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 30
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 30
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 30
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Ilaving heard much of the opportunities af- forded young men in the New World, our subject, in 1850, determined to come hither, and being landed in New York City, secured employment at his trade. where he remained for the succeeding five years. In the spring of 1855. he came to Wa- pakoneta. locating here July 15, and engaged as clerk for O. T. Dieker, remaining with him until the spring of 1859, when he engaged in business on his own account. opening a general store, which was soon merged into his present business. and. as before stateil, he is now the proprietor of the largest dry-goods house in Auglaize County.
In 1885. Mr. Timmermeister erected his large brick block, which is one of the finest buildings in the city. and the second floor of which is used as an opera house. On the organization of the Wa- pakoneta Wheel Factory, he was made its Presi- dent. which position he is acceptably filling at the present time. In addition to the numerous inter- ests just mentioned. he is a Director in the First National Bank, holding a like position in the Nat- ural Gas Company. and is Vice-president and a Director in the Artificial Gas Company.
The subject of this sketch is a very liberal-minded man. supporting all worthy enterprises. among them the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He deals fairly with everyone, lives a life of the strictest integrity, and has gained not only the respect. but the highest esteem. of a wide circle of acquaint- ances. Ilis remarkable success in worldly affairs had, no doubt. for its corner-stone the economical habits with which he began life. Prudence, ju- dicious management and honesty, which he ever found to be the best policy, were the stones with which the rich structure was completed. His life .
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affords a lesson which younger men may well study with advantage. Mr. Timmermeister is no longer engaged in the active management of the large business his energy and ability established, the direct management now devolving upon his son. C. W. Timmermeister. and his son-in-law, W. S. Rogers.
The wife of Mr. Timmermeister bore the maiden name of Caroline Machetantz. and was born in Facka in 1837. She is a daughter of Christian and Elise Machetantz, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of six children, two sons and four daughters; the eldest son, Christian W., is a stockholder in the dry-goods business, and is destined to follow in his worthy father's foot- steps and become one of the prominent business men of the county. In social matters, our subject is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church.
OHN MCEVOY, who is well and favorably known through his residence of forty years in St. Mary's and vicinity, has been a wit- ness of much of the growth of this city and has won a high place among its most trusted business men for honor and strict probity in trade. Ile deals in groceries, provisions, chinaware, lime, cement, etc .. and occupies a neat, two-story frame building on Spring Street, and eonduets a large and profitable business. He is also connected with the agricultural interests of Auglaize County, having improved a fine farm of one hundred and twenty aeres.
the trade of a weaver. In 1835, he came to Ohio and turned his attention to farming. He stopped in Newark, Licking County, for a while, and then removed to the country on a farm. In 1843, he took up his residence in Franklin County and was engaged in that region at farming until he came to St. Mary's in 1852. Ile finally purchased a farm near the city and there spent the closing days of a long and honorable life, dying in 1864, at the ven- erable age of eighty-six years. Both he and his good wife were true Catholics in religion. She, too, lived to be eighty-six years old. They had three sons, of whom the eldest is deceased.
John McEvoy, in order to obtain an education, followed a path through the woods in his boy- hood days to a school taught on the subscrip- tion plan in an old log house. Ile often had to work a day to get wood to burn in the old- fashioned fireplace in the schoolroom. He was only three years old when his parents sought a new home in Ohio, and he grew up amid pioneer scenes, the country roundabout his early home being new, with but few settlers, and a life of hardship and sacrifice was the common lot of pioneers. He had nearly attained manhood when he came to St. Mary's with the family. He found here only a small village, seated in the midst of wild environ- ments. He remained an inmate of the parental household until he was twenty-eight years old, giving his father needed help in carrying on his farm. In 1860, he assumed the responsibilities of married life, taking unto himself a wife in the per- son of Miss Alice Ennis, who has been to him a cheerful helpmate and a devoted companion. She was born in Ireland, and after the death of her parents came to this country with a brother.
