USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > Past and present of Wyandot County, Ohio; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 7
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tered the Fort Wayne (Indiana) College of Medicine, from which he was graduated in 1889 with the degree of M. D. In the same year he began the practice of his profession at Ohio City, in Van Wert county, and there continued for fourteen . years, coming at the end of that time to Upper Sandusky, where he has since lived. Here he opened an office and has been successful in the general practice of medicine and surgery, his ability drawing to him a large and representative patronage. For five years he was associated with Dr. Naus in the conduct of the Smalley & Naus Sanitarium but in 1911 he sold out his interests to his partner. By reading and in- vestigation Dr. Smalley keeps in touch with the advanced thought of the profession and his labors have been attended with excellent results viewed from both a financial and pro- fessional standpoint. He is, besides, well known in business circles of Upper Sandusky as vice president of the Union National Drug Company, which was incorporated in 1911 with the following officers: J. W. T. Davis, president; Dr. Walter M. Smalley, vice president; and Ira R. Pontius, sec- retary and treasurer. Dr. Smalley is also vice president of the Cosmo Buttermilk Soap Company and is a large stock- holder in that concern.
On April 23, 1890, Dr. Smalley was united in marriage in Upper Sandusky to Miss Myrtie L. Kenan, a daughter of Alvin and Elizabeth Kenan, the former a prominent real- estate dealer of the city. Dr. and Mrs. Smalley have three children, Margaret Elizabeth, Alvin Kenan and Cora Helen. The family reside in a comfortable and attractive residence in Upper Sandusky, which forms only a part of Dr. Smalley's extensive real-estate interests which include valuable tracts of residence and business property.
Dr. Smalley is a member of the Presbyterian church, and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Masonic order, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees, and he belongs also to the Chamber of Commerce. He was for four years a member of Company B, Ohio National Guard, and served ably and effi- ciently as a member of the board of deputy supervisors of election of Wyandot county. He is a progressive and earnest physician, keeping in touch with the trend of modern thought concerning matters of professional advancement, but with a
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mind broad enough in its scope to include interest in munici- pal and business affairs. He has made a creditable record both as a business man and as a member of the medical fra- ternity and has met with gratifying success in his practice.
FRANKLIN J. STALTER.
Franklin J. Stalter, a prominent and successful attorney at law in Upper Sandusky, was born in Sycamore township, this county, September 18, 1870. He is a son of Jacob and Saloma (Pennington) Stalter, both natives of Sycamore township, the former born in 1831 and the latter in 1839. The father died in 1878 and is survived by his wife, who makes her home in Sycamore. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, Alvada, James, Rose, Mary, David, Franklin J. and Allen P.
Franklin J. Stalter acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Sycamore and in 1898 was graduated in law from the Northern Ohio University at Ada, receiving in that year his degree of LL. B. In the same year he was ad- mitted to the bar of Ohio but did not immediately begin the practice of his profession, spending two years after his ad- mission in teaching school. In 1900 he opened an office in Sycamore and there remained for four years, coming at the end of that time to Upper Sandusky, where he has since re- mained. His ability and knowledge are indicated by a large and steadily increasing patronage which connects him with much important litigation, the able conduct of which has gained him a leading place in the ranks of the legal fra- ternity of Wyandot county.
On the 18th of July, 1899, in Sycamore township, Mr. Stal- ter was united in marriage to Miss Bertha E. Grelle, a daugh- ter of George H. and Regena Grelle, of Sycamore township. Mr. and Mrs. Stalter have four children, Saloma Regena, Helen, Martha Arvilla and Harriet Marquieta. Mr. Stalter is associated with the Reformed church, and fraternally is connected with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and takes an active and intelligent interest in public affairs. He is particularly interested in educational matters and has done
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able work in advancing the cause of public education in the city as a member of the board of education, of which he is also secretary. He served his party ably in 1912 as a delegate to the fourth congressional convention, held at Columbus, and his political support is always given to progressive public measures and projects for the general good. He is a public- spirited and loyal citizen, anxious to advance the community interests while not neglectful of his own, and his record both in public service and in professional circles is honorable and worthy.
GEORGE J. STECHER.
