USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 79
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Since his school days, Frank G. Heneisen has followed farming and stock raising, now owning the old homestead which he purchased from the other heirs. He is an enterprising and progressive agriculturist and understands how to make his industries profitable. Mr. Heneisen married Miss Louise Jakob, whose father was born in Germany and whose mother was born at Minster, O. She was one of the following family : Caroline, Anna, Edward, Antoinetta, Mayme, Frank, Louis, Rosa, Vincent, Frances, Urban and Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Heneisen are members of the Catholic church. Politically he is a democrat and possesses the confidence of his party, at present serving as central committeeman for Dinsmore township.
JACOB M. LE FEVRE, a highly respected retired farmer living at Port Jefferson, O., where he has a comfortable residence, owns also a fine farm of eighty acres situated in Salem township, Shelby county, O., and on that farm he was born, May 31, 1843. His parents were Henry Jackson and Elenore (Morgan) Le Fevre.
Henry Jackson Le Fevre was born in Warren county, O., and after mar- riage moved to Salem township, Shelby county, where he engaged in farming until his death, in 1848. After his decease his widow married Thomas Stew- art. To her first marriage four children were born: Mary Jane, Morgan, Jacob M. and Henry J. To her second marriage three children were born : John M., Millard F. and Ansel M.
Jacob M. Le Fevre attended the district school when he could be spared
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from farm work. He was five years old when his father died and when yet a boy worked for two years on a farm in Warren county. When the civil war broke out his step-father, a half brother, and two full brothers enlisted and Jacob M. then came back to the homestead and remained helping his mother until the close of the war and after her death purchased the property. He is a self made man, few advantages having been afforded him in youth, but in making his own way in the world he has found many friends and has won the confidence and approval of those with whom he has had business relations. Mr. Le Fevre was twice elected a trustee of Salem township, on the republican ticket, and also served usefully and efficiently as township super- visor and on the school board.
On December 20, 1866, Mr. Le Fevre was married to Miss Dulcinna Line, a daughter of. Solomon Line, of Perry township, the other members of the family being : Florence M., Ella. Alice, Nancy, Esther and O. T. To Mr. and Mrs. Le Fevre the following children have been born: Edwin Justin, William O., James T., Jennie, Alice, wife of Allen Baker, Minnie, wife of Lafe Vesper, Guernie, wife of Elza Baker, and Cora, wife of Sanford Retter. Mr. Le Fevre and family attend the Disciples church. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and attends lodge at Port Jefferson.
SAMUEL M. KNOOP, who is one of the trustees of Salem township, conducts a butcher shop at Port Jefferson, O., and also gives attention to his valuable farm of 120 acres, situated in Salem township. He was born in Orange township, Shelby county, O., April 21, 1869, and is a son of John and Margaret ( Martin) Knoop. John Knoop, who still resides on his farm in Orange township, was born in Miami county, O., and is a well known and respected citizen. He was married first to Margaret Martin, who is deceased. She was the mother of the following children : Samuel M., Lee, John, Will- iam, and Dora, wife of George Leckey. Mr. Knoop's second marriage was with Celia Burton.
Samuel M. Knoop obtained his education in the public schools and from youth has been interested in farm pursuits. He carries on a general farming line on his property in Salem township, deals to some extent in stock, also bales hay and for the past two years has additionally been engaged in the meat business at Port Jefferson. Not only is he a man of business activity and ability, but he is also one who has been recognized as trustworthy by his fel- low citizens and as a member of the township board of trustees carries busi- ness methods into public matters to the advantage of all concerned.
In November, 1891, Mr. Knoop was married to Miss Laura Fergus, who was born in Shelby county and is a daughter of Joseph Fergus. Mr. and Mrs. Knoop have eight children, namely: Ralph, Clifford, Grace, Arvesta, Lloyd, Mary, Edna and John Joseph. The family attends the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a republican and fraternally is an Odd Fellow, attending the lodge of this order at Port Jefferson.
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PHILLIP BONNORONT, whose excellent farm of ninety acres lies one- quarter mile east of Botkins, O., in a favorable section of Dinsmore township, is one of the prosperous and progressive agriculturists of this section. He was born in 1870, in Shelby county, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Bier- line ) Bonnoront.
