USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 82
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operates. Mr. Thompson, in the evening of his life, is surrounded by seven living children, fourteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and a wealth of domestic affection, and cannot fail to be proud of his numerous, bright, attractive and intelligent descendants. He is one of the old members of the Methodist church at Lockington, in which he has held all the offices at various times and to which he has given liberal support. In politics he is a republican and frequently has served as township assessor and as town- ship trustee, and has long been one of the men whose advice and clear judg- ment have been consulted in local affairs. He is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic and has attended many reunions. He is now spending his latter days on the home farm with his youngest son, Thomas S. and his wife Emma ( Hinskey) Thompson, and two loveable grandchildren. Davis J., Jr., his namesake, and Mary Adyline.
CHARLES W. BENJAMIN .* junior member of the reliable old business firm of C. R. Benjamin & Son, handle manufacturers, and manager of the same, is additionally interested in business as a dealer in coal, lumber and cement, at Sidney, O. He was born at Lakewood, N. Y., November 10, 1870, and is a son of C. R. and Mary (Johnson) Benjamin.
In 1884 C. R. Benjamin came to Sidney and deeming it a promising busi- ness point, established here his handle factory and the success of his enterprise justified his judgment. For years he has been numbered with the city's most reliable and substantial citizens and has interests aside from his manufactur- ing, being one of the directors of the Citizens National Bank at Sidney. Although for some time considerably hampered by failing vision, he has kept in the business field, but in 1912 the misfortune of blindness settled on him occasioned by cataract. While this is deplored nevertheless his advice and business judgment is still at the service of the firm and the calamity is thus largely personal. On June 17, 1912, the factory for the manufacturing of shovel handles was completely destroyed by fire. At the present writing it is being rebuilt on a larger scale and when completed as many as forty work- men will be employed in carrying on the industry.
Charles W. Benjamin was fourteen years old when his parents came to Sidney and here his education was completed and his business career begun and continued. He married Miss Nellie Robertson and they have two chil- dren : Charles R. and Mary Emily. Mr. Benjamin is identified fraternally with the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and the United Commercial Travelers. Of genial, pleasing personality, Mr. Benjamin has many friends and is one of the city's most popular citizens.
FERNANDO W. APPLE, a farmer and stock dealer of Perry township. Shelby county, O., has lived in this section of the state for the past thirty-two years and is well known in township and county. For many years he was active in farming and handling stock and still retains 298 acres of valuable land. He was born in Champaign county, O., August 16, 1858, and is a son of John and Sarah Jane ( Pence) Apple.
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The parents of Mr. Apple were of solid old Pennsylvania German stock. They lived in Champaign county, O., for many years and died on their farm there and their burial was in Spring Grove cemetery at Millerstown, O. They belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran church. Fernando W. was their eldest child, the others being : Charles N .; Mary Alice, wife of William Circle ; Otta and Walter.
Fernando W. Apple obtained his schooling in Champaign county and afterward assisted his father on the farm, doing much hard work as in those days much of the labor-saving machinery now in use was not on the market. In 1880 he came to Shelby county and for sixteen years contented himself with renting land but then started to buying and continued until he had 298 acres, all of which is fine, arable land. While he no longer engages in the labor of the farm, he remains interested in all its industries and is anxious that it should be brought to the highest state of production.
Mr. Apple was married in 1879, to Miss Ella Wibel, who was born in Champaign county, O., a daughter of Jacob and Anna ( Plank) Wibel. Mr. Wibel was a prominent farmer near Millerstown. Both he and wife are deceased and their burial was in the Spring Grove cemetery. They had four children : Mary, wife of Daniel Brubaker; Clara, wife of Noah Pence; Albert; and Ella, wife of Mr. Apple. To the latter have been born three children, namely : Carl, who married Pearl Fahnestock; Chloe, who married Vern Ward and they have one son, Virgil Richard; and Anna, who is the wife of Frank Peppers. Mr. Apple has always given his political support to the democratic ticket. He and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Pemberton, O.
WILLIAM HOEWISHER, who is one of the heavy tax payers of Franklin township, where he owns 225 acres of fine land, has been a con- tinuous resident since 1893, with the exception of two years, and as a raiser of high grade stock is known all over this part of the state. He was born in Auglaize county, O., February 18, 1862, and is a son of Henry and Gustina (Lampiding) Hoewisher.
