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 1 > Part 52
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ILLIAM SCOTT, one of the well- known citizens of Delphos and the oldest one in Allen county, Ohio, was born at Elk Creek, in Chester county, Pa., February 19, 1796. His parents were Jolin and Jane (Perry) Scott, who were of Scotch-Irish descent and distantly related to the poet, Robert Burns. John Scott was a soldier in the war of 1812, and Grandfather Perry was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
When William Scott was eighteen years of age, in 1814, he went to Baltimore to enlist in the army. He was accepted by the captain, and was drilled to some extent, but upon ex- amination he was rejected on account of physi- cal defects of some character. In 1821, when twenty-five years of age, William Scott went to Virginia and was employed as a school-teacher in Shanandoah county. Later he was ap- pointed a clerk in Saleyards, of the Jackson Forge iron works, in the above county. Be- ginning as assistant clerk, he worked his way up to the place of manager of the works and to an interest in the business. In the fall of 1831 he came to Ohio in time to legalize his vote for Gen. Jackson in 1832, he being a strong Jackson democrat, and he is yet an ardent admirer of Old Hickory. At the age twenty-seven, on July 31, 1823, he married Miss Elizabeth K. Pangle, the wedding occur- ring in Virginia, with whom he lived for about forty years. Of their eight children, two died in infancy; of the six that grew to maturity three are now living, they being Mrs. P. W. Morton, of Delphos; \. :. E. D. Peltier resid- ing on the old homestead in Allen county, and
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John J., farmer of Allen county. When Mr. . Scott came to Ohio in 1831 he located in the vicinity of New Salem, where he remained about four years. February 19, 1835, he re- moved to Putnam county, where he bought 205 acres of canal lands from the state, at $1.25 per acre. This land is now in Allen county; there he made his home, following farming and other occupations for fifty years. He came to Delphos about 1885, on account of failing health, to make his home. with his children. On February 19, 1896, he cele- brated his one hundredth birthday. He was commissioner of Putnam county before this part of Allen was struck off, and he has also served a's justice of the peace and notary public.
J AMES W. SELLERS, one of the most enrerprising and successful farmers of Shawnee township, Allen county, Ohio, and a man of intelligence and unusally varied experience, is a son of Jacob and Emily (McDonald) Sellers. He was born May 23, 1853, in the township in which he still resides. Jacob Sellers, the father, died when his son, James W., was five years old, and the mother of our subject afterward married Jacob Crites, by whom the young son of Mr. and Mrs. Sel- lers was reared, and educated. Mr. Crites was a good and kind stepfather and gave his stepson a good common-school education, and put him through the Lima high school. He was thus qualified to teach, and did teach school in Amanda and German townships, meeting with most gratifying success. Giving up his profession of teacher, he next engaged in mercantile business at Hume, Ohio, in which he continued for three years, meeting with success in this line, as he had in teaching. At the end of these three years he located on his present farm of eighty acres, on which he
himself made all the improvements, and so has not by any means been lacking in industry or determination to inake of his farm work a success. Beside the eighty acres he owns he is also operating eighty acres more, and thus has all the work lie needs always present with ' him. Beside farming, he is also engaged in producing oil, having three wells drilled on his own farm.
Politically Mr. Sellers is a democrat, and though not seeking office of any kind, yet he has been elected trustee of his township, serving during the term of 1885. However, he has always been and is now ready to do any work for his party, by means of which he can add to that party's success or prestige, and is thus in good and favorable standing with his party associates. Mr. Sellers was married, in 1878, to Miss Emina Shoppell, daughter of John G. Shoppell, and by this marriage he has had three children-Carrie M., Orlando C., and one that died in infancy. Mr. Sellers all through life been true to his convictions of right, and his influence upon the community, though perhaps more of a silent than of a pro- nounced and an expressive kind, is yet strong and effective. He is a citizen highly esteemed by all who know him, his acquaintances fully appreciating his worth.
EORGE B. SHAFFER, one of the most enterprising and industrious cit- izens of Allen county, is a son of Daniel and Hannah (John) Shaffer, and was born October 15, 1866. Daniel Shaffer was a son of Henry Shaffer, who was born in Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pa., in 1765. Most of his life was spent in his native state, but in 1824, when he was fifty-nine years old, he sought fields and pastures new, removing to Fairfield county. Remaining in that connty during the next twelve years, he
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removed to Allen county, settling on forty acres of government land, for which he paid $1.25 per acre, and upon which he lived the rest of his days, dying in 1845, at the age of eighty years. He was one of the old time ' pioneers, always preferring to live in a new country, where he was constantly in commu- nication with nature in her pristine forms and beauty. He was a man of exceptional health and strengtli, and physical exercise and labor were to him a source of pleasure, for which reason he kept constantly in the van of civil- ization. He married Catherine Moke, by whom he had nine children, viz: Jacob, Henry, Katie, John, Michael, Mary. Agnes, Daniel and one that died in infancy.
