Here, under the firm name of Aull Brothers Paper Company, they continued operations for five years, when again there arose the necessity for more com- modious quarters, and they then prepared for the erection of a building of their own and one which should offer all the conveniences essential to carrying on with the greatest facility the details of the now very extensive business. This building was completed in due time and the firm took possession of the same in January, 1895. The structure is of brick, is 50X 125 feet in dimensions, five stories in height and of approved modern architectural design. Special shipping facilities are secured through the provision of a side-track connecting directly with the establishment. When operating to full capacity, the manufactory affords employment to a corps of 150 persons, the output comprising folding and made-up paper boxes of all kinds, paper pails for ice cream, oysters, berries, etc., together with paper bags of all sizes. The business is continued as a wholesale jobbing enterprise, and the products of the establishment find sale in the most diverse sections of the Union.

In March, 1895, the senior member of the firm, W. J. Aull, started on a trip south, by river, for the improvement of his health, taking passage on the steamer "Longfellow," which encountered a fog at Cincinnati on the 7th of March, resulting in a most painful fatality, since the boat went down with all on board, Mr. Aull and his wife both being drowned. He was but thirty-eight years of age, and his untimely death by so pitiable an accident caused the deepest sorrow to all who had known him in either a business or social way. After his death the business in which he he had been so conspicuously concerned was reorganized and incorporated, with officers as follows: F. N. Aull, president; J. W. Aull, subsequently removing to Bloomington, 111., where he remained until 1865, when he again returned with his family to Dayton, where they have ever since maintained their abode.

The venerable father is still living, having attained the age of seventy-two years. He left Dayton in 1895 f°r the purpose of making his home with his daughter, who resides on Lookout Mountain. He had been prominently engaged in the hotel business for many years, and had a wide circle of acquaintances, among whom he was singularly popular. He has been a stalwart democrat all his life and an active worker in the party ranks. He is a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, whence he came to America when a lad of ten years. Upon attaining his majority he was united in marriage to Miss Julia Gigler, a native of Hagerstown. Her death occurred January 8, 1891. They became the parents of ten children, two of whom, Edward and Elizabeth, died in infancy. Of the others, Louisa is the widow of John Weston, of Dayton; Catherine is the wife of W. F. Heath, of Ottawa, 111. ; Eva is the wife of Colonel H. F. Collins, of Dayton; William J. is deceased; Emma is the wife of O. L. Hurlburt, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn. ; Frank N. is president of the Aull Brothers Paper & Box company; John W. is a member of the same company; Julia is the wife of T. V. Meyer, of Chattanooga, Tenn.

Frank N. Aull was born August 27, 1862, at Bloomington, 111. He was educated in the public schools and at fourteen years of age became identified with the line of industry with which he is still concerned. He has developed a maiked business sagacity and executive ability, is known as one of the most capable young business men of Dayton, and is a member of the board of trade. His marriage to Miss Ella Wetzel was celebrated October 2, 1889, and they have three children - Charles F. , Harold W. and Edgar C. The family home is

John W. Aull, secretary of the company, is a native of Dayton, where he was born on the 27th of March, 1866. He received a common-school education, and at the age of fourteen years became associated with the practical duties of life, becoming then concerned in the paper business with R. A. Rogers, with whom he continued to be associated until 1885, when he became traveling salesman for the Aull Brothers' establishment, becoming a member of the firm in 1890. In 1892 he gave up work as traveling representative and assumed charge of the manufacturing department of 'the business, becoming secretary at the time of its incorporation. His standing in commercial circles is on a parity with that of his brother, and both are unmistakably popular by reason of their correct and honorable methods and sterling personal attributes. In his fraternal relations Mr. Aull is a member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, in whose affairs he has an abiding interest.

On the 3d of June, 1891, John W. Aull was united in marriage to Miss Mamie Harries, daughter of John Harries, a well-known resident of Dayton. They reside at No. 217 North Jefferson street.

HADEUS JOSEPH BACKUS, superintendent of streets of Dayton, was born April 3, 1852, in this city, where he has always resided. He is a son of Washington and Lucy (Stuckmier) Backus, both of German extraction.

Washington Backus was a native of Connecticut and possessed a large measure of Yankee thrift and energ}', which he devoted to commerce, spending his life in mercantile pursuits. He was a large dealer in notions, doing a wholesale and retail business which made his name widely known. He died when his son Thadeus Joseph was but four years old, leaving a widow, this son and two daughters, who are now Mrs. Susanna Lachelle, residing in Denver, Colo. , and Mrs. Emma Houser, of this city. The widow afterward married William E. Martin, now of Springfield, Ohio, who brought into the household his son by a former marriage, William A., who is the superintendent of the Farm and Fireside, a literary and household journal published at Springfield. To the union of Mr. Martin and Mrs. Backus were born three children: George, who is now a druggist at Miami City; Levi, who is superintendent of the Barb Wire Fence Manufacturing company, at Lawrence, Kan., and Jennie, who resides at Dayton. The mother died at her home in Dayton in 1873.

Mr. Backus early learned the business of making galvanized-iron cornice and slate roofing, which he successfully followed for about twenty years. His methods attracted the attention and commanded the respect and confidence of the people, and in 1893 he was appointed, by the board of city affairs, to his present position of responsibility and trust, the duties of which office he is performing in an eminently satisfactory manner. The varied and important character of these duties renders his position far other than a sinecure, and, with the construction of sewers, the cleaning of streets and destruction of garbage, Mr. Backus is kept a very busy man.

On the 7th of June, 1877, Mr. Backus was united in marriage to Miss Katie C. Barnes, a native of Dayton, and daughter of Lawrence and Margaret Barnes, the former now deceased. Of a family of five children Mrs. Backus is the eldest. The other children are: Robert, the

Mr. and Mrs. Backus have a family of seven children, all of whom live with their parents. They are: May, Lulu, William, George, Julia, Charles and Christopher. Miss May is a stenographer and typewriter, employed in the pension department at the National Military Home, Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The other children are still in school.

Politically, Mr. Backus is a democrat and stands high among the local counselors of his parcy. He was reared in the Presbyterian church, and is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias and of the B. P. O. Elks. Mrs. Backus is an adherent of the Roman Catholic faith, and is a member of the Church of the Sacred Heart.

ESSE H. BATES, one of the old and highly respected citizens of Dayton, was born January 6, 1834, ten miles south of Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, a son of Acel C. and Meca (Bobo) Bates, who, about 1812, came to Ohio from Connecticut and Virginia respectively. The father was a carpenter by trade, and later an auctioneer at Cincinnati, but, when Jesse was born, was keeping hotel in Warren county.

Jesse H. Bates was the seventh born in a family of ten children, was reared in Warren county, and at the age of eighteen years began to study bridge building. In due time he assisted in constructing the bridges on the Dayton & Richmond and Indiana Central railroads, and followed the trade for several years thereafter. In 1858 he came to Montgomery county, located at Germantown, and purchased a hack line running from Germantown to Carlisle Station, which he ran for one year, and then for a time conducted a livery barn and traded in horses. In 1866 he came to Dayton, Ohio, and was first engaged as foreman by D. H. Morrison, a prominent bridge builder, and later, for twelve years, was employed on the Pan Handle railroad as foreman of the bridge department, since when he has practically lived a retired life.

Jesse H. Bates was married in Germantown, Montgomery county, in 1858, to Miss Melazina Schaeffer, daughter of Michael N. and Mary (Katron) Schaeffer, the union resulting in the birth of four children, in the following order: Mollie, wife of DeWitt C. Arnold, shoe dealer of Dayton; Oliver E., the popular caterer of Dayton, of whom fuller mention will be made in a later paragraph; Harriet B. and J. Stewart. Mr. and Mrs. Bates are members of the Third street Presbyterian church, and in politics Mr. Bates is a stanch republican. They have their residence at No. 341 West Fourth street, where their hospitable doors are always open to the visits of a large number of sincere friends.

Oliver E. Bates, son of Jesse H. and Melazina (Schaeffer) Bates, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, March 30, 1862, and was but five years of age when his parents came to reside in Dayton. He was educated in the public schools of the city, and at the age of twenty-two years entered the employ of Lowe Bros, as assistant bookkeeper, and later became a traveling salesman for the same firm, having charge of their artists' material department. He remained with this firm for five years, and then traveled for a short time for a Chicago firm in the same business. Returning to Dayton, he was for two years in the employ of the Globe Iron works as shipping and corresponding clerk, and in 1889 embarked in a bakery business on his own account, at No. 524 East Fifth street, confining himself to bread and cake baking. In 1891 he purchased his present business, succeeding F. J. Holden, at No. 14 North Main street. Here he caters to the best social circles of the city, manufacturing all his confectionery and ice cream, of which he makes a specialty. His parlors are complete and inviting in every respect, and the attendance perfect.

