Dayton City (part 34 of 50)

He was mustered out with the rank of captain July 8, 1865, and immediately thereafter returned to Pittsburg, but did not long remain in that city, going thence to Saint Louis, Mo., where he worked at the molder's trade until 1867. In January of that year he enlisted in company H, Thirty-sixth United States infantry, with which he served at Forts Sanders and Bridger, Wyo., a part of the time as clerk in the adjutant's and quartermaster's department; on account of injuries received during his previous service, he did not complete his period of enlistment, but received his discharge on the 21st day of April, 18C9. On leaving the army the captain became a member of the engineer corps of the Union Pacific railroad, and while thus engaged was employed to measure and receive all the lumber used in the construction of snow fences along the line between Cheyenne and Ogden. He continued in the employ of the company until the completion of the road and its acceptance by the government, after which he was in the employ of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe road for about one year during the construction of that line through Kansas. From the latter state he went to Michigan, where he was for some time bookkeeper for N. B. Day & Co., contractors on the Menominee extension of the C. & N. W. railway, and later was a member of the engineer corps, having in charge the surveying and constructing of short lines of road in the Ishpeining country to the iron mines.

Retiring from railroading, the captain afterward followed agricultural pursuits and clerical work for several years, and for some time resided in the city of Toledo, not actively engaged in any kind of employment. Subsequently he worked at his trade in Pittsburg for a limited period, and afterward sold agricultural implements, following the latter business the greater part of the time until 1886, in which year he entered the southern branch of the national military home at Hampton, Va., where he soon became commander of a company. In this capacity he continued until transferred two years later to the northwestern branch, Milwaukee, Wis., where he accepted a clerical position in the quartermaster's department. In addition to his duties as clerk, the captain was also sergeant-major in the Milwaukee branch for about two years, and, at the end of that time, took a discharge and visited the eastern states, where for a period of one year he worked at various kinds of employment. Finally he went to the soldiers' home at Marion, Ind., and was made captain of the hospital and colonel of the Union Veteran Legion, remaining there until transferred, in March, 1894, to the Central branch, Ohio. Capt. Work has held various official positions: First, as wardmaster; and later, in September, 1895, as captain of company Seventeen, by promotion, the duties of which office he has since discharged. As will be seen from the foregoing brief sketch, Capt. Work has had a varied experience, his record as a soldier being one of which he feels justly proud. I11 his official station he has proved faithful and competent, and the home numbers among its inmates no more painstaking and conscientious public servant.

his parents he came to the United States in 1868, they coming direct to Dayton, and in this city Mr. Wortman has since resided. He was educated in the public schools and graduated from the Central high school in June, 1881, when he was seventeen years old. He then took a course of study at the Miami Commercial college, A. D. Wilt, principal, after completing which he began reading law in the office of James Linden, of Dayton,, and upon the removal of Mr. Linden, from the city, Mr. Wortman went into the office of O. F. Davisson, with whom he remained until 1889, having been admitted to the bar in 1884.

In 1889 he began the practice of law by himself, and has since thus continued with most gratifying success. Mr. Wortman is a republican in politics, and as such was a candidate for mayor of Dayton in the spring of 1891, and upon the first count of the votes cast was declared elected by a majority of two votes ; but upon a recount of the ballots he was declared defeated by an adverse majority of two votes. He has, however, served two years as tax commissioner of Dayton. Mr. Wortman is a member of all the Masonic bodies - is a Knight Templar, a member of the Scottish-rite Masons, a .thirty-second degree Mason, and is also a Knight of Pythias. He was married January i, 1885, to Miss Cornelia Woodhull, of Dayton, a daughter of Lambert Woodhull, who was a member of the firm of L. & M. Woodhull, otherwise known as the Dayton Buggy company, which is one of the largest concerns of the kind in the state of Ohio. Mr. Wortman has five children, viz : Adolph, Robert P., Joseph A., Jr., Marguerite and Cornelia. The family are connected with the Memorial Presbyterian church. Mr. Wortman was one of the organizers of the Teutonia National bank, and a stockholder and director for several years ; he is also secretary and attorney of the Mechanics' Loan & Savings association, and is also largely identified with the building up of the northern end of the city, known as North Dayton.

ISHOP MILTON WRIGHT, D. D., of the United Brethren church, and at present a resident of Dayton, Ohio, was born in Rush county, Ind., November 1 7, 1828.

He received his preliminary education in the common schools and later attended Hartsville (Ind.) college. In 1853 he was admitted into the White River conference of the United Brethren church and was ordained minister in 1856. Soon after this event he was sent by the board of missions to Oregon, where for a time he was principal of Sublimity college, Marion county, that state, and in 1859 returned to Indiana, and in the same year married Miss Susan Catherine Koerner, a resident of Union county. He passed several years as pastor and presiding elder in the White River conference, and in 1869 was elected by the general conference to the editorship of the Religious Telescope, which position he filled with marked ability for eight years. In 1877 he was elected bishop ; the degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him in 1878, by Westfield college, and he continued to perform the functions of bishop until 1881. In that year he became the editor and publisher of the Richmond (Ind.) 'Star, but terminated his connection with that journal in 1885, when he was elected bishop of the Pacific coast. In 1889, with fourteen associate ministers, he refused to accept as being lawful the action of the general conference at York, Pa., in passing under a new confession of faith and constitution, and with them claimed to continue the true general conference of the church. This schism of the general conference resulted in two churches, both claiming precisely the same name. At this conference in 1889 he was elected bishop, and publisher of church literature. At the general conference at Hudson, Ind., in 1893, he was re-elected bishop, which position of honor and prominence he has now held for fifteen years. Dr. Wright has attended every general conference of his church since 1865, has been a member of the board of missions, of the board of education, and a trustee of the Union Biblical seminary, and, in fact, has been a zealous worker in the church ever since 1855.

The parents of Dr. Wright were Dan and Catherine (Reeder) Wright - the name Dan being that also of hisgrandfather, Dan Wright. His father was born in Orange county, Yt., September 3, 1791, and was reared a farmer. At the age of twenty-five years he moved to the state of New York, where he passed one year, and then, in 1816, came to Ohio, and resided in Montgomery county until 1821, when lie moved to Indiana and cleared up a farm in the wilds of Rush county, and nineteen years later he removed to a farm in Fayette county, where he passed the remainder of his life. There were born to Dan Wright and wife six children, beside Milton, the subject of this sketch, of whom three sons and one daughter lived to raise families. Of these, the eldest, Samuel S., was a teacher, who died at the early age of twenty-three years ; Rev. Harvey lives on his farm in Rush county, Ind., and has been a Baptist minister for over fortyfive years ; Rev. William was a minister in the United Brethren church and died in 1868, at the age of thirty-six years, and the daughter, Mrs. Sarah Harris, was a resident of Franklin county, Ind., at the time of her death, which took place in 1868.

The Wright family are of English origin, but for several generations have lived in America, the family name having been established in Springfield, Mass., by Samuel Wright, about the year 1639. Dan Wright, paternal grandfather of the bishop, was a farmer and carpenter, and one of the heroes of the American Revolution, having taken part in the battle of Saratoga. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Freeman, and was a native of New Hampshire, having descended from one of the most eminent New England families.

The Reeder fapiily, the maternal ancestors of Rev. Dr. Wright, were of German descent, but went to England previous to the year 1600. They came to America (Long Island) about the year 1650. George Reeder, the subject's maternal grandfather, was captain of militia and baggage-master in the early days of Ohio. George Reeder was born on the James river, Va., and about 1792 settled in Hamilton county, Ohio, at Columbia, now a suburb of Cincinnati. John Van Cleve, Bishop Wright's maternal great-grandfather, was descended from a Holland family that settled in New York eight generations back. He was also a soldier of the war of the Revolution, and while in the battle of Monmouth his dwelling was burned by the retreating British. During this battle, or just previous to it, Mrs. Van Cleve escaped from the house with her three children, but all else was left behind and carried off or destroyed by the British excepting a few minor articles that had been placed in concealment. One of the three children alluded to above as having been rescued by their mother, was Benjamin Van Cleve, for many years afterward county clerk of Montgomery county, Ohio. In the early part of 1790, John Van Cleve came to Ohio and located at Cincinnati (then Losantiville), but met with an untimely death at the hands of the Indians on June 1, 1791- His widow was married to Samuel Thompson two years later and left Cincinnati in a keel boat with her husband and her children, and settled in Dayton, arriving here April 1, 1796. and, with the Newcom family, erected a double log cabin - probably on the site of what is now known as Van Cleve park. Here her death occurred in 1837, but her descendants are still well known and prominent citizens of Dayton.

