USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 55
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candidates. He has never been an office seeker although he served one term as township trustee and takes an interest in all that concerns the public welfare of his county. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church at Sidney, O.
D. FINLEY MILLS, junior member of the well-known law firm of Barnes & Mills, at Sidney, and serving in his second term as city solicitor, was born April 25, 1879, at the village of Newport, in Cynthian township, Shelby county, O., and is a son of N. W. and Mary Elizabeth (Spraley) Mills.
D. Finley Mills lost his mother when a child and his father when he was only nine years old and then went to live with an uncle, Marcus Mills, who was a farmer in Cynthian township. After securing a public school education he began to provide for himself by teaching school and taught for four years, then spent one summer in the study of law in the office of Mr. Barnes, his present partner, after which he entered the Ohio Northern University at Ada, and in 1905 was graduated after completing the scientific course, and com- pleted the law course in 1906, in December of the same year being admitted to the Ohio bar, resuming teaching and being so engaged in Logan county from January until May, 1907, when he came to Sidney. Here he entered first into partnership with the late Judge E. L. Hoskins, whose death occurred in 1909, in which year he became associated with his present partner under the firm style of Barnes & Mills. Mr. Mills has been somewhat active in politics and on the democratic ticket was elected city solicitor, in the fall of 1909, and was reelected in the fall of 1911. A general law practice is carried on by the firm and they are local attorneys for the Western Ohio Electric Railway Company, and Mr. Mills is attorney for the Shelby County Building and Loan Association. He belongs to the junior order of American Mechan- ics, to the Masons, and to the Odd Fellows, and in the last named organization is past grand master of the subordinate branch Both in his profession and as a citizen, Mr. Mills occupies a leading position in Shelby county.
WILLIAM J. BORCHERS, a general merchant and representative busi- ness man of Fort Loramie, O., was born in McLean township, Shelby county, O., October 28, 1884, a son of Bernard and Catherine Borchers. He was reared and attended school in the same locality and at the age of twenty-two years left the farm to attend business college at Sidney, O. After taking a course in bookkeeping, he purchased the grocery business of E. J. Evans, on Pomeroy avenue, Sidney, which he conducted for two years. He then sold out and moved to the Wagner block, becoming proprietor of the Arcade Gro- cery. On June 30, 1910, Mr. Borchers sold that place and moved to Fort Loramie, O., where he established his present business, in which he has been quite successful. His property, which he purchased, is located on the west side of the canal, adjoining the bank. He has greatly improved the building and carries a first-class stock of goods. Besides attending to his personal busi- ness, Mr. Borchers is ticket and freight agent for the Western Ohio Railroad and is also agent for the Wells Fargo Express Company. Politically a stanch
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democrat, he has the confidence of his fellow citizens, and was elected January I, 1912, as a member of the town council. He is also an active and useful member of the Commercial Club and belongs to the volunteer fire department.
Mr. Borchers was married November 1I, 1908, to Miss Lena Seiter, a daughter of Joseph Seiter, of Sidney, O. They have one son, Joseph, who was born June 1I, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Borchers are members of St. Michael's Catholic church, and he is identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of St. John.
HENRY W. EHRHARDT, florist and gardener, located at No. 756 Spruce street, Sidney O., is a representative business man of this city and one of long experience in his particular line. He was born at Cincinnati, O., May 19, 1850, and is a son of Adam and Margaret (Vogel) Ehrhardt.
Adam Ehrhardt was born in Bavaria, Germany, and in his own land learned to be a gardener. At the age of twenty-two years he came to the United States and was naturalized, in 1845 casting his first vote as a citizen in the city of Cincinnati, O. He married Margaret Vogel, who was reared in Cincinnati from the age of two months, a daughter of Fred Vogel, who once conducted a tailoring establishment in that city. Adam Ehrhardt engaged in the gardening and florist business and so prospered that he was able to acquire property, purchasing land at Clifton, now a suburb of Cincin- nati, where he continued in the same business until his death in 1870. The family owned that property for thirty-seven years and when they disposed of it, it had increased many times over in value and the price paid was over $70,000.
