A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2, Part 52

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1248

USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 52
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 52

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Water street, where they are passing their de- clining days in ease and comfort and in the enjoyment of the love and esteein of all who know them.

J. STITES, one of the prominent farmers of Van Wert county, and a manufacturer of brick and tile, was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1856, and is a son of Hiram and Emeline (Lewis) Stites. Hiram Stites was born near Madison, Ohio, in 1828, and is of Pennsyl- vania-Dutch ancestry. Reared a farmer, he naturally adopted that calling for his own and followed it through life, though for some years in his youth he was a butcher in Cincinnati. His education was received in the common schools, and was sufficient for all the practical purposes of life. In 1854 he married Emeline Lewis, born in 1838, and daughter of James and Nancy (Bone) Lewis, a fuller mention of whom reference is made to the biographical sketch of George Lewis, elsewhere in this vol- ume. To Hiram and Emeline Stites there were born three children, viz: W. J., the subject of this sketch; Nannie, widow of John Owens, and Emma, wife of Samuel Montfort, of Lebanon, Ohio. It is believed that Hiram Stites was a member of the Universalist church, and politically he was an old-line whig in his early days, but later he became a re- publican. He was a member of the Odd Fel- lows' fraternity, by which he was highly es- teemed. He was industrious, even a hard- working man, and it is thought that his hard work hastened his death, which occurred in 1861. His wife was a member of the Met hod- ist Episcopal church, and died in 1868.

W. J. Stites, being thus left an orphan by the early death of his parents, lived with rela- tives for sonie years, receiving his education in the cominon schools of Perry county. At the

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

age of fourteen he began working as a farm hand for his uncle, David Stites, and remained with him several years. Then he removed to Van Wert, and in 1882 purchased the farm upon which he still lives. In 1892 he married Miss Hannah Thompson, daughter of Theo- dore and America (Hart) Thomson, of Warren county, and to this marriage there has been born one child, viz : Nannie May. Mrs. Stites was born in Warren county in 1872. Her father was a native of the same county, having been born in 1842, and followed farm- ing in that county. There she was reared and educated, and became a woman of bright in- tellect and most excellent character and dis- position. Mr. and Mrs. Stites, though not members of any church, always take great in- terest in everything pertaining to the moral and material welfare of the community in which they live, and are highly esteemed members of society. Mr. Stites is a member of Van Wert lodge, No. 251, I. O. O. F., and is a promi- nent member of Van Wert County grange, No. 399, P. of H.

In 1883 Mr. Stites added a tile manufac- tory to his business of farming and has carried on the manufacture of tile and brick for some thirteen years. Taken all in all, he has been a very successful man, His farm is in a high state of cultivation and bears everywhere the indications of his careful industry and attention. Having been left an orphan at an early age and having by his own efforts acquired a com- fortable competency, he has set an example to all young people, well worthy of their imitation .and emulation.

OHN STRANDLER, dealer in harness and saddlery, Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Bensheim, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, March 19, 1841, a son of John and Barbara (Heilman) Strandler. At

the age of four years he lost his father, and until sixteen years of age he remained with his mother. In April, 1857, he sailed from Havre, France, on a sailing vessel, for America, and after a voyage of forty-two days was safely landed in New York. A week later he reached Tiffin, Ohio, where his uncle, Jacon Heilman, was engaged in the manufacture of brick. For one season our subject worked in the brick- yard, and was then apprenticed for three years to Jacob Ebert, to learn harness-making, re- mained with him for three months only, when he went to Attica, Ohio, where he worked in a harness shop until 1860, and thence went to St. Louis, Mo., where he worked under in- structions at the same trade until April, 1861. The Rebellion having now become an assured and serious fact, he enlisted, at St. Louis, April 21, 1861, in company A, First Missouri infantry, for three months, and, having served out his term, re-enlisted at the same place for three years, and was assigned to company A, First Missouri light artillery. With this com- pany, of which he was quartermaster ser- geant, he participated in the battles of Camp Jackson, Boonville, Duck Springs, Wilson's Creek, Fredericktown-all in Missouri-and at Cache River, Bolivar, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, and siege of Vicksburg, in Mississippi. and was finally discharged at Greenville, La., October 8, 1864. He then returned to Attica, Ohio, where he worked as a journeyman at harness-making until January, 1865, when he bought his employer's store and stock and car- ried on the trade until January 5, 1867. when he came to Van Wert and opened a shop on West Main street, which he conducted until some time in 1868; he then moved to Monroe- ville, Ind., carried on his trade until the spring of 1870, then returned to Van Wert and spent one summer at farming; then worked a year and a half at his trade for B. F. Shoop in Van Wert as a journeyman, and then became his

