A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 56

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1310

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 56
USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 56

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S IMON SPELLACY .- One of the most active, useful and prominent citizens of the town of Lima, Allen county, Ohio, is Mr. Simon Spellacy, a native of Glen Falls, N. Y., and a son of John and Ellen (Byrne) Spellacy, the former of whom was born in county Clare, and the latter in county Wexford, Ireland. John Spellacy came to the United States in 1832 with his parents, who settled in Glens Falls, N. Y. The father of John Spellacy was also named John and he spent the remainder of his life, after coming to this country, at Glens Falls. There Jolin, the father of the subject of this narrative, was reared and educated, his education consisting of such instruction as . could then be obtained in the old log school-

house of that early day. Completing his edu- cation, he was apprenticed to a cooper and learned that trade in Williamsburg, now the eastern division of Brooklyn, Long Island, with a Mr. Polhemus, for whom he subse- quently became foreman. In 1852 Mr. Pol- hemus purchased a tract of timber land in Crawford county, Pa., and upon it erected a saw-mill, placing the entire plant in charge of Mr. Spellacy, which position he filled four years. At the end of this period, in connec- tion with his brother Simon, he purchased the property and the business, and they operated it together until about the close of the late war, when John Spellacy purchased his broth- er's interest, and alone conducted the business until 1873, when, owing to the depression of the times, he was compelled to make an assign- ment. Since then he has not been engaged in active business, but has lived retired. In IS94 Mr. Spellacy moved to Saint Mary's, Ohio, where he now resides. Politically he was a democrat until 1873. when, in commor with a large number of citizens of this country, he became convinced that an increase in the circulating medium would be beneficial to the entire country, and became identified with the greenback party, taking an active interest in its work. In his religious belief he is a Catholic, but accords to all the privilege of choosing for theniselves, or not choosing at all, the church to which they shall belong. His family consists of the following children: Martin, now residing in Indiana; Simon, the subject of this sketch; Timothy, of Saint Mary's, Ohio; Catherine, In Chicago; Michael. in Indiana; Peter, of Lima, and Mary, wife of Judge Mooney, of Saint Mary's.

Simon Spellacy, our immediate subject. was born in Glens Falls, N. Y., in 1853. He was reared in Conneautsville, Pa., and edu- cated in the common schools of that vicinity. Remaining with his father until 1876, he then

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went to the oil fields of Bradford and Butler counties, Pa., where he was actively engaged in the production of oil until 1881, during which year he went to Smith's Basin, N. Y., as manager of the company's store for the Keenan Lime company, retaining this position until 1887. Removing then to Lima, Ohio, he established himself in the grocery business, which business he has since conducted. Polit- ically Mr. Spellacy is a democrat, and has been an active and influential member of his party in Lima, which in 1893 honored him by electing him to the city council from the Fourth ward, a position which he filled with credit to himself and general satisfaction to his party friends. In his religious convictions he is a Catholic, and is a member of Saint Rose Roman Catholic church. Mr. Spellacy was married in 1884 to Miss Eleanor, daughter of Adam and Mary Kline, of Batavia, Ohio, by whom he has the following children: Kline, Cecilia, Louisa, Eleanor, and Grace. Mr. Spellacy is one of Lima's most progressive and enterprising citizens, and is always ready with his means and influence to promote all the local interests of the city of Lima and county of Allen.

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RANCIS H. STALLKAMP .- For al- most half a century Francis H. Stall- kamp has been a residence of Delphos, Ohio, and during most of that time he has been a leading business man and a prominent citizen. From a village of only a few hundred he has witnessed Delphos grow into one of the most flourishing little cities in the west, and to its growth and development he has contributed as much as any other one man. Few if any enterprises of importance have been inaugurated in Delphos that he has not been in some way identified with, either as a promoter or as an official or stockholder.

