USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 58
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primeval forest. He was a worker and soon had a good farm,-in fact, he became the owner of seven hundred acres of land, most of which he entered from the government and cleared and cultivated. It is interesting to note the fact that he was a great hunter and he was on a hunt in Wayne county when he was attracted by the locality and fine soil here, consequently he returned and made this his home until his death. He was a typical pioneer, rugged, brave and honest, and he became influential in the affairs of this county.
The maternal grandparents of Henry P. Sigler, Henry and Clara Jane Lance, were also natives of Pennsylvania. They also came to Wayne county, Ohio, in an early day and began life in the woods, but became the owners of a good home and a fine farm.
Henry Sigler, father of Henry P. Sigler, was born in Milton town- ship. Wayne county, March 23, 1830. He grew to manhood here and at- tended the common schools. His wife was born in 1829 in Milton township, and their wedding occurred in this township. Henry Sigler became a well- to-do farmer and was influential in county affairs. He had two brothers. Levi and Samuel. He was a very active member of the Baptist church. In fact, this family has long been active in church affairs ; the paternal grand- father of Henry P. Sigler was a minister in the Reformed Lutheran church and he had the honor of founding that church in Wayne county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sigler nine children were born, one dying in infancy, seven now living. They are, John O., Mary I., William D., Marion R. (deceased), Charles E., Henry P. (of this review), Clara, Elsie, Isa Ann. Mrs. Henry Sigler, mother of the subject, passed to her rest in 1908.
Henry P. Sigler was reared on the home farm and educated at Ritt- man; he devoted his early life to agricultural pursuits, remaining on the home place until 1899. He then went to Rittman and engaged in the grain business until 1902, since which time he has been engaged in buying and selling hay, building up an extensive business in this line. He still owns the home farm of eighty acres, which yields a good annual income.
Mr. Sigler was married in October, 1894, to Addie E. Schneider, a member of an old and highly respected family, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Ruth, Esther, Lloyd, Etta, Ralph, Glen.
Mr. Sigler is a member of the Baptist church, and in politics he is a Democrat. He has taken considerable interest in local political matters, and has ably served as trustee of Milton township, also as supervisor of the same.
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T. C. HUNSICKER.
Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life will inevitably result in the termination of a due measure of success, but in fol- lowing out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which has made such ac- complishment possible, and thus there is granted an objective incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration, as in the case of T. C. Hunsicker, the well known cashier of the First National Bank of Dalton, Ohio, who was born near Williams- port, Pickaway county, this state, November 24, 1877, the son of Cyrus Hunsicker, a highly respected and influential citizen of that vicinity.
T. C. Hunsicker was born and reared on a farm and at the age of seven years his parents moved into Williamsport and it was there that he received his preliminary schooling, graduating from the high school in 1894. His early inclination was to become a banker and he bent every effort to this end with the result that he today stands very high in banking circles of the Buckeye state. He began his successful career as a financier by secur- ing employment in the Farmers Bank at Williamsport as clerk, and so faith- fully did he perform his duties that he was soon promoted to be assistant cashier, in 1895, which position he very creditably held until 1902. in which year he came to Dalton, Ohio, and organized the First National Bank, of which he is one of the heaviest stockholders and the prime mover in making this one of the sound, successful and important banking institutions of this part of the state. It was organized with a capital stock of twenty-five thou- sand dollars. In 1902 the officers were : H. M. Rudy, president; W. H. H. Wertz, vice-president ; T. C. Hunsicker, cashier; C. F. Buckwalter, assistant cashier. The board of directors are WV. H. H. Wertz, D. Y. Roebuck, D. F. Schultz, M. F. McDowell, J. H. Tschantz, C. F. Buckwalter and T. C. Hun- sicker. There are two vice-presidents: D. Y. Roebuck, first, and D. F. Schultz, second. These men are all well known throughout Sugar Creek township-in fact, the eastern part of Wayne county, and their prestige is such that this bank is well patronized.
Mr. Hunsicker was married in 1902 to Nellie Eycke, a talented and refined lady, the daughter of a fine old family. of Williamsport, Ohio, in which city she was born. This union has been blessed by the birth of two children, Paul, born in February, 1905, and Fred, born in 1907.