Mr. Bates is a member of Dayton lodge, No. 147, F. & A. M., in which he has passed all the chairs; is also a member of Unity chapter, No. 16; Reese council, No. 9; Reedcommandery, No. 6; Gabriel grand lodge of Perfection; Miami grand council; Dayton grand chapter, and Rose Croix, Cincinnati consistory; he was also a charter member of the Vingt-et-un club of Dayton - a social and beneficial organization. Mr. Bates was united in marriage March 22, 1887, to Miss Carrie E. Gebhart, daughter of S. T. Gebhart, and this union has been blessed with two children - Elwood G. and J. Robert. The family have their home at No. 334 West Fourth street.

OHN R. BROWNELL, president of the Brownell company, one of the largest manufacturing concerns of Dayton, is a native of Fulton county, N. Y., where he was born on July 7, 1839. His parents were Frederick and Ann (Dolly) Brownell, both of whom were natives of the county already named. The father was a tanner and a currier by trade. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, being stationed at Sackett's Harbor with Gen. Brown; six uncles of his wife also served in the war. In 1842 Frederick Brownell came to Ohio with his family and located at Lower Sandusky, near Fremont, and from there removed to Perrysburg, Wood county, and thence to Green Springs, Sandusky county, and finally to a farm three miles from Fremont, where he died in 1851. His widow died in 1882, in Dayton.

John R. Brownell was the youngest of eleven children born to his parents. After the family came to Ohio he attended school during the winter time for several years. The first winter after his father's death he worked at Green Springs for his board, at the same time attending school. Further educational advantages were denied him, and from that time on he was thrown upon his own resources and compelled to make his way in life by his own efforts. During the year 1853 he served as a clerk in the store of W. T. & A. K. West at Sandusky City, and the following two years he spent on the steamer Northern Indiana, on Lake Erie. In the fall of 1856 he came to Dayton and entered the employ of his brother, Elijah H. Brownell, at boilermaking, at which he continued until the fall of 1857, when he went to California. After working at his trade in San Francisco for a time he went to the gold mines and remained there until January, 1861, when he returned to Dayton. The following August he enlisted in the army, was sent to Saint Louis, and mustered into the Thirteenth Missouri regiment (which at Corinth was changed to the Twenty-second Ohio volunteer regiment) as a sergeant, and served as such until 1863, when he was commissioned second lieutenant of company K, of the above regiment, which company he commanded most of the time. He was mustered out as second lieutenant, having served all through the war of the Rebellion. Returning to Dayton, he became a member of the firm of Brownell & Company, manufacturers of machinery, boilers and general foundry work. This firm was originally composed of John R. Brownell, James H. Brownell, E. H. Brownell, George J. Roberts and Josiah Lee, and their place of business was at No. 437 East First street. May 8, 1865, F. J. Brownell was admitted to the firm, and on November 1, 1867, it was organized under the name of Brownell, Roberts &

Company. In February, 1871, the Brownell & Kielmeier Manufacturing company was incorporated, with C. H. Kielmeier as president; John R. Brownell as vice-president and general superintendent, and James Anderson as secretary and treasurer. On account of the panic of 1 873 the company made an assignment. At the sale John R. Brownell bought two-thirds and Martin Schneble one-third of the property, and continued the business until February, 1884, in which year Mr. Brownell bought out the interest of Mr. Schneble, and, under the name of Brownell & Co., ran the business by himself until January, 1888, when the Brownell company was incorporated, with Mr. Brownell as president and superintendent, D. H. Dryden, vice-president, and E. A. Vance, secretary and treasurer. The business remained at its original location until September 12, 1888, when a fire occurred, destroying buildings and machinery. The business was then moved to Findlay street, just north of First, where a portion of the boiler plant had been since 1883. The plant at the above location, as it stands to-day, consists of a twostory brick machine shop, 200x60 feet, with a three-story office building, 30 feet square; a foundry building, 200x60 feet, with an "L" 50 x 30 feet; a boiler shop, 200 x 50 feet, with two "Ls" 50 feet square; and a recent addition to the boiler shop of 70 x 227 feet. Mr. Brownell owns the principal stock (ninety per cent) at present. Officers: J. R. Brownell, daughter of Abraham Smith, of Maryland. By this marriage he has the following children: Carrie J., Alice J., Mary J. and John R., Jr. In 1874 Mr. Brownell was elected a member of the board of commissioners of Montgomery county, serving three years; during the years 1881-82 he was a member of the Dayton city council. In 1882 he was elected to the Ohio state senate, serving one term. He is a leading member of the G. A. R., Loyal Legion and Union Veteran League.

AMES H. BAGGOTT, ex-judge of the probate court of Montgomery county, was born in Licking county, Ohio, and is the eldest child of Col. William Baggott, who emigrated from Virginia to Ohio in 1823. Just previous to leaving Virginia he was married to Miss Hannah Quick. After living in this state about sixteen years they moved into Montgomery county in 1839, settling upon a farm nine miles north of Dayton on the National road. Here James worked upon the farm in summer, and attended school in the winter season, receiving the best education the country schools afforded at that time. So well did he progress in learning that at an unusually early age he himself began teaching school, being barely seventeen years old when he first essayed this responsible duty. In 1846 and 1847 he attended the old academy in Dayton, a remarkable institution in several respects. In 1848 he began reading law in the office of the Hon. Peter Odlin, at one time a partner of Gen. Robert C. Schenck, under the firm name of Odlin & Schenck, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1850. In September, 1851, he was unanimously nominated by the democratic convention for the office of prosecuting attorney, and was elected by a majority of one vote over Hon. Samuel Craighead, the whig candidate, who was running for his third term, and who, having been an able and most efficient official, was very popular with his own party. In 1853 young Baggott was again unanimously nominated for the second term, his competitor being the Hon. Hiram Strong, who, as colonel of the Ninetythird regiment of Ohio troops, was afterward fatally wounded at the battle of Chickamauga. The result of the contest was the re-election of Mr. Baggott by a majority of more than 300. In 1857 Judge Baggott was nominated without opposition for the office of probate judge and was elected, serving one term of three years. After retiring from the office of probate judge he returned to the practice of the law, and has since continued thus engaged.

In politics Judge Baggott is and always has been a democrat, and has been a delegate to numerous state conventions. He was married in 1862 to Fannie Williams, of Kentucky, a daughter of George Williams. Mr. Baggott is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is a Knight Templar. He has been a member of the First Baptist church since 1872. He is a man of great strength of characcer, devoted to his profession, and well qualified to fill any position of public trust. It may be said of his work as prosecuting attorney of Montgomery county, that he distinguished himself, while in that office, by the prosecution and conviction of Frank Dick for murder, as a result of which Dick was executed. This was one of the most notable criminal trials in the annals of Montgomery county.

a APT. ALLEN M. BAKER, of the National Military Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, near Dayton, Ohio, was born in Aroostook county, Me., August 9, 1833, and is a son of George and Mary (Lawrence) Baker, natives of New Brunswick, where their marriage took place. George Baker was a mechanic, but died when his son Allen was but a child. Of his five sons three were soldiers in the late Civil war, and one was for seven months a prisoner at Andersonville, S. C.

Allen M. Baker was quite well educated in the public schools of his native state of Maine ; learned the blacksmith's trade, and later became a steamboatman, and in this latter employment he was engaged when he enlisted, December 20, 1863, in Company I, Thirtyninth New York volunteer infantry. He served until the close of the war in the army of the Potomac, Second army corps, under Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock ; and in the battle of the Wilderness, Va., under Gen. U. S. Grant, was wounded, May 6, 1864, and sent to hospital. There he was confined until August 1 5 following, when he rejoined his regiment at City Point, Va. , and took part in all its marches, skirmishes and engagements until the war closed. Among the battles of note in which he participated were those of Deep Bottom, Reams Station, Petersburg, and Hatcher's Run, and all engagements of his company ; he was in the grand review in Washington, D. C. , in May, 1865, and was finally mustered out of the service, in that city, July 1, of the same year. He returned to his native state for a brief visit, then came west and for a number of years was employed in farming and lumbering in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but at last succumbed to the effects of disease contracted in the army, and in October, 1884, sought a refuge in the soldiers' home near Dayton. For a long time after entering this institution he was unable to perform any active labor, and was, until the five years last past, constantly under medical treatment, but was then appointed captain of company Eleven, his barracks affording accommodation for 217 men.

the close of the Civil war. He has never been a member of any secret society and in religious matters he thinks for himself. In politics he is bound by no party ties, but exercises his franchise in favor of the candidate he considers to be a friend of the soldiers. His military titles were awarded him for marked bravery on the battle field and meritorious conduct in face of the enemy and in the performance of duty on all occasions. He was first promoted to be sergeant of his company, then commissioned second lieutenant, and then captain, with which rank he was mustered out.

