CHARLES W. KISER, treasurer of Miami County, Ohio. The office of county treasurer has had no more popular, efficient and satisfactory incumbent than the subject of this sketch. Elected in November, 1905, he took office in September, 1906. By virtue of a change in the statute regulating the terms of county officers in this county, his term was extended one year, and he retired from office in September, 1909 having served three years instead of the statutory term of two years, as provided by the old law. His many friends, regardless of partisan ties, urged him to be a candidate for a second elective term, confident that he would have an excellent prospect for re-election, although making a contest in a county nominally against his party by 1,200 to 1,800 majority. This view did not meet with his approval sufficiently to overcome what he regarded as a sense of propriety in the matter. He uniformly acknowledged that his first election to the office was brought about by the help of his many personal friends, heretofore aligned with the Republican party. This he fully appreciated and was grateful for, moreover, the provisions of the new statute extending his term one year had weight with him in deciding to not ask his friends again for their suffrage, and he preferred to retire with the good will of all his friends, regardless of party ties, and with the sense of duty well performed.

Charles Walker Kiser is the son of W. I. and Martha A. Kiser, and was born in Fletcher, Miami County, Ohio, December 10, 1867, where he received his early education and training. He comes of worthy pioneer stock. His grandfather, the late Squire Isaac Kiser, was the first white male child born in Brown Township. Charles Kiser's father, W. I. Kiser, better known as "Billy Kiser," and who died suddenly a few years ago, was perhaps one of the best known men in Miami County and came within six votes of being elected county treasurer in this county in opposition to a strong man when the normal vote of the county was about 1,800 Republican. He was a member of Company E. 110th O. V. I. and a brave and gallant soldier, as the many wounds received on the field of battle evidenced.

In 1884 Charles Kiser moved to Piqua with his parents, where he assisted his father in the agricultural implement business with the firm of Kiser & Hall. So successful was the business, due as much to the enterprise, industry and shrewdness of the younger Kiser, that the father and father-in-law---Mr. Kiser in the meantime having married Miss Sadie Hall, daughter of the junior member of the firm, decided to reorganize the firm, Mr. Hall retiring and going to Sidney, where he established a thriving business, and Charles Kiser taking his place in the new firm under the name of W. T. Kiser & Son. The new firm was a most successful enterprise and the father, having implicit confidence in his sons ability, finally concluded to retire and turn the business over to Mr. Kiser who afterward conducted it under the name of Charles W. Kiser at the old stand in Piqua. His successful and honest conduct of his own business affairs was an assurance to his friends that he would do likewise in a public office, and the people of this county in his election secured a model official, fully justifying their confidence.

No man in the state has the confidence of his fellow business men to a greater degree than that enjoyed by Charles Kiser, due wholly to honest dealing. He is well and favorably known in church and fraternal circles and is every way competent and is an indefatigable worker and of a most obliging disposition, attributes which are sure to make a most popular official.