USA > Ohio > Putnam County > A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio, pt 2 > Part 52
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To Mr. and Mrs. Shalter have been born the following children: Kittie, Della, Johnny (deceased), Howard, Harmon and Elizabeth, all of whom, with the exception of the de- ceased son, are receiving good, common-school educations. The parents are members of the United Brethren church in good standing, and their daily deportment indicates that they take good heed of the lessons taught by that de- nomination of simple but strict discipline. In
politics Mr. Shalter is a stalwart republican, but has never been an office seeker, preferring the peaceful pursuit of the agriculturist to the bitter and heart-burning career of the politician. He is, nevertheless, widely and favorably known as one of the most substantial men of the township, and as a gentleman of sound sense and well qualified for any office within the power of the people to offer. He is a man of undoubted integrity and honor, and as such is respected by his fellow-citizens, while his skill as a tiller of the soil is commended by all who have ever seen his well-cultivated farm and substantial improvements.
'ILLIAM SHANE, for over twenty years a farmer of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a native ( 1 Virginia, born in Frederick county September 4, 1824, a son of John and Cather- ine (Mason) Shane. The father, John Shane, a native of the same county. was born in 1803. a son of William Shane, a native of Germany, a farmer, and a soldier of the war of 1812, whose death occurred nine days after his re- turn from the gallant struggle. William Shane was married to a Miss Light in 1802, thus showing that the Shane family has been for over a century residents of the United States. The children born to William Shane, the elder, were four in number, of whom John, the father of our subject, was the eldest, and was reared a miller and also a carpenter, and possibly a millwright. In 1822 John married Calla Ma- son, who was born in the Old Dominion in 1 803, a danghter of Bingley and Barbara ( Free) Mason, the former a native of England and the latter of Holland. To these parents were born the following-named children: Mrs. Bar- bara Adams; William, our subject; Martha, wife of James Triploth; Mrs Nancy M. Bow- man, deceased; Hannah 1., wife of Aaron
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Dunlap; John F. and Anderson Jackson, all residents of Virginia, with the exception of William, our subject, and Mrs. Bowman, de- ceased. The parents of Calla Mason, the mother .of this family, were married at the close of the Revolutionary war, in which the father had been a faithful soldier. The death of John Shane took place in Virginia about 1865, he having been a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church over forty years, and a democrat in politics; his widow, who had nursed many a sick soldier, regardless of gray or blue uniform, at her own home dur- ing the Civil war, survived until 1882, and died also in the faith of the Methodist church.
William Shane, the subject proper of this sketch, was reared both a carpenter and farmer. . March 7, 1849, he married Mary J. Neibert, who was born near Dayton, Ohio, June 12, 1831, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Koffman) Neibert, the former a native of Washington county, Md., born in iSoo, a son of John Neibert, a German, and the latter a native of the Shenandoah valley, Va., and also of German parentage. The children born to our subject and wife were nine in number, and named as follows: Charles J., who died in 1891; Jolin F., of Sugar Creek township; Will- iam F., of Union township; Phineas Willian, of Sugar Creek township; Mary Catherine and Edward, at home; Joseph Neibert, of Dayton, Ohio; Elmer E. and Darsy L., both at home.
In 1853 our subject located in Montgomery county, Ohio, whence he moved, about twenty years later, in 18 2, to Allen county, here passed one year, and in 1873 came to Putnam county, where he located on a farin adjoining that which he at present owns. Nine years later, in 1882, he took possession of his present residence and splendid farm; but, at the same tune, it must be said that Mr. Shane has done t vast amount of clearing and other pioneer work. In politics Mr./ Shane is a democrat,
and has held several township offices, and as a citizen he stands more than ordinarily high in the regard of the community.
a HRISTIAN SHANK, JR., one of the oldest residents of Putnam county, and a pioneer farmer of Greensburg township, was born in Washington county, August 3, 1811. His parents were Christian (Sr.) and Sophia (Herst) Shank ;. the father was born in Lancaster, Pa., in 1 779, and was the son of John Shank, a native of Pennsylvania; the great-grandfather was Michael Shank, a native of Germany.
