USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 43
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I 304
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
L. L. Soliday was educated at the Union Hall school house in this town- ship, where he spent his time during the winter months, working on the home place during the crop seasons, assisting his father with his work. Later he farmed on the home place on his own account. He has always been con- sidered a good farmer and consequently he got a good start in life at a much earlier age than many who have followed the same line of endeavor. In 1896 he purchased fifty acres southeast of Reedsburg where he has since resided, carrying on general farming and making a very comfortable living, as a result of his good management and close application to his business. He has a very comfortable home and keeps some fine poultry and livestock.
Mr. Soliday was married on February 17, 1891, to Clara Bower, daugh- ter of Frederick Bower, whose sketch appears on another page of this work. This union has resulted in the birth of two children, Russell and Paul.
In his political relations Mr. Soliday is a Democrat, and he has long taken considerable interest in local affairs. He has served several years on the board of education in Plain township, and served very acceptably as assessor of Plain township. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Wood- men of America. Religiously he belongs to the Lutheran church and Mrs. Soliday and the children are members of the Reformed church. They are regarded by their neighbors as excellent people.
ORLOW H. WERTENBERGER.
It is not an easy task to describe adequately a man who has led an eminently active and useful life and who has attained a position of relative distinction in the community with which his interests are allied. But biog- raphy finds its most perfect justification, nevertheless, in the tracing and recording of such a life history. It is, then, with a full appreciation of all that is demanded and of the painstaking scrutiny that must be accorded each statement, and yet with a feeling of satisfaction, that the writer essays the task of touching briefly upon the details of such a record as has been that of the honored subject whose life now comes under review, Orlow H. Werten- berger, a successful agriculturist and highly esteemed citizen of Congress township, Wayne county. Ohio.
Orlow H. Wertenberger is a native son of the Buckeye state, having first seen the light of day in Jackson township, Ashland county, on the 25th of January, 1868. He is the son of George and Jane (Berry) Wertenber-
GEO. WERTENBERGER
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ger, who will be mentioned in a later paragraph. The subject was reared with his parents and received a good education, attending the common schools and the Congress high school, after which he attended Baldwin University, at Berea, Ohio, two years, completing his education by taking a through course at the Cleveland Business College. He was then employed with the Erie Railroad Company three years, after which he went to Schenectady, New York, as private secretary for A. J. Pitkin, who was engaged in the locomotive business there. After the organization of the combine of loco- motive building companies, Mr. Wertenberger became chief clerk for the American Locomotive Works, in which Mr. Pitkin was interested, and sub- sequently was transferred to the mechanical engineering department in the capacity of chief clerk. He was connected with this concern until 1904. when he returned to his father's farm and has since been occupied in its management. He has demonstrated his fitness to manage agricultural duties as well as business affairs and has already achieved a distinctive success as a farmer. He gives his attention to a general and diversified system of farm- ing, with which he combines stock raising, and in both these lines he has been enabled to realize a handsome profit. He keeps the farm up to the high- est standard and in the community he has earned the esteem and respect of his fellow agriculturists.
On October 17, 1893, Mr. Wertenberger married Sarah Good, the daugh- ter of Joel and Margaret Good, early settlers in Dalton, this county. To this union have been born seven children, namely: George Ellis, Paul Ed- ward, Edith Estelle, Mildred (deceased at the age of two years), Leland Good, Willard Earl and Mary Alberta. In politics Mr. Wertenberger is a stanch Republican and takes a commendable interest in public affairs, though he is not an aspirant for public office of any nature. He and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Socially, the sub- ject is an appreciative member of the time-honored order of Free and Ac- cepted Masons, holding membership in George Lodge, No. 6, at Schenectady, New York. His many admirable qualities of heart and mind have gained for him a large circle of friends.
George Wertenberger, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in what was Jackson township, Wayne county, Ohio, but is now Ashland county, on the 22d of January, 1836. He was the son of Isaac and Katherine (Bower) Wertenberger, both natives of Stark county, Ohio. The paternal great-grandfather was a native of Germany, who emigrated to Pennsylvania in an early day. His son George moved to Stark county, Ohio, where he farmed and reared his family. The maternal grandfather, Benjamin Bower.
