USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 60
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FERDINAND C. ARKENBERG, who is a prominent citizen of McLean township. Shelby county, O., resides on his improved farm of 200 acres, sit- uated in section 10, one mile north of Fort Loramie, O. He was born in McLean township, January 28, 1858, and is a son of Ferdinand and Eliza- beth Arkenberg.
Ferdinand Arkenberg, the father, was born in Germany and was twenty- five years old when he came to the United States. He found a home in Ohio, locating near Minster, in Auglaize county, later marrying and buying a farm in McLean township. Shelby county. His wife, who was also a native of Germany, had lived in America from the age of six years. They became the
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parents of five sons and two daughters, of which family two sons and one daughter are deceased. Ferdinand Arkenberg and wife both died when aged sixty-five years. They were laid to rest in the cemetery attached to the Min- ster Catholic church, of which they were early members, later transferring their membership to St. Michael's Catholic church at Fort Loramie. In politics Ferdinand Arkenberg was a democrat and at one time served with honest efficiency in the office of road supervisor in his township.
Ferdinand C. Arkenberg attended school all through boyhood, first in the Dirksen Special School District and also at Minster and Fort Loramie, and then naturally assumed farm duties on the homestead, where he remained until his marriage, when he settled at Minster. One year afterward he moved to his present farm, which is a part of the old home place, and has continued here ever since. The present substantial buildings were on the place when it came into his possession, with the exception of a fine barn which Mr. Arken- berg put up in 1910, after the former one was destroyed by fire. This was destroyed by fire also but he has erected one which he completed in December, 1912. In addition to general farming and stock raising, Mr. Arkenberg has a source of income from a valuable gravel pit on the place, from which he has sold material for turnpike construction for many years. This farm has many historic associations clinging to it as it is the site of old Fort Loramie. On numerous occasions as its present owner has turned furrows in the soil as his plow has been driven back and forth, he has found souvenirs of old days and as gathered together they make a very interesting collection and are nat- urally very highly prized by Mr. Arkenberg. Included in this collection are about twenty cannon balls, suggestive of less peaceful times than the present, and several pieces of silver. He has found three fifty cent coins bearing dates of 1776, 1777 and 1778; one dollar piece dated 1780 and a shilling bearing the date of 1805. On the south side of the farm is an area of 40x40 feet, which was long since dedicated to cemetery purposes and around which Mr. Arken- berg has planted trees.
Mr. Arkenberg was married to Miss Mary Ortman, a daughter of Ber- nard and Sophia Ortman, of Auglaize county, and while living at Minster one son, Frank, was born, the family being increased since coming to the farm by the following children: Rosa, Joseph, Ferdinand, Julia, Albert, Herbert and Lawrence. Mr. Arkenberg and family are members of St. Michael's Catholic church. In politics he has always been a democrat. The high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens is indicated by the confidence they long have shown in him in reference to educational matters. He served as a member of the Berlin Special School District three terms of three years and two terms of four years each; and is now treasurer of the board.
DAVID M. PRUDEN, general agent for the Union Central Life Insur- ance Company of Cincinnati, O., for Shelby and Miami counties, for a number of years has been a resident of Sidney, where he has had business interests. He was born on a farm in Orange township, Shelby county, O., December 29. 1836, and is a son of Peter and Anna ( Amos) Pruden.
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Peter Pruden was probably born at Elizabeth, N. J., and was a shoemaker by trade, later became a farmer. He was married in Benton county, Ky., where his wife, Anna Amos, was born, and they came to Orange township, Shelby county, and both died on the home farm. On this farm David M. Pruden was reared and resided until he was forty-six years of age when he came to Sidney. Here he embarked in the farm implement business and also engaged in handling wool. For the last twenty years he has been connected with the above standard insurance company and probably few men are better known than he in the territory his business interests cover.
In 1879 Mr. Pruden was married to Miss Anna M. Thompson, who was born in Washington township, Shelby county, a daughter of Davis Thompson, and three children were born to them, namely: Nellie, who died at the age of twenty-five years, was the wife of Clifford Livingstone; Sadie, who died when aged twenty-three years; and Catherine. Mr. Pruden is identified fra- ternally with the Masons, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.