Henry W. Ehrhardt was reared and attended school in his native city and was trained in his father's business and continued to carry on the same at Clifton for some years after his father died. In 1888 he came to Sidney and here has seven acres of land and six fine greenhouses. Mr. Ehrhardt is not only a successful business man but is also an active and useful citizen and at times has served in the city council.
Mr. Ehrhardt married Miss Emma Hambrock, a daughter of John and Mary (Martin) Hambrock, of Cincinnati. John Hambrock served three and one-half years as a soldier in the Civil war and died shortly afterward. The mother of Mrs. Ehrhardt resides with her daughter. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ehrhardt, namely: Theodore, who died May 28, 1910, is survived by a widow and four children; George, who is his father's assistant; Lydia, who is the wife of Edward Gretzinger; Rebecca, who is the wife of William Ralston; Emma, who is a student at Dayton, O .; and Esther, who is a school girl at Sidney. Mr. Ehrhardt and family belong to St. Paul's Evangelical church. In politics he is a republican and he main- tains fraternal relations with the Odd Fellows.
FRANK J. RATERMAN, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Fort Loramie, Q., where he has built up a large and substantial practice, was born in McLean township, Shelby county, O., Janu-
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ary 19, 1879, and is a son of Henry and Sophia (Weheringer) Raterman. This is an old family in this part of Ohio being among the pioneer settlers at Fort Loramie. Mrs. Sophia Raterman was born in Germany.
In the public schools of McLean township, Frank J. Raterman received his early educational training and afterward he attended the Normal School at Lebanon, O., and Valparaiso, Ind., and then taught school for three years and subsequently was graduated from the Ohio Medical College, at Columbus, O., with the class of 1907. Dr. Raterman came then to Fort Loramie as successor of Dr. Lester Pepper, a former well known physician, and has made this pleasant town his permanent home, making investments in prop- erty and interesting himself as a fair-minded citizen in public matters but declining all political office. He devotes himself to his profession and is a valued member of the medical organizations of both county and state.
Dr. Raterman was united in marriage with Miss Anna Barhorst, who is a daughter of Henry and Wilhelmina Barhorst, old residents of McLean township. Dr. and Mrs. Raterman are members of St. Michael's Catholic church and he is identified with the Knights of Columbus. He follows his father's example in politics, always casting his vote for candidates of the democratic party.
F. M. CARPENTER, a well known citizen of Orange township, whose excellent farm of eighty-two acres is situated six miles south of Sidney, O., has spent the greater part of his life in this county, but his birth took place in Miami county, O., in December, 1862, a son of J. C. and Rebecca (Darling- ton) Carpenter.
J. C. Carpenter was born in Pennsylvania and when he came first to Ohio settled at Dayton, in Montgomery county, removing from there to Miami county, and afterward settled on a farm west of Lockington, and from there went to Springfield, Mo., dying on his farm there when aged seventy-five years. He married Rebecca Darlington, who survives with nine of their twelve children.
F. M. Carpenter obtained his education in the public schools of Shelby county, afterward engaged in farming on the home place in Missouri, for eight years, and then returned to Shelby county and purchased his present farm in Orange township from John Young. He has erected all the farm buildings on the place and made many desirable improvements. In addition to carry- ing on general farming, he devotes attention to raising Percheron horses, having registered mares and a valuable stable, his fine Percheron stallions- Clay Center, Isba and Jaures, being among the most valuable animals in the county.
Mr. Carpenter was married to Miss Dora Valentine, a daughter of Sam- uel Valentine, and they have four children : Irene, Earl, Caldwell and How- ard. Politically Mr. Carpenter is a republican and is now serving in the office of township trustee. He is identified with the Odd Fellows, at Kirkwood; and he and wife attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Lockington.
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LAUSON C. SHOWERS, who, since the spring of 1903, has been the efficient superintendent of the Shelby County Infirmary, is a well known citizen of the county and belongs to an old family. He was born October 26, 1857, in Champaign county, O., and is a son of Andrew and Mary (Slife) Showers. He had better educational opportunities than many, after com- pleting the common school course attending the Urbana University for six years, and, with a view of adopting a profession, read both medicine and law for some months. He then decided that an agricultural life would best satisfy him and continued with his father on the home farm until he was twenty-eight years of age. Mr. Showers then came to Shelby county, where he rented land for a few years and for six years was an employe of the Sid- ney Wheel Works, at the end of that time entering upon his present duties. He is well qualified for this position and in him the tax payers have a man of good judgment and personal integrity, one who does justice to his charges while administering the affairs economically for the county.