Daniel, the youngest son, was the father of this sketch. He was born October 27, 1824, in Fairfield county, Ohio, and when his father removed to Allen county, in 1836, he also came. Here he was of great assistance to his father in clearing up the land, and was in every way a dutiful son. The farm upon which he had worked so faithfully was willed to him by his father, and upon this farm he has always lived. His family consists of the following children: John, of Auglaize county; George B., the subject; Annie, Eliza, and Mary. Politically Mr. Shaffer is a democrat and he is a member of the Lutheran church. Taking him all in all he is a man of sterling character and ability, and is much devoted to his family.
George B. Shaffer was born on the old homestead which his grandfather entered from the government. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, in the meantime receiving a good education in the public schools. At the age mentioned he established himself on the Amanda road, where, in company with Dr. E. G. Barr, he operated a saw-mill until October 15, 1891. At this time Mr. Shaffer purchased the inter-
est of Dr. Barr and moved the mill to Auglaize county, but early in the next year returned to the old location in Shawnee township. Allen county, and there remained until September of that year, 1892, when he settled on his pres- ent location in Shawnee township. Here he has since been engaged in manufacturing lum- ber for building purposes, and gives constant employment to about fourteen men. Politi- cally Mr. Shaffer is a democrat. On Decem- ber 24, 1889, Mr. Shaffer was married to Miss Flora Jackson, daughter of W. T. Jackson, and to this marriage there has been born one child, Earl W., born December 20, 1890. Such in brief has been the life of Mr. Shaffer. He is a man of independent thought and : ction, honest and fair in his dealings with men; pub- lic spirited and always ready to aid to good causes of education, morality and religion, as well as industrial enterprises and movements that bid fair to promote the general welfare.
M. SHAPPELL .- It is not generally recognized, especially by the young, that elevation to honorable position frequently comes after and is the result of a successful and honorable private career, and that this position is won frequently because of the possession of good character and peculiar qualifications acquired without any reference to or thought of such elevation. These reflections are fully warranted, as will be seen by reading the following sketch of U. M. Shappell, the present popular clock of courts of Allen county. Ohio.
George Shappell was a native of Berks county, Pa., but he removed thence to Fair- field county, Ohio, and subsequently to Auglaize county, about 1850. Soon after this removal he purchased government las 1, sit- uated in the two counties of Anglaize and Allen, and, being a carpenter by trade,, fol-
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И.Т. Впарке!
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OF ALLEN COUNTY.
lowed that trade in connection with his work , upon his farm. His wife, who, previous to her marriage, was Miss Mary Reigle, of Fair- field county, Ohio, bore him the following named children: John G., father of the sub- ject of this narrative; Elizabeth, who married William Hastings, of Auglaize county; Nelson, of Sandusky city; Sarah, who became the wife of William Bowsher, of Auglaize county; Jacob, a farmer of Ingham county, Mich. ; Daniel, a merchant of Lima, Ohio; Solomon, of Hume, Ohio; Catherine, widow of William Baker and residing in Saint Mary's, Ohio; Emma, who married James W. Sellars of Allen county, Ohio; and D. U., who resides on the old homestead in Aaglaize county, Ohio, The father of these children died in 1858, and the mother in April, 1889.
John G. Shappell was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and was there reared and edu- cated, receiving, however, only such education as could then be obtained in the common schools. The war of the Rebellion breaking out, and being inspired with a love of country, he with his brothers, Daniel and Nelson, en- listed, in 1862, in company G, Eighty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, and served over three years, or until the close of the war. Upon the close of his service in the army of the Union he returned to Ohio and engaged in farming in Shawnee township, Allen county, where he had settled in February, 1858, and where at the present time he owns a well im- proved farm of 104 acres. Upon this farm he has always been satisfied to reside, well know- ing that agriculture, from the dawn of history, has been one of the niost noble and independ- ent of callings, and knowing that there is in reality no limit to the value that may be given to any particular piece of land by careful and intelligent cultivation.
Politically Mr. Shappell has always been a stanch democrat, and religiously he is a mem-
ber of the English Reformed church. In 1858 he married Miss Harriet Bowsher, daughter of Benjamin Bowsher, and to this marriage there have been born four children, as follows: U. M., the subject of this sketch; Benjamin, who died December - 16, 1894; John H., who died February 20, 1884, and Mary E., wife of Charles McClintock of Hume, Ohio.
