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Source:
History of Shelby County, Ohio
and representative citizens
Publ. Evansville, Ind.
1913
947 pgs.

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  DR. WILLIAM FIELDING. The first practicing physician that settled in Shelby County was Dr. William Fielding who settled in Sidney in 1824, shortly after its selection as the county seat.  He was born May 1, 1796, in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and after a full medical course, commenced the practice of his profession in 1816 in Madison county, Ohio.  He was in the War of 1812 and served six months under Colonel Johnston.  In 1818 he went to Franklin and there practiced until coming to Sidney.  Dr. Fielding was identified with church, state and Masonic affairs as he was one of the ruling elders in the organization of the Presbyterian church in 1825.  He represented this county in the legislature for seven years both as senator and representative and was one of the original petitioners of Temperance Lodge No. 73, in 1825, was honored with being its first worshipful master, which position he held during his life at different times for twenty-seven years.  He was a thirty-third degree Mason and to this day the brethren assemble in the lodge room on his birthday every year.  His portrait in oil hangs on the walls of the temple.  He was probably the most learned of the past physicians of the county, a fine scholar and deep thinker, a Lord Chesterfield in manners, immaculate in dress and his name for nearly fifty years was a household word in Sidney and Shelby county.  He was married in 1818 and the father of twelve children, eleven of whom reached maturity.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 257
  JACOB M. FINKENBINE, a substantial and well known citizen of Dinsmore township, Shelby County, O., who owns a valuable farm of 120 acres, situated one and one-half miles east of Anna, O., together with improved property in that town, was born on this farm Apr. 27, 1854, and is a son of Louis and Sarah (Fogt) Finkenbine, for many years well known and highly respected residents of this township.
     Jacob M. Finkenbine obtained his education in the district schools and has spent his entire life amid his present home surroundings.  Remaining at home and assisting his father, when the latter died he fell heir to the homestead, and hence has never had reason to leave what he is convinced is one of the finest farming sections of the state.  As soon as the property became his own he began the improvements which he made it both more valuable and very attractive, new buildings of modern type having been erected and other changes made, all in the direction of development and added material comfort.  Mr. Finkenbine gives his personal attention to his different farm industries and is numbered with not only the busiest but also the most successful agriculturists of this neighborhood.
     Mr. Finkenbine married Miss Sophia D. Billings, who died May 2, 1910 and was buried in Pearl Cemetery in Franklin township.  Her father, Frederick Billings was born in Germany.  Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Finkenbine: Frederick, Lena and Nora, the only survivor being Lena, who remains with her father.  He is a member and liberal supporter of the Lutheran church.  In politics he is a stanch democrat but at present is serving in no political office although his reputation as an intelligent, upright and trustworthy man would indicate that any public trust would be safe in his hands.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page  717
Mr. & Mrs. John Finkenbine
John Finkenbine, Sr. & Mrs. John Finkenbine, Sr.
JOHN FINKENBINE, Sr., one of Shelby county's most substantial and respected citizens, now living retired and residing on  his large and well-improved property in Franklin township, where he owns 342 acres, is a native of the old Keystone State, born near the city of Philadelphia, in December, 1831.  His parents were Jacob and Susan (Fogt) Finkenbine.
     Jacob Finkenbine and wife were born in Baden, Germany, and many of the old and prominent families of Ohio have originated there.  When they came first to the United States they located at Philadelphia, Pa., but, in 1832, came to Shelby county, O., where he found ready employment at his trade of stone mason.  He and wife belonged to that sturdy, thrifty class naturally well equipped to face and overcome hardship and they not only comfortably reared their large family, by example and precept teaching them industrious habits, but so prospered that they lived to enjoy ease in their old age.  They were among the early founders of the German Lutheran church in this section.  They had the following children:  John, Jacob, Louis, Frederick, George, Charles, Christian, Michael, Dorothy and SarahDorothy married Jacob Fogt, and Sarah married John Fogt.
