USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
19
350
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
LIVER BOSTON SELFRIDGE, manager of the Times-Democrat, was born in Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio, and is the second son of O. B. and E. E. Selfridge. With his par- ents and the other members of their family, he came to Lima in the autumn of 1865, and this city has since been his home. He received his education in the Lima Union Schools, and, after completing the course, in order to equip himself for his future work in the newspaper field and to become perfectly familiar with all the details pertaining to the publishers' profes- sion, he entered a local printing office and learned the printer's trade in all of its branches.
In 1879, in partnership with E. B. Halla- day, he began the publication of a Democratic weekly newspaper called the Democratic Times, and five years later during Grover Cleveland's first campaign launched a daily edition of the same newspaper. Five years later this news- paper was consolidated with the Allen County Democrat and the present name Times-Demo- crat was adopted.
In 1887 Mr. Selfridge was married to Anna E. Brice, the eldest sister of the late Senator Calvin S. Bruce. Their children con- sist of two sons, Oliver Brice Selfridge and Calvin F. Selfridge, aged respectively 16 and 14 years. They are intelligent and courteous young men, with every indication of a great and useful future.
The subject of this sketch, in addition to his newspaper work, is identified with a num- ber of Lima's leading business enterprises. He is the controlling spirit in The O. B. Selfridge Company, a corporation doing an extensive manufacturing business. He is a stockholder in The First National Bank, The Metropolitan Bank, The Lima Trust Company and other en- terprises.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He is a consistent member of the Market Street Pres- byterian Church. Mr. Selfridge has long been recognized as a trenchant writer. His pen has a power not often found in the hands of the country's able editors. His standing as a citi- zen is of the highest rank and his influence is always found on the side of the common people,
stoutly maintaining the integrity of manhood at all times. His guiding hand is constantly seen in the growing city of Lima, and his use- fulness extends to all classes and conditions of life.
EORGE H. METHEANY, secretary and manager of The Lima Telephone & Telegraph Company, and also in- terested in other successful enter- prises, was born at Lima, and is a son of Charles A. Metheany.
The father of Mr. Metheany was born at Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio, and came to Lima in boyhood when the present busy, prospering city was only a village. He served for, 21 years as chief clerk for the Cin- cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway, was a water-works trustee, served in the City Coun- cil and for a long period was connected with the old Lima National Bank. After a long and useful life he died in 1903. His three sons are : George H., of this sketch; A. L., who is assistant city engineer of Lima ; and C. F., who for 20 years was chief clerk of the motive power department of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway.
George H. Metheany was reared and edu- cated at Lima. For three years he was assistant to the city engineer and for two years was in the office of the Board of City Water-Works and then went into the Postoffice and remained there four years under Postmasters George Hall and William R. Mehaffey. When The Lima Telephone & Telegraph Company was organized, he accepted its management. He started with 250 telephones but the number in- creased rapidly under his management and he now has 2200 telephones in the city and coun- try and gives an entirely satisfactory service to the patrons. In 1903 appreciation of his work was shown by his election as secretary of the company.
The Lima Telephone & Telegraph Com- pany was organized and incorporated in Au- gust, 1895, with $150,000 common stock and $100,000 preferred. The officers of the com- pany are : Davis J. Cable, president ; William H. Duffield, treasurer: and George H. Me-
.
.
35I
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
-
theany, secretary and manager. The directors are: William H. Duffield; Davis J. Cable; C. F. Stolzenbach; C. H. Cory; J. R. Sinclair ; J. B. Hoge; Gustave Hirsch; A. W. Hoge, and G. W. Beers.
Mr. Metheany is also interested in The Crystal Ice & Coal Company. He is a Knight Templar Mason.
RANCIS H. STALLKAMP vice-presi- dent of the Delphos National Bank, a venerated citizen and the oldest mer- chant of the town, has been a resident of the United States for many years, but was born in Hanover, Germany, September 25, 1824, his parents living at that time in the province of Osnabruck.
