History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 75

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 75

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Tile Yards.

BOTKINS TILE YARDS were established in 1876, by Hemmert & Stelzer, and have since been operated under the firm name of Hemmert & Stelzer, who manufacture all sizes of tile, from 2} to 7 inches. With a

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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

drying shed 130 feet in length, mill shed 36 by 36 feet, burning kiln 13 by 12 feet, they have the capacity to manufacture and burn about 10,000 rods during one season.

NORTHUMBERLAND.

A village by this name was laid out on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 9, town. 7 south, range 6 east, on the State road lead- ing from Sidney to Wapakoneta. It was surveyed April 19, 1837, for William Blakeley, the proprietor of the land. It was recorded June 1, 1837, but as a village long since lost its identity, and is merely a memory of the past.

BIOGRAPHIES. DR. L. D. LE FEVRE

was born in Salem Township, this county, January 1, 1837. Here he lived on the home farm until he commenced the study of medicine in Cincinnati, where he graduated in the spring of 1861. On the Ist of March, 1862, he enlisted as hospital steward in Co. K, 57th O. V. I., but during his three years' service was acting assistant surgeon. He was finally mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, and at once began the practice of medicine at Careysville, Champaign County, Ohio. In 1875 he came to Sidney, but about a year later moved to Anna and opened a drugstore, practising medicine at the same time. In about six months he found his practice so extensive that he abandoned the drug business, and turned his whole attention to his profession. In this direction be has been unusually successful, his practice being really too extensive to be easily pursued. In 1866 he married Elizabeth Cecil, who died about 1873. In 1875 he married Clara Leckey, who is still living. They have four children, named Lucius M., Louisa Jane, Courtland L., and Ben- jamin F.

HON. J. M. CARSON

was born in Jackson Township, this county, June 7, 1846, and continued in that township engaged in farming until 1863. In July, 1863, he en- listed in Co. G, 9th O. Cav., and followed Sherman in his march to the sea, receiving his discharge in August, 1865. After the war he educated himself and taught school a portion of the succeeding eight years. In 1876 he became a member of the Lower House of the General Assembly, where, after serving two years, he was elected to the State Senate for the same period. In 1879 he accepted a clerkship in the Navy Depart- ment, and so remained in Washington, D. C., until April, 1881, when he came to Anna and took charge of a warehouse. In 1882, he was elected Mayor of the town of Anna, and Justice of the Peace. He is now here, engaged in the grain, salt, lime, coal, flour and seeds trade, doing a gen- eral warehouse business. His father was a native of Ohio, and died in 1852. His mother, a daughter of Benjamin Wallingsford, belonged to the pioneers of Jackson Township, and died here in 1850. Mr. Carson married Bessie E. Staley January 1, 1872. They have three children, named Millard Everett, Oliver Paine, and Victor Vance.

W. H. WELLER,

a son of one of the pioneer families of Johnson Township, Champaign County, was born September 21, 1842. Mr. Weller was here engaged in farming until May 2, 1864, when he enlisted in Co. I, 134th O. V. I., and served until September of the same year. In 1869 he went to Kansas, but after two years' experience returned to his old home in Champaign County. He married Louisa K. Hall April 23, 1867. In 1875 he came to Anna and engaged in the drug business, and in September, 1878, located at his present stand in the village of Anna, where he is doing a deservedly popular trade.

ANDREW GUTMANN,

a merchant of Botkins, was born in Bavaria February 8, 1823, and came to America, landing at New Orleans in 1846. He at length went to Chil- licothe, Ohio, wherehe remained until 1848, when he moved to the village of Freyburg, in Auglaize County. At this place he engaged in the mer- chandise business, which he conducted without interruption until Febru- ary, 1863. At this date he moved to his present site in Botkins, where he has conducted the same business as a general supply merchant. In addition to the merchant business, he in 1865 built the Botkins steam grist mill, and after operating it about five years sold it in 1870, but in August, 1881, repurchased it, and has since been operating it. Besides doing a local trade in flour and feed, he buys grain of all kinds for ship- ment. His store is in the building formerly used as a warehouse by Ross Botkin, deceased. It was changed into a storeroom by August Hoffman about three years before it passed into the hands of its present owner.

On the 7th of February, 1854, Mr. Gutmann married Miss Catherine Seiter, of Freyburg, Ohio. They have seven children living, named Joseph, Alexander, Frank, Anna, Rosa, Andrew and Leo. Of these all are at home except Alexander, who lives in Lima, Ohio, although Joseph also is married.

