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Source:
History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County
with
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of
Pioneer and Prominent Public Men
by C. W. Williamson
Columbus, Ohio
Press of W. M. Linn & Sons
1905
BIOGRAPHIES
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Douhouquet Twp. -
FREDERIC SALLADE was born in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, Dec. 30, 1815. He was of French extraction,
his ancestors having settled in the city of Quebec, but who
afterward moved to Philadelphia. While yet a youth, he was
apprenticed to Andrew Suber, of Philadelphia, to learn
the blacksmithing trade. After completing his
apprenticeship he worked for a time at Wheeling when that county
was yet in the Old Dominion. While residing at Wheeling he
married Miss Harriet Roberts, of Pottsville,
Pennsylvania. The issue of this union was three children:
Frederick (deceased), Emma (wife of _____
Thompson), and Catharine (wife of L. N. Blume.).
About 1842 he moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he entered into
partnership with Mr. Neil, who was proprietor of a livery
stable and a blacksmith shop. Mr. Neil afterward
built what is known in Columbus as the Neil House.
After working at his trade in Columbus until 1852,
he joined a company of twenty men in April of that year, who
left Columbus to seek for fortunes in the gold fields of
California. They boarded a steamboat at Cincinnati, and
reached St. Joseph, Missouri, April 14th. Here they spent
twenty-four days in preparation for the long overland journey.
On the 8th of May the company left St. Joseph and followed the
trail over which thousands of men had passed within the two
years previous. In that year the cholera prevailed along
the Missouri River and the great trail. Hundreds of men
died of that plague and were buried along the road. Mr.
Sallade states in his journal that graves were to be seen
every few miles along the entire length of the trail. His
journal contains graphic descriptions of the country and
incidents that occurred on the journey. The danger of an
attack by Indians was constantly before them. Before the
start from St. Joe, a member of the company (_____ Ice,
from near West Minster, Allen county) boasted that he intended
to shoot the first Indian that he should see. When they
were three days out, they met a band of mounted Indians, who
were desirous of buying whiskey and tobacco. As the
travelers had neither article for sale, the Indians departed in
the direction of St. Joe. As soon as the red men were out
of sight, Ice was reminded of his declaration, and
charged with a want of courage. Irritated by the amusement
of the company, he asserted that he would kill the first redskin
that should come in sight. On the following day they met
an Indian squaw and five children. Upon their near
approach the squaw was instantly killed by a ball from Ice's
rifle. The rash act was a surprise to the company, and was
followed by grave apprehensions of being overtaken by Indians
seeking revenge. Their fears realized the next day, when
they were overtaken and surrounded by more than two hundred
Indians. A demand was made for the surrender of the man
who had killed the squaw. In obedience to justice, he was
surrendered to the Indians, and flayed alive by them in presence
of the company. After the barbarous execution, the company
was permitted to proceed on their journey. Though the
country along the trail teemed with Indians, the company was not
molested further by them. At the end of five months and
eight days of continuous travel, the company reached Marysville
in the Sacramento alley. Soon after their arrival at that
point, Mr. Sallade found employment at blacksmithing at a
hundred dollars per month for three months. At the
termination of his engagement he became a prospector and gold
digger for fourteen years.
After his departure from Columbus his family moved to
his farm in Auglaize county, located a mile and a half north of
Wapakoneta. Within the fourteen years of his sojourn in
California, he visited his family twice. Upon his final
return, he brought with him eighteen thousand dollars in gold.
Soon after his return he engaged in the cultivation of his farm,
in which vocation he continued for several years. In 1869
the family moved to Wapakoneta, where the mother died in 1875.
Two years afterward Mr. Sallade married Mrs. Sarah
Jane Crow, who was a faithful and dutiful wife to him during
the remainder of his life.
Mr. Sallade was a gentleman of exemplary
character, and highly respected by all who knew him. He
was an enterprising citizen, and always anxious to promote any
measure that would advance the interests of the community.
For over forty years he was a consistent member of the Methodist
Church. His wife, who still survives him, has also been a
member of that denomination for many years.
Mrs. Sallade died Apr. 10, 1895.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by
C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons -
1905 - Page 639 |
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Pusheta Township
LAWRENCE SAMMETINGER was born in Bavaria,
Germany, July 5, 1815, and received a liberal education in the
schools of his native country. In 1835 he came to America
with his father's family and purchased a farm in Pusheta
township, on which he resided during the remainder of his life.
In 1863 he was elected county commissioner, which office he held
during the ensuing nine years. In 1863 he was elected
justice of the peace, in which capacity he served twelve years.
