|
BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
CENTENNIAL HISTORY
-----
Troy, Piqua and Miami County, Ohio
And Representative Citizens.
-----
Edited and Compiled By
Thomas C. Harbaugh
Casstown, Ohio
Literary Journalist, Secretary of Maryland association of Ohio.
-----
"History is Philosophy Teaching by Examples."
-----
Published by
Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co.
Chicago.
1909
< CLICK HERE to
RETURN to 1909 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX PAGE >
< CLICK HERE to GO to
LIST of HISTORIES & BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >
| |
ALBIN THOMA,
who is at the head of the jewelry and optical firm of his
name, has been identified with his present business for a
period of time covering a half century and in point of time
is the oldest dealer in this line at Piqua, Ohio, where he
was born in 1844. His father, Augustus Thoma,
for many years one of Piqua 's prominent and useful
citizens, was born at Baden, Germany, in 1819, came to
America in 1832, and settled at Piqua in 1838.
In 1838 Augustus Thoma founded the
business which is still conducted by his descendants and
under practically the same name. Early in the sixties
he admitted his two sons, Albin and August F.
Thoma, to partnership, and it was carried on by the
three members of the firm until 1893, when August F.
withdrew and the business was then continued by Augustus
and Albin Thoma until the death of the former, Dec.
29, 1900. In the course of time two sons of Albin
Thoma were admitted to partnership and the association
still continues.
In September, 1866, Mr. Thoma was married
to Miss Anna "Weigler, who came to
Piqua from Cincinnati, in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Thoma
have nine children, four sons and five daughters, namely:
Albin L., who is a graduate of the New York Optical
College, where he has also taken postgraduate courses;
Leo A., who is an expert engraver and diamond setter;
Joseph A., who is perfecting his education in optics and
watchmaking; Adolph, who is also a student; and
Minnie, Louisa, Marie, Anna and Ida. Mr.
Thoma has been a member of St. Boniface Roman
Catholic Church since its organization. He belongs to
the order of Catholic Knights of America and to the Knights
of Columbus. He has always been a loyal citizen and
early in the progress of the Civil War he endeavored to
enter the army but on account of poor health was not
accepted. In 1864, however, he went out as a member of
Company C, 147th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and
during the 100-day period served in the vicinity of
Washington City. He is a member of the Grand Army of
the Republic. He has been connected with his present
business since 1858 and is one of Piqua's leading citizens.
Source: Centennial History - Troy, Piqua and Miami
Co., Ohio - Publ. 1909 - Page 335 |
| |
H. S. THOMPSON, one of the
leading citizens and business men of Troy, Ohio, is
identified with the Allen and Wheeler Company, and is
engaged in farming on a large scale, owning three good farm
properties in the county. He has been a resident of
this city eight years.
Mr. Thompson was born in Saginaw, Michigan, in
1879, and received a preliminary
education in the public schools of that place. He
later completed a course at Williams College, in
Massachusetts, and after leaving that institution went to
Florida where he engaged in the lumbering business for two
years. At the end of that time he came to Troy and
became actively associated with the Allen &
Wheeler Company. At the end of five years he
turned his attention to farming, in addition, and he and his
wife are the owners of the Stillwell farm in
the outskirts of Troy, Mrs. Thompson owning
also two other farms in Miami County. He is also
largely interested in Florida lands, and is a prominent
member of the Masonic Order, the Troy Club and the Island
Outing Club. Mr. Thompson was in 1904
united in marriage with Miss Bessie Coleman, a
daughter of Horace Coleman, and they make
their residence at No. 503 South Market Street, in Troy.
Religiously, they are members of the Episcopal
Church.
Source: Centennial History - Troy, Piqua and Miami
Co., Ohio - Publ. 1909 - Page 474
NOTE:
Picture of 503 S. Market Street before front porch
redone.
Picture of same after front porch redone |
| |
JOSEPHUS THOMPSON,
owner of one of the most valuable and best improved farms in
Newberry Township, consisting of 280 acres of adjoining
land, lying just south of Covington, on the Covington and
Dayton turnpike road, was born on this place on Jan. 10,
1840, on the site of the modern brick residence which he
erected in 1888. His parents were Samuel and Hannah
(Rench) Thompson.
SAMUEL THOMPSON was born in North Carolina and
was a son of Sylvester Thompson, who settled near
Pleasant Hill, in Miami County, when he came to Ohio, about
1804. Later he entered the land from the Government
which his descendants own in Newberry Township and on
Greenville Creek. He engaged in the cultivation of his
land during his active years and in old age died in a
comfortable home which he had built where he had found a
dense forest. Samuel Thompson was two
years old when his father came to Miami County and his whole
mature life was spent in agricultural pursuits. He
married Hannah Rench, who was born in
Pennsylvania and was brought to Newton Township, Miami
County, when a child of two years, by her father, Peter
Rench. Samuel Thompson and wife
had eleven children, six of whom survive.
Josephus Thompson has spent his whole
life on the homestead farm and is surrounded with all the
comforts that years of residence in one place make possible.
For a long period he was the active cultivator of his broad
acres, but it is no longer necessary for him to bear heavy
burdens, his capable sons having relieved him of
responsibility. They carry on general farming along
modern lines, making use of the best farming machinery and
securing most satisfactory results.
Mr. Thompson was married Jan. 31, 1861, to
Miss Amanda Rench, a daughter of Otho and Margaret
(Elliott) Rench. She was born at Piqua, Ohio, and
her mother also was born in Ohio, but her father came from
Pennsylvania prior to his marriage. Mr. and Mrs.
