History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 50

Author: R. E. Lowry
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 985

USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions > Part 50

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John Schlotterbeck was married November 16, 1909, to Mary Wag- goner, a daughter of William and Sarah Waggoner. Mrs. Schlotterbeck was reared in Monroe township, receiving her education in the common schools. To this union three children have been born : Geneva, aged five; Lavone, aged three, and Helen, aged one. Mr. Schlotterbeck has served as principal of the Eldorado high school for four years, and as superintendent for one year. He was graduated from the Lewisburg high school and has done work at Earlham College, Antioch College and at Oxford.

Politically, Mr. Schlotterbeck is a Democrat, and has been somewhat active in local politics. His father always has been prominent in local poli- tics. The Schlotterbeck family. are all members of the church. Leo, the father, is superintendent of the United Brethren church at Lewisburg at the present time. Christian and wife are members of the Wares chapel in Mon- roe township: Jennie and husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lewisburg: John and wife and Elma and husband hold membership at the Lutheran church at Lewisburg while the other members of the family are workers in and members of the United Brethren church at Lewisburg.

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Leo Schlotterbeck is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while John is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

John Schlotterbeck is a quiet, unassuming man, an honorable citizen of Preble county, who has added and will continue to add distinction to the citizenship of this great county, and very properly is held in the highest re- gard by all who have been brought in touch with his engaging personality.

JOSEPH LONGANECKER.

Preble county has been the home and the scene of the labors of many men who not only led lives which served as lessons and inspirations to those who followed after them, but who also were of important service to the generation in which they labored. Elder Joseph Longanecker, who, in his generation, is included in this class, is a man of well-rounded character, sincere, devoted and loyal. His labors long have been directed toward the growth of righteous living in the community he so long has served. Elder Longanecker is a man of pleasing personality, of abiding and fixed convic- tions and an efficient and capable leader of public movements within the range of his activity.

Joseph Longanecker, a minister of the gospel and a retired farmer liv- ing on Rural Route I, out of West Manchester, Ohio, is a native of Miami county, this state, born September 19, 1848, the son of Benjamin and Re- becca (Wilbaum) Longanecker. Benjamin Longanecker was the son of Henry and Anna (Hart) Longanecker. Henry Longanecker was a native of Pennsylvania, who migrated with his family to Miami county, about the year 1835, settling on an unbroken farm near Covington. He cleared away a place in the woods and there spent the rest of his life. He was a pioneer minister of the gospel. He and his wife were the parents of four sons and five daughters, Benjamin, David, Sarah, Anna, Esther, Henry, Fannie, Susanna and Isaac, all of whom are now deceased.

Benjamin Longanecker was born in 1818 and died in 1905, his whole life having been spent in Miami county. He was a deacon in the church for many years and was a blacksmith by trade. He was also a farmer, hav- ing owned several farms in Miami county subsequent to 1853. Benjamin Longanecker was the father of thirteen children, all of whom are living and who are active church workers. No one of his nine sons chews, smokes or drinks and all of them vote the Prohibition ticket. The children are

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Sarah, Jerre, Samuel, Joseph, Henry, Caroline, Susanna, Ephraim, Davis, Ezra, Harvey, Ella and William. Sarah is the widow of William Mote and lives in Miami county, Ohio. Jerre married Sarah Penny and lives in Law- rence, Kansas. Samuel married Susan Wolfe and lives in Anderson, In- diana. Joseph and Henry are twins and when children looked so much alike that their parents could not tell them apart. Henry married Matilda Isenbarger and lives in Burthold, North Dakota. Caroline is the wife of Michael Miller and lives in Darke County, Ohio. Susanna is the widow of Levi Miller and lives in Darke county. Ephraim married Minnie Kinsey and lives in Miami county, Ohio. Davis married Lydia Isenbarger and lives in Miami county. Ezra married Rose Detrick and lives in Anderson, Indiana, where he is a physician. Harvey married Joysa Oldwine and lives at Salem, Montgomery county, Ohio. Ella is the wife of Willis Stutsman and lives in Canada. William is married and lives in Butler county, Ohio. The eldest one of these children is seventy-two and the youngest is forty- eight. Most of them are farmers.