In 1861 he was elected township clerk, in which office he served
five years. In 1864 he was elected township treasurer, in
which capacity he served twelve years.
He was married Dec. 23, 1839, to Miss Rosanna Schurr.
Of this marriage ten children were born, as follows:
Barbara M., Christian R., Mary R., Catharine E. , John,
George M., William L., John W., Christian F., and
Lawrence C., six of whom are still living.
Mr. Sammetinger held a commanding
influence in his community until his death, which occurred Apr.
6, 1892.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by
C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons -
1905 - Page 754 |
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WILLIAM
SAWYER was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, August 5th,
1803, and when fifteen years of age he was apprenticed to a
blacksmith. After the close of his apprenticeship he
worked as a journeyman at Dayton, and at the Indian Agency, near
Grand Rapids, Michigan, and in 1829 moved to Miamisburg,
Montgomery county, and established himself in business.
During his residence in Montgomery county he served five terms
in the House of Representatives of the Ohio General Assembly -
commencing in 1830 - the last year of which (session of 1835-36)
he was chosen speaker. In 1838, and again in 1840, he was
a candidate for Congress, against Patrick G. Goode, and
defeated in both trials. In 1843 he removed to St. Mary's,
and in the year following, 1844, was elected to Congress, and
re-elected in 1846 - his Congressional service running through
the term of Mr. Polks administration, and closing Mar. 3,
1859. In October, 1855, he was elected a member of the
House of Representatives of the General Assembly, from Auglaize
county.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by C. W.
Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905
- Page 671 |
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Pusheta Twp. -
CONRAD SCHEMMEL was born in Bavaria,
Germany, in 1792, and was educated in a section of the country
at that time renowned for its schools. His father was the
owner of a large landed estate in that country, and in time
became a wealthy landlord. On these estates his son
Conrad grew to manhood, and acquired the art of managing
them. In 1832 Conrad Schemmel sold his interest in
the estates, and emigrated to America, landing at Baltimore late
in the fall of the same year.
Before leaving Bavaria he contracted to pay the
transportation of fifty emigrants, for which each one was to pay
the cost of his transportation in labor on such lands as he
contemplated buying in the new country. He also purchased
such a stock of tools, agricultural implements, etc., as he
thought might be of use to him in the new Eldorado, but after
landing at Baltimore he was chagrined to learn that his stock of
implements was not adapted to the requirements in the
development of a farm in a new country. A new outfit of
tools, wagons, ,horses and oxen were purchased in Baltimore, and
the emigrants left for Ohio about the middle of May, and
encamped near Wapakoneta about the first of July, 1833.
Within the six weeks following, Mr. Schemmel entered six
hundred and sixteen acres of land in sections 20 and 21 in
Pusheta township. A log cabin was erected for himself and
family, and temporary cabins for the emigrants who accompanied
him. Then commenced the clearing of land, and the
construction of a more comfortable residence for himself.
The new building was constructed of logs hewn for four sides.
As each round of logs was placed in position, it was pinned to
the round upon which it rested. Ninety-nine days were
spent by the laborers in laying up timbers, and yet it lacked
three feet of reaching the height contemplated. At this
stage of the work Mr. Schemmel became disgusted with his
labors and discharged them. His grandson states that "he
employed a few Yankees who completed the building in three
days."
Mr. Schemmel served six years in the German army
when he returned and took charge of his father's estate.
In 1827 he married Miss ____ Full, who died in 1828.
Two years later he married Miss Gertrude Full, a sister
of his former wife. Of this marriage two children were
born: Nancy, wife of John Bothe, and
George Schemmel.
Mr. Schemmel died in 1870, aged seventy years and
six months, leaving a large estate which was inherited by his
grandchildren.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by
C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons -
1905 - Page 755 |
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German Twp. -
CHRISTIAN SCHMIDT was born in Hanover,
Germany, Jan. 1st, 1816. He was but six weeks old when
both his parents died of that dread disease, cholera, and he was
left to the tender mercies of strangers. He was taken by a
farmer, with whom he remained until he was nineteen years of
age. From the age of seven until fourteen he was kept
almost constantly in school. After that, he assisted his
kind benefactor on the farm until August, 1834, when, attracted
by reports of advantages to be derived from a residence in the
United States, he took passage for this country. After a
tempestuous voyage of nine weeks, he landed in New York.
