Dayton Daily News - August 29, 1902
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OLDEST MALE BORN IN DAYTON,
JESSE BOOHER DIED AT THE HOMEThe death of Jesse Booher at the hospital at the Soldiers' Home has removed one of Dayton's most interesting characters. He had the distinction of being the oldest person born in Dayton up to the time of his death, and the 82 years of his life he had practically spent in this city. He was born in the old Jewett property on East Second street, on February 15, 1821.
He was a carpenter and general mechanic until the breaking out of the civil war, he was running a small shop in an alley known as Booher lane, which runs east and west and is the first north of Second street. The old shop still stands and was used by the deceased until a few months ago, when he entered the Soldiers' Home.
Mr. Booher was married to Miss Cynthia A. Reynolds in April, 1839. He was 18 and she was 16. They lived happily until some seven years ago, when Mrs. Booher died.
When the war broke out Mr. Booher enlisted and was sent to Camp Dennison near Cincinnati. He was assigned to Co. A, 11th O.V.I., Capt. Calvin Childs, for 90 days' service, and was mustered out August 26, 1861.
It may be interesting to older residents to know who were his comrades in Co. A. The following is a list of those now dead: Col. Findlay Harrison, Lieut. Col. J. W. Frizell, Major A. H. Coleman, Capt. Calvin J. C. Childs and Lieut. George W. Hatfield, and these comrades of Co. A have long since answered the last roll call--Sergeants John W. LaRue and John C. Reed, Corporal Elias Shank, Benjamin Munday, James R. Hogue and David K. Curtis and Frank Witwer, Jacob Pritz, George A. Caswell, John W. Cline, John W. Wulchet, John Turner, George Engle, Joe D. Cotterell, James O'Davis, Gum Minnick, Ben Wetherd, William T. Harris, George LaRue, Joseph Staley, Elias B. Simpson, John D. Kenney, Sam B. Shoup, Luther Sheets, Sam J. Henderson, Ed Rule, David Hummel, Charles Allen and Samuel A. Ambrose.
Among the living comrades who served with Mr. Booher, most of whom will attend the funeral, are: Capt. Thomas L. Steward, and Sergeants William K. Young and John C. Kiefaber, and Robert Beatty, George Wentz, John B. Steward, H. B. Sortman, Clay Clark, Dan H. Carson, John F. Cotterell, Lewis Eby, Milo G. Newcom, Julius Ogler, Charles Green, William Harvey, Elias Reeder, George Solomon and William Hatfield.
The deceased belonged to Old Guard Post, G.A.R., and attended many of the national encampments.
The funeral will take place Saturday afternoon with services at the chapel at Woodland cemetery. The local G.A.R. posts will attend the funeral. The remains were brought to the city from the Soldiers' Home by Undertaker O. P. Boyer, at whose establishment they are now being prepared for burial. The several living children of the deceased are Mrs. Louis Creamer of Huntington, Ind.; Mrs. Belle Gager of New York City; Mrs. Emma Ruhl of Portland, Ore.; and Mr. Orvis Booher, who cannot be located at the present time, although he was here to see his father a few months ago.
The grandchildren are: Mrs. Fannie J. Lowry, Dayton, and Jesse T. Whelan, George C. Whelan, Denver; Edward Creamer, Chicago; Mrs. Edith Wolverton, Mobile; Louis Ruhl and Earl Ruhl and several children of Portland, Ore. The great grandchildren are Clarence Lowrey and Luetta Lowrey of Dayton.
Dayton Daily News - Friday, June 10, 1904
SECRET BURIED WITH THE DEAD
Tombstone Tells All That is Known of Susanna Beaver
The Old House Was Built Many Years Ago
Spouting Bears Date of 1828
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A number of old residents who are familiar with the brick structure that has just been demolished at teh southwest corner of Fourth and Jefferson streets, in which the tombstone of Susanna Beaver was unearthed, are of the opinion that it was built about the year 1826. That date at least was found on the rafters and other parts of the house, when it was torn down. The date 1828 was found on the spouting that was also taken down, and the inference is drawn that the house was built about that time. The spouting may have been put on two years after the house was completed.
The statement that the house had been built 40 years is taken jokingly by the venerable Dr. J. C. Reese, who says that he moved into the house 42 years ago and that it was an old house then. He lived there 12 years, and frequently saw the date, 1826, that was a part of the adornment of the house. He could have pointed out the exact spot where the date could have been found, before the house was demolished, had it been asked for. It is evident that the tombstone must have been put in long after the house was built. No one seems to know the history of the stone, nor will perhaps, it ever be known. Its secret was buried with it, and only the stone remains to indicate that a person of that name ever existed.
The stone was found by one of Contractor Philip Minnegan's men, George Paxton, his foreman, in the south wall. The above illustration depicts the stone and the spot where it was found. It probably belongs to Mr. Minnegan, and just what disposition he will make of it has not as yet been decided upon. In the picture Paxton is pointing to the spot where the tombstone was discovered. [Inscription on tombstone, taken from the drawing in the article:
Susanna Beaver
Born Dec. 31, 1782,
In Franklin Co. Pa.
