USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 14
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John C. Turpen while attending the public schools of Greenville participated in the sports of his day, and grew up a healthy, normal boy. Later he continued his studies at Adrian College, Adrian, Mich., and for one term at Albion College. Returning to Greenville, Ohio, he took a course
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at the commercial college of Dayton, Ohio, leaving it to become a deputy under County Auditor O. C. Perry, which position he held for five years. He then embarked in the undertaking business, beginning his association with it in February, 1873, and for over forty years has followed that profession, now being the oldest in his line in Darke county, and certainly one of the most efficient and reliable. In 1878 he was elected county auditor on the Democratic ticket and held that office until 1884.
On January 21, 1869, Mr. Turpen was united in marriage with Miss Martha Wharry, a daughter of Judge John and Eliza '(Duncan) Wharry, and they became the parents of seven children: Mary, Fred, Clara, Maggie, Richard, John and one who died in infancy. Of these children Mary mar- ried Lewis Steinhilber and has two children, Margaret and. Clara Steinhilber. Fred is living at Mobile, Ala., where he is in the employ of the New Orleans, Mobile & Chicago Railroad Company's general offices. He married Marie Esquerre and they have two sons, John E. and Fred W. Clara married William F. Grimes and they live at Dayton, Ohio. They have had three children-Turpen, William and John C. Richard lives in St. Paul, Minn., being secretary of the Northwestern Lime Company. John lives at Okla- homa City, Okla. He married Mary Little and they have two children-Dorothy and Benjamin. Mr. and Mrs. Tur- pen are members of the Episcopal church, of which he has been junior warden for eighteen years. Fraternally. he be- longs to Greenville Lodge No. 143, F. & A. M., and is sec- retary of the lodge. He also belongs to the consistory or the Valley of Dayton, and is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, and an Odd Fellow, being connected in that order with Champion Lodge.
Mrs. Turpen was born at Greenville, Ohio, August 20, 1843, her parents being early settlers of the city. Mr. Wharry was an attorney-at-law and judge of the probate court, but is now deceased, as is his wife. Their children were: Kenneth, Duncan, James, John, Martha, Margaret, Eliza, Mary, Lucy and Abbie.
Mr. Turpen is one of the substantial business men of Green- ville, and is held in highest esteem by his large circle of friends and acquaintances, who are to be found all over Darke county
Mr. Turpen has in his possession a paper by Capt .: George Hubbard, written May 29, 1781, giving the number of
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men in his company from captain down to the rank and file which is proof that the descendants are eligible to the Sons of .American Revolution and Daughters of American Revolution.
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HEZEKIAH WOODS.
Fostering a local spirit, striving to make his associates proud of his locality and to awaken in them a realization that they are responsible for its condition, thus starting them on the road to good citizenship, this has been the aim of Hezekiah Woods, of No. 123 West Main street, Greenville, Ohio, espe- cially since he retired from his life work of farming. He was born in Brown township, Darke county, Ohio, December 9, 1849, and is intensely proud of his section. His parents were William and Lucretia (Nevious) Woods, while his grand- parents were James and Rebecca (Oliver) Woods, and Albert and Hettie (Bellus) Nevious.
James Woods and his wife were both born at Newark, Pa., but became pioneers of Darke county, Ohio, making the trip from the old home to the new in wagons, locating in the timber, on the John North place south of Greenville. The Woods family did not come alone, but were accompanied by two other families, those of Jesse Woods and John Woods, the three being cousins. These three families brought with them forty head of cattle and sixteen horses. James Woods died in Darke county, at Hill Grove, after he had rounded out a long and useful life, in which there was recorded nothing of which he or his descendants need to have been ashamed. His widow survived him many years, passing away at Mingo, Iowa, at the extraordinary age of 104 years. They had a large family, among their children being the following: Hezekiah, Oliver, William, Rebecca, Jane, Washington and Rachel. The maternal grandfather, Albert Nevious, was born in New York State, as was his wife, and they moved to Darke county during its pioneer history, settling first at Fort Jefferson, Ohio, com- ing to that point from Ligonier, Ind. They died at Fort Jefferson in middle life, having had five children, namely: Joseph, William, David, Lucretia and Pearlina.