George J. Stecher, a prominent member of the Upper San- dusky bar, has been practicing in this city since 1895 and by reason of his knowledge, ability and successful work has gained a high place in a profession where advancement de- pends almost entirely upon individual merit. He is a native son of Upper Sandusky, born May 29, 1857, his parents being George J. and Christina (Nollenberger) Stecher. The father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1807, and came to Upper Sandusky in 1854. He was a skilful gardener and very successful in this occupation, which he followed until his death in 1887. His wife, who was a native of Wilsbach, Ger- many, where her birth occurred in 1822, has also passed away. In their family were eight children. The eldest, Hannah, married Michael Burkhardt, an engineer, and they have four sons, Jacob J., George J., Charles F. and Frederick. Charles F. is a railroad engineer, with headquarters at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He married Louisa Bucher, and they have five chil- dren, Frederick, George G., Mary, Albert and Edith. The next in the order of birth in the family is Christian. Fred- erick C. is a minister in Camp Point, Illinois. He married Miranda G. Bauer, and has two children, William and Mary. Gottlieb C. is engaged in contracting at Upper Sandusky. He married Mary K. Eisermann and has seven children, Min- nie, Nettie, Dora, Karl, Oscar, Helen and Florence. George J. is the subject of this review. Caroline F. became the wife of J. H. Kinley, a merchant in Upper Sandusky. They have five children, Harry E., George F., Avery J., Villa C. and
GEORGE J. STECHER
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Everet R. The youngest in the family, Mary C., married E. E. Class and lives at Bucyrus, Ohio.
George J .. Stecher attended public school until he was fourteen years of age and was graduated, in 1894, from the Cincinnati Law School at Cincinnati. He was admitted to the bar of Ohio in 1895 and opened an office in Upper San- dusky, forming a partnership with Judge D. D. Clayton, now deceased. After the latter's death Mr. Stecher associated himself with A. E. Walter, with whom he remained until 1909, since which time he has been in practice alone. His ability is recognized in a large and still increasing patronage, for his cases are always carefully conducted and his clients' interests guarded at every point. He is a thorough and exhaustive student of his profession, in which he has made continual ad- vancement since his admission to the bar, standing today in the front ranks of the legal fraternity in this part of Wyan- dot county. He is a member of the Wyandot County Bar Association and in this way keeps in touch with the advanced thought of his profession.
Mr. Stecher married, in Upper Sandusky, May 7, 1902, Miss Hattie E. Day, a daughter of Joseph and Mattie (Stewart) Day, of Wyandot county. Mr. and Mrs. Stecher have two children, Joseph Day and Ruth Loretta. The family are members of the Evangelical church. Mr. Stecher gives his allegiance to the republican party, but never seeks office. All measures and movements for the public welfare receive his active support and cooperation and he is well known and highly esteemed as one of Upper Sandusky's most deservedly successful native sons.
WILLIAM H. SNYDER.
William H. Snyder, who has been a resident of Carey for more than a third of a century, is one of the town's leading citizens and a prominent factor in industrial circles, conduct- ing here a planing mill, a gristmill, a concrete block manufac- turing plant and an ice house and also owning considerable residence and other property. His prosperity is all the more creditable by reason of the fact that it is attributable entirely to his own efforts, and he is a self-made man whose record
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may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. His birth occurred in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, on the 19th of June, 1856, his parents being William and Sarah (Hilsker) Snyder, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state, the former born in 1817 and the latter in Lancaster 'county in the same year. William Snyder fol- lowed general agricultural pursuits throughout his active career and passed away on the 3d of April, 1899. His wife was called to her final rest on the 17th of March, 1889. Their children were six in number, as follows: Christian H .; Susan, who passed away at the age of fifty-two years; Aaron; Amos; William H., of this review; and Amanda.
William H. Snyder attended the district schools of his na- tive county until seventeen years of age and after putting aside his text-books learned the carpenter's trade. In 1878, when a young man of twenty-two years, he came to Carey, Ohio, and this town has since remained his place of residence. The enviable success which has attended his efforts in a busi- ness way is indicated in the fact that he is at the present time the owner of a planing mill and gristmill at Carey and also conducts a concrete block manufacturing plant and an ice house with a capacity of one thousand tons of ice. His realty interests include seven pieces of residence property and twenty-five building lots in Carey, while he likewise owns a planing mill and grain elevator at Vanlue. Possessed of splendid executive ability and sound judgment, he has worked his way steadily upward and has gradually extended his in- terests and activities until he is now numbered among the most prosperous business men and substantial citizens of Wyandot county.
