USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 72
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
CHARLES PEPPER, a general farmer operating seventy-two acres of land situated in Perry township, Shelby county, O., which he rents from W. A. Johnston, of East Sidney, is one of the prosperous agriculturists of this section. He was born in Perry township, November 19, 1881, and is a son of John H. and Margaret A. (Roe) Pepper. The father was born in Cham- paign county, O., and came to Shelby county at the age of eighteen years and has spent his subsequent life here. In politics he is a democrat. He married Margaret A. Roe, who was born in Miami county, O., and three sons were born to them : Frank, Charles and William. They are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
Charles Pepper has had experience as a farmer ever since his school days ended. Until he was twenty-one years of age he assisted on the home farm and for four years afterward worked for his father on shares, following which, in 1907, he rented his present farm from Mr. Johnston and has suc- cessfully and profitably conducted it for five years. He is one of the stock- holders in the Farmers Telephone Company.
On October 1, 1905, Mr. Pepper was married to Miss Martha Heath. who was born in Logan county, O., a daughter of David and Sarah (Kress) Heath. Mrs. Pepper has brothers and sisters as follows: Reatha, Viola, Orvie, Alva, Rachel, Jaazaniah, Ollie, Earl and Minerva. Mr. and Mrs. Pep- per are the justly proud parents of twin children, Cable and Mabel, who were born August 26, 1907. Politically Mr. Pepper is a stanch democrat and is now serving in his second term as township trustee. Mrs. Pepper belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
EMORY E. BAKER, whose successful operating of the home farm, con- sisting of 235 acres, which is situated in Perry township, Shelby county, O., places him among the competent young agriculturists of this section, was born in Perry township, October 24, 1880. He is a son of Lewis W. and Julia ( Booze) Baker.
Lewis W. Baker is a son of William Baker, one of the early settlers in Shelby county. From early manhood until 1893 he engaged in general farm- ing, but in that year he went into the elevator business at Maplewood, Shelby county, O., with M. D. Burke of Pemberton, O., under the firm name of Burke & Baker. In 1904 he bought out Mr. Burke and continued in business by him- self until 1909, when he sold to Simmons, Faulkner & Cook. In 1911, he and Mr. A. F. Rust bought two elevators at Haviland, Paulding county, O., and are operating them under the name of the Haviland Grain Company. He married Julia Booze, a daughter of Hezekiah Booze, and they have two chil- dren : Emory E. and Edna, who is the wife of John J. Drewery, of Jackson township, and they have one daughter, Beulah.
Emory E. Baker obtained his education in the public schools and afterward was employed for five years by the firm of Burke & Baker, elevator operators. Mr. Baker then took charge of his father's large farm and has managed its various industries in a very satisfactory manner ever since. He has progres- sive ideas and follows the most modern methods with the assistance of
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improved machinery, devoting the land mainly to crop raising, growing only stock for his own use.
Mr. Baker was married November 15, 1900, to Miss Lavina J. Young, who was born in Shelby county and is a daughter of Adam P. and Mary J. (Allen) Young, Mr. Young being a substantial farmer in this county. Mrs. Baker is the third in a family of five children : Elza, Earl, Lavina J., Minnie and Grover, Minnie being the wife of William Cox.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker have four children: Wilda L., Harold L., Carl E. and Ralph E. The family attends the Disciples church. In politics Mr. Baker is a democrat but has always been too busy attending to his own affairs to feel at liberty to accept public office, although well qualified for the same. He takes an interest in several fraternal organizations and belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Maplewood and to the D. O. K. K., at Sidney.
JOSEPH FRANKENBERG, who owns one of the fine farms of Dins- more township, Shelby county, a beautiful, fertile tract of 200 acres, situated two miles east of Botkins, O., was born in this township in 1858, and is a son of Harmon and Louisa ( Alkermire) Frankenberg. Harmon Frankenberg, the father, who died in 1862, was a highly respected man and by trade was a carpenter and cabinetmaker. He left six children: Julius, John, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary and Theresa. Some time after the death of her first husband, Mrs. Frankenberg married Barney Wempe and four children were born to that marriage: Josephine, Catherine, John and Barney, John being deceased.