Mrs. Susan Catherine(Koerner) Wright was born in Loudoun county, Va., in 1831, but was reared from childhood in Indiana. Her father was a native, of Saxony, and her mother a Virginian by birth. To the marriage of the bishop have been born seven children, of whom there are living four sons and one daughter: Reuchlin, now married, is a clerk in a general railroad office in Kansas City, Mo. ; Lorin is bookkeeper in the office of the John Rouzer Manufacturing company; Wilbur and Orville, now engaged in job printing and in conducting a bicycle store, still make their home under the parental roof, and Katherine is in her fourth year's course of study, at Oberlin college. The mother of this family died July 4, 1889, and her loss was most keenly felt in the home circle and deeply mourned by her many acquaintances. She was a lady of education and refinement; of a quiet, unassuming disposition; ready of speech and an able counselor, whose advice was always sought and heeded by her husband. She died in the faith of the United Brethren church, of which she had been a pious and consistent member since early childhood. In politics, Bishop Wright has always been allied with the republican party, and his church record, of which the salient facts have been given in this memoir, furnishes its own best commendation.

OHN A. WRIGHT, a deputy sheriff of Montgomery county, was born in Springfield, Ohio, June 28, 1857, a son of Robert and Catherine (Ritter) Wright.

Robert Wright, a native of England, came to the United States at the age of sixteen years, located in Ohio, and here married, and became a successful and well-known railroad man, rising from the place of section " boss " to that of roadmaster of the old C. S. & C. railroad. The latter position he held until the time of his death, at Osborn, Ohio, in 1868, his widow being now a resident of Dayton, and there having been born to their marriage five children.

John A. Wright was about one year old when his parents came fron Springfield to Dayton, and here he grew to manhood and has passed his entire life, with the exception of about nine years, which were spent at Osborn, where his father died. He was educated in the common schools of both Dayton and Osborn, but had early to relinquish his studies, and, after his father's decease, worked on a farm for a year and a half, in order to reduce the family expenses of his mother, who had been left in widowhood with three of her five children. He was next employed in a nursery, where he passed three or four years, and in both situations was faithful and attentive to his duties. His next step was the learning of the machinist's trade at the Globe Iron works in Dayton, where his devotion to the interests of his employers secured him constant work for the long period of twenty-two years. January 7, 1894, he was appointed, by Sheriff Anderton, as one of his deputies, a position he has since filled to the satisfaction of the sheriff and of the general public.

Mr. Wright was married, October 17, 1878. to Miss Phebe Tressler, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Tressler, well known residents of Dayton. To this union there have been born three children, Effie, Edward O., and Ambry Irene, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are attendants of the First United Brethren church of Dayton, of which they have long been members, and to the tenets of which they strictly conform.

Fraternally, Mr. Wright is a member of the National Union and of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, also of the International Association of Machinists. He served as president of the Dayton Trades & Labor assembly in 1892 and 1893, and has ever held dear to his heart the material interests of the workingman as well as his moral welfare. He and his family have a pleasant place in social life, and the respect paid them is well deserved.

BREDERICK WUNDERLICH, a member of the firm of Wunderlich Bros. , sculptors and manufacturers of and dealers in granite and marble monuments at No. 1225 East Fifth street, was born in Dayton, Ohio, September 15, 1864. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Kupp) Wunderlich, were born in Germany, the former coming to this country in 1847, the latter in 1862. Henry Wunderlich first settled in

Auglaize county, but came to Dayton in March, 1848. He was a stone-cutter, and followed this trade until 1873, when he established the business now being carried on by his four sons. His death occurred in Dayton, February 23, 1889, in his seventieth year. He was a member of the order of Odd Fellows, of the encampment, and was also a member of the German order of Druids. He was a successful, honorable man, and one of the best known and highly esteemed citizens of the east end of the city of Dayton. His widow died in March, 1896, in her seventy-third )7ear. At the time of his death Mr. Wunderlich left four sons and one daughter, the latter being the wife of Otto Alstaeter. The sons are John, Henry, Frederick and William, comprising the firm of Wunderlich Bros.

Frederick Wunderlich was educated in the Dayton public schools, and, having completed his education, learned of his father his present business. The firm was first known as Wunderlich & Sons, but upon the death of the father the name was changed to Wunderlich Bros. This enterprise has been built up from a small beginning, and it is by strict attention to business and by fair and honorable dealing that the firm has established its reputation and acquired its present high standing and large and prosperous trade.

Mr. Wunderlich has always been a republican in politics and for many years has been a leading member of that party in the Ninth ward. In April, 1895, he was elected to the board of education for a term of two years, taking his place on the board in May. He was married in May, 1887, to Miss Emma Gayer of Riverdale, and to this marriage there have been born two sons, Elmer O. and Howard F. Mr. Wunderlich is a member of all the branches of the Odd Fellows fraternity, and of the Gem City senate Knights of the Ancient Essenic order. He and his family are members of the

Third street, or Saint John's, German Evangelical Lutheran church, which was organized in 1838 or 1839. Mr. Wunderlich and his brothers are among the most highly esteemed citizens of the Gem City.

HOMAS YENNY, of Dayton, Ohio, is a native of Switzerland, born July 27, 1844. He came to the United States in the year 1866, and is the only member of his family who ever came to America.

Before leaving his native land Mr. Yenny had secured a good education in the common branches of study, and had also prepared himself for the practical duties of life by learning the carpenter's trade. He passed the summer of 1866 in Pittsburg, Pa., where he found employment at his trade, and in the fall of the same year he came to Dayton, Ohio, where he has ever since lived, and where he has been continuously employed at his trade, being an expert workman and recognized as a skilled mechanic. He secured a position in the Barney-Smith Car works on his arrival in Dayton in 1866, and has remained with that concern until the present day, with the exception of the interim from 1872 to 1879, when he was employed in the shops of the Farmers' Friend Manufacturing company. His industry and good management have brought to him a due measure of success, and he is well known and highly esteemed in the city where he has made his home for so many years.

At the time Mr. Yenny left Switzerland both of his parents were living, but are now deceased. Two sisters and one brother still remain in the land of their birth, and he himself has twice visited the home of his childhood - once in 1869, and again in 1890.

Freitag, who was born in Milwaukee, Wis., and to them has been born one child, a daughter, Mary Margaret. All of the family are devoted members of St. John's German Lutheran church.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Yenny is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Druids. In politics he has been a loyal supporter of the democratic party and for six years served as a member of the school board of Mad River township. The esteem and confidence in which he is held by his fellow-citizens was also shown in April, 1896, when he was elected a member of the city council from the Third ward, as the candidate of the democratic party.

RUNO ZIMMERMAN, timekeeper at the national military home at Dayton, Ohio, was born in Saxony, Germany, November 23, 1827, and was educated in an agricultural college. He was the only child born to his parents, and when about sixteen years of age, in 1843, ran away from a pleasant home and came to America. Here he employed himself in any honest labor his hands could find to do, first working for some time in New York and then going to Connecticut, whence, in 1853, he went overland to California, where he drove a United States mail coach, on the Santa Fe route, for three years. This task was beset with dangers, and finally a train of several hundred wagons, to which his vehicle was attached, was attacked by ambushed Indians, and in the battle which ensued Mr. Zimmerman received a severe wound in the head, which rendered him unconscious for several weeks and disabled him from further service as a mail coach driver. On recovering from his wound he went to Cincinnati, where he engaged in teaming. He enlisted in April, 1861, for the three months' service, and acted as orderly on the staff of Gen. Planker. Immediately after the expiration of this term of service he enlisted in Huffman's Ohio battery, in which he became first sergeant. He filled out his two years' term with this battery and then re-enlisted in the field, becoming a member of the One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania infantry, company B, from which he received his final discharge.

Mr. Zimmerman served in the Eleventh and Twelfth army corps, and took part in many of the sanguinary battles under Gen. Hooker, among which may be mentioned that of South Mountain, where he was w'ounded. He was also at Antietam and Fredericksburg; went with his command to the southwest, where the Eleventh and Twelfth were merged into the Twentieth army corps, and took part at Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Ringgold. June 15, 1864, at Pine Mountain, Ga., he received a disabling wound through the leg and ankle, and for this reason was honorably discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in August, 1865.

After his discharge, Mr. Zimmerman went to Kentucky, where he engaged in the grain and coal business. He there found among the discharged rebel soldiers many warm friends, and, disabled Yankee soldier though he was, they apparently thought none the less of him. But disaster overtook him, and in 1882 his property and business were destroyed by fire, and he sought refuge in the military home at Dayton. Here he was first employed as breadcutter, then as clerk and store-keeper in the tailor shop, next served as assistant timekeeper for several years, and since February, 1896, has been timekeeper.

The first marriage of Mr. Zimmerman was with Miss Emma Sarah Meade, a native of Connecticut, and to this union were born twelve children, of whom seven are still living. Two of these reside in Chicago, 111., and three in

Buffalo, N. Y. , while the location of the other two is not known. The second marriage of Mr. Zimmerman took place in Lexington, Ky. , in 1876, with Mrs. Katherina Piot, a soldier's widow, but to this union no children have been born. Mrs. Zimmerman was the mother of five children by her first marriage and these have been reared in the Zimmerman household, which occupies a very pleasant home on Fifth street, Dayton.

Mr. Zimmerman is a member of Dister post. No. 444, Grand Army Republic, of Dayton, and was a charter member of encampment No. 82, Union Veteran Legion. In religion he is a devout Roman Catholic, and in politics has always been a republican. He is a typical German, is frugal, and during his earlier and more productive years economized sufficiently to enable himself to provide the means for a good and comfortable home for his family.

