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Biographies
Source: History of Preble County, Ohio -
her people, industries and institutions
by R. E. Lowry
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and
Genealogical Records of Old Families
Illustrated
1915
B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.
Indianapolis, Indiana
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ERNEST R. SHAVER.
Ernest R. Shaver is recognized as one of the energetic,
well known business men of Eaton, Ohio, who, by his enterprise
and progressive methods, has contributed in a material way to
the commercial advancement of the locality where he lives.
He has been successful in the many lines to which his efforts
have been directed, and enjoys a distinctive prestige among the
representative men of his community.
Ernest R. Shaver, who operates an automobile
garage and repair shop in Eaton, Ohio, was born July 4, 1874, in
Washington township, Preble county, Ohio, the son of Madison
and Nancy (Whitesell) Shaver, natives of Virginia and Ohio,
respectively, who were the parents of two children, the other of
whom also was a son, George.
Madison Shaver was reared on a farm in
Roanoke county, Virginia, and, during the Civil War, enlisted
for service in the Confederate army for three years. He
served four years as a private and after the close of the war
came to Ohio and settled in Preble county, where he married and
where he engaged in farming. For the last twenty-five
years he has lived in Eaton, where he has been engaged in
various pursuits.
The paternal grandfather of Ernest R. Shaver was
Adam Shaver, who came to Preble county from
Virginia some years after the close of the Civil War, but moved
to Indiana later, where he lived in Wayne county, near Richmond.
His death occurred there, he being well advanced in years at the
time of his demise; He was the father of Madison,
James, Jacob, Barbara, Lucy and
Margaret.
The maternal grandparents of Ernest R. Shaver
were George and Esther (McCulloch) Whitesell, natives of
Pennsylvania and Indiana, respectively. They died in
Preble county well advanced in years, having reared a family of
six children: John, David, Rhodes, Samuel, Frank
and Nancy.
Ernest R. Shaver was reared on a farm in Preble
county, Ohio. He attended the district schools of his home
neighborhood and was also a student in the Eaton public schools.
After leaving school he followed various pursuits, finally
learning the machinist’s trade, which he has followed ever
since. He operated a bicycle repair shop for eleven years,
but for the past six years has been engaged in the automobile
repair business on East Main street in Eaton.
Mr. Shaver was married Mar. 23, 1908, to
Adaline Ehrhardt, who was born in Eaton, Ohio, the
daughter of Fred and Catherine (Schabell)
Ehrhardt. Her parents have been residents of Eaton
for thirty years, and reared two children, the other of whom
also is a daughter, Gertrude.
Mr. Shaver is a member of Waverley Lodge
No. 143, Knights of Pythias. He is an adherent of the
Democratic party, although he has never been especially active
in political affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Shaver are
popular in Eaton, where they have a large circle of friends, who
admire them for their many good qualities of head and heart.
Source: History of Preble County, Ohio - Illustrated -
1915 - B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana - Page
488 |
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Levi T. Shoemaker Residence |
LEVI T. SHOEMAKER
Source: History of Preble County, Ohio - Illustrated -
1915 - B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana - Page
528 |
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RAY R. SIMPSON.
What historian ever will be able
properly to estimate the influence of "the fourth estate" upon
the development of the remarkable era in which we now are
living? In the attempts being made by the compilers of this
volume to present a fair epitome of the times for the
instruction of the present generations all factors of the common
life of Preble county are taken into account, each being given
due place and weight in making up the balance which shall stand
as a proper reflection of the manners and customs of the people,
with due attention to the individual performances of certain of
the more influential residents of the county, in order that
those of the succeeding generations who are to take up the work
of their day may know something of the manner of the laying of
the substantial cornerstone of the superb structure of
civilization which they, finding still incomplete, shall be
called upon to carry on to a point more near to completion.
In considering these various factors of modern life it were
perhaps invidious to single out any one as being the most
important in the work of erecting civilization's great
superstructure, yet the historian hardly can avoid giving to
“the fourth estate," the honorable and distinguished profession
of journalism, a distinctive position among those beneficent
factors which have gone so far in the labor of bringing mankind
to its present exalted position in the cosmos. The press
of Preble county ever has been alert to the needs of the people
which it so ably serves, and must, in times to come, be given
due credit for much of the present state of advancement which
this favored section enjoys. Among the newspapers of the
county there are few that have created a more distinct impress
upon the several communities they serve than has been created by
the Preble County News, now owned and edited by Ray R.
Simpson, and a history of the times, such as this volume
seeks to present, would not be complete without a brief
biographical sketch of the young editor, a sketch which it is a
pleasure for the biographer here to present.
