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Jackson Twp. -
NEWTON SAGER, physician, Lafayette, Ohio,
born in Union County, Ohio, Oct. 31, 1817, is a son of Henry
and Lovina (Haines) Sager, natives of Virginia, who became
early settlers of Union County, Ohio. Henry was a
farmer and blacksmith, he died about 1838, aged forty-seven
years. His widow's death occurred in 1879. Four of
their eight children are now living. Newton Sager's
early life was spent on a farm, he receiving the foundation of
his subsequent education in the common schools, and when
nineteen years of age, entered Oxford University where he
received a literary education. He afterward read medicine
in Pleasant Valley, Madison Co., Ohio, and graduated from the
old Jefferson Medical University in 1843. He immediately
entered upon the practice of his profession in Lafayette,
Jackson Township, this county, where he has since resided.
At that early date his ride extended many miles, the first
settlements being scarce and practitioners correspondingly so.
With the increase of population the call for his services also
advanced and for months at a time he prescribed for as many as
forty or fifty patients in a day, and could not possibly visit
them oftener than once in two days. At times it was quite
difficult to obtain supplies. this being a malarious
district, quinine was in great demand, and the supply at one
time both in Lima and Kenton having been exhausted, the doctor
was obliged to go to Piqua to purchase. As the demand for
new remedies and drugs increased his stock eventually developed
into the drug store, which he has managed for several years in
connection with his professional duties. He has several
times served the people as treasurer, and politically has for
years been considered a leader of the Democratic party in this
vicinity; he has always taken an active part in all public
enterprises, especially those for the advancement of educational
privileges; has been liberal also in the support of religious
institutions, though not identified with any denomination.
He joined the order of F. & A. M. at Lima, soon after the
organization of the lodge at that place, and is a charter member
of Sager Lodge at Lafayette, Ohio, which lodge he was
instrumental in having established and which was named in his
honor. The doctor came to this county a widower, having
been previously married to Miss Hannah, daughter of
Daniel Custard, of Lima, she died in 1840, leaving a
daughter - Areneta, since deceased. The doctor was
married, on the second occasion, to Miss Bethiah Gilbert
of Vermont, born in 1824. This union has been blessed with
six children who grew to maturity: Newton Jr., Norvel
(deceased), a graduate of Wesleyan University of Delaware,
Annetta (wife of Wesley Biteman), Lovina (wife
of D. Kinsley), Norton, a farmer, Mary Bell
(wife of Geo. B. Muir). Perhaps no man has done
more for the development of this part of Allen County than
Dr. Sager, and to his efforts is due the locating, in a
direct line, the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad from
upper Sandusky to Lima.
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Page 613 |
Jackson Twp. -
NEWTON SAGER, JR., physician, Lafayette,
was born in Jackson Township, this county, Dec. 18, 1847, son of
N. Sager. From the high school of the county our
subject passed a year of study in Baldwin University, at Berea,
Ohio, and having previously read medicine with his father he
took several courses of lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., graduating
in the medical department of Wooster University, at Cleveland,
Ohio, in 1871. He immediately entered upon the practice of
his profession in his native place, where he has gained a
leading practice by a thorough knowledge of, and close attention
to, business, and much confidence is placed in his skill as a
physician and surgeon. He is an enthusiastic entomologist,
and having given a great deal of time to the study of this
branch of natural history, has perhaps the choicest collection
of specimens in northwestern Ohio. Dr. Sager was
married, Apr. 4, 1871, to Sarah M. Hughs, born Dec. 1,
1847, daughter of Hiram and Emily Hughs, of Knox County,
Ohio, and to this union were born two children: Grace,
born June 29, 1873, and Georgie, born. Aug. 30,
1876. Our subject became a F. & A. M. in Ada, and was a
charter member of Sager Lodge, 513, Lafayette. He has been
treasurer of the township two years; is an active member of the
Democratic party.
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Page 614 |
ADOLPHUS
E. SCHOSKER is one among the representative men of
Spencerville, Ohio. He first saw the light of day in
Lorraine, France, October 24, 1852, and is the son of Michael
and Tillie (Smith) Schosker. Both parents are now
deceased, the mother dying in 1872 at the age of fifty-six years
and the father June 22, 1886, at the advanced age of eighty-one
years. The mother died in New Haven, Ind., near Fort Wayne,
and the father at Spencerville, Ohio.
When the subject of this sketch was ten months old, the
family came to America, landing in New York, where they remained
four years, at the expiration of which time they moved to
Syracuse, N. Y., where the following eight years were spent, when
the family again moved, this time locating in New Haven, Allen
county, Ind. In religion the father was a devout democrat.
Five children were born to Michael and his wife, namely:
Lisa, wife of Mr. John Rupple, of Fort Wayne;
Christian, of Tipton, Ind., who is an employee in the
factories at that place; Adolphus E., who forms the subject
of this biography, Michael, of Wapakoneta, Ohio, a drayman
of that city; and Franklin, an oil pumper of Spencerville.
Adolphus E. Schosker, with whom this sketch will
now deal, spent his early boyhood in town and received his
education in the public schools. At the age of twelve he
began to support himself by working in a stave factory, where he
was employed until his marriage, which occurred January 2, 1879,
after which he became clerk in a general merchandise establishment
in Spencerville, where he occupied the position of head clerk for
seven years, when he accepted the position of foreman in the
Spencerville stave factory, which place he occupied for two years,
when he engaged in grocery business, on his own account, December
16, 1887. He continued in the grocery trade until January
22, 1895, when he sold out, and on May 22, purchased a
half-interest in the Spencerville flouring mills, to which, since
then, he has given his undivided attention. Mr. Schosker
is as popular as he is successful. January 2, 1879, he was
united in marriage to Miss Mary A. J. Halter, daughter of
Edward and Barbara Halter. Miss Halter was born in
Annapolis, Auglaize county, Ohio, March 18, 1859, and died January
9, 1895, a devout Catholic.
Mr. Schosker is a thoroughly live business man,
and from the humblest beginnings man, and from the humblest
beginnings has, by ability and perseverance, amassed a competence.
At the present time he owns a half-interest in the Spencerville
mills. He has held the office of town clerk and clerk of the
corporation one term, and was a member of the council two terms,
and at the present writing is treasurer of the Spencerville school
board. In politics he is a democrat, true and consistent.
He is a man of genuine worth and an acquisition to the community
in which he lives - in business, straightforward and upright and
in social life a kind neighbor, a warm friend and always a
gentleman. |
Spencer Twp. -
J. G.
SEITER, physician, Spencerville, was born in Marion County,
Ohio, September 11, 1852, seventh in the family of ten children of
Daniel and Margaret (Klingle) Seiter, natives of
Germany. At the age of seventeen he taught two terms of school,
and afterward attended the commercial school at Delaware, Ohio,
for a short time, and during the school year of 1873-74, attended
the Baldwin University of Berea, Ohio. During this time he was
engaged in teaching and working on the farm at intervals. In
August, 1877, he went to Cleveland, and began the study of
medicine with Dr. J. Schneider, and attended lectures. He
graduated at the Homoeopathic Hospital College, in 1881, and
immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at
Spencerville. As a result of a thorough knowledge of his
profession, and close attention to the duties of his calling, he
has quite an extensive ride: he is the first homeopathic physician
to practice in this vicinity. He was united in marriage September
11, 1883, with Miss Emma Albrecht, who was
born in Delaware, Ohio, February 1, 1864, and by her he has one
child—Carl B. Politically the doctor is a Republican. He is
a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 233, I. O. O. F. of Cleveland, Ohio,
and of Delphos Lodge, No. 139, K. of P., of Delphos, Ohio.
(
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Page 812) |
Spencer Twp. -
EMANUEL
SHAFFER, farmer, P. O. Spencerville, was born in Bedford
County, Penn., March 4, 1835, son of Levi and Rachael (Baker)
Shaffer, natives of Pennsylvania, who were the parents of
fourteen children, of whom Emanuel is the fifth. Our
subject was reared on the farm and received a common school
education. He has made agriculture the principal occupation of his
life, and in addition owns and operates a tile-mill on his farm.
He was married, in 1856, to Mercy Jane Purdy,
who was born in Holmes County, and by her has three children:
Florence J., Harvey E. and Alice R. In 1850 Mr.