Joseph and Henry Longanecker, the twin sons of Elder Longanecker, both are ministers of the gospel and the astonishing physical resemblance they bear each other is borne out in the similarity of their pulpit methods, their manner of preaching being similar to an extraordinary degree, both exhibiting great earnestness in proclaiming the word of God. They, fol- lowing in the footsteps of their venerated father, have proved a large in- fluence in the communities in which their ministrations have been so effective.

Elder Joseph Longanecker was reared on a farm in Miami county and obtained his education in the common schools. He was employed on his father's farm until he reached his majority, when he started for himself. On August 21, 1869, he married Emeline Albaugh, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, March 1, 1852, the daughter of John and Esenetta Albaugh. To this union five children were born, three of whom are now living, Mrs. Lillie Bredenbaugh, Mrs. Lina Beason and Mrs. Emma Hess. Mrs. Longa- necker died September 1, 1879, and on September 16, 1880, Joseph Longa- necker married, secondly, Maggie Albaugh, a sister of his first wife. To this latter union three children were born, Clarence, who married Mary Richards; Pheres, who married Emma Wertenbaker, and May, who is the wife of Willis Wondle.

Joseph Longanecker joined the church in 1870 and was elected to the ministry on January 20, 1882, advancing to the second degree in January, 1883. On July 26, 1900, he was ordained to the eldership and on Septem-

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ber 20, of that year was chosen as elder of Price's Creek church. He has served as elder of that church since that date.

The second Mrs. Longanecker died February 16, 1911, and on May 27, 1914, Elder Longanecker married Mrs. Anna (Sipe) Shank, who was born in Virginia, March 8, 1867, and came with her parents to Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1871. She was educated in the common schools and on October 10, 1886, married Noah Shank, by which marriage she had six children, five of whom are living. Noah Shank died in 1911. Elder Longanecker solemnized Anna Sipe's first marriage and baptized her into the church.

Elder Joseph Longanecker is known throughout a large community for his progressive spirit, for his initiative and for capable methods of doing things. As a private citizen, he likewise is honored and respected by all with whom he has come in contact during a long and busy life.

JOSEPH LARKIN BROUSE.

Success in farming depends upon something more than hard labor. A farmer might toil from dawn to twilight every day of the year and yet fail to accomplish very much. There must be sound judgment and discretion, a knowledge of soil, grain, the best breeds of live stock and, in fact, the rudi- ments of general business. The man who accomplishes much as a farmer and a manager of an estate in these days should be accorded rank with men who succeeded in any other walk of life since it often requires more in- genuity and courage to succeed as a farmer than it does to succeed in other vocations. Joseph Larkin Brouse, an enterprising farmer of Washington township, Preble county, Ohio, has been successful in farming, not only be- cause he has worked for this success, but. undoubtedly, more because of his careful business methods and ability to manage. Mr. Brouse is a man who received a splendid general training for any vocation to which he might have directed his energies. His success on the farm, therefore, is not surprising.

Joseph Larkin Brouse, a farmer and stockman, living at the edge of the Eaton corporation line and the proprietor of "Hope Farm," consisting of fifty acres, was born January 30. 1859, in Dixon township, the son of William and Catherine ( Norman) Brouse, the former a native of Starke county, Ohio, and the latter a native of Rockingham county, Virginia.

William Brouse was the owner of the old Mckinley homestead in Can- ton, Ohio. Both William Brouse and his wife came to Preble county some-

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time after their marriage, which occurred in Montgomery county, Ohio. They located in Dixon township and were the parents of nine children, as follow: Martin N., who was graduated from the National Normal, at Lebanon, Ohio, with the degree of. Bachelor of Science, and was a teacher ; George H., Pierce, who formerly was a teacher and late a minister of the Dunkard church in Virginia, djed March 2, 1915; J. Larkin, who is the subject of this sketch; L. D., who was graduated from the Glasgow (Ken- tucky) Normal School with the degree of Bachelor of Science and is a teacher at Sedalia, Ohio; John P. W., who was graduated from the Glasgow Normal School with the degree of Bachelor of Science and later received the honorary degree of Doctor of Law.