WILLIAM CASHNER, a highly respected citizen and retired farmer of Shelby county, who occupies his comfortable residence situated on South Ohio avenue, Sidney, was born in Dinsmore township, Shelby county, O., April 23, 1843, and is a son of John and Barbara (Walburn) Cashner.
John Cashner and wife were born in Pennsylvania and were married there a short time before coming to Ohio. They settled in Montgomery county and spent one year on a farm south of Dayton and about 1833 came to Shelby county, settling on a heavily wooded tract of land in Dinsmore township. They were among the first white settlers and found many Indians remaining in this section, while, for years afterward, wolves howled unpleasantly near the farm-house at night and a close watch had to be maintained to prevent the deer coming from the forest and pawing out the winter wheat. Game was plentiful and there was no lack of food, but other pioneer conditions brought many hardships which only courage and brave endurance could overcome. John Cashner died on this place when aged but fifty years, but his widow, of more robust constitution, survived into her eighty-seventh year. Their original farm contained forty acres, to which Mr. Cashner had added twenty acres.
William Cashner was about nine years old when his father died and he then accompanied his mother to Champaign county, where they lived for two years, in 1860 returning to Shelby county. Choice and immediate opportunity made a farmer of Mr. Cashner and after coming back to his native county he worked for more than a year for John Bush, south of Sidney, and after- ward for other farmers over the county for twenty-six years. He then invested in farm land in Wood county, O., on which he lived for three years when he disposed of it and for two more years rented a farm in Orange town- ship, Shelby county, belonging to an uncle, Benjamin Wirt. From there he went to Auglaize county and lived on a rented farm for seven years and then returned to the former farm in Orange township, which he rented for nine more years, and in 1894 purchased it and continued to reside there until June,
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1910, when he bought his home in Sidney and retired from active life. Shortly afterward he sold his farm, which he had greatly improved, realizing $12,000, which was a profitable investment as he had paid but $5,000 for the property.
In 1873 Mr. Cashner was married to Miss Valerie L. Rush, a daughter of Jesse and Jane (Martin) Rush. She was born in Franklin township, Shelby county, O., but her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in New York. They were married in Greene county, O., and for many years lived comfortably as farmers in Franklin township, Shelby county, where the father died in 1866 and the mother in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Cashner have three children : Charles C., who is clerk in the Oliver Hotel at South Bend, Ind .; Nellie Jane, who is the wife of Milton Haney, a farmer in Orange township. and they have one child, William Don; and William Dow, who is a book- keeper in the great commercial house of Montgomery Ward & Co., Chicago, Ill. Mr. Cashner and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Although ever a wide awake and interested citizen, Mr. Cashner has never been very active in political life and never accepted any public office except membership on the school board in Orange township.
EDWARD F. STALEY, proprietor of Staley's Bakery at No. 714 Spruce street, Sidney, O., where he is doing a very satisfactory business, has had an experience in this line that covers twenty-one years. He was born on a farm east of Anna Station, O., May 23, 1869, and is a son of Joseph and Mary J. (Kerst) Staley. Joseph Staley was born in Shelby county, a son of Emanuel Staley, the latter of whom was a native of South Carolina and an early settler in Montgomery county, O., from which section he came to Shelby county. Joseph Staley followed farming all his life and died on his farm, after which his widow moved to Anna, where her death occurred.
Edward F. Staley attended the country schools and remained on the home farm until he was twenty years of age. Then he decided to learn the baking business and worked in a bakery at Anna Station for two years, after which he went to New London, O., later to Wapakoneta, then to Lima, and from there to Winchester, Ind., working at his trade at all these points. Mr. Staley has been a resident of Sidney for six years, in 1910 purchasing the bakery which George Ehrhardt had been operating here for seven years. Mr. Staley has a clean, cornmodious and sanitary bakery, and the extent of his patronage may be judged when it is asserted that he turns out from 1200 to 1400 loaves of bread a day, beside quantities of other goods, and requires the assistance of two bakers. His range of customers covers so large a territory, both in and outside the city, that Mr. Staley now makes use of an automobile for his deliveries.
