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** RETURN TO BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX ** ** RETURN TO HISTORY CONTENTS **   THE SADLER FAMILY - Page 548, Oxford Twp.   ANTHONY SALSMAN - Page 590, Union Twp.   EZEKIEL SAMUELS - Page 619, Wayne Twp. . JOHN L. SCHALK - Page 469, Ross Twp.   JAMES M. SCHENCK - Page 609, Madison Twp.   JONATHAN SCHENCK - Page 609, Madison Twp.   MORITZ SCHLENCK - Page 549, Oxford Twp.   WILLIAM SCHENCK - Page 609, Madison Twp.   DAVID CHAMBERLAIN SCOTT- Page 559, St. Clair Twp.   BENJAMIN SCUDDER - Page 500, Liberty Twp.   HENRY SEFTON, the father of a large posterity, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, February 19, 1812.  On the 22d of March, 1838, he married Margaret Jones, daughter of Morris and Ann (Bebb) Jones.  His wife was born in Ross Township, Butler County, Ohio, January 11, 1814.  This union produced eleven children, seven of whom are living, two dying in their youth, and one at the age of twenty-seven years, killed in a well.  Milton, the oldest of the family, was born on the 12th of April, 1839.  He is married and lives in Preble County, Ohio.  Elizabeth, who is single, was born on the 13th of May 1840.  Martha Ann was born February 21, 1842.  She is the wife of John R. Bevis, of Reily Township, one half mile west of Ogleton.  Everett was born on the 14th of January, 1844, an was killed in 1871.  Louisa was born February 22, 1846.  Euphemia was born July 21, 1847, and died young.  Cornelia was born August 17, 1849.  She is the wife of William Baughman, of Harrison Township, Hamilton County, Ohio.  Emma S.  was born March 19, 1854, dying early in life.  Gilbert was born February 15, 1856.      After his marriage, Mr. Sefton farmed in Hamilton County for a few years on his father's place, and about 1845 moved to Morgan Township, on Paddy's Run, where he purchased one quarter section of land, on which he resided until his death, August 15, 1856.  Mr. Safton was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and in all the enterprises of a public nature took an active and consistent part.  His son, Milton, was drafted for the war, but secured a substitute.  Everett enlisted in the Fall of 1861 in the fifth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Company H.  He served three years, was discharged, and then taken prisoner.  Mrs. Safton, with the family, a portion of which is yet at home, carries on the farm successfully.  They are among the solid people of the county, having accumulated a handsome competency. - Page 619, Wayne Twp. . JOHN SELBY - Page 609, Madison Twp.   SAMUEL SELBY - Page 610, Madison Twp.   CLEMENCE SHAFER - Page 620, Wayne Twp.   PETER SHAFOR - Page 499, Liberty Twp.   ELDER KNOWLES SHAW - a name familiar in many western households - was born near New London, in Morgan Township, on the 13th of October, 1834.  His mother's maiden name was Huldah Griffin, and by both of his parents he was of Scotch extraction.  His early life was spent in Rush County, Indiana, where he first began to play the violin, furnishing the music for many a dance.  While the ball was going on he was  converted, ceasing to play in the middle of the piece he was performing.   Very soon thereafter he entered the ministry of the Christian Church.  On the 11th of January, 1855, he married Miss Martha Finley.  Most of his time after entering the ministry was spent in the West and South, and on account of his wonderful vocal powers he was called the "singing evangelist."      As a singer he was considered, in some respects, equal to Sankey and Bliss.  Reporters of the press all spoke of his singing as something wonderful.  Soon after beginning to preach, he began to compose and to write music.  His first son was "The Shining Ones," still popular.  He published at different times five singing-books: "Shining Pearls," "Golden Gate," "Sparkling Jewels," "The Gospel Trumpet," and the "Morning Star."  "Bringing in the Sheaves" was one of the last songs from his hand.       His last meeting was held in Dallas, Texas, in May, 1878.   He was killed by a railroad accident, going from Dalls to McKinney, on the 7th of June, 1878.  During his ministry he baptized over eleven thousand persons.   CHARLES H. SHEPHERD - Page 591, Union Twp.   PETER W. SHEPHERD - Page 499, Liberty Twp.   WILLIAM E. SHEPHERD - Page 591, Union Twp.   JOHN SHERA - Page 549, Oxford Twp.   JOHN SHROYER was an undertaker for forty years in this section of country, during which time he buried over one thousand persons.  The first hearse in the township was a common one-horse farm-wagon.  After several years it was replaced by a one-horse spring-wagon.  In 1855 another took its place, with window glass eight by ten inches on each side.  