Shaffer removed to Holmes County, where he remained till 1856,
when he came to this county and located where he still lives. He
has made all the improvements on his farm; also assisted in
cutting out the roads in his neighborhood. He served his country
twelve months in Company E, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
during the late war of the Rebellion. Mr. Shaffer
bears the reputation of being an enterprising and energetic man,
as well as one of the substantial farmers of Spencer Township. In
politics, he is a Democrat.
(
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Page 812) |
| SIMON
SHAFFER, carpenter and farmer, P. O. Spencerville, was
born in Shawnee Township, Allen Co., Ohio, July 6, 1849.
His parents are still living, his father, Michael, a
native of Pennsylvania and an early settler of Miami and Allen
Counties, Ohio, being a farmer of Shawnee Township; his mother,
Sarah (Whetstone) Shaffer, was born in Auglaize, this
county. Their children, thirteen in number, are as
follows: Henry, Simon, Nancy, John, Rebecca, Michael
(deceased), Alford (deceased), Sarah, Amanda, William,
Elza, George and Luella. Our subject was raised
on a farm, his education being limited to a few weeks each year
in the common schools. Early in life he commenced to work
at the carpenter's trade, which he has made his principal
occupation, and he bears the reputation of being a first-class
workman in every respect. He was united in marriage June
24, 1871, with Margaret Richardson, born May 17, 1854,
daughter of G. W. Richardson, and to this union were born
four children: Rozilla, Alby, Michael and Julia.
When twenty-two years of age Mr. Shaffer removed to
Auglaize County, this State, but returned to this county in
1879. For five years he has lived upon his farm in Amanda
Township, and in 1882 erected thereon what is recognized as the
finest frame barn in the county. He is a self-made man,
having gained his property through habits of industry and
economy. He purchased his time from his father before
reaching maturity, paying for the same the sum of $182.50.
Mr. Shaffer is an active member of the order of F. & A.
M. at Spencerville. In politics he is identified with the
Democratic party. (
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Page 567) |
SYLVESTER
F. SHENK, one of the representative citizens and leading
business men of Delphos, Ohio, is a native of Wurtemburg,
Germany, and was born December 31, 1847, a son of Martin and
Christine (Kern) Shenk. Martin Shenk was one of the
early settlers of Delphos, he having located in this place in
the latter part of 1853. (Further mention of him may be
found elsewhere in this work.) Sylvester F. Shenk
received a common-school education, and at the age of thirteen
years began work as a clerk in a store in Delphos, which
occupation he continued until 1876, when he began business for
himself as senior member of the firm of Shenk & Zimerle.
This firm continued until 1880, when Mr. Zimerle retired,
since which time Mr. Shenk has been in trade alone.
His place of business is on the corner of Main and Second
streets, where he occupies three floors, carrying a complete
line of dry goods, clothing, carpets, etc., his establishment
being the leading one in his line in Delphos, and one of the
largest in this part of the state.
Mr. Shenk was married June 29, 1872, to Miss
Rosilla, daughter of Francis J. Lye, one of the
pioneer settles of Delphos, then section No. Ten. Mr.
and Mrs. Shenk have eight children, as follows:
Frank, Mary, Martin, Amedeus, Alexander, Sylvester, Richard
and Robert, and the family are members of the Saint
John's Roman Catholic church of Delphos. Mr. Shenk
has given his time and attention almost exclusively to his
business, and as a natural result has met with flattering
success. While he has never held or sought political
office or honors, he has always taken an active interest in the
affairs of his city, county and state, and has never failed to
perform willingly the duties incumbent upon all good citizens.
He has always been found ready and willing to assist in the
building up of Delphos, having at heart the best interests of
the city's enterprises and institutions.
(
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896
- Page 475) |
Jackson Twp. -
A. S. SHEPHERD, physician and surgeon,
Lafayette, was born in Auglaize Township, this county, Dec. 5,
1855; son of Frederick and Mary (Staley) Rudy, natives of
Miami County, Ohio, and who were among the early settlers of
Allen County, former born Dec. 4, 1809, still living in Auglaize
Township; latter died in 1859, leaving seven children who grew
to maturity; Jacob, Shepherd, Caroline (now deceased),
Sylvester, Anna (now deceased), Albert and Alice.
Our subject up to the age of nineteen years, was employed upon a
farm and in attending the common schools of the neighborhood.
During the fall of 1874 he attended the normal school at Ada,
and taught school during the winter, his time being thus
employed for several years, and about 1877 he became
superintendent of the public schools at Westminster, Ohio, which
position, he held for a period of nine successive terms.
He completed his scientific course at Ada, graduating in May
1881. Our subject had previously given his attention to
the reading of Medicine, and continuing the same he attended his
first course of lectures in the medical department of the
Western Reserve University at Cleveland, Ohio. He entered
the medical college of Ohio at Cincinnati, in September, 1883,
graduating Mar. 7, 1884. Having passed a very creditable
examination he immediately entered on the practice of his
profession at Lafayette, Ohio, where, through his thorough
knowledge of and close attention to business, he has secured a
practice justly due to years of labor, showing that much
confidence is placed in his skill as a physician and surgeon.
During his practice the Doctor has not lost a patient, and has
successfully treated severe cases of typhoid fever, congestion
of the brain, etc. He became a member of Sager Lodge, No.
513, F. & A. M. in April 1880; was formerly member of an order
of Sons of Temperance. Politically he is identified with
the Republican party.
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Page 612 |
Spencer Twp. -
ABRAHAM W.
SHERER, farmer. P. O. Spencerville, was born in Coshocton
County, Ohio, June 13, 1835. son of James and Rebecca
(Nelson) Sherer, the former a native of Virginia, and a farmer
by occupation, now living in Putnam County, Ohio, aged
seventy-four years; the latter a native of Coshocton County. Ohio;
they were the parents of eight children, of whom Abraham W.
is the eldest. Our subject was reared on a farm, his educational
advantages being limited to two and a half months' schooling. He
entered upon his career in life as a farmer, and in 1849 came to
this county locating on the farm which has since been his home. He
has been twice married, on first occasion March 15, 1855, to
Sarah Miller, who died March 6. 1863, leaving three children:
James, Fanny S. and Rebecca R. On January 22.
1864, Mr. Sherer married Eliza E. Gray, born in
Holmes County, Ohio, May 8, 1838, daughter of John and
Henrietta (Scott) Gray, natives of Massachusetts, who settled
in Holmes County in 1835. and were the parents of eleven children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sherer were born seven children:
Josephine, Anthony, Flora, Susan, William
H., Henriette and John H. (died in infancy). Our
subject has served the people of the township as trustee. During
the war of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and
Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served his country eleven
months. Politically, he is identified with the Democratic party.
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Page 813 |
Sugar Creek Twp. -
BENJAMIN
F. SHERRICK, farmer and carpenter, P. O. Elida, is a native
of Fairfield County, Ohio, born December 26, 1836, son of
Christian and Anna (Meyers) Sherrick, of German
descent, who married in Fairfield County, Ohio, and came to this
county about 1843, locating in Marion Township for a time, thence
moving to Sugar Creek Township, where they lived until the death
of the former, May 25,1865: the widow, who now resides with our
subject, is in her seventy-sixth year: they had two sons and five
daughters, of whom Mary, Sarah, Anna,
Betty, Samuel S. and Benjamin F. are now
living. Our subject, who received a common school education, began
the carpenter trade at the age of fourteen. He was married,
October 25, i860, to Miss Lydia A. Stemen, a native of
Sugar Creek Township, this county, born April 14, 1838, daughter
of Christian and Margaret (Mover) Stemen, of German
descent, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively, and
who married in Perry County, Ohio, came to this county in 1835,
settling in Sugar Creek Township, where they both died. To our
subject and wife have been born five children: Edmund O., Lola
D., Minnie I., Isaac A. and Orvin E., all now living. ,
Mr. Sherrick served from the fall of 1862 to close of war
of the Rebellion in Company G, Eighty-first Regiment O. V. I.; is
a member of the U. B. Church; in politics a Republican.