Joseph Frankenberg was educated in the district schools and then worked on his step-father's farm and was sixteen years old when the latter died. He then took charge of the farm for his mother and operated it until he was twenty-two years of age, at which time he married. He had inherited forty acres from his father's estate and then settled on that tract and erected a residence and shortly afterward bought forty acres more. Three years later he bought still another forty acres and his next purchase was a tract of eighty acres. He made all the improvements on his land and devotes it to general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Frankenberg married Miss Frances Greve, who is a daughter of Har- mon and Louisa Greve and the following children have been born to them : Clara, John, Louis, Joseph, Frances, Aloysius, Catherine and Clemens, all of whom live at home with the exception of Frances and Clara, the former of whom is the wife of Paul Smith and they live in Shelby county. The latter married Frank Switzer and they live in Auglaize county and have three chil- dren : Richard, Alfred and Hilda. Mr. Frankenberg and family belong to the Catholic church. Politically he is a democrat. He is one of the reliable, substantial men of the township and one of its best and most progressive farmers.
WILLIAM G. MURPHEY, a well known resident of Shelby county. O., who, for fourteen years has operated the Daniel Curtner farm in Franklin township, was born on this farm November 13, 1865, and is a son of Henry
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
and Nancy (Cole) Murphey. Henry Murphey is a highly respected retired farmer now living at Port Jefferson, O. He was twice married, first to Nancy Cole, who died in 1875, and second to Rhoda Busic. To his first marriage three children were born, namely: Clara, who is the wife of John Lochard; Minnie, who is the wife of Rev. Harrison Thompson, of the Christian church ; and William G. To the second union one son was born, Charles.
William G. Murphey obtained his education in the schools of Franklin township and afterward followed farming with his father and grandfather until his marriage. He owns an excellent farm of eighty acres, situated in Salem township, but it has suited his convenience to remain on the Curtner farm, where he carries on a general farming line, raising only enough stock, however, for home use.
In January, 1881, Mr. Murphey was married to Miss Minnie Staley, who is a daughter of George W. Staley and wife of Jackson township, Shelby county, who had the following children, all well known people of this section : Edward: Mrs. Murphey; Milton; Alice, who is the wife of Rowe Buracre; George; Mark; Isophene, who is the wife of L. G. Shanley, of Pemberton, O .; Bessie, who is the wife of Albert Linker; and Mary, who is the wife of Clarence Rinehart. Mr. and Mrs. Murphey have two children: Clay, who is a student of osteopathy, in college, at Kirksville, Mo .; and Bessie, who resides at home. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. In his politi- cal affiliation Mr. Murphey has always been a republican.
GEORGE KIES, who successfully carries on general farming and stock raising in Dinsmore township, Shelby county, O., owns an excellent farm of 160 acres, situated two and one-half miles southeast of Botkins, was born in this township and is a son of Michael and Frederica ( Seamans ) Kies.
The parents of Mr. Kies were born in Germany and in their native land and afterward, in the United States, were highly respected people. They were the parents of the following children: Adam, Henry, Mary, Anna, John, Sophia, George and Catherine. Adam married Ann Shuler, and they live at Botkins, O. Henry married Louisa Groves and they live three miles from Botkins. Mary married Jacob Elsass of Auglaize county, O. Anna married David Rheinhart and they live also in Auglaize county. John, who died at the age of fifty-seven years, married Caroline Groves. Sophia is deceased. Catherine is the widow of Louis Zeble and lives at Wapakoneta, O.
George Kies attended the public schools in Dinsmore township and ever since, with the exception of twelve years, has followed farming. He owns a beautiful property which is kept in the best of condition, his buildings being attractive and substantial and all his industries are carried on according to the latest methods. In visiting a model farm like Mr. Kies' it is easy to see why an Ohio agriculturist may be classed with the most independent and contented of men. Productive fields, bountiful orchards, healthy cattle and stock, abundance in every direction, with order and comfort reigning in the home, this presents a pleasant picture.
Mr. Kies was married first to Miss Caroline Wilt, and they had two chil-
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dren, Emma Elizabeth and Martha M. The latter died in infancy. Emma Elizabeth married George Elsass and they live in Auglaize county and have three children : Edna, Amelia and Leona. Mr. Kies' second marriage was to Miss Maggie Meyers, a daughter of Casper and Margaret Meyers. Mrs. Kies had two brothers, Henry and John, the former of whom is deceased and the latter lives at Portland, Ind. Mr. Kies and wife belong to the Lutheran church, in which he has been a trustee for a number of years and of which he is a liberal supporter.
