USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 21
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Mrs. Minnich was born at Gordon, Darke county, Ohio, but her parents were natives of Montgomery county, Ohio. Her father died many years ago, but her mother survives, now be- ing eighty-four years old. Their children were: Belle, Ellen, Charles P. and Edward, who are living, and two who are de- ceased. Charles P. is a member of the faculty of Minneapolis University, and Edward is a major in the regular army.
HARRISON B. HOLE.
If it were not for the acumen and business experience of the wholesale produce dealers of the country, the farmers would have difficulty in finding a profitable market for their products, and thus it is that men like Harrison B. Hole of Versailles, Ohio, are public benefactors. Throughout his long experience along this and kindred lines, Mr. Hole has proven his worth as a business man and his desirability as a citizen. He was born one mile north of Versailles, in Wayne township, Darke county, Ohio, June 13, 1864, a son of Harvey and Eliza J. (Brandon) Hole, natives of Ohio.
Charles Hole, the paternal grandfather of Harrison B. Hole, married Phoebe Baker, and they became pioneers of Darke county, entering the farm now owned by H. B. Hole. At that time this property was all covered with heavy timber, so it was no light task to clear it, or to place the ground under cultivation, but the grandfather accomplished these tasks, paying the penalty, however, of a shortened life, for he passed away in middle life, as did so many of those who endured the hardships of frontier life. His widow survived him many years. They had nine children: Jonathan, William, Adam, Lewis, Harvey, Benjamin, Lark, Abner and Mart. The ma- ternal grandfather, John Brandon, and his wife were born in Ohio, and became pioneers of Wayne township, Darke county. They had the following children: Mary, Louise, Lucinda, Eliza J., Joel, John, Lewis, Lot and one who was unnamed.
During the boyhood of Harvey Hole he learned to be a brick molder, while he worked on the farm and attended school as occasion offered. Later on in life, however, he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, becoming the owner of the eighty acres in Wayne township, formerly entered by his father, upon which he reared his family, and which is now in
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the possession of his son, H. B. Hole. He also owned 160 acres in Patterson township, and forty additional acres in Wayne township, all of which was divided among his chil- dren. In 1885, he moved to Versailles, Ohio, and there he died in 1900, being seventy-five years old. His wife died in 1895, aged sixty-nine years. He was born September 3, 1825, while she was born June 18, 1826. They were earnest and devout members of the Christian church. An energetic man, although he retired from farming in 1885, Harvey Hole was not con- tent to live inactive, so devoted some years to operating a sawmill. He and his wife had the following children: Ma- rinda, who died at the age of five years; Lucinda, who is de- ceased, married William H. Stover, and have children, Mar- garet A., Harvey G., Isaiah K., Thomas B., Hettie (deceased), Clement H., Bryson and Eliza H .; Isaiah F., who resides at Versailles, Ohio, married Sarah Murphy and they have nine children, as follows: Harrison W., Charles H., Caroline L., George C., Mary F., Irma F., James C .. , Grace M. and Mar- garet S .; Margaret Ann, who married Milton E. Stover of Greenville, Ohio, and has two children, Ethel and Kell (de- ceased) ; Mary Isabel, who married Newton Beal of Versailles, Ohio, and has two children, Milton E. and Grace A .; J. B. Weller, of Versailles, Ohio, who is a prominent man of that place, married Lydia Mast and they have three children, Carrie, Bertha and Marie, and Harrison B., whose name heads this review.
Harrison B. Hole attended the schools of his district and found employment on his father's farm until he was twenty- one years old. He then began conducting a sawmill at Ver- sailles, and in 1888 embarked in a poultry business which he has continued ever since. For thirteen years Milton E. Stover was associated with him, but he then bought out his partner and has continued alone ever since. Mr. Hole has several large plants, as follows : One at Versailles, one at Greenville, one at Arcanum, one at Dayton, one at Springfield, and one at Sid- ney, all in Ohio. He is one of the largest produce merchants that ships to New York city in this part of the State, his oper- ations aggregating $1,000,000 annually.
