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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
The History of the City of Dayton
and
The Montgomery County, Ohio.
by Rev. A. W. Drury
1909
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ROBERT
R. DICKEY, SR. The life work of
Robert R. Dickey, Sr., was so varied, so extensive
and so honorable in its purposes that his history is
inseparably interwoven with the annals of Dayton through
a period of more than a half century. Fearless in
conduct and stainless in reputation, he was honored
wherever known and most of all where he was best known.
He stood as a representative of the best type of
citizenship and when he passed from the scene of earthly
activity it was the uniform expression throughout Dayton
that the world was better for his having lived.
His life record began during the pioneer epoch of the
history of Ohio, his birth occurring near Middletown in
Butler County, Oct. 26, 1816, his parents being Adam
and Mary (McKee) Dickey. The father was a native of
County Antrim, Ireland, where he was born in 1768.
As a young man of eighteen years he made the long and
tedious voyage across the Atlantic in a sailing vessel
and located near McConnellstown, Pennsylvania, in 1784.
He had been a resident of that place for about six years
when, in 1790, he wedded Mary McKee, a native of
Pennsylvania and a second cousin of George Washington.
Three children were added to the family while they
maintained their residence in McConnellstown, whence, in
company with an uncle, they started westward to Ohio,
locating at Cincinnati, then known as Fort Washington.
The trip was made on the Ohio river on flatboats which
Mr. Dickey had built and on which he brought two
four-horse teams and two wagons. While at Fort
Washington he was joined by two brothers who came from
the Emerald isle to the new world. He
devoted his attention to the manufacture of brick and
from the brick of his kilns was built the first brick
house in Cincinnati. After four years there passed
he took up his abode near Middletown, Butler county, in
1803, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits,
milling and distilling, making shipment of his produce
to the New Orleans markets on flatboats of his own
construction. His activity and enterprise
constituted features in the early development of that
part of the state, where he continued his residence
until his death in 1828, while his wife survived until
1844.
From the age of eleven years, when his father died,
Robert R. Dickey was dependent upon his own
resources. Prosperity had attended the father
through his business activities for many years, but
shortly prior to his death, he met with reverses
occasioned by fires and other misfortunes, and there was
little left to the family when he passed away. At
a time when most boys were attending school Robert R.
Dickey therefore was providing for his own support,
but in the school of experience he learned many valuable
lessons and was constantly broadening his knowledge
through investigation and contact with the world.
He made his initial step in business life as an employe
in a brickyard, where he was paid less than five dollars
per month in compensation for labor that averaged
fourteen hours per day. Subsequently he was
employed at farm work at five dollars per month and in
1830 he was employed upon the public work of Ohio and
Indiana by his brothers, who were made contractors.
His adaptability and ready resource enabled him to
advance until at the age of seventeen he was made
superintendent of a large gang of men, his sound
judgment well equipping him for this position of
responsibility.
It was in the year 1842 that Mr. Dickey became a
resident of Dayton, where he engaged with his two elder
brothers, John and William, in quarrying stone
until 1853. Ever watchful of opportunities, he
sought out new lines of business that would yield
profitable returns, and in 1847, in connection with his
brothers, placed a line of packet boats on the Wabash
and Erie canal and later, as a member of the firm of
Doyle & Dickey, built the locks at St. Mary's and at
Delphos. Extending his activities in still another
direction, he became one of the organizers of the Dayton
Bank in 1845 and served for several years as one of its
directors. Thus through his energy and keen
business discernment he became recognized as one of the
foremost representatives of industrial, commercial and
financial activity in his adopted city. In 1852 he
became one of the stockholders in the Exchange Bank with
Jonathan Harshman, Valentine Winters and J. R.