MICHAEL A. ROTH, whose valuable and well stocked farm of 1IO acres is situated one-half mile northeast of Botkins, O., in Dinsmore town- ship, is one of the representative men of this section, in which he has served for seven and one-half years as a justice of the peace. He was born at Bot- kins, O., May 26, 1872, and is a son of Antony and Elizabeth ( Leabling) Roth.
Antony Roth was born at Palestine, O., and died October 24, 19II, at the age of seventy-five years. His father was born in Germany and came to the United States at the age of fourteen years, and his mother about the same time. She was born on the River Rhine, Germany, and her maiden name was Salinger. Anthony Roth married Elizabeth Leabling, who was born at Dayton, O., and still survives, being in her seventy-sixth year and a resident of Botkins. Her father was born in Hesse and her mother in Wittenberg. Germany. The following children were born to Antony and Elizabeth Roth : Josephine, George, Jacob, Henry. Frank, Joseph, Elizabeth, Michael A .. Anna and Alphonse. Josephine, who lives at Botkins, is the widow of Will- iam B. Stelzer : George died at the age of nineteen years: Jacob married Kate Geotz and they live at St. Mary's, O .; Henry died in infancy ; Frank married Lena King and they live at Wapakoneta, O .; Joseph married Bertha Baldus and they live at Genessee, Idaho: Elizabeth married Peter Schaaf and they live at Dayton ; Anna married William Hemmert and they live at Botkins ; and Alphonse married Matilda Schullen and they live at Ottoville, O.
Michael A. Roth obtained his education in the public and parochial schools at Botkins and later took a course at Rensselaer College, Ind. He then went into the sawmill and contracting business, in which he continues to be inter- ested, and, additionally, carries on his farming operations with a large amount of success. He is justly proud of his pure-bred cattle and hogs, believing that there is more profit in fine stock than in the ordinary or inferior breeds. He is one of the active citizens of his neighborhood, always ready to do his part in all public movements and through natural gifts and education is capable of doing so. He was first elected to the office of justice of the peace when but twenty-four years old and has proved a valuable and efficient official.
Mr. Roth married Miss Clara Baker, a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Hasser) Baker. The father of Mrs. Roth was born in France and her mother at Fremont, O. The grandfather served under Napoleon in the Rus- sian campaign, after which he came to Ohio and died here in his eighty-sixth year. The grandmother died at Fremont, O., in her ninety-ninth year. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roth: Marie, Rosella. Claretta,
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
William. Eugene, Joseph and Gregory, the last named dying at the age of five years. Mr. Roth and family are members of the Catholic church at Botkins, O.
WILLIAM FINKENBINE, one of the representative citizens and sub- stantial and practical business men of Franklin township, was born in Shelby county. O., February 18, 1859, and is a son of John and Barbara (Schiff) Finkenbine, who now live retired in Franklin township. They are well known and highly esteemed people and are among the leading members of the Ger- man Lutheran church.
William Finkenbine was the eldest born of his parents' family of ten children and he remained with his father on the extensive home farm until he was thirty years of age, in the meanwhile attending the district schools in the neighborhood. After his twenty-first birthday he worked for his father for $100 a year and as he never drew one cent of his wages until he married, had a snug capital with which to start out for himself. For nine years after marriage he rented farm land from his father but later purchased his present farm of eighty acres, on which he has profitably engaged in farming and stock raising ever since.
Mr. Finkenbine was married first on November 1, 1888, to Miss Ida M. Ludlum, who died March 31, 1894. She was a daughter of Eliakim and Sarah ( Persinger) Ludlum. Three children were born to the above mar- riage : Bonnie, who is deceased; Margie, who is the wife of Wilbur Schiff; and Wilbur, who is deceased. On March 4, 1897, Mr. Finkenbine was mar- ried (second) to Miss Emma C. Losch, a daughter of George and Sarah ( Har- mon) Losch, the former of whom died on his farm in this county and his burial was in the Pearl cemetery. The mother of Mrs. Finkenbine still resides in Franklin township. her children being: Jacob, George, Emma C., Lydia, Callie, John and Clara. Mr. and Mrs. Finkenbine have two children : Freda Clara and Mary May. The family belongs to the German Lutheran church, which has been the family church for several generations. Mr. Finkenbine, like his father, is a strong democrat in his political views.