     John Finkenbine attended the district schools in boyhood but as soon as old enough to be trusted with the handling of tools, learned the carpenter trade, which he followed for a number of years.  In the meanwhile he acquired land, tract by tract, and then gave up carpenter work and during the remainder of his active life successfully engaged in farming and stock raising.  In addition to his Franklin township land he owns 123 acres in Dinsmore township.  The extensive farm activities are now in the hands of his sons who continue them profitably.
     On June 8, 1858, Mr. Finkenbine married Miss Barbara Schiff, who was born in Baden, Germany, a daughter of Michael and Magdalena (Ludwig) Schiff, who emigrated to America when Mrs. Finkenbine was six years old, she being the youngest of the family: Michael; Magdalena, wife of Jacob Pfaadt; Sarah, wife of Michael Stengle; Jacob; Christian and Barbara.  To Mr. and Mrs. Finkenbine the following children were born:  William; Magdalena, wife of Jacob Hagelberger and they have four children - Della, Alfred, Frederick and Carl; Louisa, wife of Christian Foster, and they have two children - Dora and Catherine; Julia, widow of Edward English, and they had three children - May, Bessie and George; Ella, wife of William Stockstill, and they have three children - Pearl, Minnie and Thomas; Sophia, deceased, formerly the wife of Thomas Emley, and they had two children - John and Warren; John E.; Margaret, wife of John Boyer, and they have three children - Clyde, Donald and Paul; and Lewis H. and Milton B.  Mr. Finkenbine and family are members of the German Lutheran church at Anna, O.  He is a strong democrat in his political views but has never desired to serve in public office.  Since coming to this section he has seen many changes take place, new methods of farming have been adopted and comforts and conveniences have been brought into the life of the farmer such as, in his boyhood, were not enjoyed by any residents outside of large cities.  He has seen many of the old families, also, pass away, their descendants giving up their birthrights of land to enter into the rush and bustle of town and city and it must be a source of satisfaction to him that his sons still love the soil.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page  544
  LEWIS H. FINKENBINE, general farmer and well known citizen of Franklin township, whose well improved sixty-acre farm is situated in a desirable section, not far from Sidney, was born in Franklin township, Shelby county, O., Nov. 22, 1877, and is a son of John and Barbara (Schiff) Finkenbine.  The father of Mr. Finkenbine was born in the city of Philadelphia, in 1831, and was one year old when his parents, who were natives of Baden, Germany, brought the family to Shelby county, O.  The mother was six years old when her parents, also of Baden, Germany, cross the Atlantic ocean to the United States and made their permanent settlement in Shelby county.  Of their family the mother was the youngest born.  Mr. and Mrs. Finkenbine are among the best known and most highly respected residents of Franklin township and are leading members of the German Lutheran church.
     Lewis H. Finkenbine was the ninth born in his parents' family of ten children and he remained with his father, whose agricultural interests are yet very large, until he was twenty-three years old, in the meanwhile securing a good public school education.  After his marriage he moved to his present far, which his wife had inherited from her father, and here, with much success, carries on general farming and moderate stock raising, taking advantage of modern inventions to save labor and increase production.
     Mr. Finkenbine was married in December, 1900, to Miss Della M. Wells, who was born in Clinton township, Shelby county, a daughter of Sylvester S. and Sarah J. (Estey) Wells, who were both early settlers and prominent people in the county.  Mrs. Finkenbine is the youngest of their children, the others being: Lilley, who is the wife of William Schlayman; Dacie, who is the wife of Charles B. Miller; and William A. and Arthur.
     Mr. and Mrs. Finkenbine have three children, Marie, Emory and Goldie.  The family belongs to the Lutheran church.  Politically Mr. Finkenbine is a democrat, although in local matters he exercises his own excellent judgment in supporting candidates, seldom accepting any office for himself, although he has served four years as township trustee and also a school director.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page  683
  WILLIAM FINKENBINE, one of the representative citizens and substantial and practical business men of Franklin township, was born in Shelby county, O., Feb. 18, 1859, and is a son of John and Barbara (Schiff) Finkenbine, who now live retired in Franklin township.  They are well known and highly esteemed people and are among the leading members of the German Lutheran church.
