|
BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Shelby County, Ohio
and
representative citizens
Publ.
Evansville, Ind.
1913
947 pgs.
CLICK HERE to
RETURN to 1913 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE to
RETURN to LIST of BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES AND HISTORIES
>
EMORY FRANKLIN MARRS,
well known as a representative and substantial citizen
of Shelby county, resides on his farm of 100 acres,
situated on Perry township and owns two additional farms
in the same township. He also is a stockholder in
the Farmers Telephone Company. He has spent the
greater part of his life in Ohio, but his birth took
place in Illinois in October, 1855. His parents,
William and Margaret (Robison) Marrs, were
natives of Ohio and they both died here and their burial
was in Graceland cemetery, at Sidney. They were
members of the United Brethren church. The
following children made up their family: Mitchell;
Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of
Samuel Dorn; Emory Franklin;
Ella and Nettie, both of whom are deceased;
and Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Jonas
Valentine.
After his period of school attendance was over,
Emory F. Marrs assisted his father on the home farm
until he was twenty-four years of age. After
starting out for himself he lived one year on the
Maxwell farm, then rented land in Perry
township on his present farm for fifteen years and has
lived here since. Subsequently, with his wife,
bought the two other farms in Perry township, one of
eighty-one acres and the other of eighty-two acres, all
valuable property.
On Sept. 11, 1879, Mr. Marrs was married
to Miss Jennie Key, a daughter of John and
Anna (Rinehart) Key. Mr. and Mrs. Marrs
have the following children: Myrtle; Emory B.;
Anna, who is the wife of Clarence Shroyer;
and Fatima R., who is the wife of Harry
Johnston. Mr. Marrs and family
are active in the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a
member of the school board of Perry township and has
served also, by appointment, as a trustee. The
family and all its connections are highly respected
members of society in their various communities
Source: History of Shelby
County, Ohio and representative citizens - Publ.
Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 593 |
ARMSTRONG LOGAN
MARSHALL, who has been identified. with gas and
fuel interests for a number of years and who has been
connected with the Miami Valley Gas and Fuel Company
since July, 1888, was born on a farm in Washington
township, Shelby county, O., September 25, 1840, and is
a son of Samuel and Jane McCord (Russell) Marshall.
Samuel Marshall was born in Washington
county, Pa., and was three years old when his parents,
Samuel and Margaret Marshall,
came to Shelby county, away back in 1802, they being the
second settlers who had penetrated thus far and
established a pioneer home. They entered land from the
government which Grandfather Marshall
cleared and cultivated in the primitive way. On that
wild farm the younger Samuel Marshall grew
to manhood and he, in turn, also entered land, his
selection being a tract lying one-half mile east of the
old Marshall place. There he followed farming and
tanning, his old tan-yard being yet recalled by the
older residents of that section, arid on that farm both
he and wife passed away in advanced age.
Armstrong Logan Marshall had much better
educational advantages than were afforded his father and
he remained at home until he was twenty-three years of
age. He then taught school for about six years and later
was in the grain business at Harden Station and about
this time was first elected county recorder, to which
office he was subsequently reelected. Mr.
Marshall then became connected with several
publishing houses and for eighteen years was engaged in
delivering county histories and, atlases both in the
United States and Canada. He came then to Sidney and
shortly afterward entered into his present business
connection. For the first three years he occupied a
subordinate position and then succeeded Frank Hunter as
agent for the Miami Valley Gas & Fuel Company, and both
became agents for the Sidney Gas Light and the Sidney
Electric Light Companies, and at present he also is
agent for the. Miami Valley Gas & Fuel Co., the Sidney
and Electric Light Company, The Sidney Gas Light Company
having quit business.
Mr. Marshall was first married in 1864,
to Miss Mary Burness, and one
daughter, Mary B., and one son, Samuel,
were born to them. His second marriage was to Miss
Margaret Walker and they have three sons:
Robert, who is a land agent with the Pennsylvania
Railroad offices in New York City; and Charles C.
and Logan W., both of-whom are practicing
attorneys. Mr. Marshall is a member of the
Masonic fraternity.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1913 |
CHARLES C. MARSHALL,*
a foremost member of the bar of Sidney, O., and special
counsel to the attorney-general of Ohio, at Columbus, is
numbered with the forceful men of Shelby County, one who
through natural ability, trained faculties and
thoroughly aroused public spirit, is assisting in making
history in his native state. He was born at
Sidney, O., Apr. 9, 1876. and is a son of
Armstrong Logan and Margaret (Walker) Marshall.
Charles C. Marshall is well known to the people of
Sidney for here he grew to manhood, attending the city
schools and graduating from the Sidney high school in
the class of 1895. In the fall of the above year
he entered the Ohio State University, from which eh was
graduated in the spring of 1898, immediately afterward
showing his faith and loyal interest in the native place
by choosing it as the scene of his professional labors.