Mr. Stallkamp is a native of Hanover. Germany, having been born in the province of Osnabruck, September 25, 1824. He came to America in 1847, and to Delphos in 1848. Being practically without means he took ad- vantage of the first opportunity offering worl: and for a time was employed in a saw-mili; later he went to work as hostler at the Ameri- can House, the then leading hotel in Delphos and was thus employed until 1853. Being saving and industrious, and ambitious to better his condition in life, in the above year he en. gaged in the mercantile business under the firm name of Stallkamp & Co , Theodore Wrock- lage and B. Esch being silent partner. I 1865, he and Mr. Wrocklage formed a pew- partnership, and under the firm nanie of T. Wrocklage & Co., carried on business until the death of Mr. Wrocklage in 1890. Since that time he has conducted the business under the firm name of F. H. Stallkamp & Co., and now has the leading grocery house in Deiphos. From the time he and Mr. Wrocklage arst began business together until the latter's death they were always amicable in then many auter- prises and business adventurers. They were warm, life-long friends, and stood by cach other with the love and abiding faithof br.th . ers. Mr. Stalikamp has been identified w.th many enterprises during his life, and while not so active now, is still connected with some of the leading establishments of Delphos. He is vice-president of the Ohio Wheel company. and is vice-president and stockholder in th: Delphos National bank. He has for .tady years been connected with both the above having been one of the founders and orign! directors of the bank.

Mr. Stallkamp has met with deserved suc- cess in his business pursuits, and has accumu. lated a handsome competency, and, better | still, he has made a name and character for honesty and integrity which is known all over

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Van Wert and Allen counties, and has so lived that he has always enjoyed the esteem and respect of all who know him. He is what may be truly termed a self-made man. Com- ing to America a poor youth, he made his way through life step by step, aided only by his in- dustry, energy and perseverance. He is a member of Saint John's Roman Catholic church of Delphos, being one of the oldest members of that congregation. In 1855 Mr. Stallkamp was married to Josephine Hetrich, whose death occurred in November, 1880, leaving eight sons and one daughter, as fol- lows: Theodore J .; Frank X .; Sylvester A .; Otto W .; Edward L. ; Josephine E. ; Louis C. ; George H. and John H., deceased.

Edward L. Stallkamp, cashier of the Delphos National bank, and one of the prom- inent young business men and citizens of Del- phos, was born in this city on the 22nd day of October, 1866. He is the son of F. H. Stall- kamp, one of the pioneer citizens and business men of Delphos, a sketch of whose life appears above.

Edward L. Stallkamp was reared in his native city and educated in German and En- glish. In the summer of 1883, while in his seventeenth year, he entered the Delphos National bank as collector and messenger. in 1886, at the age of twenty years, he was pro- moted to the position of assistant cashier, and as such had charge of the business of the bank. In 1887, at the age of twenty-one, he was chosen cashier of the bank, which position he has since held, discharging the duties thereof with efficiency and satisfaction to all concerned; he is also a member of the board of directors of the bank. Although young in years, Mr. Stallkaap is regarded as one of the leading financiers of Delphos. He is conservative and careful, sagacious and foreseeing, full of energy and enterprise, and wide and liberal in his ideas. He is public-spirited and progressive , was corporal of the guard.

in his views, and is always to be found on the right side of all movements having for their object the building up and advancement of Delphos and other enterprises. Mr. Stallkamp was married June IS, 1889, to Miss Rosa Ricker, the accomplished daughter of Herman Ricker, one of the leading citizens of Delphos. Mrs. Stallkamp died on the last day of june, 1892, leaving a son, Edward F. Mr. Stall- kamp is a member of Saint John's Roman Catholic church of Delphos, and has always been punctual in the performance of his church duties.

ETER STEMEN was bom Septem- ber 15. 1802, and died in October ISSI, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was born in Rockinghas. county, Va., and in 1807, his parents, Puter and Margaret, came to Fairfield county, Ohio). where they lived until :838. He was brought up on a farm. and November 25, 1324. vas married to Miss Mary Blosser, who was born in Fayette county, Pa., May :2, rSo;, and was the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Blos. ser. Peter and his wife, Mary, had a family of eight children: Andrew. Benjamin, John (deceased), Mary M .. Peter (deceased), Isaac W., Elizabeth and Christian. When the parents of these children came to Allen esumas. Ohio, they located on a tract of 160 acres of unimproved land, excepting a few seres. and here the father spent the remainder of his Hf .. following farming as an occupation. He was a Mennonite in religious faith, a repubheat !! politics, and hold the office of township trustre for a number of years. Two of his sous served in the Rebellion --- john and Christian. The latter served about nine months, coward the close of the war, in the One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Ohio veloutert infinis .. ..

