USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 67
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Andrew Mader was born and grew to manhood in Germany and was twenty-one years of age when he came to the United States. He worked on the construction of the Miami & Erie Canal and thus came to Ohio. He married Elizabeth B. Brehm, who was also born in Germany and was three years old when brought to America by her parents, John E. and Margaret (Schautchner) Brehm, who came to Shelby county, O., and settled on the farm which is now the property of Edward C. Mader, he buying it from his grandfather Brehm. Andrew Mader died here in his seventieth year and his burial was at Black's cemetery; in Lorantie township. His widow survives, being now in her seventieth year, and she still lives on the homestead.
Edward C. Mader has spent his life on the home farm, all of which is under cultivation except ten acres in valuable timber. Both grandfather and father did some clearing and Mr. Mader completed it and also attended to draining the land and has a very productive farm. He makes no specialty but raises enough stock for himself and the usual grains, hay and potatoes, crops that do well in this section.
On March 18, 1894, Mr. Mader was married to Miss Ida E. Cook, who was born in Montgomery county, O., April 12, 1869, a daughter of Ezra and Sarah (Stiver) Cook. Mrs. Mader was fourteen years old when she accom- panied her parents to Loramie township, where they still live. The five chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Mader all survive, namely : Clarence A., Goldie E.,
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Emerson G., and Bertha J. and Walter H., twins. Mr. Mader and family belong to the Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Mader has been a lifelong democrat, as was his father, and at times he has consented to hold township offices when his party has wished to honor him. At the present time he is a member of the board of trustees of Loramie township, and is also treasurer of the Beech Grove Special School District.
JACOB MUNK, who is clerk of the board of education of the Huffman Special School District, in Loramie township, owns a valuable tract of sixteen acres of land, situated in section 13, which he devotes to the growing of berries and broom corn, utilizing the product himself as he is a maker of brooms. He was born May 9, 1854, in Bethel township, Miami county, O., and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Wurtz) Munk.
John Munk was one of the loyal and patriotic men who entered the service of their country only to later lose their lives. He enlisted in a Springfield, O., company, in the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was recruited there for service in the Civil war, and he fell on the field of battle at Winchester, Va., when aged forty-seven years. He left a widow and an only son. The widow moved into Shelby county when her son was about eleven years old and here her death occurred February 27, 1895, and her burial was in the cemetery at Houston, her age being eighty-four years. She was a member of the Reformed church.
Jacob Munk was reared in Shelby county and attended school until old enough to engage in farm work and has lived in Loramie township since he was eleven years of age. After marriage he settled on his present place, which he has comfortably improved, and has been engaged in broom manu- facture for about one year. For many years he has served on the local school board and it was partly through his efforts that the Huffman was made a special school district, this arrangement carrying with it many benefits for the community. Since 1905 he has been clerk of the board of education.
Mr. Munk married Miss Elizabeth Voisard, who was born in Loramie township, Shelby county, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Jane Voisard, and the following children were born to them: Clara, who is the wife of Alonzo Fritz, of Tippecanoe City, O .; Charles, who lives at Piqua, married Myrtle McConnell : James, who is a resident of Piqua ; an infant daughter, deceased ; William. who lives at Hamilton, O., married Josephine Wrigley; Nellie, who died when aged six years ; and Roy, Lottie, Ruth and Thadedorra. The family belongs to the Reformed church. In politics Mr. Munk is a republican.
ANTHONY HIEGEL, who is one of the prominent and substantial men of Shelby county, O., where he owns four separate farms, aggregating 320 acres, three of which lie in Loramie and one in Cynthian township, resides in section 5, in the former township, on the St. Mary and Piqua turnpike road, north of Houston, O. He was born July 27, 1857, in Alsace, Germany, a son of Joseph and Margaret (Schuster) Hiegel, whose family consisted of five sons and two daughters. The parents passed away in Germany and but two
AUGUST WISE
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of the children are yet living : Anthony and Charles, the latter being a resident of Springfield, O.
