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 66
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 66
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 66
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THOMAS SKILLEN. The name of this gen- tleman is indissolubly connected with the history of Shelby County, and, indeed, with its entire development, he being the oldest living pioneer resident of Loramie Township, and it thus gives us pleasure to place upon the pages of this volume a biographieal review of his life. He has been very successful in the acquirement of wealth and is the owner of two hundred and fifty-six acres of land in this region.
The original of this sketch, who has lived in Shelby County since 1817, was born in Westmore-
land County, Pa., October 23, 1815, and is a son of William Skillen, who was born in that State June 23, 1793. Grandfather Samuel Skillen was born on the Atlantic Ocean May 12, 1769, while his parents were en route to the New World from Ireland. They located in Pennsylvania, where they were farmers.
In 1817, William Skillen, in company with two uncles and other relatives, constructed a raft, which they floated down the Alleghany River to Pittsburgh, thence down the Ohio River to Cincin- nati, the party containing abont thirty people. The father remained at Indian Hill for two months, and in the fall of that year came to this county, when it formed a portion of Miami County, and located on section 8, in what is now Loramie Township. Ilere he entered land from the Gov- ernment, erected a log eabin on his property, and resided in this section when there were but few families here, the country being a dense forest, in- habited by Indians and wild beasts. The father, in the winter of 1817, cleared a small portion of his farm, which he planted in corn the following spring. Dayton and Cincinnati, several miles distant, were the nearest markets in those early days, and it was there that Mr. Skillen, like other pioneers, hauled the prodnets of his farm. Ile took an active part in the organization of Shelby County in 1819, and held the various local offices of his township. He departed this life in 1842, when in his forty-ninth year.
Onr subject's mother, who died in 1828, bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Gray, and was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent. At her de- cease she left a family of five children, of whom our subject was the eldest bnt one. He has one sister living, Mrs. Sarah Jane MeClure, who is residing in Seward County, Neb. The father of our subject in 1830 chose for his second wife Frances Cromor, a native of Miami County, this State, by whom he became the father of one child, who is now deceased.
lle of whom we write was only two years of age when his parents came to this locality, and was here educated in the common schools, which were conducted in that early day on the subscription plan, in a log schoolhouse with puncheon floor,
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slab seats, greased paper for window lights, etc. As soon as old enough, he assisted his father in carrying on the farm, hoeing corn being his first work. He remained at home until reaching his majority, when he engaged to work out on a farm for three years. llis health failing, in 1839 Mr. Skillen went South to Arkansas, and on his return the following year was married and, with his bride, again went to Arkansas and made his home there for three years.
In 1843, returning to Shelby County, Mr. Skillen took up his abode on section 3, Loramie Town- ship, which has since been his home. In 1846, he engaged in the produce business, buying and ship- ping to the city markets, in which branch of busi- ness he was engaged until 1877, in the meantime, however, carrying on his farm work. For the past fifteen years he has lived somewhat retired. but probably enjoys as extensive an acquaintance, and rejoices in the good-will of as many friends, as any man in Shelby County.
Angust 12, 1840, Mr. Skillen and Miss Susannah Julien were united in marriage. His wife died in the spring of 1844, leaving two children as a pledge of their love. Four years later, he was mar- ried to Amanda Gritlis, who died in 1851, leaving one child, Theodore, who was born December 19, 1850. The latter is now married and resides on the old homestead. The third marriage of our subject occurred in 1852, at which time Miss Margaret Blackwood, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1816, became his wife. They are both members of the Presbyterian Church, with which denomi- nation they have been connected for over forty years, and of which body Mrs. Skillen is one of the charter members, having aided in its organiz- ation in this vicinity in 1847.
Although reared to Democratie principles, our subject has since 1856 voted with the Republican party. As before stated, he is in the truest sense a self-made man, as he began life with no other capital than a sound mind in a sound body. Ile worked with an indomitable will and unflagging energy to overcome all obstacles that lay in his way as a pioneer of a newly-settled region, and in time had the satisfaction to know that he had made his life successful hnancially, as well as in
other directions, so that he is enabled now to pass life free from the cares of business and in the en- joyment of every comfort. One hundred and forty-six acres of his estate lie in Cynthiana Town- ship and bear all the improvements which char- acterize their owner as a man of enterprise and progress.