After his marriage, Mr. MeEvoy continued to engage in farming until 1866, when he removed to St. Mary's and burned lime on the canal a few years, operating two kilns, and manufacturing a large amount of lime. In 1876, he entered the grocery business, and two years later purchased his present establishment just across from his first location on Spring Street. Ile carries a large and varied stock of the artieles enumerated in the first part of this notice, having everything of the best, and he
The subject of this biography was born in Sus- sex County, N. I .. April 22, 1832. His father, who bore the name of Peter McEvoy, was a native of County Louth. Ireland. He was a weaver by trade. lle was first married, in England, but his wife died young, leaving a son. lle then came to America and married Mary Willits, a na- tive of Sussex County, N. J., becoming his wife. He lived in that State several years and carried on . commands an extensive trade, not only among
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the city people. but he is well patronized by the country folks for miles around. He is an excellent business man. tends closely to all the details in his operations. and is alive to all that will promote his financial interests. He is whole- sonled and kind-hearted as a man, and is gener- ous and public-spirited as a citizen, who has always sought to benefit the city of his adoption in every possible way. He has been of inestimable service as an office-holder. serving as Justice of the Peace, as a member of the Council. etc. Politically, he is a Democrat. with sound views on party questions. Both he and his wife have been very active in the upbuilding of the Catholic Church of St. Mary's, of which they are devoted members, and he has been Secretary and Treasurer of the society for several years.
b UGH T. RINEHART. To this gentleman and his associates, Auglaize County is largely indebted for the rapid advance it has made in agriculture during the past half-century. He is one of the foremost farmers of I'nion Township and occupies an important place in business eireles. The homestead, which is pleasantly located on section 14. formerly in- cluded eight hundred and forty aeres, but since Mr. Rinehart has given each of his children a farm. he has only retained a quarter-section for his own use.
The parents of our subject. George and Hannah (Sibert) Rinehart, were natives respectively of Taze- well and Botetourt Counties. Va., and both died years ago. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812. occupying the position of Captain of his com- pany. Grandfather Rinehart was killed by Indians during the Revolutionary War. Our subjeet, who is the only survivor of the parental family of ten children. was born October 23. 1813, in Tazewell County, Va .. and was there reared on a farm. His mother dying when he was four years of age. his father was married a second time and he was
brought up by his stepmother until attaining his seventeenth year, when he left home and appren- ticed himself to learn the blacksmith's trade.
The lady to whom our subject was married in 1833 was Juliana Godfrey, who was also born in Tazewell County, Va., November 1, 1813. Three years after their marriage, the young couple emi- grated to Ohio and located on what is now the present home of our subject. but which was then in a perfectly wild state. Mr. Rinehart erected a log cabin on his new farm, which comprised eighty aeres, and by hard work and good management. cleared and improved the same. He has been a resident of this place for fifty-five years and all his children were born on the homestead with the exception of two. Mrs. Rinehart departed this life June 13, 1881. She was the mother of eleven children, four of whom are living, viz: Arnold P., John A., Sarah C. (Mrs. Graham), and Adam F.
The original of this sketch has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since sixteen years of age, during which time he has been Circuit Steward for thirty years, Recording Steward for twenty years and Class-leader for twelve years. lle has also been a member of the Grange for fit- teen years, and during that time served as Master for five years and Master of the Subordinate Grange for three years. He received a fair educa- tion in his younger days and taught school for some time. Ilis interest in educational affairs has caused him to be placed on the School Board, and in the capacity of Director he has made many re- forms in the school system in his district. He has always voted the Democratic ticket. casting his first ballot in 1836, for President Van Buren.
As the following will indicate, Mr. Rinehart has been very prominent and popular in local affairs, serving his fellow-townsmen as Justice of the Peace for twelve years. and was the first County Commissioner in Auglaize County. He was also Chairman of the first County Board. and at the present time is the only survivor of that body. Mr. Rinehart has been a candidate at two different times for the State Legislature. but on both occa- sions was defeated by a small majority. During the years 1859 and 1860, he was a member of the State Board of Equalization and has been a Trus-
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tee, Clerk and Assessor of Union Township for many years. lle acted as Land Appraiser while this section was still a portion of Allen County, and appraised the four eastern townships in Au- glaize County.
John Rinehart, a son of our subjeet, was a soldier in the Civil War, joining Company D, Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry. Our subjeet has also held many military offiees, and while residing in Virginia, was Lieutenant in the State Militia, and in this State has served as Captain of a company, and was later made Lieutenant and Colonel of the State militia. Among his lodge comrades and his business acquaintances, he is highly esteemed as a man of sterling worth, and knowing that he well deserves representation in this volume, it is with pleasure that we present this sketch to our readers. For sixteen years he acted as Postmaster in this township, the postolfice being in his own house.
