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 60
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 60
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 60
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Louis Hnenke, the fourth in order of birth of the above-mentioned children, attended the district school up to the age of about thirteen, and assisted his father on the farm until about twenty-seven years of age. Ile then commenced farming in St. Mary's Township, but six months later located on land near New Bremen, just outside the corpora- tion, where he has resided since. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Emma Wulffeck, a na- tive of Cincinnati, Ohio, and their union was solemnized on the 2d of November, 1881. Her fa- ther, Victor Wulffeck, was a native of Germany, and has resided in Cincinnati ever since coming to America, when a young man. Mr. and Mrs. Ifmenke are the parents of an interesting family of three children: Clifford, Gertie and Howard.
Mr. Huenke is a stanch advocate of the Repub- lican party, and, like his father, is active in pro- moting all enterprises for the good of the county. Ile is the owner of one hundred and sixteen aeres of land adjoining the corporation of New Bremen, on section 15, and on this he began the creamery business on the 1st of March. 1886. Since its in- ception, he has greatly enlarged the business, and now manufactures on an average about one thou- sand pounds of butter per day. He gathers cream from a wide scope of territory, and has twelve
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wagons constantly on the road. This is one of the most flourishing enterprises in the county, and Mr. Iluenke is in every way suited to the business. Hle started a wholesale and retail butter store in Cin- einnati, in 1822, and has already realized consider- able from that venture, his principal market being in New York City. He is extensively engaged in breeding fine stock, and owns some Short-horn cattle, also a herd of Aberdeen Angus. Lately he commenced to engage in the breeding of chickens, and has all the modern appliances (incubators, etc.), for making a success of this business, and al- ready has fourteen varieties of chickens. He sells for breeding purposes, and keeps all the famous varieties. A wide-awake, enterprising young man, prosperity is attending his efforts, and he is de- servedly successful.
A lithographie portrait of Mr. Ifuenke will be noticed on another page.
OHN F. SHROYER. The owner of a finely- cultivated farm of one hundred acres in Salem Township, and one of the represen- tative agriculturists of Shelby County, this gentleman is deserving of considerable mention in the RECORD. On the paternal side, he is descended from German ancestors, who emigrated to the United States at an early day, and made settle- ment in Maryland. In that State, Grandfather Jacob Shroyer was born, reared and married, and there, too, he remained until near his death, which occurred in Miami County, Ohio.
The parents of our subject, Thomas and Cath- erine (Fry) Shroyer, were natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively, both born about 1806. After their marriage, which occurred in Miami County, Ohio, they removed to Shelby County in 1837, and settled on section 36, Salem Township. The surrounding country was a wilderness, the land wholly unimproved, and the nearest neighbor one and one-half miles distant. Mr. Shroyer assisted in clearing the first road in the township, and
built one of the first log houses ever erected within its limits. The one hundred and sixty acres of land which he purchased were heavily timbered, and it required the most arduous exertions during a number of years to clear the land and prepare the soil for cultivation. The nearest market for supplies was at Sidney, then a mere hamlet.
For forty years, Thomas Shroyer lived and labored on the farm, and the large measure of suc- cess which crowned his efforts was due to his faith- ful and persistent labors. He was bereaved by the death of his devoted wife in April, 1879, and dur- ing the following Angust he closed his eyes to the scenes of earth, and passed to the Great Beyond. Fourteen children had been born of this marriage, nine of whom still survive-honorable men and women, who are filling responsible positions in their various communities. One son, Thomas, served as a teamster in the Civil War. The pa- rents were faithful members of the Dunkard Church, in which the father was officially promi- nent. In his political belief, he was a Democrat, and earnest in his support of the party of his choice.
On the farm in Miami County, Ohio, September 9, 1833, our subject was born-one of a pair of twins, the other of whom was accidentally killed a few years since, while digging a well. At the age of four years, our subject accompanied his parents to Shelby County, where he attended school in a primitive log building- the first schoolhouse in Salem Township. The furnishings were of the pioneer order, and the method of instruction equally crude, but our subject gained a good knowledge of the " three R's," and laid the foun- dation of the broad education which he afterward acquired through reading and observation.
