GEORGE SIEGEL, owner of 150 acres of farm land in Concord Township, located on both sides of the Troy and Covington Pike, about one and a half miles northwest of Troy, comes of an old and prominent family of Miami County. He was born in the outskirts of the city of Troy, February 22, 1870, and is a son of William and Mary (Shaffer) Siegel, who were natives of Germany. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was engaged in farming in that country.

William Siegel, the father, lived in Germany until after his marriage and the birth of three of their children, and at that time set sail for the United States. Upon arriving in New York City, he bought transportation to Troy, Ohio, and arrived at this place with but one dollar in his pockets. He went to work in a brick yard at a salary of but fifty cents per day, and continued at that employment for three years. Although the wages were small, by a rigid practice of economy and a denial of all but the necessaries of life they made steady progress toward better things. For some years they used their old trunk for a dining table, and it is now numbered among the treasured possessions of their son, George. At the end of the three years he went with his family to live in a log cabin on the farm of old Mr. Harter in Elizabeth Township, by whom he was paid to clear the land. He was paid for cutting and hauling cord wood, and was given what he could raise on the place. Upon leaving that farm, he for thirteen years was in charge of the big farm of Mr. Harter's, which now is included within the incorporated limits of Troy, at that time a small place. While living there he purchased the farm of Lee Rollands, which was mostly cleared and is located in Concord Township. He erected all the buildings now standing and lived on this farm the remainder of his days. From an humble beginning he attained a respected position in the community. His death occurred on the morning of the inauguration of President Cleveland in 1893, he being at that time seventy years of age. His widow still survives him and at the advanced age of eighty-one years makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Mary Connor. William and Mary (Shaffer) Siegel were parents of the following children: Floyd; Tiny; John; Caroline, deceased; Mary; Charles; William; George; and Joseph.

George Siegel spent his boyhood on the home farm and attended the nearby district school, which his two daughters also have attended, the eldest graduating in the spring of 1908. At an early age George began working upon the home farm and managed its affairs for some years before his father's demise. He then resided in Clark County for a period of three years, after which he again took up his residence at the old home. He has 150 acres of good land which he devotes to general farming and is meeting with good results. He has four acres devoted to tobacco culture, and has found it a remunerative crop.

February 28, 1892, Mr. Siegel was united in marriage with Miss Ella Martin, who was born in Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Levi and Catherine (Lewis) Martin. Her mother died at the age of fifty-six years, and her father still lives in the county at the advanced age of eighty-six. She is one of the following born to her parents: Mary, John, Marilda, George, Harrison (deceased), Ella, Barbara and David. Our subject and his wife have two daughters, Grace, who has been educated in the Troy High School; and May. Fraternally, Mr. Siegel is a member of the Odd Fellows. He is a Democrat in politics.