USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 81
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Rev. David Jones was a Congregational minister. He was liberally edu- cated in his native land and remained there until 1869, when he came to America. His first charge was at. Cambria, Wis., where he remained for one year and was then transferred to Gomer, O., where he was in charge for
ROBERT V. JONES
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eleven years. In 1880 he became pastor of the Welsh congregation in Cin- cinnati, where he labored for fifteen years, retiring then to Granville, O., where his death occurred in 1904. His venerable widow, now in her eighty- ninth year, lives at Lima, O. Of their eight children, five reached maturity and two survive : Robert V., and Elizabeth, who is residing at Lima.
Robert V. Jones attended the puble schools of Lima, O., completing the high school course before he embarked in the hardware and lumber business, having interests both at Lima and Sidney, and in 1890 took up his residence at the latter place, continuing his lumber business here. In June, 1898, he was appointed postmaster and he has an unblemished record as a public offi- cial. Mr. Jones is widely known and at present is serving in the office of president of the National Association of second and third class postmasters. In politics he is a republican.
In 1884 Mr. Jones was married to Miss Anna Williams, who is a daughter of John and Margaret Williams, of Pennsylvania. They have no living chil- dren. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Presbyterian church. His fraternal connections include membership with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks.
JACOB METZ, who is one of Jackson township's most respected citizens, has spent almost all of his long and busy life in Ohio but his birth took place in Alsace, Germany, April 21, 1839. He was but one year old when his parents, Jacob and Catherine (Elsass) Metz brought him to America. They settled in Stark county, O., with their seven children and two more were born after coming to the United States. Jacob, the eldest, died in Germany; Philip and Christian live in Jackson township; Catherine is the widow of Peter Regula; Sophia is the widow of Jacob Wildermuth; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Philip Helmlinger; Jacob; Caroline died when aged six years; and Christiana died in infancy.
The father of the above family followed farming in Stark county for nine years and then moved into Shelby county and located two miles north of Jackson Center, on a tract of eighty acres, in Jackson township, its situa- tion being on the north county line between Shelby and Auglaize counties. He improved that farm and bought several other tracts so that he was able to give each son a farm of 160 acres. He was an earnest member of the Lutheran church and gave his assistance in the erection of the log church edifice in Jackson township, the first Lutheran church. He never learned the English language but this made little difference as the larger number of the neighbors were also Germans. He died at the home of his son Jacob. in 1864, when aged sixty-seven years, survived by his widow who lived to the age of eighty-one years.
Jacob Metz remained on the home farm and took care of his parents as long as they lived. He attended school before leaving Stark county and afterward, for one winter, went to school in Dinsmore township. All his later youth was given to work on the farm which he assisted his father to clear, and in the course of years became a man of large possessions, owning
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some nine hundred acres of land. As his father before him had done, he gave each of his children a valuable farm, retaining only thirty-nine acres for his own home, which lies in section 5, in Jackson township.
On December 24, 1861, Mr. Metz was married to Miss Catherine Gross, who was born December 13, 1842, in Clay township, Auglaize county, a daughter of Philip and Barbara (Norrit) Gross, the former of whom was born in Germany and died in Clay township, while the latter was born in France and died in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Metz. Mrs. Metz was one of a family of eight children and she has one living brother and sister : Nicholas, who lives at Santa Fe; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of Philip Zorn, of Jackson township. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Metz: Catherine, who is the wife of Henry Kempfer, of Dinsmore township, and they have three children-Caroline, Albert and Luella; Jacob J., who married Lena Pulfere, lives in Auglaize county and they have, Albert, Roy and Harley; Elizabeth, who married John Wildermuth of Jackson township and they have-Clarence, John, Harley, Clara, Arvel and Melvin, twins, Edna and Roy; Philip, who married Catherine Banhart, lives in Logan county and they have-Carrie, Emma, Edna, Tressie, Lenora and Lester Philip; Christian; John, of Jackson township, married Ella Fogt; Barbara, who married Nathan Sliroyer of Logan county, and they have, Velma, Ernest and Chrystal; Lewis J., who lives in Jackson township, married Cora Ambos and they have two children, Wilma Marie and Luetta Viola; William, of Jackson township, who married Ida Boyer and they have three children-Ralph, Florence and Evelin Loraine; Sophia, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Caroline, who died when aged two years and four months; and Christiana, who died in infancy.