OHN FOWLER YOUNG is a native of Dayton, Ohio, was born April 28, 1840, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Fowler) Young. The father was born in Germany, served under Blucher in the war with Napoleon Bonaparte, and was still a comparatively young man when he came to America.

Henry Young was a gardener and nurseryman, and for a time was an overseer on a plantation in Louisiana; he came to Dayton about 1838, and was soon afterward married to Miss Fowler. He owned a tract of three acres in North Dayton, on which he carried on his business as a gardener until his death, which took place in 1846. His widow survived until 1883, when she was called away at the age of eighty-three years, dying in the faith of the German Reformed church.

Mr. Young, was a miller by trade, and brought his family from Reading, Pa., to Dayton, Ohio, about the year 1835, or soon afterward. He purchased a farm of forty acres in what is now known as Dayton View. There were five children in his family, of whom four came with him to Dayton, and here his daughter Elizabeth was married to Mr. Young. Mr. Fowler died about the year 1852, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.

John Fowler Young was reared to gardening in Dayton, to which he devoted himself until 1876, when he opened business as a florist, locating his greenhouse at Dayton View. In November, 1868, he married Miss Elizabeth Herby, daughter of George and Lydia (Corby) Herby, natives of England. Mrs. Herby and two of her children died in England, and in 1853 Mr. Herby and his only remaining child, now Mrs. Young, came to America, from Earls Barton, England, where the father had been employed in a large mill. On reaching Dayton Mr. Herby engaged in teaming, draying, etc. His life here, however, was very short, as he died in 1858, at the early age of thirty-seven years, leaving his daughter, then but fourteen years of age, alone in a strange land. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Young have been born six children. The home and greenhouse of Mr. Young are at No. 105 Holt street, and he also has a fine piece of property 04 the corner of Holt street and Young avenue; the store is at No. 21 East Fifth street, where Mrs. Young has charge of the cut flowers and takes care of the office business, while Mr. Young cares for his wellequipped greenhouses, supplying all kinds of floral decorations. The Young family are members of the Lutheran church, and fraternally Mr. Young is a member of the A. O. U. W. They have a pleasant home in Dayton View, and enjoy the association and esteem of a large circle of friends.

OTTO ZEIL, engraver in metal, die sinker, etc., and one of the most successful mechanics of Dayton, Ohio, was born in Baden, Germany, December io, 1844, and was a lad of eight or nine years of age when he was brought to America by his parents, Joseph and Anna Zeil, who were also natives of Baden. Joseph Zeil was a weaver of woolen goods, and after settling in Cincinnati, Ohio, on his arrival in this country, followed his calling until advancing years made it necessary for him to retire. He lost his wife in Cincinnati in 1862, and in that city his own death occurred some years later, at the age of eighty-one years. There were but two sons born to Joseph and Anna Zeil, Otto and his brother Joseph, the latter now a farmer in Indiana. Joseph Zeil served entirely throughout the Civil war, first enlisting in the Eighth Indiana volunteer infantry, and later in the Sixty-ninth Indiana infantry, and since the war has served three years in the regular United States army.

Otto Zeil received a very good commonschool education in Cincinnati and was then apprenticed to the general (metal) engraver's art, and while thus engaged enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixth Ohio volunteer infantry. He was sent to the front, and with his regiment was taken prisoner at Hartsville, Tenn., but was paroled and sent to Columbus, Ohio, for exchange. Here Mr. Zeil was prostrated by sickness and was discharged for disability; but on recuperating he enrolled himself as a member of the Tenth Ohio militia, which was later called into active service for 100 days and was placed on guard duty over prisoners at Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, Ohio, and at Cumberland, Md., and elsewhere. At the conclusion of this service he returned to Cincinnati and re-engaged in his early vocation until April, 1890, when he came to Dayton and established himself in business.

Mr. Zeil was married, in 1869, to Miss Sophia Troendle, a native of Germany, and to this marriage have been born five children, viz: Otto, a partner with his father in business; Louis, a resident of Cincinnati ; Tillie, Albert and William, still at home with their parents. Mr. Zeil is a member of Old Guard post, G. A. R., of Dayton.

Otto Zeil, Jr., son of Otto and Sophia Zeil, and the partner of Jiis father, under the firm name of Otto Zeil & Son, is almost the equal of his father in the art of metal engraving. The firm turn out to order, as specialties, embossing plates for book-binders; blank gilding rolls and tools; box pirnting plates; copper plates; steel stamps and everything pertaining to die sinking and stamping known to the art. Both father and son are skilled in the calling, and control almost the entire trade in their art in southwestern Ohio and adjacent territory.

HUGUST ZWIESLER, superintendent of the Burkhardt Furniture company of Dayton, is a native of the city, born on the 20th of July, 1859, and is a son of Constantine and Marguerite (Schimel) Zwiesler, the former of whom is still living, at an advanced age, while the mother passed away in the year 1893. Constantine Zwiesler was born in the province of Bavaria, Germany, in May, 1820, and at the age of twenty-six years emigrated to America and forthwith made his way to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he has ever since resided. He is a tailor by trade and followed this vocation until he was fiftyfive years of age, when he retired from active business. In the early years of his residence here he held for some time the office of assessor. He has long been a zealous member and communicant of the Catholic church. Constantine and Marguerite Zwiesler became the parents of six children, of whom Christina is the wife of Michael Wise, of Dayton; Charles J. died in May, 1885; John H. is a resident of the state of Washington; Lewis lives at Kansas City, Mo. ; August is the immediate subject of this review; and Annie still remains at the paternal home.

August Zwiesler received his early educational training in the excellent Catholic schools (Saint Mary's parish), of Dayton, and at the age of thirteen years he entered the employ of the Stomps-Burkhardt Chair company, where he remained for eleven years. He was then for two years in the service of Parrott & Gilbert, and subsequently for eight years with John Stengel & Company, resigning his position with this concern to become one of the organizers and incorporators of the Burkhardt Furniture company. Mr. Zwiesler is one of stockholders of the corporation and its superintendent. He is a member of Saint Joseph's Orphan society, and is identified also with the Knights of Saint John, of Emanuel Catholic Knights, and a member of Holy Rosary church.

Mr. Zwiesler was married on the 19th of February, 1888, to Miss Philomena Hunn, daughter of Adolph Hunn, and they are parents of four children, Aloyes, Joseph, Elenora and Charles.

HARLES WORTHINGTON RAYMOND, second son of George M. and Eliza (Bonte) Raymond, was born in Dayton, Ohio, on the 17th day of January, 1851. George McMullen Raymond, his father, was an Ohioan whose place of nativity was near Cincinnati, and who married Eliza Ann Bonte, of Cincinnati, some time in the 'twenties. To them were born five children, all of whom reside in Indianapolis except Charles W., who lives in Dayton.

unusually sweet singer. He was the first person to introduce in Dayton what are known as round notes. He was a member of Wesley chapel, Methodist Episcopal church, and later one of the founders of Raper chapel, of East Fifth street; was the first Sunday-school superintendent of that church and always an esteemed member, as well as a faithful Christian citizen. He was a member of Wayne lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F., also of the encampment, and represented his lodge at one time in the grand lodge. He died in Indianapolis on the 16th of August, 1893, six years after the death of his wife.

Charles W. Raymond was educated in the public schools of Dayton. After his school life he associated himself with his father in business. He learned the trade of blacksmithing and wagonmaking, which trade afterward proved the foundation upon which his extensive business interests were built. In early life Mr. Raymond developed an unusual faculty for business, and this, with an inventive mind and habits of application, soon gained for him recognition as a prudent, careful business man, and success early crowned his efforts. During his entire life Mr. Raymond has been an ardent devotee of out-door and athletic sports, and has done much to foster harmless amusements of this class among the younger generation. He has always been a lover of music, inheriting this taste from his father, and for many years affiliated with the various musical societies of the city.

Fraternally Mr. Raymond is a member of Wayne lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F., also of the Essenic order; likewise a charter member of Linden lodge, K. of P. He is an influential member of the board of trade, associated charities and other kindred organizations. He has done as much towards the material and industrial progress of the city of Dayton as any man of his age. Besides his extensive manufacturing interests, Mr. Raymond is the owner of ten or twelve business and residence buildings in Dayton. As a citizen and a business man, his standing in the community is very high, he being widely esteemed for his strong integrity and reliability. It is but just to say that Mr. Raymond inherits from both his father and mother a disposition of unusual energy and perseverance, which was characteristic of both families. He was married, in 1872, to Miss Viola Palmer, also of Dayton. To them were born three sons and one daughter: Ellis Palmer, Eliza Ann, George McMullen and Charles Herbert. Ellis, the eldest son, is associated with his father in business and has proven himself of great value, being the inventor of several very useful machines. He is also a musician of much merit. George has also started at the beginning, and promises a successful business career. Herbert, the youngest son, is pursuing his studies in the Steele high school of Dayton.

