History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 118

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 118

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ever since, keeping her family together and educating them.

W. R. SHAW, Bucyrus. This gentleman was born April 20, 1823, in Essex Co., N. J. He is one of a family of five children born to Lewis and Phoebe (Willis) Shaw, both natives of New Jersey, where they were raised and married. The father died when the subject of this sketch was a small child. The mother again married, and in 1834 the family moved to Richland Co., Ohio. After remaining in that county some five years, they went to Lick- ing County, but only remained there a short time. In 1838, the family came to Crawford Co., which they ever afterward made their home. The parents kept a tavern for some years three miles from Bucyrus, on the Little Sandusky road. W. R. Shaw was raised upon a farm and received a common-school education. When about 16 years of age, he entered a shop and served an apprenticeship of three years at the blacksmith's trade, and, for two years after, worked at it. He then, for three years, worked on a farm. His step-father dying about this time, Mr. Shaw took charge of the hotel, which he successfully run for two years, when the family removed to Bucyrus, where they re- mained some years, and then purchased a farm adjoining the town, upon which they resided a number of years. Mr. Shaw was married Dec. 27, 1846, to Miss Sarah Bankert, who was born April 17, 1828, in Stark Co., Ohio. There were nine children in their family, eight of whom are yet living, viz., Emma J., Sarah F., Minnetta, Mary C., Lucy R., Georgiana C., Catharine and William H. The one deceased was Albert J. Soon after his marriage Mr. Shaw began team- ing between Sandusky City and Bucyrus, which he followed five years, and then, for some years, was in the saloon and restaurant business in Bucyrus. Three years ago, he took charge of the American House, and has since remained in the hotel business. He has held a number of positions of honor and trust in the county and city governments, and is one of the most prominent and influential Democrats in Craw- ford Co.

G. W. STARNER, farmer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; son of George and Katie M. (Van Vleet) Starner, was born in Monroe Co., Penn., Nov. 12, 1812. His youth was spent on a farm, at hard work, with but little opportunity of going to school ; the little schooling he received was obtained in

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a log schoolhouse, where he sat on slab seats made of logs split in two, and legs put in at each end; and the school was taught by sub- scription. He was married, June 12, 1835, to Susan Stiff, of Monroe Co., Penn., who was born in Sussex Co., N. J., and removed with her parents to Monroe Co. when about 14 years of age. He raised four children-Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Yeagley ; Ellen, the wife of James O. Holland, of this township ; Harriet, married John Dobbins, died at the age of 22, and lies buried in Henry Co., Mo. ; William is a farmer in Henry Co., Mo. Mr. Starner moved to Ohio in September, 1832; came through in a two-horse wagon, making the trip in four weeks, and landing in Perry Co .. Ohio, where they lived six years on a farm, and, in the spring of 1843, removed to Crawford Co. and settled in the southern part of Bucyrus Township, where he lived for seventeen years. In April, 1861, he bought 722 acres of land, upon which he at present resides. All that he possesses he has made by his own efforts. He has been a Republican in politics, ever since the organization of that party.

A. SHUNK, SR., Bucyrus, whose portrait appears in this work, is the son of Simon and Susan (Harmon) Shunk, and was born March 23, 1797, in Somerset Co., Penn. He was raised on a farm, and was denied the advantages of schooling, living at home until he was 21. He then made himself tools and commenced work- ing at the carpenter's bench, and for twenty- one years followed this occupation in his na- tive State. He seemed especially gifted in this line, for, when only 8 years old, he made a min- iature wagon, perfect in every particular. He never served an apprenticeship-a fact which shows his natural skill in the direction of me- chanics. In 1843, he bought a patent right for the manufacture of a bar-shear plow, in Greene Co., Ohio, and, in the following spring, com- menced the manufacture of plows at Xenia, Ohio. He also kept a grocery and tannery for three years. He next worked at Canal Fulton, Stark Co., for about a year and a half. In October, 1854. he came to Bucyrus and started a plow factory. He had about $1,000 capital, and built a brick shop the second year of his residence, and then had a surplus of $500. He is now sole owner of the entire block, which has all been made by his own efforts. They turn out about 1,400 plows per year, of six different

