USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 24
USA > Ohio > Logan County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 24
USA > Ohio > Shelby County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 24
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BRAHAM 11. EMLEY. It being the pur- part of the author of this work to pre- serve for the benefit of posterity a record of the lives of honest and industrious citi- Zone, they wonid fail in their purpose if they omit- In 1858, Mr. Emley emigrated to this State, '.l'Hat of A. II. Einley. of Shelby County. This , bringing with him his family, and located on a farm
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on section 12, Franklin Township. That year he was married to Susan. daughter of William and Sophia (Young) Hoover, natives respectively of Kentucky and Maryland. Her parents were very yonng when they came to this State and located with their parents in Montgomery County, it being about seventy years ago. Mr. Hoover cleared a farm from the wilderness and departed this life in 1875, being preceded to the land beyond by his wife, who died in 1862. They were the parents of fourteen children, who grew to mature years and of whom nine are now living. One son, Marion, who served as a soldier in the Civil War, is now deceased. The mother was a most intelligent lady and a sincere member of the Christian Church.
Mrs. Emley, who was born in Montgomery County, this State, April 24, 1830, received a good educa- tion in the subscription schools near her home. By her union with our subject have been born four children, namely: William E., who married Zilla Dye, lives in Washington State: David C., who married Carrie Rundel, also makes his home there; Thomas E., who married Sophia Finkenbine. lives in this county, and Lovie B., who is the youngest of the family.
Mr. Emley moved to his present farm in 1870, which was then in a wild state. It comprises one hundred and thirty-seven acres. and in addition to that property, he owns seventy acres east of Sidney all which is improved. In 1880, he erected his present beautiful residence, which cost $2,500, and embellished his estate with all the needful build- ings used in the storing of grain and shelter of stock.
In 1864, our subject enlisted in the Union army as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and was sent with his . regiment to Cumberland. Va., where they were en- gaged in guarding a bridge at Patterson Creek. From there they were sent to the front and operated against the enemy along the James River in Vir- ginia to Petersburgh. Mr. Emley was on duty the entire period of his enlistment, during which time he never missed a roll call and received his honor- able discharge with his regiment. During the Civil War his wife was President of the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid society of Plum Creek Chapel and
rendered much efficient service to those who were sacrificing their homes and lives for their country's honor. Our subject is connected with the Grand Army Post at Sidney and with his wife is a men- ber of the Grange. Formerly a Republican in politics, he is now independent, reserving his right to vote for the man whom he considers will best fill the office. Ile has been the inenmbent of vari- ous positions of honor and trust, serving as Town- ship Trustee for many years. Ile was elected Jus- tice of the Peace. but preferring to give his time to his private interests refused to qualify.
USTIN BARBER. President of the Au- glaize County Agricultural Society, and one of the foremost farmers and stock- raisers of the county. has done conspicu- ous service in introducing modern methods of farming, and has a model farm on seetion 32. sa- lem Township, whose substantial appointments and highly tilled fields mark it as one of the best equipped and most desirable places in this vi- cinity.
Our subject is a native of Ohio, born in Union Township. in the adjoining county of Mercer. January 8, 1833. His father. Samuel C. Barber. was born in 1801. near Honeoye Lake, N. Y., and was a son of Capt. Amos Barber, who was a na- tive of Massachusetts, and was of Irish antece- dents. In the early part of his life. he removetl to New York, and thence to Kentucky in Is17. and there died in Ilardin County. Ile was Cap- tain of a company in the War of 1812.
The father of our subject was a lad of thirteen years when the family moved to Kentucky, and there he grew up to the life of a farmer. In the fall of 1828. in the vigor and prime of the open- ing years of a stalwart manhood. he crossed the Ohio River, and penetrating through the wilder- ness as far northward as Mercer County, took up a tract of land in Umon Township and became
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one of its earliest settlers. Indians still made their homes there. and wild game was very abun- dant, so that Mr. Barber kept his family supplied with venison, wild turkeys, etc. He led a busy life and by hard toil cleared a goodly farm and made many substantial improvements upon it. the first building that he erected being a typical log cabin for a dwelling. He died september 21. 1-31. leaving behind him a good name and a worthy record as a pioneer. His wife had pre- ceded him in death, dying in 1844. She bore the maiden name of Hannah Murlin, and was a native of Pennsylvania. They were married in Kon- tucky. and she faithfully shared with him the privations of pioneer life. They had journeyed to their new home in Ohio with a yoke of oxen attached to a cart. a horse being placed in front of the oxen. and they had brought all their rauthly possessions with them. They had three sons and two daughters. our subject, who is the third of the children in order of birth, and a younger brother being the only survivors of the family.