In 1880 George M. Raymond and his son, Charles W. Raymond, established the present brick machine works, under the firm name of G. M. Raymond & Son. Upon the retirement of G. M. Raymond in 1888, by reason of age, Charles W. Raymond bought his interest and established the business under the name of C. W. Raymond & Co., clay working machinery, with shops on the corner of First and Taylor streets.

Entering the market with a machine, a reversal of old ideas, and an addition of new ones, at a time when the market was ripe for it, he soon reaped the merited reward of his ingenuity, and to-day is at the head of a business, which manufactures machinery for the production of building brick, fire brick, pressed and ornamental brick, and terra cotta, also brick for the paving of streets, and shingles for the roofing of houses. Mr. Raymond's pressing terra cotta and ornamental brick, instead of making them by hand as formerly, which increased the production of thirty pieces per day to about 3,000 pieces per day; later he invented a power re-press for the manufacture of paving blocks, by which 10,000 blocks per day were produced, and still later he invented the Columbian special re-press, capable of pressing 30,000 paving blocks per day, a wonder in this line of work. These, however, form only a small part of his inventions, which followed closely one upon another. It has been his good fortune to design and invent much of the machinery which now goes to make up a modern brick plant.

The output of the Raymond factory is distributed throughout the United States and it has also a large export demand. The firm takes contracts for equipping the largest plants with all necessary machinery, which is set up and guaranteed, and no charge is ever made of inadequacy to do all that is claimed for it. This is the only concern of the kind in Dayton, and the ingenuity of Mr. Raymond has secured to it almost a monopoly of its peculiar products.

OSEPH ZIZERT, contractor and builder, of Dayton, Ohio, was born near Salem, Ohio, October 16, 1859. He is a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Pflum) Zizert, both natives of Germany, and who were the parents of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, ten of whom are still living, as follows : John, Joseph, Christian, until 1848, when he made an overland trip to California, traveling by means of an ox-team, and requiring 105 days to make the journey. Remaining there until 1851, engaged in gold mining, he returned by water to New York, and thence came again to Dayton, and located on the old farm at Salem, where he died in 1882 at the age of sixty-nine. His wife is still living on the old homestead. Her husband was, and she is, a member of the Lutheran church, standing high in religious circles and in general society.

The father of Christian Zizert was a stonecutter by trade, and lived in Germany all his life, dying when nearly eighty years of age. The maternal grandfather of Joseph Zizert was named Charles Pflum, and also died in Germany. Mrs. Mary Pflum, his grandmother on his mother's side, died in Montgomery county in 1872, when she was nearly seventyfour years of age. She was one of the excellent women of pioneer days, and, dying, left many sincere friends to mourn her loss.

Joseph Zizert, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon the farm and received his early education in the district school. At the age of sixteen years he began learning the carpenter's trade, working eight years for Daniel Stouffer. After retiring from the employ of Mr. Stouffer he was a journeyman workman until 1890, when he removed to Dayton and began contracting upon his own account. During the time he has lived in Dayton he has erected many substantial residences and other buildings in this city.

In August, 1888, Mr. Zizert was married to Miss Kate Beekler, daughter of Henry and Matilda ( Bouser ) Beekler. To this marriage there have been born three children : Lottie,

Charles and Robert. Mr. Zizert is a member of Riverdale Knights of Pythias, No. 639, and in politics is a democrat. Mr. Zizert and his family are among the substantial citizens

ROF. J. EMIL ZWISSLER, one of the leading musiciansof Dayton, Ohio, was born in Urach, Germany, July 14, 1867, a son of G. A. and Mary Zwissler, the former of whom was a musician in the Theological university. Subject was prepared for his chosen profession by some of the finest masters of Europe, seven years of his life having been spent in preparatory study at the Stuttgart Royal conservatory of music under Profs. Von Faisst, Perry Goetschius and W. Speidel.

From this famous institution he was graduated in organ, piano and 'cello instrumentation and in musical composition, and later took a two years' course at the Royal high school for music in Berlin, under such famous masters as Haupt for the organ, Bargiel for composition, and Hausmann Joachim for the 'cello. Among some of Prof. Zwissler's productions which have been played in Berlin with unqualified approbation may be mentioned a concert overture for large orchestras, two string quartets, and several studies for the piano. For some time, also, Prof. Zwissler was engaged as director of a mixed chorus in his native historical city of Urach, where his marked musical talent and his success as a teacher of his art were widely recognized.

In March, 1892, Prof. Zwissler came to America, located at once in Dayton, and entered upon his career as a tutor in music, which has placed him at the head of his profession. He has large classes of pupils in all his departments of musical study, and is master of the male choruses in the Harmonia, Schwaebischer Saengerbund and Harugari Liederkranz, all musical organizations of Dayton. He is also em- ployed every alternate week, as 'cellist in the Cincinnati Symphony orchestra. Since coming to America, Prof. Zwissler has written several high-class scores, including a string quintet and a symphony for large orchestras. The professor is a member of the Lutheran church of Dayton, and is prominent in social circles, having won many friends both by his personal qualities and by his professional successes.

EORGE V. ALLEN, manager of the Dayton agency of the Indiana Bicycle company, at 12 West Second street, is a native son of Dayton, and was born on the 20th of August, 1864, the son of James J. and Maggie (Knapp) Allen, both of whom are living. His lineage is of English and Scotch derivation. Mr. Allen was reared and educated in Dayton, and at the age of about fifteen years, entered the mercantile establishment of his father, where he was employed as a clerk for three or four years, after which he went to Chicago and entered the extensive wholesale establishment of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co., dealers in hardware and milling and mining supplies. Here he remained for about three years, after which he went out as a commercial traveler for the house, representing its interests through Montana, Washington, Oregon and other sections of the northwest. Mr. Allen was thus employed for a period of two years, when impaired health compelled him to seek other employment. He accordingly resigned his position and returned to Dayton, where he engaged in the bicycle business, to which he has ever since devoted his attention and in which he has advanced to a prominent position among the bicycle agents of the state.

The Indiana Bicycle company, of Indianapolis, whose wheel, the Waverley, Mr. Allen represents, is one of the most extensive concerns of the sort in America, and its plant is one which will bear comparison with any in the world in matters of facilities for rapid production, extent of mechanical equipment and character of its output. Mr. Allen is one of the best known and most popular representatives of wheeling interests in this section of the Buckeye state, and is one of the pioneers of the bicycle business in Dayton, having established a local agency for different wheels in 1888 and ever since devoted his attention to this now important line of industry. He is personally an enthusiastic wheelman, and this is evident in the fact that he has been a rider for the past sixteen years. In the year 1894 Mr. Allen assumed the agency for the Waverley wheels in Dayton, and he also attends to the management of the company's affairs throughout a considerable portion of the state, visiting the outside trade during the winter months.

ORION L. BOUCK, contractor and builder, of Dayton, was born July 6( 1853, in Greene county, Ohio. His parents were James Henry and Sarah (Aley) Bouck, the former of whom was a native of Maryland, of German descent, was a farmer and mill owner, and died in Greene county, Ohio, when Orion was but eight years of age ; his widow lived to reach the age of fifty-nine years, and died in Dayton. Of their two children, Orion is the elder ; his brother, Charles A., is a prosperous business man and a resident of Los Angeles, Cal.

county, came to Dayton when eighteen years of age, and served an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter's trade under Abraham Cosier; he then worked one year as a journeyman in the shops in which he learned his trade, also one year as superintendent. Being now prepared to engage in business on his own account, he formed a partnership with Jacob Perrine, in the contracting and building industry. This continued for about three years, when, following its dissolution, Mr. Bouck alone carried on a similar business until 1884. He then erected a planing-mill, which he operated, in connection with contracting, until, in 1894, the O. L. Bouck company was incorporated, with a capital stock of $75,000, and of this company Mr. Bouck was chosen president and manager. In January, 1896, he retired from the presidency, but still retains an interest as stockholder in the concern. In October, 1896, Mr. Bouck withdrew from active relations with the Bouck company, and entered upon his present extensive business as contractor and builder, operating a planing mill in connection therewith, at No. 107 Commercial street.

April 19, 1877, Mr. Bouck married Martha L. Meyers, a native of Dayton, and the daughter of James and Martha Meyers, the former of whom is a native of Germany, but came to America and located in Dayton in early youth, and the latter a native of the Buckeye state. Mr. and Mrs. Bouck have two children - Clifford R. and Margaret Dale. The son was educated in the city schools of Dayton and at Otterbein university, and has also been well trained in music ; he is an athlete of more than ordinary strength and skill, and is now assistant bookkeeper in his father's office. The daughter is a bright little girl of seven years.

Mr. and Mrs. Bouck and their son are members of the First United Brethren church, in which Mr. Bouck is a teacher in the Sundayschool, a class leader and a member of the official board. In politics, Mr. Bouck affiliates with the republican party, and is a strong advocate of temperance. Fraternally, he is a member of Dayton lodge. No. 273, I. O. O. F., and formerly held membership in the encampment, but has withdrawn from his connection with the latter body.

H. BROOKINS, member of the Dayton city council from the Fourth ward, and secretary and treasurer of the Mathias Planing Mill company, was born in Madison township, Montgomery county, Ohio, October 14, 1858. He is a son of Richard R. and Christina (Holsapple) Brookins, the former having been born in Maryland of Scotch parents, and the latter in Madison township, Montgomery county, Ohio.