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Le EWIS N. BLUME, President of the First National Bank of Wapakoneta. It is im- possible in a brief biograplucal sketch to render full justice to prominent men, and yet there are some who are so intimately and clearly identi- fied with the country's welfare, and whose names are so familiar to all, that it is only justice to dwell upon what they have done and the influence of their career upon others, not as a few words of praise, but as the plain statement of a plain truth.
The First National Bank of this city was estab- lished in April, 1884, with L. N. Blume President, and C. F. Herbst Cashier, their capital stock being $100,000. Our subject, who is a native of this county, was born June 21, 1846, to Leon and IIan- nah (Myers) Blume, the former a native of France, and the latter of this country. Mr. Blume's father emigrated to this country in his youth, and was married in Norwalk, Huron County, this State, where he was a prominent merchant. In 1845, he came to Auglaize County and remained for one year in Wapakoneta, when he moved to St. John's, six miles east of this city, and carried on merchan- dising for some years. In 1860, he returned to his city, where he was ranked among its wealthy and respected citizens until his decease, which oc- curred in 1888.
The parental family of our subject included two sons and one daughter, of whom he was the sec- ond in order of birth. IIe received an excellent education in the public schools of Wapakoneta, and when his studies were completed, at the early age of seventeen embarked in mereantile pursuits, to which he was assiduously devoted. Ilaving
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read law with the Hon. W. M. Layton, one of the most prominent men in this part of the State, he was admitted to the Bar in 1874, and for two years practiced his profession in partnership with the Hon. R. D. Marshall, of Dayton. During this time he still carried on his mercantile affairs, and the demands upon him in that direction became so pressing that he abandoned his profession and eon- tinued in the business until 1884.
In the above year, Mr. Binme organized the First National Bank, since which time he has done the leading banking business in the county. IIe is an active, wide-awake man, and has won great suc- cess in pursuing this, his favorite ocenpation. Be- ing a public-spirited man, and one possessed of un- daunted courage, he has always advocated the cause of worthy undertakings that were caleulated to advance the interests of the community in which he resides. He has served as City Clerk for a per- iod of eight years, and has been a member of the Board of Education for twelve years, and the President of the Board for seven or eight years. In social matters, he is a Knight Templar, a Mason, and member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Area- nnm.
Miss Harriet C. Sallada became the wife of onr subject in 1866. Mrs. Blume is a native of Spring- field, this State, and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
8 AMUEL HARROD. There is a very fine farm on section 19, Wayne Township, Auglaize County, which belongs to the gentleman whose name is given above. Ilis interests are all centered upon his farm, which speaks in itself of the intelligent care expended upon it and the progress with which he keeps pace in agricultural affairs.
Mr. Harrod is a son of Jacob and Lydia (Biggs) Harrod, both of Knox County. Ohio. The latter was a daughter of Jeremiah Biggs. They were
married in 1821, and immediately afterward set- tled upon a new farm in Knox Connty. Their first home was in a log cabin, and one can imagine the scope that the young wife had for future plans of improvement. Perhaps she did not dream of possessing as fine a house as her son now occu- pies, but doubtless in her mind's eye she saw it in the midst of a sea of bright-lined blossoms, the rough logs tenderly covered with vines, neatly trimmed hedges, and with fertile fields of waving grain stretching away in symmetrical lines from the house. She was a practical woman, however, and a helpful wife, greatly aiding her husband in his efforts to attain a comfortable home. Our subject's father passed away from this life in 1883, the mother having been taken in 1850. Both were members of the Baptist Church, in which they were zealous workers. Politically, onr subjeet's father was a Jacksonian Demoerat, when the purity of the party had not as yet been sullied by "rings."
