USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 5
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J EAN VETTER, deceased, founder of the Delphos Hardware Company, at Delphos, and one of the city's most valued and respected men, was born in 1848 in Hessen, Germany.
After completing a public and normal school education by the time he was 20 years old, Jean Vetter came to America. He had also learned the locksmith's trade in his native land and soon found employment at Crestline, Ohio, in a Crestline lock shop, where he remained for the next five years. In 1875 he came to Delphos and opened up a hardware business on a small scale. The venture proved successful and de- veloped into important business of the Delphos Hardware Company. He erected the fine build- ing in which this business is located, and he also put up a number of other substantial structures in the city. After an active and useful life, he retired to the enjoyment of the fruits of his former energy ; but two years later, on October 19, 1903, a sudden message came and he passed
away. For some time his health had not been of the best and an affection of the heart devel- oped. For a number of years he was a member of the Board of Education and was a liberal supporter of all educational and religious re- forms. He was a consistent-member of the Lutheran Church. His only fraternal connec- tion was with the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Vetter was married at Delphos to Lina Eysenbach, the youngest daughter of the late Prof. Wendel Eysenbach, and they had three children, viz : Ella, wife of Louis Huber, who is interested in the Delphos Hardware Com- pany-they have one daughter, Mildred; Amelia, wife of William Du Wece, also of the Delphos Hardware Company-they have one child, John Vetter; Meta, wife of William Steinle, son of Felix Steinle; and Ernest.
The late Prof. Wendel Eysenbach was born in Eberstadt, Germany, April 29, 1810. At the age of 17 he attended the seminary of Friedberg and was graduated there as a public teacher at the age of 20 years. After acting for a time as private tutor, he received an ap- pointment as public teacher, and for many years was popular as such. During the troubles of the Revolution of 1848 he was impeached by the government on account of his liberal sentiments and as a result of a trial was sen- tenced to punishment. However, in 1851 he escaped to America with his family and settled on a farm in Marion township, Allen County, east of Delphos, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in May, 1886. He was a natural and trained musician and taught the piano for about 10 years, having many pupils in Lima.
In 1838 he married Margaret Schillings and they had four sons and one daughter who were born in Germany, namely: Louis, a farmer of Marion township; Henry P. a mer- chant and manufacturer of Delphos; William of Delphos; Theodore, a merchant of Spencer- ville; and Mary, widow of George Schilling. Their youngest child, Mrs. Vetter, was born in Ohio.
Professor Eysenbach's mind was a versatile one, turning as easily to science as to literature and music. He spent some years inventing and perfecting astronomical apparatus. He
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was probably one of the most learned men who ever lived out a quiet, useful life in Allen County and he commanded the respect and en- joyed the esteem of all who knew him.
e OL. C. T. HOBART, general mana- ger and chief engineer of the Co- lumbus & Lake Michigan Railway, now in operation from Lima to De- fiance, Ohio, is a railroad man of long experience and scientific training. He was born in Vermont and was educated in his State University, where he was graduated in the polytechnic department.
For 12 years after entering railroad service Colonel Hobart was in the operating depart- ment of the Central Vermont Railroad. From that time on he has been more or less continu- ously connected with great lines of transporta- tion. In 1866 he made the first survey of a pre- liminary nature, for the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad; 900 miles were cov- ered before the party was attacked by the In- dians. Of the party of 21 surveyors, only eight escaped with their lives. The exigencies of his business often required long journeys through unbroken forests and over dangerous paths. One winter he left Montana by stage and trav- eled 700 miles to Salt Lake City, thence by stage 600 miles to Austin, Nevada. This was necessary in measuring the ground for the Cen- tral Pacific Railway. Afterward he worked back across the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He was then superintendent of the operating de- partment which built the road out to a point connecting with the Central Pacific and contin- ued it until it was in operation to Ogden.
Upon the completion of this great engineer- ing work, Colonel Hobart was engaged by the Northern Pacific, met the directors at St. Paul and after impressive services, in which the di- rectors took part, including Governor Smith of Vermont (the president of the company), Col- onel Hobart was left in charge as superintend- ent of construction and operation. This was the initial step in the building of that great highway of commerce and promoter of civiliza-
tion-the Northern Pacific Railroad. For 17 years Colonel Hobart continued in charge of this great enterprise. When it was found de- sirable to construct a branch line from the Northern Pacific to Yellowstone Park, under a government lease, Colonel Hobart built the line and erected the hotel in the park for the entertainment of the people who visit that won- derful region. These hotels he later turned over to the Northern Pacific road.