DWIN RUTHVEN BAKER, M. D., practicing physician and surgeon of Dayton, with office at No. 221 East Third street, was born in Phillipsburg, Montgomery county, Ohio, June 6, 1851. He is a son of Andrew H. and Hannah C. (Thomas) Baker, both of whom are living at Phillipsburg.

Edwin Ruthven Baker was reared in Montgomery county, and educated in the public schools until he was fifteen years of age, when he began to learn the trade of mason, at which he worked for some eight or ten years during the summer season, at the same time pursuing the study of medicine with Dr. J. W. Tedrow, now deceased. After completing his studies in the public schools of Dayton, he attended the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati, and graduated as a member of the class of 1876. After this he formed a partnership with Dr. Hawkins at Union, Montgomery county, with whom he was associated for two years. He then located at West Milton, Miami county, and was there engaged in an active and successful practice for twelve years. At the end of this time he came to Dayton, where he has since been engaged successfully in the general practice of his profession and in surgery. He is a member of Gem City lodge, No. 795, I. O. O. F. , and has belonged to this order for twenty-four years. In politics he is a republican, and has been elected to the office of township treasurer.

Dr. Baker was married at Union, Montgomery county, November 23, 1876, to Miss Fannie E. Hawthorne, a daughter of George and Nancy Hawthorne, who came from Pennsylvania to Ohio. Mrs. Baker was born in Lancaster, Pa., and is of German and Irish ancestry. Dr. Baker is one of the progressive citizens of Dayton, is public spirited, and takes an interest in every movement calculated to promote the prosperty of his chosen home.

OHN L. BAKER, member of the board of city affairs, of Dayton, was born in New Carlisle, Clarke county, Ohio, December 10, 1848. His father, William Baker, was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1821, and was a son of John Baker, one of the earliest settlers of the city of Dayton, and one of the first carpenters and contractors to locate there. John Baker assisted in building the old Third street bridge. William Baker was reared in Dayton, where he learned the trade of carriagemaking. In 1840 he removed to New Carlisle, Clarke county, where he was married to Mary McNeal, who was born in Pennsylvania and who died about 1850. Mr. Baker died in 1870. Until the beginning of the war he carried on the manufacture of carriages at New Carlisle. He and his wife were the parents of two sons, John L. , and William A., his elder brother, who is now a resident of Muncie, Ind.

John L. Baker was reared in New Carlisle, and was educated at the academy in that place. After leaving school he learned the carriagemaker's trade. In 1864 he established himself in the carriage manufacturing business in

New Carlisle, continuing until January 2, 1872, when he moved to Dayton and entered upon the same business there, having been thus engaged ever since. His present factory is situated at Nos. 22, 24 and 26 West Fifth street. In March, 1889, Mr. Baker also embarked in the livery business with a stable on Ludlow street, between Third and Fourth streets, and has now one of the largest establishments in the city. On January 29, 1894, he purchased the Dayton Transfer company's property and business, and now operates that as well as his carriage manufactory and livery stable. In April, 1895, he was appointed by Mayor Mc- Miilen to a position on the board of city affairs, of which office he took possession on the 19th of that month. Mr. Baker has always been a democrat, and as such holds his present office. He was married in 1875 to Miss Josie Brower, of New Carlisle, and to their marriage there has been born one daughter, Blanche Louise.

physician and surgeon of Dayton, Ohio, with office at No. 29 North Perry street, was born at McConnelsville, July 13, i860. He is a son of Charles L. and Rachael (Maxwell) Barker, both of whom are of Scotch descent and now living at McConnelsville. The family were among the earliest settlers of Morgan county, Ohio, and experienced all the trials, hardships and dangers of pioneer days. They have been for years prominent in their part of the state in political and religious matters as well as in philanthropic movements, and there are many of the name in southeastern Ohio.

The grandfather of Dr. Barker was Luther D. Barker, who, in company with two of his brothers, located early in the Muskingum valley. They were interested in fiatboating down the river, and were otherwise employed in business of various kinds, and also in farming. Some members of the family became ministers of the gospel, while Frederick D. is the only one who has turned his attention to medicine. The family are mostly republicans, and with few exceptions are members of the Baptist church.

Frederick D. Barker is one of a family of five children, and is the only son. He was reared in his native town, received his education in the public schools, from which he was graduated in 1878, having, however, previously taken a course of study in the Southeastern Ohio Normal school. After graduating from the public schools of McConnelsville, he entered Denison university at Granville, Ohio, graduating from this institution in 1882, with the degree of bachelor of philosophy. In 1891 he was honored with the degree of master of philosophy.

After graduating from Denison university he engaged in business with his father in Mc- Connelsville, dealing in provisions and wool, and continued thus engaged until 1888. In 1884 he made a trip to Europe, visiting the British Isles and the entire continent, with the double purpose of pleasure and study, and in 1888 began the study of medicine with R. Harvey Reed, surgeon-in~chief of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and took his first course of lectures at the Ohio Medical college in Cincinnati. The second course of lectures he took at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in the class of 1890. In a competitive examination among twenty-five applicants, for the position of house physician and surgeon in the Presbyterian hospital in Philadelphia, Dr. Barker took first place, and as a consequence served as resident physician for one year, leaving there in 1891, and coming direct to his present location in Dayton,

Dr. Barker is a member of the Beta Theta Pi college fraternity, of the Stille Medical society, of Philadelphia, and of the American Academy of Railway Surgeons. He is the physician to the Widows' home in Dayton, is the city police surgeon, is head surgeon of the Dayton district of the D. & M. railway, and of the C. , D. & I. and C., H. & D. railways. He is also surgeon on the staff of the Deaconess hospital, and teaches anatomy and physiology in the Dayton Summer school for teachers. He lectures on medical subjects before the Young Men's Christian association in Dayton, and also in Xenia, and is active in the general work of that association.

In 1894 Dr. Barker made a second trip abroad, spending most of his time in the hospitals of London and Vienna. In the following spring he made a trip through Italy and down into Egypt, through Palestine, to Athens and Constantinople, returning through Bulgaria, Syria and Hungary to Vienna. Throughout his entire career he has been self-reliant, and an independent student and investigator. He paid his own way through the medical schools, met without assistance his expenses upon the three trips to Europe, and, in short, what he has thus far accomplished has been wholly through his own unaided efforts.

Dr. Barker was married in Boston, June 3, 1896, to Helen R. Rice, a native of Boston and a daughter of Marshall O. Rice, manufacturer of that city.

L. BATES & BRO., machinists, manufacturers and nickel platers, at the corner of Fourth and St. Clair streets, Dayton, Ohio, still carry on a business which was founded in 1866 by their father, Hamilton Bates, on the hydraulic, in

Hamilton Bates was born at Ellicott's Mills, Md., in 1819, and when a young man, somewhere about 1841, came to Dayton, Ohio, but learned the machinist's trade at Wheeling, W. Va., returned to Dayton, and became foreman, first for McMillan & .Co., and then for Broadrup & Co., in the manufacture of woolen-mill machinery. In 1866, as noted above, he founded the present business in company with his eldest son, Daniel L., and this was conducted, under the firm name of Bates & Son, until the death of the father, in 1884. Hamilton Bates was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having been converted in his early youth; he was one of the earlier members of Wayne lodge, I. O. O. F. , and on more than one occasion was its representative in the grand lodge. He married Miss Martha Lemon, a daughter of John Lemon, a highly respected resident of Dayton. She was born in this city about 1840, and died in 1876, the mother of three children, viz: Daniel L., now the senior member

Daniel L. Bates was born August 16, 1847, at the corner of Fifth and Brown streets, Dayton, was educated in the city schools, and at the age of fifteen years entered upon his apprenticeship at the machinist's trade, and this has ever since been his constant employment. From 1866 until 1884 he was a partner of his father, and since the latter date has been associated with his brother, Russell H., in the present business. In November, 1870, he married Miss Susan Umphries, who was born in Alex- ! anderville, Ohio, a daughter of Boler Umphries, i and to this union have been born four children, viz: Harry L., a graduate of the Dayton Com- I mercial college, a practical machinist and book- keeper for his father, and married, in 1894, to Miss Laura Kirnmel, a daughter of William Kimmel, of Dayton; Maud M., a graduate of the city high school, and for the past five years a teacher in the city schools of Dayton; Edith V., and Zelma G., still under parental care. The father is a member of Wayne lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F., has his residence in Dayton View, at 435 River street, is surrounded by a host of true friends, and is recognized as one of the best business men of the Gem City.

