History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 116

Author: R. Sutton & Co.
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 427

USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 116

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JOHN M. BLUE

was born in Union County, Ohio, near Marysville, June 19, 1840. At five years of age L'e was taken to Delaware County, where his parents moved, and settle for some time. Eleven years later he was back at the old Union County home, where he attended school about a year, and then began work 1 8 on a farm for twelve dollars per month. Sixteen months later he received twenty dollars a month, and at the expiration of two years beg =" splitting rails, which he followed about two years, with his uncle. old occupation as F Le then spent a few months at home, and resumed his and again resume farming for a period of three years, this time working

Kearney, and was rail-splitter. He was a member of the 135th Ohio Regiment, Col. Ist Es, and was stationed at Harper's Ferry and Cam?

mustered out of service at Camp Chase. He after- wards took jobs Of getting out railroad ties, bought timber, and con- 11, 1867. He moved to Quincy, where he remained about four years

tracted in lumber- He married Miss Elizabeth M. Valentine February and labored to pay ou some old debts. He continued in the lumber and severe reverses.

In 1877 he met kept right along. in his business. In 1881 he cut seven hundred cords of wood, and hanclled over three million feet of lumber, at a net profit of $6100. In 1882 he handled eighteen hundred cords of wood, and over two million feet of lumber.

Harry S., and Alta May. His children are William L., Charles C.,

CHARLES TIMEUS, Grocer,

was born in Baden, Germany, April 4, 1838, where he lived until 1857, when he came to America with his mother and landed at New York' From New York he came to Sidney, arriving in December, 1857. The next spring he bought a farm three miles south of town and moved to it. In 1864 he moved back to Sidney and engaged in the grocery business on Poplar Street in the place now owned by Mrs. Sophia Young. In 1865 he moved to his present place of business. In 1860 he married Miss Sophia Rensch. They have seven children, named Jacob G., Maggie S., Edwarct C., George L., Lena, Jennie, and Carrie. When he first started in Sid- ney he handled groceries and liquors exclusively, but soon afterwards put wagons on the road, and in 1870 conducted a bakery and confec- tionery with his other business. In 1870 he also started the first street ice-wagon. In 1872 he engaged in butchering and pork packing, and in 1876 bought a slaughter house, enlarged his business and began handling as many as two thousand hogs annually. He also purchased large quan- tities of wool which he shipped to Philadelphia. He has always taken a lively interest in city affairs. He is a director of Graceland Cemetery, and was its treasurer a number of years.

BENJAMIN SLUSSER

was born June 6, 1828, in Franklin Township, and worked on a farm until sixteen years of age. He then spent five years in Philadelphia and other places studying the principles of applied mechanics. Returning to Sidney he turned his attention to mechanical inventions of a labor- saving nature. His large scraper factory is fitted with various appli- ances of his own invention. Among these inventions is a steel scraper, a self-loading excavator which will plow, load, and unload while in ino- tion, and several devices used in the manufacture of scrapers. He has also invented a reversible water wheel and a sulky plow. He has ope- rated as railroad and street excavator on various roads and in different cities throughout the country. At Sidney he established an extensive scraper works, known as the " American Steel Scraper Co.," which he operated about three years, and, selling out, started his present works, the machinery being his own inventions. In 1852 he married, and his wife died in 1868, leaving one child. In 1870 he married again, by which union he has a second child.

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timber business until he acquired a little capital. In 1876 he moved to Sidney, and went into the lumber and stave business Again the next year he suffered a loss of $2750, but.

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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

DR. C. E. JOHNSTON

was born in Perry Township, this county, July 16, 1850, and lived on a farm until twenty-one years old, when he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, of Delaware, Ohio. After completing the collegiate course he began teaching in Logan and Shelby counties, which vocation he pursued some two or three years. He next engaged as travelling sales- man about one year, and took up the study of medicine in the office of Dr. W. H. Shaw, of Plattsville. After two years at this place, he finished his reading course in about one year in the office of Dr. D. T. Gillian, and graduated from the Starling Medical College of Columbus in Feb- ruary, 1880. About the same time he married Miss Mizzie, daughter of W. R. Jackson, of this county, and began the practice of his profession in Sidney. During the past two years he has been secretary of the Shelby County Medical Society, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. With his wife he is also a member of the Presbyterian Church of Sidney.

JAMES A. LAMB.

