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 55
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 55
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 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
came to the United States. The former passed his boyhood days engaged in agricultural pursuits on his father's farm and in attending the common district schools in his native conntry. When seventeen years of age, he became convinced that he could better his condition in the New World and his parents at first objected to his leaving home. When fourteen years of age, he was given charge of a flock of sheep and he managed to get a few of his own. In three years' time, his own flock had increased so that when he sold them and had received the wages due him he had enough money to bring him to America.
On the 7th of October, 1841, he sailed from Bre- men, and after being on the ocean seventy days and experiencing some severe storms, he landed in New Orleans, about two weeks before Christmas. Hle came up the river to Cincinnati and there found employment, and learned the cooper's trade. After residing there for about six years, or until the spring of 1847, he came to New Bremen, Ohio, where he had relatives and friends living, and worked at his trade here for about fifteen years. opening a shop of his own about the first thing. When he first settled here, New Bremen was quite a small village and the surrounding country was wild and unsettled. Mr. Speckman manufactured various kinds of barrels, for which he found a ready market either at home or in Cincinnati.
In 1863, he embarked in the grocery business and finally added dry-goods, etc., until. when he retired. in 1889. the business was conducted in a double-store building. llis partner, F. II. L. Nei- ter, had been associated with him from the very first. Mr. Speckman was twice married, first in 1846, to Miss Catherine Johnson, a native of Ger- many, who came with her parents to this country when quite young. She died in 1862. Nine chil- dren were born of this union, all deecased except Fred B., who has now succeeded his father in busi- ness. Mr. Speckman's second marriage took place in 1866, to Miss Lizzie Polsderfer, a native of HIan- over, Germany. Three children were the fruits of this union: Wilhelmina (deceased), John and Alvena, both at home. Jolin is associated with his elder brother in business.
When Mr. Speckman first engaged in the dry-
486
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
goods business, his son Fred B. was associated with him and the firm finally became Speckinan, Son & Co. A few years afterward, the firm engaged in the grain and pork business and were very success- ful in this. In 1889, both Mr. Speckman and Mr. Neiter retired from business, the successors being Speckman, Goll & Co., the two eldest sons of Mr. Speekman being at the head of the business. Mr. Speckman is a Republican in politics and has served two terms in the Village Council. He was also a member of the School Board eleven years and served several years as a member of the Pioneer Fire Company, being President of the same for some time. Both he and Mrs. Speckman are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church.
Our subject and Mr. Neiter own three hundred acres of land in partnership besides considerable town property. Ile has stock in the Natural Gas Company and is one of the Directors. When he first came to this country, he had but a few dollars, and about two weeks after arriving here he was taken sick and upon recovering was $10 in debt. By industry, economy and good management, he has succeeded in accumulating a considerable amount of this world's goods and can pass the re- mainder of his days in peace and plenty.
ESSE L. DICKENSHEETS. Although he has not yet completed the ascent of the sunny side of the hill of life, this gentleman has risen to a position of considerable promi- nenee in Shelby County, being one of those who reach out beyond the walls of their own home in advancing the public weal. Ilaving determined to pursue the life of a newspaper man, he has been energetic and prosperous in his work, and is now manager and editor of the Sidney Gazette, which paper was first issued March 6, 1891.
Our subject was born in Sidney, March 15. 1863, and is a son of John D. and Jennie E. ( Fish) Dickensheets. The father is an okt resident of this eity, having come here in 1867. and has been
identified with the interests of the county for over a half-century. Ile is a contractor and builder by trade, and was born in New Jersey, January 24, 1832. When about four years of age, be aceom- panied his parents on their removal to this county. They were David and Mary Dicken- sheets, and located first in the western part of this county. They later removed to another por- tion of the county, where the grandfather lived on a farm until one year before his death, when he made his home with the father of our subject.
Our subject's mother was born in England, March 8, 1838, and was brought by her parents to this country in 1853. With her husband, she is still living, making her home in Sidney, where they are prominent members of the Presbyterian Church. They reared a family of three children, of whom Fred O. is in Denver, Colo., and Ida M., Mrs. G. R. Londonback, is residing in Sidney.