     William Finkenbine was the eldest born of his parents' family of ten children and he remained with his father on the extensive home farm until he was thirty years of age, in the meanwhile attending the district schools in the neighborhood.  After his twenty-first birthday he worked for his father for $100 a year and as he never drew one cent of his wages until he married, had a snug capital with which to start out for himself.  For nine years after marriage he rented farm land from his father but later purchased his present farm of eighty acres, on which he has profitably engaged in farming and stock raising ever since.
     Mr. Finkenbine was married first on Nov. 1, 1888, to Miss Ida M. Ludlum, who died Mar. 31, 1894.  She was a daughter of Eliakim and Sarah (Persinger) Ludlum.  Three children were born to the above marriage; Bonnie, who is deceased; Margie, who is the wife of Wilbur Schiff; and Wilbur, who is deceased.  On Mar. 4, 1897, Mr. Finkenbine was married (second) to Miss Emma C. Losch, a daughter of George and Sarah (Harmon) Losch, the former of whom died on his farm in this county and his burial was in the Pearl Cemetery.  The mother of Mrs. Finkenbine still resides in Franklin township, her children being: Jacob, George, Emma C., Lydia, Callie, John and Clara.  Mr. and Mrs. Finkenbine have two children: Freda Clara and Mary May.  The family belongs to the German Lutheran church, which has been the family church for several generations.  Mr. Finkenbine, like his father, is a strong democrat in his political views.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 678
  ALBERT J. FOSNIGHT,* whose valuable farm of 155 acres lies in Turtle Creek township, Shelby county, O., is one of the well-known men of this section, a successful farmer and enterprising, intelligent and thoughtful citizen.  He was born in Van Buren township, Shelby county, June 6, 1862, and is a son of Absalom and Sarah Layton (Cotterell) Fosnight.  The father, a native of Clark county, O., was a farmer all his life and both he and his wife died in Van Buren township.  They had the following children:  Henry; Albert J.; and Anna, who married Joseph Ellis and after his death married Joseph Reed.
    
In the public schools of Van Buren township, Albert J. Fosnight pursued his studies until fifteen years of age, in the meanwhile assisting his father on the home farm.  At that time the father died and Albert J. and his elder brother assumed the responsibilities and together they operated the farm until the former was twenty-three years old, when he took entire charge and carried on farming operations until his marriage, when he purchased the interests of the other heirs.  Later he sold the homestead and then spent four years engaged in farming in Oklahoma and after his return to Shelby county bought his present farm in Turtle Creek township.  He raises grain and other products that do well in this climate and also enough stock for home use.  Mr. Fosnight thoroughly understands everything pertaining to successful agriculture and his methods are those which ensure success.
     In 1882 Mr. Fosnight was married to Miss Sarah Jane Feree, who was born in Shelby county, a daughter of Jeremiah and Lena (Staley) Feree.  Mrs. Fosnight has two brothers, Grant and Joseph.  To Mr. and Mrs. Fosnight the following children have been born:  Clara, who is the wife of Clyde McClure; Frank, who married Alma Hensel; Edna, who is the wife of Lafayette Verdier, her first husband having been Frank KneedCharles; Cloy, who is the wife of John Reed; Lulu, who is the wife of Wayne Baker; and Lottie, John, Dessie and Clarence.  In his views on public questions Mr. Fosnight is very broad minded and is identified with the socialist party.

Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 828
  BENJAMIN F. FOSTER, whose fifty acres of fine land is situated one mile east of Sidney, bordering on the Tawawa turnpike road, in Clinton town­ship, Shelby county, O., was born on a farm one-half mile south of where he lives, October 6, 1864, and is a son of John and Catherine (Peterhaus) Foster.