His professional ability was early recognized and he has
been a prominent figure in many of the legal
controversies arising in the court s of Shelby county.
In November, 1906, he was elected prosecuting attorney
of Shelby county, in which responsible office he
displayed such firmness and unerring judgment hat he was
re-elected and served out two terms. In political
faith a democrat, Mr. Marshall has long been an
important factor in the councils of his party in Ohio
and at present is an influential member of the Ohio
state, democratic executive committee. HE has been
active and useful in civic life, cherishing high ideals
and having the courage to espouse reformatory measures
even when, at times, they may be to some degree
unpopular. For some years he has been a member of
the board of county school examiners.
AT Sidney, O., on May 19, 1903 Mr. Marshall was
married to Miss Alma F. Wagner, who is a daughter
of John and Mary A. Wagner, the former of whom is
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall have two
children: Mary M. who is deceased. Mr.
and Mrs. Marshall have two children: Mary M.
and John Logan. Mr. Marshall is
identified with several fraternal organizations,
including the Red Men, the Knights of Pythias and the
Elks and in the last named body for two terms served as
district deputy for northwestern Ohio.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1913
- Page 836 |
HON. SAMUEL MARSHALL.
It might be interesting to note in this time of "high
cost of living" that Samuel Marshall was allowed
$17 and William Cecil $17.38 for services as
associate judges from the 4th of June, 1821, to the 4th
of June, 1822; the prosecuting attorney, Henry Bacon,
was paid $50; the grand jurors, $93; petit
jurors, $4; constables, $7.80.
Court at Hardin convened in an old block house and when
Sidney was made the county seat the sessions were held
in the humble homes of different citizens until the
spring of 1822 when the first court house was built.
The first meeting of court at Sidney was in the log
cabin of Abraham Cannon on the south side of a
corn field which occupied the center of the town.
About the court stretched the forest rich in the varied
garb of nature and abounding in wild game. The
bridgeless Miami flowed unvexed toward the gulf and the
craft that cut its waters were the flat boats of the
first traders.
The launching of the first county court must have been
an event of supreme importance to the people. It
assured them that a new era had opened and that the new
county had taken its place among internal commonwealths.
In course of time the number of attorneys increased.
There were tedious journeys over poor roads to the
county seat and these were performed in all sorts of
weather. Locomotion, therefore, was slow and the
early lawyers had ample time to think over their cases.
In early times court terms were limited to two weeks
and consequently the docket was always crowded.
The system of pleading was under the old common law, the
complications of which often tried the patience of the
early bar. Divorce case were few and not many
criminal cases were docketed.
Those were the days of meagre fees; in fact, litigants
as a rule were poor in this world's goods and therefore
avoided litigation as much as possible.
The first pleaders before the bench of Shelby county
were men of worth and ability and of much erudition.
They knew literature as well as law; they were as
familiar with Shakespeare as with Blackstone. The
old bar of the county has disappeared.
The last of the old practitioners passed with Judge
Thompson and the temple of justice which echoed long
ago to its wit and eloquence has given place to a new
structure but the record left behind by the first
lawyers has not been lost. It would be invidious
to discriminate but we give a brief summary of the lives
of some of the early practitioners.
The first lawyer of Shelby county of whom we have any
record is Judge Samuel Marshall, who was born
in Ireland, a year before our Declaration of
Independence and came to Washington, Pennsylvania, in
1784, with his father. In 1808 he started westward
and settled in Washington township where the Marshalls
became one of the oldest and most influential families
in the county. He served as one of the first
associate judges of the courts for many years, was
county commissioner from 1828 to 1834, and in all
official capacities as in the private walks of life was
held in high esteem. He was one of the first
contractors of the old Piqua and Fort Defiance mail
route from Piqua to Bellefontaine. His sons
Hugh and C. C. Marshall, carried the mail over these
routes at a very early day. Judge Marshall
died Feb. 12, 1838.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page
328 |
MRS. LILLY MAY MARTZ,
whose beautiful farm of 117 acres lies in Perry
township, Shelby County, Ohio, is a member of old and
respected families of the county, who for years have
been numbered with the solid and reliable residents.
Mrs. Martz was born in Perry township and is a
daughter of William A. and Rachel A. (Sturm) Reid,
and a granddaughter of George and Mary (Stout) Sturm.
The second marriage of Mrs. Reid was to Samuel
Woolley, and to this marriage the following children
were born: Mary Etta, who is the wife of
Edward Taylor; George A.; John William; Martha Ellen,
who is the wife of William Develvis; Clarence
Earl; Harley Thurman; Maggie Alberta, who is the
wife of Charles Glick; Anna, who is the wife of
William Hatcher; Adrian; and one who died at the
age of fifteen years.