On the 12th of October, 1881, at Carey, Ohio, Mr. Snyder was united in marriage to Miss Annie Musselman, a daugh- ter of Levi Musselman, whose demise occurred on the 22d of February, 1907. Unto our subject and his wife have been born the following children: Clarence; Cora, the wife of Harry M. Keller, a monument manufacturer of Carey, by whom she has a son, William H .; Maud; Grover; Howard; and George.
Mr. Snyder gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is an active worker in its local ranks as a member of the democratic state central committee at Carey. Frater- nally he is identified with the Masons, in which order he has
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attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the English Lutheran church. His life record commands the respect and confidence of all who know him, and indicates clearly his force of character and his ability along business lines.
HOWARD H. NEWELL.
For twenty-one years Howard H. Newell has been a repre- sentative of the Ohio bar, practicing in Upper Sandusky, where he is accorded a liberal clientage connecting him with much important litigation tried in the courts of the district. Wyandot county claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Mifflin township in 1867. His father, Charles W. Newell, who was born in Carroll county, this state, in 1842, was also an attorney, practicing throughout his entire life. He married Millie Van Horn, who was born in Carroll county in 1845, and is now living with her son. The father, however, passed away in 1872. He was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting as a member of Company D, Eightieth Regiment of Ohio Infantry, and when he was discharged on the expiration of his three years' term he re-enlisted for another three years, or until the close of the war. Four months passed and hostili- ties ceased, after which he was again honorably discharged. He participated in a number of hotly contested battles and was a brave and loyal soldier, never hesitating at the call of duty. Unto him and his wife were born three children: How- ard H., Robert M., a carpenter of Liverpool, Ohio, who wedded Mary Ball and has six children; and one, who died in infancy.
At the usual age Howard H. Newell became a pupil in the district schools and afterward spent two years as a student in the Northern Ohio University. When twenty-two years of age he took up the profession of teaching which he followed in the rural schools. It was subsequent to this time that he pursued his university course and later he entered upon the study of law in the office and under the direction of D. D. Clayton, an able attorney. He carefully and thoroughly mas- tered the principles of jurisprudence until his knowledge of
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the law was sufficient to enable him to pass the required exam- ination for admission to the bar in 1891. He located for practice in Upper Sandusky and has been very successful. His qualities have enabled him to greatly advance in his chosen profession and he now has a large and well merited clientage. He has twice filled the office of prosecuting attor- ney of his county.
On the 26th of April, 1891, in Upper Sandusky, Mr. Newell was married to Miss Eva C. Forney, a daughter of John W. and Mary (Kohr) Forney, of Wyandot county, where the father followed the occupation of farming. Mr. and Mrs. Newell became the parents of three children, but Ruth died when a young lady and the second died in infancy. The living daughter, Louise, is now a student in the Ohio Wesleyan University.
Mr. Newell has an interesting military chapter in his life record, having for three years been a member of Company B, of the Second Ohio Regiment of the National Guard. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Not only in political connections, but in other ways has he attempted to promote the welfare of his city and county. His name is on the membership roll of various fraternal organ- izations including the Masons, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Newell's family are associated with the Methodist church and at all times cooperate in the movements which promote material, intellectual and moral progress. He and his family are well known here and the hospitality of many of the best homes of the city is freely accorded them.
SARAH DAUGHMER.
Sarah Daughmer owns and operates two hundred acres of land on section 37, Antrim township, and in her farming opera- tions has attained a degree of success which places her upon a par with the most able agriculturists in this section of the county. She was born in Antrim township, April 29, 1839, and is a daughter of James and Sarah (Bargahoof) Daughmer,
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natives of Virginia, the former born in 1807 and the latter in 1804. The father came to Ohio with his family in 1831 and from that time until his death, in 1894, engaged in farming. His wife has also passed away, her death having occurred in 1872. In their family were six children, Lydia, Nicholas G., Elizabeth A., Joel, Sarah and Thomas C., all of whom are living, except Joel, who died in infancy.