(EN)
EWIS KRAMER. Were it necessary for us to include in the sketch of Mr. Kramer any items pertaining to his skill and ability as a builder, perhaps the greatest compliment that could be paid him would be for us to point out those monuments of his handiwork which now graee so many homesteads in Logan County.
Mr. Kramer was born near Bellefonte, Centre County, Pa., on the 21th of July, 1818, and his father, Joseph Kramer, was also a native of that State, born in Lancaster County. The latter was a blacksmith by trade, following that trade all his life. Ile came to Ohio at an early date, loca- ted in Madison County near Plain City, and there followed his trade. Ile became the owner of two good farms, but after retiring from business loca- ted in West Jefferson, that county, where his death occurred when eighty-two years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Brown, was also born in Centre County, Pa., and received ber final summons in Plain City, when fifty-five years of age. Thirteen children were born to
them, seven sons and six daughters, ten of whom reached mature years, but only one, it is thought, besides our subjeet, is now living.
The eldest son and third child in the family, the original of this notice, was reared to manhood in his native State, and received a fair education in Centre Valley. When eighteen years of age, he began learning the carpenter's trade with Jacob Gist, at Spring Mills, Centre County, Pa., remained with him four years, and then commeneed to con- traet in Venango County, where he remained for thirteen years. Ile was married in November, 1839, to Miss Julia Ann Bradley, a native of Cen- tre County, Pa., and in 1851 he and his wife lo- eated in Huntsville, Logan County, Ohio, where he followed the carpenter's trade for three years. From there, they went to Bellefontaine, where Mr. Cramer was engaged in the foundry business for four years. He then sold out and came to Rush- sylvania in 1860, and engaged in contracting and building, which he carried on very successfully un- til 1878, when he built the Kramer Sawmill, the first in the place, and operated this for fifteen years. He was very successful as a carpenter and builder and was a very skillful and popular work- man. To his first marriage were born twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, who were as follows: Mary (deceased), Robert (de- ceased), Joseph (deceased), Amanda (deceased); John, a resident of Rush Creek Township, this eounty; James, of Bellefontaine; Samuel, of Find- lay; Imilda, wife of L. Shaul, of Findlay; Martha, wife of James Goodlove; Lewis, of Findlay, an architect and builder; Barbara, wife of William Sherman, of Bellefontaine, and Charley (de- ceased). The mother of these children passed away on the 29th of November, 1891. She was a Methodist Episcopal in her religious views.
Mr. Kramer's second marriage was to Mrs. Mary E. (Pullins) Parker, widow of John Parker, and a native of Illinois, born June 16, 1844. She was brought to Champaign County, Ill., by her parents when two years of age and there she grew to mature years. The following children were born to her marriage, viz .: Catherine (deceased); Charles, of Bellefontaine; Elmer, of Logan County; Mary, wife of I. Wiekersham. of Logan County; Ella,
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wife of Justin Elliott. of Logan County; Elvin. of Bellefontaine; Addie. single, who resides with her sister Mary; Perry (deceased) and ITarrie. at home.
Mr. Kramer has retired from the active duties of life and has a comfortable home in this county. Ile owns two dwellings in Rushsylvania and still owns the sawmill operated by him in former years. In polities. he votes the Prohibition ticket and has ever been a strong temperance man. He was originally a Whig in polities, afterward a Republi- can, and in late years has voted the Prohibition ticket. He has held the office of School Director and Trustee and has been a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church since seventeen years of age. He is one of the Trustees of the same and a man highly esteemed in the community.
ILLIAM COUNTS. The farming interests of Dinsmore Township are well repre- sented by this gentleman, who is classed among the most progressive and wide-awake native of this State. having been born in Sidney. October 13. 1849, and is a son of the Ilon. Jona- than Counts, who was born October 19, 1811. in Rockingham County, Va.
The great-grandfather of our subject was one of three brothers who emigrated to America from Holland in the Colonial days. one of them locat- ing in Maryland. one in Pennsylvania. while the great-grandfather settled in Virginia. The pa- tronymic was then spelled Koontz, but has since been changed. The ancestor of our subject just mentioned lived to the advanced age of one hun- dred and four years. and was a large land-owner, the tobacco on his plantation being cultivated by negro slaves. Three of his sons lived to be over ninety years of age; one of them was killed by the Indians in Virginia in 1766. and the powder horn which was found on his person is now in the possession of our subject.