Jacob Bonnoront was born in Germany and for a number of years was engaged in business at Botkins, O. He married Elizabeth Bierline, who was of German ancestry but was born in Ohio, and ten children were born to them : George, Jacob, John, Peter, Christian, Catherine. Caroline, Elizabeth, Lena and Phillip. George married Mary Linker and they live at Botkins; Jacob married Sophia Kflopestein, who is deceased; John married Mary Kies, who is deceased, and lives in Dinsmore township; Peter lives at Wapakoneta, O., and married Dora Kaylor; Christian married Emma Seitz and they live at Botkins; Catherine, who lives at Wapakoneta, is the widow of Frederick Alen- baugh; Caroline is the wife of Lawrence Thuman and they live in Auglaize county ; Elizabeth, who is deceased, is survived by her husband, William Elsass; and Lena, who is the wife of William Boyer, lives in Dinsmore township.
Phillip Bonnoront attended the public schools and afterward engaged in business with his father at Botkins and later embarked in the same on his own account and continued there for nine years, after which he bought the farm on which he lives and here carries on general farming and dairying. He made all the improvements here, which are excellent, fine substantial build- ings with all necessary equipments, and all his operations are conducted along modern lines and with much success.
Mr. Bonnoront married Miss Elizabeth Schuman, a daughter of William and Barbara (Grau) Schuman, and they have three children : Gaylord, Corien and Helen. Mrs. Bonnoront had the following brothers and sisters : Caroline, who married John King, lives in Dinsmore township; George, who married Minnie Kentner, lives in Auglaize county ; Louis, who married Louisa Ruck, lives in Auglaize county ; William, who married Louise Elsass, lives in the same county ; Henry, who married Anna Cooper, lives in Auglaize county ; and Amelia, who married Christian Elsass, and they also live in Auglaize county. Mr. and Mrs. Bonnoront are members of the Lutheran church, of which he is treasurer and is also a deacon in the same. Politically he is a democrat but the only public office he has accepted is membership on the school board.
JOSEPH HUBER, whose valuable farm of 158 acres lies in Dinsmore township, adjoining the corporate limits of Botkins, on the north, is a repre- sentative citizen of this section and is something of a leader in democratic politics although never a seeker for political prominence. He was born in Auglaize county; O., in 1855, and is a son of Clement and Rosa (Weaver) Huber.
The parents of Mr. Huber were natives of Germany and they came to America in 1840, and lived for a time in Auglaize county, O., and afterward
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in Shelby county. There were eight children in the family, of whom Mary, Rosa and Matilda are deceased. Of the survivors: Catherine married Fred- erick Bauer and they live at Botkins. Theresa married Joseph Koenig and they live in Auglaize county. Elizabeth is a sister in a convent at St. Joseph, Missouri. Philomena also chose a religious life and is a sister in a convent at Phoenix, Arizona.
Joseph Huber was educated in the public and parochial schools and his occupation has always been farming. He received his property from his father's estate, which he has improved until it is one of the finest farms in this part of the county. Mr. Huber is a member of the Catholic church and for fourteen years has been treasurer of the same at Botkins. He is mumarried.
JUDSON WARD SIMMONS, owner and proprietor of a grain elevator at Pemberton, O., and a dealer in coal and farm implements, is one of the well known business men of Shelby county. He was born in Miami county, O., May 19, 1875, and is a son of Benjamin Franklin and Rachel Jane ( Sanders) Simmons.
Benjamin Franklin Simmons and wife were born in Miami county and still reside there, well known and highly respected people. Mr. Simmons engaging in farming and stock raising. He is a democrat in his political views and he and wife are members and liberal supporters of the Christian church. The following children were born to them: Effie, who is deceased, was the wife of A. E. Wilson; Judson Ward; Harry E., who married Daisy Miller ; Frederick, who married Ella Lotz ; and Charles, who married Guirtude Motter.
.After leaving school, Judson W. Simmons turned his attention to assisting his father and remained on the farm until he was twenty years of age, when he accepted a position as manager of a grain elevator at Fletcher, O., for the Slauson Grain Company, of Piqua, and remained there for two years. He then leased the Robert Hasting elevator at Botkins, O., continued there for two years and then came to Pemberton and in 1900 purchased his present plant of M. D. Burke and has continuously been engaged here, sometimes alone and at others having partners, the firm style for a season being Sim- mons, Faulkner & Cook. Mr. Simmons finds time also to look after the management of his two farms. the one in Jackson township containing 100 acres, and the second farm, in Perry township, comprising 160 acres, all valuable property.