Russell H. Bates, the junior member of the firm of D. L. Bates & Bro., was born November 1 , 1 861 , was educated in the public schools of his native city of Dayton, and at the age of seventeen years, like his elder brother, served an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade under his father's instruction. He learned the trade in all its details, and in 1884, at the death of his father, became the associate of his brother, Daniel L. , in the present lucrative business, in the success of which he has been no unimportant factor. The marriage of Russell H. Bates was celebrated September 2, 1884, with Miss Julia Euchenhofer, who was born and reared in Dayton and is a daughter of Frederick Euchenhofer, one of the best known citizens of the Gem City. Two children have blessed this union and are named Ralph and Edmond. Mr. and Mrs. Russell H. Bates reside at the corner of Third and June streets, and are, with their little family, part of a circle of close acquaintances and neighbors. In politics, both brothers are republicans.

OTTO BAUMANN, one of the younger members of the Dayton bar, and secretary of the city board of elections, was born in Dayton, Ohio, June 30, 1870, and is a son of Hon. C. L. Baumann, who is included by Hon. George W. Houk, in his history of the Dayton bar, in the list of lawyers admitted to practice soon after i860. R. Otto Baumann received his preliminary education in the Dayton public schools. Afterward he took a course of study in the Miami Commercial college, graduating from that institution in his seventeenth year. After being engaged in bookkeeping for one year he was appointed to the position of librarian of the Dayton law library, which place he held for four years. During this time he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in December, 1891. For about eight months after his admission to the bar he was in the office of John M. Sprigg, and in 1893 began the practice of the law on his own account. In May, 1894, Mr. Baumann was appointed clerk of the city board of elections, a position which he still retains. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Mr. Baumann, while young both in years and in the practice of his profession, has the capacity and the industry which are certain to bring success. His intellectual endowments are generous, and his social qualities are such as to have made for him a host of friends.

HARLES BECK is one of the most artistic landscape gardeners in the United States, having had charge of the garden and grounds of the national soldiers' home at Dayton, since 1876. Mr. Beck is a native of Germany, born in Frankfort-on-the-Main, January 2, 1827, the son of William and Louise (Kroeber) Beck. The father was a tax collector in his native province, a position of trust and responsibility, and both parents died in the fatherland. Frederick Beck, a brother of Charles, lives in Germany. He served as justice of the peace during all his active life, and is now a pensioner of the government; two sisters, Emma and Matilda, died in Germany, and the only

Charles Beck was educated in the land of his nativity and at an early age learned gardening, an occupation which receives much more attention in the old world than in the United States. When twenty years of age he came to America, locating at Rochester, N. Y. , where for two years he worked for a nursery firm. He then went to Cincinnati and engaged in operating floral gardens and doing floral decorating until his removal in i860 to Dayton. He engaged in the same business in this city upon his own responsibility until employed by the government to take charge of the entire floral, landscape and vegetable gardens at the national soldiers' home, the duties of which position he has since most successfully discharged. During his twenty years of service Mr. Beck has superintended the planting and laying out of all the grounds of the home, having under him seventy-five men to assist him in the various kinds of decorative work required. The conservatories and decorations, and, indeed, every thing connected with the grounds, are artistic in the highest degree and a tangible tribute to the taste and skill of the manager, whose knowledge of the profession has been gained only after many years of careful and painstaking study.

Mr. Beck was married in 1856 to Miss Louisa Schnike, a native of Saxony, where she was born in 1836. Mrs. Beck came with her parents to America when fourteen years of age, locating at Cincinnati, where she grew to womanhood. Her daughter, Louise, is assistant principal of the Dayton Steele high school, having charge of the German department. She is a graduate of the Central high school, and for some time pursued her studies in Munich, Germany; the brother, Otto Walter, also educated in Munich, is a teacher in the art museum in Cincinnati; Matilda was educated in the city schools of Dayton. Mrs. Beck was reared in the faith of the German Lutheran church, but is now a member of the English branch of that denomination. Mr. Beck takes an active interest in political matters, supporting the republican party upon state and national issues, while in local matters he is entirely independent. ' a APT. JOHN NELSON BELL, secretary of the Ohio Fire Insurance company, and general fire insurance agent, at Dayton, Ohio, was born in this city December 18, 1838, a son of John S. and Zipporah (Cock) Bell. He graduated from the Central high school of his native city, and immediately afterward went west and taught school for a time on the prairies of Minnesota; he then went to Burlington, Iowa, and for several years was employed as a local reporter on the " Hawkeye. " and at the breaking out of the Civil war enlisted for ninety days. After serving out his term of enlistment he returned to Burlington and raised a company of volunteers, and in 1862 was commissioned captain of company E, Twenty-fifth Iowa volunteer infantry, and as such served until the close of the war. He participated in all the campaigns in the southwest under Gens. Grant and Sherman, and also in the south and southeast, including the siege of Vicksburg, the storming of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, the campaign of Atlanta, the march through Georgia and the Carolinas, and the grand review at Washington, D. C. During his term of service Capt. Bell was appointed assistant adjutant-general and assistant inspector-general on the staffs of Gen. James A. Williamson and Gen. George A. Stone, in Sherman's Fifteenth corps, and received the commendation of his commanders in general orders for his faithful discharge of duty. After the war he returned to Iowa, and for several years was engaged in mercantile business, but finally returned to Dayton, filling a position as bookkeeper until 1885, when he accepted his present office.

Capt. Bell was made a master Mason in Des Moines lodge, No. 1, Burlington, Iowa, October 12, 1868; was exalted a royal arch Mason October 2, 1869, in Iowa Royal Arch chapter, No. 1 ; created a Knight Templar in St. Omer commandery, No. 15, February 22, 1871. He has affiliated with the various York rite bodies in Dayton since 1872, and has received the various degrees of the Scottish rite, from the fourth to the thirty-second degree, in the valley of Dayton, and in the Ohio consistory, at Cincinnati; in 1880 was crowned a sovereign grand inspector -general, thirtythird degree, and made an honorary member of the supreme council, N. M. J., of the United States, at Boston, September 18, 1888. He has served as recorder of Reed commandery, No. 6, of Dayton, nine years; eminent commander of the same commandery in 1886; grand recorder of the grand commandery of Ohio in 1886, and to this office he has been annually elected up to the present time. He is a past master of Gabriel lodge of Perfection, A. A. rite, and is the present grand master of Miami council, P. of J., in which position he has served continuously since 1887. He is a member of the Loyal Legion, and a past commander of Old Guard post, G. A. R.

Capt. Bell was united in marriage in Burlington, Iowa, November 3, 1861, with Miss Annie E. Acres, daughter of Stephen T. Acres, of Gibraltar, and has a family of six children, viz: Charles W. , secretary and manager of the United States Board & Paper company, of Cincinnati; William A., traveling salesman for the American Strawboard company, of Cincinnati; George H., state agent for the North British & Mercantile Insurance company, at Dayton; Walter H., grocers' broker, Dayton; Mary V. and Nelson J., at home. The family are members of the Episcopal church, and in politics Capt. Bell is a republican. He descends from very old American families, his maternal ancestors being traced to the Mayflower, while his paternal forefathers, who came from England, can be traced equally far back to the early settlements on the shores of Maryland. His grandparents were residents of Greene county, Ohio, as early as the opening of the present century, his grandfather, John Bell, having been drowned in the Little Miami river in 1810. His parents were residents of Dayton as early as 1830, and the name has been prominently associated with the history of the city and county up to the present day.

s DOREN BATES, a representative merchant of Dayton, Ohio, and senior member of the well-known dry-goods house of Bates, Engel & Co., is a native of Ohio, and a descendant of two old pioneer families of the Buckeye state. Mr. Bates was born in Butler county, Ohio, July 7, 1843, and is the son of Lewis Cass and Nellie Schenck (Shepherd) Bates. The Bates family came originally from England, settling in Connecticut during colonial days. From Connecticut they came west, Asael Bates, grandfather of Ns D., the first of the family to come to Ohio, having settled at Cincinnati when the Queen City was a small place. For many years he was wharfmaster and an auctioneer at Cincinnati, and then removed to Warren count}7, Ohio, where he engaged in tavernkeeping.

