USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 63
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Dr. Beamer was married in 1879 to Miss Anna Elizabeth Williams of Plattsburg, and they had one son, born October 13, 1880, who is deceased. In politics Dr. Beamer is a republican and ever since he came to Green town- ship has been township treasurer and also is a member of the school board. For many years he has been identified fraternally with the Odd Fellows.
JOHN SCHWARTZ, whose fine farm of 109 acres lies in section 19, Cynthian township, was born at Fort Loramie, O., December 16, 1876, and is a son of Adam and Elizabeth Schwartz. The mother of Mr. Schwartz is deceased but the father survives and resides with his son on the above men- tioned farm.
John Schwartz attended school in the Berlin special district and afterward, for one year, worked at the butcher trade but later turned his attention to carpentering and afterward settled down to farming as his main occupation, locating on his personal place following his marriage. He has made many substantial improvements here and has drained and placed under cultivation all of his land except fifteen acres of woodland pasture. The wheat and oats he grows generally is conveyed to market but his corn is mainly fed to his stock of which he raises quite an amount each year.
Mr. Schwartz was married to Miss Mayme Ecabert, a daughter of Julius and Elizabeth Ecabert, of Newport, O., and they have a family of four chil- dren : Omer, Loretta, Persell and Ruth. Mr. Schwartz and family are mem- bers of Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic church at Newport, O. In politics
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a democrat, Mr. Schwartz always consistently gives democratic candidates his political support. He has never accepted any offices for himself except those connected with educational matters in his own community and for some six years prior to January, 1912, was president of the board of education of the Basinburg Special School District. He is a highly respected and valuable citizen of Cynthian township.
AUGUST CARITEY, whose fine productive farm of 114 acres is situ- ated in Cynthian township, one-quarter mile west of the St. Mary turnpike road, two miles south of Fort Loramie and two miles north of Newport, O., was born in France, May 4, 1840, a son of August and Louisa (Ducette) Caritey.
The parents of Mr. Caritey were born in France and there the mother died when aged twenty-five years, leaving but the one child. The father married (second) Josephine Velyon, and they came to America in 1850. For the first five years after reaching the United States, Mr. Caritey and family lived at Ironton, O., moving then to Shelby county and living first in Cynthian and later in McLean township. Mr. Caritey and wife then moved to a western state. where she died and he then returned to Shelby county, locating first in Loramie township but afterward moving into Cynthian township, where he died in his sixty-sixth year. His burial was in the ceme- tery at Newport, connected with St. Peter and Paul's Catholic church of which he had been a member. Three of his sons survive: Julius, August and Joseph, while two, Ezebiah and Amiel, are deceased.
August Caritey was ten years old when his father brought the family to America and his early schooling was secured at Portsmouth and Ironton, O. Afterward he was variously employed and being willing and industrious had no difficulty in securing work by the day. After his marriage he located for a time at Fort Loramie and then bought a farm of sixty acres in the Sherman Special School District and operated it until he had a chance to sell to advan- tage, when he came to his present place. Here he has made many improve- ments, putting up all the substantial buildings now standing, has done con- siderable draining and has kept his soil in fine condition through his experi- enced methods of cultivation. With the exception of twenty-three acres he has all his land under cultivation and carries on a general farming line.
Mr. Caritey married Miss Gertrude Brucken, who was born in Germany, and they have had the following children: Christina, who is the wife of Albert Berry, residing in Turtle Creek township; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Henry Varno and they live in McLean township; Mary, who is the wife of Frank Mosey, living at Sidney: Jane, who is the wife of Albert Snyder, of Dayton, O .; Catherine, who is the wife of Joseph Brady, of Dayton; Sophia, who married Oliver Davis, lives at Sidney : and Clara, Josephine, Joseph and Emeline, all of whom live at home. Mr. Caritey and family belong to St. Peter and Paul's Catholic church at Newport, O. This is a very well-known family and collectively and individually they have many friends. Mr. Caritey
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is a democrat in politics and for three years served as road supervisor in McLean township, reside in section 8, on his valuable farm of 148 acres, District Board.