Lilly May Ried was educated in the public
schools of Perry township and carefully reared by a very
capable mother. On Dec. 24, 1890, she was married
to Lee Martz, who is the son of Flavius and
Mary (Weaver) Martz. The parents of Mr.
Martz were Champaign county people and has one
sister, Jennie, who is the wife of Albert
Harner; and two brothers, Michael, who is
older, and Lester, who is younger. Mr.
and Mrs. Martz have two children: Jennie
May, who is the wife of Vernon Elliott and
they have one daughter, Verna May; and Guerna
O'Feral, who married Harry M. Zimpfer. Mr.
Martz and family belong to the United Brethren
church. Politically he is a democrat and belongs
to the Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Golden Eagle and
the Red Men. He is numbered with the enterprising
and successful farmers and stock raisers of Perry
township and he and family have a wide circle of
friends.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1913
- Page 550 |
HON. HUGH THOMPSON MATHERS,
judge of the Third Common Pleas Judicial District of
Ohio, is numbered with the eminent men of a state which
has long been productive of distinguished citizens. He
was born May 20, 1866, at Sidney, in Shelby county, O.,
and is a son of Hon. John H. and
Elizabeth (Thompson) Mathers. For several
generations the Mathers family has been
prominent in Ohio and still farther back was also
honorably connected with public affairs, in
Pennsylvania. James Mathers, the paternal
grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania and there became a
leading member of the bar and served in the state
senate, his death occurring on the old family estate in
Juniata county. He married Jane Hutchinson,
a daughter of John Hutchinson, who was a
well known Presbyterian minister.
Hon. John Mathers was born in 1830 in Juniata
county, Pa., and he, as his father before him, became
prominent in the law, and came to Sidney when this place
was the head of navigation on the canal. He served as
district attorney of Juniata county, Pa., and as
prosecuting attorney of Shelby county. He was a man of
brilliant talents but died in middle life, in 1875, when
aged but forty-five years. He married Elizabeth
Thompson, a daughter of Hugh Thompson,
and she survives, having been born in 1845 and married
in 1864. Her father was born at Upper Middletown, six
miles from Uniontown, Pa., and came early to Sidney and
established himself as a merchant. He was shortly
afterward elected associate judge of the court of
common pleas and served two terms and then turned his
attention to the study of law and for many years was a
successful practitioner. He became prominent also in
public life and served two terms as a member of the
state legislature and was a member of the Constitutional
Convention of 1851. His death occurred in 1889, when he
was aged eighty-one years. He married Lucretia
Bailey, who was born near Baltimore, Md., and died
in her seventy-third year. To the parents of Judge
Mathers three children were born: Hugh,
Jane, who is the wife of E. S. Laughlin, a
merchant and traveling salesman; and Lucretia,
who is the wife of Dr. Henry Baldwin, who is
superintendent of the Tuberculosis Hospital at
Springfield, O.
Hugh Thompson Mathers attended the
public schools of Sidney and after graduating from the
high school, became a student at Princeton University,
and in the class graduated from the Albany Law School in
1888, was one of its four honor men, who delivered the
class addresses. He came immediately to Sidney and in
the same summer was admitted to the bar at Columbus, O.,
opening his law office at Sidney and shortly afterward
was elected city solicitor. He served two terms' in that
office, at the close of his second term accepting the
position of general attorney . for the Ohio Southern
Railroad, with office at Springfield. When the Ohio
Southern became a part of the C.. A. & C. Railroad,
Judge Mathers removed to Cleveland for one
year, and when the above road became a .part .of the .L.
E. & W. system Judge Mathers returned to
Sidney. Here he was engaged in active practice until
1901, becoming the leader of the Sidney bar, when he was
elected to fill a vacancy on the common pleas bench and
served for three years, at the expiration of which
period he was elected to the full term of five years and
it was. extended one year to meet the requirements. of a
constitutional provision. At the expiration of his six
years of service in 1910 he was elected for six years
more and continues honorably and faithfully to perform
the judicial duties for which he seems so well qualified
by nature. He possesses the well balanced and discerning
mind so important to the jurist and the records of the
court show the ability and patient and conscientious
thoroughness with which he has administered the office.
In 1889 Judge Mathers was married to
Miss Louise Beeson, a daughter of
Charles and Amanda (Baily) Beeson, and they have two
children,
he, as his father before him, became prominent in the
law, and came to Sidney when this place was the head of
navigation on the canal. He served as district attorney
of Juniata county, Pa., and as prosecuting attorney of
Shelby county. He was a man of brilliant talents but
died in middle life, in 1875, when aged but forty-five
years. He married Elizabeth Thompson, a
daughter of Hugh Thompson, and she
survives, having been born in 1845 and married in 1864.