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Page 823 |
Sugar Creek Twp. -
HENRY
SHERRICK, farmer, P. O. Elida, is a native of Fairfield
County, Ohio, born August 25, 1811, son of John and Mary (Stalter)
Sherrick, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent, and
who came to this county in 1841. Our subject, who came with his
parents to this county, was married, June 4, 1835, to Margaret
Stemen, also a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, daughter of
Rev. Henry and Mary (Beery) Stemen, and sister of Samuel
Stemen. To this union have been born eleven children, live
of whom are now living : John, Henry, William,
Andrew and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Sherrick are
the only survivors of the eighteen pioneers who organized the
society of Mennonites, in Sugar Creek Township, this county. This
denomination first worshiped from house to house, then built a log
church, and a few years later erected a small frame one. and in
1883 a fine large frame church.
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Page 823 |
Sugar Creek Twp. -
CHARLES
M. SHOEMAKER, farmer, P. O. Elida, was born in Fairfield
County, Ohio, October 8, 1824; son of Daniel R. and Sophia
(Martz) Shoemaker, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, of
Swiss and Scotch descent respectively, and who were married in
Pickaway County, Ohio, and reared a family of five children. The
mother dying in 1833, the father then married in Fairfield County,
Ohio, Mrs. Elizabeth (Baker) Walter, by whom he had seven
children; he died in 1860; his widow still resides in Wells
County, Ind., aged eighty-two. Charles M. came to this
county in 1846 and purchased land, but gave most of his time to
the carpenter trade for several years, in connection with
undertaking, which still continues his principal business. He has
given some attention to saw-milling since 1875, his son operating
the farm. Our subject was married, October 8, 1848, to Miss
Rebecca Sakemiller, of this county, a native of
Fairfield County, Ohio, born September 4, 1829, daughter of
Jacob and Rachel (Fry) Sakemiller, who settled in this county
in 1831, where they died at the ages of seventy-two and ninety-two
years respectively; of their family of thirteen, seven survive. To
Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker have been born three sons and live
daughters, five of whom are now living: Rachel C, Phebe,
Charles S., Rebecca O. and Emily I. Mrs.
Shoemaker is a member of the United Brethren Church. Mr.
Shoemaker has served in several of the township offices. In
politics he is a Democrat.
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Page 823 |
ELIAS H.
SHOOK - It is always a pleasant task to write of an
intelligent and progressive man, especially of one devoted to
the development of modern methods in agriculture. Such a
man is Elias H. Shook, the subject of this biographical
sketch, who in this respect is one of the leading citizens of
the county. Mr. Shook was born in Ottawa county,
Ohio, near Port Clinton, the county seat, September 30, 1835.
He is a son of Isaac and Susan (East) Shook,
the former of whom, like his son, was a practical farmer.
Elias H. Shook was reared in Allen county from
the time he was a small boy, about four or five years of age,
his parents at that time locating in German township, on section
No. 21, where Mr. Shook himself now lives. He there
assisted in clearing up the farm, which contained eighty acres,
and in securing his education, at the public schools and in a
subscription school, so that he was more than ordinarily well
educated for the times in which he spent his youth. His
father died about 1845, and he then went to live with his uncle,
John East, where he remained until he was eighteen years
old. At this time he returned to his home and began to
learn the trade of carpenter, which trade occupied the most of
his time for twenty years. Many of the best residences in
Allen county have been erected by Mr. Shook. At the
same time, however, that he was engaged in the carpenter trade
and in erecting houses for other people, he was also engaged in
farming to a considerable extent, and about 1876 he erected a
manufactory, for the purpose of making draining tile, at which
he was employed in connection with his farming and building
until 1892, when he sold out the tile manufacturing business.
Mr. Shook has purchased the old homestead, which
now contains eighty-two acres of land, and upon it has erected a
fine frame residence, the old one having been destroyed by fire.
He also has excellent barns for stock and grain, all of which he
himself erected. He is engaged for the most part in
general farming and in the cultivation of small fruits,
raspberries, strawberries, etc., and is also engaged in raising
the best grades of stock, such as the Poland-China hog and
Jersey cattle. Most of his farm is under a high state of
cultivation, and he is generally looked upon as one of the most
progressive men in Allen county. Not only this, but he has
public spirit, which is something hard to find, most men
thinking that if they successfully carry on their own private
business they are doing all that is required of them.
Mr. Shook always is ready to assist any enterprise which
bids reasonably fair to promote the public good. He is a
man of broad and liberal views, and is one of the wheel-horses
of the democratic party of Allen county, always ready to work
for his party in or out of office. His party has honored
him by giving him the office of township trustee, which office
he has held for many years. He has also been sent by his
party as delegate to several conventions, and is now a member of
the county central committee, and one of the advisory board.
Mr. Shook, was married Sept. 18, 1858, to
Miss Mary Blausser, who was born in Fairfield county,
Ohio, in 1832. She is a daughter of Joseph and
Magdalena (Stolter) Blausser. Mr. and Mrs. Shook are
the parents of seven children, viz: David, a farmer
of German township; Alonzo, also a farmer of German
township; Frank, a fireman on the D. & M. railroad,
living at Lima; Sherman, in the employ of the L. E. & W.
railroad company, at Lima; Charles, another farmer of
German township; Princess Almeda, wife of Clarence
Miller of Lima, Mr. Miller being a fireman on the P.,
Ft. W. & C. railroad, and Samson, living at home.
Mr. Shook is in every way, and in the best sense, as will
be seen by what has been written of him in this sketch, a
self-made man. What he has accumulated has been by his own
labor and energy, and what he has made of himself personally has
been no less by the exercise of his own will and talents.
Too many such men can not be found in any community.
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 |
JACOB L.
SHOOK, a successful manufacturer of a high grade of tiling
at Westminster, Auglaize township, Allen county, Ohio, was born in
Franklin county, May 21, 1843, and is of German descent, The
paternal grandfather of our subject, John Shook, settled in
Ohio about the year 1815; his maternal grandfather, John C.
East, was born in Hesserland July 25, 1754, was a soldier in
the British army, and was sent to America during the Revolutionary
war. On arriving in this country he deserted the British and
joined his fortunes with the patriot army. Subsequently he
located in Pennsylvania, but about 1815 or 1816 came to Ohio.
ISAAC SHOOK, father of our subject was born in
Allegheny county, Pa., September 10, 1803, came to Ohio about
1815, settled in Pickaway county and died November 1, 1843, a
member of the United Brethren church, and in politics a democrat.
He married Susanna East, September 9, 1824. This lady
was born in Pennsylvania November 14, 1805, came to Fairfield
county, Ohio, in 1815, and died in Allen county in August, 1882.
The union was blessed with seven sons and one daughter.
Jacob L. Shook, our subject, worked at the
carpenter and joiner's trade until seventeen years of age, when he
was appointed, by Gov. Bishop, a guard at the Ohio state
penitentiary, a position he held for two years, four months and
eleven days, and located at Lima, Ohio, where he bought, with his
savings, four town lots, from the sale of which he netted $2,500,
and thus profit he invested, some six years ago, in his present
business, which has been a source of profit to him up to the
present time. In 1894 he bought a farm of ninety acres in
Adams county, Ind., to which he expects to remove in 1896, and
follow agriculture for the remainder of his life. He married
in Allen county, October 12, 1878, Miss Mary J. Baker,
a native of the county, born September 21, 1858, and a
daughter of Jacob L. and Mary (Grubb) Baker, and to
this union have been born the following children: Howard
C. and Ada, deceased, Edith G., Jacob L. G., and
Nettie M. The father of Mrs. Shook was born in
Washington county, Pa., and the mother in Morgan county, Ohio, and
since their marriage have always been identified with Allen
county. Mr. Grubb was an eloquent and successful
minister in the German Baptist church, in which the major portion
of his life was passed, and in the ministry of which he died
December 14, 1893. In politics he was a democrat. To
his marriage were born children as follows: Addison (deceased),
Andrew M., James I., Jacob M. (deceased), Mary J. and
Minnie (deceased).
Mr. Shook is a self-made man, all he owns being a
result of his well directed toil and good management. In
politics he is a democrat, and with his wife is a member of the
German Baptist church, the teachings of which have been the
guiding rules of his life. Fraternally he is a member of
lodge No. 581, I. O. O. F., and socially he and wife are held in
high esteem by the community in which they live.
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 |
PETER SNYDER,
farmer, P. O. Lima, was born in Livingston County, N. Y., August
13, 1820, son of Philip and Mary (Sharpsteen) Snyder,
former a blacksmith by trade, and a son of Philip Snyder. a
native of Germany. Our subject's maternal grandfather was John
Sharpsteen, a farmer by occupation. Peter Snyder
was but four years of age when his father died, and at the age of
twelve years he came to Trumbull County, Ohio, with his brother.
