Shelby County, Ohio - Chapter 23: Miscellaneous, 1913 (part 2 of 14)

Wilber E. Kilborn attended the public schools at Sidney, and afterward, for several years, taught school. In 1875 he became cashier of the Citizens Bank and continued until 1881, when he left in order to become manager of the American Steel Scraper Company, of Sidney, and ever since has remained interested in the same business way, a reliable, honorable, conservative factor in the city's life.

Mr. Kilborn married Miss Anna Hendershott, a daughter of George W. Hendershott, an old resident of Sidney, and they have two surviving children : Helen M., who is the wife of Joseph Hagan, of Toledo, O. ; and Ruth, who is a student at Smith College, Northampton, Mass. Mr. Kilborn and familly are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a republican, and he is an active member of the Commercial Club. In 19 12 he erected his handsome residence on North Ohio avenue.

W. J. SHERMAN, who is assistant cashier of the Loramie Banking Company, at Fort Loramie, and a member of its board of directors, belongs to one of the old and substantial families of this section, one that has had much to do with the development of Shelby county. He was born at Fort Loramie, on the west side of the Miami canal, May 3, 1869, and is a son of W. J. and Mary (Hummer) Sherman.

W. J. Sherman was bom in Germany and was four years old when his father, William Sherman, brought him to the United States, in 1836, and settled in Shelby county. A thrifty, enterprising and broad-minded man, William Sherman became a leader in many of the early movements in this section and through his efforts a schoolhouse was erected on his farm and the special school district as well as the fine turnpike road afterward constructed, bears the Sherman name. W. J. Sherman received his primary education in the above district but completed his education at Cincinnati, O., and afterward taught school for some years and subsequently was made county surveyor of Shelby county, acceptably filling that important office for twelve continuous years. After his marriage he settled in McLean township and became interested in the lumber and stave manufacturing business and in this connection acquired some 1,000 acres of land lying in Patterson township, in Darke county and in McLean and Cynthian townships in Shelby county. He was also engaged as a dry goods merchant at Fort Loramie, being the senior member of the general mercantile firm of Sherman & Pilliod. His death occurred at the age of sixty-five years and his loss was felt in many circles. He was a faithful member of St. Michael's Catholic church and he and wife carefully reared their children in this faith. As a leading democrat in his section he was frequently honored by his party with election to public office and he many times served as township trustee and in other capacities. He married Mary Hummer, a daughter of Peter Hummer, then of Cynthian township, and three sons and five daughters were born to them, namely : Johannah. who is the wife of Bernard Borger of McLean township; Magdalene, who is the wife of Anthony Brandewie, of Clinton township; Mary, who is the wife of John Borger, of Fort Loramie ; Peter, who is a resident of Sidney ; Catherine, who is the wife of J. B. Trimpe, of Sidney; Clara, who is the widow of Henry Pilliod. of Toledo, O. ; W. J. ; and Charles, who died when aged twenty-three years. The mother of the above family survived to the age of seventy-two years.

W. J. Sherman, who bears his late father's name, attended school in boyhood in the Berlin special school district and afterward was a student at St. Mary's Institute, Dayton, O. He then gave his father assistance on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age when he turned his attention to the livestock business and for seven years was a large shipper of stock from this section. Since the organization of the Loramie Banking Company he has been on its directing board and one of its officials, and was one of the promoters of the Minster-Lorain Railway, and is secretary of the company. Since his marriage he has resided in McLean township and is interested there in 200 acres of land, divided into two well-improved farms.

On November 25, 1896, Mr. Sherman was married to Miss Frances Schemnecker, who was born in Kentucky and is a daughter of Frank and Ida Schmnecker, who were then residents of Minster, O. To Mr. and Mrs. Sherman the following children have been born : Frank, William, Victoria, Mary, James, Beatrice and Helen. The family belongs to St. Michael's Catholic church and are interested and active in many of its avenues of benevolence and pleasant social organizations. Mr. Sherman is a strong democrat, along old Jeffersonian lines, and his influence in his party is marked. As a citizen he is held in exceeding high esteem, serving for years as a member of the city council of Fort Loramie and for seven years was elected mayor, his wise management of municipal affairs during this long period, bringing about much prosperity.

JOHN J-. SHERMAN, president of the board of county commissioners of Shelby county, O., and one of the county's most substantial citizens, belongs to one of the old pioneer families of this section. He was born in McLean township, October 2, 1848, and is a son of Henry B. and Catherine (Ernst) Sherman.

William Sherman, the grandfather of John J. Sherman, came to the United States from Prussia, settled in Ohio and in 1833 entered land from the government in McLean township, Shelby county. Henry B. Sherman, son of William Sherman and father of John J., was fifteen years of age when he came to Shelby county and here became a well-known man. For twentyeight years he taught school acceptably, although he was largely self taught. He also engaged in farming and took an intelligent interest in public matters and, in fact, became a representative man in McLean township, where his death took place in 1904, when he was aged eighty-six years. He married

Catherine Ernst, .who was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to Shelby county in girlhood, spent her subsequent life here and died in 1909, in her eighty-second year.

John J. Sherman assisted his father on the home farm and attended the local schools. Farming has been his main occupation and since 1871 he has resided on his present farm in McLean township. He owns two other farms in the county, one in Turtle Creek township and the other in Cynthian township, all three aggregating 300 acres in Shelby county, while he also has forty acres of valuable land in Mexico, which he occasionally visits. Mr. Sherman is a man of excellent business judgment and this quality makes him a very useful public official. Politically a democrat, many public offices were tendered him before he consented to serve as a county commissioner. He first assumed the important duties of the same in September, 1909, and is serving in his second term and has been further honored by being elected president of this body.

In 1 87 1, Mr. Sherman was married to Miss Lena Pelster, who was born in Germany, a daughter of the late Henry J. Pelster, who was formerly a well-known farmer here. To Mr. and Mrs. Sherman the followinng children have been born: Katherine, who is the wife of Frank Tahman; Henry, who is a bookkeeper in a business house at Dayton, is a well-educated young man who formerly taught school in this township ; Anthony, who assists his father in carrying on the activities of the home farm ; Louis, who is a farmer in Cynthian township ; and Mary, Frances, William and Leo. Mr. Sherman and family belong to the Catholic church.

THOMAS WHEATON, who is a highly respected citizen and retired farmer of Shelby county, O., has been a resident of Sidney since December, 191 1, when he removed from his fine farm of 160 acres, which is situated in Orange township. He was born on a farm in Montgomery county, O., September 14, 1854, and is a son of William and Jane (Williams) Wheaton.

William Wheaton, with his wife and son. moved from Montgomery county to Miami county, when the latter was two years old. Mr. Wheaton at that time had little capital and the family home was a log cabin near Lena, but he was an industrious and thrifty man and gradually accumulated substance until he owned two farms and also became interested in a grain business at Lena. He got to dickering in the board of trade and lost heavily. His death occurred in advanced age, a well-known and respected man.

Thomas Wheaton was mainly reared near Lena, O., attended school in that vicinity and remained on the home farm working for his father until he was twenty-seven years of age. After marriage he rented a farm for eight years, in Miami county, and then bought 120 acres in Orange township. Shelby county, to which he later added forty acres in the spring of 191 1. Several years after taking up his residence on his farm his house was destroyed by fire and after rebuilding he also replaced the barn and gradually all the other structures and now its improvements equal those on any other place in the township. He carried on the usual farm activities until he retired, since when his son has been in charge. Mr. Wheaton purchased his hand-

Mr. Wheaton married Miss Ida Garbry, a daughter of James and Mary Catherine Garbry, of Shelby county, and they have three children and one grandchild : Ora, who is engaged in business at Dayton, O. ; Lucy, who is the wife of James Wiley, of Orange township, and they have one son, Darwin; and Albert, who ably carries on the farm industries for his father. He married Iona Redinbo. Mr. Wheaton and sons are identified with the democratic party. Although never anxious for public office, Mr. Wheaton is a conscientious citizen and proved his value to his fellow citizens during three years of service as trustee of Orange township. He has been an Odd Fellow for many years, still preserving his interest in the principles and object of this fraternal organization.

MRS. ELIZABETH PAUWELLS, one of the best-known and most highly esteemed owners of property in McLean township, resides in section 2, where she has 109 acres of both cultivated and pasture land. She was born in the State of New York, May 12, 1842, and is a daughter of John and Mary Louisa (Wesling) Stern.