Anthony Hiegel was fifteen years of age when he and his brother, Joseph Hiegel, left Germany and came to the United States, and soon after came to Loramie township, Shelby county, where Anthony decided to locate perma- nently. Here he worked with farmers until he learned the business and after he married, settled on his present home farm. Afterward he moved to the range line and lived there for four years and then came back to his old farm. All his land is well improved and he erected the substantial buildings which stand on the home place, all of which is under cultivation except ten acres yet in valuable timber.
Mr. Hiegel married Miss Saralı A. Ortman, who was born in Loramie township, a sister of John A. Ortman and a daughter of Henry Ortman, a well known family in this locality. Mrs. Hiegel died August 27, 1911, and her burial was in the cemetery at Houston. She was a most estimable lady, respected and beloved by all who knew her, and a member of the Lutheran church. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hiegel : Joseph, who lives in Cynthian township, married Isabella Doren; Charles, who lives with his family in Loramie township; William, who is a resident of Dark county, O., married Tracy Leymen; and John, Mary and Lawrence, all of whom are at home. In politics Mr. Hiegel has been a democrat since reaching mature years and once served as township trustee of Loramie township and for some years has belonged to the Mills special school district board of education for both Loramie and Cynthian townships and is assistant treasurer of the same.
AUGUST WISE, one of the well known business men of Shelby county, who operates a saw mill and deals in hardwood lumber, at Fort Loramie, was born and reared in this section and is a son of August and Thresia Wise. the former of whom was born in Holland and the latter in Germany.
August Wise attended school at Fort Loramie and early began to be self supporting, for two years driving a pair of mules in the lumber regions, when not more than fifteen years of age. In 1881 the father of Mr. Wise started a saw mill business one mile north of Fort Loramie and the son went to work in the mill which his father in 1892 removed and rebuilt at Fort Loramie and conducted until his death, in 1902. Since that time Angust Wise has continued the business alone, and to some degree has expanded the same, giving employment to seven men at the present time. The mill has the following dimensions: 36 x 116 feet, and 22 x 80 feet, with engine room of 40 x 44 feet. All kinds of custom sawing is done, and handles are manufactured, as many as 80,000 of the handles being turned out annually. Mr. Wise is ready to purchase timber in any amount when he can secure suitable tracts and hires teams when the hauling is more than his own two road and log teams can handle. He is a wide awake business.man and one who, through business integrity, has won the confidence of all with whom he is associated in this way .
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Mr. Wise married Miss Catherine Rice, who was born at Fort Lor- amie in 1871, a daughter of Joseph and Madeline Rice, and they have a family of five children, namely: Esther and Tracy, twins, who are eight years old; Hilda, who has celebrated her fifth birthday; Edward, whose four years prevents him from yet going to school; and Veronica, who is the one-year-old baby. Mr. Wise and family belong to St. Mich- ael's Catholic church. In politics he is nominally a Democrat but as an intelligent and thinking man, often shows that he is somewhat independent of party. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of St. Jolın and has a creditable record in both organizations. Mr. Wise is inter- ested to some extent in the Loramie & Minster Railway Company.
ORA A. MARTIN, one of the substantial and well informed men of Loramie township, resides on his valuable farm of 101 acres, a fine property which lies not far distant from Versailles, O. He was born in Adams town- ship, Darke county, O., October 22, 1874, and is a son of John B. and Cath- erine Martin, the former of whom is now deceased.
Ora A. Martin obtained his education in the public schools and since then has continuously followed an agricultural life. Since February 22, 1910, he has resided on his present place, which was improved by the former owner, the late George Rhoades, his father-in-law, and here he successfully carries on diversified farming and grows stock for his own use.
Mr. Martin was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda T. Rhoades, who is the youngest daughter of the late George and Matilda Rhoades, who were well known people of Shelby county, O. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are members of the Lutheran church and they have a wide acquaintance in this section and many friends. Mr. Martin like his late father is a democrat but has never beer willing to accept any political recognition except membership on the school board, and as such, in September, 1911, was elected treasurer of the Green- wood special school district and continues to serve.
JOHN W. LORTON, who is engaged in farming and stock raising in Loramie township, owns 100 acres of productive land, situated in section 18, two miles from Russia, O. He was born in Clinton township, Shelby county, O., December 15, 1860, and is a son of George Allison and Catherine (Glas- ford) Lorton.
