USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 61
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Mr. Howell was married to Miss Dora C. Voress, only daughter of J. F. Voress, one of the well known residents of Shelby county, and they have four children : Mabel, Walter, Violet, and Ethel. Mr. Howell and family belong to the Christian church.
P. A. HOWELL
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JOHN ARLING, who is one of the heirs of the late Henry Arling, and who, with his brothers, Henry and Frank Arling, carry on the agricultural activities of the homestead, where they have 170 acres of fine land, was born on this farm, situated in section 12, McLean township, Shelby county, O. He is a son of Henry and Mary ( Fischer) Arling.
Henry Arling was born and reared in Auglaize county, O., and died on the present home farm in August, 1906, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a faithful member of the Catholic church and an upright man in every relation of life. His first marriage was in Auglaize county, to Elizabeth Leining and they had two children: Bernard, who lives at Fort Loramie, O .; and Eliza- beth, who is the wife of Frank Rethman, of the same place. After his first marriage, Henry Arling lived at Minster until he bought his farm of 170 acres in McLean township. Shelby county, a tract that had been but little improved. His first wife died on this farm and his second marriage was to Mary Fischer, who was born in McLean township, a daughter of John Fischer. Mrs. Arling still lives on the old homestead, and she and hier children all belong to St. Michael's Catholic church. To the above marriage eight chil- dren were born, namely: John. Henry, Rosa, Katie, Anna, Frank, Caroline and Loretta, all of whom survive except Anna.
John Arling and his brothers and sisters attended the schools near home and the sons of the family have all become capable farmers, industriously carrying on general farming and raising livestock, cattle and hogs. The old home sufficed until 1909 when it was replaced by a more commodious and comfortable one, erected by Mr. Arling and his two brothers. On this farm there are gravel pits which have supplied the material for the building of three turnpike roads but they have not been operated since 1910. John Arling and brothers, like their late father, are all stanch democrats.
JOHN W. LOCHARD, who now lives in comfortable retirement at Sid- ney, O., for many years was an extensive farmer in Salem township, where he still retains 240 acres of highly improved land, a fine farm that lies six and one-half miles northeast of Sidney. He was born in Champaign county, O., March 18, 1855, and is a son of Thomas and Eliza ( Ellis) Lochard.
The parents of John W. Lochard were born in Virginia and were married shortly after removing with their people to West Liberty, Logan county, O. They moved then to Champaign county where they continued to live until 1874, when they came to Shelby county and the father bought 160 acres of land in Salem township on which he died in 1879, the mother surviving until 1881. After the death of both parents, John W. Lochard bought the interests of the other heirs and subsequently added more land until, as above mentioned, he has 240 acres, all in one body. During the succeeding years Mr. Lochard replaced all the old buildings with modern ones and his residence is an un- usually fine example of rural architecture with attractive surroundings. In addition to general farming Mr. Lochard gave considerable attention to rais- ing high grade hogs and cattle. Although a busy man all his active life he never neglected any duty of citizenship, and his neighbors frequently showed
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their confidence in him by electing him to local offices and for seven years he served as a trustee of Salem. township. In 1905 he was elected a county com- missioner on the democratic ticket and continued in this responsible office until 1911, in the spring of which year he came to Sidney.
Mr. Lochard married Miss Clara Belle Murphy, a daughter of H. C. and Nancy Murphy, farming people of Franklin township, Shelby county, and four children have been born to them, namely: Laura Celia, who is the wife of George L. Kraft, and they have one daughter, Virginia; Mabel Clare, who is the wife of Dr. Fred McVay, of Botkins, O .; the third daughter, who died at the age of eleven years, and Hazel Ellen, who lives at home. Mr. Lochard and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is identified with several fraternal bodies that have a large and representative member- ship in this section, including the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Khorassan.
WILLIAM H. McCLOSKEY, a retired farmer and well known citizen of Shelby county, who has occupied his handsome residence on South Main avenue, Sidney, since March, 1909, still retains possession of two valuable farms situated in Perry township, aggregating 120 acres. He was born in Orange township, Shelby county, O., January 17, 1857, and is a son of Josiah W. and Sarah (Barklow) McCloskey.