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partner. In 1873 this partnership was dis- solved and the stock equally divided. Mr. Strandler theu purchased the lot at No. 10 North Washington street, at that time occu- pied by a frame building, in which he carried on his trade until r889, when he erected his present brick building, 22 x 97 feet, in which he has his store and workshop. Here he is doing a thriving trade in light and heavy har- ness, robes, blankets, saddles, whips, trunks, valises, bicycles, and everything usually found in an establishment of that kind, his stock being full and varied and worth several thou- sand dollars. Mr. Strandler is what is termed a self-made man, commencing with but a small capital, and has succeeded in accumu- lating a comfortable competence. In politics Mr. Strandler is a republican, but has never been an office-seeker. His marriage took place in Attica, Ohio, November 13, 1866, to Miss Fannie A. Moltz, a daughter of M. R. Moltz, and born in Attica, June 28, 1844.

ALTER L. SCOTT, manager of the Union Mills Flouring company. Van Wert, Ohio, was born October 6, 1829, in the shire of Banff, Scot- land, a son of James and Jane (Findley) Scott. The father, James Scott, was born in Banff- shire, in 1773, and was the son of James, a native of the same place, a farmer, and the father of five children, viz: John, Alexander, James (father of our subject), Jane and Ellen, the majority of whom were members of the old Scotch Presbyterian church. James Scott, a son of James and father of Walter L. Scott, at the age of sixteen years, was apprenticed by his parents to an architect and builder, for four years, and after having served his term of apprenticeship followed his profession through- cut the south and north of Scotland all his life. He married in Banffshire, in ISo;, Jane

Findley, who was born in 1763, and became the father of nine children, viz: Jamies and John, now deceased; Alexander, a builder in Banffshire, Scotland; Jane, in Ireland; Jessie, deceased; William, a merchant tailor in Scotland; Walter L., subject of this sketch; George, who was a soldier in the Crimean war and is now a teacher of mili- tary tactics, at Woolwich arsenal, England; Ellen, deceased. These parents lived to the good old age of ninety-three and eighty-three years, and died in the place of their nativity.

Walter L. Scott, the subject of this sketch, at the age of fourteen, was apprenticed to a miller at a point about five miles from the place of his birth, served out his term and fol- lowed milling until he left Scotland in 1854. He was united in marriage in January, 1854. with Miss Mary E. White; they iminediately afterward came to America, and located near Toronto, Canada, where Mr. Scott was em- ployed in milling until 1862. They then came to Ohio, where Mr. Scott followed his vocation at Fremont for six years and then at San- dusky from IS68 to 1871, when he came to Van Wert and purchased an interest in the People's Mill, of which he took general man- agement. He at once set about to overhaul the milling department and put it into repair to do fine custom work, and early in March, 1872, the mill began doing business, Mr. Scott acting as miller for three years' time, after which he assumed general management until 1879, at which he purchased an interest in the Union mills, which were owned by a stock company composed of the following-named gentlemen: D. R. Bonewitz, Samuel Swine- ford, O. D. Swartout, William Snashall, and Mr. Brahamn. The capital stock at this time was $16,000, but which has been reduced by cancelation, so that the capital stock of the company is now $12,450, of which Mr. Scott owns about one-third. Upon purchasing the

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interest in this mill he was chosen as general manager, which position he has held ever since, and, under his intelligent supervision, the enterprise has proven a success and is known as one of the leading industries in the city of Van Wert. Mr. Scott also owned an interest in the Fire and Burglar Proof Safe business, with headquarters at No. 155 Dear- born street, Chicago, Ill., which he recently sold; he also was one of the promoters and was largely interested in the manufacture of furniture in Van Wert.