Mr. Stallkamp remained in his native land until past his majority, complying with the laws and securing the education accorded every German child. In 1847 he embarked on a sailing vessel and crossed the Atlantic to the shores of America. His first permanent loca- tion was at Buffalo, New York, and he remem- bers crossing the first iron bridge built in that city, which structure was looked upon as being as great a feat of engineering at that day, as some of the notable modern undertakings of the present appeared to be. In 1848 Mr. Stall- kamp came to Ohio and found work in a saw- mill near Delphos. Game was very abundant in the forests where he was engaged in cutting and hauling logs, and wolves were troublesome and sometimes dangerous. The leading inn at Delphos was the American House, a hostelry which accommodated the traveling public at this trading station. For a time he acted as hostler here and also did other work in the neighborhood, butchering and dealing to some extent in cattle and horses. No railroads had yet been built through this section, but engineers were making surveys, and he recalls driving one party of engineers from Delphos to Elida and Lima.
In 1853 Mr. Stallkamp embarked in a gro- cery and provision business on the bank of the canal, the greater part of the patronage coming from the boats which would stop and provision
1
at his place as they passed up and down. This continued for two years and then Mr. Stall- kamp went into partnership in the same line with Theodore Wrocklage under the firm name of T. Wrocklage & Company, which continued until the death of Mr. Wrocklage in 1890. Since that date the firm has been known in business circles as F. H. Stallkamp & Company. When Mr. Wrocklage entered the business, a line of queensware was added, and the firm soon had one of the finest grocery and queensware stores in Allen county. Mr. Stall- kamp also bought cattle and prepared them for shipment, supplying the up and down canal trade as mentioned. His first quarters were in the rear of a building right on the canal, and in those days it looked scarcely possible that from that beginning should grow the present impor- tant wholesale and retail house. By old trad- ers on the canal Mr. Stallkamp is easily recalled, and the success to which he attained was in great measure the result of his honest dealings and good management. In February, 1903, Mr. Stallkamp retired from the grocery and queensware business in favor of his sons who still carry it on, using the same honest methods and progressive ideas that have marked it from the beginning. Five of Mr. Stallkamp's sons are interested in the business.
In 1853 Mr. Stallkamp was united in mar- riage with Josephine Hedrick, who died in No- vember, 1880, leaving eight sons and one daughter, viz: Theodore J., Frank, Sylvester A., Otto W., Edward L., cashier of the Delphos National Bank; John H., deceased; Josephine M., Louis C., George H. and Fred.
Mr. Stallkamp has always been interested in the various enterprises which have promised to benefit Delphos, and has contributed liber- ally in support of public-spirited movements. For many years he was connected with the Ohio Wheel Company. In financial circles he stands high as vice-president and one of the largest stockholders of the Delphos National Bank. He is a consistent member of St. John's Catholic Church. He has never sought poli- tical honors.
THEODORE J. STALLKAMP, the eldest son of Francis H. and Josephine ( Hedrick) Stall- kamp, was born in the family home at Delphos,
352
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
on the west side of the canal where his parents lived and his father carried on his business for so many years.
Mr. Stallkamp was given excellent edu- cational opportunities, taking lessons in both English and German in the public and paro- chial schools. Since 1868, with the exception of one year during which he was clerk in a dry goods house, he has been associated with his father ; first as assistant and later as partner. With his four brothers he now conducts the largest grocery and queensware business in the county, and is the senior member of the Stallkamp Grocery & Queensware Companq. The firm now occupies a fine two-story and basement brick building, with front of 39 by 72 feet and rear of 39 by 38 feet. The first story is devoted to groceries and the second to queensware. A complete stock of staple and fancy groceries of excellent quality is carried and can be supplied in any quantity.
Theodore J. Stallkamp is an excellent busi- ness man and possesses many of the traits of a father who was for years one of the most suc- cessful men in his line in this section. Since 1903 he has been a member of the City Coun- cil. For the past 18 years he has been con- nected with the Delphos fire department, enter- ing as a volunteer, but now only holding hon- orary membership. He is also a member of the Catholic Knights of America.
Theodore J. Stallkamp married Isabel Stevenson and they have an interesting family of four children, viz: Elizabeth, Alexander, Raymond and Florence. Mr. Stallkamp, like his venerable father, is a valued member of St. John's Catholic Church.