Ilaving been reared upon a farm, our subject naturally chose agriculture for his life pursuit, and, at the age of twenty-one, commenced for himself by renting land, which he cultivated. In 1858, he was married to Miss Sarah Ann Hudlow, who was born in Shelby County, Ohio. Her father, John Hudlow, was an early settler of this county, and she also spent her entire life here, dying in 1886, at the age of forty-three years. Eight of her eleven children are now living: John Henry,
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who is married, and lives in Logan County; Emery, Edward D., Samuel J., Alonzo, Myrtie, Rose L., and Benjamin L.
June 9, 1887, Mr. Shroyer was married to Mrs. Margaret Shroyer, who was born in Logan County, Ohio, the daughter of John and Martha (Collins) Moore, the former born in Maryland in 1808, and the latter in Pennsylvania in 1813. The latter married in Belmont County, Ohio, whence they removed to Logan County, and from there to Union County in 1852. In 1865, they came to Shelby County, and settled in Jackson Township, where they resided until near the time of their decease. Mrs. Moore died in June, 1886, and her husband passed from earth December 5, 1891. Their family consisted of eleven children, six of whom are now (1892) living. One of the sons, Samuel, was a soldier in the Civil War, serving in defense of the Union.
Mrs. Shroyer was born in Logan County, Ohio, January 10, 1846, and accompanied her parents to Union County when a child. By a former mar- riage she is the mother of four children: Laura D., wife of Luther French; Ada E., who is Mrs. Edward Dukeshire; Walter and Emma, who are with their mother. Mrs. Shroyer is a lady of no- ble character and a devoted member of the Chris- tian Church.
When Mr. Shroyer settled upon his present estate in 1865, it was a tangle of saplings, and the ground was entirely covered with water. He in- troduced a thorough and effective system of tiling, by means of which the value of the property has been considerably enhanced. Through his un- aided efforts, he has gained a competency, and is now one of the most prosperous farmers in Sheiby County. The cozy residence which he now occu- pies was erected in 1885, and he has added other buildings as they have been needed. His interest in educational matters has always been deep, and through his exertions the present brick school- house in his district was erected. Realizing that his success was retarded by lack of education, it has been his constant endeavor to procure the best educational advantages for his children and in every way to qualify them for usefulness in life. Politically. he is a stanch Democrat, a leader in
local politics, and a man of note in the community. He has served as Road Supervisor for several terms, besides occupying other positions of trust.
JEUT. JACOB D. FIKE. Auglaize County numbers among its best and most hon- ored citizens many who did conspicnous service in the late war, and rose from the ranks to important official positions in their regiments. Lieut. Jacob D. Fike is a representative of this class of men. He is now a farmer in Noble Township, residing on section 8, and also a mem- ber of the judiciary of this part of the State, having served with ability as Justice of the Peace for many years.
Lient. Fike was born in Washington Township, October 29, 1840, his father, Benjamin Fike, a Pennsylvanian, having been a pioneer of that part of Auglaize County. He had come to Ohio in the early years of its settlement, and for a few years lived at Dayton, whence he finally came to Auglaize County and settled in Washington Township when the surrounding country was yet new and but little inhabited. Hle purchased a tract of wild land, cleared it and lived to see a fine, productive farm where once a dense forest stood. He contributed his quota to the develop- ment of the county. and his name is cherished among its pioneers. He died in 1855, and his wife in 1849. They had eleven children, of whom six are living, three daughters and three sons.
Our subject is the youngest son of his worthy parents. His growth was commensurate with that of the county, which was scarcely more than a wilderness when he was a boy. The first school that he attended was taught in a little log cabin, which stood some distance from the road, and was surrounded by a dense growth of underbrush, through which a path led to the door of the prim- itive institution of learning. The furniture therein was of the rudest description, and the educational advantages offered to the scholars were not to be
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compared with those enjoyed by the youth of to- day. Our subject had the misfortune to lose his mother when he was nine years old, and his boyhood after that was passed mostly among strangers, and he had to work to earn his board and clothes. After he was seventeen years old, he was given small wages in addition.