Our subject was born in Knox County, on the old home farm, in 1822. Ile at the present time resides on seetion 19, of Wayne Township. In his boyhood, he received a good common-school education, and at the age of twenty-seven he was married to Miss Eliza Copeland, a daugh- ter of Abner Copeland, of Auglaize Connty. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Harrod settled upon the place where they now live. It was then en- tirely nncultivated, and our subject can look back over the years he has spent here and take to him- self the credit that at least one spot on earth has been made beautiful and prolific as the result of his efforts. He is the owner now of two hundred and eleven aeres of land, all of which is well- improved.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of three children, two of whom are now living: Mor- gan and Ira. The latter is married and lives at home on the old farm. His wife is a daughter of Dr. R. I. Kribs, of Wayne Township, this eounty. The elder son married Lulu M. Musser, a daughter of Abraham Musser, of Auglaize County. Both of these sons have received good educational advan- tages in the public schools of the locality. It is greatly to our subject's credit that, having started out in life without a dollar, he is now the owner
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of one of the best farms in the township where he lives. Both he and his wife are worshippers at the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Harrod is a Deacon. Politically, our subject is a Democrat, and has been elected by his party to fill the ollices of Trustee and Treasurer.
D R. C. C. STOKES. In a comprehensive work of this kind, dealing with industrial pursuits, sciences, arts and professions, it is only fit and right that that profession on which in in some period of our existence we are all more or less dependent should be noticed. It is the pre- rogative of the physician to relieve or alleviate the ailments to which humanity is prone, and as such he deserves the most grateful consideration of all. A prominent physician and druggist, who by his own unusual abilities has attained distinction in his profession, is Dr. C. C. Stokes.
This gentleman was born in East Liberty, Perry Township, Logan County, Ohio, on the 2d of June, 1849, to the union of Josephi and Susan R. (Aus- tin) Stokes, both natives of the Buckeye State. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph Stokes, Sr., was a native of Virginia and of Eng- lish extraction. The latter came to Ohio at a very early period in the history of the State, and developed the farm on which our subject now re- sides. Joseph Stokes, Jr., was born in Zane Town- ship, Logan County, in 1821, and is now success- fully and actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in that county. His wife, who is also living, was the daughter of C. H. Austin, a native of the Em- pire State. Mr. Austin came with his parents to Ohio at an early date, and here passed the remain- der of his days. To Mr. and Mrs. Stokes were born four children, three sons and one daughter, as follows: Dr. C. C., our subject; William G., of Colorado; Lydia R., at home with her parents; and Americus R., who is also at home.
Dr. C. C. Stokes received his elementary educa- tion in the district schools of his native township
and finished in the Ohio Wesleyan University, of Delaware, Ohio. He first hegan his medical studies under Dr. W. T. Sharp, of West Middleburgh, Ohio, and subsequently entered the Medical and Sur- gieal College of Cincinnati, from which well- known institution he was graduated in 1874. After this, he located in East Liberty, Ohio, re- mained there about six months, and then removed
to Union County, Ohio, where he practiced his profession until 1878. For some time he was en- gaged in the drug business in connection with his practice, and in his dual capacity of physician and druggist won an enviable reputation. How- ever, his practice increased to such an extent that he was obliged to give up the drug business, and has since devoted his entire time to his profession.
Our subjec: was married on the 4th of Sep- tember, 1873, to Miss Mary S. Sharp, a native of Zane Township, Logan County, Ohio, born in 1850, and the daughter of Joshua B. and Cather- ine (Novill) Sharp. To Doctor and Mrs. Stokes has been born one daughter, Estella. Dr. Stokes takes a decided interest in all religions matters and is a prominent member of the Christian Church.
OHIN L. SULLIVAN is the gifted young editor and manager of the Graphic, a paper issued by the Graphie Publishing Company, at St. Mary's, in the interest of the Republi- can party, and his literary talents and executive ability are fast bringing him to the front in his profession. Ile is a native of this county and was born in Moulton Township, November 11. 1860, and represents pioneer families on both sides of the house. Ile is a son of Carter II. and Elvira (Dalton) Sullivan, who are natives, respectively, of Virginia and Ohio. His father was born in the year 1827, and came to this State with his parents when a boy. He grew to manhood amid the prim- itive environments of the early days of the settle- ment of Auglaize County, and in turn became one
27
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of its pioneers, doing valuable service in develop- ing its resourees during the active years of his life as a farmer, when he eleared and improved a val- uable farm. lle is now passing his declining years in St. Mary's, Ohio. IIe is a man of solid worth and true religious principles and for several years has been a zealous member of the Methodist Church. He and his good wife have reared a funily of four- teen children, of whom ten are living, our subject being the eightlı in order of birthi.