The parents of Mrs. Pauwells were natives of Germany and after coming to the United States they lived for about six years in New York and then moved to Auglaize county, O. There the father followed his trade of stone cutter and also engaged in farming, his death occurring at Minster when aged about fifty years. His wife survived to be sixty-three years of age. They were members of the Catholic church and in that faith they reared their eight children, four of whom survive, but Mrs. Pauwells is the only one living in Shelby county. She was five years old when her parents settled at Minster and there she was reared and attended school. She then married Ezabaus Pauwells, generally known as Isaac Pauwells. He was born and reared in Holland and in his own land learned the baking trade. When twenty-one years of age he came to' America and in the course of time made his home at Minster, O. Following his marriage he settled on the farm in McLean township which now belongs to his widow, working for twentyfive years for the firm of Coons & White, who owned a sawmill at Dayton. He then bought this farm and spent the rest of his life here, making many improvements, draining and tiling all the land that could be cultivated and putting up the buildings that are now in use. The eastern boundary of the farm is the Loramie reservoir and Loramie creek extends through the land, and thus thirty acres, on account of overflow, is given up to pasturage. During the fishing season the farm has many visitors and preparations are always made for the annual influx, and comfortable accommodations are provided for fishing parties and stabling is given the teams. Boats and fishing tackle are kept for hire. For fifty years this has been a favorite rendezvous for the disciples of Isaac Walton. Mr. Pauwells was a genial host and was very highly considered by all who knew him. His death occurred July 6, 1903, at the age of seventy-four years and his burial was at Minster, O. He was a faithful member of St. Augusta Catholic church.

To Mr. and Mrs. Pauwells the following children were born: Mary Louisa, who died when aged nineteen months; John Ezabaus, who died unmarried when aged forty-nine years ; Bernard, who lives in Jackson township, Auglaize county; Annie, who is the wife of Benjamin Lampert, lives at Minster; Margaret, who is the wife of Henry Hollit, of Minster; August, who died at the age of nine months ; Catherine, who died when aged eleven months; Julius, who operates the home farm for his mother; and Caroline, who lived but six weeks. Mrs. Pauwells and children are members of the Catholic church.

HON. R. D. CURTNER, mayor of Anna, O., and also serving as deputy county treasurer of Shelby county, is one of the leading men of this section, prominent both in business and in politics. He was born at Port Jefferson, in Salem township, Shelby county, O., September 15, 1866, and is a son of Daniel and Cynthia (Shaw) Curtner.

Daniel Curtner was a well-known citizen of Shelby county, one of her most enterprising and successful business men. He was engaged for a number of years in the dry goods trade at Port Jefferson and was also associated with Henry Cargill as a turnpike contractor, the firm building turnpike roads through Salem township for years. In the early seventies he moved to Anna, where he embarked in a general mercantile business which he continued until within a short time of his death, which occurred in August, 1893. His widow survives and is a highly esteemed resident of Anna.

R. D. Curtner was reared and educated at Anna and for some years continued his father's store. After disposing of the same he learned telegraphing and worked for eight years as an operator and then served for three years as cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank Company, with which he is yet identified as its second largest stockholder. From early manhood Mr. Curtner has taken an interest in politics and public issues and in the last election for county treasurer was the democratic nominee and was defeated by the present incumbent, Mr. Kiser, by only 122 votes. Since then he has served as chief clerk of the county board of equalization, also as deputy treasurer and as deputy auditor. As mayor of Anna he is giving the town a fine business administration and while adding to its revenues is also maintaining the highest standard of law and order. Mayor Curtner owns a valuable farm of eighty acres in Salem township which is operated by a reliable tenant fanner.

Mayor Curtner was married in 1886 to Miss Myrtle Young, a daughter of S. D. and Mary J. Young, of Anna, and they have four children : Carl, who is foreman of the Majestic Automobile Company, of Lima, O., in which his father is financially interested ; Fred A., who is a musician in the band attached to the 30th U. S. Inf., now stationed in Alaska; and Erma and Lucille, young ladies well known in the social circles of Anna. Mayor Curtner is a thirtysecond degree Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a member of the Orrmis Grotto, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and a Knight of Khorassan. In the Knights of Pythias he has passed through all the stations up to the grand lodge.

EVAN W. BINGHAM, who is one of the enterprising citizens and representative business men of Sidney, O., is proprietor of the E. W. Bingham Furniture Store, which he has conducted here since August 15, 1895. He was born at Alexandria, Va., December 25, 1858, and is a son of Alfred H. and Rebecca (Evans) Bingham.

Alfred H. Bingham came from Virginia to Sidney, May 4, 187 1, and died here in November, 1879, the death of his wife occurring in the following year. He was a cotton-mill worker and also a pattern maker and was employed in the machine shop of his brother-in-law, George G. Haslup, a quiet, industrious man, with a talent for his special line of work.

Evan W. Bingham had been a student in the Alexandria Academy prior to the removal of the family to Sidney, where he entered the high school. He early developed mechanical skill and during his vacations and on holidays had applied himself to learning the machinist trade, and when he left school, at the age of eighteen years, was able to prove tp his employer that he could earn a man's wages, industrial rules and conditions being somewhat different then from the present. For twelve years Mr. Bingham worked satisfactorily as a machinist and then decided to turn his attention in an entirely different direction and for ten years afterward was a salesman in the clothing house of Abe Herzsam, at Sidney. At the termination of that engagement he embarked in his present business, in which he has prospered. He has always taken a good citizen's interest in civic matters and is a valued member of the Sidney Commercial Club, and one of its trustees.

Mr. Bingham married Miss Lizzie A. Fry, a daughter of the late R. L. Fry, who was formerly prominent here in the dry goods trade. Mr. and Mrs. Bingham have had two children: Robert Fry and Jennie Mildred, the latter of whom died at the age of four years. Robert Fry Bingham is a student at Oxford, O., a member of the graduating class of 1913, Miami University.

In politics Mr. Bingham is a republican. While he has never accepted other than local offices, he has frequently proved valuable and useful in these and was a member of the board of public service. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, to the Knights of Khorassan arid to all branches of the Knights of Pythias, in which order he is past chancellor. Mr. Bingham and family belong to the Presbyterian church, of which he is treasurer and a member of its board of trustees.

THOMAS GREEN, whose farm of 100 acres lies in a beautiful section of Shelby county, in Washington township, nine miles southwest of Sidney, was bom in Butler county, O., March 28, 1832, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Pearson) (Roseyboom) Green.

John Green was born in Licking county, O., where his people had settled at a very early day. He was married in Butler county and later moved into Mercer county, where his death occurred about 1869. His occupation was farming after his return from serving in the War of 1812. Of his children, four sons and two daughters Jived to maturity and one daughter died at the age of eighteen months.

farming has been his main business in life. During the Civil war he enlisted in the ioo-day service as a member of Company I, 156th O. Vol. Inf., but was sick during the larger part of the time, the hardships and unusual exposure bringing many a brave man to the army hospitals in those days Mr. Green is a member of the G. A. R. post at Piqua, O. On November 2, 1865, he came from Mercer county, his previous home, to Shelby county and has lived ever since on his farm in Washington township, which he still oversees but is now retired from active labor.

Mr. Green married Miss Sarah Jane Preston, who came of a very loyal and patriotic family, her father and three of her brothers serving in the Mexican war and all, even the father, who was then beyond the age limit, serving in the Civil war, and one brother died in Tennessee. Mr. Green and wife have had five children: Cynthia, who is the wife of Henry Bailey; William A., who lives near his father; Benjamin, who is a resident of Chicago; Ella, who died at the age of eighteen months; and Carrie B., who married John Jones. Mr. Green and family are members of the United Brethren church. He votes with the republican party and formerly served as a trustee of the township. He is one of Washington township's most respected citizens.

CAPT. EDMUND ELGIN NUTT, whose death on September 18, 191 1, removed one of Sidney's foremost citizens - one whom all delighted to honor - was born in Shelby county, O., in 1837, the eldest son of Irwin and Barbara (Persinger) Nutt.

The father of our subject, Irwin Nutt, was born in Montgomery county, near Centerville, O., January 31, 181 1, being a son of Aaron Nutt, Jr. In his youth he learned the tanner's trade, which, however, he followed for but a short time. After acquiring a fair, common school education in the district school, he spent six months in the seminary at Xenia, O., where he prepared himself for teaching, which occupation he followed for a time. In 1834 he married Miss Barbara Persinger, of Green county, O., who was born September 27, 1812. In 1836, with his wife and daughter, Louisa M., who was then one year old, he came to Shelby county and bought a piece of timber land one mile north of Sidney, where he built a cabin for himself and family and began to clear the land. His busy axe soon enlarged the clearing and in course of time smiling fields took the place of the dense and gloomy forest, and as the product of his toil he was able to command not only the necessities, but also some of the luxuries of life. In the work of developing the homestead, he was greatly aided by his faithful wife, who did her part in spinning and weaving the flax and wool for the family garments, also aiding in the outdoor work, in addition to performing her usual household duties and rearing her family of seven children. This family consisted of four sons and three daughters, as follows: Louisa M., born 1835, married Joseph Wilkinson; Edmund E., the subject of this sketch; Margaret J., born 1840, who became the wife of James Middleton; William A., born 1843, who married Elenor C. Lillie; Mary M., born 1845, who became the wife of Dr. J. C. Lillie of Logan county, O. ; J.- Newton, born 1848, who married Mae Price and John M., born 1851, who married Ella Smith.

he engaged in the business of buying and shipping grain, but three years later he returned to his farm and there remained until 1873. By this time his children had all married and settled in homes of their own and a lonely air pervaded the old homestead - as he expressed it, "the clock ticked too loudly on its shelf." At the earnest solicitation of his children, he again rented out the old farm and he and his wife spent the rest of their lives with their children, residing for a while with one, then with another. He died in Quincy, O., at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. C. Lillie, on March 7, 1880. In 1832, when twenty-one years of age, he had united with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which for the rest of his life he remained a faithful and useful member, giving freely of his time and money in its behalf, and when his end came the final summons found him prepared to enter into the eternal mansions. His remains were brought to Sidney and lay in state at the M. E. church from Monday until Tuesday afternoon, when interment took place in Graceland cemetery. His funeral procession was one of the largest seen in Sidney up to that time. He was among the first members of Temperance Lodge No. 7^, F. & A. M., and during his life held all the offices up to and including that of worshipful master. His wife survived him until April 5, 1905, and was also buried in Graceland cemetery, Sidney.