J. H. MILLER,

a young but successful merchant of Botkins, was born at Tippecanoe City, Ohio, January 3, 1856. In 1874 he located at Piqua, Ohio, where he was engaged in the dry goods trade about three years, when he returned to Tippecanoe. After about one year passed at his native town he came to Botkins in 1878, where he entered the merchandise business with a cousin under the firm name of J. H. and P. Miller. In 1881 he purchased the interest of Philip Miller and has since conducted the business alone. The stock consists of dry goods, hats, caps, boots, shoes, and groceries, in fact the business is that of a general supply stock. Mr. J. H. Miller was married October 4, 1878, to Miss Lizzie. Werth, of Covington, Ky. They have one child.

PHAUNEL HUNT

was born in Indiana, August 14, 1837, and came to Shelby County about the year 1854. He then located about two miles southeast of Botkins, but has since moved to a farm about one-half mile south of town. Al- though he has always followed farming, the last ten years have been ex- tensively devoted to the settlement of estates. He has held about all the township offices for different periods, and is now serving his fifth term as Justice of the Peace. During the past two years he has been engaged in the lumber and agricultural implement business, as head of the firm of Hunt & Greve. At this time (June, 1883), Mr. Hunt is the Dem- ocratic candidate for the lower House of the General Assembly for Shelby County. The nomination may ordinarily be considered equiva- lent to an election. In September, 1859, he married Mary Hillbrant of this township. They have reared eight children, of whom all are still at home except Aquilla, who is married. The names of the children are : Aquilla, Walter C., Anna A., Aldara, Phaunel, Samuel, Elida, and Lottie.

F. M. DAVIS

was born in 1836 in this county, and has pursued farming all his life. His post-office is Botkins Station. In 1864 he was married to Drusilla Elliott, who was born in this county in 1841. They have reared five children, named Rita M., William R., Ida May, Alfie, and Ida. Mr. Davis. occupies land in sections 8 and 9 of this township.

SAMUEL BLAKELEY,

deceased, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1780, where he passed his mi- nority days. He emigrated to America when a young man, and located in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, where he remained several years, then came to Ohio and located in Franklin County. He was a weaver by trade, which he followed during the winter months and stormy weather for many years. He married Miss Mary Decker, then of Frank- lin County, Ohio, but a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where she was born in 1797. Mr. and Mrs. Blakeley remained in Franklin County until in 1830, when they came to Shelby County, and settled on eighty acres of land in Franklin Township. March, 1832, they moved to Dinsmore Township, and settled on section 4, on which Mr. Blakeley died July 18, 1857. His companion survived him until in September, 1880, when she died in Botkins. They reared a family of seven children, viz., Elias, Decker D., Catharine, John, George, Mary A., and Nancy A., two of whom are now deceased, viz., Decker D. and Nancy A

JOHN BLAKELEY,

third son of Samuel and Mary Blakeley, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, July 11, 1825. He came to Shelby County with his parents in 1830, and has been a citizen of Dinsmore Township since March, 1832. He married Miss Elizabeth Elliott in the year 1852, daughter of Cornelius and Elizabeth Elliott. Miss Elliott was born in Licking County, Ohio, October 18th, 1833, and came to Shelby County with her parents in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Blakeley settled on his father's home farm, on which they have since resided. They reared a family of three children, viz., Adam E., Minerva, and Adilia. Mr. Blakeley now owns his father's home farm, containing one hundred and sixty-one acres; also one hundred acres in section 10, same township.

RICHARD C. DILL,

deceased, was born in Washington County, Pa., August 25, 1786. He came to Ohio sometime prior to the war of 1812, and located in Greene County. He entered the army and served about six months in the war of 1812. He married Miss Hannah Burch, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Speedy) Burch, of Hamilton County, born January 9, 1792, Mr. and Mrs. Dill settled in Hamilton County, remained until in, Octo- ber, 1832, when they came to Shelby County, with a family of nine child- ren, entered, made improvements, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 29, Dinsmore Township, on which they passed the remainder of their days. Mr. Dill died July 14, 1867. His companion survived him until June 4, 1873. They reared a family of eleven children, viz., Jane, Margaret, Ann, Rebecca, Joseph, Espy, Amanda, James C., Franklin, Susan, and Catharine, six of whom are yet living, viz., Jane, Amanda, James C., Ann, Susan, and Catharine. Espy was in the battle of Chick-

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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

amauga, Tenn., in the war of 1861, and it is supposed that he was killed in the engagement, as he has never been heard of since that battle. Mr. Dill served as commissioner of Shelby County one or two terms. He died respected by all who knew him, and was considered among one of Dinsmore's influential citizens.

