USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 89
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The father of Doctor Sanderson was born in Yorkshire, England, and the mother in Scotland, and they were married in Canada. He was a graduate of the celebrated veterinary college of Edinburgh, Scotland, and practiced dur- ing many years of his life in Canada, where his death occurred in 1896.
William D. Sanderson was practically reared in his present profession. beginning to assist his father when a boy, and later was graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College at Toronto, in the class of 1901, subsequently tak- ing a post graduate course in 1908-09, at Mckillip's Veterinary College, at Chicago, Ill. Immediately after his first graduation he located at Sidney, which is his main field of work, although he practices all over this county and is called also to Miami, Darke and Champaign counties. For nine years prior to purchasing his livery and feed barns, he had conducted a hospital on East Poplar street, but in 1911 he moved to his present location. He keeps his automobile ready for use in urgent cases when time is a factor. He is a scientific and successful practitioner.
Doctor Sanderson was married at Sidney to Miss Matilda Kaser, a daugh- ter of Jacob Kaser. He belongs to the Ohio Veterinary Association and is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Knights of Khorassan.
S. J. DUNCAN, one of the leading and substantial citizens of Orange township, whose farm of 240 acres is one of the most valuable properties in this section, was born in Orange township, near Kirkwood, O., August 26, 1863. His father, Thomas Duncan, who now lives in comfortable retirement, having reached the age of eighty years, came to Shelby county in early man- hood and during all his active life followed farming.
S. J. Duncan has been engaged in farming and stock raising ever since leaving school, beginning on the home farm and afterward coming to his present one, on which he has done a large amount of improving. It requires considerable practical knowledge and a large measure of good judgment to successfully operate as large an estate as that owned by Mr. Duncan. Not only is he numbered with the prosperous agriculturists, but he has long been considered one of the township's representative men in public affairs and has served with the greatest efficiency as turnpike superintendent and as township treasurer.
Mr. Duncan was married to Miss Minnie McIntosh, who is a daughter of William McIntosh, one of the substantial farmers of this county, and they have two children : Anna, who married Clyde Portoff, and Pansy. Mr. Dun-
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can and family are members of the Baptist church. He has always been identified with the democratic party.
C. J. WINEMILLER,* dealer in groceries, meats and country produce, on the corner of Park and Oak streets, Sidney, O., is a merchant of many years' experience and is one of the representative business men of this city. He was born on a farm in McLean township, Shelby county, O., June 11, 1873, and is a son of George and Dorothy (Hook) Winemiller, and a grand- son of Jacob Winemiller, who came from Germany and was an early settler in Shelby county.
C. J. Winemiller was reared on his father's farm and attended the public schools of McLean township. Other members of the family became farmers but he chose school teaching for his business and for eight years taught very successfully in McLean, Cynthian, Turtle Creek and Van Buren townships, all through which sections he still has many friends. He then embarked in a mercantile business, although for three more years lie continued to teach, and also managed his store and was postmaster at Uno, in Turtle Creek town- ship. When the rural mail routes were established many of the smaller postoffices were abolished, Uno being one of these, and in December. 1907, Mr. Winemiller came to Sidney, where he found a wider business field. He carries a large and well-selected stock and enjoys a liberal amount of patronage.
Mr. Winemiller was married to Miss Carrie Markley, who was born and reared in Turtle Creek township, a daughter of John and Kate Markley, and they have one son, Carl. Mr. Winemiller is identified with the fraternal order of the Woodmen of the World and belongs to both branches of Odd Fellowship. He has never been active in politics but may always be found among the citizens who stand for law and order and for civic betterment.
ARTHUR SILVER, M. D.,* physician and surgeon, who is one of the younger members of his profession at Sidney, O., succeeding his eminent father, was born at Sidney, June 19, 1880, and is a son of Dr. David R. and Jennie E. (Fry) Silver. For many years Dr. David R. Silver, whose death occurred December 8, 1911, was prominent in both business and professional life in Shelby county.