Lewis Cass Bates was born in Ohio in November, 1818. He has followed farming all his life, and now resides at Gano, Butler county. Nellie Schenck Shepherd was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, on September 21, 1822. Her parents were Thomas and Sarah (Preston) Shepherd. The Shepherds came originally from England. Thomas Shepherd came with his parents to Ohio in 1816, the family settling at Lockland, Hamilton county. For six years after the birth of Ns D. his parents resided in Butler county, and then removed to Lockland, where the next six years of his life were spent on the old farm of his great-grandfather Shepherd. His parents then went to live in Jackson county, Ind. Before leaving Ohio young Bates attended the common schools, and after removing to Indiana he attended school during the winter months, thus securing a fair English education. Between the ages of twelve and nineteen he worked on the farm, attended school, taught school, clerked in a store and carried the United States mail.

On August 18, 1862, when only a month past his nineteenth year, he enlisted in the Federal army from Jackson county, Ind., and was mustered into the service at Madison, Ind , two days later, as a private in Capt. Nelson Crabb's company G, Sixty-seventh regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, Col. Frank Emerson, commanding, his enlistment being for a term of three years. He was discharged on December 10, 1864, at Baton Rouge, La. , on account of consolidation, and re-enlisted in company G, Twenty-fourth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, under Capt. Jacob Smith and Col. W. G. Spicely, for the remainder of the war. He served in the First brigade, Second division, Thirteenth corps, army of West Mississippi, and participated in the following engagements: Munfordsville,

Mr. Bates was captured at Munfordsville, Ky., upon the surrender of the entire garrison on September 17, 1862, and was again captured at Carrion Crow, La., on Nevember 3, 1863, and confined in prison at Alexandria, La., for fifty-three days, being paroled on December 25, 1863, and exchanged about June 1, 1864. He was detailed for special duty in regimental quartermaster's department for a few months in 1863, and was again detailed for similar duty at quartermaster's department at Parole Camp, New Orleans, La., from January 1 to July 1, 1864. He was honorably discharged from the service at Galveston, Tex., on July 19, 1865, by reason of the close of the war, after having served for a period of almost three years.

Upon his return from the war Mr. Bates came to Xenia, Ohio, where he secured a subordinate position in a store, and there remained for several years, working his way up to the position of bookkeeper and salesman. In 1870 he came to Dayton and took a position as bookkeeper in a wholesale liquor house,

' which place he has held for about eighteen 1 months. Following this he was made assistant secretary of the Farmers & Merchants Insurance company, of Dayton, with which he continued until the business of the company was wound up and closed out. Through the influence of the Hon. Lewis B. Gunckel, then a member of congress from the Dayton district, Mr. Bates was appointed to a position in the government postal service in 1874, and for six years he was in the United States railway mail service, running first from Pittsburg to

Cincinnati, then from Pittsburg to Indianapolis, and next from Indianapolis to Saint Louis. So efficient did he become in his duties as mail clerk, that during the two last years of his service with the government he was placed as head clerk in charge of the mail car and crew of his run. In January, 1880, Mr. Bates resigned his position in the government service in order to return to Dayton and take charge of the books of the dry-goods house of Augustus Sharp, and his employer soon afterwards taking charge of a store in Louisville, I\y., Mr. Bates was left in charge of the office and financial departments of the Dayton establishment. Mr. Sharp later disposed of his store in the city to Messrs. Lambert & Clock, and with this firm Mr. Bates remained as bookkeeper for about one year. On February 1, 1882, the dry-goods firm of Orr, Bates & Roesch was formed, with Mr. Bates as a member. -This firm began business on East Third and Jefferson streets, at the present stand of Bates, Engel & Co. The firm of Orr, Bates & Roesch was succeeded by that of Bates & Roesch, Mr. Orr retiring, and on May 4, 1895, following the death of Mr. Roesch, the firm of Bates, Engel & Co. was formed, the members being Ns Doren Bates, C. W. Engel, H. J. Rock and G. A. Heintz. The firm is one of the leaders among the dry-goods houses of the city,' and by splendid business methods, aided by the personal popularity of its members, is growing in strength each day. It carries a complete line of dry goods, cloaks, etc., has large and commodious storerooms, and employs a force of from twenty-five to thirty people.

Mr. Bates is recognized as one of Dayton's representative business men and citizens. He is a genuine Buckeye, patriotic and progressive, having always a good word and open hand for movements calculated to improve, develop and build up the institutions of his native state and adopted city. Among his friends and acquaintances he is regarded with admiration, his many sterling traits of character being fully appreciated. Mr. Bates is quite prominent in various ways. For almost twenty-five years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, having joined the order 1872. He is a member of Mystic lodge, No. 405. He was made a Knight Templar in 1885, being a member of Reed commandery, No. 6, of which he is prelate at the present time. He attained the thirty-second degree in Scottish rite Masonry in 1886. In 1882 he became a member of the Old Guard post,G. A. R., and has held most of the chairs of the same, being trustee of the post for over ten years. He is a member of the Garfield and Present Day clubs, and of the first Reformed church. He was elected in April, 1896, to a place on the Dayton board of education, of which board he is an active and valued member.

Mr. Bates was married in 1871 to Miss Florence E. Walden, of Dayton, daughter of Dr. A. G. Walden. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bates: Albert Irvin

Bates, vvho was born in Dayton, passed through the public schools, was graduated from the Ohio Medical college, and is now a promising young member of the Dayton medical profession; and Lewis Wilbur, who is at present a student in a well-known military college.

R. HENRY J. BECKER, D.D.,the well-known divine and lecturer of Dayton, Ohio, was born in Massillon, Ohio, on June 19, 1846. His early life was spent in the coal mines of Ohio, and, aside from his primary education, he had training at Heidelberg college, Ohio. He served in the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry during the Civil war, and after the war became a convert to the Chris- tian religion, and studied theology under Rev. J. M. Spangler and Dr. Winters of the Reformed church. On December 1 8, 1869, he was licensed to preach in the church of the United Brethren in Christ, in which field he has continued to labor until the present time. In August, 1875, he went to California as missionary for the United Brethren Missionary society, and there remained for ten years. During that period he edited and published the Pacific Telescope in the interest of the Pacific conferences for two years, and then, combining that periodical with the Philomath (Ore.) Crucible, he continued it one year more as the Philomath Crucible. Dr. Becker served as presiding elder in California for three terms, and in 1889 was elected bishop of the Pacific district by the conservatives, at the time of the division of the church. He was re-elected bishop in 1893, but resigned, not wishing longer to engage in work on the Pacific coast, and was then elected corresponding secretary of the Home Frontier & Foreign Missionary society, in which capacity he is still laboring. In the spring of 1888 Dr. Becker made an extensive tour of the old world, visiting Egypt, Arabia, Palestine, Syria, the Isles of Greece, Corinth, Smyrna, Ephesus, Brindisi, Pompeii, Naples, Rome and Florence, touching other prominent countries and cities along the line of travel. The honorary title of doctor of divinity was conferred upon Dr. Becker by Hartsville (Ind.) college in 1891. As a lecturer Dr. Becker has attained wide celebrity, and his services are in demand in different parts of the country during the lecture season.

Dr. Becker has just completed the mechanism for a life-saving device to be used in rescuing miners from imprisonment in case of accident by the giving way or caving in of roofs, which will no doubt prove of great and lasting benefit to humanity. He has also invented and patented an automatic water filter, a description of which will be found in the American Inventive Progress. He is also the author of several booklets, and has written sheet music with original words.

Dr. Becker was married August, 18, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth Houk, of Canal Fulton, Ohio, daughter of Samuel Houk. To this union two daughters were born - Myrtle, May 23, 1871, who died July 14, 1871, and Alta Jewel, who was born May 19, 1885.