On account of the delicacy of his wife's health, Colonel Hobart then gave up his con- nection with the Northern Pacific and went to the Argentine Republic, South America. Here he built 200 miles of railroad, under govern- ment concessions to American capitalists, through Paraguay and other portions of South America. The road was later abandoned. Upon his return to New York, he became vice- president of the Raritan River Railway and constructed the same.
It was while engaged in this great project that he was approached by Benjamin C. Fau- rot, who gave him such a glowing picture of the business possibilities of Northwestern Ohio and so convincingly placed before him the de- sirable climatic and other advantages for happy home-building, that Colonel Hobart determined to settle in this section. From this determina- tion subsequently came about the building of the Columbus & Lake Michigan Railway (at first known as the Columbus, Lima & Milwau- kee). Within the current year in all probabil- ity, the road will have reached Columbus as one terminus and Eastern Lake, Michigan, as the other.
Colonel Hobart is a Knight Templar Ma- son, and belongs to the Protestant Episcopal Church.
OHN STEVENS, deceased, was one of the most highly esteemed citizens of German township, where his death oc- curred on February 1, 1896. He was born in. 1846 in Somerset, Ohio, and was a son of Frederick and Agnes Stevens.
John Stevens was reared in his native place and attended the district schools. . He devoted
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HON. S. D. CRITES
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his life to farming and lived in Perry, County until he was about 30 years old. Immediately after his marriage in 1878, he settled at Colum- bus Grove, Putnam County, Ohio, but 18 months later removed to German township, Allen County, and bought 50 acres of land in section 8. Subsequently he bought 10 addi- tional acres and this was his estate at the time of his death.
On January 2, 1878, Mr. Stevens was mar- ried to Margaret O'Neil, a daughter of John and Frances (Lawler) O'Neil, who came to America from Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens had these children: John Henry, born Octo- ber 28, 1879, who married Alta Smith, of Lima, January 1, 1901, and has one child, Velma-they are residents of German town- ship; Frederick, born June 17, 1882, who re- sides at home; Adam, born September 4, 1884, who died at the age of six years; Frances Esther, born April 5, 1885, who lives at home; Alice Margaret, born December 9, 1891, who resides at home, and Mary Agnes, her twin sis- ter, who died September 4, 1892.
Mrs. Stevens is a lady of excellent business capacity. After her husband's death she in- creased her farm of 60 acres to 90 acres, subse- quently selling 41 acres, just north of her pres- ent farm, to James McKenzie, who paid the handsome price of $100 per acre. She makes her home on her farm of 50 acres, three of her children residing there also. The family be- longs to St. Rose Catholic Church at Lima, and in the cemetery of this church the remains.of the father were interred. He was a worthy member of St. Rose Catholic Church, was a kind and loving husband and an honest, whole- souled friend and neighbor.
ON. S. D. CRITES, whose portrait ap- pears on the opposite page, ably rep- resents the 32d Senatorial District in the Ohio State Senate. He was born in German township, Allen County, Ohio, November 28, 1847, and is a son of Jacob and Mary J. (Cremean) Crites.
Jacob Crites, father of Senator Crites, was born October 19, 1822, in Pickaway County,
Ohio, came to Allen County as an early pio- neer and died in German township, in March, 1904. During a long and useful life he was identified with a large number of the important interests of the county and was a highly re- spected man and valued citizen.
S. D. Crites was reared on his father's farm and was instructed in all the practical work incident to the development of a large prop- erty. When 18 years of age he began to teach school. earning enough in this way to enable him to attend the National Normal University, at Lebanon Ohio, under the superintendence of that noted educator, President Alfred Holt brook. In 1870 Mr. Crites was appointed su- perintendent of the Elida public schools, a po- sition he filled with efficiency for 12 successive years, resigning at the close of this long period on account of failing health. From 1876 until 1888 he was a member of the Allen County Board of School Examiners and for nine years he served as a justice of the peace in German township.