This gentleman came to Sidney early enough to become identified with its whole material development and growth. He was born in Penn- sylvania, December 14, 1815, and remained working upon a farm and clerking in a store until 1833. In 1834 he came to Richiland County, O., and went into partnership in a drug store at Mansfield. Eighteen months later he engaged in the same business at Lancaster, but in Jan. 1840, he went into the dry goods trade with Col. Zinn. In the spring of 1842 he came to Sidney, and found a village of about fourteen hun- dred inhabitants, and even a large element of this population belonged to the floating class. With Mr. Zinn he started a factory for the manu- facture of pearlash, in which business he was engaged about three years. His principal market was Sandusky, and wagons formed the method of transportation, for although the trip consumed as high as twelve days it was yet cheaper than canal transportation. He continued this busi- ness with Colonel Zinn until 1868, when he sold out to Mr. Hoover, bought a farm and worked it until he could settle up his old business. About two years later he sold the farm and soon after went into the Citizens' Bank, Sidney, as President of the institution, which position he still retains. He was a member of the city council about eight years, and while a member of that body introduced the ordinance which pro- vided for securing the Holly Waterworks, and was largely instrumental in other ways in carrying the project to a successful issue! He built the warehouse now occupied by Moore & Marshall as well as his own fine residence, besides engaging in other building projects. The new Presbyterian Church and parsonage may be pointed to as his work, as well as splendid work. He is a man who has conducted a varied busi- ness with partners, and yet can say he never had a word of disagreement with these men. Although he had to struggle at times with financial difficulties he never permitted his note to go to protest. His retail and jobbing stock aggregates about $75,000 a year, which placed him among the foremost business men of the city.

GEORGE ACKERLY

was born in Bavaria, December 27, 1821. When twenty-three years old he came to America and landed in New York, proceeded at once to Day- ton, Ohio. He entered the Mexican war with the Ist Ohio Regiment, Colonel Weller, and started for Mexico on the Ist of July. Reaching New Orleans about the twelfth of the month, he went into Camp Jackson a few days, when crossing the Gulf he landed at Point Isabel. Crossing the Rio Grande the troops with which he was proceeded to Cerro, where they joined the main force of General Taylor. Moving on they went into camp at Monterey, but on the 21st of July left camp for Black Ford and saw the rout of the first Mexican force. About four months later they went to Buena Vista expecting an engagement, but found the city deserted and returned to Monterey. While driving a wagon train he was attacked by Mexicans and lost fifty-three wagons, the commandant being Major Joshua R. Giddings. After serving out his full enlistment, Mr. Ackerly was honorably discharged at New Orleans and given transporta- tion to Dayton, Ohio. In November, 1848, he married Philakua Eicher, this being three days before he cast his first vote for Genl. Taylor. His first wife died, and after a period of three years he married her sister Barbara. They had six children. In 1856 Mr. Ackerly bought a farin in Shelby County and moved to it in 1858. Eight years later he moved to Sidney and bought the " Farmers' Hotel," which he managed about nine years when he sold out and moved to his present home. Was en- gaged at merchant tailoring and clothing business about five years. He was a member of the city council three years, and at this time is an in- firmary director of the county. When he came to this country he had no means but his energy, but by labor and persistence he has procured a competency of worldly goods.

THOMAS STEPHENSON

was born in Bourbon County, Ky., March 16, 1799, and at fourteen years of age moved to Xenia, Ohio. In 1825 he returned to Kentucky, where he married Miss Elizabeth Shaw and removed to Sidney, Ohio. Hle bought two hundred acres of land and began improving it. His

nearest grocery market was Piqua, twelve miles distant. A few years later he opened a store and traded largely with the Indians, who were his best and most numerous customers. This store was on a plat near the present site of the Journal office. His goods were transported by wagon from Dayton, a distance of fifty miles. Mr. Stephenson followed merchandising about twenty years. His wife died about 1860, and a year or so later he married Miss Mary Elliott, who died four months after marriage. He then married Miss Sallie Carey, who is still living. They had two children, both of whom are now dead.

M. T. HENSON.

Mr. Henson is the patentee of Henson's Automatic Vise of seven dif- ferent kinds of groove and four different kinds of iron. The sizes vary from the delicacy of a jeweller's instrument up to the ponderousness of three hundred pounds. The advantage claimed for this device over the ordinary vise is its accommodation or adjustment to any irregular sur- face. In other words, it is claimed to be self-adjustable and automatic. A specially noteworthy feature is the preservation of the parallelism of the jaws at all times, all widths, and on any shaped article. Besides these advantages, it lays claim to simplicity, strength, durability, and cheapness. They are shipped to all points, and vary in price from six to twelve dollars.