Lorenzo, with whom he lived about a year. After that he worked by
the month on a farm during the summer, attending school winters,
until nineteen years of age. In 1839 he came to Allen County,
where he worked by the month, in Bath Township, for several years.
About 1849 he bought a farm of forty acres, now known as the
Hiram Prottsman farm,
"a part of which he cleared and afterward added 100 acres to. Here
he resided for several years, and then removed to Shawnee
Township, this county, on what is now known as the ; John Breese
farm." In 1862 he sold out and returned to Bath Township,
and bought the farm on Section 3 (now occupied by his son
George), living there until 1875, when he purchased the farm
on Findlay Road where he now resides. Our subject has been twice
married, his first wife being Clarinda, daughter of
Uriah and Betsey (Doud) Edgecomb,
who settled in Bath Township, this county, in 1S32, and by this
union there were born eleven children : Joseph (deceased),
Marilla (wife of S.F. Mason). William
(deceased), George, Amy (wife of M. D. Mason),
Walter, Henrietta (wife of Charles
Shinabery), Newton, Jasper, Cassius C. and Anna
(wife of John Prottsman).
His present wife was Mrs. Ellen Kollor, widow
of George W. Kollor, and daughter of John and
Arzilla (Minnis) Baker, of Bath, by whom he
has seven children: Alta, Ida M., Delia, Edward, James, Laura
and Ada. Two of Mr. Snyder's sons by his
first marriage, Josiah and William, died in the
service of the Union during the late war of the Rebellion.
Josiah was in the Ninety-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and
William in the Eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mr.
Snyder has been trustee of Bath Township for several terms.
In politics he is a Republican.
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Pages 587 & 588) |
BENJAMIN
F. SOUTHWORTH, farmer, P. O. Southworth, was born in
Clark Co., Ohio, Jan. 12, 1828, son of Benjamin P. and Annie
(Stacy) Southworth, natives of Vermont and who were parents
of six children, of whom but four grew to maturity. The
father died in 1868, the mother's death having occurred about
ten years previously. Our subject was raised on a farm and
received a common school education. He came to this county
with his parents in December, 1835, and has always followed the
occupation of a farmer. He was married, Dec. 13, 1849, to
Elizabeth Sawmiller, born in Putnam County, Ohio, Dec.
20, 1827, and by this union are three children now living:
Enos H., Susan (wife of William Lutz), and
Josephine (wife of Eugene Grieser). Mr.
Southworth entered upon his career in life with but money
enough to buy ten acres of land, but through habits of industry
and economy has accumu7lated some property, being considered one
amongst the prosperous farmers of the township. The
railway station and postoffice near his farm are named in his
honor. During the late war of the Rebellion Mr.
Southworth served his country three years, having enlisted
in Company B, McLaughlin's Squadron. He is a
Republican in politics.
Source: History of Allen
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co.,
1885 - Page 567) |
SIMON
SPELLACY - One of the most active, useful and prominent
citizens of the town of Lima, Allen county, Ohio, is Mr.
Simon Spellacy, a native of Glen Falls, N. Y., and a son of
John and Ellen (Byrne) Spellacy, the former of whom was
born in county Clare, and the latter in county Wexford, Ireland.
John Spellacy came to the United States in 1832 with his
parents, who settled in Glen Falls, N. Y. The father
of John Spellacy was also named John and he spent
the remainder of his life, after coming to this country, at
Glens Falls. There John, the father of the subject
of this narrative, was reared and educated, his education
consisting of such instruction as could then be obtained in the
old log schoolhouse of that early day. Completing his
education, he was apprenticed to a cooper and learned that trade
in Williamsburg, now the eastern division of Brooklyn, Long
Island, with a Mr. Polhemus, for whom he subsequently
became foreman. In 1852 Mr. Polhemus
purchased a tract of timber land in Crawford County, Pa.
and upon it erected a saw-mill, placing the entire plant in
charge of Mr. Spellacy, which position he filled four
years. At the end of this period, in connection with his
brother Simon, he purchased the property and the
business, and they operated it together until about the close of
the late war, when John Spellacy purchased his brother's
interest, and alone conducted the business until 1873, when,
owning to the depression of the times, he was compelled to make
an assignment. Since then he has not been engaged in
active business, but has lived retired. In 1894 Mr.
Spellacy moved to Saint Mary's, Ohio, where he now resides.
Politically he was a democrat until 1873, when, in common with a
large number of citizens of this country, he became convinced
that an increase in the circulating medium would be beneficial
to the entire country, and became identified with the greenback
party, taking an active interest in its work. In his
religious belief he is a Catholic, but accords to all the
privilege of choosing for themselves, or not choosing at all,
the church to which they shall belong. His family consists
of the following children: Martin, now residing in
Indiana; Simon, the subject of this sketch; Timothy,
of Saint Mary's Ohio; Catherine, in Chicago; Michael,
in Indiana; Peter, of Lima, and Mary, wife
of Judge Mooney, of Saint Mary's.
Simon Spellacy, our immediate subject, was born
in Glenn Falls, N. Y., in 1853. He was reared in
Conneautsville,* Pa., and educated in the common schools of that
vicinity. Remaining with his father until 1876, he then
went to the oil fields of Bradford and Butler counties, Pa.,
where he was actively engaged in the production of oil until
1881, during which year he went to Smith's Basin, N. Y., as
manager of the company's store for the Keenan Lime company,
retaining this position until 1887. Removing then to Lima,
Ohio, he established himself in the grocery business, which
business he ahs since conducted. Politically Mr.
Spellacy is a democrat, and ahs been an active and
influential member of his party in Lima, which in 1893 honored
him by electing him to the city council from the Fourth ward, a
position which he filled with credit to himself and general
satisfaction to his party friends. In his religious
convictions he is a Catholic, and is a member of Saint Rose
Roman Catholic church. Mr. Spellacy was married in
1884 to Miss Eleanor, daughter of Adam and Mary Kline,
of Batavia, Ohio, by whom he has the following children:
Kline, Cecilia, Louisa, Eleanor, and Grace. Mr.
Spellacy is one of Lima's most progressive and enterprising
citizens, and is always ready with his means and influence to
promote all the local interests of the city of Lima and county
of Allen.
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896
*(Sharon Wick's Note: Conneautsville
is actually spelled Conneautville) |
Spencer Twp. -
HENRY
STAUB, retired minister, Spencerville. was born in
Germany, April 22, 1809, and is the second in the family of five
children of Peter and Margaret (Gildner) Staub. He received
his education in his native land, and immigrated to America in
1832, locating in Baltimore, Md., where he engaged in preaching in
the United Brethren Church for ten years. Until 1850 his duties
took him to several counties of Pennsylvania. He was then sent as
a missionary to Ohio, and located at Circleville. After preaching
there two years he became editor of a German paper, which position
he filled about five years—then, for three years, he again
followed his calling. In 1861 he removed to Spencerville where he
united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and became a local
elder, since when he has preached as occasion demanded. In
addition to his other interests he owns a farm and has engaged
more or less in agricultural pursuits, but to a certain extent he
has now retired from active life. Mr. Staub was married,
October 28. 1832, in Baltimore, Md.. to Miss Hannah Hanes,
who died April 28, 1854, leaving to his care seven children:
Annie. George Henry (died at Dayton, Ohio, from
disease contracted while in the army), Sarah, William O.
(killed at Chattanooga during the war). Mary, Carrie
and Josephine. Our subject was again married, January 12,
1860, this time to Henriette Myers, who was born in
Germany. November 22, 1839; to them have been given six children:
Dixie. Grant S., Minnie, and three who died in infancy.
Mrs. Staub was brought to America when but eight years of age.
by her parents—Frederick and Charlotte (Brandt) Myers
(both now deceased), who settled in Dayton, Ohio. Mr.
