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 51
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 51
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 51
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His son and the father of our subject. John H. Renick. was born in Clarke County, Ohio, on the 4th of January, 1804, and in this county he was reared, passing much of his boyhood and youth in his father's mills. After reaching man's estate, he came to Logan County, Ohio, and on the 16th of October, 1835, bought land from the Government. This farm was in the woods, and not a stick had been eut except where the Indians had cut trails, and amid these wild surroundings and far from neigh- bors, he began in true pioneer style. He married Miss Elizabeth Rea, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1806, and the young couple began housekeep- ing in a very primitive and economical way. Many and vast were the improvements made on this land, and both worked hard to make a pleas- ant and comfortable home. Indians were numer- ous for the first few years, and deer. wolves, and turkeys were very common. To Mr. and Mrs. Ren- ick were born ten children, who were named in the order of their births: James Il. (deceased), William A. (deceased). Nancy J., Robert II. (de- ceased ), Mary I. (deceased), Mary E., Lonisa J., John R., one who died in infancy, and Sarah (deceased). At the time of his death, which occurred on the 31st of March. 1886, Mr. Renick was the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land. He had removed to lluntsville, retired from the active duties of life, and there received
his final summons. Ile was a member of the United Presbyterian Church. and was an Elder for forty years. A Whig at first in politics, he be- came a Republican, and held a number of town- ship offices. Ilis wife, who was also an active member of the United Presbyterian Church, passed away on the 12th of October, 1876.
Our subject, like the average boy of his day, di- vided his time between assisting in the farm and in attending the district schools, where he received a good practical education. He remembers when the country was a wilderness, and when deer were quite plentiful. When twenty-three years of age, he started out to make his own way in life, and was married on the 2d of February, 1869, to Miss Selina Reed, a native of Ohio. Five children blessed this union : Josie E. (Mrs. Smith), Robert H ., Edward E., Euphemia M., and Mattie Fern. Mrs. Renick died in the year 1879, and our subject's second marriage occurred on the 6th of January. 1880, to Miss Mary Fulton. One child, Mary B., has been born of this union. Mr. Renick is the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of fine, pro- ductive land, which was the original land settled by his father, and which he purchased from the heirs. Mixed farming and stock-raising have been his principal occupations, and he has met with the best of success. Ile and Mrs. Renick are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Huntsville, and he has been an Elder in the same for a number of years. Like his father. he supports the principles of the Republican party, is now Township Treas- urer, and has held the position of Township Trustee.
ILLIAM BOWSHER. In this volume may be found the biography of many influen- tial citizens who have plodded up the steeps of honor and prosperity with remarkable energy and success. The life of Mr. Bowsher fur- nishes another example of this kind, as he is now the owner of eighty acres of improved land. lo-
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cated on section 32, Duchouquet Township, Au- glaize County, and thereupon is devoting his en- ergies to agricultural pursuits. Progressive in every way, he is well known and highly esteemed as one of the enterprising farmers who have done so much to render this county one of the well- improved portions of the Buckeye State.
The father of our subjeet, Benjamin Bowsher, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was a stone- mason and brick-layer by trade, but after coming to Ohio followed the occupation of a farmer. He aided in the erection of the Burnett House, in Wapakoneta, and also the old court house in Lima. William Bowsher, the grandfather of our subject, also hailed from Pennsylvania, and during the War of 1812 was one of the patriots in that strug- gle. le came to Ross County, this State, in 1808, where he was ranked among the very earliest set- tlers. The great-grandparents of our subject were natives of Germany.
The maiden name of the mother of our subjeet was Elizabeth De Long; she was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1809, and was a daughter of Jacob De- Long. also a native of that State, and of German parents. The parents of Mr. Bowsher located in Allen County, this State, in 1836. making their home in Shawnee Township, just three miles from the present home of our subjeet. The farm was a wild tract of timber land. and their only neigli- bors were three and four miles distant. Indians and wild animals were numerous, and often proved very troublesome. The father, however, being very fond of hunting, often went on trips with the red men, and in this way provided his family with the necessities of life. The elder Mr. Bow- sher cleared a tract of eighty aeres of land, and departed this life in 1874. HIis good wife, who survived him several years, followed him to the better land in 1888. They were the parents of fourteen children, eight of whom are living at the present time. In religions affairs, they were zeal- ous members of the Lutheran Church, in which denomination the father hell many of the promi- nent offices. In politics, he voted with the Dem- ocratie party.