     The parents of Benjamin F. Foster were born, reared and married in Germany, and one year after marriage came to the United States. They spent the first six months at Baltimore, Md.,. and then came to Ohio, pausing for a Short time at Dayton, and then came on into Shelby county, where they remained for the rest of their lives. John Foster became a substantial farmer in Clinton township. They were members of the Lutheran church and at death were buried in Graceland cemetery at Sidney. They had a large family of children, as follows: Christiana, who is the widow of Jacob Dormire; George and John, both of. whom are deceased; Mary, who is deceased, was the wife of John Shaffer; Christian; Lewis, who is deceased; William; Callie, who is the wife of L. W. Kah; Benjamin F.; and Catherine, who is the wife of Henry McCracken.
Benjamin F. Foster had common school advantages and since then has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, carrying on general farming and raising stock, and all his efforts have been expended on the old homestead.
     On November 22, 1894, Mr. Foster was married to Miss Jennie Gearhart, who was born in Perry township, Shelby county, a daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Miller) Gearhart, both natives of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart had the following children born to them: Harry, Edward, Lucy, William, Augusta, Jennie and Earl. Augusta is the widow of Ora A. Dunson. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have one son, John F., who was born October 2, 1896, who is a most satisfactory student in the Sidney high school. Mr. Foster and family attend the Lutheran church. Politically he is a democrat but is no aspirant for office, and fraternally he has been connected with the Odd Fellows at Sidney for many years. Mr. Foster is one of the solid, reliable men of Clinton township.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 474
  GEORGE W. FOSTER, a prosperous agriculturist and representative citizen of Loramie township, resides one and one-quarter mile south of Houston, O., on the Piqua and St. Mary's turnpike road, where he owns 120 acres of fine land, was born Feb. 28, 1860, at Canton, O., and is a son of John H. and Augusta Foster.
     John H. Foster
and wife were born in Germany and when they first reached the United States, settled at Wheeling, W. Va., and in a short time came to Canton, O., and in 1863 to Piqua, from which city, in 1870, they came to Loramie township, where they passed the rest of their lives.  They were members of the Brethren church at Piqua.  John H. Foster died when aged fifty-nine years and his wife when ten years older and their burial was at Houston.  They were parents of five sons and one daughter and four of the sons survive.
     George W. Foster attended the public schools of Piqua and in the Beech Grove District in Loramie township.  Afterward he became a farmer and lived five years in Washington township prior to his marriage, and twelve years afterward, and then came to his present farm in Loramie township.  When he settled here his land was covered with brush and thickets and it required much hard toil and a considerable expenditure of money to clear, cultivate and drain, and to place the many substantial improvements here.  Farming and stock raising employ Mr. Foster's attention, his two youngest sons now assuming many of the heaviest responsibilities.
     Mr. Foster married Miss Anna Snaveley, who was born in Washington township, a daughter of the late Washington Snaveley, and they have three children:  Theda B., who married E. H. Billing, of Swanders, O.; and Guy E. and Marion OMr. Foster and family are members of the Presbyterian church at Mt. Jefferson, in which he is an elder and is also church treasurer and a trustee.  He is a republican in politics.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 611
  EARL D. FRISTOE, whose farm of 138 acres of valuable land lies in Perry township, Shelby county, O., belongs to an old Shelby county family and was born in this township, January 21, 1879.  His parents were Milton and Mahala (Fahnestock) Fristoe.
     Milton Fristoe was a highly respected citizen, and a successful farmer.  His death occurred in September, 1901, and his burial was at Port Jefferson.  To his first marriage with Lyda Mericle four children were born: John, Anna, Libbie and Phebe.  His second marriage was to Mrs. Mahala (Fahnestock) Spangy, widow of Philip Spangy, who had two children, Frank and Clara.  To the second marriage but one child was born.  Earl D. and his mother resides at Sidney.
