Jacob Iams
Jacob Iams, manufacturer, P. O., Iamton, was born April 27, 1830. His father, Ely, was a native of Green Co., Pa., and emigrated to Ohio in 1820, and purchased a farm near the present site of Trotwood, Madison Township. He celebrated his marriage with Phoebe Heckathorn, and as a result of this union had eleven children, seven of whom are living at present. Mr. Iams being a gentleman of very exemplary habits, was elected Justice of the Peace of his township. The responsibilities of this office were discharged by its holder to the satisfaction of all concerned for several successive terms. The educational advantages of Jacob, our subject, were limited, his school days being included in a very few months, but by applying his leisure time at nights to his books, managed to obtain a good knowledge of all the common branches. At the age of 20 years he engaged in teaching school, and accumulated enough money to start himself in the business of manufacturing spokes, hubs and felloes, which he continued in until he failed, during the panic of 1872 and 1873, after which he engaged in teaching school and running a saw and planing mill that he had previously purchased in the village of Harrisburgh, Montgomery Co., Ohio. As an evidence of the esteem in which he was held in the community where he lived, was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and discharged the duties of that office with credit to himself until the expiration of a term, comprising a period of twelve years. In 1871 he took for wife Charlotte Sanders, daughter of Richard Sanders. This union was blessed with three children, viz: Elsie V., Mary B. and Alvin.
From History of Montgomery County, Ohio, W. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1882