Richard R. Brookins came to Montgomery county when a boy, and here grew to manhood. He was engaged in the saw-mill and brick manufacture until his enlistment, in 1861, in company I, Ninety-third regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. On the first day's fighting at Chickamauga he was taken prisoner and was incarcerated in Libby prison at Richmond, Va., where he died January 21, 1864. His wife survived him until July 21, 1893. There were five children born to the parents, three of whom are now living: Joseph H., of Anderson, Ind.; Martha A., now the wife of A. F. Allaman, of Montgomery county, Ohio, and our subject.

N. H. Brookins was reared on a farm in Madison township, and was educated in the public schools; he also attended the National normal college at Lebanon, and while there taught school during the winters. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching, and continued for nine years, in Montgomery county. While teaching he learned bookkeeping and shorthand at A. D. Wilt's Commercial college,

Mr. Brookins was married in 1880 to Clara Belle Spitler, of Perry township, Montgomery county. To them four children have been born, viz: Alpharetta, John C., Walter R. and N. Orville. Mr. Brookins was first elected to the Dayton city council in the spring of

1894, for the term of two years. He is a member of Hope lodge, No. 277, K. of P., and of Oak lodge, I. O. O. F., of New Lebanon, and of Dayton lodge, No. 147, F. & A. M. Mr. Brookins is one of Dayton's deservedly successful young business men, and, in his service in public office, has become known as one of her most useful and reliable citizens. He and his family occupy a pleasant and prominent place in the social life of the West Side, which is almost a city by itself and whose people are among the most progressive and prosperous to be found in Dayton.

ENJAMIN F. McCANN, attorney, of Dayton, was born near Zanesville, Muskingum county, Ohio, January 22, 1861, and is a son of Thomas A. and Jane (McKee) McCann. The mother was born near Cadiz, in Harrison county, and the father in Muskingum. Both parents are now deceased. Their grandparents came from the old country.

Benjamin F. McCann was admitted to the bar of Ohio in June, 1890, and then went to Europe, remaining until the following October, when he returned and began practice. He was appointed police prosecutor of Dayton in 1892 and re-appointed in 1895, the term of the office being three years. Mr. McCann is one of the best known of the younger members of the Dayton bar and enjoys not only a high professional standing, but a position of strength and influence in the general community. His discharge of the duties of his office has been marked by fidelity and efficiency, and his selection by the board of police directors for a second term met with public approbation.

ILLIAM L-. DARROW (deceased), who resided in Dayton, Ohio, for more than fifty years, was born in Portage county, Ohio, October 15, 1816. He was a son of James and Betsey (Pease) Darrow, both natives of western New York. They were the parents of four children, one of whom is still living, viz: Harriet, widow of Jonas Butterfield of Cincinnati. James Darrow and his wife were members of the Baptist church. W. L. Darrow's mother died when he was fourteen years old, his father living for many years in Warren county, where he died June 11, 1875, at the age of eightysix. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a farmer by occupation. The Darrow family is of Scottish origin, and the earliest ancestor in this country settled in New London, Conn., in 1696; thence the family moved to western New York, where most of the descendants now reside, and where they hold an annual reunion.

William L. Darrow was reared in Warren county, Ohio, until he was sixteen years of age, as a farmer's boy, and then began the serious work of life for himself. He started a tannery on Jefferson street, Dayton, Ohio, and continued this for some years, also operating another tannery in Marion. On account of scarcity of bark in this region he removed his tannery to Vanceburg, Ivy., where his brother, James, managed the business for him. While the business was being conducted in Kentucky, William L. Darrow continued to reside in Day-

William L. Darrow was married to Miss Permilla John, daughter of John and Virginia (McFarland) John. To this marriage there were born six children, as follows: James

Madison; Harriet A. E., who died while attending high school in Dayton; Millie, wife of John R. More, formerly of St. Louis, but for the past ten years of Dayton; Lucretia, who died in infancy, William J., who died March, 1877. The wife of William J. Darrow, who still survives him, resides in Springfield, Ohio, and has one child, Millie, wife of Harry H. Sellers, of Springfield, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Sellers have two children, Darrow and Joseph. The youngest child of William L. Darrow, Harmon P. Darrow, died in 1 884, leaving one son, Willie H. Darrow, of Dayton, Ohio, now the only living descendant of W. L. Darrow, who bears the name.

Mrs. Permilla Darrow died in 1867. Her father, John John, was a son of Thomas John, who was a native of Wales, and who came to America in 1750, settling first on Welch Run, in Chester county, Pa. Thomas, Jr., the youngest son, married Elizabeth Pierpont, of Pennsylvania, and lived near Morgantown, now in Berks county, Pa., and there they reared their family of ten children. They removed to Ohio in 1797, purchased a section of land in Greene county, from the government, at $2 per acre, later located six miles east of Dayton, and lived there until their death, Mr. John dying in 1801. At his death the property was divided among his ten children, John John remaining on the part that fell to him until his death. John John served in the war of 1812, having enlisted at Dayton; the gun he carried is still preserved. There is still living on his farm his daughter, Rebecca John, a maiden lady, eighty-eight years of age,

William L. Darrow was married to his second wife, Miss Sarah R. Stewart, January 20, 1870. She was a daughter of Alexander and Rebecca (Clark) Stewart, the former of whom was a native of South Carolina, and the latter of English and Scotch descent. The name Stewart was originally spelled Stuart.

390 West First street. Her grandmother Clark came to Ohio in 1805, when her mother was a young woman. Her grandfather Stuart, or Stewart, also came to this state about the same time, both families settling in Warren county, where her father died. Mrs. Darrow's mother, who was a widow for a number of years, died in Dayton, Ohio, when ninety-six years and six months old.

Mr. Darrow was unusually modest and retiring; but, notwithstanding this, he had a large acquaintance and was well and widely known as one of the most substantial and influential men in Dayton. He was very successful in business, and his death was deeply mourned by a large circle of friends aside from the members of his family.

Maj. John R. More, who married Miss Millie Darrow, was formerly a wholesale grocer of St. Louis. When Mr. Darrow's last son died, Mr. and Mrs. More removed to Dayton.

Mr. More then became associated with Mr. Darrow in business, and so continued until the latter died, Mr. More becoming his successor in the leather business. Mr. and Mrs. More live on the old home place occupied by Mr. Darrow, at No. 400 First street. They have two children, Mildred and Richard. Mildred is now the wife of Harvey Conover, and has one child, a daughter, named Dorothy.

soldier in the late Civil war, and after serving a few months died from the effects of a severe cold contracted while in the line of his duty. He was a member of the Dayton zouaves, and served under Col. King. The mother of Mr. Darrow, Betsey Pease, was a daughter of Capt. Abner Pease, of the northern part of Ohio. He married Abigail Blackman, daughter of Maj. Blackman, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Thus it will be seen that the family of Mr. Darrow, in all its relations and connections, was full of patriotism, and that it represented the noble stock of the pioneer, now seldom found, except in the western states, but to whom the state of Ohio owes so much of her present development and prominence in the affairs of the nation and in the eyes of the world.

OHN WESLEY MUNDORFF, superintendent of the Foglesong Horse Collar Machinery company, Dayton, Ohio, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., November 2, 1847, and is a son of Adam and Mary (Young) Mundorff, both also natives of the Keystone state. Adam and Mary Mundorff are the parents of two children, Eliza, wife of D. H. Hensley, and John Wesley.

Adam Mundorff was a carpenter by trade, was a Baptist in religion, and died in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1850, aged thirty-two years. His wife, who is a member of the Baptist church, still survives. William Mundorff, the paternal grandfather of John Wesley Mundorff, was also a native of Pennsylvania, a teacher by profession, teaching school twenty-eight winters in succession, and served in the Mexican war. He and his wife reared a family of eleven sons and three daughters, and he died at the age of sixty-two years. The maternal grandfather was also a native of Pennsylvania, but little is now remembered of him.

The mother of John Wesley Mundorff, after the death of her husband, married, for her second husband, William Hamil. To this marriage there was born one child, William, who is at the present time superintendent of the gas company at Hamilton, Ohio. Mr. Hamil died in 1890, and Mrs. Hamil, his widow, now sixty-nine years of age, resides at Hamilton, Ohio.

John Wesley Mundorff spent his youth chiefly in Cumberland county, Pa., receiving there a good common-school education. At the age of sixteen he began learning the trade of machinist at Hamilton, Ohio, remaining at that place until 18 66, when he came to Dayton, Ohio. For five or six years previous to his present employment he was foreman of the Davis Screw company, and for the past eight years he has filled his present position, that of superintendent of the Foglesong Horse Collar Machinery company. During the thirty years of his residence in Dayton he has earned the reputation of being a careful and competent man and has discharged every duty with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his employers.

married to Mary Jane Marts, daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth (St. Clair) Marts. To this marriage there have been born three children, as follows: Elmer A., Earle Augustus, and

Flora. Elmer A. was killed in 1892 by the White Line street railway cars, when he was nineteen years of age. The other children are living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Mundorff are excellent citizens and are members of the Hartford street United Brethren church, as also are the children. Mr. Mundorff is steward and treasurer of his church.