On July 1, 1884, Mr. Showers was married to Miss Elizabeth Chapple, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (White) Chapple. Mr. and Mrs. Showers are members of the Baptist church. In politics he is a democrat and fraternally is connected with the K. O. T. M. at Sidney.
THOMAS DUNCAN, one of Shelby county's well known citizens, now living retired, owns a valuable farm of sixty-four acres, which lies in Orange township, six miles southwest of Sidney. He was born in 1832, in Fairfield county, O., and is a son of James and Matilda (Wise) Duncan. The father of Mr. Duncan was born in Pennsylvania, there grew to manhood on a farm and farming was his business through life. He marriel Matilda Wise and they had nine children. From Fairfield county, O., James Duncan and family came to Shelby county in 1834 and his death occurred in Orange township, at the age of forty-seven years.
Thomas Duncan attended the district schools in boyhood, mainly during the winter seasons, devoting the summers to helping on the farm. Afterward he worked as a farmer in different sections prior to settling permanently in Orange township, where he carried on farming and stock raising until he retired from active labor.
Mr. Duncan married Miss Sarah Jane Doak, who died January 27, 1912, after a happy married life of sixty years. She was an estimable woman in every relation in life and was beloved by a wide circle. To Mr. and Mrs. Duncan the following children were born: Mrs. Mary Alice Randolph, Mrs. Clarinda Higgins, Sarah Jane, Samuel J., James and Mrs. Viola Randolph. Mr. Duncan has always been in sympathy with the principles of the demo- cratic party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Piqua, O.
CHARLES E. GIVEN, secretary and treasurer of The R. Given & Sons Company, tanners and manufacturers of saddlery goods, one of the large and prosperous business enterprises of Sidney, O., was born at Sidney, Septem- ber 6, 1857, and is a son of Robert and Catherine Given.
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Robert Given came from Pennsylvania to Shelby county about 1851 and as he was a tanner by trade became interested at once in the leather manu- facturing business at Sidney. For a number of years he worked in the tannery that later became his property, then became foreman and superintendent, and in 1869 entered into partnership with S. Alexander Leckey under the firm name of R. Given & Co., which operated as tanners until the death of Mr. Leckey in 1881. Mr. Given then admitted his son, Charles E., to partnership and continued his own association with the business until 1884, when John F. Given, another son, entered into the partnership and the firm style was R. Given & Sons until 1890, when Joseph C. Royon was admitted. The three partners continued together until 1902 when the business had so expanded that incorporation became desirable and a board of officers was elected, Mr. Royon becoming president ; Charles E. Given, secretary and treasurer; and J. F. Given, vice-president and general manager. About 1885 they opened their saddlery branch, first putting out flynets and later manufacturing collars and other properties. Having been more or less connected with this business all his life, Mr. Given understands it in every detail and his name and that of the firm stand high in the hide and leather trade all over the country.
Mr. Given married Miss Catherine Yenney, a daughter of George F. Yen- ney, who formerly was in the pork packing business at Sidney but now lives retired. Mr. and Mrs. Given are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ERNEST LININGER, one of Sidney's well known business men, being the junior member of the firm of Fretz & Lininger, funeral directors and furniture dealers, is experienced in this line and has been established since 1910 at Sidney. He was born on a farm in Marion township, Pickaway county, O., November 18, 1882, and is a son of Michael and Adeline Lininger, who are highly respected retired residents of New Holland, O.
Ernest Lininger was reared in his native section and attended the Marion township schools. He assisted his father on the home farm prior to entering into the undertaking business, for which he prepared by attending Clarke's School of Embalming, at Cincinnati, where he was graduated. He then entered the undertaking and furniture business at New Holland, and remained there until August, 1910, when he came to Sidney and bought a one-half interest in the undertaking business of W. E. Fretz and shortly after the part- nership was formed the firm added the furniture department which has been gradually expanded until they have one of the largest furniture displays in Shelby county. They are well equipped as undertakers and funeral directors and their services are called for from different parts of the county.
