D. W. Miller

As printed in 1906

W. MILLER, a member of the general contracting firm of Ruhlen & Miller, at Lima, has been a resident of this city since 1891. He was born in Allen County in 1869, and is a son of Marcus Miller, one of the oldest settlers in Allen County, who died in 1876.

D. W. Miller was reared and educated in this county and still owns a good farm in Bath township, although the greater part of his life has been given to the carpenter’s trade and contracting. He learned his trade in youth and followed it throughout the county until within the past five years, since when he has been associated with Mr. Ruhlen in general contracting and in operating a large planing mill. This firm is one which enjoys the entire confidence of the public and has erected a large proportion of the fine buildings in Lima. Some of the buildings in their list, and which prove the substantial character of their work, are the new residence of Edward M. Gooding on West Market street; Herman Eckhardt’s residence on Cole street; John D. Finn’s residence on McKinley street; and the Renz and Duffield blocks, both on Main street. They have also done a large amount of work in the county, have erected three schoolhouses in Bath township and are now engaged in making additions ‘to the County Infirmary.

Mr. Miller votes as does a good citizen, but he takes no active interest in politics. Fraternally, he is prominent as an Odd Fellow, being past grand of Allen Lodge, No. 223, past chief patriarch of the Encampment and a member of Canton Orion, No. 24, Patriarchs Militant.

mIEONIDAS HOLLOWAY, a pioneer of 1851, who for many years has been a well-known resident of Spencer township, has been retired from active life for some years; but in spite of his 84 years he retains physician health and possesses a memory which goes back to the beginning of a very remarkable career. Mr. Holloway was born in Knox County, Ohio, July 18, 1822, and is a son of David and

. Phoebe (Clark) Holloway.

David Holloway, the father, was born in Scotland, May 21, 1786, and emigrated to America and settling in New Jersey. In New York, on July 11, 1807, he was married to Pheebe Clark, who was born July 19, 1785. To this union were bern five daughters and i four sons. All of the nine children reached maturity, married and had families of their own. Leonidas, ofthis sketch, was the eighth in order of birth, and although his life was probably endangered more than that of any of his brothers or sisters, he has survived them all. David Holloway was a very early settler in Knox County, Ohio, traveling by team from the East to Massillon and then settling in the woods that extended for miles over the present cultivated fields of Knox County. His life was that of the early pioneer, and he met and overcame the hardships of that early day with the courage and capacity which the very name of pioneer implies. He died in Knox County on September 10, 1862, aged 76 years. His wife had passed away many years before, dying September 19, 1838.

Leonidas Holloway was reared in Knox County, not far from Mount Vernon, Ohio. His schooling was limited, the time, locality and circumstances preventing the seizing of many educational opportunities. Like many other young men of his day, he drifted far from home, led by an adventurous spirit and a hardiness of physical health which sought an outlet different from the confinement of rural life. Thus he went to Texas and for 18 months served with the Texas Rangers prior to enlisting at New Orleans for service in the Mexican War. During his first year of service he was a member of the First Battalion, Texas Cavalry, and it was during his third year that he participated in the storming of the city of Monterey and the taking of Buena Vista. In the earlier part of his service he was under the command of Gen. Sam Houston, but later he served under Gen. Zachary Taylor: He continued in the service until the close of the war, escaping with but a flesh wound.

In 1851 Mr. Holloway came to Allen County, and settled in the woods, in true pioneer style. In order to reach the Spencerville road he was obliged to cut the forest trees, making a path 4o feet wide which reached from the canal, and which is now known as the Spencerville and Dayton turnpike road. In those early years in Spencer township, he was kept busy clearing off the timber. In those days he split rails to the number of unknown thousands. His first home was a_ cabin of round logs which sufficed until a better one, of hewed logs, could be erected to take its place; in this second cabin his son, John W., was born, in 1861.

When this son was five weeks old, Mr. Holloway once more offered his loyal services to his country in her hour of need. He enlisted at Spencerville, in Company I, Fourth Reg., Ohio Vol. Cav., under Colonel Kenneth and Capt. Henry Rogers, which regiment was attached to the Second Army Corps and ordered to Cincinnati. From that distributing point his regiment was sent with others to the various points of danger, and he served faithfully until he was discharged at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1865, without having received any serious injuries. His military service covered many years and he was personally concerned in some of the most important events in the history of our country. He now draws a pension of $18 per month. After the close of the war, he again returned to peaceful pursuits and has lived quietly as an agriculturist ever since. His well-improved farm of 40 acres is situated in Spencer township, and in addition to this property he owns considerable realty in Spencerville.