It did service until January 13, 1864, when Mr. Shroyer died, aged sixty-six.  He was buried at his request in a coffin made by himself, as really he was his own workman.  His prices ranged from two dollars to eight dollars per coffin and attendance.  There have been eight children, the eldest dying in infancy.  The others are, Nelson, Delilah, John, who died May 26, 1868, aged twenty-five; Catherine, Thomas, Lydia, and George, who died in his youth.   THOMAS SHROYER, is well known in both Hamilton and Butler counties.  He is of a literary disposition; has filled the office of Sunday-school superintendent, organist in the United Brethren Church of New Haven, and has for a number of years been a leading correspondent for newspapers. .     JOHN SINKEY was born at Amanda, in Lemon Township, and was the son of John Sinkey, a native of Pennsylvania, and Mary Sheilds.  The latter came from Ireland.  He was first a distiller, but was afterwards a farmer, and has followed this occupation for thirty-nine years.  He was married in Lemon Township to Rebecca Hedding, daughter of William Hedding and Mary Black, who came from Pennsylvania in 1838.  She was born in 1823.  They have had nine children.  Mary Jane Snyder, was born April 15, 1839; Isabel Cooper, October 9, 1841; James, May 23, 1844; William H., December 25, 1845; John W., May 1, 1847; Daniel, December 27, 1849; Charlotte Kemp, 1852; Sarah E., July 12, 1857, and Charlotte, August 27, 1860.  James Sinkey shouldered his musket and served in the last war. - Page 609, Madison Twp. . WILLIAM SIPP - Page 559, St. Clair Twp.   JAMES SMITH - Page 558, St. Clair Twp.   JOHN SMITH - Page 548, Oxford Twp. . FREDERICK SMOYER - Page 573 - Milford Twp.   CHRISTIAN HENRY SOHN, of the firm of Sohn & Rentschler, was born in the city of Bissingen, in Wirtemberg, Germany, May 15, 1846. His father, Charles Frederick Sohn, came to America about 1849, and after a brief interval settled in Cincinnati, where he followed the calling of a brewer. About that time the mother of Christian Henry died, leaving a family of two sons and two daughters, and a year after her death the father sent for his family of little children from Germany, and they were brought over by a cousin. Upon his arrival, J. G. Sohn, the uncle of the boy, took charge of him, keeping him at school until his fourteenth year, when he went to work.      In 1860 he came to Hamilton, being apprenticed to Jacob Rupp, a butcher, and remained with him until the breaking out of the war. Filled with patriotic ardor for his adopted country, he enlisted, but was soon brought back on a writ of habeas corpus, as he had enlisted without the consent of his father, and was only fifteen years of age. In 1863 he went to Cincinnati and engaged as clerk in a grocery store, remaining there until his eighteenth year, when he again enlisted, in Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-first Ohio Regiment. With this regiment he stayed until the 23d of November, 1864. On that day he was wounded in the head by a shell, during the progress of the battle of Murfreesboro. He remained in the hospital at Murfreesboro for about seventy days, when he received a furlough, and returned home, reporting at Columbus. His company was mustered Out at Salisbury, North Carolina, and his discharge, which was dated July 14, 1865, was sent to him.      The effects of the wound which he had received were such as to disable him for more than a year, and for that period he was unable to work. That year he remained in Cincinnati, and at its expiration came to Hamilton, where he engaged to work in a brick yard. He stayed here with Jacob Rupp until 1869, in that year becoming bookkeeper for Henry Eger, in a brewery. In 1875 the firm of Sohn, Rentschler & Balle, founders and manufacturers of shelf hardware, was formed, with a very small capital. Their business rapidly increased, and on July 25, 1876, the first two partners bought out Mr. Balle, and formed firm under the name of Sohn & Rentschler. Mr. Sohn's partner is G. A. Rentschler, an active and able business man, who is interested in several other enterprises. They make shelf hardware, all kinds of gray iron castings, and machinery to order, having a large and rapidly increasing business. Mr. Sohn has also one-sixth interest in the stock company of Hooven, Owens, Rentschler & Co., manufacturers of portable and stationary engines and threshers; one-fourth of the Phoenix Castor Company, and one-third interest in an ice house in Fairfield Township, with a capacity of four thousand tons. He is interested in what is known as the Cincinnati Brewing Company. He is a member of Hamilton Lodge, No. 409, of Free and Accepted Masons, and is a prominent man in all social organizations.      