He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, of the Odd Fellows and of the American Mechanics. Politically, he has always been a republican. His residence is at

No. 25 Portland avenue, where he lives surrounded by many sincere friends who appreciate the value of Mr. Mundorff as a citizen, and of his family as members of the church and of general society.

eLIHU THOMPSON, member of the Dayton bar and president of the city board of police commissioners, was born about ten miles north of Dayton, in Randolph township, Montgomery county, Ohio, October 13, 1837. He is a son of James F. and Mary Ann (Riley) Thompson, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and were brought to Montgomery county by their parents about 1820. James F. Thompson was a son of Aaron Thompson, of Allegheny county, Pa., and Mary Ann Riley was a daughter of Isaac Riley, who died in Bedford county, Pa., his widow afterward removing to Montgomery county, this state.

James F. Thompson was by occupation a farmer, and was a very prominent and useful citizen. For about fifteen years he served as constable for Randolph township, and was justice of the peace for six years in Jackson township. He was twice land appraiser and once a member of the Ohio legislature, all of which indicates the respect in which he was held by his fellow -citizens, and the confidence they placed in him. His death occurred December 10, 1890, when he was nearly eighty years of age. His wife died in 1887, aged seventy-four years.

Elihu Thompson was reared on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, his early education having been secured in the country schools. Afterward he attended the National normal school at Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, and when nineteen years of age began teaching school, following this profession for eight years, and attending school during his vacation. While teaching and attending school, having provided himself with law books, he fitted himself largely by private study for the legal profession, entering the law college at Cleveland, Ohio, where he was graduated May 26, 1862.

On August 4, 1862, he enlisted at Miamisburg, Ohio, in company E, Ninety-third regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and was captured at Lexington, Ky., when the Union forces were defeated by Gen. Kirby Smith, Mr. Thompson being at the time an inmate of the hospital. After being held a captive for about a week he was paroled, but was held within the rebel lines for ten days longer. At length he made his way out of their lines, being at the time near Patriot, Switzerland county, Ind., whence he made his way to Columbus, Ohio, reporting at Camp Chase, and was honorably discharged on account of physical disability, October 29, 1862. On December 9, 1863, he was commissioned by Gov. Tod as adjutant of the Second regiment of Ohio militia, with the rank of first lieutenant, and that position he held as long as the organization was maintained.

Soon after graduating from the Cleveland Law school Mr. Thompson was admitted to the bar, and, after returning from the war, opened an office, March 10, 1864, for the practice of his profession at Dayton, and has practiced continuously since that time. He was in partnership for five years with W. H. Belville, for three years with James P. Whitmore, and for about one year with James A. Mumma, and since the dissolution of the last partnership he has been practicing alone.

In politics, Mr. Thompson is a democrat, and as such was elected, in 1869, prosecuting attorney for Montgomery county, and was reelected in 1871, thus holding the office for four years. He has twice been a member of the board of education of the city, is now a member of the city board of police commissioners, has served as president of the board for one year and is now serving a second term as member of the board. The excellent police force of the city of Dayton was organized under the direction of the present board, to whom much credit is due for the high efficiency of the department. In 1890, the bar association of Dayton elected Mr. Thompson substitute for Judge Elliott of the common pleas court, and for six months he presided on the common pleas bench with ability and to the satisfaction of the bar.

Mr. Thompson was married in May, 1865, to Miss Elina Jane Gregg, of Springboro, Warren county, Ohio. She died in September, 1866, and he was again married in September, 1868, to Miss Bell Whitmore, of Dayton. While Mrs. Thompson is a Presbyterian in her religious faith, Mr. Thompson is in sympathy with the Unitarian church. He has given much attention to the study of theology, having written several valuable papers on theosophy, and has delivered several lectures on the latter subject in Cincinnati, Dayton and other cities. He at one time held a joint discussion on theology with Rev. Dr. Buck, of Cincinnati, before a large audience.

Ev. Mendenhall J. Dennis

EV. MENDENHALL J. DENNIS, D. D.,was born in Cornwall, England, May 5, 1833. He is a son of Rev. H. W. and Sarah (Eaker) Dennis, both of whom were natives of England, and who traced their ancestry back to the distinguished and great family of the Maccabees,- which family was descended from Mattathias, the first great hero of the Jewish revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria.

Rev. H. W. Dennis and his wife, Sarah, had a family of three children, two sons and one daughter, Dr. Dennis, the subject of this sketch, being the only one of the three now living. While in his youth and earlier manhood, Rev. H. W. Dennis was educated and thoroughly trained for the ministry, yet, owing to a weakness in his vocal organs, he was obliged to relinquish the sacred calling to devote himself to business pursuits, being at one time the proprietor and manager of a large cotton factory, and later engaged in the shipping of grain from the Black sea to England. He died at the age of seventy-nine years, leaving the record of an honest and prosperous business man.

Mendenhall J. Dennis, when a boy, attended school in his native land, and like many another boy manifested no special love for intellectual effort and gave no promise of excellence in any department of literature. For one branch of human effort, however, he evinced a decided predilection, that of the manufacture of delicate mechanism, such as watches and philosophical and scientific instruments. This, however, as a profession, his parents denied him, and only during vacation could he avail himself of opportunities of visiting shops and factories, and of watching the operatives with an interest that, together with a work bench and some tools at home, enabled him to comprehend some of the mysteries of horology and' to master some of its practical mechanisms.

At a later age he was sent to the university of Heidelberg, the oldest in Germany, where he developed a love for classical languages and literature, and from which he graduated in 1853. Two years later he took a special course in Greek and Hebrew from one of the most eminent professors of that day. The proficiency, especially in Hebrew, which he attained during that time led him to aspire to a professorship in some metropolitan institution of learning, to qualify himself for which he was sent to Palestine, the source of Hebrew learning, there further to prosecute his studies among the people where Hebrew is still a spoken language. During a residence of several years in that land he studied not only textual Hebrew, but rabbinical Hebrew, Arabic and more or less of all the cognates of the Hebrew original.

Coming in the early part of 1 86 1 to the United States while the Civil war was raging and the business interests of the whole country were undergoing a revolution; when colleges and institutions of learning generally languished, the prospects for a professorship in a theological institution were not encouraging. During the time of his residence in Palestine, especially in Jerusalem, Dr. Dennis had gathered enough material for a course of lectures on the Holy Land. These he prepared and delivered in cities of Ohio, Kentucky and Missouri. He was subsequently ordained and preached for the Christian church for several years in the cities of Dayton, Ohio, and Richmond, Ky. As, on account of his early theological training, he could not very well pronounce the shibboleth of that church in all of her tenets, the relations between him and its ultra orthodox ministry became somewhat strained, and he therefore severed his connection with that communion, the church granting him letters of dismission and commending him as an able and worthy minister of the gospel, to unite with any other church where " in the providence of God his lot may be cast." From Richmond he went directly to Boston, Mass., where he remained for several years preaching as an independent evangelist in Congregational, Baptist, Reformed Episcopal and Presbyterian churches - employing also a considerable portion of his time in teaching Hebrew to private classes.

Coming back to Ohio in 1882, he deemed it his duty, since in his theological views he was more in accordance with the Westminster confession of faith than with any other of the evangelical creeds, to put himself in line with that branch of the church. He was ac- I cordingly, after the forescribed order and examination of that "confession," received by the Dayton presbytery and enrolled as a brother minister and member of that body, and has ever since served it in the function of examiner - being a member of the standing committee on examinations of licentiates and candidates for ordination, in languages and in the sciences.

As Dr. Dennis has had a work in view which he deems in a measure of greater moment to the church at large than mere pulpit ministration, he has, since his connection with the Presbyterian church, never consented to take pastoral charge of any congregation, although preaching more or less every Sabbath when an opportunity offers.

The great work of his life, and to which he gives his whole time and undivided attention, is a commentary, philological, critical and exegetical, on the Old Testament, for the basis of which he translates from the original Hebrew the commentaries of the renowned German Jewish philosopher and scholar, Moses Mendelssohn, grandfather of Felix Mendelssohn, the great musical composer. The author of those commentaries lived and wrote in the latter part of the seventeenth and the early part of the eighteenth centuries; and while all of his works were written in German, his commentaries on the Pentateuch, Psalms, and on one or two minor books of the Old Testament, were written in the purest style of Hebrew, intended for his own race, who understood that language better than any other.

In undertaking this work Dr. Dennis was not unmindful that it would necessarily entail years of hard labor and deep thinking; long and tedious hours of study by day and by night; copious reading and the drudgery of writing, beside the cost of many and various books of reference. Such books are not on the shelves in town libraries - not always even in city li-

The inducements for such an undertaking are manifold - first, the fact that such a work on the Old Testament has never been published. There are numerous works of that kind on the New Testament - such, for example, as Dr. Bloomfield's Greek Testament, with English notes, Critical, Philological, and Exegetical. and that of later date, Dean Alford's New Testament for English Readers; but upon the Old Testament there is nothing of the kind. The best commentaries on the Old Testament extant have for the most part been written by Christian authors, whose familiarity with the Hebrew language and its literature could have been neither very thorough nor extensive - a fact which they betray in their inaccuracy of citations from Hebrew authors, and even in their textual citations, to say nothing of the inadequate exegesis, erroneous interpretations and misapplications, so frequently staring the true Hebrew scholar in the face.