In April, 1861, Lieut. Fike determined to learn the trade of a carpenter, but he had hardly com- meneed to serve his apprenticeship when Ft. Sumter was fired upon by Southern insurgents, and President Lincoln issued his famous call for seventy-five thousand troops to serve for three months to put down the Rebellion. Our subject's patriotism was aroused, and, though but twenty- one years of age, he was among the first to respond to the call, and his name was enrolled as a mem- ber of the Twentieth Ohio Infantry. His regi- ment was dispatched to the front and took a lively part in some exciting skirmishes with the enemy and in some forced marches in Virginia and Maryland. Ilis term of enlistment expired in August and the Lieutenant was honorably dis- charged, but he again enlisted for three years, becoming a member of Company D, Seventy-first Ohio Infantry, which was commanded by Col. Mason. His first real experience of a battle was at Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862, and he showed bim- self to be possessed of fine soldierly qualities, which won him promotion from time to time, and he held various ranks from that of Corporal to Second Lieutenant, which latter commission he still holds.
The Seventy-first Ohio was dispatched to Clarkesville, Va., after the battle of Shiloh to watch Gen. Hood's movements, and while there our subject and many others were captured. A month later he was paroled. He subsequently saw service in Tennessee, where he remained until his regiment was ordered to Atlanta, arriving there after the capture of that city by Gen. Sher- man's forces. The Lieutenant and his men were in close quarters at Jonesborough, but fought well in their encounter with the enemy. They lay in eamp at Atlanta again some time, and then were sent to drive Ilood back to Nashville, where they did some desperate fighting. Our subject had also
taken part in the hard struggle at Pulaski, just be- fore reaching Nashville. Just before the close of the war, he was ordered with his regiment to Texas, and during the long and hot summer that followed he and his men saw some hard service in that State, but they did their duty nobly, and were finally discharged at San Antonio in November, 1865. During the four years and a half that he was so bravely upholding the honor of the old flag on many a bloody battlefield, the Lieutenant experienced most of the vicissitudes and dangers inseparable from a soldier's life, and he had sev- eral narrow escapes from death. Once a sharp- shooter in a tree some distance from him selected him as a target, but luckily a small pine sapling just in front of him received the bullet intended for him.
When his military career was ended, Lieut. Fike returned home, and the following year after his marriage bought property in St. Mary's, and resided there nearly a year, being employed in a mill. At the end of that time, he purchased his farm on section 8, Noble Township, and immedi- ately located on it. Ile found it a wilderness, the only attempt at improvement being a small log house, in which he lived until he replaced it by a more roomy and comfortable dwelling. He now has a finely improved farm as the result of per- sistent and intelligent labor, in which he has re- ceived the cheerful co-operation of his wife. Ilis place contains eighty acres of land of mneh fertil- ity, the buildings are neat and well built, and everything is in an orderly condition.
November 29, 1866, is the date of the marriage of our subject with Miss Cynthia A. McDonald, a native of Fairfield County and a daughter of a pioneer family of Auglaize County. Her paternal grandfather was born in Ireland and was an emi- grant to this country. Her parents located in Salem Township, and were among its early pio- neers. Both are now deceased. The happy wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Fike has been blessed to them by the birth of five children: Samuel B., Mary L. (deceased), Isom R., Otto W. and John E.
Lieut. Fike has proved as good a citizen at home in his capacity as a public official as on the battlefields of the South. Ile has served as
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Treasurer of his township three years, and in two more years he will have held the responsible office of Justice of the Peace twenty-one years. This office is by no means a sinecure, as there are many duties attached to it, and he has had to try many cases and to transact a good deal of law business, besides frequently performing the marriage eere- mony for happy couples. The duties of his office have been discharged by him with wisdom, discre- tion and unshaken fidelity, and in all his experi- ence the judgments that he has passed have only been reversed by a higher eourt in one or two in- stances, as the people have felt that there was no appeal from the soundness and fairness of his de- cisions. He is not only well mformed in legal matters, but he has a good fund of general knowl- edge. The Lieutenant was chosen Land Appraiser in this township in 1880, and in 1890 was ap- pointed Census Enumerator. Ile is a member of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association, and takes great interest in it. Ile is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, of which both he and his wife are members.