William Bowsher was born October 17, 1834. in Ross County. this State, and was an infant of
eighteen months when taken by his parents to Al- len County. There he grew to mature years, and was given no opportunity for receiving an educa- tion until reaching his tenth year, when he at- tended a subseription school two months in each year. After the establishment of free schools in his district, he was enabled to attend three months ont of each year for ten years. He early began to assist his father in carrying on the home farm, and when ready to establish a home of his own chose agriculture as his life oceupation.
Ile of whom we write remained at home until reaching his majority, when he began working out for other parties elearing land, for which he re- ceived $10 per acre. In November, 1858, he was married to Miss Sarah, daughter of George and Mary (Wriggle) Shappell, natives of Pennsylva- nia, whence they removed, when young. to this State. The parents were married in Ross County, and in 1855 came to this county and located on section 32, Duchouquet Township, where their de- cease occurred in 1856 and 1889 respectively. The parents' family included eleven children, ten of whom are still living. Three sons, George, Daniel, and Nelson, served in the Union army during the late war, the latter of whom was taken prisoner, but was soon paroled. Mrs. Bowsher was born May 27, 1836, in Fairfield County, this State, and after her marriage with our subject located on what is now their present farm. Mr. Bowsher was com- pelled to go in debt in purchasing his estate. but being industrious and economical, and aided by the good advice of his wife, he was soon enabled to pay off the incumbranee on his land, which, by its neat appearance, indicates the thrift and enter- prise of its owner.
Of the nine children born to our subject and his wife. we make the following mention of the seven who are living: Missouri married Jacob De Long, and has one child; Nelson married Susan Culp. and is the father of two children; George married Sophia Wieselmeyer, and has a family of two chil- dren; Solomon, Rufus, Mollie, and Emma are all unmarried. With their children, Mr. and Mrs. Bowsher are influential members of the Evangeli- cal Church. Our subject is a sensible, well-in- formed man, manly and straightforward in his
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character, and, as a loyal citizen should, takes a fairly active part in polities, throwing the weight of his influence with the Democratic party, of which he has been a devoted adherent for many years.
D ANIEL W. KOCH. To the person who closely applies himself to any occupation which he has chosen as his calling in life, there can only come one result-that of success and a high place in the esteem of those among whom he has made his home, and Mr. Koch is no exception to the rule. for it has only been by in- dustry and striet attention to agricultural pursuits since 1855 that he has attained to the position that he now enjoys.
The grandfather of our subject, Jacob Koch, was a native of Pennsylvania, or was born in Ger- many just before his father came to America, and the latter's wife's father was a soldier in the Rev- olutionary War. Jacob Koch was a farmer and carried on his farming operations in Pennsylvania until his death, when forty years of age.
The father of our subject, Daniel Koch, was born in Berks County, Pa., in the year 1803, and when growing up learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until 1837, when he became Superintendent of iron works in Cumberland and Perry Counties, Pa., and thus continued until 1855. lle then came to Logan County, Ohio, and located in De Graff, where he spent the remainder of his life. engaged in tilling the soil. Ile was a hard- working man and a good manager. Ile died in 1882. A Lutheran in his religious views, he took a great deal of interest in church work and was also active in all other enterprises of a worthy na- ture. Ile was at one time a Whig in polities, and later in life became a Republican. but his brothers were all Democrats. He married Miss Susan Man- miller, a native of Berks County: Pa., born in 1808, and to them were born five children. namely: Jacob. Daniel (our subject), Barbara Ann, Ann Caroline. and Catherine. Only two are now living. The
mother died in September, 1890, when eighty-two years of age. She was a Presbyterian in religion, and took a deep interest in her church and all other good work. Her father. David Manmiller, was born in Pennsylvania, and followed various vecu- pations for a livelihood, running a dye-shop for some time and farming for a number of years. Ile died when sixty-five years of age and was also of German descent.
