USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 88
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William O. Pence was educated in the public schools and afterward assisted on the home farm and in other sections of the county engaged in farm indus- tries until his marriage, when he settled on the farm he now owns, on which he carries on a general line of agriculture. He is an industrious, capable farnier and so manages his land and stock that both prove profitable.
Mr. Pence married Miss Alma A. Moore, a daughter of George W. Moore, an old settler of Shelby county, and they have two children: Della and Forrest, aged respectively twenty and eighteen years. In his political views Mr. Pence is a democrat and once served his township in the office of road supervisor but otherwise has accepted no public office.
HUGH B. SLOAN, who is a representative business man of Hardin, O., where he conducts a first class general store, was born in Washington town- ship, Shelby county, O., August 13, 1863, and is a son of William H. and Letitia (Miller) Sloan.
William H. Sloan was born in Pickaway county, O. By trade he was a shoemaker and for many years he followed the same. At the time of death he lived near Piqua, O., and his burial was in Swift Run cemetery. After some years his widow married James Chambers and when she died her burial also was in Swift Run cemetery. Four children were born to her first marriage : Washington M., Isaiah P., William J., and Hugh B, who is the only one living.
Hugh B. Sloan attended the public schools through boyhood and afterward was engaged as a farmer until 1896, when he embarked in a general store business at Hardin Station, where he continued for three years. He sold that store and then started into the implement business at Sidney but in 1901 came to Hardin, where he opened up a general store which he has continued ever since. He carries a large and well-selected stock and as his mercantile experi- ence covers a long period he has a wide circle of well-satisfied customers. Mr. Sloan is not married but resides with a foster sister. He is treasurer of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hardin and is also a member of its board of trustees. Politically he is a republican and fraternally is connected with the Odd Fellows at Sidney, O.
WILLIAM WATT LAUGHLIN,* who is a well-known resident of Turtle Creek township and one of the three heirs to a valuable farm of 160 acres, was born in Logan county, O., in 1871, and is a son of John M. and Jennie (Leapley) Laughlin. The father was a farmer and also a carpenter. The mother still resides on the old home farm but the father died on May
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5, 1911. The family consisted of but two sons: William Watt and Arthur, the latter of whom lives in Washington township.
William Watt Laughlin had excellent educational advantages, after com- pleting the common school course going to the Northern Ohio University at Ada and remaining a student there for several terms. He then returned to the home farm, on which the family has lived since he was seven years old, and practically assumed charge, relieving his father and since the latter's death has managed all the industries for himself, mother and brother. He raises an excellent grade of stock but not more than is needed for home use, and devotes his land to general farming.
In politics Mr. Laughlin is a democrat and exerts considerable influence in local affairs. He served two terms as township assessor and is serving in his second term as township trustee. Mr. Laughlin is known as an honest, intelligent and upright man and good citizen. With his mother he attends the Methodist Episcopal church. His only fraternal connection is with the Knights of the Golden Eagle.
ANDREW J. HESS, son of Andrew and Mary (Berger) Hess, was born at Columbus, O., September 23, 1864. In 1873 he came to live on a farm near Sidney and attended the country schools in the winter seasons until sixteen years old, when he began and for four years continued to teach schools in the western and northern parts of the county. On September 23, 1884, he was married to Belle Gray, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Grove) Gray of Botkins, O. Three sons, Royon Gray, Harry K., and Percy A., and four daughters, Bertha, Zoe, Margaret and Dorothy, constitute an unbroken family circle. In October, 1884, he entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and was admitted to the bar of Ohio March 5, 1885, since which time he has continuously practiced law at Sidney. His law prac- tice has been general and varied, but largely in the fields of corporation and financial interests and affairs, his clients including many corporations and railways, banks and financial institutions. He has been distinctly active in the development of the industrial industries of the town and is a stockholder in and director of many corporations. As member of the board of education and school examiner he has served his community and to the general advance- ment in education and culture he has contributed by his efforts. With S. L. Wicoff and S. J. Hatfield he founded and built the Childrens' Home under a commission from the Hon. John E. Richie as common pleas judge. He has held no political office except the minor position of member of the state execu- tive committee of the republican party. To this party he had always given his support and has worked for its policies. He is a Presbyterian, deeply attached to and proud of the history and quality of his sect, but with a broad charity for all men and for all religious faiths. His abilities and conscien- tiousness as a lawyer have been generally recognized in his section of the state and in his profession he has found sufficient room for effort and reward.