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Isaac W. Stemen, with whom this sketch

will now deal, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, February 6, 1837. His parents came to Allen county in 1838 and located on a farm in Marion township. When Isaac grew up he followed farming, obtaining a fair education in the public schools. In later years he was in the employ of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad company, a part of the time, and for the past ten years he has followed the trade of carpentering. He was married, March 7, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Cochren, daughter of James and Isabella (Sunderland) Cochren, both deceased, the mother dying in October, 1880, at the age of sixty-four years and the father in June, 1893, at the very ad- vanced age of eighty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac W. Stemen are the parents of five children: Mary E., wife of A. L. Brower, of Iowa; Sidney G., a teacher in Shenandoah, Page county, Iowa; Orlando, at home; Ada B., at home, a school-teacher; Frank F., a school-teacher by profession but now a student of the Lima college, further preparing himself for his chosen calling. Politically Mr. Stemen is an ardent prohibitionist and he and his family are members of the United Brethren church. . He is a man who believes in making things move, is always prepared to give a "boost" when needed, and is withai an active, progressive man, imbued with vim and vigor of the kind that succeeds without unnecessary delay.

...

AMUEL P. STEMEN. - The Stemen family is an ancient one in the United States. While there appears to be no positive historical knowledge upon its origin, yet it is believed that its first Amer- ican ancestor came from Germany. The first reliable history of the family that has as yet been discovered is in the old family Bible.

which was purchased by Christian Stehmmm. as the name is spelled in that old Bible, in December, 1770. In this Bible there is a family record which states that Christian Stehmann was born in the year of Christ, May, 28, 1747, and that he was married to Miss Hannah Barin, April 1, 1770, her birth being given as on April 18, 1750. To them there were born eleven chidren, of whom Peter, the eldest, was born January 2, 1771, and Maria, the youngest, was born February 6, 1796. The intermediate children, in the order of their births, were as follows: Christian, born April 18, 1773; Henry, May 26, !77 ;; Aime, Octo- ber 5. 1777; John, April 17, 1730: Samuel, November 13, 1782; Francis, January 5. 1786; Johanna, May. 1788; Elizabeth, June 24, 1791, and Michael, January 21. 1794.

Christian Stehmann, the father of this numerous family, it is believed, was born near Red Stone, Rockingham county, Va. In 1303, in company with a number of his family. he moved to Fairfield county, Ohio, where they all began to clear away the tinber and to make homes for themselves. Here he lived until after the death of his wife, which occurred July :5, 1834, she being then eighty-four years, two months and twenty-seven days old. He then removed to Allen county, to his sou. Rev. Henry Stemen's home, where he died August 28, 1844, he was ninety-seven years old, and was buried in the graveyard near the Mennonite church. Mrs. Stemen was buried in what is known as the Stewart graveyard in Fairfield county. When this ancient patriarch. was born the name was recorded in the old family Bible. above mentioned. and was spelled "Stehmann," but when the record of his death was made it was spelled " Stemen, " so that the change in spelling of the name was made during his hfetime.

Peter Stemen, the oldest son of the above mentioned Christian Stemeu, was born Japan

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2, 1771. He married Miss Magdalena Swick, by whom he had three sons, viz: Christian, born in Rockingham county, Va., April 23, 1779; John, born in the same county, Septem- ber 12, 1780, and Peter, born September 15, 1802.

Christian Stemen, the eldest of these three sons, mnoved with his parents to Fayette county, Pa., and in 1807 removed with them to Fairfield county, Ohio, where he resided until December 13, 1821, when he was inar- ried to Miss Margaret Moyer, removing imme- diately thereafter to Perry county, Ohio, and after a short residence there returning to Fair- field county. In 1834 he purchased a tract of land-not a farm, for it was all timbered land -- in Sugar Creek township, Allen county, where he lived the rest of his days, earnestly striving to improve his farm and his condition in life, and enduring all the privations and hardships incident to the life of a pioneer. But in all his trials and struggles he was nobly aided by his faithful wife. He was one of the best of men, universally honored and loved; kind-hearted and tender, always having a word of cheer for all he met. He was twice elected county commissioner for Allen county, and filled the office with credit to himself and withi satisfaction to those interested in the manner in which his duties were performed. He lived. upon his farm until April 16, 1865, when he died, his wife having died a few months before, on December 1, 1864.