ILLIAM DENISON BICKHAM, deceased, late editor and proprietor of the Dayton Journal, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 30, 1827. He was prepared for college in private and public schools, and was a student in Cincinnati and Bethany (W. Va. ) colleges. After the death of his father he entered the newsroom of the Cincinnati Gazette and acquired a technical knowledge of the work during a twoyears' apprenticeship. Subsequently, at the age of twenty, he became city and commercial editor of the Louisville (Ky.) Daily Courier. In 1848 he went to New Orleans on business connected with his father's estate, making the trip down the river on ilatboats. In 1849 he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Cincinnati, but the following year he went to the California gold fields, where he spent over a year at hard labor in the mines on the North Fork and Middle Fork of the American river at Grass Valley, and in the vicinity of Nevada.

In 1852 Mr. Bickham represented El Dorado county as a delegate in the first whig convention held in California. He settled in San Francisco and there obtained a place in the customs service, and was actively engaged in politics for some time. Later he was employed as city editor of the San Francisco Picayune, then as editor and proprietor of the

San Francisco Evening Journal, and then as city editor of the San Francisco Evening Times and the Morning Ledger. In April, 1854, Mr. Bickham returned home, after an absence of four years, without money, and, for want of some better employment, accepted a position as brakeman on the morning express train of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad between Cincinnati and Dayton. Within a few weeks he was promoted to baggage-master. Later he took a position as traveling correspondent and agent of the Cincinnati Daily Columbian. Next he was engaged on the city staff of the Cincinnati Evening Times, and a few months later became traveling correspondent for that paper, and while correspondent in the legislature, early in 1856, accepted the position of city editor of the Cincinnati Commercial, remaining in that office as city editor, and in Washington and Columbus as general correspondent, until the beginning of the late war. He was then assigned to duty as war correspondent of the Commercial with the army of West Virginia, being also appointed volunteer aid-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Rosecrans, with the rank of captain, in which capacity he discharged all the duties of an officer of his rank.

After the battle of Carnifax Ferry, Maj. Bickham was transferred to other military fields, being war correspondent with the army of the Potomac until after the seven days' battles on the Chickahominy and at Malvern Hill; then in Kentucky until the Cumberland Gap expedition, afterward in Mississippi, and finally with the army of the Cumberland, ending with the occupation of Murfreesboro, when Gen. Rosecrans conferred upon him the title of major for services in that engagement as aid-decamp. In May, 1863, immediately after the destruction of the Dayton Journal office, Maj. Bickham was asked to take control of the newspaper field in Dayton, and immediately came

In 1855 Maj. Bickham was married to Miss Maria Strickle, of Wilmington, Ohio, who, with the following children, survives him: William, Abe S. , Daniel D. and Charles G.

Maj. Bickham attained high reputation and a wide influence as a newspaper man. As an editor for many years of the leading republican paper in this section of Ohio, he became noted for the vigor, aggressiveness and strength of his editorial utterances. He was prominent as a leader in his party and always active in the management of its county and also its state organization.

a APT. FRANCIS M. BILLINGS, one of Ohio's gallant ex-soldiers, and now proprietor of the Hotel Knecht, Nos. 24 and 26 East Second street, Dayton, was born in Wayne township, Montgomery county, Ohio, April 21, 1844, and is a son of Thompson and Sarah (Wyatt) Billings, the former a descendant of one of the oldest of New England families, of whom mention will again be made at the close of this memoir.

Thompson Billings was a native of North Carolina, and his wife of east Tennessee. Immediately after their marriage in Rutledge, Grainger county, Tenn., they came to Ohio and settled on a farm in Wayne township, Montgomery county, where the father died of cholera, in 1852, having sacrificed his life through his attendance upon a neighbor's family who were suffering from the same fell malady. His widow died in Piqua, Miami county, Ohio, at the age of sixty-eight years, and of the eleven children born to their marriage George is a carpenter and stair-builder and resides in Piqua; Emily is the widow of Lewis

Rain and lives in Kansas City, Mo.; Jasper, formerly of Dayton, is a bricklayer of Toledo; Calvin is a wagon hub manufacturer, of Paulding Center, Ohio, and was a three-years' soldier in the Fifty-second Ohio volunteer infantry; John served three years in the Nineteenth Illinois infantry, in which he was quartermaster-sergeant, and is now living in retirement in Richmond, 111. ; Samuel served as lieutenant in the Forty-fourth Ohio infantry, afterward recruited a company for the One Hundred and Tenth, of which he was captain, and is now living in retirement in Wichita, Kans. ; Angelina and Susannah are deceased; Francis M. is the subject of this memoir; David was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga and died the day he was brought home; and Elizabeth died the wife of Hon. W. W. Rumsey, of Terre Haute, Ind.

Francis Marion Billings, at the death of his father, was bound over to a neighbor, who treated him with great severity. At the end of two years of this life of misery an elder brother called the attention of a prominent attorney of Dayton, Wilbur Conover, to the case, and this gentleman, becoming interested, soon secured the liberation of the boy from his bondage. After this Francis lived with various families in Montgomery county until he had attained the age of seventeen years, when, on August 5, 1861, he enlisted in company C, Forty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. W. W. Woodward. He veteranized January 5, 1864, and was transferred to company C, Eighth Ohio volunteer cavalry, in which he served until July 29, 1865, when he was mustered out as lieutenant, commanding his company. His entire service covered a period of forty-seven months, and some of the actions in which he was engaged during this long period may here be enumerated.

George B. Crook, won the star of general; he was engaged in numerous fights and skirmishes in the mountains of West Virginia during the summer of 1862, until driven out of the Kanawha valley by the rebels; participated in the battles of Fayetteville and Charlestown, W. Va., followed the rebel, Gen. Kirby Smith, in a running fight of 1 50 miles through Kentucky, and in the summer of 1863 fought at Dutton Hill, Lancaster, Mount Vernon, Richmond, Crab Orchard, Loudoun andBarboursville; was next on the raid with Gen. Saunders through eastern Tennessee, destroying railroads from Malden to Greenville, making a demonstration against Knoxville, and destroying the railroad bridge at Strawberry Plains. The troops then fought back to Kentucky, crossing the Cumberland mountains at a point where possibly no human being ever before had placed foot, and losing three-fifths of their horses in the ascent. Capt. Billings' next service was with Burnside in the east Tennessee expedition; he was present at the surrender of Cumberland Gap; participated in the siege of Knoxville; took part in the battle of Rutledge, which was fought on his grandparents' farm, and was then assigned or detailed to the recruiting service.

As recruiting officer, Capt. Billings spent forty days in Dayton and enlisted 117 men, of whom twenty-one were transferred to other companies. On the re-organization of the regiment, the captain immediately joined the forces under Gen. Hunter in the advance upon Lynchburg, Va. He fought at Staunton; was at the capture of Lexington; was in the battle at Lynchburg, where he commanded the advance guard, took part, on the following day, in the general engagement and was in the rear guard on the retreat; led his men in the battle of Liberty, where he lost forty per cent of his command; next was in Sheridan's campaign through the Shenandoah valley, and was finally

March 5, 1865, while at home on furlough, Capt. Billings married Miss Mary B. Swain, a native of Dayton, a daughter of Josiah A. Swain, and a niece of Judge Charles G. Swain. This happy marriage has been blessed with seven children, viz: Alice Maud, Katie Hale,

Mamie S., Charles W. D., Carrie B , Thomas B. and Nannie. Of these, Carrie B. is the wife of William Brandt, a resident of Dayton; the others are all still under the parental roof. After his return from the war, Capt. Billings was employed as a salesman and an interior decorator until 1894, when he embarked in his present enterprise as proprietor of the Hotel Knecht. The captain is a member of Dister post, No. 446, G. A. R., of encampment No. 145, U. V. L. , and is a Knight of Pythias. Politically, he has been a life-long republican, and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

The Billings family, as intimated at the opening of this biography, have been represented in America ever since the landing of the Mayflower - the youngster named Billingsley, who fired the ship while the men were away hunting, being the founder of the American branch of the family. The Swain family also descends from an early New England ancestry, Mrs. Billings being a direct descendant of Sir John Swain, the original purchaser of Nantucket Island, off the coast of Massachusetts.