On October 20, 1897, Mr. Simmons was married to Miss Minnie McKnight, a daughter of William J. and Mary J. McKnight. William J. McKnight is a farmer in Miami county. His first marriage was to a Miss Bull and they had three sons: Thomas J., William R. and Edward. To his second marriage the following children were born: Leota, Minnie, Lillian, wife of Oral Walburn, and all are residents of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have one daughter, Marjorie Aileen. They attend the Baptist church, Mr. Simmons being one of the church trustees. In his political affiliation he is a
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democrat and has always been an active citizen and his usefulness to his town- ship has been more than once proved. He is no office seeker but has served two terms as township treasurer.
. FRANCIS MARION CLAYTON, who successfully operates his father's farm of 160 acres, situated in Perry township, belongs to old county families which have been leading ones of this section for many years. He was born in Jackson township, Shelby county, O., September 27, 1866, and is a son of Henry and Lucy (Stewart) Clayton.
Henry Clayton and wife were born and reared in Shelby county and now live retired at Pemberton, O. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in this faith. They are five in number, as follows : Dora, who is the wife of Albert A. Bell; Francis Marion ; Reuben Nelson ; Elzina, who is the wife of Dr. Seth Rogers; and Merlie, who is the wife of Harley Weatherhead.
Francis M. Clayton obtained his education in the public schools and then engaged in farming until he was twenty-two years of age, after which, for five years, he was concerned in the manufacturing of tile at Jackson Center, as a member of the firm of Gross & Clayton. After selling his interest there, Mr. Clayton took charge of his father's farm and has continued here ever since. He carries on a general farming line and raises stock for his own use. Mr. Clayton has always been identified with the republican party but takes no active part in campaign work, his aim being to give support to those can- didates who are best qualified to carry out the principles of government in which he believes.
On January 24, 1889, Mr. Clayton was married to Miss Luella Littlejohn, who was born in Shelby county, a daughter of George W. and Emily (Smith) Littlejohn. George W. Littlejohn is a retired farmer, was formerly post- master at Jackson Center, O., and is a veteran of the Civil war, as is also the father of Mr. Clayton. To Mr. and Mrs. Littlejohn the following children were born: Harry; Denton; Luella; Ollie, wife of John H. Stahler; Orla; Charles; Eva, wife of L. P. Heintz; and Nellie, wife of Clyde Runyon. To Mr. and Mrs. Clayton four children have been born: Homer, Eunice, Hollis and Ralph, all surviving except Hollis. Mr. Clayton and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Pemberton.
ISAAC MITCHELL WILKINSON, who owns one of the best farms in Perry township, containing 124 acres, is one of the enterprising and progres- sive young agriculturists of this section. He was born at Pemberton, O., May 6, 1885, and is a son of Joseph and Dorcas Ann (Lilley) Wilkinson.
Joseph Wilkinson followed agricultural industries throughout his entire life, accumulated a competency and was known as a man of sterling character. He was a member of the Baptist church and at death his burial was in Cedar Point cemetery in Perry township. His first marriage was to Louisa Nutt and she was survived by two children: Anna and Nellie, the latter being the wife of W. E. Meyers. His second marriage was to Dorcas .Ann Lilley,
IRENT'S ALEXIS ESHMAN
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who left but one child, Isaac Mitchell. His third union was to Mrs. Sallie Ross.
Isaac Mitchell Wilkinson, after completing the common school course, became actively interested in farming, taking possession of the ninety-three acres which he inherited and adding thirty-three acres which he purchased from G. H. Monroe. He has inaugurated many substantial improvements on his place and is justified in feeling proud of its appearance and of the productiveness of his land under his intelligent methods of cultivation.
In 1909 Mr. Wilkinson was married to Miss Tima Faye Halboth, a daugh- ter of J. A. and Emma B. (Baughman) Halboth, the father of Mrs. Wilkin- son being a merchant at Pemberton, O. She has one brother, Clay B. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson have an engaging little daughter, Ruth Elizabeth. They attend the Baptist church. As was his father, Mr. Wilkinson is a republican in politics, and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic lodge at Port Jefferson, O.
R. M. TOLAND, whose well improved farm lies one mile north of Anna, O., where he owns sixty-seven acres, situated in Dinsmore township, Shelby county, was born in this county, in 1844, and is a son of E. B. and Nancy Toland. E. B. Toland was born in Virginia, and his second wife, the mother of R. M. Toland, was a native of Ohio. By two marriages E. B. Toland became the father of fifteen children, the survivors of his first union being : John, Anna and Nancy, and of his second : Robert M., Alfred, George, James, Charles, Susanna and Martha. Prior to 1833 Mr. Toland followed farming in Miami county, O., and afterward in Shelby county, where he spent the rest of his life.