Samuel P. Stemen, the eldest son of Christian Stemen, whose life has been briefly outlined above, was born in Rush Creek town - ship, Fairfield county, Ohio, October 24. 1822. He removed in 1834, when he was twelve years of age, with his father, from Fairfield county to Allen county, and he is thus one of the oldest settlers and continuous residents of the county. He well remembers the journey, which was made by horses and wagons, when there were

no roads through the wilderness, and their way had to be cut through for miles in order to reach the tract of land destined for their occhi- pation, on Hogg Creek, in German township, where the father had purchased 146 acres of land in the woods, with no neighbors, except Indians, with whom to associate. Yonng Ste- men had but few educational advantages in the wild region, but he succeeded in learning the cabinet-maker's trade and in becoming a good farmer. September 7, 1847, he was united in marriage, in German township, with Miss Isa- belle Spangler, who was born in Fairfield county in January, 1831, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Lutz) Spangler-Samuel Spangler being a native of Pennsylvania and a pioneer of Allen county, Ohio. After his marriage Mr. Stemen settled on his present farm, which then comprised sixty acres, but of which he has disposed of twenty acres, as forty were as many as he cared to handle. As usual with those who settled in the woods. he assiduously set to work and cleared up a farm, which in due course of time rivaled that of any of his neighbors. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stemen were ten in number and were name: Catherine, Mary, Daniel, William, John. Sallie, Laura Bell. Lydia A., and two that died young. The father, mother and elder children were all hard workers and lent willing hands towards building up a home, and it is related that the eldest daughter, after her father had enlisted to aid in saving the Union, put on her father's pants and went into the field to plow.

September 8, 1863, Mr. Stemen enlisted in company H, Capt. Isaac Patrick Fifty-first Ohio national guard, in Sugar Creek township, for five years. but was honorably discharged to be mustered in as corpora !. May 2. 1864, into the United States service, with a volunteer regiment, but was again honorably discharged, August 27, 1864, after having defended Wash- ington, D. C. On his return home Mr. Stemen

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again turned all his attention to the cultivation of his farm and to the rearing of his family, and has proven himself to be, under all circum- stances, a good and true citizen. October 2, 1885, Mrs. Stemen died in that faith of the United Brethren church, of which she has long been a pions member. Mr. Stemen is also a member of this religious organization, and in I859 was made its first trustee, and is still iu office. He is noted for his strict integrity and for his industry and devotion to his calling and to his family. All he has is the result of his own labors and that of his lamented wife, as- sisted by the children, and he is now living in the enjoyment of compensative opulence, re- spected by everybody in his neighborhood ..

AMUEL A. STEMEN is one of the representative citizens of German township, Allen county, Ohio, and a conspicuous figure in Elida, where he now resides. He was born in Marion town- ship, December 8, 1851, and is the son of John B. and Mary J. (Myers) Stemen, natives of Fairfield and Marion counties, Ohio. The father died January 10, 1865, at the age of thirty-four years, while a soldier in the war of the Rebellion; the mother was a teacher in early life, she is now living in Warren county. Iowa. The family of Stemen, or Stelimann, are supposed to be of German extraction. John B. was the second son of Peter and Mary Stemen, who had eight children. John B. became father of nine children, six boys and three girls.

Samuel A. Stemen was born and lived on the farm until thirteen years of age, when he began clerking in a store in Lacona, Iowa, where he remamed for four years. After this he was six months on a farm in Neosho county. Kans., and a year in driving cattle from Texas to Kansas, and a year clerking in a store at

Tioga, now Chamute, Kans., after which cx- perience he returned to Ohio in 1871, and located in Elida, where he spent two years in a saw-mill-afterward renting the plant and operating it until 1887, when, in company with J. R. Brenneman, he purchased it, and to- gether operated it until March, 1895, when they sold out the bosiness. In 1881 Mr. Ste- men associated himself in the mercantile busi- ness with C. B. Rice, the partnership lasting two years, when Mr. Rice withdrew and Messrs. Brenneman & Stemen constituted the firm until October 9, 1893, when Mr. Stemen became sole proprietor, conducting the home mill until June, 1894, when he sold out to S.

R. Stemen. However, he still owned a stock of drugs, which he disposed of last year (1895) and sold the saw-mill, but retained a half- interest in a mill three miles west of Elida. A new enterprise now claims his attention. On December 1, 1894, in company with C. H. Mosier he engaged in the Wind Engine and Auburn Engine and Demming Pump company.