Edmund E. Nutt was reared on the home farm north of Sidney and was educated in the schools of that city. When eighteen years of age he began teaching school, which occupation he followed for four years. He then entered Delaware College, but his further studies were interrupted by the breaking out of the Civil war, and on April 17, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifteenth regiment, O. V. I., serving'three months, the full time of his enlistment. On September .16, 1861, he re-enlisted as a private in Company F, Twentieth regiment, O. V. I., and served until the close of the war, first as private, then sergeant, then second and first lieutenant and later as captain, with which rank he was discharged. He took part in all great battles in which his regiment participated, and for meritorious conduct at the battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864, he was awarded a medal of honor, by order of Maj. F. P. Blair. He was wounded on the skirmish line near Atlanta, August 14, 1864.

After his return from the war Captain Nutt engaged in the grain business with his brother, William A. Nutt, at Pemberton, but after remaining there for a while, he came to Sidney and entered into the same business here with his brothers, I. Newton and John M. Nutt, purchasing what was known as the old stone bridge warehouse. His brothers subsequently retiring from the business, he continued it alone for some time, after which he sold out his interests to Griffis Brothers.

Although now past middle life he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced law. Instead, he engaged again in the grain business, being thus associated with his brother, William A., at Urbana, O., still, however, continuing to reside at Sidney. Subsequently he repurchased from E. J. Griffis the old stone bridge warehouse, to which Mr. Griffis had added a milling department, and this he owned and managed until his death. He was by this time conspicuous as a useful and public-spirited citizen and in 1897 was nominated on the republican ticket for state senator for the twelfth district.

Captain Nutt was a member of Neal Post, G. A. R., from its organization. He took great interest in the Ohio Department of the G. A. R. from the time also of its organization, and in recognition of his zeal, and of his honorable army record, he was elected department commander of Ohio, at Canton. O., at its twenty-ninth annual meeting in 1894. This position he filled both with credit to himself and satisfaction to his comrades, his administratton beng a highly successful one. He also served as president of the regimental organization of the Twentieth regiment, being always present at the annual reunions of Companies F, H and K, on the 22d of August, to celebrate the battle of Atlanta. The following circular was issued by Neal Post, G. A. R., at the time Captain Nutt was candidate for the office of department commander. Headquarters Neal Post, No. 62,

"Comrade : - We the undersigned committee, appointed by Neal Post to present the name of Comrade Edmund Elgin Nutt for the position of Department Commander at the encampment to be held at Canton, respectfully and briefly submit their claims as follows :

"Comrade Nutt was a candidate and received a large vote at Hamilton, Ohio, and many pledges of support, and solicitations to remain in the field for the next encampment, to which we confidently respond with a brief review of some of the merits of our candidate. He was a soldier from the first call to 'Lights Out,' from April 17, 1861, to July 15, 1865; carried a gun more than two years and a sword two years in Company F, 15th O. V. I., three months' service; and Company F. 20th Ohio, three years' service; served at the front in all ranks from private to captain, and was skirmish officer on brigade staff; was wounded on skirmish line and awarded a medal for conspicuous bravery in battle.

"As a citizen since the war, his 25 years of successful business has proven excellent executive ability. As a comrade he was a charter member of Neal Post, always present at meeting, takes an active interest, is well posted in Grand Army affairs, attends encampments, and has served Neal Post five years as commander. In addition we desire to remind comrades of their pledges of support which induced us to renew the effort for the place, and further urge our claims for the reason that this part of the state has never been favored with department honors of any office. If this favor is granted we promise to furnish a department commander fully up to the high standard of former commanders.

In 1867 Captain Nutt married Miss Arvesta Van Demark, who was born in Shelby county, O, October 28, 1844, a daughter of Henry B. and Susannah (Boyer) Van Demark, who were married January 17, 1844. Mrs. Nutt's father, Henry B. Van Demark, was a native of this county, born near Sidney, September 19, 1815, the youngest member of the family of Daniel and Catherine (Bush) Van Demark. He was brought up on the farm and there remained during the lifetime of his parents, having charge of the farm for a number of years until the death of his father, which took place in 1840. In 1844 he married Susannah Boyer, who was born in Miami county in 182 1, a daughter of Jacob Boyer. After their marriage the young couple made their home with his mother, Mrs. Catharine Van Demark. residing with her until her death, which occurred in 1848, at which time Henry B. Van Demark became owner of the homestead in Orange township. In 1855 he traded it for a farm in Washington township, which contained over 400 acres of land. Subsequently he added further to his landed possessions, until at the time of his death he owned over 900 acres, all within three and a half miles of Sidney. In addition to this, he owned considerable real estate in the town of Sidney. He and his wife reared a family of five children, namely: Arvesta; Daniel, who married Margaret A. Brown, a native of Warren county; Clymelia, now deceased, who was the wife of Samuel S. McCready; Jacob N.. of Clinton township; and Harry, who died at the age of eleven years. Mr. Van Demark was reared in the Presbyterian faith and his wife in that of the United Brethren. Their burial took place in Graceland cemetery in Sidney. O.

Capt. Edmund E. Nutt and wife were the parents of six children, as follows: Florence Atlanta is the wife of Frank Leslie Shull, secretary of the Portland Flour Mills, at Portland, Ore. They have two children - Martha Arvesta and Frank Leslie, Jr.

Earl Edmund, who is second in order of birth, is engaged in the practice of law in Sidney, married Lillian Esther Patterson, of Nebraska. They have two children - John Edmund and Caroline Arvesta.

Ora Marie is a kindergarten teacher in New York City. Jennie Mathers. the remaining member of the family, resides at home with her mother. The family belong to the Methodist church, taking a useful part in its work and various Christian activities.

FRANK B. MILLER, member of the board of education of Hopewell special school district, of which he has been clerk for the last ten years, is one of Cynthian township's most respected citizens. He is a retired farmer and lives on one of his three farms, which aggregate 250 acres, his home being in section 22v four miles southeast of Fort Loramie, O. Mr. Miller was born January 12, 1861, in Lancaster county, Pa., a son of Cyrus and Jane (Gingrich) Miller.

county, in that state. Wh,en they came to Ohio they located on a farm west of Pleasant Hill, in Miami county, and from there in 1876 moved to a farm in Cynthian township, Shelby county, near Oran, O. They now reside with their daughter, Mrs. William Snow, who lives in Cynthian township. Of their family of six sons and two daughters, two sons are deceased.

Frank B. Miller was eight years old when he accompanied his parents to Miami county and was fifteen when they came to Shelby county. He had school advantages in both sections, attending the Oran special school district schools until he was seventeen years old. After putting aside his books, but not forgetting their contents, Mr. Miller went to work by the month with the determination of accumulating the capital that would enable him to buy a farm of his own and in the course of time his energy was rewarded. When he was twenty years of age he went to the west and prospered there, returning a year later with money that he had earned through his own industry. He invested first in the old Roan farm, later bought the farm on which he lives and still later bought the Brenner farm. For nine years he lived east of Piqua, O., on his father-in-law's farm and then moved to a farm in McLean township belonging to his mother-in-law, three years afterward coming to the farm he now occupies. All these farms are finely improved, Mr. Miller taking pride in his property and hence all of it is very valuable. In addition to general farming, which he continued until he retired, in 1907, he raised many horses, especially draft horses, cattle and stock. All the farm industries were intelligently carried on, new methods were adopted when they were found superior to old ways, and Mr. Miller became known as one of the best allround agriculturists of Cynthian township. He still continues to be interested in raising stock to some extent, but has shifted his fanning responsibilities to younger shoulders.

Mr. Miller married Miss Katie Grosvenor, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Hiram and Araminta Grosvenor, once residents of McLean township, Shelby county. The father of Mrs. Miller died when she was six weeks old. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller six children have been born, Alva, Harry, Raymond and Blanche, in Miami county, and Olive and Glenn, in Shelby county. All survive except Alva and Raymond, who died in Miami county.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller attend the Christian church at Oran, of which she is a member. He is a republican in his political views. Every year Mr. Miller takes a few weeks for recreation in travel and in this way has seen much of the country and doubtless in some measure owes his excellent health to this wise change of environment and pleasurable interest in other than everyday duties and surroundings.