Mr. Staley was married to Miss Sophia F. Preter, of New Knoxville, Auglaize county, O., a daughter of Joseph Preter, a well-known resident of that section, and they have five children: Vida, Minnie, Wilbur, Ethel and Everett. Mr. Staley and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is identified with the Odd Fellows.
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J. W. WEYMER, who is a well-known citizen and farmer of Washington township, Shelby county, O., operating his farm of 150 acres, situated six and one-half miles southwest of Sidney, was born in Washington township, June 2, 1850, and is a son of Michael and Mary ( Barnes) Weymer.
Michael Weymer was probably of German extraction but was born in New York and from there came to Shelby county in 1838, locating at that time in Washington township where the remainder of his life was spent, his death occurring in 1877, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was married to Mary Barnes in New York and they came by wagon to this section and in the early days endured many pioneer deprivations. Seven children were born to them and all reached maturity with one exception, there now being but two survivors, J. W. and Carrie. One daughter, Mary A., married John J. Alexander, who died in February, 1895. Mrs. Alexander died in May, 1900.
J. W. Weymer obtained his schooling in Washington township and from boyhood assisted his father on the home farm. Since 1877 he has been operat- ing his present property and also manages his sister's farm of 100 acres. The residence occupied by Mr. Weymer and also by his sister, was built by a brother-in-law, the late John J. Alexander, who owned and operated this farm. A general agricultural line is carried on including grain growing and stock raising.
Mr. Weymer married Miss Ida M. Burnett, a member of one of the early families of Shelby county, and they have one son, Clarence, who has been given collegiate advantages at Ada, O., and who assists his father. Mr. and Mrs. Weymer are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lockington. In politics Mr. Weymer is a democrat. He has never desired political office but has always taken an interest in the agricultural development of the county and has served as a director of the Agricultural Association. He belongs to the fraternal order of Maccabees.
D. W. SCOTT, whose valuable farm of ninety-five acres is situated four and one-half miles southwest of Sidney, O., in a fertile and favorable section of Washington township, was born in 1863 in Washington township, Shelby county, O., and is a son of John and Elle (Higgins) Scott.
John Scott, who is one of the highly esteemed retired residents of Wash- ington township, where he owns a farm of 140 acres, was born in Shelby county and has spent his life here. He was married first to Ellen Higgins and they had three children: D. W., Samuel and Mrs. Hunt, Samuel being deceased. Mr. Scott was married (second) to Jennie Stewart and the two children of that union are both deceased. His third marriage was to Callie Stewart, to which there was no issue.
D. W. Scott obtained his education in the public schools and afterward, for some years, worked in different sections by the month, for farmers. For two years after his marriage he was associated with his father and then spent four years in Miami county. In 1898 he purchased his present farm which he devotes to stock raising and general farming, mainly grain growing.
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Mr. Scott married Miss Cora Valentine and they have two children : Ella and John. Mr. and Mrs .. Scott are members of the United Brethren church at Lockington. In politics he is a republican and at one time served as township trustee. The Scotts are representative people of Washington town- ship.
CAPT. JAMES L. VAN RIPER, captain of Company L, Third Ohio National Guard, and city auditor of Sidney, O., is one of the prominent young men of Shelby county and one in whom Sidney takes a proprietary interest as he was born here on August 17, 1884, and has made his native place the scene of his interests. He is a son of William L. and Margaret (Lampher) Van Riper, the former of whom is agent for the United States Express Com- pany in this city.
James L. Van Riper attended the public schools of Sidney and was gradu- ated from the Sidney high school in 1902, at that time accepting a position in the office of the American Steel Scraper Company, where he continued for five and one-half years, when he accepted, in 1907, the position of secretary with the Standard Clutch Manufacturing Company, with which he remained until his resignation in 1911. In the meanwhile he had become interested in public affairs and politics and became the candidate on the republican ticket for city auditor, to which office he was elected with a large majority, being the only one of his political complexion elected on the city ticket. A patriotic sentiment suggested his uniting with the state militia and on July 1, 1907, he enlisted as a private in Company L, Third Regiment, Ohio National Guards, and he was quickly discovered to possess military qualities which resulted in his promotion. On July 22, 1907, he was appointed corporal, and on March 20, 1908, was advanced to the rank of sergeant, on April 22 follow- ing being made first sergeant and on January 6, 1910, was commissioned first lieutenant by Governor Harmon. On January 26, 1911, he succeeded Cap- tain Douglas and has command of a fine body of fifty-six men, his being the largest as well as one of the best drilled companies at the annual encampment in 1912. Although a stern disciplinarian, Captain Van Riper has the univer- sal devotion of his men and they form a very effective section of the Third regiment. Captain Van Riper is identified with several fraternal organiza- tions, including the Knights of Pythias and the Foresters.