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was a native of the little republic of Switzerland. He emigrated to America, locating first in New York state, but subsequently coming to Stark county, Ohio. He became a farmer here and in 1826 he moved to Wayne county. There his father-in-law had entered a quarter section of land for each of his children, at a cost of one dollar and a quarter per acre, and there Isaac and Katherine Wertenberger made their future home and reared their family. Isaac Wertenberger was a Democrat in politics, but never aspired to public office. They became the parents of six children, of whom George Werten- berger is the only one now living. The father died in 1873 and his wife in 1868.
George Wertenberger received his education in an old log school house which stood near the line between Wayne and Ashland counties, and when he had attained mature years he took up the pursuit of farming. At the age of twenty-five years he enlisted in Company C, of the Third Regiment Ohio Cavalry, with which command he served valiantly for three years, receiving his discharge shortly after the siege of Atlanta. He was a participant in the famous battle at Chickamauga and took part in about fifty other battles and skirmishes, in one of which he was wounded in the right arm. At the conclusion of his military service he resumed his farming operations. Buy- ing a part of the old homestead farm, he remained there until 1877, when he moved to another place and eventually bought a smaller place just east of the old home, where he has since lived, being now retired from active farm labor.
On the 25th of December, 1862, Mr. Wertenberger married Jane Berry, a native of Wayne county, and the daughter of Henry and Maria Berry, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers in this county. To George and Jane Wertenberger were born four children, namely: Orlow, who is men- tioned at length in preceding paragraphs; Charles is engaged in home mis- sion work; Grace M., who also is a missionary; one died in infancy un- named. Mrs. Jane Wertenberger died on the 23d of April, 1888, and in 1892 Mr. Wertenberger married Anna L. Zaring, of Jefferson, Ohio. To this union one son has been born, John, whose natal day was November 14. 1897.
In politics George Wertenberger was reared a Democrat, but turned Republican after the war, and then supported the Prohibition party. In religion he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Socially he is a member of West Salem Lodge, No. 39, Free and Accepted Masons, and at one time he was a member of the Grange. A man of excel- lent personal traits of character, Mr. Wertenberger has long enjoyed and still retains the warm friendship of all who know him.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
JOHN I. SWINEHART.
Back to the stirring days of the American Revolution John I. Swinehart, a representative citizen of Wayne county, Ohio, traces his ancestry, and it is a matter of no small amount of self-gratification that he can say that, with- out exception, they have borne honorable names and played well their parts in whatever community they have lived. The immediate subject of this sketch was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1857, the son of Josiah and Martha (Meck) Swinehart. His maternal grandparents, John and Elizabeth (Nudeing) Meck, were also natives of Pennsylvania, in which state they spent their entire lives. John Meck was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and a man of much physical courage. The paternal grandparents of the subject also lived and died in the old Keystone state. Josiah Swinehart, father of John I., was born in Pennsylvania in 1825 and his wife, Martha Meck, was also born there in the same year, having been one month older than her husband. They grew up in their native community and married there ; coming to Ohio in 1871, they settled in Chester township on a farm; however, much of Josiah's time was taken up with his practice of veterinary surgery, he having been regarded as an expert of the old school. He first settled on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he rented in Chester township, but later purchased a farm of an equal number of acres, and after making several changes spent his last days in Lattasburg, dying in 1903. His widow, who is still living, is a woman whom everybody admires for her motherly kindness. She and her husband became the parents of eleven children, namely: George, Kate, Henry, Maria, Amos, John, Lydia ( de- ceased), Philip, Lizzie, William and Ezra (deceased). The father of these children gave most of his attention to his personal affairs, taking little in- terest in public matters. In 1864 he was drafted for service in the Union army, but hired a substitute.