George Allison Lorton was born in Shelby county and died at the age of sixty years, his burial being at Sidney. All his life he worked hard as a day laborer, never having had any educational opportunities in his youth, but was universally respected for his many excellent traits of character. He married Catherine Glasford, who was born in Germany and was brought to Montgom- ery county, Ohio, when seven years old. She now lives in Turtle Creek town- ship. They became the parents of thirteen children, and of this large family three sons and two daughters are living. They were members of the Luth- eran church.
John W. Lorton was reared in Clinton township and secured his school-
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ing there, and as soon as old enough began to be self supporting, working on farms or in any way that was honorable, for six years being a railroad employe. After marriage he settled at Houston and as soon as he had accu- mulated enough money bought eighty-five acres in Loramie township. He later sold that property and in 1910 purchased his present farm.
Mr. Lorton was married to Miss Louisa Wintringham, who was born at Houston, a daughter of George and Christiana (Ervin) Wintringham, both of whom died in Loramie township. Mr. and Mrs. Lorton have four chil- dren : Freeborn F., who married Ina Hoover, who died leaving a daughter, Evelyn ; Blanche, who is the wife of Jesse Wilbaum, of near Anna Station, by whom she has two children, Ellen and Laurence ; John E., who first married Minerva Langston, deceased, and later Tracey Stout of Noble county; and Walter, who lives at home. They are also rearing a youth named Roy Grimes. Mr. Lorton has been a lifelong republican but has never been very active in politics. He takes an interest in all local matters as becomes a good citizen and cheerfully assists in supporting the schools of Huffman special school district. The family belongs to the Christian church at Houston.
HERBERT E. SHEETS, of the Sheets Manufacturing Company, of Botkins, O., one of the large and important industrial enterprises of the place, was born here, October 5, 1884, and is a son of Philip and Catherine (Thul- man) Sheets.
Philip Sheets, who founded the Sheets Manufacturing Company, died September 6, 1905, Herbert E. Sheets succeeding as head of the concern. This company manufactures wood wheel material for wagons, carriages and automobiles and employment is given eighty men, the plant covering five acres of ground. Mr. Sheets has been identified with the business ever since he completed his education. He has other important interests, being president of the Shelby County Bank at Botkins, vice president of the Sidney Manu- facturing Company, and, in association with his brother, E. S. Sheets, owns the Sheets Grain Company of Botkins. He is an energetic, wide awake busi- ness man and commands the respect of all with whom he is associated.
Mr. Sheets married Miss Helen Baughman, of Jackson Center, O., in 19II, and they have a very attractive home at Botkin. He is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, Knight Templar and Shriner, and has attained the Thirty-second degree. He belongs also to the Odd Fellows.
J. H. M. SCHURR, undertaker and furniture dealer, at Botkins, O., con- tinuing a business established by his father twenty-four years ago, was born on a farm in Auglaize county, O., four miles northwest of Botkins, August 7, 1877, and is a son of Christian and Margaret ( Bimel) Schurr.
Christian Schurr and family moved to Botkins in 1888, at which time he established the business above referred to and carried it on until 1899 when he was succeeded by his son, J. H. M. He still survives, being now in his seventy-fifth year, and is one of Botkins' most highly esteemed citizens. He was twice married and of his ten children born to his first union eight survive.
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one son, J. H. M. and seven daughters. Three sons were born to his second marriage.
J. H. M. Schurr attended the public schools of Botkins and then entered his father's employ in the undertaking business, to which he finally succeeded, later became a qualified embalmer and has a complete outfit for this branch of the business. He has proper vehicles and equipments of all kinds including a handsome funeral car and his services are sought from all over Shelby and Auglaize counties. On August 20, 1899, he embarked in the furniture line, and as demand arose, from time to time added wall papers, linoleumns and rugs to his other stock and now does the largest business in this line that is done in three townships.
Mr. Schurr was married to Miss Emma Amelia Moothart, who is a daugh- ter of John Moothart, president of the Botkin school board, and they have three children : Edison Luther, Helen Naomi and Ruth Mildred. Mr. Schurr and family are members of the Lutheran church.