From there he went by way of Albany, Buffalo, and Cleveland to
Portsmouth, and from that point down the Ohio river to
Cincinnati. After remaining in the latter city for a short
time he went to Dayton, Ohio, where he began searching for
employment. He and his brother found work about thirteen
miles east of Dayton, where they engaged in clearing land and
chopping cord-wood at twenty-five cents a cord, meanwhile
boarding themselves. After this, our subject worked for a
farmer at ten dollars per month.
In 1841 he married Miss Mary Wiemeyer. Of
this marriage nine children were born, of whom the following
survive: Henry G., Anna, William C. and Amelia.
Lizzie, Caroline, Mary, Sophia and an infant are deceased.
After his marriage, Mr. Schmidt entered into
partnership with his brother, who had built a distillery near
New Bremen, and this they carried on for three years. In
1849, he started a small grocery in New Bremen. In 1856,
he added dry goods to his stock and continued general
merchandising until 1881.
Mr. Schmidt during the latter years of his life
was an ardent Republican. He served as Mayor of New Bremen
one term, was treasurer of the township for several years, was
clerk of the village for some time, township assessor for one
year, member of the village council, and a member of the School
Board. He and his estimable wife were members of the
German Reformed Church, of which church he served as elder for
thirty-five years. Mr. Schmidt died Jan. 16th,
1899. (From Portrait and Biographical Record.)
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by
C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons -
1905 - Page 825 |
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Jackson Twp. -
DR. JOHN J. SCHMIEDER was born in Rust,
Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, June 26th, 1820, and entered upon
the study of medicine, when but eleven years of age, at Freyburg
University; from which institution he graduated and emigrated to
America in 1846, and settled in Minster. He was an
accomplished and well educated gentleman and had many friends in
northwestern Ohio. Settling at Minster before the
organization of the county, he became one of the leading men in
that section. He served as Mayor of Minster for twenty
years, and justice of the peace of the township for eighteen
years. In 1885, he was elected Senator of the General
Assembly, in which office he served until the date of his death,
which occurred Jan. 2, 1887.
Dr. Schmieder was a sterling Democrat and a
representative German citizen of northwestern Ohio. He was
an active Democrat but not a bitter or uncompromising partisan,
and stood well with his fellow legislators among whom the
announcement of his death caused a profound sorrow. Until
within a few years he had been actively engaged in the practice
of medicine and had accumulated much property. He was
considered one of the wealthiest man in the county. His
death was a personal loss to many men he had befriended, and to
the citizens of the town for which he had devoted the years of
his activity, and in which he lived to a fair old age. He
was an apparently hearty and robust man who seemed the picture
of good health, and always greeted his friends with cheerfulness
and a hearty shake of the hand. He will long be remembered
for his amiability and worth as a man and a citizen, while his
public services were long and creditable. He was three
times married, and the father of quite a number of children who
will mourn their loss.
(From Auglaize Co. Democrat of January 6th, 1887.)
Source: History of Western Ohio &
Auglaize County - by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio -
Press of W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905 - Page 850 |
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Moulton Twp. -
THOMAS SCHOONOVER was born in Tioga
county, New York, March 6th, 1827, and had reached the advanced
age of seventy-five years at the time of his death.
His parents were of sturdy Holland Dutch extraction, and came
originally from the eastern part of the Empire state. In
1837, Thomas, in company with his parents, emigrated to
Auglaize county and located at Wapakoneta. Soon afterward
the family moved onto a farm immediately north of the county
infirmary. In 1840, his father Benina Schoonover,
having a contract for supplying building material to be used in
the construction of that east bank of the St. Mary's reservoir,
moved his family to St. Marys. After the death of his
father, which occurred in an unpretentious cabin in the forest
near the reservoir, in the autumn of 1840, Thomas
returned to St. Marys, and as an apprentice, entered the
blacksmith shop of Mr. George Craft.
In 1856, he married Miss Mary Ann Rout. Of
this marriage five children were born, two of whom, Attorney
John T. Schoonover of St. Marys, and Dr. W. E. Schoonover,
of Springfield, Ohio, survive. Two of the family died in
infancy, and a daughter, wife of Mr. S. D. Howick, died a
few years ago.
After conducting a shop for many years at St. Marys, he
retired to his farm near Moulton, in Moulton township, where he
resided until five years before his death, when he returned to
St. Marys.