Mr. Metz has always been a farmer and still enjoys looking after his little property which his son Christian, who still lives at home, practically manages. He has been a very liberal man and has a family that holds him in loving esteem. In politics a stanch democrat, he has served at times in such local offices as school director and road supervisor. He has been a consistent member and generous supporter of the Lutheran church ever since boyhood.
EMANUEL J. STRUBLE,* who is one of the representative citizens of Perry township, Shelby county, O., a large land owner and a public official for many years, was born in Perry township, October 30, 1851, and is a son of Peter and Susan ( Kiser) Struble, both parents being now deceased. The father died away from home and his burial was in Minnesota. He followed farming as his occupation. The mother died in Perry township. Of their nine children the three survivors are : Benjamin, Jessie and Emanuel.
Emanuel Struble had district school advantages in boyhood and afterward devoted himself to agricultural pursuits for a number of years and owns two farms in this township, both containing eighty acres, both being now rented to good tenants, Mr. Struble having his time taken up with official duties. He served three years as a justice of the peace and is turnpike superintendent
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and township assessor .. Mr. Struble is a stockholder in the Farmers Telephone Company and, as a good citizen, frequently has given encouragement to local enterprises.
In 1873 Mr. Struble was married to Miss Sarah L. Hensel, who was born in Shelby county, O., a daughter of Jacob Hensel and wife, the other members of the family being: George; Jacob; Rose, wife of Adam Fredley; Callie, wife of James McManaway; Susan, wife of Jacob Rosier; and Anna, wife of Mark McCauley. To Mr. and Mrs. Struble five children have been born, the survivors being: Bessie, wife of George Wallcott; Harley, who married Grace McMillan; and Frank, who married Leila Enders. Mr. Struble and family attend the Baptist church. He is a democrat and is more or less prominent in local politics.
CALVIN O. BOYER, a successful agriculturist of Perry township, Shelby county, O., where he manages the old Lucas farm of fifty acres and his own farm of thirty-two acres, known as the Locust Grove farm, was born March 31, 1873, in Dinsmore township, Shelby county. He is a son of Samuel Fisher Boyer and his first wife, Enuna ( Botkin ) Boyer.
Samuel Fisher Boyer was a general farmer in Dinsmore township and a man of standing in his community. His first wife died October 24, 1878, and her burial was in Dinsmore township. His second marriage was to Clara Botkin and children were born to both unions, four to the first and eight to the second : Calvin O. and Melvin, twins; Charles, Stanley, Clarence, Editli, Ida, Willard, Herbert, Alvin, Vernon and Thelma. Of the above all survive except Edith. Ida is the wife of William Metz. Samuel Fisher Boyer died October 25, 1912, and his burial was at the Loramie Valley cemetery.
Calvin O. Boyer attended the public schools until old enough to enter the factory at Botkins, O., where he worked for three years .and afterward, for the same length of time, was in the livery business in that village. For eight years prior to coming on the farm he was in the employ of the Sheets Manufacturing Company. Mr. Boyer is thoroughly interested in an agricul- tural life and devotes close attention to his industries here, raising excellent crops and a sufficiency of stock for his own use. The Lucas farm belongs to his mother-in-law, Mrs. P. G. Lucas and the other Lucas heirs.
Mr. Boyer was married May 6, 1900, to Miss Ethel Lucas, a daughter of P. G. and Thirza (DeWeese) Lucas, both of whom were born in Shelby county. The father of Mrs. Boyer was a substantial farmer and highly respected citizen. His death occurred June 25, 1906, and his burial was at Port Jefferson. His two children survive: Marcellus N., who owns seventy acres situated in Perry township; and Ethel, who is the wife of Mr. Boyer and they reside with Mrs. Lucas on the homestead.
Mr. and Mrs. Boyer have three children : Ralph, India and Howard. He was reared in the Methodist Episcopal church; Mrs. Boyer is a member of the Baptist church at Pemberton. In politics he has never been very active but votes the republican ticket as did his father. He belongs to Lodge No. 63, Knights of the Golden Eagle at Anna Station.