FRANKLIN DILL,

deceased, youngest son of the aforesaid Richard C. and Hannah Dill, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, October 2, 1830. He was brought to this county by his parents in the autumn of 1832 (then only two years of age), where his boyhood days were passed on a farm. In 1854 he married Miss Nancy A., daughter of Moses E. and Lucretia Baker, of Van Buren Township, this county, where Miss Baker was born No- vember 26, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Dill settled on his father's home farm in Dinsmore Township, where he died October 5, 1861, leaving a wife and two children, viz., James N. and Franklin, to mourn the loss of a kind husband and an indulgent parent. He filled the office of clerk of Dins- more Township for several years.

JAMES N. DILL,

eldest son of the above named Franklin and Nancy A. Dill, was born on the farm on Dinsmore Township, on which he is now living, July 8, 1855. He now owns a half interest in his grandfather Dill's home farm, on which he is residing and conducting the business of farming with suc- cess. December 20, 1876, he married Miss Elizabeth B. Weatherhead, then of Shelby County, but a native of Miami County, where she was born February 12, 1857, by whom he has one child, Arthur C. Dill.

ESPY C. DILL

was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, August 30, 1824. He came to Shelby County with his parents, Richard C. and Hannah Dill, in October, 1832, and settled in Dinsmore Township. He married Miss Axey Nich- ols, of Shelby County, by whom he had four children, one of whom is now living, viz., Joseph C. Dill, who lives in this county, five miles southeast of Sidney. His companion died, and on the 7th of October, 1860, he married Miss Ann, daughter of David and Mary Tay- lor. Miss Taylor was born in Greene County, Ohio, March 5, 1829, and came to Shelby County with her parents in 1834.

Mr. and Mrs. Dill settled on the farm in section 14, Dinsmore Town- ship, now owned and occupied by his widow and son, Harrison W. Dill, August 14, 1862. He enlisted in Co. H, 99th O. V. I., left his wife and one child, and went forth in defense of his country. He served faith- fully until the battle of Chickamauga, in September, 1863, in which he was engaged, and has not been heard of since that engagement. It is supposed that he was either killed in battle, or taken prisoner and died in prison. At his death the Union army lost a brave soldier, and Dinsmore Township a good citizen.

RICHARD BOTKIN,

deceased, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, September 25, 1803, where he passed his minority days on a farm. On the 22d of October, 1829, he married Miss Elizabeth Short, of Hamilton County, Ohio, where she was born January 20, 1809. Mr. Botkin moved to Shelby County with his family in 1832, entered, made improvements, and settled on a part of section 5, Dinsmore Township, on which he lived and conducted the business of farming in connection with dealing in stock, until the time of his death, which occurred April 29, 1858. His companion died March 19, 1839, leaving him with four small children viz., Martha, Russell, Rob- ert, and Hannah. In the fall of 1840 he married Miss Jane Elliott, daughter of Cornelius and Elizabeth Elliott, who was born in Licking County, Ohio, April 4, 1824, and came to Shelby County with her pa- rents in 1835. By this union he reared a family of six children, viz., Sarah M., John W., Alexander, Selvenis, Emma J., and Charles S., all of whom are now living except Emma J., who died in October, 1878. Mrs. Botkin is still residing on the old home farm near Botkins Station. Mr. Botkin was one of the most energetic, enterprising business men in the township, and at his death the church of which he was a member (viz., the Methodist Episcopal) lost one of its best members, and Dinsmore Township one of its leading citizens.

After Mr. Botkin's first entry of land, he made other purchases of land until he owned several hundred acres in the vicinity of where Bot- kins village is now located. During the erection of the Dayton and Michigan Railroad, he contracted and graded three miles of the roadbed. He donated to the railroad company the right of way through his land, nearly a mile in length, with the understanding that the company would give him a station on his land, at the most convenient point for the ac- commodation of the citizens in the neighborhood. In his will, a short time prior to his death, he ordered a town to be laid out, which was done soon after his death, and given the name of Botkins in honor of him and to perpetuate his name.

JACOB W. ZAENGLEIN,

son of Andrew and Mary M. Zaenglein, was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, November 9, 1838. He began working at the blacksmith trade in 1857, which business he has since made his principal vocation, except about four years, during which time he was serving in the army in the war of 1861. On the 18th of April, 1861, he enlisted, and served nearly four months, and was discharged August, 1861. In October, 1861, he re-enlisted in Co. G, 71st O. V. I., as a private. In January, 1864, he re-enlisted as a veteran in same company and regiment. In December, 1864, he was transferred to Company K, same regiment, and commissioned as second lieutenant, and in February, 1865, he was trans- ferred to Company E, same regiment, and commissioned as first lieuten- ant, in which capacity he served until discharged from the service in October, 1865.