Her father was born at Upper Middletown, six miles from
Uniontown, Pa., and came early to Sidney and established
himself as a merchant. He was shortly afterward elected
associate judge of the court of common pleas and served
two terms and then turned his attention to the study of
law and for many years was a successful practitioner. He
became prominent also in public life and served two
terms as a member of the state legislature and was a
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1851. His
death occurred in 1889, when he was aged eighty-one
years. He married Lucretia Bailey, who was
born near Baltimore, Md., and died in her seventy-third
year. To the parents of Judge Mathers three children
were born: Hugh, Jane, who is the wife of
E. S. Laughlin, a merchant and traveling
salesman; and Lucretia, who is the wife of Dr.
Henry Baldwin, who is superintendent of the
Tuberculosis Hospital at Springfield, O.
Hugh Thompson Mathers attended the public
schools of Sidney and after graduating from the high
school, became a student at Princeton University, and in
the class graduated from the Albany Law School in 1888,
was one of its four honor men, who delivered the class
addresses. He came immediately to Sidney and in the same
summer was admitted to the bar at Columbus, O., opening
his law office at Sidney and shortly afterward was
elected city solicitor. He served two terms' in that
office, at the close of his second term accepting the
position of general attorney . for the Ohio Southern
Railroad, with office at Springfield. When the Ohio
Southern became a part of the C.. A. & C. Railroad,
Judge Mathers removed to Cleveland for one
year, and when the above road became a .part .of the .L.
E. & W. system Judge Mathers returned to
Sidney. Here he was engaged in active practice until
1901, becoming the leader of the Sidney bar, when he was
elected to fill a vacancy on the common pleas bench and
served for three years, at the expiration of which
period he was elected to the full term of five years and
it was. extended one year to meet the requirements. of a
constitutional provision. At the expiration of his six
years of service in 1910 he was elected for six years
more and continues honorably and faithfully to perform
the judicial duties for which he seems so well qualified
by nature. He possesses the well balanced and discerning
mind so important to the jurist and the records of the
court show- the ability and patient and conscientious
thoroughness with which he has administered the office.
In 1889 Judge Mathers was married to
Miss Louise Beeson, a daughter of Charles and
Amanda (Baily) Beeson, and they have two children:
Hugh Beeson and Jeanette. Judge
Mathers and family are members of the
Presbyterian church. In politics he is a democrat and
was nominated. in 1906, as candidate for judge of the
supreme court of Ohio, and again in 1908. Fraternally he
is a Mason, in which organization he has attained the
thirty-second degree. No man in public life in Shelby
county stands higher in the esteem of his fellow
citizens
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1913 |
ALLEN MAUER, county
surveyor of Shelby county, O., and a well known and
valued citizen, has been a resident of Sidney, O., since
1909, coming from Van Buren township, where he was born
Dec. 19, 1885. His parents were Adam and
Caroline (Sunderman) Maurer. Adam Maurer was
born also in Van Buren township, Shelby county, a son of
Philip Mauer who had come to this section from
Germany. Adam Mauer followed an
agricultural life and died on his farm in Van Buren
township in February, 1895. He married Carol
Sunderman, who was born in Auglaize county, O., and
still survives.
Allen Mauer grew to manhood on the home farm and
secured his primary education in the country schools.
Developing an unusual mathematical talent he decided to
study civil engineering and became a student in the Ohio
Northern University at Ada, O., where he was graduated
in 1909. He immediately was appointed deputy
county surveyor and the experience gained in that
capacity prepared him for the office to which he was
elected in 1912, on the democratic ticket, the duties of
which he will assume on the first Monday in September,
1913. He is a young man of enterprise and marked
ability.
In 1910 Mr. Mauer was married to Miss
Gertrude Lucas, of Van Buren township, Shelby
county. They attend the Evangelical church.
He is identified with several fraternal organizations
including the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of
the Golden Eagle, and some social and political bodies.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page
698 |
CHARLES A. MAUER,
county surveyor of Shelby county, O., and a well known
and valued citizen, has been a resident of Sidney, O.,
since 1909, coming from Van Buren township, where he was
born Dec. 19, 1885. His parents were Adam and
Caroline (Sunderman) Mauer.
Adam Mauer was born also in Van Buren township,
Shelby county, a son of Philip Mauer who had come
to this section from Germany. Adam Mauer
followed an agricultural life and died on his farm in
Van Buren township in February, 1895. He married
Caroline Sunderland, who was born in Auglaize
county, O., and still survives.
Charles A. Mauer grew to manhood on the home
farm and secured his primary education in the country
schools. Developing an unusual mathematical talent
he decided to study civil engineering and became a
student in the Ohio Northern University at Ada, O.,
where he was graduated in 1909. He immediately was
appointed deputy county surveyor, and the experience
gained in that capacity prepared him for the office he
now fills so well, to which he was elected in 1912, on
the Democratic ticket. . He is a young man of enterprise
and marked ability.