Staub was one of the first councilmen at the incorporation of
the town, and has held other minor township offices. In politics
he is a strong advocate of the principles of the Republican party.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio -
Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 - Page 813 |
ANDREW
STEMEN, farmer, P. O. Elida, is a native of Fairfield
County, Ohio, born in 1825, son of Peter and Mary (Blosser)
Stemen. who were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania
respectively; they were married in Fairfield County, Ohio, and
came to Marion Township, this county, in 1838, where they lived
and died. Our subject, who is the eldest in their family, was
married, January 27,1848, to Miss Jane Sakemiller
of Sugar Creek Township, born in 1827 in Fairfield County, Ohio,
daughter of Jacob and Rachael (Fry)
Sakemiller (both now deceased), natives of Pennsylvania, and
of German descent, and who came to this county in 1831. To our
subject and wife have been born twelve children: Isaac,
Mary, Rachel, Jacob, Peter (deceased),
Andrew, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Anna, Samson,
Simeon and Noah. Mr. and Mrs.
Stemen are members of the Mennonite Church.
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 |
| CHRISTIAN STEMEN -
see Source #1- Samuel P. Stemen |
| ISAAC W. STEMEN - See
Peter Stemen below here. |
| J. B. STEMEN - see
Samuel A. Stemen |
JOHN M. STEMEN, deceased, was an old pioneer of
Washington township, Van Wert county, and was born in Fairfield
county, Ohio, Aug. 13, 125, a son of Christian and Margaret
(Moyer) Stemen, of Pennsylvania - Dutch descent. At the
age of about nine years he was taken to Allen county by his
father, and was there educated in the district schools, as well
as instructed in the mysteries of farming. At about thirty
years of age, Nov. 15, 1855, he married, in Allen county, Miss
Lydia E. Myers, who was born in Fairfield county, September 14,
1839, a daughter of Levi and Rachael (Spitler) Myers, the former
of whom was a son of Daniel Myers, the former of whom was a son
of Daniel Myers, who was also of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, a
substantial farmer of Fairfield county, Ohio, and the father of
fifteen children, of whom fourteen lived to adult age and one to
adolescence, and were named as follows: Nancy, Fanny, Inda,
Mary, Rebecca, Lee, Caroline, Elizabeth (died at fourteen),
Reuben, Etta, Samuel, Levi, Daniel, Noah and Joseph.
The father of this family died in Fairfield county at an
advanced age, a member of the German church.
Levi Myers, the father of Mrs. Lydia E.
Stemen, married in Fairfield county, and had born to this
union with Rachael Spitler seven children, viz:
Aaron, Caroline, Lydia E., Alvina, Louis H., Noah and
David Y., all born in Fairfield county, where the father
owned a fertile farm of eighty acres. In 1852 he moved to
Allen County, Ohio, and settled on a farm of eighty acres in
Sugar Creek township, which had been partly cleared, and which
he afterward made into a good farm and cultivated until his
death, at the comparatively early age of forty-one years, a
member of the German Reform church. Of his sons, Aaron
served during the Civil war, about one year, in an Ohio
regiment; Louis served three years in the Ninety-ninth
Ohio infantry, and Noah, when a lad of eighteen, served
about six months.
John M. Stemen, after marriage, settled,
September 11, 1856, on the farm now occupied by his widow.
The tract comprised ninety-five acres of dense woodland, on
which he built a log cabin, which is still standing. But
he was an industrious, hard-working man and changed his
primitively rude condition of things to one of comfort and
beauty. To himself and wife were born eight children, viz:
David B., Mary A., Martha A. (who died at the age of
twenty-two years), William E., Louis H. (who died when
twenty-five years old), Benjamin F., and two that died in
infancy. The death of Mr. Stemen took place at the
age of fifty years on his farm, October 9, 1875, in the faith of
the Lutheran church, and in politics a democrat. He was a
kind and affectionate husband and father, a good farmer and
obliging neighbor, and a patriotic and useful citizen, whose
death was deeply deplored by his sorrowing family and a large
circle of friends.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Stemen
managed the farm with care and prudence and reared her children
to become respected members of society, giving them all good
educations and thoroughly preparing them for the duties of life.
Mary A., now twenty-one years old, is an accomplished
school-teacher; David B. is united in marriage with
Mary E. Bressler, lives on the home farm, and is the father
of six children; Mary A. is married to James Wallace,
of Ridge township, Van Wert county, and is the mother of two
children; William E. married Leah Stemen, is a
farmer of Ridge township and is the father of one child.
Mrs. Stemen is a devout member of the Methodist church,
and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends, who truly
honor her for her many motherly, neighborly and christian
virtues.
(
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 - Pg. 742) |
PETER STEMEN
was born September 15, 1802, and died in October 1881, at the
age of seventy-nine years. He was born in Rockingham
county, Va., and in 1807, his parents, Peter and Margaret,
came to Fairfield county, Ohio, where they lived until 1838.
He was brought up on a farm, and November 25, 1824, was married
to Miss Mary Blosser, who was born in Fayette county,
Pa., May 12, 1807, and was the daughter of Isaac and
Elizabeth Blosser. Peter and his wife, Mary,
had a family of eight children: Andrew, Benjamin, John
(deceased), Mary M., Peter (deceased), Isaac W.,
Elizabeth and Christian. When the parents of these
children came to Allen county, Ohio, they located on a tract of
160 acres of unimproved land, excepting a few acres, and here
the father spent the remainder of his life, following farming as
an occupation. He was a Mennonite in religious faith, a
republican in politics, and held the office of township trustee
for a number of years. Tow of his sons served in the
rebellion - John and Christian. The latter served
about nine months, toward the close of the war, in the One
Hundred and Seventy-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was
corporal of the guard.
ISAAC W.
STEMEN, with whom this sketch will now deal, was born in
Fairfield county, Ohio, February 6, 1837. His parents came
to Allen county in 1838 and located on a farm in Marion
township. When Isaac grew up he followed
farming, obtaining a fair education in the public schools.
In later years he was in the employ of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne
& Chicago Railroad company, a part of the time, and for the past
ten years he has followed the trade of carpentering. He
was married, March 7, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Cochren,
daughter of James and Isabella Cochren, daughter of
James and Isabella (Sunderland) Cochren, both deceased, the
mother dying in October, 1880, at the age of sixty-four years
and the father in June, 1893, at the very advanced age of
eighty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac W. Stemen
are the parents of five children: Mary E., wife of
A. L. Brower, of Iowa; Sidney G., a teacher in
Shenandoah, Page county, Iowa; Orlando, at home; Ada
B., a home, a school-teacher; Frank F., a
school-teacher by profession but now a student of the Lima
college, further preparing himself for his chosen calling.
Politically Mr. Stemen is an ardent prohibitionist and he
and his family are members of the United Brethren church.
He is a man who believes in making things move, is always
prepared to give a "boost" when needed, and is withal an active,
progressive man, imbued with vim and vigor of the kind that
succeeds without unnecessary delay.
(
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 - Pg.496) |
SAMUEL A. STEMEN
is one of the representative citizens of German township,
Allen county, Ohio, and a conspicuous figure in Elida, where he
now resides. He was born in Marion township, December 8,
1851, and is the son of JOHN B.
and Mary J. (Myers) Stemen, natives of Fairfield
and Marion counties, Ohio. The father died January 10,
1865, at the age of thirty-four years, while a soldier in the
war of the Rebellion; the mother was a teacher in early life,
she is now living in Warren county, Iowa. The family of
Stemen, or Stehmann, are supposed to be of German
extraction. JOHN B. was the
second son of Peter and Mary Stemen, who had eight
children. John B. became father of nine children,
six boys and three girls.
Samuel A. Stemen was born and
lived on the farm until thirteen years of age, when he began
clerking in a store in Lacona, Iowa, where he remained for four
years. After this he was six months on a farm in Neosho
county, Kans., and a year in driving cattle from Texas to
Kansas, and a year clerking in a store at Tioga, now Chamute,
Kans., after which experience he returned to Ohio in 1871, and
located in Elida, where he spent two years in a saw-mill -
afterward renting the plant and operating it until 1887, when,
in company with J. R. Brenneman, he purchased it, and
together operated it until March, 1895, when they sold out the
business. In 1881, Mr. Stemen associated himself in
the mercantile business with C. B. Rice, the partnership
lasting two years, when Mr. Rice withdrew and Messrs,
Brenneman & Stemen constituted the firm until October 9,
1893, when Mr. Stemen became sold proprietor, conducting
the home mill until June, 1894, when he sold out to S. R.
Stemen. However, he still owned a stock of drugs,
which he disposed of last year (1895) and sold the saw-mill, but
retained a half-interest in a ill three miles west of Elida.