No man in Moulton township was better known, or more
highly respected than Thomas Schoonover. He died
August 29th, 1902.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by
C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons -
1905 - Page 789 |
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German Twp. -
WILLIAM SCHULENBERG was born in
Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 7th, 1838. His father and mother,
Henry F. and Whilhelmina (Buck) Schulenberg were natives
of Germany. His father was a miller and millwright, and
followed those trades until 1833, when he and his family took
passage for the United States. After an ocean voyage of
two months they landed at Baltimore, and left immediately for
Cincinnati, Ohio. In that city, Mr. Schulenberg
engaged in building and contracting for several years.
From there he subsequently moved to New Bremen, Ohio, but in a
few years returned to Cincinnati. After a short residence
in that city, he again moved to New Bremen, where he resided the
remainder of his life. Here he continued his business of
building and contracting. Nearly all the first class
houses of the town are monuments of his work. Mr.
Schulenberg was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church,
which he built. He served in the army in Germany. He
died of Cholera in 1849, at the age of forty years. His
wife passed away the year previous.
William Schulenberg was the sixth in order of
birth of twelve children, three of whom are now living, and was
twelve years old when his parents died. He received such
educational advantages as the times afforded. After the
death of his parents he painted wagons in the shop of a wagon
maker until he was fifteen years of age, after which he worked
on a farm for three dollars per month. Later he boated on
the Miami and Erie Canal. In 1858, he ran the stage and
carried the mail from New Bremen to Piqua, and continued thus
engaged until 1862. On the 25th of August of that year, he
enlisted in company C, thirty-seventh Ohio Infantry, under
Colonel Siebert, and participated in the battle of
Vicksburg, siege and assault of Jackson, Missionary Ridge,
Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and
Bentonville. Two of his brothers were in the company and
another brother was in the First Ohio Cavalry. Mr.
Schulenberg had several bullet holes shot through his
blouse, and was shot through the hair once, but never received a
flesh wound. The last six months of his service he was
sent to Columbus, Ohio, and acted as forwarding officer,
forwarding substitutes to the front. He became clerk in
that department. On the 28th of May, 1865, he was
discharged and returned to New Bremen.
Upon his return he married Miss C. Helwig
Of this union three children have been born: Anna, wife
of Edward Lanyhert; Herbert, who carries on a store, and
Francis. In 1868, Mr. Schulenberg was
appointed postmaster under General Grant, which position
he held until 1885. In 1886 he was elected Sheriff of
Auglaize county on the Republican ticket having a majority of
three hundred and thirty-one. At the expiration of his
term as sheriff, he returned to New Bremen and was re-appointed
postmaster under General Harrison.
Mr. Schulenbert and wife are members of the St.
Paul's Lutheran Church, and he is at present superintendent of
the Sabbath School. (From Portrait and Biographical
Record)
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by C.
W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons -
1905 - Page 823 |
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DAVID SIMPSON was born in Allegheny county,
Pennsylvania, May 20th, 1810, and died at his home in St. Mary's
January 27th, 1884.
Mr.
Simpson moved with his parents from the place of his
birth to Xenia, Ohio, when he was four years of age, where he
resided until he grew to manhood. In 1835, April 28th, he
married Miss Caroline Mitchell; of this union
eight children were born, of whom Miss Henrietta
is the only survivor. In 1839 the family moved to St.
Mary's, where Mr. Simpson engaged in business.
He was a tanner by trade and did a lucrative business. He
was a tanner trade by trade, and did a lucrative business for over
forty years.
Mr. Simpson
was a social, genial gentleman, qualities that were also
characteristic of his family. His home was a place of "good
cheer," where friends and neighbors delighted to visit.
Mr. Simpson served in civic offices in the
municipality and county for many years. He was elected
Associate Judge of Auglaize county in 1848, and served in that
capacity until the adoption of the new Constitution in 1852.
In 1869 he was appointed United States Revenue Collector, and
served in that position for several years. He was elected
Mayor of St. Mary's in 1860, and was re-elected in 1876. "Mr.
Simpson was a man of stern motives, and had the
qualifications for serving in high public trusts of honor."
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by C.
W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905
- Page 676 - St. Mary's Twp. |
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ROBERT
J. SKINNER, one of the early and most respected citizens
of Wapakoneta, was born in Virginia in 1788. He
established the first Democratic paper published in Dayton,
Ohio, the first number of which was issued in December, 1816.
This paper was continued by him until 1830, in which year he
removed to Piqua, and established is that town the first
Democratic press. In 1832, having received the appointment
from President Jackson of Receiver of the United States
Land Office at Wapakoneta, he moved his family to that town, and
continued a resident of the place until June, 1849; when, being
on a visit with part of his family at the house of a married
daughter in Dayton, himself, with the cholera, which prevailed
in the city at the time, and in one week the four died of
disease. Mr. Skinner was a man of positive
character, of great enterprise, and a most useful citizen.