In 1910 Mr. Mauer was married to Miss
Gertrude Lucas, of Van Buren township, Shelby
county. They attend the Evangelical church
He is identified with several fraternal organizations
including: the Modern Woodmen of America, the
Knights of the Golden Eagle, and some social and
political bodies.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page
862 |
WILLIAM H. MAYER, where he has
spent his life and practically grew up in his present
line of business. He was born at Sidney, July 8,
1872, and is a son of Andrew and Julia (Bretz) Mayer.
Andrew Mayer was born in Germany in 1829
and before coming to America, learned the tailoring
trade. After reaching the United States he located
at Lancaster, O., where he worked in tailor shops for a
time and then went to Cincinnati and from there, in
1863, came to Sidney, immediately opening his own shop
but later closed it and for a time worked as a cutter in
other establishments. In 1881 he resumed business
for himself and continued until March, 1906, when he
retired on account of a slight stroke of paralysis which
impaired his health to some extent. At Lancaster,
O., he married Julia Bretz, who died in
1896, the mother of the following children: Mary,
who was the wife of W. O. Wagner, died in 1892;
Charles, who is a tailor in business at
Bellefontaine; Delia, who is the wife of P. E.
Sherman of Sidney; and Louise, Anna,
William H. and Amelia, the last named
being the wife of Hon. Charles M. Wyman.
William H. Mayer attended the parochial schools
in boyhood and as soon as old and deft enough was
permitted to help his father and in July, 1887, entered
upon his apprenticeship to the trade. In 1904 he
received his diploma as a cutter from the Frederick
Cromborg Cutting School, Chicago, Ill., having
previously, in 1892, attended the John J. Mitchell
Cutting School, New York City. He continued with
his father for nineteen years in all, in 1906 embarking
in business for himself. He is recognized as one
of the most expert cutters and fitters in the city,
while his taste, carefulness and good judgment insure
wide and continued patronage.
Mr. Mayer married Miss Helen
Crusey, a daughter of Edward Crusey,
and they have three children: Rosemary, Helen
and William. Mr. Mayer and
family are members of the Catholic church and he is
identified fraternally with the Knights of Columbus and
the Elks.
Source: History of Shelby
County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville,
Ind. - 1913 - Page 468 |
CHARLES M. McCASHEN,
whose many interests make him a widely known man is one
of the leading citizens of Perry township, where is
situated his well improved farm of eighty acres.
He was born in Shelby County, O., Oct. 5, 1867, and is a
so of James and Mary (Stephenson) McCashen.
The parents of Mr. McCashen are now among the
highly valued retired residents of Sidney, O. For
many years they resided on their farm and there their
children were born, three in number namely: Charles
M.; Leona, who is the widow of A. F. Pence;
and Frank who is a resident of Cleveland.
Mr. and Mrs. McCashen are members of the Baptist
church at Sidney.
Charles M. McCashen attended the public schools
and assisted his father and, with the exception of seven
years, during which period he was a traveling salesman
for a blank book firm, he has been continuously
interested in agricultural pursuits. He is a
stockholder in a number of substantial business
concerns, including: the Booker Gibbs Company of
Canton, O.; Charles Harris Company, importers of
fine wearing apparel at Canton; and The Geiger-Jones,
Company, also of that city, an investment company.
Mr. McCashen was married
in September, 1890, to Miss Cora A. Woolley, a
daughter of William and Jennie (Johnston) Woolley,
and they have one daughter, Agnes, who is a
student in the high school at Pemberton. The
father of Mrs. McCashen was a wagonmaker by trade
and engaged in farming during the most of his life.
Mr. and Mrs. Woolley reared the following children:
Charles, Ora, wife of John Lorton; James; Daisy,
now deceased, formerly the wife of Chester Staley;
Frank; Harry; Grace, wife of Wallace Lochard;
William; and Cora A., wife of Mr. McCashen.
As an citizen Mr. McCashen stands high and is
president of the board of education in Perry township.
He and family are active members of the Baptist church,
of which he is financial secretary and is also a member
of the board of deacons.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1913
- Page 716 |
FRANK B. MILLER,
member of the board of education of Hopewell special
school district, of which he has been clerk for the last
ten years, is one of Cynthian township's most respected
citizens. He is a retired farmer and lives on one of his
three farms, which aggregate 250 acres, his home being
in section 22 four miles southeast of Fort Loramie, O.
Mr. Miller was born January 12, 1861, in
Lancaster county, Pa., a son of Cyrus and Jane
(Gingrich) Miller.
Cyrus Miller was
born in Dauphin county, Pa., and his wife in Lebanon
county, in that state. When they came to Ohio they
located on a farm west of Pleasant Hill, in Miami
county, and from there in 1876 moved to a farm in
Cynthian township, Shelby county, near Oran, O. They now
reside with their daughter, Mrs. William
Snow, who lives in Cynthian township. Of their
family of six sons and two daughters, two sons are
deceased.