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JOHN DEITERS, whose valuable farm of 100 acres lies in sections 20 and 29, McLean township, Shelby county, O., resides on the north side of the Deiter turnpike road, five miles northeast of Minster, O. This is the old homestead of the Deiters and here he was born, October 17, 1855, a son of Bernard and Mary (Humbers) Deiters.
Bernard Deiters was born in Hanover, Germany, and was about nineteen years of age when he accompanied his mother and step-father to the United States. The family lived for a time in the city of Cincinnati and during that period Bernard worked along the Ohio river as a teamster. Then they took passage on the canal boat and in that way reached Minster and from there to Shelby county. Bernard Deiters bought sixty acres of wild land in section 20, McLean township, which under other conditions now is a part of the son's farm. He found that one acre had been cleared and started immediately to clear the other fifty-nine acres and succeeded in accomplishing the task. He continued to live in the old log cabin until his death, his tastes being simple and the house comfortable, and there he died at the age of sixty- eight years. He was about twenty-five years old when he was united in marriage with Mary Humbers, who was also a native of Hanover, Germany, where her parents died. In the log cabin referred to, their six children were born and there the mother died at the age of seventy years. Herman, the eldest, died at Gary, Ind., a merchant at the time, a blacksmith by trade. He married Katie Bower of St. Patrick Special School District. John was the second in order of birth. Catherine is the wife of Frank Lehmkule of McLean township. Mathias is a merchant at Cincinnati. Mary is the wife of Henry Danzig, of Cynthian township. Agnes, who is now deceased, was the wife of Henry Dickman, of Minster, O. The parents of the above family were faithful members of the Catholic church, at Minster, O.
John Deiters attended school in the Deiter Special School District, which was so named in honor of his father, and afterward remained at home to give his father needed assistance, and in the course of years he came into possession of the homestead. He erected the comfortable farmhouse now standing but the barn, built by his father in 1872, is yet usable, Mr. Deiter keeping his different structures in good repair. With the exception of ten acres of woodland, all the land is under cultivation and the land produces satisfactory returns for the careful attention given it.
Mr. Deiters married Miss Mary Lineman, a daughter of Bernard and Mary Lineman, of St. Rosa, Mercer county, O., where the father died at the age of seventy-two years. The mother survived for a time and died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Deiters at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Deiters have six children: Bernard, who lives at home; Catherine, who lives at Dayton ; Henry, Amelia, Herman and Rosa, all of whom live with their parents. They all have enjoyed school advantages in the Deiter Special School District and their father, at different times has been a member of the school board. In politics he is a democrat and has served in the office of turnpike superintendent. The family belongs to the Catholic church at McCartiville, Shelby county.
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J. G. THIE, residing on his finely improved farm of 160 acres, which lies one-half mile west of Anna, O., in Dinsmore township, Shelby county, was born in this township in 1855, and is a son of John H. and Frederica (Zimpher ) Thie.
The parents of Mr. Thie were born in Germany but they spent many years in Shelby county, where they were highly respected. They had five children : Jacob, who lives at Anna, O .; Margaret, who died at the age of fourteen; Julia, who is the wife of W. Moothart, of Anna; Caroline, who lives with her brother Jacob, neither having ever married; and J. G.
J. G. Thie is well known all through this section as prior to embarking in business he taught school for a number of years. He spent some time as a student in what is now known as the Northern Ohio University at Ada where he was prepared for teaching. Afterward he became a merchant for a few years and then returned to the farm. In 1900, he was married and settled on his present farm which he has so improved that it is denom- inated the model farm of this part of the county. Progressive and enter- prising in every way, he carries on his agricultural operations according to scientific teachings and prospers accordingly.
Mr. Thie married Miss Emma Bertsch, a daughter of Christian and Magdalina Bertsch, who were born in Germany, and they have four children : Alma, Herman, Mabel and Ernest, all of whom live at home and are receiv- ing educational advantages. Mr. Thie is a member of the school board of Anna, which maintains a high school. With his family he belongs to the Lutheran church of which he is secretary and is also a member of the board of deacons. He is an unswerving democrat in his political views. In every way he is a representative and useful citizen.
ELMER E. HARBOUR, senior member of the firm of E. E. Harbour & Son, operating a grain elevator at Pemberton, O. and dealing also in farm implements at this place, and additionally the owner of 360 acres of some of the finest land in Perry township, Shelby county, was born in Perry town- ship, March 18, 1866, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Persinger) Harbour.