A second consideration as an inducement for the undertaking of such a work is the fact that a critical and philologically exegetical commentary coming from a Jewish source - from a people among whom the Hebrew language was a vernacular, whose entire and vast literature, running through fifteen centuries, was mainly an effort at exposition, elucidation and interpretation of the sacred text - could not but be most reliable and authoritative, affording to the Bible student at once a true basis upon which to rest his faith and a means of release from conflicting and necessarily doubtful interpretations.

A third inducement is the consideration that it will render nugatory much of the socalled "higher criticism," which, for the most part, is based upon interpretations and deductions having no foundation in fact and largely due to a want of thorough understanding of the original language of the text, and to a partial acquaintance, or none, with the literature which it pretends to elucidate. From eminent scholars to whom the work, as far as it has progressed, has been shown, the author has received the most flattering encouragement, the verdict without exception being, that the work, while on account of its technical nature may not enlist the sympathy of the ordinary English reader, will, through that very technicality, commend it to theological colleges and universities as well as to the clergy at large, both Christian and Jewish.

Dr. Dennis was married early in life to a lady of eminent virtues, the only daughter of a celebrated European physician. To this union there have been born six children, four of whom are now living. The elder son, Graham Barclay Dennis, married a Miss Bradley, of Dayton, and after a short business career in this city went west, settling in Spokane, Wash. , where he now resides. In the few years that he has been there he has made a success in business; has established an enviable reputation, and has the confidence not only of his associates but also of the community at large. In partnership with a wealthy firm of Chicago he has large mining interests in Washington and Idaho, and a year or two ago was made president of the Northwestern Mining association - a position he now holds.

The second and younger son, William Bishop Dennis, is well and favorably known in Dayton, He left this city to make his home in Port Townsend, Wash., where he has large business interests and holds the position of president of the chamber of commerce.

Of the two daughters of Dr. Dennis one, Miss Julia B. Dennis, is well known in Dayton as an estimable young lady and a teacher of no mean ability. For several years she occu- pied the position of assistant principal in the Fourth district school. Thence she was called to a position in the state model school, Trenton, N. J., and so marked was her success that, without solicitation on her part, she was invited by the Brooklyn board of education to take an important position in one of their high schools. She entered upon her work in the fall of last year.

The second daughter, Miss Mary B. Dennis (now Mrs. A. B. Poland), is not so well known in Dayton as her sister. She was but a little girl when, after having finished her sixth grade grammar-school course in this city, she was sent to Daughter's college, Harrodsburg, Ky., whence dates her successful educational career. After four years of toil she graduated from that college with the highest honors of her class, and the degree of M. S. was conferred upon her. Soon after this, she entered upon the teacher's career; taught in Paris, Ky. , for two years, then at Flushing, N. Y. , as assistant principal of the high school for about the same length of time. During her engagement at Flushing she spent a summer vacation at Chautauqua, and while there inaugurated a peripatetic science club for children, which is still in vogue. To teach the children how to observe, and to excite an interest in their study of botany, she devised and composed a manual as a vade-mecum , entitled A Study of Leaves, which was afterward published by D. Appleton & Co., N. Y. The little work has since been adopted as a text book by the Brooklyn board of education. While still at Flushing she matriculated at the university of New York, and after a course of four years graduated and took the degree of Ph. D., being the only woman upon whom that degree had, up to that time, been conferred in the state of New York. At the suggestion of the superintendent of the Brooklyn schools, she took and successfully passed an examination for the principalship - an examination which no woman had ever before passed; and in recognition of that fact the Brooklyn board of education honored her with an appointment to the principalship of school No. 41, a position which she successfully filled for four consecutive years. Miss Dennis became the bride of Dr. Addison B. Poland, superintendent of state instruction of New Jersey, on June 26, 1895. The ceremony was performed by her father, assisted by the Rev. T. B. Oliver, rector of Saint Bartholomew's. She received at that time a petition signed by all of her teachers and by the local board, asking her not to resign her position in the school, and the board of education, contrary to a long established custom which debarred a married woman from continuing in the public schools as teacher, concurred in the petition, and to this day she is still holding her position.

ENNIS ENSEY, who now resides at No. 35 South Tecumseh street, Dayton, Ohio, was born in what was at the time Dayton township, but is now known as Van Buren township, March 21, 1812. He is therefore eighty-five years of age, and one of the oldest men in Montgomery county. He is a son of John and Sarah (Thompson) Ensey, the former of whom was born in Frederick county, Md., and the latter in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was two years old when brought to Dayton, and her mother, the grandmother of Dennis, was the first white woman that reached Dayton. John and Sarah Ensey were the parents of thirteen children, four of whom are still living, as follows : Dennis, Mary (wife of John Hatfield), Ephraim and William.

compelled him to relinquish all active pursuits. He came to Dayton from Maryland in 1806, located southeast of the place, and lived there until April, 1825. He lived in Dayton until he was over eighty-nine years of age, his wife having died in 1864, in her seventy-first year. She was one of the good, motherly pioneer women of the early day, and was a member of the Methodist church.

The paternal grandfather, John Ensey, was born in Maryland, reared a large family of children, and died in Ohio, near Beavertown. The maternal grandfather was Samuel Thompson. He was a native of Pennsylvania, moved to Cincinnati and there married Mrs. Catherine Van Cleaf, widow of Capt. Van Cleaf, who was killed by the Indians. In 1796 he and his wife came up the Miami river and settled in Dayton. Afterward he was drowned in Mad river, just above its mouth, and his wife survived him until 1837, when she died.

Dennis Ensey grew to manhood in Dayton, and, with the exception of three years, has lived there all his life. He was educated in the public schools of that city, and there learned the bricklayer's trade, which he followed for some years, after which he engaged in contracting. He was one of the contractors for the erection of the first of the asylum buildings, and beside this he built many of the substantial structures of Dayton.

On April 10, 1845, he married Miss Margaret Wilson, daughter of James and Jane (Shirley) Wilson. To this marriage there were born four children, as follows : Lila G. ,

Mr. Ensey formerly was a very active Mason, but of late years, on account of failing eyesight, has been compelled to forego attendance on the meetings. His present home was erected in 1852, a handsome brick residence at No. 35 South Tecumseh street, where he and his wife have lived since June, 1855. Mrs. Ensey is a member of the Third, formerly the Park, Presbyterian church, and is a most excellent woman, wife and mother. Mr. Ensey can remember when most of the present site of the city of Dayton was covered with timber, and he has seen it-grow up from the condition of a wilderness to that of a large and prosperous manufacturing city. His great age and his remarkable physical strength, together with his knowledge of the history of the country, tend to render him an object of great interest to all citizens, young and old, and all manifest toward him that tender regard and friendship to which his character and useful career so clearly entitle him.

January 26, 1857, he was married to Catharine Basore. To them were born three sons - Anthony Webster, Oliver Perry, and William I. T. Anthony died in infancy; the other two and the mother survive, and the latter occupies the family residence on the West Side, Dayton.

In 1871 Mr. Hoover entered into partnership with J. W. Gaines in the nursery business, at Kinsey, Ohio, the two previous years having been spent in the employ of Kinsey & Gaines. Ten years later they were able to purchase the present fine site on the West Side, known as Star Point. To this place the plant was moved in August, 1879. The firm was incorporated into the Hoover & Gaines ! company in January, 1882, and of this com- pany Mr. Hoover remained the president until his death. He was president, also, of the Mathias Planing Mill company. This change marked the end of his active business life. He had entered the ministry of the Brethren church in August, 1882, and this was the beginning of the third period of his life - first a farmer, then a business man, and last a minister of the gospel. Although now well advanced in years, he took into the pulpit the energy of youth, and an indomitable spirit. His voice gave no uncertain sound, "growth," "progress," "development" - these were the key-words of his sermons. He saw clearly the needs of his church in missionary and educational lines. He embraced these causes wholeheartedly and set to work to create sentiment in favor of advancement. His active ministry was spent as pastor of the West Dayton Brethren church. The pastoral duties required much time, but he gave all absolutely without compensation, and contributed regularly to the church needs beside. In the church council he was prompt and fearless in asserting the right of individual opinion. He made no boast of his independence, yet in the highest sense was independent. If for the time he submitted to the judgment of others, in spirit he never yielded the cause he sought to advance. Whatever were the reforms he advocated, whatever were his failures in judgment or expedients, never can it be said that he contended for anything unworthy.