Young. The following year chronicled his
connection with the Dayton Gas, Light & Coke Company, of
which he became a large stockholder, while in 1855 he
was elected its president. He served as its chief
executive officer for three years, when ill health
compelled him to resign, although he continued as a
director. In 1880, however, he was once more
chosen chief executive officer and continued in the
position until Jan. 1907, when the infirmities of age
necessitated his retirement and he was succeeded by his
only son Robert R. Dickey, Jr. He was also
extensively identified with other important business
concerns. From 1868 he was one of the directors
and largest stockholders of the Dayton National Bank and
from 1894 to 1897 was the head of the Globe Iron Works.
He was also president of the Dayton & Western Railroad
Company, now a part of the Pennsylvania system, and was
one of the directors of the Cooper Hydraulic Company.
Whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful
completion. He was watchful of every opportunity
and had the ability to coordinate forces, bringing them
into harmonious unity, resulting in the attainment of
the desired end. His labors were always of a
character that contributed to the city's development and
progress as well as to individual prosperity, and at no
time was he too busy with his private concerns to take
an active and helpful interest in matters of general
moment.
On the 17th of June, 1850, Mr. Dickey was
married to Martha J. Winters, a daughter of
Valentine Winters and a representative of one of the
well known pioneer families of Dayton, her native city.
Her father was for some years a leading financier of the
community and her grandfather, the Rev. Thomas
Winters, was an honored pioneer minister of the
Miami valley. Mr. and Mrs. Dickey became
the parents of three sons but two passed away ere the
father's death. William Dickey, who was
born in 1852, died July 15, 1896, and Valentine,
born in 1855, died Mar. 30, 1890. Extended mention
is made of the surviving son, Robert R. Dickey, Jr.,
on another page of this work (below here).
The death of the husband and father occurred Sept. 14,
1908, when he was in a ninety-second year of his age.
He was one of Dayton's oldest citizens, not only in
years but also in length of his residence here, having
for sixty-six years made his home in the Gem city, which
was a place of only about six thousand population at the
time of his arrival. His labors were an important
factor in making it one of the most prosperous and
beautiful cities of Ohio. It was characteristic of
him that he was neglectful of no duty, either of a
public or private nature. Every movement of
progressive citizenship received his endorsement and his
cooperation, and in his business life he was notable as
one who never made engagements that he did not keep nor
incur obligations that he did not meet. Denied the
advantages of any but the most meager educational
discipline, he nevertheless won a place among the
far-sighted, intelligent men - men who learned to
correctly value life's opportunities and its purposes.
His own success never affected in the least his interest
nor his friendship for others less fortunate. He
judged men by their character worth and not by their
possessions, and yet his own life stands as a splendid
example of the success to which an individual may attain
by persistent, honorable effort. His friends were
numbered among the young and old, the rich and poor, and
there is none who does not entertain for Robert R.
Dickey the most sincere respect and confidence.
His reputation for business integrity was unassailable
and he ever maintained the strictest justice in his
dealings. He ever held to the highest standards of
manhood in every relation, and at last passed to his
reward full of years and honors, but his memory is yet
cherished in the hearts of all who knew him.
Source: The History of the City of Dayton
and The Montgomery County, Ohio.
by Rev. A. W. Drury
1909 - Vol. II - Page 185 |
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ROBERT R.
DICKEY, JR.. It has been said that the most
difficult position in which any man can be placed is
that in which he must stand comparison with a successful
and honored ancestry, for the world is apt to judge of
his work not by its individual merit but rather to claim
that its accomplishment has its rise in inherited
tendency or in favorable influence. In the control
of important business interests, however, Robert R.
Dickey, Jr., has proven his own strength and given
indication of his enterprise, his initiative spirit and
a strong and stalwart purpose. Born in Dayton in
1867, his youthful days were spent in the hoe of his
father, Robert R. Dickey, Sr., and his
preliminary education was acquired in the public
schools. The father determined that the son
should not be handicapped by a lack of education as he
was in his youthful days and sent him to a preparatory
school in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Desirous of
enjoying still higher educational facilities, Robert
R. Dickey, then entered Yale University, from which
he was graduated in 1888.
