OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS - Shelby County, Ohio

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SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO

OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

BIOGRAPHIES

HENRY ACHBACH, whose well cultivated farm of forty acres lies in section 22, Cynthian township, Shelby county, O., was born on this farm, November 5, 1865, and is a son of George and Louisa (Seing) Achbach.
The parents of Mr. Achbach were born in Germany, were reared and educated there and were married two years before coming to America. When they reached the United States they located on land in Kentucky, it being the intention of George Achbach to follow farming, but conditions did not satisfy them where they first settled and they then moved to Patterson township in Darke county, O. Afterward they came on into Shelby county and here Mr. Achbach secured the present home farm, three acres of which had been cleared and a log cabin erected. Very soon afterward he erected a better log house and with the help of his sons as they grew old enough, succeeded in entirely clearing the land, keeping four acres as a wood lot. This land has been upt into fine condition through proper draining and tiling and would command a high price if put on the market. On this farm George Achbach died at the age of fifty-eight years, having led a very laborious life. His widow survived to the age of eighty-four years and both were interred in the Lutheran cemetery. During the Civil war he was a brave soldier, serving for three years and three months, and, although ever at the post of duty, escaped all injury. George Achbach and wife had seven children, namely: Charles, who was born in Germany; Mary, who is deceased, was the wife of John Stifel; and Julius, Caroline, Annie, Henry and Amanda.
Henry Achbach attended school in the Grisey Special School District and afterward engaged in farming, working the home place and also renting an adjoining farm. For the past six years he has lived continuously on this farm, carrying on a general agricultural line, but for nine yeas previously he worked in the spoke factory at St. Mary's. He married Miss Mary Hecht, who was born in Patterson township, Darke county, O., a daughter of Henry and Pauline Hecht, the former of whom is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Achbach have six children: William, who was born in Cynthian township; Clara, Anna and Clarence, all of whom were born at St. Mary's; Elizabeth and Ethel, who were born on the present home farm. Mr. Achbach and family belong to the Lutheran church. He is a democrat in politics and is happy to have his neighbors agree with him on public questions but he ahs never been willing to serve in any office except as a member of the board of education, to which he was elected in January, 1911.

H. P. AILES, one of the representative men of Shelby County, who has served in the office of justice of the peace in Jackson township since, 1882, has been engaged in the mercantile business for a number of years. He was born on the old home farm in Franklin township, January 25, 1853, and is a son of Alfred and Melissa Jane (Young) Ailes, and a grandson of Moses H. Ailes, who was the pioneer of the Ailes family in this section.
     Alfred Ailes was born at Parkersburg, W. Va., and from there accompanied his father, Moses H. Ailes, to Shelby county, the latter settling five miles southwest of Montra. For a number of years Alfred Ailes was a school teacher and afterward acquired a one-half interest in a saw mill, which he operated until 1868, when he retired to his farm, and then moved to Montra, where he lived during the remainder of his life. He was a man of importance in this section and on the democratic ticket was seven times elected assessor of Jackson township and was also a justice of the peace from 1870 until the time of his death in 1882. He was a lifelong democrat and his sons have followed in his footsteps. In his early years he united with the Seventh Day Baptist church. At the time of death he was aged fifty-seven years and his burial was in the Wesley Chapel cemetery. He married a daughter of Philip Young, a pioneer settler in Shelby county, and she survives and resides with her son.
     H. P. Ailes attended school in Jackson township and later moved with his father to Montra and was associated with him in the saw mill business. From 1886 until 1907 he engaged in clerking in a general store, with exception of two years, and then spent three years in other pursuits, after which he returned to the same store and continued his mercantile life.
     Mr. Ailes married Miss Rebecca Jane Beech, who was born at St. John's, Auglaize county, a daughter of E. and Anna Beech, who still reside at St. John's after two years spent in Jackson township. Four children of Mr. and Mrs. Ailes survive and one deceased. Mr. Ailes has served as a justice of the peace for thirty continuous years, succeeding his father in the office, and has also been road supervisor in Jackson township, but only for one year. He belongs to the order of Maccabees, attending the lodge at Anna, O.