ANDREW J. HESS
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JOHN M. KLASE,* one of the well-known and busy men of Loramie township, Shelby county, O., who not only carries on farming but also is in the general contracting line, was born in Darke county, O., May 23, 1864, and was reared and educated there.
John M. Klase continued to live in his native county until he was twenty- six years old, when he married and came to Shelby county and settled on his present finely improved farm of eighty acres and with the exception of one year passed at Versailles, O., when he conducted a butcher shop, he has resided here. This land is particularly well adapted to raising stock and Mr. Klase pays considerable attention to that profitable industry. He is a general contractor in brick and cement work and in this line does a very' con- siderable amount of business annually. He takes only a good citizen's interest in politics, keeping thoroughly posted but not desiring office for himself, and always votes the democratic ticket. His farm is easily reached on account of its favorable location, lying three miles southwest of Houston.
Mr. Klase married Miss Lizzie A. Johnston, who was born and reared in Loramie township, and they have four children: James, Joseph, Leonard and Mary. Mr. Klase belongs to the Odd Fellow's lodge at Greenville and to the encampment at Sidney, O.
MILTON VALENTINE, a highly respected retired farmer of Orange township, Shelby county, O., who resides on his valuable farm of 127 acres, was born on this place, July 27, 1844, and is a son of David Valentine, and a grandson of Daniel Valentine, who was born in New Jersey. He came to Shelby county in 1809, being the fourth settler in the territory now included in the county, entering land from the government and occupying it for many years. His death occurred, however, at Lockington, while he was visiting a son.
David Valentine was born on the land above mentioned and lived on the old homestead until he was twenty-six years of age, when he purchased the farm in Orange township which belongs to his son, Milton Valentine. He died on the old home place at the age of fifty-seven years, having bought it from the other heirs and moved back there. He married Nancy Cecil. who survived into her eightieth year and they had eight children, the three sur- vivors being : John H., who lives at Piqua; Cynthia A., who lives at Salem, Ore .; and Milton.
Milton Valentine passed his boyhood days on his father's farm, having the usual country boy's duties and attending the district schools. Afterward he worked for six years for his father on his farm north of Hardin, and then returned to the place on which he was born and has continued here ever since. The larger part of the substantial improving was done after he took charge, Mr. Valentine was an active and successful farmer for many years but now has the place rented out and justifiably takes life easy, having formerly been a very busy man. In politics he is a republican and served for two terms as justice of the peace, satisfactorily to all concerned.
Mr. Valentine was married to Matilda Meyers, in early manhood, who
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died without issue. His second marriage was with Mary Deye, who was born near Houston. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lockington, O.
CHARLES C. MARSHALL,* a foremost member of the bar of Sidney, O., and special counsel to the attorney-general of Ohio, at Columbus, is numbered with the forceful men of Shelby county, one who through natural ability, trained faculties and thoroughly aroused public spirit, is assisting in making history in his native state. He was born at Sidney, O., April 9. 1876, and is a son of Armstrong Logan and Margaret (Walker) Marshall.
Charles C. Marshall is well known to. the people of Sidney for here he grew to manhood, attending the city schools and graduating from the Sidney high school in the class of 1895. In the fall of the above year he entered the Ohio State University, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1898, immediately afterward showing his faith and loyal interest in his native place by choosing it as the scene of his professional labors. His professional ability was early recognized and he has been a prominent figure in many of the legal controversies arising in the courts of Shelby county. In November, 1906, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Shelby county, in which respon- sible office he displayed such firmness and unerring judgment that he was re-elected and served out two terms. In political faith a democrat, Mr. Mar- shall has long been an important factor in the councils of his party in Ohio and at present is an influential member of the Ohio state democratic execu- tive committee. He has been active and useful in civic life, cherishing high idcals and having the courage to espouse reformatory measures even when, at times, they may be to some degree unpopular. For some years he has been a member of the board of county school examiners.