John Shank, the grandfather, moved from Pennsylvania to Maryland, and there married Annie Kaufman, to whom seven sons were born -John, Andrew, Henry, Jacob, Christian (Sr. ), Abraham and Daniel, and three girls -- Eliza- beth, Annie (Mrs. Newcomer) and Nanc ;. He was a member of the German Baptist church, and a whig in politics. His son, Christian:, Sr., the father of the subject of our sketch, was reared on a farm, learned the tailor's trade, and was a man of much ingenuity. On July 12, 1807, he married Sophia, the daughter of Fred and Susan (Christ) Herst, who was born in Lancaster, Pa., in 1780, of German ances- try. After his marriage Mr. Shank moved to Maryland, settled on a farm and there spent the remainder of his life, being prominent in the community, and a whig in politics. Here ten children were born to them: Henry, married to Barbara Myers, died in 1885; Jonas, married to Fannie Myers; Christian the subject of this sketch, who was married to Maria Myers; John, married to Eva Shank; Jacob, married to Han- nah Whiting; Fred, married to Susan Eshile- man; Daniel, who died in infancy; Noah, married to Susan Shank; Sophia, the wife of Henry Myers, and Daniel. Late in M. his
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wife died and he married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John and Mary (Gillingham) Myers.
Christian Shank, Jr., of whom this bio- graphical sketch is written, was given a com- mon-school education in his native state, where his boyhood days were spent on a farm, and he was taught the wagon-maker's trade, and following that calling until his marriage, in 1837, to Maria Myers, who was born in Mary- land, in October, 1794. A short time after marriage he started out on foot to seek a home; he walked across the mountains to the beautiful valley of the Ohio and then to Put- namn county, carrying his goods for the 500- mile journey on his back. His brother Jacob accompanied him fourteen days. Having reached his destination he purchased a piece of land of 114 acres, which is now a part of the farm on which he lives. He now turned back to get his wife, and walked the entire distance, and, on arriving in Maryland, he built him- self a wagon, and placing his young wife in it he again walked to the land he had purchased, which was then all a forest of gigantic trees. He set to work building a house and clearing the land, and soon saw fine fields of grain waving in every gentle breeze instead of the giant forest which had but recently stood there and seemed to defy man. In their new home two children (twins) were born to them, but they died in infancy. On December 12, 1874, the good wife died, a member of the Baptist church; and left him alone to mourn his loss. August 10, 1876, he married Marga- ret, a daughter of Michael and Mary (Beemer) Yant, who was born in Tuscarawas county. Ohio, June 20, 1831. Her parents were natives of Maryland and had moved to Tus- carawas county, Ohio, and afterwards became pioneers of Putnam. county.
Mr. Shank has three times suffered the complete icss of his home by fire, but with re- newed courage he has built each time a better
house, and now, past four-score and four years, he has a comfortable home and enjoys the fruits of his well-spent life. and sees prosperity around him. He and his wife are members of the German Baptist church, and are prominent workers in it. In politics he is a republican and still exercises his right of franchise. He has held several local offices, his life has been one of much usefulness. and in his good old age, when gray hair is a token of respect, he is honored and revered by all, and he can say he has wronged no man.
J OHN SHERRICK, general agent of the Walter A. Wood Mower & Reaper company, for northwestern Ohio. is a native of the Buckeye state, born Sep- tember 28, 1846, in the county of Columbiana. His parents, Kingery and Maria (Sultner) Sher- rick, were born in the province of Alsace, Germany, and came to America after their marriage, locating in Columbiana county, Ohio, where the father, who was a farmer by occupa- tion, afterward died. The mother is still living in that part of the state. Kingery and Maria Sherrick were the parents of eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch being the tenth in order of birth.
John Sherrick was reared on the home farm until his thirteenth year, and had but few ad- vantages for acquiring an education, having been early thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood. When a mere lad he began life for himself, as an employee of the Altman Threshing Machine company, Canton, Ohio, where he worked for a short time, and then be- gan learning the trade of harness-making. When only sixteen years of age, he enlisted, in the spring of 1863, in the One Hundred and Forty-third Ohio infantry, for the 100 day-serv- ice, and at the expiration of that tune returned home and completed the trade which he had
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formerly commenced to learn. In the spring of 1865 he again entered the army, enlisting in company A, One Hundred and Ninety-first Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he served until the close of the war, receiving his dis- charge at Winchester, Va., in August of the same year.