The original of this sketch received his educa- tion in the city and High Schools, and was also given private instruction. When starting out to do for himself, he found employment in the Journal office at Sidney, where he remained for five years, and at the end of that time, going to Springfield, was employed for two years with the Globe Printing and Publishing Company. Ile was then successively connected with the Cham- pion City Times for one year, the Cleveland Leader, the Winters Art Lithographing Company at Springfield, and in December, 1889. went to Denver and accepted a reportorial position on the Denver Republican. After a residence there of two years, Mr. Dickensheets returned to Sidney and established the Sidney Gazette. The paper is Republican in pohties, and is doing some effective work for that party. The entire management of the paper devolves upon our subject, who succeeds once a week in giving to the people of Shelby County a clean, newsy sheet, of which the com- inunity as well as the proprietor can justly feel proud. It is an eight-page, six-column paper, and has a circulation of thirteen hundred.
The lady to whom Mr. Diekensheets was mar- ried November 22, 1889, was Miss Jennie E., daughter of Robert MeCastin, D. D .. of this city. Socially, Mr. Dickensheets is a member of the
1
487
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen. and of the Royal Areanum. The social qualities of our subject, his general intelligence and manly character, gives him the respeet of those who make his acquaintance, and he and his wife enjoy the friendship of the best citizens of the town.
UDGE W. C. WYMAN. There are few men, if any, who have occupied a more prominent position. or contributed more to the development of the resources of Shelby County. Ohio, than Judge Wyman. a man whose history has been so intimately connected with the affairs of this county, that to mention one necessitates a sketch of the other.
Like many other representative citizens of the county. Judge Wyman is of foreign birth. born in Killenniek. County Wexford, Ireland, on the 29th of September, 1832. and remained with his parents until his eleventh year. About that time. a brother whom he had never seen, but whom he had often heard mentioned. a sea-faring man. came home after an absence of eighteen years. Young Wyman was at that time attending school at the National School, and the brother went to that institution to make inquiries about the family. Our subject had no idea who the gen- tleman was until he had looked into his eounte- nanee. and then the remarkable resemblance of this son to the father was so marked that he im- mediately noticed it. Without waiting to inquire who he was, young Wyman hastened home with the glad tidings, which nearly overwhelmed his parents. The seene of jov that followed can scareely be imagined. The sailor was First Mate under Capt. George II. Flanders. of the brig "Key- ing." belonging to Cushing. of Newburyport, Mass .. and he wanted his brother to go with him to his vessel. then lying in Liverpool Harbor. The par- ents agreed to this, and W. C. Wyman was duly installed as cabin-boy on board that brig. Two years later. they left Liverpool for Newburyport
with a eargo of salt, and reached their destination in safety. There the brothers parted, John, the sailor, going to Norfolk, Va., and our subject re- maining in Newburyport, where he attended the West Male Grammar School. The brothers never met again.
After a certain length of time, W. C. Wyman was taken to Beverly and placed as eabin-boy on the brig "Ark," commanded by Capt. Johnston. bound for Charleston. S. C. When off Cape Hat- teras the brig encountered a severe storm and our suhjeet resolved that if he ever reached landagain he would give up the sea. However, Charleston was reached in safety with the loss of masts, bul- warks, etc .. and there our subject applied for work in 1844. But he was eonfronted by the slavery question, a question which the young Irish boy had never dreamed of. and one which he eontem- plated with hatred. That hatred did not die out. and so. when the great issue came, although a Demoerat, he gave his vote to the author of the Emancipation, and through Capt. Black, of Charles- ton, he obtained a position as eabin-hoy on the "Sarah Pewerington," of Bath. bound to Liver- pool. and under command of Capt. A. W. Pewer- ington. While returning from Liverpool, in a dead calm off the Island of Cuba. he first heard of Cineinnati, to which some passengers were bound, and what he heard of this city made him resolve to seek it and leave the ocean forever, if possible.