Ray R. Simpson was born in Richmond, Indiana,
July 10, 1881, the son of Edward and Elma (Stambach) Simpson,
the former of whom was born in New York City and the latter in
Preble county, Ohio, their marriage taking place in Richmond,
Indiana, where their one son and only child, Ray R., the
subject of this biographical sketch, was born. Edward
H. Simpson was a bookkeeper who worked for the I. R.
Howard Grocery Company, a wholesale concern at Richmond, and
whose death occurred in 1883. About two years following
the death of her husband, Mrs. Simpson moved to
Stevens county, Kansas, taking with her her young son, Ray.
After a residence of about four years in Kansas they returned to
Richmond, where Ray received his education and was
graduated from the Richmond high school. His attention
then being attracted to the printing trade, he determined to
become a printer. He remained in Richmond until he had
completed his apprenticeship to the printing trade, when, at the
age of twenty-one, he started out as a journeyman printer.
His first regular work “at the case” was done in Camden, Ohio,
where he worked about a year, after which he followed his trade
in several other cities in Ohio, including Dayton and
Cincinnati. He then went to Oklahoma, in which state he
plied his trade, “the art preservative of all arts,” in Lawton,
later returning to Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he resided
until 1909, when he re- turned to Camden, Ohio, where he took
charge of the Preble County News and edited the paper for five
years for Mr. Irvin, from whom, in 1914 he bought
the paper outright, since which time he has been sole proprietor
and editor. In addition to his editorial duties, Mr.
Simpson is also performing another important service for the
public, acting as township clerk, in which position he is giving
excellent satisfaction.
Mr. Simpson was united in marriage June
15, 1904, with Glenna May, daughter of William
S. and Mary A. (Geeting) May, both of whom were natives of
Preble county, Ohio, where Mrs. Simpson also was
born. William S. May was born Feb. 2, 1843, the
son of John L. and Margaret (McGriff) May, who also were
natives of Preble county, Mrs. Simpson thus being
a representative of the fourth generation of the May
family in this county. Mrs. Simpson’s
mother was born in Preble county Mar. 28, 1850, a daughter of
Simon and Margaret (Slyder) Geeting, both of whom were
natives of Carroll county, Maryland, who came to Montgomery
county, Ohio, first settling on a farm near Germantown, which
they later sold, after which they bought property in Preble
county, on which they located and where they spent the remainder
of their lives, Mr. Geeting dying in 1876, his
wife surviving until 1898.
To William S. and Mary A. (Geeting) May, who
were married Feb. 3, 1870, eight children were born, seven of
whom still are living, as follows: Lora B., born
Nov. 12, 1870, married Murray L. Peters, by whom she had
two children, Homer D. and Edna B. Mr.
Peters died in June, 1910, and Mrs. Peters later
married George Free and lives in Oxford, Ohio;
William, born Oct. 13, 1872, lives in Camden, Ohio;
Lucretia Ellen, born Mar. 15, 1874, married Henry
G. Boesenburg, to whom seven children were born, four of
whom are still living, May L., George, Paul
and Hilda. Mrs. Boesenburg died Sept.
8, 1908; Howard, born Apr. 29, 1876, resides in Camden;
Harry W., born Nov. 26, 1877, also resides in
Camden; Jessie, born Oct. 24, 1882, married Charles
Benson and to them five children were born, all of whom
are living, James Robert, Irene, Pauline,
Charles R. and Jessie M.; Glenna M., born
Nov. 18, 1886, wife of the subject of this biographical
narrative, and Margaret C., born Apr. 15, 1890, who also
resides in Camden.
Phillip May, the paternal
great-grandfather of Mrs. Simpson, was born in
Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and came to Preble county at a very
early date in the settlement of this section of the state.
He was a skilled blacksmith and followed this vocation with
success up to the time of his death. His son, John L.
May, grandfather of Mrs. Simpson, was a farmer
of prominence in this county, whose death occurred Dec. 29,
1906. He was born near Eaton Nov. 1, 1822, and on Apr. 18,
1842, was married to Margaret McGriff, who
survived him about one year, her death occurring in 1907.
William S. May, Mrs. Simpson's
father, was an honored soldier in the Civil War, who is now
living a retired life in Camden, enjoying the fruits of his many
years of industrious activity. On Nov. 27, 1863, he
enlisted in Company D, Thirty-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, in which regiment he did service for the cause of the
Union until the fall of 1864, when he was transferred to Company
C, Eighteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he
served until the close of the war and was discharged from the
service on May 16, 1865, at Chattanooga, Tennessee. After
the war Mr. May returned to his home in Preble
county and resumed farming, which vocation he followed till the
year 1870, when he went into the harness business, opening an
establishment in Camden. He was in business three years at
Camden and then moved to Lewisburg, this county, where he
continued four years. He next removed to Fairhaven, where
he was in business eleven years. He then moved back to
Camden, where he continued in business until 1911, when he
retired.