In politics Mr. Scott is a republican, has served his fellow-citizens four years as council- man, and has been president of the board of education for twelve years. He is a knight templar Mason, and his high social standing is with the best people of Van Wert. He is one of the conservative, safe business men of the city, affable, and interested in all benevolent and worthy enterprises, to which he contributes liberally of his means and time as well. He and wife are members of the church of his forefathers-the Presbyterian-and the chil- dren of whom they are the parents were named Edward J., and Mima J., deceased; Alfred, of Chicago; Minnie, wife of H. Kemper; and Walter H., in the hardware business at Green- field, Ohio. Mr. Scott owns a fine residence at No. 13 South Avenue, where his domestic. life in passed in the companionship and friend- ship of a large circle of acquaintances.

EORGE W. STRIPE, one of the most progressive and prosperous young farmers of Hoaglin township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is " native here and to the manor born," October 11, 1860. His grandfather, Jacob Stripe, a native of Pennsylvania, was of English descent, and was an early settler of Fairfield county, Ohio, and, when married, all his earthly possessions

could be carried in a common pocket handker- chief, but at his death in that county his landed possessions entitled him to the appellation of a substantial farmer and citizen. His son, also named Jacob, the father of our subject, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, May 17, 1811, was reared to farming, a vocation he always followed, and with success. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William and Sarah Harvey, and had born to him the following children: John, William H., Jacob L., and George W., all born in Van Wert county, where the parents were married. The father of this family, Jacob Stripe, Jr., at his mar- riage was the owner of a farm of eighty acres, but later. in partnership with a brother, ac- quired 1,600 acres, of which at the time of his death, May 16. 1882, he bequeathed to his chil- dren eighty acres each .. He was a Jacksonian democrat and a strictly moral man. His widow still resides on the homestead, respected and honored by all her neighbors.

George W. Stripe, our subject, who has been thoroughly trained to farming and well educated in the district school, on January 21, 1885, married Miss Hermia A. Hattery, daugh- ter of Nathanial and Ellen (Atchison) Hattery. and a sister of Mrs. Addison A, Giffin, whose name will be found in the sketch of her hus- band on another page. Three years after marriage, Mr. Stripe and wife located on their present farm of eighty acres of most fertile land, improved with modern farm residence, barn and other necessary buildings, and well stocked and highly cultivated. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Stripe has been blessed by the birth of one child, Marie, now attending school, the parents being ardent advocates of popular in- struction and admirers of educating the young under all circumstances. Mr. Stripe is in pol- itics a stanch democrat and is energetic in his. aid to his party. He is a member of grange No. 400, of which he has been assistant stew-

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ard, and through his township stands high in the estimation of his neighbors, not only as a useful citizen but as a progressive farmer.

ILLIAM H. STRIPE, a native of Hoaglin township, Van Wert couuty, Ohio, and a most prosperous farmer, was born November 14, 1847, and is a brother of John and George W. Stripe, the biography of the latter being in immediate juxtaposition with this sketch, and in which the genealogy of the family will be found in full. William H. Stripe, our subject, was reared to practical farming, receiving, in his boyhood, a sound education. January 14. 1869, he was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Sarah D. Lamson. daughter of Alfred and Avaline (Scott) Lamson, who were, until 1850, residents of Geauga county, but who, since that date, have made their home in Van Wert county, the parents of two children, Sarah D. (Mrs. Stripe) and Horace A. To the union of William H. and Sarah D. Stripe, have been born a family of six children, named Frank E. (deceased), Charles S., Leola I. (deceased), Ada L., Clarence O. (deceased) and Ethel A. After his marriage Mr. Stripe at once settled on part of the old homestead, of which he now owns fifty-five acres. improved with a good new modern house and other farm buildings, and under such a state of cultivation that no one, excepting an experienced farmer like him- self, could have placed it.

In his party affiliations William H. Stripe is a pronounced democrat, and has been hon- ored by his party with election to several local offices, including those of township trustee, township clerk and township assessor, and un- der the old law he served as school director fifteen years. Mrs. Stripe in religion adheres to the faith of the Seventh Day Adventists. For twenty years Mr. Stripe has been a mem-

ber of the Patrons of Husbandry, grange No. 400. of Hoaglin, and has filled all the offices -his wife being also a member of this organi- zation. Mr. Stripe is an intelligent and pro- gressive agriculturists, and understands the needs of the farmer as well as he comprehends the needs of the soil.