William Woods and his wife were born in Darke county, Ohio, he being reared at points in Neave and Jackson town- ships, but the greater portion of his married life was spent
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in Brown township, where he owned and operated 240 acres of land upon which he reared his family. His first wife, mother of Hezekiah Woods, died on that farm in 1873, aged fifty-two years, having borne her husband six children: Christopher F., who resides at Union City, Ind .; Enos, who is deceased; He- zekiah, who is of Greenville, Ohio; Benjamin F., who is de- ceased; Francis Marion, who is deceased; Pearlina, who mar- ried John Graham, of Des Moines, Iowa. His second wife was Martha Frazier and they had no children. For years William Woods was a consistent member of the Methodist church, dying in its faith October 26, 1906, aged eighty-two years. His widow survives him. During his active years he held the offices of township trustee and treasurer for several terms and . was a man of unblemished character, and highest efficiency whose influence was felt in his community, even after death had removed him.
Hezekiah Woods grew to manhood's estate in Brown town- ship, learning how to perform agricultural work while attend- ing the district schools, and so well had he been prepared, and so rapid was his work that he was graduated therefrom in twenty-seven days. After he attained his majority he began working out by the day, although prior to that he had remained at home with his father, but as soon as he was able he bought land in Brown township, to which he added until he owned 140 acres, and lived upon his property until the death of his first wife, when he rented it, and for the following fourteen years was a commercial traveler. He then married a second time, and resumed his agricultural operations, continuing them until in March, 1911, when feeling that he had earned a rest, he once more rented his farm, moved to Greenville, Ohio, and since then has lived in comfort at his pleasant home which he owns. He still owns his farm, and is in very com- fortable circumstances, the result of a well-spent, industrious life. The Woods residence is on the identical spot of ground where the treaty of peace was signed between General Wayne and the Indians in 1795, so that it is an interesting point at Greenville. Mr. Woods has always been a practical farmer, and embodied in his work some of the more advanced ideas regarding the performing of agricultural duties, although he does not advocate theoretical farming. A Democrat, he has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his party, but has never sought for public preferment, as he has believed he
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could accomplish more by exerting his influence as a private citizen, although he did serve as trustee of Brown township.
On October 24, 1872, Mr. Woods was married (first) to Miss Nancy M. Wagner, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Jones) Wagner, who bore him two children: Charles Jeffer- son, and Mabel Claire. The former is a physician at Darien, Ga., and he married Kate Johnston. Mabel Claire married Frank Eatwell, they live at Mingo, Ia., and have two children, Margaret and Carroll. Mrs. Woods died April 11, 1890, aged forty-four years. On July 25, 1896, Mr. Woods married Miss Mary Lee Sprigg, a daughter of James and Jane (Jordan) Sprigg. Mrs. Woods is a member of the Episcopal church. She . was born at Huntsville, Ala., her mother being a native of that State, although her father was born in Maryland, but came to Alabama, where he married. He was a soldier in the Con- federate army and was wounded, dying at Camp Chase in 1864. His widow died the following year, having had three children : John, who is deceased; James, who is deceased; and Mary. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Woods, Joseph Sprigg, married Jane Duncan and both died in Maryland, where he was a farmer, having had ten children: Richard, William, James, Joseph, John, Ross, Horace, Joshua, Mary, and Van Lear.
STANLEY E. MOTE.
Perhaps no profession to which intelligent men devote them- selves demands a greater diversity of natural gifts than does the law and those who embrace it as a life work are generally found to be men of ambition whose technical training has made them the peers of their fellow men in intellectual and very often in the most practical paths of usefulness. Stanley E. Mote, who is a member of the bar of Darke county, Ohio, is professionally established in Suite 2, Anderson Block, Broad- way, Greenville, with residence at No. 336 Switzer street. He was born at Weaver Station, in Neave township, Darke couny, Ohio, February 12, 1878, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth A. (Leas) Mote, and a grandson of Enoch and Catherine (Burkett) Mote.
Enoch Mote was born in North Carolina and was brought from there to Darke county in 1804, a child four years old. His parents located near West Milton, securing land in Monroe
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township, and there he spent all his active life, in advanced age moving into the village of West Milton, where he subsequently died. His wife, Catherine (Burkett) Mote, was born in Geor- gia. They were parents of the following children: Mary, who married John Crick; Dilly, who married Abraham Baker and after his death married Levi Burkett; John, Philip, Epsie, who died in infancy; Joseph; Margaret, who married Samuel Glant; and Noah, who died as a soldier in the Civil war. Wil- liam Leas, the maternal grandfather, with his first wife, was an early settler in Fort Jefferson. He was a man of con- siderable business enterprise, a farmer, a tanner and a shoe- maker. To this mariage William Leas had two children born to him: Elizabeth A. and Melissa, the former of whom mar- ried Joseph Mote and the latter A. M. Hecker. For his second wife William Leas married a Miss Crane and they had two children : William E. and Mary Ann, the latter of whom married John Hofferbert.