OHN A. WERST. If the Okl World had not contributed to the population of the New, Ohio would not have reached its present high state of development. Germany has furnished her full quota of excellent men, and among the prominent families who at an early day emigrated from that country to this, with a view to bettering their condition, was the Werst family, an honored representative of whom was our sub- ject's father, Andrew Werst. He had been in the army in his native land for many years, and held an official position when he came to America. Ile braved Neptune's tender mercies in 1833, and after reaching the American Continent, came im- mediately to Ohio, where he entered eiglity acres of land the following year. He had been married in his native country, but after being in this coun-
try about a year, his wife died. Ile then removed to Troy, Ohio, remaining there for several years, but finally moved back to this township, and was married to a widow, Mrs. Catherine Walek, also a native of the Fatherland, and they reared a family of two children, our subjeet and Su- sannah, who died when eight years old. Both were members of the Catholic Church, and he was a Democrat, in politics. The father died in 1870, but the mother is still living, and is probably the oldest lady in Auglaize County, being now in her ninety-fourth year.
It was in 1840, in Auglaize County, Ohio, that our subjeet began his earthly eareer. ITis scholas- tie advantages were such as the common schools afforded, and his early training on the farm fitted him for his subsequent career as an agrienlturist. It was in 1861, when about twenty-one years of age, that our subject decided to take unto himself a wife. He married Miss Elizabeth Wagner, a na- tive of Auglaize County, Ohio. and the daughter of Methius Wagner, and immediately afterward located on the farm where they now reside. They started with one hundred and twenty acres, but this has since been increased to two hundred and forty aeres, all in a fine state of cultivation. They have a good residence, with all the modern im- provements, and the outbuildings are all substan- tial and commodious. His farming implements are all of the latest and best make, and all his farming operations are conducted on the most thorough and systematie principles.
To this marriage six children were given, as fol- lows: Henry J., George A., William E., Amelia M., Ella E. and Olena C. Henry J. married Miss Ida Dieker, and is now engaged in the dry-goods busi- ness at Wapakoneta, Ohio; George A. married Miss Mary Freyer, daughter of William Freyer, and is a farmer of this township; and William E. married Miss Laura Bush, daughter of Joseph Bush, of this county, and is now a farmer of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Werst are members of the Catholic Church, and in politics, he has ever upheld the platform of the Democratic party. He has held the office of Township Trustee. Justice of the Peace, Commissioner, and has held other local positions. Ile is at present Justice of the Peace, and is dis-
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charging tbe duties of that office in an able and superior manner. Ile is one of the representative men of Auglaize County, is an excellent business man, and thoroughly understands managing & farm. His children have all been well educated, and he has ever taken a deep interest in church and school work.
G EORGE R. DAVIS. This talented young lawyer has achieved a high reputation for legal ability at the Wapakoneta and other Bars. Ile was born at Huntsville, Logan County, Ohio, December 13, 1861. Ile, the second scion of his father's house, was reared in Auglaize County, and received the best of all training-a thorough course in the public schools of Wapako- neta-and in time graduated from the High School of that place. When still but a youth, he began the study of law in the office of Marshall & Broth- erton, of Wapakoneta, and in July, 1883, was ad- mitted to the Bar. With characteristic self-reliance, he opened an office in the town where he had grown to manhood, and in the midst of able and experienced competition, he is enjoying the re- ward of elose application and diligent pursuit of his studies.
Mr. Davis is not so deeply immersed in his pro- fession that he has lost all interest in public affairs; on the contrary, he is keenly alive to the current issues of the day, and has advanced liberal and progressive ideas on all eurrent topics. As Presi- dent of the Citizens' Building & Loan Company, Director in the People's National Bank, Director in the Wapakoneta Natural Gas Company, and Director of the Ilome Milling Company, he com- mands the highest respect and admiration of his associates many years older in experience thian himself. He has shown his approval of seeret or- ganizations by becoming a member of the Knights of Pythias. Although he never sought nor held publie office. he takes an active interest in political matters; has been Chairman of the Republican
Central and Exeentive Committees of his county, and is a member of the Republican State Central Committee of Ohio. He was one of the organi- zers and first President of the Lincoln Club, of Wapakoneta.