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S AMUEL STUMP is among the self- made men and successful farmers of Pleasant township, few are as widely and as favorably known, and the leading facts of his life are herewith pre- sented. Mr. Stump's paternal ancestors came originally from Holland and settled in Pennsyl- vania at a very early period in the history of that state, and there his father, Peter Stump, was born on the 21st day of May, 1787.

Peter Stump was one of the pioneers of Pickaway county, Ohio, and served in the war of 1812, participating in a number of battles during that struggle and making for himself the reputation of a brave and gallant soldier. At the close of the war, he returned to his farm in Pickaway county, where he resided until about 1822, at which time he moved to Fairfield. now Hocking county, where he continued the pur- suit of agriculture until his death. December 10, 1873. About the year 1815, Peter Stump was united in marriage to Mary Culp, daughter of Peter and Mary Culp, to which union the following children were born: Lydia, wife of James Deffenbaugh; Sarah, wife of Samuel Miller; Esther, wife of George Deffenbaugh; Abigail, deceased; Mrs. Mary Bryner: Joseph C., and Samuel, the subject of this mention. The mother of these children were born in Pennsylvania, February 13, 1795, of German parentage, was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and died October II. 1884. In his church relation, Peter Stump was for many a Lutheran, and he contributed

....

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liberally toward the promotion of all religious, moral, and charitable movements. Politically he was a democrat of the old school, but never took a very active part as a partisan, having been somewhat. conservative in political mat- ters, yet voting when so disposed.

Samuel Stump was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, June, 10, 1819, and, like the majority of our western people, was largely deprived of educational advantages in his youth, having been permitted to attend the in- different schools of that period at intervals during the winter season only. At the age of fifteen he left the parental roof and returned to his old home in Pickaway county, where he learned wool-carding and the saw-milling busi- ness, at which he worked in one place for a period of sixteen years. About 1846, thinking to better his condition by moving further west- ward, he came to Van Wert county and pur- chased forty acres of woodland, to which he subsequently made an addition of a like num- ber of acres, previously taken up on his fa- ther's soldier's warrant. After improving his place to some extent, Mr. Stump, in 1851, moved his family from Pickaway county to the new home in Van Wert, making the trip by wagon over almost impassable roads, camping at night by the roadside, and consuming a. number of days in the journey. His life for the first few years in Van Wert county was by no means an easy one, and he was obliged to toil early and late in order to remove the dense forests, underdrain the land, and otherwise fit it for cultivation. Knowing no such word as fail, he persisted in his labor, and was finally rewarded with a home much better than that of the majority, and he now owns a fine farm of 160 acres, which, with other wealth, repre- sents his own unaided efforts.

In 1840 Mr. Stump and Elizabeth Resslar, daughter of George Resslar, were united in marriage, and the union was blessed with the

birth of the following children: Isaac, deceased; Rufus; Lewis; Mary, wife of David Weagley: Peter, deceased; and Abigail, also deceased. Mrs. Stump was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1816, was descended from German an- cestry, and departed this life in February, 1893. Religiously she was a Methodist, and she proved a true companion and valuable helpmate to her husband during their long married life, contributing not a little to his success during their early struggle in making a home. As already stated, Mr. Stump is essen- tially a self-made man, and is noted for his upright character, honorable dealings and strict integrity of purpose. He is a man firm in his convictions of right, intensely practical in busi- ness affairs, and has decided opinions, which he has the courage to express. His has indeed been an active and prosperous life, and this tribute to his worth well deserves a place among the biographies of Van Wert county's representative men.

I EWIS STUMP, a successful farmer and representative citizen of Pleasant township, and son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Resslar) Stump, was born in the year 1844, in Pickaway county, Ohio. When but seven years of age, he was brought by his parents to the present family home in Pleasant township and has since been one of the leading citizens of the same and a man whose reputation is well known throughout the county of Van Wert. For some years he at- tended the common schools and received a fair English education, which, supplemented by intelligent observation and contact with men in business capacities, has enabled him to ac- cumulate a fund of practical knowledge such as schools and colleges fail to impart. He early selected the noble calling of agriculture as a life-work, and has followed the same with

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encouraging success over since. In politics Mr. Stump is conservative, but always sup- ports the democratic party, though never ask- ing or desiring official preferment at the hands of his fellow-citizens. All objects for the gen- eral welfare of the community find in him a friend and liberal patron, and, while not identi- fied with any religious organization, he believes in the work of the church and is by no means scant in his contribution towards the success of the same.

