JOSEPH E. MENDENHALL, of the firm of Mendenhall & Wilkinson, the leading one in the general insurance line at Piqua, has maintained his home in this city since 1859. He was born in Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio, November 5, 1838, and is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Stafford) Mendenhall.

Isaac Mendenhall was born May 6, 1804, at Todd's Fork, north of Cincinnati, and died in 1892, aged eighty-eight years. He was brought in infancy to Miami County by his father, William Mendenhall, who settled in the woods at a point about two miles east of Tippecanoe City. In his early manhood Isaac Mendenhall purchased a farm located about one and one half miles east of the old homestead and resided there until I859, when he came to Piqua, and during the balance of his active life was engaged in a contracting business. He married Elizabeth Stafford, who was born about 1806 in Bethel Township, Miami County, and died at Piqua in 1873. She was a daughter of Joseph Stafford, who was born in Ireland and came to Miami County at a very early day. The name of his wife was Saylor, and she had been brought from Ireland in childhood.

Joseph E. Mendenhall was about twenty-two years of age when his parents moved to Piqua, and prior to that he had attended the country schools more or less continuously. He soon became a traveling salesman, and for twenty years was on the road with a wagon, for four years selling notions through Ohio and Indiana and during the rest of the time carrying only dry goods. For two years his headquarters were at Dayton, for one year at Cincinnati, and for thirteen years at New York. In 1880 Mr. Mendenhall started into the general insurance business in partnership with a Mr. Grafflin, which continued until 1895, when he bought out his partner's interest, and with J.

B .Wilkinson, organized his present firm. This firm as representing all the leading insurance companies of the country, does a very large amount of business, and on account of its careful and conservative methods, enjoys general confidence. They place risks with twenty-two of the most responsible fire insurance companies of the world.

On February 18, 1873, Mr. Mendenhall was married to Miss Hattie E. Clark, who was born and reared in Miami County, and they have two daughters, Mary E. and Anna. The former is the wife of C.C. Jelliff, who is purchasing agent for the Favorite Stove and Range Company of Piqua. The latter is the wife of Capt. Leon Roach, who is an officer in the regular army of the United States, belonging to the Fifteenth Regiment, winch at present is stationed at Columbus barracks. Formerly Mr. Mendenhall took much interest in politics and he has never failed in any duty of good citizenship. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and for a number of years was a trustee and its treasurer, but when re-elected to the financial office, declined to again assume the responsibility. Mr. Mendenhall is one of Piqua's representative men.