DR. HEZEKIAH STOUT AILES. The patronymic surname, Ailes, the subject of this sketch, of course, is ancestral, but christening of the hopeful to designate him in a family of fifteen children was out of what may be deemed an excessive regard for their family physician, Dr. Hezekiah Stout, but notwithstanding this handicap he has survived, flourished, and is new our esteemed and prominent townsman, Hezekiah Stout Ailes, and has led an eventful life in peace and war.
     Hezekiah was born at Lost Creek, Harrison County, now West Virginia, May 19, 1840, so that his infantile prattle mingled with hurrahs for "Tippecanoe and Tyler too."
     His father sold the rugged home farm in 1842 and moved to the northeast corner of Franklin township, this county. Of this numerous family of fifteen children Hezekiah is the only one living and none lived, not even his parents, to be so old as he is now though they outlived all their children but him.
     The farm was purchased of Daniel Baldwin, now dead, who was known in Sidney as Sassafras, for each spring his bent form carried a basket of it to purify and thin the blood of our people grown thick and sluggish by too substantial food and lack of exercise.
     The mansion into which they moved was a round log house well chinked and warm, one story high, but the barn was more pretentious, being two story. In that sparsely settled time people were considered neighbors two or three miles distant and in the absence of those diversions which now prevail were neighbors in fact willing to assist each other in any emergency.
     The round log schoolhouse not crowded with conveniences nor ease-inviting seats was one and three-quarters of a mile distant and he had to start alone, but was joined by the children of two other families on the way across the fields and through the woods. His a, b, c, teacher was Eli Bruner and his second Miss Elizabeth Allen, who afterward married William Edwards. He gradually absorbed the intellectual pabulum of the menu furnished in that crude temple of learning and when sixteen or seventeen years old, with two other boys, aspired to better things and as Sidney had just completed what is now the central school building, hired the front room over Thompson and Christian's drug store, boarded themselves, and slept three in a bed. They went home every Friday night and early Monday morning could be seen returning with loaves of bread and a pound of butter. They would occasionally buy some ginger cakes at the grocery and when feeling convivial and careless of expenses would indulge in a glass of spruce beer at Washington Carroll's emporium, but refrained from taking enough to get boisterous.
     Hezekiah went one term when the schoolhouse was first opened in 1857. His teacher was Miss Harriet Chapin, who subsequently married John Frankenberger. Being sufficiently advanced to have confidence in his ability to teach school he obtained a certificate and thus armed and equipped as the law directed, procured a school near home and his pedagogical pin feathers soon became full fledged plumage for taking his experience both before and after the war embraced a period of fifteen years. When he had taught two weeks of his fifth term he resigned and enlisted in Company C, 118th regiment with Edgar Sowers, superintendent of schools at Port Jefferson as captain, and W. H. Taylor, of Sidney, now of Mansfield, as lieutenant.
     At the battle of Resaca, Georgia; he received the only wound he got in the war. He was shot in the shoulder and lay on the ground by the side of George. Murray Thompson, brother of Mrs. E. T. Mathers and H. W. Thompson, of this city. George's was a dangerous and painful one in the foot and he returned home and never went back. Hezekiah was reported dead, but pleasantly* surprised his people by appearing clothed in his right mind and arm in a sling. Upon recovery he went back and was promoted to sergeant-major. In that engagement 112 soldiers out of 220 of that regiment were either killed or wounded in five minutes time. Upon returning, as his corps did not go with General Sherman to the sea, they participated in the battles of Franklin, the severest one of the war, and the struggle around Nashville which destroyed General Hood's army. They were also in the East Tennessee campaign and were forty-six miles from Knoxville when: Burnside was bottled there. As the rebel army was between them and Knoxville they were powerless to give assistance.
     When the war was drawing to a close the army to which he belonged came north to Columbus and were transferred in box cars to Washington where they arrived dirty and ragged, as they had drawn no clothing nor had not received a dollar for. six months and were lucky if they got enough water to drink, much less to wash in. Their dilapidated appearance provoked sneering remarks from some of the brass buttoned parvenues at Washington. Their commander hearing them responded through a newspaper that, they were no feathered soldiers but had come east to help the feather-bed army around Washington. In a few days they boarded vessels on the Potomac, went down the river to the ocean, around Cape Hatteras, to Fort Fisher at the mouth of Cape Fear river and then to Fort Anderson. They celebrated Washingon's birthday in 1865, by taking Wilmington, North Carolina, and after ten days made a forced march of 100 miles to Kinston where the rebels delivered 8,000 men who had been prisoners at Andersonville and Salisbury and were living skeletons. Many were demented and would voraciously. devour any eatable handed them in their insatiate hunger. Mr. Ailes was ordered to detail ten men from his regiments to act as nurses, among whom was Fred Doody and John H. Kessler, of this county, who were unable to make the forced marches. Of these all died but two of swamp fever. The army marched to Goldsborp and to Raleigh to meet Sherman's army coming from Savannah through the Carolinas. Soon the news came that Lee had surrendered and the joyful news was carried along the lines with huzzas and tossing of caps in the air. A part was retained for a while as an army of occupation so he did not take part in the grand review at Washington.
     After resting for a season and burnishing his education which had got a trifle powder burnt in the years of patriotic conflict, he entered again the school room and taught in Montra and vicinity for ten years more, or fifteen years in all. Among his early pupils was Miss Jane Elliott, then twelve years old, an attractive and amiable girl, whose charms in Hezekiah's eyes had grown so irresistible as to occasion heart trouble in his bosom and again she became his pupil from which she graduated, her diploma being a marriage certificate of lifelong duration. This remarkable event happened October 11, 1866, but did not interfere with his pedagogical avocation. In 1867 Milton E. of Washington, D. C.,*appeared in their household and was succeeded by Eva, now Mrs. John H. Taft, and Ada, now Mrs. Hugh Wilson, both of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Eugene, of late years of Nome, Alaska, but part of the time in Washington; Lulu, Olive, Chesley and Adrian of this city. Of their ten children two died while young.
     On October 28, 1875, Mr. Ailes moved his family to Sidney to the house now owned and occupied by Mr. George Moeller in West street. The monumental building was then in process of construction.
     The children were all educated in the public school here and received graduating diplomas, with the exception of Adrian, who has graduating symptoms, as he is a member of the senior class and is probably cudgeling his brains for ideas in the oratorical display to come off the first of June.
     A little over twenty years ago Milton, through General LeFevre, then congressman; received an appointment in Washington and became a messenger boy for General Sewall and Charles Chesley, government officials. He performed his duties with such fidelity, and dispatch that Mr. Chesley. who was an eminent lawyer, advised him to utilize his spare hours in studying law, a thing he had determined upon, and offered to be his preceptor. This proposition was accepted and he finally graduated with Bachelor of Arts honors and subsequently with Master of Arts distinction. His promotion was rapid and at length culminated in being appointed assistant secretary of the treasury under Lyman Gage, and two years under Secretary Shaw, a position which Milton resigned to accept the vice-presidency of the Riggs national bank, of Washington, a position he now holds. Eugene went to Washington, studied chemistry, became an expert assayer and for several years has been employed at Nome, Alaska, by a banking firm that makes a business of buying gold from the miners. Lest it be thought that the subject of this sketch is lost in the family shuffle, a return to the considering of Hezekiah will be made.
     Since Mr. Ailes came to Sidney he has been elected three times as mayor of this city, became deputy county auditor under Orlando O. Mathers and subsequently served two terms as auditor and was the first county official to occupy the new courthouse. After his terms he again became deputy county auditor under Knox Cummins, now of Washington, thus serving for fifteen years in the courthouse. He is now president of the sinking fund trustees, was appointed by Judge Hughes a member of the board of monumental trustees to succeed the late Andrew J. Robertson and was for six years a member of the board of education. Before coming to Sidney he was clerk of Jackson township for four terms. Hezekiah now has an office of justice of the peace which keeps him out of mischief in his serene and happy age. Few can look back upon a busier and more blissful domestic and public life replete with honors and with a family of children who reflect radiance upon the name.
     When Mr. Ailes returned from the war the time of his pre-soldier certificate had expired and a new one had to be procured. He came to Sidney to brighten up under Ben McFarland, one of the county examiners. Examination day and the democratic county convention came off the same day. The candidates for nomination to the state legislature were Jason McVay and Gen. Ben LeFevre, McFarland, though a republican, was very anxious to have the General nominated as he was his particular friend and asked Hezekiah whom he favored. The reply was, "the General, for we were boys together." Hearing this McFarland said, "I know your qualifications for
teacher and I want you, to put in the day working for the General and when the polls close come and get your certificate." Since this sketch was written Mr. Ailes has died.