In 1868, Mr. Stump was united in mar- riage to Mary E. Tomlinson, daughter of James and Nancy (Smith) Tomlinson, and to their union have been born the following children: Samuel T. ; Effie B., wife of Elmer Smalley; Francis H., Ethel B., Claude, Florence M., Grace E., Gertrude and Harriet R. Mrs. Stump was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, in 1850; she is a consistent member of the Society of Friends, in which she takes a deep interest and is widely and favorably known throughout the township.

ILLIAM SHEETS, deceased, in his day a most able farmer and useful citizen, was a son of Samuel Sheets, a biography of whom is on page 673, and was born in Harrison township, Van Wert county, Ohio, February 14, 1843. His youth- ful days were spent on his father's farm, on which he was thoroughly trained to agricul- ture, receiving at the same time the education that the common schools of his district afforded. At about twenty-six years of age he married, April 23, 1869, Miss Rachael Bower, daughter of William and Sarah (Tenner) Bower, whose sketch may be likewise found on another page. The children resulting from the union of William and wife were three in number, named Ettie I., Cora A. and Sarah M.

After marriage Mr. Sheets settled on the

farm now occupied by his family, and which then comprised 142 acres. This farm he suc- ceeded in clearing up and in placing under a fine state of cultivation, securing for his family a good home and a source of income. In pol- itics Mr. Sheets was a republican, and during the late war enlisted in the 100-day service, and took part in the battle of Point Lookout, and the fight at Youngstown. In religion he was a Lutheran, and a deacon in his church. He was industrious, skillful and frugal, and honest to the core, and his death, which took place May 8, 1886, was deeply mourned throughout the whole community, in which he was known to be a gentleman of the strictest integrity and at the same time of a most char- itable and benevolent disposition. He was a kind and loving husband and father, and a faithful friend, as well as a public-spirited and useful citizen. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Sheets has managed the farm with a practical knowledge of the details necessary for the purpose, and has made a thorough suc- cess of her undertaking, and when it is remem- bered that she had no sons to render her aid or assistance, the more credit may be given her for keeping out of debt. She has had her daughters well educated, and has brought them up in the Lutheran faith, of which church Mrs. Sheets has long been a strict and ardent member, and of which her daughters have more recently become communicants. Ettie Sheets is now the wife of Henry R. Ainsworth, and has one child, Homer C.

J OHN M. STUTSMAN, M. D., deceased. was born in Greene county, Ohio, Jau- uary 12, 1840, a son of David and Elizabeth (Merrick) Stutsman, and was the eldest son in a family of nine. children born to his parents. David Stutsman was a native of Pennsylvania, but a pioneer of the Buckeye

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WILLIAM SHEETS, DECEASED.

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MRS. RACHAEL SHEETS.

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

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state. Our subject was reared to manhood on the home farm in his native county, and prior to his remarkable professional career expe- rienced a military record equally as remarkable. On June 10, 1861, he enlisted as private and was chosen first lieutenant of company A, Twenty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, acting as captain of the company for about four years. He was the first one in his neighborhood to enlist, and last one to return, having faithfully served his country for four years and nine months. He was in Texas with Wagner's di- vision nine months after the close of the war, and carried several severe wounds received in battle, of which he seldom spoke. Although he merited a high-grade pension, he never made application for it. In 1869 he graduated at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Sur- gery, practiced six years in Harrisburg, Mont- gomery county, Ohio, then came to Van Wert in 1877, where he continued up to the day of his death to do a most successful and highly honorable practice.

Dr. Stutsman was united in marriage in Harrisburg, Ohio, November 6, 1869, to Miss Ella N. Hyre, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, March 5, 1851, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Stouder) Hyre, natives of North Carolina and Pennsylvania, respectively, the union resulting in the birth of two children -Albertus C. and Florence E. In politics the doctor was a republican, but was never an office seeker. He was the owner of eighty acres of good farming land in Union township, Van Wert county, and considerable residence property in the city of Van Wert, and the in- come derived from the practice of his profes- sion formed a competence for his family. He died at his home in Van Wert June 19, 1894. He was a good physician, a safe prescriber, a faithful counselor, a zealous student and an honored gentleman. He was an honest, in- dependent and bold thinker on all subjects 31

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2, Part 52

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen Number of Pages: 1248

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1248