U. M. Shappell was born May 1, 1859, in Shawnee township on the old homestead. After obtaining what education could be fur- nished by the public schools of his county he entered the Northwestern Normal uinversity, at Ada, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1894. In the meantime he had taken a post- graduate course in the Home college of Boston, Mass. Being thus thoroughly qualified for the profession of teaching, he followed that profes- sion and was continuously thus engaged for twenty years, after which he graduated, hav- ing always refused so to do till he should quit teaching. Five years of this time he was principal of the schools at Hume, Ohio, and two years at LaFayette, Ohio. He was after- ward engaged as superintendent for seven years at Bluffton, Ohio, and as evidence of his quali- fication to hold these several responsible posi- tions he holds a life certificate granted by the Ohio State board. In 1887 he was appointed county examiner, and held this position till 1893, when he resigned to accept his present office, to which he was elected the same year, and which he is filling with great acceptance to the people of the county. In politics he is a democrat and has always taken an active interest in his party's success. He is a mem- ber of the English Reformed church, and a consistent Christian. Fraternally he is a mem- of Bluffton lodge, No. 371, I. O. O. F .; also of Rainbow encampment, No. 288, and was one of the charter members of Heroic lodge, No. 466, K. of P., of Bluffton, Ohio.
Mr. Shappell was married April 22, 1883.
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to Miss Ada L. Metheany, the daughter of Richard Metheany, deceased, and by this marriage he is the father of four children, viz: Harold M., George L., Richard A., and Fred- erick B. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shappell are active in all good works, and are among the most estimable citizens of the county.
P. LEATHERMAN, a responsible farmer now residing in Auglaize town- ship, was born in Jackson township, Allen county, Ohio, April 10, 1840, was reared to his present vocation and re- ceived a good common-school education. After having fully developed his physique on the farm and having achieved a complete knowl- edge of agriculture, he enlisted, May 2, 1864, in company E, One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, was assigned to duty in Virginia and Maryland, and aided in the defense of Washington, D. C., against the attack of the rebel general Early in the begin- ing of July, 1864. Although Mr. Leatherman came very near dying from typhoid fever while in the army, he faithfully served until his hon- orable discharge in September, 1864. On his return home Mr. Leatherman married, in Jan- uary, 1865, Miss Clarissa Jagger, daughter of Elias and Maria (Kankle) Jagger, who were natives of Maine and early pioneers of Licking county, Ohio, but later became residents of Allen county. Mr. Jagger was a Jacksonian democrat, served as a justice of the peace, and still survives, a pious member of the Christian church. The children that blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Leatherman were named, in order of birth, as follows: Clear- man, Lula M. (deceased), Eva J. (de- ceased) Josie A., Mark, Abbie N. and Saralı L. (deceased).
Mr. Leatherman is a model farmer and owns a well improved farm of 120 acres, with
a fine dwelling, barn and all necessary out- buildings, the result of his own industry and good management. In politics he is a repub- lican, although formerly a democrat; he has been on the board of education fifteen years, is deeply interested in the cause of public instruc- tion, and is at present a township trustee. In her religious affiliations Mrs. Leatherman was a member of the United Brethren church, and in that faith she died September 8, 1891; Mr. Leatherman is a consistent Universalst and is a good and useful citizen, fully deserving the high position he holds in the esteer of his fellow-men.
RANK M. LEECH .- It is not always dear to the minds of men that the wealth of a country may increase. while money, the circulating medium, re- mains the same in amount, that is, in propor- tion to the population. This is because labor and intelligence working together are continu- ally creating wealth, in the form of pubhe and private buildings, in manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and in many other departments of industry. And it is in one of these important departments, that of architecture, contracting and building, that the subject of this sketch lias been long engaged.
William F. Leech, one of the representa- tive citizens of Lima, residing at No 940 West High street, is a native of Fayette _ county, Pa., and was born June 4, 1837 He is a son of Jesse and Susanna (Eisler) Leech, , who removed from Pennsylvania to Allen county, Ohio, in 1863, settling on a farm of 160 acres one mile east of Elida. Upon this farm they lived several years, and then, trad- ing it for a farm near Lima, they removed to this latter farm, and upon this farm Mrs. Leech died in 1876 at the age of seventy-one years. Jesse Leech, her husband, died in
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1885, aged seventy-eight. In early life he had , learned the trade of shomaker, which he fol- lowed in connection with farming. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, as follows: Paulina J., who died in 1872, the wife of Henry Rumble; Hulda A., widow of Dr. U. Hurts, of California; George and Joseph both deceased; William F .; Lucian B., who was a soldier in the Civil war, and who resides in Fayette county, Pa .; Mary A., widow of Abraham East, and who resides at No. 325 McDonald street, Lima, Ohio; Sallie E., wife of John Peltier, of Lima, and James L., who resides at No. 320 North Washington street, Lina.