JOHN M. SCHIFF. JR., one of the representative citizens of Franklin township, Shelby county. O., who is serving in his seventh term as township assessor, resides on his valuable farm of 112 acres, where he engages in gen- eral farming. This is his birthplace, born January 19, 1866, and is a son of John M. and Leanda ( Moothart ) Schiff.
John M. Schiff, the father, was born in Germany. For many years he was a farmer in Franklin township, where his death occurred in advanced years. He was a worthy member of the Lutheran church and his burial was in Pearl cemetery. He married Leanda Moothart, who was born in Pennsyl- vania and now lives at Anna, O., a much esteemed lady and a member of the Lutheran church there. They had the following children: William, who is deceased; Lydia, who is the widow of John Fogt; Henry L .; Lena, who is
MR. AND MRS, JOHN F. CAMPBELL
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deceased, was the wife of George Gueths; Callie L., who is the wife of Will- iam Hagelberger ; and John M.
John M. Schiff, his father's namesake, grew up on the home farm and assisted his father during the latter's lifetime and since then has devoted him- self exclusively to his farm industries, always having been an industrious man and is one who is credited with excellent judgment in business and other affairs. In 1886 Mr. Schiff was married to Miss Louisa Knasel, who, at deatlı, left the following children : Melvin C., who married Bessie Ike; and Ladonna May, who is the wife of William Harmon and they have two children : Ken- neth Eugene and Marion Lester. Mr. Schiff's second marriage took place in 1898, to Miss Caroline B. Zorn, who was born in Shelby county, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret ( Merklin) Zorn. The father of Mrs. Schiff was born in Shelby county and died on his farm in this county. The mother was born in Germany and now lives in Jackson township, Shelby county. To Mr. and Mrs. Zorn the following children were born: Lena, who is the wife of Jacob Helmlinger ; Catherine, who is the wife of Philip Helmlinger; Jacob Henry; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Alfred Waltz; Mary, who is deceased, was the wife of Jacob Waltz; and Caroline B., who is the wife of Mr. Schiff.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Schiff are: Mamie Louella, Iva Marie. Elmer Harold and Erma Grace. The family belongs to St. Jacob's Lutheran church. Always a stanch democrat, Mr. Schiff has frequently been useful in the councils of his party and when he has been elected to office has proven honest and thoroughly efficient. He is known all over the county and stands high with his fellow citizens.
JOHN F. CAMPBELL, who is a member of one of the old and rep- resentative families of Shelby county, O., is one of the substantial citi- zens of Turtle Creek township, where he owns 370 acres of very valua- ble land. He was born in this township, December 26, 1836, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Brown) Campbell.
John Campbell and wife were born in Shelby county and were very early settlers in Turtle Creek township, where he followed farming until his death in 1841. His widow subsequently married Edward Beck, who was also a farmer and well known resident of this township. To her first marriage the following children were born: Joseph, Robert and Jackson: Elizabeth, who was accidentally drowned when eight years old; Susan, who married Kinley Sissell: Margaret. who married Wil- liam Millinger; John F .: and Mary, who married Martin Burress. To her second marriage four children were born: Martha, who married James Russell; Raper: Laura, who married William A. Russell; and Frisby, who was accidentally killed by falling from a wagon.
During boyhood John F. Campbell attended the district schools and afterward worked for his step-father on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age and then worked two years longer for his board. He was eighteen years old when he started out for himself and remained with his first employer for three years, receiving wages of eleven dol-
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
lars a month, and as soon as he had enough money hastened to invest in land, his first purchase being eighty acres. Mr. Campbell has always believed that good land is a wise and sensible investment and has fol- lowed out that policy and now owns 370 acres of producing property. He is no longer actively engaged but for many years was a hard work- ing and has always been provident, and while he has been able to accu- mulate a large property, has done so through his own unassisted efforts. He is also a stockholder in the churn factory at Sidney.
In 1865 Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Melinda Strouse, who was born in Montgomery county. O., a daughter of Adam and Barbara (Dare) Struose, the former of whom was a tailor in early life but later became a farmer. Both he and wife are deceased. They had the fol- lowing children: Mary, wife of Lewis Hohn; Sarah, wife of Shedrach Burton ; Rebecca, wife of Jacob Zimmers ; and Melinda, wife of Mr. Campbell. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have two children and three grandchildren: Littie Dell, who is the wife of William Widney and they have one son, John ; and Sheridan S., who married Mary Marshall and they have two daughters, Sadie E. and Emma Marie. Mr. Campbell and family belong to the Presbyterian church. He is a democrat in his political views and has served two terms as township trustee. In business, social and church relations Mr. Campbell has always been held in esteem.