Mr. Lininger married Miss Florence West, also of Pickaway county, and they have two children : Kenneth and Virginia Alice. Mr. Lininger is a quiet, law abiding citizen, not given to much display of his sentiments but has won the respect of all with whom he has had business relations. He belongs to the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias.
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ADOLPH F. SHERMAN, clerk of the board of education of the Sher- man Special School District and so well qualified for that position that he has been retained in office for twelve continuous years, was born on the farm he owns and occupies, 240 acres, situated in section 9, McLean township, Shelby county, O., February 12, 1855, and is a son of Henry B. and Catherine Sherman.
Henry B. Sherman was born in Germany and when nineteen years of age came to the United States with his parents in 1835, who settled in what is now McLean township, all this cultivated and improved locality being at that time a wilderness. The Shermans were progressive and intelligent men and the Sherman schoolhouse was built on Grandfather Sherman's farm, that prop- erty being owned at present by John Siegel. Henry B. Sherman was a some- what unusual man for his day and opportunity, possessing great mental gifts and these were made valuable to those with whom he lived and associated. For twenty-two winters he taught school, attending to his farm industries in the summers, and served in many local offices, being township clerk and a justice of the peace for many years, always giving his political support to the democratic party. In his youth he frequently carried corn as far as Piqua to have it ground. He was an earnest Catholic and first attended church at Minster and later was one of the founders of St. Michael's church, and on account of his many activities this neighborhood was called the Sherman Set- tlement and when the turnpike road was completed his name was given it to honor his memory and to reflect credit on his sons. His long and useful life was extended to eighty-six years. He married a young woman who was also a native of Germany and she accompanied her parents to Shelby county when sixteen years of age and lived here into her eighty-first year. To them were born three children : John J., Louis and Adolph F.
Adolph F. Sherman attended the Sherman school and grew up on his father's farm and this has always been his home. In addition to the old homestead as noted above, Mr. Sherman owns a second farm, containing eighty acres, situated in section II, McLean township and the substantial buildings now standing were erected by him. Mr. Sherman cleared some twenty acres of his land and still retains forty acres in timber growth that is valuable.
In 1879 Mr. Sherman was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Brandewie, a daughter of Joseph Brandewie. She was born in 1862 and died in 1891 and her burial was in St. Michael's cemetery. She was an estimable woman in every relation of life and was the devoted mother of the following chil- dren : Henry, Herman, Clara, Lucy, Caroline and two babes, deceased.
In politics Mr. Sherman has always been a zealous democrat and as a citizen he has so met the approval of his fellow citizens that they have honored him time and again by electing him to responsible township offices. In 1899 he was first elected clerk of the Sherman Special School District and has been continued in the office ever since. For nine years he served as township assessor, for two terms as land appraiser, and for six years acceptably filled the office of justice of the peace.
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HARRY N. DICKENSHEETS, who conducts a first class grocery at No. 116 South Main avenue, Sidney, is numbered with the representative busi- ness men of this city, and was born at Sidney, O., January 21, 1868, a son of Jesse L. and Melissa (Williams) Dickensheets, and a grandson of David Dick- ensheets, who was a pioneer settler of Shelby county. Jesse L. Dickensheets was born after his parents came to Shelby county and spent his entire life here, dying when his son was but eighteen months old. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Dickensheets removed to Plattsville, Shelby county, where subsequently she was married to David Sibert, after which they settled on his farm in Orange township.
On his step-father's farm Harry N. Dickensheets grew to manhood, attend- ing the country schools and assisting with the farm industries, and then went to Piqua where he learned painting and paper hanging and from there came to Sidney. Here he became a contracting painter and continued until an attack of typhoid fever interrupted work at his trade. On March 3, 1902, he embarked in the grocery business at his present location, buying out S. D. Voress, and has prospered in this undertaking.