Frank B. Miller was
eight years old when he accompanied his parents to Miami
county and was fifteen when they came to Shelby county.
He had school advantages in both sections, attending the
Oran special school district schools until he was
seventeen years old. After putting aside his books, but
not forgetting their contents, Mr. Miller
went to work by the month with the determination of
accumulating the capital that would enable him to buy a
farm of his own and in the course of time his energy was
rewarded. When he was twenty years of age he went to the
west and prospered there, returning a year later with
money that he had earned through his own industry. He
invested first in the old Roan farm, later bought the
farm on which he lives and still later bought the
Brenner farm. For nine years he lived east of Piqua,
O., on his father-in-law's farm and then moved to a farm
in McLean township belonging to his mother-in-law, three
years afterward coming to the farm he now occupies. All
these farms are finely improved, Mr. Miller
taking pride in his property and hence all of it is very
valuable. In addition to general farming, which he
continued until he retired, in 1907, he raised many
horses, especially draft horses, cattle and stock. All
the farm industries were intelligently carried on, new
methods were adopted when they where found superior to
old ways, and Mr. Miller became known as
one of the best all-round agriculturists of Cynthian
township. He still continues to be interested in raising
stock to some extent, but has shifted his farming
responsibilities to . younger shoulders.
Mr. Miller married Miss Katie
Grosvenor, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of
Hiram and Araminta Grosvenor,
once residents of McLean township, Shelby county. The
father of Mrs. Miller died when she was
six weeks old. To Mr. and Mrs.
Miller six children have been born, Alva,
Harry, Raymond and Blanche, in Miami
county, and Olive and Glenn, in Shelby
county. All survive except Alva and Raymond,
who died in Miami county.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller attend the Christian church
at Oran, of which she is a member. He is a republican in
his political views. Every year Mr. Miller takes
a few weeks for recreation in travel and in this way has
seen much of the country and doubtless in some measure
owes his excellent health to this wise change of
environment and pleasurable interest in other than
everyday duties and surroundings.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1913
- 435 |
SAMUEL MILLER, whose
three tracts of land, all lying in Perry township,
aggregate 170 acres, is one of the well known and
representative men of this section and belongs to an old
and respected Ohio family. He was born in Perry
township, Shelby county, Aug. 26, 1850, and is a son of
Henry R. and Catherine (Beasley) Miller. Henry
R. Miller and wife came to Perry township, from near
Springfield, O., where they had married. During
his early married life he followed the blacksmith trade
but afterward became a farmer and both he and wife died
here and their burial was at Cedar Point. They had
three children: Samuel; John; and Mary,
who is the wife of John Doren.
Samuel Miller attended the district schools in
boyhood and then gave his father assistance on the home
farm until his own marriage at the age of twenty-two
years. After that event he rented farm land for
over twelve years and then purchased the 100-tract on
which his son Charles now resides. He
inherited sixty acres from his father and subsequently
purchased twenty additional acres. His land is
devoted to general agriculture but Mr. Miller no
longer is active in carrying on the farm industries, his
son and a son-in-law very capably bearing the
responsibilities.
On June 27, 1872, Mr. Miller was married to
Miss Nancy Jane Young, a daughter of Samuel and
Jane (Johnston) Young. Mr. and Mrs. Young's
children were: Lucinda, Ellen, Elizabeth,
Margaret, Nancy Jane, Retta Jane, James and Frank.
To Mr. and Mrs. Miller three children have been
born, namely: Charles, who was married first to
Ola Jenkins and after her death to Macey
Mennier; Grace, who married Harvey De Weese
and they have tow children: Roy and Millard;
and Jennie Catherine, who resides at home.
Mr. Miller and family are active members of the
United Brethren Church. In politics, Mr. Miller
like his late father, is a republican and has served his
township in local offices. He has been
particularly interested in the public schools and in
forwarding the movement for good roads.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1913
- Page 725 |
HON. EMERSON V. MOORE,
former mayor of Sidney, O., and a foremost member pf
the Shelby county bar, belongs to an old Ohio family and
was born on his father's farm in Green township, Shelby
county, February 14, 1868, a son of Thomas B. and,
Deborah (Griffis,) Moore. The father's death
occurred in 1898, on his farm in Green township.
Emerson V. Moore was reared in his native
township and secured his early schooling there,
afterward attending the Sidney high school for two years
and then entered the National Normal University at
Lebanon, O., and while there began the study of law. For
one year afterward Mr. Moore taught school
in Brown township, Miami county, and during the
following year was superintendent of the schools of
Green township, Shelby county, having had much to do
with establishing the grade system. He had already been
admitted to the bar and then came to Sidney and has
since been engaged in the practice of law in this city.