In 1870 he came to Botkins, where he has since been conducting the business of blacksmithing in all its branches. May 15, 1866, he married Miss Mary S. Hurm, then of Auglaize County, Ohio, but a native of Pennsylvania, where she was born March 30, 1841. By this union he has three children, viz., William C., Mary C., and Alonzo F.

JOHN H. PARK,

deceased, was born in New Jersey May 27, 1811. He was a son of Joseph Park, a native of New Jersey, who married Hannah Hartpence, of that State. In 1831 or '32 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Park came to Ohio with their family, and located in Champaign County, and remained until in 1833, when they came to Shelby County, entered, made improvements, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 30, Dinsmore Township. on which they lived until in 1863, when they moved to Troy, Miami County, where they passed the remainder of their days. They reared a family of nine children, John H., Mary, Ozias, Jane, Elizabeth, Easter, Wesley, Joseph R., and Isaac, five of whom are yet alive-Mary, Ozias, Elizabeth, Easter, and Joseph R.

John H. Park, subject of this sketch, came to Shelby County with his parents in 1833, and located in Dinsmore Township. He made farming his principal avocation through life. May 28, 1835, he married Miss Catharine Noggle, then of Shelby County, born May 3, 1818, by whom he reared eight children, Isaac N., William R., Mary C., George W., Ben- jamin F., Jane, Harriett P., and Barbara E., all of whom are yet living. Mrs. Park died in 1863. Mr. Park departed this life June 7, 1875.

WILLIAM R. PARK,

second son of John H. and Catharine Park, was born in Dinsmore Town- ship, this county, February 17, 1841. On the 5th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, 99th O. V. I., and served until July 16, 1865, when he was honorably discharged from the service. February 20, 1869, he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of George and Eve Clinehens. Miss Clinehens was born in Dinsmore Township, this county, July 3, 1846. By this union he has two children, Thurza D. and Carrie E. He has made farming his principal business, and now owns a part of the Park home- stead, on which he is residing.

PHILIP BRIDEWESSER,

deceased, was born in Germany in 1804. He immigrated to America, and located in Franklin County, Ohio, where, on the 4th of September, 1833, he married Miss Dorothy Zimpfer, then of Franklin County, but a native of Germany, where she was born January 2, 1813. In the fall of 1834, Mr. and Mrs. Brideweeser came to Shelby County, entered, and settled on the east half of the northeast quarter of section 27, Dinsmore Town- ship, on which they passed the remainder of their days. He died July 31, 1853. His companion died March 8, 1875. They reared a family of nine children, viz., Mary, Dorothy, Matthias, Godfrey, Philip, John, Henry, Sophia, and Valentine, three of whom are now dead, viz., Mary, Henry, and Valentine. The remaining six are now living in Shelby County.

THOMAS RAGAN,

deceased, was born in Virginia in 1804. When he had attained the age of eight years, his parents, Eli and Rebecca Ragan, came to Ohio and located in Ross County, where young Ragan grew to manhood. In 1824 he came with his parents to Shelby County, and located in the southeastern part of Franklin Township, remained a few years, then moved to Wyandot County and located near Carey, where Thomas Ragan married Miss Elizabeth Young, then of Wyandot County, but a native of Pickaway County, daughter of Philip and Nancy Young. Mr. Ragan returned to this county with his wife, and settled near Sidney. He was a miller by trade, which he made his avocation for a number of years, then turned his attention to farming, which he followed as his oc- cupation until death called him home. In 1830 he made improvements on a piece of land in Franklin Township, which now belongs to the Fridley farm. Mr. Ragan was a citizen of Franklin and Dinsmore townships from 1830 until his death, except two years, during which time he was residing in the State of Indiana. He died December 26, 1876. His wife departed this life January 3, 1877. He reared a family of nine

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RES. OF P. HUNT, NEAR BOTKINS, DINSMORE TW'P , SHELBY CO. O.

RES. OF BOLSER HAGELSBERGER , MAIN ST. ANNA, OHIO.

J. H. KELLEY & SONS PATENT TILE KILN AND BURNER KILLIAN & LUDLUM , SOLE AGENTS FOR SHELBY CO. OHIO.

KILLIAN & LUDLUM'S TILE WORKS , SWANDERS CROSSING , SHELBY CO. OHIO.

