USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98
Until he was sixteen years of age Nathan Moyer attended the district schools in the winter seasons and then started out to be entirely self support- ing, his industries including farming, chopping wood, making staves, digging ditches and hunting. In 1863 he bought forty acres of the place he now owns and to his original purchase kept on adding until he now has 147 acres of finely cultivated land, excepting only ten acres, which is still timbered. When he came here the land was wooded and it was no slight task to clear it but this was completed many years since, and on the spot where once stood giants of the forest, wave the grain or feed the herds and stock which make Mr. Moyer one of Cynthian township's men of independence. He is one of the four survivors of his parents' family of ten children, his twin sister dying in 1864. The others are: Mrs. John Short, Sr .; George, of Loramie township; and William, of Piqua, O.
Mr. Moyer was married to Miss Eliza A. Forrest, who was born at Day-
537
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
ton, O., a daughter of John Forrest, who died while serving as a soldier in the Civil war. To Mr. and Mrs. Moyer the following children were born : John, who married Elizabeth McCorkle; Elizabeth and Charles, both of whom are deceased; Walter; Leonard; Louella, who is the wife of William Newman; and Laurence. Mr. Moyer and family are members of the Christian church at Oran, O. In politics he is a democrat and has served in such township offices as supervisor and road superintendent.
JOSEPH V. GAIER, a general farmer and respected citizen of Cynthian township, who owns seventy-six acres situated in section 18, Basinburg Spe- cial School District, one-quarter mile east of St. Mary's turnpike road, was born in McLean township. Shelby county, December 26, 1877, and is a son of Jacob and Louisa (Wise) Gaier.
Jacob Gaier was a farmer throughout his active years and resided in Shelby county where he was a man well known and much respected. He died when agel sixty-five years and his burial was in the cemetery attached to St. Michael's Catholic church at Fort Loramie, he having been a member of that church. He was twice married and two children were born to his first union and seven to the second.
Joseph V. Gaier attended school in boyhood in the Berlin district and then helped his father on the home farm in McLean township until his marriage, when he settled on his present place where he has carried on general farm- ing and stock raising ever since. He remodeled and repaired the buildings and made many improvements and has a home and farm in which he justly takes pride, all of his land being under cultivation except ten acres in timber.
Mr. Gaier married Miss Elizabeth Barhorst, a daughter of Joseph Bar- horst of McLean township, and they have one daughter, Helen Elizabeth. Mr. Gaier and family belong to St. Michael's Catholic church at Fort Loramie. Like his late father he is a democrat but has never desired public office of any kind. He is a quiet, industrious farmer, one who attends to his own busi- ness and performs his duty as a citizen according to his best judgment.
JOSEPH WINNER, a general farmer and highly respected citizen of Cynthian township, who owns a carefully cultivated farm of eighty acres, was born January 14, 1867, in McLean township, Shelby county, and is a son of Anton and Caroline Winner.
Joseph Winner attended school in the Dirksen district and remained at home helping his father until his marriage, when he located where he has remained ever since, in section 17, Cynthian township. He has made all the substantial improvements on the place, has his land well drained and tiled and all of it under cultivation with the exception of ten acres. It has an excellent location being three-fourths of a mile east of the St. Mary turnpike on the township line road, with postoffice accommodations at Fort Loramie.
Mr. Winner married first Miss Josephine Bruns, who, at death, left four children : Joseph A., Herman, Frances Elizabeth and William. Mr. Win- ner's second marriage was to Mrs. Agnes (Brackman) Richling, widow of 32
538
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
August Richling. She had one son, Henry Richling, born to her first mar- riage. To Mr. and Mrs. Winner four children have been born : Leona, Alex- ander, Lucinda and Louetta, all surviving except Lucinda. Mr. Winner and family are members of St. Michael's Catholic church at Fort Loramie. In politics he is a democrat but has never accepted any office except one con- nected with the public schools, for three years serving as a member of the board of education of the Short Special School District.
JOHN J. HUFFMAN, a leading citizen of Turtle Creek township, where he owns an excellent farm of forty acres, has served acceptably in the office of justice of the peace for the past seven years and is interested in all move- ments that promise to improve or advance this neighborhood. He is widely known and was born in Clinton township, Shelby county, August 14, 1850, and is a son of George and Mary (Johnston) Huffman.