OHN BLUM, manager of the Reformed Publishing company, Dayton, Ohio, is a native of Canton, Ohio, and was born March 3, 1842, a son of John F. and Barbara (Weber) Blum, natives of Rhenish Bavaria. The father was a shoemaker by trade, was first married in his native country, and came to America in 1835. He located in Canton, Ohio, where he worked at his trade for many years, his first wife dying here in 1853, at the age of forty-five years, his own death occurring in 1877, at the age of sixty-seven years. To the first marriage of John F. Blum there were born nine children, John, the subject, being fourth in order of birth, and five of the family are still living; to the second marriage of Mr. Blum were born eight children, of whom but two survive.

John Blum, whose name opens this biographical memoir, was educated in the public schools of his native city, and in 1857 there began learning the printer's trade; in this he was engaged up to the time of his enlistment, September 19, 1861, in company I, Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry. His brother, Frederick, also enlisted in the same company, sustained a disabling wound at the battle of Lovejoy's Station, in September, 1864, and was in consequence honorablydischarged. He is now conducting a drug store in Canton. The Nineteenth Ohio was first assigned to Gen. O. M. Mitchell's division at Louisville, Ky. , but remained there one month only. The winter of 1861-2 was spent in Columbia, Ky., until January of the latter year, when the regiment went down the Cumberland river to cut" off the rebel general, Zollicoffer, in his retreat from Mill Spring to Nashville, Tenn., and thus resulted in the battle of Mill Spring, in which Zollicoffer was killed. The Nineteenth, a part of Gen. Boyle's brigade, was afterward concentrated with Maj.-Gen. Buell's army at Nashville.

At Bowling Green, Ky. , Mr. Blum was prostrated by sickness and was thus prevented from sharing in the battle of Shiloh, this being the only important engagement he missed among all those in which his regiment took part. He rejoined his command, however, on the battle field of Shiloh, April 27, 1862, took part in Corinth, and in all the skirmishes and battles eastward through Mississippi and Ala- bama, to Battle Creek, near Chattanooga, Tenn., thence followed Bragg through Tennessee and Kentucky, cutting him off and bringing on the battle of Perry ville, Ky., after which battle Buell was succeeded in his command by Rosecrans. The troops then moved on to Nashville and found Bragg between that city and Murfreesboro, the battle of Stone River being the immediate result. The six months following this were spent in fortifying Murfreesboro, and then the forces moved out on the Tullahoma campaign in June, 1863, Bragg retreating to Chattanooga. The next important battle was fought at Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1863, and after this desperate conflict Gen. Thomas succeeded Rosecrans. The siege of Chattanooga followed, and here the Union forces were penned in from September 22 until November 23, 1863, most of the time living on quarter rations and suffering great privations. Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge followed, and then the army moved on a forced march to the relief of Gen. Burnside, who was besieged at Knoxville; the next movement was to Flat Creek, where the entire regiment reenlisted, to " see the end," and were permitted to go home on veteran furlough for thirty days.

Mr. Blum rejoined the army at Knoxville, and thence marched 150 miles to McDonald's Station, in Tennessee, where the troops were being concentrated for the_Atlanta campaign. In this campaign Mr. Blum shared in every engagement in which his regiment took part, excepting Resaca (May 14-15, 1864), and after the fall of Atlanta, September 2, 1864, he returned with the army of the Cumberland to look after Hood in Tennessee, the two days' fight at Nashville being the result, together with the annihilation of Hood's army by Gen. Thomas. Mr. Blum then spent two months in Huntsville, Ala., in the winter of 1864-5, went into east Tennessee, and to

Greenville and Jonesboro, where his brigade served as provost guards ; thence to Nashville, whence, on June 15, 1865, they started for Texas, via the Cumberland, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, with a view of relieving the people of their troubles with Maximilian, and marched nearly across the state in the heat of July and August. At San Antonio Mr. Blum served in the paymaster's department under Capt. Kelly for a short time, was then ordered to return to his regiment, which marched to Alleyton, a third of the width of the state, went by rail to Galveston, thence to New Orleans by steamer, thence by river to Cairo, and thence in boxcars to Columbus, and was mustered out November 25, 1865. After a long rest at Mount Union, Ohio, recuperating his shattered health, Mr. Blum returned to Canton, where for several years he was employed as foreman of the Stark County Republican - afterward consolidated with the Canton Repository. Quitting this employment in March, 1882, he came to Dayton and assisted in the organization of the Reformed Publishing company, with which he has since been connected as a member of the firm and as the manager of the mechanical department.

The marriage of Mr. Blum took place February 19, 1864, while he was at home on veteran furlough, to Miss Lucy A. Miller, a native of Mount Union, Stark county, Ohio. To this marriage have been born five children, viz: Olive J., who died in infancy; William A., who is an architect by profession, but is now connected with the Reformed Publishing company, is married to Miss Sallie J. Prugh, and is the father of one child, Harold P. ; Orrin, who also died in infancy; Frank W. , who is foreman of the Reformed Publishing company's press room, and is married to Miss Jennie Mowrer ; and Albertus Owen, who is a compositor, under his father.

No. 13, F. & A. M., and of Old Guard post. No. 23, G. A. R. He and all the family are members of Trinity Reformed church, and politically he is a republican, but has never sought nor held official position. He is, nevertheless, a wide-awake, progressive and public-spirited citizen, ready at all times substantially to aid any project designed for the public good, and socially holds the esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.

OUIS H. POOCK, one of the leading German citizens of Dayton, and who has for many years been closely identified with the financial history of the city, is a native of Germany, and was born on March 19, 1839, at Wahrendahl, amt Hameln, Hanover. He is the son of Frederick Ludwig and Fredericka (Katz) Poock, both natives of Hanover. The father was a carpenter and inspector of buildings in the old country. His death occurred in 1 842, and, in 1854, his widow and three sons came to America, two sons and one daughter having previously emigrated. Mrs. Poock came direct to Dayton, and here resided until her death, which occurred in March, 1873.

Louis H. Poock was but three years of age when his father died, and but fifteen years old when he came to the United States. He received hie education in the schools of his native country, but did not learn a trade. Upon the arrival of the family in Dayton he worked for some time at any thing he could find to do, and subsequently entered the factory of Blanchard & Brown as an apprentice, but in the winter of 1857 he met with an accident, crippling his left hand in so serious a manner as to unfit him for manual labor. This accident changed the whole course of his life, and gave to Dayton a clear-headed financier of ability, instead probably of a good mechanic. While suffering from his wound he resumed his studies, attending the city public schools and high school in order to acquire a better knowledge of the English language, and followed this up with a thorough course in Greer's Commercial college.

Upon leaving the commercial college he filled for a time a position as deputy in the county auditor's office, and next became bookkeeper in the counting-room of the Dayton Empire newspaper establishment. In September, 1862, he was appointed teacher of German in the Fifth district school, which position he held for seven years. He then was appointed instructor of German in the Sixth district school and there taught for six years; while thus engaged he also organized a night school, teaching a number of young men who came to his house in winter evenings, and later taught in the public night school in the Pacific engine house, which served at that time as a school-room in the Fifth district. He resigned his position in the public schools in December, 1874, and subsequently engaged for about one year in business with one of his brothers, they operating what was then known as the Stone mills, now the Banner mills.

In January, 1868, Mr. Poock was elected secretary of the Dayton Building association, No. 1, the first institution of the kind established in the city. This position he held until the association wound up its affairs in August, 1873. In January, 1869, he was elected secretary of the Concordia Building & Loan association, holding the position until April, 1875, when the corporation liquidated and wound up its affairs. In April, 1873, he, with others, organized the Germania Building association on the permanent plan, and of this association he was made secretary and treasurer, and was made general manager in January, 1895. This position he resigned on July 23, 1890. In April, 1875, Mr. Poock was elected a member of the Dayton board of education, was re-elected in April, 1878, and chosen vice-president of the board in 1879. He was next appointed deputy treasurer by County Treasurer H. H. Laubach, holding that position for five years under that gentleman and for four years under his successor, Stephen J. Allen. In the fall of 1883 he was himself elected county treasurer, and was reelected in 1885, serving two terms and going out of office in September, 1888.

In February, 1883, Mr. Poock became connected with the Dayton Savings bank as a stockholder and director, and on January 7, 1885, he was elected president of the bank. He continued as president until the spring of 1 889, when the affairs of the bank were wound up. The same year, he, with others, established the Teutonia National bank, of which he was elected cashier, March 29, 1889.