At Sidney, O., on May 19, 1903, Mr. Marshall was married to Miss Alma F. Wagner, who is a daughter of John and Mary A. Wagner, the former of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall have two children: Mary M. and John Logan. Mr. Marshall is identified with several fraternal organiza- tions, including the Red Men, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks and in the last named body for two terms served as district deputy for northwestern Ohio
GEORGE M. WYATT,* general farmer and stock raiser, who success- fully carries on his industries on his valuable tract of sixty-one acres, situated in section 33, Cynthian township, two miles north of Dawson, O., was born in Loramie township, Shelby county, O., December 21, 1871, and is a son of J. M. and Mary Catherine (Green) Wyatt.
George M. Wyatt obtained his education in the public schools, attending mainly the West Jefferson school in Loramie township, and afterward assisted his father, who is now deceased. He has given almost his entire attention ever since to farming and stock raising and has proved that agriculture, properly carried on, is a profitable business in Shelby county. For ten years
MR. AND MRS. LEWIS W. BAKER
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following his marriage he remained on the old homestead in Loramie town- ship and then came to his present well-improved place.
George M. Wyatt married Miss Mary R. Huffman, who was born in the western part of Loramie township, a daughter of William W. and Harriet (Edwards) Huffman, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have one daughter, May Laura, who is a student in the Oran special school district. Mr. Wyatt has been treasurer of the board of education of this district since January, 1912. He is a democrat in politics and served three terms in the office of road supervisor while living in Loramie township. He is one of the solid and reliable citizens of this part of Shelby county.
JOHN LENGERICH,* general farmer and representative citizen of Cynthian township, Shelby county, O., where he owns fifty-four acres of fine land, lying in section 19, three miles south of Fort Loramie, was born near Minster, in Auglaize county, O., September 6, 1867, and remained in his native county until he was twelve years old.
Prior to coming to Fort Loramie in 1879, Mr. Lengerich had attended school at Minster and afterward completed his education under the teaching of L. Notis and thus secured a very fair knowledge of books. He then worked as a farm hand for C. B. Danbrison & Son seven years, and afterward was engaged in farm work for seventeen years in Mercer, Darke and Shelby counties, and came to his present place in 1910. Here he has expended con- siderable money in making excellent improvements, including the draining and tiling of his land and thereby has probably almost doubled its original value. He carries on general farming and raises stock for his own use.
Mr. Lengerich was married at Cincinnati, O., to Miss Frances Brockamp, who was born in Shelby county, O., a daughter of Bernard Brockamp, and the following children have been born to them: Bernard, George, Catherine, Lorena, Laurence, Clara, John, Marie, Louis and Edward, the last two named being deceased. Mr. Lengerich and family are members of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic church at Wynant, O. In national matters Mr. Lengerich votes with the democratic party but in local affairs he is independent. He is an interested citizen in all that concerns the welfare of his section and since January, 1912, has been a member of the board of education of the Basinburg special school district.
LEWIS W. BAKER, who for many years has been a prominent citizen of Salem township, now lives in comfortable retirement at Maplewood but retains possession of several valuable tracts of land. He was born in Perry township, Shelby county, O., November 14, 1859, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Laudenback) Baker.
William Baker was born in Clark county, O., in 1815 and his wife was born in Champaign county, O. In 1842 he moved on the farm in Perry township, Shelby county, which Lewis W. Baker now owns. He and wife died at the home of this son, their burial being at Port Jefferson. They had the following children: Daniel; Jonas; Sarah J., wife of Peter Hartman;
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Mary E., wife of Enos Wagner; Margaret, wife of William Gilfillen; Martin A .; Allen and Lewis W. The parents were members of the Baptist church. The father was a democrat in politics and his sons are of the same political faith.