kinds, and which have quite an extended reputa- tion, there being over 100 local agencies in four different States. Since he made his first plow, he has made all his own patterns, and has, dur- ing the last year, invented a pattern which ex- cels them all. We doubt if there are many men, so advanced in years as Mr. Shunk, who display so much business activity. He is a member of the English Lutheran Church, and has been since his 17th year. His father was in the war of the Revolution, serving under the great Washington. He was married, Feb. 1, 1816, to Miss Mary Banfort, of Somerset Co., Penn. There are twelve children living. Of this first marriage there are Delilah, wife of Mr. Stevenson, of Upper Sandusky ; Allen, machin- ist at Ft. Wayne; Lavinia, wife of Joseph Mil- ler, of Springfield, Ohio ; Marian, wife of N. F. Albee, of Kent, Mich .; and Adam. His wife died Aug. 21, 1844. In 1845, he married Cath- arine Bauch, of Springfield, Ohio. Of this marriage, there are Francis, Nelson, Theodore, Isaac, Thomas W., John L. and Katie.

D. W. SWIGART, attorney at law, Bucyrus. This gentleman, one of the eminent practition- ers of the Crawford Co. bar, is a son of George and Elizabeth (Small) Swigart, and was born Dec. 12, 1824, in Franklin Co., Penn. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1789, was a farmer, and removed to Seneca Co., Ohio, in 1844, where he died in 1856. His mother was born in 1796, and died in 1874. Their children numbered twelve, nine of whom are still living. George is a farmer in Knox Co., Ill .; John a merchant in Bloomville ; William a farmer in Seneca Co .; Joseph R. is at Bowling Green. Ohio, practicing law. The daughters are all married and settled in Ohio. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood on a farm, and attended Marshall College, Mercersburg, Penn. He taught in his native State for some time, and removed to Seneca Co., Ohio, in 1845, where he taught in the winter and worked on the farm in the summer. In 1846, he came to Crawford Co., where he taught school one term, and, in the spring, was made Deputy in the Clerk's of- fice, holding this for one year, when he was ap- pointed Clerk, and served until 1852. He attended the Cincinnati Law School, graduating in June, 1852, and was soon after admitted to the bar. In 1861, he entered the service of the United States army 'as Assistant Quartermas- ter, and, during the three years following, han-

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dled some six millions of dollars. He returned to Bucyrus, and continued the practice of his profession until 1869. In that year, he was elected President of the A. & L. E. R. R., serving four years, when he again resumed the law. He was married, Oct. 9, 1848, to Rebecca A. Sweney, a daughter of George Sweney ; they have one child living, Rebecca S. Mr. Swigart was one of the prominent citizens of his city and county, and stands high in the estimation of all who know him. [Since the above was written, Mr. Swigart died suddenly, Nov. 25, 1880.]

JOSEPH STEWART, retired, Bucyrus, whose portrait, and that of his deceased wife, appear in this book, was born in Carlisle, Cum- berland Co., Penn., where he lived until he was 21 years of age. He was brought up on a farm, and his facilities for receiving an educa- tion were limited, bnt, such as they were, he made the best possible use of them, and suc- ceeded in obtaining sufficient "schooling" to enable him to get through the world. Mr. Stew- art is one of the pioneers of Crawford Co., and has been an eye-witness to the grand stride of improvement and civilization made within the past sixty years. He came to Ohio in the fall of 1821 ; entered land in Columbus, but the family remained in Richland Co. during 1822, where they raised a crop of grain, and, in 1823, located in what is now Whetstone Township, in this county. This season all of their horses (four in number) died, and they were left in a rather bad condition. They then traded a cop- per still to Nathan Merriman, of Richland Co., for a yoke of oxen, with which a new start was made in farming and opening of their land. Mr. Stewart's recollection of pioneer days is very vivid, and, as a matter of interest to the young financiers of the present day, we will let him tell us something of early money matters in his own words. He says: "My brother James and I started down to Carlisle, Penn .; I took with me $100 in paper money. When we were ready to return West, my $100 would not buy me a ticket to come home on. My brother James had as much money as I, but his was in gold. I had to borrow some money from my brother John to enable me to get a ticket to bring me home. If a man had $100 in those days, he did not know that it would be worth anything in a week." Mr. Stewart says rattle- snakes were plenty, and when they used to go out on the prairies to mow the grass for hay,