Mr. Hunsicker is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is also interested in Sunday school work, being a liberal supporter of the former and
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a ready worker in the latter. Fraternally he is a member of Williamsport Lodge, No. 501, Free and Accepted Masons. In politics he is a Republican, having taken considerable interest in local affairs for some time. In 1907 he was elected treasurer of Sugar Creek township, and to show that he has an excellent following there, we are advised that the county went Democratic by a majority of one hundred, but he was elected by eleven votes. He is public-spirited, honorable in all his transactions and a pleasant man to meet.
HENRY WAGNER.
A well known and highly respected citizen of Wayne county who has shown by his long life of earnest endeavor to advance his own interests and that of his family, at the same time not neglecting for a moment his duty to his fellow citizens, that he is the possessor of most commendable attributes is Henry Wagner, who was born in Baughman township, this county, August 20, 1835, the son of Frederick Wagner. They came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, as early as about 1829, settling in Baughman township, buying one hundred and sixty acres, which they cleared, improved and lived on the remainder of their days, having been sterling pioneers, hard-working, honest, neighborly. Their son, Henry, of this review, was educated in district school No. 4, Baughman township. He received a fairly good education for those early days, and when but a boy began learning the carpenter's trade, which he worked at between the ages of sixteen and twenty-two. He then turned his attention to farming and purchased the eighty acres where he now lives. He prospered from the first and later bought eighty acres adjoining his original farm, on the south. He has erected a modern and beautifully located dwell- ing and a substantial barn on the place-in fact, numerous buildings on each of the eighties, and he has been very well repaid for his labor and attention to his farming interests. He has been a breeder of Chester White, Berkshire and Mague swine, also Shorthorn cattle, his fine stock always being eagerly sought for and attracting much attention.
Mr. Wagner was married on January 19, 1860, to Mary Jane Frase, whose parents were natives of Wayne county, Ohio, having been among the very earliest settlers here and people of high respectability. To Mr. and Mrs. Wagner the following children have been born: Jennetta, now Mrs. M. H. Rittinger, of Akron, Ohio; Alfreda, deceased; Letta May, who died in in- fancy ; Cora, who died in infancy; J. D., who was married to Emma Habel ;
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Curtis, Orrin; Clyde H., who was married to Grace Gorman, lives in Doylestown.
Mr. Wagner has never aspired to position of public trust, preferring to devote his time to his individual affairs. He is known to be a man of highest integrity and he numbers his friends by the scores throughout the county.
ADAM HACKENBERG.
From sterling pioneer ancestors comes Adam Hackenberg, a thrifty farmer in Chippewa township, Wayne county, having been born on the farm he now owns, on August 14. 1844, the son of Lazarus and Susan ( Wallen- berg) Hackenberg. His paternal grandparents, Michael and Elizabeth Hackenberg, were natives of Pennsylvania who came to Ohio in a very early day and located in Wayne county, where they entered land from the govern- ment and cleared it up, making a home in the midst of the forest. and here they both lived and died. The maternal grandparents of our subject were natives of Pennsylvania and they also came to Ohio in a very early day, and here lived until their deaths, many years ago. Michael Hackenberg, father of Adam, was born in the state of Pennsylvania about 1802, and he came to Wayne county, Ohio, with his parents when a boy. His mother was also born in Pennsylvania, about 1803 or 1804, and she, too, came to Ohio when young and here met and married Mr. Hackenberg. The latter was a car- penter by trade and he followed that for many years in his immediate vicin- ity. later giving his entire attention to farming, owning one hundred and sixty acres of land at the time of his death. While he lived a comparatively quiet life, he was very prominent in the affairs of the Mennonite church. He and his wife were the parents of three sons and three daughters, who grew to maturity, besides three children who died in infancy. Out of the number only three are now living, two daughters and Adam, of this review.