A new enterprise now claims his attention. On December 1,
1894, in company with C. H. Mosier he engaged in the Wind
Engine and Auburn Engine and Demming Pump company.
Mr. Stemen was married Aug. 3, 1873, to
Miss Ollie Burdge, daughter of Newton
and Lockey Burdge. She died January
10, 1877, at the age of twenty-three years. Two children
were born to them, both dying in infancy. He next married,
September, 15, 1878; his present wife's maiden name was
Saloma J. Kirocofe, daughter of Henry and Delilah (Huffer)
Kiracofe. She was a native of Allen county, and was
born July 12, 1860; eight children have blessed this union:
Myrtie M., Mary, Lena L., Elva D., Nina A., Floyd K.
(deceased), Thomas R. and Clarence B. Mr. and
Mrs. Stemen are worthy and faithful members of the United
Brethren church, of which Mr. Stemen is a trustee and has
been superintendent of the Sunday-school for the past sixteen
years. When the division of the United Brethren church
occurred, Mr. Stemen's sympathy and support was cast
with the Radicals. He is an anti-saloon man and is
bitterly opposed to all things in the shape of intemperance.
He has also the courage of his convictions and does not hesitate
to declare himself on this important subject. In
conclusion we may say that the Stemen family are among
the substantial residents of the county and all are well known
as men of unquestioned integrity and honesty, and are good
business men and equally good neighbors and citizens.
(
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 - Pg. 499) |
SAMUEL P. STEMEN
- The Stemen family is an ancient one in the United
States. While there appears to be no positive historical
knowledge upon its origin, yet it is believed that its first
American ancestor came from Germany. The first reliable
history of the family that has as yet been discovered is in the
old family Bible which was purchased by CHRISTIAN
STEHMANN, as the name is spelled in that old Bible, in
December, 1770. In this Bible there is a family record
which states that Christian Stehmann was born in the year
of Christ, May, 28, 1757, and that he was married to Miss
Hannah Barin, April 1, 1770, her birth being given as on
April 18, 1750. To them there were born eleven children,
of whom Peter, the eldest, was born January 2, 1771, and
Maria, the youngest, was born February 6, 1796. The
intermediate children, in the order of their births, were as
follows: Christian born April 18, 1773; Henry,
May 26, 1775; Anna, October 5, 1777; John, April
17, 1780; Samuel, November 12, 1782; Francis,
January 5, 1786; Johanna, May, 1788; Elizabeth,
June 24, 1791, and Michael, January 21, 1794.
CHRISTIAN STEHMANN the father of this numerous
family, it is believed, was born near Red Stone, Rockingham
county, Va. In 1803, in company with a number of his
family, he moved to Fairfield county, Ohio, where they all began
to clear away the timber and to make homes for themselves.
Here he lived until after the death of his wife, which occurred
July 15, 1834, she being then eighty-four years, two months and
twenty-seven days old. He then removed to Allen county, to
his son, Rev. Henry Stemen's home, where he died August
28, 1844, he was ninety-seven years old, and was buried in the
graveyard near the Mennonite church. Mrs. Stemen
was buried in what is known as the Stewart graveyard in
Fairfield county. When this ancient patriarch was born the
name was recorded in the old family Bible, above mentioned, and
was spelled "Stehmann," but when the record of his death
was made it was spelled "Stemen," so that the change in
spelling of the name was made during his lifetime.
Peter Stemen, the eldest son of the above,
mentioned Christian Stemen, was born January 2, 1771.
He married Miss Magdalena Swick, by whom he had three
sons, viz: Christian, born in Rockingham county,
Va., Apr. 23, 1779; John, born in the same county,
September 12, 1780, and Peter, born September 15, 1802.
CHRISTIAN
STEMEN, the eldest of these three sons, moved with his
parents to Fayette County, Pa., and in 1807 removed with them to
Fairfield county, Ohio, where he resided until December 13,
1821, when he was married to Miss Margaret Moyer,
removing immediately thereafter to Perry county, Ohio, and after
a short residence there returning to Fairfield county. In
1834 he purchased a tract of land - not a farm, for it was all
timbered land - in Sugar Creek township, Allen county, where he
lived the rest of his days, earnestly striving to improve his
farm and his condition in life, and enduring all the privations
and hardships incident to the life of a pioneer. But in
all his trials and struggles he was nobly aided by his faithful
wife. He was one of the best of men, universally honored
and loved; kind-hearted and tender, always having a word of
cheer for all he met. He was twice elected county
commissioner for Allen county, and filled the office with credit
to himself and with satisfaction to those interested in the
manner in which his duties were performed. He lived upon
his farm until April 16, 1865, when he died, his wife having
died a few months before, on December 1, 1864.
Samuel P. Stemen, the eldest son of Christian
Stemen, whose life has been briefly outlined above, was born
in Rush Creek township, Fairfield county, Ohio, October 24,
1822. He removed in 1834, when he was twelve years of age,
with his father, from Fairfield county to Allen county, and he
is thus one of the oldest settlers and continuous residents of
the county. He well remembers the journey, which was made
by horses and wagons, when there were no roads through the
wilderness, and their way had to be cut through for miles in
order to reach the tract of land destined for their occupation,
on Hogg Creek, in German township, where the father had
purchased 146 acres of land in the woods, with no neighbors,
except Indians, with whom to associate. Young Stemen
had but few educational advantages in the wild region, but he
succeeded in learning the cabinet-maker's trade and in becoming
a good farmer. September 7, 1847, he was united in
marriage, in German township, with Miss Isabelle Spangler,
who was born in Fairfield county in January, 1831, a daughter of
Samuel and Mary (Lutz) Spangler - Samuel Spangler
being a native of Pennsylvania and a pioneer of Allen county,
Ohio. After his marriage Mr. Stemen settled on his
present farm, which then comprised sixty acres, but of which he
has disposed of twenty acres, as forty were as many as he cared
to handle. As usual with those who settled in the woods,
he assiduously set to work and cleared up a farm, which in due
course of time rivaled that of any of his neighbors. The
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stemen were ten in number
and were named: Catherine, Mary, Daniel, William, John,
Sallie Laura Bell, Lydia A., and two that died young.
The father, mother and elder children were all hard workers and
lent willing hands towards building up a home, and it is related
that the eldest daughter, after her father had enlisted to aid
in saving the Union, put on her father's ants and went into the
field to plow.
September 8, 1863, Mr. Stemen enlisted in
company H, Capt. Isaac Patrick, Fifty-first Ohio national
guard, in Sugar Creek township, for five years, but was
honorably discharged to be mustered in as corporal, May 2, 1864,
into the United States service, with a volunteer regiment, but
was again honorably discharged, August 27, 1864, after having
defended Washington, D. C. On his return home Mr.
Stemen again turned all his attention to the cultivation of
his farm and to the rearing of this family, and has proven
himself to be, under all circumstances, a good and true citizen.
October 2, 1885, Mrs. Stemen died in that faith of the
United Brethren Church, of which she has long been a pious
member. Mr. Stemen is also a member of this
religious organization, and in 18559 was made its first trustee,
and is still in office. He is noted for his strict
integrity and for his industry and devotion to his calling and
to his family. All he has is the result of his own labors
and that of his lamented wife, assisted by the children, and he
is now living in the enjoyment of compensative opulence,
respected by everybody in his neighborhood.
(
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio -
Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 - Pg. 497) |
SAMUEL
STEMEN, farmer, P. O. Elida, was born in Fairfield County,
Ohio, September 21, 1821; son of Henry and Mary (Beery) Stemen,
natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively, and who came to
Allen County, Ohio, in 1841, where they both died. Our subject was
married, October 3. 1841, to Magdalena Hilyard, of
Fairfield County, Ohio, a native of Fayette County, Penn., born
May 3. 1820, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth A..
(Haught) Hilyard, who were natives of Fayette County, Penn.,
where they married; they moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, in an
early day and there died. To our subject and wife have been born
twelve children: Elizabeth, Isaac B., Mary, Henry S.,
Anna, George W., Magdalena, Samuel H., Jane, Catharine, Jessie J.,
and Charles A., all now living except Elizabeth,
Anna and George. Mr. Stemen has served in
some of the township offices. In politics he is a Democrat. Mrs.