Mr. Barber had but meagre educational advan- tage- in his boyhood. but he made the most of them. He first went to school in an old log cabin. that had a puncheon floor and was fur- nished with slab seats. Ilis schooling was limited to two or three months in the winter, and to a day or so occasionally in the summer. As soon a. he was old enough. he began to help his fa- ther on the farm. and carly became a practical farmer. He had a full experience of pioneer life in all its phases. Ile was clothed in homespun. and the first pair of boots that he ever wore he had the winter he was seventeen. Hunting was one of his amusements when he was young, and . tion with it has been an inspiration in the good he has killed deer, which he has seen in large Lord .. Inchians often called at his father's house and camoped on the bank- of the creek near by.
In the spring of 1552. our subject hired out to work by the month for a period of six months. at &12 a month. In the fall. he -veured employ- rent at fifty cents a day. The following winter. he taught school at $13 a month. and boarded around among the parents of the pupils. He en- gazed in the same profesion the succeeding win-
ter, with the slightly increased salary of $15 a month. In the summer time, he pursued farming. and in the spring of 1851 took the management of the old family homestead in I'nion Township. He remained there until 1863, when he bought and took possession of his present farm in Salem Township. comprising two hundred and eighty aeres on sections 32 and 5. It was partly im- proved, an old hewed-log house standing on it, and thirty-five acres had been cleared. He has wrought a great change by persevering labor and intelligent modes of farming. and has transformed the place into as tine a farm as can be found in this section of the country. He has removed the timber that remained standing when he purchased it; has thoroughly drained the land by tiling; the fields are strongly fenced; and commodious and well-arranged buildings adorn the place, including a substantial brick residence erected to replace the original log house.
Mr. Barber has a thoughtful, well-balanced, well-trained mind, and through experience, ob- servation and careful reading. has gained a more thorough. practical education than that of many a college-bred man. His brain and muscles were his only capital when he started out in life. but he put them to good use, and has been eminently successful in his chosen calling, which Horace Greeley so aptly styled "the noblest of profes- sions." He conducts a good business as a general farmer, raising stock extensively, and for many years he has bred Short-horn cattle, for which he has won many prizes. He has been one of the leading members of the Auglaize County Agri- cultural Society for several years, is now its pre- siding officer, and throughout his entire connec- work that makes it so valuable an organization for the promotion of the farming interests of this part of Ohio. Mr. Barber has also been influ- ential in advancing local educational affairs, and has held the office of School Director a longer time than any other man in the district. During bi- residence in I'nion Township. he was Town- ship Clerk six years. He is an advocate of the principles of the Republican party. but he takes no part in politics.
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The marriage of our subject with Miss Eliza L. Hamilton was solemnized April 2, 1854. Mrs. Barber was born in Union Township, about a mile from the birthplace of her husband, and they grew up together in the same neighborhood, at- tended the same school. and their friendship in youth ripened into the stronger attaebment of maturer years, which resulted in a true marriage. She was well educated and taught school one term before she entered upon the responsibilities of wedded life. February 7. 1890. the happy home that she had helped to build up. and that was made sacred to those who loved her by her presence, was darkened by her death. and her loss was greatly felt by the entire community. She was a woman of rare personality. gifted with a sweet, strong nature, a generous, open hand, and a warm heart that beat in sympathy with all who were in sorrow or trouble. She guided her house- hold affairs with a firm. even hand. and was de- voted to her husband and children, who worship her memory. Her work here is compassed and done-
"But we cannot think of her idle; She must be a home-maker still; God giveth that work to the angels. Who are fittest the task to fulfill.
"And somewhere. vet. in the hilltops Of the country that hath no pain. She will watch in her beautiful doorway To bid us a welcome again."