Josiah W. McCloskey was born at Maysville, Ky., and was sixteen years old when he accompanied his father, Michael McCloskey, to Shelby county, who settled first in Orange township but afterward lived in both Green and Clinton townships and then returned to Orange township where he and wife died on the same day. Josiah W. McCloskey grew to manhood in this county and married Sarah Barklow, a daughter of John Barklow, who came here about 1836. Mr. McCloskey bought his first farm in Orange township about the time of marriage and afterward owned several valuable tracts of land. His death occurred in March, 1890, at the age of seventy years.
William H. McCloskey attended the district schools in boyhood and remained on the home farm in Orange township until he was thirty years old and then moved to Perry township where he had bought a farm. Three years later he was united in marriage to Miss Nora E. Redinbo, a daughter of Andrew Redinbo, and they have one daughter, Myrle. She was married in October, 1911, to Charles Louis Eichel, a business man of Sidney. Mr. and Mrs. McCloskey resided in Perry township until his retirement, carrying on general farming until 1887, when he went into the threshing business and con- tinued until 1904, after which for five years, he again devoted his attention entirely to his farm activities. In politics Mr. McCloskey has always been identified with the republican party and at times has been elected to township offices on this ticket, serving as township trustee, and also for six years has held the position of deputy state supervisor of elections. For many years he has had fraternal interests which include membership with the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Khorassan and the Elks.
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M. E. PARTINGTON, who has been a lifelong resident of Shelby county, O., resides on his valuable and well improved farm of 156 acres, which lies in Green township, one mile east of Plattsville. He was born one and one- half miles southeast of this place and is a son of Edwin and Jemima Partington.
Edward Partington was born in Union county, Ind., in 1831 and came to Green township, Shelby county, with his mother when nine years old and remained here during the subsequent years of his life, dying in 1905. He was a man of high standing in his community and was widely known. His widow, who still survives, was born in 1831, and six children were born to them : Joseph, who lives near Middletown; John D., who lives at Midway, Shelby county; Mrs. Mary Middleton; William E., who lives at Sidney; Edwin W., who operates the homestead farm; and M. E.
M. E. Partington remained on the home farm during his boyhood while attending school and afterward until 1900, but when he married he came to this farm which his father owned, and bought it in 1906, and here carries on farming and stock raising very successfully.
In 1900 Mr. Partington was married to Miss Dora Yost, who is a daugh- ter of Elisha Yost, of one of the old pioneer families, and they have two chil- dren : Florence and Myron. They are members of the Christian church. In politics Mr. Partington is a democrat.
JOHN E. DORSEY, one of the representative men of Green township, Shelby county, O., and a member of one of the pioneer families of this section, resides on his farm of ninety acres, situated twelve miles southeast of Sidney. He was born in 1854, on a part of his father's land lying immediately across the road from his present farm, and is a son of Snowden D. and a grandson of John Dorsey.
Snowden D. Dorsey was born on the farm above mentioned which his father had secured from the government, and as he grew old enough helped his father to clear the 160 acres from its wild state. Snowden D. Dorsey was both farmer and carpenter. His death occurred in 1894, on his farm east of where he was born in 1825. He was thrice married, first to Margaret J. Dodson, who, at death, left two sons : Edward C. and John E. His second marriage was to Sarah Shaw, who died without issue, and he then married Anna M. Mathers and two sons were born to that union: Samuel M. and Charles M.
John E. Dorsey attended the district schools and afterward continued to assist his father and remained on the old homestead until 1892, when he pur- chased his present land. This property he greatly improved, building a com- fortable and commodious residence and otherwise changing and rearranging structures so that everything was made convenient and now has one of the fine farms of this section. He married Miss Mary E. Licklider and they have six children, namely : Edward E., Harry F., Bonnie F., William S., Bessie M. and Bertha M. Mr. Dorsey has always been an active citizen so far as taking an interest in all law abiding movements is concerned, but he votes indepen-
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dently. His fellow citizens, however, have many times shown their apprecia- tion of his sterling character by electing him to local offices and he has served on the school board, as township assessor, as township trustee and as turnpike superintendent. He is a man of social tastes and is identified fraternally with the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Improved Order of Red Men.