Stemen is a member of the Mennonite Church.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio -
Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 |
Jackson Twp. -
JACOB STEMPLE, farmer, P. O. Ada, Hardin
County, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, July 28, 1827.
Jacob Stemple, father of our subject, was a native of
Virginia, born in 1792. He served in the war of 1812,
under Gen. Harrison, and was captain of early militia
companies of Carroll and Columbia Counties, where he removed
from Virginia in 1816; was also a justice of the peace several
years. He died in 1859. Eve Easterday, his
wife was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1797; died in 1850.
They were parents of eleven children: Catherine, Susan
(deceased), Martin, David, Jacob, Louisa (deceased),
Eve, Melancton (deceased), Levi, Barbara and
Milton (the latter served three years in the war of the
Rebellion in the Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry), and
David, who is now a resident of Carroll County, Ohio, was in
the 100 days' service Ohio National Guards, with our subject.
Jacob Stemple, Jr., remained with his parents until he
was twenty-five years of age, at which time he entered on his
career in life as a farmer. He came to this county in
1849, and located on land he had purchased from his father, to
whom the land grant was made in 1835. He has improved a
farm of 120 acres, having placed the same under a high state of
cultivation. During the Rebellion, Mr. Stemple
enlisted in Company G, and was soon transferred to Company A,
One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio National Guards, in 100 days'
service, under command of Col. Marble, of Delphos, Ohio,
with Capt. King, and was stationed at Fort Reno, in
defence of Washington. Our subject was married, Mar. 5,
1855, to Miss Mary Earnst, who was born in Carroll
County, Ohio, May 21, 1835. She has born him ten children:
Elizabeth A. (wife of J. H. Smith) , Luther M.
(deceased), Milton A. (married to Jennie Shaw),
John L., Margaret L. (wife of S. Snyder), Emma S.,
Clara A. (wife of F. Jennings), Sarah J., Mary L.
and Jacob O. Mrs. Stemple is a daughter of
Lazarus and Margaret (Harsh) Earnst, natives of Maryland and
Pennsylvania respectively, early settlers of Carroll County,
Ohio, parents of nine children: Hannah (deceased),
Nancy, Daniel (deceased), Susan, Abraham,
John (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Mary
and Sarah (latter deceased).. Mr. Stemple
has been a consistent member of the Lutheran Church since 1843.
In politics he was originally a Whig, but has been adherent of
the Republican party since its organization.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio -
Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 - Page 614 |
THE
STEWART FAMILY, alluded to above (Refers to Charles C.
Post family), was represented among the very earliest settlers
of Allen county, Ohio; by William and Samuel, who
came to this county in 1824. They were natives of
Pennsylvania and were of a family of ten children. Their
parents were Mathias and Elizabeth Stewart.
Samuel Stewart was born in Lycoming county, Pa.,
grew to manhood in Champaign county, Ohio, where he was married,
and two years after that event, came with his wife and one child,
to Amanda township, and entered a tract of land in section No. 9,
where his daughter, Mrs. Leonides Post now
lives. His brother William entered land at the same
time, adjoining him on the west. Here they made homes and
spent the balance of their lives. Four children were born to
Samuel, viz: Thomas, Elizabeth, Eliza J. and
Matthew; the last named died in childhood, as did Thomas.
Samuel Stewart was a man of rare and noble qualities - was
open-hearted and generous and ever ready to lend a helping hand
whenever needed. He was public spirited and enterprising and
was among the first in all good works and undertakings, and was
one of the first board of county commissioners of Allen county.
His first wife dying, he was married a second time, and to this
marriage two children were born, but both died in infancy.
Mrs. Post's mother's name was Thomas and her father,
Capt. Thomas, was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was
afterward killed by the Indians in Logan county, Ohio, near
Bellefontaine, about 1815.
(
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co.,
1896) |
ALBERT
G. STEWART, attorney at law, Lima, was born Nov. 17,
1827, in Dundaff, Susquehanna Co., Penn., son of Ezra and
Sarah A. (Brown) Stewart, natives of Connecticut, and who
came to Ohio in 1824, thence moved to Pennsylvania, and
subsequently returned to New Haven, Huron Co., Ohio, in 1840, of
which county Ezra Stewart was associate judge for a
number of years. In 1861 Ezra was elected a member
of the Legislature, and served two terms. He died at
Plymouth, Ohio. His children were nine in number, six of
whom are now living: O. F., in Shelby, Ohio; Edwin E.,
in Toledo, Ohio; Mrs. Sophia W., Portello, a
widow, residing in Lima; Ellen, wife of Al Cleland,
in Shiloh, Richland Co., Ohio; Albert G. and Charles
W., in Plymouth, Ohio. Our subject, the fourth born,
received his early education in Norwalk, Huron Co., Ohio.
He commenced the study of law, in 1855, with John W.
Beekman, and was admitted to the bar at Norwalk, Ohio, in
1857, and began the practice of his profession in Huron County,
where he remained for two years. He then moved to Buffalo,
and commenced a mercantile life, continuing in the produce
business there for ten years. He removed to Hillsdale,
Mich., in 1868, and for ten years was interested in the produce
business there. In May, 1878, he came to Lima, again
resumed the practice of law, and opened an office, and in
November, 1883, formed his present partnership with C. F.
Bryan, and they are now doing business under the firm name
of Stewart & Bryan. Mr. Stewart was married
in New Haven, Huron Co., Ohio, September 16, 1847, to Miss
Elizabeth, daughter of J. W. Johnston, of Huron
County, and by this union there are three children: Frank M.
president of the First National Bank at Hillsdale, Mich.;
Frank M., president of the First National Bank at Hillsdale,
Mich.; Charles F., cashier in same bank; and Edmond E.,
who was fifteen years of age Oct. 1, 1884, and is living with
his parents, attending school.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio -
Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 - Page 727 |
CHARLES F. STOCKLER, a highly respected citizen
of Bluffton, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, is a
native of Joseph and Elizabeth (Brokel) Stockler.
Joseph Stockler died in Germany, a member of the Catholic
church.
Charles F. Stockler was born Oct. 13, 1834, was
reared on his father's farm, and received a common-school
education in his native country coming to the united States
after both his father and mother had died, they dying when he
was about seventeen years of age. He embarked, in 1854, at
Antwerp, in a sailing vessel, the good ship Amarcand, and was
forty-two days on the sea. He landed in New York, having
come in company with two cousins, Alexis Obert, who
served three years in the army, and John Brokel, both
young men reaching the hospitable shores of the United States,
the entire party had left but $2.50. They found work at
Utica, N. Y., on the New York Central railroad, and then at
Lyons, and after six months' labor of this kind they came on
west to Cleveland, Ohio. He worked on farms in various
parts of the state of Ohio until the breaking out of the war,
when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged to work for the
government at driving and breaking mules. This he
continued to do until Feb. 10, 1865, when he enlisted in company
I, Fifty-fifth regiment of Kentucky mounted infantry. He
was promoted to fourth corporal and acted as commissary
sergeant, serving in this capacity until the close of the war.
He was in the battle of Stone River and a number of skirmishes
in Kentucky and Tennessee. Being injured by being thrown
from a horse on the turnpike between Georgetown and Mount
Sterling, he went to hospital No. 11, at Louisville, where he
remained four weeks. The previous season he had lain in
the same hospital two weeks, sick with ague. Mr.
Stockler was always an active soldier when in health, was
always on duty, and in all the battles and campaigns of the war
in which his regiment participated. He was honorably
discharged at Louisville, Ky., Sept. 19, 1865, the war having
come to an end.
Mr. Stockler was
married May 29, 1859, at Urbana, Ohio, to Clarissa C. Henkle,
who was born at Urbana, Sept. 9, 1839, and is a daughter of
FLETCHER and Emily (Sampson)
HENKLE, the former of whom was born
in Virginia, of an old colonial family of German descent.
He was a wagon-maker by trade and move to Urbana when a young
man. His wife was born in Cincinnati, and her people, the
Sampsons, were among the first settlers of Urbana.
She and husband were the parents of the following children:
John, Clarissa C., William B., Mattie, Kate, Henry and
Molly. Mrs. Henkle died in Chicago in 1891, aged about
eighty-two years, having moved to that city about 1873 and
engaged in gardening. He was an industrious man, esteemed
by all for his upright and honest course of life. Both he
and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in
which he was a class leader and exhorter for some ears. He
was a republican in politics and had two sons in the Civil war -
William B. and Henry - in Ohio regiments, the
former in the 100-day service, and the latter in the one-year
service. Mr. Henkle was a strong Union man, and a
man of sterling character.