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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

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children, viz., Eli, Philip Y., Rebecca, Emily J., George, Lovina, Cath- arine, Harriet I., and John W. George died in Andersonville prison in 1864. Rebecca died in 1854. Eli served about three years in the war of 1861.

PHILIP Y. RAGAN,

son of Thomas and Elizabeth Ragan, was born in Franklin Township, this county, March 9, 1831. He has made farming his principal vocation, and now owns a good farm in Dinsmore Township, which he is conducting with success. On the 6th of April, 1854, he' married Miss Sarah A., daughter of Hector and Ann Lemon. Miss Lemon was born in Chester County, Pa., November 12, 1832, and was brought to Shelby County by her parents in June, 1833, who settled on the west half of section 27, Dinsmore Township. Mr. and Mrs. Ragan settled on her father's home farm, on which they have since resided. They have a family of nine children, two sons and seven daughters.

GEORGE CLINEHENS,

deceased, was born in Germany March 24, 1815. He made farming his avocation through life. In the beginning of the year 1838, he immigrated to America and located in Pittsburgh, Pa., where, on the 7th of Novem- ber, 1838, he married Miss Eve Moot. Miss Moot was born in Germany February 12, 1815. She came to America in the summer of 1838, and located in Pittsburgh. Soon after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Clinehens moved to Richmond, Indiana, remained about four years, or until in 1842, when they came to Shelby County, and settled on eighty acres of land, which is the south half of the northwest quarter of section 29, Dinsmore Town- ship, on which Mr. Clinehens died January 2, 1876. His companion is residing on the home farm. They reared a family of eight children, viz., Nicholas, Mary E., Conrad, George, Elizabeth, John G., David T., and Philip R., all of whom are now living. David T. is residing on the home farm in Dinsmore Township.

SILAS D. ALLEN,

deceased, was born in Vermont May 22, 1801. When yet a small child his parents, Whiting and Mehitable Allen, came to Ohio and settled in Fairfield County, where he passed his minority days on a farm. When he arrived at the age of eighteen years, or in 1819, he began working at the wheelwright and chair-making trades, which he followed about five years. He then turned his attention to contracting and building, which he followed until in 1832, when he turned his attention to clearing land and farming, which he conducted with success until his death. In 1824 he married Miss Elizabeth George, then of Fairfield County, who died in the autumn of 1828. leaving him with two small children without the maternal care, viz., Philemon B. and Elizabeth. In 1831 he married Miss Phebe A. Fridley, of Pickaway County, Ohio. Soon after his second marriage, he came to Shelby County, entered the east half of the northwest quarter of section 25, and the cast half of the southwest quarter of section 24, Dinsmore Township. In 1832 he moved his fam- ily to this county, made improvements and settled on his land in section 25, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died in June, 1850. His wife died in March, 1861. They reared a family of five chil- dren, viz., John S., George S., Oscar D., Isaac C., and Benjamin. George S. died February, 1861. Oscar D. and Isaac C. served in the war of 1861. Mr. Allen's father served about eighteen months in the war of 1812.

PHILEMON B. ALLEN,

son of Silas D. Allen, was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Feb. 27, 1826. He came to Shelby County with his father in 1832, and located in Dinsmore Township, where he was engaged at clearing land and farm- ing, until in the spring of 1850, when he bought himself an ox-team and began teaming, which he followed about five years, or until in 1855, when he turned his attention to contracting and building, which he made his vocation until in 1863 or '64, when he engaged in farming, which he has since been conducting with success, and now owns a good farm in Dinsmore Township, on which he has resided since 1-48. On the 11th of November, 1847, he married Miss Lydia A. Coleman, daughter of James H. and Susannah Coleman, who was born in Franklin Township, Shelby County, Ohio, July 9, 1830. They reared a family of nine chil- dren, three sons and six daughters.

HECTOR LEMON,

deceased, was born in Maryland in 1789. In about 1823 he migrated to Pennsylvania and located in Chester County, where in 1825 he married Miss Ann Smith, of that county, born September 1, 1795. Mr. and Mrs. Lemon settled in Chester County, Pa., remained until June, 1833, when they went to Ohio and located in Shelby County, entered, made improve- ments, on the west half of the southeast quarter of section 27, Dins- more Township, on which Mr. Lemon died April 18, 1851. His com- panion survived him until September 15, 1867, when she died in Sid- ney, this county, where she had resided about five years. They reared a family of four children, Sarah A., Mary J., Esther C., and Rebecca E.

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History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 75

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

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