On arriving at New Orleans he was confronted again by that great curse, slavery; but still he thought of Cincinnati and soon made his way to that city. On his arrival his first friend was of the despised race, a free negro, who secured him a position in a grocery store. Soon after, he learned the plasterer's trade, and in 1853 he left Cincin- nati for sidney, Ohio. Being well pleased with the latter place. he decided to make it his future home. In the year 1856, he married Mi-s Ellen E. Ryan, who was born in Springfield. Mass .. November 1. 1834. and who came with her father. John S. Ryan, to Sidney, Ohio, in 1:51. To Judge and Mrs. Wyman were born eight children. but two are deceased. Those living are Mollie; Nellie; Cecilia, a teacher in the public schools of Sidney: Ryan, engaged in the wheel works;
188
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Charles, a student in the Iligh School; and Sidley, assistant librarian and student.
In 1874, Judge Wyman was elected Township Trustee, and in 1875 he was elected Probate Judge of Shelby County, Ohio, to which office he was re- elected in 1878. Ifis official career was highly satisfactory to his constituents and very gratifying to his host of friends. In 1884, he was elected Mayor of Sidney, and the following year was elected Justice of the Peace. In 1876, he was elected Librarian of the public library. He also represents the Liverpool, London and Globe Fire Insurance Companies, and is Secretary of the Board of. Ilealth. Ile is a member of the Catholic Church and in politics is a Democrat. His brother, after becoming Master of one of Capt. Cushing's vessels, of Newburyport, died in Virginia, leaving a widow and daughter, both of whom are still liv- ing, his only son having died in 1863. The father of our subject died in Ireland in 1870, aged ninety years, and the mother in 1877, when ninety-five years of age. Only two of their nine children are now living. Judge Wyman's sentiments are em- bodied in the following lines:
"When I elasp a friendly hand, In greeting or farewell, Thoughts of an eternal home Within my bosom swell; A prayer to meet in Heaven at last, Where all the ransomed come, And there eternal ages still Shall find us all at home."
ILLIAM KRUSE, who resides on section 21, Washington Township, is one of the oldest settlers of this locality, and one of our best-known citizens, who is classed among the most practical and successful farmers and business men of Auglaize County. Ile was born in Prussia. Germany. March 3, 1829. Henry and Elizabeth (Cook) Kruse were his parents, and they also were of German birth. His father was a farmer by ve-
cupation. In 1833, he and his wife, with the son that had been born to them in the Old Country, our subject, emigrated to America, sailing from Bremen and landing at New York after a voyage of twelve weeks. From there they came by lake and canals to this section of Ohio, and Mr. Kruse bought forty acres of land, at $1.25 an acre, in Washington Township, aud took up his residence in the woods. lle built a typical pioneer log house, and in the winter time gathered moss from the trees to fill the cracks to keep out the cold. He was one of the first settlers in this seetion of the country, which he found in all its original wild- ness, except where elearings had been made here and there by some venturesome pioneer. At night wolves broke the silence of the forests by their howls, and would sometimes venture into the very door-yard in search of prey, while deer and other wild game afforded excellent fare when prepared for the table. Mr. Kruse worked with untiring diligence, and in time eleared considerable land, and proved a very useful pioneer, who was greatly missed when his untimely death occurred in his fiftieth year. Ile was originally a man of strong constitution, who did not know what it was to be sick. lle bore a good name wherever he went, and was truly respected for his moral worth. His wife survived him many years, and when death came to hier was quite old.
Our subjeet is the eldest of five children, of whom he and his brother Henry, of Arkansas, are the only ones living. llis early school advantages were not of the best. lle went to an old log house that was rudely furnished with slab seats, and there learned his first lessons from books. The school that he attended at New Knoxville was taught by a German teacher. who received twenty-five cents a day as salary, and German was the language used. Mr. Kruse, being the eldest child, was early set to work to help his father in improving the land, and after he was twelve years old he only went to school when he could be spared from his labors. He was married in 1850, and, as his father was dead. he continued to live with his mother the ensuing four years to assist in the manage- ment of the farm. Ile located on his own farm in Washington Township, on which he is still living,
i
1
--- ---
489
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in 1854. The farm was entirely covered with forest, and he built a house among the trees, after first clearing a space upon which to place it. Hle then set energetically to work to cut off the re- maining timber, and has cleared a good deal of land in his day. His home-place comprises one hundred and eighty acres of surpassing fertility and productiveness, and amply supplied with good buildings; and he has two hundred and eighty acres of land besides in this township. He has always made it a point to raise good stock, and has made quite a business of it. Ile has also been extensively engaged in threshing, being a thresher of thirty-five years' standing, the oklest one in the county. He is regarded as an expert in this branch, has a complete outfit of the best modern machin- ery, and thoroughly understands every part of it. and the best way to operate it.