R. M. Toland worked on his father's farm until he was seventeen years of age and then enlisted for service in the Civil war and for three years performed every duty, dangerous or otherwise, that was assigned him. His first captain was J. C. Frey, of Sidney, O .. and under his leadership Mr. Toland took part in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh and many others equally serions, and was honorably discharged. Since the close of his military service he has followed an agricultural life and is numbered with the pros- perons farmers of Dinsmore township.
Mr. Toland married Miss Hannah Elliott, a daughter of Samuel Elliott. and they have four children: Nellie, Clarence, Claude and Virgil, all living at home except Clarence, who is a resident of Piqua, O. Mr. Toland and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a republican.
HON. IRENUS ALEXIS ESHMAN. probate judge of Shelby county, O., and an honored resident and leading member of the Sidney bar, was born September 5, 1870, on his father's farm in Loramie township, Shelby county, O., and is a son of Francis J. and Margaret (Chaivre) Eshman.
The father of Judge Eshman was born in Switzerland, grew up there and entered the Swiss army and after his obligatory service was over and
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he had received his honorable discharge, in 1842 he came to America. His first home in the United States was at Massillon, O., and from there he moved to Detroit, Mich., and in March, 1865, came to Shelby county, and purchased a farm in Loramie township on which he lived during the remainder of his life, his death occurring in June, 1888, at the age of seventy-five years. He married Margaret Chaivre, who was born in the province of Alsace, France, and was a daughter of Louis and Margaret (Otili) Chaivre, who became residents of Detroit, Mich., after coming to the United States. In St. Ann's cathedral, in that city, she was united in marriage, in 1849, with Francis J. Eshman, and they became the parents of eleven children. Mary became the wife of Xavier Eshman of Loramie township. Margaret was the wife of Irenus De Broff, of McLean township, Shelby county. Frances, now deceased, was the wife of Joseph Rousiau of Versailles. Joseph, Odill and perhaps another died in infancy. Frank died in 1892, unmarried. Caroline is the wife of Sylvester Gigandet and they reside on a farm west of Sidney, O. Eugenia was the next in order of birth. Julia, who is now deceased, was the wife of Louis Piquignot, of Versailles, O. The youngest member of the family was Irenus Alexis. The mother died in May, 1897, being then sixty- eight years of age.
Irenus Alexis Eshman attended the public schools of Loramie township and the Versailles high school and later the Lebanon normal school, after which he studied law under Hon. George Marshall until 1895. From 1899 until 1902 he taught school but as far back as 1894 became identified with edu- cational matters, being then appointed a member of the board of school exam- iners and served in that capacity for six years. From 1902 until 1905 he was connected with the law office of Charles Marshall at Sidney, and in the latter year was first elected to the bench, and in 1912 re-elected, his earlier judicial record having been eminently satisfactory to his party and fellow citizens. Some cases have been carried to the supreme court, but so far none of his decisions have ever been reversed. He is a stanch democrat and has been active in politics since he reached manhood and in November, 1892, when only twenty-one years of age, was elected a justice of the peace. Although, as stated above, a strong party man, he is personally popular and in the election of 1905, in one precinct in which there are 106 normal votes, he received 104 of these, showing great public sentiment in his favor.
Judge Eshman was married in 1896 to Miss Margaret Guilliott, a daugh- ter of Henry and Leona (Larmanie) Guilliott, and the following children have been born to them: Raymond, Irenus, Francis, Robert, Margaret. Florence. James, Rosemary, Henrietta, Lawrence and Virginia, several of whom died in infancy. Judge Eshman and family are members of the Roman Catholic church. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Elks and the Eagles.
DAVID R. KEY, whose fine farm of 122 acres lies in Perry township and adjoins the old homestead on which he was born in October, 1858, is one of the well-known men of this section and a representative of one of the old
MRS. DAVID R. KEY
DAVID R. KEY
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and sturdy families of Shelby county. He is a son of John and Anna ( Rhine- hart ) Key and a grandson of Jolin Key. Grandfather Key was born in Vir- ginia in 1781 and about 1800 came to Ohio, settling in Montgomery county, where he died fifteen years later. He left a widow and five children, a son, John, being born six months after his death.