Returning home, Mr. Sherrick began work- ing at the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until 1882, a part of the time running a shop of his own. He located at Columbus Grove in 1875, and in 1882 entered the employ of Ewing & Co., dealers in farm implements, as salesman on commission, and at the end of one year, having in the meantime made a most ex- cellent record, he was employed in the same capacity at a liberal salary. Mr. Sherrick re- mained with the aforesaid firm for three years, and in 1885 entered the employ of John F. Caver at Ottawa, with whom he remained for about one year. March 9, 1886, he accepted a position with the Walter A. Wood machine company, with which he has since been identi- fied and the confidence of which he enjoys to an unlimited degree. His success with this firm was assured from the very start, and he now occupies a place of trust such as is accorded few agents. He began as traveling salesman, in which capacity he continued until 1888, in the fall of which year he was made general agent for the district of northwestern Ohio, comprising twenty counties, throughout which he has various sub-agencies, all doing a very profitable business.
Mr. Sherrick is a shrewd business man and manages the trade with tact and superior judg- ment. He is a member of the F. & A. M., Ottawa lodge, No. 325, belongs to the K. of P. order, Ottawa lodge, No. 565, and is also a member of the G. A. R. ; politically he is a re- publican. He was married in Paulding county, Ohio, May 20, 1871, to Miss Lizzie Miller, a native of the county of Fayette -- a umon blessed
with the birth of three children, Nellie, Leo and Lloyd. The daughters are both graduates --- Nellie of the schools of Ottawa and Leo of the Paulding schools. The former is stenog- rapher and type-writer in her father's office and Lloyd also assists his father in the bus ness.
0 AVID SEITZ, a member of a large and prominent family, of which there are now about 500 members living in many states of the Union. was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, December 12, 1819.
John Seitz, great-grandfather of subject, was born in Germany, served his country in the army, and when honorably discharged im- migrated to America and located in Virginia, where he farmed until his death. He son Lewis, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Balen, Germany, refore his father came to America. He received his education in Virginia, in the German language, spent his childhood days on a farm, and in early life joined the Baptist church, of which he became a Predestinarian minister. He married Anna Beery, and two years befor . Ohio was admitted as a state (1801), he moved to Fairfield county, took up some government land and improved it; here he followed farm- ing and preaching until his death. He had seventeen children, three of whom died in in- fancy; all the rest lived to rear families, and were named as follows: John, born 1790; Daniel, 1791 ; Catherine, 1793; Mrs. Eliza Hite, 1794; Mrs. Mary Spitler, 1895 ; Abraham, 1796; Jacob, 1797; Noah, 1798; Mrs. Lydia Bretz, 1800, who were all born in Virginia; after he moved to Fairfield county the following chil- dren were born: Mrs Susanna Staley, 1801; Lewis, 1802, who when ; rown to manhood en- tered the ministry; Mrs. Annie Huddle, 305: Mrs. Rebecca Friesner 1807, and Peter, 1810,
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who was also a preacher. In politics Lewis Seitz was a democrat.
Daniel Seitz, second son of John and father of the subject of this sketch, lived on his father's farm, working faithfully until June 1, 1813, when he married Elizabeth, the daughter of Andrew and Rebecca Hight, and located on a farm near the old home; here they welcomed to life eleven children: Mrs. Rebecca Fries- ner, deceased; Mrs. Anna Emmens, of Pleas- ant township; Mrs. Elizabeth Hendricks, de- ceased; Andrew, who died in infancy; David, the subject of this sketch; Samuel, who lives in Union township; Daniel, who died in child- hood; Lewis, John and Isaac, all of whom are now deceased; Catherine, wife of P. Hufford. On May 14, 1831, his good wife took her de- parture for the long journey, whence no one returns, and he was left alone to care for this large family: but April 15, 1832. he married Catherine Beery, and this marriage was blessed with eight children: Mrs. Saphronia Blosser ; Mrs. Marv Huddle, deceased; Diana, wife of Dr. Morris, of Columbus Grove; Mrs. Sarah Ann Shoemaker, deceased; George, now liv- ing in Shelby, Ill. ; Noah, who died while serv- ing his country in the late war; Prof. Enoch, one of the greatest mathematicians of this country. and who died in Kirksville, Mo., in November, 1883, and was buried at Greenville, Ohio, leaving a wife and four boys, the widow now holding the position of superintendent of the Kirksville public schools, which place she fills with credit to herself and satisfaction to the parents of the children who attend; Levi, the youngest child born to the second marriage of Daniel, died in childhood. The father, Daniel, served his country faithfully for one year in the war of 1812. In politics he was a democrat. and was trusted with numerous offices, bolling, of these, that of township treasurer two terms, and that of township trustee a number of years. He was also an
active and consistent member of the Baptist church, in which he held office until his death, October 14, 1864. His second wife is still living at the advanced age of eighty-seven years.