JOHN F. AILES, who is one of the well known and representative men of Shelby county, owns and oversees his well improved farm of eighty acres situated in Jackson township, of which he has been a resident since he was three years of age. He was born in Franklin township, Shelby county, May 19, 1858, and is a son of Alfred and Melissa Jane (Young) Ailes, and a grandson of Moses H. Ailes. The father of Mr. Ailes is decease and the mother resides with her son.
John F. Ailes was reared in Jackson township and received his education in the public schools and in the Southern Ohio University, Lebanon, O. For thirty-two years, Mr. Ailes taught school, for thirty-one years in Jackson township and one year in Dinsmore township, devoting his energies entirely to his native county, but not confining himself exclusively to his educational work. Mr. Ailes has very often been called into public life and to every position has devoted his best effort. For three years he served as deputy county auditor, for one year was deputy probate judge assisting Judge Hoskins, for eight years was clerk of Jackson township and for the same number of years has served as a member of the board of county school examiners, his last appointment being in September, 1912. In politics he is a democrat, of that school which prefers the doctrines of the fathers, based on the experience of the ages, to the untried theories of innovators. Mr. Ailes traces his family back to the founding of Philadelphia, through the following ancestry: Alfred Ailes, Moses H. Ailes, William Underwood Ailes, Stephen Ailes, and Stephen Ailes who came from Wales.
Mr. Ailes was married to Miss Lovina Drumm, who was born in Hardin county, O., a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Drumm, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ailes have four children: Melville, who is a physician at Jackson Center; Sidney, who is a school teacher in Jackson township; and Helen, who lives at home. For twenty years Mr. Ailes has been identified with the order of Odd Fellows at Jackson Center and Sidney, for four years representing the thirty-seventh district of Ohio in the grand lodge.