Adam Counts. the grandfather of our subject,
came to this State in 1816, and. locating in Madi- son County, made his home there for three years, when he came to Shelby County. and settled in Salem Township. being one of the first men to take up Government land in this section. The patent for his land was signed by President John Quincy Adams, and is still among the treasures of the fam- ily. The country was then inhabited by Indians, who many times camped on a portion of his farni. Mr. Counts hauled the first load of goods from Cincinnati to Sidney, to which former place he conveyed his grain with a six-horse team, receiv- ing thirty-three cents a bushel for wheat. Ile cleared and improved his farm, upon which he re- ยท sided until his decease, which occurred in 1850.
The grandfather of our subject was three times married, there being born of the first union four children, of the second six, and of the third four. Jonathan Counts. the father of our subject. was the third child in order of birth of the first marriage of his father, and was never permitted to attend school more than two years during his life, thus being self-made in all that the term implies. The maiden name of his mother was Elizabeth Whitmyer; she was a French lady, and was finely educated. Ile was very studious in
young agriculturists of Shelby County. Ile is a . his habits, a close observer, and when reaching his majority learned civil engineering and surveying. Ile entered land for other parties, surveyed it, and sent plats of the property along with the patent.
The lady to whom Mr. Counts was married early in the '30s was Mrs. Annie C. (Traving) Worst, a native of Germany, who came to this country with her parents when fourteen years of age. After his marriage. he located in the city of Sidney, and while residing there was elected County Surveyor. and served in that position for twelve years. He was also Deputy County Clerk under Charles Wells, and was later elected County Clerk, serving a period of three terms, in the meantime acting as Probate Judge of the county. He was a man of pure character and lofty prin- ciple, who was ever an influence for good in his community.
April 4. 1862. the elder Mr. Counts, with his family. removed to the old homestead in Salem Township, where the father died September 2.
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1885. Ile was a Colonel of a company of militia, and in 1873 was elected to represent Shelby County in the State Legislature, serving for a term of two years, during which time he was placed on many important committees. Not- withstanding the disadvantages under which he labored in obtaining an education, the wide fund of information which he possesses is due to his own efforts. He displayed rare business qualifica- tions in private affairs, and, as a great reader, so assimilated that which he read and observed, that he proved a most entertaining companion and fine conversationalist. At his death, he left a fine library, which contained a varied collection of choice books.
.Jonathan Counts was twice selected as Land Appraiser .. and surveyed the principal towns of this county and most of the pikes in Shelby Coun- ty, his first work in this line being on the canal. Ile also surveyed the Dayton & Michigan and the Big Four Railroads. He was also a successful busi- ness man, and at his decease left a comfortable for- tune. he being the owner of several hundred acres of land, and also property in Sidney. He affiliated with the Democratic party, in whose ranks he was an active and influential worker, having been delegate to the Democratic conven- tion which met at Cincinnati in 1860. Ilis wife, who is still living, has attained her seventy-second year. and is a devoted member of the Lutheran Church.
William Counts of this sketeli is the fourth child in the parental family of twelve children. six of whom are living. Ile attended the schools in Sidney from the age of five to twelve years, and supplemented the knowledge gained therein by a course in a select school at Port .Jefferson. He remained at home until about twenty-five years of age, working on the public pikes for two years.
March 11, 1877, he moved to his farm on sec- tion 24, Dinsmore Township, which has since been his place of residence, and on March 1, of the same year. was married to Miss Anna Mowry, who was born in Sidney, and was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Davis) Mowry, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1820, and the latter in
Ohio in 1830. The father of Mrs. Counts accom- panied his parents to this State when thirteen years of age, they locating in McLean County. On attaining his eighteenth year, he learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, which he followed sev- eral years after coming to Sidney. Mr. Mowry later located on a farm two miles north of that village, where he lived until his decease, Septem- ber 6, 1874. Ile made a specialty of breeding fine horses, and in this way did a great deal for the people of this section by introducing into the county a fine grade of those animals. He was actively interested in every measure which would upbuild his community, and was prominent and influential in local affairs. The mother, who was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, reared a family of twelve children, and departed this life in 1882.