John I. Swinehart was educated in the public schools of this county. having been twelve years of age when he came to this community. He worked on the home farm in his boyhood days, consequently he quite naturally took to agricultural pursuits and, having made a success of the same from the first, he was enabled to purchase a fine farm of ninety-five acres in about 1890, his place being one of the best improved in Chester township. h1 1905 he built a new barn, ample and modern, but unfortunately lost it by fire. He also remodeled his house, making it quite comfortable. Besides carrying on general farming, he breeds Durham cattle and Ohio Improved Chester hogs, preparing considerable stock for market, which always brings excellent prices, owing to their high grade.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Mr. Swinehart was married on February 13, 1883, to Emma Berry, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, and the daughter of William and Margaret (Shutt) Berry, old settlers of Jackson township, Ashland county. William Berry was a native of this state and his father, Jacob Berry, came here from Pennsylvania in a very early day. Margaret Shutt was also born in Ohio, and it was believed that her people also came from the old Keystone state in a very early day.
To Mr. and Mrs. Swinehart two children have been born, Kenneth, who died in infancy ; Wayne B., born on October 4, 1888, is now a student in the Bixler Business College, where he is making a fine record.
In his political relations, Mr. Swinehart is a Republican ; though for a time he voted the Prohibition ticket. Both Mr. and Mrs. Swinehart belong to the Lutheran church in New Pittsburg, Wayne county.
MILLER I. RUMBAUGH.
A prominent character in his vicinity and a man who delights in assisting others while laboring for his own advancement is Miller I. Rumbaugh, of Chester township, Wayne county, of which locality he is a native, having first seen the light of day here on March 13, 1862, the son of Solomon and Mary (Miller) Rumbaugh. His paternal grandfather was Adam Rumbaugh, who was born in 1793 in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. He married Eliza- beth Lauffer. His father served in the Revolutionary war. In the pioneer days of this county ( 1819). Adam Rumbaugh came here and settled in Chester township, locating on a farm now owned by D. D. Woodward. His wife's father had entered the land from the government, and there they spent the remainder of their lives. The maternal grandparents of Miller I. Rum- baugh were Abram and Sarah ( Rouch) Miller, the former a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. In a very early day he came to Wayne county, Ohio. locating on a farm, which he worked in connection with maintaining a black- smith shop on his place. This farm is now owned by Peter Firestone. Sarah Rouch, the wife of the former, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, where she married Mr. Miller. They spent their last days in Chester town- ship, Mr. Miller having followed farming and blacksmithing all his life.
Solomon Rumbaugh, father of the subject, was born December 17, 1826, and his wife, Mary Miller, on September 1, 1832, and in 1855 they were married in this county. Mr. Rumbaugh was a farmer and owned one
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
hundred acres in this township which he cleared and improved. In politics he was a Democrat and always took an active interest in political matters. He and his wife attended the Reformed church, but the latter was a member of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of six children, namely : Philena J., born November 12, 1856, died in Sterling, this county, on May 4, 1908; Sarah O., born December 5, 1860, married Howard Wile, of Bar- berton, Ohio; Miller I., of this review ; Minnie E., born February 24, 1869. is the wife of J. K. Wilkinson, of Jamaica, California; Chalmer A., born October 4, 1870, died February 9, 1893, when twenty-two years of age: Lydia M., born May 5, 1875, is the wife of J. M. Slough, of San Diego, Cali- fornia. The father of these children lived a quiet, retired life, dying February 9, 1892, his wife having preceded him to the "narrow house" on September 24, 1891.
Miller I. Rumbaugh was educated in the common schools and in the Smithville Academy, becoming well educated. After leaving school he re- turned to the farm, on which he did a great deal of work as his father grew older. In December, 1889, he purchased one hundred and forty acres be- longing to Isaac Rumbaugh (deceased) and there he lived for three years, when he sold to his father all but ten acres and then bought the old home farm, consisting of one hundred acres, which he has since managed very suc- cessfully. He raises high grade stock, but not thoroughbreds. He is a great admirer of horses, notwithstanding the fact that they have in the past used him rather badly, for when he was only nine years of age a team of horses ran away with him while he was harrowing and threw him thirty feet into a pile of stones, injuring the right side of his face and the optic nerve, caus- ing blindness in one eye later in life. He lay unconscious for twenty-four hours and was thought to be dead. When thirteen years of age he was kicked by a horse and again it was thought that he had been killed, for he was unconscious for three or four hours.