JOHN H. MOWRY, a general farmer and stock dealer, well known in Franklin township, resides on his finely cultivated farm of eighty-five acres, and was born at Sidney, O., September 17, 1853. His parents were Daniel and Elizabeth ( Davis) Mowry, and both are now deceased. They were people of sterling character and upright life, leading members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and were widely known. Their children were: Lyda, wife of Louis Johnston : Anna, wife of William Counts; Clara, wife of Bert Patton : Alice, wife of George Pfaadt: Eva, wife of Charles Quinn; and Edward. Thomas C. and John H.
John H. Mowry obtained his education in the country schools near his present farm, on which he has spent all his concious life, remaining with his parents until they passed away and then purchasing the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead. He devotes his attention to general agriculture and also, as did his father, does some stock dealing. He is regarded as one of the able and practical farmers of his section.
Mr. Mowry was married to Mrs. Sallie ( Maderis) Clark, widow of John Clark and daughter of John Maderis, whose wife was a Miss Woods. He formerly was a well known stock buyer in Shelby county. Mr. and Mrs. Mowry are members of the Plum Creek Methodist Episcopal church. They have a wide circle of friends to whom their hospitable home is ever open. Mr. Mowry casts his vote with the republican party and as a citizen is intelli- gently active but is no seeker for office for himself.
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LEWIS H. FINKENBINE, general farmer and well known citizen of Franklin township, whose well improved sixty-acre farm is situatel in a desirable section, not far from Sidney, was born in Franklin township, Shelby county, O .. November 22, 1877, and is a son of John and Barbara (Schiff ) Finkenbine. The father of Mr. Finkenbine was born in the city of Phila- delphia, in 1831, and was one year old when his parents, who were natives of Baden, Germany, brought the family to Shelby county, O. The mother was six years old when her parents, also of Baden, Germany, crossed the Atlantic ocean to the United States and made their permanent settlement in Shelby county. Of their family the mother was the youngest born. Mr. and Mrs. Finkenbine are among the best known and most highly respected resi- dents of Franklin township and are leading members of the German Luth- eran church.
Lewis H. Finkenbine was the ninth born in his parents' family of ten children and he remained with his father, whose agricultural interests are yet very large, until he was twenty-three years old, in the meanwhile securing a good public school education. After his marriage he moved to his present farm, which his wife had inherited from her father, and here, with much success, carries on general farming and moderate stock raising, taking advan- tage of modern inventions to save labor and increase production.
Mr. Finkenbine was married in December, 1900, to Miss Della M. Wells, who was born in Clinton township, Shelby county, a daughter of Sylvester S. and Sarah J. (Estey) Wells, who were both early settlers and prominent people in the county. Mrs. Finkenbine is the youngest of their children, the others being: Lilley, who is the wife of William Schlayman: Dacie, who is the wife of Charles B. Miller ; and William A. and Arthur.
Mr. and Mrs. Finkenbine have three children, Marie, Emory and Goldie. The family belongs to the Lutheran church. Politically Mr. Finkenbine is a democrat, although in local matters he exercises his own excellent judgment in supporting candidates, seldom accepting any office for himself, although he has served four years as township trustee and also as school director.
CHARLES A. JOHNSTON, who may well be numbered with the sub- stantial and representative men of Perry township, Shelby county, O., resides on his valuable farm of 120 acres and is interested in local enterprises, hold- ing considerable stock in the Farmers Telephone Company. He was born in Perry township, July 18, 1862, and is a son of Fielding and Rebecca (Stephenson ) Johnston.
Fielding Johnston was born also in Shelby county, while his wife was a native of Champaign county. She survives and resides with her son Charles A., but Mr. Johnston passed away some years ago, his burial being in Cedar Point cemetery, in Perry township. Three children were born to them, namely : Alice, who is now deceased, was the wife of Lewis M. DeWeese; and William A. and Charles A., twins.
Charles A. Johnston attended the public schools of his native township and then gave his father assistance on the home farm, afterward rented it and
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