they were compelled to make grass ropes and wrap round their legs as a protection against these poisonous reptiles, and that they had killed as high as four in mowing "one round." Says Mr. Stewart: "The largest and fattest deer I ever killed was a fat buck, which, after I had skinned and taken out the entrails, was so heavy I could not hang up. I took fat enough off the entrails to make a kettle of soap. When we came here, there were to be seen the paths made by the buffaloes going to and from their watering places." The following incident is re- lated by Mr. Stewart, in illustration of early life in the wilderness : "I was awakened one night by two men trying to get the door open. I called to them ; they said they wanted to come in. One had a club in his hand, and sprang against the door. I went to the window, with my loaded gun in my hand, and leveled it at his breast. He then came up and wanted a drink of water, but I told him if his tongue was hanging out of his mouth, I would not give him a drop, and that if he did not leave at once, I would blow him through. They both left without further parley, and I saw them no more." In the fall of 1824, Mr. Stewart was married to Jane Steen, of Whetstone Township. The result of this union was eleven children, three of whom are living, viz. : John, a farmer, living in Greene Co., Iowa ; Charlotte, wife of Daniel I. Sheckler, of Bucyrus ; Ruth, widow of the late Jonathan Songer, who was wounded in the battle of Saulsbury, N. C., from which he died March 4, 1872. The children who were dead were named Barbara, John, Elizabetlı, Mary A., Jane, Matilda, Emily, Caroline and Joseph. Mr. Stewart has retired from active business, and is now a resident of Bucyrus, en- joying the fruits of a life of toil. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for nearly sixty years, and has voted with the Republican party since its organization.

WILSON STEWART, Bucyrus ; is the son of James and Sarah (McClintock) Stewart, and was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, April 12, 1815. He was the son of a miller, and entered his father's grist-mill as soon as he was capable of work. After the death of his father, which occurred when the subject of our sketch was but 15, he worked by the month, and supported his mother. At the age of 17. he commenced to learn the machinist's trade at Washington- ville, Ohio, under Jacob Miller, and was there

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and thus employed for three years. Having attained to his majority, he established a gun- smith-shop near West Point, Columbiana Co., Ohio, and remained there until the spring of 1850, when he settled in Richville, this county, and established a shop and saw-mill, and met with good success. In November, 1859, he came to Bucyrus, and started a shop here ou East Mansfield street, where he is now engaged in manufacturing all kinds of fire-arms, rifles, shot-guns, and doing a general repair business, as well as model making. Mr. Stewart's work has an enviable reputation, and many of his manufactures may be found in different States of the Union, he never having a gun returned to him. Throughout his life, he has been a prominent and highly esteemed citizen. For eighteen years, he was Justice of the Peace. He was Mayor of Bucyrus two years, in 1863-64. He was County Commissioner for six years, serving from 1852 to 1858, during the erection of the court house. Since his 19th year, he has been a member of the Seceder Church. In politics, he has always been a Democrat, and voted for Andrew Jackson. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is H. P. of Ivan- hoe Chapter. He was married, Sept. 13, 1836, to Mary Woolan, of West Point, Ohio. Five children were the fruits of this union, one of whom, Rensetta, is deceased. Those living are Joseph, James, Sarah J. and Hibbitts.

JOHN SIMS, retired, Bucyrus ; son of James and Martha (McConnell) Sims ; was born May 18, 1817, in St. Clairsville, Ohio. He was raised on a farm, and went to school but little, walking over three miles, and receiv- ing about two years' schooling altogether. He left home at the age of 17, and learned the har- ness and saddler's trade at St. Clairsville ; he worked at his trade in Mt. Vernon for a time, and in the spring of 1845, came to Bucyrus, started a shop and worked about eight years, when his eyes failed, and he was compelled to quit the business. He engaged in a bookstore for about three years, and then sold out. He next bought the American House, about 1855, and kept hotel for a short time. In 1863, he bought the Bowman House, now known as the Sims House, which he has owned ever since. He thoroughly repaired it and added the third story. He carried it on as a hotel for about seven years, and since then has rented it, ex- cept for two short periods. He met with a