PATRICK DUNDON, one of the enterprising and successful farmers of McLean township, resides in section 8, on his valuable farm of 148 acres, situated three and one-half miles east of Fort Loramie. He was born in Turtle Creek township, Shelby county, O., March 4, 1874, and is a son of John and Margaret (McEvoy) Dundon.
John Dundon was of Irish extraction and was a young man when he came to Shelby from Licking county, O. After marriage to Margaret McEvoy, who was born in Shelby county, he settled on the present home site but the 148 acres of productive land was then but a wilderness. It was through his industry and perseverance that the place was cleared and put under cultivation. The buildings yet standing he placed here and lived to enjoy some years of rest after his long period of hard labor, passing away in his fiftieth year. His widow survived into her sixty-sixth year. They were devoted members of the Catholic church and belonged to St. Patrick's congregation. They had eight children born to them, namely : James and Emma, both of whom are deceased ; and Patrick, Elizabeth, Annie, Mary Ellen and William, and an infant that died.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dundon attended school in St. Patrick's Special School District and after the father's death they took charge of the home farm and carried on all its industries, Patrick and William being par- ticularly interested at the present time. They all are democratic in their politi- cal opinions and as a united family belong to St. Patrick's Catholic church.
JOHN SIEGEL, one of the representative men of McLean township, president of the Sherman special school district board of education, is a suc- cessful general farmer and resides in section 10, where he owns 128 acres of valuable land. He was born in Cynthian township, Shelby county, June 21, 1867.
Mr. Siegel secured his education in the schools of his native township and in the Sherman school district, after which he learned practical farming and has made farming in all its branches his business. Since his marriage he has lived on his present farm, which he purchased of the Sherman estate, and many of the improvements have been placed here since taking possession. The farmhouse was in good repair but Mr. Siegel found it necessary to build a new barn and other structures. He has cleared about 100 acres and has drained the same and put down tiling, the other twenty-eight acres being yet in valuable timber. His property is favorably situated as he has a market at Fort Loramie, which is only three miles west and the Sherman turnpike road gives him fine transportation facilities.
Mr. Siegel married Miss Mary Barhorst, a daughter of Henry Barhorst of McLean township, and all their seven children were born on this farm, namely: Elizabeth, Caroline, Frank, Henry, Raymond, Josephine and Rhine-
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hart. The family belongs to St. Michael's Catholic church. In politics a strong democrat, Mr. Siegel has frequently been elected on his party ticket to important township offices and for four terms was turnpike superintendent and for about five years has been president of the school board. He has asso- ciated with him other leading men of the township, as follows: Adolph Sher -. man, Clemens Wolke, Henry Ernstes, Barney Ernst and Benjamin Barhorst, William J. Meyers succeeding Mr. Barhorst at the last election.
HARRISON M. POTTS, proprietor of a saw mill at Sidney, O., and also owner of a fine farm of 160 acres, lying in Washington town- ship, two and one-half miles southwest of Sidney, is a leading citizen of Shelby county and a justly honored veteran of the great Civil war. He was born in Miami county, near Fletcher, O., February 27, 1846, and is a son of Jackson and Cynthia Ann (Lusena) Potts. Jackson Potts was born in Warren county, O., and his wife at Maysville, Ky. He engaged in farming in Miami county but died early, his widow surviv- ing until after their son's return from the Civil war, when she became the object of his filial care.