William F. Leech was reared on the farm until he attained the age of seventeen years, when he began to learn the trade of carpenter, and at this trade he worked some three years. Afterward he became engaged in making anı- brotypes, continuing at this work for two years. On August 26, 1861, he entered the service of the government of the United States as car- penter and was engaged in the field under Gen. Banks for three months, when he returned to lus home. On September 2, 1862, he enlisted in company F, Fourteenth Pennsylvania cav- airy, in which he served until he was mustered out of service, May 31, 1865, at Fairfax Court House, Va. Mr. Leech participated in sixty-seven battles and skirmishes, and was frequently a member of scouting parties, but he was never wounded, taken prisoner, nor sick during the entire time.
After being mustered out he returned to Allen county, and for nine days worked at his trade, when he began work as contractor and builder, following this line until October, 1892, during which time he erected many buildings, both public and private, in Allen county, but since the year last mentioned he has lived a retired life, free from active duties. He resided at Elida until 1880, when he removed to Lima,
his present home. Mr. Leech was married . October 15, 1865, to Miss Mary J. Rittenaur, who was born in Fayette county, Pa., August 12, 1842, and who died January 16, 1887. They became the parents of six children, viz: ! Frank M., who resides on North street, Lima, Ohio; and has an office in rooms 15 and 16, Holmes block, where he follows his profession of architect and superintendent; Charles M., architect and superintendent, Columbus, Ohio; Anna P., wife of C. E. Crum, of No. 147 Eureka street, South Lima, a carpenter by trade; Ira E., deceased; Mina M., and Cloyd E., both living at home. In politics Mr. Leech is a republican, and is a member of Lima post, No. 202, G. A. R. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having united with that church when he was seventeen years of age.
Frank M. Leech was born in German town- ship, August 5, 1866. He was brought up to the carpenter's trade, and naturally rose to his present position, his father being one of the oldest and most prominent and successful con- tractors and builders of Allen county. At the age of sixteen he was so well versed in his trade that he was able to command a man's full wages, something remarkable in one so young, and presaging a most successful career. Work- ing with his father until he was eighteen years old, he then turned his entire attention to his trade, and at twenty-one years was engaged in contracting and building on his own account. He soon became a practical and skillful archi- tect, and in 1892 added that branch to his business of contracting and building. In 1894 he gave up building and turned his whole at- tention to architectural drafting and superin- tending. Among the fine buildings of which he was the architect and builder is that of the Young Men's Christian association at Lima, besides a large number of the principal resi- dences of the highest grade, such as that of
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Mr. F. J. Banta. He has also done much work in his line at a distance from his home, so that his reputation is very widely extended. That he is one of the most promising young men in his profession may be truthfully stated, and that this is so is most gratifying to both himself and all his friends. Fraternally Mr. Leech is a member of Lima lodge, No. 91, K. of P. He was married April 22, 1891, to Miss Mary T. Hursh, of Mansfield, a daughter of John and Clara M. (Stewart) Hursh. Mr. and Mrs. Leech are the parents of two children, viz: Clara M. and Majorie P. They reside at No. 756 North street, Lima, and are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Leech is now carrying on business in partnership with Mr. S. W. Funk, the firm name being Leech & Funk.
EORGE SHEETER, proprietor of Sheeter's Opera House, and a well- known citizen of Delphos, Ohio, was born in what is now the Third ward of Delphos, April 21, 1846. His parents were Xavier and Otilda (Stippich) Sheeter, the father a native of Alsace, France, and the mother of Baden, Germany.
Xavier Sheeter came to America when a young man, and at Tiffin, Ohio, was married. From Tiffin he came to what is now Delphos, then known as Section Ten, in the early 'forties. At that time the town consisted of only a few log houses, and the surrounding country was in woods, with few settlers and no roads. The canal was then being dug, and the few people here were most all employed on the construction of the canal. Mr. Sheeter had learned the shoemaker's trade in the old country, and when he came to Delphos he opened a shoe-shop on Canal street, between Second and Third, in Van Wert county. He worked at his trade for many years, and was a
successful and highly respected citizen. He died in about 1883, having lived, however, long enough to see Delphos grow from a small vil- lage of log houses into a prosperous city of 5,000 people. He and wife were among the first members of the Catholic church of Del- phos. His widow survives him. Fight chil- dren were born to the parents, all of whom are living.