In 1883 Mr. Crites decided to try the effects of the out-door life necessary in the successful carrying on of large agricultural operations, and devoted himself to extensive farming and to the raising, buying and shipping of stock. A few years of country life restored his normal health. He now has his farms under rental to J. L. Edmiston and Alva Benedum, owning two adjoining farms, consisting of 300 acres.
In 1895 he purchased the grain elevator, at Elida, which he renovated; at present he is operating it in partnership with his brother, D. H. Crites, who is the active manager. In September, 1903, Senator Crites organized one of the leading financial establishments of this part of the State, the Farmers' Bank of Elida. Aside from his public duties, Senator Crites devotes all his time to the interests of this bank and is ably assisted by his very capable daugh- ter, Zoe Crites, who is cashier.
Senator Crites has not only been a prom- inent figure in the educational and business cir- cles of Allen County, but for years he has been a dominating factor in its political life. His sympathies have always been in accord with the Democratic party. In 1901 he was nom- inated by acclamation, an unusual testimonial
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of party esteem, at the Democratic District Convention, for the position of State Senator, to represent the 32d Senatorial District, which is composed of the rich and populous counties of Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Mercer, Pauling, Van Wert and Williams. He was elected to this high position by a majority of 2,300 votes, and was re-elected at the expiration of his first term, practically without opposition. His work has been especially given, as committeeman, to finance, agriculture, benevolent institutions, common schools and school lands, fees and sal- aries, public works and public lands, peniten- tiaries, universities, colleges and banks, and building and loan associations. Upon his retire- ment from public life, Senator Crites proposes to devote himself exclusively to his banking in- terests.
In 1872 the subject of this sketch was mar- ried to Sarah Jane Reichelderfer, of Pickaway County, Ohio, who died in the same year. In 1876 he was married to Emma M. Ditto, and they have four accomplished daughters, viz : Mrs. S. O. Morris, of Lima; and Mabel, Zoe and Grace.
Fraternally Senator Crites is a Mason and has taken all the degrees up to and including the 32d. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Elida.
J OHN W. SHANAHAN, manager of the Consumers' Fuel, Building & Sup- ply Company, of Lima, is one of the leading citizens of the city, being closely identified with a number of the most important business interests of Allen County. He was born in 1860 in Delaware County, Ohio, where his father, P. Shanahan, is still engaged in farming, and where our sub- ject was educated and grew to manhood.
Mr. Shanahan began his career in commer- cial circles as proprietor of a grocery store which was located on North Main street, in Lima. After some 10 years in this line, he turned his attention to farming and the produc- tion of oil, extending his operations until he is now connected with the Richland Oil Com- pany and the German-American Oil Company,
being a member of the board of directors of the latter company. In 1894 he accepted the position of manager of the Consumer's Fuel, Building & Supply Company, and has since efficiently served in this position. In 1901 he disposed of his grocery stock and has since given his entire attention to the constantly in- creasing responsibilities devolving upon him. He is vice-president of the Allen County Build- ing & Loan Association and holds the same office in the Allen County Agricultural Society.
Mr. Shanahan was married in 1891 to Kate Baker, whose father is A. C. Baker, a farmer of Ada, Ohio. They have four child- ren : George, Nellie, Catherine and Eugene. The family are devout members of St. Rose Catholic Church of Lima and Mr. Shanahan is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He. has been an active worker for the good govern- ment of the city, having served as a member of the City Council for two terms and is at present on the Board of Public Safety of Lima.
CHULTHEIS BROTHERS, who own and operate the large tannery at Lima, are among the best known and esteemed citizens of the city, where they have lived since childhood. The firm is composed of John and Charles Schul- theis, successors of their father, Wolfgang Schultheis, who came to this city in 1863 and established the business. The elder Schultheis was born in Bavaria, Germany, where he- learned the trade of tannery with his father, John Schultheis. Coming to America, he. made his first stop in Columbiana County, go- ing from there to Cincinnati, thence to Wayne. and Pickaway counties, Ohio, and finally con- ducted a tannery for a short time in Shelby County, Ohio. His next move was to New Bremen, Auglaize County, where he formed a partnership with John Kunzel in 1855, which was continued until 1863 when he disposed of his interests in the tannery and came to Lima .. When the tannery was first started in Lima, Mr. Schultheis was associated in the business with his brother, but in 1867 he purchased his. brother's interests and from that date until'
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1891 he carried on the works alone. Since 1891 the business has been managed by the present firm.
