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 49
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 49
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 49
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Our subject has one hundred and sixty acres of land, all nicely improved, and is actively engaged in farming and stock-raising. Ile is just starting in the horse-breeding business, with evidences of unusual success. lle annually raises a great many hogs. Mr. and Mrs. Rowand hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are active workers in the same. In politics, he is a Repub- liean, but does not aspire to office. He has been School Director for many years, and is one of the county's most prosperous and substantial citizens.
II. BLAKELEY, attorney and solicitor of claims, Wapakoneta, Ohio. Among the many prominent legal lights of Wapakon- eta, Ohio. stands the name of W. Il. Blakeley, who is a highly reputable citizen. Ohio is his na- tive State, and he was born in Shelby County, on the 12th of March. 1835. llis parents, Samuel and Elizabeth ( Luttrell) Blakeley, were natives of Ire- land and Ohio, respectively, the mother born in lhighland County. Her parents were natives of that grand old State. Virginia, and came of prom- inent families there.
The father of our subject was twenty-two years of age when he deenled to cross the ocean to Amer- ica. but previous to that he had learned the weav-
er's trade in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, which city is located on one of the three hundred and sixty-five islands which comprise this county, and is situated in Lough Erne. Ile was born in 1797, and came to the United States in 1819, im- mediately locating in Shelby County, Ohio, at Lockington, where he followed his trade, that of a professional weaver. Ile was the first hand-weaver in this country. and could weave sixteen yards of jeans in a day by hand. Ile was an expert at this, and accumulated considerable means in this way. In April, 1835, he removed to Auglaize County, Ohio, settled about six miles west of Wapakoneta, and there made his home for many years. being elassed among the representative citizens of the county. His family consisted of five sons and three daughters, six of whom are now living.
The original of this notice was but three weeks old when his parents removed to Auglaize County, Ohio, and he received his scholastic training in the public schools. Ile became familiar with the du- ties of the farm at an early age, and when little more than a boy began wielding the ferrule. lle tauglit sixty terms of school in Auglaize and Van Wert Counties, twenty-two terms in one school- building, and twelve terms in the public schools of Wapakoneta. His record as an educator stands second to none in the county.
When the tocsin of war sounded, on the 4th of September, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, One Ilundred and Eightieth Ohio Infantry, and was a commissioned officer during his whole service, holding the rank of First and Second Lieutenant, until the close of the war. lle participated in the battle of Kingston, N. C., on the 8th, 9th and 10th of March, 1865, and was discharged at Charlotte, that State, on the 12th of July, 1865. He was siek in the hospital at that time, and did not reach home until September 3, 1865. He was engaged in teaching school after this until about 1883, when he branched ont in clerical work. In March, 1887. he embarked in his present business, and has been unusually successful a> a claim agent.
Socially, our subject is a member of the Royal Arcanum. Union Veterans' Union, and the Grand Army of the Republic. On the 14th of Novem- ber. 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Lu-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
cinda Laey, a native of Auglaize County, and the following children were the fruits of this union : Sarah C., wife of William Moneysmith; Sam- nel Le Roy; Cora M., wife of L. J. Sullivan; Forest M., U. S. G., Edward, Stella A. (deceased), and Jen- nie Joanna. Mr. and Mrs. Blakeley hold member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are prominent and much-esteemed citizens.
OSEPH COPELAND, whose sketehi now in- vites attention, is one of the prominent farmers of Auglaize County. In the course of his long life he has witnessed many changes and an immense amount of progress in this State, and has also accumulated considerable wealth. Ile is now engaged in farming on section 23, Union Township, where he owns and operates an estate of six hundred and sixty-six acres.
The original of this sketch is a son of Abner and Margaret (Morgan) Copeland, the former of whom was born in 1790, in North Carolina, and the latter in Virginia. Abner Copeland emigrated to Ohio prior to the War of 1812, and, locating in Greene County, was there married, and ranked among the early settlers in that vicinity. In 1836, he came to this county with his family, and located on section 22, Union Township, when it was in its primitive condition, there being no roads near his home. Ile located upon one hundred and twenty acres. and there erected a little cabin and resided until his decease. which occurred in 1874. His good wife, who followed him to the better land two years later. was the mother of eleven children, eight of whom are now living. The parents were mem- bers of the Baptist Church. and were held in high repute for their many excellent traits of character. In his political relations, the father was in early life a Democrat, but later voted with the Republi- can party. He was the incumbent of several township offices, among them being those of Trustee and Justice of the Peace.