On July 2, 1848, Mr. Holloway was married at Mount Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, to Tillethia Ann Doty, who was born in Knox County, May 1, 1830, and is a daughter of Samuel B. and Margaret (Crider) Doty, who reared a family of five sons and five daughters. Mrs. Holloway and two sisters still survive, these being: Mrs. Sarah Burk, of Delphos, Ohio, and Mrs. Catherine Elizabeth Bott, of Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Holloway have had six children, as follows: Phoebe Ellen, born September 9, 1849, who died in August, 1862; Margaret Ann, born August 11, 1851, who was married March 21, 1873, to Amos Lee, and died May 25, 1874, leaving one son, Williain Lawrence, of Spencer township; Rachel Maria, born February 25, 1854, who died in August.91863 5, SaraheG@ bora February 20, 1856,who was married May 3, 1878, to Wil-

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

For many years after Mr. and Mrs. Holloway settled in Spencer township, pioneer conditions prevailed. The clearing of the land and its subsequent cultivation was not the only hardship. It was a long distance to mill, the old Post mill on the Auglaize River being the nearest one available, and the country was still so densely wooded and little settled that danger from the wild animals of the woods was by no means past. On one occasion Mrs. Holloway, while out from home on some necessary business, accompanied by her dog, tried a bear. Although she had had many experiences, it is doubtful if she had previously had a similar one. Fortunately she was able to call to her assistance a neighbor, Jacob Bennett, who was an old hunter, and he killed the animal before it could do any damage. Mrs. Holloway is one of the old pioneer members of the Christian Church in Spencer township. She was reared a Baptist, but united with the Christian Church at Mount Vernon and she is respectfully and affectionately known as the “Mother of the West Union Christian Church.”

Mr. Holloway has also been a member of the West Union Christian Church from its very organization, and he has been liberal in its support. With Daniel Richardson he purchased an acre of ground and laid out the cemetery and assisted in the erection of the church edifice. In like manner Mr. Holloway has continually given support to the advancement of the schools in the township, has helped in the building of the good roads and has lent his influence in the direction of everything which has promised to be of substantial benefit to his part of his county. In the public affairs of Spencer township, Mr. Holloway has always been a prominent factor and he has served at various times in all but two of the township offices. He is a valued member of the Spencerville post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Few if any residents of Spencer township are better or more favorably known than Mr. and Mrs. Holloway.

ay W. OEN, a representative business man of Lima, a dealer in staple and fancy. groceries and meats, at No. 1114 West North street, was born in Shawnee township, Allen County, Ohio, August 7, 1866, and is a son of Henry Oen, an early settler and leading farmer of Shawnee township, who died December 3,

F. W. Oen was reared and educated in Shawnee township, where he followed farming and dairying for four years and then bought a farm in Auglaize County, which he later leased for oil purposes. For a short period he was engaged in the oil business, having leased his brother-in-law’s farm. He put down one well, which was an excellent producer, and he soon sold the property for $11,000. He was also fortunate in his business arrangements concerning his farm of 80 acres, selling his royalty for $18,000, and later disposing of the land. He then bought some choice property in Lima, erecting several fine residences, on the corner of Jameson and North streets, and the business block which he occupies. His present realty holdings include four fine residence properties and three vacant lots. He also owns farming lands, having purchased an unimproved tract of 118 acres in German township. On this he has erected excellent buildings, put up fencing and set out orchards, until the land, within a few years, has advanced to $100 an acre.

In 1892 Mr. Oen was married to Ellen

Jordan, who is a daughter of the late Daniel

Jordan, formerly a prosperous farmer of Shawnee township. Mr. and Mrs. Oen have five children, viz: H. Edward, Frances Pauline, Catharine Ellen, Francis Frederick and

James Alfred. Mr. and Mrs. Oen are members of St. Rose Catholic Church. Their portraits, executed from a recent photograph, accompany this sketch.

of Lima, and one of the city’s retired citizens, was born in 1851 in Germany, and came to America in 1864 with his sister Emma, who was two years his senior. She later became the wife of William Seitz, of Perry township.

These two children arrived safely at Lima, and Louis soon entered into an apprenticeship to the cabinet-maker’s trade, in which he served three years, at first with A. Saider and later with Philip Keil. He subsequently worked in the furniture factory on West Spring street for 15 years, making altogether about 28 years at his trade. Mr. Koch then engaged in the grocery business for Io years at No. 337 North Main street. For the past four years his time has been taken up largely in looking after his various real estate investments. in Lima and five houses in good presidential districts. For many years he has been prominent in the various departments of the city which have served to bring about its present prosperity.

When the first volunteer fire company was formed here, in the days of the old hand engines, Mr. Koch became a member. Later the city sold the outfit, and a hook and ladder company was formed and the volunteers gave their services for a number of years and also paid for the outfit. Until this company was disbanded, Mr. Koch frequently served as its president and was always noted for the discipline he maintained in order to make the department as efficient as possible. Mr. Koch served two terms in the City Council, representing the old Seventh Ward, and under Mayor Robb he served for a term of four years as a member of the Board of Sinking Fund Trustees and Tax Commissioners. He

As printed in History of Allen county, Ohio and representative citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.