DIED
May 27, 1848
Aged 66 Yrs &
26 days
Dayton Daily News - September 18, 1951
Page 14
Daytonian Finds Burial Ground of Revolutionary Ancestor
View Area Pioneer's Grave
After more than a century of neglect, a family cemetery dating back to Revolutionary days is being restored by Dr. Charles A. Dille. It is located northeast of the city off the Valley pike. Shown here at the grave of Samuel Dille, marked yesterday by ths SAR local chapter, are Thomas Calhoun, left, chapter president, and Dr. Dille. The youngster is Dr. Dille's son, a great-great-great-grandson of Damuel Dille, A Daytonian area pioneer.
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A three-quarter-acre tract he didn't know existed, has turned out to be the burial ground of the Revolutionary ancestors of Dr. Charles A. Dille, 224 West Dixon avenue.
Dense growth has covered the spot, about 150 feet off the Valley pike, adjacent to the Eagles clubhouse. Clearings revealed a series of broken headstones, some of them legible.
Historical references pursued by William A. Pettit, local attorney and member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Richard Montgomery chapter, led him to the spot some months ago.
There he found that Samuel Dille, a Revolutionary soldier and great-great-grandfather of Dr. Dille, was the first person buried in the little cemetery. That was 122 years ago, in 1829.
Plat Still RecordedThe headstone was broken and only about two-thirds of it was found. But beside that grave was a headstone of his wife, Anna, and scattered over the small area were stones indicating that about 25 members of the family were buried there.
Pettit found further that while some 300 acres around the cemetery had been sold by earlier generations, the cemetery plot still was recorded in the Dille family and now becomes the property of Dr. Dille.
Yesterday the local SAR chapter observed Constitution day by marking the Dille grave and conducting services there. Dr. Dille placed a wreath on the grave, the chapter set up a marker and short talks on the significance of the event and the day were made by Thomas Calhoun, chapter president, and Miles Kuhns, chapter member. A rifle squad from the ROTC at the University of Dayton fired a salute.
To Check IdentitiesDr. Dille says he will take over the plot and make every effort to ascertain who is buried there and restore as many graves and headstones as possible.
The Revolutionary Dille, records show, came here from Dille's Bottom, Washington county, Pa., and was one of the pioneer settlers in this region.
Dayton Daily Journal - May 26, 1869
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In MemoriamJohn Grove Stutsman, an old citizen of Dayton, died at his residence on First street, east of St. Clair, on Tuesday morning, May 25th.
Mr. Stutsman was born on the 4th day of June, 1816, in a house built by his father, Daniel Stutsman, on the lot where the residence of Henry S. Fowler now stands. His father died of cholera in the year 1832, leaving a wife and several children; and Grove--the only son--at the age of sixteen years determined to be the protector of his family in the stead of his father. Those who know him best, say that from that time, he began to grow prematurely old. He determined to at once prepare himself for active life, and he started to learn the gunsmith business with Mr. Wm. Brown. After serving the usual term of apprentiship, Mr. Stutsman established himself in business, in a shop on First street, near where the Stutsman homestead now stands. And he carried on the gunsmith business with success for a great many years, and until the manufacture of gas in this city, induced him to change his base, and he established a gas-fitting shop, which he managed--except for a brief period--until about a year ago, when he engaged with Leach & Blakesley, in the manufacture and sale of varnish.
Mr. Stutsman was an estimable gentleman, possessed of many admirable qualities, of more than ordinary ability, and he had many very excellent ideas about public improvements, which he was active and persistent in carrying out. He was for a number of years a member of Council, and during the time he was instrumental in having the Levee fixed up; and he superintended the planting of trees along the line of our water defenses. Mr. Stutsman also superintended the planting of trees in the Park; and in the First District School yards, and in the yard of the Central High School. He also first advocated the stone-arch bridges across the canal, and he superintended the building of the first stone bridge. He was elected one of the first members of the Board of Education, after it was established, and served on the Board a number of terms. He was an active, old-time fireman, and one of the first members of the old Independent Engine Company, and was President of the Company for a number of years. He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows December 26, 1838, and remained an acceptable member up to the time of his death; and he was always foremost in good works.
Mr. Stutsman was married to Miss Lida J. Soloman, in the month of October, 1862, but she lived only about fifteen months. He was of genial disposition and social habits, and had many warm friends. His health had been poor for several months, and towards the last he suffered severely, gradually wearing away in death. His memory will be warmly cherished by a large circle of relatives and friends. A notice of the funeral will be found elsewhere.
Obituary - Dayton Daily Journal, May 26, 1869STUTSMAN - In this city, on Tuesday morning, 25th instant, John Grove Stutsman, aged about 53 years.
Funeral this Thursday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, from the family residence, on First street, near St. Clair. Services by Rev. Mr. Colby. Interment, Woodland Cemetery. Friends of the family are invited to attend.