1
In his busy career, Mr. Kruse has shown himself to be a man of versatile enterprise, and among other interests he conducted a large produce busi- ness, from which he retired a year ago. after an ex- perience of twenty-five years in that line, in which he shipped to the leading cities of the East. He gained a well-deserved reputation as an exceedingly prompt and trustworthy business man, who was always on time, never allowing the weather, even at its worst, to interfere with his movements, and the market men who depended upon him for sup- plies knew just when to expect a shipment, and were never disappointed. These fine business qualifications, together with his unswerving recti- tude in all his transactions, have made him an in- valuable citizen of Washington Township, as he has often been selected to fill various responsible offices. whose duties he has performed with the same ability and clear judgment that have char- acterized his administration of his own affairs. For fourteen years he was a Trustee of the Town- ship, and he has served in other public capacities. In politics. he is a Republican first. last and always. Ile is one of the leading men in the Methodist Church. which he joined when he was fifteen years old. He has been Class-leader sixteen years, Stew- ard and Trustee for many years, and for several years was Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mr. Kruse's first wife, who bore the maiden name
of Elizabeth Katterhenry, was born in Germany, and came to this country with her parents when she was eight years old. She departed this life in the fall of 1882, after a pleasant marriage of thirty-two years, which was blessed with the birth of the following children: Louise, Louis, Annie, Wesley and Harmon. In 1883, Mr. Kruse was married to his present amiable wife, formerly Mena Mullenkamp, who is also of German birth.
QUIRE W. DOWTY is honored as a pio- neer farmer of Auglaize County, who has met with merited success in his calling, which places him among the most substan- tial citizens of St. Mary's Township, where he has valuable farming and gas interests, and one of the most comfortable homes, pleasantly situated on section 27. Mr. Dowty is of pioneer parentage, and was born November 26, 1820, amid primitive environments, in one of the early frontier homes of Wayne County. Ilis father, whose given name was Joseph, was born in South Carolina in 1786. He came to Ohio in the early part of this century, and engaged in farming in Vinton County, near Athens County, for some time. He subsequently settled in Wayne County, where he lived until he came in 1826 to what is now Auglaize County, which then formed a part of Mercer County. There were only a few families living within the borders of this county, which was mostly covered with forests, in which the Indians lived. subsisting mostly on the game that was so plentiful. The father of our subject was one of the first to locate in St. Mary's Township, where, in the course of time. he cleared a goodly farm by dint of hard labor, although he underwent many hardships and had but few compensations. lle had to pound corn in a log, hollowed for the purpose. to obtain meal when he was too busy to go to the mill. which was a long way off. Ile rounded out an honest upright life in 1866. in his eightieth year. He was a man of true piety, and a faithful member of
490
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the United Brethren Church. His wife, Elizabeth Jones, died several years before he did, at the age of fifty-six. Of their twelve children, but two are living.
He of whom we write was six years old when his parents sought a new home in this county, and he was reared here under pioneer influences to a stalwart, vigorous manhood. There were at first no schools for him to attend, but after a while a log eabin was built on the Dowty place, in which to hold a subseription school. It was heated by a rude fireplace, and the furniture was made of slabs. Our subject saw many an Indian in his boyhood, as the red men were frequent callers at the Dowty home. Among his ehief pleasures, when he was young, was hunting, and he has killed a good many deer, and one bear fell a victim to his true aim on one of his expeditions. In 1847, he began life for himself, and farmed the old home place for a few years. He has always lived in this vicinity, exeept one year, when he dwelt in Shelby County. Ile has done a great deal of clearing, has helped raise many a log house and barn in the early days, and has attended many log-rollings. When he entered upon his career, his only eapital was brain and muscle, but he used them to sneh good effeet that he was greatly prospered in his undertakings, and has collected a valuable property. He has one hundred and forty acres of land in his homestead on section 27, and has three or four other farms, mak- ing three hundred and fifty-five acres in all. His home farm, which is highly improved, is situated within the gas belt, has a good gas well, and is leased to the Lima Natural Gas Company. He has other land in the oil region, and drilling is now going on on one of his farms.