GEORGE H. BUNNELLE

was born December 23, 1837, at Xenia, Ohio, and remained in the city of his nativity until twenty-one years old. He had contemplated a col- legiate course of study, but owing to business reverses suffered by his father he changed his plans and turned his attention to marble sculpture and engraving. After working in Cincinnati, Chicago, and other towus until 1860, he came to West Liberty, Ohio, and started business for himself. In 1861 he sold his business and came to Sidney merely to look over the business prospects of the town. Satisfied that the town presented a good field for enterprise he concluded to remain, and again engaged at his trade. Two years later he married Miss Mary L., young- est daughter of Dr. Beemen. Being of a speculative turn he began deal- ing in sheep, and succeeded for a time, but went West at the request of his parents, who needed his advice in their old age. After six years he returned to Sidney and resumed bis old business speculations, opened an office and turned his attention to real estate, insurance, and general speculation. We insert the following reference to him which appeared recently in a daily paper :-

"Mr. Geo. H. Bunnelle, a real estate dealer, collector and money broker, has been of great service to a large number of people here, who have secured homes almost before they knew it. He has had a great deal of lands subdivided into lots, and sold them on the monthly plan system, 512 of them, during the past three years. Mr. Bunnelle is an .enthusiast in regard to Sidney, and thinks its era of prosperity has just begun to dawn."

HARVEY GUTHRIE

was born in Pulaski County, Va., July 23, 1x28, moved to Shelby County with his parents the following year, when they settled at Lockington. In 1850 he went to California. Still, as time passed along, he kept buy- ing out the shares of the other children in the old farm, which finally came into his possession. In 1869 he moved to Sidney. He held the office of justice of the peace about nine years, and that of township trustee about twenty-two years. He was also clerk of the township during a number of these same years. In 1859 he was elected anditor of the county, which office he held two terms. He was elected to the Constitutional Convention to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Smith. While attending the convention he was elected mayor of Sidney and justice of the peace, holding the former office two years, and the latter three years. Against his earnest desires he was elected a member of council, and served during the period of water works' construction at the solicitation of friends. After his retirement from the mayoralty he served two terms as trustee of the township, and was elected a member of the board of health, and secretary of the Agricultural Society. He has also been appointed administrator and assignee of many estates. In 1851 he married Ella F. Mellinger. They have three children : James W., Mary E., and Cora J. Mrs. Guthrie is a daughter of William Mel- linger, who settled in this county about 1808. After a long life of activity in politics, holding the offices of justice and commissioner for many years, Mr. Mellinger died in 1870. James G. Guthrie, father of Harvey, was a Virginian, who had held offices of trust and distinction.

GEORGE L. BUSH

. was born December 19, 1826, in Pennsylvania, and came to Sidney De- cember 16, 1848. Here he worked at the carpenter trade until January, 1869. He was three times elected county recorder, serving nine years. He afterward opened a grocery and provision store, to which he attached a bakery. He was a trustee of the water works two years, and member of the board of education three years. In 1854 he married Miss Mary

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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

Ann Hailman, who died in March, 1864. They had three children: Stanley M., Carrie A., and one child which died in infancy. In 1865 he remarried. When he came here there was no town south of the Catholic Church, while west of the D. & M. R. R. was one wild forest.

JACOB PIPER

was born June 27, 1817, in Germany, and came to America in 1831. He worked on a farm in Pennsylvania two years, and then learned the wagon-making trade. In 1836 he came to Dayton, Ohio, but after two years returned to Germany, and passed one winter, when he came to Sidney, and opened a wagon shop. In 1862 he entered the grocery trade. He was a director of the gas works nine years. He was twice a member of city council, and twice a cemetery director, holding the latter office at present. He has also been a leading spirit in the Methodist Church (German), and actually built the church with his own funds, and gave the congregation all the time desired to compensate him. In December, 1838, he married Miss Catharine B. Shine, and has reared six children, viz., Elizabeth, William, Mary, Jacob, Samuel, and Ella. Mr. Piper came to Sidney early enough to find a village of about eleven hundred inhabitants, and lived to see it become quite an active little city.

JOHN B. EDGAR.