On December 18, 1890, Mr. Hole was married to Miss Otillie Engleken, born at Versailles, Ohio, a daughter of Barthold and Susanna (Kleinschmidt) Engleken, natives of Germany, the former of whom died in 1891, the latter surviving. Mr. and Mrs. Engleken had four children, namely : Anna Marie, Otillie,
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Amelia and John Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Hole became the par- ents of the following children : Robert M., Homer M., Harvey B., William E., Norman W., Dorothy O., Mildred L., and Richard E., who are all at home, except Norman W., who died at the age of four months. The Christian church holds the membership of Mr. and Mrs. Hole. He belongs to Versailles Lodge No. 290, F. & A. M., and the Knights of Pythias. Strong in his support of the Republican party and its prin- ciples, he spent seven years as a member of the board of pub- lic affairs at Versailles and two terms on the school board.
In November 1913, Mr. Hole was elected mayor of Ver- sailles, receiving 286 out of a possible 376 votes cast.
Mrs. Hole is prominent in church and social work, being a member of theT. E. O. Altruian.
GEORGE A. KATZENBERGER.
For the high rank of her bench and bar Ohio has ever been distinguished, and it is gratifying to note that in no section of the commonwealth has the standard been lowered at any epoch in its history. To the subject of this review we may re- fer with propriety and satisfaction as being one of the able and representative members of the legal profession in Darke county, and that he is a native son of this county lends some- what to the significance of the prestige which he has here at- tained.
George A. Katzenberger was born in Greenville, Darke county, Ohio, on December 11, 1867, and is the only son of Charles L. and Elizabeth (Ashman) Katzenberger. The mother, who was a daughter of the pioneer, Peter Ashman, departed this life in 1868, being followed a few years later by her only daughter, Mary. The subject's early life was spent in Green- ville, where he was reared under the direction of Mrs. Rosina Rehfuss. His elementary education was received in the public schoools of Greenville, completing the preparatory high school course in May, 1884. He then pursued a course of study in Nelson's Business College, at Cincinnati, upon the completion of which he accepted a position as head bookkeeper for the banking firm of Gilmore & Company, of Cincinnati. From July, 1885, to January 1, 1886, Mr. Katzenberger was the busi- ness manager for the firm, owing to the absence abroad of the
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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principal partner, Virgil Gilmore. The continued illness of Mr. Gilmore made the dissolution of the firm a necessity and on the date last mentioned Mr. Katzenberger entered the serv- ice of the Cincinnati News Company as bookkeeper. In the fall of 1886, desiring to resume his studies, he resigned his po- sition and entered the Ann Arbor high school, where he was graduated in June, 1888, three weeks after his class at Green- ville. Having determined to make the practice of law his life work, Mr. Katzenberger commenced reading law in the office of Hon. John Reiley Knox, but shortly afterward began a course in the law department of the University of Michigan, where he was graduated in June, 1890, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Subsequently he was admitted to the bars of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. During his collegiate term Mr. Katzenberger was honored by being admitted to the Greek-letter society, Phi Delta Phi, a leading fraternity which had been founded in the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan in 1869 by Judge Thomas M. Cooley, the eminent jurist, who subsequently became the chairman of the interstate commerce commission. During his college career, Mr. Katzenberger was actively interested in various organiza- tions, among which were the Shakespeare Club, Hobart Guild, Choral Union, Knowlton Nine, and was also an associate editor of the Michigan Argonaut and a correspondent in Michi- gan of the Columbia Law Times.
In July, 1890, Mr. Katzenberger, for the second time, ac- companied his father to Europe, where he spent a year and a half, chiefly in the grand duchy of Baden, Germany. Ar- riving in Bremen in August, he enjoyed a Rhine tour and was at Bingen and Ruedesheim, enjoying their famous "Laetitia Deorum." He also visited the castles and palaces of the late King Ludwig II of Bavaria, and attended the "Passion Play" at Oberammergau. In October he entered the famed Univer- sity of Heidelberg, where he spent two most enjoyable semes- ters, being a member of various musical, dueling and social organizations. Here, while attending the lectures on Grecian and modern philosophy by Kuno Fischer, he improved his knowledge of the German language, and, collaterally, ac- quainted himself with the literature of the land of his ances- tors. However enjoyable those months were, Mr. Katzen- berger yearned for his home land, where he desired to enter upon the active practice of his profession. He therefore, with his indulgent father, made a tour through Switzerland to
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Milan and the northern lakes of Italy, and then, in November, 1891, returned to the United States.