Charles Schultheis is a native of New Bremen but has been a resident of Lima since his fourth year. He has worked in a tannery from boyhood and his practical knowledge of the business enables him to conduct it in a prof- itable manner. In 1895 Mr. Schultheis was married to Matilda T. Eckert, daughter of the late Frederick Eckert, who was widely known during his lifetime as owner of a large pork packing plant at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Char- les Schultheis is a prominent Elk and a mem- ber of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
EORGE W. HERRING, a prominent agriculturist of German township, owns a well-improved farm of 80 acres, situated in section 19, about a mile southwest of Elida. He was born November 4, 1869, in German township on the old Herring homestead, three-quarters of a mile south of his present home. His par- ens, Penrose and Lydia (Hunsaker) Herring, were both natives of Fairfield County, where they were engaged in farming before coming to Allen County. The father, who was born Au- gust 24, 1830, died November 5, 1893, and the mother on March 6, 1905; both were laid to rest in Greenlawn Cemetery at Elida. Mr. Herring's paternal grandfather was Philip Herring, who was born in Pennsylvania, whence he came to Ohio, settling in Allen County as a pioneer.
George W. Herring was reared on the homestead farm and has given the greater part of his life to farm work. He spent some time in preparing himself for office work in Valen- tine Brothers' school of telegraphy and short- hand at Janesville, Wisconsin, but while he was yet a student his father sickened and died and his presence was needed at home and the busi- ness course was accordingly abandoned. His farm of 80 acres is one of the best kept and most profitable in German township. There are 10 oilwells in active operation, five of
which are leased to Mr. Whipple and five to W. L. Russell.
Mr. Herring was married April 13, 1899, to Callie F. Sawmiller, daughter of John and Mary (Bower) Sawmiller, residents of Aman- da township. Mr. Herring has served on the School Board and is now a member of the ad- visory board of German township. He is a Democrat in politics, and in religion a member of the United Brethren Church, of Allentown. He is a zealous worker in the church and is serving as treasurer of the Sunday-school.
Z A. CROSSON, one of Lima's well- known business men, a dealer in fancy and staple groceries, who has been a resident of the city for 26 years, was born in 1858 in Auglaize township, Allen County, Ohio, and is a son of Columbia Crosson.
The father of our subject came to Allen County about 1851 and carried on his trade of wagonmaking. That he was an expert me- chanic may be inferred when it is known that a wagon that he made in 1852 has been in use to the present time. He now lives in retirement at the age of 78 years in a pleasant home at West- minster, this county, where two of his four children also reside, the eldest,-William L. and the youngest,-Alwilda, wife of Miner Smith. Mary is the wife of N. D. McCoy, of Lima. Early in the days of the Civil War, Co- lumbia Crosson offered his services to his coun- try and served over four years, as a member of Company F, Fourth Reg., Ohio Vol. Cav. He was always active in politics and at numerous periods filled local offices.
Our subject was reared and educated in Allen County and began his business career by running a huckster wagon through the country. This gave him a little business experience and made him a good clerk when he entered the employ of J. Langan at Lima. He continued with Langan & Company, successors to the old firm, for about nine years. On Christmas Day, 1889, he embarked in business for himself, opening up a small grocery store at his present stand, No. 112 East Market street, where he
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has continued ever since, each year adding to his patronage and accommodations, until now he is one of the leading merchants of Lima. Mr. Crosson owns stock in the Lima Driving Park Association.
In 1879 Mr. Crosson was married to Lillie Starbuck, who is a daughter of James M. Star- buck, of Randolph County, Indiana, and they have four children, viz .: Elsie H., wife of C. T. DeWeese, of Sidney, Ohio; Columbia Mon- roe, who is in the automobile business at Port- land, Oregon; Edith M. and Lethia Hazel.
Politically Mr. Crosson has always been a Republican and for the past six years has been a member of the Board of Health. He belongs to the Lima Business Men's Association and to the Retail Grocers' Association of Lima, and was president of the latter for five years. His fraternal associations include the Royal Ar- canum, the Odd Fellows and the Red Men.