Joseph Larkin Brouse was reared on a farm and educated in the district schools. He received a certificate to teach school at the age of eighteen and taught for twenty years. Mr. Brouse was graduated from the scientific course of the Danville (Indiana) Normal and received the degree of Bachelor of Science, later receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. Mr. Brouse was superintendent of the public school at Paris, Tennessee, for one year. He took a course in civil engineering at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and served as city engineer of Toledo for two years. Later he was superintendent of the West Alexandria schools for two years and principal of the high school at Frank- lin, Ohio. After returning to Preble county, he taught school and farmed.

Joseph Larkin Brouse was married in 1889 to Olive M. Marker, to which union two children have been born, Stanley C, and Carl. Stanley C. was graduated from the high school and in 1915 received a diploma from a veter- inary school. Carl is a graduate of the Eaton high school.

Mr. Brouse is an extensive breeder of thoroughbred registered Jersey cattle, his herd being headed by "Baron Oakland of Orange." No. 109335. The sire of this famous animal and the granddam were both owned by Will- iam Vanderbilt, of New York City. . The mother is now owned by the "Vic- tor Farm," of New York state. Aside from his cattle, Mr. Brouse keeps a high grade of other live stock. He keeps a great many registered Rhode Island chickens.

Joseph Larkin Brouse is secretary and treasurer of the farmers' insti- tute. In politics, he is a Democrat. Although he is interested in political affairs, he has never held office. Mr. Brouse and family are active and de- voted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They are well known in Eaton and Preble county and are highly respected for their many good qual- ities of heart and head.

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LEVI T. SHOEMAKER.

There are individuals in nearly every community who, by reason of pro- nounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the masses and command the unbounded esteem of their fellow men. By perseverance and a directing spirit which never fails, such men always make their presence felt, while the vigor of their strong personality serves as a stimulus and in- centive to the young and rising generation. To this energetic and enterpris- ing class of citizens Levi T. Shoemaker, a farmer living on Rural Route No. 2, out of Camden, Ohio, very properly belongs.

Mr. Shoemaker was born in Dixon township, Preble county, Ohio, Feb- ruary 15, 1878, a son of Abraham and Mary (Kindley) Shoemaker, the for- mer a native of Virginia, born in 1840, and the latter a native of Dixon town- ship. born in 1842. Abraham Shoemaker came to Ohio in an early day, set- tling in Preble county, and after his marriage located on section 33 of Dixon township. He owned about four hundred acres of land and was one of the most prosperous farmers of the township. Both he and his wife were mem- bers of the Friends church and, politically. Mr. Shoemaker was a Prohibi- tionist, although he sometimes voted the Republican ticket. He and his wife were the parents of four children, two of whom are still living. Daniel M. is connected with the bureau of plant industry of the United States depart- ment of agriculture, and is located at Washington, D. C. He was graduated from Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, with the degree of Bachelor of Science, and from Johns Hopkins University with the degree of Doctor of Science. Levi T. is the immediate subject of this sketch. Robert F. is de- ceased. Martha married Walter A. Scott, a physician at St. John, Michigan, and had one son, Robert S. Mrs. Scott is deceased.

Levi T. Shoemaker was reared on a farm in section 33 of Dixon town- ship, receiving his early education in the common schools of his home neigh- borhood, later becoming a student in Earlham College. After leaving Earl- ham, he took up farming and has become one of the most extensive farmers of Dixon township. He operates three hundred and twenty acres of land, which land is known as "Burr Oak Farm." Mr. Shoemaker himself owns eighty acres, and has an interest in one hundred and sixty acres with his brother and his sister's son. He is an extensive breeder of Angus cattle, his herd being headed by a good registered animal. He has been a breeder of these cattle for the past twelve years and has met with much success in this line of endeavor. Mr. Shoemaker also specializes in the raising of soy beans

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and in the production of Soudan grass for seed. He has built a splendid modern residence on the farm where he lives.

On August 18, 1897, Levi Shoemaker was married to Susan E. Gilling- ham, who was born on a part of the George Washington estate, her father having owned two hundred acres of this estate at Mount Vernon, Virginia. She was reared there and educated in the schools of that district, later be- coming a student in a private school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker are the parents of three children : Mary E., a student in the Fairhaven high school; Elsie E., a student in the public schools, and Martha A., the youngest member of the family, also is a student in the public schools.

Mr. Shoemaker and family are members of the Friends church at West- field, Ohio, and Mr. Shoemaker is one of the elders and also one of the trus- tees of the meeting at that place.

Few men are better known in Preble county than Levi T. Shoemaker, a man who has always been guided by the very strictest principles of justice and fair dealing, and a man who is honored and respected for these sterling traits of character.

ORLA P. KIMMEL.

It is proper to judge of the success of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by the people who know him. They see him at work, in his family circle, in church, hear his views on public questions, and observe the operation of his code of morals. They witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization, and are therefore competent to judge of his merits and demerits. The best testimonial of the character of Orla P. Kimmel is the official position which he holds. Mr. Kimmel is super- intendent of the children's home of Preble county, Ohio.

Orla P. Kimmel was born in Monroe township, Preble county, Ohio, November 26, 1874, the son of Peter and Elzina (Potterf) Kimmel, the former of whom was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1838, the son of Jacob Kimmel. Peter Kimmel's wife was born in Gasper township, Preble county, Ohio. The maternal great-great-grandfather, Gasper Potterf, laid out Gas- per township in this county, which bears his name. The father and mother of Orla P. Kimmel were married in Preble county. They were farmers, but in 1910, they moved to the village of Eldorado, where they now reside, honorable and respected citizens. They were the parents of ten children,

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eight of whom are living, as follow: William E. is a tailor at Columbus, Ohio; Della is the wife of C. H. Hart, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Irvin is married and lives in Monroe township, where he is engaged in farming; Mat- tie is the wife of Clem McKee, and lives in Monroe township; Orla P. is the subject of this sketch; Estey, a Jefferson township farmer, married May Emerick; Elmer L., a Monroe township farmer, married Daisy Fudge, and Minnie is the wife of Tyler L. Fudge, a farmer of Washington township.

Orla Kimmel was reared on his father's farm in Monroe township, and attended the district schools of his home township. He was graduated from the common and high schools and attended the normal school at Eaton, Ohio, after which he was a student at the Northern Ohio University, at Ada, later attending Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio. He then entered Jacobs Business College at Dayton, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated, after which he was a teacher in Clark's School of Business one summer. He then was engaged as principal of the North school building at Eaton, Ohio, and served in that capacity for eight years. He taught seventeen years in the schools of Preble county, seven years of which service was spent in Monroe township, two years in Washington township and eight years as principal of the North building of the Eaton public schools, and his career as an educator is an eminently satisfactory one. Mr. Kimmel has a life certificate to teach in the state of Ohio.

Mr. Kimmel was married in 1901 to Daisy Shuman, a daughter of William and Olivia (Eidson) Shuman, who was reared in Eldorado, Ohio. She was graduated from the high school of that village and for five years was a teacher in the same school. Two children have been born to this union, Josephine, who was born January 14, 1903, and Maxine, born Febru- ary 17, 1904.

Mr. Kimmel is a member of the Masonic fraternity holding member- ship in Bolivar Lodge No. 82, at Eaton, and is earnestly interested in the work of the lodge. He is a Republican and for years has taken an active part in the councils of his party. He was appointed superintendent of the Preble county children's home by the trustees on February 3, 1911, and took charge of the institution on February 6 of the same year. He has held this position since that date, giving eminent satisfaction to the board of trustees and to the citizens of the county generally. Mr. Kimmel served as president of the Ohio state conference of dependent children, which was held at Columbus, Ohio. He is a pleasant and affable man, genial in disposition, and an honor- able and highly esteemed citizen of the county.

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AUGUSTUS FOWBLE.

The best title one can establish to the high and generous esteem of an intelligent community is a protracted and honorable residence therein. Augustus Fowble is one of the best-known and most highly esteemed young farmers of Washington township, Preble county, Ohio. Like his sterling father before him he has been a man of well defined purpose and has never failed to carry to successful completion any work or enterprise to which he has addressed himself.

Augustus Fowble, the proprietor of "Maple View Stock Farm," consist- ing of ninety acres situated one mile southwest of Eaton, Ohio, was born in Harrison township, Preble county, March 3, 1871, the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Lock) Fowble.