Lewis W. Baker secured a district school education, attending regularly in the winter seasons until he reached manhood. He then gave his father assistance until 1893, remaining on the homestead until then although as early as 1879 he had commenced to work for himself. When his father first settled on the farm in Perry township he had 120 acres but he continued to invest in land until he had 235 acres, the extent of the present farm which is now the property of Lewis W. Baker, by inheritance. He owns also a farm of 120 acres in Jackson township, which he bought from William Hogan, and he the present farm which is now the preperty of Lewis W. Baker, by inheritance. owns a third tract, containing twenty acres, which lies on the edge of Maple- wood, on which he resides.
In December, 1878, Mr. Baker was married to Miss Julia E. Booze, who was born in Allen county, O., and was eight years old when her parents, Hezekiah and Mary Catherine (Hill) Booze, brought her to Shelby county. They were natives of Pennsylvania. The father of Mrs. Baker died in Oklahoma and the mother in Shelby county, her burial being in Pleasant Hill cemetery. They had the following children: John and Uriah; Maria E., wife of George Kirtley; Julia E .; Martha, wife of William Warner; and Christian, Hezekiah, Lewis and Thomas.
To Mr. and Mrs. Baker two children were born: Emory E., who married Lavina Young, and they have four children-Wildie, Harold, Carl and Ralph; and Edna, who is the wife of John J. Drury, and they have one daugh- ter, Beulah. Mr. Baker and family belong to the Disciples church. Among his business interests in his ownership of stock in the Haviland Grain & Hay Company of Haviland, O., and he is also a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Jackson Center. While never anxious to hold polit- ical office, he consented to serve two terms as township treasurer of Salem township and his interest in the public schools caused him to remain on the school board for twelve years. He has always been a man of social instincts and qualities and enjoys his membership with the Knights of Pythias, attend- ing the Maplewood lodge of this order.
JOHN F. GRISEZ,* general farmer and carpenter, who resides in sec- tion 15, Cynthian township, Shelby county, O., where he owns forty-five acres of excellent land, was born in Darke county, O., January 8. 1876, and is a son of Frank and Mary Grisez. The father was born in France and the mother in Ohio and there were seven children in the family.
John F. Grisez was six years old when his parents brought him to Shelby county and he attended school at Sidney and afterward learned the carpenter trade. He resided at Dayton, O., until 1907, following his trade and then came to Cynthian township, Shelby county, and purchased the farm he now occupies. The buildings on the place required to be remodeled before they
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satisfied Mr. Grisez and he has done other improving and now has all his land, with the exception of five acres in timber, under fine cultivation.
Mr. Grisez married Miss Clara Stifel, who was born in Darke county on a farm that adjoined that of his father, and is a daughter of John Stifel. While residing at Dayton, Mr. and Mrs. Grisez had three children born to them : Henry, Louis and Anna, and after coming to the farm two daughters were born, Bertha and Margaret. Mr. Grisez and family belong to SS. Peter and Paul Catholic church at Newport, O. A stanch democrat, Mr. Grisez has frequently been elected to positions of responsibility by his party and served one term as road supervisor and for five years has been a member of the board of education of the Grisez special school district, of which, at present, he is clerk, this district having been named in honor of his family.
JAMES H. RHODEHAMEL,* one of the representative men of Cyn- thian township, Shelby county, O., who has been president of the board of education of the Forest special school district, resides on his excellent farm situated in section 34, on the township line, one mile northeast of Dawson, O. He was born at Greenville, in Darke county, O., April 12, 1855, and was one month old when brought to Cynthian township by his parents, Jacob and Mary J. (Hauser) Rhodehamel.
Jacob Rhodehamel was born and reared at Piqua, O., and was married in Miami county to Mary J. Hauser, who was born in Cynthian township, Shelby county, and is now a resident of Sidney, O. To this marriage ten children were born, as follows: Mary Elizabeth, Margaret Jane, Eliza Ann, Josephine, William, James, Laura Belle, Lilly E., Charles B. and Ida M., all surviving except William. After marriage Jacob Rhodehamel and wife moved to Illinois, and while living there he enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering Company E, 75th Ill. Vol. Inf., and was killed in battle, in May, 1863, and his burial was in an orchard adjoining the scene of strife. His widow then returned to Cynthian township with her children and they were mainly reared in Shelby county. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was her husband.