Ile of whom we write was brought up amid the wholesome and invigorating influences of farm life. Ilis early education was obtained in the local district schools, and he subsequently attended the city schools of St. Mary's for five years. In 1883, he determined to become a printer, and he learned the art of type-setting in the office of the St. Mary's Sentinel, in which he remained a year. The ensu- ing five years were spent in the office of the Argus. In 1889, he was appointed Assistant Postmaster at St. Mary's. His genius and temperament qualify him for literary work and he was subsequently selected as the young man best fitted for the posi-
tion of editor and manager of the Graphic, his appointment being made July 1, 1891, when he succeeded C. E. Detter, who started the paper in December, 1890. It is a six-column quarto, issued in a neat and attractive form, with its reading mat- ter carefully selected; its editorials, written in a masterly style and covering a wide range of topies, evince careful study and a thorough familiarity with and comprehension of affairs of political and National import. It is conducted after a liberal poliey, is very effective as a party organ of the Republicans, and, as it so well merits, has an ex- tensive patronage. The Graphic has a well- appointed office and a complete job-printing depart- ment, supplied with the best modern machinery and the latest devices in the typographical line.
Mr. Sullivan is a genial, even-tempered gentle- man, of good address and scholarly tastes, who is a political and social power in his native county, and is a general favorite. He has been Chairman of the County Republican Central Committee for the past two years, and has shown himself to be a wise and skillful leader and organizer. le has twice received the nomination for the office of
Mayor of the city, and once came within twenty votes of being elected, although the municipality is strongly Democratic, the opposing party usually having a majority of at least two hundred votes. Mr. Sullivan's social relations are with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternity.
C IIRISTIAN BUEIILER. Our subjeet is a member of the firm of C. Buehler & Co., proprietors of large foundry and ma- eline shops at St. Mary's. Mr. Buehler is one of the army of self-made men whose success has resulted from their sticking closely to business. At the age of sixteen, be left his home in Baden, Germany, to wrest a victory from circumstances in the New World.
Mr. Buehler was born in Baden, Germany, De- cember 6, 1837. He is a son of George Buehler, a cabinet-maker, who emigrated to America and set- tled in New Bremen, Auglaize County, Ohio, in 1855. There he worked at his trade until the time of his death, which occurred in 1878, he being then seventy-four years old. He had seen some active service in the German army.
Our subject's mother, who reared seven chil- dren, five of whom are still living, died in 1883. Christian is the eldest of his father's family. The major part of his education was acquired in his native land, and with a conviction that he could better his condition in the New World, he took passage for Ameriea. Ile passed through Paris and sailed from Havre, France. The voyage hither was an eventful one, as they were on the water sixty-six days. The fourth week out from land the ship was baek in sight of Ilavre. On the breaking out of a fire, the passengers abandoned all hope, but a kind Providence saved them from the elements.
Our subjeet landed in New York with empty pockets, and for six weeks he took sueh employ- ment as he could get at fifty cents per week and
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his board. Having relatives in New Bremen, he determined to come Westward. After arriving in Auglaize County, he busied himself at the cab- inet-maker's trade, which he had learned under his father, and later combined with it the trade of a mill-wright.
Every locality in this county is familiar to Mr. Buehler, as his work has taken him over a terri- tory embraced in a radius of forty miles. He came to St. Mary's in 1861, and opened a shop in partnership with his brother George, our sub- jeet having entire charge of the inside work. In 1869, our subjeet built bis present large foundry and machine shop. He began with a single lathe, a small planer, and other things in accordance, but his business growth has been steady. Mr. Buehler now has a partner and does business under the firm name of C. B. Buehler & Co. The firm do all kinds of repairing, making a specialty of repair- ing tools used in drilling oil or gas wells. Six- teen men are constantly employed in the shop.