Henry Hoewisher was born in Germany and there attended school and afterward learned the carpenter trade. He was only seventeen years of age when he came to America but was a good workman and followed his trade until he acquired land and afterward gave his attention to farming. He married Gustina Lamping, who was born in Auglaize county, and died in 1893, having been the devoted mother of a large family, as follows : Gustave; Frederick: Matilda, who is the wife of L. C. Langhorst; William; George ; Henry; John; Mary, who is the wife of August Fritz; Emma, who married (first) Henry Miller, and ( second) Henry Brandt: Edward; Lizzie, who is the wife of August Kettler ; and Ida, who is the wife of Edward Tecklenburg.
William Hoewisher attended the public schools and afterward remained assisting his father until he was twenty-five years old. He then rented land from his father for five years, when he retired from farming and during the next two years was engaged in a mercantile business at Kettlersville. He
WILLIAM HOEWISHER AND FAMILY
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found, however, that an agricultural life was more congenial and in 1893 bought his present property from George Malcolm, and ever since, with the exception of two years during which he returned to the home place when his father retired to New Bremen, where he still lives, Mr. Hoewisher has actively pushed his industries on this farm. He grows grain to some extent but is more interested in his fine stock, among which are some thirty head of imported Percheron and Belgian horses.
Mr. Hoewisher was married April 21, 1887, to Miss Sarah Roettger, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Koch) Roettger, farming people of Shelby county, who have the following children : Sarah; Anna, who married Henry Sollman; Katie, who married Henry Hoewisher, a brother of William; Charles; Henrietta, who married Frederick Edgbert; Malinda, who mar- ried Henry Isenhut; Elsie, who married Benjamin Solomon; and Alfred, Mary, Esther, Herbert and Minerva.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoewisher have five children: Harry, Elda, Harvey, Walter and Sarah. The family belongs to the Lutheran church at Sidney, O. In politics Mr. Hoewisher is a stanch democrat. While living in Van Buren township he served one term as assessor and has been a school director in Franklin township.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Jackson Center, O., was organized June 19, 1895, under the style of The Farmers & Merchants Bank of Jackson Center, with Shelby Baughman as president, and P. R. Clinhents as cashier. The first account was opened by the Jackson Center Elevator Company, and the second name on the books of the institution was John Johns.
After a service of two years, P. R. Clinhents died and Frank Baughman succeeded him as cashier and F. M. Wildermuth became assistant cashier in 1905. Mr. Baughman resigned on October 19, 1909, and was succeded by F. M. Wildermuth. In the meanwhile, on February 1, 1907, the business was reorganized, the bank becoming The First National Bank of Jackson Center, when it entered upon a new and still more prosperous career. The initial capitalization was $10,000, while its present capital is $33,000, and according to its statement of September 4, 1912, it has assets of $392,830.92, surplus $66,000, and $45,000 undivided profits. The bank owns its own substantial building and it is equipped with a screw-door safe, the wall being twenty inches in thickness. The officers of the bank are. Shelby Baughman, president ; G. A. Swikard, vice-president; F. M. Wildermuth, cashier, and Walter C. Meranda, assistant cashier, with a board of seven directors.
WILLIAM O'LEARY,* who, as chief of police, occupies a very respon- sible position, at Sidney, O., is a man well qualified for the same both by experience and through those personal traits and natural endowments that are absolutely necessary for official position of this nature. He was born in Green township, Shelby county, O., March 25, 1871, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Kelley) O'Leary. Until Chief O'Leary was ten years old his
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parents lived on the farm of his birth but then came to Sidney and lived in this city during the remainder of their lives.
William O'Leary attended the Catholic school at Sidney and under the direction of the gentle sisters became a well informed youth. He then learned the blacksmith trade with his brother, Hugh O'Leary and continued to work as a blacksmith until 1892, when he joined the police force and was gradually advanced in rank until, fourteen years ago, he was made chief of the department. Firmness and efficiency have marked his administration and perhaps there is no city of its size in Ohio that is better policed or in which the life and rights of its citizens are more securely guarded.