Mr. Poock is a member of several beneficiary associations as well as of various social, musical and military societies. He served as secretary and treasurer of the German Evangelical Lutheran Saint Paul's society for a number of years and is at present its treasurer. Mr. Poock is a trustee and the treasurer of the German American Central league. He served for a number of years as trustee and treasurer of the Deaconess hospital, resigning in the fall of 1895, but his resignation was not accepted until the close of the year.

On March 26, 1862, Mr. Poock was married to Minnie, the daughter of Frederick Lucking, of Dayton. To the union thirteen children have been born, six of whom are living: Ida D., Bertha C., Oscar M., Minnie M., Ella A., and Anna F., all of whom are living at home except Ida D., who is the wife of Dr. George L. Ahlers, of Allegheny City, Pa. Oscar M. is now in the Teutonia National bank and Bertha C. is stenographer in the

ANIEL BOONE, manufacturer of pumps, Dayton, Ohio, is a native of this city and was born October 21, 1847, a son of Daniel and Susan (Repp) Boone.

Daniel Boone, the father, was born in Front Royal, Va., in 1819, is a near relative of the famous Kentucky frontiersman of the same name, and is now living near Troy, Miami county, Ohio. Susan Repp was a native of Dayton, was here married to Mr. Boone in 1841, and died in 1894. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Boone, Albert, the eldest, is a railroad contractor at Zanesville, where he constructed the "belt" line, also building a similar line at Knoxville, Tenn.; Daniel is the second child; the third is John, a business man of Troy, Ohio; Dr. Alonzo, the fourth child, is a practicing physician in Harrisburg, Ohio, and Mrs. Alma Black, the youngest child, is the wife of one of Dayton's best known druggists. Of the four brothers, all but one served in the late Civil war. The three who enlisted did so when quite young - one at the age of fifteen years, and two when seventeen years old. Albert, the eldest, entered the army at the beginning of the war, and for meritorious conduct and gallantry in the field, was advanced to the rank of colonel.

Daniel Boone, whose name opens this memoir, learned his trade from his father, who was also a pumpmaker. When seventeen years of age, he enlisted in company K, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served from January, 1865, until October of the same year, when he was honorably discharged, the war having been brought to an end. He was stationed at Huntsville, Ala., took part in several skirmishes, but was in no general engagement. In 1868, Mr. Boone went to Tennessee, where he was employed by his elder brother, Col. Albert Boone, in the lumber trade until the spring of 1869, and in the fall of 1868 he cast his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant. Returning to Dayton in the fall of 1869, he opened a shop at the corner of First and Madison streets for the manufacture of pumps, etc., and occupied the premises for nearly thirteen years. For about two years thereafter he carried on the same business on Water street, and then, in 1883, established his plant at his present location, No. 312 South Wayne avenue. Here he gives employment to an average of four men in driving wells and manufacturing pumps, etc., and enjoys a lucrative trade.

In 1872 Mr. Boone married Miss Josephine Andrews, a native of Greene county, Ohio, and daughter of Frank Andrews, a mill owner and operator. To this marriage have been born seven children, in the following order: Luella May, Daniel, Jr., Albert E., Grade, Harry C. , Susan and Josephine. Of these Miss Luella May is a teacher in the Dayton schools, Daniel, Jr., is a stenographer in the office of the National Cash Register company,, and the others are attending school.

Mr. Boone is a member of Old Guard post, No. 23, Grand Army of the Republic, and also of the Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United Workmen and the American Union. The church relations of the family are with the United Brethren, and they hold membership with the High street mission. In politics Mr. Boone has been a republican since his first vote. He and his family enjoy the warm friendship of their neighbors, and Mr. Boone has an excellent reputation, both in private life and as a business man of the strictest integrity.

OHN W. BOREN, contractor and builder, is a native of Dayton, Ohio, born on the 25th day of January, 1852. His father, Wesley Boren, was born in Jonesboro, Tenn., about the year 1816, and became a resident of Dayton in 1832, where for many years he was a leading manufacturer of brick and a builder. He retired from active life after acquiring a competence, and is still living in the city of his adoption. Lydia E. Coblentz, wife of Wesley Boren, was born in 1814, in Frederick, Md., and is passing the remaining years of her life at her home in Dayton. She is the mother of five sons and three daughters, John W. being the only son living, the others having died in infancy; the daughters are Amanda, wife of William H. Pritz, superintendent of the Stoddard Manufacturing company, of Dayton; Mary, wife of George W. Folkerth, also a resident of Dayton; and Alice, who is under the parental roof.

After receiving a practical English education in the public schools of Dayton, which he attended for some time during both day and evening sessions, John W. Boren, at the age of sixteen, entered upon an apprenticeship under his father to learn the trade of brick laying, in which he soon acquired much more than ordinary proficiency. He has followed his chosen calling all his life, not as a layer of brick merely, but as a contractor upon a large scale, having contracted for and personally superintended the erection of many of the largest public buildings in Dayton and other cities, beside numerous private residences here and elsewhere. Among the structures built by Mr. Boren are the city building and market house, the Montgomery county court house, St. Elizabeth's hospital, Fourth National bank, the Callahan bank building and many others, beside large contracts at the national soldiers' home. Mr. Boren is a very competent builder and a careful calculator, and has met with financial success most encouraging during his business career in Dayton. He gives steady employment to from ten to twenty workmen, and, at this writing (1896), is engaged on the Ridgway apartment house, Fifth street and

Boulevard, a building 70 x 162 feet, two stories in height, designed for residence flats, to cost $25,000. In addition to his business of contracting, Mr. Boren, as already stated, is quite extensively engaged in the manufacture of brick just outside the city limits, employing about twenty-five men during the season; the output of his yards is common building brick, and what he himself does not use is chiefly sold in the city.

Mr. Boren was married in 1876 to Miss Addie L. Emerick, a native of Winchester, Ohio, but who., at the time of her marriage, was residing with her parents in Dayton. Mrs. Boren is a daughter of Andrew and Catherine Emerick, both natives of Ohio, and has borne her husband four children, namely: Walter E., Wesley, Helen C. and Frank G. Politically Mr. Boren is a supporter of the republican party; fraternally he belongs to the I. O. O. F. , Wayne lodge, No. 210, of Dayton. He is active in church work, belonging to the Saint Paul's Methodist Episcopal congregation, of which he has been a trustee ever since its organization; his wife and family are also members of the same church.

DMOND E. BOHLENDER, M. D., one of the promising young physicians and surgeons of Dayton, is a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, and was born March 14, 1868, a son of Peter and Anna B. (Elmore) Bohlender, now residents of Miami county, where they settled in the spring of 1881.

Peter Bohlender was born near Strasbourg, Germany, and when ten years of age was brought to America by his parents, who settled on a farm north of Dayton. The boy, Peter, however, went to Cincinnati, where he worked in a tobacco house one winter, when he returned to Dayton and entered the employ of the

Heikes nursery, with which he remained for about thirteen or fourteen years, becoming a thorough horticulturist and nurseryman. He saved a large part of his earnings, at the same time supporting his aged parents, and at the age of twenty-five years married Anna B. Elmore. At this time, also, he associated himself with others in the nursery business, but shortly afterward sold his interest in the firm, continuing in its employ for one year as overseer. He then purchased an eighty-acre tract of land northwest of Dayton, where he continued his business as nurseryman, and on March 28, 1868, engrafted the first wild-goose plum in this part of the country. For several years later he was a partner of W. H. Smithman, in the same business, at the end of which connection he sold his land and purchased a farm at the junction of Dogleg and Fredericksburg pikes. Two years later he sold out and bought a place six miles north of Dayton, on the Covington pike, where he resided for seven years and was active in the affairs of the nursery firm of Bohlender & Quimby. Upon the dissolution of this partnership, Mr. Bohlender purchased eighty acres ten miles north of Dayton, on the old Troy pike, in Miami county, to which, two years later, he added ten acres, where he still continues the industry of fruit raising, in which he has won a widespread and well deserved reputation. Beside his home horticultural interests, Mr. Bohlender is a stockholder in and director of the Albaugh Nursery & Orchard company of Dayton and Tadnor, and is also largely interested in Georgia fruit and land companies.

To the marriage of Peter and Anna B. (Elmore) Bohlender have been born six children, viz: Thomas L. , overseer of Bidwell's nursery, at Chico, and commissioner of horticulture, Butte county, Cal. ; Dr. Edmond E. ; Howard]., a jeweler of Osborn, Ohio; William Fletcher, in the nursery business with his