Adam Hackenberg was educated in the common schools of his native community, in district No. I, and he was reared on the farm, beginning work on the same when very young, and about 1888 he purchased seventy-seven and three-fourths acres of the old homestead, now owning only sixty acres. having sold some of the land to his son. He has carried on diversified farm- ing and always made a comfortable living. He was married to Adeline Adams, a native of Wayne county, and the daughter of John Adams, who was an old settler here. This union has resulted in the birth of thirteen chil-
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dren, namely: Alice, William, John, Mary, Arthur, Clara, Samuel, George (killed in a coal mine), Mattie, Bertha, Della May (died in infancy), Fred- erick Nelson (died in infancy), Grover (died in infancy).
The mother of these children died on January 10, 1899, and Mr. Hacken- berg never re-married. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Chippewa Township Farmers' Club, also belongs to the Lutheran church, of which his wife was also a member.
ORRIN WAGNER.
The qualities which have made Orrin Wagner one of the successful and prominent young men of Wayne county have also won for him the esteem of his fellow citizens, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods, keeping untarnished the excel- lent reputation of his ancestors, who have figured in the development of this locality in many ways since the pioneer period.
Orrin Wagner was born on his father's farm in Chippewa township, near Marshallville, Wayne county, and he received his primary education in school No. 7, Chippewa township, later attending the high school at Marshall- ville, and then the University at Wooster, where he made a splendid record for scholarship and well qualified himself for the laudable calling he has elected to follow, having become one of the best known and most successful educators in the county. His services have always been in great demand, for he has the happy faculty of pleasing both pupil and patron. He began teach- ing in 1895 and for six years taught school and attended school during vaca- tions. For the past eight years he has taught and farmed, his agricultural pursuits being conducted on his father's north eighty, and no small part of his income is derived from this source. The schools he has taught are as follows : One term in No. 7, Chippewa township; five terms in No. 5, Chippewa town- ship, but not consecutively ; two terms in No. 10, Baughman township, and two terms in No. 6, Chippewa township. He returned to No. 10, Baughman township, in the fall of 1909.
Mr. Wagner was married on September 5, 1901, to Dela Mabel Zim- merman, daughter of Franklin and Mary Zimmerman, natives of Stark county, Ohio. Mrs. Zimmerman's family, however, originally came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. To Orrin Wagner and wife three children have been born, namely: Wendel Henry, Franklin (deceased) and Giles Howard.
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Mr. Wagner is a member of St. Michael's Lutheran church, and he takes an abiding interest in whatever tends to promote the welfare of his county, whether educational, religious, political or material.
WILLIAM W. SHANK.
Agriculture has been the true source of man's dominion on earth ever since the primal existence of labor, and has been the pivotal industry that has controlled for the most part all the fields of action to which his intelligence and energy have been devoted. Among this sturdy element in Wayne county. Ohio, whose labors have profited alike themselves and the community in which they live, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this brief biographical review.
William Wallace Shank was born on the old Shank homestead, where his brother, C. M. Shank, now resides, one of the well known old and valuable farms of Chippewa township. The date of William W. Shank's birth was August 24, 1886. He is the son of George and Esther A. (Adams) Shank, each representatives of fine old pioneer families and highly respected citizens of this township. For a full account of the ancestors of the Shank family, the reader is directed to the sketch of C. M. Shank, appearing on another page of this work.
William W. Shank received a fairly good education in the common schools of his native community, having applied himself to his text-books as best he could when not assisting with the work on the home farm. Thus being trained to farm work it is not strange that he should select agriculture as his life work. He has always farmed on one of the home farms, now re- siding on the second farm bought by his father, a little northeast of the old homestead. He carries on general farming in a manner that shows him to be fully abreast of the times in every respect, carefully rotating his crops and keeping the soil in excellent condition. His place is well improved and he has a very comfortable house and outbuildings ; also keeps some good stock and poultry.
Mr. Shank was married in 1890 to Mary Baughman, daughter of Thomas and Eliza ( Kepler) Baughman, who were early settlers in Summit county, Ohio, having moved to this state from Pennsylvania. They took up government land here and cleared the same, making a good home, although requiring years of hard work, but, like all pioneers of these times, they thought little of toil and inconveniences.
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To Mr. and Mrs. William W. Shank three children have been born : Ethel M., Ruby M., Harold W. They are all living at home.