Mr. and Mrs. Stockler settled in Urbana, Ohio,
remaining there until 1864, where they removed to Ada, Ohio.
Later they removed to a farm lying a short distance west of Fort
Wayne, and moved to their present farm in 1869. To them
there have been born ten children as follows: - Albert E.,
Ida M., Enos H., Henry (who died in infancy), Lizzie,
Mollie, Frank V., Estelle, Tima, and Ross E. Mr.
Stockler has given all his children a good education, four
of them being school-teachers - Lizzie, Mollie, Frank and
Estelle. Frank is now attending the Normal
school at Ada, Ohio, with the view of better preparing himself
for his work in the teachers' profession. Lizzie
married Prof. Noah Stull,
principal of the high school at Spencerville, Ohio. He is
a member of the county board of examiners, and she has taught in
the graded schools for ten years. Mollie married
Bert Hawk, of LaFayette, Ohio. She taught in graded
schools for five years. Estelle has been teaching
at Beaver Dam two years. Mr. Stockler is a
republican in politics, and is a member of Ada lodge, No. 343,
F. & A. M. Mr. and Mrs. Stockler are among the most
highly respected people of their township, and he has always
been an industrious, energetic and successful man.
Assisted by his faithful wife he has reared a family of
children, all of whom maintain honorable and responsible
positions in the community, and are most useful men and women.
The Henkles are descended from old Revolutionary
stock - directly from County Henkle, an officer in the
Revolutionary Army. The Sampsons were English
Puritans and of ancient New England stock, from near Boston,
Mass. Calvin Sampson, the maternal grandfather of
Mrs. Stockler, was one of the pioneers of Cincinnati,
Ohio. He went down the Ohio river on a flat-boat with his
family, and became one of the first merchants of Cincinnati,
where his father was the first wholesale merchant.
Hepzabel Leftbridge married Calvin Sampson and lived
to be ninety-two years old, and was blind the last fifteen years
of her life. The Sampsons were among the early
settlers of Urbana, and also among the first merchants of that
place.
(
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 - pg.
504) |
PROF.
NOAH H. STULL, superintendent of the public schools of
Spencerville, Ohio, ranks among the first educators of the
state. Mr. Stull has been located at this place for
the past nine years as teacher and superintendent, having begun
his work here in the autumn of 1887. He was born at
Huntsville, Logan county, Ohio, Sept. 26, 1863, and is the son
of William and Mary (Scott) Stull, natives of
Philadelphia, Pa., and Hardin county, Ohio. The mother
passed away in 1875, at the age of forty-nine years, and the
father died in 1883, at the age of sixty-nine years.
The Stull Family has its origin in Hesse Cassel,
Germany, where the grandfather, Abraham Stull, was born,
where his earlier life was spent, where he married, and where a
part of his family was born. The grandfather was a
distiller by trade, and on coming to America located in
Philadelphia, where he died. He was a magnificent
financier and amassed a large fortune. His private
enterprises were many and prospered under his able and efficient
direction. His family was a large one, for whom he amply
and generously provided. His children settled in Ohio
principally, and became valued citizens of the state. The
father of Supt. N. H. Stull located on a section of land
in the west part of Hardin county, and operated his princely
domain for a few years, when he removed to Huntsville, in Logan
county, and later to Ada, Ohio, where he retired from business,
after having been engaged in railroading successfully for a
number of years. The mother of Supt. Stull
was the daughter of Jonathan Scott, of Irish extraction.
The family of Scott were open-hearted, generous and
hospitable, and their friendships were wide and valuable.
In religion Mr. Stull was a Methodist and a man who
carried his religion into his life and never wore it as a mere
Sunday garment. Nine children were born to him, to all of
whom he gave a good education. The following are their
names: Madison, of Ada, Ohio, a teamster by
occupation; Matilda J., wife of John F. Firestone,
of Welcome, Neb.; Colonel, of Ada, Ohio, one of the
enterprising men of that section; Samantha J., wife of
John F. Miller, of Huntsville, Hardin county; William B.,
a sheep raiser of Australia;
Lena and Ellen, deceased; Squire, a farmer
of Milan, Mo., deceased, and Noah H., the subject of this
biography.
Noah H. Stull was born in Huntsville, Ohio, and
received his education in the union schools of Ada, from which
he graduated in 1882, and also from the Ada Normal school in the
class of 1893. At the age of nineteen he began teaching
and has ever since followed this profession as his occupation.
His work is congenial, which may be the secret of his pronounced
success as an educator. Since his connection with the
Spencerville schools the regular and prescribed course of study
has been adopted, and he has successfully, by degrees,
introduced into his curriculum the advanced principles of
educational work. In 1892 he was made one of the county
school examiners. Politically he is a democrat and
socially a member of the Knights of Pythias of Spencerville
lodge, No. 251.
Aug. 29, 1894, he was united in marriage to Miss
Elizabeth E. Stockler, of Bluffton, Ohio, who had been a
teacher in the Spencerville schools, and since her marriage has
been retained. She is the daughter of Charles F. and
Clarissa (Henkle) Stockler, living near Bluffton, Ohio.
Supt. Stull and Mrs. Stull are both members of the
Methodist church and are esteemed as among the county's most
worthy and respected citizens. It is a pleasure to write
of such people - men and women who make the social and moral
life of a place better for having lived in it.
(
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 - pg. 507) |
FRANK
STUMP, one of the well-known citizens of Delphos, Allen
county, Ohio, and a leading saloon and restaurant proprietor, is
a native of Baden, Germany, where he was born Oct. 17, 1857.
After finishing his education, he served an apprenticeship at
the saddle-maker's trade, and followed that trade in the old
country until 1873, and then came to America. He landed at
New York city, but came direct from that city to Gallion, Ohio,
where two of his uncles were living. He put in two months
and a half at his trade in Gallion, and then he concluded there
was not enough in the saddler's trade, and throwing it up he
learned the machinist's trade, in Gallion. He worked at
the machinist's trade in Gallion until 1879, and then went to
Fort Wayne, Ind., where he worked for two years, going from Fort
Wayne to Bucyrus, Ohio, where, on May 25, 1881, he was married
to Miss Kate Burmoth, of Crestline, Ohio. In
February, 1883, he came to Delphos and went to work in the
Clover Leaf Railroad shops, where he continued until 1890.
Then he spent about eight months in the Lake Erie shops at Lima,
and then engaged in the saloon business at Lima for three years;
returning to Delphos he opened his present place of business on
the west side of Main street, second door from Second streets,
which he purchased from H. W. Bechman. His business
embraces one of the first-class bars and the leading restaurant
in the city where everything can be found to suit the palate of
the most fastidious epicure.
Mr. Stump takes an active interest in the
affairs of Delphos, and formerly was an active worker in the
ranks of the democratic party, but has never held or sought
public office. He is a member of the Odd Fellows,
Machinists' union and the National union, and is, beside, a
member of the Roman Catholic church. Two daughters have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stump - Celia and
Naomi Ruth.
(
Source#1: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 - pg. 508) |
Spencer Twp. -
ROBERT
SUTTON, farmer, P. O. Spencerville, was born in Amanda
Township, this county, November 5, 1841; son of Thomas and
Susan (Kephart) Sutton, natives of Champaign and Montgomery
Counties, Ohio, respectively; the fourth white family to settle in
this county; they were the parents of eight children. Our subject,
the fourth child, was raised on a farm and received a common
school education. He has worked more or less at the carpenter's
trade, but farming has been the principal occupation of his life.
During the late war of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company A,
Eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and three years were spent
in the service of his country. He was married June 21, 1876, to Susan
Baber, born in Amanda Township, October 13, 1849, daughter of
James and Susan (McMiller) Baber, both now deceased. To
Mr. and Mrs. Sutton were born two children: Delbert A.
and John S. Mr. Sutton is a member of Fair
Post G. A. R., also of the I. O. O. F. In his political
convictions he is identified with the Republican party. He came to
Spencer Township in 1876, and his farm was then in a state of
nature. He is an energetic hard-working man, and has made his
property by industry and economy.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio -
Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1885 - Page 814 |
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