Daniel W. Koch was born in Schuylkill County, Pa., in October. 1829, and remembers distinctly the pioneer log schoolhouse where he received his education, the split logs for benches, the rude writing-desk and other inventions of back-woods days, but he subsequently attended one season at Reading, Pa., and later two terms at Bloomfield Academy. When sixteen years of age, he elerked for one year in a dry-goods store at Petersburg, Perry County, Pa., and then took charge of the books in the iron works at Fio Forge, Perry County, and at Laurel. Cumberland County, Pa., and also one year at Mt. Holly Iron Works. In 1851. he became Superintendent under his father and kept books for several years. In 1852, the gold fever came over him and he went to California via the Isthmus, and was engaged in mining there for eighteen months. In 1853, he returned to the East and in April. 1855, bought his present farm.
In 1857, Miss Susan Hensinger, a native of Cumberland County, Pa., born on the 10th of No- vember, 1822, became his wife and, although they had no children of their own, they reared a girl, Jennie, from the age of two years, and became very much attached to her. She married Jacob A. Shaw, a Superintendent of the Columbus (Ohio), publie schools. They gave her an excellent edneation, sent her three years to Oberlin College, and she is a very fine musician. Mr. Koch has one hundred and sixty acres of land just outside the corpora- tion of De Graff, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has made a complete success of this occupation and is one of the prominent and substantial men of the county. He has made many improvements on his place, has a good resi- dence and frame barn. and lately built a tenant house. Ile is a Methodist and his wife is a mem- ber of the Church of God.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In polities, he advocates the principles of the Republican party, was Clerk of the township for twelve years and also Trustee for many years. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Company F, One Hun- dred and Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, and was made Second Lieutenant of his company. He was sent to Petersburgh and attached to the Eighteenth and Tenth Army Corps of the Army of the Poto- mac. On the 10th of September. 1864, he was mustered out at Camp Chase. Mr. Koch has shown his appreciation of secret organizations by becom- ing a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. Ile is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republie and was Commander of the first post organized in De Graff. IIe is now serving his twenty-fifth year as Secretary of the Masonic order. He has also filled all the chairs of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' lodge and has been per- manent secretary for ten years. He also belongs to the Knights of Honor. He is a stockholder and one of the Directors of the gas well. Mrs. Koel is a member of the Daughters of Rebekalı Lodge.
C C. PEPPLE. It is a great pleasure to trace the history of those of the early pioneers of Auglaize County, Ohio, who have perse- vered through trials and hardships and have at last reached a point where they can enjoy the wealth and prosperity which rightly belongs to them. In the life of the parents of our subject, William and Rebecca (Miller) Pepple, we find such a history, and the popularity that belongs to such people is the just meed which neighbors are glad to pay to their worth and work.
The father was born in Champaign County, Ohio, and there grew to manhood. About 1832, he was married to Miss Miller, a native of Champaign County, Ohio, and the daughter of John Miller, who was also a native of that county. About 1838, Mr. Pepple and family moved to Auglaize County, and eleared a farm of two hundred acres on section
19, Wayne Township, and on this the father has resided ever sinee. When they first located on this farm there were very few settlers, scouting parties of Indians made their appearance quite frequently, and wild animals were plentiful. Mr. Pepple first built a round-log cabin hut supplemented this by a hewn-log structure a few years later and then a good substantial frame building was erected. He worked hard to clear and improve his farm, and although one of the oldest pioneers in his section, he still enjoys comparatively good health, and his fine farm shows the indisputable proofs of the hand of a thorough and systematie farmer. Five of the seven children born to his marriage are now living, viz .: C. C., John, P., M. R. and Lydia. These children were given the advantages of a good common-school education and two of them, C.C. and Mary J. ( who is deceased) have been school teachers. One child, P. Pepple, was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company B, Forty-fifth Ohio Infantry, and served three years, or until the elose of the war. In several engagements, when nearly all his company were taken prisoners, he escaped by lying among the dead until the enemy had passed. He was honorably discharged at the elose of the war. The mother of these children was a member of the Methodist Church, and died in that faith in 1880. Mr. Pepple is still living and is in his eighty-second year. In polities, he is a Demoerat, and his first Presidential vote was for Jackson.