J. HENRY ALBERS. The well cultivated farm of 100 acres which lies on the east side of the North and South road, in section 4, Dirkson Special School District, one-half mile west and one and one-half mile north of Fort Loramie, O., in McLean township, Shelby County, O., is owned by J. Henry Albers, one of the representative men of this section. He was born on the farm that adjoins this on the west, Jan. 16, 1864, and is a son of H. H. and Josephine Albers.
     H. H. Albers, was born in Germany and came to the United States and to Ohio when a young man. He was married to Joseph N. Eneking, who was born in Auglaize county, and eight children were born to them, three of whom are deceased. After marriage H. H. Albers and wife came to McLean township and settled on the farm on which Mrs. Albers still resides, being now in her sixty-fifty year. He carried on farming there for a number of years prior to his death, when age fifty-two years, and was a very highly respected man. He was influential in democratic politics and served as township supervisor and also as a member of the school board, and was a faithful member of St. Joseph's Catholic church to which his widow also belongs.
     J. Henry Albers obtained his education in the Dirksen Special School District and remained at home assisting his father until his own marriage, at which time he bought his present farm from his mother and has continued here ever since. He cleared about twenty acres of the land and yet has fifteen acres in woodland, and has made many improvements including a first class system of drainage and the erection of the commodious and comfortable buildings. He carries on mixed husbandry and raises cattle, paying close attention to his industries and having the reputation of being very successful.
     Mr. Albers was married to Miss Margaret Hoying, who was born in McLean township, Shelby County, O., Oct. 20, 1877, a daughter of Clemens and Bernadine Hoying, and they have the following children: Clemens, Bernadine, Frances, Herman, Leo, Alphonse, Matilda and Estella. Mr. Albers and family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church at Egypt, O. He is affiliated with the democratic party, as was his late father all his life, and is serving in his second term as a member of the board of education in the Dirksen Special School District.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 551

WILLIAM L. ALLTON, who is associated with his son in the ownership of the elevator at Swanders, O., is one of the well known and reliable business men of Franklin township. He was born in Logan Co., O., Feb. 3, 1856, and is a son of Albert G. and Martha M. (Wheeler) Allton.
     Albert G. Allton was a farmer and lumber man and belonged to a pioneer family of Logan county. He married Martha M. Wheeler and they had the following children: William L., Alfred, Seymour, John W., Wheeler, James, Anna and Emma Florence, all surviving except Alfred Seymour and Wheeler. Anna is the wife of James McMillen, and Emma Florence is the wife of C. J. Graver. The grandfather of the above family was Reason Allton, who was probably born in Pennsylvania. Albert G. Allton reared his family in the faith of the Baptist church and instilled political sentiments in his sons that made them all republicans.
     William L. Allton obtained a district school education and at first started out for himself as a day laborer and then went to work in a saw mill. He continued in the lumber business for twenty-eight years and was still thus interested when he first embarked in the elevator business, which was in April, 1896. He had then an old plant which was subsequently torn down, the present one being erected by the firm of William L. Allton & Bros., in 1901, Mr. Allton's first partner being Rinehart Smith, of Sidney, O. A large business is done at Swanders, it being a fine shipping point, and Mr. Allton largely controls the grain trade.
     On October, 26, 1882, Mr. Allton was married to Miss Mary Conover, who was born in Shelby County and is a daughter of Benjamin and Maria D. (Wells) Conover, who were prominent people here. Mr. and Mrs. Alltonhave the following children: Emory LeRoy, who married Bertha Pearl Allen, of Shelby county, and they have one child, Eveline Louis; Clifford Conover; and Pearl and Agnes. Two children are deceased, Alice, who died at the age of eighteen years, and her twin brother, who died in infancy. Mr. Alltonand family belong to the Reformed church. Although a very active citizen, Mr. Allton has never accepted political office except on one occasion filed with the Knights of Pythias at Sidney.
~ Page 718 - History of Shelby County, Ohio - publ. 1913

