George Henry Volkenand
George Henry Volkenand, proprietor of "Sycamore Stock Farm" in the Alpha neighborhood in Beavercreek township, was born in that township on December 19, 1860, son of Herman and Martha (Brod) Volkenand, whose last days were spent at Dayton, this state, and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.
Herman Volkenand was born in Germany, January 26, 1826, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Haas) Volkenand, the former of French birth, and was educated in his native land, coming to this country in the days of his young manhood, the only member of his family to come over here at that time. However, some years later his sister Elizabeth, now Mrs. Zein, of Dayton, came to this country. Upon his arrival in this country Herman Volkenand came to Ohio and for some months was engaged at work in an oil mill near the Indian Ripple bridge, later accepting employment as a farm hand on the Jacob Coy farm. He then went to Missouri and thence up into Iowa and Minnesota, but a year later returned to this county and in 1848, in the Mt. Zion Reformed church in Beaver township was married to Martha Brod, who also was born in Germany, January 3, 1828, and who had not long before come to this country. For two years after his marriage Mr. Volkenand was employed as foreman in the Shoup & Harbine distillery in Beavercreek township and then he bought a farm of seventy-five acres on the east bank of the Little Miami, the place now occupied by his son Herman. On October 18, 1871, he started on a trip back to his boyhood home in Germany and there spent three months visiting his mother. In April, 1877, he bought property in the village of Alpha and moved to that village, where he remained until July 17, 1877, when he moved onto a farm of sixty-eight acres he previously had bought in that neighborhood, the place now occupied by his son George H., and there he lived until his retirement in 1888 and removal to the old Samuel Edgar home at Dayton, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, her death occurring on January 29, 1899, and his, March 17, 1904. During their residence in this county they were members of Mt. Zion Reformed church and upon their removal to Dayton became connected with the Reformed church in that city. During his residence in Greene county Herman Volkenand served as postmaster at Alpha, under the administration of President Cleveland, during the years 1881-85, also served as railway ticket agent and as express agent at Alpha, for fifteen years was school director in his home district, for eight years was a member of the board of education and also served for some time as trustee of Beavercreek township. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Leonard, a building contractor at Dayton; Anna, wife of Warren Glotfelter, a farmer of Sugarcreek township; Elizabeth, vvho died at the age of seventeen years; Herman, mentioned above as the owner of the old home farm along the river; John, who made his home at Dayton and who died in that city in July, 1917; and Martha, wife of John Higgins, of Sugarcreek township.
George H. Volkenand grew up on the farm and received his schooling in the McClung district school in the neighborhood of his home. He remained on the farm until 1887, when he went to Alpha and there became engaged in the general merchandise business and was postmaster under Cleveland's second administration, continuing there engaged in business for nine years and three months, at the end of which time he went to Lawrenceburg. Indiana, where for two years he was engaged in the mercantile business. He then returned to Greene county and in the spring of 1900 married and became engaged in the carpenter business, working at Dayton, Trebeins and other place for five years, or until in March, 1905, when he moved to the farm on which he is now living and to which he has given the name of "Sycamore Stock Farm." Since taking possession of that place Mr. Volkenand has made numerous improvements on the same and has added to his holdings until now he is the owner of a farm of one hundred and three acres. In addition to this general farming he makes a specialty of the raising of Shorthorn and Jersey cattle, Duroc and Poland China hogs and keeps a good many horses. Mr. Volkenand votes the Democratic national ticket, as did his father, but in local affairs does not draw party lines. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Alpha.
On March 28, 1900, George H. Volkenand was united in marriage to Margaret Neff, who was born in Rockbridge county. Virginia, and who was but a child when she came to this county with her parents, Joseph and Anna Neff, the family settling in New Jasper township. Joseph Neff was a stonemason. He and his wife were born in Virginia and their last days were spent in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Volkenand have one child, a son, Murrill Leonard, born on January 8, 1905. About six years ago they took into their home a little girl, Delsa Alderman, who they are rearing as one of their family, though they have not adopted her.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918