Dayton Ohio

Luminaries of Dayton: Frederick P. Beaver

February 6, 2018 By Angie Hoschouer

Frederick P. Beaver was founder and president of the Beaver Soap Company. He was born in Dayton on November 29, 1845. He was the son of J. N. F. and Caroline (Snyder) Beaver, both natives of Pennsylvania. For some years J. N. F. Beaver was one of Dayton’s active business men, first engaged in the manufacture of candy, and later in selling coal and wood. Still later he became engaged in the wholesale notion business with Jacob Coffman, under the firm name of Coffman & Beaver.

Frederick was educated in the public schools of Dayton, and at the age of sixteen was a paper carrier. Afterward he took a business course, and in 1863 accepted a position as bookkeeper with Chamberlain & Parker. On May 12, 1864, he enlisted in the 100 days’ service during the Civil War, and, after serving his time in the army, returned to Dayton, re-entered the employ of Chamberlain & Parker, and remained with them until 1869.

In the early 1870s, he purchased the interest of Edward Sweet, in the firm of Chadwick & Sweet, furniture dealers, and changed the name to Chadwick & Beaver, remaining in this business for five years. Mr. Beaver then established the Silver Star baking powder business, which lasted but a few months, and in which he lost most of his earnings; but, not daunted by failure, he then in 1879, started the Beaver Soap Company. The company proved successful and manufactured the brands: Grandpa’s Wonder, Beaver’s Pine Tar and Grandma’s Laundry Soap. In 1885 he accepted as a partner W. D. Chamberlin and the firm name then became Beaver & Co. In September 1893, the business was incorporated under the name of the Beaver Soap Company. Mr. Beaver was married, November 29, 1893, to Miss Emma J. Thompson, daughter of Ralph and Mary J. Thompson, of Terre Haute, Indiana.

Frederick P. Beaver died on January 4, 1936 at the age of 90. He is located in Section 113 Lot 107.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the University of Dayton Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum website.

Luminaries of Dayton: Harry S. Price

January 27, 2018 By Angie Hoschouer

Harry S. Price, the son of Robert and Mary Price, grew up on his parent’s farm in Michigan. His first job was that of a carpenter and he would eventually find himself involved in the business of “contracting.” His business in Michigan proved to be highly successful while working with his brothers for a period of twelve years but then he made the decision to move to Dayton, contracting in bridges, water mains and hydroelectric plants. Work at the Price Brothers Concrete Plant included rolling long metal cylinders that would be filled with freshly made concrete. The end product after being kiln dried would turn out to be highly professional concrete water drainage tiles. Harry S. Price served as President and Senior Partner of the firm. He also served on the Board of Parks Commission, was a Member of the Engineer’s Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Bicycle Club and the Masonic Order.

In a 2007 press release, Hanson Pipe & Precast announced the purchase of all outstanding shares of Price Brothers Company. More than 500 Price Brothers employees would be affected. “Price Brothers has some of the best trained, most knowledgeable people in the industry and we are very fortunate to have them join the Hanson family,” said Clifford Hahne, Hanson’s South Central region president. “We plan on continuing Price Brothers prestigious reputation.”

Harry S. Price founded Price Brothers Company as a construction company in 1899. From the beginning, the company worked on such notable projects as Dayton, Ohio’s Island Park Dam, producing prestressed concrete cylinder pipe and fittings for a power plant in Indonesia and in 1996, building more than 43 miles of pipe for a pipeline in Virginia that now supplies 60 million gallons of water from Lake Gaston to the City of Virginia Beach per day. The salaried employees of the company bought Price Brothers Company from the founder’s family in 1998.

Harry Steele Price was born May 27, 1876 and died September 23, 1958. He is located in Section 113.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the University of Dayton Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum website.

Luminaries of Dayton: George Newcom

January 12, 2018 By Angie Hoschouer

George Newcom was born in Ireland. In 1775, his parents came to America and lived for a while in Delaware. They then traveled on to Pennsylvania where George met and married Mary Henderson and took her on to Cincinnati. They lived there for two years before coming to Dayton.

