History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 27

Author: Scranton, S. S
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 786

USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 27

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. Joseph Anderson, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and went to California in the period of the discovery of gold on the Pacific Coast, where he died not long after his arrival. His wife, who has been dead for 30 years, passed away at an advanced age.

Daniel Shelley was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1825, and died June 3, 1904, at the advanced age of 79 years. When a child he accom- panied his parents to Wayne County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and where he married Eliza Anderson, also a native of Pennsylvania, who when a small child came to Ohio with her parents, who settled in Wayne County. When Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Shelley came to Mercer County in 1860 they located on a farm in Union township near the Anderson Bethel Church, one and a quarter miles west and half a mile south of where our subject now lives. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Elizabeth, a resident of Lima, Ohio; Jacob, George and Margaret, deceased; William M., the subject of this sketch; Sarah, wife of Sylvester McQuoun, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Lewis, also a resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Joseph, who resides in Lima, Ohio. Mrs. Shelley died in 1884, aged 57 years.

William M. Shelley was reared in Union township and attended school in District No. 6. After leaving school he engaged in farming to which he has ever since devoted his time and energy, He was married January 24, 1880, to Lucinda. Archer, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Archer, both of whom are now deceased. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shelley,

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as follows: Lafy, who married Frank Small, lives at Mendon and has two children-Rex and Ruth; Frank, who is unmarried, lives at home and is engaged in operating oil wells; and Abigail and Laura, who live at home.

Mr. Shelley is a Republican and takes an active interest in the politics of the county. He has served as a delegate to county conventions a number of times and has been a township trustee for the past five years. He served as a member of the township Board of Education from 1894 to 1904, and. through his efforts a special teacher was employed to give musical instruction in all the schools of the township. It was through the influence of Mr. Shel- ley and his associates that the Union Township Building was constructed at Mendon in 1904 at a cost of $12,000, being located on the Public Square, which was laid out by Justin Hamilton. Mr. Shelley is a member of Mendon Tent, No. 214, K. O. T. M., and also of Mendon Lodge, No. 416, K. of P. He has been through all the chairs of both lodges and served as a representa- tive to the Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias, at Toledo, Ohio, June 12-13, 1906.

JOHN B. WILLENBORG, SR.

JOHN B. WILLENBORG, SR., one of the representative citizens and sub- stantial farmers of Butler township, whose death occurred October 30, 1906, was born in Oldenberg, Germany, November 13, 1826, and was a son of John Theodore Willenborg, who died when his son John was 14 years old. Our subject's mother lived to the age of 85 years but never came to America.

At the age of 20 years John B. Willenborg started for America and landed at Baltimore in 1848, after a voyage of six weeks. He came on to Cincinnati, Ohio, landing in that city during the epidemic of cholera, after which, in the following year, came the smallpox. The healthy German youth assisted to nurse the sick back to convalescence but never was attacked by either disease himself. Later he learned the stove molding trade at Cin- cinnati, at which he worked for 12 years, during which he made, on an aver- age, $25 per week, a great part of which he providently saved and put into a grocery business that he conducted for some time. He also worked as a street car conductor. He lived in Cincinnati from 1848 to 1882. In the latter year he bought and settled upon a 40-acre tract in section 34, Butler township, where he made his home until his death. To this original tract he added 331/2 acres in section 35 and 100 acres in section 3, which his eldest son has farmed. His success in life was the direct result of his own efforts.

On October 18, 1853, Mr. Willenborg was married to Gertrude Cuper, daughter of Frederick Cuper. She was also born in Germany and came to Amer-

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ica with her parents when 10 years of age. They have had 10 children, seven of these reaching maturity as follows: John B., Jr .; Anna, wife of Frank Ukutter; Clement, of Covington, Kentucky; Theodore, the home farmer; Benjamin, also living at home, who taught school for eight years, five of these at Coldwater; George, of Gas City, Indiana ; and Joseph J., at home. Three sons are married. Mr. Willenborg had II grandchildren. John B. Willen- borg, Jr., learned the carriage painting trade and for five years was foreman of a factory at Cincinnati. He married Mary Wessel, of Price Hill, Cincin- nati, and they have two children, Mary and Gertrude. Clement is a machinist and holds a position as assistant foreman at the American Tool Works, Cin- r cinnati. He married Lizzie Naderman of that city and has three children- Adele, Archie and Mildred.