The original of this notice, C. C. Pepple, first saw the light in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1834, and, like the average farmer's boy, received his edu- eation in the common schools. Ile remained nnder the parental roof until twenty-one years of age, and after his marriage, in 1855, he started ont for himself as a farmer in Auglaize County. He eleared a wild piece of land in Wayne Township, and although he began life with limited means, he is now one of the prosperous farmers of the county, and is the owner of four hundred and sixty-five acres of well-improved and well-eultivated land. He has a cozy and comfortable home, and is very pleasantly sitnated indeed. He married Miss Catherine Gilroy, a daughter of John Gilroy, and a native of Auglaize County, Ohio. Eight chil-
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dren have been born to this union, but only five are now living, viz .: Sarah Jane, Arnold O., James, John W. and Minnie Blanch. All these children have received good educational advantages, and Arnold is a school teacher. The eldest son, Riley, was killed by a horse falling on him when seven- teen years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Pepple are worthy members of the Methodist Church. and he has been Trustee and Steward in the same. At the present time he is Secretary. Like his father. he is a strong advo- cate of Democratic principles, and has held the office of Township Treasurer for eleven years. He also held the office of County Treasurer. being ap- pointed to that position by commissioners after the defalcation of Treasurer Lucas. He finished out the term of Lucas, and afterward served one term, serving in that capacity with credit and ability. During the war, he was drafted into the army and made arrangements to enter service. However, his services were not needed.
b ON. WILLIAM II. WEST. A volume of this character would be incomplete did it not contain a biographical sketch of Judge West. whose life has been such as to com- mand the respect and admiration even of his po- litical opponents. An eminent jurist, he was chosen .Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, and served efficiently in that capacity until failing sight forced him to resign. As the most promi- nent citizen of Bellefontaine, and one of the intlu- ential men of his party in the State, a few facts with regard to his personal career may encourage many of our readers to greater efforts for success in life. and others will be stirred to noble deeds of generosity for the pubhe weal.
Born at Millsborough, Washington County, Pa .. February 9. 1824. our subject is the son of samuel and Mary (Clear) West. As early as 1830. be ac- companied his father to Knox County. Ohio, where he aided in developing a farm from the
wilderness. Perhaps his early struggles assisted in developing the characteristics of firmness and de- termination which ever afterward were firmly im- planted in his nature. In 1816. he was graduated from Jefferson College, in Pennsylvania, dividing the bonors with Gen. A. B. Sharpe. During the two ensuing years, he taught school in Kentucky. and later accepted a tutorship in Jefferson College. After filling that position with marked ability for one year, he accepted an adjunct professorship at Ilampden Sidney (Va.) College.
Ilaving resolved to enter upon the study of law, our subject commenced his legal studies in the office of Judge William Lawrence, of Bellefontaine, with whom he formed a partnership upon his ad- mission to the Bar. From the first, he was recog- nized as an able attorney and it was not long before he worked his way to the foremost ranks among the brethren of the legal fraternity. Two characteristics were especially noticeable as mental attributes, and these were his capacity to assim- ilate his legal studies to his remarkable intellec- tual qualities. and an unusual facility of utterance. When to these we add the delicate organization that seemed to vibrate to the touch of passion. we have the powerful advocate who in court con- vinced the judge and won the jury, and became known throughout the nation as "the Blind Man Eloquent."
In the legal fraternity of the West. the position occupied by Judge West has been most conspic- uons and influential. He is a recognized author- ity on civil and corporate law, and in familiarity with these departments is equaled by few and sur- passed by none. While on the Supreme Bench of Ohio. he was so unfortunate as to lose his sight. but with it came no loss of power. His trained mind and wonderful memory enabled him to dis- pense with his eyes, and for years it has been a spectacle of great interest to the Bar to witness his conduct in charge of a case in court. Without the least aid from anyone, without the slightest pause in the proceedings, and without perceptible hesitation, he unravels intricate facts and quotes the law applicable to them.