Mr. Dickensheets was married to Miss Jenette Johnston, of Green town- ship, and they have one son, Jesse Johnston, a youth of nineteen years. Mr. Dickensheets and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been identified with the Knights of Pythias for a long period, for ten years being master of finance in the Sidney lodge, and belongs also to the Odd Fellows, the Red Men, the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Knights of Khorassen. He is by no means active in politics but belongs to that class known as the quiet, effective, dependable citizens.
JOSEPH ALTENBACH, contractor and builder at Sidney, O., the oldest man in his line in this city and well known all over Shelby county, was born October 31, 1839, a son of Joseph and Theresa (Foultz) Altenbach, then residents of Auglaize county, O., but natives of Germany.
Joseph Altenbach remained on the home farm until old enough to learn the carpenter trade and afterward, for many years, was one of the busiest men of Shelby county, coming to Sidney in 1866, and continuing a leader in this line until within very recent years, when his responsi- bilities, in great measure, were taken over by his son, Frank J. Alten- bach. During these years of activity he erected many of the leading business blocks, factory and public buildings, churches, school houses and residences, and has a greater number to his credit than any one else in the same line. Upon many occasions he has not only contracted for and erected buildings but has also drawn the plans, showing that his talents might have been so developed that he could have also been a leading architect. The following may be mentioned as examples of Mr. Altenbach's fine work: The Shelby County Children's Home, for which he had the entire contract; Holy Angel Catholic church at Sid- ney; Thediecks Department Store building; Peoples Savings and Loan Association building; Woodward building; Fred Salin's building; Wag-
JOSEPH ALTENBACH
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ner Manufacturing Company's buildings; Buckeye Churn Company buildings; Catholic church at Russia, Shelby county; Lutheran church at Sidney; Catholic church and school house at Piqua and the Lutheran church and school house attached, at Piqua. Many of the most elegant residences of Sidney are the results of his skill and taste. Mr. Altenbach was so closely interested and devoted to his work that he very unwillingly accepted membership on the Board of Review, repeatedly declining to accept other positions tendered him by both the republican and democratic parties, being a member of the latter organization.
In January, 1863, Mr. Altenbach was married in Auglaize county to Miss Susanna Linder, and eight children were born to them: Mary, who belongs to that noble order, the Sisters of Charity; Catherine, who is the wife of Michael Smith; Frank. J., who is a leading builder and contractor at Sidney, practically succeeding his father; Edward, who is the municipal architect of Toledo, O .; Louise, who is deceased, was the wife of John Madigan; Roman; Harry; and Florence, who is the wife of John Gattes. Mr. Altenbach and family are members of the Roman Catholic church and for thirty years he has belonged to the order of Catholic Knights of America. He enjoys a comfortable home, his resi- dence being located at No. 411 South Main street, Sidney.
J. W. ROTTINGHAUS, one of the well known men of Shelby county, was born April 20, 1863, and reared on the farm of 160 acres, situated in sec- tion 5, McLean township, on which he has always lived, his. people having been early settlers in this section. He is a son of J. B. and Elizabeth ( Unter- brink) Rottinghaus.
J. B. Rottinghaus was born and reared in Germany and was a young man when he came to Putnam county, O., where he married Elizabeth Unter- brink, also a native of Germany and a daughter of Henry Unterbrink. After marriage they came to McLean township, Shelby county and settled on the land which was later chosen as the site of the reservoir, and when they moved from there, J. B. Rottinghaus began the purchase of the present home farm, buying it at different times. It was all covered with heavy timber and it required years of hard work to clear and put the land under condition to cultivate advantageously. Here he continued to live during the remainder of his life, dying in his seventy-seventh year, his burial being in the cemetery attached to St. Michael's Catholic church at Fort Loramie, of which he was a member. Politically he was a democrat and was one of the leaders of his party in McLean township, of which he was clerk for seven years and for twenty-one years served in the office of justice of the peace. He was the father of ten children, the four survivors being: Elizabeth, who is the wife of Herman Klecker; Matilda, who is the wife of John B. Holcher; Anu, who is the wife of Bernard Schlater ; and J. W. Those deceased were : Mary, wife of Joseph Sherman; Caroline, wife of Bernard Gerling; and Catherine, Henry, Carl and Frederick.
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