John Key, father of David R. Key, was born in Montgomery county, O., in 1816 and remained in Montgomery county with his mother until 1836 and then came to Shelby county, but returned to Montgomery county one year later and lived there until 1840, when he again came to Shelby county and rented land for several years, saving his money and then buying more land. He had but fifty dollars when he came here the first time, and this money he invested in land, entering forty acres in Jackson township and later, through industry, thrift and good judgment, securing the means to enter 160 acres in Indiana. That land he subsequently traded for eighty acres in Shelby county and to that tract he later added until his farm contained 240 acres. He improved all that land together with 300 acres in Perry township. 140 acres in Champaign county, and also acquired realty at Sidney and Millerstown. He at one time owned 983 acres in this and Champaign county. His first mar- riage was in 1841, to Lillie Lucas, who, at death, left two sons : John H. and Norman. In 1847 he married Anna Rhinehart for his second wife and seven children were born to them: Amanda, Rachel, Elizabeth, Jane, David R .. Sherman and Orlando B.
David R. Key attended the district schools through boyhood and then assisted his father and thus gained a very practical knowledge of farming. He has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits and for some years in the past dealt in stock but now confines himself to a general farming line and the raising of stock for home use only.
In 1883 Mr. Key was married to Miss Maggie M. Heffner, a daughter of William and Sarah (Sargent) Heffner. The father of Mrs. Key was a soldier in the Civil war and there lost his life, and her mother died while she was a child. The other members of her parents' family were: Mary, wife of Wil- liam McLean; Jasel, deceased; David L .; George and William, Mrs. Key being the youngest of the family. To Mr. and Mrs. Key four children have been born: Grace, who is the wife of L. E. Ranck; Mary Robinson; and Maurice H., who are twins; and Laura Murriel. The family attends the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Key is a republican in politics but has never been willing to accept public office.
COL. JAMES B. TUCKER, a prominent citizen of Sidney, O., and one of the city's leading manufacturers, is president, treasurer and general man- ager of the Tucker Woodwork Company, one of the largest business enter- prises of this section. He is a native of Kentucky, a son of Thomas M. and Mary B. Tucker, the paternal line belonging to Southern Indiana and the maternal to Kentucky.
Colonel Tucker received his primary education in private schools and when he reached the proper age, entered DePauw University at Greencastle,
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Ind., where he was graduated with the class of 1886. He then engaged in the drug business for two years at Mt. Sterling, Ky. In the early nineties he located at Greencastle, Ind., where he organized the Greencastle Manufactur- ing Company, for the making of bicycle wood rims, but his factory was destroyed by fire in 1897. He then erected a temporary factory at Roach- dale, Ind., where he continued his manufacturing until the completion of a new factory, at Urbana, O., and to that place he removed with his family in 1898. Again his plant was destroyed by fire, a conflagration taking place October 17, 1902. Colonel Tucker was not discouraged, however, but began prospecting for a new factory site, finding it at Sidney, where he located his new buildings and opened for business in 1903. The product of the factory, bicycle, sulky and automobile rims, is shipped to various points both at home and abroad and employment is given to from sixty to 140 men. His present plant consists of two buildings of brick construction, with dimen- sions of 60x200 feet, one of these being two stories and the other three stories in height. Colonel Tucker has devoted his life as a business man to manufacturing. He is largely a self-made man, at the beginning of his career starting out on borrowed capital, but it was entirely safe, as he is possessed of that something which is known as business sense and has always been success- ful despite the losses he has sustained through accident.
Colonel Tucker married Miss Amelia Langdon, a daughter of Daniel Langdon, of Greencastle, Ind., and they have had two children; Harold L. and Grace, the former being in school and the latter being deceased. The residence of Colonel Tucker, which bears the name of Bonyconnellan, is the handsomest residence in the county. In its building it was patterned after a castle of that name situated near the estate of a friend, in the vicinity of Cork, Ireland, who suggested the very appropriate name for the American home. In politics Colonel Tucker is a republican. He is a member of the Sidney Commercial Club, a member of the Fellow Craft Club of Detroit, Mich., the Toledo Club, Toledo, O., and formerly was a member of the Columbia Club of Indianapolis, and was active as a committeeman when the new buildings were erected there. He has always believed in life insurance and is one of the largest policy holders in Shelby and perhaps in adjoining counties. He carries more than $100,000, and has one policy of $50,000 in the Northwestern Life Insurance Company. He stands high in citizenship at Sidney and is a leading factor in both business and social life, has ever been liberal in his contributions to charity, and his high sense of justice has made him companionable with all classes.
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