Mr. Willenborg belonged to the Catholic Church, as do all the surviving members of the family, and all his sons are members of the Knights of St. John. For six years he served as trustee of Butler township and made an efficient and careful official. On the 50th anniversary of his wedding, Mr. Willenborg's large barn burned, but this disaster he met with the same cour- age and resolution which, in former years, had carried him through many a crisis. He immediately built the substantial barn now standing. Mr. Willen- borg was very highly esteemed throughout Butler township, his many sterling qualities bringing him the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

ROBERT ELLSWORTH RILEY, M. D.

ROBERT ELLSWORTH RILEY, M. D., physician and druggist, whose busi- ness location is on Main street, Celina, is one of the town's leading citizens. He was born March 12, 1863, four miles east of Celina, and is a son of Calvin E. Riley, president of the Commercial Bank Company, and a pioneer of Mer- cer County, an extended sketch of whom will be found in another part of this work.

Robert E. Riley was reared in his native locality and received his prelim- inary education in the country schools. Later he became a student at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, following which he taught school for two winters and then entered the Chicago College of Pharmacy. Subsequently he com- pleted his pharmaceutical course at Ada. He continued his medical studies until he was graduated in medicine at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1893. For one year following, he practiced at Chicago and during this time was visiting physician for the Central Free Dispensary, going from there to Pana, Illinois, where he continued to practice for a year and a half. In the fall of 1895 he settled at Celina and engaged in practice, in the meantime be-

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coming interested in the drug business and subsequently purchasing a half interest in Charles A. McKim's drug-store. They continued the business under the firm name of McKim & Riley for about five years, when Dr. Riley, bought out Mr. McKim and has been sole proprietor ever since. Dr. Riley is also interested in farm lands and oil leases in the county and is half owner of the drug business of B. L. Kindle & Company at Celina.

In 1894 Dr. Riley was united in marriage with Addie Brandon, daughter of the late Joel K. Brandon, an old and respected settler of Celina. Dr. and Mrs. Riley have two sons, Horatio B. and Joel K.

Politically Dr. Riley is identified with the Republican party, but has held no office of a public nature with the exception of that of United States pension examiner, which he has most efficiently filled for the past eight years. He be- longs to the Knights of Pythias and is very prominent in Masonry, being a member of the blue lodge and chapter, at Celina, the commandery at Van Wert, and the consistory at Toledo, having received the 32nd degree.

U. GRANT COATS

1 U. GRANT COATS, postmaster at Rockford, was born December 6, 1865, in Van Wert County, Ohio, and is a son of Rev. Thomas and Sarah (Feasel) Coats.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph Coats, came to Fairfield County, Ohio, from Virginia, and died at the age of 83 years at the home of his son, Rev. Thomas Coats, in Black Creek township, about 1875. He was the father of five sons and one daughter, namely: David, Melvin, Redmond and Robert, all residents of Kenton, Ohio; Thomas, of Rockford; and Nancy, who lives at Stella, Nebraska. Jacob Feasel, the maternal grandfather, who was of Pennsylvania German ancestry, came from Pennsylvania and located at an early period of the county's history in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he became a wealthy and influential farmer. He resided there until his death, which was caused by a fall from a load of grain.

Rev. Thomas Coats, the father of our subject, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, June 15, 1833, and was there reared on a farm. About 1860. he moved to Van Wert County, and some years prior to his removal, he was married to Sarah Feasel, who was born in Fairfield County, August 6, 1833. Mr. Coats united with the United Brethren Church soon after reaching man- hood and was shortly after ordained for the ministry. He was for 30 years actively engaged in his calling, and, while still active in church work, he has for several years past been on the retired list. He lived for many years on a farm in Mercer County, moving here from Van Wert County in 1867, and

CAPT. JOHN STAFFORD RHODES

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residing in Black Creek township until 1891 when he moved to Rockford where he has since resided. He organized the United Brethren class at Rock- ford. On September 19, 1904, Rev. Thomas Coats and his wife celebrated their golden anniversary. They have been the parents of 10 children, of whom three died in infancy, while two-David and James-died after attaining their majority. Those living are: Mary, wife of T. J. Cully, residing at Will- shire, Ohio; Thomas McClellan, a resident of DeGraff, Ohio, where he is engaged in farming; Lillie May, who married J. F. Roy and lives at Devil's Lake, North Dakota; U. Grant, the subject of this sketch; and Oliver J., a resident of Union City, Indiana, and a wheelwright by trade.