Joseph Copeland, who was the eldest member of
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his father's family, was born February 5, 1818, in Greene County, this State, and was eighteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this township. He was given a fair education in the subscription schools of that period and being trained to farm pursuits, remained un- der the parental roof until reaching his twenty- third year, in the meantime aiding his father in clearing and placing under cultivation the home farm.
The lady whom our subject married October 4, 1840, was Miss Mary Ann, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Fennemore) English, natives of New Jersey, who, on coming to Ohio in 1833, made their home in Franklin County. Several years later, they took up their abode in Anglaize County and located on section 22, where they were resid- ing at the time of their decease. The father was totally blind for many years before his death, but prior to that affliction, he was one of the progressive agriculturists of the community. Mrs. Copeland was born May 22, 1832, in New Jersey, and after her marriage located with our subject on a wild traet of land in Clay Township, this county, upon which they made their home for three years, and then removed to this township, and located on seetion 27, where their son John A. now resides. Mr. Copeland made his home on that property until 1841, when he chose as his fn- ture home section 23. His estate comprises six hundred and sixty-six broad acres, over one hun- dred of which he has cleared himself. His com- fortable residence was erected in 1861, and among the improvements of the place are substantial out- buildings and all the appointments in the way of machinery, which stamp him as a model farmer. A view of this pleasant homestead is presented on another page.
Of the five children born to our subject and his wife four are now living: Margaret E., who mar- ried Daniel Lee, and has a family of three chil- dien, makes her home in Franklin County, this State; John A., who married Cynthia B. Lusk, re- sides in this township, and is the father of eight children; Jane, who became the wife of Jed Allen, lives in Clay Township, and is the mother of four children; Phebe Isadora, Mrs. U. T. Lusk, makes
RES. OF WILLIAM J. HASTING, SEC.7., DUCHOUQUET TP., AUGLAIZE CO., O.
69000
RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH COPELAND, SEC. 23, UNION TP, AUGLAIZE CO., OHIO
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
her home in this township, and has a family of five children. The wife and mother died February 9, 1891, firm in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He of whom we write has served as a member of the local School Board for a number of years, and has occupied the positions of Steward and Trus- tee in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has always been a stanch Republiean politieally, east- ing his first vote for William Henry Harrison. Ile has been called upon by his fellow-townsmen to fill the office of Trustee for several years, and also served as Road Supervisor for many terms. Ilis life work has always been farming, of which calling he has made a snecess. Ile is what may be termed a self-made man, as his present high standing in the agricultural community has been attained through his own untiring efforts and good judg- ment. Ile is a good manager and stands well in the community. both financially and socially.
ILLIAM J. HASTING. Among those who have contributed to make Auglaize County one of the richest and best devel- oped farming regions in the State is Mr. Hasting, who forms the subject of this biographical review. Duchouquet Township counts him as one of its most prosperous farmers, and his estate, which is located on seetions 5 and 7. is comparable in all points with the best in this vicinity. .
The parents of our subjeet, Robert and Isabella (MeClintock) Hasting, were natives of Ireland. whence they came to Amerien as early as 1834. They made their home for three years in New Brunswick. at the end of which time they came to Miami County, this State. and located on a wild farm ten miles east of Piqua. There they eon- tinned to reside until 1830, when the father came to this township and located upon section 6. where he cleared and improved a valuable farm and made his home until his deeease. which occurred'in 1869;
his good wife, who survived him many years, died in 1889. The mother, in later life, joined the Lutheran Church, but previously had been con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal denomination, of which body her husband was also a member.
Ile of whom we write was the eldest in a family of eight children. all of whom are living with one exception. Ile was born May 2, 1834, in the Emerald Isle, and was an infant of three weeks when his parents emigrated to the New World. He made the best of his limited advantages for obtain- ing an education, and fitting himself for a teacher, taught his first school in 1855 in this county. The lady to whom Mr. Hasting was married Decem- ber 29, 1857. was Elizabeth, daughter of George Shappell. She is a native of this State. having been born in Fairfield. November 3. 1833.