Chief O'Leary was married to Miss Emma Simmons and they have three sons : William, Emerson and Hugh. The family belongs to the Catholic church. For a number of years Chief O'Leary has been identified with the Knights of Columbus and he belongs also to the Elks.
EDWARD H. BILLING, postmaster at Swanders, O., and proprietor of the leading general store of the town, is a representative citizen of this part of Shelby county. He was born in Franklin township, Shelby county, November 30, 1881, and is a son of Jacob and Philipina (Geib) Billing.
Jacob Billing and wife were of German ancestry and for many years they were respected residents of Franklin township, and there both died, their burial being in the cemetery of the Lutheran church to which they belonged. They had a family of seven children: Edward H., Minnie, Albert, Harry. Dora, Webster and Myrtle.
Edward H. Billing attended the public schools in Franklin township, afterward taking a commercial course in a business college at Sidney, and this was followed by two years of work on the home farm. He then came to Swanders and for two years worked for J. B. Wyatt, then proprietor of his present store, from whom he purchased in July, 1907, and has conducted it ever since. In politics he is a democrat and for the past five years has been postmaster here.
On September 25. 1907, Mr. Billing was married to Miss Theda Foster, who was born in Shelby county, a daughter of George W. and Anna ( Snawley ) Foster. Mrs. Billing has two brothers, Guy and Marion. Mr. and Mrs. Billing have one son, George Foster. They attend the German Reformed church.
FRED D. CLARK, D. O., who has been engaged in the practice of osteopathy at Sidney, O., for the past two years and is in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative one, was born at Piqua, O., June 23, 1880, and is a son of Dr. George W. and Sallie ( Maderis) Clark.
The father of Doctor Clark was born in Clark county, O., the family being a pioneer one of that section. He practiced at Piqua, O., a graduate of the Fort Wayne College, married Sallie Maderis, and died when their one child was but two years old. His widow survives.
Fred D. Clark was afforded excellent educational advantages and early
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developed an inherited tendency toward the healing art. For five years of early manhood, before entering the College of Osteopathy, at Kirksville, Mo., he was secretary of the St. Mary's Machine Company, St. Marys, O. In the class of 1910 he was graduated from the American School of Osteop- athy, at Kirksville, the venerable founder of which still survives, and then came to Sidney, where he has met with truly gratifying success. Since gradu- ation he has kept closely in touch with medical and surgical progress all over the world and is identified with all the leading organizations of his special system; the American Osteopathic Association, the Ohio State Osteopathic Society and the Missouri Valley Osteopathic Society. Doctor Clark belongs to Temperance Lodge No. 73, F. & A. M., at Sidney : Summit Lodge, Knights of Pythias, at Sidney ; the Knights of Korassen and the Commercial Club, and also retains membership in his college society, the Iota Tau Sigma fraternity.
Doctor Clark was married in 1901, to Miss Eva Davenport, a daughter of C. P. Davenport, of Hardin, Shelby county, O., and they have one daughter, Juanita. Doctor and Mrs. Clark are members of the Presbyterian church at Sidney.
BROACHEY T. BULL, who is one of the representative business men of Shelby county, has important interests in several directions and has been a leading citizen of Sidney for the past twelve years. He was born on his father's farm in Green township, Shelby county, O., September 30, 1861, and is a son of David T. and Lucinda H. Bull. the former of whom died in the fall of 1904, the latter surviving.
Broachey T. Bull was reared on the home farm and attended the country schools and one year at Ada, O. Farming and stock raising have largely claimed his attention and he is one of the best known stock men in this section of the country and is at the head of the firm of B. T. Bull & Co., meat dealers at Sidney. Mr. Bull owns a large amount of valuable land in the county, his well improved farms lying in Green and Orange townships.
Mr. Bull was married in 1885 to Miss Lottie Sleeter, who is a daughter of F. H. Sleeter, a retired farmer now residing at Sidney. Mr. and Mrs. Bull have one son, Sleeter Bull, who, at present, is an instructor in the agricultural department of the University of Illinois. He is a graduate of Buchtel College, at Akron, O., and also of the Ohio State University at Columbus, and additionally is a post graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and took his degree of master of science in that institution. He is married but has no children. Sleeter Bull is a fraternity man, being a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and grand president of his college fraternity.