Arthur Silver attended the public schools in his native city and was grad- uated from the Sidney high school in the class of 1899 and then entered Miami University, where he secured his degree of A. B., graduating in 1904. He then became a student of medicine in the Medical College of Ohio, where he was most creditably graduated four years later. For eighteen months he served as an interne in the City Hospital of Cincinnati, afterward becoming assistant to the celebrated Dr. H. J. Whitacre, a noted surgeon of Cincinnati. The death of his father called the young physician home and he has ever since been engaged in a general practice at Sidney. He is a member of the Shelby County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and keeps thoroughly informed concerning the wonderful developments that are taking place in his science. He is
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identified with the Masonic fraternity and retains college membership in the Beta Theta Pi, the Nu Sigma and the Nu Medical organizations.
DANIEL RUNKLE, president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank Company of Anna, O., is one of the capitalists and representative men of this section of Ohio and for many years has been also extensively interested in farming and cattle raising in Auglaize county. He was born on a farm in Fairfield county, O., March 24, 1846, and is a son of George and Mary (Ware) Runkle, who came to Ohio from Pennsylvania.
Daniel Runkle remained on his father's farm in Green township until he was twenty-one years of age and then took charge of a farm of 120 acres, a gift from his father, situated in Auglaize county, where he continued to reside until 1907, when he came to Anna. From the age of twenty-four years he engaged in raising fine cattle and in this industry was known all over this part of the state, having added to his land at times and still owns three farms, aggregating 360 acres. The Farmers & Merchants Bank Company of Anna, O., was incorporated in 1907, under the laws of the state of Ohio, with a capital of $25,000, with the following officers: Daniel Runkle, president ; R. D. Mede, vice-president, and J. W. A. Fridley, cashier. The directors at that time were Daniel Runkle, president; R. D. Curtner, cashier : Geo. D. Fridley, vice-president: W. C. Heinrich and E. M. Martin. In 1910 the directorate was raised to seven members. The board of directors for 1912 was as follows : R. D. Mede, Daniel Runkle, C. C. Toland, George C. Schiff, William Runkle, E. M. Martin (not sworn in), and J. W. A. Fridley, all men of ample fortune and thoroughly representative of this section's best interests.
Daniel Runkle married Miss Mary D. Lusk and they have two sons, William McKendry, who is dead, and George Albert, who remains on the homestead in Auglaize county. Mr. Runkle is a broad-minded, liberal man and he was welcomed to Anna as a valuable addition to the town's citizenship. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity and belongs also to the Royal Ar- canlım.
CHARLES WINNER,* president of the board of education of the special school district in McLean township, Shelby county, O., resides in section 3, McLean township, on the east side of the road, where twenty-seven acres of his farm of 127 acres lies, and he was born in this township, December 4, 1857. His parents are Anton and Caroline Winner.
Anton Winner, who is now retired and residing on his farm of 140 acres, situated in section 5, McLean township, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, November 3, 1833, and was brought to America when one year old by his parents Frank and Catherine Winner. They settled in the southeastern part of Auglaize county, O., on a tract of 120 acres of woods, and afterward much clearing was done and on that place Frank Winner died, at the age of forty-five years. His widow lived for many years afterward, dying in her seventy-second year. They were faithful Catholics and his burial was at
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
Minster, O., while hers was in Egypt cemetery. Anton Winner lived at home until he was twenty-one years old and then married Caroline Hoying, and they had the following children: Charles, Fred, Kate, Henry, Joseph, Clement, Mary and Anton, the last named dying in his fourth year. After marriage Anton Winner and wife settled on a farm of 120 acres which he had to clear before he could improve it and now has all under cultivation except about twenty acres of wood land. He bought this property of Henry Rolves and for many years carried on general farming and stock raising but has now retired. His wife died in her seventy-second year and her burial was in St. Joseph's Catholic cemetery.
Charles Winner was studious as a boy and attended school in the Dirl:sen special school district and also in Jackson township in Auglaize county, after- ward carrying on farming on the home place until his marriage, when he came to his present farm, all of which he has placed under a fine state of cultivation except twenty acres that he has preserved in valuable trees. With the exception of the residence, which had been built in the previous year, Mr. Winner erected all the substantial buildings on the property and is justly proud of what he has succeeded in accomplishing in twenty-eight years, tak- ing as it did, a vast amount of hard work and considerable exercise of patience and good judgment. In addition to raising grain and other farm products, Mr. Winner gives attention to livestock and always has a sufficient number of cattle and hogs on his place.