To Ray R. and Glenna (May) Simpson two children
have been born, Miriam Louise, born Mar. 14, 1906,
and Harry Malcolm, born Jan. 7, 1911, who are a
continual source of sunshine in the happy home of the young
editor and his wife.
Ray R. Simpson, in addition to his editorial and
public duties, finds time for a proper indulgence in the social
and fraternal activities of the town in which his paper takes so
prominent a part in the molding of public opinion, and is found
in the forefront of all movements having to do with the
extension of the public welfare. He is prominent in the
activities of the Masonic order, being a member of the local
lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, as well as a member of
the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the lodge
of the Knights of Pythias in Camden, and a member of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Hamilton, Ohio.
Mr. Simpson’s paper is regarded as a fair
reflector of the current life of the community which it so ably
serves, and under the present management of the young editor is
constantly growing in favor with the people of Preble county.
Source: History of Preble County, Ohio - Illustrated -
1915 - B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana - Page
443 |
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THOMAS S. SKINNER.
The biographies of successful men are incentives to those whose
careers are yet to be achieved. The examples they furnish
of patient purpose and consecutive endeavor strongly illustrate
what is in the power of each to accomplish. Thomas S.
Skinner is a conspicuous example of one who has lived to
good purpose and achieved a definite of success in the sphere
where his talents and energy have been applied.
Thomas S. Skinner was born on Apr. 7, 1857, in
Somers township, Preble county, Ohio, the son of Jonathan and
Lydia (Powell) Skinner. Jonathan Skinner was born in
North Carolina. He left that state with his parents in
1806 and in 1812 located near Camden, Ohio, the country
thereabout at that time being a dense woods. Lydia
Powell was born in Preble county, Ohio, the daughter of
Hezekiah Powell.
Jonathan Skinner was reared in Somers
township and educated in the common schools. He married
Rhoda Bishop, who was the mother of three children,
William Skinner being the only child born to this marriage
who is now living. Mrs. Skinner died in 1842 and Mr.
Skinner married, secondly, Lydia Powell, who was the
mother of three children, Helena, the wife of William
Gregg, who resides near Lafayette, Indian; Margaret,
the wife of Philip Shafer of Lanier township, this
county, and Thomas S., the subject of this sketch.
Thomas S. Skinner was reared on a farm in Somers
township and was educated in the district schools which he
attended until his eyes failed, when he gave his attention to
farming. He worked by the month on a farm and later in a
shop at Eaton, Ohio. Still later he returned to the farm
and worked by the month, remaining with Nathan Fouts for
twelve years.
On Mar. 18, 1896, Mr. Skinner was married to
Louise Winholt, the daughter of Henry and Margaret
(Swartz) Winholt, both of whom were natives of Nuthersladt,
Germany, and both of whom were natives of Nuthersladt, Germany,
and both of whom came to the United States on the same vessel,
arriving at Trenton, Ohio, Apr. 3, 1866. They were married
on Oct. 25, 1866, and lived at Trenton, Ohio, ten years.
Henry Winholt then rented a farm and later
purchased a farm consisting ___ hundred and fifty-eight acres in
Dixon township. Mrs. Winholt ___ Dec. 6, 1890.
She was the mother of four children, who are ___ing, John A.,
who is a farmer and thresher in Dixon township, this _____;
Louise who is the wife of Mr. Skinner; George, who is
a farmer __resherman in Dixon township, and Anna, who is
the wife of Frank ___lkinson of Washington township, this
county. Mr. Skinner was ___ in the common schools
of Somers township.
Mr. Skinner is a general farmer and stock
raiser. He is the owner ___oprietor of "Walnut Grove
Farm," consisting of forty acres, situ____ __ur miles southwest
of Eaton, Ohio.
Mrs. Skinner was reared in the Lutheran church.
Mr. Skinner is a ___r of Waverly Lodge No. 143, Knights of
Pythias, and both Mr. and ___ Skinner are members of
Dorcas Temple No. 105k, Pythian Sisters.
____ Skinner is a Republican, but
has never taken an active part in politics. ___d his wife
are highly respected citizens of Washington township, ___ they
are so well known and in the good works of which they6 take an
___ part.
Source: History of Preble County, Ohio - Illustrated -
1915 - B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana - Page
838 |
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Joseph C. Steel
& Grandsons |
JOSEPH C. STEEL
Source: History of Preble County, Ohio - Illustrated -
1915 - B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana - Page
640 |
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Edward S. Stotler |
EDWARD S. STOTLER
Source: History of Preble County, Ohio - Illustrated -
1915 - B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana - Page
704 |
NOTES:
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