JOHN MOOTHART, a highly respected citizen and retired farmer living in his comfortable home at Botkins, O., is serving as president of the Bot- kins special district school board, giving to the duties of this office the benefi- cial experience gained through many years of interest in the public schools. He was born on a farm in Franklin township, Shelby county, O., one mile south of Anna, December 31, 1849, and is a son of Peter and Sarah ( Fost- night) Moothart.
Peter Moothart was born in Pennsylvania and was young when he came to Shelby county where he spent his life as a farmer. His widow, who sur- vives and is now in her eighty-eighth year, was reared in Shelby county, O., but was born in Pennsylvania. They were of German extraction, and Mrs. Moothart attends the Lutheran church, probably being the oldest member at Anna, O.
John Moothart was reared on the home farm in Franklin township and during his entire active life followed farm pursuits. After his marriage he settled on the old Balser Hagelberger farm in Dinsmore township, Shelby county, two miles south of Botkins, where he successfully carried on general farming and stock raising. In 1906 he turned the farm industries over to his sons and retired to Botkins. For eighteen years he served as a member of the school board in Dinsmore township and has served on the Botkins board for five years, being president of this body for the past year.
Mr. Moothart was married November 19, 1874, to Miss Julia Ann Hagel- berger and they have nine children living, namely: William Edward, Louis Albert, Emma Amelia, Milton, Jennie May, Oliver Milard, Harvey, Alfred and Clara Louella. Emma Amelia is the wife of J. H. M. Schurr, and Jen- nie May is the wife of James R. Cox. Mr. Moothart and family are members of the Lutheran church and he belongs to the board of deacons in the same. He has never been very active politically but has always aimed to be a useful member of his community and has always enjoyed the trust and respect of friends and neighbors.
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CHARLES L. WINDLE, a valued and experienced member of the board of county commissioners of Shelby county, O., has been a representative citi- zen of Orange township for the past nineteen years. He was born in Clinton township. this county, November 16, 1870, and is a son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Buirley ) Windle.
Mr. Windle was but one year old when he lost his father by death and during the following five years he lived with his maternal grandfather in Clinton township. He was six years old when his mother married H. H. Wilson, and they moved to Green township, and he continued with his mother and step-father until he was twenty-three years of age, in the mean- while securing a good common school education. He was reared to be a practical farmer and has followed agricultural pursuits ever since, in 1892 purchasing his present farm of forty acres, which lies in a favorable section of Orange township.
In 1894 Mr. Windle was married to Miss Daisy Arbogast. of Green township, Shelby county, a daughter of Lewis and Henrietta ( Maderris) Arbogast, the former of whom is now deceased, the latter still living. Mr. and Mrs. Windle have one son, Lewis, who attends to the farm when his father is engaged with his official duties. This farm is a part of the tract which Mr. Windle's maternal great-grandfather, William K. Buirley entered from the government, and, except for eight years preceding its purchase by Mr. Windle from a Mr. Watkins, has never been out of the family.
It is usually from the solid, thinking men of a township that the members of the board of county commissioners are selected, the office being one of considerable responsibility and great importance. Mr. Windle has long been active politically and has served on many political committees in the democratic party, and in the fall of 1910 tas first elected to his present office and in the spring of 1912 was reelected. For seven years prior to this he had served as a trustee of Orange township.
GEORGE HAGELBERGER, president of the Shelby County Fair Board, is one of the solid, reliable men that have earned for this section the respect and confidence of other parts of Ohio. Since 1903 he has been a resident of Anna, O., but he was born on a farm in Dinsmore township, Shelby county, three miles north of this village, May 28, 1855, of French and German parentage. His father, Balser Hagelberger, was born in Alsace, when that much coveted territory belonged yet to France, while his mother. Frederika (Fogt) Hagelberger, was born in Baden, Germany.
On both sides the grandparents were the pioneers of these families in America and Balser Hagelberger was six years old when his parents brought him to the United States, and his wife was a child of ten years when she and her parents crossed the Atlantic ocean. They were reared in Ohio and settled early after marriage in Shelby county, where Mr. Hagelberger carried on farming until he retired, his death occurring in 1903, being then a resident of Anna, O. His widow survives and is now in her seventy-eighth year.