ANTHONY BARHORST, who is a very enterprising and successful farmer of McLean township and a member of one of the old and respected Catholic families here, was born in McLean township, Shelby county. O., March 1, 1884, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Grieshop) Barhorst.
Henry Barhorst was born at Steinfeldt, Oldenberg, Germany, September 30, 1828, and came to the United States when sixteen years of age. settling on a farm west of Loramie, O., and after his marriage he followed farming there for ten years and later acquired a large body of land, at the time of death, August 22, 1906, owning 240 acres. He was a man of high standing in Mclean township and for fifteen years served as a township trustee. On
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June 5, 1855, he married Elizabeth Grieshop, who was born at Denklage, Germany, January 7, 1838, and was brought to America in her ninth year. Her people settled in Mercer county, O., where she lived until her marriage took place at Loramie. She died on the home farm in McLean township, Au- gust 23, 1908. They were faithful members of St. Michael's Catholic church at Fort Loramie and were known all through the parish for their many fine qualities. They had eleven children: Henry, Herman, John, Bernard, Joseph, Anthony, Mary, Catherine and Rose, being those named, and of these, Herman, Joseph, Mary, Catherine and Rose are deceased.
Anthony Barhorst was educated in the Sherman Special School District and has followed farming ever since reaching manhood. After marriage he settled on his farm of 100 acres, which is situated in section II, McLean township, four miles southeast of Fort Loramie, which he bought of George Babylon. He remodeled the residence and has added buildings as his large agricultural operations have made necessary and has all his land in tillable condition except twelve acres of woodland.
Mr. Barhorst was married January 22, 1907, to Miss Josephine Debrosse. who was born in Loramie township, a daughter of Irenus and Margaret (Esthman) Debrosse, and four children have been born to them: an infant daughter who did not long survive; and Irenus Henry, Agnes B. and John Robert. Mr. Barhorst and family belong to St. Michael's Catholic church. He is a democrat in his political views and takes a good citizen's interest in public matters.
JOHN BURKHART, one of the leading business men of Sidney, con- ducting a first class shoe store, in the Burkhart block, on North Main avenue, is an experienced shoe and leather man, having been engaged in this line since 1879, when he and his brother became partners with their father, one of the pioneer business men of the city. He was born at Spring Hill, Cham- paign county, O., September 13, 1857, and is a son of Jolin and Mary Ann (Berner) Burkhart. The parents were born and reared in Germany and shortly after marriage, in 1850, came to the United States and settled first at Quincy, O., but later moved to Spring Hill, and in 1865 came to Sidney. The father was an expert shoemaker, having learned his trade in Germany and continued active in business until his death in 1902. He was a successful business man; not only erected the Burkhart block on North Main avenue. but also owned the two-story brick building directly north. He left three sons: William, John and E. E., the last named serving for eight years as mayor of the city of Dayton, O.
John Burkhart was educated in the Sidney schools and among his earliest recollections are events connected with his father's shoe store in which he assisted as he grew older, and in 1879 he and brother William became part- ners with their father. In 1880 the firm erected the Burkhart block, a fine three-story brick building with basement, which Mr. Burkhart now owns. having purchased his brother's interest in 1904. The other real estate owned
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by the father is also retained in the family, being valuable property and in the heart of the business district.
At Sidney, Mr. Burkhart was married to Miss Mary Kraft, a daughter of George Kraft, and they have one daughter, Stella, who is the wife of Prof. L. J. Meyerholtz, a well-known teacher of music here and the leader of the Sidney band. As a citizen Mr. Burkhart has been public spirited and enter- prising, has served usefully in the city council and was a member of Sidney's first board of public service. He maintains fraternal relations with the order of Eagles and belongs also to the Elks and is a trustee of the local lodge of this organization.