heavy loss, previous to 1860, by a security debt. For a number of years he has dealt largely in real estate ; he has built over twenty houses in the town, and expended more than $100,000 ; having at one time owned all from the Sims House to Fisher's corner. He has been a member of the Town Council for four years. He was married, March 1, 1841, to Miss Catharine Mefford, of Mt. Vernon, by whom he has three children living-Hannah J., wife of George S. Harris, of Mansfield, Ohio ; Eugene H., of Bucyrus, and Sarah E., wife of James W. Spencer, of Iowa. His wife died in August, 1855, and he was married again, in May, 1857, to Miss Susan L. Smith, of Sandusky City. She was born Aug. 24, 1836. He was an Old- Line Whig, and a Republican since the organ- ization of that party. His father, James Sims, was born July 15, 1792, in Eastern Maryland, and was the son of James and Mary (Ewing) Sims. He came to St. Clairsville, Ohio, in 1810. He was married, Feb. 2, 1815, to Martha Mc- Connell, of Belmont Co., Ohio, owning a large farm there, which he developed and improved. He served during the war of 1812. Five sons and three daughters were raised to manhood and womanhood : James is a merchant at St. Louis; John, our subject ; William, died in Wheeling, W. Va. ; Robert, connected with rail- road interests at Atlanta ; Ophelia, the wife of Newton Mills, a farmer of Knox Co., Ohio ; Ann, widow of the late Charles McWilliams, of Na- poleon, Ohio ; Joseph, farmer in Iowa, and Da- vid, a merchant in Illinois. The elder Mr. Sims is still living at Martinsburg, Knox Co., Ohio, with his venerable wife. He is in his 89th year, and in the possession of all his fac- nlties. His mother was a daughter of the Rev. John Ewing, who was born June 22, 1732, in England, and came to Philadelphia in 1759, upon a call from the First Presbyterian Church of that city. He filled the pulpit many years acceptably. In 1773, he went to England with Dr. Hugh Williamson, of North Carolina, to solicit subscriptions for the church ; returned in 1775, and preached to his old church until driven out by the British troops. After they evacuated Philadelphia, he returned to his la- bors again. The late Thomas Ewing was a full cousin to our subject's grandmother, and his grandfather, James Sims, came from Scotland in 1775, and fought in the Revolutionary war ; he was also a Presbyterian. He came with

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Gov. St. Clair here, before Ohio was made a State, and they settled at St. Clairsville, then called Newellstown ; the place then had a few cabins and a block-house ; he died in St. Clairs- ville at the age of 99, and his wife at 92 years of age.

EUGENE H. SIMS, livery stable, Bucyrus ; was born Sept. 21, 1844, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio ; spent his youth in Bucyrus, and attended school until 15 years of age. He then assisted his father in the American Hotel for about one year. He then went into his father's harness- shop to learn the trade, and worked some two years at that business. When the war broke out, he enlisted in Co. E, 86th O. V. I., serving four months, when he was discharged and re- turned home. He went into the harness-shop again for one year. His father bought the Sims House, and he took charge of the shop alone for a short time. He re-enlisted in the 136th O. N. G., and was engaged in pursuit of Gen. Mosby and guerrilla bands at Ft. Worth, afterward returning to Bucyrus, and becoming clerk for the Sims House for four years. In November, 1866, he bought a stock of horses and buggies, and engaged in the livery business until June 23, 1880, when his stable burned, and he sustained a partial loss of stock, but saved all the horses and buggies. By Septem- ber, 1880, another building, larger and more convenient, was erected on the old stand, on the southeast corner of public square, where he is a doing a successful business, in a livery, sale and feed stable.

FRANK J. SHECKLER, Bucyrus ; was born July 14, 1857, in Bucyrus, and went to school, graduating in the high school at the age of 20. He then entered the office of the Eagle Machine Works, where he served as clerk, book-keeper and financial manager. In the spring of 1879, he began buying and grazing stock, and doing a general shipping business. He still, however, gives his attention to the machine works. He was married, May 21, 1879, to Miss Jennie Bryant, of Wyandot Co. She is a daughter of the late Isaac Bryant, and was born Feb. 22, 1858. They have one daughter-an infant- born July 6, 1880. Mr. Sheckler is a thriving and energetic young business man, who is suc- ceeding admirably, and is a valuable citizen of Bucyrus.