HERMAN J. ALTHOFF, general merchant and postmaster at Kettlersville, O., was born on a farm near New Bremen, O., in 1852, son of George and Anna Althoff. His parents, who came to this country from Germany, had a family of ten children,, namely: Laura, Henry, Catherine, John, Catherine (second), August, Herman, Christian, Henry (second), and Anna. Of the two daughters named Catherine, one married Frederick Soelmann and still resides in this county, her husband being now deceased. John married Anna Soelmann and they reside in Sidney, O. August died at the age of six years. Christian was twice married. His first wife, Anna, dying, he married secondly Emma May and resides in Van Buren township. Henry first married Alvina Deckefust, who died, and he then married Katie Hersfeldt. They reside at New Bremen, O. Anna also lives in New Bremen, O., and is the wife of Henry Ellerman.
Herman J. Althoff was educated in the district schools and subsequently followed agricultural pursuits for many years, or until 1900. He then engaged in mercantile business in Kettlersvile, this county, which occupation he has followed up to the present time, being recognized as a successful merchant. His prosperity has been achieved by honest dealing and close attention to business. He keeps a good stock of such goods as are likely to be called for in a rural community, and his many patrons find that they can obtain as good value for their money as they could by trading in the larger towns or cities. He was appointed postmaster of Kettlersville in 1995 and has conducted the office in such a manner as to satisfy both Uncle Same and the residents of the village and vicinity. Mr. Althoff owns the building in which his store is located and also another block located opposite to same. In politics he is a Democrat and has served ably in local office, having been trustee, treasurer; was township trustee for six years; also served as assessor and as councilman of the village. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in which he has served as secretary for years.
Mr. Althoff married Doretta Meyer, a daughter of Conrad Meyer, and has had three children: Rosa, now deceased; Hermena, who married William Poppe and resides in Kettlersville, and Araminta, who married Edward Poppe and is also a resident of Kettersville. The family is among the best known and most respected in this locality.

GEORGE D. ANDERSON, who resides on his well-improved farm of seventy-nine acres, situated near Ballou, Shelby county, O., owns another farm of seventy acres, which lies in Miami county one mile south of where he lives. He was born in Green township, Shelby county, in 1859, and is a son of William B. and Elizabeth (Dorsey) Anderson.
     Both parents of Mr. Anderson were natives of Shelby county and their lives were spent here, the father dying when his son, George D., was two years old, and the mother in 1883. The father was a farmer. Eight children were born to them, namely: John, who is deceased; Mrs. Elvira Hume, who lives in Green township: T. J., who lives in Champaign county; Clara, who is deceased; W. H., who lives in Green township; Mary and Charles, both of whom are deceased; and George D., the youngest born.
     After his school days were over, George D. Anderson decided to become a farmer and remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age and then went to Kansas and for seventeen years was a resident of that state, with varying fortunes, and then returned to Shelby county and ever since has been interested in improving his properties and in carrying on his agricultural industries. He erected a new residence on his Miami county farm and placed everything in excellent repair on his place near Ballous, and it was probable that Ohio will continue his permanent home notwithstanding the advantages that other sections may offer. During a part of his term of residence in Kansas, Mr. Anderson served in the office of justice of the peace.
     Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Hannah A. Wert, who was born in Green township, Shelby county, and they have the following children: W. O., Mrs. Florence Hagerman, Ray, Leroy and Earl. In politics Mr. Anderson is a democrat. He gives liberal support to the Christian church to which he and family belong, and he is identified fraternally with the Odd Fellows at Plattsville.

H. W. APPLE, who is one of the representative citizens of Loramie township, Shelby county, O., interested in all important matters in this community and especially concerned in educational advancement, resides on the old family homestead of 175 acres, all improved with the exception of about twenty acres yet in valuable timber. He was born on this farm on August 16, 1868, and is a son of George Hiram and Elizabeth (Apple) Apple.
George Hiram Apple was born one mile west of the above farm, also in Loramie Township, Aug. 29, 1846, a son of Henry S. and Catherine (Gebhart) Apple. Henry S. Apple was born in Montgomery county, O., and was reared there and married into a neighboring family, Miss Catherine Gebhart becoming his wife and subsequently the mother of the six children, namely: Peggy (Elizabeth), who became the wife of William Routson, residing near Rangeville, in Miami county; Hiram S.; Jacob J., who was a twin of Hiram S.; Henery A., who married Kate Mader and lived in Loramie township; Louisa, who became the wife of David Kaiser, residing in Loramie township; and Lavina, who is deceased, was the wife of David Fessler, of Miami county. After marriage, Henry S. Apple and wife moved to what was then a wild region, Loramie township, in Shelby county and settled in the woods, securing 160 acres of virgin land. Here he cleared off enough for a home site and afterward replaced the first log structure with what was probably the first brick house ever built in the township, the bricks for the same being made on his farm. Here is death occurred at the age of sixty-five years, five.