George Huffman and wife lived out long and respected lives and passed away on the farm which they had occupied for many years. They were con- sistent and useful member of the Baptist church and their burial was in the McClure cemetery. They had the following children, all sons: John J., William M., Samuel, James S. and George A.
After his school days were over, John J. Huffman spent two years at Sid- ney and then settled down to farming as a business and prior to purchasing his present farm in 1894, from C. E. Thompson, rented land in this section. Here he carries on varied farm industries, growing grain and fruit and raising stock and poultry for home use, not being particularly desirous of adding to his agricultural burdens as he finds that official responsibilities absorb a large part of his time. He owns stock in the Farmers Telephone Company, a profit- able investment.
On December 2, 1869, Mr. Huffman was married to Miss Mary L. Van Gorder, who was born in Trumbull county, O., a daughter of James L. and Phoebe (Moore) Van Gorder. The father of Mrs. Huffman was a farmer and he and family moved from Trumbull to Shelby county, his children being : Mary L .; Charlotta, wife of Charles L. Argabright; and Charles A. and George L. To Mr. and Mrs. Huffman a son and daughter have been born, Albert B, and Edith L. The latter is the wife of David Latimer and they have three children: Morris L., Mary E. and Ethel G. Mr. Huffman and family belong to the Presbyterian church at Hardin, O. Both Mr. and Mrs. Huffman take an active interest in the Patrons of Husbandry and Mr. Huff- man has been for twenty years secretary of the Shelby County Grange, and for the past sixteen years, has been secretary of the Shelby County Farmers' Institute. He belongs also to the Knights of Pythias at Sidney. Mr. Huff- man has been a republican for many years, his father having been interested in the same organization of political leaders in 1857 and an upholder of its principles throughout his life.
ADOLPH F. RATERMANN, cashier of the Loramie Banking Company, of Fort Loramie, is one of the representative men and well-known financiers
339
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
of Shelby county. He was born in McLean township, Shelby county, Septem- ber 26, 1873, his people being early settlers in that section.
Mr. Ratermann attended the local schools until the year 1892 and in 1893 he attended the Valparaiso, Indiana, Normal College, and spent four terms at the Ohio Normal University of Lebanon, O. Having improved his oppor- tunities then engaged in teaching, a profession he followed for ten years, dur- ing three years of which he was at the head of the Fort Loramie village schools. In March, 1904, he entered the Loramie Bank as assistant cashier, of which he became cashier a few months afterward and has continued in this connection.
On August 21, 1901, Mr. Ratermann was married to Miss Rosa Rieger, who was born at Fort Loramie, O., and died here June 12, 1906, at the age of thirty-one years. She was a daughter of Joseph and Anna (Schwartz) Rieger. Two sons survive: Paul J. and Albin H. Mrs. Ratermann was a faithful member of St. Michael's Catholic church, to which Mr. Ratermann also belongs. He is identified with the Knights of St. John and the Knights of Columbus. A democrat in his political preference, Mr. Ratermann is not active along that line although ever ready to perform every necessary act of good citizenship.
JACOB R. LEAPLEY, who, in addition to being a stockholder in the Farmers Telephone Company, owns 120 acres of some of the finest land in Franklin township, Shelby county, O., was born in this county September 15, 1864, and is a son of Othol and Mary (Stone) Leapley.
Othol Leapley and wife belonged to old pioneer families of Shelby county, where they were born, married, and passed out of life. They were estimable people and liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church, attending at Port Jefferson, and their burial was in the cemetery there. Their family consisted of five children, three sons, namely: Quin, Charles and Jacob Raper; and two daughters, Anna, wife of Newton Wooley, and Blanche. wife of Orrin C. Staley.
Jacob R. Leapley attended the country schools with his brothers and sis- ters and afterward, as a dutiful son, assisted his father until he was twenty- one years old. About this time occurred his marriage and he then went to Nebraska where he rented land and raised one crop. Conditions there, how- ever, did not look promising to a young man when compared to those he had left behind in Shelby county, therefore he returned and for two years follow- ing rented farm land in Franklin township. He then moved on the place which he now owns, a part of the old Yinger farm, which he rented for twelve years previous to buying. He is one of the township's most prosperous stock- men as well as farmer, paying particular attention to Jersey cattle, Shropshire sheep, Percheron horses and O. I. C. hogs.