U. Grant Coats received his early education in the township schools and in 1887 entered the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, where he remained for a period of four years. After leaving college, Mr. Coats was engaged in teaching for eight years, having in this period three different schools. He gave up teaching in 1897 and was appointed postmaster at Rockford by Presi- dent Mckinley. He assumed the duties of the office August 2, 1897, at which time the office was rated as fourth class. In 1899, during Mr. Coats' incum- bency, the office was advanced to third class. On February 24, 1900, he was reappointed by President Mckinley for a period of four years. At the expira- tion of his term, Mr. Coats was reappointed by President Roosevelt, on De- cember 13, 1905, and is the present incumbent, having served as postmaster for the past nine years.

Mr. Coats was married December 20, 1891, to Minnie Work, a daugh- ter of Claybourn and Elizabeth Work, of Rockford. She died July 20, 1893. The second marriage occurred September 18, 1898, when Lillian Hoffman, a daughter of Rev. John A. and Mary Hoffman, of Ossian, Indiana, became his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Coats reside on West Market street, where they are com- fortably situated.

Mr. Coats is a Republican in politics and has always been a staunch sup- porter of the principles of that party. He is a member of the United Brethren Church at Rockford. Fraternally, he is a member of Shane Lodge, No. 293, K. of P., at Rockford and also a member of Rockford Lodge, No. 790, I. O. O. F.

CAPT. JOHN STAFFORD RHODES

CAPT. JOHN STAFFORD RHODES, a well-known pioneer resident of Fort Recovery, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, was born October 2, 1826, in Caledonia County, Vermont, and is a son of Josiah K. and Mary (Brown) Rhodes.

Not only has Captain Rhodes won military rank and reputation for him- 16

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self, but he also comes of Revolutionary stock. His father was a son of Oliver and Martha ( Pratt) Rhodes, the former of English and the latter of French extraction. Grandfather Oliver Rhodes was a gallant soldier in the Patriot army all through the Revolutionary War, serving for six years under General Washington and winning deserved promotion.

Josiah K. Rhodes was reared and educated in Vermont and in young manhood learned the trade of house-joiner. In 1835 he removed with his family to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where he remained two years and then moved to Licking County. During his residence in the former county, he completed the erection of the first Presbyterian Church ever built at Strongs- ville, which is still standing. The family continued to live in Licking County until 1861, when Josiah K. Rhodes and wife and their son, Robert B. Rhodes, removed to Van Wert County and settled at Willshire. There Josiah K. Rhodes died in November, 1892, aged 92 years.

Josiah K. Rhodes was united in marriage with Mary Brown, who was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1795, and was a daughter of Stafford Brown, who was adjudged an Irish rebel in 1798. The English confiscated his prop- erty and he and his family escaped to America and settled in Vermont. Mrs. Rhodes was the eldest of three children. One brother died and was buried at sea. The other brother became a resident of Vermont. Josiah K. Rhodes and wife had two sons and two daughters, namely: John Stafford, of this sketch; Robert B., who died at Willshire, Ohio, August 26, 1901 ; Mary Ann, who married Paschal Horton and died in Licking County, Ohio; and Martha, who resides in Delaware County, Ohio.

From boyhood the subject of this biography was of a more adventurous spirit than are most youths. Perhaps the blood of his maternal grandfather, the Irish patriot and of his paternal grandfather, the Revolutionary soldier, flowed hotly through his veins. Be this as it may, he did not feel satisfied with the ordinary life of a boy of 16 in his circumstances and surroundings, and was but four days older than this when he took his future in his own hands and ran away from home. He found his way to Mercer County, Ohio, where there was work for all, and worked at his trade during the summer. In the fall he went on the Ohio River as a hand on a flatboat running out of Ports- mouth, Cincinnati and lower points. He made 21 trips to New Orleans and return. At first his wages were $15 per month, but when he closed out his contract with his employers, he was receiving $75 per month as second pilot.