George Hagelberger grew up on the home farm and the larger part of his
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life has been spent in carrying on his agricultural industries. He lived for twenty-eight years on his farm of 160 acres, lying on the corporation edge of Anna, and owns another farm of 160 acres, in partnership with a brother- in-law, Charles C. Toland, situated in Jackson township. His many years of experience and his interest in all that promises to be of advantage to the agricultural community, particularly qualifies him for the honorable office he holds as president of the Shelby county fair board, to which he was elected in 1906. He occupies other positions of trust and responsibility, being a member of the board of directors of the Children's Home in Shelby county and also of the Orphans' Home at Richmond, Ind. He has long been an important factor in democratic politics and is a member of the democratic county committee, has served as a member of the town council at Anna and for at least fifteen years has been a valued member of the school board.
Mr. Hagelberger was married to Miss Lydia Moothart, of Shelby county, a daughter of Peter and Sarah Moothart, formerly of Franklin township, the latter of whom survives, being now aged eighty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Hagelberger have one son, Harry, who is in the clothing business at Anna, O. He married Miss Rosa Landwhere and they have one child, Anna Lois. Mr. Hagelberger and family belong to the Lutheran church. He was one of its organizers at Anna and was an active member of the building committee of the present church edifice.
HENRY JONES, who resides on his well-improved farm of ninety acres, situated in Washington township, has spent almost all his life in this state but his birth took place in Dauphin county, Pa., March 20, 1854, a son of Jolin and Louisa (Wagner) Jones.
John Jones was born in 1830, in Pennsylvania, and came from there to Miami county, O., where he was engaged in farming and dairying for fifty- two years, and died there July 31, 1912, aged eighty-two years. He mar- ried Louisa Wagner, who passed away many years ago, the mother of ten children, as follows: Mrs. Wilkinson, of Piqua; Henry; Josiah and John, both deceased ; Mrs. Thompson; William; Laura, who lives on the old home- stead, and three who died as infants.
Henry Jones had the usual country boy's opportunities of schooling in his youth and afterward assisted his father until he was twenty-four years old and then came to Shelby county and settled on the farm on which he now lives and here spent fourteen years, moving then back to Miami county, where he passed the next ten years. In 1902 he returned to his Washington town- ship farm and here has made many improvements, including since that time, the erection of a fine barn. He owns a second farm, containing eighty acres, which is situated in Spring Creek township. While he has been a busy farmer and a very successful one, he has found time to take a good citizen's interest in public matters, and on the republican ticket has been elected to important township offices, formerly serving as a trustee and now is treasurer.
Mr. Jones married Miss Belle Mckinney and they have three children :
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May, who married J. Moore, of Indianapolis, Ind .; Roy, who married Ethel Higgins ; and Harley, who assists his father. Mr. Jones and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church at Lockington, O.
JOHN B. SHERMAN, a prosperous general farmer and a well-known and respected citizen of Cynthian township, Shelby county, O., who resides on his excellent farm of eighty acres, situated in section 27, belongs to one of the old settled families of Shelby county. He was born January 25, 1865, and is a son of Joseph and Mary ( Rottinghaus) Sherman.
Joseph Sherman emigrated to this county in 1835 and was a son of John W. and Elizabeth Sherman. He was born October 22, 1816, and brought up as a farmer. His first wife was Elizabeth Geehr, his second wife was Mary, daughter of John B. Rottinghaus. Their children are Joseph H., Catherine, Mary E., John B., Mary C., John H., Mary J., Mary M., Henry F., Mathilda, Annie and Louise. He has been supervisor for four years and township trus- tee six years. He died October 22, 1893, aged seventy-seven years.
John B. Sherman was reared on his father's farm in McLean township and attended school in the Sherman school in the Sherman special school district. His interests have always been of an agricultural nature, first on the homestead and after marriage he carried on farming for himself on a tract of eighty acres, situated on the Hale turnpike road and during his eight years of occupancy made many improvements there. He then sold and moved on the farm he now occupies all of which he cultivates with the exception of eight acres. His land is well drained and tiled and under his methods of farming is very productive and he raises grain, cattle and hogs.
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