The original of our sketeh was married in 1861 to Miss Margaret Winterliek, a native of Ger- many, whose parents came to America when she was a eliild. Seven children have come to grace the Buehler fireside, and they are Ollie, Minna, Lillie, Augusta, Brownell, and two children who are deceased. Mr. Buehler is a firm believer in the political doctrines held by the Republicans.
R EV. GEORGE L. KALB, D. D., was born in Franklin County, this State, September 12, 1829, and is the son of George W. and Margaret (Claybaugh) Kalb, natives re- spectively of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The family is of German origin, the first representa- tive in this country having emigrated hither prior to the Revolutionary War and in this conflict many of them participated.
Grandfather George Kalb took up his abode in this State as early as 1805, at which time he located in Franklin County. The maternal grandfather
made his home in Fayette County in 1809, subse- quently located in Franklin County, and died while a resident of Ross County. George W. Kalb was a farmer by occupation and died in 1882, at the advanced age of eighty years.
Of the parental family of eight sons, our subject is the second in order of birth. He was reared on the bome farm and attended the common sehools until reaching his fifteenth year. Ile then entered the Freshman class of the Miami Univer- sity at Oxford in 1844. Being compelled by illness to leave college, he pursued the studies of the Soph- omore year at home and in the fall of 1846 en- tered the Junior class of the same university. In the winter of 1817-48, he was expelled from that institution, with many others, for rolling snow-balls into the college building. Being desirous of equip- ping himself for any position in life, Mr. Kalb en- tered Center College at Danville, Ky., being grad- uated therefrom June 30, 1848. After completing his education, he taught Greek and Latin for one year in the academy of Chillicothe, this State, and in the fall of the succeeding year attended the theological seminary at Oxford, Ohio. Spending one term there, Mr. Kalb next took a course in the Cincinnati Theological Seminary, which was after- ward removed to Danville, Ky., and from which institution he was graduated in March, 1852.
The Rev. Mr. Kalb, of this sketch, was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Col- umbus, April 16, 1851, and was ordained pastor of the church at Circleville May 31, 1853. He had taken charge of the church at the latter-named place in October, 1852, and was retained by the congregation until September, 1863. He served as Chaplain of the Ninetieth Ohio Infantry for eight months during the years 1862-63. In September of the latter year, Mr. Kalb was given charge over the church at Bellefontaine, by which congregation he is still engaged. The title of Doetor of Divin- ity was conferred upon him in June, 1875, by the University of Wooster, this State.
Miss Mary E. Bigham became the wife of our subject November 30, 1853, and to them has been granted a family of six children, five of whom are living, namely: Mrs. I. W. Fowle, of Leadville, Colo .; Mrs. Lew Hamilton, residing in
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Bellefontaine; Edgar W., George B. and Mary. Mr. Kalb has won a host of friends by his interest in public matters and his willingness to assist in the advancement of all worthy causes. He has served as a member of the School Board of Bellefon- taine eighteen years and occupied the position of Clerk seventeen years. He is a correspondent of sev- eral leading religions papers and stands first in the university among his fellow-constituents. Both he and his wife possess genial, sunny temperaments, know well how to enjoy life, and are social favor- ites, their pleasant home being the center of gen- uine hospitality which attracts a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
R. A. W. REDDISH, one of the prominent young physicians and surgeons of Sidney, of the homeopathic school of medicine, has practiced his profession very success- fully in this city since 1883. He has shown liim- self eminently worthy of the confidence and trust reposed in him by all classes, and is unquestion- ably a physician of decided merit. The Doctor has been a resident of this county all his life, his birth occurring in Sidney on the 29th of Decem- ber, 1859, and he is the son of George and Elizabeth (Duett) Reddish.
The elder Mr. Reddish was a native of Berks County, Pa., born near Harrisburgh and came to this county when a young man, about fifty years ago. This was before railroads had cut up the country very much, and he made the distance on foot. He was engaged in different occupa- tions, and ran a carding-mill for a number of years. lle was also a very extensive stock- buyer for a number of years. However, farming was his principal occupation, and he is now the owner of a good residence just outside the cor- poration of Sidney. He isa man possessed of much enterprise and push and has met with substantial results in consequence. After the discovery of gold in California, Mr. Reddish was filled with a ;
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