FLINT L. HUBBELL, M. D., physician and surgeon, has been engaged professionally at Sidney, O., since 1905, and has built up a very satisfactory practice, making a specialty of surgery. He was born at Quincy, O., January 9, 1879, and is a son of Dr. James A. and a grandson of Hezekiah Hubbell.
It is a long way back to the times of Grandfather Hubbell as he was one of the earliest pioneers of Shelby county. He was a shoemaker by trade and for a short time followed the same when Sidney was but a village. He was a great hunter and the family tradition is that in one winter alone he killed a bear and forty-three deer on the present site of Sidney. His son, Dr. James A. Hubbell, still resides at Quincy, where he has practiced medicine continu- ously for the past forty years, his father having died there.
Flint L. Hubbell was reared at Quincy and in the home of his grandfather near by, receiving his educational training in the Quincy schools and after completing his course in the high school entered the Ohio Normal University at Ada, O., where he was graduated in 1896. For two years afterward he conducted a drug store at Quincy and in 1898 entered Starling Medical Col- lege at Columbus, where he was graduated with the class of 1901. He returned to Quincy and engaged in medical practice there, in the meanwhile continuing his scientific studies which included several post graduate courses prior to coming to Sidney, February 22, 1904. He was an interne for six months at Bellevue Hospital, New York, and on July 4, 1904, was graduated from the Chicago Clinical School. Dr. Hubbell's enthusiasm for his profes- sion induced further study and he completed a post graduate course in 1912, at the Chicago Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital. He is identified with the leading medical organizations of the country, belonging to the Shelby County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society, the American Medi- cal Association and the International Associations of Surgeons.
Dr. Hubbell was married at Sidney to a daughter of John F. Horr, who, at present is a government official at Jacksonville, Fla. Dr. Hubbell is a mem- ber of the Elks and is a thirty-second degree Mason.
V. C. HETZLER, whose extensive agricultural operations are carried on his farm of 214 acres, situated in Green township, and on a farm of 121 acres, located one mile further north, which belongs to himself and sister, is a member of one of the old and respected county families. He was born October 20, 1877, at Hetzler's Corners, in Orange township, Shelby county, O., and is a son of George F. and Orilla F. (Sanders) Hetzler.
George F. Hetzler was born and reared in Orange township, Shelby county, and lived and died on the place where his father, Christian Hetzler, had also been born, whose father, George F. Hetzler, had come to this place
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from New Jersey, securing the land from the government when this locality was first opened up for settlement. Grandmother Hetzler was a member of the old Lemon family, which came early to Shelby county. The great-grand- father's farm was never out of the Hetzler name until it was sold in 1912, but the grandfather's farm is still held by the Hetzlers. George F. Hetzler, father of V. C., followed farming until his health failed, his death occurring at the early age of twenty-eight years. He married Orilla F. Sanders, who died November 21, 1912, their two children being: V. C. and Harriet, the latter being the wife of Roscoe Laymaster, who is in business at St. Mary's. They have three children : Dorothea, Florence and Harold.
Since his school days, V. C. Hetzler has been occupied with farming and stock raising and carries on his large undertakings with very satisfying results. The death of his mother has increased his ownership of land, he now having 204 acres in Green township, eighty-three acres where he lives and 121 acres one mile north. He married Miss Sylvia Woodmancy and they have three children : Gladys F., Rachel E. and Doris L. In his political attitude Mr. Hetzler prefers to be independent but takes a good citizen's interest in all local matters and served three years on the school board. With his family he belongs to the Christian church. Fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows.
FRED McNEIL, general farmer and stock raiser, who owns a valuable farm of sixty acres in Orange township, situated five and one-half miles southwest of Sidney, was born in Montgomery county, O., August 23, 1866, and is a son of Milton and Elizabeth (Boyer) McNeil.
Milton McNeil was born in Montgomery county, O., where he grew to manhood and after his first marriage moved to Missouri and lived there for six years and then came to Shelby county and settled on the farm now owned by his son and continued to live here until his death, when aged seventy-six years. His first marriage was to Frances Boyer and they had four children : Mary Frances, Jacob, Lucretia and Martin, the last two being deceased. His second marriage was to Elizabeth Boyer, a sister of his first wife, and two children were born to them: Fred and Jessie, the latter of whom died in Missouri. The mother died in February, 1912, at the age of eighty-four years.
