One Place Studies- 1011 E. Third Street, Dayton, Ohio

Welcome to 1011 E. Third Street in Dayton, Ohio... or what was. The location's address has since been changed to 1009 E. Third St. Today, it's the home of Dayton's Fire Station #2, but it was once just open farm land, like the rest of Dayton. 

First Owner: Daniel Cooper

The first owner of the land (according to land records), was Daniel C. Cooper on 09 February 1813. The land was part of 419.16 acres that was given to Daniel by President James Madison. Daniel was born on 20 Nov 1779 in Morris County, New Jersey. Daniel was a farmer and land surveyor, which is probably how he came to so much land. In 1800, he purchased 3000 acres of Dayton land at $2 an acre to save the town. He gave up a lot of his land to the community, building cemeteries, churches and schools. On July 13, 1818, Daniel died at the young age of 38 from what I can only assume to be a hernia-- he died from injuries resulted after carrying a church bell (via wheel barrel). He left his estate in his will and the land went to his daughter-in-law Letitia Cooper ('nee Smith), wife of his son David Zeigler Cooper. 

Second Owner(s): Samuel D. & John F. Edgar (brothers)

Samuel

The second owners were Samuel Dick Edgar (1806-1874) and his brother John F. Edgar (1814-1905), both born in Dayton., sons of Robert and Margaret Edgar. The brother's were able to purchase only 5.96 acres in April 1841-- it is unknown if that's all Letitia received in the will, or if she had only sold that much to the brothers. It had been apart of her estate for 23 years and by 1841, she was a widow, may have needed the money (speculation on my part).

On May 10, 1841, the brothers split the lots into two.

(John was an author and wrote "Pioneer Life in Dayton & Vicinity: 1796-1840", first published in 1896).

Third Owner: Joseph R. Wagoner

Joseph R. Wagoner purchased part of the land from the brothers on July 20, 1843- a lot of .152 acres. Joseph was born in 1806 in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. He had the land for almost 10 years with his wife and children, maybe a farm? Joseph died at the age of 68 on 31 Jan 1874 in Dayton. 

Fourth Owner: Henry V. Berk

Henry V. Berk, a German immigrant, purchased the .152 lot of land on September 7, 1852 from Joseph. Henry (or Heinrich?) was born on 09 May 1815 in Stradtkreis, Germany and immigrated in Sep 1836 at the age of 20. He married and might have used the land for farming. Henry died on 29 Jun 1892 at the age of 77. 

Fifth Owner: Gerhard Jeckering (my 3rd Great-Grandfather)

Gerhard was also a German immigrant and might have known Henry because of this. Gerhard purchased the land on March 31, 1866. Gerhard was born on 02 Feb 1829 in Hanover, Germany. He immigrated sometime before 1855. Gerhard married and together he and his wife Maria Elisabeth had 7 children.

 In 1871, Gerhard added an additional $1000 to his already $1500 valued land in a tax record, usually indicating that a building was built on the land. This is the first time we see an actual structure built on this particular bit of land. 

The address of the building was 1011 E. Third Street, Dayton. It was a two story structure. The bottom half was Gerhard's business "Jeckering Grocery & Feed" and then he and his family lived in the apartment above. 

Gerhard died on 16 Apr 1898 in Dayton at the age of 69, but not before selling or giving the store to his son John F. Jeckering.

Sixth Owner: John F. Jeckering (my 2nd Great-Granduncle)

John F. Jeckering purchased or was given the land and property from his father on August 25, 1894. This could be due to a decrease in health since Gerhard passes away 4 years later (speculation).

John was born on August 22, 1855 in Dayton, the eldest son of 7 children. John continued to run the Jeckering grocery store with his wife and family until 1927 when it closed. He was 72. John died on March 5, 1941 in Dayton at the age of 85. 

Seventh Owner: Miami Investments Co.

After the stores closure, the land and property was then transferred to Miami Investments Co on July 19, 1927. Records indicate that the building was vacant 1928, 1929 and part of 1930. I'm curious to know if John lost the property due to unable to pay or if sold it...records don't tell this story. 

According to newspapers, in July 1930, the Pennsylvania Rail Road Headquarters occupied the space, rented as Miami Investments still owned the property. 

Eighth Owner: Marcus D. Hansing

On September 7, 1932, a man named Marcus D. Hansing purchased the land and property. I tried researching Hansing, but the only person I could find with the same name was a man who doesn't seem to have any paper trail in Dayton. This Marcus D. Hansing was born on May 4, 1908 in Indiana, married in 1934 in Indiana and died in Indiana in 1970. This could be the same person, but it is unclear at this time. 

Ninth Owner: Sheriff of Montgomery County

It appears the property was possibly seized from Hansing because by 1938, it was owned by the Sheriff of Montgomery County as Common Pleas Court Case (#77305). I'm currently trying to obtain records (if any still exist). 

Tenth & Eleventh Owners: Miami Savings & Loan & City of Dayton

On June 11, 1938, the deed was transferred to Miami Savings & Loan Company, although they didn't hold onto it very long. Less than 6 months later on November 5, the property was owned by the City of Dayton. 

Today:

Since the 1940s, the property has belonged to Fire Station #2 of Dayton. The address is now 1009 E. 3rd Street, Dayton. It doesn't look like they tore down the original building but completed a drastic remodel. What do you think?

Fire Station #2- 1957
Photo Courtesy of Pinterest (Jim Barrett)

Fire Station #2- Google Maps

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