NOT FINISHED

HENRY A. APPLE, a highly respected citizen of Loramie township, Shelby county, O., a retired farmer living on one of his two farms lying in Loramie township, was born one mile east, February 15, 1849, and is a son of Henry S. and Katie (Gephart) Apple.
Henry S. Apple was born in Jackson township, Montgomery county, O., a son of John Apple and a grandson of Henry Apple, whose father, John Apple, came to America from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania. Henry S. Apple married Katie Gephart, a daughter of George Gephart, who was a pioneer in Jackson township, Montgomery county, and they came as pioneers to Loramie township, Shelby county. Here Henry S. Apple developed a farm from the wilderness and became a well-known and respected man, spending forty subsequent years in this section and dying at the age of sixty-six years. His widow survived to the age of seventy-two years and their burial was in the cemetery at Covington, O. They had seven children born to them, Henry A. being the fourth in order of birth.
Henry A. Apple was reared in an excellent home and attended the Beech Grove school in the winter time, until he was seventeen years of age, after which he gave his father valued assistance in the heavy task of clearing his large acreage of land. After marriage he settled on the farm of 140 acres on which he yet lives and still owns another farm in this township, while he has also given each of his children a farm. When he first came here he and wife went to housekeeping in a log cabin of one room and during the next two years he was so busy that he could do little more in the way of building than to keep the-cabin warm and comfortable and the barn equally so in order to shelter his few cattle. He then built his present substantial barn and after twelve years put up his present handsome brick house which he has made into a comfortable modern home. At first he had seventy-seven and one-half acres in his farm and to that he kept on adding until he owned a large amount of property and extensively engaged in farming and raised stock and cattle. His home farm is all under cultivation except nine acres of timber, and it is situated two miles east of the Darke county line.
On October 21, 1869, Mr. Apple was married to Miss Mary C. Mader. who was born in Loramie township, Shelby county, O., August 27, 1848, and is a daughter of Frederick Christopher and Margaret (Crospy) Mader, both of whom died in Loramie township. On April 5, 1870, Mr. and Mrs. Apple took up their residence on this place and here all their children have been born, namely: William E.; Louisa C, who is the wife of Henry C. Kelch and they live in Loramie township; and Hulda J., who is the wife of J. Walter Brown and they live in the Greenwood Special School District. Mr. Apple and wife belong to the Lutheran church in which he was an official for twenty-one years. In national affairs Mr. Apple has always been a democrat but in local matters in recent years has been .disposed to vote independently. At the time this brief sketch of this representative citizen of the county of Shelby was written, he is filling no public office, but, like all the members of this old and solid family, his influence is considerable and his judgment on all matters is valued by his fellow citizens.