Fred McNeil obtained his education in the public schools, and farming and stock raising have been the industries to which he had devoted his time and attention ever since and for the past thirty years he has lived on his present place. The buildings were all put up during his father's time and he has kept them in repair and has done other improving.
Mr. McNeil was married to Miss Hannah W. Weatherhead, who was born in Miami county, O., and they have two children: Milton, who gives his father assistance: and Jessie, who resides at home. Mr. McNeil and family attend the United Brethren church. Politically he is a democrat and at present is serving as a member of the township school board.
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JOSEPH DANIEL BARNES, a leading member of the bar at Sidney, where he enjoys a fine practice and is a representative and stable citizen, was born in Adams township, Champaign county, O., June 14, 1869, and is a son of John H. and Mary (Hubbell) Barnes.
John H. Barnes was born at Hedgesville, W. Va., in 1845, and died April 13, 1907, in Ohio, to which state his father, Michael Barnes, had brought him when a motherless boy of two years. Michael Barnes settled at what was known as Mosquito Lake, Champaign county, where he acquired land and there John H. Barnes was reared and a year after marriage moved to Logan county, later returning to Champaign county and in 1884 moved to Sidney. He was a well-known, reputable citizen, a member of the Episcopal church and a democrat in his political connection. He married Mary Hubbell, in 1867, a daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah (Johnson) Hubbell, of Quincy, where Mr. Hubbell was a merchant. Three children were born to John H. Barnes and wife, two of whom died in infancy.
Joseph Daniel Barnes attended the public schools in Champaign county and later the Sidney high school, subsequently entering the Cincinnati Law School, where he was graduated in May, 1890, afterward spending one year in the law office of Davies & Hoskins, at Sidney. Mr. Barnes then opened a law office in the Thompson building, at Sidney, and continued alone in practice until July, 1909, when he formed a partnership with D. F. Mills, which asso- ciation continues under the firm style of Barnes & Mills. For twenty-two years Mr. Barnes has been engaged honorably in the practice of his profession in this city and at times has accepted public office when tendered him, serving efficiently as city solicitor from 1892 until 1895, and as prosecuting attorney from 1895 until 1901. He has ever been an active and interested citizen and an ardent supporter of the principles of the democratic party, for a number of years being entrusted with party management as chairman of the Shelby County Democratic Central Committee. He has four farms in his charge, but otherwise devotes himself entirely to his profession.
In December, 1900, Mr. Barnes was married to Miss Raeburn Eppler, a daughter of Thomas W. and Mary (Miller) Eppler. His fraternal connec- tions include membership with the Masons, Odd Fellows, and the Elks. He maintains his office in the court house at Sidney, and owns an attractive and comfortable residence.
WILLIAM A. PERRY, president and general manager of the Sidney Steel Scraper Company at Sidney, O., an enterprise of large importance, backed by ample capital and officered with men of business experience and reliability, was born in Union county, Ind., November 24, 1865, and is a son of Russell Biglow and Eliza ( Rider ) Perry.
The father of Mr. Perry died when he was four years old and his widowed mother moved then to Hamilton, O., where, eight years later she married John Laughlin and shortly afterward the family removed to Sidney, where Mr. Laughlin became the head of the Sidney School Furniture Company. Mr. Perry was twelve years old when the family came to this city and here
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he completed his education and began his business career in the office of the Sidney School Furniture Company, advancing from the position of book- keeper to be secretary and treasurer of that concern. It was a prosperous business enterprise which, on the death of Mr. Laughlin, was sold to the American School Furniture Manufacturing Company. Mr. Perry then went to New York City and for two years had charge of the collection department for that company and still further confidence was shown in his tact and ability by the company when they commissioned him to go to Mexico and there estab- lish a branch house. His mission to Mexico was successful, but, on account of becoming interested there in mining, one year later he resigned his position with the above named company and devoted the following three years to developing Mexican mining properties. In the meanwhile he associated him- self with Julius Balke, who is now vice president of the Brunswick-Balke Company, of Chicago, Ill., in a partnership for the manufacture of school and church furniture, under the firm name of the Mexican School Furniture Com- pany, operating in conjunction with the American School Furniture Company. Six months after starting their factory was destroyed by fire and the part- ners decided to return north instead of rebuilding, Mr. Balke going to Chi- cago and Mr. Perry to Sidney.