HON. EMERSON V. MOORE, former mayor of Sidney, O., and a foremost member, of the Shelby county bar, belongs to an old Ohio family and was born on his father's farm in Green township, Shelby county, February 14,. 1868, a son of Thomas B. and Deborah (Griffis,) Moore. The father's death occurred in 1898, on his farm in Green township.

early schooling there, afterward attending the Sidney high school for two years and then entered the National Normal University at Lebanon, O., and while there began the study of law. For one year afterward Mr. Moore taught school in Brown township, Miami county, and during the following year was superintendent of the schools of Green township, Shelby county, having had much to do with establishing the grade system. He had already been admitted to the bar and then came to Sidney and has since been engaged in the practice of law in this city. When the Spanish-American war became a fact, Mr. Moore was one of that band of patriotic young men who put aside their most pressing personal interests and ambitions and with a patriotism that was commendable, was ready to accept service, dangerous or otherwise, in his country's defense. At that time he was second lieutenant of Co. L, Third O. N. G., which became a part of the Third O. Vol. Inf., which was hastened to Tampa, Fla.

Lieutenant Moore was detailed in June, 1898, as recruiting officer and recruited the first battalion of the regiment to war strength. He was later detailed as aide-de-camp on the staff of Brig. Gen. Rush T. Lincoln and served as such until the regiment returned to Ohio for mustering out. The war closed before this regiment was called into active service and they returned to their homes ready for future calls. Mr. Moore is a member of the Spanish-American War Veterans and in 191 1 served as judge-advocate of the state of Ohio in this body.

Mr. Moore married Miss Blanche Stafford, a daughter of Joseph Stafford, of Sidney, O. Aside from his law practice, Mr. Moore has been active in political and fraternal life. He is a democrat in politics and on the democratic ticket was city solicitor and twice elected mayor of Sidney, his administrations proving beneficial to the city in every way. He belongs to the Order of Ben Hur and to the Knights of Pythias but is particularly prominent in the Order of the Knights of the Golden Eagle and for six years was state secretary of the organization, state president and for one year was national president of the order and probably is one of the best-known members of this flourishing society in Ohio.

HON. HUGH THOMPSON MATHERS, judge of the Third'Common Pleas Judicial District of Ohio, is numbered with the eminent men of a state which has long been productive of distinguished citizens. He was born May 20, 1866, at Sidney, in Shelby county, O., and is a son of Hon. John H. and Elizabeth (Thompson) Mathers.

For several generations the Mathers family has been prominent in Ohio and still farther back was also honorably connected with public affairs, in Pennsylvania. James Mathers, the paternal grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania and there became a leading member of the bar and served in the state senate, his death occurring on the old family estate in Juniata county. He married Jane Hutchinson, a daughter of John Hutchinson, who was .1 well-known Presbyterian minister.

he, as his father before him, became prominent in the law, and came to Sidney when this place was' the head of navigation on the canal. He served as district attorney of Juniata county, Pa., and as prosecuting attorney of Shelby county. He was a man of brilliant talents but died in middle life, in 1875, when aged but forty-five years. He married Elizabeth Thompson, a daughter of Hugh Thompson, and she survives, having been born in 1845 and married in 1864. Her father was born at Upper Middletown, six miles from Uniontown, Pa., and came early to Sidney and established himself as a merchant. He was shortly afterward elected associate judge of the court of common pleas and served two terms and then turned his attention to the study of law and for many years was a successful practitioner. He became prominent also in public life and served two terms as a member of the state legislature and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 185 1. His death occurred in 1889, when he was aged eighty-one years. He married Lucretia Bailey, who was born near Baltimore, Md., and died in her seventy-third year. To the parents of Judge Mathers three children were born: Hugh, Jane, who is the wife of E. S. Laughlin, a merchant and traveling salesman; and Lucretia, who is the wife of Dr. Henry Baldwin, who is superintendent of the Tuberculosis Hospital at Springfield, O.

Hugh Thompson Mathers attended the public schools of Sidney and after graduating from the high school, became a student at Princeton University, and in the class graduated from the Albany Law School in 1888, was one of its four honor men, who delivered the class addresses. He came immediately to Sidney and in the same summer was admitted to the bar at Columbus, O., opening his law office at Sidney and shortly afterward was elected city solicitor. He served two terms in that office, at the close of his second term accepting the position of general attorney for the Ohio Southern Railroad, with office at Springfield. When the Ohio Southern became a part of the C. A. & C. Railroad, Judge Mathers removed to Cleveland for one year, and when the above road became a part of the.L. E. & W. system Judge Mathers returned to Sidney. Here he was engaged in active practice until 1901, becqming the leader of the Sidney bar, when he was elected to fill a vacancy on the common pleas bench and served for three years, at the expiration of which period he was elected to the full term of five years and it was extended one year to meet the requirements of a constitutional provision. At the expiration of his six years of service in 1910 he was elected for six years more and continues honorably and faithfully to perform the judicial duties for which he seems so well qualified by nature. He possesses the well balanced and discerning mind so important to the jurist and the records of the court show the ability and patient and conscientious thoroughness with which he has administered the office.

Hugh Beeson and Jeanette. Judge Mathers and family are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a democrat and was nominated. in 1906, as candidate for judge of the supreme court of Ohio, and again in 1908. Fraternallly he is a Mason, in which organization he has attained the thirty-second degree. No man in public life in Shelby county stands higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens.

WILLIAM H. PRINCEHOUSE, funeral director, who has been established in business at Sidney, O., since March, 1898, was born near Palestine, in Green township, Shelby county, O., May 19, 1866, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Bratigan) Princehouse. Henry Princehouse, the grandfather, who was born in Germany, was the founder of the family in Shelby county, and Jacob Princehouse, his son, was born in Green township, south of Palestine, O., spent his life as a farmer and died there. His widow survives and lives at Palestine, Shelby county.

William H. Princehouse attended the country schools in Green township and afterward engaged in farming, residing on his own property until 1898, when he came to Sidney, for four years afterward being in the livery business. For the past ten years he has been in the funeral directing business, being a practical embalmer, a graduate of Clarke's School of Embalming of Cincinnati. He has well-equipped quarters in the Bingham furniture store, and owns a funeral car, an ambulance and an automobile for the proper and dignified transaction of his business. He is identified with all the leading fraternal organizations, including the Masons, Odd Fellows, Elks, Red Men, Uniformed Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Khorassan. He belongs also to the Commercial Club at Sidney and is interested to some degree in political matters. Personally Mr. Princehouse has a wide circle of friends on account of his friendly and kindly spirit and as a business man he is held in respect.

HENRY E. BEEBE, M. D., a leading physician of Shelby county, and for the past five years president of the Citizens National Bank, at Sidney, O., was born on his father's farm, near Carey, Wyandot county, O., July 24, 1849, and is a son of Buell S. and Lucinda (Keir) Beebe.

The father of Dr. Beebe was born in Franklin county, N. Y., and in 1846 came to Ohio and lived until he was sixty-two years old in Wyandot county, when he came to Sidney on a visit and here his death occurred in 1883. His family consisted of one son and two daughters: Henry E. and Mrs. Anna Hoff and Mrs. Sarah Millholland, both of Carey, O, the latter of whom died in 191 1.

Henry E. Beebe was educated in the public schools and Wittenberg College and pursued hi-s medical studies in the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, at Cleveland, O., from which institution he was graduated in 1873 and in the same year located at Sidney. For forty years Dr. Beebe has been in active practice and few members of his profession in this section of Ohio are better known or more highly valued. He is a member of the American

Institute of Homeopathy and was its vice president in 1904-05 at its convention held at Niagara Falls. In 1886 he was president of the Ohio State Homeopathic Society, and from T903 to 1904 was president of the state examining board, of which he was vice president for seven years and one of its organizers and belongs also to the Union Clinical Society. He is a thirty-second degree Mason.

Dr. Beebe was married in 1874 to Miss Ophelia McDowell, of Carey, O., a daughter of Hugh and Rebecca McDowell, and they have four children: Robert Wallace, Laura, Elise. Hugh McDowell and Henry Edwin. Robert Wallace Beebe is secretary and treasurer of the United Rim Co., of Akron, O. He married Miss May Hardesty of Cleveland. Laura Elise Beebe married W. C. Horr, who is secretary and treasurer of the Eclipse Folder Company, of Sidney, and they have one daughter, Rebecca. Hugh McDowell Beebe is a physician. He married Miss Ruth Peirson, of Troy. Henry Edwin Beebe, who is a graduate of the law department of the University of Michigan, of the class of 1910, is connected with the law firm of Roettinger & Roettinger, at Cincinnati. As a business man aside from his profession, Doctor Beebe has been an important factor in this section and was interested in the founding of the Citizens National Bank here, of which he is president and formerly for many years was vice president. He has been closely identified with the general development of Sidney and has not only fostered its business and professional enterprises but has, in every way possible, furthered all movements which have contributed to the educational and social uplift.

A. P. RATERMAN, whose valuable farm of 150 acres is situated in section 3, McLean township, Shelby county, O., three miles east of Fort Loramie, was born on this farm, and is a son of Ferdinand A. and Berdine (Pille) Raterman.