Captain Rhodes landed first at Fort Recovery on April 12, 1844, and during his flatboat experience he lived at this place, working during the sum- mers as a house-joiner. When he became a resident here, there were but five families in the hamlet. Henry Lipps kept the first hotel, a log structure, and our subject was one of his boarders. The little eight-year-old daughter play-

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ing around at that time later became the wife of Captain Rhodes. Until 1854 he continued running on the boats up and down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, but after his marriage he engaged in farming. He purchased 1001/4 acres of farm land, which was the last piece of canal land entered in Mercer County, the transaction having been carried out by Henry Lipps. For this land Captain Rhodes paid the sum of $960. At that time it was wholly in its natural, wild state, without any improvementss. He still makes his home here, having owned the property since November, 1859, and it is still intact, with the exception of a few acres which the Lake Erie and Western Railroad have taken off. In the fall of 1865 he bought 61/2 acres directly across the road, in Gibson township, for which he paid $40 per acre. His residence thus stands in Recovery township and his barn in Gibson township.

Captain Rhodes enjoyed but a few years of quiet, agricultural life after settling on his farm, for, as soon as the Civil War broke out, he began to make preparations to take an active part in it. On August 16, 1862, he enlisted as a private, in Company C, 118th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., contracting to serve for three years. At the organization of the company, he was elected 2nd lieu- tenant, on December 15, 1862, he was promoted to be Ist lieutenant, and on April II, 1864, was promoted to the captaincy of Company C, 118th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. After a hazardous service of three years, during which time he experienced every hardship of a soldier's life except wounds, he was mustered out at Salisbury, North Carolina, June 24, 1865, and honorably dis- charged at Cleveland, Ohio, July 12, 1865.

It would be almost impossible to follow, in a work of this kind, the actual events of Captain Rhodes' military career, as they were too numerous, and we content ourselves with giving merely an outline. He participated in the battles of Kingston, Tennessee, and Mossy Creek, Tennessee, and was all through the famous Atlanta campaign, during which time his regiment was under continuous fire for four months. This campaign included the battles of Dal- ton, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca, Dallas, Pumpkin Vine Creek, all the battles near Atlanta and the great battle at Atlanta, July 22 and 28, 1864. He participated also in the hard-fought battles of Franklin and Nashville, after which his regiment followed Hood's demoralized army as far back as Clifton on its retreat southward. The regiment then went by rail and steamer to Washington, then to Fortress Monroe and Smithville, North Carolina, and marched up Cape Fear River to Fort Anderson and assisted in the capture of the same. This regiment was on the skirmish line and was the first to go over the fortifications and reach the flag on the fort. They seized and waved the colors to the river fleet steaming up the river. This regiment participated also in the capture of Wilmington, North Carolina, on February

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22, 1865, firing a salute of 100 guns to celebrate this victory gained on Wash- ington's birthday.

On March 8, 1865, the regiment made a forced march to Kingston, North Carolina, wading through swamps for five days, the water being some- times as high as the soldiers' hips, assisted in the capture of Goldsboro, and later joined Sherman's army. Captain Rhodes passed through all the hard- ships of the subsequent campaign and never suffered from a wound of any kind and was sick but for a short season. He was captured twice in one day by the same division of Wheeler's cavalry, but was not held on either occasion longer than sufficed for his captors to rob him of everything they could carry off. He is the only commissioned officer who left Mercer County and returned with the same company. At different times he commanded every company in his regiment except Company E.

Upon his return to Fort Recovery from the army, Captain Rhodes com- pleted the house which he had begun in 1861. He has been a continuous and honored resident of Recovery township ever since and has been active in the management of the public affairs of the community for many years. For 17 years he served as one of the councilmen of Fort Recovery and for an extended period has served in a highly satisfactory manner as township clerk and as a justice of the peace.

On November 20, 1855, Captain Rhodes was married at Fort Recovery to Sarah Jane Lipps, a daughter of Hon. Henry Lipps, a pioneer here and a representative in the State Legislature in 1849-50. Mrs. Rhodes was born at Fort Recovery, Ohio, in 1836. To this marriage three children were born, namely: Jane Ann, who lives at home; Mary E., now a resident of Los Angeles, California, who is the widow of James A. Scott and the mother of one child; and Estella, who is the widow of Guilke Wallingsford, killed in a railway accident in 1901-she has one son, Leo.