T SAAC B. POST, president of the Citi- zens' Banking Company, of Spencer- ville, and long a resident of Allen County, was born at Shelby, Richland County, Ohio, June 21, 1837, and is a son of Hon. Charles C. and Elizabeth (Bryant) Post.
The branch of the Post family to which our subject belongs was domiciled in Pennsylva- nia during the active business life of his grand- father, Jeremiah Post, who was, however, a native of New York.
Hon. Charles C. Post, son of Jeremiah Post and father of our subject, was born in Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania, July 27, 1800, and came to Ohio in 1822. He settled for a time at Shelby, Richland County, and then moved to Wyandotte County, where he bulit a grist and sawmill, and a council house for the Wyandot Indians under contract with the general government. He became friendly with the Indians and was respected by them on ac- count of the justness with which he dealt with them. In March, 1841, he removed to Allen County, settling in Amanda township, where he built the old Post mill on the Auglaize River, which he operated until 1849. He then settled
on an estate of 485 acres in sections 8 and 17, about one mile and a quarter from his previous home. His residence continued here until 1883, when he went to live with his daughter, Mrs. Cyrus H. Hover, where he died when almost 84 years of age. Charles C. Post was a man of sterling integrity, one who enjoyed in the highest degree the esteem of all who knew him. He took a prominent part in all that materially affected the good government of his community, and was elected by his fellow- citizens to represent them in the State Legisla- ture. His honorable life closed March 27, 1884. He married Elizabeth Bryant, who was born March 13, 1801, and died February 22, 1886, aged 85 years. Of their nine children, but four survive, namely: Martha, widow of Cyrus H. Hover, now of Lima; Adam Clark, of Carthage, Missouri; Isaac B. and Charles G., of Parma, Missouri.
Isaac B. Post was reared from the age of four in Amanda township, and was educated in the local schools in which he later taught dur- ing several winter seasons. In April, 1861, he enlisted for the 90 days' service in Company E, 15th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and marched away with his comrades to serve in the mountains of West Virginia, under Gen. George B. McClel- lan, then the hero of the hour. On July 27, 1861, he reenlisted for three years in Company C, 32nd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under General Milroy. The command returned to West Vir- ginia, and he served under Generals Sigel and Fremont in the Shenandoah Valley until the battle of Harper's Ferry, September 15, 1862, when he, with his regiment, was captured by the enemy and paroled. Subsequently he was exchanged, and returned to the field in com- mand of his company, of which he had been commissioned 2nd lieutenant in February, 1862. He served in the Army of the Tennes- see, and was with General Grant at Vicksburg. In 1863, for meritorious services, he was pro- moted to a captaincy and served as such in the Atlanta campaign in 1864. After this he was again promoted, being commissioned major, and as such served until the close of the Civil War, also filling the position of division inspector.
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At the close of the war, Mr. Post returned
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to Allen County and for some two years dealt in hardwood lumber, and then turned his atten- tion to farming and stock-raising. He became much interested in agricultural pursuits, to which he devoted his time almost exclusively until August 4, 1883, when he formed a part- nership with Henry Wasson and opened a pri- vate bank at Spencerville, from which Mr. Wasson retired a few years later. The bank has greatly prospered and was reorganized in 1905 as the Citizens' Banking Company with these officers: President, Isaac B. Post; Ist vice-president, Dr. Jacob R. Welch; cashier, Ira B. Post. For a number of years before the reorganization of the bank our subject served as its head and also as its cashier, an office now capably filled by his only son, Ira B. Post. Mr. Post owns valuable farming lands, located mainly in Amanda township.
In October, 1873, Isaac B. Post was mar- ried to Emma E. Berry, who was born in 1851, in Van Wert County, Ohio, and is the only daughter of John and Eunice A. (Griffin) Berry, early pioneers of that county. Mrs. Berry is still living at the age of 82 years; she is one of three survivors of a family of 10 chil- dren, the others being a brother, aged 92 years, living in Mercer County, and a sister, Mrs. Par- rott, aged 85 years, who lives in Van Wert County. The only son of our subject's mar- riage, Ira B., above mentioned is one of the town's popular citizens a graduate of the Spencerville High School and prominent in social life. On July 23, 1899, he was united in marriage with Ida M. Robbins, and has one son, Stanley Bryant. Our subject and wife have in their home a daughter by adoption, Gladys M., who was born in October, 1899.
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