J. J. APPLE, a retired farmer and highly respected citizen of Loramie township, Shelby county, O., who owns two farms in the Beech Grove Special School District, one of seventy-seven acres and the other of 100 acres, was born in this township August 29, 1846, and is a son of Henry S. Apple and a grandson of John Apple and a great-grandson of Henry Apple.
     Henry Apple was born in Pennsylvania and was a son of John Apple, who was born in Germany. The second John Apple, grandfather of J. J. Apple, was born after his father had settled in Montgomery county, O., and was one of a family of thirteen children. John Apple (2) married Diana Saylor, who was born in Montgomery county and they passed their lives there, where he had 160 acres of land. His death occurred on that farm and that of his wife soon afterward, both being aged sixty-six years, they being separated but two weeks. This farm lies one mile north of Farmersville, Montgomery county, O., and probably yet belongs to the family. Mr. Apple was a man of local prominence and at one time or another filled about all the local offices. To him and wife six children were born, namely: Henry S.; William, who died at Versailles, O., was a farmer in Darke county and married Clovina Miller; Katie; who married Jacob Gephart and they lived in Loramie township for twenty-five years and then settled on the grandfather's farm in Montgomery county; Jacob S., who died in Loramie township; Ullery, who lived first in Shelby county and then moved to Bunker Hill, Ind., and from there to Oregon, where he subsequently died and was buried there, in early manhood having married Martha Davis, of Montgomery county, O.; and Sarah,, who is the wife of Jonathan Esler and they live at Peru, Ind.
     Henry S. Apple, father of J. J. Apple, was born in Jackson township, Montgomery county, O., where he was reared and attended the early schools. He was married there to Katie Gephart, whose father owned a farm three miles from the Apple farm, George Gephart being one of the pioneers of the township. After their marriage Henry S. Apple and his wife came to Loramie township and settled on eighty acres of land, the same farm on which their son, J. J. Apple, now lives. - He had already put up a hewed log house on the place and thus had made suitable provision for family comfort. To Henry S. and Katie Apple the following children were born: Peggy, who married William Routson, and both died in Miami county; J. J. and G. H., twins, the latter of whom is deceased; Henry A., who is a retired fanner in Loramie township; Louisa, who is the wife of David Kaiser, of Loramie township; Lavina, who is deceased, was the wife of David Fessler, of Miami county; and Elias, who died when three years old. Henry S. Apple cut down the first tree ever felled on the 160 acres which lie south of the present home farm. on the county line, and on that place he died at the age of sixty-six years, six months and sixteen days, and his burial was on the fortieth anniversary of his coming to Loramie township. His widow survived him and died in her seventy-second year, and both now rest in the Covington cemetery. They were members and liberal supporters of the Lutheran church. Henry S. Apple was, for his day, an extensive raiser of horses and cattle together with sheep and hogs, being exceedingly successful in his management of stock.
    J. J. Apple was reared in Loramie township and obtained his education in the Beech Grove School District and from boyhood had his tasks assigned him on the farm and as he grew older assisted in doing some of the clearing. During many years of active agricultural life he pursued farming and stock raising and success in these lines rewarded his industry. He has lived on his present place ever since his marriage, on October, 1, 1868, to Miss Lavina Apple. She was born in Wayne township, Darke county, O., October 11, 1851, and is a daughter of George and Katie (Rocher) Apple, natives of Montgomery county, who moved to Darke county after marriage and there their nine children were born, six of whom survive.
     The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Apple: George Henry, who lives at West Alexander, O., married Amanda Loxley and they have one son, John; Isaiah, who lives at Sidney, married Ida Routson and they have the following children: Agnes, Eden, Ivan, Chalmer, Delmer, Lavina, Reuben and Lulu; Mary Catherine, who is the wife of Louis Brown, residing in Darke county and they have three children: Silva, and Inez and Ivan, twins; a twin sister of Mary, who is deceased; and Perry, who lives on and operates his father's 100-acre farm, married Christina Reed and they have two children—Bertha and Treva. Mr. Apple and wife are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he is a democrat and on numerous occasions has' been elected to township offices, serving six years as township trustee and several years as school director and as road supervisor.

J. F. APPLEGATE, who is one of the respected and useful men of Orange township, for the past ten years a member of the school board and interested in everything that promises to be beneficial to this section, resides on his well cultivated farm, which contains fifty-four and one-third acres. He was born February 25, 1849, in Green township, Shelby county, within a half mile of Plattsville, and is a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Kiser) Applegate.
     Edward Applegate was born in New Jersey and it is possible that his ancestors came from Holland. He was twenty-five years of age when he came to Shelby county, and bought the land in Green township on which he spent the rest of his life, clearing and developing it through his own industry, dying there when aged sixty-five years. He married Elizabeth Kiser, who was born in Miami county, O., and died at Sidney, when aged eighty-two years. They had six children: Sarah Catherine, who married J. S. Loughlin; Mary E., who is the wife of Francis Bull; John I. C., who lives at Sidney; two who died in infancy; and J. F.
    J. F. Applegate attended the district schools in Green township in boyhood, having the usual country boy advantages afforded at that time, and remained with his father until he was twenty-six years old, coming then to Orange township and for ten years afterward lived on his father-in-law's farm. From there he moved to the one he now occupies and successfully operates, for the past twenty years having carried on farming and stock raising here.
     During this time he has made many changes and improvements and has a valuable property.
     Mr. Applegate married Miss Mina T. Bull, a daughter of Hiram Bull, and five children were born to them: Rollo, who died when aged four years; Fleetwood, who lives near Springfield, O.; Forrest E., who is a resident of Sidney; Charles C., who is the practical home farmer; and Edward, who is now deceased, served as a soldier in the Philippine Islands, Mr. Applegate and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics a democrat, while living in Green township, Mr. Applegate served as a trustee and has also served two times as township clerk and has been a member of the school board since coming to Orange township. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, at Plattsville.