Captain Rhodes is one of the leading men in the Grand Army of the Republic in this section of Ohio. He joined the organization at Union City, Indiana, in 1867, and has the distinction of being the oldest Grand Army man in Mercer County. He was mustering officer of this district for several years and instituted the posts at Rockford and Middlepoint, and was the first com- mander of Harrod-McDaniel Post, No. 181, at Fort Recovery. He is also an Odd Fellow and a Mason, and was the first worshipful master elected by Fort Recovery Lodge, No. 539, F. and A. M.

Our subject relates an interesting incident of the days of 1851, when he was still a young man. With David J. Roop, one day early in July, he was searching for bullets on the old battle-field where General St. Clair met de- feat, and accidentally found one of the pits in which the bodies of the victims of the terrible slaughter on that fatal 4th of November, 1791, had been buried.

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The remains were re-interred on September 10, 1851, being buried in 13 black walnut coffins, made by Mr. Rhodes and Robert G. Blake. The cere- monies of that day made it Mercer County's greatest day of the 19th century. Fully 5,000 people were present, coming from many of the counties of West- ern Ohio and Eastern Indiana, to pay a tribute of respect to the fallen heroes. Judge Bellamy Storer rode all the way from Cincinnati to Fort Recovery, on horseback, a journey of five days, in order to deliver the funeral oration.

It seems almost unnecessary to add that Captain Rhodes is a man of whom Mercer County is proud. His long and eventful life has served to prove his mettle as a man and to show to his fellow-citizens the fruits of patriotism, courage, industry and fidelity to duty. 1

JOHN W. SHIVELY

JOHN W. SHIVELY, a leading citizen of Hopewell township, formerly township treasurer and the owner of a general store at Stedcke, was born in Jefferson township, Mercer County, Ohio, May 24, 1861. He is a son of William M. and Sarah E. (Carr) Shively.

Both parents of Mr. Shively were born in Ohio. The father was a soldier in the service of his country in the Civil War, and lost his life in that great struggle. It thus came about that our subject was thrown entirely upon his own resources when but 10 years of age. He left Jefferson township and for a number of years worked at farming throughout Mercer County, and later operated a farm for himself. In 1887 he embarked in the mercantile business at Stedcke, which he has conducted ever since, each year enlarging and adding to the stock of goods handled. He owns a farm of 40 acres in Hopewell township and another, of 80 acres, in Butler township and also operates another store, at Mercer. He is one of the county's enterprising and successful business men. He has also been very active in politics, has served as clerk of the Board of Elections of Hopewell township and for six consecu- tive years was township treasurer. He has also served as postmaster at Stedcke. He is a stanch Republican.

Mr. Shively has been twice married. His first wife, Sarah E. Buch, at death left two children, Melvin and Oral, the latter of whom is the wife of John Sielschott, of Mercer. He married (second) Eliza Crouch, and they have five children, namely: Chloe, Florence, Walter, Nora and Ernest B. Both he and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church.

Mr. Shively is a representative, self-made man and his material success is but the result of close application to business, honest dealing with his

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fellow-citizens and an integrity of character, which has brought him the con- fidence and esteem of those with whom he has come in contact.

CHARLES H. McKIM

CHARLES A. McKIM, postmaster at Celina and one of Mercer County's leading business men, was born in Erie County, Ohio, November 22, 1859, and is a son of Dr. James F. and Abby (La Boitteaux) McKim. For many years Dr. McKim was a prominent physician and surgeon at Erie, Ohio. He was survived by three children.

Charles A. McKim was 13 years old when his home was changed to the State of Indiana, where he remained until June, 1880, when he came to Mercer County, Ohio. For a number of years he was largely interested in the timber business and then opened a drug-store. He became one of the leading druggists at Celina and finally disposed of his drug interests in 1900. In May, 1898, he was appointed postmaster; he has made a record as a faith- ful and efficient public official. This office is one of importance, the govern- ment affording him one assistant and 12 employees, including the rural mail carriers.

In 1870 Mr. McKim was united in marriage with Elizabeth Snyder, the · accomplished daughter of the late veteran journalist and Democratic states- man, Hon. A. P. J. Snyder. An extended sketch of Mr. Snyder will be found in this work. Mrs. McKim has inherited much of her father's literary ability and is the capable editor of the Mercer County Standard, with, which he was connected for 50 years. Politically Mr. McKim is identified with the Repub- lican party. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

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History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 27

Author: Scranton, S. S Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 786

Author: Scranton, S. S
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 786