On December 17, 1885, Mr. Leapley was married to Miss Lollie Fee, who was born in Shelby county, a daughter of William and Sarah (McClure) Fee, both of whom were also born in this county. The father of Mrs. Leap- ley is deceased, but the mother still resides here. Mrs. Leapley has one older
540
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
sister, Maggie, who is the wife of James Shaw; and a brother, Frank, and a sister, Mattie, who is the wife of William Davis, both younger. Mr. and Mrs. Leapley have but one son, Rollie, who remains with his parents. Mr. Leapley and family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is a trustee, treasurer and steward. In politics he is a republican.
JOHN C. McCLURE, proprietor of Sunnyside Farm, an attractive name that pleases the ear and prepares the stranger traveling through Clinton town- ship, for the fifty acres of finely cultivated land that spreads out before him. is one of the well-known citizens of the county, having had business interests in many parts of it during some fifteen years or more. He was born in Green county, O., in 1844, and is a son of John and Elvira (Young) McClure.
The parents of Mr. McClure came of Virginia people on the paternal side and of North Carolina on the maternal. The father was a carpenter by trade and in later life also followed farming. Both he and wife were mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. Their family consisted of the following children: Jennie, wife of Jacob Wilson; James Harvey; David Franklin; Andrew H .; John C .; Cyrus ; Mary, who is deceased ; Elizabeth and Augustus. The parents lived into old age and at death were laid to rest at Bellbrook, O.
John C. McClure had such educational advantages as the district schools offered in his boyhood, and he remained with his father on the home farm until he was thirty-five years old. He then became a traveling salesman, first covering the country selling nursery stock and afterward contracting for hedge fence. He now carries on general farming on his productive land, raising some good stock but keeping it for his own use.
In May, 1879, Mr. McClure was married to Miss Josephine Stevenson, who was born in Orange township, Shelby county, O., a daughter of Samuel S. and Margaret (McClure) Stevenson. Samuel S. Stevenson was born near Xenia in Greene county, O., and died in his eighty-seventh year, in Shelby county, to which he had come when twenty-one years old. He was a carpenter and contractor and was a well-known and highly respected man. He married Margaret McClure, who was born in Shelby county, and the fol- lowing children were born to them: Jennie, who is the wife of William Wil- son; Anna, who is the wife of John Thompson; Josephine, who is the wife of Mr. McClure; J. Frank; Frances, who is the wife of W. S. Shaw; and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. McClure attend the United Presbyterian church. In politics, like his late father, Mr. McClure is a republican.
JOHN M. BLAKE, who is one of the proprietors of the Farmers Grain and Milling Company, of Sidney, O., has been so associated since the business was founded in January, 1912, and in the division of responsibility between the three partners concerned, has charge of the flour department. He was born at Sidney January 1, 1867, and is a son of O. B. and Mary (Ensey) Blake.
O. B. Blake was born on a farm in Perry township, Shelby county, a son of John Blake, one of the very early settlers, who was a son of John Blake,
541
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
who was born in England. For some ten years O. B. Blake was engaged in the meat business at Sidney, later moved to a farm in Turtle Creek township but subsequently retired to Sidney where he still lives. He married Mary Ensey, who was born at Sidney, a daughter of Mathew Ensey, who was the contractor who built the court house at Ottawa, O., fifty years ago.
John M. Blake was three years old when his people moved to Turtle Creek township and he was reared there and continued to reside in that part of the county for thirty-two years, when he moved to Clinton township, but still owns one fine farm of 200 acres in the former township, and one of eighty acres, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Fred J. Russell, in the latter township. The flour mill now belonging to the Farmers Grain and Milling Company, is one of the oldest mills and grain elevators in Shelby county and prior to January, 1912, was operated for many years by the late Capt. E. E. Nutt. At the time above mentioned, John M. Blake, Fred J. Rus- sell and Mrs. Frank M. Sayre, bought the mill and a prosperous period of business has followed. Mr. Blake's duties have been specified. Mr. Russell has charge of the buying and selling of the grain, while Frank M. Sayre is secretary and treasurer of the company and attends to all the office work. With the exception of one year in the Sidney high school, Mr. Blake never had any but common school advantages and during the larger part of his life has been exclusively an agriculturist, moving from his farm to Sidney early in 1912.
