Alfred Loy
Alfred Loy, a soldier of the Civil War, who for many years has been a resident of the village of Bellbrook and who has served as postmaster, as mayor, as councilman, as marshal and as an officer of that village in other public capacities, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in the vicinity of Centerville, in the neighboring county of Montgomery, November 26, 1837, son of Jacob T. and Rachel (Bankson) Loy, whose last days were spent in this state, the latter dying on September 11, 1858, and the former, in April, 1887.
Jacob T. Loy was a native Hoosier, born in the then Territory of Indiana, January 1, 1816, and who later came to Ohio. At Waynesville, this state, in 1837, he married Rachel Bankson, who was born in the state of New Jersey on June 27, 1817, and who was but a girl when her parents moved from that state with their family to Ohio. After his marriage Jacob T. Loy located in Montgomery county and a few years later moved over into Preble county and it was in this latter county that the subject of this sketch spent his youth. Jacob T. Loy and wife were the parents of ten children, those besides the subject of this sketch being the following: Peter W. B., who is now living at Peru, Indiana; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Hart, of Darke county, this state; Catherine A., deceased; Francis A., now a resident of Morgan county, Kentucky; Jacob H., deceased; Mrs. Sarah Jane Walker, of Darke county, this state, and Rachel C, Letta Maria and Melissa E., deceased.
Alfred Loy was but a small boy when he moved with his parents from Montgomery county to Preble county and in the latter county he received his schooling. He early became more or less dependent upon his own efforts, for before he was eleven years of age he left the home farm and for two years thereafter worked on the farm of another "for his board and keep" in order to gain the advantage of better schooling than was afforded in his home district. Upon leaving school he learned the trade of brickmaker and bricklayer and was thus engaged for seven years. In 1862 he married and afterward began farming and was thus engaged when in January, 1865, he enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War and was attached to General Thomas's brigade, with the Army of the Cumberland, and served with this command until he reached his final discharge in September, 1865. During his absence at the front his wife made her home at Bellbrook and upon the completion of his military service he returned to Bellbrook and has lived there and in that neighborhood ever since. For some time he was engaged in saw-mill work and in threshing-machine work and for three years lived on a farm., but about forty years ago left the farm and returned to Bellbrook, where he has since remained. During the administration of President Harrison Mr. Loy was appointed postmaster of Bellbrook and for eight years occupied that position. He also served for several years as a member of the village council, was for three months mayor of the village, filling a vacancy in that office, and has also served as constable, marshal and about all the other offices connected with the local administration of affairs in his home town. Mr. Loy is a Republican, a member of W. H. Bird Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Spring Valley, a member of the Grange and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife, and has for many years been an office bearer in his church, having served as class leader, as steward, as a trustee and as superintendent of the Sunday school.
On August 19, 1862, on the Clear Spring camp-meeting ground near Spring Valley, Alfred Loy was united in marriage to Mary J. Debarr, daughter of the Rev. Thomas J. and Mary Ann (Talbert) Debarr, of Bellbrook, the former of whom was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Loy celebrated their golden-wedding anniversary in 1912 and Mrs. Loy died on October 15, 1914. To them two children were born, Elmer Elsworth, born on May 20, 1863, who died on March 7, 1866, and Omar Weston, born on October 10, 1866, who died on June 15, 1882.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918