Ferdinand A. Raterman was born in Germany and was young when the family came to the United States. His parents settled south of what is now Fort Loramie, and there spent the rest of their lives. They had five sons: Henry, Philip, Joseph, Barney and Ferdinand A., and all attended school in what is now the Berlin special school district. In that neighborhood Ferdinand A. Raterman grew to manhood and after his marriage settled on a wild tract of land containing 130 acres, to which he subsequently added twenty acres. At that time this place seemed remote from civilization, it being in the depth of the forest with no roads leading to it and not a single attempt at improvement having yet been made. Mr. Raterman put up the first buildings and cleared all the land with the exception of fifteen acres. This land has remained in the family intact and Anthony P. Raterman has the sheepskin deed attesting ownership, the document bearing the signature of Zachary Taylor, president of the United States. Mr. Raterman labored hard to make a comfortable home, and productive farm for his family but did not live long enough to find much reward, his death taking place in his forty-ninth year. He was survived by his wife, who died on the farm in her sixty-second year. They were faithful members of St. Michael's Catholic church at Fort

Loramie. They had the following children : Joseph, who is deceased ; Mary, who is the wife of Clemens Wolke ; Henry, who is deceased ; John, who lives at Loramie, married Katie Lauterbur; Sophia, who is the wife of Edward Wehner, resides at Dayton, O. ; Anthony P. ; Frank and August, both of whom are deceased; and Kate, who is the wife af George Groves, lives at Sidney.

Anthony P. Raterman took charge of the farm when his father died and immediately set on foot improvements which included the erection of all the buildings now standing with the exception of the residence. He was then but a young man, his birth having taken place September 24, 1870, but he had farm experience from boyhood and soon demonstrated his capability as an agriculturist. He drained the land and put down much tiling, set out trees where he found it advisable, and through mixed farming has kept the soil in fine condition and has made this one of the best farms in the township.

Mr. Raterman married Miss Anna Kloeker, a daughter of Herman Kloeker, of McLean township, and all their children were born on this farm, namely: Amelia, Martin, Raymond, Helen, Eugene, Arnold, Evelyn and Cletus, all of whom survive except Raymond, who died at the age of three months. Mr. Raterman and family belong to St. Michael's Catholic church. In politics he belongs to a family that is almost entirely democratic and one that is a leading one in this section of Shelby county.

SAMPSON G. GOODE, M. D., a physician and surgeon in active practice at Sidney, O., with office and residence at No. 310 North Ohio avenue, has been a resident of Shelby county for thirty-one years and established in his profession at Sidney since 1894.

Dr. Goode was reared in Champaign county, O.. and from the country schools entered the academy at Urbana, where he made such unusual progress in his studies that he was awarded a teacher's certificate when he was but fourteen years of age. Afterward he continued to divide the seasons, working on the farm during the summers and teaching school, mainly in Champaign county, during the winters, for about fourteen years. He never had the leisure to wander far from this strict discipline as he was ambitious and dependent on his own efforts in order to prepare for the medical career which was his goal from early youth. He prepared for college while teaching, under the direction of Drs. B. F. Baker, D. R. Barley and Dr. Musson, all of St. Paris, O., and after seven years of study was graduated from the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, O., in 1880. In the following year he came to Shelby county, locating at Pemberton, two years later removing to Port Jefferson and from there came to Sidney. Here he has been very successful in his professional life and has been active in public matters and on one occasion was the candidate of the democratic party for the state senate.

On January 2, 1867, Dr. Goode was married to Miss Mary Jane Amnion, of Champaign county, O., and two children were born to them : Dora, who is the wife of Charles W. Ogden, a merchant at Port Jefferson; and A. C. a graduated physician now in Alaska. Dr. Goode is physician and surgeon for the Shelby County Infirmary and Asylum. He belongs to the State and National Eclectic Medical societies and is identified fraternally with the Elks.

CARL A. SEXAUER, proprietor of Sexauer's Grocery and Bakery, one of the old and stable business nouses of Sidney, O., is a native of Germany and was born August 28, 1865, at Freiburg, Baden, a son of John Sexauer, who still resides in Germany, being now in his eightieth year. His wife, to whom he was married in 1861, also survives and is nearing her seventy-sixth birthday.

Carl A. Sexauer has an interesting history. He learned the baking business with his father but left home at the age of fifteen years and went to Basil, Switzerland, and despite his youth, there capably managed a bakery for eighteen months, during which period he saved enough money with which to make the long journey to America, the goal of his desires. During the voyage the ship was wrecked and three of the passengers died from shock and injury, but the others were finally landed after nineteen days of danger on the stormy Atlantic ocean. Mr. Sexauer had an uncle, George Sexauer, who lived on a farm near Piqua, O., and the youth decided to make an effort to reach this relative and finally, on December 24, 1881, arrived at Piqua. He paid fifty cents, his last money, to a cabman to drive him two miles into the country to his uncle's farm, where he was kindly received and rested for a couple of days. He then sought work at Piqua and secured a job in the Piqua Bakery, and for four weeks worked there on trial, for $1.75 a week, when, rather than lose the skilled German baker that he was found to be, the proprietor made him his boss baker with a salary of $13 a week with board and laundry, this being at that time the very highest wages paid in any baking establishment in that city.

Mr. Sexauer remained in that place for a full year. During that time Jacob Piper, who was operating a bakery at Sidney, paid a visit to Piqua and saw and sampled some of Mr. Sexauer's baked goods with the result that he offered the young baker the position of boss baker of his establishment, and as conditions were more favorable he accepted and worked for Mr. Piper from March 1, 1883, until August, 1889, when he bought the Piper bakery department, which proved a business mistake. He was thoroughly experienced in his trade but he knew little of practical business methods and in less than three years had lost the large sum of $2,600, and owed $800 to his wholesalers. It may be mentioned right here that since then he has paid every dollar of this indebtedness but it was a very 'discouraging experience. He then secured a basement workroom and for two years conducted a small bakery, and in this way retained many of his old customers and interested others, and by that time felt sure enough of further prosperity to buy the corner lot on which now stands the fine three-story brick building which he smarted to erect on March 1, 1905, into which he moved on September first following. In 1903 he had paid a visit to his parents and remained with them for three months and on his return began his plans for his present substantial building. It stands on west Poplar street and corners on the canal, and its dimensions are 165x22 feet. He utilizes the first floor, which opens on the canal, for his bakery; the second floor which opens on West Poplar street, for his wareroom and stockroom, while the third floor he has fitted up as a public hall, and many entertainments are held in it, Sexauer's hall having conveniences that make it an ideal place for dances, parties and other gatherings.

Mr. Sexauer started into his second business adventure at Sidney with a capital of $92, and a debt, as before mentioned, of $800, but it speaks well for the impression he had already made on those with whom he had done business, that they continued to have confidence in him. After paying all indebtedness with the strictest honesty, he found no difficulty in borrowing the necessary capital to erect his new structure, which cost him, exclusive of fixtures and machinery, more than $10,000, and that indebtedness has also long since been wiped out. He has expended several thousand dollars in putting in modern machinery and sanitary equipments and now operates the largest baking plant in this part of Shelby county, turning out from 3,000 to 4,000 loaves of bread daily, exclusive of biscuits, buns, pies and cakes, all of delicious combination and made from the best procurable supplies. He is ably assisted by his eldest son, John Sexauer, who is superintendent of that department and who designed much of the valuable baking machinery which his father has now installed. In addition to his extensive baking business, Mr. Sexauer conducts one of the most complete grocery stores in the city.

In 1886 Mr. Sexauer was married to Miss Mollie Althoff, of Lockington, O., and they have two sons: John and Raymond. Mr. Sexauer is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the Knights of Pythias, the Commercial Club, the National Bakers' Association of America and the Grocers' State Association. He is recognized as one of Sidney's most useful, honorable and representative citizens.

BERNARD BARHORST, who is one of the substantial men of McLean township, Shelby county, O., resides in section 4, two and onehalf miles east of Fort Loramie, where he owns 245 acres of fine land. He was born in this township, one-half mile south of his present farm in the Sherman special school district, September 24, 1866, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Grieshop) Barhorst.

The father of Mr. Barhorst spent his life in McLean township, following fanning as his occupation, and died here when aged seventy-seven years. The mother, who was born in Germany, died when aged seventytwo years, in Mercer county, O., and there were six sons and two daughters in the family. The parents were members of St. Michael's Catholic church.

The Barhorst- children were not neglected, their parents sending them to the Sherman district school until all were well instructed. Bernard remained on the home farm until his marriage, when he moved to his present property, all of which he has under cultivation except thirty-six acres which is still in woodland. He has put in many improvements here, erecting and remodeling buildings, enriching and draining the land, and, with the help of his sturdy sons, does a large agricultural business.

Mr. Barhorst married Miss Magdalena Ernst, who was born in McLean township, a daughter of Joseph Ernst, and nine children have been born to them, namely: Catherina, Joseph, August, Edward, Leo, Charles, Ursula, Urban and Paul. Mr. Barhorst and family are members of St. Michael's Roman Catholic church. In politics he has been a democrat since reaching man's estate, but has never sought political office, although his party might find in such men as Mr. Barhorst the honest and careful officials that a community needs for the practical carrying out of the laws.

