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 37
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 37
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 37
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Mr. Rubart selected a wife in the person of Miss Ida Stephens, a native of Hardin County, Ohio, and their nuptials were celebrated in May of 1886. Two children are the fruits of this union. Charles and Pearl. Mr. Rubart is a member of the Disciples Church and a liberal contributor to all worthy enterprises. Ile is an ardent Repub- liean in politics. Ilis paper is one of the brightest . and best papers published in the county and he is one of the prominent citizens.
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E NOCH ANDERSON, one of the old settlers and prominent citizens of Shelby County, removed to Port Jefferson, this county, on the 1st of April, 1857, and to Sidney on the 9th of February, 1850. Ile is well known throughout the county. is prominent in all good work, and is everywhere respected for his sterling worth and upright. honorable career. He began his earthly career in Juniata County, Pa .. March 12, 1825, and is the son of James and Ruth (McCann ) Anderson, both of Irish descent.
Onr subject's paternal grandfather, John Ander- son. was born in County Antrim. Ireland. in 1754, and was married there to Miss Elizabeth Brown, also a native of the green isle of Erin. After the birth of two of their children, William and Mary. they braved the ocean to America and settled in Pennsylvania. One year after their settlement in the United States. they removed to Juniata County, Pa .. and their son James, the father of our subject, was born in 1794. There the latter grew to man- hood and there he followed farming until 1856, when he removed to Ohio, settling in Darke County. He was married. in his native county. to Mi- McCann. abo a native of that county. and brought her with him to the then Far West. They purchased a farm in Monroe Township. Darke County, and there the father died on the 26th of March. 1868. leaving a family of eleven chil- dren. seven of whom are living: Samuel. now of Oregon: Enoch, our subject: Mary, wife of J. H.
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Roush. of Macon, Ga .: Ann A .. wife of Ephraim Spitler, of Montgomery County, Ohio; William E .. of Huntington. Ind .; L. M., of Greenville, Ohio. who has been a Member of Congress, and Martha S .. now on the old home place.
Our subject received his education principally in the old log schoolhouse of early days, and at an early age he became thoroughly familiar with the duties of the farm. Ile remained under the paren- tal roof until twenty-one years of age and then worked in a cooper shop for a few years. After this, he was engaged in contracting and bridge- building for about twenty years and built many bridges through the country. principally railroad. In 1881, he built the Wheel Works in Sidney, the main building being 110x60 feet and three stories in height, of brick, and the second build- ing 100x40 feet, is also of brick. The engine and boiler room, 38x50 feet. one story in height, is filled with the latest machinery for the man- ufacture of wheels. With his son, he stocked and operated the factory and gave employment to one hundred and seventy-five men. In 1890, he sold this to the American Wheel Company, which continued to operate it until May 6, 1891, when it was burned down. Since July 5. 1890. our subject has been engaged in the manufacture of the D Shovel Handles at Union City, for, being of an industrious and energetic temperament. he could not long remain idle. All Mr. Anderson's property has been the result of perseverance and indomitable energy on his part. He erected a fine large house in 1869. and has a most pleasant and attractive home. Socially, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Anderson selected his wife in the person of Miss Eliza Sharrits. a native of Montgomery County. Ohio. horn January 7, 1827. and a daugh- ter of Christopher and Susannah Sharrits, Six chil- dren have been born to our subject and wife and are as follows: James M .. Manager of the American Wheel Works here; lohn W .. a resident of Dayton, Ohio, who is Superintendent of Bridges. for the Dayton. Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad; Charles, who died when thirty-three years of age at Galion. Ohio, where he wa- operating a wheel fac-
tory; Eliza Jane, who became the wife William Tay- lor, of Connersville. Ind .: Martha, who is at home; George, who died when five or six years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Anderson has held a num- ber of local positions in the township, such as Cor- oner and Treasurer, and is highly regarded in the community for his integrity and upright character.
The maternal grandfather of our subject, Patrick McCann, was also from the Emerald Isle, and was married to Miss Jane Green. of Chester County, Pa., who was a sister of Gen. Green. of Revolutionary fame. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. McCann removed to Licking Creek Val- ley and there their descendants reside at the pres- ent time. All the MeCanus were Methodists in their religious views. Our subject's father-in- law, Christopher Sharrits, was born in Virginia, and his wife. Susannah Boze, was born in the vicinity of Baltimore, Md., and came to Ohio in 1810 with her parents, settling with them near Germantown, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Sharrits lived very happily together for nearly sixty-seven years.