In 1854, Judge West joined in an appeal to all parties after the repeal of the M-sonri Compro-
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mise, that resulted in a convention at Columbus, Ohio, where he was one of the prominent speak- ers. Ile has always been influential in the ranks of the Republican party, and has been one of its leaders in the State. In 1857 and 1861, he was a member of the State Legislature, serving in the House, and in 1863 was elected to the Senate. Ile was a delegate to the Presidential convention held at Chicago, when Abraham Lincoln was nom- inated for the highest position in the gift of the people. In 1865, he was chosen Attorney-General of Ohio, re-elected in 1867 to the same office, and, in 1869, was tendered, although he declined to ac- cept, the position of Consul to Rio Janeiro. In 1871, he was elected Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, which he held until 1873.
Doubtless the most important event in the pub- lic life of Judge West occurred in 1877, when his party nominated him for Governor of Ohio. At that time, a grave crisis was at hand; the great railroad strikes had arrested the wheels of nearly all the locomotives of one hundred and fifty thousand miles of operating railroads, and the newly-named candidate for governor had to meet the issue involved in the conflict. The issnes be- tween capital and labor had been carefully studied by Judge West, and he recognized then what the whole world appreciates now, that this is the great issue of civilization and must be solved before the wheels of progress will again revolve. In his first address after his nomination, he uttered advanced views on the subject for which public opinion was not then prepared. but which are now conceded to be correct. llis defeat naturally resulted. Ile lost the eminent position to which he otherwise would have arisen, but he earried back to private life the honor that comes of a courageous defense of principle.
Judge West was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Williams, died in 1871, leaving the following children: Will- iam A .. John E. and Samuel A. He was after- ward married to Clara G. Gorton, who has been his devoted helpmate during the years that have come and gone. Although in feeble health, he still eon- tinues the practice of his profession, more espec- ially on account of his sons, William A. and John
E., who inherit much of his ability and have the promise of eminent positions in future v .as. In lis pleasant home at Bellefontaine, loved and re- vered by all who know him, the "Blind Man Elo- quent" is passing the twilight of his life. Mr. West was a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1872, of which the late Chief Jns- tice Waite was presiding officer. In 1884, he was a member of the Republican National Convention at Chicago, and put in nomination James G. Blaine.
The biographer acknowledges valuable assist- anee received by a pernsal of a sketch of Judge West in the "Historical Collections of Ohio."
E V. SHAW. The furniture trade in Sidney, like every other staple branch of business, comprises every class of dealer, with corres- ponding notions of value and excellence. As in everything else, it pays to get the best, and an establishment which has gained an excellent repu- tation for just methods is that conducted by Shaw Bros., located at No. 826 Main Avenue, where they opened for business on the 12th of October, 1891. They carry the best-selected and most extensive assortment of medium and the finest grade of goods in this section of the State. Only really reliable goods are handled and the trade of the house extends throughout the county. The indi- vidual members of the firm are E. V. and H. L. Shaw, thorough-going and practical business men. who enjoy the confidence of all having dealings with them.
The original of this notice was born in this county and is a son of Dr. W. II. Shaw. His birth occurred at Plattsville, seven miles southeast of the city, on the 8th of June, 1871, and he there re- ceived his primary education. Later, he supple- mented this by a course in the High School and then entered the grocery store of Piper Bros .. where he remained six years. thus laying the foundation
2
John Musser.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
for his subsequent prosperous career. Enterpris- ing and thoroughly alive to all improved business methods, young Shaw could hardly fail in making a success of whatever he undertook and his career thus far has been a very successful one. The brother, II. L. Shaw, was for a time manager of the dry-goods store of A. D. Graham and was then in Piper's dry-goods store until the establishment of the firm of Shaw Bros., in 1891. Our subject is an enterprising business man and is building up a widespread and enviable patronage for the com- pany he so fittingly represents. lle and his brother make their home with the father. H. L. was born on the 17th of September, 1868, and has shown his appreciation of secret organizations by becoming a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Like his brother, he seems to have the natural faculty for a successful business career. For a more extended biography of him the reader is referred to Dr. W. II. Shaw's biog- raphy on another page of this volume.
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