Soon after his arrival in what was to be Dayton, he built a log cabin. This structure served for him and his wife as shelter and later for a kitchen. Not long thereafter, half of Newcom’s tavern was built with one lower room and one upper. In the winter of 1798-99, two more rooms were added. The first well in the vicinity was drilled nearby. A barn was erected to take care of Newcom’s horses and those of travelers.

Robert Edgar, a woodworker, was employed by Newcom at six shillings a day to build the tavern from hewn logs. Edgar’s board and lodging were not included. However, Newcom indicated that one deer a week would take care of the matter. So Edgar would wait at the river’s edge where the deer came to drink and there shoot his animal early in the morning, so as not to interfere with a day’s work.

Newcom’s tavern was located in the town’s center and was a gathering place for villagers and strangers passing through. In 1810, Newcom purchased the land adjoining his and built the county’s first brewery. The size and output of the brewery are unknown but it was likely a very small facility producing common beer for travelers and a few locals.

When Newcom took part in the war of 1812, Robert Graham assumed operations. Newcom died in 1853 and the tavern building remained standing, although it has now been moved to Carillon Historical Park.

George Newcom died on February 25, 1853 at the age of 82. Mary, his wife, died April 3, 1834 at the age of 69. Mary was removed from one of the downtown cemeteries and was laid to rest with her husband in Section 16 Lot 53 on February 27, 1853

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the UD Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland website.

Local talent on display at the 5th Annual WinterFolk Festival

December 20, 2017 By LIbby Ballengee

Although it’s considered “off” season for music festivals, wintertime ones are some of my favorites! We’ve all got cabin fever, and just need to get out of the house and have fun! One of the most highly anticipated of those winter festivals is right around the corner: The 5th annual WinterFolk Festival at Yellow Cab Tavern on Sat, Jan 13th.

It’s a spectacular night of music, art, food, & fun for all ages. This includes a non-stop line-up of best roots and folk musicians from the tri-state area, including beloved acts The Repeating Arms, Tod Weidner, David Payne, Starving in the Belly of the Whale, Kyleen Downes, The Goldberrys, OldNews, Bloody Tambourine, and several more!

It’s also about this time of year, I’m missing food trucks. Come hungry and catch the Drunken Waffle serving food on-site, along with Yellow Cab Tavern’s craft brews and cocktails. This year’s event has expanded, with even more artisans and vendors selling handmade goods. It’s an all around perfect night out!

How did this event come about? Well, it was inspired by a love of music, of course, and also the venue itself, Yellow Cab Tavern. In its infancy, WinterFolk organizers could see the potential in YCT, starting the festival as a fundraiser, which led to the venue’s recent upgrades. This type of collaboration is sign of a true music community! Make sure you stop on out to support these wonderful folks!

How to Go?

Where: The ‘Old’ Yellow Cab Building (700 E Fourth St. Dayton, Ohio 45402) is located at the corner of Fourth St and Walnut just outside Dayton’s historic Oregon District. Plenty of FREE parking is available on and off street at the event.

Time / Cost: Doors will open at 7pm and the first performance will start promptly at 8pm. Tickets available exclusively at the door for $10, children 12 & under are free.

Luminaries of Dayton: Frederick and David Rike

December 19, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

Frederick Rike (1867-1947) was President of the Rike-Kumler Department Store Company in Dayton. He began at Rike’s as a salesman and a buyer of notions, handkerchiefs, hosiery and gloves. He eventually worked his way up to the post of President, which he held for 40 years, seldom missing a day at work in the store. It was Frederick Rike who moved the store to the corner of Second and Main Streets that it anchored for so long. He was active during the recovery efforts from the 1913 Flood and served on the charter commission which reorganized Dayton’s government under the city manager format. He had worked for the establishment of the Miami Valley Conservancy District, and served as president of the Dayton Boy Scouts and Community Chest.

Frederick Rike died on November 19, 1947 and is located in Section 37 Lot 1226.