HENRY V. VAN DEMARK, a successful general farmer and wellknown citizen of Clinton township, Shelby county, O., who is operating a farm of 200 acres, which belongs to his father, was born in the house in which he resides, April 21, 1885, and is a son of Jacob Newton and Catherine (Hicks) Van Demark.

After his boyhood school days were over he attended the Sidney high schoo} for two years. He comes of an agricultural family and naturally turned his attention to farming and stock raising, in which his father and grandfather were so eminently successful, but, before settling down decided to visit certain portions of the West and spent several months traveling through that part of the country, with the result that he returned satisfied to Ohio, realizing that this state offers everything contributive to the financial advancement and living comfort that can be consistently expected. Here, on one of the large farms belonging to his father, Mn Van Demark is engaged in farming and he also gives attention to producing high-grade horses and stock.

Mr. Van Demark was married September 18, 1907, to Miss Caroline Coon, who was born on a farm in Shelby county and is a daughter of Marshall K. and Anna (Rinehart) Coon. Mrs. Van Demark has a brother, Alfred, and a sister, Florence. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Van Demark, Catherine and Anna. They attend the Presbyterian church. Mr. Van Demark, like his father, is identified with the republican party but takes no very active part in politics.

WILLIAM KLIPSTINE, a representative business man of Sidney, O., a dealer in lumber, coal and building materials, with office and yards on South Walnut street, has been a resident of this city for more than ten years, but his birth took place in Darke county, O., March 13, 1867, and he is a son of William and Louisa Klipstine, both of whom were born in Germany.

The Klipstine family was founded in America by William Klipstine. the grandfather, who came to Ohio and purchased a farm in Darke county when his son William was a child. The maternal grandfather, William Haack, also came from Germany and purchased land in Darke county, and on the above farms the parents of William Klipstine, of Sidney, were reared, together attended the district schools and subsequently married. They reared a family of three sons and one daughter and both are now deceased, the father passing away in 1894, when aged sixty-seven years. The mother survived until the fall of 1909, her age being seventy-eight years. Their children were: Louis, who is connected with the Peoples Bank at Versailles, O. ; Caroline, who is the wife of George H. Worch, of Versailles; William; and Amos, who is a farmer residing on the old homestead near Versailles.

William Klipstine attended the public schools in the vicinity of his father's farm and later the Versailles high school, and remained engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1889, when he went to Quincy, Logan county, O., where he engaged in the lumber business until 1901, when he came to Sidney as manager of the lumber business of his brother-in-law, George H. Worch, which business he subsequently purchased. Mr. Klipstine operates a planing mill and deals in all kinds and grades of merchantable lumber and builders' supplies, including hardware, paints and wire fencing, and has a commodious and expensive plant, in 1909 erecting his mill, office and storage room. Constant employment is afforded for from ten to twelve men and the business may be included with the very prosperous ones of the city.

In 1889 Mr. Klipstine was married to Miss Mary Grove, a daughter of Hiram Grove, of Perry county, O., and they have a happy family of six children, evenly divided, as follows: Roy, Charles, Ruth, Caroline, William and Mary. The eldest daughter possesses great artistic talent and it is being cultivated at Roanoke College, Roanoke, Va. Mr. Klipstine and family belong to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, at Sidney. Fraternally he is identified with the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a democrat and has served two terms as a member of the city council, during which period his sound business judgment frequently assisted in the solving of civic problems of importance.

OLIVER J. TAYLOR, a representative business man of Sidney, O., where he is a leading hardware merchant, founded his present establishment on June 1, 1854, and is now in his fifty-ninth business year in his native city, where he was born September 26, 1830, and is a son of Jason and Sarah C. (Skillen) Taylor.

The Taylors were pioneers in Shelby county. Samuel Taylor, the grandfather, was born in England, coming to near Harper's Ferry, Va.. and from there moved to Ohio and settled first near West Liberty, O, subsequently removing to Shelby county, where he entered land in what is now Salem township. He built a log cabin on a hill on a suitable part of his 160-acre purchase and there remained through a long and industrious life and is still recalled as one of the county's well-known pioneers.

Jason Taylor, father of Oliver J., was a boy when his parents moved to Shelby county and settled in Salem township. He married early, before he was twenty-one years of age, and with wife and a capital of $28.50, came to Sidney, where he began business life as a shoemaker. He prospered at his trade and started a. small general store and when he could spare the sum of $37.00 invested it in land, and the time came when that same lot of land was sold for $10,000. For many years he continued as a merchant at Sidney and then went into the jobbing business in New York City, where he remained for about eighteen years. Failing health induced him to close out his interests there and to return to Sidney, where his death occurred two years later. He married Sarah C. Skillen, who was of Irish parentage but was born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio in girlhood.

Oliver J. Taylor had very limited educational opportunities in his boyhood and remained with his parents until his eighteenth year, when he began the study of civil engineering and spent several years on the Big Four and Pan Handle railroads. Finding that his heart was not in that line of industry, Mr. Taylor turned his attention to the hardware business, and, as noted above, established his store at Sidney at so early a date that he can justly claim to be one of the oldest men in the hardware line, not only in this city, but in Ohio. He had a capital of $800 to start with, the same having been earned and providently saved while on the railroad, and he bought his first stock up to this amount, of the firm of Norton, Jewett & Busby of New York City, and the goods were shipped to him by way of Buffalo and Toledo, and then transferred to a warehouse. Learning that this warehouse was destroyed by fire on that night, Mr. Taylor presumed his goods had been destroyed and duplicated his order, with the rather disturbing result of receiving both orders and having only money enough to pay for one. His business shrewdness extricated him and soon he found he needed not only both orders, of goods but that it became desirable for him to make annual trips to eastern markets and make his own selections. Still later he found his best market to be Pittsburg, later Cincinnati, and despite slow and exasperating delivery, he did a fine business. The first commercial traveler to visit him was John Williams, representing the Wheeler, Madden & Clenson Works, saw manufacturers, of Middletown, N. Y., this mark of growing importance being shown him in 1859. It is interesting to learn of Mr. Taylor's business methods as they proved so successful. It was his early habit to open his store at about 6 A. M. and probably close about 10 P. M. He has made it a point to boy for cash and to owe no one a dollar, althrough his purchasers very often did not follow the same honest line, buying largely on credit and naving nG definite time for settlement. Mr. Taylor remembers the advent of the wire, nail', the family washing machines, the glass lantern that has succeeded the old tin cone pierced with holes. In his first stock of goods the cleaver was the only meat cutter and his padlocks that he then had to sell for perhaps fifty cents he can improve on for ten cents. He recalls his first door locks which were made to open with a lever instead of a knob; the old Spear & Jackson English saws were used and Mr. Taylor remembers that he had some trouble in convincing his customers that the Henry Disston saws were superior. His first American pocket cutlery he bought at Northfield, Conn., and for forty years he has handled the same goods. In every other line he notes progress and improvement and has always been open to conviction himself and anxious to provide the very best goods on the market. In 1874 Mr. Taylor moved into the building he now occupies and there are few business men of Sidney who are mpre prompt in their daily activities or more active in attending to customers than is Mr. Taylor, at the age of eighty-two years.

On June 7, 1855, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Sarah Harrison, who died suddenly July 30, 1887, the mother of seven children, four of whom survive: Harry J., who is the owner of the Sidney Hardware Company, of Sidney; Jennie A., who is the wife of J. C. Cummings, cashier of the First National Exchange Bank of Sidney; Willis B., who is buyer for O. J. Taylor; and Charles J., who is a traveling salesman, representing the Chicago Hardware Company, with his home at Kansas City, Mo. Mrs. May Belle Lyon died leaving three children. Oliver Earl, the fifth born is deceased, and Edwin, the sixth child in order of birth, died at the age of eight months. Mr. Taylor's second marriage was to Miss Helen C. Search, who is a sister of Prof. P. W. Search, the well-known lecturer. Mr. Taylor has been creditably interested in many of the industries of Sidney and has been called the father of the Sidney fire department, and, in association with the late George Burnell, organized the present paid fire department. For almost his lifetime he has been a member of the Presbyterian church and until recently, when he retired -voluntarily from the office, for many years has been an elder in the church. His long life of persevering industry has brought him financial independence and his probity and business integrity have earned him the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.

L. L. KNOOP, whose well improved farm of seventy-one acres, which he purchased and improved himself, is situated six miles southeast of Sidney, O., has spent the larger part of his life in this part of Shelby county. He was born in Orange township, three-fourths of a mile north of his own farm in Green township, in August, 1871, and is a son of John and Margaret (Martin) Knoop.