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D R. W. II. OUTLAND. The value to any community of a professional man is not marked merely by his learning and skill, his proficiency in medical and surgical practice, but also by his character, both private and professional. his honorable adherence to medical ethics and his personal integrity and benevolence of purpose, When a physician combines these characteristics, it is with pleasure that we record hi- life work, and such a man do we find in Dr. Outland.
This physician of Jefferson Township. Logan County, Ohio, was born in Perry Township. that county. on the 20th of January. 1842. and his parents. Thomas and Eliza ( Freer) Ontland, were also natives of the Buckeye State. the former of Logan and the latter of Warren County. The Doctor's paternal grandfather, Josiah Outland,
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was born in North Carolina and was there reared and married. At an early period, he came to Ohio and settled in Zane Township. this county, where he entered a large tract of land from the Govern- ment. Ile made many improvements on this land and here reared his large family, sixteen children, to mature years. Only four now survive.
The father of our subject, Thomas Outland. was the eighth child and sixth son. He passed his boy- hood and youth in Zane Township and was married there to Miss Freer. who came to Logan County with her parents when a little girl. After mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Outland settled in Perry Town- ship and there tilled the soil until 1857, when they moved to I'nion County, Ohio. From there they moved to llardin County, settled six miles east of Kenton, and there the father's death oc- curred January 8, 1876. The mother received her final summons on the 22d of February of the following year. They were honest. upright citi- zens and were universally respected. Eight chil- dren were the fruit of this union. sis sons and two daughters, as follows: Alonzo. Dr. W. H., Sal- athial L., Erasmus W .; Mary Jane, wife of E. E. Smith, of Ilardin County, Ohio; Dr. Philander P., George A. and Laura F., wife of George McClaren, of Hardin County, Ohio.
The original of this notice, the second child and second son born to the above-mentioned couple. received his primary education in the district schools of Perry Township and subsequently en- tered the Normal School at West Middleburgh. Logan County. In the spring of 1861. he commenced teaching in the district school of Zane Township. this county, and during the winter of that year and the next. he taught in Union County, Ohio. During the year 1863. he taught in Hardin County and during the fall of the same year attended the Union School of West Liberty. He began another term of school in Har- din County, when he was taken down with the smallpox; after recovering he taught the remainder of this winter term in the spring of the same year. Not one of his scholars took the disease. During the winter> of 1864 and 1865. he taught in Har- din County, eight miles east of Kenton, and in 1866 he taught in District No. 1. Dudley Town-
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ship. In 1867, he taught five miles east of Kenton and the same year he commenced attending the Union School of La Rue, Marion County, Ohio, re- mained in that institution three months and in the fall of the same year and in the following year he went back and taught in District No. 1. Dud- ley Township. Hardin County. In the spring of 1868, he taught again and continued teaching un- til 1872. sixteen terms in all, and was a very suc- cessful and competent educator. In 1870, while teaching school. he commenced studying medicine and continued this in connection with teaching until 1872, when he went to Cincinnati and grad- uated with the Class of February 4, 1873. His first case was in Hardin County, a smallpox case in April, 1873.
The Doctor subsequently located at Mt. Victory. Hardin County. Ohio, in partnership with Dr. C. W. Morrow, and they continued together until November of the same year, after which Dr. Out- land taught a district school in Hardin County, nine miles east of Kenton, and was engaged in teaching for three months. On the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1874, he went to Cincinnati. to the same college he attended before, and at the end of six weeks located in Zanesfield, where he has been in active practice, with the exception of three winters when he attended the Hahnemann College, Chicago, graduating with the Class of '82. He is also a graduate of the Pulte College of C'in- cinnati and has graduated from three different medical colleges. He also attended six terms of medical lectures while at college.