Mr. Winner married Miss Catherine Burns, a daughter of Herman and Mary Burns, all of McLean township, and they have had six children, all of whom survive except the second, Denia, who died at the age of five years, the others being: Anton, Annie, John, Emma and Alice. Mr. Winner and family belong to St. Joseph's Catholic church at Egypt. In politics he is a democrat but has never accepted any public office, except membership on the school board, and for seven years he has served continuously in the Walkey special school district, and by appointment has two more years to serve as president of this body. Mr. Winner is one of the representative and useful men of McLean township.
J. W. BROWN,* who is one of the intelligent men and successful farmers of Loramie township, Shelby county, O., owning 130 acres of well-developed land, ninety of which lie in the Greenwood special school district, of which he is a valued official, was born near Gettysburg, Darke county, O., June 24, 1877, and is a son of Reuben and Anna Brown, who are highly respected retired residents of Versailles, O.
J. W. Brown was nine years old when his parents came to Loramie town- ship, Shelby county, and he completed his education in the Greenwood special school district. He entered into business as a farm hand, working by the month, and then for one year raised tobacco, and after this experiment embarked in agricultural activities for himself and has so continued. He devotes his land to general farming and moderate stock raising and is num-
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bered with the prosperous and contented farmers of this part of Shelby county.
On September 14, 1899, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Hulda J. Apple, who was born also in Loramie township and is a daughter of Henry A. Apple, one of the old and well-known citizens and wealthy men of the township. On this farm the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born: Erma Eleanor, Goldie Irene and Mary Henrietta. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. In politics he has always been a democrat but has never accepted any public office except membership on the school board, his first experience being when he served for two years, filling out the unex- pired term of John Boyd, after which he was elected for a period of four years, which ensures his service on this body until 1916.
JOHN WILLIAM RAUSENBERGER, one of Shelby county's well- known and highly respected citizens, is numbered with the substantial and reliable men of Perry township, where he owns two valuable farms, one of 149 acres and the other of 162 acres. He is also a stockholder in the Ralston Car Company of Columbus. He is a native of Champaign county, where he was born in 1856, the son of John M. and Dora ( Rexer) Rausenberger, who came to this country in 1844.
John M. Rausenberger was born in Wittenberg, Germany, August 6, 1819, where he attended school and was apprenticed at the age of fourteen to a butcher. At that time this meant serving two years without pay or, to be accurate, John had to pay forty dollars to his master for his training. His faithfulness was rewarded in being allowed to buy and sell stock for his employer and thus he saved enough to buy his own clothes. After nine years as a journeyman in Porcheim, Frankfort-on-the-Main, and Antwerp, he set sail from Rotterdam, Holland, and after a voyage of forty-eight days, landed in Baltimore with two dollars in his pocket, which after three years' work he increased to $850.
This sum being sufficient in those early days for a matrimonial venture, he married Miss Dorothy Rexer, a native of Malmsheim, Germany, and came to Logan county, in 1848, where Mrs. Rausenberger had an uncle living.
An enterprising farmer, with careful investments, Mr. Rausenberger suc- ceeded in accumulating considerable land and raised a family of six children : George J., born in January, 1850, married Laura Molir and died January 17, 1903, leaving four children; Andrew J., born in March, 1852, married Mary Detrick, died March 30, 1900, survived by three children; Catherine, the next born, who became the wife of John Ziegler, died, leaving one child; John W., the subject of this sketch, born February I. 1856; Sarah C., the wife of Upton Moore, who survived her husband with three children; Dorothea, now Mrs. Samuel Huber of Logan county, who has four children. The mother died January 25, 1902, living to be eighty-two years of age. After his family left home Mr. Rausenberger disposed of his farm and is spending the declin- ing years of his life with his daughter, Mrs. Moore, at Degraff, O., honored for a life of ninety-three years well spent. He was a liberal supporter of the Lutheran church and an ardent democrat in politics.