In December, 1891, Mr. Katzenberger went to Cihcago and established an office opposite the court house, where he soon attained to moderate success and a standing in his profession worthy of his years. During the Columbian Exposition of 1893 he was the secretary of one of the educational committees of the World's Congress Auxiliary, and during 1903-4 he served as an assistant attorney of the bureau of justice. After the death of his uncle, G. Anthony Katzenberger, the subject returned to Greenville and for awhile assisted his father in business, but afterwards resumed the practice of law as the junior partner in the firm of Elliott & Katzenberger. In the law, his chief work is in the line of probate practice, civil cases, and the collection of foreign estates, in which latter work he has had uniform success. Besides being a member of the Darke County Bar Association, he has for many years been a member of the Ohio Bar Association. He always has been careful and systematic in the preparation of his cases and has been connected with some of the most important litigation tried in the local courts. He always commands the strict at- tention of courts and juries and of his fellow practitioners, and has never been known to fail in that strict courtesy and regard for professional ethics which should ever characterize the mem- bers of the bar. His life has been one of activity and has won for him the respect and confidence of his fellows to a notable degree.
At the national convention of the Phi Delta Phi fraternity in 1893 Mr. Katzenberger was elected the secretary and treas- urer of the governing council, to which position he has been elected eight times successively, in conventions in Washing- ton, Chicago, Ann Arbor, Iowa City, Columbus and New York City. During his administration twenty-two additional chap- ters of the society have been placed in the leading law schools of this country and Canada, and the fraternity now has forty- four chapters in as many law schools. In his capacity as sec- retary, Mr. Katzenberger, in 1897-8, compiled a catalogue con- taining five hundred and seventy-five pages, and in 1908 he published a second directory of members, with illustrations, containing three hundred and twenty pages. The amount of work involved in the compilation of these two volumes was stupendous, requiring accurate and painstaking care and countless hours of preparation of manuscript and reading of
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proof. Several thousand volumes of each edition were pur- chased by members located in various parts of the world.
In the autumn of 1897 Mr. Katzenberger was nominated on the Republican ticket for representative to the General As- sembly, and made a fair race in a county overwhelmingly Democratic. Subsequently he refused several nominations for public offices, preferring to participate only in conventions and on the stump. For a period of ten years or more, he has served as treasurer of the vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal church of Greenville; is one of the directors and since 1900 secretary of the Greenville Building Company; for about ten successive years a councilor of the American Institute of Civics; a life member of the Harvard Germanic Museum and of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society. Since its organization, he has been a member of the Greenville Historical Society, and for several years was its president, during which time a boulder, with bronze tablet inscription, commemorating the treaty of Greenville, was placed in a suitable site, and also a large granite shaft, with bronze tablet, commemorating the erection of a fort by Gen. Arthur St. Clair at Fort Jefferson.
Mr. Katzenberger has spent considerable time and money enlarging a varied collection of relics and curios acquired dur- ing a period of thirty years by his father and uncle Anthony and which was for many years kept in rooms above the old Katzenberger grocery. This collection was removed to the basement of the Carnegie Library and placed in the custody of the school board, who appointed Charles L. Katzenberger honorary curator, and Frazer Wilson, A. C. Robeson and the subject of this sketch curators. The museum now contains about forty cases of objects of general and historical interest, carefully arranged and catalogued by Charles L. Katzen- berger.
Fraternally, Mr. Katzenberger, soon after attaining his ma- jority, became a member of the Masonic order, and was for many years an officer of the blue lodge. He also served as treasurer and now is secretary of the chapter of Royal Arch Masons and also recorder of the council of Royal and Select Masters, while in the Scottish Rite of the order he has attained to the thirty-second degree, belonging to the consistory at Cincinnati. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men and United Commercial Travelers.
At the age of ten years, while on a visit to Germany, Mr.