Mrs. Barber was the sixth of the eight chil- dren, of whom five are living, of the Hon. Judge Justin Hamilton. The latter was a native of Blan- ford. Mass .. born September 11. 1796. and when he was young his father removed first to New York, and thence to Hardin County, Ky., where he settled in the same neighborhood as Mr. Bar- ber's father. In 1823. Judge Hamilton settled in Mercer County, this State, and was one of its earliest pioneer farmers. He was a surveyor. and surveyed a great part of this section of the country, He was very prominent and widely known in public life. served in the Legislature several terms. was dJustice of the Peace for many years, and was one of the Associate Judges of the Common Pleas Court of Mercer County. He died
in February, 1863. Ilis wife survived him until November 24, 1887, her death occurring on that date in the home of our subjeet. Her maiden name was Eliza Rhodes, and she was born in New York, February 28. 1798.
Our subjeet and his wife had eight ebildren: Ella, who is deceased; Hannah. wife of C. W. Shimp, a farmer of Salem Township; Irena. de- ceased; Dora, wife of J. II. Wright, a farmer of this township; Abram II., who is married and lives on a part of the home farm; Arthur, who is married and makes his home with his father; Ina and Walter. both at home, the latter a teacher. The children are finely educated, and Arthur and Dora have also taught school.
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C HARLES E. SMOOT. M. D. In every com- munity throughout our broad land, there may be found men who are gaining success in the practice of medicine and surgery. Shelby County is the seat of the labors of many physicians who, in knowledge of the principles of their pro- fession. skill in diagnosis and success in the treat- ment of diseases. manifest great ability. Among this number is Dr. Smoot, of Jefferson, who is rap- idly coming to the front and thoroughly establish- ing himself in the respect of all with whom he comes in contact. He has been a hard student. and at the time of his graduation stood fourth in a class of thirty-nine who received their degrees as Doctors of Medicine.
Our subject was born in Port Jeffer-on. Ohio. October 7, 1866. and is a son of John II. Smoot. who was born in Miami County in 1833. Grand- father JJacob S. Smoot was born in New Jersey and emigrated to this State about 1829, being classed among the early settlers of Shelby County. The representatives of the family in this country came from the Province of Hesse. Viermany. during Col- onial times. The great-grandfather was a Revo- Intionary soldier and was present at the battle of Yorktown. witnessing the surrender of the British foret- to tien. Washington.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The grandfather of our subject, on coming to this county, located ou a wild farm on Leather Wood Creek, in Green Township, where he was res dog at the time of his death, about 1812. His wife. who bore the maiden name of Catherine S. Thank, was also of Revolutionary stock, and died in 1>>, at the advanced age of minety-three years. John 11. Smoot was one of two sons and three daughters born to his parents, four of whom are living. He is a farmer by occupation and is now residing in Perry Township. this county, where he has a valuable estate, adorned with a commodious residence, as well as substantial barns and out- buildings.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was Eliza J. Stone. She was born in Perry Township. this county, and is a daughter of Demoville and Elizabeth Stone, both of whom were early settlers in this county and are long since deceased. Of the sven children born to the parents of our subject, only three are living, of whom Charles E. is the eldest. His primary education was conducted in the district school until reaching his fourteenth year, at which time he went to Port Jefferson and took a three-years' course in the High School. Being then only seventeen years of age, he taught school for eight terms, during which time he stud- ied such branches as he expected to need when commencing the study of medicine.
In 1.5. our subject took up the study of medi- wine under Dr. J. F. Miller. of Port Jefferson, with whom he read until Iass. He then entered the starling Medical College at Columbus and was graduated two years later, having completed the reguiar medical and surgical courses. Dr. Smoot Coca'ed for practice at MIt. Jefferson. where he has built up a good trade and occupies a place in the front rank among his fellow-practitioners. He Belongs to the Shelby County Medical Society and endeavors by extensive reading and thought to advance his own professional culture and thus make his work of greater benefit to mankind.
In 1 -. 6. Dr. moot and Mi-s Annette, daughter of Peter M. and Mariamna (Gilfillin ) Trapp. were mited in marriage. Her parents were natives of 1. state, and Ing father, who is a contractor, has over two hundred miles of turnpike in this
and neighboring counties. To the Doctor and his wife have been born two children, Coila Edith and James Harold. Mrs. Smoot is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In polities, our sub- jeet is a stanch Democrat, willing at all times to uphold party principles by his influence and ballot.