He was chief in organizing the Brethren's book and tract work. The general conference located it at Dayton, Ohio, but without any means to begin the work. A few solicitors were appointed to secure contributions in the churches of the brotherhood, some of whom refused to act at all, others did but little, while the majority cried failure, but he secured a sufficient sum from friends outside the fraternity to print a few tracts; and in five years the endowment fund reached over $50,- 000. He was president of the institution until its consolidation with the general mission board in 1894, whereupon he became a member of its executive committee and subsequently the board placed him in charge of the mission's large orange farm in California. He served one year also as president of the Nurseryman's Protective association. One of the fundamental principles of faith of his brotherhood, is, that the members do not use the civil laws against each other. Their differences are adjusted among themselves on the basis of Matthew, xviii, or by arbitration, and many were the times that he was called to adjust some unpleasant case in family or church, and rarely did he fail to reach an amicable settlement. The day previous to his death was spent in thankless work of this kind. The case was aggravated, but he returned home that evening with a happy heart because he had brought peace to an unhappy family. His strength was almost exhausted, yet in this condition he dared to prepare for the morrow's services, which proved to be too much for his mortal powers.

Rising from poverty to wealth did not close his heart to the needs of the unfortunate. He gave liberally and no one was ever turned from his door hungry. He gave a handsome endowment to the missionary interests of the church, and aided five colleges in all. He had the ability to make money, and no doubt would have become wealthy, if he had not left business for the church's work.

He had a large circle of friends, who will remember him for his genial social qualities. Children were his fast friends, in whom he took great delight. With all his social qualities he was not a home man in the full sense of the word, but withal took a pardonable pride in his family. His active life either took him from home, or he spent it in reading, study or

_ attention to other duties. If for these reasons his home life was imperfect, yet his best influences were not lost in his children - both sought eagerly a college education, which he gave them, and both entered the ministry of his church. When he saw clearly a principle involved, he contended firmly for it and the triumph of the cause was a vindication of his purposes. It was his delight to preach, and he sought the opportunity, though he well knew that he was no sermonizer. Most men would have considered that old age had set in when he entered the ministry, but he entered upon that sacred calling with the vigor of youth. What he lacked in manner he gained in practicability, for if he was not earnest and practical he was nothing. He had no teachers, he imitated none, his methods were his own. During the earlier years of his ministry he conducted revivals during the winter season, and met with fair success. No preacher is equally strong in all lines, so he gave up revival work, after becoming a member of the general missionary board, finding that work more suited to him.

The one word which expresses best the sum of his characteristics, is action. He did nothing slowly, and knew not how to conserve his powers. He would press on to the point of exhaustion if he saw that anything depended upon him. He was always a prominent figure on the street, because of his quick step. His outward activity was the reflex of a life within. He lived and worked faster than most men, and thus reached his end before the allotted length of life. He was not great as men look upon greatness, but he filled an important position, and was a leader among his people.

He was not overtaken by old age or infirmity. He was not ripe for the grave. He was pressing on with indomitable will into larger usefulness. He had often expressed a desire to die in active work, but never did he suppose that his would be a tragic end - not to say sacred, for God had erected a pulpit for his death-bed. On that last Sunday, March io, 1895, he preached with unusual energy in the morning. The afternoon was spent in study for the evening service, upon which he entered somewhat weary, but with the energy and will that were so characteristic of him. His text was, "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reap.-" As he was nearing the end his words became prophetic, " One by one we are passing over, " and in an instant his great soul stepped into the eternal world. Two weeks later, after the return of his eldest son from the university at Leipzig, Germany, his body was laid away in the family burying-ground.

Jacob Hoover, born in 1813, died in 1895, the father of S. W. Hoover, was a pioneer in Montgomery county. He came from Morrison's Grove, Pa., in 1821, and settled west of Dayton. His first wife died thirty-two years ago. The last few years of his life were spent with his daughter, Mrs. S. Bock, of the West Side. He died October 22, 1895. Mrs. Catherine Hoover, wife of S. W. Hoover, was born May 31, 1841. She occupies the home residence on the West Side.

Oliver Perry Hoover, to whom the publishers are indebted for this memoir, born March 31, 1864, was the second son of S. W. and Catherine Hoover. He married Ida Alice Klepinger March 3, 1886; entered the ministry of the Brethren's church July 31, 1890, graduated at DePauw university, Greencastle, Ind., in June, 1894, and later studied in the university of Leipzig, Germany. He is now a teacher and pastor of West Dayton Brethren's church. His residence is on North Western avenue.

1 6, 1892; entered the ministry of the Brethren's church April 30, 1892; graduated in June, 1894, at DePauw university, and is a teacher and preacher. His residence is on North Western avenue.

HOMAS J. FARRELL, superintendent of police of Dayton, Ohio, whose efficient discharge of the duties of his office has done much to advance the police department of this city to a leading position in the state of Ohio and in the country, has had a life long experience in his profession. He first became identified with police work some twenty years ago, when he entered the service of his uncle, Capt. M. J. Farrell, of New Orleans, the founder of the Farrell Detective agency. He remained with the Farrell agency until the death of his uncle in 1883, when he joined the Pinkerton service of Chicago, and at once sprang into prominence in the north by his success in various cases. In 1888 he made a wide reputation by his successful work in the famous tally-sheet forgery case, at Columbus, Ohio, in which a number of politicians of that city were arrested and indicted for participation in the crime, which aimed at the overthrow of the Hon. John Sherman, then United States senator from Ohio. It was hoped to prevent the election of Mr. Sherman to the United States senate, by forging the tally sheet and thus seating enough members in the legislature to render it numerically democratic.

Mr. Farrell has been identified with some of the most important cases with which the Pinkerton agency has had to deal, and his work in this respect is reported as being of the highest character. He has been detailed very often upon train robberies in the southern states, and also upon difficult cases in the mining regions of Colorado and Montana.

Mr. Farrell was appointed to the position of superintendent of the police department of Dayton, May 3, 1892, while he was yet in the employ of the Pinkerton agency, and while engaged elsewhere throughout the country, an honor seldom conferred upon an officer outside of the city in which he may live. He is forty years of age, having been born in the province of Leinster, Ireland, and came to the United States at the early age of ten years. He settled with his people in New Orleans, where he entered school and was educated at Saint Vincent's academy, which is located at Jefferson City, La., and afterward, as indicated above, he entered the employ of his uncle, Capt. M. J. Farrell, of New Orleans.

The career of Mr. Farrell is illustrative of the fact that energy and an eye single to the purpose in hand, must necessarily lead to success and recognition.

OHN O'CONNOR, one of the wellknown citizens of Dayton, and for the past ten years superintendent of repairs of the middle division of the Miami & Erie canal, was born in county Limerick, Ireland, on January 11, 1836. He was reared at Abbeyfeale, and was educated in the parochial schools. In 1851, when the famine came on in Ireland, the family were evicted from their leased lands, and removed to England. Our subject worked on a farm in England until 1854, when he joined the English navy at Chatham. The same year he went with Admiral Napier's fleet to the Baltic sea, arid was with the naval brigade that attacked Bomasund, in July. His ship returned to England in November, and he was transferred to the Hannibal, commanded by Capt. Dalrymple, which dropped anchor, in the following December, in front of Sebastopol. He remained with the Black sea squadron, his vessel taking part in the engagement with the allied fleet in the sea of Azov. He was at Constantinople, Smyrna, and the Ionian islands, returning to England in the winter of 1856.

Mr. O'Connor has two medals and the Sebastopol clasp from the British government for services in the Crimean war, and a medal from the Turkish government.

Mr. O'Connor was married in England in 1861, and in 1862 came to America and located first at Lima, Ohio, where he was in the employ of the railroads. In 1 866 he went to Canada as first lieutenant in Capt. Lawlor's company, but returned ten days later, the invasion having come to an end. He came to Dayton in 1869, and secured the contract for building the Big Four railroad between Miamisburg and Carrollton. He subsequently had a similar contract on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago and Lake Erie & Western roads. In 1 886 he was appointed to his present position.

Mr. O'Connor was president of division No. 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians, for the first three years after that order was organized, and is still a member. He is also a member of the Emmet club, and a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic church. Mr. O'Connor was married, as stated, in England, June 29, 1861, to Miss Catherine Brennan, who was a native of Athlone, Ireland. To them ten children have been born.

OHN HENRY PRINZ, the well-known contractor and builder, of 142 East [ones street, Dayton, Ohio, is a Hessian by nativity, and was born November 2, 1838. His parents were John and Marie (Gungles) Prinz. The father, in his early manhood, was also a mechanic, but in later years became a farmer, and was engaged in

Germany some little time alter the arrival of his son, John Henry, in America ; the mother had died prior to the departure of the son for this country. Of their three living children the history of John Henry is given in this memoir ; George, a carpenter, resides in Dayton, and Adam is a cabinetmaker, living in California.

John H. Prinz received his elementary education in the excellent public schools of his native land, and on coming to the United States, in 1854, at once settled in Dayton, where he learned both the cabinetmaker's and carpenter's trades. For a number of years he worked as a journeyman, at either or both of these, and finally drifted into the contracting business, which, for the past twenty-three years, he has followed with unvarying success, erecting some of the finest edifices in the Gem City. Commencing without a dollar, save that earned by his own labor, he now owns four fine residences in Dayton.