R W. ARGUE, one of the prominent bus- iness men of Lima, a leader in the oil- producing business and identified with many of the city's important and suc- cessful business enterprises, is a na- tive of Canada, where his early life was spent and where his education was secured.
Mr. Argue has been connected with the oil- producing business since the beginning of his business life. From Canada he went to the oil
fields of Pennsylvania and thence to Bolivar, New York, and in 1901 he came to Lima, where he became largely interested in the oil fields. He has other interests in the fields of Kansas, Indian Territory and Oklahoma, hav- ing some 60 wells in the West and about 90 in Ohio. His properties are all wonderfully pro- ductive and conveniently located. He is one of the directors of The Lima Trust Company and is a member of its finance committee. In his many business combinations, Mr. Argue has shown the acumen and foresight of a real captain of industry and has a financial stand- ing which has made him a dominating force in the city's commercial life. During his res- dence here he has also proven himself a citizen who performs with credit to himself and sat- isfaction to others, the multiform duties im- posed upon a man of large and important affairs.
Mr. Argue was married in 1880 to Eva All- port, formerly of Canada, and they have four children, viz. : May, Edith, Ethel and Walter. The eldest daughter has recently returned from a delightful European trip. The family is- prominent in the city's social life.
ON. JAMES LATIMER PRICE. The roster of distinguished jurists who have brought honor to the bench and bar of Ohio contains no better known name than that of James Latimer. Price, formerly judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, and now judge of the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio. Judge Price was born at New Hagerstown, Carroll County, Ohio. March 27, 1840, and is a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Douglas) Price.
The family came to Ohio from Pennsyl- vania in 1810, and the children were reared on the home farm, which, in our subject's boy- hood, still offered many hard struggles be- fore Nature was finally subjugated. Although his mind was set on other things and his am- bitions reached far beyond the tilling of the soil. Judge Price has always recognized the value of that carly training. During the win- ter months he attended the country schools,
353
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
and later took a full course at the New Hagers- town Academy, where he was graduated in 1859. He entered immediately upon the study of the law under Gen. E. R. Eckley, at Carrol- ton, where he remained until April, 1865, re- moving then to Van Wert. There he entered into a law partnership with Judge Ira D. Clark, which continued for three years. Ira P. Shis- sler then became a member of the firm and the business was thereafter continued for some 10 years.
In 1883 Judge Price came to Lima and en- tered into partnership with Judge Geoge W. Overmeyer, which continued until 1887. Since that time Judge Price, when not on the bench, has practiced alone. His first official position was that of prosecuting attorney for Carroll County, in 1862; after removing to Van Wert County, he was elected to the office of prose- cuting attorney three consecutive terms, serving in all six years-from 1868 to 1874. In No- vember, 1894, he was elected judge of the Third Judicial Circuit for a term of six years, being elected in one of the greatest Democratic strongholds of the State. His election was not in the nature of a Republican triumph, of which party he has long been an active mem- ber, but was essentially a tribute to the man.
Judge Price was married on January I, 1862, to Martha Guiney, of New Hagers- town, Ohio, who died in August, 1866. He was married second, on March 8, 1868, to Eliz- abeth Marshall, of Van Wert, Ohio, a mem- ber of a well-known family in the State. His one son, Charles F., is a journalist, who was formerly city editor of the Lima Daily Times and correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer, and has also been connected with the Lima Gazette. Judge Price is a member of the Pres- byterian Church. Fraternally he is a Mason and a member of Shawnee Commandery, No. 14, Knights Templar.
Judge Price was elected a member of the Supreme Court Bench in the fall of 1901 and entered upon the duties of his office in Feb- ruary, 1902. As a lawyer he early took a place among the leading practioners at the local bar, his gifts as an orator and his capacity for close and logical reasoning making him an effective advocate. When called from private practice
to assume more onerous duties, his course was marked by the sound judgment required in a jurist, and during the long period in which he has presided as judge he has proven himself to be one of the ablest men who ever adminis- tered justice in a State, which points with jus- tifiable pride to its untarnished bench. The people have testified to their confidence by fre- quent reelections ; he has been honored in every possible way by the bench and bar, and no man stands higher in personal integrity.