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John William Rausenberger attended the district schools, assisted his father in his business enterprises until 1883, when he married Miss Emma Huber, March II, and brought his bride to a farm in Perry township, bought of Adam Grep in 1882, which has been his home ever since. Five children were born in this household, one of whom, born February 5, 1889, died in infancy. The others are: Florence Henrietta, born June 13, 1884; Ada, November 4, 1890; Sarah Anna, July 10, 1892; and George H., born November 22, 1896. Like his father, Mr. Rausenberger is a democrat of the Jacksonian type, though never an office holder, and an ingrained Lutheran, his family being worshipers of St. John's Evangelical congregation in Sidney.
The father of Mrs. J. W. Rausenberger, George Huber, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, May 10, 1825. After working at various occupations, he set sail for America and landed in New York, May 28, 1846, with only a few dollars. He engaged in the milling business in Pennsylvania, and, in 1849, married Henrietta Schwilke of Lancaster, and in 1853 came to Logan county, O., where he now resides on a farm in Union township. Twelve children were born to this union, eight of whom reached maturity and are living in Shelby and Logan counties. Those living are: Lewis; Samuel; Emma Catherine; Sophia ; Anna, now Mrs. E. C. Hurst; Andrew and Daniel. Mrs. Huber died August 20, 1886. Mr. Huber has been a successful farmer, honorable in his dealings, and is now living with his daughter, Sophia, at the age of four score and seven years. Both were Lutherans, but united with the Church of the Brethren in Logan county.
CHARLES F. YAGER,* one of the old and reliable business men of Sid- ney, O., who has been identified with carriage and buggy manufacturing, including painting and blacksmithing, for forty-five years, is at the head of one of the most important manufacturing plants of this city. He was born at Middleboro, Elkhart county, Ind., October 2, 1849, and is a son of Clark and Margaret Ellen (Linn). Yager.
Clark Yager was a miller and in his son's infancy moved from Indiana to Three Rivers, Mich., where he took charge of the Three Rivers House, where a good business was done for several years, the railroad line being built through there at that time. He removed from there to Carrolton, O., where he operated a mill for a few years and later conducted one in Wapakoneta, and from there went to New Hampshire and there operated both a saw and grist mill until the fall of 1861, when he came to Shelby county and took charge of what is now the Miami Valley Grain & Mill Company's mill, and brought his family here in the following year.
Charles F. Yager was thirteen years of age when the family came from New Hampshire to Shelby county, old enough to give his father assistance in his mill, the old Walker mill south of Sidney. He then learned his trade, including body and wheel making and for twenty years after worked for H. Miller. There are few men now in the business who understand its every detail like Mr. Yager and he attributes much of his business success to his practical knowledge. He carries on the manufacture of buggies and carriages,
I. H. THEDIECK
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where his large plant includes his blacksmith and paint shop, its location being Nos. 124-126 South West street, Sidney, and gives constant employment to from ten to fifteen men. He has made improvements according to the time but has never changed his business policy, that of giving honest, reliable goods, and takes pride in the fact that when his name is attached to a vehicle, a customer feels that no further endorsement is needed.
Mr. Yager was married in 1871, at Sidney, to Miss Nannie L. Yinger, and they have had three children: Mary, who is the wife of George M. Peffer, of Piqua, O., and they have one son, Morris; and Fred C., who is a student in Miami University, at Oxford, O. Mr. Yager and family are members of the Presbyterian church. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, the Elks and the order of Ben Hur, and belongs also to the United Commercial Travelers. One child died in infancy.