David L. Rike (1904—1982) carried his family’s legendary Dayton department store into the 20th century. Rike’s Department Store, a long and storied Dayton institution, was founded by David’s grandfather in 1853. David’s father, Frederick, inherited the family business and upon his death in 1947, David was elected president. In 1965, he became board chairman and chief executive officer.

As Rike’s expanded and progressed and flourished under David’s tenure, he maintained a staunch humanitarian mindset, even creating a special employee fund for families experiencing financial distress. In turn, he always encouraged his employees to give back to the Dayton community.

A graduate of both the Princeton School of Business Administration and Harvard School of Business Administration, Rike used this business acumen for the betterment of the Dayton region. His dedication to Rike’s historic Second and Main location exemplified his love and belief in downtown Dayton.

David L. Rike was born on October 24, 1904 in Xenia, Ohio and died on January 16, 1982 in Dayton, Ohio. He was married to Margaret Craighead Shaw. He is located in Section 37 Lot 1226.

Visitors take in the holiday window displays at Rike’s department store in 1945, the first year they were on display in Dayton after being relocated from the NCR offices in New York City. Photo courtesy of the NCR Archive at the Montgomery County Historical Society
Photo taken 12-20-1945

Luminaries of Dayton: Mitchell “Booty”Wood

December 14, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

Mitchell “Booty” Wood studied trombone at Dunbar High School. After graduation he joined the Lionel Hampton Band and later played with Duke Ellington and Count Basie. By his count, he traveled more than 2 million miles on the road playing jazz in Sweden, Japan, South America, Mexico and France. In each band he held the position of first trombone and won high praise from the band leaders and their enraptured audiences. After his travels, Booty returned home to Dayton and Dunbar High School and Central State University to teach jazz, using it as a vehicle to promote the benefits of constant practice, discipline, and the joy of music.

Mitchell “Booty” Wood died on June 10, 1987. He is located in Section 300 Lot 40.

Luminaries of Dayton: George C. Cooper.

November 20, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

George C. Cooper was a member of the “Golden Thirteen,” the first thirteen African American officers commissioned by the U. S. Navy. Throughout his career, he faced considerable prejudice because of his race, yet maintained an unshakable commitment to treating everyone the way he wanted to be treated himself.

Paul Stillwell’s book called “The Golden Thirteen” chronicles some of the episodes of racism that these pioneering black officers faced, such as sailors crossing the street rather than offering the appropriate salute to an officer.

During his time in the Navy, and later working for the city of Dayton as the first black department director, he served as a valued mentor for other African Americans. Mr. Cooper believed in the responsibility to help others. He was able to use his interaction with others as an opportunity to lead them to judge him not by the color of his skin but as a human being.

George Cooper died on May 20, 2002. He is located in Section 102 in the Woodland Mausoleum.

Luminaries of Dayton: Joseph W. Green

November 12, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

Joseph W. Green was born in Dayton, Ohio and worked for his father’s cracker company, the Green & Green Co. It was famous for supplying 6.5 million pounds of cracker-like bread, known as hardtack, to American military forces in WWI. The company custom-designed machinery to make special soldered tins that would ensure the product remained fresh and palatable in the worst of conditions.

After the war, the Green family moved into their Oakwood home across from Hawthorn Hill. Soon the company’s Edgemont cracker was its most popular cracker, a product similar to a saltine. Today, Green & Green Co. is best remembered as the originator of a small, square cracker – a cracker. Its orange color and unique flavor comes from paprika and it is the leading selling cracker in the United States. Can you guess its name? Yep! … It’s Cheez-Its.

So where are Cheez-Its made today? In 1931, Joseph Green was president of the American Manufacturing Company, and manager of Loose-Wiles, which later became the Sunshine Biscuit Company. The Sunshine Co. identified itself with the sun symbol and with bringing sunshine into people’s lives. In 1996, Keebler bought Sunshine Biscuit. Today Cheez-Its are made by Kellogg, which acquired Keebler in 2000, but the company still uses the iconic sunshine trademark on every box.

Joseph and Eleanor Green are located in Section 105 Lot 2231 at Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the UD Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Fore more information call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland website.