Mr. Rumbaugh was married on December 24, 1889, to Martha E. Swine- hart, who was born May 19, 1864, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Josiah and Martha (Meck) Swinehart, also natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. They came to Ohio in the spring of 1870 and located in Chester township on a farm now owned by John Muir. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rumbaugh, namely : Philena M., February 19, 1891, died in infancy ; Russell C., April 2, 1892: Merna A., November 20, 1894: M. Dewey, April 23, 1897; Lulu M., March 5, 1900: Mary Jane. January 8, 1903; Victor E., June 8, 1906, is deceased.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Politically Mr. Rumbaugh is a Democrat. He was elected land ap- praiser of Chester township in 1899 and performed the duties of this office in a most satisfactory manner, being again elected to that office in 1909. Religiously the Reform church claims the membership of himself, wife and oldest daughter, Merna A.
WILLIS D. FUNK.
A useful and influential man in his community is W. D. Funk, who is successfully conducting a general store at the village of Funk, Wayne county, being a well known citizen of this part of the county. He was born on the farm adjoining that of his grandparents in 1871, the son of Zenas and Emma (Tyler) Funk, both natives of Wayne county. The paternal grandparents of the subject were Hugh and Elizabeth Kenan (Cornell) Funk, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. They came to Wayne county, Ohio, in a very early day and, like the rest of the pioneers, literally hewed out a site for their home in the wilderness and established themselves on primitive soil. At that time the city of Wooster had but fourteen houses ; they first settled in Clinton township. In 1834 they entered a farm of one hundred and eighty-seven acres, all timbered, which they cleared and devel- oped, both living on the place the remainder of their days. Hugh Funk died in 1879, while his widow survived until 1904, reaching the remarkable age of ninety-five years.
The maternal grandparents of W. D. Funk were William and Cordelia (Whitford) Tyler. One of Mr. Tyler's brothers founded Tylertown, Ash- land county, Ohio, in an early day. William and his father Benjamin lived there for a short time, then moved near Funk, Plain township, Wayne county, Ohio; they were both farmers, William Tyler also acting as sewing machine salesman, also a shoemaker.
Zenas Funk, father of W. D. Funk, was a soldier in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, having enlisted in the Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861 and served faithfully until 1865. He was educated in the common schools of his native community and when he reached manhood bought the farm adjoining his father's place, on which he lived and prospered until 1904, when he retired to Jeromeville, Ashland county, this state. He owned in all two hundred and seventy-five acres, but he has dis - posed of all his land except a farm of eighty-eight acres, and is leading a quiet life, enjoying the fruits of his former years of labor. In politics he is a
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Republican and he has served his community as township trustee, always tak- ing an active part in his party's affairs. He is a member of the Disciple church. His family consisted of three sons and one daughter, one child dying in infancy.
W. D. Funk was educated in the home schools and spent one winter in school at the Ada Normal, receiving a very good education. In the spring of 1895 he entered the general mercantile business at Funk, this township, and has continued in this line to the present time, having built up an excellent and extensive patronage with the surrounding community, handling a carefully selected stock of goods, which, according to the statement of many of his customers, are always disposed of at reasonable prices. He is also agent for the Ashland & Western railroad.
Mr. Funk was married in 1894 to Bertha Allaman, the daughter of a highly respected family, and this union has resulted in the birth of three children, Carl, Irene and Clair.
Mr. Funk is a member of the Christian church and politically he is a Republican. He has won a reputation for absolute fairness in all his busi- ness. He believes in supporting all measures looking to the welfare of the community at large, desiring to see others prosper as well as himself.
HENRY C. WINTERSTEEN.
