Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/901

 SHARON TOWNSHIP.

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��Shultz, and lives in Crestline ; W. R., farmer in Rich- land : Lizzie, at home. Alice L. died in infancy.

SLAYBAUGH, D. B, was born in Richland Co. Feb. 8, 1846 ; he is engaged in the manufacture of brick, in which he has been successful. He first commenced the business with his father, and, after continuing with him for some time, he purchased his father's interest, and has since been sole proprietor. He has furnished most of the brick for the town and surrounding country. He was married to Miss Alice J. Curran July 27, 1871 ; she was born in Indiana Jan. 6, 1855.

SOTZEN, HENRY, merchant tailor, Shelby, was born in Canton Basil, Switzerland; he remained with his parents on the farm till the age of 16 ; he was bound to his trade, having to pay $^40 and work two and one-half years to learn it ; at the expiration of one-half the time, he left his employer, for the pur- pose of coming to America ; his employer bringing suit against him for balance of his time, the court de- cided that any one wishing to emigrate to America was at liberty to go at will ; he left Canton Basil in April, 1844, in company with his brother, Jacob Sotzen, Sam- uel and Crist Sutter, traveling in wagons to Havre de Grace, embarking about the 1st of May ; they sailed for New York, making the voyage in thirty-six days ; he came direct to Shelby, remaining about three years. He then went to Olney, 111., having to go to Sandusky, from there to Toledo, by steamer, and to Terre Haute, Ind., by way of Maumee Canal, and thence to Olney by stage. He worked at his trade about two years. He married Miss Nancy Ross in December, 1847, who died in November, 1848. About this time, the gold excitement reached Olney, when he, with a party of twelve, started across the Plains INIarch 15, 1849, arriving at Sacramento, being Just 100 days crossing. The party traveled with three wagons, four men and as many mules to each wagon. After be- ing on the Plains about eight days, Henry Raust (an old resident of Shelby, and one of the party,) sickened and died, after an illness of about three days, the re- mainder of the party digging a grave. Nothing fur- ther of importance occurred until they reached the Humboldt River, in Nevada. As they were in camp one evening (at the west side of the river), they dis- covered a hot spring on the opposite side, and those who could swim crossed to see the curiosity. One Dr. Eckley, a former citizen of Richland Co., going too close, the sod gave way and he was precipitated into the boiling water nearly to his waist, which confined him to his wagon until they reached California. August 15, they disposed of four mules and a wagon, and started for the mines ; taking sick a few days after his arrival at the mines, he returned to Sacramento and went to the hospital, where he remained three days, for which he paid $75. He then contracted with the Government of the Territory to carry provisions to emigrants who were destitute. In this he was engag- ed about a month. He then went to Auburn, Cal., and, in the spring of 1850, he went to the Middle Fork of the American River, where he took up a mining claim, and remained about in six weeks. He then left the mines, first casting his vote for the Territory to be admitted into the Union as a free State. Embarking at San Francisco for Panama, C. A., he crossed the Isth-

��mus on foot, where he remained one week. He em- barked at Chagres for New York, from where he came direct to Shelby. He was the first to open a inerchant tailor shop in Shelby, where he remained until 1852. He married Miss Julia Whitmore March 15, 1852. He, with twelve others, started in wagons for Sacramento, He settled in Cold Springs, Eldorado Co., five miles from where the first specimen of gold was found in California, and engaged in general merchandise ; in connection with the above business, he, with his part- ner, Mr. Goodnow, built a saw-mill, and followed lum- bering ; in 1857, they formed a stock company and built a quartz-mill, by which they lost heavily. In 1859, the court granted him a divorce and his chil- dren, which he sent to Shelby to be cared for by friends. In 1860, he, with his partner, engaged in freighting across the Sierra Nevada Mountains ; in November, 1862, he disposed of his entire interest, and embarked, at San Francisco, for New York, by way of Panama and Aspinwall ; the steamer Ariel, on which he came home, was captured on his return trip between New York and Aspinwall, by the rebel pirate Simms ; he again reached Shelby Jan. 1,1863, and purchased the interest of T. Mickey, in a merchant tailoring establishment, and remained five years, dur- ing which time he married Miss Lou Garnhart ; they have three children — George, Harry and Walter. In March, 1858, he again went to Olney, 111., where he spent two years handling eggs, and two years under the firm name of King & Hotzen, as merchant tailors ; he again returned to Shelby, and, since the spring of 1873, he has been engaged in the business of a mer- chant tailor, iu which he has been very successful.

STEFFEY, EMILY A., was born in Franklin Co., Penn. Her father, Jonathan Stefi'ey, was born in Washington Co., Md., Sept. 21, 1800, and when a young man he came to Franklin Co., Penn., where he was married in 1830, to Miss Rebecca Maybury, who was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Dec. 22, 1806. They had seven children, six living. In 1838, they came to Ohio and settled in Ganges, where he followed the carpenter trade for some years. He i-emained in Ganges for thirty-six years, and then moved to Shelby, where he died Aug. 1, 1876.

SUTTER, GEORGE F., farmer ; was born in Craw- ford Co., Ohio, Sept. 29, 1854. He attended the dis- trict schools of the county during the winter months, and in the summer worked on the farm. He was mar- ried to Miss Nora Boner, of Richland Co., July 6, 1875. His father, John Sutter, was born in Canton Basil, Switzerland, June 22, 1818. He was the son of a far- mer, and he spent his youth on a farm. He emigrated to America in 1840, and remained in New York for some time, and then came to Norwalk, Huron Co., Ohio, and from there to Richland Co. He was married to Miss Sarah Ann Hockensmith Nov. 9, 1847. They had seven children, three daughters and four sons; one daughter and three sons living. Sarah A. was married to Butler Albertson, farmer ; Henry F., farmer ; AVill- iam J., at home, and George F., the subject of this notice. The elder Sutter,began life poor, but by indus- try, economy and honesty he obtained a fair competence, He died March 8, 1876, mourned by all who knew him. His wife still survives him.

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