Luminaries of Dayton: David A. Sinclair and Mary Belle Eaker

October 23, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

David A. Sinclair was an early supporter of the YMCA movement. He came to Dayton in 1874 to represent the Hamilton, Ontario YMCA at a conference and was so impressed with the leadership of the Dayton branch that he accepted a position here. He could not understand why Dayton had so many jobless men. After asking local employers for their opinion as to the cause of the problem, the answer would be the lack of skills and training necessary to do the job. David became determined to do something about it. Under his leadership, the YMCA began to offer vocational training classes which eventually grew into Sinclair Community College. Sadly, David Sinclair did not live long enough to see it. Exhausted from efforts to build the first YMCA building at Third and Ludlow Streets, now Dayton City Hall, he died six years before the first college building opened.

David A Sinclair has a sidewalk plaque on Dayton’s Walk of Fame on Third Street near Broadway Street in the Wright-Dunbar Historic District. He was inducted into the Walk of Fame in 1996.

David A. Sinclair was born in 1850 and died in 1902. He is located in Section 113 Lot 54.

A friend helps out to see the project completed.

The Young Men’s Christian Association was probably Mary Belle Eaker’s greatest interest. It was her recreation. She left the Eaker homestead as a site for the proposed new building, explaining her gift as follows: “Much of my life has been passed in this home, and I gladly give it for this purpose, believing that it could be consecrated to no better use, and that the people of Dayton will build upon it a suitable Christian home for our young men.”

It was Mr. Sinclair, as a friend and source of information about the Y. M. C. A. that probably decided the matter. Their friendship was most close and sincere, and through him she followed step by step the growing needs of the Association, and its advance in usefulness.

In 1902, Miss Mary Belle Eaker left her home on the northwest corner of Third and Ludlow to the Association. The new building that was constructed there was the second largest YMCA building in the world and opened in April 1908. It contained six stories and was valued at $500,000.

Mary Belle Eaker died on May 30, 1902 at the age of 80. She is buried Section 65 Lot 35.

Luminaries of Dayton: John Glossinger and the “Oh Henry!” candy bar

October 19, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

Born at Xenia in 1868, John Glossinger at the age of 19 left for the big city in search of success. With just a $1 in his pocket he set off for Cincinnati. He later found himself in New York City and became a $5-a-week office boy. That opened the door to the sales field on which his heart was set. He was successful with the Waterbury Watch Co. and helped develop the Bulova timepiece business, brought the “Oh Henry!” candy bar to national notice and headed a smoking-pipe company.

He put an ad in the paper that an energetic young man was seeking employment as a salesman and he secured a position with a pipe tobacco company. His first assignment was in Boston, then later Philadelphia. After seven years, he was assigned to the Chicago office which included St. Louis in the territory.

He became so successful that the American Tobacco Company offered him a job which he accepted and in just a few years, he became president of the firm. Unfortunately the company split and he found himself without a job after 24 years in the tobacco business.

He accepted the position of sales manager for a Philadelphia chocolate and cocoa manufacturing business. Things were fine for a while, but though he was earning bonuses and good commissions, the company refused to pay him the money he earned, and so he went off to seek another position.

This time, he was in contact with the Williamson Candy Company of Chicago. He found that the company was making a candy bar, something that had not been done before. Hershey was in existence, but their products were not called candy bars. John thought that this new product called “Oh Henry!” had possibilities, but it had only been marketed locally. He wanted to make it into a nationally known product.

He decided to try to sell the bar first in Cleveland, and so hired boys to post cardboard signs wherever they could. The signs were small, a red card with white lettering reading “Oh Henry.”

He was holding the signs which the boys were tacking up when a car was standing at the curb. He slipped the card on the radiator and it fit. He put one on the next car and the next. A man driving a truck called out “Say, mister, come and put one on me, too,” which he did. Then the driver said “Give me one for my buddy.”

Soon he realized that tacking up the signs took too much time so they began to put the signs on the front of automobiles. What great advertising. All over town, cars had “Oh Henry!” showing on their radiators, and curiosity began to take over. People saw the signs, but had no idea what it meant.