Harrison M. Potts remained on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age, in the meanwhile attending the district schools, afterward doing general farm work in the neighborhood until he enlisted for ser- vice in the Civil war, on August 15, 1862, in Company E, 110th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was a part of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. He was then only a lad of seventeen years and practically had never previously known any hardships. At the battle of Winchester, Va., shortly after his enlistment, he was captured by the Confederates and was confined in Libby prison for two days and two nights, afterward being sent to Belle Isle, where he was kept from June 14, 1863, until July 27, 1863, when he, with other prisoners, was sent to Annapolis, Md., to await formal exchange, which, not taking place in three weeks, brought about such a state of weariness and homesickness that the young soldiers, only boys in years, determined to take matters into their own hands and await exchange and parole in their own homes. While this was against military law it was natural and forgivable, for the three lads who slipped out of camp when the guards were not looking, had no idea of deserting. They practically walked the entire distance from Annapo- lis to Fletcher, with the exception of seventy-five miles, keeping to the National turnpike unless they had reason to fear capture, when they made detours, as they were aware that the provost guard, for the sake of discipline, would return them to camp before permitting them to make the longed for visit to their homes. When about seventy-five miles east of Columbus they fell in with a farmer, who, after learning the facts, took them home with him and not only fed and sheltered them but gave them railroad fare to within ten miles of Columbus. Unfor- tunately for the boys' hope of quiet escape, there was a company of sol-
HARRISON M. POTTS
HARRISON M. POTTS' RESIDENCE
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diers on board the train and the captain of the company, thinking the youths were deserters, promptly put them under guard, and on reach- ing Columbus they were taken to the State House and given the mar- ble floor for a bed. From the surrounding but sleepy guards the youths managed to escape in the early morning and continued on their way to Fletcher. For several weeks they remained in their homes and then their own colonel, Colonel Foster of Piqua, who was then visiting his home, sent for them and advised them to return to the prisoner's camp, which they did and were officially exchanged with their company and with his regiment. At the time of the New York riot, afterward, Mr. Potts was with his regiment when it was sent to that city and he continued until the close of the war, participating in many battles and serious engage- ments.
After his honorable discharge, Mr. Potts returned to his mother at Fletcher, and with the money he had saved in the army he purchased a team and went to farming. Later he moved on a farm in Turtle Creek township, paying a fair rental for the same and it was while there that he entered into the timber and saw mill business. After selling the interests he had acquired there he came to Sidney and entered the spoke and bending business and since then he has been in the same busi- ness at Ogden, Ind., at Greensburg, Ind., and a second time at Sidney. Mr. Potts is one of the best known timber and lumber men in Shelby county and is listed with the leading and representative men. In addi- tion to his lumber business he successfully operates his farm and also finds time to investigate into public matters pertaining to his own local- ity and to serve frequently in responsible positions where his business capacity is of great value to his fellow citizens. At times he has filled the office of treasurer of Turtle Creek township, and is a member of the board of trustees of the Sidney Water Works.
Mr. Potts was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Wakeman, a daughter of the late Henry Wakeman, of Turtle Creek township, and two sons were born to them: Elmer and William, the last named dying May 7, 1912. Mr. Potts is identified with the Knights of Pythias.
JOSEPH C. ROYON has been among the most active and influential of the citizens of Shelby county for more than thirty years; as a lawyer, agri- culturist and manufacturer. In 1878 he was graduated from the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan and practiced his profession for a time at Greenville and later at Sidney, in association with the late Judge Jacob S. Conklin and during four years he was solicitor for the city of Sidney. His large interest in other things, especially manufacturing, requiring his atten- tion he withdrew from active practice in 1891 and removed from Sidney to his farm near Houston.
In 1879 he married Mollie A. Flinn, daughter of David Flinn, of Lor- amie township and together they spent ten months in a tour of Europe, visit- ing among other places, the ancestral home of the Royon family in France.
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His career has been distinguished by its constructive qualities and by an ap- preciation of the worth of probity of character in affairs of business. He has been active in support of education in its broader lines and in its local development. All of his children, on reaching the suitable ages, have been graduated from or are now attending advanced schools of learning; his daughter, Josephine, having graduated from the Maryland College for Women at Lutherville. Md., near Baltimore, while his son Joseph C. Royon. Jr., a graduate of the law department of the Ohio State University, has for some time past been a member of the firm of Carr, Stearns, Chamber- lian & Royon of Cleveland, and his son Edward, a graduate of the College of Mechanical Engineering of Ohio State University, is following his pro- fession in the same city.