Mr. Edgar was born in Sidney, September 21, 1847. In 1863 he began clerking in the store of S. M. Todd & Co., which position he held until the spring of 1864. In 1864, however, he enlisted in the 147th O. N. G., and was mustered in at Camp Dennison, and went by way of Washing- ton to Fort Ethan Allen, Virginia, where he remained until September, when he was ordered to the Shenandoah Valley, but went back to Wash- ington two weeks later, and was mustered out at Camp Dennison. From 1865 to '67 he worked on a farm. He then went into R. L. Fry's store, where he continued until 1876, when he was taken into partnership under the firm name of Fry & Edgar. In 1881 he turned his attention to labor contracts, his first work being the excavation for the new court-house at Sidney. He has also had a large number of pike contracts, and other work of various kinds. He was chief of the fire department three years, and during the past two years has been lessee and manager of Monu- mental Hall, Sidney. He is one of the charter members of the Royal Arcanum, and also one of its most active members. He married Miss Jennie Fry, of Sidney, December 3, 1867. They have six children: Edna L., John F., Robert B., Lizzie Anna, Carrie, and an infant.

PETER GOFFENA

was born in Beaver County, Pa., February 14, 1838, and came with his parents to Darke County, Ohio, where he remained until 1868, when he moved to Shelby County, and started in the dry goods trade at Newport. In 1861 he enlisted in the 66th Ohio, and went with his regiment to the protection of the B. & O. R. R., and in about two months to Martins- burg. Owing to sickness he lay in the hospital about three months, but followed the regiment through Virginia and Maryland until finally discharged. He went to California, where he remained two years for the benefit of his health, and then returned to this county to engage in farming and stock-raising. He afterward moved to Newport, and en- gaged in general merchandising about fifteen years. In 1876 he took a three months' trip to Europe, visiting England, Belgium, and France. In 1881 he was elected treasurer of the county, sold his Newport store to his brother, and moved to Sidney. He had held the offices of trustee and treasurer of the township a number of years. He was married June 17, 1872, to Tracy Schwartz. They have three children living, named Peter M., John J., and Samuel F. Mr. Goffena was fifteen years old before he attended school, and then his whole school life was compressed into a period of six weeks, so that his educational opportunities might be said to have been very limited.

IGNATIUS WIENGARTNER

was born in Baden, July 19, 1831, and learned the shoemaking trade. He came to America in 1851 and came to Cincinnati in April of the same year, where he worked a few days and moved to Hamilton. Here he worked at his trade about two years at $4 per week for the first six months, and then, working by the piece, earned from $5 to $8 per week. He then visited Sidney, Dayton, Richmond, and Indianapolis, and finally again to Sidney, where he worked at his trade about two years. In 1855 he moved to Freyburg, Auglaize County, and opened a hotel, but in two years returned to Sidney and opened the Farmers' Hotel, which he con- ducted about nine years, his brother Joseph being associated with him about two-thirds of this time and his brother Louis the other third. At lengthi he sold his interest in the hotel, and a year or so later began butchering and opened a meat market with his brother Joseph. Sixteen years later he bought his brother's interest, and in 1882 took his son, Wm. E., into partnership with him. In addition to his town interests, he with his brother owns a farm below the cemetery, which they rent from time to time. He married Miss Amelia Young in August, 1855, and reared eight children, of whom two are now dead. Those living are named, Wm. E., Mary E., Lena, Jacob H., Frank, and Flora.

PHILIP MONTANUS

was born in Baden July 18, 1818, came to America in 1854, and the fol- lowing year to Sidney. Here he opened a grocery store, which he con- ducted one year when he went into the saloon business, in which he was engaged a number of years. He married Elizabeth Wal, April 7, 1842, and has four children.

O. J. TAYLOR

was born in Sidney , September 26, 1830, and after attending the Sidney schools took a commercial course at Cincinnati. He then engaged in civil engineering & few years, and made the preliminary survey of the Bee Line Railroad , and also surveyed several months for the Pan Handle Company. In 185 4 he went into business in Sidney, which will be found treated under business interests. He was married in June, 1855, to Miss Sarah Harrison. They have reared six children, named Harrison J.,

May Belle, Jennie O., Willis R., Oliver E., and Charles J.