The sales force was instructed to say they did not know about “Oh Henry!.” Soon they ran out of signs and so paid a local printer to publish 2,000 more cards by the next day. Soon Cleveland had thousands of red signs reading “Oh Henry”. Hundreds of people were asking what this meant.

John sent the salesmen out to get orders from the local merchants. The salesmen would carry the box of “Oh Henry” bars into the store, open the box, take out a bar and slice it so that anyone nearby could taste it. “This is a fine piece of dollar candy for a dime” was the slogan, since each bar sold for 10 cents.

The salesmen were instructed to tell the merchant that only that one box could be sold at that time, but more could be ordered.

In John’s own words “Well, Cleveland went over with a bang. We had a car-load of Oh Henry! on the railroad track worth $8,000 and before we were through, we didn’t have a bar left.”

Soon, other candy bars including Babe Ruth appeared, which sold for five cents. When John suggested lowering the price of Oh Henry to five cents, the company refused, and John quit.

At 65 he retired for a year but boredom and a reputation he had acquired for rehabilitating shaky enterprises brought him quickly back to business. As president of a surgical instrument manufacturing business he became known for inspirational messages addressed to associates. These found wider audience when compiled in a book and he wrote until he was well in his 90s.

This is one of his writings: “Let fear not weaken you, you have strength to meet any crisis that comes to you. You are equipped to meet any emergency. Have faith in yourself.”

“Colonel” Glossinger, as he was known to them, had many friends in high places, including governmental, military and show business celebrities.

Ever ready with aid for others, he once said, “When you love people, you have to help people.”

John Glossinger was born August 10, 1868 in Xenia and died July 23, 1968 in Dayton at the age of 99. He is located in Section 101 Lot 3742.

And what about that “Oh Henry!” candy bar…

“Oh Henry!” is a chocolate bar containing peanuts, caramel, and fudge coated in chocolate. It was first introduced in 1920, by the Williamson Candy Company of Chicago, Illinois. According to legend, “Oh Henry!” was originally named

after a boy who frequented the Williamson Company, flirting with the girls who made the candy. The name is also said to be a homage to American writer, O. Henry. However, there is no definitive explanation as to the exact origin of the name.

Another theory is that the candy bar was invented by a man named Tom Henry of Arkansas City, Kansas. Tom Henry ran a candy company called the Peerless Candy Factory, and in 1919 he started making the Tom Henry candy bar. He sold the candy bar to Williamson Candy Company in 1920 where they later changed the name to “Oh Henry!”.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the UD Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Fore more information call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland website.

Luminaries of Dayton: Daniel E. McSherry

October 8, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

Daniel E. McSherry & Co. was located at 1126 E. Third Street in Dayton. The agricultural implement company was founded by Daniel E. McSherry and Edward Breneman in 1864 and was located on Wayne Avenue. They made the McSherry Grain Drill and devoted all their capital, time and business to improving its strength and utility. They employed 140 men eleven months of the year. Their products were found from New England to California and the number of drills annually manufactured was up to 4,000.

Daniel E. McSherry died on November 1, 1891. He is located in Section 101 Lot 1724.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s five oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio as you will see as you read through this new MostMetro.com series. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.

Cox Foundation donates $1 Million to Woodland Arboretum Foundation

September 12, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

The James M. Cox Foundation Donates $1 Million to Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum’s Historic Chapel Restoration and Preservation Project

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum announced that it has received a $1 million challenge grant from the James M. Cox Foundation. The grant is part of the organization’s capital campaign, which is raising funds for the restoration and preservation of three historic structures on the cemetery property. These 130-year old structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the cemetery, itself, is listed as a National Historic District by the U. S. Department of the Interior.

“We were more than thrilled when The James M. Cox Foundation offered us a challenge grant of $1 million toward our capital campaign,” said Tony Huffman, board member and campaign chair of Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum. “It was a unique opportunity and one that we were so happy to have received. This generous lead gift will allow us to begin, immediately, the process of restoration and preservation of the historic Woodland Chapel, Gates and Administration Building that were built in 1887.”

“Within six months, we exceeded the $1 million goal for matching, meeting the challenge terms of the grant” said Huffman.