He was married the twentieth day of December, 1876, to Anna Sophia Morgenthaler, daughter of Christian Morgenthaler, who was born July 25, 1813. His wife is now thirty-four years of age, having been born in April, 1848. The different concerns, in which he is. a partner employ about three hundred men. The Ohio Iron Works, as the firm of Sohn & Rentschler is known, started with three thousand dollars, each one contributing a thousand, but the partners have persevered, and by industry and forethought have made the business valuable. They erected their own buildings, the partners themselves working. Mr. Sohn is a shrewd, practical man, and in all his dealings is upright and just, and is considered one of Hamilton's most prominent and enterprising young business men. In society and among his friends he is genial and affable, while in business he is careful, prudent, and foreseeing.  From small beginnings their trade has gradually increased, until it has reached large dimensions. Mr. Sohn is an excellent example of a self-made man, and his career shows plainly what can be accomplished by industry and strict attention to business.   DAVID SOMMER - Page 573 - Milford Twp.   WILLIAM SOUTHARD - Page 609, Madison Twp.   CLARENCE H. SPAIN, who is station agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Bellville, is a veteran of the World War, and one of the prominent young men of Richland County.  He was born at Bellville, Aug. 27, 1894, the son of Archie and Nettie (Daugherty) Spain.      As a young man Archie Spain entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and was engaged in the construction of bridges.  He is still in the company's employ as section foreman between Butler and Bellville.  Mr. Spain is a native of Bellville, the son of Henry and Mary Ann Spain, who were natives of Ohio.  Both are deceased and are buried at Bellville.  Mr. Spain is a Republican and has served as a member of the city council for six years.  He holds membership in the Lutheran Church, and belongs to Bellville Lodge, F. and A. M., No. 376, and Knights of Pythias.  His wife was born in Jefferson Township, Richland County, the city council for six years.  He holds membership in the Lutheran Church, and belongs to Bellville Lodge F. and A. M., No. 376, and Knights of Pythias.  His wife was born in Jefferson Township, Richland County, the daughter of Michael and Mahala Daugherty.  They are deceased and are buried at Four Corners, near Butler, Ohio.  To Archie and Nettie (Daugherty) Spain was born one child, Clarence H., the subject of this sketch.      Clarence H. Spain attended the public schools of Bellville and is a graduate of Bellville High School, class of 1913.  He entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad as a clerk, later learned telegraphy, and was employed as an extra operator on the Newark division.  At the outbreak of the World War he enlisted in the Signal Corps and was sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio, later being transferred to Camp Pike, Arkansas, where he was assigned to the 312th Field Signal Battalion of the 87th Division, known as the "Acorn Division."      Mr. Spain saw active service with this Division in France and was discharged with the rank of sergeant in April, 1919.  He returned to his former employment with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad as operator at Neffs, Ohio, and in June, 1927, was transferred to Bellville as station agent and operator.      Mr. Spain is affiliated with Bellville Lodge, F. and A. M., No. 376; Baku Grotto, M. O. V. P. E. R.; Knights of Pythias; and American Legion, Irvin Hiskey Post, No. 535.  Politically, he is independent.      Mr. Spain is unmarried. Source: History of North Central Ohio - page 1598   JACOB STEINMAN - Page 590, Union Twp.   EDWARD T. STEPHENS  - Page 573 - Milford Twp.   JAMES ARTHUR STEPHENS - Page 573 - Milford Twp.   EDWARD T. STEPHENS - Page 573 - Milford Twp.   WILLIAM H. STEWART - Page 549, Oxford Twp.   HENRY STICKELS - Page 590, Union Twp.   SAMUEL STOKES - Page 620, Wayne Twp.   JAMES FINDLEY STOUT - Page 573 - Milford Twp.   JAMES SUTER was born in Frederick County, Virginia, September 2, 1818, and settled in this county in 1830.  His parents were William Suter and Margaret Pierce. He was married in Crawfordsville, Indiana, March 3, 1850, to Martha A. Banker, born in Poasttown, Madison Township, December 7, 1823, whose parents were David Banker and Mary McDill.  He was retired from business.  - Page 609, Madison Twp.   GEORGE WASHINGTON SWEARINGEN - Page 590, Union Twp.   ISAAC S. SWEARINGEN - Page 590, Union Twp.   JOHN VAN SWEARINGEN - Page 591, Union Twp.   BENJAMIN RANDOLPH SYMMES - Page 485, Fairfield Twp. NOTES: