History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c., Part 146

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968

USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c. > Part 146

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MOYER, HENRY, of the firm of Brubaker & Moyer, clothiers ; was born in Berks Co., Penn., in 1839 ; he spent his youth in the country, and, at the age of 16, he went to the trade of stonemason; in 1863, he came to Ohio and settled in Shelby, where he followed his trade, contracting stone and brick work until Feb. 1, 1879, when he purchased a third interest in the store of J. H. Brubaker; Mr. Moyer conducts the sales department and the cutting and fitting is conducted by Daniel Sipe ; the firm carry a large and well-selected stock of ready-made clothing, and, also, a full line of cassimere and furnishing goods. Mr. Moyer is a sales- man of no mean ability ; he is an upright business man and takes especial pride in suiting the public. He was married to Miss Angeline Garber, daughter of Joseph Garber, of Perry Co., Penn., July 20, 1864; they have two children.

MYERS, ISAAC A., physician ; he was born of religious parents, in Allegheny City, Allegheny Co., Penn., in August, 1839 ; he was the oldest son of Sam- uel and Maria C. Myers; about 1849, his parents re- moved to Ohio and settled in Ashland, where his father carried on painting ; subsequently they moved to Rich- land Co. and located in Shelby, where the subject of this sketch now resides. At an early age, he united with the Methodist Church, and continued as such till dissensions arose in the church in Shelby, when he withdrew his membership and united with the Re- formed Church, then in charge of Rev. N. H. Loose. While in Shelby, he became an apprentice to his father in painting and worked at that till 1859, when he com- menced the study of anatomy and physiology, and, in 1860, entered the office of Dr. W. R. Bricker, in Shelby, Ohio, where he remained till the 18th of April, 1861, when he entered the service and was enrolled in Co. I (Capt. A. C. Cummins), 15th O. V. I., serving in the capacity of private, nurse and steward in hospital until discharged from the service Aug. 29, 1861 ; again en- listed as a private in Co. I, 15th O. V. I., Sept. 7, 1861, and served in various departments until discharged under special field order No. 32, Department of the Cumberland, for promotion, Feb. 4, 1863 ; eight days later, he received a commission and was ordered on duty at Hospital No. 23, Nashville, Tenn .; after serv-

ing in the capacity of Ward Surgeon for several months, was ordered to take charge of the U. S. gene- ral hospital train, running from Nashville to all points in the rear of the army ; in this connection, he served till Aug. 4, 1864, when he was transferred to the De- partment of the East, by order of the Surgeon General, and, on Aug. 29, 1864, was ordered on duty at Grant General Hospital, Willet's Point, New York Harbor, by the Medical Director of the Department of the East ; at this hospital, there were 1,500 patients and twelve assistant surgeons, under charge of Surgeon A. H. Thurston, of New York City ; during the time he was here, his promotions were rapid, till he was made exec- utive officer, Treasurer, etc .; in 1865, he resigned and came home to Shelby, and again entered the office of Dr. W. R. Bricker, where he remained till fall, and then went to attend the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he remained six months (having attended the University of Nashville Medical Depart- ment in 1862 and 1863) ; returning from Michigan in 1866, continued on in the office with Dr. Bricker till the fall, and then went to Cleveland and graduated at the Western Reserve College in 1867; in the same year, entered into partnership with Dr. Brickee and contin- ued as such for over a year, when he went West, then returned and located in Shelby in the fall of 1868. In October, 1869, the Doctor was married, by the Rev. N. H. Loose, to Miss Vince A. Matson, daughter of Uriah and Elizabeth B. Matson, and, at present writing, have two children living-E. Roy and R. Guizott. In No- vember, 1872, went into partnership with Dr. McMil- lan and dissolved the same March 31, 1874. Politi- cally, he has always been a Republican, advancing the interests of the cause and maintaining the principles of the party. In December, 1862, he became con- nected as a local correspondent with the Herald at Mansfield, Ohio, and also with the Shelby papers and others, writing up all points of local and general inter- est, as well as those of a religious, historical and scien- tific character.

OVERDEAR, MICHAEL, farmer, Shelby,; he was born in July, 1821, southeast of Mansfield, on the farm now owned by Mr. Campbell ; he has always lived in Richland Co., and for the past twenty years, one and one-half miles south of Shelby. In 1840, he was mar- ried to Ellis Deardoff; they have had but one child -- John, who was born in 1842, and who died in 1847; lie has reared three girls and one boy for other people. His wife died Dec. 24, 1876. Mr. Overdear is one of the early settlers of' Richland Co., and can tell of the many hardships of pioneer life.

PITTINGER, J. L., was born in Blooming Grove Township June 29, 1839 ; his youth was spent on a farm; when he was about 15 years of age, he went to the village of Ganges, and clerked in a store about one year ; he then came to Shelby, and clerked for Mr. Lybarger for about five years ; he was in the grocery and provision business, also in the lumber and in the shoe trade, in which latter business he was engaged six years. He is a Director of the First National Bank of Shelby. Mr. Pittinger is a men of quiet demeanor ; he is a correct business man, and weighs matters fully before deciding upon a course to be pursued. He was

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married to Miss Gibson Nov. 16, 1861 ; they have had two children, both of whom are dead.

POST, DAVID, farmer ; was born in Richland Co. March 11, 1820; his father, Daniel Post, was one of the early settlers ; he emigrated from Washington Co., Penn., about 1817, and settled near Lexington ; he came to Sharon abont 1830, where he lived until he died in the spring of 1876. He was married, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Hannah Martin ; they had four sons and three daughters. The subject of this sketch came to Shelby in 1840, and worked at blacksmithing until 1848, when he moved to the farm he now occupies, which was en- tirely covered with heavy timber ; by hard, persistent work he has cleared his farm, and has a pleasant home. He was married to Miss Elisabeth Bargaheiser Dec. 4, 1845; they have four sons and two daughters. His wife died, and he was again married to Christina H. Hopp Oct. 16, 1861; they have three children, one daughter and two sons. Mr. Post is a good farmer, and has the esteem of his acquaintances.

POST, L. B., farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Shelby ; he was born in Sharon Township Aug. 26, 1846. He was married to Hattie L. Lewis on the 28th day of Dec. 1869; had by this marriage two children-Frank Ida, and Charles L. Mr. Post was born and reared on a farm, and is one of the enterprising farmers of Richland Co. His wife was born and reared in Rich- Iand Co. His father is one of the early settlers, and now lives in Sharon Township; his mother died in June, 1861.

RAYNOLDS, WILLIAM F., farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Shelby ; he was born in Sharon Township Sept. 14, 1857 ; his father died when he was but 10 years of age, and, as he was the oldest of the family, it left him with considerable responsibility. In 1866. his mother married her second husband, Robert Holgate. June 29. 1877, the subject of this sketch married Miss Lib- bie Feighner, daughter of Solomon Feighner, who was born in Richland Co. in October, 1858; by this mar- riage they are the parents of one child-Mirtle, born Feb. 13, 1879. Mr. Raynolds is an enterprising young farmer.

ROBERTS, ANNA, MRS., was born in Fairfax Court House, W. Va., March 11, 1787. Was married to Rich- ard Roberts June 11, 1807 ; moved to Ohio in 1828; she had by this marriage eleven children, all living- John, born July 22, 1808; Polina, May 18, 1811; George, May 2, 1815; Benjamin, Aug. 19, 1817; Thomas, Aug. 14, 1819; Nancy Ann, Sept. 21, 1821 ; William, Aug. 5, 1823 ; Richard, Ang. 5, 1825; David, Nov. 25, 1827; Obadiah. July 23, 1829. Mr. Richard Roberts was born in Culpeper Court House, Va , June 30, 1782; he died Dec. 8, 1838. Mrs. Roberts is now over 93 years of age, is in reasonable good health, and lives with her son and daughter, Richard and Nancy, on the old homestead south of Shelby.

ROCKWELL, MARY P., widow of Samuel M. Rock- well, was born in Perry Co., Penn., Nov. 14, 1814; her father, Gen. Leiby, removed from Pennsylvania to New York, where he remained for some time, and, in Sept., 1834, came to Ohio and settled near Mansfield, where he remained two years, and then removed to what is now Jackson Township, where he resided some five years. In 1840, he moved to Indiana, where he

died, in 1859, aged about 73 years. Mr. Rockwell was born in Norwalk, Conn., Dec. 2, 1811; when he was 4 years old, he was left an orphan ; he was taken by his grandfather, Joseph R. Rockwell, who came to Ohio and brought Samuel with him ; Mr. Rockwell took an interest in the history of Richland County, and was instrumental in having a series of articles pub- lished in the Independent News, Shelby, on the " History of Sharon and Jackson Townships." It was his inten- tion to have a full and complete work of the county compiled. Miss Leiby and Samuel M. Rockwell were married March 24, 1836; they had nine children, six of whom are living.

SKILES & SKILES, attorneys at law, Shelby. W. W. and G. M. Skiles were born in Stoughton, Cumber- land Co., Penn. W. W. Skiles was born Dec. 12, 1849; G. M., Feb. 25, 1852. Their father, John G. Skiles, was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., and is of Irish descent. He was married to Sarah Jane Martin, of the same county, who is of Scotch descent. John G. is a cabinet-maker by trade, but has been engaged at farm- ing for some years. As a result of the union of the couple, there were born seven children, four daughters and three sons, all living. They emigrated to Ohio in 1854. W. W. and G. M. were raised on a farm with their parents, attending the common schools of the dis- trict, about two and one-half months in a year, but by close application they became sufficiently qualified to teach common school in the winter, and thereby save the necessary means to enter the preparatory depart- ment of the Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio. They attended seven or eight months a year, and during the remainder of the year they taught school and worked in the harvest field, in order to pay their way. They kept up with their class the year round, and graduated June 18, 1876, being among the first in a class of twenty- six. As they intended entering the legal profession, they lost no time, and at once commenced to read with the well-known law firm of Matson, Dirlam & Leyman, of Mansfield. They were admitted to the bar, July 24, 1878, and shortly afterward opened an office in Shelby, where, by strict attention to the business which is intrusted to them, they have succeeded in obtaining quite a lucrative and growing practice. William M. Skiles was married to Miss E. Dora Matson, only child of John S. B. Matson, Oct. 3, 1878. G. M. Skiles was married to Miss Elizabeth Clark, eldest daughter of Samuel Clark, of Jackson Township, Aug. 22, 1878.

SLAYBAUGH, WILLIAM, bricklayer and stone- mason ; was born in Adams Co., Penn., Sept. 5, 1813 ; his youth was spent on a farm ; when about 18 years of age, he commenced the trade of stonemason and bricklaying ; his parents, George and Magdalena Slay- baugh, whose maiden name was Starry, came to Ohio in the spring of 1834, and settled about three miles south of Shelby. Mrs. Slaybaugh is still residing on the farm she and her husband first settled. Mr. Slay- baugh died in January, 1865. The subject of this notice came to Shelby in 1845. He was married to Miss Sarah Rank May 16, 1837 ; she was born in Cum - berland Co., Penn., March 8, 1820 ; came to Ohio with her parents in 1833. Mrs. and Mr. Slaybaugh had six children, five living-D. B. Slaybaugh resides in Shelby; George E., at home ; Ida Salome, married to James

SHARON TOWNSHIP.

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Shultz, and lives in Crestline ; W. R., farmer in Rich- land ; Lizzie, at home. Alice L. died in infancy.

SLAYBAUGH, D. B , was born in Richland Co. Feb. 8, 1846 ; he is engaged in the manufacture of brick, in which he has been successful. He first commenced the business with his father, and, after continuing with him for some time, he purchased his father's interest, and has since been sole proprietor. He has furnished most of the brick for the town and surrounding country. He was married to Miss Alice J. Curran July 27, 1871 ; she was born in Indiana Jan. 6, 1855.

SOTZEN, HENRY, merchant tailor, Shelby, was born in Canion Basil, Switzerland; he remained with his parents on the farm till the age of 16; he was bound to his trade, having to pay $40 and work two and one-half years to learn it; at the expiration of one-half the time, he left his employer, for the pur- pose of coming to America ; his employer bringing suit against him for balance of his time, the court de- cided that any one wishing to emigrate to America was at liberty to go at will ; he left Canton Basil in April, 1844, in company with his brother, Jacob Sotzen, Sam- uel and Crist Sutter, traveling in wagons to Havre de Grace, embarking about the 1st of May ; they sailed for New York, making the voyage in thirty-six days ; he came direct to Shelby, remaining about three years. He then went to Olney, Ill., having to go to Sandusky, from there to Toledo, by steamer, and to Terre Haute, Ind., by way of Maumee Canal, and thence to Olney by stage. He worked at his trade about two years. He married Miss Nancy Ross in December, 1847, who died in November, 1848. About this time, the gold excitement reached Olney, when he, with a party of twelve, started across the Plains March 15, 1849, arriving at Sacramento, being just 100 days crossing. The party traveled with three wagons, four men and as many mules to each wagon. After be- ing on the Plains about eight days, Henry Ranst (an old resident of Shelby, and one of the party, ) sickened and died, after an illness of about three days, the re- mainder of the party digging a grave. Nothing fur- ther of importance occurred until they reached the Humboldt River, in Nevada. As they were in camp one evening (at the west side of the river), they dis- covered a hot spring on the opposite side, and those who could swim crossed to see the curiosity. One Dr. Eckley, a former citizen of Richland Co., going too close, the sod gave way and he was precipitated into the boiling water nearly to his waist, which confined him to his wagon until they reached California. August 15, they disposed of four mules and a wagon, and started for the mines ; taking sick a few days after his arrival at the mines, he returned to Sacramento and went to the hospital, where he remained three days, for which he paid $75. He then contracted with the Government of the Territory to carry provisions to emigrants who were destitute. In this he was engag- ed about a month. He then went to Auburn, Cal., and, in the spring of 1850, he went to the Middle Fork of the American River, where he took up a mining claim, and remained about in six weeks. He then left the mines, first casting his vote for the Territory to be admitted into the Union as a free State. Embarking at San Francisco for Panama, C. A., he crossed the Isth-

mus on foot, where he remained one week. He em- barked at Chagres for New York, from where he came direct to Shelby. He was the first to open a merchant tailor shop in Shelby, where he remained until 1852. He married Miss Julia Whitmore March 15, 1852. He, with twelve others, started in wagons for Sacramento. He settled in Cold Springs, Eldorado Co., five miles from where the first specimen of gold was found in California, and engaged in general merchandise; in connection with the above business, he, with his part- ner, Mr. Goodnow, built a saw-mill, and followed lum- bering ; in 1857, they formed a stock company and built a quartz-mill, by which they lost heavily. In 1859, the court granted him a divorce and his chil- dren, which he sent to Shelby to be cared for by friends. In 1860, he, with his partner, engaged in freighting across the Sierra Nevada Mountains ; in November, 1862, he disposed of his entire interest, and embarked, at San Francisco, for New York, by way of Panama and Aspinwall ; the steamer Ariel, on which he came home, was captured on his return trip between New York and Aspinwall, by the rebel pirate Simms ; he again reached Shelby Jan. 1, 1863, and purchased the interest of T. Mickey, in a merchant tailoring establishment, and remained five years, dur- ing which time he married Miss Lou Garnhart; they have three children-George, Harry and Walter. In March, 1858, he again went to Olney, Ill., where he spent two years handling eggs, and two years under the firm name of King & Hotzen. as merchant tailors ; he again returned to Shelby, and, since the spring of 1873, he has been engaged in the business of a mer- chant tailor, in which he has been very successful.

STEFFEY, EMILY A., was born in Franklin Co., Penn. Her father, Jonathan Steffey, was born in Washington Co., Md., Sept. 21, 1800, and when a young man he came to Franklin Co., Penn., where lie was married in 1830, to Miss Rebecca Maybury, who was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Dec. 22, 1806. They had seven children, six living. In 1838, they came to Ohio and settled in Ganges, where he followed the carpenter trade for some years. He remained in Ganges for thirty-six years, and then moved to Shelby, where he died Aug. 1, 1876.

SUTTER, GEORGE F., farmer ; was born in Craw- ford Co., Ohio, Sept. 29, 1854. He attended the dis- trict schools of the county during the winter months, and in the summer worked on the farm. He was mar- ried to Miss Nora Boner, of Richland Co., July 6, 1875, His father, John Sutter, was born in Canton Basil, Switzerland, June 22, 1818. He was the son of a far- mer, and he spent his youth on a farm. He emigrated to America in 1840, and remained in New York for some time, and then came to Norwalk, Huron Co., Ohio, and from there to Richland Co. He was married to Miss Sarah Ann Hockensmith Nov. 9, 1847. They had seven children, three daughters and four sons; one daughter and three sons living. Sarah A. was married to Butler Albertson, farmer ; Henry F., farmer ; Will- iam J., at home, and George F., the subject of this notice. The elder Sutter, began life poor, but by indus- try, economy and honesty he obtained a fair competence. He died March 8, 1876, mourned by all who knew him. His wife still survives him.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

SUTTER, SAMUEL, is one of the few business men left who have seen Shelby grow from small beginnings to its present prosperous condition. Mr. Sutter was born in the Canton of Basil, Switzerland, in May, 1823, where he remained until he was 4 years of age, when, with his mother, his father having died, he went to Orisdorff, in Basil, and remained there until 1841. There he learned his trade, that of cabinet- maker. It is a well-known fact that throughout Europe, and especially in Germany and Switzerland, learning a trade means more than it does in this country. Mr. Sutter, after having served his apprenticeship, spent two years, after the manner of his country- men, in traveling through his native country, work- ing at his trade; in April, 1844, he started from Basil to come to this country, having heard that here skilled labor was more generously rewarded than in fatherland ; about the 26th of April, 1844, he em- barked at Havre for America, and after a pleasant voy- age, landed in New York about June I ; he went up the Hudson to Albany by steamer, and from there to Buffalo, where he took steamer for Port Huron, on Lake Erie, and 'from there he came to Shelby, arriving here about the 11th day of June, 1844 ; in the spring of 1846 he purchased an interest with a Mr. Row in that portion of Shelby known as Texas, where he re- mained for about two years ; about this time Robert Mickey, with others, began to lay out and build up East Shelby ; Mr. Sutter came to Shelby an entire stranger, being the first European German to locate in this place, and at this time could neither speak nor write a word of English ; this was not an enviable po- sition in which to be placed, to say the least; a stranger in a strange land, unacquainted with its language and customs, and yet dependent upon the re- sources of his own brain and muscle to hew out a path to future comfort and a competency for old age ; in Mr. Sutter's vocabulary there was no such word as fail ; he had, as all who are acquainted with him know, under a quiet exterior an indomitable will, that would bend be- fore no obstacle, and overcome all opposition ; he could not but succeed ; Mr. Sutter commenced business for himself as a cabinet-maker in 1848, in the present Samuel Clapper house, where he manufactured furni- ture by hand for the home trade; so well had he learned his trade in Switzerland, that the finish and strength of his work commended itself to all, and orders poured in so rapidly that he had no idle hours ; he continued to manufacture furniture by hand up to 1863, when his business became so extensive as to compel him to bring steam and machinery to his aid in manufacturing for home trade ; in 1875, he largely ex- tended his facilities, and began to manufacture on a large scale, supplying numerous orders, not only throughout Ohio, but also having an extensive trade in adjoining States ; he is now extensively engaged in the manufacture of furniture, employing many hands, and supplying the trade with a class of goods not excelled by any manufacturer in the country ; Mr. Sutter has long been identified with the interests and growth of Shelby ; he erected all the buildings on the north side of Main street, from the dwelling of L. Clapper to the Black Fork. He also built and ran the first steam saw- mill in the village, and beside all this, erected five

dwelling-houses in different parts of Shelby; thus Mr. Sutter has, without doubt, done more to build up his adopted place than any other within its limits ; Mr. Sutter was married, Dec. 24, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Will, who was born in the Grand Duchy of Baden in 1825, and by whom he has had nine chil- dren, eight of whom are now living ; their names are V. W., Lovina, Elizabeth, John Calvin, Margaretta, Samuel Zwingly, George Koch, Sarah Rebecca and Fred- erick. It is well for our country that there are such men as Mr. Sutter, who leave the crowded marts and workshops of the Old World, and, emigrating to this country, add so largely of their skill in advancing and developing its resources.

SUTTER, SAMUEL J., furniture and undertaking ; is a son of Samuel Sutter, mentioned above, and pos- sesses in a remarkable degree his characteristic pluck and energy ; he was born in Shelby, Ohio, Sept. 20, 1856; he remained with his parents until he was 20 years old, attending school in Shelby until he was 16 years of age, when he went to Zanesville and took a thorough business course in the business college of that place, and the thoroughness of the instruction and aptness of the pupil are well exemplified in his splendid business ; Mr. Sutter learned thoroughly every depart- ment of the furniture and undertaking business, under the tuition of his father, who has no superior in this country in either branch; thus making him an ex- cellent judge in the selection and purchase of furniture with which to supply the market; as to the other branch, undertaking, though young in years he is old in experience, having served a long apprenticeship under his father, and learned thoroughly every branch of the business ; he has a magnificent hearse, and is bountifully supplied with the very latest and best ap- pliances for properly taking care of the dead; Mr. Sutter only commenced business a little over two years ago, yet such are his energy, pluck, perseverance and business ability, that he has already built up a retail trade in Shelby and surrounding country never before equaled by any other furniture dealer in the place ; his fame has gone abroad, until he now does a large business in retailing to citizens of neighboring towns and cities, who come to him to buy in preference to purchasing at home, on account of the superior quality as well as the extremely low price at which he offers his goods. In the undertaking branch of Mr. Sutter's business, he has become deservedly popular ; Mr. Sutter possesses qualities that fit him in an eminent degree to perform these duties, and the greatly in- creasing demand for his services in this department of his business testifies the high esteem in which he is held by the citizens of Shelby and the surrounding country. Mr. S. J. Sutter was married to a Miss Shiffer on the 16th day of January, 1877.

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Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 968

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968