On the 11th of October. 1875. he led to the altar Miss Malinda F. Thompson, a native of Zanesville, born December 16. 1848. and the sec- ond daughter of Amos and Ruth ( Rea) Thomp- son. One child has been born to this union, Ed- win Freeman. born on the 6th of August, 1876, who is at home. Dr. Outland is a member of the Homeo- pathie Medical Society of Ohio, and is a very sue- cessful physician and surgeon. He is pleasant and generous, liberal in all his ideas, a protector of the rights of, a strong promoter of the welfare of. and in deep sympathy with. humanity. He was made & Mason at Kenton, Ohio, in 1869, and is now a member of Latham Lodge No. 154, and also a
G. Schmidt
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
member of Bellefontaine Lodge No. 209. A Republican in polities. he has held the office of Township and Village Clerk of Jefferson Township for seven years, discharging the duties of that office in a very satisfactory manner. The Doetor owns a fine farm of eighty acres in Paulding County, Ohio, one mile from the Court House. and owns three good dwelling houses in Belle- fontaine, two good houses in Zanesfield and other property, all the result of his own efforts. Mrs. Outland died April 19, 1892. and was laid to rest in the Zanesfield Cemetery. In her death the com- munity lost a valued member and the family a a devoted wife and loving mother.
C IRISTIAN SCHMIDT. Among the promi- nent. enterprising and successful citizens of Auglaize County. may be mentioned the worthy gentleman whose name heads this sketch. and whose portrait appears on the opposite page. Ilis long life of industry and usefulness, and his record for integrity and true-hearted faithfulness in all the relations of life. have given him an in- fluence in the community which all might well de- sire to share. After a long and successful business career, he has retired from the active duties of life and is now at his home in New Bremen en- joying the accumulations of former years.
Born in Hanover, Germany. on the Ist of Jann- ary, 1816. Mr. Schmidt is the youngest of six chil- dren born to his parents and the only one now living. Hle was but six weeks old when both hi- parents died of that dread disease. cholera, and he was left to the tender mercies of strangers. He was taken by a farmer, with whom he remained until nineteen years of age, and from the age of seven until fourteen he was kept almost con- stantly in school. After that, he assisted his kind benefactor on the farm until August. 1834. when.at- tracted by reports of advantages to be derived from a residence in the U'nited States, he took passage for this country. After a tempertions voyage of
nine weeks, he landed in New York. where he re- mained but a short time, and then went to Albany. thenee to Buffalo, and from there by the Lakes to Cleveland and by canal to Portsmouth, Ohio. From there he went by way of the Ohio River to Cincinnati and then up the canal to Dayton. where he began searching for employment. lle and his brother found work about thirteen miles east of Dayton, and were engaged in clearing land. and chopping cord wood at twenty-five cents a cord, meanwhile boarding themselves. After this. our subject worked for a farmer one month at $10 a month and then hired to another farmer for $11 per month for the season.
The following winter. Mr. Schmidt entered a dis- tillery, where he remained four years and during the last two years was foreman. receiving an in- crease in wages. In the year 1841. he led to the altar Miss Mary Wiemeyer, who came from Ger- many with her parents when quite young. They came over in the same vessel with our subject but after reaching this country settled on a farm in Mercer County. After his marriage. Mr. Schmidt entered into partnership with his brother, who had built a distillery near New Bremen, and this they carried on for three years. Our subject then be- gan distilling whiskey, which occupation he fol- lowed for about four years and then. in about 1849, started a small grocery in New Bremen. In 1856. he added dry-goods to his stock and contin- ned the general merchandising until 1881. In 1856, he also embarked in the grain and pork bus- iness, built a warehouse on the canal and bought and shipped grain and packed pork until 1881. when he retired from active work. He turned his business over to his sons. Henry G. and Wilham (" .. who have since carried on the enterprise under the firm name of Schmidt Bros. Henry G. became a partner with his father in 1874. under the firm name of Schmidt & Son. and seems to be a "chip of the old block." for he ha- inherited his father's wonderful business acumen. Both con- have won enviable reputations and are men of ability. enterprise and integrity.
The original of this notice first affiliated with the Democratic party. but of late years has become an ardent Republican and advocates the principles
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of that party. He served as Mayor of New Bre- men one term, has been Treasurer of the township for several years, was Clerk of the village for some time, Township Assessor for one year, and is a member of the Council. and the School Board. Hle and his estimable wife have shared the joys and sorrows of fifty-two years of married life, but time has dealt leniently with them and they are com- paratively strong and vigorous. Both are mem- bers of the German Reformed Church and for twenty-five years he has been Treasurer, also serving as Elder for thirty-five years, and main- taining an active interest in the Sunday-school. His place in the church is never vacant except when he is sick, and he has ever been a liberal con- tributor to religious eauses. Ile and his wife be- came the parents of nine children, of whom the following survive: Henry G., Anna, William C. and Amelia. Lizzie, Caroline, Mary, Sophia and an infant are deceased.