He represented Montgomery county, of which Allen county formed a
part, in the General Assembly, at the sessions of 1828-29.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County -
by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn &
Sons - 1905 - Page 641 |
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Washington Twp. -
JAMES SLACK, a noted mechanic and an esteemed public officer of
Washington township, was born in Cincinnati, July 11th, 1851.
His father, Benjamin Slack, and his grandfather, James
Slack, were born in Pennsylvania. The father of our
subject was a carpenter by trade, and labored for a time at
Cincinnati and other places in the state. He died at
Cincinnati in 1860, at the age of thirty-four years. His
wife, Christina Slack, nee Kuck, survives
him.
James Slack, our subject, ,is the eldest in a
family of four children, and the only one living. He came
to New Knoxville, with his parents in 1859, and has made his
home here ever since that time. He attended the common
district school at times when his health would permit.
With the exception of the small amount of elementary training
received in a desultory manner, he is self-educated. He
displayed a genius for mechanics at an early date. His
juvenile contrivances were noted for their excellence of
mechanical construction, and were indicative of his future
success as a machinist.
Mr. Slack was married in 1875 to
Miss Frances Graessle, al native of Ohio, and a daughter of
Philip and Julia Graessle. Of this
marriage have been born, namely: Bertha, wife of
Frederick South, who resides at Cincinnati, and
Cora at home. Mr. Slack and his family have
been members of the Methodist Church for many years, and are
noted for their acts of charity. Mr. Slack
is a man of fine mental and moral character, and has the esteem
and confidence of all who know him. "He has been connected with
the School Board for several years as clerk and treasurer; has
been justice of the peace twelve years, and is a notary public,
transacting considerable business for his neighbors in that
capacity; and for nineteen years has been clerk and
treasurer; has been justice of the peace twelve years, and is a
notary public, transacting considerable business for his
neighbors in that capacity; and for nineteen years he has been
clerk of Washington township. In politics he is a staunch
Republican.
(From Portrait and Biographical Record.)
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by
C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons -
1905 - Page 777 |
| |
St. Mary's Twp. -
AARON
A. SMITH was born in St. Marys township, Dec. 14th, 1824.
His father Henry A. Smith was a native of Delaware who came to
Ohio with his mother when a boy, and lived near Cincinnati until
his marriage. In 1821, he came to Auglaize county and
settled among the Indians. He selected a farm in section
nine, now within the corporate limits of St. Marys. He
endured many hardships in the development of his farm, but by
unremitting labor and skillful enterprise he prospered
financially, until death terminated his career in 1843, at the age
of forty-four years.
The mother of
Aaron A. Smith bore the maiden name of
Elizabeth A. Hinkle, and was born at Mill Creek, near
Cincinnati. She was the daughter of Captain Asa
Hinkle who commanded a company of soldiers in the war of
1812. Captain Hinkle was so favorably
impressed with the quality of the land, and the lay of the country
around St. Marys that he returned and entered two hundred and
forty acres in section twenty-two. These lands he afterwards
distributed among his children.
Source: History of Western
Ohio & Auglaize County - by C. W. Williamson - Columbus,
Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905 - Page 668 |
|
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St. Mary's Twp. -
AARON A.
SMITH, JR., is the third child in a family of eleven
children, and his brother Asa H., and the first
white child born in the township.
Aaron A. grew to manhood on the paternal farm,
and is familiar with every phase of pioneer life. The
settlers of that period have been termed "home-livers," subsisting
on what they could raise from the land and on the game which was
so abundant. Even the clothes that they wore of homespun,
manufactured by the wives, mothers and daughters from the flax
grown at their door, and from wool from their sheep. In his
boyhood and manhood, Mr. Smith farmed with the
clumsy implements of a past age, turning the sod with wooden mould-board
plows, and stirring the soil with wooden teeth harrows. The
school house in which he received the rudiments of an education,
was a rude structure of logs, primitively furnished with slab
seats, and a slab placed against the wall served as a writing desk
for the pupils, while an old-fashioned fireplace, extending across
one end of the room, served for heating purposes.