I. H. THEDIECK, proprietor of Sidney's large and up-to-date department store, was born in Alfhousen, Germany, January 30, 1855, a son of C. F. G. and Bernadine (Sudendorf) Thedieck, his father being a successful merchant of that place. Coming to America at the age of sixteen, the subject of this sketch resided for a short time in Cincinnati and then went to Dayton, O., where he spent some five or six months in the public schools. Returning to Cincinnati, he obtained a position as clerk in a business house and was thus occupied for three years, in the meanwhile studying the English language and American business methods. In September, 1875, Mr. Thedieck came to Sidney and in company with Philip Raterman opened a dry goods store in a small frame building that stood on the present site of Herzstam's clothing store. The business was carried on under the style of Thedieck & Raterman and rapidly increased in size and importance, so that in the following year it was found necessary to remove to more spacious quarters. These were found in the Thompson building, in the room now occupied by the Montanus shoe store. In February, 1878, Mr. Raterman retired and Mr. Thedieck then carried on the business alone. In a few years increasing prosperity made another removal necessary and in 1882 Mr. Thedieck took up his quarters in the east room of the present fine building now occupied by him. The sub- sequent history of the concern has been one of increasing success. More space has been required from time to time, until now the entire building, con- sisting of three large double floors and basement, is devoted solely to the business. All the most practical modern conveniences have been installed : the store has its own steam heating plant; its own electric light plant and the most improved cash delivery system, while a fine passenger elevator furnishes transit between the various floors. There are also a rest room, toilet rooms and free telephone service for the convenience of the store's patrons.
Mr. Thedieck carries a most complete stock of almost everything needed for the personal use of man, woman or child, in addition to household goods and many other articles demanded by necessity, comfort or luxury. In the variety and quality of the stock, the prices asked, the service, and in its fittings and appointments, the Thedieck Department Store will bear comparison with
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almost any store of its kind in the larger cities. Its trade extends widely into surrounding counties, its outside patrons being especially attracted by the reliable quality of the goods sold-a fact that has had perhaps the most to do with the marvelous growth of the business. The large outlet gives an immense purchasing power to the establishment, which enables it to buy for less money and consequently to sell for less. Large surplus lots are often purchased from the manufacturers at special price concessions, an advantage that is always shared with the customers. The building up of such a business is an achievement in which Mr. Thedieck can take a just pride-not merely from the fact that in so doing he has advanced his own personal fortunes, but still more in that he has conferred a real and substantial service upon his fellow citizens and knows that it is appreciated. It is unnecessary to pay any long rhetorical tribute to his business ability or force of character. What he has done speaks for itself. Such concerns as he has successfully estab- lished are not built up by weaklings or second-rate men. They are the work of great business generals-commercial Napoleons, so to speak. Aside from his own personal business interests, Mr. Thedieck takes a keen interest in the general prosperity of the city in which he has made his home, and shows an enlightened public spirit in many matters affecting the moral and material betterment of the community. He is a man of courteous and genial manners and enjoys a wide popularity.
Mr. Thedieck was married October 18, 1878, to Miss Ida C. Wagner, a daughter of Matthias Wagner, now deceased. He and his wife have been the parents of four children, namely : Charles M., Frank P., Inez M. and Paul C., of whom Charles M. and Paul C. are now deceased. All the members of the family belong to the Catholic church, and move in the best society of Sidney.
J. FRANK RICHESON, D. D. S., * a foremost citizen of Sidney, O., president of the city school board, is also the leading dental practitioner here, where he has been established since August 22, 1896. Dr. Richeson was born at St. Paris, Champaign county, O., December 6, 1871, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Strousburg) Richeson. The father still resides in Champaign county.
J. Frank Richeson was reared and attended school at St. Paris and con- tinued his studies until he was graduated from the St. Paris high school in 1891. Afterward he became a clerk in a grocery store, in the meanwhile pre- paring for college, subsequently entering the dental department of the Ohio Medical University of Columbus and was graduated from that institution in the spring of 1896, a few months later coming to Sidney, where he has built up a very large and substantial practice. Dr. Richeson has a well-equipped office and is a scientific and skillful practitioner.
On June 22, 1898, Dr. Richeson was married at Sidney to Miss Anna Graf, who was born in Shelby county. O., and they have two children : Samuel and Janice. Dr. Richeson belongs to the Masons and the Knights of Pythias and also to professional organizations. He is an active citizen, with
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progressive ideas, and for three years has been a valued member of the school board and an encourager of all movements looking to civic improvement.
WILLIAM A. GRAHAM, * cashier of the Citizens National Bank at Sidney, O., has been in the banking business for thirty-eight years and is well known in this section of Ohio in the financial field. He was born at Sidney, O., November 14, 1852, and is a son of Thomas B. and Jane E. (Gimm) Graham.
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