The Cemetery board approved a multi-phase capital campaign; phase one is for $3.5 million and will ensure the complete restoration and preservation of the historic Chapel, front gates and administration building. The Chapel houses a one-of-a-kind Tiffany hand-cut tiled floor, seventeen Tiffany windows and painted Tiffany frescoes on the walls. The Chapel also has original woodwork cut and installed by the Barney and Smith Car Company from Dayton.

Sean O’Regan, president and CEO of Woodland, said, “Phase two of the capital campaign will allow the Cemetery to honor its commitment to preserve and promote the treasures and heritage of Woodland via an endowment for perpetual maintenance and care of 10 historical buildings on site.”

The James M. Cox Foundation has ties to Woodland Cemetery as the namesake of the Foundation is buried there. James M. Cox, three-term Governor of Ohio and 1920 Democratic candidate for President, is located just steps from other Dayton notables such as Col. Edward A. Deeds, Loren M. Berry, John H. Patterson, Charles F. Kettering and the Wright Brothers.

Cox Enterprises was founded in Dayton in 1898 when James M. Cox purchased the Dayton Evening News (now the Dayton Daily News). Through Cox Media Group, the company also operates WHIO Ch. 7, WHIO Radio News, 95.7 and AM 2910, K99.1 FM (WHKO) and 95.3 TheEagle (WZLR) in Dayton.

“Woodland Cemetery and its unique grounds are historically significant for Dayton,” said Rob Rohr, Cox Media Group Ohio’s market vice president. “Woodland is a place where we can celebrate the lives of people who made their mark on our community. The James M. Cox Foundation and Cox Media Group Ohio are proud to join other members of the community to protect and invest in Woodland Cemetery.”

“Woodland is such a unique place in Dayton,” said O’Regan, a transplant from Boston, “here you can enter a beautiful and serene environment in the heart of downtown, take a walk among a vibrant and long-established arboretum, explore an outdoor museum and learn the history of the men and women who invented many of today’s most modern innovations: powered flight, the electric car starter, the cash register and let’s not forget Cheez-its.”

The Woodland Arboretum Foundation continues to seek donations from the community and the families of those resting peacefully at Woodland Cemetery. “We are confident that the Dayton community will come together to save these important historic buildings that grace the entrance of our 175-year-old cemetery,” said Huffman.

More information about the cemetery and the campaign to restore the historic buildings and how to give your support for the project can be found at Woodland’s website at woodlandcemetery.org.

About Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum
Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum sits in the heart of downtown Dayton on over 200 verdant acres of rolling hills with over 3000 trees on the property. This historic cemetery, founded in 1841, welcomes thousands of visitors who tour the grounds each year to visit the grave sites of inventors of powered flight, Wilbur and Orville Wright; poet Paul Laurence Dunbar; Matilda and Levi Stanley, Queen and King of the Gypsies; writer Erma Bombeck; Gov. James M. Cox; inventor Charles F. Kettering; and entrepreneurs John H. Patterson (NCR); George P. Huffman (Huffy Bicycles); and George Mead (Mead Paper Co.).

About The James M. Cox Foundation
The James M. Cox Foundation is named in honor of Cox Enterprises’ founder and provides funding for capital campaigns and special projects in communities where the company operates. The Foundation concentrates its community support in several areas, including: conservation and environment; early childhood education; empowering families and individuals for success; and health.

For further information please contact: Angie Hoschouer, Woodland Arboretum Foundation, [email protected]; and/or Elizabeth Olmstead, James M. Cox Foundation, [email protected].

Luminaries of Dayton: Dayton Brewer Michael Schiml

September 8, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

Michael Schiml was born on August 4, 1825 in Reglasreuth, near Baireuth, Bavaria, Germany. He was the last of eight children by his parents Christopher and Mary (Kamer) Schiml.

John and Michael Schiml started the J. & M. Schiml Brewery in 1852 on the corner of Wayne and Hickory streets. The first lager beer of Montgomery County was believed to have been made there on December 13, 1852. A cousin of the Schiml’s who was a brewer brought the stock yeast necessary for making it from Boston, Massachusetts. The first year the brewery made 1,200 barrels of lager beer.

