F. Will Steil, one of the leading merchants of Troy, Ohio, is proprietor of that city's largest dry goods establishment. He was born in Troy, June 4, 1879, the son of Fred and Christina (Ziegenfelder) Steil. Fred Steil was born in Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, but convinced that greater opportunity for advancement awaited him in the United States, emigrated from his native country. In 1865, he settled in Troy, where his uncle had already located and had operated a store since 1859. In 1878, Fred Steil bought this business and founded the present dry goods store, which is now the largest and most up-to-date in Troy. F. Will Steil, the only child of his parents, received his education in the public schools of Troy, and upon graduation entered the employ of his father. He began at the bottom of the ladder, and learned every phase of the business so thoroughly that when he became sole owner at the time of his father's death in 1908, he was well equipped to take over the complete management of the concern. With a well-defined and honorable method of conducting his business affairs he has gained the confidence of the community, and has a large and satisfied patronage. In addition to his store interests Mr. Steil finds time to act as a director in the Troy Building Association. He is extremely active in fraternal circles, and is a popular member of the Masons as a Knight Templar and Shriner, and also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, junior Order of American Mechanics, and the Rotary Club. During the recent war he was one of the most active workers in Troy in behalf of the various war drives, having been chairman of the local labor board, a member of the committee in charge of the publicity for the war chest drive, and county chairman of the merchant's division of the war savings stamps, Red Cross and similar campaigns. Mr. Steil married Fay, daughter of C. T. Gibson, of Troy, and to them has been born one daughter, Winifred, a graduate of 1920 from the Troy High School, who is a freshman in Western College, Oxford, Ohio. Mr. Steil and his family hold membership in the Presbyterian church.