After his marriage, Mr. Ilasting located on sec- tion 5. Duchouquet Township, when it was in a perfectly wild state. Hle erected on his estate a small frame house. and continued to reside there until 1873, which was the date of his removal to his present farm. Six years ago. Mr. Hasting erected a comfortable residence which cost 81.500, and a view of which is elsewhere shown. He has further improved his farm by building thereon a large barn and all the necessary structures needed for carrying on a first-elass estate. ITis property includes two hundred and seventy aeres, most of which are under excellent cultivation, and in addi- tion to farming. he receives a royalty on ten oil wells which are located on his farm. The first well on his farm, which was also the first well in the township. was bored in January, 1887.
Ten children have been born to our subject and his wife, eight of whom are living: Alfred, who married Nora Archer, has two children; Edith, Mrs. Amos Nefford, is the mother of one child: the other members of the family bear the respective names of John. Annabel, William. Albert and Al- bin (twins) and Emma F. Mr. Hasting is an active member of the Christian Church, in which denom- ination he is Trustee and Deacon, and has held the office of Secretary of the Board. He has always been greatly interested in the Sunday-school and has served in the capacity of Superintendent for some time. In his political relations, he votes the
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
straight Democratic ticket, and is one of the truest adherents of that party in the township.
Mr. Hasting is truly a self-made man, having received no assistance whatever in starting out for himself, and during the years which he has been a resident of Auglaize County has rendered invalna- ble aid in reclaiming a portion of it from the wil- derness. He cleared one hundred acres of his estate himself and has done a great deal of that kind of work for other parties. Mr. Hasting made quite an extended visit to the West, but returned to his old home fully satisfied that he lives in one of the best States in the Union. Ile is not only one of the most substantial citizens in his township, but is a man who is held in universal respect for his true manliness and upright bearing in all the relations that he sustains toward others.
LBERT WILSON, M. D., the oldest prac- ticing physician in the city of Sidney, having been engaged in his profession here for forty years, is widely and favor- ably known throughout the county, both in his professional character and as a private citizen. A native of this county, he was born in Washington Township September 14, 1826, and is the son of Jesse IT. and Abigail ( Brodrick Wilson.
John Wilson, the grandfather of our subject, lo- cated on the banks of Turtle Creek, Washington Township, in 1807, having come hither from War- ren County, this State. He was, however, reared in Virginia, and came to the above-named county in 1801. Prior to his coming to Ohio, he was mar- ried to Anna Webb, who was a native of Georgia. The grandfather located land in the above-named township, which has since been in possession of the family. There the father of our subject grew to maturity, and continued to reside on the farm until his decease. which occurred in 1881. Ile was a Colonel in the State militia, and took a promi- nent part in local affairs in his community.
lIe of whom we write was the fourth in order
of birth of the parental family of twelve children, his brother and sisters being Alfred D., John B., Anna, Robert, Hiram, Mark, Henry C., Mahala (now deceased), Theodore G., Cassius C. and Louisa, who died when four years of age. The mother of our subject was born in New Jersey in 1801, and was four years of age when she accompanied her parents on their removal to Butler County, this State. Her father later moved to Wapakoneta, where he served as Government blacksmith to the Indians. The parents subsequently came to Ilar- din, this county, where they made their home until 1833, when Mr. Brodriek went to Elkhart, Ind., and there spent his last days on a farm.
The original of this sketch received his early education in the public schools and after complet- ing his studies taught school for a number of terms. Ilaving decided to follow the practice of medicine, he began reading under Dr. II. S. Conk- lin, one of the pioneer physicians of this section, and continued with him for three years, when he took a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical Col- lege at Cincinnati, from which institution he was graduated in 1851. After completing the exam- ination, he was appointed one of the Internes of the Commercial Hospital of Cincinnati, Ohio, which position he filled for a twelvemonth, and then took up his abode in Sidney, where he has since been engaged in active practice, with the exception of four years, when he served as Surgeon in the army.