Mr. Royon has been president of The R. Givens & Son Company since its organization with a capital stock of $300,000 and with an annual business of approximately a half million dollars. He has been the president of the board of education of the Houston school district, in which there has been erected a new and model school building and at which the first centralization of schools in the county has taken place. He is also interested in other manufacturing corporations in Sidney. He has at all times been an influential factor in the republican politics of the county and state and it may be well said that he has been active in all lines calling for the higher ideals of citizen- ship.
C. F. HICKOK, a prominent citizen of Sidney, Ohio, and one of her substantial and representative business men, is a manufacturer and whole- sale dealer in confectionery, and has been a resident of this city for the past thirty years. He was born at Jefferson, Ashtabula county, Ohio, April 10, 1856, and is the only surviving child of his parents, Henry F. and Harriet M. Hickok, both now deceased. Henry F. Hickok operated a grist and saw- mill in Ashtabula county, where he died at the early age of twenty-eight years.
C. F. Hickok attended school until he was about fourteen years of age and then began work as a clerk in a grocery store at Ashtabula, where he remained four years, when he became a traveling salesman for a Cleveland firm, with which house he continued five years, after which he was employed two years as a cigar salesman for a Detroit firm. In 1882 he came to Sidney and embarked in a retail cigar and confectionery business and for a number of years continued as a retail merchant but since 1901 he has given all his attention to his manufacturing and his wholesale trade, having been in these lines for twelve years. His business has had a rapid but healthy growth. In 1900 he erected his fine factory, his first building having dimensions of 40x70 feet, to which an addition of 125x20 feet, four stories high, was added, and in 1908 another addition was made of 125x20 feet, also four stories high, the location being on the corner of Poplar and Franklin streets. His normal number of employes is 150 people, twelve salesmen also being kept on the road. He makes a specialty of manufacturing a high grade of chocolates, and one brand, Maple Chews, has a sale that covers the territory from coast to coast
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in the United States. Considering the fact that Mr. Hickok started into business with a small capital, one that he earned for himself, his progress has been unusual and demonstrates that he is a business man of ability. Sidney takes especial pride in such citizens, their reliability being assured and their influence being beneficial in every direction.
Mr. Hickok was married October 15, 1880, to Miss Ella Hessin. She was born at Lisbon, Ohio, October 23, 1854, and died at her home on South Ohio avenue, Sidney, after an illness of about four weeks. She was a daugh- ter of the late Horace P. Hessin and was the last of her family, her father, mother and two brothers having previously passed away. She was widely known and much beloved in this city both inside her family and intimate social circle and outside, her warm heart and sympathetic nature having caused her to interest herself in many avenues of beneficence. She was a member of the executive committee of the Business Girls' Association and was devoted as a member of the Presbyterian church. She is survived by two daughters, Harriet Marr and Willa Hessin, the former of whom is the wife of John E. Lamaster, and the latter, of Harry L. Rice, of Sidney.
In politics a stanch republican, at different times Mr. Hickok has accepted public office, has served four years as a member of the city council and also of the board of education, and for many years has been a member of the Sidney Commercial Club and its president in 1911. He belongs to Temper- ance Lodge, F. & A. M., and to chapter and commandery, all at Sidney.
D. G. POLHAMUS, township trustee of Washington township, and one of the substantial citizens of this section, resides eight miles southwest of Sidney, O., where he owns 125 acres of excellent land. Mr. Polhamus was born on the old family homestead here fifty-eight years ago, and is a son of Stephen and Mary (Booher) Polhamus.
Stephen Polhamus came to Ohio from New Jersey. He settled first in Montgomery county and came then to Washington township, Shelby county, where he died at the early age of thirty-five years. His widow survived him and they had five children : D. G., George, Alonzo, Kate and John, all surviv- ing except George and John.
D. G. Polhamus attended the school near his father's farm and then spent two years assisting on the farm of his uncle, George Booher, and after this a part of the old homestead came into his possession on which he made many substantial improvements. He carries on general farming and raises some good stock. He married Miss Ella Carpenter, and the following children have been born to them: Ida, who is now deceased, was the wife of Lewis Snow; Frank, who married Floyd Gabriel; John; Daisy, who married Emory Pot- torf ; and Clarence. Mr. Polhamus and family belong to the Methodist Epis- copal church. In politics he is a republican and is serving as a member of the township board of trustees and was formerly township clerk.