Mr. Smith, who was born and raised in the same
neighborhood, and was one of his
school mates. Their families, however, were not related,
although bearing the same name.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of six
children, namely: Charles, who is married
and lives on an adjoining farm; Jane, wife of
Charles P. McKee, a farmer in the neighborhood;
Elza, who lives at home with his parents; Mary,
with of J. C. Doty, a resident of Middletown;
Loretta, at home with her parents; and Flora,
wife of L. J. Berry, who lives at Troy, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church at St. Marys. Mr. Smith
has borne an active part in the administration of local affairs as
trustee of St. Marys township, and in whatever position in life he
has been placed has always fulfilled his duty manfully.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by C.
W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905
- Page 669 |
| |
Noble Twp. -
WILLIAM SMITH was born in New Jersey, Apr.
28, 1803. He was a shoemaker by trade in the early part of
his life. In 1833, at the age of thirty years, he moved to
Greene county, where he engaged in farming for a few years.
Later he moved to Darke county, where he resided eight years
before coming to this county. He entered forty acres of
land in section twenty-five in Noble township in 1852, and the
following year settled upon it, building a log house in the
woods and starting out once more in the regulation pioneer
style. He cleared and developed his farm on which he
resided until the date of his death which occurred Jan. 22,
1891. Mr. Smith was the first superintendent of the
county infirmary farm from 1858 to 1860. He joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church at Port Jefferson in 1840, while a
resident of Darke county, and for fifteen years was a most
exemplary member of that denomination. His wife was also
an active member of the same church. She preceded him in
death, dying in 1880.
(Compiled from Portrait and Biographical Record.)
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize
County - by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of
W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905 - Page 798 |
| |
Jackson Twp. -
THEODORE B. STEINEMANN. In
presenting to the readers of this volume the biography of Mr.
Steinemann, we are perpetuating the life work of one of
Minster's most influential citizens and popular merchants.
Excellent judgment and shrewd foresight have contributed to his
success, and his extensive mercantile, grain, lumber and pork
interests have brought to him the acquaintance of most of the
people in this section of the state. Personally, he is
held in the highest esteem as a man of sterling integrity, and
is honored alike for his business and social standing.
Before noting minutely the events which have given
character to the life of our subject, it may not be amiss to
narate a few facts concerning his parentage. His father,
John Henry Steinemann was born in Holdorff, Oldenburg,
Germany, October 28th, 1808, and grew to manhood in his native
land. In 1832, he emigrated to America, and after a short
residence in Cincinnati, went South, where he sojourned about
two years. In 1835, he married Miss Catherine G. Meyers,
and one year later located three miles west of Minster (then
known as Stallotown), at a time when no roads had been opened,
blazed trees serving as guides through the forest. After
occupying that place two or three years, he purchased other
property near Minster, where he erected a residence, and spent
his declining years. Soon after changing his residence, he
was elected Justice of the Peace and held that office with
little interruption until his death.
In 1837, John H. Steinemann embarked in the
manufacture of brick, and later was engaged in other
enterprises, such as merchandising, real estate, cooperage and
grain dealing. His first enterprises were started on a
small scale, but as his business increased, he enlarged his
operations and came one of the foremost men of the town.
About 1850, he built a brick store and warehouse and continued
to ship all kinds of produce. At the same time, he was
engaged in the pork-packing business, which he carried on very
successfully. Prosperity rewarded his efforts and he
became the owner of a vast amount of property. His family
consisted of five children, four sons and one daughter, as
follows: John H., Theodore B., Frank J., Charles
and Mary. Mrs. Steinemann died on the 23d
day of May, 1872, and Mr. Steinemann followed her
to the grave on the 15th day of January, 1877. They were
well respected in the community in which they lived and were
among the worthy pioneers.
Theodore B. Steinemann was born in Jackson
township, Auglaize county, Jan. 1, 1839. He attended the
district school until about twelve years of age, and then began
assisting his father in business. In the fall of 1860, he
entered St. Marys College at Cincinnati, remaining there about
two years, and then returning home, engaged in business with his
father until the latter's death. In the division of the
estate, he became his father's successor in the extensive
mercantile, grain and pork business, which has been conducted so
very successfully for many years. In 1883, Mr.
Steinemann and his brother Charles purchased the
Minster Brewery, which they operated in partnership for about
eight years, and in which they were very successful.
During that time, the brewery was destroyed by fire, but the
present large brick establishment was rebuilt soon after.
In 1890, they sold out to the Star Brewing Company, and since
that time our subject has given his entire attention to his
merchandizing, grain, lumber and pork business. He has a
very extensive and complicated business, is a man of excellent
business qualifications and good habits, and a citizen who has
the highest regard of all who know him. The Steinemann
family occupies a leading position in Minster society and its
members are intelligent and cultured people. Mr.