     Earl D. Fristoe attended the public schools an4 all his life has been more or less engaged in agricultural pursuits.  The first land he ever owned was forty acres situated in Orange township, which he sold and then bought sixty acres in Perry township and after selling that, bought his present farm, in 1909, at sheriff's sale, it being known as the old Henry English farm.  He made all necessary improvements, including the building of a new and substantial barn and is successfully interested here in raising Jersey cattle and Percheron horses.
     Mr. Fristoe was married in November, 1900, to Miss Nellie B. Faulder, who was born in Shelby county, July 16, 1880, a daughter of George and Caroline (Fergus) Faulder.  They are farming people in Salem township and their children are: Harry B., who is a physician at Wapakoneta; Charles, Edward, Taylor, Clementine, Nellie B., Mary, Donna, Chester and Benjamin.  To Mr. and Mrs. Fristoe one son was born to whom the name of Lawrence Theodore was given, but his little span of life covered only five weeks.  In politics Mr. Fristoe has been active as a republican and served three years as a county central committeeman, and is serving in his second term as vice president of the county fair board.  He is identified with the Knights of Pythias at Maplewood and Knights of Khorassan of Sidney, O.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 662
  WILLIAM H. FRISTOE, one of the leading men of Shelby county, and one who is known in democratic politics all over Ohio, came to this county in 1864 and it has been his home ever since.  He was born on a farm in Hocking county, O., March 2, 1851, and is a son of Charles and Anna Maria (Beery) Fristoe. 
     Charles Fristoe
was born and reared in Virginia and was twenty-one years of age when, in 1833, he came to Licking county, O.  He was married near Bremen, in Fairfield county, to Miss Anna Maria Beery, who was reared there and was a member of one of the old, prolific and substantial families of that section of Virginia ancestry.  The Beery family still holds yearly reunion and William H. Fristoe is president of the organization.  After marriage, Charles Fristoe bought a farm near Gore, in Falls township, Hocking county, and moved to Shelby county in 1864 when William H. was thirteen years of age, and here Charles Fristoe died in May, 1876.  His widow survived many years, passing away at the home of her son in 1890.
     William H. Fristoe was reared on the home farm and first attended school in Hocking county and afterward in Shelby county and when he started out for himself spent the first season working on a farm south of Sidney, in Orange township.  Afterward he was employed in a brick yard in Turtle creek township, but in 1874 came to Sidney and learned the carpenter trade and for some years worked at bridge carpentering all over the state.  In 1884 he was elected town marshal of Sidney and served for four years but in 1889 went into the implement business, as a member of the firm of Fristoe, Stewart & Co., five years later becoming an independent dealer and conducting his business alone for four years, when he was elected sheriff of Shelby county in which office he served for two terms, from January 1, 1898, to January 1, 1902.  Mr. Fristoe then bought the old Fielding farm in Clinton township, near Sidney, and carried on agricultural operations here for five years, during which time, through his efforts in securing the petition, he succeeded in having the fine turnpike road built which was named in his honor.  After selling his farm he resumed the implement business at Sidney and continued until 1908, when he disposed of it to the firm of Arnet & Son.  He has been active politically since early manhood and has served in many public offices and capacities as indicated above and for four years was a member of the city council of Sidney.  In June, 1910, he was elected deputy state oil inspector of Ohio, and in January, 1911, was elected a member of the county board of infirmary directors and is clerk of this body.
     In the fall of 1884 Mr. Fristoe was married to Miss Uretta Hall, a daughter of Marion Hall, then a well-known citizen and locally noted as an auctioneer, whose death occurred in February, 1911.  Mr. and Mrs. Fristoe had two children born to them: Charles Marion, who is a soldier in the United States army; and William Robb.  The mother of these sons died July 20, 1907.  Since 1873 Mr. Fristoe has been an Odd Fellow, in which organization he has advanced to encampment membership, and since 1892 has been identified with the Masonic bodies.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 481

 

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