Dr. Wilson was the first man to join the army from this city, being appointed Assistant Surgeon for the First Ohio Infantry, April 18, 1861. He was present with his regiment at the first battle of Bull Run, and after three months was appointed Assis- tant Surgeon of the First Ohio Infantry, with which he remained until 1863, being then ap- pointed Surgeon of the One Hundred and Thir- teenth Ohio Infantry. He remained with that regiment as Field Surgeon until the close of the war, and during his last year had charge of the division hospitals of his division. After the bat- tle of Stone River, Dr. Wilson had oversight of the field hospital of the division for two months, and, with that exception, was always at the front. Dr. Wilson received his honorable discharge
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
July 6, 1865, and, returning to Sidney, resumed the practice of medicine and surgery, and now is ranked among the finest physicians in the State. For seventeen years after the close of the war, he served as Pension Examiner for this county, and for the past two years has been President of the Examining Board of Pensioners for Sidney. Dr. Wilson, in addition to carrying on his extensive practice, has a finely-equipped drug store, from which branch of business he reaps a handsome in- come. Ile is a member of the Ohio Medical So- ciety. and the Shelby County Medical Society. Ile is a frequent contributor to medical journals, giv- ing accurate expression to his opinions, making wise queries, and placing clearly before other readers any experiment or incident that has a bearing upon their work. He has built np a large and lucrative practice, and during his residence here performed some of the most difficult surgical operations.
October 26, 1871, Dr. Wilson and Miss Irene Ayres were united in marriage. The lady was born at Wapakoneta, and is the daughter of Jere- miah and Rachel (Baker) Ayres. To them has been given a daughter, Jessie, who is now finishing her education in the College of Music at Cincinnati. The Doctor erected a handsome brick residence in 1871, which is pleasantly located at No. 911 Main Avenue. Ile is a member of the Loyal Legion, and is a Grand Army man.
OHN ARNETT. An honorable place among the men to whose efforts Shelby County is indebted for its present high state of ma- terial development and civilization is due to Mr. Arnett, who has been identified with the in- terests of Jackson Township for many years. IIe is descended from families in whose veins ran sturdy blood, and by heritage and early training is possessed of those traits of character and habits of life which are needful to all who would estab- lish a home in a new country, and without which
one can scarcely succeed in older settlements. Mr. Arnett was fortunate in having secured for his wife a woman who was strong to endure privations and hardships, and to her he owes much of his suc- cess, and with her is now enjoying the comforts of a happy and well-furnished home.
Ile of whom we write is the son of William Arnett, a native of Virginia, and the son of Seth Arnett, also of that State, who was a soldier of the War of 1812. Our subject's mother bore the maiden name of Mary Furrow; she was a native of Ohio. and the daughter of John Furrow, who hailed from Virginia. The parents of our subject were married in this State, and made their home for a number of years on a farm in Clarke County. In 1828, they removed farther West to Indiana, where they were residing at the date of the father's deatlı. which occurred in 1835. His widow and children returned to this State, and again resided in Clarke County, where the mother's death occurred in 1869, when in ber sixty-fifth year. She reared a family of five children, of whom our subject is the only survivor. She was a devoted member of the Christian Church. while her husband was con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal denomina- tion. In politics, the latter was a stanch Demo- erat. and occupied a prominent place in the local affairs of his community.
John Arnett was born in Clarke County, Jan- uary 29, 1828, and was trained to a full knowl- edge of farm pursuits. When nine years of age, he worked out by the month during the summer, receiving as consideration for his services $3 a month, which money he gave his mother to aid in the support of the family. Being compelled to look out for himself so early in life, he received but limited advantages for an education, and when twenty-one years of age learned the trade of a chair-maker. and later was engaged in the manu- facture of spinning-wheels and pumps.
November 28, 1852, Mr. Arnett and Miss Eliza Ann. daughter of Jonathan and Mary Ann ( Red- inbo) Nichols, were united in marriage. IIer par- ents were natives, respectively, of New York and Pennsylvania, and the father was a patriot in the War of 1812. The Redinbo family made their ad- vent into this State as early as 1798, at which time
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
they located near Cincinnati. After their mar- riage, the parents of Mrs. Arnett took up their abode in Green Township, where the father cleared and improved a traet of wild land, and in 1840 came to Jackson Township and resided on section 30. He departed this life in 1850, and was followed to the better land by his wife ten years later. The latter was a devoted member of the Christian Church, and reared a family of nine children, two of whom are living. Mrs. Arnett is a native of this county, having been born in Green Township, May 31, 1832. She was given a good education in the schools of her neighborhood.