ALTER B. RICHIE, one of the leading members of the bar at Lima, and senior member, of the law firm of Richie & Richie, is also vice-president of The First Nation- al Bank of this city and in every way is a promi- nent and representative. citizen. He was born January 24, 1851, in Van Wert County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Sarah ( Eaton ) Richie, substantial farmers.
Mr. Richie spent his boyhood and youth on his father's farm and obtained his education in the public schools. His natural inclinations led him to desire a professional life and after several years of careful preparation he was ad- mitted to the bar on April 2, 1875. His un- tiring industry, honest purpose and faithfulness to his clients soon placed him in the path of success where his abilities have kept him until now he stands with the eminent men of the law in this part of the State. His law firm is con- sidered a strong combination and it has the handling of much of the improtant litigation in Allen County. His offices are located on the Public Square in Lima.
Mr. Richie was married to Catherine Eaton, who is a daughter. of Reason B. Eaton, of Bucyrus, Ohio. They are leading mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. Their beautiful home is situated at No. 606 West North street.
Mr. Richie is one of the city's philan+ thropic and public-spirited men. He is very prominent in fraternal life and is associated with the Odd Fellows, the Masons, the Knights
354
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Royal Arcanum. Politically he is identified with the Democratic party.
OHN DAVISON, superintendent of the public schools of Lima, is an edu- cator of almost 30 years' experience and is well-known and appreciated all over the State. He was born in Al- len County, Ohio, on the 22d day of July, 1858, and is one of a family of four children born to his parents, Amaziah and Eliza (Nye) Davison.
The Davison family is an old one in Ohio, the parents of our subject having resided on a large estate in the vicinity of West Newton, Allen County, for more than half a century. His grandfather, Joseph Davison, was born in Virginia, and there grew to manhood. Before he came to Ohio, where his last years were spent, he had become prominent in his native State and had served in the General Assembly. Amaziah Davison, father of our subject, was born in Virginia and there followed farming before his removal to Ohio, where he engaged in similar work.
John Davison's education was a liberal one, including attendance at the local schools and the Ohio Normal University at Ada, from which noted institution he was most creditably graduated in 1879.
From the university Mr. Davison immed- iately entered the educational field, teaching first in the public schools and later in the nor- mal department of Lima College, where his effi- ciency was so generally recognized as an in- structor of teachers that universal regret was expressed when he left this institution to ac- cept the chair of English literature and lan- guage in the Ohio Northern University, where he succeeded Prof. Warren Darst, also a well- known educator. For five years, until he came to Lima to take charge of the schools, Mr. Dav- ison was identified with that great educational institution, where he was instructor to classes which averaged 300 students. In assuming the superintendency of the public schools of Lima.
Mr. Davison succeeded Charles C. Miller, now president of Lima College.
The schools of Lima have always been of a high order, in keeping with the superior in- telligence and high character of the city's found- ers. Mr. Davison has proven himself well equipped for the work he has undertaken. He possesses the university training which is almost a necessity, as well as the native ability, the well-balanced judgment and tact, the required _ social culture and years of experience.
In 1886 Mr. Davison was married to Clara E. Hay, a daughter of James Hay, who was a pioneer of Allen County. Her father was born in Ireland and died in this country. Mr. Davi- son's politics are Republican. He and his wife reside at No. 734 West Market street.
ACOB M. HALLER, deceased, formerly one of Lima's leading business men, was well-known all over the county by reason of his connection with an exten- sive real estate business. Mr. Haller was born March 30, 1838, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and was a son of J. B. and Leah (Myers) Haller.
The Haller family is of German extraction and the parents of Mr. Haller. came to Ohio from one of the counties of Pennsylvania, bringing with them habits of thrift and indus- try. They settled first in Fairfield County, but after the birth of our subject moved to German township, Allen County, where the remainder of their lives was spent. They reared five children, of whom our subject was the eldest.
Jacob M. Haller's boyhood was spent in at- tending to farm duties and in obtaining his edu- cation in the local district school. When he reached the years of discretion, he decided to devote his energies to business pursuits rather than to agricultural, and his tastes also led him into politics to more or less degree. Prior to establishing his large real estate business in 1881, he had traveled extensively while asso- ciated with several leading business houses, but after that date he gave his attention exclusively to his property interests. He was succeeded
.