JAMES JOHNSTON

was born Februa I- 27, 1818, in Sidney, Ohio, his father, William, being a native of Virgin - a, who had come to Orange Township at an early day. The subject of this notice remembers the old block house which stood near the house now

farm until sixteen owned by Peter Wagner. He worked on his father's years old, when he went to Port Jefferson and worked When twenty-four years of age he entered the law

office of Martin & Metcalf, and after two years' study was admitted to

the business in the hands of his sons. He was married August 10, 1848, In his youth he attended the old "Buck- occupied by the U eye" school, a LOS building which stood to the rear of the site now nion school building. It was then taught by William

CHRISTOPHER H. DICKAS

was born in Bavaria, Feb. 18, 1829, and lived with his parents unt !! fourteen years oldt, when he served an apprenticeship of six years under Dr. Smidtt. He was then drafted into the army and served as hospital steward and surgeon. In 1854 was ordered to the Crimea, but only went as far as the Austrian border, where, after eight months, was or- dered to hospital. He was promoted in 1856 and discharged the next year. He arrived in New York in Nov. 1857, where he married Mise Ida Jacobs, and in a few weeks went to Baltimore. After a few months he moved to Sidney, in Feb. 1858, leaving his wife in the East for want of funds to bring her along. He opened a barber shop, and after about three months his wife rejoined him here. He opened a shop near where Wien - gartner's meat shop now is, but about seven months later moved his place of business to the rear of Thompson's drug store, where he worked about. fifteen years, when he built the large and commodious three-story build- ing which he now occupies at a cost of $7000. In 1879 he took his eldest son, Daniel, into partnership in his lucrative business, while he pays the other sons a salary. He has three children now living, named Daniel, George H., and Charles O. One child, Frederick, was thrown out of a buggy and killed when twenty-two years old. He came home about six o'clock, went to his room, undressed himself and retired. His mother visited his room, found him unable to speak, and called his father. In about fifteen minutes he reached the room and found the boy dead. After six years' labors in this country Mr. Dickas returned to the "fatherland" and visited all his relatives and friends. In 1862 his parents came to America and both died about ten years afterward at Washington, D. C. Mr. Dickas is agent for the Teutonia Fire Insurance Co. and the Ham- burg Packet, Bremen, Lloyd Steamship, and Inman Steamship Line of Liverpool. He now has the leading business in his line in Sidney, and by labor, economy, and determination has acquired considerable property.

ABRAHAM CLAUSON

was born in Fairfield County, Vt., in 1815. He lived in Albany, N. Y., two years, and then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also remained about two years. He then came to Salem Township, this county, where he lived eight years and moved to Dayton, where he learned the mason trade. About three years later he came to Sidney to help build the court-house, and finally settled here and prosecuted his business about eighteen years when he went into the grocery trade. Six years later he sold out and entered the lumber business, in which he was engaged eight years. Since coming here he has built thirty-four houses, which he either sold or rented. He saw the infancy of Sidney, a mere village, with one store, kept by John Blake. The first log school-house was built the year after he came here. He thus witnessed all the rudeness and underwent all the privations incident to life far removed from society, institutions, and markets. In 1836 he married Miss Nancy Hawkey, and reared two children, John W. and Mary E. He was assessor twenty-

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on his uncle's farrn.

the practice of la , but only practised the profession one year. He then went into the hare ware business, in which he continued until 1874, when He left failing health actionished him to retire from active business. and has four chile tren living.

Murphey.

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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

two years, deputy sheriff six years, and constable four years. He be- longed to that rude period of the town's history when 'coon skins, gin- seng, and beeswax formed the currency of the community, and when salt was worth $18 per barrel.

SAMUEL SILVER

is a native of Wayne County, Ind., and was born February 7, 1832. In 18:5 his parents moved to Sidney, where he worked with his father on a farm, and finally found employment in a brick-yard at $4 per month for the first season, $6 for the second, and $8 for the third. He then worked along at his trade and boating until 1862, when he entered the employment of the Government as wagon-master, at which he served about eighteen months and returned home. He then took the captaincy of a boat again until 1864, when he enlisted in the 99th Ohio Regiment under Colonel Bope, and served until the close of the war as wagon- master of division. Again he resumed boating, but soon went to Mich- igan, where he was engaged in lumbering about seven years, four of which he was foreman of the lumber camps. Returning to Sidney he entered the grocery business, which he followed about five years, when he was elected city marshal, in which office he is now serving his sixth year. He has also been engaged in the city ice trade since his return to this place, his son chiefly attending to the business. He was married Nov. 8, 1871, and has four children, Harry, Mary, Webster, and Maudie.

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History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 116

Author: R. Sutton & Co. Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Number of Pages: 427

Author: R. Sutton & Co.
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 427