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ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO
HISTORY & GENEALOGY


 


BIOGRAPHIES

Source: 
A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen & Putnam Counties, Ohio
Containing Biographical Sketches of Many
Prominent and Representative Citizens,
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the
Presidents of the United States
and Biographies of the
Governors of Ohio
---
Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co.
1896

  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, Sept. 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 of 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 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) BlausserMr. 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 he has 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: A Portrait and Biographical History of Allen and Putnam Counties, Ohio, Publ. 1896 - Part I - Page 487
  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 15, 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., Sept. 10, 1803, came to Ohio about 1815, settled in Pickaway county and died Nov. 1, 1843, a member of the United Brethren church, and in politics a democrat.  He married Susanna East, Sept. 9, 1824.  This lady was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 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 his 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, Oct. 12, 1878, Miss Mary J. Baker, a native of the county, born Sept. 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 Dec. 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 the 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 in high esteem by the community in which they live
Source: A Portrait and Biographical History of Allen and Putnam Counties, Ohio, Publ. 1896 - Part I - Page 488

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