1
355
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
in the same line by his son, Jacob W. Haller, who conducts probably the largest real estate business in Lima. His offices are located at No. 2371/2 North Main street.
Mr. Haller was married December 10, 1857, to Anna Stevenson and they had three children, viz: Christiana, wife of A. O. De- weese, of Columbus, Grove. Ohio; Jacob W. and Frank. Mrs. Haller still survives and occupies the comfortable family home at No. 523 North Jameson avenue.
In 1860 Mr. Haller was elected assistant auditor of Allen County and in 1863 was elect- ed recorder, in which office he served for, six years. He was favorably and widely known, was scrupulously honest as a public official and as a private citizen and at all times endeavored to promote the welfare of the community.
WEN FRANCIS, a substantial and representative citizen of Lima, presi- dent of the Citizens' Loan & Building Company, was born in Wales, Janu- ary 18, 1841, and is a son of Ellis and Catherine (Jones) Francis, both natives of Wales.
Our subject's parents came to America in 1852, settling for a few years in Pennsylvania, but later locating permanently in the rich farm- ing districts of Ohio. Ellis Francis-resided in Putnam County from 1855 to 1862, in which year he came to Allen County, where he died in 1879, survived by six of his eight children.
Owen Francis, the eldest of the children, was reared a farmer boy, and obtained his edu- cation in the localities in which the family was settled during his youth. Almost before he had formed any settled plans for his future, the Civil War broke out, and early in 1861 he donned a suit of Union blue. After three months of service in the 21st Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., he reenlisted in the same year in Company A, 57th Reg., Ohio, Vol. Inf., in which he rose from private through successive promotions to be Ist lieutenant, being commis- sioned on September 19, 1864, these promotions being the result of personal valor and military ability. On March 12, 1865, near Fayette-
ville, North Carolina, while in charge of a for- aging party, he was captured ; he was held as a prisoner of war for two months, part of the time in the Bennettsville (South Carolina) jail. He was finally paroled, but as the war closed soon after, he never saw more service with his regi- ment. At the time of his capture, the colonel of his regiment had forwarded to the War De- partment a recommendation that Mr. Francis be given a captain's commission, but this he never received.
Mr. Francis returned to Allen County after his military service and in 1873 he was mar- ried to Annie J. Lewis, a native of Wales, but when married living in Delaware, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Francis have four children : Nannie, Richard Ellis, Edna and Hugh Lewis. The family home is located at No. 125 South West street.
In 1882 Mr. Francis established himself at Lima in the boot and shoe business, which he carried on until April, 1900. He is a business man whose prosperity well represents the com- mercial importance of this city. Personally he is held in the highest esteem, the confidence re- posed in his reliability as well as capacity being shown by his selection as president of the Citi- zens' Loan & Building Company, a flourishing enterprise of Lima, which has been in business for almost a quarter of a century. The 23rd annual report of the company, given Decem- ber 31, 1904, showed total assets amounting to $745,822.83, of which $717,040.00 was in loans on mortage security. The increase in amount of assets for the year, was $40,436.02.
W. HENDERSON, M. D., of West Cairo, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, June 29, 1857. In early life he worked on a farm and attended school in the country and was left homeless at the age of 15. The following year he taught his first term of school in Ross township, Greene County, Ohio, and continued this voca- tion for 18 years. He married Emma Diefen- derfer, of Hancock County, Ohio, on January 7th, 1885. They taught school after they were married and attended the Ohio Normal
356
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
University at Ada. They have one son, Harry Harold.
Dr. Henderson graduated from Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, in 1892 and located in West Cairo in 1894, having practiced two years prior to this in Vaughnsville, Ohio. He later took a post-graduate course, and so far has made a general practice his specialty.
He has ever enjoyed a fair practice and has a large circle of patrons and friends of whom he is justly proud.
ALTER H. STANDISH, deceased, for many years a resident of Lima, closely identified with its business, public and social life, died April 15, 1904, a man sincerely mourned by the whole community. Mr. Standish was born in this city, January 4, 1841, and was a son of Henry and Amanda ( Beemus) Standish.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.