David Seitz, the subject of this sketch, passed his boyhood on a farm in Fairfield county, Ohio, where he received his education in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-two years learned the carpenter's trade. On October 3, 1844, he was married to Lydia Hufford, who was born June 17, 1823. in Perry county, Ohio, her parents. Daniel and Nancy (Nelly) Hufford, being Dunkards and natives of Pennsylvania, who had early mnoved to Perry county, and were among its early set- tlers. Mr. and Mrs. David Seitz had ten chil- dren, viz: Elizabeth, wife of T. J. Clevenger; Nancy, wife of Stephen Clevenger, deceased; Daniel W., a civil engineer; Benjamin, now liv- ing in Sugar Creek township; Levina, the wife of Richard Evans; Diana, wife of Samuel Heis- tan, deceased; Lydia, who died an infant; David and Samuel (twins), of whom David died in infancy; also an infant, deceased.
After his marriage David remained three years in Fairfield county, Ohio, and on Octo- ber 7, 1847, removed to Putnam county, where his father had purchased and given him 160 acres of uncleared land. He set resolutely to work and soon had built for himself a house of logs and had cleared a small patch around it, which in latter days he enlarged. He at once returned to Fairfield county, and as it was before the days of steam and electricity and rapid transit, walking being the only means of locomotion for the hardy pioneers, and roads even were not then cut through, he walked the entire distance-one day walking fifty miles and carrying a pack weighing seven- teen and one-half pounds. On this farm, which he has cleared out of the woods and re- deemed from its wild state, he still lives, hon-
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ored and respected by all. In politics he be- lieves in the democracy, and in 1870 he was elected land appraiser, which office he held for ten years. He has been intrusted with numer- ous other offices, serving as justice of the peace three years, and township trustee for a number of years. He has been a member of the Bap- tist church since December, 1875, and has served in the capacity of clerk and deacon. He can gather around him, in the pride of his old age, twenty-one grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In August, 1888, at Bloom- field, Ohio, he attended a reunion of the Seitz family, nearly 500 of its members being present and some coming from California. He has always been known as a progressive, in- dustrious man, and while looking with care to his own affairs he has had time to look after the interest of the neighborhood, as is attested by the numerous offices he has faithfully held.
Jolin Seitz, brother of David Seitz and son of Daniel and Elizabeth Seitz, was born April 19, 1827, in Fairfield county, Ohio. He was given a common-school education while living on his father's farm. When grown to man- hood he came to Putnam county and bought the home where his widow now resides. On February 3, 1853, he married Sarah, the daughter of Samuel Clevenger (see his sketch); this lady was born in Putnam county, April 8, 1835, and here received her education. After their marriage the young couple moved to the uncleared farm which the husband had recently purchased, and by united labors they soon had a place cleared and a log cabin built, into which they moved March 14, of the same year. This union was blessed with three children: Susanna, wife of Jacob Best, a farmer and stock buyer of Union township; Albert, a fumer, married and living on the old home- strad, the comfort and pride of his widowed mother; Samuel Lee, who died at the age of Light years. John Seitz was a prominent
member of the Baptist church, and a democrat in politics, and his neighbors trusted him with the office of township trustee. He was known as a useful citizen and a conscentious man, and none had aught against him. Death called him away March 17, 1885, his good wife, and one daughter and one son being left to mourn his loss.
AMUEL SEITZ, of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, prominent both as an elder and as a preacher in the Primitive Baptist church, is the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Hight) Seitz, and was born in Fairfield county, this state, December 14, 1821. During his boyhood days he worked on his father's farm and at- tended school, and when old enough he learned the carpenter's trade with joseph Hendricks, who is now his brother-in-law. October 4, 1847, he came to Putnam camty, where he had some uncleared land; on this he began to clear a farm, and continued to work at his trade. Here be built himself a house, and on November 14, 1850, he married Mary, the daughter of Samnel and Elizabeth (Gan- der) Clevenger (see sketch of Samuel C! ven- ger); this lady was born in Putnam county December 6, 1830, and received a common- school education. At the age of ten years she went to live with her aunt, Mrs. Nancy Clev- enger, with whom she lived at the time of her marriage. The young couple, with bright hopes before them, moved to the newly cleared farm, where they have since lived and pros- pered. One day, a few months after proving into her new home, while at work in front of the cabin, Mrs. Seitz saw a deer coming to- ward the house; she ran in and hastily closed the door to keep it out At another time she and her aunt succeeded in killing a fawn which the dogs had crippled. This happy union
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was blessed with six children, four of whom are still living: Chloe, the wife of James W. Loy, who sells engines and farming imple- ments at Columbus Grove; Belle, the wife of Willis H. Grey, a prosperous farmer of Union township; J. Edson, a farmer living on the old homestead, and Nancy, still at home.