EMORY FRANKLIN MARRS, well known as a representative and sub- stantial citizen of Shelby county, resides on his farm of 100 acres, situated in
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Perry township and owns two additional farms in the same township. He also is a stockholder in the Farmers Telephone Company. He has spent the greater part of his life in Ohio, but his birth took place in Illinois in October, 1855. His parents, William and Margaret ( Robison) Marrs, were natives of Ohio and they both died here and their burial was in Graceland cemetery, at Sidney. They were members of the United Brethren church. The following children made up their family: Mitchell; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of Samuel Dorn; Emory Franklin; Ella and Nettie, both of whom are deceased; and Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Jonas Valentine.
After his period of school attendance was over, Emory F. Marrs assisted his father on the home farm until he was twenty-four years of age. After starting out for himself he lived one year on the Maxwell farm, then rented land in Perry township on his present farm for fifteen years and has lived here since. Subsequently, with his wife, bought the two other farms in Perry town- ship, one of eighty-one acres and the other of eighty-two acres, all valuable property.
On September 11, 1879, Mr. Marrs was married to Miss Jennie Key, a daughter of John and Anna ( Rinehart) Key. Mr. and Mrs. Marrs have the following children: Myrtle; Emory B .; Anna, who is the wife of Clarence Shroyer ; and Fatima R., who is the wife of Harry Johnston. Mr. Marrs and family are active in the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a member of the school board of Perry township and has served also, by appointment, as a trustee. The family and all its connections are highly respected members of society in their various communities
GEORGE D. ANDERSON, who resides on his well-improved farm of seventy-nine acres, situated near Ballou, Shelby county, O., owns another farm of seventy acres, which lies in Miami county one mile south of where he lives. He was born in Green township, Shelby county, in 1859, and is a son of William B. and Elizabeth ( Dorsey) Anderson.
Both parents of Mr. Anderson were natives of Shelby county and their lives were spent here, the father dying when his son, George D., was two years old, and the mother in 1883. The father was a farmer. Eight children were born to them, namely: John, who is deceased; Mrs. Elvira Hume, who lives in Green township; T. J., who lives in Champaign county; Clara, who is deceased; W. H., who lives in Green township: Mary and Charles, both of whom are deceased ; and George D., the youngest born.
After his school days were over. George D. Anderson decided to become a farmer and remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age and then went to Kansas and for seventeen years was a resident of that state, with varying fortunes, and then returned to Shelby county and ever since has been interested in improving his properties and in carrying on his agricultural industries. He erected a new residence on his Miami county farm and placed everything in excellent repair on his place near Ballou, and it is probable that Ohio will continue his permanent home notwithstanding the advantages that
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other sections may offer. During a part of his term of residence in Kansas, Mr. Anderson served in the office of justice of the peace.
Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Hannah A. Wert, who was born in Green township, Shelby county, and they have the following children : W. O .. Mrs. Florence Hagerman, Ray, Leroy and Earl. In politics Mr. Anderson is a democrat. He gives liberal support to the Christian church to which he and family belong, and he is identified fraternally with the Odd Fellows at Platts- ville.
HENRY A. EILERMAN, who is one of the reliable and substantial citi- zens of Cynthian township, where, for seven years he has been president of the board of education of the Short Special School District, resides on his excellent farm of 118 acres, situated two and one-half miles southeast of Fort Loramie, O., was born in McLean township, Shelby county, May 19, 1875. His parents, Frank J. and Catherine Eilerman, were of German extraction and for many years well known and respected residents of McLean township.
Henry A. Eilerman went to school in the Sherman Special School District and afterward worked on the home farm. Since his marriage he has lived on his present farm which he has improved in many ways. He built a new residence and remodeled the barn, put up much fencing and attended to the draining of the land wherever he found it desirable, and now has not only a profitable property but an exceedingly comfortable and attractive home. His business is mixed farming.
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