Mr. Stemen was married August 3, 1373. to Miss Ollie Burdge, daughter of Newton and Lockey Burdge. She died January 10. 187 ;. at the age of twenty-three years. Two chil- dren were born to them, both dying in intancy. He next married, September 15, 1878; his present wife's maiden name was Saloma J. Kiracofe, daughter of Henry and Delilah Iluf- fer) Kiracofe. She was a native of Allen county, and was boin July 12, Isoo; eight children have blessed this union: Myrtie M., Mary, Lena I .. , Elva D., Nina A., Floyd K. (deceased), Thomas R. and Clarence B. Mr. and Mrs. Stemmen are worthy and faithful men- bers of the United Brethren church, of which Mr. Stemen is a trustee and has been superin- tendent of the Sunday-school for the past six- teen years. When the division of the United Brethren church occurred, Mr Stemen's sym- pathy and support was cast with the Radicals.

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He is an anti-saloon man and is bitterly op- posed to all things in the shape of intemper- ance. He has also the courage of his convic- tionis and does not hesitate to declare himself on this important subject. In conclusion we may say that the Stemen family are among the substantial residents of the county and all are well known as men of unquestioned integrity and honesty, and are good business men and equally good neighbors and citizens.

P ELIX STEINLE, one of the well known citizens and business men of Delphos, Ohio, and senior member of the firm of Steinle & Co., proprietors of the Delphos Brewery Co., is a native of Baden, Germany, was born January 14, 1847, and is a son of Peter and Rosa (Simmermann) Steinle, both natives of Baden. The father was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1854, at the age of thirty-eight years; the mother is in her seventy-seventh year, and still lives in Baden. Felix Steinle attended school and learned the brewer's trade in the old country, and in 1868, when twenty-one years of age, decided to come to America and make his for- tune. When he first came to the United States he located in Pittsburg, Pa., where for three years he followed his trade. From the latter city he went to Cleveland, Ohio, in the fall of 1871, working at his trade in that city for two years, and then went to Cincinnati, where he remained ,until 1874, returning to Cleveland in the latter year.

In June, 1874. Mr. Steinle was married. in Cleveland, to Mary Small, who was born in Prussia. In 1875 he returned to his native country for a visit to the old home, revisiting the scenes of his youth, renewing his old ac- quaintances, and remaining about four months. Returning to Cleveland he remained a short time, and then went to Monroeville, Ohio,

where he took a position as foreman of a brewery. Eight months later he went to Fre- mont, Ohio, and established a brewery, known as the Fremont Brewing company, with Mr. Steinle as the head man in the concern.

* He continued in Fremont until 1883. all the time conducting the brewery and meet- ing with success. He then sold out his inter- ests in Fremont, and in June, 1883, came to Delphos. Upon coming to Delphos he purchased the plant of the Delphos Brew- ing Co., which was at that time in a bad con- dition, financially, the brewery never having been carried on successfully, the property be- ing sold at sheriff's sale to Mr. Steinle. As soon as he obtained possession of the plant he gave it a thorough overhauling and put it into operation. When he purchased the property Mr. Steinle had Mr. H. P. Isenbauch as a partner, who remained in the business about six months, his place being then taken by Charles Schmidt, of Fremont. Mr. Schmidt died in 1892, and for one year Mr. Steinle ran the business himself. In 1893 Mr. L. Leilich became a member of the firm, and is connected with the same at the present time. Since Mr. Steinle took charge of the brewery, cu- tirely new machinery has been put in, includ- ing an ice plant, and is now the largest and most complete brewery in this section of Ohio. The annual capacity is 7,000 barrels of beer and about 3,600 tons of ice; they ship beer to a great many points and are doing a large and very successful business.

Mr. Steinle's first wife died in 1880. leav- ing four children, as follows: Willie, Charley, Eddie and Felix, Jr. In 1881 Mr Steinle took a second companion -Miss Augusta Small. a sister to his first wife. To the second mar- riage six children have been born, viz: Elsie. Arthur, Emma, Lena, Meda and Elmer. Mr. Steinle is a director in the Commercial bank of Delphos, and is a stockholder in the two

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building and loan associations of the city. He has always taken an active interest in the af- fairs of the city, but has never held office of any kind. He has always given his support to every worthy enterprise having for its object the good of the community, and contributes in every way he can toward the building up of the city.

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 56

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen Number of Pages: 1310

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1310