Broachey T. Bull is identified prominently with several fraternal bodies, being past grand in the order of Odd Fellows, an encampment member I. O. O. F., and a member of the Red Men. Although never very active politically, Mr. Bull is an earnest and thoughtful citizen and has given support to public policies which have been approved by his judgment, but his larger interests have been along agricultural lines and his usefulness to his section in developing farm industries and in improving stock is very generally acknow- ledged.
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GEORGE A. RHEINISH,* who is engaged in the tin, iron work, sheet metal and furnace business at Sidney, O., including spouting and roofing work, is a well known, reliable and necessary business man of this place where he has been established for about ten years. He was born at Cin- cinnati, O., April 1, 1871, and is a son of George Rheinish.
The father of Mr. Rheinish was born in Germany and there learned the brewing business and after coming to the United States worked at the same in the city of Cincinnati. In 1875 he moved with his family to Sidney and was engaged as brewmaster by the Wagner Brewing Company and under his direction the first lager beer ever produced by this company was hrewed. His death occurred at Sidney where his widow still lives.
George A. Rheinish was four years old when his parents came to Sidney and here he was reared and attended the parochial school. For four years he worked in the Sidney Wheel Works and learned wheel making, after which he started to learn the tinner's trade with James Ristron with whom he worked for eleven years and then engaged in business for himself. He is qualified to do any kind of sheet metal work and in his different lines is called all over the county when work of this kind is of special importance, having four men beside himself and a bookkeeper constantly employed. Mr. Rheinish belongs to the Catholic church.
SINCLAIR JOHNSON HATFIELD, a man of many public achieve- ments and numerous professional honors, for many years was an honored member of the Sidney bar. He was born in Wayne county. O., September 21, 1845, and died October 30, 1911, the eldest son of George D. and Matilda (Patterson) Hatfield. The other members of the family were: Margaret, James, Robert, William, Alice and Sarah Adelaide, the last named being the wife of Dr. D. J. Satterfield.
Sinclair Johnson Hatfield spent his early life on a farm near Apple Creek, where he attended the common schools and afterward taught for several years. His literary tastes and mental quickness being recognized by his parents, he was sent for several years to Vermillion Institute, at Hayesville, O., and afterward attended Western Reserve College at Hudson which he left at the end of his junior year. He subsequently entered the law school of Michigan University at Ann Arbor, where, in 1875, he was graduated, in the fall of the same year coming to Sidney. After admission to the bar of Ohio, he entered upon the practice of the law. At the time of his death he was the oldest member in years of practice of the bar association.
On September 3, 1868, Mr. Hatfield was married to Miss Caroline McClure, who was born in Wayne county, O., a daughter of Samuel B. and Sabina (Carey) McClure. The father of Mrs. Hatfield was a substantial farmer and well known citizen of Wayne county. She was the youngest in a family of five children : Alfred; Mary E., wife of George Jameson ; Jemi- mah, wife of Isaiah Dunlap; and Susan, being the others. To Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield three children were born: George Avery, who is superintendent of the water works at Sidney, O., married Florence Nealey and they have one
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daughter, Gertrude Matilda; Gertrude, who is an instructor in the Ohio State School for the Deaf and Dumb, at Columbus; and Alfred Sinclair, who died in his first year.
In politics Mr. Hatfield was an ardent and active member of the republican party and was its candidate for representative and prosecuting attorney. Governor Bushnell appointed him a member of the State Board of Pardons, an office he held for more than ten years, in which he distinguished himself by the wisdom and humanity of his views and by the care and attention he gave to his duties. Shortly before his death he was appointed a member of the board of trustees of the Shelby County Children's Home.
Mr. Hatfield was a learned man, a sound lawyer, well versed in the fun- disregards trivialities and seeks only to do justice between man and man. A firm and wise counselor, he ever maintained the rights of his clients, but did so with true courtesy and the utmost consideration for those to whom he was opposed professionally. It has been said of him that his kindly humor more than once brought about the solution of many an otherwise difficult situation. Virtually, all his life he was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which his family also belongs. While he never tolerated evil, his gentle Christian nature was such that he abhorred the wrong while forgiving the wrongdoer. A man of such kindly consideration for others naturally made a legion of friends who responded in kind to his genuine affection. To sum up, he was an honorable, high-minded Christian gentleman, who all his days sought to do his full duty. His death was universally regretted.