When the Spanish-American war became. a fact, Mr.
Moore was one of that band of patriotic young men
who put aside their most pressing personal interests and
ambitions and with a patriotism that was commendable,
was ready to accept service, dangerous or otherwise, in
his country's defense. At that time he was second
lieutenant of Co. L, Third O. N. G., which became a part
of the Third O. Vol. Inf., which was hastened to Tampa,
Fla.
Lieutenant Moore was detailed in June,
1898, as .recruiting officer and recruited the
first-battalion of the regiment to war strength. He was
later detailed as aide-de-camp. on the staff of Brig.
Gen. Rush T. Lincoln and served as such
until the regiment returned to Ohio for mustering out.
The war closed before this regiment was called into
active service and they returned to their homes ready
for future calls. Mr. Moore is a
member of the Spanish-American War Veterans and in 1911
served as judge advocate of the state of. Ohio in this
body.
Mr. Moore married Miss Blanche
Stafford, a daughter of Joseph Stafford,
of Sidney, O. Aside from his law practice, Mr.
Moore has been active in political and fraternal
life. He is a democrat in politics and on the democratic
ticket was city solicitor and twice elected mayor of
Sidney; his administrations proving beneficial to the
city in every way. He belongs to the Order of Ben
Hur and to the Knights of Pythias but is particularly
prominent in the Order of the Knights of the Golden
Eagle and for six years was state secretary of the
organization, state president and for one year was
national president of the order and probably is one of
the best known members of this flourishing society in
Ohio.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1913
- Page 436 |
NATHAN MOORE. Sometime
during the twenty-four hours of January 30, 1823,
Nathan Moore, in faint, yet unmistakable
tones announced that he had come from the mysterious
realm of the unknown to stay in the household of his
parents, board and lodge with them without the formality
of a previous contract.
Curious as it may seem the expectant was made welcome.
His food for a year or more had been prepared and like
manna was fresh every morning and warm and ready at all
hours.
After some family consultation the good old Biblical
name of Nathan was settled upon by which to
designate him and he was so registered on the blank
leaves between the Old and New testament. This was the
custom in those, days when the bible comprised about all
there was of the family library and which was perused
much more than now. Though the account was not inspired,
there was nothing apocryphal about it, for that he had
appeared was as true as anything between the sacred lids
and no one, not even higher criticism, has questioned
its authenticity or attempted to give it a theoretical
or twisted meaning.
The bibles in those days were big affairs, probably so
that the birth page should be ample to record the names,
as it was a pioneer custom to endeavor to fill a page, a
pocket edition would not serve the purpose. It seemed to
be a Christian duty to multiply and replenish the earth
and there was no shirking of that supposed duty, but
that the command meant just what it said.
The advent of Nathan was made in Springfield
township, Portage county, now a part of Summit county,
in the northeastern part of the state then known as New
Connecticut, as the inhabitants of the Nutmeg state
spiced the region. Here the sturdy little Buckeye took
root and flourished in the native soil for nine years
but was uprooted by his parents when they moved to Wood
county, and transplanted him there. But the removal
probably stunted him some, as the animate Buckeye never
grew to a lofty height but it was compensated for by
muscles and a frame of iron actuated and directed by a
brain of pluck and energy that has characterized him for
four score and five years and which has not abated in
intensity.
Such capital was necessary in those pioneer days when
the rigor of mother nature had to be subdued. None were
born with a gold spoon in their mouth.
Mr. Moore, senior, entered a section of
land on which the thriving city of Bowling Green now
stands. Transportation was not very direct in any way
unless a person footed it or rode on horseback for there
were no through lines nor even sides ones. The
Ohio canal to Cleveland was in operation for which place
they embarked. Lake Erie was there and had been from
time immemorial but no regular lines of navigation were
in vogue, but they found a sailing smack for Detroit,
procured passage and landed there. After a few days
delay they took another sailing boat for Perrysburg, the
head of navigation, . on :the Maumee. It was a brisk
little place but Toledo had not been thought of outside
of Spain. It did not have even a Blade nor a Bee.
Bowling Green being on an undulating sand ridge was
selected because it was above high water mark and had a
surplus of gnarled scrubby oaks, stubborn to a provoking
degree. The outlying prairie, now the garden spot of
Ohio, was inhabited by frogs, turtles and such
amphibious brutes and was a. paradise for mosquitoes.
The citizens were Indians principally and' the Moore
family was about the first white people that settled in
that section. Neither schoolhouses nor churches dotted
the landscape on this outlying post of civilization.
There were no idle hands, so Satan did not have to find
them employment.