Sarah Daughmer acquired her education in the district schools of her native township and has always lived upon the homestead. She now owns and operates this property of two hundred acres and has shown unusual executive ability and business sense in carrying forward the work of development. She has a valuable farm, well equipped and improved, and every year harvests fine crops of hay and grain as a reward for the care and labor she bestows upon the fields. In addition she is extensively interested in sheep raising, keeping four hundred high-grade animals. There is a fine residence upon the property, in which Miss Daughmer lives with her brother; Thomas C., and both are well known and highly esteemed as people of genuine personal worth and upright, honorable lives.
JOHN R. MOORE.
John R. Moore is proprietor of a cafe in Upper Sandusky. He started out in the business world in the employ of others but gradually earned the capital that enabled him to engage in business on his own account. He is yet a young man and there are perhaps many years before him in which to add to the success that he has already achieved. He was born in New Lexington, Ohio, May 20, 1884, a son of Jacob R. and Elizabeth (Flower) Moore. The father was born in Ohio and for many years was proprietor of a grocery store, conducting a good business. His wife was born in this state and both are still living, making their home with their son John. They have three children: Edna, George W., and John R. The daughter is the wife of Joseph Kimmich, a shoe merchant of Toledo, Ohio, and they have two children, Donald and Pauline. George W. Moore, proprietor of a saloon in Marion, Ohio, wedded Helen Duggan, and they have two children, Paul and Frank.
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During the youthful days of John R. Moore the family lived in Lima, Ohio, where he attended the public schools to the age of eighteen years. He then began earning his own living and for five years worked as a cigar maker. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until his capital was sufficient to enable him to engage in business for himself as proprietor of a grocery store in Port Clinton, Ohio, where he remained for four years. He then sold out and returned to Lima, where he became connected with the wholesale liquor trade as a clerk. He then went to Upper Sandusky as man- ager of the business there conducted by the Lima firm and in 1911 he bought out the branch of the business in this city and has since been its proprietor. He has become well known here and has a liberal patronage which is making his enter- prise a profitable one.
On the 10th of July, 1905, in Lima, Ohio, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Anna Shocky, a daughter of John W. and Ella (Church) Shocky, the former for many years pro- prietor of a grocery store in Lima. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have become the parents of three children, two sons and a daughter: Harold, Beatrice and Louis. The family attend and liberally support the Catholic church. Mr. Moore was for five years a member of the Ohio National Guard, belonging to Company K of the Second Regiment. His fraternal relations are with the Eagles and Elks, and his political support is given the democracy, with which political organization he has been identified since age conferred upon him the right of franchise.
DELEVAN MILLER.
Delevan Miller may well be proud of the work he has accomplished and is still accomplishing as mayor of Nevada, for it is constructive and progressive in character and always directed with a view to the best interests of the community. His life record should serve as an encouragement and inspira- tion to others for he started out in life as a day laborer and by courage, steadfast purpose and indefatigable activity worked his way upward to success. He was born in Lancaster, Keo- kuk county, Iowa, November 11, 1858, and is a son of Thomas and Eliza J. (McGarry) Miller, the former a native of Beaver
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county, Pennsylvania, born February 25, 1832, and the latter of Wayne county, Ohio, born in 1834. The father was a veteran of the Civil war, having served for four years as a member of the Third Ohio Cavalry, and after the close of hos- tilities returned to Wyandot county, where he followed his trade of harness-making for five years. He subsequently was engaged in the grocery business in Nevada until 1894, when he retired. He died in 1898 and was survived by his wife until 1906. In this family were seven children, Chester M., Dele- van, Laura A., Lovie M., Charles P., James E., and a child, who died in infancy.
Delevan Miller acquired his education in the public schools of Wyandot county and laid aside his books at the age of eighteen. He began his independent career as a day laborer and in this capacity worked until 1879. He was from 1882 to 1885 a clerk in a grocery store in Nevada and he afterward formed a partnership with Mr. Keltner and purchased the business, which they continued to conduct together until 1888, when Mr. Miller purchased his partner's interests. He man- aged the enterprise alone until 1891, when his father joined him in its conduct, the firm being known as T. P. Miller & Son. They built up a profitable business, their association continuing until Mr. Miller's brother, Charles P., purchased the father's share and the enterprise was continued under the name of Miller Brothers. They controlled one of the most important retail grocery concerns in the city and were accorded a liberal patronage because their business standards were always progressive, their methods upright and straight- forward and their prices reasonable. Mr. Miller, of this review, continued his connection with the business until 1902, when, having acquired a comfortable fortune, he retired from active business life. He owns an attractive home in Nevada, a half interest in a four and one-half acre tract of city property and has valuable outside real-estate holdings, owning fifty- five acres on section 15, Antrim township.