Henry G. Schmidt was married, in 1874, to Miss Rosina. daughter of IIon. Charles Boesel, and seven children have blessed their union: Lydia, Otto, Dora, Bertha, Rosemond, Christian (deceased) and Maria. William C. Schmidt married Miss Emma, daughter of lIon. Charles Boesel and a sister of Mrs. Henry G. Schmidt. Four children are the fruits of this union: Olga (deceased), Karl, Pauline and lIngo. Anna Schmidt became the wife of Rev. William Diekmann, a German Re- formed minister, and they now reside at Belvidere, Tenn.
The subject of this sketch has a farm of one hundred and six aeres in Franklin Township, Mercer County. Ohio. It was only by the strict- est economy and industry that he saved the $180 with which he first started in business. When he landed in America, he owned 856, which he had borrowed to pay his passage over. and although the prospeet was at first rather depressing, he never grew despondent, but by his industry and persever- ance soon began to accumulate money, with which he paid off his indebtedness and started in busi- ness.
The firm of Schmidt Bros. retired from general merchandising in 1891, but continues the grain and pork business. They own an elevator, and buy grain
at Chickasaw, Mereer County. They are also the sole proprietors of the New Bremen Machine Com- pany and have a large foundry and machine shop. Besides doing a general line of repairing. they manufacture the Titus Steam Press Tile and Brick Machine, one of the best now before the public. Each of the brothers owns stock in the New Bremen Natural Gas Company and the New Bremen Tri- Company Fair Association, and has a fifth share in Boesel Brothers' Bank.
ILLIAM HENRY HARRISON PLUM. The Plum family is one of the most prom_ inent ones in Logan County, Ohio, and its members are people of wealth and intelligence. In tracing the genealogy of this family, we find that the ancestors came originally from Holland, and that they were prominent and early settlers of that grand old State, Virginia. The grandfather of our subject, John Plum, was born in West Virginia in the year 1770, and in 1795 was married to Miss Betsey Carbill. He was a farmer and trader by occupation, and took the contract to furnish the Government with flour and wheat for the soldiers during the War of 1812. Having a large supply on hand at one time, it became damaged and this, together with the rapid decrease in prices at the close of the war, caused him great financial disaster. lIe died in the year 1819, leaving a widow and ten children in destitute circumstances. The eldest son of the family, Isaae Plum, emigrated to Ohio in 1820, settled in the wilds of Clarke County, and there labored several years to earn sufficient means to enable him to send for the other members of the family. Grandmother Plum never re-married, but lived to rear the family to maturity. She died in this State. and is buried in Plum Cemetery. on the banks of the Miami River, in Washington Town- ship, Logan County.
Jonathan Plum, father of our subject, was born in Virginia on the 8th of February. 1807, and when about thirteen years of age. came with the re-
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mainder of the family to the Buckeye State. Ile and his brothers worked out until they had aeeumu- lated sufficient means to enable them to buy a team and they then rented land. Jonathan was married there, and in 1837 came to Logan County, Ohio, buying land in Washington Township, on which he settled and immediately commenced improving it- This place was practically a wilderness at that time, wild animals abounded. and Indians were plentiful. He purchased land on the northwest quarter of section 23. settled in the woods, and commenced elearing his farm of one hundred and seventy-seven aeres, which a number of years later would hardly have been recognized as the same place on which he first settled. so many improve- ments had been made. lle was a hard-working man, and although his education was limited, he was possessed of much natural ability, and was very successful in whatever he undertook. At the time of his death. he owned about four- teen hundred aeres of land, and, as he started without a dollar, this was all the result of his own industry and perseverance. Ile was a Methodist Protestant in his religions belief and was one of the founders of that church in the county. He was a very liberal contributor to the church and all benevolent enterprises. and in the days before churches were built, preaching was held in his house. lIe always took an interest in religion, and his house was the home of the preachers. In his early days, he was a Whig in his polities. and a strong Abolitionist. and Republican, after the formation of that party. He was prominent in all affairs of moment. held most of the township ofli- ees. and was highly esteemed by all who were fa- vored with his aequaintanee. On the 11th of June, 1878, he was called from the scenes of life. and thus passed away one of the honest. upright citi- zens of Logan County.