On December 21, 1886, he was married to Miss Emma J. Davis, of Wapakoneta, but after a brief, yet happy, wedded life, his wife's death occurred, July 1, 1889. Ilis second matrimonial alliance was formed on the 16th of October, 1890, Miss Katharine Seovil, of Cireleville, Ohio, becoming his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are active members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an Elder. In the domestie circle Mr. Davis is a model husband and father, and loves his family with ex- treme devotion, making their happiness and com- fort the chief aim and objeet of liis life. When the toils of the day are over, he can almost invari- ably be found at his eozy and comfortable home, where generous and true-hearted, yet unostenta- tious, hospitality is displayed to the delight of the many friends who gather beneath their roof.
The parents of Mr. Davis, James and Mary (Col- ledge) Davis, were both born in England, but came to America in early life and were married in Ohio. They were residents of Logan, Clarke and Greene Counties for a number of years, but finally located at Wapakoneta, where the father was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods until 1882, when he retired from the active duties of life, and with his worthy wife is now in the enjoyment of a hale and vigorous old age. Their other children are: David J., Edwin L., Lewis G., Wilbert C., Caroline M., wife of Dr. J. S. Bodwell, and Mary, wife of Irvin 11. Davis.
W ILLIAM BIMEL. St. Mary's is fortunate in possessing among the jewels of her eiti- zenship young men whose enterprise keeps business in a lively circulation. Among the most stirring of these is the gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch. He was born in Sidney,
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Shelby County, Jannary 27, 1851. His father, Lawrence Bimel, was a native of Germany, and was there born in 1827.
Our subjeet's father came to America with his parents in 1833, arriving in the country when six years old. Ilis father was a tailor, who sought for the betterment of his condition in the New World. The family settled in Auglaize County, near Wa- pakoneta. The country was new and sparsely settled, and the Bimel family, in common with nearly all the pioneers, saw some hard times. Al- though denied all educational advantages, Law- rence Bimel picked up education enough to enable him to transaet business intelligently. Having learned the trade of a blacksmith, he settledl at Sidney, Ohio, where he was engaged in the manu- facture of carriages and in general blacksmithing. During one of the long and tedious trips East for material to work with, the foreman of his shop loaded up all the tools and material that were mov- able and drove off with it. This was a sad blow to the prospects of the Bimel family. In 1857, our subject's father moved to St. Mary's and estab- lished himself in the same line of business, and in 1868 he erected a large huub and spoke factory. This was destroyed by fire. In 1872, he began the manufacture of the Bimel Wagon, which has be- come quite famous. Ile died in 1888, but had previously established a large and lucrative busi- ness. lle was a modest, hard-working, industrious man.
Our subject's mother, Elizabeth (Seitz) Bimel, also a native of Germany, came to America when a child. She continues to reside in St. Mary's, oc- cupying a comfortable brick residence which was erected by her late husband. Five of their nine children are still living, and of these our subject is the eldest.
William Bimel received his education in the public schools of St. Mary's. At the age of nine years, he went to work in his father's carriage shop, and when only seventeen, was made superintend- ent of the paint department. having previously mastered the trade. He subsequently became gen- eral superintendent of the work, doing the buying and assuming much of the business.
In 1891. the carriage works became the property
of a stock company, for which Mr. Bimel is the general manager. Besides this, he is interested in other enterprises, being a stockholder, Director, and holding the office of Secretary and Treasurer of the Bimel & Standish Manufacturing Company, which is one of the prosperous industries of St. Mary's. He is also a stockholder in the First Na- tional Bank, and has valuable property interests in the town.
Our subject was married in 1874 to Miss Carrie Bradley, a daughter of Dr. Jacob Bradley, who was for many years a prominent and successful physi- eian of St. Mary's. Mr. and Mrs. Bimel are the parents of three children, whose names are Ger- trude, Emma and Marguerite. Mr. Bimel is a Democrat in his political preference but is not an active politician. He has served on the School Board for several years and also in the City Council.
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