Mr. Blake married Miss Jessie Russell, who is a daughter of Moses James Russell and Martha E. Russell, now deceased, the father once a very promi- nent farmer in Clinton township, where Mrs. Blake was born. They have a family of five children: Mary, Russell, John Chester, Gladys and Ethel, and the removal of the family to Sidney opened another hospitable home here and made welcome additions to pleasant social circles.
JOHN SHORT, SR., a retired farmer and one of the oldest settlers now living in Cythian township, was born in Virginia, October 29, 1829, and was brought to Ohio when a child of two years. His parents were Isaac and Mary (Vandegrift) Short.
Isaac Short and wife were born in Virginia and in all probability came from Holland ancestors. The ten children born to them are recorded as fol- lows: Susanna, the eldest, married George Barker of Cynthian township, Shelby county, and they had four children: Isaac, Sarah Ann, George and Ivy. John, who was the second in order of birth. Christian, who is now deceased, was married first to Caroline Rhona and after her death to Nancy Clauson and was the father of: Mary, Perry, John, George, Margaret and James. George Short married Jane Slack and both died in Cynthian township, three of their children, Susan, William and George, still living, and three of them deceased, Frank, Levi and Henry. Newton Short, the fifth of the fam- ily, married (first) Mary Jane Moyer and (second) Margaret Crotinger, and he died in Miami county. His children were: Rachel, Ella, Sarah, Maria and Peter. Allison Jason Short married Sarah Butt and he still resides in
542
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
Darke county where his wife died some years ago, the mother of four chil- dren: Thomas, Martha, Allison and William. Rachel Short was the wife of Jacob Hollinger of Indiana, deceased, and they had five children: Mary, Martha, George, Samuel and William. Martha Short married William Butt and both died in Cynthian township having no children. William Short, who lives at Piqua, O., married Lucinda Austin, who died at Piqua, the mother of six children : Abraham, Charles, Leonard, Della, Virgin and Ida. Richard, the youngest, died at the age of sixteen years.
It was in 1831 that the Shorts came from Virginia to Dayton, O., and one year later all the family, including the grandfather, Richard Short, came to Cynthian township, Shelby county, where the six sons contracted for eighty acres of land, each one to pay twenty-five dollars. The grandfather advanced the money and the sons subsequently paid it back. He secured 160 acres for himself and also owned eighty acres near Newport. All the Shorts were men of good business judgment and became men of affairs. The Short Special School District was named for Isaac Short, who died on the old homestead, in his sixty-eighth year. His widow survived to be eighty-three years old and their burial was in the cemetery attached to the Christian church at Oran, O.
John Short, Sr., grew up amidst pioneer surroundings. In boyhood he attended a subscription school in a log cabin situated in McLean township and as those were primitive days, he had but meager advantages, but, at that time, it was not considered necessary for the farmer boys to have more than a practical knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic, and history shows that the acquirement of these was sufficient to enable many a youth to become a leader of men and the possessor of ample fortune. As the eldest son of his father, John Short very early took responsibilities upon himself and during the whole of his subsequent active life, followed agricultural industries with vigor and success. He resides in Cynthian township, where he owns 309 acres, his home being two and one-half miles southeast of Fort Loramie, and eleven miles from Sidney, O.
On March 13, 1851, Mr. Short was married to Miss Elizabeth Moyer, who was born May 8, 1829, in Cynthian township, a daughter of George and Sarah (Zemer) Moyer. The parents of Mrs. Short were born in Pennsyl- vania, came early to Ohio and were married in Cynthian township and became parents of ten children, the survivors being: Mrs. Short, George, William and Nathan. The Moyers settled on land that John Short now owns and here both died, the father aged sixty-two years and the mother eighty-five years.