Joseph Mote, father of Stanley E. Mote, was born in Darke county, Ohio. During early manhood he taught school when not assisting his father. Early in the progress of the Civil war he enlitsed in Company E, 48th Ohio volunteer infantry, and served three years, although he had been reared a Quaker. After his long period of military service he returned to Darke county and resumed school teaching, in which he continued until prepared to engage in merchandising. For a few years he conducted a store at Fort Jefferson and then removed to Weaver Station, where he was a merchant for over thirty years. In 1907 he moved to Greenville and lived retired, sur- rounded by the comforts of life until his death in 1911, at the age of seventy-three years. He occupied a leading place in his community and during almost the entire time that he lived at Weaver Staion, was postmaster as well as express, freight and ticket agent. He married Elizabeth A. Leas, who survives, being now in her seventieth year. She is a member of the Christian Church. Eight children were born to them: Elmer E., who is in business in San Francisco, Cal .; Alvin J., who is a resident of East St. Louis, Ill .; Walter H., who makes his home in Kansas City, Mo .; William E. and John H., both of whom are in business in San Francisco; and Stanley E. and Mabel E., both of whom are residents of Greenville. This widely separated family has always been noted for its recog- nition of the ties of kindred and no one member is ever for- gotten by brother or sister.
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Stanley E. Mote was reared at Weaver Station and was a student in the public schools, afterward taking both a literary and a law course in Ohio Northern University at Ada, from which he was graduated in 1904. In the following year he was admitted to the Ohio bar and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at Greenville, where he has continued until the present. His practice is general in its character and he has had the satisfaction of being successfully and honorably connected with some very important litigation. His political convictions have caused him to give loyal support to the Re- publican party but he has been very backward about ac- cepting political recognition, at present serving, however, as clerk of the board of elections. He finds needed relaxation in his fraternal association with the Improved Order of Red Men. Before being admitted to the bar, Stanley E. Mote taught school for five years. All his brothers, as well as his sisters, taught school. Thus one will see that Stanley E. Mote's father and mother, as well as the children, were teachers. Mrs. Stanley E. Mote also was a teacher.
On April 26, 1907, Mr. Mote was married to Miss Bessie E. Swadener, who is a daughter of Albert and Jennie (Fields) Swadener, and they have two children, Joseph S. and Alberta. Mrs. Mote is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Mote were Jesse and Wilmuth (Browder) Fields, who were early settlers in this section of Ohio, as were her paternal grandparents. Her father and mother were born in Ohio and at the time of her birth were residents of Darke county. The mother died, but the father survives and now lives at Yellow Springs, Ohio. They had a family of seven children: Frank, Ophus, Viola, Ralph, Bessie E., Nellie, and one who died in infancy. Viola is the wife of Theodore Kuehn.
Enoch Mote, grandfather of our subject, came to Darke county about 1824 and developed a farm in Monroe township. The deed for the first land he purchased was signed by John Quincy Adams and the second by Andrew Jackson. Joseph Mote, son of Enoch and father of Stanley E., the subject of our sketch, enlisted for service in the Civil war September 15, 1861, in Company E, 48th Ohio volunteer infantry, as a private, but later was promoted corporal. After three years and two months of faithful and arduous service he was hon- orably discharged in December, 1864. As a Republican he took an active part in local politics. In 1900 he was a delegate to
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the State convention at Columbus and was a delegate when Mckinley was nominated for Governor of Ohio. He was as- sistant sergeant-at-arms of the National Convention at St. Louis in 1896.
ROBERT A. SHUFFELTON.
Since 1870 Robert A. Shuffelton has been an exceedingly im- portant factor in the commercial life of Greenville, Ohio, dur- ing that period displaying remarkable business capacity that called for a wonderfully sysematic mind and great quickness of perception, and now although somewhat retired from his former activities, his advice is sought and acted upon by those who appreciate the value of his experiences and the keenness of his judgment. Mr. Shuffelton was born at Bellefontaine, Logan county, Ohio, November 9, 1844, a son of Josiah and Nancy M. (Shepherd) Shuffelton, and grandson of George and Elizabeth (Hulse) Shuffelton, and John and Nancy (Merrill) Shepherd.