In 1847. Mr. Dowty was married to Miss Rach- ael Majors. a native of German Township, and to her untiring assistance and watchful care of their household interests he owes much. They began housekeeping with roughly-constructed, home- made furniture, and lived in true pioneer style. HIer father was Hamilton Majors, who was born in New Jersey in 1802. He married Charity Updike, who was also a native of New Jersey, and early in the '20s they became pioneers of this county. Later in life, they removed to lowa, and there died.
Mr. and Mrs. Dowty have been blessed in their marriage with two children, William A. and Eliza- beth. Both our subject and his wife are consistent Christians, who are kind, considerate and neighi- borly with all about them, and are held in the highest esteem by the entire community. They are among the leading members of the United Brethren Church, have been influential in its up- building, and Mr. Dowty is serving it ably as Stewart and Trustee. In politics, he is a strict ad- herent of the Democratic party.
C J. McCUNE is one of the leading business men of Bellefontaine and one of the most enterprising. He was born in Ellsworth County, Kan., December 25, 1869, to John and Margaret (MeKeogh) MeCune, natives of Ireland, the father being born in County Waterford and the mother in County Tipperary. The parents emigrated to America and were married in Musca- tine, Iowa, soon after which event they took up their abode in Atchison, Kan. From that place they went to Leadville, Colo., where the father de- parted this life in 1883. He was a butcher by trade, and a very successful business man, but on going to Colorado he was compelled to give up his business on account of a severe attack of rheu- matism.
The mother of our subject, on the death of her husband, moved to Springfield County, this State, thence to this eity in the year 1885. ller four sons, who were included in the family, were John A., C. . I., W. A. and E. S. On the taking up of his residence in this city, our subjeet was engaged in mercantile pursuits, in which he has since been engaged, he having the entire manage- ment of two large storerooms located on Colum- bus Street. Ilis establishment contains a well- selected assortment of dry-goods, millinery, stoves. ete .. and is one of the most reliable houses in Logan County. Mr. MeCune, although still a young man, has a thorough knowledge of business principles,
1
1
EM piper
493
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
-
and is carrying on his affairs after the most ap- proved methods. He is courteous and gentlemanly in his treatment of customers, and is well deserv- ing of mention among the representative men of Logan County.
The original of this sketch received a practical education and was reared in the home of an uncle in Springfield, and his remarkably successful worldly affairs are undoubtedly based upon the corner-stone of the economical habits with which he began life. Ile is a conscientious member of the Catholic Church, and, in social affairs, is President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and Secretary of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a member of the C. T. A. Ile sustains a most enviable reputation for strict integrity and firm- ness of purpose, and in his chosen field of labor has not only gained a good ineome, but the good will of the community at large.
E DWARD M. PIPER, President of the First National Bank at St. Mary's, is one of the representative men of Auglaize County, who has assisted by his large enterprise and finan- cial ability in pushing this eity, on whose outskirts he has a beautiful home, to the front as an impor- tant business centre. lle was born in Franklin County, Pa .. November 18, 1818. a son of John Piper, who was also a Pennsylvanian by birth. Ile was a millwright, and while in the successful pur- suit of his trade died in 1827. in the prime of life. His father. Adam Piper, was born in Pennsylvania. but was of German blood. The mother of our subject was Ann MeVitty. a native of Pennsyl- vania and of Scotch descent. After her husband died, she remained a widow until her death in 1887, at the age of nearly eighty years. She adopted the religious faith of her Scottish fore- fathers, and was for many years a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. but after her removal to Illinois, joined the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.