Henry Harbour was born in Champaign county, O., but lived many years in Shelby county, where his death occurred in 1906, at the age of eighty- three years, his burial being in Cedar Point cemetery. He was a veteran of the Civil war and was widely known. He married Elizabeth Persinger, who is now a resident of Pemberton, and they had four children: Charles William Beatty, Elmer E., Harry P. and Wallace Royal.
Elmer E. Harbour obtained his education in the public schools, after- ward worked on his father's farm and for a number of years has been con- nected with the elevator and implement business. He built his first elevator in partnership with L. G. Shanley, subsequently selling it to L. G. Shanley & Co., and afterward built the one he now owns and operates. As a business man Mr. Harbour has been successful and enterprising and. as the handling of farm implements and grain are among the most important business activities
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of Pemberton, he may almost be said to be the father of the town. He is interested also at Dayton, O., where he owns a coal yard. He owns consider- able valuable realty at Dayton O., and at Pemberton, including a number of dwellings and well-improved lots and his holdings in association with his wife, in Shelby county, aggregate about 700 acres. In politics he is a republican, and, although no office holder, has always taken a useful part in the affairs of the community and has given hearty support to all public movements that have promised to be beneficial in a large way.
In 1889 Mr. Harbour was married to Miss Fay Wilkinson, who was born in Shelby county and is a daughter of Isaac T. and Cynthia J. Wilkin- son, this being an old county family. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harbour : Kenneth W., Florence and Mary. Mr. Harbour and family attend services at the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Harbour has been for many years a free contributor to both churches, Methodist and Baptist. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and well known to the fraternity all over the state, and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias, attending the De Graff lodge, in Logan county.
HENRY WAGNER,* vice-president and general manager of The John Wagner & Sons Brewing Company, of Sidney, O., may be said to have been associated with this concern since boyhood, it having been founded in 1854 by his uncle, Joseph F. Wagner and ever since has been in the family. Henry Wagner was born at Sidney, O., July, 1858, and is a son of John and Mary A. Wagner.
John Wagner was born in Columbiana county, O., and died at Sidney, in 1881. In early life he was a tallow candler and later learned the butcher business. He was a poor boy at that time, in fact, when he had learned his trade and wished to move to St. Mary's and open a meat shop there, he had to borrow the money with which to do so. In 1859 he came to Sidney and rented the brewery that his brother had established, and in 1860 bought an interest in the business and in 1876 bought the entire plant. He was a shrewd and able business man and very soon enlarged the original plant and through his energy and enterprise built up a great business. From his death in 1881 until 1896 the brewery was operated by his sons under the name of John Wagner's Sons, when it was incorporated as The John Wagner Sons' Brewing Company, with Mary A. Wagner, widow of John Wagner, as president; Henry Wagner as vice-president and general manager ; and Edward J. Wagner as secretary and treasurer. In the winter of 1911-12 the company installed some of the latest and finest bottling machinery in use in the United States, the capacity of their plant permitting them to bottle 100 barrels of beer every ten hours.
John Wagner was married in 1857 to Mary Ann Mayer, who survives and lives in the old home at Sidney, and nine children were born to them, two of whom, Henry and Edward J., are interested with their mother in the brewery.
Henry Wagner began to work in his father's plant as soon as his school
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days were over and is a practical brewer and brewmaster. He married Miss Josephine Eme, of Fort Wayne, Ind. He maintains fraternal relations with the Elks and the Eagles and belongs also to the United Commercial Travelers.
Edward J. Wagner, secretary and treasurer of the above company, was born at Sidney, January 6, 1860, and, like his brother, has been connected with this brewery during his entire business life. He married Miss Elizabeth Kraft, of Sidney, and they have two sons : Carl J. and George E. Mr. Wagner belongs to the Eagles, the Elks and the United Commercial Travelers Asso- ciation, and is more or less active in local politics and during 1884, 1886 and 1888, served in the city council. Both he and brother are solid, reliable business men, and in both public and private life are trustworthy in every particular.
HARRY E. BENNETT, who is manager of The Oldham-Bennett Realty Company, and the junior partner, is one of the representative business men of Sidney, O. He is a son of Milton and Ella (Emley) Bennett, and born November 5, 1873, in Franklin township, Shelby county, O., three miles north of Sidney, on land that his great-grandfather, Nehemiah Bennett, had entered from government.