Thompson have had nine children, namely: Maggie,
who married Isaac Bazill, a farmer of Newberry
Township, has two children — Roscoe and Charles;
Clement, who married Mina Ingle, has
four children—Harry, Erla, James and
Ruth, and they live on a part of the home farm;
George, who resides with his parents, married Cora
Brown, and they have had two children— Josephus,
living, and Mellie, deceased; Dottie M., who
married Levi Warner, of Covington, has two
children—Clarence and Reva; William,
who married Daisy Hill, resides on the home farm and
they have two children—Judson and Leonard;
Emma, who is the wife of E. A. Brant, of
Covington, has three children—Hubert, Glenn
and Helen; and Edwin, Minnie and an
infant, all deceased. Mr. Thompson and
family are leading members of the Christian Church. He
is a good and willing citizen but has never cared for public
office and has accepted none but that of school director.
Source: Centennial History - Troy, Piqua and Miami
Co., Ohio - Publ. 1909 - Page 676 |
| |
W. R. THOMPSON, M. D., who,
for some thirty years has been in the active practice of
medicine and surgery at Troy and enjoys a well earned
reputation for professional skill, was born in Montgomery
County, Ohio, where he was reared.
After completing the common school course in his native
county, Dr. Thompson attended the Ohio Wesleyan
College, going from there to the University of Michigan,
where he was graduated from the medical department in 1869.
He first took up practice in Tennessee, but after a year and
a half he returned to Montgomery County and located at
Vandalia, where he remained until 1879, when he came to
Troy. Dr. Thompson is an active and valued
member of the Miami County, the Ohio State, and the American
Medical Associations. He is surgeon of the C. H. & D.
Railroad and of the larger number of corporations of Troy
and numbers patients from all this section of the State.
In 1871 Dr. Thompson was married to Miss
Laura A. Stouder, of Tippecanoe City, Miami County, and
they have three children, namely: Charlotte, who is
the wife of W. E. Boyer, cashier of the Troy National
Bank; Fannie E., who is the wife of Walter Coles;
and Wilbur R., who is a student, in his sophomore
year, in the University of Michigan. In addition to
being eminent in his profession. Dr. Thompson
is an active citizen, recognizing his responsibilities as
such and lending his influence to everything of which his
judgment approves as being beneficial to the community.
Source: Centennial History - Troy, Piqua and Miami
Co., Ohio - Publ. 1909 - Page 472 |
| |
ELMER E. THOMSON is one
of the foremost business men of the City of Troy, in which
he has lived all his days. The furniture and
undertaking business, of which he is the head, is extensive,
its patronage coming from all parts of Miami County. Mr.
Thomson has always interested himself in the affairs of
the community in a progressive and public-spirited way, and
has frequently been called upon to serve in various official
capacities. The family name has long been known to the
people here, and his father, Joel T. Thomson, was
equally prominent in affairs.
JOEL T. THOMSON was born in Troy, Ohio, in 1819,
and was a son of Andrew and Catherine (Tullis) Thomson.
His father was born in Virginia and about the beginning of
the nineteenth century came with his parents to Miami
County. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, leaving a
wife and two small children to go to the front. Upon
his return he soon after moved to Indiana, where he remained
three years. He then returned to Troy, and on the day
following passed away. Joel T. Thomson being
very young at his father's death and the care of his mother
devolving upon him, he was bound out for five years to learn
the trade of cabinet maker. After two and a half
years' apprenticeship, he bought his unexpired time and went
to Cincinnati, where he completed his trade. He
returned to Troy in 1840, and almost immediately took a
forward position in the ranks of business men, which he
maintained during his long and useful life. He engaged
in cabinet making and gave employment to a number of men; in
1861, he announced to his workmen that he would close shop
and enlist in the defense of his country. Inspired by
his enthusiasm and patriotism, they at once determined to
enter the service and prevailed upon him to remain at home
and look after those dedendent upon him. His
men went to the front and he closed up the cabinet making
plant and embarked in the undertaking business. He was
immensely popular with the soldiery, as is attested by the
fact that of the eighty-one who died while in the army and
were brought home for burial, seventy-eight were carried to
their final resting place by him. He was a
big-hearted, liberal-minded man, and he enjoyed the
unbounded confidence and esteem of all who knew him.
His death in 1900 was mourned by the people throughout the
county.
Elmer E. Thomson was born in Troy, Mar. 8, 1862,
and was reared in that city. He attended the graded
schools and was graduated from Troy High School, after which
he studied medicine two years under Doctor Green.
He attended Columbus Medical College one term, and Starling
Medical College a like period, but gave up his preparation
for that profession for business reasons. He entered
into partnership with his father in the furniture and
undertaking business, and the firm established an enviable
prestige. In 1900 the subject of this record became
the sole proprietor of the establishment and has continued
it with uninterrupted success. He also established a
branch store at Addison, and is partner in an undertaking
business at Pleasant Hill. He and his father were
originators of arterial embalming, a system which has been
much followed. Mr. Thomson has a number
of diplomas as an embalmer. He takes an active
interest in politics, and has served as infirmary director
of the county, member of the Board of Health of Troy, and as
sealer of weights and measures of Troy.
In 1888 Mr. Thomson was married to Carrie J.
Riley, who was born in Troy and was for some years a
teacher in the schools. They have a son, Clifford
Thomson. Religiously, they are members of the
Presbyterian church. He is a Past Exalted Ruler of the
Elks; Past Worthy President of the Order of Eagles, of which
he is also treasurer; a member of the board of trustees of
the Modern Woodmen; Past Chief of Knights of the Golden
Eagle; and Past Sachem of the Improved Order of Red Men.
He is also a trustee of the Order of Elks, and is president
of the Troy Business Men's Association.
Source: Centennial History - Troy, Piqua and Miami
Co., Ohio - Publ. 1909 - Page 392 |
. |