For a number of years past Mr. Miller has taken a deep interest in public affairs and, always representing the demo- cratic party, has held various important public offices, the duties of which he has discharged in a competent and able manner. He was for two terms a member of the Nevada council, for one term clerk of the village and in 1911 was elected mayor. He has given to the people of the community
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a progressive, efficient and straightforward administration which has been honorable in its standards, modern in its policies and businesslike in all its details. Mr. Miller has proved an able executive, as the excellent results which have attended his political activities so plainly testify.
On the 17th of September, 1890, in Nevada, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Klingler, a daughter of J. M. and Elizabeth (Dinkle) Klingler, the former a well known shoemaker in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Miller reared a boy, J. D. Lee, who is at present a traveling salesman. He married Miss May E. White, of Nevada.
Fraternally Mr. Miller is identified with the Masonic order and the Order of the Eastern Star. His wife is very promi- nent in the work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. They are members of the Methodist church and Mr. Miller serves as trustee and as assistant teacher of a Sunday school class, which meets once a month. He is a man of exemplary character and in all lines of activity in the city, whether social, business, religious or political, his influence has been a powerful factor for good.
GENERAL ISAAC MINER KIRBY.
It has often been said, and truthfully so, that the old soldier makes the best citizen. The long period of strife taught him to love his country as nothing else could do and the spirit of loy- alty which prompted his enlistment and his sturdy defense of the flag has remained one of the salient features of his life. Honored and respected by all, there is no one who more justly merits the confidence and good-will of his fellow townsmen than does General Isaac M. Kirby, who wore the nation's blue uniform from 1861 until 1865, and who through days of peace has ranked with the valued and enterprising citizens of Upper Sandusky.
He is a representative of an old and prominent family. His paternal grandparents were Obadiah and Ruth (Hen- drick) Kirby, who were of English and Holland descent, and natives of Virginia, in which state the former had a large plan- tation and owned many slaves. At his death, which occurred when he was about fifty years of age, his widow, who was a
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GENERAL ISAAC M. KIRBY
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Quakeress, emancipated her slaves and removed to Ohio with her sons. Her eldest son, Samuel Kirby, was captain of a Virginia company in the War of 1812, and was killed during the service. John Kirby, became a farmer and died in middle age in Wyandot county, and Pleasant Kirby died in Kansas. Moses Kirby, father of General Kirby, and twin brother of Dr. Jacob Kirby, was born in Halifax county, Virginia, in 1798, and was reared on the old homestead there but pursued his education at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he was a schoolmate of James K. Polk, who in 1845 became president of the United States. Before her son Moses Kirby has com- pleted his education, his mother had removed from Virginia to Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, where he later joined her and took up the study of law in the office and under the direc- tion of Richard Collins. His thorough preliminary reading secured him admission to the bar when he was about twenty- two years of age, after which he entered upon active profes- sional duties in Hillsboro. He was not long in winning a good clientage and at the same time rose to prominence along politi- cal lines. He was chosen to represent Highland county in the state legislature and was appointed to the office of secretary of state in 1832. He then went to Columbus, Ohio, and in ad- dition to his official duties engaged in the active practice of law until 1841. In that year he took up his abode in the vil- lage of Wyandot, Ohio, but in 1843 removed to Upper San- dusky, where again, as in his former places of residence, he soon won an enviable reputation as a distinguished practi- tioner before the courts. He came to Upper Sandusky, how- ever, in the capacity of Indian agent and receiver for the land office, in which he remained until 1845. Being a whig in poli- tics and the democratic party then coming into power, he re- tired. He thereupon resumed the practice of law and held offi- cial position in that connection, serving as prosecuting attor- ney for several years and later as judge of the probate court for several terms. He was one who maintained the prize of keen mentality to the last and when eighty-two years of age was sent to the state senate-just sixty years after he had been a member of the legislature. He served in the upper house for two terms and his splendid record was a fit crown to a life of unusual activity, usefulness and honor. His early political allegiance was given to the whig party and on its dissolution he became a republican but during the presidency
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