Miss Sarah A. Mckinnon. a daughter of Judge William MeKinnon. and a native of Clarke County. Ohio, became his wife. The maternal grandmother of our subjeet was a first cousin of Gen. William Henry Harrison, for whom he was named, and they reared eight of the ten children given to them. viz: Naney J. ( Mr-, MeBride): Elizabeth. deceased; John A. was Lieutenant of Company K. Fifty-ex-
enth Ohio Infantry, and was killed at Resaea, Ga .; Kittie, deceased; William H .; Eliza A. ( MIrs. Brown- lie): Isaac N .; W. Scott; Milton and Lewis S. The mother of these children passed away on the 23d of November, 1873. She was one of the first church members here. and was an active worker in the same. Her father, Judge William McKin- non. was of Irish extraction, but was American born. He was Circuit Judge in Clarke County. Ohio, for some time, and also followed the occupa- tion of a farmer. About 1835, he came to Logan County, and here he died when eighty-five years of age.
William Il. Plum is a native-born resident of this eonnty, his birth occurring on the 18th of February. 1815, and he received his education in the log schoolhouses of this county. He well re- members the slab seats with pin legs and the other rude devices of early days, and when not assisting his father on the farm, was sitting on these slab seats. very different from the easy patent seats of to-day. Ile worked in unison with his father until nineteen years of age, and being then filled with a patriotic desire to aid his country's cause, he en- listed on the 2d of May, 1864. in Company G. One Hundred and Thirty-second Ohio Infantry. and was mustered in at Camp Chase, Columbus. He was sent to Washington. D. C .. from there to White House Landing. Va., and thence to Peters- burgh. where he was on pieket duty, and throwing up breastworks. He remained here and near Rich- mond. Va .. most of the time during service and was discharged at Camp Chase on the 10th of September. 1864.
Returning home, young Plum was married on the 19th of October, 1869. to Miss Louisa Renick. a native of this township, and the daughter of John H. and Elizabeth ( Rea) Reniek. natives of Clarke County, Ohio, born in 1804 and 1806, re- spectively. ( For further particulars of parents see sketch of J. R. Renick). Four children have blessed the union of our subject and wife: Carrie R .. Fannie G .. Jonathan R. and Willa Grace. all at home. Mr. Plum has three hundred and sixty- seven acres of improved land. carries on mixed farming and make- something of a specialty of raising sheep. He was formerly quite extensively
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engaged in buying and selling stoek of all kinds and shipped considerable to New York, Buffalo. Pittsburgh and Alleghany. He superintends the entire farm, and built the present residence, a fine large frame. in 1881. He erected a large frame barn in 1872. and has many other substantial and neat outbuildings. He has fine improvements on his place. and everything indicates him to be a man of progress and enterprise. Ile is well known all over the county. is well liked, and has a host of warm friends. Mr. and Mrs. Plum are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. and are in- terested workers in the same, Mr. Plum being Su- perintendent of the Sunday-school. Ile is a Re- publican in polities, and has held most of the offices in the township.
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n OAH MILLER. Prominent among the suc- cessful men whose history forms the glory of Logan County, Ohio, is Mr. Noah Miller, who is one of the most, if not the most, successful farmer in the county. Although he started with limited means to fight his own way in life, and in addition was a cripple, he now has two as finely improved farms as are to be found in this section. lle is a man possessed of more than the ordinary intelligence. has excellent judgment and good common-sense, and is advanced and progressive in all his ideas.
Mr. Miller is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Harrison Township. this county, on the 28th of September, 1844, to the union of Jacob B. and Catherine (Neer) Miller, the father a native of Clermont County, Ohio, born October 7, 1804, and the mother a native of Virginia, born in 1805. The paternal grandfather. Stephen Miller, was born in Pennsylvania, and was of German descent. lle followed the occupation of a farmer in his na- tive State for many years, and then removed to Kentucky, at a very early date. From there he subsequently removed to Clermont County. Ohio.
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