George Sheeter was born and reared in: Delphos, and was educated in the German schools of this place. After he left school he went to learn the shoemaker's trade in the shop of Peter Bormuth, in Delphos, and there worked for about one year. For two years following he worked in different shops, and then started one his own. At about this time he purchased the lot on the southwest corner of Canal and Second streets, and on this he erected a frame shop. During the late war he was a member of the Ohio militia (home guards), but when they were called out he was not permitted to go, as he was under age and his father would not consent. He then left Delphos, spent one year in Van Wert, after which he returned to Delphos, and again opened his shop and continued at his trade for about seven years, when he engaged in. the re- tail liquor business, at which he has since con- tinued. In 1891 he erected his present hand- some business block on the site of his old house, corner of Canal and Second streets, which is the largest brick business house in Delphos. The building is two stories in height, 66 x 90 feet. The ground floor con- tains four spacious store rooms, while the en- tire upper floor is fitted up for an opera house. The opera house is furnished in first-class style, having a fine stage with modern improvements, and the house is seated with the latest-style opera chairs, with a seating capacity of 1, 100. Probably no other town of its size in Ohio has a better or more handsome theater, ard the
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citizens of Delphos owe many obligations to to Mr. Sheeter for giving to them a first-class playhouse.
In 1875 Mr. Sheeter was married to Agatha Reader, who was born in Delphos. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sheeter are members of Saint John's Roman Catholic church. In politics he is a democrat, but has never held or sought public office. He is a self-made man, having made hif way in life by his own exertions, enterprise and energy.
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mained about six months. In September, 1854, Mr. Shenk succeeded in reaching Del- phos, and upon his arrival decided to make that place his home instead of Ottoville, as originally intended.
After locating in Delphos Mr. Shenk went to work for Mr: Frank Byres, a tailor, in whose services he continued about two years; he then engaged with Lye & Marble, tailors, remaining in their employ for about the same length of time. A few years after coming to Delphos he purchased a small farm of ten acres, adjoining the corporation, in Allen county, where he made his home until about 1865, when he removed to town. His death occurred on March 22, 1872. His wife died in 1865.
Q HARLES E. SHENK, a leading busi- ness man and prominent citizen of Delphos, Ohio, was born November 4,. 1839, in Hohenzollern, Prussia, and a son of Martin Shenk, also a native of Charles E. Shenk was fifteen years of age when he came to Delphos. He secured his education in Europe by attending the schools of his native town. In the fall of 1855 he en- tered the employ of Bernard Esch, a merchant of Delphos, with whom he remained about one and a half years. Mr. Esch then sold out to Jacob Cowan, and Mr. Shenk was in that gentleman's employ for about one year. He next accepted a position as salesman with the firm of Lye & Marble, large general merchants, in the dry-goods department of which firm he remained two years, acquiring a thorough knowledge of the business in the meantime. He was placed in charge of the clothing de- partment of the establishment, in which capac- ity he remained until 1860. Germany and a pioneer of Delphos. By occu- pation Martin Shenk was a tailor, in connec- tion with which he also carried on a mercan- tile business in the fatherland for some time prior to his immigration to the United States. Being the father of five sons, all of whom, as they reached the proper age, would be subject to military service, Mr. Shenk decided to avoid, if possible, the expense and loss of time to his boys, in thus giving three years of their lives to the army; accordingly, in October, 1853, with his family, he started for the United States, going via Paris to Havre, at which port they were detained for nearly a month, waiting for a vessel of the company with which he had contracted passage. The voyage consuined forty-two days, and the On the 8th day of May, 1860, Mr. Shenk was married to Mary Victoria, the second daughter of Ferdinand Bredeick, the pioneer citizen of Delphos, and immediately fol- lowing he became a member of the firm of Ostendorf & Moeing, general merchants. In 1863 Mr. Moeing retired from the above firm, the style of which became J. O. Ostendorf & landing was effected at New York city, in Jan- uary, 1854. Mr. Shenk's destination was the settlement at Ottoville, Putnam county, Ohio, six miles from Delphos, to which point a num- ber of old friends from Prussia had preceded hin, but owing to the severe winter of 1853-4, he was compelled to locate temporarily in 1 Williamsburg, N. Y., where the family re- ! Co., the members being Joseph Ostendorf, Mr.
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