James H. Rhodehamel attended school in Cynthian township until old enough to be self-supporting and ever since has devoted himself to farm pur- suits, including farming, stock raising and threshing. His farm is valuable both as to fertility and location and he is numbered with the prosperous agriculturists of this section.
Mr. Rhodehamel was married to Malvina Cornell, who was born in Orange township, Shelby county, O., a daughter of Harvey and Rosanna Cornell, and to them the following children have been born: Lily M., Harry L., Sadie, Cora E., Grace M., Charles D., Chester O., James Clifford and Homer Forest. The family belongs to the Christian church at Oran, O. In politics Mr. Rhodehamel has been a republican since attaining manhood, but has never been willing to serve in any public office except one connected with educational matters and in his present position is careful, active and honest, and the efficiency of the schools in this district proves that their interests are looked after with good judgment.
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CHRISTIAN SHELLENBARGER, who is one of Jackson township's most respected and reliable citizens, for twenty years, with the exception of an interval of three years, a member of the board of education, is a stock- raiser and farmer, owning 400 acres of fine land. His home farm in Jackson township, contains 160 acres, while his farm in Dinsmore township contains 240 acres, this being the farm on which he was reared. He was born in Wittenberg, Germany, September 9, 1845, and was six years old when his parents settled in Jackson township, where they died. During the great Civil war, John Shellenbarger, father of Christian, served in the 20th Ohio battery. He was an old German military man and his previous army exper- iences had taught him much about warfare.
From the age of eight years, Christian Shellenbarger lived with strangers, being then bound out to George Reynolds, where he found a good home and kind treatment and remained with Mr. Reynolds until his marriage, when aged twenty-four years. He then located in Dinsmore township, west of Montra, O., three-fourths miles distant from Mr. Reynolds' farm, purchasing eighty acres, and lived there until after the birth of his fourth child, when he moved to Jackson township and after the birth of another child, his first wife died, aged thirty-seven years. Mr. Shellenbarger has lived in Jackson township ever since the fall of 1882. His 400 acres of land have all been improved except thirty acres in Jackson and forty acres in Dinsmore township and in large degree the work of improving has all been done by Mr. Shellen- barger. While he carries on general farming very successfully, he has always been more interested in raising thoroughbred cattle and all kinds of stock, giving particular attention to Shorthorn cattle, Chester White hogs, Shrop- shire sheep and Hambletonian and Percheron draft horses. Mr. Shellen- barger attends- to his own farm industries in Jackson township, while his son Arthur operates the farm in Dinsmore township. Mr. Shellenbarger is a stockholder in the Snider-Poole Company store of which he was the owner for one and a half years and then sold to the Snider-Poole Company. He also is a stockholder and a director of the Decatur-Springfield Electric rail- way. Politically a democrat, he has been loyal to his party and effective as a citizen, and has served on several occasions as road supervisor and three terms as township trustee.
Mr. Shellenbarger was married first to Miss Anna K. Foster, who was born in Clark county, O., but was reared in Jackson township. Her parents were William C. and Mary (Smith) Foster. Five children were born to this marriage: George. O., Emma F., Mary C., Arthur C. and William E. His second marriage was to Miss Amanda Taylor, a daughter of John and Mar- garet Taylor, the former of whom was born at Harrisburg, while his wife was a native of North Carolina. They came to Shelby county in 1832 and found one log house representing the settlement of Sidney. Mr. Taylor entered land in Dinsmore township, and found Indians plentiful but they were kindly treated at his log cabin and continued harmless. He died when aged eighty-one years and his wife at the age of seventy-nine years and they were buried in Wesley Chapel cemetery. Of their eleven children, six sur-
CHRISTIAN SHELLENBARGER
SAMUEL J. DUNCAN
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vive and three live in Shelby county. Mr. Shellenbarger and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church at Jackson Center and for many years he was a church official.
WILLIAM D. SANDERSON, V. S.,* proprietor of Sanderson's Veter- inary Hospital, together with livery and feed stables, at Sidney, O., is a trained - professional man and one who has a wide reputation through Shelby county. He was born at Toronto, Canada, April 30, 1877, and is a son of Rickman and Dina (Smith) Sanderson.
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