After his marriage, our subject made his home in this section for a twelvemonth, then rented a farm for three years in Champaign County. In the year 1856, he removed with his brother to lowa, and located on a prairie farm in Tama County, which he placed under good tillage. Ile remained in the Hawkeye State until 1860, then, returning to Ohio, lived for one year in Miami County, and at the end of that time made perma- nent settlement on his present farm. His estate, which comprises one hundred and eighty aeres, is almost all under good cultivation, and supplied with all the farm buildings and machinery which are necessary for carrying on a first-class estate.
Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ar- nett, five are now living: Melissa Ellen, the wife of Martin Smith, makes her home in this township; Jonathan F. married Ada Gaines, and lives in Sidney; Mary Ann, Mrs. Rodolphus Maxon, makes her home in Jackson Township, as does also William, who married Frances Foster; and Frank E., who married Etta Miranda. Of the two chil- dren who are deceased. Minnie Clara was a young lady when she departed this life. The other, Ed- gar, died at the age of two years.
With his wife. our subject is a prominent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which body he has filled the ofliees of Trustee. Steward, Class-leader and Superintendent of the Sunday- school. Ile has given his children the best educa- tional advantages to be had in this section, and has rendered efficient service as a member of the School Board. Previous to the outbreak of the Civil War, he voted with the Democratie party, but during that
struggle found sufficient canse for changing his po- litieal views, and is now a working member in the ranks of the Republicans. Ile has been the incum- bent of the office of Township Trustee, and was one of the leading men to bring about local op- tion in his community.
ILLIAM II. SHAW, M. D. The profes- sional career of a skilled and devoted phy- sician ever furnishes material of great in- terest to all readers, and the life narrative of Dr. William H. Shaw is no exception to this general statement. He was named after the President, William II. Harrison, who was an intimate friend of our subject's father, William Shaw, the latter a native of Bonrbon County, Ky.
The father emigrated to Shelby County, Ohio, in 1831, located his land, and removed there in 1833. He passed his days in improving and de- veloping his farm, and here died in the year 1864. Ile married a widow, Mrs. Sarah Ware, nee Parker, and she died at our subject's home in Plattsville, this county, in 1873, leaving a family of three children, our subject and two daughters. One daughter, Martha M .. married T. J. Proetor, of Piqna; and the other daughter, Frances II., be- came the wife of N. S. Lovett, of Green Town- ship. One son, John S., enlisted in the army in 1861, in Company F, Twentieth Ohio Infantry, and re-enlisted as a veteran. He was killed at Savan- nah, Ga.
Dr. William H. Shaw was born in Green Town- ship, this county, on the 18th of April, 1842, and remained on the farm and under the parental roof until the toesin of war sounded. when he enlisted, in April, 1861, for three months, in the Fifteenth Ohio Infantry. Ilis company was the third which enlisted from Shelby County, and he was in active service in West Virginia. He was in the battle of Phillipi, but the balance of the time he was guard- ing railroads and bridges. At the expiration of
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his term of service, he went out in the Ninety- ninth Obio Infantry, Company C, as a private, but was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. He was in the Army of the Cumberland, and served in many engagements, the most prominent being Phillipi, Nashville, Perrysville, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Resaea, Stone River, Chicka- mauga, Kingston, Tunnel Ilill, Nashville, Wil- mington and Goldsboro, and the Atlanta campaign battles. From Nashville his command joined Sherman's "dashing Union Boys" at Goldsboro, N. C., and our subject remained with his gallant leader until the close of the war. Ile was in active service for four years and three months in field ser- viee, except four months when he was in Libby Prison, having been captured on the 2d of January, 1863, at the last charge in the battle of Stone River. The four months spent inside the walls of Libby worked greater havoc with his constitution than all his other service. lle came out of that horrible death-trap almost a wreck, physically. The direct result of his devotion and bravery to the I'nion cause was his promotion to the rank of First Lieutenant.
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