Nehemiah Bennett was born in Pennsylvania but farther back the family records have not been preserved. He married Sarah Slusser in 1817, of Franklin county and came to Shelby county in 1820. He located on a farm in Franklin township which became the family homestead. His son, Charles Bennett, was born here, October 25, 1825, and married Nancy M. Dicken- sheets. Their son Milton Bennett was born December 19, 1851, and married Ella Emley, their son Harry E. being born on the same homestead.
In the course of time Milton Bennett became a well-known business man and later admitted his son Harry E., to a partnership and for twelve years conducted his business under the firm name of M. Bennett & Son, dealers in gravel and sand. Milton Bennett is, at present, president of The Oldham- Bennett Realty Company, which was incorporated on July 1, 1912.
Harry E. Bennett was educated in the public schools, living in Franklin township until he was nine years old and then moving to Clinton township and, with the exception of two and one-half years, has been a life-long resident of Shelby county. For five years prior to the consolidation of The Old- ham Bennett realty interests, Mr. Bennett was associated with John Oldham in the real-estate business. He is a wide-awake business man and a great believer in the future of Shelby county.
In 1894 Mr. Bennett was married to Miss Mary Joslin, a daughter of C. R. and Lou V. Joslin, and they have two children : Ruth and Milton. Mr. Bennett is identified with a number of civic bodies for the public welfare and in every way is a useful citizen and fraternally is identified with the Odd Fellows.
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D. J. THOMPSON, one of Shelby county's most highly respected and universally esteemed citizens, a veteran of the great Civil war and for forty years a successful educator of the youth of this county, now lives in com- fortable retirement on his farm in Washington township, ten miles southwest of Sidney, O. He was born on this farm August 25, 1829, and is a son of James and Elizabeth ( Jeffrys) Thompson.
James Thompson, father of D. J. Thompson, was born in Ireland and was brought to America in his boyhood by his father, John Thompson, settling in Pennsylvania where he grew to manhood and where he married Ellen Briggs. To this union were born four sons: Freeborn, James, John and A. Wesley. His wife dying, he was married secondly to Elizabeth Jeffries and moved to Warren county, Ohio, but remained there only one year and then came to Shelby county in 1824. The Thompsons were among the pioneer settlers and became identified with the county's early civilizing agencies. Of the issue of his second marriage five children grew to maturity : Huldah, Eleanor, D. J. Thomas and Arza B. D. J. Thompson is the only survivor.
D. J. Thompson married, June 17, 1852, Miss Sarah K. Diltz, a native of New Jersey and a daughter of William Diltz, who came to Shelby county in the early 'forties. Mrs. Thompson died January 1, 1905, and was the mother of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, as follows : Warren B .; David B., who died at the age of thirty-two years; John M .; James L .: William M. P .; Thomas S .; Mrs. D. W. Gearhart of Piqua, O .; Mrs. D. M. Pruden of Sidney, O .; Mrs. J. C. Suber, of Fletcher, O .; deceased ; Huldah Catherine, who died at the age of fifteen years ; and Sadie who died aged six years.
Mr. Thompson attended the district schools in his youth and had two terms of instruction in the Piqua schools, and afterward began to teach school. For his services he at first received the sum of twelve dollars a month, which was then considered ample pay, and according to the custom, was given boarding and lodging in the homes of his patrons, each in turn taking care of the teacher for a specified period. Very vividly does Mr. Thompson recall his first primitive school houses, the rooms having no desks but instead slab benches, and greased paper taking the place of glass in the window apertures. He found congenial work in teaching and for forty years gave his life to his profession and all through Washington and Loramie townships and in other parts of the county, there are happy and successful women and men who remember him with regard as their beloved and patient teacher. He also recalls them with warm-hearted feelings and has always taken an interest in the careers of those with whom his close association as an instructor, through so long a period, made him well acquainted. In 1862, heeding his country's call, he enlisted as a private for service in the Civil war, entering Company B, Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. While engaged in the service he was unanimously elected first lieutenant of his company, in which he served until March 22, 1863, being a participant in the great battle of Perrysville. After this battle, a captain's commission was tendered him, which he declined. At the close of his military service he returned and resumed teaching and also took charge of the home farm which his son now
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