A lithographie portrait of Dr. Smoot accompan- ies this biographical notice.
OHIN M. STALEY, A. B .. LL. D., who is one of the prominent lawyers of Sidney, has been engaged in active practice for a number of years. A native of Shelby County, he was born in Franklin Township, February 2, 1817, and is the son of John and Catherine ( Young) Staley. The father was a farmer by occupation and moved to this section from Montgomery County, this State. His mother was a native of Stillwater, Ohio, and was the daughter of Philip Young, and. with her husband, was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The original of this sketch was reared on the home farm. and remained with his parents until the close of the Civil War. Two of his brothers, Henry and George W., were soldiers in the I'nion army, the former of whom died at Paducah, Ky .; the latter is now engaged in farming in Jackson Township, this county.
Mr. Staley of this sketch lirst attended the country schools, and was a pupil of the Sidney High School when Lincoln was assassinated. Ile then attended the Ohio Wesleyan I'niversity at Delaware, and after a course there of two years, took a position as teacher of music in the Lebanon Normal School. from which institution he had been graduated in 1872. Having a natural talent for music, our subject has taken advantage of every opportunity to advance his knowledge in that art, and is now the leader and teacher of the orchestra in this place, which ranks among the finest in Western Ohio.
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After his graduation in 1872, Mr. Staley super- intended different schools for five years, during which time he was industriously engaged in read- ing law. At the expiration of the time above mentioned. he refused a position offered him as Superintendent of the city schools of Findlay, Ohio. in order to enter the office of Moulton. John- son & Levi, in Cincinnati, which was one of the leading law firms of that city, Mr. Moulton being a brother-in-law of John Sherman.
After graduating in the year 1878 from the C'in- cinnati Law College, Mr. Staley returned to Sidney, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He is now Commissioner of In- solvents, County School Examiner, and a member of the Board of Elections. He was also City So- licitor for one term, and now occupies a prominent place in the Shelby County Bar. Mr. Staley is always an enthusiastic Democrat. and is liberal in his religious views.
In September, 1872, John M. Staley and Miss Alice, daughter of George and Rachael Witt. were united in marriage. To them have been granted one son. Ralph Witt, who is a pupil of the Sidney schools, and in 1879, being twelve years old, won the second prize offered by the Sidney Journal for the best original composition by pupils of city and country schools under fourteen years of age. One daughter. Ruth. died in 1891, at the age of four years.
ORRIS HONNELL. Among the promi- nent and enterprising citizens of Sidney. no one is more worthy of note than he whom we here name, who has now retired from his fine farm in Washington Township, and since November, 1881. has been a resident of this city. Just previous to -ettling here. be sold part of the old homestead. which consisted of two hun- dred and seventy acres, and has now a most attractive and pleasant home at No. 1240 Fair Avenue. He has an extensive lawn of over two
aeres. beautifully decorated with fine shade trees. ornamental shrubs and lovely flowers. and his res- idence is a very cozy and substantial one.
Like many of the best citizens of the county. Mr. Honnell was born in the Keystone State. in Greene County, on the 3d of December, 1824. and is a son of William and Ellen ( Wilson ) Ilon- nell, the former of English and the latter of Ger- man descent. Wilham Honnell left his native State for Ohio in 1833. and first settled in Clinton Town- ship. At that time they were surrounded by woods. and settlers throughout the county were scattering. Mr. Honnell cleared up a good farm, and on this resided until his death in 1853, when fifty-six years of age. Ile was in sympathy with the United Brethren Church, and his wife held member- ship in that church. She died in 1866. when sixty- six years of age, and left a family of twelve chil- dren. eight sons and four daughters. as follows: Archibald, who moved to Indiana, where he died: Maria, wife of John English, who with her husband is deceased: Morris: E. B., who lives at Port Jeffer- son ; William. now a Presbyterian minister of Kings- ton. Kan .: Dr. Jesse C .. at Beaver Dam. Allen Coun- ty. Ohio: Henry. of Brown County, Kan .; Catherine. deceased. was the wife of Benjamin Martin: Cyn- thia E .. deceased; Thomas C .. who was a Captain in the army. Ninety-ninth Ohio Infantry, and now resides at Everest. Brown Coun- ty. Kan .: Martha. wife of William Neal, also of Brown County. Kan .; and Franeis R .. who was in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Cavalry. and died in Andersonville Prison.