In 1858 the subject of this sketch united with the Primitive Baptist church, and in 1871 he began preaching. In 1872 he was set apart, and ordained a minister and was given charge of three churches, two of which, of the Sandusky association, he still ministers to. He has been preaching there faithfully for twenty- three years. He is an earnest and enthusiastic worker and his labors for the Master have been rewarded. In private life he is respected by all. In politics he has cast his lot with the democrats and has been honored by them by being elected to numerous offices. In 1853 he was elected assessor and held that office two terins. In 1858 he was elected township trus- tee, and held that office for three termins, and during the 'sixties he was elected just- ice of the peace, which office he held for six years. He has been school director, and has been intrusted with numerous other minor offices. In 1861 he built his present home and surrounded himself with many of the lux- uries and conveniences of this progressive age, where he enjoys the fruits of a well-spent life and can look back with pleasure on his early days in the wild forest which stood where his farm now stands, and many are the stirring incidents of this early life.
B F. SEITZ, a native of Union town- ship, Putnam county,' but now a prosperous farmer of Sugar Creek township, was born September 16, 1853, a son of David and Lydia (Hufford) Seitz, natives, respectively, of Fairfield and
Perry counties, Ohio. Daniel Seitz, the father of David, was a native of Virginia of German descent, was pioneer of Ohio and died in Fairfield county, where David was reared and was married. In 1847 David came to Putnam county, bought a tract of land in Union township where he still lives, and which now comprises 190 acres under a good state of cultivation; he has filled the office of land appraiser and also of township trustee and several minor offices, and is quite prominent before the public as a member of the Primitive Baptist church. He has given a great deal of attention to short-horn cattle and has raised some graded Percheron horses that have netted him high prices. He has had born to him ten children, of whom four died young, the six who grew to maturity being named as follows: Elizabeth, married to T. J. Cleven- ger, a farmer; Nancy, who was married to S D. Clevenger, but who, with her child, is now- deceased; D. W., ex-county surveyor; B. F. the subject of this notice; Lavina, married t: R. T. Evans, a fariner, and Diana, who mar- ried S. Z. Hiestand, became the mother of three children, and is now deceased.
B. F. Seitz was reared upon the home farm; until after reaching his majority. In 1877 he married Miss Sarah J. Funk, who was born in Sugar Creek township February 11, 1855. For a year he lived on rented land, then built on a tract of eighty acres in the woods that his wife inherited; he next purchased an adjoin ing tract of eighty acres, making 160 acres in all, which he has ditched, tiled, brought under a fine state of cultivation and improved with a commodious two-story frame dwelling, two large barns, two out-houses for all purposes, orchards, etc. He raises graded stock in con- siderable quantities, and also carries on the usual general farming. H takes a lively interest in public affairs, and has served tw. years as president of the agriculturad society ;
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while he is a democrat in politics, he has no aspiration for public office, but lends a willing hard toward assisting t> fill public positions with good men. In religion he is, with his wife and two children, a member of the Chris- tian church.
Henry Funk, father of Mrs. Seitz, was a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, and an early settler of Union township, Putnam county; he married Elizabeth Clevenger, a member of the Clevenger family so well and favorably known thronghont Sugar Creek township. Mr. Funk died in October, 1860, was a member of the Primitive Baptist church, and his wife expired in August, of the same year, leaving eight young children, of whom four grew to matur- ity, viz. : Benjamin F., of Allen county, Ohio; Mary E., wife of John Manuel, also of Allen county; Sarah J., wife of Mr. Seitz, and George W., a farmer. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Seitz has been blessed with six children, as follows: John D., born June 9, 1878; Maud, born September 14, 1879; Peter, born October 3, 1882; Benjamin, born March 30, 1884; David, born October 26, 1885, and Bessie, bern July 28, 1894, and died September 19, 1895. Mr. Seitz stands very high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, who respect him for his honest, straightforward conduct in life and for his willingness to assist on all occasions where his services may be required, either for the public weal or for private good.
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