John Knoop is a highly respected retired citizen of Shelby county. He was born in Miami county, O., and at the age of seventeen years enlisted in the Civil war, and saw much hard service during the following two years as a member of the 110th O. Vol. Inf., including imprisonment in Libby prison. After his release he continued in the service as a teamster. When his term of enlistment was over he returned to Miami county and there engaged in farming until his marriage to Margaret Martin, when he came to Shelby county and located on the old Martin farm of forty acres. He also engaged in carpenter work and became well known all through this section. In 1909 he removed from the house he had occupied for so many years, to another house on the same farm and now lives in comfortable retirement and is the owner of 203 1-3 acres of land, which his sons operate. Mrs. Knoop passed away March 30, 1889, survived by five children, namely : Samuel, who lives one mile above Port Jefferson; L. L., who lives on his farm six miles southeast of Sidney, O. ; John W., who lives east of Sidney; William, who is located on the homestead ; and Mrs. Dora Leckey, who resides north of Plattsville.

L. L. Knoop attended school in Orange township and afterward worked on the home farm until his marriage, when he came to his present property. where general farming and stock raising have been carried on ever since. He has improved the property with modern and substantial buildings and has all his surroundings comfortable and attractive.

Mr. Knoop was married January n, 1894, to Miss Viola Hunt, daughter of P. R. Hunt, of Green township, near Plattsville, and they have two children: Bertha May and Harley Thomas. Mr. Knoop has served two terms as a trustee of Green township, elected on the Republican ticket, and is recognized as one of the solid and reliable citizens of this community. He is serving as a member of the county fair board and takes a hearty interest in every public movement to advance the interests of this section. Fraternally, Mr. Knoop is a Mason, a Knight of the Golden Eagles and an Odd Fellow, in the last named organization belonging to both the Encampment and the subordinate branch.

JOHN HEISER, senior member of the firm of John Heiser & Son. dealers in coal, lime, cement, plastering hair, sewer pipe and fire clay, at Sidney, O., is one of the stable and representative business men of this city He was born December 1, 1840, on a farm that now lies in Mercer county, O., but was then in Darke county, and is a son of Lawrence and Rosena (Link) Heiser.

Lawrence Heiser was born in Alsace-Loraine and for seven years of early manhood served in the French army, then married in his own province and with his wife emigrated to America. After reaching the United States they settled at Canton, O., and lived there for eight years, Mr. Heiser finding employment on the Ohio canal. In 1833 he entered eighty acres of land from the government and settled on the same and both he and his wife died there.

John Heiser remained on the old home farm until 1858, in the spring of which year he came to Sidney, where he learned the blacksmith trade in a building which occupied the site of the one which stands at No. 201 North Ohio avenue, in which he has his coal office. The old building burned down in 1855 or 1856. He learned his trade with Mr. Kingseed, with whom he formed a partnership after the Civil war, about 1866, for the manufacture of plows, and they continued together for eight years, when Mr. Heiser bought his partner's interest and continued plow manufacturing until 1893.

On September 21, 1861, Mr. Heiser enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering Company M. First Ohio Light Artillery, and remained in the same company and regiment for three years, seeing service in Kentucky, Tennessee. Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, taking part in such great battles as Shiloh. Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Jonesboro, the Flint River siege and many, many others. In spite of the almost constant danger of death, Mr. Heiser was never either injured or captured by the enemy and was finally honorably discharged and mustered out at Camp Dennison. He returned then to Ohio and from January to May I, 1865, worked at his trade at Urbana, and from June 1, to September 1, at St. Paris, then came back to Sidney, where he went into business as above related. In connection with his manufacturing business, Mr. Heiser had opened another line, becoming a coal merchant in 1879, and this interest he has continued, always in the same building, the site being one of the old business landmarks of the city.

In 1865 Mr. Heiser was married to Miss Mary Danil, who died in 1889, an estimable woman who was beloved by all who knew her. She was a daughter of Gabriel Danil, a farmer in Shelby county. Six children survived her: William L., who is in partnership with his father; Franklin; George; Rosa, who is the wife of August Myer; Raymond; and Amelia, who is the wife of William Ross. Mr. Heiser was married (second) to Frances Mons, who died September 19, 1908.

WILLIAM RANDOLPH, who owns one of the best improved farms of Green township, consisting of 160 acres, situated seven miles southeast of Sidney, for many years carried on extensive farming here but now lives retired. He was born in Clark county, O., near Springfield, July 13, 1826, and is a son of James Butler and Rachel (Stanley) Randolph.

James Butler Randolph was born in New Jersey and was eight years old when his parents took him to Clark county, O., and from there he moved to Miami county in 1839, and in 1852 came to Shelby county where he lived into advanced age, dying on his farm in Turtle Creek township. In earlier years he had followed his trade, being a cooper. He married Rachel Stanley, who was born in Virginia and who also survived into advanced age, her death occurring on the farm of her only surviving child, William Randolph, the family originally being of eight members, five sons and three daughters.

When William Randolph tells of his early school days he describes a log structure with slabs for benches and paper in place of glass in the windows, as the place in which he gained his knowledge of reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic, the primary elements of an education. It was a subscription school and each householder paid according to the number of children he sent to be instructed. Mr. Randolph started out for himself by working by the month on farms and helping the neighbors during haying and harvesting, until his marriage when he bought his present farm, in 1851, and settled on it in 1852. He cleared this land and erected the buildings and continued to make improvements until his property became exceedingly valuable, and continued to cultivate it until he no longer cared for such heavy responsibilities and for some years has rented it to good tenants. His handsome brick residence is one of the finest farm homes in Green township.

Mr. Randolph married Miss Sarah Elizabeth Bull, who is deceased. The following children were born to them: Elias, John, Clinton, William, Edward, Samuel L., Bert and Grant, 'Elias and William being deceased. Mr. Randolph's second marriage was to Miss Harriet B. Denise, who was born and educated in Montgomery county, O., a daughter of Hiram Vail and Rachel (Barklow) Denise. The father of Mrs. Randolph was a lumber merchant at Cincinnati. _JVIr. Randolph is a republican in his political attachment. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. During a long and busy life he has witnessed many wonderful changes come about, and in looking around him misses the faces which long association in family and neighborhood had made familiar, but he still has a close circle of warm friends, and, with the blessing of good health and surrounded with material comforts of all kinds, can enjoy the evening of life untroubled with the cares of earlier years.

MARSHAL K. COON, one of the representative men of Turtle Creek township, Shelby county, O., who is now serving in the office of township assessor and resides on his farm of ninety acres, was born in this township, April 22, 1859, and is a son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Frankeberger) Coon.

Alfred Coon and wife were both born in Shelby county and the former in Turtle Creek township. He learned the tailor's trade in early manhood but later became a farmer and when he retired removed to Sidney. Alfred Coon and wife were parents of the following children: Margaret, who is the wife of Jacob Jenkens; David; John; Mary, who is the wife of Webster Barbour; Caroline, who is the wife of John S. Bush; Edward; Marshal K. ; Frank and Lou, who is the wife of James Turner.

Marshal K. Coon commenced early to assist his father and remained on the home place until he was twenty-five years of age and after his father's death bought his present property which was formerly known as the Richard Cannon farm. A general line of farming is here carried on, Mr. Coon aiming to raise only enough stock for home use.

In August, 1882, Mr. Coon was married to Miss Anna Rinehart, who was born at Sidney, O., and is a daughter of Rev. D. B. and Catherine (Etherington) Rinehart. The father of Mrs. Coon was born in Fairfield county, O., November 21, 1825, and died February 27, 1900, aged seventy-four years, three months and six days. Mrs. Coon has one brother, William, who formerly lived at New Bremen, O., but died at Arcanum, and one sister, Clara Jane, who is the wife of Samuel L. McCoy, living at Hastings, Neb. In the Rinehart family is preserved an old family Bible which has descended from father to son for generations and authenticates the genealogy of this family from the time when its progenitors came from Germany to the American colonies, prior to the Revolutionary war.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Coon, namely : Alfred R., who married Grace McCormack ; Lou Caroline, who married Henry V. Van Demark, and they have two children - Catherine and Anna Wilma ; and Florence Catherine. Mr. Coon and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is one of the trustees. Politically a republican, for many years he has been active in party movements and prior to being elected to his present office, served two terms as township treasurer. He is identified with

GEORGE W. HANSELLMAN, a leading citizen of Cynthian township, Shelby county, O., township assessor and a substantial farmer, lives in section 30, where he owns ninety-nine acres of valuable land. He was born in this township June 3, 1862, and is a son of George and Catherine (Yoder) Hansellman.

George Hansellman, the father, was born in Holland and was seven years old when his parents brought him to the United States and settled in Darke county, O., and he was reared and went to school in Patterson township. He became a farmer in Shelby county and remained there until he married when he moved to Cynthian township, where he acquired a farm of 160 acres, situated on the county line, and here all his children were born and reared. He married Catherine Yoder, who was born in Germany, and eight children were born to them, namely : Eli, who lives at Piqua, O. ; John, who lives at Salina, O. ; Barbara, who is deceased, was the wife of Hiram Pitsenburger ; George W. ; William, who is deceased ; and Margaret, Lydia and Isabella. The father of the above family died when aged sixty-eight years. The mother still lives on the homestead and considering that she is now in her eighty-first year, enjoys exceptional good health. She is a member of the German Baptist church but her husband was a Lutheran.