A descendant of a worthy old family of Wayne county, Ohio, members of which have figured prominently in the affairs of the same for consid- erably more than a half century, is H. C. Wintersteen, a native of Chester township, this county, where he first saw the light of day. December 28, 1857. the son of Benjamin and Sarah ( Hileman) Wintersteen, both natives of Pennsylvania, in which state the subject's paternal grandparents both died. His maternal grandparents were Joseph and Anna (DeFrane) Hileman, also natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Wayne county, Ohio, about 1856, having made the overland trip from the Keystone state in wagons and set- tled in Plain township, later moving to Chester township. Joseph Hile- man was a farmer and a Republican in his political views. Benjamin Winter- steen was educated in the early schools of Pennsylvania, and early in life decided to become a carpenter and cabinetmaker, having become an efficient workman. He married in his native state, and later he and his wife came by wagon to Wayne county, accompanying the maternal grandparents of the
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subject; he also settled in Plain township, where he continued his trade of carpenter, and while in Chester township he built the first barn. About 1865 he came to Reedsburg and there took up cabinetmaking and undertaking, soon conducting an excellent business, continuing in the same until his death, which occurred at an advanced age in 1895. He was a Republican and a member of the Reformed church at Reedsburg. His family consisted of ten children, namely: Anna Mary, Joseph Edwin, H. C. (of this review), Elizabeth, Emma, William, Viola, Laura, May, Hattie (died in infancy).
H. C. Wintersteen was educated in the Reedsburg public schools. He always worked with his father and at the latter's death he purchased his home and business, and is still continuing in the undertaking and furniture business, enjoying an excellent patronage with a wide circle of acquaintances throughout the township. His stock of goods is always up to date and his prices are right according to his customers.
Mr. Wintersteen was married in. 1888 to Idella Barron, the daughter of Joseph and Amanda (Boffenmyer) Barron, her mother having been the daughter of David Boffenmyer ; both these families were early settlers in Ash- land county, but they later moved to Iowa. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Wintersteen, Esther and Edison.
Politically, Mr. Wintersteen is a Republican, and he has very ably served on the school board at Reedsburg. Fraternally, he is a member of the Royal Arch Masons, of Wooster. He has made a success of his business affairs owing to his close application to whatever he has in hand and his honorable dealings with his fellow men, which has won their respect and confidence.
JOHN WESLEY SHEPPARD.
It is with marked satisfaction that the biographer adverts to the life of one who has attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness of pur- pose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, con- secutive endeavor or of sudden accomplishments, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to others whose fortunes and destinies are still matters for the future to determine. The subject of this sketch is dis- tinctively one of the representative agriculturists of Congress township. Wayne county, Ohio. For a number of years he directed his efforts toward the goal of success and by patient continuance in well doing succeeded at last in overcoming the many obstacles by which the pathway was beset.
John W. Sheppard was born at Congress, Wayne county, Ohio, on the
J. W. SHEPPARD
MRS. J. W. SHEPPARD
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4th of December, 1859, and is the son of John Tarr and Mary Ann ( Madi- son) Sheppard, natives of Pennsylvania and Vermont respectively. The subject's paternal grandfather, Paoli Sheppard, was an early settler in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, and there he erected a large log house, which was a favorite meeting place for the Methodists of that section. The maternal grand father, Tenny Madison, was born in Vermont, but subsequently moved to Brownhelm, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his days. The sub- ject's father was a blacksmith by vocation, and followed that occupation all his active years. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and enjoyed the high regard of all who knew them. They are both dead, the father's death occurring on November 25. 1883. and the mother's in 1895.
John WV. Sheppard received his early education in the schools of Con- gress township and, under his father's direction, he learned the trade of a blacksmith, though he did not afterwards work at it. On attaining mature years, he was first employed at farm work, working by the month for sev- eral years. After his marriage, in 1883, he moved to Milton township, where he remained three years. In 1888 he bought a farm of thirty-two acres, in Congress township, to which he devoted his attention with such energy that he was able to buy additional land from time to time until by 1901 he was the owner of one hundred and three acres. He has recently added another tract of land to his holdings, and is now living practically retired on the home farm. His farm is a fine, fertile tract and Mr. Sheppard has been able to realize splendid returns for the labor he has bestowed. He makes a spe- cialty of hay, of which he raises enormous quantities, and to him belongs the distinction of raising more hay per acre than any of his neighbors. For fourteen years he was in the hay business, buying and baling hay for the general market. He is careful and painstaking in his methods, and the ap- pearance of the place is pleasing to the eye and indicative of an owner of good taste and sound judgment.
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