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Katzenberger was an interested observer of the fall maneuvers of the army, witnessing a grand parade which passed in re- view before Emperor William I, and from that time he has taken a deep interest in military affairs. In 1907, on his return from a ten weeks' business trip to Europe, he entered the National Guard of Ohio, to which he was impelled by a sense of duty after reflecting on the military superiority of the countries of Europe. He was first appointed a staff officer, with the rank of second lieutenant, but was afterwards pro- moted to adjutant of the First battalion, Third regiment in- fantry, in which capacity he participated in the war maneuvers at Fort Benjamin Harrison, near Indianapolis, in 1908, and at the national shoot at Camp Perry, Ohio, in 1909. In 1910 he was made first lieutenant of Company M, of the Third regiment and assumed command on the resignation of its captain, being subsequently elected and commissioned to that position. While in command, his company was ordered to Columbus during the strike riots there, being on duty in vari- ous parts of the city and patrolling extensive lines of suburban railways whose tracks had been damaged by explosives and by the removal of rails. His company also participated in the maneuvers at Fort Benjamin Harrison in 1910 and at other events, such as the Preble county centennial, Wright brothers' celebration at Dayton, and the like. At the Camp Perry rifle range he has won two bronze medals for markmanship with rifle and one for excellency in revolver shooting. He has con- tributed a number of articles of a military nature to local newspapers, and under his command the company's strength was increased from thirty-nine men to sixty-two. Eventually, however, finding that his military duties were interfering too much with other and more remunerative occupations, he re- luctantly resigned in 1911. He is now a member of the Mili- tary Service Institution of the United States, the American Red Cross, the United States Infantry Association and the Society of American Officers.
In 1894 Mr. Katzenberger wrote a review of the life and works of David Dudley Field for the Chicago Law Journal. At odd times he has written much for the local press, but his most interesting biographical work is a fifty-page account of Major David Ziegler, the first mayor of Cincinnati. His collection of Wayniana and his variety of engravings of Joan of Arc are not equalled in this country. In his youth Mr. Katzen- berger was interested in collecting coins and postage stamps,
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but in later years he has, as diversions, turned his attention toward history, the writing of articles for the local press, criti- cisms and reviews of concerts and lectures, collections of en- gravings, rare books, etc.
In June, 1899, Mr. Katzenberger married Grace Miesse, a young lady of solid merit and varied accomplishments, and who is a popuar member of the circles in which she moves. She is a talented musician, an ideal matron, and possesses to a notable degree those graces of head and heart which have won for her the love of all who know her. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, to which she is eligible through her descent from Daniel Miesse, who served in a Pennsylvania regiment in the war for independence. In 1901 Mrs. Katzenberger made a trip to Germany, remaining there for several months. To Mr. and Mrs. Katzenberger have been born four children, two sons, Charles and George, and two daughters, Catherine and Martha.
Personally, Mr. Katzenberger is a genial and unassuming gentleman, whose social disposition and clean character have commended him to the good opinion of all who know him. In every avenue of activity in which he has engaged he has faithfully performed every duty incumbent upon him and is deserving of the high standing which he enjoys in the com- munity where practically his entire life has been spent.
Mrs. Katzenberger is a charter member of the Altrurian club, Is also an active member of St. Paul's Episcopal church. Is a granddaughter of Dr. Gabriel Miesse, pioneer physician and surgeon of Greenville.
OTHNEIL SMITH SIMPSON.
The nceessity for skilled professional men in the druggist business is universally recognized, and has brought into it some of the most alert minds of the country. Othneil Smith Simpson of Arcanum, Ohio, a member of the firm of Simpson & Cline, is one of the best pharmacists of Darke county, and a man who thoroughly appreciates the responsibilities resting upon them. He was born at Arcanum, Ohio, September 28, 1887, a son of Jesse W. and Lydia Luella (Schlecty) Simpson, natives of Ohio. The paternal grandparents were John Wesley and Elizabeth (Fourman) Simpson, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather was a farmer who brought his family to
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Darke county, Ohio, at a reasonably early day, and locating in Twin township, there developed a farm and reared his children. Both he and his wife died on this property when well along in years. Their children were: Mary, Opher, Susan- na, Jesse, William, Jennie and several who died in infancy. The maternal grandfather, Samuel Schlecty, married a Miss Arnold, and they became early settlers of Twin township, Darke county, Ohio, where they located on a farm. She died in middle age, but he survived her many years. Their chil- dren were as follows: Mary, Joseph, Lydia, Lucella, John and two other sons. The grandmother was the first wife of Samuel Schlecty, and after her death he married and had two children, Lota and a son. Following the death of his second wife he married a third time.