SAMUEL D. CRUMBAUGH,* one of the well known business men of Sidney, who has been identified with the farm implement trade for the past thirteen years and has been an individual dealer since 1909, was born on a farm in Perry township, Shelby county, O., December 10, 1866, and is a son of Daniel and Naomi (Keplinger ) Crumbaugh.
The Crumbaugh family is a pioneer one of Perry township, Grandfather John Crumbaugh securing the present Crumbaugh homestead by entry, at an early day. Daniel Crumbaugh was born on that farm and spent his life there, his death being accidentally caused by a runaway team, in 1899. His wife was also a native of Shelby county, a daughter of Mathias Keplinger, who came here from Clark county.
Samuel D. Crumbaugh remained during his father's lifetime on the home farm and after his death sold the property and entered his present business and was engaged in selling farm implements until he embarked in this line for himself, purchasing the store and stock of Homer Wright. He carries the goods of those standard companies which experience has proved to him as most in demand, having a complete stock of the International Harvester goods and the products of the Weber Wagon Company.
Mr. Crumbaugh was married to Miss Viola Hoover and they have had two children : Harry, who died when aged seven years; and Forrest, who is in the jewelry business with E. E. Kay. Mr. Crumbaugh in his active interest in local public matters follows in the footsteps of his honored father and was appointed to fill out his father's unexpired term as township trustee. In
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every way he has shown a disposition to be a useful citizen. In early man- hood be became identified with the Odd Fellows and his interest in this fraternal organization continues.
MILTON BAKER, a general farmer in Salem township, Shelby county, O., who is serving in his second year as turnpike superintendent, operates a farm of eighty-six acres, one-third of which he owns. He was born in Shelby county, November 15, 1881, and is a son of William C. and Frederika ( Schmidt) Baker.
The parents of Mr. Baker reside on their farm in Jackson township, Shelby county, and Mr. Baker is a well known man and prominent politician and for six years served as a county commissioner. He has been twice married, first to a Miss Thompson who was survived by one son, Allen. To his second marriage the following children were born: Leo, Roscoe, Boston, Nora, Milton, May, Lina, Ida, Bessie and Clara. Nora is the wife of Clarence C. Steenrod.
Milton Baker obtained a good public school education and since then has engaged continuously in farming and stock raising. In February, 1903 he was married to Miss Eva Clinehens, a daughter of Conrad and Catherine Clinehens who have other children, namely: Edith, wife of Ernest Wones; and Elmer, Chester, Harry, Omer and Roscoe. Mr. Clinehens' first wife was a Miss Mead and they had one daughter, Emma, who is the wife of John Piper. To Mr. and Mrs. Baker four children have been born: Mabel. Alma, Chloe and Elmer, the older ones attending school. Mr. Baker is identified with the democratic party. He is a man of good standing in his neighborhood and his fellow citizens recognize the fact that when he is elected to an office its duties will be performed honestly and efficiently.
GEORGE R. LOUDENBACH,* one of the well known business men of Sidney, O., who operates a general repair shop and is a bicycle dealer, came first to Sidney in 1883, and has been a permanent resident since 1892. He was born on a farm in Champaign county, O., March 4, 1849, and is a son of Emanuel and Anna ( McCoy) Loudenbach.
Emanuel Loudenbach and wife came to Ohio from Virginia, now West Virginia, and the father engaged in farming in Champaign county, where his death occurred. His widow survived and died at Oakley, Ill., while on a visit, being then aged eighty-two years.
George R. Loudenbach grew up on the home farm and early discovered that he possessed not only mechanical aptitude but mercantile ability, the latter being shown when he easily sold farm implements and this led him to engage in the business at Urbana, where he continued for two years. He then was engaged as a traveling salesman for the Long-Alstater Company, manufacturers of farm implements, of Hamilton, O., and traveled for that house for eleven years, his territory being northern Ohio and Illinois, and during this period his first visit was made to Sidney. When he retired from the life of a commercial traveler and desired to go into business for himself
MARIAGE WORK
LAUNDRY
CROFT LAUNDRY
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LOUIS G. CROFT
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