George Shuffelton was a native of Pennsylvania, and his wife was also born in the Keystone State, but they came to Belle- fontaine, Logan county, Ohio, at a period when it was still under pioneer conditions, and they had to contend with them. A carpenter, he found plenty of work, and built the first jail, going into the timber and cutting the wood for the jail door from one tree, the single slab proving an effective closing for the opening into the small building. In time he became a boss carpenter and was engaged upon many of the buildings at Bellefontaine and nearby points. Both he and his wife lived into an honorable old age, and died highly respected by all who knew him. Their children, ten in number, were: John, George, Josiah, Clay, William, Price, Sicha, Matilda, Emerilla and Druscilla. John Shepherd, the maternal grand- father of Robert A. Shuffelton, was born in North Carolina, but his wife was born in Virginia. He was a Methodist preacher and exhorter, and very eloquent. His ministerial work took them to Bellefontaine early in its history and he passed away at that place in middle life, his widow surviving him until she was ninety-seven years old. They had a large family, among the children being: James, Slith Meade, Wil- liam, Mary, Arpatia, Martha, Nancy and Lucinda.
Josiah Shuffelton was born in Ohio, but his wife was a Vir-
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ginian. He first learned the cabinetmaker's trade and followed it for some years, when feeling that he had a better chance as a wagon builder, he learned that calling and followed it and plow maker until his death, being an expert mechanic. When still a small boy, he went to Bellefontaine, where he later met and married his wife and their wedded life extended over a period of sixty-three years, both dying when over eighty-seven years old, this family being a very long-lived one. They were Methodists in religious faith.
Robert A. Shuffelton was brought up at Bellefontaine, where he attended the public and high schools, and was about to be graduated from the latter when the Civil war broke out and he left school and enlisted in Company D, 85th Ohio volunteer infantry, serving for four months. At the expiration of his period of enlistment, he re-enlisted in the Second Ohio heavy artillery and served until the close of the war, having partici- pated in a number of important engagements and won pro- motion to the rank of sergeant. After the close of hostilities, he embarked in the hardware business at Bellefontaine, con- tinuing in it tor four years, when he came, in 1870, to Green- ville, which has since continued his home. Upon coming to Greenville he established himself in the hardware business on the corner of Broadway and Third street, in the building now occupied by the Oak Restaurant, and was at that location for thirteen years. With the organization of the Second National Bank, Mr. Shuffelton, who was one of the heaviest stock- holders, was made its cashier and held that position for five years, when his private interests became so important that he resigned to look after them, he being the owner of a number of business and residence properties at Greenville, his confi- dence in the city having led him to invest heavily in its realty.
Mr. Shuffelton was married (first) to Miss Matilda Allen. a daughter of Dr. James Allen, of London, Ohio. She died in 1876, leaving one daughter, Luella, who married John P. Lu- cas, superintendent of the city water works of Greenville. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have a daughter, Mary. On August 23, 1877, Mr. Shuffelton was married (second) to Mrs. Viola E. Palmer, the widow of William Palmer and a daughter of John U. Eyer and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Esty. Mr. and Mrs. Shuffelton are members of the Episcopal Church, of which he was a vestryman and junior warden for years. Fra- ternally, he belongs to Greenville Lodge No. 143, F. & A. M .; Greenville Chapter No. 77, R. A. M .; Matchett Council No.
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91, R. & S. M .; Reed Commandery No. 6, K. T., of Dayton, Ohio; Miami Valley Consistory ; and Antioch Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, being a 32d degree Mason. Staunch in his adherence to Republican principles, Mr. Shuffelton has endeavored to do his full duty as a citizen, his intelligence and public spirit bringing him into active co-operation with his fellow townsmen in various movements of the day from the time he came to Greenville, and he can always be relied upon to take an advanced stand, his influence ever being cast on the side of progress. Since he located here, many changes have taken place. His residence at the corner of Fifth and Sycamore streets was built before Fifth street was laid out, and he set out the trees which adorn his property. As an old soldier he takes great pleasure in being a comrade of Jobes Post, G. A. R.
Mrs. Shuffelton was born at Dayton, Ohio, but her father was born in Pennsylvania, coming to Dayton when a child. Mrs. Eyer died at Dayton, but Mr. Eyer died at the home of Mrs. Shuffelton at Greenville when he was eighty-one years old. Mr. and Mrs. Eyer had five children: Viola, Cecelia, Al- bert M., Charles H., and Frank L., The wife of Frank L. Eyer died leaving a son, John Robert, and the infant was taken by Mr. and Mrs. Shuffelton and reared as their own, he now being 19 years old and attending college at Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., where he hopes to gain proficiency in the par- ticular line of his chosen profession-entomology.