Jesse W. Simpson, father of O. S. Simpson, was born at Arcanum, where he was reared and educated. Here he learned the trade of a carpenter and developed into being a contractor, Both he and his wife were earnest members of the United Brethren church and lived up to their religious belief. Their children were: Othneil, Annie, Warren, Earl and Grace.
Othneil Smith Simpson had a boyhood that was very like that of his schoolmates, for he grew up at Arcanum amid nor- mal surroundings, and after he had finished his course in the grammar schools, he entered the high school of Arcanum, and was graduated therefrom in 1908. Having decided upon his career, he entered Starling, Ohio, Medical College at Colum- bus, Ohio, and was graduated therefrom in pharmacy in 1910. Following this he clerked for B. F. Carter at Arcanum, until August 9, 1912, when he and Fred Cline formed a partnership and bought the business owned by Mr. Carter, the new firm becoming Simpson & Cline and continuing as such to the present day. The young men have a finely appointed store and control an excellent trade, their patrons appreciating first- class service and skilled attention.
Mr. Simpson was married August 21, 1910, to Elizabeth Greene, a daughter of Martin and Fanny Greene, natives of Ohio, the former of whom died in 1909, but the latter survives, Mrs. Simpson having been their only child. Mrs. Simpson makes her influence felt in the Methodist church of Arcanum, of which she is a valued member. Ithaca Lodge No. 295, F. & A. M., holds Mr. Simpson's membership. He is a Democrat in political faith, but has not had either the time or inclina- tion to enter politics actively.
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WILLIAM R. HAGEMAN.
As the poet has truly said, "Breathes there a man with soul so dead who never to himself hath said, this is my own, my native land?" for each and everyone cherishes in his heart a love for his native place that nothing can eradicate. No matter where he goes; what sights he sees; what honors other countries or cities bestow upon him, deep down in his heart lingers that desire for the place that gave him birth. His- tory proves this; men are constantly giving practical demon- strations of their love not only by costly gifts in the days of their wealth, but by years of steady and persistent efforts along business lines to forward the prosperity of their birth- places. William R. Hageman of New Madison, Ohio, is one of the men who believes that there is no place better for a man to succeed than the one in which he was born, and he is prov- ing it every day of his life in the conduct of his department store, and his public-spirited actions as a citizen. He was born at New Madison, Ohio, September 3, 1856, a son of James F. S. and Anna (Pearce) Hageman, a full sketch of whom is in this volume and will be found interesting reading.
William R. Hageman was brought up in his native city and learned to love it in his home, for his parents were loyal to it. Its schools educated him until the age of fifteen years, when he began working by the month for a time, when he engaged with his father and continued with him for two years, learn- ing the carpenter trade. His energies were next directed to- ward operating a restaurant, which he conducted in partner- ship with his brother Thomas O. for six months, at which time he purchased his interest, and remained alone for over a year. At that time he sold and, buying a team, alternated teaming and farming for another year. For the subsequent two years he worked at his trade, and then clerked for N. Townsend in his general store for two and one-half years. Liking the mercantile business, he engaged with Washing- ton Warren for six months, when feeling that he had mastered the details of this line, he bought, in the fall of 1883, a bank- rupt stock of groceries, and thus founded a business that he carried on for five years. In 1888, he bought a corner lot and he and his father built his present large department store building, in which he has carried a full and varied line of goods ever since. About 1910 Mr. Hageman took as a partner his chief clerk, Ezra Price, changing the firm name to Hageman
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& Price. In the spring of 1913 extensive changes were made in the store building, the main structure now being a two- story building 44x85 feet, to which a wareroom gives added floor space of 15x24 feet. In addition to his mercantile busi- ness, Mr. Hageman is interested in the New Paris Telephone Company and on its board of directors. He is president of the New Madison Electric Light Company ; president of the New Madison Building and Loan Association; vice-president of the Farmers' Banking Company, and owns an elegant resi- dence which he built in 1899. A man of keen business in- stincts, he has carried on his operations honorably and above board, and has developed into a broad-gauged, progressive, farsighted man whose connection with a concern insures its success. In addition to maintaining his prestige as one of the leading business men of New Madison, Mr. Hageman has found time to give the city his services in the council for sev- eral years, and has been its treasurer, while for many years he was a valued addition to the school board of New Madison.
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