E. M. BAKER, a leading citizen of Green township, formerly a justice of the peace, resides on his valuable farm of seventy-five acres, which lies ten miles southeast of Sidney. He was born in Clark county, O., in 1863, and is a son of C. W. and Mary A. (Wells) Baker.
C. W. Baker was born in Maryland and was four years old when his parents brought him to Ohio. He was reared in Clark county and followed farming there for many years and continued to be an agriculturist after moy- ing to Shelby county, where he died in his seventy-ninth year. He married Mary A. Wells, who was born in Champaign county, O., and five children were born to them, namely: N. H. and W. B., both of whom live in Green township ; Forrest, who is deceased ; E. M. ; and Mrs. Berthia A. Pence.
E. M. Baker was educated mainly in the public schools of Shelby county. enjoying two terms also at Lebanon, O., after which he became a school teacher and more or less continuously devoted himself to educational work for twenty-five years, practically in Shelby county with three terms in Miami county. As a teacher he was considered very efficient and his acquaintance extends all over both counties and his friends are in every section. In 1905 he moved on the farm on which he resides and in retiring from educational work he turned his attention to the improvement and development of his property. With the exception of the residence, all the substantial buildings on the place have been put here by Mr. Baker, and it has been so remodeled that it has many desirable modern comforts and conveniences. General farm- ing and stock raising are carried on and Mr. Baker is proving that an educated man makes a very successful farmer.
Mr. Baker married Miss Clara Moon and they have two children: O. H. and C. L., both of whom reside at home. In politics Mr. Baker is identified with the republican party.
E. W. PARTINGTON, a successful general farmer of Green township, Shelby county, O., residing nine miles southeast of Sidney, where he owns 1 185/2 acres of excellent land, the old home place, was born here and has the privilege of being associated with the old familiar landmarks that he can remember since childhood.
Edward W. Partington married Miss Ora D. Middlekauff, who was born in Indiana. They have no children and now live retired. Mr. Partington
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finding enough to still occupy his time in overseeing his large property. Dur- ing his active years he carried on general farming and stock raising and his land still brings him a satisfactory income. He still occupies the residence his father built but has made many improvements. Mr. Partington has always been a democrat although he has never been willing to accept office, but his judgment is valued by his fellow citizens and is often consulted. Mr. and Mrs. Partington have a wide circle of friends.
P. A. HOWELL, one of the representative men of Orange township, Shelby county, O., residing on his excellent farm of 135 acres, named Cedar Hill, situated six miles south of Sidney, O., was born in Hancock county, Ill., and is a son of James A. and Ellen (Slaughter) Howell.
James A. Howell was born in Ohio and reared to manhood here. Prior to his marriage he moved to Illinois and remained there and in Iowa some six years. After he returned to his native state, he located in Miami county and lived there and in Shelby county until 1900, when he removed to Richmond, Ind., where he now lives retired. He married Ellen Slaughter, and of their six children five survive.
P. A. Howell was educated in the schools of Miami and Shelby counties, being aged four years when his parents came to Ohio from Iowa. At the age of sixteen he was granted a certificate to teach, being at that time the youngest person ever given a teacher's certificate in his home county. He however preferred the farm and began life for himself as a farm hand. Fearing no amount of hard work and never turning back when encountering difficulties and adversity, although still a young man, he has succeeded in establishing himself on one of the most productive farms of Orange township, being considered one of the substantial citizens of the community. For a number of years Mr. Howell has been engaged frequently in lecture work before Farmers' Institutes, and Cedar Hill farm, on which he has resided since 1900, is surely an example of what may be accomplished by modern methods and systematic effort in increasing the productiveness of a run down farm. He makes a specialty of breeding draft horses and raising potatoes and also has for a number of years been engaged in buying and shipping pota- toes, being the founder in this vicinity of an industry amounting to many thousands of dollars annually to the farmers of the county. Mr. Howell is one of the progressive agriculturists of this section, undoubtedly is prospering, and is in every sense of the word a self made man. In politics he is a democrat but has never accepted any offices except in connection with the public schools and has served several years on the school board, and for five of these was clerk.
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