Steinemann buys anything a farmer has to sell and is
prepared to sell him anything he wishes to buy.
In the year 1863, Mr. Steinemann was united in
marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wuendeln a native of Minster,
Ohio. Of this union nine children were born, as follows:
John, Edward, Rosy, Louis, Millie, George, Elenora, Luetta
and Secilla. A Democrat in his political views,
Mr. Steinemann has never sought office, preferring
instead to attend strictly to business. However, he held
office of Township Clerk for four years, and Notary Public six
years. He and his wife are both members of the Catholic
Church. Our subject is one of the most substantial men of
the county and is the owner of extensive tracts of real estate,
he and his brother, John H., owning in partnership eight
hundred acres of land, besides valuable property in Piqua and
elsewhere.
(From Portrait and Biographical Record.)
Source: History of Western Ohio &
Auglaize County - by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio -
Press of W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905 - Page 848 |
Clemens Stueve
& wife |
Jackson Twp. -
CLEMENS STUEVE, the son of Herman H.
Stueve and Catherine M. Stueve (nee Friedrichs), was
born in Oythe, the Grand duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, Sept.
30th, 1826. Statistics show that the man who toils lives
longer than the man of leisure. The years of the life of
Clemens Stueve were years of active labor.
Throughout the greater portion of them he was blessed with the
requisite health and strength of encounter the tasks required of
him.
When Clemens was eight years old his father
decided to emigrate to the United States; and, accordingly, left
the old home and journeyed to Bremen, where, on the 16th of
June, 1834. After a short rest, they took their departure,
traveling overland to Wheeling, which point was reached,
traveling overland to Wheeling, which point was reached on the
26th of the month. The family immediately took passage on
a steamboat for Cincinnati, arriving at that point, Oct. 8th,
1834. At Cincinnati, a teamster, equipped with a
Pennsylvania emigrant wagon was employed to transport the family
and goods to Stallo town, now the village of Minster. The
journey from Cincinnati was exceedingly tiresome after their
long voyage by sea and by river. Judge Stueve
remembers the inquiry made by his mother at different times,
"how far is it yet?" and that the last time the question was
asked, the teamster answered "we are now in the midst of Stallo
town." A few huts scattered about in the dense forest.
Mr. Stueve was a carpenter by trade, and on the
day after their arrival at Bremen (November 9th), he commenced
the construction of a house for the accommodation of himself and
family, consisting of his wife, Clemens, the subject of
this sketch, Bernard and a little daughter, Gertrude.
For fifteen years the father, followed his trade in which time
he accumulated a sufficient amount of property to enable the
family to live in comfort. In 1849, Minster was visited by
a dreadful epidemic of cholera, when four hundred citizens of
the village and township died. Herman H. Stueve
being among the number, passed away July 28th, 1849. The
mother had preceded her beloved husband, dying April 26, 1848.
The opportunities for acquiring an education in those
days were limited, and as soon as his physical development would
permit, Clemens was apprenticed to a wagonmaker.
After the expiration of his apprenticeship, he worked for
several years as a journeyman at Covington, Ohio. There
being no public conveyances for travelers at that time.
Mr. Stueve visited his home once a week on foot.
In 1848 or 1849, he was united in marriage with miss
Elizabeth M. Vogt. Of this union five children were
born, namely: Louis B., born Oct. 14th, 1849, and
died Sept. 1st, 1898; Mary, born in 1852, and died Oct. 15th,
1869; Clement A. born Nov. 27th, 1855; Helen R.,
born July 15th, 1860, and died Apr. 17th, 1862, and Catharine
E. Johnston, born May 30, 1863. On June 10th, 1863,
his wife died, and having several small children, without
maternal care, he married Miss Mary Westbrook,
September, 1863. Of this latter marriage the following
children were born: Bernard H., born Jan. 25th,
1865; Julius H., born November, 1867; William F.,
born Dec. 25th, 1870, and died Sept. 29th 1900; Anton C.,
born 1872, and died Jan. 14th, 1897.
"While in his teens, Clemens
Stueve assisted in the construction of the reservoir
embankment at or near Celina, Ohio, and finally, about the time
of his first marriage, with the financial assistance of his
father and father-in-law, erected the first steam saw mill in
Minster. He carried on the sawmill business until
February, 1856, when he sold out, and having saved a
considerable amount of money, contemplated a removal to some
western state, but after making a tour of Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri, Iowa and Kansas, he decided to remain in Minster, and
engaged in general merchandising. From that business he
gradually drifted into dealing in grain and pork packing.