DANIEL J. SHECKLER, Eagle Machine Works, Bucyrus ; was born in April, 1824, in

Bedford Co., Penn., and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Needler) Sheckler. His father died when he was 1, and his mother when he was 5 years old. He lived with his aunt in Bedford until he was 8, when he went to live with his godfather. George Beegle, having been christened in the old Lutheran Church. He worked with him on the farm until he was 14 years old. He then returned to the village of Bedford, and worked at tailoring for two years ; then worked at cabinet-making, which proved more congenial to his tastes. He learned the trade with John Stall, working some seven years in Pennsylvania, and came to Bucyrus, Ohio, in the fall of 1845. Began work first on a farm, and at whatever he could find to do, having but 50 cents when he landed. He soon found employment in the shop of C. Howenstine, where he worked one year at $15 per month, and then formed a partnership with him, but had run but about six months, when all was swept away by fire, having just laid in a stock of lumber, which was also destroyed. They again started upon Mansfield street, and con- tinned about two years, when Mr. Sheckler re- tired, and went to work in a machine-shop operated by James Kelley. He worked as a hand about eight years-his trne employment. In about 1860, he and F. E. Frey bought the stock, Kelley & Widgeon having failed. They paid for the stock the first year, and the assignee offered the property for sale about 1862, when they purchased it for $3,500, and continued the business about four years with good success, when, in August, 1867, all was again destroyed by fire, leaving them with nothing but $4,000 insurance. With this they began building the following winter their present foundry, which is known as Eagle Machine Works. The part- ners were F. E. Frey, Mr. Sheckler (the sub- ject) and George Quinby, each owning a third interest. They manufacture engines, horse-pow- ers and saw-mills, brick machines, and do a general foundry business, and, of late years, make the Eagle Portable Engine. The firm changed in 1875, when Mr. Sheckler retired, selling his interest to Mr. Quinby, and, in the meantime, running the works for the firm. Mr. Quinby retired in 1877, and William Hoover purchased his interest. The firm now is Frey, Sheckler & Hoover, Mr. Sheckler having again taken an interest. The works at present em- ploy eighteen hands, and have six buildings-

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foundry, machine-shops, blacksmith-shops, en- gine house, coke and sand house. store and paint-shop, office and pattern-room. Mr. Sheek- ler has been married twice-the first time, April 26, 1848, to Sarah Ann Albright, of this county, and, of this marriage, all are dead but one daughter-Mary. The wife died April 3, 1855. He was married a second time to Charlotte Stewart, daughter of Joseph Stewart, October 28, 1857. Eight children have been born of this marriage-Franklin J., Jackson, Vaneleer, Amelia, Edward, Stewart, Frederick, Jesse. Mr. S. votes the Republican ticket, and is a member of the M. E. Church, and one of its Trustees.

JOHN A. SCHABER, Sheriff, Bucyrus ; is the son of J. George Schaber, and was born Nov. 2, 1836, in Ell-hoffen, Wurtemberg, Ger- many. He attended school at Wiensbach from his 8th to his 14th year. He then entered the blacksmith-shop of his father, and remained until 1853, when they sailed from Antwerp on June 15, 1853. The voyage occupied a period of forty-nine days, and they arrived at New York Aug. 7. His journey was continned to Buffalo, where he engaged at his trade, at Black Rock, a suburb of that city. In June, 1854, he and his father removed to Crawford County, and on July 4, of that year he commenced work, not knowing that it was a national holi- day. He was first employed by Phillip Osman. A year more and he entered the plow factory, and later formed a partnership with John Howalt, in the manufacture of buggies. This partnership was dissolved in six months, and Mr. Schaber enlisted in the "Mechanical Fusi- leers," Sept. 12, 1861, and in the following year the companies were disbanded by the Secretary of War. Mr. Schaber then engaged in the pro- vision trade, in the old bank building, in com- pany with Joseph Sandhammer, and continued one year. He then went into the dry goods business with Isaac Miller, and in a year, sold out this enterprise also. His next venture was at Sulphur Springs, where he opened a general store, with J. J. Fisher ; some time after, Fisher sold his interest to J. N. Biddle, Schaber con- tinuing with him in the business, but soon sold his interest to him and returned to Bucyrus, opening a store in partnership with Thomas Furman, which enterprise was carried on two years ; after which, Mr. Schaber went into the dry goods and grocery business alone. until

February, 1877. In October of that year, he was elected Sheriff, and commenced the discharge of his duties Jan. 7, 1878. He served in an able manner, and, in 1879, was re-elected, being nominated by acclamation. At his first nomi- nation there were ten opposing candidates, but he had a majority of 340 over one next highest. Mr. Schaber was married, Feb. 4, 1869, to Ber- tha W. Margraff, of Crawford County. They have three children-Geo. W., Sophia M., Charles T. Mr. Schaber is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and a gentleman who has held various offices of trust, he having been Councilman for eight years, Township Treasurer for four years, and was Treasurer of the Crawford County Loan, Saving and Build- ing Association during its existence. As Sheriff he has proved himself worthy and efficient. In the early part of 1865, Liberty Township, of this county, raised a volunteer fund of nearly $25,000, and tendered the responsible position of Treasurer to John A. Schaber, not even re- quiring bonds of him while handling this large sum. He was also first President of the Deutsche Gesellschaft, discharging all duties with that high sense of honor and integrity which has ever distinguished him.

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 118

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034