In addition to a fair education received in the subscription schools of his day, our subject was well educated in the public schools of Sidney. although when his parents first settled there, there was not a schoolhouse in the town. Shortly af- terward. a little log cabin was erected and used for that purpose. Morris Honnell continued to make his home with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. and then started out to fight his own way m life. In 1850. he was attacked with the gold fever so badly that he went overland to C'al- ifornia. From St. Joe a party of five started in one wagon. walked nearly all the way through to Salt Lake, and from there to langtown. Ca'.
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All remained together till the end. and all are still living. Our subject went up on the Yuba River, erected a sawmill, and ran this on Goodyear Creek for nearly four years. He was very sue- cessful, and returned to the East by way of the Isthmus, getting his gold dust coined at Pluladel- phia. Returning to Ohio, he bought the farm he now owns, began at once to develop and improve it. and on the 10th of May, 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Ann MeDonough. of Lebanon, Ohio. They made their home on the farm until 1881. when they moved to Sidney, and now have one of the coziest and most desirable places in that town. Their fine residence is of modern architectural design, and is fitted up with every comfort and convenience. and they keep a fine driving team, thus passing the remainder of their days in peace and plenty. Both are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he has been a Dea- con in the county for many years, and an Eller since he moved to town. Their children, two in number, are as follows: Emma J., wife of Isaae N. Woodeox. resides in Sidney and has one son, Raymond Honnell; and Olive Belle, still at home. Mrs. Honnell was born in Warren County, Ohio, May 7. 1824, and is the daughter of Jolin and Susannah (Beard) McDonough, both of whom died when she was quite young. Her grandfather was a native of Ireland, but in all probability of Scotch descent. Mr. Honnell is a staneh Repub- lican in his political views.
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RED VOGELSANG. Among the resources of the town of New Bremen which go to make up its commercial fabrice, the trade carried on in stoves. tinware, etc .. forms a most important feature. Prominent among those en- gaged in it is Mr. Fred Vogelsang, who is a practi- cal and energetie man of business. honorable and upright in all his dealings. Since its inception. the business has been constantly improving, the volume of business transacted now being very far in ad-
vance of former years. Mr. Vogelsang is of for- eign birth, having been born in Ilanover, Ger- many. on the 9th of January, 1831, and his father. Henry Vogelsang, as well as his grandparents, Fred and Sophia (Meyers) Vogelsang, were also natives of Ilanover, Germany.
Ilenry Vogelsang was married in his native country and later, with his family and his parents, crossed the ocean to America. They landed in New York City, but the fertile soil of Ohio tempted them to settle within its borders and they pushed on to that State. Mr. Vogelsang was one of the first to locate in Auglaize County, and here he and his wife and one of his children died about two weeks later. The other eluld. our subject. who was the elder, was reared by his grandparents. who had accompanied them. The grandparents pur- chased a farm on which now stands a part of the village of New Bremen, the village at that time being just laid out and consisting of three or four houses. The entire country was new, very few settlers were to be found, and the woods swarmed with wild game. They located in a log house, and there the grandfather died in 1845. The grand- mother lived until 1864, and was then eighty-six years of age.
The first school our subject attended was held in the church, for there were no schoolhouses, and he was taught in German by the minister. At the time of the death of the grandfather, our subjeet was about fourteen years of age and he remained on the farm and took care of the grandmother un- til about 1856, when he purchased an interest in the flouring mill in New Bremen, and continued the milling business for about ten years. In 1879, he purchased a large tin store and since then has conducted an extensive business in tin ware and stoves.
In the year 1852, he was married to Miss Minnie Kuenning, a native of Germany, who came to America with her parents when about thirteen years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Vogelsang have been born thirteen children. six of whom are living, viz .: August, Amelia, Edward, Olwiena, Emale and llenry. August learned the tinners' trade, and has been in partnership with his father. Mr. Vogelsang affiliates with the Dem-
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