The original brewery building was only 28’ x 50’ but it was enlarged upon a little each year. On September 5, 1858, John died and Michael took over the entire business.

In July 1881, a fire destroyed a stable and its contents, including four horses, the roof of the ice house, and over 3,000 bushels of malt. Michael took the disaster in stride, enlarging the brewery to 38’ x 140’, and three stories high, plus building an ice house in connection capable of storing 1,500 tons of ice. Both of the buildings were made of brick, with cellars underneath. At the time of the fire the brewery was turning out 4,400 barrels of lager annually, but the new building had the capacity to double that amount. The building with its underground cellars was the key for the lagering process as it required a longer aging period than other beers.

Michael gave the business over to his son Andrew and his son-in-law Frank J. Bucher in 1889. Michael continued to operate the malting portion of the plant until his death October 12, 1892.

Michael Schiml died on October 12, 1892 at the age of 67. He is located in Section 110 Lot 2751.

Luminaries of Dayton: John W. Harries

August 27, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

John Harries, one of the pioneer inhabitants of the city of Dayton, was born in 1783 in the town of Gebledewyll, in Carmarthenshire, Wales. In 1810, John married Mary Williams, and soon afterward settled on a farm near his birthplace. In the fall of 1823, they immigrated to the United States, landing in New York, where Mr. Harries embarked in the wholesale and retail grocery business, and there his wife died.

In 1826, he married Mary Elizabeth Conklin, of Huntington, Long Island, daughter of Elkanah R. and Rebecca (Smith) Conklin, both of whom were natives of Huntington and had roots in England. To his second marriage the children born in New York City were Charles and Caroline and in Dayton, Ohio, Mary, Rosetta and Emma.

In the spring of 1829, Mr. Harries, with his family, came to Ohio, arriving in Dayton on July 5th of that year, on the canal boat “Experiment,” having made the journey from Cincinnati by canal. The eldest son, Thomas, remained in New York, continuing his education, and the family that arrived in Dayton consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Harries and six children. Shortly after reaching Dayton, Mr. Harries engaged in the brewing business. He had little money and little knowledge of brewing beer, but by means of perseverance and considerable natural ability he made a success of the business, and continued to follow it actively until the last year of his life.

John bought the Dayton Brewery in 1831. He was the largest dealer of grain and his ale was the best made. It had a great reputation. John stored charcoal he used for making malt in a house made from a pirogue. The pirogue was a long narrow boat pointed at each end with boards on each side of which the men walked while pushing the boat upstream. After arriving at their destination, the pirogue was carefully taken apart piece by piece and rebuilt on dry land, becoming his first house in Dayton. John lived in it for many years and it was also used for hiding slaves who were trying to make their way to Canada.

The great secret of John’s prosperity was that while others reasoned and argue and weighed the probabilities of a case, he promptly resolved and acted. Mr. Harries had great power of concentration and self-control. He was a man of many virtues. With a heart tender and warm, his hand were ever open, ready and willing to lend aid to charitable causes.

The following words were said at the time of his death:
“John W. Harries is dead, and the places which knew him so long and so well shall know him no more forever. His friendly face, his familiar form, his cordial greetings, will never be seen or heard on earth again. On the 22d of February, at 1:10 P. M., he breathed his last. For several days he seemed on the point of dissolution, but such were his amazing tenacity of life and strength of will that he appeared to set death itself at defiance. Long and hard as the struggle was, however, he fell asleep at last, and a strong man passed away as peacefully as a tired infant goes to rest in its mother’s lap; Mr. Harries was a self-made man. Born in Wales, he came to this country in early manhood in quest of fortune, relying upon his character, his energy and his brains. His career strongly illustrates all the virtues, while it was far from most of the faults which characterize that remarkable class of brave men who rise by the inherent force of their own native and unaided powers. He earned his money by the sweat of his brow, and yet did not unduly estimate its value, nor pride himself upon its possession. In its use he was as liberal as a prince. Poverty could not depress; fortune did not spoil him. Wealth made him neither ambitious of the countenance or acquaintance of the rich or great, nor forgetful of the rights and feelings of the poor. In all his relations or dealings with men he was singularly just. He never forgot old friends or past favors. He had no false pride and never turned his back on a poor man. He was in many particulars a very remarkable person. Fixed in his convictions, he was in no wise intolerant of the opinions of other people. With few advantages of early education, native shrewdness, fine common sense, and close observation supplied the place of scholastic attainment. He was a reader of men, not of books. Without public position of any sort he was the best known, the most popular and influential man in the community in which he so long resided.”