Peter Fowble was born near Baltimore, Maryland, the son of George Fowble, and came with his parents from Maryland to Ohio, the family mak- ing their way in wagons, bringing with them all their worldly possessions. George Fowble located near Sugar Valley and soon afterwards settled on a school section in Preble county, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Peter Fowble grew up in that neighborhood and there he married Eliza- beth Lock, who was born near Lewisburg, in Harrison township, the daugh- ter of Phillip Lock. This was the third marriage of Mr. Fowble, he and his third wife being the parents of five children, all of whom are living, Eliza- beth, the wife of Henry Frazier; Wesley, who married Rilla Brown; George, who married Flora Pyles; Mollie, the wife of David Rookstool, and Augustus.

Augustus Fowble was reared on a farm in Harrison township and was educated in the public schools, which he attended until he was about seven- teen years old. He worked on the farm for his father until he was twenty- one and was married when he was twenty-two.

Mr. Fowble married Margaret M. Sheller, April 29, 1893. She is the daughter of Ephraim and Margaret Sheller and was born in Harrison town- ship, in the same neighborhood as her husband. She was educated in the public schools and was a teacher for three years. Mr. and Mrs. Fowble are the parents of two children, Freda B., who was born August 9, 1894, was graduated from the Eaton high school and the Wilks Business College at Dayton, Ohio, and Mary E., who was born July 30. 1907, is now a student in the public schools.

After his marriage, Mr. Fowble rented his father's farm and upon his

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father's death two years later, he purchased eighty-five acres of the old home- stead and lived on this farm until 1906, when he purchased his present farm, one of the best farms in Preble county. His house consists of fifteen rooms and a basement. Mr. Fowble is a breeder of registered Duroc hogs, his herd being headed by "Colonel Mayhon." He keeps from one hundred to one hundred and fifty head of this stock all the time and sells it for breeding purposes. He also keeps other stock of high grade.

Mr. and Mrs. Fowble are members of the United Brethren church at Eaton and Mr. Fowble is one of the trustees of the church. He is a Repub- lican but he has never taken an active part in political affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Fowble have engaging personalities which have made them popular in the community in which they live. Both are well known throughout Preble county.

JOHN H. POTTERF.

The student of Preble county history does not have to carry his investi- gation far before learning that John H. Potterf has long been one of the most active and prominent leaders in its agricultural and stock-raising inter- ests and that his labors have been a potent force in making Preble county a splendid agricultural region. He has carried on general farming for many years and has gradually brought the farm upon which he now lives up to its present high state of production. While he has prospered in his private business, he also has found time and opportunity to assist in the material and civic developments of Preble county.

John H. Potterf, a successful farmer and the proprietor of "Beulah-land Farm" of one hundred and two acres, two miles east and three-fourths of a mile north of Eaton, Ohio, was born in Lanier township, Preble county, Ohio, March 26, 1853, the son of John C. and Elizabeth (Wysong) Potterf.

John C. Potterf, who also was born in Preble county, was the son of Joseph Potterf, who came to Preble county in an early day. Elizabeth Wysong was the daughter of Joseph Wysong, of Montgomery county, Ohio. After their marriage, John C. Potterf and wife moved to Preble county and lived here the remainder of their lives. He was a successful farmer and owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, where he lived, as well as three hundred and twenty acres in Defiance county, Ohio. He taught school in Preble county and was a merchant in West Alexandria. He and his wife were the parents of five children, Eliza, the widow of Dr. Isaac Kesling;

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Amanda, the wife of George Drayer, of Kenton, Hardin county, Ohio; Elvira, the wife of Samuel Rider, of Eaton; Sarah E., the wife of Jacob Harry, of Dayton, Ohio; and John H.

John H. Potterf was reared on a farm in Preble county and was edu- cated in the district schools, which he attended until he was eighteen years old. His father died when he was fifteen months old and after that he made his home with Samuel Rider.

On March 27, 1873, Mr. Potterf was married to Isadora Borden, the daughter of George and Rosilla (Cline) Borden, who was reared on a farm in Preble county and educated in the district schools. To this union two children have been born, Daisy and Charles, the latter of whom is deceased. Daisy was born September 15, 1877, was graduated from the common schools and married Noah Wikle, of Washington township. They are the parents of two children, Martha L. and Earl P.

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History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 50

Author: R. E. Lowry Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 985

Author: R. E. Lowry
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 985