George W. Hansellman, with his brothers and sisters, attended school in the Turner special district and afterward learned the carpenter trade at Versailles, O. For a number of years he worked at his trade in Darke, Miami and Shelby counties and during this period, on March 13, 1886, was married to Miss Mattie B. Hemelright. She was born in Cynthian township, a daughter of George and Elizabeth Hemelright, the latter of whom died when Mrs. Hansellman was only eight years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Hansellman six children have been born : Harvey, Erma, May, Mabel, George and Cloyde.

After marriage Mr. Hansellman settled first on a farm of forty acres situated four miles west of Newport, O., and remained there until March, 1909, when he came to his present farm. He found this place in great need of improvement and his skill as a carpenter was immediately called into play in the building of a new residence and in making repairs on all the other farm buildings. He is a republican in politics as was his late father and has frequently been called on to serve in public positions, for three years being a trustee of the township, four years road supervisor and at present township assessor. Mr. Hansellman and family attend the Christian church at Oran, O.

BERNARD BRANDEWIE, who is one of the leading citizens and large land owners of McLean township, having 600 acres and devoting a large portion of this to raising cattle and hogs, was born in May, 1856, in Auglaize county, O., and is a son of Joseph and a grandson of Anton Brandewie.

tinued to live there for some years and when they came to America they had three children : Joseph, Barney and Catherine. They first made a home in Cincinnati, O., where they lived for six months, and then moved to Minster. At that time the land office was at Piqua and the nearest neighbor was five miles away. They bought a tract of land which is now the site of Minster, O., 160 acres, all in one body and owned by four people, Grandfather Brandewie retaining forty acres foT himself. On this tract he spent his subsequent life, dying when aged seventy-two years, his burial being in St. Joseph's cemetery, Egypt. He helped to establish the Catholic church here and gave liberally to its support. He was a strong democrat and always cast his vote at elections even when he had to ride for miles on horseback to do so. He was well known among the early settlers in Shelby county but spent his days in Auglaize county.

Joseph Brandewie was twelve years old when he came to the United States and had attended school in Germany and later learned to read English although it was difficult for him to spell in this language. Probably the first money he ever earned was when fourteen years of age he became a worker on the canal as water boy. Later he drove ox teams and worked in the stone quarries and afterward again worked on the canal, with a Mr. Duncan, probably living all that time in Auglaize county. He then went to Michigan and during the six years he lived there bought 120 acres of land in that state. After he returned to Ohio he married and then bought eighty acres on the Shelby county line, all of it, at that time being totally unimproved. He built a house and barn and improved land as he was able and there, comfortably reared a large family and at the time of his death on the original farm, he owned 252 acres, having cleared this rand by his own industry. He was an enterprising man and a great worker and lived to the age of eighty-six years and during all this long life but once called in a physician for himself. He was a lifelong democrat and never missed voting and on several occasions was elected to local offices.

Joseph Brandewie was married to Catherine Prenger, who was also born in Germany and was brought to the United States by her parents, Herman and Kate Prenger, when a child. To them the following children were born-: Mary, Tony, Bernard, Kate, Agnes, Joseph, Henry, Herman, Bernadine, Caroline, and Josephine. The mother of the above" family died at the age of sixty-eight years and she was buried in the Catholic cemetery at Egypt, and many years afterward her husband was laid by her side, they having been among the earliest members of the church and faithful to its teachings, kind, good people.

Bernard Brandewie and his brothers and sisters attended the district schools near their home. In 1880 at the time of marriage, Mr. Brandewie came to Shelby county, and settled where he still lives. He has the larger part of his estate well improved and has two barns and three houses. He has always carried on general farming and for the past thirteen years has been in the livestock business, buying, selling and shipping to all parts of the country. On the portion of his farm on which he resides he put up all the substantial

In 1880 Mr. Brandewie was married to Miss Mary Baumer, who was born at Cincinnati, O., a daughter of Bernard and Mary Baumer, and all of their children have been born in Shelby county. Louis, the oldest, married Elizabeth Severin and they live at Minster. Fred married Dena Ernst and they live in McLean township. Lottie married Barney Artkamp and they live in McLean township. Albert married Mary Ernst and lives in this township. Katie, Cecelia, Edward, Sophia and Lawrence, all live at home. The family all belong to the Minster Catholic church. Mr. Brandewie is a stanch democrat and is a member of the board of education of the Dirksen special school district.

CHRISTIAN KIRSCH, postmaster at Fort Loramie, O., is a representative citizen of this town, of which he has been a resident for forty-two consecutive years. He was born at Troy, in Concord township, Miami county, O., May 1, 1848, and is a son of John and Christina Kirsch.

John Kirsch was born in Hessen, Germany, while his wife was a native of Hanover. About 1855 they moved from Miami county, O., where they had first settled after coming from Germany, and afterward lived in McLean township until their death, when aged respectively seventy and seventy-six years. They were faithful members of St. Michael's Catholic church and were buried in the cemetery adjoining the same. They were well known and highly respected people.

During boyhood Christian Kirsch attended school when his father could spare him and then learned the carpenter trade, beginning work in 1867 and continuing busy at his trade for forty-two years, coming to Fort Loramie in 1870, where he served as the first town marshal. He has been active in democratic politics and for sixteen years served uninterruptedly as a trustee of McLean township and many times has served usefully and discreetly as a member of the town council. It is through the efforts of such men as Mr. Kirsch that communities prosper for they take an interest in the progress of the town and are the agitators who bring about many useful improvements. For twenty-nine years Mr. Kirsch has been a member of the volunteer fire company and one of its early organizers. As postmaster Mr. Kirsch has served acceptably since his appointment September 6, 1907, this being a fourth class office, with one rural delivery route.

Mr. Kirsch was married to Miss Rachel Meyers, who was born at Fort Loramie, O., and is a daughter of Lucas and Otilda Meyers, both of whom are deceased. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kirsch, four of whom died in infancy. The survivors are : Bernard, who resides at Hamilton, O. ; Albert, who resides at Dayton, O. ; Adaline. who lives at Minster, in Auglaize county, O.; Anna, who is her father's capable assistant in the post office at Fort Loramie ; Christian, who is a resident of Troy, O. : and Carl, who lives at Hamilton, O. Mr. Kirsch and family are members of St. Michael's Catholic church.

ARMSTRONG LOGAN MARSHALL, who has been identified with gas and fuel interests for a number of years and who has been connected with the Miami Vailey Gas and Fuel Company since July, 1888, was born on a farm in Washington township, Shelby county, O., September 25, 1840, and is a son of Samuel and Jane McCord (Russell) Marshall.

Samuel Marshall was born in Washington county, Pa., and was three years old when his parents, Samuel and Margaret Marshall, came to Shelby county, away back in 1802, they being the second settlers who had penetrated thus far and established a pioneer home. They entered land from the government which Grandfather Marshall cleared and cultivated in the primitive way. On that wild farm the younger Samuel Marshall grew to manhood and he, in turn, also entered land, his selection being a tract lying one-half mile east of the old Marshall place. There he followed farming and tanning, his old tan-yard being yet recalled by the older residents of that section, and on that farm both he and wife passed away in advanced age.

Armstrong Logan Marshall had much better educational advantages than were afforded his father and he remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age. He then taught school for about six years and later was in the grain business at Harden Station and about this time was first elected county recorder, to which office he was subsequently reelected. Mr. Marshall then became connected with several publishing houses and for eighteen years was engaged in delivering county histories and atlases both in the United States and Canada. He came then to Sidney and shortly afterward entered into his present business connection. For the first three years he occupied a subordinate position and then succeeded Frank Hunter as agent for the Miami Valley Gas & Fuel Company, and both became agents for the Sidney Gas Light and the Sidney Electric Light Companies, and at present he also is agent for the Miami Valley Gas & Fuel Co., the Sidney and Electric Light Company, The Sidney Gas Light Company having quit business.

Mr. Marshall was first married in 1864, to Miss Mary Burness, and one daughter, Mary B., and one son, Samuel, were born to them. His second marriage was to Miss Margaret Walker and they have three sons : Robert, who is a land agent with the Pennsylvania Railroad offices in New York City ; and Charles C. and Logan W., both of whom are practicing attorneys. Mr. Marshall is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

WILLIS N. HANCE, one of Shelby county's well known and highly respected citizens, resides on his valuable farm of 140 acres, lying in Perry township, but no longer carries on his farm industries himself, having been retired for some years. He was born in Miami county, O., May 1, 1846, and is a son of Joseph and Patsey (Wilson) Hance.

The father of Mr. Hance was a native of Kentucky. After his marriage in Miami county, O., he engaged there in farming until the close of his life, both he and wife dying on their old homestead not far from Casstown. Ten children were born to them, namely: Lydia, who married Larison Huff; Margaret, who married Chryance Schenck; William; Lewis; Sarepta, who

Willis N. Hance attended the district schools near his father's farm in boyhood and afterward assisted in carrying on the work on the homestead and well remember? how laborious much of it was, as at that period much of the labor-saving farm machinery that is now universally in use, was not yet on the market. After marriage he settled on the present farm, on which his wife was born, and has remained here ever since, for many years being one of the active and successful farmers and stock raisers of Perry township.