The facilities for book education were few and slim,
but Nature's volume lay open and Nathan took
delight in reading it, for he found that the very trees
had a language and that there were, sermons in stones
and running brooks. Having a taste for arboreal culture
and as trees take kindly and cheerfully respond to
intelligent cultivation and are ready to surprise any
one with results when they work in accord with the
unwritten law which govern them, for the same
development is possible in inanimate nature as there is
in animal life, including man, he turned his attention
to the cultivation of trees, fruit and ornamental and
has made nursery business his life work with marked
success and is at present, at the ripe age of four score
and five years, engaged in raising ornamental trees and
shrubs to beautify the lawns and parks of Toledo of
which his son, Milton L. is superintendent, and
has been for years. Few men in the state are better
authority, if as good in the nursery line, as he, with
his seventy years of experience with his eyes wide open.
A volume of fiction is dull if there is not a thread of
love romance running through it and the actual life of a
person who has had no heart throbbing with the tender
sentiment is barren of flowers, even though they did not
fructify into any thing serious. The
environments around Bowling Green, at that early day,
were by no means crowded with the softer sex, with the
exception of Indian maidens, but Mr. St. John
moved into that vicinity with his family with a
daughter, Julia, who awakened the tender
sentiment in the breast of Nathan and his
thoughts were divided between arboreal study and
Julia. He was very much in the condition of Adam in
the Garden of Eden, it was Eve or nothing. He wanted
something to round out his life and so on December 25,
1846, Miss Julia E. St. John, became Mrs.
Nathan Moore, and it may be well to
casually state right here that if Nathan had had
a thousand females from which to make a selection the
chances are he would not have got so companionable a
help-meet as Julia who walked by his side and
adorned his home for almost sixty years, but who left
him for permanent rest in Graceland September 25, 1904,
her seventy-eighth birthday. She was accustomed in her
youth to the privations as well as the sweets of pioneer
life and was unmurmuring, in their early struggles as
she was in the ease and comfort of her closing days.
Eight children, evenly divided, four boys and four
girls, were born to gladden their household, Mrs. J.
D. Geyer. wife of Dr. Geyer, of
Sidney; Mrs. Frank Fruchey, of
Marion, Ind.; Ida, who died in Sidney many years
ago, little Carrie who died when two years old,
Ezra in the nursery business at Toledo; Milton
L., superintendent of all the parks in Toledo;
Albert, chief teller in the Northern National Bank,
and Charles on the free mail delivery force in
the same city. All inherited the sturdy industry of
their parents and are true to those high moral
principles which make valuable citizens, and the world
better for their having lived in it. It was and is a
family flock with no black sheep in it, as none
possessed moral obliquities to pain a parent's heart or
cloud their lives with dismal apprehension.
In the early fifties, having become acquainted with
Philip Rauth, father of Mrs. Mary
Wagner and Mrs. John E. Bush, and who was
engaged in the nursery business in Sidney, he was
induced to move to this town in 1855 as the Big Four
railway was in process of construction and the
Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton railway was pushing its
way northward-from Cincinnati to Toledo which had sprung
into existence and was sapping the life out of
Perrysburg and had already given promise of becoming a
great commercial city, the emporium of northwestern O.
and one of the chain of beautiful cities on the great
lakes.
Sidney being at the intersection of these trunk lines
of railway, would afford good shipping facilities when
finished and this fact, made plain by Mr.
Rauth, was an additional incentive to Mr.
Moore to pitch his tent in Sidney.
He, with J. C. Coe, bought what was known for
years as the nursery farm across the river of John
Mills, agent for the Big Four that, owned it.
The late George Hemm became a partner and
subsequently Mr. Coe sold his interest to
William McCullough and the profitable
business was continued for many years. Mr.
Moore is the only surviving member of the firm. The
children of the Moore family were all educated
here and the writer of this article had for a time
Ezra and Albert for diligent pupils, and
hence has a warm spot for them, especially in his heart,
and is gratified to know of their marked success and
sterling worth.
Nineteen years ago Mr. Moore sold out his
business here and moved with his family to Toledo with
the exception of Mrs. Geyer and Mrs.
Frank Fruchey, and resumed the nursery
business in which he is still engaged. Mr.
Moore has been a life long republican, not offensive
as a partisan, for that is contrary to his nature, but
so strong in his political conviction as not to admit of
variableness or shadow of turning. While here he
was with Mrs. Moore, a member of the
Presbyterian church in this city, and will die in the
faith. Such, in brief, is a sketch of his busy life and
few can look back over an interval of a career, now
verging on a century with fewer misgivings.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1913
- Page 405 |
Van
Buren Twp. -
MICHAEL MORGAN, a native of North
Carolina, was born in 1811. In 1856 he settled in
this county, and by persistent effort and industry
reclaimed a farm from its native wilderness. In
1841 he married Eliza E. Conner, who was born in
North Carolina in the year 806. Their only child
is Martha A.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and
representative citizens - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1913
- Page 253 |
|