Following his return to Dayton, he started in business
life as assistant secretary in the Dayton Globe Iron
Works, continuing in that position until 1893, when his
previous experience and developed powers led to his
selection for the position of secretary. Four
years later, in 1897, he was chosen president and
treasurer of the company and now occupies this dual
position in which connection he is devoting his energies
to executive control and administrative direction.
In other fields of labor he has also given proof of his
keen business discernment and powers of systemization.
He was one of the organizers of the Acme Sign Printing
Company in 1894, became its first president and so
continued for eleven years, while at the present time he
is secretary and treasurer of the American Board & Box
Company, their successors. He is also the vice
president of the Cooper View Hydraulic Company and from
1899 until 1908 was secretary of the Dayton View and
Hydraulic Company. For four years he has been
director and for two years vice president of the Winters
National Bank, is a director in the Oakwood Realty
Company, in the City Railway Company and in the Dayton
Country Club Company, while since 1907 he has been
president of the Dayton Gas Light & Coke Company.
In all these positions he has proven that he is
liberally equipped with the force of character and
ambitious spirit that are necessary in the
accomplishment of results in the business world, and in
all of his undertakings he keeps in close touch with the
spirit of modern business enterprise and progress.
In 1894 in Dayton Mr. Dickey was married to
Miss Myrtle Thacker, a daughter of Newton Thacker,
and they have one son, Robert R. Dickey, III.
The parents told membership in the Episcopal church,
in which Mr. Dickey is serving as a vestryman,
and their attractive personal qualities have one them
notable social prominence.
Source: The History of the City of Dayton
and The Montgomery County, Ohio.
by Rev. A. W. Drury
1909 - Vol. II - Page 187 |
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Nathaniel Diehl |
NATHANIEL DIEHL.
The farming interests of Montgomery county find a worthy
representative in Nathaniel Diehl, who is the owe
of a farm comprising one hundred and fifty-eight acres,
situated on the east side of Liberty road in Madison
township and about three miles southwest of Trotwood.
In addition to this property he also owns another farm
adjoining the home place on the north and it is now
cultivated by a tenant. Having spent his entire
life in this county, Mr. Diehl has a wide
acquaintance and his admirable qualities have won him
favorable regard.
He was born on the 23d of January, 1857, in Jackson
township, and is a son of John and Susan (Earsman)
Diehl. The former was also a native of this
county, born in Perry township, and his parents were
John and Susan (Miller) Diehl. The
great-grandfather of our subject was the founder of the
family in Ohio, coming to this state from Pennsylvania.
He was one of the pioneer settlers in this portion of
the country, arriving when much of the land was covered
with dense forest, through which the Indians still
stalked at pleasure, hunting wild game and also shooting
wild animals, which were numerous. Mr.
Diehl cleared his land and in the midst of the
wilderness developed a farm, bringing his field under
cultivation. He arrived a little before the Indian
troubles in this section of the country and like other
pioneers had to face not only the hardships and
difficulties incident to the development of new land but
was also constantly menaced by the skulking foe.
The old homestead is located on the Eaton pike at the
outskirts of New Lebanon, and in fact one part of the
town is situated on the old farm. The land is
still in possession of the family, which has long been a
prominent one. During the war of 1812 John
Diehl, Sr. engaged in teaming for the army between
Dayton and Cincinnati and was an enlisted soldier.
His work was very dangerous because of the unsettled
condition of the country and the fact that the Indians
became imbued with a spirit of war, which was rife in
the land. John Diehl, the father, was born
in Perry township and largely assisted his father in
clearing the old home place. Having arrived at
years of maturity he married Susan Earsman, and
they became the parents of four children, Aaron,
Nathaniel, John Quincy and Sarah Ann.
The last named became the wife of Sylvester Manning.