When John Short and wife went to housekeeping it was in a log cabin surrounded with dense woods and it was his task to clear off this heavy forest growth, drain and tile the land and then put it under cultivation. As time went on he made additional improvements and erected the comfortable farm house in which he is spending his later years. The children were all born here, five in number as follows: George W .; Mary Jane, who resides with her parents; Isaac, who died when twenty-six years old; Sarah Elizabeth, who married William Jelly; and John C. Mr. and Mrs. Jelly reside in Cynthian
543
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
township and they have had five children: Annie, Milton, Hugh, Ethel and John, the last named dying at the age of twelve years. A nephew of Mr. Short, Elmer F. Short, has a very desirable government position at Washing- ton, D. C. During the period of the Civil war Mr. Short was an auctioneer when his services were needed. A lifelong democrat, this being a democratic family, Mr. Short has heartily supported democratic principles and candidates and occasionally has consented to serve in local offices. He is a highly respected citizen and is widely known and long has been a liberal supporter of the Christian church at Oran, O., of which he is a member.
GEORGE W. SHORT, who is a successful general farmer residing in section 17, Cynthian township, where he cultivates 106 acres of fine land belonging to his father, was born on his father's homestead in Cynthian town- ship, Shelby county, O., February 9, 1852, and is the oldest son of John and Elizabeth Short.
After his school period was over, George W. Short assisted his father on the home farm until 1889 when he became a salesman of organs and pianos for the Baker Music Company of Sidney. After marriage he settled on a farm that adjoins his present one on the south and lived there for two years and then came to the one on which he has resided ever since and here has made many improvements including the erecting of a new residence and the remodeling of the other buildings. The property is well drained and tiled and is in fine condition.
Mr. Short was married (first) to Miss Sarah Ann Noland, of Washington township, Shelby county, who died at the age of twenty-nine years, her burial being in the cemetery at Oran, O. She was the mother of two sons: John R. and Harley H. The latter married Bertha Hemmelright and they reside in Cynthian township and he is a farmer and school teacher. They have three children : Hubert R., Musetta C., and Martha Ellen. Mr. Short was married (second) to Miss Mary Walters, who died aged twenty-seven years, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth May, who died when nineteen years old. Mr. Short's third marriage was to Miss Lilla Belle Taylor, a daughter of Alexander Tay- lor, formerly of Montgomery county, O., but for some fifteen years a member of Mr. Short's household. To Mr. and Mrs. Short four children have been born: Martha Belle, who died when aged fifteen months; Olive Goldie, who died when aged eleven weeks; and Emmet Wendle and Byron W., both of whom are making satisfactory progress at school. Mr. Short and family are members of the Christian church at Oran, of which he is a deacon and is also a member of the finance committee and clerk, for the past thirty-five years having been active and helpful in this church body. In 1881 Mr. Short was elected a member of the board of education of the Short Special School District and he has served continuously with the exception of two years, and during that time was president of the board for one year, also treasurer and its clerk for twenty years. On the democratic ticket he was elected town- ship assessor and served two years in that office, and in all his public life has commanded the respect and possessed the confidence of his fellow citizens.
544
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
JOHN FINKENBINE, Sr., one of Shelby county's most substantial and respected citizens, now living retired and residing on his large and well-improved property in Franklin township, where he owns 342 acres, is a native of the old Keystone State, born near the city of Philadelphia, in December, 1831. His parents were Jacob and Susan (Fogt) Finken- bine.
Jacob Finkenbine and wife were born in Baden, Germany, and many of the old and prominent families of Ohio have originated there. When they came first to the United States they located at Philadelphia, Pa., but, in 1832, came to Shelby county, O., where he found ready employ- ment at his trade of stone mason. He and wife belonged to that sturdy, thrifty class naturally well equipped to face and overcome hardship and they not only comfortably reared their large family, by example and precept teaching them industrious habits, but so prospered that they lived to enjoy ease in their old age. They were among the early founders of the German Lutheran church in this section. They had the following children: John, Jacob, Louis, Frederick, George, Charles, Christian, Michael, Dorothy and Sarah. Dorothy married Jacob Fogt, and Saralı married John Fogt.
John Finkenbine attended the district schools in boyhood but as soon as old enough to be trusted with the handling of tools, learned the carpenter trade, which he followed for a number of years. In the mean- while he acquired land, tract by tract, and then gave up carpenter work and during the remainder of his active life successfully engaged in farm- ing and stock raising. In addition to his Franklin township land he owns 123 acres in Dinsmore township. The extensive farm activities are now in the hands of his sons who continue them profitably.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.