Mr. Shank and family are members of the Reformed Lutheran church and very regular in their attendance of the same. Mr. Shank is a Democrat in politics, but he has never aspired for public office, preferring to devote his time to his individual affairs.
FREDERICK STAIR.
Among the honored and well known citizens of Plain township, Wayne county, of this generation who are now successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, the name of Frederick Stair is deserving of preservation, for his long life here has been fraught with much good not only to himself and family but also to his neighbors and to the community at large.
Mr. Stair was born in Plain township, Wayne county, Ohio, March 25, 1837, and was the son of John and Elizabeth (Cugla) Stair, who came from Germany in 1833, and in August of that year settled in Plain township and lived there until the death of the father, on his farm of sixty acres, some of which he cleared. Before leaving Germany he was a soldier in the regular army of that country for a period of eight years. He voted at the first election held after his arrival here. His family consisted of thirteen children.
Frederick Stair was reared on the home place and lived there until he was twenty-six years of age, then he married Sarah Ann Strauss, daughter of Peter and Julia (Renner) Strauss, who were born in Pennsylvania, having come from Crawford county, that state, to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1850.
In 1868 Frederick Stair bought seventy-two acres of land where he now resides in Plain township. Since purchasing the same he has added eight acres of woods to his place, and he has followed general farming very success- fully and has a comfortable home. He is a strong Prohibitionist,-in fact, he was the first man in this township to advocate its principles. He is a mem- ber of the Reformed church and very faithful in his attendance and support of the same.
The family of Frederick Stair consists of the following children: Wil- liam Henry, of Orrville, this county : Irvin O., mentioned.on another page ; Laura Ada, Ossie Mary and Alice.
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IRVIN O. STAIR.
Only a cursory glance at the well improved and carefully tilled and well kept farm of Irvin O. Stair, of Plain township, Wayne county, is neces- sary to prove to the observer that he has been not only a hard working man but has exercised good judgment and splendid taste.
Mr. Stair was born in this township on December 20, 1865, and it has been his privilege and pleasure to spend his life in his home community. He is the son of Frederick Stair and wife, a highly respected family, mentioned elsewhere in this work.
Irvin O. Stair was educated in Plain township in the common schools which he attended during the winter months, and when he was old enough he was placed in the fields during the crop season, and he has always followed farming. He is now the owner of a good farm of ninety-three acres, on which he carries on general farming, and he is very comfortably situated.
Mr. Stair was married on December 22, 1887, to Eva Rebecca Bechtel. daughter of T. O. Bechtel and wife, residents of Plain township, who are mentioned at proper length in another part of this volume. After a happy married life of twelve years, Mrs. Stair was called to her reward on April 25, 1909. She had borne her husband two children, one of whom, Ethel May, died on March 30, 1908. The other, Glenn O., was married to Edna May Swartz on June 20, 1909.
Mr. Stair is a Democrat in politics, but he has never taken a notable part in party affairs, though he always stands ready to defend its principles. He and his family are members of the Reformed church at Reedsburg and faithful in their support of the same.
GEORGE W. REHM.
One of the successful farmers of Baughman township, Wayne county, is George W. Rehm, a man who has won success in his chosen line of en- (leavor because he has worked for it along legitimate channels and has never depended upon anyone else to do his planning, and certainly not to do his work.
Mr. Rehm is the son of George and Mary (Sickman) Rehm, the father having been born in Pennsylvania, from which state he came to Wayne county, Ohio, when a boy. His son, George W., of this review, is the fourth
(92)
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child of the family now living. He was reared on the farm where he now lives and was one year old when his father moved here. He was placed in the fields when old enough and assisted with the general farm work, attend- ing the common schools in his district in the meantime, and received a fairly good education.
Mr. Rehm was married on March 29, 1899, to Abigail Fry, daughter of John Fry, of this township, a highly respected family. She was reared and educated in Baughman township. This union has resulted in the birth of three children, namely : Hazel, born January 19, 1900; Grace, born August I, 1901 ; Glenn, born November 14, 1904.
Mr. Rehm is the fortunate possessor of the old Rehm homestead, one of the desirable landed estates in his community, consisting of eighty-one and one-fourth acres, located in sections 21 and 22, Baughman township, where he now resides. He is successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, and he has kept his place well improved. He stays on his farm and devotes his exclusive attention to it.