A. E. APPLEGETT, an enterprising and prosperous general farmer who owns two farms in Green township, Shelby county, O., one of forty-five acres and the other of seventy-two acres, resides on and is operating Joseph Bolinger's farm of eighty acres, which lies also in Green township, twelve miles southeast of Sidney, O. He was born in Miami county, O., Jan. 12, 1862, and is a son of Goff and Hannah Ann (Davis) Applegett.
Goff Applegett was born in Hamilton county, O., and in early manhood went to Miami county, where he followed the carpenter trade all through his active life. He is a highly respected resident of Lena, O., and is now in his eighty-sixth year. He married Hannah Ann Davis, who also survives, and they had eight children, seven of whom are living.
A. E. Applegett has been a general farmer practically all his life and not only manages his own land advantageously but brings satisfactory results to the owner of the acres he rents. A general line of farming is carried on and considerable stock is grown. Mr. Applegett married Miss Emma Bolinger, a daughter of Joseph Bolinger, an old settler of Shelby county, and they have two children: Myrtle, who is the wife of Clyde Harbaugh; and Mary, who resides with her parents. In politics Mr. Applegett is a republican and has served in the office of township trustee. Fraternally he is connected with the Red Men and the Knights of the Golden Eagle.

JOHN ARLING, who is one of the heirs of the late Henry Arling, and who, with his brothers, Henry and Frank Arling, carry on the agricultural activities of the homestead, where they have 170 acres of fine land, was born on this farm, situated in section 12, McLean township, Shelby county, O. He is a son of Henry and Mary (Fischer) Arling.
Henry Arling was born and reared in Auglaize county, O., and died on the present home farm in August, 1906, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a faithful member of the Catholic church and an upright man in every relation of life. His first marriage was in Auglaize county, to Elizabeth Leining and they had two children: Bernard, who lives at Fort Loramie, O.; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of Frank Rethman, of the same place. After his first marriage, Henry Arling lived at Minster until he bought his farm of 170 acres in McLean township, Shelby county, a tract that had been but little improved. His first wife died on this farm and his second marriage was to Mary Fischer, who was born in McLean township, a daughter of John Fischer. Mrs. Arling still lives on the old homestead, and she and her children all belong to St. Michael's Catholic church. To the above marriage eight children were born, namely: John, Henry, Rosa, Katie, Anna, Frank, Caroline and Loretta, all of whom survive except Anna.
John Arling and his brothers and sisters attended the schools near home and the sons of the family have all become capable farmers, industriously carrying on general farming and raising livestock, cattle and hogs. The old home sufficed until 1909 when it was replaced by a more commodious and comfortable one, erected by Mr. Arling and his two brothers. On this farm there are gravel pits which have supplied the material for the building of three turnpike roads but they have not been operated since 1910. John Arling and brothers, like their late father, are all stanch democrats.

BERNARD ASELAGE, a successful farmer owning 160 acres of fine land, which is situated in section 6, McLean township, one quarter mile southeast of Fort Loramie, is one of the representative citizens of this township and is serving in the office of clerk of the Berlin Special School District. He was born in Germany, July 17, 1860, and is a son of George and Helena Aselage, both of whom died in Germany.
Bernard Aselage obtained his education in a German school and remained in his native land until he was twenty-three years of age. Being the only child of his parents he was left alone at their death and came to America by himself, his objective point being Fort Loramie, O. By trade a carpenter he worked for ten years in this neighborhood as such and for one year in Cincinnati, and then turned his attention to farming. For eighteen months he rented land in Cynthian township, then moved to the Adolph Sherman farm, which he rented for nine years, following which he purchased his present place from Bernard Pille. As the land had been improved and all cleared but eighteen acres of woodland, Mr. Aselage found his first expenditure was the main cost in securing a valuable property and a fine home, the residence being a commodious brick structure. Mr. Aselage took possession in the fall of 1902 and here carries on farming and stock raising under very favorable conditions.
Mr. Aselage married Miss Lena Bruns, who was born in Germany, January 1,1855, a daughter of Henry and Lena Bruns, and they have the following children: B. H., who lives in McLean township, married Elizabeth Schlater and they have one son, August; William and John, both of whom assist their father on the farm; Albert, who is a student in the Minster high school; and Joseph. Mr. Aselage and family are members of St. Michael's Catholic church, and he belongs to the Catholic Knights of; America. In politics he is a democrat and has served McLean township with honest efficiency in the office of road superintendent, and early in 1912 was elected a member of the board of education as above .mentioned.

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