In the pork packing business he was very successful for several
years. So prosperous was he, that in 1871, he was
considered one of the wealthy men of the county. Reverses
came, however, in May, 1878, when he was compelled to make an
assignment for the benefit of his creditors."
Mr. Stueve was an exemplary citizen, and was
highly respected in the communities in which he resided.
His death occurred Aug. 30th, 1896.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize
County - by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of
W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905 - Page 850 |
| |
THOMAS
STURGEON was one of the first settlers of St. Mary's
township, and stood high in the estimation of all who knew him.
He was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in 1803. In
1819, he accompanied his parents to Miami county, this state,
and in 1829 was married to Mary D. Ross, who was also a
native of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. The following year
he and his young wife came to St. Mary's to locate on the
quarter section of section four that he had entered in 1826.
They found the country still in all its natural wildness and
beauty, with but few attempts at development. They led a
typical pioneer life, undergoing all the discomforts and trials
incident to life on the frontier of civilization. There
were no good roads. The one leading south of Piqua, where
they went for flour and other articles, being scarcely more than
a rough pathway marked by blazed trees. Indians still
inhabited all parts of the county. They frequently called
at Mr. Sturgeon's house to ask for food or to
exchange a haunch of venison for a loaf of bread. Mr.
Sturgeon would sometimes kill a deer, but he did not care
for hunting. His sole capital after he settled on his farm
was fifty cents. He split timber to make the frame for his
dwelling, split puncheons for the floor and clapboards for the
roof. In that humble abode he and Mrs. Sturgeon
began housekeeping. His axe, drawing knife, maul and wedge
were the only tools with which he was provided in building his
house. He prospered and became one of the solid men of the
township. He died May 5th, 1875. He was a quiet,
reserved man of few words, which were always to the point.
He held various local offices, and helped the organize the
Presbyterian society of St. Marys, acting as elder of the church
until his death. His good wife died before he did, her
demise occurring Dec. 5th, 1868. They had eight children,
four of whom grew to maturity. Three of them are still
living.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County - by C. W.
Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn & Sons - 1905
- Page 669 |
| |
PETER
SUNDERLAND, a soldier of the American Revolution was
born in 1737, and came to Ohio in 1817. He entered land near
Dayton, Ohio, on which he resided until 1822, when he and his wife
came to Logan township and lived with their son Dye Sunderland,
until his death, which occurred in 1827.
Mr. Sunderland joined the patriots of the
Revolution, early in the spring of 1775, and participated in the
memorable battle of Bunker Hill.
On the night of the 16th of June, 1775, the regiment to
which he belonged crossed the neck of the bay and intrenched
themselves on Breed's Hill. When the morning dawned there
was a great stir on board the British fleet that lay in the
harbor. Thousands of spectators who climbed to the
house-tops in Boston to watch the progress of events, could be
seen from the redoubt. About one o'clock the British made an
assault on the redoubt, and were repulsed with the loss of a great
number of men. A second assault was followed with a result
equally disastrous. Unfortunately for the Patriots, their
ammunition by this time was nearly exhausted. When the third
assault was made the patriots had but three rounds of powder and
ball, which were expended on the advancing enemy, and then there
was a lull. The Americans, now out of ammunition, clubbed
their guns and hurled stones at the assailants. After firing
the lat charge, Sunderland picked up three guns in
succession to find that each had been discharged. Upon
picking up a fourth gun he was attacked by a British soldier who
struck at him with a saber. A quick turn of the gun caused
the edge of the instrument to strike directly in his mouth,
cutting through each cheek. Again the British soldier
struck, and again the blow was partially parried, causing the
weapon to cut through the wall of the abdomen. At the state
in the encounter, Sunderland succeeded in discharging his
gun into the face of his assailant and thrust his bayonet through
the body. He then withdrew in haste from the intrenchment,
believing that he was the last man in the retreat. He
succeeded in reaching in swamp where he found a man accompanied by
his wife and an infant. Here Sunderland dressed his
wounds as best he could, binding a large handkerchief about his
abdomen. He then crossed the swamp; the water in a number of
places being so deep that they were compelled to swim. At
such places the infant was tossed from one to the other.
On reaching the opposite margin of the swamp, Mr.
Sumderland concealed himself in a thicket for three days.
On the third day he was found by a relief party and conveyed to a
place of safety.
Source: History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County -
by C. W. Williamson - Columbus, Ohio - Press of W. M. Linn &
Sons - 1905 |
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