Politically Mr. Rhem is a Democrat, and is a member of the Lutheran church, being a deacon in the local congregation, always taking much interest in church affairs.
JOHN S. STEINER.
John S. Steiner, having always been a man of industry and integrity, is eminently deserving of the success he has attained in material things, and he is today one of the progressive farmers of Baughman township, Wayne county. He was born in Greene township, this county, January 19, 1861, and is the son of Daniel and Magdalena (Basinger) Steiner. The father was born in Germany, and at the age of five years he came with his parents, Daniel Steiner and wife, to America and settled in Greene township, Wayne county. Ohio, and here entered land from the government. Thus the grand- father of the subject started life in the woods here, cleared his place and lived here the rest of his life. His son, Daniel, father of John S., was reared on the old farm which he assisted to clear and here he is still living at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. He has been a man of industry and is highly respected for his honorable career. His family consisted of nine children, namely : Fannie, wife of D. C. Amstutz; P. R .; Elias, deceased ; David and John; Mary, wife of Philip Hilty; Barbara, deceased; Daniel and Noah; Sarah, wife of John Zimmerlee.
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John S. Steiner, of this review, was reared on the home farm in Greene township, where he worked in the summer and attended school in the winter, and although he often had to remain at home and cut wood, he received a fairly good education. After he was twenty-one years of age he was em- ployed by the year to work for his father, continuing thus for four years.
Mr. Steiner was married to Mary Welty, who was born in Putnam county, Ohio. He then bought eighty-four acres in section 8, Baughman township, going in debt for part of it, but he has paid it all out and has fin- ished improving it and now has a good farm and a very comfortable home. He is a general farmer and raises some good stock of various kinds.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Steiner, namely: Alma, born February 23, 1888, graduated from the Orrville high school : Elam, born April 9, 1889; Etta, born October 28, 1890; Clela, born March 2, 1892 ; Verna, born September 1, 1894; Glenn, born September 10, 1900; Lulu, born October 3, 1905. The mother of these children, a good and faithful wife and mother, passed to her rest on March 25, 1908.
Mr. and Mrs. Steiner are members of the Reformed church at Orrville. Politically he is a Democrat, but he is not especially active, and has held no office except that of school director. He is straightforward in his methods and is a highly respected citizen.
GEORGE M. YOUNG.
The name of George M. Young has long been linked with progress in all its phases in Wayne county, for he is essentially a man of affairs in all that the term implies and is deserving of the success he has achieved.
Mr. Young was born in Chester township, this county, September 20. 1853, the son of Isaac and Alvina ( McVicker) Young. His paternal grand- parents were Isaac and Mary (Gosshorn) Young, natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, in which county they were married in 1803. In 1833 they and their family moved to Ohio and settled at Canal Fulton, where they remained one year, and while there the grandfather and two daughters died. Then the grandmother and the rest of the family moved to Chester township, Wayne county, and the family has lived here ever since. The maternal grandparents of the subject were natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and they also came to Chester township, Wayne county. Ohio. about the time that the Young family moved here and here they spent the rest of their lives. Isaac Young was born in 1816, and his wife in 1818, both in the same county, and they each came to Wayne county, Ohio, as children with their parents, from Pennsylvania. They were reared as near neighbors
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in Chester township, and on July 13, 1837, were married. Mr. Young learned the cooper's trade, which he worked at twelve years, then took up farming and at his death owned a good farm; he lived to an advanced age. He took a prominent part in the affairs of the Methodist church. He was one of twelve children, namely: Sarah, born in 1803; Anna, born in 1805; Susan, born in 1806; Agnes, born in 1810; Catherine, born in 1808; Mary, born in 1812; Elizabeth, born in 1814; Isaac, born in 1816; Jeremiah, born in 1818; Louisa, born in 1824; Rhoda, born in 1826; Lavina, born in 1828, and she is the only one living in 1910. The father of the subject died on April 6, 1878. He was, like his father, a good and useful man, lived a quiet and retired life and was highly respected.
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