John W. Harries died on February 22, 1873 at the age of 90. He is located in section 78 Lot 73.

Luminaries of Dayton: Noah Tyler Bish

August 20, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

Mr. Bish was born near Carroll County, Maryland and hails from one of the old families of that state, founded in America by his great grand-father. Noah decided after his early school years to move to the Montgomery County area where he was employed on a farm for three seasons. He married Sarah C. Clemmer on November 11, 1869 and had three children: George William, Susan Adie and Ray Clemmer.

A year following his marriage, Mr. Bish purchased forty acres of land in Perry Township, there carrying on general farming from 1870 until 1884. He then went to Dayton and invested in a stock of groceries, opening a store. From the beginning he prospered in his commercial pursuits and developed a successful store with a large patronage. Admitting his son to a partnership, the business was continued under the name N.T. Bish & Son.

Noah T. Bish died on October 5, 1922 at the age of 79. He is located in Section 101 Lot 2533.

Luminaries of Dayton: The Dog as a Cemetery Symbol

August 10, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

The dog symbolizes loyalty, fidelity, watchfulness and vigilance.

The most famous dog at Woodland is the one found atop the monument of Johnny Morehouse, one of the most well-known and visited monuments at Woodland.

There are more than one hundred thousand of Dayton’s finest citizens buried at Woodland Cemetery, but no tombstone or monument commands as much respect and attention as “The Boy & Dog.”

The monument, with 5 year old Johnny and his large canine friend, has been at Woodland for over 155 years. The stone is still in excellent condition. A number of years ago, a large tree nearby fell during a storm and knocked the head off the dog. It was quite an undertaking but the head was re-attached by then Woodland horticulturist, Jim Sandegren, and the monument was once again, as good as new.

For visitor attraction, perhaps the “Boy & Dog” has caused more tears and aroused more interest than any other at the cemetery. The monument, faithful in detail, shows Johnny’s top and his ball, his mouth harp and his little cap. On the base of the monument is the inscription, “In Slumber Sweet.” The monument stands about five feet high, has the dog, perhaps an Irish setter, watching over his sleeping master and Johnny’s head is gently resting against the body of his pet.

Little Johnny Morehouse lived at the SW corner of East Third and June Streets. The truth concerning the death of Johnny and his pet are not known. Two accounts have been speculated. One account speaks to how Johnny, who was five years old, had fallen into the river and the dog jumped in and saved his little master’s life by pulling him from the river. Walter W. Morehouse, a relative of the little boy, and former Director of the City Water Department, believed that the story was true, at least that he always heard it was true. The second account, whether truth or legend cannot be said, is that the boy was drowning and the dog also perished trying to save him, and that the ball, jacks, toy top and the and the mouth harp that are represented on the stone in granite, supposedly were in the boy’s pockets when he was recovered from the water. Investigators trying to trace the truth of this legend, in spite of their detailed search, have found no evidence to support either account. Friends of the family interviewed during the later 1890s say merely that the monument only symbolizes the deep love between the child and his pet. Johnny Morehouse died on August 14, 1860 at five years of age. He is located in Section 82 Lot 546.

Another story passed down is that the dog, still faithful to his master, would come to the cemetery and lay at the grave site of Johnny. Local artist and sculptor, Daniel La Dow, who is also buried at Woodland was the creator of the beautiful and peaceful monument. Many people who come to visit “The Boy & Dog” bring a gift for both Johnny and his canine friend such as small toys, pennies, candy and even biscuits for the dog.