From his infancy to the present time Nathaniel
Diehl has been identified with the interests of
Montgomery county. His education was acquired in
the common schools, where he mastered those branches of
learning which equip one for the practical duties of
life. He worked on the farm during the periods of
vacation and his training in the labors of the fields
was not meager, for he early took his place at the plow
and soon became familiar with the best methods of
cultivating and caring for the harvests. Since
1880 he has resided upon his present farm, which he
purchased in that year and has since cultivated, making
it a very valuable property. It presents a most
attractive appearance, for in the midst of well
cultivated fields stands a beautiful and commodious
residence, surrounded by fine shade trees and a well
kept lawn. In the rear are good barns and ample
sheds for the shelter of grain and stock and the fields
bring forth rich harvests, while in the pasture are seen
good grades of horses, cattle and hogs. The farm
work is carried on along progressive lines and as the
years have passed Mr. Diehl has prospered,
becoming the owner of valuable property, his two forms
returning him a substantial financial income.
On the 12th of October, 1879, was celebrated the
marriage of Nathaniel Diehl and Miss Mary E.
Garst, a daughter of Elias and Sarah (Coffman)
Garst. Her father was a very prominent and
influential farmer during the many years of her
residence in this county. Unto Mr. and Mrs.
Diehl have been born ten children: Alta, the
wife of Warren Lentz, by whom she has a daughter,
Lola; Ira M., who wedded Laura Swygert;
Ora, living at home; Maud, the wife of
David Whitehead, by whom she has a daughter,
Violet; Amy, at home; and Sadie, Medda,
Orpha and Russell, also under the parental
roof; and Ida, the youngest, in school.
The Diehl family belong to the conservative
branch of the Dunkard church and are very active in its
work. In all of his life Mr. Diehl has been
actuated by his Christian belief and the New Testament
teachings, endeavoring to shape his course in harmony
therewith. He is thus widely known as a man of
untarnished honor and business rectitude, always
endeavoring to deal justly with is fellowmen, while in
his judgments he is considerate and charitable.
Source: The History of the City of Dayton and The
Montgomery County, Ohio. by Rev. A. W. Drury 1909 - Vol.
II - Page 552 |
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JOHN CLEMENT DIETZ
is a reprehensive of the mercantile interests of Dayton,
for he is now conducting a substantial and growing
business as proprietor of a drug store. He was
born in this city, July 30, 1842, and was here reared,
spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. John Dietz. His father was born
in Bavaria in 1813 and in early manhood bade adieu to
friends and native country and sailed for the new world,
settling in Dayton. Here he was married and with
the passing of the years the family circle came to
include nine children, of whom five sons and two
daughters are yet living.
John Clement Dietz, of this family, was reared
in Dayton and at the usual age entered the public
schools, wherein he continued his studies until he
became a pupil in St. Thomas Seminary, a Catholic
institution at Bardstown, Kentucky. There he
continued for two years, after which he returned to
Dayton in 1856 or 1857 and started in business life,
entering the drug store of Thomas Dover.
For twelve years he continued with that gentleman and
his thorough reliability, enterprise and diligence won
him continuous success. He afterward engaged in
clerking for Edward Weakley, in whose drug store
he remained for two years when, in 1871, he established
a drug business for himself at the corner of Wayne and
Pearl streets. There he continued until 1886 when
he removed to the corner of Jones street and Wayne
avenue. He now has a well appointed store, in
which he carries a large line of drugs and druggists'
sundries and his business is constantly growing as the
reliability and enterprise of his business methods are
fully understood.
Mr. Dietz was married in 1868 in Dayton to
Miss Desdemona Dracelin and they had three children:
Clara, who died at the age of ten years; James A.,
who married Sylvia Ogier and died in 1902 at the
age of thirty years, leaving one son, John Wilber;
and Edward C. The last named was married to
Miss Sarah Norris and they have one son, James
Edward Dietz.
Mr. Dietz has been a member of the school board and
has done good public work in that connection. His
political allegiance is given to the democracy.
Those who know him respect him for his reliability in
citizenship as well as in commercial circles and his
record illustrates what may be accomplished by
determined and well director labor.
Source: The History of the City of Dayton and The
Montgomery County, Ohio. by Rev. A. W. Drury 1909 - Vol.
II - Page 407 |
NOTES: |