To Mr. and Mrs. Counts have been born one son, Edward Milton, who was born January 13, 1880. Our subject is engaged in mixed farm- ing, cultivating one hundred and six aeres of land on section 4, and, besides raising the cereals, breeds a fine grade of stock. He is a Democrat in polities, and conduets his affairs in a business-like manner, so that he enjoys the confidence of all with whom he deals, and is well thought of in his community. Mrs. Counts is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ILLIAM ESTEY. Of the men who are successfully prosecuting agricultural work in Shelby County, it may well be said that their name is legion. One who is pleasantly lo- eated in Salem Township is he whose name intro- duces this sketch and who operates seven hundred and sixty acres of good land. raising all kinds of stock besides the crops which are best suited to this section of country.
David Estey, the father of onr subject, was born July 31, 1792, in New Brunswick, where he fol- lowed the calling of a farmer. His wife bore the
WILLIAM KRAPF.
PLANING MILL OF WILLIAM KRAPF, PARK STREET, WAPAKONETA, AUGLAIZE CO., O. .
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM ESTEY , SEC. 8., SALEM TP., SHELBY CO., O
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name of Ann Knoop and was born March 19, 1792, in Pennsylvania; she was a daughter of Michael Knoop, also a native of the Keystone State. The parents were married in New Brunswick in July, 1813, and, on coming to Ohio in 1822, located on a wild farm in Lost Creek Township, Miami County. where they passed the remainder of their life, the mother dying in 1865 and the father in 1866. The elder Mr. Estey was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, while his good wife cast in her lot with the Methodists. The father was a very wealthy man, and in addition to carrying on a large farm operated a sawmill which brought him in a handsome income. Ile was a man of keen business capacity and contributed liberally of his means to the prosperity of his adopted township. In early life, he was a Whig, but joined the Repub- lican party on its organization, the interests of which he advanced in various ways.
He of whom we write was one in the parental family of eleven children, two of whom are de- ceased. He was born April 6, 1828, in Miami County, this State, and, like other farmer lads, at- tended school held in a log house with its primi- tive furnishings. He remained under the parental roof until reaching his majority, when he received of his father $200. Hle later sold out to his brother- in-law, II. G. De Weese, of Miami County, and going to Indiana, remained there for a short time and then returned home in time to secure his wheat erop.
In September, 1850, William Estey and Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Jesse and Catherine (De- Weese) Kerr were united in marriage. Her par- ents were residents of Miami County, where her birth occurred. The year of his marriage, Mr. Es- tey removed to lowa and located on a farm in Muscatine County, where his wife died, June 3. 1854. having become the mother of two children. one of whom is living. Sarah C., Mrs. J. M. French. This daughter had previously been married to Syl- vester Wells, by which union were born tive chil- dren.
After the death of his wife, our subject returned to Miami County, where, in February, 1855, he was married to Mrs. Catherine Robbins, neo Byers. His third marriage occurred in 1863, at which time
Miss Sarah Dixon, who was born in the above- named county August 1, 1826, became his wife. They became the parents of two children, both of - whom are deceased, as is also the wife and mother who died March 12, 1877. The present wife of Mr. Estey, to whom he was married April 7, 1878, bore the maiden name of Nancy N. Baker. She is a sister of William M. Baker. of Van Buren Township, this county, and the daughter of Moses E. and Lucretia (Jeffras) Baker, the former of whom was born in 1801, and the latter in 1806, in Butler County, this State. Mr. and Mrs. Baker after their marriage moved to C'ineinnati, and in 1835 eame to Shelby County, and entered a quarter-section of land on the llardin and Wapakoneta road, where they were residing at the time of their death, which occurred in 1847 and 1885, respectively. Of their family of six children, five are living. Clarke .J., their son, who served in the Benton Cadets during the late war, died in the hospital at St. Louis, Mo. MIrs. Baker was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, and her father, who was a very prominent man in the township. served as Justice of the Peace while residing in Van Buren Township, and in politics was a Democrat. Mrs. Estey was born November 20, 1836, in the above-named township, and at- ten ded the first school organized in her district. She was first married to Franklin Dill, and they had two sons. James N. and Franklin. both of whom reside in Shelby County. Mr. and Mrs. Estey are the parents of one son, Clyde, who was born September 7. 1880.
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