The Sidney Steel Scraper Company was established at Sidney many years ago by the late William Haslup and after returning to Sidney Mr. Perry identified himself with this concern, which was subsequently incorporated with a capital of $200,000. For ten years Mr. Perry served as secretary and treasurer and also as sales manager of this company, and, on the death of Mr. Haslup, in 1912, succeeded him as president. The other officers are: Ben Strauss, vice president, and W. L. Snyder, secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Perry was married at Sidney, O., to Miss Clara Epler, who is a daugh- ter of Thompson W. Epler, a prominent citizen. They have one son, John Perry. Fraternally Mr. Perry is a Mason and politically a republican and unquestionably is one of the reliable and conscientious citizens of the com- munity in which his life has-been mainly spent and where his dearest interests are centered.
WILLIAM H. WAGNER, In every community there is some one family which stands out prominently among the other inhabitants and in the history of Sidney that family is Wagner. They were originally French, born in Alsace, then a northern province of France, and came to this country in 1830, three sturdy brothers. Joseph, Peter and Mathias. Mathias Wagner first saw the light of day in Alsace, April 24. 1818, and in 1830 came to America and drove a team through to Pittsburg, where he met his father who had preceded him by stage from Baltimore. After working there awhile he came to Ohio, to Columbiana county, and there his father engaged in farm- ing. Mathias came on to Allen county in 1837 and a year later to Sidney, when he opened up a meat market and engaged in other enterprises until he became one of the strongest financial men of the town. In 1844 he married Miss Mary Rauth, born in Germany, and became the father of twelve children.
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eight of whom are living. Two brothers of Mathias were born in Ohio, John and George, and came to this county in the fifties. Mr. Wagner died in June, 1888.
William H., the second child of this union, was born in Sidney, May 24, 1855, attended parochial and public schools in Sidney and supplemented this with a course at St. Mary's Institute at Dayton. He married Miss Sophia Cable, of Sandusky, in 1880, who died leaving a son, Cable, who is now associated with the Wagner brothers in the Wagner Manufacturing Company. In 1887 he married Miss Ina Graber, of Findlay, who became the mother of seven children, one of whom died at the age of two years. Mrs. Wagner died a year ago, January 26, 1912, universally beloved. His oldest son, Mathias, is now an interne at St. Frances hospital in Pittsburg, an honor graduate of medicine from the St. Louis University, in 1912. His second child, Marcelle, graduated with the B. A. degree from St. Mary's Institute three years ago, matriculated with the M. A. degree from the Cath- olic University at Washington and is now taking a theological course in Cincinnati. William is now at St. Mary's and the daughter, Rose Evelyn, the youngest, with two sons, Richard and Alfred, are attending school in Sidney.
Mr. Wagner lives next the old Wagner homestead on North Miami avenue, and while a very busy man, finds time to cultivate the higher side of his nature in his love of music, pictures and books. He was for many years the tenor soloist in Holy Angels church and is now one of its wardens.
Mr. Wagner is now and has been president of the First National Ex- change Bank since its organization in 1899. President of the People's Sav- ings and Loan Association for the last ten years and for twenty-four on its board of directors.
He has been president of the Wagner Manufacturing Company since its organization twenty-two years ago. This company makes high grade polislı and nickel-plated and aluminum kitchen utensils. Mr. Wagner is also pres- ident of the Sidney Telephone Company and a director in the Sidney Tool Company and the Monarch Machine Company. He was president of the Commercial Club in 1906 and has always taken an interest in civic utilities and is foremost in advancing public spirited enterprises. Proof of his busi- ness capacity is shown in the success which has attended his efforts and which has made his name a familiar one in marts of trade at many points.
WILLIAM T. JOHNSTON, who is a well-known resident of Shelby county, residing on his valuable farm of 190 acres, which is situated in Green township, five miles southeast of Sidney, O., was born on this place in 1849 and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Dorn) Johnston.
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