WILLIAM JOSEPH IRWIN.
Shrewd, alert, careful in looking after his own interests, William Joseph Irwin, a merchant of Greenville, is still a man of whom no one could speak except in terms of the highest praise. Many of his kind and generous acts are hidden from . the public for he is modest in disposition and does not care to emblazon his charities to the world. His business, which is located at Nos. 117 to 121 East Fifth street, is one of the lead- ing ones of its kind in. Darke county, and his connection with it insures fair dealing and prompt service. He was born at Coberg, Ontario, Canada, February 22, 1859, a son of Stephen and Bridget (Rooney) Irwin, and grandson of William Irwin, and Felix and Celia (Mulligan) Rooney. William Irwin was
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a native of Ireland, who came to America in 1844, being shortly followed by his wife, whose first name was Mary, who came as soon as the husband decided upon a permanent place of residence. They located in the vicinity of Dayton, Ohio, where he engaged in farming, and also worked upon the railroad which was in process of construction at that point. There he died at the age of eighty-five years, having lost his wife in middle life. Their children were: Mary, who became a sister at Mount St. Joseph's; Stephen; William; and Bridget. Felix Rooney and his wife died in Canada, having had the fol- lowing family : William, Daniel, Patrick, Felix, John, Bridget, Rosa, Celia and one unnamed.
Stephen Irwin and wife were born in Inniskillen county, Fermanagh, Ireland, he coming to America when sixteen years old, and grew to manhood at Dayton, where he found em- ployment as a brickmaker. From that city he went to Canada and spent some years in the Dominion, marrying there and remaining until three of his children were born, May, Anna, and William J. Once more he located at Dayton, Ohio, and when the Civil war devastated his adopted land, he was not found backward in its defense, for he served it for one year and ten months, in a cavalry regiment. After the war, he moved to West Baltimore, Ohio, and continued brickmaking throughout Montgomery county. His wife died at this point in 1875, being then thirty-eight years old. In 1879 he went to Silver Lake, Minn., and married a Miss Black. Still later, he went to Iowa with his son, W. J. Irwin, assisting him in contract work, but died in a hospital at Dayton, Ohio, in De- cember, 1906, aged seventy-six years. He and his first wife were Roman Catholics, and in politics he was a Democrat. By his first marriage he had the following children: Mary, who married Carey McNeely, of Greenville, Ohio; Annie, who is the wife of Ed McKee, of Dayton, Ohio; William J., who resides at Greenville, Ohio; Felix, who is a contractor of Greenville, Ohio; John, who was drowned in childhood; James, who is deceased; Rosa, who is deceased; and S. Edward, who was also drowned. By his second marriage Stephen Irwin had one daughter, Louisa.
William J. Irwin lived at Dayton, Ohio, until he was nine years old, at which time removal was made by his parents to West Baltimore, Ohio, and he resided there until he was nine- teen years old. He then embarked in a business of his own, taking contracts for farm ditching, tiling and other country
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work, and planted the first tiling in Muscatine county, Iowa. He also built levees along the Mississippi river, being engaged in some of the most important reclamation work of that day. Returning to Ohio, he settled in Darke county and was en- gaged in drainage work all over western Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Subsequently he became interested in municipal work and took and executed contracts for the construction of sewers, waterworks and streets for twenty years, operating all the way from New York to Mexico. In 1908 he retired from that line of work, and returned to Greenville, which he nas considered his home since 1885, and built a large block in which he opened a furniture store. In connection with this, he has a branch store at Bradford, Ohio, doing an immense business and carrying a full and varied stock of all kinds of furniture. Among some of the important contracts held by him in the past may be mentioned the 247 miles of sewerage put in at New Orleans, and the fifty miles put in at San Antonio, Tex. He has built and owned several excellent properties at Green- ville, Ohio, including the Palace store, which he erected in 1901, and his own store, erected in 1906, the latter being a three-story brick structure, reinforced with concrete and steel. In 1894 Mr. Irwin built his residence at No. 451 East Fourth street, and since then has built three more residences. His Bradford store occupies a large building, and he carries a heavy stock at that point as well as at Greenville, all of his goods being first class, as he caters to the very best trade. In addi- tion to his furniture store, Mr. Irwin is further interested at Bradford, as he owns the Dewey Hotel there. A man who received but limited educational advantages, he has made his own way in the world and stands today as one of the best examples of self-made manhood Darke county has ever known.
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